cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Karyogamy and meiosis in an Amblyospora sp. (Microspora) in the mosquito Culex salinarius

Abstract Stages of merogony and sporogony are illustrated in photomicrographs of lacto-aecto-orcein stained smears of an undescribed species of Amblyospora in male Culex salinarius larvae. Karyogamy was observed to take place in diplokaryotic meronts followed by an unusual meiosis-like process in young sporonts. Karyogamy was confirmed by DNA measurements in the nuclei of meronts. DNA measurements at mingling indicate that tetrads may not be formed during “pachytene.” Therefore, structures previously reported to be synaptonemal complexes and meiotic configurations of chromosomes may not actually represent true pachytene chromosomes. It is further shown that karyogamy has been either misplaced or overlooked by numerous investigators and that the behavior of chromosomes during the meiosis-like process was misinterpreted by previous researchers studying chromosomes in microsporidian sporonts.
Capital risk and consumption puzzles: A pedagogical note

A two-period consumption model with an “ordinal certainty equivalent” preference is developed to characterize the comparative static effect of an increase in uncertainty of investment returns on the riskfree interest rate, the equity premium, expected growth of consumption, and the marginal propensity to consume out of current income. The results reconcile a few often reported consumption-related anomalies.
Microstructured SiO 2 surface repellant to liquids without coating

We report the first superhydrophobic surface made of a material that is highly wetting (Young's angle below 10 degrees) to the liquid in service. The concept is proposed and experimentally confirmed by microstructuring silicon dioxide (SiO2), which is highly wetting to aqueous liquids (e.g. water). In pushing the surface geometry to a doubly re-entrant topology, the key is in the geometric details of the microstructures and how to fabricate them. Tested on micrograting surfaces, the measured apparent contact angle agreed with the theory, and the pressure the microstructures can resist against wetting transition was found consistent with the claimed design.
Critical points when using vectors.

TO THE EDITOR: I read with interest the article by Zhu et al of using support vector machines to identify prognostic classifiers for stage IB non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is an interesting technique, and the authors have done a lot of work. However, I am worried that the study design has two significant flaws. First, while it is true that the 5-year survival of patients with resected stage pIB NSCLC is 60% to 70%, it is important to take into account that only about half of the deaths are due to recurrence of the lung cancer. The other 40% to 45% of deaths are due to such things as cardiovascular diseases and new primary cancers. This means that factors predictive of death for any reason cannot be interpreted as an indication to give adjuvant chemotherapy. The poor prognostic classifiers may be indicating that the patients should have their cholesterol lowered, or have a colonoscopy, and so on. It would be much better to do an analysis looking for markers of a poor risk of lung cancer recurrence. Many, if not most, articles discussing the prognosis of stage I NSCLC make the mistake of equating the lack of survival with lung cancer death. For most of these articles, however, it is merely an erroneous or deliberately misleading statement, perhaps in order to play on the fear of recurrence. In Zhu et al, however, it seems to me this mistake results in a fundamental flaw of the study, not just a misleading statement. Second, the training and validation sets of patients are from two different time periods. Ideally, the training set should be picked randomly from the total sample, and the validation done in the remaining patients. Why was the study not done this way? Having said this, it is likely that the use of different cohorts of patients (from different time periods) would make the correlation between the training and validation cohort worse; the fact that it was good suggests that the effect of the different time periods was not so great. Along these lines, I am confused by the contradiction between the statement that the study involved a total of 148 consecutive patients, and the later statement that it involved 73 randomly selected patients between 1990 and 1998 and 75 randomly selected patients between 1998 and 2005. It doesn’t make sense to randomly select all of the patients. It seems to me they were selected by time period, and not randomly. Can this be clarified?
Some notes for the uniform calculus of redundancy

Different engineering areas use redundant modules but the notion of redundancy shows irreconcilable characters on the theoretical plane. We find diverging notions in the reliability theory and the information theory. Redundancy is the repetition of components from the systemic viewpoint, whereas a redundant codeword appears as an 'inflated' item with respect to the minimal word. This paper puts forward a formal definition of redundancy that tries to reunify the odd approaches in one simple calculus.
Aerosol delivery device selection for spontaneously breathing patients: 2012.

