cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of an Agent-Based Visual Programming Tool for Elementary Ecosystem Science Learning

Computational thinking and scientific modeling are essential STEM education practices, and visual block-based programming interfaces offer new opportunities to make coding accessible in elementary school science. The EcoMOD research project blends computational modeling and ecosystem science learning through a 3D virtual forest ecosystem combined with a 2D visual block-based programming tool, for 3rd and 4th grade students (ages 8-10). During a 14-day curriculum, students explore an immersive virtual forest ecosystem, and program agent-based computational models of a beaver building a dam. As students run their program and watch their beaver agent go through the steps of building a dam, they observe the emergent outcomes as their programmed model impacts other elements of the ecosystem. The final curriculum was implemented with 7 teachers and approximately 150 students.A scaffolded coding interface provides domain-specific programming primitives, such as "move toward tree," "bite tree," and "pick up log." Conditional expressions include "if", "if/otherwise," and "repeat until," and can be nested. The interface provides a virtual 2D sandbox to test and edit programs, visual feedback during code execution, and debugging supports. Using design-based research methods, different sets of primitives and functionality were tested with students. Analysis of computational models constructed by students uses logfile data of programming activities over multiple class periods, as well as screen capture video of focus students. The poster will include design insights for the agent-based modeling language, including choices of primitives, conditionals, and scaffolding.
Functional and anatomical imaging in pediatric oncology: which is best for which tumors

Functional imaging techniques are playing an increasingly important role in the management of pediatric cancer. Technological advances have pushed the development of hybrid imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, PET/MR and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT. Together with an increasing need to identify surrogate biomarkers for response to novel therapies, the use of functional imaging techniques, which had been reserved primarily for lymphoma patients, is now being recognized as standard of care for the management of many other pediatric solid tumors. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent data describing the use of functional and metabolic imaging strategies for the staging and response assessment of common pediatric solid tumors, and to offer some guidance as to which techniques are most appropriate for which tumor types.
Blockchain in IoT: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Roadmap

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most promising technologies in the era of information technology. IoT enables ubiquitous data collections and network communications to bring significant and indispensable convenience and intelligence both to daily life and industrial operations. However, IoT is still confronting a number of challenges and manifesting a series of issues that need to be addressed urgently. Counterfeit hardware, software faults, security issues during communication, system management difficulties, and data privacy issues are significant issues for current IoT infrastructure. Meanwhile, blockchain, as an emerging information technology, has attracted huge public interest and has shown significant promise because of its decentralization, transparency, and security. The features of blockchain seem to be an ideal match for IoT, and by applying blockchain to an IoT environment, some of the aforementioned weaknesses can be addressed. This paper’s purpose is to introduce the use of blockchain in IoT applications. We present various challenges facing an IoT system and summarize the benefits of adopting blockchain into IoT infrastructure. We primarily focus on illustrating the blockchain applications in IoT with refined capabilities and enhanced security. To shed light on blockchain in IoT research, we also discuss limitations and future directions.
Age Distribution, Comorbidities and Risk Factors for Thrombosis in Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is an imprinting disorder caused by lack of expression of the paternally inherited 15q11.2–q13 chromosome region. The risk of death from obesity-related complications can worsen with age, but survival trends are improving. Comorbidities and their complications such as thrombosis or blood clots and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are uncommon but reported in PWS. Two phases of analyses were conducted in our study: unadjusted and adjusted frequency with odds ratios and a regression analysis of risk factors. Individuals with PWS or non-PWS controls with exogenous obesity were identified by specific International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 diagnostic codes reported on more than one occasion to confirm the diagnosis of PWS or exogenous obesity in available national health claims insurance datasets. The overall average age or average age per age interval (0–17 year, 18–64 year, and 65 year+) and gender distribution in each population were similar in 3136 patients with PWS and 3945 non-PWS controls for comparison purposes, with exogenous obesity identified from two insurance health claims dataset sources (i.e., commercial and Medicare advantage or Medicaid). For example, 65.1% of the 3136 patients with PWS were less than 18 years old (subadults), 33.2% were 18–64 years old (adults), and 1.7% were 65 years or older. After adjusting for comorbidities that were identified with diagnostic codes, we found that commercially insured PWS individuals across all age cohorts were 2.55 times more likely to experience pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) than for obese controls (p-value: 0.013; confidence interval (CI): 1.22–5.32). Medicaid-insured individuals across all age cohorts with PWS were 0.85 times more likely to experience PE or DVT than obese controls (p-value: 0.60; CI: 0.46–1.56), with no indicated age difference. Age and gender were statistically significant predictors of VTEs, and they were independent of insurance coverage. There was an increase in occurrence of thrombotic events across all age cohorts within the PWS patient population when compared with their obese counterparts, regardless of insurance type.
Perceived barriers to commuter and exercise bicycling in U.S. adults: the 2017 National Household Travel Survey

