cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated active scleritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) testing provides prognostic information in evaluating scleritis. METHODS Retrospective medical record review of patients evaluated at a tertiary care center from January 1, 1995, to June 30, 2006, was performed to compare clinical features, treatments, and associated systemic disease in patients who test positive for ANCA vs patients whose ANCA tests are negative. RESULTS Among 78 patients identified, 14 tested positive for ANCA. Patients with positive ANCA test results were more likely to have an associated systemic disorder (10 of 14 or 71%) than were patients who tested negative for ANCA (26 of 64 or 41%; P = .04), and the disorder was more likely to have been diagnosed as a result of scleritis work-up (2 of 10 or 20% vs 19 of 26 or 73%; P = .007). Patients with positive ANCA test results had significantly more ocular complications (21 of 14 or 86% vs 20 of 64 or 31%; P < .001), including keratopathy (5 of 14 or 36% vs 6 of 64 or 9%; P = .02), visual acuity of 20/50 or worse (8 of 14 or 57% vs 11 of 64 or 17%; P = .001), and vascular pannus (3 of 14 or 21% vs 1 of 64 or 2%; P = .02). Aggressive therapy, such as chronic systemic corticosteroids (9 of 14 or 64% vs 9 of 64 or 14%; P < .001) and alkylator therapy (8 of 14 or 57% vs 7 of 64 or 11%; P < .001), was more likely to be recommended for patients who tested positive for ANCA. CONCLUSIONS A substantial subset of patients with scleritis are also positive for ANCA. These patients are more likely to have severe ocular disease and undiagnosed primary vasculitic disease, thereby requiring more aggressive therapy. An ANCA test may be useful in the evaluation and treatment of patients with scleritis.
The added value of streamline visualization in the evaluation of left atrioventricular valve flow and left ventricular diastolic function with 4DFlow MRI

Background 4DFlow MRI with retrospective valve tracking allows trans-valvular blood flow quantification. Valve tracking usually follows the anatomical annulus but does not take into account the inflow direction through the valve, which might lead to substantial errors when opening of the valve leaflets is restricted after surgery. We aimed to evaluate the added value of streamline visualization in the characterization and quantification of trans-left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) blood flow and assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in 4DFlow MRI. Methods
Candidacidal activity prompted by N-terminus histatin-like domain of human salivary mucin (MUC7)

Abstract Histidine-rich peptides (histatins, Hsn) in saliva are thought to provide a non-immune defense against Candida albicans. Sequence homology search of the human salivary mucin, MUC7, against histatins revealed a domain at the N-terminus (R3–Q17) having 53% identity to Hsn-5. To determine its candidacidal activity, this 15 residue basic histidine-rich domain of MUC7 (I) was prepared by solid-phase Fmoc chemistry. Various N- and C-terminal protected derivatives of I were also synthesized to correlate the effect of peptide overall charge in exhibiting cidal potency. Candidacidal activity measurement of I and its variants showed considerable ED50 values (effective dosage required to kill 50% of candida cells), albeit greater than Hsn-5 (ED50 ∼4–6 μM). Of the various analogs tested, N-terminal free acid (I, ED50 ∼40 μM) and amide (V, ED50∼16 μM) exhibited appreciable candidacidal activities suggesting the possible role of peptide net charge in cidal action. Blocking of N-terminus with a bulky octanoyl group showed only marginal effect on the cidal activity of I or V, indicating that hydrophobicity of these synthetic constructs may not be important for exerting such activities. Membrane-induced conformational transition from random coil to helical structures of all the test peptides implied their tendency to adapt order structures at the lipid-membrane interface similar to that of Hsn-5. However, comparison of propensity for helical structure formation vs. ED50 indicated that cidal potency of MUC7 Hsn-like peptides depends largely on electrostatic interactions irrespective of secondary structural elements. Delineation of solution structure of the most active peptide (V) by 2D-NMR revealed essentially a non-structured conformation in aqueous medium, which further supported the fact that the peptide helical structure may not be a prerequisite for posing candidacidal activity. The formation of smaller truncated peptides and/or Hsn-like fragments on proteolytic degradation of intact MUC7 in the presence of oral flora provided indirect evidence that mucin could serve as a backup candidacidal agent to salivary Hsn.
Organizational citizenship behavior and service quality

