cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metallocene basicity. VIII. Protonation of bridge substituted ferrocenophanes in strong acid media

Abstract A series of bridge substituted [3]-, [4]-, and [5]- ferrocenophanes have been prepared and characterized by 1 H NMR and mass spectroscopy. In trifluoroboric acid, HBF 3 OH, solution these ferrocenophanes protonate at the iron to form long-lived species which can be studied by 1 H NMR. Analysis of the complex 1 H NMR spectra of the protonated species suggests that bridge substituents either slow or block the free oscillation of the rings and bridges. The iron-hydrogen chemical shift values have been shown to depend only on the length of the bridge and seem to be insensitive to substituents on the bridge.
Psychometric characteristics of the trait version of the depression adjective check lists (DACL) in adult psychiatric outpatientsx

Psychometric characteristics of the trait version of Set 2 (E, F, G) of the Depression Adjective Check Lists (DACL) were studied in a sample of 177 consecutive admissions to a university medical center clinic of adult psychiatric outpatients (60 males, 117 females). The SCL-90-R and the Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview also were administered. The trait DACL was shown to have high internal consistency (.90 to 0.92) and alternate form reliability (.86 to 0.92) and good concurrent (.76) and discriminant validity. The DACL (E, F, G) was able to differentiate between those with or without the presence of a Major Depression. There was a significant correlation between DACL E and levels of distress and psychopathology. In addition, the magnitude of DACL score significantly differentiated psychiatric diagnostic groups.
Factors Influencing the Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Dogwood Borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) Infestations in Newly Planted Apple Orchards

The temporal and small-scale spatial patterns of infestation by larval dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris) were studied from 2002 to 2004 in two newly planted apple orchards in West Virginia and Virginia. Rootstock, tree variety, and cultural management practice were significantly associated with the presence and extent of dogwood borer infestation. In West Virginia, infestation was significantly greater on trees planted on M.26 rootstock compared with M.7 rootstock, and on trees fitted with tree guards compared with other trunk treatments. In Virginia, the proportion of infested trees was significantly greater for ‘Idared’ tree varieties compared with ‘Buckeye Gala’, and on trees fitted with tree guards compared with other trunk treatments. Median polishing technique was used to separate variability in the infestation data into large-scale variation (trend) induced mainly by treatments and small-scale variation. Variography was used to study the median-polished residuals of infestation that represent the small-scale variation. The results of variogram analysis of the median-polished residuals indicated that there were moderate to high degrees of aggregation in dogwood borer infestations on neighboring apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) with ranges of spatial autocorrelation from 2.8 to 17.0 m. The spatial patterns of the aggregation of infestation in the West Virginia and Virginia orchards were best described by the spherical and exponential semiovariogram models, respectively. Interpolated surface maps of the median-polished residuals revealed local hot spots, which were generally more prevalent within tree guard treatments, and were typically found where dogwood borer infestations originated. Results are discussed in relation to the sampling and management of dogwood borer larvae.
Parallel Reaction Monitoring for High Resolution and High Mass Accuracy Quantitative, Targeted Proteomics

Selected reaction monitoring on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer is currently experiencing a renaissance within the proteomics community for its, as yet, unparalleled ability to characterize and quantify a set of proteins reproducibly, completely, and with high sensitivity. Given the immense benefit that high resolution and accurate mass instruments have brought to the discovery proteomics field, we wondered if highly accurate mass measurement capabilities could be leveraged to provide benefits in the targeted proteomics domain as well. Here, we propose a new targeted proteomics paradigm centered on the use of next generation, quadrupole-equipped high resolution and accurate mass instruments: parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). In PRM, the third quadrupole of a triple quadrupole is substituted with a high resolution and accurate mass mass analyzer to permit the parallel detection of all target product ions in one, concerted high resolution mass analysis. We detail the analytical performance of the PRM method, using a quadrupole-equipped bench-top Orbitrap MS, and draw a performance comparison to selected reaction monitoring in terms of run-to-run reproducibility, dynamic range, and measurement accuracy. In addition to requiring minimal upfront method development and facilitating automated data analysis, PRM yielded quantitative data over a wider dynamic range than selected reaction monitoring in the presence of a yeast background matrix because of PRM's high selectivity in the mass-to-charge domain. With achievable linearity over the quantifiable dynamic range found to be statistically equal between the two methods, our investigation suggests that PRM will be a promising new addition to the quantitative proteomics toolbox.
Modeling Disjunct Gray Wolf Populations in Semi-Wild Landscapes

Gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) in parts of the United States and Europe live in networks of disjunct pop- ulations, many of which are close to human settlement. Because wolf management goals include sustaining disjunct populations, it is important to ask what types of areas and protections are needed for population sur- vival. To predict the effects of different levels of human-caused mortality, we created a simulation model for a disjunct wolf population living in a semi-wild landscape with abundant, well distributed prey. The landscape included a maximum of 16 territories divided into core and peripheral range. The mortality rate in the core range was 20%, whereas the mortality rate in peripheral range (40%) was higher because of human-caused deaths. We examined the relationship between the proportions of core and peripheral range and the 50-year occupancy of that range by wolf packs, given different assumptions about pup and dispersal mortality and immigration. Simulations showed that occupancy increased as the number of core sites increased, but curve location depended on parameter assumptions. With pup and dispersal mortality rates consistent with those for disease-free and legally protected populations, wolves saturated a 16-territory cluster with as few as two core sites, regardless of immigration rate. When populations had high pup or dispersal mortality, as few as two immigrants per year helped maintain high ( . 80%) site occupancy in clusters with four or more core sites. Small numbers of immigrants were also important for sustaining colonizing populations and buffering the negative effects of increased environmental variation. The simulations supported the claim that wolves can survive in disjunct populations provided that wolves can move between populations, human persecution is not excessive, and prey is abundant.
Using Role-Play Scenarios in the IR Classroom: An Examination of Exercises on Peacekeeping Operations and Foreign Policy Decision Making

Use of role-play scenarios in the classroom is just one of a number of active learning techniques that are being used more and more frequently to convey the more abstract concepts of international relations (IR) to students in a meaningful way. This paper examines the value of two specific role-play exercises used in an introduction to international relations course on the topics of peacekeeping and foreign policy decision making. The value of such interactive exercises is laid out in a section examining what learning objectives can be achieved by using role-play scenarios. These include promoting student interaction and input, and promoting student curiosity and creativity. The preparations necessary for conducting such an exercise are laid out, followed by a description of the exercises as they were conducted in the classroom. Finally, an assessment of the exercises provides useful feedback on the degree to which specific learning objectives were achieved, and how such exercises can be modified to be even more effective.
Usability Evaluation of a Social Networking Site Prototype for the Elderly

Social networking sites offer a number of benefits; however a large amount of elder adults still do not engage in these types of sites due to usability issues and a lack of understanding of Web 2.0 concepts. To alleviate these issues, a social networking site interface was redesigned to accommodate elders so that they can reap the benefits of social media. Following a three phased usability study, 22 elder adults utilized a redesigned website incorporating web standards and additional usability and accessibility considerations. With the use of the redesigned prototype, does it improve accessibility and usability for elder adults? What tasks improved in terms of success rates and task performance? How do the elders perceive the newly redesigned prototype? The preliminary findings of this study show that usability and accessibility for elder adults improved when utilizing the redesigned social networking site. In addition, elder adults had a more positive perception of these types of sites after using the redesigned prototype.
Workstations and the virtual system model

It is noted that users of the future will require access to objects and services that are scattered across large networks and that the workstation can mold these objects and services into complete systems. The author suggests that in order to talk about the role of the workstation in such systems, one must have an idea of how they will be organized. He describes one model for organizing such systems and shows how the workstation might fit in. >
Engineering Solution to Nuclear Material Detection at Ports: Introducing the Novel iMASS Paradigm

Detection of special nuclear material (SNM) hidden in cargo containers is considered to be one of the major challenges for homeland security. SNM impose a significant threat for public safety since they can be converted into nuclear weaponry and used for potential terrorist attacks. In this paper we present who we can fill the existing gap in quickly but accurately detecting hidden SNM. Synergism of Monte Carlo methods and intelligent control paradigm provides a novel frame for automated cargo interrogation and final decision making. Human operator is assumed to not be the part of the procedure while the powerful detection algorithms are used with fuzzy logic tools to indicate whether the container should be singled out for manual search or not. In this paper the general frame of our so called iMASS (intelligent Model Assisted Sensing System) is presented.
Stress-related reduction in personal mastery is associated with reduced immune cell beta2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity

Background: A growing body of literature suggests that caregiving burden is associated with impaired immune system functioning, which may contribute to elevated morbidity and mortality risk among dementia caregivers. However, potential mechanisms linking these relationships are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether stress-related experience of depressive symptoms and reductions in personal mastery were related to alterations in ss2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity.Methods: Spousal Alzheimer's caregivers (N = 106) completed measures assessing the extent to which they felt overloaded by their caregiving responsibilities, experienced depressive symptoms, and believed their life circumstances were under their control. We hypothesized that caregivers reporting elevated stress would report increased depressive symptoms and reduced mastery, which in turn would be associated with reduced ss2- adrenergic receptor sensitivity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), as assessed by in vitro isoproterenol stimulation.Results: Regression analyses indicated that overload was negatively associated with mastery (beta = -0.36, p = 0.001) and receptor sensitivity (beta = -0.24, p = 0.030), whereas mastery was positively associated with receptor sensitivity (beta = 0.29, p = 0.005). Finally, the relationship between overload and receptor sensitivity diminshed upon simultaneous entry of mastery. Sobel's test confirmed that mastery significantly mediated some of the relationship between overload and receptor sensitivity (z = -2.02, p = 0.044).Conclusions: These results suggest that a reduced sense of mastery may help explain the association between caregiving burden and reduced immune cell ss2-receptor sensitivity.
Population mobility and epidemiology of chronic bronchitis in Connecticut.

