cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time Series and Correlational Analyses of Inmate-Initiated Assaultive Incidents in a Large Correctional System

Inmate-initiated assaultive incidents reported by staff in a large correctional system over period of 9 years were subjected to regression and time series analyses. The time series analysis revealed that the assault data curve followed a nonlinear path Several of the significant correlates of inmate-initiated assault (young age, Black-to-White ratio) were anticipated, whereas several others were not (population density staff inexperience). These outcomes are viewed as furnishing preliminary support for a systemic interpretation of prison violence.
Lung cancer therapeutics that target signaling pathways: an update

Claiming more than 150,000 lives each year, lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the USA. First-line treatments in lung cancer include surgical resection and chemotherapy, the latter of which offers only modest survival benefits at the expense of often severe and debilitating side effects. Recent advances in elucidating the molecular biology of lung carcinogenesis have elucidated novel drug targets, and treatments are rapidly evolving into specialized agents that hone in on specific aspects of the disease. Of particular interest is blocking tumor growth by targeting the physiological processes surrounding angiogenesis, pro-tumorigenic growth factor activation, anti-apoptotic cascades and other cancer-promoting signal transduction events. This article looks at several areas of interest to lung cancer therapeutics and considers the current state of affairs surrounding the development of these therapies.
Pramipexole effects on startle gating in rats and normal men

Dopamine D3 receptors regulate sensorimotor gating in rats, as evidenced by changes in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle after acute administration of D3 agonists and antagonists. In this study, we tested the effects of the D3-preferential agonist, pramipexole, on PPI in normal men and Sprague–Dawley rats. Acoustic startle and PPI were tested in clinically normal men, comparing the effects of placebo vs. 0.125 mg (n = 20) or placebo vs. 0.1875 mg (n = 20) pramipexole, in double blind, crossover designs. These measures were also tested in male Sprague–Dawley rats using a parallel design [vehicle vs. 0.1 mg/kg (n = 8), vehicle vs. 0.3 mg/kg (n = 8) or vehicle vs. 1.0 mg/kg pramipexole (n = 8)]. Autonomic and subjective measures of pramipexole effects and several personality instruments were also measured in humans. Pramipexole increased drowsiness and significantly increased PPI at 120-ms intervals in humans; the latter effect was not moderated by baseline PPI or personality scale scores. In rats, pramipexole causes a dose-dependent reduction in long-interval (120 ms) PPI, while low doses actually increased short-interval (10–20 ms) PPI. Effects of pramipexole on PPI in rats were independent of baseline PPI and changes in startle magnitude. The preferential D3 agonist pramipexole modifies PPI in humans and rats. Unlike indirect DA agonists and mixed D2/D3 agonists, pramipexole increases long-interval PPI in humans, in a manner that is independent of baseline PPI and personality measures. These findings are consistent with preclinical evidence for differences in the D2- and D3-mediated regulation of sensorimotor gating.
Regulation of Sensory Neuron Precursor Proliferation by Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

Abstract: Cyclic GMP (cGMP) is a molecular messenger involved in diverse cellular processes. Recently, cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK) type II was determined to be a regulator of endochondral ossification and bone growth, identifying a role for cGMP in the regulation of cellular proliferation. Here, we demonstrate the presence of cGK type I (cGKI) in cells of the developing trigeminal ganglia. cGKI occurs in some proliferating precursors as evidenced by double labeling with an antibody to cGKI and 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine(BrdU) incorporation. Inhibition of cGKI with KT5823 or Rp-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS) in chick embryos results in a 30–40% decrease in trigeminal ganglia cell number, and this effect is independent of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In addition, inhibition of cGKI with Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS results in a 60% decrease in BrdU incorporation in the trigeminal ganglia of embryonic day 5 chicks. We find that PC12 cells expressing cGKI proliferate more rapidly and incorporate more BrdU than do control cells. The cGKI inhibitor Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS decreases proliferation and BrdU incorporation in transfected PC12 cells but has no effect on control cells. The PC12 cells do not express NOS, indicating that this effect is also independent of NOS. Thus, cGKI regulates the proliferation of sensory neurons as a result of activation of a NOS-independent pathway, representing a novel pathway by which the number of sensory neurons is regulated.
Studies on Oxygen Transfer in Submerged Fermentations

In conventional shaken culture system, control of oxygen supply is performed by changing liquid volume in flasks and it necessarily introduces variation in the effectiveness of agitation and in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. In jar or tank culture system, also, the changes in mechanical agitation and in the flow rate of air for control of aeration induce similar problems. It is impossible, therefore, to isolate the effects of oxygen on microbial metabolism from these accompanying ones. Hence, there is a basic requirement of making clear distinction among them, and in this paper the effects of agitation and carbon dioxide on product formation are presented in glutamic acid fermentation using the apparatus of controlling the level of dissolved oxygen throughout the fermentation.To obtain fundamental knowledge required for attaining adequate aeration, the rate of oxygen demand in glutamic acid fermentation was discussed in connection with its fermentation rates. On the basis of specific rates, rates...
Flow in the phloem and the immobility of calcium and boron: A new hypothesis in support of an old one

