cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Her2 positivity and race predict higher mastectomy rates: a SEER database analysis

Given the difference in incidence of biologic subtype of breast cancer between black and white women, and the potential disparity in type of surgery in black and white women presenting with early stage breast cancer, this study aimed to examine the odds of mastectomy compared to lumpectomy by molecular subtype in black and white women with size T1 and T2 invasive breast cancer. Using the SEER database, breast operation choice for women over the age of 15 with T1 or T2 tumors between 2010 and 2012 were examined. Tumors were categorized according to the Breast Subtype variable in the SEER database and data were stratified by tumor size and race. Bivariate comparisons and logistic regression models adjusted for age were used. In women with T1 or T2 tumors, mastectomy rates were higher in women with Her2 positive tumors than in those with Her2 negative tumors. When Her2 results are the same among comparison groups, those women with HR positive tumors were less likely to undergo a mastectomy than those with HR negative tumors. In T1 tumors, the magnitude of the association was larger for white women than women of other races. Results suggest there are differences in surgical decision making based on breast cancer subtype in women with T1 or T2 tumors and that race may play a role for size T1 tumors. The strong association between Her2 positive tumors and higher mastectomy rates warrants further investigation.
Oocyte sensitivity to induced meiotic nondisjunction and its relationship to advanced maternal age

Abstract Several potential chromosomal mutagens were employed in an effort to induce mouse oocyte meiotic nondisjunction. Rat follicle-stimulating hormone, clomiphene citrate, and methotrexate each failed to increase the incidence of oocyte metaphase aneuploidy. A “temperature stress” system produced a marked increase in meiotic nondisjunction. Increased maternal age did not cause an increase in susceptibility to this chromosome mutagen model. This suggests that the maternal age relationship to aneuploidy is not likely to be due to an increased sensitivity of oocytes from older females to chromosomal mutagens.
Social Work Students and Homophobia: What Are Their Attitudes?

This study explored homophobic attitudes of baccalaureate-level social work students at a rural southern university. Students (N=151) were asked to complete an assessment that included the Hudson & Ricketts (1980) Index of Homophobia scale and an original sociodemographic questionnaire. Results suggest that the majority of students were homophobic (84%). Implications of this research and effective teaching strategies to combat homophobic attitudes are discussed.
Marked hyperoxaluria in sarcoidosis during orthophosphate therapy.

AbstractOrthophosphate therapy of hypercalciuria in a patient with sarcoidosis resulted in a 5-fold increase in urinary oxalate excretion. Glucocorticoid therapy was necessary to control the active stone disease in this patient.
Effects of Stress on Photosynthesis

Stress describes one part of the interaction between plants and their environment. The environment also provides resources and information. The distinctions between stress, supply of resources, and information are not always well defined.
Locus Coeruleus and Tuberomammillary Nuclei Ablations Attenuate Hypocretin/Orexin Antagonist-Mediated REM Sleep.

Hypocretin 1 and 2 (Hcrts; also known as orexin A and B), excitatory neuropeptides synthesized in cells located in the tuberal hypothalamus, play a central role in the control of arousal. Hcrt inputs to the locus coeruleus norepinephrine (LC NE) system and the posterior hypothalamic histaminergic tuberomammillary nuclei (TMN HA) are important efferent pathways for Hcrt-induced wakefulness. The LC expresses Hcrt receptor 1 (HcrtR1), whereas HcrtR2 is found in the TMN. Although the dual Hcrt/orexin receptor antagonist almorexant (ALM) decreases wakefulness and increases NREM and REM sleep time, the neural circuitry that mediates these effects is currently unknown. To test the hypothesis that ALM induces sleep by selectively disfacilitating subcortical wake-promoting populations, we ablated LC NE neurons (LCx) or TMN HA neurons (TMNx) in rats using cell-type-specific saporin conjugates and evaluated sleep/wake following treatment with ALM and the GABAA receptor modulator zolpidem (ZOL). Both LCx and TMNx attenuated the promotion of REM sleep by ALM without affecting ALM-mediated increases in NREM sleep. Thus, eliminating either HcrtR1 signaling in the LC or HcrtR2 signaling in the TMN yields similar effects on ALM-induced REM sleep without affecting NREM sleep time. In contrast, neither lesion altered ZOL efficacy on any measure of sleep–wake regulation. These results contrast with those of a previous study in which ablation of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons attenuated ALM-induced increases in NREM sleep time without affecting REM sleep, indicating that Hcrt neurotransmission influences distinct aspects of NREM and REM sleep at different locations in the sleep–wake regulatory network.
Alternative Strategies and Multiple Outcomes in the Remediation of Severe Self-Injury: Going “All Out” Nonaversively

This case study report describes the various treatments implemented over a 3-year period in an effort to reduce and eliminate multiple and severe self-injurious behaviors in a 45-year-old man who h...
Mushroom Industry: Diversification with Additional Species in the United States

(1983). Mushroom Industry: Diversification with Additional Species in the United States. Mycologia: Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 351-360.
The relationship of core belief challenge, rumination, disclosure, and sociocultural elements to posttraumatic growth.

