cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Origins of the 2,4-Dinitrotoluene Pathway

The degradation of synthetic compounds requires bacteria to recruit and adapt enzymes from pathways for naturally occurring compounds. Previous work defined the steps in 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) metabolism through the ring fission reaction. The results presented here characterize subsequent steps in the pathway that yield the central metabolic intermediates pyruvate and propionyl coenzyme A (CoA). The genes encoding the degradative pathway were identified within a 27-kb region of DNA cloned from Burkholderia cepacia R34, a strain that grows using 2,4-DNT as a sole carbon, energy, and nitrogen source. Genes for the lower pathway in 2,4-DNT degradation were found downstream from dntD, the gene encoding the extradiol ring fission enzyme of the pathway. The region includes genes encoding a CoA-dependent methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (dntE), a putative NADH-dependent dehydrogenase (ORF13), and a bifunctional isomerase/hydrolase (dntG). Results from analysis of the gene sequence, reverse transcriptase PCR, and enzyme assays indicated that dntD dntE ORF13 dntG composes an operon that encodes the lower pathway. Additional genes that were uncovered encode the 2,4-DNT dioxygenase (dntAaAbAcAd), methylnitrocatechol monooxygenase (dntB), a putative LysR-type transcriptional (ORF12) regulator, an intradiol ring cleavage enzyme (ORF3), a maleylacetate reductase (ORF10), a complete ABC transport complex (ORF5 to ORF8), a putative methyl-accepting chemoreceptor protein (ORF11), and remnants from two transposable elements. Some of the additional gene products might play as-yet-undefined roles in 2,4-DNT degradation; others appear to remain from recruitment of the neighboring genes. The presence of the transposon remnants and vestigial genes suggests that the pathway for 2,4-DNT degradation evolved relatively recently because the extraneous elements have not been eliminated from the region.
Channel ranking in passive microwave wet-path delay measurements

Discrete optimization by channel ranking is used to study the utility of various radiometric channel combinations near the 22.235-GHz water vapor line for use in spaceborne wet path delay measurements. The study is based on brightness data from a combined statistical geophysical and radiative transfer model. Retrieval simulations show that most of the available information on wet path delay can be obtained from a pair of closely spaced channels located on one of the two wings of the 22.235 water vapor line. The results of the optimization study provide a quantitative basis for assessing performance and cost tradeoffs in spaceborne hardware design. >
Numerical study of the influence of reactor design on MOCVD with a comparison to experimental data

Abstract Comparisons were made between experimental data and a two-dimensional model for the MOCVD of GaAs from trimethylgallium and arsine in two horizontal air cooled reactor geometries. A unique feature of this work was that comparison was made, not only on the wafer, but over the entire deposition regime. Excellent agreement was achieved for growth at low system pressures. Experimental deposition profiles under atmospheric pressure were much less uniform than those predicted by the model. This difference could not be attributed to a pressure dependence of heterogeneous reactions. Inclusion of thermal diffusion had little effect on the uniformity of the calculated deposition profile but decreased the magnitude of the growth rate by up to 12%. Through model calculations and experiments, it was determined that a channel with a tilted upper wall and a horizontal susceptor has the same growth rate profile as does a standard horizontal upper wall channel with a tilted susceptor. Substrate rotation was predicted to cause growth rate uniformity within less than 4.3% in horizontal channel flow and 3.8% in a channel with tilted walls.
Congestion Control using Efficient Explicit Feedback

This paper proposes a framework for congestion control, called Binary Marking Congestion Control (BMCC) for high bandwidth-delay product networks. The basic components of BMCC are i) a packet marking scheme for obtaining high resolution congestion estimates using the existing bits available in the IP header for Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) and ii) a set of load-dependent control laws that use these congestion estimates to achieve efficient and fair bandwidth allocations on high bandwidth-delay product networks, while maintaining a low persistent queue length and negligible packet loss rate. We present analytical models that predict and provide insights into the convergence properties of the protocol. Using extensive packet-level simulations, we assess the efficacy of BMCC and perform comparisons with several proposed schemes. BMCC outperforms VCP, MLCP, XCP, SACK+RED/ECN and in some cases RCP, in terms of average flow completion times for typical Internet flow sizes.
Heuristics for computing robust tests for stuck-open faults from stuck-at test sets