Using an electronic literature search for published articles indexed in PubMed between January 1990 and August 2011, the update of this clinical practice guideline is the result of reviewing 84 clinical trials, 54 reviews, 25 in vitro studies, and 7 evidence-based guidelines. The recommendations below are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria: 1: It is recommended that selection of the appropriate aerosol generator and interface be made based on the patient9s age, physical and cognitive ability, cost, and the availability of the prescribed drug for use with a specific device. 2: Nebulizers and pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) with valved holding chambers are suggested for use with children ≤ 4 years of age and adults who cannot coordinate the use of pMDI or dry-powder inhaler (DPI). 3: It is suggested that administration of aerosols with DPIs be restricted to patients ≥ 4 years of age who can demonstrate sufficient flow for the specific inhaler. 4: For patients who cannot correctly use a mouthpiece, aerosol masks are suggested as the interface of choice. 5: It is suggested that blow-by not be used for aerosol administration. 6: It is suggested that aerosol therapy be administered with a relaxed and nondistressed breathing pattern. 7: Unit dose medications are suggested to reduce the risk of infection. 8: It is suggested that nebulizer/drug combinations should be used as approved by the FDA. 9: It is recommended that healthcare providers know the correct use of aerosol generators; they should teach and periodically re-teach patients about how to use aerosol devices correctly. 10: It is suggested that intermittent positive-pressure breathing should not be used for aerosol therapy. 11: It is recommended that either nebulizer or pMDI can be used for aerosol delivery during noninvasive ventilation.
CFD analysis of paramagnetic particle containment in microwells

Designs for a flow-through biochemical sensor based on rotating chains of paramagnetic particles are analyzed with computational fluid dynamics and theoretical relations for particles in fluids. The sensor is based on the behaviour of paramagnetic particles—in particular, their tendency to align themselves into chain-like structures when subjected to a magnetic field. Paramagnetic particles can be prepared onto which fluorescently tagged analytes will attach. Rotating magnetic fields rotate the particle chains providing the opportunity to selectively acquire the signal associated with chains, through well known lock-in amplifier techniques. Commercially available CFD software can be used to address some basic questions in the design of such a sensor. Computational and experimental results suggest that a trade-off exists between the efficiency of delivering the analyte to the particle chains and the difficulty of holding the chains in the desired location.
An Industry Perspective on the NIMH Consensus Statement on Negative Symptoms

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain an area of substantial unmet clinical need. By convening a consensus conference in January 2005, the NIMH has taken a leading role in stimulating a resurgence of interest in methodological considerations related to development of new medications for treating negative symptoms. One audience for this work is clinical researchers in industry. They must take ideas, like those emerging from this consensus meeting, and determine whether they can be applied to their global trials in order to meet the needs of a broad group of customers, which include patients, clinicians, regulators, and payers. This article takes the ideas that surfaced from the NIMH consensus work and interprets them in terms of issues that industry faces for its clinical trials. Particular emphasis is given to addressing hurdles to study design and analysis that come when developing broad-spectrum or adjunctive agents that may be effective for negative symptoms.
Effect of Endurance Exercise Training on Left Ventricular Size and Remodeling in Older Adults With Hypertension

BACKGROUND It is not known whether exercise training can induce a reduction of blood pressure (BP) and a regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in older hypertensive subjects. This study was designed to determine whether endurance exercise training, by lowering BP, can induce regression of LVH and left ventricular (LV) concentric remodeling in older hypertensive adults. METHODS We studied 11 older adults with mild to moderate hypertension (BP 152.0 +/- 2.5/91.3 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, mean +/- SE), 65.5 +/- 1.2 years old, who exercised for 6.8 +/- 3.8 months. Seven sedentary hypertensive (BP 153 +/- 3/89 +/- 2 mm Hg) subjects, 68.5 +/- 1 years old, served as controls. LV size and geometry and function were assessed with the use of two-dimensional echocardiography. RESULTS Exercise training increased aerobic power by 16% (p < .001), and it decreased systolic (p < .05) and diastolic (p < .05) BP, LV wall thickness (from 12.8 +/- 0.4 mm to 11.3 +/- 0.3 mm; p < .05), and the wall thickness-to-radius (h/r) ratio (from 0.48 +/- 0.02 to 0.41 +/- 0.01; p < .05). There were no significant changes in the controls. The changes in LV mass index (deltaLVMI) were different between the two groups. LV mass index decreased in the exercise group (deltaLVMI - 14.3 +/- 3.3 g) but not in the controls (deltaLVMI 1.4 +/- 4.1 g; p = .009). A multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that among clinical and physiological variables including changes in resting systolic BP, aerobic power, body mass index, and systolic BP during submaximal and maximal exercise, only the reduction in resting systolic BP correlated significantly with a regression of concentric remodeling (delta h/r ratio r = .80; p = .003). The other variables did not add to the ability of the model to predict changes in the h/r ratio. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that exercise training can reduce BP and induce partial regression of LVH and LV concentric remodeling in older adults with mild or moderate hypertension.
Comparison of Upper-Extremity Balance Tasks and Force Platform Testing in Persons With Hemiparesis

