cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In‐Hospital Mortality Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results From the National Inpatient Sample, 2000–2010

Background Case-fatality rates in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have significantly decreased; however, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), a risk factor for AMI, has increased. The purposes of the present study were to assess the prevalence and clinical impact of DM among patients hospitalized with AMI and to estimate the impact of important clinical characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI and DM. Methods and Results We used the National Inpatient Sample to estimate trends in DM prevalence and in-hospital mortality among 1.5 million patients with AMI from 2000 to 2010, using survey data-analysis methods. Clinical characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality were identified using multivariable logistic regression. There was a significant increase in DM prevalence among AMI patients (year 2000, 22.2%; year 2010, 29.6%, P trend<0.0001). AMI patients with DM tended to be older and female and to have more cardiovascular risk factors. However, age-standardized mortality decreased significantly from 2000 (8.48%) to 2010 (4.95%) ( P trend<0.0001). DM remained independently associated with mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.069, 95% CI 1.051 to 1.087; P <0.0001). The adverse impact of DM on in-hospital mortality was unchanged over time. Decreased death risk over time was greatest among women and elderly patients. Among younger patients of both sexes, there was a leveling off of this decrease in more recent years. Conclusions Despite increasing DM prevalence and disease burden among AMI patients, in-hospital mortality declined significantly from 2000 to 2010. The adverse impact of DM on mortality remained unchanged overall over time but was age and sex dependent.
Deaf/Hearing Cultural Identity Paradigms: Modification of the Deaf Identity Development Scale

The Deaf Identity Development Scale (Glickman, 1993) was modified to include hearing individuals and examine how hearing and deaf adults identify themselves. Statistical analysis based on 244 deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing respondents revealed a significant interaction between hearing status of self and parents on the hearing, marginal, and immersion scales of the modified version but not on the bicultural scale. Codas are more marginalized, less immersed, and similarly 'hearing' in comparison to deaf persons with deaf parents. Hard-of-hearing respondents with deaf parents endorse more hearing values and fewer deaf values in comparison to deaf counterparts and also appear to be more marginalized. There were no significant differences between deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with hearing parents. Compared to hearing respondents with hearing parents, deaf counterparts were more marginalized, more 'hearing,' and equally 'deaf.' Strong professional affiliation with the deaf community resulted in scores that differed significantly from those for individuals not as strongly affiliated. We discuss implications for identity development.
Irreducible compositions and the first return to the origin of a random walk

Let n = b1 + � � � + bk = b ' + � � � + bbe a pair of compositions of n into k positive parts. We say this pair is irreducible if there is no positive j < k for which b1 + � � � + bj = b ' + � � � + b ' . The probability that a random pair of compositions of n is irreducible is shown to be asymptotic to 8/n. This problem leads to a problem in probability theory. Two players move along a game board by rolling a die, and we ask when the two players will first coincide. A natural extension is to show that the probability of a first return to the origin at time n for any mean-zero variance V random walk is asymptotic to p V/(2�)n −3/2 . We prove this via two methods, one
A Proof of the Converse for the Capacity of Gaussian MIMO Broadcast Channels

The paper provides a proof of the converse for the capacity region of the Gaussian MIMO broadcast channel under total average transmit power constraint. The proof uses several ideas from earlier works on the problem including the recent converse proof by Weingarten, Steinberg and Shamai. First the duality between Gaussian multiple access and broadcast channels is employed to show that every point on the boundary of the dirty paper coding region can be represented as the optimal solution to a convex optimization problem. Using the optimality conditions for this convex problem, a degraded broadcast channel is constructed for each point. It is then shown that the capacity region for this degraded broadcast channel contains the capacity region of the original channel. Moreover, the same point lies on the boundary of the dirty paper coding region for this degraded channel. Finally, the standard entropy power inequality is used to show that this point lies on the boundary of the capacity region of the degraded channel as well and consequently it is on the boundary of the capacity region of the original channel.
A comprehensive framework to quantify energy savings potential from improved operations of commercial building stocks

Abstract While studies highlight the significant impact of actions performed by occupants and facility managers on building energy performance, current policies ignore the importance of human actions and the potential energy savings from a more efficient operation of building systems. This is mainly attributed to the lack of methods that evaluate non-technological drivers of energy use for large stocks of commercial buildings to support policy making efforts. Therefore, this study proposes a scientific approach to quantifying the energy savings potential due to improved operations of any stock of commercial buildings. The proposed framework combines energy modeling techniques, studies on human actions in buildings, and surveying and sampling methods. The contributions of this study to energy policy are significant as they reinforce the role of human actions in energy conservation, and support efforts to integrate operation-focused solutions in energy conservation policy frameworks. The framework's capabilities are illustrated in a case study performed on the stock of office buildings in the United States (US). Results indicate a potential 21 percent reduction in the current energy use levels of these buildings through realistic changes in current building operation patterns.
Human Herpesvirus 8 Envelope Glycoprotein K8.1A Interaction with the Target Cells Involves Heparan Sulfate

