cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Content-based compression of mammograms with fractal-based segmentation and a modified JPEG2000

We describe a strategy for the content-based compression of mammograms. In this two-step strategy, the clinically important structures are first identified via a fractal-based segmentation method. Then, a modified version of JPEG2000 is applied in such a way that lossless compression is applied to the extracted structures from the first step, while a lossy compression is applied to the remaining regions. Preliminary results demonstrate that this strategy can achieve high compression ratios (up to 50:1) without compromising the diagnostic quality of the mammograms.
A founder's reflections

This future interest essay of in biopolitics, reflects the link on starting the between past, with present, biology the academic and and future of biopolitics, starting with the academic interest in the link between biology and politics. Examples of primitive adumbrations of this approach appear throughout academic history; however, the modern roots of biology and politics began in the 1960s. This reflection traces biopolitics from its modern birth through the 1990s, and considers future research endeavors related to biology and politics.
Electrical characteristics of TiB/sub 2/ for ULSI applications

The work function of TiB/sub 2/ was measured using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling in MOS capacitors, Schottky diode current measurements, capacitance-voltage techniques, and contact resistance. The resulting data place the Fermi level of TiB/sub 2/ about 0.9 eV below the silicon conduction band. Given this barrier height, Schottky diodes of TiB/sub 2//p-Si exhibit ohmic characteristics, but the contact resistance of TiB/sub 2/ to n/sup +/ junctions is an order of magnitude higher than the generally desired value. Boron outdiffusion from TiB/sub 2/ into underlying silicon was observed at temperatures of 1000 degrees C and greater. Boron diffusion from TiB/sub 2/ into silicon above 1000 degrees C is enhanced compared to the conventionally accepted value of the boron diffusivity. >
The Capitalist System and Unmet Human Material Need

The capitalist system is identifiable by twelve characteristics and is differentiated from all other economic systems by one in particular (see Figure 5.1). In this chapter, the twelve characteristics are addressed either singly, in pairs, or in sets of three. Between the lines the reader may detect certain misgivings on our part regarding capitalism. No doubt, some of our doubts originated with the social encyclicals or have been reinforced by those encyclicals. Clearly, the capitalist economy is not an ideal system in the sense that it does not fully meet the demands made on it by personalist economics. Even so, it is instructive to examine the capitalist system, even briefly, in order to sharpen our focus as to the essential elements of an economic system that adheres to or is consistent with the principles of personalist economics.
Recent Progress in Osteocyte Research

The last decade has seen an exponential increase in our understanding of osteocytes function and biology. These cells, once considered inert by-standers trapped into the mineralized bone, has now risen to be key regulators of skeletal metabolism, mineral homeostasis, and hematopoiesis. As tools and techniques to study osteocytes improved and expanded, it has become evident that there is more to these cells than initially thought. Osteocytes are now recognized not only as the key responders to mechanical forces but also as orchestrators of bone remodeling and mineral homeostasis. These cells are the primary source of several important proteins, such as sclerostin and fibroblast growth factor 23, that are currently target as novel therapies for bone loss (as the case for antisclerostin antibodies) or phosphate disorders. Better understanding of the intricate cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern osteocyte biology will open new avenue of research and ultimately indentify novel therapeutics to treat bone and mineral disorders. This review summarizes novel findings and discusses future avenues of research.
Assessment of the use of timeout in an inpatient child psychiatry treatment unit

This article describes the use of response contingent brief social isolation (i.e., timeout) with 770 children admitted to an inpatient child psychiatry treatment unit during a 2-year study period. A total of 2,256 timeouts were recorded during the study period. Preliminary normative frequency, duration, and reason for timeout information are reported for age and sex groups and for common diagnostic categories. Only a third (255) of the inpatients earned one or more timeouts during their hospitalization. The results suggest 2 trends for timeout in this inpatient setting. First, there was an inverse relationship between timeout frequency and subjects' age; i.e., frequency of timeouts tended to decrease as subjects' age increased. Second, there was a positive relationship between timeout duration and subjects' age; i.e., older subjects required longer timeouts. A third and tentative finding suggested that the frequency of timeout was differentially associated with primary diagnosis for some groups. Alternative treatment procedures are discussed.
Purification and culture of central nervous system pericytes.

Pericytes are found on the abluminal surface of endothelial tubes. The function of these cells is still being elucidated, but they have been shown to be important for development and maintenance of the blood–brain barrier, regulation of angiogenesis and capillary blood flow, and regulation of the neural response to injury and disease. Previously used methods to isolate pericytes have relied on negative selection and prolonged culture of microvessel cells and may lead to populations of pericytes contaminated by other neural cell types. We havedeveloped an immunopanning protocol tospecifically purify pericytes from capillaries in the rodent optic nerve. This method relies on a combination of negative and positive selection criteria and allows prospective, acute isolation of pericytes. Use of this method will facilitate studies of pericyte cell biology and function and pericyte–endothelial cell interactions.
Characterization of porous injectable poly-(propylene fumarate)-based bone graft substitute.

