cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Primacy of Touch: Helen Keller’s Embodiment of Language

In 1908, Helen Keller, the first deaf-blind person in the United States to pursue higher education, published The World I Live In. This chapter explores how Keller’s linguistic sense relies on the primacy of touch by reading this memoir, one of Keller’s less discussed works, and contrasting it with the more popular The Story of My Life (1903), which was heavily influenced by Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan. Spirituality and physicality, even sexuality, coexist in Keller’s system of language, thereby complicating the traditional presentation of her as a child-like, even ethereal, super-human, and angelic being. Keller’s notion of language is inextricably intertwined with her tactile sensations and thereby questions the conventional hierarchy of the senses by suggesting the primacy of touch.
Animating Characters and Experiencing Selves: A Look at Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Constructing Fictional Storyboards with Typically Developing Peers

In this chapter, Bottema-Beutel and colleagues explore ways in which adolescents with ASD experience self and others through a fictional storyboard. They describe two spheres of relating to others: the sphere of character action and the sphere of audience reception. Analyses suggest it is not the experience of self or other per se that is at risk in individuals with ASD but flexibility with which self and other are brought into being. Too rigid adherence to explicit sociocultural conventions can result in enactments of the other that are not aligned with the interlocutors’ enactment of similar others. The authors argue that it is not only mental state language into which we should look for insights about a sense of self and relatedness displayed by individuals with ASD. Autistic understanding of self and others is enactive and sociocultural; it is rooted in action and convention.
The biology and management of non-small cell lung cancer

Important advancements in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been achieved over the past two decades, increasing our understanding of the disease biology and mechanisms of tumour progression, and advancing early detection and multimodal care. The use of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy has led to unprecedented survival benefits in selected patients. However, the overall cure and survival rates for NSCLC remain low, particularly in metastatic disease. Therefore, continued research into new drugs and combination therapies is required to expand the clinical benefit to a broader patient population and to improve outcomes in NSCLC.
Stimuli‐Responsive NO Release for On‐Demand Gas‐Sensitized Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Featuring high biocompatibility, the emerging field of gas therapy has attracted extensive attention in the medical and scientific communities. Currently, considerable research has focused on the gasotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) owing to its unparalleled dual roles in directly killing cancer cells at high concentrations and cooperatively sensitizing cancer cells to other treatments for synergistic therapy. Of particular note, recent state-of-the-art studies have turned our attention to the chemical design of various endogenous/exogenous stimuli-responsive NO-releasing nanomedicines and their biomedical applications for on-demand NO-sensitized synergistic cancer therapy, which are discussed in this Minireview. Moreover, the potential challenges regarding NO gas therapy are also described, aiming to advance the development of NO nanomedicines as well as usher in new frontiers in this fertile research area.
Characteristics and Health Needs of Veterans with Other-than-Honorable Discharges: Expanding Eligibility in the Veterans Health Administration.

Background There has been nearly no research on the health of veterans with Other-than-Honorable (OTH) discharges because they have traditionally not been eligible for health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, the Secretary of the VA has recently expanded eligibility provisions to provide access to some VA health care services to veterans with OTH discharges to help address any urgent mental health care needs. It is unknown if veterans with OTH discharges have worse mental health and potentially greater mental health care needs than other veterans. Methods Using data from the 2001 National Survey of Veterans, this study examined the characteristics and health status of veterans with OTH discharges compared with veterans with honorable or general discharges. Physical and mental health was assessed with the 12-item Short Form health survey. Findings Bivariate comparisons revealed that veterans with OTH discharges were younger, reported lower income, were more likely to lack health insurance, and reported more mental health problems than other veterans. After controlling for other factors, veterans with OTH discharges were still younger and reported more mental health problems than other veterans. Post hoc analyses revealed veterans with OTH discharges were significantly more likely to report having accomplished less because of emotional problems, performed activities less carefully because of emotional problems, felt less calm and peaceful, and felt more downhearted and blue in the previous 4 wk than other veterans. Discussion These findings suggest that veterans with OTH discharges have substantial mental health care needs and may benefit from the VA's recent provision granting them increased access to VA care but some may need more comprehensive mental health care services.
Purchase and Post-Purchase Intentions of Ethical Consumer Behavior

Two main streams of ethical consumer behavior are ethical consumerism and consumer ethics. While ethical consumerism is defined as consumers' decisions and behaviors to satisfy personal needs considering the results of their decisions with regard to environment and society (Ozkan, 2009), consumer ethics focuses on consumers' rightness of certain actions as a buyer during the purchase and post-purchase process (Dodge, Edwards, & Fullerton, 1996).
Trans-algorithmic nature of learning in biological systems

