cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Living in Violent Neighbourhoods is Associated with Gestational Weight Gain Outside the Recommended Range

Background During pregnancy, most women do not meet gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines, potentially resulting in adverse maternal and infant health consequences. Social environment determinants of GWG have been identified, but evidence on the relationship between neighbourhood violence and GWG is scant. Our study aims to examine the relationship between neighbourhood violence and GWG outside the recommended range. Methods We used statewide vital statistics and health care utilization data from California for 2006–12 (n = 2 364 793) to examine the relationship of neighbourhood violence (quarters of zip-code rates of homicide and assault) in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy with GWG (categorized using the Institute of Medicine's pregnancy weight gain guidelines). We estimated risk ratios (RR) and marginal risk differences, and analyses were stratified by maternal race/ethnicity and prepregnancy body mass index. Results Residence in neighbourhoods with the highest quartile of violence was associated with more excessive GWG (adjusted RR 1.04, 95% confidence interval CI 1.03, 1.05), compared to the lowest quartile of violence; violence was not associated with inadequate GWG. On the difference scale, this association translates to 2.3% more women gaining weight excessively rather than adequately if all women were exposed to high violence compared to if all women were exposed to low violence. Additionally, associations between neighbourhood violence and excessive GWG were larger in non-white women than in white women. Conclusions These findings support the hypothesis that violence can affect weight gain during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of neighbourhood violence as a public health issue.
Technique to Promote Symmetry in 2-Staged Bilateral Breast Reconstruction in the Setting of Unilateral Postmastectomy Radiation.

Background Bilateral breast reconstruction in the setting of unilateral postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) remains one of the most difficult reconstructive challenges due to significant radiation-induced asymmetry from capsular contracture and superior migration of the irradiated reconstructed breast. We describe a novel and straightforward intraoperative technique for creating compensatory asymmetry to maximize postradiation symmetry in immediate bilateral tissue expander (TE) and acellular dermal matrix (ADM) reconstruction requiring unilateral PMRT. Methods A cohort of 25 bilateral TE/ADM breast reconstructions with planned unilateral PMRT was performed using this approach, and outcomes were reviewed. On the PMRT side, the ADM edge was inset to a lower inframammary fold (IMF) position resulting in a near "bottoming-out" effect. On the non-PMRT side, the ADM was inset using a triple point stitch onto the IMF in a higher chest wall location. The planned PMRT side TE was overexpanded and second-stage exchanges were performed 6+ months post-PMRT. Results Post-PMRT results showed improved symmetry as the PMRT side migrated superiorly to match the contralateral non-irradiated side. Minimal pocket or IMF adjustments were required during second-stage procedures, with just 6 patients (24%) requiring minor lowering and 1 patient (4%) requiring elevation of the PMRT side IMF. Thus, most (72%) patients undergoing bilateral mastectomy and unilateral PMRT did not require any IMF modifications during the second-stage procedure. Conclusions A differential ADM inset and TE pocket creation for bilateral TE/ADM breast reconstructions with planned unilateral PMRT can minimize the typical adverse aesthetic effects of PMRT on reconstruction results and maximize symmetry.
Abstract ED01-01: What happens if we don't have evidence-based methods to measure improvement in health disparities?

Accurate and appropriate measurement of cancer health disparities is critical to know if progress is in fact being made. The decision as to what measurements to use exist in context and are contingent on social and physical conditions in the workplace, neighborhoods and society. Issues of measurement error and selection bias are important. Cancer health disparities can be understood better if divided into screenable (or not) and treatable (or not) cancers. While most measurement currently focuses on incidence and mortality, this presentation argues that survival after diagnosis is an even more sensitive measure. Factors important to evaluate cancer care include structural barriers, factors influencing physician recommendations and factors important in patient decision-making. It is argued that accurate measurement of cancer health disparities is the sine qua non for evaluation of progress.
Identification of miRNAs as biomarkers for acquired endocrine resistance in breast cancer

Therapies targeting estrogen receptor α (ERα) including tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and aromatase inhibitors (AI), e.g., letrozole, have proven successful in reducing the death rate for breast cancer patients whose initial tumors express ERα. However, about 40% of patients develop acquired resistance to these endocrine treatments. There is a critical need to develop sensitive circulating biomarkers that accurately identify signaling pathways altered in breast cancer patients resistant to endocrine therapies. Serum miRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers of the progression of endocrine-resistant breast cancer due to their cancer-specific expression and stability. Exosomal transfer of miRNAs has been implicated in metastasis and endocrine-resistance. This review focuses on miRNAs in breast tumors and in serum, including exosomes, from breast cancer patients that are associated with resistance to tamoxifen since it is best-studied.
CRT-300.18 Supera Stent Outcomes In Above-The-Knee Interventions: Effects Of Compression And Elongation (Sake-Compel) Sub-Study

