cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increasing Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Youth: Twenty years of the Philadelphia Pediatric Diabetes Registry

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children in Philadelphia from 2000–2004, compare the epidemiology to the previous three cohorts in the Philadelphia Pediatric Diabetes Registry, and, for the first time, describe the incidence of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Diabetes cases were obtained through a retrospective population-based registry. Hospital inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed for cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004. The secondary source of validation was the School District of Philadelphia. Time series analysis was used to evaluate the changing pattern of incidence over the 20-year period. RESULTS The overall age-adjusted incidence rate in 2000–2004 of 17.0 per 100,000 per year was significantly higher than that of previous cohorts, with an average yearly increase of 1.5% and an average 5-year cohort increase of 7.8% ( P = 0.025). The incidence in white children (19.2 per 100,000 per year) was 48% higher than in the previous cohort. Children aged 0–4 years had a 70% higher incidence (12.2 per 100,000 per year) than the original cohort; this increase was most marked in young black children. The overall age-adjusted incidence of type 2 diabetes was 5.8 per 100,000 per year and was significantly higher in black children. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of type 1 diabetes is rising among children in Philadelphia. The incidence rate has increased by 29% since the 1985–1989 cohort. The most marked increases were among white children ages 10–14 years and black children ages 0–4 years. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is 18 times higher than that of type 2 in white children but only 1.6 times higher in black children.
The dimensions of teacher credibility

A factor analysis investigation was conducted to determine the dimensions of teacher credibility, to assess their stability over time during a school term, and to develop appropriate instruments for measuring these dimensions. The most certain conclusion from this research is that the traditional categories of source credibility should not be employed to delineate experimental treatments or to construct instruments for measuring teacher credibility. The findings indicate a lack of stability in the factor structure of teacher credibility. Judgments about the task‐related skills of the teacher appear to be more important near the beginning of a course; student concerns with the teacher's personality emerge as most significant near the end of a course.
The Skp1 Prolyl Hydroxylase from Dictyostelium Is Related to the Hypoxia-inducible Factor-α Class of Animal Prolyl 4-Hydroxylases

Abstract Skp1 is a cytoplasmic and nuclear protein of eukaryotes best known as an adaptor in SCF ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligases. In Dictyostelium, Skp1 is subject to 4-hydroxylation at Pro143 and subsequent O-glycosylation by α-linked GlcNAc and other sugars. Soluble cytosolic extracts have Skp1 prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H) activity, which can be measured based on hydroxylation-dependent transfer of [3H]GlcNAc to recombinant Skp1 by recombinant (Skp1-protein)-hydroxyproline α-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminyltransferase. The Dictyostelium Skp1 P4H gene (phyA) was predicted using a bioinformatics approach, and the expected enzyme activity was confirmed by expression of phyA cDNA in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzyme (P4H1) was dependent on physiological concentrations of O2, α-ketoglutarate, and ascorbate and was inhibited by CoCl2, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetate, as observed for known animal cytoplasmic P4Hs of the hypoxia-inducible factor-α (HIFα) class. Overexpression of phyA cDNA in Dictyostelium yielded increased enzyme activity in a soluble cytosolic extract. Disruption of the phyA locus by homologous recombination resulted in loss of detectable activity in extracts and blocked hydroxylation-dependent glycosylation of Skp1 based on molecular weight analysis by SDS-PAGE, demonstrating a requirement for P4H1 in vivo. The sequence and functional similarities of P4H1 to animal HIFα-type P4Hs suggest that hydroxylation of Skp1 may, like that of animal HIFα, be regulated by availability of O2, α-ketoglutarate, and ascorbate, which might exert novel control over Skp1 glycosylation.
LIMB LENGTH DISCREPANCY

The surgical management of LLD has gradually evolved from a time when patients were bedridden in traction for prolong periods of time to the point at which much of the treatment time is spent in mobility. Improved surgical techniques, such as percutaneous epiphysiodesis and distraction osteogenesis, have contributed greatly to the success of surgery for LLD. Factors affecting outcome and patient satisfaction must be weighed carefully before selecting treatment for LLD.
Vegetation analysis, primary production and selected nutrient budgets for a southern Appalachian oak forest: A synthesis of IBP studies at Coweeta

