cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1373 THE IMPACT OF INHIBIZONE® ON ARTIFICIAL URINARY SPHINCTER INFECTION RATE

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) has been established as the gold standard for treating male stress urinary incontinence since its introduction in 1972. In April 2008, InhibiZone® (IZ, Minocycline and Rifampin) coated AUS devices were introduced. IZ-coating increased the cost of the device by approximately $1300 per AUS. To date, there is no data to support the assertion that IZ-coating reduces the risk of AUS infection. Therefore, we compared our infection rates before and after the introduction of the IZ-coated AUS, to determine if the added cost of the impregnated device conferred any benefit by reducing AUS infection rates. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 426 consecutive patients who underwent AUS implantation by a single surgeon (DSE) from January 2005 through June 2012. The patients were divided equally into two groups: a control group of 213 consecutive male patients who underwent non–IZ AUS implantation (January 2005March 2008) and a study population of 213 consecutive male patients who underwent IZ-coated AUS insertion (April 2008 June 2012). Demographics, comorbidities, previous procedures, and infection rates were compared between the two populations. A cost analysis between the two groups was also performed. RESULTS: Mean age (IZ 71.7, non-IZ 70.9, p 0.103), coronary artery disease (IZ 23% (n 49), non–IZ 16% (n 35), p 0.08) and diabetes mellitus (IZ 19% (n 40), non–IZ 20% (n 42), p 0.81) were comparable between the two groups. The complexity of the AUS cases was similar in the two groups also, with 23% (n 50) of the IZ and 18% (n 38) of the non-IZ group being AUS revision patients (p 0.15). The infection rates in the two groups were identical (IZ 3.3% (n 7), non-IZ 3.3% (n 7), p 0.99). Further, in the more complex subgroup of revision patients, IZ coating did not impact infection rates (IZ 5% (n 2/50), non-IZ 6% (n 3/38), p 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: InhibiZone® impregnation of the AUS did not alter infection rates in our study. The significant added cost of the IZ-coated AUS ( $276,000 more for all 213 IZ-AUS devices) was of no benefit in our series. At our institution, copious antibiotic irrigation has been standard during AUS placement, regardless of the type of device. We feel that the most cost-effective means of avoiding AUS infections is frequent and copious wound and AUS irrigation with antibiotic solution, along with perioperative IV antibiotic therapy. Based on this assessment, we will transition to using non-IZ AUS devices in our practice.
Local and Interregional Distribution of Late Paleozoic Cephalopods: ABSTRACT

Despite the ability of cephalopods to move freely through the sea, their geographic distribution patterns tend to be restricted. Many genera but few species were widely distributed in the past. In fact, it is by means of distribution patterns at the generic level that most interregional correlations based on cephalopods are made. Carboniferous ammonoids common to strata on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere include: Protocanites lyoni (Meek and Worthen) in the late Kinderhookian and late Tournaisian; Goniatites crenistria Phillips in the late Meramecan and late Visean; G. granosus Portlock and Neoglyphioceras subcirculare (Miller) in the early Chesterian and late Visean; Eumorphoceras bisulcatum Girty, Anthracoceras paucilobum (Phillips), and Delepinoceras bressoni Ruzhentsev in the late Chesterian and early Namurian; Branneroceras branneri (Smith) in the Morrowan, middle Namurian, and Bashkirian; and Politoceras politum (Shumard) in the Desmoinesian and Westphalian C. These few species constitute the principal "pegs" on which the correlation framework is hung. Apparent lack of species common to both sides of the Atlantic in Late Pennsylvanian and Permian deposits may result from more complicated sutures, which make differentiation in these ammonoids easier to establish. Nautiloids generally tend to have greater stratigraphic ranges than ammonoids, but some were just as restricted stratigraphically and equally distributed geographically as some ammonoids. A few coleoids also had moderately extensive geographic ranges. Factors that probably influenced cephalopod distribution include swimming and feeding habits, reproduction, buoyancy, sea-water properties (pH, salinity, other chemical features of the sea water, and prevailing currents), physical barriers, and type of bottom. End_of_Article - Last_Page 615------------
Distributed Patterns of Activity in Sensory Cortex Reflect the Precision of Multiple Items Maintained in Visual Short-Term Memory

Traditionally, load sensitivity of sustained, elevated activity has been taken as an index of storage for a limited number of items in visual short-term memory (VSTM). Recently, studies have demonstrated that the contents of a single item held in VSTM can be decoded from early visual cortex, despite the fact that these areas do not exhibit elevated, sustained activity. It is unknown, however, whether the patterns of neural activity decoded from sensory cortex change as a function of load, as one would expect from a region storing multiple representations. Here, we use multivoxel pattern analysis to examine the neural representations of VSTM in humans across multiple memory loads. In an important extension of previous findings, our results demonstrate that the contents of VSTM can be decoded from areas that exhibit a transient response to visual stimuli, but not from regions that exhibit elevated, sustained load-sensitive delay-period activity. Moreover, the neural information present in these transiently activated areas decreases significantly with increasing load, indicating load sensitivity of the patterns of activity that support VSTM maintenance. Importantly, the decrease in classification performance as a function of load is correlated with within-subject changes in mnemonic resolution. These findings indicate that distributed patterns of neural activity in putatively sensory visual cortex support the representation and precision of information in VSTM.
Ureteral Cell Cultures. I. Characterization and Cellular Interactions

