cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poverty and maternal responsiveness: The role of maternal stress and social resources

One of the main reasons poverty is bad for children's development is because it reduces maternal responsiveness. This study addresses a heretofore unanswered question: why do low-income children experience diminished maternal responsiveness compared with their more affluent counterparts? In addition, we examine this question among a largely neglected population, young adolescent (M = 13.1 years), rural low- and middle-income, white children. These families all reside in small towns and rural areas in North America. The negative association between poverty and maternal responsiveness is mediated by the combination of heightened maternal stress and diminished social networks.
Understanding Activist Leadership Effort in the Movement Opposing Drinking and Driving

Why do some social movement leaders work harder than others? And, how does gender affect the patterns we uncover? Utilizing historical case study evidence of local chapters in the emerging movement opposing drinking and driving we are able to develop and test theoretical expectations about predictors of weekly effort among MADD and RID leaders. Taken together, our model explains 45 percent of the variation in leadership effort. We find bureaucratic complexity and victim support activities are more powerful predictors of effort than are individual leader characteristics, although all are important. Further analysis reveals that gender almost wholly conditions the strong effect of bureaucratic complexity on leadership effort so that increasingly complex chapter structures are associated with substantial increases in work hours for women but not men.
The Disposal and Recovery of Textile Waste Liquors Chemical Precipitation of the Color-Shop Wastes

The effect of coagulants on the waste liquors from the process of printing cotton goods is investigated. Treatment by coagulation with 4.5 pounds of lime per thousand gallons, using recirculated sl...
Ammonia Levels Should Not Be Used as a Surrogate Marker of Levels of Asparaginase Activity in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients

_To the Editor:_ Asparaginase is an enzyme which hydrolyses asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia. Levels of asparaginase activity are relatively easy to measure, and a trough level >100 U/L is associated with complete asparagine depletion. So, the measurement of levels of asparaginase activity is a very useful tool to monitor asparaginase activities in clinical practice. However, these assays are not available in all countries in contrast to ammonia measurements. Recently, a Polish study group published ammonia levels of 87 children during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) induction therapy. They concluded that the ammonia concentration reflects the levels of asparaginase activity and could be useful when asparaginase activity assays are not available. We evaluated if ammonia levels could be used as a surrogate marker of levels of asparaginase activity. [...]
Update in cystic fibrosis 2005.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex, hereditary disease involving several organ systems (1). CF is caused by mutations in the gene that codes for the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a membrane glycoprotein that contributes to regulation of ion flux at certain epithelial surfaces. Lung disease results in most of the morbidity and mortality in CF. Advances in CF over the past several decades have recently been reviewed with an emphasis on the development and importance of CF care centers and on opportunities for new treatments (2). The many threads of CF research in 2005 can be appreciated in Figure 1, showing the general headings (1) Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics, (2) Pathophysiology, and (3) Clinical Care and Treatment, along with several subheadings. This brief update reviews representative, significant articles in 2005. Figure 1. Research in cystic fibrosis (CF) in 2005. Research in CF is listed by major headings: (1) -Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics, (2) Pathophysiology, and (3) Clinical Care and Treatment. Important subheadings are listed under each major heading. ...
Evolutionary dynamics of full genome content in Escherichia coli

The evolutionary history of the entire Escherichia coli chromosome was traced by examining the distribution of the ∼4300 open reading frames (ORFs) from E.coli MG1655 among strains of known genealogical relationships. Using this framework to deduce the incidence of gene transfer and gene loss, a total of 67 events—37 additions and 30 deletions—were required to account for the distribution of all genes now present in the MG1655 chromosome. Nearly 90% of the ORFs were common to all strains examined, but, given the variation in gene content and chromosome size, strains can contain well over a megabase of unique DNA, conferring traits that distinguish them from other members of the species. Moreover, strains vary widely in their frequencies of deletions, which probably accounts for the variation in genome size within the species.
Relative production of Atlantic salmon from fluvial and lacustrine habitats estimated from analyses of scale characteristics

Empirical and back-calculated growth of Atlantic salmon parr were compared between fish reared in fluvial and lacustrine habitats of Conne River, Newfoundland. Length at age was significantly higher for lacustrine parr. Various classification and maximum likelihood estimators indicated that 75% or more of the fish used lakes for rearing. Lacustrine use is another aspect of the inherent variability and plasticity of Atlantic salmon life-history traits. As most Newfoundland river systems include lakes, estimates of regional spawning targets and potential smolt production will need to take lake habitat into account.
Pretreatment growth rate predicts radiation response in vestibular schwannomas.

