cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial disparities in school-based disciplinary actions are associated with county-level rates of racial bias

There are substantial gaps in educational outcomes between black and white students in the United States. Recently, increased attention has focused on differences in the rates at which black and white students are disciplined, finding that black students are more likely to be seen as problematic and more likely to be punished than white students are for the same offense. Although these disparities suggest that racial biases are a contributor, no previous research has shown associations with psychological measurements of bias and disciplinary outcomes. We show that county-level estimates of racial bias, as measured using data from approximately 1.6 million visitors to the Project Implicit website, are associated with racial disciplinary disparities across approximately 96,000 schools in the United States, covering around 32 million white and black students. These associations do not extend to sexuality biases, showing the specificity of the effect. These findings suggest that acknowledging that racial biases and racial disparities in education go hand-in-hand may be an important step in resolving both of these social ills.
INFLUENCE OF RADIATION DOSE IN COLLAGEN IV AND MMP20 IMMUNOEXPRESSION AND THE TOOTH IMMEDIATE ADHESIVE PROPERTIES

Objectives Radiation-related caries is an important collateral effect in patients with head and neck cancer subjected to radiotherapy, with rapidly progressive, asymptomatic and ample lesions, associated to direct and indirect effects of radiation. The present study has the aim of determine the alterations of the immunoexpression of collagen IV and MMP20 in the amelodentin junction and its relationships with odontoblasts according to the radiation dose (0, 20, 40, and 70Gy) and its influence on the immediate adhesive properties (μTBS and μSBS) of enamel and dentin. The immunoexpression was performed with immunofluorescence confocal microscopic analysis. Forty caries-free extracted third molars were divided into eight groups according to the factors: radiation dose (0, 20, 40, and 70Gy) for the experiments. Data from immunofluorescence was analyzed descriptively and adhesive properties were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukeys test. Findings The alterations in the immunoexpresion of collagen IV and MMP20 is directly associated with the dose of radiation, showing increasing levels of MMP20 and decreasing levels of collagen IV in the most irradiated teeth.When radiation doses were applied between 40 to 70 Gy, the adhesive values were significantly lower for both strategies in the two tests performed. Conclusion High doses of radiation above 40 Gy affect the expression of collagenIV, MMP20 and immediate adhesive proprieties on dentin and enamel. The information obtained about the altered expression of collagen IV and MMP20, and the adhesive properties in dental irradiated tissue is crucial to understand the process of radiation-related caries and the restorative treatment of these patients.
Visualization of Kirkendall Voids at Cu-Au Interfaces by In Situ TEM Heating Studies

Gold-plated copper alloys are used extensively in electrical contacts where diffusional processes are known to cause contact degradation. An in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) heating study was carried out to provide fundamental understanding of the aging phenomena in reasonable timescales. Samples to visualize the interface in TEM were prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy and heated in situ up to 350°C while holding at intermediate temperatures to enable imaging. The grain boundaries in Au coatings, specifically the columnar boundaries, provided rapid pathways for diffusion of Cu all the way to the Au surface. This unequal diffusion created vacancies in Cu which coalesced into Kirkendall voids. This in situ technique has been applied to visualize the diffusion pathways in electroplated and sputtered Au films deposited directly on Cu, as well the role of Ni and NiP as barrier layers for mitigating Cu diffusion.
Hybrid ordering policies for platelet inventory management under demand uncertainty

Hospitals are imposed with the challenge of developing efficient blood inventory management tools due to its limited supply and uncertain demand. Besides, the short shelf-life of blood further comp...
Identifying Differences in Rates of Invitation to Participate in Tobacco Treatment in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION The progress achieved in reducing tobacco use has not been consistent across groups of smokers, and health systems are inconsistently implementing best practice guidelines. Guideline implementation could be associated with improved treatment invitation rates. AIMS To evaluate differences in tobacco treatment invitation rates based on patient characteristics in primary care clinics implementing best practice guidelines. METHODS A secondary analysis of patients presenting to 11 primary care clinics from 2 Wisconsin health systems from June 2010 to February 2013. The main outcome was whether patients received an invitation to participate in tobacco treatment. Invitation rates were examined by sex, age group (≤ 24 years, 25-44, 45-64, ≥ 64), race (white, black, other), insurance status (private, Medicare, Medicaid, none), and visit diagnosis ("high-risk" [cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, malignancy, pregnancy] vs "low-risk" [all other ICD-9 categories]). Moderation effects of health systems also were examined. RESULTS Of the 95,471 patients seen, 84,668 (89%) were screened for smoking. Among the 15,193 smokers, 10,242 (67%) were invited to participate. Invited patients were older, white or black, and carried low-risk diagnoses. Invitation rates and patient-level differences varied between the health systems. CONCLUSIONS Variable treatment invitation rates and health system differences remain evident in the primary care setting employing robust clinical practice guideline recommendations.
Ethical Issues in Neurotrauma

