cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Four-wave-mixing Between The Upper-excited States In A Cascade Configuration

Two-color resonant four-wave-mixing radiation is generated between the 5D5/2 and 5P3/2 excited states in atomic rubidium vapor using atomic coherence via Doppler-free EIT and two-photon absorption mechanisms, and studied in the frequency domain.
Towards better help desk planning

Real help desk incident data over a four and a half year period are used to develop an IT cost model.Help desk incidents are scoped to desktop software products.An objective of the cost model is to determine if product incidents can be used to predict future incidents.Help desk incidents are predicted using Software Reliability Growth Models (SRGMs).Incidents were accurately predicted for clusters of products based on representative products alone. In this case study, a cost model for help desk operations is developed. The cost model relates predicted incidents to labor costs. Since incident estimation for hundreds of products is time-consuming, we use cluster analysis to group similarly behaving products in clusters, for which we then estimate incidents based on the representative product in the cluster. Incidents are predicted using software reliability growth models. The cost to resolve the incidents is predicted using historical labor data for the resolution of incidents. Cluster analysis is used to group products with similar help desk incident characteristics. We use Principal Components Analysis to determine one product per cluster for the prediction of incidents for all members of the cluster, so as to reduce estimation cost. We were able to predict incidents for a cluster based on this product alone and do so successfully for all clusters with accuracy comparable to making predictions for each product in the portfolio. Linear regression is used with cost data for the resolution of incidents to relate incident predictions to help desk labor costs. The cost model is then validated by successfully demonstrating cost prediction accuracy for one month prediction intervals over a 22 month period.
Infections with free-living amebae

Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Naegleria fowleri are mitochondria-bearing, free-living eukaryotic amebae that have been known to cause infections of the central nervous system (CNS) of humans and other animals. Several species of Acanthamoeba belonging to several different genotypes cause an insidious and chronic disease, granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), principally in immunocompromised hosts including persons infected with HIV/AIDS. Acanthamoeba spp., belonging to mostly group 2, also cause infection of the human cornea, Acanthamoeba keratitis. Balamuthia mandrillaris causes GAE in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts mostly in the very young or very old individuals. Both Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris also cause a disseminated disease including the lungs, skin, kidneys, and uterus. Naegleria fowleri, on the other hand, causes an acute and fulminating, necrotizing infection of the CNS called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in children and young adults with a history of recent exposure to warm fresh water. Additionally, another free-living ameba Sappinia pedata, previously described as S. diploidea, also has caused a single case of amebic meningoencephalitis. In this review the biology of these amebae, clinical manifestations, molecular and immunological diagnosis, and epidemiological features associated with GAE and PAM are discussed.
Conformational Changes in HIV-1 Gag Regulate its Assembly and Genome Selection

Retroviral Gag proteins assemble into virus like particles (VLPs) and package their single stranded RNA genomes (gRNAs). In the majority of cases this assembly happens on the plasma membrane of the cell (PM). In the assembled immature VLP the cationic C-terminal domain of Gag called Nucleocapsid (NC) protein is bound to RNA, while its cationic N-terminal domain called matric (MA) is bound to anionic PM. In this state the Gag protein is extended, i.e. is in its straight conformation that is able to assemble. However, the Gag polyprotein has several flexible hinges between its domains, and is bent is solution. Gag is also in its bent and non-assembling state when bound to RNA or to PM with its both cationic domains NC and MA. In this work we present statistical description of the conformational transition in Gag that leads to its assembly initiation. We discuss implications of the Gag bent to straight conformational transition for genomic RNA selection.
Effects of active feedback gait retraining to produce a medial weight transfer at the foot in subjects with symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis.

This study aimed to determine if active feedback gait retraining to produce a medial weight transfer at the foot significantly reduces the knee adduction moment in subjects with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Secondarily, changes in peak knee flexion moment, frontal plane knee and ankle kinematics, and center of pressure were investigated. Ten individuals with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (9 males; age: 65.3 ± 9.8 years; BMI: 27.8 ± 3.0 kg/m2) were tested at self-selected normal and fast speeds in two conditions: intervention, with an active feedback device attached to the shoe of their more affected leg, and control, with the device de-activated. Kinematics and kinetics were assessed using a motion capture system and force plate. The first peak, second peak, and impulse of the knee adduction moment were significantly reduced by 6.0%, 13.9%, and 9.2%, respectively, at normal speed, with reductions of 10.7% and 8.6% in first peak and impulse at fast speed, respectively, with the active feedback system, with no significant effect on the peak knee flexion moment. Significant reductions in peak varus knee angle and medialized center of pressure in the first half of stance were observed, with reductions in peak varus knee angle associated with reductions in the knee adduction moment. This study demonstrated that active feedback to produce a medial weight-bearing shift at the foot reduces the peaks and impulse of the knee adduction moment in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Future research should determine the long-term effect of the active feedback intervention on joint loading, pain, and function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Pediatric Firearm Deaths and Injuries in the United States.

