cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidermolysis bullosa: to split and to clump.

During the past few years various proteins have come to the forefront as underlying the structural abnormalitles of different forms of epidermolysis bullosa. Only very recently has linkage been established between certain major forms of epidermolysis bullosa and the genes encoding some of these proteins, and mutations of these genes identified. The stage will soon be set for providing a new and rational basis for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of epidermolysis bullosa, for improving diagnosis, including prenatal testing, and for devising new approaches to treatment
Viral vector-based reversible neuronal inactivation and behavioral manipulation in the macaque monkey.

Viral vectors are promising tools for the dissection of neural circuits. In principle, they can manipulate neurons at a level of specificity not otherwise achievable. While many studies have used viral vector-based approaches in the rodent brain, only a few have employed this technique in the non-human primate, despite the importance of this animal model for neuroscience research. Here, we report evidence that a viral vector-based approach can be used to manipulate a monkey’s behavior in a task. For this purpose, we used the allatostatin receptor/allatostatin (AlstR/AL) system, which has previously been shown to allow inactivation of neurons in vivo. The AlstR was expressed in neurons in monkey V1 by injection of an adeno-associated virus 1 (AAV1) vector. Two monkeys were trained in a detection task, in which they had to make a saccade to a faint peripheral target. Injection of AL caused a retinotopic deficit in the detection task in one monkey. Specifically, the monkey showed marked impairment for detection targets placed at the visual field location represented at the virus injection site, but not for targets shown elsewhere. We confirmed that these deficits indeed were due to the interaction of AlstR and AL by injecting saline, or AL at a V1 location without AlstR expression. Post-mortem histology confirmed AlstR expression in this monkey. We failed to replicate the behavioral results in a second monkey, as AL injection did not impair the second monkey’s performance in the detection task. However, post-mortem histology revealed a very low level of AlstR expression in this monkey. Our results demonstrate that viral vector-based approaches can produce effects strong enough to influence a monkey’s performance in a behavioral task, supporting the further development of this approach for studying how neuronal circuits control complex behaviors in non-human primates.
Need for Cognition Moderates Responses to Framed Smoking-Cessation Messages1

Smoking-cessation messages usually emphasize the costs of continuing to smoke (lossframed). However, prospect theory suggests that messages that instead emphasize the benefits of quitting smoking (gain-framed) could be more effective than loss-framed messages because smoking cessation is likely viewed as a cancer-prevention behavior with a certain rather than a risky outcome. In this study, smokers at public events read brochures containing brief gain- or loss-framed smoking-cessation messages. The influence of framing was moderated by participants’ need for cognition (NFC). Individuals lower in NFC had greater intention to quit after reading a gain-framed message than after reading a lossframed message— a finding consistent with our predictions— whereas framing did not affect the persuasiveness of messages among people higher in NFC.
Gas Permeation Properties of Solid Polymer Electrolyte (SPE) Membranes

Gas permeation properties for Nafion membranes and their composites were investigated under various conditions. The permeability coefficients of Nafion depended greatly on the water content, the cation form, and the ion‐exchange capacity. The gas permeation rate through a same sample varied with temperature, pressure, and membrane thickness. The permeabilty of hydrogen was about twice as great as that of oxygen. The electrocatalyst plated on the membrane did not serve as a barrier for gas permeation, but the structure of the catalyst layer played an important role in gas permeation during water electrolysis.
Gender norms, poverty and armed conflict in Côte D’Ivoire: engaging men in women’s social and economic empowerment programming

Engaging men is a critical component in efforts to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV). Little is known regarding men’s perspectives of approaches that challenge inequitable gender norms, particularly in settings impacted by armed conflict. This article describes men’s experiences with a women’s empowerment program and highlights men’s perceptions of gender norms, poverty and armed conflict, as they relate to achieving programmatic goals. Data are from 32 Ivorian men who participated in indepth interviews in 2012. Interviews were undertaken as part of an intervention that combined gender dialogue groups for both women and their male partners with women’s only village savings and loans programs to reduce IPV against women. Findings suggested that in the context of armed conflict, traditional gender norms and economic stressors experienced by men challenged fulfillment of gender roles and threatened men’s sense of masculinity. Men who participated in gender dialogue groups discussed their acceptance of programming and identified improvements in their relationships with their female partners. These men further discussed increased financial planning along with their partners, and attributed such increases to the intervention. Addressing men’s perceptions of masculinity, poverty and armed conflict may be key components to reduce men’s violence against women in conflict-affected settings.
Toxicity of inorganic and organic selenium to Daphnia magna (cladocera) and Chironomus riparius (diptera)