AbstractPurpose: To further understand the biology of ureteral cells, we studied the growth characteristics and in vitro cellular interactions of human ureteral uroepithelial cells, smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts.Materials and Methods: The proliferation, morphology and immunohistochemical characteristics of human ureteral cells grown in vitro were evaluated under varying conditions.Results: The growth and morphology of ureteral cells were dependent upon media characteristics, especially the calcium concentration and presence of epidermal growth factor and bovine pituitary extract. Cells demonstrated specific stimulatory interactions via both soluble and insoluble factors. Most important, uroepithelial cells and smooth muscle cells displayed reciprocal enhancement of growth.Conclusions: The favorable interactions between ureteral cell types in vitro have implications for future work involving these cells.
Do girls’ scholarship programs work? Evidence from two countries

Abstract This study examined the extent that a scholarship program operating in Sierra Leone and Djibouti was successful in increasing girls’ persistence in basic education. Results of field studies indicated that scholarships could be appropriately targeted and delivered in ways that appear to minimize misappropriation of funds. However, the scholarships often created significant tensions between award recipients and non-recipients and among their families that frequently isolated recipient girls and led to their harassment by non-recipients. These findings are interpreted within the context of the larger debate about the relative merit of abolishing school fees for all students or targeting scholarships for only the neediest students.
Nonphysical Abuse: Findings in Domestic Violence Against Older Women Study

This article reports findings regarding nonphysical abuse of middle-aged and older women in intimate relationships based on 21 focus groups with 134 women ages 45 to 85 years. Computer assisted qualitative data analysis was used to organize and analyze data. Descriptions of nonphysical violence appeared clustered under the notion that power and control dynamics were integrally related to the effect of such abuse on older women and that as a result nonphysical abuse might be more difficult to endure and have more lasting effects than physical violence. Generational influences and the context of long-lasting, abusive relationships appeared to contribute to attitudes of participants regarding nonphysical abuse. These findings have not been previously documented in women in this target age group.
Global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion alters NMDA receptor binding in canine brain

We employed a canine model to test whether binding to theN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) class of glutamate receptor channels is altered by global cerebral ischemia and/or reperfusion. Ischemia was induced by 10-min cardiac arrest, followed by restoration of spontaneous circulation for periods of 0, 0.5, 2, 4, and 24 h. In vitro autoradiography was performed on frozen brain sections with three radioligands: [3H]glutamate (under conditions to label the NMDA site), [3H]glycine, and [3H]MK-801. Modest decreases in [3H]glutamate and [3H]MK-801 binding were seen in several regions of hippocampus, and parietal and temporal cortex at early times after reperfusion, with values returning toward control by 24 h. In the striatum, a different pattern was seen: [3H]glutamate and [3H]MK-801 binding increased 50–200% at 0.5–4 h after the start of reperfusion, returning toward control levels by 24 h. These increases correlate with findings of increased sensitivity to NMDA-stimulated release of dopamine from striatal tissue in the same model (Werling et al., 1993), and suggest that changes in tissue receptors may contribute to the selective vulnerability to ischemic damage during the first hours following reperfusion.
Dynamin 3 and platelet size variation

In this issue of Blood , Nurnberg et al show that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with human platelet size variation involves a megakaryocyte (Mk)–specific alternate promoter of the DNM3 gene.[1][1] The mechanisms that determine platelet size are just beginning to be understood
A ribosomal tactic to halt cancer.

The ribosomal protein RPL11 can block cell growth by boosting function of the tumor suppressor p53 in response to ribosomal stress, but the connection of this role with cancer has been obscure. New findings show that the nucleolar protein PICT1 can sequester RPL11, impairing p53 activation and favoring tumor growth (pages 944–951).
Factors contributing to depression in latinas of mexican origin residing in the United States: implications for nurses.

