cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of hMLH1 and hMSH2 Gene Dosage Alterations in Lynch Syndrome Patients

Background & Aims: A significant proportion of Lynch syndrome cases are believed to be due to large genomic alterations in the mismatch repair genes hMLH1 and hMSH2 . However, previous studies have not adequately identified the frequency and scope of such mutations, and routine clinical Lynch syndrome testing often does not include analysis for these mutations. Our aim was to characterize hMLH1 and hMSH2 genomic rearrangements in a large population of suspected Lynch syndrome patients. Methods: A total of 365 samples from probands referred for genetic testing for Lynch syndrome were analyzed for the presence of large genomic alterations in hMLH1 or hMSH2 by using a combination of techniques. Samples with a deletion in exons 1–6 in hMSH2 were further characterized by polymerase chain reaction to establish the presence of the hMSH2 American founder deletion. Results: An hMLH1 or hMSH2 mutation was identified in 153 cases, and, of these, 12 of 67 (17.9%) and 39 of 86 (45.3%) had a large genomic alteration in hMLH1 and hMSH2 , respectively. Overall, 6 different hMLH1 and 12 different hMSH2 deletions/duplications, including 10 novel mutations, were identified. Analysis of the hMSH2 exon 1–6 deletion samples showed that 13 of 18 (72.2%) had the American founder deletion. Conclusions: These data show a high frequency and diverse spectrum of large genomic alterations in hMLH1 and hMSH2 in suspected Lynch syndrome patients. Thus, a comprehensive mutation identification strategy that includes the ability to detect large genomic rearrangements is imperative for the clinical genetic identification of Lynch syndrome patients and families.
A weighted logarithmic merit function for canonical correlation analysis

A weighted logarithmic merit function that incorporates a diagonal matrix is utilized for deriving a gradient dynamical system that converges to the actual canonical correlation coordinates of arbitrary data matrices. The equilibrium points of the resulting gradient system are determined and their stability is thoroughly analyzed. Qualitative properties of the proposed systems are analyzed in detail including the limit of solutions as time approaches infinity. The performance of this system is also examined.
Isotope modeling of nitric acid formation in the atmosphere using ISO-RACM: testing the importance of NO oxidation, heterogeneous reactions, and trace gas chemistry

Abstract. Here we present ISO-RACM, an isotope mass balance model that utilizes the Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism to predict Δ17O values in atmospheric nitrate. A large number of simulations were carried out that varied atmospheric parameters that are important in altering the magnitude and range of Δ17O values generated in photochemically produce nitrate. These parameters included temperature, relative humidity, actinic flux, aerosol surface area and chemical speciation, and three different N2O5 uptake parameterizations. Trace gas mixing ratios were also varied including CH4, CO, NOx, O3, volatile organic compounds and biogenic organic compounds. The model predicts that there are seasonal, latitudinal and diurnal variations in Δ17O values due to changes in actinic flux with lower values corresponding to higher actinic fluxes. There was also a minor positive correlation between higher Δ17O values and increased temperature. There were distinct differences in Δ17O depending on which N2O5 parameterization was used, mostly the result of changing relative humidity being a factor in two of the parameterization schemes. Changing CO and CH4 mixing ratios had negligible impact on Δ17O values but significant variation in magnitude and range were predicted with NOx, O3, and organic loading. High NOx and O3 generated high Δ17O with a narrow (10 ‰) range, while high organics led to low Δ17O values and a wider range of possible values. Implications for using Δ17O to evaluate NOx-NOy chemistry and aerosol formation processes are discussed, as is needed future research.
Thermoelastic Instability Monitoring for Preventing Spindle Bearing Seizure

Premature failure of machine tool spindle bearings is a major problem in production that results in enormous loss. One of the most common and costly premature failure modes is bearing seizure caused by excessive thermoelastic distortions. In this paper, a Stability Margin (SM) Chart is proposed to indicate bearing thermoelastic stability based on the expansions of the inner ring and rolling elements vs. the accommodations of the outer ring and housing. This SM Chart is prepared numerically based on a thermoelastic bearing model. The expansion vs. accommodation curve is obtained by a model-based monitor to estimate the temperatures and corresponding expansions of different bearing parts using online measurements of the spindle speed and the bearing outer ring/housing temperature. The experiments conducted on an instrumented spindle bearing with grease-lubricated bearings showed that the proposed SM Chart can indicate the margin of bearing thermoelastic stability more consistently than bearing outer ring/ho...
Social support, social strain, loneliness, and well-being among older adults: An analysis of the Health and Retirement Study *

