cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A spicy status: Synthetic cannabinoid (spice) use and new-onset refractory status epilepticus—A case report and review of the literature:

Synthetic cannabinoids refer to a wide variety of chemicals engineered to bind cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and mimic the effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol. The potential for severe toxicity and limited in vivo data make synthetic cannabinoid intake an important public health and safety concern. Neurologic toxidromes associated with their use include mental status changes, panic attacks, memory distortions, acute psychosis (e.g. paranoia, delusional thoughts), disorganized behavior, and suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Systemic complications include vomiting, sinus tachycardia, myocardial infarction, and acute kidney injury. Seizures are common; however, status epilepticus is not widely reported. In this case report, we describe a patient who developed acute psychosis and new-onset refractory status epilepticus necessitating emergent neurological life-support and prolonged admission to an intensive care unit following abuse of synthetic cannabinoids. We include a brief review of the literature to prepare the treating clinician for the broad clinical spectrum of this increasingly common intoxication.
Particle evaporation and hydrodynamics in a shock driven multiphase instability

Abstract This paper presents results from 3D numerical simulations of a shock-driven multiphase instability of a gas-particle system with a spherical interface. Two cases, one with an evaporating particle cloud and another with a gas only approximation were run in the hydrodynamics code FLASH. Both cases had an incident Mach number of 1.65 and an effective Atwood number of 0.046. It is shown that the gas only approximation, a classical Richtmyer–Meshkov instability, cannot replicate effects from particles like, lag, clustering, and evaporation. Instead, both gas hydrodynamics and particle properties influence one another and are coupled. Qualitative and quantitative differences in the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability and shock-driven multiphase instability are briefly presented. Coupling between the interface hydrodynamic evolution and particle evaporation is explored further by examination of the multiphase case. Hydrodynamic driven particle clustering is measured through particle spatial distribution statistics and particle-vorticity correlations. It is found that the small particles form vorticity driven small scale clusters quickly while hydrodynamics act to reorganize the particles into larger scale features at later times. Particle evaporation rates are found to vary greatly, even among similar sizes, and show poor agreement with existing 1D evaporation models. The role of hydrodynamic organization in evaporation is shown by examining the spatial distribution of variations in evaporation rate. Small to medium sized particles initially located at the outside of the sphere, in the equatorial region (taking the sphere to have poles aligned with the shock transit direction) are most affected by the hydrodynamic development and show higher evaporation rates, similar to those found with a 1D, one-way coupled, single particle evaporation model.
Comparative numerical investigation on effect of characteristic parameters on thermal energy enhancement by alumina-water and cupric-oxide-water nanofluids

Heat transfer forms the basis of conversion of one form of energy to another. Increasing heat transfer area by using conventional methods of geometry design can increase the output temperature but this leads to a bulky and costly thermal system. Passive techniques can decrease the cost. The research presented revolves around enhancement of heat transfer using nanofluids. Nanofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in a base fluid (thermal fluids) such as water with excellent thermal characteristics. They enhance heat transfer by increasing the convective heat transfer and thermal conductivity of nanofluid as compared to base fluid by increasing heat transfer area. An analysis of hydrodynamically and thermally developing or simultaneously developing laminar forced convection of nanofluids in circular pipes subjected to a constant wall heat flux boundary condition has been performed by numerical method. The numerical analysis was conducted using parametric three dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation code ANSYS CFX. Alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were employed in water as base fluid in a liquid single-phase constant thermophysical properties model. The effect of design factors of concentration, diameter, Reynold (Re) number, and type of nanofluid on heat transfer coefficient (h), Nusselt (Nu) number, and pressure drop (ΔΡ) is investigated for different axial locations. Results reveal that increasing particle concentration from 1% to 5% increases the heat transfer coefficient for Al 2 O 3 -water by more than 5% similar to that by Re number. CuO shows little heat transfer enhancement due to high density and low thermal conductivity. Velocity increases along the length of the pipe. Moreover, the results were validated with empirical/theoretical and experimental correlations and agreed with an error less than 5%.
Trendi: Tracking stories in news and microblogs via emerging, evolving and fading topics

In today's era of information overload, people are struggling to detect the evolution of hot topics from massive news media and microblogs such as Twitter. Reports from mainstream news agencies and discussions from microblogs could complement each other to form a complete picture of major events. Existing work has generally focused on a single source, seldom attempting to combine multiple sources to track the evolution of topics: emerging, evolving and fading phrases as this would require a considerably more sophisticated model. This paper proposes a novel story discovery model that integrates evolutionary topics in news and Twitter data sources using an incremental algorithm by 1) discovering complementary information from news and microblogs that provides a more complete view of major events; 2) modeling emerging, evolving and fading topics and features throughout ongoing events; and 3) creating a scalable algorithm that is capable of handling massive data from news and social media. The parameters of the new model are optimized using a novel algorithm based on the alternative direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Extensive experimental evaluations on multiple datasets from different domains demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed approach.
A Comparison of Mixed-Signal Modeling Approaches

