cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does the Relationship Between Poor Reading and Delinquency Hold for Males of Different Ages and Ethnic Groups

The study examines the relationship between reading and delinquency for three large community samples of first-, fourth-, and seventh-grade African-American and white boys. Reading was correlated with delinquency, independent of neighborhood, SES, ethnicity, and family involvement effects. Although more African-American boys were delinquent than white boys, the likelihood of delinquency for boys with lower reading performance was the same in each ethnic group. Older boys with poor reading performance did not have a higher probability of delinquency than younger boys with poor reading performance. Thus, the association between reading performance and delinquency appears constant over the age range studied. When attention problems was entered as a control variable, it overshadowed reading performance in its association with delinquency. The seriousness of delinquent acts linearly increased the worse the reading performance for white boys in all three grades and for African-American boys in two out of the th...
In Vivo Visualization of Embryonic Stem Cell Survival, Proliferation, and Migration After Cardiac Delivery

Background— Recent studies have shown that stem cell therapy can promote tissue regeneration; however, monitoring stem cells in vivo remains problematic owing to limitations of conventional histological assays and imaging modalities. Methods and Results— Murine embryonic stem (ES) cells were stably transduced with a lentiviral vector carrying a novel triple-fusion (TF) reporter gene that consists of firefly luciferase, monomeric red fluorescence protein, and truncated thymidine kinase (fluc-mrfp-ttk). ES cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation ability were not adversely affected by either reporter genes or reporter probes compared with nontransduced control cells (P=NS). Afterward, 1×107 of ES cells carrying the TF reporter gene (ES-TF) were injected into the myocardium of adult nude rats (n=20). Control animals received nontransduced ES cells (n=6). At day 4, the bioluminescence and positron emission tomography signals in study animals were 3.7×107±5.8×106 photons · s−1 · cm−2 per steradian (s...
Sovereignty and Socialism in Tanzania: The Historiography of an African State

Observers of the Tanzanian political scene would point out that the country makes its own decisions on matters of internal and international importance. The policy of Ujamaa Vijijini [African socialism in the villages], it would be argued, was formulated here and not at the dictate of any foreign power.In an edited volume entitled The State in Tanzania, published in 1980 just before the precipitous denouement of President Julius Nyerere's philosophy of African socialism known as Ujamaa, Haroub Othman began with the question of the sub-title, “Who Controls it and Whose Interest Does it Serve?” The cover featured a large black question mark on a red background. Provocatively Othman asked, “can one say in a specific and definite sense that Tanzania is building socialism?” Exhibiting a remarkable level of open criticism of the government in a one-party state, the essays framed their issues in the Marxist terms that were long predominant in literature on the Tanzanian state. The book dealt with an ongoing concern that Tanzania's ambitious goals for democracy and development were not being met and the overarching nationalist question of which sovereign defined those goals. It was a question that continues to vex political scientists of Africa today who seek to reconcile Westphalian concepts of sovereignty with the layered realities of African polities struggling to exert sovereign authority both internally and externally.Reviewing a representative sample of nearly fifty years of scholarship on the postcolonial Tanzanian state, one is struck by the tension enervating Othman's essays. Scholars are torn between the impulse to understand the theoretical implications of Tanzania's experience for socialism and a more pragmatic concern to evaluate the country's claim to sovereign authority.
Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Neurons Maintained in Hypothalamic Slice Explant Cultures Exhibit a Rapid LHRH mRNA Turnover Rate

Evidence indicates that neuropeptide gene expression is tightly coupled to biosynthesis and secretion. Moreover, rhythmic gene expression often accompanies rhythmic secretion. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurosecretion, which regulates gonadal function, is pulsatile, with interpulse intervals of ∼1 hr and pulse decays of in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). Relative LHRH mRNA content per cell was quantitated by single-cell analysis after transcription inhibition with 5,6-dichloro-1-d-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole (DRB) or actinomycin D. Cultures were maintained in serum-free medium with tetrodotoxin to suppress spontaneous electrical activity and hence assess only intrinsic cellular activity. A plot of LHRH mRNA level per cell versus DRB treatment time showed a rapid initial decay of LHRH mRNA ( t ½ , 5–13 min), followed by a slower decay rate ( t ½ , 329–344 hr). LHRH cell number after drug treatment as determined by immunocytochemistry did not change. Comparison of mammalian LHRH mRNA 3′-untranslated regions showed two conserved regions. These data indicate that, in primary LHRH neurons, LHRH mRNA has an intrinsically high rate of turnover and a mRNA stabilization component. Foremost, decay of LHRH mRNA, the fastest reported for a neuropeptide to date, corresponds to the decay of LHRH peptide pulses.
Rvs161p Interacts with Fus2p to Promote Cell Fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