Learning ability is a vitally important, distinctive property of biological systems, which provides dynamic stability in non-stationary environments. Although several different types of learning have been successfully modeled using a universal computer, in general, learning cannot be described by an algorithm. In other words, algorithmic approach to describing the functioning of biological systems is not sufficient for adequate grasping of what is life. Since biosystems are parts of the physical world, one might hope that adding some physical mechanisms and principles to the concept of algorithm could provide extra possibilities for describing learning in its full generality. However, a straightforward approach to that through the so-called physical hypercomputation so far has not been successful. Here an alternative approach is proposed. Biosystems are described as achieving enumeration of possible physical compositions though random incremental modifications inflicted on them by active operating resources (AORs) in the environment. Biosystems learn through algorithmic regulation of the intensity of the above modifications according to a specific optimality criterion. From the perspective of external observers, biosystems move in the space of different algorithms driven by random modifications imposed by the environmental AORs. A particular algorithm is only a snapshot of that motion, while the motion itself is essentially trans-algorithmic. In this conceptual framework, death of unfit members of a population, for example, is viewed as a trans-algorithmic modification made in the population as a biosystem by environmental AORs. Numerous examples of AOR utilization in biosystems of different complexity, from viruses to multicellular organisms, are provided.
Game Input with Delay—Moving Target Selection with a Game Controller Thumbstick

Hosting interactive video-based services, such as computer games, in the Cloud poses particular challenges given user sensitivity to delay. A better understanding of the impact of delay on player-game interactions can help design cloud systems and games that accommodate delays inherent in cloud systems. Previous top-down studies of delay using full-featured games have helped understand the impact of delay, but often do not generalize or lend themselves to analytic modeling. Bottom-up studies isolating user input and delay can better generalize and be used in models, but have yet to be applied to cloud-hosted computer games. In order to better understand delay impact in cloud-hosted computer games, we conduct a large bottom-up user study centered on a fundamental game interaction—selecting a moving target with user input impeded by delay. Our work builds a custom game that controls both the target speed and input delay and has players select the target using a game controller analog thumbstick. Analysis of data from over 50 users shows target selection time exponentially increases with delay and target speed and is well-fit by an exponential model that includes a delay and target speed interaction term. A comparison with two previous studies, both using a mouse instead of a thumbstick, suggests the model’s relationship between selection time, delay, and target speed holds more broadly, providing a foundation for a potential law explaining moving target selection with delay encountered in cloud-hosted games.
Vocal learning in songbirds requires cholinergic signaling in a motor cortex-like nucleus.

Cholinergic inputs to cortex are evolutionarily conserved and implicated in sensory processing and synaptic plasticity. However, functions of cholinergic signals in motor areas are understudied and...
Pregnancies Complicated by Familial Hypertriglyceridemia: A Case Report.

Background Although rare, familial hypertriglyceridemia can cause acute and life-threatening complications in pregnancy. Cases The first patient's pregnancy was complicated by multiple admissions for pancreatitis due to hypertriglyceridemia and noncompliance with gemfibrozil. In her second pregnancy, she was compliant with gemfibrozil and only experienced pancreatitis episodes toward the end of pregnancy. The second patient had diabetes mellitus and familial hypertriglyceridemia. She required multiple hospitalizations for diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to insulin noncompliance. In both pregnancies, she was compliant with gemfibrozil and had no complications related to hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusion Treatment with gemfibrozil in pregnancies complicated by hypertriglyceridemia may prevent complications without adverse maternal or fetal effects and could be considered in treating pregnant patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. These cases also demonstrate the importance of medication compliance in the prevention of poor outcomes.
Back to Basics: Rethinking Normative Principles in International Tax

International Tax is a relatively new legal system that lacks clear objectives and principles. These principles, which guide unilateral legislation and multilateral coordination, have not been discussed thoroughly through the lenses of jurisprudence and legal philosophy. This paper offers a unique jurisprudential analysis of normative International Tax principles by redefining them and clarifying several basic assumptions. There are three normative International Tax principles that determine how a taxpayer should be taxed: Benefits, Single Tax, and Neutrality. These principles lack logical interpretations and often lead to incoherent rules between jurisdictions. This paper explores how basic axioms of law and coherent jurisprudential analysis provide different definitions of these principles. For example, under the Benefits principle, a taxpayer should be taxed in the place it receives benefits. But further analysis reveals that measuring benefits in the residence jurisdiction is almost impossible because of coercive powers under the social contract. In the source jurisdiction, benefits can be much more easily measured by the fees paid to the source jurisdiction, similar to any other commercial contract between a jurisdiction and an individual. The purpose of the Single Tax principle is rather incoherent when a taxpayer is taxed once in a de minimis tax rate. But a broader interpretation of that principle suggests that the Single Tax principle should be linked to a minimal rate of taxes when compared to the residence jurisdiction as recently applied in the 2017 U.S. tax reform under the Base Erosion Anti Abuse Tax (BEAT) and in the proposed EU Digital Tax. The Neutrality principle seeks to achieve worldwide efficiency, but because Neutrality does not necessarily mean efficiency, the basic axiom of the principle is efficiency. Almost all types of Neutrality demonstrate that it is an externality and players of the game are better off if they coordinate economic behavior to some extent. After examining and redefining the three normative principles of International Tax, this paper proposes two additional principles, both widely accepted in International Trade law, to guide International Tax policy: Transparency and Non-Discrimination.
Acute and chronic cholecystitis