What is the best way for service organizations to evaluate and motivate service employees so that customers are retained and new customers are attracted? What motivates service employees to deliver high quality service? Are there actions a service organization can take, e.g. way of evaluating, training, and rewarding employees, which encourage them to perform to the organization’s advantage? Answers to these questions would enable a service organization to formulate a system that links human resource management policies to desired service employee performance, thus enhancing customer perceptions of service quality and organizational financial outcomes. This research investigated organizational citizenship behavior, with its framework of organizational rights and responsibilities, to explore these issues. The research shows that service employee perceptions of how they are treated by the service organization, i.e. what organizational rights they receive, are positively associated with organizational citizenship behaviors. Furthermore, it demonstrates that these behaviors result in more effective service delivery to organizational standards and enhanced customer perceptions of service quality.
Franklin's Autobiography — Important Lessons in Tone, Syntax, and Persona

Having students read selected portions of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography provides unique and effective material for supplementing instruction in style and control of tone. Franklin's writing exe...
Early CMV Viremia Is Associated with Impaired Viral Control following Nonmyeloablative Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation with a Total Lymphoid Irradiation and Antithymocyte Globulin Preparative Regimen

The reconstitution of immune function after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) plays an important role in the control of viral infections. Both donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus has been shown to contribute to effective immune function; however, the influence of a nonmyeloablative preparative (NMA) regimen using total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) on antiviral immune reconstitution has not yet been described. In 117 recipients of NMA HCT patients following ATG and TLI, not unexpectedly, CMV viremia was seen in approximately 60% of the seropositive patients regardless of donor serostatus, and recipient seropositivity significantly increased the odds of CMV viremia after transplant in a multivariate analysis. The administration of ATG and TLI resulted in a strikingly earlier viremia in the posttransplant period when compared to the previously reported timing of viremia following myeloablative preparative regimens, especially for transplant recipients who were seropositive for CMV with seronegative donors. Furthermore, early viremia in the setting of a CMV naive donor was associated with a delay in functional antiviral control. These observations demonstrate the dynamic nature of immunity in relation to CMV antigen exposure in the complex environment resulting from NMA conditions where both donor and residual recipient immune response affect viral control.
Selective Reduction of Biomass by Hydriodic Acid and Its In Situ Regeneration from Iodine by Metal/Hydrogen

HI returns: Hydroiodic acid is a highly selective reducing reagent for a wide variety of substrates. Its application is limited by the formation of iodine and the difficulty in reconverting that iodione back to HI in situ. We report the facile conversion of I(2) to HI by metal-catalyzed hydrogenation in the presence of water, and demonstrate the utility of this process in the conversion of fructose to 5-methyfurfural and glycerol to 2-iodopropane.
On oscillatory motion in the problem of three bodies

In the case of oscillatory motion in the problem of three bodies it is shown that ast→∞ the mutual distances between particles cannot separate faster thanCt 2/3 whereC is some positive constant. As bounding functions of time exist for the other classifications of motion in the three body problem, it follows in general that the mutual distances between particles is 0(t) ast→∞.
Effect of cosmic rays on computer memories

A method is developed for evaluating the effects of cosmic rays on computer memories and is applied to some typical memory devices. The sea-level flux of cosmic-ray particles is reviewed and the interaction of each type of particle with silicon is estimated, with emphasis on processes that produce bursts of charge. These charge pulses are then related to typical computer large-scale integrated circuit components and cosmic-ray-induced errors are estimated. The effects of shielding (such as building ceilings and walls), altitude, and solar cycle are estimated. Cosmic-ray nucleons and muons can cause errors in current memories at a level of marginal significance, and there may be a very significant effect in the next generation of computer memory circuitry. Error rates increase rapidly with altitude, which may be used for testing to make electronic devices less sensitive to cosmic rays.
Genetic regulation of osteoclast development and function

Osteoclasts are the principal, if not exclusive, bone-resorbing cells, and their activity has a profound impact on skeletal health. So, disorders of skeletal insufficiency, such as osteoporosis, typically represent enhanced osteoclastic bone resorption relative to bone formation. Prevention of pathological bone loss therefore depends on an appreciation of the mechanisms by which osteoclasts differentiate from their precursors and degrade the skeleton. The past five years have witnessed important insights into osteoclast formation and function. Many of these discoveries have been made through genetic experiments that involved the rare hereditary disorder osteopetrosis.
New paradigms for managing preoperative anemia