FUS7 was previously identified by a mutation that causes a defect in cell fusion in a screen for bilateral mating defects. Here we show that FUS7 is allelic to RVS161/END6, a gene implicated in a variety of processes including viability after starvation, endocytosis, and actin cytoskeletal organization. Two lines of evidence indicate that RVS161/END6 9s endocytic function is not required for cell fusion. First, several other endocytic mutants showed no cell fusion defects. Second, we isolated five function-specific alleles of RVS161/FUS7 that were defective for endocytosis, but not mating, and three alleles that were defective for cell fusion but not endocytosis. The organization of the actin cytoskeleton was normal in the cell fusion mutants, indicating that Rvs161p9s function in cell fusion is independent of actin organization. The three to fourfold induction of RVS161 by mating pheromone and the localization of Rvs161p-GFP to the cell fusion zone suggested that Rvs161p plays a direct role in cell fusion. The phenotypes of double mutants, the coprecipitation of Rvs161p and Fus2p, and the fact that the stability of Fus2p was strongly dependent on Rvs161p9s mating function lead to the conclusion that Rvs161p is required to interact with Fus2p for efficient cell fusion.
Macrophages define the invasive microenvironment in breast cancer

In many human cancers, the abundance of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment is correlated with poor prognosis. Experimental evidence for the causal relationship between macrophages and poor prognosis came from mouse models of breast cancer in which genetic ablation of macrophages resulted in attenuation of tumor progression and metastasis, and premature recruitment to hyperplastic lesions accelerated these processes. Malignancy is defined by the invasion of tumor cells into the stroma, a process that allows escape of these cells into the circulation and dissemination to distant sites. In this review, I argue that macrophages are recruited to the invasive front by expression of tumor-derived chemotactic factors and in response to the disruption of the basement membrane. At this invasive site, macrophages enhance tumor cell migration and invasion through their secretion of chemotactic and chemokinetic factors including epidermal growth factor (EGF). They promote angiogenesis by the synthesis of angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and they remodel the extracellular matrix and in particular, regulate collagen fibrillogenesis. A combination of these factors provides a triple-whammy, as the more mobile and invasive tumor cells track along collagen fibers that are also anchored to blood vessels, which are fabricated at sites of invasion and through which macrophages potentiate tumor cell intravasation. All of these activities suggest that macrophage functions are significant targets for the generation of novel therapeutics that should improve the current cytotoxic armamentarium.
Mediating with Heart in Mind: Addressing Emotion in Mediation Practice

Given the centrality of emotion and emotional communication to conflict interaction, the lack of attention to emotion in mediation is particularly surprising. This essay suggests that mediation practice can—and should—be informed by the wealth of existing theory and research on emotion in the social sciences. The authors define emotion and argue the centrality of its place in conflict. They address issues germane to the cognitive, expressive, and physiological aspects of emotion and their relevance to mediation practice. Within each area, they discuss the implications of the emotional experience of the disputant and the emotional experience of the mediator.
TOLERANCE TO BACTERIAL PYROGENS : I. FACTORS INFLUENCING ITS DEVELOPMENT

In a study of the febrile responses of rabbits to repeated intravenous injections of pyrogenic substances from Eberthella typhosa, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the following observations were made: 1. A characteristic pattern of response to daily injections of the same dose of pyrogenic material was noted. This consisted of a progressive diminution in febrile response during the 1st week or 10 days, after which an animal responded to each injection with approximately the same degree of fever, even when the injections were continued for several weeks. 2. Animals given injections of the same amount of pyrogenic material at semiweekly or weekly intervals showed some diminution in febrile reaction but the alteration was less pronounced than that in animals injected every day. 3. Pyrogen tolerance appeared to be lost quickly. Animals allowed to rest for approximately 3 weeks reacted to readministration of pyrogen with fever comparable with that which occurred after the first injection. 4. By gradually increasing the size of the daily dose of pyrogen a tolerance could be established such that a reduced, but still considerable, amount of pyrogen caused no fever whatever. 5. Rabbits that had been injected with S. marcescens or Ps. aeruginosa pyrogens showed a diminished febrile response to E. typhosa vaccine. 6. Passive transfer of the unresponsiveness to pyrogens could not be demonstrated. 7. Prevention of temperature elevations during the course of immunization by use of an antipyretic drug did not interfere with the development of tolerance to pyrogens. 8. A series of mechanically induced bouts of fever did not reduce the responsiveness to bacterial pyrogens.
Tri-Symmetric Orthogonal Gough-Stewart Platforms

This paper develops new, analytical methods to find a large class of Orthogonal Gough-Stewart Platforms (OGSPs) having desired manipulabilities at a single point. In contrast, prior methods have been computationally intensive, relying on numerical search techniques. The new techniques are directly applicable to clean sheet design of micro-manipulators, vibration isolators, and Cartesian stiffness matrices. In addition, straightforward methods for retro-fitting existing OGSPs are illustrated. The approach relies on symmetrically repeating a strut at least three times.
Determinants of Autoantibody Induction by Conjugated Papillomavirus Virus-Like Particles

