cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
23 Complement in SLE

The complement system and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been intertwined for nearly 70 years. Complement consumption secondary to increased turnover was an early salient observation. Autoantibodies to nuclear materials forming immune complexes were likely mediating tissue damage. A second and fascinating observation was that a complete deficiency of C1q, C4 or C2 predisposed to SLE. These two key findings have been the heart of lupus-related complement research over the next 50 years. Complement as a biomarker A major more recent goal here has been to explore complement’s activating fragments; namely, fluid phase split products and cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPS). The hope here was to provide more sensitive and specific biomarkers to monitor disease activity. A thorough review of these data was recently published.1 While both split products and CB-CAPS show promise, there remain issues in demonstrating clinical superiority to standard serum C4 and C3. Limitations that commonly arise relate to the complex methodology, availability and interpretation. Complement in etiopathogenesis The underlying hypothesis has been that complement is required for the proper handling of nuclear debris and thereby prevent an inappropriate autoimmune response. This arena remains a work in progress, but several informative studies have recently been published:2–5 In my comments, I will highlight several issues: A) the deficiency story; B) C3b instructing how the opsonic material is processed; C) Evidence that the C4A gene regulates autoreactive B cells in murine lupus; D) C4A gene as a major player in sex-biased vulnerability in SLE; and E) Discovery of an intracellular complement system. Complement therapeutics Rare genetic variants in complement regulators have been identified in aHUS and C3G and successfully treated with anti-C5 mAbs. This therapeutic development along with the discovery of rare variants in age-related macular degeneration have ignited the field of complement therapeutics. Learning Objectives Describe the long history of the complement system’s interactions with lupus for the lupologist Advances in defining the role of ‘complement’ as a biomarker for lupus Discuss recent advances understanding how complement deficiency predisposes to SLE References Weinstein A, Alexander RV, Zack DJ. A review of complement activation in SLE. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2021;23(3):16. Kamitaki N, Sekar A, Handsaker RE, et al. Complement genes contribute sex-biased vulnerability in diverse disorders. Nature. 2020;582(7813):577–81. Simoni L, Presumey J, van der Poel CE, et al. Complement C4A regulates autoreactive B cells in murine lupus. Cell Rep. 2020;33(5):108330. Sorbara MT, Foerster EG, Tsalikis J, et al. Complement C3 drives autophagy-dependent restriction of cyto-invasive bacteria. Cell Host Microbe. 2018;23(5):644–52 e5. Baudino L, Sardini A, Ruseva MM, et al. C3 opsonization regulates endocytic handling of apoptotic cells resulting in enhanced T-cell responses to cargo-derived antigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014;111(4):1503–8.
Dermatology in the Aging Man

Care of the aging man is not complete without expert dermatologic care. Skin problems, ranging from skin cancers to dermatoses, are extremely common with age, and some common problems, such as photoaging, are more prominent in men. Men are increasingly seeking cosmetic treatments, mostly procedures with fast recovery times.
Boxwood: abstractions as the foundation for storage infrastructure

Writers of complex storage applications such as distributed file systems and databases are faced with the challenges of building complex abstractions over simple storage devices like disks. These challenges are exacerbated due to the additional requirements for fault-tolerance and scaling. This paper explores the premise that high-level, fault-tolerant abstractions supported directly by the storage infrastructure can ameliorate these problems. We have built a system called Boxwood to explore the feasibility and utility of providing high-level abstractions or data structures as the fundamental storage infrastructure. Boxwood currently runs on a small cluster of eight machines. The Boxwood abstractions perform very close to the limits imposed by the processor, disk, and the native networking subsystem. Using these abstractions directly, we have implemented an NFSv2 file service that demonstrates the promise of our approach.
Managing a Global Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities in International Human Resource Management

Revised and updated to incorporate new research insights and findings, Managing a Global Workforce provides balanced and contemporary coverage of human resource management in the international marketplace. Directed at future general managers and international executives rather than HR specialists, it is designed to help readers recognize the critical human resource issues underlying the cultural and economic challenges they face. The book's approach is truly global in nature, not just focused on expatriates from the home office. The authors also recognize contemporary trends in the global business arena, including the growing use of contingent workers, strategic alliances, and the need to have an active influence on the workers in these new organizational relationships. Reader-friendly tools, including an opening case scenario in each chapter to attract interest and emphasize topic importance, enhance the book's practical, real-world emphasis. For this edition new end-of-chapter short cases as well as new topics, ideas, and illustrations featuring current issues and challenges such as the global economic challenge have been added; and updated Internet resource references are provided for each chapter.
Efficacy of floor control protocols in distributed multimedia collaboration

