cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy for high-risk low-grade glioma

Background The addition of procarbazine, lomustine, vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT) for patients with high-risk (≥40 y old or subtotally resected) low-grade glioma (LGG) results in an absolute median survival benefit of over 5 years. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of this treatment strategy. Methods A decision tree with an integrated 3-state Markov model was created to follow patients with high-risk LGG after surgery treated with RT versus RT+PCV. Patients existed in one of 3 health states: stable, progressive, or dead. Survival and freedom from progression were modeled to reflect the results of RTOG 9802 using time-dependent transition probabilities. Health utility values and costs of care were derived from the literature and national registry databases. Analysis was conducted from the health care perspective. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis explored uncertainty in model parameters. Results Modeled outcomes demonstrated agreement with clinical data in expected benefit of addition of PCV to RT. The addition of PCV to RT yielded an incremental benefit of 4.77 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (9.94 for RT+PCV vs 5.17 for RT alone) at an incremental cost of $48635 ($188234 for RT+PCV vs $139598 for RT alone), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $10186 per QALY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrates that within modeled distributions of parameters, RT+PCV has 99.96% probability of being cost-effectiveness at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100000 per QALY. Conclusion The addition of PCV to RT is a cost-effective treatment strategy for patients with high-risk LGG.
Connections Among Identity, Attachment, and Psychological Dating Aggression During Adolescence

The collective influence of identity styles and romantic attachment insecurity on psychological dating aggression was examined for 1,975 adolescents living in a southern state in the United States....
Youth Participation: A Critical Element of Research on Child Well-Being

The social scientific study of children is an evolving discipline, a fact that benefits society in that our knowledge about the lives of children presumably improves with every refinement of the scientific method. Among the latest and most important innovations to appear is Search Institute’s methodology of developmental assets, which offers a “set of benchmarks” for families and communities to follow to help ensure “positive child and adolescent development” (Benson, Leffert, Scales, & Blyth, 1998). The framework of developmental assets represents a huge step forward in social science because it studies positive youth development, not merely negative actions such as delinquency or drug use, and strives to characterize both “external assets” in the community and “internal assets” held by children themselves.
Web Based Automated Inspection and Quality Management

Quality management (QM), which includes quality monitoring, data analysis and data reporting, requires continuous inspection of product quality, process quality and equipment/tool condition. Product quality monitoring inspects the products after they have been manufactured or assembled. This does not provide a real-time indication of the process that is making the product. Hence, it becomes more of a non-value added task to separate the good from the bad. On the other hand, process quality or equipment/tool condition monitoring provides value-added real-time feedback of the drift in the process. This information will be useful for adaptive control of the process and equipment, to produce good parts and assemblies. With the advent of the web, and its use to control various aspects of manufacturing and assembly, real-time web-based Automatic Inspection (AI) and QM have become very attractive and viable. Web-based AI and QM will enable effective real-time integration of shop-floor dynamics into the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and the Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPS). This will provide effective monitoring and adaptive control of the manufacturing enterprise and its supply chain.
BALLISTICS FUNCTION MODELLING IN REAL TIME DIGITAL COMPUTERS

Ballistic modelling, especially gun ballistics, is a complex function in real time fire control system (FCS) digital computer programs. In gun fire control systems, the ballistics module consumes a significant portion of the memory and time resources. Efficient ballistics modelling is necessary to provide accurate, sufficient coverage of required ballistics effects without excessive commitment of FCS computer resources. Various modelling techniques are available with varying degrees of suitability, dependent upon the specific requirements. The ballistics modelling must consider computer memory, computational time, accuracy, extent, adaptability, and cost. The simplest modelling technique that meets all requirements is preferred. Examples are provided of existing ballistics modelling.
An Adaptive Chlamydia trachomatis-Specific IFN-γ-Producing CD4+ T Cell Response Is Associated With Protection Against Chlamydia Reinfection in Women

Background: Adaptive immune responses that mediate protection against Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) remain poorly defined in humans. Animal chlamydia models have demonstrated that CD4+ Th1 cytokine responses mediate protective immunity against reinfection. To better understand protective immunity to CT in humans, we investigated whether select CT-specific CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T cell cytokine responses were associated with protection against CT reinfection in women. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 135 CT-infected women at treatment and follow-up visits and stimulated with CT antigens. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells expressing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and/or IL-2 were assessed using intracellular cytokine staining and cytokine responses were compared between visits and between women with vs. without CT reinfection at follow-up. Results: A CD4+TNF-α response was detected in the majority (77%) of study participants at the treatment visit, but a lower proportion had this response at follow-up (62%). CD4+ IFN-γ and CD4+ IL-2 responses occurred less frequently at the treatment visit (32 and 18%, respectively), but increased at follow-up (51 and 41%, respectively). CD8+ IFN-γ and CD8+ TNF-α responses were detected more often at follow-up (59% for both responses) compared to the treatment visit (30% for both responses). At follow-up, a CD4+IFN-γ response was detected more often in women without vs. with reinfection (60 vs. 33%, P = 0.005). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a CT-specific CD4+ IFN-γ response is associated with protective immunity against CT reinfection and is thus an important component of adaptive immunity to CT in women.
Current Status of Immunology Education in US Schools and Colleges of Pharmacy

