cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Parents of Children With Cancer Learn About Their Children's Prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which prognostic information sources parents find informative and which are associated with better parental understanding of prognosis. METHODS: Prospective, questionnaire-based cohort study of parents and physicians of children with cancer at 2 academic pediatric hospitals. We asked parents how they learned about prognoses and evaluated relationships between information sources and prognostic understanding, defined as accuracy versus optimism. We excluded parents with pessimistic estimates and whose children had such good prognoses that optimism relative to the physician was impossible. Analytic cohort of 256 parent-physician pairs. RESULTS: Most parents considered explicit sources (conversations with oncologists at diagnosis, day-to-day conversations with oncologists, and conversations with nurses) “very” or “extremely” informative (73%–85%). Implicit sources (parent’s sense of how child was doing or how oncologist seemed to feel child was doing) were similarly informative (84%–87%). Twenty-seven percent (70/253) of parents reported prognostic estimates matching physicians’ estimates. Parents who valued implicit information had lower prognostic accuracy (odds ratio [OR] 0.50; 95% confidence interval 0.29–0.88), especially those who relied on a “general sense of how my child’s oncologist seems to feel my child is doing” (OR 0.47; 0.22–0.99). Parents were more likely to use implicit sources if they reported receiving high-quality prognostic information (OR 3.02; 1.41–6.43), trusted the physician (OR 2.01; 1.01–3.98), and reported high-quality physician communication (OR 1.81; 1.00–3.27). CONCLUSIONS: Reliance on implicit sources was associated with overly-optimistic prognostic estimates. Parents who endorsed strong, trusting relationships with physicians were not protected against misinformation.
SNAIL1 action in tumor cells influences macrophage polarization and metastasis in breast cancer through altered GM-CSF secretion

The EMT inducer SNAIL1 regulates breast cancer metastasis and its expression in human primary breast tumor predicts for poor outcomes. During tumor progression SNAIL1 has multiple effects in tumor cells that can impact metastasis. An inflammatory tumor microenvironment also impacts metastasis and recently SNAIL1 has been implicated as modulating the secretion of cytokines that can influence the tumor immune infiltrate. Using a spontaneous genetic model of breast cancer metastasis and syngeneic orthotopic transplant experiments we show that the action of SNAIL1 in primary breast tumor cells is required for breast tumor growth and metastasis. It does so, in part, by regulating production of GM-CSF, IL1α, IL-6, and TNFα by breast cancer cells. The SNAIL1-dependent tumor cell secretome modulates the primary tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization. GM-CSF alone modulates TAM polarization and impacts breast cancer metastasis in vivo. This study highlights another role for breast tumor SNAIL1 in cancer progression to metastasis—modulation of the immune microenvironment of primary breast tumors.
Outcomes of children with congenital heart disease implanted with ventricular assist devices: An analysis of the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs)

BACKGROUND The reported ventricular assist device (VAD) experience in the pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) population is limited. We sought to describe contemporary use and outcomes of VADs in children with CHD and compare these outcomes to those of non-CHD children. METHODS Patients enrolled in the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs) between September 19, 2012 through June 30, 2017 were included. CHD was classified as biventricular vs single ventricle (Stages 1, 2, or 3). Outcomes were compared between groups and multivariable analysis was used to identify factors associated with mortality on the device. RESULTS Among the 471 patients enrolled, 108 (24%) had CHD (45 biventricular and 63 single ventricle). CHD patients were younger (5.7 ± 5.7 years vs 9.8 ± 6.5 years; p < 0.0001) and smaller (0.8 ± 0.5 m2 vs 1.2 ± 0.7 m2; p < 0.0001) compared with non-CHD patients. CHD patients were more likely to receive a paracorporeal continuous-flow VAD (36.1% vs 12.9%; p < 0.0001) and less likely to receive an implantable continuous-flow VAD (27.8% vs 55.0%; p < 0.0001) compared with non-CHD patients. After 6 months on a VAD, CHD patients had higher mortality (36.4% vs 12.1%) and a lower transplantation rate (29.1% vs 59.9%) than non-CHD patients (p < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, CHD was the factor most strongly associated with mortality on VAD (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.9; p < 0.0001), whereas the factors implantable continuous-flow device and high-volume center were protective (HR = 0.3, p < 0.0001, and HR = 0.6, respectively; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS VAD use in children with CHD is associated with increased mortality and decreased transplant rates compared to children without CHD. For the subgroup of children with CHD who received implantable continuous-flow VADs, survival rates were higher and comparable to those of children without CHD. Increased experience correlated with better survival in pediatric VADs.
Depression among Black Youth; Interaction of Class and Place