Neurotraumatic injuries are injuries that involve the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. The possibility of impaired cognitive and sensory function in a patient who has experienced a traumatic neural injury, notably a traumatic brain injury, raises many ethical issues surrounding informed consent, goals of care, and discussion of end-of-life measures with the patient or surrogate. Prevention of brain injuries, such as mandatory helmet use by motorcycle riders, has been criticized as infringing on individual autonomy. Communication with families about loved ones who may be in “vegetative” or “minimally conscious” states can lead to confusion or uncertainty as to how medical decision-making should be made. Deep brain stimulation and newer invasive technologies hold promise for potentially stimulating neuronal recovery. For neurologically devastated patients and families, this glimmer of hope is a strong motivator; however, these invasive technologies also raise ethical dilemmas about the boundaries that guide neuronal stimulation and differentiate between a restorative therapy and a potentially manipulative intervention. This chapter delves into these and other topics.
Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Young Woman: Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Establishing the Diagnosis

Evaluation of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in young women presents a clinical challenge. An unremarkable coronary angiogram may not exclude ACS, as spontaneous lesion revascularization, resolved coronary spams, or spontaneous coronary dissection (SCAD) can often be missed. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can provide useful information in acute myocardial infarction (MI) by confirming and sizing acute infarction and delineating the etiology when angiography is inconclusive. Here, we report a case of a 39-year-old postpartum woman with a history of hyperlipidemia who presented with a one-day history of atypical angina. On presentation, she was found to have transient ST-segment elevation in high lateral leads and elevated troponin. Coronary angiography revealed a nonobstructive lesion in the first obtuse marginal branch (OM1) distribution. The patient subsequently underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for further delineation of etiology, which confirmed acute infarction in the OM1 distribution. Diagnosis of myocardial infarction with no obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) secondary to acute coronary artery dissection type 2 (SCAD-2) was made. The patient was managed conservatively with medical therapy. CMR has emerged as a front-line diagnostic imaging modality in acute MI and can provide invaluable information in the confirmation and sizing of infarction, delineating tissue characteristics, establishing the etiology of infarction, and prognostication.
From the DSP Perspective: Exploring the Use of Practices That Align With Trauma-Informed Care in Organizations Serving People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a systemwide approach that emphasizes organizational practices based upon principles of safety, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and trustworthiness. It is intended to influence an entire organization, with implications for clients and the workforce. The present study explored the extent to which IDD organizations utilize practices that align with TIC with their DSP workforce. Through an online survey, 380 DSPs (84% women; 82% white) responded to a trauma-informed organizational culture measure. Results demonstrated variability across items and significant differences between TIC principles with safety most strongly scored, and collaboration least strongly scored. Perception of organizational practices differed by ethnicity, with non-white DSPs having more favorable responses. Current practices with DSPs align with TIC, however, increased attention through explicit trauma-informed initiatives is warranted.
SUCCESSFUL PREVENTION OF SEVERE INFECTIONS IN JAPANESE SIBLINGS WITH IL-1 RECEPTOR-ASSOCIATED KINASE 4 DEFICIENCY

IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) deficiency is a recently recognised immunodeficiency disorder associated with immature immunity through Toll-like receptors. We report here on Japanese siblings with IRAK4 deficiency who had favourable clinical outcomes in association with the successful prevention of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. Case 1 A 3-year-old boy was diagnosed with IRAK4 deficiency characterised by a homozygous one base pair insertion (c 167_172insA) in exon 2 of the IRAK4 gene, and defective TNF-α and IL-6 production. His older brother had succumbed to S pneumoniae meningitis due to IRAK4 deficiency. The boy received oral administration of prophylactic antibiotics, immunoglobulin substitution (200 mg/kg per month), heptavalent-conjugated pneumococcal vaccine, and 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine to prevent bacterial infections. During treatment, anti-S pneumoniae IgG2 antibody concentration was elevated and he did not develop any severe infections. Case 2 The 22-month-old sister of case 1 was diagnosed with IRAK4 deficiency characterised by the same mutation as case 1 and she received the same preventive treatment. The concentration of her anti-S pneumoniae IgG2 antibody increased and she also did not develop any severe infections. It has been reported that children with IRAK4 deficiency develop recurrent bacterial infections, especially S pneumoniae infections, until 3 years of age and thereafter the frequency of infection is decreased. It is therefore important to prevent infections until 3 years of age. The prevention of bacterial infection in the siblings described in this report seemed to be effective. Immunoglobulin substitution and vaccination may be useful in preventing severe bacterial infections in IRAK4 patients.
Low energy electroplasticity in aluminum alloys