Behavioral modeling of analog/mixed signal and mixed-technology designs promises to transform the way in which designs are specified, implemented, and supported in much the same way that hardware description languages such as VHDL and Verilog transformed digital design. Although VHDL-AMS is now an IEEE standard and Verilog-AMS is maturing enough to soon be ready for submission to the IEEE standards process, relatively little research has targeted the best practices for using these languages. To begin to address this issue, this paper compares the relative merits of modeling analog/mixed signal systems with languages such as VHDL, VHDL-AMS, SPICE, and C/C++. We consider modeling issues at different levels of abstraction, top-down and bottom-up design issues, testbench considerations, performance, expressiveness, and productivity. Based on these metrics, we give compare the benefits of analog/mixedsignal modeling languages such as VHDL-AMS.
Upending the Double Life of Law Schools: Millennials in the Legal Academy

This article discusses Holloway and Friedland’s vision of the law school of 2025, with a focus on the need for technology education and a cultural shift in the legal Academy and the law school curriculum. It surveys the landscape of millennials as both students and employees, briefly describing their strengths and weaknesses in both arenas. Finally, this article brings the discussion together, describing benefits the law school of 2025 will receive by welcoming Millennials into the Academy, and will predict the changes legal education can expect with an innovative group of narcissists leading the way.
Sedimentology and Clast Orientation of Deposits Produced by Glacial-Lake Outburst Floods in the Mount Everest Region, Nepal

Climatic wanning during the last 100 to 150 years has caused many alpine glaciers to thin and retreat (Grove, 1990; O’Connor and Costa, 1993; Evans and Clague, 1994). This glacial downwasting has disturbed geomorphic systems in mountainous environments, increasing the risk of geologic and hydrologic hazards such as glacial-lake outburst floods, landslides, and glacier avalanches (O’Connor and Costa, 1993; Evans and Clague, 1994). Glacial-lake outbursts are perhaps the most devastating of these processes because they can travel tens to hundreds of kilometers downstream dramatically modifying channel morphology and, in some cases, causing loss of human life and destruction of property. The devastating effects of glacial-lake outburst floods have been documented in the Andes (Lliboutry et al., 1977), Himalayas (Hewitt, 1982; Fushimi et al., 1985; Ives, 1986; Vuichard and Zimmermann, 1986, 1987), Canadian Rockies (Clarke, 1982; Blown and Church, 1985; Desloges and Church, 1992; Evans and Clague, 1994), Swiss Alps (Haeberli, 1983; Haeberli et al., 1989), and Cascades (O’Connor et al., in press).
MRI-Guided Interstitial Laser Therapy of Brain Tumors

Recurrent brain tumors present a daunting task when recalcitrant to surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiosurgery. Alternative therapies are desirable when standard neuro-oncologic means are exhausted. Since the 1960s, lasers have been used in medical care at varying levels for the purpose of biomodulation; this includes laser-induced tissue stimulation, coagulation, cutting, and ablation. Here, we discuss a thermography-guided laser ablation technique, representing a novel approach to resistant brain tumors. A growing body of knowledge is accumulating evidence regarding laser-induced thermal ablation techniques for visceral-based tumors. We share our experience employing this novel technique towards recurrent central nervous system tumors with intraoperative MR guidance and discuss current indications and future considerations towards this alternative therapy.
GaSb-based diode lasers with asymmetric coupled quantum wells

Asymmetric tunnel coupled quantum wells with built-in resonant second order nonlinearity were designed and fabricated within the antimonide material system. The quantum wells demonstrated intensive photo- and electroluminescence responses associated with optical transitions between two tunnel-split conduction band subbands and one valence band subband. The thickness of the tunnel barrier defined the optical gain bandwidth and resonance energy for the difference frequency generation. The test diode lasers based on asymmetric quantum wells with a conduction subband splitting of about 25 meV operated near 2.1 μm at room temperature and demonstrated high differential gain and excellent performance parameters. The experimental modal gain spectra showed relatively flat top and an extended bandwidth at high pumping levels.
Induction of MNK Kinase–dependent eIF4E Phosphorylation by Inhibitors Targeting BET Proteins Limits Efficacy of BET Inhibitors

BET inhibitors (BETi), which target transcription of key oncogenic genes, are currently being evaluated in early-phase clinical trials. However, because BETis show limited single-agent activity, there is increasing interest in identifying signaling pathways to enhance the efficacy of BETis. Here, we demonstrate increased MNK kinase-dependent eIF4E phosphorylation following treatment with BETis, indicating activation of a prosurvival feedback mechanism in response to BETis. BET PROTACs, which promote degradation of BET proteins, also induced eIF4E phosphorylation in cancer cells. Mechanistically, we show that the effect of BETis on MNK-eIF4E phosphorylation was mediated by p38 MAPKs. We also show that BETis suppressed RacGAP1 to induce Rac signaling-mediated eIF4E phosphorylation. Significantly, MNK inhibitors and MNK1/2 knockdown enhanced the efficacy of BETis in suppressing proliferation of cancer cells in vitro and in a syngeneic mouse model. Together, these results demonstrate a novel prosurvival feedback signaling induced by BETis, providing a mechanistic rationale for combination therapy with BET and MNK inhibitors for synergistic inhibition of cancer cells.
A Visual Analytics System for Optimizing Communications in Massively Parallel Applications

