cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular organization of the D-Qa region of t -haplotypes suggests that recombination is an important mechanism for generating genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex

We have determined the molecular maps of theH-2D andQa regions of thet-complex haplotypestl2 andtw5 by chromosomal walking. Analysis with class I probes and other probes unique to theH-2D:Qa subregion indicates that the class I gene organization oft12 is:D1-D2-Q1-Q2-Q3-Qx-Q4-Q5-Q10, while that oftw5 is:D1-D2-Q1-Q2-Q4-Q5-Q10. Thus, the absence of theQ6-Q9 genes suggested previously int-haplotypes was confirmed. A comparison of the molecular maps of thet12 andtw5 chromosomes revealed an extremely mosaic pattern of diversity: The regions betweenD1 andD2, and betweenQ4 andQ10, are very similar in both chromosomes. However, theirQ1 toQ3 regions are strikingly different. Further comparisons of wild-type chromosomes and additionalt-haplotypes by molecular mapping and genomic Southern blot hybridization with probes to theQ1-Q3 region showed a high level of polymorphism among both wild-type chromosomes and amongt-haplotypes. The characteristics of the polymorphisms suggest that recombination may play an important role in generating this genetic diversity. Furthermore, recombination between wild-type andt-haplotype chromosomes may be involved.
An SVPWM-Based Switching Pattern for Stand-Alone and Grid-Connected Three-Phase Single-Stage Boost Inverters

In many modern energy conversion systems, a dc voltage, which is provided from a sustainable energy source or energy storage device, must be boosted and converted to an ac voltage with a fixed amplitude and frequency. In this paper, a switching pattern based on the concept of the conventional space-vector pulsewidth-modulated (SVPWM) technique is developed for single-stage, three-phase boost-inverters using the topology of current-source inverters. The six main switching states, and two zeros, with three switches conducting at any given instant in conventional SVPWM techniques are modified herein into three-charging states and six discharging states with only two switches conducting at any given instant. The charging states are necessary in order to boost the dc input voltage. The developed switching pattern was experimentally verified through a laboratory-scaled three-phase 500-W boost inverter and the results are presented in this paper.
Radar facies of paraglacial barrier systems: coastal New England, USA

Analysis of a large data base of ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) profiles from both natural and developed paraglacial barriers along the coast of New England has allowed identification of eight reflection configurations that characterize this type of mid- to high-latitude coastal environment. Bedrock anchor points yield primarily hyperbolic configurations, whereas glacial anchor points and sediment-source areas are characterized by chaotic, parallel, and tangential-oblique configurations. Beaches and dunes produce predominantly sigmoidal oblique, hummocky, reflection-free, and bounding-surface configurations. Back-barrier sediments may yield basin-fill configurations, but generally include abundant signal-attenuating units. The GPR data, calibrated with information from cores, were collected across swash-aligned and drift-aligned barriers in a variety of wave- and tidal-energy settings. Application of a 120-MHz antenna, as used in this study, enables portrayal of a range of sedimentary units, from individual bedforms (on single records) to entire barrier elements (using large numbers of intersecting GPR sections), at maximum vertical resolutions that vary between 0·2 m and 0·7 m. The most important drawback of GPR in the coastal environment is attenuation of the electromagnetic (EM) signal by layers of salt-marsh peat or by brackish or salty groundwater, primarily along barrier edges. This disadvantage is offset by many benefits. Data can be collected at rates of several km per day, making GPR an excellent reconnaissance tool. A core that is used in the calibration of GPR data can be matched with great accuracy to its position on the complementary GPR record, allowing detailed correlation between lithostratigraphy and reflection configuration.
Resolving Issues in Innovative Graduate Degree Programs: The Metropolitan State University Doctor of Business Administration Experience.

Applied Master’s Degree and doctoral programs have been criticized widely for their lack of relevance, rigor and quality. New graduate degree programs have responded to these criticisms by implementing innovative academic policies, program curriculum, and student services. A case study of the Metropolitan State University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program highlights effective innovations for resolving key issues facing applied doctoral programs.
Stability analysis via projections and eigen distribution in half-planes and disks

The main objective of this paper is to develop higher order iterative methods for computing projections into invariant subspaces of a non-singular matrix. These projections can be used to determine the number of matrix eigenvalues in a given sector of the complex plane without actually computing any eigenvalue. Some of these methods are derived from applying the Newton method to simple polynomial equations with known zeros. A special emphasis is placed on computing the Hermitian eigen-decomposition where matrix inverse free algorithms are presented. The main results are based on computing roots of the identity matrix which commute with the given matrix. Simulations and numerical evaluation of some of the algorithms are also established.
The in Vitro Generation of Post-Golgi Vesicles Carrying Viral Envelope Glycoproteins Requires an ARF-like GTP-binding Protein and a Protein Kinase C Associated with the Golgi Apparatus *