Objective. To determine the extent of immunology education in US Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs.Methods. Curricular information on immunology education was collected from the web pages of US ...
Machine Learning Approach to Improve Satellite Orbit Prediction Accuracy Using Publicly Available Data

Efficient and high precision orbit prediction is increasingly crucial for improved Space Situational Awareness. Due to the lack of the required information such as space environment conditions and characteristics of Resident Space Objects (RSOs), satellite collisions have happened, partially because that the solely physics-based approaches can fail to achieve the required accuracy for collision avoidance. With the hypothesis that a Machine Learning (ML) approach can learn the underlying pattern of the orbit prediction errors from historical data, in this paper, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) is explored for improving the orbit prediction accuracy. Two publicly available Two-Line Element (TLE) catalog and International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) catalog are used to validate the proposed ML approach. The position and velocity components of 11 total RSOs maintained at both catalogs are studied. Results of the study demonstrate that the designed dataset structure and SVM model can improve the orbit prediction accuracy with good performance on most cases. The performance on RSOs belonging to different orbit types is analyzed using different sizes of training and testing data. Results of the paper demonstrate the potential of using the proposed ML approach to improve the accuracy of TLE catalog.
Role of protein charge in reversed micellar extraction

Behavior of a series of fusion proteins of varying charge in reversed micellar extraction was studied. The proteins consisted of the enzyme glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori joined to short peptides containing from 0-10 additional aspartate residues. The fusions were partitioned into two different cationic surfactant systems, one based on the surfactant trioctyl methyl ammonium chloride (TOMAC) and the other on cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). These two systems differed chiefly in micelle size as measured by the surfactant to water ratio, WQWater numbers were determined for the TOMAC system, with values of approximately 10, and as a function of pH and ionic strength for CTAB for each of the mutant enzymes. For the CTAB system, water numbers were as low as 50 with NaCl concentrations of 500 mM and as high as 68 at 300 mM NaCl. The enzyme partitioned most strongly using CTAB, with maximal recoveries approaching 95%. However, in the CTAB system there were no significant differences in behavior between the mutants because of the relatively large micellar size, even under high salt concentrations. Extraction of the control enzyme from clarified cell broth indicated that broth components did not interfere with
Controlling Evolution: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018

2018 was a revolutionary year in the field of chemistry as the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 to three brilliant chemists (Figure 1): Dr. Frances H. Arnold—“ for the directed evolution of enzymes ”; Dr. George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter (jointly)—“ for the phage display of peptides and antibodies” [1] . Their phenomenal contribution in controlling the evolution of enzymes and binding proteins and using them for the benefit of humankind has revolutionized the industry and academia alike for the past few decades.
Addressing rape culture in the LGBTQ+ community through consciousness-raising: a developmental study

Despite being at increased risk when compared to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts, LGBTQ+ university students remain invisible or, at best, underserved by current rape prevention progr...
Recurrent pleomorphic dermal sarcoma of the temporal bone: Case report and literature review

Abstract Background Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) lie on a diagnostic spectrum and have been previously classified as benign (BFH) or malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). We report a Case of recurrent PDS of the temporal bone and systematically review literature regarding this tumor spectrum presenting in the auricle and temporal bone. Case presentation A 71-year-old male presented with AFX of the left tragus five years after undergoing radiotherapy for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the left auricle. He underwent total auriculectomy, lateral temporal bone resection, and right anterolateral thigh myocutaneous free flap reconstruction (ALTFF). The tumor recurred in the infratemporal fossa requiring re-excision and left ALTFF. Adjuvant radiotherapy was deferred by the patient. There are 104 reported cases presenting in the auricle, periauricular skin, or temporal bone (93 AFX, 7 MFH, 2 BFH, 1 UPS, 1 PDS). All were treated with surgery; 3 cases of MFH were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Conclusion PDS remains a clinical challenge due to its wide diagnostic spectrum and unpredictable nature. Multimodal treatment should be considered in aggressive or recurrent cases.
Potential of endophytic fungi collected from Cucurbita pepo roots grown under three different agricultural mulches as antagonistic endophytes to Verticillium dahliae in western Washington

