cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation study of proton arc therapy with the compact single-room MEVION-S250 proton therapy system

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of proton arc therapy (PAT) using the double-scattering MEVION-S250 proton system. The treatment planning and dose delivery parameters from PAT were compared with conventional treatment planning techniques. Materials and methods: PAT was simulated with multiple conformal and fixed-aperture beams (5–15) using the MEVION-S250-double-scattering proton system. Conformal apertures were simulated with the Eclipse-treatment-planning system: (a) using a static single aperture that provides the best average conformal circular or rectangular apertures to cover the tumour from different angular views (SPAT), and (b) dynamic conformal apertures of the tumour shape at each irradiation angle that can be obtained from a multi-leaf-collimator system (DPAT). Results: The DPAT and SPAT plans provided superior dose coverage and sparing of normal tissues in comparison with conventional plans (CPT). The entrance normal tissue and skin doses (<40%) were lowered significantly by delivering dose from different directions over a wider angular view compared to conventional plans that have large entrance dose from only two fields. While the mean and minimum doses from PAT and CPT were comparable, the maximum doses from arc plans were lower than the maximum doses in conventional plans. The SPAT and DPAT plans had comparable dose parameters for regularly shaped targets. The heterogeneity index (HI) was superior in PAT plans which improved with increasing number of beams in arc plans for the different treatment sites. The conformality index (CI) depends on the treatment site and complexity of the shape of the planning target volume where for brain, pancreatic and lung tumours, PAT plans conformality was comparable and sometimes superior to CPT; and HI and CI were generally better in DPAT compared to SPAT. Conclusions: PAT plans have superior dose coverage and sparing of normal tissues compared to CPT plans using the MEVION double-scattering system as shown in this simulation study. Ideally, conformal proton arcs require beam shaping and dose delivery with the gantry moving; however, the MEVION double-scattering system lacks a multi-leaf collimator system and cannot deliver dose during gantry rotation. The single aperture conformal proton therapy technique is more time and cost effective compared with conventional techniques that are used currently with the MEVION proton therapy system because of the elimination of the need for patient-specific compensators. In present study, PAT was simulated with the MEVION double-scattering proton therapy system; however, it can be performed also with other proton therapy systems.
Abstract C044: Inter-ethnic differential gene expression in stage II recurrent colorectal cancers

Inter-ethnic differential gene expression in stage II recurrent colorectal cancers Prachi Bajpai1, Amr Elholy1, Michael Behring1, Dongquan Chen2, 3, Kevin Hale1, Sumit Agrawal1, Hyung-Gyoon Kim1, Trafina Jadhav1, Temegsen Samuel4, Upender Manne1, 3 1Department of Pathology, 2Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 3O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center of UAB, Birmingham; 4Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, USA Background and Objective: For colorectal cancer (CRC), the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the US, there are racial/ethnic disparities in incidence and mortality. Of these patients, 25-35% with pathologic Stage II CRCs exhibit recurrence after surgery with curative intent. Relative to Caucasian (CA) patients, African American (AA) patients with CRC have a 20% higher stage-specific mortality. The present study delineates a distinct gene expression profile, specific for Stage II CRCs, based on disease recurrence and patient race/ethnicity. Methods: We obtained gene expression profiles for Stage II CRCs from 16 AA and 30 CA patients by the use of Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays. Samples from patients with recurrent disease, within 5 years post-surgery, were compared to those with non-recurrent CRCs within 5 years post-surgery. For comparison between AA with CA patients, gene expression was assessed. Results: For recurrent CRCs, there were nine genes common to AA and CA patients, suggesting a common gene signature specific for Stage II disease. For tumors, relative to their corresponding normal tissues, there was higher expression of five of these genes; the direction of association with disease recurrence was distinct with race/ethnicity. GFM2, DCAF17, and GEN1 had a positive association with recurrence in CAs and a negative association with recurrence in AAs. Additionally, for recurrent patients, TAPBP and FEZ were upregulated in AAs and downregulated in CAs (False Discovery Rate Citation Format: Prachi Bajpai, Amr Elholy, Michael Behring, Dongquan Chen, Kevin Hale, Sumit Agrawal, Hyung-Gyoon Kim, Trafina Jadhav, Temegsen Samuel, Upender Manne. Inter-ethnic differential gene expression in stage II recurrent colorectal cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C044.
Does Distance to Treatment Affect Mortality Rate for Surgical Oncology Patients

