cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linear Programming Formulations for Thermal-Aware Test Scheduling of 3D-Stacked Integrated Circuits

With technology scaling towards smaller geometries, the power density of modern integrated circuits (ICs) can potentially result into high temperatures during test, a problem further compounded by stacking dies in 3D stacked structures (3DSICs). Scheduling tests in a way to minimize the total test time becomes a key issue when temperature constraints are involved, since a more compact schedule leads to a hotter device. Unfortunately, many previous attempts at temperature-bounded scheduling either use inferior temperature models leading to under compaction, or they can only be applied to traditional single-die designs. Simple thermal models based on steady state temperatures are inadequate to schedule tests in 3DSICs due to their limitations. This paper proposes two formulations for test scheduling under thermal constraints for 3DSICs using the superposition principle, which allows for accurate thermal modeling and superior test compaction. This paper then compares them to previous formulations which use steady-state models, and also discusses the inherent limitations of the steady-state model. Results of the algorithms proposed in this paper show the superiority of the schedules obtained for testing 3DSICs.
Patient-centered outcomes following laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: a systematic review of the current literature.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to systematically review patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) and assess quality of life, pain, functionality, and patient satisfaction. Data Sources MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane database search identified 880 relevant articles. After the limits were applied, 14 articles were accepted for review. The analysis included health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures including quality of life, pain, function, satisfaction, and mental and emotional well-being. Conclusions Fourteen studies were reviewed. Mean study size was 92.6 subjects (24 to 306) and mean defect size was 71.7 cm2. LVHR improved the overall HRQoL in 6 of the 8 studies. Thirteen studies assessing pain demonstrated improved pain scores relative to preoperative levels and long-term follow up. LVHR was not associated with long-term pain. Functionality improved in 12 studies. Return to work ranged from 6 to 18 days postoperatively in 50% of studies and physical function scores improved in the remaining 50% of the studies. Patient satisfaction improved after LVHR in all studies assessing patient satisfaction. Fixation methods did not influence HRQoL. Laparoscopic repair was associated with improving mental and emotional well-being in 6 of the 7 studies.
The lymphocyte pore-forming protein perforin is associated with granules by a pH-dependent mechanism.

Abstract A pore-forming protein (PFP, perforin or cytolysin) has been found in the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. Extraction of granules with high-salt buffers or by freezing-and-thawing results in the release of perforin, which occurs only when the buffer pH is above 7.0. While high-salt extraction and freezing-and-thawing of granules at low pH (below 7.0) do not result in perforin release, these treatments render granules susceptible to a subsequent incubation with low-salt buffers (pH 7–8) that then solubilizes perforin completely. Granules may thus have been made leaky by high-salt extraction or freezing-and-thawing that may occur regardless of the buffer pH, while dissociation of perforin from granules may be exquisitely pH-sensitive. Freezing-and-thawing intact CTL and NK cells in physiological buffers with pH in the range of 7–8 (but not below 7) also causes release of perforin activity to the cell supernatant, thus providing a simple procedure by which perforin activity can be quantitated in small cell samples. Our results suggest that during lymphocyte-mediated killing, the extracellularly released perforin may rapidly dissociate from granules as a result of pH change and, in the process, become cytolytically active.
Baseball Competitions—Are Enough Games Played?

Abstract This article investigates the number of games of baseball that should be played (1) in a World Series competition, and (2) in a pennant race competition within each league, in order to have a reasonable level of confidence that the best team wins the competition. The current number of games played is found to be highly inadequate for the World Series and only barely sufficient for the pennant race.
Recursive Lagrangian Dynamics of Flexible Manipulator Arms

Nonlinear equations of motion are developed for flexible manipulator arms consisting of rotary joints that connect pairs of flexible links. Kinematics of both the rotary-joint mo tion and the link deformation are described by 4 X 4 trans formation matrices. The link deflection is assumed small so that the link transformation can be composed of summations of assumed link shapes. The resulting equations are pre sented as scalar and 4 X 4 matrix operations ready for pro gramming. The efficiency of this formulation is compared to rigid-link cases reported in the literature.
Knot polynomials and Vassiliev's invariants

A fundamental relationship is established between Jones' knot invariants and Vassiliev's knot invariants. Since Vassiliev's knot invariants have a firm grounding in classical topology, one obtains as a result a first step in understanding the Jones polynomial by topological methods.
Molecular level study of the formation and the spread of MoO3 on Au(111) by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The formation of MoO3 and its spontaneous spread over an Au (111) surface have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Metallic Mo clusters grown by Mo(CO)6 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have a constant size independent of the Mo coverage. Molecular oxygen does not react with low coverage of Mo, probably due to the encapsulation of the Mo clusters by Au. At higher coverage, O2 reacts with Mo, partially transforming the metallic Mo to Mo4+. NO2 can oxidize Mo efficiently to Mo6+ and Mo5+ species at all coverages investigated. XPS experiments show that the integrated intensity of the Mo 3d peaks increases by a factor of 2 upon the oxidation, suggesting the spread of the MoO3 over the surface. The STM study confirms this suggestion and provides the mechanistic details of the spreading. Mo oxide forms ramified two-dimensional islands covering a substantially larger fraction of the Au surface than the metallic Mo. We propose that the morphology change s...
TNFα is involved in neuropathic pain induced by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in rats

