cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder mimicking recurrent paget's disease of the vulva: report of two cases, with one occurring in a myocutaneous flap.

Abstract Background. Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder may spread superficially along and beyond the urogenital epithelium, mimicking vulvar Paget's disease. Cases. These two cases illustrate unusual aspects of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and vulvar Paget's disease. Both patients had a history of breast cancer and previously had multiple operations for recurrent vulvar Paget's disease; one patient had a radical vulvectomy with transverse rectus abdominal muscle flap reconstruction. Both had a history of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Both presented with recalcitrant transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and clinically recurrent vulvar Paget's disease. Pathologic evaluation, however, revealed pagetoid spread of carcinoma in situ (CIS) throughout the urothelium, with an invasive component in the cervix and extension of the CIS into the rectum in one patient. Conclusion. If the history of the patient includes transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and vulvar Paget's disease, histologic evaluation is needed for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.
Cellular intermediate filament networks and their derangement in alcoholic hepatitis.

Intermediate filaments are major components of most eukaryotic cells that form from the polymerization of protein subunits that are expressed in tissue and development specific fashions. The interactions of intermediate filaments with a myriad of other cellular proteins and structures give rise to a complex overall cellular architecture that is likely responsible for cellular well-being. The mature 10-nm filaments are relatively stable cellular structures, but the intermediate filaments undergo major morphological and biochemical changes, especially during mitosis, differentiation, and in response to certain drugs. Evidence exists that hepatocyte intermediate filaments (keratin filaments) are deranged in alcoholic hepatitis, an inflammatory liver disease of alcoholics and heavy spree drinkers. The classical and characteristic pathological hepatocyte inclusion bodies of alcoholic hepatitis, Mallory bodies, are composed in part of normal keratins that likely derive from the pre-existing hepatocyte intermediate filament network. It is unclear if intermediate filament network derangement in alcoholic hepatitis is directly caused by the actions of ethanol or its metabolites on intermediate filaments or their associated structures, or whether alcohol causes a cellular insult or injury elsewhere and a subsequent response (e.g., immune) causes intermediate filament network derangement. The precise mechanisms responsible for intermediate filament derangement remain to be elucidated; however, experimental data exist that support and refute several hypotheses. Hopefully, further studies will help determine a better overall understanding of the abnormalities of intermediate filaments and their relationship to the pathophysiology of alcoholic hepatitis and other diseases.
Becoming Brazilian to Be Japanese: Emigrant Assimilation, Cultural Anthropology, and National Identity

Assimilation makes new members of a group by changing particular characteristics of non-members to reflect the fundamentals of collective belonging. Gaining the qualities for inclusion in one community typically involves losing at least some features that confer acceptance in another. However, scholars have generally not acknowledged assimilation as a process of loss. In part, this gap bespeaks a larger tendency to overlook the influence of emigration on national identity in population-exporting states (compared to the vast literature on immigration and national identity in population-receiving countries). This article analyzes discourses of assimilation concerning Japanese emigrants as a case study of how the ways in which members are understood to leave the national community delimits the bases of belonging for those who remain. Historically, Japanese ideologies of assimilation have been most contested in Brazil, where the largest Japanese diaspora in the West sought to reconcile patriotism and the expectations of the Japanese government with local nation-building agendas. After World War II, many emigrants and their descendants in Brazil refused to acknowledge Japan's surrender. This crisis inspired the first study of the Japanese diaspora ever conducted by a Japan-based social scientist. Izumi Seiichi's work in cultural anthropology helped to build Japan's new identity as a “peace state.” Subsequent generations of Japanese scholars continued to study the assimilation of the diaspora, recategorized as “Nikkei,” as a foil for “Japaneseness.” Their ethnic conception of national membership remains influential today, even as Japan transitions from a population exporter to a land of immigrants, including the Nikkei.
Accuracy of ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled piriformis injections: a cadaveric study.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of ultrasound-guided piriformis injections with fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled piriformis injections in a cadaveric model. Methods. Twenty piriformis muscles in 10 unembalmed cadavers were injected with liquid latex using both fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled and US-guided injection techniques. All injections were performed by the same experienced individual. Two different colors of liquid latex were used to differentiate injection placement for each procedure, and the injection order was randomized. The gluteal regions were subsequently dissected by an individual blinded to the injection technique. Colored latex seen within the piriformis muscle, sheath, or both was considered an accurate injection. Results. Nineteen of 20 ultrasound-guided injections (95%) correctly placed the liquid latex within the piriformis muscle, whereas only 6 of the 20 fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled injections (30%) were accurate (P = .001). The liquid latex in 13 of the 14 missed fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled piriformis injections and the single missed ultrasound-guided injection was found within the gluteus maximus muscle. In the single remaining missed fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled piriformis injection, the liquid latex was found within the sciatic nerve. Conclusions. In this cadaveric model, ultrasound-guided piriformis injections were significantly more accurate than fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled injections. Despite the use of bony landmarks and contrast, most of the fluoroscopically attempted piriformis injections were placed superficially within the gluteus maximus. Clinicians performing piriformis injections should be aware of the potential pitfalls of fluoroscopically guided contrast-controlled piriformis injections and consider using ultrasound guidance to ensure correct needle placement.
Bitten down to size: Fish predation determines growth form of the Caribbean coral reef sponge Mycale laevis