Contrairement a la plupart des elements nutritifs, le calcium et le bore sont en grande partie exclus des tubes cribles et par consequent ne sont pas efficacement distribues dans la plante, ce qui est apparemment desavantageux. On suppose que l'exclusion de ces deux elements des tubes cribles favorise leur maintien comme conduits ouverts.
The addition of aryl azides to unstrained olefins

Abstract Aryl azides have been found to add to unactivated olefins, providing a convenient route to alkyl subsituted triazolines. Similarly, conjugated dienes undergo cycloaddition with azides to give 5-vinyltriazoline derivatives. The orientation of the additions accords with previously reported mechanistic considerations, and it appears to be controlled by electronic rather than steric factors.
Noise-induced bias in last principal component modeling of linear system

Last principal component (LPC) modeling relies on principal component transformation, and utilizes the eigenvectors associated with the last (smallest) principal components. When applied to experimental data, it may be considered an alternative to least squares based estimation of model parameters. Experimental results in the literature (cited in the body of the paper) suggest that LPC modeling is inferior to LS, in terms of estimation bias, in the presence of noise. Other results show that LPC produces unbiased estimates only in a very special case. In this paper, we derive explicit expressions for noise-induced bias in LPC-based identification. We investigate static systems with input actuator and measurement noise, and discrete dynamic systems with output measurement noise. We show that, indeed, LPC-based estimates are biased even when LS-based ones are not, and when the LS estimate is also biased, the LPC estimate has the LS bias plus an additional term. The theoretical results are supported by simulation studies.
Using antimicrobial solution for irrigation in appendicitis to lower surgical site infection rates.

Abstract Background The use of antimicrobial solutions for irrigation in appendicitis is controversial. Numerous antiseptic and antibiotic solutions have been suggested for use as an intraoperative irrigant. We sought to determine whether there was a difference in postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) comparing normal saline (.9%), antiseptic solution (Dakin's, .25%), and an antibiotic solution (imipenem 1 mg/mL). Methods We performed a retrospective study of adult appendectomies from January 1997 through November 2007 at a single institution The data were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis and chi-square test. The incidences of postoperative overall SSI, wound infection, and abdominal abscess were compared. Results A total of 1,063 cases were identified. Saline (n = 661) had an SSI rate of 9.8% (65/661), a wound infection rate of 7.3% (48/661), and an abdominal abscess rate of 4.2% (28/661). Dakin's (n = 208) had an SSI rate of 20.7% (43/208), a wound infection rate of 15.9% (33/208), and an abdominal abscess rate of 9.1% (19/208). Imipenem (n = 194) irrigation had an SSI rate of .5% (1/194), a wound infection rate of .5% (1/194), and an abdominal abscess rate of .5% (1/194). Conclusions These results suggest that abdominal irrigation with an antibiotic solution (imipenem 1 mg/mL) is superior to both normal saline and Dakin's solution.
Approximating spheres and sphere patches

Many graphics applications require the rendering of visually pleasing approximations of spheres and sphere patches. An example is the graphical display of molecular surfaces typically defined by a large number of atoms modeled by overlapping spherical balls. This paper presents algorithms to construct piecewise linear approximations of spheres and sphere patches. They will be useful in computing correct surface triangulation, with good quality approximation, of the boundary of the union of a set of balls.
An X-ray Diffraction Study of Glassy, Rodlike Polymers

Abstract Wide angle x-ray analysis of oriented and unoriented samples (including powders, films and fibers) of a wholly-aromatic, para-linked polyamide (I), a polyesteramide (II), and three polyesters (III-V) were performed in order to investigate the morphology of these three classes of rodlike polymers. The results indicate that four of the polymers are essentially amorphous in the unoriented state and clearly show the development of two dimensional order upon orientation. However, Polyester V is semi-crystalline. This polymer is the only one of the five which exhibits a first order DSC transition, and it is the only one containing triether substitutents which implies that these short side chains may be forming small crystalline domains.
The Feynman-Kac formula with a Lebesgue-Stieltjes measure: An integral equation in the general case

Let u(t) be the operator associated by path integration with the Feynman-Kac functional in which the time integration is performed with respect to an arbitrary Borel measure η instead of ordinary Lebesgue measurel. We show that u(t), considered as a function of time t, satisfies a Volterra-Stieltjes integral equation, denoted by (*). We refer to this result as the “Feynman-Kac formula with a Lebesgue-Stieltjes measure”. Indeed, when n=l, we recover the classical Feynman-Kac formula since (*) then yields the heat (resp., Schrodinger) equation in the diffusion (resp., quantum mechanical) case. We stress that the measure η is in general the sum of an absolutely continuous, a singular continuous and a (countably supported) discrete part. We also study various properties of (*) and of its solution. These results extend and use previous work of the author dealing with measures having finitely supported discrete part (Stud. Appl. Math.76 (1987), 93–132); they seem to be new in the diffusion (or “imaginary time”) as well as in the quantum mechanical (or “real time”) case.
Detection of left atrial thrombus by intracardiac echocardiography in patients undergoing ablation of atrial fibrillation