Abstract Here, we report a low energy electroplasticity event in alloyed aluminum (Al7050) at a much lower current ( 0.035 A / m m 2 ) than the previously reported threshold of ~ 10 A / m m 2 , leading to 10% hardness reduction and 38% creep enhancement. Ab-initio calculations unveiled a reduced energy barrier to dislocation motion with the presence of alloying elements.
Tomography of 3D-Printed Lattice Structured Aluminum-Silicon Alloy and Its Deformation

Additive manufactured light components are desirable for airspace and automobile applications where failure resistance under contact is important. To date, understanding the nature of subsurface da...
Operative Treatment of Bipartite Patella in Pediatric and Adolescent Athletes: A Retrospective Comparison With a Nonoperatively Treated Cohort.

Background:Bipartite patella (BPP) is a developmental anomaly that forms when incomplete patellar ossification leaves a residual fibrocartilaginous synchondrosis between ossification centers. Repet...
'Cancel Culture' and Criminal Justice

“Cancel culture” is the contemporary practice of publicly shaming individuals that members of the public — specifically social media communities — believe have engaged in offensive conduct. This Article — one of the first to address cancel culture in legal scholarship — evaluates this phenomenon and its intersection with criminal justice. It argues that, in one sense, cancel culture constitutes a new form of collective condemnation and may often rectify deficiencies of under-enforcement in our criminal justice system. Such deficiencies may — but need not always — intersect with the concerns of communities of color, women, and other marginalized American communities. However, the downsides of cancel culture — disproportionate sentences leading to collateral consequences, a “thin” conception of the wrongdoer as beyond rehabilitation, and a broader cultural anxiety that “chills” certain human conduct — ultimately reveal it to be not a new phenomenon but instead a reflection of deeper U.S. punitive impulses. This Article thus proposes reforms to social media, criminal justice, and deeper conceptions of human wrongdoing.
The War on Terror and the Costs of Empire

The War on Terror was first announced less than a week after the 9/11 attack on the United States. Waging a war is one of the biggest stresses any society can endure, and the stresses of this war tested the United States to the breaking point. The War on Terror was an open-ended and vaguely strategized response that would quickly mire the United States in a fiasco. The conception and implementation of the War on Terror did not just reveal the mistakes of one administration and the failure of sensible leadership to emerge at a time of crisis, though it did that; it also highlighted the fundamental problems of the US Empire.
Association of High Burden of End-stage Kidney Disease With Decreased Kidney Transplant Rates With the Updated US Kidney Allocation Policy

Importance The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) approved changes to the US kidney allocation system in 2019. The potential effects of this policy change using transplant rates normalized to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) incidence have not been investigated. Objective To estimate how the OPTN kidney allocation policy will affect areas of the US currently demonstrating low rates of kidney transplant, when accounting for the regional burden of ESKD. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional population-based economic evaluation analyzed access of patients with ESKD to kidney transplant in the US. Participants included patients with incident ESKD, those on the kidney transplant wait list, and those who received a kidney transplant. Data were collected from January 1 to December 31, 2017, and were analyzed in 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures The probability of a patient with ESKD being placed on the transplant wait list or receiving a deceased donor kidney transplant. States and donor service areas (DSAs) were compared for gains and losses in rates of transplanted kidneys under the new allocation system. Transplant rates were normalized for ESKD burden. Results A total of 122 659 patients had incident ESKD in the US in 2017 (58.2% men; mean [SD] age, 62.8 [15.1] years). The probability of a patient with ESKD receiving a deceased donor kidney transplant varied 3-fold across the US (from 6.36% in West Virginia to 18.68% in the District of Columbia). Modeling of the OPTN demonstrates that DSAs from New York (124%), Georgia (65%), and Illinois (56%) are estimated to experience the largest increases in deceased donor kidney allocation. Other than Georgia, these states have kidney transplant rates per incident ESKD cases above the mean (of 50 states plus the District of Columbia, New York is 16th and Illinois is 24th). In contrast, DSAs from Nevada (−74%), Ohio (−67%), and North Carolina (−61%)—each of which has a transplant rate per incident ESKD cases significantly below the mean—are estimated to experience the largest decreases in deceased donor allocation (of 50 states plus the District of Columbia, North Carolina is 34th, Ohio is 38th, and Nevada is 47th). Conclusions and Relevance The new OPTN-approved kidney allocation policy may result in worsening geographic disparities in access to transplants when measured against the burden of ESKD within a particular region of the US.
Analyzing the Labor Market Outcomes of Occupational Licensing