Current and future supercomputers have tens of thousands of compute nodes interconnected with high-dimensional networks and complex network topologies for improved performance. Application developers are required to write scalable parallel programs in order to achieve high throughput on these machines. Application performance is largely determined by efficient inter-process communication. A common way to analyze and optimize performance is through profiling parallel codes to identify communication bottlenecks. However, understanding gigabytes of profiled at a is not a trivial task. In this paper, we present a visual analytics system for identifying the scalability bottlenecks and improving the communication efficiency of massively parallel applications. Visualization methods used in this system are designed to comprehend large-scale and varied communication patterns on thousands of nodes in complex networks such as the 5D torus and the dragonfly. We also present efficient rerouting and remapping algorithms that can be coupled with our interactive visual analytics design for performance optimization. We demonstrate the utility of our system with several case studies using three benchmark applications on two leading supercomputers. The mapping suggestion from our system led to 38% improvement in hop-bytes for Mini AMR application on 4,096 MPI processes.
Understanding the Impact of Health Care System Trends on Pharmacy (Part 2 of 2)

Managed health care has changed the way health services are provided and paid for. It is still evolving. Many pharmacists have already felt the impact of these changes. This continuing feature illuminates the many facets of managed care with special emphasis placed on how these changes may affect pharmacists working in health systems. The expertise provided by pharmacists will be needed to fulfill the potential of affordable, comprehensive, and quality health care as promised by managed care. Pharmacists must understand what is happening, why it is happening, and what is likely to happen in the future. To be an active and effective player, you must understand what is happening on the field.
Exclusion criteria for dysphagia for outpatient single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using inpatient data from a spine registry.

Abstract Objectives Reported incidence of dysphagia after ACDFs has been as high as 79%. There, however, have been no studies that have specifically looked at developing a criteria for reducing the incidence of dysphagia for outpatient ACDFs. The aim of this study was to determine the risks factors for significant dysphagia that will exclude patients from outpatient single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDFs). Patients and methods Using the Kaiser Permanente Spine registry database, between January 2009 and September 2013, we identified all inpatients (there were no outpatients) who underwent primary elective one-level ACDFs. A cohort of patients were identified with in-hospital length of stay (LOS) > 48 h in which the reason for continued admission was primarily significant dysphagia (DG). Patient’s demographics and intraoperative data (ACDF levels (upper [C2-3, C3-4], middle [C4-5, C5-6], lower [C6-7, C7-T1]), and operative times ( Results We found 747 single-level ACDF cases with a cohort of 239 (32.0%) who met the criteria for dysphagia (DG) with > 48 h admission. The DG group and non-dysphagia group (NDG) had similar demographics. Diabetes was excluded from regression analysis due to the low frequency. Compared to the lower spine level (C5-6, C7-T1), the upper spine level (C2-3, C3-4) ACDF had a higher likelihood for dysphagia (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.35–3.68, p = 0.0016); no difference was found for middle spine level (C4-5, C5-6) ACDF. Conclusion Single-level ACDF at the upper cervical spine (C2-3, C3-4) was found to be the only risk factor for dysphagia with LOS > 48 h based on inpatient data from a spine registry. Age, BMI category, gender, ASA classification, smoking, and operative time were not predictive factors. These findings should be used for excluding patients who undergo outpatient single-level ACDF surgery to reduce significant postoperative dysphagia.
Meta-analysis of completion lymph node dissection in sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma.

Background The role of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma continues to be debated. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated survival and recurrence rate in these patients who underwent CLND, compared with observation. Methods A comprehensive MEDLINE and Embase database search was performed for cohort studies and RCTs published between January 2000 and June 2017 that assessed the outcomes of CLND compared with observation in patients with SLN-positive melanoma. The primary outcome was survival and the secondary outcome was recurrence rate. Studies were assessed for quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Pooled relative risk or hazard ratio with 95 per cent confidence intervals were calculated for each outcome. The extent of heterogeneity between studies was assessed with the I2 test. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017070152). Results Fifteen studies (13 cohort studies with 7868 patients and 2 RCTs with 2228 patients) were identified for qualitative synthesis. Thirteen studies remained for quantitative meta-analysis. Survival was similar in patients who underwent CLND and those who were observed (risk ratio (RR) for death 0·85, 95 per cent c.i. 0·71 to 1·02). The recurrence rate was also similar (RR 0·91, 0·79 to 1·05). Conclusion Patients with SLN-positive melanoma do not have a significant benefit in survival or recurrence rate if they undergo CLND rather than observation.
FOOLING MYSELF OR FOOLING OBSERVERS? AVOIDING SOCIAL PRESSURES BY MANIPULATING PERCEPTIONS OF DESERVINGNESS OF OTHERS

