cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incremental Validity in the Clinical Assessment of Early Childhood Development.

The authors demonstrate the increment of clinical validity in early childhood assessment of physical impairment (PI), developmental delay (DD), and autism (AUT) using multiple standardized developmental screening measures such as performance measures and parent and teacher rating scales. Hierarchical regression and sensitivity/specificity analyses were used to identify the differential impact of each domain the scales measure. Significant findings include (a) self-help domains in either parent or teacher questionnaires are more significant contributors than social-emotional domains to early detection, (b) performance measures are stronger predictors than parent or teacher questionnaires in detecting physical impairment or developmental delay, and (c) parent questionnaires measuring self-help skills are a stronger predictor of autism than performance measures. These results support the combined use of parent and teacher rating scales and provide important implications in choosing instruments for different ...
Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of a superficially porous particle with unique, elongated pore channels normal to the surface☆

In recent years, superficially porous particles (SPPs) have drawn great interest because of their special particle characteristics and improvement in separation efficiency. Superficially porous particles are currently manufactured by adding silica nanoparticles onto solid cores using either a multistep multilayer process or one-step coacervation process. The pore size is mainly controlled by the size of the silica nanoparticles and the tortuous pore channel geometry is determined by how those nanoparticles randomly aggregate. Such tortuous pore structure is also similar to that of all totally porous particles used in HPLC today. In this article, we report on the development of a next generation superficially porous particle with a unique pore structure that includes a thinner shell thickness and ordered pore channels oriented normal to the particle surface. The method of making the new superficially porous particles is a process called pseudomorphic transformation (PMT), which is a form of micelle templating. Porosity is no longer controlled by randomly aggregated nanoparticles but rather by micelles that have an ordered liquid crystal structure. The new particle possesses many advantages such as a narrower particle size distribution, thinner porous layer with high surface area and, most importantly, highly ordered, non-tortuous pore channels oriented normal to the particle surface. This PMT process has been applied to make 1.8-5.1μm SPPs with pore size controlled around 75A and surface area around 100m(2)/g. All particles with different sizes show the same unique pore structure with tunable pore size and shell thickness. The impact of the novel pore structure on the performance of these particles is characterized by measuring van Deemter curves and constructing kinetic plots. Reduced plate heights as low as 1.0 have been achieved on conventional LC instruments. This indicates higher efficiency of such particles compared to conventional totally porous and superficially porous particles.
The Role of the Natural Family in Religious Opposition to Human Rights

This chapter examines how the vision of the natural family articulated by several prominent conservative religious organizations in the United States shapes their opposition to certain human rights instruments. The United Nations' 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child seems to reflect an advance in international human rights formulations and to have generated a high degree of formal commitment by governments, as evidenced by its quick and virtually universal ratification. However, the United States stands nearly alone in not having ratified the Convention, and the religious groups examined in this chapter strenuously urge that it should not do so, lest it undermine the natural family, motherhood, and parental and national sovereignty. On similar grounds, they support the United States's continuing failure to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Strikingly, these groups invoke the UN Declaration of Human Right's provision that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State to critique the Convention and CEDAW as anti-family and a threat to the natural family. This opposition is troubling if, as some have argued, one way to resolve the paradox that impressive declarations on paper of human rights coexist with gross violation in actual societies of human rights is to enlist the unique resources of religion to support a human rights culture. This chapter examines opposition expressed by Concerned Women for America, Family Research Council, the Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society, and the affiliated World Congress of Families. It also analyzes the recent document, The Natural Family: A Manifesto, co-authored by Dr. Allan Carlson of the Howard Center and the World Congress of Families, and Paul T. Mero, of the Sutherland Institute. The Manifesto is intended to provide a philosophical foundation for pro family efforts. The chapter concludes with some reflections on this defense of the natural family. It critically evaluates how such groups' opposition to these human rights instruments entails a conception of the proper place of men and women within families and society and a conviction that gender equality undermines families.
Ecological Observations on a Colony of Tadarida mexicana

While studying the ecology of vespertilionid cavern bats in south-central Kansas in 1952 and 1953, some data were gathered on the ecology of the Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida mexicana (Saussure). During the spring, summer, and fall, Merrihew Cave, a gypsum cavern located ¾ mile south and ⅛ mile west of the Barber and Comanche, Kansas, county lines in Woods County, Oklahoma, supports a large colony of these bats. I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Merrihew for giving me free access to the cavern and for other kindnesses. Population size .— These bats, which constitute the most northerly cavern population in the region, are absent throughout the winter and first appear in the cavern during the first week of April. The size of the population fluctuated considerably throughout the period of habitation. The following estimates are admittedly crude, but they give an idea of relative numbers present at various times. They are based on estimates of the total area occupied by clusters; a figure of one Tadarida per square inch was used: April 8, 1953, 500; April 9, 1,000; April 10, 200; April 11, none; April 13 to 20, 300; April 25, 5,000; May 22, 22,000; May 25, 52,000; June 10, over 100,000; July 3, 20,000; and July 17, 20,000. These figures indicate that the return of Tadarida to the cavern in the spring is gradual and that population movements to other localities occur during this time. In the early fall, the population again consisted of many individuals. On September 13, 1952, over 100,000 individuals were calculated, but this number had decreased substantially by October 2. The population gradually decreased after this until October 21 when there were about 500 Tadarida remaining. Approximately 5,000 individuals appeared during the …
Phenotype and Function of T Cells in HIV Disease

