cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient processing of monotonic linear progressive queries via dynamic materialized views

There is an increasing demand to process emerging types of queries, such as progressive queries (PQs), from numerous contemporary database applications including telematics, ecommerce, business intelligence, and decision support. Unlike a conventional query, a progressive query is formulated in several steps, i.e., consisting of a set of inter-related step-queries (SQ). A user formulates their SQs on the fly based on the results returned by the previous SQs. Processing such queries provides performance improvement opportunities for a database management system. In this paper, we study the efficient processing of a special type of PQ, called a monotonic linear progressive query (MLPQ). We present a technique to process such PQs based on dynamically materialized views. The key idea is to create a superior-relationship graph for step-queries from historical PQs, which can be used to estimate the benefit of materializing a current step-query. The materialized views are then used to improve the performance of future step-queries. Algorithms and strategies to create and maintain a superior-relationship graph, dynamically select materialized views (step-queries), and the search for a materialized view to process a given step-query are discussed. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed technique is quite promising in efficiently processing this type of progressive query.
Identification of the pcaRKF Gene Cluster from Pseudomonas Putida: Involvement in Chemotaxis, Biodegradation, and Transport of 4-Hydroxybenzoate

Abstract Pseudomonas putida PRS2000 is chemotactic to 4-hydroxybenzoate and other aromatic acids. This behavioral response is induced when cells are grown on 4-hydroxybenzoate or benzoate, compounds that are degraded via the beta-ketoadipate pathway. Isolation of a transposon mutant defective in 4-hydroxybenzoate chemotaxis allowed identification of a new gene cluster designated pcaRKF. DNA sequencing, mutational analysis, and complementation studies revealed that pcaR encodes a regulatory protein required for induction of at least four of the enzymes of the beta-ketoadipate pathway and that pcaF encodes beta-ketoadipyl-coenzyme A thiolase, the last enzyme in the pathway. The third gene, pcaK, encodes a transporter for 4-hydroxybenzoate, and this protein is also required for chemotaxis to aromatic acids. The predicted PcaK protein is 47 kDa in size, with a deduced amino acid sequence indicative of membership in the major facilitator superfamily of transport proteins. The protein, expressed in Escherichia coli, catalyzed 4-hydroxybenzoate transport. In addition, whole cells of P. putida pcaK mutants accumulated 4-hydroxybenzoate at reduced rates compared with that in wild-type cells. The pcaK mutation did not impair growth at the expense of 4-hydroxybenzoate under most conditions; however, mutant cells grew somewhat more slowly than the wild type on 4-hydroxybenzoate at a high pH. The finding that 4-hydroxybenzoate chemotaxis can be disrupted without an accompanying effect on metabolism indicates that this chemotactic response is receptor mediated. It remains to be determined, however, whether PcaK itself is a chemoreceptor for 4-hydroxybenzoate or whether it plays an indirect role in chemotaxis. These findings indicate that aromatic acid detection and transport are integral features of aromatic degradation pathways.
SURFER'S EAR : EXOSTOSES OF THE EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL

Exostosis of the external auditory canal is an entity found exclusively in humans. Although well-documented in the otol­ ogy literature and briefly discussed in several medical texts, it has not been referred to or extensively discussed in radio­ logic journals. The clinical data and CT findings of a typical case are presented. Case Report A 56-year-old white male physician presented with a 5-year history of recurrent and intermittent hearing loss. The symptoms were pre­ dominantly right-sided and were increasing in frequency. Hearing loss was interfering with his ability to perform auscultatory examinations. He was able to temporarily restore hearing with the frequent use of carbamide peroxide drops. There was no history of prior ear infec­ tions; however, his medical history was significant for prolonged exposure to cold seawater in the form of swimming and body surfing . The exposure occurred over a period of 12- 15 years. Physical examinati on demonstrated severe bilateral external audi­ tory canal stenosis. Impacted cerumen was seen occluding the right external auditory canal. There were no signs of infection. Audiologic testing following disimpaction of the cerumen rev ealed no ab­ normality. CT was performed in both axial and coronal planes at 1-mm intervals. A multinodular bony mass was seen ari sing from both the anterior and posterior wall s of the right external auditory canal with a re sidual luminal diameter of 1 mm (Fig. 1 A). Similar findings were demonstrated on the left, although the bony proliferation was smoother and a re sidual luminal diameter of 2 mm was present (Fig. 1 B). The patient underwent excision of the exostosis in the right ear , creating a 3-4 mm lumen in the external auditory canal (Fi g. 1 C) . He made an uneventful recovery and has been symptom-free to date.
Suck and spit, don't blow: orbital emphysema after decompression surgery.

