cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of growth hormone axis and responsiveness to growth stimulation of short children with osteogenesis imperfecta

Growth deficiency is a cardinal manifestation of severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and occurs frequently in moderate to mild OI. We have investigated the status of the hormones related to growth in 28 children with OI. Our goals were to determine whether there were any abnormalities of these hormones, whether the abnormalities correlated with types of OI, and whether OI bone could be safely stimulated to grow. The study group included 14 females and 14 males. Using the criteria developed by Sillence et al. [1979], 13 children had OI type III, 12 had OI type IV, and 3 had OI type I. Evaluation included 3 standard hGH provocative tests (AITT, L-Dopa), GRF stimulation, 24 hr q20 minute sampling of unstimulated growth hormone, and a somatomedin generation test. All patients except one had normal responses to standard provocative stimuli. Responses to GRF fell into 2 groups: one with a mean response similar to that of normal children, and one with a mean response resembling that of GH deficient children. The group with low response to GRF had a significantly lower area under the curve in the 24-hr test of unstimulated GH than did the normal response group. The OI children as a group showed a blunted IGF-1 response during the Somatomedin Generation Test, with 18/28 children having less than a two-fold stimulation. No test results correlated with OI type. Ten OI children were enrolled in a pilot growth stimulation study. Two children received protropin and 8 received clonidine for at least 6 months. Both children treated with protropin and 4/8 treated with clonidine experienced at least a doubling of their pre-treatment growth rates. Lack of growth hormone response did not correlate with type of OI or parameters from the hormonal evaluation. We speculate that there is a group of OI children who have a hypoactive growth hormone axis. Some OI bone appears to respond to GH and a treatment trial with protropin is planned for a larger number of children.
Comparing Fit of Basic Bodices and Skirts Altered by Traditional and Experimental Techniques

The goal of this research was to compare the fit of two sets of attached basic bodices and skirts. One set was altered by a traditional method that used body lengths and circumferences and the other set by an experimental method that added to the length and circumference measurements information about body angles. These angle measurements were obtained from computer-drawn plots of the body profiles and were used to alter dart size and length and slope of the shoulder seam. Three judges evaluated the sets of muslins on a 47-item rating scale developed by the researchers. Statistical analysis of the results was by analysis of variance and examination of the means for each item. Of the 16 significant treatment main effects, 10 favored the traditional method and 6 favored the experimental method. Models with deep body contours, represented by angles, more often received satisfactory fit by the traditional method; models with shallow body angles benefited from the use of the experimental method, according to t...
When Will Video-assisted and Robotic-assisted Endoscopy Replace Almost All Open Surgeries?

This article traces the development of laparoscopy, and establishment resistance to its emergence as the technique to replace almost all laparotomies.
A high power, current sensorless, bi-directional, 16-phase interleaved, DC-DC converter for hybrid vehicle application

A 16-phase interleaved bidirectional DC/DC converter is presented featuring smaller input/output filters, faster dynamic response and lower device stress for hybrid vehicle applications. This converter is connected between the ultracapacitor (UC) pack and the battery pack in an energy storage system of a hybrid vehicle. Typically, multi-phase interleaved converters require a current control loop in each phase to avoid current imbalance among phases. This increases system cost and control complexity. In order to minimize imbalance currents and remove the current control loop in each phase, the converter is designed to operate in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The high current ripple associated with DCM operation is then alleviated by interleaving. The design, construction and testing of an experimental hardware prototype is presented, with the test results included. Finally, a novel soft switch topology for DCM operation is proposed for future research, to achieve zero-voltage switching (ZVS), or zero-current switching (ZCS) in all transitions.
Investigation of an RF plasma afterglow with a cathode-spot driven quenching method for spacecraft reentry blackout mitigation

Communications blackout, which is experienced by spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere at hypersonic velocities, is caused by the formation of a dense plasma envelope produced by shock heating. Communication signals at frequencies below the plasma cutoff frequency cannot propagate through this layer. Methods suggested for mitigating blackout have included aerodynamic shaping, magnetic windows, and the use of quenchants to reduce plasma densities. The Gemini 3 mission in 1965 successfully used water as a quenchant to cool the reentry plasma and increase communication signal strength.
THYROXINE-LIKE COMPOUNDS AND CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM: DIFFERENCES IN THE EFFECTS OF THYROXINE, TRIIODOTHYRONINE AND THEIR FORMIC ACID ANALOGUES1