Interactions between organisms add complexity to ecosystem function, particularly on coral reefs. The Caribbean orange icing sponge Mycale laevis is semi-cryptic, often growing under coral colonies or between coral branches. This association is reportedly a mutualism, with the sponge deterring boring sponges from invading the coral skeleton and the coral providing an expanding surface for sponge growth. But is there an alternative explanation for the proximity of sponge and coral? We examined the importance of fish predation on the growth of the sponge. While the semi-cryptic growth form of M. laevis predominates on reefs off the Florida Keys and the Bahamas Islands, M. laevis grows with a non-cryptic, erect morphology off Bocas del Toro, Panama. Surveys revealed that sponge-eating fishes were rare or absent at Bocas del Toro compared to sites in the Florida Keys. Because past studies were inconsistent about the palatability of M. laevis to fish predators, we conducted feeding experiments with sponges from all three sites. Crude organic extracts of M. laevis from all three sites were palatable to generalist fish predators in aquarium assays, and field feeding assays and caging experiments conducted in the Florida Keys confirmed that spongivorous fishes readily ate exposed fragments of M. laevis. Our results suggest that M. laevis is restricted to its semi-cryptic growth form by spongivorous predators, with corals providing a physical refuge from predation. This alternative explanation supports the broader hypothesis that Caribbean reef sponges can be categorized on the basis of chemical defense into defended, palatable, and preferred species, the last of which are restricted to refugia.
Factors associated with the tenderness of three bovine muscles.

Samples were obtained from bovine Longissimus dorsi (L), Biceps femoris (BF) and Psoas major (PM) muscles at different times of postmortem storage at 1.2°C. At day 1 postmortem, PM was the most tender muscle followed by BF then L; PM muscle also had the smallest fiber area and longest sarcomere followed by BF and L. After postmortem storage, shear force values decreased greatly for L, and only slightly for PM. There were no differences in activities of cathepsins, B, H, and L for any of the muscles. However, L muscle had the highest Ca++-dependent protease activity followed by BF and PM. Thus results suggested that Ca++-dependent protease activity was best determinant of tenderization resulting from postmortem storage at refrigerated temperatures.
Optimistic-conservative synchronization in distributed factory simulation

Distributed simulation is attractive for modeling complicated manufacturing systems having many tools and products, such as a semiconductor wafer fabrication line. However, conservative synchronization approaches can introduce excessive overhead in execution, and result in little parallelism, which can eliminate the speedup promised by distributed simulation. Our experiences in building a distributed simulation model for 300mm wafer fab using the High Level Architecture (HLA) shows that using model specific information in a novel adaptation of conservative synchronization can achieve very significant reduction in model execution time. This paper defines the time-chop problem for which this adaptation is effective, and formally develops our optimistic-conservative synchronization scheme.
Epitaxial multiferroic hexagonal manganite thin films grown on zno

Thin films of the hexagonal manganites YMnO 3 and YbMnO 3 were grown epitaxially on ZnO single crystal substrates. The films exhibit both ferroelectricity and frustrated magnetic ordering, consistent with the multiferroic properties of the materials. In addition, YbMnO 3 shows antiferromagnetic Yb ion ordering at low temperatures. Based on strain and bonding considerations at the film-substrate interface, it is expected that both YMnO 3 and YbMnO 3 would grow with an in-plane epitaxial relationship of [1120] YMnO3 //[1010] ZnO . X-ray diffraction off-axis phi scans confirm the expected epitaxial relationship.
Vindesine in relapsed childhood ALL. A pilot study by the United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group

Twenty-three children with first on-treatment marrow relapse of lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were randomly assigned to treatment with vincristine (16 patients) or vindesine (7 patients) in an otherwise identical regimen including daunorubicin, prednisolone, asparaginase, VM26 and cytosine. There was no suggestion of any difference between the two groups in terms of frequency of secbnd remission achievement or duration, nor was there in terms of toxicity. Despite small numbers, these findings suggest that vindesine does not offer any obvious therapeutic advantage over vincristine in relapsed ALL, but is well tolerated.
Community Corrections Addiction Treatment: Strategies to Adopt, Implement, and Sustain Effective Practices

