cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A GMM-IG framework for selecting genes as expression panel biomarkers

Objective: The limitation of small sample size of functional genomics experiments has made it necessary to integrate DNA microarray experimental data from different sources. However, experimentation noises and biases of different microarray platforms have made integrated data analysis challenging. In this work, we propose an integrative computational framework to identify candidate biomarker genes from publicly available functional genomics studies. Methods: We developed a new framework, Gaussian Mixture Modeling-Coupled Information Gain (GMM-IG). In this framework, we first apply a two-component Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to estimate the conditional probability distributions of gene expression data between two different types of samples, for example, normal versus cancer. An expectation-maximization algorithm is then used to estimate the maximum likelihood parameters of a mixture of two Gaussian models in the feature space and determine the underlying expression levels of genes. Gene expression results from different studies are discretized, based on GMM estimations and then unified. Significantly differentially-expressed genes are filtered and assessed with information gain (IG) measures. Results: DNA microarray experimental data for lung cancers from three different prior studies was processed using the new GMM-IG method. Target gene markers from a gene expression panel were selected and compared with several conventional computational biomarker data analysis methods. GMM-IG showed consistently high accuracy for several classification assessments. A high reproducibility of gene selection results was also determined from statistical validations. Our study shows that the GMM-IG framework can overcome poor reliability issues from single-study DNA microarray experiment while maintaining high accuracies by combining true signals from multiple studies. Conclusions: We present a conceptually simple framework that enables reliable integration of true differential gene expression signals from multiple microarray experiments. This novel computational method has been shown to generate interesting biomarker panels for lung cancer studies. It is promising as a general strategy for future panel biomarker development, especially for applications that requires integrating experimental results generated from different research centers or with different technology platforms.
Conceptions of the Opposite-Sex Ideal by International Students in the Netherlands

Individual and cultural values, as well as adolescents' views of appropriate gender roles, are revealed in their depictions of the ideal man and the ideal woman (Stiles, Gibbons, Hardardottir, & Schnellmann, 1987). International students from 44 countries attending a university preparatory school or a university in the Randstad area of the Netherlands participated in the present study. On a questionnaire adapted from Clifford, Grandgenett, and Bardwell (1981), participants rated 10 characteristics of the opposite-sex ideal on a 7-point scale for importance
Genetic mapping of soybean cyst nematode race-3 resistance loci in the soybean PI 437.654.

Resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is difficult to evaluate in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] breeding. PI 437.654 has resistance to more SCN race isolates than any other known soybean. We screened 298 F6∶7 recombinant-inbred lines from a cross between PI 437.654 and ‘BSR101’ for SCN race-3 resistance, genetically mapped 355 RFLP markers and the I locus, and tested these markers for association with resistance loci. The Rhg 4 resistance locus was within 1 cM of the I locus on linkage group A. Two additional QTLs associated with SCN resistance were located within 3cM of markers on groups G and M. These two loci were not independent because 91 of 96 lines that had a resistant-parent marker type on group G also had a resistant-parent marker type on group M. Rhg 4 and the QTL on G showed a significant interaction by together providing complete resistance to SCN race-3. Individually, the QTL on G had greater effect on resistance than did Rhg 4, but neither locus alone provided a degree of resistance much different from the susceptible parent. The nearest markers to the mapped QTLs on groups A and G had allele frequencies from the resistant parent indicating 52 resistant lines in this population, a number not significantly different from the 55 resistant lines found. Therefore, no QTLs from PI 437.654 other than those mapped here are expected to be required for resistance to SCN race-3. All 50 lines that had the PI 437.654 marker type at the nearest marker to each of the QTLs on groups A and G were resistant to SCN race-3. We believe markers near to these QTLs can be used effectively to select for SCN race-3 resistance, thereby improving the ability to breed SCN-resistant soybean varieties.
Angiotensin-antibody interaction—II thermodynamic and activation parameters

Abstract Equilibrium-state and kinetic studies were conducted on the primary interaction between angiotensin I and II with their respective rabbit antibodies. At 25°C, the changes in the standard free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were, respectively, −8·4 to −13·1 kcal/mole, −3·1 to −5·7 kcal/mole, and 14·3 to 28·5 e.u. during the course of the immune response. For the forward associative reactions, the energy of activation varied from 6·7 to 9·2 kcal/mole, and the changes in the entropy of activation ranged from −5·0 to −17·4 e.u. Thus, while the overall energetics of the antibody-peptide systems studied here are similar to those reported for antibody-protein systems, the activation parameters suggest that the peptide and the protein systems may differ in the mechanisms involved in the formation of the transition state.
Proper-time gauge in the quantum theory of gravitation