We present a novel experiment demonstrating strategies selfish individuals utilize to avoid social pressure to be altruistic. Subjects participate in a trust game, after which they have an opportunity to state their beliefs about their opponent's actions. Subsequently, subjects participate in a task designed to “reveal” their true beliefs. Subjects who initially made selfish choices falsely state their beliefs about their opponent's kindness. Their “revealed” beliefs were significantly more accurate, which exposed subjects' knowledge that their selfishness was unjustifiable by their opponent's behavior. The initial false statements complied with social norms, suggesting subjects' attempts to project a more favorable social image.
Multi-View 3D Reconstruction with Self-Organizing Maps on Event-Based Data

Depth perception is crucial for many applications including robotics, UAV and autonomous driving. The visual sense, as well as cameras, map the 3D world on a 2D representation, losing the dimension representing depth. A way to recover 3D information from 2D images is to record and join data from multiple viewpoints. In case of a stereo setup, 4D data is gained. Existing methods to recover 3D information are computationally expensive. We propose a new, more intuitive method to recover 3D objects out of event-based stereo data, by using a Self-Organizing Map to solve the correspondence problem and establish a structure similar to a voxel grid. Our approach, as it is also computationally expensive, copes with performance issues by massive parallelization. Furthermore, the relatively small voxel grid makes this a memory friendly solution. This technique is very powerful as it does not need any prior knowledge of extrinsic and intrinsic camera parameters. Instead, those parameters and also the lens distortion are learned implicitly. Not only do we not require a parallel camera setup, as many existing methods, we do not even need any information about the alignment at all. We evaluated our method in a qualitative analysis and finding image correspondences.
Qwest TV by Quincy Jones

As the user experience trends increasingly toward streaming media, Qwest TV by Quincy Jones provides unique content on a user-friendly platform. Advertising itself as “the world’s first subscriptio...
CT-Negative Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the First Six Hours.

Abstract Background There are no reported cases of negative CT head in the first six hours after a thunderclap headache in a patient found to have an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods We present a case of an anemic patient who experienced aneurysmal SAH with a negative head CT within the first 6 h following thunderclap headache. Results A 47-year-old woman presented with a thunderclap headache and examination showed somnolence and marked meningismus. After a negative CT head was obtained within the first 6 hours of symptom onset, a non-traumatic lumbar puncture (LP) showed consistently bloody collection tubes, prompting repeat imaging that demonstrated a tiny amount of intraventricular hemorrhage. CT angiography revealed an intradural carotid artery aneurysm, and pipeline embolization was successfully performed. Conclusion Non-contrast head CT may be falsely negative within the first 6 hours of aneurysmal SAH in the setting of anemia. In our case, the cause may not have been determined if an LP had not been performed. LP still has a role in diagnosing SAH, particularly in the setting of significant anemia, despite the high sensitivity of non-contrast head CT.
Musculoskeletal Education: An Assessment of the Value of the American Academy of Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Boot Camp Course in Improving Clinical Confidence of Pediatricians Managing Common Musculoskeletal Conditions:

In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Orthopaedics established an annual Musculoskeletal (MSK) Boot Camp course to fill the gaps in MSK knowledge, performance, and outcomes for ped...
Safe Reinforcement Learning via Statistical Model Predictive Shielding

Reinforcement learning is a promising approach to solving hard robotics tasks. An important challenge is ensuring safety—e.g., that a walking robot does not fall over or an autonomous car does not crash into an obstacle. We build on an approach that composes the learned policy with a backup policy—it uses the learned policy on the interior of the region where the backup policy is guaranteed to be safe, and switches to the backup policy on the boundary of this region. The key challenge is checking when the backup policy is guaranteed to be safe. Our algorithm, statistical model predictive shielding (SMPS), uses sampling-based verification and linear systems analysis to perform this check. We prove that SMPS ensures safety with high probability, and empirically evaluate its performance on several benchmarks.
Levels of depressed mood and low interest for two years after response to cognitive therapy for recurrent depression.

Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) involves depressed mood (high negative affect, predominantly) and low interest/pleasure (low positive affect). In past research, negative affect has improved more than positive affect during acute-phase antidepressant medication or cognitive therapy (CT). We extended this literature by differentiating depressed mood and two dimensions of low interest (general and sexual), assessing persistence of symptom differences after acute-phase CT response, and testing whether continuation treatment acted differently on depressed mood versus low interest. Methods We analyzed data from two randomized controlled trials. Patients with recurrent MDD first received acute-phase CT. Then, responders were randomized to 8-month continuation treatments and assessed for 16-24 additional months. Results Depressed mood and low general interest improved more than low sexual interest during acute-phase CT. Among responders, these symptom differences persisted for at least 2 years and were not changed by continuation CT or antidepressant medication. Limitations Generalization of findings to other patient populations and treatments is uncertain. Depressed mood and low interest scales were constructed from standard symptom measures and overlapped empirically. Conclusions Less improvement during CT, and persistent low sexual interest despite continuation treatment, highlights the need for MDD treatments more effectively targeting this positive affective symptom.
SU-E-J-156: Velocity-Based Reference Scan Selection for Motion-Model Error Reduction of 5DCT

Purpose: A recently proposed 5DCT protocol uses fast helical CT scans to model lung tissue motion that requires one of the scans to be used as a reference for deformable image registration. We have found that, while the CT scans are acquired using fast helical acquisition, residual motionartifacts remain for scans acquired during mid inspiration or exhalation. Selecting the scan with minimal motion artifacts as the reference scan will improve image registration and model accuracy. Methods: A free-breathing patient was scanned 25 successive times in alternating directions with a Siemens 64-slice CT scanner using a low-mA fast-helical protocol. Each of the 25 CT scans was successively used as the reference scan with the other 24 images registered to it. Motion-model parameters were determined using the breathing-motion model. Voxel specific tissue velocity maps were generated for each of the 25 scan based on the breathing amplitude surrogate and its time derivative. The resulting 24 model error maps were registered to the first CT scan for comparison. The relationships between regional motion-model error, reference scan motion-artifacts and tissue-velocity were analyzed using linear-regression. Results: Motion-model errors were linearly correlated with reference scan blurring artifacts and doubling artifacts. The effects of blurring-artifacts on motion model errors were stronger than doubling artifacts due to their impact on registration accuracy. Selecting the lowest tissue motion velocity scan as the reference scan decreased the regional motion model error by 33.67%±43.12%. Conclusion: Motion-artifacts, especially blurring artifacts, that exist in the reference image induce motion model errors in 5DCT. A carefully selected reference scan based on the lowest tissue velocities can minimize the regional motion model error.
Does Tax Exemption for Charitable Endowments Subsidize Excessive Accumulation

This paper examines the concern over large endowments from the perspective of tax policy as it applies to the income tax exemption for charitable organizations. It suggests that because unlike other subsidies, income tax exemption only affects those charities that accumulate funds for the future, such exemption does not follow automatically from the charitable deduction but requires a showing that accumulation is appropriately treated. The paper concludes that unlike the treatment of gifts and income from related goods and services, exemption of investment income from an endowment, represents a departure from normal tax principles. Whether a subsidy is nevertheless appropriate depends upon whether one believes that current accumulation is likely to be excessive. I believe that the bias of donors, trustees and key employees indicates that endowments may well exceed the level that public policy would suggest and recommend a tax based on assets and a reduced limit on the charitable deductions for the largest endowments. While a mandatory distribution level is considered, I conclude that such a requirement is both intrusive and unlikely to have a significant impact on the level of accumulation.
A Phosphoenzyme Intermediary in Phosphoglycerate Kinase Action

Rabbit muscle phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) has been phosphorylated with γ-32P-ATP and then isolated by gel filtration. Phosphorylation was favored by the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate and a catalytic amount of pyruvate kinase, which appeared to remove ADP from the phosphorylation equilibrium. The phosphoenzyme was catalytically active, transferring its phosphoryl group to ADP to synthesize ATP. The phosphoenzyme also transferred its phosphoryl group to 3-phosphoglycerate to form 1,3-diphosphoglycerate, which, being unstable, was not isolated. It was converted instead to the corresponding hydroxamate or transformed enzymatically to fructose 1,6-diphosphate. Inorganic phosphate was released from the phosphoenzyme by neutral hydroxylamine at room temperature within 10 min. The pH stability profile of the phosphoenzyme is U-shaped. These facts accord with a covalent binding of the phosphoryl group to a carboxyl of the enzyme.
A web based tool for an Automated Dental Identification System (ADIS)

We present a web-based environment for the Automated Dental Identification System (ADIS). This system is designed for identification missing, unidentified and wanted persons based on dental characteristics. The web-based environment of ADIS allows users to browse through different databases from remote locations, to digitally process query dental images in order to extract the distinctive features used for record matching, and to finally present to the forensic expert a short match list to be inspected.
Secure Computation against Adaptive Auxiliary Information

We study the problem of secure two-party and multiparty computation (MPC) in a setting where a cheating polynomial-time adversary can corrupt an arbitrary subset of parties and, in addition, learn arbitrary auxiliary information on the entire states of all honest parties (including their inputs and random coins), in an adaptive manner, throughout the protocol execution. We formalize a definition of multiparty computation secure against adaptive auxiliary information (AAI-MPC), that intuitively guarantees that such an adversary learns no more than the function output and the adaptive auxiliary information. In particular, if the auxiliary information contains only partial, “noisy,” or computationally invertible information on secret inputs, then only such information should be revealed.
African Americans in Michigan

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Lewis Walker, Benjamin C. Wilson and mp; Linwood H. Cousins Year: 2001 Pages: 63 Publisher: Michigan State University Press Prices: $9.95 US
Towards Effcient Label Fusion by Pre-Alignment of Training Data.

