cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parents Are Unaware of Their Youths' Tobacco Use: Results from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study

BACKGROUND In this study, we determined the prevalence of and factors associated with parent unawareness of youth tobacco use. METHODS We used data from waves 1, 2, and 3 (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, a nationally representative study of 13,650 US youth ages 12 to 17 and their parents. We conducted weighted multivariate analyses comparing parent unawareness of youth-reported ever use and associations between parents' unawareness of youth use and covariates. RESULTS Youth ever tobacco use ranged from 21.8% in 2013-2014, to 24.1% in 2014-2015, to 23.4% in 2015-2016. Parent unawareness ranged from 57.6% in 2013-2014, to 61.9% in 2014-2015, and 64.5% in 2015-2016. Factors associated with higher parent unawareness of youth tobacco use in 2015-2016 were youth being female, black, or Hispanic (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.24-2.61; all ps < .05). Youth with lower academic performance, relatives who used tobacco, tobacco available in the home, or past 30-day use, were less likely to have parents unaware of their use (AORs 0.33-0.56; all ps < .05). CONCLUSIONS Among youth who reported ever using tobacco, most had parents who were unaware of their use. School-based efforts targeting specific sociodemographic factors could increase parent awareness of youth tobacco use.
Emphasizing scientific rigor in the development, testing, and implementation of positive psychological interventions

It is a critical period in the burgeoning field of positive psychological interventions (PPIs) to establish best research practices for the area. In this piece, we outline key features of intervent...
Inducing Agents to Report Hidden Trades (old title: Non-Exclusive Contracts, Collateralized Trade, and a Theory of an Exchange)

When contracts are unobserved (and nonexclusive), agents can promise the same asset to multiple counterparties and subsequently default. I show that a central mechanism can extract all relevant information about contracts that agents enter by inducing them to report one another. The mechanism sets position limits and reveals the names of agents who hit the limits according to (voluntary) reports from their counterparties. This holds even if sending reports is costly and agents can collude; but in some cases, an agent's position limit must be nonbinding in equilibrium. The mechanism has some features of a clearinghouse.
ExaEvo: topological optimization and scalability of evolutionary algorithms

As the availability of high-performance computing systems rises to unprecedented levels in the exascale era, vastly scalable parallelism is now an accessible, viable option for a wide range of scientific fields and algorithmic implementations. This abundance of increasingly complex parallel and distributed systems necessitates new approaches to software parallelism and scalability for finding high-quality solutions to complex problems at previously unattainable rates. This research investigates the implicit and explicit use of MPI topologies applied to parallel evolutionary algorithms (EAs) in order to dynamically arrange processes and communication channels during runtime for optimal performance, adapting to underlying system architecture and state. An island model EA employing numerical optimization has been chosen as the benchmark for evaluating these techniques. Initial results using a random search of the topology space offer promising results, with some cases resulting in both faster performance and improved fitness, indicating that a multi-objective evolutionary search approach could provide near optimal performance in regard to both communication speed and solution quality, thus resulting in a novel, performance enhancing meta-EA approach, where the top-level EA evolves the MPI topology on which the lower-level parallel EA is executing.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Acute Flaccid Myelitis: Scientific Opportunities and Priorities for Future Research.

Since 2014, cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) have been reported in the United States in increasing numbers biennially, occurring in the late summer and early fall. Although there is unlikely to be a single causative agent of this syndrome, non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) including enterovirus D-68 (EV-D68) have had epidemiological and laboratory associations with AFM. Much remains to be known about AFM and AFM-associated enteroviruses, including disease pathogenesis and the best strategies for development of therapeutics or preventive modalities including vaccines. To catalyze research that addresses these scientific and clinical gaps, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) convened a workshop entitled "AFM Preparedness: Addressing EV-D68 and Other AFM-Associated Enteroviruses" on February 19-20, 2020.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor in mesenchymal stromal cells: new frontiers in AhR biology

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic cells that have been clinically explored as investigational cellular therapeutics for tissue injury regeneration and immune-mediated diseases. Their pharmaceutical properties arise from activation of endogenous receptors and transcription factors leading to a paracrine effect which mirror the biology of progenitors from which they arise. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that has been extensively studied as an environmental sensor for xenobiotics, but recent findings suggest it can modulate immunological functions. Both genetic and pharmacological investigations revealed that MSCs express AhR and that it plays roles in inflammation, immunomodulation, and mesodermal plasticity of endogenous MSCs. Further, AhR has been shown to interact with key signaling cascades associated with these conditions. Therefore, AhR has potential to be an attractive target in both endogenous and culture-adapted MSCs for novel therapeutics to treat inflammation and other age-related disorders.
Pharmacy multidisciplinary stewardship program for high-risk patients prescribed opioids in an academic clinic.