To the Editor, In the Continuing Professional Development article, Assessment and treatment of preoperative anemia, Hare et al. present very interesting concepts and hypotheses. Despite the important concepts, implementation of the proposed protocol would inevitably result in delays as well as logistical and financial implications related to the supervised administration of intravenous iron and erythropoietic stimulating agents (ESAs). Also, it is questionable whether the evidence is sufficiently strong to incorporate the proposed protocol into routine clinical practice. The protocol in the article appears to be based on the Network for Advancement of Transfusion Alternatives (NATA) guidelines, which were directed specifically toward elective orthopedic surgical patients. The authors of the NATA guidelines made five recommendations graded as strong or weak according to the risk/benefit ratio, and they classified the respective quality of evidence as high, moderate, or low/very low. There are three strong recommendations regarding the timing of testing, laboratory tests, and the treatment of nutritional deficiency anemia, yet the recommendations are based on low/very low-quality evidence. Also, a weak recommendation regarding the target hemoglobin level is based on low/very low-quality evidence. The only recommendation based on high-quality evidence is the final weak recommendation regarding the use of ESAs in anemia where nutritional deficiency has been ruled out. The same group also produced a consensus statement regarding the use of intravenous iron wherein they concluded that intravenous iron may be indicated in the perioperative period in orthopedic patients who are expected to develop severe postoperative anemia. Again, this is a weak recommendation based on moderate/ lowquality evidence, and no evidence-based recommendations could be made for other types of surgery. With regard to the use of ESAs in cancer patients, the European Medicines Agency recommends that transfusion be the preferred method for correcting anemia in cancer patients, especially those with a long life expectancy. The Food and Drug Administration changed the product label for ESAs by adding a black box warning which specifies that ESAs are not indicated to treat cancer-induced anemia in patients not on chemotherapy or in patients with potentially curable cancer. These recommendations were echoed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guidelines.
Oxygen and water vapour conductance in the shell and shell membrane of the american crocodile egg

Abstract 1. 1. The water vapor conductance (GH2O) of the egg of Crococdylus acutus was found to be 21.0mg H2O day−1 torr−1 H2O. This value is approximately twice that calculated for a bird egg of equivalent weight. Adaptation to a high humidity environment is suggested. 2. 2. The oxygen diffusion coefficients (Ko2) were measured independently on samples of eggshell plus membrane and were found to be markedly dependent on the degree of hydration, ranging from a Ko2 of 1.2 × 10−6 cm3 STP-sec−1 cm−2-torr−1 for desiccated conditions to a Ko, of 2.3 × 10−7 cm3 STP sec−1 cm−2 torr−1 for conditions of maximal humidity. The larger Ko2 values agree with those calculated from GH2O data and suggest that water vapor and oxygen are both moving by gaseous diffusion along the same pathways. 3. 3. The individual contributions of the shell and of the membrane were determined. Under dry conditions membrane resistance was negligible but as hydration increased, the resistances of shell and membrane both increased markedly. 4. 4. In the nest environment the conditions determining shell and membrane hydration are likely to be critical factors governing rates of gas and water exchange.
Using 1-Hz GPS data to measure deformations caused by the denali fault earthquake

The 3 November 2002 moment magnitude 7.9 Denali fault earthquake generated large, permanent surface displacements in Alaska and large-amplitude surface waves throughout western North America. We find good agreement between strong ground-motion records integrated to displacement and 1-hertz Global Positioning System (GPS) position estimates collected ∼140 kilometers from the earthquake epicenter. One-hertz GPS receivers also detected seismic surface waves 750 to 3800 kilometers from the epicenter, whereas these waves saturated many of the seismicinstruments in the same region. High-frequency GPS increases the dynamic range and frequency bandwidth of ground-motion observations, providing another tool for studying earthquake processes.
Long-term effects of building on informal knowledge in a complex content domain: the case of multiplication of fractions

Abstract Four students participated in a 2-year study (fifth and sixth grades) that examined the development of their understanding of multiplication of fractions. During both years, students received individualized instruction that encouraged them to build on their informal knowledge of partitioning to understand and solve problems involving multiplication of fractions. Students also received classroom instruction on algorithmic procedures for multiplication of fractions during the second year. In the long term, students consistently drew on their informal knowledge of partitioning to reconceptualize and partition units to solve problems involving multiplication of fractions in meaningful ways. At times, students' thinking was also dominated by their knowledge of algorithmic procedures for multiplication of fractions.
Some effects of inducer on synthesis and utilization of β-galactosidase messenger RNA in actinomycin-sensitive Escherichiacoli

Abstract The initial events in β-galactosidase induction were studied in Escherichia coli made sensitive to actinomycin by brief treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Experiments performed in the presence and absence of actinomycin or inducer lead to the following conclusions: (a) The synthesis of specific, non-DNA bound messenger RNA requires 2.5 minutes of the 4 minute interval between inducer addition and enzyme production. (b) The rate of destruction and the rate of utilization of this messenger RNA are independent of the presence or absence of inducer.
Preparing Future Teachers to Respond to Stress: Sources and Solutions

