cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Focus: Supreme Court Review: Court Sets New Rules in Key Areas; This Term's Cases Dealt with Gender-Based Jury Challenges, Punitives and Settlements

Commentary and analysis of five procedure decisions issued by the Supreme Court during the 1993-94 Term. The article discusses the holdings and implications of the Court’s decisions in J.E.B. v. Alabama; United Mine Workers v. Bagwell; Honda Motor Co. v. Oberg; Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Insurance Co.; and Ticor Title Co. v. Brown. In J.E.B. v. Alabama, a Seventh Amendment right-to-jury trial case, the Court extended its holdings in Batson v. Kentucky to prohibit gender-based challenges during jury selection. The Court utilized equal protection analysis to reach this conclusion. In United Mine Workers v. Bagwell, the Court that the UMW’s contempt of a state court injunction issued during a strike in Virginia, which resulted in fines against the union, constituted a criminal penalty that entitled the union to a jury trial before the imposition of this type of sanction. In Honda Motor Co. v. Oberg, for the third time in four years, the Court revisited the problem of punitive damages. The Court, in a 7-2 decision, held that an Oregon law that prohibited the appellate review of punitive damages constituted a denial of due process. The Honda decision raises the question whether it may open the door to other procedural due process challenges to other states’ statutory punitive damage schemes. In Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., a unanimous Court decided that if parties agree to settle and then subsequently come to grief, they should take their dispute to state courts and not bother federal courts unless their settlement agreement specifically provides for such action. Federal courts neither have inherent power nor ancillary jurisdiction to assume continuing supervisory authority over settlement agreements. Finally, in Ticor Title Co. v. Brown, the Court declined to adjudicate the Shutts issue concerning the due process requirements for non-opt-out monetary damage classes. The Court concluded that certiorari had been improvidently granted, leaving the Shutts issue unresolved, and for some future case.
Experimental Investigation of a Pulse Detonation Engine with a 2D Ejector

A parametric study into the integration of a pulse detonation engine with an ejector was performed. High-speed shadowgraph visualizations of the flow inside the two dimensional ejector provided a qualitative method of determining the performance of the integrated system. The performance was observed to be sensitive to the inlet geometry of the ejector as well as its axial position relative to the exhaust plane of the PDE. Significant levels of entrainment were obtained when the ejector’s inlet was contoured. Also, the high-speed shadowgraph movies showed that the entrainment produced by the PDEejector system could be modified by the presence of an exhaust nozzle on the PDE. Qualitative analysis of the high-speed images using the Coherent Structure Velocimetry (CSV) method was conducted to obtain pseudo-velocity information.
Occupational licensing and the quality of service: An overview.

This paper gathers, presents, and evaluates current state of economic research concerning the interconnection between occupational licensing (and other occupational) restrictions and quality of service. It considers empirical evidence on the effect of licensing on quality of service delivered; uses a simple model to examine the distinction between this type of quality and the more crucial aspect, quality received; and summarizes the empirical evidence on quality received.
Determining stability in posterior wall acetabular fractures

Objectives:To determine if the radiographic parameters of femoral head coverage by the intact posterior wall, acetabular version, and location of the fracture or a history of dislocation were determinates of hip stability in patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures.Design:Retrospective revi
Preface to the Clathrate Hydrates special issue

Clathrate hydrates are of an immediate and practical concern, because of the hazards they pose to oil and gas drilling and production operations in both deep marine and onshore Arctic environments. Drilling operations have encountered numerous problems (gas kicks, blowouts, and fires) when gas hydrates are penetrated, due to the large and often uncontrolled gas release from their dissociation. In addition, the conditions in the deep marine oil and gas production facilities and many kinds of pipelines can promote the growth of clathrate hydrates. In these situations, they can form costly and hazardous blockages in pipelines and sub-sea wellheads. Flow assurance in pipelines is a major concern of all deepwater oil and gas companies. In pipeline systems, clathrate hydrates are thermodynamically suppressed by adding antifreeze materials such as salts or glycols. Nucleation and growth of hydrates can also be kinetically inhibited by the addition of certain polymers. The interests in clathrate hydrates are broad and diverse. Natural marine and permafrost deposits offer a vast untapped reserve of methane, which is conservatively estimated to exceed by a factor of two all other fossil fuels combined. Natural gas from clathrate hydrates might be essential to provide a transition to a hydrogen-based economy that will be independent of carbon-based fuels. Despite the widespread natural occurrence of at least three structure types of clathrate hydrates, none are …
Ischemic Stroke and TIA in Young Adults

Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA studied retrospectively the risk factors and yield of diagnostic tests, neuroimaging findings, and treatment of ischemic strokes in 215 consecutive young adult patients (aged 18 to 45 years) seen between 2005 and 2010.
"Those edibles hit hard": Exploration of Twitter data on cannabis edibles in the U.S.

