cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CD8-Mediated Type 1 Antitumor Responses Selectively Modulate Endogenous Differentiated and Nondifferentiated T Cell Localization, Activation, and Function in Progressive Breast Cancer

CD8 T cell-mediated immune responses fall into two distinct types based on effector cell-derived cytokine production. Type I CD8 T cells (Tc1) produce IFN-γ, whereas type 2 cells (Tc2) secrete IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and GM-CSF. Using a murine TCR transgenic T cell/breast tumor model, we show that adoptively transferred Ag-specific Tc1 cells are more effective in delaying mammary tumor growth and progression than that of functionally distinct Tc2 cells. Donor Tc1 cells administered 7 days posttumor challenge localized and persisted at sites of primary tumor growth with antitumor responses that were dependent, in part, on effector cell-derived IFN-γ. Tc1-mediated responses markedly enhanced the appearance and local accumulation of highly differentiated (CD44 high ) CD4 and CD8 endogenous tumor-infiltrating T cells when compared with that of untreated tumor-bearing mice. Conversely, Tc1 cell transfer markedly delayed the appearance of corresponding nondifferentiated (CD44 low ) endogenous T cells. Such cells were acutely activated as defined by coexpression of surface markers associated with TCR engagement (CD69) and early T cell activation (CD25). Moreover, cellular response kinetics appeared to further correlate with the up-regulation of endogenous T cells producing the chemokine IFN-γ-inducible protein-10 in vivo. This suggested that CD8-mediated type 1 antitumor responses cannot only promote accumulation of distinct endogenous CD4 and CD8 T cell subpopulations, but also facilitate and preferentially modulate their localization kinetics, persistence, states of activation/differentiation, and function within the primary tumor environment at various stages of tumor progression. These studies offer insight into potential mechanisms for enhancing T cell-based immunotherapy in breast cancer.
Control of linear discrete-time stochastic dynamic systems with multiplicative disturbances

Multiplicative random disturbances frequently occur in economic modeling. The money multiplier in a simple monetary macroeconomic model is treated as a random variable in this paper. The optimal control law is derived, and some consequences of erroneous modeling of the random disturbance are exhibited by simulation.
Psychosocial Risk Assessment in Patients Receiving Ventricular Assist Devices Does not Correlate with Outcomes

Background: There are published criteria to optimize patient selection and improve outcomes in patients receiving VAD therapy. Socioeconomic and issues are also explored before ventricular assist device (VAD) placement. However there are no specific psychosocial guidelines to help identify the appropriate VAD patient to maximize outcomes. Therefore, we seek to determine how socioeconomic and psychosocial factors impact this population. Methods: We performed retrospective electronic chart review of 78 consecutive patients who received Ventricular Assist Device Support at our institution from 2009 to 2015. Demographic characteristics, insurance type, income, education level, psychosocial risks and marital status were included in the analysis. The rates of mortality, VAD related infection, and readmission were compared. We used SPSS to calculate Pearson’s Chi square analysis to compare categorical variables and an independent samples T-test for continuous variables. All patients were risk-assessed by a specially trained social-work team prior to surgery and were given low, intermediate or high risk scores. We did Kaplan-Meier Curves to evaluate survival. Results: Our study population consisted of 56 (70%) males. The population consisted of 32 (40%) white, 35 (43.8%) black, 7 (8.8%) Hispanic, and 6(7.5%) other races. Ten (12.5%) had less than high school education, 24 (30%) had high school equivalent education, 14 (17.5%) had higher education, and 32 (40%) had an unknown education level. Four (5%) were uninsured, 32 (40%) had Medicare, 6 (7.5%) had Medicaid, 30 (37.5%) had private insurance, and 8 (10%) were unknown. Forty (50%) had diabetes, 61 (76.3%) had hypertension, 13 (16.3%) had COPD, 41 (51.2%) had Hyperlipidemia, 43 (53.8%) had renal disease and 46 (57.5%) had known coronary artery disease. All the socioeconomic factors examined and the psychosocial risk score showed no overall effect over survival, infection or re admission rate. Conclusion: In our population, income, education level, psychosocial risk category and, insurance type had no effect on outcomes in patients with VADs. Specific psychosocial guidelines to help better evaluate and risk stratify patients prior to VAD are needed. The appropriate level of social support, education, cognition and other psychosocial aspects that effect outcomes and survival in this patient population need to be better defined.
Highly Doped P-Type, N-Type CdS Thin Films and Diodes

CdS thin films with doping concentration as high as 1017 cm−3 for p-type or 1021 cm−3 for n-type were achieved by pulsed excimer laser deposition without any post-annealing process. These films were grown on InP or GaAs substrates with good crystalline quality. By using this technique, CdS thin film p-n junctions were produced successfully.
Tomographic imaging books are reviewed