Phenotype refers to the unique collection of antigens expressed on the surface of a cell. For clinical and research purposes, phenotypic analyses on lymphocytes are typically done using flow cytometry on peripheral blood and can be done on lymphoid tissue. Flow cytometric measurements utilize monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against cell surface differentiation antigens to enumerate lymphocyte subsets that have distinct functional activities, lineages, and maturational states (Giorgi, 1992b; Giorgi et al., 1992). Major lymphocyte subtypes (CD4+ T, CD8+ T, natural killer, and B cells) as well as subsets of these populations can be discriminated.
Acquisitions, New Launches, and Adaptations: Women’s Magazines Enter the 1990s

By the end of the 1980s, several changes had occurred in the women’s magazine industry, but the structural continuity of these publications, with one exception, persisted. Transfers of ownership, new launches, demises, and changes in advertising practices occurred; video magazines appeared on cable television. But all except one of the modifications were rooted in the same cycle of publishing profit, advertising, and women’s role as primary purchasers that structures the women’s magazines studied here from the early 1980s.
In Vitro Detection of Hypoxia Using a Ratiometric Quantum Dot-Based Oxygen Sensor

A quantum-dot based ratiometric fluorescent oxygen probe for the detection of hypoxia in live cells is reported. The system is composed of a water-soluble near-infrared emissive quantum dot conjugated to perylene dye. The response to the oxygen concentration is investigated using enzymatic oxygen scavenging in water, while in vitro studies were performed with HeLa cells incubated under varying O2 levels. In both cases a significant enhancement in dye/QD emission intensity ratio was observed in the deoxygenated environment, demonstrating the possible use of this probe for cancer research.
B lymphocytes as direct antigen-presenting cells for anti-tumor DNA vaccines

// Viswa Teja Colluru 1,2 and Douglas G. McNeel 1,2 1 Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA 2 Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA Correspondence to: Douglas G. McNeel, email: // Keywords : DNA vaccine, B cells, dendritic cells, direct presentation, Immunology and Microbiology Section, Immune response, Immunity Received : July 26, 2016 Accepted : September 16, 2016 Published : September 21, 2016 Abstract In spite of remarkable preclinical efficacy, DNA vaccination has demonstrated low immunogenicity in humans. While efforts have focused on increasing cross-presentation of DNA-encoded antigens, efforts to increase DNA vaccine immunogenicity by targeting direct presentation have remained mostly unexplored. In these studies, we compared the ability of different APCs to present antigen to T cells after simple co-culture with plasmid DNA. We found that human primary peripheral B lymphocytes, and not monocytes or in vitro derived dendritic cells (DCs), were able to efficiently encode antigen mRNA and expand cognate tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells ex vivo . Similarly, murine B lymphocytes co-cultured with plasmid DNA, and not DCs, were able to prime antigen-specific T cells in vivo. Moreover, B lymphocyte-mediated presentation of plasmid antigen led to greater Th1-biased immunity and was sufficient to elicit an anti-tumor effect in vivo . Surprisingly, increasing plasmid presentation by B cells, and not cross presentation of peptides by DCs, further augmented traditional plasmid vaccination. Together, these data suggest that targeting plasmid DNA to B lymphocytes, for example through transfer of ex vivo plasmidloaded B cells, may be novel means to achieve greater T cell immunity from DNA vaccines.
Targeting Histone Deacetylase 6 and the Aggresome Pathway in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. Despite effective chemotherapy, 20% of patients will relapse. Therefore, it is critical that we identify novel therapies to treat ALL. We are studying a new small molecule compound known as tubacin (tubulin acetylation inducer) that selectively inhibits histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). HDAC6 binds to polyubiquitinated misfolded proteins and to dynein motor proteins, including alpha-tubulin, thereby recruiting misfolded or unwanted proteins to aggresomes and subsequent degradation by the lysosome. Tubacin was discovered through a chemical genetic screen of a 7,392 small molecule library and was found to induce acetylation of alpha-tubulin by inhibiting one of the two catalytic domains of HDAC6. This inhibition disrupts the interaction of HDAC6 with dynein resulting in marked accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Previous work demonstrated that treatment of multiple myeloma cells with tubacin inhibited growth at low micromolar concentrations. Tubacin does not appear to affect global histone acetylation, gene expression, or cell cycle regulation. To determine the effects of tubacin in human ALL cells, we treated both B- and T-cell ALL cell lines with varying concentrations of the drug and performed MTT assays. In T-ALL cells (Jurkat, Loucy), the IC50 of tubacin was found to be 1 to 3 uM, while in B-cell ALL cells (REH, Nalm-6), the IC50 was 2 to 5uM. Tubacin induced apoptosis of Jurkat and Loucy cells stained with Annexin V and propidium iodide. Within 12 hours, we observed increased protein polyubiquitination and PARP cleavage, but no difference in Rb phosphorylation in cells treated with tubacin. Furthermore, tubacin treatment increased acetylation of alpha-tubulin in Loucy and Jurkat cells within 3 hours. To study whether tubacin was toxic to normal hematopoietic cells, we treated human bone marrow cells cultured in methylcellulose containing IL-3, IL-6, and Stem Cell Factor with varying concentrations of tubacin. The IC50 of 20uM was determined from numbers of colonies plated in triplicate. Similarly, treatment of normal human lymphocytes cultured in IL-2, demonstrated an IC50 of 16uM. Finally, we examined the effects of tubacin on growth of primary ALL cells. Bone marrow cells from three patients with B-cell ALL at diagnosis were cultured in tubacin at varying concentrations and MTT assays were performed. In two of the three ALL samples, the IC50 was less than 5uM. Experiments to study the effects of tubacin in mouse models of leukemia are in progress. Our results suggest that inhibition of HDAC6 and the aggresome pathway provides a novel approach to treat ALL.
Loss of Syndecan-1 Abrogates the Pulmonary Protective Phenotype Induced by Plasma After Hemorrhagic Shock.