Heuristics for identifying stuck-open faults for which a robust test can be computed from any stuck-at-test set are presented. Experimental results show that these heuristics can be used to compute robust tests for a large percentage of stuck-upon faults. Since stuck-at test generation is considerably faster than computing a robust test-pair for a given stuck-open fault, these heuristics can be used to speed up the process of computing robust tests for stuck-open faults. The author addresses the problem of computing robust tests for stuck-open faults in static CMOS circuits consisting of NOT, NAND, NOR, AND and OR gates. >
Increased epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Purpose High epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene copy number is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer, but such findings have not been reported for HNSCC. A better understanding of the EGFR pathway may improve the use of EGFR inhibitors in HNSCC. Patients and Methods EGFR status was analyzed in 86 tumor samples from 82 HNSCC patients by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine EGFR gene copy number, by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing for activating mutations, and by DNA microarray and immunohistochemistry for RNA and protein expression. The results were associated with patient characteristics and clinical end points. Results Forty-three (58%) of 75 samples with FISH results demonstrated EGFR high polysomy and/or gene amplification (FISH positive). The FISH-positive group did not differ from the FISH-negative group with respect to age, sex, race, tumor grade, subsites and stage, or EGFR expression by analyses of RNA or protein. No activating EGFR mutations were...
The priming effect of extracellular UTP on human neutrophils: Role of calcium released from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores.

P2Y2 receptors, which are equally responsive to ATP and UTP, can trigger intracellular signaling events, such as intracellular calcium mobilization and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Moreover, extracellular nucleotides have been shown to prime chemoattractant-induced superoxide production. The aim of our study was to investigate the mechanism responsible for the priming effect of extracellular nucleotides on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced in human neutrophils by two different chemoattractants: formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Nucleotide-induced priming of ROS production was concentration- and time-dependent. When UTP was added to neutrophil suspensions prior to chemoattractant, the increase of the response reached the maximum at 1 min of pre-incubation with the nucleotide. UTP potentiated the phosphorylation of p44/42 and p38 MAP kinases induced by chemoattractants, however the P2 receptor-mediated potentiation of ROS production was still detectable in the presence of a SB203580 or U0126, supporting the view that MAP kinases do not play a major role in regulating the nucleotide-induced effect. In the presence of thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the ubiquitous sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases in mammalian cells, the effect of fMLP was not affected, but UTP-induced priming was abolished, suggesting that the release of calcium from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores is essential for nucleotide-induced priming in human neutrophils.
Becoming a Promotora A Transformative Process for Female Community Health Workers

Drawing from role theory, this study sought to explore the effects of assum- ing a new role on Latina community health workers (CHW) participating in a cervical cancer prevention program in a new Latino immigrant com- munity located on the East Coast of the United States. Through a series of in-depth, Spanish language interviews with the 4 participants, the researchers explored the process and effects of assuming and enacting the CHW role through a narrative analysis approach. Themes that emerged from the analy- sis included "Reasons for becoming a promotora," "Vision and reality of the role," "Structuring interactions: The hierarchy of knowledge transmission," and "Transforming identities." Findings showed that assuming the CHW role had transformative effects on the participants that, in the end, allowed them to reconcile disparate aspects of their own immigrant identities. The find- ings have multiple implications for designing prevention programs employing CHWs and immigrant community strengthening.
Genomic functional annotation using co-evolution profiles of gene clusters.

Background: The current speed of sequencing already exceeds the capability of annotation, creating a potential bottleneck. A large proportion of the genes in microbial genomes remains uncharacterized. Here we propose a new method for functional annotation using the conservation patterns of gene clusters. If several gene clusters show the same coevolution pattern across different genomes it is reasonable to infer they are functionally related. The gene cluster phylogenetic profile integrates chromosomal proximity information and phylogenetic profile information and allows us to infer functional dependences between the gene clusters even at great distance on the chromosome. Results: As a proof of concept, we applied our method to the genome of Escherichia coli K12 strain. Our method establishes functional relationships among 176 gene clusters, comprising 738 E. coli genes. The accuracy of pair phylogenetic profiles was compared with the single-gene phylogenetic profile and was shown to be higher. As a result, we are able to suggest functional roles for several previously unknown genes or unknown genomic regions in E. coli. We also examined the robustness of coevolution signals across a larger set of genomes and suggest a possible upper limit of accuracy for the phylogenetic profile methods. Conclusions: The higher-order phylogenetic profiles, such as the gene-pair phylogenetic profiles, can detect functional dependences that are missed by using conventional single-gene phylogenetic profile or the chromosomal proximity method only. We show that the gene-pair phylogenetic profile is more accurate than the single-gene phylogenetic profiles.
CLog: Low Cost Gigabit Full Packet Logging

Creating high quality network trace files is a difficult task to accomplish on a limited budget. High network speeds may overburden an individual system running packet logging software such as tcpdump, resulting in trace files with missing information and making analysis difficult or incomplete. High end specialized systems may perform the job well, but may be out of reach due to financial constraints. To that end, we developed the Cheap Logger (CLog) system which utilizes inexpensive COTS hardware to create high quality, complete network trace files. A scalable distributed storage system enables the CLog system to expand and continue to create high quality, complete network data trace files even at extremely high data rates.
Frequency-dependent population dynamics: effect of sex ratio and mating system on the elasticity of population growth rate.

