cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survey of Endogenous Virus and TVB* Receptor Status of Commercial Chicken Stocks Supplying Specific-pathogen-free Eggs

Abstract Endogenous avian leukosis virus (ALVE) and the ALVE receptor (TVB*S1) status of six commercial chicken lines supplying specific-pathogen-free eggs were analyzed. All commercial chicken lines are certified free of the avian leukosis virus (ALV) by screening for expression of the p27 protein using the standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The commercial chicken lines A, E, and F contained replication competent ALVE inserts. Line A was fixed for ALVE21, and lines E and F were segregating for ALVE10. In addition, ALVE1 was detected in all the chicken lines. Chicken lines B, D, and F were essentially fixed for the TVB*S1 allele that confers susceptibility to ALVE, whereas lines A, C, B, and E were resistant, containing either the TVB*S3 or TVB*R alleles. The results show that lines selected to be ALV p27 negative give rise to two different genotypes. One genotype lacks the TVB*S1 receptor for ALVE. Chicken lines with the TVB*S1 negative genotype can retain replication competent endogenous virus ...
Effect of hydrogen bonding on far-ultraviolet water absorption and potential implications for 193-nm ArF excimer laser-tissue interaction

The mechanisms causing transient 193-nm optical absorption of collagen during ablative-fluence ArF excimer pulses are poorly understood. The preponderance of hypotheses proposed to explain this phenomenon, such as ultrafast secondary-structure denaturation of proteins and transient free radical formation, focus on the protein matrix and ignore potential contributions from other tissue components such as water. A substantial body of spectroscopic literature places 193 nm adjacent to a steep absorption edge of water that rises to 60,000 cm -1 at 163 nm; other evidence shows that this absorption edge shifts toward 193 nm upon hydrogen-bond breakage. In this paper we show that heating of water from 20-100°C increases the liquid's absorption coefficient. Further investigations using an infrared pump laser show a significant increase in absorption by water of a 193-nm probe beam. Based on this evidence, we speculate that 193-nm laser ablation of tissue may contain a photothermal component related to dynamic absorption of incident radiation by water.
Feeling Slow Food: Visceral fieldwork and empathetic research relations in the alternative food movement

Abstract This paper details the author’s experiments with accessing the visceral realm in research on the food-based social movement, Slow Food (SF). “Visceral” is defined as the bodily realm where feelings, sensations, moods and so on are experienced. Fieldwork methods aimed at participatory co-creation of data through verbal communications in the form of in-depth conversations and group discussions, as well as non-verbal communications in the form of “intentionally designed experiences” and other forms of sensory involvement. Communications centered on understanding how foods and food-based settings elicit feelings and sensations that move and power bodies differently, and specifically how SF guides bodies to be affected by specific foods and environments. The paper details how data were created and recorded, specifically exploring how sensory-based research events were translated to data through the creation of imagined bodily empathies. The paper also discusses the emergence of change-oriented communications that pushed for transformation in SF’s (in)attention to visceral differences, thus demonstrating how visceral research can challenge researchers and participants to critically reflect upon, and perhaps transform, how their own bodies feel (and respond to) the world.
How Common Random Numbers Affect Multinominal Selection

We consider the effect of common random numbers (CRNs) among simulated systems in two different multinomial selection procedures: the classical procedure BEM (Bechhofer, Elmaghraby, and Morse) and procedure AVC (all vector comparisons). CVe examine a simple two population scenario and demonstrate analytically how CRNs affect the probability of correct selection (PCS). In addition, various levels of positive correlation are induced to approximate the effect of using CRNs with complex simulated systems. We present analytical and simulation results to show the effect correlation has on the probability of correct selection (PCS) for each solution procedure. This paper responds to Jim Wilson’s question raised at WSC’96 about how the use of CRNs affects multinomial selection procedures.
Cooperative spatial multiplexing for high-rate wireless communications