[1] Principles of Computerized Tomographic Imaging, by Avinash C. Kak and Malcolm Staney, 2001, SIAM Press, 3600 University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, ISBN: 0 89871 494 X, pp...
Restricted Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) Herpesvirus Transcription in KS Lesions from Patients on Successful Antiretroviral Therapy

ABSTRACT Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV; human herpesvirus 8). KS is an AIDS-defining cancer, and it is changing in the post-antiretroviral therapy (post-ART) era. In countries with ready access to ART, approximately one-third of KS cases present in patients with undetectable HIV loads and CD4 counts of ≥200 cells/µl. This is in contrast to pre-ART era KS, which was associated with systemic HIV replication and CD4 counts of ≤200 cells/µl. Using primary patient biopsy specimens, we identified a novel molecular signature that characterizes AIDS KS lesions that develop in HIV-suppressed patients on ART: KSHV transcription is limited in HIV-suppressed patients. With one exception, only the canonical viral latency mRNAs were detectable. In contrast, early AIDS KS lesions expressed many more viral mRNAs, including, for instance, the viral G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR). IMPORTANCE This is the first genomewide study of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transcription in KS lesions in the post-antiretroviral (post-ART) era. It shows that the gene expression of KSHV is altered in patients on ART, and it provides clinical evidence for active AIDS (as characterized by high HIV load and low CD4 counts) being a potential modulator of KSHV transcription. This implies a novel mode of pathogenesis (tightly latent KS), which may inform KS cancer treatment options in the post-ART era.
The Trade-off Between Bioenergy and Emissions With Land Constraints

Abstract Agricultural biofuels require the use of scarce land, and this land has opportunity cost. We explore the objective function of a social planner who includes a land constraint in the optimization decision to minimize environmental cost. The inclusion of this land constraint in our optimization model motivates the measurement of emissions on a per-hectare basis. Switchgrass and corn are modeled as competing alternatives to show how the inclusion of a land constraint can influence life cycle rankings and alter policy conclusions. With land use unconstrained, ethanol produced from switchgrass is always an optimal feedstock relative to ethanol produced from corn. With land use constrained, however, our results show that it is unlikely that switchgrass would be optimal in the midwestern United States, but may be optimal in southern states if carbon is priced relatively high. Whether biofuel policy advocates for one feedstock over another should consider these contrasting results.
High-efficiency monolithic GaAs IMPATT diodes

Impedance-matching circuits were integrated on the same chip as the IMPATT diodes to produce monolithic impatt diodes for millimetre-wave applications. A drastic reduction of device-to-circuit parasitic elements was achieved by placing the external circuitry very close to the device. Oscillators fabricated in this fashion gave the highest efficiencies reported so far in the 30–35 GHz range with 28% conversion efficiency using hybrid-Read structures.
An expedient and versatile protocol for extracting high-quality DNA from plant leaves.

Abstract INTRODUCTIONProtocols for extracting plant genomic DNA have to contend with two major challenges: preventing the oxidation of phenolic substances that can react with nucleic acids and proteins, and eliminating polysaccharides that interfere with downstream enzymatic manipulations of DNA. A protocol has been developed in which the above-mentioned substances are removed from the sample before the DNA is removed from the chromatin structure. This protocol requires only two tubes during extraction and a single precipitation step to yield high-quality DNA. DNA extracted with this method has virtually no protein or phenolic contaminants (A(260)/A(280)>1.8), is RNA-free, contains high-molecular-weight fragments according to CHEF electrophoresis, and is fully digestible by restriction enzymes. This protocol has been successfully tested with leaf samples from common bean and corn; with leaves known to be rich in phenolics (tomato and bell pepper), pectins (sweet orange, grapefruit, and peach), or both substances (Muscadine grape); and with leaves that contain latex in the sap (papaya).
Whose responsibility to protect? The implications of double manifest failure for civilian protection

Civilian protection has become an increasingly urgent issue with which humanitarian practitioners and policy-makers must contend, particularly in relation to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). In a number of recent crises, both the host state and the international community have failed to uphold their respective primary and secondary responsibilities to protect under R2P. In such double manifest failure settings, the actors to whom a disproportionate civilian protection responsibility is most likely to fall are humanitarian actors. This article explores the concept of manifest failure, examines Security Council responses, and analyses the implications for civilian protection. I argue that humanitarian actors cannot reasonably be expected to fulfill a tertiary responsibility to protect that aligns with the United Nation's civilian protection agenda goals, and conclude by discussing how humanitarian actors can work within the limits imposed by double manifest failure cases.
A Surgical Treatment for Vitiligo: Autologous Cultured‐Epithelial Grafts