Distributed multipoint applications for group interaction across wide-area networks, such as for simulation and telecollaboration, are becoming increasingly popular. While reliable multicasting has made significant advances in recent years, effective mechanisms to synchronize and coordinate work within large multicast groups and across long distances are still lacking. Synchronous sharing of resources, whose operational semantics prohibits parallel usage, typically creates race conditions among users, which can be resolved through an access discipline called floor control. Existing solutions on floor control, implemented either at the session or application layer, are mostly proprietary, limited in scope and not scalable. Furthermore, no performance comparison of floor control protocols has been attempted to date. We present a novel taxonomy and comparative performance analysis of known classes of floor control protocols, ranging from socially mediated control to protocols operating on ring and tree topologies. We find that aggregation and selective transmission of control information in a tree structure is the most promising solution with regard to scalability, efficacy, and robustness. The principal operation of such a tree protocol is outlined, which dynamically organizes participants in a multi-level control tree and aggregates resource sharing directives on the paths between interacting stations.
Measurements of lithium flow with an EM flow meter in LIMITS

A simple electromagnetic flow meter was constructed and used in the one-inch thick-walled 316 L stainless steel tubing (20.6 mm i.d.) of LIMITS, an experimental lithium flow loop at Sandia National Laboratories. (A parallel paper in this conference by Tanaka et al describes LIMITS.) The flow meter uses a pair of NdFeB permanent magnets (57.2 mmW /spl times/ 48.3 mmD /spl times/ 76.2 mmH) mounted on an iron yoke producing a field of about 0.5 Tesla. This paper describes the field measurements, calibration and use of the flow meter in experiments with flowing lithium. Initial calibration of the meter was done as lithium was moved using gas pressure from a transfer tank to the lithium furnace. In this calibration, we monitored the signal from the flow meter and the signal from a previously uncalibrated level meter in the lithium furnace. The reference for the calibration was the change in weight of the transfer tank, which we measured using a set of load cells under the sled supporting the tank. The flow meter signal ranged from 0 to about 6 mV for flow speeds of 0 to about 1 m/s. There was, as expected, some noise with the mV signal, but use of a running average essentially eliminated the noise. The signal was quite linear with flow as judged by the correspondence between the integrated flow signal and the weight of lithium transferred. We also have used the flow meter in lithium flow experiments in LIMITS and these data and the calibration procedure will be reported in the paper. Among the observed effects during the flow tests was a difficulty in interpreting the signal whenever vibration of stainless steel tubing occurred due to the (usually smooth running) pump or changes in the valve positions, for example, opening a valve with the pump running.
Sound Velocities in Solid hcp H 2 and D 2

We report in summary fashion the results of a systematic study of transverse (v t ) and longitudinal (v t ,) sound velocities in solid hep H2 and D2. This research was carried out in the temperature range between 1.25 and 20°K on crystals grown with several orientations with respect to the sound propagation direction and at pressures up to about 200 bar. The crystals had various ortho-para ratios, and we have labeled them by the mole fraction X of molecules having a rotational angular momentum J = l (ortho-H2 or para-D2), the rest having J = 0. The sample chamber and the velocity measurement technique have been described previously.1
Free Trade and Tobacco: Thank You for Not Smoking (Foreign) Cigarettes

This paper examines some of the perceived tensions between free trade and regulation of tobacco for health purposes and concludes that most of the concerns about trade and investment agreements undermining domestic regulation are unfounded and that special rules for tobacco are unnecessary. Free trade itself does not raise national sovereignty concerns, nor does it interfere with domestic policymaking to any significant degree. Although there may be valid concerns about some of the more recent additions to trade and investment agreements (i.e., rules that go beyond fighting protectionism), the core of these rules constrains domestic regulation only to the extent that such regulation discriminates against imports and does not preclude legitimate domestic policymaking.
A laboratory investigation of signal indications for protected left turns.

The major objective of this research was to investigate and compare driver comprehension and understanding of different types of left-turn signal clearance indications for protected left turns. Forty subjects, male and female drivers, were tested. The test utilized color slides and color motion-picture film segments to present the subject with both steady and flashing left-turn signal indications. After each presentation of a signal indication, the subject responded by pressing one of three answer buttons. Accuracy and reaction times of each response were recorded. The results of this investigation recommended that three signal sequences be field tested as they conveyed their intended messages to the subjects more efficiently than the remaining eleven. The results also indicated that none of the three flashing signals tested proved to be effective. /AUTHOR/
Challenges in making a seismic hazard map for Alaska and the Aleutians