Objective: To assess observation of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain within a Pharmacy Controlled Substance Clinic (PCSC) compared to usual care by resident physicians in a Primary Care Internal Medicine (IM) clinic . Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort . Setting: IM clinic within a large, academic medical center . Participants: Patients receiving stable opioid prescriptions for management of chronic nonmalignant pain (CNCP) were screened. Exclusions included age < 18 years old, aberrant opioid use behaviors, or malignancy-related pain. Both cohorts included 100 eligible patients . Interventions: Within the PCSC, a pharmacy team provided assistance to resident physicians monitoring patients receiving opioid medications . Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was application of CDC guidelines: creation of an annual patient provider agreement (PPA); annual urine drug screen (UDS); quarterly review of a prescription drug monitoring program (CURES); and documentation of quarterly evaluation of opioid use. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for opioid-related harms . Results: Respective measures from the control versus the intervention group demonstrated: PPA creation in 28 percent (n = 28) versus 100 percent (n = 100) (p < 0.001); UDS obtained in 59.2 percent (n = 58) versus 90.6 percent (n = 87) (p < 0.001); quarterly CURES review in 26 percent (n = 26) versus 70 percent (n = 70) (p < 0.001); and quarterly evaluation of opioid use in 26 percent (n = 26) versus 37 percent (n = 37) (p = 0.10). Conclusions: Pharmacy-led monitoring of patients prescribed opioids for CNCP in an academic resident clinic improves implementation of CDC guidelines. Similar multidisciplinary team integration may improve opioid prescribing safety in academic primary care settings .
SMAP Estimates and Science Applications of Vegetation Optical Depth for Global Ecology and Agroecosystems Monitoring

The National Aeronautics Space Administration's (NASA's) Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission will be completing it first extension phase in August 2020. The mission has so far completed five full annual cycles of global L-band radiometry. The baseline soil moisture algorithm is based on single-channel (V-polarization) retrieval of surface soil emissivity and the attenuation and scattering effects of the overlying vegetation is accounted for using ancillary data on the canopy cover derived from the seasonal climatology of optical/infrared data. There are however optional algorithms and research science products that use the V- and H-polarization measurements to simultaneously derived both the surface soil dual-polarization measurements are used in several algorithms to derive the surface soil emissivity as well as canopy properties. The vegetation optical depth resulting from the latter derivation is related to depth-average canopy water content and structural characteristics. These science products have been used in a number of global ecology as well as agroecosystems monitoring. In this paper the bases for these products, their strengths and shortcomings as well as example science results are presented.
Does social media have a place in ophthalmology practice

Within the past decade, social media has become an integral part of everyday life. In 2020, over 3.6 billion people used it worldwide, a statistic projected to increase to almost 4.41 billion by 20...
Doppler-Free Two-Photon Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy of a Molecular Vibrational Overtone Transition

We demonstrate Doppler-free two-photon cavity ring-down spectroscopy using a narrow linewidth quantum cascade laser locked to a high-finesse cavity. Two-photon absorption of $^{14}{{\text{N}}_2}^{16}{\text{O}}$ at ${\tilde v_0} = 2207.507{\text{c}}{{\text{m}}^{ - 1}}$ is reported.
Economics of Valuable Information Systems

tHaving completed the presentation of the normative theory of information valua­tion and choice, this final chapter investigates the feasibility of applying it to the user-oriented design and evaluation of an organization’s information system. This broader viewpoint requires aggregation from the level of the individual DM to the collective whole, and raises a host of new issues regarding the sociology, politics, and psychology of information use within the environment of an or­ganization. Fundamentally, this requires us to question the extent to which nor­matively optimal behavior is actually observed, and whether managerial initia­tives to affect both system design and the broader organizational culture can cause behavior changes in directions that are consistent with economic theory. The first three sections of this chapter concern essentially empirical issues in­volving the information use environment, the activities of the system, and peo­ple’ s ability to assess value and respond to system incentives and other situation-specific conditions. In general, experimental results indicate that behavior is qualitatively consistent with decision theory, but with room for improvement. The fourth section presents an aggregative model to explain how the information system that maximizes the organization’s expected information gain is deter­mined by the interaction of the nature of the decision problems the users face, the behavior of the users, the incentives the design of the system gives to those users, and the investments the organization makes.
13C NMR of Crosslinked Poly(Methacrylic Anhydride)

Solution and solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectra for poly(methacrylic anhydride) (PMAH) polymers with various tacticities and thermal histories were correlated with infrared spectra and gel permeation chromatographs to detect anhydride crosslinks. Under most baking conditions, thin films of isotactic poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) formed spherulitic crystals upon conversion to isotactic PMAH (i-PMAH), whereas PMAH prepared from 83% syndiotactic PtBMA or by the free-radical cyclopolymerization of methacrylic anhydride remained amorphous. Amorphous polymers gave broad solid state 13C NMR peaks, but crystalline i-PMAH yielded multiple carbonyl and α-methyl peaks. The i-PMAH spectra were compared to those for amorphous PMAH and a model compound to assign chemical shifts to PMAH crosslink α-methyl and carbonyl carbons.
Strategies for Burr Minimization and Cleanability in Aerospace and Automotive Manufacturing