Abstract Aims Several states in the U.S. have legalized cannabis for recreational or medical uses. In this context, cannabis edibles have drawn considerable attention after adverse effects were reported. This paper investigates Twitter users’ perceptions concerning edibles and evaluates the association edibles-related tweeting activity and local cannabis legislation. Methods Tweets were collected between May 1 and July 31, 2015, using Twitter API and filtered through the eDrugTrends/Twitris platform. A random sample of geolocated tweets was manually coded to evaluate Twitter users’ perceptions regarding edibles. Raw state proportions of Twitter users mentioning edibles were ajusted relative to the total number of Twitter users per state. Differences in adjusted proportions of Twitter users mentioning edibles between states with different cannabis legislation status were assesed via a permutation test. Results We collected 100,182 tweets mentioning cannabis edibles with 26.9% (n = 26,975) containing state-level geolocation. Adjusted percentages of geolocated Twitter users posting about edibles were significantly greater in states that allow recreational and/or medical use of cannabis. The differences were statistically significant. Overall, cannabis edibles were generally positively perceived among Twitter users despite some negative tweets expressing the unreliability of edible consumption linked to variability in effect intensity and duration. Conclusion Our findings suggest that Twitter data analysis is an important tool for epidemiological monitoring of emerging drug use practices and trends. Results tend to indicate greater tweeting activity about cannabis edibles in states where medical THC and/or recreational use are legal. Although the majority of tweets conveyed positive attitudes about cannabis edibles, analysis of experiences expressed in negative tweets confirms the potential adverse effects of edibles and calls for educating edibles-naive users, improving edibles labeling, and testing their THC content.
Critical Phenomena and Phase Transitions

The area of critical phenomena is a rather large one, both quantitatively, as measured by the number of researchers and the number of publications, and qualitatively, as judged by the percentage of “hard” results such as exact calculations and highly precise experiments. This makes it impossible to write an article or even a book which is completely self-contained and which includes all that has been accomplished.
908 Parent attitudes and behaviours on road traffic injuries affecting children

Background With an epidemic of traffic injuries affecting children worldwide, a better understanding of the data, including parent attitudes and behaviours, is essential. Methods A survey was conducted among a diverse group of 6000 parents in six nations in 2014. In Brazil, China and South Africa, the survey was fielded by phone; in Qatar and India, by interviews; and in the United States, online. To assess the burden of road traffic deaths and injuries on children worldwide, data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study was analysed. Results More than 90 percent of parents in Brazil, China, India, Qatar and South Africa said more needs to be done to improve road safety for children. More than half of parents in five out of six countries said they are concerned about their child’s safety on the way to school. In India, 66 percent of parents expect their child to be seriously hurt in a crash in the next year. In the United States, more than 70 percent of parents worry about their child being hit by a distracted or speeding driver on the way to school. Analysis of GBD data showed that, in 2010, road crashes were the leading cause of death among children ages 5 to 19, with teenagers accounting for nearly half of deaths. More than 90 percent of road deaths among children occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions Parents around the world are highly concerned about the safety of their children on the roads. These concerns are justified since road crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 19. A strong focus on building awareness, expanding prevention programs, advocating for laws, and enhancing enforcement, consistent with the pillars of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety, is needed.
Oncocytoma of the Submandibular Gland: Diagnosis and Treatment Based on Clinicopathology.

Background. Submandibular oncocytomas are rare benign salivary gland neoplasms. They are typically found in Caucasian patients aged 50–70 years with no gender preference. Due to the overlapping histological and clinical features of head and neck tumors, they are often misdiagnosed. Methods. We report a case of unilateral submandibular gland oncocytoma in a 63-year-old Caucasian man. Results. The patient underwent unilateral submandibular gland resection and histopathologic analysis of the tumor specimen. On follow-up at 2 weeks and 1 year, no recurrence was identified. Conclusion. Submandibular oncocytomas are best diagnosed with preoperative FNA and CT imaging and have distinctive findings on cytology and histology. CT followed by fine-needle aspiration cytology would be the preferred diagnostic modalities. Due to its low rate of malignant transformation and recurrence, the best treatment is local resection with follow-up as necessary.
High efficiency CDMA power amplifier with dynamic current control circuits

