cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infection with “Escaped” Virus Variants Impairs Control of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac239 Replication in Mamu-B*08-Positive Macaques

An understanding of the mechanism(s) by which some individuals spontaneously control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/simian immunodeficiency virus replication may aid vaccine design. Approximately 50% of Indian rhesus macaques that express the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I allele Mamu-B*08 become elite controllers after infection with simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac239. Mamu-B*08 has a binding motif that is very similar to that of HLA-B27, a human MHC class I allele associated with the elite control of HIV, suggesting that SIVmac239-infected Mamu-B*08-positive (Mamu-B*08+) animals may be a good model for the elite control of HIV. The association with MHC class I alleles implicates CD8+ T cells and/or natural killer cells in the control of viral replication. We therefore introduced point mutations into eight Mamu-B*08-restricted CD8+ T-cell epitopes to investigate the contribution of epitope-specific CD8+ T-cell responses to the development of the control of viral replication. Ten Mamu-B*08+ macaques were infected with this mutant virus, 8X-SIVmac239. We compared immune responses and viral loads of these animals to those of wild-type SIVmac239-infected Mamu-B*08+ macaques. The five most immunodominant Mamu-B*08-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses were barely detectable in 8X-SIVmac239-infected animals. By 48 weeks postinfection, 2 of 10 8X-SIVmac239-infected Mamu-B*08+ animals controlled viral replication to <20,000 viral RNA (vRNA) copy equivalents (eq)/ml plasma, while 10 of 15 wild-type-infected Mamu-B*08+ animals had viral loads of <20,000 vRNA copy eq/ml (P = 0.04). Our results suggest that these epitope-specific CD8+ T-cell responses may play a role in establishing the control of viral replication in Mamu-B*08+ macaques.
Collision tumor of the thyroid: a case report of metastatic liposarcoma plus papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background. The term collision tumor represents the proximal coexistence of two histologically distinct tumors. Collision tumors within the thyroid are extremely rare, and reported cases are usually of mixed histologies of papillary and medullary carcinomas. Metastatic disease to the thyroid is also an uncommon scenario but may develop after long disease-free intervals. Carcinomas, most commonly renal cell carcinoma, are the likeliest group of neoplasms to metastasize to the thyroid. Soft tissue sarcomas metastasize to the thyroid with a much lower frequency. Methods. We are reporting this highly unusual case of metastatic liposarcoma from the thigh to thyroid, which harbored a collision tumor of papillary thyroid carcinoma. This 86-year-old woman had undergone an initial resection for liposarcoma of the thigh two decades before being seen with a thyroid mass. Results. Histologically, the thyroid mass was a metastatic myxoid liposarcoma, identical to the primary neoplasm. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was present within this metastasis and in the adjacent thyroid. Conclusion. For any patient seen with a thyroid mass with a history of prior malignancy, no matter how remote, metastatic disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck26: 637–641, 2004
Obama as Text: The Crisis of Double-Consciousness

The argument of this essay is that given the unique circumstances of his life, including his location in multiple spaces of cultural identity, Obama is an indeterminate signifier. To textualize Obama, we must account for how the narrative of his life is structured by need and demand as he tries to comprehend his own location and dislocation in American culture and to give meaning to the gap between the idea of what he is and what others assume him to be. In this regard, Obama is probably the quintessential subject of what W. E. B. Du Bois famously described as ‘double-consciousness’.
Morphological and functional differentiation in BE(2)-M17 human neuroblastoma cells by treatment with Trans -retinoic acid

Background: Immortalized neuronal cell lines can be induced to differentiate into more mature neurons by adding specific compounds or growth factors to the culture medium. This property makes neuronal cell lines attractive as in vitro cell models to study neuronal functions and neurotoxicity. The clonal human neuroblastoma BE(2)-M17 cell line is known to differentiate into a more prominent neuronal cell type by treatment with trans-retinoic acid. However, there is a lack of information on the morphological and functional aspects of these differentiated cells. Results: We studied the effects of trans-retinoic acid treatment on (a) some differentiation marker proteins, (b) types of voltage-gated calcium (Ca 2+ ) channels and (c) Ca 2+ -dependent neurotransmitter ([ 3 H] glycine) release in cultured BE(2)-M17 cells. Cells treated with 10 μM trans-retinoic acid (RA) for 72 hrs exhibited marked changes in morphology to include neurite extensions; presence of P/Q, N and T-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels; and expression of neuron specific enolase (NSE), synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α 7( nAChR-α7) and other neuronal markers. Moreover, retinoic acid treated cells had a significant increase in evoked Ca 2+ -dependent neurotransmitter release capacity. In toxicity studies of the toxic gas, phosgene (CG), that differentiation of M17 cells with RA was required to see the changes in intracellular free Ca 2+ concentrations following exposure to CG. Conclusion: Taken together, retinoic acid treated cells had improved morphological features as well as neuronal characteristics and functions; thus, these retinoic acid differentiated BE(2)-M17 cells may serve as a better neuronal model to study neurobiology and/or neurotoxicity.
Early experience with flow diverting endoluminal stents for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms

We aimed to identify the initial preliminary experience with flow diverting stents (FDS) for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IA). A PubMed search was performed to identify studies reporting patients treated with FDS. Selection was made for studies that provided either immediate or short term follow-up data. For each study, the number of patients and IA were identified. Details regarding the aneurysm itself were recorded; such as aneurysm morphology (saccular or fusiform), location, and rupture status. The primary treatment modality and the number of stents used to treat each aneurysm was recorded along with the antiplatelet regimen used. Outcomes such as aneurysm occlusion and complications, including stroke, in-stent thrombosis and stenosis, and death were identified. The average length of follow-up was calculated in weeks. A total of 10 manuscripts reporting 206 IA in 190 patients were identified in the literature. Occlusion rates were variably reported, ranging from 58% to 94% in the larger series. Major complications of treatment included stroke (6.0%), in-stent thrombosis and stenosis (4.9%), and death (3.3%). A phenomenon of delayed aneurysm rupture was also identified. We concluded that flow diverting stents have proven effective in a variety of scenarios. The major complications with FDS have related to perforator artery stroke, aneurysm re-rupture, and in-stent stenosis and thrombosis. Long-term efficacy, optimal antithrombotic agent regimen, and perforator stroke risk are yet to be determined.
Imaging performance of a THz focal plane array

A new broadband monolithic THz antenna design that covers the entire 0.6 – 1.2 THz band is developed as the imaging pixel of THz focal plane array (FPA). Heterostructure backward diodes are integrated monolithically with the THz antennas and are used as the detectors to reproduce digital images from the 2-dimensional received power distribution. A new simplified design is developed which is capable of focusing the antenna beams directly onto the image plane using an extended-hemispherical lens. We show that a resolution of 1.5 mm can be achieved with this simpler design. For achieving optimal pixel sensitivity, we use full-wave antenna modeling to optimize the impedance matching between the antennas and the integrated diodes. In addition, quasi-optical propagation analysis is used to evaluate and optimize the overall imaging resolution of the THz imaging system.
Nonlinear Dynamical and Entropic Complexity Measures as Indicators of Nonstationarities in Short-Term ECG Signals

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is among important characteristics of general cardiac health. While 24-hour Holter monitoring is well recognized as a comprehensive analytical technique, short-term (up to 30 min.) electrocardiogram (ECG), recorded in presence of controlled environmental stimuli, remains rather unexplored in diagnostic practice. The presented method of change point detection in such class of signals addresses urgent quest from cardiologists for a simple, real time analysis of short-term ECG. Based on the concepts of Sample Entropy and Lempel-Ziv compression, the methodology combines sensitivity to subtle dynamical changes of the heart rate with robustness to noise. It was evaluated on 20 ECG signals from two groups of subjects: healthy and with cardiac problems. The method helps improve accuracy in discerning between the two groups and the results support hypothesis that healthy individuals are more responsive to environmental stimuli.
On the Provenance of Diversity

Peter Schuck's remarkably comprehensive and vigorously argued work is a major contribution to our ongoing national discourse on diversity. Its strength lies in the author's unusual command of the literature on the subject, one coming from a wide range of disciplines. To this he has brought the distinctive perspective of a legal scholar, that enlightening blend of formal logic, empiricism, and normative analysis that is sometimes the envy of those in the social sciences.
Time-Course Analysis of Brain Regional Expression Network Responses to Chronic Intermittent Ethanol and Withdrawal: Implications for Mechanisms Underlying Excessive Ethanol Consumption