The relationship of challenge to core beliefs, rumination, disclosure, and some sociocultural elements to posttraumatic growth (PTG) were explored. Participants were college students enrolled in psychology classes who reported having experienced a stressful event within the past 2 years and who completed measures in groups. Findings suggested that challenge to core beliefs was the main predictor of PTG, and that a very large proportion of the sample had encountered themes of PTG in their sociocultural contexts.
E-126 favorable baseline ct aspects and dwi brainstem imaging in acute basilar artery occlusions are poor predictors of good functional outcome

Introduction Basilar artery occlusions (BAO) are associated with very high morbidity and mortality owing to the eloquent supply of the brainstem and midbrain. Despite the positive endovascular trials for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke, there remains a clear lack of consensus regarding the optimal method of patient selection for IA treatment especially in the posterior circulation (PC). We evaluated the baseline NCCT PC-ASPECTS as well as DWI brainstem scores in acute ischemic stroke patients with BAO prior to IA treatment and their association with final functional outcomes. Methods A retrospective study was performed on consecutive cases of basilar stroke patients presenting in the acute setting ( 1 One observer evaluated these baseline MR-DWI studies for brainstem infarcts based on previously published scoring system. 2 PC-ASPECTS were dichotomized into ≥8 (favorable) and 1 and brainstem DWI was dichotomized to 2 Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, student t test, and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were used for univariate analyzes as appropriate. For evaluation of inter-rater reliability, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used. A P value of 0.05). Results Thirty four patients (12 F/22 M; mean age of 63.36 ± 15.48 years) were studied. Among 34 cases, 27 were selected based on CT and MR DWI. Interobserver agreement for baseline PC-ASPECTS assigned to the baseline CT studies was excellent (ICC = 0.93). The median PC-ASPECTS and DWI brainstem scores were 8 and 1.5, respectively. Eighteen out of 34 patients (53%) had baseline favorable PC-ASPECTS. Among 27 cases baseline MR studies, 18 (66%) cases had favorable DWI brainstem scores. A significant fair inverse correlation was observed between PC-ASPECTS and DWI brainstem scores (r = - 0.43, P = 0.02). Both favorable and unfavorable PC-ASPECTS and DWI brainstem score groups were comparable in baseline characteristics, medical history, time from symptom onset to recanalization (P > 0.05). Thirteen patients (38%) achieved final good functional outcome. Successful recanalization (TICI 2b, 3) rate was 88% (n = 30); however it was not associated with good functional outcomes (P Conclusion Favorable baseline PC-ASPECTS and DWI brainstem scores were observed in acute basilar ischemic stroke patients prior to IA therapy; however, neither technique was able to predict good functional outcomes. References Puetz V, et al . Extent of hypoattenuation on CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion. Stroke 2008;39(9):2485–90 Mourand I, et al . Diffusion-weighted imaging score of the brain stem: A predictor of outcome in acute basilar artery occlusion treated with the Solitaire FR device. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2014;35(6):1117–23 Disclosures F. Syed: None. A. Honarmand: None. D. Ban: None. A. Elmokadem: None. V. Daruwalla: None. M. Hurley: None. A. Shaibani: None. S. Ansari: None.
Sluggish cognitive tempo is associated with suicide risk in psychiatrically hospitalized children

BACKGROUND: Although identified as a significant public health concern, few studies have examined correlates of suicide risk in school-aged children. Recent studies show a relation between sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms and a range of adverse outcomes linked to suicidal ideation, including depression, emotion dysregulation, lowered self-esteem, and peer problems/social withdrawal, yet no study to date has examined SCT in relation to suicide risk. METHODS: We tested the hypothesis that SCT would be associated with suicide risk in a sample of 95 psychiatrically hospitalized children (74% male; 62% black) between the ages of 8 and 12 (M = 10.01, SD = 1.50). Parents completed measures of their child's psychiatric symptoms, including SCT and depression, as well as a measure of their own psychopathology. Children completed measures assessing loneliness and depression. Both parents and children completed measures of suicide risk. RESULTS: White children reported greater suicide risk than nonwhite children. After controlling for demographic characteristics, loneliness, parental psychopathology, and correlated psychiatric symptoms, including both parent- and child self-reported depressive symptoms, SCT remained uniquely associated with children's suicide risk. RESULTS were consistent across both parent and child measures of suicide risk. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-informant study provides strong preliminary support for an association between SCT symptoms and suicide risk in psychiatrically hospitalized children, above and beyond loneliness, depression, and demographic characteristics. FINDINGS are discussed in the context of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Additional studies are needed to replicate and extend these findings, with a particular need for studies that examine the cognitive processes and daydreaming content of individuals displaying elevated SCT symptomatology.© 2016 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Language: en
Guest Editor's Introduction: Appendix: The Object and the Context: What Our Data Are and Where They Come From

(2002). Guest Editor's Introduction: Appendix: The Object and the Context: What Our Data Are and Where They Come From. Journal of the Learning Sciences: Vol. 11, No. 2-3, pp. 163-185.
Robotic and open distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection for locally advanced pancreatic body tumors: a single institutional assessment of perioperative outcomes and survival.

