cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pointers for optimizing radiation dose in abdominal CT protocols.

GENERAL CONCEPTS The importance of ensuring the appropriateness of CT for a given clinical indication cannot be overemphasized for radiation dose reduction. When not clinically indicated, not performing a CT examination is certainly the best radiation dose reduction strategy. Decision support systems are now commercially available to determine the appropriateness of given clinical indications for different imaging examinations, including CT. To make conscientious CT protocols for different indications, a basic understanding of CT scan parameters [2] and their effects on lesion conspicuity and image quality is required. Although lesion conspicuity remains unimpaired despite lower image quality associated with low-radiation dose CT for certain lesion types, such as urinary tract calculi, vascular abnormalities, or colonic polyps, often it may be compromised with a low-dose CT protocol for small, subtle, or low-contrast lesions of the liver and pancreas. Therefore, it is important to first create indication-specific protocols and then personalize each protocol on the basis of patient size or weight. Fortunately, in recent years, MRI has made great strides in the evaluation of hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and genitourinary tract imaging, with superior lesion
Long-range interactions stabilize the fold of a non-natural oligomer.

Toward designing nonbiological polymers that fold into predictable tertiary structures, we report a “β-oligomer” composed of β-amino acids that adopts a cooperatively folded structure. We have comp...
From Self-Enhancement to Supporting Censorship: The Third-Person Effect Process in the Case of Internet Pornography

This study examined the relationship between self-enhancement and third-person perception. It also investigated the behavioral consequences of third-person perception within a theory of reasoned action framework. A survey on the issue of Internet pornography was administered to 462 undergraduate students. A positive relationship was found between self-enhancement and third-person perception. Behavioral attitude emerged as a key mediator in the relationship between third-person perception and intention to support Internet censorship. Subjective norm overall was not an important factor in the perception–intention relationship. The lack of impact for subjective norm, however, had causes that varied across gender.
Effect of grinding variables on the NH4HCO3 –dtpa soil test values for Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, P, and K

Abstract The effect of grinding force, time, and weight of soil on the NH4HCO3 ‐DTPA extractable levels of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, P and K from 10 Colorado soils were studied. It was found that the amount of extractable iron and zinc increased, with an increase in force or time of grinding. The significant interaction between time and force of grinding indicates that the combined effect of the larger force and the longer time in increasing the extractable levels of Fe and Zn was greater than the additive effects of these factors. The weight of soil being ground had a small effect on extractable Fe (significant at 10% level) and no effect on other elements. Extractable levels of Mn, Cu, P, and K were not affected by the grinding treatments. Iron was increased 112% and zinc was increased 44% due to the combined effects of the larger force and the longer time of grinding in soils averaging 12.8 and 1.1 ppm in Fe and Zn, respectively. It is concluded that grinding variables should be standardized, otherwise interlabo...
Surface Modification of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide-Capped Gold Nanorods to Make Molecular Probes

A chemical procedure to replace the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) cap on gold nanorods (GNRs) fabricated through seed-mediated growth with organothiol compounds [3-animo-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AMTAZ) and 11-mercaptoundecaonic acid (MUDA)] was developed to reduce the cytotoxity of GNRs and facilitate further biofunctionalization. Compared to phosphatidylcholine (PC) modification, our procedure yields stable GNRs that are biocompatible and suitable for whole-cell studies. The PC-, AMTAZ-, and MUDA-activated GNRs all showed low cytotoxicity. By choosing different organothiols, net positive or negative charges could be created on the nanorod surface, for different applications. Gold nanorod molecular probes (GNrMPs) were fabricated by subsequent attachment of antibodies to the activated GNRs and were used to visualize and detect cell surface biomarkers in normal and transformed human breast epithelial cells, demonstrating the potential of developing novel biosensors using gold nanorods. The sensit...
Nanoelectromechanical systems: Show of strength.

Researchers have seen strong coupling between the mechanical motion of a carbon nanotube and the passage of single electrons through the nanotube.
Changes in Ba phases in BaO/Al2O3 upon thermal aging and H2O treatment

