cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea: Digital Musical Theatre Research

There has been much anxiety over the last decade about the effect the increasing dependence on digital tools in all art forms will have on the historical memory of this present moment. Chapter 11 discusses how the typescripts, film negatives, and telegrams that tell the story of the theatre of a generation or two ago have been replaced by Google Docs, JPEGs, and posts on Facebook walls. Today, much of the history of Broadway is stored on a variety of digital storage devices, some owned by corporations with little incentive to invest in long-term preservation. Libraries and archives must figure out how to preserve this content, but researchers must also figure out how to use it. Born-digital archives are as varied as their traditional analog counterparts, and it is clear that these collections provide new and more complete ways of understanding the individual’s creative process: reconstructing productions, discovering hidden social networks, and comparing interpretations of texts in performance.
INVITED EDITORIAL: It’s a Small World: Boardroom Networks and Stock Performance

1. Erik Feyen 1. is technical advisor of Ahead Analytics Inc. and lead financial sector economist for the World Bank in Washington, DC . (efeijen{at}worldbank.org) Popular myth has it that all people are connected through at most six degrees of separation. This number is in fact
One-Step Synthesis of Co3O4 Thin Film by Reactive Spray Deposition Technology for Efficient Electrochemical Water Splitting

Efficient catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are widely applied in fuel cells and rechargeable lithium air batteries. It is desirable but challenging to achieve comparable activity to that of the noble-metal catalyst with non-precious metal catalyst. Highly active Co3O4 thin film electrodes have been successfully synthesized by a rapid one-step flame combustion synthesis method called Reactive Spray Deposition Technology. X-ray diffraction confirms the absence of any impurity phase with this synthesis process. The detailed morphology of the Co3O4 thin film is investigated with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry is used to investigate the redox activity of Co3+ to Co4+ which is crucial for the OER performance. The as-prepared Co3O4 catalyst demonstrates promising activity for OER, with an overpotential of 399 mV (at 10 mA cm-2) for OER.
Clinical Epidemiology of Adults With Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objectives To characterize admission patterns, treatments, and outcomes among patients with moderate traumatic brain injury. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting National Trauma Data Bank. Patients Adults (age > 18 yr) with moderate traumatic brain injury (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision codes and admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of 9-13) in the National Trauma Data Bank between 2007 and 2014. Interventions None. Measurement and main results Demographics, mechanism of injury, hospital course, and facility characteristics were examined. Admission characteristics associated with discharge outcomes were analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression models. Of 114,066 patients, most were white (62%), male (69%), and had median admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 (interquartile range, 10-13). Seventy-seven percent had isolated traumatic brain injury. Concussion, which accounted for 25% of moderate traumatic brain injury, was the most frequent traumatic brain injury diagnosis. Fourteen percent received mechanical ventilation, and 66% were admitted to ICU. Over 50% received care at a community hospital. Seven percent died, and 32% had a poor outcome, including those with Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13. Compared with patients 18-44 years, patients 45-64 years were twice as likely (adjusted relative risk, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.92-2.02) and patients over 80 years were five times as likely (adjusted relative risk, 4.66; 95% CI, 4.55-4.76) to have a poor outcome. Patients with a poor discharge outcome were more likely to have had hypotension at admission (adjusted relative risk, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14), lower admission Glasgow Coma Scale (adjusted relative risk, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.34-1.40), higher Injury Severity Score (adjusted relative risk, 2.97; 95% CI, 2.86-3.09), and polytrauma (adjusted relative risk, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07), compared with those without poor discharge outcomes. Conclusions Many patients with moderate traumatic brain injury deteriorate, require neurocritical care, and experience poor outcomes. Optimization of care and outcomes for this vulnerable group of patients are urgently needed.
Sleep deficiency and motor vehicle crash risk in the general population: a prospective cohort study

