cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pneumonia, Anemia, and a Positive Coombs Test:

A 13-month-old previously healthy African American male presented with a 10-day history of cough and a 4-day history of fever up to 104°F. His examination was unremarkable except for nasal congestion and clear nasal discharge. The chest radiograph was normal. The patient was not prescribed antibiotics and was discharged with a diagnosis of viral upper respiratory tract infection. Over the next 2 days, he only had low-grade fever. However, on the day of admission, he again developed fever up to 104°F accompanied by tachypnea and lethargy. A repeat chest radiograph showed opacities in the right lower lung base with pleural effusion. He was hospitalized for further care. Chest ultrasound showed anechoic regions separated by septae in the upper chest diagnosed as empyema. No surgical intervention was done. Complete blood count (CBC) on the peripheral smear at the time of admission showed a white blood cell count (WBC) of 13 000/mL, with 83% neutrophils, 12% lymphocytes, and 5% monocytes. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were 8.7 gm/ dL and 25.6%, respectively, and platelet count was 272 000/mL. Empirical treatment with ceftriaxone and linezolid was initiated. After 12 hours, the patient became afebrile with oxygen saturations of 98% on room air. However, he remained lethargic. A repeat CBC showed a WBC 19 500/mL, 63% neutrophils, 14% lymphocytes, 10% monocytes, and 8% banded neutrophils. The hemoglobin decreased to 5.5 gm/dL, and the platelet count to 45 000/ mL. A direct Coombs’ test done at this time was positive, and hematology was consulted. Subsequently, it was noted that there was a decrease in urine output. Review of the peripheral blood smear showed toxic changes along with schistocytes confirming that the infection was associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Blood urea nitrogen level was 61 mg/dL, and creatinine level was 2.7 mg/dL. Blood culture done grew penicillinresistant Streptococcus pneumoniae 19A susceptible to ceftriaxone. The patient was transfused with washed red blood cells and platelets. Because of persistent anuria and metabolic abnormalities, hemodialysis was initiated. The hematology evaluation did not reveal any underlying hemolytic condition. A repeat Coombs’ test (done within several hours of the first test and prior to transfusion of any blood products) was negative. Repeat blood cultures remained sterile. The patient was discharged after 2 weeks to complete a total of 4 weeks of antibiotic therapy. His pleural effusion resolved; however, he continues to have hypertension.
Blocking of PDL-1 Interaction Enhances Primary and Secondary CD8 T Cell Response to Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Infection

The blocking of programmed death ligand-1 (PDL-1) has been shown to enhance virus-specific CD8 T cell function during chronic viral infections. Though, how PDL-1 blocking at the time of priming affects the quality of CD8 T cell response to acute infections is not well understood and remains controversial. This report demonstrates that the magnitude of the primary and secondary CD8 T cell responses to herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection is subject to control by PDL-1. Our results showed that after footpad HSV-1 infection, PD-1 expression increases on immunodominant SSIEFARL peptide specific CD8 T cells. Additionally, post-infection, the level of PDL-1 expression also increases on CD11c+ dendritic cells. Intraperitoneal administration of anti-PDL-1 monoclonal antibody given one day prior to and three days after cutaneous HSV-1 infection, resulted in a marked increase in effector and memory CD8 T cell response to SSIEFARL peptide. This was shown by measuring the quantity and quality of SSIEFARL-specific CD8 T cells by making use of ex-vivo assays that determine antigen specific CD8 T cell function, such as intracellular cytokine assay, degranulation assay to measure cytotoxicity and viral clearance. Our results are discussed in terms of the beneficial effects of blocking PDL-1 interactions, while giving prophylactic vaccines, to generate a more effective CD8 T cell response to viral infection.
Age differences in symbol‐digit substitution task performance

A decline in performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution test related to aging is well documented. There is no agreement on the reason for the decline, however. In part, the lack of consensus with regard to changes on the test may be attributed to the limitations imposed by comparing groups on a single performance measure. In the present study, three forms of a Symbol-Digit Substitution task that varied in difficulty level were administered to 125 persons between the ages of 30 and 92. On all forms there was a clear performance decline associated with age. The differences observed among the age groups were interpreted as evidence for a change in a sensorimotor component and in two information-processing operations: Symbol encoding and visual search.
Histones of spermatogenous cells in the house cricket.