Abstract Guns are the third leading cause of death of those aged 1 to 17 years, outpaced only by unintentional injuries such as car crashes and drowning, and illnesses like cancer according to a new federal study. The new study, which has been called the most comprehensive examination of current firearms-related deaths and injury among children in the United States used data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Violent Death Reporting System to assess the magnitude and characteristics of firearm-related deaths and injuries among children (age 0–17 years) from 2002 to 2014. On average 1297 children under the age of 18 die from gunshot wounds each year. Outside of deaths in the course of law enforcement, there were an average of 693 homicides, 493 suicides and 82 unintentional deaths annually. In addition to deaths, there were 5790 nonfatal injuries from gunshot wounds each year. The issue of firearm violence is increasingly viewed as a public health issue and health care providers have a role in discussing firearm related issues with their patients and communities. A number of programs and sites are available to help health care providers educate themselves about gun violence and become advocates for sensible, effective solutions.
Effects of brine contamination from energy development on wetland macroinvertebrate community structure in the Prairie Pothole Region

Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America support macroinvertebrate communities that are integral to local food webs and important to breeding waterfowl. Macroinvertebrates in PPR wetlands are primarily generalists and well adapted to within and among year changes in water permanence and salinity. The Williston Basin, a major source of U.S. energy production, underlies the southwest portion of the PPR. Development of oil and gas results in the coproduction of large volumes of highly saline, sodium chloride dominated water (brine) and the introduction of brine can alter wetland salinity. To assess potential effects of brine contamination on macroinvertebrate communities, 155 PPR wetlands spanning a range of hydroperiods and salinities were sampled between 2014 and 2016. Brine contamination was documented in 34 wetlands with contaminated wetlands having significantly higher chloride concentrations, specific conductance and percent dominant taxa, and significantly lower taxonomic richness, Shannon diversity, and Pielou evenness scores compared to uncontaminated wetlands. Non-metric multidimensional scaling found significant correlations between several water quality parameters and macroinvertebrate communities. Chloride concentration and specific conductance, which can be elevated in naturally saline wetlands, but are also associated with brine contamination, had the strongest correlations. Five wetland groups were identified from cluster analysis with many of the highly contaminated wetlands located in a single cluster. Low or moderately contaminated wetlands were distributed among the remaining clusters and had macroinvertebrate communities similar to uncontaminated wetlands. While aggregate changes in macroinvertebrate community structure were observed with brine contamination, systematic changes were not evident, likely due to the strong and potentially confounding influence of hydroperiod and natural salinity. Therefore, despite the observed negative response of macroinvertebrate communities to brine contamination, macroinvertebrate community structure alone is likely not the most sensitive indicator of brine contamination in PPR wetlands.
Beyond Expectations: Second-Generation Nigerians in the United States and Britain

The umbrella category “Black” hides within it a multiplicity of experiences, as racial similarity does not mute ethnic and socio-cultural differences. In Beyond Expectations: Second-Generation Nige...
The evolving role of chemotherapy of germ cell tumors.

The treatment of germ cell tumors has undergone a marked evolution over the past two decades. With the high rate of cure that is now possible even in advanced stages, research has focused increasingly on tailoring treatment to an individual patient. The aim is to select a treatment approach with the best chance of cure and the least morbidity, which preserves quality of life. For patients with germ cell tumors, the latter involves consideration of both the acute and chronic toxicities of chemotherapy and surgery.
Diabetic cardiomyopathy. the importance of being earliest.

Over the years, the existence of a diabetic cardiomyopathy distinct from ischemic injury has been confirmed [(1)][1], but the challenge of recognizing diabetic cardiomyopathy at an early stage, in a noninvasive way, still remains. In this issue of the Journal , Fang et al. [(2)][2]evaluated 41
Tax Reform: If Territoriality, then BAT Lite, the Child of the Rejected DBCFT