Abstract The transition from student to teacher has its inherent stressors. However, this situation is exacerated by the abundance of stressors in the teaching profession. Teacher preparation programs may enhance their students' experiences during this transition by positioning them with information regarding the stressors unique to the teaching profession. Teacher preparation programs may help new teachers anticipate common stressors and factors that help mitigate these stressors resulting in lesser “fallout” common to the profession: high attrition, lowered efficacy and burnout. This paper identifies common sources of teacher stress, school-based factors that help mediate stress experienced by teachers, and promising preventive responses for teacher preparation programs.
Molar and Nonmolar Teeth Compared Over 6½ Years Following Two Methods of Periodontal Therapy

Limited information is available comparing the relative longitudinal effectiveness with respect to tooth type of scaling and root planing alone and scaling and root planing followed by flap procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate these treatment methods as applied to molar and nonmolar teeth on a longitudinal basis in humans. Seventeen subjects with chronic periodontitis received thorough scaling and root planning as well as oral hygiene instruction. A modified Widman flap was then randomly performed for one-half of each subject's dentition. Routine recall prophylaxis and oral hygiene reinforcement were administered postsurgically every 3 to 4 months. Pocket depth and clinical attachment levels were recorded by a single calibrated examiner before therapy and at intervals up to 61/2 years following active treatment. Ten subjects remained as participants after 61/2 years. A paired t test was used to test for the mean difference in pocket depth and clinical attachment level between molar and nonmolar teeth for each treatment method. For pockets initially 4 to 6 mm, the results indicated greater pocket depth and more apical clinical attachment level on molars than nonmolars treated by either method of therapy. For pockets initially greater than or equal to 7 mm there was no difference between pocket depth on molar and nonmolar teeth following scaling and root planing alone. However, there was less overall pocket depth on nonmolars than molars following the flap procedure, indicating a greater effect of pocket reduction on nonmolar than molar teeth with the flap procedure. No difference between tooth types was found for clinical attachment level in pockets initially greater than or equal to 7 mm with either treatment method. Both treatment methods resulted in at least maintenance of pretreatment attachment levels adjacent to molar and nonmolar teeth.
Phase Relations in the System FeO‐Fe2O3‐ZrO2‐SiO2

Phase equilibrium relations in the liquidus-temperature region of the system iron oxide-ZrO2-SiO2 in air were delineated by the quenching technique. Additional equilibration runs were made at other controlled oxygen pressures as well as in sealed containers. The results of all runs have been combined with literature data for the system in contact with metallic iron to locate approximately the quaternary liquidus invariant points within the system FeO-Fe2O3-ZrO2-SiO2.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROPERTIES OF CRYSTALLINE BACTERIAL LUCIFERASE

— We describe a number of properties of our crystalline bacterial luciferase preparations, such as absorption spectra and fluorescence characteristics which are not typical of flavoproteins. Acid extraction of the enzyme or digestion with proteolytic enzymes do not lead to the liberation of flavin-like compounds, as judged by fluorescence techniques. Other dyes such as reduced neutral red will replace FMNH2 in this system, and irradiation of the enzyme with u.v. light does not change the ratio of light production with FMNH2 and reduced neutral red. Thus, all efforts to detect flavin in our enzyme have failed, suggesting that FMN is not necessarily involved in the emitting complex. It is of interest that addition of hydrosulfite to luciferase solutions shifts the fluorescence emission to the blue and thus close to that of bioluminescence emission. Separations of two different FMN-dependent DPNH oxidases are described, one of which is closely associated with luciferase and exhibits both DPNH and TPNH oxidase activity.
Behavioral treatment of debilitating test anxiety among medical students

This article presents and illustrates the behavioral treatment of medical students and physicians whose debilitating test anxiety was associated with their failure to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or a specialty board test. Seventy-two medical trainees were treated consecutively because of at least one failure to pass these professional examinations. Behavioral treatment focused on their anxiety, which resulted in the "dual deficits" of poor test preparation, poor test performance, or both. Treatment featured progressive muscle relaxation, systematic desensitization, the self-control triad, behavioral rehearsal, and a psychoeducational component. Ninety-three percent of the clients eventually passed the examination while in treatment. Pass rates for this group were substantially higher than the national average for repeat USMLE test takers. Limitations of this treatment method are that it seemed too elaborate for some medical trainees and was less effective with those who had difficulty evoking anxiety.
Selective activation of cholinergic interneurons enhances accumbal phasic dopamine release: setting the tone for reward processing