This study proposed that, among older adults, higher support and lower strain received from each of the four relational sources (spouse/partner, children, family, and friends) were associated with reduced loneliness and improved well-being and that loneliness might mediate the relationship between support/strain and well-being. Structural equation modeling was conducted using a national sample of adults aged 50 years and older (N = 7,367) from the Health and Retirement Study. Findings indicated that support from spouse/partner and friends alleviated loneliness, while strain from all the four sources intensified loneliness; higher support and lower strain from various sources directly and indirectly improved well-being, with indirect effects mediated through reduced loneliness. It was concluded that, in later life, various sources of support/strain engender distinct effects on loneliness and well-being, and loneliness serves as one of the psychological pathways linking support/strain to well-being.
Evolution of plant parasitism among nematodes

Despite extraordinary diversity of free-living species, a comparatively small fraction of nematodes are parasites of plants. These parasites represent at least three disparate clades in the nematode tree of life, as inferred from rRNA sequences. Plant parasites share functional similarities regarding feeding, but many similarities in feeding structures result from convergent evolution and have fundamentally different developmental origins. Although Tylenchida rRNA phylogenies are not fully resolved, they strongly support convergent evolution of sedentary endoparasitism and plant nurse cells in cyst and root-knot nematodes. This result has critical implications for using model systems and genomics to identify and characterize parasitism genes for representatives of this clade. Phylogenetic studies reveal that plant parasites have rich and complex evolutionary histories that involve multiple transitions to plant parasitism and the possible use of genes obtained by horizontal transfer from prokaryotes. Developing a fuller understanding of plant parasitism will require integrating more comprehensive and resolved phylogenies with appropriate choices of model organisms and comparative evolutionary methods.
Compact graph representations and parallel connectivity algorithms for massive dynamic network analysis

Graph-theoretic abstractions are extensively used to analyze massive data sets. Temporal data streams from socio-economic interactions, social networking web sites, communication traffic, and scientific computing can be intuitively modeled as graphs. We present the first study of novel high-performance combinatorial techniques for analyzing largescale information networks, encapsulating dynamic interaction data in the order of billions of entities. We present new data structures to represent dynamic interaction networks, and discuss algorithms for processing parallel insertions and deletions of edges in small-world networks. With these new approaches, we achieve an average performance rate of 25 million structural updates per second and a parallel speed-up of nearly 28 on a 64-way Sun UltraSPARC T2 multicore processor, for insertions and deletions to a small-world network of 33.5 million vertices and 268 million edges. We also design parallel implementations of fundamental dynamic graph kernels related to connectivity and centrality queries. Our implementations are freely distributed as part of the open-source SNAP (Small-world Network Analysis and Partitioning) complex network analysis framework.
Prevalence and clinical features of mitral valve prolapse

As a consequence of advances in cardiac imaging, mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has become a commonly recognized finding, occurring in 2.5 % to 5 % of the general population. Original concepts of MVP were based on limited experience with highly select groups of subjects with nonejection clicks and mid to late systolic murmurs. Such subjects were typically found to have systolic billowing of the mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium on angiographic evaluation.lv2 Pathologic examination of affected valves often demonstrated myxomatous changes with disruption of collagen.3 Furthermore, follow-up of highly selected patients with MVP4s5 suggested increased risk for infective endocarditis, progressive mitral regurgitation, ruptured chordas, and sudden cardiac death. The advent of M-mode echocardiography permitted noninvasive detection of mitral leaflet displacement (prolapse) into the left atrium. This finding has been found to be associated with angiographic evidence of billowing mitral leaflets in subjects with the click-murmur syndrome.6s7 Two-dimensional echocardiography has been proposed, in advance of adequate validation studies, as the best available standard for the diagnosis of MVP.8 The ease with which mitral valve motion is depicted by echocardiography has resulted in widespread use of this tool for the definition of MVP. Owing to ease of detection and expanding interest in MVP, the medical literature swells with case reports of associations between MVP and an evergrowing list of clinical features and sequelae. It is no surprise that MVP was described in the 1970s as the “cardiac disease, of the decade.“g Recent studies, however, have underscored the benign clinical course of MVP, raising questions about the very existence of a “mitral valve prolapse syndrome.”
Combining Virtualization, resource characterization, and Resource management to enable efficient high performance compute platforms through intelligent dynamic resource allocation

Improved resource utilization and fault tolerance of large-scale HPC systems can be achieved through fine-grained, intelligent, and dynamic resource (re)allocation. We explore components and enabling technologies applicable to creating a system to provide this capability: specifically 1) Scalable fine-grained monitoring and analysis to inform resource allocation decisions, 2) Virtualization to enable dynamic reconfiguration, 3) Resource management for the combined physical and virtual resources and 4) Orchestration of the allocation, evaluation, and balancing of resources in a dynamic environment. We discuss both general and HPC-centric issues that impact the design of such a system. Finally, we present our prototype system, giving both design details and examples of its application in real-world scenarios.
Geometry-assisted gateway deployment for underwater sensor networks

Deploying radio-capable gateways at the sea surface can mitigate the limitations of acoustic communications in underwater sensor networks (UWSN). Finding the best placement for gateways is formulated as an ILP problem. The choice of gateway candidate locations can affect both the feasibility and the quality of the solution. In this paper, we show the limitation of using a regular mesh of candidate locations, and present a novel algorithm for defining candidate locations that both reduces the complexity of the optimization problem and enhances the feasibility and quality of the solution.
Radiation from a line source near an inhomogeneous layer