Verticillium dahliae is a significant pathogen in cucurbit cropping systems for which there are limited control options outside of soil fumigation. Endophytes, fungi and bacteria that live within plant hosts without impacting the host negatively, have exhibited antagonism to V. dahliae. The objectives of this study were to survey potential V. dahliae-antagonistic endophytes from roots of 'Cinnamon Girl' pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) grown under either polyethylene (PE), an experimental polylactic acid/ poly(hydroxalkanoate) (PLA/PHA) mulch, Weed Guard Plus, or no mulch, as well as from 'Sugar Baby' watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), and 'Tetsukabuto' squash (C. maxima x C. moschata). Four selected endophytes were screened for antagonism against V. dahliae in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field. A total of 777 isolates of potential fungal endophytes were recovered from pumpkin, watermelon, and squash roots between 2015 and 2016 of which 198 isolates were identified down to the genus level. Of those isolates, frequency of isolation was greatest for Dichotomopilus/Chaetomium spp. (5%), Cladosporium spp. (15.2 %), Clonostachys spp. (5.6 %), Epicoccum spp. (22.2 %), and Fusarium spp. (24.7 %). All five genera only weakly associated with roots grown under a particular mulch treatment (Cramer's V = 0.22) or cucurbit host (Cramer's V = 0.1925). In a laboratory culture plate assay, V. dahliae isolate JAW-113 was plated against one of four prospective endophytes (Dichotomopilus sp., Epicoccum sp., Microdochium sp., or Schizothecium sp.). The area under the Verticillium culture growth curve (AUVGC) was significantly highest (P < 0.0001) when V. dahliae was by Schizothecium sp. or Dichotomopilus sp. In a greenhouse study using a Mason jar assay with V. dahliae amended potting mix, pumpkin plant vigor, plant fresh weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for plants inoculated with Dichotomopilus sp., Epicoccum sp., Microdochium sp., and Schizothecium sp. compared to plants without endophyte inoculation. Subsequent field trials in 2017 and 2018 showed no significant differences in foliar disease severity or fruit yield, regardless of whether plants were inoculated with an endophyte or not. However, recovery of V. dahliae colony forming units from pumpkin stem sap was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) for plants inoculated with either Dichotomopilus sp. or Schizothecium sp. in 2017 or Dichotomopilus sp. in 2018.
Scattering by Cascades of Aerofoils with Realistic Geometry

In this chapter we present an analytic solution for rotor-stator interaction noise. Material from this chapter is published as [7] and builds on the work in [4, 5]. The present solution extends previous work by [13] and Posson et al. [27] by accounting for blade geometry and angle of attack, thus enabling us to study the important effects of aerofoil profiles. Furthermore, we will find expressions for the acoustic potential function throughout the entire flow domain, and will therefore not be limited to upstream [25] and downstream [26] regions. We model a single Fourier component of turbulence incident on the cascade, which we represent as an unsteady convected gust. Accounting for blade geometry complicates the application of the boundary conditions but, by making use of an orthogonal coordinate transform, we are able to model the blades as flat plates in our parametric coordinate system. We seek a perturbation expansion in terms of the disturbance of the background flow from uniform flow in order to make analytic progress. In a similar way to the aforementioned works, the solution is derived using the Wiener–Hopf method. The resulting Fourier transform is inverted via contour integration to obtain the acoustic potential.
The role of fruits and fires in the germination of a rare subshrub, Amorpha georgiana (Fabaceae)1

Seed dormancy is a trait that has evolved to maximize germination when environmental conditions are optimal for successful recruitment of new individuals into a population. Physical dormancy is one such trait common in legumes and release from this condition is often associated with disturbance events, such as fire. Changes to the specific conditions (e.g., climate, fire regimes) that release seeds from dormancy can have negative effects on populations, especially of rare species. Therefore, understanding the species-specific requirements needed to release seeds from dormancy and induce germination provides insight into ecological processes, effects of changing environmental conditions, and potential conservation actions. Amorpha georgiana (Fabaceae) is a rare subshrub with indehiscent fruits (pods) found in fire-maintained longleaf pine habitats in the southeastern United States. The germination ecology of this species is largely unknown. The goals of this study were to determine the presence of physically dormant seed in A. georgiana and then, through a series of laboratory-based experiments, resolve the fire related factors that effectively overcome dormancy and promote germination. The seeds of A. georgiana exhibit physical dormancy and show significantly higher germination after brief exposure to hot water (94 °C) compared to all other temperatures and treatments assessed. Regardless of treatment, seeds have low germination when retained in their pods, but the pod is not the cause of physical dormancy. We found enclosure within an indehiscent pod and exposure to pyrogenic temperatures (> 80 °C) both affect dormancy release and germination of A. georgiana. The 3.5-fold increase in germination at pyrogenic temperatures suggests the response is highly fire-adapted and fits the definition of obligate pyrogenic dormancy release. While season of fire exposure was not significant in our study, we did find consistent negative effects on the germination response. Our results suggest pulses of heat from periodic growing season fires are likely necessary to promote recruitment and maintain populations of this rare species.
Timeliness and Conservatism of Taiwanese Earnings