Abstract Introduction Bicycling is a type of physical activity associated with positive health outcomes, but many barriers exist to regular bicycling for recreation and transportation. The objective of this study was to describe self-reported barriers to bicycling overall, and by bicycling domain, among a national sample of persons aged 16 and above that reported bicycling outside in the past week. Methods This analysis, conducted in 2019, utilized data from the United States (US) Department of Transportation's 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). Weighted point estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for reported barriers to bicycling by category of bicyclist: exercise-exclusive, multi-use, and commuter. Results The final analytic sample was 18,189, representing approximately 7% of the US population (N = 20,911,680). Barriers that prevented bicycling more was reported by 37.9% of the US population of adult bicyclists (95% CI 37.2, 38.6). Barriers related to safety were more commonly reported (31.9% of total bicyclists), compared to barriers related to infrastructure (22.1% of total bicyclists). Safety-related barriers were more commonly reported among multi-use bicyclist (33.7% vs. 30.9% of exercise-exclusive). Commuter bicyclists reported infrastructure barriers the least (13.9% vs. 22.7% of exercise-exclusive). The most commonly reported single barrier to bicycling more, regardless of bicycling category, was heavy traffic (10.3% of total bicyclists), followed by no nearby paths or trails (7.6% of total bicyclists). Overall, distribution of individual barriers was similar across categories of bicyclists: exercise-exclusive, multi-use, and commuter. Conclusions Heavy traffic and lack of separated paths or trails were the most frequently identified barriers to bicycling more. Communities wishing to promote bicycling for transportation, recreation, or both should consider how traffic reduction strategies and changes in the built environment could make bicycling safer and more accessible.
Insulin-Containing Pancreatic Islet Cells in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

In 1976, in a letter to the editor of Lancet, Cox et al1 reported a study of the pancreas in 25 so-called cot deaths, infants who had died of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Those authors claimed that 9 of the 25 (36%) had islet cell hyperplasia and nesidioblastosis. They attributed those nine deaths to hypoglycemia secondary to pancreatic lesions. They defined nesidioblastosis as multifocal budding of endocrine cells from ductal or ductular epithelium, or interposition of endocrine cells in the midst of ductal or ductular epithelium, together with diffuse proliferation of single endocrine cells or small cell nests in the midst of parenchyma and apart from clearly defined islets. The conviction of these investigators was apparently supported, at least in part, by an earlier report that many SIDS victims have abnormally low levels of glucose in the vitreous humor.2
A cryogenic mixer receiver for submillimeter wavelengths

A low noise receiver for 350 GHz is described, using a Schottky diode mixer and FET amplifier operating at 20 K. Local oscillator power is provided by a frequency tripler., The best receiver temperature is 1050 K at 348 GHz. The same mixer design has been sucessfully scaled for room temperature operation at 530 GHz.
Propaganda and Protest in Autocracies

Does propaganda reduce the rate of popular protest in autocracies? To answer this question, we draw on an original dataset of state-run newspapers from thirty countries, encompassing six languages ...
Trends in unintentional polysubstance overdose deaths and individual and community correlates of polysubstance overdose, North Carolina, 2009-2018.

Abstract Background Polysubstance involvement is increasing among fatal drug overdoses. However, little is known about the epidemiology of polysubstance drug overdoses. This paper describes emerging trends in unintentional polysubstance overdose deaths in North Carolina (NC) and examines associations with individual and community factors. Methods Using 2009–2018 NC death certificate data, we identified unintentional drug overdose deaths and commonly involved substances (opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and antiepileptics). We examined polysubstance combinations, comparing opioid and non-opioid involved deaths. We examined individual level correlates from death certificate data and community level correlates from the American Community Survey and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings to quantify associations. Results From 2009–2018, 53 % of opioid and 19 % of non-opioid overdose deaths involved multiple substances. During this period, polysubstance overdose death increased dramatically, from 2.9 to 12.1 per 100,000 persons, with the greatest increases among drug combinations involving stimulants. The most common polysubstance combinations were: opioids and stimulants (12.1 % of overdose deaths); opioids and benzodiazepines (9.0 %); opioids and alcohol (5.1 %); opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines (3.1 %); and opioids, benzodiazepines, and antiepileptics (2.2 %). Compared to overdoses involving opioids alone, overdoses involving combinations of opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines involved younger individuals (53.7 % in 15−34 years of age vs. 40.7 %). Men comprised two-thirds of overdoses involving opioids alone, however, overdoses involving opioids, benzodiazepines, and antiepileptics were predominantly among women (60.6 %). Conclusions Polysubstance involvement has increased among overdose deaths in NC. These findings can be used to inform public health interventions addressing polysubstance deaths and associated individual and community level factors.
The Effects of L1 English Constraints on the Acquisition of the L2 Spanish Alveopalatal Nasal.