The interwoven nitinol stent design, Supera (Abbott Vascular) has been shown to have superior radial strength and fracture resistance as compared to traditional nitinol stents, resulting in higher patency rates at 6 and 12 months. Recently, a single-center study, SAKE, of consecutive real-world
Magnesium diboride on inner wall of copper tube: A test case for superconducting radio frequency cavities

Superconductor magnesium diboride is considered one of the viable materials to substitute bulk niobium for superconducting radio frequency cavities. Utilizing a ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ coating on the inner wall of a copper cavity will allow operation at higher temperatures (20--25 K) than Nb cavities due to the high transition temperature of ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ (39 K) and the high thermal conductivity of Cu. In this paper, we present results of ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ coating on Cu tubes with similar dimensions to a 3 GHz cavity, as the first step towards coating the actual cavity, using the hybrid physical chemical vapor deposition technique. The results show successful coating of a uniform ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ layer on the inner wall of the Cu tubes with ${T}_{c}$ as high as 37 K.
Two-Level Factorial Designs

We now change our focus from the number of factors in the experiment to the number of levels those factors have. Specifically, in this and the next several chapters, we consider designs in which all factors have two levels. Many experiments are of this type. This is because two is the minimum number of levels a factor can have and still be studied, and by having the minimum number of levels (2), an experiment of a certain size can include the maximum number of factors. After all, an experiment with five factors at two levels each contains 32 combinations of levels of factors (25), whereas an experiment with these same five factors at just one more level, three levels, contains 243 combinations of levels of factors (35) – about eight times as many combinations! Indeed, studying five factors at three levels each (35 = 243 combinations) requires about the same number of combinations as are needed to study eight factors at two levels each (28 = 256). As we shall see in subsequent chapters, however, one does not always carry out (that is, “run”) each possible combination; nevertheless, the principle that fewer levels per factor allows a larger number of factors to be studied still holds.
Extension of chemotactic pseudopods by nonadherent human neutrophils does not require or cause calcium bursts.

Global bursts in free intracellular calcium (Ca 2+ ) are among the most conspicuous signaling events in immune cells. To test the common view that Ca 2+ bursts mediate rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton in response to the activation of G protein–coupled receptors, we combined single-cell manipulation with fluorescence imaging and monitored the Ca 2+ concentration in individual human neutrophils during complement-mediated chemotaxis. By decoupling purely chemotactic pseudopod formation from cell-substrate adhesion, we showed that physiological concentrations of anaphylatoxins, such as C5a, induced nonadherent human neutrophils to form chemotactic pseudopods but did not elicit Ca 2+ bursts. By contrast, pathological or supraphysiological concentrations of C5a often triggered Ca 2+ bursts, but pseudopod protrusion stalled or reversed in such cases, effectively halting chemotaxis, similar to sepsis-associated neutrophil paralysis. The maximum increase in cell surface area during pseudopod extension in pure chemotaxis was much smaller—by a factor of 8—than the known capacity of adherent human neutrophils to expand their surface. Because the measured rise in cortical tension was not sufficient to account for this difference, we attribute the limited deformability to a reduced ability of the cytoskeleton to generate protrusive force in the absence of cell adhesion. Thus, we hypothesize that Ca 2+ bursts in neutrophils control a mechanistic switch between two distinct modes of cytoskeletal organization and dynamics. A key element of this switch appears to be the expedient coordination of adhesion-dependent lock or release events of cytoskeletal membrane anchors.
Common Bile Duct Explorations and Bilioenteric Anastomosis

If a stone is visualized during an intraoperative cholangiogram, a few measures should be attempted before proceeding to common bile duct (CBD) exploration. First, place the patient in steep reverse Trandelenberg and flush the CBD with saline. Intravenous Glucagon at a dose of 1 mg can also be given to relax the sphincter of Oddi and help the stone pass. If this is not successful, then one can proceed to a CBD exploration.
Gene Delivery for Systemic Expression: Plasmid, Retroviral, and Adenoviral Approaches

Systemic gene therapy could be used to treat inherited and acquired cardiovascular disorders such as hyperlipidemia, thrombosis/bleeding disorders, or deficiencies of other blood proteins. In many cases, transfer of the appropriate gene into a variety of cell types would be therapeutic, as long as the gene product could eventually reach the bloodstream. In other cases, it is likely that transduction of specific cell types will be required for successful gene therapy, because the cells need to have direct contact with the bloodstream, or the cells need to perform necessary post-translational modifications. Initial success has been obtained by using gene therapy to express the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) or to express serum protein genes, as will be discussed in more detail below. It is likely that the general principles observed with these model systems can be applied to a variety of inherited and acquired cardiovascular diseases.
A beginner’s Guide to Avoiding Protected Health Information (PHI) Issues in Clinical Research – With How-to’s in REDCap Data Management Software