The quality of machined components in the aerospace and automotive industries has become increasingly critical in the past years because of greater complexity of the workpieces, miniaturization, usage of new composite materials, and tighter tolerances. This trend has put continual pressure not only on improvements in machining operations, but also on the optimization of the cleanability of parts. The paper reviews recent work done in these areas at the University of California-Berkeley. This includes: Finite element modeling of burr formation in stacked drilling; development of drill geometries for burr minimization in curved-surface drilling; development of a enhanced drilling burr control chart; study of tool path planning in face-milling; and cleanability of components and cleanliness metrics.
Direct hydrolysis and analysis of glycosidically bound aroma compounds in grapes and wines: comparison of hydrolysis conditions and sample preparation methods

Background and Aims: Many aroma compounds occur as glycosidically bound precursors that do not contribute to fruit/beverage aroma until aglycone release during processing or storage. Existing procedures typically measure glycosidically bound compounds after first isolating the glyocoside fraction. The objectives of this work were to evaluate and develop rapid procedures for measuring glycosidically bound volatiles using direct acid or enzyme hydrolysis of fruit tissues or wine followed by analysis of the free volatiles by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Methods and Results: Using a mixture containing free (linalool, ethyl decanoate, β-ionone) and glycosidically bound standards (n-octyl-, n-dodecyl-, phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside), acid hydrolysis released 20‐60% of the bound volatiles; significant degradation ( >50%) of free volatiles occurred. Enzyme hydrolysis efficiently released glycosidically bound compounds (90‐100%) while minimising artefactual changes of the free volatiles and further rearrangements of the aglycones. We also compared direct enzyme hydrolysis with hydrolysis of a glycoside fraction obtained by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Different SPE columns were not equally effective at retaining glycosides; no column type was effective for all glycosides. Conclusions: Direct hydrolysis of grape and wine samples (and comparison of volatiles before and after hydrolysis) is a useful approach for measuring ‘aroma potential’ compared with prior SPE isolation of the glycosides. Significance of the Study: The method described here provides a rapid tool for characterising changes in glycosidically bound volatiles before and after processing (e.g. winemaking) and as a result of varying fruit maturity and/or other agricultural practices.
Recent studies on immunization against poliomyelitis.

The simple fact is: That an experimental method for inducing measurable amounts of antibody for the three known poliomyelitis viruses, employing a killed-virus vaccine is available, and it now becomes possible to determine whether—and to what extent—the incidence of naturally occurring paralysis may be influenced. All that should be inferred now is that studies are progressing satisfactorily; there have been no set-backs nor anything but revelations that shed more light on the course ahead. We must continue to regard the experimental developments to date as providing immunologic markers along the way that tell us whether we are on the right road. That there is more to do now than before indicates that we have not stumbled down a by-way but have selected a road, with many lanes, that seems long indeed. Our problem is to select not only the fast lane but the one that is safest and most certain.
Clinical suggestion and systematic desensitization.

Abstract Systematic desensitization, one of the foremost techniques in behavior therapy, has based its rationale on the reciprocal inhibition principle. Careful scrutiny, however, reveals that factors other than reciprocal inhibition may be intrinsic to systematic desensitization, namely the therapeutic relationship and/or facilitating conditions, relaxation training, hypnosis, and clinical suggestions. This treatise supports the presence of each of these factors and asserts that: (a) the reciprocal inhibition cannot be solely relied upon, (b) specific clinical suggestions and relaxation training should be used, and (c) hypnotic phenomena or hypnotic-like effects should be promoted.
Use of Fuller's Technique to Reduce Measurement Error in the Returns/Earnings Association

Empirical estimates of the earnings response coefficient have consistently been lower than theory predicts. This may be because empirical proxies for unexpected earnings contain measurement error. I demonstrate and evaluate the use of a recently developed technique by Fuller that yields consistent parameter estimates in the presence of measurement error. The empirical results indicate that this technique is successful at mitigating measurement error bias in the earnings response coefficient. The earnings response coefficient increases by as much as 52%. In contrast, replication of the techniques performed in previous studies increases the earnings response coefficient by only 8%.
Assisting Domestic Industries under International Oligopoly: The Relevance of the Nature of Competition to Optimal Policies

