cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum Equations in Cosmological Spaces

The Dirac equations for a free electron in a cosmological space are solved by means of separation of variables. It is shown that the wave functions depend on the angles $\ensuremath{\theta}$ and $\ensuremath{\phi}$ in the same manner as those of a free electron in flat space time. The radial functions are obtained and it is shown that they go over into the usual ones in the limit. The explicit form of the time dependence of the wave functions cannot be obtained until an arbitrary function $R(t)$ is specified. Three different cases are discussed. The energy of the free electron is then determined for each of these. Finally the connection between the equation used here and that proposed by Dirac for the DeSitter space is discussed. It is shown that they are similar and that the imaginary part of the complex mass that he was forced to introduce has a geometrical origin.
The 1/d expansion of the Eden model

We confirm a calculation by Parisi and Zhang for an Eden cluster, 〈R2〉 ≃ 2 ln n (1 + 32d) at large n. If probability is independent of the number of neighbors, this becomes 〈R2〉 ≃ 2 ln n (1 + 62d), with a contribution from square loops. We note that the 1d corrections include the effect of parallel steps on lij2. Exact results are given for the Cayley tree with and without parallelism; for large n, 〈R2〉 ≃ 2 ln n d(2d − 1)2(d − 1)2, with parallelism. This shows that the departure from ln n in a la0tice comes from loops. Individual loops of any size contribute only as ln n, and this remains true for double events to O(1d2). However, large loops are very numerous and therefore may contribute 2n. Presumably this is cut down to n2d (the compact sphere result) by interference with other structures.
Long-Term Suppressive Therapy for Candida parapsilosis-Induced Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

Prompt valve replacement is advocated in patients in whom candidal prosthetic valve endocarditis develops. Unfortunately, some patients with this condition are considered nonsurgical candidates, and they are unable to tolerate long-term administration of amphotericin B with or without flucytosine. Herein we describe a patient with Candida parapsilosis-induced prosthetic valve endocarditis in whom oral administration of fluconazole during an 11-month period successfully suppressed the fungal infection. Three previously published cases indicate that long-term noncurative suppressive therapy for C. parapsilosis-induced prosthetic valve endocarditis may allow prolonged symptom-free survival for such patients.
Application of ATP to plankton biomass and bioassay studies

Abstract The use of adensine triphosphate (ATP) analysis for freshwate algal and plankton populations was evaluated as a measure of biomass and as a bioassay response parameter. ATP analysis was performed using the firefly luminescence procedure. In short term laboratory studies. ATP levels in cultured algae and lake plankton correlate well with other standard biomass parameters, including chlorophyll a and dry weight. Algal ATP responded rapidly to mercury addition and pH changes, indicating its usefulness as a measurement of toxicity. The rapid response of ATP following nutrient additions to starved algal cultures suggests ATP may be useful as a tool in nutrient bioassay studies.
Microscope-based techniques to study cell adhesion and migration

Modern light microscopy has evolved to provide a variety of quantitative imaging techniques and also the capability to perturb structure-function relationships in living cells. The advances have been especially useful in the study of cell adhesion and migration. This review will focus on how such microscopy-based techniques can be useful in situ to study the molecular interactions and dynamics, to locally perturb actin-based structures and to measure the traction forces exerted by motile cells.
Improved Amplitude and Rise Time Compensated Timing with Ge Detectors

The energy range over which signal timing can be made nearly independent of amplitude and rise time has been extended downward by about an order of magnitude by employing dual priming of a zero crossing discriminator. By introducing another coarsely compensated timer between the high resolution timer and its priming leading edge discriminator, one can optimize the timing accuracy without sacrifice of dynamic range. Time walk of less than 1 ns has been achieved from about 20 keV to over 1 MeV.
Oxidative stress causes coral bleaching during exposure to elevated temperatures

Elevated temperatures and solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation have been implicated as recent causes for the loss of symbiotic algae (i.e., bleaching) in corals and other invertebrates with photoautotrophic symbionts. One hypothesized mechanism of coral bleaching involves the production of reduced oxygen intermediates, or toxic oxygen, in the dinoflagellate symbionts and host tissues that subsequently causes cellular damage and expulsion of symbionts. Measurements of photosynthesis in the Caribbean coral Agaricia tenuifolia, taken during temperature-induced stress and exposure to full solar radiation, showed a decrease in photosynthetic performance followed by bleaching. Exposure of corals to exogenous antioxidants that scavenge reactive oxygen species during temperature-induced stress improves maximum photosynthetic capacity to rates indistinguishable from corals measured at the ambient temperature of their site of collection. Additionally, these antioxidants prevent the coral from “ bleaching ” and affect the mechanism of symbiont loss from the coral host. These observations confirm a role for oxidative stress, whether caused by elevated temperatures or exposure to UV radiation, in the bleaching phenomenon.
Polyurethane rubber all-polymer artificial hair cell sensor