INTRODUCTION Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we seek to analyze the relationship of patient distance to hospital of treatment on mortality trends after surgery, since patients often travel large distances to referral centers. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of the NCDB from 2004 to 2013 was performed, and patients with gastrointestinal, melanoma, and head and neck primary site tumors who underwent surgery were included. We excluded cases with no recorded mortality status or distance from the hospital. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted with adjustments for population density, treating facility location, age, race, gender, education, income, insurance, comorbidities (Charlson-Deyo score), days from diagnosis to treatment, positive margin, tumor stage and grade, and lymph or vascular invasion. RESULTS A total of 1 424 482 patients were included. Overall median distance to hospital was 9.7 miles (range 4.2-23.7 miles); 696 647 (48.91%) of the sample traveled a distance greater than 10 miles to the institution where the procedure was performed. The multivariable regression analysis demonstrated overall lower mortality for those patients travelling a longer distance to care for multiple tumor types, including: liver (OR .87, .77-.99, P = .032), pancreas (OR .82, .76-.89, P < .001), colon (OR .92, .89-.95, P < .001), rectum (OR .90, .83-.96, P = .003), melanoma (OR .83, .79-.88, P < .001), and tumors of the larynx (OR .80, .69-.94, P = .005). DISCUSSION Increased distance traveled for surgical treatment has a significant correlation with decreased odds of mortality for multiple cancers, highlighting the importance of centralized referral patterns for oncology care.
Tuning trophoblast motility in a gelatin hydrogel via soluble cues from the maternal-fetal interface.

Trophoblast cells play multiple critical roles in pregnancy, notably modulating blastocyst attachment to the endometrium as well as invading into and actively remodeling the endometrium to facilitate biotransport needs of the growing embryo. Despite the importance of trophoblast invasion for processes essential at early stages of pregnancy, much remains unknown regarding the balance of signaling molecules that may influence trophoblast invasion into the endometrium. The goal of this study was to use three-dimensional trophoblast spheroid motility assays to examine the effect of cues from the maternal-fetal interface on trophoblast motility. We report use of a methacrylamide-functionalized gelatin hydrogel to support quantitative analysis of trophoblast outgrowth area and cell viability. We show that this multidimensional model of trophoblast motility can resolve quantifiable differences in outgrowth area and viability in the presence of a known invasion promoter, epidermal growth factor, and a known invasion inhibitor, transforming growth factor β1. We then investigate the sensitivity of trophoblast motility to cortisol, a hormone associated with exogenous stressors. Together, this approach provides a toolset to investigate the coordinated action of physiological and pathophysiological processes on early stages of trophoblast invasion.
What's in a Label? The Impact of Media and Sexual Assault Characteristics on Survivor Rape Acknowledgment

Media coverage of sexual assault has increased since 2017 due to high-profile cases and social media campaigns designed to increase awareness of sexual assault. The purpose of this study was to examine whether media coverage of the Harvey Weinstein allegations and the onset of the 2017 viral #MeToo movement impacted the likelihood of college women acknowledging their own victimization as rape. Participants were 207 female rape survivors who completed an online survey that included assessments of survivor acknowledgment and characteristics of the sexual assault. Some participants completed the study prior to the Harvey Weinstein allegations and onset of the #MeToo movement, and some participants completed the study after these events. The likelihood of survivors labeling their experience as rape did not differ based on when participants completed the study, odds ratios (ORs) = 0.61-3.92, ps = .127-.604. Use of both nonforceful verbal resistance, OR = 2.63, p = .001, and assertive resistance, OR = 3.05, p < .001, were positively associated with the likelihood of survivor acknowledgment. The effects of both perpetrators' use of force and experiencing immobility on survivor acknowledgment were moderated by the timing of study completion, ORs = 4.22 and 0.11, respectively, ps = .023-.040. These findings suggest that media coverage may impact how certain sexual assault characteristics influence how survivors label their victimization experiences.
A Matter of Academic Freedom

There is an urgent need to re-conceptualize academic freedom from a materialist perspective. That is, as a collective right of faculty and not just an abstract ideal. This chapter begins with a critical examination of the context in which the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) defined academic freedom in the early twentieth century and contrasts it with a later emerging corporate ideal of the university. We further examine the redefinition of academic freedom in the US as a constitutional right during the 1960s. Then propose a move toward contract law to secure these rights. Finally, we review the concrete ways in which unions have reimagined language to defend and expand the political rights of faculty, and argue for the need to develop a new form of university governance: A democratic one.
Motivated perception for self-regulation: How visual experience serves and is served by goals

Abstract Meeting and managing goals can be difficult. Self-regulatory success often requires that people enact strategies to combat the challenges of goal pursuit. Whereas existing research and theory have focused primarily on cognitive processes that implicate shifts in judgments and decisions, we identify and document an additional process that aids self-regulation: motivated visual perception and attention. We argue that, because vision is primary, trusted, flexible, and effortless, motivated visual perception maintains a unique ability to serve self-regulation. We propose a novel theoretical perspective—Goal-Promoting Perception Theory—and review empirical work from our labs and others' that suggests motivated perception aids in three aspects of goal pursuit: goal planning, goal striving, and goal shielding. In addition, we articulate avenues for future research and outline testable hypotheses to strengthen the links between motivated perception and self-regulatory outcomes. Ultimately, this chapter draws together two largely distinct fields of study to suggest that people see the world in a biased manner to help them manage and advance goals.
Bullying Victimization and Weapon Carrying: A Partial Test of General Strain Theory:

Much of the existing research on adolescent firearm and weapon carrying lacks a theoretical framework. Relatedly, few studies have examined the relationship between weapon carrying and bullying vic...
Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student Experiences of Incivility, Bullying, and Intimidation in the Clinical Practicum Setting: An Exploratory Study

Purpose The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the experiences of graduate students in communication sciences and disorders who experienced forms of incivility in ...
Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation in a Silicone Embolus Model of Focal Brain Ischemia as Assessed by Multichannel Laser Doppler Flowmetry

The overall goal of this research is to better understand the mechanisms underlying the dysfunction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation after an ischemic insult. Towards this purpose, a rat focal cerebral ischemia model has been developed that does not require craniotomy and would be compatible with continuous monitoring of regional CBF using multichannel laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) throughout the ischemic period. The most common models of focal ischemia in rodents have utilized either ligation, coagulation or intraluminal obstruction of the middle cerebral artery.18,2,3,4,10 These approaches involve craniotomy or are performed in the supine position which is inconvenient for multichannel LDF recording. It is important to continuously monitor regional CBF in multiple brain areas because the pattern and the time course of CBF changes (hyperemia versus hypoperfusion) may be different in various brain regions and may thereby influence the extent and severity of eventual neuronal injury.
Impact of gender on the myocardial metabolic response to diabetic therapy

543 Objectives It has been shown in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone (ROSI) improves myocardial glucose metabolism while metformin (MET) does not. The goal of this study was to determine if gender impacts the myocardial metabolic response to diabetic therapy. Methods Three groups of patients with T2DM were studied; MET (12 M and 15 F); MET+ROSI (8 M and 15 F) and MET and the omega-3 ethyl ester, Lovaza (MET+LOV; 15 M and 13 F). PET was performed under fasting conditions to measure myocardial blood flow, oxygen consumption, and metabolism using well-established techniques. After treatment with MET to a target HgbA1C Results A significant group-gender interaction was observed for plasma glucose with levels increasing in F and decreasing in M on MET+LOV and decreasing to a greater extent in F on MET+ROSI (p Conclusions In well-controlled T2DM, therapeutic regimens with different mechanisms of action impact myocardial glucose metabolism in a gender specific manner. Further studies are needed to determine if treatment paradigms should be tailored by gender. Research Support Funded by PPG HL13851
A theory of task/technology fit and group support systems effectiveness

The characteristics of a group's task have been shown to account for more than half the variation in group interaction. In the context of group support systems (GSS), the importance of task has been underscored by the recommendation that achieving a fit between task and technology should be a principle for effective GSS use. Although the body of group support systems research has grown in recent years, and experience with different tasks and technologies now exists, no generally accepted theory of task/technology fit has emerged. This paper develops a theory of task/technology fit in GSS environments based on attributes of task complexity and their relationship to relevant dimensions of GSS technology. Propositions to guide further research are developed from the theory.
American Women Authors and Literary Property, 1822–1869

Introduction: 'lady-writers' and 'copyright, authors, and authorship' in nineteenth-century America 1. Authors, wives, slaves: coverture, copyright, and authorial dispossession, 1831-1869 2. Suited to the market: Catharine Sedgwick, female authorship, and the literary property debates, 1822-1842 3. When I can read my title clear: Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Stowe v. Thomas Copyright Infringement case (1853) 4. Every body sees the theft: Fanny Fern and periodical reprinting in the 1850s 5. A 'rank rebel' lady and her literary property: Augusta Jane Evans and copyright, the Civil War and after, 1861-1868 Epilogue. Belford v. Scriber (1892) and the ghost of Mary Virginia Terhune's Phemie's Temptation (1869) or, the lessons of the 'lady-writers' of the 1820's through the 1860s for literary history and twenty-first-century copyright law.
Improved forward buying of commodity materials

This research presents the Enhanced Commodity Forward Buy (ECFB) heuristic, a new method for commodity purchasing, which allows strategic forward buying of commodities for products that include commodity components or materials. The ECFB addresses limitations of existing methods by considering stochastic demand and stochastic commodity prices for products that contain both commodity and non-commodity materials. We conduct a simulation test of the new heuristic on 10 commodity indices using actual historical market prices, over a range of holding costs, markup margins, commodity percentages of the product’s cost of goods sold and demand distributions. The results of the simulation show that compared with five other buying methods, the ECFB heuristic’s ability to adapt to variations in both demand and commodity prices allows it to generate higher profits when demand is uncertain and commodity prices are volatile.
Superstrate configurations for a MEMS reconfigurable pixelated patch antenna for CLAS

