cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mass splittings within composite Goldstone supermultiplets from broken supersymmetry.

The supersymmetric (SUSY) Dashen formulas are modified to include effects of softly broken supersymmetry and are used to compute the mass splittings and differences in decay constants among the various components of a Goldstone supermultiplet. The general results are applied to chiral-symmetry breaking in two-flavor SUSY QCD.
GENERATION AND RETRIEVAL OF PROBABILISTIC DIAGNOSTIC DATA FOR REAL-TIME SYSTEM FAILURES

The generation and retrieval of comparison-based probabilistic diagnostic data for fault location in homogeneous systems is presented. A distance-based approach avoids the exponential size of a priori test information. The operation-time computation complexity is O(m), where m is the number of links and O(log m) when some prior reference data is stored. Optimizations for hard real-time systems are provided.
Kinesin-II, the heteromeric kinesin

The kinesins constitute a large family of motor proteins which are responsible for the distribution of numerous organelles, vesicles and macromolecular complexes throughout the cell. One class of these molecular motors, kinesin-II, is unique in that these proteins are typically found as heterotrimeric complexes containing two different, though related, kinesin-like motor subunits, and a single nonmotor subunit. The heteromeric nature of these kinesins appears to have resulted in a class of combinatorial kinesins which can ‘mix and match’ different motor subunits. Another novel feature of these motors is that the activities of several kinesin-II representatives are essential in the assembly of motile and nonmotile cilia, a role not attributed to any other kinesin. This review presents a brief overview of the structure and biological functions of kinesin-II, the heteromeric kinesin.
The Influence of Desorption Kinetics on Hydrogen Permeation in Iron.

Abstract The common observation that the diffusivity of hydrogen in iron decreases anomalously at low temperatures is treated in terms of the barrier to adatom recombination and desorption that is known to be associated with the surfaces of this metal. Results obtained are in good agreement both with data on deuterium permeation through a polycrystalline iron sample, obtained in this study, and with the body of measurements for hydrogen diffusion through iron found in the literature.
Mechanistic studies of resonant infrared laser ablation of polystyrene

We investigate the phenomenon of resonant-infrared laser ablation of polymers using polystyrene as a model material. Ablation is initiated by a picosecond free-electron laser tuned to various infrared wavelengths that are resonant with vibrational modes of a polystyrene target. Time-resolved plume imaging, coupled with etch-depth measurements and finite-element calculations of the temperature rise indicate that ablation begins after a superheated surface layer reaches a temperature of nearly 1000C and undergoes spinodal decomposition. The majority of the ablated material is then expelled by recoil-induced ejection as the pressure of the expanding vapor plume compresses the laser-melted volume.
Transmission and reflection of normally incident, pulsed electromagnetic plane waves upon a Lorentz half-space

One-dimensional propagation of a normally incident, pulsed electromagnetic plane wave upon an isotropic, spatially homogeneous, Lorentz half-space is investigated analytically. Fourier integral representations of the time-dependent reflected and transmitted fields are obtained for an arbitrary incident pulse, and detailed examinations of these fields are made when the incident field is a finite-cycle-sine function. The inversion integral for the time-dependent reflected field is expressed in terms of the pole contribution and branch-cut integrals, whereas the uniform asymptotic methodology of Oughstun Sherman [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A6, 1394 (1989)] is applied to the transmitted field. Only the contribution from the distant saddle points to the transmitted field is studied in detail. An example is provided that shows that the effects of including the reflection and transmission coefficients may not be ignored when microwave or optical pulses are launched across the interface. Specifically, for Brillouin’s choice of the medium’s physical parameters, the reflected field has a peak value that is 21% of the incident field’s amplitude and that corresponds to a 21% decrease in the main signal (pole contribution) of the transmitted field when the transmission coefficient is unity. This study extends past analytical formulations of the one-dimensional problem by conducting an in-depth analysis of the reflected field for a normally incident finite-cycle-sine wave and by addressing how inclusion of frequency-dependent transmission and reflection coefficients affects the fields. In particular, situations for which the effect of the frequency-dependent transmission and reflection coefficients is significant are discussed. Finally, the analysis of the reflected field should be useful for diagnostic purposes.
High-temperature erosion of plasma-sprayed, yttria-stabilized zirconia in a simulated turbine environment

A series of rig calibration and high temperature tests simulating gas path seal erosion in turbine engines were performed at three impingement angles and at three downstream locations. Plasma sprayed, yttria stablized zirconia specimens were tested. Steady state erosion curves presented for 19 test specimens indicate a brittle type of material erosion despite scanning electron microscopy evidence of plastic deformation. Steady state erosion results were not sensitive to downstream location but were sensitive to impingement angle. At difference downstream locations specimen surface temperature varied from 1250 to 1600 C (2280 to 2900 F) and particle velocity varied from 260 to 320 m/s (850 to 1050 ft/s). The mass ratio of combustion products to erosive grit material was typically 240.
“It’s Not Fair!”: Discursive Politics, Social Justice and Feminist Praxis SWS Feminist Lecture