We present a summary of the data and analyses leading to the revision of the time-independent probabilistic seismic hazard maps of Alaska and the Aleutians. These maps represent a revision of existing maps based on newly obtained data, and reflect best current judgments about methodology and approach. They have been prepared following the procedures and assumptions made in the preparation of the 2002 National Seismic Hazard Maps for the lower 48 States, and will be proposed for adoption in future revisions to the International Building Code. We present example maps for peak ground acceleration, 0.2 s spectral amplitude (SA), and 1.0 s SA at a probability level of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404). In this summary, we emphasize issues encountered in preparation of the maps that motivate or require future investigation and research.
A ROSAT Bright Source Catalog Survey with the Swift Satellite

We consider the prospects for a complete survey of the 18,811 sources of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalog (BSC) with NASA's Swift gamma-ray burst (GRB) mission. By observing each BSC source for 500 s with the satellite's imaging X-ray and UV/optical telescopes, this "Swift Bright (Source) Catalog Survey" (Swift-BCS) would derive ~20 mCrab, 10-100 keV) with the wide-field Burst Alert Telescope (BAT); and a two-year all-sky BAT survey down to >~1 mCrab. The resulting expansion of the catalog of identified X-ray sources from 2000 to 18,000 will provide a greatly-enriched set of targets for observation by XMM-Newton, Chandra, and future high-energy observatories.
Survivor curves for Leptospira autumnalis Akiyami A based on most-probable-number values.

The validity of survivor curves for Leptospira autumnalis Akiyami A based on most-probable-number values is supported by the following observations: (i) linear regression lines fell within most of the 95% confidence intervals; (ii) linear correlation coefficients (r) were consistently high (i.e., near -1); and (iii) statistical tests for goodness of fit usually accepted the linear model. These tests are consistent with an exponential death rate for the test organism in defined solutions. The influence of temperature and pH on survival was demonstrated by showing a statistically significant difference in survivor curve slopes.
Medical management of diabetic retinopathy

Hyperglycemia, through several complex physiologic mechanisms, is thought to be the principal cause of the microvascular damage seen in diabetic retinopathy (DR) [1, 2]. Consequently, several studies have demonstrated the importance of maintaining a normal or near-normal glycemic status in patients with DR [3–6]. Additionally, there are data suggesting that hypertension, a common comorbidity with diabetes mellitus, may exacerbate the microvascular damage caused by hyperglycemia [7].
Health‐related quality of life of adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors

Objective Our aim was to expand research on predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors who are not living independently by evaluating the mediating role of family functioning in the association of disease severity/treatment late effects with survivor self-report and caregiver-proxy report of physical and emotional HRQOL. Methods Mothers (N = 186) and their survivors living at home (N = 126) completed self-report and caregiver-proxy report of physical and emotional HRQOL. Mothers completed family functioning measures of general family functioning, caregiving demands, and caregiver distress. Medical file review and caregiver report were used to evaluate disease severity/treatment late effects. Results Using structural equation models, family functioning was adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Disease severity/treatment late effects had significant direct effects on self-report and caregiver-proxy report of physical and emotional HRQOL. Family functioning had a significant direct effect on caregiver-proxy report of physical and emotional HRQOL, but these findings were not confirmed for self-report HRQOL. Model-fit indices suggested good fit of the models, but the mediation effect of family functioning was not supported. Conclusions Disease severity/treatment late effects explained self-report and caregiver-proxy report of physical and emotional HRQOL for these adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors. Family functioning was implicated as an important factor for caregiver-proxy report only. To enhance physical and emotional HRQOL, findings underscore the importance of coordinated, multidisciplinary follow-up care for the survivors who are not living independently and their families to address treatment late effects and support family management. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Guardianship and residential burglary

Guardianship is a key element in the routine activities approach to understanding crime. This paper examines the effects of guardianship on residential burglary. Several features distinguish these analyses from prior work: 1) both primary and proxy guardianship are included: 2) a more direct indicator of primary guardianship is used; and 3) the effects of guardianship on both the initial risk of burglary and the probability that the crime will be completed are examined. The findings suggest that the effects of guardianship on residential burglary may have been underestimated in prior research. The analyses also show that a complete understanding of the effects of guardianship—especially proxy guardianship—on the entire burglary process will require simultaneous consideration of victimization and offending perspectives.
Sidedness of interfacial arginine residues and anti-atherogenicity of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptides.