The effects of thermal aging and H2O treatment on the physicochemical properties of BaO/Al2O3 (the NO x storage component in the lean NO x trap systems) were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, TEM/EDX and NO2 TPD. Thermal aging at 1000 °C for 10 h converted dispersed BaO/BaCO3 on Al2O3 into low surface area crystalline BaAl2O4. TEM/EDX and XRD analysis showed that H2O treatment at room temperature facilitated a dissolution/reprecipitation process, resulting in the formation of a highly crystalline BaCO3 phase segregated from the Al2O3 support. Crystalline BaCO3 was formed from conversion of both BaAl2O4 and a dispersed BaO/BaCO3 phase, initially present on the Al2O3 support material after calcinations at 1000 and 500 °C, respectively. Such a phase change proceeded rapidly for dispersed BaO/BaCO3/Al2O3 samples calcined at relatively low temperatures with large BaCO3 crystallites observed in XRD within 10 min after contacting the sample with water. Significantly, we also find that the change in barium phase occurs even at room temperature in an ambient atmosphere by contact of the sample with moisture in the air, although the rate is relatively slow. These phenomena imply that special care to prevent the water contact must be taken during catalyst synthesis/storage, and during realistic operation of Pt/BaO/Al2O3 NO x trap catalysts since both processes involve potential exposure of the material to CO2 and liquid and/or vapor H2O. Based on the results, a model that describes the behavior of Ba-containing species upon thermal aging and H2O treatment is proposed.
Social-tie-based information dissemination in mobile opportunistic social networks

A mobile opportunistic social network (MOSN) is a new type of delay tolerant network (DTN), in which the mobile users contact each other opportunistically. Information dissemination is a challenging problem in MOSNs, due to uncertainty and intermittent connectivity. In this paper, we propose a distributed social tie strength calculation mechanism to identify the relationship between each set of pairwise mobile nodes. Following arguments originally proposed by Mark Granovetter's seminal 1973 paper, The Strength of Weak Ties, the majority of the novel information dissemination is generated by weak ties. We first evaluate the strength of weak ties in MIT reality mining data. Then, a social-tie-based information dissemination protocol is presented, which is a token-based information dissemination scheme, including two phases: weak tie-driven forwarding and strong tie-driven forwarding. In the weak tie-driven forwarding phase, the susceptible nodes with more weak ties will receive more tokens for future forwarding. The number of forwarding tokens is related to the number of weak ties of two encountered nodes. After a while, the information will have been spread to multiple communities. Our scheme switches to a strong tie driven forwarding phase, in which the influential nodes are more important. The number of forwarding tokens is proportional to the number of strong ties of two encountered nodes. Extensive simulations are conducted in comparison to several approaches in real world mobile traces.
Aneurysmal sternal bone cyst: a novel treatment method.

and abnormal flavor nor induces severe cough. The occluder is small in size, with a definite occluding effect and good histocompatibility. Although the procedure reported here might violate the principle of keeping prosthetic material away from an infected field, this compromise might be appropriate in selected patients. This kind of procedure could be especially useful in the treatment of main bronchus pleural fistulas because it is not easy to shift contrast with a stent. Placement of the occluder through an existing chest tube tract might be developed as a better route because there is no need for general anesthesia and an endotracheal procedure.
Con: cardiac anesthesiologists should not be the intensivists of the operating room.

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS can be challenged when caring for patients who are critically ill before surgery and by those who develop critical illness during a surgical procedure. The care of critically ill patients can be fundamentally different from the routine care rendered in the operating room. In the setting of a major intraoperative crisis such as cardiac arrest, massive unexpected hemorrhage, or hypoxemia refractory to aggressive therapies, the skill set of the operating room team can be pushed to the limit. Operating room crises require rapid, coordinated management in a stressful, time-critical setting, and successful resuscitation depends largely on clinicians’ retained knowledge and skill. Failure to adhere to critical steps in the management of such crises is common and may be hazardous to patients. A high-fidelity simulation study of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrests in the operating room revealed that 61% of anesthesiologists demonstrated “major deviations” from advanced cardiac life support protocols. 1 The availability of specialized teams and resources for support during management of crisis situations is essential and is the focus of ongoing investigations. 2,3 Physicians with expertise in the care of critically ill patients and who regularly manage acute crisis situations must be available to provide consultation in the operating room when the need arises. With formal training and daily experience in managing critically ill patients, the fellowship-trained critical care anesthesiologist is the obvious choice to fulfill this role. Unfortunately, the specialty of critical care medicine is facing a staffing crisis. 4–6 The growing shortage of intensivists and its implications for hospitalized Americans is well documented and remains an ongoing concern for hospitals, clinicians, and the federal government. 6 The mismatch between intensivist
Evaporative Cooling in the Desert Cicada: Thermal Efficiency and Water*sol;Metabolic Costs

Using plant xylem water for evaporative cooling, the desert cicada Diceroprocta apache can maintain a body temperature as much as 5°C below ambient ( T a =42°C). Simultaneous measurements of water loss and gas exchange for cicadas feeding on perfused twigs show substantial increases in transpiration at temperatures at which evaporative cooling begins (between 37 and 38°C), but only modest increases in V o2 and V co2 . The extent and duration of evaporative cooling depend on the cicada9s hydration state and the rate of water flux from cuticular pores located on the surface of the thorax and abdomen.
Iterative image enhancement algorithms for multi-layer specimens in scanning tomographic acoustic microscopy

