cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gastroplasty for Morbid Obesity Roentgen Evaluation and Spectrum of Complications

With the advent of autosuture devices, gastric partitioning procedures have recently become popular surgical treatment of morbid obesity. One such procedure is Gomez gastroplasty. Using an autosuture device a small gastric fundal pouch, having a reservoir capacity of 60 ml and communicating with the remaining stomach through a 12 mm stoma is created along the greater curvature of the stomach. A 3-0 polyprolene internal seromuscular suture is used to reinforce the stoma without incising the stomach. This gastroplasty is extremely attractive because of the disarming simplicity of the procedure and its noninterruption of the normal sequence of the digestive tract. This report is based on a joint review of 280 cases subjected to Gomez gastroplasty to combat morbid obesity. Postoperative radiological evaluation and the spectrum of observed complications are herein described.
Predictors of survival in young versus postmenopausal patients with breast cancer

464 yount patients (YP; 20–35 years old) and 748 postmenopausal patients (PMP; 65–75 years old) with breast cancer during 1999-2005 and with complete data for ER, PR, Her2neu, nuclear grade, stage, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), nodal status, treatment details, and race were analyzed. Patients were divided into Luminal A (ER/PR positive, Her2neu negative), Luminal B (ER/PR positive, Her2neu positive), Her2neu (ER/PR negative, Her2neu positive), and triple negative (ER/PR negative, Her2neu negative) categories. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using overall survival (OS). All of the previously listed variables showed significant difference between the YP and the PMP except for the percentage of patients receiving radiation (p
Mapping, Modeling, and Estimating Tree Measurements of Urban Tree Canopy Structure Using Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning

ABSTRACTThe major objective of this study was to estimate standard metrics and estimate foliar measurements (crown volume and leaf area) and standing biomass of open grown Nuttall oak (Quercus texana). Specifically the study used terrestrial light distance and ranging (LiDAR) for initial mapping and subsequent modeling of these popular urban trees. Field data were collected using a Leica C-10 high-definition scanner with registration and modeling conducted using a combination of Leica's Cyclone and the LANDRIVON 3DReshaper software suite. Destructive sampling of three Nuttall oaks was then performed to obtain metrics for comparison to the models generated using the software. Several modeling methods were attempted, each with varying degrees of complexity to synthesize a workflow that would accurately reflect the measurements seen during destructive sampling. Promising results suggest there could be a correlation using these methods, although further testing is needed.
Effects of Cooling Rate on Microstructure and PhaseTransformation Temperature of 5Ni Steel

Using the Formastor-FⅡphase transformation thermal expansion instrument,the static CCT diagram and critical points A c1 and A c3 of 5Ni steels w ere investigated in order to provide the basis for the process plan of the heat treatment. Microstructures,Vickers microhardness and composition segregation w ere investigated by means of durometer,optical microscopy( OM), scanning electron microscope( SEM) and electron probe micro-analyzer( EPMA). It w as found that w ith the increase of the cooling rate,microstructures of the specimens transformed from polygonal ferrite and pearlite to bainite and martensite. The CCT diagram revealed that the critical cooling rate need exceed 20 ℃ / s to avoid ferrite and bainite transformation in quenching treatment. The composition segregations of Ni w ere found under different cooling rates that w ere beneficial to the formation of retained austenite during the tempering,w hich improved the toughness of 5Ni steels.
Indigenous and Emergent Methodologies: A Review of Qualitative Urban Analysis: An International Perspective

Paul Maginn, Susan Thompson, and Matthew Tonts’ (2008) new edited work entitled Qualitative Urban Analysis: An International Perspective introduces its readers to emergent qualitative research and evaluation methodologies indigenous to urban policy studies. These local lessons can prove quite valuable for all qualitative researchers regardless their fields or discipline. Key Words: Urban Policy, Qualitative Research, Indigenous Methodologies, Emergent Methodologies, and Social Constructionism One of the benefits of working with authors from around the world as an editor of The Qualitative Report is I have the opportunity to learn what is happening locally with qualitative research methodology in various locals and from across disciplines and fields. I find it fascinating how researchers create new and novel approaches and applied extant designs and procedures to help them to address questions and problems unique to their settings both geographical and intellectual. These indigenous methodologies (Denzin, Lincoln, & Smith, 2008) once discovered outside their local cultures then become the next wave of emergent resources (Hesse-Biber & Leavy, 2008) from which all researchers can benefit. Qualitative Urban Analysis: An International Perspective, the new edited book by Paul Maginn, Susan Thompson, and Matthew Tonts (2008) Volume 9 in the Studies in Qualitative Methodology series, not only serves as an insightful guide to these researchers working in urban policy and planning, housing studies, urban geography, anthropology, and community development, but also works as a portal for investigators studying outside the urban landscape to learn some emerging approaches to qualitative inquiry which are indigenous to qualitative urban research. In the book’s eleven chapters the authors share the theoretical and methodological thinking regarding their qualitative research as well as their pragmatic approaches to their applied craft. In doing so we as global readers gain valuable insights into the ways in which these researchers conceptualize their research and adapt and adopt qualitative research methodologies to address their local problems. To introduce us to this area of study, Maginn, Thompson, and Tonts (2008) review the “Pragmatic Renaissance” in Chapter One and explain how this latest moment in qualitative research has changed the landscape of urban studies. Although they acknowledge some vestiges of the qualitative-quantitative methods conflicts still remain in certain areas of urban policy, Maginn and his colleagues also note qualitative approaches bring their unique array of methodological solutions to urban-focused researchers. In championing the value of qualitative research findings to urban policy makers Maginn et al. suggest their colleagues consider a systematic style of applied qualitative research that would consist of
Solution processed MnBi-FeCo magnetic nanocomposites