Background Distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) is an option for T4 tumors of the pancreatic body. We examined the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of open and robotic DP-CAR at a high-volume pancreatic center.
Voxel bay: VR as a distraction for pediatric pain

Voxel Bay is a hands-free, immersive virtual reality (VR) game designed for children to play in a medical setting to offer distraction from pain and anxiety that may arise during medical procedures. The application has been developed at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) by Alice Grishchenko, John Luna and Jeremy Patterson in collaboration with NCH's Director of Hematology, Dr. Amy Dunn. In addition to developing a game, a user-centered design approach has resulted in a system which encompasses a child's entire clinic experience outside of the game. Children who come to clinic will start their experience by receiving a child-sized cardboard headset, which they can customize. The game runs from an iPod touch placed inside the headset. Headphones with a built in microphone are incorporated into the device so the player can listen to the game and give audio input, thus the experience provides both visual and audio stimulation to reduce the patient's contextual awareness. The components of the headset have been reviewed by the NCH safety center. Before starting, a connection is established between the player and a networked remote control station operated by a clinician-orchestrator. From this station the clinician can end and start mini-games, restart the game, mute and unmute the audio and open a pop-up camera view into the clinic room.
A telecom-band cavity-enhanced single-photon source with high Klyshko efficiencies

We develop an on-chip telecom-band single-photon source with Klyshko efficiencies up to 48%, the highest value for cavity-enhanced photon sources. For the first time, we relate Klyshko efficiency to high-order correlations and verify this relation experimentally.
Solar Spectroscopy from Space Vehicles

This is the Silver Anniversary year of the commencement of space research, and today’s Symposium comes exactly nine days after the first observation of the sun’s ultraviolet spectrum, made by the Naval Research Laboratory [1] from a V-2 rocket launched on October 10, 1946. Until then, the solar spectrum below 2900 A had been hidden by the earth’s ozone layer. This opened a new field for research, which increased rapidly and continuously until it now forms a major portion of the work in science and engineering in the United States and in other countries too. At NRL we considered having a celebration on the very day, but space research has now struck such a pace that not one of us had the time to celebrate, at least in proper fashion.
A method for determination of the lower crustal structure along the San Andreas fault system in central California

abstract A method for determining lower crustal structure by comparing residuals of distant events, thereby reducing the effect of near-surface structure on seismic waves, has been tested through a straightforward numerical analysis of teleseismic residuals in central California. The results show a general crustal thinning to the west, with a sharp gradient along the San Andreas fault and a uniform crustal thickness between the San Andreas fault and the Calaveras and Hayward faults.
Calibration and Imaging

This chapter is concerned with the calibration and Fourier transformation of visibility data, mainly as applied to Earth-rotation synthesis. Methods for the evaluation of the visibility measurements on a rectangular grid of points, necessary for the use of the discrete Fourier transform as implemented with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm, are discussed. Phase and amplitude closure conditions, which are valuable calibration tools, are also described. Analysis of the causes of certain types of image defects is given. Special consideration is given for certain observing modes, such as spectral line, and conversion of frequency to velocity is described. In addition, methods of extracting astronomical information directly from visibility data by model fitting are described. These techniques are important even with arrays having excellent (u, v) coverage. Some methods of calculating Fourier transforms before the advent of the FFT are discussed in Appendix 10.3.
Pan-Africanism & the Belizean State: Some Preliminary Notes

The goal of this paper is to employ a Pan-Africanist frame of reference for understanding the emergence of Belizean independence and the evolution of the Belizean state. The paper explores the following questions: What insights do we gain from viewing Belize through a Pan-Africanist prism? What does an independent Belizean state mean from this perspective? How does it assist us in understanding the structure of the state and its location within the prevailing international system? What is the relationship between the Belizean state and the progressive forces within its boundaries? Finally, what do we gain from employing this particular framework in understanding contemporary challenges to Belizean sovereignty? In order to answer these questions, the paper utilizes concepts including the fractured state, dependency and the ruling class.
The effect of dispersion on hydrogenolysis activity of silica supported Rh

The activity for ethane hydrogenolysis of two silica supported Rh catalysts of the same metal loading and comparable preparation was found to differ by approximately two orders of magnitude. These two catalysts were also found to differ substantially in their capacity to chemisorbs H2 and, to a lesser extent, CO. However, both X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the dispersion of Rh is not grossly different on the two catalysts. It is proposed that there exists an Rh-silica interaction that alters the activity and/or structure of small Rh particles.
Career plateauing among senior librarians.