We have developed a system that recreates in vitro the generation of post-Golgi vesicles from an isolated Golgi fraction prepared from vesicular stomatitis virus- or influenza virus-infected Madin-Darby canine kidney or HepG2 cells. In this system, vesicle generation is temperature- and ATP-dependent and requires a supply of cytosolic proteins, including an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor distinct from NSF. Cytosolic proteins obtained from yeast were as effective as mammalian cytosolic proteins in supporting vesicle formation and had the same requirements. The vesicles produced (50-80 nm in diameter) are depleted of the trans Golgi marker sialyltransferase, contain the viral glycoprotein molecules with their cytoplasmic tails exposed, and do not show an easily recognizable protein coat. Vesicle generation was inhibited by brefeldin A, which indicates that it requires the activation of an Arf-like GTP-binding protein that promotes assembly of a vesicle coat. Vesicles formed in the presence of the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate retained a nonclathrin protein coat resembling that of COP-coated vesicles, and sedimented more rapidly in a sucrose gradient than the uncoated ones generated in its absence. This indicates that GTP hydrolysis is not required for vesicle generation but that it is for vesicle uncoating. The activity of a Golgi-associated protein kinase C (PKC) was found to be necessary for the release of post-Golgi vesicles, as indicated by the capacity of a variety of inhibitors and antibodies to PKC to suppress it, as well as by the stimulatory effect of the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.
Data from Paper “False-Positive Psychology: Undisclosed Flexibility in Data Collection and Analysis Allows Presenting Anything as Significant”

The data includes measures collected for the two experiments reported in “False-Positive Psychology” [1] where listening to a randomly assigned song made people feel younger (Study 1) or actually be younger (Study 2). These data are useful because they illustrate inflations of false positive rates due to flexibility in data collection, analysis, and reporting of results. Data are useful for educational purposes.
Safety and efficacy of insertion of supraglottic devices in anaesthetised patients by first-time users

AbstractBackground: Over the years, several supraglottic devices have been developed, but the most recent one is the i-gel®. It is a new device with some distinctive features that set it apart from many of its competitors. This study was designed to determine the safety and efficacy of placing different airway devices by first-time users.Methods: Fifty volunteer doctors who are regularly involved in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency medicine were divided into two groups on the basis of their experience and were timed to insert the two supraglottic devices, i-gel® and laryngeal mask airway (LMA), in ASA grade I, II and III anaesthetised patients under expert guidance. The haemodynamic parameters were recorded and the volunteers were asked to complete a questionnaire.Results: In both the groups, i-gel® was inserted in less time than LMA. The time taken for insertion of i-gel® by both the groups was not significant. The success rate of inserting i-gel® by both groups was not significant (p > 0.05)....
Cytotype differences in radial increment provide novel insight into aspen reproductive ecology and stand dynamics

High rates of triploidy have recently been described in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) of the Intermountain West, raising questions about the contributions of triploidy to stand persist...
Fast inverse compensation of Preisach-type hysteresis operators using field-programmable gate arrays

Preisach-type operators model hysteresis via weighted superposition of a large (and even infinite) number of basic hysteretic elements (called hysterons), and they have proven capable of capturing various complicated hysteretic behaviors. While inverse compensation is an effective approach to control of hysteretic systems, inversion of Preisach-type operators is a bottleneck in demanding, high-speed applications due to the high computational cost. In this paper a novel and general framework is proposed for fast inversion of a wide class of Preisach-type operators, by exploiting the massive parallelism offered by field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to process the inherently parallel hysteresis operators. The theory, algorithm, and implementation of the inversion are presented. The inversion output is computed iteratively with guaranteed convergence (up to machine precision) provided the hysteresis operator is piecewise monotone and Lipschitz continuous. For an operator consisting of m hysterons, the proposed approach shows a computational complexity of O(log m), in contrast to O(m) for methods using general DSPs. The effectiveness of the fast inversion approach is demonstrated by implementation results on open-loop tracking of kHz reference signals, based on inversion of a Krasnosel'skii-Pokrovskii operator.
Turning a new page on nucleostemin and self-renewal

A quintessential trait of stem cells is embedded in their ability to self-renew without incurring DNA damage as a result of genome replication. One key self-renewal factor is the nucleolar GTP-binding protein nucleostemin (also known as guanine-nucleotide-binding protein-like 3, GNL3, in invertebrate species). Several studies have recently pointed to an unexpected role of nucleostemin in safeguarding the genome integrity of stem and cancer cells. Since its discovery, the predominant presence of nucleostemin in the nucleolus has led to the notion that it might function in the card-carrying event of the nucleolus – the biogenesis of ribosomes. As tantalizing as this might be, a ribosomal role of nucleostemin is refuted by evidence from recent studies, which argues that nucleostemin depletion triggers a primary event of DNA damage in S phase cells that then leads to ribosomal perturbation. Furthermore, there have been conflicting reports regarding the p53 dependency of nucleostemin activity and the cell cycle arrest profile of nucleostemin-depleted cells. In this Commentary, I propose a model that explains how the many contradictory observations surrounding nucleostemin can be reconciled and suggest that this protein might not be as multi-tasking as has been previously perceived. The story of nucleostemin highlights the complexity of the underlying molecular events associated with the appearance of any cell biological phenotype and also signifies a new understanding of the genome maintenance program in stem cells.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction Confers Resistance to Multiple Drugs in Caenorhabditis elegans

