cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-Buffering Antibody Formulations

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) often require the development of high-concentration formulations. In such cases, and when it is desirable to formulate a mAb around pH 5.0, we explored a novel approach of controlling the formulation pH by harnessing the ability of mAbs to "self-buffer." Buffer capacities of four representative IgG(2) molecules (designated mAb1 through mAb4) were measured in the pH 4-6 range. The buffer capacity results indicated that the mAbs possessed a significant amount of buffer capacity, which increased linearly with concentration. By 60-80 mg/mL, the mAb buffer capacities surpassed that of 10 mM acetate, which is commonly employed in formulations for buffering in the pH 4-6 range. Accelerated high temperature stability studies (50 degrees C over 3 weeks) conducted with a representative antibody in a self-buffered formulation (50 mg/mL mAb1 in 5.25% sorbitol, pH 5.0) and with solutions formulated using conventional buffers (50 mg/mL mAb1 in 5.25% sorbitol, 25 or 50 mM acetate, glutamate or succinate, also at pH 5.0) indicated that mAb1 was most resistant to the formation of soluble aggregates in the self-buffered formulation. Increased soluble aggregate levels were observed in all the conventionally buffered (acetate, glutamate, and succinate) formulations, which further increased with increasing buffer strength. The long-term stability of the self-buffered liquid mAb1 formulation (60 mg/mL in 5% sorbitol, 0.01% polysorbate 20, pH 5.2) was comparable to the conventionally buffered (60 mg/mL in 10 mM acetate or glutamate, 5.25% sorbitol, 0.01% polysorbate 20, pH 5.2) formulations. No significant change in pH was observed after 12 months of storage at 37 and 4 degrees C for the self-buffered formulation. The 60 mg/mL self-buffered formulation of mAb1 was also observed to be stable to freeze-thaw cycling (five cycles, -20 degrees C --> room temperature). Self-buffered formulations may be a better alternative for the development of high-concentration antibody and protein dosage forms.
Macrodiversity in IP based cellular networks

As cellular networks evolve into 3G and beyond, they will be designed around IP infrastructure to enable cost benefits besides better integration with the Internet. Several proposals have been made to handle fast handoffs in an IP based cellular network. All these proposals focus on the problem of routing packets in a fast and efficient manner. However, handoffs can also be used to exploit macrodiversity and increase coverage and capacity as is done in current CDMA networks via soft handoffs. We show that soft handoffs are not suitable for IP cellular networks and propose a new method to exploit macrodiversity via fast hard handoffs. Our method does not suffer the disadvantages of soft handoffs in IP cellular networks. We show through simulations that we can achieve coverage gains approaching those obtained by soft handoffs with our scheme.
Design of an application-cooperative management system for wireless sensor networks

This paper argues for the usefulness of an application-cooperative interactive management system for wireless sensor networks and presents SNMS, a sensor network management system. SNMS is designed to be simple and have minimal impact on memory and network traffic, while remaining open and flexible. The system is evaluated in light of issues derived from real deployment experiences.
THE RANKED PROBABILITY SCORE AND THE PROBABILITY SCORE: A COMPARISON1,, 2

Abstract In this paper, we compare the ranked probability score (RPS) and the probability score (PS) and examine the nature of the sensitivity of the RPS to distance. First, we briefly describe the nature of and the relationship between the frameworks within which the RPS and the PS were formulated. Second, we consider certain properties of the RPS and the PS including their range, their values for categorical and uniform forecasts, and their “proper” nature. Third, we describe the RPS and the PS in a manner that reveals the structure of and the relationship between these scoring rules. Fourth, we considered the RPS with reference to two definitions of distance and examine the nature of the sensitivity of the RPS to distance. The comparison of the RPS and the PS suggests that the RPS rather than the PS should be used to evaluate probability forecats, at least in those situations in which the variable of concern is ordered.
Hunting for ‘Bounty’ and Finding ‘Moral Autonomy’: The Dodd-Frank Act Expansion of Whistle Blower Protections

This paper focuses on the dramatic expansions of the whistle blower provisions of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, ( Dodd-Frank ) explores the notion of “moral autonomy” in relation thereto, and compares internal to external controls as mechanisms to curtail securities violations. The law allows whistle blowers to bring ‘qui-tam’-like lawsuits, collect huge bounties, and institute legal action against businesses that retaliate against them. It embraces strong external controls rather than enhancing internal controls, which have been centerpieces of anti-fraud measures in laws such as The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). The results of internal documentation of fraud or wrongdoing may be pre-emptive and protective, but external rewards for whistle blowing may incentivize, compel restitution, support enforcement by regulatory agencies, and aid prevention. These robust measures should prove successful and, thus, it is incumbent upon business to remain vigilant in its attitude and policies, highly sensitized to fraudulent activities, and alert to the specter of whistle blowing. Finally, because bounties and other munificent protections may give employees the right and security to proceed with whistle blowing, this also has the effect of strengthening ‘moral autonomy’ in the workplace.
Uncertain Precision and Price Reactions to Information