The proper-time gauge appears to be the simplest one consistent with the invariance properties of the gravitational action. It also permits one to implement in a direct manner the requirement of causality in the quantum theory of gravitation. In this paper the measure for the path integral over gravitational fields in the proper-time gauge is explicitly worked out. The corresponding propagation amplitude results after the following steps: (i) evaluating the amplitude for a transition between two three-geometries for which one specifies the relative pointwise proper-time separation and relative spatial coordinate system, (ii) integrating over all positive proper-time separations with a logarithmic measure, (iii) averaging over all possible choices of the relative coordinate system. (An explicit expression for the measure over the diffeomorphism group in terms of a set of ghost fields emerges from the path integral.)
Integrated 3D-stacked server designs for increasing physical density of key-value stores

Key-value stores, such as Memcached, have been used to scale web services since the beginning of the Web 2.0 era. Data center real estate is expensive, and several industry experts we have spoken to have suggested that a significant portion of their data center space is devoted to key value stores. Despite its wide-spread use, there is little in the way of hardware specialization for increasing the efficiency and density of Memcached; it is currently deployed on commodity servers that contain high-end CPUs designed to extract as much instruction-level parallelism as possible. Out-of-order CPUs, however have been shown to be inefficient when running Memcached. To address Memcached efficiency issues, we propose two architectures using 3D stacking to increase data storage efficiency. Our first 3D architecture, Mercury, consists of stacks of ARM Cortex-A7 cores with 4GB of DRAM, as well as NICs. Our second architecture, Iridium, replaces DRAM with NAND Flash to improve density. We explore, through simulation, the potential efficiency benefits of running Memcached on servers that use 3D-stacking to closely integrate low-power CPUs with NICs and memory. With Mercury we demonstrate that density may be improved by 2.9X, power efficiency by 4.9X, throughput by 10X, and throughput per GB by 3.5X over a state-of-the-art server running optimized Memcached. With Iridium we show that density may be increased by 14X, power efficiency by 2.4X, and throughput by 5.2X, while still meeting latency requirements for a majority of requests.
Building Organizational Capacity Through Trust

This article explores the cultivation of collegial trust as a central feature of the capacity-building work of 11 high school principals, nominated for their expertise with capacity building. This qualitative study examined interview data and school documents collected over 18 months. Principals regarded trust as critical and were motivated to engage in trust building based on their understanding of the importance of trust or by information that pointed to school-wide trust concerns. To address collegial trust concerns, principals set, enforced, and reinforced norms of interaction. Based on a review of interdisciplinary literature on trust development, and drawing upon a knowledge-based model of trust development where repeated interactions serve as a key mechanism for trust formation in organizations, three broad actions, emanating in large measure from principals' work to support and enhance collaboration, are identified as important with respect to the cultivation of collegial trust. Varied and context...
Monopole core polarization

Abstract The coupling of a particle to a monopole vibration enters, at least in part, into several different problems such as the isotope shift, the particle-particle and particle-hole interactions and the Nolen-Schiffer anomaly for the mass difference of mirror nuclei. It is noted in this work that the exchange of a monopole phonon between two particles or between a particle and a hole has the phenomenologically undesirable property of shifting the centers of gravity of T=1 and T=0 multiplets towards each other. With a monopole coupling strength large enough to explain the Nolen-Schiffer anomaly, the effect on the particle-particle and particle-hole spectrum and hence on the parameters in a binding energy formula is appreciable, so we believe that the full discrepancy cannot be explained via a core polarization mechanism. By using a surface delta interaction the expressions for the coupling between the particle and vibration becomes very simple.
Utilization of high energy, small emittance accelerators for ICF target experiments

Abstract High specific energy deposition can be achieved by using very small spot sizes if small-emittance particle beams are available, even if the kinetic energies are very high. This could allow some important target physics parameters to be determined in a foil target, such as energy deposition and equations-of-state at high temperatures. A discussion of one case, the FNAL proton accelerator, is given in detail. Since the minimum achievable spot size is critically important, focusing aberrations are a central issue. A longitudinal buncher in the ring is required; a rough cost estimate is given at aroung $5 M. For proton experiments giving target plasmas at a temperature above 10 eV it is necessary to obtain a longitudinal emittance at FNAL smaller than presently measured, but this is theoretically possible. If acceleration of comparable numbers of stripped heavy ions could also be accomplished, we estimate that target plasma temperature exceeding 200 eV could be achieved, and cylindrical implosion target might be studied.
Imaging minority carrier diffusion in GaN nanowires using near field optical microscopy

