cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone and Mammalian Epidermal Melanocytes

The biological significance of the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) of the pituitary in the production of hyperpigmentation of the skin in Addison’s disease still remains obscure. A considerable amount of circumstantial evidence has been produced to show that the pituitary hormones — α- and β-MSH and possibly ACTH are implicated. Unfortunately, due to the close similarity of the chemical structure of the pituitary peptides and the large volume of the starting material necessary, it is impossible to determine the contribution of each of these hormones to the total melanocyte stimulating activity found in the body fluids of these patients. From the work of Shepherd et al. [13], Dixon [2] and Lee and Lerner [7] there remains little doubt that pure ACTH can cause the dispersion of melanin granules in frog melanophores and bring about temporary skin darkening. The object of the present work was to determine whether large doses of pure ACTH could stimulate melanin dispersion and melanogenesis in mammalian epidermal melanocytes. It was felt that the success or failure of the hormone to influence mammalian melanocyte activity would provide evidence for the participation or non-participation of this hormone in the production of Addisonian pigmentation.
Fault tolerant indoor localization using Wi-Fi

Precise Indoor Localization is a major component of numerous location based applications and services which perform indoor guidance and object tracking. There are many existing solutions which address the localization issue, but most of them do not provide a fault tolerant solution. In this work, we have developed a fault tolerant statistical method which leverages the existing infrastructure by using the readily available Wi-Fi Access Points. Our proposed method can be applied to any environment which has a Wi-Fi coverage and we do not assume the knowledge of the placement of the Access Points or any physical layout. Initially we map the signal strengths and the corresponding positions to obtain the RF distribution of the region and this is the offline phase. We develop different fault tolerant models and use an Android application for monitoring various Access Points to provide the status of the Access Points in the environment. During the online phase, we measure the signal strength at distributed locations in the environment and then, depending on the status obtained from the application, we use the appropriate scheme to obtain the corresponding locations. In specific we use a Maximum Likelihood Estimator to obtain the position from the previously recorded RF map. Further, we provide 95% confidence intervals for the location obtained by using a Bootstrap method. Our method, compared to other deterministic methods is more accurate and fault tolerant. We also provide the experimental results which validate the accuracy of our method in obtaining the user location.
Regional and Seasonal Effects on Contributions by US Households: An Analysis of the 2004 Consumer Expenditure Survey

We use 2004 Consumer Expenditure Survey data to determine factors influencing cash contributions by US households. We extend the literature by using a sample selection model that incorporates seasonal and regional effects. Additionally, the analysis is done by giving type: charitable, family, political and total giving. All income elasticities are found to be inelastic (0.09-0.26), and less so than their corresponding expenditure elasticities (0.43-0.59). Evidence of seasonal, regional and population effects is found for both incidence and levels of charitable giving. Elasticities are larger in the south for all giving, and are also larger during the first quarter of the year.
Tabling Motions in the Antebellum House

Using newly-gathered data on vote types, I study the use of motions to table—usually associated with the Senate—in the House during Congresses 20 through 36 (1827-1861). Votes on tabling motions were the most frequent type of vote in this period, but the literature says little about them. I examine their frequency and effects, as well as the types of items the motions tried to table. The motion was one of the most common types of roll call subjects across this period, and was by far the most common type of vote in the latter half of the period. Its effects, however, are somewhat ambiguous; originally it was a temporary setting-aside of a measure, but evolved into something closer to a permanent rejection of a measure. This change seems to have been firmly established no later than the mid-1840s, but other sources and data presented here leave unanswered questions about the exact course of the evolution. The items most often targeted by motions to table were resolutions, House bills, motions to reconsider, and Senate bills; surprisingly, there were few motions to table amendments.
Changes in Protein Expression and Lysine Acetylation Induced by Decreased Glutathione Levels in Astrocytes

Astrocytes and neurons form a highly specialized functional unit, and the loss or gain of astrocytic functions can influence the initiation and progression of different neurodegenerative diseases. Neurons depend on the antioxidant protection provided by neighboring astrocytes. Glutathione (γ-l-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine) is a major component of the antioxidant system that defends cells against the toxic effects of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. A decline in glutathione levels has been observed in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, and it aggravates the pathology in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-mouse model. Using a SILAC-based quantitative proteomic approach, we analyzed changes in global protein expression and lysine acetylation in primary astrocyte cultures obtained from wild-type mice or those deficient in the glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM). GCLM knockout astrocytes display an ∼80% reduction in total glutathione levels. We identified potential molecular targets and novel sites of acetylation that are affected by the chronic decrease in glutathione levels and observed a response mediated by Nrf2 activation. In addition, sequence analysis of peptides displaying increased acetylation in GCLM knockout astrocytes revealed an enrichment of cysteine residues in the vicinity of the acetylation site, which suggests potential crosstalk between lysine-acetylation and cysteine modification. Regulation of several metabolic and antioxidant pathways was observed at the level of protein expression and lysine acetylation, revealing a coordinated response involving transcriptional and posttranslational regulation.
Uptake of exogenous substrates during hypoxia in fetal lambs