Optimal trade and industrial policies are derived for a home market that is supplied by a domestic firm and a foreign firm. The optimal policy combination can be quite sensitive to the nature of the duopoly's competition. For example, for some cost and demand s tructures, the optimal policy under Cournot competition consists of a domestic production tax and a tariff, but that under Bertrand compet ition consists of a production subsidy and free trade. Copyright 1988 by American Economic Association.
Numerical Studies of Gauge Field Theories

Monte Carlo simulation of statistical systems is a well established technique of the condensed matter physicist. In the last few years, particle theorists have rediscovered this method and are having a marvelous time applying it to quantized gauge field theories. The main result has been strong numerical evidence that the standard SU(3) non-Abelian gauge theory of the strong interaction is capable of simultaneously confining quarks into the physical hadrons and exhibiting asymptotic freedom, the phenomenon of quark interactions being small at short distances.
Geometry-Based Models for Studying the Effects of Wind Farm Layout

AbstractLayout studies are critical in designing large wind farms, since wake effects can lead to significant reductions in power generation. Optimizing wind farm layout using computational fluid dynamics is practically unfeasible today because of their enormous computational requirements. Simple statistical models, based on geometric quantities associated with the wind farm layout, are therefore attractive because they are less demanding computationally. Results of large-eddy simulations of the Lillgrund (Sweden) offshore wind farm are used here to calibrate such geometry-based models. Several geometric quantities (e.g., blockage ratio, defined as the fraction of the swept area of a wind turbine that is blocked by upstream turbines) and their linear combinations are found to correlate very well (correlation coefficient of ~0.95) with the power generated by the turbines. Linear models based on these geometric quantities are accurate at predicting the farm-averaged power and are therefore used here to stud...
Satisfaction in the context of customer co‐production: A behavioral involvement perspective

Consumers increasingly subscribe to community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs as an alternative retail channel for fresh produce. Compared with supermarket retailers, CSAs are built around an ethos of community rather than efficiency and economies of scale; and CSA programs demand far greater customer co-production than supermarket retailers. For instance, CSA members (customers) assume responsibilities for physical distribution, market timing, and financial risk taking—activities that, for customers of traditional supermarkets, are assumed by the retailer or other market intermediaries. Service-dominant logic suggests that such co-production activities provide value for consumers. And the expanding demand for CSA programs anecdotally supports the notion that consumers find value in co-producing fresh produce. However, whether or not co-production leads to greater satisfaction with a product category remains largely untested. We draw on community theory to test if engagement in co-production activities leads to satisfaction with a product category. By examining product satisfaction, we test an outcome of co-production that is consumer-centric. Results from an exploratory field study suggest that two types of value co-creation—commitment to co-production and behavioral involvement in product-related activities—are positively correlated with product satisfaction. Our results support the notion that value co-creation provides value for consumers. Interestingly, these findings are antithetical to studies that suggest service convenience constitutes non-monetary value for consumers. Our study suggests that the community theory is a viable theoretical frame for consumer research on co-production. Further, our findings suggest that consumer research into the co-creation of value should incorporate measures of product satisfaction and draw on behavioral as opposed to exclusively attitudinal assessments of co-production activities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Availability of nicotine replacement therapy in substance use disorder treatment: Longitudinal patterns of adoption, sustainability, and discontinuation

Background There is growing recognition regarding the clinical importance of integrating smoking cessation services, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), within programs that treat substance use disorders (SUDs) since the majority of individuals receiving treatment also smoke. Previous research has not examined the organizational characteristics associated with NRT availability over time in SUD treatment programs.
Notch-Delta signaling is required for spatial patterning and Müller glia differentiation in the zebrafish retina.

Notch-Delta signaling has been implicated in several alternative modes of function in the vertebrate retina. To further investigate these functions, we examined retinas from zebrafish embryos in which bidirectional Notch-Delta signaling was inactivated either by the mind bomb (mib) mutation, which disrupts E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, or by treatment with gamma-secretase inhibitors, which prevent intramembrane proteolysis of Notch and Delta. We found that inactivating Notch-Delta signaling did not prevent differentiation of retinal neurons, but it did disrupt spatial patterning in both the apical-basal and planar dimensions of the retinal epithelium. Retinal neurons differentiated, but their laminar arrangement was disrupted. Photoreceptor differentiation was initiated normally, but its progression was slowed. Although confined to the apical retinal surface as in normal retinas, the planar organization of cone photoreceptors was disrupted: cones of the same spectral subtype were clumped rather than regularly spaced. In contrast to neurons, Muller glia failed to differentiate suggesting an instructive role for Notch-Delta signaling in gliogenesis.
The embryology of the guinea pig. II. The polydactylous monster. A new teras produced by the genes PxPx

A detailed study of Wright's polydactylous monster (produced by a semi-dominant lethal gene) indicates that it belongs to a general type found also in rare human cases. The diagnostic characteristics are: clubbed feet and approximately double the usual number of digits, embryonic posture, microphthalmia and enlargement of the diencephalon, and missing tibia and telescoped sternum; all organ systems in the body except the genital and circulatory are grossly abnormal. The defects appear to be produced by an arrest of morphogenesis and an alteration of relative growth rates. It is indicated that a controlling center of digit formation exists on the lateral (postaxial) side of the foot, that skeletal and dermal structures are controlled by it, but that muscles are differentiated according to the area of the limb in which they lie. The gene itself is not atavistic, although its effects in the heterozygote have that appearance.
Radar studies of the moon

Radar observation of lunar distance, motion and surface statistical nature, noting enhanced reflectivity associated with craters
The absorption of serum albumin and gamma globulin from the knee joint of man and rabbit.