To test the hypothesis that sidedness of interfacial arginine (Arg) in apoA-I mimetic peptides, similar to that observed in apoA-I (Bashtovyy, D. et al. 2011. Sequence conservation of apolipoprotein A-I affords novel insights into HDL structure-function. J. Lipid Res. 52: 435–450.), may be important for biological activity, we compared properties of 4F and analogs, [K4,15>R]4F and [K9,13>R]4F, with Lys>Arg substitutions on the right and left side, respectively, of the 4F amphipathic helix. Intraperitoneal administration of these peptides into female apoE null mice (n = 13 in each group) reduced en face lesions significantly compared with controls; 4F and [K4,15>R]4F were equally effective whereas [K9,13>R]4F was less effective. Turnover experiments indicated that [K4,15>R]4F reached the highest, whereas [K9,13>R]4F had the lowest, plasma peak levels with a similar half life as the [K4,15>R]4F analog. The half life of 4F was two times longer than the other two peptides. The order in their abilities to associate with HDL in human plasma, generation of apoA-I particles with pre-β mobility from isolated HDL, lipid associating ability, and sensitivity of lipid complexes to trypsin digestion was: 4F>[K4,15,>R]4F>[K9,13>R]4F. These studies support our hypothesis that the sidedness of interfacial Arg residues in the polar face of apoA-I mimetics results in differential biological properties.
Influence of Social and Family Contexts on Self-Esteem of Latino Youth

The study presented here examines the influence of social and family contexts on the self-esteem of Mexican (n = 287), Mexican American (n = 558), and Puerto Rican (n = 212) children. Using data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth, tests of a longitudinal path model show significant social and family effects on the cognitive stimulation and emotional support in the home environment and on academic self-esteem. However, the home environment was not predictive of child global self-esteem and thus did not support the proposed mediator hypothesis. These results indicate that socioeconomic status and family structure influence the presence of a cognitively stimulating and emotionally supportive home environment, but these aspects of the home environment do not influence the development of child self-worth and scholastic self-perception.
Quantum Theory of Non-Local Fields. Part II. Irreducible Fields and their Interaction

General properties of non-local operators are considered in connection with the problem of invariance with respect to the group of inhomogeneous Lorentz transformations. It is shown that irreducible fields can be classified by the eigenvalues of four invariant quantities. Three of these quantities can be interpreted, respectively, as the mass, radius, and magnitude of the internal angular momentum of the particles associated with the quantized non-local field in question. Further, space-time displacement operators are introduced as a particular kind of non-local operator. As a tentative method of dealing with the interaction of non-local fields, an invariant matrix is defined by the space-time integral of a certain invariant operator, which is a sum of products of non-local field operators and displacement operators. It is shown that the matrix thus constructed satisfies the requirements that it be unitary and invariant and that the matrix elements are different from zero only if the initial and final states had the same energy and momentum. However, the remaining conditions of correspondence and convergence cannot be fulfilled simultaneously, in general, by the S-matrix for the non-local fields. It is yet to be investigated whether all of these requirements are satisfied by an appropriate change in the definition of the S-matrix.
Monitoring Motor Vehicle PM Emissions: An Evaluation of Three Portable Low-Cost Aerosol Instruments

The burgeoning diversification of particulate matter (PM) emissions regulations creates the need for aerosol monitors for use in engine development, on-board PM measurement, off-road emissions testing, roadside monitoring, and other applications where conventional instruments are impractical or too costly. This work critically examines from two perspectives the performance of three small, relatively inexpensive devices, the DustTrak, Pegasor Particle Sensor, and Diffusion Size Classifier, in engine exhaust PM measurement. First, results from chassis dynamometer vehicle emissions testing reveal that all three can provide accurate PM data that correlate well with the regulatory methods for PM mass and number, but only when there is little variation in morphology and composition. Second, detailed laboratory characterizations with oil and soot aerosols are reported that elucidate how these devices respond to particle size, morphology, and composition. They show that changes in aerosol properties affect all th...
Degradable polymeric nanocapsule for efficient intracellular delivery of a high molecular weight tumor-selective protein complex

Summary The development of stimuli-responsive, nano-scale therapeutics that selectively target and attack tumors is a major research focus in cancer nanotechnology. A potent therapeutic option is to directly arming the cancer cells with apoptotic-inducing proteins that are not affected by tumoral anti-apoptotic maneuvers. The avian virus-derived apoptin forms a high-molecular weight protein complex that selectively accumulates in the nucleus of cancer cell to induce apoptotic cell death. To achieve the efficient intracellular delivery of this tumor-selective protein in functional form, we synthesized degradable, sub-100 nm, core–shell protein nanocapsules containing the 2.4 MDa apoptin complexes. Recombinant apoptin is reversibly encapsulated in a positively charged, water soluble polymer shell and is released in native form in response to reducing conditions such as the cytoplasm. As characterized by confocal microscopy, the nanocapsules are efficiently internalized by mammalian cells lines, with accumulation of rhodamine-labeled apoptin in the nuclei of cancer cells only. Intracellularly released apoptin induced tumor-specific apoptosis in several cancer cell lines and inhibited tumor growth in vivo, demonstrating the potential of this polymer–protein combination as an anticancer therapeutic.
Laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy for malignancy in 31 patients.