Insufficient sleep duration and obstructive sleep apnea, two common causes of sleep deficiency in adults, can result in excessive sleepiness, a well-recognized cause of motor vehicle crashes, although their contribution to crash risk in the general population remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation of sleep apnea, sleep duration, and excessive sleepiness to crash risk in a community-dwelling population. This was a prospective observational cohort study nested within the Sleep Heart Health Study, a community-based study of the health consequences of sleep apnea. The participants were 1745 men and 1456 women aged 40–89 years. Sleep apnea was measured by home polysomnography and questionnaires were used to assess usual sleep duration and daytime sleepiness. A follow-up questionnaire 2 years after baseline ascertained driving habits and motor vehicle crash history. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relation of sleep apnea and sleep duration at baseline to the occurrence of motor vehicle crashes during the year preceding the follow-up visit, adjusting for relevant covariates. The population-attributable fraction of motor vehicle crashes was estimated from the sample proportion of motor vehicle crashes and the adjusted odds ratios for motor vehicle crash within each exposure category. Among 3201 evaluable participants, 222 (6.9%) reported at least one motor vehicle crash during the prior year. A higher apnea-hypopnea index (p < 0.01), fewer hours of sleep (p = 0.04), and self-reported excessive sleepiness (p < 0.01) were each significantly associated with crash risk. Severe sleep apnea was associated with a 123% increased crash risk, compared to no sleep apnea. Sleeping 6 hours per night was associated with a 33% increased crash risk, compared to sleeping 7 or 8 hours per night. These associations were present even in those who did not report excessive sleepiness. The population-attributable fraction of motor vehicle crashes was 10% due to sleep apnea and 9% due to sleep duration less than 7 hours. Sleep deficiency due to either sleep apnea or insufficient sleep duration is strongly associated with motor vehicle crashes in the general population, independent of self-reported excessive sleepiness.
Inspiring future IT professionals with Mars rovers

With the goal of inspiring at-risk middle school students, we have developed an innovative curriculum using one sixth replicas of the rovers currently on Mars. Each student receives hands-on experience by performing missions in a simulation program. These missions allow students to relate to the process of controlling the actual rovers. Furthermore, students have an opportunity to remotely program and control the replicas in a realistic Martian landscape created in the basement of a middle school. Programming robots in this landscape is the centerpiece of a Technology curriculum in all four middle schools in the Allentown School District as well as a summer and Saturday program at Lehigh University.
Structure-Guided Analyses of a Key Enzyme Involved in the Biosynthesis of an Antivitamin

RosB catalyzes the formation of 8-aminoriboflavin 5′-phosphate (AFP), the key intermediate in roseoflavin biosynthesis, from the metabolic precursors riboflavin 5′-phosphate (RP, also known as FMN) and glutamate. The conversion of the aromatic methyl group at position 8 in RP into the aromatic amine in AFP occurs via two intermediates, namely, the aldehyde 8-formyl-RP and the acid 8-carboxy-RP. To gain insights into the mechanism for this chemically challenging transformation, we utilized a structure-based approach to identify active site variants of RosB that stall the reaction at various points along the reaction coordinate. Crystal structures of individual variants in complex with different reaction intermediates, identified via mass spectroscopic analysis, illuminate conformational changes that occur at the active site during multistep conversion. These studies provide a plausible route for the progression of the reaction and a molecular rationale for the mechanism of this unusual biocatalyst.
Transfer Learning Approach to Predict Biopsy-Confirmed Malignancy of Lung Nodules from Imaging Data: A Pilot Study

The goal of this study is to train and assess the performance of a deep 3D convolutional network (3D-CNN) in classifying indeterminate lung nodules as either benign or malignant based solely on diagnostic-grade thoracic CT imaging. While prior studies have relied upon subjective ratings of malignancy by radiologists, our study relies only on data from subjects with biopsy-proven ground truth labels. Our dataset includes 796 patients who underwent CT-guided lung biopsy at one institution between 2012 and 2017. All patients have pathology-confirmed diagnosis (from CT-guided biopsy) and high-resolution CT imaging data acquired immediately prior to biopsy. Lesion location was manually determined using the biopsy guidance CT scan as a reference for a subset of 86 patients for this proof-of-concept study. Rather than training the network without a priori knowledge, which risks over fitting on small datasets, we employed transfer learning, taking the initial layers of our network from an existing neural network trained on a distinct but similar dataset. We then evaluated our network on a held out test set, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.70 and a classification accuracy of 71%.
Exploring communicative functions of humor: the development and assessment of a new functions of humor scale

ABSTRACTThis work develops and assesses a new Functions of Humor Scale, a scale that measures purposes (identification, clarification, enforcement, and differentiation) for which individuals enact ...
Analysis on the Control Strategy and Response Characteristics of Large Capacity STATCOM Device in DC Converter Station

Three sets of 100MVar STATCOM devices have been installed within the Funing converter station to solve the problem of dynamic reactive power insufficiency of weak system in ±500kV Yong-Fu HVDC Project. In this paper, the reverse control during AC filter putting into operation and the transient supporting action during the AC transient fault recovery are analyzed, and the control strategy and response characteristics are described in detail. The data of STATCOM design research and field test are collated, and verify the characteristics of STATCOM, with tripping event caused by artificial AC short circuit test, analyze the causes of transient locking and fault exit in STATCOM. This paper reveals the operation characteristics of large capacity STATCOM device in DC converter station, through the coordination of STATCOM and transient control, the risk of DC commutation failure and disturbance can be reduced and the optimization measures of STATCOM control strategy are put forward. By studying the response characteristics of STATCOM in the converter station, it is proved that three sets of STATCOM can support the steady operation of DC system.
Contribution of macroalgal wrack consumers to dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations in intertidal pore waters of sandy beaches