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) or Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K8.1 gene encodes for two immunogenic glycoproteins, gpK8.1A and gpK8.1B, originating from spliced messages. The 228-amino-acid (aa) gpK8.1A is the predominant form associated with the virion envelope, consisting of a 167-aa region identical to gpK8.1B and a 61-aa unique region (L. Zhu, V. Puri, and B. Chandran, Virology 262:237-249, 1999). HHV-8 has a broad in vivo and in vitro cellular tropism, and our studies showed that this may be in part due to HHV-8's interaction with the ubiquitous host cell surface molecule, heparan sulfate (HS). Since HHV-8 K8.1 gene is positionally colinear to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gene encoding the gp350/gp220 protein involved in EBV binding to the target cells, gpK8.1A's ability to interact with the target cells was examined. The gpK8.1A without the transmembrane and carboxyl domains (DeltaTMgpK8.1A) was expressed in a baculovirus system and purified. Radiolabeled purified DeltaTMgpK8.1A protein bound to the target cells, which was blocked by unlabeled DeltaTMgpK8.1A. Unlabeled DeltaTMgpK8.1A blocked the binding of [(3)H]thymidine-labeled purified HHV-8 to the target cells. Binding of radiolabeled DeltaTMgpK8.1A to the target cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by soluble heparin, a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) closely related to HS, but not by other GAGs such as chondroitin sulfate A and C, N-acetyl heparin and de-N-sulfated heparin. Cell surface absorbed DeltaTMgpK8.1A was displaced by soluble heparin. Radiolabeled DeltaTMgpK8.1A also bound to HS expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells, and binding to mutant CHO cell lines deficient in HS was significantly reduced. The DeltaTMgpK8.1A specifically bound to heparin-agarose beads, which was inhibited by HS and heparin, but not by other GAGs. Virion envelope-associated gpK8.1A was specifically precipitated by heparin-agarose beads. These findings suggest that gpK8.1A interaction with target cells involves cell surface HS-like moieties, and HHV-8 interaction with HS could be in part mediated by virion envelope-associated gpK8.1A.
Kamino: Dynamic Approach to Semantic Code Clone Detection

Discovering code clones in a runtime environment helps software engineers identify hard to find logic-based bugs. Yet most research in the area of code clone discovery deals with source code due to the complexity of finding clones in a dynamic environment. KAMINO manipulates Java bytecode to track control and data flow dependencies at the methodlevel of Java programs during runtime. It then matches similar flows to find semantic code clones. With positive preliminary results indicating code clones using KAMINO , future tests will compare the its robustness compared to existing code clones detection tools.
Direct Regulation of rRNA Transcription by Fibroblast Growth Factor 2

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), which is highly expressed in developing tissues and malignant cells, regulates cell growth, differentiation, and migration. Five isoforms (18 to ∼34 kDa) of FGF-2 are derived from alternative initiation codons of a single mRNA. The 18-kDa FGF-2 isoform is released from cells by a nonclassical secretory pathway and regulates gene expression by binding to cell surface receptors. This isoform also localizes to the nucleolus, raising the possibility that it may directly regulate ribosome biogenesis, a rate-limiting process in cell growth. Although several growth factors have been shown to accumulate in the nucleolus, their function and mechanism of action remain unclear. Here we show that 18-kDa FGF-2 interacts with upstream binding factor (UBF), an architectural transcription factor essential for rRNA transcription. The maximal activation of rRNA transcription in vitro by 18-kDa FGF-2 requires UBF. The 18-kDa FGF-2 localizes to rRNA genes and is necessary for the full activation of pre-rRNA synthesis in vivo. Our results demonstrate that 18-kDa FGF-2 directly regulates rRNA transcription.
Aquatic gilled mushrooms: Psathyrella fruiting in the Rogue River in southern Oregon

A species of Psathyrella (Basidiomycota) with true gills has been observed fruiting underwater in the clear, cold, flowing waters of the upper Rogue River in Oregon. Fruiting bodies develop and mature in the main channel, where they are constantly submerged, and were observed fruiting over 11 wk. These mushrooms develop underwater, not on wood recently washed into the river. Substrates include water-logged wood, gravel and the silty riverbed. DNA sequences of the ITS region and a portion of the ribosomal large subunit gene place this fungus in Psathyrella sensu stricto near P. atomata, P. fontinalis and P. superiorensis. Morphological characters distinguish the underwater mushroom from previously described species. Fruiting bodies have long fibrillose stipes with small diameter caps. Immature stages have a thin veil that is soon lost. Gills lack reddish edges. Cystidia are ventricose with subacute apices. Spores were observed as wedge-shape rafts released into gas pockets below the caps. Underwater gills and ballistospores indicate a recent adaptation to the stream environment. This particular river habitat combines the characteristics of spring-fed flows and cold, aerated water with woody debris in shallow depths on a fine volcanic substrate. Based on molecular and morphological evidence we conclude that the underwater mushrooms are a new species, Psathyrella aquatica. This report adds to the biodiversity of stream fungi that degrade woody substrates. The underwater environment is a new habitat for gilled mushrooms.
Elevated urinary IL-18 levels at the time of ICU admission predict adverse clinical outcomes.