Fetal uptakes of oxygen, glucose, lactate, and alpha-amino-nitrogen containing substrates were measured in eight near-term fetal lambs by simultaneously drawing blood samples from the umbilical vein and descending aorta, then measuring umbilical blood flow using the microsphere method. These procedures were repeated after 3 h of hypoxia induced by lowering maternal inspired oxygen concentration. On the next day the experiment was repeated, except the ewes were first made hypoxic then allowed to breathe room air. These conditions decreased the delivery of oxygen, but not the delivery of other metabolic substrates to the fetus. During hypoxia, fetal oxygen uptake was 82% of normal (mean of both days); fetal glucose and amino-nitrogen uptakes were 74 and 23% of normal, respectively, and fetal lactate uptake became insignificant. These data indicate that endogenous rather than exogenous substrates are used to support fetal oxidative metabolism during hypoxia. Also, because exogenous uptake of amino-nitrogen is less than normal nitrogen accretion rates, fetal growth must be reduced as a consequence of 3-4 h of hypoxia.
Mediterraneans: North Africa and Europe in an age of migration, c. 1800–1900

In The Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldun famously wrote that ‘nobility originates in the state of being outside'. Clancy-Smith's ambitious study can be said to take up Ibn Khaldun's attention to the outsider ...
Production of plantlets from the ovary wall of Haworthia turgida var. pallidifolia

In a modified culture medium, excised ovaries of Haworthia turgida var. pallidifolia can be grown to the normal looking capsules; the ovary wall can produce leafy shoots and callus tissue in this medium. The callus tissue in turn is found to differentiate into plantlets.
Catalytic Upgrading in Bacteria-Compatible Conditions via a Biocompatible Aldol Condensation.

Integrating nonenzymatic chemistry with living systems has the potential to expand greatly the types and yields of chemicals that can be sourced from renewable feedstocks. The in situ conversion of microbial metabolites to higher order products will ensure their continuous generation starting from a given cellular reaction mixture. We present here a systematic study of different organocatalysts that enable aldol condensation in biological media under physiological conditions of neutral pH, moderate temperature, and ambient pressure. The relative toxicities of each catalyst were tested against bacteria, and the catalysts were found to provide good yields of homoaldol products in bacterial cultures containing aldehydes. Lastly, we demonstrate that a biocompatible oil can be used to extract selectively the upgraded products, which enabes facile isolation and decreases the product toxicity to microbes.
The Death of Luigi Trastulli and Other Stories: Form and Meaning in Oral History. By Alessandro Portelli. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991. 341 pp. Hardbound, $65.50; Softbound, $21.95.

(1993). The Death of Luigi Trastulli and Other Stories: Form and Meaning in Oral History. By Alessandro Portelli. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991. 341 pp. Hardbound, $65.50; Softbound, $21.95. The Oral History Review: Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 119-121.
Rapid Determination of Seven Sulphonamides in Chicken Liver by UPLC-MS/MS via QuEChERS

An ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for rapid determination of seven sulphonamides residues in chicken liver via QuEChERS.Sulfadimethoxine-D6 was used as internal standard.The sample was extracted by DisQuE extraction tube,cleaned up by DisQuE clean-up tube.After concentration,it was analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS.The results showed that good linearity in the ranges of 12.5~125 ng/mL for each sulphonamide component.The recoveries were between 70% and 115%,and precision was lower 15%.The method was simple and rapid,and it was suitable to detect sulphonamides residuals with high throughput.
Research Progresses in the In-situ Conservation and Genetic Diversity of the Chinese Oryza rufipogon

Oryza rufipogon Griff.,known as the ancestor of Asian cultivated rice(Oryza sativa L.),is an important germplasm for rice improvement.The distribution of Oryza rufipogon in China and the current status of its in-situ conservation were introduced.The progresses in the evaluation of the genetic diversity of Chinese Oryza rufipogon and the research of its mating system were summarized.
Varicocele-Related Infertility is not Associated with Increased Sperm-Bound Antibody

AbstractImmunological factors have been implicated as a cause of unexplained infertility. Previous studies have demonstrated increased levels of sperm-bound antibody in infertile men with varicoceles and have postulated their role in varicocele-related infertility. However, these studies were performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We evaluated retrospectively 111 male patients referred for infertility using a direct immunobead assay. Of the patients 29 had grade II or III varicoceles (that is palpable or easily visualized) and 82 were without varicocele. Four patients who had undergone vasovasostomy were included as controls for the assay.A direct immunobead assay was performed for isotype IgG and IgA sperm-bound antibody using a standard protocol. A computerized semen analysis was also performed. Greater than 20% binding, excluding tail tip activity, was considered significant. Of 29 patients with and 82 without a varicocele significant binding was identified in 5 (17%) and 9 (11%), respec...
The presence of benign prostatic glands in perineural spaces.

