cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival and Institutionalization of an Idea: The Rapid Rise of Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems

Changes in political agendas and the acceptance of new ideas as viable policy solutions are often followed by changes in existing institutions and/or the creation of new institutions. This paper describes the rise in the early 1990s of a new policy solution, an integrated set of transportation technologies--initially referred to as "intelligent vehicle-highway systems" and more recently known as "intelligent transportation systems"--and its subsequent survival and institutionalization. As a theoretical contribution, this article expands on the agenda-setting framework of Kingdon (1995) and the subsequent work of Baumgartner and Jones (1993) on the nexus between agenda access and institutions. Changes in existing institutions within the transportation policy domain, as well as the creation of a new institution devoted to the advocacy of this technology are described. This study illustrates the significant linkages between ideas and institutions in the public policy process.
Pdx-1 Links Histone H3-Lys-4 Methylation to RNA Polymerase II Elongation during Activation of Insulin Transcription

Expression of the insulin gene is nearly exclusive to the beta cells of the pancreatic islets. Although the sequence-specific transcription factors that regulate insulin expression have been well studied, the interrelationship between these factors, chromatin structure, and transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (pol II) has remained undefined. In this regard, recent studies have begun to establish a role for the methylation of histone H3 in the initiation or elongation of transcription by pol II. To determine a role for the transcriptional activator Pdx-1 in the maintenance of chromatin structure and pol II recruitment at the insulin gene, we performed small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Pdx-1 in betaTC3 cells and subsequently studied histone modifications and pol II recruitment by chromatin immunoprecipitation. We demonstrated here that the 50% fall in insulin transcription following knockdown of Pdx-1 is accompanied by a 60% fall in dimethylated histone H3-Lys-4 at the insulin promoter. H3-Lys-4 methylation at the insulin promoter may be mediated, at least partially, by the methyltransferase Set9. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Set9 is expressed in an islet-enriched pattern in the pancreas, similar to the pattern of Pdx-1 expression. The recruitment of Set9 to the insulin gene appears to be a consequence of its direct interaction with Pdx-1, and small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Set9 attenuates insulin transcription. Pdx-1 knockdown was also associated with an overall shift in the recruitment of pol II isoforms to the insulin gene, from an elongation isoform (Ser(P)-2) to an initiation isoform (Ser(P)-5). Our findings therefore suggest a model whereby Pdx-1 plays a novel role in linking H3-Lys-4 dimethylation and pol II elongation to insulin transcription.
Moving from Marketization to Marketing of Higher Education: The Co-Creation of Value in Higher Education.

“The most important issue confronting educators and educational theorists is the choice of ends for the educational process. Without clear and rational educational goals, it becomes impossible to decide which educational programs achieve objectives of general import and which teach incidental facts and attitudes of dubious worth.” (Kohlberg & Mayer, 1972, p. 449) Keyword: marketization, higher education, student satisfaction, service quality, enhanced human capabilities, value co-creation
Polo-like kinases in the nervous system

Polo like kinases (Plks) are key regulators of the cell cycle, but little is known about their functions in postmitotic cells such as neurons. Recent findings indicate that Plk2 and Plk3 are dynamically regulated in neurons by synaptic activity at the mRNA and protein levels. In COS cells, Plk2 and Plk3 interact with spine-associated Rap guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein (SPAR), a regulator of actin dynamics and dendritic spine morphology, leading to its degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Induction of Plk2 in hippocampal neurons eliminates SPAR protein, depletes a core postsynaptic scaffolding molecule (PSD-95), and causes loss of mature dendritic spines and synapses. These findings implicate neuronal Plks as mediators of activity-dependent change in molecular composition and morphology of synapses. Induction of Plks might provide a homeostatic mechanism for global dampening of synaptic strength following heightened neuronal activity ('synaptic scaling'). Synapse-specific actions of induced Plks are also possible, particularly in light of the discovery of phosphoserine/threonine peptide motifs as binding targets of the polo box domain, which could allow for 'priming' phosphorylation by upstream kinases that could 'tag' Plk substrates only in specific synapses.
Decreasing the Adverse Effects of Cancer Therapy: National Cancer Institute Guidance for the Clinical Development of Radiation Injury Mitigators

Recently, many agents have been identified that target molecular pathways that can mitigate radiation toxicity. To date, no drugs have been approved as radiation injury mitigators, which are defined as agents administered after irradiation but before toxicity is manifest. In order to accelerate the application of potential mitigators for cancer patients, a meeting sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was held in January 2010. This article presents an algorithm to guide clinical trials for such agents in patients receiving radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. It reviews the mechanisms of radiation injury, the clinical problem, the preclinical and clinical development of candidate agents, and the design and conduct of clinical trials. The central role of patient reported outcomes is outlined, as well as key lessons learned from prior clinical trials. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to apply such promising agents to improve the quality of life for patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for cancer.
When is a Frog a Book or a Book a Frog