Medical treatment of vitiligo has been disappointing; therefore surgical treatments using autologous grafts have been tried. We investigated a new technique in which normally pigmented epidermal cells from a vitiligo patient were cultured on a collagen-coated membrane in MCDB-153, a media that supports melanocytes and keratinocytes. The cell/collagen-coated membrane was used to cover a superficially dermabraded vitiliginous area. Clinical repigmentation, though incomplete, was evident in three of four patients in 4 weeks. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy were performed on the grafted areas (involved and uninvolved controls). These studies demonstrate the reappearance of melanocytes and melanosomes within the grafted area. All three patients who were successfully repigmented retained their pigment at 1 year follow-up. Further investigation of this promising treatment for vitiligo is warranted.
The University of Dayton Operations Management Capstone Course: Undergraduate Student Field Consulting Applies Theory to Practice

The operations management major at the University of Dayton offers a unique capstone experience that features live consulting projects with actual client problems. As a result, students gain valuable experience applying technical skills in a live environment, and clients gain real operations improvements. In the past eight years we have graduated 163 students who have conducted 56 projects for 22 clients. This paper describes how the course is structured, observations of faculty and clients on best practices and risks associated with such an offering, and as evidence of success, the quantitative and qualitative impact the student-led projects have had on clients.
MSTd neuronal basis functions for the population encoding of heading direction.

Basis functions have been extensively used in models of neural computation because they can be combined linearly to approximate any nonlinear functions of the encoded variables. We investigated whe...
Base composition of rapidly sedimenting nuclear ribonucleic acid of the regenerating liver.

Abstract RNA was extracted from nuclei of normal and regenerating liver. It was then fractionated in sucrose density gradients. The 35-, 45- and 55-S RNA fractions of regenerating liver were characterized by base composition as determined by ultraviolet analysis and by distribution of [ 32 P]P 1 after a 10-min pulse in vivo . The base ratios of rapidly sedimenting RNA from nuclei of regenerating liver were characterized by a higher content of guanylic and a lower content of adenylic acids than those of normal liver nuclei.
Rapid, facile synthesis of conjugated polymer zwitterions in ionic liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) were utilized for the rapid air-stable Suzuki polymerization of polar zwitterionic thiophene monomers, precluding the need for volatile organic solvents, phosphine ligands and phase transfer catalysts typically used in conjugated polymer synthesis. Ten different ILs were examined, demonstrating the scope and limitations of their utility as solvents in this Suzuki polymerization. Imidazolium, pyridinium and pyrrolidinium ILs proved effective for these polymerizations, with top performance achieved using pyrrolidinium triflate, affording polymers with molecular weight values >30 kDa. The enhanced solubility of these conjugated polymer zwitterions (CPZs) in ILs, relative to organic solvents, led to higher molecular weight polymers than obtained using previously reported methods. CPZs synthesized in ILs proved effective as cathode modification layers in solar cells, giving rise to a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.57% in bulk heterojunction devices.
On the Onset Vortex of the Summer Monsoon

Abstract In this paper we examine the evolution of the low-level flow over the Arabian Sea during the onset of the summer monsoon. A detailed examination of the onset vortex that forms over the Arabian Sea just prior to the commencement of heavy rains over central India is carried out. The unique aspect of this study is the use of data sets from the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Monsoon Experiment (MONEX) from a variety of observing platforms. These include winds from geostationary satellites, constant level balloons, dropwindsonde aircraft and an enhanced World Weather Watch network. The data sets were analyzed for a 46-day period from 16 May through 30 June 1979. A number of calculations were performed with this analysis. Of major interest is a finding that the kinetic energy of the zonal flow over the central Arabian Sea increases by an order of magnitude one week prior to the commencement of monsoon rain over central India. This study provides a MONEX time-averaged analysis for the low-le...
Analysis of particle engulfment during the growth of crystalline silicon

Abstract To better understand the physical mechanisms responsible for foreign inclusions during the growth of crystalline silicon, steady-state and dynamic models are developed to simulate the engulfment of solid particles by solidification fronts. A Galerkin finite element method is developed to accurately represent forces and interfacial phenomena previously inaccessible by approaches using analytical approximations. The steady-state model is able to evaluate critical engulfment velocities, which are further validated using the dynamic model. When compared with experimental results for the SiC-Si system, our model predicts a more realistic scaling of critical velocity with particle size than that predicted by prior theories. Discrepancies between model predictions and experimental results for larger particles are posited to arise from dynamic effects, a topic worthy of future attention.
A survey informed PV-based cost-effective electrification options for rural sub-Saharan Africa

A comprehensive survey is carried out in Kendu Bay area of Kenya to determine electrification patterns of a typical rural sub-Saharan Africa community and to determine the reasons behind such energy choices. The data from the survey is used to build a transition probability matrix (TPM) for different electrification states for Kendu Bay households. The TPM and the survey data are used to model temporal diffusion of PV systems and PV-based communal (mini/micro) grids in the area. Survey data show that majority of Kendu Bay residents shun the national grid due to high connection fees, unreliability of the system, and corruption; people who can afford-to choose small solar home systems for their basic electricity needs. Without any government policy intervention or help, simulation results show that once 100% electrification status has been achieved in Kendu Bay, only 26% of the residents will be found to be electrified through the national grid alone; the majority (38%) will be electrified through PV-based communal grids while the remaining 36% will be electrified through grid connected PV home systems (26%) or grid connected communal grids (10%).
Still Stumbling Toward Sustainability: U.S. National Governance, 2002-2007