The biologic activity of l–thyroxine, l–triiodothyronine, and their formic acid analogues, tetraiodothyroformic acid and triiodothyroformic acid have been studied in the rat. By thiouracil-goitre inhibition assay they were found to have the following relative activities (on a molar basis): l-thjToxine, 100%; l–triiodothyronine, 333%; tetraiodothyroformic acid, 0.08% and triiodothyro-formic acid 0.27%. In addition to this quantitative difference, the physiologic activity of tetra-iodothyroformic acid was also found to differ in other respects from that of l–thyroxine. When administered in amounts having equal goitre inhibiting ac-tivity, the formic acid analogue exerted significantly greater effect on cholesterol metabolism than didl–thyroxine. As compared to l–thyroxine, tetraiodothyro-formic acid also exerted relatively greater effect on cholesterol metabolism than on growth.
Avalanche breakdown and the probabilistic nature of laser-induced damage

This paper discusses the probabilistic nature of the damaging interaction between light and matter. It is shown that when one recognizes that there is some probability to induce damage at any level of optical irradiation, then the reported irreproducible damage-resistance properties of many useful materials can be understood. This point of view also explains why some optical components may be safely irradiated many times before damage occurs, though no other change in the material can be detected prior to the observation of damage. Experimental data showing the probability for surface damage as a function of power density are presented for several materials. The dependence of damage probability on optical field strength is similar to that of the dc ionization coefficients for semiconductors and gases on the applied field. This observation is discussed and it is suggested that a form of avalanche breakdown might be the cause of laser-induced damage.
Role of B Cells and Antibodies in Acquired Immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Accumulating evidence has documented a role for B cells and antibodies (Abs) in the immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Passive transfer studies with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against mycobacterial antigens have shown protection against the tubercle bacillus. B cells and Abs are believed to contribute to an enhanced immune response against Mtb by modulating various immunological components in the infected host including the T-cell compartment. Nevertheless, the extent and contribution of B cells and Abs to protection against Mtb remains uncertain. In this article we summarize the most relevant findings supporting the role of B cells and Abs in the defense against Mtb and discuss the potential mechanisms of protection.
Protein adsorption and cellular uptake of cerium oxide nanoparticles as a function of zeta potential

The surface chemistry of biomaterials can have a significant impact on their performance in biological applications. Our recent work suggests that cerium oxide nanoparticles are potent antioxidants in cell culture models and we have evaluated several therapeutic applications of these nanoparticles in different biological systems. Knowledge of protein adsorption and cellular uptake will be very useful in improving the beneficial effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles in biology. In the present study, we determined the effect of zeta potential of cerium oxide nanoparticles on adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cellular uptake in adenocarcinoma lung cells (A549). The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was varied by dispersing them in various acidic and basic pH solutions. UV–visible spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used for the protein adsorption and cellular uptake studies, respectively. Nanoceria samples having positive zeta potential were found to adsorb more BSA while the samples with negative zeta potential showed little or no protein adsorption. The cellular uptake studies showed preferential uptake for the negatively charged nanoparticles. These results demonstrate that electrostatic interactions can play an important factor in protein adsorption and cellular uptake of nanoparticles.
Prognostic impact of fibrosarcomatous transformation in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: A cohort study

Background Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, low-grade cutaneous malignancy that sometimes transforms into a high-grade fibrosarcomatous variant (DFSP-FS). Limited data compare clinical features and biological behavior of these 2 entities. Objective We sought to compare clinical features and biological behavior of DFSP and DFSP-FS. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of ambulatory patients with DFSP or DFSP-FS treated between January 1955 and March 2012 in the dermatology department of a tertiary care academic medical center. Results Of 188 patients, 171 (91%) had DFSP and 17 (9%) had DFSP-FS. Recurrence-free survival differed significantly between the groups over time ( P = .002). The 1-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival was 94% and 86%, respectively, for DFSP, vs 86% and 42%, respectively, for DFSP-FS. Metastatic disease occurred in no patients with DFSP and in 18% (3 of 17) with DFSP-FS ( P Limitations The retrospective nature of study was a limitation. Conclusions DFSP-FS exhibits more aggressive behavior than DFSP, with lower recurrence-free survival and greater metastatic potential. Their similar clinical presentation mandates histopathological differentiation for prognosis.
Microtubule capture by CENP-E silences BubR1-dependent mitotic checkpoint signaling