The role of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) to detect thrombus within left atrium (LA) before atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation despite a recent transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is not well defined. We examined the prevalence of LA/left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus using ICE immediately prior to AF ablation in patients in whom anticoagulation was not withheld. We analyzed 122 consecutive patients (62.6 ± 10.8 years, 90 males, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score 2.4 ± 1.5, persistent AF 29.5 %) who underwent an ICE-guided AF ablation 1 day after a negative (n = 120) or inconclusive (n = 2) TEE for LA thrombus. LA was imaged with ICE from the right atrium, coronary sinus, and right ventricular inflow tract (RVIT). ICE and TEE images were compared for LAA area, thrombus, and spontaneous echo contrast (SEC). LAA was adequately visualized in 99 and 100 % of patients with TEE and ICE, respectively. RVIT was the best ICE view for LAA visualization. The LAA 2-D-area measured by TEE was 4.9 ± 0.5 vs. 5 ± 0.5 cm2 by ICE (P = NS). ICE identified a thrombus in seven patients with a previous negative TEE, leading to cancellation of ablation. It ruled out a thrombus in two patients with an inconclusive TEE. Thrombi were found in the LAA (n = 4), atrial septum (n = 2), and left superior pulmonary vein (n = 1). SEC during TEE was more frequent in patients with thrombus on ICE than those without (85.7 vs. 17.4 %; p = 0.03; positive predictive value 23.1 %, negative predictive value 98.9 %). The results of our staged imaging approach suggest that ICE has a complimentary value in re-screening the LA/LAA for thrombus after a recent negative or equivocal TEE. The presence of SEC during TEE increases the probability of finding a thrombus with ICE, which could potentially be dislodged during catheter manipulation.
The molecular biology of human herpesvirus-6 latency and telomere integration

The genomes of herpesviruses establish latency as a circular episome. However, Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been shown to specifically integrate into the telomeres of chromosomes during latency and vertically transmit through the germ-line. This review will focus on the telomere integration of HHV-6, the potential viral and cellular genes that mediate integration, and the clinical impact on the host.
The growth of U.S. household debt: Demand-side influences☆

Abstract The ratio of household debt to income has been rising steadily since 1974. Working from an accounting framework developed by Enthoven, this paper shows that underlying the rise of household debt to income is a corresponding increase in the net borrowing to income ratio. Four demand-side factors are considered to explain the rise of net borrowing to income: increasingly sanguine attitudes toward debt, demographic changes, variations in the real cost of credit and real asset yields, and increased necessitous borrowing linked to declining median incomes and rising housing costs. Regression results show that the primary observed causes of the increasing net borrowing to income ratio are variations in credit costs and yields and increased necessitous demand for credit.
Interferometric Coherence Transfer Modulations in Triply Vibrationally Enhanced Four-Wave Mixing

Triply vibrationally enhanced (TRIVE) four-wave mixing (FWM) spectroscopy in a mixed frequency/time domain experiment contains new output coherences that isolate nonlinear pathways that involve coherence transfer. Coherence transfer occurs when a thermal bath induces coupling between two states so a quantum mechanical entanglement of a pair of quantum states evolves to entangle a new pair of quantum states. The FWM includes several equivalent coherence pathways that interfere and create a temporal modulation of the output coherence that is a signature of coherence transfer. The transfer shifts the output coherence frequency and isolates coherence transfer pathways from the stronger FWM processes that form the basis of coherent multidimensional spectroscopy. The use of coherence transfer offers the opportunity for another form of coherent multidimensional spectroscopy where cross-peaks appear because of the coherence transfer between quantum states. Since this approach is based on frequency domain methods, it requires only short-term phase coherence during the excitation process so the method is not constrained to accessing the quantum states lying within the excitation pulse bandwidth.
States in a Reformed Health System: Lessons from Nursing Home Policy

Prologue: Even in a society that strongly favors limiting the powers of central government, there is general agreement that Washington must establish the basic framework of a reformed health care system if universal coverage is to be achieved. But what role should states play in a reconfigured health care system? This is a critical question as the Clinton administration fashions its health care policy. Given Bill Clintons long tenure as the governor of Arkansas, he seems inclined to grant states greater flexibility and perhaps more responsibility in the future. One reflection of this inclination is the administration s decision to approve Oregon's controversial proposal to guarantee medical services for its poor population by rationing care. Great variations separate how individual states craft and administer their health care programs, what demands they place on providers, and the generosity they extend to patients. Variation between New York and Alabama is to be expected. But what about the great variat...
An economic and ethical analysis of the Katrina disaster