Syndecan-1 is considered a biomarker of injury to the endothelial glycocalyx following hemorrhagic shock, with shedding of sdc1 deleterious. Resuscitation with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) has been correlated with restitution of pulmonary sdc1 and reduction of lung injury, but the precise contribution of sdc1 to FFPs protection in the lung remains unclear. Human lung endothelial cells were used to assess the time and dose dependent effect of FFP on sdc1 expression and the effect of sdc1 silencing on in vitro endothelial cell permeability and actin stress fiber formation. Wild-type (WT) and syndecan-1−/− mice were subjected to hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation with lactated ringers (LR) or FFP and compared to shock alone and shams. Lungs were harvested after 3 hours for analysis of permeability, histology, and inflammation and for measurement of syndecan- 2 and 4 expression. In vitro, FFP enhanced pulmonary endothelial sdc1 expression in time- and dose-dependent manners and loss of sdc1 in pulmonary endothelial cells worsened permeability and stress fiber formation by FFP. Loss of sdc1 in vivo lead to equivalency between LR and FFP in restoring pulmonary injury, inflammation, and permeability after shock. Lastly, sdc1 −/− mice demonstrated a significant increase in pulmonary syndecan 4 expression after hemorrhagic shock and FFP based resuscitation. Taken together, our findings support a key role for sdc1 in modulating pulmonary protection by FFP after hemorrhagic shock. Our results also suggest that other members of the syndecan family may at least be contributing to FFP’s effects on the endothelium, an area that warrants further investigation.
Church or Factory: Radical Inclusivity and Vanguard Practice in 1960s New York

Art historians have often discussed Andy Warhol's Factory as a unique creative space in 1960s Manhattan. Similarly, scholars of dance and performance have provided valuable insight into the vanguard activities associated with the Judson Dance Theater located near Union Square. Few studies take time to compare these two places and consider their relationships to one another. This article looks at Warhol's Silver Factory and the performances that took place at Judson Memorial Church more or less simultaneously with a goal of identifying overlapping actors and establishing shared concerns and a sense of radical inclusivity that existed at both sites.
OMEGA- AND SIGMA+ ---> P GAMMA NONLEPTONIC WEAK DECAYS VIA CURRENT ALGEBRA, PARTIAL CONSERVATION OF AXIAL VECTOR CURRENT, AND THE QUARK MODEL

By employing the current-algebra---PCAC (partial conservation of axial-vector current) program at the hadron level, the three decays ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}, {\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}, \ensuremath{\Lambda}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ are reasonably described in terms of only one fitted $\frac{(\ensuremath{\Delta}I=\frac{1}{2})}{(\ensuremath{\Delta}I=\frac{3}{2})}$ parameter of expected small 6% magnitude. Other parameters needed in the analysis, the baryon octet and decuplet weak transitions $〈{B}^{\ensuremath{'}}|{\mathcal{H}}_{W}^{\mathrm{PC}}|B〉$, $〈D|{\mathcal{H}}_{W}^{\mathrm{PV}}|B〉$, and $〈D|{\mathcal{H}}_{W}^{\mathrm{PC}}|B〉$, are completely constrained from $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{B}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\pi}$ weak decays and independently from the quark model. The ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p\ensuremath{\gamma}$ radiative decay amplitude and asymmetry parameters are then determined in terms of no free parameters.
The postcranial skeleton of Yanoconodon allini from the Early Cretaceous of Hebei, China, and its implications for locomotor adaptation in eutriconodontan mammals