In this paper, we present the design, fabrication process, and preliminary testing results of an artificial hair cell (AHC) sensor made entirely of polymer materials from the substrate level up. The new AHC sensor utilizes polyurethane elastomers for sensing and structures. The AHC can detect two-axis deflection of a vertical polyurethane hair using carbon-impregnated polyurethane force sensitive resistors (FSRs). AHC with cylindrical hair cross-section exhibit sensitivity of 245 ppm resistance change for every micron (ppm/mum) of tip deflection. The AHC threshold detection level of 3 mum compares favorably with insect tactile hair cells having thresholds on the order of 30-50 mum. Furthermore, we have characterized the mechanical and chemical properties of two-part room-temperature-curing polyurethane elastomers in the context of microfabrication. Elastic properties, chemical resistance, thermal oxidative decomposition, and adhesion properties are tested and compared to the performance of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a widely used elastomeric material. Polyurethane elastomer exhibit superior mechanical tear resistance and ability to adhere to substrates compared to PDMS
Crowdsourcing the Work-Family Debate: A Colloquy –Introduction

Professor Joan C. Williams “seeks to build bridges” across audiences and disciplines with her latest book, Reshaping the Work-Family Debate: Why Men and Class Matter. She also attempts to bridge seemingly insuperable chasms of gender and class, to encourage the formation of a political coalition that is simultaneously profamily and prowork. In Web 2.0 argot, “crowdsourcing” is a distributed, networked computing method of solving problems through the combination of ideas from individual sources and different perspectives. This issue of the Seattle University Law Review features ten other distinguished legal scholars who add their designs to Williams’s bridge blueprint through scholarly crowdsourcing. Their approaches result in surprising, sometimes provocative new ideas for cultural, legal, and policy reform at the nexus of work and family.
Dynamin phosphorylation controls optimization of endocytosis for brief action potential bursts

Modulation of synaptic vesicle retrieval is considered to be potentially important in steady-state synaptic performance. Here we show that at physiological temperature endocytosis kinetics at hippocampal and cortical nerve terminals show a bi-phasic dependence on electrical activity. Endocytosis accelerates for the first 15-25 APs during bursts of action potential firing, after which it slows with increasing burst length creating an optimum stimulus for this kinetic parameter. We show that activity-dependent acceleration is only prominent at physiological temperature and that the mechanism of this modulation is based on the dephosphorylation of dynamin 1. Nerve terminals in which dynamin 1 and 3 have been replaced with dynamin 1 harboring dephospho- or phospho-mimetic mutations in the proline-rich domain eliminate the acceleration phase by either setting endocytosis at an accelerated state or a decelerated state, respectively. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00845.001.
An End-to-End Cross-Layer Profiling Study of Congestion Control in High BDP Wireless Networks

We describe a cross-layer study that attempts at profiling the performance of end-to-end congestion control protocols in high BDP wireless networks. Packets transmitted over such networks are assumed to face temporally correlated random bit errors caused by fading and/or blocking. We utilize a finite-state Markov chain to model bit error characteristics and apply per packet link layer FEC codes in order to compensate for such errors. Utilizing our model along with loss expressions, we profile the end-to-end performance of XCP, VCP, and TCP/AQM+ECN congestion control protocols. Based on our profiling results, we observe that (1) the performance of any congestion control protocol highly degrades without properly protecting its data and signaling information against random bit errors, (2) utilizing multiple antenna nodes improves the transient characteristics of the congestion control protocol in terms of utilization and packet error rates, and (3) XCP and VCP represent the best alternatives of congestion control for high bandwidth moderate delay and moderate bandwidth large delay environments, respectively.
Collaborative Design Rationale and Social Creativity in Cultures of Participation

The rise in social computing has facilitated a shift from consumer ­cultures, focused on producing finished media to be consumed passively, to cultures of participation, where people can access the means to participate actively in personally meaningful problems. These developments represent unique and fundamental opportunities and challenges for rethinking and reinventing design rationale and creativity, as people acclimate to taking part in computer-mediated conversations of issues and their solutions. Grounded in our long-term research exploring these topics, this chapter articulates arguments, describes and discusses conceptual frameworks and system developments (in the context of three case studies), and provides evidence that design rationale and creativity need not be at odds with each other. Coordinating and integrating collective design rationale and social creatively provide new synergies and opportunities, particularly amid complex, open-ended, and ill-defined design problems requiring contributions and collaboration of multiple stakeholders supported by socio-technical environments in cultures of participation.
Off-pump right atrial surgery: Vena caval inflow occlusion in cardiac lesions.