a b s t r a c t When vital rates depend on population structure (e.g., relative frequencies of males or females), an important question is how the long-term population growth rate λ responds to changes in rates. For instance, availability of mates may depend on the sex ratio of the population and hence reproductive rates could be frequency-dependent. In such cases change in any vital rate alters the structure, which in turn, affect frequency-dependent rates. We show that the elasticity of λ to a rate is the sum of (i) the effect of the linear change in the rate and (ii) the effect of nonlinear changes in frequency-dependent rates. The first component is always positive and is the classical elasticity in density-independent models obtained directly from the population projection matrix. The second component can be positive or negative and is absent in density-independent models. We explicitly express each component of the elasticity as a function of vital rates, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the population projection matrix. We apply this result to a two-sex model, where male and female fertilities depend on adult sex ratio α (ratio of females to males) and the mating system (e.g., polygyny) through a harmonic mating function. We show that the nonlinear component of elasticity to a survival rate is negligible only when the average number of mates (per male) is close to α. In a strictly monogamous species, elasticity to female survival is larger than elasticity to male survival when α < 1 (less females). In a polygynous species, elasticity to female survival can be larger than that of male survival even when sex ratio is female biased. Our results show how demography and mating system together determine the response to selection on sex-specific vital rates.
On the Challenges and Opportunities of Physically Situated Dialog

We outline several challenges and opportunities for building physically situated systems that can interact in open, dynamic, and relatively unconstrained environments. We review a platform and recent progress on developing computational methods for situated, multiparty, open-world dialog, and highlight the value of representations of the physical surroundings and of harnessing the broader situational context when managing communicative processes such as engagement, turn taking, language understanding, and dialog management. Finally, we outline an open-world learning challenge that spans these different levels
The pill at 40--a new look at a familiar method. Whose pill is it, anyway?

This article discusses the control issues related to the use of the birth control pill. For over 5 decades since its first introduction in the US its doses types and mixes of hormones through the menstrual cycle have all undergone great evolution in an attempt to minimize adverse side effects while maintaining high contraceptive efficacy. Despite such efforts how it is prescribed and used within the medical model remains rigid. These control issues (i.e. the need for women to undergo routine health screening) have hindered its successful use. In fact a survey conducted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that 58% of American women could not name one single noncontraceptive benefit of the pill. This result tends to perpetuate the negative image of the pill as well as reduce the possibility of its successful use.
Postmeiotic mitosis in the basidia of Suillus granulatus: Implications for population structure and dispersal biology

Recent studies indicate that numerous tet? rasporic Suillus species have both binucleate and uni? nucleate spores. If the binucleate spores are homo? karyotic, resulting from postmeiotic mitotic divisions in the spores, then the breeding system is primarily determined by the heterothallic mating system of the fungus, be that bipolar or tetrapolar. Alternatively, if the postmeiotic mitoses occur in the basidia prior to nuclear migration, then some proportion ofthe spores could also be secondarily homothallic (heterokaryot? ic), this proportion being determined by the pattern of nuclear migration into the spores. The secondary mycelia of many Suillus species do not regularly pro? duce clamp connections, thus complicating the deter? mination of the genetic constituencies of the binucle? ate spores. In this paper we report the results of genetic analyses using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers which suggest that the binucleate spores of Suillus granulatus from eastern North America may result from postmeiotic mitotic divisions in the basidia, prior to nuclear migration into the spores. Binucleate spores of S. granulatus are thus potentially secondarily homothallic. The implications of a functionally diverse mating system, resulting from heterothallic uninucle? ate spores and secondarily homothallic binucleate spores, are discussed for this cosmopolitan ectomy? corrhizal basidiomycete.
Microhardness and high-velocity impact resistance of HfB2/SiC and ZrB2/SiC composites

The results of Vickers microhardness and high-velocity impact tests on monolithic ZrB2/SiC and HfB2/SiC ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) composites are presented. The UHTC materials exhibit fracture behavior typical of ceramics under indentation and impact loading. The materials are relatively hard with microhardness values of about 15 to 20 GPa. Cracks were observed to extend from the corners of indentations. Impacts of stainless steel and tungsten carbide spheres, with diameters in the 500 to 800 micron range and velocities of 200 to 300 m/s, produced minimal plastic deformation but significant radial and ring cracking at the impact sites. Impacts of micron-scale iron particles traveling at 1 to 3 km/s produced essentially no surface damage.
Management and outcomes of clinical stage IIA/B seminoma: Results from the National Cancer Data Base 1998-2012