Studies of the rate of clearance of radioactivity from the knee joints of human subjects free of joint disease and of normal rabbits following the intra-articular injection of I131-serum proteins indicate that the synovial cavity is readily and equally permeable to both serum albumin and gamma globulin.
Evolution, adaptation and survival: the very slow death of the American charcoal iron industry

Summary The last charcoal iron blast furnace in the United States shut down in 1945. The most obvious reason for the extraordinary longevity of this industry was the almost unlimited supply of virgin timber in the United States. Although an obvious explanation, it is deceptive. The much more crucial reason for the longevity of the American charcoal iron industry was the technical difficulties involved in adapting coke- and coal-smelted iron to existing industrial processes. Until these technological problems could be overcome, charcoal iron was able to preserve a place for itself in the industrial environment of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By concentrating their attention on the rapid advance of coke-smelted iron from 1870 onward, historians of the American iron industry have neglected this ability of the older iron technology to adapt to the new industrial conditions.
Assessing the quality of bioforensic signatures

We present a mathematical framework for assessing the quality of signature systems in terms of fidelity, risk, cost, other attributes, and utility-a method we call Signature Quality Metrics (SQM). We demonstrate the SQM approach by assessing the quality of a signature system designed to predict the culture medium used to grow a microorganism. The system consists of four chemical assays and a Bayesian network that estimates the probabilities the microorganism was grown using one of eleven culture media. We evaluated fifteen combinations of the signature system by removing one or more of the assays from the Bayes net. We show how SQM can be used to compare the various combinations while accounting for the tradeoffs among three attributes of interest: fidelity, cost, and the amount of sample material consumed by the assays.
Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumor Masquerading as a Synovial Sarcoma

A rare case of pulmonary carcinoid tumor exhibiting morphologically as a monophasic synovial sarcoma is reported. The patient is a 37-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath for several weeks. The chest computed tomographic scan showed a 3.5 cm pulmonary mass in the left lower lobe.The lesion was an oval, tan nodule displaying features of monophasic synovial sarcoma. Immunohistochemical studies were performed and included a carcinoid tumor as a main differential diagnosis. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were negative for a molecular evidence of synovial sarcoma. This case further emphasizes the capacity of pulmonary carcinoid tumor cells to show various morphologic expressions even toward a mesenchymal differentiation mimicking a synovial sarcoma.
Abstract 1365: Novel anti-angiogenic peptides as potential therapeutic agents in combination with chemotherapy for breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in women. Despite the intensive ongoing research it is estimated that approximately 200,000 new diagnoses will be made in 2009 and 40,000 deaths will occur due to this disease. Angiogenesis, the development of vessels from pre-existing microvasculature, is an essential component of tumor progression and has emerged as a therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic therapies in cancer. The process is controlled by a balance between endogenous pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, and involves numerous interactions among several cell types including proliferation, invasion, and migration. Bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche/Genentech), an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, has been approved by the FDA for several types of cancer; however, in the case of breast cancer its effect on the overall survival is only marginal. Our laboratory has established a systematic bioinformatics approach to identify short novel anti-angiogenic peptides from natural proteins. These peptides belong to different classes (i.e. thrombospondin containing domain, collagen IV, chemokines etc) and in vitro experiments demonstrated their anti-angiogenic potential through inhibition of proliferation and migration of human endothelial cells. Moreover, several peptides have demonstrated efficacy in suppressing tumor growth when delivered as daily intraperitoneal injections in a mouse orthotopic breast cancer model. The repression was associated with a decrease in tumor microvasculature and an increase in necrotic core of the tumors (Koskimaki et al., 2009). The top performing candidate (a 24 amino acid peptide belonging to the collagen IV family) was further modified to find the optimal sequence for possible translation to clinical applications. Several truncations and substitutions of cystines by amino alpha-butyric acid were developed. The candidates were screened in in vitro proliferation assays and the top performer (full sequence length with substituted cystines) was tested in vivo using the orthotopic breast cancer model. This candidate demonstrated no significant changes in activity from the parent peptide, however making it is more conducive for clinical translation. We also investigate its application in combination with a typical chemotherapeutic agent (paclitaxel) and confirmed no decrease in activity in comparison to single agent therapy. We have performed further characterization of the mode of action for this peptide to identify its target receptors; this enhances the translation potential of this candidate as an anti-angiogenic, non-VEGF targeting agent for therapy in breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1365.
Brain Arteriovenous Malformation Modeling, Pathogenesis, and Novel Therapeutic Targets