The combination of chemical irritants and cystic duct occlusion by either gallstones, mucus, or inflammation, appears to be responsible for the development of acute and chronic cholecystitis in most cases. Once the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis is established, early cholecystectomy is usually recommended. An emergency operation should be performed if there is evidence of deterioration. In uncomplicated acute cholecystitis, the operation is urgent. In chronic cholecystitis, the operation can be scheduled at the convenience of the patient, but only after the concurrent diseases have been treated and the patient’s condition stabilized.
Structural basis of cowpox evasion of NKG2D immunosurveillance

Abstract NKG2D is a key component of cytotoxic antitumor and antiviral responses. Multiple viruses evade NKG2D recognition by blocking NKG2D ligand expression on infected cells. In contrast, cowpox virus targets NKG2D directly by encoding a secreted antagonist, Orthopoxvirus MHC Class I-like Protein (OMCP). We have previously reported that OMCP also binds to the orphan receptor FcRL5 on innate B cells. Here, we demonstrate that mammalian-derived, glycosylated OMCP binds NKG2D but not FcRL5. Cowpox viruses either lacking OMCP, or expressing an NKG2D-binding deficient mutant, are significantly attenuated in wild type and FcRL5-deficient mice but not NKG2D-deficient mice, demonstrating that OMCP is critical in subverting NKG2D-mediated immunity in vivo. Next we determined the structure of OMCP bound to human NKG2D. Despite a structure similar to that of host NKG2D ligands, OMCP uses a drastically different orientation for NKG2D binding. The re-orientation of OMCP is associated with dramatically higher affinity for human NKG2D and the targeted interface is highly conserved in mammalian NKG2Ds, increasing the zoonotic potential of cowpox virus. We also show that cell surface presented OMCP can trigger NKG2D effector functions equivalently to host NKG2D ligands, demonstrating that NKG2D-mediated signaling requires clustering but is insensitive to binding orientation. Thus, in contrast to TCR/MHC interactions, the docking topology of NKG2D with its ligands does not appear to regulate its activation. Author Summary Virally infected or tumor-transformed cells display NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) on their cell surface, which activates NKG2D-bearing lymphocytes to kill the transformed cell. Pathogens are known to counter this by blocking NKG2DL expression and/or surface display. In contrast, some tumor cells cleave endogenous NKG2DLs creating soluble NKG2D antagonists. Unlike other viral pathogens, cowpox virus uses a strategy analogous to cancer cells by targeting NKG2D directly with a soluble, high affinity NKG2D-antagonist named OMCP. We determined that OMCP’s virulence in vivo is attributed to blocking NKG2D-mediated NK cell responses with no apparent effect due to binding to other receptors or cell types. We have also determined the crystal structure of cowpox OMCP bound to human NKG2D, revealing that despite conservation of the ligand scaffolding with host NKG2DLs, the viral protein is engaged with a radically altered orientation compared to all host NKG2DLs. Our structure provides key insight into how OMCP binds with an ∼5,000-fold increased affinity compared to human NKG2DLs and show that the OMCP binding site is exceptionally conserved among primates and rodents, suggesting that the ability of OMCP to recognize this conserved interface contributes to the broad zoonotic potential of cowpox virus. Finally, we show that cell membrane-anchored OMCP can trigger equivalent NKG2D-mediated killing as host NKG2DLs, demonstrating that NKG2D signaling is insensitive to ligand binding orientation.
Vitamin E succinate induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells

19 Vitamin E Succinate (VES, α -tocopheryl succinate) is the most potent analog of Vitamin E that selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells by modulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins. VES has been studied extensively as a chemopreventive, chemotherapeutic and chemosensitizing agent in various cancers types. However, there is limited data on the role of VES in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the number four cancer killer in the US and about 32,000 new cases are reported every year. The five year survival rate is only 5%. In this study, we investigated the effects of VES in three pancreatic cancer cell lines, COLO-357, PANC-1 and ASPC-1. We assessed the synergistic growth inhibitory effect of VES along with two known cytotoxic drugs, Etoposide and Gemcitabine. Cells were treated with varying concentrations (5 μM to 100 μM) of VES alone or in combination with Etoposide or Gemcitabine for different time periods. VES inhibited the cell proliferation of all the three pancreatic cancer cell lines in a time and dose dependant manner. Induction of apoptosis was evident in COLO-357 cells as determined by DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and increase in sub-G1 cells post treatment. We have also demonstrated that VES synergistically inhibits the cell growth in combination with 80 μM etoposide or 0.5 μg/ml Gemcitabine. In ASPC-1 cells, we also observed a dose dependent decrease in the expression of Bcl-XL in response to VES. This study demonstrates that (a)VES induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell lines (b) VES synergistically inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in combination with cytotoxic drugs Etoposide or Gemcitabine and (c) VES down regulates the expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-XL in ASPC-1 cells.
The American Nightmare: Graveyard Voters, Demon Sheep, Devil Women, and Lizard People

Symbols of the uncanny, from the biblically apocalyptic to the cinematically campy, have increasingly manifested in political discourse, from the communication of campaigns to the dramas of democracy. Undead metaphors help the public to make sense of a political discourse that calls out hidden evils to prey on primal fears. A rhetoric of monstrosity used by politicians and pundits alike exposes the decaying landscape of American public discourse. This chapter examines how symbols and tropes of horror stories are employed in political messages, especially with regard to the politics of fear that marked the eras of terrorism and Trump.
Deepening the Divide: Crises Disproportionately Silence Vulnerable Populations on Social Media

AbstractIn the last decade, crisis informatics has sought to produce and use actionable information from social media data. Although substantial progress has been made in discerning how the data ca...
Risk and Protective Factors in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Evidence Map.

Background: Given the worldwide spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), there is an urgent need to identify risk and protective factors and expose areas of insufficient understanding. Emerging tools, such as the Rapid Evidence Map (rEM), are being developed to systematically characterize large collections of scientific literature. We sought to generate an rEM of risk and protective factors to comprehensively inform areas that impact COVID-19 outcomes for different sub-populations in order to better protect the public. Methods: We developed a protocol that includes a study goal, study questions, a PECO statement, and a process for screening literature by combining semi-automated machine learning with the expertise of our review team. We applied this protocol to reports within the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19) that were published in early 2020. SWIFT-Active Screener was used to prioritize records according to pre-defined inclusion criteria. Relevant studies were categorized by risk and protective status; susceptibility category (Behavioral, Physiological, Demographic, and Environmental); and affected sub-populations. Using tagged studies, we created an rEM for COVID-19 susceptibility that reveals: (1) current lines of evidence; (2) knowledge gaps; and (3) areas that may benefit from systematic review. Results: We imported 4,330 titles and abstracts from CORD-19. After screening 3,521 of these to achieve 99% estimated recall, 217 relevant studies were identified. Most included studies concerned the impact of underlying comorbidities (Physiological); age and gender (Demographic); and social factors (Environmental) on COVID-19 outcomes. Among the relevant studies, older males with comorbidities were commonly reported to have the poorest outcomes. We noted a paucity of COVID-19 studies among children and susceptible sub-groups, including pregnant women, racial minorities, refugees/migrants, and healthcare workers, with few studies examining protective factors. Conclusion: Using rEM analysis, we synthesized the recent body of evidence related to COVID-19 risk and protective factors. The results provide a comprehensive tool for rapidly elucidating COVID-19 susceptibility patterns and identifying resource-rich/resource-poor areas of research that may benefit from future investigation as the pandemic evolves.
Basic Linear Algebra Operations on TensorCore GPU

Encouraged by the requirement of high speed matrix computations and training deep neural networks, TensorCore was introduced in NVIDIA GPU to further accelerate matrix-matrix multiplication. It supports very fast half precision general matrix matrix multiplications (GEMMs), which is around 8x faster than single precision CUDA core GEMMs. So far the use of TensorCore GPU for matrix operations other than matrix-matrix multiplications is under developed. In this paper, we propose some efficient BLAS3 operations that exploits TensorCore. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithms outperform cublas corresponding routines and the naive TensorCore implementation with up to 4.7× speedup.
SLCO1B1 : Application and Limitations of Deep Mutational Scanning for Genomic Missense Variant Function.