BACKGROUND: Latinas experience more depression and are less likely to receive mental health support than White women or African American women. OBJECTIVE: This article synthesizes the research on depression in adult Latinas of Mexican origin residing in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: MEDLINE (PubMed), The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycINFO databases for the years 2000 through 2008 were searched using the keywords Latina, Latino, Hispanic, Mexican American, Mexican immigrant, women, and depression. RESULTS: The process of acculturation and associated stressors may have a negative effect on the mental health of women of Mexican origin residing in the United States. Separation from family, harmful interpersonal relationships, unmet economic needs, conflict, and isolation may contribute to depression in this population. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed on the influence of family and economic strain as well as the effectiveness of assessments and interventions for depression in Mexican and Mexican American women, especially for those living in emerging Latina/o immigrant communities.
State Highway Maps: a Route to a Learning Adventure

Science within the folds of highway maps is explored through a series of hands-on experiences designed to reinforce and extend map-reading skills in grades 6-8. The increasingly sophisticated, standards-related activities include measuring distances between population centers, finding communities named after trees, animals, and geologic features, and determining the Earth's circumference.
Intrauterine growth retardation induced by thiamine deficiency and pyrithiamine during pregnancy in the rat.

Abstract The role of nutritional factors in the development of prenatal and postnatal growth retardation is not well understood. We tested if thiamine deficiency may cause intrauterine growth retardation in rats. From the second day of gestation Sprague-Dawley rats were freely fed either a nutritionally complete or a thiamine-deficient diet. A similar group of rats was pair-fed with a complete or a thiamine-deficient diet and daily pyrithiamine injections (50 μg/100 gm of body weight) were given to precipitate thiamine deficiency during the short gestation of the rat. Maternal thiamine levels in blood and brain tissues, maternal erythrocyte transketolase activity with thiamine pyrophosphate effects, and fetal tissue thiamine levels were measured. The results indicate that feeding a thiamine-deficient diet in conjunction with pyrithiamine injections caused sufficient thiamine deficiency to induce intrauterine growth retardation in the progeny. We conclude that thiamine deficiency alone during in utero development in the rat may contribute to intrauterine growth retardation.
Psychosocial issues and lung cancer: A behavioral approach

Objectives: To examine the psychosocial issues related to lung cancer with a specific focus on women and quality of life. To review the role of behavioral medicine as an approach to treatment, including individual, family, and group interventions. Data sources: Review articles, book chapters, and research studies pertaining to the psychosocial issues encountered by patients with lung cancer and behavioral medicine interventions. Conclusions: Behavioral interventions, used in addition to medical treatment, have been shown to reduce the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, decrease suffering from pain, and diminish anxiety associated with dyspnea. These mind/body approaches help to reduce emotional distress, promote improved quality of life, enhanced coping, a sense of control, and hopefulness. Implications for nursing practice: Nurses can play an active role in helping patient's and family members learn new coping skills that will help promote a sense of competence, control, and support. Relaxation, meditation, distraction, social support, and cognitive therapies are a few of the interventions to help enrich the lives of patients and their families.
Free groups, symmetric and reduced products

We show that, for any Tychonoff space X with base point θ, the infinite symmetric product SP∞ X of X is a subspace of an abelian group A(X) generated by X. (This clarifies the continuity of the multiplication in SP∞ X.) Furthermore, SP∞ X is a retract of A(X). Analogous results hold for reduced product spaces, with respect to non-abelian groups.Subject classification (Amer. Math. Soc. (MOS) 1970): primary 22 A 99; secondary 54 B 15.
Treadmill training post stroke: are there any secondary benefits? A pilot study

Objective: To explore the secondary benefits of treadmill training for people in the chronic stage of recovery from stroke.Design: Modified random assignment, matched-pair control group design with repeated measures.Setting: Outpatient stroke centre.Participants: Twenty individuals post first stroke who acknowledged walking slower than pre stroke. Participants matched by side of hemiparesis and motor impairment.Interventions: Twelve 20-minute sessions of walking on a treadmill or weekly phone call.Main outcome measures: Depression (Beck Depression Index), mobility and social participation (Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 subscales) were assessed initially, at the end of 12 treatments (four weeks) and six weeks later.Results: No significant difference was found between groups for any dependent measure. The ANOVA to investigate main effects in each group found no significant findings in the control group; however in the treatment group significant improvements over time for depression (P=0.005, P<0.001), mobility (...
Reorganization of the human neutrophil plasma membrane is associated with functional priming: implications for neutrophil preparations

Changes in the functional and plasma membrane organizational states of human neutrophils were examined using two isolation procedures, which may simulate altered physiological states in vivo. A gelatin-based method of blood-neutrophil isolation was used to model in vivo priming, and neutrophils isolated by this method were compared with control populations prepared by a pyrogen-free, dextran-based method. Gelatin-prepared neutrophils were functionally primed for adherence and agonist-stimulated superoxide generation relative to unprimed, control neutrophils. The organizational state of the membrane cortex was examined by mapping the subcellular distribution of select cortical and transmembrane proteins by several methods, including subcellular fractionation, indirect immunofluorescence, and compositional analysis of Triton X-100-insoluble membrane skeleton preparations. Filamentous actin, fodrin, and the fodrin anchor, CD45, were largely cytoplasmic in unprimed neutrophils but translocated to plasma membranes upon priming, whereas CD43 and ezrin were exclusively surface-associated in both populations. Isopycnic sucrose density gradient analysis of N(2)-cavitated neutrophils revealed a major shift in the distribution of surface-associated transmembrane and membrane cortical components relative to the plasma membrane marker alkaline phosphatase in primed but not unprimed neutrophils. Similar results were obtained after neutrophil stimulation with known priming agents, LPS, TNF-alpha, or GM-CSF. Together, these results may suggest that priming of suspended, circulating neutrophils is associated with a large-scale reorganization of the plasma membrane and associated membrane cortex in a process that is independent of cellular adhesion and gross morphologic polarization.
Dynamic Interface Selection in Portable Multi-Interface Terminals