Purpose Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are often followed without initial therapeutic intervention because many tumors do not grow and radiation therapy is associated with potential adverse effects. In an effort to determine whether maximizing initial surveillance predicts for later treatment response, the predictive value of preirradiation growth rate of VS on response to radiation therapy was assessed. Methods and Materials Sixty-four patients with 65 VS were treated with single-fraction stereotactic radiation surgery or fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy. Pre- and postirradiation linear expansion rates were estimated using volumetric measurements on sequential magnetic resonance images (MRIs). In addition, postirradiation tumor volume change was classified as demonstrating shrinkage (ratio of volume on last follow-up MRI to MRI immediately preceding irradiation 120%). The median pre- and postirradiation follow-up was 20.0 and 27.5 months, respectively. Seven tumors from neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients were excluded from statistical analyses. Results In the 58 non-NF2 patients, there was a trend of correlation between pre- and postirradiation volume change rates (slope on linear regression, 0.29; P =.06). Tumors demonstrating postirradiation expansion had a median preirradiation growth rate of 89%/year, and those without postirradiation expansion had a median preirradiation growth rate of 41%/year ( P =.02). As the preirradiation growth rate increased, the probability of postirradiation expansion also increased. Overall, 24.1% of tumors were stable, 53.4% experienced shrinkage, and 22.5% experienced expansion. Predictors of no postirradiation tumor expansion included no prior surgery ( P =.01) and slower tumor growth rate ( P =.02). The control of tumors in NF2 patients was only 43%. Conclusions Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for VS, but tumors that grow quickly preirradiation may be more likely to increase in size. Clinicians should take into account tumor growth rate when counseling patients about treatment options.
Homeosis and polyposis: A tale from the mouse

Homeobox genes play essential roles in specifying the fates of different cell types during embryogenesis. In Drosophila, the homeotic gene caudal is important for the generation of posterior structures. In the mouse, the caudal homologue Cdx2 has been implicated in directing early processes in intestinal morphogenesis and in the maintenance of the differentiated phenotype. A recent study showed that Cdx2 null mutation was embryonically lethal, whereas Cdx2+/- mice developed multiple intestinal polyps in the proximal colon in addition to developmental defects. There are striking phenotypic similarities and differences between Cdx2+/- and other mice predisposed to intestinal neoplasia. The possible role of Cdx2 in human colorectal tumorigenesis is discussed.
Essential role of ER-α-dependent NO production in resveratrol-mediated inhibition of restenosis

Resveratrol (Resv), a red wine polyphenol, is known to exhibit vascular protective effects and reduce vascular smooth muscle cell mitogenesis. Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation is a critica...
Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Yeast Repressor Rfx1/Crt1 Reveals a Novel Two-Step Regulatory Mechanism

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the repressor Crt1 and the global corepressor Ssn6-Tup1 repress the DNA damage-inducible ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) genes. Initiation of DNA damage signals causes the release of Crt1 and Ssn6-Tup1 from the promoter, coactivator recruitment, and derepression of transcription, indicating that Crt1 plays a crucial role in the switch between gene repression and activation. Here we have mapped the functional domains of Crt1 and identified two independent repression domains and a region required for gene activation. The N terminus of Crt1 is the major repression domain, it directly binds to the Ssn6-Tup1 complex, and its repression activities are dependent upon Ssn6-Tup1 and histone deacetylases (HDACs). In addition, we identified a C-terminal repression domain, which is independent of Ssn6-Tup1 and HDACs and functions at native genes in vivo. Furthermore, we show that TFIID and SWI/SNF bind to a region within the N terminus of Crt1, overlapping with but distinct from the Ssn6-Tup1 binding and repression domain, suggesting that Crt1 may have activator functions. Crt1 mutants were constructed to dissect its activator and repressor functions. All of the mutants were competent for repression of the DNA damage-inducible genes, but a majority were “derepression-defective” mutants. Further characterization of these mutants indicated that they are capable of receiving DNA damage signals and releasing the Ssn6-Tup1 complex from the promoter but are selectively impaired for TFIID and SWI/SNF recruitment. These results imply a two-step activation model of the DNA damage-inducible genes and that Crt1 functions as a signal-dependent dual-transcription activator and repressor that acts in a transient manner.
Betulinic Acid Targets YY1 and ErbB2 through Cannabinoid Receptor-dependent Disruption of MicroRNA-27a:ZBTB10 in Breast Cancer

Treatment of ErbB2-overexpressing BT474 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells with 1 to 10 μmol/L betulinic acid inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis, downregulated specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4, and decreased expression of ErbB2. Individual or combined knockdown of Sp1, Sp3, Sp4 by RNA interference also decreased expression of ErbB2 and this response was because of repression of YY1, an Sp-regulated gene. Betulinic acid-dependent repression of Sp1, Sp3, Sp4, and Sp-regulated genes was due, in part, to induction of the Sp repressor ZBTB10 and downregulation of microRNA-27a (miR-27a), which constitutively inhibits ZBTB10 expression, and we show for the first time that the effects of betulinic acid on the miR-27a:ZBTB10-Sp transcription factor axis were cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and CB2 receptor-dependent, thus identifying a new cellular target for this anticancer agent.
Development and Use of Natural Hazard Vulnerability-Assessment Techniques in the Americas