SLCO1B1 (solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1) is an important transmembrane hepatic uptake transporter. Genetic variants in the SLCO1B1 gene have been associated with altered protein folding, resulting in protein degradation and decreased transporter activity. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of pharmacogenes is being applied increasingly to associate variation in drug response with genetic sequence variants. However, it is difficult to link variants of unknown significance with functional phenotypes using “one-at-a-time” functional systems. Deep mutational scanning (DMS) using a “landing pad cell–based system” is a high-throughput technique designed to analyze hundreds of gene open reading frame (ORF) missense variants in a parallel and scalable fashion. We have applied DMS to analyze 137 missense variants in the SLCO1B1 ORF obtained from the Exome Aggregation Consortium project. ORFs containing these variants were fused to green fluorescent protein and were integrated into “landing pad” cells. Florescence-activated cell sorting was performed to separate the cells into four groups based on fluorescence readout indicating protein expression at the single cell level. NGS was then performed and SLCO1B1 variant frequencies were used to determine protein abundance. We found that six variants not previously characterized functionally displayed less than 25% and another 12 displayed approximately 50% of wild-type protein expression. These results were then functionally validated by transporter studies. Severely damaging variants identified by DMS may have clinical relevance for SLCO1B1-dependent drug transport, but we need to exercise caution since the relatively small number of severely damaging variants identified raise questions with regard to the application of DMS to intrinsic membrane proteins such as organic anion transporter protein 1B1. Significance Statement The functional implications of a large numbers of open reading frame (ORF) “variants of unknown significance” (VUS) in transporter genes have not been characterized. This study applied deep mutational scanning to determine the functional effects of VUS that have been observed in the ORF of SLCO1B1(solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1). Several severely damaging variants were identified, studied, and validated. These observations have implications for both the application of deep mutational scanning to intrinsic membrane proteins and for the clinical effect of drugs and endogenous compounds transported by SLCO1B1.
Effectiveness of different music interventions on managing symptoms in cancer survivors: A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE Music-based interventions can provide non-pharmacological, low-cost treatment for symptoms. This meta-analysis's purpose is to examine music-based interventions' effectiveness on psychological distress symptoms (anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms), aspects of positive psychology (benefit-finding and resilience), and quality of life (QoL). METHODS This meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and meta-analytic methods suggested by Hedges and Olkin (1985). A systematic literature search between 2000 and 2020 was conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Studies and intervention characteristics were independently coded. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies, Cochrane Collaboration's Tool for Assessing Risk of Bias, Begg and Mazumdar's rank correlation, and Egger's regression test evaluated publication bias. RESULTS Twenty-nine of thirty-five eligible studies were included in the statistical analysis. The overall (g = 0.34, SE = 2.27, p < 0.05) and psychological distress symptoms sub-outcome type (g = 0.47, SE = 0.18, p < 0.05) models with moderator analyses were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Culturally appropriate music-based interventions conducted in the clinical setting that used passive listening with headphones, occurring ≥ 3-times a week over ≥ 2 months, positively impacted gynecology survivors undergoing chemotherapy and surgical treatments. Specifically, interventions that were ≥ 35-minutes, listening to folk or mixed-music positively impacted psychological distress symptoms, whereas new-age music negatively impacted psychological distress symptoms, positive psychology, and QoL outcomes. Future research should examine positive psychology characteristics (perceived levels of positive adjustment, change, and coping) and include larger cohorts with various cancer populations across all cancer survivorship continuum. Culturally appropriate interventions could lead to greater adherence, compliance, and clinical effectiveness and increase the findings' significance and generalizability.
Evaluation of an Electronic Health Record Referral Process to Enhance Participation in Evidence-Based Arthritis Interventions

Purpose and objectives Effective community-based programs to manage arthritis exist, but many adults with arthritis are unaware that these programs are available in their communities. An electronic health record (EHR) referral intervention was designed to strengthen health care and community-based partnerships and increase participation in these arthritis programs. The intervention was developed in response to a national effort that aimed to enhance the health, wellness, and quality of life for people with arthritis by increasing the awareness and availability of, and participation in arthritis-appropriate evidence-based interventions. Intervention approach The National Recreation and Park Association recruited 4 park and recreation agencies and their health care partners to implement an EHR-based retrospective and point-of-care referral intervention. Eligible for referral were adults aged 45 or older with an arthritis condition who were seen by a physician within the past 18 months, and were living within the park and recreation service area. After health care organizations identified eligible adults, they either mailed communication packages describing the availability and benefits of the intervention and conducted phone calls to encourage arthritis-appropriate intervention participation or counseled and referred patients during an office visit. Evaluation methods The pilot was assessed by using semi-structured interviews with key intervention staff members and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results Our approach resulted in referrals for 3,660 people, 1,063 (29%) of whom participated in an intervention. Analysis of key informant interviews also highlighted the specific contextual factors, facilitators, and barriers that influenced the adaptation and overall implementation of the referral intervention. Implications for public health Our pilot demonstrates that successful coordination between health care organizations and community-based organizations can promote awareness of and participation in community-based programs. An understanding of the contextual factors and lessons learned can be used to inform processes that can lead to more effective and sustainable health care and community-based partnerships.
A Norm Restored? OMB’s Review of Draft Executive Orders