The electromagnetic field excited by an electric or magnetic line source in the vicinity of an inhomogeneous dielectric layer is considered. The variation in permittivity across the layer is essentially arbitrary. Expressing the fields in the layer in terms of solutions to the Hill equation yields exact integral representations for the fields reflected and transmitted by the layer. These are evaluated approximately using the saddle point technique. Expressions are given for the reflected and transmitted fields and the amplitude of the lateral wave. The characteristic equation for the bound waves is determined. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the behavior of the radiated fields, the lateral wave, and the surface waves as the permittivity profile is varied.
Functional reorganization and recovery after constraint-induced movement therapy in subacute stroke: Case reports

Preliminary assessments of the feasibility, safety, and effects on neuronal reorganization measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) from Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) of the upper extremity were made in eight cases of subacute stroke. Within fourteen days of their stroke, patients were randomly assigned to two weeks of CIMT or traditional therapy. Baseline motor performance and cortical/subcortical representation for movement with TMS were assessed before treatment. Post-treatment assessments were made at the end of treatment and at three months after the stroke. The TMS mapping showed a larger motor representation in the lesioned hemisphere of the CIMT patients as compared to the controls at the three-month follow-up assessment. The enlarged motor representation in the lesioned hemisphere for hand movement correlated with improved motor function of the affected hand, suggesting a link between movement representation size as measured with TMS and functionality. These results suggest that TMS can be safely and effectively used to assess brain function in subacute stroke and further suggest that CIMT may enhance cortical/subcortical motor reorganization and accelerate motor recovery when started within the first two weeks after stroke.
Uncertainty assessment by a Monte Carlo simulation in a life cycle inventory of electricity produced by a waste incinerator

Abstract The existence of uncertainties is often mentioned as a crucial limitation for a clear interpretation of LCA results. Due to this problem, slowly the uncertainty analysis is gaining importance in the realisation of LCAs, but its use is not common practise. As an example of application for a typical process chain of many LCAs, the uncertainties in the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of a life cycle study on waste incineration in Tarragona/Spain has been analysed. The procedure applied consists of selection of essential parameters, determination of probability distributions, Monte Carlo simulation, significance analysis and interpretation of the results. By the use of the obtained probability distributions for the essential factors in a Monte Carlo Simulation, the inventory results were transformed from a concrete value into a probability distribution around a mean value. The probability distributions obtained correspond to a better understanding of the magnitude of the uncertainties in LCA results.
Facilitating and Creating Synergies Between Teaching and Research: The Role of the Academic Administrator

Teaching and research are often seen as activities that compete for a faculty member’s time and energy. This perceived disconnect between teaching and research has been reinforced by a number of norms within the academy as well as by institutional practices related to how faculty are managed and rewarded. This article argues that teaching and research activities of faculty within business schools can have a synergistic relationship and explores the nature of that relationship particularly relative to how administrators can work with faculty to bridge the gap and better align teaching and research activities. Benefits of a closer alignment of teaching and research include teaching that is informed by the latest research findings and research that is more relevant to practicing managers and can be better understood by students.
Is Accuracy of Weight Perception Associated With Health Risk Behaviors in a Diverse Sample of Obese Adolescents

Current evidence is equivocal as to whether adolescent's perception of weight status is linked to both healthy and risky behaviors. This study examined the association between accurate and inaccurate perception of weight and self-reported health and risk behaviors among a diverse sample of obese, urban adolescents. Data were analyzed from 1,180 participants in the 2009 Philadelphia Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Health behaviors of obese students self-identifying as very or slightly overweight were compared to obese students who underestimated their weight status. Accurate self-identifiers of weight status were significantly more likely to report trying to lose weight, bullying victimization, and suicide attempts as compared to obese students underestimating their weight status. Findings suggest that it is important for school nurses to understand that perceived weight status confers distinct risk profiles and differing needs for health-related services related to the physical, mental, and social health of adolescents.
Approximately linear phase IIR polyphase filter design

An approximately linear phase allpass polyphase structure is presented which consists of a nonlinear phase allpass polyphase network cascaded with a allpass equalizer. The equalization is done at the input of the polyphase network in the interpolation case and at the output in the decimation case so that it can be performed at the lowest sampling rate. The authors also present correction filters to suppress the inherent 'don't care' bands of allpass polyphase structures. The suppression is also done at the lowest sampling rate. >
Separate information required for nuclear and subnuclear localization : additional complexity in localizing an enzyme shared by mitochondria and nuclei