The distribution of chronic bronchitis was studied in southern Connecticut by administering a standardized questionnaire on respiratory symptoms to 424 persons (249 men and 175 women). Eighteen men (8.8%) and 22 women (10.3%) were found to have this disease, and smokers were affected far more frequently than former smokers or nonsmokers. Among the chronic bronchitics a statistically significant association was observed between severity of symptoms and migration from urban areas, those with severe symptoms being the most likely to have left these areas in recent years. The need is therefore emphasized of taking length of residence into account in surveys which are concerned with the relationship between chronic bronchitis and urban air pollution.
GridSec: trusted grid computing with security binding and self-defense against network worms and DDoS attacks

The USC GridSec project develops distributed security infrastructure and self-defense capabilities to secure wide-area networked resource sites participating in a Grid application. We report new developments in trust modeling, security-binding methodology, and defense architecture against intrusions, worms, and flooding attacks. We propose a novel architectural design of Grid security infrastructure, security binding for enhanced Grid efficiency, distributed collaborative IDS and alert correlation, DHT-based overlay networks for worm containment, and pushback of DDoS attacks. Specifically, we present a new pushback scheme for tracking attack-transit routers and for cutting malicious flows carrying DDoS attacks. We discuss challenging research issues to achieve secure Grid computing effectively in an open Internet environment.
Factors Affecting Premature Browning During Cooking of Store-purchased Ground Beef

Storage conditions, patty location within packages, and purchase time effects on premature browning (PMB) of ground beef during cooking to 55 C were determined. Packages were purchased twice daily. Patties were formed soon after purchase or after overnight storage (4 °C). Patties from the outer portion of the packages pur- chased in the morning were bright red and had the highest incidence of PMB (62.5%) when cooked. Patties from inner portions of packages purchased in the afternoon and refrigerated overnight were more (P 0.05) purple and had the lowest incidence (25%) of PMB. Premature browning incidence averaged 47%. Consumer handling proce-
Secondary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system: the need for better predictors.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma treated with curative intent in most cases. While involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is uncommon, the dismal prog...
Alkene isomerizations with boron trichloride-hydrogen chloride solutions

Abstract The combination of boron trichloride and hydrogen chloride in dichloromethane at 0°C catalyzes facile alkene isomerizations in certain steroid systems which are not affected by HCl in the absence of BCl 3 .
In the Black: School Desegregation and the Politics of Fiscal Redemption:

The ongoing desegregation effort involving city and suburban school districts in the St. Louis metropolitan area has been widely hailed as an ambitious and largely successful undertaking. A much different picture emerges in this study of the financial and political dialogue affecting programs introduced to city schools. The value of programs has been overstated, and much more attention has been paid to showcase integrated schools than to schools whose student bodies have remained predominantly Black. The school desegregation effort is better understood as a ritual that softened the effects of reductions to the city school system and legitimized the view that many minority children could not handle more ambitious academic programs.
East and West in Modern Hungarian Politics

More than any other politician in current Hungarian politics, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refers to “east” and “west” in his public addresses as symbols of antithetical political cultures and cultural value systems. Of course, he is by no means the first Hungarian statesman to do so. From the Middle Ages, references to the Asian origins of the nation were mobilized by chroniclers and statesmen to characterize the national character and Hungary’s place in the European Christian political community. During the Enlightenment, the embracing of a perceived cultural hierarchy between west and east entered the Hungarian public discourse, and from the Reform Era the two intellectual streams shaped modern Hungarian identity discourse equally. This paper describes the national identity discourse that emphasizes the Asian origins of the nation through the lens of what I call “self-Orientalism.” Whereas Orban’s political addresses can be viewed as a continuation of the self-Orientalizing language, the examination of the ways in which he breaks from the tradition of self-Orientalism teaches even more important lessons about the viability of the reference to the east-west dichotomy in the global political arena.
Digital Evolution of Behavioral Models for Autonomic Systems