BackgroundVena caval inflow occlusion, despite its utility in pediatrics, is rarely used in adults. We report the use of inflow occlusion in adults when cardiopulmonary bypass is contraindicated.MethodsBetween January 1999 and July 2014, 35 patients in 3 hospitals presented with right-sided cardiac lesions; 27 had right-sided endocarditis with sepsis despite maximal medical therapy, the rest had organized sterile masses with embolic potential in the right side of the heart. Comorbidities included immunosuppression, malignancy, and dialysis-dependent renal failure. Twelve patients had heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Using inflow occlusion on a beating heart, tricuspid valve vegetectomy was performed in 23 patients, vegetectomy and tricuspid valve repair in 3, removal of infected pacing leads in 7, and removal of a migrated inferior vena cava filter in 1. Eight patients had a single 2-min period of vena caval inflow occlusion, and 25 had additional periods of vena caval inflow occlusion after periods of r...
On measuring and modeling energy fluxes above the floor of a homogeneous and heterogeneous conifer forest

Information on mass and energy exchange at the soil surface under vegetation is a critical component of micrometeorological, climate, biogeochemical and hydrological models. Under sparse boreal and western conifer forests as much as 50% of incident solar energy reaches the soil surface. How this energy is partitioned into evaporating soil moisture, heating the air and soil remains a topic of scientific inquiry, as it is complicated by such factors as soil texture, litter, soil moisture, available energy, humidity deficits and turbulent mixing. Fluxes of mass and energy near the forest floor of a temperate ponderosa pine and a boreal jack pine stand were evaluated with eddy covariance measurements and a micrometeorological soil/plant/atmosphere exchange model. Field tests showed that the eddy covariance method is valid for studying the mean behavior of mass and energy exchange below forest canopies. On the other hand, large shade patches and sunflecks, along with the intermittent nature of atmospheric turbulence, cause run-to-run variability of mass and energy exchange measurements to be large. In general, latent heat flux densities are a non-linear function of available energy when the forest floor is dry. Latent heat flux densities ( E) are about one-quarter of available energy, when this energy is below 100 W m 2 . Latent heat flux density (E) peaks at about 35 W m 2 when available energy exceeds this threshold. A diagnosis of measurements with a canopy micrometeorological model indicates that the partitioning of solar energy into sensible, latent and soil heat flux is affected by atmospheric thermal stratification, surface wetness and the thickness of the litter layer. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Low-Dose Estrogen Therapy Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Two Different Inbred Mouse Strains

It has been proposed that homeostatic levels of estrogen can enhance female susceptibility to autoimmunity, whereas the heightened levels of estrogen associated with pregnancy are protective. This hypothesis was tested using the mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Diestrus (<100 pg/ml in serum) levels of 17beta-estradiol were found to significantly reduce the clinical manifestations of active EAE in both male and female mice. Estriol was also effective but at doses below those previously established for pregnancy. The reduction in disease severity was accompanied by a coincident reduction in the number and size of inflammatory foci in the CNS of estrogen (17beta-estradiol or estriol)-treated mice. Recipients of encephalitogenic T cells from low-dose estrogen-treated mice developed less severe paralysis than mice receiving T cells from placebo-treated mice. A modest shift in Th1/Th2 balance suggested that low dose estrogen therapy could bias the immune reaction toward a protective anti-inflammatory cytokine response. However, estrogen treatment at the onset of active EAE failed to reduce disease severity, a result that is consistent with the hypothesis that naive cells are more sensitive to sex hormones than differentiated effector cells. These data suggest that treatment with low doses of estrogen can reduce the capacity of developing myelin-reactive T cells to initiate disease and challenges the idea that increased susceptibility to autoimmunity in females is dependent on homeostatic levels of estrogen.
Compiler-assisted architectural support for program code integrity monitoring in application-specific instruction set processors

(ASIPs) are being increasingly used in mobile embedded systems, the ubiquitous networking connections have exposed these systems under various malicious security attacks, which may alter the program code running on the systems. In addition, soft errors in microprocessors can also change program code and result in system malfunction. At the instruction level, all code modifications are manifested as bit flips. In this work, we present a generalized methodology for monitoring code integrity at run-time in ASIPs, where both the instruction set architecture (ISA) and the underlying microarchitecture can be customized for a particular application domain. Based on the microoperation-based monitoring architecture that we have presented in previous work, we propose a compiler-assisted and application-controlled management approach for the monitoring architecture. Experimental results show that compared with the OS-managed scheme and other compiler-assisted schemes, our approach can detect program code integrity compromises with much less performance degradation.
Modeling the term structure of interest rates: A new approach☆

Abstract The term structure of interest rates is modeled as a random field with conditional volatility. Random field models allow consistency with the current shape of the term structure without the need for recalibration. However, most such models are Gaussian, with no conditional volatility. State-dependent volatility is introduced while a key property of Gaussian random field models is retained. Each forward rate is part of a low-dimensional diffusion process, simplifying estimation and derivatives pricing. The modeling approach also implies that, in general, the set of zero coupon bonds does not complete the market, and term structure derivatives cannot always be priced by arbitrage.
Acid efflux from retinal glial cells generated by sodium bicarbonate cotransport