Recent assessments of occupational licensing have shown varying effects of the institution on labor market outcomes. This study revisits the relationship between occupational licensing and labor market outcomes by analyzing a new topical module to the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Relative to previously available data, the topical module offers more detailed information on occupational licensing from government, with a larger sample size and access to a richer set of person-level characteristics. We exploit this larger and more detailed data set to examine the labor market outcomes of occupational licensing and how workers obtain these licenses from government. More specifically, we analyze whether there is evidence of a licensing wage premium, and how this premium varies with aspects of the regulatory regime such as the requirements to obtain a license or certification and the level of government oversight. After controlling for observable heterogeneity, including occupational status, we find that those with a license earn higher pay, are more likely to be employed, and have a higher probability of retirement and pension plan offers.
Antibody testing in neuropathy associated with anti-Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein antibodies: where we are after 40 years.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The diagnosis of Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein (MAG) neuropathy is based on the presence of elevated titers of IgM anti-MAG antibodies, which are typically associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy, and a slowly progressive, distal demyelinating phenotype. The condition, however, can be under or over diagnosed in patients with mildly elevated antibody titers, absent monoclonal gammopathy, or an atypical presentation. The purpose of this paper is to examine recent advances in our understanding of the currently available anti-MAG antibody assays, their reliability, and their use in deciding treatment or monitoring the response to therapy. RECENT FINDINGS Higher titers of anti-MAG antibodies are more likely to be associated with the typical MAG phenotype or response to therapy. Mildly elevated antibody levels can occur in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Testing for cross-reactivity with HNK1 can add to the specificity of the antibody assays. Patients with MAG neuropathy can present with an atypical phenotype and in the absence of a detectable monoclonal gammopathy. SUMMARY Assays for anti-MAG antibodies by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay can be improved by testing for antibody binding at multiple serum dilutions, the inclusion of antigen-negative microwells as internal controls for each sample, testing for cross-reactivity with HNK1, and formal validation. The diagnosis needs to be considered in patients with demyelinating neuropathy, even in the absence of a monoclonal gammopathy or typical phenotype. The change in antibody levels needs to be considered in evaluating the response to therapy with B-cell depleting agents.
Patient-Reported Symptom and Functioning Status during the First 12 Months after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is being increasingly used to treat patients with advanced hematologic malignancies; however, the symptoms related to standard of care CAR T cell therapy during the first year after treatment have not been assessed using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurements. This study aimed to quantify patients' perspectives of symptom burden and functional status using PROs during the first year after CAR T cell therapy for hematologic malignancies, especially in patients who experienced grade 2-4 toxicities. Sixty patients were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study at any time during their first 12 months post-treatment. All 60 had received CAR T cell therapy as standard of care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2019. PROs were measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), the PROs Measurement Information System 29 (PROMIS-29), the global health tool EQ5D-5L, and the single-item health-related quality of life scale (HRQoL). Twenty-two additional symptoms related to CAR T cell therapy, as identified by an expert panel, were also evaluated. CAR T cell therapy-related toxicities were rated according to the ASTCT consensus grading criteria. The majority of patients (52 of 60; 87%) received axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta). One-third of the patients developed grade 2-4 cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity. The first 90 days after infusion represented the most symptomatic period, in which >10% of patients rated 18 symptoms as severe (ie, MDASI symptom score of 7 to 10 on scale of 0 to 10), strongly indicating the need for effective symptom management. Physical functioning, measured by interference on the "general activity" item on the MDASI and this domain on the PROMIS-29, were significantly worse in patients who underwent therapy during the first 30 days compared with those who underwent therapy over 90 days (all P < .05 with the Hochberg step-up procedure), whereas the EQ5D-5L and single-item HRQoL did not detect such differences. Compared with patients who had mild cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity (grade 0-1), patients who developed grade 2-4 toxicities persistently reported multiple severe symptoms after 30 days following therapy (all P < .05). Furthermore, although using a different recall period, patient-reported scores on several PROMIS-29 domains were significantly correlated with the scores of corresponding MDASI symptom items. This real-world quantitative PRO symptoms study provides evidence of unique profiles of the physical, psychological, and cognitive symptom burden in patients undergoing CAR T cell therapy that varies within the first year after infusion and demonstrates differences among PRO measurement scales. These results support the need for validation of fit-for-purpose PRO measurements for routinely monitoring symptom and toxicity burdens in CAR T cell therapy care settings.
The US and Refugee Resettlement

Since its inception in 1980, the USRAP has placed well over three million refugees across the US. In this chapter, I provide context and parallels for the arrivals in Vermont by looking at the evolution of the USRAP. I do so in four parts. In the first, I look briefly at the forces that push people out of their homes; in other words, the factors that create a ‘migration crisis’ in the first place. In the second, I examine the history of the USRAP—how many refugees have been accepted and from where, starting at the very beginning of the program. In the third, I describe the nature and structure of the refugee program in the US—what agencies are involved, what kinds of supports exist for refugees, and what some of the changes look like. In the fourth part, I look at the trends of refugee resettlement across the US in recent years to better situate the story in Vermont.
Computer Techniques in Neuroanatomy