This study examines whether L1 English/L2 Spanish learners at different proficiency levels acquire a novel L2 phoneme, the Spanish palatal nasal /ɲ/. While alveolar /n/ is part of the Spanish and English inventories, /ɲ/, which consists of a tautosyllabic palatal nasal+glide element, is not. This crosslinguistic disparity presents potential difficulty for L1 English speakers due to L1 segmental and phonotactic constraints; the closest English approximation is the heterosyllabic sequence /nj/ (e.g., "canyon" /kaenjn/ ['khaen.jn], cf. Spanish canon "canyon" /kaɲon/ [ka.'ɲon]). With these crosslinguistic differences in mind, we ask: (1a) Do L1 English learners of L2 Spanish produce acoustically distinct Spanish /n/ and /ɲ/ and (1b) Does the distinction of /n/ and /ɲ/ vary by proficiency? In the case that learners distinguish /n/ and /ɲ/, the second question investigates the acoustic quality of /ɲ/ to determine (2a) if learners' L2 representation patterns with that of an L1 Spanish representation or if learners rely on an L1 representation (here, English /nj/) and (2b) if the acoustic quality of L2 Spanish /ɲ/ varies as a function of proficiency. Beginner (n = 9) and advanced (n = 8) L1 English/L2 Spanish speakers and a comparison group of 10 L1 Spanish/L2 English speakers completed delayed repetition tasks in which disyllabic nonce words were produced in a carrier phrase. English critical items contained an intervocalic heterosyllabic /nj/ sequence (e.g., ['phan.jə]); Spanish critical items consisted of items with either intervocalic onset /ɲ/ (e.g., ['xa.ɲa]) or /n/ ['xa.na]. We measured duration and formant contours of the following vocalic portion as acoustic indices of the /n/~/ɲ/ and /ɲ/ ~/nj/ distinctions. Results show that, while L2 Spanish learners produce an acoustically distinct /n/ ~ /ɲ/ contrast even at a low level of proficiency, the beginners produce an intermediate /ɲ/ that falls acoustically between their English /nj/ and the L1 Spanish /ɲ/ while the advanced learners' Spanish /ɲ/ and English /nj/ appear to be in the process of equivalence classification. We discuss these outcomes as they relate to the robustness of L1 phonological constraints in late L2 acquisition coupled with the role of perceptual cues, functional load, and questions of intelligibility.
Role of Gender in Improvement of Depressive Symptoms Among Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Procedures.

Objective There is a scarcity of research evaluating gender differences in depressive symptoms among patients undergoing cervical surgery. This study investigated gender differences with regard to depressive symptom severity, measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), in patients following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or artificial disc replacement (ADR). Methods A prospectively maintained surgical registry was retrospectively reviewed for eligible spine surgeries. Depressive symptom severity was evaluated by PHQ-9 at both preand postoperative timepoints (e.g. , 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years). A chi-square test and Student t-test evaluated differences between the gender for demographic and operative variables where appropriate. Differences between the gender subgroup mean PHQ-9 scores were assessed using a t-test pre- and postoperatively (e.g. , 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year) and a paired t-test was used to assess differences from preoperative scores at each postoperative time point. Results A total of 170 subjects underwent 125 ACDFs and 45 ADRs. Both pre- and postoperative timepoints demonstrated no significant differences between mean PHQ-9 scores by gender. Female patients demonstrated statistically significant improvement in PHQ-9 scores at 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, but not through 2 years. Male patients demonstrated statistically significant improvement in PHQ-9 scores at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Conclusion Although there were no significant differences between mean PHQ-9 score between the genders, there was a difference in magnitude of improvement. Females had a significant improvement in depressive symptom severity over baseline at the 6- and 12-week timepoints only, whereas males had significant improvement through 2 years postoperatively.
Targeting the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) in Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma: Clinical Trial Progress and Future Considerations

Landmark molecular profiling efforts have identified multiple targetable alterations in cholangiocarcinoma. Among the molecular-driven subsets of cholangiocarcinoma, targeting the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) has shown promise and represents the first targeted therapy to be approved in treatment-refractory, advanced cholangiocarcinoma. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the clinical development of FGFR inhibitors in advanced cholangiocarcinoma. We review the FGFR pathway and discuss emerging issues including resistance to FGFR inhibitors. We end with a discussion on future considerations to optimize the potential of this class of therapeutics in advanced cholangiocarcinoma.
Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles for bone regeneration therapy.

