cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Handling of Missing Outcome Data in Acute Stroke Trials: Advantages of Multiple Imputation Using Baseline and Postbaseline Variables.

Abstract Background In acute stroke randomized trials, missingness of final functional outcome data reduces study power and potentially biases findings of treatment effect. Best methods for handling missing outcome data have not been well delineated for diseases with monophasic onset and subsequent improvement, like acute stroke. Methods We simulated data missingness in the public dataset of the landmark, second NINDS-tPA trial, by randomly removing 5%-25% of actual values for the 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of global disability. We evaluated 5 missing data-handling methods: complete case analysis (CCA), worst case imputation (WCI), last observation carried forward (LOCF), multiple imputation using baseline covariates only (MI-B), and multiple imputation using baseline and postbaseline observations (MI-BP). Results With the original trial's 333 patients, tissue plasminogen activator was associated with 3-month disability benefit, both for mRS dichotomized at 0-1 (P = .014) and shift analysis (P = .035). Distance (root mean square error) of imputed from actual mRS values was best for LOCF (1.17) and MI-BP (1.28), intermediate for MI-B (1.89) and worst for WCI (3.77). Directional bias (mean difference) was least for MI-BP (.01) and MI-B (−.16), intermediate for LOCF (−.37), and worst for WCI (−3.22). Preservation of formally positive results was greatest for MI-BP and LOCF (preserved at all missingness rates), intermediate for CCA and MI-B (preserved only with missingness Conclusions For acute stroke trials, multiple imputation using baseline and postbaseline observations is an advantageous approach to missing outcome data-handling, yielding high accuracy, reduced directional bias, and greater preservation of study power.
Combining Experiment and Theory To Unravel the Mechanism of Two-Electron Oxygen Reduction at a Selective and Active Co-catalyst

We present a combination of comprehensive experimental and theoretical evidence to unravel the mechanism of two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on a catalyst composed of mildly reduced graphene oxide supported on P50 carbon paper (mrGO/P50). This catalyst is unique in that it shows >99% selectivity toward H2O2, the highest mass activity to date, and essentially zero overpotential in base. Furthermore, the mrGO catalytically active site is unambiguously identified and presents a unique opportunity to investigate mechanisms of carbon-based catalysis in atomistic detail. A wide range of experiments at varying pH are reported: ORR onset potential, Tafel slopes, H/D kinetic isotope effects, and O2 reaction order. With DFT reaction energies and known thermodynamic parameters, we calculate the potential and pH-dependent free energies of all possible intermediates in this ORR and propose simple kinetic models that give semiquantitative agreement with all experiments. Our results show that mrGO is semicon...
Young adult perceptions of JUUL and other pod electronic cigarette devices in California: a qualitative study.

Objective Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) which utilise prefilled ‘pods’ (pod devices) entered the US market in 2015. One brand, JUUL, captured more than half the e-cigarette market in early 2018, and the US Food and Drug Administration recently warned its manufacturer about adolescent uptake. This is the first qualitative study to describe distinct features of pod devices that appear to contribute to their popularity among young people. Design Qualitative interview study of young adults who had used pod devices. Participants were recruited from Facebook, other social media, street recruitment and via snowball sampling. Setting Participants were from California, with most from the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants Young adults (aged 18–29 years) using multiple tobacco products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco) were recruited. Of the sample of 60 participants, 24 were included in this analysis: 10 who reported experience with pod devices and 14 who used other non-pod e-cigarette devices. Results Ten participants had used a pod device in the past year. Of the pod device users, seven still used a pod device at the time of the interview and five did so daily. Nearly all (n=9) pod device users smoked cigarettes in the past month; none were daily smokers. The 14 participants who used non-pod devices provided a point of comparison. Participants highlighted some distinct aspects of pod devices that facilitated use, including their aesthetic similarity to personal electronics, high levels of nicotine delivery with distinct psychoactive effects, more discreet and shorter duration use sessions, and greater social acceptability than more ostentatious non-pod e-cigarettes. Conclusions Pod devices’ unique characteristics likely encourage pod device uptake among young people. Limitations on advertising in youth channels, flavours and distribution, and education about nicotine addiction may decrease initiation among young people and non-smokers.
Bioactive peptide amphiphile nanofiber gels enhance burn wound healing