Taiwan is an economy with an efficient stock market where accounting and auditing standards generally follow the US. However, a culturally different climate is caused by the predominance of family-owned public companies. We find Taiwanese firms' earnings exhibit the conservatism and timeliness of Asian economies where US GAAP is not used. Further tests show that family-controlled firms (typical of the Asian business model) exhibit less conservatism in their application of GAAP. This suggests limitations in the harmonization of accounting standards in those economies that have strong family influence in publicly traded firms.
Incidence and predictors of early and delayed renal function decline after aortic aneurysm repair in the Vascular Quality Initiative database

Abstract Background Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) may complicate both open and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and health care expense. We aim to evaluate the incidence of postoperative AKI and factors associated with its occurrence and the effects of postoperative AKI on long-term renal function and mortality after open and EVAR in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative registry. Methods Elective aneurysm cases were identified including thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR) and complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (cEVAR), infrarenal endovascular repair (EVAR) and infrarenal open repair (OAR) from 2003 to 2019. The preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula and stratified based on chronic kidney disease (CKD) grades. Postoperative AKI was defined per the Vascular Quality Initiative definition as a creatinine increase of 0.5 mg/dL or if postoperative dialysis was required. Patients on preprocedural hemodialysis and those with previous renal transplant were excluded. Demographics and procedural factors were evaluated for predicting in-hospital postoperative AKI (all approaches) and at 9 to 21 months of long-term follow-up (EVAR only) using logistic regression modeling. Results We identified a total of 2813 cEVAR, 2995 TEVAR, 39,945 EVAR, and 8143 OAR patients. Of those, postoperative AKI occurred in 377 cEVAR (13.5%), 199 TEVAR (6.7%), 1099 EVAR (2.8%), and 1249 OAR (15.5%). Risk factors for postoperative AKI across all groups were worse preoperative eGFR, total number of blood transfusions, perioperative anemia, reinterventions, and postoperative respiratory complications. Additional procedure-specific risk factors of postoperative AKI were preoperative hemoglobin of less than 10 and contrast volume of 125 to 150 mL, hypertension, a low ejection fraction, and a history of percutaneous revascularization for EVAR; for both EVAR/cEVAR, renal artery coverage was a risk factor, whereas for OAR, male sex, non-White race, hypertension, suprarenal aortic cross-clamp, and increased renal ischemic time were risk factors. Among 8133 EVAR patients with long-term follow-up, a decrease in kidney function occurred in 56.7% of patients with postoperative AKI vs 19.9% without postoperative AKI (P Conclusions Postoperative AKI occurs more often in patients with worse preoperative renal function, lower preoperative hemoglobin, and in open surgeries with inter-renal or suprarenal cross-clamping. Importantly, postoperative AKI is associated with increased mortality across all types of aortic repair. Given the long-term impact of postoperative AKI on outcomes for all aortic repairs and the limitations of current insensitive functional indices, there is a need to seek more sensitive indicators of decreases in early renal structural in this population.
147 Serological and molecular detection of Anaplasma in East Texas horses

Anaplasma phagocytophilum (AP) is a tick-borne bacteria that cycles between the tick, Ixodes scapularis and the hematopoietic cells of vertebrate hosts. AP is responsible for the disease equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, a generally transient infection characterized by fever, depression, inappetence, ventral edema petechiae, icterus, ataxia, recumbency, muscle stiffness, and, in severe cases, death. Current infection with AP is detected through PCR analysis of an animal's immune cell DNA, while serum antibody titers determine if a horse has previously been infected with AP. Other regions and countries have reported wide ranging prevalence of serum reactive horses, with 17 to 67% of apparently healthy horses being serum reactive and 8% of these being PCR positive. There were 130 clinically healthy horses aged from 1 to 29 years old included in this survey, 70 from Texas, and 11 from New Jersey, and 49 from New York. Horses from Texas were chosen based on location in the state and high potential for tick exposure, the latter 2 states were included as populations with known tick exposure. From each horse, blood was collected for serum and DNA. DNA was screened by nested PCR for the 23s rRNA gene of the Anaplasmataceae family. Samples positive for 23s were analyzed by conventional PCR for the msp2 gene of AP. Lastly, serum was analyzed by immunofluorescence antibody test to detect antibodies against AP. Seventeen horses were positive for 23s, with 4, 3, and 10 from Texas, New Jersey, and New York, respectively. Of these, 2 Texas horses were positive for msp2. Further, 107 horses tested positive for antibodies against AP, with 47, 11, and 49 from Texas, New Jersey, and New York, respectively. The observed 80% seroprevalence is similar to that reported from other countries and indicates high exposure to tick populations.
Prediction of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Kidney Disease: The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study.