This work presents a PCS band linear power amplifier with high average efficiency using a dynamic quiescent current control circuit. A dynamic quiescent current control circuit, which enables the quiescent current to be gradually increased with control voltage increase, has been designed using InGaP/GaAs HBT technology. The 2-stage amplifier has been implemented to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed control scheme compared to classical discrete mode control. With IS95B reverse-link signal, this amplifier shows about 2 times higher average efficiency than that of the discretely controlled amplifier.
12-Lipoxygenase in hypoxia and hypoxia-induced angiogenesis.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 3591 The enzyme platelet-type 12-lipoxygenase and its metabolite 12(S)-HETE have been shown to play major roles in tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis and angiogenesis. We have shown previously that 12(S)-HETE increases the expression of VEGF in prostate cancer cells. We have also shown the enhanced angiogenic response in tumors generated by injecting PC3 cells overexpressing 12-lipoxygenase. In the present study we have identified the roles played by 12-lipoxygenase and 12(S)-HETE in tumor hypoxia and hypoxia mediated angiogenesis. Our experiments have revealed that treatment of PC3 prostate cancer cells with 12(S)-HETE can lead to the increased expression of HIF-1α, the master regulator of hypoxic events. This has a positive correlation with hypoxia mediated angiogenesis since HIF-1α increases the transcription of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We have also observed the increased production of VEGF by PC3 cells overexpressing 12-lipoxygenase under both hypoxic and non-hypoxic conditions. This clearly emphasizes a major role played by 12-lipoxygenase and 12(S)-HETE in tumor hypoxia mediated angiogenesis. These findings have a lot of clinical relevance since new drugs have been developed targeting this pathway.
High-Pressure Floating-Zone Growth of Perovskite Nickelate LaNiO3 Single Crystals

We report the first single crystal growth of the correlated metal LaNiO3 using a high-pressure optical-image floating zone furnace. The crystals were studied using single crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, resistivity, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility. The availability of bulk LaNiO3 crystals will (i) promote deep understanding in this correlated material, including the mechanism of enhanced paramagnetic susceptibility, and (ii) provide rich opportunities as a substrate for thin film growth such as important ferroelectric and/or multiferroic materials. This study demonstrates the power of high pO2 single crystal growth of nickelate perovskites and correlated electron oxides more generally.
Intermediate bands in type-II silicon clathrate with Cu and Ag guest atoms

The unique host-guest structure of the type-II silicon (Si) clathrate offers tunable electronic structures by doping guest atoms or molecules to the ${\mathrm{Si}}_{28}$ cages. Here we investigate the possibility of inducing intermediate bands (IBs) by Cu and Ag atoms employing first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. Our analyses reveal that one or two isolated Cu/Ag atoms around the cage center are required to obtain IBs useful for photovoltaics; however, further clustering is likely to occur, which removes IBs and converts these Si clathrates into metal. Specifically, the formation of Cu and Ag clusters is mainly determined by local thermodynamics and local kinetics, respectively. All the Cu-clathrate structures presenting IBs are not energetically favorable, making Cu inappropriate for IB solar cells, whereas clathrates with one or two Ag atoms inside the cage that have IBs are thermodynamically stable, but the subsequent aggregation to form 3Ag or 4Ag clusters will destroy IBs. Thus, preventing clustering is crucial to realize IBs in Si clathrates by doping noble-metal atoms.
Prefrontal cortical responses in children with prenatal alcohol-related neurodevelopmental impairment: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Abstract Objective Disruption in the neural activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in modulating arousal was explored in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), who have known neurobehavioral impairment. Methods During a task that elicits frustration, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure PFC activation, specifically levels of oxygenated (HBO) and deoxygenated (HBR) hemoglobin, in children with PAE (n = 18) relative to typically developing Controls (n = 12) and a Clinical Contrast group with other neurodevelopmental or behavioral problems (n = 14). Results Children with PAE had less activation during conditions with positive emotional arousal, as indicated by lower levels of HBO in the medial areas of the PFC and higher levels of HBR in all areas of the PFC sampled relative to both other groups. Children in the Control group demonstrated greater differentiation of PFC activity than did children with PAE. Children in the Clinical Contrast group demonstrated the greatest differences in PFC activity between valences of task conditions. Conclusions Specific patterns of PFC activation differentiated children with PAE from typically developing children and children with other clinical problems. Significance FNIRS assessments of PFC activity provide new insights regarding the mechanisms of commonly seen neurobehavioral dysfunction in children with PAE.
Concurrent extrapulmonary bronchopulmonary sequestration and bronchogenic cyst