Abstract Background Burns are physically debilitating and potentially fatal injuries. The standard-of-care for burn wounds is the coverage with gauze dressings designed to minimize trauma to the regenerating epidermis and dermis during dressing changes. However, deep partial- and full-thickness burns always heal slowly when standard wound care alone is performed. We have previously reported that peptide amphiphile (PA) gels, pH-induced self-assembling nanostructured fibrous scaffolds, promote cell proliferation and have great potential in regenerative medicine for rapid repair of tissues. In this study, we hypothesized that the PA gels are capable of accelerating wound healing in burn injury. Methods Artificially generated thermally damaged fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were seeded onto the various PA nanofiber gels including bioactive and nonbioactive peptide sequences. Cell proliferation was assessed at different time points, and thermally damaged fibroblasts and HUVECs manifested increased proliferation with time when cultured with various PA gels. To determine in vivo effects, burn wounds of rats were treated with the bioactive Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS)-modified gel that showed greater cell proliferation in vitro. The wound closure was observed, and skin samples were harvested for histologic evaluation. Results Cell proliferation using the RGDS-PA gel was significantly higher than that observed in other gels. The RGDS-PA gel significantly enhanced re-epithelialization during the burn wound healing process between days 7 and 28. Application of PA gels accelerates the recovery of deep partial-thickness burn wounds by stimulation of fibroblasts and the creation of an environment conducive to epithelial cell proliferation and wound closure. Conclusions This biomaterial represents a new therapeutic strategy to overcome current clinical challenges in the treatment of injuries resulting from burns.
Tandem Mass Tag Labeling Facilitates Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Hydrophilic Phosphopeptides.

Protein phosphorylation is a critical post-translational modification (PTM). Despite recent technological advances in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC)-mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteo...
Perfusion-Guided Monitoring of Tumor Response to Sonoporation and Prediction of Liposomal Doxorubicin Uptake Using Microbubble Contrast Agents

Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) are frequently used for in vivo imaging applications to evaluate changes in tumor perfusion using quantitative contrast enhanced ultrasound (qCEUS) imaging. In addition, volumetric oscillation of these microbubbles in an acoustic field can promote drug extravasation into tumor tissue by permeabilizing cell membranes by a technique known as sonoporation. In this study, we propose that qCEUS imaging can be used to effectively monitor the efficacy of sonoporation in vivo. Importantly, we demonstrate that changes in microbubble perfusion kinetics can function as effective predictors of sonoporation efficiency in vivo. However, the overall degree of tumor perfusion – which is not altered by sonoporation – correlates strongly with drug uptake. Our results suggest that qCEUS can be harnessed to provide real-time feedback detailing vascular changes that occur during sonoporation, and that these biologically driven phenomena can be correlated with nanoparticle uptake in tumors. Successful implementation of this strategy could lead to improved methods of monitoring tumor response to therapy in the clinic, thus furthering strides toward the goal of more personalized therapies.
Echoing certainty in uncertain times: Network partisan agreement and the quality of citizen forecasts in the 2015 Canadian election

Abstract Citizens, especially in the aggregate, have historically been excellent election forecasters. This is, in part, due to discussing and hearing about the voting intentions of those around them, i.e., learning from their social networks. However, many people interact with networks that are ideological “echo chambers” made up of only likeminded voters. Does this absence of political disagreement decrease the ability of citizens to accurately predict an election result? Using a survey module from the 2015 Canadian Local Parliament Project, we examine how citizens living in partisan echo chambers fare at forecasting at the riding and parliamentary level and find that the reliability of echo chamber dwellers’ forecasts declines relative to those in more diverse environs. Our findings suggest that the role played by partisan composition of social networks is critical to understanding the accuracy and confidence of citizen electoral forecasts.
FUNDING SOURCES FOR I-A GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

ACC/AHA guideline recommendations have a major impact on cardiovascular medicine. The strongest of these (class I, level of evidence A) are based on the highest quality evidence, but data regarding their funding is lacking. All ACC/AHA IA recommendations from 2014-2019 were identified and grouped
A co-optimal coverage path planning method for aerial scanning of complex structures

Abstract The utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in survey and inspection of civil infrastructure has been growing rapidly. However, computationally efficient solvers that find optimal flight paths while ensuring high-quality data acquisition of the complete 3D structure remains a difficult problem. Existing solvers typically prioritize efficient flight paths, or coverage, or reducing computational complexity of the algorithm – but these objectives are not co-optimized holistically. In this work we introduce a co-optimal coverage path planning (CCPP) method that simultaneously co-optimizes the UAV path, the quality of the captured images, and reducing computational complexity of the solver all while adhering to safety and inspection requirements. The result is a highly parallelizable algorithm that produces more efficient paths where quality of the useful image data is improved. The path optimization algorithm utilizes a particle swarm optimization (PSO) framework which iteratively optimizes the coverage paths without needing to discretize the motion space or simplify the sensing models as is done in similar methods. The core of the method consists of a cost function that measures both the quality and efficiency of a coverage inspection path, and a greedy heuristic for the optimization enhancement by aggressively exploring the viewpoints search spaces. To assess the proposed method, a coverage path quality evaluation method is also presented in this research, which can be utilized as the benchmark for assessing other CPP methods for structural inspection purpose. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by comparing the quality and efficiency of the proposed approach with the state-of-art through both synthetic and real-world scenes. The experiments show that our method enables significant performance improvement in coverage inspection quality while preserving the path efficiency on different test geometries.
3D mapping reveals a complex and transient interstitial matrix during murine renal development