In developing strategies to contest the systematic efforts to dismantle progressive social and economic policies generated through decades of activism, it is important to understand how discursive frames that were significant in social justice organizing in the United States have come to be subjugated, delegitimated, or co-opted, and have lost their power for social justice activism. Using a materialist feminist approach, I first examine the processes of subjugation and explore how movement actors choose frames within bounded discursive fields that become institutionalized, but lose critical feminist or progressive intent. I then discuss the delegitimation of a citizen’s right to government support and the co-optation of progressive movement frames by conservative groups. I conclude with a materialist feminist call to attend to the multiple institutions (i.e., the state, law, market, and media) that contour the discursive field and the everyday practices of social movement organizations. This is a call fo...
Rapid construction of functioning physical interfaces from cardboard, thumbtacks, tin foil and masking tape

Rapid, early, but rough system prototypes are becoming a standard and valued part of the user interface design process. Pen, paper, and tools like Flash™ and Director™ are well suited to creating such prototypes. However, in the case of physical forms with embedded technology, there is a lack of tools for developing rapid, early prototypes. Instead, the process tends to be fragmented into prototypes exploring forms that look like the intended product or explorations of functioning interactions that work like the intended product - bringing these aspects together into full design concepts only later in the design process. To help alleviate this problem, we present a simple tool for very rapidly creating functioning, rough physical prototypes early in the design process - supporting what amounts to interactive physical sketching. Our tool allows a designer to combine exploration of form and interactive function, using objects constructed from materials such as thumbtacks, foil, cardboard and masking tape, enhanced with a small electronic sensor board. By means of a simple and fluid tool for delivering events to "screen clippings," these physical sketches can then be easily connected to any existing (or new) program running on a PC to provide real or Wizard of Oz supported functionality.
Juggle: addressing extrinsic load imbalances in SPMD applications on multicore computers

We investigate proactive dynamic load balancing on multicore systems, in which threads are continually migrated to reduce the impact of processor/thread mismatches. Our goal is to enhance the flexibility of the SPMD-style programming model and enable SPMD applications to run efficiently in multiprogrammed environments. We present Juggle, a practical decentralized, user-space implementation of a proactive load balancer that emphasizes portability and usability. In this paper we assume perfect intrinsic load balance and focus on extrinsic imbalances caused by OS noise, multiprogramming and mismatches of threads to hardware parallelism. Juggle shows performance improvements of up to 80 % over static load balancing for oversubscribed UPC, OpenMP, and pthreads benchmarks. We also show that Juggle is effective in unpredictable, multiprogrammed environments, with up to a 50 % performance improvement over the Linux load balancer and a 25 % reduction in performance variation. We analyze the impact of Juggle on parallel applications and derive lower bounds and approximations for thread completion times. We show that results from Juggle closely match theoretical predictions across a variety of architectures, including NUMA and hyper-threaded systems.
Axillobifemoral bypass and aortic embolization for the treatment of two patients with ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysms

We report two cases of hemodynamically stable patients with contained, ruptured, juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm that were both successfully treated by nonresectional therapy including axillobifemoral bypass with externally supported polytetrafluoroethylene graft, followed by coil embolization of the aneurysm sac and bilateral common iliac arteries. The patients were elderly with multiple comorbidities and complex aneurysm morphology not amenable to endovascular repair. In both cases complete thrombosis of the aneurysm was verified by computed tomography. Both patients are alive at follow-up without evidence of an increase in aneurysm size, postoperative leak, or rupture or impairment of renal function. To our knowledge these are the first reported cases in which this modality has been successfully used in patients presenting with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. Earlier results of nonresectional therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysm have reported a significant incidence of postoperative aneurysm rupture and renal failure. Growing experience at our institution with nonresectional therapy for high risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms suggests that nonresectional therapy can be a valuable treatment modality for high risk patients including those with contained rupture of the aneurysm who are hemodynamically stable.
Anesthetic Implications of the Child with Homocystinuria