Abstract A novel system has been developed for the imaging of carrier transport within semiconductor nanostructures by operating a near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) within a scanning electron microscope. Luminescence associated with carrier recombination is collected with high spatial resolution to monitor the motion and recombination of charge generated by use of an electron beam as an independent point source. Light is collected in the near field from a scanning fiber using tuning fork feedback in an open architecture combined AFM/NSOM system allowing independent motion of sample and tip. From a single image, it is possible to obtain a direct measure of minority carrier diffusion length. This technique has been used in the near-field collection mode to image the diffusion of holes in n-type GaN–AlGaN core-shell nanowires, grown via Ni-catalyzed MOCVD. Measurements were made on tapered nanowires ranging in diameter from 500 to 800 nm, with lengths up to ∼30 μm. The average 1-dimensional carrier diffusion length was measured to be 1.2±0.2 μm in the low injection limit. In addition, it is possible to map the luminescence that is waveguided to the end of the structure, imaging waveguide modes.
Single-Machine Sustainable Production Planning to Minimize Total Energy Consumption and Total Completion Time Using a Multiple Objective Genetic Algorithm

Energy is an expensive resource that is becoming more scarce with increasing population and demand. In this paper, a mathematical model to minimize energy consumption and reduce total completion time of a single machine is proposed, and a multiobjective genetic algorithm is utilized to obtain an approximate set of nondominated alternatives. Furthermore, dominance rules and a heuristic are proposed to increase the speed of the proposed genetic algorithm. Finally, the analytical hierarchical process is utilized to select a solution with some additional criteria.
Investigating incidental remission of subpontic hyperostosis.

Removing a fixed partial denture may be an option as valid as surgery to treat patients who have subpontic osseous hyperplasia.
Protein folding: matching theory and experiment.

The impact of folding funnels and folding simulations on the way experimentalists interpret results is examined. The image of the transition state has changed from a unique species that has a strained configuration, with a correspondingly high free energy, to a more ordinary folding intermediate, whose balance between limited conformational entropy and stabilizing contacts places it at the top of the free energy barrier. Evidence for a broad transition barrier comes from studies showing that mutations can change the position of the barrier. The main controversial issue now is whether populated folding intermediates are productive on-pathway intermediates or dead-end traps. Direct experimental evidence is needed. Theories suggesting that populated intermediates are trapped in a glasslike state are usually based on mechanisms which imply that trapping would only be extremely short-lived (e.g., nanoseconds) in water at 25 degrees C. There seems to be little experimental evidence for long-lived trapping in monomers, if folding aggregates are excluded. On the other hand, there is good evidence for kinetic trapping in dimers. alpha-Helix formation is currently the fastest known process in protein folding, and incipient helices are present at the start of folding. Fast helix formation has the effect of narrowing drastically the choice of folding routes. Thus helix formation can direct folding. It changes the folding metaphor from pouring liquid down a folding funnel to a train leaving a switchyard with only a few choices of exit tracks.
Polyimide Adhesion Characteristics

The effects of surface treatment and cure temperatures on polyimide to silicon nitride adhesion strength are discussed. Results show the importance of surface cleanliness and the requirements for an adhesion promoter. Understanding the temperature cure to a polyimide adhesion strength at a nitride interface is also important.
Real Time Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification Using a Novel Sliding Mode Estimator

In this work, a novel technique for the real time identi cation of uncertain nonlinear aircraft aerodynamic coe cients has been developed and analyzed. The major objective of this paper is to develop and demonstrate a system for parameter identi cation in a real time ight environment. This system should be able to calculate aerodynamic coe cient information using typical pilot inputs while ensuring robust, stable, and rapid convergence. The parameter estimator investigated is based upon the nonlinear sliding mode control schema; one of the main advantages of the sliding mode estimator is the ability to guarantee a stable and robust convergence. Stable convergence is ensured by choosing a sliding surface and function that satis es the Lyapunov stability criteria. After a proper sliding surface has been chosen, the nonlinear equations of motion for an F-16 aircraft are substituted into the sliding surface yielding an estimator capable of identifying a single aircraft parameter. Multiple sliding surfaces are then developed for each of the di erent ight parameters that will be identi ed. Sliding surfaces and parameter estimators have been developed and simulated for the pitching moment, lift force, and drag force coe cients of the F-16 aircraft. Comparing the estimated coe cients with the reference coe cients shows rapid and stable convergence for a variety of pilot inputs. Starting with simple doublet and sin wave commands, and followed by more complicated continuous pilot inputs, estimated aerodynamic coe cients have been shown to match the actual coe cients with a high degree of accuracy. This estimator is also shown to be superior to model reference or adaptive estimators, it is able to handle positive and negative estimated parameters and control inputs along with guaranteeing Lyapunov stability during convergence.
Mouse spinal cord compression injury is ameliorated by intrathecal cationic manganese(III) porphyrin catalytic antioxidant therapy.