This paper models the effect of information on security prices when there is uncertainty regarding the precision of information. When uncertainty regarding precision is allowed, price response to information is neither linear nor even necessarily monotonic, because the market revises its expectation regarding the precision based on the signal realization. When the underlying information structure is conditionally multivariate normal, the price response (return) is nonlinear with the average response (response per unit of surprise) declining in the absolute magnitude of surprise. This nonlinearity occurs because the market associates lower precision with extreme news. When the precision is distributed in the form of a gamma, the returns function is unimodal in each quadrant ("S-shaped") and negatively sloped at the extremes. The extent of nonlinearity increases in the ex ante uncertainty regarding both the asset value and the precision of information.
The uncertain liability of accountants and other professionals in securities fraud cases: The shifting sands of Central Bank

Excerpt only. Full-text article is available only the publisher’s website at the link provided below. Published in Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting, 3(3), 46-67
On the blessing of abstraction

The "blessing of abstraction" refers to the observation that acquiring abstract knowledge sometimes proceeds more quickly than acquiring more speciﬁc knowledge. This observation can be formalized and reproduced by hierarchical Bayesian models. The key notion is that more abstract layers of the hierarchy have a larger "effective" sample size, because they combine information across multiple speciﬁc instances lower in the hierarchy. This notion relies on speciﬁc variables being relatively concentrated around the abstract "overhypothesis". If the variables are highly dispersed, then the effective sample size for the abstract layers will not be appreciably larger than for the speciﬁc layers. Moreover, the blessing of abstraction is counterbalanced by the fact that data are more informative about lower levels of the hierarchy, because there is necessarily less stochasticity intervening between speciﬁc variables and the data. Thus, in certain cases abstract knowledge will be acquired more slowly than speciﬁc knowledge. This paper reports an experiment that shows how manipulating dispersion can produce both fast and slow acquisition of abstract knowledge in the same paradigm.
Comparison of RECIST 1.0, PERCIST 1.0 and PCWG2 Treatment Response Criteria in Metastatic Castrate-Sensitive Prostate Cancer

514 Objectives To compare the application of 3 response criteria in men with metastatic castrate-sensitive prostrate cancer (mCSPC) undergoing hormonal treatment and in relationship to time to hormonal treatment failure (THTF). Methods 61 men with CSPC underwent FDG PET/CT at baseline and 4 mo after hormonal treatment. Treatment response was compared to baseline using RECIST 1.0, PERCIST 1.0 and PCWG2. Associations between patients’ response status and Time to Hormonal Treatment Failure (THTF) were examined. THTF was the duration in time between date of baseline PET/CT imaging and date of change to chemotherapy or date of death, with patients who were alive and who had not switched to chemotherapy censored at the last follow-up date. Response was compared using waterfall plots and THTF for patients with different response status (CR/PR, SD, and PD) was compared with log rank tests. Results Not all 61 patients were evaluable by all 3 response-criteria; the number of evaluable patients was 59 for PCWG2, 33 for RECIST 1.0 and 40 for PERCIST 1.0. The kappa statistics were as follows: 0.64 for RECIST 1.0 vs. PCWG2, 0.45 for PERCIST 1.0 vs. PCWG2, and 0.47 for PERCIST 1.0 vs. RECIST 1.0. The probability of free from THTF at 24 mo was 49%+/- 6% (n=61) with median THTF of 22.9 mo (95% CI: 11.5-43.9 mo). For all 3 response-criteria, the progressors (PD for PCWG2 and RECIST 1.0 and PMD for PERCIST 1.0) had significantly poorer prognosis with respect to THTF. Conclusions RECIST 1.0 was associated with least number of evaluable patients and most concordant with PCWG2. All 3 response-criteria progressors had significantly higher risk of THTF when compared to nonprogressors. Research Support NIH-NCI grants R01-CA111613 (PI: H. Jadvar) and P30-CA014089.
Perception of Incidental Success and Failure Stimuli by High and Low N Achievement Groups

