cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lead Exposure and Motor Development

The neuromotor assessment of 245 six-year-old urban inner-city children enrolled in the Cincinnati Lead Study is reported from the Departments of Environmental Health and Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Numerical Modelling Of Thermal Effects In Journal Bearings

The details of a numerical technique developed to model the thermal behavior of journal bearings operating under steady state conditions are presented. Numerical solutions were obtained using the f...
Immunotherapy with Aducanumab Restores Calcium Homeostasis in Tg2576 Mice

Calcium homeostasis plays a major role in maintaining neuronal function under physiological conditions. Amyloid-β (Aβ) initiates pathological processes that include disruption in intracellular calcium levels, so amelioration of the calcium alteration could serve as an indirect functional indicator of treatment efficacy. Therefore, calcium dynamics were used as a measure of functional outcome. We evaluated the effects of the anti-Aβ antibody aducanumab on calcium homeostasis and plaque clearance in aged Tg2576 mice with in vivo multiphoton imaging. Acute topical application of aducanumab to the brain resulted in clearance of amyloid plaques. Although chronic systemic administration of aducanumab in 22-month-old mice did not clear existing plaques, calcium overload was ameliorated over time. Therefore, this antibody likely restores neuronal network function that possibly underlies cognitive deficits, indicating promise as a clinical treatment. In addition, functional readouts such as calcium overload may be a more useful outcome measure to monitor treatment efficacy in models of Alzheimer9s disease compared with amyloid burden alone. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Alzheimer9s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is currently without a cure. Aducanumab is an anti-amyloid-β antibody being developed for the treatment of AD. Interim analyses of a phase 1b clinical trial have suggested potential beneficial effects on amyloid pathology and cognitive status in patients treated with aducanumab (Sevigny et al., 2016). Here, we show that a murine analog of aducanumab clears amyloid plaques in an acute setting and restores calcium homeostasis disrupted in a mouse model of AD upon chronic treatment. Therefore, we demonstrate that aducanumab reverses a functional outcome measure reflective of neural network activity.
JHU/APL onto-mapology results for OAEI 2006

Numerous techniques for ontology alignment and mapping have appeared in the literature, but there has been little discussion on the use of formal semantics for the task. Typical solutions apply multiple techniques to produce their results. We demonstrate that a hybrid solution that brings together a number of matching techniques yields the best results. An essential component of any ontology mapping solution is the ability for users to interact with the system and manipulate intermediate and final results. We introduce Onto-Mapology; an approach to ontology mapping that integrates techniques based on string/text matching, structure/graph matching, and semantic (rulebased/ logic-based) matching. After the initial design, development, testing and evaluation we applied Onto-Mapology to the OAEI 2006 test cases with encouraging results.
Integration of the Cropland Data Layer Based Automatic Stratification Method into the Traditional Area Frame Construction Process

A new automatic stratification method utilizing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) geospatial Cropland Data Layers (CDLs) was recently implemented in NASS operations. Recent research findings indicated that using the automated stratification method significantly improved Area Sampling Frame (ASF) stratification accuracies in intensively cropped areas (>15% cultivation) and overall stratification accuracies when compared to traditional stratification based on visual analysis of aerial photography or satellite data , while reducing the cost of ASF construction (Boryan et al., 2014). Though the new automated stratification method has improved stratification efficiency, objectivity, accuracy in the intensively cropped areas it inherits the CDL classification errors and has lower accuracies in low or non-agricultural areas. This implies that the automated stratification process is not a perfect solution to directly replace the NASS traditional stratification method for ASF construction operationally. This paper describes a hybrid approach: an operational ASF construction process that integrates the automated stratification results with ASF editing/review methods. New 2014 - 2015 NASS ASFs for South Dakota, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina were successfully built using the new integrated operational process. The seven updated ASFs delivered significant improvements in objectivity, operational efficiency, and frame accuracy, based on 2014 and 2015 June Area Survey (JAS) reported data.
Complex assembly line production simulation modeling considering robots failure and operator cycle times

This research paper demonstrates how to develop Simulation Model for a complex automotive assembly line process which consists of about 13 assembly stations, 80 robots, 6 conveyors and 7 manual operator load stations. In this paper, a simulation model was developed for the above assembly process; the results were verified and validated. The simulation modeling also incorporated the "what-if" scenario effects of the robots failure and operator cycle times on production. The simulation model was run for various scenarios using Arena modeling software. The findings were analysed using DOE and improvement ideas were presented to increase production. The general tendency in the plant to improve production is to buy more equipment. But, more machines also require more maintenance due to machine breakdowns. It is very interesting to see how the robots failure and the operator cycle time affect the production.
Synthesis and Microstructural Development of Particulate Reinforced Metal-Matrix Composites Using the Technique of Spray Atomization and Deposition

