cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new variant of type III jejunoileal atresia.

Abstract Jejunoileal atresia (JIA) is a congenital defect that can result in significant loss of bowel length. The traditional classification of JIA was first proposed by Grosfeld and includes 4 subtypes. Among these, type IIIB, or apple-peel atresia, is characterized by a proximal atretic jejunum and a distal segment of spiraled bowel that terminates at the cecum. Owing to this anatomy, patients with type IIIB JIA are at increased risk for short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure. In this report, we described the case of a neonate with a prenatal diagnosis of JIA. At exploration, she was initially found to have a type IIIB atresia. However, instead of terminating at the cecum, the distal spiraled segment was followed by 75 cm of normal small bowel and mesentery. Surgical correction proceeded with minimal resection and primary anastomosis. She recovered well from this procedure, tolerated full enteral nutrition by mouth, and displayed good weight gain at outpatient follow-up. Owing to the unique anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract in this case report, we propose the addition of a new class of JIA, type IIIC, to better reflect its prognostication and surgical management.
Diffusion‐weighted MRI with intravoxel incoherent motion modeling for assessment of muscle perfusion in the thigh during post‐exercise hyperemia in younger and older adults

Aging is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation that leads to muscle perfusion impairment and contributes to organ dysfunction. Impaired muscle perfusion may result in inadequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients during and after muscle contraction, leading to muscle damage. The ability to study the relationship between perfusion and muscle damage has been limited using traditional muscle perfusion measures, which are invasive and risky. To overcome this limitation, we optimized a diffusion-weighted MRI sequence and validated an intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) analysis based on Monte Carlo simulation to study muscle perfusion impairment with aging during post-exercise hyperemia. Simulation results demonstrated that the bias of IVIM-derived perfusion fraction (fp ) and diffusion of water molecules in extra-vascular tissue (D) ranged from -3.3% to 14% and from -16.5% to 0.002%, respectively, in the optimized experimental condition. The dispersion in fp and D ranged from 3.2% to 9.5% and from 0.9% to 1.1%, respectively. The mid-thigh of the left leg of four younger (21-30 year old) and four older (60-90 year old) healthy females was studied using the optimized protocol at baseline and at seven time increments occurring every 3.25 min following in-magnet dynamic knee extension exercise performed using a MR-compatible ergometer with a workload of 0.4 bar for 2.5 min. After exercise, both fp and D significantly increased in the rectus femoris (active muscle during exercise) but not in adductor magnus (inactive muscle), reflecting the fact that the local increase in perfusion with both groups showed a maximum value in the second post-exercise time-point. A significantly greater increase in perfusion from the baseline (p < 0.05) was observed in the younger group (37 ± 12.05%) compared with the older group (17.57 ± 15.92%) at the first post-exercise measurement. This work establishes a reliable non-invasive method that can be used to study the effects of aging on dynamic changes in muscle perfusion as they relate to important measures of physical function.
Fatigue behavior of additive manufactured 316L stainless steel parts: Effects of layer orientation and surface roughness

Abstract The effects of layer orientation and surface roughness on the mechanical properties and fatigue life of 316L stainless steel (SS) fabricated via a laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) additive manufacturing process were investigated. Quasi-static tensile and uniaxial fatigue tests were conducted on LB-PBF 316L SS specimens fabricated in vertical and diagonal directions in their as-built surface condition, as well as in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions where the surface had been machined to remove any effects of surface roughness. In the machined condition, horizontally built LB-PBF specimens possessed higher fatigue resistance, followed by vertically built specimens, while the lowest fatigue resistance was obtained for diagonal specimens. Similarly, in the as-built condition, vertical specimens demonstrated better fatigue resistance when compared to diagonal specimens. Furthermore, the detrimental effects of surface roughness on fatigue life of LB-PBF 316L SS specimens was not significant, which may be due to the presence of large internal defects in the specimens. Anisotropy of LB-PBF 316L SS specimens was attributed to the variation in layer orientation, affecting defects’ directionality with respect to the loading direction. These defect characteristics can significantly influence the stress concentration and, consequently, fatigue behavior of additive manufactured parts. Therefore, the elastic-plastic energy release rates, a fracture mechanics-based concept that incorporates size, location, and projected area of defects on the loading plane, were determined to correlate the fatigue data and acceptable results were achieved.
Encouraging erotic variety: Identifying correlates of, and strategies for promoting, sexual novelty in romantic relationships