ABSTRACTA recent study hypothesized that Yanoconodon allini (Eutriconodonta: Jeholodentidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China was a terrestrial mammal capable of swimming. However, a detailed description and functional study of the postcranial skeleton of Yanoconodon have not yet been published. Here, we describe and analyze the functional morphology of its postcranial skeleton. Our analyses indicate that Yanoconodon has a combination of adaptive features for diverse locomotor modes. Its humerus has a spindle-shaped head, an indistinct neck, and a broad and shallow intertubercular groove, all of which resemble those of non-therian mammals and premammaliaform cynodonts. The lack of an enlarged olecranon process of the ulna and the lack of styloid processes at the distal ends of the radius and ulna would have limited the digging efficiency of Yanoconodon. The triangular scapula and the pivotal pectoral girdle of Yanoconodon resemble those in extant mammals with some climbing ...
Using a dose-volume feasibility search algorithm for radiation treatment planning

The widespread use of 3-D treatment planning has prompted the need for automated techniques to assist the treatment planner in selecting suitable plans. Approaches to treatment plan optimization are based on the presumption that a computer algorithm can rapidly search through the space of beam parameters to determine those parameters that yield the best treatment plan. Procedures for treatment plan optimization consist of two components. The first component is the definition of an objective function that quantifies the desirability of a treatment plan, while the second component consists of an algorithm that maximizes (or minimizes) the objective function. While the latter task is a relatively straightforward problem in mathematical optimization and is limited by execution time and computer memory, the more difficult task is that of defining the “best” treatment plan.
Neuroprotective Activities of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the neuroprotective activities of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in suppressing autoimmunity, controlling disease-initiating inflammatory responses, and maintaining immune homeostasis. After engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR) Tregs evolve from suppressor cells. They attenuate effector cell functions, such as those of B cells or T cells, and downregulate myeloid and antigen-presenting cell functions, including those of microglia. Tregs represent 5–10 percent of peripheral CD4+ T cells, and are widely recognized as capable of controlling innate immune reactivity and suppressing both CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cell responses to both self- and foreign antigens. Treg-imposed suppression is believed to be cell-contact dependent, mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and membrane-bound TGF-β, and cytokine-independent. These regulatory cells are phenotypically and functionally distinguished from naive effector CD4+ T cells by their expression of Foxp3 and CD25, diminished responsiveness to anti-CD3 stimulation, and ability to suppress effector T cell proliferation.
Functional brain connectivity and cortical thickness in relation to chronic pain in post-911 veterans and service members with mTBI.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Investigate the relation of chronic pain interference to functional connectivity (FC) of brain regions and to cortical thickness in post-911 Veterans and Service Members (SMs) w...
Architecture-transformable polymers: Reshaping the future of stimuli-responsive polymers

Abstract The field of stimuli-responsive, or smart polymers, has commanded significant interest over the past decade. However, most examples of stimuli-responsive polymers have relied on macroscopic changes that arise via simple alterations in chain conformation or changes in polymer-polymer or polymer-solvent interactions. In recent years, there has been an effort to expand the scope of modifiable variables to include the covalent architecture of a polymer through the use of reversible covalent bonds. Polymers capable of architectural transformation are those that can undergo changes in their chain topology (e.g., linear to branched, star to comb, etc.) via rearrangement in the chain structure. This approach has proven particularly interesting because it allows access to materials capable of dramatic macromolecular property changes that cannot be replicated by the more traditional approaches to responsive polymer systems, which often rely on solubility or swelling transitions in solution. This review aims to highlight the main synthetic strategies to architecture-transformable polymers, including dynamic-covalent and supramolecular chemistry approaches. In addition, the properties and applications of those smart polymers are highlighted. It is clear from recent research in this area that macromolecules capable of undergoing transformations in topology represent a paradigm shift in the field of stimuli-responsive materials.
Predictive Strengths of Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education Among Hispanic Children: A Gender-Based Approach

Purpose: Based on the self-determination theory, this study explored the predictive strengths and relative importance of basic psychological needs (BPNs; i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness...
Two-Level Charge and Discharge for Electric Vehicles Considering Wind Power Utilization