Histones were isolated from testis of the house cricket and analyzed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing urea and acetic acid. Testes of two different nymphal instars and of adults were examined. The testes contained gonial and meiotic stages in the younger nymphs analyzed, and these same stages plus early spermatids in the older nymphs. At both nymphal instars, testis histone displayed the same five major fractions that are found in somatic nuclei of the cricket; the only unusual feature noted in nymph testis was a high abundance of phosphorylated F1. Adult testis has the same histone fractions as nymph testis and has two new fractions in addition. SDS electrophoresis also shows the presence of two more histones in adult testis than in nymph testis. — The unusual testis histones appear to accumulate during the nuclear elongation stages of spermiogenesis. The occurrence of these stages in adult testis is correlated with the presence of the extra histones. Nuclei of adult testis were separated into fractions enriched for early, mid, and late stages by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity. The unusual histones predominate in the fractions enriched for late spermiogenic stages. Both of the new histones appear to occur in the same stages of spermiogenesis, and display linked accumulation. Eventually they make up at least seventy percent of the histone complement.
AC breakdown of melt‐crystallized isotactic polypropylene

The effect of polymer morphology on the dielectric breakdown of isotactic polypropylene was investigated under the influence of a ramped ac voltage. Samples were prepared by melt-pressing polypropylene beads into plaques and subsequently quenching or isothermally cyrstallizing these plaques. Some of the quenched samples were annealed at different temperatures to induce further crystallinity. The plaques were then characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, density measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry. The 60 Hz, ac breakdown voltages of the samples were determined at 7°C, 23°C, and 45°C in a specially designed test cell. There was a lack of any significant effect on the ac breakdown strength of isotactic polypropylene of either the overall crystallinity or the crystallite thickness. This result can be understood in light of previous studies relating the electrical breakdown of polymers to morphology. It is postulated that the degree of crystallinity would influence the breakdown characteristics only when the amorphous regions constitute a small fraction of the total volume, that is, at very high crystallinity values—values beyond the range of the present study.
An improved image coding algorithm using morphological operator theory

A new algorithm for exact reconstruction of an original image from its morphological skeleton and edge structure is presented. The new technique results in improved computational performance and reduced memory storage requirements. The algorithm is also shown to have better performance characteristics than two previous algorithms in terms of data storage, data transmission rate, and computational complexity. If the size of the maximal element of a skeleton point is larger than the size of a unit structuring element, the algorithm will result in at least a 25% computational savings. The computational savings increases nonlinearly as the size of the maximal element increases. >
A Turbulence Model for the Heat Transfer Near Stagnation Point of a Circular Cylinder

A one-equation low-Reynolds number turbulence model has been applied successfully to the flow and heat transfer over a circular cylinder in turbulent cross flow. The turbulence length-scale was found to be equal 3.7y up to a distance 0.05δ and then constant equal to 0.185δ up to the edge of the boundary layer (wherey is the distance from the surface and δ is the boundary layer thickness).
Run‐time issues in program partitioning on distributed memory systems

Our earlier work reported a Threshold Scheduling Method for compile-time mapping of functional parallism on distributed-memory systems. The work reported in this paper discusses run-time issues in efficiently supporting the functional parallism with minimal overheads, through a combination of compile-time and run-time ownership analysis. At compile time, the code generation phase determines whether a local copy of a live definition of a variable needed by a task is available on a given processor, through an ownership analysis. In case ownership cannot be resolved at compile time, an appropriate code is generated to perform analysis at run time. The code generation is carried out so that all the processors carry the same copy of the compiled program with the individual processor's code being isolated and the universally owned code being replicated on all processors to minimize run-time overheads. The run-time system maintains the static and dynamic ownerships at every processor to avoid communication overhead on ownership information. We demonstrate the approach by incorporating it in the compiler for targeting a parallel functional language, Sisal (streams and iterations in single assignment language), to Intel Touchstone i860 systems. Several benchmarks demonstrate the viability of the approach.
natural course of behavioral organization in premature infants

This experiment describes a method of scoring naturalistic behavioral observations made on 84 premature infants who received nursing care in the traditional medical model. The Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) was used for making the observations, and the systems component of the Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior (APIB) was used for scoring. We found that (a) behavior was best where the infant was at rest and undisturbed prior to care (i.e., baseline); (b) behavioral disorganization increased with care; (c) behavioral recovery after care was limited; and (d) baseline behavioral disorganization increased with age. Gestational age, level of pulmonary support, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia had effects on certain aspects of behavior. These systematic observations suggest that nursing care necessary for medical management is quite demanding for premature infants and that repeating such experiences over time may inadvertently produce behavioral disorganization. If these findings can be replicated in other intensive care nurseries, then there will be additional support to recommend the nursing approach to care be expanded to incorporate attention to the infant's response to, and tolerance of, care.
Basal and hypercapnia-altered cerebrovascular perfusion predict mild cognitive impairment in aging rodents.