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignancy is controversial. We analyzed our experience with laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy for cancer with an emphasis on predictors of surgical outcome and oncological followup data.Materials and Methods:: Since July 1997, 31 patients have undergone a total of 33 laparoscopic adrenalectomies for malignancy. Mean adrenal tumor size was 5 cm (range 1.8 to 9). The laparoscopic approach was transperitoneal in 17 cases, retroperitoneal in 15 and transthoracic in 1. Data were obtained from patient charts, radiographic reports and direct telephone calls to patient families.Results:: Associated organ resection (radical nephrectomy) was performed in 3 patients. One case was electively converted to open surgery. There was no operative mortality. The pathological diagnoses were metastatic cancer in 26 cases and primary adrenal malignancy in 7. Current median followup, available on 30 patients, was 26 months (range 1 to 69). Overall 15 patients (48%) died and 16 ...
Effects of age and a divided attention task presented during encoding and retrieval on memory

The present studies were designed to examine age differences in memory when attention was divided during encoding, retrieval, or at both times. In Experiment 1, Ss studied categorized words while performing a number-monitoring task during encoding, retrieval, or at both times. Older Ss' free recall and clustering performance declined more than that of young Ss when attention was divided at encoding, but there was no similar age interaction when divided attention occurred at retrieval. In Experiment 2, the task demands at retrieval were increased by using a fast-paced, cued-recall task. The results remained unchanged from Experiment 1. Again, an age interaction occurred with divided attention at encoding but not at retrieval. These results were unexpected, given the emphasis in the memory-aging literature on increased difficulty of retrieval by older adults. The findings pose difficulties for limited processing resource views of age differences in memory.
Electrochemical Immunosensors for Detection of Cancer Protein Biomarkers

Bioanalytical methods have experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, driven in large part by the need for faster, more sensitive, more portable (“point of care”) systems to detect protein biomarkers for clinical diagnosis. Electrochemical detection strategies, used in conjunction with immunosensors, offer advantages because they are fast, simple, and low cost. Recent developments in electrochemical immunosensors have significantly improved the sensitivity needed to detect low concentrations of biomarkers present in early stages of cancer. Moreover, the coupling of electrochemical devices with nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, magnetic particles, and quantum dots, offers multiplexing capability for simultaneous measurements of multiple cancer biomarkers. This review will discuss recent advances in the development of electrochemical immunosensors for the next generation of cancer diagnostics, with an emphasis on opportunities for further improvement in cancer diagnostics a...
Electric field effect on insulating cuprate planes

We have studied field effect doping of nearly insulating $p$-type ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planes in single crystal transistor heterostructures. By using a high ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{r}$ epitaxial ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ dielectric layer, a wide range of doping control is obtained, from $\ensuremath{-}0.40$ to 0.15 $\text{carriers}∕\mathrm{Cu}$ (or $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{14}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{carriers}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$). While a considerable field effect is observed for carrier depletion, the induced holes are completely localized even up to carrier density levels far beyond the bulk insulator-to-superconductor transition value. This implies that large induced carrier density and single crystalline interface is not a sufficient condition for electric field induced insulator-to-superconductor transition for cuprates. We show that the induced carriers are almost confined to the top single ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ plane and propose that two-dimensional confinement introduces this localization. Understanding and overcoming this localization behavior is a serious challenge to any attempt to use electric field to induce superconductivity in insulating cuprates.
Coverage Error Embedded in Self-Selected Internet-Based Samples: A Case Study of Northern Indiana

The Internet is rapidly evolving as a new tool for conducting tourism research. Given known advantages, steps to examine the possible drawbacks need to be taken to verify Internet survey methods. This article focuses, in particular, on coverage error of self-selected e-samples. Based on the response to a question regarding willingness to provide contact information on the Internet, the respondents of two conventional tourism surveys were assigned to likely, somewhat likely, and not likely groups. Analyses were conducted to identify differences between these groups in terms of demographics, travel styles, travel-planning behaviors, and trip characteristics. The results indicate that Internet-based sampling procedures create a substantial potential for bias. Therefore, use of the Internet for tourism research requires substantial caution when generalizing the findings to a population that includes nonusers and self-selected nonparticipants.
A Low-Cost Surgical Application of Additive Fabrication

Objective This study was used to test the feasibility of using additive fabrication techniques 3-dimensional (3D) printing to create personalized/patient-specific hepatic 3D physical models from clinical radiology studies for surgical resident education. Design Patient-specific imaging data from either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans, in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format, were rendered and manipulated with computer software, translating the medical imaging data sets into useful 3D geometry files in stereo lithography format for 3D printing. A commercial third party was used to print the 3D models in laser sintered nylon, which provided access to expensive, industrial-grade, high-resolution 3-D printers at a low cost. Results Multiple patient-specific preoperative 3D physical models were printed of portal and hepatic venous anatomy at a cost of less than $100 per model. Conclusion Current 3D printing techniques can be used to create low-cost personalized/patient-specific hepatic 3D models from clinical radiology studies for surgical resident education.
Methodology for Determining the Variance of the Taylor Factor: Application in Fe-3%Si