The TRM1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae codes for a tRNA modification enzyme, N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase (m2(2)Gtase), shared by mitochondria and nuclei. Immunofluorescent staining at the nuclear periphery demonstrates that m2(2)Gtase localizes at or near the nuclear membrane. In determining sequences necessary for targeting the enzyme to nuclei and mitochondria, we found that information required to deliver the enzyme to the nucleus is not sufficient for its correct subnuclear localization. We also determined that mislocalizing the enzyme from the nucleus to the cytoplasm does not destroy its biological function. This change in location was caused by altering a sequence similar to other known nuclear targeting signals (KKSKKKRC), suggesting that shared enzymes are likely to use the same import pathway as proteins that localize only to the nucleus. As with other well-characterized mitochondrial proteins, the mitochondrial import of the shared methyltransferase depends on amino-terminal amino acids, and removal of the first 48 amino acids prevents its import into mitochondria. While this truncated protein is still imported into nuclei, the immunofluorescent staining is uniform throughout rather than at the nuclear periphery, a staining pattern identical to that described for a fusion protein consisting of the first 213 amino acids of m2(2)Gtase in frame with beta-galactosidase. As both of these proteins together contain the entire m2(2)Gtase coding region, the information necessary for association with the nuclear periphery must be more complex than the short linear sequence necessary for nuclear localization.
Design and Evaluation of a Thermo-TDR Probe for Geothermal Applications

A thermo-time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe can function both as a regular probe, for measuring moisture and density, and a dual heat probe, for measuring thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and volumetric heat capacity. This paper describes the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a newly developed thermo-TDR probe. The developed probe was first calibrated for its TDR function in chemicals with known dielectric constants and electrical conductivity. Then the probe was tested in three sands and Kaolin clay at different moisture contents and densities. Available methods for analyses of the thermo-TDR-acquired signals were presented and discussed. The measured thermal properties were also compared against a standard thermal probe KD2 pro. It was found that the thermo-TDR probe has satisfactory accuracy in measurements of soil thermal conductivity, moisture content, and dry density. Based on the test results, recommendations have been provided regarding the use of thermo-TDR probes for geothermal applications.
Holding Fast To A Dream: Estimating The Probabilities Of Class-Vulnerability And Class-Security Among The American Middle Class

The middle class has become increasingly vulnerable over the last 30 years for a number of reasons, which in part has compromised their capability to hold on to the American Dream. Still, we know very little about what proportion of the middle class is vulnerable at any given particular time and we know even less about why or even if these proportions fluctuate over time. Utilizing household and family data from the (PSID), this paper uses survival analysis to assess the odds of experiencing class-vulnerability and/or class-security among the American middle class. My results indicate that through major stages of adulthood, over 90 percent of individuals in the middle class will experience either economic event. Results also indicate that the risk of experiencing either economic event is dramatically stratified by race and education. While income may purchase a ticket into the middle class, this research shows that the lack of economic assets or net worth is leaving the American middle class very vulnerable to economic
Conventional Emulsion-Based Polymerizations

An emulsion is the name typically given to a small particle size dispersion of nonaqueous liquids or solids in a continuous aqueous matrix, typically stabilized by surface-active molecules. An emulsion is also referred to as latex. Polymer emulsions are typically synthesized through a process called emulsion polymerization (Dar et al. 2006).
Experimental Studies of Bonding Related Properties in Binary Intermetallics by Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction

Accurate Debye-Waller (DW) factors of chemically ordered β-NiAl (B2, cP2, ${\rm{Pm}}\bar 3 {\rm{m}}$ ) have been measured at different temperatures using an off-zone axis multi-beam convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) method. We determined a cross over temperature below which the DW factor of Ni becomes smaller than that of Al of ~90K. Additionally, we measured for the first time DW factors and structure factors of chemically ordered γ1-FePd (L10, tP2, P4/mmm) at 120K. We were able to simultaneously determine all four anisotropic DW factors and several low order structure factors using different special off-zone axis multi-beam convergent beam electron diffraction patterns with high precision and accuracy. An electron charge density deformation map was constructed from measured X-ray diffraction structure factors for γ1-FePd.
Covalent Assembly of Heterosequenced Macrocycles and Molecular Cages through Orthogonal Dynamic Covalent Chemistry (ODCC)

Shape-persistent heterosequenced 2-D macrocycles and 3-D molecular cages have been prepared in one pot from two or three different monomers, through orthogonal dynamic covalent chemistry using dynamic imine and olefin metathesis.
Electron-Phonon Coupling Strength of Specific Phonons from First Principles Lapw Calculations

Electron-phonon matrix elements, phonon linewidths and mode coupling strengths are being calculated for La2-xMxCuO4 (M-divalent cation, for paramagnetic x-0.0 and for x-0.15 in a rigid band picture) from first principles local density calculations. The change in potential due to a particular phonon mode is calculated from the difference of self-consistent one-electron potentials, and appropriate Fermi surface averages are carried out for selected modes, allowing us to obtain the phonon linewidth due to the electron-phonon interaction, and the corresponding coupling strength λQ. Here we establish the numerical accuracy within the dual representation of the potential used in the Linearized Augmented Plane Wave (LAPW) method. Evaluations of phonon linewidths and mode coupling strengths are presented for Al and Nb and compared with previous information on these modes. We present preliminary results for the full matrix elements and coupling of the La2CuO4 oxygen planar X-point breathing mode, and compare with a simpler approximation.
Stitches for Snitches: Lawyers as Whistleblowers

