cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development, Acceptance, and Use Patterns of a Computer-Based Education and Social Support System for People Living With AIDS/HIV Infection

Abstract A computer-based support system has been developed to provide information, referrals, decision support, and social support to people living with AIDS/HIV infection. CHESS (the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) uses personal computers placed in users' homes and linked together via modem through a central “host” computer. Color, graphics, and simple user prompts make the system easy to use. HIV-positive subjects (96 male, 20 female) were given CHESS computers to use in their homes for 3 to 6 months. Subjects used CHESS services a total of 15,966 times for over 4,600 hr of use, an average of about one use per subject per day throughout the study. Each subject used CHESS an average of over 39 hr. The system was heavily used by all segments of the study population. Women and minorities used the system at least as frequently as their male and Caucasian counterparts. In fact, Caucasian and minority women used some parts of the system significantly more than other subjects. Subjects rated CHESS very positively in terms of usefulness and ease of use. Thus, CHESS appears to be a heavily used and highly accepted means of providing information and support to HIV-infected individuals.
Race and SES Interact to Influence Blame Judgments

Both black juveniles and low-socioeconomic status (SES) juveniles are disproportionately represented in the U.S. legal system, yet minimal experimental work has addressed how race and SES might interact when predicting potential jurors’ judgments about juvenile guilt, blame, and punishment. Across two vignette experiments (N = 799) that varied a juvenile defendant’s race (black or white) and SES (low or high), we found that race and SES interacted such that low-SES black and high-SES white juveniles tended to be judged as more guilty, more blameworthy, and more deserving of punishment than their high-SES black and low-SES white counterparts. Moreover, perceptions of the juveniles’ likelihood of recidivism, past criminality, and character may mediate these effects. These perhaps surprising results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that stereotypes or other irrelevant factors may influence blame judgments and have important implications for the justice system.
The Government Agenda in Parliamentary Democracies

Lawmaking is a challenge for coalition governments because it inherently demands cooperation and compromise by parties with divergent policy goals. The jurisdictional system of cabinet government exacerbates the problem by providing parties the means to undermine the coalition bargain in the pursuit of their own policy interests. In this article, I explore whether arrangements that allow partners to police one another induce compromise on one of the most important decisions taken by a government—the organization of the policy agenda. In an analysis of original data on the timing and policy content of over 800 government bills from four European democracies, I show that coalition governments pursue a largely “accommodative” agenda. Policy initiatives dealing with issues that are more attractive to all partners in the coalition are likely to be given priority on the agenda, while those dealing with relatively unattractive issues are likely to be postponed.
Immunohistochemical Study of Myofibroblasts in Normal Colonic Mucosa, Hyperplastic Polyps, and Adenomatous Colorectal Polyps

Abstract Context.—Myofibroblasts are distinct cells with characteristics of both smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Through their ability to secrete cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins, growth factors, and matrix components, they are thought to play critical roles in inflammation, growth, repair, and neoplasia. Objective.—The goal of this study was to identify the distinct cell populations of the lamina propria of normal colon and colorectal polyps. Design.—We studied the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), smooth muscle myosin (SMM), desmin, vimentin, and c-kit by intestinal mesenchymal (stromal) cells in the normal colonic mucosa (n = 5), as well as in hyperplastic polyps (n = 5), sporadic colorectal adenomas (n = 47), and adenomas from patients with familial polyposis (n = 36). Results.—In the normal colonic mucosa, the pericryptal stromal cells were αSMA+, SMM+, desmin−, and vimentin+, defining them as myofibroblasts. In contrast, cells of the muscularis mucosae were αSMA+, SMM+, desmin+, ...
Total body photography for skin cancer screening

Background Total body photography may aid in melanoma screening but is not widely applied due to time and cost. We hypothesized that a near-simultaneous automated skin photo-acquisition system would be acceptable to patients and could rapidly obtain total body images that enable visualization of pigmented skin lesions. Methods From February to May 2009, a study of 20 volunteers was performed at the University of Virginia to test a prototype 16-camera imaging booth built by the research team and to guide development of special purpose software. For each participant, images were obtained before and after marking 10 lesions (five “easy” and five “difficult”), and images were evaluated to estimate visualization rates. Imaging logistical challenges were scored by the operator, and participant opinion was assessed by questionnaire. Results Average time for image capture was three minutes (range 2–5). All 55 “easy” lesions were visualized (sensitivity 100%, 90% CI 95–100%), and 54/55 “difficult” lesions were visualized (sensitivity 98%, 90% CI 92–100%). Operators and patients graded the imaging process favorably, with challenges identified regarding lighting and positioning. Conclusions Rapid-acquisition automated skin photography is feasible with a low-cost system, with excellent lesion visualization and participant acceptance. These data provide a basis for employing this method in clinical melanoma screening.
Computer Analysis of Stratigraphic Maps: ABSTRACT