We propose a new cooperative communication approach that simplifies the transmit and receive processing requirement on the relay node while providing significant savings in the transmission energy over the cooperative diversity technique, particularly in high spectral efficiency regime. The proposed approach is to make each relay node to detect only a fraction (sub-stream) of the source data stream and forward all sub-streams simultaneously over the same physical channel. Then, multiple receive antennas at the destination allow the sub-streams to be detected separately based on their spatial characteristics. The distinctive benefit of this approach is the reduction of transmit and receive processing requirements on each relay node. Therefore, the proposed approach is particularly attractive in sending high-rate data where each relay node can handle only low-rates due to limited resources in terms of energy, computation power, hardware, and space (size).
Pharmacogenomics of tumor necrosis factor antagonists in rheumatoid arthritis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha plays a central role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is instrumental in causing joint destruction, the clinical hallmark of the disease. Recognizing this, in recent years biological therapies have been developed that work by blocking the damaging effects of TNF-alpha on synovium and cartilage. Three such agents are currently approved for treatment in RA - etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab. Although these agents are very effective in slowing the clinical and structural progression in RA, they are expensive, totaling several thousand dollars in yearly costs. Furthermore, only about 60% of patients respond effectively to these agents. As RA is a chronic disease, with most patients expected to remain on these therapies for life, ways to prospectively identify patients most likely to benefit from these agents are being explored. Pharmacogenomic approaches form the basis of most such screening methods. Polymorphisms in genes encoding TNF-alpha, TNF-alpha receptors, other cytokines, and the major histocompatibility complex region, and their ability to predict response to anti-TNF therapies, have been the focus of many recent studies. The results from such studies are mixed, with some suggesting that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes are significant, while others conclude that such SNPs are irrelevant in predicting response. Such conflicting results are likely to be due to a variety of factors, as discussed in this article. Whether pharmacogenomics will allow prediction of anti-TNF therapy efficacy in RA remains a question with no clear answers to date. Large, prospective, multicenter studies with the examination of not just individual SNPs, but also multi-SNP haplotypes, are needed to address this question in the future.
Physiological Condition in Magellanic Penguins: Does it Matter if You Have to Walk a Long Way to Your Nest?

Abstract Colony edges, as opposed to interiors, are often considered less advantageous nesting places in colonial species. For temperate-breeding penguins, inland colony edges should be less desirable than other edges, as there are added costs of walking farther inland, and ambient temperatures are higher. During settlement and incubation, we compared body condition and baseline and stress-induced levels of the hormone corticosterone in male Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) nesting on the sea edge of a colony with those nesting on the inland edge, >800 m from shore. Body condition in both groups was significantly lower during settlement than during incubation, but was similar in both groups within breeding stages. Corticosterone levels were similar between breeding stages and for groups within each breeding stage. While body condition can vary over time, penguins appear to be well buffered to physiological extremes, as they do not show modification of corticosterone levels with variations in ...
Detection of transients in heart rate variability signals using a time-varying varying Karhunen-Loeve expansion

We present a method to capture transient changes in heart-rate variability (HRV) signals. To deal with the nonstationarities in these signals we propose a time-dependent Karhunen-Loeve expansion. Using this expansion together with an entropy criterion we are able to partition the signal into quasi-stationary segments that can be further analyzed. Local eigenvalues and eigenvectors are then computed from a time-varying autocorrelation matrix in each segment. Application of our procedure resides in the dynamic assessment of the activity of the autonomic nervous system. An example is the capture of changes in HRV that might predict the initiation of cardiac arrhythmias. Previously, after performing and analyzing a stationary Karhunen-Loeve expansion of HRV signals, we showed that a significant increase in the dynamic range of the coefficients occurs shortly before the onset of life-threatening disturbances of cardiac rhythm. With the method proposed in this paper, we extend our previous results and we attempt a more precise determination of transients associated with changes in the autonomic nervous system.
Femtoliter to picoliter droplet generation for organic polymer deposition using single reservoir ejector arrays

Direct deposition of photoresist and other spin-on materials, such as low-k and high-k dielectrics, has the potential to reduce waste as well as production costs. A new design of acoustically actuated two-dimensional (2-D) micromachined droplet ejector arrays can eject various solvents and other fluids ranging from femtoliter to picoliter droplet volumes. These ejectors do not harm fluids that are heat or pressure sensitive. Moreover, they are chemically compatible with the materials used in integrated circuit manufacturing. Therefore, they can be used for benign deposition of photoresist and other spin-on materials, such as low-k and high-k dielectrics. A vibrating circular Si/sub x/N/sub y/ thin-film membrane with an orifice at the center forms the unit cell of a 2-D ejector array. Initially, one side of the membrane is loaded with the ejection fluid. Then, ultrasonic waves generated by a piezoelectric transducer force the membranes to displace at resonance. As a result of this actuation, droplets are ejected through the membrane orifice. We ejected water at 1.06 MHz, isopropanol at 1.14 MHz, ethyl alcohol at 1.06 MHz, and acetone at 1.04 MHz from a 20/spl times/20 single reservoir 2-D micromachined array with 160 /spl mu/m in diameter Si/sub x/N/sub y/ membranes and 10 /spl mu/m in diameter orifices. The performance of single reservoir flextensional membrane-based ejector arrays was compared to flextensional membrane-based ejector arrays with reservoirs. A 50% decrease in the required power per ejected droplet and a reduced design complexity were demonstrated over the 2-D micromachined arrays with individual reservoirs. In addition, we deposited Shipley SPR 3612 photoresist at 1.12 MHz in a dry lab environment. No spinning was done after deposition. We covered a 2/spl times/2-mm area on a wafer with a 5.5-/spl mu/m thick photoresist layer. The maximum thickness variation over the area was 0.4 /spl mu/m. Moreover, we present a directly written 1.6-/spl mu/m thick 900-/spl mu/m wide and 8-mm long homogeneous photoresist line. The photoresist thickness variation along the line was 0.2 and 0.4 /spl mu/m in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively.
Measuring carotid artery stenosis using CT angiography: the dilemma of artifactual lumen eccentricity.