To be published at 50 UC D AVIS L AW R EVIEW 4 (April 2017). Stitches for Snitches: Lawyers as Whistleblowers Dennis J. Ventry, Jr.* This Article proves the lie of the prevailing wisdom that ethics rules forbid lawyers from blowing the whistle on a client’s illegal conduct. It critically examines a high-profile case in New York that ruled a lawyer whistleblower violated his ethical obligations by revealing confidential information to stop his employer-client from engaging in an alleged tax fraud of epic proportions (indeed, an alleged fraud that resulted in $35 billion in unpaid taxes). In particular, this Article argues that the court undertook a deficient analysis of New York ethics rules pertaining to permissive disclosure of confidential client information. Even if the lawyer whistleblower had violated his ethical obligations, the New York False Claims Act (the statute under which the whistleblower brought his action) expressly protects disclosure of confidential employer information made in furtherance of the statute. In addition to New York’s statutory shield, federal courts have developed a public policy exception safeguarding whistleblowers who disclose confidential information that detects and exposes an employer’s legal violations. In challenging the previously unchallenged criticism of lawyer whistleblowers, this Article acknowledges the guttural appeal of that critique. The idea of a lawyer revealing a client’s legal violations — particularly for a monetary award paid under a whistleblower statute — appears to threaten the attorney-client relationship. Nonetheless, lawyers have always had the discretion to disclose confidential information to prevent a client from committing certain crimes or frauds. Modern ethics rules further expand the circumstances under which a lawyer may reveal confidential client information, even if disclosure makes a lawyer eligible for financial awards. I. Introduction 2 II. The Vanguard Case and the Standard of Review for Whistleblower Complaints 4 III. Lawyer Whistleblowers and New York Ethics Rules 9 IV. Protecting Whistleblowers Who Disclose Confidential Information 21 V. A Readily Distinguishable Case and a Mismatched Lawyer Whistleblower 30 VI. A Defective Ethics Opinion Pertaining to Lawyer Whistleblowers 37 A. Flawed Premises about How and Why Employees Blow the Whistle 38 B. Misrepresenting Lawyers’ Eligibility under the SEC Whistleblower Program ......... 44 C. Misleading Analysis of SEC Ethics Rules vs. State Ethics Rules 49 D. Untenable Interpretation of Conflicts of Interest for Lawyer Whistleblowers 55 VII. Conclusion and Lessons Learned 60 Appendix: Disclosure Exceptions Contained in Ethics Rules from all 50 States and the District of Columbia Compared to the ABA Model Rules 62 I. Introduction In November 2015, a New York state court ruled against a plaintiff-whistleblower in a case brought under New York’s False Claims Act (FCA) 1 alleging that Vanguard Group, the
Research on flammability of two typical external insulation materials

Experimental study was carried out on the flammability of rock wool board(RWB) and extruded polystyrene insulation board(XPSB) by means of Cone Calorimeter.Experimental results show that the flame-retardant properties of the rock wool board are far better than that of polystyrene insulation board.The mortar of surface can obviously enhances the flame-retardant properties of polystyrene insulation board,but it has small effect on the rock wool board.At the same time the mortar will increase the smoke and toxic gases of thermal insulation materials.
Design of a New Energy-Saving Driving System for Oil Pumping Unit

Traditional oil drilling equipment cannot meet the demand of oilfield drilling technology in the late period,and the applification of hydraulic system itself has the advantages of big stiffness,the power and mass ratio being bigger than conventional beam pumping unit to improve the effect of energy saving, therefore it developed the hydraulic pumping unit with hydraulic energy recovery technology. Hydraulic energy recovery system is a new energy-saving hydraulic system. It can recover braking kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy of inertia loads, which has broad application prospects. Here,a new energy-saving hydraulic pumping unit with hydraulic energy recovery system for potential energy of vertical loads was designed, in which hydraulic motors, hydraulic pumps and accumulators were adopted for gravitational potential energy recycling. The computation and the analysis of the results showed significant energy-saving effect, which can be conducive to practical application.
Major Factors Analysis on Controlling the Formation of Favorable Reservoir in Deep Level of Bohai Bay Basin

Main controlling factors for the development of deep buried reservoirs in the Bohai Bay basin are discussed on sedimentation, diagenesis and other related factors. Besides the influence of sedimentation, low geothermic gradient, high deposition rate, high heating rate, high hydrocarbon generation intensity and overpressure are main factors for the formation of anomaly high porosity intervals in deep buried reservoirs of the Bohai Bay basin, because they affected the course and intensity of diagenesis. The relatively high porosity and high permeability intervals were best developed in the Huanghua depression, and second in the Liaohe depression, and worst in the Jizhong depression.
Vacuum-Assisted Venous Drainage: A 2014 Safety Survey