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between clinically accessible functional balance tools and sophisticated force platform measures in a standing position. Subjects. Twenty persons who had hemiparesis secondary to a stroke and were ambulatory (mean age=57.9 years, SD=13.6, range=35–79) were evaluated during a single testing session. Methods. Performances on self-generated upper-extremity balance tasks using the nonparetic side (Functional Reach Test [FRT], arm raise and arm reach tasks) were compared with responses to external perturbations on the Balance System™ (postural sway, symmetry of weight distribution). Results. No relationship was found between the upper-extremity balance tests and the force platform measures of postural sway. After suppressing the effect of age by means of partial correlation coefficients, the FRT was correlated with measures of postural symmetry in parallel stance on the Balance System™ ( r =.66–.78). The FRT was only moderately correlated with the arm raise and arm reach tasks ( r =.43 and .44). Conclusion and Discussion. Postural sway in response to force platform perturbations may have little relation to the postural control necessary for self-generated upper-extremity balance tasks. In contrast, the FRT and the force platform measures of postural symmetry appear to be evaluating comparable standing-balance abilities in persons with hemiparesis. The modest relationship between the FRT and the arm raise and arm reach tasks limits the finding's clinical relevance.
Filipino Navy stewards and Filipina health care professionals: Immigration, work and family relations

Drawing from in-depth interviews of more than 100 Filipino Americans in San Diego, California, this article analyzes the migrations and changing family relations of Filipino Navy stewards and Filip...
Suppression of beat to beat repolarization variability by electrical coupling in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

To examine relationships between intracellular coupling and cardiac repolarization, we electrically connected isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes to one another with a junctional resistance. Because coupling was achieved by an external circuit that supplied coupling current based solely on transmembrane potential difference, cell-to-cell interactions were considered in their simplest form, independent of ionic diffusion via gap junctions or mechanical interactions between cells.
Partial differential equation transform—Variational formulation and Fourier analysis

Nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) models are established approaches for image/signal processing, data analysis and surface construction. Most previous geometric PDEs are utilized as low-pass filters which give rise to image trend information. In an earlier work, we introduced mode decomposition evolution equations (MoDEEs), which behave like high-pass filters and are able to systematically provide intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) of signals and images. Due to their tunable time-frequency localization and perfect reconstruction, the operation of MoDEEs is called a PDE transform. By appropriate selection of PDE transform parameters, we can tune IMFs into trends, edges, textures, noise etc., which can be further utilized in the secondary processing for various purposes. This work introduces the variational formulation, performs the Fourier analysis, and conducts biomedical and biological applications of the proposed PDE transform. The variational formulation offers an algorithm to incorporate two image functions and two sets of low-pass PDE operators in the total energy functional. Two low-pass PDE operators have different signs, leading to energy disparity, while a coupling term, acting as a relative fidelity of two image functions, is introduced to reduce the disparity of two energy components. We construct variational PDE transforms by using Euler-Lagrange equation and artificial time propagation. Fourier analysis of a simplified PDE transform is presented to shed light on the filter properties of high order PDE transforms. Such an analysis also offers insight on the parameter selection of the PDE transform. The proposed PDE transform algorithm is validated by numerous benchmark tests. In one selected challenging example, we illustrate the ability of PDE transform to separate two adjacent frequencies of sin(x) and sin(1.1x). Such an ability is due to PDE transform's controllable frequency localization obtained by adjusting the order of PDEs. The frequency selection is achieved either by diffusion coefficients or by propagation time. Finally, we explore a large number of practical applications to further demonstrate the utility of proposed PDE transform.
Immediate and Long-Term Outcome After Directional Coronary Atherectomy: Analysis of Gender Differences

Objective To compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of directional coronary atherectomy in women and men. Design We retrospectively analyzed 291 consecutive directional atherectomy procedures performed in 61 women and 230 men at the Mayo Clinic between October 1988 and November 1992. Material and Methods The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics, including extent of coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction, were compared for the male and female patients, and the short-term and long-term complications associated with atherectomy were summarized on the basis of gender. Results At baseline, women were older than men (67 ± 12 versus 61 ± 11 years; P = 0.001), and more women than men had class III or IV angina (90% versus 64%; P P = 0.054). In-hospital mortality was similar in women and men (1.6% and 1.7%, respectively), but acute myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in women than in men (4.9% versus 0.4%; P = 0.03). Significant peripheral vascular complications occurred in 6.6% of women versus 0.9% of men ( P = 0.02). During long-term follow-up (mean, 2.9 years), survival and freedom from recurrent angina were similar among women and men. Conclusion Directional coronary atherectomy is associated with slightly lower success and a higher frequency of myocardial infarction among women than among men. The higher postprocedural rate of myocardial infarction among women may reflect their worse clinical status at time of initial assessment. Despite these observations, women and men seem to have comparable survival and freedom from recurrence of angina during extended follow-up.
Neuronal polarity: an evolutionary perspective

