cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A PANSONIC Navier-Stokes solver

A finite-difference formulation of the full Navier-Stokes equations which demonstrates a capability to economically solve two-dimensional problems has been developed. The basic algorithm was derived from the full, Reynolds-averaged, conservative, Navier-Stokes equations expressed in curvilinear coordinates. Eddy viscosity was determined by the Baldwin and Lomax algebraic turbulence model. This non-iterative, second-order accurate, implicit, numerical algorithm is based on the approximate factorization finite-difference scheme of Beam and Warming. Results indicate a facility for solving subsonic, transonic, and supersonic (hence PANSONIC) flows about arbitrary airfoils for a wide range of Reynolds numbers, Mach numbers, and angles of attack. Current computations demonstrate that vectorized implementations of this algorithm can solve steady-state, two-dimensional problems in five to ten minutes of computer time.
Cerebrospinal fluid matrix metalloproteinase-9 increases during treatment of recurrent malignant gliomas.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that promote tumor invasion and angiogenesis by enzymatically remodeling the extracellular matrix. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are the most abundant forms of MMPs in malignant gliomas, while a 130 kDa MMP is thought to be MMP-9 complexed to other proteinases. This study determined whether doxycycline can block MMP activity in vitro. We also measured MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. To determine whether doxycycline can block MMP activity, we measured the extent of doxycyline-mediated MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibition in vitro using epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transfected U251 glioma cell lines. MMP activity was measured using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) zymography. In addition, patients underwent lumbar puncture for CSF sampling at baseline, after 6 weeks (1 cycle), and after 12 weeks (2 cycles), while being treated with a novel chemotherapy regimen of irinotecan, thalidomide, and doxycycline designed to block growth/proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion. Irinotecan was given at 125 mg/m2/week for 4 weeks in 6-week cycles, together with continuous doxycycline at 100 mg twice daily on Day 1 and 50 mg twice daily thereafter. Daily thalidomide dose in our cohort was 400 mg. Tumor progression was monitored by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Doxycyline in vitro completely abolished MMP-9 activity at 500 μg/ml while there was only 30 to 50% inhibition of MMP-2 activity. Four patients respectively completed 4, 3, 1, and 2 cycles of irinotecan, thalidomide, and doxycycline. Patient enrollment was terminated after one patient developed radiologically defined pulmonary embolism, and another had probable pulmonary embolism. Although CSF MMP-2 and 130 kDa MMP levels were stable, MMP-9 level progressively increased during treatment despite stable MRI. Doxycycline can block MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities from glioma cells in vitro. Increased CSF MMP-9 activity could be a biomarker of disease activity in patients with malignant gliomas, before any changes are detectable on MRI.
Resumption of DNA synthesis during activation of delayed implanting mouse blastocysts

Cell division ceases in mouse blastocysts during the extended dormant period associated with delayed implantation but resumes following activation of the embryos by administration of 17 beta-estradiol to the mother. To determine the temporal and spatial aspects of the resumption of DNA synthesis during activation, blastocysts were recovered from delayed implanting females at various intervals after an injection of 17 beta-estradiol, incubated with 3H-thymidine in vitro, and prepared for light microscopic autoradiography. Although less than 4% of the cells were labeled in delayed implanting embryos, the proportion of labeled cells increased soon after the administration of 17 beta-estradiol and reached a maximum of over 50% by 24 hours. This increase in labeling was not uniform in all regions of the embryo, i.e., the labeling index of the inner cell mass began a steady increase immediately after the injection of 17 beta-estradiol while labeling of the polar and proximal mural trophoblast remained depressed for 6 and 12 hours, respectively, and only then began to increase. No labeling was present over the distal mural trophoblast in delayed implanting or activated blastocysts although cytological changes characteristic of primary giant cell transformation were present in activated embryos. These results indicate that the resumption of DNA synthesis is part of the overall increase in metabolic activity associated with activation. Furthermore, the sequential pattern of resumption of synthesis suggests that the ICM may influence the initiation of DNA synthesis in the surrounding trophoblast.
Inhaler devices in infants and children: challenges and solutions.