In this paper, the synthesis of discontinuously-reinforced metal matrix composites using the technique of spray atomization and co-deposition is presented and briefly discussed. This technical manuscript provides a lucid overview of the salient features of the technique of spray atomization and deposition. An attempt is made to highlight the key attributes specific to the processing technique with specific reference to pre-mixed metal matrix composites. The key factors and viable mechanisms governing incorporation of the reinforcing phase during co-deposition is presented and adequately discussed. The microstructure of few composites synthesized by this technique and the key and observable features are briefly highlighted considering the conjoint and mutually interactive influences of processing variables and constituents of the metal-matrix composite.
Preschool Teachers’ Implementation Fidelity When Using a Technology-Mediated Language and Literacy Intervention

The use of technology-mediated interventions within classrooms have grown exponentially across early childhood settings. Still, very few studies have examined preschool teachers’ implementation fidelity to these interventions and no study, of which we are aware, have investigated the factors associated with these teachers’ fidelity when implementing technology-mediated interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine preschool teachers’ fidelity when implementing Read it Again-Mobile, a technology-mediated language and literacy intervention, as well as teacher characteristics associated with adherence to core program components. Thirty preschool teachers were observed during whole-group read alouds in their classroom and questionnaire data were collected regarding teachers’ attitudes towards and comfort with technology. Descriptive statistics demonstrated that preschool teachers exhibit relatively high levels of overall fidelity when delivering a technology-mediated intervention. Teachers’ attitude towards and comfort with technology were not associated with any variation in teachers’ overall implementation fidelity. Preschool teachers are able to implement technology-mediated interventions with fidelity. Further research is needed to identify the contextual factors that may support preschool teachers’ implementation fidelity to these interventions.
Re-evaluating the salty divide: phylogenetic specificity of transitions between marine and freshwater systems

Marine and freshwater microbial communities are phylogenetically distinct and transitions between habitat types are thought to be infrequent. We compared the phylogenetic diversity of marine and freshwater microorganisms and identified specific lineages exhibiting notably high or low similarity between marine and freshwater ecosystems using a meta-analysis of 16S rRNA gene tag-sequencing datasets. As expected, marine and freshwater microbial communities differed in the relative abundance of major phyla and contained habitat-specific lineages; at the same time, however, many shared taxa were observed in both environments. Betaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria sequences had the highest similarity between marine and freshwater sample pairs. Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria contained the highest number of Minimum Entropy Decomposition nodes shared by marine and freshwater samples. Shared nodes included lineages of the abundant alphaproteobacterial group SAR11 that have not previously been reported in 16S rRNA gene surveys of freshwater lakes. Our results suggest that shared taxa are numerous, but tend to occur sporadically and at low relative abundance in one habitat type, leading to an underestimation of transition frequency between marine and freshwater habitats. Lineages with a high degree of shared taxa or habitat-specific diversification represent targets for genome-scale investigations into microbial adaptations and evolutionary innovations. Rare taxa with abundances near or below detection, including lineages that appear to have crossed the salty divide relatively recently, may have novel adaptations enabling them to exploit opportunities for niche expansion when environments are disturbed or conditions change.
Ketogenic bugs as epilepsy drugs

The gut microbiome mediates the beneficial effects of a ketogenic diet on epileptic seizures through modulation of GABA/glutamate ratios in the hippocampus.
Part II: The Rise and Fall of the Bible

The Bible was at the leading edge of the seventeenth-century discussion of religion and embroiled in practically every issue of the intellectual revolution. This essay explores advances in the understanding of the Bible as a book with a history, as well as researches (e.g., ancient chronolgy) by biblical literalists that unintentionally undercut biblical authority and ironically undermined the ever-escalating claims made for the Bible by Protestants. I then turn to the Quaker critique of bibliolatry as further evidence against the conventional view that biblical criticism was motivated by scepticism.
Sexual Script Theory: An Integrative Exploration of the Possibilities and Limits of Sexual Self-Definition:

Sexual Script Theory (SST) and its clinical applications are premised on the notion that the subjective understandings of individuals of their sexuality determine the persons' choices of sexual act...
State-of-the-Art Wave Prediction Methods and Data Requirements

In the past decade, there has been a general shift in wave prediction methods from simple empirical techniques developed in the 1940’s to the application of numerical models based upon the spectral energy balance equation. Such models simulate the physical processes governing the growth of surface waves which have been identified as a result of extensive theoretical and experimental study of wave generation. The importance of nonlinear wave-wave interactions in wave generation has prompted the recent development of an alternate model context for wave prediction, which is based upon a parametric representation of the wave spectrum. This paper reviews the structure of state-of-the-art spectral and parametric methods and validation, and wave data requirements for further improvements in such methods.
Antifouling Ultrafiltration Membranes with Retained Pore Size by Controlled Deposition of Zwitterionic Polymers and Poly(ethylene glycol)