A performance evaluation of three iterative enhancement techniques is presented. The reconstruction obtained with the backward propagation algorithm is used as the initial estimate for these recursive procedures. The results indicate that the estimates can be improved consistently by using Newton's method, the conjugate gradient method, or pixel-by-pixel optimization. In addition to simulated data, experimental data samples have been applied to this analysis to demonstrate the capability, effectiveness, and convergence properties of these techniques. In the computer simulations at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), the conjugate gradient method was the best, and at high SNRs Newton's method was superior. >
Using a Sociocultural Perspective to Establish Teaching and Social Presences Within a Hybrid Community of Mentor Teachers

Within the last decade, the Community of Inquiry framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000) has received increased attention in the field of online learning, yet little is known about applying ...
Electrical modeling of annular and co-axial TSVs considering MOS capacitance effects

This paper presents analytical modeling and parametric study of the voltage dependent metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitance of annular and co-axial TSVs. 3D electromagnetic (EM) simulations of TSVs are performed considering the depletion region. A low loss TSV structure is proposed utilizing the MOS capacitance effect.
Linking environmental heterogeneity to the distribution and prevalence of Myxobolus cerebralis: A comparison across sites in a northern Utah watershed

Abstract Given the variable effects of Myxobolus cerebralis (the parasite that causes whirling disease) on trout populations in different streams across the intermountain West, it is important to understand the role of environmental variation in determining the distribution and prevalence (percent infected) of M. cerebralis in newly infected watersheds. We investigated the relationship between a selected group of environmental factors and the distribution and prevalence of M. cerebralis in wild salmonid populations in the Logan River, Utah. We also compared the results of polymerase chain reaction analyses of wild (free-ranging) fish and fish reared in sentinel cages. These results indicated that despite its recent widespread distribution, the prevalence of the parasite varied greatly across sites. The lowest prevalence among cutthroat Oncorhynchus clarki was found at the headwaters, where the average summer temperature was below 9.5°C, whereas high prevalence was associated with temperatures above 12°C. ...
Isolated Right Ventricular Infarction Resulting From Occlusion of a Nondominant Right Coronary Artery

A 58-year-old man with no history of heart disease presented to the emergency department having experienced 1 hour of progressive chest pain. His heart rate was 80 bpm and his blood pressure was 176/92 mm Hg; the results of the physical examination were otherwise unremarkable. The administration of sublingual nitroglycerine caused a precipitous drop in his blood pressure to 90/50 mm Hg. A 12-lead ECG …
Suppression of acoustic noise in speech using spectral subtraction

A stand-alone noise suppression algorithm is presented for reducing the spectral effects of acoustically added noise in speech. Effective performance of digital speech processors operating in practical environments may require suppression of noise from the digital wave-form. Spectral subtraction offers a computationally efficient, processor-independent approach to effective digital speech analysis. The method, requiring about the same computation as high-speed convolution, suppresses stationary noise from speech by subtracting the spectral noise bias calculated during nonspeech activity. Secondary procedures are then applied to attenuate the residual noise left after subtraction. Since the algorithm resynthesizes a speech waveform, it can be used as a pre-processor to narrow-band voice communications systems, speech recognition systems, or speaker authentication systems.
Meaningful Participation and the Evolution of the Reformed Presidential Nominating System

Forty years ago, violent protests at the Democratic National Convention captured the attention of the nation as rioters vented their anger over a nomination process they felt excluded their voices. The disastrous 1968 convention spawned a cascade of reforms in the presidential nomination system, many of which were intended to create greater opportunity for meaningful participation of the party's rank-and-file members. Forty years later, where do we stand? Does the nomination process meet the goals of encouraging broad participation and connecting rank-and-file preferences to nomination outcomes? We offer some tentative answers to these questions by tracing the history of the nomination process, its evolution over the last 40 years, and the implications of several key changes in the system for citizen participation.
Hohlenstein-Stadel and the Evolution of Human Conceptual Thought

Cognitive neuroscience provides a powerful perspective on the brain and cognition from which archaeologists can begin to document the evolution of the human mind. The following essay uses the Hohlenstein-Stadel figurine as a starting point to demonstrate the two kinds of conclusion open to an evolutionary cognitive archaeology: first, describing features of the cognitive life-world at specific points in human evolution, in this case central Europe 32,000 years ago, and second identifying the evolutionary timing and contexts for specific cognitive abilities, in this case various components of concept formation. We argue that the abstract concept underpinning the Hohlenstein-Stadel figurine resulted initially from an effortful (attentive) linking of ‘animal’ and ‘person’ concepts via the working memory network of the frontal and parietal lobes. These ‘animal’ and ‘person’ concepts themselves were largely unconscious folk biological categories generated by a parietal network that had evolved earlier, probably by the time of the earliest Homo sapiens. These in turn rest on even older, basic ontological categories of ‘animate’ and ‘manipulable’ objects that are temporal lobe networks, and which evolved much earlier still, perhaps with the advent of Homo erectus.
Stanley's character polynomials and coloured factorisations in the symmetric group