In patients with HIV/AIDS, neuropathic pain is a common neurological complication. Infection with the HIV itself may lead to neuropathic pain, and painful symptoms are enhanced when patients are treated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). The mechanisms by which NRTIs contribute to the development of neuropathic pain are not known. In the current studies, we tested the role of TNFα in antiretroviral drug-induced neuropathic pain. We administered 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC, one of the NRTIs) systemically to induce mechanical allodynia. We found that ddC induced overexpression of both mRNA and proteins of GFAP and TNFα in the spinal dorsal horn. TNFα was colocalized with GFAP in the spinal dorsal horn and with NeuN in the DRG. Knockdown of TNFα with siRNA blocked the mechanical allodynia induced by ddC. Intrathecal administration of glial inhibitor or recombinant TNF soluble receptor, reversed mechanical allodynia induced by ddC. These results suggest that TNFα is involved in NRTI-induced neuropathic pain.
Committing embryonic stem cells to early endocrine pancreas in vitro.

A panel of genetic markers was used to assess the in vitro commitment of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells toward the endoderm-derived pancreas and to distinguish insulin-expressing cells of this lineage from other lineages such as neuron, liver, and yolk sac. There are two nonallelic insulin genes in mice. Neuronal cells express only insulin II, whereas the pancreas expresses both insulin I and II. Yolk sac and fetal liver express predominately insulin II, small amounts of insulin I, and no glucagon. We found that ES-derived embryoid bodies cultured in the presence of stage-specific concentrations of monothio-glycerol and 15% fetal calf serum, followed by serum-free conditions, give rise to a population that expresses insulin I, insulin II, pdx-1 (a pancreas marker), and Sox17 (an endoderm marker). Immunohistochemical staining shows intracellular insulin particles, and its de novo production was confirmed by staining for C-peptide. Most, but not all, of the insulin+ or C-peptide+ cells coexpress glucagon, demonstrating a differentiation pathway to pancreas rather than yolk sac or fetal liver. Addition of β-cell specification and differentiation factors activin β B, nicotinamide, and exendin-4 to later-stage culture increased insulin-positive cells to 2.73% of the total population, compared with the control culture, which gave rise to less than 1% insulin-staining cells. These findings suggest that stepwise culture manipulations can direct ES cells to become early endocrine pancreas.
Significance of carboxylesterases and insensitive acetylcholinesterase in conferring organophosphate resistance in Lygus hesperus populations

Abstract We used four organophosphorus compounds (paraoxon, dichlorvos, naled, and oxydemeton-methyl) to study the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase purified from five field populations (Caldwell, Kuna, Roswell, and Star in Idaho and Logan in Utah) of Lygus hesperus Knight. The sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase to the four organophosphorus compounds in different insect locations was Logan > Roswell > Caldwell > Kuna > Star, and the insensitivity spectrum of acetylcholinesterase to different organophosphorus compounds was rather broad. A good correlation between the specific activity of carboxylesterases and trichlorfon LC 50 among the five populations of L. hesperus suggested that trichlorfon resistance was mainly established by carboxylesterase activity. Preincubation of paraoxon, dichlorvos, or oxydemeton-methyl with carboxylesterase (197.5 units/mg protein) from the Roswell insects reduced the inhibitory potency of these compounds by 81, 51, and 22%, respectively, while preincubation with carboxylesterases (44.7 units/mg protein) from the Logan insects reduced the inhibitory potency of these compounds by 33, 39, and 4%, respectively. Carboxylesterases in L. hesperus were fairly specific to certain organophosphorus compounds. It could reduce paraoxon more efficiently than oxydemeton-methyl.
Codes over non-Abelian groups: Point-to-point communications and computation over MAC

In this paper, we show that good structured codes over non-Abelian groups do exist. Specifically, we construct codes over the smallest non-Abelian group D 6 and show that the performance of these codes is superior to the performance of Abelian group codes of the same alphabet size. This promises the possibility of using non-Abelian codes for multi-terminal settings where the structure of the code can be exploited to gain performance. We also show that for the problem of computation over MAC, these codes are superior to random codes in certain cases.
Operator-based model-order reduction of linear periodically time-varying systems

Linear periodically time-varying (LPTV) abstractions are useful for a variety of communication and computer subsystems. In this paper, we present a novel operator-based model-order reduction (MOR) algorithm for reducing large LPTV systems to smaller ones, a capability useful for system-level performance analysis. Our procedure is based on generalizing existing matrix-based Krylov-sub-space algorithms to arbitrary function-space operators. Practical benefits of our approach include significantly enhanced algorithm and code modularity, compared to previous LPTV-MOR approaches based on a-priori discretization. We demonstrate the use of the proposed technique on several circuit examples.
pH shift protein recovery with organic acids on texture and color of cooked gels.