It looks like the Republicans will be successful in enacting the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCAJA), which will likely include a move to a territorial system for active business income. As I pointed out in my SSRN post: Tax Reform: Territoriality Breeds De Facto Inverters, Trump's Proposal to End Deferral, and Logic Says Yes to Imputation, Congress will be making a mistake in adopting a territorial regime, and Congress should rather adopt an imputation system, which I think will in the long-run be the case. However, if Congress adopts a territorial system, Congress should employ robust anti-base erosion provisions to protect the U.S. tax base. This is because, as I pointed out in the introduction to the above post: [V]irtually every tax lawyer in America will be trying to figure out how to convert what would otherwise be a dollar taxed in the U.S. into a dollar taxed, if at all, abroad. This will happen because any dollar that can be taxed abroad at a lower rate than the U.S. rate (even with a 20% corporate rate) can be brought home tax-free. As discussed in the attached letter to the editor of Tax Notes, Hooray for the BAT-Lite Provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 157 Tax Notes 989 (Nov. 13, 2017), the TCAJA has several anti-base erosion provisions. The letter supports all of these provisions but focuses on the BAT-Lite provision which has its genesis in the proposed but rejected House Republican proposal for a Destination Basis Cash Flow Tax (DBCFT). Although I strongly support BAT-Lite, in the attached article and letters to the editor of Tax Notes, which are included after the attached BAT-Lite letter to the editor, I have spoken out strongly against the DBCFT and applauded the abandonment of it: Hooray for Abandoning the Border Adjustment Tax, Now On to Imputation, Letter to the Editor Tax Notes: 156 TAX NOTES 893 (Aug. 14, 2017) (begins at page 3 of the attached paper): Why Trump Should Reject the DBCFT and Stick to His Original Imputation Proposal, 154 TAX NOTES 473 (April 24, 2017) (begins at page 4 of the attached paper); and Destination-Basis, No; Trump Imputation, Yes, Letter to the Editor of Tax Notes, 154 Tax Notes 1153 (Feb. 27, 2017) (begins at page 17 of the attached paper). Companies will argue strongly against BAT Lite. Let’s hope the Republicans stand their ground. In addition to this post on the TCAJA and my post mentioned above dealing with Imputation, see my following post on SSRN regarding the 25% pass-through rate under the TCAJA: Tax Reform: Taxing Trump and Curry under the Republican Plan (http://ssrn.com/abstract=3082511).
Fecal microbiota transplantation as a tool to treat and reduce susceptibility to disease in animals.

Abstract Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the process by which fecal microbiota are donated from a healthy individual and subsequently transplanted into a diseased or young individual. The mechanism by which FMT is effective is believed to be due to enhanced beneficial microbes, increased microbiome diversity, and restored normal flora. Beneficial gut microorganisms not only play a role in maintaining an intestinal barrier and metabolizing nutrients, but importantly, these microbes help regulate local and systemic immune function. Although FMT has been described for several centuries, only recently has it been utilized as a mainstream therapy in humans and significantly considered for applications in other species. In humans and animals, gastrointestinal diseases are by far the most widely accepted FMT-treatable conditions; however, recent research has shown exceptional promise for FMT being used to treat or prevent other conditions, including those outside of the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, FMT is likely an underutilized, widely-available, and inexpensive tool for improving the health and response to disease in animals. In this review, the effects of FMT on veterinary diseases and potential applications for FMT in animals are discussed.
Crystal and molecular structures of (20R)-20-aminopregn-5-en-3β-ol and (20S)-20-aminopregn-5-en-3β-ol hydrochloride

Two epimers of 20-aminopregn-5-en-3β-ol differing in configuration at C(20) have been synthesized and their structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The (20R)-epimer (1) crystallized in the orthorhombic system, space group P212121, with a = 9.0432(5) A, b = 13.3446(7) A, c = 15.1086(8) A, and Z = 4. The (20S)-epimer hydrochloride hydrate (2 hydrate) crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group C2, with a = 31.0501(3) A, b = 11.8221(1) A, c = 11.9703(2) A, β = 98.5140(10)°, and Z = 8. The absolute configurations at the C(20) chiral centers for the title compounds were unequivocally established for the first time. The asymmetric unit cell of 2 hydrate contained two steroid molecules, A and B, two hydrochloride molecules, and two molecules of water. The crystal packing for both diastereomers was strongly influenced by the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The molecules of 1 were linked in a head-to-tail fashion via hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl group of the ring A and the amino group of the side chain of the ring D. The two molecules A and B of 2 hydrate were held together in head-to-head and head-to-tail fashions by a three-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds involving chlorine ions, disordered water molecules, and hydroxyl–amino groups interactions.
Slicing the Dimensionality: Top-k Query Processing for High-Dimensional Spaces

Top-k (preference) queries are used in several domains to retrieve the set of \(k\) tuples that more closely match a given query. For high-dimensional spaces, evaluation of top-k queries is expensive, as data and space partitioning indices perform worse than sequential scan. An alternative approach is the use of sorted lists to speed up query evaluation. This approach extends performance gains when compared to sequential scan to about ten dimensions. However, data-sets for which preference queries are considered, often are high-dimensional. In this paper, we explore the the use of bit-sliced indices (BSI) to encode the attributes or score lists and perform top-k queries over high-dimensional data using bit-wise operations. Our approach does not require sorting or random access to the index. Additionally, bit-sliced indices require less space than other type of indices. The size of the bit-sliced index (without using compression) for a normalized data-set with 3 decimals is 60 times smaller than the size of sorted lists. Furthermore, our experimental evaluation shows that the use of BSI for top-k query processing is more efficient than Sequential Scan for high-dimensional data. When compared to Sequential Top-k Algorithm (STA), BSI is one order of magnitude faster.
Predicting Chronic Subdural Hematoma Recurrence and Stroke Outcomes While Withholding Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Agents