We present a 7 1/2-year-old girl with type I homocystinuria who required anesthetic care during repair of bilateral ectopia lentis. Homocystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder and represents the second most common error of amino acid metabolism. Defective function of the enzyme cystathionine synthetase results in elevated serum levels of methionine and homocysteine. Physiologic disturbances include an increased risk of thromboembolic events and hypoglycemia. Perioperative measures to prevent thromboembolic events include diet therapy to lower serum methionine and homocysteine levels, adequate preoperative hydration, maintenance of intraoperative cardiac output, and the use of pneumatic stockings to prevent peripheral stagnation of blood. Hypoglycemia is thought to be due to alterations in insulin release associated with high levels of circulating sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine. Perioperative measures include normalization of serum methionine and administration of exogenous glucose during periods of fasting.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Stroke Symptom Questions to Detect Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Background/Aims Undiagnosed stroke is a major public health problem. The Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status (QVSS) includes eight items and was originally designed to detect stroke-free individuals. Its six symptom-related questions could potentially be used to screen for undiagnosed stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), but the sensitivity and specificity of just the six symptom-related questions are unknown.
WHY DID THE WORLD TRADE CENTER COLLAPSE? — SIMPLE ANALYSIS

This paper presents a simplified approximate analysis of the overall collapse of the towers of World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. The analysis shows that if prolonged heating caused the majority of columns of a single floor to lose their load carrying capacity, the whole tower was doomed. Despite optimistic simplifying assumptions, the structural resistance is found to be an order of magnitude less than necessary for survival.
Activation of Ras and the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Promotes Protein Degradation in Muscle Cells of Caenorhabditis elegans

To discover and study intracellular signals that regulate proteolysis in muscle, we have employed transgenic strains of Caenorhabditis elegans that produce a soluble LacZ reporter protein limited to body-wall and vulval muscles. This reporter protein is stable in well-fed wild-type animals, but its degradation is triggered upon a shift to 25°C in a strain carrying a temperature-sensitive activating mutation in the Ras oncogene homologue let-60. These mutants are not physiologically starved, inasmuch as growth rates are normal at 25°C. Ras-induced degradation is not prevented by the presence of cycloheximide added at or before the temperature shift and thus uses preexisting proteolytic systems and signaling components. Furthermore, degradation is triggered when adult animals are shifted to conditions of 25°C, confirming that Ras acutely promotes protein degradation in muscles whose developmental history is normal. Reduction-of-function mutations in the downstream protein kinase Raf (lin-45), MEK (mek-2), or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (mpk-1) prevent Ras-induced protein degradation, whereas activated MPK-1 is sufficient to trigger degradation, indicating that this kinase cascade is the principal route by which Ras signaling triggers protein degradation in muscle. This pathway is activated in hypodermal cells by the LET-23 epidermal growth factor receptor homologue, but an activating mutation in let-23 does not promote proteolysis in muscle. Starvation-induced LacZ reporter degradation is unaffected by reduction-of-function mutations in Ras, Raf, MEK, or MAPK, implying that Ras activation and starvation trigger proteolysis by mechanisms that are at least partially independent. This is the first evidence that Ras-Raf-MEK-MAPK signaling activates protein degradation in differentiated muscle.
Cusk (Brosme brosme) and climate change: assessing the threat to a candidate marine fish species under the US Endangered Species Act

Jonathan A. Hare1*, John P. Manderson2, Janet A. Nye3, Michael A. Alexander4, Peter J. Auster5,6, Diane L. Borggaard7, Antonietta M. Capotondi4, Kimberly B. Damon-Randall7, Eric Heupel5, Ivan Mateo7, Loretta O’Brien8, David E. Richardson1, Charles A. Stock9, and Sarah T. Biegel7 NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Narragansett, RI 02818, USA NOAA NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI 02818, USA NOAA, Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO 80305-3328, USA Department of Marine Sciences and Northeast Underwater Research Technology and Education Center, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340, USA Sea Research Foundation – Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT 06355, USA NOAA NMFS Northeast Regional Office, Gloucester, MA 01930-2276, USA NOAA NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ 08540-6649, USA *Corresponding Author: tel: +1 401 782 3295; fax: +1 401 782 3201; e-mail: jon.hare@noaa.gov Present address: 65 Winterberry Rd, Saunderstown, RI 02874, USA
SPAPT: Search Problems in Automatic Performance Tuning☆

Abstract Automatic performance tuning of computationally intensive kernels in scientific applications is a promising approach to achieving good performance on different machines while preserving the kernel implementation's readability and portability. A major bottleneck in automatic performance tuning is the computation time required to test a large number of possible code variants, which grows exponentially with the number of tuning parameters. Consequently, the design, development, and analysis of effective search techniques capable of quickly finding high-performing parameter configurations have gained significant attention in recent years. An important element needed for this research is a collection of test problems that allow performance engineering and mathematical optimization researchers to conduct rigorous algorithmic development and experimental studies. In this paper, we describe a set of extensible and portable search problems in automatic performance tuning (SPAPT) whose goal is to aid in the development and improvement of search strategies. SPAPT is a test suite that contains representative serial code implementations from a number of lower-level performance-tuning tasks in scientific applications. We present an illustrative experimental study on several problems from the test suite. We discuss important issues such as modeling, search space characteristics, and performance objectives.
Exporting and interactively querying Web service-accessed sources: The CLIDE System

