cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gaining while giving: An fMRI study of the rewards of family assistance among White and Latino youth

Family assistance is an important aspect of family relationships for adolescents across many cultures and contexts. Motivations to help family members may be driven by both cultural factors and early family experiences. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine (1) cultural differences in neural reward activity among White and Latino youth during online experiences of family assistance and (2) how prior family experiences related to neural reward activity when helping the family. Participants were scanned as they made decisions to contribute money to their family and themselves. Latino and White participants showed similar behavioral levels of helping but distinct patterns of neural activity within the mesolimbic reward system. Whereas Latino participants showed more reward activity when contributing to their family, White participants showed more reward activity when gaining cash for themselves. In addition, participants who felt more identified with their family and who derived greater fulfillment from helping their family two years prior to the scan showed increased reward system activation when contributing to their family. These results suggest that family assistance may be guided, in part, by the personal rewards one attains from that assistance, and that this sense of reward may be modulated by cultural influences and prior family experiences.
Semen retrieval in men with spinal cord injury is improved by interrupting current delivery during electroejaculation.

Purpose: Based on the findings of a previous study of pressure differentials in the external and internal urinary sphincters during electroejaculation we determined whether semen retrieval in men with spinal cord injury would be improved by interrupting current delivery during electroejaculation.Materials and Methods: We tested continuous versus interrupted current delivery in the same group of 12 men with spinal cord injury. Patients underwent a mean of 4 randomly assigned continuous or interrupted trials 4 to 8 weeks apart. Antegrade and retrograde semen parameters were analyzed per trial. Multiple trials of each method per patient were averaged and semen parameters by the continuous and interrupted methods were compared.Results: Interrupted delivery resulted in significantly greater mean antegrade volume versus continuous delivery (2 versus 0.9 cc). In this antegrade fraction mean total sperm count and mean total motile sperm was higher for interrupted (130 million and 35 million) versus continuous (79...
Lycosidae (Arachnida: Araneae)

The 27 species of Lycosidae found in New Zealand are revised with one new genus and 14 new species. Allotrochosina Roewer, 1960 includes A. schauinslandi Simon, 1889. Anoteropsis L. Koch, 1878 includes: A. adumbrata (Urquhart, 1887), A. aerescens (Goyen, 1887) (= Lycosa maura Urquhart, 1892 and Lycosa albovestita Dalmas, 1917, new synonymies), A. alpina sp. nov., A. arenivaga (Dalmas, 1917), A. blesti sp. nov., A. canescens (Goyen, 1887), A. cantuaria sp. nov., A. flavescens L. Koch, 1878, A. forsteri sp. nov., A. hallae sp. nov., A. hilaris (L. Koch, 1877) (= Lycosa umbrata L. Koch, 1877, Pardosa vicaria L. Koch, 1877, Lycosa taylori Goyen, 1887, Lycosa tremula Simon, 1899, Lycosa virgatella Roewer, 1951, and Lycosa subantarctica Forster, 1964, new synonymies), A. insularis sp. nov., A. lacustris sp. nov., A. litoralis sp. nov., A. montana sp. nov., A. okatainae sp. nov, A. ralphi (Simon, 1905) (= Lycosa turbida Simon, 1905, Lycosa retiruga Simon, 1905, and Lycosa algida Simon, 1905, new synonymies), A. senica (L. Koch, 1877) (= Lycosa goyeni Roewer, 1951, new synonymy), A. urquharti (Simon, 1898), and A. westlandica sp. nov. Artoria Thorell, 1877 includes: A. hospita sp. nov., A. segrega sp. nov., and A. separata sp. nov. Geolycosa Montgomery, 1904 includes G. tongatabuensis (Strand, 1911). Notocosa gen. nov. includes N. bellicosa Goyen, 1888. Venatrix Roewer, 1960 includes V. goyderi (Hickman, 1944). All genera and species are described, with information on synonymy, type data, material examined, geographical distribution, and subfamilial status. Habitus images of adults, illustrations of important structural features, and distribution maps are provided. A key to adults is given. A phylogenetic analysis examining the relationships of species in the genus Anoteropsis is presented and contains significant phylogenetic structure. Checklist of taxa Genus Allotrochosina Roewer, 1960 schauinslandi (Simon, 1889) Genus Anoteropsis L. Koch, 1878 adumbrata (Urquhart, 1887) aerescens (Goyen, 1887) alpina new species arenivaga (Dalmas, 1917) blesti new species canescens (Goyen, 1887) cantuaria new species flavescens L. Koch, 1878 forsteri new species hallae new species hilaris (L. Koch, 1877) insularis new species lacustris new species litoralis new species montana new species okatainae new species ralphi (Simon, 1905) senica (L. Koch, 1877) urquharti (Simon, 1898) westlandica new species Genus Artoria Thorell, 1877 hospita new species segrega new species separata new species Genus Geolycosa Montgomery, 1904 tongatabuensis (Strand, 1911) Genus Notocosa new genus bellicosa (Goyen, 1888) Genus Venatrix Roewer, 1960 goyderi (Hickman, 1944)
Dementia and Cancer: A Comparison of Spouse Caregivers