Klein and Holt (1960) have suggested that an incidental stimulus is more likely to influence perception if it makes contact with an active drive schema. In addition, Smith, Spence, and Klein (1959) found that the effects of incidental stimulation depend upon their distance below the recognition threshold, the effects being most striking when stimuli are presented far below and just below the limen of recognition. College smdents, scoring high and low (12s = 10) on the need-achievement (NAch) scale of the Edwards PPS were asked to evaluate neutral faces which were presented for a 30-sec. interval while a success, neutral or failure word (IS) was superimposed tachistoscopically. Three durations of exposure (D) were used (.01, .02, and .04 sec.). The incidental words (IS) were also underexposed and matched for word length and Thorndike-Lorge frequency. On each trial S rated the supraliminal face on a 30-word list of adjectives which was separated into 4 categories: success (SA ) , failure (FA), aggressive-striving ( AA) , and passive (PA). No S was able to report accurately any of the IS words or letters at any duration. A separate analysis of variance was computed for each of the four groups of adjectives. No significant effects were found for the FA. Significant second order interactions (NAch X IS X D) were found for SA (p < .001), AA (p < .001) and PA (p < .025); significant first order interactions (IS X D) were indicated for SA (p < .001) and AA (p < ,001); and a significant main effect for (D) was found for PA (p < .025). Simple effects of the second order interactions were tested, and mean differences evaluated by the Duncan Multiple Range Test. Twenty-three of 24 tests of simple effects (for SA and AA) attained significance (p < .05) indicating that incidental, success, and failure stimuli lead to greater impressions of success and aggression in the supraliminal faces than do neutral stimuli when these stimuli are far from veridical, verbal recognition (.01 sec.). As the incidental stimuli approach conscious recognition (.02 and .04 sec.), success and failure words lead to significantly less attribution of success and aggression to the faces than do neutral words. The differences between group mean ratings of the passive adjectives parallel the above results, but in the opposite direction (only 3 of 12 tests reach significance). In general, the results for the high and low NAch groups are similar.
New treatment options for managing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia

New treatment options for managing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia are reviewed. The benefits of using colony-stimulating factors in cancer patients are evolving and include preventing neutropenia and decreasing its severity and duration. However, several areas of controversy regarding chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and the use of colony-stimulating factors remain: dose intensity, which colony-stimulating factor to use and when, and administration. Colony-stimulating factors have not been found to increase overall survival time in patients undergoing chemotherapy, but they are used to prevent febrile neutropenia, reduce hospitalizations, and improve quality of life. The methods of using colony-stimulating factors are also evolving, with altered administration showing potential as a means of reducing treatment cost. If the rate of febrile neutropenia for a given combination chemotherapy regimen is < 40%, routine prophylactic use of colony-stimulating factors is not considered cost-effective and is not recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Pegfilgrastim is filgrastim to which polyethylene glycol has been added to extend the drug's half-life and permit less frequent administration. The issue of dose intensity will continue to be evaluated as new cytotoxic agents and combinations are introduced. Better models for identifying patients most likely to benefit from colony-stimulating factors are needed.
Effect of Aging on Foamed Warm Mix Asphalt Produced by Water Injection

AbstractThis study evaluated the aging characteristics of foamed warm mix asphalt (WMA) produced by water injection in comparison to traditional hot mix asphalt (HMA). Two asphalt binders (PG 70-22 and PG 64-22) and one aggregate (12.5-mm NMAS limestone aggregate) were used in this study. The short-term and long-term aging of the two asphalt binders were simulated using the rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure aging vessel (PAV), respectively, while AASHTO’s standard practice for mixture conditioning for hot mix asphalt was used to simulate the short-term and long-term aging of the laboratory-prepared asphalt mixtures. The dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) was used to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of the original (unaged, RTFO-aged, and PAV-aged) and recovered asphalt binders; Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify and quantify the amount of functional groups present in the asphalt binders; and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was used to determine the molecular ...
Eddy current determination of the effects of cyclic strain and temperature on the magnetoresistivity of pure aluminum

An important characteristic of pure metals for use in low temperature conductor applications is the behavior of the material in the presence of a high magnetic field. Using the eddy current decay method, the magnetoresistivity of 99.99% and 99.999% aluminum is examined at temperatures of 4.2, 20, and 27.2 Kelvin and at fields of 0 to 7 Tesla. The effects of cyclic strain are also closely examined Comparisons of magnetoresistivity behavior of materials at different temperatures and with different defect concentrations, although with similar zero field resistivities, are made. The results show that magnetoresistivity is strongly dependent on the zero field resistivity. Furthermore, the effects of temperature are small, but noticeable, and the effects of strain and impurities on magnetoresistivity are apparently similar in nature. For materials with RR (ρrt/ρtemp) values of 400 or more, resistivity increases linearly at fields above 1 to 2 T. The onset of this linear behavior occurs at lower fields when the zero field resistivity of the material is lower, regardless of the test temperature, strain level, etc. In the range of variables covered, materials with a lower zero field resistivity always have a lower in-field resistivity for similar applied fields. The results also show that the measurement of transverse magnetoresistivity in situations where values of H*RR are greater than several thousand tesla may be unacceptable if the eddy current decay method is used; an anomalous voltagetime record is generated by the eddy current pickup coil.
Control of Influenza Virus Binding by Target Membrane Composition