Abstract Background The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a network of proteins and glycosaminoglycans that provides structural and biochemical cues to cells. In the kidney, the ECM is critical for nephrogenesis; however, the dynamics of ECM composition and how it relates to 3D structure during development is unknown. Methods Using embryonic day (E)14.5, E18.5, postnatal day (P)3, and adult kidneys, we fractionated proteins based on differential solubilities, performed liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry, and identified changes in ECM protein content (matrisome). Decellularized kidneys were stained for ECM proteins and imaged in 3D using confocal microscopy. Results We observed an increase in interstitial ECM that connect the stromal mesenchyme to the basement membrane (TNXB, COL6A1, COL6A2, COL6A3) between the embryo and adult, and a transient elevation of interstitial matrix proteins (COL5A2, COL12A1, COL26A1, ELN, EMID1, FBN1, LTBP4, THSD4) at perinatal timepoints. Basement membrane proteins critical for metanephric induction (FRAS1, FREM2) were highest in the embryo, whereas proteins necessary for glomerular basement membrane integrity (COL4A3, COL4A4, COL4A5, LAMB2) were more abundant in the adult. 3D visualization revealed a complex interstitial matrix that dramatically changed over development, including the perinatal formation of fibrillar structures that appear to support the medullary rays. Conclusion By correlating 3D ECM spatiotemporal organization with global protein abundance, we identified novel changes in the interstitial matrix during kidney development. This new information regarding the ECM in developing kidneys offers the potential to inform the design of regenerative scaffolds that can guide nephrogenesis in vitro. Significance statement End-stage renal disease is increasing and there are a limited number of organs available for transplantation. Therefore, researchers have focused on understanding how cellular signaling influences kidney development to expand strategies to rebuild a kidney. However, the extracellular matrix (ECM), another critical component that biomechanically regulates nephrogenesis, has been largely neglected. This paper combines proteomics and 3D imaging of the murine kidney to resolve previously undescribed dynamics of the interstitial matrix in the cortex and corticomedullary junction during development. Combined with cell and growth factors, scaffolds modeled after the composition and organization of the developmental ECM have the potential to improve tissue engineering models of the kidney, like organoids.
A Constrained Mixture Theory Model to Study Autoregulation in the Coronary Circulation

Coronary autoregulation is a short-term response manifested by a relatively constant flow over a wide range of perfusion pressures for a given metabolic state. This phenomenon is thought to be facilitated through a combination of mechanisms, including myogenic, shear dependent, and metabolic controls. The study of coronary autoregulation is challenging due to the coupled nature of the mechanisms and their differential effects through the coronary tree. In this paper, we developed a novel framework to study coronary autoregulation based on the constrained mixture theory. This structurally-motivated autoregulation model required calibration of anatomical and structural parameters of coronary trees via a homeostatic optimization approach using extensive literature data. Autoregulation was then simulated for two different coronary trees: subepicardial and subendocardial. The structurally calibrated model reproduced available baseline hemodynamics and autoregulation data for each coronary tree. The autoregulation analysis showed that the diameter of the intermediate and small arterioles varies the most in response to changes in perfusion pressure. Finally, we demonstrated the utility of the model in two application examples: 1) response to drops in epicardial pressure, and 2) response to drug infusion in the coronary arteries. The proposed structurally-motivated model could be extended to study long-term growth and remodeling in the coronary circulation in response to hypertension, atherosclerosis, etc.
Characterization and mitigation of fragmentation enzyme-induced dual stranded artifacts

High-throughput short-read sequencing relies on fragmented DNA for optimal sampling of input nucleic acid. Several vendors now offer proprietary enzyme cocktails as a cheaper and more streamlined method of fragmentation when compared to acoustic shearing. We have discovered that these enzymes induce the formation of library molecules containing regions of nearby DNA from opposite strands. Sequencing reads derived from these molecules can lead to artifact-derived variant calls appearing at variant allele frequencies <5%. We present Fragmentation Artifact Detection and Elimination (FADE), software to remove these artifacts from mapped reads and mitigate artifact-related effects on downstream analysis. We find that the artifacts principally affect downstream analyses that are sensitive to a 1-3% artifact bias in the sequencing reads, such as targeted resequencing and rare variant discovery.
A Multivariate Fit Luminosity Function And World Model For Long Gamma-Ray Bursts