Can prominent themes that have emerged in dementia caregiving research be extrapolated to caregivers of persons with other chronic illnesses such as cancer? To answer this question, the present study compared 272 spouse caregivers of dementia sufferers with 30 spouse caregivers of cancer victims on multiple indicators of well-being. Group contrasts using MANOVA revealed that dementia caregivers were more adversely affected by their role than cancer caregivers. Illness duration and caregivers' employment status did not help to explain this difference, yet caregiver age was a robust covariate. Specifically, younger spouse caregivers were significantly more compromised than older spouse providers.
Epidermal Growth Factor-induced Proliferation Requires Down-regulation of Pax6 in Corneal Epithelial Cells*

Growth factors play important roles in regulating corneal epithelial cell proliferation/differentiation during wound healing. It is suggested that PAX6 involves corneal epithelium lineage-specific differentiation (Liu, J. J., Kao, W. W., and Wilson, S. E. (1999) Exp. Eye Res. 68, 295-301); however, the regulatory mechanism and function of Pax6 in growth factor-induced corneal epithelial responses is still unknown. In the present study, we found that the mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in corneal epithelial cells required suppression of PAX6 activity through cellular mechanisms involving Erk-signaling pathway-mediated increase in CTCF expression. EGF-induced CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) activation subsequently inhibited Pax6 expression by interacting with a CTCF-specific region upstream of the pax6 P0 promoter. Suppression of EGF-induced Erk activation by specific inhibitor or by the dominant expression of a silent Erk mutant effectively abolished the effects of EGF stimulation on regulations of CTCF and pax6. Apparently, down-regulation of Pax6 expression induced by EGF is required for corneal epithelial proliferation, because overexpression of pax6 in these cells attenuated EGF-induced proliferation. In contrast, knockdown of mRNA expression with pax6- or CTCF-specific small interfering RNA in corneal epithelial cells significantly promoted or attenuated EGF-induced proliferation, respectively. Thus, our results revealed a new regulatory mechanism that involves cellular signaling events and pax6 transcription regulation in growth factor-mediated proliferation. In corneal epithelial cells, this suggests that inhibition of pax6 expression is a prerequisite for EGF to elicit controls of cell growth and fate.
Purification, subunit composition and regulatory properties of the ATP · Mg2+‐dependent form of type I phosphoprotein phosphatase from bovine heart

The ATP X Mg2+-dependent phosphoprotein phosphatase has been purified from bovine heart to near-homogeneity. It is a heterodimer (75 kDa) consisting of a catalytic (C) subunit (40 kDa) and a regulatory (R) subunit (35 kDa). The R subunit, which is identical to inhibitor-2, is transiently phosphorylated during activation of the enzyme catalyzed by phosphatase-1 kinase (FA). Maximal activation requires preincubation of the phosphatase with FA and ATP X Mg2+. However, relatively low yet definitively demonstrable basal activity can be expressed by Mg2+ alone (ranging from 3% to 10% of the FA X ATP X Mg activity, depending on the degree of endogenous proteolytic damage of the phosphatase during purification), but not by either FA or ATP alone. Limited trypsinization results in a rapid and total degradation of the R subunit and partial degradation of the 40-kDa C subunit to active proteins of 35-38 kDa. The resulting 'nicked' C subunit of 35-38 kDa is no longer dependent on FA for activation and can be fully activated by Mg2+ (or Mn2+) alone. Endogenous proteolytic damage of the R subunit also results in an increase of activity that can be expressed by M2+ alone with a concomitant decrease of the FA-dependent activation. Although Mn2+ is slightly more effective than Mg2+ in expressing the holoenzyme basal activity, the activation by Mn2+ is only about 60% of that of Mg2+ when FA and ATP are also present. In the activation by adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (ATP[gamma S]), Co2+ is the most effective cofactor. The activation by ATP[gamma S] X Co2+ is more than 50% of that by ATP X Mg2+. The present studies indicate that Mg2+ is the natural divalent cation for the FA-catalyzed activation in which Mg2+ plays two distinctly different roles: it forms Mg2+ X ATP which serves as a substrate for the kinase; it acts as an essential cofactor for the catalytic function of the phosphatase. The discrepancies between the results obtained by this and other laboratories with respect to the effectiveness of Mg2+ and ATP[gamma S] in the activation of the phosphatase are discussed.
Corrections to Phytotaxa 222: Some nomenclatural adjustments and typifications for almond species in the genus Prunus sensu lato (Rosaceae)

Following the publication of Some nomenclatural adjustments and typifications for almond species in the genus Prunus sensu lato ( Rosaceae ) (Eisenman 2015), two necessary corrections were brought to my attention.
MaCH: using sequence and genotype data to estimate haplotypes and unobserved genotypes