Immunization of mice with self-Ag arrayed on the surface of papillomavirus-like particles induces long-lasting high-titer IgG production by autoreactive B cells. In contrast, immunization with disorganized self-Ag linked to foreign Th epitopes induces weak autoantibody responses that are predominantly of the IgM isotype. In this study, we evaluated the structural correlates of autoantibody induction to determine the basis of these disparate observations, using a system in which mice were vaccinated with a fusion protein containing self (TNF-α) and foreign (streptavidin) components, conjugated to biotinylated virus-like particles (VLPs). Similar titers of autoantibodies to TNF-α were elicited using conjugated polyomavirus VLPs and papillomavirus VLPs, indicating that acute activation of dendritic cells by the Ag is not required. Strong autoantibody responses were also induced by conjugated papillomavirus capsid pentamers, indicating that a higher order particulate structure is also not required. However, a reduction of self-Ag density on VLP surfaces dramatically reduced the efficiency of IgG autoantibody induction. In contrast, the negative effects of reductions in foreign Ag density were limited and could be overcome by dosage and adjuvant. These data suggest that the immune system has evolved to differentially recognize closely spaced repetitive Ags and that the signals generated upon interactions with high-density self-Ags can overwhelm the normal mechanisms for B cell tolerance.
Advances in the Mesoscale Approach to Structure-SensitiveProperties Relations in Polycrystalline Materials

New methods have recently been conceived for extracting certain intrinsic properties of grain boundaries. Described here is a novel approach to extracting the excess free energy and mobility functions over large components of the entire fundamental space of grain boundary types. The theoretical approach constitutes a new form of inverse problems in materials science, and demands geometrical and orientational characterizations of very large numbers of triple junctions. The experimental approach demands new levels of automation of orientation imaging microscopy, and calibrated serial sectioning to overcome the opacity problem in electron diffraction. The main threads of the approach (theoretical, numerical and experimental) are described in this paper.
Rapid and Simple Method for the Most-Probable-Number Estimation of Arsenic-Reducing Bacteria

A rapid and simple most-probable-number (MPN) procedure for the enumeration of dissimilatory arsenic-reducing bacteria (DARB) is presented. The method is based on the specific detection of arsenite, the end product of anaerobic arsenate respiration, by a precipitation reaction with sulfide. After 4 weeks of incubation, the medium for the MPN method is acidified to pH 6 and sulfide is added to a final concentration of about 1 mM. The brightly yellow arsenic trisulfide precipitates immediately and can easily be scored at arsenite concentrations as low as 0.05 mM. Abiotic reduction of arsenate upon sulfide addition, which could yield false positives, apparently produces a soluble As-S intermediate, which does not precipitate until about 1 h after sulfide addition. Using the new MPN method, population estimates of pure cultures of DARB were similar to direct cell counts. MPNs of environmental water and sediment samples yielded DARB numbers between 101 and 105 cells per ml or gram (dry weight), respectively. Poisoned and sterilized controls showed that potential abiotic reductants in environmental samples did not interfere with the MPN estimates. A major advantage is that the assay can be easily scaled to a microtiter plate format, enabling analysis of large numbers of samples by use of multichannel pipettors. Overall, the MPN method provides a rapid and simple means for estimating population sizes of DARB, a diverse group of organisms for which no comprehensive molecular markers have been developed yet.
Radiometer integrated with communication terminal

This paper describes a technique which provides a real time indication of link attenuation characteristics and can be integrated into a frequency hopped communication terminal with a relatively small cost impact.
Solving general shallow wave equations on surfaces

We propose a new framework for solving General Shallow Wave Equations (GSWE) in order to efficiently simulate water flows on solid surfaces under shallow wave assumptions. Within this framework, we develop implicit schemes for solving the external forces applied to water, including gravity and surface tension. We also present a two-way coupling method to model interactions between fluid and floating rigid objects. Water flows in this system can be simulated not only on planar surfaces by using regular grids, but also on curved surfaces directly without surface parametrization. The experiments show that our system is fast, stable, physically sound, and straightforward to implement on both CPUs and GPUs. It is capable of simulating a variety of water effects including: shallow waves, water drops, rivulets, capillary events and fluid/floating rigid body coupling. Because the system is fast, we can also achieve real-time water drop control and shape design.
Validation of alternative indicators of social support in perinatal outcomes research using quality of the partner relationship.