The use of bone grafts for orthopedic applications have increased steadily over the past decade. With improvements in surgical technique, combined with an increasing aged population requiring orthopedic treatment, the need for bone grafts substitutes have also increased. To be useful clinically, the bone graft substitute must be biocompatible, bioabsorbable, and have convenient handling properties. In addition, it must possess a microarchitecture that allows cellular ingrowth and remodeling while simultaneously providing mechanical strength. Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) has been investigated as an injectable, biodegradable scaffold for orthopedic applications. Various methods to create a porous, interconnected polymer scaffold are available. The foaming technique is a convenient method to accomplish this task. Reactions between bicarbonate salts and weak acids generate CO2 gas, causing a bubbling reaction during the polymerization process. This technique allows the porosity of the scaffold to be modulated. Image analysis and mechanical testing of porous PPF fabricated using the foaming technique shows that a highly porous, interconnected scaffold can be produced. At ∼50% porosity, the scaffold has excellent handling properties, contains pore sizes ranging from 50 to 500 μm with an elastic modulus ranging from 20 to 40 MPa. The foaming technique provides an additional method by which clinically useful polymers can be fabricated for use in various bone tissue engineering applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
A fusion architecture for tracking a group of people using a distributed sensor network

This paper presents an architecture to fuse the information from different spatially distributed unattended ground sensors (UGSs) consisting of multiple modalities to track a group of people walking along trails in open areas. The UGS system we used consists of ultrasonic, seismic and passive infrared (PIR) sensors. Estimating the size of the group is done by counting the number of targets using ultrasonic sensors. Determining the composition of the group is done using several classifiers. The fusion is done at the UGS level to fuse information from all the modalities to determine the presence of a target(s) and the information from multiple UGS systems are fused to track a group. The algorithms are tested on data collected in the wilderness with three UGS systems separated 75 m apart on a trail.
Cumulative experimental errors in pseudodynamic tests

In pseudodynamic tests, experimental feedback errors are accumulated in the step-by-step integration procedure. In this paper, the growth of cumulative experimental errors is examined. Approximate cumulative error bounds are derived for linear single- and multi-degree-of-freedom systems, based on realistic models of random and systematic feedback errors. These studies show that the rate of cumulative error growth with respect to the integration time step increases rapidly with the natural frequency of the specimen and the integration time interval used. Hence, the higher modes of a multi-degree-of-freedom system are more sensitive to experimental errors than the lower ones. Furthermore, it is shown that some systematic errors are extremely undesirable. Rational criteria for assessing the reliability of pseudodynamic test results are presented.
Performance Preserving Network Downscaling

The Internet is a large, complex, heterogeneous system operating at very high speeds and consisting of a large number of users. Researchers use a suite of tools and techniques in order to understand the performance of networks: measurements, simulations, and deployments on small to medium-scale testbeds. This work considers a novel addition to this suite: a class of methods to scale down the topology of the Internet that enables researchers to create and observe a smaller replica, and extrapolate its performance to the expected performance of the larger Internet. The key insight that we leverage in this work is that only the congested links along the path of each flow introduce sizable queueing delays and dependencies among flows. Hence, one might hope that the network properties can be captured by a topology that consists of the congested links only. We show that for a network that is shared by TCP flows it is possible to achieve this kind of performance scaling. We also show that simulating a scaled topology can be up to two orders of magnitude faster than simulating the original topology.
The homing receptor CD44 is involved in the progression of precancerous gastric lesions in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori and in development of mucous metaplasia in mice.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) leads to inflammatory events that can promote gastric cancer development. Immune cells transition from the circulation into the infected mucosa through the interaction of their receptors and ligands in the endothelial compartment. CD44 expression is increased in advanced gastric lesions. However, the association of this molecule with the progression of these lesions over time has not been investigated. In addition, there is a lack of understanding of the CD44-dependent cellular processes that lead to gastritis, and possibly to gastric cancer. Here we studied H. pylori-positive subjects with gastric lesions that ranged from multifocal atrophic gastritis to dysplasia to determine gene expression changes associated with disease progression over a period of 6 years. We report that CD44 expression is significantly increased in individuals whose gastric lesions progressed along the gastric precancerous cascade. We also show that CD44-/- mice develop less severe and less extensive H. pylori-induced metaplasia, and show fewer infiltrating Gr1+ cells compared to wild type mice. We present data suggesting that CD44 is associated with disease progression. Mechanisms associated with these effects include induction of interferon gamma responses.
Long-Run Success In The Accounting Profession: A Study Of Student Perceptions