THE ISSUES surrounding the use of inhaled therapy in children are essentially the same as those in adults. Patients must be given a device that they can and will use effectively—the prescribed dose should be the lowest dose that works. Although there are considerable physiological differences between young children and adults, the most important differences are the changes in cognitive and emotional developmental that occur during the first few years of life. This article will concentrate on important patientrelated factors that impact on aerosol delivery in patients of all ages and then consider specific issues related to infants and children. Obtaining a clinically useful therapeutic response when using inhaled medication to treat pulmonary disease involves administering an appropriate medication and then ensuring that sufficient (but not too much) drug reaches the lungs to produce a therapeutic response. While it is clear that we are able to achieve this in all age groups using existing technology, there are many, many patients who fail to derive significant benefit from the therapeutic options available. While aerosol scientists tend to focus on aspects such as fine particle fraction inspiratory flow, and airway modeling to try and find ways of improving delivery systems, it is patient behavior and the failure of current devices to address the basic needs of most patients that is the single most important factor. To reliably and consistently deliver aerosolized drug to their lungs, patients must be provided with a delivery system able to generate an aerosol that contains particles that can reach and deposit in the lower airways. Unfortunately, with current delivery systems, this alone is insufficient, since the devices are not intuitive to use, and therefore considerable additional input is required from health care professionals to ensure that the patient can and will use the device effectively. This is an issue for all age groups. Though there has been considerable focus on the problems associated with treating young children, the problems are probably greater in the elderly, in whom cognitive issues and physical limitations conspire to impair effective drug delivery in many patients using portable inhalers.1–4 The simplicity and intuitiveness of nebulizers explains their popularity in this age group.
Auditor Fees, Abnormal Fees and Audit Quality Before and After the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Our study examines fees paid to auditors for audit and non-audit services during the period 2000 to 2003. We document a statistically significant positive association between audit fees and the absolute value of performance-adjusted discretionary accruals over all years. We also identify a significant positive association between non-audit fees and discretionary accruals in years 2000 and 2001, but no such association in later years (after passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act). This lack of association in 2002 and 2003 may be a result of legislation that limits the types of non-auditing services that auditors can provide to audit clients. To address the potential impact of fee composition and client importance on auditor independence, we extend our empirical analysis by incorporating predictions of abnormal audit and non-audit fees. We derive abnormal fees using a fee estimation model drawn from prior literature. We find evidence consistent with the view that clients with higher abnormal fees are more apt to exert influence on their auditors, which in turn may lead to a breach in auditor independence. Overall, our results are most consistent with economic bonding being the primary determinant of auditor behavior.
How Do Unions Renew? Paths to Union Renewal

How are unions responding to change? Are they renewing? Drawing on the CRIMT International Colloquium on Union Renewal, this introductory paper presents the overarching themes in this special thematic issue of Labor Studies Journal. After a synoptic overview of the range of cases and methodological issues highlighted by the papers, three sets of issues are presented: the need to enhance basic union efficiency or instrumentality, the importance of union governance and internal organization, and the need to rethink union resources. The development of collective identities, the mobilization of external expertise and networks, and the development of union leadership are identified as key resources in the union renewal process and as important subjects for further research.
The Parallel Computation of Morse-Smale Complexes

Topology-based techniques are useful for multiscale exploration of the feature space of scalar-valued functions, such as those derived from the output of large-scale simulations. The Morse-Smale (MS) complex, in particular, allows robust identification of gradient-based features, and therefore is suitable for analysis tasks in a wide range of application domains. In this paper, we develop a two-stage algorithm to construct the 1-skeleton of the Morse-Smale complex in parallel, the first stage independently computing local features per block and the second stage merging to resolve global features. Our implementation is based on MPI and a distributed-memory architecture. Through a set of scalability studies on the IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer, we characterize the performance of the algorithm as block sizes, process counts, merging strategy, and levels of topological simplification are varied, for datasets that vary in feature composition and size. We conclude with a strong scaling study using scientific datasets computed by combustion and hydrodynamics simulations.
Vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of extensive lymphangiomas in children.

Abstract Background The management of lymphangiomas in children is a complex problem with frequent recurrence and infection. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) devices have been shown to accelerate the healing of open wounds. We hypothesized that VAC therapy might decrease complications after resection of lymphangiomas. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 13 children (August 2005 to April 2010) who were patients undergoing lymphangioma resection with postoperative VAC therapy. Patient demographics, size and location of the lymphangioma, VAC duration and number of changes, hospital stay, complications, need for further surgery, and length of follow-up were recorded. Results Thirteen children (mean age, 8 years; mean weight, 34 kg) underwent 15 operations for lymphangiomas followed by postoperative VAC therapy. Locations included the head and neck, thorax and abdomen, and lower extremity. The mean VAC duration was 19 days, and they underwent a mean of 2.6 VAC changes. Six children had operative closure of the wound at a mean of 15 days postoperative. The remaining patients underwent closure by secondary intention. There were no recurrences. Complications included VAC device malfunctions requiring intervention and wound infections. Mean follow-up was 289 days. Conclusion Postoperative VAC therapy for the treatment of lymphangiomas can be an effective adjunct to surgical treatment by decreasing risks of recurrence and infection.
Renal Artery Duplex Ultrasonography as a Screening and Surveillance Tool to Detect Renal Artery Stenosis A Comparison With Current Reference Standard Imaging