The experimental and simulation studies of an aperture coupled reconfigurable pixelated patch antenna for CLAS applications is presented. The antenna active dimensions are reconfigured to attain a wide swath of bandwidths within the 1–2 GHz frequency range. Simulated return loss bandwidths are between 8%–26% while measured bandwidths are between 6%–24% when the antenna is reconfigured from low to high frequency bands.
Oxidation of Alcohols by Methyl Sulfide‐ N‐Chlorosuccinimide‐ Triethylamine: 4‐tert‐Butylcyclohexanone

Oxidation of alcohols by methyl sulfide- N-chlorosuccinimide- triethylamine: 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone catalyst: 8.0 g. (0.060 mole) of N-chlorosuccinimide product: 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone byproduct: 4-tert-butylcyclohexylmethyl methylthiomethyl ether product: C6H5CHO Keywords: oxidation, CHOH CO; N-chlorosuccinimide; dimethyl sulfoxide-methyl sulfide reagent
Rotational state-selective photofragmentation of CD3I at 266 nm: determination of the transition dipole matrix

The photofragmentation of rovibrational energy-level selected and magnetic-state polarized (X1A1) CD3I was performed at 266 nm. The relative NK) rotational energy-level populations and the angular momentum polarization of the vibrationless (X2A2') CD3 photofragment were measured by (2 + 1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. The magnitude and relative phase of the transition dipole matrix (or T-matrix) were determined by relating the initial system (CD3I plus photon) alignment to the experimentally measured alignment for the CD3 fragment. This is believed to be the first reported measurement of the T-matrix elements for a chemical reaction. This is significant since the transition dipole matrix is the most fundamental observable for a photochemical reaction and as such it is the definitive quantity with which to judge the viability of various theoretical models used to describe photochemical reactions.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Sufficient Condition for the Stability of Conservative Gyroscopic Systems

A sufficient condition for the stability of conservative gyroscopic systems with negative definite stiffness is presented. The conditions for stability are stated in terms of the definiteness of certain combinations of the coefficient matrices of the equations of motion. These conditions yield design constraints in terms of the physical parameters of the system. An example is given to illustrate the correctness of the results, as well as to provide a comparison with the results of other researchers.
School autonomy in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina: evidence from two school districts

This article provides empirical evidence of policy adoption, outcomes and consequences of decentralization and school autonomy initiatives enacted in Argentina during the 1990s. The study examines what school autonomy meant in Argentina and how it was adopted at the provincial and school levels. Using qualitative data on school districts of the Greater Buenos Aires, the study analyzes the role that organizational and political factors play in the implementation of school autonomy reform. Given that previous studies showed that reform praxis varies across environments, this research looks comparatively at the outcomes of the reform process across organizational systems (i.e. provincial and former national) and diverse local sociopolitical environments.
Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in a renal allograft

We report a 12-year-old male with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) occurring 1 year after a cadaveric renal transplant. Although recurrent and de novo renal transplant glomerulonephritides have been well described in large series of adult and pediatric renal transplant recipients, post-infectious glomerulonephritis has been rarely reported, and APSGN has never been reported in either adult or pediatric transplant series. We speculate on the reasons for the lack of occurrence of APSGN in renal transplant recipients.
Surgical management of crohn’s disease in children

Surgery plays an important role in the treatment of Crohn disease. Crohn disease has a major impact on quality of life in the pediatric population and unfortunately, despite the dramatic improvements in medical therapies, 70–80 % of patients who carry the diagnosis of Crohn disease undergo some type of surgical procedure at some point during the course of their disease. The indications for surgery have evolved over time with a trend toward a less invasive procedures and fewer emergency surgery operations because of an acute complication of the disease. However, the basic role of surgery has not changed. Crohn disease cannot be cured in the operating room so the procedures are palliative by nature. Surgery is unavoidable in some cases and the preferred treatment option in many others. As with many diseases in children, studies specific to the pediatric population are not always available making it necessary to extrapolate the results of adult series when considering treatment options for younger patients. Although some differences between the patient populations exist, the philosophy remains the same. Surgical intervention is an integral part of the management of patients with Crohn disease but should be invoked judiciously to avoid the potential for long-term consequences of multiple bowel resections and procedures should always be carried out with the long-term potential for short bowel syndrome in mind.
The functional significance of aperture form in gastropods