This book is the story of the marriage of a new techl}ology, computers, with an old problem, the study of neuroanatomical structures using the light microscope. It is aimed toward you, the neuroanatomist, who until now have used computers primarily for word processing but now wish to use them also to collect and analyze your laboratory data. Mter reading the book, you will be better equipped to use a computer system for data collection and analysis, to employ a programmer who might develop a system for you, or to evaluate the systems available in the marketplace. To start toward this goal, a glossary first presents commonly used terms in computer assisted neuroanatomy. This, on its own, will aid you as it merges the jargon of the two different fields. Then, Chapter 1 presents a historical review to describe the manual tasks involved in presenting and measuring anatomic structures. This review lays a base line of the tasks that were done before computers and the amount of skill and time needed to perform the tasks. In Chapters 2 and 3, you will find basic information about laboratory computers and programs to the depth required for you to use the machines easily and talk with some fluency to computer engineers, programmers, and salesmen. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 present the use of computers to reconstruct anatomic structures, i.e., to enter them into a computer memory, where they are later displayed and analyzed."
Metabolic characteristics of youth with loss of control eating.

Abstract Purpose Preliminary data in adults suggest that binge eating is associated with greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. However, there are limited data in youth, and little is known of the role of binge episode size in these relationships. Methods We examined the relationship between loss of control eating and metabolic characteristics in a convenience sample of 329 treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking adolescent boys and girls. The sample was enriched by design with adolescents who were overweight or obese and with individuals who reported episodes of loss of control over their eating (either objectively large binge episodes, OBEs or subjectively large binge episodes, SBEs, in the past month), as assessed by clinical interview. MetS components (blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and waist circumference) were the primary variables of interest. Results 46% of the cohort reported loss of control eating; among those, 53% reported SBEs only and 47% reported OBEs. Youth with loss of control eating had higher systolic blood pressure ( p = .001) and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) ( p = .002) compared to those without loss of control eating, in analyses adjusted for intervention-seeking status, fat mass and sociodemographic characteristics. Youth reporting OBEs had higher LDL-c ( p = .013) compared to those reporting only SBEs. Conclusions Adolescents reporting loss of control episodes had greater dysfunction in some components of the MetS compared to youth without loss of control; episode size may contribute to metabolic dysfunction.
The Value of Corporate Values

Corporate values are in vogue - but what does the fashion tell us about enduring corporate practice, as it is and as it could be? Increasingly, companies around the world have adopted formal statements of corporate values, and senior executives now routinely identify ethical behavior, honesty, integrity, and social concerns as top issues on their companies' agendas. The meaning of this new emphasis on values, however, is less obvious than the trend itself. So to explore how deeply these values are embedded in organizations and to examine the role that values are playing, in 2004 Booz Allen Hamilton and the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit and nonpartisan forum focused on values-based leadership and public policy, conducted a global study of corporations in 30 countries and five regions.
Waiting When Both Certainty and Magnitude Are Increasing: Certainty Overshadows Magnitude

In everyday decision making, people often face decisions with outcomes that differ on multiple dimensions. The trade-off in preferences between magnitude, temporal proximity, and probability of an outcome is a fundamental concern in the decision-making literature. Yet, their joint effects on behavior in an experience-based decision-making task are understudied. Two experiments examined the relative influences of the magnitude and probability of an outcome when both were increasing over a 10-second delay. A first-person shooter video game was adapted for this purpose. Experiment 1 showed that participants waited longer to ensure a higher probability of the outcome than to ensure a greater magnitude when experienced separately and together. Experiment 2 provided a precise method of comparing their relative control on waiting by having each increase at different rates. Both experiments revealed a stronger influence of increasing probability than increasing magnitude. The results were more consistent with hyperbolic discounting of probability than with cumulative prospect theory's decision weight function
DISTANCE PERCEPTION WITH A CAMERA-BASED REAR VISION SYSTEM IN ACTUAL DRIVING

Participants drove an instrumented car equipped with conventional rearview mirrors and with a camera rear vision system. They observed the approach of an overtaking car in the alternative rear vision systems and indicated the last moment at which it would be safe to initiate a lane-change maneuver in front of it. Their judgments were strongly affected by the type of display used to observe the overtaking car. The longest distances were obtained with the camera-based display at unit magnification. Distances were substantially shorter with the conventional mirror and with the camera-based display at 0.5 minification. These results are consistent with results from an earlier study conducted under static conditions.
On Denotational Semantics of Data Bases