The mitotic checkpoint is the major cell cycle control mechanism for maintaining chromosome content in multicellular organisms. Prevention of premature onset of anaphase requires activation at unattached kinetochores of the BubR1 kinase, which acts with other components to generate a diffusible "stop anaphase" inhibitor. Not only does direct binding of BubR1 to the centromere-associated kinesin family member CENP-E activate its essential kinase, binding of a motorless fragment of CENP-E is shown here to constitutively activate BubR1 bound at kinetochores, producing checkpoint signaling that is not silenced either by spindle microtubule capture or the tension developed at those kinetochores by other components. Using purified BubR1, microtubules, and CENP-E, microtubule capture by the CENP-E motor domain is shown to silence BubR1 kinase activity in a ternary complex of BubR1-CENP-E-microtubule. Together, this reveals that CENP-E is the signal transducing linker responsible for silencing BubR1-dependent mitotic checkpoint signaling through its capture at kinetochores of spindle microtubules.
Curvilinear detailed routing with simultaneous wire-spreading and wire-fattening

This paper describes an algorithm for curvilinear detailed routing. We significantly improved the average time performance of Gao's algorithm by resolving its bottleneck related to generation of fan-shaped forbidden regions along a wire. We also describe a method for simultaneous wire-spreading and wire-fattening, which consists of enlarging forbidden regions generated by the detailed routing algorithm as long as there remains any space through which wires can pass. From the experiments we obtained the result that the average CPU time of the detailed routing algorithm is almost linear to the length of a wire. Since the curvilinear detailed routing is efficient in terms of space usage, the proposed algorithm is important especially for densely wired printed circuit boards such as pin grid array packages, ball grid array packages, and multichip modules. We can also expect improvements on the electrical characteristics and the production yield by applying wire-spreading and wire-fattening to them.
A Systems Model for Knowledge Management: A Rhetorical Heuristic Process

An Integrative Mental Model of Knowledge Management can provide a way of visualizing the interrelated elements that comprise a knowledge management system. This original model, building on a Rhetorical Process Model of Communication, includes both the objective and subjective elements within human cognition. In addition, it clarifies the purpose and method elements at the center for any effective knowledge system. The model centers on the purpose elements of intentions and audience, and the method elements of technical tools and human processes. The output of Knowledge Management includes objective products and subjective interpretations. Feedback verifies the timeliness and efficiency in the process of building information and knowledge.
Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Infertility and Childless Couples

This study of 456 female and 205 male college students investigated knowledge and attitudes toward infertility and reactions to couples with varied fertility status. The gender and career status of the target individual also were varied. The most negative affect and stories were indicated for those described as childless by choice. The male target character also was rated more negatively than the female target character. The greatest responsibility and control were assigned to childless-by-choice and childless-no-explanation groups. The most positive affect and stories were indicated for those described as childless with no explanation given. Infertile couples were attributed less control and responsibility and elicited some degree of anger and hostility from others.
Orbital venous anomalies demonstrated by spiral computed tomography.

Objective: To describe the radiographic appearance of acute hemorrhage in orbital venous malformations and how spiral computed tomography (CT) can aid in the diagnosis of these lesions in patients with atypical presentations. Design: Case series from the Eye Plastics and Orbital Service of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Participants/lntervention/Main Outcome Measures: Three patients who initially presented with signs and symptoms of orbital hemorrhage are presented. Their initial clinical and radiologic imaging, follow-up examination, and results of the spiral CT are summarized. Results: The initial CT in each case showed a well-localized homogeneous mass in the posterior/inferior orbit. In the two cases without antecedent trauma, it was difficult to distinguish these localized hemorrhages from possible intraorbital neoplasm. On resolution of the hemorrhage, these three patients had different presentations. The first patient had intermittent proptosis that was documented by increase in exophthalmometry measurement before and after Valsalva maneuver (symptomatic and with clinical signs). The second patient had a subjective orbital pressure sensation, but no visible change by examination (symptomatic but without clinical signs). The third patient was not symptomatic and had no significant clinical findings (asymptomatic and without clinical signs). Spiral CT showed the presence of an enlarging inferior orbital mass during Valsalva maneuver, which was not apparent pre-Valsalva in all these patients. Conclusions: Localized hemorrhages easily may be mistaken for solid intraorbital masses; therefore, accurate determination can avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Patients with orbital venous malformation may or may not have symptoms and clinical signs of intermittent proptosis. After the resolution of the initial hemorrhage, spiral CT during Valsalva maneuver using a single breath hold technique is useful in showing the presence of this venous anomaly when suspicious of this entity, even in patients who are asymptomatic.
Mortality among workers at a butadiene facility