Elevated concentrations of selenium (Se) have been previously measured in biota sampled from the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR) in the San Joaquin Valley of central California. We conducted acute and chronic toxicity tests with the cladoceran Daphnia magna and the midge Chironomus riparius to determine the toxicity or bioaccumulation of waterborne Se in a reconstituted water similar to the San Joaquin River. Daphnids were more acutely sensitive than midges to the toxic effects of inorganic Se. An organic form of Se (seleno-[L]-methionine) was extremely toxic to daphnids, but was relatively nontoxic to midges. In long-term exposure to a 6:1 mixture of selenate to selenite (a mixture representative of KNWR), the emergence time of adult midges was delayed at Se concentrations ≥ 837 μg/L. Daphnid reproduction and intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) were reduced at Se concentrations ≥ 348 μg/L and growth of adults was reduced at ≥ 156 μg/L. Whole body Mg, K and Na concentrations in daphnids were not affected by chronic Se exposure; however, whole body Ca concentration increased at intermediate Se exposure concentrations. In addition, whole body Cl concentration was reduced at 711 μg Se/L. Daphnids accumulated potentially toxic concentrations of Se from water that may adversely affect fish or waterfowl through the food chain.
Skysurveys, Light Curves and Statistical Challenges

Research in astronomy is undergoing a profound transformation from the study of small samples to the analysis of large-scale digital surveys of the sky. Ever larger amounts of data and better statistical techniques are being used to address a vast range of astronomical problems, from near-by asteroids to universe-wide cosmology. There is a huge need for new methodology development to address petabyte-sized datasets of images, atlases with millions of spectra, multivariate catalogues and time series with billions of objects. The focus of this article is on the analysis of light-curves (i.e. the variation of source brightness as a function of time). A description of the importance of the problem and the techniques already being used is given. The field is ripe with many statistical and computational challenges.
HF Radar Performance in a Low-Energy Environment: CODAR SeaSonde Experience on the West Florida Shelf

Three long-range (5 MHz) Coastal Ocean Dynamics Application Radar (CODAR) SeaSonde HF radars overlooking an array of as many as eight moored acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) have operated on the West Florida Shelf since September 2003 for the purpose of observing the coastal ocean currents. HF radar performance on this low-energy (currents and waves) continental shelf is evaluated with respect to data returns, the rms differences between the HF radar and the ADCP radial currents, bearing offsets, and radial velocity uncertainties. Possible environmental factors affecting the HF radar performance are discussed, with the findings that both the low-energy sea state and the unfavorable surface wave directions are the main limiting factors for these HF radar observations of currents on the WFS. Despite the challenge of achieving continuous backscatter from this low-energy environment, when acquired the data quality is good in comparison with the ADCP measurements. The rms differences range from 6 to 10 cm s 21 for hourly and from 3 to 6 cm s 21 for 36-h low-pass-filtered radial currents, respectively. Bearing offsets are in the range from 2158 to 198. Coherent variations of the HF radar and ADCP radial currents are seen across both tidal and subtidal frequency bands. By examining the HF radar radial velocities at low wave energy, it is found that the data returns decrease rapidly for significant wave heights smaller than 1 m, and that the rms differences between the HF radar and ADCP radials are degraded when the significant wave height is smaller than 0.3 m.
The Judicial Repeal of the Johnson/Kennedy Administration's 'Signature' Achievement

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the most significant legislative achievements in American history, has been gutted. This is not because of Congress, or an Executive agency; it is because of the courts. Federal judges, from trial courts to the Supreme Court, from one end of the country to the other, of all political affiliations, have interpreted the Act virtually, although not entirely, out of existence. Plaintiffs in discrimination cases lose on summary judgment, more than any other party in any other type of case. If they get to a jury trial, their damage verdicts run the risk of being reduced by trial judges and their counsel's fees slashed -- more than the verdicts or fees of plaintiffs and plaintiffs' counsel in any other category of case. Even successful plaintiffs' verdicts are reversed more than jury verdicts in any other type of case. It is not simply that plaintiffs lose, but how they lose -- in decision after decision that legitimizes discriminator practices and behavior that would have been abhorrent when the Civil Rights Act was passed. This article offers a preliminary explanation for the pattern and suggestions for change.
CT Urography for Diagnosis of Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Are Both Nephrographic and Excretory Phases Necessary?