Stratigraphic maps, such as structure, isopach, and facies maps, are commonly prepared as contour-type maps from measurement data obtained in wells and outcrops. In recent years geologists have experimented with methods for extracting additional information from these maps by application of various mathematical and statistical procedures. Most of the methods are very time-consuming and do not justify their cost as routine procedures without high-speed computers. The advent of computers has made possible a change in the entire framework of map preparation, analysis, and interpretation by furnishing quicker ways of assembling, storing, and processing the basic data. In this respect the computer and associated equipment act as a super-speed desk calculator and filing system hat frees the geologist from much busy-work and gives him more time to interpret and use his final maps. Among problems that can be examined conveniently with the aid of computers are similarities or differences among maps; the use of maps as predicting devices; and the more general question of setting up criteria for the selection of mappable variables that will give the most information per dollar in terms of the objectives of the map study. Map comparison and the use of maps as predicting devices can be achieved at reasonable cost by trend surface analysis, by which the "observed" map data can be separated into two main parts--the trend surface that represents the broad areal changes in the mapped variable, and the deviations from the trend that represent small-scale or anomalous variations. Sometimes the trend surface is of major importance in a study, but in some applications the deviations may rise to major importance. Selection of particular aspects for stratigraphic mapping can be approached in several ways--by regression procedures that "sort out" the important mappable variables; by multiple correlation procedures; or by use of factor analysis that identifies certain groups of variables as being of first-rank impo tance in the context of a map study. Emphasis in this paper is on some principles that underlie map analysis, illustrated by sequential trend analysis of map data. The influence of open and closed number systems--rock thicknesses in contrast to percentages--is End_Page 270------------------------------ developed by examples to show how map patterns are in part controlled by the ways in which the mapped data are expressed. End_of_Article - Last_Page 271------------
An exploration of viewing motives and behaviors associated with television sports

Factor analysis suggests motivation dimensions that may be unique to sports programs. Viewing motivations were related to viewer sex, interest in sports and affective and behavioral reactions to sports programs.
Mediated Action as a Framework for Exploring Learning in informal Settings

Research on learning in informal settings has made huge strides over the last 30 years with a rapid expansion of the number of methods and theoretical frameworks employed across the field. As Phipps (2010) demonstrates, a consistent shift can be seen from studies focusing mostly on observable, easily quantifiable behaviors to studies taking a constructivist approach to studies identifying with various sociocultural approaches. In this chapter we discuss a particular sociocultural approach: mediated action, an approach most often associated with the work of Wertsch (1998). Mediated action is a way of researching how people use all kinds of objects and tools, both physical and psychological to structure their interactions, communicate with each other, and think. Since it is not tied to a particular method of data collection or experimental design, a mediated action approach allows us to use a variety of methods that are hallmarks of research in informal learning. Furthermore, because it attempts to account for the individual, social, cultural and historical contexts within which learning occurs, a mediated action approach can help make connections among interdisciplinary studies of learning across life contexts. In this chapter we briefly discuss the theoretical background of a mediated action approach, and then we explore some of the ways it may be used in research on learning in informal settings, specifically in science museums and home learning settings. Finally, we turn to some of the practical and theoretical implications of adopting a mediated action approach.
Multicenter evaluation of the vitek MS matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry system for identification of gram-positive aerobic bacteria

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) is gaining momentum as a tool for bacterial identification in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Compared with conventional methods, this technology can more readily and conveniently identify a wide range of organisms. Here, we report the findings from a multicenter study to evaluate the Vitek MS v2.0 system (bioMerieux, Inc.) for the identification of aerobic Gram-positive bacteria. A total of 1,146 unique isolates, representing 13 genera and 42 species, were analyzed, and results were compared to those obtained by nucleic acid sequence-based identification as the reference method. For 1,063 of 1,146 isolates (92.8%), the Vitek MS provided a single identification that was accurate to the species level. For an additional 31 isolates (2.7%), multiple possible identifications were provided, all correct at the genus level. Mixed-genus or single-choice incorrect identifications were provided for 18 isolates (1.6%). Although no identification was obtained for 33 isolates (2.9%), there was no specific bacterial species for which the Vitek MS consistently failed to provide identification. In a subset of 463 isolates representing commonly encountered important pathogens, 95% were accurately identified to the species level and there were no misidentifications. Also, in all but one instance, the Vitek MS correctly differentiated Streptococcus pneumoniae from other viridans group streptococci. The findings demonstrate that the Vitek MS system is highly accurate for the identification of Gram-positive aerobic bacteria in the clinical laboratory setting.
Caveats on a process-tracing measure and a remedy