Polarized distribution of signaling molecules to axons and dendrites facilitates directional information flow in complex vertebrate nervous systems. The topic we address here is when the key aspects of neuronal polarity evolved. All neurons have a central cell body with thin processes that extend from it to cover long distances, and they also all rely on voltage-gated ion channels to propagate signals along their length. The most familiar neurons, those in vertebrates, have additional cellular features that allow them to send directional signals efficiently. In these neurons, dendrites typically receive signals and axons send signals. It has been suggested that many of the distinct features of axons and dendrites, including the axon initial segment, are found only in vertebrates. However, it is now becoming clear that two key cytoskeletal features that underlie polarized sorting, a specialized region at the base of the axon and polarized microtubules, are found in invertebrate neurons as well. It thus seems likely that all bilaterians generate axons and dendrites in the same way. As a next step, it will be extremely interesting to determine whether the nerve nets of cnidarians and ctenophores also contain polarized neurons with true axons and dendrites, or whether polarity evolved in concert with the more centralized nervous systems found in bilaterians.
Treatment of acute cervical internal carotid artery dissection using the Solitaire FR revascularization device

During treatment of a right internal carotid artery terminus aneurysm, an acute iatrogenic flow limiting dissection was caused in the cervical internal carotid. The true lumen was catheterized using a Mirage 0.008 microwire over an Excelsior SL-10 microcatheter, which was exchanged for a Marksman microcatheter. A 6 mm×30 mm Solitaire FR revascularization device was then deployed across the dissection as a salvage technique.
The Algorithms of Fame

What exactly is fame? Is it synonymous with renown, with historical importance, or with historical significance? Do importance and significance have the same meaning in this context? Are the most famous women and men—the “big names”—of past times the persons who contributed the most to propelling or stemming the tides of history? Does being merely remembered matter more or less than accomplishing something that made a difference to the pace of human progress? What is the value of quantifying recognition versus qualifying the value added of a particular individual action or bundle of actions? All of these questions, and more, arise from Skiena and Ward’s novel, bold attempt to compare thousands of human endeavors across time and geography in Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank. It works, in a sense, but does it improve understanding?
Changing of an anesthesiology clinical base year to create an integrated 48-month curriculum: experience of one program

To allow for growth in our anesthesiology residency, we assumed control of the clinical base year (postgraduate year 1[PGY-1]) and adjusted the curriculum to accommodate the expanded size. With this opportunity to change the curriculum, we created a clinical base year to prepare PGY-1 for clinical anesthesia training in PGY-2 to PGY-4 using, for this purpose, the best resources of our clinical site. We describe the process and preliminary results of the change.
Central Extensions of Stephenson's Algebras

Abstract This paper completes the classification of central extensions of three dimensional Artin-Schelter regular algebras to four dimensional Artin-Schelter regular algebras. Let A be an AS regular algebra of global dimension three and let D be an extension of A by a central graded element z, i.e., D/⟨z⟩ = A. If A is generated by elements of degree one, those algebras D which are again AS regular have been classified in Le Bruyn et al. (Le Bruyn L., Smith, S. P., Van den Bergh, M. (1996). Central extensions of three dimensional Artin-Schelter regular algebras. Math. Zeitschrift 222:171–212.) and Cassidy (Cassidy, T. (1999). Global dimension 4 extensions of Artin-Schelter regular algebras. J. Algebra 220:225–254.). If A is not generated by elements of degree one, then A falls under a classification due to Stephenson (Stephenson, D. R. (1996). Artin-Schelter regular algebras of global dimension three. J. Algebra 183(1):55–73 and Stephenson, D. R. (1997). Algebras associated to elliptic curves. Trans. Amer...
Pediatric Perfusion Techniques for Complex Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Motivated by the inadequacy of nonsurgical therapy in ameliorating congenital cardiac disease, surgical pioneers in the 1940s and 1950s began to develop techniques that would allow for the intracardiac repair of congenital heart disease. The first operation on the open human heart under direct vision—closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) in a 5-year-old girl—was performed at the University of Minnesota by Dr. F. John Lewis on September 2nd, 1952 (1). This operation was performed using inflow stasis and moderate total body hypothermia. Within 1 year, Lewis reported closure of 11 ASDs with only 18% mortality (2). This success, however, could not be extended to more complex defects without a system of extracorporeal oxygenation and perfusion. On May 6, 1953, John Gibbon used his extracorporeal oxygenation system to successfully close an ASD in a young woman (3). Despite this success, initial attempts at mechanical cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were uniformly dismal; of 18 reported cases between 1951 and 1954, using a variety of methods for total CPB (film oxygenators, bubble oxygenators, and monkey lungs), only those with ASDs survived (4–10). Faced with these results, alternative methods of perfusion were pursued, and on March 26, 1954, C. Walton Lillehei and colleagues successfully closed a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in a 12-month-old infant using controlled cross-circulation with the patient’s father functioning as the extracorporeal oxygenator (11).
The Effects of Quality and Satisfaction on Awareness and Behavioral Intentions: Exploring the Role of a Wine Festival