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to compare the diagnostic performance of nephrographic phase only, excretory phase only, and both nephrographic and excretory phases of CT urography (CTU) for the detection of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-nine consecutive patients with pathologically proven upper tract urothelial carcinoma who underwent a single-bolus CTU examination were evaluated. Forty-nine control patients with normal findings on two CTU examinations performed at a 1-year interval were included. Two radiologists independently reviewed the 98 CTU examinations at three different sessions (nephrographic phase only, excretory phase only, and both nephrographic and excretory phases simultaneously) and rated the likelihood of the presence of a urothelial carcinoma in each segment of the renal collecting system and ureter using a 5-point scale. Sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of ROC curve were calculated per segment and per patient. RESULTS. A total of 314 segments...
Profile of Functional Limitations and Task Performance Among People With Early- and Middle-Stage Parkinson Disease

Background Overall functional ability declines over time in people with Parkinson disease (PD). Established benchmarks are needed to allow clinicians and researchers to facilitate meaningful interpretation of data. Objective The purposes of this study were: (1) to report typical values for standard measures of functional ability commonly used in intervention studies and clinical practice with individuals in the early and middle stages of PD and (2) to describe the profile of functional limitations using the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stages of disease and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores. Design Cross-sectional data were obtained from 5 different studies. Methods Three hundred thirty-nine patients were evaluated for disease severity (UPDRS motor score); functional capacity (Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance Test [CS-PFP]); balance and gait (Functional Reach Test [FRT], Timed “Up & Go” Test [TUG], 360-degree turn, Six-Minute Walk Test [6MWT], and Two-Minute Walk Test); and basic functional activities (supine-to-stand task, stand-to-supine task, and functional axial rotation [FAR]). Results The mean UPDRS motor score for the sample was 39.2 (SD=12.93). At each stage of PD (from least to most involved), scores on functional measures indicated a significant and progressively reduced functional status. Limitations began early in the disease for the CS-PFP and FAR. Losses in performance were consistent across all stages of disease for the CS-PFP, FRT, 6MWT, and FAR. Several measures demonstrated meaningful losses of function only in later stages of disease. Findings extend current appreciation of functional limitations that begin early in PD and can guide the choice of functional outcome measures at different stages of disease severity. Limitations Data were obtained only from participants in H&Y stages 1 through 3 and only for some of the performance measures typically used. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that functional loss occurs at different points in the disease process, depending on the task under consideration. The resulting profile of functional limitations provides benchmarks that clinicians and researchers can use to interpret and monitor status of patients.
Abstract: Digitization and Search: A Non-Traditional Use of HPC

We describe our efforts to provide a form of automated search of handwritten content for digitized document archives. To carry out the search we use a computer vision technique called word spotting. A form of content based image retrieval, it avoids the still difficult task of directly recognizing text by allowing a user to search using a query image containing handwritten text and ranking a database of images in terms of those that contain more similar looking content. In order to make this search capability available on an archive three computationally expensive pre-processing steps are required. We augment this automated portion of the process with a passive crowd sourcing element that mines queries from the systems users in order to then improve the results of future queries. We benchmark the proposed framework on 1930s Census data, a collection of roughly 3.6 million forms and 7 billion individual units of information.
Local relative density modulates failure and strength in vertically aligned carbon nanotubes.

Micromechanical experiments, image analysis, and theoretical modeling revealed that local failure events and compressive stresses of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were uniquely linked to relative density gradients. Edge detection analysis of systematically obtained scanning electron micrographs was used to quantify a microstructural figure-of-merit related to relative local density along VACNT heights. Sequential bottom-to-top buckling and hardening in stress–strain response were observed in samples with smaller relative density at the bottom. When density gradient was insubstantial or reversed, bottom regions always buckled last, and a flat stress plateau was obtained. These findings were consistent with predictions of a 2D material model based on a viscoplastic solid with plastic non-normality and a hardening–softening–hardening plastic flow relation. The hardening slope in compression generated by the model was directly related to the stiffness gradient along the sample height, and hence to the local relative density. These results demonstrate that a microstructural figure-of-merit, the effective relative density, can be used to quantify and predict the mechanical response.
Characterization of NOx, N2O, and CO for Lean-Premixed Combustion in a High-Pressure Jet-Stirred Reactor

A high-pressure jet-stirred reactor (HP-JSR) has been built and applied to the study of NOx and N2O formation and CO oxidation in lean-premixed (LPM) combustion. The measurements obtained with the HP-JSR provide information on how NOx forms in lean-premixed, high-intensity combustion, and provide comparison to NOx data published recently for practical LPM combustors. The HP-JSR results indicate that the NOx yield is significantly influenced by the rate of relaxation of super-equilibrium concentrations of the O-atom. Also indicated by the HP-JSR results are characteristic NOx formation rates. Two computational models are used to simulate the HP-JSR, and to provide comparison to the measurements. The first is a chemical reactor model (CRM) consisting of two perfectly-stirred reactors (PSRs) placed in series. The second is a stirred reactor model with finite rate macromixing (i.e., recirculation) and micromixing. The micromixing is treated by either coalescence-dispersion (CD) or interaction-by-exchange-with-the-mean (IEM) theory. Additionally, a model based on one-dimensional gas dynamics with chemical reaction is used to assess chemical conversions within the gas sample probe.Copyright © 1996 by ASME
The Illinois Principal and Income Act of 1941