Introduction: The aging of the western population and the increased use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and antiplatelet drugs (APD) will result in a clinical dilemma on how to balance the recurrence risk of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) with the risk of withholding blood thinners. Objective: To identify features that predicts recurrence, thromboembolism (TEE), hospital stay and mortality. To identify the optimal window for resuming APD or OAC. Methods: We performed a retrospective multivariate analysis of a prospectively collected database. We then build machine learning models for outcomes prediction. Results: We identified 596 patients. The rate of recurrence was 22.17%, that of thromboembolism was 0.9% and that of mortality was 14.78%. Smoking, platelet dysfunction, CKD, and alcohol use were independent predictors of higher recurrence, while resolution of the SDH was protective. OAC use had higher odds of developing TEEs. CKD, developing a new neurological deficit or a TEEs were independent predictors of higher mortality. We find the optimal time of resuming OAC to be after 2 days but before 21 days as these patients had the lowest recurrence of bleeding associated with a low risk of stroke. The ML model achieved an accuracy of 93, precision of 0.84 and recall of 0.80 for recurrence prediction. ML models for hospital stay performed poorly (R2 = 0.33). ML model for stroke was overfitted given the low number of events. Conclusion: ML modeling is feasible. However, large well-designed prospective multicenter studies are needed for accurate ML so that clinicians can balance the risks of recurrence with the risk of TEEs, especially for high-risk anticoagulated patients.
Abstract A29: Dissecting the mechanisms of senescence immune surveillance in liver cancer

Senescence is a cell cycle arrest program that limits the expansion of damaged cells and can trigger antitumor immunity that leads to their elimination in vivo, serving as a potent barrier to tumorigenesis. However, during tumor initiation, the effective clearance of senescent cells is compromised, warranting a deeper mechanistic understanding of this process. To define the critical immunomodulatory factors mediating senescence immune surveillance and how these mechanisms are bypassed during cancer development and progression, we exploited a genetic approach in which liver tumor cells can be triggered to senesce by restoration of tumor suppressor p53. p53 reactivation triggers cytostatic response in vitro, yet it drives robust regression of established liver tumors in immunocompetent mice. Profiling of the immune landscape upon senescence induction revealed that there is an accumulation of CD8 and CD4 T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Consistently, immune cell blockade through depleting antibodies blunts tumor regression, indicating a key role of adaptive immunity in this process. To gain mechanistic insight into how senescent cells are recognized by the immune system, RNA-seq and mass spectrometry were conducted on both proliferating and senescent tumor cells and revealed several senescence-enriched cell surface factors related to epithelial-immune cell interactions and MHC-I presentation. Ongoing work aims to functionally interrogate the role of these senescence-induced factors as novel senescence surveillance effectors. Our research will increase the current knowledge of the strategies to trigger senescence in advanced cancers that can restore immune surveillance programs lost during the course of tumor evolution. Citation Format: Hsuan-An Chen, Direna Alonso-Curbelo, Yu-Jui Ho, John P. Morris IV, Shauna Houlihan, Ryan Smolkin, Wei Luan, Ronald C. Hendrickson, Scott W. Lowe. Dissecting the mechanisms of senescence immune surveillance in liver cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolving Landscape of Cancer Modeling; 2020 Mar 2-5; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A29.
Uniparental disomy: Origin, frequency, and clinical significance

Uniparental disomy (UPD) is defined as two copies of a whole chromosome derived from the same parent. There can be multiple mechanisms that lead to UPD; these are reviewed in the context of contemporary views on the mechanism leading to aneuploidy. Recent studies indicate that UPD is rare in an apparently healthy population and also rare in spontaneous abortion tissues. The most common type of UPD is a maternal heterodisomy (both maternal allele sets present). Isodisomy (a duplicated single set of alleles) or segmental loss of heterozygosity is sometimes encountered in SNP-based microarray referrals. Decisions regarding the most appropriate follow-up testing should consider the possibility of consanguinity (that will generally involve multiple regions), an imprinted gene disorder (chromosomes 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 20), expression of an autosomal recessive disorder, and an occult aneuploid cell line that may be confined to the placenta. Upd(16)mat, per se, does not appear to be associated with an abnormal phenotype. UPD provides an insight into the history of early chromosome segregation error and understanding the rates and fate of these events are of key importance in the provision of fertility management and prenatal healthcare.
The Impact of Medicaid on Labor Market Activity and Program Participation: Evidence from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment.