Background and objectives Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in CKD and associated with poor kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. Prediction models developed using novel methods may be useful to identify patients with CKD at highest risk of incident AF. We compared a previously published prediction model with models developed using machine learning methods in a CKD population. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We studied 2766 participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study without prior AF with complete cardiac biomarker (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity troponin T) and clinical data. We evaluated the utility of machine learning methods as well as a previously validated clinical prediction model (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology [CHARGE]-AF, which included 11 predictors, using original and re-estimated coefficients) to predict incident AF. Discriminatory ability of each model was assessed using the ten-fold cross-validated C-index; calibration was evaluated graphically and with the Gronnesby and Borgan test. Results Mean (SD) age of participants was 57 (11) years, 55% were men, 38% were Black, and mean (SD) eGFR was 45 (15) ml/min per 1.73 m2; 259 incident AF events occurred during a median of 8 years of follow-up. The CHARGE-AF prediction equation using original and re-estimated coefficients had C-indices of 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.71) and 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.70), respectively. A likelihood-based boosting model using clinical variables only had a C-index of 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.70); adding N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity troponin T, or both biomarkers improved the C-index by 0.04, 0.01, and 0.04, respectively. In addition to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity troponin T, the final model included age, non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity, Hispanic race/ethnicity, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, height, and weight. Conclusions Using machine learning algorithms, a model that included 12 standard clinical variables and cardiac-specific biomarkers N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity troponin T had moderate discrimination for incident AF in a CKD population.
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Trial Upon Accusation: Provide for Certain Crimes to be Tried Upon Accusation When a Defendant Has Been Bound Over After a Finding of Probable Cause

The Act provides that certain felony and misdemeanor cases may be tried upon accusation after a probable cause hearing or after a waiver of such hearing, whether expressly or by operation of law. The crimes that may now be tried upon accusation include theft by taking, theft by receiving stolen property, theft by shoplifting, forgery and fraudulent practices, escape from custody, and other offenses related to confinement. Further, the Act provides that offenses relating to possession of firearms by convicted felons and first offenders on probation may be tried upon accusation.
Temporal genetic and demographic monitoring of pond-breeding amphibians in three contrasting population systems

Quantifying the relationship between demographic patterns and genetic diversity are important in predicting temporal population genetic changes. To make predictions there must be an understanding of the relationship between census size, the effective number of breeders (Nb) and effective population size (Ne). We evaluate the temporal genetic variation between three populations of Ambystoma salamanders, and compare genetic and demographic estimates of Nb and Ne. We sampled two wetlands, RB and GB for A. opacum and sampled A. talpoideum at RB, over a 20-year period. Ambystoma opacum colonized the RB wetland in 1980 and the population has steadily expanded as A. talpoideum has declined towards local extinction; the GB population of A. opacum has remained relatively large and stable over this same time period. Genetic variation at 10 microsatellites remained stable at each population over the sampled time frame, and did not reflect changes in population size. Genetic estimates of Nb also did not reflect demographic trends, and were lower than demographic estimates of Nb. Genetic methods of determining Ne gave similar estimates to demographic methods. Our findings indicate that sample sizes and number of markers typically used in genetic studies do not provide enough precision to monitor population size changes in amphibians, which likely violate many of the assumptions of Nb and Ne estimation models. These findings should be considered when using Ne in conservation and management assessments of amphibian populations.
Perception of sleep in recovering alcohol-dependent patients with insomnia: relationship with future drinking.