This study examines how festivals can promote wine products and wineries and influence customer behavioral intentions. Specifically, this research proposes a theoretical model, focusing on the relationships among (1) perceived festival quality, (2) satisfaction with the wine festival, (3) subsequent awareness of local wines and wineries, and (4) future intentions to buy local wine products and to visit wineries. A structural equation modeling analysis reveals that attendee evaluation of festival quality positively influences satisfaction with the festival, and that satisfaction exerts a positive and direct influence on awareness of local wines and wineries. Festival quality appears not to directly affect behavioral intentions, whereas satisfaction and awareness have positive and direct relationships with intentions. Mediator functions of satisfaction and awareness are also discussed. This study extends previous research by specifically considering ways in which service quality and satisfaction with a wine...
Security analysis of DTN architecture and Bundle Protocol Specification for space-based networks

A Delay-Tolerant Network (DTN) Architecture (Request for Comment, RFC-4838) and Bundle Protocol Specification, RFC-5050, have been proposed for space and terrestrial networks. Additional security specifications have been provided via the Bundle Security Specification (currently a work in progress as an Internet Research Task Force internet-draft) and, for link-layer protocols applicable to Space networks, the Licklider Transport Protocol Security Extensions. This document provides a security analysis of the current DTN RFCs and proposed security related internet drafts with a focus on space-based communication networks, which is a rather restricted subset of DTN networks. Note, the original focus and motivation of DTN work was for the ‘Interplanetary Internet’. This document does not address general store-and-forward network overlays, just the current work being done by the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) and the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Space Internetworking Services Area (SIS) - DTN working group under the ‘DTN’ and ‘Bundle’ umbrellas. However, much of the analysis is relevant to general store-and-forward overlays. 12
The Contributing Role of Health-Care Communication to Health Disparities for Minority Patients With Asthma

Asthma is a common, chronic illness with substantial morbidity, especially for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. The care of the patient with asthma is complex and depends ideally on excellent communication between patients and health-care providers. Communication is essential for the patient to communicate the severity of his or her illness, as well as for the health-care provider to instruct patients on pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic care. This article describes evidence for poor provider/patient communication as a contributor to health-care disparities for minority patients with asthma. Communication problems stem from issues with patients, health-care providers, and health-care systems. It is likely that asthma disparities can be improved, in part, by improving patient/provider communication. While much is known presently about the problem of patient/provider communication in asthma, there is a need to improve and extend the evidence base on the role of effective communication of asthma care and the links to outcomes for minorities. Additional studies are needed that document the extent to which problems with doctor/patient communication lead to inadequate care and poor outcomes for minorities with asthma, as well as mechanisms by which these disparities occur.
Insights into reticulate evolution in Machaerantherinae (Asteraceae: Astereae): 5S ribosomal RNA spacer variation, estimating support for incongruence, and constructing reticulate phylogenies.

Although reticulate evolution has been a frequent occurrence during the history of plants, determining how it has contributed to plant evolution will require analyzing many nuclear loci and developing effective analytical methods. The objective of this study was to make progress toward meeting these requirements in the evolutionarily complex subtribe Machaerantherinae. The 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) spacer was investigated to characterize its structure and variation. Analysis of the spacer supported relationships that were mostly the same as those supported by ITS and ETS sequence data. Two methods were used to estimate support for 11 occurrences of incongruence between 5S/ITS/ETS and cpDNA data sets. The fi ve best-supported incongruences were proposed to have had reticulate evolutionary histories. For Arida blepharophylla , Xanthisma rhizomatum , and Pyrrocoma , 5S and ITS/ETS evidence supported the same or similar relationships, indicating that these two regions of the nuclear genome were descended from the same ancestor or from two closely related ancestors, with cpDNA coming from a more distantly related ancestor. The 5S and ITS/ETS evidence disagreed on the relationships of Arida riparia , suggesting that its ITS/ETS region came from one ancestor and its 5S region and cpDNA from a different ancestor.
An in Situ ATR-FTIR Investigation of Sulfate Bonding Mechanisms on Goethite.