The optimal charge and discharge schedule of EVs is studied under distribution network considerring wind power. Markov decision process is adopted to model the randomness of supply and demand. Two-level scheduling model of electric vehicles with electric vehicle agents are adopted. The electric vehicle agents are responsible for collecting the real-time charging-discharging demand of electric vehicles in the region and reported to the upper dispatching center. The goal of the upper dispatching center considers the power losses in the distribution network, load variance and the matching degree between EV charging-discharging and wind energy. The goal of the lower agent considers the EV charging-discharging fees and EV charging battery losss costs. When deciding the optimal charging strategy, two-level Rollout methodis adopted considering the the effects on future decisions by the current decisions. Finally, the optimal results under four different strategies are simulated on the IEEE 30 nodes distribution network system.
Impact of Co-Morbidities on the Cost of Care in Primary Elective Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model is the newest iteration of the bundled payment methodology introduced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, while incentivizing providers to deliver care at a lower cost, does not incorporate any patient-level risk stratification. Our study evaluated the impact of specific medical co-morbidities on the cost of care in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 1258 Medicare patients who underwent primary elective TJA between January 2015 and July 2016 at a single institution. There were 488 males, 552 hips, and the mean age was 71 years. Cost data were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Co-morbidity information was obtained from a manual review of patient records. Fourteen co-morbidities were included in our final multiple linear regression models. Results The regression models significantly predicted cost variation (P Conclusion The cost of care in primary elective TJA increases with greater patient co-morbidity. Our data provide insight into the relative impact of specific medical conditions on cost of care and may be used in risk stratification in future reimbursement methodologies.
Estimating the Size Selectivity of Fishing Trawls for a Short-Lived Fish Species

Author(s): Mitchell, Lara; Newman, Ken; Baxter, Randall | Abstract: Long-term fish survey monitoring programs use a variety of fishing gears to catch fish, and the resulting catches are the basis for status and trends reports on the condition of different fish stocks. These catches can also be part of the data used to set stock assessment models, which establish harvest regulations, and to fit population dynamics models, which are used to analyze population viability. However, most fishing gears are size-selective, and fish size — among other possible covariates, such as environmental conditions — affects the probability that a fish will be caught in the path the gear sweeps. Failing to properly account for selectivity can adversely affect the ability to interpret and use status and trends measures, stock-assessment models, and population-dynamics models. Our side-by-side gear comparison study evaluated the selectivity of multiple open-water trawl surveys that have provided decades worth of information on the imperiled fish species Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus). We used data from the study to estimate gear selectivity curves for multiple trawls using two methods. The first method examines the total number of fish-at-length caught across all gears, and does not directly use or estimate fish length distribution in the population. The second method examines the total number of fish caught by each gear separately, and explicitly estimates fish length distribution in the population. The results from the two methods were similar, and we found that one trawl was highly efficient at catching larger Delta Smelt. This is the first formal multi-gear evaluation of how well survey gear used to monitor Delta Smelt in the San Francisco Estuary selects fish by size, and we plan to incorporate the results into Delta Smelt population models.
The ballistic impact characteristics of Kevlar® woven fabrics impregnated with a colloidal shear thickening fluid

This study reports the ballistic penetration performance of a composite material composed of woven Kevlar® fabric impregnated with a colloidal shear thickening fluid (silica particles (450 nm) dispersed in ethylene glycol). The impregnated Kevlar fabric yields a flexible, yet penetration resistant composite material. Fragment simulation projectile (FSP) ballistic penetration measurements at ∼244 m/s have been performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the novel composite material. The results demonstrate a significant enhancement in ballistic penetration resistance due to the addition of shear thickening fluid to the fabric, without any loss in material flexibility. Furthermore, under these ballistic test conditions, the impregnated fabric targets perform equivalently to neat fabric targets of equal areal density, while offering significantly less thickness and more material flexibility. The enhancement in ballistic performance is shown to be associated with the shear thickening response, and possible mechanisms of fabric-fluid interaction during ballistic impact are identified.
Diagnosis and Management of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that results in varying degrees of disability. Progressive multiple sclerosis, characterized by a steady increase in neurological disability independently of relapses, can occur from onset (primary progressive) or after a relapsing–remitting course (secondary progressive). As opposed to active inflammation seen in the relapsing–remitting phases of the disease, the gradual worsening of disability in progressive multiple sclerosis results from complex immune mechanisms and neurodegeneration. A few anti-inflammatory disease-modifying therapies with a modest but significant effect on measures of disease progression have been approved for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis. The treatment effect of anti-inflammatory agents is particularly observed in the subgroup of patients with younger age and evidence of disease activity. For this reason, a significant effort is underway to develop molecules with the potential to induce myelin repair or halt the degenerative process. Appropriate trial methodology and the development of clinically meaningful disability outcome measures along with imaging and biological biomarkers of progression have a significant impact on the ability to measure the efficacy of potential medications that may reverse disease progression. In this issue, we will review current evidence on the physiopathology, diagnosis, measurement of disability, and treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis.
A Peek Past the Vape Clouds: Vape Shop Decline in Long Beach, California during 2015-2018.