Despite the availability of a vaccine for more than six decades, influenza infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality and a global health threat. Infectivity depends on viral hemagglutinin recognizing sialic acid in the host cell membrane to initiate endocytosis and deliver the viral RNA. We have investigated how the lipid composition of target membranes modulates viral binding by visualizing the interaction of fluorescently labeled virions with synthetic planar lipid bilayers in a microfluidic device. In comparative studies of membranes supplemented with seven different sterol analogues, ketocholesterol (K-chol) outperformed other sterol variants in enhancing viral capture. Membranes containing 10 mol % K-chol showed a 35% increase in viral binding when compared to 10 mol % cholesterol membranes and a 60% enhancement when compared to sterol-free membranes. FRAP measurements demonstrated that K-chol decreased lipid lateral diffusion constants by a factor of two, confirming that K-chol is differentially altering membrane behavior. Both heightened viral capture and diminished lipid diffusion rates were nonlinearly dependent on K-chol concentration. In addition, at a constant mol % sterol, K-chol-containing membranes showed a much greater sensitivity to GD1A concentration, saturating binding at 4-fold lower mol % GD1A than membranes containing an equimolar amount of cholesterol. These data are compatible with virus-membrane contact involving a multivalent interaction that is highly sensitive to membrane organization and lipid mobility. Therefore, membrane sterol composition modulates influenza virus-receptor binding in a manner closely correlated to nanoscale organization and dynamics. The resulting changes to receptor sensitivity may be important in controlling permissiveness to infection.
Impact Resistance of Single Crystal and Polycrystalline Man-Made Diamonds

The objective of this study was to provide an experimental basis for assessing the erosion resistance to high velocity particulate matter of single crystal and polycrystalline synthetic man made diamond materials. Single particle impact testing within the following parametric envelope was selected to provide the empirical erosion resistance data sought.
Chemistry of Polar Transition-Metal Oxides

Polar oxide materials represent a vast, varied, and technologically relevant class of materials. In this chapter, polar oxide materials are described through known structure types – perovskite, Aurivillius, and tetragonal tungsten bronze. For each of these structure types, specific polar oxides are discussed. In addition, multiferroic materials are described, as well as strategies for creating new polar oxides. Finally, the characterization of polar oxides is described along with a brief history of each measurement technique and data interpretation.
Outcomes for Students Receiving School-Based Physical Therapy as Measured by the School Function Assessment.

Purpose To describe School Function Assessment (SFA) outcomes after 6 months of school-based physical therapy and the effects of age and gross motor function on outcomes. Methods Within 28 states, 109 physical therapists and 296 of their students with disabilities, ages 5 to 12 years, participated. After training, therapists completed 10 SFA scales on students near the beginning and end of the school year. Results Criterion scores for many students remained stable (46%-59%) or improved (37%-51%) with the most students improving in Participation and Maintaining/Changing Positions. Students aged 5 to 7 years showed greater change than 8- to 12-year-olds on 5 scales. Students with higher gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I vs IV/V and II/III vs IV/V) showed greater change on 9 scales. Conclusions Positive SFA change was recorded in students receiving school-based physical therapy; however, the SFA is less sensitive for older students and those with lower functional movement.
It Takes a Full-Service Village to Treat Children With ADHD.

* Abbreviations: ADHD — : attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder EMR — : electronic medical record In this month’s issue of Pediatrics , the article titled “Preschool ADHD Diagnosis and Stimulant Use Before and After the 2011 AAP Practice Guideline”1 makes use of the aggregate of electronic medical records (EMRs) from multiple programs to investigate the effect of guideline recommendations on the practice of pediatricians. It is an innovative process that can provide more rigorous information about moving evidence into practice. It is encouraging for those of us who worked on crafting the revised guidelines to find some evidence about the impact of those recommendations. However, as the investigators point out, although they were able to find out that in preschool-aged children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), recommended criteria for the use of stimulant medications, specifically methylphenidate, did not result in an increase in its use in this age group, the frequency of behavioral parent training, the first-line recommended treatment,2 could not be determined. The challenge is that behavioral services … Address correspondence to Mark L. Wolraich, MD, OU Child Study Center, 1100 NW 13th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73117. E-mail: mark-wolraich{at}ouhsc.edu
A framework for parametric design optimization using isogeometric analysis

Abstract Isogeometric analysis (IGA) fundamentally seeks to bridge the gap between engineering design and high-fidelity computational analysis by using spline functions as finite element bases. However, additional computational design paradigms must be taken into consideration to ensure that designers can take full advantage of IGA, especially within the context of design optimization. In this work, we propose a novel approach that employs IGA methodologies while still rigorously abiding by the paradigms of advanced design parameterization, analysis model validity, and interactivity. The entire design lifecycle utilizes a consistent geometry description and is contained within a single platform. Because of this unified workflow, iterative design optimization can be naturally integrated. The proposed methodology is demonstrated through an IGA-based parametric design optimization framework implemented using the Grasshopper algorithmic modeling interface for Rhinoceros 3D. The framework is capable of performing IGA-based design optimization of realistic engineering structures that are practically constructed through the use of complex geometric operations. We demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness on both an internally pressurized tube and a wind turbine blade, highlighting its applicability across a spectrum of design complexity. In addition to inherently featuring the advantageous characteristics of IGA, the seamless nature of the workflow instantiated in this framework diminishes the obstacles traditionally encountered when performing finite-element-analysis-based design optimization.
Cerebellar granule cells encode the expectation of reward