In a previous genetic screen for Caenorhabditis elegans mutants that survive in the presence of an antimitotic drug, hemiasterlin, we identified eight strong mutants. Two of these were found to be resistant to multiple toxins, and in one of these we identified a missense mutation in phb-2, which encodes the mitochondrial protein prohibitin 2. Here we identify two additional mutations that confer drug resistance, spg-7 and har-1, also in genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Other mitochondrial mutants, isp-1, eat-3, and clk-1, were also found to be drug-resistant. Respiratory complex inhibitors, FCCP and oligomycin, and a producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS), paraquat, all rescued wild-type worms from hemiasterlin toxicity. Worms lacking mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) were modestly drug-resistant, and elimination of MnSOD in the phb-2, har-1, and spg-7 mutants enhanced resistance. The antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine prevented mitochondrial inhibitors from rescuing wild-type worms from hemiasterlin and sensitized mutants to the toxin, suggesting that a mechanism sensitive to ROS is necessary to trigger drug resistance in C. elegans. Using genetics, we show that this drug resistance requires pkc-1, the C. elegans ortholog of human PKCe.
The influence of soil moisture upon the geothermal climate signal

Estimates of regional climate warming over the past few hundred years are being obtained from profiles of borehole temperature versus depth. The assumptions in recovering mean annual Surface Air Temperature (SAT) are that the relationship between the Ground Surface Temperature (GST) and the temperature-depth profile is purely conductive, and that SAT is uniquely coupled to GST. While these assumptions have been demonstrated to be approximately valid, they ignore the role of moisture transport in soil between soil and atmosphere. In this study we examine the influence of climatic changes in precipitation upon mean annual GST with climatic SAT held constant. We use the most recent version of our Prairie SVAT model for a set of 80 years simulations. Our findings are 10 increasing precipitation reduces mean annual GST, 2) phasing maximum precipitation to occur during the warmest months reduces mean annual GST, and 3) increasing the variance of precipitation reduces mean annual GST. The amplitudes of the effects are small but potentially not insignificant fractions of the geothermal climate signal. One of the long-term objectives of this investigation is to use global EOS SAT and remotely sensed soil moisture to link region-specific, geothermal climate signal histories to evolution of regional climate.
Tolerance for Predatory Wildlife

Around the world, populations of many large, predatory animals are declining, with wide-ranging consequences for other species and ecosystem services ( 1 ). The declines have a variety of causes, but for mammalian carnivores and sharks, direct human causes of mortality predominate ( 2 ). Scientists and policy-makers have concluded that promoting human tolerance is critical to the success of predator conservation efforts ( 1 , 3 – 5 ). Yet the factors that affect people's tolerance of wildlife are not well understood.
Effects of substrate, passage rate, and pH in continuous culture on flows of conjugated linoleic acid and trans C18:1.

Abstract A dual-flow continuous culture system consisting of 4 fermenters was used in a 4 ×4 Latin square design. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effects of solid dilution rate (SDR), pH, and concentration of linoleic acid (LA) in the feed mixture on the production of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and trans -C 18:1. The 4 treatments were 1) control=pH 6.5, 1% LA, 4%/h SDR; 2) high solid dilution rate (HSDR) = pH 6.5, 1% LA, 8%/h SDR; 3) high linoleic acid (HLA) = pH 6.5, 3% LA, 4%/h SDR; and 4) low pH (LPH) = pH 5.8, 1% LA, 4%/h SDR. Inoculum was collected 6h after feeding from a cow fed 40% alfalfa hay and 60% grain. Liquid dilution rate was held at 0.12/h. All treatments except HLA contained 2% tallow. The LA was dissolved in buffer and continuously infused into the fermenters. The CLA flows were 16.5, 20.4, 23.2, and 25.2 mg/d for control, HSDR, HLA, and LPH, respectively. Compared with control, LPH increased flows of CLA, cis -C 18:1 , and C 18:2 , and decreased flow of C 18:0 . The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibilities were not affected by pH. The HSDR tended to increase CLA flow compared to control, possibly because a shorter solid retention time led to incomplete biohydrogenation (BH). The NDF and ADF digestibilities and bacterial numbers were reduced by HSDR. With more LA available as a substrate for CLA, HLA resulted in a higher flow of CLA than control. The HLA resulted in the highest acid detergent fiber and fatty acid digestibilities, bacterial numbers, and BH. Increasing solids passage rate, reducing pH, and increasing dietary LA appears to increase in vitro CLA production.
Health Education in Medical Group Practices: Promoting Health or Business?