ABSTRACTUsing an online survey and semi-structured interviews, senior academic librarians were asked to reflect on the factors that keep them personally fulfilled and on how they remain motivated to make positive contributions to their organization. Motivations include esteem of colleagues and supervisors, variety in their work, salary, opportunities to learn new skills, increasing responsibility, and working with students and faculty. 59% percent of the survey respondents ranked their job satisfaction at 8 (on a scale of 1—10, with 10 the most satisfied). Using Bardwick's definitions of plateauing, 60% of the 20 librarians interviewed did not feel that they were content-plateaued.
Intra-incisional liposomal bupivacaine and its impact on postcesarean analgesia: a retrospective study.

Purpose: The efficacy of long-acting intraincisional bupivacaine in reducing postoperative opioid use among women who have undergone a cesarean is currently unknown.Materials and methods: This was ...
The Effect of a Shared Book-Reading Intervention on the Story Retelling and Phonemic Awareness of a Third Grader with Disabilities

Children with disabilities often demonstrate difficulties in code-focused and meaning-focused domains of literacy. Best practice indicates that skills within these domains should be taught together...
Nursing colonialism in America: Implications for nursing leadership

The purpose of this paper is to explore the nurse leader's role in understanding the impact of American colonialism - specifically racism, a product of colonialism - as a key determinant in shaping the education of nursing students and its influence on practicing nurses. American values have been grounded in its colonialism and continue to be influential in shaping beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and policies within the United States. Like racism, American colonialism depends on its perceived death for its survival - this is its paradox. Historic roots of the nursing profession evolved within this context of American colonialism which has shaped the lens of individuals who are the leaders and practitioners in our profession. Therefore, it is important to examine strategies that challenge and decolonize the nursing profession and to become an accomplice, clarifying and addressing inclusion/exclusion in our profession's leadership machine including: hiring/promotion practices, confrontation of White silence, critiquing design and dissemination of knowledge development, and fostering widespread change in nursing education/curriculum. Understanding the invisible internalization and manifestation of racism within our profession must be addressed if we are to advance the integrity and quality of education and practice in the nursing profession and to promote equity of healthcare among all individuals in the United States.
Using Mathematical Programming to Select and Seed Teams for the NCAA Tournament

We develop a mathematical programming model to select, rank, and seed 68 teams for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament. The selections and seeding are the responsibility of a 10-person selection committee, which chooses from 351 Division I college basketball teams and considers many team-performance attributes. Our approach yields a logically consistent initial starting point based on finding dominant relationships among the teams, and the minimax objective function. We first apply the procedure to data for each of the five tournaments from 2012 to 2016 and show that our rankings align well with those of the respective committees. We then implement the procedure and obtain a set of recommendations for the 2017 NCAA tournament’s committee, prior to the announcement of its selections. Our model’s recommendations closely align with those of the committee, thus supporting our contention that the approach provides a viable, readily implemented, and easily understood ...
Hearing loss and social support in urban and rural communities.

Objective: Perceived social support and hearing handicap were assessed in adults with and without hearing loss who lived in different geographical regions of Alabama.Design: The Hearing Handicap In...
Wounding-induced upregulation of the Bone Morphogenic Protein signaling pathway in Drosophila promotes survival against parasitic nematode infection

The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster is an outstanding model to analyze the regulation of conserved signaling pathways. In this study, we examined whether signaling components in the Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) branch of the TGF-β signaling pathway are involved in the response to wounding caused by either sterile injury or infection by parasitic nematodes in D. melanogaster adult flies. We found that following sterile injury, the BMP pathway Type I receptor sax and intracellular transcription factor Mad were substantially upregulated. Also, inactivation of Mad or dpp promoted fly survival and increased antimicrobial peptide gene transcript levels upon sterile injury or H. bacteriophora nematode infection, respectively, but not against the bacterial pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens. Our findings indicate the roles of certain BMP signaling components in the regulation of the fly immune response against sterile injury or nematode infection. In conclusion, this study highlights the ability of D. melanogaster to activate the BMP branch of TGF-β signaling in order to modulate the response to injury in the absence or presence of pathogenic infection.
Abstract 3473: Investigating RAS and RTK signaling in MPNST progression and drug resistance