Monk, C.D. and Day, P.P., Jr., 1985. Vegetation analysis, primary production and selected nutrient budgets for a southern Appalachian oak forest: a synthesis of IBP studies at Coweeta. For. Ecol. Manage., 10: 87—113. The vegetation of lower slope (700—1000 m) positions in the southern Appalachians is dominated by several species of oaks. Based on basal area these forests have attained pre-chestnut blight levels; however, when age structures are examined one still finds evidence of disturbance (chestnut blight, logging and drought) in the form of the more individuals that became established between 1918—1938. The forests are composed of about 40 tree species whose spatial distribution patterns on the slopes seem to follow complex topographic moisture gradients. A group of mesic species (tulip poplar, yellow birch, hemlock, witch hazel, dogwood and rhododendron) are positively correlated with distance from the water divide and aspect, and are negatively correlated with distance from the stream channel and elevation. A second group of more xeric species (chestnut oak, scarlet oak, mountain laurel, sourwood, red maple, black gum and pignut hickory) are positively correlated with distance from the stream channel and elevation, and are negatively correlated with distance from the water divide. Total standing crop of biomass was estimated to be 191,332 kgha~' (roots 27%, stems 70%, leaves 3%). Even though these are considered to be deciduous forests, evergreen species contribute 30—35% to leaf biomass. Root biomass is equally divided between roots 2.5 cm diameter (24,216 kg ha~'). Ninety-five of the roots are in the upper 60 cm of soil. Total NPP was estimated at 14,754 kgha~'year~' (6000 kg roots, 4195 kg leaves, 2907 kg wood, 680 kg bark, 424 kg reproductive tissue, 365 kg loss to consumers, 184 kg twigs) or 7.7% of the total standing crop. From a mineral cycling point of view some tree species are more important than one would predict based purely on density. There are several reasons: (1) higher nutrient concentrations in certain tissues of some species; (2) proportion of nutrient rich tissues varies with species', and (3) during any one year allocation of NPP to various tissues varies with species.
“Everybody Makes Choices” Victim Advocates and the Social Construction of Battered Women's Victimization and Agency

Semistructured interviews with 32 domestic violence victim advocates illuminate how advocates explain "battered women who stay." The interviews show that this behavior is a source of great frustration for advocates, who struggle to simultaneously conceive of battered women as victims trapped by social, psychological, and interactional forces and as agents whose choices must be respected. The authors argue that their organizational subculture and the culture of individualism in the contemporary United States do not provide the ideological and linguistic resources necessary for managing this dilemma. This results in a tendency to overemphasize battered women's choice and thereby diminish the constraints they face.
Legal Treatment of the Victim-Offender Relationship in Crimes of Violence:

Prior theory and research indicate that the victim-offender relationship is an important factor in determining how an offender is treated at various stages of the criminal justice system, with stranger offenders faring worse than nonstranger offenders in all stages of legal processing. This study investigates whether the victim-offender relationship plays a role in determining the original charge, the crime conviction, and the sentence length of inmates in prison for violent crimes. Data consist of interview and official record information of 273 sentenced and incarcerated violent male offenders. The results indicate that the victim-offender relationship is related to the legal processing, but in paradoxical ways. Thus, although nonstranger offenders are charged with and convicted of more serious crimes, stranger offenders receive significantly longer sentences. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Measuring Political Culture in Multiethnic Societies: Reaggregating the World Values Survey

Comparative studies of mass political culture based on surveys, such as the World Values Survey (WVS), typically leap to using aggregate-level statistics for the entire population. No previous anal...
What shy individuals do to cope with their shyness: a content analysis and evaluation of self-selected coping strategies.

A content analysis of the written responses of 158 shy individuals was performed to investigate the nature of the self-selected strategies they reported using to deal with their shyness. Th e classifi cation, along with the frequency of their use, of the self-selected strategies by four raters identifi ed 10 separate categories, with the top fi ve labeled forced extraversion (65%), cognitively induced self-re assurance (26%), educational extraversion (15.2%), sought professional help (14.6%), and alcohol-assisted extraversion (12.7%). An evaluation of the self-selected strategies indicated that they were associated with characteristic features that were incomplete, self-defeating, and/or poten- tially dangerous (e.g., self-medication). Suggestions as to how shy individuals might improve the eff ectiveness of these self-selected strategies for dealing with their shyness and the therapeutic implications associated with seeking professional assistance for shyness are presented.
Calcium Mobilization Assay to Measure the Activity of Gq-coupled Receptors

(Abstract) Calcium mobilization assay is a cell-based second messenger assay to measure the calcium flux associated with Gq-protein coupled receptor activation or inhibition. The method utilizes a calcium sensitive fluorescent dye that is taken up into the cytoplasm of most cells. In some cell lines in which organic-anion transporters are particularly active (e.g. CHO, HeLa), addition of probenecid, an inhibitor of anion transport, is required for retention of this dye in the cells. The dye binds the calcium released from intracellular store and its fluorescence intensity increases. The change in the fluorescence intensity is directly correlated to the amount of intracellular calcium that is released into cytoplasm in response to ligand activation of the receptor of interest. This protocol can be applied to most mammalian cell lines expressing both endogenous and transiently/stably transfected receptors. The method is sensitive enough to be used for low-expressing systems or high throughput screening of target of interest.
Effect of pore geometry on Gassmann fluid substitution