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can identify common alleles that contribute to complex disease susceptibility. Despite the large number of SNPs assessed in each study, the effects of most common SNPs must be evaluated indirectly using either genotyped markers or haplotypes thereof as proxies. We have previously implemented a computationally efficient Markov Chain framework for genotype imputation and haplotyping in the freely available MaCH software package. The approach describes sampled chromosomes as mosaics of each other and uses available genotype and shotgun sequence data to estimate unobserved genotypes and haplotypes, together with useful measures of the quality of these estimates. Our approach is already widely used to facilitate comparison of results across studies as well as meta-analyses of GWAS. Here, we use simulations and experimental genotypes to evaluate its accuracy and utility, considering choices of genotyping panels, reference panel configurations, and designs where genotyping is replaced with shotgun sequencing. Importantly, we show that genotype imputation not only facilitates cross study analyses but also increases power of genetic association studies. We show that genotype imputation of common variants using HapMap haplotypes as a reference is very accurate using either genome-wide SNP data or smaller amounts of data typical in fine-mapping studies. Furthermore, we show the approach is applicable in a variety of populations. Finally, we illustrate how association analyses of unobserved variants will benefit from ongoing advances such as larger HapMap reference panels and whole genome shotgun sequencing technologies.
DOWNS AND TWO-PARTY CONVERGENCE

▪ Abstract We take as our starting point the insights of Downs (1957) into two-party competition. A careful reading of Downs offers a much more sophisticated and nuanced portrait of the factors affecting party differentiation than the simplistic notion that, in plurality elections, we ought to expect party convergence to the views of the median voter. Later scholars have built on Downsian ideas to see what happens vis-a-vis party differentiation when we modify key assumptions found in the basic Downsian spatial model. Recent work allows us to turn what is taken to be the Downsian view on its head: Although there are pressures in two-party competition for the two parties to converge, in general we should expect nonconvergence. Moreover, contra the negative portrait offered by Green & Shapiro (1994) of the limited or nonexistent value of research on party competition models in the Downsian tradition, we argue that, when viewed as a whole, neo-Downsian models—especially those of the past decade—do allow us t...
Comparison between acceleromyography and visual assessment of train‐of‐four for monitoring neuromuscular blockade in horses undergoing surgery

Abstract Objective To compare acceleromyography (AMG) with visual assessment of train-of-four (TOF) for monitoring neuromuscular blockade and detecting residual muscle paralysis in horses receiving atracurium. Study design Prospective, controlled clinical study. Animals Nine adult, client-owned horses weighing 577 (436, 727) kg (median, minimum, maximum) and ASA physical status I–II, admitted for surgery. Methods An electrical nerve stimulator was used to stimulate the peroneal nerve with TOFs at 1 minute intervals. Before and after atracurium administration (0.15 mg kg −1 , IV), the number of twitches observed (TOF count, or TOFc) was assessed visually. When four twitches were seen (i.e., TOFc = 4) presence or absence of fade by visual assessment was recorded. Simultaneously, the response to each TOF was assessed by AMG; this measured TOFc, and twitch fade using TOF ratio (TOFR; ratio of fourth to first twitch). The anesthetist performing the visual evaluation was blinded to the AMG readings. Recovery from neuromuscular blockade was defined as the absence of fade by visual inspection or a TOFR ≥90% by AMG. Results During onset of action of the drug, fade was first detected 4 (1, 8) minutes earlier by AMG ( p = 0.008). Maximal blockade started at 6 (3, 17) minutes by visual assessment and 9 (3, 25) minutes by AMG (not significantly different). Only four horses achieved complete neuromuscular blockade (TOFc of zero by both methods); in those four horses AMG did not detect the start of the return of neuromuscular transmission before visual assessment. Visual assessment indicated the return of four twitches with no fade 12 (8, 42) minutes before AMG gave a TOFR of ≥90% ( p = 0.004). Conclusion and clinical relevance There was no substantial advantage for AMG in detecting the onset of atracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade. However, AMG detected residual blockade when visual assessment of TOF did not. Application of AMG is likely to reduce the incidence of residual blockade.
Insulin stimulates cell surface aminopeptidase activity toward vasopressin in adipocytes

We previously discovered that insulin stimulates the marked translocation of a novel membrane aminopeptidase, designated vp165 for vesicle protein of 165 kDa, to the cell surface in adipocytes. To ...
Advances in the Design of Pillared Clay Catalysts by Surfactant and Polymer Modification

The catalytic properties of pillared clays for organic chemical conversions, especially those occurring in liquid media, can be substantially improved by surfactant modification of the pore structure during the pillaring reaction. For instance, the incorporation of a non-ionic surfactant, such as the alkylated polyethylene oxide C12-14H25-29O(CH2CH2O)5H, in the synthesis of alumina pillared montmorillonite results in a dramatic increase in the interparticle (textural) mesoporosity of the final calcined products. These surfactant-modified mesoporous pillared clays are exceptionally active as catalysts for the diffusion controlled liquid phase alkylation of biphenyl. The enhanced mesoporosity facilitates access of the reactants to the active acid sites in the interlayer nanopores of the pillared clay tactoids. Organic polymeric molecules also can be used to mediate the pore structure of pillared clay materials. The reaction of aluminum chlorohydrate oligomers with Na+ rectorite in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol as a pillaring precursor affords a supergallery alumina pillared rectorite with a basal spacings of 52 A and a corresponding gallery height of 33 A under air- dried conditions. A stable gallery height of 23 A is observed even after treatment with 100% steam at 800°C for 17 hour. The new supergallery intercalate is characterized by a surface area, pore volume, and catalytic cracking activity superior to conventional alumina pillared rectorite and related smectites with 9 A gallery heights.
Diagnostic value of serum prolactin levels in PNES in the epilepsy monitoring unit

