cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells provide an alternate pathway of osteoclast activation and bone destruction by cancer cells

The bone is the third most common site of cancer metastasis. To invade the bone, tumor cells produce osteoclast-activating factors that increase bone resorption by osteoclasts. Here we report that human neuroblastoma cells that form osteolytic lesions in vivo do not produce osteoclast-activating factors but rather stimulate osteoclast activity in the presence of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This alternative pathway of osteoclast activation involves a nonadhesive interaction between neuroblastoma cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Stimulated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells express markedly increased levels of interleukin-6, which is then responsible for osteoclast activation. This report describes a critical role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in bone destruction in cancer.
Lead toxicosis in cats-a review

Although the incidence of lead toxicosis in small animals continues to decrease, it remains a significant malady. We have reviewed the literature of the past 45 years, which revealed 70 cases involving cats. Sources, signs, diagnosis, pathology and treatment of feline lead toxicosis are reviewed. In 84% of these cases the source of lead was old paint usually from home renovation. The most common signs in cats are anorexia, vomiting, and seizures. The younger individuals seem more likely to show CNS signs. Since signs are often vague, lead toxicosis may be significantly under diagnosed in cats. The gold standard of diagnostic tests is blood lead concentration, although it does not necessarily correlate with total body burden of lead or with metabolic effects including clinical signs. Diagnostic tests including erythropoietic protoporphyrin (EPP), urine aminolevulinic acid, and others are discussed. Gross findings on necropsy are few and include a yellow-brown discoloration of the liver often with a nutmeg-like appearance. Histological examination may reveal pathognomonic inclusion bodies in liver and renal tissues. Characteristic histological changes in the CNS include neuronal necrosis and demyelination. Treatment of lead toxicosis in cats, as in any species, involves removing the exposure, decontaminating the individual and the environment, supportive care and chelation therapy. The most recently available chelator is succimer (meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid). Succimer given orally is well tolerated and has a wide margin of safety. A high index of suspicion of lead toxicosis is warranted in cats since they often present with vague and non-specific signs. With any consistent history owners need to be asked about home renovation. Early diagnosis and treatment affords a good prognosis.
Shear wave arrival time estimates correlate with local speckle pattern

We present simulation and phantom studies demonstrating a strong correlation between errors in shear wave arrival time estimates and the lateral position of the local speckle pattern in targets with fully developed speckle. We hypothesize that the observed arrival time variations are largely due to the underlying speckle pattern, and call the effect speckle bias. Arrival time estimation is a key step in quantitative shear wave elastography, performed by tracking tissue motion via cross-correlation of RF ultrasound echoes or similar methods. Variations in scatterer strength and interference of echoes from scatterers within the tracking beam result in an echo that does not necessarily describe the average motion within the beam, but one favoring areas of constructive interference and strong scattering. A swept-receive image, formed by fixing the transmit beam and sweeping the receive aperture over the region of interest, is used to estimate the local speckle pattern. Metrics for the lateral position of the speckle are found to correlate strongly (r > 0.7) with the estimated shear wave arrival times both in simulations and in phantoms. Lateral weighting of the swept-receive pattern improved the correlation between arrival time estimates and speckle position. The simulations indicate that high RF echo correlation does not equate to an accurate shear wave arrival time estimate—a high correlation coefficient indicates that motion is being tracked with high precision, but the location tracked is uncertain within the tracking beam width. The presence of a strong on-axis speckle is seen to imply high RF correlation and low bias. The converse does not appear to be true—highly correlated RF echoes can still produce biased arrival time estimates. The shear wave arrival time bias is relatively stable with variations in shear wave amplitude and sign (−20 μm to 20 μm simulated) compared with the variation with different speckle realizations obtained along a given tracking vector. We show that the arrival time bias is weakly dependent on shear wave amplitude compared with the variation with axial position/ local speckle pattern. Apertures of f/3 to f/8 on transmit and f/2 and f/4 on receive were simulated. Arrival time error and correlation with speckle pattern are most strongly determined by the receive aperture.
Pride and Prejudice: Pervasiveness of Colorism and the Animated Series Proud Family

ABSTRACTIssues of race and racism continue to be subjects of interest for media critique; however, the more subtle notion of colorism is often ignored in the examination of media texts. An analysis of the popular children's animated series Proud Family demonstrates that even in a context where a “traditional” African American family and positive community relations are shown, colorism is still prominent. Rather than being critiqued or challenged, kids’ media is used to reinforce colorist ideals within the African American community. Attributes of wealth, beauty, and intelligence are applied to characters with Eurocentric phenotypic characteristics while deviance, stupidity, poverty and unattractiveness typify characters with more Afrocentric facial features.
The Mavi Marmara Trial: Politicising the Turkish Justice System