BACKGROUND Isoelectric solubilization and precipitation (ISP) processing uses pH shifts to separate protein from fish frames, which may increase commercial interest for silver carp. Texture and color properties of gels made from silver carp protein recovered at different pH strategies and organic acid types were compared. ISP was applied to headed gutted silver carp using 10 mol L−1 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and either glacial acetic acid (AA) or a (1:1) formic and lactic acid combination (F&L). Protein gels were made with recovered protein and standard functional additives. RESULTS Texture profile analysis and the Kramer shear test showed that protein gels made from protein solubilized at basic pH values were firmer, harder, more cohesive, gummier and chewier (P < 0.05) than proteins solubilized under acidic conditions. Acidic solubilization led to whiter (P < 0.05) gels, and using F&L during ISP yielded whiter gels under all treatments (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Gels made from ISP-recovered silver carp protein using organic acids show potential for use as a functional ingredient in restructured foods. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Education and Social Desirability Bias: The Case of a Black Presidential Candidate*

Objective. Survey research consistently reports a positive association between educational attainment and socially tolerant attitudes, but critics hold that respondents with high levels of education may simply purport to hold attitudes seen as socially desirable. In this article, we seek to adjudicate between the claim that the association between education and social tolerance is simply an artifact of sophisticated social desirability reporting on the part of well-educated respondents and the competing theory that education has a real impact on increasing forms of social tolerance. Methods. Using support for a black presidential candidate as our measure of social tolerance, we utilize an innovative online list experiment to test whether high levels of support are inflated because of social desirability reporting among the educational elite. Results. We find no evidence of systematic overreporting of support for a black presidential candidate among respondents with high levels of education, and note that social desirability bias declines as educational attainment increases. Conclusions. This research bolsters arguments about the liberalizing effect of education on socially tolerant attitudes, and challenges evidence that attributes this relationship to high levels of social desirability bias.
New blood-compatible polymers for artificial heart applications.

Flexible and rigid epoxy and urethane polymers containing heparin chemically and uniformly incorporated throughout and/or ionically complexed to quaternized amine grops were prepared and shown to have excellent thromboresistance in vitro and in vivo. These heparin-modified polymers were implanted into the vena cava of dogs and successfully passed multiple acute (2 hr) and chronic (2 week) exposure periods. It was also demonstrated that the chemically coupled heparinized epoxies had no measurable adverse effects on blood cells, platelets, or plasma proteins, and that the heparin was not extractable. Significantly, epoxies containing polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene glycol (an additive which had no thrombus-inhibiting properties of its own) also exhibited excellent thromboresistance when characterized in vivo in dogs. The applicability of these various materials for the fabrication of circulatory assist device components was demonstrated. The effect of polymer polarity, surface charge, and conductivity were investigated with indeterminate results and unmodified commercial polymers uniformly exhibited poor clotting characteristics. In vitro clot-inhibiting characteristics were shown to be a sufficient, but not necessary, condition for indicating in vivo thromboresistant activity in polymer systems.
Nonparametric multistate representations of survival and longitudinal data with measurement error

This paper proposes a nonparametric procedure to describe the progression of longitudinal cohorts over time from a population averaged perspective, leading to multistate probability curves with the states defined jointly by survival and longitudinal outcomes measured with error. To account for the challenges of informative dropout and nonlinear shapes of the longitudinal trajectories, we apply a bias corrected penalized spline regression to estimate the unobserved longitudinal trajectory for each subject. We then estimate the multistate probability curves on the basis of the survival data and the estimated longitudinal trajectories. We further use simulation-extrapolation method to reduce the estimation bias caused by the randomness of the estimated trajectories. We develop a bootstrap test to compare multistate probability curves between groups. We present theoretical justification of the estimation procedure along with a simulation study to demonstrate finite sample performance. We illustrate the procedure by data from the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension, and it can be widely applied in longitudinal studies.
Silent GABAA Synapses during Flurazepam Withdrawal Are Region-Specific in the Hippocampal Formation