In Stanley [R.P. Stanley, Irreducible symmetric group characters of rectangular shape, Sem. Lothar. Combin. 50 (2003) B50d, 11 p.] the author introduces polynomials which help evaluate symmetric group characters and conjectures that the coefficients of the polynomials are positive. In [R.P. Stanley, A conjectured combinatorial interpretation of the normalised irreducible character values of the symmetric group, math.CO/0606467, 2006] the same author gives a conjectured combinatorial interpretation for the coefficients of the polynomials. Here, we prove the conjecture for the terms of highest degree.
Conflict Management and Mediation Theory: South Africa's Role in Burundi's Civil Conflict

Mediation is a peaceful method of third-party intervention in resolving regional and international crises without resorting to seemingly inevitable war. The literature on international mediation ge...
Cerebrovascular Nitrosative Stress Mediates Neurovascular and Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Angiotensin II

Objective— Angiotensin II (AngII) disrupts the regulation of the cerebral circulation through superoxide, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by a nox2-containing NADPH oxidase. We tested the hypothesis that AngII-derived superoxide reacts with nitric oxide (NO) to form peroxynitrite, which, in turn, contributes to the vascular dysfunction. Methods and Results— Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry in the neocortex of anesthetized mice equipped with a cranial window. AngII (0.25±0.02 μg/kg/min; intravenous for 30 to 45 minutes) attenuated the cerebral blood flow (CBF) increase produced by topical application of the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (−43±1%) and by whisker stimulation (−47±1%). AngII also increased the nitration marker 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in cerebral blood vessels, an effect dependent on NO and nox2-derived ROS. Both the cerebrovascular effects of AngII and the nitration were attenuated by pharmacological inhibition or genetic inactivation of NO synthase. The nitration inhibitor uric acid or the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst FeTPPS abolished AngII-induced cerebrovascular nitration and prevented the cerebrovascular effects of AngII. Conclusions— These findings provide evidence that peroxynitrite, formed from NO and nox2-derived superoxide, contributes to the deleterious cerebrovascular effects of AngII. Inhibitors of peroxynitrite action may be valuable tools to counteract the deleterious cerebrovascular effects of AngII-induced hypertension.
Spatial updating of environments described in texts.

People update egocentric spatial relations in an effortless and on-line manner when they move in the environment, but not when they only imagine themselves moving. In contrast to previous studies, the present experiments examined egocentric updating with spatial scenes that were encoded linguistically instead of perceived directly. Experiment 1 demonstrated that, regardless of the mode of rotation (physical or imagined), egocentric updating takes place in a deliberate and backward fashion when the locations of objects are anchored in a mental framework. Experiment 2 involved only imagined rotations and showed that results remained unchanged when spatial labels were removed from the scene descriptions. Experiment 3 provided evidence that physical rotations—but not imagined rotations—lead to on-line updating of egocentric relations, provided that the objects of the scene are represented in a sensorimotor framework. The present results suggest that physical movements and sensorimotor encoding are both prerequisites of effortless egocentric updating. 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Global analysis of X-chromosome dosage compensation

Drosophila melanogaster females have two X chromosomes and two autosome sets (XX;AA), while males have a single X chromosome and two autosome sets (X;AA). Drosophila male somatic cells compensate for a single copy of the X chromosome by deploying male-specific-lethal (MSL) complexes that increase transcription from the X chromosome. Male germ cells lack MSL complexes, indicating that either germline X-chromosome dosage compensation is MSL-independent, or that germ cells do not carry out dosage compensation. To investigate whether dosage compensation occurs in germ cells, we directly assayed X-chromosome transcripts using DNA microarrays and show equivalent expression in XX;AA and X;AA germline tissues. In X;AA germ cells, expression from the single X chromosome is about twice that of a single autosome. This mechanism ensures balanced X-chromosome expression between the sexes and, more importantly, it ensures balanced expression between the single X chromosome and the autosome set. Oddly, the inactivation of an X chromosome in mammalian females reduces the effective X-chromosome dose and means that females face the same X-chromosome transcript deficiency as males. Contrary to most current dosage-compensation models, we also show increased X-chromosome expression in X;AA and XX;AA somatic cells of Caenorhabditis elegans and mice. Drosophila germ cells compensate for X-chromosome dose. This occurs by equilibrating X-chromosome and autosome expression in X;AA cells. Increased expression of the X chromosome in X;AA individuals appears to be phylogenetically conserved.
Huff and puff

Freelance journalist Darrell Huff rose to prominence with his book, How to Lie with Statistics. But its sequel – a statistical counterattack to public health fears about tobacco – never made it to print. Alex Reinhart recounts the untold story.
Impact of aspirin on clinical outcomes for African American men with prostate cancer undergoing radiation.