The Mavi Marmara Trial: Politicising the Turkish Justice System, scrutinises this trial and offers a window into the progressively more politicised Turkish Justice System. This paper clarifies the facts arising out of the 31 May 2010 clash between Israeli forces and vessels of the Free Gaza Flotilla. The Mavi Marmara, a Comoros-flagged vessel with a Turkish Master sought to breach the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The ensuing melee resulted in the deaths of nine passengers and serious injury to other passengers as well as Israeli commandos. This event became the opening act of a still-ongoing criminal inquiry that has resulted in an attempt by the Turkish government to try Israeli military officers for acts that it would excuse with respect to its own public servants. This paper shows that the Mavi Marmara criminal trial — representing the misapplication of Turkish criminal law and criminal procedure law — is a political show trial that neither comports with the minimal requirements for a fair trial nor seeks to ascertain the truth and do justice. This trial, which violates the Law of Armed Conflict, is part of a Turkish effort to impose Turkey’s view of applicable law on Israel. Beyond the trial’s political motivation, it makes a mockery of the rule of law and has converted the Turkish judicial system into an object of ridicule.
Improving the work function of the niobium surface of SRF cavities by plasma processing

Abstract An in situ plasma processing technique using chemically reactive oxygen plasma to remove hydrocarbons from superconducting radio frequency cavity surfaces at room temperature has been developed at the spallation neutron source, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. To understand better the interaction between the plasma and niobium surface, surface studies on small samples were performed. In this article, we report the results from those surface studies. The results show that plasma processing removes hydrocarbons from top surface and improves the surface work function by 0.5–1.0 eV. Improving the work function of RF surface of cavities can help to improve their operational performance.
Intestinal tachyarrhythmias during small bowel ischemia

The electrical control activity (ECA) of the bowel is the omnipresent slow electrical wave of the intestinal tract. Characterization of small bowel electrical activity during ischemia may be used a...
Novel photoswitchable dielectric properties on nanomaterials of electronic core–shell γ-FeOx@Au@fullerosomes for GHz frequency applications

We unexpectedly observed a large amplification of the dielectric properties associated with the photoswitching effect and the new unusual phenomenon of delayed photoinduced capacitor-like (i.e. electric polarization) behavior at the interface on samples of three-layered core–shell (γ-FeOx@AuNP)@[C60(>DPAF-C9)]n2 nanoparticles (NPs) in frequencies of 0.5–4.0 GHz. The detected relative dielectric constant amplification was initiated upon switching off the light followed by relaxation to give an excellent recyclability. These NPs having e−-polarizable fullerosomic structures located at the outer layer were fabricated from highly magnetic core–shell γ-FeOx@AuNPs. Surface-stabilized 2 in a core–shell structure was found to be capable of photoinducing the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect by white LED light. The accumulated SPR energy was subsequently transferred to the partially bilayered C60(>DPAF-C9) fullerosomic membrane layer in a near-field (∼1.5 nm) region without producing radiation heat. Since the monostatic SAR signal is dielectric property-dependent, we used these measurements to provide evidence of derived reflectivity changes on a surface coated with 2 at 0.5–4.0 GHz upon illumination of LED white light. We found that a high, >99%, efficiency of response amplification in image amplitude can be achieved.
On the Development of American English

With the development of the society,American English has become a kind of an important variant of the traditional English by weeding out the old and bringing forth the new in the course of the growth.Comparedwith the traditional English,the distinct characteristics in spell,vocabulary, grammar as well as slang makeAmerican English more active and much easier to circulate.
The Implementation of β-radiation Monitoring Systems based on Wireless Sensor Network

According to the characteristics of environmental β-radiation Monitoring Systems and the requirement of actual monitoring function,through using G-M tube as a detector,taking MSP430F1611 and CC2530 as wireless sensor node design,and making use of ZigBee wireless sensor network technology to build the monitoring network,the paper proposes and implements a new β-radiation Monitoring Systems based on Wireless Sensor Network.The system has advantages as follows: low power consumption,Ad hoc network,the high reliability of detecting data,stable performance,wide coverage,etc,which has broad application prospects.
Combining Self-Report and Role-Play Data in Sociopragmatics Research: towards a Methodological Synthesis