Abstract Purpose/objective Disease-specific survival for testicular seminoma approaches 100%, even for those with node-positive disease. We sought to describe modern practice patterns, survival outcomes, and factors associated with postoperative therapy for patients with clinical stage (CS) IIA/B disease. Methods and materials Data on patients diagnosed with CS IIA/B seminoma from 1998 to 2012 were extracted from the National Cancer Data Base. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and payer characteristics were evaluated using multivariate regression to identify factors associated with receipt of chemotherapy or radiation therapy (RT) within 6 months of orchiectomy. Five-year Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) by CS and treatment was calculated. A Cox proportional hazards regression for 5-year OS was performed. Results A total of 1885 patients were included; 38.5% received chemotherapy and 61.5% received RT. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with receipt of postorchiectomy RT rather than chemotherapy included CS IIA (odds ratio [OR], 3.04; P P P P P P P = .45). For CS IIA, 5-year OS was 99.4% for orchiectomy and RT versus 91.2% for orchiectomy and chemotherapy (log-rank P P = .08). Conclusions Consistent with national guideline recommendations, our analysis supports preferred status for RT in CS IIA. In addition, these data also support use of RT for CS IIB. CS, treatment year, primary pathologic tumor stage, insurance, and facility type were associated with type of postoperative therapy. Longer follow-up to account for potential late effects of treatment is needed.
Abstract P2-05-05: Expression profiling of in vivo DCIS progression models identified BCL9 as a molecular driver of invasive progression

Introduction: There are an estimated 60,000 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) each year. At present, it is not clear why some DCIS remain non-invasive for decades while others become invasive. A lack of understanding in DCIS pathobiology has led to overtreatment of more than half of DCIS patients. To identify factors that promote DCIS invasion, we have profiled the temporal molecular changes during DCIS transition to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) using two in vivo models, MIND (mouse-intraductal) and DCIS/IDC tandem lesions. These studies led to the identification of B cell lymphoma-9 as a potential molecular driver of early invasion. BCL9 is a newly found co-activator of Wnt-stimulated β-catenin-mediated transcription. BCL9 has been shown to promote progression of multiple myeloma and colon carcinoma. However its role in breast cancer progression had not been recognized. Methods: Microarray and RNA sequencing were utilized to characterize the sequential and temporal changes in mRNA expression during DCIS invasive transition. BCL9 shRNA knockdown was performed to assess the role of BCL9 in in vivo invasion, EMT and canonical Wnt signaling. Immunofluorescence of 28 patient DCIS samples was used to assess a correlation between the expression of BCL9 and biomarkers of high risk DCIS. TCGA data was analyzed to assess the status of BCL9 gene alterations in 959 human breast cancers. Results: Analysis of BCL9, by RNA and protein showed BCL9 up-regulation to be associated with DCIS transition to IDC. Analysis of patient DCIS revealed a significant correlation between high nuclear BCL9 and pathologic characteristics associated with DCIS recurrence: ER and PR negative, high nuclear grade, and high HER2. In vivo silencing of BCL9 resulted in the inhibition of DCIS invasion and reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Analysis of the TCGA data showed BCL9 gene to be altered in 26% of breast cancers. This is a significant alteration when compared to ERBB2 (19%) and ESR1 (8%). A significantly higher proportion of basal like invasive breast cancers showed BCL9 amplification. Conclusion: BCL9 is a molecular driver of DCIS invasive progression and may predispose to the development of basal like invasive breast cancers. As such, BCL9 has the potential to serve as a biomarker of high risk DCIS and as a therapeutic target for prevention of IDC. Citation Format: Behbod F, Elsarraj H, Hong Y, Valdez K, Chien J, Godwin A, Fields T. Expression profiling of in vivo DCIS progression models identified BCL9 as a molecular driver of invasive progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-05.
Chromosome Translocation-Mediated Conversion of a Tumor Suppressor Gene into a Dominant Oncogene: Fusion of EWS1 to WT1 in Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors

The preceding articles in this volume have provided a unique overview of genetic and biochemical mechanisms which underlie oncogenic conversion of transcription factor function. As is evident, many of the models have derived from the study of pediatric and adult leukemias. These studies have provided a paradigm for the emerging analyses of chromosomal translocations involving transcription factors in solid tumors. This is exemplified by the manuscript of Barr who examines the PAX3-FKHR fusion transcription factor whose mechanism likely involves increased activation of normal PAX3 target genes. A similar but probably not identical mechanistic theme is echoed by the EWS and TLS fusions described by Ron and May. Like PAX3-FKHR, the EWS/TLS fusions confer a novel activation domain to an otherwise unaltered DNA binding domain, thereby creating a dominant oncogene. Most remarkable is the diversity of DNA-binding domain types which are involved in EWS/TLS fusions and, concomitantly, the diversity of the disease processes initiated. This article will expand on this theme by describing a new member of the EWS/TLS family of oncogenes, namely EWS-WT1, which occurs in the solid tumor desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma (DSRCT). The EWS-WT1 fusion is unique in that its DNA binding domain is derived from the Wilms’ tumor-1 (WT1) tumor suppressor protein. This is one of the first examples of chromosomal-translocation-mediated fusion of a proto-oncogene (EWS) and a tumor suppressor gene (WT1) which creates a dominant oncogene. In order to understand the context of these findings, we will first provide brief reviews of the biology and genetics of WT1, EWS, and DSRCT.
The Influence of Age on the Diagnostic Performance of White Blood Cell Count and Absolute Neutrophil Count in Suspected Pediatric Appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE White blood cell (WBC) count and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) are a standard part of the evaluation of suspected appendicitis. Specific threshold values are utilized in clinical pathways, but the discriminatory value of WBC count and ANC may vary by age. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the diagnostic value of WBC count and ANC varies across age groups and whether diagnostic thresholds should be age-adjusted. METHODS This is a multicenter prospective observational study of patients aged 3-18 years who were evaluated for appendicitis. Receiver operator characteristic curves were developed to assess overall discriminative power of WBC count and ANC across three age groups: <5, 5-11, and 12-18 years of age. Diagnostic performance of WBC count and ANC was then assessed at specific cut-points. RESULTS A total of 2,133 patients with a median age of 10.9 years (interquartile range = 8.0-13.9 years) were studied. Forty-one percent had appendicitis. The area under the curve (AUC) for WBC count was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61 to 0.77) for patients < 5 years of age, 0.76 (95% CI = 0.73 to 0.79) for 5-11 years of age, and 0.83 (95% CI = 0.81 to 0.86) for 12-18 years of age. The AUCs for ANC across age groups mirrored WBC performance. At a commonly utilized WBC cut-point of 10,000/mm3 , the sensitivity decreased with increasing age: 95% (<5 years), 91% (5-11 years), and 89% (12-18 years) whereas specificity increased by age: 36% (<5 years), 49% (5-12 years), and 64% (12-18 years). CONCLUSION WBC count and ANC had better diagnostic performance with increasing age. Age-adjusted values of WBC count or ANC should be considered in diagnostic strategies for suspected pediatric appendicitis.
Physicians' assistants on a university cardiothoracic surgical service: A five-year update

In 1973 two physicians' assistants (P.A.'s) were employed on a cardiothoracic surgical service at Emory University Hospital. In 1974 our initial experience with these paramedical personnel was presented to this Association. Since that time eight additional P.A.'s have been added to our service. They are now employed in four hospitals of the Emory University Woodruff Medical Center. New guidelines and regulations have been imposed at both the state and federal levels regarding P.A.'s, and their role in our center has become rather well defined. With over 1,700 cardiac cases and 600 thoracic cases per year to cover on our service, the P.A. has assumed a position of increasing importance both in operating room assistance and in preoperative and postoperative care. Since the university has maintained a constant number of residents and fellows during this interval, P.A.'s have filled needs of expanded clinical service in the various hospitals. In the pediatric and community hospitals associated with a university, the P.A. now functions as a junior house officer. In our university center, with a large resident staff, their role has become narrowed with definite guidelines. A Credentials Committee now governs the hiring of all P.A.'s by the University. When properly utilized and supervised, the P.A. can be a vital member of the cardiothoracic team. This report details our experience with P.A.'s for the past 5 years—culminating in a staff of ten P.A.'s working on our service in four types of hospitals within our university medical center.
We get biased on things that make sense.

1. Merih T. Tesfazghi 1. PhD Student, Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Former, Graduate Assistant, Department of Pathology, Orotta Schools of Medicine and Dentistry; and Clinical Laboratory Scientist at National Health Laboratory, Department of Hematology, Asmara, Eritrea., Email: (merih.tesfazghi{at}med.fsu.edu) When I was teaching third year medical students, and bench-lecturing clinical laboratory science students, I emphasized the importance of clinical details and the history of patients in laboratory test processing, especially in the evaluation of peripheral blood films. During those times, one of my students stated, “but including details of patients might somehow affect the decision of the reviewer, and may lead to a bias.” I responded that we are biased on things that make sense. This means that we decide based on the evidence we see from a microscopy evaluation in the light of the clinical detail and history. How do clinical details and history help us reach decisions? If specimens are the “in vitro ambassadors” of patients to the laboratory, then properly completed request forms are their “credentials”. The content of the request form is thus a bridge that connects patients and clinicians with the laboratory. The more informative the request form is, the better and more accurate the outcome. Peripheral blood film evaluation and characterization of blood cells based solely on morphology is inherently complex and prone to error. The complex nature of blood cell morphology becomes apparent when we deal with undifferentiated or immature cells, or in conditions that are characterized by overlapping cellular features, and/or the coexistence of some diseases. These and other factors listed below are some of the reasons why we need to have clinical details and the history of patients included in a request form to maximally contribute to the accuracy of…
Corporate Governance: The Jack Wright Series (13) a Not-for-Profit Organization