Long lasting abusive consumption, dependence, and withdrawal are characteristic features of alcohol use disorders (AUD). Mechanistically, persistent changes in gene expression are hypothesized to contribute to brain adaptations leading to ethanol toxicity and AUD. We employed repeated chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure by vapor chamber as a mouse model to simulate the cycles of ethanol exposure and withdrawal commonly seen with AUD. This model has been shown to induce progressive ethanol consumption in rodents. Brain CIE-responsive expression networks were identified by microarray analysis across five regions of the mesolimbic dopamine system and extended amygdala with tissue harvested from 0-hours to 7-days following CIE. Weighted Gene Correlated Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify gene networks over-represented for CIE-induced temporal expression changes across brain regions. Differential gene expression analysis showed that long-lasting gene regulation occurred 7-days after the final cycle of ethanol exposure only in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus. Across all brain regions, however, ethanol-responsive expression changes occurred mainly within the first 8-hours after removal from ethanol. Bioinformatics analysis showed that neuroinflammatory responses were seen across multiple brain regions at early time-points, whereas co-expression modules related to neuroplasticity, chromatin remodeling, and neurodevelopment were seen at later time-points and in specific brain regions (PFC or HPC). In PFC a module containing Bdnf was identified as highly CIE responsive in a biphasic manner, with peak changes at 0 hours and 5 days following CIE, suggesting a possible role in mechanisms underlying long-term molecular and behavioral response to CIE. Bioinformatics analysis of this network and several other modules identified Let-7 family microRNAs as potential regulators of gene expression changes induced by CIE. Our results suggest a complex temporal and regional pattern of widespread gene network responses involving neuroinflammatory and neuroplasticity related genes as contributing to physiological and behavioral responses to chronic ethanol.
ENDOCRINE CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL ABUSE

The recognized endocrine consequences of alcohol abuse are reviewed on an organ by organ basis. The organ systems for which the most information is available (liver, heart, brain) are presented first followed by those where the information base is less.
The usefulness of chromosome analysis in clinical oncology.

Abstract Chromosome studies are useful in clinical oncology. They can help establish an accurate diagnosis, guide treatment, and determine the prognosis. The author discusses situations where chromosome studies are indicated.
Reactor power plant for undersea applications

A Pressurized Water Reactor suitable for unattended operation on the ocean floor has been designed. Its inherent safety, simplicity, and low cost also make it attractive for many applications on la...
Hypnosis and the Courts: A Study in Judicial Error

Legal issues involving hypnosis and memory lay dormant for two-thirds of the twentieth century. From 1968 to the mid-1980s, however, courts decided hundreds of cases involving the hypnotic retrieva...
The Effect of Psychographic Variables on Consumer Satisfaction

This study attempted to identify why some people are more satisfied with a mall than others. This study found two preliminary results. First, discriminant analysis indicated that a “value seeking group” is more prone to be satisfied with its decision for selecting a mall than a “social shopping group.” Second, the shopping profile psychographic variables can easily identify which consumers are more likely to be satisfied with the same kind of service or product than others.
Clinical Applications of Optical Coherence Tomography for Imaging Diagnostics

We present our latest developments in optical coherence tomography to complement tissue morphology information with molecular specificity and functional information in intravascular clinical applications, including advances in tissue polarimetry and speckle blood flow analysis.
The ecological impact of humans and dogs on wildlife in protected areas in eastern North America

Abstract The establishment of protected areas is a key strategy for preserving biodiversity. However, human use of protected areas can cause disturbance to wildlife, especially in areas that allow hunting and if humans are accompanied by dogs (Canis familiaris). We used citizen-science run camera traps to investigate how humans, dogs and coyotes (Canis latrans) used 33 protected areas and analyzed behavioral responses by three prey species: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and northern raccoon (Procyon lotor). We obtained 52,863 detections of native wildlife, 162,418 detections of humans and 23,332 detections of dogs over 42,874 camera nights. Most dogs (99%) were on the trail, and 89% of off-trail dogs were accompanied by humans. Prey avoided dogs, humans and coyotes temporally, but did not avoid them spatially, or greatly increase vigilance. Our results indicate that humans are perceived as a greater risk than coyotes, and this increases when dogs accompany their owners. The concentration of dogs on the trail with their owners, and relatively minor behavioral impacts on prey, contrasts the strong negative ecological effects found in studies of free-ranging dogs. We found dog management to be effective: prohibiting dogs in protected areas reduced their use of an area by a factor of 10 and leash laws increased leashing rates by 21%. Although millions of dogs use natural areas in North America each year, regulations enacted by protected areas combined with responsible management of dog behavior greatly reduce the ecological impact of man's best friend.
Developing a clinical information system: the role of the chief information officer.

Article-at-a-Glance Background Chief information officers (ClOs) must play a pivotal role in the formation and implementation of a clinical information system, the subset of an organizational information system that deals specifically with support of clinical care activities. Major elements of a clinical information system Major elements include the applications software, technology and data architecture, databases, and analysis. The organizational structures and processes that manage the development of improvement activities, including the clinical information system itself, are just as vital to the design of an information system as the hardware and software. The role of the CIO To develop, sustain, and advance an information infrastructure, the CIO must help establish certain organizational precursors, such as medical staff involvement, experience with quality improvement, and ability to meet data needs. The CIO must then work with the senior administrative and medical leadership in developing a vision for the information system. The CIO must also create new roles and knowledge for information system and medical staff members. Interaction between information services and medical staff is vitally important to the success of a clinical information system. Organizational committees and structures that Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston put in place to formalize the relationship between information systems and medical staff include the Clinical Initiative Development Program and the Center for Applied Medical Information Systems Research. Conclusion Improving the clinical management of care and the efficacy of care processes involves complex changes in organizational culture and processes, medical practice and information system applications, technologies, staff, and data.
Estimating bridge displacement from acceleration using modal analysis and the minimum description length principle