This article attempts to explain differences in the health education activities of medical group practices. Potential explanatory factors examined include: providing prepaid care, group ownership, group size, and specialty composition and mechanism for making group policy. The data used in this analysis were collected by the American Medical Association through the 1986 National Survey of Medical Groups. Results indicate that the conduct of a variety of health education activities was determined primarily by the group's policy mechanism. That groups with more formal policy mechanisms are more likely to conduct health education activities suggests that the provision of health education is a business decision rather than a medical one. Some implications for health educators of the use of health education to promote a practice are discussed.
Photoaffinity Labeling with Progesterone-11α-Hemisuccinate-(2-[125I]Iodohistamine) Identifies Four Protein Bands in Mouse Brain Membranes

The radiolabeled progesterone (PG) analogue progesterone-11 alpha-hemisuccinate-(2-[125I]iodohistamine) was used to label PG binding proteins in brain membranes from mouse cerebellum. Photoaffinity labeling and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis identified specific PG binding protein bands 1-4 of 64-29 kDa. Bands 1 and 4 were well resolved on the gel and easily quantified. Preincubation with PG inhibited photolabeling in a dose-dependent manner. The labeling was specific with respect to steroid structure. For band 1, the extent of inhibition of labeling by PG and 3 alpha, 5 alpha-pregnanolone (3 alpha) was pronounced. Other steroids such as testosterone (Tes), estradiol (Est), and corticosterone (Cor) were less effective, whereas pregnenolone sulfate (PS) and cholesterol (Cho) were ineffective. With respect to band 4, Est was the most effective; PG, 3 alpha, and Tes were intermediate; and PS, Cho, and Cor were ineffective. The results describe specific membrane proteins that bind PG (band 1) and Est (band 4).
Modeling the impact of run-time uncertainty on optimal computation scheduling using feedback

Increasingly, feedback of measured run-time information is being used in the optimization of computation execution. This paper introduces a model relating the static view of a computation to its run-time variance that is useful in this context. A notion of uncertainty is then used to provide bounds on key scheduling parameters of the run-time computation. To illustrate the relationship between fidelity in measured information and minimum schedulable, grain size, we apply the bounds to three existing parallel architectures for the case of run-time variance caused by monitoring intrusion. We also outline a hybrid static-dynamic scheduling paradigm-SEDIA-that uses the model of uncertainty to optimize computation for execution in the presence of run-time variance from sources other than monitoring intrusion.
Nonsurgical management of congenital eyelid malpositions using hyaluronic acid gel

Purpose: To report our preliminary experience using hyaluronic acid gel fillers as a nonsurgical alternative in the management of congenital eyelid malpositions. Methods: In this retrospective interventional case series, 5 patients (10 eyes) with congenital eyelid malpositions, including eyelid retraction, ectropion, euryblepharon, epiblepharon, and abnormalities associated with a shallow orbit, with resultant lagophthalmos and/or keratopathy and tearing were evaluated before and after injection with hyaluronic acid gel (Restylane) in the pretarsal and/or septal regions of the affected eyelid(s). Pretreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up photographs were analyzed for eyelid position and degree of eyelid closure and lagophthalmos, and slit-lamp evaluation of the degree of keratopathy. Results: All 5 patients demonstrated significant improvement of eyelid position and degree of keratopathy. The mean improvement in lagophthalmos was 4.5 mm (range, 2‐7 mm). The average volume of hyaluronic acid gel used was 0.5 ml per eyelid. Complications were minor, including transient edema and ecchymosis at the sites of injection. Of the 10 eyelids injected, only one had increased astigmatism after injection. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid gel shows promise as a safe and effective nonsurgical treatment for the management of certain eyelid malpositions, disorders traditionally requiring surgical intervention if aggressive ocular lubrication fails. This treatment is particularly useful in such patients who are commonly premature with poor general health and serves as a temporizing measure by allowing the much needed tissue expansion to take effect over time.
Vestibulo-ocular reflex adaptation in cats before and after depletion of norepinephrine