This last case in the Jack Wright series describes the issues facing a not-for-profit organization. The case outlines several strategic issues. Excerpt UVA-OM-1095 Rev. May 16, 2011 corporate governance: The jack wright series (13) A Not-For-Profit Organization When Sid Bigger and his wife died in 1965, they left 25% of the company to a charitable trust and the balance split equally between their two children, Sam and Sally. Their motives were both philanthropic and to reduce estate taxes. The company had sales of $ 100 million and, after taxes, was making about $ 5 million. The book value of the equity was $ 50 million. So at book value, the trust was worth about $ 12.5 million. Each child received 37.5%, worth $ 18.75 million, and the two were appointed trustees of the charitable foundation. . . .
Of Chiefs and Kings: Wendat and British diplomatic traditions, 1838 to 1842

“Of Chiefs and Kings” is about the role of Wendat diplomatic traditions, explored through documentary and pictorial evidence and the arts of ceremonial dress. I will describe diplomatic interactions between Wendat and British communities between 1838 and 1842, through which the Wendat affirmed commitments of military and civilian support and asserted a continued Wendat presence in their traditional territories. By their dynamic public representation of Indigenous identity, they denied the romanticized notion of the vanishing race, deeply rooted in the popular imagination. These events marked a particular moment within a Wendat history of diplomatic engagement and intercultural exchange with European leaders, extending back to the early seventeenth century.Wendat and British first-hand accounts furnish perspectives of individual members of each community, while Wendat elders’ recollections of ceremonial traditions give important community knowledge of the significance of these events to the Wendat, at an important time in the history of Wendake and Lower Canada.
Designing and Using Simulations in the International Relations Classroom

The value of simulations in the classroom is well established, and there are numerous publications that feature specific role-play exercises that can readily be introduced into the classroom. Frequ...
Communication Behavior in Embodied Virtual Reality

Embodied virtual reality faithfully renders users' movements onto an avatar in a virtual 3D environment, supporting nuanced nonverbal behavior alongside verbal communication. To investigate communication behavior within this medium, we had 30 dyads complete two tasks using a shared visual workspace: negotiating an apartment layout and placing model furniture on an apartment floor plan. Dyads completed both tasks under three different conditions: face-to-face, embodied VR with visible full-body avatars, and no embodiment VR, where the participants shared a virtual space, but had no visible avatars. Both subjective measures of users' experiences and detailed annotations of verbal and nonverbal behavior are used to understand how the media impact communication behavior. Embodied VR provides a high level of social presence with conversation patterns that are very similar to face-to-face interaction. In contrast, providing only the shared environment was generally found to be lonely and appears to lead to degraded communication.
Latino children’s academic and behavioral trajectories in early elementary school: Examining home language differences within preschool types

Abstract The present study examined early academic, social, and behavioral trajectories from kindergarten to third grade for Latino children from English- or Spanish-speaking homes who experienced public pre-k, Head Start, private center care, or no preschool experience. Using a nationally representative sample of Latino children (N = 3650) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten 2010–2011 cohort (ECLS-K:2011), associations of home language and preschool experience were examined for trajectories of reading and math achievement, social skills, and externalizing behavior problems. At kindergarten entry, Latino children from English-speaking households attained higher scores in reading and math than children from Spanish-speaking families across public pre-k, Head Start, and no preschool groups. However, these early home language differences greatly diminished by third grade. In contrast, for Latino children who attended private center-based care, home language comparisons were nonsignificant for early reading skills in the fall of kindergarten. By third grade, home language differences were evident among the Latino children who attended private centers, such that children from English-speaking homes scored significantly higher in reading than children from Spanish-speaking homes. Few home language differences were detected in social or behavioral skill ratings at fall of kindergarten or in trajectories within preschool types. Nonetheless, home language differences in externalizing problems grew by third grade among Latino children who had attended Head Start, such that children from English-speaking homes received higher behavior problem ratings from teachers than peers from Spanish-speaking homes.
Reaction Kinetics and Reactors