Measuring bridge displacement for moving vehicle loads helps in load rating and evaluating the structural health of the bridge. Traditional methods of measuring bridge displacement such as laser systems and displacement transducers are expensive, require a stationary reference point and are complicated to setup. Measuring acceleration using accelerometers is inexpensive and easy. Displacement can be obtained from this acceleration, but due to noise present in the measured acceleration direct double integration results in erroneous displacement estimations. In this paper we use minimum description length to remove the noise from the acceleration and obtain correct displacement estimation using modal analysis. We also propose a method to obtain the static displacement underlying in the estimated dynamic displacement. We tested our method by measuring the acceleration of a steel beam, which is subject to a dynamic load.
Deep neural networks for precipitation estimation from remotely sensed information

This paper investigates the application of deep neural networks to precipitation estimation from remotely sensed information. Specifically, a stacked denoising auto-encoder is used to automatically extract features from the infrared cloud images and estimate the amount of precipitation, referred as PERSIANN-SDAE. Due to the challenging imbalance in precipitation data, a Kullback-Leibler divergence is incorporated in the objective function to preserve the distribution of it. PERSIANN-SDAE is compared with a shallow neural network with hand designed features and an operational satellite-based precipitation estimation product. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of PERSIANN-SDAE in estimating precipitation accurately while preserving its distribution. It outperforms both the shallow neural network and the operational product.
Mapping the Protease Activated Receptor 4 (PAR4) Homodimer Interface.

Abstract Abstract 773 Thrombin activates platelets by binding and cleaving protease activated receptors 1 and 4 (PAR1 and PAR4). PAR1 and PAR4 communicate with each other to lower the concentration of thrombin required for PAR4 activation (Nieman Biochemistry, 2008). In addition, PAR1 and PAR4 form homo and heterodimers. However, where these receptors interact has not been defined and it is not known if dimerization influences receptor activation, downstream signaling, or both. Since PAR4 activation is important on human and mouse platelets, we sought to characterize the interaction site between PAR4 homodimers. Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), we mapped the PAR4 homodimer interface. The PAR4 homodimers show a specific interaction as indicated by a hyperbolic BRET signal in response to increasing PAR4-GFP expression with a fixed concentration of PAR4-Rluc. The threshold maximum BRET signal was disrupted in a concentration-dependent manner by unlabeled PAR4. In contrast, the unrelated G-protein coupled receptor, rhodopsin, was unable to disrupt the BRET signal indicating that the disruption of the PAR4 homodimer is a specific interaction. We have mapped the region required for PAR4 homodimer formation using chimeras between rhodopsin and PAR4. PAR4 does not interact with rhodopsin in BRET assays. Using a library of rho-PAR4 chimeras that have the junction at the beginning of transmembrane (TM) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, we determined where dimer formation is restored. When the junction is placed at the beginning of TM4 or TM5, the chimera does not interact with PAR4-WT. In contrast, when the junction is moved to the end of TM2, the BRET signal is restored. These results indicate that the region on PAR4 required for homodimer formation encompasses a 63 amino acid region that includes the first extracellular loop, TM3 and the second intracellular loop. These studies establish techniques that may be used to define the interactions between other GPCRs found on the platelet surface. These receptor-receptor interactions may be another level of regulation of agonist activity and platelet function in vivo and may provide novel targets for anti-platelet therapies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Weighted singular value decomposition (wSVD) to improve the radiation dose efficiency of grating-based x-ray phase contrast imaging with a photon counting detector

The noise performance of grating-based differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging system is strongly dependent on the fringe visibility of the grating interferometer. Since the grating interferometer system is usually designed to be operated at a specific energy, deviation from that energy may lead to visibility loss and increased noise. By incorporating an energy-discriminating photon counting detector (PCD) into the system, photons with energies close to the operation energy of the interferometer can be selected, which offers the possibility of contrast-tonoise ratio (CNR) improvement. In our previous work, a singular value decomposition (SVD)-based rank one approximation method was developed to improve the CNR of DPC imaging. However, as the noise level and energy sensitivity of the interferometer may vary significantly from one energy bin to another, the signal and noise may not be separated well using the previously proposed method, therefore the full potential of the SVD method may not be achieved. This work presents a weighted SVD-based method, which maintains the noise reduction capability regardless of the similarity in the noise level across energy bins. The optimal weighting scheme was theoretically derived, and experimental phantom studies were performed to validate the theory and demonstrate the improved radiation dose efficiency of the proposed weighted SVD method.
Road following for blindBike: an assistive bike navigation system for low vision persons