Accounting students are generally well aware of the skills, education, and accomplishments needed to get that first job and initially enter the accounting profession. However, it is equally important that accounting students approaching graduation have a good understanding of the skills, education and accomplishments required for an experienced accountant (an accountant who is three, five, or even ten years into their career). Armed with this information, students will be better equipped to make the best decisions as they complete their undergraduate degree and begin their careers. This would include decisions about graduate studies, pursuing certifications, accepting a job in a particular industry or one which provides specific experiences or training. Unfortunately, many students do not have accurate or complete information regarding the requirements for continued, long-run success in the profession. This paper reports the results of a project which (1) measured accounting students perceptions of the education, training, knowledge and experience required for experienced accountants, (2) implemented a class project exposing students to employers requirements for experienced accountants, and (3) measured student perceptions after the project was completed.
Applications of Shape-Distance Metric to Clustering Shape-Databases

Based upon the geometric approach to clustering outlined in [KSMJ04], this paper presents an application to hierarchical clustering of imaged objects according to the shapes of their boundaries. The shape-distance used in clustering is an intrinsic metric on a nonlinear, infinite-dimensional shape space, obtained using geodesic lengths defined on the manifold. This analysis is landmark free, does not require embedding shapes in ℝ2, and uses ODES for flows (as opposed to PDEs). Clustering is performed in a hierarchical fashion. At any level of hierarchy clusters are generated using a minimum dispersion criterion and an MCMC-type search algorithm is employed to ensure near-optimal configurations. The Hierarchical clustering potentially forms an efficient (O(1og n) searches) tool for retrieval from shape databases.
Reproducing a Trial: Evidence and Its Assessment in Paradise Lost

This essay offers a case study in the emerging area of law-and-film, examining in particular the epistemology of the legal documentary, a growing sub-genre of documentary films about particular trials. The essay focuses on a pair of recent critically-acclaimed documentary films: Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills and Paradise Lost 2: Revelations. These films tell the story of three teenage boys who were convicted for the 1993 murder of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, on the theory that they were members of a Satanic cult and had killed the boys as part of a cult ritual. The focus of the essay is a close reading of the way that the films both construct and critique ideas of evidence and proof. The films quite overtly turn the viewer into a surrogate juror, inviting questions about the defendants' guilt; about the legitimacy of the trial process; and, perhaps most importantly, about what kinds of evidence ought appropriately to persuade. For example, the films suggest two implicit divides: between circumstantial evidence and direct evidence; and also, between character evidence and evidence that results directly from the commission of the crime. While Paradise Lost I privileges circumstantial evidence over direct and trace evidence over character evidence, the second film resorts extensively to character evidence to suggest the possible guilt of someone other than the defendant. Read together, I suggest that the two films vividly enact our cultural ambivalence about character evidence. More generally, this essay explores the audience reception of the pair of films, and how they have provoked a subset of viewers to become involved and engaged by the case, even providing financial support to the defendants, participating in web discussion groups, holding benefit events, etc. This audience response shows both how, on occasion, legal documentary films can function as a kind of alternative appeals process, operating in parallel to the formal legal channels while trying to influence both the public's belief and the legal outcome. Finally, the essay suggests a certain affinity between the trial process and documentary film. Both are elaborately staged and carefully produced dramas, and yet they somehow hide the fact of their constructed nature in plain sight. When successful, both trials and documentaries are understood by by viewers as a commentary on what really happened rather than merely as a commentary on the evidence presented. Both trials and documentaries thus invite ruminations on the structure of knowledge and the processes of its construction, and especially the relation between seeing and knowing and the complex connections between narrative and belief.
Survival and Thrombotic Events in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients Are Not Influenced by Socioeconomic Status

Purpose: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-validated risk factor for poor outcomes among heart failure (HF) and transplant cohorts, but its influence on adverse events and mortality in patients supported with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is poorly understood. Furthermore, whether or not SES should be used for preoperative risk stratification prior to LVAD implantation requires clarification, and will be particularly important at public, statesupported, not-for-profit institutions such as ours where there is expansive SES diversity in the advanced HF population. Methods: Data from consecutive patients with a HeartMate II LVAD at our center from 2008-2014 were reviewed and only those with at least 1-year follow-up (n= 120) were included. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) a validated, geographic-based measure of SES was generated for all individuals using home zip codes. Patient characteristics, implant designation, HF etiology, and INTERMACS profile were also collected. The primary endpoint was a composite of 1yr death, stroke, or pump thrombosis. One-year mortality was also evaluated. Descriptive stats were employed and multivariable models constructed for the outcomes of interest. Results: Seventy-eight percent of study patients were male, 61% white, 54% ischemic, and 68% were implanted as destination therapy (DT). The median ADI was 105.7 (range, 73.9-123.3). Twenty-eight patients (23%) died within 1 year of implant and 40 (33%) reached the primary composite endpoint. On univariate analysis, only lower INTERMACS profile was significantly associated with the primary composite endpoint, while both ischemic etiology (p= 0.04) and lower INTERMACS profile (p= 0.03) were associated with death. There was no significant relationship between ADI and either of the pre-specified endpoints in the unadjusted setting, nor did one exist when ADI was forced into the multivariable models. Conclusion: Despite being a robust predictor of outcomes in the general HF and transplant populations, socioeconomic deprivation was not associated with 1 year death or serious adverse event in our largely DT sample of LVAD patients with diverse SES. It is possible that durable mechanical support may attenuate any potential negative impact of SES and should therefore not be a primary consideration when assessing patient eligibility for device implantation.
Permissive hypercapnia ventilation in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome

Objective To explore the benefit of permissive hypercapnia ventilation(PHV)on treat- ment of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods From March 1996 to December 2005,27 pa- tients were enrolled in this study.ARDS was diagnosed according to the 1994 AECC definition.Twelne pa- tients received PHV by maintaining the PaCO_2 at 45 to 55 mm Hg as treatment group(T),15 patients re- ceived conventional ventilation as controls(C).Variables included ventilation setting,PaO_2/FiO_2 and blood gas,mortality,ventilation duration and incidence of complication.Results(1)At 24 h and 48 h of ventila- tion,levels of peak inspiratory pressure(PIP),positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)and mean airway pres- sure(MAP)in T group were significantly lower than these in controls(P0.01).PaO_2/FiO_2(OI),pH and PaO_2 both didn't differ between two groups.PaCO_2 both significantly differed between two groups.(2)Venti- lation time in T group was shortened(8±2 days vs 11±3 days,P0.01)and there was no difference in mortality between the groups(26.5% vs 25%,P=0.34).Five patients in C group developed pneumothorax and none in T group(P0.05).Conclusion Although no improvement in the survival,PHV was associated with reduction in complication and mechanical ventilation duration.
Rofecoxib does not compromise platelet aggregation during anesthesia and surgery.

This study was undertaken because, although there is evidence that cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX)-2 inhibitors do not compromise platelets in healthy volunteers, many clinicians remain hesitant to administer them perioperatively without definitive evidence of intact platelet function during anesthesia and surgery. In 20 patients scheduled for lower abdominal and pelvic surgery, 5 mL of blood were obtained for baseline platelet aggregometry. One hour prior to surgery, patients received an oral solution of either rofecoxib (ROF) 50 mg or placebo (PLAC) by randomized, double-blinded assignment. Approximately one hour after onset of anesthesia, an intraoperative blood sample was obtained. Baseline and postdrug samples were centrifuged to generate platelet-rich plasma, which was challenged with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid (AA). Aggregometry was performed with and without incubation with aspirin. The data in each subject were normalized to baseline aggregation in response to AA alone and ADP alone. Intergroup differences were assessed using paired t test; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Consistent with known effects of anesthesia on platelet function, both groups had approximately 25% intraoperative declines in aggregation in response to ADP (P = NS for PLACvs ROF) and even greater declines in response to AA (P = NS for PLACvs ROF). Aspirin eliminated aggregation in response to AA in both groups (P = NS), and it caused similar declines in PLAC and ROF groups during exposure to ADP (P = NS). This study provides strong evidence that ROF does not compromise platelet aggregation during anesthesia and surgery; nor does it interfere with the platelet inhibitory effect of aspirin.
Renal Candidiasis in the Neonate

AbstractRenal candidiasis in the neonate is encountered infrequently. Common predisposing factors and characteristic features of the disease are discussed and the literature is reviewed. Survival in the cases reported to date has been poor, with aggressive surgical and medical management the only hope for improving treatment results.
Paraphyly and multiple causes of phylogenetic incongruence in the moss genus Plagiomnium (Mniaceae)

The identification and evaluation ofphylogenetic incongruence remains a difficult problem in the reconstruction of evolutionary history. In this study, molecular sequence data were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the moss genus Plagiomnium (Mniaceae). Separate analyses of gene regions from the nuclear and chloroplast compartments revealed several cases of topological incongruence, which were subsequently evaluated and compared with the behavior of documented allopolyploids in Plagiomnium. Plagiomnium, as currently circumscribed, is paraphyletic, with the epiphytic and primarily Southeast Asian genus Orthomnion nested within Plagiomnium sect. Rostrata. Previously recognized sections of Plagiomnium are also paraphyletic. Eleven out of sixteen species with multiple representatives in the analysis were found to have phylogenetic structure below the currently recognized species level. Populations of P. cuspidatum in Southeastern U.S.A., populations resembling P. tezukae in Southwest China, and three specimens from East Asia that resemble P. maximoviczii all represent distinct evolutionary lineages that may warrant formal taxonomic recognition. Incongruence between the nuclear and chloroplast genomic compartments can be partly explained by the allopolyploid origin of P. medium and P. cuspidatum. However, examples of incongruence in the placement of P.japonicum, P. undulatum, P. venustum, and Orthomnion are probably caused by increased rates of evolution and/or lack of support for branches that include these taxa. These results emphasize the importance of distinguishing between different types of incongruence on a case-by-case basis, before attempting to make general conclusions about the evolutionary processes involved in the creation of discordant gene trees.
Non-competitive NMDA antagonists and anti-oxidant drugs reduce striatal atrophy and facilitate recovery of function following lesions of the rat cortex