Abstract Purpose To analyze preclinical bone regeneration studies employing mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)- derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and highlight any commonalities in EV biomarker expression, miRNA cargo(s) or pathway activation that will aid in understanding the underlying therapeutic mechanisms. Methods Articles employing EVs derived from either MSCs or MSC-like osteogenic stromal cells in preclinical bone regeneration studies are included in this review. Results EVs derived from a variety of MSC types were able to successfully induce bone formation in preclinical models. Many studies failed to perform in-depth EV characterization. The studies with detailed EV characterization data report very different miRNA cargos, even in EVs isolated from the same species and cell types. Few preclinical studies have analyzed the underlying mechanisms of MSC-EV therapeutic action. Conclusion There is a critical need for mechanistic preclinical studies with thorough EV characterization to determine the best therapeutic MSC-EV source for bone regeneration therapies. Issues including controlled EV delivery, large scale production, and proper storage also need to be addressed before EV-based bone regeneration therapies can be translated for clinical bone repair.
Noninvasive, multimodal assessment of physiological responses to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Stimulating the vagus nerve is of great clinical interest, particularly transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a noninvasive method of applying current at the cymba conchae of the outer ear to target the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Recent efforts have shown therapeutic effects of taVNS on clinical populations, but the mechanism and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses are not well understood. The ANS maintains physiological homeostasis through control of internal organs, including the heart, blood vessels, and pupils. Instead of invasively accessing neural targets, standard clinical measures can record ANS-dependent signals. Twenty-one individuals were tested in four sessions over two weeks; taVNS was applied at the left ear while noninvasive sensors captured electrocardiography, blood pressure, breathing, electrodermal activity (EDA), and pupil diameter (PD). From raw vitals, heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate variability, EDA, and PD responses were derived and averaged across all participants. Summary statistics showed increased PD during the ramp up period of stimulation and increased variability in MAP and EDA during stimulation that persisted during recovery. These results suggest that transient PD responses could be candidate biomarkers taVNS optimization. Combining multimodal sensors and controlled autonomic testing may provide insight for objective evaluation of treatment efficacy or measurement of disease progression.
Dissection of the ATPase active site of McdA reveals the sequential steps essential for carboxysome distribution.

Carboxysomes are carbon-fixing bacterial organelles critical to the global carbon cycle. Carboxysomes are spatially organized in the cell by an ATPase called McdA that forms dynamic protein gradien...
Inhibitory proteins block substrate access by occupying the active site cleft of Bacillus subtilis intramembrane metalloprotease SpoIVFB

Intramembrane proteases function in numerous signaling pathways that impact health, but knowledge about regulation of intramembrane proteolysis is limited. We examined inhibition of intramembrane metalloprotease SpoIVFB by proteins BofA and SpoIVFA. We found that BofA residues in and near a predicted transmembrane segment are required for SpoIVFB inhibition, and cross-linking experiments indicated that this transmembrane segment occupies the SpoIVFB active site cleft. SpoIVFA is also required for SpoIVFB inhibition. The inhibitory proteins block access of the substrate N-terminal Proregion to the membrane-embedded SpoIVFB active site, based on additional cross-linking experiments; however, the inhibitory proteins did not prevent interaction between the substrate C-terminal region and the SpoIVFB soluble domain. A structural model was built of SpoIVFB in complex with BofA and parts of SpoIVFA and substrate, using partial homology and constraints from cross-linking and co-evolutionary analyses. The model predicts that conserved BofA residues interact to stabilize a transmembrane segment and a membrane-embedded C-terminal region. SpoIVFA is predicted to bridge the BofA C-terminal region and SpoIVFB, forming a membrane-embedded inhibition complex. Our results reveal a novel mechanism of intramembrane protease inhibition with clear implications for relief from inhibition in vivo and design of inhibitors as potential therapeutics.
Computational optimal transport for molecular spectra: The fully discrete case

The use of computational optimal transport is investigated as a tool for comparing two molecular spectra. Unlike other techniques for comparing molecular spectra in a pattern-recognition framework, transport distances simultaneously encode information about line positions and intensities. In addition, it is shown that transport distances are a useful alternative to Euclidean distances as Euclidean distances are based on line-by-line comparisons, while transport distances reflect broader features of molecular spectra and adequately compare spectra with different resolutions. This paper includes a tutorial on the use of optimal transport and investigates several well-chosen examples to illustrate the utility of computational optimal transport for comparing molecular spectra.
A new reduced parts on-line single-phase UPS system

This paper presents design considerations and performance analysis of a new reduced parts on-line single-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. The proposed new UPS system is based on the half-bridge topology. It employs only five IGBTs and one diode reducing the cost of the system compared to the conventional on-line UPS topology, while achieving excellent performance. The common neutral eliminates the need for an isolation transformer and makes the system cheaper and more compact. The proposed UPS system uses a step down battery charger avoiding the problems associated with the high battery voltage, such as: space, cost, reliability, and safety issues. It has sinusoidal input current with unity power factor and high quality output voltage even with nonlinear loads. Detailed circuit operation and analysis as well as simulation and experimental results are presented.
Power, Institutions, and Domestic Politics: Explaining Implementation Problems in Regional Integration Agreements in the Americas