Objective. Digital subtraction angiography quantitative vessel analysis (QVA) to assess percent renal arterial stenosis (RAS) is the reference standard. Quantitative vessel analysis is not ideal for screening purposes. Renal artery duplex ultrasonography (RADUS) is a noninvasive method to screen for RAS using well-known parameters. We investigated the direct correlation between several RADUS parameters and QVA to evaluate the acceptability of RADUS as a RAS screening and surveillance tool. Methods. We performed a multicenter retrospective study. Stenoses were evaluated in all patients with arteriograms and RADUS examinations within 30 days of each other in the span of 1 year. Percent stenosis of each stenotic renal artery segment was calculated digitally with QVA and correlated with the corresponding peak systolic velocity (PSV) and renal-aortic ratio (RAR) obtained with RADUS. Descriptive statistics and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. Correlation of percent stenosis, PSV, and RAR was performed. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnostic cut points for each RADUS parameter were calculated. Results. Sixty-seven renal arteries were included. Thirty-three arteries had less than 60% stenosis; 34 had stenosis of 60% or greater. The mean values were PSV, 272.791 cm/s; RAR, 3.716; and angiographic percent stenosis, 51.731%. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed higher accuracy for RAR with stenoses of 60% or greater versus PSV. Conclusions. Renal artery duplex ultrasonographic parameters for 60% or greater RAS correlate well with QVA. For detecting stenosis of 60% or greater, RAR is the most accurate parameter at a threshold of 2.5. Renal-aortic ratio is more accurate than PSV. Peak systolic velocity may be a useful RADUS alternative parameter for hemodynamically important stenoses in the setting of aortic disease when aortic velocities are less than 40 or
Survival of allogeneic porcine retinal pigment epithelial sheets after subretinal transplantation.

PURPOSE. To examine morphology after transplantation of organized primary porcine RPE sheets into the porcine subretinal space. METHODS. Primary RPE sheets were harvested from freshly enucleated female porcine eyes and embedded in a thin slice of 50% gelatin and 300 mM sucrose before subretinal transplantation into male pigs by using vitrectomy techniques. Thirty-eight animals that underwent surgery were observed for up to 3 months without immune suppression. RESULTS. Four days after surgery, the subretinal space contained a multilayer of heavily pigmented RPE that was predominantly Barr body positive. One month after transplantation, there was marked shortening of the outer segments with an intact external limiting membrane. The transplant bed contained a pigmented monolayer in some regions, whereas in other regions the graft was folded into multilayers with degenerated inner layers of transplanted cells despite synthesis of basement membrane. The choroidal vessels and choriocapillaris remained patent in the transplant bed. Barr body positive cells were still present 3 months after surgery. There was no infiltration of the graft site with inflammatory cells. CONCLUSIONS. Allogeneic RPE grafts survive in the subretinal space up to 3 months after surgery, and the choriocapillaris remains patent in the transplant bed, although there are many heavily pigmented cells within the transplant bed that are Barr body negative by 3 months. Further work is needed to produce uniform repopulation of a sizable portion of Bruch's membrane with a monolayer of transplanted RPE.
Effects of a severe-weather disturbance on foraging patterns within a California surfperch guild

Abstract A harsh storm during winter 1980 reduced food abundance for fishes on a temperate reef off Santa Barbara, California. Following this event, five surfperch species modified their foraging patterns. After the storm removed kelp from the reef, sea urchins overgrazed the algae and benthic turf which harbor surfperch food. When suitable foraging areas contracted, species converged in microhabitat use (fall 1980-spring 1981); however, as overall fish abundance decreased during the following summer and fall, species diverged in microhabitat utilization. Although species' diets did not change substantially, they converged slightly when foraging microhabitat overlap increased. During the 15-month study, seasonal changes in diet corresponded with variation in food abundance. Persistence in resident fish community structure suggested the absence of competitive displacement. Nonresident and subadult fishes, however, abandoned the reef because they may have been unable to use lowered food supplies.
Requirement of arteriovenular pairing for increased capillary filtration during acute inflammation.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine whether the leukocyte chemoattractant N-formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) increases capillary fluid filtration rate (Jv/S), and if so, to determine whether the mechanism involves arteriovenular communication. Methods:Intravital microscopy was used in the rat mesentery to measure capillary Jv/S by a micro-occlusion technique. FMLP was locally superfused through a micropipette near vessels in three different arrangements: 1) near a venule in close pairing with the arteriole feeding the monitored capillary, 2) near an unpaired arteriole feeding the capillary, or 3) near an unpaired venule draining the capillary. In separate experiments, arteriolar hydrostatic pressure (downstream of arteriovenular pairing sites exposed to FMLP) was measured with a micropressure system. Results:FMLP increased capillary Jv/S when applied to arteriovenular pairing sites, but not when applied to unpaired arterioles or venules. Micropressure measurements in paired ar...
Locality-conscious workload assignment for array-based computations in MPSOC architectures