The human brain contains approximately 60 billion cerebellar granule cells, which outnumber all other brain neurons combined. Classical theories posit that a large, diverse population of granule cells allows for highly detailed representations of sensorimotor context, enabling downstream Purkinje cells to sense fine contextual changes. Although evidence suggests a role for the cerebellum in cognition, granule cells are known to encode only sensory and motor context. Here, using two-photon calcium imaging in behaving mice, we show that granule cells convey information about the expectation of reward. Mice initiated voluntary forelimb movements for delayed sugar-water reward. Some granule cells responded preferentially to reward or reward omission, whereas others selectively encoded reward anticipation. Reward responses were not restricted to forelimb movement, as a Pavlovian task evoked similar responses. Compared to predictable rewards, unexpected rewards elicited markedly different granule cell activity despite identical stimuli and licking responses. In both tasks, reward signals were widespread throughout multiple cerebellar lobules. Tracking the same granule cells over several days of learning revealed that cells with reward-anticipating responses emerged from those that responded at the start of learning to reward delivery, whereas reward-omission responses grew stronger as learning progressed. The discovery of predictive, non-sensorimotor encoding in granule cells is a major departure from the current understanding of these neurons and markedly enriches the contextual information available to postsynaptic Purkinje cells, with important implications for cognitive processing in the cerebellum.
CIRCULATING FREE AND EXOSOMAL MICRORNAS AS BIOMARKERS OF SYSTEMIC RESPONSE TO HEART FAILURE

Background: Mir-486 and mir-146a are cardiomyocyte-enriched microRNAs that target proteins in cell signaling, survival, and self-regulation of inflammation. These microRNAs are released into circulation and can be detected in plasma or in circulating exosomes. Studies show that plasma miR-486 and
Emerging Roles of Carbonyl Sulfide in Chemical Biology: Sulfide Transporter or Gasotransmitter?

Abstract Significance: Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is the most prevalent sulfur-containing gas in the Earth's atmosphere, and it plays important roles in the global sulfur cycle. COS has been implicated in origin of life peptide ligation, is the primary energy source for certain bacteria, and has been detected in mammalian systems. Despite this long and intertwined history with terrestrial biology, limited attention has focused on potential roles of COS as a biological mediator. Recent Advances: Although bacterial COS production is well documented, definitive sources of mammalian COS production have not been confirmed. Enzymatic COS consumption in mammals, however, is well documented and occurs primarily by carbonic anhydrase (CA)-mediated conversion to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). COS has been detected in ex vivo mammalian tissue culture, as well as in exhaled breath as a potential biomarker for different disease pathologies, including cystic fibrosis and organ rejection. Recently, chemical tools for COS delivery ...
A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 79/150 Scaffolds Transient Receptor Potential A 1 Phosphorylation and Sensitization by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Activation.

Mechanical pain serves as a base clinical symptom for many of the world’s most debilitating syndromes. Ion channels expressed by peripheral sensory neurons largely contribute to mechanical hypersensitivity. Transient Receptor Potential A 1 (TRPA1) is a ligand-gated ion channel that contributes to inflammatory mechanical hypersensitivity, yet little is known as to the post-translational mechanism behind its somatosensitization. Here, we utilize biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral measures to demonstrate that metabotropic glutamate receptor-induced sensitization of TRPA1 nociceptors stimulates targeted modification of the receptor. Type 1 mGluR5 activation increases TRPA1 receptor agonist sensitivity in an AKA-dependent manner. As a scaffolding protein for Protein Kinases A and C (PKA and PKC, respectively), AKAP facilitates phosphorylation and sensitization of TRPA1 in ex vivo sensory neuronal preparations. Furthermore, hyperalgesic priming of mechanical hypersensitivity requires both TRPA1 and AKAP. Collectively, these results identify a novel AKAP-mediated biochemical mechanism that increases TRPA1 sensitivity in peripheral sensory neurons, and likely contributes to persistent mechanical hypersensitivity.
Collaborative protégé: enabling community-based authoring of ontologies

Ontologies are becoming so large in their coverage that no single person or a small group of people can develop them effectively and ontology development becomes a community-based enterprise. We present Collaborative Protege--an extension of the Protege ontology editor that we have designed specifically to support the collaboration process for a community of users. During the ontology-development process, Collaborative Protege allows users to hold discussions about the ontology components and changes using typed annotations; it tracks the change history of the ontology entities; it provides a chat and search functionality. Users edit simultaneously an ontology stored in a common repository. All changes made by a user are seen immediately by other users. Collaborative Protege is open source and distributed with the full installation of Protege.
PET Imaging of Human Brown Adipose Tissue with the TSPO Tracer [ 11 C]PBR28

