cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Timing of tracheostomy after anterior cervical spine fixation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cervical spinal cord injury frequently undergo early anterior cervical spine fixation (ACSF) and tracheostomy procedures to reduce further deterioration, to reduce risk of pulmonary complications, and to improve patient mobilization. However, tracheostomy is often delayed because of the risk of cross contamination as a result of the proximity to the ACSF incision site. Currently, there is a paucity of studies evaluating this outcome to determine the safety of early tracheostomy after ACSF. In this study, we have evaluated the outcomes and complications associated with early tracheostomy placement. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent tracheostomy placement and ACSF during the same hospitalization between 2005 and 2010. A variety of patient and procedural data were collected, including demographics, timing of ACSF and tracheostomy, length of hospitalization, indication for surgery, American Spinal Injuries Association and Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission, reason for tracheostomy, method of tracheostomy, and complications. RESULTS: Of the 1,184 patients who underwent an ACSF, 20 (1.7%) required a postfixation tracheostomy. Tracheostomy was performed at mean (SD) of 6.9 (4.2) days after ACSF, ranging from 0 to 17 days. Although nearly half of all patients underwent postfixation tracheostomy within 6 days, no wound or implant infection was seen to occur in any patient. Ten patients (50%) developed ventilator-associated pneumonia, with most cases occurring before tracheostomy (90% vs. 10%, p < 0.0001). Univariate analysis only revealed late tracheostomy to significantly increase the risk of complications (odds ratio, 9.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-73.0; p = 0.033). Analysis of all studies in the literature revealed a 1% cross-infection rate, with no cases involving implant contamination. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that early tracheostomy can be performed safely after cervical spine fixation surgery, with no patients developing incisional or implant infections. As the risk of cross contamination is only 1%, early tracheostomy should be strongly considered because of its potential benefits. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, level IV.
The Spectrum of Nearly Inertial Turbulence in a Stably Stratified Fluid.

Abstract The assumptions leading to the classical inertial subrange spectral forms are critically examined. It is shown how, by slightly relaxing the assumptions, a form can be obtained for the spectrum in the presence of other energy sinks. The technique is applied to a stably stratified medium, and the results compared with experiments and other theories.
A New Class of Interlaced Complementary Codes Based on Components with Unity Peak Sidelobes

A new class of biphase complementary code sets is proposed. Individual codes in each set have maximum sidelobes of unity magnitude. The individual codes could have gaps of zeros but they are interlaced together without gaps in the final scheme. A number of such codes, as presented in this paper, use Barker codes as building blocks with additional elements from {+1, -1, 0}. An extension to polyphase interlaced complementary codes with unity peak sidelobes components is also discussed. The main drawback of regular complementary codes longer than 4 is that they have peak sidelobe magnitude greater than unity. In the presence of frequency selective fading or other factors, inexact sidelobe cancellation results in non-zero sidelobes at the output. This is minimized in the proposed schemes by using codes that have peak sidelobes of unity magnitude as the individual codes in the sets. A figure of merit is proposed to measure the frequency use efficiency of the proposed codes as well as other multi-frequency codes.
Interfacial properties of SiC-borosilicate glass composites evaluated from pushout and pullout tests

On etudie les proprietes interfaciales de composites constituees par une matrice en verre de borosilicate renforcee par des fibres de carbure de silicium, proprietes evaluees a partir d'essais d'arrachement et d'essais d'extraction de fibres par poussee
A decentralized parallel implementation for parallel tempering algorithm

Parallel tempering (PT), also known as replica exchange, is a powerful Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling approach, which aims at reducing the relaxation time in simulations of physical systems. In this paper, we present a novel decentralized parallel implementation of PT using the message passing interface (MPI) and the scalable parallel random number generators (SPRNG) library. By taking advantage of the characteristics of pseudorandom number generators, this implementation eliminates global synchronization and reduces the overhead caused by interprocessor communication in replica exchange in PT. Moreover, our proposed non-blocking replica exchange reduces communication overhead in pair-wise process replica exchanges by allowing the process reaching the replica exchange point to leap-ahead while waiting for the other one to reach the common replica exchange point. Also, temperature exchange instead of conformation replica exchange is proposed to reduce communication and achieve load balancing in the participating processors in the PT computation. All these enable one to efficiently apply PT to large-scale massively parallel systems. The efficiency of this parallel PT implementation is demonstrated in the context of minimizing various benchmark functions with complicated landscapes as objective functions. Our computational results and analysis have shown that the decentralized PT is scalable, reproducible, load-balanced, and yields insignificant communication overhead.
A Modified Gibbs Ensemble Method for Calculating Fluid Phase Equilibria