We demonstrate antifouling ultrafiltration membranes with retained selectivity and pure water flux through the controlled deposition of zwitterionic polymers and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Molecules for polymerization were immobilized on the membrane’s surface yet prevented from attaching to the membrane’s pores due to a backflow of nitrogen (N2) gas achieved using an in-house constructed apparatus that we named the polymer prevention apparatus, or “PolyPrev”. First, the operating parameters of the PolyPrev were optimized by investigating the polymerization of dopamine, which was selected due to its versatility in enabling further chemical reactions, published metrics for comparison, and its oxidative self-polymerization. Membrane characterization revealed that the polydopamine-modified membranes exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity; moreover, their size selectivity and pure water flux were statistically the same as those of the unmodified membranes. Because it is well documented that polydopamine coatings...
Assignment and calibration of relative permeability by hydrostratigraphic units for multiphase flow analysis, case study: CO2-EOR operations at the Farnsworth Unit, Texas

Abstract Among the most critical factors for geological CO2 storage site screening, selection, and operation is effective simulations of multiphase flow and transport. Relative permeability is probably the greatest source of potential uncertainty in multiphase flow simulation, second only to intrinsic permeability heterogeneity. The specific relative permeability relationship assigned greatly impacts forecasts of CO2 trapping mechanisms, phase behavior, and long-term plume movement. A primary goal of this study is to evaluate the impacts and implications of different methods of assigning relative permeability relationships for CO2-EOR model forecasts. Most simulation studies published in the literature base selection of relative permeability functions on the geologic formation or rock type alone. In this study, we initially implemented reservoir model grids with previously-identified hydrostratigraphic units based on porosity and permeability relationship of the Morrow ‘B’ Sandstone, then assigned relative permeability functions for those hydrostratigraphic units. Specific, constrained relative permeability relationships were created and assigned to each hydrostratigraphic unit using petrophysical data and Mercury Intrusion Capillary Pressure (MICP) measurements, from core samples of each hydrostratigraphic unit. Results of forward simulations with the newly-calibrated models will be compared to those of previous models as well as to simulation results for a range of different relative permeability relationships. The study site is the Farnsworth Unit (FWU) in the northeast Texas Panhandle, an active CO2-EOR operation. The target formation is the Morrow ‘B’ Sandstone, a clastic formation composed of medium to course sands.
Cash Assistance in America: The Role of Race, Politics, and Poverty:

We examine the predictors of state spending on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance, which has fallen dramatically since the passage of welfare reform in 1996. Over the 20...
All-optical tuning of symmetry protected quasi bound states in the continuum

We demonstrate all-optical switching of high quality factor quasibound states in the continuum resonances in broken symmetry GaAs metasurfaces. By slightly breaking the symmetry of the GaAs nanoresonators, we enable leakage of symmetry protected bound states in the continuum (BICs) to free space that results in sharp spectral resonances with high quality factors of ∼500. We tune the resulting quasi-BIC resonances with ultrafast optical pumping at 800 nm and observe a 10 nm spectral blue shift of the resonance with pump fluences of less than 100 μJ cm−2. The spectral shift is achieved in an ultrafast time scale (<2.5 ps) and is caused by a shift in the refractive index mediated by the injection of free carriers into the GaAs resonators. An absolute reflectance change of 0.31 is measured with 150 μJ cm−2. Our results demonstrate a proof-of-concept that these broken symmetry metasurfaces can be modulated or switched at ultrafast switching speeds with higher contrast at low optical fluences (<100 μJ cm−2) than conventional Mie-metasurfaces.
Public Participation Approaches for a New Era in Dryland Science and Stewardship in the Global South

The drylands of the Global South are facing challenges from human population growth, unsustainable land-management practices, and climate change. Such problems are complex and can no longer be adequately addressed using traditional, top-down means. Rather, increased reliance on public participation is needed to better identify key research questions and interventions that promote positive change. Major actors in these approaches would include communities, applied researchers, outreach agents, policy makers, and planners working in tandem. The process involves embracing “engaged research” within a framework of an “innovation system”—referred to here by the acronym ERIS. Such concepts have recently gained acceptance, and now is the time to implement them. Project donors are key to this transformation of applied research and professional practice because they can provide incentives. ERIS projects must be long term with a diversity of pragmatic and transdisciplinary scholarly achievements. An ERIS platform for inter-project coordination could be part of a comprehensive Agadir platform. The main option to institutionalize ERIS approaches is via policies that alter how government agencies and their stakeholders work together.
Sugarcane Biomass Yield Response to Phosphorus Fertilizer on Four Mineral Soils as Related to Extractable Soil Phosphorus

The efficient use of phosphorus (P) fertilizers is very important in South Florida so that the environmental impact is minimal while meeting crop demand. To ensure that this is accomplished, an upd...
Families lost and found: Orphans and orphanhood in post-soviet cinema