In process-tracing studies, a frequently used index describes whether information selection behavior is attribute — or alternativewise. The performance of this index is investigated under the assumption that subjects select information in a random fashion. The results show that the index may lead to inaccurate conclusions regarding the information-acquisition strategy of a subject. In addition, a Monte Carlo study is conducted that examines the sensitivity of the index to strategy changes. An alternative index is derived and a latent-class model is proposed for a parsimonious representation of individual differences in information acquisition.
Steady Viscous Flow Past a Cylinder and a Sphere at High Reynolds Numbers

Numerical solutions are presented for steady flow past a circular cylinder and past a sphere for Reynolds numbers up to 600 and 2000 resp. These steady (but unstable) flow fields can not at present be obtained by any other means. We observe distinctive trends for increasing Reynolds numbers which may be significant in devising asymptotic wake models.
Move to Defend: The Case against the Constitutional Amendments Seeking to Overturn Citizens United

Three years ago the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. It found that Congress lacked the power to prohibit independent spending on electoral speech by corporations. A later lower-court decision, SpeechNow v. Federal Election Commission, applied Citizens United to such spending and related fundraising by individuals. Concerns about the putative political and electoral consequences of the Citizens United decision have fostered several proposals to amend the Constitution. Most simply propose giving Congress unchecked new power over spending on political speech, power that will be certainly abused. The old and new public purposes cited for restricting political spending and speech (preventing corruption, restoring equality, and others) are not persuasive in general and do not justify the breadth of power granted under these amendments.
Pregnancy following transfer of in vitro fertilized donated oocytes.

Il s'agit d'une femme de la quarantaine souffrant de sterilite depuis de nombreuses annees. Le test postcoital est subnormal, la biopsie d'endometre normale. L'obstruction tubaire a ete traitee par tuboplastie, mais la restauration de la permeabilite et l'absence d'adherences n'ont pas permis la grossesse. La patiente a subi de multiples FIVETE infructueuses, en raison d'une faible reponse de l'E 2 aux gonadotrophines, d'un recueil d'ovocytes insuffisant et/ou d'echecs de la fecondation. Elle a donc demande un don d'ovocyte. Apres un cycle d'observation, les ovocytes de la donneuse ont ete preleves et insemines avec le sperme du mari 3 jours apres le pic de LH-3 ovocytes ont ete fecondes et transferes 43 heures apres l'insemination; dont 1 embryon a 8 cellules et 2 embryons a 4 cellules. Il en est resulte une grossesse normale qui a ete menee a terme. L'amniocentese avait permis l'etude des bandes chromosomiques et du systeme HLA, qui avait revele que le fœtus (XY) n'etait pas genetiquement l'enfant de la mere
Extracellular protease production by submerged cultures of Schizophyllum commune

Fungi live by secretion of hydrolytic en- zymes into the growth substrate and subsequent ab- sorption of the products of hydrolysis by the myceli- um. We have investigated protease secretion by the wood-decaying basidiomycete, Schizophyllum com- mune, when grown submerged in a liquid minimal medium containing L-asparagine as the sole nitrogen source and in minimal medium supplemented with gelatin. The mycelia showed similar growth kinetics in both media; however, growth rates were slightly higher in the gelatin-supplemented medium. The fungus lowered the pH of both media by nearly one unit over the course of 148 h of growth and secreted measurable amounts of protein by 60 h. Proteases accumulated in both media; however, inclusion of gelatin resulted in substantially higher activity. These enzymes consisted almost entirely of serine and me- tallo-endoproteases and at least one diaminodipepti- dase. The proportion of activity in each class, plus the absence in the medium of several mycelial pro- teolytic enzymes, suggests important differences in the mycelial and extracellular proteolytic systems. Gelatin-containing SDS PAGE also indicated differ- ences in the mycelial and extracellular systems, with the extracellular system devoid of one of the major mycelial proteases involved in autolysis, S. commune Protease B-designated ScPrB. The mycelial amino- peptidase, APF, was not found in the medium, al- though the mycelium produced a considerable amount of this activity. Thus, these extracellular ac- tivities are likely to be secreted and not simply the
Infective endocarditis: new concepts in pathogenesis.

Gram-positive cocci account for the large majority of cases of infective endocarditis. Pathogenesis investigations of endocarditis have therefore focused on purported virulence factors in staphylococci, viridans group streptococci and enterococci. In addition to novel molecular techniques that have
Ligand effects on the overpotential for dioxygen reduction by tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine derivatives.