Although high socioeconomic status (SES) is traditionally conceptualized as a health protective factor, recent literature has documented positive associations between SES (e.g., income) and depression among Blacks, including Black youth. To extend the results of this recent literature, the current study used the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS) data to examine the multiplicative effects of gender, place, and SES on average depressive symptoms of Black youth over a long period of time. FACHS, 1997–2017, followed 889 Black children aged 10–12 years old for up to 18 years. Depressive symptoms were measured in seven waves. The main predictors of interest were two SES indicators, parent education and family income measured at baseline (1997). Main outcome of interest was average depressive symptoms over the 18 year follow up period. Place of residence and gender were the focal moderators. Linear regression models were used for data analysis. In the pooled sample, living in a predominantly White area was associated with higher average depressive symptoms over time, however, this association was fully explained by higher perceived racial discrimination in the predominantly White areas. We found an interaction between income and place of residence on average depressive symptoms, suggesting that higher income is associated with more depressive symptoms in predominantly White compared to predominantly Black areas. Place did not interact with parent education on average depressive symptoms. Gender also did not interact with education or income on depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that place and SES may interact on depressive symptoms of Black youth, with high income becoming a risk factor for depressive symptoms in predominantly White areas. How SES indicators, such as income, protect or become a risk factor depend on other contextual factors, such as place of residence. There is a need to reduce discrimination experienced by Blacks, especially in predominantly White areas. Meanwhile, Black youth who live in predominantly White areas may require additional help that enhances their coping.
Simulation study of the effects of excluding early deaths on risk factor-mortality analyses in the presence of confounding due to occult disease: the example of body mass index.

Abstract PURPOSE: Estimating the effects of continuous chronic disease risk factors on mortality is an area that generates confusion and controversy. The frequently observed U-shaped or J-shaped relationships between the risk factors and mortality are often in contrast with presumed monotone relationships. Therefore, some investigators suggest that subjects dying during the first k years of follow-up (where k is some positive number less than the total length of follow-up) be excluded from statistical analyses. The rationale for this approach is that subjects dying during the first k years of follow-up are likely to have some pre-existing occult disease that confounds the relationship between the risk factors and mortality. Excluding such subjects purportedly reduces bias due to this confounding. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of excluding subjects who die during the first k years of follow-up on the reduction of bias under a variety of situations. METHODS: Using body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) as an example, we conducted Monte Carlo simulations to investigate such effects. RESULTS: Results suggest that under the conditions investigated, the method of excluding early deaths does not reliably or substantially reduce bias due to confounding introduced by occult disease. CONCLUSION: Excluding subjects dying during the first k years of follow-up may not be a judicious strategy for handling confounding due to occult disease. Investigators are encouraged to develop alternative methods.
The Contact Angle of Liquids in Porous Media

Summary We developed a method to determine the contact angle of a liquid penetrating a porous medium by a non-linear fit of the continuously measured liquid uptake over a period of some minutes. This method makes it possible to measure the contact angle without any additional assumptions on completely wetting reference liquids. The method was applied to porous glass frits with water, toluene, and different silicone oils. The measured contact angles ranging from 60° to 80° are much higher than the equilibrium contact angles on glass.
Mechanisms underlying glutamate-induced swelling of astrocytes in primary culture.

The effects of glutamate and its agonists and antagonists on the swelling of primary astrocytes were studied. Glutamate, aspartate, homocysteate, and quisqualate caused a significant increase in astrocytic swelling as measured by 3-0-methyl-[14C]-glucose uptake and by phase-contrast microscopic observations. N-methyl-D-aspartate and kainate were not effective, nor were the competitive NMDA receptor antagonists. Ketamine and MK-801, the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists protected the cultured astrocytes against glutamate-induced swelling. Moreover, Glu-induced astrocytic swelling was significantly reduced when sodium-ions were depleted from the culture medium. The sodium ion dependence of Glu-induced astrocytic swelling is rather specific, since depletion of Ca2+ or Mg2+ had no effect. Our data suggest that Na+-dependent, Glu-mediated cell swelling occurs in primary cell cultures of astrocytes.
Meteoritic Tritium and Diffusion in α- and γ-Iron