IN 1931 The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws promulgated the Uniform Principal and Income Act and the American Bar Association approved it. The history of the preparation of the proposed statute may be found in the annual handbooks of the Conference from 1925 to 1931,1 during which time a committee was considering the topic and several drafts prepared by Charles E. Clark, then Dean of the Yale Law School,2 were being considered. These discussions and notes by committee and draftsman are of more than historical interest. They show its purpose and theory and may be used in construing the act, either in its original or modified form, wherever, as in Illinois, the members of the legislature knew the source of the statute when they adopted it. During its preparation the act was subjected to criticism by corporate trustees and their counsel, and later was approved by the American Bankers' Association, Trust Division, in I939. The Uniform Act has now been adopted either intact or with some changes in eleven states, namely, Alabama (I939),3 Connecticut (1939),4 Florida (I937),s Illinois (I94I),6 Louisiana (1938),7 Maryland (1939),8
Representation, neighboring districts, and party loyalty in the U.S. Congress

Legislative scholars often assume that legislators are motivated by concerns over re-election. This assumption implies that legislators are forward-looking and are motivated by a concern over what their re-election constituency will look like during their next electoral cycle. In this research, we show how the forward-looking nature of legislators motivates members of the U.S. House of Representatives to represent both their home district and their neighboring districts in their choices regarding when to support their own party. Using survey responses to the 2006, 2008, and 2010 Cooperative Congressional Elections Study to construct measures of Congressional District ideology, empirical analysis is strongly supportive of our claims. Legislators’ choices are strongly influenced both by the ideology of their home district and that of the districts that neighbor their home district. Thus, the electoral connection between citizens and representatives extends beyond a legislator’s own constituents to include the constituents in neighboring districts.
Early experience with endoscopic foraminotomy in patients with moderate degenerative deformity

OBJECTIVE Asymmetrical degeneration of the disc is one of the most common causes of primary degenerative scoliosis in adults. Coronal deformity is usually less symptomatic than a sagittal deformity because there is less expenditure of energy and hence less effort to maintain upright posture. However, nerve root compression at the fractional curve or at the concave side of the main curve can give rise to debilitating radiculopathy. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with coronal deformity of between 10° and 20°. All patients underwent endoscopic foraminal decompression surgery. The pre- and postoperative Cobb angle, visual analog scale (VAS), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Oswestry Disability Index scores were measured. RESULTS The average age of the patients was 70.0 ± 15.5 years (mean ± SD, range 61-86 years), with a mean followup of 7.5 ± 5.3 months (range 2-14 months). The average coronal deformity was 16.8° ± 4.7° (range 10°-41°). In 8 patients the symptomatic foraminal stenosis was at the level of the fractional curve, and in the remaining patients it was at the concave side of the main curve. One of the patients included in the current cohort had to undergo a repeat operation within 1 week for another disc herniation at the adjacent level. One patient had CSF leakage, which was repaired intraoperatively, and no further complications were noted. On average, preoperative VAS and SF-36 scores showed a tendency for improvement, whereas a dramatic reduction of VAS, by 65% (p = 0.003), was observed in radicular leg pain. CONCLUSIONS Patients with mild to moderate spinal deformity are often compensated and have tolerable levels of back pain. However, unilateral radicular pain resulting from foraminal stenosis can be debilitating. In select cases, an endoscopic discectomy or foraminotomy enables the surgeon to decompress the symptomatic foramen with preservation of essential biomechanical structures, delaying the need for a major deformity correction surgery.
Recent results on K L rare decays from Fermilab E799

Recent results on KL rare decays from Fermilab E799, based on data from the 1991 run, are reviewed. Final results on KL→e+e−e+e−, π0νν are presented.
Influence and Interaction in a State Legislative Body

'1( illposse of this article is to investigate (1i511i}~ti )fl of influence in a legislative body, to spoil ouit the resulting hypotheses, to intro(tie e method for estimating the degree of int(,raile tioni between legislators, and to demonstri-tc t Ie rele vance of specific indicators to the stuely of legislative behavior. The methodologicall task falls somewhere between the small group latboratory situation and the more complex a:renia of community decision-making. Intense observation, control, and precision are slacrifih('d in favor of a real and vital situation.
Incidence and predictors of chest wall toxicity after high-dose radiation therapy in 15 fractions