While the past research discussed several advantages of multiprocessor-system-on-a-chip (MPSOC) architectures from both area utilization and design verification perspectives over complex single core based systems, compilation issues for these architectures have relatively received less attention. Programming MPSOCs can be challenging as several potentially conflicting issues such as data locality, parallelism and load balance across processors should be considered simultaneously. Most of the compilation techniques discussed in the literature for parallel architectures (not necessarily for MPSOCs) are loop based, i.e., they consider each loop nest in isolation. However, one key problem associated with such loop based techniques is that they fail to capture the interactions between the different loop nests in the application. This paper takes a more global approach to the problem and proposes a compiler-driven data locality optimization strategy in the context of embedded MPSOCs. An important characteristic of the proposed approach is that, in deciding the workloads of the processors (i.e., in parallelizing the application) it considers all the loop nests in the application simultaneously. The authors' experimental evaluation with eight embedded applications showed that the global scheme brings significant power/performance benefits over the conventional loop based scheme.
Surgical management of regional lymph nodes in cutaneous melanoma

The initial evaluation of melanoma patients should include an assessment of the regional lymph nodes for metastatic disease. Clinical palpation of the nodes is an important but relatively crude index of metastatic melanoma. In clinically normal nodes, the risk of microscopic metastatic melanoma can be predicted by such prognostic factors as thickness, ulceration, and anatomic location of the melanoma. Other prognostic factors, including the level of invasion and growth pattern (nodular and superficial spreading) provided no additional predictive information after these dominant factors were accounted for. Stage I patients with intermediate thickness melanoma (0.76–4.00 mm) have an improved survival rate with elective Iymphadenectomy, while those with thin (
Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT), vacuum vessel system overview

The engineering considerations and engineering baseline for the divertor, limiter, and vacuum-vessel assembly are discussed, focusing on the constraints imposed by the relatively small size of the CIT. Arrangements for remote maintenance are described. The organization formed to execute the CIT project and the integration of industrial forms into this laboratory effort are examined. >
An overtube for the flexible fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscope

Several reports describing the technique of endo~copi~ extraction of foreign bodies from the upper intestinal tract using flexible fiberoptic endoscopes have appeared. 1 4 Meat impaction in the esophagus has remained a challenge because of the multiple trips necessary to remove all of the meat. Foreign bodies with sharp edges have also been difficult to handle with flexible equipment because of the danger of further injury to the patient on withdrawal. Another hazard during extraction of foreign bodies is the possibility of aspiration of the object if it is dropped as it is being pulled through the hypopharynx. To overcome these disadvantages, an overtube was constructed.
12,906 days:

Wrongfully convicted at 18, Michael Ustaszewski was paroled from prison six weeks shy of his 54th birthday. Sociologist Melissa Sheridan Embser-Herbert documents his experience reentering society after over 35 years behind bars.
Efficient FPGA Implementation of Secure Hash Algorithm Grøstl – SHA-3 Finalist

Cryptographic hash functions are used for digital signatures; message authentication codes (MACs) and other forms of authentication. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced a publicly open competition for selection of new standard Secure Hash Algorithm called SHA-3. Hardware performance evaluation of the candidates of this competition is a vital part of this contest. In this work we present an efficient FPGA implementation of Grostl, one of the final round candidates of SHA-3. We show our results in the form of chip area consumption, throughput and throughput per area. We compare and contrast these results with other reported implementations of Grostl. Our design ranks highest in terms of throughput per area, achieving figures of 5.47 Mbps/slice on Virtex 7 and 5.12 Mbps/slice for Grostl-256 on Virtex 6.
Abnormal quantitative EEG scores identify patients with complicated idiopathic generalised epilepsy.

Abstract Objective : To investigate the relationship between quantitative EEG (QEEG) scores and "complicating factors" (psychopathology, true pharmacoresistance, neurological symptoms) in idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE). Methods : 35 newly referred, newly diagnosed, unmedicated IGE patients were collected in a prospective and random manner. Standard neuro-psychiatric and EEG examination was done. The patients were treated and controlled at regular visits. After 2 years of follow-up, clinical data were summarised and were compared to QEEG results. Clinical target items were neurologic and psychiatric abnormalities, proven pharmacoresistance. Patients with at least one of these items were labelled "complicated", whereas patients without these additional handicap were labelled as "uncomplicated". The 12 QEEG target variables were: Z -transformed absolute power values for three (anterior, central, posterior) brain regions and four frequency bands (1.5–3.5; 3.5–7.5; 7.5–12.5; 12.5–25.0Hz). QEEG scores outside the ±2.5 Z range were accepted as abnormal. The overall QEEG result was classified as normal (0–2 abnormal scores), or pathological (3 or more abnormal scores). Clinical and QEEG results were correlated. Results : All patients with psychopathology showed 4–8 positive pathological scores (power excess not confined to a single cortical region or frequency band). The two patients with pure pharmacoresistance showed pathological negative values (delta power deficit) all over the scalp. Statistically significant ( P Conclusion : Higher degree of cortical dysfunction (as assessed in the clinical setting) is reflected by higher degree of QEEG abnormalities. QEEG analysis can differentiate between IGE patients with or without psychopathology. Forecasting psychopathology may be the practical application of the findings.
A method for identifying CMOS circuits with multiple DC operating points through topological criteria