This paper addresses the problem of dynamic interface selection in a terminal embedded with multiple interfaces. A mathematical model, to select the best interface for a particular application at a given instant, is described. It takes into consideration the available access networks and their characteristics. A handoff algorithm, for transparently switching active sessions between interfaces, is proposed.
The Business of Academic Plastic Surgery

Background: Given the changes in health care economics and the changes in increasing rates of uninsured and undercovered patients in the United States, the revenue stream for all physicians, and particularly those in academic medical centers, is subject to fluctuations that make it difficult to fund the missions of education and research. Often, academic plastic surgeons are required to use clinical revenue to supplement efforts in research and education. A large margin on clinical revenue that was present perhaps 10 or 20 years ago has been eroded by many socioeconomic factors, making it difficult to provide optimal training in academic environments for our residents. Methods: In an attempt to ascertain “best in show,” a survey was sent to 89 plastic surgery programs that requested information regarding faculty salaries, relative value units, National Institutes of Health support, ancillary revenue support for taking call, and the number of faculty within individual programs. Results: Fifty-three programs responded with completed data. Conclusion: The following practices directly contribute to stable financial environments: external support for call coverage, recruitment support, and gain sharing associated with health system profitability. Coverage agreements with outside facilities can be lucrative if properly negotiated. Paid medical directorships for administrative/clinical oversight are helpful. Payor mixes with high percentages of commercial, managed care, and self-pay (aesthetic) and low percentages of Medicaid are beneficial. Practices with a healthy mix of aesthetic surgery add strength.
Dynamic failure simulation of quasi‐brittle material in dual particle dynamics

SUMMARY The feasibility of simulating dynamic fracture in quasi-brittle material using a dual particle computational method with a smeared-crack representation of material failure is explored. The computational approach utilized is dual particle dynamics, which incorporates a moving least squares interpolation of field variables between two sets of particles that discretize the spatial domain, and a Lagrangian description of the moving least squares weight function. Material failure is represented by an inelastic continuum strain contribution obtained from smearing the effect of a cohesive failure model over a discrete volume of material. A three-dimensional simulation of the initiation and development of a dynamic mode I failure is performed for the case of approximate plane wave propagation. Post failure wave interaction with the resulting global failure surface replicates the behavior of a stress-free boundary condition. The computational material failure approach is applied to problems of spalling in split Hopkinson pressure bar tests. Experimental failure trends are reproduced successfully.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacogenetic influences in obstetric anaesthesia.

Genomic discoveries in the field of perioperative medicine and anaesthesia have generated multiple publications and some hope that pharmacogenetic testing may guide clinicians to provide safe and effective medicine in a 'tailored' manner. Within the field of anaesthesia, many consider that ‘titration of drugs to the desired effect works just fine' and wonder if pharmacogenomics will ever impact on their daily practice. This review will cite practical examples of relevant candidates genes and common polymorphisms that have shown to alter the response to medication prescribed in the peripartum period by obstetricians and anaesthesiologists.
Behaviors of Actors in a Resource-Exchange Model of Geopolitics

We present initial findings of an ongoing effort to endow the key players in a nation-state model with intelligent behaviors. The model is based on resource exchange as the fundamental interaction between agents. In initial versions, model agents were severely limited in their ability to respond and adapt to changes in their environment. By modeling agents with a broader range of capabilities, we can potentially evaluate policies more robustly. To this end, we have developed a hierarchical behavioral module, based on an extension of the proven ATLANTIS architecture, in order to provide flexible decision-making algorithms to agents. A Three-Layer Architecture for Navigating Through Intricate Situations (ATLANTIS) was originally conceived for autonomous robot navigation at NASA’s JPL. It describes a multi-level approach to artificial intelligence. We demonstrate the suitability of our reification for guiding vastly different types of decisions in our simulations over a broad range of time scales.
Feature Modularity in Software Product Lines

Feature Oriented Programming (FOP) is a design methodology and tools for program synthesis in software product lines. Programs are specified declaratively in terms of features. FOP has been used to develop product-lines in widely varying domains, including compilers for extensible Java dialects [6], fire support simulators for the U.S. Army [4], network protocols [1], web portlets [8], and program verification tools [9].
AIDS and Immunologic Abnormalities In European and American Hemophiliacs