A method of denotational formalization of data bases, of data base management systems, and of related structures is proposed, aiming to improve their understanding, specification and rigorous investigation. The method provides a uniform treatment of different information layers: from instantaneous data bases (the first layer), via schemata and integrity rules, to classes of data base models. It unifies in one mathematical notion the apparently different notions of the semantics of stored data, semantics of data base processes, conceptual semantics of data bases, integrity semantics of data bases and denotational semantics of languages. The unification is based on hierarchies of domains of continuous mappings between different representations of information (from "less semantic" representations into "more semantic" ones).
Convergence Analysis of Iterative Decoding for Binary CEO Problem

Estimation of a binary source using multiple observers, a variant of the so called Chief Executive Officer (CEO) problem, is considered. A low-complexity Distributed Joint Source Channel Coding (D-JSCC) based on the Parallel Concatenated Convolutional Codes (PCCC) is implemented in a cluster of sensors in a distributed fashion. Convergence of the iterative decoder is analyzed by utilizing EXtrinsic Information Transfer (EXIT) chart technique to determine the convergence region in terms of the sensors? observation accuracy and channel SNR, where the iterative decoder outperforms the non-iterative one. This leads to design of a bi-modal decoder that adaptively switches between the iterative and non-iterative modes in order to avoid inefficient iterative information exchange without compromising the resulting Bit Error Rate (BER). This adaptive decoding algorithm saves the computational power and decoding time by a factor of about 10 by avoiding unnecessary iterations.
Adaptive backbone-based multicast for ad hoc networks

This paper describes an adaptive multicast mechanism for ad hoc networks. The multicast mechanism adopts a two-tier architecture with an adaptive backbone infrastructure to integrate the effectiveness of the flooding scheme and the efficiency of the tree-based scheme for different network conditions. Coverage of a backbone node is not limited to a single hop, but is automatically adjusted according to the mobility status of each local area. Multicast capability is then provided via the construction of rendezvous-based multicast trees in the local group level and a mesh structure over the backbone level, providing both efficiency in static areas and robustness in dynamic areas. Performance evaluations are also presented.
The 5'-nucleotidase of Escherichia coli. I. Purification and properties.

Abstract An enzyme, 5'-nucleotidase, was purified from Escherichia coli. With the use of the osmotic shock technique, a 5000-fold purification was achieved with DEAE-cellulose chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and repeat DEAE-cellulose chromatography. This enzyme hydrolyzes 5'-AMP, ATP, uridine diphosphate glucose and bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate. The ratios of specific activities remain constant for the various substrates throughout the purification, and the heat inactivation curves parallel each other. The purified 5'-nucleotidase of E. coli hydrolyzed all 5'-ribo- and deoxyribonucleotides with optimal activity against 5'-AMP. Substitution by a phosphoryl group as in pXp makes a compound resistant, as does substitution by another nucleotide as in pXpY. The enzyme is inactive against all sugar phosphates but will hydrolyze UDP-glucose. The 5'-AMP activity has a pH optimum of 6.0, the ATP activity 6.8, and UDP-glucose activity 7.4. The 5'-AMP activity is stimulated 100-fold by 5 x 10-3 m Co++ and 200-fold by the further addition of Ca++. The enzyme is inhibited by 0.1 m Zn++ and chelating agents. Only Mn++ is effective in replacing the Co++ stimulation of 5'-AMP or ATP hydrolysis, but Co++ is not needed for the UDP-glucose hydrolysis. The enzyme is minimally affected by its ionic environment, but it is highly labile to denaturation in the absence of bovine serum albumin. Phosphate is not inhibitory. The enzyme has been shown to be pure, as judged by molecular sieve chromatography, polyacrylamide disk gel electrophoresis, and ultracentrifugation. An s20,w value of 4.2 has been obtained. A molecular weight of 52,000 was found. The amino acid composition showed no unusual distribution.
Effectiveness of Anchorage in Concrete Beams Retrofitted with Sprayed Fiber-reinforced Polymers

This paper presents the result of an experimental study conducted to investigate the effectiveness of anchorage in concrete beams retrofitted with sprayed fiber-reinforced polymers (SFRP). It was intended to investigate whether the anchorage was an effective method to enhance the bond between the repair system and the application face. The anchorage is based on the idea of embedding the ends of the SFRP layer into preformed slits in the concrete so that the SFRP layer and anchors behave as a body. A series of three-point bending tests were conducted on notched plain concrete specimens retrofitted with SFRP layer and anchors. The test results were compared with those of control specimens and specimens retrofitted with SFRP without anchors to compare the performance enhancement between specimens with and without anchorage. The results show that the bond between the application face and the SFRP was sufficient enough to transfer the loads in the specimen to the repair system. The anchorage was not essential to enhancing the performance of concrete beams retrofitted with SFRP.
Brewer's/baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and preventive medicine: part I.