Abstract Sandy beaches are widespread ecosystems that often sustain food webs with allochthonous subsidies of organic matter. We examined the contribution of intertidal talitrid amphipods, a dominant consumer of macroalgal wrack subsidies on sandy beaches in temperate zones, to the remineralization of wrack and resulting nutrient concentrations in intertidal pore water. The abundance of wrack (as cover) is strongly correlated with that of talitrid populations in multi-year data from quantitative surveys (2013–2018). Ammonium (NH4+) is the dominant form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen at depths ranging from 0 to 160 cm in intertidal pore water collected in 2013, and pore waters are seldom hypoxic (dissolved oxygen
Needs Analysis for a Chinese Course for Healthcare Professionals

This chapter reports a needs analysis conducted to develop an elementary Chinese course for healthcare professionals. Given that Chinese immigrants became the largest group of new arrivals to the USA in 2013, the communication needs of the Chinese-speaking Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population in various healthcare settings have increased accordingly. A Chinese course for English-speaking healthcare professionals designed to foster their ability to deliver effective healthcare service and raise their intercultural awareness in regard to the target population is, therefore, called for. The study provides a detailed description of the needs analysis for the proposed course. Multiple sources and methods were used during the data-gathering process, which was followed by an analysis to identify the themes and objectives of the course. Ways in which the results can inform the syllabus design and pedagogical development are discussed, and future research directions relating to supporting healthcare professionals’ use of Chinese to communicate effectively with their Chinese-speaking LEP patients are suggested.
Commuter Students and the Academic Library: A Mixed-Method Study of Space

This study discusses the library space assessment of the Stark Campus Library of Kent State University. The commuter student experience is underrepresented in the literature, which often focuses on...
Digital design of crystalline solids

Abstract We report on some recent developments to create tools (mathematical models and their implementation as software design aids) to improve the workflow during conceptual design of crystalline solid processes. We focus on one particular tool that is capable of predicting the shape and morphology of crystalline particles using only the following input data, (1) crystal structure, (2) atom-atom force field, and (3) specified solvent. The key outputs are the steady-state growth shape and morphology of the crystals, and the “shape triangle” which gives graphical information about the influence of design variables (temperature, supersaturation, solvent) on the resulting shape and morphology of the crystal. More detailed outputs are also provided (e.g., periodic bond chain networks, growth spiral shapes, etc.) for use by the more sophisticated user. The tool can be used alone or in combination with other tools that have been developed recently to aid in the design of crystallization processes.
The Evolving Story of Laser Therapeutics for Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Background The increasing burden from basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has stimulated the development of alternative treatments for these tumors. Objective This review focuses on upcoming laser treatments for BCC and highlights the limitations of these therapies. Methods A PUBMED search was conducted for articles on laser therapy of BCC. Key studies involving lasers to treat BCC were reviewed. Novel approaches to BCC are also described. Results Vascular-specific laser therapy has increasingly been studied as an addition in the therapeutic armamentarium of BCC. Although these studies demonstrate efficacy for nonaggressive BCC, optimization of this technique is ongoing to minimize scarring. A more targeted approach to the treatment of BCC, such as immunized photothermal therapy or laser-assisted chemotherapeutic delivery, may result in less scarring, while maintaining efficacy similar to that of lasers targeting tumor vasculature. Conclusion Vascular-specific laser therapies show promise in treating low-risk BCC; however, scarring is not an uncommon adverse event. Although only animal studies have been performed to date, laser-activated gold nanoparticle therapy and laser-assisted drug delivery of vismodegib are potential therapies that theoretically confer a more selective approach. Laser modalities demonstrate promise in the treatment of nonaggressive BCC, although long-term studies have yet to be published.
Effect of Oriented External Electric Fields on the Photo and Thermal Isomerization of Azobenzene.

Azobenzene is a prototype molecule with potential applications in molecular switches, solar thermal batteries, sensors, photoresponsive membranes, molecular electronics, data storage and nonlinear ...
Gambling problems, risk factors, community knowledge, and impact in a US Lao immigrant and refugee community sample.