During early childhood, children adopt a design-based conception of books with increasing consistency. It is not clear if or how young children spontaneously indentify the myriad of commercially produced, book-related props, toys, and other materials as support for their early literacy activities. Guidelines for evaluating these supplementary materials are presented and thirteen books are reviewed and recommended.
Extracting Kerberos passwords through RC4-HMAC encryption type analysis

In this paper, we propose a system and method for obtaining Kerberos passwords by capturing a single packet, encrypted using the RC4-HMAC encryption type. We present two methods that when combined together, can reduce the time needed to crack a password by 60.2% over brute force. The first method uses known text in the preauthentication phase to skip the verification section of the decryption process. The second method precomputes some of the steps of the RC4-HMAC decryption process. We also present a novel method of eliminating the amount of space needed to store passwords in memory by using a counter to map hashes to their password.
Enzymatic synthesis of radio-labeled selenocystine from labeled serine and selenide

Selenocysteine can be formed enzymically from O-acetylserine and sodium selenide by O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase. The preparation of O-acetylserine from serine and its conversion to selenocystine are described. These reactions can be used to synthesize [14C], [3H], or [75Se]selenocystine.
Evidence for C ? H Hydrogen Bonding in Salts of tert‐Butyl Cation

Environmentally sensitive: A combination of C-H anion hydrogen bonding and hyperconjugative charge delocalization explains the sensitivity of the IR spectrum of the tert-butyl cation to its anion (see high-resolution X-ray structure with a CHB(11)Cl(11)(-) counterion). The νCH vibration of the cation scales linearly with the basicity of carborane anions on the νNH scale. The same also holds for the C(6)H(7)(+) benzenium ion.
The hereditary components of mandibular growth, a longitudinal twin study.

Abstract No Abstract Available. This paper is based on a thesis submitted for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Dental Science degree, the University of Pittsburgh.
The assembly of functional β2‐microglobulin‐free MHC class I molecules that interact with peptides and CD8+ T lymphocytes

Functional MHC class I molecules are expressed on the cell surface in the absence of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) light chain that can interact with CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Whether their assembly requires peptide binding and whether their recognition by CD8(+) T lymphocytes involves the presentation of peptide epitopes remains unknown. We show that beta(2)m-free H-2D(b) assembles with short peptides that are approximately 9 amino acid residues in length, akin to ligands associated with completely assembled beta(2)m(+) H-2D(b). Remarkably, a subset of the peptides associated with the beta(2)m-free H-2D(b) has an altered anchor motif. However, they also include peptides that contain a beta(2)m(+)H-2D(b) binding anchor motif. Further, the H-2K(b)- and H-2D(b)-restricted peptide epitopes derived from SV-40 T antigen also assemble with H-2(b) class I in beta(2)m-deficient cells and are recognized by epitope-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Taken together our data reveal that functional MHC class I molecules assemble in the absence of beta(2)m with peptides and form CD8(+) T lymphocyte epitopes.
Radiofrequency energy delivery to the gastroesophageal junction for the treatment of GERD.

Background: In this multi-center study, the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) energy delivery to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were investigated. Methods: Forty-seven patients with classic symptoms of GERD (heartburn and/or regurgitation), a daily anti-secretory medication requirement, and at least partial symptom response to drugs were enrolled. All patients had pathologic esophageal acid exposure by 24-hour pH study, a 2 cm or smaller hiatal hernia, grade 2 or less esophagitis, and no significant dysmotility or dysphagia. RF energy was delivered with a catheter and thermocouple-controlled generator to create submucosal thermal lesions in the muscle of the GEJ. GERD symptoms and quality of life were assessed at 0, 1, 4, and 6 months with the short-form health survey (SF-36). Anti-secretory medications were withdrawn 7 days before each assessment of symptoms and pH/motility study. Medication use, endoscopic findings, esophageal acid exposure, and motility were assessed at 0 and 6 months. Results: Thirty-two men and 15 women underwent treatment. At 6 months there were improvements in the median heartburn score (4 to 1, p ≤ 0.0001), GERD score (26 to 7, p ≤ 0.0001), satisfaction (1 to 4, p ≤ 0.0001), mental SF-36 (46.2 to 55.5, p = 0.01), physical SF-36 (41.1 to 51.9, p ≤ 0.0001), and esophageal acid exposure (11.7% to 4.8%, p ≤ 0.0001). Esophagitis was present in 25 patients before treatment (15 grade 1 and 10 grade 2) and 8 had esophagitis at 6 months (4 grade 1 and 4 grade 2, p = 0.005). At 6 months, 87% no longer required proton pump inhibitor medication. There was no significant change in median lower esophageal sphincter pressure (14.0 to 12.0 mm Hg, p = 0.19), peristaltic amplitude (64 to 66 mm Hg, p = 0.71), or lower esophageal sphincter length (3.0 to 3.0, p = 0.28). There were 3 self-limited complications (fever for 24 hours, odynophagia lasting for 5 days, and a linear mucosal injury that was healed after 3 weeks). Conclusion: RF energy delivery significantly improved GERD symptoms, quality of life, and esophageal acid exposure while eliminating the need for anti-secretory medication in the majority of patients with a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical disease severity but with minimal active esophagitis or hiatal hernia. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;53:407-15.)
Bomb calorimetry of high-moisture materials.