Despite the widespread use of vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) and case reports describing catastrophic incidents related to VAVD, there is a lack of data cataloging specific safety measures that individuals and institutions have incorporated into their VAVD practices for the prevention of these incidents. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to survey the perfusion community to gather data on VAVD practices, and to compare these current practices with literature recommendations and the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT) Standards and Guidelines. In September 2014, a survey was distributed via PerfList and PerfMail, and by direct e-mail to members of the New York State Society of Perfusionists, targeting certified clinical perfusionists in New York State. Survey topics pertaining to VAVD practice included 1) equipment, 2) pressure monitoring and alarms, 3) protocols, checklists, and documentation, and 4) VAVD-related incidents. Of ∼200 certified clinical perfusionists who live and/or work in New York State (NYS), 88 responded (42%). Most respondents (90.1%) report they use VAVD. Of these, 87.3% report that they monitor VAVD pressure, with 51.6% having audible and visual alarms for both positive and excessive negative pressures. At the institutional level, 61.2% of respondents reported that there is a protocol in place at for their team limiting negative pressure in the reservoir, 28.4% document VAVD pressure in the pump record, and AmSECT's three recommended VAVD checklist items are met with 53.7%, 55.1%, and 33.8% compliance. In conclusion, the results of this study reveal that the use of VAVD has increased and has become nearly universal in 2014. There is high compliance to some of the literature recommendations and AmSECT Standards and Guidelines, however, there are still some gaps between current practices and these recommendations. Continued improvement, both at the individual and institutional levels, will help to improve patient safety by preventing untoward events from occurring while using VAVD.
Addendum and erratum: A unified sequential identification structure based on convergence considerations

We wish to comment that Section IV of the above paper (Graupe and Fogel, 1976) assumes that the white noise sequence {Wk} considered in that section is a martingale difference sequence. Hence the line above equation (51a) should read: noise martingale difference sequence. Similarly, the line below equation (54) should read: when the martingale difference noise sequence . . . . and the line above equation (57) should become: and
Deconstructing constructive criticism: The nature of academic emotions associated with constructive, positive, and negative feedback

Abstract This study's approach to understanding constructive criticism , a ubiquitous learning experience but understudied topic in educational research, involved distinguishing it from positive and negative feedback via the emotions associated with receiving feedback. Undergraduates' perceptions of constructive criticism revealed that nearly all included an element of improvement, with many adding aspects of mentioning strengths or weakness and manner of delivery. Second, as students contemplated receiving constructive, positive, and negative feedback, they reported different emotions, both as indicated by different emotion factor structures for each of the feedback situations and by the magnitude to which they endorsed each factor. Third, students who defined constructive criticism as more disapproving endorsed lower levels of pleased satisfaction than students who held more optimistic views of what constitutes constructive criticism. Fourth, students identified as feedback-seekers reported higher levels of pleasant and lower levels of unpleasant emotions than feedback-avoiders after constructive and positive feedback.
Myosin light chain phosphorylation: modulation of basal and agonist-stimulated venular permeability

We have previously demonstrated that agonists increase microvascular permeability through a phospholipase C-nitric oxide synthase-guanylate cyclase cascade. The aim of this study was to further investigate the downstream end of the signaling pathway with a focus on myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. The apparent permeability coefficient to albumin was measured in isolated coronary venules. Under control conditions, the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside, as well as the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activator 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, increased venular permeability two- to threefold. Similarly, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate significantly elevated permeability. Inhibition of MLC phosphorylation with ML-7 significantly attenuated the hyperpermeability responses to the agonists. Furthermore, ML-7 dose dependently reduced basal venular permeability. Consistently, inhibition of dephosphorylation with the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin dramatically increased basal permeability. These results suggest that 1) PKG and PKC play an important signaling role in the regulation of endothelial barrier function and 2) MLC phosphorylation contributes to basal and agonist-stimulated microvascular permeability.
Wireless communication and spectrum sharing for public safety in the United States

With the vast number of fragmented, independent public safety wireless communication systems, the United States is encountering major challenges with enhancing interoperability and effectively managing costs while sharing limited availability of critical spectrum. The traditional hierarchical approach of emergency management does not always allow for needed flexibility and is not a mandate. A national system would reduce equipment needs, increase effectiveness, and enrich quality and coordination of response; however, it is dependent on integrating the commercial market. This article discusses components of an ideal national wireless public safety system consists along with key policies in regulating wireless communication and spectrum sharing for public safety and challenges for implementation.
Game-theoretic models for electric distribution resiliency/reliability from a multiple stakeholder perspective