Sufficient knowledge, experience, and expertise exist to warrant a continuous, systematic, and critical review of natural hazard vulnerability-assessment techniques ~VAT! and their applications. This position is a reflection of the supply side of natural hazard disaster theory and practice. Academic, technical, scientific, as well as economic and social science professionals are showing increased interest in examining and explaining the specifics of risk associated with natural hazard phenomena. Surely, this is due in part to society’s increased awareness of risk from seemingly greater and more dangerous sources of peril. However, it also reflects a decades-old evolution of curiosity and concern about the response of populations and their physical, economic, and social infrastructure to atmospheric, hydrologic, and geologic events. There is a demand side to the position as well. Notable are the increasing losses, litigation, language, and lamentations related to natural hazard events. Economic losses and the number of persons affected, but not killed, due to natural hazard events are increasing throughout the Western Hemisphere. This reflects unresolved risk–much of which has been generated by development actions. It is also taking place in the face of seemingly boundless development opportunities to tie together economies and thus societies with their social, political, institutional, scientific, and technical underpinnings. In the absence of a global threat of assured mutual destruction ~such as in the case of nuclear war!, risks due to natural hazard events that distinguish between societies or nations ~indeed the lack of catastrophic risks that give advantage to some societies or nations, or portions thereof! are worth recognizing. For some, risk management of societies and nations is the defining factor in development. This special issue of the Natural Hazards Review, and indeed the NHR as a publication, is part of a review of natural hazard VAT. Natural hazard VAT development, application, and case study preparation helps to fill a void where a broader and deeper set of explorations and experiences are impacting, if not conditioning, the natural hazard vulnerability-assessment agenda in America in an increasingly interconnected way. The characteristics of the techniques include hazard focus, geographical and sector focus, subject and purpose of the vulnerability assessment, and input and output parameters. Regarding the natural hazard focus, there is a tradition of concentrating on earthquake and flood hazards, each sponsored by their associated scientific and technical communities, and together representing the vast majority of all losses in America over the past several decades. Focusing on earthquakes puts an emphasis on catastrophic loss. The resulting risk-management solutions are generally the responsibility of the individual vulnerable entity given that hazard modification and hazard avoidance are often not vi-
THE MULTIPLE FORMS OF AGGRESSIVENESS BETWEEN MARITAL PARTNERS: HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THEM?

One of the difficulties in conducting research that compares violent to nonviolent marriages, is determining exactly which couples are violent and what is the direction of that violence: husband-to-wife, wife-to-husband, or bi-directional. To illustrate this problem, data on the incidence of violence in 103 couples are presented, based on wife's report only, husband's report only, or both spouses' reports. Incidence figures based on the report of either spouse were approximately 100% higher than the incidence based on agreements between spouses. Although slightly more wives than husbands reported severe husband-to-wife aggression, other forms of aggression were reported by more husbands than wives. Discussion focuses on the limitations of frequency data, alone, in assessing marital violence.
Endothelial Cell Hybrids and the Suppression of Factor VIII Related Antigcn Exprcssion

Summary. Hybrid somatic cell clones have been generated by fusing human vascular endothelial cells in primary culture to cells of four rodent lines. Factor VIII related antigen (VIIIR:Ag) was clearly demonstrable in the cultured endothelial cells, even when they had been co-cultured with rodent cells. Hut in none of 14 hybrid clones was VII1R; Ag detectable. Isozyme analyses for human chromosome markers show that all the assayed human chromosomes were represented among the hybrids, and that various subsets of human chromosomes have been deleted from individual hybrid clones. It may be concluded, therefore, either that VIIIR:Ag production depends on a particular combination of human chromosomes not represented in any of the hybrids, or that the rodent cells contribute some agent which intracellularly blocks VIIIR:Ag expression.
Transcriptional insights into the CD8+ T cell response to infection and memory T cell formation

After infection, many factors coordinate the population expansion and differentiation of CD8+ effector and memory T cells. Using data of unparalleled breadth from the Immunological Genome Project, we analyzed the CD8+ T cell transcriptome throughout infection to establish gene-expression signatures and identify putative transcriptional regulators. Notably, we found that the expression of key gene signatures can be used to predict the memory-precursor potential of CD8+ effector cells. Long-lived memory CD8+ cells ultimately expressed a small subset of genes shared by natural killer T and γδ T cells. Although distinct inflammatory milieu and T cell precursor frequencies influenced the differentiation of CD8+ effector and memory populations, core transcriptional signatures were regulated similarly, whether polyclonal or transgenic, and whether responding to bacterial or viral model pathogens. Our results provide insights into the transcriptional regulation that influence memory formation and CD8+ T cell immunity.
342 Mortality and proportional cancer incidence in Minnesota taconite workers