Most water treatment, wastewater treatment, and hazardous waste decontamination processes involve a chemical reaction, regardless of the pathway in which the equation is controlled (biologically mediated, surface-based sorption, chemical interaction, etc.). This chapter discusses how the rate of a particular reaction, that is, how fast or slow the reaction is as a function of time, is of paramount importance to environmental engineers as they analyze specific situations and choose the appropriate technology for a particular scenario. Reaction rates, order of a reaction, and types of reactions (consecutive, parallel/competitive, pH catalyzed, autocatalytic, and reversible), along with solved examples to ease the reader's understanding of the material will be discussed in the present chapter. Particular emphasis is given to biochemical reaction systems and how to model various kinds of inhibition (competitive, uncompetitive, noncompetitive, and substrate induced) pertaining to a particular scenario. Finally, the configuration of the reactor (batch, continuously stirred, and plug flow) is discussed in detail, along with how the concept of dispersion and the nondimensional dispersion number can be used to span the continuum between the two extremes of mixing (ideal continuously stirred tank reactor and ideal plug flow reactor).
Thermal energy storage tank sizing for biomass boiler heating systems using process dynamic simulation

Abstract A novel methodology for optimizing thermal storage for biomass boiler heating systems is presented in this paper. Biomass boiler heating systems have gradually gained popularity in residential, commercial, and large-scale district heating plants due to the lower carbon footprint of biomass energy. One unanswered question in this field was the size of the thermal energy storage (TES) tank with respect to different boiler capacities and different types of heat demand profiles. Different standards and recommendations (based only on boiler capacities) have been proposed by various organizations around the world with large deviations on the sizing of the TES tank, but without a clear technical basis for these recommendations. These inconsistencies impede the effective design and deployment of biomass boiler heating systems. This study used a dynamic process simulation system based on field data from a 25-kW wood pellet boiler with radiant floor heating. By running the simulation for different boiler capacities (N) and different types of heat demand profiles (i.e. low, medium, high, intermittent, and variable), the optimum TES tank volume can be estimated by evaluating the TES tank discharge efficiency, boiler on-time, boiler off-time, and maximum boiler output temperature. Linear correlations between optimum TES tank volume and boiler nominal capacity for different types of heat demand profiles were obtained. The results showed that the medium building heat demand (45% N) required the smallest TES tank volume while intermittent building demand requires the largest. High building demand (60% N) generates the highest TES tank discharge efficiency (up to 99%) but also requires large storage volume. From the economic point of view, it is recommended to size the thermal energy storage system such that the average building heat demand is around 45% of boiler nominal capacity.
Effects of Feminizing Hormones on Sperm Production and Malignant Changes: Microscopic Examination of Post Orchiectomy Specimens in Transwomen.

Abstract Objective To examine post-orchiectomy specimens of transgender individuals to better understand the reproductive implications of hormonal therapy and to look for potential malignant or premalignant changes. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on the orchiectomy specimens from 135 TG individuals who underwent bilateral simple orchiectomy (54) or vaginoplasty with combined orchiectomy (81) at a single institution from 2014-2017. Factors examined included microscopic evidence of spermatogenesis, weight of specimens, evidence of malignant or premalignant changes, and patient demographic information. Results Four percent (6/135) of all orchiectomy specimens had normal spermatogenesis in both testicles. Twenty-one percent (28/135) demonstrated some stage of spermatogenesis, of which 61% (17/28) were in maturational arrest. The median patient age at surgery was 30 years (range 18-76). Median overall testicle weight was 24 g (range 10.4-71.1), compared with 24 g (range 10-71g) in testicles without evidence of spermatogenesis and 26 g (range 17.9-40.9) in testicles with normal spermatogenesis. None of the specimens demonstrated premalignant or malignant changes. Conclusion Up to 21% of individuals undergoing a gender affirming surgery had microscopic evidence of spermatogenesis in varying stages. Furthermore, 4% of individuals had normal spermatogenesis. None of the specimens had malignant or premalignant changes. These findings may have implications for counseling transgender individuals on sexual and reproductive health and highlight the need for further research in this sector.
Applications of biomarkers for different purposes in drug development

Abstract Biomarkers (BMs) have been known and used for different purposes multiple thousands of years ago, but with the advancement in biology and technology over the past six to seven decades, their role in patient management and pharmaceutical development has been exponentially increasing. BMs can be used to diagnose a disease, predict its progress without or with medical intervention, predict response to a specific therapeutic agent, monitor patients after or during intervention, serve as a pharmacodynamic tool to show a drug efficacy, toxicity, prove its concept or mechanism of action, and/or serve a surrogate endpoint for a drug registration. In terms of applicability, there is no demarcation between different classes of BMs as same BM can be used for two or more of these purposes. With different applications of BMs, it is safe to state that almost no drug development can take place without biomarkers.
Motorsensory mechanisms of speech motor timing and coordination