Abstract Purpose To describe the occurrence of vision-threatening orbital emphysema in patients awakening from orbital decompression surgery and to assess risk factors and preventive measures. Design Small noncomparative case series. Participants Three patients undergoing bilateral orbital two-wall decompression experienced significant orbital emphysema associated with persistent coughing and Valsalva at the time of extubation. Intervention In two patients, symptoms resolved with simple observation, whereas one patient required sedation, topical anesthesia around the endotracheal tube, and needle decompression of trapped air. Main outcome measures Visual acuity, pupils, visual fields, and sensorimotor examination. Results No patient experienced a permanent deficit of visual or sensorimotor function. Conclusions Acute orbital emphysema can occur after orbital decompression surgery despite the large bony opening created. Violent coughing spells at the time of extubation are more common in patients with a history of heavy tobacco use and may be causative. Opening the periorbita may be another specific predisposing risk factor. Knowledge of this dangerous phenomenon, along with appropriate perioperative management, may prevent this complication from occurring.
Sensory Transduction and Coding

Most parts of our bodies are equipped with sensory nerve fibers that monitor the external environment, our internal conditions and the movements we make. Sensations of the eight major modalities—cutaneous sensation, vision, hearing, balance, musculoskeletal sensation, smell, taste, and visceral sensation—are detected by the peripheral endings of these sensory nerves and carried to the CNS for processing over various circuits. Some sensations are conveyed all the way to the cerebral cortex, where, presumably, they intrude on awareness; when so privileged, we call them perceptions. Somewhat counterintuitively, however, the greater share of our sensory experience falls short of the cortex and goes unnoticed. But, as we shall see in the forthcoming chapters, this sensory information is nonetheless essential to many CNS functions. We will deal with the central processing of sensory events in several later chapters. Our only goal in the present chapter is to examine how the energies to which we are exposed are transformed into useful neural impulses.
Development of packaging technologies for SiC power module

In recent years, SiC power semiconductor devices are emerging as alternatives that outperform Si devices by reduce power loss and high operation temperature (>200°C). However, commercial packaging technologies for Si devices are within limited operation temperature (<150°C). The development of packaging technologies for SiC power module is a critical issue. In this paper, the full SiC power module (SiC MOSFET+ SiC Schottky diode) is developed. Thermal, thermomechanical and electrical characteristics of power module are analyzed. For increase reliability, Cu-Al heavy wire bonding and die bonding with high temperature solder are studied. Finally, the performance of full SiC power module is measured and compared with Si IGBT power module.
Influence of soil water on the physiological and morphological components of plant water balance in Populus trichocarpa, Populus deltoides and their F1 hybrids

Patterns of leaf growth, transpiration and whole-plant water balance in Populus trichocarpa, P. deltoides and their F(1) hybrids were studied during a soil drying cycle. Plant responses were analyzed during three distinct stages of dehydration. In stage I, the transpiration rate of drought-stressed plants remained constant and equal to that of well-watered plants even though soil water content declined by more than 40%. Stage II began as soil and plant water deficits induced stomatal closure. When soil water was expressed as a fraction of transpirable soil water, the transition from stage I to stage II occurred at soil water fractions of 0.35, 0.45 and 0.60 for P. trichocarpa, P. deltoides and their F(1) hybrids, respectively. Reductions in leaf growth coincided with the shift from stage I to stage II. As soil water declined further, decreases in relative transpiration and whole-plant leaf area were significantly greater in parental species than in F(1) hybrids. Inherent feedbacks controlling stomatal water loss and the maintenance and growth of leaf tissue appeared to differ between F(1) and parental genotypes in a pattern characteristic of an overdominant mode of inheritance.Stage III began once the ability of stomata to compensate for water loss had been exhausted. Substantial differences were found in plant survival during stage III, with F(1) hybrids surviving longer than parental species. Survival was more strongly correlated with the hydraulic conductivity of xylem tissues than with the dehydration tolerance of leaf tissues. Collectively, these responses suggest that F(1) hybrids were more drought resistant than either parental species and highlight the importance of whole-plant studies of functional relationships between plant growth, water balance and hydraulic conductivity.
Cell-to-cell communication and expression of gap junctional proteins in human diabetic and nondiabetic skin fibroblasts: effects of basic fibroblast growth factor.