AbstractThe close neural-epithelial interaction seen in cases of prostatic carcinoma often is a criterion for malignancy. In a retrospective histological study of 26 nonneoplastic prostate glands obtained at autopsy benign glands were found in the perineural spaces in 6. In 5 of these cases the glands were cytologically benign, with a double layer of epithelial cells without nuclear pleomorphism, hyperchromatism and eosinophilic nucleoli. The remaining case involved an atrophic gland. Owing to the small size, nuclear hyperchromatism and, sometimes, crowded architectural arrangement atrophic glands may mimic malignant glands. This could be a potential cause of concern for the surgical pathologist when these glands appear around nerves. Perineural invasion should be interpreted cautiously when used as a criterion for malignancy.
Legal resources in an academic business library

Etude comparative par une bibliotheque universitaire americaine, du cout de l'information juridique sur produit papier et sous forme electronique (base donnee en ligne ou CD-ROM)
1 Turning evidence into practice and policy: pre-requisites, pitfalls and prospects

Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion have a rich history of evidence based practice and policy making especially in high income countries. However, as the burden of injuries has become recognised as a global public health priority, critical needs have appeared around: 1) generating evidence for implementation of interventions; 2) ensuring use of existing evidence for policy and practice; and 3) understanding pathways of evidence to policy especially in low and middle income countries. This presentation will explore these gaps by first acknowledging appropriate theories to help explore the evidence to policy nexus with global appeal; and then present frameworks that might assist with informing the research to policy process. The talk will present examples that illustrate how evidence have been translated into injury prevention policies and practice in global and national health and development sectors and reflect on the lessons learnt from such experiences. This analysis will end with suggested principles which might impact current and future attempts to turn evidence into injury prevention practice and policy with a special focus on low-and middle-income countries.
Post-retrieval extinction in adolescence prevents return of juvenile fear

Traumatic experiences early in life can contribute to the development of mood and anxiety disorders that manifest during adolescence and young adulthood. In young rats exposed to acute fear or stress, alterations in neural development can lead to enduring behavioral abnormalities. Here, we used a modified extinction intervention (retrieval+extinction) during late adolescence (post-natal day 45 [p45]), in rats, to target auditory Pavlovian fear associations acquired as juveniles (p17 and p25). The effects of adolescent intervention were examined by assessing freezing as adults during both fear reacquisition and social transmission of fear from a cagemate. Rats underwent testing or training at three time points across development: juvenile (p17 or p25), adolescent (p45), and adult (p100). Retrieval+extinction during late adolescence prevented social reinstatement and recovery over time of fears initially acquired as juveniles (p17 and p25, respectively). Adolescence was the only time point tested here where retrieval+extinction prevented fear recall of associations acquired 20+ days earlier.
Role of KEAP1/NRF2 and TP53 Mutations in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development and Radiation Resistance

Lung squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood and biomarkers predicting treatment response remain lacking. Here we describe novel murine LSCC models driven by loss of Trp53 and Keap1, both of which are frequently mutated in human LSCCs. Homozygous inactivation of Keap1 or Trp53 promoted airway basal stem cell (ABSC) self-renewal, suggesting that mutations in these genes lead to expansion of mutant stem cell clones. Deletion of Trp53 and Keap1 in ABSCs, but not more differentiated tracheal cells, produced tumors recapitulating histological and molecular features of human LSCCs, indicating that they represent the likely cell of origin in this model. Deletion of Keap1 promoted tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, and resistance to oxidative stress and radiotherapy (RT). KEAP1/NRF2 mutation status predicted risk of local recurrence after RT in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and could be non-invasively identified in circulating tumor DNA. Thus, KEAP1/NRF2 mutations could serve as predictive biomarkers for personalization of therapeutic strategies for NSCLCs.
Half-cone-beam data sufficiency in triple-camera SPECT

In this study we assess triple-HCB data acquisition for sufficient sampling of the human brain. We find that 2D slices of the brain can be sufficiently sampled by a continuous axially translating triple-HCB source curve prior to their truncation. We hypothesize that if the truncated slices are sufficiently sampled prior to truncation, Tuy's sufficiency condition can be extended to the truncated object. Using simulations we demonstrate that triple-HCB acquisitions with circle-and-line and circle-and-helix scan paths are capable of artifact-free image reconstructions, supporting our hypothesis.
Predictors of outcome for endoscopic colorectal stenting: a decade experience.