Label fusion is a multi-atlas segmentation approach that ex- plicitly maintains and exploits the entire training dataset, rather than a parametric summary of it. Recent empirical evidence suggests that la- bel fusion can achieve signicantly better segmentation accuracy over classical parametric atlas methods that utilize a single coordinate frame. However, this performance gain typically comes at an increased computa- tional cost due to the many pairwise registrations between the novel im- age and training images. In this work, we present a modied label fusion method that approximates these pairwise warps by rst pre-registering the training images via a dieomorphic groupwise registration algorithm. The novel image is then only registered once, to the template image that represents the average training subject. The pairwise spatial correspon- dences between the novel image and training images are then computed via concatenation of appropriate transformations. Our experiments on cardiac MR data suggest that this strategy for nonparametric segmen- tation dramatically improves computational eciency, while producing segmentation results that are statistically indistinguishable from those obtained with regular label fusion. These results suggest that the key benet of label fusion approaches is the underlying nonparametric infer- ence algorithm, and not the multiple pairwise registrations.
Antagonistic Relationship between Human Cytomegalovirus pUL27 and pUL97 Activities during Infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the betaherpesvirus family. During infection, an array of viral proteins manipulates the host cell cycle. We have previously shown that expression of HCMV pUL27 results in increased levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21Cip1. In addition, pUL27 is necessary for the full antiviral activity of the pUL97 kinase inhibitor maribavir (MBV). The purpose of this study was to define the relationship between pUL27 and pUL97 and its role in MBV antiviral activity. We observed that expression of wild-type but not kinase-inactive pUL97 disrupted pUL27-dependent induction of p21Cip1. Furthermore, pUL97 associated with and promoted the phosphorylation of pUL27. During infection, inhibition of the kinase resulted in elevated levels of p21Cip1 in wild-type virus but not a pUL27-deficient virus. We manipulated the p21Cip1 levels to evaluate the functional consequence to MBV. Overexpression of p21Cip1 restored MBV activity against a pUL27-deficient virus, while disruption reduced activity against wild-type virus. We provide evidence that the functional target of p21Cip1 in the context of MBV activity is CDK1. One CDK-like activity of pUL97 is to phosphorylate nuclear lamin A/C, resulting in altered nuclear morphology and increased viral egress. In the presence of MBV, we observed that infection using a pUL27-deficient virus still altered the nuclear morphology. This was prevented by the addition of a CDK inhibitor. Overall, our results demonstrate an antagonistic relationship between pUL27 and pUL97 activities centering on p21Cip1 and support the idea that CDKs can complement some activities of pUL97. IMPORTANCE HCMV infection results in severe disease upon immunosuppression and is a leading cause of congenital birth defects. Effective antiviral compounds exist, yet they exhibit high levels of toxicity, are not approved for use during pregnancy, and can result in antiviral resistance. Our studies have uncovered new information regarding the antiviral efficacy of the HCMV pUL97 kinase inhibitor MBV as it relates to the complex interplay between pUL97 and a second HCMV protein, pUL27. We demonstrate that pUL97 functions antagonistically against pUL27 by phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of pUL27-mediated induction of p21Cip1. In contrast, we provide evidence that p21Cip1 functions to antagonize overlapping activities between pUL97 and cellular CDKs. In addition, these studies further support the notion that CDK inhibitors or p21Cip1 activators might be useful in combination with MBV to effectively inhibit HCMV infections.
Marked heterogeneity in the intrahepatic distribution of quinidine in rats : implications in pharmacokinetics

Abstract Approximately 20 to 24 samples (0.1–0.2 g each) were obtained from each of six isolated rat livers following steady-state infusion of quinidine. The concentrations of quinidine, analyzed by an HPLC method, were found to vary markedly within each lobe (up to ~52-fold) or between lobes (up to ~25-fold) from the same liver. The maximum intrahepatic concentration difference in the six livers studied was 208-fold. Implications of the present study in the determination of liver drug concentration, and of the partition coefficient between liver and venous drug concentration in physiological pharmacokinetic modeling, as well as in hepatic modeling, are discussed.
A method for combined dacryocystorhinostomy with external ethmoidectomy

Severe polypoid rhinosinusitis requiring external ethmoid surgery may be seen in conjunction with partial or complete nasolacrimal obstruction. When this obstruction is associated with persistent, unresolved lacrimal symptoms, it is sometimes appropriate to combine surgical procedures, thereby avoiding separate lacrimal surgery. A method combining dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with external ethmoidectomy is described. The anatomy involved in this procedure and the indications for it are discussed.
A linear stability analysis for nonlinear, grey, thermal radiative transfer problems