SEVERAL points urgently require clarification following my recent exchange of communications with Mr. Tamers1,2. First and most important, the limited available evidence does indeed suggest that a difference of several orders of magnitude exists between γ- and α-phase of iron for diffusion constants of hydrogen at room temperature. It is, of course, the room-temperature behaviour which is relevant for the problem of loss on Earth. Mr. Tamers quotes the paper of Sykes, Burton and Gegg3 as showing that these two diffusion constants differ by only a factor of 10 at 650° C. The identical equations and numbers from this paper demonstrate a difference of a factor of one million at room temperature (20° C).
Heat and mass transfer analysis of time-dependent tangent hyperbolic nanofluid flow past a wedge

Abstract The candid intension of this article is to inspect the heat and mass transfer of a magnetohydrodynamic tangent hyperbolic nanofluid. The nanofluid flow has been assumed to be directed by a wedge on its way. In addition, the collective stimulus of the convective heating mode with thermal radiation is inspected. The governing set of PDEs is rendered into that of the coupled nonlinear ODEs. The resulting ordinary differential equations are then solved by the well known shooting technique for two different cases; the flow over a static wedge and flow over a stretching wedge. The impact of intricate physical parameters on the velocity, temperature and concentration profiles is analyzed graphically. It is noticed that the intensifying values of the generalized Biot number, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter and Weissenberg number enhances the dimensionless temperature profile.
Assessment of the Modulation Transfer Function in Infrared Detectors With Anisotropic Material Properties: Type-II Superlattices

Historically, high-performance infrared (IR) detectors have been fabricated out of materials such as InSb or HgCdTe. These semiconductors have material properties that are isotropic, e.g., the hole mobilities along the in-plane and growth directions are equal. However, IR absorbing materials with anisotropic material properties, such as type-II superlattice (T2SL) materials, based on InAs/GaInSb or InAs/InAsSb, have become increasingly prevalent. Specifically, the hole mobility is much larger along the in-plane direction than the growth direction, which directly impacts detector performance. The impact of utilizing T2SL materials with anisotropic material properties is assessed by simulating the crosstalk and modulation transfer function (MTF) in sequential two-color MW/LW T2SL focal plane arrays. The MTF is a key figure of merit (FOM) in all cameras which describes how well an optical system reproduces an object’s contrast in the image at different spatial frequencies. The detector MTF depends on numerous parameters, especially material transport parameters such as the mobility, and as such the MTF is sensitive to the mobility anisotropy. This dependence, and the MTF already being a valuable FOM, makes the MTF a natural metric to assess the impacts of adopting an absorbing material with anisotropic material properties.
Novel method for stepwise reduction of traumatic thoracic spondyloptosis.

Background Spondyloptosis involving complete subluxation of spinal vertebrae resulting in permanent spinal cord damage is rarely caused by high-force trauma. Rapid re-stabilization of the spine is crucial for maximizing chances of neural recovery and can significantly improve the patient's quality of life. In this case study, we describe the challenges associated with the surgical management of traumatic thoracic spondyloptosis, and propose a novel, safe, step-wise, spinal reduction method employing an inflatable beanbag. Case description A 17-year-old male fell 25 feet from a tree, resulting in anterior spondyloptosis at the T11/12 level. He presented with para plegia and a T11 sensory level to pin below the umbilicus. Surgical management involved a posterior-anterior-posterior approach with initial posterior decompression, then T12 corpectomy and reconstruction and finally pedicle screw fixation. We utilized an inflatable beanbag to realign the spinal column in a stepwise fashion, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the surrounding structures, including the thecal sac and great vessels. Postoperatively, the patient regained some sensory function below his injury level of T11 but remained plegic. X-ray imaging confirmed successful spinal fusion. Conclusion Early spinal realignment and stabilization following spondyloptosis at the T11/T12 level resulted in some improvement in sensory function without resolution of motor plegia. Here, we described how to utilize a novel beanbag reduction method to safely achieve stepwise spinal realignment.
Correlation-based feature selection for resilience analysis of MVDC shipboard power system