Following brain injury there is an excessive release of glutamate, a reduction in levels of cellular Mg+ +, and the generation of oxygen free radicals. These processes may contribute to the severity of the behavioral impairments seen following brain injury by leading to secondary neuronal degeneration. The present experiment investigates the relative effects of three drugs (MK-801, an NMDA antagonist; magnesium chloride, an NMDA antagonist; and N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN), an anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger) which disrupt different aspects of the pathophysiological process, in reducing these impairments. Direct comparisons of these drugs may determine if one treatment is more effective than another, or if one is detrimental. In addition, the effects of combination treatments including PBN and MK-801 or MgCl2 were examined. These combination treatment were aimed at the possibility of potentiating the beneficial effects observed after administration of these agents alone. Rats received unilateral electrolytic lesions of the somatic sensorimotor cortex followed by a regimen of MK-801 (1 mg/kg), MgCl2 (1 mmol/kg), PBN (100 mg/kg), MK-801 + PBN (1 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg), MgCl2 + PBN (1 mmol/kg, 100 mg/kg), or saline (1 ml/kg) beginning 15 min following injury. Rats were tested on several sensorimotor tasks (i.e. forelimb placing and foot-fault) for 43 days following the cortical lesions. Rats receiving any of the single or combination drug treatments showed a significant facilitation of recovery on the sensorimotor tasks compared to saline control rats. On one behavioral test (i.e. foot-fault) there was a significant further enhancement of the recovery by combination treatments compared to the single treatment groups. These data are consistent with the idea that excessive release of glutamate, reduction in Mg+ + levels, and free radical generation contribute to the severity of the behavioral impairments following cortical injury, and that arresting these processes results in a facilitation of behavioral recovery. Anatomical analysis showed that all drug treatments decreased the amount of atrophy seen in the ipsilateral striatum.
Neurologic Signs of Lyme Disease

Clinical manifestations of Lyme disease (LD) in 97 seropositive children were reviewed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with particular attention to neurologic symptoms and signs.
A series of 6 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus in pregnancy

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a type of chronic inflammatory connective tissue disease commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20-30 It is more common in women than in men, especially during the fertile period of a women’s life. In olden days pregnancy in patients with SLE were discouraged due to concern regarding the poor feto-maternal outcomes. However, over the last 10-15 years, medical practice has changed, and in many cases pregnancy is possible with close supervision, and advice tailored according to individual cases. This case series will explain what care need to be taken into consideration prior to conception, ANC period and post pregnancy 100. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Seth G. S. M. C. and KEM Hospital Parel after IEC approval where 6 cases of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in pregnancy over a period of 1 year in a unit were collected and are presented here with regards to maternal and fetal outcomes. Results: In our case series two patients required Caesarean section for fetal indication and both the babies had congenital heart block and were asked regular follow up in cardiology outpatient department, two patients required medical termination of pregnancy in view of teratogenic drug exposure(cyclophosphamide), one patient had intrauterine growth restriction and had a preterm vaginal delivery with good fetal outcome and no heart block in the baby and the last patient was diagnosed as a case of SLE when baby was found to have heart block in the antenatal period and was later evaluated and diagnosed as a case of SLE. Conclusions: Lupus activity is increased in pregnancy and patients with SLE are at higher risk for spontaneous abortions, fetal death, PIH, preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation. Management of these cases requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the obstetrician, rheumatologist, nephrologist and neonatologist.
Migrating birds reorient toward land at dawn over the Great Lakes, USA

ABSTRACT Most landbirds migrate at night and typically make landfall in suitable stopover habitat before dawn. However, when birds find themselves over large water bodies at dawn, they must continue flying into the day and either finish crossing the water body and land on the far shore or backtrack to the near (i.e. first encountered) shore to land. Their collective decisions will influence how migrants are distributed among shoreline stopover habitats on either side of the water crossing. We studied birds during 4 spring migration seasons from 2010 to 2013 in the Great Lakes region, USA. We used 3 weather surveillance radars to observe migrating landbirds' behavior at dawn and subsequent terrestrial distributions during stopover. Mean flight heights over land and water were higher and mean flight directions were more oriented toward the closest shore at dawn when compared to peak migration earlier in the night. The wider the lake crossing, the higher that birds along the lakeshore flew at dawn. Seasonal ...
The constants of chemical change