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from CA1 pyramidal and dentate gyrus granule cells (GCs) in hippocampal slices to assess the effects of withdrawal from chronic flurazepam (FRZ) treatment on the function of synaptic GABAA receptors. In slices from control rats, acute perfusion of FRZ (30 microM) increased the monoexponential decay time constant of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) in CA1 and GCs (from 3.4 +/- 0.6 to 7.6 +/- 2.1 msec and from 4.2 +/- 0. 6 to 7.1 +/- 1.8 msec, respectively) but did not change their mean conductance, 10-90% rise time, or frequency of occurrence. Withdrawal (2-5 d) from chronic in vivo FRZ treatment (40-110 mg/kg per day, per os) resulted in a dramatic loss of mIPSCs in CA1 neurons. On day 5 of withdrawal, no mIPSCs could be recorded in 40% of CA1 pyramidal cells. In the remaining 60% of the neurons, mIPSCs had a reduced mean conductance (from 0.78 +/- 0.12 nS in vehicle-treated controls to 0.31 +/- 0.05 nS) and a diminished frequency of occurrence (from 20.7 +/- 7.9 to 4.1 +/- 0.6 Hz). We have estimated that >80% of GABAA synapses on CA1 pyramidal cells had become silent, whereas at still-active synapses the number of functional GABAA receptor channels decreased by 60%. This reduction rapidly reverted to control levels on day 6 of withdrawal. FRZ withdrawal did not alter mIPSC properties in GCs. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that chronic benzodiazepine treatment leads to a reduced number of functional synaptic GABAA receptors in a region-specific manner that may stem from differences in the subunit composition of synaptic GABAA receptors.
Formation and properties of thin‐walled phospholipid vesicles

Large numbers of thin-walled vesicles, 0.5 to 10 μ in diameter, can be formed by permitting a thinly spread layer of hydrated phospholipids to swell slowly in distilled water or an aqueous solution of nonelectrolytes. Electron micrographs and phospholipid analyses indicate that the walls consist of a single or a few bilayers. The vesicles can be centrifuged and resuspended in another medium, making them a useful system for studying permeability. The osmolarity of the solution in the interior of the vesicles can be estimated by immersion refractometry. The osmolarity of the internal aqueous phase is linearly related to the osmolarity of the external medium.
Cell interactions control the direction of outgrowth, branching and fasciculation of the HSN axons of Caenorhabditis elegans

The two serotonergic HSN motor neurons of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans innervate the vulval muscles and stimulate egg laying by hermaphrodites. By analyzing mutant and laser-operated animals, we find that both epithelial cells of the developing vulva and axons of the ventral nerve cord are required for HSN axonal guidance. Vulval precursor cells help guide the growth cone of the emerging HSN axon to the ventral nerve cord. Vulval cells also cause the two HSN axons to join the ventral nerve cord in two separate fascicles and to defasciculate from the ventral nerve cord and branch at the vulva. The axons of either the PVP or PVQ neurons are also necessary for the HSN axons to run in two separate fascicles within the ventral nerve cord. Our observations indicate that the outgrowth of the HSN axon is controlled in multiple ways by both neuronal and nonneuronal cells.
A Conceptual Model for work-related Neck and upper-limb Musculoskeletal Disorders

This paper presents a conceptual model for the pathogenesis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The model contains sets of cascading exposure, dose, capacity, and response variables, such that response at one level can act as dose at the next. Response to one or more doses can diminish or increase the capacity for responding to successive doses. The model is used as a framework for discussing the development of work-related muscle, tendon, and nerve disorders. It is intended as a beginning, to be modified to explain new findings as they become available. In research, it can help to identify areas needing additional data for the development and expression of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Researchers can use it to design laboratory and field studies. In practice, it demonstrates the relationship between common exposure factors and different responses. This information can be used to evaluate and design jobs for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Identification and characterization of ZapC: a stabilizer of the FtsZ-ring in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, spatiotemporal control of cell division occurs at the level of the assembly/disassembly process of the essential cytoskeletal protein FtsZ. A number of regulators interact with FtsZ and modulate the dynamics of the assembled FtsZ ring at the midcell division site. In this article, we report the identification of an FtsZ stabilizer, ZapC (Z-associated protein C), in a protein localization screen conducted with E. coli. ZapC colocalizes with FtsZ at midcell and interacts directly with FtsZ, as determined by a protein-protein interaction assay in yeast. Cells lacking or overexpressing ZapC are slightly elongated and have aberrant FtsZ ring morphologies indicative of a role for ZapC in FtsZ regulation. We also demonstrate the ability of purified ZapC to promote lateral bundling of FtsZ in a sedimentation reaction visualized by transmission electron microscopy. While ZapC lacks sequence similarity with other nonessential FtsZ regulators, ZapA and ZapB, all three Zap proteins appear to play an important role in FtsZ regulation during rapid growth. Taken together, our results suggest a key role for lateral bundling of the midcell FtsZ polymers in maintaining FtsZ ring stability during division.
The Neuropsychology of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is among the most common neurological disorders among the elderly and estimates of its prevalence in the United States are approximately 0.5% to 1% among individuals 65 to 69 years of age, rising to 1% to 3% among individuals older than 80 years of age. 1 Although idiopathic PD is most often first diagnosed in the sixth decade of life, there are many conditions which can mimic its presentation throughout the lifespan. This so-called parkinsonism may stem from long-term use of neuroleptics, other neurodegenerative diseases, such as supranuclear palsy, or even substance abuse. Nonetheless, the diagnosis of idiopathic PD is made via clinical symptoms, particularly the key motor symptoms of tremor, bradykinesia or hypokinesia, muscular rigidity, and postural instability. These symptoms are a direct result of the neuropathology which is characterized by loss of cells in the substantia nigra and other brain-stem nuclei that cause a significant diminishment of dopamine throughout the basal ganglia and other brain regions. Given the intimate connections of circuits between the basal ganglia and frontal lobe and the role such circuits play in cognition, it is not surprising that cognitive deficits are also observed in PD. Whereas typically mild at the beginning of the disease, these may later progress to full-blown dementia in some patients. This article is a brief overview of the cognitive or neuropsychological deficits associated with PD, as well as the effect newer neurosurgical interventions for PD have on cognition. The neuropsychological measures described below and more detailed information on PD are reviewed more fully in Lezak’s seminal text Neuropsychological Assessment, 2 as well as the more convenient Clinical Neuropsychol
Topographic analysis with monoclonal anti-idiotopes: probing the functional anatomy of immunoglobulin variable domains.