The mechanism of sulfate adsorption on goethite was investigated in situ using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Sulfate adsorption was investigated at ionic strengths between 0.005 and 0.1 M, reactant concentrations between 5 and 500 μM, and pH values between 3.5 and 9.0. It was determined that sulfate forms both outer-sphere and inner-sphere surface complexes on goethite at pH less than 6. At pH values greater than 6, sulfate adsorbs on goethite only as an outer-sphere complex. The relative amount of outer-sphere sulfate surface complexation increased with decreasing ionic strength. The spectrum of sulfate adsorbed on goethite was also compared to the infrared spectrum of synthetic schwertmannite, an iron(III) oxy-hydroxy-sulfate. It was determined that in situ spectra of both schwertmannite and adsorbed sulfate are quite similar, suggesting that a continuum of outer- and inner-sphere sulfate occurs in both cases.
Introducing alpha shapes for the analysis of path integral Monte Carlo results

We present a new technique for the visualization and analysis of the results from Monte Carlo simulations based on /spl alpha/-complexes and /spl alpha/-shapes. The specific application presented is the analysis of the quantum-mechanical behavior of hydrogen molecules and helium atoms on a surface at very low temperatures. The technique is an improvement over existing techniques in two respects. First, the approach allows one to visualize the points on a random walk at varying levels of detail and interactively select the level of detail that is most appropriate. Second, using /spl alpha/-shapes one can obtain quantitative measures of spatial properties of the system, such as the boundary length and interior area of clusters, that would be difficult to obtain otherwise. >
The optimism principle: A unified framework for optimal robotic network deployment in an unknown obstructed environment

We consider the problem of deploying a team of robots in an unknown, obstructed environment to form a multi-hop communication network. As a solution, we present a unified framework, onLinE rObotic Network formAtion (LEONA), that is general enough to permit optimizing the communication network for different utility functions in non-convex environments. LEONA adopts the principle of “optimism in the face of uncertainty” to allow the team of robots to form optimal network configurations efficiently and rapidly without having to map link qualities in the entire area. We demonstrate and evaluate this framework on two specific scenarios concerning the formation of a multi-hop communication path between fixed end-points: one minimizing the total path cost, and another maximizing the bottleneck communication rate. Our simulation-based evaluation shows that the use of the optimism principle can significantly reduce resources spent in exploring and mapping the entire region prior to network optimization. We also present a mathematical modeling of how the searched area scales with various relevant parameters in each case.
Sleep in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

The seventeenth century was regarded as the Age of Scientific Revolution and included the major medical developments that impacted upon the understanding of sleep disorders. It was the time of Descartes who formulated theories of sleep based upon mechanisms and also the time of William Shakespeare who extensively wrote about sleep and sleep disorders in his novels. The vascular theories of the cause of sleep were paramount in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and it was the time of the first descriptions of obstructive sleep apnea and the age of chronobiology with De Mairan’s studies of the circadian effects of plant behavior that was independent of light exposure.
First microdeletion involving only the biotinidase gene that can cause biotinidase deficiency: A lesson for clinical practice

We report the first microdeletion (26 kb) of the biotinidase gene (BTD) that involves three of the four exons of the gene. This deletion further exemplifies the importance of performing microarray analysis or other methodologies for a deletion of the BTD gene when the enzymatic activity indicates lower activity than can be attributed to the mutations identified by DNA sequencing.
When the Levees Broke: A Teaching Tool to Initiate Discussions in Undergraduate Teaching of Health Disparities

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the documentary film When the Levees Broke can be used to initiate discussions about health disparities in an undergraduate health education course. In the fall semester of 2014, the documentary When the Levees Broke and the companion curriculum Teaching the Levees were used to initiate discussion of health disparities in a health education methods course. Specific units from the Teaching the Levees curriculum were selected for relevance to the training of entry-level health education specialists and the potential for generating meaningful class discussion. Questions from the following units within the Teaching the Levees curriculum were selected due to their relevance to the study of health disparities: Citizenship, Economics, Geography. Two additional novel sets of questions were added that related to Community and the Synergistic Effects of Poverty. Over a 3-week period, students watched the film, completed questions in a written format, and engaged in ...
Reliability Analysis on Redundant Configuration of Protective Relayings for HVDC Power Transmission System

In the light of the requirement to reliability of protective relayings for HVDC power transmission system,the reliability models for several typical redundant configuration schemes are built based on the principle of reliability analysis for unrepairable systems with the structure of series-parallel connection,and the reliability of various redundant modes are compared.Two protection configuration modes that are often applied in engineering,namely the "two out of three" mode and full duplication mode,are mainly analyzed,and by means of comprehensive comparison in reliability and economy following conclusion is obtained that the "two out of three" configuration mode is a better choice for protective redundancy of HVDC power transmission system.Meanwhile,it is suggested to use three sets of measuring circuits and output circuits to match up with "three out of two" redundant configuration of protective relayings to enhance global reliability of protection for HVDC power transmission system.
Complications Following Unstented Parallel Incision Extra Vesical Ureteroneocystostomy in 1,000 Kidney Transplants