It is proposed that the luminosity function, the rest-frame spectral correlations, and distributions of cosmological long-duration (Type-II) gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) may be very well described as a multivariate log-normal distribution. This result is based on careful selection, analysis, and modeling of LGRBs' temporal and spectral variables in the largest catalog of GRBs available to date: 2130 BATSE GRBs, while taking into account the detection threshold and possible selection effects. Constraints on the joint rest-frame distribution of the isotropic peak luminosity (L iso), total isotropic emission (E iso), the time-integrated spectral peak energy (E p, z ), and duration (T 90, z ) of LGRBs are derived. The presented analysis provides evidence for a relatively large fraction of LGRBs that have been missed by the BATSE detector with E iso extending down to ~1049 erg and observed spectral peak energies (Ep ) as low as ~5 keV. LGRBs with rest-frame duration T 90, z 1 s or observer-frame duration T 90 2 s appear to be rare events ( 0.1% chance of occurrence). The model predicts a fairly strong but highly significant correlation (ρ = 0.58 ± 0.04) between E iso and E p, z of LGRBs. Also predicted are strong correlations of L iso and E iso with T 90, z and moderate correlation between L iso and E p, z . The strength and significance of the correlations found encourage the search for underlying mechanisms, though undermine their capabilities as probes of dark energy's equation of state at high redshifts. The presented analysis favors—but does not necessitate—a cosmic rate for BATSE LGRBs tracing metallicity evolution consistent with a cutoff Z/Z ☉ ~ 0.2-0.5, assuming no luminosity-redshift evolution.
Life experiences preceding high lethality suicide attempts in adolescents at a level I regional trauma center.

OBJECTIVE To describe life experiences associated with patterns of medically treated and documented self-directed violence among youth who attempted suicide using highly lethal means to understand precipitating factors among youth using such lethal means. METHOD Using data from a regional, level 1 Trauma center, we identified all youth suicide attempt survivors who received treatment from 2010 to 2018 for a suicide attempt with a firearm, hanging, or jump from height injury (n = 42). We described differences in patient demographics and life experiences associated with patterns of self-directed violence by suicide attempt mechanism. We additionally assessed mechanisms used in any prior suicide attempts to identify potential increasing lethality of mechanism selection. RESULTS There were 42 eligible patients included, of whom 40.5% attempted suicide with a firearm, 26.2% with hanging, 33.3% with jumping injury. A greater proportion of patients with firearm injuries endorsed social support and had fewer preparatory acts, history of self-harming behavior, prior suicide behaviors, and fewer prior attempts compared to patients who attempted suicide with other mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS Given our findings, means safety should remain a key strategy to prevent highly lethal suicidal behavior among adolescents, especially with firearms, given that such attempts may occur prior to formal contact with mental health services.
Anarchy’s Neighborhoods: the Formation of a Quadriplex Urban Ecology

In each of four nearby city areas, residents orient to local centers of collective activity in different geographic patterns. In a “perimeter” neighborhood, residents and outsiders are drawn to religious and retail organizations located on streets that form a rectangle. In an “intersection” neighborhood, residents are most visible to each other at an agglomeration of stores and services located where two high traffic streets cross. Residents of an “in-between” area travel to socio-economically and culturally different neighborhoods centered in all directions elsewhere. In a “contested” geography, rival organizations disagree over who, living where, for what purposes, has the right to define the neighborhood’s boundaries and social identity. These different social ecologies took shape without coordination yet became an interdependent, quadriplex set. After 1965, a series of retreats in government control of local social life created unprecedented opportunities for intermediaries who reshaped the social landscape with new businesses, cultural institutions, and interpretations of neighborhood identity. This case study revives the “collective action” explanations of the “Chicago School” by showing how urban social ecology was transformed in the late twentieth century as people of different generations and in different geographic areas interacted indirectly, creating durable neighborhood patterns without centralized, top-down leadership from business or government, in response to locally recognized affordances of anarchy.
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score as a discriminator of dynapenic abdominal obesity among community-dwelling older adults.

Abstract The aim of this study is to verify the utility of using physical performance to discriminate the presence of dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) in older adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 382 community-dwelling older adults. DAO was identified when dynapenia (cut-off points of 102 cm for men and >88 cm for women). Physical performance was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). SPPB scores and DAO were inversely associated even after adjustment (OR: 0.69; 95%CI: 0.58–0.83). Cut-off points of ≤9 for SPPB scores were the most efficient for discriminating the presence of DAO in both men (AUC= 0.836; 95%CI: 0.76–0.89; sensitivity: 90.91% and specificity: 60.33%) and women (AUC= 0.677; 95%CI: 0.62–0.73; sensitivity: 73.33% and specificity: 40.91%). Physical performance assessed with SPPB can discriminate DAO and be useful for the timely identification and management of this condition in older adults.
Validation of Tools for Predicting Incident Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus or Esophagogastric Junction.