With increasing age, a subset of otherwise healthy individuals undergoes impairments in learning and memory that have been termed mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The enhanced neuronal activity associated with learning and memory requires increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) to specific brain regions. However, the interactions between cerebral blood flow and MCI remain unclear. In this study, we address whether baseline or hypercapnia-induced (increased blood CO2 levels) changes in CBF are modified with age, and whether these measures are predictive of cognitive status in rodents. Adult and aged rats were evaluated using a hippocampally-dependent task in a water maze. Aged rats were classified as memory-impaired or memory-intact based on performance comparisons with adult rats. Cerebral blood flow was assessed using flow-alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), before and after breathing 10% CO2. The transition period between CO2 concentrations was examined with blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI. Separation of aged animals into memory-intact and impaired categories revealed increased basal perfusion in the dorsal hippocampus of memory-impaired versus memory-intact aged animals. Linear regression revealed that higher hippocampal perfusion was correlated with impaired memory in aged animals, and a logistic regression indicated that hippocampal perfusion predicted spatial memory ability. Several brain regions of aged rats demonstrated an attenuation of the perfusion increase normally observed in adult rats under hypercapnia. Memory-impaired animals were the primary contributor to this effect, as their perfusion response to hypercapnia was significantly reduced compared to adult animals. Aged, memory-intact animals were not significantly different from adults. BOLD MRI demonstrated a reduced response in aged animals to hypercapnia, with impaired animals being the primary contributor to the effect. A logistic regression model based on basal and hypercapnia perfusion correctly predicted cognitive status in 83.3% of animals tested. Our results indicate that age-related changes in vascular reactivity and perfusion are important contributing factors in memory impairment.
Measurements of the Reaction-Diffusion Front of Model Chemically Amplified Photoresists with Varying Photoacid Size |

Neutron reflectivity and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements are used to profile the deprotection reaction−diffusion front with nanometer resolution in a model photoresist polymer using three perfluoroalkane-based photoacid generators (PAG) with varying chain lengths. As expected, the spatial extent of the deprotection reaction front increases with decreasing PAG size. Although the total extent of deprotection increases with increasing postexposure bake time for each PAG, the reaction−diffusion of deprotection does not propagate continuously into the photoresist polymer. The form of the deprotection reaction front changes because the diffusion process is affected by the changing polymer composition. The data are well described by a reaction−diffusion model that includes a simple acid-trapping term and does not require a varying PAG diffusivity. This high-resolution profiling, together with modeling, illustrates details of the coupled diffusion and deprotection reaction processes that affe...
Maternal morbidity and perinatal outcomes among pregnant women with respiratory hospitalizations during influenza season

Abstract Objectives A population-based assessment of maternal and perinatal morbidity related to respiratory illness during influenza season among pregnant women has not been published. The objectives of this investigation were to describe and quantify the impact of respiratory hospitalization during pregnancy on serious maternal and perinatal morbidity. Study design A matched cohort study using an administrative database of pregnant women enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid population to determine pregnancy outcomes associated with respiratory hospitalizations during influenza season. Pregnant women aged 15 to 44 years with a respiratory hospitalization during influenza seasons 1985-1993 were matched by gestational age and presence of comorbidity with pregnant control subjects without a respiratory hospitalization. Results During the eight influenza seasons studied, 293 women with singleton pregnancies had respiratory disease hospitalizations (5.1:1000). Women with asthma had high rates of such hospitalization (59.7:1000). Compared with matched controls, women with respiratory hospitalizations had similar modes of delivery, delivery length of stay, and episodes of preterm labor. The prevalence of prematurity and low birth weight among infants born to such women was likewise similar between the two groups. Conclusion In this population of pregnant women, those with asthma accounted for half of all respiratory-related hospitalizations during influenza seasons, with 6% of pregnant women with asthma requiring respiratory hospitalization during influenza season, (odds ratio 10.63, 95% CI, 8.18-13.83, compared with women without a medical comorbidity). We detected no significant increase in adverse perinatal outcomes associated with respiratory hospitalizations during influenza season.
40.2: Super‐High Resolution Transfer Printing for Full‐Color OLED Display Patterning

We describe a transfer printing method for patterning of thin polymer layers. A hard stamp with raised feature is brought into contact with a spin coated organic film under elevated pressure and temperature to break the films. The patterned film is then transfer printed onto devices. We use this method to print red/green/blue sub-pixel arrays with pattern size as small as 12 μm at a resolution of 530 ppi to demonstrate its ability for full-color organic light-emitting display fabrication.
Electric field bounds over a phased array aperture

In the following, a bound on the electric field magnitude existing over a phased array antenna is presented. Use of this bound in predicting the power handling capability of the array is discussed. It is shown that, although the overall array is large with respect to wavelength, the narrow beamwidth often required significantly affects the near field over the aperture and just outside the antenna. The result is compared to a previously existing bound obtained for a single rectangular aperture.
Assessment of numerical uncertainty for the calculations of turbulent flow over a backward‐facing step