United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services (Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation)
Impact of a Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Nutrition Intervention on Patients Living with Chronic Disease in an Underserved Community:

The current study evaluated the impact of a whole-foods, plant-based nutrition intervention on metabolic markers of patients with chronic disease in an underserved community setting. A retrospectiv...
Dream and the aesthetics of existence: Revisiting “Foucault’s ethical imagination”:

For the later Foucault, as for the early Foucault, the dream represents a privileged disclosure of the ethics of the self, and the relation to truth. What, then, is the function of the dream in the...
Uniformly convex functions II

Recently, A. W. Goodman introduced the class UCV of normalized uniformly convex functions. We present some sharp coefficient bounds for functions f(z) = z + a2z + a3z + . . . ∈ UCV and their inverses f−1(w) = w + d2w + d3w + . . . . The series expansion for f−1(w) converges when |w| < %f , where 0 < %f depends on f . The sharp bounds on |an| and all extremal functions were known for n = 2 and 3; the extremal functions consist of a certain function k ∈ UCV and its rotations. We obtain the sharp bounds on |an| and all extremal functions for n = 4, 5, and 6. The same function k and its rotations remain the only extremals. It is known that k and its rotations cannot provide the sharp bound on |an| for n sufficiently large. We also find the sharp estimate on the functional |μa2 − a3| for −∞ < μ < ∞. We give sharp bounds on |dn| for n = 2, 3 and 4. For n = 2, k−1 and its rotations are the only extremals. There are different extremal functions for both n = 3 and n = 4. Finally, we show that k and its rotations provide the sharp upper bound on |f ′′(z)| over the class UCV.
Transpyloric Prolapse of Polypoid Gastric Carcinoma

Four patients with discrete intraluminal filling defects in the duodenal bulb secondary to transpyloric prolapse of polypoid gastric carcinoma are reported. The lesions werepedunculated in 2 cases and sessile in the remaining 2. The clinical, radiological, and pathological findings are discussed. Prolapsed gastric carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of localized intraluminal filling defects in the duodenal bulb and endoscopy and biopsy performed in patients with appropriate clinical and radiological findings.
Other Benign Colorectal Disorders

Multiple different disease processes may affect the colon and rectum, each challenging in varying aspects for both patient and physician alike. Though considered benign, they encompass a wide spectrum of pathology ranging from infectious, radiation-induced, and vascular etiologies to more obscure and difficult to diagnose conditions such as collagen vascular and microscopic colitides. Confounding the situation, patients may present with a variety of clinical symptoms spanning from chronic, nonspecific diarrhea, vague abdominal pain, and low-grade fevers, to florid sepsis. As such, clinicians caring for these patients must be aware of not only the many subtleties associated with each condition, but also possess a sound, and often stepwise, approach for evaluation and treatment. In this chapter, we review the extensive gamut encompassing these less common conditions, highlighting the critical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to maximize patient outcomes.
Design of a primary flight school decision support system

There is a growing shortage of commercial pilots in the aviation industry. Flight schools provide a necessary, but insufficient, link in producing pilots. Rising prices associated with aircraft lead to higher training costs. It is possible that this burden associated with training significantly influences the declining number of students completing flight training. This paper details the development of a system to assist flight schools in choosing the lowest-cost combination of aircraft type and quantity at a static level of demand for training. A stochastic queuing model covering the costs for a ten-year life-cycle is developed for the decision support system. Stochastic characteristics are derived from historical data from a flight school. The model accounts for recurring and non-recurring costs for aircraft operation.
Increasing representational fluency with visualization tools

The present article reports on the use of one visualization tool, Connected Chemistry, to increase chemistry student's representational fluency, or use of accepted chemical representations and reasoning from submicroscopic perspectives. The tool was embedded in a unit on the particulate nature of matter and implemented in three high school classrooms. Analysis of learning via pre-post test measures revealed a significant increase in representational fluency among all Connected Chemistry students compared to students learning from more traditional lecture-and-text method; however, comparable improvements in declarative knowledge were not evident.
A Space Perspective on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education

A senior panel of military and civil space, industrial, and academia leaders recently came together under the auspices of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to examine the state of science, technology, engineering, and math education within the United States. They concluded that there is a risk to continued U.S. global space leadership without an effective response and educational innovation and funding for technical challenges that are key to that response. This report summarizes the observations made by the panel members. 1
Rejection, Revocation of Acceptance, and Avoidance: A Comparative Assessment of UCC and CISG Goods Oriented Remedies