Abstract Background: This is a retrospective study to determine the usefulness of serum prolactin levels in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) for distinguishing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) from epileptic seizures (ES). Methods: All the records of consecutive patients admitted to the EMU between 2008 and 2012 were reviewed. Patients with a diagnosis of PNES and ES were selected. Serum prolactin level was obtained within 20 minutes for all patients, and an elevated prolactin level was defined as twice the patient9s baseline value. A total of 607 records were reviewed, and 389 patients were excluded because of incomplete information or lack of a clinical event. Results: A total of 218 patients were included in the analysis. A further 18 patients were excluded because of simple partial seizures or because the documented time of obtaining serum prolactin was not clear. A total of 146 patients had PNES, of which 42 had elevated prolactin levels, representing a 28.8% false-positive rate. All 22 patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures had elevated serum prolactin; however, 5 of 32 patients with complex partial seizures did not have an elevated prolactin level, representing a 15.6% false-negative rate. Conclusions: Serum prolactin levels do not provide any additional support for distinguishing PNES from ES. Furthermore, serum prolactin levels in this setting add unnecessary blood draws and financial burden for the patients. Therefore, prolactin levels should not be obtained routinely in the EMU. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that postevent elevation of serum prolactin occurs in 84.4% of patients with ES and 28.8% of patients with PNES.
Effects of Green Cloverworm Larval Intensity on Consumption of Soybean Leaf Tissue

Larvae of Plathypena scabra (F.) were studied in the laboratory to determine the effect of population intensity on soybean leaf consumption. Data also were gathered on pupal weight, efficiency of food conversion, egg to adult stadia, and survivorship. Results showed that larvae reared in populations of 2 and 3 larvae/container consumed a maximum of 12.1 and 28.3% less leaf tissue than those reared singly in 2 of 4 trials. This effect was caused by a limited food supply, with no significant differences occurring in trials where food was abundant. Reduced consumption was accompanied by significantly shorter egg to adult stadia. In relating consumption data from experimental intensities to approximated populations in the field, it was evident that a linear relationship exists between leaf consumption and larval intensity at and below the economic-injury level.
Synthesis and Action of Eicosanoids in Warm and Cold-Acclimated Amphibians

Eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) are derived from 20 carbon fatty acids in membrane phospholipids and are important physiological regulators in a variety of systems. While synthesis and actions of eicosanoids are well characterized in mammals, less is known about cellular production and biological actions in poikilothermic vertebrates. As body temperatures in poikilotherms reflect those of the environment, different acclimation states may therefore dramatically affect synthesis and action of eicosanoids. In cannulated bullfrogs, prostaglandins (Herman et al, 1986) and leukotrienes (Herman et al, 1991) have less potent cardiovascular effects in cold-acclimated (5°, 30 days) animals when compared with those at room temperature.
Determination of cadmium in whole blood based on graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Objective:To establish a method for determination of cadmium in whole blood with graphite oven atomic absorption spectrometr(GFAAS).Methods:The samples were diluted in a medium containing 2% nitric acid and 0.2% ammonium dihydrogen phosphate before being introduced directly into the fumace and then detected by Zeeman GFAAS.Results:Determination of the sixty samples,the rate of recovery was controlled between 97% and 106% and the relative standard deviation was less than 10%.The standard curve was linear in the range of 0 μg/L～4 μg/L,the lowest detection limit was 0.02 μg/L.The mensuration result of the control samples is satisfied.Conclusion:The method is simple,rapid,accurate and of high sensitivity and precision for direct determination of cadmium in whole blood.
Metal Bioaccumulation by Estuarine Food Webs in New England, USA

Evaluating the degree of metal exposure and bioaccumulation in estuarine organisms is important for understanding the fate of metals in estuarine food webs. We investigated the bioaccumulation of Hg, methylmercury (MeHg), Cd, Se, Pb, and As in common intertidal organisms across a watershed urbanization gradient of coastal marsh sites in New England to relate metal exposure and bioaccumulation in fauna to both chemical and ecological factors. In sediments, we measured metal and metalloid concentrations, total organic carbon (TOC) and SEM-AVS (Simultaneously extracted metal-acid volatile sulfides). In five different functional feeding groups of biota, we measured metal concentrations and delta 15N and delta 13C signatures. Concentrations of Hg and Se in biota for all sites were always greater than sediment concentrations whereas Pb in biota was always lower. There were positive relationships between biota Hg concentrations and sediment concentrations, and between biota MeHg concentrations and both pelagic feeding mode and trophic level. Bioavailability of all metals measured as SEM-AVS or Benthic-Sediment Accumulation Factor was lower in more contaminated sites, likely due to biogeochemical factors related to higher levels of sulfides and organic carbon in the sediments. Our study demonstrates that for most metals and metalloids, bioaccumulation is metal specific and not directly related to sediment concentrations or measures of bioavailability such as AVS-SEM.
CHAPTER 9 – Trends of Ion Implantation in Silicon Technology