A series of copper complexes based on the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) ligand are examined for their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. Increasing the potential of the CuI/II couple from 0.23 V vs RHE for [Cu(TPA)(L)]2+ to 0.52 V for [Cu(TEPA)(L)]2+ (tris(2-pyridylethyl)amine) at pH 7 or adding a hydrogen-bonding secondary coordination sphere does not increase the onset potential from 0.69 V vs RHE for the ORR. The underlying mechanism for the ORR is determined to be first-order in O2 and second-order in Cu. The rate-determining step is found to not be CuII to CuI reduction, as seen in other systems. The rate-determining step is also not the protonation of an intermediate, but may be the reduction of a hydroperoxo intermediate. Pyrolysis of the Cu complex of TPA affords an inactive material; activity is recovered through addition of intact TPA to the electrode surface.
Clinical decision-making following disasters: efficient identification of PTSD risk in adolescents

The present study aimed to utilize a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) approach in order to improve clinical decision-making for adolescents at risk for the development of psychopathology in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Specifically we assessed theoretically-driven individual, interpersonal, and event-related vulnerability factors to determine which indices were most accurate in forecasting PTSD. Furthermore, we aimed to translate these etiological findings by identifying clinical cut-off recommendations for relevant vulnerability factors. Our study consisted of structured phone-based clinical interviews with 2000 adolescent-parent dyads living within a 5-mile radius of tornados that devastated Joplin, MO, and northern Alabama in Spring 2011. Demographics, tornado incident characteristics, prior trauma, mental health, and family support and conflict were assessed. A subset of youth completed two behavioral assessment tasks online to assess distress tolerance and risk-taking behavior. ROC analyses indicated four variables that significantly improved PTSD diagnostic efficiency: Lifetime depression (AUC = .90), trauma history (AUC = .76), social support (AUC = .70), and family conflict (AUC = .72). Youth were 2-3 times more likely to have PTSD if they had elevated scores on any of these variables. Of note, event-related characteristics (e.g., property damage) were not related to PTSD diagnostic status. The present study adds to the literature by making specific recommendations for empirically-based, efficient disaster-related PTSD assessment for adolescents following a natural disaster. Implications for practice and future trauma-related developmental psychopathology research are discussed.
Charge selectivity of rat intestinal capillaries: Influence of polycations

The role of fixed anionic sites on the intestinal capillary wall in transvascular protein exchange was assessed by neutralizing the negative charges with polycations. The studies were performed in anesthetized rats with an intestinal lymph cannula. Intestinal lymph flow and lymph and plasma total protein concentrations were measured at regular intervals before and after intravenous infusion of either protamine sulfate, poly-L-lysine, or poly-ethyleneimine. Protamine sulfate infusion produced an eightfold increase in lymph flow and a fivefold increase in lymph protein clearance. Lymph flow increased 4.6-fold and lymph protein clearance increased 3.6 times over control in rats receiving the poly-L-lysine infusion. Polyethyleneimine infusion produced results comparable in magnitude to protamine sulfate; however, the animals were unable to tolerate this agent. The enhanced transcapillary protein fluxes produced by the polycation infusions suggest that fixed anionic sites normally impede the egress of proteins from the intestinal vasculature.
The MPC5005 RISC microcontroller

The MPC505 microcontroller is the first implementation of a new family of microcontrollers that features a reduced instruction set (RISC) architecture based on the Power PC architecture. The internal architecture of the MPC505 implements a 32-bit structure. This architecture provides 32-bit effective addresses, integer data types of 8-, 16-, and 32-bits and floating point data types of 32 and 64 bits. A simplified block diagram of the MPC505 is shown in fig. 1. The MPC505 is designed to operate at 3.3 volts. Along with power conservation features, such as clock speed reduction, the MPC505 can operate on a relatively modest power budget.
Unsymmetrical Diaryliodonium Salts as Aryne Synthons: Renaissance of a C–H Deprotonative Approach to Arynes

A regio- and chemoselective C–H deprotonative strategy toward arynes is described that employs a hypervalent iodine leaving group. The unsymmetrical aryl(mesityl)iodonium salts used as aryne precursors are readily synthesized from commercially available aryl iodide and arylboronic acid building blocks. The bases LiHMDS and NaOt-Bu engage the diaryliodonium salts in a deprotonation event at an aromatic C–H bond and the transient arynes react in cycloaddition reactions with furan and benzyl azide or nucleophilic addition reaction with alicyclic amines. The auxiliary component of aryl(auxiliary)iodonium salts can be sterically tuned to influence the regioselectivity of the C–H deprotonation event for meta-substituted aryl groups. 1 Introduction 2 Iodonium Salts as Aryne Precursors 3 Reaction Discovery and Optimization 4 Reaction Scope 5 Auxiliary-Controlled Regioselective Deprotonation 6 Beyond Cycloaddition with Furan 7 Conclusions and Outlook
Police Interactions with Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: Use of Force, Training, and Implicit Bias

This report seeks to identify and analyze the various aspects of police interactions with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to better serve and protect all parties involved.
Simultaneous vascularized bony reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible using a single fibula: A case report