We present a new linear stability analysis of three time discretizations and Monte Carlo interpretations of the nonlinear, grey thermal radiative transfer (TRT) equations: the widely used "Implicit Monte Carlo" (IMC) equations, the Carter Forest (CF) equations, and the Ahrens-Larsen or "Semi-Analog Monte Carlo" (SMC) equations. Using a spatial Fourier analysis of the 1-D Implicit Monte Carlo (IMC) equations that are linearized about an equilibrium solution, we show that the IMC equations are unconditionally stable (undamped perturbations do not exist) if α, the IMC time-discretization parameter, satisfies 0.5<α≤1. This is consistent with conventional wisdom. However, we also show that for sufficiently large time steps, unphysical damped oscillations can exist that correspond to the lowest-frequency Fourier modes. After numerically confirming this result, we develop a method to assess the stability of any time discretization of the 0-D, nonlinear, grey, thermal radiative transfer problem. Subsequent analyses of the CF and SMC methods then demonstrate that the CF method is unconditionally stable and monotonic, but the SMC method is conditionally stable and permits unphysical oscillatory solutions that can prevent it from reaching equilibrium. This stability theory provides new conditions on the time step to guarantee monotonicity of the IMC solution, although they are likely too conservative to be used in practice. Theoretical predictions are tested and confirmed with numerical experiments.
Academic Library Use of Facebook: Building Relationships with Students.

Abstract A content analysis was conducted of status messages posted by academic libraries on seventeen Facebook pages. In addition to being informational, libraries attempt to engage and establish rapport with students through Facebook. The university setting not only creates a context for messages, but also offers a mutual set of experiences and values shared by libraries and students.
Hematopoietic progenitor cell lines with myeloid and lymphoid potential

Investigation of immune-cell differentiation and function is limited by shortcomings of suitable and scalable experimental systems. Here we show that retroviral delivery of an estrogen-regulated form of Hoxb8 into mouse bone marrow cells can be used along with Flt3 ligand to conditionally immortalize early hematopoietic progenitor cells (Hoxb8-FL cells). Hoxb8-FL cells have lost self-renewal capacity and potential to differentiate into megakaryocytes and erythrocytes but retain the potential to differentiate into myeloid and lymphoid cells. They differentiate in vitro and in vivo into macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes that are phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from their primary counterparts. Quantitative in vitro assays indicate that myeloid and B-cell potential of Hoxb8-FL cells is comparable to that of primary lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors, whereas T-cell potential is diminished. The simplicity of this system and the unlimited proliferative capacity of Hoxb8-FL cells will enable studies of immune-cell differentiation and function.
The Jπ = 7+2 and 11+2, T = 12 states of mass 19

The properties of the Jπ = 7+2 and 11+2, T = 12 states of mass 19 are discussed in terms of Coriolis coupling between rotational bands based on the single-particle Nilsson configurations of the N = 2 oscillator shell. Single-nucleon transfer spectroscopic factors are predicted for transitions leading to the positive-parity, T = 12 states of mass 19 and are compared with experimental results. It is found that the main feature of these states can be understood using s-d shell configurations.
A new method for determination of postmortem left ventricular volumes: clinico-pathologic correlations.

Abstract A description is presented of a new and simple procedure for ventricular volume determination by means of pressure fixation of the heart and preparation of plastic molds of the ventricles which can be used to displace water in a graduated cylinder to determine the volume of the mold. Correlations between postmortem ventricular volume as measured by this method and antemortem stroke volume or clinical cardiac status indicate that a large left ventricular volume is often correlated with a low cardiac output and cardiogenic shock.
Messenger RNA Surveillance and the Evolutionary Proliferation of Introns

The mechanisms responsible for the proliferation and subsequent stabilization of introns within the eukaryotic lineage have remained elusive. In the early stages of eukaryotic evolution, most introns may have been mildly deleterious at the time of insertion, but enough of them eventually acquired integral roles in transcript processing that few eukaryotic species can any longer survive without them. We suggest that the proliferation of spliceosomal introns was facilitated by the evolution of nonsense-mediated decay, an ancient and (in many cases) intron-dependent mechanism for eliminating aberrant mRNA molecules resulting from errors in transcription and splicing and from mutations at the DNA level. The spatial distribution of introns, as revealed by whole-genome analysis, is consistent with expectations for a model in which maximum protective coverage of a gene stochastically evolves over time.
Benzo[B]thiophene derivatives XXIV. Oxidation of o‐dihydroxybenzo[b]thiophene methyl ethers

The attempted oxidative demethylation of a series of o-dihydroxybenzo[b]thiophene methyl ethers with cerium (IV), argentic oxide, periodale and thallate usually led to intractable mixtures. However, in one ease, use of ceric ammonium nitrate resulted in nitration of the benzo[b]-thiophene ring. In another example, treatment with aqueous periodate or thallate resulted in oxidative hydroxylation of benzo[b]thiophene.
The infra-red spectra and structure of the rare-earth benzoates