This study assesses artifactual luminal distortion, or eccentricity, that affects measurement of stenosis on CT angiography performed with a variety of helical protocols.A 32-vessel carotid artery phantom was built with five known grades of stenoses (25%, 50%, 75%, 88%, and 94%) and three lengths of stenosis (1, 3, and 5 mm). This phantom was scanned with conventional and 1.0-, 1.5-, and 2.0-pitch helical CT with slice thicknesses of 2, 4, and 8 mm, and three vessel orientations: parallel, 45 degrees oblique, and perpendicular to the z-axis. Oblique multiplanar reconstruction was performed with the latter two vessel orientations to produce images similar to the parallel to z-axis orientation. The cross-sectional images were then used to measure the maximum and minimum (longest and shortest) luminal diameters in and out of each stenosis at a computer workstation by a single investigator who was unaware of the scanning technique. Percentage of stenosis was assessed by three methods: cross-sectional area in ...
High-Efficiency Genome Editing and Allele Replacement in Prototrophic and Wild Strains of Saccharomyces

Current genome editing techniques available for Saccharomyces yeast species rely on auxotrophic markers, limiting their use in wild and industrial strains and species. Taking advantage of the ancient loss of thymidine kinase in the fungal kingdom, we have developed the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene as a selectable and counterselectable marker that forms the core of novel genome engineering tools called the Haploid Engineering and Replacement Protocol (HERP) cassettes. Here we show that these cassettes allow a researcher to rapidly generate heterogeneous populations of cells with thousands of independent chromosomal allele replacements using mixed PCR products. We further show that the high efficiency of this approach enables the simultaneous replacement of both alleles in diploid cells. Using these new techniques, many of the most powerful yeast genetic manipulation strategies are now available in wild, industrial, and other prototrophic strains from across the diverse Saccharomyces genus.
Polar Positioning of a Conjugation Protein from the Integrative and Conjugative Element ICEBs1 of Bacillus subtilis

ICEBs1 is an integrative and conjugative element found in the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis. ICEBs1 encodes functions needed for its excision and transfer to recipient cells. We found that the ICEBs1 gene conE (formerly yddE) is required for conjugation and that conjugative transfer of ICEBs1 requires a conserved ATPase motif of ConE. ConE belongs to the HerA/FtsK superfamily of ATPases, which includes the well-characterized proteins FtsK, SpoIIIE, VirB4, and VirD4. We found that a ConE-GFP (green fluorescent protein) fusion associated with the membrane predominantly at the cell poles in ICEBs1 donor cells. At least one ICEBs1 product likely interacts with ConE to target it to the membrane and cell poles, as ConE-GFP was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm in a strain lacking ICEBs1. We also visualized the subcellular location of ICEBs1. When integrated in the chromosome, ICEBs1 was located near midcell along the length of the cell, a position characteristic of that chromosomal region. Following excision, ICEBs1 was more frequently found near a cell pole. Excision of ICEBs1 also caused altered positioning of at least one component of the replisome. Taken together, our findings indicate that ConE is a critical component of the ICEBs1 conjugation machinery, that conjugative transfer of ICEBs1 from B. subtilis likely initiates at a donor cell pole, and that ICEBs1 affects the subcellular position of the replisome.
Lossless DCR current sensing for multi-winding coupled inductors

Lossless DCR current sensing is common in multiphase point of load converters. A multiphase buck with coupled inductors exhibits a larger steady state inductance than transient inductance. Since there are two distinct values of inductance, it unclear which value to use in the conventional DCR sensing scheme. A first assumption might be to use the transient inductance, so that closed loop stability is not compromised. The current slew will be measured accurately, but the measured ripple magnitude will be incorrect. Accurate measurements of both the ripple and the current slew of coupled inductors cannot be produced using conventional DCR sensing. This paper proposes a new DCR sensing scheme that resolves the inaccuracies of conventional sensing.
On the Concept of Isomerism

The question as to whether two species of the same molecular composition are identical or isomeric in the conventional sense cannot be answered in the absence of stated experimental criteria of conditions and methods of observation. A new definition is proposed which minimizes such dependence on experimental criteria. “Residual isomerism” is defined as an auxiliary term to make the new definition practically useful.
Time-frequency waveform synthesis using a least-squares approach

The optimal solution for least-squares ambiguity function synthesis in the continuous-time-frequency domain is found as a solution to a homogeneous Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The solutions for time- or band-limited waveforms are examined. It is shown that the least-squares cost function is not convex. An exact expression for the continuous ambiguity function of a time-limited waveform in terms of the discrete ambiguity function of the same waveform is given, and the resulting aliasing problem is investigated. The least-squares synthesis of ambiguity functions for time-limited waveforms in the discrete-time-frequency domain is solved. A practical suboptimal design algorithm is given. A design obtained by employing the proposed algorithm is presented. A relation is given between discrete Wigner distributions obtained using samples taken at the Nyquist rate and at twice the Nyquist rate, and it is shown that the corresponding discrete Wigner distribution synthesis can be performed using essentially the same algorithm proposed for ambiguity function synthesis. >
Predicting Ca2+‐binding sites using refined carbon clusters