Aim To test alternatives to the current research and clinical practice of assuming that married or partnered status is a proxy for positive social support. Background Having a partner is assumed to relate to better health status via the intermediary process of social support. However, women's health research indicates that having a partner is not always associated with positive social support. Design An exploratory post hoc analysis focused on posttraumatic stress and childbearing was conducted using a large perinatal database from 2005–2009. Methods To operationalize partner relationship, four variables were analysed: partner (‘yes’ or ‘no’), intimate partner violence (‘yes’ or ‘no’), the combination of those two factors, and the woman's appraisal of the quality of her partner relationship via a single item. Construct validity of these four alternative variables was assessed in relation to appraisal of the partner's social support in labour and the postpartum using linear regression standardized betas and adjusted R-squares. Predictive validity was assessed using unadjusted and adjusted linear regression modelling. Results Four groups were compared. Married, abused women differed most from married, not abused women in relation to the social support, and depression outcomes used for validity checks. The variable representing the women's appraisals of their partner relationships accounts for the most variance in predicting depression scores. Conclusions Our results support the validity of operationalizing the impact of the partner relationship on outcomes using a combination of partnered status and abuse status or using a subjective rating of quality of the partner relationship.
Examples of extreme cases in i 1 and H ∞ optimization

Abstract We are guided by the simple bound ∥h∥ l1 ⩽ (2N + 1) ∥ h ∥ H ∞ established in [1], for finite dimensional systems, where ∥ h ∥l1 is the peak gain of the system and ∥ ^h ∥ H ∞ is the maximum frequency response of the system and N is the McMillan degree, to establish bounds on closed-loop systems resulting from l1 and H ∞ minimization. Furthermore, we illustrate that the effectiveness of adding frequency constraints in addition to the interpolation constraints in the l 1 minimization problem depends on the bandwidth of the plant.
Notes on Contract Problems and Comparative Law

UF OUR major problems stand first in the list of contract problems ready for study, and perhaps ultimately action, in the light of comparative law. These are the problems of consideration; mistake and impossibility; the power of a possessor to transfer title to tangible things or contract rights; and specific performance. Many other questions, of course, suggest themselves, such as the defenses of a surety, the protection of a mortgagor, the effect of non-disclosure on a fiduciary's transactions, and the development of contractual rules in the field occupied by technical rules of conveyancing.
Immunodeficiency States Associated with Acute Leukemias, Multiple Myeloma, and Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia

A relationship between oncogenesis and immunocompetence has been suggested by the growing recognition of altered immune responses in tumor-bearing animals and men. No evidence remains more supportive of this relationship than the frequent occurrence of various types of malignancy in cases of primary immunodeficiency. The development of acute leukemias—mostly of the lymphoid system—has been repeatedly observed under these circumstances (Gatti and Good, 1971).
Do Collaborative Groups Enhance Interorganizational Networks

Collaborative governance and organizational networks are popular and well-documented topics, but the relationship between them is not always clear. This article examines the extent to which publicly sponsored collaborative groups are associated with network ties between individual organizations. It does so by applying exponential random graph models to model how co-membership and co-participation in a publicly sponsored collaborative group is associated with the likelihood of two organizations engaging directly in three types of network ties: consultation, planning, or management. Our data come from a member survey of 57 collaborative groups that involve independent public, nonprofit, and private organizations in collective efforts to restore marine areas and freshwater ecosystems. We find that the probability of observing a network tie between two organizations increases with the extent to which both organizations participate in the same collaborative group, but that the association diminishes as the num...
Evaluation of Globe Rupture Injury Mechanisms and Pressure Response of the Eye During Projectile Impact

In the United States, over 1.9 million civilian eye injuries occur annually [1]. Furthermore, with the recent conflict, the military has experienced a dramatic 17%–26% increase in rate of injury to the eyes [2]. Risk functions for various eye injuries, particularly globe rupture, have already been developed and show area-normalized energy (based on the mass, size, and velocity of the projectile) to be most highly correlated to injury [3–5]. However, it remains desirable to further investigate the relationship between area-normalized energy and the eye injury mechanism.© 2011 ASME
Nematic quantum liquid crystals of bosons in frustrated lattices

The problem of interacting bosons in frustrated lattices is an intricate one due to the absence of a unique minimum in the single-particle dispersion where macroscopic number of bosons can condense. Here, we consider a family of tight-binding models with macroscopically degenerate lowest energy bands, separated from other bands by a gap. We predict the formation of exotic states that spontaneously break rotational symmetry at relatively low filling. These states belong to three nematic phases: Wigner crystal, supersolid, and superfluid. The Wigner crystal phase is established exactly at low filling. Supersolid and superfluid phases, at larger filling, are obtained by making use of a projection onto the flat band, construction of an appropriate Wannier basis, and subsequent mean-field treatment. The nematic superfluid that we predict is uniform in real space but has an anisotropic momentum distribution, providing a novel scenario for Bose condensation with an additional nematic order. Our findings open up a promising direction of studying microscopic quantum liquid crystalline phases of bosons.
Neonatal Intensive Care in Community Hospitals and Remote Areas: The Problems and a Possible Solution