Abstract A prenatal ultrasound (US) at 21 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA) identified a left intrathoracic homogenously echogenic microcystic mass with mediastinal shift and a CPAM volume ratio (CVR) of 0.78 (Fig. 1). A fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study confirmed the US findings. MRI and US were repeated at 35 weeks EGA demonstrating a CVR of 0.36 and a spontaneous decrease in size of the previously identified mass. Moreover, an intralesional, fluid filled dilated bronchus was identified that connected to the esophagus and showed mild branching. This finding was thought to represent an esophageal bronchus. Prenatal echocardiogram demonstrated normal cardiac anatomy and function. The patient was delivered vaginally at 38 weeks EGA with no respiratory distress after delivery. The patient was discharged at this time with planned outpatient follow-up. Outpatient contrast CT at three months of age demonstrated a left BPS supplied by the celiac axis and a fluid filled branching structure within the sequestration suspicious for esophageal bronchus. At four months of age, the patient underwent a left, muscle sparing thoracotomy, where the bronchopulmonary sequestration was excised and an adjacent cyst was enucleated. Pathology demonstrated extralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration with a separate foregut malformation most consistent with bronchogenic cyst.
Endometrial Epithelial Neoplasms

Nonneoplastic lesions of the endometrium encompass a broad spectrum of epithelial alternations ranging from metaplasia, hormonal-related changes, inflammatory processes, reparative conditions, endometrial polyps and gestational alterations. Many of these conditions can mimic various malignant or pre-malignancy lesions of the endometrium, particularly when present in a small biopsy or curettage specimen. Endometrial hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia are preneoplastic conditions that precede to the most common endometrioid adenocarcinoma (Type 1 endometrial cancer). Serous and clear-cell carcinomas (Type 2 endometrial cancer) are high-grade carcinomas by definition and account for about 10–15% of endometrial malignancy. Mucinous carcinomas are diagnosed based on varying percentages of mucinous component present in the tumor, and is graded and treated as endometrioid carcinoma. Other histological types are rare, including squamous cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinomas (small cell and non-small cell), and finally various mixed carcinomas when individual mixed component constitutes at least 10% of the entire tumor.
Chitin, chitin synthase and chitin synthase conserved region homologues in Wangiella dermatitidis

The phenomenon of polarized growth leading to yeast and hyphal phenotypes in fungi is dependent upon the coordinated expression of genes and the complex interactions of their products (Drubin, 1991). While certain aspects of polarized growth are beginning to be understood in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, study of this fungus alone may not lead to a complete appreciation of the developmental decisions made by most medically important fungi, because this nonpathogen is essentially monomorphic. In contrast, Wangiella dermatitidis is an exquisitely suitable model for studies of polarized growth and cellular differentiation among pathogenic fungi, because it is polymorphic and can grow as a budding yeast, a hyphomycetous conidiogenesis hyphal organism or as a multicellular mass. In fact, most of what is known about the growth of fungi in a multicellular phenotype comes from studies of this melanized agent of phaeohyphomycosis of humans (reviewed in Szaniszlo et al., 1983a; 1983b; Geis and Jacobs, 1985; Dixon et al., 1991). It is now clear that multicellular-form induction in W. dermatitidis is a cell-cycle-linked event, resulting directly from the inhibition of polarized bud expansion or hyphal tip elongation, without the inhibition of growth, DNA synthesis, mitosis and cytokinesis (Roberts and Szaniszlo, 1978; 1980; Roberts et al., 1979; 1980; Jacobs and Szaniszlo, 1982). Our previous findings that chitin content increases and deposition is delocalized during yeast-to-multicellular form transition (Szaniszlo et al., 1983a; Cooper et al., 1984; Jacobs et al., 1985; Harris and Szaniszlo, 1986), coupled with the discovery of multiple chitin synthase enzymes in S. cerevisiae (Bulawa et al., 1986; Orlean, 1987; Cabib et al., 1988; Silverman, et al., 1988), prompted our search for multiple chitin synthases in W. dermatitidis. Our preliminary results suggest that multiple chitin synthases are involved in the complex phenotypic transitions associated with this fungus.
Effects of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency on Tibiofemoral Cartilage Thickness and Strains in Response to Hopping

Background:Changes in knee kinematics after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury may alter loading of the cartilage and thus affect its homeostasis, potentially leading to the development of pos...
Provider based billing in the United States: The effect on government reimbursement

Provider-based status has been a Medicare payment designation established by the Social Security Act. It has allowed facilities to bill for physician services based on facility type. Medicare reimb...
Apical Sparing Pattern of Longitudinal Strain and Positive Bone Scintigraphy in Metastatic Myocardial Calcification.