Background and objectives: Urine IL-18 (uIL-18) has demonstrated moderate capacity to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) and adverse outcomes in defined settings. Its ability to predict AKI and provide prognostic information in broadly selected, critically ill adults remains unknown. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: The study prospectively evaluated the capacity of uIL-18 measured within 24 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) admission to predict AKI, death, and receipt of acute dialysis in a large mixed-adult ICU population. Results: Of 451 patients, 86 developed AKI within 48 hours of enrollment and had higher median uIL-18 levels [426 (interquartile range [IQR]: 152 to 1183) pg/mg creatinine] compared with those without AKI [248 (IQR: 120 to 559) pg/mg]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for uIL-18 predicting subsequent AKI within 24 hours was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.54 to 0.69) and improved modestly to 0.67 (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.81) in patients whose enrollment eGFR was ≥75 ml/min per 1.73 m2. The highest median uIL-18 levels were observed in patients with sepsis at enrollment [508 (IQR: 230 to 1281) pg/mg], those receiving acute dialysis [571 (IQR: 161 to 1614) pg/mg] or dying [532 (IQR: 210 to 1614) pg/mg] within 28 days of ascertainment. After adjustment for a priori selected clinical predictors, uIL-18 remained independently predictive of composite outcome of death or acute dialysis within 28 days of ascertainment (odds ratio, 1.86 [95% CI: 1.31 to 2.64]). Conclusions: uIL-18 did not reliably predict AKI development, but did predict poor clinical outcomes in a broadly selected, critically ill adult population.
Protein-protein interactions in the chemotaxis signalling pathway of Treponema denticola.

Motile bacteria employ sophisticated chemotaxis signal transduction systems to transform environmental cues into corresponding behavioural responses. The proteins involved in this signalling pathway have been extensively studied on a molecular level in various model organisms, including enterobacteria and Bacillus subtilis, and specific protein–protein interactions have been identified. The chemotaxis operon of spirochaetes encodes a novel chemotaxis protein, CheX, in addition to homologues to the central components of established chemotaxis systems. Interestingly, the closest functionally characterized homologue of CheX is CheC of the complex B. subtilis chemotaxis pathway. In this study, the yeast two-hybrid system was applied to investigate protein–protein interactions within the chemotaxis signalling pathway of Treponema denticola, with special focus on CheX. CheX was found to interact with CheA and with itself. The other chemotaxis proteins exhibited interactions comparable to their homologues in known chemotaxis systems. Based on these findings, a model integrating CheX in the chemotaxis signal transduction pathway of T. denticola is proposed.
Regulation of the feedback antagonist naked cuticle by Wingless signaling

Signaling pathways usually activate transcriptional targets in a cell type-specific manner. Notable exceptions are pathway-specific feedback antagonists, which serve to restrict the range or duration of the signal. These factors are often activated by their respective pathways in a broad array of cell types. For example, the Wnt ligand Wingless (Wg) activates the naked cuticle (nkd) gene in all tissues examined throughout Drosophila development. How does the nkd gene respond in such an unrestricted manner to Wg signaling? Analysis in cell culture revealed regions of the nkd locus that contain Wg response elements (WREs) that are directly activated by the pathway via the transcription factor TCF. In flies, Wg signaling activates these WREs in multiple tissues, in distinct but overlapping patterns. These WREs are necessary and largely sufficient for nkd expression in late stage larval tissues, but only contribute to part of the embryonic expression pattern of nkd. These results demonstrate that nkd responsiveness to Wg signaling is achieved by several WREs which are broadly (but not universally) activated by the pathway. The existence of several WREs in the nkd locus may have been necessary to allow the Wg signaling-Nkd feedback circuit to remain intact as Wg expression diversified during animal evolution.
The inner inner core of Earth.