As several studies have shown, speakers from different countries, and even speakers from different regions of the same country, ‘vary their speech act production […], convey and perceive politeness differently, and display different interactional patterns during conversational interaction (e.g. greetings, opening and closing sequences, turn-taking, laughter)’ (Felix-Brasdefer 2007).1 Sociopragmatics focuses on the relationship between linguistic structure and social action (Leech 1983, Thomas 1983), more specifically on the influence of socio-contextual factors on language as social action (Martinez-Flor and Uso-Juan 2010: 6). To achieve this goal, the study of sociopragmatic variability ought not to limit itself to the ‘where’, the ‘who’ and the ‘how’ of speech act behaviour, but also crucially tackle the ‘why’. That is, it should move beyond description and attempt to address interlocutors’ reasons for opting for particular acts and for particular realizations of those acts in specific circumstances. Understanding the emic significance of speech act behaviour is important because it cannot be taken for granted that when people from different sociocultural backgrounds engage in the same speech act behaviour, they mean the same thing by it. As numerous examples testify, the possibility of pragmatic failure (Thomas 1983) looms large, and this is especially so for speakers using the same language, as is the case with L1 and L2 speakers of a language, or speakers of different varieties of the same language.
Oxygen Delivery Regulation: Implications for Blood Substitutes

All of the variables regulating the delivery of oxygen to specific tissues have not been identified. However, O2 capacity, blood flow, and vessel diameter, are coordinated in concert to optimize tissue oxygenation. Experimental models studied to date indicate that the set points for muscle blood flow are well above those needed to maintain oxidative metabolism. Thus, additional mechanisms must exist. A possible point of control is the supply of O2 to arterioles which can regulate capillary blood flow. This hypothesis has important implications for the development of red cell substitutes.
Dynamic behavior matching: a complexity analysis and new approximation algorithms

A number of advances in software security over the past decade have foundations in the behavior matching problem: given a specification of software behavior and a concrete execution trace, determine whether the behavior is exhibited by the execution trace. Despite the importance of this problem, precise descriptions of algorithms for its solution, and rigorous analyses of their complexity, are missing in the literature. In this paper, we formalize the notion of behavior matching used by the software security community, study the complexity of the problem, and give several algorithms for its solution, both exact and approximate. We find that the problem is in general not efficiently solvable, i.e. behavior matching is NP-Complete. We demonstrate empirically that our approximation algorithms can be used to efficiently find accurate solutions to real instances.
Assessing Undue Influence

A claim of undue influence (UI) often figures prominently in will and trust contests and in other legal matters. Mental health professionals (MHPs) are frequently asked to provide expert opinions on UI, but the task is challenging, because of the lack of a clear definition of UI, and conflicting and contradictory recommendations in the literature on the specific conduct of the MHP in rendering opinions on UI. Recently, however, a California statutory scheme on UI applicable in will, trust, conservatorship, and financial elder abuse cases was adopted, bringing greater clarity to the meaning of the construct. The clarification provides an opportunity to review the concern, and to recommend a set of principles to guide MHPs in the role of expert in such litigation.
Percutaneous closure of congenital coronary artery fistulae: results and angiographic follow-up.

Objectives This study sought to assess clinical and angiographic outcomes in a series of 29 patients who underwent transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF). Background Transcatheter closure of CAF has become an alternative to surgical closure, but the reported experience is relatively limited. Methods Medical records of all patients with CAF who underwent transcatheter closure at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 1997 and 2010, were reviewed. Patients with other complex cardiac lesions and those requiring surgery were excluded. Results Twenty-nine patients with CAF underwent 36 transcatheter closure procedures. The most were women (55%), and the median age at the time of transcatheter closure was 49 years. Twenty-three patients had a single CAF. The most common presenting symptom was chest pain (52%). Thirty devices were deployed antegrade into 1 or more arterial feeders, 3 using an arteriovenous wire loop and 3 retrograde at the fistulous connection. Successful closure occurred immediately in all patients with no residual flow in 89% and with trivial flow in 11%. Four complications occurred including 2 device migrations, 1 coronary spasm, and 1 coronary thrombosis. A follow-up angiogram was obtained in 18 (62%) patients with a median time to follow-up angiography of 1.5 years. Ten patients (56%) of the 18 patients with follow-up angiography had no recanalization of embolized vessel; 4 patients (22%) had trivial recanalization, and 4 patients (22%) had large recanalization. A repeat closure procedure was performed in all 4 patients of the latter. Conclusions Transcatheter closure of CAF is feasible and should be considered in carefully selected patients. Recanalization of the treated coronary fistulae can occur, so follow-up angiography or other imaging modality should be performed in these patients.
Intimate partner violence screening and the comparative effects of screening mode on disclosure of sensitive health behaviours and exposures in clinical settings.