Abstract Studies were conducted to examine the influences of source and amount of primer and moisture content on determined calorie content and to quantitate energy losses which occur during the drying process. Water was added to portions of finely ground, oven-dried corn silage to produce standard samples containing approximately 35, 50, and 65% dry matter. Four primers were tested: two solids, benzoic acid and sucrose; and two liquids, n,n-dimethyl formamide and butyl cellosolve. Primers were added to supply 10, 17, 25, and 50% of the gross energy of the mixture. When various amounts and sources of primer energy were used, differences among determined calorie contents of corn silage samples which combusted were not statistically significant. Samples with 65% moisture required an amount of calories from a primer equal to those furnished by the sample, and samples with less than 45% moisture did not require addition of primer materials for complete combustion. Losses of energy from silages during drying were found to be variable but significant. Therefore, in feeding trials comparing dry with ensiled materials, estimation of the effeciency of utilization of dry matter is of questionable accuracy.
A Pilot Study Disseminating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: Therapist Factors and Perceptions of Barriers to Implementation

This preliminary report on dissemination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression assessed numerous therapist factors thought to influence implementation in a community setting. Participants were 24 therapists, aged 26–61 who participated in three, 1-day workshops and 8 months of ongoing group consultation. Attitudes toward empirically supported treatments (ESTs) and readiness to change were positively correlated whereas attitudes toward ESTs were negatively correlated with perceived client barriers to implementation. Therapists’ report of client and setting factors were negatively associated with therapists’ reports of implementation of CBT. Results are discussed in terms of implications and recommendations for dissemination and implementation of ESTs.
Predicting the Quality of Pasteurized Vegetables Using Kinetic Models: A Review.

A resurgence in interest examining thermal pasteurization technologies has been driven by demands for “cleaner” labeling and the need of organic and natural foods markets for suitable preventive measures to impede microbial growth and extend shelf life of minimally processed foods and ready-to-eat foods with a concomitant reduction in the use of chemical preservatives. This review describes the effects of thermal pasteurization on vegetable quality attributes including altering flavor and texture to improve consumer acceptability, stabilizing color, improving digestibility, palatability and retaining bioavailability of important nutrients, and bioactive compounds. Here, we provide kinetic parameters for inactivation of viral and bacterial pathogens and their surrogates and marker enzymes used to monitor process effectiveness in a variety of plant food items. Data on thermal processing protocols leading to higher retention and bioactivity are also presented. Thermal inactivation of foodborne viruses and pathogenic bacteria, specifically at lower pasteurization temperatures or via new technologies such as dielectric heating, can lead to greater retention of “fresh-like” properties.
Physiological correlates of burrowing in rodents

Abstract 1. 1. Blood properties of valley pocket gophers, Thomomys bottae, and laboratory rats, Rattus novegicus, were examined to determine blood buffering capabilities. 2. 2. Hematocrit, plasma proteins and inorganic phosphate levels were not significantly different between these species. 3. 3. Oxygen capacity of the pocket gophers, 23·1 vol%, was greater than that of the rats, 20·8 vol% 4. 4. Bicarbonate concentration of pocket gopher blood, 28·1 mM/l., was significantly greater than that of the rats, 19·8 mM/l. 5. 5. The non-carbonic buffering strength as determined from CO2 titration curves of whole blood of pocket gophers, −2·67 log pOC2/pH unit, was greater than that of the rats, −1·39 log 4pCO2/pH unit. 6. 6. The greater buffering capacity of pocket gopher blood may account for the reduced sensitivity of ventilation rate in response to elevated burrow CO2 concentrations.
The Impact of Blade Loading and Unsteady Pressure Bifurcations on Low-Pressure Turbine Flutter Boundaries