Background: Subjective and objective measures of poor sleep in alcoholic insomniacs predict relapse to drinking. Nonalcoholic insomniacs underestimate their total sleep time (TST) and overestimate their sleep onset latency (SOL) and wake time after sleep onset (WASO) compared with polysomnography (PSG). This study evaluated 3 hypotheses: (1) subjective SOL would predict frequency of future drinking; (2) participants would overestimate SOL and WASO and underestimate TST; and (3) higher amounts of over- and underestimates of sleep at baseline would predict worse drinking outcomes prospectively. Methods: Participants (N 5 18), mean age 44.6 years (13.2), underwent an adaptation night and then 2 nights of PSG 3 weeks apart. They also provided morning estimates of SOL, WASO, TST, and sleep efficiency (SE). Following the baseline PSG, participants were followed over 12 weeks. A 2-way ANOVA (nightmethod of measuring sleep) compared results and regression analyses predicted drinking. Drinking outcomes were defined as number of days drinking (DD) and number of heavydrinking days (HDD) during 2 consecutive 6-week follow-up periods. Results: Most participants (72%) overestimated SOL by a mean of 21.3 (36) minutes compared with PSG [F(1, 14) 5 7.1, po0.03]. Unexpectedly, 89% underestimated WASO by a mean difference of 48.7 (49) minutes [F(1, 14) 5 15.6, po0.01]. Drinking during the first 6-week study period was predicted by both subjective estimates of WASO and their accuracy, whereas drinking during the second 6-week period was predicted by both subjective estimations of sleep and rapid eye movement sleep latency. Conclusion: Greater subjective accuracy of wakefulness at night provided by the patient predicted drinking during the study. Unlike nonalcoholic insomniacs, this alcoholic sample significantly underestimated WASO compared with PSG values. The predictive ability of sleep parameters depended on the selected measure of drinking outcomes and when outcomes were measured. Subjective sleep
Adaptation, Fitness, and Evolution

‘Adaptation,’ a central concept in evolutionary biology, represents the degree of suitedness between organisms' characteristics and their environments. It is the cause of differences in organisms' performances of biological tasks that lead throughout their life cycles to reproductive success, the distinct concept of ‘fitness.’ Organisms' characteristics need not be adaptive but may be ‘neutral’ (i.e., they have no consequences for fitness or may be subject to various constraints). Misperceptions of adaptation may result from confusions of terminology. The assumption that all features of organisms are adaptive is common but misleading. Future study of adaptation will include diverse approaches and greater rigor of conceptual analysis.
A Message from AAPM's President

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to the AAPM's 31st Annual Meeting to be held March 19–22, 2015, in National Harbor, Maryland. Chronic pain is an astounding societal problem. Tackling this issue is a moral imperative, one that directs the cultural transformation in how we care for people in chronic pain, educate our providers, as well as in how we prevent and research pain. To that end, there are several major initiatives that we have undertaken. One includes our …
Intraoperative Fracture of a Pyrocarbon PIP Total Joint—A Case Report

Pain or dysfunction of the finger joints due to arthritis or traumatic injuries that fail medical management may necessitate arthroplasty or joint replacement. The goals of the finger joint implant arthroplasty are to relieve pain, to correct deformity, and to improve the function and appearance of the hand. Several prosthetic implants have been used for the replacement of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Pyrocarbon materials, a form of pyrolytic carbon, a ceramic-like material, have proven to be strong, durable, resistant to wear and nonreactive in the body. The Ascension PIP pyrocarbon total joint is a bicondylar, anatomically shaped, articulating implant that allows joint flexion–extension, while providing some restriction of adduction–abduction motion. A review of the literature of pyrocarbon PIP prosthesis reveals little clinical data. The case of a 33-year-old man with posttraumatic arthritis proximal interphalangeal joint right long finger is reported. The case was treated surgically using the Ascension PIP total joint. During the insertion of the implant, the proximal component fractured at the sub-articular collar. The component was removed, and a new implant was inserted without complication. Critical evaluation revealed that there was an inadequate resection of the volar lip resulting in a stress riser on the implant during impaction. Careful attention to this technical point will hopefully minimize the occurrence of this complication as the availability and use of these implants increases.
Criteria for Pre-Exposure of Spectroscopic Plates

Criteria are found for the optimum pre-exposure to be used to hypersensitize spectroscopic plates for the spectrophotometry of very weak light sources. The concept of the ratio of line strength to granularity (signal-to-noise ratio) in spectrophotometry is developed. Experimental investigations of the relations between emulsion response, granularity, and exposure yield a simple procedure for determining the pre-exposure which maximizes the ratio of line strength to granularity. This pre-exposure also maximizes the incremental plate density for weak exposures, so that under certain conditions the optimum pre-exposure is the point on the Hurter-Driffield curve at which the first and second derivatives are equal.
Molybdenum limitation of asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in forests of Pacific Northwest America

Abstract Nitrogenase activity as measured by acetylene reduction and nitrogen fixation as measured by 15N2 uptake is widespread in forest litter, decaying wood and the lichen Lobaria in Pacific Northwest forests. In all cases the activity of nitrogenase is enhanced by addition of plant nutrient solutions and this is shown to be a specific molybdenum effect. A wide range of forest species have litter which supports nitrogen fixation during decay and the majority show molybdenum stimulation. The effect is most prominent in the acid soils situated between the Coast Range and the Cascade Range and extends from Oregon through Washington to British Columbia. Nitrogenase is increased quantitatively by Mo additions and the effect, though best seen in the laboratory, is also measurable in the field. The results are discussed on the basis of geographical distribution of the effect, plant species and the likely role of asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in contributing to long-term nutrient cycling.
Towards Custom-topology Tracks For Probing Myosin Motor Dynamics