Objectives The current study adds to the literature on vape shops by evaluating vape shop growth in an urban community over a 3-year period, assessing similarities and differences across the vape shop context, and addressing whether socialization spaces within vape shops are associated with a vape shop's ultimate success - remaining operational. As e-cigarette/vaping use enters its second decade in the US market, its regulation and status as a novel form of substance use is evolving; accordingly, it is unknown whether the presence of vape shops has changed as well. Methods In this study, we tracked and observed 19 vape shops over a 3-year period in Long Beach, California. Results Vape shop presence declined by 53% between September 2015 and September 2018. A comparison of vape shops remaining open versus those closing in the 3-year period indicated that shops with designated socialization spaces (lounges/tasting bars) were more likely to remain operational. Conclusions The substantial decline in vape shop presence in this community may reflect an entrepreneurial response to increased regulation, as well as a dynamic market for e-cigarette/vape products. Findings suggest vape users support Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) retailers that promote community-building or recreational activity.
Synchronized Time Profile Similarity in Applications to Nearest Neighbor Classification

One of the existing approaches to time series classification exploits the time profiles using the original data with synchronization instead of model-implied data. Synchronization aligns inter-individual data from different time points to account for potential phase offsets and nonstationarity in the data. Such synchronization has been applied in psychology: For example, coordinated motion between two individuals exchanging information was used as a predictor and outcome of psychological processes. Synchronization also affords better classification outcomes, as discussed in the data mining community, through aligning the data to reveal the maximally shared profile underlying two compared data sequences. For inter-individual comparison of univariate time series data, existing similarity indices include Euclidean distances and squared correlations. For synchronization, we introduce dynamic time warping and window-crossed lagging. The current study compares the Euclidean distance and the squared correlation before and after synchronization using window-crossed lagging and dynamic time warping in applications to one-nearest-neighbor classification tasks. Discussion, limitations, and future directions are provided.
Explaining AI for Malware Detection: Analysis of Mechanisms of MalConv

In recent years, machine learning has been used in a very wide variety of applications and malware detection is no exception. Because of its fast and widespread adaptation to various diverse fields, machine learning can, and often is, treated as a black box. The disadvantage of doing so is that the decisions can often be difficult to interpret which can be especially challenging in the field of malware detection. Training deep neural networks also requires a vast amount of data from all classes which can be quite challenging in the field of proprietary software, specially for smaller research labs. In this paper, we introduce a framework which interpolates between samples of different classes at different layers to see how a deep network architecture generalizes to samples that are not in the training set, explaining the results of deep networks in real-world testing. Using this framework, we attempt to demystify the mechanisms behind the MalConv architecture [1] by analyzing the weights and gradients of multiple layers in its architecture and decipher what the architecture learns by analyzing raw bytes from the binary. For this architecture, our analysis shows that the network assigns much higher weights to specific portions of the executable Indicating that these portions contribute significantly more to the classification than other portions of the executable. Through the proposed framework, we can explain the mechanisms behind machine learning algorithms and explain their decisions better. In addition, the analyses will allow us to look inside existing networks without training them from scratch.
Nucleophilic Transformations of Lewis Acid-Activated Disubstituted Epoxides with Catalyst-Controlled Regioselectivity

Due to their inherent ring strain and electrophilicity, epoxides are highly attractive building blocks for fundamental organic reactions. However, controlling the regioselectivity of disubstituted ...
Autonomous Navigation of Relativistic Spacecraft in Interstellar Space

This paper introduces a general autonomous navigation method for any spacecraft for which relativistic effects are significant. It builds on a relativistic observation model and represents the foun...
An interdisciplinary approach to enhancing health knowledge and cultural awareness with LGBT older adults

A collaboration between social work and nursing faculty created a curriculum to improve cultural awareness and knowledge of LGBT older population’s health and quality of life. Social work and nursi...
High speed wide-field mid-infrared photothermal imaging by a single-pixel pump-probe camera

Mid-infrared photothermal (MIP) microscopy overcomes the resolution and huge water background limits in conventional mid-infrared imaging by probing the mid-infrared absorption induced photothermal effect. However, to detect the subtle MIP signal, large probe power and lock-in detection are needed, which limit the imaging speed of current MIP systems. To overcome this limitation, we develop a single-pixel pump-probe camera that leverages the large well-depth capacity of photodiode to achieve high-speed wide-field MIP imaging. With compressive sensing applied, close to video-rate MIP imaging can be achieved, offering a powerful label-free chemical imaging tool to scrutinize the complex biological systems.
Point-of-Care Research: Retrospective Analysis of Cases of Tendon Pathology in Athletic Training Clinics