The three major aeroelastic issues in the turbomachinery blades of jet engines and power turbines are forced response, nonsynchronous vibrations, and flutter. Flutter primarily affects high-aspect ratio blades found in the fan, fore high-pressure compressor stages, and aft low-pressure turbine (LPT) stages as low natural frequencies and high axial velocities create smaller reduced frequencies. Often with LPT flutter analyses, physical insights are lost in the exhaustive quest for determining whether the aerodynamic damping is positive or negative. This paper underlines some well-known causes of the LPT flutter in addition to one novel catalyst. In particular, an emphasis is placed on revealing how local aerodynamic damping contributions change as a function of unsteady (e.g., mode shape, reduced frequency) and steady (e.g., blade torque, pressure ratio) parameters. To this end, frequency domain Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) CFD analyses are used as computational wind tunnels to investigate how aerodynamic loading variations affect flutter boundaries. Preliminary results show clear trends between the aerodynamic work influence coefficients and variations in exit Mach number and back pressure, especially for torsional mode shapes affecting the passage throat. Additionally, visualizations of qualitative bifurcations in the unsteady pressure phases around the airfoil shed light on how local damping contributions evolve with steady loading. Final results indicate a sharp drop in aeroelastic stability near specific regions of the pressure ratio, indicating a strong correlation between blade loading and flutter. Passage throat shock behavior is shown to be a controlling factor near the trailing edge, and as with critical reduced frequency, this phenomenon is shown to be highly dependent on the vibratory mode shape.
Life Sciences Law: Federal Regulation of Drugs, Biologics, Medical Devices, Foods and Dietary Supplements

Life Sciences Law: Federal Regulation of Drugs, Biologics, Medical Devices, Foods and Dietary Supplements 4th Edition, focuses on the most up-to-date issues and legal cases in food and drug law. This resource imparts a comprehensive analysis of food and drug law topics and the federal agencies that regulate this industry. The United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) mission, in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), is to protect the public health and safety. Human and Veterinary Drugs, Biologics, Medical Devices, Radiation Emitting Products, Cosmetics, Food, Tobacco and Dietary Supplements, Enforcement and ethical issues are covered. Each chapter contains introductory chapter highlights as well as overviews throughout. Landmark legal decisions are included as well as critical analysis issues to explore. There is a separate CD: Food and Drug Act, Related Laws, Websites and FDA Resources and a separate Instructor’s Manual in CD format.
Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Status of Asian, Hispanic, and Non-Hispanic White Family Caregivers of Older Adults Across Generations

Using the 2009 California Health Interview Survey, this study examines and compares the sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions of Asian (N = 591), Hispanic (N = 989), and White (N = 6,537) American caregivers of older adults by race/ethnicity and three successive immigrant generations. Second-generation Asian and Hispanic caregivers were the youngest while White counterparts were the oldest. The later the Asian and Hispanic generation, the better their educational attainment, but the poorer their health status. Findings suggest the importance of awareness of generational differences so that social workers can provide culturally and generationally appropriate services to racially/ethnically diverse caregiver populations more effectively.
Supreme Court as Civic Educator: Free Speech According to Justice Kennedy

Recent analyses of the First Amendment free speech opinions of the Rehnquist Court have confirmed that decisions in this area of the law contradict the traditional ideological labels that scholars and other Court commentators routinely use to describe the justices. However, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, whose opinions defined much of the Rehnquist Court's speech jurisprudence, is still described in terms of his First Amendment "libertarianism." In this article, I argue that this approach provides an inadequate understanding of this aspect of the judicial decision-making of the Justice who is now the sole occupant of the "swing" seat on the Roberts Court. Kennedy is a free speech libertarian, but rather than describing his opinions in terms of this ideology, we should focus on the goal of civic education that he uses his judicial opinions to achieve. Kennedy's interest in civic education became publicly apparent in 2001 when, in collaboration with the American Bar Association, he created the Dialogue on Freedom. The principles of this extra-judicial program are inextricably intertwined with Kennedy's jurisprudence. In the area of expressive freedom, the importance of civic education can be seen in the Justice's opinions in Texas v. Johnson (1989), Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the Uni. of Va. (1995), and Hill v. Colorado (2000). In all three cases Kennedy authored opinions passionately defending the concept of, and educating the public about the importance of maintaining viewpoint diversity. To substantiate my conclusions I draw on Justice Kennedy's pre- and post-confirmation speeches, and the papers of Justice Blackmun.
Applied Polymer Science — A Forecast