Abstract A modification of the Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo computer simulation method for fluid phase equilibrium is described. The modification, which is based on the assumption of a thermodynamic model for the vapor phase, reduces the computational time for the simulation as compared to the original Gibbs ensemble methods. Since the computational time is largely proportional to the number of particle-particle interactions, avoiding the direct simulation of the vapor phase typically leads to a thirty to forty percent reduction in computational time. For a pure Leonard-Jones-(12,6) fluid the results obtained at moderate reduced temperatures, T/Tc < 0.8, are in good agreement with the full Gibbs ensemble method.
Viscous and Thermal Wakes in MHD Generators

SEPARATE analytical studies of the development of velocity and thermal wakes in MHD generators are conducted and their influence on the performance of the generator is evaluated. l Such wakes could be the result of inlet vanes in a linear generator to reduce end losses or inlet swirl vanes in a disk generator to improve efficiency. Nomenclature £ = length of flat plate u - fluid velocity in x-direction €0 = virtual kinematic viscosity r) = similarity coordinate for wake
Photochemical and discharge-driven pathways to aromatic products from 1,3-butadiene.

A detailed study of the photochemical and discharge-driven pathways taken by gas-phase 1,3-butadiene has been carried out. Photolysis or discharge excitation was initiated inside a short reaction tube attached to the outlet of a pulsed valve. Bath gas temperatures near 100 K were achieved in the reaction tube by the constrained expansion of the gas mixture into the tube, simulating temperatures of relevance in Titan’s atmosphere. Photolysis of 1,3-butadiene was initiated at 218 nm with a laser pulse that counter-propagated the reaction tube. Discharge excitation was carried out using discharge electrodes imbedded in the reaction tube walls, enabling the study of the photochemical and discharge products under similar conditions. Products were detected using either single-photon VUV photoionization (118 nm ) 10.5 eV) or resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) spectroscopy in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Emphasis was placed on characterization of the aromatic products formed, since these may be of particular relevance to Titan’s atmosphere, where benzene has been positively identified and 1,3-butadiene is projected as the principle pathway to its formation. Consistent with previous studies of the photodissociation of 1,3-butadiene, C 3H3 + CH3 is the dominant primary product formed. Under the temperature-pressure conditions present in the reaction tube ( T 75-100 K, P ) 50 mbar), C6H6 is the dominant secondary photochemical product formed. A 1:1 C4H6:C4D6 mixture was used to prove that the C6H6 product was formed by recombination of two C3H3 radicals; however, a careful search for benzene revealed none, indicating that less than 1% of the C6H6 formed in the reaction tube is benzene. This is consistent with expectations for these temperatures and pressures based on previous modeling of propargyl recombination. Two aromatic products were observed from the photochemistry: ethylbenzene and 3-phenylpropyne. Plausible pathways leading to these products are proposed. In the discharge, C 3H3 + CH3 are also identified as significant primary neutral products and C 6H6 as a dominant higher-mass product. In this case, the C6H6 was identified as benzene via its R2PI spectrum, appearing with intensity about 10 times larger than any other aromatic formed in the discharge. R2PI spectra of a total of about 15 aromatic products were recorded from the 1,3-butadiene discharge, among them toluene; styrene; phenylacetylene; o-, m-, and p-xylene; ethylbenzene; indane; indene; ‚-methylstyrene; and naphthalene. Previously unidentified spectra in the m/z 142 and 144 mass channels were positively identified as the 1,3- and 1,4-isomers of phenylcyclopentadiene and the analogous 1-phenylcyclopentene.
Extensive trafficking of MHC class II-invariant chain complexes in the endocytic pathway and appearance of peptide-loaded class II in multiple compartments

Major histocompatibility complex class II molecules bind and present to T cells fragments of protein antigens entering the endocytic pathway. Using normal B lymphoblasts, we have combined metabolic pulse-chase labelling, high resolution organelle fractionation, and immunoprecipitation to examine class II trafficking and antigen loading in a physiological model system. Most newly synthesized class II-invariant chain complexes first entered early endosomes, then accessed multiple discrete endocytic subcompartments cofractionating with late endosomes and immature lysosomes. Invariant chain was removed and peptide-loaded class II molecules appeared in each of these latter distinct organelles. These findings suggest that class II molecules traffic through much of the endocytic pathway, permitting capture of distinct determinants made available under differing conditions of pH and proteolytic activity.
Resection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Immunocompromised Patients

Background: Immunocompromised patients are prone to develop invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Relapse and high mortality rates are seen in those patients who receive subsequent immunotoxic therapy. Standard antifungal regimens often fail to completely eradicate IPA, which then warrants an aggressive surgical approach.
Complement yourself: transcomplementation rescues partially folded mutant proteins