Identifying Ca(2+) -binding sites in proteins is the first step toward understanding the molecular basis of diseases related to Ca(2+) -binding proteins. Currently, these sites are identified in structures either through X-ray crystallography or NMR analysis. However, Ca(2+) -binding sites are not always visible in X-ray structures due to flexibility in the binding region or low occupancy in a Ca(2+) -binding site. Similarly, both Ca(2+) and its ligand oxygens are not directly observed in NMR structures. To improve our ability to predict Ca(2+) -binding sites in both X-ray and NMR structures, we report a new graph theory algorithm (MUG(C) ) to predict Ca(2+) -binding sites. Using carbon atoms covalently bonded to the chelating oxygen atoms, and without explicit reference to side-chain oxygen ligand co-ordinates, MUG(C) is able to achieve 94% sensitivity with 76% selectivity on a dataset of X-ray structures composed of 43 Ca(2+) -binding proteins. Additionally, prediction of Ca(2+) -binding sites in NMR structures was obtained by MUG(C) using a different set of parameters, which were determined by the analysis of both Ca(2+) -constrained and unconstrained Ca(2+) -loaded structures derived from NMR data. MUG(C) identified 20 of 21 Ca(2+) -binding sites in NMR structures inferred without the use of Ca(2+) constraints. MUG(C) predictions are also highly selective for Ca(2+) -binding sites as analyses of binding sites for Mg(2+) , Zn(2+) , and Pb(2+) were not identified as Ca(2+) -binding sites. These results indicate that the geometric arrangement of the second-shell carbon cluster is sufficient not only for accurate identification of Ca(2+) -binding sites in NMR and X-ray structures but also for selective differentiation between Ca(2+) and other relevant divalent cations.
The linear stabilization problem in Hilbert space

Abstract : The paper considers the linear control system dx/dt = Ax + Bu. Here A is infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous group of bounded linear operators T(t) on a Hilbert space E, B is a bounded linear operator from a Hilbert space H to E. The author gives sufficient conditions for the existence of a bounded linear operator K from E to H so that the control system with feedback control law u(t) = Kx(t) has the zero solution asymptotically stable. The results reduce to a well-known theorem of Kalman in the case E,H are finite dimensional. (Author)
Are Morphometrics Sufficient for Estimating Age of Pre-Fledging Birds in the Field? A Test Using Common Terns (Sterna hirundo)

Age is a key component of fitness, affecting survival and reproductive capacities. Where it is not possible to study known individuals from birth, morphometrics (predominantly patterns of plumage development for birds) are most often used to estimate age. Although criteria for age estimations exist for many species, the degree to which these criteria improve the precision of estimates remains to be tested, restricting their widespread acceptance. We develop a photographic tool for estimating ages of Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks and test it using 100 human observers of varying prior experience across four breeding colonies (three North American sites and one European site) and under controlled laboratory conditions. We followed the design approach of other morphometric tools, expanding it to create a user-friendly guide (divided into six age groupings). The majority (86%) of observers improved in chick-aging accuracy when using the tool by an average of 20.1% (±1.4 SE) and correctly estimated 60.3% (±1.4) of chick ages. This was similar to the intrinsic aging ability of our best field observer (63.3%). Observers with limited experience showed the greatest increases in chick-aging accuracy over experienced observers who likely had established a method for estimating chick ages prior to using the tool. Even the best observers only correctly estimated ages of chicks 62.9% (±2.8) of the time in the field and 84.0% (±2.9) of the time in the lab when using the tool and typically underestimated ages. This indicates that developmental variation between individual chicks can prevent completely reliable age estimates and corroborates the few existing data that suggest that morphometric criteria fail to achieve robust levels of accuracy and may introduce error into studies that rely on them. We conclude that novel approaches for estimating age, not only morphometric criteria, must be pursued.
An artificial neural network system for temporal-spatial sequence processing