Numerical uncertainty analysis has been performed for the turbulent flow past a backward-facing step. The analysis is based on calculations on seven non-rectangular, but structured, grid sets that were provided by the organizers of the 2004 Lisbon Workshop (Proceedings of the Workshop on CFD Uncertainty Analysis, Lisbon, 21–22 October 2004). The calculations were performed by using a commercial code, namely, FLUENT with the Spalart–Allmaras one-equation turbulence model. The present study constitutes a calculation verification process: a set of partial differential equations are solved on gradually refined grid sets, the selected quantities are extrapolated, and then the overall numerical uncertainty in selected quantities is estimated by various methods. Some new ideas are presented for estimating the coefficient of variation, which is related to standard deviation (or standard error of estimate in case of the least squares method). The major problem that stands out in extrapolation is the cases of non-monotonic convergence. For such cases some alternative methods are proposed, and the results are compared to assess these methods. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combined anterior-posterior surgery is the most important risk factor for developing proximal junctional kyphosis in idiopathic scoliosis.

Background Several studies have identified risk factors for proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after instrumentation for scoliosis, but the relative risks are unclear.
Precision electroweak constraints on universal extra dimensions revisited

We reconsider the constraints on universal extra dimensions models arising from precision electroweak data. We take into account the subleading contributions from new physics (expressed in terms of the $X,Y,\dots{}$ variables), as well as two-loop corrections to the standard model $\ensuremath{\rho}$ parameter. For the case of one extra dimension, we obtain a lower bound on the inverse compactification scale $M={R}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of 600 GeV (at 90% confidence level), with a Higgs mass of 115 GeV. However, in contradiction to recent claims, we find that this constraint is significantly relaxed with increasing Higgs mass, allowing for compactification scales as low as 300 GeV. LEP II data does not affect significantly these results.
Technological approaches for addressing privacy concerns when recognizing eating behaviors with wearable cameras

First-person point-of-view (FPPOV) images taken by wearable cameras can be used to better understand people's eating habits. Human computation is a way to provide effective analysis of FPPOV images in cases where algorithmic approaches currently fail. However, privacy is a serious concern. We provide a framework, the privacy-saliency matrix, for understanding the balance between the eating information in an image and its potential privacy concerns. Using data gathered by 5 participants wearing a lanyard-mounted smartphone, we show how the framework can be used to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of four automated techniques (face detection, image cropping, location filtering and motion filtering) at reducing the privacy-infringing content of images while still maintaining evidence of eating behaviors throughout the day.
A fast, low power amplifier, shaper and discriminator for high rate straw tracking systems

The ASD-8 is a bipolar integrated circuit that provides eight channels of amplifier, shaper and discriminator on a 2.8-mm by 4.7-mm silicon substrate. It is designed for use in the straw based central tracking system of the SDC detector. Competing requirements for short measurement time ( approximately=5 ns), good double pulse resolution ( approximately=20 ns), low power ( approximately=15 mW/channel), and low operational threshold ( approximately=1 fC) lead to the choice of a largely differential circuit that includes detector tail compensation. Tests of parts from a recent prototype run indicate excellent yield and stable operation with little or no internal crosstalk. >
Isolation, identification and characterization of lytic, wide host range bacteriophages from waste effluents against Salmonella enterica serovars

Abstract The use of bacteriophages is considered as a viable alternative to chemical antimicrobials against foodborne pathogens. The objective of this study was to develop a collection of lytic bacteriophages which will be able to infect different pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovars. Phages were isolated from animal feces and sewage samples, purified, characterized morphologically and by DNA fingerprinting, and host ranges were determined. Spot test and efficiency of plaquing (EOP) data indicated that two phages, SEA1 and SEA2 had the broadest host range against Salmonella among all isolated phages. SEA2 was highly efficient to infect S. Typhimurium DT104 (0.5–1 EOP value). Only phage SSA1 was able to infect S. Montevideo. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the phages in the collection were mostly (4 out of 6) Siphoviridae, while SEA1 and SEA2 were Myoviridae T4-like phages. SEA1 and SEA2 had the largest genome sizes in the collection, 190 and 170 kb, respectively. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis demonstrated distinct digestion profiles with Eco RI for phages SSA1, STD3, STE3 and STF1. However, SEA1 and SEA2 shared a similar restriction enzyme (RE) digestion pattern with same morphotype, but distinct profiles in lysing Salmonella strains. These anti- Salmonella phages were highly host specific with few exceptions of lytic phages that were able to infect a wide variety of Salmonella . These phages have potential for use in applications controlling Salmonella on different matrices.
Implications of $D^0$ - $\bar{D}^0$ Mixing for New Physics