Advanced permanent magnets based on rare-earth-free MnBi intermetallic alloys are considered energy-critical materials due to their applications in high temperature power electronics and green energy-related generators and motors, owing to their positive temperature coefficient of magnetic anisotropy. However, a direct method to achieve high saturation magnetization, without the significant loss of coercivity, is critical for attaining high performance MnBi magnets. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis and processing of magnetic nanocomposites, consisting of metal-redox MnBi nanoparticles and electro-spun FeCo nanowires. The composition ratio, processing dependent magnetism, and increased coercivity with increasing temperature, were studied in MnBi-FeCo nanocomposites. The magnetic performance of nanocomposites was dictated by interfacial coupling between magnetically hard MnBi and semi-hard FeCo nanowires, as well as the composition ratio and processing conditions. Solution processed MnBi-FeCo nanocomposites allow the potential for the development of high temperature and high performance rare-earth-free permanent magnets.
Nuclear Deterrence Revisited

Deterrence is defined as the ‘act or process of deterring; especially the restraint and discouragement of crime by fear (as by the exemplary punishment of convicted offenders)’.1 In international politics deterrence is used as an instrument to convince other states that the use of violence is not appropriate or worthwhile.2 Nuclear deterrence is the threat of nuclear attack as retaliation, to prevent the opponent from using violence against the vital interests of the deterrer. The military doctrines of the Nuclear Weapon States are (still) based on this principle.
Quality of Service in Mesh Networks

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction QoS Definition A Taxonomy of Existing QoS Routing Approaches Routing Protocols with Optimization-Based Path Selection Routing Metrics for Minimum-Weight Path Selection Feedback-Based Path Selection Conclusions References ]]>
REGULATION OF ENZYMES BY LIGAND INDUCED CHANGE IN POLYMERIZATION: 211

Many enzymes readily change their aggregation state, by dissociation or association of subunits. This constitutes a mechanism for regulation, if the different molecular weight species vary in their specific activity, and if the equilibrium between these species is readily perturbed by physiological effectors. Our studies show that several enzymes involved in the synthesis or degradation of pyrimidines exhibit such regulation: The multifunctional protein UMP synthase (EC 2.4.2.10 + EC 4.1.1.23), and uridine kinase (EC 2.7.1.48) from Ehrlich ascites cells, and N-carbamoyl-β-alanine amidohydrolase (EC 3.5.1.6) from rat liver. Generally, substrates are positive effectors, while immediate or more distant end products are negative effectors. UMP synthase shows only positive regulation: The 50,000 dalton monomer is inactive; effectors result in association to the active dimer. Uridine kinase shows negative regulation: the native enzyme exists as polymers of 4 or more subunits, and CTP or UTP produce dissociation to the 31,000 dalton subunit and loss of activity. NCβA amidohydrolase shows bimodal regulation: the native enzyme has an Mr of 235,000; the substrate produces association to 470,000 daltons; the product, β-alanine, causes dissociation to 120,000 daltons. Ligand induced changes in polymerization may be a general mechanism for regulating enzyme activity.
Anastomotic leak after colorectal resection: A population-based study of risk factors and hospital variation.

Background Anastomotic leak is a major source of morbidity in colorectal operations and has become an area of interest in performance metrics. It is unclear whether anastomotic leak is associated primarily with surgeons’ technical performance or explained better by patient characteristics and institutional factors. We sought to establish if anastomotic leak could serve as a valid quality metric in colorectal operations by evaluating provider variation after adjusting for patient factors. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of colorectal resection patients in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Clinically relevant patient and operative factors were tested for association with anastomotic leak. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to derive risk-adjusted rates of anastomotic leak. Results Of 9,192 colorectal resections, 244 (2.7%) had a documented anastomotic leak. The incidence of anastomotic leak was 3.0% for patients with pelvic anastomoses and 2.5% for those with intra-abdominal anastomoses. Multivariable analysis showed that a greater operative duration, male sex, body mass index >30 kg/m2, tobacco use, chronic immunosuppressive medications, thrombocytosis (platelet count >400 × 109/L), and urgent/emergency operations were independently associated with anastomotic leak (C-statistic = 0.75). After accounting for patient and procedural risk factors, 5 hospitals had a significantly greater incidence of postoperative anastomotic leak. Conclusion This population-based study shows that risk factors for anastomotic leak include male sex, obesity, tobacco use, immunosuppression, thrombocytosis, greater operative duration, and urgent/emergency operation; models including these factors predict most of the variation in anastomotic leak rates. This study suggests that anastomotic leak can serve as a valid metric that can identify opportunities for quality improvement.
Lifetime number of ovulatory cycles and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in African American women.