Aims and background Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that aspirin (ASA) may exhibit antineoplastic activity. Particularly in prostate cancer, several reports have suggested that ASA plays a role in improved outcomes. Therefore, we studied the role of ASA in a uniquely African American population, which is known to harbor more aggressive and biologically different disease compared to the general population. Methods We identified 289 African American men with prostate cancer who were treated with definitive radiation therapy to a dose of ≥7560 cGy. The median follow-up was 76 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to analyze biochemical failure-free survival (bFFS), distant progression-free survival (DMPFS), and prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS). Multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the impact of covariates on all endpoints. Results There were 147 men who were ASA+ and 142 who were ASA-. The 7-year bFFS was 80.9% for ASA+ men and 70.3% for ASA- men (p = 0.03). On multivariate analysis, ASA use was associated with a significant reduction in biochemical recurrences (hazard ratio [HR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34-0.93, p = 0.03). The 7-year DMPFS was 98.4% for ASA+ and 91.8% for ASA- men (p = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, ASA use was associated with a decreased risk of distant metastases (HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.91, p = 0.04). The 7-year PCSS was 99.3% for ASA+ and 96.9% for ASA- men (p = 0.07). Conclusions In this study, ASA use was associated with improved biochemical outcomes and reduced distant metastases. This indicates that ASA appears to play an important antineoplastic role in African American men.
Prediction of gentamicin peak and trough concentrations from six extended-interval dosing protocols for neonates

Purpose. The ability of six extended-interval gentamicin dosing protocols to achieve desired peak and trough concentrations in neonates was evaluated using simulated calculations based on pooled patient data. Methods. The demographic and pharmacokinetic data of 293 neonates age one week or less from three previously published studies were pooled and applied in each of six published protocols. The data collected, including weight, dosage, dosing interval, and measured serum or plasma gentamicin concentrations, were used to determine gentamicin clearance, elimination-rate constant, and distribution volume. Peak and trough gentamicin concentrations were calculated and compared with several therapeutic ranges that aim to achieve high peak concentrations for maximum efficacy and low trough concentrations for minimum toxicity. Results. All protocols resulted in more than 95% of peak concentrations exceeding 5 mg/L. Peaks exceeded 10 mg/L in 26–42% of the simulations. Most of the protocols resulted in high trough concentrations (0.5–1.5 mg/L). Trough concentrations were below 1 mg/L in 51–83% of the simulations. Conclusion. Simulated calculations based on pooled patient data found that six gentamicin dosing protocols for neonates would likely yield acceptable peak concentrations and a trough concentration of ≤1 mg/L for at least 50% of patients. It may be sufficient to monitor only the trough concentrations when applying these protocols.
Overview of Agile Software Development

Agile thinking is an attempt to simplify things by reducing complexity of planning, by focusing on customer value, and by shaping a fruitful climate of participation and collaboration. There are a vast number of methods, techniques, best practices, that claim to be “agile.” In this chap. we want to give an overview of the most common ones. The five principles of a fractal team, which we introduced in Chap. 1, apply to most of them: self-similarity, goal orientation, self organization, self improvement, and vitality are cornerstones when implementing an organization capable of executing software projects in an agile way. The desire to establish flexible and efficient development processes which produce high quality results is not new and has not only been applied to software development: More than two decades ago, the manufacturing industry underwent dramatic changes, when the traditional production concepts of Taylor and Ford were challenged by extremely successful Japanese enterprises such as Toyota. The Western hemisphere was puzzled at how the competition from Far East seemed to be able to produce better quality at lower cost and quickly began to outperform the rest of the world. What happened? What was the secret of the amazing efficiency and innovation?
Theoretical and Empirical Studies of Learning

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the reinforcement learning framework and gives a brief background to the origins and history of reinforcement learning models of decision-making. Reinforcement learning provides a normative framework, within which conditioning can be analyzed. That is, this suggests a means by which optimal prediction and action selection can be achieved, and exposes explicitly the computations that must be realized in the service of these. In contrast to descriptive models that describe behavior as it is, normative models study behavior from the point of view of its hypothesized function—that is, they study behavior, as it should be if it were to accomplish specific goals in an optimal way. The appeal of normative models derives from several sources. Historically, the core ideas in reinforcement learning arose from two separate and parallel lines of research. One axis is mainly associated with Richard Sutton, formerly an undergraduate psychology major, and his PhD advisor, Andrew Barto, a computer scientist. Interested in artificial intelligence and agent-based learning, Sutton and Barto developed algorithms for reinforcement learning that were inspired by the psychological literature on Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning.
A Unified Theory of Consumption Smoothing and Asset Returns in an Efficient Market