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal disease associated with malfunction in fluid and electrolyte transport across several mucosal membranes. The most common mutation in CF is an in-frame three-base pair deletion that removes a phenylalanine at position 508 in the first nucleotide-binding domain of the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel. This mutation has been studied extensively and leads to biosynthetic arrest of the protein in the endoplasmic reticulum and severely reduced channel activity. This review discusses a novel method of rescuing ΔF508 with transcomplementation, which occurs when smaller fragments of CFTR containing the wild-type nucleotide binding domain are co-expressed with the F508 deletion mutant. Transcomplementation rescues the processing and channel activity of ΔF508 and reduces its rate of degradation in airway epithelial cells. To apply transcomplementation as a therapy would require that the cDNA encoding the truncated CFTR be delivered to cells. We also discuss a gene therapeutic approach based on delivery of a truncated form of CFTR to airway cells using adeno-associated viral vectors.
Statistical Analysis System of Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Reports

Background: Spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting data has been used for safety of post-market drug surveillance. A system has been required that is able to detect signals associated with drugs by analyzing the collected ADR data. Methods: We developed the web-based automated analysis system (ADR-detector). We used the data which reported ADR spontaneously between March 2009 and December 2010 to Korean Food and Drug Administration. We used 3 statistical indicators for evaluating ADR signals: proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), and information component (IC). The ADR reports which were detected as significant signals based on the indicators have been reviewed. Results: Among 153,774 reports, 9,955 cases were related to 4 analgesics which were most frequently reported analgesic drugs during the study period. The numbers of ADR reports associated with each drug are as follow: 5,623 reports in tramadol (56.5 %), 1,720 reports in fentanyl (17.3 %), 1,463 reports in tramadol-combination (14.7 %), and 1,149 reports in ketorolac (11.5 %). Top 5 ADR were nausea (3,351 reports – 33.7 %), vomiting (1,755 reports – 17.6 %), dizziness (1,130 – 11.4 %), rash (412 reports – 4.1 %), and pruritus (354 reports – 3.6 %). 6,674 ADR reports were significant based on PRR and ROR, and 336 reports were significant based on IC. Conclusion: By using the automated analysis system, not only statisticians but also general researchers are able to analyze ADR signals in real-time. Also ADR-detector would provide rapid review and cross-check of ADR.
Initial Clinical Experience with the Baerveldt Implant in Complicated Glaucomas

Background: The Baerveldt glaucoma implant is an aqueous shunting device with a large surface area that is installed through a conjunctival incision in one quadrant of the eye. This study presents the initial results of the first 13 patients who underwent Baerveldt implantation as part of the Food and Drug Administration approval process. Methods: Thirteen patients with medically uncontrollable complicated glaucomas underwent one-stage implantation of either a 200- or 350-mm 2 Baerveldt implant without postoperative systemic antifibrosis therapy. Surgical success was defined as intraocular pressure greater than or equal to 6 and less than or equal to 21 mmHg without glaucoma reoperation or devastating complication. Results: Eight patients (62%) had successful surgical outcomes, with a mean followup of 17.3 ± 7.0 months (± standard deviation) (range, 6–24 months). Seven (70%) of the ten patients with glaucomas associated with aphakia or pseudophakia had successful outcomes, whereas only one (50%) of the two patients with neovascular glaucomas had a successful outcome. One patient with glaucoma associated with nanophthalmos and an unsuccessful filtering procedure had a failed outcome. The postoperative visual acuities remained within one line of the preoperative visual acuities or improved in 62% of the patients. The most frequent complications among all patients were transient serous choroidal effusion (23%) and hyphema (15%). Conclusion: Initial results of the Baerveldt implant generally are comparable with other implants. It is easier to install and requires less extensive conjunctival dissection than other large implants. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Baerveldt implant in affording long-term intraocular pressure control.
Tuberculosis following solid organ transplantation.

D. Lopez de Castilla, N.W. Schluger. Tuberculosis following solid organ transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2010: 12: 106–112. All rights reserved Background. Organ transplantation places patients at risk for tuberculosis (TB), which constitutes a challenge to physicians due to its atypical and extrapulmonary presentations, complicated treatment issues, and high morbidity and mortality. Methods. We identified all patients with TB following solid organ transplantation at a large university medical center in New York. Demographic data, transplant characteristics (type of organ and donor), underlying medical conditions, immunosuppressive drugs, rejection and opportunistic infections were analyzed, and a nested case–control study was performed to identify factors associated with the development of TB. Results. From 1988 to 2007, 4925 transplants were performed at Columbia University Medical Center: 1858 kidney, 857 liver, 1714 heart, 460 lung, and 36 heart/lung. Thirteen patients developed TB, for a cumulative incidence of 264/100,000. Of the 13 patients who developed TB, 10 had a kidney transplant, 2 had a lung transplant, and 1 had a heart transplant. The median time to develop TB was 11.2 (interquartile ratio: 4.4–23.0) months following transplantation. These cases were compared with 52 randomly selected control patients who had transplants not complicated by TB. Patients with TB were more likely to be renal transplant recipients (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 4.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–19.67) and to be non-Caucasians (adjusted OR: 3.94; 95% CI: 0.99–15.56) than controls. Conclusions. The incidence of TB in post-transplant patients is much higher than the overall background incidence in the United States. Non-Caucasian and kidney transplant recipients appear to be at increased risk of developing TB. This may be associated with prior exposure to TB before transplant in these populations.
Randomized Trials to Modify Patients’ Preoperative Expectations of Hip and Knee Arthroplasties