The authors explore a general class of CMOS combinational circuits which can exhibit unintended multiple DC operating points, i.e. exhibit memory, with incorrect transistor sizing. Topological criteria are derived that can detect where such a problem might occur. For a specific circuit example, they examine the six-transistor (6-T) CMOS XOR gate. Circuit simulation using SPICE provided insight into the failure of the XOR gate to act like a logic gate in some cases and verified the topological criteria. >
Deuterium isotope cage effects in the dismutation of alkoxyl radicals. Significance for the mode of alkylperoxyl termination

Decomposition of (R1R2CXON=)2 (R1 = R2 = Ph; R1 = R2 = pClC6H4; R1 = Ph, R2 = CH3; X = H or D) in hydrocarbon solvents at 31–75°C afforded R1R2CO in 6–8% lower yield when X = D than when X = H. This result is ascribed to cage escape of secondary alkoxyl radicals in competition with dismutation. Deuterium isotope effects for alkoxyl cage dismutation of 1.35–2.4 are estimated from the data. It is suggested that this same competition may account for the experimentally slower termination rate constants in solution of primary and secondary alkylperoxyl radicals on α-deuteration.
Slow-light enhanced absorption switches in metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguides

We introduce slow-light enhanced absorption switches in subwavelength metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguides. Both decent modulation depth and moderate insertion loss can be achieved in such switches by small induced changes in refractive index.
Diabetes mellitus associated with atypical antipsychotic medications: new case report and review of the literature.

Background: Since the introduction of atypical antipsychotic medications, beginning with clozapine in 1990, several case reports in the psychiatric literature have suggested that they might be associated with new onset of diabetes mellitus as well as with diabetic ketoacidosis. Methods: We report the case of a 38-year-old patient with schizophrenia who suddenly developed diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis 12 months after starting olanzapine. Similar cases in the literature were found through a MEDLINE-assisted search using the key words “schizophrenia,” “diabetes mellitus,” “ketoacidosis,” and “adverse drug reaction.” Results: Including this case, 30 patients have been reported in the literature to have developed diabetes or have lost diabetic control after starting clozapine, olanzapine, or quetiapine. Twelve of these 30 developed diabetic ketoacidosis. Two limited quantitative studies have added evidence toward this association. Conclusion: Although a causal relation has not been definitively proved, the number of cases reported in the literature suggests there might be an association between atypical antipsychotic medications and diabetes mellitus. Primary care physicians who care for patients with schizophrenia should be aware of this possible association. (J Am Board Fam Pract 2001;14:278 ‐ 82.) During the past 6 years several case reports have surfaced in the literature that seem to associate diabetes mellitus with use of new atypical antipsychotic medications. Although these cases most likely represent type 2 diabetes mellitus, several of the patients initially had diabetic ketoacidosis, raising interesting questions about possible causal mechanisms besides the weight gain known to be associated with these atypical antipsychotic medications. We describe the case of a patient with schizophrenia who came to our office with newonset diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis, possibly associated with his use of olanzapine. We review other cases thus far reported in the literature concerning this association.
Design of a high-bandwidth Rogowski current sensor for gate-drive shortcircuit protection of 1.7 kV SiC MOSFET power modules

This presents a PCB-based Rogowski current sensor design for the purpose of shortcircuit protection for 1.7 kV SiC MOSFET modules. Firstly, the paper shows that using the DeSat protection method for SiC MOSFET protection is not as effective as that in conventional IGBT applications. Therefore, a direct measurement of device switching current is proposed to achieve shortcircuit protection. The Rogowski-coil-based current sensor is selected among several high-bandwidth candidates for its better overall performance. Then the PCB-based Rogowski coil and its signal processing circuit design are shown in the paper. Finally, experimental results validate that the designed sensor has good performance in both accuracy and bandwidth when compared to a commercial Rogowki probe.
ASPIRE: iterative specification synthesis for security

How to perform a systematic security analysis of complex applications is a challenging and open question. Approaches based on formal verification are impeded due to the lack of application specifications. To address this challenge, we propose a framework, called ASPIRE, that enables analysts to automatically synthesize specifications from examples such as application input-output examples and system demonstrations. Our approach starts by synthesizing the initial candidate specifications in a domain specific language that conform to the examples, and iteratively prunes the candidate set by incorporating more user feedback. We implement a prototype of ASPIRE for synthesizing and checking specifications of web applications, although our approach is not limited to web security, and use it in three case studies to demonstrate the discovery of complex vulnerabilities in implementations of real world web applications. Our work is the first to design a general framework that leverages program synthesis techniques for security applications.
Open trial of exposure therapy for PTSD among patients with severe and persistent mental illness.