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (The more things change, the more they remain the same.)
QCM virtual multisensor array for fuel discrimination and detection of gasoline adulteration

Abstract Herein, a simplistic quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) approach for discrimination of petroleum based fuels is presented. In this regard, a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) virtual multisensor array (V-MSA) was employed to discriminate between different petroleum based fuels and to detect gasoline adulteration with high accuracy. First, an ionic liquid based V-MSA was used to discriminate between four fuel types (petroleum ether, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel). Subsequently, the system was used to successfully discriminate between three gasoline grades as a precursor for studies of gasoline adulteration. Finally, the system was used to detect and determine the nature of several gasoline adulterants at different v/v ratios (1%, 10%, 20% and 40%). Excellent accuracy (100%) was achieved for each study extolling the potential of this approach. This report represents the first example of a QCM sensor array utilized for detection of gasoline adulteration.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Interval Colorectal Cancer Incidence: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Interval colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 3% to 8% of all cases of CRC in the United States. Data on interval CRC by race/ethnicity are scant. Objective To examine whether risk for interval CRC among Medicare patients differs by race/ethnicity and whether this potential variation is accounted for by differences in the quality of colonoscopy, as measured by physicians' polyp detection rate (PDR). Design Population-based cohort study. Setting Medicare program. Participants Patients aged 66 to 75 years who received colonoscopy between 2002 and 2011 and were followed through 2013. Measurements Kaplan-Meier curves and adjusted Cox models were used to estimate cumulative probabilities and hazard ratios (HRs) of interval CRC, defined as a CRC diagnosis 6 to 59 months after colonoscopy. Results There were 2735 cases of interval CRC identified over 235 146 person-years of follow-up. A higher proportion of black persons (52.8%) than white persons (46.2%) received colonoscopy from physicians with a lower PDR. This rate was significantly associated with interval CRC risk. The probability of interval CRC by the end of follow-up was 7.1% in black persons and 5.8% in white persons. Compared with white persons, black persons had significantly higher risk for interval CRC (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.13 to 1.51]); the disparity was more pronounced for cancer of the rectum (HR, 1.70 [CI, 1.25 to 2.31]) and distal colon (HR, 1.45 [CI, 1.00 to 2.11]) than for cancer of the proximal colon (HR, 1.17 [CI, 0.96 to 1.42]). Adjustment for PDR did not alter HRs by race/ethnicity, but differences between black persons and white persons were greater among physicians with higher PDRs. Limitation Colonoscopy and polypectomy were identified by using billing codes. Conclusion Among elderly Medicare enrollees, the risk for interval CRC was higher in black persons than in white persons; the difference was more pronounced for cancer of the distal colon and rectum and for physicians with higher PDRs. Primary funding source American Cancer Society.
Commentary: Bridging student engagement research and practice:

This commentary is derived from the five empirical articles that appeared in the April 2017 special issue on student engagement (Liem & Chong, 2017). Drawing on others’ critiques of engagement theo...
Building and Nurturing Communities of Practice among K-12 CS Teachers: (Abstract Only)

The need for K-12 students to engage in Computer Science has been acknowledged in the White House call for "Computer Science for All" and supported through a variety of institutions. Implicit in many initiatives, and explicit in Google's CS4HS initiative, is the notion of a "Community of Practice" involving K-12 teachers. Communities of Practice are mutually supportive groups to assist newcomers as they find their way in a new endeavor. Teachers can support one another at multiple levels: technical, pedagogical, political, and emotional. Maintaining a Community of Practice for CS teachers, however, can be challenging. Demands on teacher time, lack of institutional buy-in, physical isolation, and lack of appropriate peer institutions are some confounding factors. A true community of practice requires maintenance: ways to identify newcomers or other participants in need, and ways to identify and share the resources that can help others. In this BoF, educators who are working to expand CS within K-12 education will discuss the challenges in the Community of Practice approach and share proven ways of addressing them.
LOCUS COERULEUS, NORADRENALINE METABOLISM AND STRESS

Publisher Summary Metabolism of noradrenaline (NA) in the central nervous system is increased by various kinds of severe “stress.” A major part of cerebral NA is localized in neurons originating from the locus coeruleus. The locus coeruleus of the rat is a nucleus, consisting of perikarya of noradrenergic neurons, located in the anterior pons, just beneath the lateral aspect of the fourth ventricle. The ascending noradrenergic projections of the locus coeruleus to the cerebral cortex do not cross the midline. The present study establishes the role of the locus coeruleus for the effects of stress on metabolism of NA in the cerebral cortex. These effects appeared to be similar to the effects of electrical stimulation of the locus coeruleus. It was found that neither deamination nor catechol-O-methylation limits the rapid degradation released NA. It was also found that the analgesic drug morphine slows the spontaneous activity of neurons of the locus coeruleus.
Shock-induced amorphization in silicon carbide