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to apply economic and ethical analysis to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina to determine which approaches to disaster relief work best and which should be abandoned.Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a combination of narrative with argument and analysis.Findings – Government involvement in disaster relief has proven to be economically inefficient and also rights‐violating. Private sector initiatives and economic and political freedom provide better solutions.Practical implications – The findings point to ways that can improve the economic efficiency of providing disaster relief while also safeguarding property and contract rights.Originality/value – This paper combines economic and ethical analysis and includes discussions from the perspectives of both utilitarian ethics and rights‐based ethics, which is not usually done in the economics literature.
Analysis of active cooling through nickel coated carbon fibers in the solidification processing of aluminum matrix composites

Abstract Solidification processing is widely used for synthesizing fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites. Some recent studies have used cooling through reinforcing carbon fibers to obtain better control over the solidification microstructure of cast metal-matrix composites. The present study is focused on understanding the effect of active cooling and the role of nickel coating on the structure of the composite. Multiphysics analysis is conducted to simulate the composite system and obtain temperature distribution and stresses at various stages of cooling. The analysis is limited to cooling of the liquid melt and the solidification processes is not modeled. Results show that the direction of the heat flux along the fiber can reverse as the system is allowed to cool. The results show that the von-Mises stresses do not have a severe gradient in the nickel coating but the shear stress gradient is very steep. If the structure solidifies with steep heat flux gradient and high interfacial shear stresses then the nickel coating of the fibers can fail. The analysis shows that the failure of the nickel coating can occur under the effect of thermal stresses generated in the system as a result of temperature gradients.
Outcomes Associated with a Cognitive-Behavioral Chronic Pain Management Program Implemented in Three Public HIV Primary Care Clinics

In patients with HIV/AIDS, chronic pain is common and analgesics pose serious risks. Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) provide an alternative. This study evaluated feasibility and impact of a CBT-based pain management program in three public primary care clinics for HIV patients. The program included a workbook and 12-weeks of group CBT sessions. HIV-positive patients with chronic moderate to severe pain were invited to participate in the program and were assessed at enrollment, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Despite only moderate group attendance, program enrollment was associated with significant improvements in pain intensity, pain-related functioning, anxiety and acceptance, and mental health. At 24 weeks, effect sizes for pain outcomes were −0.83 for pain intensity and −0.43 for functioning. The pattern of change in outcomes was consistent with predictions based on cognitive-behavioral theory. Effects were observed at all clinics. Adding CBT-based pain management into primary care may provide important benefits for patients with HIV/AIDS.
Answers in search of a question: ‘proofs’ of the tri-dimensionality of space

From Kant’s first published work to recent articles in the physics literature, philosophers and physicists have long sought an answer to the question, why does space have three dimensions. In this paper, I will flesh out Kant’s claim with a brief detour through Gauss’ law. I then describe Buchel’s version of the common argument that stable orbits are possible only if space is three-dimensional. After examining objections by Russell and van Fraassen, I develop three original criticisms of my own. These criticisms are relevant to both historical and contemporary proofs of the dimensionality of space (in particular, a recent one by Burgbacher, F. Lammerzahl, C., and Macias). In general I argue that modern “proofs” of the dimensionality of space have gone off track.
Measurement of bone blood flow using the hydrogen washout Technique—Part I: Quantitative evaluation of tissue perfusion in the laboratory rat

The measurement of blood flow in bone is of interest in both clinical and experimental settings. Such determinations would ideally provide accurate, quantitative, and reproducible data with relatively simple and safe technology, even in the small bones of experimental animals. Methods that provide absolute or quantitative measurements include positron emission tomography, "isotope fractioning" using radioactive or fluorescent-labeled microspheres, and measurement of the rate of washout of diffusible tracers delivered either by injection or inhalation. In this article, we describe in detail a modification of the original Whiteside hydrogen washout technique, using modern hydrogen sensors, a micromanipulator for probe placement, and custom software that greatly simplifies blood flow determination and is effective in the small bones of experimental animals.
Self-patterned aluminium interconnects and ring electrodes for arrays of microcavity plasma devices encapsulated in Al2O3

Automatic formation of Al interconnects and ring electrodes, fully encapsulated by alumina, in planar arrays of Al2O3/Al/Al2O3 microcavity plasma devices has been accomplished by electrochemical processing of Al foil. Following the fabrication of cylindrical microcavities (50–350 µm in diameter) in 127 µm thick Al foil, virtually complete anodization of the foil yields azimuthally symmetric Al electrodes surrounding each cavity and interconnects between adjacent microcavities that are produced and simultaneously buried within a transparent Al2O3 film without the need for conventional patterning techniques. The diameter and pitch of the microcavities prior to anodization, as well as the anodization process parameters, determine which of the microcavity plasma devices in a one- or two-dimensional array are connected electrically. Data presented for 200 µm diameter cavities with a pitch of 150–225 µm illustrate the patterning of the interconnects and electrode connectivity after 4–10 h of anodization in oxalic acid. Self-patterned, linear arrays comprising 25 dielectric barrier devices have been excited by a sinusoidal or bipolar pulse voltage waveform and operated in 400–700 Torr of rare gas. Owing to the electrochemical conversion of most of the Al foil into Al2O3, the self-formed arrays exhibit an areal capacitance ~82% lower than that characteristic of previous Al/Al2O3 device arrays (Park et al 2006 J. Appl. Phys. 99 026107).
Locomotor and passive avoidance deficits following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery

The characterization of sensory, motor and cognitive dysfunctions following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is prerequisite to investigations of treatment intervention in animal models of ischemia. Different strategies are used to induce ischemia, but the focal, transient occlusion of the MCA has been reported to result in neuropathology most similar to that seen in clinical cerebral ischemia. If the MCA occlusion technique results in a stroke animal model, then the behavioral impairments inherent in stroke should be manifested in this model. The present study provides a further characterization of behavioral alterations associated with MCA occlusion. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent temporal occlusion of the right MCA, and at 1 mo and 2 mo postischemia, were subsequently tested in passive avoidance behavior, motor coordination, asymmetrical motor behavior, neurological functioning, nocturnal spontaneous and amphetamine-induced locomotor activity, and haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Results revealed that ischemic rats showed long-term impairments in sensory, motor and cognitive functions. The discrepancy with other studies reporting temporal MCA-induced behavioral deficits may be due to techniques used to induce ischemia and consequent CNS damage, differences in time period of testing (i.e., immediate vs. later postischemia, nighttime vs. daytime), number of test-retests over the course of the experiment, and age of the animals. The mechanism involved in the MCA-induced behavioral changes may be represented by loss of dopamine receptors on striatal neurons. Histological analysis revealed damage limited to the lateral aspect of the striatum. These behavioral and anatomical data support MCA occlusion as a model of ischemia, and elucidate important factors that should be controlled for in characterizing the MCA-induced neuropathological alterations.
Literature Review: Upper Respiratory Illness and Sport and Exercise

Upper respiratory illness (URI) may cause more acute disability among athletes than all other diseases combined. This paper presents the essential epidemiological, infectious, and transmission features of URI. Those who provide health care for athletes must also understand the subsequent implications of URI on sport and exercise participation. While there are reports suggesting that regular, vigorous exercise reduces both the incidence and severity of URI, other research suggests that the immune system may have a distinct level of moderate exercise for optimum health. During winter sports season, URI transmission may escalate. The impact of URI on selected pulmonary, cardiac and skeletal muscle functions may lead to illness complications and protracted courses of URI in athletes. Sport performance during illness may also decline. Athletes should monitor symptoms and training schedules and should rest during a URI.
Ultra-rich combustion in parallel channels to produce hydrogen-rich syngas from propane

Although hydrogen is abundant in nature, it is primarily bound into other molecules such as hydrocarbons. The conversion, or reforming, of a hydrocarbon into a hydrogen-rich syngas may be accomplished through either catalytic or non-catalytic processes. In this paper, we examine a non-catalytic reactor for syngas production that consists of multiple parallel channels with alternating flow directions. Heat recirculation between channels with opposing flow directions promotes reactions of rich mixtures beyond the conventional flammability limit. Experimental results with propane/air mixtures show that stable reaction fronts are obtained at a wide range of equivalence ratios and inlet velocities. The performance of the reactor with propane/air is compared to previously published results with methane/air mixtures, where significant differences are attributed to the more complex reaction chemistry of rich propane combustion.
Remark on Nicod's reduction of Principia mathematica

The object of this note is to close a slight gap, hitherto seemingly over-looked, in Nicod's derivation from his postulates of the primitives of Principia mathematica . The gap consists in this: Nicod's propositions corresponding to *1·1−*1·6 of the Principia , though they bear the same names and have the same symbol-forms as the Principia propositions, are not precisely *1·1−1·6. Indeed, if we denote Nicod's “ p ⊃ q ” and “ p · q ” by “ p q ” and “ pq ” respectively, and if we write p ′ for p ∣ p and p ″ for ( p ′)′ then in terms of the “stroke,” we have But p ⊃ q and p · q of the Principia are Accordingly, the Nicod-Principia propositions are not *1·1−*1·6. They are *1·1−*1·6 in which It is true that Nicod also proves the following: i.e., This yields: If ⊢· p q then ⊢· p ⊃ q , and conversely. This would seem to allow passing from T 1 permits this change only in the case of the principal
Pneumococcal pyomyositis: Report of 2 cases and review of the literature