The motif of absent fathers occurs in many Russian films, especially those produced during the Thaw, reflecting the reality of families destroyed and fragmented by World War II and the Terror. The nuclear family functions as a microcosm of the state, and in its turn the state is represented as a family; the absent father frequently stands for Stalin, the “Father of Nations,” whose death has left the orphaned country in turmoil. In Russian cinema of the 1990s and 2000s, the motifs of fragmented families and orphaned children occur frequently, often representing the loss of security and defining cultural narratives in the post-Soviet landscape. This article examines the subject of both functional and actual orphanhood in Andrei Zviagintsev’s film The Return and Andrei Kravchuk’s film The Italian as it parallels the post-Soviet experience of uncertainty, rejection of previously held societal beliefs, and longing to return to the "small family," rather than the Soviet collective “great family” (to borrow Katerina Clark's terms from her seminal work The Soviet Novel).
A Multilevel Binary Logistic Regression Model of Success in Anatomy and Physiology I: A Retrospective Analysis

Anatomy and physiology (AP) are subfields of biology that are gatekeeper courses for the health professions. This exploratory study used multilevel binary logistic regression to determine if age/gender and race/ethnicity were used as predictors of success, while the term offered and the identification number were specified as random effects. Two models were used. Those earning the grades of A, B and C were defined as successful for both models. Those earning the grades of D and F and those who withdrew (W) were defined as successful for one model, while the other model had the withdrawals removed. Ethnicity and gender predicted success in both models, with Native Americans and African Americans being less likely to succeed than Caucasians with the withdrawn students included. The model without withdrawn students was similar, except Hispanic students were also less likely to succeed than Caucasians. Females were more likely to succeed than males in both models. Efforts to retain equity in AP pedagogy should be prioritized.
RECENSIÓN: KÜNSEMÜLLER LOEBENFELDER, CARLOS, EL DERECHO PENAL LIBERAL. LOS PRINCIPIOS CARDINALES

Se analiza el libro de KUNSEMULLER LOEBENFELDER, CARLOS, EL DERECHO PENAL LIBERAL. LOS PRINCIPIOS CARDINALES.
‘Accuser of Brothers’: A Polish Anti-Demonological Tract and its Self-Defeating Rhetoric

Polish historiography has celebrated the Czarownica powolana [The Denounced Witch] without studying it very closely, treating its author as a heroic, skeptical, enlightened voice crying out against...
Improving Outcome Accountability of Block Grants: Lessons Learned From the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation:

The flexibility federal block grants provide recipients poses challenges for evaluation. These challenges include aggregating data on wide-ranging activities grant recipients implement and the outc...
A low density of the Extragalactic Background Light revealed by the H.E.S.S. spectra of the BLLac objects 1ES 1101-232 and H 2356-309

The unexpectedly hard spectra measured by HESS for the BLLacs 1ES 1101-232 and H 2356-309 has allowed an upper limit on the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) to be derived in the optical/near-infrared range, which is very close to the lower limit given by the resolved galaxy counts. This result seems to exclude a large contribution to the EBL from other sources (e.g. Population III stars) and indicates that the intergalactic space is more transparent to gamma-rays than previously thought. A brief discussion of EBL absorption effects on blazar spectra and further observational tests to check this conclusion are presented, including the selection of new candidates for observations with Cherenkov telescopes.
A comparison of air-cell and gel surgical table pads and an evaluation of the influence of pressure distribution and other factors on pressure injury prevention.

Abstract Guidelines for pressure injury prevention consider the use of pressure-redistributing pads to prevent tissue deformation. However, limited research exists to assess the pressure distribution provided by the operating tables and the effectiveness of pressure-redistributing pads in preventing pressure injuries. In this study, we compared the pressure distribution properties of two surgical table pads and identified parameters influencing pressure injury outcomes after a lengthy surgical procedure. Twenty-seven patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation surgery participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to use either an air cell-based pad or a gel pad. Interface pressure was recorded during the surgery. We analyzed the effect of surgical table pad type, interface pressure distribution and pressure injury outcomes and analyzed what characteristics of the patients and the interface pressure are most influential for the development of pressure injuries. Comparing the interface pressure parameters between the air-cell group and the gel group, only the peak pressure index x time was significantly different (p
The Application of Data Warehouse in Teaching Management in Colleges and Universities

Data warehousing refers to the process of organizing data from different sources to support the process of decision making in organizations as well as support data analytics. Data warehousing assimilates and systematizes data from across different departments in an organization to have a single analysis of the full information. This data is then used to make the decisions in an organization. However, data warehousing has been underestimated in education institutions. The reason is that they are non-profits organizations. With the increase in the number of educational institutions coming up, colleges and universities should consider the integration of such data-driven support systems to make better decisions and for more organization in the academic processes especially for those institutions with different branches. The intricacy in managing these institutions requires development on how consistent information can be relayed to the decision-makers of an institution. This paper explains the need for data warehouses in education institutions and how the teaching institutions can implement data warehousing to help in the management of the institutions. The paper also explores and reviews various methods that institutions can use to mine data. Various stages for promoting and actualizing the system have been shown.
Flexible High-Resolution Force and Dimpling Measurement System for Pia and Dura Penetration During In Vivo Microelectrode Insertion Into Rat Brain