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) operates to stabilize the eyes in space during movements of the head. The system has been described as having a gain of approximately -1 since stimulation of the semi-circular canals brought about by head movements will have the effect of causing the eyes to rotate an equal amount in the opposite direction. Change in the gain of the VOR has been put forth as a model to study plasticity in the central nervous system. Since numerous studies have implicated norepinephrine (NE) in neuroplasticity and modifiability of neural circuits, we attempted to determine the effect of NE depletion (via 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) intra-cisternal injection) on the modifiability of the VOR. We have found that cats increase the gain of their VOR over a four hour period when rotated in the horizontal plane in a manner equal but opposite to the rotation of a surrounding opto-kinetic drum. The entire group of animals manifests a statistically significant decrement in their ability to increase VOR gain when central stores of norepinephrine are depleted via intra-cisternal injection of 6-OHDA. Individual animals manifest a wide variety of gain changes (0.98 to 1.62). We have found that there were two groups of cats — high and low gain modifiers. The greatest reduction in VOR gain increase after NE depletion was observed in the high gain modifiers. No difference was observed in the low gain modifiers. These same animals tested for VOR modification after amphetamine injection, produced similar results. Alertness during the VOR modification task, as estimated by saccadic eye movement counts, was unchanged after NE depletion. NE levels, measured by HPLC-EC, after depletion were reduced to the greatest extent in the cerebellum. There was also a substantial reduction of NE in the visual cortex with less of a reduction in the brain stem.
Comparative Descriptors of Applicants and Graduates of Online and Face-to-Face Master of Science in Nursing Programs

Abstract AIM Proper advisement of students about their programs of study requires knowledge of the applicants and confidence that the recommended curricula will lead to success via graduation and certification. BACKGROUND Two important strategies to deliver master of science in nursing (MSN) curricula include online and face-to-face (F2F) formats. METHOD A nonexperimental, descriptive study of archival data was used to examine and compare the characteristics of F2F and online MSN applicants, admitted students, and graduates as well as family nurse practitioner (FNP) certification pass rates at one eastern Tennessee college of nursing. Administration and FNP concentrations were studied. RESULTS The average applicant grade point average (GPA) was higher for the F2F format but no difference in the average admission GPA was found between formats. The online students had more years of RN experience than the F2F students. CONCLUSION No significant difference was found between graduating GPAs or FNP certificatio...
Sampling Dead Block Prediction for Last-Level Caches

Last-level caches (LLCs) are large structures with significant power requirements. They can be quite inefficient. On average, a cache block in a 2MB LRU-managed LLC is dead 86% of the time, i.e., it will not be referenced again before it is evicted. This paper introduces sampling dead block prediction, a technique that samples program counters (PCs) to determine when a cache block is likely to be dead. Rather than learning from accesses and evictions from every set in the cache, a sampling predictor keeps track of a small number of sets using partial tags. Sampling allows the predictor to use far less state than previous predictors to make predictions with superior accuracy. Dead block prediction can be used to drive a dead block replacement and bypass optimization. A sampling predictor can reduce the number of LLC misses over LRU by 11.7% for memory-intensive single-thread benchmarks and 23% for multi-core workloads. The reduction in misses yields a geometric mean speedup of 5.9% for single-thread benchmarks and a geometric mean normalized weighted speedup of 12.5% for multi-core workloads. Due to the reduced state and number of accesses, the sampling predictor consumes only 3.1% of the of the dynamic power and 1.2% of the leakage power of a baseline 2MB LLC, comparing favorably with more costly techniques. The sampling predictor can even be used to significantly improve a cache with a default random replacement policy.
Matrix collagen type and pore size influence behaviour of seeded canine chondrocytes

This study directly compared the behaviour of chondrocytes in porous matrices comprising different collagen types and different pore diameters. There was a dramatic difference in the morphology of the cells in the type I and type II collagen matrices. The cells in the type II collagen matrix retained their chondrocytic morphology and synthesized glycosaminoglycans, while in the type I matrix the chondrocytes displayed a fibroblastic morphology with less biosynthetic activity than those in the type II. Small pore diameter affected morphology initially in the type I matrices and showed a higher increase of DNA content, but with time the cells lost the chondrocytic morphology. Our results demonstrate the marked influence of collagen type and pore characteristics on the phenotypic expression of seeded chondrocytes.
The Political Economy of Dodd-Frank: Why Financial Reform Tends to be Frustrated and Systemic Risk Perpetuated

Several commentators have argued that financial “reform” legislation enacted after a market crash is invariably flawed, results in “quack corporate governance” and “bubble laws,” and should be discouraged. This criticism has been specifically directed at both the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act. This article presents a rival perspective. Investors, it argues, are naturally dispersed and poorly organized and so constitute a classic “latent group” (in Mancur Olson’s terminology). Such latent groups tend to be dominated by smaller, but more cohesive and better funded special interest groups in the competition to shape legislation and influence regulatory policy. This domination is interrupted, however, by major crises, which encourage “political entrepreneurs” to bear the transaction costs of organizing latent interest groups to take effective action. But such republican triumphs prove temporary, because, after the crisis subsides, the hegemony of the better organized interest groups is restored.As a result, a persistent cycle that this article calls the “Regulatory Sine Curve” can be observed: the legislative success of the latent investor group is followed by increasingly equivocal implementation of the new legislation, tepid enforcement, and eventual legislative erosion. This article traces that pattern with respect to both the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the ongoing implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act.This article does not deny that “reform” legislation often contains flaws (as does much deregulatory legislation). But these are usually quickly eliminated in the latter half of the cycle. The greater dilemma is instead whether the problem of systemic risk can be satisfactorily addressed in the presence of the Regulatory Sine Curve.
Management of cutaneous dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is traditionally classified as an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy distinguished by muscle weakness and characteristic cutaneous findings. Patients presenting with the skin manifestations in the absence of clinical evidence of muscle weakness are categorized as clinically amyopathic DM. The symptoms associated with the cutaneous findings can be particularly debilitating, and a discordant response to therapy exists between muscle and skin disease. Various therapeutic agents and treatment approaches have been described, both for the cutaneous and extracutaneous manifestations; however, a paucity of controlled studies in this disease leads to limitations in interpreting the available data. In this review, emphasis is placed specifically on summarizing the current literature regarding management of cutaneous DM. In addition, an algorithmic approach to treatment of skin disease is presented.
Robust Real-Time Multimedia Transmissions in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