Problems emerging as more community hospitals develop neonatal intensive care are discussed, with an analysis of their possible origins and significance. A description of one solution to the problem is offered, exemplified by an outreach program from the University of California, San Diego, and University Hospital, San Diego, with the community of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The impact of the LuxS mutation on phenotypic expression of factors critical for Campylobacter jejuni colonization

Abstract Studies have collectively shown the wide impact that luxS mutation has on the expression and function of various aspects of Campylobacter jejuni virulence. Previous work from our group demonstrated that LuxS mutagenesis negatively impacts colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of several host species. To determine what is responsible for the colonization defect, we used a mechanistic approach to understand how the luxS mutation affects the expression of key physiologic factors important to the colonization ability of C. jejuni . This included expression of genes from the CmeABC efflux system, cell morphology, and motility through mucin substrate between wildtype, luxS mutant, and luxS complement of the C. jejuni strains 11168 and/or IA3902. We also measured and compared the activated methyl cycle (AMC) metabolite levels of the IA3902 luxS mutant to wildtype. Results showed that mutagenesis of the luxS gene completely disrupted the AMC with altered concentrations of AMC metabolites both upstream and downstream of LuxS. Multidrug efflux pump genes cmeABC and cmeR showed no significant changes in expression levels within the luxS mutant. Though motility through mucin was not completely unaffected by the luxS mutation, the lack of differences in cell morphology between wildtype and luxS mutant suggest that morphology is not responsible for the slight changes in mucin penetration observed in one of our luxS mutants. Though additional studies are warranted, these findings suggest that the CmeABC multi-drug efflux pump, cell morphology and mucin penetration are not major mechanisms responsible for the luxS mutant’s colonization defect in its host.
High-yield maize–soybean cropping systems in the US Corn Belt

The USA accounts for 38 and 35% of global maize and soybean production, producing a respective 320 and 84 Mt of these crops annually. More than 85% of those totals are produced in the north-central region known as the ‘Corn Belt’, where continuous maize and 2-year maize–soybean rotation are the dominant cropping systems. This chapter describes the climate, soil, and management practices of high-yield maize–soybean cropping systems in the Corn Belt. Major drivers for higher yields and resource-use efficiency are evaluated and opportunities for further improvement are discussed. Yield and input-use efficiency of maize and soybean in the US Corn Belt have increased steadily during the last 40 years as a result of (1) continuous genetic improvement, (2) intermittently phased periods of agronomic improvement, and (3) the synergistic interaction of improved genetics and agronomy. Future increases may be difficult to achieve as on-farm yields approach yield potential; however, some of the yield gap between on-farm yield and simulated yield potential can still be captured by fine-tuning crop management in a manner that increases yield, while simultaneously reducing the resource input amount or cost. Indeed, substantive opportunities exist for increased input-use efficiency by scheduling just-in-time irrigation events of the minimum amount needed, and by optimizing management of N fertilizer to be temporally and spatially effective.
Analysis of Laterally Loaded Pile Groups in Improved Soft Clay

AbstractThe use of p-multipliers in the analysis of the lateral loading behavior of pile groups is based on the concept of modifying the single-pile p-y curve to obtain the p-y curve for a pile in a group. The p-multipliers account for the reduced soil resistance mobilized at a given deflection as a result of overlapping of shear zones. Different factors can influence the p-multipliers; however, because of the lack of experimental data, most researchers and design guidelines consider only the normalized pile spacing in the direction of loading in their recommendations. In this study, the effects of pile spacing and clay stiffness on the p-multipliers were investigated using the results of two series of centrifuge tests. The soil profile consisted of four lightly overconsolidated clay layers overlying a dense sand layer. The pile groups had a symmetrical layout consisting of 2 × 2 piles spaced at center-to-center distances of 3.0 and 7.0 pile diameter (D) and were driven into improved (stiff clay) and unim...
Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Presenting as New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus(NORSE), Complicated by Psychosis, Dysautonomia and Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome(PRES) (P6.219)