Several studies of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) workers have reported excess cancers at various sites; however, little could be concluded concerning specific etiologic agents because of the multiple exposures encountered by these groups. The current study examined cause-specific mortality in a cohort of 2,586 male workers employed for at least 6 months between 1943 and 1979 in a butadiene manufacturing plant that supplied butadiene to two SBR plants. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated using national (NSMR) and local (LSMR) comparison populations. The all-cause NSMR was 80 (p less than 0.05) and the all-cancer NSMR was 84; the corresponding LSMRs were 96 and 76 (p less than 0.05). No significant excesses were observed for any cause of death except lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma (NSMR = 235). When the cohort was subdivided into routine, nonroutine, and low-exposure groups, the SMRs were consistently elevated for this cause of death in all three groups. However, direct comparisons between each of the two exposure groups and the low-exposure group were inconsistent. This suggests butadiene may not be responsible for the excess, but the association deserves close attention in future studies.
Reporting the incidence of school violence across grade levels in the U.S. using the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

School violence has increasingly captured public attention due to deadly school shootings. Controversy on school violence is demonstrated by a mixed picture of school safety and the lack of consensus on the definitions of violence, which makes comparison of findings across studies difficult. This study extended the application of the Rasch model to school violence research using TIMSS data. The results show that school violence occurred at a level much lower than the predictions of the measurement model. Across all grade levels the most frequently reported type of violence is intimidation or verbal abuse of students and the least frequently reported physical injury to teachers or staff. Language: en
Precise Absolute Distance Measurement by Dual 70 MHz Mode-Locked Fiber Lasers

We employed a gold coated glass cover plate to fabricate the dual compact free running fiber laser combs. It had been used for a difference of repetition rates tunable LIDAR (light detection and ranging) system. Our study shows that the ranging precision is 0.4 μm and the non-ambiguity range is 2.1 m with averaging time of 0.4 s for the distance of 1.09 m. The system with 1 kHz-high update rate and the large non-ambiguity range is potentially useful for manufacturing application applied in absolute distance measurement.
Imagining a Same-Sex Marriage Decision Based on Dignity: Considering Human Experience in Constitutional Law

This hypothetical opinion postulates how the Supreme Court might decide the constitutionality of laws prohibiting same sex marriage based on dignitary harm. The mock opinion illustrates how courts should consider social-psychological harm in making constitutional decisions.
Toward an Interpretive Approach to Social Movement Leadership

The concept of a leader is one ofthe most fundamental to the study of collective behavior. It is also one of the most poorly theorized, primarily because social movement theorists continue to (1) assume that leaders must be affiliated with an organization and (2) argue over who "counts" as a leader. This paper offers two alternative approaches. I argue, first, that our current conceptualization must be broadened to include individuals who are unaffiliated with an organization. Second, I suggest that rather than debating who qualifiesand does not qualify as a movement leader, we would do better totake an interpretive approach to the study of leadership; that is, we should treat as a leader any individual who is '• • perceived as one beit by the public, the media, politicians, or other movement i.., • -s'' participants. These two approacheswill resultin a much fuller theoretical picture of movement leaders.
Encouragement is not Enough: Addressing Social and Structural Barriers to Female Recruitment

Invite a woman to run for office. Based on findings that women are most responsive to and reliant on encouragement in making the decision to run for office, this invitation refrain is pervasive among those seeking greater gender parity in U.S. politics. For example, in 2007, the Women's Campaign Fund launched She Should Run, complete with an online tool that, to date, has been used to ask just under 200,000 women to run for office. In 2014, another organization, Vote Run Lead, adopted a similar strategy, launching Invitation Nation to send e-invitations to run to nearly 10,000 women within their first year of launching the project. My own organization, the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), has “invited” countless women to run for office through online communications, training programs, and recruitment campaigns and initiatives. While each of these organizations has also sought to provide potential women candidates with training, information, and resources to assist them throughout the recruitment process, our obsession with inviting can constrain a more complex and comprehensive approach to female candidate recruitment in both research and practice.
Meta-Analyses of Attitudes toward Advertising by Professionals:

Two meta-analyses of attitudes toward advertising by professionals are presented, which allow formulation of generalizations from 10 years’ research spanning the time since the relaxation of profes...
Differential effects of hyaluronan synthase 3 deficiency after acute vs chronic liver injury in mice

Hyaluronan (HA) is a ubiquitous extracellular matrix (ECM) glycosaminoglycan synthesized by three different enzymes, hyaluronan synthase (HAS)1, 2, and 3. HA synthesis mediated by HAS3 promotes inflammation and is pathogenic in animal models of human lung and intestinal disease. Liver fibrosis is a common endpoint to chronic liver injury and inflammation for which there is no cure. Although plasma HA is a commonly used biomarker for liver disease, if and how HA contributes to disease pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that HA synthesized by HAS3 enhances inflammation and fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, we exposed wild-type or Has3−/− mice to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) once (acute) or ten (chronic) times. HAS3-deficient mice exhibited increased hepatic injury and inflammatory chemokine production 48 h after acute CCl4; this was associated with a threefold reduction in plasma HA levels and alterations in the proportions of specific molecular weight HA polymer pools. Hepatic accumulation of fibrosis-associated transcripts was also greater in livers from HAS3-deficient mice compared to controls after acute CCl4 exposure. Surprisingly, fibrosis was not different between genotypes. Hepatic matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)13 mRNA and MMP13 activity was greater in livers from Has3-null mice after chronic CCl4; this was prevented by a MMP13-specific inhibitor. Collectively, these data suggest that Has3, or more likely HA produced by HAS3, limits hepatic inflammation after acute injury and attenuates MMP13-mediated matrix metabolism after chronic injury. These data suggest that HA should be investigated further as a novel therapeutic target for acute and chronic liver disease.
Changing Aspects of the Film-Storage Problem * -->