Despite the building of a knowledge base about evidence-based addiction treatment, and the growing emphasis on moving EBP into the field, efforts to do so have not always been successful. Federal and State initiatives, and consensus reports from prestigious scientific bodies such as the National Academy of Sciences, have emphasized the need for the addiction treatment system to expand and sustain the use of EBP in order to improve client outcomes. However, a number of challenges exist for doing this effectively. In this chapter, we describe some of these challenges and summarize various federal, state, and other efforts to disseminate information about EBP, improve treatment processes, develop performance-based standards, and encourage adoption of EBP in the addiction treatment system.
Routine Hospital Postpartum Management

1. Postpartum management serves to identify early complications, if any, of the postpartum period. 2. Postpartum management includes educational as well as medical components. 3. Preconception management may begin in the immediate postpartum period.
Molecular characteristics and potential therapeutic targets in Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumour occurring preferentially in elderly and immunosuppressed individuals. Multiple studies have provided insight into the molecular alterations of MCC, leading to the design of several ongoing clinical trials testing chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease. The results of some of these studies are available, whereas others are eagerly awaited and will likely shed light on the understanding of MCC biology and potentially improve the clinical outcomes of patients with this rare disease.
Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Combination in Advanced Prostate Cancer

In prostate cancer, there is considerable evidence that tumors promote immune tolerance starting early in the disease. By suppressing tumors and activating immune system homeostatic mechanisms, chemotherapy may help overcome this tumor-induced immune tolerance. As such, chemotherapy may therefore support improved results from novel immune-modulating therapies. Prostate cancer is particularly suited for active immunotherapy because prostate tumor cells express a number of distinctive surface antigens. Sipuleucel-T, which has recently been approved in the United States, is an active immunotherapy that triggers T-cell responses against prostate cancer. An exploratory analysis of phase III trial participants found a substantial survival benefit to receiving docetaxel some months after sipuleucel-T. However, VITAL-2, a phase III trial investigating a prostate cancer therapeutic vaccine plus concurrent docetaxel versus standard docetaxel therapy in advanced prostate cancer, observed lower overall survival with the vaccine regimen. This trial highlights major unresolved questions concerning the optimum choice, dosing, and timing of chemotherapy relative to active immunotherapy. Patient characteristics, prostate cancer disease stage, and treatment history also may influence the response to combined therapy. Advances in biomarker validation and trial design are needed to efficiently investigate these issues.
CCK receptor trafficking: a novel paradigm of travel focus on "regulation of lateral mobility and cellular trafficking of the CCK receptor by a partial agonist".

cholecystokinin (CCK) is a gastrointestinal peptide that plays an important role in regulating a broad array of physiological actions, extending from exocrine pancreatic secretion and gallbladder contractility to gastrointestinal motility and neural modulation of appetite. The multiple actions of
Renal Hemodynamic Effects of Diuretics

Publisher Summary Diuresis specifically refers to increased urinary volume output, and it is generally recognized that clinically important diuretics increase sodium excretion. This is because the main determinant of extracellular fluid volume is total extracellular sodium content. Thus, to be effective in correcting extracellular fluid volume, plasma volume, and arterial pressure, diuretics must elicit natriuresis. Natriuresis can be achieved by either decreasing net tubular sodium reabsorption or increasing the filtered sodium load or some combination of these effects. Because plasma sodium concentration is regulated within a rather narrow range, increases in filtered sodium load are generally due to increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that occur as a consequence of renal hemodynamic adjustments that increase glomerular pressure, net filtration pressure, and/or renal plasma flow. Many vasodilator agents elicit natriuresis via direct effects to increase renal blood flow (RBF), GFR, and filtered sodium load. Changes in renal hemodynamics also alter net sodium reabsorption through postglomerular mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Increases in blood flow through the peritubular capillaries in the cortex, or through the medullary blood vessels, are associated with diminished net sodium reabsorption and increased sodium excretion. Thus, changes in renal hemodynamics may greatly influence the final effectiveness of natriuretic therapy. This chapter emphasizes the changes in renal hemodynamics that are caused by or are the consequences of treatment with natriuretic agents.
Impediments to Providing Scientific Literacy to Students in Introductory Survey Courses

The high-enrollment survey courses in which many college students receive their introduction to science tend to be impersonal because of their size and the manner in which they are taught. Presentation of factual material, a lack of hands-on activities, and assessment with multiple-choice tests convince many students that science consists of lists of facts to be memorized. There are significant cultural differences between these courses and those offered for science majors, differences which make it unlikely that the average student will develop any degree of scientific literacy. The ability to take material one has learned and extend it in some way cannot be expected of the majority of those taking the survey courses because little high-level cognitive activity is stimulated in these courses. Careful analysis of what we actually do in survey courses is the first step to finding ways to improve the intellectual activities in which the students are engaged.
Anion and Ion Pair Recognition Under Interfacial Aqueous Conditions