Commercial parties purchase goods for use in their trade or business or for resale. The primary objective is to obtain conforming goods of the desired quality and at a price that generates a profitable return on the resale or use of the purchased goods. Occasionally, the seller delivers nonconforming goods, goods that fail to meet the contractual obligation. This obligation may arise from the seller’s description, statements, promises, practices or course of dealings, course of performance, or from trade usage or custom. Both the Uniform Commercial Code and the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods empower the buyer to thrust the nonconforming or defective goods back on the defaulting seller. Although the language is deceptively similar, these relative rights and the corresponding duties vary in ways that are significant. Assessment of these rights and duties, including the right or obligation to cure, is essential for crafting an agreement that minimizes the adverse impact of the Convention for parties who might otherwise be subject to it while reaping the benefits that the Convention offers and are unavailable in the Code. This article addresses the rights available to buyers pursuant to the domestic sales law of Rejection and Revocation of Acceptance and the comparable right of Avoidance available through the Convention. Special emphasis is place on the relative rights to cure. First, this article assesses the rights granted and limitations imposed on buyers by the Code. Second, after establishing these rights and the conditions precedent to the exercise of them, the rights and obligations of the Convention are assessed through a comparative lens.
Formal versus informal prekindergarten care and school readiness for children in immigrant families: A synthesis review ☆

Abstract The U.S. is witnessing two major trends in its rising cohorts of young children preparing to start school: an increase in the utilization of formal (e.g., center-based) childcare options in the year before starting kindergarten and an increase in the share of these young children who come from immigrant families. Given that many children from immigrant families in the U.S. start school at a disadvantage relative to native-born children, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners have inquired into which prekindergarten alternatives might be most effective at boosting school readiness for this group of children. This review covers the effects of formal versus informal prekindergarten alternatives in the year before entering school on a commonly-explored set of child-level academic and socioemotional indictors of school readiness for children in immigrant families in the U.S. In contrast to remaining in informal care, children in immigrant families showed fairly consistent, positive academic and socioemotional effects of attending formal prekindergarten in the year before kindergarten for children in immigrant families. Compared to native-born children in formal care, children from immigrant families in formal care showed some positive, but not as consistent, evidence of closing gaps between these two groups across school readiness indicators. Finally, there are several, noteworthy common limitations in this body of literature, which can be used to shape future research agendas and policy dialogue.
Protection by glycine of proximal tubules from injury due to inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP production.

We have determined whether glycine or glutathione can protect rabbit proximal tubules damaged by chemical inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation: antimycin A, rotenone, cyanide, oligomycin, or car...
What mesoscopic structures really remember : insufficiency of the open boundary approximation

We analyze the influence of contact electrons on quantum transport in a resonant-tunneling diode (RTD), using a many-body density matrix formalism for open systems. We explicitly relate the net current in the RTD to the memory-containing effective interaction between the RTD active region and the contacts. This effect can only be captured if the RTD active region is treated fully as a dynamically open system.
Isolation and characterization of a spontaneously immortalized bovine retinal pigmented epithelial cell line

The Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE) is juxtaposed with the photoreceptor outer segments of the eye. The proximity of the photoreceptor cells is a prerequisite for their survival, as they depend on the RPE to remove the outer segments and are also influenced by RPE cell paracrine factors. RPE cell death can cause a progressive loss of photoreceptor function, which can diminish vision and, over time, blindness ensues. Degeneration of the retina has been shown to induce a variety of retinopathies, such as Stargardt's disease, Cone-Rod Dystrophy (CRD), Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Fundus Flavimaculatus (FFM), Best's disease and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). We have cultured primary bovine RPE cells to gain a further understanding of the mechanisms of RPE cell death. One of the cultures, named tRPE, surpassed senescence and was further characterized to determine its viability as a model for retinal diseases. The tRPE cell line has been passaged up to 150 population doublings and was shown to be morphologically similar to primary cells. They have been characterized to be of RPE origin by reverse transcriptase PCR and immunocytochemistry using the RPE-specific genes RPE65 and CRALBP and RPE-specific proteins RPE65 and Bestrophin. The tRPE cells are also immunoreactive to vimentin, cytokeratin and zonula occludens-1 antibodies. Chromosome analysis indicates a normal diploid number. The tRPE cells do not grow in suspension or in soft agar. After 3H thymidine incorporation, the cells do not appear to divide appreciably after confluency. The tRPE cells are immortal, but still exhibit contact inhibition, serum dependence, monolayer growth and secrete an extra-cellular matrix. They retain the in-vivo morphology, gene expression and cell polarity. Additionally, the cells endocytose exogenous melanin, A2E and purified lipofuscin granules. This cell line may be a useful in-vitro research model for retinal maculopathies.
New Directions in Refugee Youth Mental Health Services: Overcoming Barriers to Engagement

Mental health outcomes in refugee youth are diverse, ranging from prolonged difficulties to resiliency. Refugee communities rarely access services, even for those youth who are in need. Barriers include (a) distrust of authority and/or systems, (b) stigma of mental health services, (c) linguistic and cultural barriers, and (d) primacy and prioritization of resettlement stressors. Mental health promotion among refugee youth requires an integrated response to these barriers. This article includes a description of how the previously mentioned barriers may prevent refugee youth from receiving mental health services; approaches to addressing them; and a detailed description of Supporting the Health of Immigrant Families and Adolescents (Project SHIFA), a program developed in collaboration with the Somali community in Boston, Massachusetts.
Nature's Carnot Engine: The Hurricane