Abstract Objective Detecting sensitive health information in clinical settings is of scientific and practical importance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mode of screening influenced disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) in patterns similar to other forms of sensitive information. Study design This cross sectional study was designed to compare effects of face-to-face vs computer self-assessment for sensitive health information on disclosure rates. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the analysis. Methods Data were collected in 2012 from 639 eligible African American consenting women receiving services in women, infants and children (WIC) clinics. Women were randomized to complete assessments of sensitive exposures via computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) or face-to-face interview (FTFI). Those with complete information were included in the analysis (n = 616). Results Of 39 sensitive health exposures, reporting was higher for FTFI than CASI for exposure to IPV (7 of 7 outcomes), tobacco use (2 of 3 outcomes) and reproductive health care (2 of 3 outcomes). For example, face-to-face improved disclosure of IPV in the last year (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.60–3.21) and any drug, tobacco or alcohol in the last week (aOR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.00–1.93). Conclusion Trained personnel may enhance disclosure above computer-based assessments for IPV for African American women receiving public assistance through The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Propensities to disclose sexual health behaviour and drug use by CASI may not apply to IPV in this population. The context and personal motivations influence women's decision to disclose IPV.
Multi-spectral (optical/IR and RF) characterization of omnidirectional reflective dielectric thin film for sensor applications

Material characterization is important for the design and development of multi-spectral sensors. In this paper, we present the measurement and analysis of the optical properties of commercial multilayered dielectric films with high reflectivity in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) regimes. Using a UV/VIS/NIR spectrometer, we measured the reflectance and transmittance spectra of single, two-, and three-sheets of films at different incidence angles. Our results show that both reflectance and transmittance vary with incidence angles as well as the number of combined sheets of the films. For the NIR film, reflectance decreases from 90% to 70% as the angle changes from 70° to 50°, while for VIS film, the decrease is only from 90% to 85%. A low transmittance with less than 1% is found for VIS film, while that of NIR film is below 20%. We also find that the NIR film shows more spectrum variation with wavelength and combining more sheets can result in a 10% higher reflectance. For both NIR and VIS films, the measured permittivity is about 2.5 ∼ 2.7 between 2 GHz and 12 GHz.
Protective Effect of Carvacrol against Gut Dysbiosis and Clostridium difficile Associated Disease in a Mouse Model.

Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic sporeforming pathogen causing a toxin-mediated enteric disease in humans. C. difficile predominantly affects hospital inpatients undergoing prolonged antibiotic therapy, which results in enteric dysbiosis, leading to C. difficile spore germination, pathogen colonization in the intestine and subsequent toxin production. Therapeutic agents that inhibit C. difficile without causing enteric dysbiosis could improve the clinical outcome of C. difficile infections. Our previous studies indicated that carvacrol (CR), a plant-derived compound significantly inhibited C. difficile toxin production and spore outgrowth in vitro. This study investigated the effect of CR on antibiotic-associated gut dysbiosis and C. difficile infection in a mouse model. Five to six-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into seven treatment groups (challenge and control) of eight mice each. Mice were fed with irradiated feed supplemented with CR (0%, 0.05%, and 0.1%); the challenge groups were made susceptible to C. difficile by orally administering an antibiotic cocktail in water and an intra-peritoneal injection of clindamycin. Both challenge and control groups were infected with 105 CFU/ml of hypervirulent C. difficile (ATCC 1870) spores or PBS, and observed for clinical signs for ten days. Respective control groups for CR, antibiotics, and their combination were included for investigating their effect on mouse enteric microflora. Mouse body weight and clinical and diarrhea scores were recorded daily post infection. Fecal samples were collected for microbiome analysis using rRNA sequencing in MiSeq platform. Carvacrol supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea and improved the clinical and diarrhea scores in mice (p<0.05). Microbiome analysis revealed a significant increase in Proteobacteria and reduction in the abundance of protective bacterial flora in antibiotic-treated and C. difficile-infected mice compared to controls (p<0.05). However, CR supplementation positively altered the microbiome composition, as revealed by an increased abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Firmicutes, and significantly reduced the proportion of detrimental flora such as Proteobacteria, without significantly affecting the gut microbiome diversity compared to control. Results suggest that CR could potentially be used to control gut dysbiosis and reduce C. difficile infection.
IOGP: An Incremental Online Graph Partitioning Algorithm for Distributed Graph Databases