Incessant ovulation has been consistently linked to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Although reproductive characteristics differ substantially by race, the association between incessant ovulation and EOC has been evaluated only in populations of predominantly white women. In the present study, we examined the association between lifetime number of ovulatory cycles (LOCs) and EOC risk among African American (AA) women. We used data from 534 cases and 722 controls enrolled in the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study. LOCs were determined using the standard method, with modifications to include episodes of irregular or missed periods. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between LOCs and EOC risk overall and by age, while adjusting for appropriate confounders. The mean number of LOCs was 378.2 ± 105.8 for cases and 346.4 ± 117.3 for controls. Women in the highest tertile of LOCs had 59% higher odds of EOC compared to women in the lowest tertile (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.15–2.20). When examining this relationship by age, the positive association with EOC was stronger among women 60 years (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.45–1.40). In a population of AA women, we observed a positive association between LOCs and EOC risk, providing further support for the hypothesis that incessant ovulation contributes to the etiology of EOC.
Forecasting Minor Machine Failure by DDS Spectrum Analysis

Abstract Machine failures are either major or minor. The former usually requires the machine to be stopped immediately, while the latter occurs gradually and can be present before the machine fails. This paper describes the development of an automatic diagnostic system to detect minor machine failure before machine breakdown of computer controlled robotic drilling machines. By using the Dynamic Data System approach, a set of discrete time series data taken from the continuous vibration signal of the machine is analyzed to forecast machine failure and then to distinguish failures due to the spindle, gears, bearings, and air motors of the machine drive system. Compared to the real time analyzer (RTA) approach based on the FFT technique, the DDS power spectrum is smoother and less prone to errors; it successfully identifies defects in the robotic drilling machine.
Physical Activity Research in Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review Using the Behavioral Epidemiological Framework.

Abstract Through a scoping review, the current state of physical activity research in people with intellectual disability was examined. A search of publications between 2000 and 2014 retrieved 362 articles that met inclusion criteria. Eligible studies were coded according to the Behavioral Epidemiological Framework. Of the articles identified, 48% examined associations between physical activity and health outcomes, 9% developed or tested methodology to measure physical activity, 34% examined factors that influence physical activity, 8% evaluated interventions to change physical activity, and 1% examined the dissemination of physical activity/health promotion programming. The categories with lower proportions of studies represent the need for greater population-specific research in physical activity measurement, interventional designs, and translational programs.
Female investment in offspring size and number shifts seasonally in a lizard with single-egg clutches

The timing of reproduction strongly influences reproductive success in many organisms. For species with extended reproductive seasons, the quality of the environment may change throughout the season in ways that impact offspring survival, and, accordingly, aspects of reproductive strategies may shift to maximize fitness. Life-history theory predicts that if offspring environments deteriorate through the season, females should shift from producing more, smaller offspring early in the season to fewer, higher quality offspring later in the season. We leverage multiple iterations of anole breeding colonies, which control for temperature, moisture, and food availability, to identify seasonal changes in reproduction. These breeding colonies varied only by the capture date of the adult animals from the field. We show that seasonal cohorts exhibit variation in key reproductive traits such as inter-clutch interval, egg size and hatchling size consistent with seasonal shifts in reproductive effort. Overall, reproductive effort was highest early in the season due to a relatively high rate of egg production. Later season cohorts produced fewer, but larger offspring. We infer that these results indicate a strategy for differential allocation of resources through the season. Females maximize offspring quantity when environments are favorable, and maximize offspring quality when environments are poor for those offspring. Our study also highlights that subtle differences in methodology (such as capture date of study animals) may influence the interpretation of results. Researchers interested in reproduction must be conscious of how their organism’s reproductive patterns may shift through the season when designing experiments or comparing results across studies.
Detection of Natural Frequency and Mode Shape Correspondence Using Phase-Based Video Magnification in Large-Scale Structures