Sodium bicarbonate cotransport was studied in freshly dissociated Muller cells of the salamander retina. Variations in intracellular and extracellular pH evoked extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o were recorded. Intracellular pH was measured by standard ratio imaging of the pH-sensitive dye BCECF, whereas extracellular pH was monitored by imaging BCECF fixed to coverslips under dissociated cells. Increasing [K+]o from 2.5 to 50 mM resulted in an intracellular alkalinization. The rate of alkalinization, 0.047 pH units/min, was reduced to 42% of control when HEPES was substituted for HCO3- and was reduced to 36% of control by the addition of 0.5 mM DIDS, a Na+/HCO3- cotransport blocker. The K(+)-evoked alkalinization was Cl(-)- independent and was not substantially reduced by amiloride or bumetanide. Increasing [K+]o to 50 mM also produced a rapid extracellular acidification, 0.01 to 0.05 pH units in amplitude. HEPES substitution and addition of 0.5 mM DIDS reduced the acidification to 7– 8% of control, respectively. These results confirm the presence of a Na+/HCO3- cotransport system in salamander Muller cells and provide definitive evidence that glial cells can generate an extracellular acidification when [K+]o is increased. The K(+)-evoked extracellular acidification measured beneath cell endfeet was 304% of the amplitude of the acidification beneath cell somata, confirming that cotransporter sites are preferentially localized to the endfoot. The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor benzolamide (2 x 10(-5) M), which is poorly membrane permeant, increased the K(+)-evoked extracellular acidification to 269% of control, demonstrating that salamander Muller cells possess extracellular carbonic anhydrase.
Cancer cell migration: integrated roles of matrix mechanics and transforming potential

Significant progress has been achieved toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underlie breast cancer progression; yet, much less is known about the associated cellular biophysical traits. To this end, we use time-lapsed confocal microscopy to investigate the interplay among cell motility, three-dimensional (3D) matrix stiffness, matrix architecture, and transforming potential in a mammary epithelial cell (MEC) cancer progression series. We use a well characterized breast cancer progression model where human-derived MCF10A MECs overexpress either ErbB2, 14-3-3ζ, or both ErbB2 and 14-3-3ζ, with empty vector as a control. Cell motility assays showed that MECs overexpressing ErbB2 alone exhibited notably high migration speeds when cultured atop two-dimensional (2D) matrices, while overexpression of 14-3-3ζ alone most suppressed migration atop 2D matrices (as compared to non-transformed MECs). Our results also suggest that co-overexpression of the 14-3-3ζ and ErbB2 proteins facilitates cell migratory capacity in 3D matrices, as reflected in cell migration speed. Additionally, 3D matrices of sufficient stiffness can significantly hinder the migratory ability of partially transformed cells, but increased 3D matrix stiffness has a lesser effect on the aggressive migratory behavior exhibited by fully transformed cells that co-overexpress both ErbB2 and 14-3-3ζ. Finally, this study shows that for MECs possessing partial or full transforming potential, those overexpressing ErbB2 alone show the greatest sensitivity of cell migration speed to matrix architecture, while those overexpressing 14-3-3ζ alone exhibit the least sensitivity to matrix architecture. Given the current knowledge of breast cancer mechanobiology, these findings overall suggest that cell motility is governed by a complex interplay between matrix mechanics and transforming potential.
Modeling of helix reversal defects in polytetrafluoroethylene: II. Molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular mechanics and dynamics simulations have been utilized to probe the nature of helix reversal activity in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The results of the simulations indicated that helix reversals do form and migrate in PTFE crystals. At low and intermediate temperatures, the most important defect structure was a helix reversal band: two helix reversals which bracket a small chain segment having the opposite helical sense from the parent molecule. The size of this reversal band defect was equal to approximately half of the helical repeat unit in the low and intermediate temperature phases. In the high temperature phase where intermolecular effects are diminished, a wider distribution of reversal band sizes was observed during the simulations. The impact of helix reversal activity on rotational disorder was also examined. In addition to the rotational disorder created by the presence and motion of helix reversals, a mechanism was identified by which significant reorientation of a chain segment (having the same helical sense as the host chain) about the molecular axis can occur when it is bracketed by two helix reversal bands.
Treatment Under the World's Largest X-Ray Tube, A Rare Photo and Glimpse Into the Past.