Reports of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in U S hemophiliacs prompted us to survey European Hemophilia Centers to determine the frequency of AIDS and other disorders of immunity. Data was obtained from 29 Hemophilia Centers in 15 countries, representing 4,310 hemophilic patients. Therapeutic concentrates, of local and commercial origin, had been in use in these Centers for an average of 12 years (range 5–25 years). Despite this long exposure, only 5 possible cases of AIDS were identified, and a few of these did not strictly fulfill the criteria for diagnosis established by the U S Centers for Disease Control. Five cases of thrombocytopenia were also reported. An examination of 35 patients enrolled in our own Hemophilia Center disclosed one case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and 24 of the 35 (68 percent) with reversal of the T4/T8 ratio. We conclude that while disturbances of immunoregulation are common in hemophilia, to date classical AIDS has appeared infrequently.
Occlusion-Aware Optical Flow Estimation

Optical flow can be reliably estimated between areas visible in two images, but not in occlusion areas. If optical flow is needed in the whole image domain, one approach is to use additional views of the same scene. If such views are unavailable, an often-used alternative is to extrapolate optical flow in occlusion areas. Since the location of such areas is usually unknown prior to optical flow estimation, this is usually performed in three steps. First, occlusion-ignorant optical flow is estimated, then occlusion areas are identified using the estimated (unreliable) optical flow, and, finally, the optical flow is corrected using the computed occlusion areas. This approach, however, does not permit interaction between optical flow and occlusion estimates. In this paper, we permit such interaction by proposing a variational formulation that jointly computes optical flow, implicitly detects occlusions and extrapolates optical flow in occlusion areas. The extrapolation mechanism is based on anisotropic diffusion and uses the underlying image gradient to preserve structure, such as optical flow discontinuities. Our results show significant improvements in the computed optical flow fields over other approaches, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Receptivity and preferences of pancreatic cancer family members for participating in lifestyle programs to reduce cancer risk

Cancer is a shared family experience that might provide an opportunity for lifestyle change among at-risk family members. The purpose of this study was to assess receptivity and preferences for cancer risk reduction programs among at-risk family members with two or more relatives affected with pancreas cancer. We surveyed 401 at-risk family members in an existing pancreatic cancer family registry. Participants completed a mailed survey which examined demographic, medical, and psychosocial correlates of willingness to participate in lifestyle cancer risk reduction programs. Multivariable generalized estimating equation approaches were used to model preferences. Overall, 85% (n = 342) of at-risk family members were receptive to lifestyle cancer risk reduction programs. Participant preferred programs focused on nutrition (36%, n = 116) and weight management (33%, n = 108), with Web/Internet (46%, n = 157) being the most preferred delivery channel. Most respondents preferred to participate in programs with their family or friends (74%, n = 182), rather than alone (25%, n = 85). In multivariable analysis, younger age (p = 0.008) and higher perceived likelihood of developing cancer (p = 0.03) were associated with willingness to participate in lifestyle programs. Family members of those with pancreatic cancer are receptive to cancer risk reduction programs focusing on nutrition and weight management delivered via the internet. Further research is indicated to determine how to best incorporate a family-based approach when designing lifestyle intervention programs.
Patients visiting the emergency room for seizures: insurance status and clinic follow-up.

Abstract Purpose Epilepsy is a chronic condition that is best treated in the outpatient clinic setting. However, many epilepsy patients use the hospital emergency room (ER) as a primary resource for seizure management. We studied characteristics of these patients in comparison with patients attending an epilepsy clinic. Methods We reviewed ER data of patients seen in 2002 and 2003 for seizures, in Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) and Metro Nashville General Hospital (MNGH), seeking to identify patients who had visited the emergency room more than once. We collected demographic and insurance information on these patients and identified those who followed up in the epilepsy clinic. Results There were 1005 patients who visited the VUH ER and 205 the MNGH ER for seizures. Patients visiting the ER for seizures were less likely to be insured than epilepsy patients followed in the clinic, in both institutions. The proportion of patients visiting the ER more than once was 15.2% at VUH and 29.2% at MNGH. Among these patients, 3.2% at VUH and 26.7% at MNGH were uninsured. Clinic follow-up occurred in 68.6% of VUH and 13.3% of MNGH repeat ER visitors. Combining institutions, insured patients were much more likely to follow-up in the clinic. Discussion Repeated use of the ER for seizures was more common in the county hospital, where the proportion of uninsured patients was also higher. Patients visiting the county hospital ER repeatedly tend not to follow-up in the neurology clinic. This element of disparity of care requires further attention.
Clinical spectrum of patients with erosion of the inner ear by jugular bulb abnormalities.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Anatomic variants of the jugular bulb (JB) are common; however, abnormalities such as large high riding JB and JB diverticulum (JBD) are uncommon. Rarely, the abnormal JB may erode into the inner ear. The goal of our study is to report a large series of patients with symptomatic JB erosion into the inner ear. Study Design: Retrospective review in an academic medical center. Methods: Eleven patients with JB abnormality eroding into the inner ear were identified on computed tomography (CT) scan of the temporal bone. Results: Age at presentation was from 5 years to 82 years with six males and five females. The large JB or JBD eroded into the vestibular aqueduct (n = 9) or the posterior semicircular canal (n = 4). The official radiology report usually identified the JB abnormality ; however, erosion into these structures by the JB was not mentioned in all but one case. All patients were symptomatic with five having conductive hearing loss (CHL) and three complaining of pulsatile tinnitus. Those with pulsatile tinnitus and four of five with CHL had erosion into the vestibular aqueduct. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) findings in three of six patients were consistent with dehiscence of the inner ear. Conclusions: High riding large JB or JBD can erode into the inner ear and may be associated with CHL and/or pulsatile tinnitus. CT scan is diagnostic and should be examined specifically for these lesions. As patients with pulsatile tinnitus may initially undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan, identification of JB abnormality should prompt CT scan or VEMP testing to evaluate for inner ear erosion.
Atomistic Modeling of III-V Semiconductors: Thermodynamic Equilibrium and Growth Kinetics