Patients have multiple expectations of THA and TKA. We asked whether preoperative educational classes addressing recovery during the first year could modify patients’ expectations of their 12-month postoperative recovery. Participants were enrolled consecutively in two randomized, controlled trials, one for THA (177 patients) and one for TKA (143 patients). Control patients preoperatively received a standard THA or TKA class addressing recovery immediately after surgery. Intervention patients preoperatively received the standard class plus a joint-specific module addressing recovery during the first 12 months. Before and after the class, patients completed either a hip-specific or knee-specific validated expectations survey. The main outcome was the within-patient change in expectation scores (maximum increase, +100; maximum decrease, −100) before and after the class but preoperatively. Mean changes in hip scores were +3.3 ± 8 for intervention patients (range, −22–+32) and +4.9 ± 8 for control patients (range, −13–+29). Mean changes in knee scores were −3.4 ± 10 for intervention patients (range, −26–+33) and +2.4 ± 10 for control patients (range, −30–+30). Patients’ preoperative expectations of their recovery from THA or TKA can be modified by preoperative educational classes. Level of Evidence: Level I, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
daf-16: An HNF-3/forkhead Family Member That Can Function to Double the Life-Span of Caenorhabditis elegans

The wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans nematode ages rapidly, undergoing development, senescence, and death in less than 3 weeks. In contrast, mutants with reduced activity of the gene daf-2, a homolog of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptors, age more slowly than normal and live more than twice as long. These mutants are active and fully fertile and have normal metabolic rates. The life-span extension caused by daf-2 mutations requires the activity of the gene daf-16. daf-16 appears to play a unique role in life-span regulation and encodes a member of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF-3)/forkhead family of transcriptional regulators. In humans, insulin down-regulates the expression of certain genes by antagonizing the activity of HNF-3, raising the possibility that aspects of this regulatory system have been conserved.
Linear and numerical linear algebra in control theory: some research problems

Abstract This paper presents an informal survey of theoretical and computational aspects of three linear-algebra problems arising in control theory, namely, the Sylvester-observer matrix equation, the matrix eigenvalue assignment problem, and the stability and stabilization of large second-order systems. Difficulties are highlighted. Recent developments are mentioned. Some research problems in these areas, which should be of interest to both linear algebraists and control theorists, are described.
The Effect of Interruption Modality on Primary Task Resumption

The majority of empirical papers investigating the effect of interruption modality on primary task resumption have been grounded in Multiple Resource theory; this theory stresses the benefits of cr...
From balance to community: Transnational identity and political integration

(1998). From balance to community: Transnational identity and political integration. Security Studies: Vol. 8, The Origins of National Interests, pp. 270-301.
Purification of anti-thyroglobin antibodies.

WE wish to report a simple method for obtaining highly purified anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. We are prompted to communicate our findings because of the interest at present in thyroglobulin antibodies—particularly with respect to human ‘auto-immune’ disease; the fact that the purification of these antibodies has not been previously described; and finally because of the ease with which good yields of purified antibody may be obtained.
An empirical study of partner actions and ethical conflict

Abstract Recent accounting studies have examined the role of conflict in the organizational context and its effect on employees' behavior. The relationship between the organization and its employees as well as the relationships among the organization's employees should be a matter of concern to organizations as they attempt to foster employee commitment. The results of this study show that partners have an important impact on the level of ethical conflict faced by accountants in the conduct of their professional responsibilities. While partner actions are not all-encompassing, they do explain a significant portion of the ethical conflict faced by accountants today. In addition to this factor, the organizational commitment of the accountants has an intervening impact on the partner action-ethical conflict chain. Finally, the job characteristics and social responsibility are important moderators of the partner actions-organizational commitment-ethical conflict model. As such, it is important that accountants consider the potential ramifications of each of these factors when faced with a situation involving ethical conflict.
Dynamics of propagating phase boundaries: adiabatic theory for thermoelastic solids

This paper examines adiabatic processes in a thermoelastic material undergoing a solid-solid phase transition. It is shown that an initial-value problem of Riemann type, based on momentum balance, energy balance, kinematic compatibility and the entropy inequality, has a one-parameter family of solutions for a range of given data. Within this adiabatic setting, the notions of driving traction and kinetic relation are discussed. The enforcement of a kinetic relation at phase boundaries is shown to single out a particular solution of this Riemann problem from among the family of available solutions.
Europe's intergovernmental NGO: The OSCE in Europe's emerging security structure