This paper assesses U.S. sustainable development efforts in the five-year period since the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, and makes recommendations for the next five to ten years. National governance for sustainability requires at least three major elements--a legally grounded national-level strategic process, sustainable development indicators to measure progress, and public engagement and education on sustainability. The United States has no overall national strategy for sustainable development, and is a long way away from employing the strategic analysis and decision making required for sustainable development. The United States government has moved toward environmental indicators in the past five years, but not sustainable development indicators. While there has been a serious and necessary effort to engage the public on behalf of the nation's anti-terrorism effort, there has been no comparable effort to engage the public to address the variety of other sustainability threats we face, including climate change?perhaps the most urgent and obvious of all sustainability issues. To move ahead, the United States needs to formally integrate sustainable development into its existing strategic efforts, develop a set of sustainable development indicators, seriously address climate change, and support and encourage the public on behalf of sustainability.
In Remembrance: Charles Duncan Michener (Sept 22, 1918–Nov 1, 2015)

We are sad to report the death of long-time Kansas Entomological Society member, the distinguished and world-renowned entomologist, Charles Duncan Michener, who died peacefully of heart failure at his home in Lawrence, Kansas on November 1, 2015. Mich was 97 when he passed away; he had been doing his signature brand of solid and outstanding research for an impressive and nearly unprecedented 80 years. He was a monumental figure, the world authority on bees, whose work formed the foundation for, and whose students subsequently forged, today’s state of bee research. And he paved the way for the field of sociobiology as well through his studies of bee behavior. As his son, Walter noted (Anonymous, 2015), Mich "was so often and so highly honored during his life," that we will content ourselves with outlining his life and accomplishments here, focusing on his contributions to the Kansas Entomological Society, and referring readers to accounts available in the literature and listed in the Literature Cited. Also, the Journal will be publishing, early in 2016, an extensive and expansive set of recollections of Mich, currently in preparation by Michael Engel, with assistance from Charles Michener’s family, that will include previously unpublished photos and information on Mich’s early life.
Finite Volume Solution Reconstruction Methods For Truncation Error Estimation

The numerical solution to differential equations results in a discrete solution space for the finite volume and finite difference discretization methods. For various reasons, it can be necessary to prolong the solution from a discrete space to a continuous space. The prolongation to a continuous space can be done using various curve-fitting methods which adds an additional level of approximation to the solution. The allowable error of a prolongation operation depends on the specific task required by the user. In this paper we investigate various prolongation methods and identify the minimal requirements specifically for the purpose of truncation error estimation (the difference between the discrete and integral governing equations) for finite volume methods. The reconstruction methods investigated will include k-exact and ENO methods. Truncation error estimation for 1D Burgers’ equation and the k-exact method suggest that the minimum polynomial order is dependent on the highest derivatives in the truncation error expression and, therefore, the discretization scheme. The effect of different reconstruction methods on truncation error estimation is investigated and the minimum polynomial order for accurate truncation error estimation is identified for the Euler equations and is found to be second-order for the weak formulation and third-order for the strong formulation.
Methyl green as a cartilage stain; human embryos.

The development of this technique derived from a need to demonstrate the sites of developing cartilage in the human embryo. The basic procedure was that of Yntema (1970), which used methyl green on turtle embryos. However, the thickness of the soft tissues in human embryos of 90-125 mm crown-rump (CR) length and the opacity caused by pigments in this tissue when the specimen was cleared necessitated the modification of the original procedure; specifically, the introduction of bleaching. The altered procedure is given below.
Prognostic Implications of Lymph Node Status for Patients With Gallbladder Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Although the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification is the most accepted lymph node (LN) staging system for gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GBA), other LN prognostic schemes have been proposed. This study sought to define the performance of the AJCC LN staging system relative to the number of metastatic LNs (NMLN), the log odds of metastatic LN (LODDS), and the LN ratio (LNR). Patients who underwent curative-intent resection for GBA between 2000 and 2015 were identified from a multi-institutional database. The prognostic performance of various LN staging systems was compared by Harrell’s C and the Akaike information criterion (AIC). Altogether, 214 patients with a median age of 66.7 years (interquartile range [IQR] 56.5–73.1) were identified. A total of 1334 LNs were retrieved, with a median of 4 (IQR 2–8) LNs per patient. Patients with LN metastasis had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.87; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.24–2.82; P = 0.003) and recurrence (HR 2.28; 95 % CI 1.37–3.80; P = 0.002). In the entire cohort, LNR, analyzed as either a continuous scale (C-index, 0.603; AIC, 803.5) or a discrete scale (C-index, 0.609; AIC, 802.2), provided better prognostic discrimination. Among the patients with four or more LNs examined, LODDS (C-index, 0.621; AIC, 363.8) had the best performance versus LNR (C-index, 0.615; AIC, 368.7), AJCC LN staging system (C-index, 0.601; AIC, 373.4), and NMLN (C-index, 0.613; AIC, 369.5). Both LODDS and LNR performed better than the AJCC LN staging system. Among the patients who had four or more LNs examined, LODDS performed better than LNR. Both LODDS and LNR should be incorporated into the AJCC LN staging system for GBA.
Infection in a Leukemia Patient