Growth kinetics and thermodynamic equilibrium can both be determining factors at different stages of III-V semiconductor heteroepitaxy. We study their interplay, employing kinetic Monte Carlo simulations for the InAs(001) surface. The simulation contains atomistic details of both species, including the stability of different reconstructions and their kinetics. The behavior of the surface in thermodynamic equilibrium, including different reconstructions, is determined exclusively by extensive total energy calculations employing ab initio density functional theory. The continuous phase transition between the a2(2x4) and j32(2x4), predicted by theory, is confirmed by experiment. At full layer coverage, a recovery of the stable reconstruction is observed. The different time scales associated with As 2 and In are discussed with respect to equilibrium and
Regulation of COX-2 expression by miR-146a in lung cancer cells

Prostaglandins are a class of molecules that mediate cellular inflammatory responses and control cell growth. The oxidative conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2 is carried out by two isozymes of cyclooxygenase, COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is constitutively expressed, while COX-2 can be transiently induced by external stimuli, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, COX-2 is overexpressed in numerous cancers, including lung cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that function to regulate gene expression. Previous studies have implicated an important role for miRNAs in human cancer. We demonstrate here that miR-146a expression levels are significantly lower in lung cancer cells as compared with normal lung cells. Conversely, lung cancer cells have higher levels of COX-2 protein and mRNA expression. Introduction of miR-146a can specifically ablate COX-2 protein and the biological activity of COX-2 as measured by prostaglandin production. The regulation of COX-2 by miR-146a is mediated through a single miRNA-binding site present in the 3' UTR. Therefore, we propose that decreased miR-146a expression contributes to the up-regulation and overexpression of COX-2 in lung cancer cells. Since potential miRNA-mediated regulation is a functional consequence of alternative polyadenylation site choice, understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate COX-2 mRNA alternative polyadenylation and miRNA targeting will give us key insights into how COX-2 expression is involved in the development of a metastatic condition.
POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE VOTE ON THE 2010 OKLAHOMA INTERNATIONAL LAW AMENDMENT

In November 2010, voters in Oklahoma approved State Question 755, a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment prohibiting judges in the state from using international law or Sharia Law in making judicial decisions. This paper examines the political context of this voting outcome. It analyzes the influence of religious affiliation on the county-level vote for the amendment as well as political party identification and the county-level circulation rate for the Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, controlling for various demographic and socioeconomic variables. The analysis reveals that the newspaper circulation rate was related to the strength of the voting outcome. Support for State Question 755 and the 2010 Republican gubernatorial vote also was an important relationship.
Finished bacterial genomes from shotgun sequence data.