Abstract Purpose Fifteen fraction treatment schedules are increasingly used to deliver high doses of radiation therapy (RT) to both lung and hepatobiliary malignancies. The purpose of our study was to examine the incidence and predictors of chest wall (CW) toxicity in patients treated with this regimen. Methods and materials We evaluated 135 patients treated with RT to doses ≥52.5 Gy in 15 fractions for thoracic and hepatobiliary malignancies between January 2009 and December 2012. We documented patient characteristics and CW dosimetric parameters for each case. Toxicity was scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0, criteria for radiation dermatitis and CW pain. Patient characteristics and CW dosimetric parameters were evaluated for their association with CW toxicity using proportional hazards regression. Results Median follow-up was 9 months from the start of RT. Forty-eight patients (36%) developed dermatitis at a median time of 18 days. In multivariable analysis, the absolute volume of CW (in cm 3 ) receiving 40 Gy (V40) ≥120 cm 3 was associated with the occurrence of dermatitis (hazard ratio, 3.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-5.60; P 3 was associated with the occurrence of CW pain (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-6.24; P = .03). The absolute rate of CW pain in patients with V40 3 was 11% versus 26% in patients with V40 ≥150 cm 3 ( P = .03). Conclusions Hypofractionated RT with 15 fraction regimens results in an acceptable incidence of CW toxicity, specifically CW pain. We recommend a dose constraint of V40 3 to minimize this adverse event.
Propranolol and lidocaine. Clinical use as antiarrhythmic agents.

Using propranolol or lidocaine as an antiarrhythmic agent takes keen clinical judgment if optimal efficacy is to be obtained at minimal risk. Serious adverse effects of propranolol are cardiac, while those of lidocaine are usually dose-related and most often involve the central nervous system.
Shaft and base resistance of non-displacement piles in sand

Abstract This paper presents the results of three-dimensional, finite element analyses performed with an advanced, two-surface-plasticity, constitutive sand model to investigate the response of non-displacement piles to axial loading. The analysis domain is carefully meshed such that the formation and evolution of shear bands next to the pile shaft and near the pile base can be properly captured. Analyses considering various soil profiles and pile geometries show that the mobilized lateral earth pressure coefficient K along the pile shaft increases with increasing relative density and decreasing initial confining stress. The ultimate unit base resistance is independent of pile diameter, increasing with increasing relative density and increasing initial confining stress at the pile base. Based on the analysis results, design equations are proposed to estimate the limit shaft resistance and ultimate base resistance of non-displacement piles in sandy soil. In proposing these relationships, the pile slenderness ratio is considered. The effect of layer proximity to the base of the pile or pile base embedment in a layer is also considered.
The 235 U prompt fission neutron spectrum measured by the Chi-Nu project at LANSCE

The Chi-Nu experiment aims to accurately measure the prompt fission neutron spectrum for the major actinides. At the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), fission can be induced with neutrons ranging from 0.7 MeV and above. Using a two arm time-of-flight (TOF) technique, the fission neutrons are measured in one of two arrays: a 22-6 Li glass array for lower energies, or a 54-liquid scintillator array for outgoing energies of 0.5 MeV and greater. Presented here are the collaboration's preliminary efforts at measuring the 235 U PFNS.
Tuning, Intonation, and Dynamics

Tuning and intonation deal with the transformation of pitch symbols to frequency, while dynamics does so with the symbols of loudness that are transformed to sound pressure. Mathematically speaking, both transformations behave similarly to the situation with tempo. However, the conditions for tuning and intonation are much more complex than for tempo with regard to the semantics of pitch symbols. The dynamical situation is by far more simple, and we therefore have included this topic in the present chapter.
Evaluation of a Newly Established Layered Learning Model in an Ambulatory Care Practice Setting

Abstract Background and Purpose Given the need to accommodate overlapping longitudinal Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) students and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students at regular intervals while meeting clinical demands, the opportunity to establish a layered learning model (LLM) became evident at University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Pharmacy. The purpose of this project was to establish an LLM at an ambulatory care site, observe the teaching-learning interactions between IPPE and APPE students, and evaluate student perceptions of the experience. Educational Activity and Setting The LLM was implemented over the course of three traditional semesters during Spring 2016 through Spring 2017. Clinical services were offered 2.5 days per week. Overlapping student instructional time was established in conjunction with the provision of clinical pharmacy services and the structure of each rotation type. Third-year (P3) IPPE and fourth-year (P4) APPE students, who participated in the LLM at this site, completed a course evaluation pertaining to their experiences. The evaluation focused on APPE and practice readiness, as well as strengths and limitations of the LLM. Findings All 16 students completed the evaluation (100% response rate). All IPPE students indicated the LLM prepared them for APPEs in either an excellent (n=3, 37.5%) or above average (n=5, 62.5%) manner. Of the APPE students, most indicated the LLM prepared IPPE students for APPEs in an excellent (n=3, 37.5%) or above average (n=4, 50%) manner. Similarly, the majority of APPE students indicated the LLM prepared APPE students for practice in an excellent (n=3, 37.5%) or above average (n=5, 62.5%) manner. In addition, the following common themes developed, which highlight the benefits of the experience: reinforcement of knowledge through instruction, enhanced understanding of APPE expectations, exposure to multiple teaching styles, and creation of a comfortable learning environment. Students suggested the LLM include increased time for interaction with other learners. Summary An LLM involving P3 IPPE and P4 APPE pharmacy students, in an ambulatory care practice setting, was associated with positive student perceptions. Student feedback was best utilized to generate the hypothesis that this LLM may increase both APPE and practice readiness. However, further study is needed to confirm direct cause and effect.
Towards an inventory of prosodic contours produced by English-acquiring 2-year-olds: The use of H* and H + !H*