Structural dynamics identification is an important part of both the design and certification process for large-scale structures and specifically utility-scale wind turbine blades. Finding the correspondence between the estimated natural frequencies and the mode shapes of interest can be a very challenging due to the sheer size of the structures and the large amount of instrumentation required. The state of the art methods in experimental modal analysis (EMA) and operational modal analysis (OMA) require attachment of numerous accelerometers along the test structure to extract the natural frequencies and the mode shapes. Instrumenting large structures with accelerometers and handling the wiring and the connections can be a very labor-intensive task; therefore, alternative methods should be considered to address this problem. Within this paper, the capabilities of phase-based video magnification and motion estimation are investigated to find the correspondence between the natural frequencies and the mode shapes. The sequence of images (video) is recorded from the vibrating wind turbine blade and then processed using the phase based motion estimation to extract the spectrum of the response of the wind turbine blade to the impact excitation. Afterward based on the obtained spectrum the recorded videos are magnified to visualize the operating deflection shapes. The motion magnified videos represent the visual perception of the operating deflection shapes, which can be used to find the correspondence between the natural frequencies and the mode shapes. The results of this method have also been validated using the benchmark modal data from the accelerometers as well as the point tracking optical measurement method.
Multi-carrier modulated orthogonal code-division multiple access (MCM-OCDMA)

A waveform and communication system is described which permits fixed users to operate with the advantages of OCDMA in a multipath channel.
Assessment of the Adult Sex Offender

Sexual abuse occurs at a high rate in the United States. Exact figures are unknown, since incidence rates vary greatly depending upon whether they are obtained from victim surveys, self-reports of offenders, or arrest records.
Exposure to Ionizing Radiation Causes Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Mouse Hippocampus

It is well known that ionizing radiation-induced toxicity to normal tissue has functional consequences in the brain. However, the underlying molecular alterations have yet to be elucidated. We have previously reported cognitive impairments with concomitant changes in dendritic complexity, spine density and inflammation in mice at 6–24 weeks postirradiation. The goal of this study was to determine whether metabolic changes in the mouse hippocampus after whole-body (4 Gy) or cranial (9 Gy) X-ray irradiation might trigger some of the incipient changes contributing to the persisting pathology in the radiation-injured brain. Metabolomic and lipidomic profiling of hippocampal tissue revealed that radiation induced dyslipidemia in mice at two days and two weeks postirradiation. Strikingly, significant changes were also observed in metabolites of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, a finding that was further confirmed using orthogonal methodologies. We hypothesize that these changes in hexosamine metabolism could induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and contribute to radiation-induced cognitive impairments. Taken together, our results show that molecular phenotyping is a valuable approach to identify potentially detrimental pathway perturbations that manifest significantly earlier than gross structural and functional changes in the irradiated brain.
An inexpensive system for imaging the contents of multi-well plates.

An inexpensive system for automated imaging of the contents of 12-, 24- and 96-well plates has been built. The xyz stage is constructed from parts from a light-duty computer numerical control wood-carving/engraving machine, and the Arduino-based board was wired so that it can trigger still images or movies though a microscope-mounted digital camera. The translation stage provides reproducible three-dimensional movement of the sample over a volume of 160 mm in x, 100 mm in y and 40 mm in z. A Python script generates the G-code command file that scans the plate and collects a series of z-stacked images of each sample. A second Python script automates the calculation of images with a digitally enhanced depth of field. The imaging system is currently being used to facilitate screening for protein crystals, but it could be used to automate the imaging of many other types of samples in multi-well plates.
IHI ID 19 Improving family-care team communication during routine CF clinic visits

Background At the CF Center at Boston Childrens Hospital, weekly pre-clinic meetings are held to review scheduled patients, but identified needs may not be communicated effectively to clinic staff, patients, and families. Objectives We aim to increase participation among patients, families, and staff during routine clinic visits. Specific goals are to increase the number of OGTTs completed to 75%, increase percentage of flu shots to 90%, increase yearly physical therapy, nutrition, and social work visits, and decrease the number of patients ages 1–12 identified as nutritional risk. Methods We piloted a Day of Visit form with 3 providers from January to March 2018, then implemented with all providers in April. This form is given to patients at the start of their visits, detailing what is recommended based on CFF care guidelines. A QI Needs of the Week List was implemented in along with QI Nursing Daily Huddles, where flagged patients are discussed. This list highlights who is eligible for OGTTs, transition to the adult program, flu shots, and nutritional assessments. Results The number of children at nutritional risk has decreased from 49 to 40 and there has been an increase in median BMI%ile from 32.54 to 36.25. The percentage of OGTTs have increased overall to >50%. The percentages of yearly nutrition, social work, and physical therapy visits have increased. Conclusions Our new approach communicates what is discussed at our weekly pre-clinic meetings to providers, nurses, patients, and families and ensures our CF patients are getting the same standard of care per CFF guidelines.
A new G–M counter hybrid dead-time correction model

Abstract A new G–M counter dead-time model based on the hybrid model is proposed and studied. The new model contains the idealized paralyzable and non-paralyzable dead-time models, but also allows the non-paralyzable dead-time to vary with the true counting rate. To validate this model, the decaying source experiment with a very pure 56 Mn source was used. The calculated true counting rates obtained by fitting the experimental data to the model were compared to the data obtained by table lookup. In general, the fitting was in good agreement (within 4.8% up to 5.35 × 10 6 counts / minute ) for a G–M counter with a paralyzable dead-time component of 85.9 μs and a non-paralyzable dead-time component ranging from 438 μs to 24.3 ms.
“What are We Trying to Accomplish?”: Student Resistance as Racial Wisdom