The OSCE is little understood outside diplomatic circles, but has a unique and increasing role in encouraging European peace and stability. The article highlights the OSCE's historical development and its more recent role in the European security structure. The OSCE mission in Latvia, tracking the country's language and citizenship issue, is illustrative of the organization's unusual charter. A second section attempts to fix the OSCE within the context of contemporary international theory and the developing literature on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). With a broad but thin mandate, the organization manages regime activity left over from NATO and EU disinterest or immobility and, with its extensive grassroot efforts at problem‐solving, functions much like an NGO. OSCE success may lie in the combination of regime and NGO attributes, allowing it to move easily both within and outside of formal governmental structures.
Passive Stabilization Of A Fiber Optic Nonlinear Sensor Using A Synchronous Sampling Scheme

A new synchronous sampling demodulation scheme capable of providing passive stabilization for nonlinear sensors has been successfully demonstrated in a fiber optic magnetometer.
Bluespec and Haskell

Bluespec is a commercial hardware design language based on the abstraction of Guarded Atomic Actions (GAAs). GAAs provide a level of modularity and composition that the standard FSM-based representation does not. At it's heart Bluespec can be looked at as a relatively simple DSL (GAAs and modules) with a fully func-tioning Haskell-like meta programming layer on top. Bluespec allows the designer to use different compositional approaches which often results in flexible, robust and efficient designs.We have found that Hardware experts generally have substantially better intuition about which constructions provide better circuit level properties and are easily able to express relatively efficient designs, though, at least initially, in a rather verbose manner. In contrast, functional programmers are almost immediately able to leverage the advanced language features to get a concise and flexible design representation but have difficulty making the generated hardware efficient. As both sets of users gain experience they get better at the other aspect of design and climb towards achieving both microarchitectural and representational excellence simultaneously which appears unmatched by other higher-level general purpose hardware languages.We will present a historical development of Bluespec, and muse on topics such as C-based versus FP-based syntax, DSLs versus Embedded DSLs etc.
Role of Hydrogen Peroxide in the Cytotoxic Effects of UVA/B Radiation on Mammalian Cells

Effects of selenium (Se) deficiency on the sensitivity of murine leukemia L1210 cells to broad band UVA/B radiation (310–400nm) have been investigated. Cells rendered glutathione peroxidase (GPX) deficient by shortterm (2–3week) growth in 1% serum/RPMI medium without added Se [LSe(-) cells] were found to be much less resistant to clonally assessed UVA/B lethality than Se-supplemented controls [LSe(+) cells]. By contrast, long-term (>20 week) Se-deprived [L'Se(-)] cells whose catalase (CAT) activity was elevated >100-fold were far more resistant to UVA/B than LSe(+) cells. Similar trends were observed for cells irradiated in 1% serum/RPMI or Hank's medium. Whereas the CAT inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole had no effect on LSe(+) photosensitivity, it produced a large increase in L' Se(-) photosensitivity. These findings are consistent with H2O2 in-termediacy in photokilling and suggest that L1210 cells depend mainly on GPX for protection against this species but switch to overexpressed CAT after chronic Se deprivation. In agreement with this, steady-state H2O2 levels measured by H2O2 electrode during UVA/B exposure were higher in LSe(-) than LSe(+) suspensions but much lower (barely detectable) in L' Se(-) suspensions. Cytotoxic effects of UVA/B and variations thereof resulting from Se manipulation could be mimicked by treating cells with glucose oxidase in the presence of D-glucose, providing further support for H2O2 involvement. Whether UVA/B-generated H2O2 is directly cytotoxic or gives rise to a more damaging species such as hydroxyl radical (HO) is presently unknown.
Implementation of an Electronic Health Record-Based Care Management System to Improve Tobacco Treatment

BACKGROUND Tobacco treatment is underused in primary care. We designed a Tobacco Care Management system to increase the delivery of treatment and reduce the burden on primary care providers (PCPs). A one-click functionality added to the electronic health record (EHR) allowed PCPs to refer smokers to a centralized tobacco treatment coordinator (TTC) who called smokers, provided brief counseling, connected them to ongoing treatment and gave feedback to PCPs.
Observations on the Developmental Morphology and Fine Structure of Pit Connections in Red Algae

Pit connections, biconvex, equatorially constricted discs (0.3-0.7μ in diameter), develop between newly formed cortical and segment cells of Ceramium diaphanum. Biconvex, constricted forms represent early developmental stages of pit connections. Similar forms have been found in apices of Callithamnion roseum and Polysiphonia sp. As pit connections mature they increase mainly in width. Equatorial furrows become less pronounced. Flat, wide, lens-shaped forms consist of a granular material of high electron density. Current information on these structures suggests that their classification by Jungers is incorrect. Pit connections of red algae consist of a single body whose morphology varies with development.
Colonization, emergence, and survival of Hylurgopinus rufipes and Scolytus multistriatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in insecticide-treated elm wood.