The volume of film being used for permanent record purposes is rapidly increasing. This includes principally the documentary type of motion pictures. However, better entertainment pictures are being produced which can reasonably be expected to live just as a good book lives. Increased volume of documentary records and increased interest in permanency demands planned storage, both in terms of preservation and in terms of fire hazard. The principle of unit isolation is the basis for storage at The National Archives. Spread of film fire can be prevented by (1) insulation and (2) use of a cooling agent. Among cooling agents tested, water was found effective and economical. Cascade type of shelving holds out great promise.
FIRST CASE OF CAPREIIJD AMPHIPOD-HYDROZOAN MUTUALISM

The caprellid amphipod Paracaprella tenuis Mayer is in a mutualistic relationship with the hydrozoan Bougainvillia rugosa Clark. Adult male P. tenuis aggressively displace Tenellia pallida (Alder and Hancock), a nudibranch predator of the hydroid. The aggressive displacement of the nudibranch occurs when the nudibranch crawls within a caprellid body-length of the amphipod. Hydrozoan polyps within the response area of the caprellid are protected from predation, and the rapid retreat by the nudibranch precludes polyp predation immediately following the interaction. The caprellid receives a suitable substratum and food in the form of attached diatoms and entrapped detritus.
Memory Part 2: The Role of the Medial Temporal Lobe

The medial temporal lobe plays a central role in memory processing and is more than just the hippocampus.[1][1] The hippocampal formation, which forms the upper segment of the medial temporal lobe, is a heterogeneous structure consisting of the Ammon horn or Cornus Ammonis (Cornus Ammonis area 1 to
Developmental variability in Cladonia strepsilis

The morphogenesis of Cladonia strepsilis, which is poorly understood, is determined by its fungal meristem tissue. The meristem follows a variable developmental pattern that results in podetia with...
Non-inflammatory Causes of Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frequently thought to be inflammatory in nature, the association between measures of inflammation and pain intensity is low. This observation is likely due to the multifactorial nature of pain. In addition to pain from joint inflammation, RA patients may also have pain due to structural damage or central etiologies, such as aberrancies in the central nervous system (CNS) pain regulatory pathways. These CNS pathways include mechanisms that facilitate pain, as well as mechanisms that inhibit pain. Other factors, such as sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and catastrophizing, may also impact the perception of pain in RA patients. Since pain is frequently used as a proxy for inflammation in the assessment of RA disease activity, it is important that patients and physicians recognize that not all pain is inflammatory, and alternative management strategies, other than escalating disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment, may need to be considered.
Parameter test research for the governor control system of combined cycle power plant

Parameter test is an important item of safety evaluation for generator synchronization,it provides evidence for grid's long-term stability analysis.On the base of control system analysis for each part of gas turbine,this article establishes a model for governing system of a combined cycle unit.The process of model establishing illustrates that parameter test for a combined cycle unit can be done with proper methods.
On the Creation of Structural FaceBook using Rule-Based Methods to Build and Exchange Ontology for Drug Design.

Abstract: The AIDS HIV structural databases (HIVSDB, http://bioinfo.nist.gov/SemanticWeb_pr2d/chemblast.do ), the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/home/home.do) and the PubChem ( http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ ) distribute one of the largest comprehensive collections of structural data on inhibitors, drug leads and clinical drugs for many diseases including AIDS. These databases contain info on several thousand biologically active compounds from many classes (HIV PR, RT, CCR5, Integrase) of FDA approved drugs for AIDS. Efficient and yet user friendly rule-based data management systems that support state-of-the-art annotation, visualization and query capabilities are crucial for the effective use of data for fragment based structural pharmacology and rational drug design. Semantic Web is the vision of the World Wide Web Consortium for enabling seamless integration of electronic data for data mining and knowledge generation across the Web. Robust and functionally relevant ontology plays a critical role in developing the data elements for a Semantic Web. Presentation will illustrate how Rule-based Semantic Web concepts are used for novel annotation, data integration, storage, and query to manage and display structural (fragments, 2-D images and text-based) biological, and pre-clinical data (http://xpdb.nist.gov/chemblast/pdb.html ). The technique is called (Chem-BLAST – Chemical Block Layered Alignment of Substructure Technique) and it allows rapid comparison and exchange of compound information using automated rulebased methods to develop structural ontology for use in drug discovery process. The methods and the results that will be presented are probably the first of its kind in biological world that uses entirely rule-based event processing methods to build, integrate and exchange information. The ontology developed by the methods is amenable to be presented either as an RDF or XML or to be used in a relational database. We call it a structural facebook as it is driven by ontology of structures of ‘shared features’ and presents them using visual images for rapid comparison.
Widowhood: Societal Factors In Life-Span Disruptions and Alternatives