Protecting personally identifiable information is important in clinical research. The authors, two faculty members involved in developing and implementing research infrastructure for a medical school, observed challenges novice researchers encountered in recognizing, collecting, and managing Protected Health Information (PHI) for clinical research. However, we had difficulty finding resources that provide practical strategies for novice clinical researchers for this topic. Common issues for beginners were: 1. Recognition of PHI, e.g. lack of recognition of 'indirect' PHI, i.e., that the combination of two or more non-PHI data types or other specific information could result in identifiable data requiring protection; 2. Collection of PHI, e.g., proposed collection of data not necessary for fulfillment of the project's objectives or potential inadvertent collection of PHI in free text response items; and 3. Management of PHI, e.g., proposed use of coding systems that directly included PHI, or proposed data collection techniques, electronic data storage, or software with inadequate protections. From these observations, the authors provide the following in this paper: 1. A brief review of the elements of PHI, particularly 'indirect' PHI; 2. Sample data management plans for common project types relevant to novice clinical researchers to ensure planning for data security; 3. Basic techniques for avoiding issues related to the collection of PHI, securing and limiting access to collected PHI, and management of released PHI; and 4. Methods for implementing these techniques in the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system, a commonly used and readily available research data management software system.
Apparent timing of density banding in the Caribbean coral Siderastrea siderea suggests complex role of key physiological variables

Skeletal growth bands in massive reef-building corals are increasingly used as proxies for environmental records despite an incomplete understanding of their formation. While the bands are known to arise from seasonal changes in light and temperature, conflicting reports about the timing of constituent high- and low-density growth bands have complicated the dating and interpretation of environmental signals recorded in corals’ growth histories. Here, we analyze 35 Siderastrea siderea cores extracted from inshore and offshore reef zones along the Florida Keys Reef Tract to investigate potential drivers of banding variability in this species. A previously proposed model of banding variation is applied to assess its potential to explain band timing in S. siderea. Colony growth characteristics and the timing of band deposition were obtained from the cores via computed tomography and were coupled with tissue thickness measurements and gender identification. Apparent time difference, or the perceived lag in coral growth response to changes in environmental conditions, was quantified for each coral core. Results suggest that linear extension, tissue thickness, and gender together do not fully explain the timing of band formation in S. siderea and therefore do not fully resolve the density patterns observed within this species. This finding suggests that other factors yet to be identified are partially determining the formation and appearance of density bands in S. siderea. The continued characterization of banding variability on scales ranging from the individual colony to entire reef systems will enrich our understanding of both coral growth and the environmental conditions to which corals are exposed.
Teaching Music in American Society: A Social and Cultural Understanding of Teaching Music

Teaching Music in American Society, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of social and cultural themes directly related to music education, teacher training, and successful teacher characteristics. Music teachers need to be not only knowledgeable in conducting and performing but also socially and culturally aware of students, issues, and events that affect their classrooms. This book is designed for educators seeking K-12 music teacher certification to teach in American schools. At the conclusion of each chapter is a summary of the chapter and a list of key items and people discussed, plus a series of related questions for students to consider. Current topics in the third edition include: • an emphasis on social justice, sensitivity to transgender students, and bullying, • the influences of social media, • a focus on urban music education, and • a new chapter on diverse learning. Further, recent policy issues are addressed in this new edition: • the evolution of the No Child Left Behind Act into the Every Student Succeeds Act, • the increasing emphasis on charter schools, the privatization of public school, • changes in how schools are assessed, and • changes occurring within the teaching profession—and how all of these affect developments in music education. A major structural change is the chapter on equality of education has been split into two chapters, providing a stronger focus on both educational equality and diverse inclusive learning.
What Do Mental Terms Mean

Psychologists and philosophers have long been interested in two questions: (a) What do mental terms mean? and (b) what role do mental terms play in explanations of behavior? In the current sketch I review how mediational neobehaviorism, cognitive psychology, and the radical behaviorism of B. F. Skinner address these questions. In so doing, I seek to clarify the meaning of mental terms, as well as their role in explanations of behavior.
INTEGRAL CLOSURE OF STRONGLY GOLOD IDEALS

We prove that the integral closure of a strongly Golod ideal in a polynomial ring over a field of characteristic zero is strongly Golod, positively answering a question of Huneke. More generally, the rational power . We also show that all the coefficient ideals of a strongly Golod ideal are strongly Golod.
Repeatability in migration of Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) and implications for nomadism

ABSTRACT Nomadism in birds is characterized by inconsistent and unpredictable migrations to breeding or nonbreeding areas often related to changing prey conditions. The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo rega...
Simulating Uncertainty of Early Warning Scores in Sepsis Detection