Abstract The future all-electric ship (AES) requires a resilient shipboard power system (SPS) that can withstand extreme events without substantial damage and maintaining critical capabilities. For superior capability to sustain disruptions, numerical measures of resilience provide assistance to engineers in making planning and operational decisions. This paper presents a novel method for analyzing the resilience characteristics of an SPS using correlation-based feature selection (CFS) to identify the system attributes that are the best predictors of performance during contingencies. Such attributes are typically chosen in the design stage and are not subject to modification during operation. The selected features are adjusted and their ramifications on the SPS performance are evaluated under the same contingencies. Results show quantitatively how a change of relevant attributes can improve or degrade the system performance in terms of unserved load and minimum recovery time.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE N-DEMETHYLATION REACTIONS CATALYZED BY CHLOROPEROXIDASE

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the characterization of the N -demethylation reactions catalyzed by chloroperoxidase (CPO). CPO is a monomeric hemeprotein isolated from the mold Caldariomyces fumago. Like cytochrome P-450, CPO forms a reduced + CO complex having the maximum of the Soret band at an unusually long wavelength, approximately 443 nm. Studies using Mossbauer, MCD, and EPR spectroscopy have demonstrated that CPO exhibits a number of unusual physicochemical properties similar to those of the bacterial and microsomal P-450-type cytochromes. The striking physicochemical similarities between CPO and cytochrome P-450 have led to suggest that the two proteins may provide similar environments for the heme active site. This chapter presents the results of a study of CPO-catalyzed N-demethylation, a characteristic reaction of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, which demonstrates the catalytic similarities between the two proteins. When EtOOH is used as the oxidant, the rate of formation of formaldehyde is linear for more than 20 min under the conditions used for these studies. HPLC analysis of the reaction mixture indicates that N -methylaniline is the major amine product formed and no other side-products are produced in significant amounts during the course of the reaction.
Spin-polarized triplet supercurrent in Josephson junctions with perpendicular ferromagnetic layers

It is now established that ferromagnetic materials placed inside Josephson junctions can convert conventional spin-singlet supercurrent to spin-triplet supercurrent. While such spin-triplet supercurrent is fully polarized in a half-metal, it is only partially polarized in conventional ferromagnetic materials. This work shows that one can increase the spin polarization of the triplet supercurrent substantially by using a sequence of partially spin-polarizing interfaces inside the junction. The prospect of using spin-polarized supercurrents for device applications has spawned a new field called ``superconducting spintronics''.
Analyzing Price Premiums in International Sponsorship Exchange: What Drives Marketing Costs in Formula One Racing?

ABSTRACT With increases in sponsorship expenditures outpacing traditional advertising, return on investment warrants greater scrutiny. Research overwhelmingly focuses on returns, however, while neglecting the associated investment. This study contributes to the literature on sponsorship costs by analyzing multiple years of prices paid for sponsorships of Formula One racing teams. Contrary to past research, when sponsor industry and sponsorship level were controlled for, prices were not influenced significantly by congruence, clutter, sponsoring company size, or performance of the sponsored organization. Results indicate that the sponsoring company9s brand equity and shared nationality with the sponsored team predicted price premiums, suggesting agency conflicts among advertisers.
Measured Performance of Over the Range Microwave Range Hoods

Author(s): Zhao, Haoran; Delp, William; Chan, Wanyu; Walker, Iain; Singer, Brett | Abstract: The California residential building code requires kitchen exhaust ventilation to protect indoor air quality. The requirement can be met with a kitchen exhaust fan or a range hood that conforms to airflow and sound specifications based on certified, standard test results. Appliances that integrate an exhaust fan with an over the range microwave (OTRs) are popular for their space saving utility; but for years there were none with the certified performance data required for building code compliance. This project, initiated during that period, aimed to evaluate OTR models found in new California homes and compare their performance to range hoods that minimally met code requirements. The study aimed to expand on limited information available about OTR performance with a particular focus on measuring the fraction of cooktop-generated air pollutants that are captured and removed by the exhaust devices, a parameter called “capture efficiency”. Airflow and capture efficiency (CE) were measured in a simulated kitchen in Berkeley Lab’s FLEXLAB facility. Airflows were measured using several variations of a balanced-pressure flow method (Walker et al. 2001) including a protocol that had been used in the California Healthy Efficient New Gas Homes (HENGH) field study. Measurements were made for six OTRs observed in the field study, including three with certified test results (published after the start of this project) for airflow and sound. Measurements were also made on two standard range hoods with comparable airflows and costs to the OTRs, when accounting for the microwave functionality. CE was measured using the CO2 emitted from burners while heating pots of water (POW) as a tracer and calculating the ratio of added CO2 in the exhaust flow over the total CO2 generated from burning fuel. Results show that OTRs generally met the California code requirements for airflow, which are the same as those of the residential ventilation standard of ASHRAE. It was determined that the field protocol used in HENGH study homes was biased low by ~14% on average. The CE performance of OTRs tested in this study were consistent with those tested under controlled conditions in prior studies, showing CE increasing with airflow and being higher for emissions occurring at the back cooktop burner(s) compared with front burner emissions. The measured CE covered a range of 40% to 85% for the front burners and 60% to 100% for the back burners. The relationship of CE to airflow for OTRs was within the range of those found for standard range hoods in this study and prior studies, with the key caveat that OTRs appear to have more consistent CE performance for emissions on the front burner.
The Use of Landsat Image and Census Data for Modelling Population Density and Urban Density in Palembang, Indonesia