The CLIDE System assists the owners of sources that participate in Web service-based data publishing systems to publish a restricted set of parameterized queries over the schema of their sources and package them as WSDL services. The sources may be relational databases, which naturally have a schema, or ad hoc information/application systems whereas the owner publishes a virtual schema. CLIDE allows information clients to pose queries over the published schema and utilizes prior work on answering queries using views to answer queries that can be processed by combining and processing the results of one or more Web service calls. These queries are called feasible. Contrary to prior work, where infeasible queries are rejected without an explanatory feedback, leading the user into a frustrating trial-and-error cycle, CLIDE features a query formulation interface, which extends the QBE-like query builder of Microsoft's SQL Server with a color scheme that guides the user toward formulating feasible queries. CLIDE guarantees that the suggested query edit actions are complete (i.e., each feasible query can be built by following only suggestions), rapidly convergent (the suggestions are tuned to lead to the closest feasible completions of the query), and suitably summarized (at each interaction step, only a minimal number of actions needed to preserve completeness are suggested). We present the algorithms, implementation, and performance evaluation showing that CLIDE is a viable on-line tool.
Stable algorithms for multiset canonical correlation analysis

This paper is devoted to the construction of dynamical systems that converge to principal subspaces of multi-set canonical variates using root objective functions. With some modifications, these systems may be converted to new ones that converge to the actual canonical variates. The main important features of two algorithms that have been tested are that the first algorithm converges to the canonical variates corresponding to the canonical correlations of largest magnitudes, while the other converges to the canonical variates corresponding to the largest positive canonical correlations.
Providing resiliency to load variations in distributed stream processing

Scalability in stream processing systems can be achieved by using a cluster of computing devices. The processing burden can, thus, be distributed among the nodes by partitioning the query graph. The specific operator placement plan can have a huge impact on performance. Previous work has focused on how to move query operators dynamically in reaction to load changes in order to keep the load balanced. Operator movement is too expensive to alleviate short-term bursts; moreover, some systems do not support the ability to move operators dynamically. In this paper, we develop algorithms for selecting an operator placement plan that is resilient to changes in load. In other words, we assume that operators cannot move, therefore, we try to place them in such a way that the resulting system will be able to withstand the largest set of input rate combinations. We call this a resilient placement.This paper first formalizes the problem for operators that exhibit linear load characteristics (e.g., filter, aggregate), and introduces a resilient placement algorithm. We then show how we can extend our algorithm to take advantage of additional workload information (such as known minimum input stream rates). We further show how this approach can be extended to operators that exhibit non-linear load characteristics (e.g., join). Finally, we present prototype- and simulation-based experiments that quantify the benefits of our approach over existing techniques using real network traffic traces.
Supporting multi-perspective requirements engineering

Supporting collaborating requirements engineers as they independently construct a specification is highly desirable. We show how collaborative requirements engineering can be supported using a planner, domain abstractions, and automated decision science techniques. In particular we show how requirements conflict resolution can be assisted through a combination of multi-agent multi-criteria optimization and heuristic resolution generation. We then summarize the use of our tool to rationally reconstruct a library specification. This line of research is significant in that it brings conflict detection and resolution into a requirements engineering framework. This particular work expands the automation found in previous results (W. Robinson, 1993). >
Study of plasma-polyethylene interactions using electron beam-generated plasmas produced in Ar/SF6 mixtures†

The use of electron beam-generated plasmas produced in Ar/SF6 mixtures to modify the surface of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene substrates is discussed. Changes in the surface energy, chemistry, and morphology are presented as a function of plasma operating parameters, along with simple system diagnostics to obtain a better understanding of the plasma-polymer interaction. For all conditions, the hydrophobicity of the material was increased via the incorporation of fluorine, and for some conditions, the surface was found to remain stable over the course of 1 year. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
A methodology for the design of interactive monitoring interfaces

This paper discusses the motivation and goals of a research project that addresses the problems and issues of monitoring complex engineering systems. The research proposes a methodology to guide the design of interactive monitoring interfaces (i.e., operator interfaces), specifically designed to support the monitoring tasks of system control. The goal is an interface that engages the operator in the task of monitoring to ensure that fault detection occurs in an efficient and reliable way. A description of this methodology is given followed by an example of its application and preliminary experimental results. >
Rapid optimization of gene dosage in E. coli using DIAL strains