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of pyomyositis. It is unclear whether the clinical presentation and outcome of pneumococcal pyomyositis differ depending on the host's underlying immune status. We describe 2 patients with pneumococcal pyomyositis, review all published cases, and compare characteristics between apparently healthy hosts and at-risk hosts. A total of 35 cases of pneumococcal pyomyositis were identified, 11 in apparently healthy hosts and 24 in at-risk hosts. Two-thirds of the patients had an antecedent respiratory illness or meningitis. At-risk hosts tended to have a longer interval between the development of symptomatic muscle infection and the diagnosis of pyomyositis and a significantly higher risk of disseminated disease at presentation, as manifested by involvement of multiple noncontiguous muscles or presence of meningitis. Overall, other than 1 death, all patients recovered with antibiotics and surgical drainage, but as might be expected there was a significantly higher rate of complications among at-risk hosts.
Microcontroller-based architecture for control of a six joint robot arm

A robot arm controller has been developed with a dual emphasis on performance and flexibility. It includes a general-purpose interface for a host microcomputer, and can be configured with up to two floating-point signal processors. The controller responds to high-level control commands from the host, computes the arm trajectory, and corrects motion errors in real-time using Newton-Euler equations. By relieving the host computer of all computational requirements, this controller design permits one host to control multiple robot arms while maintaining maximum performance. >
In Vitro Suppression of Human Lymphocyte Activity by Minoxidil

The in vitro effect of minoxidil on normal human lymphocyte activity was studied. At a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, minoxidil significantly inhibited phytohemagglutinin-dependent lymphocyte DNA synthesis (p less than 0.05), and at 0.01 mg/ml, 0.05 mg/ml, and 0.1 mg/ml, it suppressed mitogen-dependent production of leukocyte migration inhibition factor (p less than 0.04, p less than 0.01, and p less than 0.01, respectively), without compromising cell viability. Minoxidil thus appears to exert a suppressive effect on normal human T-lymphocytes in vitro. The physiologic relevance of these findings remains uncertain.
Thermal imaging measurement of lateral thermal diffusivity in continuous fiber ceramic composites

Infrared thermal imaging has become a common technique for nondestructive evaluation and measurement of thermal properties in ceramic specimens. Flash thermal imaging can be used to determine two-dimensional through-thickness thermal diffusivity in a planar specimen. In this study, the authors extended the method to determine lateral, or transverse, thermal diffusivity in the specimen. During the flash thermal imaging test, pulsed heat energy is applied to a specimen's back surface, which is partially shielded, and the change of temperature distribution on the front surface is monitored by an infrared thermal imaging system. The temperature distribution represents the effect of both the normal heat transfer through the specimen's thickness and the lateral heat transfer through the interface between the shielded and unshielded back-surface regions. Those temperature distributions are then fitted with a theoretical solution of the heat transfer process to determine the lateral thermal diffusivity at the interface. This technique has been applied to measure lateral thermal diffusivity in a steel plate and a continuous fiber ceramic composite specimen.
Single-element rectangular microstrip antenna for dual-frequency operation

The letter describes a single-element rectangular microstrip antenna which can operate simultaneously for two different frequency bands.
Seeing double: appreciating genetic redundancy.

informational homeostasis, even when a member of the network is lost through gene mutation. This review presents the characteristics of redundant regulation through the use of several well-characterized examples from animals and plants. We present models of evolutionary selection that provide new explanations of the perdurance of genetic redundancies in populations and put forth experimental approaches that anticipate the common occurrence of genetic redundancy within gene pathways. The application of these experimental approaches should result in the identification of new genes whose functions might not be revealed in more conventional genetic and reverse genetic experiments.
Identification of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma prognosis signatures using the CTGDR method

Motivation: Although NHL (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) is the fifth leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality in the USA, it remains poorly understood and is largely incurable. Biomedical studies have shown that genomic variations, measured with SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in genes, may have independent predictive power for disease-free survival in NHL patients beyond clinical measurements. Results: We apply the CTGDR (clustering threshold gradient directed regularization) method to genetic association studies using SNPs, analyze data from an association study of NHL and identify prognosis signatures to diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL), the two most common subtypes of NHL. With the CTGDR method, we are able to account for the joint effects of multiple genes/SNPs, whereas most existing studies are single-marker based. In addition, we are able to account for the ‘gene and SNP-within-gene’ hierarchical structure and identify not only predictive genes but also predictive SNPs within identified genes. In contrast, existing studies are limited to either gene or SNP identification, but not both. We propose using resampling methods to evaluate the predictive power and reproducibility of identified genes and SNPs. Simulation study and data analysis suggest satisfactory performance of the CTGDR method. Contact: shuangge.ma@yale.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Update on vector boson pair production at hadron colliders

We present numerical results (including full one-loop QCD corrections) for the processes $p\overline{p}$ and $p\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}{W}^{+}{W}^{\ensuremath{-}},$ ${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}Z/{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}$ and $Z/{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}Z/{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}$ followed by the decay of the massive vector bosons into leptons. In addition to their intrinsic importance as tests of the standard model, these processes are also backgrounds to conjectured non-standard model processes. Because of the small cross sections at the Fermilab Tevatron, full experimental control of these backgrounds will be hard to achieve. This accentuates the need for up-to-date theoretical information. A comparison is made with earlier work and cross section results are presented for $p\overline{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=2$ TeV and $\mathrm{pp}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=14$ TeV. Practical examples of the use of our calculations are presented.
Abstract W MP35: The Re-examining Acute Eligibility for Thrombolysis Task Force Criteria for Defining Rapidly Improving Stroke Symptoms: A Pilot Prospective Study of tPA Treatment Decisions