This chapter covers advances in the development of supramolecular systems that show promise for the extraction and transport of anionic species and ion pairs. It is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on receptors that are able to recognize and selectively extract ionic species from aqueous media into organic environments. The use of anion and ion pair receptors to achieve the transmembrane transport of ions is the focus of the second section. Potential applications involving the extraction and transport of anions and ion pairs, including the possible removal of deleterious anions and the eventual development of therapeutics that function via the transport of anions across cell membranes, are discussed.
Modified LMS Adaptation Algorithm for a Discrete-Time Edge Equalizer of Serial I/O

Discrete-time edge equalizers can enhance symbol-rate equalizers by compensating for inter-symbol interference at data transitions (timing ISI). The reduced timing ISI improves the timing margin and provides the CDR with clean timing information. This paper shows that adapting tap weights with standard blind LMS algorithm results in a reduced eye and may not converge. A modified algorithm is introduced to maximize the data eye.
Variability in total project and per sample genotyping costs under varying study designs including with microsatellites or SNPs to answer conservation genetic questions

The field of conservation genetics is in the midst of transitioning from microsatellites to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as part of a broader transition from genetic to genomic studies. Genomics offers the potential for more accurate estimation of individual and population parameters but at higher project costs. I calculated cost curves for multi-locus genotypes to describe how total project and per sample costs varied between microsatellite and SNP genotyping. Cost curves were calculated varying multiple parameters which influenced costs, including: number of microsatellite loci, primer multiplexing, number of samples pooled per library, sequencing costs, and variation in laborer salaries. Sequencing costs had the greatest effect on total project costs for both markers, suggesting a way to achieve the greatest savings. For microsatellites, increasing loci number had a small effect on increasing costs, although using an increasing number of multiplex panels had a significant effect. For SNPs, increasing the number of samples pooled per genotyping library resulted in the greatest cost savings; however, this was tempered somewhat by species genome size and study design parameters which could decrease per locus sequencing depth below thresholds needed for robust SNP calling. Thus, this study highlights multiple parameters to consider when designing conservation genotyping studies to maximize information while minimizing costs. I also surveyed studies that compared microsatellites and SNPs. SNPs had greater accuracy than microsatellites when SNP loci were 3–2800 fold greater. Cost curves are provided as changing parameter assumptions effects estimates.
Understanding Ionic Conductivity Trends in Polyborane Solid Electrolytes from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics

Polyborane salts based on B12H122–, B10H102–, CB11H12–, and CB9H10– demonstrate high Li and Na superionic conductivity that makes them attractive as electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries. Their chemical and structural diversity creates a versatile design space that could be used to optimize materials with higher conductivity at lower temperatures; however, many mechanistic details remain enigmatic, including reasons why certain known modifications lead to improved performance. We use extensive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to explore the dependence of ionic conductivity on cation/anion pair combinations for Li and Na polyborane salts. Further simulations are used to probe the influence of local modifications to chemistry, stoichiometry, and composition. Carbon doping, anion alloying, and cation off-stoichiometry are found to favorably introduce intrinsic disorder, facilitating local deviation from the expected cation population. Lattice expansion likewise has a positive effect by aiding ani...
Abiotic processes are insufficient for fertile island development: A 10-year artificial shrub experiment in a desert grassland

The relative importance of biotic and abiotic processes in the development of “fertile islands” in dryland systems has rarely been investigated. Here, we approached this question by using artificial shrubs, which exclude plant litter production and soil nutrient uptake, but retain the functions of trapping windblown material, funneling of stemflow, and differential rain splash. We conducted a vegetation manipulation study more than a decade ago in the desert grassland of southern New Mexico, and subsequently revisited the site in 2012 and 2015. The results show that no notable soil mounds were observed under the artificial shrubs, however, soil texture under the artificial shrubs has gradually changed to resemble the patterns of soil particle-size distribution under natural shrubs. Our results highlight that with the exclusion of direct biotic additions, soils captured by shrub canopies are not necessarily fertile and thus do not themselves contribute to the development of fertile islands.
Pre-College Human Capital Investments and Affirmative Action: A Structural Policy Analysis of US College Admissions