Dopamine plays a critical role in motor control, addiction, and reward-seeking behaviors, and its release dynamics have traditionally been linked to changes in midbrain dopamine neuron activity. Here, we report that selective endogenous cholinergic activation achieved via in vitro optogenetic stimulation of nucleus accumbens, a terminal field of dopaminergic neurons, elicits real-time dopamine release. This mechanism occurs via direct actions on dopamine terminals, does not require changes in neuron firing within the midbrain, and is dependent on glutamatergic receptor activity. More importantly, we demonstrate that in vivo selective activation of cholinergic interneurons is sufficient to elicit dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Therefore, the control of accumbal extracellular dopamine levels by endogenous cholinergic activity results from a complex convergence of neurotransmitter/neuromodulator systems that may ultimately synergize to drive motivated behavior.
CONNECT for quality: protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial to improve fall prevention in nursing homes

Background Quality improvement (QI) programs focused on mastery of content by individual staff members are the current standard to improve resident outcomes in nursing homes. However, complexity science suggests that learning is a social process that occurs within the context of relationships and interactions among individuals. Thus, QI programs will not result in optimal changes in staff behavior unless the context for social learning is present. Accordingly, we developed CONNECT, an intervention to foster systematic use of management practices, which we propose will enhance effectiveness of a nursing home Falls QI program by strengthening the staff-to-staff interactions necessary for clinical problem-solving about complex problems such as falls. The study aims are to compare the impact of the CONNECT intervention, plus a falls reduction QI intervention (CONNECT + FALLS), to the falls reduction QI intervention alone (FALLS), on fall-related process measures, fall rates, and staff interaction measures.
Statistics Can Wait: Career Plans Activity and Course Preferences of American Psychology Undergraduates

Based on a departmental survey, 27 men and 96 women psychology majors at an American university were categorised in terms of their highest degree sought — BA/BSc, Master's, or PhD — and interest in...
A high-throughput clinical assay for testing drug facilitation of exposure therapy.

Objective: Several studies have demonstrated that D-cycloserine (DCS) facilitates exposure therapy. We developed a standardized test of this facilitation (i.e., a clinical assay), with the goal of testing for facilitation more quickly and inexpensively than a full clinical trial. Method: We developed a standardized brief exposure in which participants with social anxiety disorder gave a videotaped speech. Participants were randomized to receive a single capsule of 250 mg DCS or a matching placebo prior to preparation for the speech. Distress levels were rated during the speech and again, approximately 1 week later, during a speech in an identical situation. Our primary measure of DCS’s exposure-facilitating effect was between-session habituation: whether or not the participants showed less distress during the second speech compared to the first. We also measured levels of subjective anxiety and fear of scrutiny. Results: Subjects randomized to receive DCS prior to their first speech were more likely to show between-session habituation than those who received placebo. We also found greater reduction of performance-related fear overall in the DCS group. Conclusion: Our clinical assay was able to detect exposure facilitation effects rapidly and in a highly standardized way, and is estimated to take a fraction of the time and costs of a clinical trial. Given the increasing interest in using medications to enhance learning-based psychotherapy, this high-throughput clinical assay approach may be a favorable method for testing novel mechanisms of action, and clarifying optimal parameters, for therapy facilitation. Depression and Anxiety 30:631–637, 2013. C � 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between interaction constraints and visual isomorphs

Interaction and manual manipulation have been shown in cognitive science literature to play a critical role in problem solving. Given different types of interactions or constraints on interactions, a problem can appear to have different degrees of difficulty. While this relationship between interaction and problem solving has been well studied in the cognitive science literatures, the visual analytics community has yet to exploit this understanding for analytical problem solving. In this paper, we hypothesize that constraints on interactions and constraints encoded in visual representations can lead to strategies of varying effectiveness during problem solving. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a user study in which participants were given different levels of interaction constraints when solving a simple mathematic game called number scrabble. Number scrabble is known to have an optimal visual problem isomorph, and the goal of this study is to learn if and how the participants could derive the isomorph and to analyze the strategies that the participants utilize in solving the problem. Our results indicate that constraints on interactions do affect probLem solving, and that although the optimaL visual isomorph is difficult to derive, certain interaction constraints can lead to a higher chance of deriving the isomorph.
Scale based coding of digital communication signals

Multiple-access communication schemes using wavelet-based orthogonal codes are described. In the simplest such scheme, the message bit stream in each channel is encoded as a sequence of time-shifted replicates of a mother wavelet symbol at a particular scale. Different channels use the same wavelet symbol but a different scale. The messages are decodable if the time-shifted and dilated replicates of the wavelet symbol used in the encoding are orthogonal. Variations and potential applications of this scale-division multiple-access scheme in low-probability-of-exploitation communication systems are discussed. Examples are presented to demonstrate the (Fourier) spectral spreading that can be obtained using this approach. >
Injuries to the colon from blast effect of penetrating extra-peritoneal thoraco-abdominal trauma