Abstract In the present investigation, we identified correlates of sexual novelty in existing relationships and also investigated whether experimentally manipulating persuasive information about sexual novelty could encourage sexual novelty within a relationship. Participants in committed relationships of 6 months or longer were recruited online through Amazon's Mechanical Turk to complete a two-part survey on sexual relationships. The initial survey (Time 1) was completed by 352 predominantly White US citizens (204 women, 146 men, 2 unreported), and a subset of 244 people (140 women, 101 men, 3 unreported) completed the follow-up survey two weeks later (Time 2). We found that several sex-positive personal characteristics (e.g., pornography use and sexual fantasy) and positive relational characteristics (e.g., commitment, egalitarianism, and sexual frequency) are related to engaging in sexual novelty, as well as desire for sexual novelty, willingness to initiate sexual novelty, and willingness to comply with partner-initiated sexual novelty. We also found that certain persuasive strategies (i.e., those incorporating fear appeals, narrative accounts, or examples of successful initiation strategies) may be effective at altering perceptions of sexual novelty and increasing novel intimate behavior between relationship partners.
Transcultural Diabetes Care in The United States – A Position Statement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has created a transculturalized diabetes chronic disease care model that is adapted for patients across a spectrum of ethnicities and cultures. AACE has conducted several transcultural activities on global issues in clinical endocrinology and completed a 3-city series of conferences in December 2017 that focused on diabetes care for ethnic minorities in the U.S. Proceedings from the "Diabetes Care Across America" series of transcultural summits are presented here. Information from community leaders, practicing health care professionals, and other stakeholders in diabetes care is analyzed according to biological and environmental factors. Four specific U.S. ethnicities are detailed: African Americans, Latino/Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. A core set of recommendations to culturally adapt diabetes care is presented that emphasizes culturally appropriate terminology, transculturalization of white papers, culturally adapting clinic infrastructure, flexible office hours, behavioral medicine-especially motivational interviewing and building trust-culturally competent nutritional messaging and health literacy, community partnerships for care delivery, technology innovation, clinical trial recruitment and retention of ethnic minorities, and more funding for scientific studies on epigenetic mechanisms of cultural impact on disease expression. It is hoped that through education, research, and clinical practice enhancements, diabetes care can be optimized in terms of precision and clinical outcomes for the individual and U.S. population as a whole.
Transitional venous anomalies and DVAs draining brain AVMs: A single-institution case series and review of the literature

Abstract Objective Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are typically benign lesions purely venous in nature. However, a subset of DVAs are either 1) associated with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or 2) demonstrate shunting themselves. The goal of this case series and literature review is to present clinical characteristics, management strategies and outcomes of this patient population. Methods Consecutive patients with arteriovenous shunting DVAs or DVAs draining nidal-AVMs were retrospectively reviewed. Lesions were classified as transitional DVAs or AVM-associated DVAs. Variables studied included clinical presentation, location, size, venous drainage, and malformation architecture. Treatment outcomes were evaluated. Results We identified 8 patients with transitional or AVM-associated DVAs from our institution. Six patients had unruptured lesions and two presented with hemorrhage. We classified 5 malformations as transitional DVAs and 3 as AVMs draining into DVAs. Three patients were conservatively managed, while 5 patients underwent treatment of the shunt by means of surgery (4) or radiosurgery (1). One patient suffered a right frontal venous infarct resulting in left sided weakness post-operatively. In the literature review we found 44 additional cases (Total = 30 transitional DVAs and 22 AVM-associated DVAs). Patients with transitional DVAs were more symptomatic than patients with AVM-associated DVAs (41.4% vs 22.2%). Permanent neurologic deficit following radiosurgical or microneurosurgical treatment of transitional DVAs was 28.6% compared to 16.7% for AVMs draining into DVAs. Conclusions Transitional DVAs and AVMs draining into DVAs are rare lesions. Treatment is associated with substantial risk of venous infarct, particularly in situations where the draining vein is occluded.
Gestational diabetes exposure and adiposity outcomes in childhood and adolescence: An analysis of effect modification by breastfeeding, diet quality, and physical activity in the EPOCH study

Background Intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with increased adiposity; however, not all offspring exposed to GDM exhibit excess adiposity. Objectives Examine whether optimal diet and activity behaviours in infancy, childhood, and adolescence modify the association between GDM exposure and adiposity. Methods In 564 offspring (84 exposed to GDM), we assessed breastfeeding (maternal recall), dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (3-day recall), and adiposity (BMI, waist-to-height ratio, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and subscapular-to-triceps skinfold ratio) at 10.4 (SD, 1.5) and 16.7 (SD, 1.2) years. Optimal behaviours were defined as >6 breastmilk months, Healthy Eating Index score >60, and daily vigorous activity >1 hour. Linear mixed models assessed the association between GDM exposure and adiposity among those with optimal versus suboptimal health behaviours, adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and pubertal status. Results GDM exposure was associated with increased skinfold ratio, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue among those with 6 breastmilk months (P = .01). GDM exposure was associated with increases in all adiposity measures among those with Healthy Eating Index scores 60 (P > .10). GDM exposure was associated with increased BMI and subcutaneous adipose tissue among those with >1 hour of vigorous activity (P .30). Conclusions The association of GDM exposure with excess adiposity is attenuated in offspring with more optimal diet and activity behaviours in infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
Zero-overhead path prediction with progressive symbolic execution

