cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smaller amygdala volume and increased neuroticism predict anxiety symptoms in healthy subjects: A volumetric approach using manual tracing

Volume reductions in the amygdala (AMY) have been found in patients with anxiety disorders, but findings are mixed in subclinical participants with high trait anxiety scores, in whom both reductions and increases in AMY volume have been identified. One potential reason for such discrepancies could be the employment of different methods to determine the AMY volume (i.e., manual tracing in psychiatric research vs. automated methods), in non-patient research. In addition to trait anxiety, smaller AMY volume has also been linked to neuroticism, a personality trait consistently linked to increased vulnerability to anxiety. However, it is not clear how AMY volume and neuroticism together may contribute to anxiety symptoms in healthy functioning. These issues were investigated in a sample of 46 healthy participants who underwent anatomical MRI scanning and completed questionnaires measuring trait anxiety and neuroticism. AMY volume was assessed using manual tracing, based on anatomical landmarks identified in each participant's anatomical image. First, smaller left AMY volume was linked to higher levels of neuroticism (p = .013) and trait anxiety (p = .024), which in turn were positively correlated with each other. Moreover, AMY volume had a significant indirect effect on trait anxiety through neuroticism (ab = - .009, 95% CI [- .019, - .002]). This effect was not bidirectional, as trait anxiety did not predict AMY volume through neuroticism. Collectively, these findings provide support for a brain-personality-symptom framework of understanding affective dysregulation, which may help inform the development of prevention and intervention paradigms targeting preservation of AMY volume and reduction of neuroticism, to protect against anxiety symptoms.
Errors and Improvements in the Use of Archived Meteorological Data for Chemical Transport Modeling: An Analysis Using GEOS-Chem V11-01 Driven by GEOS-5 Meteorology

Abstract. Global simulations of atmospheric chemistry are commonly conducted with off-line chemical transport models (CTMs) driven by archived meteorological data from general circulation models (GCMs). The off-line approach has the advantages of simplicity and expediency, but it incurs errors due to temporal averaging in the meteorological archive and the inability to reproduce the GCM transport algorithms exactly. The CTM simulation is also often conducted at coarser grid resolution than the parent GCM. Here we investigate this cascade of CTM errors by using 222 Rn– 210 Pb– 7 Be chemical tracer simulations off-line in the GEOS-Chem CTM at rectilinear 0.25 ∘ × 0.3125 ∘ ( ≈ 25 km) and 2 ∘ × 2.5 ∘ ( ≈ 200 km) resolutions and online in the parent GEOS-5 GCM at cubed-sphere c360 ( ≈ 25 km) and c48 ( ≈ 200 km) horizontal resolutions. The c360 GEOS-5 GCM meteorological archive, updated every 3 h and remapped to 0.25 ∘ × 0.3125 ∘ , is the standard operational product generated by the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) and used as input by GEOS-Chem. We find that the GEOS-Chem 222 Rn simulation at native 0.25 ∘ × 0.3125 ∘ resolution is affected by vertical transport errors of up to 20 % relative to the GEOS-5 c360 online simulation, in part due to loss of transient organized vertical motions in the GCM (resolved convection) that are temporally averaged out in the 3 h meteorological archive. There is also significant error caused by operational remapping of the meteorological archive from a cubed-sphere to a rectilinear grid. Decreasing the GEOS-Chem resolution from 0.25 ∘ × 0.3125 ∘ to 2 ∘ × 2.5 ∘ induces further weakening of vertical transport as transient vertical motions are averaged out spatially and temporally. The resulting 222 Rn concentrations simulated by the coarse-resolution GEOS-Chem are overestimated by up to 40 % in surface air relative to the online c360 simulations and underestimated by up to 40 % in the upper troposphere, while the tropospheric lifetimes of 210 Pb and 7 Be against aerosol deposition are affected by 5–10 %. The lost vertical transport in the coarse-resolution GEOS-Chem simulation can be partly restored by recomputing the convective mass fluxes at the appropriate resolution to replace the archived convective mass fluxes and by correcting for bias in the spatial averaging of boundary layer mixing depths.
Interpretation of Some Terms and Phrases in Public Weather Forecasts

This paper reports some results of a study in which two groups of individuals—undergraduate students and professional meteorologists at Oregon State University—completed a short questionnaire concerning their interpretations of terminology commonly used in public weather forecasts. The questions related to terms and phrases associated with three elements: 1) cloudiness—fraction of sky cover; 2) precipitation—spatial and/or temporal variations; and 3) temperature—specification of intervals. The students' responses indicate that cloudiness terms are subject to wide and overlapping ranges of interpretation, although the interpretations of these terms correspond quite well to National Weather Service definitions. Their responses to the precipitation and temperature questions reveal that some confusion exists concerning the meaning of spatial and temporal modifiers in precipitation forecasts and that some individuals interpret temperature ranges in terms of asymmetric intervals. When compared to the students' ...
Coagulopathy and Mortality in Combat Casualties: Do the Kidneys Play a Role?