One might picture the chief executive behind the Resolute desk, dictating policy to senior White House staff and sending the Executive Orders off to agencies for implementation. Luckily for good government types, that is not the full picture. From John F. Kennedy until Barack Obama, the Office of Management and Budget has orchestrated an interagency review process—a process ignored by the Trump administration.
Bone and soft tissue sarcomas in cerebrospinal fluid and effusion: A 20-year review at our institution.

Background The literature on bone and soft tissue sarcomas (BSTSs) involving effusions and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is very limited. Methods A computerized search for fluid cytology with a sarcoma diagnosis from 2000 to 2020 was performed. All available cases, including the clinical follow-up, were reviewed. Results A total of 57 fluids specimens from 36 BSTSs were identified (9 rhabdomyosarcomas, 6 angiosarcomas, 5 epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas, 3 dedifferentiated liposarcomas, 2 chondrosarcomas, 1 extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, 3 Ewing sarcomas, 2 undifferentiated sarcomas, 3 osteosarcomas, 1 synovial sarcoma, and 1 hybrid low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma/sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma). There were 22 males and 14 females. The age range was 4 to 82 years (median, 45 years). Sites of involvement included pleural fluid (n = 38), peritoneal fluid (n = 14), and CSF (n = 5). Twenty-four cytology cases were available for review. The cytologic features were nonspecific and ranged from dyshesive to clusters of round, epithelioid, pleomorphic, and occasionally spindle-shaped malignant cells that could easily mimic other non-BSTS malignant tumors. The diagnosis of BSTS was made by comparison with a prior specimen and/or ancillary studies (molecular or immunohistochemical stains). The prognosis was poor because 95% of the patients died of their disease. Conclusions The incidence of BSTS in fluid cytology is extremely rare, and it can have cytologic features similar to those of non-BSTS malignancies. Although, in most cases, a comparison with a prior known BSTS specimen may suffice, the use of ancillary studies is extremely helpful in arriving at the correct diagnosis. However, in cases with no known prior malignancy, including BSTS in the differential diagnosis is prudent for preventing misdiagnosis.
Managerial discretion and the comparability of fair value estimates

Abstract We explore how discretion over fair value measurement affects the comparability of fair value estimates in the financial industry. We find that greater exposure to Level 2 (Level 3) measurement enhances (diminishes) the comparability of fair value estimates across firms. These contrasting results reflect a nuanced relation between discretion over fair value measurement and comparability and suggest that managers convey useful information through Level 2 estimates, whereas Level 3 measurement is subject to error and managerial opportunism. Cross-sectional analyses show that fair value estimates are less comparable when managers have stronger incentives to introduce discretion and more comparable when investor monitoring is stronger. Additional analyses demonstrate that the comparability of fair value estimates is negatively associated with non-agency mortgage backed security holdings, the asset class most likely to be held at Level 3 by our sample firms, and that our primary results hold for alternative measures of comparability. Taken together, our results highlight the critical role of discretion in shaping the comparability of fair value estimates.
The Effectiveness of Data Mining Techniques at Estimating Future Population Levels for Isolated Moose Populations

The objective of this project is to determine if data mining techniques may be applied to small data sets to forecast population growth of isolated populations of organisms, with a useful level of accuracy. The Isle Royale moose population was chosen to be the basis of this study, because of the quality of available data and substantial previous work studying the Isle Royale wolf/moose population dynamics.
Traditional Japanese mathematics problems of the 18th and 19th centuries

cision to build computers based on reverse engineering after so many decades of success in building indigenous machines. In addition, because his focus is on philosophy and intellectual history, some readers will need to seek other sources to gather the impact of the broader context of Soviet history and politics on cybernetics. Gerovitch's study is based on a thorough use of archival materials and unpublished memoirs and interviews. This book will be of interest to advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and teachers, as well as to computer scientists, historians, and philosophers. I recommend it highly.
Syntactic Analysis of Natural Language