In previous work, we introduced zero-overhead profiling (ZOP), a technique that leverages the electromagnetic emissions generated by the computer hardware to profile a program without instrumenting it. Although effective, ZOP has several shortcomings: it requires test inputs that achieve extensive code coverage for its training phase; it predicts path profiles instead of complete execution traces; and its predictions can suffer unrecoverable accuracy losses. In this paper, we present zero-overhead path prediction (ZOP-2), an approach that extends ZOP and addresses its limitations. First, ZOP-2 achieves high coverage during training through progressive symbolic execution (PSE)---symbolic execution of increasingly small program fragments. Second, ZOP-2 predicts complete execution traces, rather than path profiles. Finally, ZOP-2 mitigates the problem of path mispredictions by using a stateless approach that can recover from prediction errors. We evaluated our approach on a set of benchmarks with promising results; for the cases considered, (1) ZOP-2 achieved over 90% path prediction accuracy, and (2) PSE covered feasible paths missed by traditional symbolic execution, thus boosting ZOP-2's accuracy.
Temporal Distribution Patterns of Alexa Fluor 647-Conjugated CeNPs in the Mouse Retina After a Single Intravitreal Injection

Intravitreal (IVT) injection of ophthalmic therapeutics is the most widely used drug delivery route to the posterior segment of the eye. We employed this method to deliver our inorganic, catalytic antioxidant, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs), to rodent models of retinal degeneration. A single IVT of CeNPs delays disease progression. Even though we have shown that our synthesized CeNPs are retained in the retina for over a year, we still do not know which cell types in the retina preferentially take up these nanoparticles. In this study, we examined the temporal and spatial distribution of fluorescently labeled CeNPs in retinal sections after IVT. We detected elevated fluorescent signals in all the layers where retinal neurons and glia reside and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) up to 90 days post injection. Additionally, we found that free fluorochrome accumulated in retinal vasculature instead of retinal cells. These data suggested that CeNP-conjugation mediated the targeting of the fluorochrome to retinal cells. We propose that CeNPs can be deployed as ophthalmic carriers to the retina.
Correlation of Daily Activities with Intermittent Claudication in a Patient-designed Individualized Quantified Community Walking Program.

Abstract Background Patients with peripheral artery disease and associated intermittent claudication can experience significant short-term (for instance, day-to-day) variations in their walking ability. This variability is often viewed as a complication in establishing reliable baseline walking performance levels for individual patients in multi-patient supervised walking programs. Methods In contrast, the present five-month-long quantified community walking program deliberately focuses on the variability referred to above, searching for its causes. I designed this program to have its training regimen evolve based upon short-term correlations of my daily activities with intermittent claudication. In each walking session in my community, I measured the maximum amount of time I could walk before being stopped by intolerable calf pain and then immediately following that, the amount of time required to recover from that pain, repeating this cycle as many times as I could. I also kept track of the total distance that I covered and the time required for the entire walking session. Entering this data in a spreadsheet when I returned home, I determined the average (AWT) of all the maximum walking times in the session as one measure of my walking ability on a given day. I also used this data to determine my own unique measure of walking performance (WP) that reflected the factors related to walking ability that were most important to me. I then searched for correlations of AWT and WP with my daily activities, using this information to improve my training regimen and walking ability as the program progressed. Results Identifying such correlations during the first half of this five-month long individualized study of my own case, led to a dramatic improvement in my walking performance within one month of introducing regular use of a stationary recumbent bike between walks coupled with walking more than 10 hours after eating. My average maximum walking time increased 3900% from 2.6 (1.2 [standard error of mean]) min to 104 (1) min with no need to rest at all in 6.6 (0.3) km covered at an average speed of 3.8 (0.1) km/hr. Conclusions This research indicates that there can be significant motivational and performance benefits to bringing patients’ own perspectives more fully into the design and execution of individualized, quantified community walking programs.
Abstract 5953: Regulation of androgen receptor stability by nuclear export protein CRM1

Import of ligand-bound androgen receptor (AR) into the nucleus occurs with the help of nuclear importin. Past studies have identified a nuclear export signal (NES) in AR. CRM1 (also called XPO1 or Exportin1) is a well-studied exportin that exports proteins and RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. GTP-bound active Ran, CRM1, and the cargo protein form a ternary complex that is exported through the nuclear pore complex. Previous experimental data indicate that RanGTP plays a vital role in Prostate cancer (PCa) progression. Our analyses further suggest that patients who have overexpression of CRM1 and/or Ran have significantly decreased survival. These results indicate that nucleocytoplasmic transport is essential for prostate cancer progression and inhibiting CRM1 could selectively inhibit cancer cell growth. We demonstrate that CRM1 does not affect the nuclear export of AR protein. However, quite surprisingly, we provide novel evidence that CRM1 binds to AR mRNA and is also required for AR protein stability. Inhibiting CRM1 using CRM1 inhibitor results in a dose-dependent rapid loss of AR and AR-V7 splice variants in PCa cells. This observation opens up an entirely new avenue to therapeutically regulate AR signaling using CRM1 inhibitors. Citation Format: Naiju Thomas, Rajendra Kumar, Deven Topiwala, Kavya Boyapati, Suthicha Kanacharoen, Michael Carducci, Samuel Denmeade, Sushant K. Kachhap. Regulation of androgen receptor stability by nuclear export protein CRM1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5953.
Preliminary Improvements in Dynamic Postural Control after A Group-based Intervention Program for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Brief Report.