Knowing the genome as exactly as possible is of fundamental value to microbial biology. Once thought to be impossible, de novo assembly of short, massively parallel sequencing data is now common practice, with several tools now available (e.g., Chaisson and Pevzner 2008; Zerbino and Birney 2008; MacCallum et al. 2009; Simpson et al. 2009; Li et al. 2010; Chapman et al. 2011; Gnerre et al. 2011; Simpson and Durbin 2012). Standard automated methods have yielded genome assemblies that are generally of good quality, and in a few cases, with some manual work, near-complete genomes have been achieved (Nagarajan et al. 2010; Rasko et al. 2011a). However, most assemblies have had many errors and gaps, both in the era of Sanger sequencing (Fraser et al. 2002) and in the current short read era (Klassen and Currie 2012). Importantly, the most difficult (e.g., rapidly evolving) regions are often absent or incorrectly rendered. Fortunately, bacteria have small genomes (generally 2–6 Mb), and thus in many cases, it has been feasible to expend extra effort to determine their sequences correctly. Indeed, to date, about 1800 bacterial genome assemblies (Genomes Online Database; http://www.genomesonline.org) (Kyrpides 1999), have gone through a process known as “finishing,” involving a combination of manual laboratory and computational processes (Chain et al. 2009). These processes are applied iteratively and are thus slow and expensive. There remains a need for new methods that are both faster and more economical. To that end, in this study, we define a new recipe for whole-genome shotgun sequencing and a new algorithm to assemble such data, incorporated as part of the program ALLPATHS-LG (MacCallum et al. 2009). The recipe uses a mixture of three data types generated using sequencing technology from two vendors, Illumina (Bentley et al. 2008) and Pacific Biosciences (Eid et al. 2009), that together span a broad range in their resolving power. These technologies are complementary and, at least theoretically, provide the capability of accurately assembling the entire genome. All of the laboratory and computational methods are essentially automated, thus reducing costs and keeping project turnaround time to a minimum. We apply these methods to 16 bacterial samples, three of which were previously finished, thus functioning as controls for our work. We applied the same laboratory methods and identical (pushbutton) computations to each of the resulting data sets. We describe the resulting assemblies (complete circles in several cases), and for those having the finished reference sequences are able to assess the accuracy both of our assemblies and the finished references rigorously.
Forum: Disability and Employment: Introduction

Niel Bohrs’ famous quote “Nothing exists until it is measured” (as cited in Ross, 1997) refers to quantum physics, but it can also be applied to the history of disability and employment. Scholarly information concerning this history is almost nonexistent. While cursory examination of employment issues may be included in discussions about past social movements and legislation, these discourses are often anecdotal and always secondary to the main topic. With few exceptions (studies on freak shows, for example) it appears that scholarly, historical pieces specifically about disabled people as workers are rare...
Objection Sustained: Revolutionary Pedagogical Praxis as an Occupying Force

On April 9, Condoleezza Rice delivered a talk in San Francisco. Or tried to. The former Secretary of State was interrupted repeatedly by cries from the audience of ‘war criminal’ and ‘torturer’. (For which we can thank our comrades in Code Pink and World Can't Wait.) As one of the protesters was being taken away by security guards, Rice made the kind of statement that has now become standard for high American officials under such circumstances: ‘Aren't you glad this lady lives in a democracy where she can express her opinion?’ She also threw in another line that's become de rigueur since the US overthrew Saddam Hussein, an argument that's used when all other arguments fail: ‘The children of Iraq are actually not living under Saddam Hussein, thank God.’My response to such a line is this: If you went into surgery to correct a knee problem and the surgeon mistakenly amputated your entire leg, what would you think if someone then remarked to you how nice it was that ‘you actually no longer have a knee problem...
The future of hormonal contraception.

Well over 100000000 women have used the combined oral contraceptive (OC) pill. As a result of the population explosion in the 1970s and 1980s there will be almost one third more women in fertile age in the year 2000 than in 1991. In the developing world outside China the total number of contraceptive users could double in roughly 10 years. China the total number of contraceptive users could double in roughly 10 years. The pill has a low failure rate but one study in Egypt found that 90% of women made errors in moving from one packet to the next. Similarly a 60% error rate was found among users in Colombia. The vaginal ring delivers combined progestogen and estrogen through a silastic wall. The device can be left in place for 21 days out of 28 and such delivery would virtually eliminate the low risk of hepatocellular carcinoma among OC users. A vaginal progestogen ring is being tested. Over 700000 women have used Norplant the subdermal implant method with an effectiveness rate of 99%. Depo-provera and norethindrone enanthate injections last 2 to 3 months. The Progestasert IUD containing 38 mg progesterone released at a rate of 65 mcg per day is effective. Progesterone-releasing IUDs lasting from 3 to 5 years could complement subdermal implants. Ethinyl estradiol (205 mg) and diethylstilbestrol (25-50 mg) have both been used as postcoital agents taken within 36 hours for 5 consecutive days after unprotected intercourse. In more than 3000 cases there were 17 pregnancies (.05%). These regimens are replaced by giving combined oral contraceptive tables (e.g. .25 mg d-norgestrel and 50 mg ethinyl estradiol) taken 2 at a time and repeated 12 hours later within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. Epidemiological studies have confirmed that the use of the combined oral contraceptive for 3 to 5 years halves a womans risk of ovarian or endometrial cancer and the protection persists for 10 to 18 years after cessation of use.
Block Copolymer Supramolecular Assembly beyond Hydrogen Bonding