To support the quality of service in wireless multimedia communications, wireless systems should work well in typical wireless environments characterized by the path loss of the signals, multipath fading, interference to adjacent channels, and random errors. A variety of researches in the application-layer have been proposed to adapt the video encoder to the link quality by compressing the data with different rates. However, these approaches introduce additional overhead and are inefficient when the round-trip delays are long. This paper proposes an algorithm to prevent packet losses and skipped frames by using optimal fragmentation technique with rate adaptation. Using an adaptive SNR estimator, the sender estimates the SNR of the receiver, and shapes arbitrary sized packets into optimal length packets with rate adaptation. Through rigorous analysis and extensive experiments with an implemented test-bed, we show that the algorithm significantly enhances the visual quality of real-time multimedia streaming in noisy ad hoc networks. The experimental results reinforce the fact that the algorithm is a realistic approach that can be deployed without modifying existing standards.
The possible effects of depressive symptoms on risk of preterm birth are clouded by lack of control over confounding factors.

Commentary on: Straub H, Adams M, Kim JJ, et al. Antenatal depressive symptoms increase the likelihood of preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012;207:e1–4 [OpenUrl][1][PubMed][2]. Depressive symptoms have been associated with risk of preterm birth (PTB).1 Straub and colleagues sought to explore whether an elevated score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including PTB. The authors present results from a ‘universal’ screening project that enrolled 14 175 women who received prenatal care through the NorthShore University Health System. Approximately 50% of women receiving prenatal care were screened. Barriers to inclusion were participant refusal and administrative issues, but PTB rates were similar in screened and non-screened subgroups. Screening occurred between 24 and 28 weeks gestation; … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAmerican%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bobstetrics%2Band%2Bgynecology%26rft.stitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BObstet%2BGynecol%26rft.aulast%253DWillers%26rft.auinit1%253DD.%2BM.%26rft.volume%253D207%26rft.issue%253D3%26rft.spage%253De1%26rft.epage%253De3%26rft.atitle%253DDiscussion%253A%2B%2527vitamin%2BD%2Bdeficiency%2Bin%2Bpregnancy%2Band%2Bgestational%2Bdiabetes%252C%2527%2Bby%2BBurris%2Bet%2Bal.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22939732%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22939732&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F5%2F194.atom
Durable Response to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy in a Lung Cancer Patient Harboring Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tandem Kinase Domain Duplication

®e report an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tandem kinase domain duplication (TKD-EGFR) mutation in a non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient who had a greater than 10-year response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. The mutation was present in both the primary treatment–naive tumor and in metastatic biopsies taken approximately 20 years later. TKD-EGFR has been described in glioblastoma and is known to result in constitutive EGFR activation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the TKD-EGFR mutation in lung cancer. CASE PRESENTATION
Tunneling Between Floquet States using a Bose–Einstein Condensate

Dynamical tunneling was observed in atom optics experiments at NIST using a Bose–Einstein condensate. The oscillations observed in these experiments result from the interference of a few Floquet states that were excited by the initial conditions in the experiment. In this paper we discuss properties of the dominant Floquet states for an extended range of experimental parameters.
Robust Vision-Based Monitoring of Indoor Environments by an Autonomous Mobile Robot