Objective: Understanding the in vivo force and tissue dimpling during micro-electrode implantation into the brain are important for neuro-electrophysiology to minimize damage while enabling accurate placement and stable chronic extracellular electrophysiological recordings. Prior studies were unable to measure the sub-mN forces exerted during in vivo insertion of small electrodes. Here, we have investigated the in vivo force and dimpling depth profiles during brain surface membrane rupture (including dura) in anesthetized rats. Methods: A μN-resolution cantilever beam-based measurement system was designed, built, and calibrated and adapted for in vivo use. A total of 244 in vivo insertion tests were conducted on 8 anesthetized rats with 121 through pia mater and 123 through dura and pia combined. Results: Both microwire tip sharpening and diameter reduction reduced membrane rupture force (insertion force) and eased brain surface penetration. But dimpling depth and rupture force are not always strongly correlated. Multi-shank silicon probes showed smaller dimpling and rupture force per shank than single shank devices. Conclusion: A force measurement system with flexible range and μN-level resolution (up to 0.032 μN) was achieved and proved feasible. For both pia-only and dura-pia penetrations in anesthetized rats, the rupture force and membrane dimpling depth at rupture are linearly related to the microwire diameter. Significance: We have developed a new system with both μN-level resolution and capacity to be used in vivo for measurement of force profiles of various neural interfaces into the brain. This allows quantification of brain tissue cutting and provides design guidelines for optimal neural interfaces.
Digital Services in International Trade Law

Digitisation has significantly impacted international trade. This book explains the impact of digitisation on trade in services, the ensuing concept of 'digital services' and the different types of trade barriers these services face. This book establishes that the legal framework that applies to trade in services also applies to digital services. It elaborates on the scope of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and how to classify digital services. The relevant GATS obligations are subsequently applied to several case studies that illustrate the barriers to digital services trade. These case studies demonstrate the impact of the applicability of GATS to digital services on countries' international obligations. Finally, the book maps the electronic commerce-related provisions in in regional trade agreements (RTAs). Six extensive e-commerce RTAs are compared in depth and it is considered whether they add substantially to the existing multilateral obligations applicable to digital services trade.
Multitasking algorithms for optimization of space structures

Various multitasking approaches are investigated for optimization of large space structures. Judicious combination of microtasking, macrotasking, and autotasking is explored with the goal of achieving a vectorized and multitasked algorithm for optimization of a large structure with maximum speedup performance. Speedup results are presented and compared for three space truss structures with 526, 1046, and 3126 members.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Associated Rates of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a New York City Emergency Department.

Author(s): Ditkowsky, Jared; Lieber, Adam C.; Leibner, Evan S.; Genes, Nicholas | Abstract: Introduction: In early March 2020, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) spread rapidly in New York City. Shortly thereafter, in response to the shelter-in-place orders and concern for infection, emergency department (ED) volumes decreased. While a connection between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and hyperglycemia/insulin deficiency is well described, its direct relation to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is not. In this study we describe trends in ED volume and admitted patient diagnoses of DKA among five of our health system’s EDs, as they relate to peak SARS-CoV-2 activity in New York City.Methods: For the five EDs in our hospital system, deidentified visit data extracted for routine quality review was made available for analysis. We looked at total visits and select visit diagnoses related to DKA, across the months of March, April and May 2019, and compared those counts to the same period in 2020.Results: A total of 93,218 visits were recorded across our five EDs from March 1–May 31, 2019. During that period there were 106 diagnoses of DKA made in the EDs (0.114% of visits). Across the same period in 2020 there were 59,009 visits, and 214 diagnoses of DKA (0.363% of visits)Conclusion: Despite a decrease in ED volume of 26.9% across our system during this time period, net cases of DKA diagnoses rose drastically by 70.1% compared to the prior year.
Diffuse optical tomography breast imaging measurements are modifiable with pre-surgical targeted and endocrine therapies among women with early stage breast cancer.