Abstract The i.r. absorption spectra for benzoic acid and the benzoates of Na, Pr, Nd, Er, and Tm have been measured over the frequency range 3400−200 cm−1. Frequencies for the rare-earth benzoates are reported for the first time. Previously published data and observations made in this research are used to suggest several band assignments. The CC and CH bands of the phenyl nucleus are not greatly changed in the lanthanon salts. The various bands associated with the carboxylate group motions are considerably altered in the salt. The modifications of several of the bands are interpreted to indicate the benzoate ion is serving as a bidendate ligand, and the lanthanon ion is 6-co-ordinated in lanthanon benzoates. Such an interpretation accounts for some of the properties of these benzoates such as: solubility, ease of dehydration, and conductance. Benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, the light lanthanon benzoates, and the heavy lanthanon benzoates can be distinguished from each other in terms of their i.r. spectra. The bands useful for such distinctions are reported.
Design of a clinical event monitor

The issues and implementation of a clinical event monitor are described. An event monitor generates messages for providers, patients, and organizations based on clinical events and patient data. For example, an order for a medication might trigger the generation of a warning about a drug interaction. A model based on the active database literature has as its main components an event (which triggers a rule to fire), a condition (which tests whether an action ought to be performed), and an action (often the generation of a message). The details of implementing such a monitor are described, using as an example the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center clinical event monitor, which is based on the Arden Syntax for Medical Logic Modules.
Alteration of the oceanic crust: Processes and timing

Abstract 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios, Sr, K, Rb and Cs contents and the petrology of basalts and secondary phases recovered from deep basement drilling at DSDP Sites 332B, 417A, 417D and 418A show that the oceanic crust alters in four distinct stages characterized by formation of palagonite, smectite and calcite (Stages I, II and III, respectively). Stage IV represents the final compaction of the crust, including a dehydration of the crust without major chemical changes. Isotopic age determinations by Hart and Staudigel [11] and Richardson et al. [13], show that, at least for Atlantic-type crustal regimes, Stage I and II last for a maximum of 3 m.y., and Stage III lasts beyond Stage I and II, but is probably completed in significantly less than 10 m.y. Stage IV is long-lived and may still be active at 100 m.y. Stages I and II, the phase of halmyrolysis, include geochemically significant interactions between seawater and basalt for the upper 500 m of layer II and involve volumes of seawater containing a large basaltic component. Stage III solutions show evidence of less seawater-basalt interaction, at least to depths of 500 m; calcites deposited from these solutions have Sr isotopic ratios close to seawater values; but also have very low Sr/Ca ratios indicating a large basalt Ca component in the solutions. Smectite formation is the result of the interaction of seawater and basalt. The initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of smectites represent the Sr isotopic composition of the solution when the smectite is being formed. Thereafter, alkalies may be continuously added to interlayer positions in the smectite in order of decreasing hydration energy (Cs is more enriched than Rb, Rb more than K). The later-formed carbonates have very low alkali concentrations, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios identical to contemporaneous seawater. Therefore, since the alkali concentrations in a whole rock sample are affected by different alteration processes, the alkali concentrations alone are not reliable indicators of the degree of alteration.
Human resource alliances: defining the construct and exploring the antecedents

Numerous scholars have documented a dramatic transformation taking place in the relationship between employers and employees. Job security and career ladders are being replaced with a doctrine of employability. In exchange for loyalty and hard work, firms are promising to keep employees' skills current and develop them for opportunities in other workplaces. To meet these changing needs, labour market intermediaries such as temporary help firms and employee leasing organizations have emerged to mediate the relationship between firms and the spot labour market. Companies are also forming collaborative relationships, termed ‘HR alliances’ with other firms to manage their human resources. These take the form of employee-sharing relationships, training and development partnerships and ‘quasi-internal labour markets’ where employees are trained and work in one firm then permanently ‘promoted’ to a position of higher responsibility in a partner firm. In this theoretical paper, I explore the types of employees li...
Erratum to “Methylmercury cycling in sediments on the continental shelf of southern New England” [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 70–4 (2006) 918–930]

Table 1 Mean characteristics of surface sediments (upper 3 cm) at the three sampling stations on the continental shelf of southern New England Station Organic content (%LOI) Sediment (pmol g 1 dry weight) Pore water (pM) MMHg Hg(II) MMHg Hg(II) 71north 1.9 (11.3) 0.36 (10.3) 43.0 (14.2) 3.62 (5.6) 17.2 (41.7) 71central 6.8 (4.8) 1.13 (10.3) 158 (4.0) 3.49 (21.8) 8.6 (22.9) 71south 5.8 (8.3) 0.74 (12.5) 96.6 (5.2) 4.41 (16.0) 15.5 (18.6) The relative standard deviation (%) among cores at each station (n = 3) is given in parentheses.