Introduction Guidelines suggest screening of individuals who are at increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Tools for identifying patients at risk of Barrett's esophagus have been validated. Here, we aimed to compare and validate the tools for the primary outcomes of interest: EAC and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJAC). Methods Retrospective longitudinal analysis of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Multiphasic Health Checkup Cohort, a community-based cohort including 206,974 patients enrolled between 1964 and 1973 followed through 2016. Baseline questionnaires and anthropometrics classified predictor variables for each tool and were linked to cancer registry outcomes. Analyses used logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results We identified 168 incident EAC cases and 151 EGJAC cases at a mean of 32 years after enrollment (mean follow-up among controls 26 years). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms predicted incident EAC (hazard ratio 2.66; 95% confidence interval 1.01, 7.00), but not EGJAC. The Nord-Trondelag Health Study tool, Kunzmann tool, and Michigan Barrett's Esophagus pREdiction Tool were more accurate than GERD for predicting EAC, with individuals in the fourth quartile of Kunzmann having 17-fold the risk of those in the 1st quartile (hazard ratio = 16.7, 95% confidence interval = 4.72, 58.8). Each tool also predicted incident EGJAC with smaller magnitudes of effect. Discussion The study independently validated 4 tools for predicting incident EAC and EGJAC in a large community-based population. The Kunzmann tool appears best calibrated; all appear preferable to using GERD alone for risk stratification. Future studies should determine how best to implement such tools into clinical practice.
Special Education by Zip Code: Creating Equitable Child Find Policies

It is estimated that more than 1.3 million youth in the United States have a disability. One in four American adults have a disability that impacts major life activities. With disability rates this high, our nation must prioritize efforts to ensure that all children with disabilities and in need of special education are identified and receive the support they need in school. Congress, through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), mandated that all public schools locate, identify and evaluate all students suspected of having a disability. The special education community refers to this affirmative duty as “child find.” Unfortunately, this mandate has not been taken seriously and has left many children without access to an education that will prepare them for higher education, the workforce, and independence after graduation. Both the federal government and state agencies have left local school districts to their own devices in determining how to identify students who may need an evaluation for special education. This results in disparate access to special education for students who live in poor and low-performing school districts, particularly students of color. This Article argues that the child find mandate, as implemented, is ineffective for many school districts. In addition to strengthening guidance directing schools on how to implement the child find mandate, I propose crafting regional solutions that will provide greater access to training, resources, and accountability to aid school districts in more equitable access to special education.
Low-Temperature Regenerator Test Apparatus

Cryogenic refrigerators using thermal regenerators have been particularly successful for small heat load applications. Regenerators are used in a number of refrigeration cycles such as the Stirling cycle [1,2], the Gifford-McMahon cycle [3,4], the Solvay cycle [5], pulse tube refrigeration [6–8], and the Vuilleumier cycle [9]. These cycles have many advantages resulting from the use of thermal regenerators. A very important advantage is that regenerators permit simple construction and, therefore, can reduce the cost of refrigeration systems.
Sensing user intention and context for energy management

Sensors are emerging as a key area of interest in operating systems research, with a main focus on sensor networks. Turning the relationship around, we propose the use of low-power sensors as tools for improving OS-based energy management. Using sensors to detect user intent and physical context we can more directly match system I/O behavior to user needs. FaceOff is a prototype display power management system designed as a test bed and proof-of-concept.
Abstract 32: The role of Lrig1 signaling in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Lrig1 is a transmembrane leucine-rich repeat protein and a negative regulator of oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such as the ErbB family members. The Sweeney lab recently demonstrated that under-expression of Lrig1 predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer. Breast cancer patients with high Lrig1 expression show significantly longer relapse-free survival, identifying Lrig1 as a new prognostic marker. Recently, Lrig1 was found to be a tumor suppressor in intestinal tissue. It was shown that Lrig1 null mice develop ErbB receptor-dependent duodenal adenomas. Based on Lrig1's function as a negative regulator of RTKs and its reported tumor suppressor activity in intestinal epithelium, we hypothesized that Lrig1 null mice would be susceptible to mammary tumorigenesis. To characterize the function of Lrig1 in the mammary gland, we compared mammary development in Lrig1 wild type (+/+) and null (-/-) mice at regular intervals from 4 to 12 weeks. Mice were screened for evidence of hyperplasia, pre-malignant lesions or tumors by whole mount analysis across age and the intensity of specific proteins was surveyed by western blot. Organotypic growth of the mammary epithelial cells from wild type and null mice was examined in three-dimensional cell culture to examine whether any phenotypes are inherent to the epithelium. Since Lrig1 has been defined as a stem cell marker in the intestine, its role in stem cell maintenance was determined by examining the impact of Lrig1 loss on mammary stem cells. Although these studies are ongoing, early results indicate an increase in the amount of Lrig1-target proteins by western blot in the Lrig1-/- mice as opposed to the Lrig1+/+ mice mammary gland tissue. Epithelium from Lrig1-/- mice present an exaggerated branching response when stimulated with TGFα in comparison to Lrig1+/+ epithelium. Our studies also indicate that Lrig1-/- mammary glands are enriched in stem cells when compared to Lrig1+/+ mammary glands. In addition, a number of proliferative lesions were encountered in the mammary gland whole mounts of the Lrig1-/- mice, but not that of the Lrig1+/+ mice, which strongly suggests that Lrig1 plays a growth suppressor role in the mammary gland. Citation Format: Catalina Simion, Qian J. Chen, Charles L. Wilkerson, Hanine Rafidi, Alexander D. Borowsky, Colleen Sweeney. The role of Lrig1 signaling in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 32. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-32
A Collaborative Model Of Offshore Legal Outsourcing