Yeast is the term generally applied to a unicellular fungus, and there are hundreds of species now identified. One of the most notable and well-known species of yeast in health and wellness is known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is also known by its more common names, brewer's yeast or baker's yeast. Typically, brewer's yeast is used as a protein supplement, energy booster, immune enhancer, or other vehicle where other compounds can be inserted to create a commercialized health product. For example, one of the most notable positive findings was the encouraging results from a large randomized trial of adults recently vaccinated for seasonal influenza who also received an over-the-counter daily adjuvant modified brewer's yeast-based product (EpiCor) to prevent colds and flu symptoms. The modified yeast-based product significantly reduced the incidence and duration of this common condition. Yeast-based technology is also being used as a molecular mechanistic model of caloric restriction (CR) with the goal of improving the human life span. The current and potential impact of yeast-based technology in medicine is encouraging and should receive more attention, but the recent preliminary positive results of CR in humans may be in part due to what has been already learned from brewer's yeast.
Postsynaptic dorsal column pathway of the rat. III. Distribution of ascending afferent fibers

The distribution in the dorsal column nuclei (DCn) of post-synaptic dorsal column (PSDC) fibers was examined in rats following injections of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) in the spinal cord. Lemniscal neurons in the DCn were retrogradely labeled in the same animals by injecting the thalamus with Fluoro-Gold. In some experiments, primary afferent fibers were also labeled by injecting dorsal root ganglia with choleragenoid-conjugated HRP. Injections of PHA-L into the cervical enlargement labeled many fibers and varicosities throughout most of the ipsilateral cuneate nucleus. Labeled fibers were also present in the external cuneate and internal basilar nuclei. Injections of PHA-L into thoracic cord labeled fibers and varicosities in the medial cuneate and lateral gracile nuclei, as well as the external cuneate nucleus. Injections into the lumbar enlargement labeled fibers and varicosities throughout most of the gracile nucleus. Injections in sacral cord labeled fibers in the most medial part of the gracile nucleus. Dense labeling of PSDC fibers was found in areas with high densities of retrogradely labeled lemniscal neurons and areas with high densities of primary afferent fibers. In all regions of the DCn and in the external cuneate nucleus, fibers and varicosities labeled for PHA-L were seen in apposition to retrogradely labeled lemniscal cells. The distribution of postsynaptic afferent fibers in the DCn of the rat and its relationship to lemniscal neurons and primary afferent fibers contrast sharply with these features in cats.
Dialectics of resilience : a multi-level analysis of a telehealth innovation

Resilience is commonly portrayed as a positive capability that allows individuals, groups, and organizations to thrive in dynamic contexts.This paper questions this oversimplified view based on a dialectical analysis of a telehealth innovation within a network of collaborating hospitals. We analyze the major contradictions that characterize the adoption of the innovation. First, we analyze contradictions between individuals and groups within each adopting organization. Second, we analyze contradictions between the adopting organizations. This multi-level analysis leads to a deeper understanding of resilience as a dialectical process. The analysis of the case shows that, although the participating individuals, groups, and organizations demonstrated apparent resilience in adopting the telehealth innovation, the innovation remained in a fragile state, where it was unclear whether it would continue to diffuse, stabilize as-is, or slowly deteriorate. Hence, while resilience facilitated swift and successful adoption, it also created tensions that endangered further diffusion and the long-term sustainability of the telehealth innovation. We suggest that understanding the future success of the innovation would be facilitated to a large extent by a dialectical analysis of the involved contradictions.
Deconversion: Qualitative and Quantitative Results from Cross-Cultural Research in Germany and the United States of America. By Heinz Streib, Ralph W. Hood, Jr., Barbara Keller, Rosina-Martha Csöff, and Christopher F. Silver

Gottingen, Germany: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2009. 259 pp. $90.00 hardcover. The bad thing about this book is the title. In English, the word “deconversion” is an awkward and arguably misleading ter...
Low‐angle normal fault earthquakes and triggering

Geologic evidence for low-angle normal faulting is overwhelming, and recent seismic, geodetic, and neotectonic studies have identified probable active examples. Thus, apparent low levels of historical seismicity on such faults is enigmatic. However, one large mainshock was a low-angle normal event, and three others may have been. One earthquake sequence had significant moment release from a triggered low-angle normal fault, and three earthquakes may have had normal subevents on low-angle planes. Such (sub)events are hard to recognize, may be underrepresented in catalogs (helping to explain the apparent seismic enigma), and pose increased seismic hazard due to delayed strong motions. Triggered (sub)events may be along strike or down dip from their triggering shock. In cases where the triggered slip is downdip of the steep fault and under its hanging wall, elevated pore fluid pressure or fault weakness may be required.
An external reconstruction approach (ERA) to linear programming