One viewpoint of early prosody is that utterances are highly simplified in comparison to adult models, in part, due to biological constraints such as incomplete control of pitch production (Lieberman, 1967; Snow, 2006). In contrast, research in Catalan and Spanish shows that early utterances (under 2 years) consist of the basic intonational categories (Prieto et al., 2012), including contours that would not be predicted under a biological approach. Our primary question asks what is the inventory of contours produced by American English-acquiring toddlers. Based on work showing toddlers to have near adult-like acoustic realizations of certain pitch accents (Thorson, 2015), we hypothesize that children will demonstrate sophisticated intonational configurations; here we analyze specific pitch accent varieties in toddler speech. Spontaneous utterances of four 2-year-olds were analyzed. Pitch accents were annotated using ToBI (Beckman & Ayers, 1997) and acoustically analyzed. Results reveal three varieties of ...
A spectral clustering-based method for identifying clones from high-throughput B cell repertoire sequencing data.

Motivation B cells derive their antigen-specificity through the expression of Immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors on their surface. These receptors are initially generated stochastically by somatic re-arrangement of the DNA and further diversified following antigen-activation by a process of somatic hypermutation, which introduces mainly point substitutions into the receptor DNA at a high rate. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have enabled large-scale profiling of the B cell Ig repertoire from blood and tissue samples. A key computational challenge in the analysis of these data is partitioning the sequences to identify descendants of a common B cell (i.e. a clone). Current methods group sequences using a fixed distance threshold, or a likelihood calculation that is computationally-intensive. Here, we propose a new method based on spectral clustering with an adaptive threshold to determine the local sequence neighborhood. Validation using simulated and experimental datasets demonstrates that this method has high sensitivity and specificity compared to a fixed threshold that is optimized for these measures. In addition, this method works on datasets where choosing an optimal fixed threshold is difficult and is more computationally efficient in all cases. The ability to quickly and accurately identify members of a clone from repertoire sequencing data will greatly improve downstream analyses. Clonally-related sequences cannot be treated independently in statistical models, and clonal partitions are used as the basis for the calculation of diversity metrics, lineage reconstruction and selection analysis. Thus, the spectral clustering-based method here represents an important contribution to repertoire analysis. Availability and implementation Source code for this method is freely available in the SCOPe (Spectral Clustering for clOne Partitioning) R package in the Immcantation framework: www.immcantation.org under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Third World Women and Global Restructuring

The macro perspective of this chapter points out that there are several powerful global forces shaping women’s roles that must be considered in analyses of the status of women and their importance to the development process and in planning for changes to improve their circumstances. They include: (1) the dynamics of the increasingly market-oriented global system; (2) the increasing adoption of export-led development strategies; (3) the spread and changing cost-cutting strategies of MNCs; (4) the effects of stabilization and structural adjustment policies (SAPs) required by the IMF and WB; and (5) inequities in the relative power of the major global institutions. The effect of these forces on women are compounded by preexisting systems of discrimination that subordinate women in the household, workplace (via lack of equal access to all jobs, and lack of resources for own businesses), political sphere, and religious institutions. This chapter has shown that there are analytical linkages between women’s disadvantaged status and global restructuring. The problems that ensue for women are systemic and integral to the structure of the largely market-oriented international economy and the prevailing economic theories upon which policies for global restructuring are based. They must be addressed with this realization in mind.
Psychometric Properties of the Reduced Version of the Glaucoma Treatment Compliance Assessment Tool (GTCAT).