INTRODUCTION:Cerebral Amyloid angiopathy(CAA) commonly presents as lobar hemorrhage but a sub-group of patients with CAA related inflammation are known to present as subacute worsening of cognition.It is known to cause seizures which is usually due to lobar hemorrhage and the MRI GRE sequence is showing cerebral microbleeds(CMB) is pathognomonic.We present a case of a 74y/o male who presented with refractory status epilepticus without any CMBs at initial presentation,clinical course complicated by Visual hallucinations,dysautonomia and PRES,CAA diagnosed by brain biopsy.<br RESULTS: Patient was74 y/o male with PMH of hypertension,Dyslipidemia,epilepsy and 2 years h/o paranoia and insomina,was found to be confused by his wife after a minor head injury.He was found to be in subclinical status in the hospital with 1-2 Hz continuous rhythmic sharp wave activity on EEG and pentobarb coma was induced,with Lacosamide,depakote,Topiramate and Keppra as adjunctive anti-epileptics.Initial MRI brain did not show any significant abnormality including no CMBs.Status epilepticus resolved after 5 days but he continued to be encepholapathic.CSF studies for infectious and paraneoplastic work up was negative twice.He had subsequent multiple admissions for fluctuation of psychotic symptoms.Subsequent MRIs showed PRES which resolved with residual cortical hemorrhages.Brain biopsy was done due to persistent symptoms and revealed beta amyloid plaques and amyloid angiopathy confirmed with a Congo red stain and a beta amyloid immunostain. CONCLUSIONS: NORSE as the presenting symptom of CAA has been reported once but not in absence of CMB.There were other prominent psychotic features which als occurred prior to appearance of CMBs. Cortical hemorrhages appeared after, and probably as a consequence of PRES.The presentation and subsequent clinical course of this patient raised the concern for rapidly progressive dementia and a brain biopsy earlier in the clinical course might have helped in early diagnosis. We recommend that CAA should be considered strongly in differential for rapidly progressive dementia. Disclosure: Dr. Sharma has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schmidt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Prasad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Latorre has nothing to disclose.
Loss Concealments for Low Bit-Rate Packet Voice in Voice over IP

In recent years, voice over IP has become an attractive alternative to conventional public telephony. However, the Internet is a best-effort network, with no guarantee on its quality of service. A fundamental issue in real-time interactive voice transmissions over an unreliable Internet protocol network is packet loss. This problem is especially serious in transmitting low-bit-rate coded speech in which pervasive dependencies are introduced in a bit stream, leading to error propagation to subsequent frames when loss happens. In this talk, we survey existing work in the area and present an end-to-end loss-concealment scheme that requires no special support from the underlying network. In particular, we focus on developing a non-redundant sender-receiver collaborated multiple-description coding (MDC) scheme. We propose a new coder-dependent parameter-based MDC that generates multiple descriptions systematically based on correlations of coding parameters. The design is done in such a way that requires no extra transmission bandwidth and that adapts its number of descriptions to network loss conditions. Extensive tests on FS CELP, ITU G.723.1, FS MELP, and G.729 for different loss scenarios demonstrate the high quality and reliability of our proposed scheme.
The Effect of Preparation Conditions on Raman and Photoluminescence of Monolayer WS 2

We report on preparation dependent properties observed in monolayer WS2 samples synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on a variety of common substrates (Si/SiO2, sapphire, fused silica) as well as samples that were transferred from the growth substrate onto a new substrate. The as-grown CVD materials (as-WS2) exhibit distinctly different optical properties than transferred WS2 (x-WS2). In the case of CVD growth on Si/SiO2, following transfer to fresh Si/SiO2 there is a ~50 meV shift of the ground state exciton to higher emission energy in both photoluminescence emission and optical reflection. This shift is indicative of a reduction in tensile strain by ~0.25%. Additionally, the excitonic state in x-WS2 is easily modulated between neutral and charged exciton by exposure to moderate laser power, while such optical control is absent in as-WS2 for all growth substrates investigated. Finally, we observe dramatically different laser power-dependent behavior for as-grown and transferred WS2. These results demonstrate a strong sensitivity to sample preparation that is important for both a fundamental understanding of these novel materials as well as reliable reproduction of device properties.
Image-guided refocusing of dual-mode ultrasound arrays (DMUAs)

A major advantage of imaging with dual-mode ultrasound arrays (DMUAs) is the inherent registration between imaging and therapeutic coordinate systems during image-guided surgery which allows for image-based feedback for refocusing the therapeutic beam. Specifically, this capability is critical in image-guided thoracic surgeries where the target is partially obstructed by the rib cage, thus limiting the access and distorting the geometrically focused high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapeutic beam. Images obtained with single-transmit focus (STF), in which the therapeutic beam is used at diagnostic levels, allow the user to select target and critical locations for optimizing the power deposition. We have developed an optimal refocusing method that takes advantage of the acoustic window of the intercostals spacing in order to minimize the power deposition over the critical regions (ribs) while maintaining or improving the power deposition at the target location (tumor). The algorithm is verified experimentally with a 64-element 1 MHz DMUA, in an attenuating tissue mimicking phantom (0.5 dB/cm/MHz) with embedded Plexiglas ribs. Thermocouples are used to measure sub-therapeutic temperatures across the ribs and at the target location before, during and after 4 seconds of HIFU exposure for both the geometric focusing and the optimized refocusing while normalizing the driving power for both cases. An increase of normalized temperature (per watt of input power) greater than 50% was observed at the target after refocusing. At the same time, a reduction in normalized temperature rise across the ribs was greater than 70%. Statistics showed that the maximum variance between measurements when the experiment was rerun a minimum of 5 times for each case was approximately 5%. In addition, STF images taken with the refocused HIFU beam showed increased echogenicity at the target and reduced echogenicity at the ribs. This can be quantified by the intensity of the grayscale images. These images show a typical reduction of 11dB across the ribs. These results show that imaging of the therapeutic beam at diagnostic levels in STF mode correlates with the energy deposition during HIFU treatment.
Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.