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of the cationic manganese(III) tetrakis( N,N ′-diethylimidazolium-2-yl)porphyrin catalytic antioxidant Mn III TDE-2-ImP 5+ (AEOL 10150) on outcome from spinal cord compression (SCC) in the mouse. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to 60 min thoracic SCC after discontinuation of halothane anesthesia. In Experiment 1, mice were given intravenous Mn III TDE-2-ImP 5+ (0.5 mg/kg bolus followed by 1 mg kg −1 h −1 for 24 h), methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg bolus followed by 5.4 mg kg −1 h −1 for 24 h), or vehicle ( n = 25 per group). In Experiment 2, mice were given intrathecal Mn III TDE-2-ImP 5+ (2.5 or 5.0 μg/kg) or vehicle ( n = 18 per group). In both experiments, treatment began 5 min post-SCC onset. Rotarod performance was measured on post-SCC days 3, 7, 14, and 21. On post-SCC day 21, the spinal cord was histologically examined and a total damage score was calculated. Neither intravenous Mn III TDE-2-ImP 5+ nor methylprednisolone altered rotarod performance (accelerated rate P = 0.11, fixed rate P = 0.11) or mean ± S.D. total damage score (Mn III TDE-2-ImP 5+ = 21 ± 9, methylprednisolone = 24 ± 8, vehicle = 22 ± 10; P = 0.47; shams = 0). Intrathecal Mn III TDE-2-ImP 5+ (both 2.5 and 5.0 μg) given at SCC-onset improved rotarod performance ( P = 0.05) and total damage score (2.5 μg = 19 ± 10, P = 0.04; 5.0 μg =19 ± 8, P = 0.03) versus vehicle (26 ± 10). These studies demonstrate sustained benefit from manganese(III) porphyrin catalytic antioxidant therapy after SCC. However, efficacy was dependent upon route of administration suggesting that bioavailability is critical in defining efficacy.
Cooperation between Rivals: Informal Know-How Trading

It has long been recognized that it is difficult for an innovating firm to fully appropriate the benefits arising from its innovations, and that desired research might therefore not be performed (Nelson 1959, pp. 297–306). One sometimes possible solution to this dilemma is cooperative R&D conducted by firms who share the costs and benefits of particular R&D projects (Johnson 1973).
Long-Term Impact of Russell 2000 Index Rebalancing

The study reported here examined the long-term impact of Russell 2000 Index rebalancing on portfolio evaluation. A buy-and-hold index portfolio outperformed the annually rebalanced index in the 1979–2004 period by an average of 2.22 percent over one year and 17.29 percent over five years. Although short-term momentum and the poor long-term returns of new issues partially explain these returns, index deletions were found to provide significantly higher factor-adjusted returns than index additions. Some small-capitalization fund managers appear to capture a portion of these benefits. The strongest performing funds enhanced their factor-adjusted returns by an average of 1.45 percent per year by holding index deletions and/or avoiding index additions. Among the weakest performing funds, higher returns from holding index deletions were offset by the poor returns of new issues added to the index. Thus, index methodology may provide a structural incentive for portfolio managers to drift from their benchmarks.
Ethics Training at Texas A&M: Classroom Discussions on the Proposed AAA Ethics Code Revision

: Liam Frink is contributing editor of “Ethical Currents,” the AAA Committee on Ethics column in Anthropology News.
Effect of ventricular size and function on exercise performance and the electrocardiogram in repaired tetralogy of Fallot with pure pulmonary regurgitation

Background: In repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), exercise test parameters like peak oxygen uptake and ventilatory efficiency predict mortality. Studies have also suggested cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived right ventricular (RV) size threshold values for pulmonary valve replacement in repaired TOF. However, effects of proposed RV size on exercise capacity and morbidity are not known. Methods: The relationship between CMR-derived ventricular size, function, and pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and NYHA class, exercise performance, and electrocardiogram (ECG) was studied in patients of repaired TOF with pure PR in a retrospective review of records. Results: 46 patients (22 females), mean age 14 years (8−30.8), were studied. There was no relationship between CMR-derived ventricular size, function, or PR and exercise test parameters, or NYHA class. RV end systolic and end diastolic volume correlated positively with the degree of PR. QRS duration on ECG correlated positively with RV end-diastolic volume (P Conclusions: In repaired TOF and pure PR, there is no correlation between ventricular size or function and exercise performance. RV size increases with increasing PR. Timing of pulmonary valve replacement in TOF with pure PR needs further prospective evaluation for its effect on morbidity and mortality.
Double-cavity electrooptic Fabry-Perot tunable filter

The experimental development of an infrared multiple-cavity electrooptically tuned Fabry-Perot filter using LiNbO3 is described. This filter, designed for operation in the 3–5-μm spectral band, was demonstrated by angle scanning using a He–Ne laser at 3.39 μm. The multiple-cavity configuration increased the free-spectral range of the 2-A bandwidth filter from 67 to 670 A as observed in the increased angular spacing of transmission peaks. Because of the large halfwave voltage of LiNbO3 at these wavelengths, tuning was restricted to ~15% of the free-spectral range.
Characteristics of the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale in a sample of 79 married couples.