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans has been recently rediscovered and intensively investigated as a new potential therapeutic target for obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, reliable assessment of BAT mass in vivo represents a considerable challenge. The purpose of this investigation is to demonstrate for the first time that human BAT depots can be imaged with a translocator protein (TSPO)-specific positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [11C]PBR28 under thermoneutral conditions. In this retrospective analysis, we analyzed the images of three healthy volunteers who underwent PET/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after injection of 14 m Ci of [11C]PBR28 at room temperature. Thirty-minute static PET images were reconstructed from the data obtained 60–90 min after the injection of the tracer. [11C]PBR28 uptake in the neck/supraclavicular regions was identified, which was parallel to the known distribution pattern of human BAT depots. These areas co-localized with the areas of hyperintensity and corresponded to fat on T1-weighted MR images. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was used to quantify [11C]PBR28 signal in BAT depots. The average (± SD) SUV(mean) and SUVmax for BAT depots was 2.13 (± 0.33) and 3.19 (± 0.34), respectively, while the average SUV(mean) for muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue was 0.79 (± 0.1) and 0.18 (± 0.04), respectively. In this brief article, we provide the first evidence suggesting that [11C]PBR28, a widely available TSPO-specific PET tracer, can be used for imaging human BAT mass under thermoneutral conditions.
Game based learning in improving students' derivative calculation skills

This paper has investigated the effectiveness of video game based learning in improving at-risk students' derivative calculation. Video game applets in the derivative calculation are developed for the study, and APOS theory is applied to analyze the results. Finally, future work is discussed.
A Constructive Theology of Deliverance: Redeeming the Internal Force of Being

A pastoral theology of deliverance—adapted from the religious language of Frederick Douglass himself—is a way of understanding the religious resources of Douglass and his contemporaries who existed in the slavocracy. A pastoral theology of deliverance challenges two principles: (1) the practice of forming and universalizing theologies, ethics, and praxis with cognitive faculties alone, and (2) forming such theologics in a culturally homogeneous environment. This chapter also argues that a pastoral theology of deliverance incorporates many of the same liberation objectives as black theology but also takes seriously the healing and sustaining benefits observed in traditional black religious experience. For Douglass, the goal of a theology of deliverance was the redemption of body, soul, and spirit, from the demonic grip of the slavocracy and other structures of radical evil.
Intraoperative Dexamethasone Reduces Readmission Rates Without Affecting Risk of Thromboembolic Events or Infection After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The use of perioperative dexamethasone has been proven to reduce pain and shorten recovery for patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. However, the effect of these medications on 90-day readmissions and the rates of clinically significant venous thromboembolic events (VTE) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) remains unknown. Methods Patients undergoing unilateral, primary total joint arthroplasty between 2009 and 2016 in a single institution were identified. There were 6617 patients who did not receive dexamethasone intraoperatively compared to 1293 patients who received a single, intraoperative, intravenous dose of dexamethasone (8-10 mg). The primary outcomes were the rate of clinically significant VTE and 90-day readmission. Secondary outcomes included wound complications, periprosthetic joint infection, and 90-day mortality. Results While the overall rate of clinically symptomatic VTE was lower in the dexamethasone group, this did not reach significance in a univariate analysis (0.1% vs 0.2%, P = .353). Only body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.24; P = .006) and longer length of stay (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.28; P = .001) were associated with VTE in the multivariate analysis (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.04-2.36; P = .319). However, the use of intravenous dexamethasone was independently associated with a reduction in 90-day readmission rate (1.6% vs 2.5%; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36-0.90; P = .016). There was no difference in the rate of periprosthetic joint infection or mortality. Conclusion A single, intraoperative, low dose of dexamethasone is not associated with a reduction in clinically significant VTE but may be a safe and effective adjunct medication to lower 90-day readmission rates. Level of Evidence Level III.
After Cairo: women's reproductive and sexual health, rights, and empowerment.

In the December 2000 issue of the American Journal of Public Health Adrienne Germain and Steven Sinding contributed to the extensive discussion that has taken place before and after the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. Both Germains editorial and Sindings commentary present illuminating perspectives on the range of issues that have developed over the years albeit with somewhat different conclusions. This article presents the views of Allan G. Rosenfield on the status of womens reproductive and sexual health rights and empowerment after the ICPD in Cairo citing examples from the articles by Germain and Sinding. Rosenfield notes that the national family planning programs between the late 1960s and the early 1990s became one of the major public health successes of the 20th century. However much remains to be done to provide the services of these programs in many of the poorer countries in Africa and South Asia. In this regard several suggestions are made by Rosenfield in order that the ICPD agenda be fully implemented focusing on the reallocation of funds and resources of governments throughout the world toward social investment.
Credit Scoring Using Binary Quantile Regression