This work analyzes a Grade 9 English Language Arts classroom discussion for moments of resistance and asks, What does student resistance accomplish when viewed as racial wisdom? Drawing from “posts...
Real-World Effectiveness of Initial Disease-Modifying Therapies in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To assess real-world effectiveness of initial treatment with newer compared to injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on disease activity in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). METHODS This is a cohort study of children with MS/CIS followed at 12 clinics in the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers, who received initial therapy with newer (fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, natalizumab, rituximab, ocrelizumab) or injectable (interferon-β, glatiramer acetate) DMTs. Propensity scores (PSs) were computed, including preidentified confounders. Relapse rate while on initial DMT was modeled with negative binomial regression, adjusted for PS-quintile. Time to new/enlarging T2-hyperintense and gadolinium-enhancing lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging were modeled with midpoint survival analyses, adjusted for PS-quintile. RESULTS A total of 741 children began therapy before 18 years, 197 with newer and 544 with injectable DMTs. Those started on newer DMTs were older (15.2 vs injectable 14.4 years, p = 0.001) and less likely to have a monofocal presentation. In PS-quintile-adjusted analysis, those on newer DMTs had a lower relapse rate than those on injectables (rate ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.29-0.70, p < 0.001; rate difference = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.14-0.40, p = 0.004). One would need to treat with newer rather than injectable DMTs for 3.7 person-years to prevent 1 relapse. Those started on newer DMTs had a lower rate of new/enlarging T2 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.36-0.72, p < 0.001) and gadolinium-enhancing lesions (HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.23-0.63, p < 0.001) than those on injectables. INTERPRETATION Initial treatment of pediatric MS/CIS with newer DMTs led to better disease activity control compared to injectables, supporting greater effectiveness of newer therapies. Long-term safety data for newer DMTs are required. ANN NEUROL 2020 ANN NEUROL 2020;88:42-55.
Staying Human: Forty Years of Black Studies Practical-Critical Activity in the Spirit of (Aunt) Jemima

In this African-centred autoethnography, the author self-reflexively narrates and critically interprets 40 years of selected examples of her teaching and activist social inquiry as Black Studies “p...
Value of dynamic MRI with rectum injection in the diagnosis of female spastic pelvic floor syndrome

Objective Dynamic MRI with rectum injectionis employed to assess female spastic pelvic floor syndrome of anorectal morphology and function in relation to various pelvic compartment abnormalitiesin female outlet obstruction constipation. Methods Dynamic MRI was performed in 53 female patients (14-78 years of age, with a mean age of 52.7±15.8 years) with clinical diagnosis of spastic pelvic floor syndrome.The homemade highly conformable sacculus was inserted into the rectum to simulate stool. The relevant measurements were then obtained during straining before and after rectum injection. Results Among the 53 female patients with spastic pelvic floor syndrome, 24 patients (45.3%) have multifocal disorders involving more than one compartment.The difference in the anorectal angles before and after rectum injection was not significant (χ2=0.603, P>0.05) . Differences in the cystocele, vaginal or cervical prolapse, rectocele, and descending perineum before and after rectum injection were significant. Conclusion Using dynamic MRI with rectum injection allows for the accurate evaluation of the anorectal morphology and function related to various pelvic compartment abnormalitiesin female spastic pelvic floor syndrome; thus, this method is proved valuable in the diagnosis and treatment of female spastic pelvic floor syndrome. Key words: Pelvic floor; Magnetic resonance imaging; Spastic pelvic floor syndrome
WD 40: Historical Insights of Ellen White and John Dewey into Three Dualistic Concerns: Implications for Current Practice

The dualisms between theory and practice, individual and society, intellectual and manual, as identified by John Dewey in the 19th century, find their direct correspondence in the writings of a con...
Statistical learning of blunt cerebrovascular injury risk factors using the elastic net.

To compare logistic regression to elastic net for identifying and ranking clinical risk factors for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). Consecutive trauma patients undergoing screening CTA at a level 1 trauma center over a 2-year period. Each internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery (VA) was independently graded by 2 neuroradiologists using the Denver grading scale. Unadjusted odds ratios were calculated by univariate and adjusted odds ratios by multiple logistic regression with FDR correction. We applied logistic regression with the elastic net penalty and tenfold cross-validation. Total of 467 patients; 73 patients with BCVI. Maxillofacial fracture, basilar skull fracture, and GCS had significant unadjusted odds ratios (OR) for ICA injury and C-spine fracture, spinal ligamentous injury, and age for VA injury. Only transverse foramen fracture had significant adjusted OR for VA injury, with none for ICA injury, after FDR correction. Using elastic net, ICA injury variables included maxillofacial fracture, basilar skull fracture, GCS, and carotid canal fracture. For VA injury, these included cervical spine transverse foramen fracture, ligamentous injury, C1–C3 fractures, posterior element fracture, and vertebral body fracture. Elastic net statistical learning methods identified additional risk factors and outperformed multiple logistic regression for BCVI. Elastic net allows the study of a large number of variables, and is useful when covariates are correlated.
Optimizing Engagement in an mHealth Intervention for Diabetes Support During Pregnancy: the Role of Baseline Patient Health and Behavioral Characteristics.