We study a structural model of college admissions framed as a contest between a continuum of students for enrollment in a continuum of colleges where the contest outcome is decided by the students' choice of human capital (HC). Students have private information about their learning costs, and colleges have heterogeneous, observable qualities. Our economic model is inspired by methods from the empirical auctions literature and allow us to separately identify the roles of school quality, HC, and unobserved learning costs on post-college household income. We use our estimates to conduct counterfactual experiments comparing different college admissions rules including color-blind admissions, a proportional quota for minority students, and means-tested affirmative action (AA). An AA ban would result in a large migration of minority students out of the best schools and into the lowest quality schools with a corresponding reduction in household income and mean graduation rates. However, the signs and magnitudes of changes to HC investment and individual graduation rate depend on the demographics and learning cost type of the particular student in question. We also argue that a means-tested AA plan does not significantly increase racial diversity. Finally, our estimates imply that the competitive incentive to accrue HC is stronger than the productive incentive for all but the top 4% achieving students.
Field Effect Induced Organ Distension (FOrge) Features Predicting Biochemical Recurrence from Pre-treatment Prostate MRI

Aggressive cancers are known to induce field effect that affect large areas of cells at a tissue surface. This means that local deformation induced by the tumor as it grows could cause distensions in regions distant from the tumor, presumably even the surface of the organ within which the tumor is growing. In this work, we focused on evaluating whether more and less aggressive prostate cancers (i.e. tumors that subsequently resulted in disease recurrence or not) could differentially induce changes and distensions in the surface of the prostate capsule. Specifically we have developed the concept of a new imaging marker called FOrge features, that attempts to quantify the degree and nature of the deformation induced in the capsule surface on account of tumor growth and then sought to evaluate whether FOrge is predictive of the risk of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients based off a pre-operative T2w MRI scan. The FOrge features were extracted from a spatially contextual surface of interest (SOI) of the prostate capsule, uniquely determined from statistically significant shape differences between prostate atlases constructed from patients who did (BCR+) and who did not (BCR−) undergo biochemical recurrence. A random forest classifier trained on the FOrge features extracted from atlas images (25 BCR+ and 25 BCR−) yielded an accuracy of 78% and an AUC of 0.72 in an independent validation set of 30 patients.
"Public versus Private New Ventures:How Do Clusters, Patents, and R&D Affect Alliance Formation?"

In this study we strive to understand the factors that enable technology new ventures to attract potentially valuable partners. Informed by institutional and signaling theories, we suggest cluster ...
A Mechanistic Explanation for the Regioselectivity of Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension

A working model of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension could illuminate how prebiotic chemistry transitioned to biology. All currently known experimental reconstructions of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension yield a mixture of 2′-5′ and 3′-5′ internucleotide linkages. Although long seen as a major problem, the causes of the poor regioselectivity of the reaction are unknown. We used a combination of different leaving groups, nucleobases, and templating sequences to uncover the factors that yield selective formation of 3′-5′ internucleotide linkages. We found that fast and high yielding reactions selectively form 3′-5′ linkages. Additionally, in all cases with high 3′-5′ regioselectivity, Watson–Crick base pairing between the RNA monomers and the template is observed at the extension site and at the adjacent downstream position. Mismatched base-pairs and other factors that would perturb the geometry of the imidazolium bridged intermediate lower both the rate and regioselectivity of the reaction.
Software Reliability Models Incorporating Testing Effort

Explicitly relating the effectiveness of fault detection to the effort expended in testing, achieved by incorporating testing effort into software reliability models has been the focus of many research efforts. Although the literature is replete with these “testing effort models,” their development appears to be ad hoc and disconnected. The objective of this survey is to propose a framework to classify testing effort models, aimed at identifying their commonalities and highlighting their differences. We conclude the article with a brief discussion of the limitations of the prevalent works in this domain, which also identify directions for future research.
Objectification, relationship satisfaction, and self-consciousness during physical intimacy in bisexual women

ABSTRACTScant research has investigated the romantic and sexual relationships of bisexual women and factors that may contribute to relationship quality. This study investigated the mediating roles of body dissatisfaction and relationship satisfaction on the relations between objectified body consciousness and self-consciousness during physical intimacy with a partner in a sample of 217 bisexual women (87% White, 77% had men as primary partners, social class ranged from very low income to upper class). Women in romantic relationships with men reported less relationship satisfaction than women in romantic relationships with women. Consistent with the hypothesized structural model, both body dissatisfaction and relationship satisfaction mediated the relations of objectified body consciousness with self-consciousness during physical intimacy. As objectified body consciousness increased, body dissatisfaction increased; this, in turn, was associated with greater self-consciousness during physical intimacy. In a...
Pilot trial of ibrutinib plus nivolumab in patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC): Results from a dose-finding cohort.

4580Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT) has transformed the management of patients (pts) with mRCC, with a fraction experiencing durable tumor responses. However, most eventually ...
Trends in Eye Injuries and Associated Medical Costs among Children in the United States, 2002-2014.