Despite their severity, the implementation problems in regional integration agreements in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have received relatively limited scholarly attention. This paper seeks to address this gap in the literature on LAC regionalism analyzing original data on the implementation records of members of the four main blocs in the region. The empirical evidence presented here suggests that there are indeed important implementation gaps in the four organizations. To account for the existence of these outcomes, the chapter considers the plausibility of a number of hypotheses derived from International Relations theory. The analysis suggests that implementation problems in LAC trade blocs reflect three main problems: a leadership gap, given the unwillingness of powerful countries to act as focal points in the resolution of coordination and collaboration problems at the regional level; the inadequate design and limited legitimacy of regional institutions; and the strategic and domestic political calculations of national leaders.
Coordinated leading- and lagging-strand synthesis at the Escherichia coli DNA replication fork. IV. Reconstitution of an asymmetric, dimeric DNA polymerase III holoenzyme.

Individually purified subunits have been used to reconstitute the action of the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme (Pol III HE) at a replication fork formed in the presence of the primosome, the single-stranded DNA binding protein, and a tailed form II DNA template. Complete activity, indistinguishable from that of the intact DNA Pol III HE, could be reproduced with a combination of the DNA polymerase III core (Pol III core), the gamma.delta complex, and the beta subunit. Experiments where the Pol III core in reaction mixtures containing active replication forks was diluted suggested that the lagging-strand Pol III core remained associated continuously with the replication fork through multiple cycles of Okazaki fragment synthesis. Since the lagging-strand Pol III core must dissociate from the 3' end of the completed Okazaki fragment, this suggests that its association with the fork is via protein-protein interactions, lending credence to the idea that it forms a dimeric complex with the leading-strand Pol III core. An asymmetry in the action of the subunits was revealed under conditions (high ionic strength) that were presumably destabilizing to the integrity of the replication fork. Under these conditions, tau acted to stimulate DNA synthesis only when the primase was present (i.e. when lagging-strand DNA synthesis was ongoing). This stimulation was reflected by an inhibition of the formation of small Okazaki fragments, suggesting that, within the context of the model developed to account for the temporal order of steps during a cycle of Okazaki fragment synthesis, the presence of tau accelerated the transit of the lagging-strand Pol III core from the 3' end of the completed Okazaki fragment to the 3' end of the new primer.
Glycohemoglobin: a primary predictor of the development or reversal of complications of diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem worldwide with long-term micro- and macrovascular complications responsible for a majority of its morbidity and mortality. The development and progression of these complications relate strongly to glycemic control. Methods: We reviewed the literature extensively for studies that relate glycemic control to the development and progression of diabetic complications. We discuss the problems of standardizing glycohemoglobin measurements for monitoring diabetic therapy and also consider recently developed electrospray ionization mass spectrometry methods that have been considered as candidate reference methods for estimation of glycohemoglobin. Results: Several clinical trials and studies have clearly shown that improved glycemic control is strongly associated with decreased development and/or progression of complications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Irrespective of the methods used for estimating glycohemoglobin, these results underline the importance of glycohemoglobin for guiding therapy of diabetes mellitus. Recently developed candidate reference methods promise to yield greatly improved standardization for the measurement of glycohemoglobin. Conclusions: Glycohemoglobin measurement remains the optimal indicator of glycemic control in diabetic patients, but translation of findings from clinical trials to clinical practice worldwide demands consistent values across all assays. To ensure that the important prognostic information still applies to all diabetic patients with the application of the reference method(s), the hemoglobin A 1c values reported in the major clinical trials will have to be translated into statistically and computationally compatible values based on the new reference system(s).
Comparison of Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization for the Evaluation of MDM2 Amplification in Adipocytic Tumors.

Background Atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT-WDLPS) and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) are characterized cytogenetically by a 12q13–15 amplification involving the mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) oncogene. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is used frequently to detect this amplification and aid with the diagnosis of these entities, which is difficult by morphology alone. Recently, bright-field in situ hybridization techniques such as chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) have been introduced for the determination of MDM2 amplification status. Methods The present study compared the results of FISH and CISH for detecting MDM2 amplification in 41 cases of adipocytic tumors. Amplification was defined in both techniques as a MDM2/CEN12 ratio of 2 or greater. Results Eleven cases showed amplification with both FISH and CISH, and 26 cases showed no amplification with both methods. Two cases had discordant results between CISH and FISH, and two cases were not interpretable by CISH. Conclusion CISH is advantageous for allowing pathologists to evaluate the histologic and molecular alterations occurring simultaneously in a specimen. Moreover, CISH is found to be more cost- and time-efficient when used with automation, and the signals do not quench over time. CISH technique is a reliable alternative to FISH in the evaluation of adipocytic tumors for MDM2 amplification.
Solvent effects on the infrared frequency of the N-C band in isonitriles and the sign of ∂μt6r