Engineers frequently vary design parameters to optimize the behaviour of a system. However, synthetic biologists lack the tools to rapidly explore a critical design parameter, gene expression level, and have no means of systematically varying the dosage of an entire genetic circuit. As a step toward overcoming this shortfall, we have developed a technology that enables the same plasmid to be maintained at different copy numbers in a set of closely related cells. This provides a rapid method for exploring gene or cassette dosage effects. We engineered two sets of strains to constitutively provide a trans-acting replication factor, either Pi of the R6K plasmid or RepA of the ColE2 plasmid, at different doses. Each DIAL (different allele) strain supports the replication of a corresponding plasmid at a constant level between 1 and 250 copies per cell. The plasmids exhibit cell-to-cell variability comparable to other popular replicons, but with improved stability. Since the origins are orthogonal, both replication factors can be incorporated into the same cell. We demonstrate the utility of these strains by rapidly assessing the optimal expression level of a model biosynthetic pathway for violecein. The DIAL strains can rapidly optimize single gene expression levels, help balance expression of functionally coupled genetic elements, improve investigation of gene and circuit dosage effects, and enable faster development of metabolic pathways.
Fluorescent molecular imaging and dosimetry tools in photodynamic therapy

Measurement of fluorescence and phosphorescence in vivo is readily used to quantify the concentration of specific species that are relevant to photodynamic therapy. However, the tools to make the data quantitatively accurate vary considerably between different applications. Sampling of the signal can be done with point samples, such as specialized fiber probes or from bulk regions with either imaging or sampling, and then in broad region image-guided manner. Each of these methods is described below, the application to imaging photosensitizer uptake is discussed, and developing methods to image molecular responses to therapy are outlined.
Embedded micromechanical devices for the monolithic integration of MEMS with CMOS

A flexible, modular manufacturing process for integrating micromechanical and microelectronic devices has been developed. This process embeds the micromechanical devices in an anisotropically etched trench below the surface of the wafer. Prior to microelectronic device fabrication, this trench is refilled with oxide, chemical-mechanically polished, and sealed with a nitride cap in order to embed the micromechanical devices below the surface of the planarized wafer. The feasibility of this technique in a manufacturing environment has been demonstrated by combining a variety of embedded micromechanical structures with a 2 /spl mu/m CMOS process on 6 inch wafers. A yield of 78% has been achieved on the first devices manufactured using this technique.
The rugged border: Surveillance, policing and the dynamic materiality of the US/Mexico frontier:

This paper explores US Department of Homeland Security surveillance programs in the United States/Mexico borderlands, with an emphasis on the quotidian role of a dynamic more-than-human landscape i...
Glycosaminoglycan localization and role in maintenance of tissue spaces in the early chick embryo

Comparison of sections stained with Alcian blue at pH 1·0 or 2·5 demonstrates the distribution of sulfated and non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix of the stage-8 (Hamburger & Hamilton, 1951) chick embryo. Both types of GAG are present in basement membranes throughout the embryo. Treatment of sections with Streptomyces hyaluronidase, reported to be specific for hyaluronic acid, prior to staining with Alcian blue at pH 2·5 reveals that hyaluronate is an important constituent of the extracellular matrix in basement membranes and in intercellular spaces within the mesoderm. Hyaluronate is shown to be the predominant glycosaminoglycan in the matrix of the head mesenchyme. In addition, examination by SEM and light microscopy of embryos after treatment in ovo with hyaluronidase shows that removal of hyaluronate from living embryos results in a dramatic decrease in cell-free spaces and a weakening of the association between mesoderm and ectoderm in the head.
The Cheerleader and the Athlete: A Sad Tale About the Dismal State of Student Speech Rights

(2012). The Cheerleader and the Athlete: A Sad Tale About the Dismal State of Student Speech Rights. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 73-84.
Neuron-specific SALM5 limits inflammation in the CNS via its interaction with HVEM

The central nervous system (CNS) is an immune-privileged organ with the capacity to prevent excessive inflammation. Aside from the blood-brain barrier, active immunosuppressive mechanisms remain largely unknown. We report that a neuron-specific molecule, synaptic adhesion-like molecule 5 (SALM5), is a crucial contributor to CNS immune privilege. We found that SALM5 suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in the CNS and that a SALM-specific monoclonal antibody promoted inflammation in the CNS, and thereby aggravated clinical symptoms of mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In addition, we identified herpes virus entry mediator as a functional receptor that mediates SALM5’s suppressive function. Our findings reveal a molecular link between the neuronal system and the immune system, and provide potential therapeutic targets for the control of CNS diseases.
Preliminary results of a phase I/II clinical trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin in non-small cell lung cancer

Forty-nine patients with non-small cell lung cancer were treated in a study designed to establish the maximum tolerated dose of outpatient paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ), given by 3-hour infusion, combined with a fixed dose of carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve [AUC] = 6, Calvert method). The study population included 31 men and 18 women with previously untreated, unresectable stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer. Patients had a median age of 62 years (age range, 46 to 81 years) and a median Southwest Oncology Group performance status of 1 (range, 0 to 2). With six to 10 patients treated at each dose level, paclitaxel was given at a starting dose of 150 mg/m2, and doses were escalated by 25-mg/m2 increments. The carboplatin dose was fixed at an AUC of 6. Paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 was established as the maximum tolerated dose of this combination, and severe (grade 3) sensory neuropathy was defined as the dose-limiting toxicity. Objective responses were documented in 26 of 42 patients with objectively measurable disease, for an overall response rate of 62%. Although these data are preliminary, this regimen appears to be efficacious and cost-effective, and warrants further study. Paclitaxel 225 mg/m2 combined with carboplatin (AUC = 6) every 3 weeks is recommended for follow-up phase II and III clinical trials.
Overselling hysteria: The role of the media and medical journals in promoting questionable risks-a case study of the testosterone controversy.