Diffuse optical tomography breast imaging system (DOTBIS) non-invasively measures tissue concentration of hemoglobin, which is a potential biomarker of short-term response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We evaluated whether DOTBIS-derived measurements are modifiable with targeted therapies, including AKT inhibition and endocrine therapy. We conducted a proof of principle study in seven postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer who were enrolled in pre-surgical studies of the AKT inhibitor MK-2206 (n = 4) or the aromatase inhibitors exemestane (n = 2) and letrozole (n = 1). We performed DOTBIS at baseline (before initiation of therapy) and post-therapy in the affected breast (tumor volume) and contralateral, unaffected breast, and measured tissue concentrations (in μM) of total hemoglobin (ctTHb), oxyhemoglobin (ctO2Hb), and deoxyhemoglobin (ctHHb), as well as water fraction (%). We found consistent decreases in DOTBIS-measured hemoglobin concentrations in tumor volume, with median percent changes for ctTHb, ctHHb, ctO2Hb, and water fraction for the entire cohort of − 27.1% (interquartile range [IQR] 37.5%), − 49.8% (IQR 29.3%), − 33.5% (IQR 47.4%), and − 3.6% (IQR 10.6%), respectively. In the contralateral breast, median percent changes for ctTHb, ctHHb, ctO2Hb, and water fraction were + 1.8% (IQR 26.7%), − 8.6% (IQR 29.3%), + 6.2% (IQR 29.5%), and + 1.9% (IQR 30.7%), respectively. We demonstrated that DOTBIS-derived measurements are modifiable with pre-surgical AKT inhibition and endocrine therapy, supporting further investigation of DOTBIS as a potential imaging assessment of response to neoadjuvant targeted therapies in early stage breast cancer.
Concordance and Patient-Centered Care in Medicaid Enrollees' Care Experience With Providers.

Patient-centered care is at the nexus of several overlapping institutional reforms to improve health care system performance. However, we know little regarding Medicaid patients’ experience with th...
Upward Mobility in Education: The Role of Personal Networks Across the Life Course

How do individuals achieve upward mobility in education despite the well‐documented mechanisms that foster reproduction of inequalities? This question presents a fundamental puzzle for social science researchers and has generated an increasing body of research. The present article tackles the puzzle using a life course and personal network lens. Studying educational trajectories in Germany of students whose parents have low educational degrees, it asks: What paths did students take through the education system, what personal network factors were important for their educational attainment, and how did these factors change over students’ life courses? In contrast to most studies that zoom in on a specific transition or time period, the article uses data from 36 retrospective in‐depth interviews that allow a sweeping view of respondents’ educational careers. Thanks to a systematic case selection scheme, the data also enables comparisons between students who became upwardly mobile and those who replicated their parents’ low educational degrees. Findings suggest four types of trajectories: direct upward mobility, indirect upward mobility, direct non‐mobility, and indirect non‐mobility. I discuss four personal network factors that seem to drive these trajectories: support with academic efforts, encouragement, support with solving problems, and role models. Upwardly mobile students showed combinations of two or more of these four factors that established higher education as the students’ goal, and provided them with tools and support to reach that goal. With these findings, the article contributes to literature on inclusion in education, social inequality and mobility, personal networks, and the life course.
Flexible Bronchoscopy Simulation as a Tool to Improve Surgical Skills in Otolaryngology Residency.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the benefits of simulation to teach flexible bronchoscopy.Study DesignA prospective cohort study to assess the bronchoscopic skills of residents in an otolaryngology training p...
Cleavage of Rhesus Rotavirus VP4 after Arginine 247 Is Essential for Rotavirus-Like Particle-Induced Fusion from Without

We recently described our finding that recombinant baculovirus-produced virus-like particles (VLPs) can induce cell-cell fusion similar to that induced by intact rotavirus in our assay for viral entry into tissue culture cells (J. M. Gilbert and H. B. Greenberg, J. Virol. 71:4555‐4563, 1997). The conditions required for syncytium formation are similar to those for viral penetration of the plasma membrane during the course of viral infection. This VLP-mediated fusion activity was dependent on the presence of the outer-layer proteins, viral protein 4 (VP4) and VP7, and on the trypsinization of VP4. Fusion activity occurred only with cells that are permissive for rotavirus infection. Here we begin to dissect the role of VP4 in rotavirus entry by examining the importance of the precise trypsin cleavage of VP4 and the activation of VP4 function related to viral entry. We present evidence that the elimination of the three trypsin-susceptible arginine residues of VP4 by specific sitedirected mutagenesis prevents syncytium formation. Two of the three arginine residues in VP4 are dispensable for syncytium formation, and only the arginine residue at site 247 appears to be required for activation of VP4 functions and cell-cell fusion. Using the recombinant VLPs in our syncytium assay will aid in understanding the conformational changes that occur in VP4 involved in rotavirus penetration into host cells.
Specific analysis of KIT and PDGFR-alpha expression and mutational status in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background The purpose of this study was to explore the immunohistochemical and mutational status of the tyrosine kinases KIT and platelet derived growth receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Specifically, we examined the mutated exons in gastrointestinal stromal cell tumors that may confer a treatment response to imatinib mesylate. Methods We evaluated KIT and PDGFRA immunostaining in 23 examples of MCC utilizing laser capture microdissection to obtain pure samples of tumor genomic DNA from 18 of 23 examples of MCC. PCR amplification and sequencing of KIT exons 9, 11, 13 and 17, and PDGFRA exons 10, 12, 14 and 18 for mutations was performed. Results Fifteen of 23 tumors (65%) demonstrated CD117 expression and 22 of 23 tumors (95%) demonstrated PDGFRA expression. A single heterozygous KIT exon 11 base change resulting in an E583K mutation was discovered in 12 of 18 (66%) examples of MCC. In addition, a single nucleotide polymorphism was detected in eight of 18 tumors (44%) in exon 18 of PDGFRA (codon 824; GTC > GTT). Conclusions We discovered a novel somatic KIT exon 11 E583K mutation in 66% of tumors. This mutation has been previously described in a human with piebaldism and appears to represent an inactivating mutation. Therefore, despite expression of CD117 and PDGFRA, the absence of activating mutations in these tyrosine kinases makes KIT and PDGFRA unlikely candidates of MCC oncogenesis.
2'-Hydroxyl-protecting groups that are either photochemically labile or sensitive to fluoride ions.