Background: Rapidly Improving Stroke Symptoms (RISS) is a controversial exclusion criterion for tPA for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Prior studies suggest 4-44% of AIS patients eligible are not given tPA solely because of RISS and their outcome is not invariably benign. In 2013 The Re-examining Acute Eligibility for Thrombolysis (TREAT) Task Force published new criteria for defining RISS. Objectives: To estimate frequency and outcome of RISS based on TREAT criteria in a prospective cohort of consecutive AIS patients. Methods: Serial NIH Stroke Scales (NIHSS) for AIS patients admitted within 4.5 hrs of symptom onset were performed every 20 (±5) minutes until a treatment decision (tPA vs no tPA) was made, independent of the study. Improvement was calculated as the difference between baseline NIHSS (bNIHSS) and treatment decision NIHSS (tdNIHSS). Per TREAT criteria, RISS was defined as improvement to a non-disabling mild stroke and none of the following deficits present: complete hemianopsia; severe aphasia;...
On the importance and challenges of FOSD

Among the key elements of mature engineering is automated production: we understand the technical problems and we understand their solutions; our goal is to automate production as much as possible to increase product quality, reduce costs and time-to-market, and be adept at creating new products quickly and cheaply.Automated production is a technological statement of maturity: "We've built these products so often by hand that we've gotten it down to a Science". Models of automated production are indeed the beginnings of a Science of Automated Design (SOAD). Feature Oriented Software Development (FOSD) will play a fundamental role in SOAD, and I believe also play a fundamental role in the future of software engineering.In this presentation, I explain what distinguishes FOSD from other software design disciplines and enumerate key technical barriers that lie ahead for FOSD and SOAD.
Galectins: versatile modulators of cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and cell death

Lectins, or carbohydrate binding proteins, recognize specific oligosaccharide structures on glycoproteins and glycolipids. Several families of animal lectins have been identified; for some of these lectins, functions such as leukocyte adhesion and microbial opsonization have been described. The galectins are a family of lectins found in species ranging from sponges and nematodes to humans. Members of the galectin family have been proposed to mediate cell adhesion, to regulate cell growth, and to trigger or inhibit apoptosis. The expression pattern of different galectins changes during development, and this pattern is also altered at sites of inflammation and in breast, colon, prostate, and thyroid carcinomas. In addition, the level of expression of some galectins by tumor cells has been shown to be correlated with metastatic potential. The mechanisms by which galectins exert these diverse effects remain largely unknown. Some glycoprotein counterreceptors recognized by certain galectins have been identified; this is an important first step in understanding the cell-type specific effects of different galectins. This review discusses the way in which the modulation of galectin activity may affect strategies for treatment of a variety of human diseases, including autoimmunity and cancer.
Reduced turnover times make flexible optical reusable scope with EndoSheath® Technology significantly cost-effective

EndoSheath bronchoscopy (Vision Sciences, Inc.) uses a sterile, disposable microbial barrier that may meet the growing needs for safe, efficient, and cost effective flexible bronchoscopy. The purpose of this open-label comparative study was to compare and calculate the costs-per-airway-procedure of the reusable fiberscope when used with and without EndoSheath(®) Technology; and to record the turnover time from the completion of the use of each scope until its readiness again for the next use. Seventy-five new patients' airways requiring airway maneuvers and manipulations with Vision Sciences, Inc., reusable fiberscope with EndoSheath(®) Technology were evaluated for the costs comparisons with reassessed historical costs data for Olympus scope assisted tracheal intubations. As compared to costs of an intubation ($158.50) with Olympus scope at our institute, the intubation costs with Vision Sciences, Inc., reusable fiberscope with EndoSheath technology was $81.50 (P < 0.001). The mean turnover time was 5.44 min with EndoSheath technology as compared to previously reported 30 min with Olympus fiberscope (P < 0.001). Based on our institutional experience, Vision Sciences, Inc., reusable fiberscope with EndoSheath technology is significantly cost effective as compared to the Olympus scope with significantly improved turnover times.
The molecular and cellular basis of olfactory-driven behavior in Anopheles gambiae larvae

The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is the principal Afrotropical vector for human malaria. A central component of its vectorial capacity is the ability to maintain sufficient populations of adults. During both adult and preadult (larval) stages, the mosquitoes depend on the ability to recognize and respond to chemical cues that mediate feeding and survival. In this study, we used a behavioral assay to identify a range of odorant-specific responses of An. gambiae larvae that are dependent on the integrity of the larval antennae. Parallel molecular analyses have identified a subset of the An. gambiae odorant receptors (AgOrs) that are localized to discrete neurons within the larval antennae and facilitate odor-evoked responses in Xenopus oocytes that are consistent with the larval behavioral spectrum. These studies shed light on chemosensory-driven behaviors and represent molecular and cellular characterization of olfactory processes in mosquito larvae. These advances may ultimately enhance the development of vector control strategies, targeting olfactory pathways in larval-stage mosquitoes to reduce the catastrophic effects of malaria and other diseases.
Linkage of Niemann-Pick disease type C to human chromosome 18.