Abstract Objectives The objectives of this study were to examine gambling-related problems, risk factors, help-seeking attitudes, community perceptions, and correlates of problem gambling in a Lao sample of Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants and to discuss cultural implications for the treatment and prevention of gambling problems in Southeast Asian refugee and immigrant populations. Study design This was a cross-sectional, community-based interview study. Methods Participants (N = 200, males = 51%, females = 49%) were recruited from a Lao community center in a major US metropolitan area (convenience sample; community center recruitment and peer nomination). Structured interviews on gambling and substance use were conducted by Lao center staff members in both English and Lao languages. Results Gambling-related problems were measured using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), gambling frequency, and quantity measures. In a previous study, we reported a substantial number of participants from the sample endorsed gambling-related harms and problems (SOGS score of five or more = 24%) and common methods of play were slots, house betting, cards at a casino, and sports betting. Among those endorsing five or more gambling problems, reasons for gambling included making money (68%), social life (31.3%), entertainment (58.3%), and reducing boredom (35.4%). Less commonly endorsed reasons were depression or stress (14.6%) and escape (10.4%). Many participants reported a family history of gambling problems. Those with problem gambling had twice the level of sibling problem gambling histories relative to those without problem gambling (35.4% vs. 11.1%). There were substantially more participants in the problem gambling group who had started gambling before the age of 13 years than in non-problem gamblers (P Conclusions Many participants recognized gambling as a significant issue in the Lao community. We include insights gleaned from a research partnership with a community organization. Although data cannot be generalized to the Lao community because of limitations in sampling methodology, participants viewed gambling as a culturally common social practice. Cultural norms affected where community members gamble, types of games, and betting practices. In this context, community members may view gambling-related harms as both a community-level and individual-level concern. These data suggest a significant need for rigorous research to inform policies and a culturally sensitive approach to public health prevention, intervention, and education. We discuss the challenges and cultural barriers to research and community engagement and offer suggestions for prevention and intervention ideas efforts.
Chapter 10 – Interband Absorption —Mechanisms and Interpretation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the origin or interpretation of the optical properties of solids at and above the band gap. It describes the interband transitions in specific. The chapter also introduces the specific many-body effects. The one electron picture can be applied to many solids, although if the number of atoms per unit cell becomes large, it is rather impractical. Many-body effects are much more difficult to incorporate in an arbitrary material. Further, the chapter presents a few examples of the spectra of typical solids. The calculation of the one-electron optical properties of solids arising from interband transitions can be carried out in a number of ways, all leading to essentially the same result. These calculations often are analogous to the calculation of the optical absorption spectrum of an atom. The electric field of the incident electromagnetic wave is treated as a time-dependent perturbation that induces transitions from filled eigenstates to empty eigenstates of the crystal Hamiltonian or an approximation to it.
CBT-Informed Interventions for Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic face heightened levels of anxiety and depression due to increased work demands, lack of adequate personal protective equipment, fear of contracting the virus, and fear of spreading it to loved ones. This is a time of urgent need for mental health support for workers affected by the pandemic crisis. Clinicians may employ empirically supported interventions derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and related therapies. Psychological First Aid, an evidence-based crisis intervention, may be utilized to emphasize basic needs and support, but is intended as an acute disaster intervention. Given that a pandemic is an ongoing and prolonged stressor, additional CBT-informed interventions are likely needed to fully support essential workers during these times. It is recommended that clinicians help essential worker clients meet their basic needs by modifying health and sleep habits where possible and helping them advocate for their needs using interpersonal effectiveness skills. Empathic listening, validation of the crisis at hand, and values clarification can aid the therapeutic relationship, help them feel a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in their careers and with their families, and facilitate behavior change consistent with chosen values. Self-monitoring through a daily diary can help clients focus their thoughts and recognize maladaptive patterns in their thoughts and behaviors. In tandem with these techniques, behavioral activation and coping strategies including relaxation, distress tolerance, and acceptance promote engaging in positive and adaptive activities. Finally, therapists can help clients reduce anxiety related to the pandemic by helping them limit information intake.
Exploring the Relationship of Enrollment in IDR to Borrower Demographics and Financial Outcomes

As federal policymakers consider changes to income-driven repayment (IDR) schemes, research that examines the characteristics and financial behaviors of student loan borrowers participating in IDR is necessary. Using the nationally representative Survey of Consumer Finances, we examine demographics of IDR enrollment. Counter to expectations, low-income borrowers and borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios are less likely to enroll in IDR. Conditional on having large amount of debt, married women of color are likely to enroll in IDR programs. Research findings concerning IDR participation may be highly sensitive to how groups are defined and what covariates are in models. IDR participation does not predict engagement in other financial behaviors such as retirement savings or home-buying.
Use of prone positioning for the acute respiratory distress syndrome increased during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic

Rationale: Prone positioning in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) improves patient outcomes but has been underutilized. In this study, we hypothesize that prone positioning use has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients treated in the medical ICU of a large academic tertiary care hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Use of prone positioning among patients with COVID-19 ARDS treated from March 20th, 2020 to June 16th, 2020 were compared to patients with ARDS in 2019. Potential participants were identified from a registry of patients admitted with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Inclusion criteria required use of mechanical ventilation, the presence of ARDS, and a PaO2/FiO2 of < 150 during the first 72 hours following intubation. The primary outcome was use of prone positioning within 48 hours of the first qualifying PaO2/FiO2. Secondary outcomes were time to prone positioning and in-hospital mortality. The proportions of patients placed in the prone position in 2019 versus 2020 was compared using Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of early prone position (within 6 hours) with inhospital mortality in univariate models and models adjusted for age, sex and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. Results: Of 43 patients with COVID-19 that met inclusion criteria, 35 (81%) were proned within 48 hours of meeting oxygen criteria compared to 5 (25%) of 20 qualifying ARDS cases in 2019 (p<0.001) (Figure 1). Among those patients in whom it was used, prone positioning was used within 6 hours of meeting in oxygen criteria in 37% vs. 10% of patients in the COVID-19 vs. pre-COVID-19 ARDS patients (p=0.04). Overall, 37% of COVID-19 participants and 50% of non-COVID-19 ARDS patients died. Those proned within 6 hours of meeting oxygen criteria had numerically lower mortality compared to those not proned or proned later (33 vs. 44%), but this was not statistically significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in univariate or adjusted logistic regression models (adjusted odds ratio=0.43, 95% CI 0.12-1.57). Conclusions: Use of prone positioning for patients with moderate to severe ARDS markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger studies are needed to define the changes in prone positioning frequency in different settings and to understand why and how this rapid change in practice occurred. This understanding may inform interventions to more broadly implement evidence based ARDS care in a sustained fashion.
Immunologic Concepts Relating to the Bovine Respiratory System

The science of immunology has moved from the area of serology to the study of cells and antibodies within the animal during the last 15 years. Information gleaned from studies during this period has provided us with a better basis for understanding the reason for bacterial and viral diseases. A summary of some of these advances and an indication of where this knowledge has assisted us in gaining a better understanding of defense against disease processes will be reviewed. Consideration of the antigens associated with the microorganisms, the organs and cells involved in the immune responses and means of resistance or interaction within the host resulting in disease will be discussed.
Widespread closure of HIV prevention and care services places youth at higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Central to measuring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV is understanding the role of loss of access to essential HIV prevention and care services created by clinic and community-based organization closures. In this paper, we use a comprehensive list of HIV prevention services in four corridors of the US heavily impacted by HIV, developed as part of a large RCT, to illustrate the potential impact of service closure on LGBTQ+ youth. Methods We identified and mapped LGBTQ+ friendly services offering at least one of the following HIV-related services: HIV testing; STI testing; PrEP/PEP; HIV treatment and care; and other HIV-related services in 109 counties across four major interstate corridors heavily affected by HIV US Census regions: Pacific (San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA); South-Atlantic (Washington, DC to Atlanta, GA); East-North-Central (Chicago, IL to Detroit, MI); and East-South-Central (Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA). Results There were a total of 831 LGBTQ+ youth-friendly HIV service providers across the 109 counties. There was a range of LGBTQ+ youth-friendly HIV-service provider availability across counties (range: 0-14.33 per 10,000 youth aged 13-24 (IQR: 2.13), median: 1.09); 9 (8.26%) analyzed counties did not have any LGBTQ+ youth-friendly HIV service providers. The Pearson correlation coefficient for the correlation between county HIV prevalence and LGBTQ+ youth-friendly HIV service provider density was 0.16 (p = 0.09), suggesting only a small, non-statistically significant linear relationship between a county's available LGBTQ+ youth-friendly HIV service providers and their HIV burden. Conclusions As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we must find novel, affordable ways to continue to provide sexual health, mental health and other support services to LGBTQ+ youth.
The impact of surgical downgrading on prostate cancer recurrence: systematic review and analysis of a multiethnic population.

Objective To perform a systematic review and a retrospective cohort analysis evaluating the rates of surgical downgrading of prostate cancer (PCa) from biopsy (PBx) to radical prostatectomy (RP), and their association with biochemical recurrence (BCR) in a multiethnic population. Methods A systematic review of PubMed and other databases was performed. We included retrospective studies evaluating the relationship between surgical downgrading and BCR-free survival. Data regarding Gleason score (GL) downgrading were abstracted from the articles and categorized as follows: GL8-10 to GL7, GL7 to GL6, and GL 7(4 + 3) to GL7(3 + 4). We also performed a retrospective cohort review of patients who underwent RP at our institution from 2005 through 2020. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare BCR among downgraded versus non-downgraded men. Results Systematic review yielded 137 abstracts; of these, 36 full-texts were reviewed, 8 of which were included in our systematic review. Despite substantial variability, all showed that GL at RP is one of the most important factors of BCR-free survival. A total of 1,484 men with PCa were analyzed from our institution. On multivariate analysis, GL7 to GL6 downgrading (HR = 0.50, p = 0.022) and GL8-10 to GL7 downgrading (HR = 0.42, p = 0.011) were associated with reduced risk of BCR when compared to men with GL7 and GL8-10 concordance, respectively. However, GL7(4 + 3) to GL7(3 + 4) downgrading was not significantly associated with reduced BCR (HR = 0.56, p = 0.12), when compared to GL7(4 + 3) concordance, although HR was similar. Conclusion Surgical downgrading at RP was associated with a reduced risk of BCR compared to GL concordant disease, and these findings have been validated within our multiethnic population. Pathologic downgrading at the time of RP may be a more useful predictor of subsequent BCR in comparison to that associated with GL concordant pathology.
Minority Stress as a Multidimensional Predictor of LGB+ Adolescents' Mental Health Outcomes.