We provide a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of possible New Physics contributions to the mass difference {Delta}M{sub D} in D{sup 0}-{bar D}{sup 0} mixing. We consider the most general low energy effective Hamiltonian and include leading order QCD running of effective operators. We then explore an extensive list of possible New Physics models that can generate these operators, which we organize as including Extra Fermions, Extra Gauge Bosons, Extra Scalars, Extra Space Dimensions and Extra Symmetries. For each model we place restrictions on the allowed parameter space using the recent evidence for observation of D meson mixing. In many scenarios, we find strong constraints that surpass those from other search techniques and provide an important test of flavor changing neutral currents in the up-quark sector. We also review the recent BaBar and Belle findings, and describe the current status of the Standard Model predictions of D{sup 0}-{bar D}{sup 0} mixing.
The 'E' in NIME: musical expression with new computer interfaces

Is there a distinction between New Interfaces for Musical Expression and New Interfaces for Controlling Sound? This article begins with a brief overview of expression in musical performance, and examines some of the characteristics of effective "expressive" computer music instruments. It becomes apparent that sophisticated musical expression requires not only a good control interface but also virtuosic mastery of the instrument it controls. By studying effective acoustic instruments, choosing intuitive but complex gesture-sound mappings that take advantage of established instrumental skills, designing intelligent characterizations of performance gestures, and promoting long-term dedicated practice on a new interface, computer music instrument designers can enhance the expressive quality of computer music performance.
Multiple Mechanisms Regulate Subcellular Localization of Human CDC6

CDC6 is a protein essential for DNA replication, the expression and abundance of which are cell cycle-regulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have demonstrated previously that the subcellular localization of the human CDC6 homolog, HsCDC6, is cell cycle-dependent: nuclear during G1 phase and cytoplasmic during S phase. Here we demonstrate that endogenous HsCDC6 is phosphorylated during the G1/S transition. The N-terminal region contains putative cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites adjoining nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) and a cyclin-docking motif, whereas the C-terminal region contains a nuclear export signal (NES). In addition, we show that the observed regulated subcellular localization depends on phosphorylation status, NLS, and NES. When the four putative substrate sites (serines 45, 54, 74, and 106) for cyclin-dependent kinases are mutated to alanines, the resulting HsCDC6A4 protein is localized predominantly to the nucleus. This localization depends upon two functional NLSs, because expression of HsCDC6 containing mutations in the two putative NLSs results in predominantly cytoplasmic distribution. Furthermore, mutation of the four serines to phosphate-mimicking aspartates (HsCDC6D4) results in strictly cytoplasmic localization. This cytoplasmic localization depends upon the C-terminal NES. Together these results demonstrate that HsCDC6 is phosphorylated at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle and that the phosphorylation status determines the subcellular localization.
Mathematical model of the roles of T cells in inflammatory bowel disease.

Gut mucosal homeostasis depends on complex interactions among the microbiota, the intestinal epithelium, and the gut associated immune system. A breakdown in some of these interactions may precipitate inflammation. Inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The initial stages of disease are marked by an abnormally high level of pro-inflammatory helper T cells, Th1. In later stages, Th2 helper cells may dominate while the Th1 response may dampen. The interaction among the T cells includes the regulatory T cells (Treg). The present paper develops a mathematical model by a system of differential equations with terms nonlocal in the space spanned by the concentrations of cytokines that represents the interaction among T cells through a cytokine signaling network. The model demonstrates how the abnormal levels of T cells observed in inflammatory bowel diseases can arise from abnormal regulation of Th1 and Th2 cells by Treg cells.
A Frequency Accurate Finite Difference Scheme for Burgers Equation

A method is presented for designing a one-step, explicit finite difference scheme for solving the inviscid Burgers equation based on an a priori specification of dissipation and phase accuracy requirements. Frequency accurate temporal and spatial approximations with undetermined coefficients are used, together with a set of constraints that ensure that the approximations converge as the spatial and temporal grid sizes approach zero and satisfy the Lax Equivalence Theorem. A practical design of the difference scheme using a heuristic zero placement method, combined with a stability requirement, results in a linear matrix problem which is solved to obtain the undetermined coefficients. The partial differential equation itself provides the relationship between the temporal and spatial frequency dependence in the numerical approximation.
Bridge numbers of torus knots

We provide a new self contained proof of the following result of H. Schubert: If K is a (p,q)-torus knot, then the bridge number of K is min{p, q}.
Stocking Rate Decisions Are Not Related to What You Paid for Your Land or Pickup

On the Ground We develop a simple bio-economic model to reflect the stocking rate decision for a profit-seeking land manager and use it to identify factors influencing the optimal stocking rate. The optimal stocking rate will be bounded by the rate that maximizes average animal performance and that maximizing total animal production per unit of rangeland. The optimal stocking rate tends closer toward the upper bound as the ratio of the value of the animal product increases relative to the variable costs of production. Fixed costs or overhead do not influence the optimal stocking rate, but will affect the amount of profit.
Running WILD: the case for exploring mixed parameter sets in sensitivity analysis