Background:Mobile health (mHealth) technology that addresses diabetes mellitus in pregnancy has the potential to improve maternal and child health while diminishing socioeconomic and racial dispari...
Quantum CPOs.

We introduce the monoidal closed category qCPO of quantum cpos, whose objects are "quantized" analogs of omega-complete partial orders (cpos). The category qCPO is enriched over the category CPO of cpos, and contains both CPO, and the opposite of the category FdAlg of finite-dimensional von Neumann algebras as monoidal subcategories. We use qCPO to construct a sound model for the quantum programming language Proto-Quipper-M (PQM) extended with term recursion, as well as a sound and computationally adequate model for the Linear/Non-Linear Fixpoint Calculus (LNL-FPC), which is both an extension of the Fixpoint Calculus (FPC) with linear types, and an extension of a circuit-free fragment of PQM that includes recursive types.
Pioglitazone administration restores a PPARG-dependent transcriptional network and ATP levels within skeletal muscles of mice implanted with patient-derived breast tumors

Abstract Background Fatigue is common in patents with breast cancer (BC), and can occur in patients with early stage disease and in the absence of muscle wasting (i.e. cachexia). We have reported transcriptional and proteomic alterations in muscles from BC patients, which are associated with fatigue. Mice implanted with human BC xenografts recapitulate the muscle molecular composition changes seen in patients, coupled with a greater rate of contraction-induced fatigue. Multiple bioinformatics platforms in both human and mouse muscles have identified peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG) as central to this phenotype, with multiple PPARG target genes downregulated in response to tumor growth. The current study tested the hypothesis that the PPARG agonist pioglitazone (pio), a commonly prescribed diabetes drug, would rescue the transcriptional alterations observed in muscles of tumor-bearing mice. Methods Sixteen female NSG mice were implanted with breast cancer patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (BC-PDOX) via transplantation of Her2/neu+ human tumor fragments. BC-PDOX mice were randomly assigned to a treatment group that received daily oral pio at 30 mg.kg-1 (n=8), or a control group that received a similar volume of vehicle (n=8). Treatment was initiated when tumors reached a volume of 600mm3, and lasted for 2-weeks. Hindlimb muscles were isolated from BC-PDOX and non-tumor bearing mice for RNA-sequencing, gene expression validation, and ATP quantification. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in muscles from BC-PDOX mice relative to non-tumor bearing controls were identified using DESeq2, and multiple bioinformatics platforms were employed to contextualize the DEGs. Results We found that the administration of pio restored the muscle gene expression patterns of BC-PDOX mice to a profile resembling muscles of non-tumor bearing NSG control mice. Validation of skeletal muscle gene expression by qPCR confirmed pio increased the expression of PPARG target genes in skeletal muscles. Isolated mitochondria from muscles of BC-PDOX mice treated with pio contained greater levels of ATP. There were no differences in body weights, muscle weights, or tumor volumes in pio vs. vehicle treated BC-PDOX mice. Conclusions These data demonstrate that oral pio supplementation rescues the BC-associated downregulation of PPARG target genes in skeletal muscle. Additionally, muscles from BC-PDOX mice treated with pio had greater levels of ATP, which would be associated a more fatigue-resistant muscle phenotype. Therefore, we propose that the FDA-approved and generic diabetes drug, pio, be considered as a supportive therapy for the treatment of BC-associated muscle fatigue.
Ergodic properties of infinite systems

Macroscopic systems are successfully modeled in statistical mechanics, at least in equilibrium, by infinite systems. We discuss the ergodic theoretic structure of such systems and present results on the ergodic properties of some simple model systems. We argue that these properties, suitably refined by the inclusion of space translations and other structure, are important for an understanding of the nonequilibrium properties of macroscopic systems.
Virus-Induced Interference in Heterologously Infected HeLa Cells

In doubly infected HeLa cells, poliovirus type 1 rapidly and completely dominates vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) plaque-forming unit production. Poliovirus type 1 shuts off incorporation of amino acids into VSV-specific proteins within 2 hr after superinfection of cells already committed to massive synthesis of VSV proteins. However, poliovirus type 1 appears to have little, if any, direct effect upon incorporation of uridine into VSV-directed ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. Poliovirus apparently interferes with VSV virion production only at the level of translation of viral messenger RNA, although it interferes with host cell macromolecular syntheses at the levels of translation and transcription.
How Successful and Distinctive is the Human Rights Act? An Expatriate Comparatist's Assessment