We describe an automated method to generating models of an autonomic system. Specifically, we generate UML state diagrams for a set of interacting objects, including the extension of existing state diagrams to support new behavior. The approach is based on digital evolution, a form of evolutionary computation that enables a designer to explore an enormous solution space for complex problems. In our application of this technology, an evolving population of digital organisms is subjected to natural selection, where organisms are rewarded for generating state diagrams that support key scenarios and satisfy critical properties as specified by the developer. To achieve this capability, we extended the Avida digital evolution platform to enable state diagram generation, and integrated AviDA with third-party software engineering tools, e.g., the Spin model checker, to assess the generated state diagrams. To illustrate this approach, we successfully applied it to the generation of state diagrams describing the autonomous navigation behavior of a humanoid robot.
Developing Criteria for an On-Line Learning Environment: From the Student and Faculty Perspectives*

The research literature abounds with articles about distance learning from the perspectives of students, faculty, and administrators. Most of these articles discuss the details of transitioning to on-line learning environments. Research is beginning to pay attention to quality issues in distance learning. This article discusses a three-phase developmental study conducted in a graduate school. Students were asked to brainstorm and develop a set of quality indicators. These indicators were ranked by a second group of students. Then the indicators were given to a group of faculty for another ranking. In this study it was shown that there was a very great agreement on the relative importance of the various potential indicators of quality in courses delivered via an on-line medium.
Pseudoscalar glueball, the axial-vector anomaly, and the mixing problem for pseudoscalar mesons

If the $G(1440)$ observed in $\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}G$ is a pseudoscalar glueball its relationship with other pseudoscalar mesons must be understood. We present a simple, unified picture of these mesons in which there must be mixing between glue matter and quark matter. Our model, an extension of an effective Lagrangian which solved the U(1) problem by incorporating the axial-vector anomaly, dictates a relationship between ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and $G$. We are readily able to explain why the quark-matter meson ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ is at least as prominent as the glueball $G$ in the gluon-dominated reaction $\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}X$.
Do Food Prices Affect Food Security for SNAP Households? Evidence from the CPS Matched to the Quarterly Food-At-Home Price Database

In this paper, we estimate the effect of food prices on food insecurity for SNAP recipients using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the recently published Quarterly Food-At-Home Price Database (QFAHPD). By constructing this sample we can directly measure the relationship between food prices and food insecurity for U.S. households. We form a local food price index based on amounts of food for a household of four as established by the Thrifty Food Plan. We use an econometric model that accounts for the endogeneity of SNAP receipt to food insecurity and for household-level unobservables. We find that, on average, the effect of food prices on the probability of food insecurity is positive and significant: an increase of one standard deviation in the price of our food basket results in increases of 2.4 percentage points in adult food insecurity and 3.7 percentage points in child food insecurity. These marginal effects amount to 8.4 and 15.9 percent increases in prevalence of food insecurity for adults and children, respectively. These findings have important implications for policy in that SNAP benefits might be beneficially indexed to local food prices.
International Economic Freedoms, Banks and Contagion During the Market Crisis of 2007-2009

The objective of this paper is to test if banks in highly regulated countries performed better than banks in less regulated countries during the market crisis of 2007-2009. An additional test is if the magnitude of contagion was greater between the banking indexes relative to the overall market indexes during the crisis period, confirming contagion between the banking sectors around the world. Bank index returns from 46 countries were examined from October 1st 2007 to March 3rd 2009 and revealed that high levels of financial freedoms, measured by the Heritage Foundation Freedom Rankings, resulted in higher banking index returns. The results indicate that less government involvement in an economy was positive for banking index returns during the crisis period. Market index returns experienced a much greater degree of correlation compared to banking indexes, indicating banks did not experience contagion to the same degree as the overall market indexes during the crisis. Therefore, the financial crisis of 2007-2009 cannot be solely blamed on the banking sector and the crisis should not serve as the justification for additional regulations and government involvement in the economy.
Do you see what I see? An examination of perceptions between advertising and public relations professionals

Abstract This study represents an initial step in the empirical understanding of integration as it relates to the advertising and public relations fields. Using a survey of practitioners (n = 1076) it finds that while many practitioners are aware of integration efforts within organizations, they may be less than enthusiastic about the concept. The results offer suggestions both for the practice and education of professional communication.
Inhibition of the release of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis in the rat with diethylcarbamazine.