Abstract An artificial network is described that can learn, recognize, and generate higher-order temporal-spatial sequences. It consists of three parts: (1) comparator units, (2) a parallel array of artificial neural networks that are derived from the visual-vestibular networks of the snail Hermissenda , as well as hippocampal neuroanatomy, and (3) delayed feedback lines from the output of the system to the neural network layer. Its advantages include short training time, fast and accurate retrievals, toleration of spatial noise and temporal gaps in test sequences, and ability to store a large number of temporal sequences consisting of non-orthogonal spatial patterns.
Identification of Waxy Wheat by Near-infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Abstract Newly developed low amylose wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) have unique processing characteristics, and thus allow millers to blend defined levels of amylose in mixes requiring low-amylose flour. The amount of amylose synthesised during grain fill is dependent on the expression of three structural genes that encode isoforms of granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS). Lines possessing null alleles at the three waxy (wx) loci produce starch that lacks amylose. While such wheats are readily identified by iodine staining, their identification in wheat marketing and production systems would be facilitated by the use of rapid, spectral methods. The present study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to identify waxy wheats, and differentiate them from partial waxy and wild-type phenotypes. Nearly 200 lines from each of two harvest years, with a range of zero (waxy) to three (wild-type) active genes, were ground and scanned (1100–2500 nm) in NIR reflectance. Linear or quadratic discriminant functions of the scores from principal component decomposition cross validation demonstrated that within a crop year, near-perfect separation of fully waxy (27 of 27 samples from Year 1, and 23 of 24 samples from Year 2 correctly identified) from non-waxy lines (165 of 165 samples from either Year 1 or Year 2 correctly identified) was achievable. Further classification among the three non-waxy classes was more difficult, with an average overall accuracy of 60%. Misclassifications were most often assignments into neighbouring gene classes (e.g. 1-gene line assigned to the 2-gene class). The method should prove useful in the identification of waxy wheats, or of blends of waxy and non-waxy cultivars.
Vision Aided Inertial Navigation with Measurement Delay for Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Landing

Usually, standard inertial navigation unit (INU) with global positioning system (GPS) provides relatively poor accuracy in altitude estimation, while autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) requires accurate position estimation. In this paper, a UAV navigation system with aid from an external camera for landing is investigated. This paper presents: (i) a sensor fusion algorithm for passive monocular vision and INU based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) considering measurement delay to improve the accuracy of position estimates, and (ii) a robust object-detection vision algorithm using optical flow. Pilot controlled landing experiments on a NASA UAV platform and the filter simulations validate the feasibility and performance of the proposed approach.
Nonoffensive defense is overrated

Denying victory is not enough, says this critic of pure defense. Such plans may not be enough to deter aggression, because they eliminate the possibility of delivering punishing counterattacks.
In Memoriam: Teresa L. Polowy

1. 21 September 1953 to 25 November 2015It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Teresa (Terry) Lynn Polowy, professor of Russian and Slavic Studies at the University of Arizona....
Abstract 4094: Pancreatic cancers epigenetically silenceZFHX1B,hypomethylate and overexpress miR-200a/−200b, in association with elevated circulating miR-200a and miR-200b levels

Aberrant DNA methylation and miRNA expression play important roles in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. While interrogating differentially methylated CpG islands in pancreatic cancer we identified two members of miR-200 family, miR-200a and miR-200b that were hypomethylated and overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. We also identified prevalent hypermethylation and silencing of one of their downstream targets, ZFHX1B (SIP1, ZEB2), whose protein product suppresses E-cadherin expression and contributes to epithelial mesenchymal transition. In a panel of 23 pancreatic cell lines we observed a reciprocal correlation between miR-200, ZFHX1B and E-cadherin expression with pancreatic cancer associated fibroblasts showing the opposite expression pattern to most pancreatic cancers. In Panc-1cells, which express ZFHX1B, have low E-cadherin expression and do not express miR-200a or miR-200b, exogenous expression of miR-200a and miR-200b down regulated ZFHX1B mRNA and increased E-cadherin expression. However, most pancreatic cancers express miR-200a and miR-200b, but this expression does not affect ZFHX1B expression as the ZFHX1B promoter is silenced by hypermethylation, and in these cancers E-cadherin is generally expressed at or above normal levels. Both miR-200a and miR-200b were significantly elevated in the sera of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis patients compared to healthy controls (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4094.
Perceptions and Opinions on the Performance of Pap Smears: A Survey of Clinicians Using a Commercial Laboratory

Office-based clinicians play a major role in cervical cancer screen ing in the United States, but little is known about their specific knowledge and understanding of the technical aspects of obtaining an adequate Pap smear. We surveyed 186 office-based clinicians using a major commercial laboratory for cytology services to obtain their opinions regarding the technical adequacy of Pap smears, collection procedures, and methods of communicating test results to patients. There was an 80.1% response rate. Two thirds of the respondents were men. Cytobrush use was reported significantly more by female clinicians. Respondents varied in reported rotation of the cytobrush, from 90° to greater than 360°. More female than male clinicians appropriately indicated that inflammation and heavy vaginal discharge caused sampling difficulties. Approximately half of the respondents believed that errors in cervical screening most often resulted from sampling the cervix or preparation of the Pap smear. Nineteen percent reported that ectocervical cells were not necessary for an adequate smear to be reported. Just over 25% of respondents indicated they did not report normal Pap smear results to the patient. The results indicate differences between clinicians by gender and specialty in reported knowledge, understanding, and technique in cervical cancer screening. The differences suggest that targeted education in this population may be important to improve the quality of cervical cancer screening.
Lipoprotein lipase in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas.