To determine the value of a traditional (easy to implement) group-based intervention program on both static and dynamic postural control in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). ...
Podocyte-specific KLF4 is required to maintain parietal epithelial cell quiescence in the kidney

Podocyte loss triggering aberrant activation and proliferation of parietal epithelial cells (PECs) is a central pathogenic event in proliferative glomerulopathies. Podocyte-specific Kruppel-like fa...
Mechanistic-Empirical Faulting Prediction Model for Unbonded Concrete Overlays of Concrete:

Transverse joint faulting is a distress that develops in unbonded concrete overlays (UBOL). Historically, faulting models used for predicting the performance of a UBOL have not accounted for the ef...
Germline Variants Identified in Patients with Early-onset Renal Cell Carcinoma Referred for Germline Genetic Testing.

Abstract Background Despite guidelines recommending genetic counseling for patients with early-onset renal cell carcinoma (RCC), studies interrogating the spectrum of germline mutations and clinical associations in patients with early-onset RCC are lacking. Objective To define the germline genetic spectrum and clinical associations for patients with early-onset RCC diagnosed at age ≤46 yr who underwent genetic testing. Design, setting, and participants We retrospectively identified patients with early-onset RCC who underwent germline testing at our institution from February 2003 to June 2020. Outcome measurement and statistical analysis The frequency and spectrum of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants were determined. Clinical characteristics associated with mutation status were analyzed using two-sample comparison (Fisher’s exact or χ2 test). Results and limitations Of 232 patients with early-onset RCC, 50% had non–clear-cell histology, including unclassified RCC (12.1%), chromophobe RCC (9.7%), FH-deficient RCC (7.0%), papillary RCC (6.6%), and translocation-associated RCC (4.3%). Overall, 43.5% had metastatic disease. Germline P/LP variants were identified in 41 patients (17.7%), of which 21 (9.1%) were in an RCC-associated gene and 20 (8.6%) in a non–RCC-associated gene, including 17 (7.3%) in DNA damage repair genes such as BRCA1/2, ATM, and CHEK2. Factors associated with RCC P/LP variants include bilateral/multifocal renal tumors, non–clear-cell histology, and additional extrarenal primary malignancies. In patients with only a solitary clear-cell RCC, the prevalence of P/LP variants in RCC-associated and non–RCC-associated genes was 0% and 9.9%, respectively. Conclusions Patients with early-onset RCC had high frequencies of germline P/LP variants in genes associated with both hereditary RCC and other cancer predispositions. Germline RCC panel testing has the highest yield when patients have clinical phenotypes suggestive of underlying RCC gene mutations. Patients with early-onset RCC should undergo comprehensive assessment of personal and family history to guide appropriate genetic testing. Patient summary In this study of 232 patients with early-onset kidney cancer who underwent genetic testing, we found a high prevalence of mutations in genes that increase the risk of cancer in both kidneys and other organs for patients and their at-risk family members. Our study suggests that patients with early-onset kidney cancer should undergo comprehensive genetic risk assessment.
Male Counselors’ Experiences of Their Child-Clients’ Trauma

Men are underrepresented in the counseling profession, are socialized to be independent, and discouraged from seeking help. Exposure to others’ trauma can cause secondary trauma, with cumulative deleterious effects. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of male counselors who work with children who have experienced trauma. Six male counselor participants were identified, semi-structured interviews were conducted; then a hermeneutic interpretation through the lens of constructivist self-development theory elucidated participants’ experiences. The 13 themes generated from this data included: (a) counselors’ use of an eclectic theoretical approach, (b) majority of the clients had experienced trauma, (c) experiences of vicarious trauma, (d) increased empathy and growth; (e) negative impact of vicarious trauma, (f) help-seeking behavior, (g) denial of help-seeking behavior, (h) additional training, (i) coping skills, (j) supportive supervisors, (k) peer consultation, (l) supervisor role, (m) world is unsafe/people are bad, and (o) increasing knowledge.
Estimation risk and the implicit value of index-tracking

We study [Roll, R., A mean/variance analysis of tracking error. J. Portfolio Manage., 1992, 18, 13–22.] conjecture that there exists an implicit value in index-tracking (IVIT) relative to forming m...
Perspectives from Around the World: Panorama of Where We Are and Where We Are Going