Ms. C is a 41-year-old Hispanic woman that came to our facility regarding her leukemia. She presented in January 2005 with migratory myalgias, headaches, and gingival bleeding. Complete blood count (CBC) revealed a white blood cell count (WBC) of 18.0/µL with 53% blasts, hemoglobin at 8.1 g/dL, and a platelet count of 12/µL. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Dravet Syndrome: Addressing the Needs of Patients and Families: Introduction

Dravet syndrome is not one of the most frequent severe epilepsies affecting infants during the first year of life. In the most recent epidemiological study, in Sweden, its estimated incidence was 1 in 33,000 live births. On December 31, 2011, its prevalence was 1 in 45,700 children aged less than 18 years. Nonetheless, it is now well known by many child neurologists for several reasons. First, its genetic aetiology was demonstrated almost 15 years ago, and an animal model was created shortly thereafter, allowing experimental work focused on the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Second, the clinical characteristics of the typical form of Dravet syndrome are well defined, enough to allow early diagnosis. Third, although the epileptic seizures are highly pharmacoresistant, we now have at our disposal a specific therapeutic strategy that allows one to avoid the most severe seizures in a number of patients due to the new drug stiripentol, used in different associations. Nevertheless, this therapeutic strategy should not be limited to seizure control and needs to take into account all other aspects of the disease. The aim of this symposium is to present a synthesis of the diagnosis and treatment of Dravet syndrome with a focus on family needs.
Characteristics of cases submitted to a statewide system of child abuse experts

Abstract Background The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) created a statewide network of child abuse pediatricians working at 6 academic centers in 2006. Methods Case data for the period 9/1/2012–8/31/2014 were reviewed for child demographics, risk factors, physician determinations, injury descriptors, and information made available to the physician. Results 8061 of 410,315 DFPS cases (2%) were referred during the period. Network utilization rates ranged from 7.5% in counties served by San Antonio to 1.4% in Austin-served counties. Cases from outlying counties were less likely to involve older children. African American children were over-represented in referrals, and Caucasian and Asian children were underrepresented. Prevalent risk factors included prior DFPS history, single parent-household, mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Network providers found no or only nonspecific evidence for maltreatment in 45% of cases. Determinations were hindered by poor quality photographs in 188 cases and inadequate skeletal surveys in 121. Insufficient information precluded case completion for 65 cases of children Conclusions Our data indicate that child abuse centers in Texas are underutilized, and there are practice differences with respect to medical referrals across different regions. Our findings concerning ethnic differences and risk factors are consistent with national trends. The problems of inadequate photographs and case information may improve with better training of workers; the issue of poor quality skeletal surveys requires further study. Standard DFPS criteria for referrals to child abuse pediatricians should mitigate some of the problems identified by this study.
Devoted Daughters of the Church: Elizabeth Burnet and Mary Astell

Mary II had attracted many admirers. Her gentle ways and cheerful demeanor; her extraordinary generosity; her devotion to her faith and moderation towards nonconforming Protestants; and her ardent belief in her husband and the Protestant Cause certainly recommended her to those of like-minded sensibility. Among her biggest fans was the Bishop of Salisbury, Gilbert Burnet, who was utterly heartbroken by her sudden death. Years later, in 1700, he married a woman whose values were remarkably similar to his own and whose virtues resembled those of the Queen. Yet Burnet’s third wife, Elizabeth (formerly, Berkeley) Burnet (1661–1709) was hardly a tabula rasa on which the bishop might inscribe his convictions. Gilbert was Elizabeth’s second husband. She had been a widow for seven years and was already something of a known entity among the political and cultural elite of London. Prior to the Revolution, she had met Gilbert Burnet, along with other English and Scottish refugees, in the United Provinces. She was acquainted with the Prince and Princess of Orange whose invasion of England she warmly supported. On her return to England after the Revolution, she became a frequent guest at the palace of Edward Stillingfleet, Bishop of Worcester, a place where she was renowned for her piety and charity. She was also friendly with Stillingfleet’s philosophical combatant, John Locke; and by 1701, she was an intimate of Sarah Churchill, later Duchess of Marlborough, with whom she shared a zeal for the success of the Whig agenda in Parliament.
Scientific Data Acquisition