Endoscopic stenting is used with increasing frequency to treat colorectal conditions. Little is known about what influences outcome. This study aimed to determine the impact of various factors on the short- and long-term results of colorectal stenting. A retrospective review was conducted of all endoscopic stenting procedures performed by a colorectal surgeon at a tertiary referral institution between 2003 and 2013. Main outcome measures included technical success, clinical success, complications, and predictors of outcome. Of the stent procedures, 183 were performed in 165 patients. The majority of patients (90 %) presented with a malignant obstruction (intrinsic colonic vs. extrinsic non-colonic). Carcinomatosis was present in 22 % of patients with malignancy, and it was associated with lower technical success compared to non-carcinomatosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.2 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.1–0.8]; p = 0.021). Colonic malignancy was associated with higher clinical success compared to non-colonic malignancy (AOR 3.8 [95 % CI 1.4–10.3]; p = 0.009). Carcinomatosis increased the risk of complications compared to non-carcinomatosis (AOR 3.2 [95 % CI 1.0–10.0]; p = 0.049). The risk of complication was higher when a stent was deployed in the rectum compared to the colon (AOR 4.1 [95 % CI 1.5–11.7]; p = 0.008). The use of a covered stent was associated with higher complication rate compared to a non-covered stent (AOR 13.6 [95 % CI 2.6–71.2]; p = 0.002). Balloon dilation was associated with an increased risk of complications (AOR 4.6 [95 % CI 1.3–16.2]; p = 0.017). Carcinomatosis was associated with lower technical success rate. Clinical success was higher in patients with a primary colonic malignancy. The use of a covered stent, balloon dilation of stricture, lesions in the rectum, and carcinomatosis were associated with higher risk for complications.
Off-Flavors in Rice and Rice Products

SUMMARY Rice is the primary staple food for most of the Far-Eastern, Oriental, and Indian countries, where almost 90% of the crop is grown. Most of this crop is long, medium, or short grain varieties but some are aromatic, scented (high aroma) rices that are highly prized as gourmet or premium rices. In general, the regular rice varieties are considered bland-tasting by Western populations; especially when the bran layer is milled off to leave the white, starchy endosperm. The major cause of off-flavors in rice is deterioration during storage. High moisture, high temperatures, the presence of bacteria and fungi contribute to off-flavors and rancidity production by release of free fatty acids from rice oil by lipase, oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by lipoxygenase, and production of offensive odors from sulfur amino acids of protein by putrefaction of the small amounts of protein in rice. Odors not evident in raw rice are intensified by cooking. Compounds that contribute to rice aroma/flavor, the effects of lipase and lipoxygenase on rice oil and fatty acids, rice microorganisms, and effects of cooking on off-flavors production in rice are discussed.
Novel alkylated azoles as potent antifungals

Fluconazole (FLC) is the drug of choice when it comes to treat fungal infections such as invasive candidiasis in humans. However, the widespread use of FLC has resulted in the development of resistance to this drug in various fungal strains and, simultaneously has occasioned the need for new antifungal agents. Herein, we report the synthesis of 27 new FLC derivatives along with their antifungal activity against a panel of 13 clinically relevant fungal strains. We also explore their toxicity against mammalian cells, their hemolytic activity, as well as their mechanism of action. Overall, many of our FLC derivatives exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity and all compounds displayed an MIC value of <0.03 μg/mL against at least one of the fungal strains tested. We also found them to be less hemolytic and less cytotoxic to mammalian cells than the FDA approved antifungal agent amphotericin B. Finally, we demonstrated with our best derivative that the mechanism of action of our compounds is the inhibition of the sterol 14α-demethylase enzyme involved in ergosterol biosynthesis.
Fully Printed Static Gain Reconfigurable Conformal Patch Antenna Arrays

Abstract This work presents design and fabrication processes for creating statically gain-reconfigurable conformal patch array antennas. In our previous work, a fully printable and conformal antenna array on a flexible substrate with a new Left-Handed Transmission Line (LHTL) phase shifter based on a Barium Strontium Titanate (BST)/polymer composite was computationally studied for radiation pattern correction and beam steering applications. In this work, additive manufacturing techniques were used to experimentally demonstrate the phase compensation needed to improve the degraded performance of the conformal arrays. An Aerosol Jet direct-write printer was used to print several patch antenna arrays and was tested in an anechoic chamber to establish baseline gain metrics. Once a baseline is established, a high dielectric constant material (BST nano-ink) was dispensed onto the IDCs in several configurations, to provide the necessary phase compensation. The antennas were retested and the changes in their gain...
Lifetime laser damage performance of β-Ga2O3 for high power applications