Patients harboring brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) are at life-threatening risk of rupture and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The pathogenesis of bAVM has not been completely understood. Current treatment options are invasive, and ≈ 20 % of patients are not offered interventional therapy because of excessive treatment risk. There are no specific medical therapies to treat bAVMs. The lack of validated animal models has been an obstacle for testing hypotheses of bAVM pathogenesis and testing new therapies. In this review, we summarize bAVM model development and bAVM pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets that have been identified during model development.
SU-FF-T-567: Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Spine Body Radiotherapy: Comparison with Static Intensity Modulated Treatment

Purpose: Volumetric modulated arc treatment (VMAT) reduces treatment time over static beam intensity modulated treatment (IMRT) by deliveringIMRT using arcs. This clinical study evaluates the feasibility of using VMAT for spine stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT) to achieve highly conformal dose distributions that spare adjacent OARs with reduced treatment time. Methods and Materials: Ten spine SBRT patients were studied retrospectively. IMRT and VMAT plans (one and two arc plans) were generated for each patient. PTV dose coverage, OAR dose sparing, and normal tissue integral dose were measured and compared. Differences in treatment delivery were also analyzed by comparing MLC segments, total MUs, and total treatment time. Results: The PTV DVHs were comparable between the VMAT and the IMRT plans in the shoulder (D99%‐D90%), slope (D90%‐D10%), and tail (D10%‐D1%) regions. When averaged over all patients, only VMAT2arc had a better conformity index than IMRT (1.09 vs.1.15, p=0.007). In terms of cord sparing, IMRT was the best and VMAT1arc was the worst. IMRT achieved >10% more D1% cord sparing for 6 out of 10 cases and 7–15% more D10% sparing over the VMAT1arc. For cord sparing, the difference between IMRT and VMAT2arc were smaller and statistically insignificant at all dose levels. Differences for other OARs were small and statistically insignificant. The mean MUs and treatment times were (8711MU, 15.86min), (7730MU, 8.56min) and (6317MU, 7.88min) for IMRT, VMAT1arc and VMAT2arc plans, respectively. The average integral dose was the lowest for IMRT and the highest for VMAT1arc. However, the difference was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Although VMAT provided comparable PTV coverage and esophagus sparing for spine SBRT, VMAT1arc showed significantly worse cord sparing than IMRT, while VMAT2arc was comparable to IMRT. Treatment efficiency is substantially improved with the VMAT technique.
On applicability of absolute retardation techniques for stress-separation in birefringent filamentary composites

Abstract A rational approach is adopted to establish the photoelastic response of birefringent composites for two different absolute retardation techniques; the first method using external interferometers and the second using the specimen as an interferometer. The stress-optical relations obtained for these methods do not in themselves provide sufficient information in the form of isopachic and isochromatic fringe patterns for a plane-stress case to separate out the stresses in orthotropic composites under a general loading situation. However, they can be applied to cases where the principal stresses act along the material symmetry axes in orthotropic as well as balanced composites.
From ‘slumdog’ to humanitarian: educating orphans to save the world

The purpose of education should not only be to build content knowledge and literacy but to awaken the inherent human values within each child and encourage the translation of those values into social transformation. At the Hariharananda Balashram, we see one example of how destitute children are being provided with a moral and academic education that fits both Paulo Freire’s model of empowering the oppressed and Joseph and Efron’s emphasis on the seven worlds of moral education. The result is a group of children who not only are determined to succeed, but to use that academic and moral foundation to give back to their communities and become agents of social change.
Some compartmental models of the root: steady-state behavior.

Plots of the pressure difference (DeltaP) applied to plant roots vs. the resulting volume flow rate (Q(v)) often exhibit an anomalous offset that has been difficult to explain. The present analysis suggests that solute build-up in two- and three-compartment models of the root cannot account for this offset. The Ginsburg-Newman three-compartment model explains the offset in terms of differing reflection coefficients for the membranes bounding the intermediate compartment. This model appears more promising, but it predicts a minimum in the plot of xylem-sap osmotic pressure vs. Q(v)which is not observed in practice. Fiscus hypothesized that an internal asymmetric distribution of non-mobile solutes is responsible for the offset. In the present study, this hypothesis is incorporated into a four-compartment model of the root that is conceptually related to the three-compartment model of Miller. But according to the four-compartment model, the asymmetric solute distribution does not arise because of solvent drag. Rather the anomalous offset is associated with a concentration gradient of photoassimilates (the non-mobile solutes) that exists in the absence of volume flow, and which drives the diffusive transport of these solutes from the stele to the cortex via endodermal plasmodesmata. This model is consistent with the existence of radial symplastic osmotic-pressure gradients, and it appears to have greater explanatory power than the Ginsburg-Newman model. In particular, it suggests explanations for diurnal variations in DeltaP-Q(v)curves, as well as the effects of changing external solute concentrations. It also shows how the overall root reflection coefficient can be less than unity, even when the cell membranes are effectively ideally semipermeable, and there is negligible extracellular transport of water and solutes. The model makes a number of experimentally testable predictions.
Saphenous Neuropathy Secondary to Extraneural Ganglion Cyst 15 Years After Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