Simultaneous maxillary and mandibular reconstruction is exceedingly rare. These are complicated cases, requiring consideration of multiple variables: defect components, donor site morbidity, recipient vessels, and so forth. We describe a unique case of secondary maxillary/mandibular reconstruction in a 59-year-old male. The original defect was created after removal of a buccal squamous cell carcinoma, involving the external cheek skin, buccal mucosa, right mandibular body, and right inferior maxilla; a free vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap was used for the initial reconstruction. At the time of presentation to our clinic, the patient was tube-feed-dependent, unable to speak, and distressed regarding his appearance. We revised his reconstruction, rebuilding his maxilla and hemimandible using two free fibula flaps from a single fibula. The fibulae were vascularized via vein grafts and an ALT flap was used for external cheek resurfacing. All flaps survived and there were no complications at seven months since his surgery (when this report was written). The patient had intelligible speech and maintained adequate nutrition with a soft diet. Simultaneous vascularized bony reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible using a single fibula flap may be performed safely and with good outcomes.
Structure-property relationships of small organic molecules as a prelude to the teaching of polymer science

Small organic molecules offer a rich opportunity to discuss the interplay of chemical structure with properties such as the melting point and phenomena such as glass formation and can form the basis of fundamental considerations of structure–property relationships in macromolecules. Of particular importance are thermal transitions, specifically melting points and glass transition temperatures, and each is discussed in the context of structure–property correlations. Connections are made to a few commercially important polymers and their thermal transitions.
Acculturation styles and their associations with psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in ethnic minorities with schizophrenia

This study examined whether Berry's model of acculturative stress would predict psychiatric symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) in ethnic minorities with schizophrenia. Tested extensively in non-psychiatric populations, Berry's framework generally suggests that integration, or engagement with both the host and minority culture, is most adaptive. Using the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS), we tested the hypothesis that individuals with schizophrenia who employed an integrative acculturation strategy would have the highest QoL and lowest symptom severity, followed by the assimilation and enculturation groups, then the marginalized group. Psychiatric symptoms and QoL were regressed on AMAS assimilation scores, enculturation scores, and the interaction term in a sample of 128 Hispanic and Blacks with schizophrenia (M age = 41.28; 70% male). Acculturation strategy was not found to relate to psychiatric symptoms (measured from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale). However, acculturation strategy did predict QoL (measured from the Quality of Life Inventory), and results were in line with Berry's model. Marginalization may exacerbate issues surrounding social identity in schizophrenia, including low self-concept clarity and internalized stigma. Encouraging bicultural individuals with schizophrenia to interact with the host culture while also practicing traditions from their minority culture may help improve their quality of life.
The problems facing academic surgeons

It's fascinating how simple questions such as “Do you want to be an academic?” can sometimes land a trainee in a difficult position. “Not sure” is always the safest bet because aspiring to academia (or rather, admitting to aspiring to academia) at an early stage of your career carries the risk of being misinterpreted: you might be seen as an arrogant part timer, a failing clinician, an inadequately skilled surgeon, or someone looking for an alternative career. The present cultural view of surgical academia is something of an oxymoron because it strays from the Arcadian role of a surgeon: one who knows nothing but does everything. The Oxford Dictionary defines an academic as “a teacher or scholar in a university or institute of higher learning,” conventionally with duties including teaching and research. When you add these definitions together, you end up with a person who operates, teaches, and does research. Trainees may aspire to academia in order to reach the pinnacle of their …
Characterizing boosted dijet resonances with energy correlation functions

Jet Energy Correlation Variables are powerful tools to study jet physics at LHC. We show that a class of such variables, known as Energy Correlation Functions can be used effectively to discover and distinguish a wide variety of boosted light dijet resonances at the LHC through sensitivity to their transverse momentum and color structures.
Stereotactic Shifts During Frame-Based Image-Guided Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Clinical Measurements.

Purpose To determine the magnitude and reason for discrepancies between frame- and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)–determined stereotactic coordinates, we reviewed frame-based Gamma Knife radiosurgery procedures in which CBCT was performed before treatment. Methods and Materials Clinical and treatment documentation was reviewed for 150 frame placements for which stereotactic coordinates were defined via both frame and fiducials on computed tomography imaging and CBCT. Treatment planning system–reported rotational and translational differences and standard deviations (SDs) between frame-based and CBCT-based stereotactic coordinates were recorded. Potential clinical predictors for increased differences were collected. Multiple linear regressions were performed to evaluate for associations with increased translations and rotations. Results The absolute mean of the measured pitch, yaw, and roll shifts was 0.14 degrees (range –0.71-0.63 degrees, SD 0.19 degrees), 0.16 degrees (range –0.50 to 0.83 degrees, SD 0.21 degrees), and 0.12 degrees (range 0.37-0.51 degrees, SD 0.15 degrees), respectively. The absolute mean of the measured shifts in the left-right, anteroposterior, and superior-inferior direction was 0.29 mm (range –1.29 to 0.82 mm, SD 0.35 mm), 0.24 mm (range –0.59 to 0.33 mm, SD 0.19 mm), and 0.24 mm (range –0.69 to 0.91 mm, SD 0.27 mm), respectively. Three cases (2.0%) exceeded 1 mm in translational difference, all in the left-right direction (1.05, 1.13, and 1.29 mm). Lower Karnofsky Performance Scale status was associated with greater translational differences (vector magnitude, P = .023) and rotation (pitch, P = .044; yaw, P = .002). Usage of longer total pin length (sum of all 4 fixation pin lengths) was associated with increased rotation but not with translation (P Conclusions CBCT imaging in this cohort of frame-based cases suggests that the discrepancy in stereotactic coordinates is less than 1 mm or degree in most cases. Low Karnofsky Performance Scale status and longer total pin length correlate with larger differences between frame-defined and CBCT-defined stereotactic coordinates.
The effect of urban renewal on fragmented social and political engagement in urban environments