Abstract While silicon carbide (SiC) has been predicted to undergo pressure-induced amorphization, the microstructural evidence of such a drastic phase change is absent as its brittleness usually prevents its successful recovery from high-pressure experiments. Here we report on the observation of amorphous SiC recovered from laser-ablation-driven shock compression with a peak stress of approximately 50 GPa. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the amorphous regions are extremely localized, forming bands as narrow as a few nanometers. In addition to these amorphous bands, planar stacking faults are observed. Large-scale non-equilibrium molecular dynamic simulations elucidate the process and suggest that the planar stacking faults serve as the precursors to amorphization. Our results suggest that the amorphous phase produced is a high-density form, which enhances its thermodynamical stability under the high pressures combined with the shear stresses generated by the uniaxial strain state in shock compression.
Bone remodeling in relation to androgen receptor activity in prostate cancer bone metastases

Bone remodeling in relation to androgen receptor activity in prostate cancer bone metastases
AS ORIGENS IDEOLÓGICAS DA LEI SMITH-HUGHES DE 1917 DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMÉRICA

Investigacao sobre as origens ideologicas da educacao vocacional estadunidense no inicio do seculo XX, buscando mapear os principais atores na aprovacao da lei Smith-Hughes e seus interesses por meio de pesquisa bibliografica. Como resultado, ficou claro que foi necessaria, no processo que culminou com a aprovacao da primeira lei que garantia financiamento federal a educacao vocacional nos Estados Unidos, uma coligacao de atores cuja cooperacao seria bastante improvavel em qualquer circunstância: movimentos de trabalhadores, educadores, industriais, agricultores. Em meio a tantos diferentes interesses e posicionamentos quanto a forma que a educacao vocacional deveria ter e quanto aos propositos que ela deveria servir, os grupos mais influentes conseguiram se unir em torno do desejo de racionalizar a formacao para o trabalho sem atacar diretamente a estrutura de classes e o sistema capitalista. O resultado foi que questoes sobre a natureza do trabalho e desigualdade forma transformadas em questoes de educacao e treinamento. ABSTRACT Investigation of the ideological origins of US vocational education in the early twentieth century, seeking to map the main agents involved in the approval of the Smith-Hughes law and its interests through bibliographic research. As a result, it was learned that in the process that culminated in the passage of the first law guaranteeing federal funding for vocational education in the United States, a coalition of actors was formed, whose cooperation would be quite improbable under all circumstances: workers, educators, industrial movements, farmers. In the midst of so many different interests and positions regarding the form that vocational education should take and the purposes it should serve, the most influential groups were able to unite around the desire to rationalize training for work without directly attacking the structure of classes and the capitalist system. The result that questions about the nature of work and inequality were turned into issues of education and training.
Overview of Hemorrhagic Stroke Care in the Emergency Unit

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a neurologic emergency. Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with ICH must be rapidly diagnosed, managed, and transported to an ICU or operating room. Emergency physicians must be prepared to stabilize and diagnose patients with ICH in a timely fashion and have knowledge about the underlying disease process and the evidence supporting various treatment modalities. In combination with rapid diagnosis, appropriate treatment of elevated blood pressure and coagulopathy, and preparedness for common pitfalls related to ICH, patient outcomes can be substantially improved. ICH occurs without warning, has a high mortality, and leaves many survivors with significant disability. Nevertheless, outcomes have improved over the last several decades due to advances in emergency and critical care. Although once thought of as a uniformly devastating disease, many patients have improved mortality and morbidity following ICH thanks to several recent advances and new studies that have been published. In particular, recent studies pertaining to the management of patients with ICH and concomitant antiplatelet medications, anticoagulation, and hypertension are critical for the practicing emergency physician. This chapter describes the current evidence as it pertains to emergent treatment of ICH.
A role for CYR61 in ovarian cancer progression

1858 CYR61 is a secreted, heparin-binding, extracellular matrix-associated angiogenic inducer. We have previously shown that CYR61 is involved in ovarian angiogenesis and that its expression is also detected in ovarian cancer cells. The goal of the present study was to determine the function(s) of CYR61 in ovarian tumor angiogenesis and progression. To accomplish this, we established stable CYR61 overexpressing OVCAR-5 clones along with appropriate pCDNA3.1 vector controls. Compared to parental OVCAR-5 and vector control cells, CYR61 stable clones exhibited a loss of cell-cell contact and an irregular cell morphology. These morphological changes were accompanied by increased mRNA expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related transcription factors, Snail, Twist, and SIP1, but not of Slug. Western blotting of cell lysates demonstrated that CYR61 stable clones have significantly decreased (p
The Search for Double Beta Decay with Germanium Detectors: Past, Present and Future