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the trends of ion implantation in silicon technology. Of all the semiconductors, silicon has evolved as the most technologically advanced and the one best understood. It has the simplicity of being a single element material and its chemical purity and crystalline perfection are easier to control. This is evident when it is compared with binary compounds of the III-V type, and especially when compared with higher order mixtures of III-V material that are made up of ternary and quaternary compounds. Ion implantation has played a major role as a method of simultaneously providing shallow impurity distributions and precise control of doping concentration. As the trend continues toward shallower devices, one can foresee the point at which even statistical phenomena such as range straggling of implanted dopants will become a limitation to the abruptness of the impurity profiles required for future devices. Epitaxial techniques, such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), may be an alternative, particularly when combined with implants of extremely low energies.
Linear Programming as an Alternative to Standard Discriminant Function Analysis

The present paper reports on a novel technique, based on linear goal programming, as an alternative to classical discriminant analysis. Using real data from a sales force motivation study, the authors show that the linear programming formulation can be a simple and accurate method in classifying entities to respective groups. The technique is compared to Fisher’s discriminant function analysis.
Thyroid Cancer in Pregnancy

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) affects women threefold more frequently than men, and incidence in women peaks during the reproductive years. Whether or not female sex hormones, including hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy, increase in women’s risk for DTC is not entirely clear. Nevertheless, many women will be diagnosed with DTC during or around the time of pregnancy, posing unique challenges in their medical management in order to optimize outcomes for both mother and child. The majority of evidence suggests that DTC diagnosed during or around the time of pregnancy does not affect maternal morbidity or mortality. In general, thyroidectomy should be delayed until the postpartum period unless there is evidence of rapid disease progression or advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. If thyroidectomy is indicated during pregnancy, the second trimester is the ideal time to minimize fetal complications. Radioactive iodine is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation due to adverse effects on the fetus, namely, ablation of the fetal thyroid resulting in hypothyroidism. In women who were diagnosed with DTC and treated prior to pregnancy, suppressive doses of levothyroxine should be continued throughout pregnancy. Appropriate treatment of maternal hypothyroidism following thyroidectomy (with or without I-131 ablation) is paramount for ensuring the best pregnancy outcomes. I-131 therapy is not associated with reduced fertility or adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies, although it is recommended that women delay pregnancy for 6–12 months following RAI to ensure adequate thyroid replacement doses are being used. Although DTC in pregnant women poses a potential conflict between optimal maternal therapy and well-being of the fetus, adherence to established guidelines and careful clinical monitoring will most often result in excellent outcomes for all.
Leading Innovation in the Social Sector

This chapter provides an overview of the concept of innovation as it applies to the social sector, with implications and guidance on how to provide effective leadership for innovative work. Drawing upon extensive leadership literature and organizational cases from multiple sectors, the chapter outlines essential practices that foster and encourage innovation, including: articulation of an innovation strategy; essential leadership competencies for leading innovation; the importance of human-centered design; critical use of technology; and creating space for experimentation and learning. The chapter demonstrates how authentic and meaningful innovation originates in an organization’s DNA, its culture, and its philosophy. It also aims to highlight the integral role that leadership plays in embracing and encouraging innovative work.
Robust cortical thickness measurement with LOGISMOS-B.

Cortical thickness (CT) is an important morphometric measure that has implications for psychiatric and neurologic processes. We propose a novel approach for automatically computing CT in an accurate and robust manner using LOGISMOS-B: Layered Optimal Graph Image Segmentation of Multiple Objects and Surfaces for the Brain. LOGISMOS-B is a cortical surface segmentation method based on LOGISMOS graph segmentation and generalized gradient vector flows. We evaluate our method on two different datasets (n = 83 total). The results show that LOGISMOS-B is more accurate than the popular FreeSurfer (FS) method and provides more reliable thickness measurements across a variety of challenging images. LOGISMOS-B accurately recovers known CT patterns, both across cortical lobes and locally, such as between the banks of the central sulcus, in healthy subjects and MS patients. Manual landmarks indicate a signed surface distance of 0.081±0.447mm for WM and 0.018±0.498mm for LOGISMOS-B, compared to 0.263±0.452mm for WM and − 0.167±0.556mm for GM for FS, highlighting the surface placement accuracy of LOGISMOS-B. Finally, a regresion study shows that LOGISMOS-B provides strong correlation with age and plausible annual thinning rates across the cortex, with locally discerning thinning patterns, in agreement with the literature.
Targeted DNA and RNA sequencing of paired urothelial and squamous bladder cancers to reveal discordant genomic and transcriptomic events and unique therapeutic opportunities.