International outsourcing has come to the legal profession. The ABA and other bar associations have given it their stamp of approval, and an ailing economy has pushed both clients and firms to consider sending more legal work abroad. This article integrates research from the fields of organizational behavior, social psychology, and economic theory to analyze the effectiveness of the legal outsourcing relationship. It identifies organizational pressures in the practice of law that affect how legal work is performed in a transnational context, and it examines how individuals on both sides of the outsourcing process influence the success or failure of a globalized practice. Ultimately, the article recommends that parties involved in legal offshoring should move away from a model of disaggregation and toward a model of collaboration. Unlike a disaggregation model that assumes outsourcing vendors will autonomously complete discrete legal tasks, a collaborative model would explicitly focus on cooperation, communication, and renegotiation of status and resources.
A reason to celebrate: Recognizing accomplishments in good times and bad

Purpose – The purpose of this column is to provide suggestions for recognizing library achievements, and is so doing reinforce donor support.Design/methodology/approach – The column discusses and gives examples of observances to mark accomplishments.Findings – It is suggested that marking accomplishments with appropriate internal and external recognition is essential to a fundraising operation.Originality/value – The value of this paper is in its presentation of examples and strategies for promoting achievements.
Molecular mechanical potential functions and their application to study molecular systems: Current Opinion in Structural Biology 1991, 1:201–212

Abstract In this review, we attempt to describe the critical issues involved in the parameterization and use of molecular mechanical force fields. This review contains six sections: an introduction to the issues; a description of the technical issues in molecular mechanics; comparisons and evaluations of force fields; improving and extending force fields; combining force fields with experimental data; and conformational searching.
Investor Awareness and Market Segmentation: Evidence from S&P 500 Index Changes

Several studies have found that stock price changes resulting from firms added to the S&P 500 index can be best exp lained by a downward sloping demand curve. In this paper, we study price effects around both additions and deletions and find that the price effect of index changes is consistent with Merton's (1987) investor-awareness and market segmentation hypothesis. We find that the reduction in shadow cost of incomplete diversification that follows additions is correlated with abnormal returns accruing to the added stocks. We also find that the asymmetric price effects of additions and deletions that have not been explained by empirical studies thus far are consistent with market segmentation.
Opportunities for Value Capture to Fund Public Transport: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with Examples from East Asia

Successful public transport systems increase the value of surrounding land. Value capture is the concept that government may be able to capture at least part of this increase in land value along public transport corridors, and use these funds to subsidize the system. The authors shed light on when and how value capture could be used to finance public transit by surveying three strands of literature related to value capture: evidence of the land development impacts of public transport, estimates of land value increases attributable to public transport, and case studies of the use of value capture mechanisms to finance public transport. They find that the best strategies for implementing value capture policies are not the same everywhere. They depend on the particulars of the city's institutional capabilities, as well as the general health of the local economy and the local land development industry. The value capture mechanism that works best for each city will depend on the capacity of the government to track the value of land and to levy land taxes, the government’s ability to assemble and acquire land at a favorable price, and its capacity to act as a savvy business partner in land development.
Recent and Projected Annual Cycles of Temperature and Precipitation in the Northeast United States from CMIP5