Attempts to correlate immunoglobulin variable domain functional properties with variable domain primary structure have been valuable, but these efforts have suggested that to more fully account for variable domain function in terms of structure will require knowledge of molecular relationships in three dimensions. In this review we describe generally applicable methods, using monoclonal anti-idiotopes, for the determination of spatial relationships of idiotopes relative to one another and relative to two orienting structural markers of variable domains: 1) the hapten-binding site and 2) the junction of the variable and constant domains. Using these methods it has been possible to construct an oriented idiotope map which spans the variable domain along an axis connecting the paratope and the variable domain-constant domain junction. In addition, it has been possible to correlate idiotope position with other properties of idiotope expression. This approach may contribute to the development of predictive pri...
Azithromycin is associated with increased survival in lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

Background Previous studies have suggested that azithromycin improves lung function in lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). However, these studies did not include a non-treated BOS control cohort or perform survival analysis. This study was undertaken to estimate the effect of azithromycin treatment on survival in lung transplant recipients with BOS. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive lung transplant recipients who developed BOS between 1999 and 2007. An association between azithromycin treatment and death was assessed using univariate and multivariate time-dependent Cox regression analysis. Results Of the 178 recipients who developed BOS in our study, 78 did so after 2003 and were treated with azithromycin. The azithromycin-treated and untreated cohorts had similar baseline characteristics. Univariate analysis demonstrated that azithromycin treatment was associated with a survival advantage and this beneficial treatment effect was more pronounced when treatment was initiated during BOS Stage 1. Multivariate analysis demonstrated azithromycin treatment during BOS Stage 1 (adjusted hazard ratio=0.23, p = 0.01) and absolute forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) at the time of BOS Stage 1 (adjusted hazard ratio=0.52, p = 0.003) were both associated with a decreased risk of death. Conclusions In lung transplant recipients with BOS Stage 1, azithromycin treatment initiated before BOS Stage 2 was independently associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death. This finding supports the need for a randomized, controlled trial to confirm the impact of azithromycin on survival in lung transplant recipients.
Reduced Inflammation and CD4 Loss in Acute SHIV Infection During Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Background. The impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretrovirals on breakthrough HIV or SHIV infection is not fully documented. We addressed the hypothesis that SHIVSF162P3 infection despite active PrEP results in altered early immune parameters, compared with untreated infection. Methods. Eleven rhesus macaques were infected during repeated, rectal, low-dose SHIVSF162P3 exposures while receiving concurrent oral PrEP (Truvada [n = 2] or GS7340 [n= 4]) or as untreated controls (n=5). We measured SHIV RNA, inflammatory cytokines, CD4 cells, and SHIV-specific and memory T cells until 20 weeks after peak viremia. Results. SHIV infection during PrEP resulted in 100-fold lower peak viremia and lower IL-15, IL-18, and IL-1Ra levels, compared with controls (P< .05; Wilcoxon rank-sum test). Unlike controls, PrEP-treated macaques showed no significant CD4 cell count reduction during acute infection and developed more SHIV-specific central memory T cells, relative to controls. After in vivo CD8 cell depletion, viral load increased to similar levels, indicating that CD8 cells were critical for viral control in both groups. Conclusions. PrEP with antiretrovirals has beneficial effects on early SHIV infection even when infection is not prevented. Although long-term immune control could not be examined in this SHIV infection model, our results suggest that PrEP results in improved early disease parameters in breakthrough infections. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with oral or topical antiretrovirals (ARVs) for the prevention of HIV infection is currently undergoing efficacy evaluation in clinical trials. Four trials have reported efficacy among men who have sex with men and heterosexual couples [1–4]; one trial in women was abandoned because of
CT and MR Imaging of Nontraumatic Neurologic Emergencies