This case report describes a 43-year-old woman with a previous anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscectomy who presented with right knee dysesthesias radiating into her medial ankle with associated allodynia. An extensive work-up was pursued, without a definitive diagnosis found or improvement in the patient's symptoms. Eventually, she was referred to Pain Medicine for an ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve (SN) block, where a scan before the injection revealed a large cyst anteromedial to the sartorius in the expected location of the SN. Magnetic resonance imaging and surgical pathology confirmed a juxta-articular ganglion cyst compressing the main SN, just above the take-off of the infrapatellar branch. The cyst was successfully resected, with improvement noted in the patient's neuropathic symptoms postoperatively. Saphenous neuropathy is a rare condition, and to our knowledge this case is the first reported of saphenous neuropathy caused by a knee joint capsule−derived ganglion cyst.
MO-A-BRD-06: In Vivo Cherenkov Video Imaging to Verify Whole Breast Irradiation Treatment

Purpose: To show in vivo video imaging of Cherenkov emission (Cherenkoscopy) can be acquired in the clinical treatment room without affecting the normal process of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Applications of Cherenkoscopy, such as patient positioning, movement tracking, treatment monitoring and superficial dose estimation, were examined. Methods: In a phase 1 clinical trial, including 12 patients undergoing post-lumpectomy whole breast irradiation, Cherenkov emission was imaged with a time-gated ICCD camera synchronized to the radiation pulses, during 10 fractions of the treatment. Images from different treatment days were compared by calculating the 2-D correlations corresponding to the averaged image. An edge detection algorithm was utilized to highlight biological features, such as the blood vessels. Superficial dose deposited at the sampling depth were derived from the Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) and compared with the Cherenkov images. Skin reactions were graded weekly according to the Common Toxicity Criteria and digital photographs were obtained for comparison. Results: Real time (fps = 4.8) imaging of Cherenkov emission was feasible and feasibility tests indicated that it could be improved to video rate (fps = 30) with system improvements. Dynamic field changes due to fast MLC motion were imaged in real time. The average 2-Dmore » correlation was about 0.99, suggesting the stability of this imaging technique and repeatability of patient positioning was outstanding. Edge enhanced images of blood vessels were observed, and could serve as unique biological markers for patient positioning and movement tracking (breathing). Small discrepancies exists between the Cherenkov images and the superficial dose predicted from the TPS but the former agreed better with actual skin reactions than did the latter. Conclusion: Real time Cherenkoscopy imaging during EBRT is a novel imaging tool that could be utilized for patient positioning, movement tracking, treatment monitoring, superficial dose and skin reaction estimation and prediction.« less
Geomorphology and sediments of sand ramps in the Mojave desert

Abstract Sand ramps are amalgamated accumulations of aeolian, fluvial, and talus deposits. They have developed as a result of the interactions of wind-blown sand and desert piedmont processes adjacent to mountain ranges in the Mojave Desert and occur next to regional and local sand transport corridors. Sand ramps are dominated by aeolian sand that was deposited as sand sheets against the mountain front, but also include significant fluvial units. Periods of geomorphic stability are represented by paleosols and talus accumulations. The sand ramps provide a record of the response of aeolian processes to climatic change in the Mojave Desert. Most are now relict features and accumulated in periods of higher sediment supply from fluctuating and/or desiccating paleolakes during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene.
Microstructure and hydrogen effects on fracture in the alloy A-286

The commercial iron-base superalloy A-286 was solution-treated and aged at 993 K for times ranging from 0. 5 to 450 hours, including the peak-strength age for 16 hours. Microstructural examination showed that the equilibriumη phase formed first at grain boundaries after about 6 hours of aging and increased in amount with additional aging. Tensile tests on specimens which were uncharged or hydrogen charged from the gas phase revealed in all cases that ductile fracture took place by microvoid coalescence. The path of ductile fracture changed with aging, however, becoming increasingly intergranular with increased aging time after 50 hours. It was found that hydrogen decreased ductility, particularly for aging times greater than 4 hours, although the fracture with hydrogen remained ductile in character. The amount of loss in ductility was approximately constant beyond 4 hours of aging and was independent of fracture path. Fracture was evidently nucleated by carbide inclusion particles by they’ strengthening particles (particularly from 4 to 16 hours of aging) and, at aging times of 50 hours or more, by grain boundaryη phase. These observations were consistent with fractographic observations, including dimple size measurements, and with previous work.
Reflecting on the design and implementation issues of virtual environments