Although rare, blast injury to the intestine can result from penetrating thoraco-abdominal extra-peritoneal gunshot (and shotgun) wounds despite the absence of injury to the diaphragm or to the peritoneum. Injuries of the spleen, small intestine and the mesentery by this mechanism have been previously reported in the world literature. This paper reports the first two cases of non-penetrating ballistic trauma to the colon.
Case-Control Studies: Overview†

In a cohort study, the numerator and denominator of each disease frequency (incidence proportion, incidence rate, or incidence odds) are measured, which requires enumerating the entire population and keeping it under surveillance. A case-control study observes the population more efficiently by using a sample of the population, which becomes the control series, in place of complete assessment of the denominators of the disease frequencies. This extra sampling step can make a case-control study much more efficient than a cohort study of the same population, but it introduces a number of subtleties and avenues for bias that are absent in typical cohort studies. For diseases that are sufficiently rare, cohort studies become impractical, and case-control studies become the only useful alternative. The cases in a case-control study should be the same people who would be considered cases in a cohort study of the same population. The definition of the source population for these cases determines the population from which controls should be sampled. Ideally, control selection would involve direct sampling from the source population, with equal probability of selection, although in many circumstances, variations in and substitutes for this ideal sampling design may be considered. Keywords: case-cohort study; case-crossover study; case-specular study; cohort study; density sampling; epidemiology; nested case-control study; odds ratio; risk-set sampling; two-stage sampling
Real-time detection of moving objects in a dynamic scene from moving robotic vehicles

Dynamic scene perception is currently limited to detection of moving objects from a static platform or scenes with flat backgrounds. We discuss novel real-time methods to segment moving objects in the motion field formed by a moving camera/robotic platform with mostly translational motion. Our solution does not explicitly require any egomotion knowledge, thereby making the solution applicable to mobile outdoor robot problems where no IMU information is available. We address two problems in dynamic scene perception on the move, first using only 2D monocular grayscale images, and second where 3D range information from stereo is also available. Our solution involves real-time optical flow computations, followed by optical flow field preprocessing to highlight moving object boundaries. In the case where range data from stereo is computed, a 3D optical flow field is estimated by combining range information with 2D optical flow estimates, followed by a similar 3D flow field preprocessing step. A segmentation of the flow field using fast flood filling then identifies every moving object in the scene with a unique label. This novel algorithm is expected to be the critical first step in robust recognition of moving vehicles and people from mobile outdoor robots, and therefore offers a robust solution to the problem of dynamic scene perception in the presence of certain kinds of robot motion. It is envisioned that our algorithm will benefit robot scene perception in urban environments for scientific, commercial and defense applications. Results of our real-time algorithm on a mobile robot in a scene with a single moving vehicle are presented.
Self‐Consistency in the Calculation of Electron Effective Mass

The self-consistency of the energy in powers of the nonlocal, energy dependent pseudopotential equation in perturbation series is examined. An appropiate expression for the electron effective mass is derived from the well-known parameters in band structure. The present results are interpreted in context to the results obtained earlier by different methods. Es wird die Selbstkonsistenz der Energie in der Storungsentwicklung der nichtlokalen, energieabhangigen Pseudopotentialgleichung untersucht. Ein Naherungsausdruck fur die effektive Elektronenmasse wird aus den gut bekannten Parametern der Bandstruktur abgeleitet. Die Ergebnisse werden im Zusammenhang mit fruheren, mit verschiedenen Methoden erhaltenen Ergebnissen diskutiert.
Stuck in the Past Neural Events That Predict Intrusions From Prior Trials

Neurologically intact adults perseverate in immediate serial recall, intruding items from a previous trial into the current response. We applied the electroencephalogram/event-related-potential subsequent-memory paradigm to immediate serial recall to investigate the causes of these errors. In line with previous studies using this paradigm, results revealed that words that were correctly recalled elicited a greater frontal positivity during encoding when compared with words that were either perseverated over or not produced for some other reason. More surprisingly, differences were also found at encoding between the words perseverated into the subsequent response and words that were not perseverated. These findings support a theory stating that abnormalities in both how the current target and the previous trial are processed can contribute to perseveration errors. These results inform existing theories of immediate serial recall and theories of the control of irrelevant information.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass compared with aggressive diet and exercise therapy for morbidly obese patients awaiting renal transplant: a decision analysis