Protected ribonucleotide monomers are more difficult to obtain than their 2′-deoxy counterparts because of the need to protect the 2′-hydroxy function. This unit describes the stepwise preparation of suitably 2′-protected ribonucleosides using two protecting groups: 2-nitrobenzyloxymethyl (NBOM) and tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS). In addition, details are given for protecting the 5′-hydroxyl and the nucleobase, yielding nucleosides that are easily converted to phosphoramidite or H-phosphonate derivatives for automated oligoribonucleotide synthesis.
Counting permutations by their runs up and down

We find a formula for the number of permutations of $[n]$ that have exactly $s$ runs up and down. The formula is at once terminating, asymptotic, and exact.
The role of experimental and computational structural approaches in 7TM drug discovery

Introduction: Starting with the published X-ray structures of ligand-mediated 7TM proteins in 2007, experimental approaches, led by X-ray structure determinations, and computational approaches, led by docking and molecular dynamics, have converged to elaborate our understanding of this field and demonstrate their effectiveness in drug discovery.Areas covered: The authors review the structural information that has emerged for ligand-mediated 7TM proteins, including the class A, B, C, and F receptors, focusing on the 7TM domains for the multi-domain proteins. The authors describe the key regions associated with ligand binding as well as features responsible for function such as activation versus inhibition and biased signaling. Furthermore, the authors summarize the effectiveness of computational studies to help clarify the structure–function information and their use for drug discovery.Expert opinion: There is now a significant amount of structural information covering a range of 7TM protein classes (A, B,...
RECRUITING SURVEY RESPONDENTS TO MAILED SURVEYS: CONTROLLED TRIALS OF INCENTIVES AND PROMPTS

Three controlled experiments tested the efficacy of 1) a postcard or telephone prompt, 2) a lottery, 3) monetary incentives, and 4) questionnaire length to recruit adult survey respondents to a random sample of residences in San Diego, California, during 1986-1988. In experiment 1, the group randomly assigned to receive a telephone call prenotification plus the lottery incentive responded 26-66% more frequently than did controls (p = 0.02) after a single mailing. The postcard plus lottery was 17-54% more effective than no intervention with controls (p = 0.05). A second mailing of the survey weakened these effects. In experiment 2, the group randomly assigned to receive a two-page survey with the lottery announcement responded 69% more frequently after one mailing (p = 0.03) and 53% more frequently after a second mailing (p = 0.04) than the group that received an eight-page survey without the lottery incentive. The shorter form alone or the lottery alone did not increase response rates significantly relative to the long form without a lottery. In experiment 3, a monetary incentive of $5.00 contingent on response to the second mailing of the survey increased the rate of response from initial "nonresponders" by 100% relative to control who received no incentive (p = 0.03) and 75% over those who received $1.00 not contingent on response (p = 0.04). Little sampling bias and no reactivity was attributable to the recruitment procedures.
Bayesian 14C analysis, formation processes, and accumulation rates of the Prisoners Harbor shell midden and village complex, Santa Cruz Island, California

Abstract The Prisoners Harbor site (CA-SCRI-240), one of the largest sites on California's Channel Islands and the likely location of the Chumash village Xaxas , played a key role in regional models of emergent complexity and culture contact. Despite substantial excavation at the site, published research has focused on the most recent 500 years of the site's occupation, with comparatively little attention given to the 2–3 millennia preceding this. Here we focus on the formation and chronology of CA-SCRI-240 by presenting a Bayesian analysis of 36 radiocarbon dates from throughout the site's occupation. Comparing three suites of radiocarbon dates, we provide a revised chronology for CA-SCRI-240 and examine site formation processes, sediment deposition rates, and the implications our study holds for reconciling older radiometric dates with large analytical errors and higher precision accelerator mass spectrometry dates. Our analysis suggests that the earliest site occupation was 2750 cal BP, roughly 2000 years later than previously presumed. Sedimentation rates vary throughout the 5.7 m sequence. Deposits for the first 1000 years accumulated slowly followed by relative increase in accumulation rates in the uppermost occupation levels dating to historic times. Our study demonstrates the importance of Bayesian analysis for improving radiocarbon chronologies for large, multi-component sites.
The assimilation of contaminants from suspended sediment and algae by the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha

Abstract Since their invasion into the Great Lakes, zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha , have increased the water clarity in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie due to their extensive particle filtration. Because these particles contain sorbed contaminants, the potential for contaminant accumulation from both suspended sediment and algae were examined. Sediment or algae were dosed with selected radiolabeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon congeners and/or hexachlorobiphenyl (HCBP). Assimilation efficiencies were measured and depended on food quality. Zebra mussels, 17 ± 2 mm long, assimilated 58.3 ± 13.5% of the pyrene and 44.7 ± 5.8% of the benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) from sediment particles with a particle clearance rate of 493 – 897 ml/g tissue/h. However, assimilation efficiencies were 91.7 ± 3.7% for pyrene, 91.9 ± 1.4% for BaP, 96.6 ± 1.4% for chrysene, and 97.7 ± 0.5% for HCBP from suspended algae. Algal particle clearance rates for the mussels ranged from 47 – 143 ml/g tissue/h. Thus, zebra mussels efficiently accumulated non-polar contaminants sorbed to algae, while a smaller fraction of the sediment-associated contaminant was bioavailable. Furthermore, the contaminants sorbed onto suspended sediment particles were quickly removed from the water and deposited as pseudofeces. The pseudofeces production was positively correlated with filtration rate and suspended particle concentrations.
Device performance and polymer morphology in polymer light emitting diodes: morphology dependent emission spectra

Polymer thin films for the light-emitting devices (LEDs) are usually obtained by spin-casting from slightly viscous solutions. The performance of polymer light-emitting diodes is strongly influenced by the thin film morphology. It is known that the polymer thin film morphology (or aggregation) is determined by the solvents used for obtaining polymer solutions. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that the polymer aggregation can also be controlled by the concentration of the polymer solution and the rotational speed used during spin-casting of the films. The correlation between the film morphology and emission spectra for polymer light-emitting diodes fabricated using poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) has been studied. Our findings indicate that there is a strong correlation between the “vibronic structure” observed in the emission spectra of the MEH-PPV devices and the aggregation of the polymer chains.
The effect of salinity on coelomic fluid osmolyte concentration and intracellular water content in Luidia clathrata (Say) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

Abstract 1. 1. The concentrations (mM) of osmolytes in the coelomic fluid of Luidia clathrata kept at 25‰S seawater (control individuals) were: 345, Na+; 10, K+; 10, Ca2+; 44, Mg2+; 387, Cl−; 0.67, amino acids; 0.09, NH4+. 2. 2. When individuals were transferred from 25‰S to 15‰S or 35‰S, the concentrations of inorganic ions in the coelomic fluid usually equilibrated within 24hr and became the same as those in the medium. 3. 3. The intracellular water content (g intracellular H2O/g solute-free dry tissue) of the pyloric caeca and tube feet of control individuals throughout the experiment was 2.13 and 5.40, respectively. 4. 4. In tissues of individuals transferred to 15‰S, the intracellular water content increased by an average 50% in 12 hr but returned to 19% above control levels during 1 week. 5. 5. In tissues of individuals transferred to 35‰S, the intracellular water content decreased by an average 17% in 12 hr and did not change during 1 week. 6. 6. Luidia clathrata is an osmoconformer and partial cell volume regulator within the seasonal salinity range it encounters.
Practical considerations in emergency drug therapy

Drug therapy is integral to emergency and critical care medicine but can also be the source of serious medical errors. There are important considerations with regard to drug, route, and interactions that require close attention in critical patients. The continuous development of new therapeutics and new information concerning current therapies requires practitioners to continually review drug therapies. This article addresses general guidelines, routes of administration, dosage calculations, interactions, monitoring recommendations, and resources available to help clinicians improve their drug therapy practices.
Entropy change for magnetic phase transitions in CoNi/Gd nanolayers

First-order magnetic phase transitions showing thermal hysteresis have been investigated in CoNi/Gd nanolayers. The phase transitions between two coexisting ordered phases are controlled by external magnetic fields (50–500 Oe). The magnetic entropy change has been calculated from isothermal hysteresis data showing two discontinuities with opposite signs as the temperature is cycled in the 20–300 K temperature interval.
The number of edge 3-colorings of a planar cubic graph as a permanent

In this paper, we establish that the number of edge 3-colorings of a finite planar cubic graph G, i.e., 3-colorings of its interchange graph H, is equal to 2^-^N|Permanent(A)|, where N is the number of edges of G, and A is the 2N x 2N square matrix formed by repeating each row of the N x 2N vertex-directed edge incidence matrix of H (with an arbitrary orientation). As the number of 4-colorings of a finite maximal (fully triangulated) planar graph is equal to four times the number of edge 3-colorings of its planar cubic dual, this result gives a formula for the number of 4-colorings of a finite maximal planar graph.