After completing this module, a student should be able to: Define the terms calibration, precision, accuracy, instrument drift, and resolution. Appreciate the difficulty of scientific measurements using instrumentation. Construct and execute an experimental procedure that uses instrumentation.
Local Autism Policy Networks: Expertise and Intermediary Organizations:

The increasing prevalence of diagnoses for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), now one in 68 children according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), presents a number of policy implications. In particular, many of these children become eligible for special education services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Given the specialized expertise and resources required of local education agencies (LEAs), how do they respond to this implementation challenge? In May 2015, an online survey was distributed to various governmental and nongovernmental actors in three Virginia localities to measure the extent of collaboration in local autism policy networks. The findings suggest that these networks are driven by autism-related information, and that nonprofit organizations act as intermediary organizations that bridge disparate stakeholders. The results contribute to our understanding of fragmentation across policy subsystems, with the focus here on education policy, and the implementation...
College students coping with interpersonal stress: Examining a control-based model of coping.

ABSTRACTObjective: The ways that college students cope with stress, particularly interpersonal stress, may be a critical factor in determining which students are at risk for impairing mental health disorders. Using a control-based model of coping, the present study examined associations between interpersonal stress, coping strategies, and symptoms. Participants: A total of 135 undergraduate students from 2 universities. Methods: Interpersonal stress, coping strategies, depression, anxiety, and somatization were assessed via self-report. Results: Students reporting more interpersonal stress reported more depression, anxiety, and somatization, and they reported less use of engagement coping strategies and greater use of disengagement coping strategies. Engagement coping strategies accounted for a significant portion of the association between interpersonal stress and mental health symptoms. Unexpectedly, coping strategies did not moderate the association between stress and mental health symptoms. Conclusion...
International Students' Perceptions of Services and Supports Provided: A Case Study of a Mid-Sized University in the USA

In a study of international students' perceptions of services and supports offered by the mid-sized institution in which they are currently enrolled, consisting of 103 international students onshore in the USA, it was found that the majority of the respondents were fully aware of the International Student Orientation (ISO) that is made available to them via the Office of International Education (OIE). However, only close to 70% of the respondents had attended the orientation, even though the university claimed that attending the International Student Orientation is mandatory for all new international students. Respondents also claimed that services such as Immigration Support and Advising; International Student Organization; Cultural Events; Blackboard Communication; and Shuttle Service are all very helpful. However, some respondents wished to see more useful and relevant services that could be offered by the university such as job guidance, as well as assisting international students in their internship application.
‘‘Interaction-free’’ imaging

Using the complementary wavelike and particlelike natures of photons, it is possible to make ‘‘interactionfree’’ measurements where the presence of an object can be determined with no photons being absorbed. We investigated several ‘‘interaction-free’’ imaging systems, i.e., systems that allow optical imaging of photosensitive objects with less than the classically expected amount of light being absorbed or scattered by the object. With the most promising system, we obtained high-resolution ~10-mm!, one-dimensional profiles of a variety of objects ~human hair, glass and metal wires, and cloth fibers! by raster scanning each object through the system. We discuss possible applications and the present and future limits for interaction-free imaging. @S1050-2947~98!07906-2#
An Interview with Dr. Stephen W. Porges

During the 51st American Dance Therapy Association conference, Dr. Stephen W. Porges, Distinguished University Scientist at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University Bloomington and Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, gave the keynote address, Connectedness as a Biological Imperative: Understanding the Consequences of Trauma, Abuse, and Chronic Stress through the Lens of the Polyvagal Theory. Post-conference, Dr. Porges spoke with this author in an audio-recorded interview, summarized portions of his address, and described the supporting neural mechanisms involved in optimizing mental and physical health. This unique interdisciplinary collaboration aids the profession of dance/movement therapy in understanding the principles for establishing safety and stabilization of the Autonomic Nervous System and, in particular, reciprocal movements with social engagement behaviors—a core mechanism in dance/movement therapy. This article is an edited transcription of the original audio.
Topophilia, Biophilia and Greening in the Red Zone

This chapter presents a theoretical framework for integrating Wilson’s notion of biophilia (1984) with Tuan’s (1980) notion of topophilia (literally ‘love of place’). The natural biotic environment core to the biophilia hypothesis represents a crucial—and oft overlooked in urban areas—element of ‘place’ or neighborhood, but there are other elements—neighbors, relationships, memories, landmarks, the built environment—that are similarly emotion-laden and can serve as the basis for action that promotes community rebirth and recovery. As such, resilience in the face of both sudden disasters and slow erosion of communities requires examining these elements in tandem.
Tendances et Confrontations: an experimental space for defining art from Africa

This article traces the presence, employment, and significance of the terms moderne and contemporain as used by organizers, artists, and critics of the 1966 Festival Mondial des Arts Negres. Couple...
Implementation and quality assessment of a pharmacy services call center for outpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacy services in an academic health system.