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is an emerging wide bandgap semiconductor with potential applications in power electronics and high power optical systems where gallium nitride and silicon carbide have already demonstrated unique advantages compared to gallium arsenide and silicon-based devices. Establishing the stability and breakdown conditions of these next-generation materials is critical to assessing their potential performance in devices subjected to large electric fields. Here, using systematic laser damage performance tests, we establish that β-Ga2O3 has the highest lifetime optical damage performance of any conductive material measured to date, above 10 J/cm2 (1.4 GW/cm2). This has direct implications for its use as an active component in high power laser systems and may give insight into its utility for high-power switching applications. Both heteroepitaxial and bulk β-Ga2O3 samples were benchmarked against a heteroepitaxial gallium nitride sample, revealing an order of magnitude higher optical lifetime da...
Cardinal Arithmetic and the Cantor Set

We continue the basic theory of cardinals, covering the Cantor–Bernstein Theorem, arbitrary cardinal products and cardinal arithmetic, binary trees and the construction of the Cantor set, the identity \({2}^{\aleph _{0}} =\boldsymbol{ \mathfrak{c}}\) and effective bijections between familiar sets of cardinality \(\boldsymbol{\mathfrak{c}}\), Cantor’s theorem and Konig’s inequality, and the behavior of \({\kappa }^{\aleph _{0}}\) for various cardinals κ.
A dedicated computer for simulation of large systems of neural nets

A dedicated neurocomputer has been designed for high speed parallel simulation of large systems of neural networks. The machine consists of a 3-dimensional array of autonomous simulators, each capable of solving rectangular analog nets at a rate of 4 million synapses per second and learning at a rate of 1.3 million synaptic updates per second. The simulators are connected to their nearest neighbours in 3 dimensions and communication is performed at lOMBits/sec. between them. The machine is designed around an industry-standard development environment for ease of programming.
The T cell antigen receptor tyrosine kinase pathway.

It is now well accepted that T cell antigen receptor (TCR) engagement induces a cascade of protein phosphorylation with activation of both tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. The most proximal events in this cascade appear to be the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple intracellular proteins. This paper summarizes new data from our laboratory and places it in the context of observations made over the past several years. The initial problems that we and others have focused on are the identification and characterization of the kinases, phosphatases, and substrates that make up the elements of this pathway. With this information in hand, one can begin to understand the mechanism of signal transduction at a molecular level.
Strength and Local Muscle Endurance

Muscle performance can be improved in several ways, including increasing the load, number of contractions, velocity of contraction, and improved technique. The single, most important variable, however, is the tension developed in the muscle during training. Because there is only limited transfer of static training to dynamic performance, pure isometric training is not adequate preparation for most real-life activities. In general, the best training for the task is the task itself.
Parental Optimism About Children's Risk of Future Tobacco Use and Excessive Weight Gain.

Abstract Background Adults tend to underestimate their personal risk of disease, but little is known about parents’ perceptions of children's risk. Methods In total, 648 parents of children 0 to 18 years old attending 2 pediatric practices were surveyed about their children's exposure to smoking; 344 parents with children ≥2 years old also were asked about their children's sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and physical activity. Children were categorized as “at risk” or “not at risk” for each factor. Parents estimated the risk of their child becoming a smoker or gaining excessive weight and were categorized as “optimistic” if they believed their children were less likely than others to use tobacco or gain weight. Results Overall, 92% of parents thought their children were at lower risk than average for tobacco use, and 86% believed their children were at lower risk for excessive weight gain. A high frequency of optimistic bias occurred even among parents with “at-risk” children, including parents with children exposed to tobacco use (70.4%), SSB consumption (77.6%), >2 hours of screen time (82.1%), and low physical activity (84.1%). In multivariable analyses, parents with children exposed to tobacco smoke (odds ratio = 0.21, 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.51); or who consumed SSBs daily (odds ratio = 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.20–0.97) were less likely to be optimistic about their child's future tobacco use and excessive weight gain, respectively. Conclusions Most parents believed their children were at lower risk than average for tobacco use or excessive weight gain. Eliciting parents’ optimistic biases might facilitate behavior change counseling in pediatric settings.
Advances and challenges in the management of advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly becoming the most common type of chronic liver disease worldwide. From the spectrum of NAFLD, it is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that predominantly predisposes patients to higher risk for development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is growing evidence that the risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is not uniform among all patients with NASH. In fact, NASH patients with increasing numbers of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, visceral obesity and dyslipidemia are at a higher risk of mortality. Additionally, patients with higher stage of liver fibrosis are also at increased risk of mortality. In this context, NASH patients with fibrosis are in the most urgent need of treatment. Also, the first line of treatment for NASH is lifestyle modification with diet and exercise. Nevertheless, the efficacy of lifestyle modification is quite limited. Additionally, vitamin E and pioglitazone may be considered for subset of patients with NASH. There are various medications targeting one or more steps in the pathogenesis of NASH being developed. These drug regimens either alone or in combination, may provide potential treatment option for patients with NASH.
A Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Inappropriate Intravenous Acetaminophen Use at an Academic Medical Center.