Purpose: To describe the trends in eye injuries and associated medical costs among children in the United States.Methods: Data were from the 2002–2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Eye i...
A comparison of the substrate specificities of endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases from Streptomyces griseus and Diplococcus pneumoniae

Abstract The substrate specificities of the endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases from Diplococcus pneumoniae and Streptomyces griseus were compared and found to differ considerably. The enzyme from D. pneumoniae released Asn-GlcNAc-Fuc-containing glycopeptides from exoglycosidase-treated acidic IgM glycopeptides but was limited in its capacity to hydrolyze ovalbumin glycopeptides larger than Asn(GlcNAc)2(Man)5. In contrast, the enzyme from S. griseus hydrolyzed this and larger neutral oligosaccharides but could not hydrolyze the above fucose-containing IgM glycopeptides. Removal of the fucose residue, however, converted the latter to an active substrate for the S. griseus enzyme, thus broadening its substrate range to encompass most of those substrates hydrolyzed by the D. pneumoniae endoglycosidase.
Decision Issues and Research Priorities in Intercity Freight Transportation: A U.S. Perspective

The intercity freight transportation system in the United States is characterized by its high degree of development, with respect to both its civil works infrastructure and its technology and operating capabilities. The essential completion of the 43,000-mile system of Interstate and Defense Highways and the rapidly expanding and extensive use of those facilities by all sectors of the motor truck industry has virtually eliminated the differential economic advantage heretofore enjoyed by industries and localities with preferred access to rail freight transportation. With very few exceptions, moreover, the U.S. system of improved navigation facilities has also reached its full, geographic extent; so that there is little further economic advantage to be conferred upon industries and localities with ready access to lowcost water transportation.
Using L-shell x-ray spectra to determine conditions of non-local thermal dynamic equilibrium plasmas.

K-shell x-ray spectra of Li- to H-like ions have long been used to determine plasma conditions. The ratio of integrated line intensities is used to determine the temperature. At the density of non-local thermal dynamic equilibrium (NLTE) plasmas (n e ≈ 1021 cm-3), the K-shell spectrum is not very sensitive to density. We propose using the L-shell emission of open L-shell ions (C- to Li-like) as an alternative to determine both temperature and density of NLTE plasmas. First, the L-shell models of a mid-Z material need to be verified against the temperatures obtained using a K-shell spectrum of a low-Z material. A buried layer platform is being developed at the OMEGA laser to study the open L-shell spectra of NLTE plasmas of mid-Z materials. Studies have been done using a 250 μm diameter dot composed of a layer of 1200 A thick Zn between two 600 A thick layers of Ti, in the center of a 1000 μm diameter, 13 μm thick beryllium tamper. Lasers heat the target from both sides for up to 3 ns. The size of the emitting volume vs time was measured with x-ray imaging (face-on and side-on) to determine the density. The temperature was measured from the Ti K-shell spectra. The use of this platform for the verification of atomic L-shell models is discussed.
Teachers’ Storied Cultural Tensions of Curriculum as a Standardizing Practice

Increasing diversification of student populations, teachers’ globalized experiences, and local level curriculum formation in schools has led to an enhanced top-down focus on curricular standards as a unifying measure. State-based standards are meant to unify and standardize the curriculum. However, utilizing a lens to position teachers as the curriculum on the regional and school-based shifting terrain of the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSS) and similar state-based standards raises possible critical questions about the actual relationship between teachers and the curriculum. We discuss the findings of a narrative inquiry into the experiences of three teachers within various cultures and school cultures and as situated within state-based standards. We identify through exploration of our narratives and counter stories of experience how state-based standards highlight storied cultural curriculum tensions. We further consider how such tensions might identify possible systemic challenges related to envisioning curriculum as a standardizing practice.
Supporting Systems-Level School Climate Improvement via a Data-Driven Consultation Framework: A K-12 School–University Partnership