AbstractA case study is presented using the northeast United States to evaluate information contained in the monthly mean annual cycle that has yet to be exploited. This research documents the performance and projections for the northeast United States from a suite of 16 climate models in the archive of phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) from the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Analysis is performed for the late twentieth-century monthly mean annual cycle and changes in the late twenty-first century. A weak seasonality in temperature and a strong seasonality in precipitation changes are found. The seasonality of changes is distinct from the mean annual cycles, such that temperature increases are largest in midwinter (December–February) and late summer [July–September (JAS)]. Precipitation increases peak in late winter–early spring (February–April), associated with increased moisture convergence and a more active storm track, and exhibit greatest model disagreement in lat...
A chiral recognition polymer based on polyaniline

Abstract When polyaniline is doped with either R- or S-camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) it adopts a chiral structure. Removing the chiral acid dopant leads to a new form of chiral polyaniline. Such chiral dedoped polyanilines have the ability to discriminate among enantiomers of amino acids such as DL-phenylalanine. For example, the dedoped form of R-CSA polyaniline preferentially complexes with L-phenylalanine as indicated by a “doping” type absorption observed at ~450 nm in circular dichroism spectra. Since the dedoped form of R-CSA polyaniline does trot complex with d -phenylaniline, this chiral polymer can be used to separate racemic mixtures of DL-phenylalanine. Moreover, the amino acid enantiomer bound by the chiral polyaniline can be released by an organic solvent. The chiral separation mechanism is further explored by examining the interactions of phenylalanine derivatives with the chiral dedoped polyanilines.
Synthesis of N,N‐diethyl‐N‐{4‐[(E)‐(4‐nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl}amine via in situ diazotisation and coupling in supercritical carbon dioxide

The synthesis of azo dyes via a conventional aqueous-based diazotisation and coupling reaction requires the use of relatively high concentrations of mineral acids, which leads to high electrolyte concentrations in wastewater. Reported in this paper is an environmentally benign one-pot method for the synthesis of a nonionic azo dye, N,N-diethyl-N-{4-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl}amine, in supercritical carbon dioxide without using a mineral acid. The product yield increased significantly with temperature, with 91% theoretical yield afforded at 80 °C. The pressure of the system had little influence on product yield.
Using Social Networking Sites: What Is the Big Attraction? Exploring a Mediated Moderation Relationship

The present study was conducted to investigate the factors that may lead the social networking sites' users to have a compelling experience. Built upon the social capital perspective, a general social networking site experience model regarding the impact of the interaction between user-perceived competence and user identification on user satisfaction through playfulness was proposed and examined in the social networking site's context. Data analyses provided general support for (1) the moderating effect of user identification on the relationship of user-perceived competence with user satisfaction, and (2) the mediating role of playfulness through which social network site users' competency and identification factors are transmitted and predict user satisfaction. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
1992 NAPNAP membership survey: Part II. Practice characteristics of pediatric nurse practitioners indicate greater autonomy for PNPs

The 1992 membership survey, authorized by the Executive Board of NAPNAP as part of an ongoing plan to survey members every 4 years, had three foci: (a) demographic characteristics of NAPNAP members, (b) practice characteristics of NAPNAP members, and (c) opinions of NAPNAP members related to health care issues. Information gathered from this membership survey will be used to assist in planning NAPNAP programs and direction, to advocate for pediatric nurse practitioners and for NAPNAP, and to inform health professionals, policy makers, and the general public about characteristics of a pediatric nurse practitioner and the work pediatric nurse practitioners do. NAPNAP members recieved the survey during the summer 1992, and 65% of the random sample of 800 were returned, a clear indication of strong interest on the part of NAPNAP members to be heard. This, article, the second of two describing survey results, presents data describing characteristics of members' practice and the clients they serve.
The characterization of cellulose derivatives by oxyluminescence

Comme la courbe l'oxyluminescence en fonction de la temperature est unique pour chaque derive de la cellulose, on propose de l'utiliser comme technique de caracterisation pour completer les donnees d'autres methodes d'analyse thermique
A Comparison of Through-the-Objective Total Internal Reflection Microscopy and Epifluorescence Microscopy for Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging

The design and characterization of a wide-field, through-the-objective, Total Internal Reflection (TIR) microscope which has the sensitivity required for characterizing single molecules under ambient conditions is described. A careful comparison between TIR and epifluorescence imaging is made at the single-molecule level with equal incident intensities, using the laser dyes DCM and R6G in a polymer matrix as test samples. With these samples, measurements show that while the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of single molecules using TIR is comparable with that for epifluorescence imaging over a range of illumination intensities, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for TIR is superior and is the principal source of improved images which have previously been reported with this form of microscopy. The likely source of the improved SNR is simply the reduction in the relative size of photon shot-noise caused by the higher effective pumping intensity inherent in evanescent wave excitation. The technique's general applicability to a wider range of single-molecule studies is discussed. In addition, the effect on detected images produced by variations in the gain of an intensified CCD camera is characterized.
Cybernetic Optimization by Simulated Annealing: Accelerating Convergence by Parallel Processing and Probabilistic Feedback Control