Background Acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) is a common condition after traumatic injury and is known to be associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. ATC has been implicated as a causative factor in both early hemorrhage and late organ failure in this population, yet the pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Additionally, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common condition among critically injured trauma patients. AKI has been associated with an elevated International Normalized Ratio (INR) and warfarin use, but its development has not been well studied in the setting of ATC. We hypothesized that the presence of ATC influences the development of AKI and may mediate mortality in combat casualties. Methods Data were obtained from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry, Medical Data Store and Composite Healthcare System, and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. A retrospective review was conducted of US service members injured in Iraq or Afghanistan between February 1, 2002 and February 1, 2011, who required ICU level care and survived evacuation out of theater. Exclusions were made for missing data. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to determine the effect of ATC (a priori defined as first INR > 1.3) on the development of AKI. Further analysis was conducted to determine the influence of these variables on 30-d mortality, and multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the effect of ATC on both AKI and mortality. Results A total of 1,288 patients were identified for analysis. ATC was a risk factor for subsequent AKI after adjustment (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.28-2.18; p < 0.001). However, ATC was not a risk factor for mortality after adjustment in the full model (HR 1.87, 95% CI 0.95-3.65; p = 0.069). On sensitivity analyses exploring alternate definitions of ATC, an INR of 1.2 remained associated with AKI (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.13-1.88; p = 0.004) and an INR of 1.5 became significant for mortality (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.32-2.35; p < 0.001). Conclusion ATC is independently associated with the development of AKI. Although ATC is associated with mortality in the unadjusted model, it is not significant after adjustment for AKI. This implies that the kidneys may play a role in the adverse outcomes observed after ATC. Increased awareness and monitoring for coagulopathy and the subsequent development of AKI in combat casualty patients may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, possibly decreasing morbidity and mortality.
Needle in a Haystack: Post-thymectomy New-onset Myasthenia Gravis.

Summary Myasthenia gravis can develop after resection of thymic tumors. Post-thymectomy myasthenia gravis can be heralded by elevated preoperative anti-acetylcholine-receptor antibodies. Thymic tissue in isolated mediastinal areas can be the culprit lesion and identified by PET SCAN. Re-resection in selected patients can lead to remission of this rare disease.
Auswahl und Berechnung von Statistiken bei der Datenauswertung

Wenden wir uns nun dem nachsten Schritt der Datenauswertung zu, der Auswahl passender statistischer Tests fur das vorliegende Datenmaterial im Rahmen der Fragestellung einer Untersuchung.
PREDICTION OF HIGH PRESSURE PHASE TRANSITIONS BY ELASTIC CONSTANT DATA

Abstract The Born elastic stability criterion provides a useful method of predicting polymorphic transitions at high pressure. Elastic constants can be extrapolated to high pressure, and a phase transition must occur before any of the shear elastic constants vanish. Many pressure-induced transitions are related to a macroscopic shear of the crystal lattice, in which cases, the dimensionless ratio of the shear elastic constant to the bulk modulus Ct/K is related to the curvature of the free energy along the reaction coordinate leading from the low-pressure to the high-pressure phase, and this ratio is a crude indicator of the Gibbs free energy difference between the two phases. We calculate the free energy for a model lattice as it transforms continuously from the NaCl to the CsCl lattice at a number of pressures to demonstrate this connection between the shear elastic constant C44 and the pressure-induced phase change. We have measured the single crystal elastic constants of KCl from zero pressure to the phase transition at 20 kbar. These data show that the elastic constants vary linearly with pressure right up to the transition, when the shear constant C44 has decreased to the relatively low value of only 20.6% of the bulk modulus. In other alkali halides, we infer similar behavior of the ratio α = C44/K at the transition from the extrapolation of low-pressure elastic constant data, and find similar behavior for other pressure-induced phase transitions with a usually in the range 0.15–0.20. This modification of the Born criterion can be used to predict phase transitions in several compounds when C44/K decreases to a critical value.
Judicious Use of Antibiotics and Radiologic Imaging in Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

A considerable amount of effort has been put into the reduction of the overuse of antibiotics and reduction in radiographic studies in the pediatric population. Infections within the ear, nose, and throat and in cervical regions are a frequent source of antibiotic use in children. Quality improvement projects creating clear care pathways have been important to delineate which imaging may be most helpful.
Education on health risks of smoking in Magadan, Russia.