Application of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5% (AI) chlorpyrifos, 2.0% (AI) carbaryl, or 0.1% (AI) permethrin to cut elm, either before or after gallery formation, significantly reduced brood production of Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham), the smaller European elm bark beetle, and Hylurgopinus rufipes (Eichhoff), the native elm bark beetle. Bioassays and residue analyses of treated elm, Ulmus americana L., showed that 0.5% (AI) chlorpyrifos was present and active for at least 11 months, thus providing ample time for cut elm to reach a point at which it was no longer suitable for beetle breeding. Application of 0.5% (AI) chlorpyrifos makes possible the long-term storage of undebarked, cut elm in a manner that is compatible with ongoing Dutch elm disease control programs.
Induction of tumors on Solanum tuberosum L. by Agrobacterium: quantitative analysis, inhibition by carbohydrates, and virulence of selected strains

The Agrobacterium tumorigenesis bioassay of Anand & Heberlein [ 1 ] was modified such that potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. cultivar Red LaSoda or Red LaRouge) tuber discs were submersed in bacterial suspensions for 10 min and then placed on water agar plates. The relationship between log cells ml −1 of inoculum and log tumors per disc was linear from 10 3 to 10 6 cells ml −1 and was maintained from day 6 (when tumors first appeared) to day 16. For A. tumefaciens strain B6: (i) one tumor was produced per approximately 2500 bacterial cells in the initial inoculum, and (ii) the infectivity curve was shallower than that predicted for simple 1-particle or 2-particle infection events. Although at 10 7 cells ml −1 A. rubi, A. rhizogenes , and strains of A. tumefaciens known to harbor the Ti plasmid all produced tumors, the relative tumorigenicity of the strains differed considerably. When supplied at 10 mg ml −1 , uronic acid-containing carbohydrates, including several thought to competitively inhibit bacterial attachment to the host, greatly inhibited tumorigenesis. A crude pectin preparation which could serve as starting material for purification of the host attachment sites for Agrobacterium , was isolated from potato tubers and shown to inhibit tumorigenesis.
Neurofuzzy-model-based feedback controller for shape memory alloy actuators

This paper describes development of a motion controller for Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators using a dynamic model generated by a neuro-fuzzy inference system. This kind of smart alloy is known to have a unique characteristic in that its shape can be controlled by temperature that can be varied by passing a current through it. Using SMA actuators, it would be possible to design miniature mechanisms for a variety of applications. Today SMA is used for valves, latches, and locks, which are automatically activated by heat. However it has not been used as a motion control device due to difficulty in the treatment of its highly non-linear strain-stress hysteresis characteristic which is further influenced by its temperature. In this project, a dynamic model of a SMA actuator is developed using ANFIS, a neuro-fuzzy inference system provided in MATLAB environment. Using neuro-fuzzy logic, the system identification of the dynamic system is performed by observing the change of state variables (displacement and velocity) responding to a known input (voltage across the SMA actuator). Then, using the dynamic model, the estimated input voltage required to follow a desired trajectory is calculated in an open-loop manner. The actual input voltage supplied to the SMA actuator is the sum of this open-loop input voltage and an input voltage calculated from an ordinary PD control scheme. This neuro- fuzzy logic-based control scheme is a very generalized scheme that can be used for a variety of SMA actuators. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the potential for this type of controller to control the motion of the SMA actuator.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fabrication of anisotropic and hierarchical undulations by benchtop surface wrinkling

This paper reports an electrical discharge assisted surface wrinkling process to produce hierarchical and anisotropic surface patterns on polymethylsiloxane (PDMS). Highly ordered sinusoidal wrinkles with tailored height (h) and wavelength (λ) are fabricated by surface modification of a uniaxially pre-strained PDMS using a hand-held corona discharger followed by strain relaxation. The resulting nanoscale wrinkles overlay on 1) microwrinkled substrate and 2) reflowed microstructures to create anisotropic and hierarchical surface topographies. This electrical discharge assisted wrinkling process for creating multi-scale roughness is accessible in general wet lab environments. Such structures have broad applications in optical gratings, cell mechanics studies, and micro/nanofluidics.
A scan statistic for identifying chromosomal patterns of SNP association.