This paper presents a novel vision-based approach for indoor environment monitoring by a mobile robot. The proposed system is based on computer vision methods to match the current scene with a stored one, looking for new or removed objects. The matching process uses both keypoint features and colour information. A PCA-SIFT algorithm is employed for feature extraction and matching. Colour-based segmentation is performed separately, using HSV coding. A fuzzy logic inference system is applied to fuse information from both steps and decide whether a significant variation of the scene has occurred. Results from experimental tests demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in robot surveillance applications.© 2007 ASME
Stenger's conjecture on independent events

where P(A) denotes the probability of event A. Independence captures the idea that A and B are "probabilistically unrelated." Thus, when one finds independent events in one situation, one might guess the "same" events in another closely related situation would again be independent. William Stenger [1] illustrated how erroneous this idea can be with the following example. Flip n coins, n > 2. Let A be the event that the same side turns up on all coins and B the event that at most one head occurs. If all coins are fair (p = ), A and B are dependent for n = 2, independent for n = 3 and dependent for all n 2 4. What happens if instead, n is fixed but p is allowed to vary? In the special cases p = 0 and 1 the events A and B are independent for all n, so suppose then that the coins have probability of tails p, 0 <p < 1. Stenger computed cases of independence for n = 4 (p = 0.4113 ... ), n = 5 (p = 0.3709 ... ) and conjectured for each n 2 3 a probability p exists giving independent events. We here show that a simple transformation changes this conjecture to an equivalent one which is easy to answer. Moreover, the same transformation can always be applied to any two events based on Bernoulli trials. In Stenger's example P(A n B) = pn, P(A) = (1 _ p)n + pn and P(B) = n(1 _ p)pn-l + pn, and p must be found such that P(A n B) = P(A)P(B). By substituting x for p and cancelling a factor this is equivalent to Theorem 1.
Untimely meditations: Praxis, critical intercultural studies, and memoricide

In Untimely Meditations Nietzsche (1873/1997) opined that although some forms of historicizing helped serve the living, there were other times when it was used in ways where “life atrophies and deg...
Bioinformatic Analysis of Epidemiological and Pathological Data

Analysis of high-throughput genomic data is challenging and requires specialized knowledge of experimental design, genomic data preprocessing and quality control, high-dimensional data analysis, and machine learning. Each research project involving high-throughput genomic data is unique, and there is no recipe for data analysis that will fit every project and research question. In this chapter, we will introduce concepts of designing genomic experiments, basic principles of bioinformatic analysis of high-throughput genomic data, and discuss best practices for design and reproducibility of computational analyses. Our main purpose is to introduce the basic concepts of planning successful genomic studies using analysis of gene expression data as an example in order to facilitate communication with the statisticians and bioinformaticians who will be involved in designing the studies and data analysis. We will also briefly introduce statistical and bioinformatic methods commonly used for the analysis of high-throughput genomic data to help the readers follow computational analyses in the cancer research literature.
Lamp Orientation Dependence of an Integrating Sphere Response for Directional Light Sources in Luminous Flux Measurement

Integrating spheres are widely used for the photometric (or luminous flux) measurement of light sources. Their size and geometry influence the measurement uncertainty; including the baffle geometry...
Low Nicotine Content Descriptors Reduce Perceived Health Risks and Positive Cigarette Ratings in Participants Using Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes.

Introduction Understanding how smokers perceive reduced nicotine content cigarettes will be important if the FDA and global regulatory agencies implement reduced nicotine product standards for cigarettes. Prior research has shown that some smokers incorrectly believe "light" cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes. Similar misunderstandings of health risk could also apply to reduced nicotine cigarettes. To date, most studies of reduced nicotine cigarettes have blinded subjects to the nicotine content. Therefore, little is known about how smokers experience reduced nicotine content cigarettes when they are aware of the reduced content, and how use may be impacted. Methods The present study was a within-subjects experiment with 68 adult daily smokers who smoked two identical very low nicotine content Quest 3 (0.05 mg nicotine yield) cigarettes. Subjects were told that one cigarette contained "average" nicotine content, and the other contained "very low" nicotine content. After smoking each cigarette, subjects completed subjective measures about their smoking experience. Results Subjects rated the "very low" nicotine cigarette as less harmful to their health overall compared to the "average" nicotine cigarette; this effect held true for specific smoking-related diseases. Additionally, they rated the "very low" nicotine cigarette as having less desirable subjective effects than the "average" nicotine cigarette and predicted having greater interest in quitting smoking in the future if only the "very low" nicotine cigarette was available. Conclusions Explicit knowledge of very low nicotine content changes smokers' perceptions of very low nicotine content cigarettes, resulting in reduced predicted harm, subjective ratings and predicted future use. Implications Before a reduced nicotine product standard for cigarettes can be implemented, it is important to understand how product information impacts how smokers think about and experience very low nicotine content cigarettes. Prior research has shown that smokers incorrectly believed light cigarettes were less harmful products. As such, smokers may also misunderstand the health risks associated with smoking very low nicotine content cigarettes. This study highlights the importance of smokers' perceptions of nicotine content in cigarettes on the perceived health risks and the subjective effects of smoking very low nicotine content cigarettes.
Initial Activation Assessment for ARIES Compact Stellarator Power Plant

As the safety assessment frequently requires knowledge of the activation parameters, we estimated the highest possible activity, decay heat, and waste disposal rating on the time scale after shutdown for the compact stellarator power plant ARIES-CS. We selected two widely different systems employing SiC/SiC composites and low-activation ferritic steel (FS) as structural materials. Our results show that components of both systems qualify as Class C low-level waste (LLW) at the end of a 100 y storage period following the decommissioning of the plant. The SiC blanket, vacuum vessel, and magnet offer very low waste disposal rating to the extent that a Class A LLW seems achievable for these components. On this last point, we discussed the split between the Class A and Class C wastes, emphasizing our motivation to lower the level of ARIES-CS radioactive waste.
Understanding and Self-Organization.