On February 4, 2014, The New York Times published an editorial “Overselling testosterone, dangerously”, in which it alleged that the rise in testosterone prescriptions was medically unwarranted, and that scientific studies suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) provided “the most compelling evidence yet that many American men have embarked on a perilous course of overtreatment” [1]. This editorial was the most prominent among a flood of similar stories, and it provided an authoritative position by virtue of the reputation of the NY Times as a leader in mainstream media. In this article, we use this case—the studies on the alleged risk of testosterone treatment and the ensuing media coverage—to discuss how the media often promote a false narrative that negatively impacts public health and policy. > … media reporting of medical studies has been shown to influence not only popular opinion, but also the opinion of healthcare providers and regulatory authorities. The public has a great appetite for health‐related information; indeed, one of the most frequent uses of the Internet is to obtain information about medical conditions and health care. This demand provides a fertile ground for high impact medical news stories, often based on the publication of new study results. Not surprisingly, media reporting of medical studies has been shown to influence not only popular opinion, but also the opinion of healthcare providers and regulatory authorities [2]. What has not been adequately appreciated, however, is how distorted reporting of medical risks promotes false concepts that may persist for years, thereby negatively impacting medical care and public health [3], [4]. The infamous study that claimed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism has had a massive impact on vaccination rates in Western countries and is still being cited as evidence …
Psychological Aspects of Chronic-Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a condition involving irreversible failure of excretory and regulatory functions of the kidneys. As ESRD progresses, residual renal function can no longer sustain normal body functioning, and survival is impossible without some form of renal replacement therapy (Eknoyan, 1991). ESRD remained virtually untreatable and often resulted in death until the early 1960s, when hemodialysis treatment began prolonging life (Norton, 1982). Although suitable for only a few patients, renal transplantation and peritoneal dialysis can preclude the more prevalent ESRD treatment, chronic-maintenance hemodialysis (Wauters, Hunziker, & Brunner, 1983). Congress began funding hemodialysis treatment in 1972, thereby increasing its availability to ESRD patients, many of whom until then did not qualify for treatment based on their “social worth” (Kutner & Brogan, 1990). Medical advances continue to increase longevity, reduce infection risk, and improve hemodialysis procedures; however, the intrusive nature of this process can result in difficulty adjusting to maintenance hemodialysis. The lifestyle accompanying hemodialysis requires compliance with a complex and strict treatment regimen. For this reason, psychological problems associated with this regimented lifestyle have arisen, including depression, anxiety, neuropsychological complications, noncompliance, and marital difficulties. Psychologists began addressing these issues and integrating into teams of treatment professionals in the early 1970s (Kirschenbaum, 1991). Health psychologists, in particular, have become involved in efforts to improve patient adherence to medical procedures and improve quality of life for hemodialysis patients. This chapter discusses ESRD., its prevalence, complications, and treatment, and psychological issues associated with chronic-maintenance hemodialysis.
Hypertrophy of the abductor hallucis muscle: A case report and review of the literature.

Objectives:Muscle hypertrophy is a relatively rare condition that may cause nerve entrapment syndromes. We report the case of a 14-year-old girl with unilateral hypertrophy of the abductor hallucis...
Peripheral Dopamine in Restless Legs Syndrome.

Objective/Background: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a dopamine-dependent disorder characterized by a strong urge to move. The objective of this study was to evalulate blood levels of dopamine and other catecholamines and blood D2-subtype dopamine receptors (D2Rs) in RLS. Patients/Methods: Dopamine levels in blood samples from age-matched unmedicated RLS subjects, medicated RLS subjects and Controls were evaluated with high performance liquid chromatography and dopamine D2R white blood cell expression levels were determined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunocytochemistry. Results: Blood plasma dopamine levels, but not norepinepherine or epinephrine levels, were significantly increased in medicated RLS subjects vs unmedicated RLS subjects and Controls. The percentage of lymphocytes and monocytes expressing D2Rs differed between Control, RLS medicated and RLS unmedicated subjects. Total D2R expression in lymphocytes, but not monocytes differed between Control, RLS medicated and RLS unmedicated subjects. D2Rs in lymphocytes, but not monocytes, were sensitive to dopamine in Controls only. Conclusions: Downregulation of white blood cells D2Rs occurs in RLS. This downregulation is not reversed by medication, although commonly used RLS medications increase plasma dopamine levels. The insensitivity of monocytes to dopamine levels, but their downregulation in RLS, may reflect their utility as a biomarker for RLS and perhaps brain dopamine homeostasis.
Energy-efficient ECG compression in wearable body sensor network by leveraging empirical mode decomposition