These words were printed on the back of the photo: “Success of experiments with the World’s Largest X-Ray Tube has been so marked that the construction on a duplicate has begun. The new one will be turned over to the Medical Board for its exclusive use in further pursuing its experiments on the treatment of tumors in human beings. Both tubes, operating on a regular voltage of 600,000, yet capable of withstanding potentials as high as 1,000,000 volts, constitute the greatest adjunct to medical science available at this time, each being equivalent to the rays produced by $10,000,000 worth of Radium. The above photo illustrates the method of treatment under the World’s Largest X-Ray Tube. 3/19/ 1931” The photo is part of the Vintage X-ray Museum’s photo collection on the history of radiation and X rays and illustrates the “state of the art” in research, development, and therapy in the earliest stages of the field of radiation oncology. The author and owner of the photo is Daniel O. Cuscela, DO, a board certified radiation oncologist participating and teaching as associate professor at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida, as well as principal curator of the Vintage X-ray Museum, a not-forprofit historical museum registered with the state of Florida. More information and historical references can be found at: www.vintagexraymuseum.org.
Understanding the Performance Drivers of Conscious Firms

This note responds to Chong Wang's article, “Conscious Capitalism Firms: Do They Behave as Their Proponents Say?” (in this issue of California Management Review) that sets out to test certain conjectures regarding the financial performance and the drivers of that performance for so-called “conscious capitalism” firms. It provides an update of our current thinking on the drivers of performance and describes the kind of analysis that is needed to better understand these drivers. It also presents a set of hypotheses that need to be tested by future research.
Anesthetic Considerations of Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis in an Elderly Man With Orthopedic Trauma.

Introduction: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by progressive asymmetric extremity weakness, oropharyngeal dysphagia, and the potential for exaggerated sensitivity to neuromuscular blockers and respiratory compromise. The authors describe their management of a patient with IBM undergoing urgent orthopedic surgery. Case Presentation: An 81-year-old man with IBM suffered a left intertrochanteric femoral fracture after falling down stairs. His IBM caused progressive left proximal lower extremity, bilateral distal upper extremity weakness (left > right), and oropharyngeal dysphagia (solid food, pills). He denied dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and a history of aspiration. Because respiratory insufficiency resulting from diaphragmatic dysfunction and prolonged duration of action of neuromuscular blockers may occur in IBM, the authors avoided using a neuromuscular blocker. After applying cricoid pressure, anesthesia was induced using intravenous lidocaine, propofol, remifentanil followed by manual ventilation with inhaled sevoflurane in oxygen. Endotracheal intubation was accomplished without difficulty; anesthesia was then maintained using remifentanil and sevoflurane. The fracture was repaired with a trochanteric femoral nail. The patient was extubated without difficulty and made an uneventful recovery. Conclusions: In summary, there is a lack of consensus about the use of neuromuscular blockers in patients with IBM. The authors avoided these drugs and were able to easily secure the patient’s airway and maintain adequate muscle relaxation using a balanced sevofluraneremifentanil anesthetic. Clinical trials are necessary to define the pharmacology of neuromuscular blockers in patients with IBM and determine whether use of these drugs contributes to postoperative respiratory insufficiency in these vulnerable patients.
The Investigation of Hypoglycaemia during Childhood

The purpose of this review is to provide a practical basis for the laboratory investigation of hypoglycaemia during childhood. Reference is made to aetiology and treatment but the reader interested in a fuller account of these aspects will find several good existing review articles.lr! The fasting newborn and young child demonstrate a high glucose utilization rate per kilogramme body weight relative to adult requirements.v' In addition, infantile glycogen stores are quickly depleted and the young child's comparatively small muscle mass" provides only a limited supply of gluconeogenic precursors. These conditions make the infant particularly vulnerable to developing hypoglycaemia from various causes and, consequently, hypoglycaemia in childhood is relatively common. In the older child the frequency for admission to hospital with hypoglycaemia is approximately one in 500 hospital admissions." The incidence in the well grown term neonate is approximately one in 200 live births" and although it is difficult to assess accurately, hypoglycaemia is even more common in the small for gestational age newborn. In order to avoid the long-term neurological damage which may occur when the developing brain is deprived of glucose for even short periods, the clinician and the laboratory need to have agreed, in advance, a clearly defined protocol to deal effectively with these patients.
Black-Figure vases in the collection of the British School at Athens

Although some of the black-figure vases presented here were studied by Beazley and others, many are published for the first time. This article provides a summary of the collection followed by a catalogue of the objects by fabric and shape, and an illustration of each piece. The fabrics include Athenian, Corinthian, Boeotian and Euboean. A wide range of shapes, styles and iconographic themes are represented. An appendix of largely unpublished Athenian black-figure from the site of Kynosarges, excavated by the BSA (1896–7), appears at the end.
Formal and Perceived Leadership Power in U.S. State Legislatures

While there is a growing literature on the factors linked to the power held by leaders in state legislatures, the complexity of leadership power as a concept makes assessing it difficult. The author demonstrates that measures of formal leadership power derived from the written rules are uncorrelated with survey measures capturing legislators' own assessments of their leader's strength. These differences have practical importance, with each type of measure yielding different substantive findings in models predicting leadership power.
Arterial Applanation Tonometry: Feasibility and Reproducibility in Children and Adolescents