We provide an explicit solution to a standard Cash-in-Advance model with production that provides the relationship between consumption smoothing and the excess volatility of asset returns. Preferences are represented by a constant relative risk aversion utility function, while the production technology is given by a Cobb-Douglas function with partial depreciation of the capital stock. We find that the growth rate of consumption is negatively autocorrelated, and depends on the marginal return on investment, as well as, on the change in money growth. Moreover, the firm finds it optimal to adjust its real stock return to the consumer's intertemporal rate of substitution in every state of the world which, in turn, is dependent on consumption growth. Consequently, stock returns are also negatively autocorrelated, and are negatively related to the change in the money growth. Our simulations indicate that the standard deviation of consumption is significantly less than that of output for both CRRA and logarithmic preferences, which also contradicts Deaton's Paradox. Our result is driven by the fact that stock returns are able to vary over time in response to changes in the consumer's intertemporal rate of substitution. Moreover, we provide discussions and simulations of our solution that highlight the significant differences with the existing work in the literature.
Tire Traction vs. Tread Compound Properties—How Pavement Texture and Test Conditions Influence the Relationship

Abstract A comprehensive test program conducted on a wide range of compounds with varying Tg and carbon black-oil reinforcement levels, shows that wet traction is influenced by two viscoelastic parameters: tan δ/E′, which represents the hysteresis or deformation friction component, and E″, the adhesion component. Both of these components jointly determine overall traction performance. However the individual component dependence as well as the combined dependence, traction vs. the viscoelastic parameters, changes as pavement texture and test conditions change. These changes may include performance reversals. The mechanisms responsible for most of this behavior are described. The relevance of these relationships to current wet traction evaluation procedures is also discussed.
Teach for America, Relay Graduate School, and the Charter School Networks: The Making of a Parallel Education Structure.

In New York City, a partnership between Teach For America (TFA), the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), the Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay), and three charter school networks produced a parallel education structure within the public school system. Driving the partnership and the parallel education structure are the free market ideologies that emerged in the late 1970s that helped to open education to outside organizations. This paper captures two intertwined phenomena; the formation of the parallel education structure and the various partnerships that helped built it. This has resulted in two unique pathways within the public school system. One pathway focuses upon local area conventional public schools that are administered by the NYCDOE. The other pathway represents failing local area public schools that are run by charter school networks. This paper looks beyond TFA’s current influence within the classroom and explores how market forces led to its role with other educational organizations.
Polycythemia secondary to a pheochromocytoma with production of an erythropoiesis stimulating factor by the tumor.

Summary1. Erythropoiesis stimulating activity has been demonstrated in the saline extract of 4 pheochromocytoma tumors and the serum from a 10-year-old boy with hypertension and polycythemia. 2. Th...
Behavioral Interactions between Microtus and Sigmodon: A Model for Competitive Exclusion

An alleged negative interaction between Microtus ochrogaster and Sigmodon hispidus was examined in the laboratory. Sigmodon proved to be the dominant animal, and excluded Microtus from confined areas except when dense cover was provided. Movements of Microtus were reduced by a free-ranging Sigmodon but not by a confined one. Frequency of interspecific contact apparently was responsible for negative interactions. A model that emphasizes frequency of interspecific contact (FIC) explains the probable relationship between Microtus ochrogaster and Sigmodon hispidus ; a variation of this model might explain the phenomenon of competitive exclusion in all myomorph rodents.
A Mammalian enhancer trap resource for discovering and manipulating neuronal cell types

There is a continuing need for driver strains to enable cell-type-specific manipulation in the nervous system. Each cell type expresses a unique set of genes, and recapitulating expression of marker genes by BAC transgenesis or knock-in has generated useful transgenic mouse lines. However, since genes are often expressed in many cell types, many of these lines have relatively broad expression patterns. We report an alternative transgenic approach capturing distal enhancers for more focused expression. We identified an enhancer trap probe often producing restricted reporter expression and developed efficient enhancer trap screening with the PiggyBac transposon. We established more than 200 lines and found many lines that label small subsets of neurons in brain substructures, including known and novel cell types. Images and other information about each line are available online (enhancertrap.bio.brandeis.edu).
Low-dose glucocorticoids stimulate electroneutral NaCl absorption in rat colon