Wearable body sensor network (BSN) is widely used in daily monitoring, well-being management, and rehabilitation. Energy efficiency imposes a stringent constraint in wearable BSN, in which wireless transmission is significantly power-demanding. Compressed sensing (CS) provides a good solution to reduce power consumption for data transmission due to the sparsity of signals which can use limited transmitted data to reconstruct original signals. In this study, we develop a new method for non-sparse ECG signal compression by leveraging empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and online dictionary for wearable devices. Comparing to the state-of-the-art of ECG compression which can achieve the compression ratio (CR) of around 25 with the root mean square error (RMSE) around 5%, our method can achieve the CR up to 60 with the same level of RMSE for wearable ECG. In addition, our method also has low computational complexity, which can achieve lower compression energy. The validation experiments are conducted on both clinical data and wearable ECG detected by our BSN in noisy environment. The proposed method shows high feasibility for real CS on board to achieve ultra-low power consumption.
“The Negro's Peculiar Work”: Jim Crow and Black Discourses on US Empire, Race, and the African Question, 1877–1900

In 1887, T. Thomas Fortune published an editorial, “The Negro's Peculiar Work,” in the black newspaper the New York Freeman, wherein he reflected on a recent keynote speech delivered by Reverend J. C. Price on 3 January in Columbia, South Carolina, to commemorate Emancipation Day. Price, a member of the Zion Wesley Institute of the AME Zion Church, hailed from North Carolina and his denomination considered him to be “the most popular and eloquent Negro of the present generation.” On the occasion meant to reflect on the meaning of the Emancipation Proclamation (which went into effect on 1 January 1863) for present-day African Americans, Price turned his gaze away from the US towards Africa. In his speech “The American Negro, His Future, and His Peculiar Work” Price declared that African Americans had a duty to redeem Africans and help them take back their continent from the Europeans who had partitioned it in 1884–85. He railed, The whites found gold, diamonds, and other riches in Africa. Why should not the Negro? Africa is their country. They should claim it: they should go to Africa, civilize those Negroes, raise them morally, and by education show them how to obtain wealth which is in their own country, and take the grand continent as their own. Price's “Black Man's Burden” projected American blacks as agents of capitalism, civilization, and Christianity in Africa. Moreover, Price suggested that African American suffering under slavery, failed Reconstruction, and Jim Crow placed them in a unique position to combat imperialism. He was not alone in seeing parallels between the conditions of “Negroes” on both sides of the Atlantic. Many African Americans, Afro-Canadians, and West Indians saw imperialism in Africa as operating according to Jim Crow logic: white Europeans would subordinate and segregate Africans, while economically exploiting their labor to bring wealth to Europe.
Using the agreement maker to align ontologies for the OAEI campaign 2007

In this paper, we present the AgreementMaker, an ontology alignment tool that incorporates the Descendants Similarity Inheritance (DSI) method. This method uses the structure of the ontology graphs for contextual information, thus providing the matching process with more semantics.We have tested our method on the ontologies included in the anatomy track of the OAEI 2007 campaign.
Vitreal glutamate concentration in monkeys with experimental glaucoma.

Purpose To investigate the hypothesis that the pathophysiology for the death of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma involves excitotoxic effects from elevated concentrations of vitreal glutamate. Methods Experimental glaucoma was induced in the right eyes of 18 rhesus monkeys by argon laser treatments to the trabecular meshwork. After significant visual field defects and/or typical clinical glaucomatous changes had developed (1.5-13 months), the eyes were removed, and a sample (0.1-0.2 mL) of posterior vitreous was collected. Similar vitreous samples also were collected from eight untreated monkeys. The vitreous samples were analyzed in a masked fashion by high-pressure liquid chromatography in two independent laboratories. Mean levels of vitreal glutamate were determined for the treated and control eyes and differences between groups of eyes were evaluated by Student's t-test. Results The mean level (+/- SD) of vitreal glutamate in the eight untreated monkeys was 5.0 +/- 2.0 microM. A similar level of 5.7 +/- 1.8 microM was measured in the untreated eyes of monkeys with experimental glaucoma. In the glaucomatous eyes, the mean concentration of vitreal glutamate was 5.7 +/- 2.6 microM, which was not significantly different from the concentrations in the control eyes. Conclusions Vitreal glutamate concentrations were not elevated in eyes with anatomic and functional damage from experimental glaucoma. This finding is in contradiction to previous reports that vitreal glutamate increases to toxic levels and probably contributes to glaucomatous damage of retinal ganglion cells.
Nouvelles recommandations américaines : analyse critique