We have developed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association scan statistic that takes into account the complex distribution of the human genome variation in the identification of chromosomal regions with significant SNP associations. This scan statistic has wide applicability for genetic analysis, whether to identify important chromosomal regions associated with common diseases based on whole-genome SNP association studies or to identify disease susceptibility genes based on dense SNP positional candidate studies. To illustrate this method, we analyzed patterns of SNP associations on chromosome 19 in a large cohort study. Among 2,944 SNPs, we found seven regions that contained clusters of significantly associated SNPs. The average width of these regions was 35kb with a range of 10–72kb. We compared the scan statistic results to Fisher’s product method using a sliding window approach, and detected 22 regions with significant clusters of SNP associations. The average width of these regions was 131kb with a range of 10.1–615kb. Given that the distances between SNPs are not taken into consideration in the sliding window approach, it is likely that a large fraction of these regions represents false positives. However, all seven regions detected by the scan statistic were also detected by the sliding window approach. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns within the seven regions were highly variable indicating that the clusters of SNP associations were not due to LD alone. The scan statistic developed here can be used to make gene-based or region-based SNP inferences about disease association. Genet. Epidemiol. 30:627–635, 2006. r 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Partitioning of Anthropogenic Watering Sites by Desert Carnivores

We investigated the role of water features as focal attractors for gray foxes (Urocyon ciner- eoargenteus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and bobcats (Felis rufus) in west Texas to determine if they were foci for interspecific interaction. Mixed effects models indicated that species partitioned use of water features spatially and temporally. Linear models indicated factors influencing relative activity at water features varied by species. For coyotes and bobcats, the water availability model, containing days since last rainfall and nearest-neighbor distance to water was best supported by the data, with relative activity increasing with time between rainfall and distance between waters. For gray foxes, the best approximating model indicated that relative activity was inversely correlated to coyote and bobcat activity indices, and positively correlated to topographical complexity. Encounters between carnivore species were low, with most occurring between coyotes and gray foxes, followed by coyotes and bobcats, and bobcats and gray foxes. These findings suggest a behavioral-environmental mechanism that may function to modulate resource partitioning by carnivores in the arid West. 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Carbon Nanotube Coatings for Enhanced Capillary-Fed Boiling from Porous Microstructures

Due to their high intrinsic thermal conductivity, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have previously been incorporated into a variety of thermal management applications to improve cooling performance. Implementation of controlled CNT growth techniques and functionalization methods are applied herein to enhance boiling heat transfer from the porous capillary wicking surfaces widely used in high heat flux thermal management devices. A microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) synthesis process resulted in growth of a permeable CNT coating, and physical vapor deposition of copper over these nanotubes yielded the requisite hydrophilic wicking surface. An array of test samples was fabricated and then evaluated using an experimental test facility to determine the reduction in surface temperature resulting from CNT coating and micropatterning of the porous surfaces under two-phase heat transfer conditions with water as the working fluid. Both CNT coating and micropatterning techniques were able to provide...
Conformal virtual colon flattening

We present an efficient colon flattening algorithm using a conformal structure, which is angle-preserving and minimizes the global distortion. Moreover, our algorithm is general as it can handle high genus surfaces. First, the colon wall is segmented and extracted from the CT data set of the abdomen. The topology noise (i.e., minute handle) is located and removed automatically. The holomorphic 1-form, a pair of orthogonal vector fields, is then computed on the 3D colon surface mesh using the conjugate gradient method. The colon surface is cut along a vertical trajectory traced using the holomorphic 1-form. Consequently, the 3D colon surface is conformally mapped to a 2D rectangle. The flattened 2D mesh is then rendered using a direct volume rendering method accelerated with the GPU. Our algorithm is tested with a number of CT data sets of real pathological cases, and gives consistent results. We demonstrate that the shape of the polyps is well preserved on the flattened colon images, which provides an efficient way to enhance the navigation of a virtual colonoscopy system.
A histological study of polyethylene wear particles in a rabbit model

A significant problem affecting the stability of hips and knees in the total joint arthroplasty is the aseptic loosening of the implants due to the osteolysis by the ultra molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles. Recently, Oil Red O (ORO) stain was used in identifying these particles in the tissues retrieved from the failed implants. The objective of the authors' study was to examine the effect of two micron polyethylene particles (4 mg) implanted into the rabbit knees for periods of 6 and 9 months. The authors examined the sections of liver, kidneys, popliteal lymph nodes, femurs and tibias to detect the presence of UHMWPE particles. Soft tissue or bones were first embedded in paraffin blocks and five micron sections were cut. One section was stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain and the other with ORO stain. The slides were viewed under a polarized light using a light microscope. The results showed the presence of the polyethylene particles in the soft tissues such as liver, kidneys and popliteal lymph nodes as well as in the tibia and femurs. They demonstrated that these polyethylene particles are easily seen either with H&E or ORO stain. They were either round or needle shaped. A visible comparison of tissue sections appeared to indicate the presence of greater number of particles in the specimens from the 9 month animal than those seen in the 6 month animals.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for intralobar pulmonary sequestration

Introduction Intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital abnormality of the lower respiratory system, which becomes symptomatic early in life. Standard treatment consists of wedge resection or lobectomy through a thoracotomy.
Ferdinand Levy's Simple Approach: A Rejoinder