This case study ethnographically analyzes the propositions made by current residents of color in two gentrifying neighborhoods that endured large-scale urban renewal. Many of the propositions are i...
Renal pelvic tumors.

A study was made of 35 patients with tumors of the renal pelvis. Tumors were indipendently graded and staged by a newly proposed method. The method of staging correlated well with grading of renal pelvic tumors and bore a direct relationship with prognosis. The high incidence of associated urothelial tumors, especially on the involved side, mandated radical nephroureterectomy including a bladder cuff as the treatment of choice.
OR19 Integrate crispr/CAS9 for precise protein expression of HLA-B∗38:68Q

Aim The determination of null- or low-expressed HLA alleles is clinically relevant in both hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and solid organ transplantation. Here we investigate a questionable (Q) allele HLA-B∗38:68Q, which carries a 9-nucleotide (nt) deletion at codon 230–232 on exon 4 (Fig. 1A), using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to study the effect of this mutation on HLA-B∗38:68Q expression. Methods The CRISPR/Cas9, targeting gRNA and a non-PAM (Protospacer Adjacent Motif) ssDNA oligo were co-transfected to EBV-B cell line TEM665 (Fig. 1B) by Neon (Thermo Fisher Scientific) to generate homozygous deletions at codon 230–232 of HLA-B∗38:01:01. After single cell seeding and expanding, Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing were performed to validate gene editing in single cell derived clones. Cell surface expression was determined by flow cytometric analysis using a FITC–conjugated Bw4 IgG antibody (One Lambda). Results The gene editing of HLA-B∗38:01:01 homozygous EBV-B cell line by CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in 25 single cell derived clones. The data showed that 21/25 (84%) clones were successfully edited. Among the edited alleles, 5 alleles were through homology directed repair (HDR) pathway and 36 alleles were through non homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway (Fig. 1C). We acquired two precise edited clones: one was HLA-B∗38:68Q/B∗38:01:01 heterozygous and the other one was HLA-B∗38:68Q homozygous (Fig. 1D). Based on the flow cytometric analysis (Fig. 1E), the expression of HLA-B∗38:01:01 homozygous was 2.2-fold higher than HLA-B∗38:68Q/B∗38:01:01 heterozygous cells, and the HLA-B∗38:68Q/B∗38:01:01 heterozygous cells was over 2.0-fold higher than HLA-B∗38:68Q homozygous. We demonstrated that HLA-B∗38:68Q is a low-expressed allele using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Conclusions CRISPR/Cas9 can induce precise gene editing in HLA genes. It provides a useful tool to study the functions of insertion, deletion and intron sequences of HLA genes. Download : Download high-res image (940KB) Download : Download full-size image
Influence of Gross-to-Cracked Section Moment of Inertia Ratio on Long-Term Deflections in GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Members

AbstractAn experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the gross-to-cracked section moment of inertia ratio Ig:Icr on the long-term deflection multiplier for glass fiber–reinforced p...
Localization privacy

Location-aware technology and its applications are fundamental to ubiquitous computing. Essential to this technology is object localization and identification. RFID (radio frequency identification) technology has been shown to be very effective for identification and tracking applications in industry, transport, agriculture and health-care. However it can also be used for accurate object localization. Indeed RFID technology is ideally suited for such applications, and more generally for context-aware computing, because of the low cost, low power, light weight and endurance of RFID tags. In this article we study the security of RFID localization.
Electrical and Thermal Characterization of 3D Printed Thermoplastic Parts With Embedded Wires for High Current-Carrying Applications

Fabrication of parts exhibiting multi-functionality has recently been complemented by hybrid polymer extrusion additive manufacturing in combination with wire embedding technology. While much mechanical characterization has been performed on parts produced with fused deposition modeling, limited characterization has been performed when combined electrical and thermal loads are applied to 3D printed multi-material parts. As such, this paper describes the design, fabrication, and testing of 3D printed thermoplastic coupons containing embedded copper wires that carried current. An automated fabrication process was used employing a hybrid additive manufacturing machine that dispensed polycarbonate thermoplastic and embedded bare copper wires. Testing included AC and DC hipot testing as well as thermal testing on as-fabricated and heat treated coupons to determine the effect of porosity in the substrate. The heat-treated parts contained reduced amounts of porosity, as corroborated through scanning electron microscopy, which led to a 50 % increased breakdown strength and 30 to 40 % increased heat dissipation capabilities. The results of this paper are describing a set of design protocol that can be used as a guideline for 3D printed embedded electronics to predict the electrical and thermal behavior.
Date Rape: The Intractability of Hermeneutical Injustice