PURPOSE The purpose of this project was to educate young Russians on the health risks of smoking. METHOD The American Cancer Society, Alaska Division, sponsored a project to deliver its teaching modules on the health risks of tobacco use to first- through third-graders in Magadan, Russia. Starting with a $4,400 (U.S.) contribution designated for this purpose, a young teacher, Irina Alishova, was contacted in Magadan in 1993. She translated the modules of the American Cancer Society oriented to the first- to the third-grade level. Irina also made contact with the Magadan school system, specifically the principal of Middle School Number 29, Alla Vakulyuk. Principal Vakulyuk encouraged the project and worked with the other schools in the Magadan school system. RESULTS Throughout the 1993-94 school year, nearly all of the first- and second-grade classes and a portion of the third-grade classes received and participated in the 50-minute teaching module. An American representative for the American Cancer Society observed one of the classes and noted thoughtful and enthusiastic participation by the schoolchildren.
Greek Life: Psyche and Early Life-Concepts

Greek theories of life clustered around the psyche. Usually translated as “soul,” it can also be thought of as a principle of life. The oldest usage comes from Homer, speaking of human life at its limits. Presocratic philosophers used the soul to make sense of the motion of living things, which is more complex than the motion of elements. They proposed both material and immaterial souls and debated whether one soul was enough to explain living things, or if multiple souls were needed. This chapter follows the earliest uses of the term psyche as it comes to be associated with biological motion and contrasted with the motion of elements.
Corporate governance: what we know and what we don’t know

The corporate governance literature provides a rich framework for examining the theoretical models and related mechanisms by which a firm is operated and controlled, but there are a number of challenges for future research that remain. This paper identifies some of the key studies and contributions of the existing corporate governance literature, while identifying several fruitful areas for research where our understanding of corporate governance is incomplete. For example, what is the relationship between and corporate social responsibilities, and how might this change in different institutional environments? Expanding standard models to include more nuanced factors within diverse and dynamic institutional environments is one challenge we face in modeling governance more comprehensively. In addition, as data becomes more easily available on smaller countries, transitional economies, and in frontier and emerging markets, we also need to expand our studies beyond the large Western country context. Future empirical work should undertake to better understand and examine the institutional structures, systems, mechanisms and incentives within understudied regions around the world. Beyond the notion of replication studies, careful cross-country studies would enable us to compare outcomes with existing studies and better inform us on fundamental difference (and similarities) between systems, contributing to our discussions on the limits of conversation between governance systems.
The Relationship Between BMI and Stability of Intertrochanteric Fracture Following Low-Energy Falls. A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction:Intertrochanteric proximal femur fractures are common injuries in the elderly. Certain patterns are considered unstable and confer increased risks. Risk factors for these patterns are ...
Applications of Radioactive Tracer Substances in Pharmacology

The earliest application of radioactive isotopes to biology was made by Hevesy with botanical material. He employed the horse bean (Vicia faba), the seedlings of which were immersed from 1 to 48 hours in a solution containing a mixture of lead nitrate and Thorium B nitrate, the latter being a radioactive isotope of lead obtained as a disintegration product or daughter of radium decay. After this exposure the individual parts of the plant were ignited and the intensity of the radioactivity of the ash determined by means of an electroscope. From these experiments Hevesy found that lead is taken up chiefly by the root. Relatively little lead is found in the leaves. He also found that the lead is not combined within the plant, but exists in the form of a dissociable salt which is soluble with difficulty. These simple but now classical experiments of Hevesy’s are regarded as marking the beginning of the use of radioactive isotopes as important tools in biology and medicine.
Dissecting the spatial bone marrow microenvironment of hematopoietic stem cells.

Purpose of review Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in specialized anatomical microenvironments within the bone marrow space, termed HSC niches. Different bone marrow imaging modalities have been utilized to visualize HSCs in situ, and unravel the cellular identity of bone marrow cell types located in their immediate proximity. However, despite extensive research, the exact identity of bone marrow populations that physically associate with HSCs remains controversial. Recent findings Recent advances in volumetric imaging enable precise identification of bone marrow populations and their spatial distribution both at tissue-wide scale and single-cell resolution. In addition, single-cell RNA sequencing and mass-cytometry-based approaches dissect the complexity of the bone marrow microenvironment with unprecedented resolution. Here, we review current concepts regarding bone marrow populations that physically associate with HSCs and recent efforts to localize HSCs and their niche populations. Summary Defining the bone marrow cell types in the immediate proximity of HSCs in homeostasis and stress is key to determine the cellular and molecular cues driving HSC maintenance and regeneration.
Identifying patterns of physical activity and screen time parenting practices and associations with preschool children's physical activity and adiposity.

Abstract Although physical activity and screen time parenting practices influence children’s behaviors, little work has examined how these practices work in combination. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of physical activity and screen time parenting practices, and examine differences in preschool children’s physical activity, sedentary behavior, and adiposity among the identified patterns. Data were collected in 2009–2012 from 319 parent–child dyads enrolled in a randomized trial testing a parent-focused obesity prevention intervention. At baseline, physical activity and screen time parenting practices were assessed using a validated self-report survey. Children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using accelerometers and child anthropometrics were objectively measured. Latent profile analyses identified patterns of physical activity and screen time parenting practices. Differences in child outcomes were tested among the identified classes. Three parent classes were identified: Rewarders (n = 165), Activity Supportive (n = 98), and Screen Time Permissive (n = 56). Rewarder parents were characterized by the highest scores on using physical activity and screen time to reward or control children’s behavior. Activity Supportive parents generally had the highest scores on practices to promote physical activity, while Screen Time Permissive parents had the highest scores on practices facilitating screen time. There were no differences in the mean child physical activity, sedentary behavior or BMI z-score among the three classes. Findings revealed distinct classes of parents that could provide modifiable targets for family-based physical activity promotion, but more work is needed examining the influence of these patterns longitudinally and in different populations.
Topical fibroblast growth factor-2 for treatment of chronic tympanic membrane perforations