Abstract Objective There are few empirical data regarding effective treatment of trauma-related symptoms among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI; e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). This under-examined clinical issue is significant because rates of trauma and PTSD are higher among individuals with SMI relative to the general population, and there are sufficient data to suggest that PTSD symptoms exacerbate the overall course and prognosis of SMI. Method 34 veterans with SMI received prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD using an open trial study design. Results Data suggest that PE is feasible to implement, well-tolerated, and results in clinically significant decreases in PTSD severity in patients with SMI. Mean CAPS scores improved 27.2 points from baseline to immediate post [95% CI for mean change: −44.3, - 10.1; p = 0.002, paired t-test, and treatment gains were maintained at 6 months [mean change from baseline to 6-months, −16.1; 95% CI: −31.0, –1.2; p = 0.034, paired t-test]. Conclusions The current data support the use of exposure-based interventions for PTSD among individuals with SMI and highlight the need for rigorous randomized efficacy trials investigating frontline PTSD interventions in this patient population.
Aging alters feed-forward and feedback linkages between LH and testosterone in healthy men

To discern the effect of aging on coordinate luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion, we sampled healthy older men (age 62–74 yr,n = 11) and young controls (age 21–34 yr, n = 13) every ...
Continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil, etoposide and cis-diamminedichloro platinum in patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary origin

Summary We conducted a phase II clinical trial of 5-fluorouracil (5 day continuous infusion), cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum and etoposide in previously untreated patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary origin. Of the thirty-six evaluable patients (21 adenocarcinoma, 14 undifferentiated carcinoma and 1 squamous cell carcinoma), eight patients responded to this treatment (4 CR, 4 PR). Responses were seen in both soft tissue and visceral disease. Toxicity was significant and included grade III/IV myelosuppression in over 90% of patients treated. Non-hematologic toxicity included nausea/vomiting and stomatitis. Although the remissions obtained in this study appear to be durable (median duration of complete remission >24 months), the regimen does not appear to offer significant advantages over other less toxic and more easily administered cisplatin-based combinations.
A DNA-binding Molecule Targeting the Adaptive Hypoxic Response in Multiple Myeloma Has Potent Antitumor Activity

Multiple myeloma is incurable and invariably becomes resistant to chemotherapy. Although the mechanisms remain unclear, hypoxic conditions in the bone marrow have been implicated in contributing to multiple myeloma progression, angiogenesis, and resistance to chemotherapy. These effects occur via adaptive cellular responses mediated by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIF), and targeting HIFs can have anticancer effects in both solid and hematologic malignancies. Here, it was found that in most myeloma cell lines tested, HIF1α, but not HIF2α expression was oxygen dependent, and this could be explained by the differential expression of the regulatory prolyl hydroxylase isoforms. The anti–multiple myeloma effects of a sequence-specific DNA-binding pyrrole-imidazole (Py-Im) polyamide (HIF-PA), which disrupts the HIF heterodimer from binding to its cognate DNA sequences, were also investigated. HIF-PA is cell permeable, localizes to the nuclei, and binds specific regions of DNA with an affinity comparable with that of HIFs. Most of the multiple myeloma cells were resistant to hypoxia-mediated apoptosis, and HIF-PA treatment could overcome this resistance in vitro. Using xenograft models, it was determined that HIF-PA significantly decreased tumor volume and increased hypoxic and apoptotic regions within solid tumor nodules and the growth of myeloma cells engrafted in the bone marrow. This provides a rationale for targeting the adaptive cellular hypoxic response of the O_2-dependent activation of HIFα using polyamides.
Financial Burden of Cancer Clinical Trial Participation and the Impact of a Cancer Care Equity Program

INTRODUCTION Cancer clinical trial (CT) participation rates are low and financial barriers likely play a role. We implemented a cancer care equity program (CCEP) to address financial burden associated with trial participation. We sought to examine the impact of the CCEP on CT enrollment and to assess barriers to participation. METHODS We used an interrupted time series design to determine trends in CT enrollment before and after CCEP implementation. Linear regression models compared trial enrollment before and after the CCEP. We also compared patient characteristics before and after the CCEP and between CCEP and non-CCEP participants. We surveyed CCEP and non-CCEP participants to compare pre-enrollment financial barriers. RESULTS After accounting for increased trial availability and the trends in accrual for prior years, we found that enrollment increased after CCEP implementation (18.97 participants per month greater than expected; p < .001). A greater proportion of CCEP participants were younger, female, in phase I trials, lived farther away, had lower incomes, and had metastatic disease. Of 87 participants who completed the financial barriers survey, 49 CCEP and 38 matched, non-CCEP participants responded (63% response rate). CCEP participants were more likely to report concerns regarding finances (56% vs. 11%), medical costs (47% vs. 14%), travel (69% vs. 11%), lodging (60% vs. 9%), and insurance coverage (43% vs. 14%) related to trial participation (all p < .01). CONCLUSION CT participation increased following implementation of the CCEP and the program enrolled patients experiencing greater financial burden. These findings highlight the need to address the financial burden associated with CT participation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Financial barriers likely discourage patients from participating in clinical trials. Implementation of a cancer care equity program (CCEP) seeking to reduce financial barriers by assisting with travel and lodging costs was associated with increased trial accrual. The CCEP provided assistance to patients particularly in need, including those living farther away, those with lower incomes, and those reporting financial barriers related to trial participation. These findings suggest that financial concerns represent a major barrier to patient participation in clinical trials and underscore the importance of efforts to address these concerns.
Long-Range Correlated Fluorescence Blinking in CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots

We studied fluorescence intermittency (blinking) in pairs of colloidally grown nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) and found that the fluorescence trajectories of dots separated by up to ∼1 μm are correlated. Blinking rate enhancement was observed when nearby NQDs were in opposite emitting states. Models of fluorescence blinking in colloidal quantum dots typically invoke particle charging to explain bright and dark periods in the fluorescence trajectory. Likewise, the phenomenon of fluorescence blinking correlation observed in this study is explained by an interdot Coulomb interaction established by ejection of one or more photoinduced charges. Our results suggest that blinking can be controlled, ultimately leading to switchable nanoscale emitters.
Adaptive Refinement of Quadrilateral Finite Element Meshes Based Upon A Posteriori Error Estimation of Quantities of Interest

A posteriori error estimation in finite element analysis serves as an important guide to the meshing tool in an adaptive refinement process. However, the traditional posteriori error estimates, which are often defined in the energy or energy-type norms over the entire domain, provide users insufficient information regarding the accuracy of specific quantities in the solution. This paper describes an adaptive quadrilateral refinement process with a goal-oriented error estimation, in which a posteriori error is estimated with respect to the specified quantity of interest. The performance of this process is demonstrated on several practical problems where the comparison is with the adaptive process based on the traditional error estimation.
PIWI, piRNAs, and Germline Stem Cells: What’s the link?

Germline stem cells undergo asymmetric divisions. When they divide, they produce a stem cell as well as a more differentiated cell. Little is known about what allows germline stem cells to undergo these self-renewing divisions. Work in Drosophila melanogaster has given us insight into the proteins and small non-coding RNAs involved in maintaining these cells. One of the most interesting findings is that the asymmetric division of these stems cells is controlled by a protein called PIWI (P-element induced wimpy testis), which belongs to the Argonaute (AGO) family, and this protein is only expressed in gonadal cells [1].
Characterization of the fish assemblage in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon: Lesina Lagoon (central Adriatic Sea)

Abstract Taxonomic and functional properties and spatial–temporal variations of the small-sized fish assemblage were investigated in the micro-tidal Lesina Lagoon. Sampling was carried out monthly for a year in 9 stations, by means of a 2-mm mesh beach seine. According to the findings, the fish assemblage of Lesina Lagoon showed a low species richness. Marine migrants were the most represented in terms of number of species, with Mugilidae as dominant family. Nevertheless, residents were numerically prevalent, with the two species Atherina boyeri and Aphanius fasciatus showing the highest abundances. No marine stragglers were found. In addition, the temporal and spatial analysis of the fish assemblage showed weak temporal and spatial patterns of variation. In Lesina Lagoon, the taxonomic and functional structures of the fish assemblage seem to be strongly affected by the high degree of confinement of the lagoon from the open sea, which makes the fish assemblage very susceptible to changes in hydrological and local climatic conditions. The information achieved from this study may be useful for a better management of the natural aquatic resources in Lesina Lagoon and in Mediterranean lagoons.
Spoilage of Vacuum-Packaged Refrigerated Beef by Clostridium.

A motile, gram-positive, spore forming, anaerobic, psychrotrophic bacterial species, probably from the genus Clostridium , was involved in spoilage of vacuum-packaged refrigerated fresh beef. The spoilage was associated with accumulation of large quantities of foul smelling gas and purge in the bag and loss of color and texture of the meat. Attempts to grow the organism in several laboratory media were not yet successful; however, inoculation of purge from a spoiled sample into a fresh beef, vacuum-packaging and refrigeration storage facilitated growth of this species and produced characteristic spoilage of beef.
Design for Robust Testability

If a test set exists for a CMOS circuit which detects all the stuck-open faults in it in the presence of arbitrary circuit delays and timing skews, then the circuit is said to be robustly testable. We saw earlier in Chapter 2 that dynamic CMOS circuits, such as domino CMOS and cascode voltage switch logic circuits, are always robustly testable. However, this is not true for all static CMOS circuits. In this chapter, procedures for designing robustly testable static CMOS circuits will be discussed. Generally, the circuits are designed to be robustly testable with respect to single stuck-open faults. However, we will also discuss a method which guarantees robust testability with respect to multiple faults.
Recoupment of Pension Overpayments: Equitable Liens and Meaningful Reform after Montanile