Aperture form of marine prosobranch gastropods has evolved under the influence of a number of different selective forces, including: generation of shell form; protection from predation; accommodation of the foot during clamping behavior: and accommodation of water currents in and out of the mantle cavity. Aperture form correlates positively with foot shape in most gastropods and foot shape, in turn, correlates moderately well with substrate preference. Almost all gastropods that have non-round apertures elongate the aperture parallel to the foot so that water currenth tend to flow anteriorly to posteriorly. Fresh-water pulmonates have responded to somewhat different stresses. They exhibit clamping behavior and thus show correspondence between foot shape and aperture shape. They show less apertural strengthening as crab (or crayfish) predation is less of a factor and presumably because calcium carbonate is less available. They also lack anterior-posterior apertural elongation due to the absence of water currents through their mantle cavity. Due to the absence of mantle cavity water currents and clamping behavior, terrestrial gastropods do not show the apertural modifications associated with these two factors. In addition. few adaptations of apertural form are present to resist predation. Instead, many of the apertural modifications of terrestrial pulmonates seem to be concer-ned with the problems of water loss during estivation.
Scalable security and accounting services for content-based publish/subscribe systems

Content-based publish/subscribe systems offer an interaction scheme that is appropriate for a variety of large scale dynamic applications. However, widespread use of these systems is hindered by a lack of suitable security services. In this paper we present scalable solutions for confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for these systems. We also provide usage-based accounting services, which are required for e-commerce and e-business applications that use publish/subscribe systems. Our solutions are applicable in a setting where publishers and subscribers may not trust the publish/subscribe infrastructure.
Effective lidar ratios of dense dust layers over North Africa derived from the CALIOP measurements

Abstract Lidar ratio (i.e., extinction-to-backscatter ratio) is a key parameter required for retrieving extinction profiles and optical depths from elastic backscatter lidar measurements, and the quality of any extinction retrieval depends critically on the accuracy of the assumed or measured lidar ratio. In this study, we analyze the first two and a half years of the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data acquired during nighttime. Distributions of the effective lidar ratio (ELR), which is the product of the lidar ratio and an instrument-dependent multiple scattering factor, are derived for opaque dust layers observed by CALIOP over the North Africa. The median and mean ELR values are, respectively, 36.4 and 38.5 sr at 532 nm and 47.7 and 50.3 sr at 1064 nm. For these opaque dust layers, the derived ELR decreases as the volume depolarization ratio (VDR) increases, reflecting the impact of multiple scattering within the dense layers. The particulate depolarization ratio is typically ∼0.3 at 532 nm for African dust observed by CALIOP. This ratio can increase to ∼0.4 in the presence of significant multiple scattering. Correspondingly, the calculated ELR will decrease to ∼20 sr at 532 nm and to ∼30 sr at 1064 nm. The median and mean effective lidar ratio values approach, respectively, to 38 and 40 sr at 532 nm and 52 and 55 sr at 1064 nm for smaller VDR values measured in less dense layers where the multiple scattering is relatively insignificant. These values are very close to those derived in previous case studies for moderately dense dust. Case studies are also performed to examine the impacts of multiple scattering. The results obtained are generally consistent with Monte-Carlo simulations.
Polarization of random beams scattered from two-dimensional bio-tissue slices

Abstract Within the validity of the first Born approximation scattering of light with arbitrary spatial and spectral content as well as with any states of coherence and polarization from thin bio-tissue slices is considered. Far-field spectral degree of polarization of scattered light shown to be related to statistical properties of illumination and correlation properties of tissue.
Relationship between Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Blood Glucose during Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: The value of measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin (HgbA1C) in determining the degree of glycemic control in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. Methods: A single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted in 128 veterans with diabetes mellitus and CKD. HgbA1C was measured as clinically indicated and its relationship with random blood glucose (RBG) measurement evaluated prospectively over up to 10 years in three groups (end-stage renal disease (ESRD), CKD and controls who had diabetes but no CKD). Results: Between 1995 and 2011, in the control group, glycemic control as assessed by HgbA1C was stable but improved when assessed by RBG. However, both the CKD and ESRD groups experienced declines in RBG and HgbA1C. Declining HgbA1C and RBG were noted prior to onset of dialysis. A fall in HgbA1C remained after adjustment for RBG. A strong inverse relationship was seen between CKD stage and HgbA1C even after adjusting for RBG such that the relationship between RBG levels and HgbA1C was modified by CKD. Conclusions: In diabetic patients with late-stage CKD, glycemic control shows an improvement. However, HgbA1C 1C without home blood glucose monitoring may result in poor diabetes control.
Prospective comparison of RT-PCR/ESI-MS to Prodesse ProFlu Plus and Cepheid GenXpert for the detection of Influenza A and B viruses