The solid inner core (Fig. 1) is the most remote and enigmatic part of our planet, and, next to the crust, is the smallest “official” subdivision of Earth's interior. It was discovered in 1936 (1), and by 1972 it was established that it was solid, albeit with a very small rigidity (2–4). By 1993 it had been established that it was crystalline (5). The inner core is isolated from the rest of Earth by the low-viscosity fluid outer core, and it can rotate, nod, wobble, precess, oscillate, and even flip over, being only loosely constrained by the surrounding shells. Its existence, size, and properties constrain the temperature and mineralogy near the center of the Earth. Among its anomalous characteristics are low rigidity and viscosity (compared with other solids), bulk attenuation, extreme anisotropy, and superrotation (or deformation; refs. 5–8). From seismic velocities and cosmic abundances, we know that it is composed mainly of iron-nickel crystals, and the crystals must exhibit a large degree of common orientation. The inner core is predicted to have very high thermal and electrical conductivity, a nonspherical shape, and frequency-dependent properties; also, it may be partially molten. It may be essential for the existence of the magnetic field and for polarity reversals of this field (D. Gubbin, D. Alfe, G. Masters, D. Price, and M. Gillan, unpublished work). Freezing of the inner core and expulsion of impurities is likely responsible for powering the geodynamo. Yet, the inner core represents less than 1% of the volume of Earth, and only a few seismic waves ever reach it and return to the surface. The inner core is a small target for seismologists, and seismic waves are distorted by passing through the entire Earth before reaching it.
Singe: leveraging warp specialization for high performance on GPUs

We present Singe, a Domain Specific Language (DSL) compiler for combustion chemistry that leverages warp specialization to produce high performance code for GPUs. Instead of relying on traditional GPU programming models that emphasize data-parallel computations, warp specialization allows compilers like Singe to partition computations into sub-computations which are then assigned to different warps within a thread block. Fine-grain synchronization between warps is performed efficiently in hardware using producer-consumer named barriers. Partitioning computations using warp specialization allows Singe to deal efficiently with the irregularity in both data access patterns and computation. Furthermore, warp-specialized partitioning of computations allows Singe to fit extremely large working sets into on-chip memories. Finally, we describe the architecture and general compilation techniques necessary for constructing a warp-specializing compiler. We show that the warp-specialized code emitted by Singe is up to 3.75X faster than previously optimized data-parallel GPU kernels.
A KIDNEY EPITHELIAL CELL LINE FROM A BOLIVIAN SQUIRREL MONKEY

Squirrel monkeys are the most commonly used New World primates in biomedical research, but in vitro studies are restricted by the limited number of cell lines available from this species. We report here the development and characterization of a continuous, kidney epithelial cell line (SQMK-FP cells) derived from a newborn squirrel monkey. Karyotype was consistent with Bolivian squirrel monkey (submetacentric chromosome pair 15 and acrocentric chromosome pair 16). All cells examined were hyperdiploid with chromosome numbers ranging from 52 to 57. Ultrastructural analysis of SQMK-FP cells revealed the presence of cell junctions with radiating filaments, indicating desmosomes and numerous surface projections containing longitudinally oriented filaments typical of tubular epithelium. Biochemically, SQMK-FP cells exhibit glucocorticoid resistance typical of the squirrel monkey. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binding is low in SQMK-FP cells because of high expression of the FK506-binding immunophilin FKBP51 that inhibits GR binding. SQMK-FP cells constitute a tubular epithelial cell line that has biochemical properties characteristic of squirrel monkeys and represents an alternate cell model to B-lymphoblast SML cells to study the biology of the squirrel monkey in vitro.
Application of Basic Research in Reading

This chapter explores the relationship between basic and applied research in reading. In pursuit of this goal a brief description of the nature and characteristics of basic and applied research is presented followed by several illustrative examples of how basic research has contributed to the field of reading.
A qualitative examination of the implementation of continuity of care: An organizational learning perspective

Abstract Both research and theory stress the importance of continuity of care for supporting and nurturing the important relationship between teachers and children in early care and education (ECE) settings. However, due to the predominance of enrolling children in age-based ECE classrooms, as well as the lack of practical information about how such an approach is implemented, it is important to highlight the experiences of programs who successfully implement this practice. We share the results of a qualitative case study to describe how one center transitioned to the implementation of continuity of care and overcame obstacles commonly associated with this practice by examining the experiences and perceptions of teachers, administrators, and parents. Data included phenomenological interviews and parent focus groups. Senge's model of learning organizations (1990, 2006) was used to make sense of the context under investigation, giving meaning to the data and providing a cogent framework to explicate findings. Data analysis also highlighted operational processes that contributed to the center's success, and findings are situated within the current discourse on how the field can ensure that practices supported by theory and research are implemented in programs serving young children and their families.
Of Charters and Compacts: Comments on Fallone

In Charters, Compacts, and Tea Parties: The Decline and Resurrection of a Delegation View of the Constitution, Professor Edward A. Fallone argued that after decades in which the “compact” theory of the Constitution was ascendant, the “delegation” or “charter” theory of the Constitution seems poised to return. This short reply to Fallone’s article argues that he has misconceived the two theories, finding doctrinal differences between them that have no basis in their logic and that did not exist in their histories.
Microbiology: An Evaluation of Two Hemagglutination Tests as Alternatives to F TA-ABS in Otologic Syphilis