Objective In response to public concerns about health in Minnesota taconite mining workers, we evaluated the mortality and cancer experience in this population. Methods From a cohort of 44,159 taconite workers born in 1920 or later, we selected 30,360 with at least one year of documented employment. Vital status and causes of death from death certificates were ascertained through December 31, 2007. Cancer diagnoses from 1988 through 2010 were identified by the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System (MCSS). Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and proportional cancer incidence ratios (PCIR) were calculated using Minnesota as the reference population. Results We identified 9,012 deaths, of which 2,693 were cancers, including 943 lung cancers, and 30 mesotheliomas. Mortality from all causes was near unity (SMR = 1.02, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.00–1.04). Mortality from lung cancer and mesothelioma were higher than expected; SMR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.09–1.24) and 2.79 (95% CI: 1.88–3.98) respectively. SMRs were elevated for all heart diseases (SMR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.14), hypertension with heart disease (SMR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.37–2.30) and ischaemic heart disease (SMR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07–1.16). A total of 6,189 incident cancers were identified by MCSS including 1016 lung cancers, and 51 mesotheliomas. PCIRs for mesothelioma and lung cancer were 3.02 (95% CI: 2.24, 3.98) and 1.22 (95% CI: 1.15–1.30) respectively. Other proportionally elevated cancers include oral, esophageal, stomach, laryngeal, and bladder cancers. Conclusions This analysis indicates taconite workers have an increased risk for certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Exposures from taconite operations include crystalline silica, respirable dust and elongated mineral particles, including non-asbestiform amphiboles and cleavage fragments. Exposure to commercial asbestos is also possible. The extent to which such exposures contribute to disease burden is being investigated. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, could also contribute to disease burden.
Comparative Studies on Plastoquinones. III. Distribution of Plastoquinones in Higher Plants

The distribution of plastoquinones A 45, B and C was studied in representatives from 34 different plant families beginning with liverworts and mosses to higher plants. All of these species, including many monocots and dicots, contained significant amounts of the 3 quinones. Two species of Aesculus contained plastoquinone A 20 in addition to plastoquinone A 45, B, and C. Many dicots, such as Aesculus, watermelon, tobacco and tomato accumulated increasing quantities of plastoquinones A and C(1)-C(4) during the growing season. The concentrations of plastoquinones B and C(5)-C(6) tended to remain at a constant low level during the season (<0.01 mumole per mg chlorophyll). Preliminary studies with bean plants (Vicia faba and Phaseolus sp.) indicate that the levels of quinones varied little under different growth conditions (day length and temp.) although Vicia faba tended to have higher PQ A values with increased temperature.
Generalizability of a Measure of Visitor Satisfaction with 0utdoor Recreation

A measure of visitor satisfaction with outdoor recreation is important for effective management. Cronbach's theory of generalizability was used to estimate the effects of time of measurement, item context, and item content on a recreation satisfaction measure, which was given to floaters on two rivers. The influences of item content, item context, and times were large, small, and none, respectively.
Photodisintegration of /sup 3/H and /sup 3/He

The photoneutron cross sections for /sup 3/H and /sup 3/He have been measured from threshold to approx.25 MeV with monoenergetic photons from the annihilation in flight of fast positrons. These reactions include the two-body breakup of /sup 3/H and the three-body breakup of both /sup 3/H and /sup 3/He; these measurements for /sup 3/H are the first to span the energy region across the peaks of the cross sections. An efficient BF/sub 3/-tube-and-paraffin neutron detector and high-pressure gaseous samples were employed in these measurements. The results, when compared with each other and with results for the two-body breakup cross section for /sup 3/He from the literature, show that: (a) the two-body breakup cross section for /sup 3/H and /sup 3/He have nearly the same shape, but the one for /sup 3/He lies lower in magnitude; (b) the three-body breakup cross section for /sup 3/He lies higher in magnitude, broader in peak region, and also rises less sharply from threshold than that for /sup 3/H; and (c) these differences between the cross sections for the breakup modes largely compensate in their sum, so that the total photon absorption cross sections for /sup 3/H and /sup 3/He are nearly the same inmore » both size and shape at energies near and above their peaks. Theoretical results from the literature disagree with the experimental results to a certain extent over the entire photon-energy region for which the photoneutron cross sections were measured. Sum-rule predictions also fail to reproduce the experimental results. These discrepancies constitute a challenge to the principle of charge symmetry of the nuclear force, but more complete theoretical calculations are needed to ascertain whether these discrepancies can be ascribed entirely to electromagnetic effects.« less
High plasma level of soluble RAGE is independently associated with a low recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation in diabetic patient