This lecture attempts to forecast into the first decade of the 21st century new developments, expansions and targets of polymer science and engineering. The emphasis shall not be led on the prediction of quantities, production facilities and prices of the large “commodity plastics” but rather on the probable appearance of new molecules and processing techniques which are expected to open up new domains of properties and applications.
Laparoscopic right colectomy vs laparoscopic-assisted colonoscopic polypectomy for endoscopically unresectable polyps: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in complication rates and length of stay (LOS) between laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC) and laparoscopic-assisted colonoscopic polypectomy (LACP) for endoscopically unresectable polyps of the right colon. Method A single-centre RCT (NCT01986699) was conducted on patients with polyps of the right colon deemed by the gastroenterologist to be unresectable. Patients underwent a repeat colonoscopy with biopsy by an interventional endoscopist and were allocated to LRC or LACP. Patients with a nonlift sign, dysplasia, adenocarcinoma, inflammatory bowel disease or familial adenomatous polyposis were excluded from the trial. The study was powered to detect a 73% difference in the LOS which required 17 patients in each arm with an α error of 0.05 and a power of 95%. Results Thirty-four patients were comparable for age (P = 0.919), gender (P = 0.364), body mass index (P = 0.634), American Society of Anesthesiologists class (P = 0.388) and previous abdominal surgery (P = 0.366). There was no significant difference in the preoperative morphology (P = 0.485), location (P = 0.297), size (P = 0.690) or histology of the polyps (P = 0.779). LRC patients experienced a longer operating time (180 vs 90 min; P = 0.001), required more intravenous infusion (3.1 vs 2.0 l; P = 0.025), took significantly longer to pass flatus (2.88 vs 1.44 days; P < 0.001), resumed solid food later (3.94 vs 1.69 days; P < 0.001) and had a longer postoperative LOS (4.94 vs 2.63 days; P < 0.001). Postoperative complications (P = 0.656), readmissions (P = 0.5) and reoperations (P = 0.5) did not differ. Final size (P = 0.339) and histology (P = 0.104) of the polyps did not differ. There were four cancers in the LRC arm. At follow-up colonoscopy with biopsy of the scar in 10 patients at 15.3 months, one patient had recurrence of the polyp at the site of the previous LACP. Conclusion LACP and LRC had similar complication rates, but LOS was shorter after LACP.
Eavesdropping on the family: a pilot investigation of corporal punishment in the home.

This study tested the feasibility of using audio recorders to collect novel information about family interactions. Research into corporal punishment (CP) has relied, almost exclusively, on self-report data; audio recordings have the promise of revealing new insights into the use and immediate consequences of CP. So we could hear how parents respond to child conflicts, 33 mothers wore digital audio recorders for up to 6 evenings. We identified a total of 41 CP incidents, in 15 families and involving 22 parent–child dyads. These incidents were evaluated on 6 guidelines culled from the writings of CP advocates. The results indicated, contrary to advice, CP was not being used in line with 3 of the 6 recommendations and for 2 others, the results were equivocal. The last recommendation could not be assessed with audio. Latency analyses revealed children, after being hit, were misbehaving again within 10 minutes after 73% of the incidents. Mothers’ self reports about whether they used CP were found to correspond to the audio data in 81% of the cases. Among the mothers who were hitting, CP occurred at a much higher rate than the literature indicates. These results should be viewed as preliminary because of the small sample of families and the even smaller number of families who used CP. Nevertheless, this pilot study demonstrates that audio recording naturally occurring momentary processes in the family is a viable method for collecting new data to address important questions about family interactions.
Propranolol induces regression of hemangioma cells through HIF-1α-mediated inhibition of VEGF-A.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of propranolol on regression of infantile hemangiomas.Background:Propranolol has been found to be effective in treatment of severe hemangiomas of infancy. However, its mechanism of action is as yet unknown.Methods:Cultured proliferating and involuting hemangiom
Economical Dispatch of Microgrid Considering Plug-in Electric Vehicles

The characteristic of the electric vehicle(EV)power is summarized.The Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the charging and discharging behaviors of EVs,and the load characteristic curves of plug-in EVs of different scales are obtained. The demand characteristic of uncoordinated charging EVs and the capacity curve of controlled charging and discharging EVs in the vehicle-to-grid(V2G)mode are analyzed.Then the multi-objective economical dispatch model for microgrid considering plug-in EVs is developed.Take the one-day economical dispatch of a certain area,which shows the optimal dispatch results of different strategies and different objective functions are obtained with the priority list based on the software package of Visual C++.Finally,the availability and feasibility of the model are verified through a comparative analysis.
A case of hypofibrinogenemia following vaginal surgery: With the subsequent development of homologous serum jaundice

Abstract A case is presented of hypofibrinogenemia which developed during a Manchester vaginal plastic operation in a patient who subsequently suffered from homologous serum jaundice.
Outcome of ventriculoperitoneal shunt and predictors of shunt revision in infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts in infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) are prone to failures, with some patients at risk for multiple revisions. The objective of our study is to observe long-term outcomes and identify factors leading to proximal and distal multiple failures. We performed a retrospective review of infants with PHH that required VP shunt placement between 1982 and 2014. These patients were monitored clinically and radiographically after VP shunt placement. A total of 502 surgical procedures (initial shunt insertion and revisions) were performed, with 380 shunt revisions in 102 (84 %) patients. Median shunt survival time was 54 months (0.03–220 months). Shunt survival was significantly affected by the following factors: intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH, grade II–III, 95 months vs. grade IV, 28 months, p = 0.022), birth weight ( 1.5 kg, 22 months, p = 0.005), gestational age (>27 weeks, 90 months vs. 27 cm), congenital anomalies, infection, and obstruction increased the proximal and distal shunt malfunction. Long-term outcome of VP shunt placement in infants revealed a relatively high rate of complications requiring shunt revision as late as 30 years after initial placement. Infants with VP shunts should be monitored lifelong of these patients by neurosurgeons.
A microprocessor-based ocean-bottom seismometer