Sepsis, a syndrome of acute organ dysfunction secondary to a systemic infection, has been recognized as a growing burden on healthcare systems and is responsible for nearly $24 billion annually. Various early sepsis detection scores have been developed to quantify the risk of clinical deterioration. While the scores quantify risk, they often overlook the uncertainties associated with the scores, defined as a feature of a scoring system caused by any absence of a component in documented Electronic Health Records (EHR). Using a discrete-event simulation approach, we analyzed the simulated 1) composition of a selected early warning score, 2) timing of worst and best score values of sepsis population in the Emergency Department, and 3) changes over time in uncertainty throughout the hospitalization. Composition referred to simulated availability of score components and uncertainty was represented by the percent of components that are unavailable at a given time point. Data was collected from 15,982 patients with 22,968 visits meeting infection and sepsis criteria within subpopulations with different levels of severity of sepsis. Simulated trajectories indicated differences among the sub-populations. The first complete score and worst score values were found to be higher for those who died with sepsis compared to those that survived with infection and/or with sepsis. The findings from this study provide a framework to capture the stochastic nature of early warning scores and can inform implementation of scores in clinical practice with the goal of supporting early detection of sepsis.
On Robustness of Spin-Orbit-Torque Based Stochastic Sigmoid Neurons for Spiking Neural Networks

Nano-scale neuro-mimetic devices have recently gained wide research interest in the quest to enable brain-like energy-efficiency with cognitive computing abilities. Traditionally, neuromorphic devices have exploited deterministic nano-scale devices for emulating the intrinsic neuronal and synaptic behavior. However, of particular interest are stochastic neuromorphic devices owing to − 1) availability of nano-scale devices that are inherently stochastic based on intrinsic device physics 2) various neuroscience experiments have demonstrated that cortical neurons are stochastic in nature. In this paper, we focus on spin orbit torque based Magnetic Tunnel Junction (SOT-MTJ) that exhibit stochastic sigmoid behavior with respect to the switching process. We first discuss the modeling framework that was used to study the effect of dimensional variations in SOT-MTJs and the resulting changes in the stochastic sigmoid behavior. Our model is based on the well-known stochastic-Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation under mono-domain approximation. Subsequently, we abstract the sigmoid characteristic of the device into a behavioral model and study the effect of variations in sigmoid characteristics on a deep binary network. Our results show that the variations in the sigmoidal neuron behavior results in a minimal loss in accuracy (for CIFAR 10 dataset). Additionally, the degradation in accuracy monotonically increases with increase in induced variations. This highlights the robustness of stochastic neural networks based on SOT-MTJs in presence of dimensional variations.
Catamenial pneumothorax in a 14-year-old female: A case report and literature review.

Abstract Background and aims Pneumothoraces can occur in patients of all ages and genders. We encountered a female adolescent patient who was experiencing recurrent pneumothoraces every several months. She endured an extensive workup to determine an etiology for her pneumothoraces but it was all negative. She was eventually diagnosed with catamenial pneumothorax. This is an established cause of recurrent pneumothorax in adults but is very rare in adolescent patients. Keeping it on the differential for any female of reproductive age with recurrent pneumothoraces may prevent potentially harmful and expensive diagnostic testing and procedures. Methods We reported a case of catamenial pneumothorax in an adolescent patient and reviewed the relevant literature. Results Our patient was a 14-year-old female patient with recurrent pneumothoraces every several months. She had an extensive procedural and genetic workup performed but no etiology was revealed. Due to a temporal relation of the pneumothoraces to menses, an obstetrics and gynecology consult was obtained. Empirical treatment for catamenial pneumothorax was started with a continuous oral contraceptive with combined estrogen-progestin leading to our patient's complete remission. Three years later our patient has not experienced any relapsing episodes of pneumothorax. Conclusion Although rare in younger patients, catamenial pneumothorax should be considered as a cause for recurrent pnueumothoraces in any post-pubertal female.
A Synechocystis PCC 6803 psbA Deletion Mutant and Its Transformation with a psbA Gene from a Higher Plant

The unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 is proving to be a valuable model organism for the study of thylakoid-membrane protein complexes, particularly Photosystem Two (PS2) (1). Its ability to grow photoheterotrophically in the presence of glucose, together with its natural DNA transformation system, allow mutants defective in PS2 function to be generated by a variety of methods and their properties studied (2). Our group is interested in understanding the function of the Dl polypeptide through the biochemical and biophysical characterisation of site-directed mutants. Such an approach is hampered by the presence of three different copies of the psbA gene for each chromosome (3). As a first step towards generating mutants, we describe here the construction and preliminary characterisation of a psbA deletion mutant. Futhermore, we have been able to restore photoautotrophic growth to this deletion strain by transformation with the psbA gene from the higher plant Poa annua.
Aquinas's Ethics

This Element provides an account of Thomas Aquinas's moral philosophy that emphasizes the intrinsic connection between happiness and the human good, human virtue, and the precepts of practical reason. Human beings by nature have an end to which they are directed and concerning which they do not deliberate, namely happiness. Humans achieve this end by performing good human acts, which are produced by the intellect and the will, and perfected by the relevant virtues. These virtuous acts require that the agent grasps the relevant moral principles and uses them in particular cases.
CHAPTER 26 – Graphics