High Purity Germanium Detectors have excellent energy resolution; the best among the technologies used in double beta decay. Since neutrino-less double beta decay hinges on the search for a rare peak upon a background continuum, this strength has enabled the technology to consistently provide leading results. The Ge crystals at the heart of these experiments are very pure; they have no measurable U or Th contamination. The added efforts to reduce the background associated with electronics, cryogenic cooling, and shielding have been very successful, leading to the longevity of productivity. The first experiment published in 1967 by the Milan group of Fiorini, established the benchmark half-life limit $>3\times10^{20}$ yr. This bound was improved with the early work of the USC-PNNL, UCSB and Milan groups yielding limits above $10^{23}$ yr. The Heidelberg-Moscow and USC-PNNL collaborations pioneered the use of enriched Ge for detector fabrication. Both groups also initiated techniques of analyzing pulse waveforms to reject $\gamma$-ray background. These steps extended the limits to just over $10^{25}$ yr. In 2000, a subset of the Heidelberg-Moscow collaboration claimed the observation of double beta decay. More recently, the \MJ\ and GERDA collaborations have developed new detector technologies that optimize the pulse waveform analysis. As a result, the GERDA collaboration refuted the claim of observation with a revolutionary approach to shielding by immersing the detectors directly in radio-pure liquid argon. In 2018, the \MJ\ collaboration, using a classic vacuum cryostat and high-Z shielding, achieved a background level near that of GERDA by developing very pure materials for use nearby the detectors. Together, GERDA and \MJ\ have provided limits approaching $10^{26}$ yr. In this article, we elaborate on the historical use of Ge detectors for double beta decay addressing the strengths and weaknesses. We also summarize the status and future as many \MJ\ and GERDA collaborators have joined with scientists from other efforts to give birth to the LEGEND collaboration. LEGEND will exploit the best features of both experiments to extend the half-life limit beyond $10^{28}$ yr with a ton-scale experiment.
Review of David Alfandre, ed., Against-Medical-Advice Discharges From the Hospital: Optimizing Prevention and Management to Promote High Quality, Patient-Centered Care

Patients who leave the hospital prior to their medically recommended endpoint (i.e., a discharge against medical advice, or “AMA”) typically prompt considerable consternation among physicians and o...
A comparison of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to invasive electrocortical stimulation for sensorimotor mapping in pediatric patients.

Localizing neurologic function within the brain remains a significant challenge in clinical neurosurgery. Invasive mapping with direct electrocortical stimulation currently is the clinical gold standard but is impractical in young or cognitively delayed patients who are unable to reliably perform tasks. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging non-invasively identifies resting state networks without the need for task performance, hence, is well suited to pediatric patients. We compared sensorimotor network localization by resting state fMRI to cortical stimulation sensory and motor mapping in 16 pediatric patients aged 3.1 to 18.6 years. All had medically refractory epilepsy that required invasive electrographic monitoring and stimulation mapping. The resting state fMRI data were analyzed using a previously trained machine learning classifier that has previously been evaluated in adults. We report comparable functional localization by resting state fMRI compared to stimulation mapping. These results provide strong evidence for the utility of resting state functional imaging in the localization of sensorimotor cortex across a wide range of pediatric patients.
Proposing “healing tourism” as a post-COVID-19 tourism product

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world’s tourism industry to a halt in 2020. UNWTO (2020) has estimated annual international tourism to decline by 58–78%. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively ...
The Duality of Students and Faculty: Illustrating the Sociological Utility of Doctoral Committee Data:

In the context of growing interest in social networks and the sociology of graduate education, the authors examine a relational feature of postbaccalaureate study that has received particularly lit...
Successful Domino Liver Transplantation from a Patient with Methylmalonic Acidemia.

Liver transplantation has been reported in patients with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), but long-term outcome is controversial. Many patients with other approved indications for liver transplantation die before donor grafts are available. A 28-year-old man with MMA underwent cadaveric liver transplantation. His liver was used as a domino graft for a 61-year-old man with primary sclerosing cholangitis, who had low priority on the transplant waiting list. Surgical outcome was successful, and after transplantation both patients have excellent graft function. The patient with MMA showed substantial decrease in methylmalonate in urine (from 5,277 ± 1,968 preoperatively to 1,068 ± 384 mmol/mol creatinine) and plasma (from 445.9 ± 257.0 to 333.3 ± 117.7 μmol/l) over >1-year follow-up, while dietary protein intake increased from 0.6 to 1.36 ± 0.33 g/kg/day. The domino recipient maintained near-normal levels of plasma amino acids but did develop elevated methylmalonate in blood and urine while receiving an unrestricted diet (peak plasma methylmalonate 119 μmol/l and urine methylmalonate 84–209 mmol/mol creatinine, with 1.0–1.9 g/kg/day protein). Neither patient demonstrated any apparent symptoms of MMA or metabolic decompensation during the postoperative period or following discharge.