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Western societies.1 The Bogalusa and the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth studies demonstrated that pathological changes of atherosclerosis begin in some children in the first decade of life.2,3 Obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia are additive modifiable risk factors as these children reach adulthood.3 It has been widely recognized that carotid–femoral or aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are markers of vascular health and, consequently, of cardiovascular outcome in the adult population.4,5 In children, PWV has been assessed in many conditions, such as obesity,6 chronic renal failure,7,8 hyperlipidemia,9 Kawasaki disease,10 and diabetes mellitus,11–13 as a marker of vascular health. Traditional endpoints such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and mortality used in adult clinical trials are not suitable to assess the effect of intervention or treatment in pediatric cohorts. More recently, arterial applanation tonometry has been used as a primary outcome in pediatric clinical trials.14 There are strict established measurement criteria for quality and reproducibility purposes in the adult population, whereas standardization of arterial tonometry in the pediatric population has not been studied. Many investigators have reported good reproducibility of PWV and AIx measurements within the same visit.15,16 There are limited data on intervisit reproducibility of PWV or AIx in the pediatric population. By assessing the feasibility and intervisit reproducibility of this technology in a group of healthy children and adolescents, we sought to contribute to the design and methodology of clinical studies using PWV or AIx as an outcome variable in children and adolescents.
Thermophysical Properties of Ni Films for LIGA Microsystems

This work reports temperature dependent thermophysical properties characterization of electrodeposited Ni and NiMn alloys intended for LIGA Microsystems applications. A steady-state method is used to determine the in-plane thermal conductivity. Anisotropic thermal diffusivity characterization is performed using a photothermoelectric technique. The measured thermal properties are dependent on the deposition method and also on subsequent temperature annealing steps. The thermal transport measurement results are correlated with scanning electron microscopy studies of the grain structure and measurements of the electrical transport properties.
Management of intracranial pathology during pregnancy: Case example and review of management strategies.

Background: Intracranial tumors during pregnancy are uncommon, and they present an interesting challenge to both the neurosurgeon and the obstetrician. Special considerations must be made in every aspect of care. The authors use the rare case of a 27-year-old pregnant female with suspected pineal region tumor eventually diagnosed as a thalamic region ganglioglioma to review the current literature on management of pathology in this unique patient population. Case Description: A 27-year-old female who was 26 weeks pregnant presented to her obstetrician with complaints of headaches, blurriness of vision, and left-sided numbness and tingling. She was diagnosed with 1-cm mass in the pineal region and obstructive hydrocephalus. She initially underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy with biopsy of what appeared grossly to be a thalamic mass. The child was delivered via cesarean section at 39 weeks. Serial postpartum imaging demonstrated increasing tumor size and enhancement, which led the authors to proceed with subtotal resection via a supracerebellar infratentorial approach with stereotactic neuronavigation. Tissue specimens obtained for pathological analysis resulted in a revised diagnosis of World Health Organization (WHO) grade II ganglioglioma. Conclusions: Pregnancy presents a challenge for any patient requiring neurosurgical intervention. We present an interesting case example with a rare central nervous system neoplasm and discuss the management of intracranial pathology in pregnant patients.
The importance of ‘mountain top experiences’ in discovering self

This paper begins a discussion of the importance of moments of inspiration, or as they are commonly called ‘mountain top experiences’, in the development of the Self, as defined by Annemarie Roeper...
Design and Implementation of Multimedia Courseware Management System

To enhance the students,study effect,Net technology and a 3-level systems structures,were used to develop a multi-media courseware.Its design principle and idea were analyzed,its platform,database design,function and network topologic structure were analyzed.Also the implementation of the system was denoted,key codes were provided,the courseware development is beneficial for raising the students study enthusiasm and improving teacherss teaching level.
Laser speckle contrast imaging is sensitive to advective flux

Unlike laser Doppler flowmetry, there has yet to be presented a clear description of the physical variables that laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is sensitive to. Herein, we present a theoretical basis for demonstrating that LSCI is sensitive to total flux and, in particular, the summation of diffusive flux and advective flux. We view LSCI from the perspective of mass transport and briefly derive the diffusion with drift equation in terms of an LSCI experiment. This equation reveals the relative sensitivity of LSCI to both diffusive flux and advective flux and, thereby, to both concentration and the ordered velocity of the scattering particles. We demonstrate this dependence through a short series of flow experiments that yield relationships between the calculated speckle contrast and the concentration of the scatterers (manifesting as changes in scattering coefficient), between speckle contrast and the velocity of the scattering fluid, and ultimately between speckle contrast and advective flux. Finally, we argue that the diffusion with drift equation can be used to support both Lorentzian and Gaussian correlation models that relate observed contrast to the movement of the scattering particles and that a weighted linear combination of these two models is likely the most appropriate model for relating speckle contrast to particle motion.
An IoT Application: Health Care System with Android Devices