Tendon pathology has been studied across healthcare professions but remains poorly understood. Imaging and clinical findings have been used to diagnose tendon pathology, but these findings are discrepant. It is vital that clinicians use sound clinical judgment to determine the most accurate clinical diagnosis and treatment options given documented clinical findings. The purposes of this study were to assess athletic trainers’: 1) documented clinical findings for patients presenting with tendon pain, 2) use of documented findings to inform clinical diagnosis of tendon pathology, and 3) change in tendon pathology classification when presented with a novel diagnostic term. A total of 430 patients (20.70 ± 7.35y) from a multisite research database were included in the study. Pain at the site of injury was documented in 95.8% of cases (n = 412). Pain during exercise that changed activity (n = 274, 63.7%), and an identified tender point (n = 259, 60.2%) were also present in almost two-thirds of cases. Of the patients diagnosed with tendinitis, 35.0% had pain as the only documented inflammatory sign. Of the initial set of clinical diagnosis options, tendinopathy was the most commonly (n = 290, 67.4%) selected. There was a 46.0% and 15.0% decrease in the number of tendinopathy and tendinitis diagnoses, respectively, when ‘tendinalgia’ was an option as a diagnostic classification term. There does not appear to be adequate clinical evidence to label tendon pathology as either inflammatory or degenerative. Furthermore, clinicians either appear to be: 1) relying on few symptoms to identify a diagnosis or 2) not at first fully considering all clinical findings when diagnosing a patient. According to these findings, tendinalgia seems to be the most appropriate term to describe tendon pain, to help clinicians understand tendon pathology as a pain condition rather than as inflammatory or degenerative.
Stratégies de contrôle d'erreur en calcul de structures industrielles. Mise en oeuvre d'estimation d'erreur en quantité d'intérêt et d'adaptation de maillage.

Pour les problemes lineaires, differentes demarches existent pour estimer la qualite de la solution elements finis. Elles conduisent generalement a l'estimation d'une norme de l'erreur globale. Mais le choix d'une precision globale fondee sur une norme du deplacement est souvent delicat car il n'y a pas de lien direct quantitatif avec une erreur sur des quantites mecaniques locales (appelees quantites d'interet) ayant un interet pour l'ingenieur. L'objectif de ce travail est de developper et de mettre en oeuvre dans Code_Aster une methode d'estimation d'erreur en quantite d'interet pour le calcul de structures industrielles. Une etude bibliographique a permis de situer l'etat de l'art et de faire le point sur les methodes d'estimation d'erreur globale et locale et sur les techniques d'adaptation de maillages afin de determiner celles qui sont les plus adaptees pour le calcul de structures en milieu industriel. Ensuite, une comparaison a ete faite afin de determiner la pertinence de l'utilisation de l'erreur en quantite d'interet dans un processus adaptatif par rapport a l'utilisation de l'erreur en norme de l'energie, d'un raffinement uniforme ou d'un raffinement local dans la zone d'interet. L'etude a montre que l'utilisation de l'erreur en quantites d'interet est la strategie qui permet toujours d'obtenir la meilleure precision pour un nombre d'elements donne : cette strategie est la plus pertinente dans un contexte de calcul de structures industrielles. Compte tenu des resultats precedents, une methode d'estimation d'erreur en quantite d'interet a ete developpee et implementee dans Code_Aster. Elle est basee sur la relation fondamentale de l'erreur en quantite d'interet et sur un estimateur d'erreur globale en norme de l'energie de type residus explicites. Cet estimateur ne permettant pas d'acceder a des bornes de l'erreur mais a une valeur approchee, il s'apparente donc a un indicateur d'erreur. Pour realiser cette estimation, la resolution d'un probleme dual est necessaire. Les chargements de ce probleme, particulier pour chaque quantite d'interet consideree, sont fournis pour de nombreuses quantites d'interet (notamment pour la contrainte de Von Mises). Le calcul final de l'erreur en quantite d'interet, a partir du calcul primal et du calcul dual est automatique. Une quantite d'interet pour l'estimation de l'erreur sur les facteurs d'intensite des contraintes a egalement ete developpee en 2D et 3D. Des exemples numeriques ont montre le bon comportement de cet indicateur pour guider un processus d'adaptation de maillage pour les differentes quantites d'interet. Enfin, la strategie de controle d'erreur developpee a ete utilisee, avec Code_Aster, dans le cadre d'etudes de structures industrielles. Deux etudes effectuees au departement AMA, a EDF R&D sont presentees. La premiere consiste a etudier la contrainte de Von Mises dans un rotor HP, la seconde s'interesse a la contrainte verticale dans les goujons d'un assemblage boulonne.
H ∞ suboptimal controller design via transfer recovery

An approach based on observer theory to obtain H∞ suboptimal controllers is presented in this paper. An H∞/LTR output feedback design procedure is shown to consist of one H∞ state feedback design and one frequency-shaped state estimator design.
The Enzymatic Synthesis of Wax in Liver