In Australia it is estimated that within the next 10 years, health care costs related to the management of urinary incontinence will be in the order of 1.2 billion dollars annually. The prevalence of urinary incontinence in Australia is estimated at between 34% and 45% in women and between 4% and 15% in men depending on the criteria used and subpopulations studied.
Would a Value-Added System of Retention Improve the Distribution of Teacher Quality? A Simulation of Alternative Policies

In this paper, we consider several features of teacher-retention policies based on valueadded measures of effectiveness under a variety of empirically grounded rules and parameters. We consider the effects of policy design by varying the standard above which satisfactory teachers are expected to perform. We simulate recently adopted policies that remove teachers based on consecutive unsatisfactory performance and compare these to policies that remove teachers based on poor performance on average over a multiyear period. We also consider the precision of the performance measure and the underlying variation in teacher quality on policy effects. Finally, the simulation makes a step forward by incorporating recent empirical findings of a relationship between teacher quality and natural attrition from the profession. Our results indicate that deselection policies based on value-added measures have the potential to improve teacher quality, although understanding the role of policy design, self-selected exits, and the underlying variation in teacher quality is essential for determining policy effects. C � 2013 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Cyclic Nucleotide-dependent Protein Kinases: VIII. AN ASSAY METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF ADENOSINE 3',5'-MONOPHOSPHATE IN VARIOUS TISSUES AND A STUDY OF AGENTS INFLUENCING ITS LEVEL IN ADIPOSE CELLS

Abstract An assay method has been developed for the measurement of tissue levels of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) based upon the ability of the cyclic nucleotide to activate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase purified from bovine heart, kidney cortex, or brain. The method has been used to measure cyclic AMP levels in mouse brain and in rat brain, liver, fat pads, and isolated adipose cells under various conditions. The results obtained with the three different sources of enzyme agreed well, both with each other and with published values. The limit of sensitivity of the assay method for cyclic AMP was about 2 x 10-9 m. In isolated adipose cells, Filipin, a polyene antibiotic with antilipolytic properties, decreased the intracellular cyclic AMP level, apparently by causing its leakage from the cells into the incubation medium. Vitamin K5, also an antilipolytic agent, unexpectedly potentiated the action of norepinephrine and corticotropin in elevating intracellular cyclic AMP levels in adipose cells. The data also show a differential inhibition by Ca++, EDTA, and dl-β-hydroxy-N-tert-butyl-2,4-dichlorophenethylamine of the action of various lipolytic hormones in elevating cyclic AMP levels in adipose cells. It is suggested that there occur at least three distinct types of hormone "receptor" in adipose cells, each interacting specifically with one of three catagories of hormone, namely, (a) norepinephrine, (b) glucagon, and (c) corticotropin and thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Use of advanced breast biopsy instrumentation while performing stereotactic breast biopsies: review of 150 consecutive biopsies.

Abstract Background: Stereotactic breast biopsies are being performed in the United States with increasing frequency. Advanced breast biopsy instrumentation (ABBI) is a recent addition to the list of available stereotactic breast biopsy devices (eg, fine-needle aspiration, automated needle cores, and vacuum-assisted devices). Indications for the ABBI procedure in the management of patients with nonpalpaple mammographic lesions have not been established. Study Design: Prospectively collected data on 150 patients biopsied with the ABBI procedure were reviewed. Results: From April 1996 to May 1997, 150 patients with indeterminate or suspicious nonpalpable mammographic lesions were biopsied using the ABBI technique. Complications were minor. One patient (0.6%) required a repeat biopsy because of insufficient tissue and one patient had repeat excision to confirm the diagnosis of atypical ductal hyperplasia. Cancer was diagnosed in 26%. Followup mammograms were obtained in 94% of the patients. Lesions were missed in three patients (2%), none of whom were later found to have cancer. One patient (0.6%) required a repeat ABBI biopsy for postbiopsy architectural distortion. Postprocedure mammographic scarring was otherwise minimal and was noted in only 16% of the patients. Of the 111 patients with benign diagnoses, 67 were seen for clinical followup; 98% had good cosmetic outcomes and were satisfied with the ABBI technique. Conclusions: The ABBI technique is a safe, reliable stereotactic breast biopsy technique that is well accepted by patients. The sensitivity and specificity of ABBI biopsy for the diagnosis of carcinoma in this series were each 100% for the 142 patients returning for followup. Indications for the technique are similar to those for traditional needle localization excisional breast biopsies.
Compiling ATR probing codes for execution on FPGA hardware

This paper describes the implementation of an automatic target recognition (ATR) Probing algorithm on a reconfigurable system, using the SA-C programming language and optimizing compiler. The reconfigurable system is 800 times faster than a comparable Pentium running a C implementation of the same probing task. The reasons for this are analyzed.
A Marine's journey from battle injury to employment in home community