296Background: Expression-based molecular subtypes thought to be intrinsic in bladder cancer have been widely reported, carrying important potential clinical treatment implications. Histologically, bladder cancers are also heterogeneous diseases, with a large portion of urothelial carcinomas exhibiting divergent differentiation. Previous subtyping efforts have been carried out using predominantly fresh frozen tissue samples, potentially obscuring this known differentiation heterogeneity. Methods: Here we performed targeted multiplexed, amplicon-based DNA and RNA sequencing on 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) bladder cancer samples (including 12 paired urothelial / squamous lesions). High-confidence somatic point mutations, short insertions/deletions (indels), and copy number alterations were detected using the DNA component of the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay (OCP). Targeted RNA sequencing was carried out using a custom Ampliseq panel comprised of 8 housekeeping genes and 103 target genes asses...
The schema mapper: an expert system that determines the least cost physical file structure in a database management system

This paper discusses the importance of matching the physical file structure of a database with the different types of user transaction requests that the database management software must process. Different physical file structures and user transaction types are explained and interaction between them is discussed and shown. The Schema Mapper, a model based expert system first assures stable transaction processes using Statistical Process Control methods. It then forecasts the frequency and response time of each type of database user transaction requests leading to the choice of file structure that should minimize total system response time. An experiment is presented which demonstrates The Schema Mapperâ€™s performance during five days of simulated transactions. Experimental results are summarized and presented as evidence of the effectiveness of this expert system. Conclusions and extensions are then offered.
Relating pattern deviancy aversion to stigma and prejudice.

What predicts people’s powerful and universal dislike of social deviancy? Across six studies, aversion towards non-social pattern deviancy, for example, a row of triangles with one triangle out of line, predicted aversion towards stigmatized individuals, social norm breakers, statistically negative and positive deviants, and a racial minority group (Black individuals). The relationship between pattern deviancy and social deviancy aversion emerged across explicit and implicit measures, across cultures (United States and China), and was of a moderately large magnitude (meta-analytic effect size: d = 0.68). Studies 7 and 8 examined developmental differences. Older but not younger children’s pattern deviancy aversion related to their dislike of social norm breakers. Although non-social pattern deviancy and social deviancy judgements may seem distinct given their differing domains, people’s aversion towards non-social pattern deviancy and social deviancy consistently overlapped. These findings raise the possibility that pattern deviancy aversion plays an important role in stigmatization and prejudice. Across multiple studies, Gollwitzer and colleagues show that people's aversion towards non-social pattern deviancy and social deviancy overlap.
A novel software-defined network based approach for charging station allocation to plugged-in electric vehicles

This paper proposes a novel approach to integrate plugged-in electric vehicles (PEVs), electric vehicle supply equipments (EVSEs), and smart grid (SG) infrastructure using state of the art software-defined network (SDN) technology, which has a potential to provide unprecedented flexibility to smart grid communication network. We further present set-cardinality based search algorithms for assigning charging station to PEVs to reduce their average charging time. Simulation results show a considerable improvement in the average charging time of PEVs as compared to conventional minimum distance based charging station selection.
History of grounding/earthing practices in the united states

The history of using the earth as an electrical conductor for man-made electricity for the past 270 years is detailed in this paper. In the beginning man-made electricity used the earth; the surface of the terrestrial ball we live on, as a conductor to return the continuous flowing electric current back to the source for 140 years. Edison realized that using the earth as an electrical conductor presented a health hazard to humans and animals. For a brief quarter of a century the earth was not used as a conductor for continuously flowing man-made electricity. In hindsight, one could reach the conclusion that the lack of knowledge of man-made electricity allowed what seemed to the correct action at the time, later would prove to be harmful to the human race and other animals. The fascinating history of using the earth for 270 years for conducting man-made electricity has a bright future.
Design a noninvasive digital blood pressure meter using high sensitivity pressure gauge MPX5050GP

In this paper is discussed at the development of noninvasive, high precision, continues blood pressure measurement using factor calibration for eliminated signal conditioning. We developed a low cost noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement system using high sensitivity pressure gauge MPX5050GP which uses the behavior mercury sphygmomanometer. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) can be computed by using time difference between blood flow velocities in vein. From experiments result, MPX5050GP have possession of accuracy 0.01187 volts for each step 1 mmHg with relative error under 7%.
Osteoarthritis: Rapid Evidence Review