Although there is no assumption of pore geometry in derivation of Gassmann’s equation, the pore geometry is in close relation with hygroscopic water content and pore fluid communication between the micropores and the macropores. The hygroscopic water content in common reservoir rocks is small, and its effect on elastic properties is ignored in the Gassmann theory. However, the volume of hygroscopic water can be significant in shaly rocks or rocks made of fine particles; therefore, its effect on the elastic properties may be important. If the pore fluids in microspores cannot reach pressure equilibrium with the macropore system, assumption of the Gassmann theory is violated. Therefore, due to pore structure complexity, there may be a significant part of the pore fluids that do not satisfy the assumption of the Gassmann theory. We recommend that this part of pore fluids be accounted for within the solid rock frame and effective porosity be used in Gassmann’s equation for fluid substitution. Integrated study of ultrasonic laboratory measurement data, petrographic data, mercury injection capillary pressure data, and nuclear magnetic resonance T2 data confirms rationality of using effective porosity for Gassmann fluid substitution. The effective porosity for Gassmann’s equation should be frequency dependent. Knowing the pore geometry, if an empirical correlation between frequency and the threshold pore-throat radius or nuclear magnetic resonance T2 could be set up, Gassmann’s equation can be applicable to data measured at different frequencies. Without information of the pore geometry, the irreducible water saturation can be used to estimate the effective porosity.
Level Structure of Bi-208 as Observed at High Resolution with the Bi-209 (d, t) Bi-208 Reaction

The ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{209}(d, t){\mathrm{Bi}}^{208}$ reaction has been studied at a bombarding energy of 12 MeV with a high-resolution magnetic spectrograph. A ground-state $Q$ value of -1.201\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 MeV was measured. Excited states were observed at 0.063, 0.513, 0.605, 0.634, 0.651, 0.890, 0.929, 0.963, 1.074, 1.098, 2.349, 2.394, and 2.417 MeV. The angular-distribution data taken separate the ${h}_{\frac{9}{2}}{{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ states from the ${h}_{\frac{9}{2}}{{f}_{\frac{5}{2}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ states. Spin assignments based on the observed cross sections of the levels are given. In particular, the ground state and first excited state are assigned $J=5$ and J=4, respectively. The resulting interpretation is in good agreement with the ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{208}$ calculations by Kim and Rasmussen.
A social enterprise business model for social entrepreneurs: theoretical foundations and model development

Social enterprise is drawing increased attention from the entrepreneurship and marketing area. While there have been a significant number of studies in the management and operational side of social enterprise, no overarching theoretical framework of the business model exists for social enterprise. The current theoretical framework of the business model in the strategic management area does not adequately take into consideration the unique characteristics of social enterprise and the context within which they must operate. By applying theoretical foundations in the strategic management, this paper fills the current research gap and develops a social enterprise business model. Finally, management guidelines of the social enterprise business model are discussed for social entrepreneurs.
Anslysis of measles epidemic situation in 2013 in Pingdingshan City

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Pingdingshan Henan in 2013,so as to provide evidences for reducing measles disease.Methods Collected the data of meales disease in Pingdingshan in 2013 and analyzed the data by descriptive epidemiology method.Results There were 127 cases in Pingdingshan in 2013,the incidence rate was 25.83 per million.The main epidemic strain were 5 sub-genotype such as H1 a.The morbidity mainly occured from March to May,most of the cases were children under 2 years,and 37.80 % of the cases were children under 8 months.There have no history of of measles vaccination accounting for 80.31 % among children.Conclusions The main reasons of high measles incidence were referred to the low coverage of routine immunizationand lack of previous history of measles immunization and the immune effect decline of primary/ secondary immunization.We should improve the routine and timely vaccination,strengthen surveillance to control and eliminate measles.
Effect of holding time on bacteria in chicken casserole.

The result of delayed cooking in an automatic oven indicate that chicken noodle casseroles may he held for as long as 4 hr. before cooking. Longer holding periods prior to cooking are not recommended
Creating arteriovenous fistulas using surgeon-performed ultrasound.