Graphs have become increasingly important in many applications and domains such as querying relationships in social networks or managing rich metadata generated in scientific computing. Many of these use cases require high-performance distributed graph databases for serving continuous updates from clients and, at the same time, answering complex queries regarding the current graph. These operations in graph databases, also referred to as online transaction processing (OLTP) operations, have specific design and implementation requirements for graph partitioning algorithms. In this research, we argue it is necessary to consider the connectivity and the vertex degree changes during graph partitioning. Based on this idea, we designed an Incremental Online Graph Partitioning (IOGP) algorithm that responds accordingly to the incremental changes of vertex degree. IOGP helps achieve better locality, generate balanced partitions, and increase the parallelism for accessing high-degree vertices of the graph. Over both real-world and synthetic graphs, IOGP demonstrates as much as 2x better query performance with a less than 10% overhead when compared against state-of-the-art graph partitioning algorithms.
Modelling and Identification of Mechanical Systems with Nonlinearities

Abstract This paper deals with the modelling and parameter identification for a positioning table with mechanical nonlinearities. A model structure is developed to predict the nonlinear behavior exhibited by the experimental system. An off-line identification algorithm for estimating the Coulomb friction in the model is developed. Also presented is an on-line algorithm which estimates masses and friction forces in the model. Experimental and simulated responses of the system are given. Also given is a description of a nonlinear controller based on estimated Coulomb friction.
Dirty Rats, Dead for a Ducat: Shakespearean Echoes (and an Accident) in Some Films of James Cagney

This essay discovers Shakespearean “commonplaces,” “echoes,” and “accidents” in the gangster and social-realist genre films of golden-age Hollywood (Scarface, The Roaring Twenties, White Heat, Taxi!), which, in spite of their non-Shakespearean natures, provide cinematic intertexts that occasionally resonate with a “Shakespearean presence.” Uncannily prominent in the filmography of James Cagney, the most compelling manifestions of these phenomena coincide with representations of death, as dealt by or visited upon Cagney’s indelible characters. Through juxtapositions of cinematic actualities and Shakespearean textual parallels, this essay illuminates how a work that is not essentially Shakespeare becomes Shakespearean in the act of becoming itself.
A case report of successful management of clostridium difficile colitis with antegrade Fidaxomicin through a mucous fistula obviating the need for subtotal colectomy.

Abstract Introduction Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections and can have devastating morbidity and mortality. Traditional treatment algorithms involve intravenous metronidazole and enteric metronidazole or vancomycin. Fidaxomicin (DificidR) targets “switch regions” within RNA polymerases and effectively kills clostridium difficile bacteria and is typically administered orally primarily or through a naso/oro-gastric conduit. Presentation of case 55-year-old with a recent elective surgical procedure was hospitalized with multifocal pneumonia and subsequently developed clostridium difficile colitis. This patient failed the standard medical therapy for clostridium difficile colitis, decompensated and required surgical exploration, partial colectomy and mucous fistula creation. Following her surgery, her clinical condition improved and her colitis resolved with the antegrade administration of fidaxomicin through her mucous fistula. Discussion Fidaxomicin is a newer to market therapeutic agent that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of clostridium difficile colitis. Previously studies have shown benefit of oral fidaxomicin therapy for fulminant clostridium difficile but our study case report describes the index case of topical fidaxomicin through a mucous fistula. Conclusion In our case of fulminant clostridium difficile colitis, Fidaxomicin administered in an antegrade fashion through a mucous fistula may have reduced the need for total colectomy in the treatment of fulminant clostridium difficile colitis.
Keeping the Power On: How Reliable Is Our Electric System Under Partial Deregulation?

The competitive market price of electricity will contain two components: (1) the costs of providing optimal reliability, and (2) a price premium that would be analogous to a surety bond that the utility will lose if it fails to provide the optimal reliability reflected in the market price. Analyses of future electricity prices that focus only upon capital, fuel, labor, and other directly observable costs are likely to understate competitive market prices. State regulated transmission companies are unlikely to provide optimal reliability. States should rationalize their electric power markets through deregulated transmission companies.
The effect of nurse-led group discussions by race on depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure.