Publisher Summary The methods of syntactic analysis, segment a sentence into parts and these in turn into smaller parts. The chapter discusses the relevance of string analysis for computational purposes. It overcomes the problem of discontinuity in a natural way and provides a framework for introducing further linguistic refinements without adding appreciably to the bulk or complexity of the grammar. These features are both because the linguistic string is the least segment of a sentence with respect to which grammatical restrictions can be stated. The chapter describes the left-to-right procedure for string analysis of sentences and the computer program based on it, which emphasizes the means of handling such essential features of language structure as detailed subclass restrictions, coordinate and comparative conjunctions, and syntactic ambiguity. The left-to-right procedure for string analysis of sentences is based on an axiomatic formulation of linguistic string theory, which presents, in terms of particular syntactic categories for words of the language, a set of elementary strings of word categories and rules for combining the elementary strings to form sentences.
The safety and efficacy of use of low-molecular-weight heparin in pediatric neurosurgical patients

OBJECT Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), mainly enoxaparin, offer several advantages over standard anticoagulation therapies such as unfractionated heparin and warfarin, including predictable pharmacokinetics, minimal monitoring, and subcutaneous administration. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of LMWHs in pediatric neurosurgical patients. METHODS A retrospective study was performed with patients 18 years old or younger who were admitted to the Pediatric Neurosurgery Service at Texas Children's Hospital and treated with LMWH for either therapeutic or prophylactic purposes between March 1, 2011, and December 30, 2013. Demographic and clinical features and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS LMWH was administered for treatment of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) in 17 children and for prophylaxis in 24 children. Clinical resolution of VTEs occurred in 100% (17 of 17) of patients receiving therapeutic doses of LMWH. No patient receiving prophylactic doses of LMWH develop...
Physical and Genetic Mapping of the SPO2 Prophage on the Chromosome of Bacillus subtilis 168

It has been found by density transfer and genetic mapping experiments that prophage SPO2 is linked to the antibiotic resistance marker ery-1 in Bacillus subtilis 168.
α-1,2 Linkages in dextran NRRL B 1424☆

Abstract Immunochemical evidence for the presence of α-1,2 linkages in dextran NRRL B 1424 has been confirmed by acetolysis and isolation of kojibiose.
Defect screening challenges in the Gigahertz/Nanometer age: keeping up with the tails of defect behaviors

Today's semiconductor manufacturers are moving to more DFT and structurally based testing to reduce capital and engineering investments for test. A number of test methodologies essential for delivering acceptable product quality face new challenges as the industry moves to new process technologies below 200 nm and devices in the GHz range as designs depart from "pure CMOS" with new types of circuits to deliver more performance and lower power. VLSI logic performance has become limited more by interconnect and parasitic reactance than transistor performance and will be more so as devices that push the limits of noise and supply scaling towards 1.O V. The "tails" of defect-device interactions will increasingly include more failures that are sensitive to speed, temperature and voltage, i.e., test coverage completeness is less likely to occur with only stuck at based testing. The industrial test challenge is to keep up with these "tails": to understand how they are reshaped by ongoing changes in circuits and process technologies and to reshape old and add new DFT and test methodologies to enable acceptable product quality at acceptable cost moving forward. Actual examples of "tails" of defect coverage learnings and tradeoffs will be presented as part of this special session at the conference.
A Small, Automated High-Resolution Analyzer for Determination of Carbohydrates in Body Fluids

An improved automated, high-resolution anion-exchange analyzer has been developed for detecting and quantifying carbohydrates in body fluids. This new analyzer is more sensitive than the earlier model and much simpler to construct, operate, and maintain. Improved compact components include an electrically heated, folded 0.22-cm-i.d. anion-exchange column, a miniaturized color-development system that does not use a pump, and a miniature flow colorimeter. A large decrease in eluate and reagent flow rates greatly improves the handling of reagents and disposal of waste. Over 50 chromatographic peaks are obtained from 1 ml of urine. The limit of detection for most sugars is between 0.4 and 3.0 µg/ml.
Surface and Depth Profiling Investigation of a Drug-Loaded Copolymer Utilized To Coat Taxus Express2 Stents

The surface of a styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene triblock copolymer, containing a solid-phase drug, was studied by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry employing 15-keV Ga+ and 20-keV C60+ ion sources. This polymer/drug system has direct application in the cardiac stent arena, where it has been used to treat restenosis or renarrowing of arterial walls after stent or angioplasty procedures. Overall, the results illustrate the successful use of a cluster ion beam for greatly enhancing the high-mass fragment ion and molecular ion intensities from the surface and bulk of the polymer system. The use of C60+ also established the ability to remove common overlayers like poly(dimethylsiloxane), which was not possible using a Ga+ ion source. Furthermore, the use of C60+ allowed depth profiles to be obtained using primary ion dose densities in excess of 6 × 1014 C60+/cm2. Resultant sputter craters reached depths of ∼2 μm and possessed relatively flat bottoms without the need for sample rotation. AFM and p...
Zintl-phase compounds with SnSb 4 tetrahedral anions: Electronic structure and thermoelectric properties