Le Joint National Committee aux Etats-Unis a recemment publie son septieme rapport. Celui-ci comprend un certain nombre de modifications importantes en ce qui concerne la prise en charge de l’hypertension arterielle et notamment l’introduction du concept de « prehypertension », le choix du traitement medicamenteux initial, l’utilisation d’associations therapeutiques des la premiere intention et l’abaissement des cibles du traitement. Cet article presente et argumente ces nouvelles approches.
Helping At-Risk Youth to ‘Think Big’: A Partnership between a College and a Community Agency

The literature on youth community service activities indicates that adolescents who are actively involved in their community have a stronger self-image and value themselves more than adolescents who do not take part (Conrad & Hedin, 1991; Shumer, 1997, 2005). Research suggests that youth community services programs have the potential to be an interesting and engaging means to promote positive youth development. Moreover, having at-risk youth engage in community service activities can be an opportune vehicle for promoting positive youth development and outcomes. The present study attempts to meet this need by promoting adolescent empowerment and a sense of community via a partnership between a liberal arts college and a community agency which serves underprivileged families and youth. Quantitative results show that empathy and general self-efficacy scores increased among participants from pre- to post-test. Qualitative findings of all parties involved were positive. Implications this study are outlined as well.
Percutaneous computed tomography–guided biopsy performed by thoracic surgeons in 955 patients: A paradigm shift in image-guided thoracic procedures

Abstract Objectives Computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration (CT-FNA) biopsy is a well-established diagnostic technique in the evaluation of lung nodules that is performed by radiologists in most centers. In this series, we analyzed the diagnostic and perioperative outcomes following CT-FNA performed by a dedicated group of thoracic surgeons. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 955 patients undergoing CT-FNA by the thoracic surgery service. Primary outcome variables included diagnostic yield and accuracy, number of needle passes, complication rates, and adequacy of specimen for molecular testing. Results A satisfactory diagnostic specimen was obtained in 94.1% of cases. The average number of needle passes was 3.2 ± 1.5 (range, 1-10 passes). Diagnostic yield was significantly improved by increasing the number of passes from 1 to 2 to 3 passes (P = .0003). CT-FNA diagnostic accuracy was 88.8%. Diagnostic accuracy did not significantly improve with ≥4 passes (P = .20). Molecular testing was successful in 43.1%, and did not improve with ≥4 passes (P = .5). Molecular testing success did improve with the addition of core needle biopsy (P = .005). The pneumothorax rate for CT-FNA alone was 26.4%, and increased with ≥4 passes (P = .009). The median length of stay for CT-FNA alone was 0 days (range, 0-74 days), with same-day discharge in 67.5% of patients. Conclusions Thoracic surgeons can perform CT-FNA with excellent diagnostic yield and accuracy. Diagnostic yield, accuracy, and success in molecular testing do not improve with ≥4 CT-FNA passes. Pneumothorax rates do increase with ≥4 passes. The addition of core needle biopsy enhances success with molecular testing.
Emerging roles for MEF2 in brain development and mental disorders

The MEF2 family of transcription factors regulate large programs of gene expression important for the development and maintenance of many tissues, including the brain. MEF2 proteins are regulated by neuronal synaptic activity, and they recruit several epigenetic enzymes to influence chromatin structure and gene expression during development and throughout adulthood. Here, we provide a brief review of the recent literature reporting important roles for MEF2 during early brain development and function, and we highlight emerging roles for MEF2 as a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses, such as autism, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia.
Using Epistemic Network Analysis to Examine Discourse and Scientific Practice During a Collaborative Game

According to the National Research Council, the ability to collaboratively solve problems is of the utmost importance in scientific careers, yet students are not exposed to learning experiences that promote such expertise. Recent studies have found that interdependent roles used within collaborative mobile games are an effective way to scaffold collaborative problem solving. School Scene Investigators: The Case of the Mystery Powder, a collaborative mobile game, incorporated interdependent roles in order to foster collaborative problem solving and promote scientific practice. Using epistemic network analysis (ENA), this study examined the conversational discourse of game teams to determine what connections exist between communication responses, language style, and scientific practice. Data included audio transcripts of three teams that played through the game. Transcripts were qualitatively coded for five types of scientific practice aligned to the National Research Council framework for K-12 science education, three types of communication responses (accept/discuss/reject), and an emergent language style (communal). ENA revealed that students developed scientific practices during gameplay. ENA also identified engaged communication responses and communal language style as two types of collaborative discourse used within School Scene Investigators: The Case of the Mystery Powder that fostered key linkages to effective data analysis and interpretation.