For over 12 years, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has operated a fleet of microprocessor-based ocean-bottom seismometers. These instruments free-fall to the seafloor and release their anchors and rise to the surface either at preset times or on receipt of an acoustic command. The instruments are contained in a single spherical pressure case and include geophones with a 1-Hz natural period, and differential pressure gauges responsive to acoustic signals between 0.003 and 30 Hz. Recent improvements described in detail here include the implementation of a C-44 bus 80C88 microprocessor and cassette recorders capable of storing up to 10 days of data digitized at 128 samples/sec, or 40 days at 32 samples/sec. In addition, tiltmeters have been installed in the instruments. Serial links to the processor and release timers provide for instrument checkout and the setting of time and data parameters from outside the pressure case. A portable laboratory also described here is used to prepare the instruments for deployment at sea.
Traditional and Nontraditional Medicine in a Yucatec Maya Community

Traditional Yucatec Maya herbal medicine survives in eastern Quintana Roo. Here, both hmeen (curers/ritualists) and ordinary people continue to use traditional herbs, but fewer species over time and with more and more introduction not only of biomedical cures but also of folk cures from other parts of Mexico. The result is a free, open, dynamic system in which individuals choose what seems to work and what seems to offer hope.
Mass Spectrometric Identification and Quantification of Compounds Involved in the Metabolism of Pyrazofurin

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric techniques were developed for the identification and quantification of pyrazofurin, orotic acid, and orotidine in human serum and urine. Free pyrazofurin was detected for the first time in both the serum and urine of patients receiving the drug. Plasma clearance studies established that the level of pyrazofurin decays exponentially with a half-life of the distribution phase of approx. 10 min. Urinary excretion yields only 10% of the total drug administered (in 10 days). Orotic acid and orotidine were positively identified in urine; quantification revealed that 20–100 mmole of orotic acid and 40–80 mmole of orotodine are excreted in a period of 8-10 days. Pyrazofurin 5’-phosphate was identified for the first time in cells (both T and B type) incubated with pyrazofurin. These findings together with the results of reversal experiments support the assumption that the mode of operation of the drug is the interruption of the conversion of orotidine 5’-monophosphate to uridine 5’-monophosphate in the course of the biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides.
Boundary conformal field theory and symmetry protected topological phases in $2+1$ dimensions

We propose a diagnostic tool for detecting nontrivial symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases protected by a symmetry group G in 2+1 dimensions. Our method is based on directly studying the 1+1-dimensional anomalous edge conformal field theory (CFT) of SPT phases. We claim that if the CFT is the edge theory of an SPT phase, then there must be an obstruction to cutting it open. This obstruction manifests as the in-existence of boundary states in the CFT that preserves both the conformal symmetry and the global symmetry G. We discuss the relation between edgeability, i.e., the ability to find a consistent boundary state, and gappability, i.e., the ability to gap out a CFT, in the presence of G. We study several cases including time-reversal symmetric topological insulators, ZN symmetric bosonic SPT phases, and Z2×Z2 symmetric topological superconductors.
Oil Sovereignty, American Foreign Policy, and the 1968 Coups in Iraq

This analysis assesses American foreign policy toward the Ba’ath Party’s 1968 coup in Iraq. Whilst prominent American business groups expressed sympathy for the new Ba’athist regime in Baghdad, the...
Molybdenum Incorporation Induced Enhancement in the Mechanical Properties of Gallium Oxide Films

An approach to design Ga2O3-based nanomaterials with tunable mechanical properties is presented. In the molybdenum (Mo) incorporated Ga2O3 model system, where Mo content (x) is varied up to ≈11 at%, Mo-incorporation induced effects are significant on the structural and mechanical properties. Single-phase β-Ga2O3 formation occurs for lower Mo content (≤4 at%); however, higher Mo content induces the crystalline-to-amorphous structural transformation. Mechanical characterization reveals that the hardness of the Ga–Mo–O nanocrystalline films increases for Mo ≤ 10 at%, at which point hardness decreases due to Mo-induced structural transformation. However, the elastic modulus of Ga–Mo–O decreases continuously with Mo incorporation. The Ga–Mo–O exhibits maximum H (≈36 GPa) for 10 at% Mo, where Mo-incorporation induces enhancement in hardness as well as plasticity index parameter. Based on the results, a structure–composition–mechanical property correlation in Ga–Mo–O films is established.
Robustly stable economic NMPC for non-dissipative stage costs

Abstract We analyze the inherent robustness properties of an economic NMPC formulation in which the controller trades off rate of convergence and economic performance. We show that this controller is input-to-state practically stable under reasonable assumptions. Our formulation does not require dissipativity with respect to the stage costs being optimized, as is required by existing economic MPC formulations. Instead, our formulation enforces dissipation in the form of a Lyapunov inequality that is constructed by using traditional tracking cost terms. Consequently, the proposed approach can be applied to a wider range of systems. We also demonstrate that the controller provides high flexibility to optimize economic performance and remains robust in the face of disturbances.
Apartheid in the Great Outdoors: American Advertising and the Reproduction of a Racialized Outdoor Leisure Identity