Wound healing involves the interactions of many cell types, and is controlled in part by growth factors. Intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions is considered to play an important role in the coordination of cellular metabolism during the growth and development of tissues and organs. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), known to be important in wound healing, has been found to increase Cx43 expression and intercellular communication in endothelial cells and cardiac fibroblasts. It has been proposed that an increased coupling is necessary for the coordination of these cells in wound healing and angiogenesis, and that one of the actions of bFGF is to modulate intercellular communication. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of bFGF on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in vitro, and the presence of gap junctional proteins connexin (Cx) 26, Cx32, and Cx43 in fibroblasts of diabetic and nondiabetic individuals. Fibroblast cell lines (n=10) were cultured for 3 d in serum-free media with or without bFGF (3 ng/mL). Cells were evaluated for the rate of GJIC by using laser cytometry, and for the presence of Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 by immunohistochemical and Western analyses. All cell types communicated via contact-dependent mechanisms. The rate of GJIC was greater (p<0.01) for diabetic than for nondiabetic fibroblasts (4.1±0.01 vs 3.3±0.01 %/min). bFGF increased (p<0.01) the rate of GJIC for diabetic (4.9±0.01 vs 4.1±0.01%) and nondiabetic (4.1±0.01 vs 3.3±0.01%) fibroblasts. Immunohistochemistry identified Cx26 in the cytoplasm, Cx32 was not detected, and Cx43 was present on the cellular borders in all cultures. Image analysis of immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that bFGF increased (p<0.05) Cx43 expression in diabetic and nondiabetic fibroblasts. Western immunoblot analysis revealed bands at 43–46 kD that were similar in volume for diabetic and nondiabetic fibroblasts. Thus, gap junctions involving Cx43 and GJIC among fibroblasts appear to be targets for bFGF. Fibroblasts of diabetic individuals appear to have an increased rate of cell-cell coupling, correlating with a decreased rate of proliferation.
Epidemiology of hand foot and mouth disease in Baoji,Shaanxi,2008-2012

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hand foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in Baoji,Shaanxi prrovince,from 2008 to 2012 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD.Methods The analysis was condcuted on the incidence data of HFMD in Baoji during this period by using SPSS 12.0 software.Results A total of 12 469 HFMD cases were reported,including 90 severe cases and 10 deaths.The average annual incidence was 66.25 / lakh.The incidence peak was during May-July.The disease mainly occurred in age group 1-4 years,especially in those aged 1 year.Most cases were caused by EV71 or Cox A16,but most severe cases were caused by EV71.Conclusion The incidence of HFMD increased year by year in Baoji,it is necessary to take comprehensive measures to prevent and control HFMD.
Critical design factors for information technology supporting type 1 diabetes management

During childhood, patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) are reliant on an informal caregiver (parent or guardian) for day-to-day disease management. Upon entering adolescence, patients are expected to adopt a greater role in self-management. However, adolescents often have difficulty adhering to management regimens, which can lead to poor health outcomes. There is a need for a technology that addresses the compound social and technical needs of these patients and their informal caregivers while filling the gaps of current information technology management tools. Through an IRB-approved process, group and individual interviews were conducted with ten adolescents with T1D ranging in age from 11–17 and informal caregivers. The purpose of these interviews was to learn about 1) adolescents' day-to-day management of T1D, 2) the role of the informal caregiver and 3) the role of technology in this management. Qualitative content analysis presented four key themes: the person (the adolescent and informal caregiver), the interactions between the adolescent and informal caregiver, interactions with technology, and physical environments where these interactions occur. These themes led to the development of user-centered design considerations. Final design recommendations included the importance of customization, integration with current T1D technologies, accessibility while maintaining security, and diabetes education. These findings provide insight into remote monitoring features that must be properly addressed in order to ease adolescents' transition to self-management and promote long-term adherence.
Unveiling the functional diversity of the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily in the plant kingdom

The alpha/beta hydrolase (ABH) superfamily is a widespread and functionally malleable protein fold recognized for its diverse biochemical activities across all three domains of life. ABH enzymes possess unexpected catalytic activity in the green plant lineage through selective alterations in active site architecture and chemistry. Furthermore, the ABH fold serves as the core structure for phytohormone and ligand receptors in the gibberellin, strigolactone, and karrikin signaling pathways in plants. Despite recent discoveries, the ABH family is sparsely characterized in plants, a sessile kingdom known to evolve complex and specialized chemical adaptations as survival responses to widely varying biotic and abiotic ecologies. This review calls attention to the ABH superfamily in the plant kingdom to highlight the functional adaptability of the ABH fold.
Efficient algorithm for modeling keel-edge pinhole response

We describe an efficient method for computing the system response (sensitivity and point spread function) of a conventional gamma camera with multiple keel-edge pinhole collimators, taking into account geometric acceptance effects at the collimator as well as detector response. An efficient way of storing the resulting system matrix permits us to achieve very fast iterative reconstruction with reasonable memory requirements.
Evidence and resources to implement pharmacogenetic knowledge for precision medicine.

Purpose The current state of pharmacogenetic data curation and dissemination is described, and evidence-based resources for applying pharmacogenetic data in clinical practice are reviewed. Summary Implementation of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice has been relatively slow despite substantial scientific progress in understanding linkages between genetic variation and variability of drug response and effect. One factor that has inhibited the adoption of genetic data to guide medication use is a lack of knowledge of how to translate genetic test results into clinical action based on currently available evidence. Other implementation challenges include controversy over selection of appropriate evidentiary thresholds for routine clinical implementation of pharmacogenetic data and the difficulty of compiling scientific data to support clinical recommendations given that large randomized controlled trials to demonstrate the utility of pharmacogenetic testing are not feasible or are not considered necessary to establish clinical utility. Organizations such as the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and the Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase (PharmGKB) systematically evaluate emerging evidence of pharmacogenomic linkages and publish evidence-based prescribing recommendations to inform clinical practice. Both CPIC and PharmGKB provide online resources that facilitate the interpretation of genetic test results and provide prescribing recommendations for specific gene–drug pairs. Conclusion Resources provided by organizations such as CPIC and PharmGKB, which use standardized approaches to evaluate the literature and provide clinical guidance for a growing number of gene–drug pairs, are essential for the implementation of pharmacogenetics into routine clinical practice.
Room temperature CO 2 detection using interdigitated capacitors with heteropolysiloxane sensing films