This short paper reviews the current state of the law governing recoupment actions for defined benefit ERISA plans and focuses in particular on actions against retirees who are without fault for the overpayment. The paper argues that the current practices of many plans which focus on recovering overpayments without taking the consequences to the retiree into account are not required by either ERISA or the IRS. The practices which include ceasing all pension payments, huge cuts in payout amounts and unlimited reach back even in cases where the plan fiduciary has clearly breached its duty to participants, cause tremendous harm to participants who are invariably elderly and often disabled and/or living on a small, fixed income. The authors call for a limited reach back period of no more than three years and for a new requirement that plans obtain insurance in order to provide protection to both participants and plans when overpayment errors are discovered.
Impact of resolution modeling on accuracy and precision of lesion contrast measurements

The finite spatial resolution of PET scanners leads to a loss of quantitative accuracy in the measurement of activity in small structures. We sought to study the impact of resolution modeling on the accuracy and precision of contrast measurements in whole-body imaging. Resolution models of differing degrees of accuracy were incorporated into the system model of a 3D iterative time-of-flight PET reconstruction algorithm. Phantom and patient data with 10-mm hot spheres at multiple locations were used to measure the accuracy and variability of contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) measurements. In both phantom and patient studies, the accuracy of CRC values in small structures at clinically reasonable noise levels increased significantly (40–70%, depending on the activity distribution) when a simple, spatially invariant resolution model was included in the reconstruction, compared with the CRC values without resolution modeling (∼0.3); more accurate models led to a modest (≤10%) further improvement in the quantitative accuracy. In simulated trues-only phantom data, the variability of CRC values with resolution modeling was comparable to or reduced from that without resolution modeling. In the measured phantom and patient studies, the precision of CRC values was generally not significantly affected by the inclusion of resolution modeling in the reconstruction algorithm. For whole-body imaging, a simple resolution model provides a marked increase in contrast recovery without a concurrent increase in the variability of the contrast measurement.
Design and development of a self-contained personal electrostatic bioaerosol sampler (PEBS) with a wire-to-wire charger

ABSTRACTHere, we present a concept of a personal electrostatic bioaerosol sampler (PEBS), which is an open channel collector consisting of a novel wire-to-wire particle charger and a collection section housing a double-sided and removable metal collection plate and two quarter-cylinder ground electrodes. The charger consists of a tungsten wire (25.4 mm long and 0.076 mm in diameter) connected to high voltage and positioned in the center of the charging section (a cylinder 50.8 mm long and 25.4 mm in diameter); a ring of stainless steel wire 0.381 mm in diameter surrounds the hot electrode at its midpoint and is grounded. The newly designed wire-to-wire charger produces lower ozone concentrations compared to traditional wire-to-plate or wire-to-cylinder charger designs. The particles captured on the collection plate are easily eluted using water or other fluids. The sampler was iteratively optimized for optimum charging and collection voltages, and collection electrode geometry. When tested with polystyren...
Treatment of cutaneous leiomyomas with 5% lidocaine patches in a patient with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (Reed syndrome).

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) (formerly known as Reed syndrome, multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis, leiomyomatosis cutis et uteri, and multiple leiomyomatosis) is an autosomal dominant syndrome comprising cutaneous leiomyomas, uterine leiomyomas, or renal tumors. The cutaneous leiomyomas of HLRCC are classically painful and difficult to treat. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of cutaneous leiomyomas symptomatically treated with 5% lidocaine patches.
Perceived Fatigability and Objective Physical Activity in Mid- to Late-Life.

Background Fatigability, defined as fatigue in relation to a standardized task, predicts functional decline in older adults independent of reported tiredness or energy level. Although the sensation of fatigue, tiredness, and energy level adversely affect physical activity (PA), the association between fatigability and objectively measured PA is unknown. Methods Participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 557, 50% women, aged 50-97 years) were instructed to wear an Actiheart accelerometer for 7 consecutive days in the free-living environment. Perceived fatigability was assessed using the Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) after 5 minutes of treadmill walking at 1.5 mph (0.67 m/s) and categorized as low (6-7 RPE), intermediate (8-9 RPE), and high (10+ RPE) fatigability. Time-of-day PA differences between fatigability groups were assessed using mixed-effects modeling. Results Total daily PA was 1.3% lower for every unit increment in perceived fatigability after adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and medical factors (p = .01). In time-of-day analyses, the high fatigability group was less active compared to the low fatigability group throughout the day (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) and the intermediate fatigability group in the morning (8:00 am to 12:00 pm). Patterns of PA within the high fatigability group differed from both the intermediate and low groups in the morning but mirrored the intermediate group in the afternoon and evening. Discussion These results suggest that RPE is a bio-marker of fatigability associated with progressively lower PA with aging. Whether the effects of fatigability occurring at the end of the day reflect waning energy levels or a voluntary choice that could be modified remains to be evaluated.