After surviving a severe brain injury from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) blast and working daily to reclaim his life, one of the military's finest was ready to pursue community employment. At 27-years-old, he completed an 8-year-long, comprehensive traumatic brain injury rehabilitation program by making an autobiographical documentary. The documentary served as a stepping stone for his community employment as well as a means to encourage others to keep working toward their goals. He is now successfully employed, on a part-time basis, with a local retailer, in his home community. This paper outlines the progression from initial concept to a completed documentary. It tracks his experiences and accomplishments through years of rehabilitation therapy, through making an autobiographical documentary, to bridging a transition from his identity as a rehabilitation patient to a working member of his home community.
Graft Versus Host Disease: From Basics to the Clinic

Allogeneic transplantation, the transfer of tissues from one individual to another, is complicated by the exquisite specificity and cellular and mechanistic diversity of the immune system. Thus, recognition of donor tissues by host immune cells (host versus graft) and host tissues by donor immune cells (graft versus host, GVH) is an obligate event after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), although there is dramatic variation in the manifestations of these responses. Despite many advances over the last several decades, GVH disease (GVHD) remains a significant barrier to successful HCT. GVHD occurs in both an acute and chronic form, may be of limited or unlimited duration and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology and manifestations of acute and chronic GVHD are unique, and the assessment and management of these conditions are quite different. GVHD remains the major contributor to death in 15–30 % of patients undergoing HCT and a cause of morbidity in approximately half of patients. The morbidity of GVHD is of particular concern in pediatrics, where HCT for nonmalignant diseases is more common and the contribution of GVHD to the risk-benefit equation must be particularly carefully considered.
Temporal Separation of Vesicle Release from Vesicle Fusion during Exocytosis

During exocytosis, vesicles in secretory cells fuse with the cellular membrane and release their contents in a Ca2+-dependent process. Release occurs initially through a fusion pore, and its rate is limited by the dissociation of the matrix-associated contents. To determine whether this dissociation is promoted by osmotic forces, we have examined the effects of elevated osmotic pressure on release and extrusion from vesicles at mast and chromaffin cells. The identity of the molecules released and the time course of extrusion were measured with fast scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes. In external solutions of high osmolarity, release events following entry of divalent ions (Ba2+ or Ca2+) were less frequent. However, the vesicles appeared to be fused to the membrane without extruding their contents, since the maximal observed concentrations of events were less than 7% of those evoked in isotonic media. Such an isolated, intermediate fusion state, which we term "kiss-and-hold," was confirmed by immunohistochemistry at chromaffin cells. Transient exposure of cells in the kiss and hold state to isotonic solutions evoked massive release. These results demonstrate that an osmotic gradient across the fusion pore is an important driving force for exocytotic extrusion of granule contents from secretory cells following fusion pore formation.
An epitope common to HLA class I and class II antigens, Ig light chains, and β2-microglobulin

The homology of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, class II MHC antigens, and immunoglobulin molecules has suggested their divergence from a common ancestral gene. We report here a monoclonal antibody (mAb), PAC. M1, which reacts with HLA class I heavy chains, HLA class II α and β chains, and the light chain of human immunoglobulin by Western blot analysis. PAC.M1 reacted with 44 kd, 33 kd, and 29 kd species when tested on membrane glycoproteins from TRa1, a B-lymphoblastoid cell line (B-LCL). Two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting of TRa1 glycoproteins showed that these species had the appropriate electrophoretic mobilities for class I heavy chain and class II α and β subunits. The presence of the epitope was verified on class II α and β subunits by Western blotting of purified αβ-invariant chain complexes, and on class I heavy chains by Western blotting of purified class I antigens. The PAC. M1 mAb also reacted with immunoglobulin light chains when Western blotting was performed with normal human serum and purified IgG and IgM as antigens. While reactivity of the mAb with beta-2 microglobulin (β2m) was difficult to detect by Western blotting, binding of PAC.M1 to purified β2m was detectable in a solid-phase binding assay. Thus, PAC.Ml reacts with a determinant shared by a number of members of the immunoglobulin superfamily.
Asthma Morbidity Among Children Evaluated by Asthma Case Detection

Objective: Population-based asthma detection is a potential strategy to reduce asthma morbidity in children; however, the burden of respiratory symptoms and health care use among children identified by case detection is not well known.
Spreadsheet Modeling of the G/G/c Queuing System without Macros or Add-Ins

Spreadsheets are have become a popular tool for teaching business students about waiting line systems. Modeling queuing systems with multiple servers, however, is somewhat difficult and ordinarily accomplished by using macros or by having multiple templates, each template with a different number of servers. Here, it is shown how native Excel array functions can be used to create a spreadsheet model with the number of servers being an adjustable parameter.
The Knowledge that Counts: Institutional Identities, Policy Science, and the Conflict Over Fire Management in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela

Summary The cultures of environmental planning agencies shape institutional identities and management interventions. Central to such institutional cultures is knowledge production, which is shaped by political–economic processes, dominant narratives and institutional desires to produce “conservation” landscapes. Through knowledge production, certain scientific knowledge and data are appropriated, while others are excluded. In the case of fire management in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela, a project of policy science draws on selected scientific knowledge and emphasizes remote sensing and quantitative analysis at the expense of indigenous knowledge and prescriptive burning practices. This policy science emerges from an institutional culture that favors fire suppression as a means to recreate a desired, imaginary forest.
Recognition and modification of seX chromosomes.