With more and more widespread use of The Internet of Things (IoT), many industries, including health care industry, are being revolutionized in gathering and analyzing the data using IoT. In this article, we develop an IoT system that is capable of measuring saturation peripheral oxygen and pulse rate, and sending them to cloud side server. The development includes Amazon cloud server set-up and Android app development. The server is used for data storage, manipulation, analysis and access. The Android app is for device data collection, working as a bridge between the measuring devices and cloud side server. The advantage of this IoT system is specified and the future promising of this technology is analyzed.
Dynein light chain DLC-1 promotes localization and function of the PUF protein FBF-2 in germline progenitor cells

PUF family translational repressors are conserved developmental regulators, but the molecular function provided by the regions flanking the PUF RNA-binding domain is unknown. In C. elegans, the PUF proteins FBF-1 and FBF-2 support germline progenitor maintenance by repressing production of meiotic proteins and use distinct mechanisms to repress their target mRNAs. We identify dynein light chain DLC-1 as an important regulator of FBF-2 function. DLC-1 directly binds to FBF-2 outside of the RNA-binding domain and promotes FBF-2 localization and function. By contrast, DLC-1 does not interact with FBF-1 and does not contribute to FBF-1 activity. Surprisingly, we find that the contribution of DLC-1 to FBF-2 activity is independent of the dynein motor. Our findings suggest that PUF protein localization and activity are mediated by sequences flanking the RNA-binding domain that bind specific molecular partners. Furthermore, these results identify a new role for DLC-1 in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
Fractures of the Neck of the Femur in Childhood: John C. Wilson, Sr., MD (1888–1957) The 7th President of the AAOS 1938

John Cree Wilson, Sr, was born in Santa Ana, California, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of California in 1908 and medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1912 [2]. He had a one year internship, then entered private practice, but apparently believed he needed more training and in 1916 quit his private practice for postgraduate training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed that training, then served in military hospital at Fort McPherson, Georgia, when the US entered WW I. Following discharge he moved to Los Angeles, working at the Los Angeles General Hospital and then the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He became Chief of the Orthopaedic Division at the Children’s Hospital, a post he retained until 1955.
Cancer therapy: The leukaemia epigenome targeted.

Modification of methyl groups attached to DNA alters gene expression, and mutations that deregulate this methylation are common in some leukaemias. Drugs that target aberrant methylation are emerging as promising therapeutics.
Interactive network visualization in Jupyter notebooks: visJS2jupyter.

Motivation Network biology is widely used to elucidate mechanisms of disease and biological processes. The ability to interact with biological networks is important for hypothesis generation and to give researchers an intuitive understanding of the data. We present visJS2jupyter, a tool designed to embed interactive networks in Jupyter notebooks to streamline network analysis and to promote reproducible research. Results The tool provides functions for performing and visualizing useful network operations in biology, including network overlap, network propagation around a focal set of genes, and co-localization of two sets of seed genes. visJS2jupyter uses the JavaScript library vis.js to create interactive networks displayed within Jupyter notebook cells with features including drag, click, hover, and zoom. We demonstrate the functionality of visJS2jupyter applied to a biological question, by creating a network propagation visualization to prioritize risk-related genes in autism. Availability and implementation The visJS2jupyter package is distributed under the MIT License. The source code, documentation and installation instructions are freely available on GitHub at https://github.com/ucsd-ccbb/visJS2jupyter. The package can be downloaded at https://pypi.python.org/pypi/visJS2jupyter. Contact sbrosenthal@ucsd.edu. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Do interactive learning spaces increase student achievement? A comparison of classroom context:

Research on interactive learning space classrooms has reported that instructors and students find them engaging, and engagement is expected to increase learning outcomes. Positive findings about in...
Time-Frequency Analysis of Increases in Vaginal Blood Perfusion Elicited by Long-Duration Pudendal Neuromodulation in Anesthetized Rats.

Objectives Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) affects a significant portion of the population. Although treatment options for FSD are limited, neuromodulation for bladder dysfunction has improved sexual function in some women. A few studies have investigated peripheral neuromodulation for eliciting changes in vaginal blood flow, as a proxy for modulating genital sexual arousal, however results are generally transient. Our central hypothesis is that repeated or extended-duration pudendal nerve stimulation can elicit maintained vaginal blood flow increases. Materials and Methods Under ketamine anesthesia, the pudendal nerve of 14 female rats was stimulated at varying frequencies (1–100 Hz) and durations (0.15–60 min). Vaginal blood perfusion was measured with a laser Doppler flowmetry probe. Changes in blood perfusion were determined through raw signal analysis and increases in the energy of neurogenic (0.076–0.200 Hz) and myogenic (0.200–0.740 Hz) frequency bands through wavelet analysis. Additionally, a convolution model was developed for a carry-over stimulation effect. Results Each experiment had significant increases in vaginal blood perfusion due to pudendal nerve stimulation. In addition, there were large concurrent increases in neurogenic and myogenic frequency-band energy in 11/14 experiments, with an average maximal response at 31.3 min after stimulation initiation. An effective stimulation model with a 30-min carry-over effect had a stronger correlation to blood perfusion than the stimulation period itself. Conclusions Repeated or extended-duration pudendal nerve stimulation can elicit maintained increases in vaginal blood perfusion. This work indicates the potential for pudendal neuromodulation as a method for increasing genital arousal as a potential treatment for FSD.
A Practical Approach to Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Using the T Cell Receptor Excision Circle Assay