ABSTRACTWe study decentralized decisions among resiliency investors for hardening electric distribution systems with governance, which could coordinate the achievement of social optimums. Significant investments are being made to build resilient infrastructure for society well-being by hardening electric distribution networks. However, whether independent investment decisions can reach social optimums is not well studied. Previous research has focused on optimization of system designs to improve resiliency with limited modeling efforts on the interactions of decentralized decision making. Within regulatory governance, we investigate interactions between two independent resiliency investors with a game-theoretic model incorporating detailed payoff functions. Moreover, we demonstrate the framework with typical data and sensitivity analyses. We find that the decentralized optimal solution is not a social optimum without governance and the government could subsidize grid hardening to achieve the social optimu...
THE EFFECT OF RADIOACTIVE RADIATIONS AND X-RAYS ON ENZYMES V. THE INFLUENCE OF VARIATION OF THE THICKNESS OF THE ABSORBING LAYER OF SOLUTIONS OF PEPSIN UPON THE RATE OF RADIOCHEMICAL INACTIVATION OF THE ENZYME.

Evidence is presented which indicates: (1) that the effect of gamma radiation is negligible with respect to that of beta radiation upon pepsin in dilute solution under the conditions employed in the experiments made; (2) approximately the thickness of fluid layer which may be regarded as necessary and sufficient to practically completely absorb the available beta radiation; (3) that the mean reaction speed coefficient in radiochemical inactivation of pepsin varies inversely with the volume of solution irradiated if the thickness of the fluid layer satisfies the sufficient condition stated in (2), and beyond this as far as has been studied.
Both 3-T dGEMRIC and Acetabular-Femoral T2 Difference May Detect Cartilage Damage at the Chondrolabral Junction.

In addition to case reports of gadolinium-related toxicities, there are increasing theoretical concerns about the use of gadolinium for MR imaging. As a result, there is increasing interest in noncontrast imaging techniques for biochemical cartilage assessment. Among them, T2 mapping holds promise because of its simplicity, but its biophysical interpretation has been controversial. We sought to determine whether (1) 3-T delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and T2 mapping are both capable of detecting cartilage damage at the chondrolabral junction in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI); and (2) whether there is a correlation between these two techniques for acetabular and femoral head cartilage assessment. Thirty-one patients with hip-related symptoms resulting from FAI underwent a preoperative 3-T MRI of their hip that included dGEMRIC and T2 mapping (symptomatic group, 16 women, 15 men; mean age, 27 ± 8 years). Ten volunteers with no symptoms according to the WOMAC served as a control (asymptomatic group, seven women, three men; mean age, 28 ± 3 years). After morphologic cartilage assessment, acetabular and femoral head cartilages were graded according to the modified Outerbridge grading criteria. In the midsagittal plane, single-observer analyses of precontrast T1 values (volunteers), the dGEMRIC index (T1Gd, patients), and T2 mapping values (everyone) were compared in acetabular and corresponding femoral head cartilage at the chondrolabral junction of each hip by region-of-interest analysis. In the symptomatic group, T1Gd and T2 values were lower in the acetabular cartilage compared with corresponding femoral head cartilage (T1Gd: 515 ± 165 ms versus 650 ± 191 ms, p < 0.001; T2: 39 ± 8 ms versus 46 ± 10 ms, p < 0.001). In contrast, the asymptomatic group demonstrated no differences in T1 and T2 values for the acetabular and femoral cartilages with the numbers available (T1: 861 ± 130 ms versus 860 ± 182 ms, p = 0.98; T2: 43 ± 7 ms versus 42 ± 6 ms, p = 0.73). No correlation with the numbers available was noted between the modified Outerbridge grade and T1, T1Gd, or T2 as well as between T2 and either T1 or T1Gd. Without the need for contrast media application, T2 mapping may be a viable alternative to dGEMRIC when assessing hip cartilage at the chondrolabral junction. However, acquisition-related phenomena as well as regional variations in the microstructure of hip cartilage necessitate an internal femoral head cartilage control when interpreting these results. Level IV, diagnostic study.
The correlation of the standard 5 probe FISH assay with melanocytic tumors of uncertain malignant potential