This paper investigates the detection of carbon dioxide at room temperature using microfabricated, interdigitated capacitive (IDC) sensors coated with an amino-functionalized sensing film. Sensing experiments performed at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 100°C indicate two different temperature-dependent sensing mechanisms. Around room temperature, physisorption dominates the sensor response, resulting in fast signal transients and negative capacitance changes. Above 80°C, chemisorption appears to dominate, resulting in larger, positive capacitance changes with longer signal transients.
An improved size exclusion-HPLC method for molecular size distribution analysis of immunoglobulin G using sodium perchlorate in the eluent

Size exclusion (SE) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is widely used for the molecular size distribution (MSD) analyses of various therapeutic proteins. We report development and validation of a SE-HPLC method for MSD analyses of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in products using a TSKgel SuperSW3000 column and eluting it with 0.4M NaClO4, a chaotropic salt, in 40mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. The chromatograms show distinct peaks of aggregates, tetramer, and two dimers, as well as the monomer and fragment peaks. In addition, the method offers about half the run time (12min), better peak resolution, improved peak shape and more stable base-line compared to HPLC methods reported in the literature, including that in the European Pharmacopeia (EP). A comparison of MSD analysis results between our method and the EP method shows interactions between the protein and the stationary phase and partial adsorption of aggregates and tetramer on the stationary phase, when the latter method is used. Thus, the EP method shows lower percent of aggregates and tetramer than are actually present in the products. In view of the fact that aggregates have been attributed to playing a critical role in adverse reactions due to IgG products, our observation raises a major concern regarding the actual aggregate content in these products since the EP method is widely used for MSD analyses of IgG products. Our method eliminates (or substantially reduces) the interactions between the proteins and stationary phase as well as the adsorption of proteins onto the column. Our results also show that NaClO4 in the eluent is more effective in overcoming the protein/column interactions compared to Arg-HCl, another chaotropic salt. NaClO4 is shown not to affect the molecular size and relative distribution of different molecular forms of IgG. The method validated as per ICH Q2(R1) guideline using IgG products, shows good specificity, accuracy, precision and a linear concentration dependence of peak areas for different molecular forms. In summary, our method gives more reliable results than the SE-HPLC methods for MSD analyses of IgG reported in the literature, including the EP, particularly for aggregates and tetramer. The results are interpreted in terms of ionic (polar) and hydrophobic interactions between the stationary phase and the IgG protein.
Expression and activity of the BioH esterase of biotin synthesis is independent of genome context

BioH is an α/β-hydrolase required for synthesis of the pimelate moiety of biotin in diverse bacteria. The bioH gene is found in different genomic contexts. In some cases (e.g., Escherichia coli) the gene is not located within a biotin synthetic operon and its transcription is not coregulated with the other biotin synthesis genes. In other genomes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa the bioH gene is within a biotin synthesis operon and its transcription is coregulated with the other biotin operon genes. The esterases of pimelate moiety synthesis show remarkable genomic plasticity in that in some biotin operons bioH is replaced by other α/s hydrolases of diverse sequence. The “wild card” nature of these enzymes led us to compare the paradigm “freestanding” E. coli BioH with the operon-encoded P. aeruginosa BioH. We hypothesized that the operon-encoded BioH might differ in its expression level and/or activity from the freestanding BioH gene. We report this is not the case. The two BioH proteins show remarkably similar hydrolase activities and substrate specificity. Moreover, Pseudomonas aeruginosa BioH is more highly expressed than E. coli BioH. Despite the enzymatic similarities of the two BioH proteins, bioinformatics analysis places the freestanding and operon-encoded BioH proteins into distinct clades.
Abstract P171: Low Concentrations of Aspirin Activate Cytoprotective Signaling Pathway Genes in Human Endothelial Cells: A Gene Expression Profiling Study

Low-dose aspirin is recommended for individuals with risk for heart disease and stroke in order to prevent thrombotic occlusive events. In addition to its well-established platelet inhibitory effects, increased expression of the antioxidant heme oxygenase-1 is considered to contribute to cardiovascular protection by aspirin. However little is known about the genome-wide changes in gene expression mediated by aspirin. In order to identify other molecular pathways and targets affected by aspirin, we investigated the global effects of aspirin treatment (3 μM and 100 μM) in vitro in human endothelial cells (Ea.hy 926) using HT-12 bead arrays (Illumina). The filtered genes were further analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software. We determined the gene expression profiles of endothelial cells treated with aspirin (3 μM and 100 μM) along with vehicle controls. Gene microarray analysis revealed significant upregulation of 134 genes (p 2 fold change) and downregulation of over 100 genes (p
Attachment and childhood adversity in athletes, actors, dancers, and healthy controls