This paper asks about the mechanisms by which we rapidly achieve an understanding of our world, both the unexpected changes we may experience, and the ongoing comfortable familiarity we normally have with our surroundings. I attempt a solution by means of fundamental questions like “What is it to understand one’s environment?” The paper concludes that our day-to-day understanding of our environment is the result of a self-organizing process.
Sources of information and influence on surgical decisions regarding contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: A prospective study.

e17628 Sources of Information and Influence on Decisions Regarding Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Prospective Study Background: Little is known about what influences a woman’s decision to...
Molecular Epidemiology of Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma

Molecular epidemiologic studies of diffuse WHO grade II glioma (diffuse low-grade glioma, DLGG) have contributed greatly to our knowledge of these slow-growing but highly infiltrative tumors. Such studies have yielded valuable insights into factors that modify risk of disease development including several germline genetic variants, exposure to ionizing radiation, and history of allergy. Furthermore, new frameworks for molecular classification of low-grade gliomas have emerged that delineate tumor subtypes with distinct etiologies and outcomes; therapeutic strategies may ultimately be tailored accordingly. In this chapter, we summarize these and other recent insights into the molecular epidemiology of DLGG in adults.
Evaluating the Impact of Mediated Literature Searches at a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

ABSTRACTResearch informationists at a comprehensive cancer center sought to evaluate the impact and value of mediated literature searches in support of their users’ work activities. An assessment tool was identified in the literature and modified by the investigators to solicit feedback from library users and identify the major reason(s) why scientists and health care professionals request literature searches, how they use the resulting information, and the impact that the results may or may not have on their research or patient care/decision-making activities. Survey results were qualitatively analyzed, and future avenues of outreach and promotion of mediated literature search services were identified.
Prediction of the concentration of standardized ileal digestible amino acids and safety margins among sources of distillers dried grains with solubles for growing pigs: a meta-analysis approach.

Abstract The concentration of standardized ileal digestible (SID, g/kg) amino acid (AA) is variable among sources of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The range in SID Lys among sources of DDGS reported in the literature varies among studies from 0.8 to 8.2 g/kg (88% DM basis). A meta-analysis was conducted using a database representing 23 published studies, with 118 sources of DDGS, to develop prediction equations for estimating the content of SID essential AA based on chemical composition. Sources of DDGS were separated into subgroups according to the type of grain used: corn (n = 90), wheat (n = 12), sorghum (n = 2), corn and wheat blend (n = 7), and other grains (rice, blend of corn and sorghum, or blend of more than 2 grains; n = 7). Descriptive statistics included means of nutrient composition among publications, types of grains, and pig body weight. After testing for normal distribution and outliers, data were analyzed using a mixed model with publication as a random effect. Redundant variables were removed after collinearity analysis. A validation step was performed for all models to compare predicted vs. observed values. Compared with corn DDGS, wheat DDGS had greater (P 0.10) between model predicted and observed SID AA values, suggesting high accuracy of the models. In conclusion, accurate prediction equations were developed for estimating the SID essential AA content and suggested safety margins for DDGS from various grain sources.
National Trends and Geographic Variation in Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery Use in the United States.

Background The goal of this study was to characterize the adoption rate and regional variation in bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) use during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the United States. Methods Observational study of 100% sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older, continuously enrolled in Parts A and B from 2009 to 2014 (n = 162,860,439). Rates of beneficiaries receiving a BIMA versus single internal mammary artery (SIMA) during CABG are expressed per 1,000 beneficiaries and aggregated by Hospital Referral Region (HRR). An HRR is a validated unit for quantifying regional variation in health care. Results The absolute national rate of BIMA use declined during the study period from 0.21 claims per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2009 to 0.13 in 2014 ( p p = 0.883). SIMA use ranged from 1.3 to 8.5 claims per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries, whereas BIMA use ranged from 0 to 1.5 ( p p p Conclusions Over the past 5 years, no growth was seen in BIMA use among Medicare beneficiaries, and the frequency of BIMA use during CABG remained low. There was significant regional variation in BIMA use, however, which demonstrates opportunity for continued growth of BIMA grafting.
The Slametan : Textual Knowledge and Ritual Performance in Yogyakarta

This chapter concerns the slametan, a ritual meal at which Arabic prayers are recited and food is offered to the Prophet Muhammad, saints, and ancestors, who are implored to shower blessings on the community.