Abstract Spectra in the N-C stretching region are recorded for t -butyl and p -tolyl isonitriles in the vapor phase and in solution in fourteen solvents. A number of solvents were found to shift the N-C band to frequencies higher than the vapor-phase value. Bands due to the N-C bond in co-ordinated isonitriles in molecules of the type Co(CO)(NO)(RNC) 2 in the same solvents are also reported. The N-C band shifts in solution correlate qualitatively with the theory of drickamer and co-workers and allow us to assign a negative sign to ∂μ ∂ r for the N-C stretching vibration. A band at frequencies considerably higher than the vapor phase value is found for solutions of isonitriles in hydrogen bonding solvents.
Measurement of composite creep

Methods are described for the viscoelastic characterization of composites and other materials by using either creep or stress-relaxation tests. Special attention is given to the specimen geometry suitable for these tests, the surface preparation, the devices for measuring strains, and the factors affecting the strain-gage performance. It is pointed out that, since the viscoelastic properties of fiber-reinforced composites strongly depend on temperature and other environmental conditions, and that physical aging effects are operative in composite viscoelastic behavior, any composite creep-test program should be designed to account for these effects. 13 refs.
Stability of a thin annular film in pressure-driven, low-Reynolds-number flow through a capillary

Experimental studies of low-Reynolds number, pressure-driven core–annular flow in a straight capillary tube are reported. The annular film is thin compared with the radius of the tube, and the viscosity of the film fluid is much larger than the viscosity of the core fluid. Photographs show that the film is unstable under all conditions investigated in the experiment. The film fluid collects in axisymmetric lobes that are spaced periodically along the capillary wall. The spacing of the lobes and their translational velocity correspond closely with the wavelength of the most unstable disturbance and phase velocity calculated from linear stability theory. Eventually, the continued growth of the lobes results in the formation of a fluid lens that breaks the inner core.
Turf Wars in Radiology: The Past, Present, and Future Importance of Training Standards in Imaging

Training standards for radiologists and other physicians who wish to perform and interpret imaging have been developed by many medical organizations. There is considerable overlap, and some are contradictory. In this article, the authors review some of the existing standards and proposals for new ones and discuss how they might affect the credentialing of physicians in the near future.
Distinct mechanisms mediating methamphetamine-induced neuronal apoptosis and dopamine terminal damage share the neuropeptide substance p in the striatum of mice.

Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive psychostimulant that induces damage to the dopamine terminals and the apoptosis of some neurons of the striatum. Our laboratory demonstrated using either a single bolus dose (30 mg/kg) or a binge (10 mg/kg 4× at 2-h intervals) of METH that pharmacological blockade of the substance P receptor (neurokinin-1) attenuates METH-induced damage to both the presynaptic dopamine terminals and the apoptosis of some neurons of the striatum. To determine the phenotype of striatal neuron ablated by METH, we combined TUNEL (Terminal Deoxyncleotidyl Transferase-Mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling) with immunofluorescence for selective markers of projection and interneurons. METH induces the loss of approximately 20% of the projection neurons. The cholinergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-parvalbumin interneurons sustain losses of 30% and 50%, respectively. The somatostatin/neuropeptide Y (NPY)/nitric oxide synthase (NOS) interneurons are not impacted by METH. To investigate the mechanism by which substance P mediates METH-induced damage in this part of the brain, we ablated the striatal interneurons that express the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) with the selective neurotoxin substance P-SAP. Ablation of the NK-1R-expressing interneurons prevented METH-induced apoptosis in the striatum but was without effect on depletion of dopamine terminal markers. We propose that substance P mediates the apoptosis of some striatal neurons via the intrastriatal activation of nitric oxide synthesis. In contrast, substance P may mediate damage of the dopamine terminals via an extrastriatal mechanism involving the substantia nigra and cortical glutamate release.
SERONEGATIVE JRA PATIENTS EXPRESS THE MAJOR RHEUMATOID FACTOR CROSS-REACTIVE IDIOTYPE

The majority of children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), are seronegative for rheumatoid factor (RF) by classical Fc binding assays, and are clinically separable fro ft RF+ adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The major RF cross-reactive idiotype (RCRI) defined by monoclonal IgM RFs is preferentially expressed as a dominant idiotype in most RF+ and some RF− RA adults. To determine whether the regulation of the dominant RF idiotype in RA adults is similar to RF− JRA patients, we examined sera from 31 individuals with JRA by ELISA, and in PWM induced plasma cells (PCs) from 8 of these patients by cystoplasmic indirect immunofluorescence. Sera from some RF JRA patients contain the major RCRI as previously demonstrated in RA adults. Most of the patients studied also express the major RCRI as a dominant idiotype among PWM PCs. Expression of the dominant RF idiotype is therefore similar in some JRA and adult RA patients.
The Effect of Laser Pulse Duration and Feed Rate on Pulsed Laser Polishing of Microfabricated Nickel Samples