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a list of all two- and three-dimensional graphics commands and options and their examples. Two-dimensional graphical images are objects of type Graphics, ContourGraphics, or DensityGraphics. Graphics objects can be constructed with the commands ListPlot, ParamatricPlot, and Plot or with graphics primitives; ContourGraphics are created with the commands ContourPlot and ListContourPlot; and DensityGraphics are created with the commands DensityPlot and ListDensityPlot. In general, all graphical images may be displayed using the command Show and displayed in different forms by taking advantage of the commands GraphicsArray and Rectangle. Circle, Disk, Line, Point, Polygon, PostScript, Raster, RasterArray, Rectangle, and Text are two-dimensional graphics primitives. Three-dimensional graphical images are objects of type Graphics3D or SurfaceGraphics. Graphics3D objects can be constructed with the command ParametricPlot3D or with graphics primitives. SurfaceGraphics objects can be constructed with the commands ListPlot3D and ParametricPlot3D, Plot3D or with three-dimensional graphics primitives. Three-dimensional graphics primitives are: Cuboid, Polygon, Line, Text, Point, and Graphics3D.
A Flexible and Deadly Way to Control Salmonella Infection

Summary Although programmed cell death can control intracellular bacterial replication, the role of cell death during systemic Salmonella infection remained elusive. In this issue of Immunity, Doerflinger et al. discover a critical but overlapping role for cell death associated caspases during Salmonella infection.
Fusarium rhinosinusitis post chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a novel treatment for various types of hematologic malignancy. We presented a case of refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma patient who developed acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFR) from Fusarium species after CAR-T therapy. Our photos illustrated the classic clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic findings of AIFR.
Energy-Based Economic Development

The fields of economic development and energy policy and planning have converged in recent years to form an emerging discipline, which we term "energy-based economic development" (EBED). Despite the significant amount of stimulus funds, as well as state and local funding, that are being allocated to EBED initiatives in the United States, the emerging discipline has received scant attention in the energy, policy, and development literature. The link between energy and economic development in the literature is still theoretical, mostly focused on the need for and the potential benefits of EBED, and rarely applied. Furthermore, funding for EBED has outpaced understanding of the discipline, development of rigorous technical approaches, and meaningful ways to measure impact. Such information would not only help practitioners and policymakers more thoroughly understand the confines of the discipline and shape goals and approaches accordingly, but also help researchers identify, track, and evaluate a variety of activities in the field. With national and international attention focused on the convergence of these fields, researchers and practitioners have a rare opportunity to develop and implement the tools necessary to evaluate and communicate the potentially broader impacts that EBED may hold for society. If ways to leverage and sustain the injection of funds in this discipline are not identified, the opportunity may end before we can achieve either energy policy or economic development goals. In an attempt to respond to this need, this analysis explores the connection between energy and economic development, beginning with a review of the trends in each field and the goals that each seeks to achieve. On the basis of this information, we define the discipline of EBED, review the existing literature on it, and offer insights and perspectives on its emergence.
IMMU-16. TARGETING GLYPICAN 2 (GPC2) ON PEDIATRIC MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS WITH MRNA CAR T CELLS

Glypican 2 (GPC2) is a cell-surface oncoprotein initially identified in neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, and medulloblastoma as an ideal target for immunotherapy (Cancer Cell, 2017). Here we evaluated GPC2 expression across the spectrum of pediatric brain tumors using RNA sequencing from specimens in the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN). High GPC2 expression, defined as >10 FPKM, was found in 100% of embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes (ETMRs) (n=6), 95% of medulloblastomas (n=122), 86% of other embryonal tumors (n=21), 50% of choroid plexus carcinomas (n=4), 42% of high grade gliomas (HGG) (n=117), and 37% of diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) (n=65). Within medulloblastoma subtypes, group 4 tumors had the highest expression, and within the HGG tumor cohort H3.3 G34 mutated gliomas had the highest GPC2 expression. High GPC2 protein expression was validated with medulloblastoma and HGG/DMG primary tumors and cell lines using IHC, Western blot, and flow cytometry. We next developed two potent CAR T cell constructs using the D3 specific scFv directed against GPC2 for testing in brain tumor models. GPC2-directed CAR T cells were tested in vitro against medulloblastoma and HGG cells lines, and in vivo using two patient-derived medulloblastoma xenograft models: Rcmb28 (group 3) and 7316-4509 (group 4). GPC2-directed mRNA CAR T cells induced significant GPC2-specific cell death in medulloblastoma and HGG cellular models with concomitant T cell degranulation compared to CD19-directed mRNA CAR T cells. In vivo, GPC2-directed mRNA CAR T cells delivered locoregionally induced significant tumor regression measured by bioluminescence after 4–6 intratumoral infusions of 4 x 106 CAR T cells (p<0.0001 for Rcmb28, p<0.05 for 7316-4509). No GPC2-directed CAR T cell related toxicity was observed. GPC2 is a highly differentially expressed cell surface protein on multiple malignant pediatric brain tumors that can be targeted safely with local delivery of mRNA CAR T cells.
Bilateral Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Case Report of an Unusual Cause of Acute Headache in a Child.