SummaryThe immunologic release of SRS-Arat with intravenously administered antigen is described. Hetrazan effectively inhibits the antigen-induced release of SRS-Arat in a dose of 20 mg/kg iv. In this concentration, it has no influence on the bioassay system and does not prevent effective antibody-antigen interaction. Hetrazan does not produce an irreversible inhibition and must be present at the time of antibody-antigen interaction to effectively prevent the formation and release of SRS-Arat. Suppression of the 4-hour PCA reaction in the rat with Hetrazan plus mepyramine maleate and methysergide suggests that SRS-Arat may be a permeability factor involved in this reaction.
Behavioral patterns and nearest neighbor distances among nonbreeding American avocets

We examined temporal changes in diurnal behavior among nonbreeding American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) in South Carolina during 1991 and 1992. We also assessed effects of ambient temperature on foraging, and studied relationships between maintenance activities (e.g., foraging and loafing), nearest neighbor distances (NND), and microhabitat selection (individual water depth). Only foraging and resting, the two most common activities observed, exhibited temporal variation. Foraging varied significantly among all temporal variables [year: P < 0.02; month: P < 0.03; time of day (morning, midday, and afternoon): P < 0.008; and interaction between month and time of day: P < 0.004], whereas loafing differed significantly between years only (P < 0.02). Although rising temperatures were negatively correlated with numbers of foraging avocets during both years, the relationship was significant in 1992 only (P < 0.004). Loafing and multiple scything (a tactile foraging method) were carried out in tight, dense flocks (NND < 1 meter) whereas probing (a visual foraging method) was observed primarily in loose aggregations (NND 110 meters). This suggests a strong interaction between maintenance activities and NND. Overall, our study demonstrates that avocets occur in flocks throughout the nonbreeding season, suggesting that flock maintenance is selectively advantageous on the species' wintering grounds.
Face fly and horn fly reduction on cattle with fenvalerate ear tags.

Tagging of all beef cows and calves in a herd with one 8% fenvalerate ear tag per ear during early spring resulted in an average of 90% reduction of face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer, over a 21-week period. In another test, tagging of lactating dairy cows with one tag per ear, with a portion of the herd left untagged during a 7-week period in the middle of the test, resulted in an average of 86% reduction of face flies over an 18-week period. Some repellancy of the face fly by the treatment was noticed. Seasonal control of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.), was achieved in both treated herds, even when ca. one-third of the dairy cows were not tagged.
Reputations and Signaling in Coercive Bargaining

When do states defend their reputations? States sometimes pay high costs to protect their reputations, but other times willingly tarnish them. What accounts for the difference? This article investi...
Myocardial metabolism in chronic reperfusion after nontransmural infarction in pig hearts

The purpose of these studies was to evaluate metabolic behavior in a 4-day reperfusion model in pigs after induction of subendocardial infarction. Two groups of swine [sham and intervention (Int) groups, n = 7) and 10 hearts per group, respectively] were prepared comparably with two surgical procedures separated over 4 days. In the Int group at the time of the first surgery, coronary flow in the left anterior descending (LAD) circulation was partially restricted (by 60%) for 60 min and was then reperfused. LAD myocardium at the time of the second surgery in both groups was extracorporeally perfused aerobically (5.9 +/- 0.2 ml.min-1.g dry wt-1) for 60 min and infused by equilibrium labeling with [U-14C]-palmitate and [5-3H]glucose to estimate fatty acid oxidation and exogenous glucose utilization. During extracorporeal perfusion, regional myocardial shortening and oxygen consumption were comparable between groups despite a marginal impairment in ATP resynthesis by mitochondria (26% decrease, P < 0.071) in Int hearts and a significant decline in mitochondrial respiration (45% decrease in respiratory control rate, P < 0.008; and 41% decrease in state 3 respiration, P < 0.032) as compared with sham hearts. Fatty acid oxidation described by 14CO2 production was 34.00 +/- 4.72 mumol.h-1.g dry wt-1 (averaged from 30-60 min of perfusion) in sham hearts but was decreased (by 48%, P < 0.004) in Int hearts. This reduction in fatty acid utilization may in part be explained by declines in the observed activity of the mitochondrial membrane transporter enzyme, carnitine palmitoyltransferase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of women about the importance of prostate cancer screening.

OBJECTIVES: To understand women's knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about prostate cancer. METHODS: A survey was self-administered to 324 women age >18 years. It contained 42 questions that assessed women's knowledge about prostate cancer, possible risk factors, and opinions regarding screening and early detection. Women were grouped as married or unmarried for convenient comparisons. Chi-squared and F statistics were performed. RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of married women reported having some influence over the healthcare decisions of their spouse. Married women's worst fear about their spouse or family member's diagnosis of prostate cancer was death. The most important benefit of prostate cancer screening was the possibility of cure, while the main hindrance was fear of the digital rectal exam. Marital status, age, educational level and income were all significantly associated with women's knowledge about prostate cancer (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women play an important role in health-related matters in the home. Educating women on prostate cancer may improve early detection efforts and reduce the devastating impact of this disease on their family.
Civil society in South Korea: From grand democracy movements to petty interest