Abstract Background African Americans with heart failure (HF) have the highest rates of depression among all ethnicities in the USA. Objectives To compare the effects by race on depressive symptoms and topics discussed in the first clinic appointment after HF hospitalization. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial testing a patient group discussion of HF self-management with 93 Caucasians and 77 African Americans. Results Reduction in depressive symptoms was significantly greater among African American patients within the intervention group (F = 3.99, p = .047) than controls. There were significant differences by race in four topics (dietitian referral, appointment date, help preparing discussion questions, and advice on worsening HF symptoms) concerning patient-physician discussions. Conclusion The intervention showed greater effect in reducing depressive symptoms among African Americans than Caucasians. Preparing patients for discussions at physician appointments on diet, depressive symptoms, and HF symptoms is recommended.
Electric sail space flight dynamics and controls

Abstract This paper seeks to investigate the space flight dynamics of a rotating barbell Electric Sail (E-Sail). This E-Sail contains two 6U CubeSats connected to 8 km tethers joined at a central hub. The central hub is designed to be an insulator so that each tether can have differing voltages. An electron gun positively charges each tether which interacts with the solar wind to produce acceleration. If the voltage on each tether is different, the trajectory of the system can be altered. Flapping modes and tension spikes are found during many of these maneuvers and care must be taken to mitigate the magnitude of these oscillations. Using sinusoidal voltage inputs, it is possible to control the trajectory of this two-body E-Sail and propel the system to Near-Earth-Objects or even deep space.
Viewing Science Learning Through an Ecosystem Lens: A Story in Two Parts

Studying the multidimensional, dynamic and complex qualities of a community-wide science education system must begin by creating an expanded definition of what constitutes a public science education system. A system-wide approach recognises that formal education entities (early childhood, elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools) are critical and necessary components to life-long, life-wide and life-deep science understanding and participation, but even collectively they represent only a small part, both physically and functionally, of the entire system. In a community-wide science education system the entire array of possible science education resources must be considered as equal contributors to public science education. Such community-wide science education system can be likened to a science learning ecosystem.
Varicoceles and Hypogonadism

Varicoceles are abnormal dilatations of the internal spermatic veins of the spermatic cord, thought to result from incompetent venous valves, leading to venous stasis and enlargement over the time. Varicoceles have a negative impact on testicular function, but whether this effect is discrete or progressive is debatable. Emerging evidence suggests that the presence of varicoceles is associated with decreased serum testosterone and that varicocelectomy alone may improve serum testosterone in a subset of these cases. However, the majority of studies on this topic have been retrospective and non-controlled. The magnitude and duration of any beneficial effect of varicocelectomy can only be proven by randomized controlled trials. Although several surgical and nonsurgical options for varicocele repair are available, microsurgical varicocelectomy is associated with the lowest rates of complications and varicocele recurrence and is considered the gold standard method for varicocele repair.
The Growth Curve Model and Reduced-Rank Regression Methods

One additional general model class which has aspects of reduced-rank regression, especially in its mathematical structure, is that of the growth curve or generalized multivariate ANOVA (GMANOVA) model. This type of model is often applied in the analysis of longitudinal or repeated measures data arising in biomedical and other areas. For these models, the components yjk of the m-dimensional response vector Yk = (y 1k , ..., y mk )’ usually correspond to responses on a single characteristic of a subject made over m distinct times or occasions, with interest in studying features of the mean response over time, and a sample of T independent subjects is available. Corresponding to each subject is an n-dimensional set of time-invariant explanatory variables X k , which may include factors for treatment assignments held fixed over all occasions. In addition, it may be postulated that the pattern of mean response over time for any subject can be represented by some parametric function, e.g., polynomial function, of time whose coefficients are specified to be linear functions of the time-invariant explanatory variables X k .
Immunohistochemistry in Sarcomas

The usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of sarcomas has certainly blossomed in recent years. Here, its overall importance in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors will be documented and related to the clinical importance of proper sarcoma diagnosis. Secondly, specific markers will be briefly outlined and their limitations underscored. Last, new directions and approaches for the future using this technology will be proposed.
Knee Imaging Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: The Surgeon's and Radiologist's Perspectives

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries that if left untreated can result in chronic instability, cartilage damage, meniscal tears, and ligamentous injuries, eventually leading to early osteoarthritis. ACL reconstruction surgeries are therefore increasingly being performed. Despite the fact that most patients achieve excellent postoperative results, patients can present with recurrent instability and pain. These patients often undergo imaging with radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or computed tomography. An understanding of the imaging appearance of the normal ACL reconstruction and common causes of failure is therefore essential for the interpreting radiologist. This article reviews surgical techniques for ACL reconstruction, highlighting recent technical advances, the normal imaging appearance after ACL reconstruction, etiologies for reconstruction failure, and the diagnosis of these with the aid of imaging.
Predicting the phase behavior of ABAC tetrablock terpolymers: Sensitivity to Flory–Huggins interaction parameters