Objective To determine the efficacy of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in treating chronic nonhealing tympanic membrane (TM) perforations. Method Double-blinded, randomized placebo controlled phase 2 clinical trial for patients with chronic TM perforations of more than 3 months duration with a cross-over arm. Patients received either FGF-2 or placebo (sterile water) saturated gelatin sponge in the perforation after rimming the perforation under topical anesthesia. The perforation was then covered with Tisseel fibrin glue. The primary endpoint was complete closure of the TM perforation. Secondary end points included change in hearing and partial TM closure rates. The TM was examined every 3 weeks with otoendoscopy for closure. The treatment was repeated if there was incomplete closure every 3 weeks up to a total of three treatments per arm. Results Seventy four patients were recruited for the study. Fifty seven met eligibility criteria and fifty four completed the study. Ten of 14 perforations closed completely in the placebo group (71.4%) and 23 of 40 perforations closed completely in the FGF-2 treatment group (57.5%), P value = .36. Pure tone averages and word recognition scores were not statistically significantly different between study groups post-treatment. After initial complete closure, re-perforation occurred in seven FGF-2 treated patients and two placebo patients making the effective final closure rate 40% for FGF and 57% for placebo, respectively. Conclusion No statistically significant difference in tympanic membrane perforation closure rate was found between the FGF-2 and placebo groups. There were no differences in hearing outcomes between the groups. Level of evidence 1b.
Crystallization kinetics in a 5BaO·8SiO2 glass

Abstract The accuracy of a Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) technique for predicting the temperature range of significant nucleation is examined in a 5BaO·8SiO2 glass based on iterative numerical calculations. The diffusion coefficient is calculated from the measured induction time and the crystal growth velocity. The Classical Theory of Nucleation and the Diffuse Interface Theory were used to model crystal nucleation and growth. However, in both theories, two different diffusion coefficients were required for the calculated crystallization peaks to match the measured DTA data. The development of small nuclei near the critical size during nucleation was calculated using the diffusion coefficient from the measured induction time for nucleation. The growth of nuclei much larger than the critical size was determined by the diffusion coefficient from the measured growth velocity. The difference could reflect a complicated nucleation process in which the primary nucleating phase is not the 5BaO·8SiO2 crystal.
Differences of Gender and Race on the Level of Physical Fitness of Students at Two Midwestern Middle Schools in United States: 從性別和種族角度評價美國中西部地區兩校中學生體質狀況

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese. This quantitative study measured physical strength and endurance fitness scores of 132 students at two Midwestern middle schools who participated in daily and non-daily physical education classes. A comparison for gender and race was made for the two schools during the 2005/06 school year. Data was gathered using the Fitnessgram, a tool that evaluates fitness performance using criterion-referenced standards. Results indicated that students at the daily physical education on an average scored higher (m=24.5) on push-ups than students at the non-daily school (m=11.9). However, the non-daily PE students scored higher on sit-ups (m=48.2) than the daily PE students (m=36.8). It was concluded that although the state of Iowa does not mandate physical education in elementary, middle, and high school, it was essential that school children have daily physical education to ensure good health and promotion of high academic performance. 本文通過對美國中西部地區一所有每天體育課學校和一所沒有每天體育課學校的132名中學生進行了身體力量和耐力水準的定量測試。所得資料依照Fitness-Gram標準，從性別和種族層面分析，比較和評價了2005-2006年兩校中學生的體質狀況。研究發現，開設每天體育課學校的學生俯臥撐的平均分(m=24.5)高於沒有開設每天體育課學校的學生平均分(m=11.9)；而沒有開設每天體育課學校的學生仰臥起坐的平均分(m=48.2)高於開設每天體育課學校的學生平均分(m=36.8)。儘管愛荷華州並未對本州小學、中學和高中體育課設置統一的標準，但值得注意的是學生堅持每天上體育課不僅有益身體健康也有利於學習成績的提高。
Data quality methods through remote source data verification auditing: results from the Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative.