A method is proposed to determine the variance of an arbitrary material property based on the statistics of the texture of polycrystalline materials for a specified volume. This method is applied to determine the variance of the Taylor factor (i.e., measure of plastic deformation in crystal plasticity) and is compared to a random sampling method. The results from the random sampling method correlated well with the statistical variance relationship when the magnitude of the variance was greater than that of the numerical errors observed in the statistical calculation. An empirical relation was also shown to model the results, and the constants for this relationship were determined for pseudothree-dimensional Fe-3 % Si. Implementation of the statistical variance relationship in true three-dimensional microstructures is not limited by material opacity, since it depends only on the two-point pair correlation functions. The connection between the variance of the R-value and variance of the Taylor factor is considered. Although only a weak connection was found, it was observed that relatively small variations in the Taylor factor yield large variances in the R-value.
Isolated Anterior Compartment Syndrome After a Bimalleolar-Equivalent Ankle Fracture in a Collegiate Football Player:

Compartment syndrome after an ankle fracture is an extremely rare and potentially devastating event. The authors report a case of an isolated anterior compartment syndrome in a college student athlete who suffered a bimalle olar ankle fracture dislocation. A review of the literature highlights the importance of vigilance when the sports medicine physician and the community orthopaedist are treating these seemingly basic orthopaedic injuries.
Interstitial pneumonitis secondary to intravesical bacillus calmette-guerin for carcinoma in-situ of the bladder

We report an 81-year-old male who developed severe interstitial pneumonitis on maintenance intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for in-situ carcinoma of the bladder. The patient was treated with steroids and anti-tuberculin therapy with complete response. While there is no established standard of care for the treatment of interstitial pneumonitis, recent reports describe success with combination of corticosteroids and anti-tuberculin medications. We elected to follow this precedent and treated our patient with corticosteroids and antituberculin therapy with good outcome.
The impact of distant metastases at presentation on prognosis in patients with differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

Background: Distant metastases at presentation are rare in well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). The objective of this study was to report outcomes for patients presenting with distant metasta...
Structural and functional changes to the testis after conventional versus microdissection testicular sperm extraction.

OBJECTIVES To compare, in a retrospective study, the ultrasound findings and hormonal changes after testicular sperm extraction (TESE) using the conventional multiple biopsy approach and the more recent microdissection technique. TESE has been performed using the conventional multiple biopsy approach and the more recent microdissection technique. METHODS A total of 435 men with nonobstructive azoospermia who had undergone 543 TESE attempts were included in the study. The initial 83 attempts were done using the conventional open technique and the remaining 460 attempts were performed by microdissection. The sperm retrieval rates were compared, as were the complication rates as assessed by ultrasound and endocrinologic evaluations between the two groups. RESULTS The retrieval rate by the conventional technique was 32% and by microdissection was 57% (P = 0.0002). In patients with hypospermatogenesis, the retrieval rate differed between the two approaches (P = 0.03). Ultrasound findings demonstrated fewer acute and chronic changes in the microdissection group than in the conventional group (P < 0.05). At 3 to 6 months after surgery, the testosterone levels had dropped to 80% of their pre-TESE levels in both groups (P < 0.01). The levels rose back to 85% after 12 months and to 95% after 18 months. The mean follicle-stimulating hormone levels increased from 22 +/- 2 to 30 +/- 3 IU/L (P = 0.02), and the luteinizing hormone levels increased from 12 +/- 2 to 16 +/- 2 IU/L (P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS TESE has effects on testicular function, but the microdissection procedure is relatively safer than the conventional technique and improves the sperm retrieval rate significantly in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.
Effects of ion incidence angle on the angular distributions of sputtered Zr atoms

Abstract We report results on the angular distributions of Zr sputtered from a clean polycrystalline surface for ion incidence angles of 30, 45, and 60 degrees with respect to the surface normal. The atoms are detected state-specifically using laser-induced fluorescence in a detector with a three degree angular acceptance in both the azimuthai and polar directions. The experimental angular distributions are explained by direct and cascade sputtering producing a forward peaking in a underlying cosine distribution.
Effects of photoperiod, melatonin administration and thyroid block on spontaneous daily torpor and temperature regulation in the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus

Cold exposed (13°C) mice maintained on a short day photoperiod (9L:15D) became torpid 9 times more frequently than long day photoperiod (16L:8D) animals (Table 1). Mice on a short day photoperiod also exhibited a 26% increase in nesting behavior, a 9% decrease in food consumption and a 49% increase in norepinephrine induced thermogenesis (Table 2). No change in resting metabolism was observed. Similarily, chronic melatonin administration (subcutaneously implanted beeswax pellet containing 3.5 mg melatonin) elicited a 2.5 fold increase in spontaneous daily torpor relative to shamimplanted mice (Table 3). Mice treated with melatonin exhibited a 33% increase in nesting behavior and a slight decrease in food consumption. Although thyroid block (propyl-thiouracil) increased the incidence of daily torpor only slightly, it did effect an 11% decrease in resting metabolism, a 42% decrease in norepinephrine induced thermogenesis and a 5% decrease in food consumption. Thyroid block did not alter nesting behavior.
Effects of microalloying with 3d transition metals on glass formation in AlYFe alloys

Abstract The effects of microalloying on glass formation and stability were systematically investigated by substituting 0.5 at.% of all 3d transition metals for Al in Al 88 Y 7 Fe 5 alloys. X-ray diffraction and isothermal differential scanning calorimetry studies indicate that samples containing microadditions of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co were amorphous, while those alloyed with Ni and Cu were not. The onset temperatures for crystallization (devitrification) of the amorphous alloys were increased with microalloying and some showed a supercooled liquid region (Δ T x = T x − T g ) of up to 40 °C. In addition, microalloying changes the glass structure and the devitrification sequence, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and high energy X-ray diffraction. The results presented here suggest that the order induced in the alloy by the transition metal microaddition decreases the atomic mobility in the glass and raises the barrier for the nucleation of α-Al, the primary devitrifying phase in most cases. New intermetallic phases also appear with microalloying and vary for different transition metal additions.
Automatically generating custom user interfaces for users with physical disabilities

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for desktop applications are usually optimized for typical users who interact with computers via keyboard, mouse and a small range of display sizes. Part of the reason why some users with vision or motor impairments find it hard to use computers is not their inherent inability to use computers effectively but the mismatch between those users’ individual needs and the designers’ assumptions. In some cases no external assistive technology may be required if an interface is rendered in a way that takes into account a user’s unique capabilities. For example, to make an interface accessible to a user with a moderate vision impairment, it may be sufficient to make all the fonts and important visual cues larger, while appropriately rearranging the interface to make it fit in the available screen area. It is not necessary to elongate the slider tracks, for example, as long as the slider elements are made larger and the tracks are drawn with a thicker line. Similarly, users lacking fine motor control may find it easier to interact with interfaces where only widgets with large targets and no need for dragging are used. In cases when the use of assistive technologies cannot be avoided, those technologies also work better with a dedicated GUI design: for example, users who explore a screen serially (with a magnifying lense or a screen reader) may find it easier to navigate a hierarchically structured interface, where each panel contains only a limited number of elements. Most users have unique needs (due to their tasks, preferences or capabilities) that would make them benefit from custom user interfaces. It is particularly true of users with physical impairments because different types, degrees or combinations of impairments imply very different preferences for how the user may want to interact with computers. It is
Plasmon enhanced light trapping for thin film silicon solar cells application

In this paper, the localized surface plasmon effect of gold (Au) nanoparticles deposited on the silicon nanohole (SiNH) array textured surface is studied via simulation for better light trapping purpose for thin film silicon solar cells application. The ultimate efficiency of the optimized SiNH array textured surface is increased by 27.5% with the inclusion of Au nanoparticles on its surface. The highest ultimate efficiency of the proposed geometry herein (39.67 %) is still 12.8% greater than the single layer antireflection (AR) coating of Si 3 N 4 on SiNH array textured surface without Au nanoparticles. The forward scattering of incident radiation by the Au nanoparticles near their localized plasmon resonance is responsible for the strong field enhancement in the substrate and hence the higher ultimate efficiency of the solar cell.
Daylight savings time and myocardial infarction

Background Prior research has shown a transient increase in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after daylight savings time (DST) in the spring as well as a decrease in AMI after returning to standard time in the fall. These findings have not been verified in a broader population and if extant, may have significant public health and policy implications. Methods We assessed changes in admissions for AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) database for the weeks following the four spring and three fall DST changes between March 2010 and September 2013. A negative binomial regression model was used to adjust for trend and seasonal variation. Results There was no difference in the total weekly number of PCIs performed for AMI for either the fall or spring time changes in the time period analysed. After adjustment for trend and seasonal effects, the Monday following spring time changes was associated with a 24% increase in daily AMI counts (p=0.011), and the Tuesday following fall changes was conversely associated with a 21% reduction (p=0.044). No other weekdays in the weeks following DST changes demonstrated significant associations. Conclusions In the week following the seasonal time change, DST impacts the timing of presentations for AMI but does not influence the overall incidence of this disease.
Genomic Sequence Fragment Identification using Quasi-Alignment