Neurofibromatosis, type 1 (NF1) is a tumor predisposition syndrome affecting about 1 in 2,500 live births in the United States. The protein product of the NF1 gene, neurofibromin, loses its function as a negative regulator of the RAS protein, leading to the development of painful and disfiguring benign tumors known as a neurofibromas. Eight to thirteen percent of these neurofibromas will transform into malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). MPNSTs are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that do not respond to the standard sarcoma treatment of chemotherapy and surgical resection. There is a critical need for efficacious targeted therapy to increase the average life span of these patients. Current targeted therapy efforts have shown modest efficacy clinically due to the establishment of compensatory feedback mechanisms that propagate tumor progression and recurrence. These feedback mechanisms are not completely understood in MPNSTs. In lung cancer, inhibition of MEK in the RAS pathway has been shown to activate upstream receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Genomic studies of MPNST samples have shown that 30% of tumors have amplification of the RTKs MET and EGFR. Furthermore, in a study of the genomic progression of a NF1 patient pre- and post-treatment, we found amplification of MET and EGFR that increased following treatment. In a study on triple-negative breast cancer cells, it has been shown that MET and EGFR crosstalk may be responsible for the reactivation of the inhibited cancer pathways and drug resistance. Therefore, we hypothesize that coordinated deregulated RAS signaling and MEK inhibition leads to MET and EGFR amplification, expression, activation, and crosstalk, which drives MPNST progression, drug resistance, and tumor recurrence. To test our hypothesis, we will use both in vitro and in vivo experimental methods to pursue the following specific aims: (1) determine the effect of MEK inhibition on establishing compensatory feedback loops that increase RTK activation and downstream signaling, (2) determine the role of MET-EGFR crosstalk signaling in MPNST tumor progression and resistance to kinase inhibition, and (3) determine the efficacy of combination RTK and MEK inhibition in vivo. Citation Format: Candace N. King, Carrie Graveel, Matthew Steensma. Investigating RAS and RTK signaling in MPNST progression and drug resistance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3473.
Spatial Econometric Models

Spatial regression models allow us to account for dependence among observations, which often arises when observations are collected from points or regions located in space. The spatial sample of observations being analyzed could come from a number of sources. Examples of point-level observations would be individual homes, firms, or schools. Regional observations could reflect average regional household income, total employment or population levels, tax rates, and soon. Regions often have widely varying spatial scales (for example, European Unionregions, countries, or administrative regions such as postal zones or census tracts).
Problems raised by eugenics in Africa

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the problems raised by eugenics in Africa. In black Africa, generally, the tribe is regarded as comprising a tripartite community of three separate segments, namely the ancestors, the contemporary tribesmen and tribeswomen, and the yet unborn generations. Eugenic proposals relevant to the concerns of the tribal community are those designed to regulate individual reproductive capability. These include proposals for selective breeding and for delayed marriage, proposals for preventing the transmission of undesirable physical characteristics from one generation to the other, and proposals for limiting family size and the total number of individuals in the community. Therefore, the principal objective is to reduce the rate of population growth for any reasons including eugenic ones; African communities will generally find it difficult to cooperate because natural increase in the size of the tribal community is implicit in the idea of its continuity. It should be the concern of all to preserve integrated community life as much as possible and not subject it to strains by proposals, which cannot yet easily fit into acceptable traditional beliefs and practices.
Biology of human melanocyte development, Piebaldism, and Waardenburg syndrome

Melanocyte development is orchestrated by a complex interconnecting regulatory network of genes and synergistic interactions. Piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome are neurocristopathies that arise from mutations in genes involved in this complex network. Our understanding of melanocyte development, Piebaldism, and Waardenburg syndrome has improved dramatically over the past decade. The diagnosis and classification of Waardenburg syndrome, first proposed in 1992 and based on phenotype, have expanded over the past three decades to include genotype. This review focuses on the current understanding of human melanocyte development and the evaluation and management of Piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome. Management is often challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach.
CHROMATIN ASSEMBLY. SITES OF ASSOCIATION OF NEWLY SYNTHESIZED CHROMATIN PROTEINS ON DNA

ABSTRACT The association of newly synthesized chromatin proteins with newly replicated and non-replicating DNA was investigated. In order to distinguish newly replicated chromatin from non-replicating chromatin, 14C-BrdU was introduced into newly replicated DNA as a density marker. Newly replicated, heavy chromatin was then resolved from bulk chromatin in buoyant density gradients, and the association of pulselabeled chromatin proteins with the dense and light DNA was examined. Experiments with HeLa cells synchronized in S-phase or in exponential growth yielded the same results: newly synthesized proteins did not preferentially associate with the newly replicated DNA. Rather, the sites on newly replicated DNA became associated primarily with pre-existing, recycled chromatin proteins.
Counteractive roles of protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) and a MAP kinase kinase homolog in the osmoregulation of fission yeast.