Abstract An apical sparing pattern of longitudinal strain and positive radionuclide bone scintigraphy are believed to be specific for the diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. We report on a young woman with apical sparing of longitudinal strain and positive bone scintigraphy who was found to have metastatic myocardial calcification at autopsy. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)
Relativistic Discriminator: A One-Class Classifier for Generalized Iris Presentation Attack Detection

Iris based recognition systems are vulnerable to presentation attacks (PAs) where artifacts such as cosmetic contact lenses, artificial eyes and printed eyes can be used to fool the system. While many learning-based algorithms have been proposed to detect such attacks, very few are equipped to handle previously unseen or newly constructed PAs. In this research, we propose a presentation attack detection (PAD) method that utilizes a discriminator that is trained to distinguish between bonafide iris images and synthetically generated iris images. We hypothesize that such a discriminator will generate a tight boundary around the bonafide samples. This would allow the discriminator to better separate the bonafide samples from all types of PA samples. For generating synthetic irides, we train the Relativistic Average Standard Generative Adversarial Network (RaSGAN) that has been shown to generate higher resolution and better quality images than standard GANs. The relativistic discriminator (RD) component of the trained RaS-GAN is then appropriated for PA detection and is referred to as RD-PAD. Experimental results convey the efficacy of the RD-PAD as a one-class anomaly detector.
Predictors of postoperative emergency department visits after laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Postoperative emergency department (ED) visits are a quality metric for bariatric surgical programs. Predictive factors of ED visits that do not result in readmission are not clear. Objectives We aimed to identify predictors of ED visits in patients without readmission after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Setting The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database. Methods The MBSAQIP database was queried for patients who underwent LSG and LRYGB from 2015 through 2017. Patients were grouped by those who presented to the ED (ED group) and those who did not. ED visits analyzed included only those that did not result in readmission. Multivariable forward selection logistic regression was used to report adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CIs for ED visits. Results Of 276,073 patients, 257,985 (93.4%) were in the group who did not present to the ED, and 18,088 (6.6%) were in the ED group. Most underwent LSG (71.9%) versus LRYGB (28.1%). Multivariable forward logistic regression identified outpatient treatment for dehydration (AOR, 22.26; 95% CI, 21.30–23.27; P Conclusions Postoperative complications were the strongest predictors of ED visits after laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Quality improvement initiatives should target these variables to decrease postoperative ED visits.
Planning analysis: how to reach my scientific objective

Abstract This chapter addresses the user’s question: “What do I do with my data when I get it?” While this topic is the core of statistics, worthy of years of study, an overview, and some first steps will start the user on his journey of analysis. It starts with concepts and rules for symbols and quantities, looks at the management of data, and then gives some first steps in describing, testing, and predicting data.
Towards a pattern language for interactive coding tutorials

Online, text-based coding tutorials are popular among programming learners. Though they are relatively easy to create, it's challenging to ensure their pedagogical effectiveness. Computer Science Education researchers have advocated for interactive tutorials, because they provide learners with opportunities to practice and receive feedback while completing a tutorial. Nonetheless, little guidance exists on how to best leverage interactivity in tutorials. We set out to develop a pattern language for interactive tutorials to fill this gap. Through a human-centered design process, we created and evolved three instructional patterns and their supporting interaction components in a tutorial on asynchronous programming. We describe the preliminary results of our work towards this pattern language in this paper.
Prospective evaluation of a change in dietary therapy in dogs with steroid-resistant protein-losing enteropathy.

Objective To describe the clinical effect of dietary alteration as a sole change to therapy in dogs with steroid-resistant protein-losing enteropathy. Materials and methods Prospective study. Eligible enrolled dogs received dietary alteration as sole change to their therapeutic plan. Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index and serum albumin were monitored for the 3-month study period. Long-term follow-up data were also available for some of the study participants. Results Fifteen dogs were eligible for enrollment over the study period. Twelve were enrolled, 10 remained in the study at 30 days, nine completed the 3-month study period. Following dietary alteration, eight of 10 dogs achieved complete remission, one dog achieved partial remission and one dog had no response. Seven of eight dogs achieving complete remission have remained in remission up to 4 years following study. In dogs with complete remission, median Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index score was 11.5 and 4, and median serum albumin concentration was 15 g/L and 26 g/L at 0 and 14-28 days, respectively. Clinical significance Dogs with protein-losing enteropathy with previous lack of response to a combination of dietary therapies, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive medications can achieve remission following a dietary change. Improvement is likely to be seen within 14 to 30 days. A change in dietary approach may be an alternative to further immunosuppression or anti-inflammatory strategies in some dogs with difficult to treat protein-losing enteropathy.
Reexamining the Price Effects of Assumption Financing: The Case of Above-Market Interest Rates

Although previous research addresses the price effects of below-market loan assumptions in housing transactions, no direct evidence exists regarding the price effects of above-market loan assumptions. This study develops a hypothesis of strictly nonnegative price effects in assumption financing and empirically documents a positive impact in housing transactions involving above-market loan assumptions. Based on a switching regimes regression analysis of 2,669 single-family house transactions, we find evidence of a significant price premium in moderately priced homes involving above-market loan assumptions but no evidence for a financing premium for more expensive homes. The results suggest that the sources of the premium in the moderately priced home market are the assuming buyer's motivations to minimize transactions costs and to avoid lenders' qualification criteria.
Associations between long-term psychosis risk, probabilistic category learning, and attenuated psychotic symptoms with cortical surface morphometry