The robustness of clades to parameter variation may be a desirable quality or even a goal in phylogenetic analyses. Sensitivity analyses used to assess clade stability have invoked the incongruence length difference (ILD or WILD) metric, a measure of congruence among datasets, to compare a series of most-parsimonious results from re-running analyses under different analytical conditions. It is also common practice to select a single “optimal” parameter set that minimizes WILD across all parameter sets. However, the divergent molecular evolution of ribosomal genes and protein-encoding genes—specifically the bias against transversion events in coding genes of conserved function—suggests that deployment of multiple parameter sets could outperform the use of a single parameter set applied to all molecules. We explored congruence in five published datasets by including mixed parameter sets in our sensitivity analysis. In four cases, mixed parameter sets outperformed the previously reported, single optimal parameter set. Conversely, multiple parameter sets did not outperform a single optimal parameter set in a case in which actual strong topological conflict exists between data partitions. Exploration of mixed parameter sets may prove useful when combining ribosomal and protein-encoding genes, due to the relatively higher frequency of single- and double-base pair indel events in the former, and the relatively lower frequency of transversions in the latter. © The Willi Hennig Society 2010.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer treated with electronic brachytherapy: Results at 1 year

PURPOSE: We report clinical outcomes at 1 year or more after high-dose-rate (HDR) electronic brachytherapy (EBT) using surface applicators for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From July 2009 to April 2012, 122 patients with 171 NMSC lesions were treated with EBT to a dose of 40 Gy in eight fractions, delivered twice weekly. At fol- lowup, patients were assessed for acute and late toxicities, cosmesis, and local control. RESULTS: Treatment of 171 lesions was completed in 122 patients with a mean age 73 years. There have been no recurrences to date with a mean followup of 10 months (range, 1e28 months). Followup data at 1 year or more were available for 46 lesions in 42 patients. Hypopigmentation (all Grade 1) was present in 5 (10.9%) of 46 lesions at 1 year. Other late effects at 1 year included dry desquamation, alopecia, and rash dermatitis, which occurred in 1 (2.2%), 1 (2.2%), and 3 (6.5%) of 46 lesions, respectively. No Grade 3 or higher adverse events were observed at any time point. Cosmesis was evaluated at 1 year for 42 of 46 lesions and was excellent for 39 (92.9%) and good for 3 (7.1%) of the 42 evaluable lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of NMSC with HDR EBT using surface applicators was effective with no recurrences, good to excellent cosmesis, and acceptable toxicities at 1 year or more after treatment. HDR EBT provides a convenient nonsurgical treatment option for NMSC patients.
Personality characteristics in obesity: relation of MMPI profile and age of onset of obesity to success in weight reduction

A group of 142 obese subjects was seen in an obesity clinic over a 2-year period. Of these, 116 had assessment of personality factors by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and 71 were followed for periods of 4 to 28 months in order to determine success at weight reduction by means of a conventional dietary regimen. The MMPI profiles of the obese subjects were compared to those of a general medical population of 50,000 patients seen in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. Obese male subjects had significantly higher scores on the F and MA scales. Obese female subjects had significantly higher scores on the F, PD, PA, SC, and MA scales, and a significantly lower score on the Q scale than the reference population. Even though these findings show that certain personality traits as measured by the MMPI may occur more frequently in obese persons, the individual MMPI profile codes point out the presence of diverse behavior patterns among obese persons rather than a single personality pattern characteristic of obesity. There were no apparent differences in the success in achieving a loss of 10% or more of initial weight among the male and female obese subjects having normal or abnormal MMPI profiles. Obese subjects having onset of obesity before age 12 years were slightly more successful in weight reduction than those whose obesity began later than this, but the differences were not statistically significant for either the male or female subjects.
Second-harmonic generation in atomic vapor with picosecond laser pulses

Picosecond laser pulses were used to study the highly forbidden resonant second-harmonic generation (SHG) in potassium vapor. The input intensity dependence, vapor density dependence, buffer-gas pressure dependence, and spatial profile of the SHG were measured. A pump–probe experiment was conducted to probe the time dependence of the SHG signal. The experimental results can be understood from an ionization-initiated dc-field-induced SHG model. A theory of a dc-field-induced SHG model is developed that takes into account the time development of the dc electric field in detail. This temporal buildup of the dc field along with transient coherent excitation between two-photon-allowed transitions can explain the experimental results quantitatively, including the previous vapor SHG results with nanosecond laser pulses.
Optimal Self-Tuning of PID Controllers