PurposeAn arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis and is associated with lower mortality, morbidity and cost when compared with grafts and particularly with c...
The Case of Charlie: The Analysis of a Child

This chapter describes the treatment of a boy named Charlie, who lost interest in schoolwork and friends and was suffering from depression. Soon after Charlie entered sixth grade, he asked his parents for help. His parents described their concern about Charlie's lack of motivation––especially in school. Although he had superior intellectual capacities, his performance was disappointing and constant prodding of parents and teachers had failed to motivate him. More importantly, both parents felt that he was uncomfortable with the family. The treatment of Charlie began when he was 12 and continued till he was 17. The treatment took place during 50-minute sessions, for five days each week. This chapter is oriented to follow the emergence of themes revealed as the painful symptoms motivating the child and his parents to seek help were examined.
Layer ordering to minimize TSVs in heterogeneous 3-D ICs

A layer ordering algorithm to minimize the total number of TSVs within heterogeneous 3-D integrated circuits is described in this paper. Different constraints may complicate the process of ordering the layers within a 3-D system. These constraints are (1) any two layers must be adjacent, (2) a layer must be placed at a specific location, and (3) a layer must be separated from another layer(s). The algorithm generates an optimal layer order given the number of I/Os among all layers. Certain layers can be pre-assigned to specific locations within the 3-D structure. The application of the algorithm to multiple layer 3-D structures significantly reduces the number of TSVs and occupied area as compared to a random layer assignment. The area overhead of a random solution as compared to the optimal solution for unconstrained 3-D systems (without pre-assigned layers) with three to ten layers is, respectively, ∼24,090 μm2 to ∼854,469 μm2. In constrained 3-D systems (with pre-assigned layers), the area overhead for an eight layer 3-D system with one to six assigned layers ranges up to ∼249, 240 μm2.
Investigation on water content in fresco mock-ups in the microwave and near-IR spectral regions

Water diffusion inside masonry is responsible for the majority of the decay phenomena observed in wall paintings and frescos. Thus, the diagnostics of moisture and water content and their monitoring represent a key issue. In order to preserve the integrity of surfaces of artistic interest, investigations by means of non-destructive techniques (NDT) are preferred over others. The aim of this research is to determine methodologies to quantify the moisture content (MC) of frescos by means of the integrated use of two non-invasive techniques, namely fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) in the near-IR region and evanescent field dielectrometry (EFD) in the microwave range. The FORS technique has been employed in order to assess the amount of water adsorbed from the surface by means of an analysis of the reflectance spectra in the Vis–NIR (350-2200 nm) range. This technique investigates the electronic and vibrational transitions that are characteristic of each compound and enables their identification. The water content is evaluated on the basis of the 1920 nm and 1450 nm absorption bands. The EFD system consists of a resonant probe connected to a network analyzer. The resonance frequency of the cavity under different moisture-content conditions of frescos is in the 1.0–1.5 GHz range. The device makes it possible to compute, in real time, the MC from a measurement of the transmission coefficient (amplitude versus frequency) through the probe. Fresco mock-ups have been prepared in collaboration with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in order to recreate most of the possible chromatic shades obtained by mixing iron oxides and hydroxide-based pigments. Measurements were performed by employing both techniques on fresco models after wet-dry cycles obtained by means of poultices with a known water content. The results obtained with these two techniques were compared, and cross relationships between the EFD and FORS data were defined.
A settling-driven instability in two-component, stably stratified fluids

We analyse the linear stability of stably stratified fluids whose density depends on two scalar fields where one of the scalar fields is unstably stratified and involves a settling velocity. Such conditions may be found, for example, in flows involving the transport of sediment in addition to heat or salt. A linear stability analysis for constant-gradient base states demonstrates that the settling velocity generates a phase shift between the perturbation fields of the two scalars, which gives rise to a novel, settling-driven instability mode. This instability mechanism favours the growth of waves that are inclined with respect to the horizontal. It is active for all density and diffusivity ratios, including for cases in which the two scalars diffuse at identical rates. If the scalars have unequal diffusivities, it competes with the elevator mode waves of the classical double-diffusive instability. We present detailed linear stability results as a function of the governing dimensionless parameters, including for lateral gradients of the base state density fields that result in predominantly horizontal intrusion instabilities. Highly resolved direct numerical simulation results serve to illustrate the nonlinear competition of the various instabilities for such flows in different parameter regimes.
Algorithmic pie-crusting of the medial collateral ligament guided by sensing technology affects the use of constrained inserts during total knee arthroplasty