Abstract An enzyme system present in both mammalian and dogfish liver was found to catalyze the conversion of cetyl alcohol to wax. The product was isolated by column chromatography and repeated thin layer chromatography. It was identified by thin layer chromatography, by analysis of the hydrolysis products, and by gas chromatography. Microsomal and supernatant fractions of liver were active. Synthesis was stimulated by detergents such as Triton X-100, Tween 20, and bile salts. Wax formation occurred without activation, i.e. formation of acyl coenzyme A. With an enzyme preparation from which lipids had been substantially removed wax synthesis required both long chain fatty acids and cetyl alcohol. It is postulated that the synthesis of waxes from long chain alcohols and fatty acids without activation is possible in an environment from which water is essentially excluded and can be envisioned as resulting from the interaction of two nonpolar compounds and an enzyme in a micellar state.
Exploring convergence of science ideas through collaborative concept mapping

This exploratory study examined how groups of sixth grade students worked together to create a collaborative concept map. We selected two contrasting cases based on their initial maps, one heterogeneous group with divergent maps and one homogeneous group with convergent maps. We analyzed group dialogue and collaborative and individual concept maps to understand: 1) if convergence of science ideas occurs during collaborative concept mapping and 2) how convergence or divergence during collaboration influences individual map construction. We found that collaborative concept maps facilitated greater convergence of ideas in groups with initially divergent pre individual maps. Further, the negotiation of divergent science ideas during collaboration led to gains in individual students' science understanding. Implications of findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Testicular Interposition Flap for Repair of Perineal Urinary Fistulae: A Novel Surgical Technique

Rectourinary fistulae and urinary-cutaneous fistulae are a rare yet devastating complication. Current options for tissue interposition include rectus, gracilis, or gluteal muscle, omentum, or intestine for use in coloanal pull-through procedures. In elderly patients, testicular interposition flaps may be an excellent tissue option to use when vitalized tissue is necessary to supplement fistula repair. Elderly patients frequently have increased spermatic cord length, potentially offering a longer flap reach than use of a muscle flap. Additionally, mobilizing one of the testicles and developing it through the external inguinal ring may be a less morbid and less costly procedure than harvesting and tunneling a muscle flap. Longer follow-up and further studies are needed to determine the outcomes of this novel technique.
Determination of HER2 amplification status in breast cancer cells using Raman spectroscopy

The overexpression of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) in breast cancer is associated with increased disease recurrence and worse prognosis. Current diagnosis of HER2 positive breast cancer is time consuming with an estimated 20% inaccuracy. Raman spectroscopy is a proven method for pathological diagnosis based on the molecular composition of tissues. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of Raman spectroscopy to differentially identify the amplification of HER2 in cells. Three cell lines including BT474 (HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cell), MCF-10A (human breast epithelial cell), and MCF-10A with overexpressing HER2, were investigated using a bench top confocal Raman system. A diagnostic algorithm based on generalized linear model (GLM) with elastic-net penalties was established to discriminate 318 spectra collected from the cells, and to identify the spectra regions that differentiate the cell lines. The algorithm was able to differentially identify BT474 breast cancer cells with an overall sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99%. The results demonstrate the capability of Raman spectroscopy to determine HER2 status in cells. Raman spectroscopy shows promise for application in the diagnosis of HER2 positive breast cancer in clinical practice.
College-mentored polymer/materials science modules for middle and high school students

Polymers are materials with vast environmental and economic ramifications, yet are generally not discussed in secondary education science curricula. We describe a program in which college mentors develop and implement hands-on, polymer-related experiments to supplement a standard, state regents-prescribed high school chemistry course, as well as a middle school elective course on polymers. Interactive experimentation and feedback-oriented design are highlighted as critical elements to the success of the program. The experiments have been executed in two vastly different institutions: a New York City magnet high school for underprivileged females, and a private middle school for privileged male and female students; the similarities and differences are juxtaposed.
Characterization of insulin binding to skeletal muscle sarcolemma during the development of diabetes

The aim of the present study was to characterize insulin binding to isolated skeletal muscle sarcolemma during the development of experimental diabetes. Experimental diabetes with a persistent hyperglycemia of 363 ± 23 mg glucose/dl was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg body weight). Insulin binding to skeletal muscle sarcolemma was measured in control, 6-day, and 18-day diabetic rats, the latter group of which demonstrated signs of peripheral diabetic neuropathy and muscle wasting. Analysis of the binding data in an insulin concentration range of 7.5 × 10−12to 10−8m yielded curvilinear Scatchard plots. After 18 days, insulin binding increased in diabetic sarcolemma from 0.025 to 0.048 pmol/mg with no change in the dissociation constant (KD = 1.69 × 10−10m) of the high-affinity segment of the Scatchard plots. Insulin binding was antagonized by insulin analogs in proportion to their biological potency (proinsulin > desoctapeptide ⪢ glucagon).
Biologic brachytherapy: Ex vivo transduction of microvascular beds for efficient, targeted gene therapy

Background:Gene therapy for cancer holds enormous therapeutic promise, but its clinical application has been limited by the inability to achieve targeted, high-level transgene expression with limited systemic toxicity. The authors have developed a novel method for delivering genes to microvascular f