BACKGROUND: Multicentre research databases can provide insights into healthcare processes to improve outcomes and make practice recommendations for novel approaches. Effective audits can establish a framework for reporting research efforts, ensuring accurate reporting, and spearheading quality improvement. Although a variety of data auditing models and standards exist, barriers to effective auditing including costs, regulatory requirements, travel, and design complexity must be considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative conducted a virtual data training initiative and remote source data verification audit on a retrospective multicentre dataset. CCRC investigators across nine institutions were trained to extract and enter data into a robust dataset on patients with tetralogy of Fallot who required neonatal intervention. Centres provided de-identified source files for a randomised 10% patient sample audit. Key auditing variables, discrepancy types, and severity levels were analysed across two study groups, primary repair and staged repair. RESULTS: Of the total 572 study patients, data from 58 patients (31 staged repairs and 27 primary repairs) were source data verified. Amongst the 1790 variables audited, 45 discrepancies were discovered, resulting in an overall accuracy rate of 97.5%. High accuracy rates were consistent across all CCRC institutions ranging from 94.6% to 99.4% and were reported for both minor (1.5%) and major discrepancies type classifications (1.1%). CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that implementing a virtual multicentre training initiative and remote source data verification audit can identify data quality concerns and produce a reliable, high-quality dataset. Remote auditing capacity is especially important during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Egg masses as training aids for spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula detection dogs

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species first detected in 2014. The insect feeds on plants causing severe damage in vineyards such as the occurrence of sooty mold fungus that impairs leaf photosynthesis. Currently, there is extensive research on how to track and ultimately prevent the spread of this species. It lays eggs that persist through the winter, while the adults die out, which presents a unique opportunity to enter infested or suspected infested areas to begin quarantine and management of the spread while the species is dormant. Detection dogs may be a tool that can be used to search out the spotted lanternfly egg masses during this overwintering period, however it is not known whether dogs can detect any specific odor from the spotted lanternfly eggs. Moreover, as the eggs are only available during certain times of the year, and hatch based on temperature, finding training aids for the dogs could prove difficult. In this study, we investigated whether three detection dogs could learn the odor from dead spotted lanternfly egg masses and if so, whether that would allow them to recognize live spotted lanternfly egg masses. We found that dogs could be trained to find dead spotted lanternfly egg masses, and could learn to ignore relevant controls, with high levels of sensitivity and specificity (up to 94.6% and 92.8%, respectively). Further, we found that after the training, dogs could find live spotted lanternfly egg masses without additional training and returned to previous levels of sensitivity and specificity within a few sessions. Coded videos of training and testing sessions showed that dogs spent more time at the egg masses than at controls, as expected from training. These results suggest that dead spotted lanternfly egg masses could be a useful training aid for spotted lanternfly detection dogs.
Firing Increases Arsenic Leaching from Ceramic Water Filters via Arsenic and Iron Phase Transformations

Ceramic water filters (CWFs) are produced globally using local clay sources and can effectively remove bacterial pathogens during point-of-use water treatment. The ceramic production process involves firing clay mixed with burnout material at temperatures of 800-1100 °C, which induces mineralogical changes leading to increased arsenic (As) leaching from CWF material compared to source clay. Unfired clay and fired CWFs from Cambodia, Canada, and Mexico, CWF from Laos, and test-fired clay from the United States were analyzed to determine the extent of As leaching from CWFs that range in As (<1 to 16 mg kg-1) and iron (Fe) (0.6 to 5%) content. Deionized water, NaOH, HCl, and oxalate extractions showed that firing increased As solubility and decreased Fe solubility compared to unfired clay, with up to 8 mg kg-1 of water-soluble As in Cambodian CWFs. X-ray absorption spectra of the Cambodian clay and CWF showed a decrease in the Fe-O distance from 2.01 to 1.91 A and decreased Fe coordination number from 6.3 to 4.6 after firing, indicating a decrease in Fe-O coordination. Arsenic(V) was the dominant species in Cambodia clay and CWF, existing primarily as a surface complex with average As-Fe distance of 3.28 A in clay while in CWF As was either an outer-sphere As(V) phase or a discrete arsenate phase with no significant As-Fe scattering contribution within the resolution of the data. Improved understanding of molecular-scale processes that cause increased As leaching from CWFs provides a basis for assessing As leaching potential prior to CWF factory capital investment as well as engineered solutions (e.g., modified firing temperature, material amendments, and leaching prior to distribution) to mitigate As exposure from CWFs.
Initial encoding deficits with intact memory retention in older long-term breast cancer survivors

Cancer survivors frequently report significant forgetfulness, but standard neuropsychological tests often fail to detect primary memory deficits. Past research has suggested survivors may misattribute forgetfulness to memory decay rather than impairments in initial encoding, but no studies have tested whether this pattern is evident in older survivors, who are more vulnerable to age-related memory difficulties. We examined whether long-term breast cancer survivors treated in older adulthood demonstrate deficits in initial encoding, as opposed to increased rates of memory decay, relative to non-cancer controls. Three hundred twenty-eight breast cancer survivors age 60 and above, 5–15 years post-treatment, and 162 age-matched non-cancer controls completed list learning and narrative memory assessments at four time-points over 2 years. Performance on learning trials and delayed recall was analyzed at each time-point to assess group differences in memory encoding, and memory decay was assessed by analyzing changes in performance across delays. Univariate ANCOVAs correcting for age and education showed that survivors had worse initial encoding performance across multiple time-points, which were compensated for with multiple learning trials to produce recall performance comparable to controls. There were no significant group differences in memory decay. Older long-term breast cancer survivors exhibit a consistent pattern of initial encoding deficits, but memory retention was comparable to controls. Future research should consider the role of encoding deficits and age-related factors when evaluating cognitive function in older survivors. Commonly reported memory problems may stem from encoding deficits in older long-term cancer survivors.
Placenta-specific miRNA-519c Mediates Immune Tolerance in Human Placenta Following Repeated Bacterial Exposure