Abstract Background The optimal management of morbidly obese patients awaiting renal transplant is controversial and unknown. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) versus diet and exercise on the survival of morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease awaiting renal transplant. Methods A decision analytic Markov state transition model was designed to simulate the life of morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease awaiting transplant. Life expectancy after RYGB and after 1 and 2 years of diet and exercise was estimated and compared in the framework of 2 clinical scenarios in which patients above a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m 2 or above a BMI of 40 kg/m 2 were ineligible for transplantation, reflecting the BMI restrictions of many transplant centers. In addition to base case analysis (45 kg/m 2 BMI preintervention), sensitivity analysis of initial BMI was completed. Markov model parameters were extracted from the literature. Results RYGB improved survival compared with diet and exercise. Patients who underwent RYGB received transplants sooner and in higher frequency. Using 40 kg/m 2 as the upper limit for transplant eligibility, base case patients who underwent RYGB gained 5.4 years of life, whereas patients who underwent 1 and 2 years of diet and exercise gained 1.5 and 2.8 years of life, respectively. Using 35 kg/m 2 as the upper limit, RYGB base case patients gained 5.3 years of life, whereas patients who underwent 1 and 2 years of diet and exercise gained .7 and 1.5 years of life, respectively. Conclusions In morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease, RYGB may be more effective than optimistic weight loss outcomes after diet and exercise, thereby improving access to renal transplantation.
Relationship between Lake-Record Weights of Fishes and Reservoir Area and Growing Season

Abstract We used information from an angler recognition program to assess the relationship between lake-record weights of freshwater fishes captured by Texas anglers and two predictors of fish production and growth: reservoir surface area and growing-season length. The lake-record weights of two species, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris, were directly related to the logarithm of surface area. The record weights of all species studied were unrelated to growing-season length. Regardless of the statistical significance of individual correlations, there was a significant excess of positive correlations across all species between lake-record weights of fish and log surface area. This indicates the presence of a general relationship between the record weights of fish and reservoir area. Our results suggest that record weights of fish may be constrained by reservoir surface area.
Structure and Properties of Cocoons and Silk Fibers Produced by Attacus atlas

Silk fibers in the three layers of Attacus atlas (A. atlas) cocoons have morphological structure and tensile properties similar to that of Bombyx mori silk. Attempts are being made to produce silk for commercial applications from cocoons of relatively unknown wild insects due to the unique properties of the fibers and as a source of income and employment. In this research, A. atlas cocoons were used to study the chemical composition, morphology, physical structure and tensile properties of the silk fibers in the cocoons and ability of the fibers to support the attachment and proliferation of mouse fibroblast cells. It was found that A. atlas cocoons consists of outer, intermediate and inner layer with average breaking tenacity of 4.1, 4.3 and 3.6 g/den, respectively similar to that of B. mori silk (4.3–5.2 g/den). The heavier cocoons, less restrictive rearing conditions and good properties of the fibers compared to B. mori silk makes A. atlas a potential alternative to common silks for commercial scale silk production. A. atlas fibers had about 80 % higher optical densities of cells and extensive growth of F-actin compared to B. mori silk fibers.
Nondegeneracy Concepts for Zeros of Piecewise Smooth Functions

A zero of a piecewise smooth function f is said to be nondegenerate if the function is Frechet differentiable at that point. Using this concept, we describe the usual nondegeneracy notions in the settings of nonlinear vertical, horizontal, mixed complementarity problems and the variational inequality problem corresponding to a polyhedral convex set. Some properties of nondegenerate zeros of piecewise affine functions are described. We generalize a recent result of Ferris and Pang on the existence of a nondegenerate solution of an affine variational inequality problem which itself is a generalization of a theorem of Goldman and Tucker.
Dimensions of Personality Pathology: An Alternative to the Five-Factor Model

OBJECTIVE: Researchers have advocated replacing the DSM-IV classification of personality disorders with an alternative diagnostic system based on the five-factor model. This study evaluates the clinical comprehensiveness of the five-factor model and addresses the broader question of how many factors, and which factors, are necessary to understand personality pathology. METHOD: A national sample of 530 psychiatrists and clinical psychologists used the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP-200) to provide detailed psychological descriptions of patients with personality disorder diagnoses. The SWAP-200 is a 200-item instrument designed to capture the richness and complexity of clinical observations while also providing quantifiable data for research. We used factor analysis to identify dimensions of personality relevant to understanding personality pathology. RESULTS: The five-factor structure replicated in a content-restricted subset of 60 SWAP-200 items. However, factor analysis of the full SWAP-200 yi...
High-accuracy DNA sequence variation screening by DHPLC.