Introduction Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) is typically considered a disease of adulthood. However, AACG may occasionally be seen in children. The clinical presentation is similar to adults, including headache, vomiting, and eye pain. However, the etiology of angle closure in children is different and most often associated with congenital anterior segment abnormalities. A precipitating factor of AACG in children with previous established, anterior segment abnormalities is eye dilation, which may occur during routine ophthalmological examination with topical mydriasis, or physiologic mydriasis upon entering a dark room. Case report We describe a 5-year-old child with a history of severe prematurity and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) presenting with bilateral AACG following a routine outpatient, dilated ophthalmological examination. While angle-closure glaucoma has previously been reported in cases of ROP, a bilateral acute attack of AACG following pupil dilation in regressed ROP has hitherto been unreported. Conclusion Given the association of ROP and AACG, it can be expected that as the survival rate of premature infants improves, the incidence of ROP and AACG may also increase. It is therefore prudent for the emergency physician to have AACG on the differential for pediatric patients with headache and eye pain.
Photocatalytic activity of hydroxyapatite deposited graphene nanosheets under illumination to sunlight

Abstract Herein, an intelligent, sunlight active photocatalyst, GR-HAP has been developed by synthetic modification of graphene (GR) nanosheets through in-situ deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAP). The photocatalytic efficiency of GR-HAP was evaluated by degradation of industrially important and versatile used azo dyes, viz., methyl orange, methylene blue and rhodamine B under illumination to natural sunlight. GR-HAP was capable in complete degradation of all dyes in presence of sunlight. It was estimated that with GR-HAP, rate for degradation of anionic dye, methyl orange was higher than cationic dyes, methylene blue and rhodamine B. Further, degradation rate of dyes was quantified using Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) model and it found that degradation of dyes proceed through pseudo-first-order reaction. In addition to excellence in photocatalytic activity, GR-HAP possessed prominent stability against photocorrosiveness and photobleaching.
Queens of Academe: Beauty Pageantry, Student Bodies, and College Life

Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Beauty and the Boar Chapter 2. Cleavage and Campus Life Chapter 3. Pride and Pulchritude: Campus Pageant Politics, 1920-1980 Chapter 4. Making the Grade in the New Millennium: Beauty, Platforming, Celebrity, and Normativity Chapter 5. " Pageants as Racial " and Ethnic Combat Zones Chapter 6. Class Acts and Class Work: Poise and the Polishing of Campus Queens Chapter 7. Flesh and Spirit: Bibles, Beauty, and Bikinis Chapter 8. Afterward: Class Work/Homework Endnotes Bibliography
The Solar System: Recent Exploration Results

The solar system has been visited by space probes, ranging from the Mariner Mercury-Venus mission exploring inward toward the sun, and continuing through the Voyager probes out into interstellar space and (on its way now) the New Horizons probe to Pluto and the Kuiper belt. This talk examines what we know of the planets of the solar system from probes, and talks about where we will go from here.
Role of self carriers in the immune response and tolerance. XII. Effect of epitope density and antigen-presenting cell phenotype on the presentation of hapten-modified self for the induction of immunity or tolerance in vitro.

Abstract The data presented in the accompanying paper (J. P. Cogswell, R. P. Phipps, and D. W. Scott, Cell. Immunol. 114 , 55–70, 1988) indicate that certain macrophage-like and lymphoid dendritic-like (P388AD.2) tumor lines which express major histocompatibility encoded class II (Ia) antigens and produce interleukin 1 (IL-1) are uniquely able to present hapten-modified self (HMS) in an immunogenic fashion in vivo . In the current study, the relationship between phenotype and function has been confirmed utilizing a completely in vitro system. This investigation revealed that B-cell priming required T cells restricted to P388AD.2's I-A antigens. In addition, exogenous IL-1 reconstituted the response of an IL-1-deficient tumor (P388AD.2-ILd), although it had no effect on the other nonimmunogenic Ia + tumor lines. Unlike the in vivo system, effective B-cell tolerance was induced when P388AD.2 was modified with high concentrations (10 m M ) of hapten or when highly haptenated tumor was added to 0.1 m M TNBS-modified P388AD.2. These results suggest that positive regulation of in vitro immune responses to HMS is dependent upon the phenotype of the accessory cell carrier (with lymphoid dendritic-like cells being unusually potent), while negative regulation is associated with high epitope density. This system now allows the dissection of the properties of different accessory cells and the signals required for B-cell priming or tolerance induction.
The Art of Regression Analysis

The art of regression analysis involves specifying a plausible model, obtaining reliable and appropriate data, and interpreting the output. Problems can arise when the theory is concocted to fit the data, or insufficient attention is paid to the reliability of the data and possible errors and omissions in the model. Statistical significance and practical importance are separate questions. Correlation is not causation. Spurious correlation is especially likely to occur with time series data, where two variables trend upward over time because of increases in population, income, prices, or other factors. The simplest remedy is to work with changes or percentage changes. Another approach is to fit a variable to a trend line and calculate the deviations from this trend line. Regression toward the mean refers to the statistical fact that measurements that are far from the mean tend to be further from the mean than the traits they are trying to measure. An incorrect interpretation is that the traits are converging to the mean, for example, that businesses are converging to mediocrity.
Specification of Distance Functions Using Semi-and Nonparametric Methods With An Application to the Dynamic Performance of Eastern and Western European Air Carriers 1