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate target gene expression and play an important role in the maintenance of healthy pregnancies. Adaptation to inflammatory stimulation may be critical in preventing rejection of the fetus by the maternal immune system and protecting the fetus from excessive maternal inflammatory responses to infectious agents. Previously, our lab has shown that placental explants demonstrate tolerance to repeated gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial toxins, as illustrated by decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, to date, the exact mechanism(s) that contribute to placental immune tolerance are not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigate the role of miR-519c, a …
Live programming and programming by example: better together (keynote)

Live programming is a paradigm in which values from program execution are shown to the programmer through continual feedback. Programming by example is a paradigm in which code is synthesized from example values showing a desired behavior. This talk presents some of our recent research that combines these two paradigms in beneficial ways. I will walk through our ideas, explain our contributions, discuss what we learned and finally provide thoughts for the future.
Half a century of practice: Who is still storing plaintext passwords?

Text-based passwords are probably the most common way to authenticate a user on the Internet today. To implement a password system, it is critical to ensure the confidentiality of the stored password—if an attacker obtains a password, they get full access to that account. However, in the past several years, we have witnessed several major password leakages in which all the passwords were stored in plaintext. Considering the severity of these security breaches, we believe that the website owners should have upgraded their systems to store password hashes. Unfortunately, there are still many websites that store plaintext passwords. Given the persistence of such bad practice, it is crucial to raise public awareness about this issue, find these websites, and shed light on best practices. As such, in this paper, we systematically analyze websites in both industry and academia and check whether they are still storing plaintext passwords (or used to do so). In industry, we find 11 such websites in Alexa’s top 500 websites list. Also, we find this is a universal problem, regardless of the profile of the websites according to our analysis of almost 3,000 analyzed sites. Interestingly, we also find that even though end users have reported websites that are storing plaintext passwords, significant amounts of website owners ignore this. On the academic side, our analysis of 135 conference submission sites shows that the majority of them are also still storing plaintext passwords despite the existence of patches that fix this problem.
Eliminating Complex Treatment Setup for Intact Breast or Postmastectomy Treatment with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Intensity Modulation Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for intact breast or chest wall treatments has been controversial based on the results of recent studies. One study indicates that IMRT significantly reduces normal tissue dose and improves target dose distribution [1] while another suggests that IMRT offers no dosimetric advantages over existing three-dimensional treatment techniques [2]. However, these IMRT studies only considered tangential photon beam modulations for intact breast or chest wall treatment without taking into account the need to treat supraclavicular lymph nodes (SLN) and axillary lymph nodes (ALN). We carried out composite treatment plan comparisons between the standard conformal techniques and IMRT for the full-course treatments of intact breast (IB) or postmastectomy (PM) patients specifically to evaluate this issue.
Penile and Inguinal Reconstruction and Tissue Preservation for Penile Cancer

Penile cancer is a rare disease in North America, but it has considerable psychosocial and health consequences. Patients often present after a significant delay and, consequently, with advanced disease that typically requires ablative and amputative surgery. To minimize the disfiguring effects of such radical surgery, penile-sparing therapies have been employed for ≤T2 stage disease. Herein, we detail a number of tissue-preserving treatments that are available for penile cancer. For CIS and T1 disease, topical 5-FU and imiquimod, Mohs surgery, laser ablation, radiation (external beam or interstitial), or simple surgical excision is an effective option. For T2 disease, radiation, partial or total glansectomy, or partial penectomy is a mean to reduce disfigurement. While these treatments have a higher rate of local tumor recurrence than partial or total penectomy, they are not associated with worse survival. Reconstruction after a subtotal penectomy can be performed by penile advancement and skin grafting or replacement surgery with a sensate free flap. Sartorius muscle, rotational, and thigh flaps anatomy and mobilization techniques are also detailed. Penile-sparing therapies offer good cosmetic results and reasonable phallic length (to allow for urination while standing and the potential for sexual activity) without compromising oncologic control.
A Simplified Technique for Creating a Customized Gingival Emergence Profile for Implant-Supported Crowns

A successful implant restoration is one that will allow adequate function and esthetics. Soft-tissue management around implant-supported restorations continues to present a considerable challenge for the restoring dentist as well as the laboratory technician while fabricating the final prosthesis. This article presents a simplified and economical technique to direct gingival tissue healing, as well as create a removable gingival replica of the customized gingival emergence profile. The created profile can then be used in the dental laboratory to achieve a superior and predictable esthetic outcome for implant-supported fixed restorations.
Catecholamine metabolism in brain slices: Determination of relevant precursor pool and the effects of elevated K+