Background Intra-operative sensing technology is an alternative to standard techniques in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for determining balance by providing quantitative analysis of loads and point of contact throughout a range of motion. We used intra-operative sensing (VERASENSE-OrthoSensor, Inc.) to examine pie-crusting release of the medial collateral ligament in knees with varus deformity (study group) in comparison to a control group where balance was obtained using a classic release technique and assessed using laminar spreaders, spacer blocks, manual stress, and a ruler. Methods The surgery was performed by a single surgeon utilizing measured resection and posterior-stabilized, cemented implants. Seventy-five study TKAs were matched 1:3 with 225 control TKAs. Outcome variables included the use of a constrained insert, functional- and knee-specific Knee Society score (KSS) at six weeks, four months, and one year post-operatively. Outcomes were analyzed in a multivariate model controlling for age, sex, BMI, and severity of deformity. Results The use of a constrained insert was significantly lower in the study group (5.3 vs. 13.8%; p = 0.049). The use of increased constraint was not significant between groups with increasing deformity. There was no difference in functional KSS and knee-specific KSS between groups at any follow-up interval. Conclusion An algorithmic pie-crusting technique guided by intra-operative sensing is associated with decreased use of constrained inserts in TKA patients with a pre-operative varus deformity. This may cause a positive shift in value and cost savings.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors as emerging research targets in bipolar disorder

Glutamatergic dysregulation is implicated in the neuropathology of bipolar disorder (BD). There is increasing interest in investigating the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in BD and as a target for treatment intervention. Bipolar mGluR studies (published January 1992-April 2016) were identified via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. Full-text screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal were conducted in duplicate, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The initial literature search for mGluRs in BD, including non-bipolar mood disorders and primary psychotic disorders, identified 1544 articles. 61 abstracts were selected for relevance, 16 articles met full inclusion criteria, and three additional articles were found via citations. Despite limited literature, studies demonstrated: single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BD, including a GRM3 SNP associated with greater likelihood of psychosis (rs6465084), mRNA binding protein Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein associated with altered mGluR1/5 activity in BD populations, and lithium decreasing mGluR5 expression and mGluR-mediated intracellular calcium signaling. Limited research has been performed on the role of mGluRs in BD, but results highlight the importance of ongoing study. Future directions for research of mGluRs in BD include GRM polymorphisms, epigenetic regulation, intracellular proteins, and pharmacologic interactions.
Feasibility study of a space-based high pulse energy 2 μm CO 2 IPDA lidar

Sustained high-quality column carbon dioxide (CO2) atmospheric measurements from space are required to improve estimates of regional and continental-scale sources and sinks of CO2. Modeling of a space-based 2 μm, high pulse energy, triple-pulse, direct detection integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar was conducted to demonstrate CO2 measurement capability and to evaluate random and systematic errors. Parameters based on recent technology developments in the 2 μm laser and state-of-the-art HgCdTe (MCT) electron-initiated avalanche photodiode (e-APD) detection system were incorporated in this model. Strong absorption features of CO2 in the 2 μm region, which allows optimum lower tropospheric and near surface measurements, were used to project simultaneous measurements using two independent altitude-dependent weighting functions with the triple-pulse IPDA. Analysis of measurements over a variety of atmospheric and aerosol models using a variety of Earth's surface target and aerosol loading conditions were conducted. Water vapor (H2O) influences on CO2 measurements were assessed, including molecular interference, dry-air estimate, and line broadening. Projected performance shows a <0.35 ppm precision and a <0.3 ppm bias in low-tropospheric weighted measurements related to column CO2 optical depth for the space-based IPDA using 10 s signal averaging over the Railroad Valley (RRV) reference surface under clear and thin cloud conditions.
Chapter 58 – Engineering Cartilage and Other Structural Tissues: Principles of Bone and Cartilage Reconstruction

This article reviews advances in the engineering of structural tissues, such as bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons, with an emphasis on more recent developments. Tissue-engineering principles related to cell and developmental biology, materials science and medicine are presented. Early efforts to transplant cells in combination with biocompatible materials are presented along with advances in stem cell technologies, manipulation of the local environments. Potential applications are discussed with a focus on uses in orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive, and maxillofacial surgery. Hurdles that have arisen are discussed. Finally, future challenges are outlined from the perspective of integrating technologies from cell and stem cell biology, inflammation, medicine, engineering and materials sciences in hopes of pursuing clinical applications.
Melanoma Cell Propagation: Cancer Stem Cell, Clonal Evolution and Interconversion Models of Tumorigenicity

Melanoma is a significant health problem worldwide. Available treatments can induce transient tumor regression in a small percentage of patients; however, these responses are not always associated with improved long-term survival. The mechanisms underlying therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence in melanoma are still elusive. Tumor escape as a result of cancer cell heterogeneity and genomic instability may explain the persistence of disease despite an apparent primary response to therapy. For a long time, the accumulation of random mutations was believed to be associated with progressive transformation of normal cells into malignant cells, based on a classic “survival of the fittest” evolutionary model. Among other factors, these genetic alterations were also believed to be responsible for the acquisition of drug resistance during treatment.
Quantifying Myocardial Perfusion for the Assessment of Preclinical CAD