AbstractBetween May 10, 1982 and September 1, 1990, 1,000 kidney transplant recipients underwent parallel incision extravesical ureteroneocystostomy for urinary tract reconstruction. Complications attributed to this surgical technique that required reoperation occurred in 2.1% of the recipients. These complications included urinary extravasation in 9 patients, ureteral necrosis in 3, ureteral obstruction in 3, ureteral bleeding in 3, ureteral implantation into thickened folds of peritoneum in 2 on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and ureteral implantation into an ovarian cyst in 1. Vesicoureteral reflux occurred in 0.4% of the ureteroneocystostomies, none of which was revised. No allografts were lost as a result of these complications. The principles of the technique are sound. One should be careful if the patient has a small, defunetionalized or scarred bladder, has undergone multiple pelvic operations or has had pelvic inflammatory disease.
Prion Diseases, HIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders, and Alzheimer’s Disease: Implications for Protein Misfolding

Protein misfolding is a common feature of several neurodegenerative diseases including prion disease, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and certain forms of HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). In classical prion disease the cellular prion protein, PrPC, after partial misfolding, converts into a protease-resistant disease-associated isoform, PrPSc, which aggregates in the brain and forms deposits that are associated with the neurodegeneration. Although the phenomenon of PrPC to PrPSc conversion does not occur in HIV infection, protein misfolding in the course of HIV infection has been noted in several preclinical and clinical reports in the form of self-assembling misfolded tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins. In addition, the misfolding of these proteins are hallmark pathologies of AD. Biomarkers as indicators for the progression of AD and HAND are in need. In this chapter we examine PrPc, Aβ, and, tau and their association with prion biology, protein misfolding, and the possible use of all three proteins for diagnostic and/or prognostic clinical use.
Exchange of Chest Drain

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for exchange of chest drain procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications, and potential complications in an organized and practical format.
Tobacco Marketing Receptivity and Other Tobacco Product Use Among Young Adult Bar Patrons

Abstract Purpose Use of other tobacco products (smokeless tobacco, hookah, cigarillo, and e-cigarettes) is increasing, particularly among young adults, and there are few regulations on marketing for these products. We examined the associations between tobacco marketing receptivity and other tobacco product (OTP) use among young adult bar patrons (aged 18–26 years). Methods Time-location sampling was used to collect cross-sectional surveys from 7,540 young adult bar patrons from January 2012 through March of 2014. Multivariable logistic regression analyses in 2015 examined if tobacco marketing receptivity was associated (1) with current (past 30 day) OTP use controlling for demographic factors and (2) with dual/poly use among current cigarette smokers (n = 3,045), controlling for demographics and nicotine dependence. Results Among the entire sample of young adult bar patrons (Mean age = 23.7, standard deviation = 1.8; 48.1% female), marketing receptivity was consistently associated with current use of all OTP including smokeless tobacco (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]= 2.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08–3.16, p p p p p p p p Conclusions OTP use is common among young adult bar patrons, and it is associated with tobacco marketing receptivity. Efforts to limit tobacco marketing should address OTP in addition to cigarettes.
Managing and regulating networked industries for sustainability and resileince

This paper argues that since many modern networked industries have begun to exhibit the attributes of complex adaptive systems, and therefore they must learn to operate under conditions of high uncertainty. In environments with high uncertainty strategies for resilience allow for recovery from ?surprises.? The attributes of resilient systems are helpful in planning for the security of these critical infrastructures and for the management and regulation of these industries.
The role of apoptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.

Apoptosis is a single word that describes the complex contortions of the membrane and organelles of a cell as it goes through the process of programmed cell death. During this process, the cell activates an intrinsic suicide programme and systematically destroys itself. Apoptosis occurs rapidly, usually taking between a few minutes and a couple of hours, and can be fascinating to watch in real time down a microscope. The following series of events can be observed: the cell surface begins to bleb and express pro-phagocytic signals, and the cell then separates from its neighbours. The nucleus also goes through a characteristic pattern of morphological changes as it commits genetic suicide: the chromatin condenses and is specifically cleaved to fragments of DNA (Fig. l).The whole apoptotic cell then fragments into membrane-bound vesicles that are rapidly and cleanly disposed of by phagocytosis, so that there is minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.
Association of Malignancy Prevalence With Test Properties and Performance of the Gene Expression Classifier in Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules.

Importance It is crucial for clinicians to know the malignancy prevalence within each indeterminate cytologic category to estimate the performance of the gene expression classifier (GEC). Objective To examine the variability in the performance of the GEC. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study of patients with Bethesda category III and IV thyroid nodules used single-institution data from January 1, 2013, through February 29, 2016. Expected negative predictive value (NPV) was calculated by adopting published sensitivity and specificity. Observed NPV was calculated based on the true-negative rate. Outcomes were compared with pooled data from 11 studies published January 1, 2010, to January 31, 2016. Results A total of 145 patients with 154 thyroid nodules were included in the study (mean [SD] age, 56.0 [16.2] years; 106 females [73.1%]). Malignancy prevalence was 45%. On the basis of this prevalence, the expected NPV is 85% and the observed NPV is 69%. If the prevalence is assumed to be 25%, the expected NPV would be 94%, whereas the observed NPV would be 85%. Pooled data analysis of 11 studies comprising 1303 participants revealed a malignancy prevalence of 31% (95% CI, 29%-34%) and a pooled NPV of 92% (95% CI, 87%-96%). Conclusions and Relevance In this study, variability in the performance of the GEC was not solely a function of malignancy prevalence and may have been attributable to intrinsic variability of the test sensitivity and specificity. The utility of the GEC in practice is elusive because of this variability. A better definition of the GEC’s intrinsic properties is needed.
Associations between physical pain, pain management, and frequency of nonmedical prescription opioid use among young adults: A sex-specific analysis