Flies, worms and mammals employ dosage compensation complexes that alter chromatin or chromosome structure to equalize X-linked gene expression between the sexes. Recent work has improved our understanding of how dosage compensation complexes achieve X chromosome-wide association and has provided significant insight into the epigenetic modifications directed by these complexes to modulate gene expression. In flies, the prevailing view that dosage compensation complexes assemble on the X chromosome at ∼35 chromatin-entry sites and then spread in cis to cover the chromosome has been re-evaluated in light of the evidence that these chromatin-entry sites are not required for localization of the complex. By contrast, identification of discrete recruitment elements indicates that nucleation at and spread from a limited number of sites directs dosage compensation complex localization on the worm X-chromosome. Studies in flies and mammals have extended our understanding of how ribonucleoprotein complexes are used to modify X chromatin, for either activation or repression of transcription. Finally, evidence from mammals suggests that the chromatin modifications that mediate dosage compensation are very dynamic, because they are established, reversed and re-established early in development.
The use of remotely sensed data and innovative modeling to improve hurricane prediction

The assimilation of remotely sensed data from aircraft and satellites has contributed substantially to the current accuracy of operational hurricane forecasting. In the 1960's, satellite imagery revolutionized hurricane detection and forecasting. Since that time, quantitative remotely sensed data (eg. atmospheric motion winds, passive infrared and microwave radiances or retrievals of temperature, moisture, surface wind and rain rate, active microwave measurements of surface wind and rain rate) and significant advances in modeling and data assimilation have increased the accuracy of hurricane track forecasts very significantly. The development of advanced next-generation models in combination new types of remotely sensed observations (eg. space-based lidar winds) should yield significant further improvements in the timing and location of landfall and in the predicted intensification of hurricanes.
Sealed calls in Java packages

Determining the potential targets of virtual method invocations is essential for inter-procedural optimizations of object-oriented programs. It is generally hard to determine such targets accurately. The problem is especially difficult for dynamic languages such as Java, because additional targets of virtual calls may appear at runtime. Current mechanisms that enable inter-procedural optimizations for dynamic languages, repeatedly validate the optimizations at runtime. This paper addresses this predicament by proposing a novel technique for conservative devirtualization analysis, which applies to a significant number of virtual calls in Java programs. Unlike previous work, our technique requires neither whole program analysis nor runtime information, and incurs no runtime overhead. Our solution is very efficient to compute and is based on a newly introduced, seemingly unrelated security feature of Java file archives. On average, our analysis "seals" (safely devirtualizes) about 39% of the virtual calls (to non-final methods) that appear in SPECjvm98 programs, and about 29% of the calls invoked while executing these programs. In the runtime library rt.jar, about 10% of the packages contain a significant percentage (20--60%) of sealed calls, with a total average of about 8.5%. Most of these calls are also shown to be monomorphic, a fact which can be safely exploited by aggressive inter-procedural optimizations such as direct inlining. These results indicate that our technique has a strong potential for enhancing the analysis and optimization of Java programs.
Modularity and Principles and Parameters: avoiding the 'cognitively ugly':

This paper provides an overview of some of the advantages of the Principles and Parameters approach to language acquisition research, and suggests that modularity is a particularly helpful feature of this approach. It argues that serious attention to modularity clarifies research thinking, encouraging us to examine the boundaries between modules in constructive ways. Particular attention is paid to the boundary between syntax and pragmatics as illustrative of such boundary issues in general. Researchers are encouraged to examine other frameworks for their contributions to a more eclectic view of language acquisition than currently popular, with the anticipation that it will lead to a healthy interaction between the contributions of different approaches.
Bias-Free Improvement in Wine Discrimination:

Over three test sessions alternated with two training sessions, accuracy of 'same'/'different' judgments of four dry, white wines improved 14%. Confidence ratings were obtained so that the area under the isosensitivity curve could be computed as a bias-free measure of accuracy while the wine used for same pairs was held constant. An initial bias for 'different' judgments persisted, rather than disappearing as Walk found. While perceptual learning did occur, the problem of attending to irrelevant differences was not overcome.
Prognostic significance of neuroendocrine expression in lymph node-positive prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the expression of chromogranin A, a marker for neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, in patients with lymph node-positive prostate cancer to determine its prognostic significance. NE cells are involved in cellular growth and differentiation in both normal and pathologic conditions of the prostate. Methods We reviewed the data of 140 patients with lymph node-positive prostate adenocarcinoma treated with radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The median follow-up was 10.9 years (range 0.8 to 19.7). Immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin A was evaluated in areas of benign epithelium, primary prostate cancer, and lymph node metastasis. The association between chromogranin A expression and the clinical and pathologic factors (preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen and prostatectomy Gleason score and stage) and clinical outcomes, including overall and recurrence-free survival, was evaluated. Results Staining was positive in 86% of benign areas, 61% of primary cancer specimens, and 12% of lymph node deposits. The preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen level and pathologic stage and grade of the primary tumor did not show any statistically significant correlation with NE staining in any of the areas. Only NE expression in the primary tumor was associated with clinical recurrence, with a 10-year recurrence-free survival rate for those with less than 5% staining of 67% compared with 35% for those with 5% staining or greater ( P = 0.03). Furthermore, after adjusting for age, greater NE expression in the primary tumor (relative risk 2.15, P = 0.02) and lymph node deposit (relative risk 2.03, P = 0.03) was associated with poorer overall survival. Conclusions NE expression in the primary tumor and lymph node metastasis of patients with node-positive prostate cancer may provide additional prognostic stratification.
Manipulation of microspheres and biological cells with multiple agile VCSEL traps

A microscope-integrated vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array trapping system capable of independent control, rotation, and batch processing of biological cells is developed and demonstrated. The trapping system is applied for manipulation of yeast cells and PC-12 cells. In our trapping system, a single VCSEL trap serves as a collector and distributor, while an array of VCSEL traps functions like a chip, enabling parallel processing of multiple objects. The trapping system here differs from earlier VCSEL tweezers set-ups in several ways, including (1) the optical traps are mobile with the addition of a static sample holder; and (2) both a single and an array of optical traps can be controlled independently by tilting mirrors at the conjugate planes of the objective back aperture, and their relative depth can be adjusted without losing trapping power. These enhancements provide an advantage for lab-on-a-chip devices that contain microfluidics, since the background flow resulting from moving the sample plane introduces complexity and uncertainty in the velocity and force analysis on microparticles or cells. In addition, independent control of traps can offer more flexibility in multi-target manipulation. Here, we address optical design considerations for keeping stable trapping performance while multiplexing. Potential improvements based on two independently controlled VCSEL arrays are discussed and related applications are investigated.
Head position as an indicator of producer and scrounger tactics in a ground-feeding bird

The benefits of group foraging depend on the frequency of feeding from food uncovered by companions (joining) versus self-discovered food (finding). Information-sharing (IS) and producer-scrounger (PS) games predict different joining frequencies because they make distinct assumptions about food searching. IS games assume individuals can search concurrently for finding and joining opportunities while PS games assume incompatible search modes; individuals search either as a producer, detecting only finding opportunities, or as a scrounger, detecting only joining opportunities. To determine the search assumption for flocks of ground-feeding granivores we studied the behaviour of spice finches, Lonchura punctulata, foraging in indoor aviaries for clumps of hidden millet seed. We looked for behaviour patterns preceding finding and joining events. An analysis of covariance showed that the frequencies of hopping with the head pointing up and down were statistically associated with the frequencies of a bird's joining and finding, respectively. When the expected stable frequency of the scrounger tactic was altered by changing the seed distribution, the birds' relative frequency of hopping with the head up changed accordingly. When the seed distribution made any use of the scrounger tactic unprofitable, the frequency of hopping with the head up declined to zero. Consequently, in ground-feeding birds such as spice finches, finding and joining behaviour conform more closely to the assumptions of a PS rather than an IS game.
Macroglobulin Structure: Variable Sequence of Light and Heavy Chains

The variable regions of the light and heavy chains on the same macroglobulin (immunoglobulin M) molecule are no more related in amino acid sequence than are the variable regions of the light and heavy chains of different immunoglobulin molecules. Subgroups of µ chains are similar in their variable sequence to subgroups of γ chains.
Exploratory study of aircraft wake vortex filaments in a water tunnel

The meandering nature of a single vortex filament is examined. The flowfield is typical of that in the vicinity of an aircraft wing tip vortex. Self-induced motion of the vortex filament is examined within the confines of potential flow theory and is compared with experimentally obtained results. A single-sensor constant temperature anemometer is used to measure the amplitude and rate of growth of vortex meandering experimentally. Data are presented that show the variation of the core radius with distance downstream of the point of origin as a function of the vortex strength. Also, experimental data are presented to show the variation in the amplitude of wandering downstream of the point of origin. Using the velocity fluctuations in the close proximity of a vortex filament, it is shown that 1) this quantity grows with downstream distance from the point of origin and 2) the degree of wandering depends on the vortex strength