Abstract Self-consistent field theory (SCFT) is a powerful tool for discovering new nanostructures in self-assembling block polymers. However, the reliability of the resulting predictions depend strongly on the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters χij used to quantify the excess free energy of mixing of different blocks i and j arising from segment-segment interactions. The problem is especially significant for multiblock polymers, owing to the multitude of χij parameters and the sensitivity of the resulting phase behavior when the χij do not differ substantially for different block pairs. To illuminate this issue, we examine how the SCFT-predicted phase behavior of a poly(styrene)-b-poly(isoprene)-b-poly(styrene)'-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SIS'O) tetrablock terpolymer changes depending on the method used to estimate the trio of χij parameters for this chemistry. SIS'O is an ideal model system for our purposes, as it exhibits a large number of poly(ethylene oxide) sphere-forming phases, emerging from the segregation of the poly(ethylene oxide) block due to the relatively high values of χSO and χIO, accompanied by subtle matrix segregation effects arising due to the smaller χIS between poly(isoprene) and poly(styrene). We first use χIS, χIO, and χSO available in the literature that were estimated using mean-field theory order–disorder transitions of the relevant diblock polymers. As this method is expected to lead to significant errors in χij that propagate into the SCFT predictions, we also consider two fluctuation-corrected approaches to extract χij from diblock polymer data, namely (i) fitting the order-disorder transition temperature to that predicted by molecular dynamics simulations and (ii) renormalized one-loop theory predictions for the structure factor of the disordered state. While even the fluctuation-corrected χ parameters do not lead to SCFT phase behavior that exactly matches experiments, the SCFT calculations using the molecular dynamics-fitted χ parameters correctly predict stable Frank–Kasper A15 and σ phases. The results presented here highlight the challenges in predictively modeling the phase behavior of multiblock polymers using SCFT, a critical task for the discovery of new multiblock polymer materials.
Kinship Probate Guardianship: An Important Permanency Option for Children:

A growing number of children are being raised by relatives under a variety of different care arrangements. Although the extant literature provides rough estimates of the number and characteristics of children living in most care arrangements, research on kinship probate guardianship is especially scarce. This article focuses on kinship probate guardianship in an effort to build the literature on this understudied population. It examines demographic information about caregivers and children pursuing kinship probate guardianship, the circumstances that necessitate children’s alternative care, and reasons for selecting this custodial arrangement. Findings suggest that children and caregivers who select into kinship probate guardianship have characteristics similar to those of children and caregivers in other types of kinship care. These children move into the homes of their relatives for a variety of reasons, primarily including parental desertion, detention, and drug use.
Achieving Bidirectionality

The topic of BIDIRECTIONALITY, using common knowledge in language processing for both analysis and generation, is of both practical and theoretical concern. Theoretically, it is important to determine what knowledge structures can be applied to both. Practically, it is important that a competent natural language system be able to generate outputs that are relevant to the inputs it understands, without excessive redundancy. This problem revolves around the ability to relate linguistic structures declaratively to their meaning.
Performance Surface Analysis Identifies Consistent Functional Patterns across 10 Morphologically Divergent Terrestrial Turtle Lineages

Newly-developed methods for utilizing performance surfaces-multivariate representations of the relationship between phenotype and functional performance-allow researchers to test hypotheses about adaptive landscapes and evolutionary diversification with explicit attention to functional factors. Here, information from performance surfaces of three turtle shell functions-shell strength, hydrodynamics, and self-righting-is used to test the hypothesis that turtle lineages transitioning from aquatic to terrestrial habitats show patterns of shell shape evolution consistent with decreased importance of hydrodynamic performance. Turtle shells are excellent model systems for evolutionary functional analysis. The evolution of terrestriality is an interesting test case for the efficacy of these methods because terrestrial turtles do not show a straightforward pattern of morphological convergence in shell shape: many terrestrial lineages show increased shell height, typically assumed to decrease hydrodynamic performance, but there are also several lineages where the evolution of terrestriality was accompanied by shell flattening. Performance surface analyses allow exploration of these complex patterns and explicit quantitative analysis of the functional implications of changes in shell shape. Ten lineages were examined. Nearly all terrestrial lineages, including those which experienced decreased shell height, are associated with morphological changes consistent with a decrease in the importance of shell hydrodynamics. This implies a common selective pattern across lineages showing divergent morphological patterns. Performance studies such as these hold great potential for integrating adaptive and performance data in macroevolutionary studies.
Engaging publics in the mobile era: A study of Chinese charitable foundations’ use of WeChat