“Civil society” has been at the center of recent discussions on South Korean democratization. This article examines the current configuration and the historical evolution of civil society in South Korea. Beginning with a synoptic overview of South Korean civil society today, the article selects and analyzes three “cuts” in the past—1960–1961, 1973–1979, and 1985–1987. What emerges from this historical analysis is an image of a highly resistant civil society, gradually expanding and ultimately culminating in the grand democracy movement in 1987. For South Korean democracy to consolidate, civil society should be moving from an amorphous assemblage of antigovernment forces to a tightly organized and well-defined interest group society.
Do For-Profit Managers Spend Less on Schools and Instruction? A National Analysis of Charter School Staffing Expenditures

This article takes advantage of a recently released national data set on school site expenditures to evaluate spending variations between traditional district operated schools and charter schools o...
Short Rigid Piers in Clays

A simple discrete model is developed to represent the nonlinear behavior of the soil around a short rigid pier foundation, When it is subjected to large Lateral forces or large overturning moments. The soil resistances include lateral soil resistance, bottom vertical resistance, bottom frictional resistance, bottom moment resistance and frictional resistance on the sides of the pier. All these soil resistances are modelled using a nonlinear soil spring concept. Comparison of the results using the model with full-scale experimental results show good promising characteristics.
Microfluidic Separation of Lymphoblasts for the Isolation of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using the Human Transferrin Receptor as a Capture Target.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent pediatric cancer, and the peripheral blood lymphoblast percentage is an important index for ALL diagnosis and prognosis. We describe a microfluidic device that isolates and enumerates peripheral blood lymphoblasts using affinity separations. The innovative use of a nonspecific ligand allows a widespread “net” for cancer cells, without a priori knowledge of the cancer type. Using lymphoblasts spiked into blood, we simulated leukemia cases with lymphoblast concentrations ranging from 1 to 30% of total leukocytes. Lymphoblasts were isolated using monoclonal antibodies for the Human Transferring Receptor (CD71). Anti-CD71 antibodies were found to be more effective for capturing lymphoblasts than commonly used, ALL-specific antibodies for CD7 and CD10. CCRF-CEM lymphoblasts were isolated in the chip with 82–97% purity, with lower concentrations tested (7%) still showing >80% purity for cell capture. Patient-derived ALL cell lines COG-LL-332 and COG-LL-317 ...
Teaching Black History after Obama.

ABSTRACTThis article is a reflection on the teaching of black history after the Obama presidency and at the dawn of the Trump era. It is both an analysis of the state of the academic field and a primer on how to integrate the past few decades of scholarship in black history broadly across standard K-12 curriculum. It demonstrates the importance of theorizing black history as American history rather than just including African American content in US History courses and offers specific methods that can shift the narrative in this direction even within the confines of a more traditional telling of the American past. Finally, it situates the voluminous work of historians of the black past as critical interventions in pedagogy necessary to challenge today's unrelenting attacks on public education.
The Utility of the Charlson Comorbidity Index in Predicting Use of Treatment and Survival in Older Lymphoma Patients

Introduction: The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) has been adapted to claims-based analyses to assess comorbidity burden in cancer patients (primarily with solid tumors). We aimed to validate the CCI9s prognostic significance in older lymphoma patients. Methods: Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program linked with Medicare claims, we identified lymphoma patients 66 years and older using ICD-O codes from 1995-2010. We measured comorbidity burden in the year prior to patients9 lymphoma diagnosis by calculating the Deyo/Klabunde-modified CCI scores using diagnosis codes in the claims (J Clin Epidemiol 2000). We estimated the unadjusted and adjusted association of CCI scores and demographic factors with overall survival (OS) and chemotherapy use at 6 months using a modified Poisson and logistic regression models. Results: We identified 8,961 newly diagnosed patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), 19,997 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 2,171 mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), of which 54%, 65%, and 63% received chemotherapy within 6 months of their cancer diagnoses, respectively. Age, gender, CCI, marital status, race, median income, and stage were significantly different between patients who received therapy and those who did not. Average CCI was lower in those who were treated vs not [FL 0.76 vs 0.82 (p=0.06), DLBCL 0.84 vs 1.12 (p For all three subtypes, in addition to CCI, older age, female gender, living in a more rural area, race other than Caucasian, higher stage, and not receiving chemotherapy were also significantly associated with worse OS in the adjusted analysis. Within the CCI, the majority of the disease categories (myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, diabetes, diabetes with sequelae, chronic renal failure, moderate/severe liver disease, and cirrhosis) were more frequent in patients who did not receive treatment, particularly for DLBCL (Table 1). However, the overall predictive ability of our model for identifying patients who would receive chemotherapy was low (c-statistic =0.707). Conclusion: In this first ever analysis of the CCI in lymphoma patients, we are able to confirm the utility of this scoring system in a new population. The majority of patients with three common lymphoma histologies captured in SEER-Medicare started treatment within 6 months of diagnosis. Comorbidity burden at diagnosis, measured by the Deyo/ Klabunde -modified CCI, is prognostic of OS for FL, DLBCL, and MCL. However, CCI along with other demographic non-clinical patient characteristics do not predict treatment initiation among older adults with lymphoma. Further claims analyses evaluating survival can include the CCI as an important variable. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Interferometric gravitational wave detectors