The minority stress model has been used to explain added daily stressors that non-heterosexual (LGB+) individuals experience. While the emphasis of minority stress research is frequently broad (glo...
Mobile application installation influences: Have mobile device users become desensitized to excessive permission requests?

The purpose of this study was to investigate constructs that influence consumers before deciding to download and install mobile device applications. These constructs include market trust, risk perceptions, privacy concerns, and precautions. Through a survey, a prediction model was created that attempts to predict whether respondents would download applications asking for excessive permissions. The model results indicate those that take more precautions are less likely to download apps requesting excessive permissions. But the precautions taken by participants may be inadequate and may leave consumers with a false since of security. Another key finding is that some consumers may have become desensitized to excessive permissions. These consumers knowingly install apps requesting excessive permissions for reasons such as nothing bad has happened to them before or the app usually has a good reason for requesting questionable permissions. The security implications of permission desensitization and inadequate precautions are discussed.
The Influence of Stress on the Transition from Drug Use to Addiction

Stress--that is, any type of stimulus that challenges the organism's normal internal balance--induces a physiologic response involving a variety of hormones and other signaling molecules that act on, among other organs, the brain. This stress response also can influence the progression of alcohol and other drug (AOD) addiction through various stages. For example, AODs can directly activate the stress response. In turn, certain stress hormones (i.e., glucocorticoids and corticotrophin-releasing factor) also act on the brain system that mediates the rewarding experiences associated with AOD use (i.e., the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system). Moreover, elevated glucocorticoid levels and stress increase AOD self-administration in certain animal models. During a later stage of the addiction process, in contrast, excessive and/or prolonged stress may impair the reward system, inducing heavier AOD use to maintain the rewarding experience. During the final stage of addiction, when the addicted person experiences withdrawal symptoms if no drug is consumed, chronic AOD use results in gross impairment of the normal stress response and other signaling mechanisms in the brain, resulting in a state of anxiety and internal stress. At this stage, people continue to use AODs mainly to relieve this negative-affect state.
The c-Fes Protein-Tyrosine Kinase Suppresses Cytokine-independent Outgrowth of Myeloid Leukemia Cells Induced by Bcr-Abl

The c-Fes protein-tyrosine kinase exhibits strong expression in myeloid hematopoietic cells. Previous studies have shown that Fes induces differentiation in the chronic myelogenous leukemia-derived cell line K-562, suggesting that the Fes signal for differentiation is dominant to the Bcr-Abl signal for transformation in these cells. In addition, Fes has been shown to associate with and phosphorylate Bcr on NH2-terminal sequences retained within Bcr-Abl. To determine whether Fes interacts directly with Bcr-Abl, kinase-inactive Bcr-Abl was coexpressed with Fes in 293T cells, and phosphorylation was assessed by anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting. Bcr-Abl was strongly phosphorylated by Fes under these conditions, suggestive of direct interaction. Similarly, tyrosine phosphorylation of kinase-inactive Fes was observed after coexpression with active Bcr-Abl. To test for the interaction of Fes with Bcr-Abl under physiological conditions, wild-type and kinase-defective Fes were stably expressed in the cytokine-dependent myeloid leukemia cell line, DAGM. Expression of either form of Fes alone did not affect the proliferation or interleukin 3 dependence of these cells. The DAGM/Fes cells were then infected with Bcr-Abl retroviruses, and their rates of cytokine-independent outgrowth were compared. Fes dramatically suppressed Bcr-Abl-induced DAGM cell outgrowth relative to a cell line expressing beta-galactosidase as a negative control. This effect required Fes tyrosine kinase activity, because the kinase-inactive form of Fes did not affect Bcr-Abl-induced cell outgrowth. The phosphotyrosine content of both wild-type and kinase-inactive Fes was strongly enhanced after coexpression with Bcr-Abl in DAGM cells, similar to the 293T result. Phosphorylation of wild-type Fes correlated with stimulation of Fes tyrosine kinase activity in the presence of Bcr-Abl. These results show that Fes and Bcr-Abl interact in myeloid cells, leading to Fes activation and suppression of Bcr-Abl-induced conversion to cytokine independence.
Molecular basis for the temperature-dependent insolubility of cryoglobulins—IX: Physicochemical characterization of an IgG1, κ monoclonal cryoimmunoglobulin exhibiting marginal low temperature-dependent insolubility