Neuroimaging studies have consistently found structural cortical abnormalities in individuals with schizophrenia, especially in structural hubs. However, it is unclear what abnormalities predate psychosis onset and whether abnormalities are related to behavioral performance and symptoms associated with psychosis risk. Using surface-based morphometry, we examined cortical volume, gyrification, and thickness in a psychosis risk group at long-term risk for developing a psychotic disorder (n = 18; i.e., extreme positive schizotypy plus interview-rated attenuated psychotic symptoms [APS]) and control group (n = 19). Overall, the psychosis risk group exhibited cortical abnormalities in multiple structural hub regions, with abnormalities associated with poorer probabilistic category learning, a behavioral measure strongly associated with psychosis risk. For instance, the psychosis risk group had hypogyria in a right posterior midcingulate cortical hub and left superior parietal cortical hub, as well as decreased volume in a right pericalcarine hub. Morphometric measures in all of these regions were also associated with poorer probabilistic category learning. In addition to decreased right pericalcarine volume, the psychosis risk group exhibited a number of other structural abnormalities in visual network structural hub regions, consistent with previous evidence of visual perception deficits in psychosis risk. Further, severity of APS hallucinations, delusional ideation, and suspiciousness/persecutory ideas were associated with gyrification abnormalities, with all domains associated with hypogyria of the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Thus, current results suggest that structural abnormalities, especially in structural hubs, are present in psychosis risk and are associated both with poor learning on a psychosis risk-related task and with APS severity.
Clinical and treatment characteristics of patients treated with the first therapeutic oncology biosimilars bevacizumab-awwb and trastuzumab-anns in the US:

Background:In July 2019, bevacizumab-awwb and trastuzumab-anns were marketed in the USA as the first therapeutic oncology biosimilars. We aimed to investigate the initial real-world use of bevacizu...
Enacting Interdisciplinarity: Lessons from Crafting a Multi-Dimensional, Experiential Field Study

Above and beyond the topical content of any given course—which would be in intent of (higher) education anywhere, even “at home”—the goals of international education are fairly grandiose: “to devel...
Evaluating for disparities in prenatal genetic counseling.

BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend that all pregnant women should be offered prenatal genetic counseling, which includes discussions of aneuploidy and carrier screening. Previous studies have demonstrated racial and ethnic disparities in the completion of prenatal genetic testing, but few studies have evaluated for disparities in the offering of these tests. Prenatal genetic screening is a covered provision of Colorado Medicaid. We hypothesized that in the absence of a financial barrier, disparities in prenatal genetic counseling would be eliminated. OBJECTIVE To evaluate disparities in prenatal genetic counseling by directly assessing if patients received counseling at the time of their first prenatal visit. STUDY DESIGN This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients presenting for their first prenatal visit at RESULTS Of 1103 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 97.2% were counseled for aneuploidy screening, whereas 73.3% were counseled on carrier screening. For aneuploidy, younger age, Black race, a relationship status of single, and presentation at a later gestational age were associated with lack of aneuploidy counseling on univariate analysis. After multivariable analysis, only maternal age (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.19) and gestational age (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–0.93) were statistically significantly associated with aneuploidy counseling. Treatment by a physician care team, having a comorbidity score of ≥1, and presenting at a later gestational age were associated with not receiving carrier screening counseling (univariate analysis). Multivariable analysis indicated significant associations with gestational age (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–0.94) and having a comorbidity (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.55–0.94). CONCLUSION Prenatal genetic counseling was less likely to be provided to women who present for prenatal care at a later gestational age. This finding was of concern because women who are less privileged were more likely to present to prenatal care at a later gestational age. Providing access to early prenatal care and developing specialized care pathways for women entering prenatal care in the second trimester of pregnancy could address disparities in prenatal genetic counseling.
Spectroscopy Approaches for Food Safety Applications: Improving Data Efficiency Using Active Learning and Semi-Supervised Learning.

The past decade witnesses a rapid development in the measurement and monitoring technologies for food science. Among these technologies, spectroscopy has been widely used for the analysis of food quality, safety, and nutritional properties. Due to the complexity of food systems and the lack of comprehensive predictive models, rapid and simple measurements to predict complex properties in food systems are largely missing. Machine Learning (ML) has shown great potential to improve classification and prediction of these properties. However, the barriers to collect large datasets for ML applications still persists. In this paper, we explore different approaches of data annotation and model training to improve data efficiency for ML applications. Specifically, we leverage Active Learning (AL) and Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL) and investigate four approaches: baseline passive learning, AL, SSL, and a hybrid of AL and SSL. To evaluate these approaches, we collect two spectroscopy datasets: predicting plasma dosage and detecting foodborne pathogen. Our experimental results show that, compared to the de facto passive learning approach, AL and SSL methods reduce the number of labeled samples by 50% and 25% for each ML application, respectively.
A Demonstration Advanced Avionics System for general aviation