Osteoarthritis (OA) should be suspected in patients with pain in the fingers, shoulders, hips, knees, or ankles, especially if they are older than 40 years. Patients older than 50 years who have joint pain, minimal morning stiffness, and functional impairment likely have OA. Radiography can confirm the diagnosis and may be helpful before surgical referral, but findings generally do not correlate well with symptoms. Exercise, physical therapy, knee taping, and tai chi are beneficial for knee OA. Medical therapy provides modest benefits in pain reduction and functional improvement; however, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tramadol, and other opioids have significant potential harms. Joint replacement may be considered for patients with moderate to severe pain and radiographically confirmed OA. Corticosteroid injections may be helpful in the short term. Vitamin D supplements, shoes specifically designed for persons with OA, antioxidant supplements, physical therapy for hip OA, ionized wrist bracelets, lateral wedge insoles for medial knee OA, and hyaluronic acid injections are not effective.
A color interest operator for landmark-based navigation

Landmark-based approaches to robot navigation require an "interest operator" to estimate the utility of a particular image region as an effective representative for a scene. This paper presents a color interest operator consisting of a weighted combination of heuristic scores. The operator selects those image regions (landmarks) likely to be found again, even under a different viewing geometry and/or different illumination conditions. These salient regions yield a robust representation for recognition of a scene. Experiments showing the reproduceability of the regions selected by this operator demonstrate its use as a hedge against environmental uncertainties.
Applications to the Theory of Algebraic Curves

Let Q[x] denote the ring of polynomials in an indeterminate x with coefficients in the field Q of rational numbers. An algebraic function field in one variable over Q is an extension of Q[x] of finite degree. For short, such fields will be called function fields. Note that function fields are to Q[x] what algebraic number fields are to Z. Since Q[x] is a natural ring (§1.2), divisor theory applies* to function fields.
Field-scale investigation of pulverized coal mill power consumption

Twenty field-scale tests were conducted in a 28 MW pulverized coal power plant in Healy, Alaska, to examine mill power consumption in relation to coal grind size. The intent in this field-scale study was to verify if grind size truly impacted power consumption by a detectable amount. The regression model developed from the data indicates that grind size does impact mill power consumption, with finer grinds consuming significantly more power than coarser grinds. However, other factors such as coal hardness (i.e. the lower the Hardgrove Grindability Index, or the harder the coal, the higher the power consumption) and mill throughput (i.e., the higher the throughput, the higher the power consumption) had to be included before the impact of grind size could be isolated. It was also observed that combining amperage and flow rate into a single parameter, i.e., specific amperage, hurt modeling. Cost analysis based on the regression model indicate a power savings of $19,972 per year if the coal were ground to 50% passing 76 {mu}m rather than the industry standard of 70% passing 76 {mu}m. The study also demonstrated that size reduction constituted a significant portion of the power consumption.
Chapter 37 A synthesis of agricultural trade economics

Abstract Government intervention in agricultural sectors in both developed and developing countries has resulted in huge distortions in international markets. We describe the types of policies used in the agricultural sector and summarize quantitative measures that suggest their importance. Agricultural trade economists have tried to measure these distortions, to explain their causes, and to recommend policy reform. The discipline has been primarily empirical, relying chiefly on econometric and synthetic models and to a lesser extent on historical analysis and case studies. A review of attempts to measure trade elasticities, exchange rate effects, and market power illustrates the empirical questions that agricultural trade economists have studied and their results. A summary of empirical political economy models shows how these have been used to explain the types and the levels of government intervention. We then use U.S. grain trade policy in the 1970s and 1980s to illustrate in more detail the kinds of policies that agricultural economists have studied, and their assessments of these policies. In a theoretical section we outline several important ideas that underpin the empirical work in the discipline: the theory of comparative advantage, the theory of the second best, and the Principle of Targeting. We review the theory of trade policy for a country large enough to alter its terms of trade, and assess its relevance to agricultural trade. We also discuss the extent to which uncertainty and missing insurance markets might justify trade policy. In a concluding section we comment on the contribution that agricultural economists have made to trade reform and the manner in which changes in markets are likely to cause a change in the focus of the discipline.
Addressing human computer interaction issues of electronic health record in clinical encounters

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are known to reduce medical errors and store comprehensive patient information, and they also impact the physician-patient interaction during clinical encounters. This study reviewed the literature to (1) identify the most common challenges to patient-physician relations while using an EHR during a clinical visit, (2) discuss limitations of the research methodologies employed, and (3) suggest future research directions related to addressing human computer interaction issues when physicians use an EHR in clinical encounters.
The impact of pre-entry experiences on entry decisions and firm survival

Abstract A successful transition from existing submarkets to newly emerged submarkets is critical to explain a firm's survival in an industry. One stream of prior literature has focused on the role of prior experience in successful market transitions and firm survival. Unfortunately, previous studies have arrived at inconsistent results. In this paper, we explore the issue by investigating firm entry strategies in the magnetic tape drive industry from 1983 to 2002. We find that the number of years spent in the magnetic tape drive industry has a negative impact on new submarket entries and entry timing but a positive impact on firm survival. Previous submarket entry experience positively enhances new submarket entry and entry timing. Product introductions in prior submarkets have positive impacts on submarket entry and entry timing, whereas in the current submarket, product introductions are positively associated with firm survival.
The ASCENT trial: A phase II study of neoadjuvant afatinib, chemoradiation and surgery for stage III EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