An investigation into patterns of childhood adversity and attachment states of mind may provide information that can optimise performance for athletes/performers and their coaches/teachers. This cr...
Shoulder arthroplasty in patients with osteo-chondrodysplasias

Osteo-chondrodysplasias are a rare cause of limb malalignment, deformity and degenerative joint disease. Earlier in life, deformities may be managed with bony realignment and soft tissue releases; however, as degenerative changes progress, arthroplasty may be considered. There are limited reports examining shoulder arthroplasty in this population. This study aims to assess pain relief, function, and re-operation rate of shoulder arthroplasty in patients with osteo-chondrodysplasias. Between January 1984 and December 2012, 13 shoulders with end-stage arthritis secondary to osteo-chondrodysplasia underwent shoulder arthroplasty. Three were treated with hemiarthroplasty (HA), nine with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), and one with a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). All shoulders were followed for two years or until reoperation (mean 7.9 years, range 2–25). Shoulder arthroplasty significantly improved pain, elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation. All but one patient considered their shoulder to be better than pre-operatively; however, only two shoulders received an excellent Neer rating. Seven shoulders had satisfactory Neer ratings and four unsatisfactory. One TSA was converted to a RSA for aseptic glenoid loosening at 9.5 years (re-operation rate 8%). Pain relief and improved function can be expected in patients with osteo-chondrodysplasias despite challenging anatomy. Unlike the only previous case series reporting a 31% revision rate at mean follow-up of seven years, our series shows the incidence of failure to be much lower. With the advent of smaller humeral components, the need for custom implants may not be necessary, and surgeons may intervene earlier and more confidently in this population. Level of evidence: IV case series
The inherent complexity of soil and foliar predators for greenhouse biological control

Abstract In greenhouse systems it is commonplace to release a suite of predators or parasitoids to combat pest populations that grow in both the vegetative portion of plants and soil. For instance, to control thrips and fly pests, a combination of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans 1930), a foliar predatory mite, Stratiolaelaps miles (Berlese 1892), a soil dwelling mite and Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz 1856), a soil dwelling beetle, show efficacy for controlling all life-stages. However, when introduced biological control agents overlap in their distributions and diet, there is the potential for competition or intraguild predation. Frequently studies of intraguild interactions involve isolation of one pest or prey and a host of predators, here we conducted an initially open greenhouse experiment in a marigold system and allowed communities to assemble. We measured the community responses in the soil and foliar habitat strata to a fully replicated factorial design of all combinations of three common greenhouse predators, N. cucumeris, S. miles and D. coriaria. Over 288,158 arthropods were recovered from this six-week experiment resulting in unique soil and foliar communities of introduced predators, greenhouse arthropods, and pest life-stages. In the foliar habitat strata, spider mite populations rapidly overwhelmed the initial focus on thrips, indicating the importance of pest interactions for determining the efficacy of biological control. Overlap of predator populations occurred in the soil strata, which led to complex intraguild interactions. Results provide further evidence that separation of introduced predators and availability of alternative prey in greenhouse systems is important for managing potential agonistic interactions.
Geochemistry: Portrait of Earth's coming of age

An analysis of geochemical data reveals a substantial change in the composition of Earth's magmas about 2.5 billion years ago, just as Earth's atmosphere and climate were also changing drastically. See Letter p.490 Brenhin Keller and Blaire Schoene apply statistical sampling techniques to a geochemical database of about 70,000 samples from continental igneous rocks to produce a record of secular geochemical evolution throughout Earth's history. They find, superimposed on the expected gradual geochemical evolution attributable to secular cooling of Earth, a pervasive geochemical discontinuity approximately 2.5 billion years ago. This discontinuity is indicative of dramatic decreases in mantle melt fraction in basalts and in deep crustal melting/fractionation indicators. The Archaean/Proterozoic geochemical transition revealed by this analysis coincides with sudden atmospheric oxygenation at the end of the Archaean aeon, providing a temporal link between deep Earth geochemistry and the rise of atmospheric oxygen.
Zero-Temperature Dynamics of Ising Models on the Triangular Lattice

We consider the nature of spin flips of zero-temperature dynamics for ferromagnetic Ising models on the triangular lattice with nearest-neighbor interactions and an initial configuration chosen from a symmetric Bernoulli distribution. We prove that all spins flip infinitely many times for almost every realization of the dynamics and initial configuration.
Eye Movements and Cognitive Processes in Reading, Visual Search, and Scene Perception