Purpose The implementation and quality assessment of a pharmacy services call center (PSCC) for outpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacy services within an academic health system are described. Summary Prolonged wait times in outpatient pharmacies or hold times on the phone affect the ability of pharmacies to capture and retain prescriptions. To support outpatient pharmacy operations and improve quality, a PSCC was developed to centralize handling of all outpatient and specialty pharmacy calls. The purpose of the PSCC was to improve the quality of pharmacy telephone services by (1) decreasing the call abandonment rate, (2) improving the speed of answer, (3) increasing first-call resolution, (4) centralizing all specialty pharmacy and prior authorization calls, (5) increasing labor efficiency and pharmacy capacities, (6) implementing a quality evaluation program, and (7) improving workplace satisfaction and retention of outpatient pharmacy staff. The PSCC centralized pharmacy calls from 9 pharmacy locations, 2 outpatient clinics, and a specialty pharmacy. Since implementation, the PSCC has achieved and maintained program goals, including improved abandonment rate, speed of answer, and first-call resolution. A centralized 24-7 support line for specialty pharmacy patients was also successfully established. A quality calibration program was implemented to ensure service quality and excellent patient experience. Additional ongoing evaluations measure the impact of the PSCC on improving workplace satisfaction and retention of outpatient pharmacy staff. Conclusion The design and implementation of the PSCC have significantly improved the health system’s patient experiences, efficiency, and quality.
Vectors for Gene Transfer Derived from Animal DNA Viruses: Transient and Stable Expression of Transferred Genes

In this chapter, a “vector” is defined as a DNA molecule that facilitates the intracellular expression of genes inserted into it. Vectors that contain inserted genes will be termed “recombinant vectors.” Most eukaryotic vectors to date contain DNA sequences derived from viruses, and those derived from animal DNA viruses are eclectic. They may or may not be infectious; they may or may not replicate autonomously; they may permit the expression of an inserted gene transiently or indefinitely. They have been derived from papova-, parvo-, adeno-, herpes-, and poxviruses. Few have been studied in great detail, and reference to them in the literature is often incidental. We shall try to abstract from recent literature general findings derived from the construction and use of vectors developed from animal DNA viruses. These abstracts will not be complete; however, we shall present examples from each of the cited families of DNA viruses. Many recent experiments have used cis-acting elements [e.g., simian virus 40 (SV40) 72-base-pair (bp) repeat or the herpes simplex type 1 thymidine kinase promoter] derived from viruses that affect transcription of linked genes in otherwise nonviral recombinant DNAs. Whether or not these recombinant DNAs should be termed viral vectors is moot. We shall refer only occasionally to the large body of observations in which they were used. We hope that readers who have not used vectors derived from animal DNA viruses can in reading this review identify likely candidates to fulfill their needs and then turn to the cited primary sources for professional help.
Griswold at 50: How Conflict Entrenched the Right to Privacy

We are about to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, a 1965 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a Connecticut law that criminalized the use of contraception, and in the process gave birth to the modern right to privacy. How has our understanding of the Constitution’s protection for “liberty” come to include sex and marriage, whether sex in marriage, or same-sex marriage? In what follows, I consider debates over the right to contraception and its progeny at three points in history: in the 1960s when the Court first decided the Griswold case, in the 1980s “culture war” struggles over Griswold during the Reagan era, and in the present conflicts over the right to privacy. Griswold’s story shows how conflict over the right of privacy — one of the most fiercely contested rights in the modern constitutional canon — has helped to entrench the right to privacy, to make it endure, and to imbue it with evolving meaning.
Spontaneous bile duct perforation in a neonate

Abstract We present a case of spontaneous biliary perforation (SBP) in a previously healthy 3-week-old boy with worsening scleral icterus, abdominal distension, and acholic stools. Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated moderate ascites without extrahepatic ductal dilatation. The HIDA scan demonstrated accumulation of tracer within the right upper quadrant outside of the liver but not in the bowel, however there was a large amount of tracer activity seen diffusely within the abdomen that appeared to lie within the ascitic fluid and complicated the read of the scan. Intraoperative cholangiogram during an exploratory laparotomy confirmed an intact gallbladder with a mostly contained perforation at the junction of the cystic duct and the common bile duct with no contrast in the duodenum. The patient underwent an uneventful cholecystectomy with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy and was discharged home three days later.
The Public Library as a Protective Factor: An Introduction to Library Social Work

Libraries from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. are now employing or housing social workers. As this practice area grows, it is reshaping the way that libraries assist their patrons. Though the wo...
Consentability: Consent and its Limits