Data from 79 couples in a midwestern sample were analyzed to evaluate the internal consistency reliability and validity of the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. Cronbach alphas for the scale were 0.89 and 0.93 for husbands and wives, respectively, while the scale was somewhat less well correlated with an abbreviated version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale than with an abbreviated version of Edmonds' Marital Conventionalization Scale. The distribution of responses to the scale departed significantly from normality in terms of skewness and kurtosis, although the deviations were reduced among subjects scoring low on marital social desirability. The scale offers promise for use in clinical evaluation and survey research where a brief but reliable measure of marital satisfaction is required.
Revisiting the foundations of information discovery and access systems

Each year, the pace of building digital resource and data repositories increases. Multiple challenges face each project, for which no adequate technological solution may exist. The focus of this panel moves beyond construction to address the question: What assumptions and principles lie beneath the technology scaffolding digital environments? The members of this panel are engaged in open exploration and reconsideration of the roles played by representational and organizational structures that seek to support, and which sometimes impair discovery, access and use. These structures take shape in metadata, vocabulary and classificatory frameworks. Specific topics covered will include heritage classificatory work well-suited for application in digital environments, an inversion of the role of metadata as infrastructure for documents, application of bibliographic relationship taxonomies such as FRBR in tracking the life cycle of data objects, and potential definition and organizational roles to be played by collection level representations.
Suppression of Acceptor Deactivation in Siucon by Disordered Surface Regions

Permeation of atomic hydrogen in p-type Si damaged with ion implantation or deposited with polycrystalline or amorphous Si has been studied. Following ion implantation or film deposition, atomic hydrogen was introduced by low energy H ion implantation or from an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma. Spreading resistance profiles indicate that deactivation of acceptor dopant boron atoms by atomic hydrogen is drastically reduced in silicon wafers with any of the above disordered surface layers, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) traces this reduction to the suppression of hydrogen movement into the crystalline Si substrate. Trapping of hydrogen or formation of molecular hydrogen at defect sites in the surface disordered regions apparently is responsible for this phenomenon.
The role of preoperative biometry in selecting initial contact lens power in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study

Purpose To investigate the role of preoperative biometry for selecting initial contact lens power. Methods Patients randomized to receive contact lenses in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) were retrospectively analyzed. Inclusion criteria were availability of both a preoperative immersion axial length measurement and a 1-month postoperative refractive value. The target contact lens power for distance was determined using 1-month postoperative spherical equivalent refraction (after adjusting for a vertex distance) over the known contact lens power. We compared targeted contact lens power for distance with three other treatment techniques: (1) 30 D contact lens (32 D minus 2 D overcorrection for near vision based on IATS protocol); (2) regression-estimated contact lens power of 84.4 − 3.2 × axial length; and (3) IOL power calculated using the Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff (SRK/T) regression formula with a modified A-constant (112.176). Prediction error (targeted minus estimated contact lens power) and its absolute values were calculated. Results A total of 34 eyes of 34 patients met inclusion criteria. Age at the time of cataract surgery was 2.4 ± 1.7 months. Follow-up refraction was performed at 31 ± 3 days after surgery. Target contact lens power for distance was 26.0 ± 4.5 D for the IATS cohort (which excluded infants with corneal diameter Conclusions Preoperative biometry can be used to estimate contact lens power for distance if an accurate refraction cannot be obtained initially.
Photodermatoses in African Americans: a retrospective analysis of 135 patients over a 7-year period.

Background The frequency of photodermatoses in African Americans has not been well characterized. Objective To evaluate the frequency of photodermatoses in African Americans in an academic medical center during a 7-year period. This was compared with that observed in Caucasians seen during the same period. Methods A retrospective chart review of 2200 dermatology clinic charts from August 1997 to September 2004 was performed. Charts of patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic codes related to photodermatoses were included. Results Two hundred eighty patients with photodermatoses were identified: 135 (48%) African Americans, 110 (40%) Caucasians, and 35 (12%) patients of other races. In African Americans and Caucasians, the frequency of diagnoses was as follows: polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) (67.4% and 41.1%, respectively), systemic phototoxicity (13.3%, 10.7%), chronic actinic dermatitis (11.1%, 7.1%), porphyrias (0.7%, 21.4%), solar urticaria (2.2%, 8%), and other (5.2%, 10%). There was a statistically significantly higher proportion of African Americans with PMLE (P Limitations This study was a retrospective analysis. Conclusion Photodermatoses occur regularly in African Americans. With the notable exceptions of PMLE, porphyrias, and solar urticaria, the frequency of photodermatoses in African Americans was similar to that in Caucasians.
A segmentation method for multi-connected particle delineation