The death of a member of a social unit always disrupts the life-span flow of that unit. The forms, depth, and range of disruptions as well as the process of reorganization can vary considerably. The size of the unit disrupted by death also varies. The importance of the deceased to the functioning of the unit can be determined by the unit's own definition and by the effect upon its life of the presence and the actions of that member and of the interaction of others with him or her. Social units, cognizant of the disruptive possibilities of the death of important members, try to ensure succession without traumatic disorganization. The effectiveness of such succession procedures depends to a great extent on the individualistic quality of the deceased's contribution to the unit; the more charismatic and significant his or her contribution, the more difficult is the solution of the succession problem. Social research on the effects of the death of a member of a social unit can be limited to immediate consequences; the effects of the removal of a unit's member can also be studied over time, longitudinally or cross-sectionally, through the direct and successive waves of change this death produces in a small social unit. This second approach will be followed in this analysis of widowhood as a consequence of the death of a member of a marital dyad in direct and repercussive disruptions of the life-span flow of the survivor.
Traditional Management and Management Engineering

Definitions and comparison of traditional management and management engineering approaches are provided. Factors that contribute to the difference in these approaches are discussed.
LSC Abstract – Chitinase-like protein Chil1 modulates type I interferon response through TLR9-AP3-IRF7 axis during streptococcus pneumoniae lung infection

Background: Effective immune response to infections includes efficient pathogen clearance while limiting collateral damages from the host. Chitinase 3-like 1 (Chil1) is induced during Streptococcus pneumoniae ( Sp ) infection and is an inflammasome innate immune regulator that augments macrophage bacterial killing. We hypothesized that Chil1 and its receptor (IL-13Rα2) also regulate type I interferon (IFN) during infection. Methods: Widltype (WT), Chil1KO (KO:knockout) and Il13ra2KO mice are infected with serotype 3 Sp . Bronchoalveolar and lung changes in cellular composition, bacterial load, TLR-mediated signaling involved in type I IFN were assessed by expression, flow cytometric and microscopy analyses. Results: Infected Chil1KO mice and Il13ra2KO both exhibited significantly worsened lung tissue damage, survival and bacterial burden compared with WT. Type I IFN induction was increased in macrophages and plasmacytoid dendritic cells from both KO mice compared to WT during infection, and was associated with increased expression/co-localization of TLR9 and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7). Increased AP3 (important in TLR9 trafficking) and phosphorylated-IRF7 were noted in infected KO lungs. Pre-treatment of Sp with Chil1 led to decreased type I IFN induction, lung damage and bacterial infection in the KO mice. Either KO mice when crossed with Tlr9KO mice resulted in decreased type I IFN and tissue damages. Conclusions: Studies demonstrate the important role of Chil1 in dampening the exuberant inflammatory and type I IFN response to pneumococcal lung infection.
Morbidity of Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery in Elderly Has Declined Over Time.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), years 2003 to 2012. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine trends in the management of scoliosis in elderly (age >75 yrs) patients from 2003 to 2012. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Scoliosis incidence rises with increasing age, and age has been shown to be an independent risk factor for surgical complications in scoliosis surgery. Previous studies have displayed increasing surgical frequency on elderly scoliotic patients in the last decade, but have not investigated complications in the same years. METHODS ICD-9 coding identified elderly (age ≥75 yrs) patients with a primary diagnosis of scoliosis undergoing lumbar fusion or decompression. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparisons and linear trend analysis described changes from 2003 to 2012 in surgical invasiveness (Mirza scale: levels fused/decompressed/instrumented and by approach), intraoperative complications, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Secondary outcome measures included cost and discharge outcomes. RESULTS Eight thousand one elderly patients with ASD from 2003 to 2012 were included for analysis. Fusion incidence increased on average 13.8% per year (P < 0.001), surgical invasiveness by Mirza scale increased from 2.0 in 2003 to 5.9 in 2012 (P < 0.001), and CCI increased from 0.77 to 1.44 (p < 0.001). Over the same interval, elderly patients undergoing fusion displayed overall reduction in complications (excluding anemia)-from 26.7% to 8.6% (P < 0.001); specifically, surgical complications decreased from 11.7% to 0.7% (P < 0.001) and respiratory complications decreased from 6.7% to 1.4% (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION From 2003 to 2012, surgical management of ASD in the elderly population increased in incidence and complexity, while number of patient comorbidities increased and in-hospital morbidity decreased. This may indicate increased willingness of surgeon's to operate on elderly patients, and reflect a development of overall understanding of deformity in the past decade. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Vibration confinement in beams