The objective of this work was to improve our understanding of pulsed laser micropolishing (PLμP) by studying the effects of laser pulse length and feed rate (pulses per millimeter) on surface roughness. PLμP experiments were conducted with a multimode neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1064 nm wavelength) that was focused down to approximately 50 μm diameter and scanned over the stationary workpiece surface. Simulation results presented here and previous work suggest that longer laser pulses result in smoother surfaces. Results on microfabricated nickel samples using laser pulse durations of 300 ns and 650 ns test this hypothesis. Polishing with 300 ns and 650 ns pulse durations results in an average surface roughness of 66 nm and 47 nm, respectively; reductions of 30% and 50% compared with the original surface. Furthermore, PLμP is shown to introduce a minor artifact on the sample surface whose spatial frequency (1/mm) is directly related to the laser feed rate (pulses/mm).
Unfinished Business: The Persistence of Child Labor in the US

Among historians it has become customary to acknowledge that children have always worked. That is, before industrialization children worked, but their work was not deemed a social problem. With industrialization, however, child labor came to be condemned as morally repugnant, economically foolhardy, and socially destructive. Reform efforts were mobilized and, after protracted struggle, children were effectively dispelled from the mines, mills, and factories. Problem solved-or at least we wished to think so. Unfortunately, the US accommodation with child labor was incomplete, and so, child labor persists in pockets of American society. In recent years there has been a growing recognition that many children work, and do so at very young ages. Not only have children always worked, but they continue to do so today. This essay assesses residual child labor problems in the US today. It asks why, when the US made its accommodation to child labor in mines, mills, and factories, we failed to adequately address child labor in other sectors, thus paving the way for continued problems in agriculture, street trades, sweatshops, and elsewhere in our economy.
Rate and predictors of spontaneous resolution of prenatally diagnosed primary nonrefluxing megaureter.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed clinical and ultrasound predictors of the spontaneous resolution of prenatally diagnosed, primary nonrefluxing megaureter.Materials and Methods: Primary nonrefluxing megaureter was prenatally diagnosed in 54 neonates from 1993 to 1998, including 15 in whom it was bilateral (69 megaureters). Median followup period from birth to the last radiology examination was 25.8 months (range 2.3 to 72).Results: Of the patients 10 underwent surgical repair for severe hydroureteronephrosis, including decreasing renal function on diuretic renography in 1, and an episode of bilateral obstruction and acute renal failure in 1. Hydroureteronephrosis resolved in 39 cases (72%) and persisted in 5 at 30 to 72 months of followup. Laterality, gender and retrovesical ureteral diameter had no significant effect on the resolution rate (p >0.05). Mean initial ureteral diameter in patients with resolution was less than in those without resolution and in those who underwent surgery (0.8 versus 1.15 and 1.3...
A woman with unilateral eye pain and malaise.

A45-year-old woman came to the emergency department with pain in her left eye. She was flying home from a business trip when she experienced the onset of the pain, and it worsened during the next few hours. She described the pain as sharp, with the sensation of a foreign body, although she had not sustained any trauma. She said it “felt like sand” when she closed her eye, but she was also uncomfortable with her eye open. The woman was in good health generally, without known health problems. She said her travel had been difficult because she had a bout of the flu during the trip. She still had a sense of malaise and a frontal headache, especially on the left side; the headache seemed to improve somewhat with ibuprofen, but it never went away completely. She also reported having mild but constant nausea. Oral contraceptive pills were the only medication she was taking. Physical examination revealed an ambulatory woman in discomfort who was holding a moist washcloth against her eye. The eye itself appeared red, with mild swelling of the lid. She had profuse tearing. The patient’s vital signs were as follows: temperature, 38.0° centigrade orally; pulse, 108 beats per minute and regular; respirations, 16 per minute; and blood pressure, 138/88 mm Hg. What do you suspect?
The Appropriate Use and Misuse of Social Media in MFT Training Programs: Problems and Prevention

Directors of accredited marriage and family therapy programs were surveyed to determine what problems they had experienced resulting from student, faculty, and client misuse of social media. Approximately 40 % of the programs had encountered a problem resulting from student misuse of social media. The directors were also asked what efforts were made by their program and university to promote the appropriate use of social media, with programs assuming primary responsibility for addressing this issue. The study also assessed attitudes among directors regarding how to handle potential issues that may arise in training programs regarding the use of social media. Implications for training programs are provided.
Therapeutic options in androgen‐independent prostate cancer: building on docetaxel