A program initiated within NASA has emphasized the use of a data bus, microprocessors, electronic displays and data entry devices for general aviation. A Demonstration Advanced Avionics System (DAAS) capable of evaluating critical and promising elements of an integrating system that will perform the functions of (1) automated guidance and navigation; (2) flight planning; (3) weight and balance performance computations; (4) monitoring and warning; and (5) storage of normal and emergency check lists and operational limitations is described. Consideration is given to two major parts of the DAAS instrument panel: the integrated data control center and an electronic horizontal situation indicator, and to the system architecture. The system is to be installed in the Ames Research Center's Cessna 402B in the latter part of 1980; engineering flight testing will begin in the first part of 1981.
Cytokines in breast cancer cell dyshesion

While the evidence for the genetic basis of cancer is mounting [reviewed in 1-3], at the same time it is becoming apparent that growth factors and cytokines may play critical roles in determining the phenotypic expression of cancer [4-6]. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) decreases intercellular and substratum adhesiveness in lines of human ductal breast carcinoma cells [7-12]. Dyshesiveness is a cardinal pathological feature of breast carcinoma [13]. Ductal breast carcinoma cells are morphologically heterogeneous not only within the same tumor, but also in sublines originating from the same line of tumor cells. In the Ro subline of the ZR-75-1 cells EL-6 converts cuboidal/polygonal cells to stellate cells with long processes [7]. The morphologically altered ZR-75-1-Ro cells separate from each other and display enhanced directional motility although their proliferation is suppressed. No evidence was obtained of growth factor-inducible cell-cell separation with transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), TGF-β1, epidermal growth factor (EGF), or insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) [9]. Colonies of ZR-75-1-Ro cells formed in the presence of acidic fibro-blast growth factor (aFGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (10 or 100 ng/ml) did however show some evidence of cell-cell separation.
Traits associated with dry edible bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity under diverse soil moisture environments

Two experiments were conducted in the Rift Valley, Ethiopia (8°N and 39°E) to determine associations between eight plant traits and seed yield, and to obtain estimates of narrow sense heritability for the traits. Experiment I evaluated seven dry edible bean cultivars/lines at two locations to simulate different soil moisture stress, including, Debre Zeit(non-stress) and Dera (moderate-stress). Experiment II evaluated 25 cultivars/lines in three environments including, Melkassa early planted (non-stress), Melkassa late planted (high-stress), and Dera (moderate-stress). A randomized-complete-block design with three replicates was used in both experiments. Plant traits evaluated were seed yield, pods plant-1, seeds pod-1, 100 seed weight, root dry weight, hypocotyl diameter, plant biomass, plant height and days to flowering. Plant traits that were significantly associated with seed yield were included in a stepwise-regression model to determine which trait or combination of traits provided the best model to estimate seed yield in each environment. An analysis of variance was conducted to test main effects and interactions between plant traits and environments. Significant variation among lines occurred for seed yield and all plant traits in both experiments. Strong positive correlations were observed between plant biomass and seed yield in all environments. Seed yield and pods plant-1 were also highly associated in four of the five environments. Stepwise regression models indicated that the combination of pods plant-1 and plant biomass consistently contributed to seed yield prediction, while other traits did not. Because both plant biomass and pods plant-1 had moderate to high narrow sense heritability estimates and low GE interactions, they should be useful as indirect selection criteria to improve and stabilize seed yield in a breeding program.
Role of a disulfide bond in the thermal stability of the LamB protein trimer in Escherichia coli outer membrane

In order to understand the unusual heat resistance of LamB protein (the outer membrane component of the maltose transport system in Escherichia coli and its receptor for bacteriophage lambda), we investigated the role of its 2 cysteinyl residues. Our studies show that Cys22 and Cys38 form an intrasubunit disulfide bond which contributes to the heat stability of the LamB protein trimer. Physical evidence for the disulfide was obtained by using site-directed mutagenesis to convert Asn36 to Met, which allowed cyanogen bromide cleavage between the 2 cysteines. Upon reduction one of the N36M fragments migrated as two pieces, resolved by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Other mutagenized LamB proteins, in which 1 or both Cys residues were converted to Ser, exhibited a sharp loss of thermal stability. In contrast to wild-type LamB protein trimer, which does not dissociate to monomers even after 60 min at 100 degrees C, only 10-15% of the mutant LamB proteins remain trimeric after boiling 10 min. The disulfide bond in LamB protein is not required for its transport function, since both mutagenized LamB protein and N-ethylmaleimide-labeled LamB protein exhibit normal uptake of sugars in proteoliposomes. Finally, the disulfide bond must not be between subunits of the LamB trimer since reversible dissociation of trimer is achieved by low pH or denaturants in the absence of reducing agent.
Structure Based Kinetics by Time-Resolved X-ray Crystallography