This article provides evidence of a racialized outdoor leisure identity perpetuated in magazine advertisements. The evidence is based on a content analysis of 4000+ advertisements from three magazi...
A TFIID-SAGA Perturbation that Targets MYB and Suppresses Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Targeting of general coactivators is an emerging strategy to interfere with oncogenic transcription factors (TFs). However, coactivator perturbations often lead to pleiotropic effects by influencing numerous TFs. Here we identify TAF12, a subunit of TFIID and SAGA coactivator complexes, as a selective requirement for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) progression. We trace this dependency to a direct interaction between the TAF12/TAF4 histone-fold heterodimer and the transactivation domain of MYB, a TF with established roles in leukemogenesis. Ectopic expression of the TAF4 histone-fold fragment can efficiently squelch TAF12 in cells, suppress MYB, and regress AML in mice. Our study reveals a strategy for potent MYB inhibition in AML and highlights how an oncogenic TF can be selectively neutralized by targeting a general coactivator complex.
Intervertebral disc joint replacement technology

Publisher Summary The goal of Intervertebral Disc Replacements [“IDR―] technology is to replace fusion as a treatment modality by both pain elimination and structural restoration with preservation of spinal mobility (flexion-extension, lateral-bending and rotation). The first step in this pursuit is to exceed the clinical outcome and performance of spinal fusions in those people where operative intervention has been indicated. The local systemic and biologic effects of long-term use of metal alloys and polymeric materials remain largely uncharacterized. However, when evaluating the biocompatibility of a particular metal component, the results do not necessarily apply to all implants made of the same material. What works well in the lumbar region as an IDR might not work in a scaled down version in the cervical spine. Reasons for poor implant performance can be attributed to many factors, including manufacturing errors, mechanical design errors, surgical errors and inappropriate choice of material for a given application. Wise material selection cannot compensate for poor implant design or surgical error. This chapter highlights that currently there is no universal best material for all implant applications.
The Family of Faith: The Place of Natural Mentoring in the Church's Christian Formation of Adolescents

Previous research has shown that an important resource in adolescent development is the presence of natural mentors. Yet what is the impact of natural mentoring on adolescents' spiritual developmen...
Efficient Synthesis of Mutants Using Genetic Crosses

The genetic cross is a fundamental, flexible, and widely-used experimental technique to create new mutant strains from existing ones. Surprisingly, the problem of how to efficiently compute a sequence of crosses that can make a desired target mutant from a set of source mutants has received scarce attention. In this paper, we make three contributions to this question. First, we formulate several natural problems related to efficient synthesis of a target mutant from source mutants. Our formulations capture experimentally-useful notions of verifiability (e.g., the need to confirm that a mutant contains mutations in the desired genes) and permissibility (e.g., the requirement that no intermediate mutants in the synthesis be inviable). Second, we develop combinatorial techniques to solve these problems. We prove that checking the existence of a verifiable, permissible synthesis is NP-complete in general. We complement this result with three polynomial time or fixed-parameter tractable algorithms for optimal synthesis of a target mutant for special cases of the problem that arise in practice. Third, we apply these algorithms to simulated data and to synthetic data. We use results from simulations of a mathematical model of the cell cycle to replicate realistic experimental scenarios where a biologist may be interested in creating several mutants in order to verify model predictions. Our results show that the consideration of permissible mutants can affect the existence of a synthesis or the number of crosses in an optimal one. Our algorithms gracefully handle the restrictions that permissible mutants impose. Results on synthetic data show that our algorithms scale well with increases in the size of the input and the fixed parameters.
Analysis of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

This chapter is dedicated to the study of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The assays are divided into two sections. In the first section, we describe detailed protocols for performing life span analysis in solid and liquid medium. In the second section, we describe various assays for measuring age-related changes. Our laboratory has been involved in several fruitful collaborations with non-C. elegans researchers keen on testing a role for their favorite gene in modulating aging (Carrano et al., 2009; Dong et al., 2007; Raices et al., 2008; Wolff et al., 2006). But even with the guidance of trained worm biologists, this undertaking can be daunting. We hope that this chapter will serve as a worthy compendium for those researchers who may or may not have immediate access to laboratories studying C. elegans.
Ethnicity and Periphery: The Archaeology of Identity in Russian America

Capitalism did not extend around the globe by an invisible hand; it was imposed in face-to-face encounters that drew European colonizers and indigenous populations into processes of confrontation, accommodation, and exchange. Russian conquest and rule of Alaska (1743–1867) was accompanied by class-mediated cultural fusion and the emergence of a new, creolized ethnicity, a transformation inscribed in textual records and archaeological sites of the colonial era. This chapter examines ethnic processes in Russian America on several scales: the dynamics of Russian participation in the capitalist world-system; relations of production within the colony, which varied as a function of supply and control; social hierarchy and interaction; and the material language of ethnic negotiation.
Evolving Communications Architectures: More Local Is More Green