Abstract A decrease of lipoprotein lipase in children with cystic fibrosis has been demonstrated using two separate approaches. First, the fibrocystic patients failed to clear an intravenous load of fat as satisfactorily as a group of normal control subjects, especially following the administration of heparin. Second, the direct measurement of plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in vitro failed to show a satisfactory rise following heparin among fibrocystic patients as compared with normal control subjects. This may represent a secondary effect of poor intestinal absorption of triglycerides because of a deficiency of pancreatic lipase in the duodenal secretions.
Complications of surgical intervention in adult lumbar scoliosis.

If nonoperative measures are unsuccessful in managing the pain and disability of adult spinal deformities, surgical correction may provide the potential for significant improvement in a patient’s quality of life. However, these procedures have a relatively high risk of complications. Identifying patients that may benefit from surgical intervention requires a thorough understanding of potential complications and managing the risks of any individual patient. Complications do not necessarily result in poor outcomes, and good outcomes are not always complication free. Higher risk patients potentially have more to gain, even if they experience complications. With the rapidly expanding senior population and expanded capabilities to manage high-risk patients, it is helpful to consider the lessons provided by ever expanding databases of outcome measures to refine the surgical decision-making process.
Quantifying the Reduction in Collapse Safety of Main Shock–Damaged Reinforced Concrete Frames with Infills

A performance-based methodology is presented to quantify the reduction in collapse safety of main shock–damaged reinforced concrete frame buildings with infills. After assessing their collapse safe...
Methods for inferring oyster mariculture on Florida's Gulf Coast

Abstract Archaeologists and historians have demonstrated that marine resource management, or mariculture, has been practiced by coastal peoples worldwide for thousands of years. Typically evidence for these practices is in the form of ethnohistoric accounts or associated infrastructure (e.g. clam gardens). This paper presents methods for inferring oyster mariculture by using proxy evidence from attributes of the shell itself. The methods are applied to archaeological shell from a Woodland Period site on Florida's Gulf Coast, where it appears that two techniques of mariculture, shelling and culling, were practiced during a period of intensive large-scale and sustained harvesting.
Placing of photos on the internet: Critical analysis of biases on the depictions of France and Afghanistan on FLICKR

Abstract The Internet and the representation of space therein are almost omnipresent in society and everyday life. Peer-produced geographic data is gaining a particular importance through increasingly available digital tools and techniques that shape the perception of space in the internet, such as flickr, OpenStreetMap or Wikipedia. However, few studies focused on how space is represented, and by whom it is described. We hypothesize that the alleged opening up of geographic information and the assumed benefits for every individual and society through the occurrence of ‘easy-to-use-mapping-tools’ was premature. To explore these assumptions, a comparative study of the flickr worldmap was undertaken and roughly 6.8 million metadatasets of geocoded photos in France, and roughly 50,000 metadatasets in Afghanistan were downloaded and the metadata was analyzed. Our results indicate that photos geocoded in France show a large diversity of motives, while photos geocoded in Afghanistan are mostly limited to content containing warfare when they are up loaded in English. The content of the photo and therefore the representation of space strongly depend on who uploaded the photo, particularly in Afghanistan. We can show that the representation of space on the internet, for the case of flickr, is strongly dominated by perceptions of Western societies and individuals. We therefore confirm our hypothesis that the supposed opening up of geographic information systems through ‘easy-to-use-mapping-tools’ and their democratization thereof was premature. Moreover, we highlight the importance of understanding who contributes online content to be able to evaluate peer-produced data, its value, and its possible applications to avoid reproducing biases.
Regulation and Optimal Error Reduction in Linear Multivariable Systems

Abstract In this paper, we study a general problem of optimal error reduction in linear multivariable systems. We show how a symptotic regulation can be achieved along with minimization of the H∞ norm of the error transfer function matrix. These resulte are of significance in the development of a new approach to the design of multivariable control systems.
31 P NMR Evidence for Peroxide Intermediates in Lipid Emulsion Photooxidations: Phosphine Substituent Effects in Trapping.

Intralipid is a lipid emulsion used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for its light scattering and tissue-simulating properties. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not Intralipid undergoes photooxidation, we have carried out an Intralipid peroxide trapping study using a series of phosphines [2′-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl-3-sulfonate, 3-(diphenylphosphino)benzenesulfonate, triphenylphosphine-3,3′,3′′-trisulfonate, and triphenylphosphine]. Our new findings are as follows: (i) An oxygen atom is transferred from Intralipid peroxide to the phosphine traps in the dark, after the photooxidation of Intralipid. 3-(Diphenylphosphino)benzenesulfonate is the most suitable trap in the series owing to a balance of nucleophilicity and water solubility. (ii) Phosphine trapping and monitoring by 31P NMR is effective in quantifying the peroxides in H2O. An advantage of the technique is that peroxides are detected in H2O; deuterated NMR solvents are not required. (iii) The percent yield of the peroxides increased linearly with the increase in fluence from 45 to 180 J cm−2 based on our trapping experiments. (iv) The photooxidation yields quantitated by the phosphines and 31P NMR are supported by the direct 1H NMR detection using deuterated NMR solvents. These data provide the first steps in the development of Intralipid peroxide quantitation after PDT using phosphine trapping and 31P NMR spectroscopy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Liver stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with functional treatment planning for patients with intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