Background: Following availability in the United States in 2011, intravenous acetaminophen (IV APAP) was added to many hospital formularies for multimodal pain control. In 2014, the price of IV APA...
Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannomas

In this chapter the authors discuss the indications, current techniques, and outcomes following vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery. They discuss the comparison studies to observation or surgical resection.
Genetic parameter estimates of live animal ultrasonic measures of retail yield indicators in yearling breeding cattle.

Ultrasonic measures of backfat thickness (BFT) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) taken on Angus bulls (n = 805) and heifers (n = 877) ranging in age from approximately 8 to 20 mo in a production setting in western Nebraska were used to estimate genetic (co)variances. Further information used in the analyses, including weaning weight (WWT), postweaning ADG, and scrotal circumference (SC), was obtained from the American Angus Association, St. Joseph, MO, for these individuals and for animals from the same herd and contemporary groups. Data were analyzed using single-trait, sire model, restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedures to estimate starting variances for later two-trait analyses. These two-trait analyses were done to estimate variance components for WWT coupled with BFT, LMA, SC, and ADG, also using REML procedures, but with a sire-maternal grandsire model for WWT and a sire model for the other trait(s). Heritabilities for BFT, LMA, WWT direct, WWT maternal, SC, and ADG were .56, .11, .19, .24, .56, and .51, respectively. Genetic correlations between WWT direct and WWT maternal, WWT direct and LMA, WWT maternal and LMA, WWT maternal and BFT were -.57, .42, .01, and -.69, respectively. Genetic parameters from this study were used to calculate possible genetic change with a typical selection scenario, and it was shown that among WWT, BFT, and LMA, BFT could be affected the most by selection, relative to its mean.
The Build-It, Leave-It, Teach-It Program: A Model for Recruiting and Retaining Pre-Service Physics Teachers.

Science teachers know the deep satisfaction of engaging students in science activities and seeing their excitement when a new idea suddenly makes sense. Providing opportunities to foster such student delight is one way to recruit talented undergraduate physics majors into the teaching profession.
How Should We Define Clinically Significant Improvement on Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Test for Patients Undergoing Knee Meniscal Surgery?

Purpose The purpose of the study was to define the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), substantial clinical benefit (SCB), and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) thresholds for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) computerized adaptive test (CAT) instrument in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery. Methods The PROMIS PF CAT was administered preoperatively and postoperatively to patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery. At 6 months postoperatively, patients graded their knee function based on a domain-specific anchor question. A satisfaction anchor question was used to indicate achievement of the PASS. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the relevant psychometric values. Cutoff analysis was performed to find preoperative patient-reported outcome scores predicting achievement of clinically significant outcomes (CSOs). Results A total of 73 patients (41.1% female patients) were included, with a mean age of 44.9 ± 12.8.0 years and average follow-up period of 24.0 ± 1.2 weeks. The MCID on the PROMIS PF CAT was calculated to be 2.09 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57-0.94). Net score improvement equivalent to achievement of SCB was found to be 6.50 (AUC, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.55-0.99). The PASS was found to be 46.1 (AUC, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96). A preoperative score below 37.6 on the PROMIS PF CAT predicted achievement of the MCID (AUC, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62-0.87), whereas scores above 41.9 predicted achievement of the PASS (AUC, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.90). Higher baseline functional status and the absence of pre-existing arthritis were also found to be statistically significant predictors of achieving CSOs. Conclusions Our study defined the MCID, SCB, and PASS for the PROMIS PF CAT. We found that a preoperative score below 37.6 was predictive of achieving a meaningful clinical change with surgery whereas a preoperative score above 41.9 was predictive of patients who would attain an acceptable postoperative health state. In addition, exercising more days per week and the absence of arthritis increased the likelihood of achieving postoperative CSOs. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective cohort.
Network Analysis with Negative Links