RT-PCR/ESI-MS has previously demonstrated the capability to detect and identify respiratory viral pathogens in nasopharyngeal swabs. This study expands on previous research by performing a prospective evaluation of RT-PCR/ESI-MS to detect and identify Influenza A and B viruses compared to Prodesse ProFlu Plus and combined ProFlu Plus and Cepheid Xpert Flu. ProFlu Plus was also used as a gold standard for comparison for respiratory syncytial virus detection. Using ProFlu Plus as a gold standard, RT-PCR/ESI-MS had sensitivity and specificity of 82.1% (23/28) and 100% (258/258), respectively, for Influenza A, 100% (16/16) and 99.6% (269/270), respectively for Influenza B, and 88.6% (39/44) and 99.6% (241/242) for any Influenza virus. Using matching results from ProFlu Plus and Xpert Flu as a gold standard, RT-PCR/ESI-MS had 85.2% (23/27) and 100% (259/259) sensitivity and specificity respectively for Influenza A, 100% (14/14) and 99.6% (270/272), respectively for Influenza B virus. Overall, RT-PCR/ESI-MS was not as sensitive as the combined gold standard of ProFlu Plus and Xpert Flu, although it has the capability of detecting other respiratory viruses.
Maximum dose of oxytocin and the risk of uterine rupture in women attempting vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)

ATTEMPTING VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN (VBAC) ALISON CAHILL, ANTHONY ODIBO, DAVID STAMILIO, JEFFREY PEIPERT, ERIKA STEVENS, GEORGE MACONES, Washington University in St Louis, Obstetrics/Gynecology, St. Louis, Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Louis,Missouri, WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis, St. Louis,Missouri OBJECTIVE: To determine if the maximum dose of oxytocin impacts the risk of uterine rupture in women who attempt vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective, multi-center cohort study of women with a history of at least one prior cesarean delivery. Date on maternal demographics, health history, pregnancy, labor, delivery, and maternal outcomes were collected from medical record review. We compared uterine rupture rates between VBAC candidates that did and did not receive oxytocin and analyzed the association between maximum dose of oxytocin (5, 10, 20, and 30mili-units/min) and uterine rupture. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 13,523 patients with at least one prior cesarean delivery who elected a VBAC trial, 128 experienced a uterine rupture and 80 of these ruptures were in women who received oxytocin (62.5%). There was evidence of ‘‘dose response’’ for maximum oxytocin amount and uterine rupture, with increasing doses associated with a higher risk of rupture. CONCLUSION: In women attempting VBAC, as the maximum dose of oxytocin used increases, so does the risk of uterine rupture. However, even at the highest maximum dose, the absolute risk of uterine rupture remains low, suggesting that standard oxytocin protocols can be safely used in women attempting VBAC.
The influence of argument structure on judgements of argument strength, function, and adequacy

The present study explored the extent to which lay adults consider aspects of argument structure in judging the strength and function of informal arguments and in constructing arguments to meet specific adequacy goals. Across two experiments, college students were presented with base (one-premise) arguments, which were then expanded into convergent, coordinate, and subordinate arguments closely matched in terms of content, believability, and strength. Coordinate arguments were associated with the greatest gains in argument strength via their construction and the greatest loss in strength when one of their premises was falsified. To some degree, the argument types were also judged to perform different functions and to serve different goals. The construction of convergent arguments was associated with building independent lines of support while the construction of subordinate arguments was associated with providing justification for premises. Expansion into a coordinate argument was seen as the best way to improve an argument's persuasiveness. The construction of both coordinate and subordinate arguments was associated with building relevance, explicating assumptions, and completing the meaning of a base argument. Results are discussed in terms of argumentation theory and research.
Addressing self-selection bias in quasi-experimental evaluations of whole-school reform. A comparison of methods

This article discusses potential sources of self-selection bias in quasi-experimental evaluations of whole-school reform models and considers how individual student-level data might be used to provide valid impact estimates. Although repeated pretreatment and posttreatment measures of student performance can provide unbiased estimates under relatively weak assumptions, such data are difficult to obtain. The article develops an instrumental variable strategy that can be used to improve on common value-added estimators when only posttreatment measures of performance are available. Using data from New York City, the author shows that the instrumental variable strategy can provide estimates of model impacts similar to those provided by a difference-in-differences estimator provided that appropriate instruments are used.
Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in human cell cultures with depressed alkaline phosphatase

Abstract A comparison is made of the effect of serum on inorganic pyrophosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in HeLa S3 and other human cell lines. When the cells are grown in human serum, alkaline phosphatase is maximally depressed to lesss than 5% of the activity of control cultures. By contrast, serum exerts only a slight effect on inorganic pyrophosphatase. The significance of these results is related to observations indicating that both activities are associated with a single protein.
Information Effects on Consumers' Willingness to Purchase Irradiated Food Products