We sought to determine sex-specific associations between experiences of physical pain, pain management, and frequency of nonmedical prescription opioid (NMPO) use among young adults. Among participants enrolled in the Rhode Island Young Adult Prescription Drug Study, we identified associations between physical pain in the past 6 months, pain history, pain management, polysubstance use, and weekly NMPO use. In sex-specific models, independent correlates of weekly NMPO use were identified via modified stepwise Poisson regression. Of 199 participants, the mean age was 24.6, and 65.3% were male. The racial composition was 16.6% black, 60.8% white, and 22.1% mixed or other race. A total of 119 (59.8%) participants reported weekly or greater NMPO use. The majority of male (86.2%) and female (84.1%) participants reported ever experiencing severe pain. A majority of males (72.3%) and females (81.2%) reported that they engaged in NMPO use to treat their physical pain, and one-quarter (26.9%) of males and one-third (36.2%) of females had been denied a prescription from a doctor to treat severe pain. Among males, frequent NMPO use was independently associated with white race (P < 0.001) and reporting greater physical pain (P = 0.002). Among females, older age (P = 0.002) and monthly or greater nonmedical benzodiazepine use (P = 0.001) were independently associated with weekly NMPO use. Among young men in Rhode Island, physical pain may be related to frequent NMPO use. More research is needed to identify sex-specific, pain-related factors that are linked with NMPO use to improve harm reduction and pain management interventions.
Equivalent Outcomes for Patients Following Trochleoplasty as a Primary or Revision Patellar Stabilizing Procedure

Objectives:Patients with trochlear dysplasia often undergo primary procedures other than a trochleoplasty for recurrent patellar instability. When these other procedures fail and a trochleoplasty i...
Fast Edge Detection and Segmentation of Terrestrial Laser Scans Through Normal Variation Analysis

Abstract. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) utilizes light detection and ranging (lidar) to effectively and efficiently acquire point cloud data for a wide variety of applications. Segmentation is a common procedure of post-processing to group the point cloud into a number of clusters to simplify the data for the sequential modelling and analysis needed for most applications. This paper presents a novel method to rapidly segment TLS data based on edge detection and region growing. First, by computing the projected incidence angles and performing the normal variation analysis, the silhouette edges and intersection edges are separated from the smooth surfaces. Then a modified region growing algorithm groups the points lying on the same smooth surface. The proposed method efficiently exploits the gridded scan pattern utilized during acquisition of TLS data from most sensors and takes advantage of parallel programming to process approximately 1 million points per second. Moreover, the proposed segmentation does not require estimation of the normal at each point, which limits the errors in normal estimation propagating to segmentation. Both an indoor and outdoor scene are used for an experiment to demonstrate and discuss the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed segmentation method.
An analytical framework to understand regulatory novelty accompanying allopolyploidization

Allopolyploidy is a prevalent process in plants, having important physiological, ecological, and evolutionary consequences. Massive, genome-wide transcriptomic rewiring in response to genomic merger and doubling has been demonstrated in many allopolyploid systems, encompassing a diversity of phenomena including homoeolog expression bias, genome dominance, expression-level dominance, and revamping of co-expression networks. Here we present an analytical framework to investigate expression change in allopolyploids as governed by distinct sets of intra- and inter-subgenome cis - trans relationships. The analytical framework devised is a novel extension of classic allele-specific expression analysis to incorporate and distinguish the separate effects of parental regulatory as well as expression differences in cis or trans , while providing the conceptual basis and tools to reconcile various patterns of regulatory novelty following hybridization and allopolyploidy.
Operation of the sapphire Cherenkov laser

This paper reports the first operation of a Sapphire-based Cerenkov Free Electron Laser (CFEL). The CFEL is a tunable source of coherent millimeter and sub-millimeter radiation. The phase velocity of light in Sapphire is about one tenth of that in free space so that Cerenkov radiation is obtained at modest electron beam energies; our electron gun supplies 10's of A/cm 2 in the 20 to 100 keV range. The Cerenkov emission is confined by the resonator and can build to watts of power. The resonator geometry is critical both in terms of a passive cavity Q and because of its role in the electron/field interaction. Frequency, oscillation threshold current, and power have been measured.