Aims Atrial fibrillation (AF) is closely associated with metabolic syndrome, and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) pathway is involved in insulin resistance and cardiac remodelling. We hypothesized that plasma level of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) would predict clinical outcome after radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF. Methods and results We measured pre-procedural plasma level of sRAGE in 496 patients who underwent AF ablation (142 patients with diabetes, 354 patients without diabetes selected by matching them with diabetic patients according to age, sex, and AF type). (i) Plasma level of sRAGE was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in non-diabetics (580.0 ± 576.4 vs. 435.8 ± 280.7 pg/mL, P = 0.005), but there was no difference in sRAGE levels between patients with clinical recurrence of AF and those without. (ii) During 24.5 ± 18.0 months of follow-up, the recurrence of AF was significantly lower in the diabetic patient group with high sRAGE (≥418 pg/mL based on the median value) than the diabetic patient group with low sRAGE (log-rank P = 0.045). This was especially pronounced in patients with paroxysmal AF and diabetes (log-rank P = 0.016), but no association was found in non-diabetics. (iii) In multivariate Cox regression analysis, high sRAGE (HR 0.395, 95% CI 0.175–0.894, P = 0.026) and paroxysmal AF (HR 0.387, 95% CI 0.179–0.835, P = 0.016) were independently associated with the favourable clinical outcome of rhythm control after AF ablation in diabetic patients. Conclusion High plasma level of sRAGE was independently associated with low AF recurrence after catheter ablation in diabetic patients, especially those with paroxysmal AF.
True knot of the umbilical cord

Fifty umbilical cords were prepared and examined and their venous perfusion pressures measured with and without a true knot in the cord. Contrary to information in the literature, a loose umbilical cord knot did not affect the venous perfusion pressure. With a tightened knot, the smaller the umbilical cord diameter, the greater was the pressure required to perfuse past the knot. The umbilical vessels, protected by the myxomatous structure of the Wharton's jelly, were rarely completely occluded. These findings correlate clinically with the relatively high incidence yet low fetal mortality rate actually due to a true knot in the umbilical cord.
Vitrectomia no tratamento do edema cistóide de mácula pós-pseudofacia

RESUMO Introducao: O Edema Cistoide de Macula (ECM) e uma das principais patologias que determinam baixa acuidade visual em pacientes apos cirurgia de catarata. O objetivo desse estudo retrospectivo e determinar a eficacia da vitrectomia no tratamento do edema cistoide de macula pos-pseudofacia em pacientes com falta de integridade da capsula posterior. Material e Metodos: Foram analisados retrospectivamente prontuarios de 11 pacientes pseudofacicos com rotura ou falta de capsula posterior, com diagnostico de Edema Cistoide de Macula, que foram submetidos a vitrectomia para tratamento do Edema Cistoide de Macula. Resultados: Houve significante melhora da acuidade visual apos a vitrectomia. Nao houve diferenca entre os subgrupos com lente intra-ocular de câmara anterior e posterior. Conclusao: A vitrectomia via pars plana deve ser considerada como tratamento nos pacientes pseudofacicos com ECM associado com tracao vitrea que nao respondem ao tratamento clinico.
Research for a Uniform Quality Grading System for Tires

Abstract The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 requires the establishment of a uniform quality grading system. This paper discusses the needs for the system and the complexity of the problem. The system proposed here will depend on five properties; tread wear, traction, impact resistance, endurance, and wheel speed capability.
Current status of rabies control in Dongcheng District of Beijing

Objective It is purposed to summarize and analysis of the achievements and weakness in prevention and control for rabies in humans and dogs in Dongcheng District of Beijing to provide evidence for perfecting measures for its prevention and control.Methods Data of rabies surveillance and its control in humans and dogs were collected and analyzed.Results Number of people bitten by dogs substantially increased in Dongcheng District in recent years,particularly in the summer and fall,more in females than in males and mainly in young adults,as well as in children and students aged 0～14 years.Hands and lower extemities were mostly injured in the victims,with a high proportion of them to visit physicians timely.Passive immunization was instituted less frequently for those at III-level exposure to rabies.Immunization for dogs was lower,too.Conclusions Curreent status of rabies prevention and control in Dongcheng District is good,generally,but passive immunization for those at III-level exposure to rabies should be strengthened further,as well as immunization for dogs.It is suggested that pre-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk groups be strengthened,especially for children lack of self-protection,and health education with related knowledge about rabies prevention be enhanced.
Program director and chief resident perspectives on the educational environment of US radiation oncology programs.