This study assessed the effect of information related to the food irradiation process on consumers' willingness to purchase irradiated food products and the perceived consumer segment to which they belonged (“strong buyer,”“interested,”“doubter,” or “rejector” of irradiated food). Two types of information were presented: the nature and benefits of food irradiation and information about two ways in which food can be irradiated. Positive shifts in the responses were observed in both the consumer segment to which they belonged and willingness to buy after the presentation of information about food irradiation technology.
Supervisory decision making in emergency response application

Two main causes of failure in an emergency response scenario are in communication leading to limited or delayed access to the information and delayed or poor decision making. A good choice of communication infrastructure to provide reliable and in-time delivery of information in early stage of an emergency response saves lives and money. Given that a wireless mesh is deployed or another communication infrastructure exists, the next effort is to send data from the field to decision makers off the field to improve decision making. In this paper, we use discrete event system modeling technique to illustrate how use of supervisory control solutions on on a discrete event system model can improve communication at organizational level. We present challenges and lessons learned from several real-life drills we have participated such as unclear termination or incomplete message transfer. We delineate a supervisory control solution that with higher authority and expertise can improve decision making by canceling a path and enforcing a deadlock-free path.
Accounting For The Atmosphere In Extrapolating System Performance To Different Environments

One goal of system performance modeling is to predict system performance for new, untested environments. When the relationships between environmental variables and system performance variables are clear, the solution reduces to an uncomplicated sensitivity analysis. For complex systems, however, such as a sequence of preprocessing, detection and classification algorithms in an Aided Target Recognition box, the environmental relationships may not be obvious. This paper explores two approaches to including the atmosphere in extrapolating imaging system performance in different environments. One approach is to describe analytically the response of individual image processing steps to atmospheric effects. We consider the sensitivity of an edge detector, target moments, and a basic linear mapping classifier to obscuration, path radiance and turbulence blur. In a second approach one modifies the input images (for example the training images for a classifier) for different weather conditions and then observes the system response to these new inputs. The problems of image modification that remove one set of atmospheric effects while adding new conditions are also discussed.
DFT characterization of adsorption and diffusion mechanisms of H, As, S, and Se on the zinc orthotitanate(0 1 0) surface

Abstract Zinc orthotitanate (ZTO) is a promising material for removal of multiple contaminant species from fuel gas streams. The ZTO(0 1 0) surface, which consists of both oxygen rich and metal rich sides, was previously predicted to be the lowest energy ZTO surface. We present density functional theory calculations examining adsorption and diffusion of atomic S, Se, As, and H on the oxygen rich and metal rich ZTO(0 1 0) surfaces. S and Se share similar bonding and diffusion mechanisms on the metal rich ZTO(0 1 0) surface, whereas As and H bind in similar ways to the oxygen rich surface. S and Se have adsorption sites involving Zn:Zn bridges whereas As and H prefer to bind at sites involving O:O bridges on the surface. H forms a hydroxyl-like bond with length of 1.0 A. Se and S have small activation energy barriers for atomic diffusion from the lowest energy adsorption site to the nearest low energy site. At temperatures around 800 K we predict from our results that Se and S are approximately equal in diffusivity while being far more mobile on the surface than either H or As.
Pseudo fermions for SU(3)

Abstract The pseudo fermion method for including dynamical quarks into Monto Carlo simulations of SU(3) lattice gauge theory is studied. The reliability of the method is tested by comparison with an exact algorithm based on Gauss-Seidel inversion. It is found that the pseudo fermion technique works well and that dynamical fermions can be accurately included, in the crossover coupling region, at a cost in computation speed over the pure gauge case of approximately one to two orders of magnitude.
Thermal Motion and Conformational Disorder in Protein Crystal Structures: Comparison of Multi‐Conformer and Time‐Averaging Models

Models describing thermal motion and conformational variability in protein crystal structures were applied to the refinement of a 1.8 A crystal structure of penicillopepsin. Three methods were tested: conventional refinement using restrained B factors, multiple-conformer refinement, and time-averaging refinement using molecular dynamics. The information content of the models was assessed by cross-validation and by estimating the phase accuracy of the model using phases obtained by multiple isomorphous replacement. The R value always decreased when using multi-conformer and time-averaging methods, as compared to conventional refinement. In contrast, the cross-validated (“free”) R value and the phase accuracy worsened for time-averaging in vacuum. Inclusion of solvent produced a slight improvement of both measures compared to conventional refinement. Multi-conformer refinements always improved both measures. An optimum was reached for simultaneous refinement of between four and eight conformers. At the resolution limit of the penicillopepsin data, multi-conformer refinement is an efficient method to describe conformational variability and thermal motion.
Genetic and epigenetic incompatibilities underlie hybrid dysgenesis in Peromyscus.