Abstract WeChat, the most widely used social mobile application nowadays in China, marks the advent of a mobile communication age that has reshaped Chinese people’s lifestyles. Understanding Chinese nonprofits’ communication performance on WeChat is a nascent field of study that calls for public relations scholars’ attention and investigation. By observing the most transparent Chinese charitable foundations, this study conducted a quantitative content analysis to examine their use of WeChat for dialogic communication with publics. Particularly, this study examined the dialogic features employed on the official WeChat accounts of these foundations as well as the public engagement functions fulfilled by their WeChat posts. The findings indicate that the dialogic potential of WeChat has not been fully utilized by the Chinese foundations. The official accounts have been relatively successful in fulfilling the provision of useful information toward interested publics, but most of them still have not created a dialogic loop with their audience. The WeChat posts primarily act as information sources but also perform the salient function of calling upon actions. In addition, certain communication strategies were identified in the posts to attract audience attention and to promote organizational activities, such as the incorporation of multimedia content and popular online events.
Readnplay for a Bright Future Mobile Application Development and Experience

ReadNPlay for a Bright Future aims to support healthy eating, active living, safety, and development among families with young children. Through support of an AAP Healthy Active Living grant, ReadNPlay was developed by a group of academic general pediatricians, community partners, and graphic designers in 2011. This multilevel, multicomponent intervention includes novel clinical tools to enhance communication between pediatric providers and families during health supervision visits, referrals to community resources, and use of social media and a coordinated social marketing campaign to support a culture of health. One of the clinical tools developed, My Baby Book, was designed …
Codependence (Presentation Slides)

Two random variables are codependent when knowing the value of one helps us determine the value of the other. This should not me confounded with the notion of causality. Correlation is perhaps the best known measure of codependence in econometric studies. Despite its popularity among economists, correlation has many known limitations in the contexts of financial studies. In this seminar we will explore more modern measures of codependence, based on information theory, which overcome some of the limitations of correlations.
Projected impacts of climate change on tourism in the Coachella Valley, California

Weather and climate are important considerations for tourists in selecting their destinations, and climate change may impact these decisions, with implications for economic revenue in tourism-dependent locations. In the Coachella Valley, a desert region in Southern California, the warm and dry climate during winter months attracts seasonal visitors from Canada and northern US states (“snowbirds”). However, global warming may adversely impact the snowbird season and other tourist attractions through rising temperatures. We analyzed how increasing temperatures are likely to impact three key components of the tourism industry in the region: climate in the winter snowbird season, visitation at an outdoor tourist attraction, and the likelihood of extreme heat at an annual festival. We used statistically downscaled climate models to make predictions about future visitation to the region by calculating changing probabilities of extreme heat during the tourist season and local events. Our analysis predicts a shortened snowbird season, which we define as the time of year with daily maximum temperatures below a threshold of 30 °C, under two future climate scenarios and time periods. We find a nonlinear relationship between daily maximum temperatures and daily zoo visits, where visitation sharply declines after a threshold of 30 °C. Using this threshold, we predict a decrease in zoo visitation by up to 18% and a shortening of the snowbird season by up to 36% by the end of the century. We also predict an increased likelihood of extreme heat stress during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
3D printed colloidal biomaterials based on photo-reactive gelatin nanoparticles

Biomaterials-based strategies have shown great promise for tissue regeneration. 3D printing technologies can deliver unprecedented control over architecture and properties of biomaterial constructs when combined with innovative material design strategies. Colloidal gels made of polymeric nanoparticles are attractive injectable and self-healing systems, but their use as bio-inks for extrusion-based printing is largely unexplored. Here, we report 3D printing of novel biomaterial constructs with shape memory behavior using photo-reactive gelatin nanoparticles as colloidal building blocks. These nanoparticles are stabilized with intraparticle covalent crosslinks, and also contain pendant methacryloyl groups as photo-reactive moieties. While non-covalent interactions between nanoparticles enable formation of colloidal gel inks that are printable at room temperature, UV-induced covalent interparticle crosslinks based on methacryloyl moieties significantly enhance mechanical properties of printed constructs. Additionally, the UV crosslinking modality enables remarkable control over swelling, degradation, and biomolecule release behavior of 3D constructs. Finally, by exploiting the mechanical properties of colloidal biomaterials after UV crosslinking, 3D constructs can be designed with shape memory properties, returning to their original programmed geometry upon re-hydration. Accordingly, these novel colloidal inks exhibit great potential to serve as bio-inks for 3D printing of biomaterials with shape-morphing features for a wide range of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Letermovir prophylaxis and cytomegalovirus reactivation in adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with graft versus host disease.

7004Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common clinically significant infection after allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation (allo-HCT) and is associated with increased mortality. ...