Community–university partnerships create opportunities for researchers and practitioners to collaborate on the implementation and measurement of innovative consultation frameworks, and to explore t...
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract 4569 Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo HCT) is a potentially curative therapy for multiple myeloma (MM), but has high treatment-mortality (TRM). In addition, disease relapse occurs in a significant number of patients. We sought to evaluate if the recent advances in the field of HCT and MM have impacted the results of allo HCT for MM. We present the results of allo HCT performed at a single center over last 25 years. Methods: 149 patients with MM who underwent allo HCT between 11/1985 and 6/2010 using myeloablative (MA) N= 52, or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) N=97 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Patient characteristics and pertinent outcomes are summarized in the [Table][1]. 62 (42%) were female. Median age was 50 (28-70) years. Median follow up is 2.4 years [11.3 years for the patients who received allo HCT prior to year 2000(<2000); 2 years for the patients who received allo HCT in the year 2000 and onwards (≥2000)]. TRM at 2 year was 37%. TRM was significantly lower for year ≥2000, recipients of RIC regimens, recipients of peripheral blood stem cells (HPC-A), and disease status at transplant PR or better. There was no difference between TRM for patients above or below age 50 years (p 0.08). Grade II-IV acute and limited or extensive chronic graft-versus host disease was seen in 31%, and 37% patients, respectively. Progression free survival (PFS) at 2 year and 5 year was 23% (95% CI: 16–30) and 15% (95% CI: 9–21), respectively. Overall survival (OS) at 2 year and 5 year was 40% (95% CI: 32–48) and 21% (95% CI: 13–29), respectively. At the time of last follow up 40 patients are still alive and 28 are in remissionn, longest for 166 months. On univariate analysis the OS was significantly better for year ≥2000 versus year <2000; recipients of HPC-A versus HPC-M; primary responsive disease versus relapse or primary refractory disease at HCT; disease status at HCT PR or better; and patients without poor risk cytogenetic features at diagnosis. OS was longer in patients who received maintenance therapy post allo HCT (N=12) versus the patients who did not, although it did not reach statistical significance (2.9 years versus 8.4 months; p 0.06). Conclusion: Allo HCT for MM can offer long term disease control in a subset of MM patients. TRM has declined and outcomes have significantly improved over the last decade. Maintenance therapy may have a role post allo HCT. View this table: Table. Disclosures: Shah: Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding. Weber: novartis-unpaid consultant: Consultancy; Merck- unpaid consultant: Consultancy; celgene- none for at least 2 years: Honoraria; millenium-none for 2 years: Honoraria; celgene, Millenium, Merck: Research Funding. Qazilbash: Celgene: Speakers Bureau. [1]: #T1
Norms and Sanctions as a Basis for Promoting Cybersecurity Practices.

Many cybersecurity breaches occur due to users not following good cybersecurity practices, chief among them being regulations for applying software patches to operating systems, updating applications, and maintaining strong passwords. We capture cybersecurity expectations on users as norms. We empirically investigate sanctioning mechanisms in promoting compliance with those norms as well as the detrimental effect of sanctions on the ability of users to complete their work. We realize these ideas in a game that emulates the decision making of workers in a research lab. Through a human-subject study, we find that whereas individual sanctions are more effective than group sanctions in achieving compliance and less detrimental on the ability of users to complete their work, individual sanctions offer significantly lower resilience especially for organizations comprising risk seekers. Our findings have implications for workforce training in cybersecurity.
Photonic Curing of Copper Ink Films on Liquid Crystal Polymer Substrate

The application of intense pulsed light (IPL) to printed copper nanoparticle (CuNP) films enables rapid curing on low temperature substrates in ambient conditions. In this work, we printed CuNP ink on liquid crystal polymer (LCP; Vectra A resin) and then cured the films using a high energy density light pulse. High-resolution SEM images of the cured films revealed that the CuNPs on LCP were fused together. Optimal curing parameters were a 5 ms pulse, 75% duty cycle, and an energy density range of 4.2–5.2 J⋅cm-2. Sheet resistance, Rs, values as low as ~0.1 Ω⋅sq-1were obtained. The LCP substrate took on a yellowed appearance after the application of five pulses and exhibited a surface free energy increase. A filter that blocked wavelengths <450 nm was placed over the printed copper film on LCP. As expected, the presence of the filter decreased the total energy density and produced a cured film with high Rs; however, when the energy density was increased in the presence of the filter, the Rs remained high (0.95 Ω⋅sq-1). This preliminary work indicates that additional studies are required not only to understand low thermal budget curing on LCP, but also to elucidate the properties of substrates that enable low Rs.
Robust three-dimensional registration on optical coherence tomography angiography for speckle reduction and visualization.

Background In the clinical applications of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), the repeated scanning and averaging method can provide better contrast with reduced speckle noises in the final results, which are useful for visualizing and quantifying vascular components with high accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability. However, the inevitable patient motion presents a challenge to this method. The objective of this study is to meet this challenge by introducing a 3D registration method to register optical coherence tomography (OCT)/OCTA scans for precise volume averaging of multiple scans to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and increase quantification accuracy. Methods The proposed method utilized both rigid affine transformation and non-rigid B-spline transformation in which their parameters were optimized and calculated by the average stochastic gradient descent on OCT structural images. In addition, we also introduced a multi-level resolution approach to further improve the robustness and computational speed of our proposed method. The imaging performance was tested on in vivo imaging of human skin and eye and assessed by SNR, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and normalized correlation coefficient (NCC). Results Five subjects were enrolled in this study for obtaining in vivo images of skin and retina. The proposed registration and averaging method provided substantial improvements of the imaging performance in terms of vessel connectivity and signal to noise ratio. The increase of repeated volume numbers in the averaging improves all the metrics assessed, i.e., SNR, PSNR and NCC. An improvement of the SNR from 10 to 40 dB after 10 repeated volumetric averaging was achieved. Conclusions The proposed 3D registration and averaging method is effective in reducing speckle noises and suppressing motion artifacts, thereby improving SNR, PSNR and NCC metrics for final averaged images. It is expected that the proposed algorithm would be practically useful in better visualization and more reliable quantification of in vivo OCT and OCTA data, which would be beneficial to OCT clinical applications.
Correlating Spatial Ability With Anatomy Assessment Performance: A Meta-Analysis.