The objective of this study was to analyze hepatic failure progression and survival in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) A3-B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with functional treatment planning. Liver SPECT was co-registered to 4DCT for avoidance of functional liver during SRT planning. Liver dose constraints/fractionation was based on functional liver volume. Concurrent capecitabine was administered for fraction size ≤ 4 Gy. Hepatic function, toxicity, and radiographic response were documented q4–6 months following radiotherapy. Twenty-two patients (14 Child-Pugh A, 8 Child-Pugh B Cirrhosis) with 39 lesions were analyzed. Fourteen patients received SBRT (mean dose 44.7 Gy, 5–6 fractions). Eight patients received SRT and concurrent capecitabine (mean dose 40.7 Gy, 14–18 fractions). Mean follow-up was 20 months. Nine patients developed grade ≤ 2 transient elevation of liver enzymes. At 24 months, Child-Pugh class was stable in 59% patients and MELD progression free survival was 76%. No RILD or accelerated hepatic failure was observed. In-field local control was 97.4% and overall survival was 59% at 2 years. Liver SRT with functional treatment planning is safe in intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver failure is not hastened despite the inclusion of 36% Child-Pugh B patients.
Minority Carrier Transport in Lead Sulfide Quantum Dot Photovoltaics

Lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS QDs) are an attractive material system for the development of low-cost photovoltaics (PV) due to their ease of processing and stability in air, with certified power conversion efficiencies exceeding 11%. However, even the best PbS QD PV devices are limited by diffusive transport, as the optical absorption length exceeds the minority carrier diffusion length. Understanding minority carrier transport in these devices will therefore be critical for future efficiency improvement. We utilize cross-sectional electron beam-induced current (EBIC) microscopy and develop methodology to quantify minority carrier diffusion length in PbS QD PV devices. We show that holes are the minority carriers in tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI)-treated PbS QD films due to the formation of a p–n junction with an ethanedithiol (EDT)-treated QD layer, whereas a heterojunction with n-type ZnO forms a weaker n+–n junction. This indicates that modifying the standard device architecture to include a p-type ...
Safety and Improved Clinical Outcomes in Patients Treated With New Equine-Derived Heptavalent Botulinum Antitoxin.

Background Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic illness. Equine-derived heptavalent botulinum antitoxin (HBAT), the only currently available treatment for noninfant botulism in the United States, was licensed in 2013. No reports have systematically examined safety and clinical benefit of HBAT among botulism patients. Methods From March 2010 through March 2013, we collected data prospectively and through medical record reviews of patients with confirmed or suspected botulism who were treated with HBAT under an expanded-access Investigational New Drug program. Results Among 249 HBAT-treated patients, 1 (<1%) child experienced an HBAT-related serious adverse event (hemodynamic instability characterized by bradycardia, tachycardia, and asystole); 22 (9%) patients experienced 38 nonserious adverse events reported by physicians to be HBAT related. Twelve (5%) deaths occurred; all were determined to be likely unrelated to HBAT. Among 104 (42%) patients with confirmed botulism, those treated early (≤2 days) spent fewer days in the hospital (median, 15 vs 25 days; P < .01) and intensive care (10 vs 17 days; P = .04) than those treated later. Improvements in any botulism sign/symptom were detected a median of 2.4 days and in muscle strength a median of 4.8 days after HBAT. Conclusions HBAT was safe and provided clinical benefit in treated patients. HBAT administration within 2 days of symptom onset was associated with shorter hospital and intensive care stays. These results highlight the importance of maintaining clinical suspicion for botulism among patients presenting with paralytic illness to facilitate early HBAT treatment before laboratory confirmation might be available. Clinical consultation and, if indicated, HBAT release, are available to clinicians 24/7 through their state health department in conjunction with CDC.
Proxy re-encryption architect for storing and sharing of cloud contents

Internet-based online cloud services provide enormous volumes of storage space, tailor-made computing resources and eradicate the obligation of native machines for data maintenance as well. Cloud s...
Ernst Käsemann and the Specter of Apocalyptic

Ernst Kasemann famously claimed that “apocalyptic was the mother of all Christian theology.” This claim is more than a merely historical remark about the origins of Christian theology. Kasemann’s w...
Neuromuscular blocking agents in the management of respiratory failure. Indications and treatment guidelines.