Abstract We analyzed the involvement of chromosome 18 in Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), an autosomal recessive cholesterol-processing disorder. Within affected offspring, the chromosome 18 parental contributions were identified by using allele-specific microsatellite markers. Significant linkage of NPC to an 18p genomic marker, D18S40, was indicated by a two-point lod score of 3.84. Analysis of meiotic chromosomal breakpoint patterns among the affected individuals indicated that the NPC gene is pericentromerically localized on human chromosome 18.
Minimizing expected energy in real-time embedded systems

We study the problem of minimizing energy consumption in real-time embedded systems that execute variable workloads and are equipped with processors having dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) capabilities. This problem is about how to decide tasks' running speeds (speed schedule) before they are scheduled to execute. In this paper, we show that it is possible to incorporate the dynamic behavior of the tasks into the speed schedule to, along with the dynamic slack reclamation technique, minimize the expected (total) energy consumption in the system.
Changes in γ-secretase activity and specificity caused by the introduction of consensus aspartyl protease active motif in Presenilin 1

Presenilin (PS1 or PS2) is an essential component of the active γ-secretase complex that liberates the Aβ peptides from amyloid precursor protein (APP). PS1 is regarded as an atypical aspartyl protease harboring two essential aspartic acids in the context of the sequence D257LV and D385FI, respectively, rather than the typical DTG...DTG catalytic motif of classical aspartyl proteases. In the present studies, we introduced the sequence DTG in PS1 at and around the catalytic D257 and D385 residues to generate three PS1 mutants: D257TG, D385TG, and the double-mutant D257TG/D385TG. The effects of these changes on the γ-secretase activity in the presence or absence of γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators were investigated. The results showed that PS1 mutants having D385TG robustly enhanced Aβ42 production compared to the wild type (wt), and were more sensitive than wt to inhibition by a classical aspartyl protease transition state mimic, and fenchylamine, a sulfonamide derivative. Unlike wt PS1 and some of its clinical mutants, all three PS1 artificial mutants decreased cleavage of Notch S3-site, suggesting that these artificial mutations may trigger conformational changes at the substrate docking and catalytic site that cause alteration of substrate specificity and inhibition pattern. Consistent with this notion, we have found that NSAID enzymatic inhibitors of COX, known modulators of the γ-secretase activity, cause PS1 mutants containing D385TG to produce higher levels of both Aβ38 and Aβ42, but to reduce levels of Aβ39, showing a pattern of Aβ formation different from that observed with wild type PS1 and its clinical mutants. This study provides an important structural clue for the rational design of drugs to inhibit processing of APP at the γ-site without interfering with Notch processing.
Purification and partial characterization of an elastinolytic proteinase from Aspergillus flavus culture filtrates

A 23-kDa protein with elastinolytic activity was purified from Aspergillus flavus (NRRL 18543) culture filtrates by gel-filtration chromatography. Severe inhibition of the elastinolytic activity by 1,10-phenanthrolene (5 mM) and EDTA (0.8 mM) indicated that the protein belongs to the metallo class of proteases. The isoelectric point was 9.0. Natural substrates susceptible to cleavage by this protease, in addition to elastin, included cottonseed storage protein, collagen, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin. The 23-kDa protein was thermostable to 70°C and retained its elastinolytic activity in concentrated form at 4°C for 6 months. Elastinolytic activity was initially secreted into the culture medium as a 35-kDa protein, which was subsequently converted to a 23-kDa protein, presumably through autolysis. This putative proteolytic degradation product appears to be identical to the 23-kDa protein recovered from the gel-filtration column. The 23-kDa protease may confer selective advantage to the fungus in the extracellular environment because of its temperature and pH stability and wide range of potential natural protein substrates.
Efficient tracing for on-the-fly space-time displays in a debugger for message passing programs

We describe the implementation of a practical mechanism for collecting and displaying trace information in a debugger for message passing programs. We introduce a trace format that is highly compressible while still providing information adequate for debugging purposes. We make the mechanism convenient for users to access by incorporating the trace collection in a set of wrappers for the MPI communication library. We implement several debugger operations that use the trace display: consistent stoplines, undo, and rollback. They all are implemented using controlled replay, which executes at full speed in target processes until the appropriate position in the computation is reached. They provide convenient mechanisms for getting to places in the execution where the full power of a state-based debugger can be brought to bear on isolating communication errors.