Without catalysis there would be no life. All catalysts, also the common catalytic converter in a car, need an active surface where the substrate molecules align specifically to enhance chemical interaction in order to react to product. Catalysis is a multistep process. Binding of substrate, reaction, and dissociation of product are the elementary steps. In a more complex catalyst such as an enzyme, these steps require substantial reorganization of the structure of the catalyst itself on the atomic level. Each step may be accompanied by a multiple of different configurations and conformations. It is of importance for an understanding of catalysis in general that not only the structure of the free catalyst but also the structures of all complexes that form and decay along the reaction are determined on the atomic level. For this purpose, the catalyzed reaction must be recorded with methods such as X-ray structure determination, which are capable of imaging with atomic resolution. Proteins are ideal to study catalysis. Only proteins form crystals with large connected cavities filled by water. The macromolecules are still flexible in the crystals and, hence, are catalytically active. Substrate molecules diffuse freely through the channels in the crystals and provide supply for the catalytic reaction. In almost all cases protein crystals stay stable and do not decompose during the catalytic reaction. The reaction can, therefore, be followed repeatedly from the beginning to the very end. There is no other solid body in the organic or inorganic world from which we can learn so much about catalysis as from proteins.
Implementing large scale curricular changes-the Drexel experience

In 1988, Drexel University began a comprehensive experimental project designed to enhance its undergraduate engineering curriculum. The project called for the creation of a major paradigm shift in which the environment and all activities would focus on the students as emerging professional engineers with the faculty serving as their mentors. The primary objectives were to provide the student an integrated exposure, throughout the first two years, to a common core of elements which the faculty believe will be essential to successful practice in the next century. Achievement of these objectives required faculty to use and/or develop a combination of several different teaching methodologies and to totally reorganize the subject matter. In anticipation that the magnitude of these changes might cause difficulties, the experiment provided for a properly scaled incremental approach with continuous evaluation and options to adopt or reject the new curriculum in whole or in part, at the conclusion of the project. The results of the experiment were extremely positive. Student achievement and enthusiasm were high. Strong bonds were established with their faculty mentors from thirteen different departments who found the experience to be both challenging and rewarding. Consequently, the faculty approved a plan to revise the total curriculum of all engineering departments. Each department is now restructuring its upper division curriculum using the experimental program as the common lower-division core. Full scale implementation began with the entering class in 1994. The implementation of such fundamental, large scale changes is complicated by the diversity of the constituencies involved and beset with a variety of challenges and issues. These range over a broad spectrum from matters relating to academic and administrative authority to faculty development and rewards, to the allocation of fiscal physical and human resources.
Development of a farmer typology of agricultural conservation behavior in the American Corn Belt

Farmers’ decisions about adopting conservation practices are inherently dynamic, affected by changes in environmental, economic, and social conditions, including interactions with other farmers. Water quality models that are used to assess agricultural policy interventions, such as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), lack the dynamic social component of farmer’s decisions. While agent-based models (ABM) can represent and explore these decision dynamics, ABMs have not been connected to water quality models that can measure environmental outcomes of farmer decisions. Connecting ABMs and SWAT could advance the development of targeted conservation policies. Toward this aim, we developed a typology of Corn Belt farmers based on farmer characteristics that could be employed in an ABM and be relevant to water quality outcomes. Because our typology was developed for use in an ABM and to link to an existing water quality model (SWAT), it had distinctive simplicity (to optimize utility of the ABM) and relevance to characteristics modeled by SWAT. To identify farmer characteristics, we reviewed the literature on conservation practices that could be represented in SWAT models and their adoption by Corn Belt farmers. We found that land tenure arrangements, farm size, source of income, and information networks were consistently identified as farmer characteristics that influence conservation practice decision-making, were simple and relevant. Employing these characteristics, we identified four types of farmers to populate an ABM that will be linked to SWAT: (1) “Traditional”: small operations relying primarily on on-farm income; (2) “Supplementary”: small operations relying primarily on off-farm income; (3) “Business-oriented”: medium to large operations relying primarily on on-farm income and well connected to information networks; (4) “Non-operator”: absentee and/or investor farmland owners with limited connection to local information networks. This typology represents the heterogeneity of Corn Belt farmers relevant to their adoption of conservation practices. It gives us the conceptual framework for an ABM that can be linked with SWAT to explore coupled social and biophysical processes within Corn Belt agroecosystems, focusing on alternative approaches to targeting conservation policy to effectively reduce sediment and nutrient runoff.