This review has highlighted some of the disease processes that produce diagnostic difficulty in the emergency neuroradiology setting. Because radiologists are often the first individuals to consider these entities, they must be familiar with the clinical features that suggest the diagnosis. Furthermore, acquaintance with the various imaging findings of these diseases will allow early diagnosis and will help limit the severe complications that follow these neurologic emergency conditions if left untreated.
Higher-order dispersion compensation to enable a 3.6 μs wavelength-maintaining delay of a 100 Gb/s DQPSK signal

We demonstrate a method for dispersion slope compensation of a conversion/dispersion-based optical delay to enable 100Gb/s operation based on a spatial light modulator and fiber Bragg gratings. A continuous delay of up to 3.6μs for 100, 80, and 20Gb/s differential quadrature phase-shift-keyed (DQSPK) and 50, 40, and 10Gb/s differential phase-shift-keyed (DPSK) waveforms is shown. A time-delay bit-rate product of ~360,000 for 100Gb/s DQPSK with wavelength-maintaining operation is achieved.
Design of easily testable bit-sliced systems

Bit-sliced systems are formed by interconnecting identical slices or cells to form a one-dimensional iterative logic array (ILA). This paper presents several design techniques for constructing easily testable bit-sliced systems. Properties of ILA's that simplify their testing are examined. C-testable ILA's, which require a constant number of test patterns independent of the array size, are characterized, and a method for making an arbitrary ILA C-testable is presented. A new testability concept for arrays called I-testability is introduced. I-testability ensures that identical test responses can be obtained from every cell in an ILA, and thus simplifies response verification. I-testable ILA's are characterized, as well as Cl-testable arrays, which are simultaneously C- and I-testable. A method of making an arbitrary ILA Cl-testable is presented. The application of C- and I-testing to the design of bit-sliced (micro-) computers is investigated. For this purpose a family of easily testable processor slices is described. The design of a self-testing CPU based on I-testing is discussed, and compared with a more conventional self-testing design.
Validation Study of the Body Adiposity Index as a Predictor of Percent Body Fat in Older Individuals: Findings From the BLSA

The prevalence of obesity in the older population has risen over the past few decades both in the United States and worldwide (1). In the United States, nearly 70% of people over the age of 65 are overweight or obese (2). This is problematic as obesity leads to increased morbidity and mortality, and decreased function and quality of life in older individuals (3). Importantly, at advanced age, people tend to have disproportionately more fat than lean mass, and less fat is distributed subcutaneously (4). These changes, however, are not captured by simple body weight or relative body weight for height assessment. Currently, the gold standard of assessing body adiposity is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (5). Although DXA is accurate, it is not routinely used in clinical settings or large-scale research studies because it is costly and time consuming. Other methods such as bioelectrical impedance analysis or skinfold thickness are quicker and less expensive but are not as accurate in an older population (6–8). Up until recently, body mass index (BMI = (weight (kg))/(height (m2))) was the most widely used adiposity index. This index has been validated (9–11) and shown to correlate with body fatness. However, BMI has been proven inaccurate in some occasions and does not account for fat mass versus fat-free mass (12). Bedogni and colleagues (13) showed that in older women, BMI only explained 54.8% of fat percentage variance measured by DXA with a high prediction error of 15%. This poor association between BMI and body percent body fat (fat%) cautions against using BMI as an adiposity index in older individuals. Bergman and colleagues (5) recently developed a new index for body adiposity called the body adiposity index (BAI). This index uses both hip circumference (HC) and height (BAI = (HC)/((height)1.5) − 18). They found that unlike BMI, BAI correlated well with body fat percentage in both men and women without statistical correction (5). Thus far, however, BAI has only been validated in Mexican American, white, and black adults (ages 41±13.4 years) (14). To date, no information on the validity of this index has been established in an older population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the newly developed BAI in an older population from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, consisting of both men and women of different races. In this study, we included all individuals aged 55 years and older as the total sample, and we also did analyses on people aged 65 years and older. Our hypothesis was that BAI would be positively correlated with measured fat% in an older population (regardless of sex or race) without statistical adjustment and would correlate more strongly with measured fat% than BMI.
Nationwide analysis of short-term surgical outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy for malignancy.