Gravitational wave detection has now entered the era in which signals are being found. It is timely, therefore, to review the current detectors and how they work. This review focuses on the dramati...
Effects of Demographic History on the Detection of Recombination Hotspots from Linkage Disequilibrium

In some species, meiotic recombination is concentrated in small genomic regions. These "recombination hotspots" leave signatures in fine-scale patterns of linkage disequilibrium, raising the prospect that the genomic landscape of hotspots can be characterized from sequence variation. This approach has led to the inference that hotspots evolve rapidly in some species, but are conserved in others. Historic demographic events, such as population bottlenecks, are known to affect patterns of linkage disequilibrium across the genome, violating population genetic assumptions of this approach. Although such events are prevalent, demographic history is generally ignored when making inferences about the evolution of recombination hotspots. To determine the effect of demography on the detection of recombination hotspots, we use the coalescent to simulate haplotypes with a known recombination landscape. We measure the ability of popular linkage disequilibrium-based programs to detect hotspots across a range of demographic histories, including population bottlenecks, hidden population structure, population expansions, and population contractions. We find that demographic events have the potential to greatly reduce the power and increase the false positive rate of hotspot discovery. Neither the power nor the false positive rate of hotspot detection can be predicted without also knowing the demographic history of the sample. Our results suggest that ignoring demographic history likely overestimates the power to detect hotspots and therefore underestimates the degree of hotspot sharing between species. We suggest strategies for incorporating demographic history into population genetic inferences about recombination hotspots.
Consensus-driven in-hospital cortisol assessment after ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma resection

Remission from Cushing disease (CD) after pituitary adenoma resection may be predicted by a postoperative reduction in serum cortisol level. A 2008 consensus statement recommends assessing morning cortisol levels during the first postoperative week, and replacing glucocorticoid (GC) if cortisol nadir of 0.99). Cortisol collection during GC treatment tended to increase (32.7% vs. 57.1%; p = 0.068). Of surgeries performed without prior GC treatment, 31.7 and 55.0% had a cortisol nadir of < 2 and < 5 µg/dL, respectively, within 72 h postoperative. Our physicians were more diligent in measuring in-hospital postoperative cortisol levels consistent with 2008 consensus recommendations. Better management of cortisol measurements and their timing is an opportunity for improvement.
The vicarious effects of discrimination: How partner experiences of discrimination affect individual health.

Little is known about how discriminatory experiences are associated with interpersonal relationships—specifically whether one person’s experience of discrimination has psychological effects on their partner and their relationship (i.e., vicarious effects). Using dyadic data analyses, we examined actor and partner effects of discriminatory experiences on self-rated health, chronic illness, depression, and relationship strain in a sample of 1,949 couples (3,898 participants). Actor and partner discrimination were associated with poorer health, greater depression, and greater relationship strain. These effects were mediated by higher levels of relationship strain. Our findings provide insight into the effects of direct and vicarious experiences of discrimination on interpersonal relationships.
Treatment of Venous Malformations: The Data, Where We Are, and How It Is Done

Venous malformations are the most common type of congenital vascular malformation. The diagnosis and management of venous malformations may be challenging, as venous malformations may be located anywhere in the body and range from small and superficial to large and extensive lesions. There are many treatment options for venous malformations including systemic targeted drugs, open surgery, sclerotherapy, cryoablation, and laser photocoagulation. This article reviews the natural history, clinical evaluation, imaging diagnosis, and treatment modalities of venous malformations.
Fungal-Induced Inflammation and Nasal Polyps

Fungi are present in the mucus of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients and normal healthy controls. Fungi (especially Alternaria) induce the production of cytokines (IL-13 and IL-5) crucial for the eosinophilic inflammation. This immune response occurred only in CRS patients but not in healthy controls. Fungi induce an eosinophilic tissue airway inflammation in mammals (mice), which is in contrast to a neutrophilic response to bacteria. Fungi can induce an eosinophilic airway inflammation and congestion in patients. Eosinophils, in vivo, target fungi in the mucus with CRS and nasal polyps. Fungal antigens with a molecular weight of 61 kilodaltons (kDa) cause activation and degranulation of human eosinophils via the beta-2 integrin on the CD11b receptor. Clinically, antifungal drugs can reduce nasal polyps, improve computed tomography (CT) scans, and decrease levels of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and markers of eosinophilic inflammation. However, data between different antifungal applications and different outcome measures are conflicting.
Fluorescence decays and phonon processes in the excited states of fluorescent ions