This article first assesses the success and distinctiveness of the Human Rights Act 1998 from the perspective of its status as an exemplar of ‘the new Commonwealth model of constitutionalism.’ This new, intermediate model attempts to straddle the dichotomy of parliamentary sovereignty and judicial supremacy by protecting rights through a reallocation of powers between courts and legislatures that brings them into better balance than under either of these two traditional, more lopsided models. As part of its assessment, the article critically examines an influential strand of commentary claiming that in practice the HRA has proven to be less distinctive from US-style constitutionalism than initially claimed or hoped. The second part of the article seeks to contribute to current debates about reform of the HRA by proposing ways to address its main structural weaknesses, especially the problem of remedial distortion.
How should american students understand their civic culture? : the continuing battle over the 2002 Massachusetts history and social science curriculum framework

Escribo como ex-miembro del Ministerio de Educacion del Estado de Massachusetts, donde fui responsable del desarrollo del Sistema Curricular de Historia y Ciencias Sociales. Este ensayo es una version ligeramente revisada de mi testimonio escrito -promovido por el Senador Judd Gregg-, para una audiencia titulada "?Que es lo que sus hijos estudian en la escuela? ?Como influyen en la educacion los niveles de ensenanza y los libros de texto?". La audiencia tuvo lugar en el Edificio del Senado de Dirksen, en Washington, D.C., el 24 de septiembre de 2003. El testimonio oral esta disponible en una transcripcion de la audiencia, y la version completa de mi testimonio ha sido incorporada al expediente publico. La audiencia fue una experiencia, posiblemente la primera de otras sobre esta materia, y no relacionada por el momento con ninguna propuesta legislativa.
Evidence for slowdown in stratospheric ozone loss: First stage of ozone recovery

Global ozone trends derived from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment I and II (SAGE I/II) combined with the more recent Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) observations provide evidence of a slowdown in stratospheric ozone losses since 1997. This evidence is quantified by the cumulative sum of residual differences from the predicted linear trend. The cumulative residuals indicate that the rate of ozone loss at 35- 45 km altitudes globally has diminished. These changes in loss rates are consistent with the slowdown of total stratospheric chlorine increases characterized by HALOE HCI measurements. These changes in the ozone loss rates in the upper stratosphere are significant and constitute the first stage of a recovery of the ozone layer.
Properties of Aleutian disease virus assayed with feline kidney cells.

Properties of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) were studied using feline kidney cells, line CRFK, to assay virus by the induction of nuclear antigen. ADV nuclear antigen was detected by immunofluorescent staining. Titers of virus obtained from mink spleens at 10–8 days after infection were usually between 103 and 105 infectious units per gram of spleen. ADV was purified by fluorocarbon extraction, differential centrifugation, biogel A-15 chromatography and CsCl equilibrium centrifugation. The molecular weight of the virus was estimated to be 3–5 × 106 daltons. The density of antigen-inducing virus in equilibrium CsCl gradients was 1.32–1.34 g/cm3. On velocity sucrose gradients, antigen-inducing virus had a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 110S. The virus was not neutralized by sera from chronically infected mink and ferrets and by sera from experimentally infected mink. ADV was resistant to ionic and nonionic detergents and lipid solvents. The titer of partially purified virus was reduced as much as 700-fold by proteolytic enzymes but not by DNase or RNase. The virus was inactivated slowly at 56° C; the initial half-life was 90 minutes. It is concluded that the properties of ADV can be determined by assay in CRFK cells, thus facilitating virological study of the disease.
Fabrication, Thermal and Mechanical Characterization of Silicon Carbide-Expancel Nanocomposite

A novel sonochemical method is developed to infuse silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC) into expandable thermoplastic micro-spheres (Expancel) containing acrylonitrile and methylacrylonitrile polymer. Expancel micro-spheres consists a drop of liquid hydrocarbon encapsulated by a gas proof thermoplastic polymeric shell. These micro spheres expand ∼4 to 5 times of their original size (10μm) and drastically decrease it’s density from ∼1000kg/m3 to ∼30kg/m3 , when exposed to the heat. To fabricate nanocomposite foam the Expancel microspheres were first dispersed in hexane along with known percentage of SiC nanoparticles and irradiated with high intensity ultrasonic horn for about 30min at room temperature. The excess n-hexane is removed using a high vacuum for 12h and heating at 60°C for 1h successively. The dry powder is transferred into a rectangular stainless steel mold and the mold is heated to ∼190°C at a heating rate of 10°C for 30 min using a MTP-14 programmable compression molding under a pressure of ∼ 3000lbs. The test coupons were cut precisely from the panels to carry out thermal, morphological and mechanical characterizations. The as-prepared nanophased foam samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SEM studies have shown that the SiC are well dispersed over the entire volume of the matrix with minimal, agglomeration. The foam cells structures are well ordered and uniform in size and spherical in shapes. The TGA and DSC analyses indicate that the nanophased foam materials are thermally more stable than the corresponding neat systems. Compression tests have been carried out for both nanophased and neat foams systems. Test results show a significant increase in compressive strength and modulus of the nanophased foams over the neat system. This enhancement in compressive properties has been observed repeatedly for multiple batches. Details of the synthesis procedure, thermal and mechanical characterization are presented in this paper.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
In search of the “right” model