The microhemagglutination Treponema pallidum test (MHA-TP, Ames Co, El-kart, Ind) and hemagglutination test for syphilis (HATTS, Difco Lab, Detroit, Mich) were evaluated as alternative procedures to the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test for screening an older population with suspected otologic syphilis. Both hemagglutination tests are performed in microtiter plates; MHA-TP uses four hours for reaction of serum with Treponema pallidum (TP)-coated sheep erythrocytes, while HATTS takes only one hour using TP-sensitized turkey erythrocytes. Of 267 patients tested using MHA-TP and FTA-ABS, there were 78 presumptively positive for syphilis and 189 presumptively negative. The sensitivity and specificity were93.6%(73/78)and99%(187/189), respectively, for MHA-TP and 100% (78/78) and97.4% (184/189), respectively, for FTA-ABS. Of 103 patients tested with HATTS and FTA-ABS, 13 were positive and 90 were negative. The sensitivities of both HATTS and FT A-ABS were 100% (13/13); the specificities were 97.8% (88/90) and 93.3% (84/90), respectively. These results suggest that either MHA-TP or HATTS can be used to screen for otologic syphilis.
Symposium: What Should Extension Poultrymen be Doing?

Abstract THE purpose of this panel discussion is to examine the functions or roles of extension poultrymen in today’s poultry industry. As the number of poultry producers and related businesses have declined in recent years, the methods of serving the industry have changed. The panel members, which include a Dean, Department Head, Extension Poultryman, and industry representative, have been asked to express their views on the following questions: 1. What should extension poultrymen be doing? 2. How can extension poultrymen serve the large integrator, or does the integrator want their help? 3. What type and kind of research should extension poultrymen be doing? 4. Should extension poultrymen be assisting with youth programs? If so, what types of programs need to be stressed? Members A DEAN’S POINT OF VIEW H. W. GAEREN Dean and Coordinator of the College of Agriculture, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30601 There is a temptation to use…
Silent Voices: Social Welfare Policy Opinions and Political Equality in America

For many helpful discussions regarding this project and comments on earlier drafts of this paper, I would like to thank Michael Alvarez, Larry Bartels, Jake Bowers, Nancy Burns, Jamie Druckman, Stanley Feldman, Fred Greenstein, John Jackson, Donald Kinder, Ken Kollman, Tali Mendelberg, Jonathan Nagler, Mike Traugott, Joshua Tucker, Cara Wong, and seminar participants at New York University, Princeton University, and Yale University. I would also like to thank Paul Gerber for research assistance. I, of course, am responsible for any errors that remain. The data used in this article were made available by the Inter-University Consortium of Political and Social Research. Neither the collector of the original data nor the consortium bears any responsibility for the analyses or interpretations presented here.
Determination of yolk contamination in liquid egg white using Raman spectroscopy

Purified egg white is an important ingredient in a number of baked and confectionary foods because of its foaming properties. However, yolk contamination in amounts as low as 0.01% can impede the foaming ability of egg white. In this study, we used Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the hypothesis that yolk contamination in egg white could be detected based on its molecular optical properties. Yolk contaminated egg white samples (n = 115) with contamination levels ranging from 0% to 0.25% (on weight basis) were prepared. The samples were excited with a 785 nm laser and Raman spectra from 250 to 3,200 cm(-1) were recorded. The Raman spectra were baseline corrected using an optimized piecewise cubic interpolation on each spectrum and then normalized with a standard normal variate transformation. Samples were randomly divided into calibration (n = 77) and validation (n = 38) data sets. A partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was developed to predict yolk contamination levels, based on the Raman spectral fingerprint. Raman spectral peaks, in the spectral region of 1,080 and 1,666 cm(-1), had the largest influence on detecting yolk contamination in egg white. The PLSR model was able to correctly predict yolk contamination levels with an R(2) = 0.90 in the validation data set. These results demonstrate the capability of Raman spectroscopy for detection of yolk contamination at very low levels in egg white and present a strong case for development of an on-line system to be deployed in egg processing plants.
Planning and construction of regional medical and health information platform

The necessity for constructing regional medical and health information platform was expounded in light of the medical and health information platform project in Qingdao City,followed by a description of its contents,overall plan frame,data center construction model and its technological realization methods.
Epidemic analysis of tuberculosis in Qinhuangdao City from 2007-2010

[Objective]To understand the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis(TB) in Qinhuangdao City in recent years.[Methods]Descriptive epidemiology was adopted to statistically analyze the TB data in Qinhuangdao city from 2007-2010.[Results] A total of 5 253 cases were reported from 2007-2010,and the incidence rates were 50.43/100 000,47.21/100 000,47.04/100 000,46.89/100 000 respectively.The incidence rates of 4 counties were higher than those in the Qinhuangdao urban districts.The peak incidence appeared in March and Apri.TB patients aged between 40-70 years accounted for 53.38%,and the gender ratio of male to female was 2.40∶1.The majority of TB patients were farmers which accounted for 85.13%.[Conclusion]It is necessary to strengthen the TB control,especially the case finding in the middle aged and elderly male farmers of the 4 counties.
Automated Agatston score computation in a large dataset of non ECG-gated chest computed tomography