In this paper we examine the productive performance of a group of three East European carriers and compare it to thirteen of their West European competitors during the period 1977–1990. We first model the multiple output/multiple input technology with a stochastic distance frontier using recently developed semiparametric efficient methods. The endogeneity of multiple outputs is addressed in part by introducing multivariate kernel estimators for the joint distribution of the multiple outputs and potentially correlated firm random effects. We augment estimates from our semiparametric stochastic distance function with nonparametric distance function methods, using linear programming techniques, as well as with extended decomposition methods, based on the Malmquist index number. Both semi- and nonparametric methods indicate significant slack in resource utilization in the East European carriers relative to their Western counterparts, and limited convergence in efficiency or technical change between them. The implications are rather stark for the long run viability of the East European carriers in our sample.
Evolvable Hardware Control for Dynamic Reconfigurable and Adaptive Computing

Adaptive computing systems are often really only coefficiant adjustment systems. With the advent of ReConfigurable technology represented by FPGAs, architecturally adaptivity is now possible. Alternative structures can be dynamically changed to suit new operational needs. The step beyond that is the more demanding on-the-fly reconfigurability, which is now possible with partially reconfigurable FPGAs. These structures are amenable to the implementation of low level hardware based intelligent agent processing in the form of rule based or fuzzy logic hardware/software control. This is an enabling technology for evolvable hardware control through adaptive upgrading of the rule base or fuzzy logic constraints.
Ab Initio Models for Electron Tunnelling Between Transition Metal Complexes

Electron transfer matrix elements are calculated and analyzed for several pairs of transition metal complexes of the type ML6 2+-ML6 3+, chosen so as to allow a comparison of t2g(π) vs eg (σ) transfer (M = Fe, Co, and Ru), and NH3 vs H2O ligands, based on an apex-to-apex orientation of the reactant complexes. The magnitude of the calculated matrix elements, which span the range from non-adiabatic to strongly adiabatic coupling, are found to exhibit a pronounced dependence on transfer type (eg > t2g) and ligand type (NH3 > H2O), an effect which is correlated with the degree of mixing of the metal and ligand orbitals, using a simple LCAO-type analysis of the ab initio molecular orbitals.
Spiritually integrated psychotherapy : understanding and addressing the sacred

Part I: Introduction. A Rationale for a Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy. Part II: Understanding the Sacred. Spirituality: The Sacred Domain. Discovering the Sacred. Holding On to the Sacred. In Times of Stress: Spiritual Coping to Conserve the Sacred. In Times of Stress: Spiritual Coping to Transform the Sacred. Problems of Spiritual Destinations. Problems of Spiritual Pathways. Part III: Addressing the Sacred. An Orientation to Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy. Initial and Implicit Spiritual Assessment. Explicit Spiritual Assessment. Drawing on Spiritual Strivings, Knowledge, and Experience. Drawing on Spiritual Practices, Relationships, and Coping Methods. Addressing Problems of Spiritual Destinations. Addressing Problems of Spiritual Pathways. Part IV: Conclusions. Steps Toward a More Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy.
Lung Cancer: A Prospective Study of Smoking, Occupation, and Nutrient Intake

A cohort study of lung cancer was conducted among 7,961 Japanese-American men who were interviewed and examined during 1965-1968. Information was collected about their smoking history, occupation, and nutrient intake. After 22 y, 227 incident cases of lung cancer were identified. Cigarette smoking significantly increased lung cancer risk. The relative risk (RR) was 3.1 for past smokers and 11.4 for current smokers, compared with never smokers. We separated lung cancer cases according to histological type, and it was found that current smokers had a RRs of 16.0 for squamous/small-cell carcinoma and 6.8 for adenocarcinoma of the lung. Unskilled manual workers had a significantly higher risk (RR = 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.2) for lung cancer than workers who were engaged in nonmanual occupations. There was no association between lung cancer and the 24-h intake of total calories, protein, fat, dietary cholesterol, carbohydrates, and alcohol, but this may have resulted from the limitations of a 24-h dietary questionnaire.
Quantitative Determination of the Speciation of Surface Vanadium Oxides and Their Catalytic Activity