Abstract Background FISH has recently emerged as a technique to better assess the malignant potential of histologically ambiguous melanocytic lesions. However, the usefulness of FISH has not been conclusively established. The purpose of this study was to further explore the diagnostic value of FISH in distinguishing the borderline melanocytic tumor (BMT) from melanoma. Method 73 cases with BMT were analyzed retrospectively from a dermatopathology database between 2010–2015. FISH studies were conducted in each case using probes targeting 5 loci including CCND1 on 11q13, RREB1 on 6p25, MYB on 6q23, CDKN2A on 9p21, and CEP 6 control probe for chromosome 6. Results The study was composed of 50 females and 23 males with an age range of 1–73 and a mean age of 35 years. Of the 6 cases in the superficial atypical Spitz tumor (AST) category, 2 had indeterminate results due to polyploidy. In the conventional atypical Spitz tumor cases, FISH was positive in 3 of 15 cases. Of the 27 cases in the borderline nevoid tumor (BNM) category, 3 showed positive FISH and 3 were equivocal due to the possibility of polyploidy. 3 of 13 cases of the borderline tumor of deep penetrating nevus variant (B-DPN) were positive for FISH. Neither of the 2 pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma (PEM) cases had positive FISH result. Of the 4 cases in the superficial atypical dermoepidermal nevomelanocytic proliferation group, only 1 met the FISH diagnostic criteria for melanoma. None of the 6 borderline tumors with overlapping features met FISH criteria diagnostic of melanoma. Clinical follow up was available on 55 patients. None of the patients had recurrence nor died of the disease. Lymph node biopsy was performed on five patients without evidence of metastasis. Conclusion Despite the benefits of FISH, it is limited by the fact that melanomas are not genetically identical whereby certain genetic abnormalities are only seen in specific subtypes. Additionally, FISH only targets specific chromosomes resulting in limitations in sensitivity and specificity. Although FISH has proven to be highly sensitive and specific in distinguishing unequivocally benign from malignant lesions, in cases of histopathological ambiguity, these parameters cannot be assessed with great confidence because the histopathological diagnosis (gold standard) is not without uncertainty. The 4-probe set (excluding 9p21) consistently showed chromosomal aberrations throughout all groups, but only 10 of the 73 total cases (13%) met the diagnostic criteria for melanoma. Moreover, it would be wise to establish new cytogenetic reference values that incorporate these borderline lesions in an effort to better assess the possibility of malignant behavior and or define a cytogenetic profile supportive of its categorization as an indeterminate proliferation. Polyploidy is another inherent limitation, which leads to false positives due to the absolute signal counts incorrectly reflecting relative imbalances in the tumor genome.
Hemifield columns co-opt ocular dominance column structure in human achiasma

In the absence of an optic chiasm, visual input to the right eye is represented in primary visual cortex (V1) in the right hemisphere, while visual input to the left eye activates V1 in the left hemisphere. Retinotopic mapping In V1 reveals that in each hemisphere left and right visual hemifield representations are overlaid (Hoffmann et al., 2012). To explain how overlapping hemifield representations in V1 do not impair vision, we tested the hypothesis that visual projections from nasal and temporal retina create interdigitated left and right visual hemifield representations in V1, similar to the ocular dominance columns observed in neurotypical subjects (Victor et al., 2000). We used high-resolution fMRI at 7 T to measure the spatial distribution of responses to left- and right-hemifield stimulation in one achiasmic subject. T_2-weighted 2D Spin Echo images were acquired at 0.8 mm isotropic resolution. The left eye was occluded. To the right eye, a presentation of flickering checkerboards alternated between the left and right visual fields in a blocked stimulus design. The participant performed a demanding orientation-discrimination task at fixation. A general linear model was used to estimate the preference of voxels in V1 to left- and right-hemifield stimulation. The spatial distribution of voxels with significant preference for each hemifield showed interdigitated clusters which densely packed V1 in the right hemisphere. The spatial distribution of hemifield-preference voxels in the achiasmic subject was stable between two days of testing and comparable in scale to that of human ocular dominance columns. These results are the first in vivo evidence showing that visual hemifield representations interdigitate in achiasmic V1 following a similar developmental course to that of ocular dominance columns in V1 with intact optic chiasm.
The Micropolitics of Legitimacy: Political Positioning and Journalistic Scrutiny at the Boundary of the Mainstream

When journalists elicit opinion and policy pronouncements from politicians, this engages a two-dimensional struggle over (1) where the politician stands on the issue in question and (2) the legitim...
Incidence and Epidemiology

The incidence of thyroid cancer is rising, and this rise in incidence is seen within all genders, races, and socioeconomic (SES) classes. The etiology of this rise in incidence remains unclear. It is known that the diagnostic cascade for thyroid cancer starts with identifying a thyroid nodule and subsequently undergoing ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA). In a small subset of thyroid cancer cases, there is an identifiable cancer risk factor: exposure to ionizing radiation or family history. However, for the overwhelming majority of thyroid cancer patients, there is no clear risk factor for their cancer. Although some speculate that a new or previously unidentified risk factor may explain the rising incidence of thyroid cancer, the majority of the existing data supports the theory of overdiagnosis of indolent disease. Regardless of the etiology of the rise in thyroid cancer incidence, there are implications for management. Differentiating the indolent disease from the potentially life-threatening disease is complicated and requires both a greater understanding of the pathogenesis and of the implications of the thyroid cancer epidemic.
INCREMENTAL ROLE OF RESTING MYOCARDIAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY PERFUSION FOR PREDICTING PHYSIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: A MACHINE LEARNING METHOD APPROACH

Evaluation of resting myocardial computed tomography perfusion (rCTP) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) may serve as a useful addition for determining coronary artery disease. To date, the role of rCTP for assessing the physiological significance of CAD is yet to be fully