Africa has the potential to feed the world. Agricultural production is up by 160% over the past 30 years. Eighteen sub-Saharan African countries have reached the Millennium Development Goals' first target of halving the proportion of people who are hungry. And increasingly wider efforts are being launched across the continent aimed at improving food security. There is still a long way to go as Africa remains a net importer of food with about 25% of the continent population still living in hunger.
Review: β-blockers do not reduce walking capacity or calf blood flow in peripheral arterial disease

Source Citation Radack K, Deck C. β-Adrenergic blocker therapy does not worsen intermittent claudication in subjects with peripheral arterial disease. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial...
The effect of respiration buffer composition on mitochondrial metabolism and function

Functional studies on isolated mitochondria critically rely on the right choice of respiration buffer. Differences in buffer composition can lead to dramatically different respiration rates leading to difficulties in comparing prior studies. The ideal buffer facilities high ADP-stimulated respiratory rates and minimizes substrate transport effects so that the ability to distinguish between various treatments and conditions is maximal. In this study, we analyzed a variety of respiration buffers and substrate combinations to determine the optimal conditions to support mitochondrial function through ADP-stimulated respiration and uncoupled respiration using FCCP. The buffers consisted of a standard KCl based buffer (B1) and three modified buffers with chloride replaced by the K-lactobionate, sucrose, and the antioxidant taurine (B2) or K-gluconate (B3). The fourth buffer (B4) was identical to B2 except that K-lactobionate was replaced with K-gluconate. The substrate combinations consisted of metabolites that utilize different pathways of mitochondrial metabolism. To test mitochondrial function, we used isolated cardiac guinea pig mitochondria and measured oxygen consumption for three respiratory states using an Oroboros Oxygraph-2k. These states were the leak state (energized mitochondria in the absence of adenylates), ADP-stimulated state (energized mitochondria in the presence of saturating ADP concentrations), and uncoupled state (energized mitochondria in the presence of FCCP). On average across all substrate combinations, buffers B2, B3, and B4 had an increase of 16%, 26%, and 35% for the leak state, ADP-simulated state, and uncoupled state, respectively, relative to rates using B1. The common feature distinguishing these buffers from B1 is the notable lack of high chloride concentrations. Based on the respiratory rate metrics obtained with the substrate combinations, we conclude that the adenine nucleotide translocase, the dicarboxylate carrier, and the alpha-ketoglutarate exchanger are partially inhibited by chloride. Therefore, when the goal is to maximize ADP-stimulated respiration, buffers containing K-lactobionate or K-gluconate are superior choices compared to the standard KCl-based buffers.
Understanding recurring quality problems and their impact on code sharing in block-based software

Block-based programming languages have become increasingly prominent in both the educational and end-user communities. As the block-based codebase is growing rapidly, its quality remains poorly understood, even though the awareness of recurring quality problems in this domain can benefit educators and end-user programmers alike. To address this problem, we report on the results of a large-scale assessment of recurring quality problems in block-based software. Our work identifies quality problems endemic of block-based software, as well as applies program analysis to assess the prevalence and severity of quality problems in close to 600K representative Scratch projects. Our empirical evidence shows how certain recurring quality problems hinder code sharing for popular Scratch projects. These results indicate that the quality of block-based software warrants the attention of CS educators, end-user programmers, and tool builders. Our study's results can help programmers avoid introducing the quality problems, while guiding tools builders in supporting the systematic quality improvement of block-based software.
Open Government Data for Data Curation and Data Integration

This presentation addresses cultural heritage data-sharing practices through the use of Republic of Korea open government data for data-curation and data integration. Data curation enables data-sharing throughout the data management life cycle to create new value for new user needs. Our research employed a visualization phase, in which we used domain analytical techniques to better understand the contents of the population of 375 library-related open government cultural heritage data available at the Korean Open Government Website (http://data.go.kr/). Researchers translated all records from Korean to English. Data were in unstructured and in heterogeneous formats such as file formats, data formats and or web addresses. For data curation and integration, we employed the meta-level ontology known as the CIDOC-CRM, which we applied qualitatively to small sets of carefully selected records. To map instantiation of records, which is required for data integration, we used FRBRoo (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records – object oriented), an extension of the CIDOC CRM, to map the instantiation of data records in a typical data-sharing scenario. Then, equivalent mapping processes were comparatively tested with visualizations to demonstrate the effective harmonization between the CIDOC CRM and FRBRoo, which enables the integration of metadata and data curation from unstructured and heterogeneous formats. This presentation may contribute to the cross- or meta-institutional integration of curation across institutional boundaries in cultural heritage.
Effects of Co-product Uses on Environmental and Economic Sustainability of Hydrocarbon Biofuel from One- and Two-Step Pyrolysis of Poplar.