Problems regarding the nature of consent are at the heart of many of today's most pressing issues. For example, the #MeToo movement has underscored the need to move beyond viewing consent as a simple matter of yes or no. Consent is complex because humans and their relationships are complicated. Humans, as a result of cognitive limitations and emotional and physical vulnerabilities, are susceptible to manipulation and mistakes. Given the potential for regret, are there some things to which one should not be permitted to consent? The consentability quandary becomes more urgent with technological advances. Should we allow body hacking? Cryonics? Consumer travel to Mars? Assisted suicide? In Consentability: Consent and Its Limits, Nancy S. Kim proposes a bold, original framework for evaluating consentability, which considers the complexities surrounding consent.
Implementation of LMS Adaptive Filter Algorithm based on FPGA

A LMS (Least Mean Square) algorithm used as an adaptive noise canceller has been implemented on an Artix 7 FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) board. The FPGA is used for this research due to its advantages of real-time processing and pipelining which are not possible with other implementation boards. The purpose of implementing the LMS algorithm is to create a noise canceling device that removes noise from the input to achieve the appropriate output. Noise cancelation devices are needed for many environments and can be used to reduce the noise added to speech in airplanes, helicopters, and cars.
A Unified Conversational Assistant Framework for Business Process Automation

Business process automation is a booming multi-billion-dollar industry that promises to remove menial tasks from workers' plates -- through the introduction of autonomous agents -- and free up their time and brain power for more creative and engaging tasks. However, an essential component to the successful deployment of such autonomous agents is the ability of business users to monitor their performance and customize their execution. A simple and user-friendly interface with a low learning curve is necessary to increase the adoption of such agents in banking, insurance, retail and other domains. As a result, proactive chatbots will play a crucial role in the business automation space. Not only can they respond to users' queries and perform actions on their behalf but also initiate communication with the users to inform them of the system's behavior. This will provide business users a natural language interface to interact with, monitor and control autonomous agents. In this work, we present a multi-agent orchestration framework to develop such proactive chatbots by discussing the types of skills that can be composed into agents and how to orchestrate these agents. Two use cases on a travel preapproval business process and a loan application business process are adopted to qualitatively analyze the proposed framework based on four criteria: performance, coding overhead, scalability, and agent overlap.
Intuitionistic Analysis: The Search for Axiomatization and Understanding

This paper is an historical sketch, tracing the development of current axiomatizations of Brouwer's analysis.
Sustainable Development: An Economic Perspective

Sustainable development is concerned with meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Recent advances in three areas of the sustainable development literature are ecosystem services and resilience; environmental Kuznets curves and environment–growth relationships; and technological innovation, endogenous growth, and resource dependency. Progress toward sustainable development requires measuring the social, ecological, and economic impact of declining natural resources; improving our estimates of the costs of depleting natural capital; establishing appropriate incentives, institutions, and investments for sustainable management of natural capital; and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.
Radiation-Induced Stenosis

Radiation induced cerebrovascular stenosis can occur after radiation therapy. Though it can cause transient ischemic attacks or stroke, symptomatic cases represent a small fraction of those detected radiographically. While medical management represents the first line of therapy, disease progression is common and more rapid than conventional atherosclerosis, often times necessitating either endovascular intervention or open surgical treatments. Close follow-up must be maintained, as recurrent stenosis can occur secondary to ongoing vascular endothelial dysfunction.
Liver metastases from pituitary carcinomas mimicking visceral well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors: a series of four cases.

Pathologists frequently encounter neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) presenting as multiple liver masses in routine practice. Most often, these are well-differentiated tumors with characteristic histologic features. In contrast, pituitary carcinoma is very rare, and there is limited data on its natural history and pathologic characterization. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics, histomorphology, immunophenotype and follow-up of pituitary carcinoma involving the liver and mimicking well-differentiated NETs of visceral origin. We selected a group of well-differentiated NETs of the pancreas to use as immunophenotypic controls. We identified 4 patients (age range, 51 to 73) with pituitary corticotroph carcinoma with liver metastases. Three patients presented with Cushing syndrome. All cases histologically resembled well-differentiated NETs of visceral origin with Ki-67 proliferation indices of 5–42% and expression of T-PIT; metastatic tumors were not immunoreactive with CDX2, Islet 1 or TTF-1. Frequently, these cases display adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion and pituitary-specific transcription factor immunohistochemistry may be used as a reliable marker to distinguish metastatic pituitary carcinoma from NETs of visceral origin in addition to delineating a corticotroph carcinoma from somatotroph, lactotroph, thyrotroph, and gonadotroph lineage. Although rare, the differential diagnosis of pituitary carcinoma should be considered in metastatic well-differentiated NETs in which the site of origin is uncertain. In summary, pituitary corticotroph carcinoma can metastasize to the liver and mimic well-differentiated NET.