A self-tuning PID controller has been developed that uses the well-known technique of direct-search optimization. An objective function that measures the quality of control performance is optimized by a succession of small adjustments to the three PID tuning constants. Because the optimization is driven by actual performance and no assumptions are made about process dynamics and disturbance behavior, this technique provides optimal tuning for almost any loop that can be controlled by PID.
A Quarter of a Century of Antibiotic Therapy

AbstractFebruary 12, 1941, marks maybe the most important date in medical history. On that day PENICILLIN was administered for the first time against infection; this event started, in truth, a new medical era.
Physicians and Entrepreneurship

For a variety of reasons, an increasing number of physicians are pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. There are unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurs who can bring innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for better outcomes and more affordable healthcare choices in the US and globally. A critical skill for a would-be physician/entrepreneur is the ability to identify and assess opportunities. In order to be worth pursuing an opportunity must have an identified customer, a compelling value proposition, and a viable business model. One large surprise for many physicians/entrepreneurs is the fact that the single biggest factor between success and failure in a new venture is the “people issues.” First-time entrepreneurs are well served to work with a trusted mentor.
Endothelin causes portal and pulmonary hypertension in porcine endotoxemic shock

A porcine model of endotoxemic shock was used to test the hypothesis that endothelins (ET) mediate the sustained increases in portal and pulmonary vascular resistances. Anesthetized pigs (n = 18) were instrumented and pretreated with 1) saline as a control; 2) indomethacin (Idm), a cyclooxygenase (Cox) inhibitor; or 3) Idm + bosentan (Bos), a mixed ET-receptor antagonist, and then were treated with endotoxin to produce shock and followed for 240 min. Global and regional hemodynamic parameters and plasma levels of ET-1 and thromboxane B2 were measured. The results show that 1) ET is independently responsible for the sustained increase in pulmonary vascular resistance; 2) ET and Cox products combine to increase portal venous resistance; 3) ET independently reduces cardiac output and attenuates or negates global systemic arterial vasodilation (presumptively mediated by nitric oxide) and exhibits regional differences, having little if any influence on the gut arterial bed. When considered with our prior study of nitric oxide regulation of the same beds in endotoxemic shock (N. Brienza, T. Ayuse, J. P. Revelly, C. P. O'Donnell, and J. L. Robotham, J. Appl. Physiol. 78: 784-792, 1995), the similarities between the portal venous and pulmonary arterial beds suggest that these two beds reflect phenomena occurring in microvascular and/or venous beds in multiple organs. The overall results suggest that a dynamic balance exists between NO and ET regulating arterial and microvascular and/or venous vasomotor activity during the evolution of endotoxemic shock.
Design Insights into the Creation and Evaluation of a Computer Science Educational Game

Computer Science (CS) education at the middle school level using educational games has seen recent growth and shown promising results. Typically these games teach the craft of programming and not the perspectives required for computational thinking, such as abstraction and algorithm design, characteristic of a CS curriculum. This research presents a game designed to teach computational thinking via the problem of minimum spanning trees to middle school students, a set of evaluation instruments, and the results of an experimental pilot study. Results show a moderate increase in minimum spanning tree performance; however, differences between gender, collaboration method, and game genre preference are apparent. Based on these results, we discuss design considerations for future CS educational games focused on computational thinking.
Revision of Sphaerocera, with Description of a New Genus, Afromyia (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae)

In this paper the genus Sphaerocera Latreille, 1804, is revised and a new African genus Afromyia , is described. The paper includes a historical review, complete citation of literature and synonymies, and descriptions of 8 species of Sphaerocera and Afromyia, including 2 new species, Sphaerocera tuberculosa and S. richardsi. A standardized mensuration system is illustrated and used. A key to the known species of Sphaerocera and Afromyia of the world also is presented.
Effects of gonadectomy on the uptake of polycyclic hydrocarbons by rat liver nuclei, DNA, and histones.

SummaryThe effects of sex difference and of gonadectomy on the uptake of 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-3H and benz-[a]anthracene-3H by rat liver slices, hepatic DNA; and histones were studied. Liver slices from the intact male rat incorporated 7, 12 -dimethylbenz [a] anthracene-3H at a higher rate than benz[a]anthracene-3H. The uptake of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-3H by intact isolated liver nuclei increased after gonadectomy of the male rat, whereas the uptake of benz[a]anthracene-3H increased in liver nuclei from female rats after ovariectomy. Relatively small amounts of radioactive hydrocarbons were bound to DNA under the in vitro experimental conditions. Liver histones were found to bind radioactivity after incubation of liver slices with 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-3H and benz-[a]anthracene-3H. Gonadectomy led to an increase in the extent of binding of benz-[a]anthracene-3H to liver histones from both male and female rats. Uptake of 7, 12 -dimethylbenz [a] anthracene-3H by histones was incr...
Miniaturization of Micro-Solder Bumps and Effect of IMC on Stress Distribution