A quantitative method based on UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) was developed that allows determination of the fraction of monomeric and polymeric VO(x) species that are present in vanadate materials. This new quantitative method allows determination of the distribution of monomeric and polymeric surface VO(x) species present in dehydrated supported V(2)O(5)/SiO(2), V(2)O(5)/Al(2)O(3), and V(2)O(5)/ZrO(2) catalysts below monolayer surface coverage when V(2)O(5) nanoparticles are not present. Isolated surface VO(x) species are exclusively present at low surface vanadia coverage on all the dehydrated oxide supports. However, polymeric surface VO(x) species are also present on the dehydrated Al(2)O(3) and ZrO(2) supports at intermediate surface coverage and the polymeric chains are the dominant surface vanadia species at monolayer surface coverage. The propane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) turnover frequency (TOF) values are essentially indistinguishable for the isolated and polymeric surface VO(x) species on the same oxide support, and are also not affected by the Bronsted acidity or reducibility of the surface VO(x) species. The propane ODH TOF, however, varies by more than an order of magnitude with the specific oxide support (ZrO(2) > Al(2)O(3) >> SiO(2)) for both the isolated and polymeric surface VO(x) species. These new findings reveal that the support cation is a potent ligand that directly influences the reactivity of the bridging V-O-support bond, the catalytic active site, by controlling its basic character with the support electronegativity. These new fundamental insights about polymerization extent of surface vanadia species on SiO(2), Al(2)O(3), and ZrO(2) are also applicable to other supported vanadia catalysts (e.g., CeO(2), TiO(2), Nb(2)O(5)) as well as other supported metal oxide (e.g., CrO(3), MoO(3), WO(3)) catalyst systems.
Effect of the Herbicide Paraquat on the Decomposition of Wheat Straw

The effect 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipridinium dichloride (paraquat) has on wheat residue decomposition was investigated in laboratory studies. Field dried straw containing 0.30 % nitrogen and 42.9 % C was incubated in laboratory bioreactors for 8 weeks. Treatment combinations per gram of straw were control (no paraquat or spreader), 0.26, 2.6, and 26 ng paraquat, 0.7 nl Valent X-77, 0.26 ng paraquat plus spreader and 2.6 ng paraquat plus spreader. Decomposition was monitored by CO 2 production and dry weight changes. Neither paraquat nor its spreader, alone or in combination, were found to effect CO 2 production or dry weight loss. Paraquat should not increase the rate of wheat straw decomposition at field application rates.
Three-dimensional, wavefield imaging of broadband seismic array data

This paper describes an implementation of a three-component, three-dimensional plane wave migration method to image P-to-S converted waves that arrive following the direct P waves of teleseismic earthquakes. The programs described assume that the input data have been deconvolved to produce a set of vector impulse response functions with the initial P pulse centered at time 0. This method was implemented as three different application programs called pwstack, pwmig, and gridstacker. pwstack produces local-scale plane wave decompositions using the pseudostation concept. The output of pwstack is an estimate of the plane wave response over a grid of slowness vectors interpolated onto a regular grid in space. The Gaussian smoother that is used for the pseudostation method has the additional benefit of serving as a type of spatial antialiasing filter. The program called pwmig takes the output of pwstack and inverts the plane wave data for radial and transverse scattering potential using an inverse generalized Radon transform. Data can be back-projected using a conventional longitudinal, radial, transverse coordinate system or a novel depth-variable method that computes a transformation matrix linking each vector sample to an equivalent dipping-layer coordinate system at the corresponding scattering point. Because pwmig is a prestack method, a final program, gridstacker, is needed to stack data from multiple events that characterize real data. gridstacker is a general solution for stacking data with different grid geometries and variable data quality. Weighting functions can be defined externally by a user-supplied recipe or one can use a set of robust estimation methods coded in gridstacker. The programs are validated with simulation data produced by recently developed elastic finite-difference code and a model that simulates the edge of a subduction zone. Finally, I show an example of an application of these programs to image the western United States with the USArray.
Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia

Background Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for achalasia have been excellent, although the long-term durability of this operation remains to be established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of LHM. Methods A single-institution review of patients undergoing LHM between 1992 and 2003 with ≥5 years follow-up. Failure was defined as symptom recurrence requiring reoperation. Univariate and multiple regression analysis were performed to identify preoperative variables predictive of long-term success. Results A total of 46 patients underwent LHM with Toupet (n = 42) or Dor (n = 4) fundoplication. At a mean follow-up of 6.4 years, 37 (80%) patients remained free from failure. Mean time to symptom recurrence in those failing LHM was 21.3 months (range, 0.5–77). Causes of failure included nonfunctioning end-stage esophagus (n = 4), fibrotic narrowing at the gastroesophageal junction (n = 4), and tight wrap (n = 1). Univariate analysis identified high preoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), no prior therapy, short duration of symptoms, and absence of sigmoidal esophagus as predictors of long-term success (P ≤ .044 each). High LESP remained the only predictor of long-term durability in multiple regression analysis (P = .043). Reoperations included redo myotomy (n = 2), esophagectomy (n = 6), or both (n = 1). At final follow-up, 44 (96%) patients reported significant symptom improvement compared with pre-LHM severity. Conclusion LHM is associated with an 80% long-term success rate. Successful LHM may be predicted by high LESP, no prior therapy, short symptom duration, or absence of sigmoidal esophagus. In this series, failures of LHM underwent reoperation (redo myotomy or esophagectomy) with good results.