Crosses between the two North American rodent species Peromyscus polionotus (PO) and Peromyscus maniculatus (BW) yield parent-of-origin effects on both embryonic and placental growth1,2. The two species are approximately the same size, but a female BW crossed with a male PO produces offspring that are smaller than either parent. In the reciprocal cross, the offspring are oversized and typically die before birth. Rare survivors are exclusively female, consistent with Haldane's rule, which states that in instances of hybrid sterility or inviability, the heterogametic sex tends to be more severely affected3. To understand these sex- and parent-of-origin-specific patterns of overgrowth, we analysed reciprocal backcrosses. Our studies reveal that hybrid inviability is partially due to a maternally expressed X-linked PO locus and an imprinted paternally expressed autosomal BW locus. In addition, the hybrids display skewing of X-chromosome inactivation in favour of the expression of the BW X chromosome. The most severe overgrowth is accompanied by widespread relaxation of imprinting of mostly paternally expressed genes. Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlie hybrid inviability in Peromyscus and hence have a role in the establishment and maintenance of reproductive isolation barriers in mammals.
PEM electrolysis for production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources

PEM electrolysis is a viable alternative for generation of hydrogen from renewable energy sources. Several possible applications are discussed, including grid independent and grid assisted hydrogen generation, use of an electrolyzer for peak shaving, and integrated systems both grid connected and grid independent where electrolytically generated hydrogen is stored and then via fuel cell converted back to electricity when needed. Specific issues regarding the use of PEM electrolyzer in the renewable energy systems are addressed, such as sizing of electrolyzer, intermittent operation, output pressure, oxygen generation, water consumption and efficiency.
Predicting Turnover Intentions and Turnover Behavior: A Multivariate Analysis.

Abstract This study assesses the relative influence of personal, attitudinal, and behavioral variables on behavioral intentions and voluntary turnover among nonsupervisory plant workers. Results show that personal variables have little direct effect on turnover; rather, their influence on turnover is channeled through their effects on behavioral intentions. Felt stress, organizational commitment, and behavioral intentions are found to be the strongest predictors of voluntary job termination. Weak support is found for absenteeism as a precursor of eventual turnover.
A partially folded structure of amyloid-beta(1-40) in an aqueous environment.

Abstract Aggregation of the Aβ1–40 peptide is linked to the development of extracellular plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. While previous studies commonly show the Aβ1–40 is largely unstructured in solution, we show that Aβ1–40 can adopt a compact, partially folded structure. In this structure (PDB ID: 2LFM), the central hydrophobic region of the peptide forms a 310 helix from H13 to D23 and the N- and C-termini collapse against the helix due to the clustering of hydrophobic residues. Helical intermediates have been predicted to be crucial on-pathway intermediates in amyloid fibrillogenesis, and the structure presented here presents a new target for investigation of early events in Aβ1–40 fibrillogenesis.
Scale-dependent gas hydrate saturation estimates in sand reservoirs in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea of Korea

Abstract Through the use of 2-D and 3-D seismic data, several gas hydrate prospects were identified in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea of Korea and thirteen drill sites were established and logging-while-drilling (LWD) data were acquired from each site in 2010. Sites UBGH2–6 and UBGH2–10 were selected to test a series of high amplitude seismic reflections, possibly from sand reservoirs. LWD logs from the UBGH2–6 well indicate that there are three significant sand reservoirs with varying thickness. Two upper sand reservoirs are water saturated and the lower thinly bedded sand reservoir contains gas hydrate with an average saturation of 13%, as estimated from the P-wave velocity. The well logs at the UBGH2–6 well clearly demonstrated the effect of scale-dependency on gas hydrate saturation estimates. Gas hydrate saturations estimated from the high resolution LWD acquired ring resistivity (vertical resolution of about 5–8 cm) reaches about 90% with an average saturation of 28%, whereas gas hydrate saturations estimated from the low resolution A40L resistivity (vertical resolution of about 120 cm) reaches about 25% with an average saturation of 11%. However, in the UBGH2–10 well, gas hydrate occupies a 5-m thick sand reservoir near 135 mbsf with a maximum saturation of about 60%. In the UBGH2–10 well, the average and a maximum saturation estimated from various well logging tools are comparable, because the bed thickness is larger than the vertical resolution of the various logging tools. High resolution wireline log data further document the role of scale-dependency on gas hydrate calculations.
An analysis of the constant comparative method

(1988). An analysis of the constant comparative method. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 273-279.
Pantomime recognition defect in aphasia: implications for the concept of asymbolia.

Abstract This study investigated the relationship of impaired pantomime recognition to reading comprehension, sound recognition, letter recognition, and nonverbal abstract reasoning among aphasic patients. Defects in pantomime recognition were closely associated with defects in reading comprehension, but some with impaired pantomime recognition performed well on some or all of the remaining tests. Implications of the findings for the theory of asymbolia, and for reading comprehension are discussed.