Social epistemologists use the term hermeneutical injustice to refer to a form of epistemic injustice in which a structural prejudice in the economy of collective interpretive resources results in a person’s inability to understand his/her/their own social experience. This essay argues that the phenomenon of unacknowledged date rapes, that is, when a person experiences sexual assault yet does not conceptualize him/her/their self as a rape victim, should be regarded as a form of hermeneutical injustice. The fact that the concept of date rape has been widely used for at least three decades indicates the intractability of hermeneutical injustices of this sort and the challenges with its overcoming.
Ultrastructure of Hamster Kidney Cell Culture Infected with Herpesvirus

Hamster kidney cell culture was found susceptible to infection and replication of herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) as evidenced by cytopathic effect, induction of HVT-specific, complement-fixing antigen, and demonstration of virus particles by electron microscopy. Viral structures at different developmental stages were observed. Several infected cells showed a lamellar inclusion body possibly continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum. The function of these lamellar bodies is not known.
Mitigating Congestion Using Environment Protective Dynamic Traffic Orchestration

Traffic congestion has a significant negative impact on the accelerating pace of daily human activities. Traffic jams increase the transportation costs for goods and humans. They are also amongst the leading factors for pollution in the atmosphere and consequently increase health risks for the population. One way to reduce the amount of emissions produced by vehicles in traffic jams is to mitigate traffic congestion and promote the usage of public transportation. In this paper, we propose a solution that establishes on-demand, virtual bus lanes to prioritize public transportation over other traffic and provide detour guidelines for other drivers, while causing insignificant detour penalties. Our solution leverages incremental window aggregations to identify the busiest road segments, priority scheduling, and Dijkstra shortest path algorithm to shape and detour traffic. Our experimental evaluation shows the effectiveness of our Environment Protective Traffic Orchestration (EPTrOn) algorithm in identifying and alleviating traffic congestions.
Information surfing with the JHU/APL coherent imager

The ability to perform remote forensics in situ is an important application of autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs). Forensics objectives may include remediation of mines and/or unexploded ordnance, as well as monitoring of seafloor infrastructure. At JHU/APL, digital holography is being explored for the potential application to underwater imaging and integration with an AUV. In previous work, a feature-based approach was developed for processing the holographic imagery and performing object recognition. In this work, the results of the image processing method were incorporated into a Bayesian framework for autonomous path planning referred to as information surfing. The framework was derived assuming that the location of the object of interest is known a priori, but the type of object and its pose are unknown. The path-planning algorithm adaptively modifies the trajectory of the sensing platform based on historical performance of object and pose classification. The algorithm is called information surfing because the direction of motion is governed by the local information gradient. Simulation experiments were carried out using holographic imagery collected from submerged objects. The autonomous sensing algorithm was compared to a deterministic sensing CONOPS, and demonstrated improved accuracy and faster convergence in several cases.
A Unified Molecular Signature of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Revealed by Integrated, Multi-Cohort Transcriptomic Analysis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that follows an unpredictable disease course and affects multiple organs and tissues. We performed an integrated, multi-cohort analysis of 7,471 transcriptomic profiles from 40 independent studies to identify robust gene expression changes associated with SLE. We identified a 93-gene signature (SLE MetaSignature) that is differentially expressed in the blood of SLE patients compared to healthy volunteers; distinguishes SLE from other autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious diseases; and persists across diverse tissues and cell types. The SLE MetaSignature correlated significantly with disease activity and other clinical measures of inflammation. We prospectively validated the SLE MetaSignature in an independent cohort of pediatric SLE patients using a microfluidic RT-qPCR array. We found that 14 of the 93 genes in the SLE MetaSignature were independent of interferon-induced and neutrophil-related transcriptional profiles that have previously been associated with SLE. Pathway analysis revealed dysregulation associated with nucleic acid biosynthesis and immunometabolism in SLE. We further refined a neutropoeisis signature and identified under-appreciated transcripts related to immune cells and oxidative stress. Our multi-cohort, transcriptomic analysis has uncovered under-appreciated genes and pathways associated with SLE pathogenesis, with the potential to advance clinical diagnosis, biomarker development, and targeted therapeutics for SLE.
Sample-based Distributional Policy Gradient.