The typical curriculum in a thermodynamics course includes the Carnot cycle, a series of processes that constitute the most efficient heat engine between two constant temperature reservoirs. The conventional view of this cycle is that it is an ideal that cannot be achieved in practice. The spate of hurricanes that battered the U.S. in 2005 has given rise to extensive thermodynamic analysis of these storms with the finding that they in fact replicate the Carnot cycle. Heat energy fuels the storm through evaporation of the warm ocean waters at constant temperature. Work is produced by adiabatic expansion upward of the saturated air, resulting in strong winds. Energy is then released by radiation to space at the approximately constant temperature of the upper atmosphere. Adiabatic compression follows as the air descends back to sea level. Unlike the textbook Carnot engine, the work output of the hurricane is returned to the cycle by frictional dissipation due to the wind at the sea surface boundary layer. This paper will describe the hurricane in thermodynamic terms so as to appreciate its great power and efficiency. It may be a worthwhile topic to include in a thermodynamics course.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The Dielectric Constants of four Electrolytes as given by the Carman Electrometer Method

The electrometer method devised by Professor A. P. Carman is used to measure the dielectric constants of aqueous solutions of NaCl, KCl, Ba${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ and CuS${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. Curves showing the relation between dielectric constant and concentration of the solution are obtained for each of these four substances, up to an equivalent normal concentration of 0.018 for NaCl, of 0.01 for KCl, of 0.024 for Ba${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$, and of 0.028 for CuS${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. These curves each show first a decrease of the dielectric constant with increasing concentration. After passing through a minimum the dielectric constant increases with the concentration, rising in each case to a value greater than that of water. For solutions of Ba${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ and CuS${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, there is in each case a second minimum in the rising branch of the curve. These experimental results for the dielectric constants of aqueous electrolytes can be explained by an hypothesis in accordance with the general dipole theory of Debeye, as interpreted by Walden, Ulich and Werner.
Defect-free fabrication of periodic structures using extreme ultraviolet Talbot lithography

We present a defect-free scalable nano-patterning scheme based on the Talbot effect with extreme ultraviolet laser illumination.
A New Index to Monitor Central Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma

Purpose The visual field index (VFI) summarizes global visual field (VF) data and was developed to monitor glaucoma progression using 24-2 and 30-2 strategies. We applied similar principles and statistical procedures to develop a new parameter, the central field index (CFI), to monitor 10-2 VF progression. Design Retrospective cohort. Participants Glaucoma patients with paracentral defects seen on 24-2 perimetry and followed up with at least 5 10-2 VF tests. Methods The CFI was developed by calculating age-corrected defect depth at test points obtained during 10-2 examinations. The sensitivities at these points were scored as percentages similar to the method described for the VFI: 100–[(|total deviation|/age-corrected normal threshold)×100]. A weighting procedure was applied based on published estimates of the occipital cortical spatial magnification. For validation, we performed mixed linear model testing for the association between CFI rates of change (%/year) and known risk factors for glaucoma progression in a population with established glaucoma and at least 5 10-2 VF tests. To determine whether the CFI was affected by cataract, as is known to occur with mean deviation (MD), we conducted a pilot evaluation comparing rates of CFI change in 3 groups: (1) eyes with cataract, (2) pseudophakic eyes, and (3) eyes in which cataract surgery was performed in the middle of the series. Main Outcome Measures Rates of CFI and MD change. Results Central field index values were calculated for 176 eyes of 142 patients. The mean rate of CFI change of the entire sample was −1.10%/year (95% confidence interval, −1.03 to −1.16%/year). Elevated intraocular pressure ( P P >0.100) Conclusions We developed and validated a new index to monitor central field progression that is minimally affected by the presence or removal of cataract and that correlates significantly with an important risk factor for glaucoma progression. This new index may become useful for glaucoma management, especially when combined with conventional static perimetry strategies.
Stain blockers for nylon fibres

The literature on stain blockers, which are employed for reducing the staining of nylon fibres used in carpeting, has been reviewed. These compounds include the reaction products of sulphonated phenolic compounds and formaldehyde. They may be applied as a spin finish immediately after the extrusion of the nylon fibres or to the fibres after the carpets have been made. The composition of stain blockers, the methods of application to nylon fibre and the resulting properties are described. Mechanisms to explain the action of stain blockers are discussed.
Test-Retest of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: An Examination of Dominant Functioning.