The convergence of the simulated annealing algorithm is accelerated by a probabilistic feedback control scheme. This scheme uses two or more parallel processors to solve the same or related combinatorial optimization problems and are coupled by a probabilistic measure of quality (PMQ). The PMQ is used to generate an error signal for use in feedback control. Control over the search process is achieved by using the error signal to modulate the temperature parameter. Other aspects of control theory, such as the system gain and its effects on system performance, are described. Theoretical and experimental results show that such a scheme increases the steadystate probability of the globally optimal solutions.
Risk factors for paternal physical child abuse

Abstract Objective This study uses the developmental–ecological framework to examine a comprehensive set of paternal factors hypothesized to be linked to risk for paternal child abuse (PCA) among a diverse sample of fathers. Attention was given to fathers’ marital status and their race/ethnicity (White, African American, and Hispanic). Methods Interviews were conducted with 1257 married or cohabiting biological fathers who participated in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. PCA was assessed when the index children were 3 years old. Analyses included a comprehensive set of self-reported paternal variables as well as controls for maternal variables linked to child maltreatment. PCA was measured using proxy variables: two questions assessing the frequency of spanking in the past month and Parent–Child Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS-PC) [Straus, M., Hamby, S., Finkelhor, D., Moore, D., & Runyan, D. (1998). Identification of child maltreatment with the parent-child conflict tactics scales: Development and psychometric data for a national sample of American parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22, 249–270] psychological and physical aggression subscales. Results Bivariate results indicated that Hispanic fathers were the least likely to spank or engage in psychological or physical aggression. Multiple regression analyses indicated that paternal employment and earnings were not significantly associated with PCA. Compared to cohabiting African American fathers, married African American fathers were found to be at greater risk for some forms of PCA. This pattern was not found for White or Hispanic families. Conclusions In this diverse sample of involved, biological fathers, there appear to be multiple potential risk-heightening pathways that vary across race/ethnic groups. With the proper control variables, paternal employment and earnings may not be as directly linked to fathers’ physical abuse risk as has been previously thought. Practice implications There is a need for interventions within the child welfare system that better promote family wellbeing by including fathers in services. Patterns linking paternal socio-demographic and psychosocial factors to psychological and physical child abuse varied as a function of paternal race/ethnicity, indicating that race/ethnic differences are among the important factors that intervention efforts should take into account.
Efficacy of system management or ownership as options for distressed small rural hospitals.

Systems linkages through signing a management contract or selling to a multihospital system have been advocated as strategies for addressing the distress of small rural hospitals through increased management capacity. This national study compares 311 independent self-managed hospitals, 194 independent systems-managed and 235 systems-owned and managed hospitals in relation to occupancy levels and secondary measures of performance. Almost no differences were found in performance among the three groups. Distress was found to be highly associated with hospitals under 50 beds and less supportive environments. The data presented suggests that many of the advantages of systems linkage may be obtained in other ways and that a management contract or sale to a multi-hospital system may not solve the problems of a rural hospital.
Microwave and terahertz wave sensing with metamaterials

We have designed, fabricated, and characterized metamaterial enhanced bimaterial cantilever pixels for far-infrared detection. Local heating due to absorption from split ring resonators (SRRs) incorporated directly onto the cantilever pixels leads to mechanical deflection which is readily detected with visible light. Highly responsive pixels have been fabricated for detection at 95 GHz and 693 GHz, demonstrating the frequency agility of our technique. We have obtained single pixel responsivities as high as 16,500 V/W and noise equivalent powers of 10−8 W/Hz1/2 with these first-generation devices.
Laboratory Studies on Selective Aphicides Favoring Natural Enemies of the Spotted Alfalfa Aphid

The failure of parathion to give persisting control of the spotted alfalfa aphid, Therioaphis maculata (Buck.), in southern California despite satisfactory initial kill is believed due to the destruction of natural enemies. Late larval and pupal stages of internal parasites of T. maculata are not all killed by relatively high dosages of the most toxic aphicides tested, but those materials having the most persistent residues destroy the adults upon emergence. Comparison of the toxicities of 13 aphicides to T. maculata adults and to Hippodamia adults and larvae show that at the LD-95 for the spotted alfalfa aphid, conservation of coccinellids is highest with nicotine sulphate, and decreases in degree with schradan, demeton, Trithion, Phosdrin, pyrethrurn extract, TEPP, lindane, BHC. toxaphene, parathion, malathion. and rotenone. Demeton, because of its high aphid toxicity and favorable effect on coccinellids and parasites, is suggested as the most practical material for integrated chemincal and biological control of T. maculata .