An important part of cellular transportation infrastructure is formed by myosin motors that use actin filaments as their tracks. Many questions concerning the mechano-chemistry of those motors and the degree of evolutionary adaption to the track topology remain elusive because we cannot tailor the geometric properties of F-actin.Here, we employ three-dimensional DNA origami to construct hybrid DNA-actin filaments with precisely controlled geometric properties. We engineered building blocks exhibiting custom-shaped cavities that host F-actin tetramers such that myosin motors may still access their usual binding site on actin. We describe triggering the formation of filaments from those building blocks that grow to lengths above 10 microns and that have periodically aligned cavities for hosting actin segments. Binding-site orientation can be rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the filament axis to probe myosin's ability to take sidesteps. We propose the following strategy for hosting actin fragments: F-actin is labeled with thiol-modified oligos, followed by capture of this oligo by the DNA track building blocks, followed by filament bending into the custom shaped cavity on each building block, followed by filament breaking fueled by DNA hybridization.Figure 1Upper panels: TEM micrographs and schematics of actin-hosting DNA track building blocks. Bottom: TEM micrograph of a synthetic filament with periodically spaced actin hosting cavities.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
High resolution electron scattering from high spin states in 208Pb.

Inelastic electron scattering cross sections have been measured from high spin transitions in {sup 208}Pb. Measurements were made over a range of momentum transfer of 1.1 to 2.9 fm{sup {minus}1} with energy resolution between 14 and 22 keV. In addition to the previously measured 14{sup {minus}}, 12{sup {minus}}, and 12{sup +} levels, electron scattering cross sections have been measured on {ital M}11, {ital M}10, {ital M}9, {ital E}9, and {ital E}7 transitions. High spin states are quenched from the predicted Woods-Saxon single particle amplitudes by 22% to 67%. Evidence is presented for the fragmentation of the 7.06 MeV 12{sup {minus}} transition strength. Results are interpreted in terms of the independent particle model.
An upper bound on the informational capacity of a synapse

The paper I want to read to you is concerned with the relative efficiency of two modes of transmitting information through such computing machines as you have in your heads. Since you are not neurophysiologists I shall first describe the essential components of brains. These are called neurons, Each is a living creature and consequently has many properties which are irrelevant to our present discussion. Imagine a neuron as shaped something like a turnip, having fronds called dendrites, a body or soma and a long thin taproot -- its axone. The biggest of these neurons has fronds say a centimeter long, a body one tenth of a millimeter in diameter, a taproot a few micra thick and anything up to two meters long. Neurons are generally connected by branches of the taproot one ending on or among the dendrites or as knobs on the soma of the next neuron. The conduction of signals through this system is normally down the axone of one cell to the dendrites or cell body of the next, and the effective junction which makes this possible is called a synapse. We shall eventually be considering the rate at which information can be transmitted through a synapse. For this it is necessary for you to know something of the nature of the signals.
Regulatory Requirements for Marketing Cosmetics in the United States

Cosmetics marketed in the United States must comply with the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act; and the regulations published by the Food and Drug Administration under the authority of these laws. This article highlights and summarizes the pertinent statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to cosmetics. It is intended to serve not only as a regulatory overview but also as a guideline to those interested in specific and detailed information as published in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Diffusion-weighted imaging for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Quantifying repeatability to understand early treatment-induced change

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to define baseline variability of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to compare it with early treatment-induced ADC change. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III and IV HNSCC were imaged with two baseline DWI examinations 1 week apart and a third DWI examination during the 2nd week of curative-intent chemoradiation therapy. Mean ADC was measured in the primary tumor and largest lymph node for each patient on the three DWI scans. Mean baseline percentage differences (%∆ADC) were compared with intratreatment change. The repeatability coefficient for baseline %∆ADC was calculated and compared with intratreatment %∆ADC. Repeatability was also assessed with Bland-Altman plots and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS. Sixteen patients underwent double baseline imaging, with 14 also undergoing intratreatme...
The Influence of Identification Practices, Race and SES on the Identification of Gifted Students:

Identification procedures for gifted programs reinforce social inequalities while missing some of our most promising students. This study reports, a survey of 461 (82.5%) New Jersey school district...
Commitment accounting of CO 2 emissions