Supramolecular assemblies of block copolymers (BSAs) with low molecular weight additives require preferential interactions between the additive and one of the blocks. So far, only hydrogen bonds (HB) were explored to obtain BSAs. We report on three novel BSAs of block copolymer PS-block-P4VP with commercially valuable additives of the EDOT family. Two of the additives ((3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (EDOT) and 3,4-(2,2-dimethylpropylenedioxy)thiophene (ProDOT)) form the BSAs based on interactions others than HB. The morphology and some properties of the BSAs were studied by means of AFM, FTIR, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The BSAs reveal cylindrical morphology with periodicity of ∼30 nm. In thin films the orientation of the cylinders can be switched from perpendicular to parallel by annealing in vapors of a suitable solvent. Extraction with a selective solvent results in porous films with porosity of ∼15%. These non-HB BSAs were compared with the HB BSA of HMeDOT as well as HABA BSA reported recently. Th...
Providing Means for Precision Airdrop Delivery from High Altitude

Precision airdrop is essential to insertion of military and humanitarian supplies at remote, globally distributed locations that are involved in conflict or have experienced natural disasters. Enabling precision payload delivery following high altitude release limits risk to carrier aircraft. For the past eight years, the Army and Air Force have combined resources to facilitate major advances in precision, high altitude airdrop. This includes new means for on-board airdrop mission planning for an expanding set of ballistic parachute and guided parafoil airdrop systems that realize accuracy improvement by using detailed system dynamics models, high fidelity atmospheric state models, and means to generate and upload revised mission plans for guided airdrop systems. Development and implementation of an open-architecture Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) system has also been pursued for use on large parafoil airdrop systems. Implementation features of the personal computer-based Precision Airdrop System (PADS) mission planner are reviewed and the parafoil GN&C design features are discussed. A review is provided of payload delivery performance realized using the PADS for a variety of ballistic and guided airdrop systems and using the GN&C system on the Dragonfly 10,000-lb class parafoil. Continued capability development plans for PADS and the GN&C system are also summarized.
Defect Localization, Characterization and Reliability Assessment in Emerging Photovoltaic Devices

Microsystems-enabled photovoltaics (MEPV) can potentially meet increasing demands for light-weight, portable, photovoltaic solutions with high power density and efficiency. The study in this report examines failure analysis techniques to perform defect localization and evaluate MEPV modules. CMOS failure analysis techniques, including electroluminescence, light-induced voltage alteration, thermally-induced voltage alteration, optical beam induced current, and Seabeck effect imaging were successfully adapted to characterize MEPV modules. The relative advantages of each approach are reported. In addition, the effects of exposure to reverse bias and light stress are explored. MEPV was found to have good resistance to both kinds of stressors. The results form a basis for further development of failure analysis techniques for MEPVs of different materials systems or multijunction MEPVs. The incorporation of additional stress factors could be used to develop a reliability model to generate lifetime predictions for MEPVs as well as uncover opportunities for future design improvements.
Location Based Handshake and Private Proximity Test with Location Tags

A location proximity test service allows mobile users to determine whether they are in close proximity to each other, and has found numerous applications in mobile social networks. Unfortunately, existing solutions usually reveal much of users’ private location information during a proximity test. They are also vulnerable to location cheating where an attacker reports false locations to gain an advantage. Moreover, the initial trust establishment among unfamiliar users in large scale mobile social networks has been a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme that enables a user to perform (1) a location based handshake that establishes secure communications among strangers, who do not have a pre-shared secret, and (2) a privacy-preserving proximity test without revealing the user’s actual location to the server or other users not within the proximity. The proposed scheme is based on a novel concept, i.e., spatial-temporal location tags, and we put forward a location tag construction method using environmental signals that provides an unforgeable location proof. We use Bloom filters to efficiently represent users’ location tags and vicinity regions. We exploit fuzzy extractor, a lightweight cryptographic primitive, to extract shared secrets between matching location tags. We conduct extensive analysis, simulation, and real experiments to demonstrate the feasibility, security, and efficiency of our scheme.
Abstract 4734: Genes cooperatively downregulated by combined mTOR/histone deactylase (HDAC) inhibition are overexpressed in myeloma patients with lower survival

The molecular pathogenesis of many cancer types, including multiple myeloma (MM) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), involves alterations in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and cyclin/CDK/CDKI/Rb (Rb) pathways. Previously, we showed that the combination of an HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) with rapamycin synergistically inhibited proliferation in 88% of human MM cell lines tested, and effectively controlled tumor growth in preclinical studies. To gain an initial understanding of the molecular mechanism of the synergistic action of the drug combination, we used an unbiased systems-level approach to analyze our gene expression profile (GEP) data with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). This analysis delineated the contribution of HDACi and rapamycin, singly and in combination, to the overall gene expression change of the combination by considering not only measures of fold-change and significance testing, but also the degree of gene expression inter-connectedness. WGCNA identified five gene modules, each representing a particular gene expression effect of the combination. Each gene module was individually tested for functional and clinical enrichment using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and survival analyses with Cox regression. Of particular interest, the module containing genes cooperatively affected by both compounds was highly enriched (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4734. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4734