An automatic particle segmentation system is developed for calculating the size distribution of rock fragments created by blasting. A rock composite due to blasting is often fully multi-connected in which individual particles cannot be delineated by the existing segmentation algorithms. Two algorithms are proposed to approach this multi-connected segmentation problem. The first algorithm analyzes the shape of each shadow (a simply-connected region) and 'splits' the particles from shadow boundary convexity points if a relatively large gradient path occurs. The second algorithm finds clusters of rock particles which may not be delineated due to the lack of a strong gradient along the touching portions and delineates them using a shape heuristics. A large number of test results show that the method is fast and accurate. >
Pneumococcal Serotypes Causing Pneumonia with Pleural Effusion in Pediatric Patients

To determine the prevalence of serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae responsible for pneumonia with pleural effusion, we determined the capsular polysaccharide (PS) type directly on 49 pleural fluid specimens collected from pediatric patients during 2007 to 2009 with laboratory-confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia by using monoclonal antibodies and a multiplex, bead array immunoassay. Because the fluids had to be heated to remove nonspecific reactivity before being tested in the immunoassay and type 19A PS is heat labile, the pleural fluid samples were also tested for serotype 19A capsule gene locus by PCR. Use of the multiplex immunoassay combined with type-specific 19A PCR allowed for serotype determination on 40 of 49 pleural fluids. Pneumococcal pneumonia with pleural effusion was associated with a limited number of serotypes, with types 1, 3, 7F/A, and 19A accounting for 75% of the typeable cases. The concentration of capsular PS in the pleural fluids was often greater than 1 μg/ml and sufficient to inhibit the opsonic capacity of sera from individuals who had received the 23-valent pneumococcal PS vaccine. Based on the serotypes observed before and after introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the recently licensed 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may reduce the incidence of pneumonia with pleural effusions.
Mini-dose heparin therapy in pelvic lymphadenectomy and 1251I implantation for localized prostatic cancer

A retrospective comparison of patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy and iodine-125 implantation for localized prostatic cancer was undertaken. A control group of 276 patients was compared with 105 patients in a mini-dose heparin group. No protective benefit in the prevention of thromboembolic events was demonstrated. Operative and postoperative complications are reviewed.
Seasonal variation of long-term potentiation at a central synapse in the medicinal leech.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent increase in synaptic transmission that is thought to contribute to a variety of adaptive processes including learning and memory. Although learning is known to undergo circannual variations, it is not known whether LTP undergoes similar changes despite the importance of LTP in learning and memory. Here we report that synapses in the CNS of the medicinal leech demonstrate seasonal variation in the capacity to undergo LTP following paired presynaptic and postsynaptic stimulation. LTP was observed during the April–October period, but no LTP was observed during the November–March period. Application of forskolin, a technique often used to produce chemical LTP, failed to elicit potentiation during the November–March period. Implementing stimulation patterns that normally result in long term depression (LTD) also failed to elicit any change in synaptic strength during the November–March period. These experiments indicate that LTP and LTD can be influenced by circannual rhythms and also suggest a seasonal influence on learning and memory.
TENDINITIS OSSIFICANS TRAUMATICA

1. A case of tendinitis ossificans traumatica is reported. We believe that it was definitely due to a proliferation of the periosteum resulting from trauma. This is a rare condition; only eight cases of similar nature have been reported. So far as we are able to learn the patellar tendon has not been the site of such a process in any of the reported cases. 2. Two cases of a rarer type, apparently due to an actual metamorphosis, have been reported. 3. In the proliferative type, surgical treatment to remove the mass, replace a functional mechanism, and prevent further proliferation is necessary. In the type due to a metamorphosis of tissue, simple excision only is indicated.
Residues and Effects from Feeding High Concentrations of Hexachlorobenzene to Broiler Cockerels

Abstract Eight-day old broiler cockerels received 0, 1, 10, or 100 ppm dietary hexachlorobenzene (HCB) for 25, 38, or 52 days. Treated birds grew faster for the first 25 days, but the trend was reversed at later times so there was no net weight difference at 52 days. Birds receiving 100 ppm dietary HCB had significantly enlarged adrenal glands at 38 days and enlarged livers at 38 and 52 days. Equilibrium concentrations in adipose tissue 12 to 13 times the dietary concentration were reached by 23 days in birds receiving 10 or 100 ppm HCB. Birds receiving 1 ppm concentrated HCB more effectively in the fat and did not reach equilibrium until 23 to 38 days.
An introduction to analyzing dichotomous outcomes in a longitudinal setting: A NIDRR Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems communication

An untapped wealth of temporal information is captured within the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database. Utilization of appropriate longitudinal analyses can provide an avenue toward unlocking the value of this information. This article highlights 2 statistical methods used for assessing change over time when examination of noncontinuous outcomes is of interest where this article focuses on investigation of dichotomous responses. Specifically, the intent of this article is to familiarize the rehabilitation community with the application of generalized estimating equations and generalized linear mixed models as used in longitudinal studies. An introduction to each method is provided where similarities and differences between the 2 are discussed. In addition, to reinforce the ideas and concepts embodied in each approach, we highlight each method, using examples based on data from the Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System.
Plasmonic Heating in Au Nanowires at Low Temperatures: The Role of Thermal Boundary Resistance.