Estimates of regional myocardial blood flow contain information on morphologic alterations of the myocardium itself but also, and importantly, on the structure and function of the upstream coronary circulation. Loss of myocytes, replacement fibrosis, and scar tissue formation are associated with regional reductions of blood flow at rest per unit mass. Conversely, regional flow at rest may also be diminished in the absence of structural alterations but in the presence of, for example, a high-grade stenosis of the epicardial conduit vessel that impinges on flow. Such flow reductions then reflect structural or functional disturbances of the upstream coronary circulation. Myocardial blood flow depends on a complex interplay between the coronary driving pressure (the pressure gradient from the aorta to the right atrium) and resistance forces that adjust the supply of blood to the energy needs of the myocardium. Besides extravascular resistive forces due to intramyocardial and intracavitary pressures and their cardiac cycle-related changes, most of the resistance to flow and its regulation resides at the level of the coronary resistance vessels. Vascular smooth muscle relaxation or constriction in the resistance vessels mediated by metabolic, neuronal, and endocrine mechanisms raises or lowers coronary and, accordingly, myocardial blood flow. The vascular-smooth-muscle-initiated changes in blood flow are modulated by endothelium-related factors that depend on flow-velocity-related shear stresses as well as on neuronal, endocrine, and paracrine factors.
Using Library Funds to Support Open Access Publishing through Crowdfunding: Going Beyond Article Processing Charges

Publishers commonly use Article Processing Charges (APCs) to fund open access publications, and some libraries and institutions help local authors pay these costs. However, this strategy is expensi...
Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors: A Developmental Perspective.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) arising in infants, children, and adolescents present a set of special challenges. GCTs make up about 3% of malignancies in children aged 0–18 and nearly 15% of cancers in adolescents. Epidemiologic and molecular evidence suggests that GCTs in young children likely represent a distinct biologic group as compared to GCTs of older adolescents and adults. Despite this difference, pediatric GCTs are typically treated with cisplatin-based multiagent regimens similar to those used in adults. There is evidence that children are particularly vulnerable to late effects of conventional therapy, including ototoxicity, pulmonary abnormalities, and secondary malignancies, motivating the search for molecular targets for novel therapies. Evidence is accumulating that the genes and mechanisms controlling normal germ cell development are particularly relevant to the understanding of germ cell tumorigenesis. Perturbations in the epigenetic program of germ cell differentiation, with resulting effects on the regulation of pluripotency, may contribute to the marked histologic variability of GCTs. Perturbations in the KIT receptor signaling pathway have been identified via next-generation sequencing studies and in genome-wide association studies of testicular cancer susceptibility. Here, we review these and other biological insights that may fuel further translational and clinical research in childhood GCTs.
Street Names and Iconography

The primary function of street names is to provide spatial orientation. This utilitarian function and their seeming ordinariness tend to conceal that street names belong to structures of authority and legitimacy. Naming streets is a feature of modern political culture. Spatially configured and historically constructed, a set of street names constitute a distinct and dynamic city-text that is featured in cartographic representations of the city. When used for commemorative purposes, the iconography of street names pertains to the politics of public memory. Spatial commemorations transpose history into geography. Commemorative street names conflate a mapping of urban space with an index of a canonical history. As a vehicle of commemoration, they address history in terms of space, a distinct location, and in language, where streets are repeatedly mentioned by their names. As elements of language, commemorative street names introduce an authorized version of history into numerous references to, and narratives of, the city. In these narratives, street names denote a location but concurrently also evoke history. In this semiotic capacity, they introduce the ideological underpinnings of the ruling sociopolitical order into spheres of social communication that seem to exist outside of the realm of political control and manipulation.
Outline of an Algorithm for Integer Solutions to Linear Programs and An Algorithm for the Mixed Integer Problem

Later in 1957, as the end of my three-year tour of duty in the Navy was approaching, Princeton invited me to return as Higgins Lecturer in Mathematics. I had been aWilliams undergraduate and a then a graduate student at Cambridge and Princeton while getting my Ph.D. I had published 4 papers in non-linear differential equations, a subject to which I had been introduced by two wonderful people whose support and encouragement made an unforgettable and wonderful difference in my life: Professor Donald Richmond of Williams College and Professor Solomon Lefschetz of Princeton.
Drill Evaluation for Training Procedural Skills

The acquisition of procedural skills requires learning by doing. Ideally, a student would receive real-time assessment and feedback as he attempts practice problems designed to exercise the targeted skills. This paper describes an automated assessment and feedback capability that has been applied to training for a complex software system in widespread use throughout the U.S. Army. The automated assessment capability uses soft graph matching to align a trace of student actions to a predefined gold standard of allowed solutions, providing a flexible basis to evaluate student performance, identify problems, give hints, and suggest pointers to relevant tutorial documentation. Collectively, these capabilities facilitate self-directed learning of the training curriculum.
The Origin of V(D)J Diversification