Glucocorticoids, not aldosterone, may regulate basal colonic NaCl transport. Aldosterone induces spironolactone-inhibitable, amiloride-inhibitable conductive Na absorption but basal transport is electroneutral and amiloride and spironolactone resistant. We examined in vivo the Na absorptive pathway induced by glucocorticoid receptor specific doses of glucocorticoid using various amiloride analogues. Doses of dexamethasone sufficient to co-occupy aldosterone receptors produced amiloride-sensitive Na absorption in proximal and distal colon. Low doses of dexamethasone or the specific glucocorticoid RU26988 markedly stimulated Na absorption but did so by an amiloride-resistant mechanism. The Na-H antiport inhibitor, 5-N-ethyl-N-isopropylamiloride (NENIA) eliminated glucocorticoid-induced Na and Cl absorption without changing transmural potential difference (PD) in proximal and distal colon (Ki = 0.7 x 10(-7) M). NENIA had no effect on aldosterone-induced transport. NENIA (10(-5) M) almost eliminated Na absorption in adrenal intact animals if infused early in the experimental protocol. With time, NENIA resistance developed, corresponding with the previously documented rise in endogenous aldosterone. Thus glucocorticoids induce an electroneutral Na absorptive pathway that may be the luminal Na-H antiport, suggesting that glucocorticoids regulate adrenal-dependent electroneutral Na absorption in rat colon.
Mediated group development and dynamics: an examination of video chatting, Twitter, and Facebook in group assignments

ABSTRACTInstructors incorporate technological tools into the classroom to address short attention spans, appeal to technologically savvy students, and to increase engagement. This study used both quantitative descriptive and qualitative embedded assessment data to examine the use of three popular tools (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, and video chatting) in academic task groups. Qualitatively, the students (N = 28) commented on group affect, computer mediated communication (CMC) affect, and barriers and facilitators to both task accomplishment and relational development. Quantitatively, the students who were randomly assigned to one of the tools did not differ in cohesion, motivation, satisfaction, group hate, affective learning, or cognitive learning.
Designed 3D DNA Crystals

The simplest practical route to producing precisely designed 3D macroscopic objects is to form a crystalline arrangement by self-assembly, because such a periodic array has only conceptually simple requirements: a motif that has a robust 3D structure, dominant affinity interactions between parts of the motif when it self-associates, and predictable structures for these affinity interactions. Fulfilling these three criteria to produce a 3D periodic system is not easy, but should readily be achieved with well-structured branched DNA motifs tailed by sticky ends (Zheng et al., Nature 461:74-77, 2009). Herein, a brief introduction to designed 3D DNA crystals from tensegrity triangle is presented.
AMR-aware in situ indexing and scalable querying

Query-driven analytics on scientific datasets is one of fundamental approaches for scientific discoveries. Existing studies have explored query-driven analytics on uniform resolution meshes. However, querying on adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) data has not been explored yet. As many simulations have been lately transitioning to AMR, new methods for efficient query-driven analysis on AMR data are needed. In this paper, we present the first work to support scalable AMR-aware analysis. We propose an AMR-aware hybrid index for supporting two common forms (i.e., spatial and value-based query selections) in query-driven analytics. To sustainably support future-scale analysis, we design an in situ (run-time) index building strategy with minimized performance impact to the co-located simulation. Additionally, we develop a parallel post-processing query method with an adaptive workload-balanced strategy. Our evaluation demonstrates the scalability of our in situ indexing and scalable querying methods up to 16,384 and 1,024 cores, respectively, using a Chombo-based benchmark. Compared to non-AMR-aware indexing and querying, we demonstrate up to 12.4x and 500x performance improvement, respectively.
Gap formation following primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament: A biomechanical evaluation