This research is to understand the condition of population Density concentration in the city of Palembang. According to the 2018 United nations booklet (United Nations, 2018), Palembang's city is dimmed to be one of the fastest-growing cities in Indonesia. Palembang has an annual growth rate between 2.4% to 6%, and according to the research, the exponential growth will impact its urban fabric conditions. The researcher's problem in urban growth is the limitation of datasets available from the government, and mostly the datasets are not tailored for urban designers need. The statistical datasets available are often linked to the administrative area called "kecamatan" without knowing the true population density in that particular area. This paper is using Landsat images and population density data, acquired respectively from Earth Explorer USGS and Balai Pusat Statistik to verify the morphological changes that has happened in Palembang between the year 2001, 2007, and 2016. The result output shows the LUDI / Land use dynamic Index and also verifying the density of each "kecamatan" as and administrative area in Palembang. The research output may contribute in the development of spatial research in urban design in Palembang. It could also help future research for urban development and population density verification in the city of Palembang. Keywords: Administrative area; Landsat images; Population density; Urban.
Accuracy and efficiency of respiratory gating comparable to deep inspiration breath hold for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Purpose Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) and respiratory gating (RG) are widely used to reduce movement of target and healthy organs caused by breathing during irradiation. We hypothesized that accuracy and efficiency comparable to DIBH can be achieved with RG for pancreas treatment. Methods and materials Twenty consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer treated with DIBH (eight) or RG (twelve) volumetric modulated arc therapy during 2017-2019 were included in this study, with radiopaque markers implanted near or in the targets. Seventeen patients received 25 fractions, while the other three received 15 fractions. Only patients who could not tolerate DIBH received RG treatment. While both techniques relied on respiratory signals from external markers, internal target motions were monitored with kV X-ray imaging during treatment. A 3-mm external gating window was used for DIBH treatment; RG treatment was centered on end-expiration with a duty cycle of 40%, corresponding to an external gating window of 2-3 mm. During dose delivery, kV images were automatically taken every 20◦ or 40◦ gantry rotation, from which internal markers were identified. The marker displacement from their initial positions and the residual motion amplitudes were calculated. For the analysis of treatment efficiency, the treatment time of every session was calculated from the motion management waveform files recorded at the treatment console. Results Within one fraction, the displacement was 0-5 mm for DIBH and 0-6 mm for RG. The average magnitude of displacement for each patient during the entire course of treatment ranged 0-3 mm for both techniques. No statistically significant difference in displacement or residual motion was observed between the two techniques. The average treatment time was 15 min for DIBH and 17 min for RG, with no statistical significance. Conclusions The accuracy and efficiency were comparable between RG and DIBH treatment for pancreas irradiation. RG is a feasible alternative strategy to DIBH.
Impact of systemic corticosteroids for cutaneous immune-related adverse events on survival outcomes in patients with advanced cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

e14523Background: Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAE) may disrupt immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Current guidelines recommend systemic corticosteroids (SCS) for moderate to ...
Review of consensus test methods in medical imaging and current practices in photoacoustic image quality assessment.