Current mobile communications architectures have increasing energy costs on both a unit, and often a per bit, basis. As requirements for bandwidth to mobile devices increases, it is important that the linear growth in energy consumption be avoided, or mobile communications will become an increasing source of energy consumption, and visual obstruction. This chapter discusses the potential evolution of mobile architectures that can be both more responsive to usage growth and provide lower energy consumption through more localized access to mobile points of presence. This transition will dependent on a number of technology developments that can be foreseen in the reasonable future. These technologies include cognitive radio and networking, interference tolerance , and advanced wireless system architectures.
Exploiting a large thesaurus for information retrieval

Accuracy in information retrieval, that is, achieving both high recall and precision, is challenging because the relationship between natural language and semantic conceptual structure is not straightforward. However, effective retrieval requires that the semantic conceptual structure (or content) of both queries and documents be known. Natural language processing is one way to determine the content of a text. But, due to the complexity involved in natural language processing, various methods have been used which simulate (or approximate) representation of the content of both queries and documents.
Anomalous coupling between magnetic and nematic orders in quantum Hall systems

The interplay between different orders is of fundamental importance in physics. The spontaneous, symmetry-breaking charge order, responsible for the stripe or the nematic phase, has been of great interest in many contexts where strong correlations are present, such as high-temperature superconductivity and quantum Hall effect. In this article we show the unexpected result that in an interacting two-dimensional electron system, the robustness of the nematic phase, which represents an order in the charge degree of freedom, not only depends on the orbital index of the topmost, half-filled Landau level, but it is also strongly correlated with the magnetic order of the system. Intriguingly, when the system is fully magnetized, the nematic phase is particularly robust and persists to much higher temperatures compared to the nematic phases observed previously in quantum Hall systems. Our results give fundamental new insight into the role of magnetization in stabilizing the nematic phase, while also providing a new knob with which it can be effectively tuned.
Effect of narcotic prescription limiting legislation on opioid utilization following lumbar spine surgery

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND CONTEXT Prescription opioid abuse is a public health emergency. Opioid prescriptions for spine patients account for a large proportion of use. Some states have implemented statutory limits on prescribers, however it remains unclear whether such laws are effective. PURPOSE This investigation compares opioid prescription patterns for patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery before and after the passage of statewide narcotic-limiting legislation in Rhode Island. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective review of prospectively-collected medical and pharmacologic data. PATIENT SAMPLE Two patient cohorts (pre-law January 1, 2016–June 31, 2016 and post-law June 1, 2017–December 31, 2017) that included all patients undergoing selected lumbar spine surgeries (lumbar discectomy, lumbar decompression without fusion, and posterior lumbar fusion). METHODS Demographic and surgical variables were collected from the patient's medical charts, and information on controlled substances was collected from the state prescription drug monitoring program database. Variables collected included the number of pills and total morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) of the first prescription, number of prescriptions filled within 30 days of surgery, total MMEs filled in the 30-day postoperative period, and total MMEs filled from 30 to 90 days after surgery. For comparison of continuous variables, t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used as appropriate. Chi-squared analysis was utilized for comparison of categorical variables. Independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative opioid use were evaluated using logistic regression. RESULTS There were no significant differences between pre-law (n = 241) and post-law (n = 311) cohorts in terms of age, sex, preoperative opioid use, or preoperative anxiolytic use (p > .05). A greater than 50% decline was observed among all patients from the pre-law to the post-law period in terms of the number of pills (51.61 vs 23.60 pills, p .05). CONCLUSIONS The institution of mandatory statewide opioid prescription limits has resulted in a significant reduction in initial and 30-day opioid prescriptions following lumbar spine surgery. Decreased opioid utilization was observed in all patients, regardless of preoperative opioid tolerance or procedure performed. No significant change in postoperative ED visits or unplanned hospital readmissions was seen following implementation of the legislation. This investigation provides preliminary evidence that narcotic limiting legislation may be effective in decreasing opioid prescriptions after lumbar spine surgery for both opioid-naive and opioid-tolerant patients.
Magnetic resonance imaging findings in brain resulting from high-voltage electrical shock injury of the scalp

We report a case of high-voltage electrical injury to scalp, focusing on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in brain. A 51-year-old male suffered burns to the right side of scalp and loss of consciousness following electric shock. Brain abnormalities were detected on MRI taken 4 days after the insult. Right parietal lobe neuroparenchyma beneath the scalp burn defect demonstrated homogeneous hypointensity on T1-weighted MR images, while T2-weighted images depicted hyperintensity mainly in white matter forming finger-like projections. Follow-up MRI showed that the abnormality had disappeared, indicating that the cerebral edema was reversible.