8544Background: The stage III NSCLC paradigm now includes immunotherapy (IO), but advanced EGFR-mutant (EGFR+) pts typically don’t respond to IO. In 2011 we began a phase II trial of neoadjuvant af...
PET scan metabolic activity and programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression in lung cancer patients: Is there a correlation?

e21199Background: Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death. Checkpoint inhibitors have changed the treatment algorithm for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Checking PD-L1 by immu...
Genius Breaks: How to Bring Mindfulness, Movement and Compassion into Your Classroom

BRIEF SESSION DESCRIPTION:Genius Breaks (Carmack, 2017) are mini-breaks of mindfulness, movement and meaning (self-compassion) that can be practiced in home, office or school settings. Developed over the past 10 years by the author/presenter of this workshop, Genius Breaks have been practiced in over 30 states by over 100 teachers in classrooms, and in workplaces in 89 countries (Carmack, 2012).AÂ In this mini-workshop, practitioners will learn how they can easily practice Genius Breaks to improve student learning, using CarmackA¢â¬â¢s mindful movement vitamin protocol and chakras of communication framework. Attendees will leave the session knowing how to practice Genius Breaks and how to lead them to others as a Mentor-- in their workplaces, courses, or homes._______________________________________________________________FULL ABSTRACT:Genius Breaks (Carmack, 2017) are mini-breaks of mindfulness, movement and meaning (self-compassion) that can be practiced in home, office or school settings. Developed over the past 10 years by the author/presenter of this workshop, Genius Breaks have been practiced in over 30 states by over 100 teachers in classrooms, and in workplaces in 89 countries (Carmack, 2012).AÂ In this mini-workshop, practitioners will learn how they can easily practice Genius Breaks to increase student learning, using CarmackA¢â¬â¢s mindful movement vitamin protocol and chakras of communication framework. Attendees will leave the session knowing how to practice Genius Breaks and how to lead them to others as a Mentor-- in their workplaces, schools, or homes. This workshop has been presented at other conferences internationally; it would be great to share the same successful frameworks 'at home' here at Mason.AÂ This session is appropriate for this conference theme, because we need new strategies for connecting our minds, bodies and hearts in our Digital world. We also need ways to promote physical activity (movement) and stress reduction (mindfulness) to students who have "busy minds" today from living and studying in a digital culture. We also need to share strategies for expressing compassion to self and others; the Genius Break model is different than normal "mindful movement' techniques such as yoga because it adds this promotion of "meaning" (positive self-talk; compassion; narrative improvement) and links this to the mindful movement.
Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) in the California Current: Abundance, Distribution, and Anomalous Warming of the North Pacific

Environmental variability affects distributions of marine predators in time and space. With expected changes in the ocean climate, understanding the relationship between species distributions and the environment is essential for developing successful management regulations. Here we provide information on an ephemeral but important habitat for North Pacific loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) at the northeastern edge of their range. North Pacific loggerhead turtles nest on Japanese beaches and juveniles disperse throughout the North Pacific; some remain in the high seas of the central North Pacific whereas others transition to the eastern Pacific and forage near Baja California, Mexico. Loggerheads have also been reported along the U.S. west coast, with the majority of sightings off southern California. Here we describe their demography and distribution in the area, based on two aerial surveys (2011, 2015), at-sea sightings, and stranding records. Our aerial survey during fall 2015 determined density, abundance, and distribution of loggerheads in the area, when anomalous warming of the North Pacific and El Nino conditions co-occurred. Using line-transect analysis, we estimated ca. 15,000 loggerheads at the sea surface (CV=21%) and more than 70,000 loggerheads when accounting for those that were submerged and not available for detection. Our survey during fall 2011 resulted in no loggerhead sightings, demonstrating a high variability of loggerhead density in the region. We encourage further research on loggerheads in the area to determine the mechanisms that promote their occurrence. These studies should include regular surveys throughout their foraging areas along the west coast of the North America as well as assessments of prey availability and local oceanographic conditions.
Addressing Groundwater Fluoride Contamination Using Inexpensively Processed Bauxite

Abstract Globally, 200 million people are at risk of adverse health effects from drinking groundwater contaminated with high fluoride concentrations that exceed the World Health Organization ’s maximum contaminant limit (WHO MCL = 1.5 ppm F−). Although many defluoridation technologies have been demonstrated to work in lab, most have proven inappropriate for impoverished rural regions of developing countries because they are cost-prohibitive, require skilled labor, or are difficult to scale. The authors submit evidence for the use of bauxite, an aluminum-rich ore, as a potentially inexpensive, effective, and scalable defluoridation technology. Specifically, we present results from experimental studies that characterize globally diverse bauxite ores, elucidate fluoride removal mechanisms, and establish proof of concept that mildly processed bauxite can cost-effectively remediate field-relevant fluoride concentrations in synthetic and real groundwater matrices at field-relevant kinetics. We discuss practical implications of these research findings and highlight remaining challenges and unknowns that need to be further studied before implementing the proposed defluoridation process in the field.