Abstract We develop approaches for vibration confinement to within an arbitrary region in both non-fluid-loaded beams and fluid-loaded beams. The approach for non-fluid-loaded beams makes use of a novel forward/backward substitution algorithm that generates an evanescent response that exhibits exponential growth from one end of the beam to a specified node, and then exponential decay from that node to the other end of the beam. A weighted sum of such solutions supports vibration confinement while requiring only one actuator at each edge of the confined region. We also demonstrate vibration confinement with just a single actuator term when one edge of the confined region extends to the end of the beam. For fluid-loaded beams, we use a weighted sum of solutions having compact support to achieve near-confinement. While the displacement vector is nonzero outside of the confined region (as a consequence of the acoustic loading on the beam), its amplitude is significantly reduced.
Evaluation of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cell (M-MDSC) frequency in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

356Background: M-MDSCs promote tumor progression through complex mechanisms, including immunosuppression and the production of mediators of angiogenesis and invasion. M-MDSCs are associated with poor outcomes in a number of malignancies. We conducted an exploratory analysis enumerating M-MDSCs (Lin-CD14+/HLA-DRlow/-) in the blood of pts with mUC and assessed for assay variability and correlation with clinical outcomes. Methods: Whole blood was collected at a single time point for each pt and stabilized in Cyto-Chex tubes. M-MDSC% was calculated by flow cytometric analysis of HLA-DR expression on CD14+ monocytes using an MSKCC developed computational algorithm-based approach (Kitano et al. 2014). Individual samples were run in quadruplicate at MSKCC. The mean MDSC% was used in subsequent analyses and the replicate standard deviation (SD) was considered a reflection of intra-assay variability. Clinical variables were collected and pts followed for OS, which was calculated from time of sample collection. Res...
Species assemblage of buprestid beetles in four hardwood cover types in Michigan

Information on species assemblages of metallic wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in forested habitats in North America is relatively scarce, likely reflecting the difficulty of effectively trapping and accurately identifying species. We identified buprestid species captured on four baited traps placed in each of 12 sites representing four common forest cover types in five Michigan counties. Overstory vegetation was dominated by ash (Fraxinus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), or poplar (Populus spp.) trees (three sites per cover type). A total of 1656 buprestids representing 28 species were captured on sticky purple prism traps baited with either cis-3-hexenol plus Manuka oil or 3R-hydroxyhexane-2-one plus ethanol from May to August 2014. Buprestid species richness ranged from 6 to 13 species per site. PERMANOVA results showed that buprestid species composition differed among forest cover types (P < 0.005). The invasive Agrilus sulcicollis Lacordaire and the native Chrysobothris fem...
Traumatic Hemolytic Anemia in Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease

ABSTRACT Fifty children (5 to 15 years of age) with inactive compensated rheumatic heart disease were screened for traumatic hemolytic anemia. Eleven patients (22%) had normocytic hypochromic anemi...
Factors influencing active family engagement in care among critical care nurses

Critical care nurses are vital to promoting family engagement in the intensive care unit. However, nurses have varying perceptions about how much family members should be involved. The Questionnaire on Factors That Influence Family Engagement was given to a national sample of 433 critical care nurses. This correlational study explored the impact of nurse and organizational characteristics on barriers and facilitators to family engagement. Study results indicate that (1) nurses were most likely to invite family caregivers to provide simple daily care; (2) age, degree earned, critical care experience, hospital location, unit type, and staffing ratios influenced the scores; and (3) nursing work-flow partially mediated the relationships between the intensive care unit environment and nurses' attitudes and between patient acuity and nurses' attitudes. These results help inform nursing leaders on ways to promote nurse support of active family engagement in the intensive care unit.
Using written work to investigate stages in sixth-grade students’ construction and coordination of units