We would first like to clear up a misconception that we evidently created [Arnold, Larry R., Donal Botkin. 1978. Portfolios to satisfy damage judgment: A linear programming approach. Interfaces8 2, February 38--42.]. The concept that had not been formally accepted by the court was the use of a portfolio of bonds rather than bank savings. The issue of the method of generation of the portfolio of bonds is not relevant to the court. Rather, the court would require proof that the cash flows so generated would be sufficient to meet the requirements. We certainly share Professor Levy's desire for a simple and easy-to-explain method of generating such portfolios. However, we take issue with this particular method because of an assumption underlying yield to maturity YTM.
Methodology for developing an assessment expert system using a planning paradigm

An assessment expert system evaluates the information provided by the external environment and produces hypotheses of the current world state. In an example application in the commercial-aircraft domain, an onboard sensor suite provides information concerning other airplanes within the aircraft's airspace. A planning paradigm provides explicit control through a meta-assessment capability. A development methodology for an assessor using this paradigm consists of the following steps: design the object hierarchy, design the internal interfaces, develop the assessment grammar, produce an appropriate plan library, and design and implement the rule base. The most important step is the development of the assessment grammar, since it must be understood by external agents such as a pilot or other expert systems in a multiagent system and be rich enough to provide concise hypotheses of the world. >
Free energy calculations of Cu-Sn interfaces

Excess free energies of solid Cu-Solid Sn and Solid Cu-liquid Sn have been calculated employing an adiabatic switching formalism in a Molecular Dynamics framework. The atomic interactions are described by modified embedded atom method potentials which includes the angular dependence of the electron density to describe bond bending forces necessary to model covalent materials.
Microbial Extracellular Enzymes and the Marine Carbon Cycle

Extracellular enzymes initiate microbial remineralization of organic matter by hydrolyzing substrates to sizes sufficiently small to be transported across cell membranes. As much of marine primary productivity is processed by heterotrophic microbes, the substrate specificities of extracellular enzymes, the rates at which they function in seawater and sediments, and factors controlling their production, distribution, and active lifetimes, are central to carbon cycling in marine systems. In this review, these topics are considered from biochemical, microbial/molecular biological, and geochemical perspectives. Our understanding of the capabilities and limitations of heterotrophic microbial communities has been greatly advanced in recent years, in part through genetic and genomic approaches. New methods to measure enzyme activities in the field are needed to keep pace with these advances and to pursue intriguing evidence that patterns of enzyme activities in different environments are linked to differences in microbial community composition that may profoundly affect the marine carbon cycle.
Development of targeted therapy in uterine serous carcinoma, a biologically aggressive variant of endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common female genital malignancy in the USA. Most carcinomas arising from the uterus are estrogen dependent and are associated with obesity and hypertension. They are designated type I ECs and typically, due to their early diagnosis secondary to postmenopausal bleeding, have a good prognosis. By contrast, type II ECs develop in older patients, are not hormone dependent and are responsible for most recurrences and deaths from EC. Uterine serous cancer constitutes up to 10% of all endometrial tumors, and represents the most biologically aggressive variant of type II EC. This article will describe the most salient molecular markers that have been identified in uterine serous cancer, thus far with emphasis on the use of erbB2 (HER2/neu) as the first of a series of therapeutic markers for the treatment of this highly-aggressive subset of ECs.
Obesity, Food Selectivity, and Physical Activity in Individuals With Fragile X Syndrome

Abstract National survey data from 884 families were used to examine the overall health of children and adults with fragile X syndrome. Results indicate the rate of obesity in adults with fragile X...
The use of biomagnetic separation to recover DNA suitable for PCR from Claviceps species

DNA analysis of agriculturally important fungi using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods is becoming routine in research and for diagnostic purposes. Rapid, small-scale DNA isolation methods that take advantage of the sensitivity, speed and automation potential of PCR technology are needed for timely analysis of important plant pathogens. DNA isolated from Claviceps africana (causal agent of ergot of sorghum) using several standard DNA extraction protocols was found to be unamplifiable using PCR. The standard methods apparently failed to separate DNA from substances inhibitory to the Taq polymerase enzyme. We obtained DNA amenable to PCR analysis using a novel method involving magnetic beads and high salt extraction buffer. The biomagnetic purification method allowed us to obtain reliable PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA of Claviceps africana, making genetic comparisons possible.
Delusions, Self-Deception, and Intentionality

This article illustrates how delusions can be understood as purposive attempts to create meaning, as constructions intended to preserve a sense of identity and social connectedness under extreme circumstances. The concepts of self-deception, purpose, and intentionality are discussed in the context of existential and moderate philosophical models in an attempt to resolve the paradoxes apparent in the application of concepts such as self-deception, intention, and purpose to phenomena widely understood as causally and pathologically determined. Excerpts from interviews with delusional psychiatric patients and the published statements of public figures are presented to illustrate how both can be understood in the context of Sartre's categories of self-deception. The implications of a model of self-deception that recognizes that the goals of delusional beliefs are on a continuum with those of everyday illusions are discussed. It is suggested that the different patterns and degrees of human irrationality and se...