Abstract Recent research dealing with five issues concerning eye movements in reading is discussed. A summary is provided of research dealing with (1) the span of effective vision, (2) integration of information across eye movements, (3) where to fixate next, (4) when to move the eyes, and (5) models of eye movement control. It is argued that since word frequency effects are found indpendent of landing position in a word that a model which allows lexical variables to influence when to move the eyes should be favored over one which does not. Finally, research on eye movements during scene perception and visual search is also reviewed. It is argued that the basic mechanisms of eye movement control are similar across tasks (reading, scene perception, and visual search), but that the trigger to move the eyes differs as a function of the specific task.
Calcium, calcium-sensing receptor and growth control in the colonic mucosa

A role for calcium in epithelial growth control is well-established in the colon and other tissues. In the colon, Ca²+ "drives" the differentiation process. This results in sequestration of β-catenin in the cell surface / cytoskeletal complex, leaving β-catenin unavailable to serve as a growth-promoting transcription enhancer in the nucleus. The signaling events that lead from Ca²+ stimulation to differentiation are not fully understood. A critical role for the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is assumed, based on CaSR localization to the differentiating epithelial cells in the normal colonic mucosa (upper half of the crypt and crypt surface), decreased CaSR expression in colon carcinoma, and the results from in vitro studies with colonic epithelial cell lines. While Ca²+ is well-accepted as a growth-regulating agent in the colon, suppression of cell proliferation is not complete. At least part of the reason for this is the inherent variability in Ca²+ responsiveness among individual epithelial cells. Of interest, colon epithelial cells that are resistant to the growth-regulating activity of Ca²+ alone are still responsive to Ca²+ in conjunction with other transition metals. Whether a multi-mineral approach will, ultimately, prove to be more effective than Ca²+ alone as a colon cancer chemopreventive agent remains to be seen, but certainly worth investigating.
Side Effects of Self-Administration of Intracavernous Papaverine and Phentolamine for the Treatment of Impotence

AbstractBeginning October 1985, 111 men agreed to enter a prospective study of the side effects of low dose papaverine/phentolamine therapy. A total of 46 men dropped out, 30 during the initial phase. The percentage of men with painless nodules almost consistently doubled from one followup examination to the next: 8 per cent at 1 month, 17 per cent at 3 months, 32 per cent at 6 months and 57 per cent at 12 months. The average injection frequency of those with nodules was 2½ times higher than those without nodules. Of the men 41 per cent required an increased dose of medications during followup, and 40 per cent of 50 men had at least 1 abnormality of liver function, most of these involving mild to moderate elevations of alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase. Priapism was not encountered during self-injection but it did occur twice in 329 physician-administered injections. Careful regular monitoring of patients should continue as some patients enter the second year of treatment.
Ileal Gene Expression Data from Crohn's Disease Small Bowel Resections Indicate Distinct Clinical Subgroups.

Background and aims Heterogeneity in Crohn's disease [CD] provides a challenge for the development of effective therapies. Our goal was to define a unique molecular signature for severe, refractory CD to enable precision therapy approaches to disease treatment and to facilitate earlier intervention in complicated disease. Methods We analysed clinical metadata, genetics, and transcriptomics from uninvolved ileal tissue from CD patients who underwent a single small bowel resection. We determined transcriptional risk scores, cellular signatures, and mechanistic pathways that define patient subsets in refractory CD. Results Within refractory CD, we found three CD patient subgroups [CD1, CD2, and CD3]. Compared with CD1, CD3 was enriched for subjects with increased disease recurrence after first surgery [OR = 6.78, p = 0.04], enhanced occurrence of second surgery [OR = 5.07, p = 0.016], and presence of perianal CD [OR = 3.61, p = 0.036]. The proportion of patients with recurrence-free survival was smaller in CD3 than in CD1 (p = 0.02, median survival time [months] in CD1 = 10 and CD3 = 6). Overlaying differential gene expression between CD1 and CD3 on CD subgroup-associated genetic polymorphisms identified 174 genes representing both genetic and biological differences between the CD subgroups. Pathway analyses using this unique gene signature indicated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 [eIF2] and cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP] signalling to be dominant pathways associated with CD3. Furthermore, the severe, refractory subset, CD3, was associated with a higher transcriptional risk score and enriched with eosinophil and natural killer T [NKT] cell gene signatures. Conclusion We characterized a subset of severe, refractory CD patients who may need more aggressive treatment after first resection and who are likely to benefit from targeted therapy based on their genotype and tissue gene expression signature.
Clinical utility of genomic analysis in adults with idiopathic liver disease.