Abstract A monoclonal IgG 1 , κ immunoglobulin (Muk) exhibiting temperature-dependent insolubility is described. Limited N terminal amino acid sequencing indicates that the light chain belongs to the V κ I subgroup and that the heavy chain is blocked. By comparison to other monoclonal cryoglobulins, protein Muk requires significant temperature reduction and/or elevated concentration to manifest cryoprecipitation. The solubility of the protein at 0°C was calculated to be 2.05 mg/ml. In terms of subunit mass and sensitivity to proteolysis, Muk resembles noncryoglobulin IgG 1 reference proteins. Unlike earlier observations with certain other monoclonal cryoimmunoglobulins, CD‡, fluorescence and analytical gel chromatography on agarose failed to distinguish Muk from the IgG 1 references. The hydrophobic character of the Fab of Muk, as determined by chromatography on a phenyl substituted agarose, is within the range of noncryoglobulin reference Fabs. Amino acid composition of the protein indicates increased Asx and decreased Phe and Val. Hexosamine, fucose and, most significantly, sialic acid (~ 20% of normal content) are present in reduced amounts. Enzymatic removal of sialic acid from noncryoglobulin IgGs failed to induce detectable low temperature-dependent insolubility. Estimation of cryoprecipitation in the presence of a variety of solutes suggest the involvement of electrostatic interactions in the cryoprecipitation of this protein. Cryoprecipitation of Muk could not be localized to the principal enzymatic fragments and does not appear to involve a typical antigen-antibody interaction. The studies with Muk further suggest the lack of a common structural basis for cryoglobulin behavior and implicate the general solubility properties of the proteins rather than specific molecular interactions as the critical factors in determining cold-dependent insolubility.
Using Stated-Preference Questions to Investigate Variations in Willingness to Pay for Preserving Marble Monuments: Classic Heterogeneity, Random Parameters, and Mixture Models

This paper investigates heterogeneity in the preferences/WTP (willingness to pay) to preserve marble monuments in Washington, D.C. This is done in the context of three different discrete-choice random-utility models. The main focus is to estimate a mixture model of choices over preservation programs. This model captures the best features of random-parameters models and models that assume preference parameters are deterministic functions of observable characteristics of the individual. The mixture model, and it alone, predicts that increased preservation is a bad for a sig- nificant proportion of young, non-Caucasians. That some proportion of the population might consider preservation a bad is a contingency that should be planned for in efforts to value cultural resources. Data and computer code are available at http://www.colorado.edu/economics/morey/dataset.html .
Characterization of the sub-transition of hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers: X-ray diffraction study

Abstract The structural changes accompanying the recently described sub-transition of hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (Chen, S.C., Sturtevant, J.M. and Gaffney, B.J. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 5060–5063) have been defined using X-ray diffraction methods. Following prolonged storage at −4°C the usual L β′ gel form of hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is converted into a more ordered stable ‘crystal’ form. The bilayer periodicity is 59.1 A and the most striking feature is the presence of a number of X-ray reflections in the wide angle region. The most prominent of these are a sharp reflection at 1 4.4 A −1 and a broader reflection at 1 3.9 A −1 . This diffraction pattern is indicative of more ordered molecular and hydrocarbon chain packing modes in this low temperature ‘crystal’ bilayer form. At the sub-transition ( T rmsub = 15–20° C ) an increase in the bilayer periodicity occurs ( d=63.6 A ) and a strong reflection at approx. 1 4.2 A −1 with a shoulder at approx. 1 4.1 A −1 is observed. This diffraction pattern is identical to that of the bilayer gel (L β′ ) form of hydrated DPPC. Thus, the sub-transition corresponds to a bilayer ‘crystal’ → bilayer L β′ gel structural rearrangement accompanied by a decrease in the lateral hydrocarbon chain interactions. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction show that on further heating the usual structural changes L β′ → P β′ and P β′ → L α occur at the pre- and main transitions, at approx. 35°C and 41°C, respectively.
Molten salt destruction of energetic material wastes as an alternative to open burning