Abstract Background Historically, inconsistent and unpredictable results of open primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair were reported. Recently, however, good results of arthroscopic primary ACL repair of proximal tears have been reported. Purpose of this study was to assess the direct postoperative gap formation and maximum failure load following simulated knee motion after primary ACL repair. Methods Six matched-paired human cadaveric knees (mean age: 52years, range: 48 to 56years) were used. After primary proximal ACL repair with either suture button fixation or suture anchor fixation, knees were cycled five, 50 and 100 times with a simulated active quadriceps force. Gap formation between the femoral wall and ligament was measured using a digital caliper and maximum failure load was tested. Results Gap formation after five, 50 and 100cycles of the knee were 0.30mm (±0.23), 0.75mm (±0.55) and 0.97mm (±0.70), respectively, with no significant differences between both fixation techniques. The overall maximum failure load was 243N (±143) with no difference between both techniques. Most common failure mode was slipping of suture from the fixation. Conclusion Following proximal ACL repair, gap formation of approximately one millimeter was measured after repetitious knee cycling with mean maximum failure load of 243N. These findings are likely to be sufficient for careful early active range of motion (ROM) when extrapolating from other available studies. Future studies with second-look arthroscopy are necessary to assess the gap formation and healing in patients treated with primary repair.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main hepatic complication of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes and soon to become the leading cause for end-stage liver disease in the United States [1]. NAFLD is characterized by an accumulation of fat (steatosis) within >5 % of hepatocytes in the absence of secondary causes of hepatic steatosis. NAFLD is a spectrum of disease that ranges from steatosis (hepatic fat without significant hepatocellular injury) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; hepatic fat with hepatocellular injury) to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Aortic Valve Replacement for Moderate Aortic Stenosis with Severe Calcification and Left Ventricualr Dysfunction-A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A 55 year-old male with a history of erosive, seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) presented with shortness of breath. Echocardiography showed new onset severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with an ejection fraction (EF) of 15%, moderately increased mean aortic valve gradient of 20 mmHg in a tri-leaflet aortic valve with severe sclero-calcific degeneration. Coronary angiography revealed no significant obstructive coronary disease. Invasive hemodynamic studies and dobutamine stress echocardiography were consistent with moderate aortic stenosis. Guideline directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was initiated, however diuretics and neurohormonal blockade (beta blocker and angiotensin receptor blocker) provided minimal improvement and the patient remained functionally limited. Of interest, echocardiography performed one year prior to his presentation showed normal LV EF and mild aortic leaflet calcification with moderate stenosis, suggesting a rapid progressing of calcific aortic valve disease. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (sAVR) and demonstrated excellent post-surgical recovery of LV EF (55%). Calcific aortic valve disease is commonly associated with aging, bicuspid aortic valve, and chronic kidney disease. Pathophysiological mechanism for valvular calcification are incompletely understood, but include osteogenic transformation of valvular interstitial cells mediated by local and systemic inflammatory processes. Several rheumatologic diseases including RA are associated with premature atherosclerosis and arterial calcification, and we speculated a similar role of RA accelerating calcific aortic valve disease. We present a case of accelerated aortic valve calcification with (only) moderate stenosis, complicated by a rapid decline in LV systolic performance. Guidelines for AVR in moderate stenosis without concomitant cardiac surgery are not well established, though it should be considered in selected patients.
Development and Qualification of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models for Drugs With Atypical Distribution Behavior: A Desipramine Case Study

Desipramine is a secondary tricyclic amine, which is primarily metabolized by cytochrome 2D6. It shows a high volume of distribution (Vss) (10-50 L/kg) due to its high lipophilicity, unspecific phospholipid binding, and lysosomal trapping. The objective of this study was to develop and qualify a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for desipramine, which accounts for the high Vss of the drug following intravenous and oral administration of doses up to 100 mg. The model also accounts for the extended time to reach maximum concentration after oral dosing due to enterocyte trapping. Once developed and qualified in adults, we characterized the dynamic changes in metabolism and pharmacokinetics of desipramine after birth by scaling the system-specific parameters of the model from adults to pediatrics. The developed modeling strategy provides a prototypical workflow that can also be applied to other drugs with similar properties and a high volume of distribution.
The relationship between mood disorder and insomnia depends on race in US veterans with epilepsy

Abstract Purpose Few data exist on race, medical/psychiatric comorbidities, and insomnia symptoms in US veterans with epilepsy. Our aims were to examine 1) whether insomnia symptom prevalence was different between Black and White veterans and 2) whether predictors of insomnia symptoms varied by race. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional study included veterans evaluated in an epilepsy clinic over the course of 1.5 years. Individuals completed standardized assessments for epilepsy and sleep complaints. Insomnia criteria were met by 1) report of difficulty with sleep initiation, maintenance, or premature awakenings accompanied by daytime impairment or 2) sedative-hypnotic use on most days of the month. Demographics, medical/psychiatric comorbidities, and medications were determined per electronic medical record review. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine if race, medical/mental health comorbidities, and the potential interaction of race with each comorbid condition were associated with insomnia. Results Our sample consisted of 165 veterans (32% Black). The unadjusted prevalence of insomnia was not different between Black and White veterans (42% vs 39%, p = 0.68). In adjusted analyses, the association between mood disorder and insomnia varied by race. Depressed White veterans had over 11-times higher predicted odds of insomnia (OR 11.4, p Conclusions The relationship between mood disorder diagnosis and insomnia was stronger for White than Black veterans with epilepsy. Future studies are needed to explore mental health symptoms and psychosocial determinants of insomnia with larger samples of minority individuals with epilepsy.
Salivary gland scintigraphy for the primary Sjögren syndrome

Source Citation Markusse HM, Pillay M, Breedveld FC. The diagnostic value of salivary gland scintigraphy in patients suspected of primary Sjogren's syndrome. Br J Rheumatol. 1993 Mar;32:231-5.
Apoptosis and necrosis: a review for surgeons.

Background: Orderly cell death, termed apoptosis, features a morphology that is distinct from necrotic, or accidental, cell death. As the body of literature on apoptotic cell death grows, it is dif...