As the joints become smaller in more advanced packages and devices, intermetallic (IMCs) volume ratio increases, which significantly impacts the overall mechanical behavior of joints. The existence of only a few grains of Sn (Tin) and IMC materials results in anisotropic elastic and plastic behavior which is not detectable using conventional finite element (FE) simulation with average properties for polycrystalline material. In this study, crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) simulation is used to model the whole joint including copper, Sn solder and Cu6Sn5 IMC material. Experimental lap-shear test results for solder joints from the literature were used to validate the models. A comparative analysis between traditional FE, CPFE and experiments was conducted. The CPFE model was able to correlate the experiments more closely compared to traditional FE analysis because of its ability to capture micro-mechanical anisotropic behavior. Further analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of IMC thickness on stress distribution in micro-bumps using a systematic numerical experiment with IMC thickness ranging from 0% to 80%. The analysis was conducted on micro-bumps with single crystal Sn and bicrystal Sn. The overall stress distribution and shear deformation changes as the IMC thickness increases. The model with higher IMC thickness shows a stiffer shear response, and provides a higher shear yield strength.
Consumer Perceptions of Green Marketing Claims: An Examination of the Relationships with Type of Claim and Credibility

In the 1990s, some called it the issue of the decade (Kirkpatick 1990; Roberts 1996). In this new millennium, it continues to grow in importance as issues such as global warming are further highlighted. Many companies have begun to use green marketing as a way to appeal to consumers. Green marketing is the most often used term; however, it has also been called ecological marketing, environmental marketing, greener marketing, enviropreneurial marketing, green advertising, and sustainable marketing. All of these terms refer to the study of marketing’s impact on the environment and how the environment is included in marketing decisions (Chamorro et al. 2007). Previous research indicates that green marketing can lead to many positive outcomes, such as positive product image, corporate reputation, purchase intentions (Ko et al. 2013), brand attitude (Matthes et al. 2014), and positive image toward the retailer (Lavorata 2014).
Calciphylaxis: A Disease of Pannicular Thrombosis

Abstract Objective To identify coagulation risk factors in patients with calciphylaxis and the relationship between anticoagulation use and overall survival. Patients and Methods Study subjects were 101 patients with calciphylaxis seen at Mayo Clinic from 1999 to September 2014. Data including thrombophilia profiles were extracted from the medical records of each patient. Survival status was determined using patient registration data and the Social Security Death Index. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and associations were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results Sixty-four of the 101 patients underwent thrombophilia testing. Of these, a complete test panel was performed in 55 and a partial panel in 9. Severe thrombophilias observed in 60% (33 of 55) of the patients included antiphospholipid antibody syndrome protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiencies or combined thrombophilias. Of the 55 patients, severe thrombophilia (85%, 23 of 27) was noted in patients who were not on warfarin at the time of testing (27). Nonsevere thrombophilias included heterozygous factor V Leiden (n=2) and plasminogen deficiency (n=1). For the comparison of survival, patients were divided into 3 treatment categories: Warfarin (n=63), other anticoagulants (n=20), and no anticoagulants (n=18). There was no statistically significant survival difference between treatment groups. Conclusion Laboratory testing reveals a strikingly high prevalence of severe thrombophilias in patients with calciphylaxis, underscoring the importance of congenital and acquired thrombotic propensity potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of this disease. These findings may have therapeutic implications; however, to date, survival differences did not vary by therapeutic choice.
Safety and Efficacy of Occipital Nerves Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Migraines: Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Single-center Experience.

Background A recent multicenter study presented 52-week safety and efficacy results from an open-label extension of a randomized, sham-controlled trial for patients with chronic migraine (CM) undergoing peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves. We present the data from a single center of 20 patients enrolled at the Cleveland Clinic's Pain Management Department. Methods In this single center, 20 patients were implanted with a neurostimulation system, randomized to an active or control group for 12 weeks, and received open-label treatment for an additional 40 weeks. Outcomes collected included number of headache days, pain intensity, Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Zung Pain and Distress (PAD), direct patient reports of headache pain relief, quality of life, satisfaction, and adverse events (AEs). Results Headache days per month were reduced by 8.51 (±9.81) days (P < 0.0001). The proportion of patients who achieved a 30% and 50% reduction in headache days and/or pain intensity was 60% and 35%, respectively. MIDAS and Zung PAD were reduced for all patients. Fifteen (75%) of the 20 patients at the site reported at least one AE. A total of 20 AEs were reported from the site. Conclusion Our results support the 12-month efficacy of 20 CM patients receiving peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves in this single-center trial.