Interest in spatial ability has grown over the past few decades following the emergence of correlational evidence associating spatial aptitude with educational performance in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The research field at large and the anatomy education literature on this topic are mixed. In an attempt to generate consensus, a meta-analysis was performed to objectively summarize the effects of spatial ability on anatomy assessment performance across multiple studies and populations. Relevant studies published within the past 50 years (1969-2019) were retrieved from eight databases. Study eligibility screening was followed by a full-text review and data extraction. Use of the Mental Rotations Test (MRT) was required for study inclusion. Out of 2,450 screened records, 15 studies were meta-analyzed. Seventy-three percent of studies (11 of 15) were from the United States and Canada, and the majority (9 of 15) studied professional students. Across 15 studies and 1,245 participants, spatial ability was weakly associated with anatomy performance (rpooled = 0.240; CI at 95% = 0.09, 0.38; P = 0.002). Performance on spatial and relationship-based assessments (i.e., practical assessments and drawing tasks) was correlated with spatial ability, while performance on assessments utilizing non-spatial multiple-choice items was not correlated with spatial ability. A significant sex difference was also observed, wherein males outperformed females on spatial ability tasks. Given the role of spatial reasoning in learning anatomy, educators are encouraged to consider curriculum delivery modifications and a comprehensive assessment strategy so as not to disadvantage individuals with low spatial ability.
New Directions in Antifungal Therapy.

Development of antifungal therapy continues to be lively, as we strive to approach the ideal therapy. The newest agents include lipid delivery systems for amphotericin B, which promise relief from some of that drug's side effects. The triazoles, itraconazole and fluconazole, have proven their value as non-toxic and orally effective therapy. Newer members of this class, e. g., SCH 56592 and voriconazole, appear to be promising extensions. To date the triazoles' properties enable new strategies of prophylaxis and of early intervention. Areas needing improvement include treatment for newer fungal pathogens not covered by available therapy, and the need for rapid diagnostic capabilities, comparative clinical trials, and better definitions and scoring in trials. Drugs with new and fungal-specific targets may provide a quantum leap in our weaponry. Examples included drugs targeted at chitin synthase (e. g., nikkomycin Z) or beta glucan synthase (e. g., LY303366). Another approach is immunomodulation, and several cytokines can stimulate the host synergistically with conventional antifungal therapy.
Making inclusion matter: critical disability studies and teacher education

This paper explores the affordances of critical disability studies (CDS) for curricular theorizing in teacher education for inclusion and socially just pedagogy. Specifically attending to the posth...
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in the Early Postoperative Assessment of Acromegaly

Objectives Assessment of surgical outcome in acromegaly is typically recommended at 3 to 6 months following surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations at 6 weeks were equally predictive of surgical outcomes compared with IGF-1 concentrations at 3 to 6 months postoperatively applying newer IGF-1 assays. Methods Retrospective review of patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly who had surgery between 2013 and 2020 and had postoperative IGF-1 measured by 6 weeks and 3 to 6 months. Results At 6 weeks, 20 (35%) of the total 57 had normal IGF-1 and became abnormal in 1 at 3 to 6 months, whereas 37 (65%) of 57 had abnormal IGF-1 concentrations at 6 weeks, which normalized in 1 patient by 3 to 6 months. In patients who changed clinical status, IGF-1 at 6 weeks was within ±0.1-fold of normal. Although a difference was seen between median IGF-1 concentrations (286 vs 267 ng/mL, P = .009) at 6 weeks and 3 to 6 months, the mean reduction was small (-19.9 ng/mL). Conclusions Compared with 3 to 6 months, use of IGF-1 at 6 weeks was associated with a change in clinical status in 3.5% of patients. Therefore, in most patients, IGF-1 at 6 weeks can be used to assess clinical outcome via newer assays.
Creating spaces of refusal in the neoliberal academy

Collective action has always been the heartbeat of social justice movements. However, existing systems pressure people to focus on hyper-competition and eradicate the ability to collectively resist...