As we rapidly continue into the information age, the rate at which data is produced has created an unprecedented demand for novel methods to effectively/efficiently extract insightful patterns. Then, once paired with domain knowledge, we can seek to understand the past, make predictions about the future, and ultimately take actionable steps towards improving our society. Thus, due to the fact that much of today's big data can be represented as graphs, emphasis is being taken to harness the natural structure of data through network analysis. Furthermore, many real-world networks can be better represented as signed networks, e.g., in an online social network such as Facebook, friendships can be represented as positive links while negative links can represent blocked users. Hence, due to signed networks being ubiquitous, in this work we seek to provide a fundamental background into the domain, a hierarchical categorization of existing work highlighting both seminal and state of the art, provide a curated collection of signed network datasets, and discuss important future directions.
Pediatric Case of Severe COVID-19 With Shock and Multisystem Inflammation

While the majority of pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have not been critical, occurrences of a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been emerging as the pandemic progresses. Herein, we report our experience with a pediatric COVID-19 case that presented with shock and multisystem inflammation. Our patient notably had multiple negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays but tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. This case not only highlights the utility of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the diagnosis of COVID-19 when RT-PCR is negative but suggests MIS-C may be a post-infectious immune-mediated process.
Investment-Less Growth: An Empirical Investigation

We analyze private fixed investment in the U.S. over the past 30 years. We show that investment is weak relative to measures of profitability and valuation – particularly Tobin’s Q, and that this weakness starts in the early 2000’s. There are two broad categories of explanations: theories that predict low investment because of low Q, and theories that predict low investment despite high Q. We argue that the data does not support the first category, and we focus on the second one. We use industry-level and firm-level data to test whether under-investment relative to Q is driven by (i) financial frictions, (ii) measurement error (due to the rise of intangibles, globalization, etc), (iii) decreased competition (due to technology or regulation), or (iv) tightened governance and/or increased short-termism. We do not find support for theories based on risk premia, financial constraints, or safe asset scarcity, and only weak support for regulatory constraints. Globalization and intangibles explain some of the trends at the industry level, but their explanatory power is quantitatively limited. On the other hand, we find fairly strong support for the competition and short-termism/governance hypotheses. Industries with less entry and more concentration invest less, even after controlling for current market conditions. Within each industry-year, the investment gap is driven by firms that are owned by quasi-indexers and located in industries with less entry/more concentration. These firms spend a disproportionate amount of free cash flows buying back their shares. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Threats from terrorists and other violent nonstate actors

Abstract When assessing involvement in attacks against maritime targets, the data show that terrorist groups have remained a distinct minority. The motivations behind attacks against maritime targets of all kinds appear far more oriented toward criminal profiting than any sort of political ideology. The projection of future trends and patterns appear consistent with previous years, in terms of hotspot locations, tactics, and perpetrators.
A cluster randomized controlled trial comparing Virtual Learning Collaborative and Technical Assistance strategies to implement an early palliative care program for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers: a study protocol

Virtual Learning Collaboratives (VLC), learning communities focused on a common purpose, are used frequently in healthcare settings to implement best practices. Yet, there is limited research testing the effectiveness of this approach compared to other implementation strategies. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a VLC compared to Technical Assistance (TA) among community oncology practices implementing ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends), an evidence-based, early palliative care telehealth, psycho-educational intervention for patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer and their caregivers. Using Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) and Proctor’s Implementation Outcomes Frameworks, this two-arm hybrid type-III cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare two implementation strategies, VLC versus TA, among the 48 National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practice clusters that have not historically provided palliative care to all patients with advanced cancer. Three cohorts of practice clusters will be randomized to the study arms. Each practice cluster will recruit 15–27 patients and a family caregiver to participate in ENABLE. The primary study outcome is ENABLE uptake (patient level), i.e., the proportion of eligible patients who complete the ENABLE program (receive a palliative care assessment and complete the six ENABLE sessions over 12 weeks). The secondary outcome is overall program implementation (practice cluster level), as measured by the General Organizational Index at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Exploratory aims assess patient and caregiver mood and quality of life outcomes at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Practice cluster randomization will seek to keep the proportion of rural practices, practice sizes, and minority patients seen within each practice balanced across the two study arms. This study will advance the field of implementation science by evaluating VLC effectiveness, a commonly used but understudied, implementation strategy. The study will advance the field of palliative care by building the capacity and infrastructure to implement an early palliative care program in community oncology practices. Clinicaltrials.gov . NCT04062552; Pre-results. Registered: August 20, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04062552?term=NCT04062552&draw=2&rank=1
Simultaneous comparison of depth of sedation performance between SedLine and BIS during general anesthesia using custom passive interface hardware: study protocol for a prospective, non-blinded, non-randomized trial