Road Following is a critical component of blindBike, our assistive biking application for the visually impaired. This paper talks about the overall blindBike system and goals prominently featuring Road Following, which is the task of directing the user to follow the right side of the road. This work unlike what is commonly found for self-driving cars does not depend on lane line markings. 2D computer vision techniques are explored to solve the problem of Road Following. Statistical techniques including the use of Gaussian Mixture Models are employed. blindBike is developed as an Android Application and is running on a smartphone device. Other sensors including Gyroscope and GPS are utilized. Both Urban and suburban scenarios are tested and results are given. The success and challenges faced by blindBike’s Road Following module are presented along with future avenues of work.
A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF DEPRECIATION ACCOUNTING — THE UNITED STATES STEEL EXPERIENCE

This paper examines the magnitude of the reporting bias inherent in the historical cost accounting of a firm's physical capital. Reported depreciation data pertaining to U.S. Steel Corporation (currently USX) between 1939 and 1987 are compared with standardized historical cost figures and replacement cost estimates. The findings suggest that replacement cost depreciation would have provided more information about U.S. Steel's ability to maintain its productive capacity than historical cost depreciation did. Thus, this analysis provides an illustration of one of the primary arguments for replacement cost accounting.
Preliminary investigation of blood concentrations of insulin-like growth factor, insulin, lactate and β-hydroxybutyrate in dogs with lymphoma as compared with matched controls.

It is well established that tumour cells have metabolic differences when compared with normal cells. This is particularly true for energy metabolism in which dogs with cancer have been reported to have higher blood insulin and lactate concentrations than control dogs. Moreover, some human and animal studies suggest that the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signalling pathway may play a role in tumorigenesis and tumour progression. At present, IGF-1 has not been evaluated in dogs with multicentric lymphoma. In this prospective, cross-sectional study, blood levels of IGF-1, as well as other markers of energy metabolism-insulin, glucose, lactate, and β-hydroxybutyrate-were measured in 16 dogs with histologically or cytologically confirmed treatment-naive lymphoma. These results were compared with 16 age-, sex- and weight-matched healthy controls. Dietary histories were collected, and protein, fat and carbohydrate intake were compared between groups. Results demonstrated that IGF-1, insulin, glucose and insulin:glucose ratio were not different between groups. However, lactate and β-hydroxybutyrate were higher in the dogs with lymphoma than that in the control dogs (1.74 ± 0.83 mmoL/L vs 1.08 ± 0.27 and 2.59 ± 0.59 mmol/L vs 0.77 ± 0.38 mmol/L, respectively). Median dietary protein, fat and carbohydrates did not differ between the groups. This preliminary study suggests that higher insulin and IGF-1 levels relative to controls may not be a consistent finding in dogs with lymphoma. The significance of increased β-hydroxybutyrate in dogs with lymphoma warrants further investigation in a larger prospective study.
Free Monoterpene Isomer Profiles of Vitis Vinifera L. cv. White Wines

Monoterpene compounds contribute floral and fruity characters to wine and are desired by grape growers and winemakers for many white wines. However, monoterpene isomers, especially monoterpene enantiomers, have been little explored. It is possible to identify and quantitate 17 monoterpene isomers in 148 varietal wines from eight grape varieties; Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot gris, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Torrontes, and Viognier in two vintages by Headspace solidphase microextraction multidimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-MDGC-MS). Results obtained from general linear models and discriminant analysis showed significant differences for the isomer profiles and enantiomer fractions among the eight grape varieties and four wine styles. The high R2 values from the fitted line show low variation in enantiomeric differences based on variety. These results provide an overview of the monoterpene isomers of wide varietal wines, and support that isomer profiles and enantiomer fractions could differentiate our wines by varietal and wine style.
Continuing conversations about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screening: A public health perspective

Currently, in the U.S. and worldwide, childhood trauma is a public health crisis. Childhood adversities, such as abuse, neglect, and related household stressors, are common, interrelated and contribute to multiple adverse social, behavioral and health outcomes throughout the lifespan. The present article provides further discussion regarding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screening in healthcare utilizing the etic and emic perspectives. Screening in the healthcare system leans toward the etic view: objective observations of symptoms, which may then lead to intervention delivery. Whereas the emic view provides the subjective perspective as experienced by participants of a system, culture, or common group. Finkelhor's argument about cautions regarding widespread screening is relevant in the current allopathic healthcare system, which utilizes an etic perspective and where evidence-based ACEs interventions within a biomedical-centric model are lacking. Therefore, in healthcare settings, universal ACEs screening may serve the clinicians with a surveillance tool to inform and guide medical practice and policy as they relate to delivering trauma-informed care. The Public Health Code of Ethics and Basis for Action reminds us about the values approach for collecting and using data ethically to protect population health. Practitioners and researchers across the globe are beginning to take community-engaged action, with an emic view of all community members involved.
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World

Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) is known to most landscape architects for his mesmerizing and highly annotated elevation/section of the Chimborazo, a mountain in today's Ecuadorian Andes. Humbol...
Measurement of the Asymmetry Parameter in the Photoproduction of ϕ Mesons

We have measured the asymmetry parameter $\ensuremath{\Sigma}=\frac{({\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}})}{({\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}})}$ for the photoproduction of $\ensuremath{\phi}$ mesons with photons polarized parallel and perpendicular to the plane of decay for the reaction $\ensuremath{\gamma}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\phi}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$. We find $\ensuremath{\Sigma}=0.985\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.12$ at a photon energy of 8.14 GeV and $|t|$ of 0.2 ${(\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c})}^{2}$, consistent with pure diffraction production, or pure naturalparity Regge exchange.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Respiratory System.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that always affects the respiratory muscles. It is characterized by degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Respiratory complications are the most common causes of death in ALS and typically occur within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. Because ALS affects both upper and lower motor neurons, it causes hyperreflexia, spasticity, muscle fasciculations, muscle atrophy, and weakness. It ultimately progresses to functional quadriplegia. ALS most commonly begins in the limbs, but in about one-third of cases it begins in the bulbar muscles responsible for speech and swallowing.
Permian of the Western United States

The former Antler orogenic belt divides Permian of displaced terranes to the west from Permian continental margin miogeoelinal deposits to the east. We will refer to this important structural feature as the Antler belt. The structural setting of the Permian of the displaced terranes accreted to the North American continent is complex and a subject of much active research. The structural setting of the Permian rocks of the miogeocline is becoming well known and will be briefly elucidated here.
Using software simulations as an aide in teaching combinatorics to high school students

Knowledge of discrete structures is fundamental for success in computer science. However, many students have difficulty with abstract thinking and resist engagement in mathematical concepts. This paper discusses a Combinatorics module developed for students in beginning programming courses at the high school level. To motivate student interest, the authors designed worksheets and interactive software simulations in AgentSheets, which allowed students to work with permutations and combinations to discover patterns and formulas on their own. This paper describes the methods and results of a study in which six high school classes used the materials.
Catastrophes and Bifurcations

In the previous chapter we discussed various methods to analyze the stability of the equilibrium states of a dynamical system when the values of the system parameters are known and fixed. The objective of catastrophe and bifurcation theory is to investigate what happens to the type, number, and stability of the equilibrium states as a result of a continuous change in the system parameters. In other words catastrophe theory is concerned with the “dynamical analysis” of the equilibrium states as a function of the system parameters as compared to the “static analysis” of these states which were performed in the last chapter.
Melanoma on Acral Skin

Melanomas on acral skin seem to be of two types. Those on the sun-damaged, hair-bearing dorsal surfaces of the hands (and to a lesser extent, the feet) include a number of conventional melanomas.
Russell, Einstein and the Philosophy of Non-Absolute Pacifism

Russell and Einstein shared a commitment to a form of pacifism which Russell termed "non-absolute pacifism", or "relative political pacifism". Despite a 1947 disagreement on the roles of the United States, the Soviet Union and the immediate measures to be taken for world peace, Russell and Einstein were able to collaborate again in 1955 due to their shared philosophy. Newly discovered annotations by Einstein on a 1947 Russell article are used to analyze their disagreement, while their later statements are used to illustrate their shared commitment to a type of pacifism which allowed, exceptionally, for a justified war in the special circumstance of an enemy opposed to "life as such".
The effect of setup uncertainty on optimal dosimetric margin in LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery with dynamic conformal arc technique