Abstract Background Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is being increasingly utilized for esophageal cancer. It is unclear if MIE if being safely performed with satisfactory outcomes across the USA. We aimed to analyze the short-term surgical outcomes of MIE as compared to open esophagectomy (OE). Methods The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients who underwent MIE or OE for esophageal malignancy between 2010 and 2011. Margin positivity, lymph node retrieval, 30-day mortality, 30-day unplanned readmission rate and hospital length of stay. Results A total of 4047 patients were identified; 3050 (75.4%) underwent OE, and 997 (24.6%) underwent MIE. The proportion of MIE increased from 21.9% in 2010 to 27.4% in 2011 (p Conclusion MIE is being offered more frequently to patients with esophageal cancer, and maybe accompanied with better short-term outcomes including shorter hospital stay when compared to open esophagectomy.
A prospective evaluation of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus as a landmark for tibial tunnel placement in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction

Abstract Background The goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy and consistency of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus as a landmark in achieving the desired tibial tunnel location during primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods One hundred consecutive adult patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction were enrolled in the study. One sports-fellowship trained surgeon performed all ACL reconstructions using independent tunnel drilling with an accessory anteromedial portal for the femoral tunnel. All guide pins for the tibial tunnel were placed using a 55-degree guide using the posterior border of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus as a landmark. Following pin placement, a true lateral fluoroscopic image was obtained. These were digitally analyzed to measure the location of the pin along the length of the tibial plateau. Results The average anteroposterior (A–P) distance achieved using the posterior border of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus as a landmark for tibial tunnel placement was 37.0% ± 5.2% (mean ± standard deviation) [range 26.4%–49.2%]. 66% of tibial tunnels were located between 30.0% and 39.9% of the A–P tibial distance. Only 18% of tibial tunnels localized between 40.0% and 44.9%, the area of the anatomic footprint described by Staubli and Rauschning [9] 16% of patients were significant outliers, with tunnels localizing to 25.0%–29.9% (6 patients) or 45.0%–49.9% (10 patients). Conclusions Use of the posterior border of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus as a landmark for tibial tunnel placement during anatomic ACL reconstruction yields an inconsistent tunnel location. Level of Evidence II, Prospective study.
Altruism, Macroeconomic Aggregates and the Cyclical Behavior of Fertility: Theory and Evidence from U.S. Data

Using U.S. data for 1976-2013, this paper studies the effects of various macroeconomic variables, particularly the national debt, government budget deficits and taxes, on fertility decisions over the business cycle. A rise in the debt-GDP ratio, government spending-GDP ratio and the deficit-GDP ratio reduces fertility. On the other hand, a fall in the tax revenues-GDP ratio is associated with lower fertility rates. These results hold even after controlling for other potential determinants of fertility such as the female participation rate in the labor force, inflation rate, GDP growth rate, urbanization rate, female life expectancy, marriage rate and divorce rate. I then show that these findings can, to a large extent, be explained by an overlapping generations model with altruism, and that abstracting from altruism delivers results that are at odds with the data.
Survey of reactor aspects of compact fusion concepts

A compact fusion reactor is one that has a higher power density and, for the same total power, is significantly smaller than a conventional magnetic fusion reactor. This survey reviews the principal physics and technology employed by compact fusion power plants. Each of these concepts has been proposed as a fusion power source and rudimentary power plant designs exist. The concepts reviewed are: compact reversed-field pinch reactors, the Ohmically Heated Toroidal Experiment reactor, TRACT, field-reversed mirror reactor, spheromak, field-reversed theta pinch, compact tokamak reactors, dense Z-pinch reactor, imploding liner reactors, and the wall-confined fusion reactor.
The potential use of conceptual models of cultural competence in the nursing profession

Abstract The study focuses on the potential use of conceptual models of cultural competences in the nursing profession. The research was designed as a summary study and based on content analysis of studies published within the scientific databases EBSCOhost, PubMed and Scopus, by using the key words: cultural competence, model and nursing. The study points out the influence of globalization as a spontaneous uncontrolled process of integration of countries around the world in a single system, and the subsequent need for cultural competence. The most frequently cited cultural competences are knowledge, skills, attitudes, the ability to react in a kind and efficient manner to people from all cultures, recognition, respect and responsibility, provision of qualified care and the long-term process of self-education. The conceptual models presented in this article and characterized by cultural competence include the Great Theory of Nursing by Madeleine Leininger, the model of Irena Papadopoulus, Mary Tilki and Gina Taylor of the development of cultural competence, the model of development of cultural competence by Josepha Campinha-Bacote, and the model of cultural competences by Larry D. Purnell. The results showed that cultural competence constitutes an indispensable component of the modern nursing profession in connection with transcultural nursing. The analysis of the published works pointed out that the above stated models are essential for the field of nursing.
Feeding patterns of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) simultaneously exposed to malarious and healthy mice, including a method for separating blood meals from conspecific hosts.