The world not only continues to build new coal-fired power plants, but built more new coal plants in the past decade than in any previous decade. Worldwide, an average of 89 gigawatts per year (GW yr –1 ) of new coal generating capacity was added between 2010 and 2012, 23 GW yr –1 more than in the 2000–2009 time period and 56 GW yr –1 more than in the 1990–1999 time period. Natural gas plants show a similar pattern. Assuming these plants operate for 40 years, the fossil-fuel burning plants built in 2012 will emit approximately 19 billion tons of CO2 (Gt CO2) over their lifetimes, versus 14 Gt CO2 actually emitted by all operating fossil fuel power plants in 2012. We find that total committed emissions related to the power sector are growing at a rate of about 4% per year, and reached 307 (with an estimated uncertainty of 192–439) Gt CO2 in 2012. These facts are not well known in the energy policy community, where annual emissions receive far more attention than future emissions related to new capital investments. This paper demonstrates the potential for ‘commitment accounting’ to inform public policy by quantifying future emissions implied by current investments. S Online supplementary data available from stacks.iop.org/ERL/9/084018/mmedia
Experimental determination of the Raman CH4 symmetric stretching (ν1) band position from 1–650 bar and 0.3–22 °C: Application to fluid inclusion studies

Abstract The position of the Raman methane (CH 4 ) symmetric stretching band ( ν 1 ) over the range 1–650 bar and 0.3–22 °C has been determined using a high-pressure optical cell mounted on a Raman microprobe. Two neon emission lines that closely bracket the CH 4 band were collected simultaneously with each CH 4 spectrum. The peak position was determined after least squares fitting using a summed Gaussian–Lorentzian method, resulting in a precision of ≈±0.02 cm −1 in peak position determination. The CH 4 ν 1 band position shifts to lower wave number with increasing pressure. At a given pressure, the band shifts to lower wave number with decreasing temperature, and the magnitude of the temperature shift increases with increasing pressure. The relationship between the Raman CH 4 ν 1 band position and temperature and pressure determined here may be used to estimate the internal pressure in natural or synthetic CH 4 -bearing fluid inclusions. This information, in turn, may be used to determine the density of pure CH 4 fluid inclusions and the salinity of CH 4 -bearing aqueous inclusions.
Using an On-Site Liquid Nitrogen Generator for NMR Cryogen Supply and Other Departmental Needs

The purpose of this article is to elevate awareness of an on-site liquid nitrogen generator and highlight the advantages of such a purchase for an undergraduate chemistry department. Immediate access to liquid nitrogen and required instrument specifications are discussed. Economic and environmental factors include annual cost savings, convenience of on-site availability of liquid and gas forms of nitrogen, and potential for revenue generation. A conservative estimate of $850 of annual savings over a typical service contract has already been realized. Use of the on-site generator has proven very beneficial and may be an attractive option for other departments to consider.
The role of immunity and inflammation in the development of diabetic complications

Our group has carried out pivotal clinical studies on large cohorts of type 1 and type 2 diabetes to determine the impact of modified LDL-IC as well as inflammatory cytokines/adipokines and acute-phase reactant proteins in the development of diabetic complications. We have demonstrated that high levels of specific LDL modifications in circulating ICs correlate with increased risk for the development and progression of macrovascular disease, nephropathy, and retinopathy, frequently exceeding conventional risk factors in their predictive power. In cardiovascular disease, differences in the type of LDL modification and the stage of disease seem to lead to/predict different outcomes. The differences observed with ICs containing different types of modified LDL raises interesting questions about the role of the predominant LDL modification in the ICs and the cellular patterns of macrophage activation, survival, and apoptosis that result from LDL-IC ingestion. The differences observed in the predictive power of modified LDL-ICs at different stages of CVD development strongly suggest that modified LDL-ICs are causally related with the development of atherosclerosis and/or plaque instability. The association of cytokines/adipokines and acute-phase reactant proteins with the development of complications in type 1 diabetes is less strong than that observed with modified LDL-ICs and occurs at a later phase of the development of complications. In conclusion, the human humoral autoimmune response to modified forms of LDL is a typical adaptive response, with a switch to IgG synthesis and increasing antibody affinity that leads to the release of proinflammatory mediators, and it has unquestionable pathogenic characteristics.
Intrauterine growth: correlations of maternal nutritional status and rate of gestational weight gain.

The influence of increasing pregravid weight and gestational rate of gain on birth-weight, length, head circumference and complications was investigated. Each gravida was categorized by height and pregravid weight as underweight, normal, or obese. Birth-weights, lengths, and head circumferences were evaluated as well as maternal and infant complications. Within each pregravid category and each rate gain group there was an increase in mean birthweight, length, and head circumference with advancing gain and pregravid weight. The incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) infants decreased and large for gestational age (LGA) infants increased with higher gain and pregravid weight. The incidence of antepartum anemia decreased with higher pregravid weight and gain (P < 0.02). Higher pregravid weight and rate of gestational gain may help insure optimal intrauterine growth.