The Agatston score, computed from ECG-gated computed tomography (CT), is a well established metric of coronary artery disease. It has been recently shown that the Agatston score computed from chest CT (non ECG-gated) studies is highly correlated with the Agatston score computed from cardiac CT scans. In this work we present an automated method to compute the Agatston score from chest CT images. Coronary arteries calcifications (CACs) are defined as voxels contained within the coronary arteries with a value greater or equal to 130 Hounsfield Units (HU). CACs are automatically detected in chest CT studies by locating the heart, generating a region of interest around it, thresholding the image in such region and applying a set of rules to discriminate CACs from calcifications in the main vessels or from metallic implants. We evaluate the methodology in a large cohort of 1500 patients for whom manual reference standard is available. Our results show that the Pearson correlation coefficient between manual and automated Agatston score is p = 0.86 (p < 0.0001).
In utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol: Adverse effects on the reproductive tract and reproductive performance in male and female offspring

Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero is associated with adverse effects on the reproductive tract in male and female progeny. These effects include epididymal cysts, microphallus, cryptorchidism, and testicular hypoplasia in male subjects and adenosis, clear cell adenocarcinoma, and structural defects of the cervix, vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes in female subjects. As these offspring have reached reproductive age, reports of adverse reproductive performance have been published, including still controversial reports of menstrual dysfunction and infertility. More well established are increased rates of spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, premature deliveries, and perinatal deaths, all contributing to an increase in overall adverse pregnancy outcome. Often there is correlation between the DES-associated anatomic abnormalities in the reproductive tract and the adverse reproductive performance. Altered male reproductive capacity is also suggested by diminished semen analyses and sperm penetration assays. A detailed review of these effects of in utero DES exposure is presented.
Botulinum Toxin: Where It Works Best

Botulinum toxin injection works well and reliably in crow’s feet, glabella, and forehead. With experience, the eyebrows may be repositioned through treatment of the adjacent orbicularis oculi, procerus, corrugator supercilii, and depressor supercilii. Dose is often individualized and may be related to muscle mass.
The Efficacy of Constructed Stream-Wetland Complexes at Reducing the Flux of Suspended Solids to Chesapeake Bay

Studies documenting the capacity of restored streams to reduce pollutant loads indicate that they are relatively ineffective when principal watershed stressors remain intact. Novel restorations are being designed to increase the hydraulic connectivity between stream channels and floodplains to enhance pollutant removal, and their popularity has increased the need for measurements of potential load reductions. Herein we summarize input-output budgets of total suspended solids (TSS) in two Coastal Plain lowland valleys modified to create stream–wetland complexes located above the head-of-tide on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay. Loads entering (input) and exiting (output) the reconfigured valleys over three years were 103 ± 26 and 85 ± 21 tons, respectively, and 41 ± 10 and 46 ± 9 tons, respectively. In both cases, changes in loads within the reconfigured valleys were insignificant relative to cumulative errors. High variability of TSS retention among stormflow events suggests that the capacity of these ...
Electronic Spectra of Diatomic Molecules: Improved Treatment

Term symbols, introduced in the previous chapter, are the notation used to characterize key features of electron spin and orbital angular momentum.
Mythologizing Darwin’s Islands

The Galapagos Islands are popularly thought to have inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. But historians of science have refuted the idea that Darwin discovered evolution in the Galapagos, showing that he was only convinced of evolution after he returned from the Beagle voyage. If he did not discover evolution in the islands, then why do we associate Darwin with the Galapagos so strongly today? This chapter argues that what historian Frank Sulloway has called the “Darwin-Galapagos legend” emerged in the mid-twentieth century as US and European naturalists campaigned to establish a research station and national park in the islands. The paper draws on naturalists’ mid-century correspondence and publications to show how they argued that a research station would not only memorialize Darwin, but would also protect this “natural laboratory” for future research. The modern association of Darwin with the Galapagos is not the result of an act of scientific discovery in the islands, but the product of a process of rhetorical framing and political negotiations among Western scientists and the Ecuadorian government that occurred more than a hundred years after Darwin visited the islands. The case study illuminates how new forms of transnational environmental governance based on scientific management of natural resources took shape in the mid-twentieth century. It also shows how naturalists reframed what Melville called a harsh, inhospitable hell on earth into a scientific asset, endangered landscape, and valuable economic resource—bringing together the confluence of science, conservation, and tourism development that has subsequently shaped the islands.
Next generation P-band planetary synthetic aperture radar