A method involving injection of anti-estradiol into mice and subsequently assaying this immunoglobulin in the blood meal radio-immunologically was developed to mark conspecific animals for mosquito feeding experiments. Mosquitoes released into cages containing 1 uninfected mouse and 1 mouse infected with either Plasmodium chabaudi or P. berghei engorged almost exclusively on the infected animal. Engorgement success depended on rodent defensive behavior, which was significantly modified by malaria infection. Mosquitoes successfully obtained blood from P. chabaudi -infected mice on day 9–13 postinfection. Mice infected with P. berghei were most vulnerable to mosquito engorgement on day 6–8 and 17–20 postinfection. When cages contained 2 uninfected mice, mosquitoes rarely engorged. Mosquitoes in cages containing 2 malaria-infected mice had engorgement profiles similar to those in cages containing an infected and uninfected mouse.
New Paradigms for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research in Electronic Medical Records: An Example of Detecting Urinary Incontinence Following Prostatectomy.

Introduction: National initiatives to develop quality metrics emphasize the need to include patient-centered outcomes. Patient-centered outcomes are complex, require documentation of patient communications, and have not been routinely collected by healthcare providers. The widespread implementation of electronic medical records (EHR) offers opportunities to assess patient-centered outcomes within the routine healthcare delivery system. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and accuracy of identifying patient centered outcomes within the EHR. Methods: Data from patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing prostatectomy were used to develop and test algorithms to accurately identify patient-centered outcomes in post-operative EHRs – we used urinary incontinence as the use case. Standard data mining techniques were used to extract and annotate free text and structured data to assess urinary incontinence recorded within the EHRs. Results. A total 5,349 prostate cancer patients were identified in our EHR-system between 1998-2013. Among these EHRs, 30.3% had a text mention of urinary incontinence within 90 days post-operative compared to less than 1.0% with a structured data field for urinary incontinence (i.e. ICD-9 code). Our workflow had good precision and recall for urinary incontinence (positive predictive value: 0.73 and sensitivity: 0.84). Discussion. Our data indicate that important patient-centered outcomes, such as urinary incontinence, are being captured in EHRs as free text and highlight the long-standing importance of accurate clinician documentation. Standard data mining algorithms can accurately and efficiently identify these outcomes in existing EHRs; the complete assessment of these outcomes is essential to move practice into the patient-centered realm of healthcare.
Cl- current in IMCD cells activated by hypotonicity: time course, ATP dependence, and inhibitors

The hypertonic environment of the renal medulla can change rapidly according to the state of hydration of the animal. We used primary cultures of rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells to investigate the characteristics of Cl- currents activated by an acute reduction in osmolarity (ICl(osm)). Using the whole cell patch-clamp technique, we identified an outwardly rectifying current that decayed slowly at strongly depolarizing voltages. The onset of ICl(osm) began 6.7 min after the fall in bath osmolarity, a delay longer than reported in other cell types. Hypotonicity did not induce an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and activation of ICl(osm) did not require the presence of Ca2+. Intracellular ATP was needed to evoke ICl(osm) when the hypotonic stimulus was modest (50 mosmol/l or less) but was not necessary when the stimulus was stronger (100 mosmol/ l). ICl(osm) was inhibited by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid but not by tamoxifen or glibenclamide. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid produced a voltage-dependent block. Acute reduction in osmolarity using cells grown on filters did not induce a Cl- secretory current. The ICl(osm) of IMCD cells appears to be on the basolateral membrane and displays some unique features.
Binding of carboxylate and trimethylammonium salts to octa-acid and TEMOA deep-cavity cavitands

In participation of the fifth statistical assessment of modeling of proteins and ligands (SAMPL5), the strength of association of six guests (3-8) to two hosts (1 and 2) were measured by 1H NMR and ITC. Each host possessed a unique and well-defined binding pocket, whilst the wide array of amphiphilic guests possessed binding moieties that included: a terminal alkyne, nitro-arene, alkyl halide and cyano-arene groups. Solubilizing head groups for the guests included both positively charged trimethylammonium and negatively charged carboxylate functionality. Measured association constants (K a ) covered five orders of magnitude, ranging from 56 M-1 for guest 6 binding with host 2 up to 7.43 × 106 M-1 for guest 6 binding to host 1.
Effect of Preswelling on Durable-Press Performance of Cotton1:

Treatment of cotton twill with liquid ammonia, followed by aqueous rinsing and drying left the fabric supple and soft. Pretreatment of cotton twill with liquid ammonia prior to cross-linking for du...