We present a candid reflection on the issues surrounding virtual environment design and implementation (VEDI) in order to: (1) motivate the topic as a researchworthy undertaking, and (2) attempt a comprehensive listing of impeding VEDI issues so they can be addressed. In order to structure this reflection, an idealized model of VEDI is presented. This model, investigated using mixed methods, resulted in 67 distinct issues along the model's transitions and pathways. These were clustered into 11 themes and used to support five VEDI research challenges.
Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Flow Past Bluff Bodies

Abstract An improved understanding of the aerodynamics of bluff bodies, such as buildings and road vehicles, can lead to significant reductions in wind damage and gasoline consumption and to the increased safety and comfort of human occupants. To achieve this goal, improved theoretical and experimental techniques are urgently needed. This paper explores in a general way the potential of using numerical simulation methods for predicting and interpreting aerodynamic phenomena affecting bluff bodies. As a basis for discussion a prototype finite difference method is described and illustrated with sample calculations of air flow about simple bluff bodies. The limitations of this scheme are then discussed in detail, together with some suggestions for extensions that could be realized in the immediate future. The paper concludes with speculations on what could be achieved in the next five to ten years to produce a generally useful research tool for bluff body aerodynamics.
Identification of an ionotropic glutamate receptor AMPA1/GRIA1 polymorphism in crossbred beef cows differing in fertility.

A proposed functional polymorphism in the ionotropic glutamate receptor AMPA1 (GRIA1) has been reported to influence antral follicle numbers and fertility in cows. Repeat breeder cows that fail to produce a calf in multiple seasons have been reported to have reduced numbers of small (1 to 3 mm) antral follicles in their ovaries. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that this GRIA1 polymorphism was affecting antral follicle numbers in repeat breeder cows. Repeat breeder cows (n = 64) and control cows (n = 72) that had always produced a calf were housed in a dry lot and observed twice daily for behavioral estrus. Blood samples were collected, and cows were genotyped for this GRIA1 polymorphism and for a polymorphism in the GnRH receptor (GnRHR) that was proposed to influence age at puberty. On d 3 to 8 after estrus cows were slaughtered, and reproductive organs were collected to determine antral follicle count, ovary size, and uterine horn diameter. Repeat breeder cows were older at first calving than control cows (P = 0.006). The length (P = 0.03) and height (P = 0.02) of the ovary contralateral to the corpus luteum (CL) were greater in control cows than repeat breeder cows. The endometrial diameter in the horn ipsilateral to the CL was greater in the control cows than the repeat breeder cows. Repeat breeder cows had fewer small (1 to 5 mm) antral follicles than control cows (P = 0.003); however, there was no association between GRIA1 genotype and antral follicle number. The GnRHR polymorphism was associated with age at first calving because cows that were homozygous for the C allele had a greater age at first calving than heterozygous cows or cows that were homozygous for the T allele (P = 0.01). In the granulosa cells from small (1 to 5 mm) antral follicles, mRNA abundances of 2 markers of oocyte quality, anti-Mullerian hormone and pentraxin 3, did not differ between fertility groups (P ≥ 0.12). We conclude that this GRIA1 polymorphism exists in beef cows but that it does not influence antral follicle numbers. The association between GnRHR genotype and age at first calving is likely not causal as this polymorphism is not functional. The utility of this polymorphism as a genetic marker for early conception in heifers will require further validation. Screening postpartum cows by ultrasonography to determine antral follicle numbers may aid in making culling decisions.
Parametric imaging of tumor perfusion and neovascular morphology using ultrasound

A new image processing strategy is detailed for the simultaneous measurement of tumor perfusion and neovascular morphology parameters from a sequence of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) images. A technique for locally mapping tumor perfusion parameters using skeletonized neovascular data is also introduced. Simulated images were used to test the neovascular skeletonization technique and variance (error) of relevant parametric estimates. Preliminary DCE-US image datasets were collected in 6 female patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and using a Philips iU22 ultrasound system equipped with a L9-3 MHz transducer and Definity contrast agent. Simulation data demonstrates that neovascular morphology parametric estimation is reproducible albeit measurement error can occur at a lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Experimental results indicate the feasibility of our approach to performing both tumor perfusion and neovascular morphology measurements from DCE-US images. Future work will expand on our initial clinical findings and also extent our image processing strategy to 3-dimensional space to allow whole tumor characterization.