Students’ ability to construct and coordinate units has been found to have far-reaching implications for their ability to develop sophisticated understandings of key middle-grade mathematical topics such as fractions, ratios, proportions, and algebra, topics that form the base of understanding for most STEM-related fields. Most of the related research on unit coordination relies on time-intensive clinical interviews and teaching experiments. In this study, we investigate the work of 93 sixth-grade students on a written assessment containing whole number and fraction contexts using both continuous and discrete quantities, and how this work can be used to assess stages in students’ construction and coordination of units. Our investigation is guided by the following general research questions: (1) What forms of written work evidence the construction of and operation on composite units (units made up of other units)? (2) How does the categorization of students based on responses from a written assessment compare to written performance on a set of tasks conveying a continuous whole number multiplicative context? We documented the different ways students represented composite units in their written work. In particular, student written work on tasks that included figurative unit items provided the greatest variety of evidence regarding students’ construction of and operation on composite units. However, written evidence from partitioning tasks did not seem as promising for distinguishing student stages. Students’ performance on decontextualized bar tasks involving continuous quantities was found to be consistent with students’ level of unit coordination based on written work providing evidence for the validity of stage categorizations. Our findings shed light on the affordances and constraints associated with particular stages in unit construction and coordination that a student brings to bear on tasks provided in a formal, written assessment. These findings provide promising evidence for scaling up the assessment of students construction and coordination of units through the use of written assessments instead of time-intensive clinical interviews.
Bayesian predictive modeling for Inverse Gamma-Pareto composite distribution

Inverse Gamma-Pareto composite distribution is considered as a model for heavy tailed data. The maximum likelihood (ML), smoothed empirical percentile (SM), and Bayes estimators (informative and no...
Spatial Autocorrelation and Spatial Interaction Gravity Models

Gravity type spatial interaction models have been popular among spatial scientists for many decades. Their more traditional specifications suffer from specification error attributable to, among other factors, spatial autocorrelation. This spatial autocorrelation has two components, a more conventional one relating to the geographic distributions of origin and destination phenomena, and a second one relating to the network of flows. Recent literature, to which this chapter contributes, reveals that spatial interaction model descriptions substantially improve with an accounting of network autocorrelation in Poisson regression estimation of parameters. Implementation of this specification requires eigenvector spatial filter construction, a principal topic of this chapter, which also furnishes parameter estimate comparisons for infill and increasing domain spatial sampling designs.
A building permit system for smart cities: A cloud-based framework

Abstract In this paper we propose a novel, cloud-based framework to support citizens and city officials in the building permit process. The proposed framework is efficient, user-friendly, and transparent with a quick turn-around time for homeowners. Compared to existing permit systems, the proposed smart city permit framework provides a pre-permitting decision workflow, and incorporates a data analytics and mining module that enables the continuous improvement of both the end user experience and the permitting and urban planning processes. This is enabled through a data mining-powered permit recommendation engine as well as a data analytics process that allow a gleaning of key insights for real estate development and city planning purposes, by analyzing how users interact with the system depending on their location, time, and type of request. The novelty of the proposed framework lies in the integration of a pre-permit processing front-end with permit processing and data analytics & mining modules, along with utilization of techniques for extracting knowledge from the data generated through the use of the system. The proposed framework is completely cloud-based, such that any city can deploy it with lower initial as well as maintenance costs. We also present a proof-of-concept use case, using real permit data from New York City.
Current Directions in Genetic Epidemiology

Genetic epidemiology is a new and burgeoning field of genetics which studies the familial and population distribution of non-Mendelian phenotypes in naturalistic settings (Morton and Chung, 1978). Since most of these traits show a variable age of onset, variation in severity, assortative mating, and are sex specific, failure to give simple Mendelian ratios is expected. Even when attempts have been made to control extraneous sources of variation, these phenotypes still do not fall into Mendelian categories.
Immigrant Contributions to American Economic Development

Debate rages about the viability of current immigration policies in the United States. While America is known as a “nation of immigrants” we also know that at various times in the nation’s history the welcome mat to persons from other nations has been pulled. The nation’s doors have at times been wide open, yet at other times they were solidly closed. A question asked by natives is how well the “other” will fit with the American work ethic and the American ideal of economic success. Do immigrants contribute economically or do they drain the resources of others? Do immigrants enhance economic strength or do they hasten economic decline? Will immigrants bolster values that have promoted economic development or will they undermine them? Will immigrants embrace Protestant values in regard to work, self-sufficiency, education, saving, and risk taking? Central to Calvinist belief of the Massachusetts settlers were the beliefs that people should not lust after wealth or easy living, that reinvesting profits of one’s labor was acceptable, and that it is appropriate to seek occupations which provide the greatest earnings. According to Calvinism, success in one’s work is associated with being one of God’s “Elect” (Hill 1996).