Abstract Catecholamine synthesis from [ 3 H]tyrosine was studied in slices of striatum, cerebellum and substantia nigra of mice. If low concentrations of tyrosine (less than 5.5 μM) were added to the incubation medium, the slices released significant amounts of tyrosine into the medium during the incubation. Kinetic analysis of the same experiments indicated that medium tyrosine and not tissue tyrosine was the appropriate precursor for both dopamine (DA) synthesis and protein synthesis in striatal slices. Concentrations of medium tyrosine of 8.25 μM or greater were sufficient to prevent changes of medium tyrosine during incubation and thus maintained a constant specific activity of precursor. Increasing concentrations of medium K + increased both the accumulation of [ 3 H]DA and its release from striatal slices. However, accumulation was stimulated at a concentration of K + (14 mM) that had no significant stimulatory effect on release, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of K + on synthesis and release are mediated by separate processes. Release of 14 CO 2 from [1- 14 C]tyrosine closely paralleled the accumulation of [ 3 H]DA from [ 3 H]tyrosine. Release of preloaded [ 14 C]DA closely paralleled that of [ 3 H]DA synthesized from [ 3 H]tyrosine, suggesting a common functional pool. The principal DA catabolite produced was dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). The appearance of labeled DOPAC in the media was greatly enhanced by K + stimulation.
African female immigration to the United States and its policy implications

This study examines the dynamics of female African immigration and settlement in the United States and discusses the research and policy implications for these processes. It highlights a significant surge in female immigration from African compared to non-African countries in recent years. This surge is driven by female immigration from Africa's most populous countries, from countries affected by civil conflicts, and from English-speaking countries in the region. African women are also more likely to arrive as unmarried singles than other female immigrants. In addition, they have the highest prevalence of bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees among women in the US. African females are also about twice more likely to be enrolled in US educational institutions compared to other women. Those in the labor force are more likely to work as nursing professionals than in technical occupational groups such as engineering and computing. The study concludes by discussing the research and policy implications of...
Analysis and interpretation of anomalous conductivity and magnetic permeability effects in time domain electromagnetic data: Part II: Sμ-inversion

In the paper by Pavlov and Zhdanov [J. Appl. Geophys. (2001)], we demonstrated that anomalous magnetic permeability of an ore body could result in measurable anomalous effects in TDEM data, which can be used in geophysical exploration. In the current paper, we develop a new method of TDEM data interpretation, which allows simultaneous reconstruction of both electrical and magnetic properties of the rocks. The method is based on a generalization of the S-inversion technique [66th Ann. Int. Mtg., Soc. Expl. Geophys., Expanded Abstr. (1996) 1306; 68th Ann. Int. Mtg., Soc. Expl. Geophys., Expanded Abstr. (1998) 473; J. Appl. Geophys. (1999)] for models containing thin sheets with anomalous conductivity and anomalous magnetic permeability. We call this method Sμ-inversion. Numerical 3-D modeling results demonstrate that Sμ-inversion provides useful information about both subsurface conductivity and magnetic permeability distributions. It can be used as a new tool for imaging TDEM data in mineral exploration.
Calibration and data processing in gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) by gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCC-IRMS) is a powerful technique for the sourcing of substances, such as determination of the geographic or chemical origin of drugs and food adulteration, and it is especially invaluable as a confirmatory tool for detection of the use of synthetic steroids in competitive sport. We review here principles and practices for data processing and calibration of GCC-IRMS data with consideration to anti-doping analyses, with a focus on carbon isotopic analysis ((13)C/(12)C). After a brief review of peak definition, the isotopologue signal reduction methods of summation, curve-fitting, and linear regression are described and reviewed. Principles for isotopic calibration are considered in the context of the Δ(13)C = δ(13)C(M) - δ(13)C(E) difference measurements required for establishing adverse analytical findings for metabolites (M) relative to endogenous (E) reference compounds. Considerations for the anti-doping analyst are reviewed.
Carbon‐supported AuPt and AuPd bimetallic nanocomposites as formic acid electrooxidation catalysts

Repetitive syntheses of six AuPt/Vulcan carbon (VC) and six AuPd/VC nanocomposites by NaBH4 solution reduction of equimolar mixtures of HAuCl4 · xH2O and H2PtCl6 · 6H2O salts or HAuCl4 · xH2O and Na2PdCl4 salts gives nanocomposites having highly dispersed metal alloy nanoparticles of similar average size (4–7 ± 2 nm). Significant variation in nanocomposite physical and electrochemical properties is observed. AuM alloy stoichiometries and total metal wt% vary by as much as ±11 at% and ±5 wt%, respectively. Activities toward electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid, evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, reveal one electrochemically inactive nanocomposite, higher activities for AuPd/VC nanocomposites than for AuPt/VC nanocomposites, and a maximum mass-specific current of 3.8 mA cm−2 per mg total metal for one AuPd/VC nancomposite. TEM image of AuPt/Vulcan carbon (left image) and AuPd/Vulcan carbon (right image) nanocomposites. Bar represents 20 nm.
A New Version of the Rule Induction System LERS