Purpose: To measure the psychometric properties of a reduced, 27-statement version of the Glaucoma Treatment Compliance Assessment Tool (GTCAT).Methods: We administered the GTCAT to 183 participant...
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation and Dwell Time in the Surgical Management of Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a physically debilitating disease that greatly impairs the quality of life of affected individuals. Advanced disease is often difficult to treat with topical and systemic therapies. Surgical resection of diseased skin has become paramount in HS management but proposes challenges of wound care and closure. Methods: Four patients with a total of 12 complex wounds were treated over a three year period. All of the patients were males between the ages of 28 and 61 years. The lesions were located on the buttocks (n=5), chest (n=1), perianal (n=2), perineal (n=2), and axillary regions (n=2). A protocol of wide local excision, followed by negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d) to decrease bioburden and promote angiogenesis of the exposed base, and subsequent skin grafting was used. Patients remained hospitalized between procedures. Results: The original wound area ranged from 210-540 cm2. Skin grafts of comparable sizes were taken from donor sites. The average duration of NPWTi-d placement was 3.5 days and the average time from excision to wound coverage was 4.3 days. The percent of graft uptake ranged from 70%-90%. All patients were resolved of their local disease with no complications. Conclusions: Surgical management of HS can be complicated by difficult closures. This case series demonstrates that wide local excision followed by NPWTi-d and skin grafting is able to achieve local resolution of disease in HS patients who have failed multiple minimally invasive therapies.
Should High Risk Donors Be Restricted to High Volume Lung Transplant Centers

Purpose Lung transplant center volume has a positive impact on survival in high risk recipients. We aimed to evaluate if there was a survival advantage when high risk donor lungs were transplanted at centers utilizing them more frequently. Methods The United Network of Organ Sharing database was queried for patients (≥ 18 years) undergoing lung transplant between 2007 and 2016. Donors with PO2 Results There were 65 centers included in the final dataset, 32 LVC and 33 HVC. There were 3283 lungs transplanted at LVCs of which 29% (966) were from high risk donors. There were 13812 lungs transplanted at HVCs of which 38% (5251) were from high risk donors. The 1,3 and 5 year survival of low risk donor lungs was 83%, 65% and 49% at LVC and 85%, 68%, and 54% at HCV respectively (p=0.0008)(Figure1). The 1,3 and 5 year survival of high risk donor lungs was 83%, 64% and 47% at LVC and 85%, 66%, and 52% at high volume centers respectively (p=0.007) (Figure 2). Conclusion While, the overall survival of high risk donors at high volume centers is statistically significantly better than low volume centers, the absolute difference is minimal. It is reasonable for low volume centers to continue to use high risk donor lungs.
Cloning and optimizing the expression of the DHDPS gene in the Medicago truncatula

Medicago truncatula seeds were cultured and developed in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, and they were used as materials for cloning a DHDPS gene with the encoding of the isozyme dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) as well as optimizing the culture conditions for having the highest DHDPS gene expression in Escherichia coli BL21 StarTM (DE3) cells. The results revealed that the coding region of the DHDPS gene from M. truncatula was 100% similar with M. truncatula 4-hydroxy-tetrahydrodipicolinate synthase 2 (DHDPS2) submitted in NCBI (accession number: XM_013589555.2), coding for a long polypeptide of 307 amino acid with the molecular mass of about 33495 Da (Protein ID: XP_013445009.1). The DHDPS gene was successfully expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21 StarTM (DE3) cells with a pET200 / D-TOPO vector, and this produced the DHDPS2 protein with molecular masses of approximately 33.87 kDa (»33.5 kDa of DHDPS2 and 3.7 kDa of fusion fragment of pET 200/D-TOPO vector). The effects of the six different culture mediums of LB, SOB, SOC, YJ, HSG and TB, the induction times of 2h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 10h and 12h, and the inducer concentrations of 0.2 mM; 0.5 mM; 0.7 mM; 1.0 mM; 1.2 mM and 1.5 mM IPTG (Isopropyl â-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) were also investigated for the purpose of optimising the expression of DHDPS2 in E. coli cells, and it was found that strong expression of recombinant DHDPS2 protein in E. coli. BL21 (DE3) cells occurred on the TB, HSG and YJ culture mediums after 8 hours with 0.2 mM inducible IPTG (BioRad).
Race and risk of subsequent aggressive breast cancer following ductal carcinoma in situ