Background & Aims Adult patients suffering from liver disease of unknown cause represent an understudied and underserved population. The use of whole-exome sequencing (WES) for the assessment of a broader spectrum of non-oncological diseases, among adults, remains poorly studied. We assessed the utility of WES in the diagnosis and management of adults with unexplained liver disease despite comprehensive evaluation by a hepatologist and with no history of alcohol overuse. Methods We performed WES and deep phenotyping of 19 unrelated adult patients with idiopathic liver disease recruited at a tertiary academic health care center in the US. Results Analysis of the exome in 19 cases identified 4 monogenic disorders in 5 unrelated adults. Patient 1 suffered for 18 years from devastating complications of undiagnosed type 3 familial partial lipodystrophy due to a deleterious heterozygous variant in PPARG. Molecular diagnosis enabled initiation of leptin replacement therapy with subsequent normalization of liver aminotransferases, amelioration of dyslipidemia, and decreases in daily insulin requirements. Patients 2 and 3 were diagnosed with MDR3 deficiency due to recessive mutations in ABCB4. Patient 4 with a prior diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis was found to harbor a mitochondrial disorder due to a homozygous pathogenic variant in NDUFB3; this finding enabled initiation of disease preventive measures including supplementation with antioxidants. Patient 5 is a lean patient with hepatic steatosis of unknown etiology who was found to have a damaging heterozygous variant in APOB. Conclusions Genomic analysis yielded an actionable diagnosis in a substantial number (∼25%) of selected adult patients with chronic liver disease of unknown etiology. This study supports the use of WES in the evaluation and management of adults with idiopathic liver disease in clinical practice. Lay summary We performed whole-exome sequencing in 19 adult patients with unexplained liver disease after an unrevealing conventional work-up performed by a hepatologist. In 5 cases, genomic analysis led to a diagnosis and informed treatment and management of the disease. Therefore, we suggest using whole-exome sequencing in the evaluation and management of adults with unexplained liver disease.
Scalar-transverse separation of electroproduced K + Λ and K + Σ 0 final states

We present evidence for a large scalar contribution to the cross section for the reaction $\mathrm{ep}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}e{K}^{+}\ensuremath{\Lambda}$. No evidence for a scalar contribution is found for the reaction $\mathrm{ep}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}e{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}$. This is reminiscent of the results for the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}n$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{0}$ final states.
"Association of Severity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Inflammation: Using Total White Blood Cell Count as a Marker".

BackgroundInflammation is known to be associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. It is not known if total white blood cell count, a routinely checked inflammatory marker, is associated with pos...
Eustachian Tube Foreign Body with Endoscopic-Assisted Surgical Removal.

Objectives. Foreign bodies of the external and middle ear are not uncommon; however, foreign bodies in the eustachian tube are rare. Here we describe the presentation, imaging, and endoscopic-assisted surgical management of a case of eustachian tube foreign body. Methods. A 34-year-old male was seen for evaluation of foreign body of the left eustachian tube while working with metal at a machine shop. Imaging and surgical management are highlighted and review of available literature regarding foreign bodies of the eustachian tube is presented. Results. A CT scan revealed a foreign body present approximately 1 cm into the bony eustachian tube. The patient underwent middle ear exploration which required endoscopic assistance to adequately visualize the foreign body. The foreign body was unable to be removed and required the creation of a bony tunnel lateral to the eustachian tube for visualization and access to the foreign body. Conclusions. This report presents a rare case of eustachian tube foreign body. Use of the endoscope during the surgical removal greatly enhanced the ease and safety of removal. This report also highlights the importance of ear protection with any machining and welding work.
A Generalized Framework of Pathlength Associated Community Estimation for Brain Structural Network

Diffusion MRI-derived brain structural network has been widely used in brain research and community or modular structure is one of popular network features, which can be extracted from network edge-derived pathlengths. Conceptually, brain structural network edges represent the connecting strength between pair of nodes, thus non-negative. The pathlength. Many studies have demonstrated that each brain network edge can be affected by many confounding factors (e.g. age, sex, etc.) and this influence varies on each edge. However, after applying generalized linear regression to remove those confounding's effects, some network edges may become negative, which leads to barriers in extracting the community structure. In this study, we propose a novel generalized framework to solve this negative edge issue in extracting the modular structure from brain structural network. We have compared our framework with traditional Q method. The results clearly demonstrated that our framework has significant advantages in both stability and sensitivity.
Trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic: chasing a moving target

The spread of COVID-19 has already taken a pandemic form, affecting over 180 countries in a matter of three months. The full continuum of disease ranges from mild, self-limiting illness to severe progressive COVID-19 pneumonia, multiorgan failure, cytokine storm and death. Younger and healthy population is now getting affected than before. Possibilities of airborne and fecal oral routes of transmission has increased the concern. In the absence of any specific therapeutic agent for coronavirus infections, the most effective manner to contain this pandemic is probably the non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs). The damage due to the pandemic disease is multifaceted and crippling to economy, trade, and health of the citizens of the countries. The extent of damage in such scenarios is something that is beyond calculation by Gross Domestic Product rate or currency value of the country. Unfortunately, unlike many other diseases, we are still away from the target antiviral drug and vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The prime importance of NPIs like social distancing, staying in home, work from home, self-monitoring, public awareness, self-quarantine, etc. are constantly being emphasized by CDC, WHO, health ministries of all countries and social media houses. This is time of introspection and learning from our mistakes. Countries like China and South Korea who were initially the most hit countries could contain the disease spread by liberal testing of their population, stringent quarantine of people under investigation and isolation of the positive cases. Rest of the countries need to act urgently as well to bring an immediate halt in the community transmission.
Value Drivers from Prior Alliances with Targets in Mergers and Acquisitions