Identification of organisms using their genetic sequences is a popular problem in molecular biology and is used in fields such as metagenomics, molecular phylogenetics and DNA Barcoding. These applications depend on searching large sequence databases for individual matching sequences (e.g., with BLAST) and comparing sequences using multiple sequence alignment (e.g., via Clustal), both of which are computationally expensive and require extensive server resources. We propose a novel method for sequence comparison, analysis, and classification which avoids the need to align sequences at the base level or search a database for similarity. Instead, our method uses alignment-free methods to find probabilistic quasi-alignments for longer (typically 100 base pairs) segments. Clustering is then used to create compact models that can be used to analyze a set of sequences and to score and classify unknown sequences against these models. In this paper we expand prior work in two ways. We show how quasi-alignments can be expanded into larger quasi-aligned sections and we develop a method to classify short sequence fragments. The latter is especially useful when working with Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques that generate output in the form of relatively short reads. We have conducted extensive experiments using fragments from bacterial 16S rRNA sequences obtained from the Greengenes project and our results show that the new quasi-alignment based approach can provide excellent results as well as overcome some of the restrictions of by the widely used Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) classifier.
On the uses of econometric models: A guide for policy makers

This paper reviews the evidence on ex ante and ex post forecasting with econometric models, considering in particular the role of human judgment in improving forecast accuracy. The importance of human judgment in econometric forecasting and the general superiority of ex ante over ex post forecasts provide evidence of model misspecification, which casts doubt on the validity of econometric policy simulations. An inadequate basis for selection among alternative models with differing policy implications undermines further the utility of these models in policy analysis and in testing hypotheses. Despite this record of performance macroeconometric models thrive and are widely used in policy analysis. Some reasons for their survival and importance in policy are suggested, and guidelines for the use of econometric models in the policy process are given.
Calcicludine Binding to the Outer Pore of L-type Calcium Channels is Allosterically Coupled to Dihydropyridine Binding

How dihydropyridines modulate L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels is not known. Dihydropyridines bind cooperatively with Ca2+ binding to the selectivity filter, suggesting that they alter channel activity by promoting structural rearrangements in the pore. We used radioligand binding and patch-clamp electrophysiology to demonstrate that calcicludine, a toxin from the venom of the green mamba snake, binds in the outer vestibule of the pore and, like Ca2+, is a positive modulator of dihydropyridine binding. Data were fit using an allosteric scheme where dissociation constants for dihydropyridine and calcicludine binding, KDHP and KCaC, are linked via the coupling factor, α. Nine acidic amino acids located within the S5-Pore-helix segment of repeat III were sequentially changed to alanine in groups of three, resulting in the mutant channels, Mut-A, Mut-B, and Mut-C. Mut-A, whose substitutions are proximal to IIIS5, exhibits a 4.5-fold reduction in dihydropyridine binding and is insensitive to calcicludine bin...
Sensitivity of mesoscale gravity waves to the baroclinicity of jet-front systems

Abstract This study investigates the sensitivity of mesoscale gravity waves to the baroclinicity of the background jet-front systems by simulating different life cycles of baroclinic waves with a high-resolution mesoscale model. Four simulations are made starting from two-dimensional baroclinic jets having different static stability and wind shear in order to obtain baroclinic waves with significantly different growth rates. In all experiments, vertically propagating mesoscale gravity waves are simulated in the exit region of upper-tropospheric jet streaks. A two-dimensional spectral analysis demonstrates that these gravity waves have multiple components with different wave characteristics. The short-scale wave components that are preserved by a high-pass filter with a cutoff wavelength of 200 km have horizontal wavelengths of 85–161 km and intrinsic frequencies of 3–11 times the Coriolis parameter. The medium-scale waves that are preserved by a bandpass filter (with 200- and 600-km cutoff wavelengths) ha...
Derivatization of isolated endogenous butyrobetaine with 4'-bromophenacyl trifluoromethanesulfonate followed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A method for the isolation and chromatography of butyrobetaine from plasma, urine, and liver is described. The recovery of [3H-methyl]butyrobetaine from spiked biological samples was from 76–80%. Spiked samples then were derivatized with 4'-bromophenacyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and the butyrobetaine 4'-bromophenacyl ester was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Radioactivity eluted in a single peak which co-chromatographed with authentic butyrobetaine 4'-bromophenacyl ester. Two identical liver specimens were treated according to this isolation procedure. Prior to derivatization, one specimen was treated with butyrobetaine hydroxylase. After derivatization, there was no butyrobetaine 4'-bromophenacyl ester peak in the specimen treated with butyrobetaine hydroxylase. The HPLC detection sensitivity to butyrobetaine 4'-bromophenacyl ester was 1 pmol injected with a signal-to-noise greater than 2:1.