Abstract An externally initiated optimum-searching procedure for large-scale LP optimization and design is presented. It appears to be potentially useful for LP problems characterized by large number of constraints relative to the number of variables. Although ERA (External Reconstruction Approach) still relies on LP subproblems (and their simplex-type solution procedures), its global philosophy is clearly nonsimplex and nonellipsoid in nature. In addition to its computational potential, ERA'S major advantages are: renewed flexibility, built-in parallelism, suitability to design and optimization, ability to handle mixed (both “soft” and “hard”) constraints. A numerical example is appended.
The Impact of Student Experiences on Progress in College: An Examination of Minority and Nonminority Differences

Although the literature has suggested that minority and nonminority students often have different experiences and perceptions of these experiences in college, the findings of this study suggest that the relationship between college experiences and progress are quite similar for the two groups. This finding reinforces the need to further explore how minority and nonminority students interpret their college experience and whether satisfaction with their college experience emanates from similar types of activities, relationships, and environments. Understanding this next component, especially as increasing numbers of minority students enroll in college, will unquestionably help colleges and universities to create an atmosphere and culture conducive to progress in college, persistence, and graduation.
Factitious Disorder by Proxy in Educational Settings: A Review

Factitious disorder by proxy (FDP), historically known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is a diagnosis applied to parents and other caregivers who intentionally feign, exaggerate, and/or induce illness or injury in a child to get attention from health professionals and others. A review of the recent literature and our experience as consultants indicate clearly that FDP has emerged in educational settings as well. Variants of educational FDP include parents of children with real or fabricated physical disabilities who request excessive or unneeded school health services and parents who request extensive education-related evaluations for children who do not demonstrate any educational need. If such cases continue to emerge, school districts will be asked to test more students who do not have disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Also, special educational directors will be weighing the cost of providing unneeded testing and educational services against the cost of defending themselves in litigation to prove that the testing and services are unnecessary. A table of guidelines is provided for school and other personnel confronted with repeated requests for unwarranted special education services. Suggestions for future research are included.
Peptide nucleic acid characterization by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are a new class of DNA mimics in which the regular nucleobases of adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine are connected via a peptide-like backbone. PNA molecules retain the same Watson−Crick base pairing as regular oligonucleotides, with the added benefits of greater specificity and resistance to enzymatic digestion. While the use of PNAs has grown rapidly because of their potential applications in biotechnology, little work has been done on developing analytical procedures for characterizing them. We have found matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry to be an effective tool for PNA analysis. PNA molecules survive the MALDI process intact and are easily ionized with almost no multiply-charged species. These features allow mixtures to be easily characterized. Traditional protein matrices (e.g., sinapinic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) were found to be superior to DNA matrices (e.g., trihydroxy-a...
Fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of metastatic prostate carcinoma to inguinal lymph node

Carcinoma of the prostate is predominantly a disease of older men. Men younger than 50 years of age account for approximately 1% of all patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Patients generally present with urinary symptoms and rarely with metastatic disease. Lymphatic spread typically occurs to the obturator and internal iliac nodes. We report a case of an aggressive prostate adenocarcinoma in a 47-year-old white male who presented with nausea, vomiting, and enlarged inguinal lymph nodes for 1 month. A fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and immunohistochemical stains performed on the FNAB revealed metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. The initial clinical presentation of inguinal lymphadenopathy, the age of the patient and the cytologic features made this an unusual case.
Analysis of regional high spatial resolution sounding products: demonstration of MODIS and AIRS stand-alone and synergistic processing approaches

In this paper we present regional high spatial resolution sounding products from MODIS and AIRS data processed by both stand-alone and synergistic retrieval approaches. These unique regional high spatial resolution (at sensor’s single field of view) atmospheric sounding products such as temperature, total precipitable water and surface temperature can provide valuable information for regional near-real time weather monitoring and meso-scale synoptic analysis, and other local environmental applications. Performance comparison between stand-alone and fusion products will assist validation effort and lead to the refinement of processing algorithms. Synergistic utilization of MODIS and AIRS data will also demonstrate the complementary information content provided by two different sensors and will pave the way for future optimal amalgamation of imaging and sounding data.
Triethylenemelamine induced dominant lethals in mice--comparisons of oral versus intraperitoneal injection.

Abstract We have compared the relative effectiveness of oral and i.p. injections of triethylenemelamine (TEM) in inducing dominant lethality in male mice. The standard dominant lethal protocol was used in these experiments. TEM, when injected i.p. resulted in significant increases in fetal mortality during the first three weeks post-treatment. Decreases in the number of implants per pregnant female were noted during this same period, with only minor decreases in fertility. In contrast, oral injections of TEM resulted in only minor fluctuations in the percent of fetal mortality. In addition, oral injections of TEM did not result in significant differences in either total implants or percent fertility. Possible causes of the observed differences between these two routes of administration are discussed.