Acquisitions are often associated with insipid performance returns for the acquirer for many reasons, the most prominent of which is information asymmetry. Prior alliances with the target firm can ...
Choosing Bad Jobs: The Use of Nonstandard Work as a Commitment Device:

With nonstandard work on the rise, workers are increasingly forced into bad jobs—jobs that are low-paying, part-time, short-term, and dead-end. But some people, especially in cultural industries, e...
Changes in substance use among young adults during a respiratory disease pandemic

Background:News articles, commentaries, and opinion articles have suggested that ongoing social distancing measures coupled with economic challenges during COVID-19 may worsen stress, affective sta...
Hospital outcomes for pediatric heart transplant recipients undergoing tracheostomy: A multi-institutional analysis.

Tracheostomy is associated with increased mortality and resource utilization in children with CHD. However, the prevalence and hospital outcomes of tracheostomy in children with HTx are not known. We describe the prevalence and compare the post-HTx hospital outcomes of pediatric patients with Pre-TT and Post-TT to those without tracheostomy. A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was performed using the Pediatric Health Information System database. Hospital mortality, mediastinitis, LOS, and costs were compared among patients with Pre-TT, Post-TT, and no tracheostomy. Pre-TT was identified in 29 (1.1%) and Post-TT was identified in 41 (1.6%) of 2603 index HTx hospitalizations. Patients with Pre-TT were younger and more likely to have CHD, a non-cardiac birth defect, or an airway anomaly compared to those without Pre-TT. Pre-TT was not independently associated with increased post-HTx in-hospital mortality. Age at HTx < 1 year, CHD, and Post-TT were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Pre-TT that occurred during the HTx hospitalization and Post-TT were associated with increased resource utilization. Tracheostomy was not associated with mediastinitis.
A FIRST LOOK AT GALAXY FLYBY INTERACTIONS. I. CHARACTERIZING THE FREQUENCY OF FLYBYS IN A COSMOLOGICAL CONTEXT

Hierarchical structure formation theory is based on the notion that mergers drive galaxy evolution, so a considerable framework of semi-analytic models and N-body simulations has been constructed to calculate how mergers transform a growing galaxy. However, galaxy mergers are only one type of major dynamical interaction between halos—another class of encounter, a close flyby, has been largely ignored. We use cosmological N-body simulations to reconstruct the entire dynamical interaction history of dark matter halos. We present a careful method of identifying and tracking a dark matter halo which resolves the typical classes of anomalies that occur in N-body data. This technique allows us to robustly follow halos and several hierarchical levels of subhalos as they grow, dissolve, merge, and flyby one another—thereby constructing both a census of the dynamical interactions in a volume and an archive of the dynamical evolution of an individual halo. In addition to a census of mergers, our tool characterizes the frequency of close flyby interactions in the universe. We find that the number of close flyby interactions is comparable to, or even surpasses, the number of mergers for halo masses 1011 M ☉ h –1 at z 2. Halo flybys occur so frequently to high-mass halos that they are continually perturbed, unable to reach a dynamical equilibrium. In particular, we find that Milky Way type halos undergo a similar number of flybys as mergers irrespective of mass ratio for z 2. We also find tentative evidence that at high redshift, z 14, flybys are as frequent as mergers. Our results suggest that close halo flybys can play an important role in the evolution of the earliest dark matter halos and their galaxies, and can still influence galaxy evolution at the present epoch. Our companion paper quantifies the effect of close flyby interactions on galaxies and their dark matter hosts.
Design of Extremum Seeking Control

A general nonlinear system is used to present the extremum seeking control problem. The analog optimization based extremum seeking control is first presented, where gradient based, sliding mode based and perturbation based schemes are discussed. We extend the applicability of perturbation based extremum seeking control to slightly and moderately unstable systems via the use of a phase lead compensator. Finally, numerical optimization based extremum seeking control is briefly introduced, to be later expanded upon in Chaps. 4 and 5. This chapter gives the reader an overview of the different “flavors” of extremum seeking control available in the literature.
H/sub /spl infin// control of networked control systems with time delay and packet disordering

This paper studies the problem of designing H∞ controllers for networked control systems (NCSs) with both network-induced time delay and packet disordering. A delay switching-based method is proposed to model the NCSs with long time delay as switched systems, then by an algorithm involving convex optimisation, H∞ controllers are designed by using the proposed delay switching-based method and the existing parameter uncertainty-based method. Then, prediction-based method is presented to compensate time delay and packet disordering, and H∞ controller design is proposed by using linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based method. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed delay switching-based method and the prediction-based H∞ controller design.