This study investigated the environmental and economic sustainability of liquid hydrocarbon biofuel production via fast pyrolysis of poplar biomass through two pathways: a one-step pathway that converted poplar via fast pyrolysis only, and a two-step pathway that includes a torrefaction step prior to fast pyrolysis. Optimization of these fast pyrolysis-based biofuel processes were investigated through heat integration and alternative uses of the coproduct biochar, which can be sold as an energy source to displace coal, soil amendment or processed into activated carbon. The impacts of optimization on the cost of hydrocarbon biofuel production as well as the environmental impacts were investigated through a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), respectively, with two-step and one-step processing compared to fossil fuels. The TEA indicates that a one-step heat integrated pathway with the production of activated carbon has a minimum selling price of $3.23/gallon compared to $5.16/gall...
The Role of Coping Strategies in Understanding the Relationship Between Parental Support and Psychological Outcomes in Anxious Youth

The current study examined the moderating role of coping strategies on psychological outcomes at varying levels of parental support in a sample of clinically anxious youth. Youth (N = 174, mean age 11.89) completed the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist, Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children and Children’s Depression Inventory. Data was gathered at a large, university-based anxiety disorders treatment clinic. This nonexperimental design analyzed the use of active and avoidant coping strategies as a moderator of anxiety and depression, while controlling for parental support. Results revealed active coping strategies did moderate the relationship between parental support and anxiety, however, not as expected while the significant moderation role of avoidance coping was mixed. Findings showed that anxious youth with more parental support and more active coping were at risk for higher levels of anxiety, yet protected from higher depression. Avoidant coping strategies did moderate in a manner that was predicted for higher anxiety symptoms. Results suggest increased need for parental involvement in the treatment of anxiety disorders in youth.
APPROPRIATE USE OF CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR MONITORING RIGHT VENTRICLE ENLARGEMENT IN PULMONARY REGURGITATION

The timing of pulmonary valve replacement in patients with native severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is based on right ventricular (RV) volumetric assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). The rate of progression of RV enlargement and the appropriate interval between follow-up CMRI's
Treatment Modalities for Pathologic Fractures of the Proximal Femur Pertrochanteric Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Reoperation Rates

Abstract Background The proximal femur represents the most common site of metastatic bone disease in the appendicular skeleton, and associated pathologic pertrochanteric femur fractures contribute to cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Controversy exists as to whether these injuries are best managed with intramedullary nailing (IMN) or with arthroplasty. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed using a PubMed search following PRISMA guidelines to identify studies performed within the last 20 years regarding treatment of proximal femur metastatic lesions with either nailing or arthroplasty with a reported reoperation rate. Sixteen studies were selected for inclusion containing 1414 patients. Pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for reoperation rates associated with IMN and endoprosthetic reconstruction (EPR) were separately calculated. Results The pooled estimate for reoperation for IMN was a median of 9% (95% CI, 5%-14%) and the pooled estimate for reoperation for EPR was a median of 7% (95% CI, 5%-11%). Significant heterogeneity was present in studies reporting on both treatment modalities: for IMN, I2 = 55%, and for EPR, I2 = 51%. Conclusion This systematic literature review identified 16 eligible, nonrandomized, retrospective studies that reported on the results of surgical treatment for proximal femur metastatic disease. The pooled estimate of reoperation was similar between patients treated with IMN and EPR. Inconsistencies among follow-up and the study designs used limited evidence-based conclusions. As the oncologic care of patients with metastatic disease continues to evolve and improve, patient-specific needs must be carefully considered when selecting an optimal treatment strategy. Level of Evidence Level III.
Maize Was Their Flesh: Ritual Feasting in the Maya Highlands

Recently I accompanied a Tz’utujil-Maya ajq’ij (traditionalist priest) and six of his companions on a pilgrimage high in the mountains above Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, to visit a ritual cave. The cave is considered one of the most sacred spots in the Lake Atitlan region and is seldom visited without first carrying out a series of ceremonies to petition the gods and ancestors who are believed to live there to purify the participants. This particular journey was the culmination of 6 months of preparation to determine the best day on which to visit the cave and to ensure that it was permissible to enter the cave without offending its divine inhabitants. The principal purpose of the visit was to ask for a good harvest in the coming year and for rains to return abundantly in season (that year had been a relatively poor one with regard to the maize harvest and the rains had been unusually spotty).
Insulin-Activated Phosphorylation on Tyrosine of a 15 Kilodalton Cytosolic Protein in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

The action of insulin is initiated by its interaction with the insulin receptor located on the surface of target cells (1). This interaction generates a signal, which when transmitted across the plasma membrane, is propagated and distributed to pleitropic control points of cellular metabolism. Modulation by insulin of flux through these controlled reactions is responsible for regulation of the major energy storage pathways in many cell types. In the adipocyte, glucose uptake, glycogenesis and lipogenesis are accelerated by insulin.