Of men with metastatic prostate cancer who undergo androgen ablation, 70–80% respond rapidly to therapy, as manifested by a reduction in prostate cancer-related symptoms and declines in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Unfortunately, after a median of 18–24 months, nearly all patients with metastatic prostate cancer will progress to androgen independence. Until recently the standard of care for treating hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPCa) was the combination of mitoxantrone and prednisone, which palliated bone pain but did not extend survival. Two randomized trials with > 1700 patients showed for the first time a survival benefit for patients with HRPC treated with chemotherapy; when compared with mitoxantrone-based therapy, docetaxel based-therapy reduced the risk of death by 20–24%. Future trials in HRPC are attempting to improve the efficacy of docetaxel by incorporating new agents targeting angiogenesis, apoptosis, and signal transduction pathways; there is promising activity for these novel combinations in phase I and II studies. Concepts are also being refined about definitions of response and progressive disease, patient eligibility criteria, and the validity of surrogate markers of efficacy and survival, as shown by changes in PSA level.
Statistical Models for Analysing Time-to-occurrence Data in Radiobiology and Radiation Oncology

Two different methods for analysing late complications data are contrasted and compared. The two methods are the Cox Proportional Hazards model and the Mixture model. The potential limitations of both methods are described together with the circumstances in which one or the other of the methods is preferable. The results from the two methods of analysis will usually be qualitatively similar and frequently quantitatively similar. For extimating the ratio of parameters, such as the α/β ratio if the linear-quadratic model holds, the Cox model is the preferred method. For estimating the proportion with complications by a given follow-up time, the Mixture model is the preferred method. For data, such as from experimental animals, in which there is little censoring during the time period of interest, the Mixture model will usually be the better analysis. In contrast, for data, such as clinical data, in which there is a lot of censoring throughout the time period in which complications occur, the Cox model will ...
Deep Convective Systems Observed by A-Train in the Tropical Indo-Pacific Region Affected by the MJO

AbstractIn the Indo-Pacific region, mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occur in a pattern consistent with the eastward propagation of the large-scale convective envelope of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). MCSs are major contributors to the total precipitation. Over the open ocean they tend to be merged or connected systems, while over the Maritime Continent area they tend to be separated or discrete. Over all regions affected by the MJO, connected systems increase in frequency during the active phase of the MJO. Characteristics of each type of MCS (separated or connected) do not vary much over MJO-affected regions. However, separated and connected MCSs differ in structure from each other. Connected MCSs have a larger size and produce less but colder-topped anvil cloud. For both connected and separated MCSs, larger systems tend to have colder cloud tops and less warmer-topped anvil cloud. The maximum height of MCS precipitating cores varies only slightly, and the variation is related to sea surface t...
Review of "OS JCL, by Clary, Wayne", Mike Murach and Associates, Inc., 1980

One of the first tasks in training the new programmer has been to provide indoctrination to the system and that "key" language of job control (JCL). Even with many students given JCL at college, the organization re-trains for their specific system. The manuals for the IBM JCL have caused many trainees to wonder about programming. In looking at a variety of COBOL books, I stumbled over the Clary book and other Murach materials for the operating system area. Previously, I recommended some other materials to help students over that "JCL fright" but seldom did they feel comfortable with the reference.
Psychometric Scatter in Retarded, Autistic Preschoolers as Measured by the Cattell

To determine whether psychometric scatter is characteristic of the developmental profile of young autistic children, the performance of 38 autistic children, as measured by the Cattell, was compared with the performance of MA matched samples of normal, Down's Syndrome and non-Down's Syndrome children with mental retardation. Results indicated significantly more psychometric scatter in die autistic group than in the other groups. Similarly, 66% of the autistic-children vs 13, 26 and 32% of the normal, Down's and non-Down's samples, respectively, had significant scalier, Further analyses revealed that autistic children showed consistent relative strength in non-language and weakness in language.
Frequency response of laminated plates with material damping modeled by higher-order theory

An extended higher-order individual-layer theory is presented for determining the frequency response of laminated plates with material damping. This theory approximates the in-plane and thickness normal displacements by third and second order functions of each layer's thickness coordinates, respectively. The theory treats each layer separately and satisfies the displacement compatibility and stress equilibrium conditions along the interfaces between adjacent layers. In the present analysis, all materials are considered as viscoelastic with complex forms for moduli and Poisson's ratios. All plate edges are assumed to be simply supported without axial force. In the numerical results, parametric studies are shown for the effects of varying the material loss tangents and for unconstrained and constrained arrangements including a high-damping viscoelastic layer.
Review of the Oligocene (Orellan and Arikareean) genus Tenudomys Rensberger (Rodentia: Geomyoidea)

ABSTRACT Mookomys(?) bodei Wilson, from the Arikareean of California, is referred to the genus Tenudomys Rensberger, and two species previously referred only questionably to this genus, T. dakotensis (MacDonald) and T. basilaris Korth are definitely assigned to this genus, based on the association of upper and lower dental elements of T. bodei. At present it is impossible to assign Tenudomys to a recognized geomyoid family, but several cranial features ally it more closely to the Heteromyidae and Geomyidae than other geomyoids.