The vertebrate immune system can respond to an ever-changing spectrum of pathogens, and V(D)J recombination plays a central role in achieving this stunning versatility. V(D)J recombination first appeared in vertebrates about 450 million years ago and seemingly emerged without antecedent in evolution, an observation suggesting that the essentials of the recombination machinery were acquired through horizontal transfer and subsequent exaptation. This chapter examines the idea that the very apparatus is derived from part of a DNA transposon by comparing the biochemistry of transposases and the RAG recombinase. We hypothesize that the recombinase not only functions in lymphocytes but has since its acquisition also acted on germ cell genomic sequence, thereby influencing the structure and organization of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor loci. Lastly, we consider the nature of the immune system in the ancestral vertebrate, prior to the development of V(D)J recombination, and review current thinking on how V(D)J recombination fits into the evolution of adaptive immunity as a whole.
Assessing MS-based quantitation strategies for low-level impurities in peptide reference materials: application to angiotensin II

Identification and quantitation of related impurities is vital in obtaining corrected purity values for peptide certified reference materials. The sensitivity and selectivity of high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) renders it an indispensable technique in this arena. Typical quantitation efforts involve constructing external calibration curves, although analysis of dilute peptide solutions can be complicated by analyte adsorption to vial walls, instrument tubing, etc. The standard addition method alleviates many concerns associated with this sample loss as the calibrant solutions more closely match the matrix of the samples. Yet, both strategies require acquisition of synthetic impurity peptide standards. Label-free proteomics relies on electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS signals to quantify identical peptides across multiple samples; however, peptides of differing sequence can exhibit widely disparate ESI-MS responses. This study explores the use of peak area ratios to quantitate sequence-related peptide impurities in an angiotensin II candidate certified reference material. Using synthetic standards of five abundant substances, impurity mass fractions calculated via the relative response method are in reasonable agreement with those determined from standard addition experiments, whereas external calibration measurements frequently overestimate impurity amounts. For a synthetic peptide and its related sequence impurities, the relative response method can expedite analysis and lower expenditures, and in some cases improve data quality.
Glycol Loss Minimization for a Natural Gas Dehydration Plant under Upset Conditions

Low-temperature separation with a monoethylene glycol (MEG) injection process is a common dehydration technique for natural gas processing. However, the MEG-based dehydration system frequently suffers significant glycol loss during plant upset conditions, causing double penalties of economic loss and air emissions. Thus, it is very important to minimize MEG loss in the dehydration process. In this paper, an efficient and effective methodology to reduce MEG loss under upset conditions of a natural gas dehydration plant has been developed. First, a plant-wide steady-state simulation model is developed and validated at normal operating conditions. Next, the root cause analysis for MEG loss is performed by introducing various process upsets to the simulation model, which indicates that most MEG loss is due to the fluctuating temperature of the stripper column overhead. After that, a plant-wide dynamic simulation model is developed to help generate a new control strategy to regulate the stripper column operati...
ENSO-induced co-variability of Salinity, Plankton Biomass and Coastal Currents in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

The northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is a region strongly influenced by river discharges of freshwater and nutrients, which promote a highly productive coastal ecosystem that host commercially valuable marine species. A variety of climate and weather processes could potentially influence the river discharges into the northern GoM. However, their impacts on the coastal ecosystem remain poorly described. By using a regional ocean-biogeochemical model, complemented with satellite and in situ observations, here we show that El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a main driver of the interannual variability in salinity and plankton biomass during winter and spring. Composite analysis of salinity and plankton biomass anomalies shows a strong asymmetry between El Nino and La Nina impacts, with much larger amplitude and broader areas affected during El Nino conditions. Further analysis of the model simulation reveals significant coastal circulation anomalies driven by changes in salinity and winds. The coastal circulation anomalies in turn largely determine the spatial extent and distribution of the ENSO-induced plankton biomass variability. These findings highlight that ENSO-induced changes in salinity, plankton biomass, and coastal circulation across the northern GoM are closely interlinked and may significantly impact the abundance and distribution of fish and invertebrates.
High-sensitivity broadband terahertz spectrometry using plasmonic photomixers (Conference Presentation)