The Space Exploration Synthetic Aperture Radar (SESAR) is an advanced P-band beamforming radar instrument concept to enable a new class of observations suitable to meet Decadal Survey science goals for planetary exploration. The radar operates at full polarimetry and fine (meter scale) resolution, and achieves beam agility through programmable waveform generation and digital beamforming. The radar architecture employs a novel low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent planetary instrument requirements. This instrument concept has the potential to provide unprecedented surface and near-subsurface measurements applicable to multiple Decadal Survey Science Goals.
Between borders: Franks, Danes, and Abodrites in the trans‐Elben world up to 827

This article examines the 804 decision by Charlemagne to cede territory beyond the Elbe to the Slavic confederacy known as the Abodrites. In so doing Charlemagne attempted to create a stable buffer along the Carolingian empire's northern border, in large part as security against the growing power of the Danes. Using textual and archaeological evidence this article demonstrates the ways in which the Abodrite buffer between the Franks and Danes influenced the political and cultural development of the Slavs and set the stage for a series of major political showdowns in the first three decades of the ninth century.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Recurrent Genetic Abnormalities, Part II: Mutations Involving CEBPA, NPM1, and RUNX1

Cytogenetic studies have traditionally played one of the most important roles for the classification and risk stratification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML patients with a favorable risk cytogenetic profile are associated with relatively good responses to chemotherapy-based regimens and high complete remission rates. AML patients with unfavorable cytogenetic risk profiles require allogeneic stem cell transplantation to improve prognosis. However, most AML cases have an intermediate prognosis and include approximately 50% of the AML cases that have a normal karyotype at diagnosis and cannot be further subclassified based on cytogenetics. In recent years, several recurrent molecular mutations discovered in AML have been proposed to establish better classification of prognosis in the intermediate cytogenetic risk category. Recent revisions in the current 2008 WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues have resulted in adopting the provisional diagnostic entities “AML with mutated CEBPA” and “AML with mutated NPM1” as distinct entities, and adding “AML with mutated RUNX1” as a provisional diagnostic entity. This chapter will focus on the characteristic clinicopathologic features of AML with mutations in the CEBPA, NPM1, and RUNX1 genes.
Trends in Country-Specific Surgical Randomized Clinical Trial Publications.

This study examines the rate of and investment in publication of randomized clinical trials in surgery in the United States and abroad.
Parallel computing heuristics for low-rank matrix completion

Current algorithms for low-rank matrix completion often suffer from scalability issues — both in terms of memory as well as running time — when presented with very large datasets. In this paper, we introduce new parallel computing heuristics that can greatly accelerate matrix completion algorithms when used in GPU-based computing environments. Our heuristics enable speeding up popular algorithms for nonlinear matrix completion on standard real-world test datasets by orders of magnitude, while being highly memory-efficient.
The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders

Magnesium is well known for its diverse actions within the human body. From a neurological standpoint, magnesium plays an essential role in nerve transmission and neuromuscular conduction. It also functions in a protective role against excessive excitation that can lead to neuronal cell death (excitotoxicity), and has been implicated in multiple neurological disorders. Due to these important functions within the nervous system, magnesium is a mineral of intense interest for the potential prevention and treatment of neurological disorders. Current literature is reviewed for migraine, chronic pain, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke, as well as the commonly comorbid conditions of anxiety and depression. Previous reviews and meta-analyses are used to set the scene for magnesium research across neurological conditions, while current research is reviewed in greater detail to update the literature and demonstrate the progress (or lack thereof) in the field. There is strong data to suggest a role for magnesium in migraine and depression, and emerging data to suggest a protective effect of magnesium for chronic pain, anxiety, and stroke. More research is needed on magnesium as an adjunct treatment in epilepsy, and to further clarify its role in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Overall, the mechanistic attributes of magnesium in neurological diseases connote the macromineral as a potential target for neurological disease prevention and treatment.
Uncertainty Quantification for Modern High-Dimensional Regression via Scalable Bayesian Methods

ABSTRACTTremendous progress has been made in the last two decades in the area of high-dimensional regression, especially in the “large p, small n” setting. Such sample starved settings inevitably lead to models which are potentially very unstable and hence quite unreliable. To this end, Bayesian shrinkage methods have generated a lot of recent interest in the modern high-dimensional regression and model selection context. Such methods span the wide spectrum of modern regression approaches and include among others, spike-and-slab priors, the Bayesian lasso, ridge regression, and global-local shrinkage priors such as the Horseshoe prior and the Dirichlet–Laplace prior. These methods naturally facilitate tractable uncertainty quantification and have thus been used extensively across diverse applications. A common unifying feature of these models is that the corresponding priors on the regression coefficients can be expressed as a scale mixture of normals. This property has been leveraged extensively to devel...
Nonlinear Analysis for Mixed Mode Fracture