Purpose To estimate the combined effect of setup uncertainty on optimal dosimetric margin by analyzing the dose distribution and biological effect in LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with dynamic conformal arc (DCA) technique. Methods SRS treatment plans were generated from CT scans of the Rando head phantom using four non-coplanar DCA's with total 480-degrees of arc. A single spherical planning target volume (PTV) of 4 different diameters was placed at the center of the phantom to simulate brain lesions. For each PTV, 5 treatment plans were created using identical dose calculation parameters, each with 5 different dosimetric margins. To simulate the effect of setup uncertainty, the isocenter for each plan was shifted to 13 different positions. A marginal dose of 20Gy in a single fraction with 6MV photon beam was prescribed to 49 different percentage isodose surfaces (%IDS). The plan quality was evaluated using Conformity Index (CI), Gradient Index (GI), EUD-based Tumor Control Probability (TCP), Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP), and uncomplicated biological objective function (TCP x (1-NTCP) =p+). Results A +1mm dosimetric margin could result in a much higher p+ compared to 0mm and 1mm dosimetric margins and a smaller GI while achieving an equivalent p+ in a certain range of %IDS compared to +2mm and +3mm dosimetric margins. With 2mm setup error and +1mm dosimetric margin, the %IDS range optimized for each PTV is: around 80%IDS (10mm diameter); 63~70%IDS (20mm diameter); 66~79%IDS (30mm diameter). Conclusion This simulation study identified the preferred prescription %IDS for a given setup error and dosimetric margin to achieve an optimal dose distribution and favorable biological effect.
2011 ACGME Duty Hour Limits had No Association With Breast Reconstruction Complications.

Abstract Background In 2011, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) instituted further duty hour restrictions in response to concerns over long work hours and sleep deprivation in trainees and their effects on patient outcomes. The effect of duty hour restrictions on complications after breast reconstruction procedures has not been clarified. Materials and methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was designed. The National Inpatient Sample database was queried in the 2 y before and 2 y after the 2011 duty hour changes. Patients undergoing breast reconstruction, the most common elective admission diagnosis for plastic surgery patients, were selected for analysis. Patient groups were separated by teaching hospitals (THs) and nonteaching hospitals and by pre- and post-ACGME change periods. Surgical complication rates, length of stay, and procedures were analyzed using complex survey-weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, with additional sensitivity analysis applied. Results The number of procedures did not vary significantly in the period after duty hour restrictions in THs (n = 46,188, pre-ACGME versus n = 48,980, post-ACGME). Overall complication rates in teaching (9.54%, pre-ACGME versus 9.04%, post-ACGME; P = 0.561) and nonteaching hospitals (8.54%, pre-ACGME versus 7.70%, post-ACGME; P = 0.319) did not significantly change after the implementation of duty hour changes. On multivariate analysis, surgery performed in resident THs after duty hour changes was not associated with a significant change in overall (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.77-1.37; P = 0.857) breast-specific complications (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.77-1.46; P = 0.731) or general complications (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.80-1.54; P = 0.541). Conclusions Duty hour restrictions enacted in 2011 were not associated with postoperative complications after breast reconstruction.
The Cost of Outpatient Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repairs: Hospital Reimbursement Is on the Rise While Surgeon Payments Remain Unchanged.

Purpose To better understand the relative increases in rotator cuff charges and to analyze national and regional trends between hospital, anesthesiologist, and surgeon charges and reimbursements for contemporary rotator cuff repairs (RCRs) performed in the United States. Methods A representative Medicare sample was used to capture hospital, surgeon, and anesthesiologist charges and payments for outpatient RCR from 2005 to 2014. The charges and reimbursements were calculated using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Two ratios were calculated to compare surgeon and hospital charges and reimbursements. The charge multiplier (CM) is the ratio of hospital to surgeon charges, and the payment multiplier (PM) is the ratio of hospital to surgeon reimbursements. Trends were evaluated using national and regional charges, reimbursements, Charlson Comorbidity Index, CM, and PM. Results In total, 12,617 patients were included in this study. Between 2005 and 2014, hospital charges for RCR significantly increased from $4877 to $11,488 (136% increase; P Conclusions Although outpatient RCR charges increased significantly for hospitals, surgeons, and anesthesiologists, hospital reimbursements increased substantially relative to surgeon and anesthesiologist reimbursements despite stable patient complexity. In 2005, hospitals were reimbursed 65% more than surgeons. By 2014, hospitals were reimbursed 255% more than surgeons, indicating that hospitals disproportionally drove increases in charges and reimbursements over this period. Level of Evidence Level IV, economic analysis
Strategies in Implementing Equality, Integrity, and Community Involvement in Two-Year Institutional Classrooms

Civic engagement and social justice are topics that maintain the ability to impact individuals personally, professionally, and academically. This article outlines the importance of having discussio...
Accessibility Practices for Prototype Creation and Testing

The paper will share practices and processes followed for the design and prototyping stage of the digital accessibility storytelling collective project that showcased the stories and work done by various technology professionals around the globe working in digital accessibility. By being more inclusive in our processes, we can bring more people into the conversation. Thus, we aimed to bake accessibility into our processes to ensure an inclusive and accessible product. Our specific aims during this phase were: 1) Seek feedback from different users and stakeholders. 2) Ensure documentation and prioritization of accessibility issues. 3) Create an inclusive product through iterative inclusive design. Thus, the goal of this paper is to describe and share the process of building this storytelling product, followed by a discussion of the learnings from integrating accessibility into design.
A History of Children's Play and Play Environments: Toward a Contemporary Child-Saving Movement