Background General populations of black women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer negative for both estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in comparison with white counterparts. Racial differences remain unknown in the risk of developing aggressive invasive breast cancer (IBC) that is characterized by negativity for both ER and PR (ER-PR-) or higher 21-gene recurrence scores after ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Methods This study identified 163,892 women (10.5% black, 9.8% Asian, and 8.6% Hispanic) with incident DCIS between 1990 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data sets. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazards ratios (HRs) of subsequent IBC classified by the hormone receptor status and 21-gene recurrence scores. Results During a median follow-up of 90 months, 8333 women developed IBC. In comparison with white women, the adjusted HR of subsequent ER-PR- breast cancer was 1.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-2.20) for black women (absolute 10-year difference, 2.2%) and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.14-1.71) for Asian women (absolute 10-year difference, 0.4%); this was stronger than the associations for ER+ and/or PR+ subtypes (Pheterogeneity = .0004). The 21-gene recurrence scores of subsequent early-stage, ER+ IBCs varied by race/ethnicity (Pheterogeneity = .057); black women were more likely than white women to have a recurrence score of 26 or higher (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.00-1.92). No significant difference was observed in the risks of subsequent IBC subtypes for Hispanic women. Conclusions Black and Asian women with DCIS had higher risks of developing biologically aggressive IBC than white counterparts. This should be considered in treatment decisions for black and Asian patients with DCIS.
General Business Musicians: Insights on Leadership During Initial Group Formation

This exploratory, qualitative study investigated the initial formation of general business (GB) musicians. The findings of the study suggest that during initial GB band formation, direction-setting, expectations, and norms are of critical importance. The findings are almost identical to the existing research on initial group formation, which suggests that GB bands operate in a way that is similar to groups in more formal organizational settings. The results of the study highlight several implications for GB band leadership to consider, both during recruitment as well as during initial GB band formation
Out of Sight, Out of Mind? A Fairness-Based Approach toward Pregnancy Disclosure and Maternity Leave

While extant research has outlined a list of strategic factors that might pressure organizations to adopt family-friendly programs, little work has been undertaken to develop a systemic understandi...
Abstract P112: Sex Differences and the Role of G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor in Arterial Stiffening

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) independently predicts cardiovascular events and is exacerbated in women following menopause. Since our previous work shows that G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER)...
Reversible nickel-metallacycle formation with a phosphinimine-based pincer ligand

Pincer ligands have a remarkable ability to impart control over small molecule activation chemistry and catalytic activity; therefore, the design of new pincer ligands and the exploration of their reactivity profiles continues to be a frontier in synthetic inorganic chemistry. In this work, a novel, monoanionic NNN pincer ligand containing two phosphinimine donors was used to create a series of mononuclear Ni complexes. Ligand metallation in the presence of NaOPh yielded a nickel phenoxide complex that was used to form a mononuclear hydride complex on treatment with pinacolborane. Attempts at ligand metallation with NaN(SiMe3)2 resulted in the activation of both phosphinimine methyl groups to yield an anionic, cis-dialkyl product, in which dissociation of one phosphinimine nitrogen leads to retention of a square planar coordination environment about Ni. Protonolysis of this dialkyl species generated a monoalkyl product that retained the 4-membered metallacycle. The insertion of 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (xylNC) into this nickel metallacycle, followed by proton transfer, generated a new five-membered nickel metallacycle. Kinetic studies suggested rate-limiting proton transfer (KIE ≥ 3.9 ± 0.5) from the α-methylene unit of the putative iminoacyl intermediate.
Forecasting Identity Theft Victims: Analyzing Characteristics and Preventive Actions through Machine Learning Approaches

Researchers in criminology and criminal justice have been making increasing use of the machine learning approach to investigate questions involving large amounts of digital data. We make use here o...
Relative Levels of Gli1 and Gli2 Determine the Response of Ventral Neural Stem Cells to Demyelination.

Summary Enhancing repair of myelin is an important therapeutic goal in many neurological disorders characterized by demyelination. In the healthy adult brain, ventral neural stem cells (vNSCs) in the subventricular zone, marked by GLI1 expression, do not generate oligodendrocytes. However, in response to demyelination, their progeny are recruited to lesions where they differentiate into oligodendrocytes and ablation of GLI1 further enhances remyelination. GLI1 and GLI2 are closely related transcriptional activators but the role of GLI2 in remyelination by vNSCs is not clear. Here, we show that genetic ablation of Gli1 in vNSCs increases GLI2 expression and combined loss of both transcription factors decreases the recruitment and differentiation of their progeny in demyelinated lesions. These results indicate that GLI1 and GLI2 have distinct, non-redundant functions in vNSCs and their relative levels play an essential role in the response to demyelination.
Imports, entry, and competition law as market disciplines

Since the early 1990s numerous countries have adopted or strengthened competition legislation. Kee and Hoekman investigate the impact of competition law on industry markups over time and across a large number of countries. They find both domestic and foreign competition to be major sources of market discipline in concentrated markets, but that the direct effect of competition law is insignificant. However, once allowance is made for the endogeneity of both domestic competiton (number of firms) and the adoption of a competition law, the authors find that competition laws have an indirect effect on equilibrium markups by promoting a larger number of domestic firms.