This paper presents an application of binary quantile regression to the problem of credit scoring. Credit scoring techniques are extensively employed by financial institutions in an effort to predict credit worthiness of loan applicants. Commonly used parametric models like logit and probit discrimination assume that the probability of a “bad” loan (default) is given by P(D = 1|X) = F(X′β), where D is the indicator of default, X is a vector of costumer characteristics, and F is a known distribution function. In an effort to better control risk, a number of recent studies propose using semiparametric single index models, as well as, nonparametric alternatives like neural networks and classification trees.
Spatial analysis of factors influencing choice of paediatric practice for mothers from low‐income and minority populations

AIM Publicly reported quality data theoretically enable parents to choose higher-performing paediatric practices. However, little is known about how parents decide where to seek paediatric care. We explored the relationship between geographic factors, care quality and choice of practice to see if the decision-making process could be described in terms of a 'gravity model' of spatial data. METHODS In the context of a randomised controlled trial, we used a geographic information system to calculate flow volume between practice locations and participants' homes, to locate subjects within a census tract, to determine distances between points and to perform exploratory mapping. Generalised linear modelling was then used to determine whether the data fit a gravity model, which is a spatial model that evaluates factors impacting travel from one set of locations to another. RESULTS A total of 662 women and 52 paediatric practices were included in the analysis. Proximity of a practice to home was the most important factor in choosing a practice (Z = -15.01, P < 0.001). Practice size was important to a lesser extent, with larger practices more likely to be chosen (Z = 8.96, P < 0.001). A practice's performance on quality measures was associated with choice only for women who had received an intervention to increase use of quality data (Z = 2.51, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The gravity model and the concept of flow can help explain the choice of paediatric practice in a predominantly low-income, racially ethnic minority (non-White) urban population. This has important ramifications for the potential impact of publicly reported quality data.
Comprehensive characterization of the adult ND4 Swiss Webster mouse retina: Using discovery-based mass spectrometry to decipher the total proteome and phosphoproteome.

Purpose Diverse groups of proteins play integral roles in both the physiology and pathophysiology of the retina. However, thorough proteomic analyses of retinas of experimental species are currently unavailable. The purpose of the present paper is providing the field with a comprehensive proteomic characterization of the retina of a commonly used laboratory mouse using a discovery-based mass spectrometry (MS) approach. Methods Retinas from eight male and eight female 30-week-old outbred ND4 Swiss Webster mice were harvested and immediately processed for MS analysis on a Thermo Fisher (TF) Fusion Orbitrap MS. The retinal proteome and phosphoproteome were identified and subsequently analyzed using Proteome Discoverer 2.2 and Panther-GeneGo. SEQUEST-HT scoring was used for analysis, and the reference protein FASTA database was from Mus musculus. Specifically, three technical repeats were performed for each biological sample. For characterization, only high-scoring peptides were considered, with a false discovery rate (FDR) of <1%. Downstream bioinformatic analysis used Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA; Qiagen). Results Using Proteome Discoverer 2.2, 4,767 different proteins were identified and segregated into 26 major protein classes, 9 functional molecular classes, and 12 categories of biological processes. The five largest protein classes included the following: nucleic acid binding (17%), hydrolases (13%), enzyme modulators (10%), transferases (9%), and oxidoreductases (6%). "Binding" and "catalytic" proteins contributed to 81% of the molecular function class at 37% and 42%, respectively. "Cellular processing" and "metabolic processes" contributed the most to biologic activity, at 31% and 26%, respectively. Phosphopeptide enrichment yielded the identification of 610 additional unique proteins that were not originally identified. The two datasets combined produced an adult mouse retinal proteome consisting of 5,377 unique proteins. Overall, 41% of the retinal proteome was phosphorylated. The overwhelming diversity of retinal protein functionality was reflected through further analyses revealing 2,086 unique pathway hits across 241 different pathways (TF). A core analysis summary report was performed in IPA (Qiagen) to analyze the top signaling networks, protein-protein interaction (PPI) enrichments, and canonical pathways. Conclusions Using this high-throughput technique, we have further deciphered and updated the diverse proteome of the mouse retina, including the phosphoproteome, thereby providing the most comprehensive proteomic profile for this tissue known to date. These findings, and the bioinformatic analyses we also provided, establish a platform for future studies, facilitating the elucidation of the relevance of these proteins to the molecular and cellular pathologies that underlie retinal function and disease.
Overcoming exposure to complex stressors: An examination of protective coping mechanisms for low-income urban African American youth