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in conjunction with the Energetic Materials Center (a partnership of Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories), is developing methods for the safe and environmentally sound destruction of explosives and propellants as a part of the Laboratory’s ancillary demilitarization mission. As a result of the end of the Cold War and the shift in emphasis to a smaller stockpile, many munitions, both conventional and nuclear, are scheduled for retirement and rapid dismantlement and demilitarization. Major components of these munitions are the explosives and propellants, or energetic materials. The Department of Energy has thousands of pounds of energetic materials which result from dismantlement operations at the Pantex Plant. The Department of Defense has several hundred million pounds of energetic materials in its demilitarization inventory, with millions more added each year. In addition, there are vast energetic materials demilitarization inventories world-wide, including those in the former Soviet Union and eastern Bloc countries. Although recycling and reusing is the preferred method of dealing with these surplus materials, there will always be the necessity of destroying intractable or unusable energetic materials. Traditionally, open burn/open detonation (0B/OD) has been the method of choice for the destruction of energetic materials. Public concerns and increasingly stringent environmental regulations have made open burning and open detonation of energetic materials increasingly costly and nearly unacceptable. Thus, the impetus to develop environmentally sound alternatives to dispose of energetic materials is great.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Potential Role of Other Positron Emission Tomography Radiotracers

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose avidity for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma is variable, depending on the underlying tumor biology. Experience with non-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracers (eg, 18F-labeled amine precursors l-dihydroxyphenylalanine and 68Ga-DOTA-peptides for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and radiolabeled acetate or choline for hepatocellular carcinoma) is evolving and expanding rapidly. This article reviews the role of FDG and non-FDG radiotracers in the imaging evaluation of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors or hepatocellular carcinoma.
Medicare Payments and System-Level Health-Care Use: The Spillover Effects of Medicare Managed Care

The rapid growth of Medicare managed care over the past decade has the potential to increase the efficiency of health-care delivery. Improvements in care management for some may improve efficiency system-wide, with implications for optimal payment policy in public insurance programs. These system-level effects may depend on local health-care market structure and vary based on patient characteristics. We use exogenous variation in the Medicare payment schedule to isolate the effects of market-level managed care enrollment on the quantity and quality of care delivered. We find that in areas with greater enrollment of Medicare beneficiaries in managed care, the non-managed care beneficiaries have fewer days in the hospital but more outpatient visits, consistent with a substitution of less expensive outpatient care for more expensive inpatient care, particularly at high levels of managed care. We find no evidence that care is of lower quality. Optimal payment policies for Medicare managed care enrollees that account for system-level spillovers may thus be higher than those that do not.
Identification of novel simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) in mouse by interspersed repetitive element (IRE)-PCR

Interspersed repetitive element (IRE)-PCR is a useful method for identification of novel human or mouse sequence tagged sites (STSs) from contigs of genomic clones. We describe the use of IRE-PCR with mouse B1 repetitive element primers to generate novel, PCR amplifiable, simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) from yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones containing regions of mouse chromosomes 13 and 14. Forty-two IRE-PCR products were cloned and sequenced from eight YACs. Of these, 29 clones contained multiple simple sequence repeat units. PCR analysis with primers derived from unique sequences flanking the simple sequence repeat units in seven clones showed all to be polymorphic between various mouse strains. This novel approach to SSLP identification represents an efficient method for saturating a genomic interval with polymorphic genetic markers that may expedite the positional cloning of genes for traits and diseases.
Marketplace Activism A History of the African American Elite Market Segment

A distinct and significant African American elite market segment began its growth prior to the U.S. Civil War, flourished as a result of two world wars, and has continued to expand and diversify. Today, the segment comprises three subsegments including a conventional upper middle-class, the traditional elite, and the nouveau riche. This market segment is distinct both from other African American groups and from the white elite in terms of products and services consumed. This distinction results from this group's isolation and lack of opportunities through the civil rights era and the importance placed on such factors as ancestry and affiliation within this group. This paper presents a four-phase periodization model of the development of the African American elite market segment, linking its development to key events and historical eras. This segment has practiced a unique form of economic consumer activism in the marketplace—referred to as ``marketplace activism''—in the quest for respect and equal treatm...
Glucagon infusion in normal man: Effects on 3-mthylhistidine excretion and plasma amino acids

In order to assess the role of glucagon in human protein metabolism and to examine its action as a “catabolic” hormone, studies were conducted in two normal male subjects over an 8-day period. After minimum and stable urinary nitrogen excretion had been produced by the continuous nasogastric administration of carbohydrate (720 g/day) for 8 consecutive days, a continuous intravenous infusion of glucagon (1.0 mg24 hr) was superimposed on days 7 and 8. Excretion of total nitrogen (N) and urea-N increased significantly (p < 0.05). Excretion of 3-methylhistidine was unaltered, suggesting that the source of the N losses produced by glucagon did not derive from increased muscle proteolysis. Although striking hypoaminoacidemia was produced, the reductions of extracellular amino acids alone could not account for all of the extra urea excreted. These data suggest that hyperglucagonemia in normal man induces mild nitrogen losses by stimulation of hepatic ureogenesis from free intracellular amino acid pools and not by increased rates of muscle protein breakdown.