Abstract When performing multiple regression we introduce and eliminate variables in an attempt to find the “right” or underlying model. In a Box Jenkins time series analysis we use the data to help identify the “right” model and then fit the model to the data by estimating the model's parameters. This paper will address models for executive decision support and discuss how the use of understandable and flexible models makes it clear that there is no “right” model; that there are typically alternative models for alternative views and that the problem being solved will evolve during model development and refinement.
Machining Simulation of Ductile Iron and Its Constituents, Part 2: Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Machining

To understand the influence of cast iron microstructure on its machinability, a numerical model that simulates machined material on a microstructure scale was developed. This microstructure-level model assembles individual constituents into a composite material based on microstructural composition, grain size, and distribution. Extensive experimentation was performed to determine strain, strain rate, temperature, and load history dependent material properties. The purpose of this work is to validate the microstructure-level model on machining of ductile iron and two of its constituents: pearlite and ferrite. Orthogonal cutting experiments were conducted of the three materials. The measured chip morphology and machining forces were compared with the model predictions, and a good correlation between them was found.
Hole-assisted lightguide fiber for large anomalous dispersion and low optical loss

Hole-assisted lightguide fiber (HALF) is a microstructured fiber comprising a material index profile for waveguiding and air holes for modifying optical properties. Anomalous dispersion larger than those of the conventional fibers can be realized without severe degradation in optical loss, because of low power fraction in the holes and structural simplicity. We investigate into the causes of the loss of the fabricated HALFs, and show that a GeO2-doped core, in addition to the low power fraction, is desirable for low loss. The fabricated HALF exhibits a loss as low as 0.41 dB/km and a large anomalous dispersion of +35 ps/nm/km at 1550 nm wavelength.
Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate inhibits death receptor-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat cells by disrupting recruitment of Fas-associated polypeptide with death domain.

Regulation of death receptor-mediated apoptosis is incompletely understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, inhibits Fas (CD95)-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat (type II) cells but not SKW6.4 (type I) cells. In this study, we demonstrated that PMA also protects Jurkat cells from apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-α and the tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Interestingly, PMA failed to protect Jurkat cells from apoptosis induced by other agents, including etoposide, camptothecin, and γ-irradiation. Analysis of the initial events induced by agonistic anti-Fas antibodies revealed that PMA inhibited Fas binding to Fas-associated polypeptide with death domain (FADD) in Jurkat cells but not in SKW6.4 cells. Although the protein kinase inhibitor bisindoylmaleimide VIII increased apoptosis induced by agonistic anti-Fas antibody, tumor necrosis factor-α, and TRAIL, these effects were not observed with the protein kinase C inhibitor H7 and were not associated with increased FADD recruitment to Fas. These results indicate that PMA inhibits death signaling induced by a number of discrete receptors and suggest that the effects are mediated at the level of receptor-mediated adaptor molecule recruitment.
Visibility on cathode-ray tube screens; the effect of size and shape of pip.

The area and contour of a stimulus have been indicated experimentally as factors in its visibility. In order to evaluate the role of such factors in radar presentation, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect upon visibility of changes in the size and shape of a radar pip. A wide range of beam widths (which determine the angular dimension of the pip) and pulse lengths (which determine its radial dimension) was investigated at each of three test field brightnesses. Resuits show that visibility, on a decibel scale, is a linear function of the logarithm of beam width at each of the three brightness levels used. For the dim background visibility is also a linear function of the logarithm of pulse length. For the brighter backgrounds, on the other hand, visibility is shown to be a curvilinear function of the logarithm of pulse length. It is suggested that the reason for the difference between an increase in beam width and an increase in pulse length lies in the time factor. Doubling the beam width, for example, results in a greater increase in the time during which the pip is exposed to the eye than does a corresponding increase in the pulse length.
Differentiating progressive from nonprogressive T1 bladder cancer by gene expression profiling: Applying RNA-sequencing analysis on archived specimens

Objectives To identify gene signatures in transitional cell carcinoma that can differentiate high-grade T1 nonprogressive (T1NP) bladder cancer (BCa) from those T1 progressive (T1P) tumors that progress to muscularis propria–invasive T2 tumors.
The perceptions of school principals about a mentoring program for newly hired urban school teachers

(1994). The perceptions of school principals about a mentoring program for newly hired urban school teachers. The Teacher Educator: Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 13-23.