Abstract Purpose Our goals were toexamine the educational approachesused at radiation oncology residency programs nationwide andto evaluate program director(PD) and chief resident (CR) perceptions of their educational environment. Methods and materials We distributed a survey regarding curricular structure via email toall identified US radiation oncology residency PDs and CRs. Pearson χ2 test was used toevaluate whether differences existed between answers provided by the 2 study populations. Results The survey was disseminated to 200 individuals in 85 US residency programs: 49/85PDs(58%)and 74/115 (64%)CRs responded. More than one-half of PDs and CRs report that attending physicians discussed management, reviewed contours, and conducted mock oral board examinations with the residents. At nearly 50% of programs, the majority of teaching conferences use a lecture-based approach, whereas only 20% reported predominant utilization of the Socratic method. However, both PDs (63%) and CRs (49%) reported that Socratic teaching is more effective than didactic lectures (16% and 20%, respectively), with the remainder responding that they are equally effective. Teaching sessions were reported to be resident-led ≥75% of the time by 50% of CRs versus 18% of PDs (P = .002). Significantly more CRs than PDs felt that faculty-led teaching conferences were more effective than resident-led conferences (62% vs 26%, respectively; P Conclusions There is considerable variability between PDs and CRs in the perceived structure and effectiveness of resident education in US radiation oncology residency programs. These data suggest opportunity for improvement in radiation oncology residency training, such as encouraging more faculty-led, Socratic-based teaching conferences. Increased communication between PDs and CRs can better align perceptions with educational goals.
The Ancient Quarrel between Philosophy and Poetry: Kierkegaard: A Poet, Alas

“The poetic is glorious, the religious still more glorious, but what lies between is silly talk, no matter how much talent is wasted on it.” So says Frater Taciturnus, one important guide to thought about poetry and its relation to life, history, and philosophy. Taciturnus is one guide among many, for in the works of Kierkegaard the relationship of poetry to philosophy not only is a question examined and considered from many angles but is a quarrel and struggle enacted in the works themselves, written under pseudonyms by a writer who, on multiple occasions in his papers and journals claimed, “I'm a poet – alas, just a poet.” Kierkegaard did not write formal poems, but he wrote poetry understood in a certain sense: “The subject matter plays a very important role [in] … poetry, this word understood in its widest meaning to denote all artistic production that is based on language and the historical consciousness.” In relation to his characters, Kierkegaard explicitly requests his readers to remember, “My wish, my prayer, is that, if it might occur to anyone to quote a particular saying from the books, he would do me the favor to cite the name of the respective pseudonymous author.” Poetry does a tremendous amount of work in Kierkegaard's presentation of his thought. And yet poetry used as a means of presenting certain perspectives and of bringing us to certain thresholds, fails – and for Kierkegaard fails most miserably – if it becomes something more than a means for realizing that poetry is not sufficient.
Therapeutic Mastoidectomy in the Management of Noncholesteatomatous Chronic Otitis Media Literature Review and Cost Analysis

ObjectiveDespite evidence that therapeutic mastoidectomy does not improve outcomes in noncholesteatomatous chronic otitis media, it remains widely performed. An up-to-date systematic review is unde...
Autologous cord blood infusions for the treatment of pediatric neurological conditions

C palsy (CP) is a devastating brain disorders that affects many children worldwide. In addition, for unexplained reasons many children suffer strokes both in and ex utero. Stem cells have the capacity to generate new cells to replace those lost through injury, and have shown promise in animal models of CP and stroke. This presentation will summarize the pre-clinical data for use of cord blood (CB) stem cells for the treatment of these conditions. In addition, case studies will be presented of multiple pediatric patients that have undergone autologous CB stem cell infusions to treat these conditions (CP and stroke), as well as drowning and neurological-based hearing loss. Conditions affecting beneficial outcome will be discussed as well as uses of CB stem cells for other regenerative medicine applications.
Hypoxia exacerbates the cardiotoxic effect of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, phenanthrene in Danio rerio.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 released a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the Gulf of Mexico presenting a complex exposure regime for native species. Concurrently, the Gulf has experienced an increase in hypoxic events due to agricultural runoff from the Mississippi River outflow. This combination presents a unique physiological challenge to native species and a challenge for researchers. The purpose of this study was to determine how the cardiotoxic PAH, phenanthrene interacts with hypoxia to affect the cardiovascular system of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). We exposed zebrafish larvae to 0, 1, 100, and 1000 μg/L of phenanthrene in combination with normoxia and hypoxia. At late hatching, video of hearts and vessels were used to measure heart rate (ƒH), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (Q), red blood cell velocity, and caudal vessel diameter. We found that the highest concentration of phenanthrene caused a 58, 80, and 84% decrease in ƒH, Q, and arterial red blood cell velocity in normoxia and an 88, 98, and 99% decrease in hypoxia, respectively. Co-exposed larvae also experienced higher rates of edema and lordosis in addition to a 33% increase in mortality rate with co-exposure to hypoxia at the 1000 μg/L concentration of phenanthrene. At 12 dpf, baseline swimming behavior was similar between treatments indicating partial recovery from embryonic exposure. This study shows that phenanthrene decreases cardiac parameters, most significantly heart rate and that this effect is exacerbated by simultaneous exposure to hypoxia.
Abstract 67: A Rare Variant in Myh11, R247C, Affects Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype and Acts as a Modifier for Aortic Disease

Thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD) affect more than 30,000 Americans annually. One-fifth of TAAD patients have a first-degree relative with the disease, suggesting a genetic component to its pathogenesis. Missense mutations in a number of genes lead to TAAD, including MYH11 ,which encodes the smooth muscle isoform of myosin heavy chain. However, potential genetic contributors in the four-fifths of patients without affected relatives have not been explored. Variants of unknown significance in MYH11 are prevalent in the population, and are enriched in patients with TAAD and other vascular diseases. The goal of this study was to evaluate one of these variants as a potential contributor to TAAD. A knock-in mouse model of the Myh11 R247C rare variant was generated, and these mice survive and reproduce normally. They have no structural abnormalities of the aorta or signs of aortic disease, but do have decreased aortic contractility. Myh11 R247C/R247C mice also have increased neointimal proliferation following carotid ligation and increased proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vitro. Myh11 R247C/R247C SMCs have decreased contractile gene and protein expression and are dedifferentiated. In fibroblasts, myosin force generation is required for maturation of focal adhesions, and enhancers of RhoA activity replace enhancers of Rac1 activity as maturation occurs. Consistent with these previous findings, adhesions are smaller in Myh11 R247C/R247C SMCs, and there is increased Rac1 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation with decreased RhoA activation. A RhoA activator (CN03) rescues the dedifferentiated phenotype of Myh11 R247C/R247C SMCs, and FAK inhibition reduces proliferation. Since this rare variant occurs in the general population, we sought to determine if it acts as a modifier gene for aortic disease. The Myh11 R247C allele was bred into Acta2 -/- mice, which develop aortic aneurysms, and into Acta2 +/- mice, which do not. In both cases, the presence of the R247C allele increases aortic diameter. These preliminary data suggest that the MYH11 R247C rare variant may be a genetic contributor to TAAD in patients without an inherited mutation, or may affect the clinical presentation of TAAD in patients with Mendelian disease.
Radon emanation coefficients of several minerals: How they vary with physical and mineralogical properties

The escape rates of radon gas from rocks and minerals are of great relevance to many branches of geosciences, and it is, thus, important to understand the physical and mineralogical properties that control radon emanation rates. Mechanisms of radon loss from minerals have direct bearing on the reliability of U-Pb and U-Th-He geochronology. Fourteen minerals from three different mineral groups and with localities spanning three continents were selected for this study. The radon emanation coefficients (REC) for each mineral were measured as a function of grain size, temperature, 238 U and 232 Th activities, total absorbed α-dose, density, and mineral melting temperature. The measured 238 U and 232 Th activities ranged from 0.01 to 6487 Bq/g and from below detection limit to 776 Bq/g, respectively. The REC values for unheated, pulverized samples ranged from 0.083 to 7.0%, which is comparable to previously reported ranges (except for zircon). An inverse correlation between grain size and REC was observed. Full annealing of fission tracks resulted in an overall decrease in REC values, suggesting that nuclear tracks could possibly act as conduits for radon release. While activity, α dose, density, and melting temperatures are not strongly correlated with REC values, it was observed that minerals with high melting points (≥1400 °C) have lower REC values, most likely due to inhibition of radon release by compact crystal-lattice structures. This is the first attempt, to our knowledge, to correlate REC values with melting temperature, and this study reports six minerals for which no REC values have been previously reported.
Distributed consistent data association via permutation synchronization

Data association is one of the fundamental problems in multi-sensor systems. Most current techniques rely on pairwise data associations which can be spurious even after the employment of outlier rejection schemes. Considering multiple pairwise associations at once significantly increases accuracy and leads to consistency. In this work, we propose a fully decentralized method for globally consistent data association from pairwise data associations based on a distributed averaging scheme on the set of doubly stochastic matrices. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method using theoretical analysis and experimental evaluation.
Adaptive reallocation of cybersecurity analysts to sensors for balancing risk between sensors

Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) is a service-oriented system. Analysts work in shifts, and the goal at the end of each shift is to ensure that all alerts from each sensor (client) are analyzed. The goal is often not met because the CSOC is faced with adverse conditions such as variations in alert generation rates or in the time taken to thoroughly analyze new alerts. Current practice at many CSOCs is to pre-assign analysts to sensors based on their expertise, and the alerts from the sensors are triaged, queued, and presented to analysts. Under adverse conditions, some sensors have more number of unanalyzed alerts (backlogs) than others, which results in a major security gap for the clients if left unattended. Hence, there is a need to dynamically reallocate analysts to sensors; however, there does not exist a mechanism to ensure the following objectives: (i) balancing the number of unanalyzed alerts among sensors while maximizing the number of alerts investigated by optimally reallocating analysts to sensors in a shift, (ii) ensuring desirable properties of the CSOC: minimizing the disruption to the analyst to sensor allocation made at the beginning of the shift when analysts report to work, balancing of workload among analysts, and maximizing analyst utilization. The paper presents a technical solution to achieve the objectives and answers two important research questions: (i) detection of triggers, which determines when-to reallocate, and (ii) how to optimally reallocate analysts to sensors, which enable a CSOC manager to effectively use reallocation as a decision-making tool.
AIDS Service Organizations

Organizations are goal-oriented social systems that have the capacity to acquire resources and use them for a variety of purposes and are the chief way of getting things done that are beyond the reach of individuals. AIDS service organizations are designed to provide their clients or patients with needed medical and other services throughout the course of this illness. Not surprisingly, the availability of services is much greater in developed than in the less-developed countries. The range of services that these organizations provide the more than 33 million persons currently living with HIV worldwide is numerous in many highly developed nations (particularly in large urban high prevalence communities) and include medical resources such as clinics, substance use/drug assistance and treatment, home health, skilled nursing, mental health, peer support, case management, dental services, educational, food and nutrition, HIV/AIDS testing, hotlines/crisis lines, housing, language services, legal services, prevention, public benefits, infants’ and children’s services, spiritual services, support groups, thrift stores, transportation, treatment adherence, utility discounts, women’s services, work-related including disability services, youth assistance, advocacy, and planning groups. Some organizations provide only a single service while others provide many services. The mix of services provided by a variety of organizations such as hospital-based clinics, local health departments, and many community-based service agencies, can confuse patients and providers and produce fragmentation and service duplication.
Identification of Bone Cell Activity

Ultimately the validity of any of the methods of quantitative bone morphology depend on accurate identification of the bone cell activity. The cells and structures that are evaluated vary from one investigator to another, but they nearly always include bone formation which is distinguished either by osteoblasts, by osteoid covered by osteoblasts, by the presence of low density bone in a microradiograph, or by a double (or less satisfactorily, a single) tetracycline band. The active osteoblasts involved in new matrix deposition are generally cuboidal and lined up in sheets on the bone surface and are relatively easy to recognize (Figure 38). They are invariably associated with unmineralized osteoid tissue, with tetracycline uptake and, except in osteomalacia, with a mineralization front. Measurements of the length of surface covered by osteoid tissue which is covered with a layer or sheet of osteoblasts, often termed active osteoid, can also be used rather than a count of osteoblasts. The osteoid tissue can be seen most readily in undemineralized, unstained sections where it appears as a translucent layer containing osteocytes (Figure 39). A double label of tetracycline, resulting from two or more injections of tetracycline, given at an interval of a few days, also produces evidence of new matrix production and is probably the most certain method to evaluate the presence of new bone deposition (Figure 40). However, so many patients and animals have received previous doses of tetracycline that the majority of biopsy samples are labeled many times before the intended two labels are administered, and it is often difficult to distinguish the previous labels from those given for the purpose of measuring bone formation.
Music Fundamentals: A Balanced Approach

Music Fundamentals is written for students who want to learn the basics of music. Keeping in mind the student with very little or no prior knowledge of music, musical concepts are reinforced by numerous examples including global music, along with a comprehensive website for students to practice their knowledge, and a CD with audio examples. The music examples range from Stevie Wonder songs to Beethoven symphonies, from rhythmically challenging African songs and syncopated Brazilian choro songs, to humorous Filipino ballads and Schubert lieder. Features: a variety of exercises to help the student transform knowledge into practice, including: listen and sing exercises for ear training; keyboard drills to be played on a real keyboard or piano, or the keyboard insert provided in the inside cover; and clapping and counting exercises so that students not only have a cerebral understanding, but also a visceral feeling for pulse and rhythm review exercises at the end of each module facilitate progress to the next module, including: cultural notes which discuss musical genres or place musical examples in a cultural context; historical notes which place material in an historical context; and vocabulary notes to discuss musical signs or terms, providing contextual background and giving students a richer appreciation and understanding of musical concepts an instructor’s manual offers suggestions for classroom exercises. The Companion Website offers a variety of student and instructor resources, including interactive tutorials, additional appendices, and an instructor's manual that offers tips on using the book and more.
Educational Leaders and the Acknowledgment Gap.

This article takes as its premise the idea that an a priori acknowledgment gap exists relative to other kinds of gaps described in the literature on educational disparities between racial and ethni...