Abstract With the goal of discovering the cellular functions of type 2C protein phosphatases, we have cloned and analyzed two ptc (phosphatase two C) genes, ptc2+ and ptc3+, from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Together with the previously identified ptc1+ gene, the enzymes encoded by these genes account for approximately 90% of the measurable PP2C activity in fission yeast cells. No obvious growth defects result from individual disruptions of ptc genes, but a delta ptc1 delta ptc3 double mutant displays aberrant cell morphology and temperature-sensitive cell lysis that is further accentuated in a delta ptc1 delta ptc2 delta ptc3 triple mutant. These phenotypes are almost completely suppressed by the presence of osmotic stabilizers, strongly indicating that PP2C has an important role in osmoregulation. Genetic suppression of delta ptc1 delta ptc3 lethality identified two loci, mutations of which render cells hypersensitive to high-osmolarity media. One locus is identical to wis1+, encoding a MAP kinase kinase (MEK) homolog. The Wis1 sequence is most closely related to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MEK encoded by PBS2, which is required for osmoregulation. These data indicate that divergent yeasts have functionally conserved MAP kinase pathways, which are required to increase intracellular osmotic concentrations in response to osmotic stress. Moreover, our observations implicate PP2C enzymes as also having an important role in signal transduction processes involved in osmoregulation, probably acting to negatively regulate the osmosensing signal that is transmitted through Wis1 MAP kinase kinase.
Morbidity and cost burden of prenatal myelomeningocele repair.

Objective: This study compared the morbidities and financial burden associated with prenatal open myelomeningocele repair versus postnatal repair. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study cohort included 23 mother-infant dyads undergoing prenatal repair and 30 with postnatal repair. Financial, demographic, and medical information were obtained for mother-infant dyads from each infant's birth through the first year of life. Results: Infants in the prenatal repair group were significantly affected by sequelae of prematurity, including apnea, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity. Importantly, fewer of these infants required ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures and the overall improved composite outcome of shunting or death. Infants in the postnatal repair group required more hospital readmissions in the first year of life. Financial costs for mother-infant dyads in the prenatal repair group were higher, driven by the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and maternal hospital admissions. Kaplan-Meier curves analyzing the relative contributions of the length of stay and total charges in the population were constructed. The maternal contribution was markedly different between groups due to postoperative hospitalization, readmission, and close fetal surveillance required. Though these differences did not reach statistical significance, it highlights an important burden on families and the medical system. Conclusions: This is the first study to report the contributions of prematurity in relation to maternal and infant morbidity and financial costs. The benefits of prenatal myelomeningocele repair include lower risk for ventriculoperitoneal shunting and fewer hospital readmissions. The risk of preterm birth and its neonatal sequelae continue to be a significant burden.
Oxidative Potential of Particulate Matter and Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Epithelial Lining Fluid.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a central role in adverse health effects of atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Respiratory deposition can lead to the formation of ROS in the epithelial lining ...
How to Promote Bluebirds in North Florida

Cavity-nesting eastern bluebirds use naturally occurring holes in trees, cavities hollowed out by woodpeckers, or man-made houses. You can maximize your chances of attracting bluebirds long-term by providing appropriate housing options and locating the houses in suitable sites. This 3-page fact sheet written by Holly K. Ober and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation provides recommendations on housing for bluebirds in north Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw451
Safety Prediction Model for Reinforced Highway Slope using a Machine Learning Method

Recycled plastic pin (RPP) has been proved to be an effective and inexpensive solution for shallow slope stabilization. Current practice suggests conducting numerical modeling to find out the desir...
TBL1XR1-JAK2: a novel fusion in a pediatric T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient with increased absolute eosinophil count

T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) with any JAK2 gene fusion is rarely reported. Here, we report a case of T-ALL with a novel TBL1XR1-JAK2 gene fusion in a 5-year-old boy. His lab showed a high white blood cell count, mild anemia, moderate thrombocytopenia, and concurrently increased eosinophils (absolute eosinophil count: 4 × 10^9/L). Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate smears showed > 90% mononucleated blasts. Flow cytometry on peripheral blood revealed a large blast population positive for CD2, surface CD3 (< 25%), CD10 (50%), CD5, CD7, CD4, CD8, TdT, CD1a (60%), and CD45. Conventional karyotype analysis showed t(3;9)(q26;p24) and t(11;14)(p13;q11.2)/TCRD-LMO2. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) identified a novel TBL1XR1-JAK2 gene fusion in a sequencing depth of 180 × by RNAseq, FBXW7 R465H mutation, and loss of exons 2–3 of CDKN2A/B by DNAseq. Follow-up bone marrow aspirate on day-28 post-induction therapy revealed no morphologic evidence of residual leukemia. We believe that the TBL1XR1-JAK2 fusion may behave in a similar functional manner to the PCM1-JAK2 fusion gene and constitutes a new variant of this family and a potential target of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.
Malunions of the Forearm