Genetic maps based on biallelic single-nucleotide polymorphisms amenable to microarray-based genotyping have significantly accelerated the mapping of mono- and multigenic traits in model organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana. This advance needs to be matched by highly accurate, inexpensive and robust methodology for fine-structure mapping of the candidate region(s) and the eventual identification of the causative mutation(s). To establish the usefulness of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) for those purposes, we have amplified 476 fragments from two A. thaliana ecotypes with an average length of 563 bp covering various candidate regions on chromosomes 1, 2 and 4. Parallel analysis by DHPLC and dye terminator sequencing showed that DHPLC detected 165 out of 166 polymorphic fragments with only four false positives, amounting to a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 99.4%, 98.7% and 99%, respectively. It proved beneficial to analyze the fragments not only at the highest but also at the lower temperatures recommended by the algorithm freely available at http:?insertion.stanford.edu/melt.html.
Access to Workplace Accommodations to Support Breastfeeding after Passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Abstract Objectives This study examines access to workplace accommodations for breastfeeding, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act, and its associations with breastfeeding initiation and duration. We hypothesize that women with access to reasonable break time and private space to express breast milk would be more likely to breastfeed exclusively at 6 months and to continue breastfeeding for a longer duration. Methods Data are from Listening to Mothers III , a national survey of women ages 18 to 45 who gave birth in 2011 and 2012. The study population included women who were employed full or part time at the time of survey. Using two-way tabulation, logistic regression, and survival analysis, we characterized women with access to breastfeeding accommodations and assessed the associations between these accommodations and breastfeeding outcomes. Results Only 40% of women had access to both break time and private space. Women with both adequate break time and private space were 2.3 times (95% CI, 1.03–4.95) as likely to be breastfeeding exclusively at 6 months and 1.5 times (95% CI, 1.08–2.06) as likely to continue breastfeeding exclusively with each passing month compared with women without access to these accommodations. Conclusions Employed women face unique barriers to breastfeeding and have lower rates of breastfeeding initiation and shorter durations, despite compelling evidence of associated health benefits. Expanded access to workplace accommodations for breastfeeding will likely entail collaborative efforts between public health agencies, employers, insurers, and clinicians to ensure effective workplace policies and improved breastfeeding outcomes.
Enhancing resonance dynamics in plasmonics

A budding topic of interest is that of applications in the field of plasmonics which currently range from chemical and biological sensing to enhanced photovoltaics. At the core of these plasmonic devices are resonances that govern their unique function and the ability to manipulate said resonances is crucial to their design. In order to manipulate resonances, we must be able to observe them quantitatively. We describe an effective Hamiltonian formalism to quantitatively study and tailor plasmonic resonances of coupled plasmonic particles at optical frequencies.
Chronic subcutaneous abscesses caused by pigmented fungi, a lesion distinguishable from cutaneous chromoblastomycosis.

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory disorder caused by strains of brown pigmented fungi known as the dematiaceous fungi. In the usual form of the disease, cutaneous chromoblastomycosis, the lesions are limited to the skin and represent a well established clinical and histologic entity. Within recent years, however, there has been an increasing number of cases reported in which the dematiaceous fungi have been isolated from extracutaneous lesions. During the past 6 years we have encountered 7 examples of single, subcutaneous abscesses containing pigmented fungi that are histologically similar to the dematiaceous fungi. These lesions, unlike those of cutaneous chromoblastomycosis, were confined to the subcutaneous tissue and did not involve the skin. The inflammatory reaction, however, was similar to that of cutaneous chromoblastomycosis. Clinically these abscesses presented as small asymptomatic encapsulated cystic masses on the extremities, with no satellite or cutaneous lesions. Preoperatively, they were diagnosed as sebaceous cysts, foreign body granulomas, or tendon sheath ganglions, and no cultures were obtained at the time of operation. In reviewing the literature, we have been unable to find reports of similar subcutaneous lesions, with the possible exception of 1 case report by Young and Ulrich in 1953.
Carbon and Inorganic Nanostructure Reinforced Polymeric Nanocomposites for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract Recent advances in nanotechnology have enabled the fabrication and characterization of novel nanomaterials for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Various zero-, one-, and two-dimensional organic and inorganic nanomaterials such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, graphene, tungsten nanotubes, molybdenum nanoplatelets, alumoxane nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles have been investigated as probes for bioimaging, photothermal therapy, drug and gene delivery, and reinforcing agents for polymeric scaffolds for tissue-engineering applications. Tissue-engineering scaffolds are three-dimensional (3D) porous architectures that provide structural support for the attachment, proliferation, infiltration, and organization of anchorage-dependent mammalian cells for tissue development. Porosity of tissue-engineering scaffolds is desired to facilitate cellular infiltration and nutrient exchange; however, higher porosities reduce the mechanical properties of scaffolds. This chapter will review the use of organic and inorganic nanomaterials as reinforcing agents toward the fabrication of scaffolds with increased mechanical properties for bone-tissue engineering applications. We will also discuss the various nanomaterial design parameters critical to achieve maximum mechanical reinforcement along with various cyto- and biocompatibility issues associated with nanomaterial-reinforced polymeric 3D-tissue engineering scaffolds.