A test-retest study of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator over 20 months yielded findings similar to those in previous studies of the instrument. However, an additional examination of type dynamics using loglinear analyses indicated that dominant thinking and dominant sensing did not retest as well as did dominant intuition and feeling for this group of 99 master's students. Although the psychometric properties of the instrument could have been a factor, environmental presses appeared to have been the primary influence on these results.
Minichannels Cooling Using MWNT Fin Structures and Al2O3 Nanofluid

Future innovations of electronics are bounded by the availability of effective cooling methods to remove heat that is generated. Micro- and minichannels, acting as heat exchangers, are effective in removing heat from small surfaces because of their large surface area to volume ratio [1]. Both micro pin finned structures [2,3] and nanofluids [4–6] have proven to provide significant enhancement in thermal performance in minichannels.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Early Literacy: Emerging Perspectives

Abstract This paper reviews the historical and theoretical contexts that have contributed to the concept of readiness, in particular reading readiness. It provides a comparison of influential emerging perspectives on early literacy and suggests that an exploration of the assumptions that undergird early literacy instruction can be a useful starting point for discussion of the nature of literacy and the processes of learning. Further, because these perspectives have varied perceptions about how children are viewed in American society and suggest different futures for young children's education, their implications for research and practice are of interest.
Keeping an Eye on Membrane Transport by TR-WAXS

In this issue of Structure , Andersson et al. apply time-resolved wide angle X-ray scattering (TR-WAXS) to follow light-induced conformational changes for both bacteriorhodopsin and proteorhodopsin and probe real-time dynamics at atomic resolution.
Nonfinancial Information in Investor Communications

This study conducts an empirical investigation of financial and nonfinancial information in investor relations communications. First, the study reviews various classifications of nonfinancial infor...
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the vulva.

Abstract Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the vulva is an ucnommon low-grade sarcoma of dermal origin. Although wide local excision is the treatment of choice, microscopic tumor projections beyond the central tumor nodule explain the tumors' propensity for local recurrence. Frozen sections of margins may be useful to ensure complete resection. The following report contributes two additional patients with this uncommon neoplasm. Notably, one of these two had a fibrosarcomatous area within the dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. This is the second reported case of a fibrosarcoma arising in a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the vulva.
Elucidating the Influence of Local Structure Perturbations on the Metal–Insulator Transitions of V1–xMoxO2 Nanowires: Mechanistic Insights from an X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study

The substitutional doping of Mo within VO2 substantially alters the electronic and structural phase diagrams of the host lattice, most notably by bringing the technologically relevant metal–insulat...
Carcinoma of the parotid gland. Analysis of treatment results and patterns of failure after combined surgery and radiation therapy.

Background. The authors retrospectively studied 62 patients with malignant parotid tumors, treated by combined surgery and radiation therapy between 1975 and 1989. No patients were lost to follow-up, and all living patients were interviewed. The median follow-up time was 66 months. Results. Among the 62 patients, there were five isolated local failures. Distant failure was observed in 11 patients. Neck failure was uncommon except in patients with advanced neck disease on presentation. The actuarial 5-year and 10-year local control rates were 95% and 84%, respectively. The corresponding actuarial disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 77% and 65%, respectively. Patients with larger tumors, recurrent disease, or involvement of the facial nerve tended to have lower DFS rates. No statistically significant differences were observed for patients treated with once-daily versus twice-daily radiation therapy fractionation schemes. Conclusions. Treatment was well tolerated, and severe treatment sequelae were uncommon. In summary, surgery in combination with radiation therapy is highly efficacious in controlling malignant tumors of the parotid gland.
Analysis of risk factors and comorbid diseases in the development of thrombosis in patients with anticardiolipin antibodies.

Our objective was to identify the role of various disease states and additional risk factors in the development of thrombosis in patients with anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). We undertook a retrospective chart review of patients with aCL (IgG or IgM titres > 20 GPL or 20 MPL by ELISA). Patients with a thrombotic event were compared to patients without thrombosis for potential risk factors: age, gender, ethnicity, hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), hyperlipidaemia, tobacco use and sequential aCL determinations. The role of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C and renal disease was also analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test, the χ2 test and multivariate analysis. Of the 107 patients who had moderately positive aCL (IgM and/or IgG), 53 had a thrombotic event. The patients with thrombosis were significantly older than patients without thrombosis (mean age 46.6 vs. 38.75 years, respectively, P=0.014). No significant differences in gender, race, HTN, DM, hyperlipidaemia, tobacco use or concomitant diseases were identified in the two groups. Thrombosis was more frequent in patients who were seropositive for both IgG and IgM (P=0.027). Thrombosis was observed in equal frequencies in patients with aCL on both determinations and in patients with aCL on only one of the two determinations. In patients with aCL on two determinations a high-titre IgG aCL was associated with thrombosis. Patients with renal disease and aCL on only one of the two determinations had fewer thrombotic events (P=0.0046). Mean aCL IgM titres were higher in thrombosis groups containing venous thromboses than in the thrombosis group with arterial thrombosis only. We concluded that risk factors for thrombosis with a single aCL determination include older age and both IgM and IgG aCL. With persistent aCL, high-titre IgG aCL was associated with thrombosis.