Inelastic electron tunneling and surface-enhanced optical spectroscopies at the molecular scale require cryogenic local temperatures even under illumination—conditions that are challenging to achieve with plasmonically resonant metallic nanostructures. We report a detailed study of the laser heating of plasmonically active nanowires at substrate temperatures from 5 to 60 K. The increase of the local temperature of the nanowire is quantified by a bolometric approach and could be as large as 100 K for a substrate temperature of 5 K and typical values of laser intensity. We also demonstrate that a ∼3-fold reduction of the local temperature increase is possible by switching to a sapphire or quartz substrate. Finite element modeling of the heat dissipation reveals that the local temperature increase of the nanowire at temperatures below ∼50 K is determined largely by the thermal boundary resistance of the metal–substrate interface. The model reproduces the striking experimental trend that in this regime the te...
On the design and interpretation of experiments to elucidate albumin-dependent hepatic uptake

The liver's apparently anomalous extraction of organic anions tightly bound to albumin continues to provoke controversy and confusion. Decisive experiments have proved difficult to design, and mathematical models have usually been constructed to defend one or another putative mechanism to the exclusion of others. To stimulate more decisive experiments and as an aid to interpreting those already reported, we discuss a general formulation of the problem that predicts the clearance pattern to be expected when facilitated dissociation and codiffusion are joint determinants of the uptake flux. The results provide an approach to modeling the various mechanisms by which the concentration of bound ligand at the cell surface could be a driving force for uptake. Further we present new calculations to clarify the interpretation of net ligand clearance when the removal of free ligand is the result of bidirectional fluxes into and out of an unstirred sink. Applied to a previously published comparison of the uptake performances of hepatocytes and polyethylene, the new calculations support the inference that facilitated dissociation of albumin-palmitate complexes occurs at or near the hepatocyte surface.
G Protein–Coupled Taste Transduction

Abstract G protein–coupled taste receptors include the type 1 taste receptor sweet and umami receptors and the type 2 taste receptor bitter receptors, which are expressed in nonoverlapping subsets of the type II “receptor” cells of the taste bud. This chapter focuses on the canonical signal transduction events downstream of these taste receptors, including receptor activation of the heterotrimeric G protein Gα-gustducin and its beta-gamma (βγ) partners Gβ1 and γ13. The downstream events include Gβγ-mediated activation of phospholipase C β2, production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, activation of the M5-type transient receptor potential channel, and nonvesicular release of adenosine triphosphate as a transmitter to activate purinergic receptors on afferent nerve fibers. Although the role of the Gα subunit is not completely understood, Gα-gustducin activates phosphodiesterase to keep cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels low and prevent phosphorylation and desensitization of the downstream Ca2+ signaling effectors, thus keeping the taste cells in an active state to respond to taste stimuli with vigorous Ca2+ signals.
Secondary Prevention of Stroke with Atrial Fibrillation by New Oral Anticoagulants

We used the results of secondary prevention analyses for patients with a history of stroke or TIA in the large-scale RE-LY, ROCKET-AF (J-ROCKET-AF), and ARISTOTLE clinical trials to investigate the choice of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) to prevent recurrent stroke. In light of these results, we concluded that dabigatran 150 mg BID should be the first-choice treatment for comparatively young patients with no apparent renal dysfunction, and apixaban for other patients, and that their efficacy and safety can be broadly guaranteed.
Extendable Pantograph Arms

When designing a robot to interact with people, the decision to incorporate a robot arm may arise. In this paper, we investigate adding an inexpensive, functional arm to our mobile CoBot service robots. Specifically, we examine two-dimensional extendable pantograph arms for CoBot. Pantograph arms have intuitive kinematics and inverse kinematics. Pantograph arms are modular and adding additional linkages corresponds to simple changes in the kinematic calculations. These arms have several advantages (and disadvantages) compared to traditional robot arms. A prototype pantograph arm is currently in development and our goal is to attach a modular pantograph arm to CoBot to perform simple needed tasks, such as knocking on doors and pressing elevator buttons.
Strict Virtual Call Integrity Checking for C++ Binaries