Detection of faint fluxes of photons at terahertz frequencies is crucial for various applications including biosensing, medical diagnosis, chemical detection, atmospheric studies, space explorations, high-data-rate communication, and security screening. Heterodyne terahertz spectrometers based on cryogenically cooled superconducting mixers have so far been the only instruments that can provide high spectral resolution and near-quantum-limited sensitivity levels. The operation temperature, bandwidth constraints, and complexity of these terahertz spectrometers have restricted their use to mostly astronomy and atmospheric studies, limiting the overall impact and wide-spread use of terahertz technologies. Here we introduce a spectrometry scheme that uses plasmonic photomixing for frequency downconversion to offer quantum-level sensitivities at room temperature for the first time. Frequency downconversion is achieved by mixing terahertz radiation and a heterodyning optical beam with a terahertz beat frequency in a plasmonics-enhanced semiconductor active region. We demonstrate spectrometer sensitivities down to 3 times the quantum-limit at room temperature. Our presented spectrometry scheme can be applicable to resolve both the high-resolution spectra of gas molecules and mid-resolution spectra of condensed phase samples over a total operable bandwidth of 0.1-5 THz. As an example, we use the presented spectrometer to resolve the spectral information of ammonia, which has a number of narrowband absorption peaks over the 0.1-5 THz frequency range. With a versatile design capable of broadband spectrometry, this plasmonic photomixer has broad applicability to quantum optics, chemical sensing, biological studies, medical diagnosis, high data-rate communication, as well as astronomy and atmospheric studies.
Human Trust Measurement Using an Immersive Virtual Reality Autonomous Vehicle Simulator

Recent studies indicate that people are negatively predisposed toward utilizing autonomous systems. These findings highlight the necessity of conducting research to better understand the evolution of trust between humans and growing autonomous technologies such as self-driving cars (SDC). This research presents a new approach for real-time trust measurement between passengers and SDCs. We utilized a new structured data collection approach along with a virtual reality SDC simulator to understand how various autonomous driving scenarios can increase or decrease human trust and how trust can be re-built in the case of incidental failures. To verify our methodology, we designed and conducted an empirical experiment on 50 human subjects. The results of this experiment indicated that most subjects could rebuild trust during a reasonable time frame after the system demonstrated faulty behavior. Our analysis showed that this approach is highly effective for collecting real-time data from human subjects and lays the foundation for more-involved future research in the domain of human trust and autonomous driving.
The stability of function of automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy over time.

Although prior research has suggested the function of socially reinforced problem behavior can change across time, the stability of the function of automatically reinforced behavior is largely unknown. Further, some authors have suggested automatically reinforced behavior is likely to enter into socially mediated contingencies. The present study compared 2 functional analyses conducted on the same target behavior at least 1 year apart. Participants were 6 individuals diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability displaying automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy. Results indicated the function of each participant's vocal stereotypy remained stable over time (i.e., no new functions were acquired); however, future research on functional stability for automatically reinforced behavior of other topographies is needed.
Synthesizing Conservation Motivations and Barriers: What Have We Learned from Qualitative Studies of Farmers’ Behaviors in the United States?

AbstractSince 2011, qualitative studies examining adoption of conservation practices and programs (CPPs) have burgeoned. This article presents a systematic review of all U.S.-based qualitative inve...
Use of Guanfacine for Cannabis Use Disorder and Related Symptomology.

Background and objectives No medication has Food and Drug Administration approval for cannabis use disorder (CUD), and most medication development focuses on the withdrawal syndrome. We evaluated the effects of short-term treatment using the α-2A-adrenergic receptor agonist, guanfacine, on withdrawal symptoms in volunteers with CUD and a history of early onset of cannabis use. Methods Non-treatment-seeking healthy volunteers (n = 7) who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition criteria for CUD participated in a two-phase, within-subjects study. Volunteers received placebo or guanfacine (3 mg/day) for the first 8-day inpatient study and the alternative medication for the second 8-day inpatient study. On day 1 of both treatment periods, participants received 30 mg of synthetic Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol for standardization of abstinence onset. On days 2 to 7, participants received study medication. Cannabis withdrawal symptoms, sleep, craving, and physiology were assessed on all inpatient days. Results Compared with placebo, guanfacine did not show significant effects on withdrawal, craving, or sleep, although there were trends for guanfacine to increase positive mood symptoms and decrease craving-associated compulsivity. Discussion and conclusions Compared with former studies, we could not prove significant improvement in sleep or decrease of negative symptoms, but we found trends for increased positive mood symptoms. Our data did not show significant effects of guanfacine on withdrawal symptoms or craving. Due to early and longer cannabis use, our subjects indicate a great severity of illness increasing the likelihood of treatment resistance. Scientific significance On the basis of trends demonstrated here and other lines of evidence, further investigation is warranted regarding the utility of guanfacine as a potential treatment for CUD. (Am J Addict 2019;00:1-10).
Health Conditions, Activity Limitations, and Participation Restrictions among Older People with Visual Impairments:

Data from the Second Supplement on Aging (1994) were analyzed to evaluate the presence of selected medical conditions, performance of basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and particip...