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a life-threatening condition of newborns and infants caused by defects in genes involved in T cell development. Newborn screening (NBS) for SCID using the T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) assay began in Wisconsin in 2008 and has been adopted or is being implemented by all states in 2017. It has been established that NBS using the TREC assay is extremely sensitive to detect SCID in the newborn period. Some controversies remain regarding how screening positives are handled by individual states, including when to perform confirmatory flow cytometry, what is the necessary diagnostic workup of patients, what infection prophylaxis measures should be taken, and when hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should occur. In addition, the TREC can also assay detect infants with T cell lymphopenia who are not severe enough to be considered SCID; management of these infants is also evolving.
Rhyme without Reason

If you associate with academics who discuss the arts — the professor critics, interpreters, aestheticians, and assorted cultural deep thinkers on campus — you will meet one of their major products: nonsense on stilts. I learned the phrase “nonsense on stilts” from Paul Ziff, who learned it from reading the works of Jeremy Bentham. Ziff isn’t timid about using this phrase in connection with aesthetics or any other area of philosophy. It fits his irreverent attitude towards intellectual matters generally. For him, there simply are no precious ideas or sacred books, including his own. He is severe with all ideas. The typical aesthetician (or beautician, as Ziff likes to call them) is at the other end of the spectrum: indulgent as can be with ideas. A master, one might say, of the uncritical attitude.
Scalable machine learning computing a data summarization matrix with a parallel array DBMS

Big data analytics requires scalable (beyond RAM limits) and highly parallel (exploiting many CPU cores) processing of machine learning models, which in general involve heavy matrix manipulation. Array DBMSs represent a promising system to manipulate large matrices. With that motivation in mind, we present a high performance system exploiting a parallel array DBMS to evaluate a general, but compact, matrix summarization that benefits many machine learning models. We focus on two representative models: linear regression (supervised) and PCA (unsupervised). Our approach combines data summarization inside the parallel DBMS with further model computation in a mathematical language (e.g. R). We introduce a two-phase algorithm which first computes a general data summary in parallel and then evaluates matrix equations with reduced intermediate matrices in main memory on one node. We present theory results characterizing speedup and time/space complexity. From a parallel data system perspective, we consider scale-up and scale-out in a shared-nothing architecture. In contrast to most big data analytic systems, our system is based on array operators programmed in C++, working directly on the Unix file system instead of Java or Scala running on HDFS mounted of top of Unix, resulting in much faster processing. Experiments compare our system with Spark (parallel) and R (single machine), showing orders of magnitude time improvement. We present parallel benchmarks varying number of threads and processing nodes. Our two-phase approach should motivate analysts to exploit a parallel array DBMS for matrix summarization.
Original Research: Beliefs and Attitudes of Middle Aged Lesbians About Hysterectomy

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the beliefs and attitudes of lesbians aged 30–65 years regarding hysterectomy. Design: This qualitative study comprised 12 lesbians in three focus groups, utilizing a semistructured guided discussion technique based on qualitative application of Multiattribute Utility Theory. Participants were chosen to represent various stages of decision making, and women who had undergone a hysterectomy were excluded from the study. Setting: All sessions were conducted in a Houston health clinic serving the lesbian community. Measurements: Transcripts were analyzed using Nonnumerical Unstructured Data Indexing Searching and Theorizing (NUD*IST). Results: Major categories, comprising multiple themes, were perceived outcomes of hysterectomy, help-seeking, and experiences with the physician or with the medical establishment. The lesbians in the study revealed both positive and negative outcomes of hysterectomy on sexuality. Loss associated with hysterectomy was perceived as physical, emotional, and ontological. Partner support emerged as a salient outcome. There were varying attitudes toward the use of hormone replacement following hysterectomy. For the lesbians, being in charge of decisions concerning their bodies was crucial, and they would seek information from a number of sources, including two or more physicians, before making a decision regarding hysterectomy. Although the women reported negative experiences with physicians, these experiences were not related to the physician's gender or sexual orientation. Conclusion: While being sensitive to the needs of lesbian patients, physicians also must keep in mind that hysterectomy is an individual decision.