Indications for the pharmacologic paralysis of patients with respiratory failure are discussed in this article. The choice of a particular neuromuscular blocking drug, methods of administration, monitoring, and important side effects are examined.
ESCA for the Study of Biomaterial Surfaces

Polymer surface analysis is essential for the study of biomaterials because the ultimate biological response to implanted materials depends on what proteins and cells “see” at the interface. Ideally, we would like to routinely correlate the characteristics of the surface structure with the events that comprise the observed biological response. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) has been found to be useful in enhancing our understanding of biomaterials surfaces and has demonstrated the potential to generate data that might be correlated with complex biological interactions.
Epidemiology of Malnutrition in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Physicians have observed for many years that markers of nutritional depletion were present in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Ureteral obstruction due to radiation.

Radiation damage can result in ureteral obstruction and ureterovaginal fistula. Salpingitis is a predisposing factor. Acute infection during radiotherapy should be recognized in the closely followed patient and treated with bilateral salpin go-oophorectomy. Late ureteral obstruction is insidious for it rarely produces symptoms until severe renal damage has been inflicted. Routine pretreatment intravenous pyelogram, a high level of suspicion, and postreatment intravenous pyelograms in patients with renal impairment or infection are the best means of recognizing this complication.
Inner Product Spaces

This chapter discusses the basic concepts of length and inner product in the vector spaces R n. It describes the properties of vector spaces that are based on an inner product. It is possible to define an inner product for vector spaces over fields other than the field R of real numbers or the field C of complex numbers. F = R or F = C , and V shall denote a finite-dimensional vector space over F . An inner product on V is a mapping f of pairs of vectors ( u, v ) in V × V onto scalars f ( u, v ) Є F that has the following properties: (1) f ( a 1 u 1 + a 2 u 2 , v ) = ā 1 f ( u 1 , v ) + ā 2 f ( u 2 , v ); (2) ; (3) f ( v , v ) > 0 if v ≠ 0 and f (Ο,Ο) = 0. These properties invite a comparison between inner products and hermitian forms. This comparison yields the following theorem which is important even though the proof is trivial.
Sweep distortion removal from terahertz images via blind demodulation

Inspection and imaging through scattering layers is a decades-old problem in optics. Unlike x-ray and ultrasonic imaging techniques, time-domain spectroscopy methods can provide detailed chemical and structural information of subsurfaces along with their depth. Although high-resolution time-of-flight measurement in time-domain spectroscopy provides 3D information, unfortunately it also induces an unwanted sensitivity to misalignments of the system and distortion of the layers themselves. Such high sensitivity to alignment and sample surface is a well known problem in time-domain and interferometric imaging, and is a major concern when the alignment error is comparable to the pulse wavelength. Here, we propose and implement an algorithmic framework based on low-rank matrix recovery and alternating minimization to remove such unwanted distortions from time-domain images. The method allows for recovery of the original sample texture in spite of the presence of temporal-spatial distortions. We address a blind-demodulation problem where, based on several observations of the sample texture modulated by undesired sweep distortions, the two classes of signals are separated with minimal damage to the main features. The performance of the method is examined in both synthetic and real data in the case of a terahertz time-domain system, and the successful reconstructions are demonstrated. The proposed general scheme can be implemented to advance inspection and imaging applications in THz and other time-resolved spectral imaging modalities.
The moderating role of race/ethnicity and nativity in the relationship between perceived discrimination and overweight and obesity: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

The overweight/obesity epidemic is a public health issue in the United States (US), that disproportionately affect certain racial/ethnic minority groups. Perceived discrimination has been implicated as a health risk factor. However, research on race/ethnicity, perceived discrimination, and obesity has been mixed. Researchers suggest that perceptions of discrimination may be dependent upon nativity status. This study evaluated the role that nativity status and race/ethnicity play in the relationship between perceived discrimination and overweight/obesity. We used Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (2004–2005) [N = 33,319]). Multinomial logistic regression assessed a three-way interaction (perceived discrimination × race/ethnicity × nativity) on overweight and obesity, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and health-related behaviors. The three-way interaction was significant for overweight [F (17, 49) = 3.35; p < 0.001] and obesity [F (17, 49) = 5.05; p < 0.001]. Among US-born individuals, US-born non-Hispanic Blacks had a decreased risk of being obese compared to US-born non-Hispanic Whites at mean levels of perceived discrimination [aRRR = 0.71; 95% CI (0.51–0.98); p = 0.04). Among foreign-born individuals, foreign-born South Americans had an increased risk of being overweight at mean levels of perceived discrimination compared to foreign-born non-Hispanic Whites [aRRR = 8.07; 95% CI (1.68–38.77); p = 0.01], whereas foreign-born Dominicans had a decreased risk of being obese compared to foreign-born non-Hispanic Whites [aRRR = 0.05; 95% CI (0.01–0.20); p < 0.001]. Perceived racial discrimination is a risk factor for overweight/obesity for certain groups. Race/ethnicity and nativity may play important roles in the relationship between perceived discrimination and overweight/obesity. Future research is needed to identify the behavioral and psychological pathways that link perceived discrimination and overweight/obesity.