A new version of the rule induction system LERS is described and compared with the old version of LERS. Experiments were done for comparison of performance for both versions of LERS and the two other rule-induction systems: AQ15 and C4.5. The new LERS system performance is fully comparable with performance of the other two systems.
Impact of Coaching Style on Vulnerability for Eating Disorders: An Analog Study

Abstract This analog study examined the impact of coaching style on athletes' vulnerability for eating problems using a 2 (positive vs. negative coaching vignette) by 2 (male vs. female) factorial experiment with the following dependent variables: mood, dieting, fear of fat. and body image anxiety. One hundred ten college students were randomly assigned to vignette conditions. The negative vignette portrayed a coach who was performance-centered and focused on weight in a threatening manner. The coach in the positive vignette was also focused on weight, but in a person centered and caring manner. It was hypothesized females compared to males would react more pathologically to the negative versus positive vignette condition. Contrary to expectations, gender failed to interact with vignette condition. However, participants in the negative vignette exhibited higher instances of dieting, body image anxiety, and fear of fat. This research implies coaching style could create an increased vulnerability for body i...
Local drug delivery with a self-contained, programmable, microfluidic system

The development and optimization of many new drug therapies requires long-term local delivery with controlled, but variable dosage. Current methods for chronic drug delivery have limited utility because they either cannot deliver drugs locally to a specific organ or tissue, do not permit changes in delivery rate in situ, or cannot be used in clinical trials in an untethered, wearable configuration. Here, we describe a small, self-contained system for liquid-phase drug delivery. This system enables studies lasting several months and infusion rates can be programmed and modified remotely. A commercial miniature pump is integrated with microfabricated components to generate ultralow flow rates and stroke volumes. Solutions are delivered in pulses as small as 370 nL, with pulses delivered at any interval of 1 min or longer. A unique feature of the system is the ability to infuse and immediately withdraw liquid, resulting in zero net volume transfer while compounds are exchanged by mixing and diffusion with endogenous fluid. We present in vitro results demonstrating repeatability of the delivered pulse volume for nearly 3 months. Furthermore, we present in vivo results in an otology application, infusing into the cochlea of a guinea pig a glutamate receptor antagonist, which causes localized and reversible changes in auditory sensitivity.
A remarkable new crab-like hermit crab (Decapoda: Paguridae) from French Polynesia, with comments on carcinization in the Anomura

Patagurus rex gen. et sp. nov., a deep-water pagurid hermit crab, is described and illustrated based on a single specimen dredged from 400 m off Moorea, Society Islands, French Polynesia. Patagurus is characterized by a subtriangular, vaulted, calcified carapace, with large, wing-like lateral processes, and is closely related to two other atypical pagurid genera, Porcellanopagurus Filhol, 1885 and Solitariopagurus Turkay, 1986. The broad, fully calcified carapace, calcified branchiostegites, as well as broad and rigidly articulated thoracic sternites make this remarkable animal one of the most crab-like hermit crabs. Patagurus rex carries small bivalve shells to protect its greatly reduced pleon. Carcinization pathways among asymmetrical hermit crabs and other anomurans are briefly reviewed and discussed.
Mozart Among the Theologians

The essay compares and contrasts the philosophical, theological, and aesthetic approaches to Mozart in the writings of Soren Kierkegaard's aesthete A (Either/Or, I), Karl Barth (primarily Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), and Hans Kung (Mozart: Traces of Transcendence). Whereas Kierkegaard's A outlines a non-religious ‘daemonic Mozart’, Barth and Kung depict two contrasting theological understandings of Mozart's music. Barth's Mozart reflects a Reformed aesthetic, with Mozart as a ‘parable’ of gospel, whereas Kung's Mozart reflects a Roman Catholic ‘sacramental’ vision of music and religious faith. The essay explores how these different visions of Mozart are shaped by both their theological and aesthetic commitments.
Simple high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of serum caffeine and paraxanthine following rapid sample preparation

A simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of caffeine and paraxanthine in human serum is described. Serum proteins are precipitated with perchloric acid and the resulting supernatant neutralized for direct injection onto an HPLC column. The method uses a phosphate-methanol mobile phase (85:15, v/v) at pH 4.9 with a flow-rate of 1.75 ml/min and quantitation is by UV absorbance at 274 nm. Elution times are approximately 18 min for caffeine and 8 min for paraxanthine. Theobromine and theophylline have elution times of 5.4 and 9.4 min and do not interfere in the assay. The intra-assay and between-assay means for precision and accuracy for both drugs are: 4.5% C.V. and 3.3% deviation. The sensitivity of the method is 50 ng/ml for each drug.