Children’s play throughout history has been free, spontaneous, and intertwined with work, set in the playgrounds of the fields, streams, and barnyards. Children in cities enjoyed similar forms of play but their playgrounds were the vacant lands and parks. Today, children have become increasingly inactive, abandoning traditional outdoor play for sedentary, indoor cyber play and poor diets. The consequences of play deprivation, the elimination and diminution of recess, and the abandonment of outdoor play are fundamental issues in a growing crisis that threatens the health, development, and welfare of children. This valuable book traces the history of children’s play and play environments from their roots in ancient Greece and Rome to the present time in the high stakes testing environment. Through this exploration, scholar Dr. Joe Frost shows how this history informs where we are today and why we need to re-establish play as a priority. Ultimately, the author proposes active solutions to play deprivation. This book is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and students in the fields of early childhood education and child development.
Algal Hydrogen Production

The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that are responsible for global climate change is currently the major scientific challenge facing the world. Harvesting solar energy via photosynthesis and converting it directly into fuel is a natural means of producing clean, renewable energy. Oxygenic photosynthetic microbes, such as green algae, are capable of simultaneously splitting water and generating oxygen and hydrogen. The harnessed energy, in the form of hydrogen gas, can then be directly coupled to a fuel cell for electricity generation, or used as a feedstock for the synthesis of more complex carbon fuels. At the moment, the efficiency of hydrogen photoproduction from green algae is very low. This article summarizes the biochemical pathway for hydrogen production from algae and the challenges that must be overcome to raise the conversion efficiency to a level that will support a commercial process.
Pregnancy in Mbale, Uganda: perceptions of food security and influences on women's breastfeeding intentions (1014.7)

Pregnancy is a nutritionally vulnerable time for both the mother and the child; nutritional demands increase, as do the consequences for failing to meet these needs. Traditional beliefs, social support, psychological health, food security, other responsibilities, income, and autonomy in decisions all play roles in what women eat during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to understand women’s perceptions of food security during pregnancy, and to assess the concordance of desired versus actual dietary changes during pregnancy among low-income pregnant women in Mbale, District, Uganda. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews (n=15) and one focus group (n=8) among pregnant women living in slum and rural settings. The majority of women report eating less during pregnancy. Often they describe eating fewer meals in a day, in addition to cutting out staple foods due to nausea. All women changed their eating habits during pregnancy, both cutting out foods that made them feel sick and introducing fo...
Toughening in Ceramic Particulate and Whisker Composites

Composite strength and toughness data of nontransformation-toughened ceramic particulate composites (CPCs) are discussed and compared to the existing transformation-toughened composites. The ratio of strength (sigma) to fracture toughness (KIc) expressed as a function of the volume percent dispersed phase of the composite is of specific interest. The nontransformation-toughened CPCs show either crack pinning or microcrack generation or crack branching, with a corresponding inhibition of flaw generation from machining. Some whisker composites have a machining-flaw size mechanism similar to that of CPC. However, the indicated increase in KIc with the increase of the whisker diameter is contrary to the behavior of CPC and consistent with the crack-bridging mechanism. 79 refs.
A Direct Method for Solving Nonsmooth Optimal Control Problems

Abstract We present a class of efficient direct methods for solving nonsmooth dynamic optimization problems where the dynamics are governed by controlled differential inclusions. Our methods are based on pseudospectral approximations of the differential constraints that are assumed to be given in the form of controlled differential inclusions including the usual vector field and differential-algebraic forms. Discontinuities in states, controls, cost functional, dynamic constraints and various other mappings associated with the generalized Bolza problem are allowed by the concept of pseudospectral knots which we introduce in this paper. The computational optimal control problem is reduced to a structured sparse nonlinear programming problem. A simple but illustrative moon-landing problem demonstrates our method.
The multispace: an evolutionary platform for infrastructural services

This paper presents the architecture for a Base, a clustered environment for building and executing highly available, scalable, but flexible and adaptable infrastructure services. Our architecture has three organizing principles: addressing all of the difficult service fault-tolerance, availability, and consistency problems in a carefully controlled environment, building that environment out of a collection of execution environments that are receptive to mobile code, and using dynamically generated code to introduce run-time-generated levels of indirection separating clients from services. We present a prototype Java implementation of a Base called the MultiSpace, and talk about two applications written on this prototype: the Ninja Jukebox (a cluster based music warehouse), and Keiretsu (an instant messaging service that supports heterogeneous clients). We show that the MultiSpace implementation successfully reduces the complexity of implementing services, and that the platform is conducive to rapid service evolution.