We report the investigation of Zintl-phase Na(K){sub 8}SnSb{sub 4} and related compounds that contain SnSb{sub 4} tetrahedral anions using first principles electronic structure, Boltzmann transport, and density functional phonon calculations. We find that these compounds are narrow-gap semiconductors and there is a combination of heavy and light bands at valence band edge, which may lead to a combination of high thermopower and reasonable conductivity. High values of the thermopower are found for p-type doping within the Boltzmann transport theory. Furthermore, these materials are expected to have low thermal conductivity due to their structures that consist of a network of weakly coupled SnSb{sub 4} clusters, which leads to low phonon frequencies. In particular, we find low-frequency optical phonons that should effectively scatter the heat-carrying acoustic phonons. These results are discussed in terms of the structure, which consists of anionic clusters. Based on the results, it is suggested that such compounds may represent a useful paradigm for finding new thermoelectric materials.
School level contextual factors are associated with the weight status of adolescent males and females.

Objective: To determine whether school context influences the BMI of adolescent males and females. Methods and Procedures: Our sample was 17,007 adolescents (aged 12–19) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We used gender-stratified multilevel modeling to examine the contribution of schools to the overall variance in adolescent BMIs, calculated from self-reported weight and height. We then examined the associations of individual attributes with BMI after controlling for the average BMI of the school and the association of two school-level variables with BMI. Results: Participants attended schools that were segregated by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). In females, when controlling only for individual-level attributes, individual household income was inversely associated (β = −0.043, P = 0.01) while Hispanic (β = 0.89, P < 0.001) and black (β = 1.61, P < 0.001) race/ethnicity were positively associated with BMI. In males, Hispanic (β = 0.67, P < 0.001) race/ethnicity was positively associated with BMI; there was no difference in the BMIs of blacks compared with whites (β = 0.24, P = 0.085). After controlling for the school racial/ethnic makeup and the school level median household income, the relationship between individual race/ethnicity and BMI was attenuated in both male and female adolescents. Higher school level median household income was associated with lower individual BMIs in adolescent girls (γ = −0.37, P < 0.001) and boys (γ = −0.29, P < 0.001) suggesting a contextual effect of the school. Discussion: Male and female adolescents attending schools with higher median household incomes have on average lower BMIs. Resources available to or cultural norms within schools may constitute critical mechanisms through which schools impact the BMI of their students.
Changes in Raman Spectra Due to Near-IR Excitation

We have found that, in shifting from visible to near-IR excitation of Raman spectra, some unexpected spectral changes can occur for some materials. In preparing to purchase a Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectrometer, we have run the same set of seven samples on instruments from five manufacturers. All the instruments used near-IR excitation. The spectrum of one of the materials differed in an obvious way from the spectrum we had obtained routinely with visible laser excitation. Moreover, we found the spectrum varied significantly from instrument to instrument and even from run to run on the same instrument with near-IR excitation. We believe that this variation is due to local heating of the sample by near-IR absorption and that this effect is likely to occur with other materials.
Similarity renormalization group with novel generators

The choice of generator in the Similarity Renormalization Group (SRG) flow equation determines the evolution pattern of the Hamiltonian. The kinetic energy has been used in the generator for most prior applications to nuclear interactions, and other options have been largely unexplored. Here we show how variations of this standard choice can allow the evolution to proceed more efficiently without losing its advantages.
Chlorhexidine cleaning of re-usable bougies.

Summary Bougies are susceptible to becoming contaminated before or during use. Chlorhexidine wipes may have a residual antibacterial effect, potentially minimising bacterial transmission after bougie use or storage. We evaluated the decontaminant and antibacterial effectiveness of 70% alcohol/2% chlorhexidine wipes in laboratory, clinical and accelerated ageing studies, and conducted a telephone survey of normal practice. In the laboratory tests, chlorhexidine wipes were completely effective against Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and prevented recontamination for 24 h. Clinical introduction of chlorhexidine wipes reduced bougie contamination from 33% to 0%. Following 150 cleaning episodes, there was no physical or functional damage to the bougies. Eight out of nine hospitals in the East of England Health Region use re-usable bougies. We recommend that following decontamination, bougies should be wiped with 70% alcohol/2% chlorhexidine wipes, to retain antimicrobial activity during handling.
Announcing the SIGAI early career researchers network and conference

Any research field is as healthy as the new talent that it is able to attract, and AI is no exception. For this reason, AI conferences hold mentoring events for doctoral students and researchers in the early stages of their careers to support their advancement and connections to other researchers in the field. SIGAI holds one such event annually at the AAAI conference: the AAAI/SIGAI Doctoral Consortium. But we think that much more can be done, as these events are held once a year and do not necessarily cover all the topics that young researchers would want to.