Abstract Low-income urban African American youth experience multiple uncontrollable stressors (e.g., community violence) that impact the severity of controllable stressors (e.g., academic stressors), leading to negative life outcomes. The literature suggests the coping response may mitigate this pathway, yet as most research has assessed individual stressors in isolation, it remains unclear how different coping strategies may benefit youths across different stressors. To address this gap, 143 youth (93.7% African American or Black; M age = 10.1 years) completed the Response to Stress Questionnaire as a measure of academic and violent stressors and respective coping strategies, as well as the Behavioral Assessment System for Children as a measure of social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Results indicated slightly lower levels of perceived control over violent versus academic stressors, with higher levels of violent stressors significantly associated with higher levels of academic stressors. Cluster analysis revealed two coping typologies for each type of stressor, with disengagement strategies in response to violent stressors and engagement strategies in response to academic stressors generally emerging as the most adaptive. The coping response significantly differed based on level of each stressor, and coping moderated the relationship between violent stressors and internalizing problems such that disengagement strategies were generally more beneficial but lost their status as a protective factor for youth exposed to the highest levels of violence.
Modeling rectal cancer to advance neoadjuvant precision therapy.

Progress in rectal cancer therapy has been hindered by the lack of effective disease-specific preclinical models that account for the unique molecular profile and biology of rectal cancer. Thus, we developed complementary patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and subsequent in vitro tumor organoid (PDTO) platforms established from preneoadjuvant therapy rectal cancer specimens to advance personalized care for rectal cancer patients. Multiple endoscopic samples were obtained from 26 Stages 2 and 3 rectal cancer patients prior to receiving 5FU/RT and implanted subcutaneously into NSG mice to generate 15 subcutaneous PDXs. Second passaged xenografts demonstrated 100% correlation with the corresponding human cancer histology with maintained mutational profiles. Individual rectal cancer PDXs reproduced the 5FU/RT response observed in the corresponding human cancers. Similarly, rectal cancer PDTOs reproduced significant heterogeneity in cellular morphology and architecture. PDTO in vitro 5FU/RT treatment response replicated the clinical 5FU/RT neoadjuvant therapy pathologic response observed in the corresponding patient tumors (p < 0.05). The addition of cetuximab to the 5FU/RT regiment was significantly more sensitive in the rectal cancer PDX and PDTOs with wild-type KRAS compared to mutated KRAS (p < 0.05). Considering the close relationship between the patient's cancer and the corresponding PDX/PDTO, rectal cancer patient-derived research platforms represent powerful translational research resources as population-based tools for biomarker discovery and experimental therapy testing. In addition, our findings suggest that cetuximab may enhance RT effectiveness by improved patient selection based on mutational profile in addition to KRAS or by developing a protocol using PDTOs to identify sensitive patients.
Measurement of latent image in resist using scanning probe techniques

The most pressing issue facing extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) as a multi-node technology is the inability to effectively manage stochastic effects. Fundamentally linked to the discrete nature of absorbed light (photons) and photo or electron-active components in the photoresist, stochastic effects lead to non-idealities in printed features, which for lines manifests itself as line edge and width roughness, and in the extreme cases, line breaks and bridges. However, measurement of stochastic propagation in photoresist has been hampered by the lack of metrology capable of probing the resist at intermediate stages of the patterning process. Here we present the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure the image in resist prior to photoresist development. In particular, the method was used to analyze the role of bake time on important resist metrics such as critical dimension, edge roughness, and roughness correlation length.
Sensitive Detection of GPS Spoofing Attack in Phasor Measurement Units via Quasi-Dynamic State Estimation

We propose the use of a quasi-dynamic-state estimator to detect GPS spoofing attacks and assist in recovering from attacks on power grids. Numerical results show that this method is sensitive to GPS spoofing attacks with robust performance regardless of measurement noise.
Arts and Jewish Day School Education in North America

Jewish educators debate the value of the arts within an education system which is fraught with issues of dual curriculum, vision, time, and budget. This chapter examines the goals, content, and methodology of how the arts are being taught in North American Jewish day schools. The author identifies two basic models: arts-based schools and arts-infused schools, and draws a continuum of curriculum integration where the teaching of the arts ranges from arts as discrete disciplines to multidisciplinary integration.
And now, the rest of the story…: A critical reflection on Paechter (2018) and Hamilton et al. (2019)

Abstract Recent feminist scholarship on femininities favorably incorporates into research notions of what Raewyn Connell (1987) labeled “emphasized femininity,” yet some scholars have concentrated on “hegemonic femininities,” either conceptualizing hegemonic femininities in relation to hegemonic masculinities, or casting hegemonic femininity as a free-standing, non-relational concept that can only properly be understood through an intersectional analysis. In this article, I critically reflect on two representative articles on hegemonic femininities, authored by Carrie Paechter (2018) and Laura T. Hamilton et al. (2019). I first argue that both papers misrepresent the work of Connell. Following that, I augment the two articles through a delineation of recent research on various types of femininities, especially scholarship on emphasized femininities and “dominant femininities.” I conclude the paper by examining how further scholarly work has enlarged upon and contributed new insight to the relationship among femininities, hegemonic masculinities, and intersectionality.