Malunions of the forearm are not a common entity that the orthopedist will manage in practice; notwithstanding their scarcity, they can be problematic to treat. The functional outcomes of a malunion are largely based on the functional range of motion and presence or absence of pain. Most people are able to function well in their daily life with a malunion. However, a malunion of the forearm can also result in disability and the inability to perform normal, daily activities. Herein, we discuss the historical background, relevant surgical anatomy, appropriate medical and surgical evaluation, surgical treatment, and anticipated outcomes of malunions of the forearm.
Predictors of Performance on USMLE Step 1

Background 94% of program directors cited the USMLE Step 1 score as the most important factor in determining an applicant’s competitiveness for residency. Thus, medical students are motivated to attain the highest possible score. With the recent announcement of Step 1 switching to a pass/fail standard, it is important to analyze factors which predict meeting this goal. Objective To investigate the factors which can influence or predict performance on USMLE Step 1. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and ERIC in 2019. The key words were “USMLE”, “Step-1”, “score”, “success” and “predictors.” The search included articles published between 2005 and 2019. Studies that did not focus on Step 1 outcome or allopathic medical students in the United States were excluded. Results 275 articles were found, 29 of which met our inclusion criteria. Analysis from these articles demonstrated that predictors of USMLE Step 1 score can be divided into unmodifiable and modifiable factors. Unmodifiable factors include gender, MCAT score, pre-clinical grades and NBME/CBSE scores. Modifiable factors include taking USMLE Step 1 within two months of completing pre-clinical courses, motivation from anxiety, multiple-choice questions completed, unique Anki cards seen and complete passes of First Aid for the USMLE Step 1. Conclusion Our review suggests that although students can focus on modifiable factors to increase their score, the energy expenditure required to increase Step 1 score by one point is unrealistic. This may have impacted the NBME’s decision to change Step 1 to a pass/fail exam.
SIGecom winter meeting report

We present a report on the inaugural SIGecom Winter Meeting which was held online on February 25, 2021. We highlight the goals of the workshop and summarize the format and content.
Finite Element Analysis of Slabs on Elastic Solids

A finite element method programmed for a high speed computer was developed for analyzing concrete slabs on an elastic continuum. The method differs from conventional in that an iterative scheme is employed. The iterative scheme has the major advantage of reducing the computer storage and can be used for analyzing two slabs with load transfer at the joint. A comparison between the finite element and the analytical solutions indicates that the finite element method is accurate enough for engineering applications. Comparisons of the stresses and deflections obtained by the method with those measured in the Arlington test for various conditions of loading and warping also show good agreements. It was found that the agreement based on full contact between the slab and the subgrade was not as good as that based on the assumption that part of the slab near to the edge is not in contact with the subgrade.
Multi-Agent Coordinated Decision-Making Using Epistemic Utility Theory

We present a theory and architectural model of coordinated intelligent agent decision-making based upon epistemic utility theory. This architecture provides each agent with an epistemic system, which accounts for its goals and values, its beliefs, its willingness to risk error, the existence of incomplete and contradictory evidence, and the possibility that currently held beliefs are untrue. The model is broad enough to address real issues while providing sufficient detail and mathematical precision to be practically useful for the problems of estimation and control.
The long-term potential of LTP

Long-term potentiation has captured the attention of neuroscientists for over two decades. It has provided motivation to investigate the detailed mechanisms of synaptic transmission and remains a prime candidate for mediating circuit modifications during development and experience-dependent plasticity. However, much remains to be learned about this fascinating phenomenon, which will certainly continue to entice neuroscientists throughout the twenty-first century.
Molecular Orbitals and the Atomistics of Fracture

If a metal contains very few impurities and is mechanically tested in an inert environment, its fracture mode will be either transgranular cleavage or transgranular ductile microvoid coalescence. If, however, the metal is of commercial purity, the brittle fracture mode can switch from cleavage to intergranular separation. This transition is undesirable because intergranular fracture is generally a very low energy process.
Culturally Adapted Treatment

The term culturally adapted treatment refers to the modification and tailoring of services for people of different backgrounds. Because of access, utilization, and mental health outcome disparities among ethnic minorities, the term has traditionally referred to the adaptation of services for underserved ethnic populations in the United States. However, the term has also been applied to adapting services for other forms of diversity (e.g., gender, age, sexual orientation, and specific clinical issues). Keywords: Psychotherapies
Technology Shocks and Problem-Solving Capacity

Researchers are increasingly exploring the role that investments in information technologies (IT) play in increasing the performance of firms. Investments in IT have accelerated over the last twenty years, thus it is increasingly important to understand why and when these investments have positive performance effects.
Recall for Answers to "Conducive" Questions:

The phrasing of a question may reveal presumptions as to its answer. In the case of negative Yes-No questions a grammatical analysis suggests that neg + some questions are biased to a " Yes " reply, while neg + any questions are biased to a " No" reply. There are data indicating that, indeed, listeners predominantly believe that the questioner expects a positive answer in the first case, and a negative answer in the second case. The present study was carried out to discover whether such" conducive " presumptions in questions may systematically bias recall of their answers, and to determine the locus or loci of such an effect. It was found that recall was systematically biased by question format, the results indicating a significant effect of question format at time of recall test, and also suggesting an independent effect as a fiinction of question format at time of original presentation of the information. Some comments are made on the implications of these findings.
Bariatric surgery-induced weight loss causes remission of food addiction in extreme obesity

Objective To test the hypotheses that bariatric surgery-induced weight loss: [1] induces remission of food addiction (FA), and [2] normalizes other eating behaviors associated with FA. Methods Forty-four obese subjects (BMI= 48 ± 8 kg/m2) were studied before and after ∼20% weight loss induced by bariatric surgery (25 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 11 laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and eight sleeve gastrectomy). We assessed: [1] FA (Yale Food Addiction Scale), [2] food cravings (Food Craving Inventory), and [3] restrictive, emotional and external eating behaviors (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire). Results FA was identified in 32% of subjects before surgery. Compared with non-FA subjects, those with FA craved foods more frequently, and had higher scores for emotional and external eating behaviors (all P-values 0.8). Surgery-induced weight loss resulted in remission of FA in 93% of FA subjects; no new cases of FA developed after surgery. Surgery-induced weight loss decreased food cravings, and emotional and external eating behaviors in both groups (all P-values 1.1). Conclusion Bariatric surgery-induced weight loss induces remission of FA and improves several eating behaviors that are associated with FA.
Agile manufacturing: One size does not fit all

Agile Manufacturing has emerged as a new paradigm for coping with the dynamic and turbulent manufacturing environments of the twenty-first century. Much work has been done to identify the basic elements deemed necessary for agility, using a “one size fits all” approach. Different types of agile manufacturing systems, however, will be required for different agile manufacturing environments. This paper discusses agile manufacturing from this point-of-view.
A Heritable Predisposition to Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Abstract Using THA as a proxy for underlying osteoarthritis, we describe population-based familial clustering of osteoarthritis of the hip. The GIF test for excess relatedness on 1049 patients that underwent THA (and do not have a diagnostic code for other conditions leading to THA) showed excess relatedness ( P P =0.020). Relative risk was elevated in first-degree (RR 2.59; 95% CI 1.84–3.53, P =2.0e −7 ), second-degree (RR 1.66; 95% CI 1.11–2.39; P =0.0075) and third-degree relatives (RR 1.46; 95% CI 1.17–1.81; P =5.7e −4 ). Excess relatedness of individuals who had undergone THA for osteoarthritis and elevated risks to both near and distant relatives were observed.
Inversion Study of a Large Marine CSEM Survey

The Brazil RC Marine CSEM survey was collected in April of 2004 for the ExxonMobil Remote Reservoir Resistivity Mapping (RM) Project. The portion of the survey reported here consisted of a total of 735 km of transmitter towlines arranged approximately on a 5 km x 5 km rectangular grid (see Figure 1). Vertical and horizontal electric field measurements were recovered at a total of 23 seafloor locations from a deployment of 36 seafloor instruments. Imaging of these CSEM data into full three-dimensional conductivity volumes represents a formidable challenge due to the subtle effects of reservoir targets, the volume of data and its large dynamic range. In this presentation, we report on an initial round of inversion results obtained using both isotropic and anisotropic (VTI) imaging methods. Our results support the need for an anisotropic model to accurately represent subsurface resistivity.
Geophysical response of filled sinkholes, soil pipes and associated bedrock fractures in thinly mantled karst, east-central Illinois

Karst aquifers are often protected by a thin mantle of unconsolidated sediment. Soil pipes and sinkholes may breach this natural protective barrier and open pathways for contaminants to quickly reach bedrock aquifers. Geophysical surveys offer a quick and noninvasive way to identify these features; such surveys may also be sequenced to reveal increasing detail in critical areas. At a study site in east-central Illinois, electromagnetic (EM) surveys mapped high conductivity anomalies over filled sinkholes and soil pipes that penetrated the unconsolidated cover. Two-dimensional inverted resistivity sections, made over these anomalies, depict filled sinkholes and soil pipes as conductive zones above deeply weathered bedrock fractures. Borings verified the geophysical models and suggest high conductivities associated with the filled sinkholes are the result of enhanced moisture near active soil pipes. EM surveys also identified conductive zones in the overburden above a probable bedrock fracture linking sinkhole areas 0.5 km apart. Resistivity and EM methods, used in a phased and sequential manner, thus proved useful in mapping filled sinkholes and in delineating the vertical and lateral connections between soil pipes and hydraulically active bedrock fractures.