Consider a three-level fluoresent system with levels 1, 2 and 3 indicating the ground state and two excited (metastable) states, respectively. Assume that the system can be optically excited by pumping into an absorption band above level 3 and that the excited centers decay from this band to level 3 by fast radiationless processes. When excited by a fast pulse of light levels 2 and 3 will decay with patterns which depend on the populations at the end of the pulse and the various transition probabilities. These probabilities include phonon processes and are dependent on the temperature of the crystal and the coupling between fluorescent system and host lattice. The conditions under which the excited levels may decay with the same pattern or with such patterns as pure exponentials, fluorescence rise followed by decay, double exponential, are examined. The decays of Cr3+ and Sm2+ in several host lattices and in the (4÷700) °K region are presented and the variations of thetype of pattern are related to the responsible phonon processes. The evidence of upward, phonon annihilation processes in the decay patterns of the5D0 and5D1 states of BaClF:Sm2+ is also presented.
Eicosanoid Formation and Regulation of Phospholipase A2

The oxygenated derivatives of arachidonic acid that are biologically active are defined as eicosanoids (Needleman et al., 1986). Among the eicosanoids are prostaglandins, including prostacyclin, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and various hydroxy acids (Fig. 1). The eicosanoid precursor, arachidonic acid, is esterified in the 2-position of several phospholipids, and it must be hydrolyzed before the eicosanoids can be synthesized (Fig. 1). The liberated arachidonic acid can be enzymatically oxygenated by a membrane-bound cyclooxygenase, a microsomal cytochrome p450 or a cytosolic lipoxygenase with the formation of unstable intermediate products (Fig.1). These intermediate products include endoperoxides for prostaglandin production and epoxides and hydroperoxides for leukotriene and hydroxy acid formation (Fig 1). The type of arachidonate oxygenation is characteristic of the enzymes that each cell contains.
Stability of Input-Output Linear Systems

The stability theory of input-output linear systems has developed largely over the last forty years. Recently, the theory has begun to take on a sophisticated functional analytic flavor. It has been recognized that many well-known stability definitions and results may be expressed conveniently in terms of linear mappings between normal vector spaces of input and output functions. In what follows, we shall endeavor to follow a rudimentary version of this functional analytic approach to input-output stability theory.
Diffuse Lung Metastases in EGFR -Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Diffuse lung metastases have been reported in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. The purpose of our study was to compare the incidence of diffuse lung metastases in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and EGFR-wild type NSCLC and to assess other imaging features that may be associated with diffuse lung metastases in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed pre-treatment imaging of metastatic NSCLC cases with known EGFR mutation status. We assessed the imaging features of the primary tumor and patterns of metastases. The cohort consisted of 217 patients (117 EGFR-mutant, 100 EGFR wild-type). Diffuse lung metastasis was significantly more common in EGFR-mutant NSCLC compared with wild-type (18% vs. 3%, p < 0.01). Among the EGFR-mutant group, diffuse lung metastases were inversely correlated with the presence of a nodule greater than 6 mm other than the primary lung lesion (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04-0.41, p < 0.01). EGFR mutations in NSCLC are associated with increased frequency of diffuse lung metastases. The presence of diffuse lung metastases in EGFR-mutant NSCLC is also associated with a decreased presence of other larger discrete lung metastases. EGFR mutations in NSCLC should be suspected in the setting of a dominant primary lung mass associated with diffuse lung metastases.
Characterizing urban infrastructural transitions for the Sustainable Development Goals using multi-temporal land, population, and nighttime light data

Abstract Though urbanization is often linked to development gains, some regions in Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa have grown in urban population, while remaining bereft of basic services like reliable electricity. Daytime optical remote sensing has tracked urban land cover change for decades, but there have been few studies that have monitored whether infrastructure is keeping pace with demographic and land transitions. Here, we explore how fusing multi-temporal population and land data with nighttime lights data, derived from the Suomi-NPP VIIRS Day Night Band, can add to our understanding of urban infrastructural transitions. We classify urban changes in India and the US, using these three measures in tandem to create a typology of urban development processes. When compared against survey data, our results indicate the classification can track rural electrification and identify growing informal settlements with inadequate infrastructure, and is therefore useful for monitoring progress towards two Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 7.1 (ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services) and Goal 11.1 (ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums). The classification results also illustrate the diversity of urban development processes, and how uni-dimensional measures of urbanization, greatly under-represent urban change, particularly in high-income countries.