The degree to which sensory input interacts with and shapes the precise timing and sequencing of the multiple movements necessary for speech is of particular interest if we wish to utilize speech output patterns as reflections of underlying organization. Recently, there has been a re-evaluation of the long-held concept that the detailed temporal organization of sequenced and rhythmic motor actions is implemented via some sort of central pattern generator or predetermined program. Specifically, recent studies in human handwriting, animal locomotion and human speech suggest that sensory information is essential to normal temporal patterns and may be the critical basis for many of the regularities observed. These observations thus require consideration of the neurobiological motor control processes as part of the linguistic system underlying speech—at least in terms of current phonological and phonetic descriptions.
A Continuous-Valued Learning Controller for the global optimization of Stochastic Control Systems

The optimization of stochastic control systems has received increased attention in recent years [1, 2, 3, 4]. The stochastic nature of a control situation can arise from a variety of sources such as measurement noise, parameter drift, or other, possibly external disturbances. Such random properties represent a description of inaccurately known disturbances, signals, or system changes. If there exists much a priori information or assumptions concerning plant dynamics and/or statistical properties, then a stochastic controller selecting control policies on the basis of a state estimation procedure may be appropriate. With known statistical properties, the estimation is amenable to a Kaiman filter or a Bayesian approach. However, the lack of sufficient a priori assumptions concerning the stochastic plant dynamics requires a learning controller to interact with the stochastic plant to gain information for improving performance. Several algorithms for the learning controller for seeking optimal control policies have been considered elsewhere [5, 6, 7]. One such algorithm which has received considerable attention is stochastic approximation; it is a stochastic form of a more general class of “gradient” or hill-climbing search algorithms. Such algorithms, however, tend to have local optimization properties. Hence, although often providing rapid convergence, such an algorithm can “miss” an extremum while seeking a local minimum or maximum.
Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with medtronic self-expanding prosthesis: Insights from correlations with computer tomography.

Abstract Objectives We aim to describe the feasibility, challenges, success rates and techniques utilized in coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients post transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background CA and PCI after TAVR are becoming increasingly encountered in clinical practice. There have been technical difficulties reported in re-accessing the coronary arteries through the self-expanding CoreValve prosthesis. Methods From January 2012 to November 2017, 672 patients who underwent TAVR with a self-expanding prosthesis were retrospectively reviewed and those who had a CA and/or PCI post TAVR were analysed. Clinical characteristics, angiographic and procedural details were obtained. A subgroup of patients had computed tomographic angiography (CTA) post TAVR to evaluate positions of the coronary ostia relative to the self-expanding prosthesis. Study endpoint was successful selective engagement of coronary ostia for CA and PCI. Results Thirty-two patients (4.8%) had attempted 46 CA and 26 PCI after TAVR with a self-expanding valve. Mean age was 85.2 years and 41% were females. Selective left and right coronary angiography using standard catheters could be achieved in 50% and 28% of cases respectively. Successful PCI was performed in 25 cases (96%); however, significant technique modification was required in 64% of cases. CTA in 9 patients confirmed the difficulty in coronary re-access was due to a combination of the sealing skirt relationship to coronary ostia and sinotubular junction as well as commissural post orientation and significant native leaflet calcification. Conclusions CA and PCI post TAVR with self-expanding CoreValve is technically challenging but feasible with modification of standard techniques.
Differential Development of Perceived Costs and Rewards of Offending the Relevance for Predicting Offending in Early Adulthood: A Group-Based Trajectory Modeling Approach

The present study sought to elucidate developmental patterns of perceived costs and rewards of offending and examine the relevance of this development for predicting offending in adulthood. The Pat...
Transformational Leadership and Turnover Intention in Child Welfare: A Serial Mediation Model

This study examined a serial mediation model testing the effects of STS on turnover intention through executive leaders’ use of transformational leadership as perceived by child welfare workers and...
Prevalence and correlates of ever having a substance use problem and substance use recovery status among adults in the United States, 2018.

Abstract Background Expanding access to treatment and recovery services is key to reducing substance use-related harms. Fundamental to expanding such services is better understanding the populations identifying themselves as in recovery. This study uses nationally representative data to estimate prevalence and correlates of recovery in the U.S. Methods Data are from the 43,026 adults (aged 18 or older) participating in the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Based on self-reported data, we estimate prevalence of ever having a substance use problem, the percentage in recovery among those with a substance use problem, and a multivariable logistic regression model to explore associations of recovery status with demographic characteristics and lifetime mental health problems. Among adults reporting a substance use problem, we compare prevalence of substance use by recovery status, followed by a multivariable model examining associations between each substance used and being in recovery. Results More than 1 in 10 adults (27.5 million) in the U.S. reported ever having a substance use problem, and, among those with a problem, nearly 75 % (20.5 million) reported being in recovery. Reporting lower prevalence of using substances in the past year and having received treatment for their substance use problem were associated with being in recovery. Ever having a mental health problem was highly prevalent among those reporting a substance use problem. Conclusions The provision and expansion of substance use treatment services continues to be important to reduce harms related to substance use, especially for those with both substance use and mental health disorders.