Intraoperative brain function monitoring with processed electroencephalogram (EEG) indices, such as the bispectral index (BIS) and patient state index (PSI), may improve characterization of the depth of sedation or anesthesia when compared to conventional physiologic monitors, such as heart rate and blood pressure. However, the clinical assessment of anesthetic depth may not always agree with available processed EEG indices. To concurrently compare the performance of BIS and SedLine monitors, we present a data collection system using shared individual generic sensors connected to a custom-built passive interface box. This prospective, non-blinded, non-randomized study will enroll 100 adult American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I-III patients presenting for elective procedures requiring general anesthesia. BIS and SedLine electrodes will be placed preoperatively according to manufacturer recommendations and their respective indices tracked throughout anesthesia induction, maintenance and emergence. The concordance between processed EEG indices and clinical assessments of anesthesia depth will be analyzed with chi-square and kappa statistic. Prior studies comparing brain function monitoring devices have applied both sensors on the forehead of study subjects simultaneously. With limited space and common sensor locations between devices, it is not possible to place both commercial sensor arrays according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, thus compromising the validity of these comparisons. This trial utilizes a custom interface allowing signals from sensors to be shared between BIS and SedLine monitors to provide an accurate comparison. Our results will also characterize the degree of agreement between processed EEG indices and clinical assessments of anesthetic depth as determined by the anesthesiologists’ interpretations of acute changes in blood pressure and heart rate as well as the administration, or change to the continuous delivery, of medications at these timepoints. Patient factors (such as burst suppression state or low power EEG conditions from aging brain), surgical conditions (such as use of electrocautery), artifacts (such as electromyography), and anesthesia medications and doses (such as end-tidal concentration of volatile anesthetic or hypnotic infusion dose) that lead to lack of agreement will be explored as well. Clinical Trials ( ClinicalTrials.gov ), NCT03865316 . Registered on 4 February 2019 – retrospectively registered. Sponsor: Masimo Corporation.
The role of hope in college retention

Abstract Students' decision to persist in college is influenced by their entering academic skills and motivation (i.e., hope). Researchers have shown positive relations between high-school academic performance and hope on college retention, independently. Hope emphasizes goal pursuit, focusing on one's motivation to pursue goals and ability to identify tenable routes for goal achievement. The present study extends existing research by examining the role of first-year, first-semester college hope as a moderator of the relation between high-school academic performance and college retention among 276 first-year college students (Mage = 18.67, 65% female). Findings supported the expected moderation for students with average and above-average but not low high school academic performance, such that students with high hope had increased, whereas students with low hope had decreased, odds of retention. Given that hope is malleable and teachable, implications for implementing hope skills training at both course and institution level are discussed.
How well do proxy species models inform conservation of surrogate species

Proxy species, which represent suites of organisms with similar habitat requirements, are common in conservation. Landscape Capability (LC) models aim to quantify the spatially-explicit capability of landscapes to support proxy species that represent suites of forest birds. We evaluated the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NALCC) proxy models of LC and represented species framework across 13 states in the northeastern United States from Virginia to Maine. We validated a suite of questions related to co-occurrence of proxy and represented species with a compilation of independent datasets. We tested proxy species LC models ability to explain represented species’ occurrences, including using multiple proxies together, and benchmarked against empirical data and land cover type classifications. We tested effect of several factors on predictive ability including relative range overlap and ecological and taxonomic dissimilarity between proxy and represented species. LC models performed variably, but represented species occurrences were rarely predicted as accurately as proxy species. Models improved predictions over macrohabitat classifications. Using multiple proxies together occasionally improved predictions of represented species. Considerable range overlap was needed for models to be predictive of represented species. Ecological and taxonomic similarity had no effect on predictive ability. LC models worked similarly to using empirical observations, suggesting shortcomings were because of imperfect surrogacy. Conservation proxies as representatives of species groups that are associated with macrohabitats are useful, but empirical data are necessary to evaluate proxy species’ effectiveness. Habitat-based models can provide similar predictive ability as empirical observations of proxies and represent a useful tool in conservation planning.
New Applications of Survival Analysis Modeling: Examining Intercollegiate Athletic Donor Relationship Dissolution

Despite the increased adoption of data-driven strategies to enhance sport business operations, academic scholarship leveraging advanced analytics to inform sport customer relationship management lags behind. Thus, this project applies survival analysis modeling to quantitatively analyze and predict the potential dissolution of the intercollegiate athletic department-donor relationship, utilizing 10 years of data from a mid-sized National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) athletic program. Results indicate donors are most susceptible to dissolution within the first two years, while the probability of persistence increases over time. When controlling for economic conditions and the amount donated, residing in the same state as the institution and the act of retiring decrease the probability of the donor relationship ending. The frequency of contact from the athletic department and the advancement of men’s basketball into post-season play also decrease the probability of relationship dissolution, while football post-season success was non-significant. Study results inform a data- driven approach to donor relationship marketing and provide meaningful implications for athletic donor retention strategy.