Distributional reinforcement learning (DRL) is a recent reinforcement learning framework whose success has been supported by various empirical studies. It relies on the key idea of replacing the expected return with the return distribution, which captures the intrinsic randomness of the long term rewards. Most of the existing literature on DRL focuses on problems with discrete action space and value based methods. In this work, motivated by applications in robotics with continuous action space control settings, we propose sample-based distributional policy gradient (SDPG) algorithm. It models the return distribution using samples via a reparameterization technique widely used in generative modeling and inference. We compare SDPG with the state-of-art policy gradient method in DRL, distributed distributional deterministic policy gradients (D4PG), which has demonstrated state-of-art performance. We apply SDPG and D4PG to multiple OpenAI Gym environments and observe that our algorithm shows better sample efficiency as well as higher reward for most tasks.
The original review of alpine timberline in North America: Rexford Daubenmire’s 1954 publication, ‘Alpine Timberlines in the Americas and Their Interpretation’:

Rexford Daubenmire’s 1954 seminal review of alpine timberline in North America remains a valuable classic for timberline scholars. His article was published at a formative time for timberline studi...
Satellite Guided Mobile Wireless Methane Detection for Oil and Gas Operations

Methane emissions from over 1 million operating oil and gas wells, pipelines, processing plants and related facilities in the US are increasingly viewed as a significant contribution to overall greenhouse gases. Identifying and locating these methane emission sources drives continued development of better methane sensing modalities. Satellites are now on station that are specifically useful for sensing methane levels over the whole earth, but suffer from low resolution and a given site visit frequency on the order of a few times per month. They are useful in locating regions of high atmospheric methane concentration and can be used to guide inspection.Individual ground-based sensing gives real time feedback but is capital and labor intensive. As satellite sensing improves and ground based sensor placement increases, we propose mobile methane sensing using satellite guidance as an alternative that bridges the current gap in that it can provide near term feedback at a low cost per well.We present a satellite guided wireless mobile sensor system for detecting, localizing, and quantifying methane leaks.
CDC Consultations for Outbreaks and Infection Control Breaches Occurring in Dental Settings, 2010–2019

Background: Documented transmission of infectious agents involving dental care is uncommon. However, increasing attention to dental infection control, along with several recent outbreaks, have identified infection control gaps in dental settings. We describe CDC consultations involving outbreaks or infection control lapses occurring in dental settings to identify areas for prevention efforts. Methods: We reviewed internal CDC records from January 1, 2010, through October 1, 2019, to identify consultations involving investigations of potential or confirmed disease transmission and infection control lapses in dental settings. We determined yearly number of consultations, number of patients infected, how disease transmission or infection control breaches were identified, suspected mode of transmission, type of infection control breaches identified, and whether at-risk patients were notified. Results: We identified 41 consultations, among 27 states, involving investigation of possible disease transmission or infection control lapses in dental facilities. The number of consultations increased from 11 to 30 between the first half (2010–2014) and the second half (2015–2019) of the period and involved at least 113 infections confirmed or suspected to be associated with dental procedures. Most investigations (n = 29, 71%) began with identification of infection control breaches absent known patient infections; 8 (20%) investigations were initiated after identification of a single patient infection raised concerns for possible transmission associated with dental care (eg, single case of acute hepatitis B infection absent other risk factors). Moreover, 4 investigations involved >1 patient infection; 3 were outbreaks confirmed to be due to poor infection control practices. The most common infection control breaches were lapses in dental instrument reprocessing (n = 28, 78%), for example, failure to sterilize dental handpieces or failure to use biologic indicators. Of the 23 consultations where patient notification activities were discussed, 17 (74%) resulted in notification; >20,000 patients received information about their potential exposure, usually accompanied by advice on seeking screening tests. Conclusions: Dental-related consultations have increased in recent years, and they highlight the need for improved infection control training of dental healthcare personnel, especially related to dental instrument reprocessing. The CDC Division of Oral Health and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention offers tools, training, and other resources to help dental facilities improve infection control practices. Not all investigations resulted in notifying at-risk patients, but notification should be strongly considered, especially when serious breaches are identified, to promote transparency and help identify disease transmission that could otherwise go undetected. Funding: None Disclosures: None
Yield strength prediction of high-entropy alloys using machine learning

Abstract Yield strength at high temperature is an important parameter in the design and application of high entropy alloys (HEAs). However, the experimental measurement of yield strength at high temperature is quite costly, complicated, and time-consuming. Therefore, it is essential to identify and apply a robust method for the accurate prediction of yield strength at high temperature from the available experimental and simulation data. In this study, for the first time, a machine learning (ML) method based on the regression technique of random forest (RF) regressor is used to predict the yield strength of HEAs at the desired temperature. The yield strengths of MoNbTaTiW and HfMoNbTaTiZr at 800 °C and 1200 °C, are predicted using the RF regressor model. We find that the results are consistent with the experimental reports, showing that the RF regressor model predicts the yield strength of HEAs at the desired temperatures with high accuracy.