Modern operating systems are equipped with defenses that render legacy code injection attacks inoperable. However, attackers can bypass these defenses by crafting attacks that reuse existing code in a program's memory. One of the most common classes of attacks manipulates memory data used indirectly to execute code, such as function pointers. This is especially prevalent in C++ programs, since tables of function pointers (vtables) are used by all major compilers to support polymorphism. In this paper, we propose VCI, a binary rewriting system that secures C++ binaries against vtable attacks. VCI works directly on stripped binary files. It identifies and reconstructs various C++ semantics from the binary, and constructs a strict CFI policy by resolving and pairing virtual function calls (vcalls) with precise sets of target classes. The policy is enforced by instrumenting checks into the binary at vcall sites. Experimental results on SPEC CPU2006 and Firefox show that VCI is significantly more precise than state-of-the-art binary solutions. Testing against the ground truth from the source-based defense GCC VTV, VCI achieved greater than 60% precision in most cases, accounting for at least 48% to 99% additional reduction in the attack surface compared to the state-of-the-art binary defenses. VCI incurs a 7.79% average runtime overhead which is comparable to the state-of-the-art. In addition, we discuss how VCI defends against real-world attacks, and how it impacts advanced vtable reuse attacks such as COOP.
Collaborative Online Teamwork: Exploring Students' Satisfaction and Attitudes with Google Hangouts as a Supplementary Communication Tool

This study examined differences in student satisfaction and perceptions of online teamwork in two cohorts of an undergraduate educational technology course: one delivered fully asynchronously and t...
Prognostic factors and survival outcomes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in blast phase in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor era: Cohort study of 477 patients.

BACKGROUND Outcomes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in blast phase (CML-BP) are historically dismal. Herein, the authors sought to analyze the characteristics, prognostic factors, and survival outcomes in patients with CML-BP in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era. METHODS A total of 477 patients with CML-BP were treated with a TKI at some point during the course of their CML. Cox proportional hazard models identified characteristics that were predictive of survival. Overall survival and failure-free survival were assessed. Optimal cutoff points for specific parameters were identified using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. RESULTS The median age of the patients was 53 years (range, 16-84 years) and 64% were male. Approximately 80% of patients initially were diagnosed in the chronic phase of CML at a median of 41 months (range, 0.7-298 months) before transformation to CML-BP. De novo CML-BP occurred in 71 patients. Approximately 72% of patients received TKI therapy before CML-BP. The initial therapy for CML-BP included a TKI alone (35%), a TKI with chemotherapy (46%), and non-TKI therapies (19%). The median overall survival was 12 months and the median failure-free survival was 5 months. In multivariate analysis, myeloid immunophenotype, prior TKI, age ≥58 years, lactate dehydrogenase level ≥1227 IU/L, platelet count < 102 K/μL, no history of stem cell transplantation, transition to BP from chronic phase/accelerated phase, and the presence of chromosome 15 aberrations predicted for a significantly increased risk of death. Achievement of major hematologic response and/or complete cytogenetic response to first-line treatment was found to be predictive of better survival. The combination of a TKI with intensive chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation appeared to confer the best outcome. CONCLUSIONS Patients with CML-BP continue to pose a therapeutic challenge, have dismal outcomes, and require newer treatment approaches. Cancer 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Advance care planning in same-sex couples

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process in which an individual’s goals, desires, and preferences regarding health care during a serious illness or end of life are explored by the clinician through conversations with the patient and their families. ACP is underutilized among same-sex couples. In our case report we describe a same-sex couple who did not have an ACP. The gap in current practice is primarily due to provider discomfort or unfamiliarity in discussing end of life care issues especially in same-sex couples. If not remedied, this could negatively impact the physical and emotional health in this vulnerable population leading to health disparities.
Space-Time Analytics of Tracks for the Understanding of Patterns of Life

Location-aware devices have enabled the recording of personal whereabouts at fine spatial and temporal resolutions. These temporal sequences of personal locations provide unprecedented opportunities to explore patterns of life through space-time analytics of movement and stops of individuals. At a disaggregated level, patterns of life reveal the activities and places as well as the development of routines for individuals. At an aggregate level, patterns of life suggest potential social networks and social hot spots for interactions. Moreover, the concept of “neighborhood” can become personalized and dynamic with space-time analytics to identify the spatial extent to which an individual operates and how the extent varies with temporal granularity. This chapter starts with an overview of space-time track analysis. While time geography has proven useful for analysis of space-time paths and space-time constraints on human activities, its scalability to large data sets is questionable. This chapter provides a conceptual framework and methodology for conducting space-time analysis with a massive number of space-time tracks including over a million points of moves and stops over the course of a year. The examples demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed conceptual framework and methodology to distill complex patterns of life at both disaggregate and aggregate levels that can lead to research opportunities for space-time integration in GIScience for an improved understanding of geography.
Power-Conserving Algorithms and Protocols in Ad Hoc Networks

Wireless networking in recent years has become more and more popular. It has rapidly emerged into a major component of the networking infrastructure. The global market for mobile wireless devices and services has met great demand In the year of 2002, there are about a billion wireless communication devices in use, and more than 200 million wireless telephone handsets are purchased annually.