When fracture occurs in materials such as concrete, rock, mortar and some glassy polymers, stable crack growth often precedes unstable crack propagation. This paper will address the problem of characterizing slow crack growth. In the first section a description of the process zone (the cause of the slow crack growth) will be presented, along with a literature review of work performed to understand the effect of this nonlinear zone. Recent models used to theoretically and experimentally predict the size and effect of the process zone will be explained in detail in the second section. Having explained the importance of including the process zone in theoretical models, a model will be presented to predict Mixed Mode fracture in materials which exhibit slow crack growth. This model is an extension of the model developed by one of the authors [Shah] to predict Mode-I fracture. Understanding Mixed Mode crack propagation is necessary to solve many structural engineering problems, and an example of such a problem will be given in the last two sections. This example is the problem of predicting the tensile capacity of short anchor bolts embedded in concrete. In future communications the predictions of the model will be compared to experimental results. Some preliminary experimental results are presented in the last section.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Platelets: Its Regulation and Possible Roles in Platelet Functions

The specific phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in proteins discovered in 1979 [Eckhart et al, 1979] is catalyzed by a unique class of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). The src protein of Rous Sarcoma virus was the first protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) to be discovered, and it was also the first oncogene found to be a protein kinase [Collett et al, 1980; Hunter and Cooper, 1985]. Much of the great current interest in tyrosine phosphorylation stems from the discovery that the transforming activity of the virus is due to that enzyme, whose progenitor is the product of a normal cellular gene, the protooncogene c-src. A link between oncogenes and the control of normal cell growth was made when the EGF receptor was found to be a PTK whose kinase activity was necessary for its biological functions. PTKs were thereby implicated in signal transduction in normal cells in response to growth factors, as well as in neoplastic transformation. Various mutations (e.g. deletions of regulatory sequences or formation of fusion proteins) that result in the formation of constitutively active PTKs (e.g. v-src, erbB, bcr/abl), or overexpression of a normal protooncogene, can result in abnormal cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation.
Social Support and Personality in Depression

Depression is a potentially debilitating disorder that affects a large segment of the population. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, affecting up to 2–3% of men and 5–9% of women each year (Kessler et al., 1994b). Over the course of a lifetime as many as 7–12% of men and 20–25% of women in the general population suffer from at least one clinically significant episode of depression (Kessler et al., 1994b). Furthermore, depression is frequently a recurrent disorder that troubles people intermittently throughout their lives. More specifically, it has been estimated that approximately 50% of those who recover from their first episode of depression will suffer from future episodes (Belsher & Costello, 1988), and that depression takes on a chronic course in 25% or more of persons who reach case level (Depue & Monroe, 1986). Beyond the emotional pain and troubling symptomatology that accompanies depression, this disorder is associated with a number of additional negative consequences, including cognitive impairments and biases (Gotlib, Roberts, & Gilboa, 1996), marital distress (Gotlib & Beach, 1995), social rejection (Joiner, Alfano, & Metalsky, 1993), and negative changes in personality functioning (Hirschfield et al., 1983b). Each of these effects can take a significant toll on individuals suffering from depression, as well as on those who have close relationships with them. Furthermore it is possible that these factors also play roles in the etiology and maintenance of depression. Although there is reason to believe that similar psychosocial processes are important in bipolar disorder, they may operate in a substantially different manner in this disorder (Johnson & Roberts, 1995). Consequently, in the current chapter, we focus on unipolar depression.
Critical Illness in Pregnancy

The gravid patient will typically experience few difficulties during the course of her pregnancy. A small but significant number of pregnant patients will become ill enough to require the intensive care unit for both obstetrical and non-obstetrical problems. Therefore, the obstetrical physician must have an understanding of how to monitor and manage the critically ill pregnant patient and how to approach emergencies unique to pregnancy. In a report of ICU utilization during hospital admission for delivery in the United States in one state, 822,591 admissions from 1984 to 1997 were analyzed. There were 1,023 admissions to the intensive care unit, with mortality in the ICU of 3.3% (1). Predictors for ICU admission in this retrospective analysis included: age greater than 35 (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.4), African-American ethnicity (OR 1.8), race other than black or white (OR 5.9), treatment in minor teaching hospital (OR 2.0), and transfer to a higher-level hospital for care (OR 2.51) (1). The most common indication for ICU admission involved obstetrical related complications. These included complications of cesarean section, preeclampsia or eclampsia, and peripartum hemorrhage (1–4). The most common risk factors associated with ICU mortality included pulmonary complications, shock, cerebrovascular events, and drug dependence(1). In another study looking at 74 obstetric patients admitted to an ICU over 7 years, the most common reason for admission was respiratory insufficiency (5). Outside of the United States, a much smaller study of ICU admissions in the United Arab Emirates demonstrated similar mortality rates (6). In another series, a majority of obstetric patients admitted (71%) to the ICU required ventilatory support (7).