Significance: Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a powerful emerging technology with broad clinical applications, but consensus test methods are needed to standardize performance evaluation and accelerate translation. Aim: To review consensus image quality test methods for mature imaging modalities [ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray CT, and x-ray mammography], identify best practices in phantom design and testing procedures, and compare against current practices in PAI phantom testing. Approach: We reviewed scientific papers, international standards, clinical accreditation guidelines, and professional society recommendations describing medical image quality test methods. Observations are organized by image quality characteristics (IQCs), including spatial resolution, geometric accuracy, imaging depth, uniformity, sensitivity, low-contrast detectability, and artifacts. Results: Consensus documents typically prescribed phantom geometry and material property requirements, as well as specific data acquisition and analysis protocols to optimize test consistency and reproducibility. While these documents considered a wide array of IQCs, reported PAI phantom testing focused heavily on in-plane resolution, depth of visualization, and sensitivity. Understudied IQCs that merit further consideration include out-of-plane resolution, geometric accuracy, uniformity, low-contrast detectability, and co-registration accuracy. Conclusions: Available medical image quality standards provide a blueprint for establishing consensus best practices for photoacoustic image quality assessment and thus hastening PAI technology advancement, translation, and clinical adoption.
Carbocations and the Complex Flavor and Bouquet of Wine: Mechanistic Aspects of Terpene Biosynthesis in Wine Grapes

Computational chemistry approaches for studying the formation of terpenes/terpenoids in wines are presented, using five particular terpenes/terpenoids (1,8-cineole, α-ylangene, botrydial, rotundone, and the wine lactone), volatile compounds (or their precursors) found in wine and/or wine grapes, as representative examples. Through these examples, we show how modern computational quantum chemistry can be employed as an effective tool for assessing the validity of proposed mechanisms for terpene/terpenoid formation.
Strategic Liquidity Supply in a Market with Fast and Slow Traders

Modern equity markets have both fast traders such as dealers, market makers, and high frequency traders and slow traders such as retail clients. We model and show empirically that latency differences allow fast liquidity suppliers to pick off slow liquidity demanders at prices inferior to the NBBO. This trading strategy is highly profitable for the fast traders. We estimate that the fast traders earn more than $233 million per year at the expense of the slow traders. Investigating the decrease in NYSE latency on 10 March 2010, we also show that when this market became faster, execution quality improved markedly for fast liquidity demanders, but improved only minimally for slow liquidity demanders.
Critical Components of Transforming Teaching and Leading: Recognizing Educational Success Professional Excellence, and Collaborative Teaching (RESPECT)

The purpose of this commentary is to disseminate significant content and to trigger discussion on the seven components of “A Blueprint for R.E.S.P.E.C.T. RECOGNIZING EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS, PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AND COLLABORATIVE TEACHING (2012).” Teacher preparation programs in the United States are moving in the direction of a clinical model. Some reasons for doing so are to facilitate teacher leadership and respect, earn higher professional recognition, acquire higher financial compensation, and embrace more collaborative teaching. This formula should lead to American students receiving an education that meets competitive global standards. Highly effective teachers accelerate student learning, close achievement gaps that have persisted for decades, and build habits of mind that change the trajectories of students’ lives, resulting in lower dropout rates, lower rates of teen pregnancy, and greater lifetime earnings and career satisfaction (Chetty, Friedman, & Rockoff, 2011). Strong school leaders enable effective teachers to grow and thrive (Auguste, Kihn, & Miller, 2010). It is therefore important to discuss the Blueprint’s tenets for educational success, professional excellence, and collaborative teaching.
[2,4-13C2]-β-Hydroxybutyrate Metabolism in Human Brain:

Infusions of [2,4-13C2]-beta-hydroxybutyrate and 1H-13C polarization transfer spectroscopy were used in normal human subjects to detect the entry and metabolism of beta-hydroxybutyrate in the brain. During the 2-hour infusion study, 13C label was detectable in the beta-hydroxybutyrate resonance positions and in the amino acid pools of glutamate, glutamine, and aspartate. With a plasma concentration of 2.25 +/- 0.24 mmol/L (four volunteers), the apparent tissue beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration reached 0.18 +/- 0.06 mmol/L during the last 20 minutes of the study. The relative fractional enrichment of 13C-4-glutamate labeling was 6.78 +/- 1.71%, whereas 13C-4-glutamine was 5.68 +/- 1.84%. Steady-state modeling of the 13C label distribution in glutamate and glutamine suggests that, under these conditions, the consumption of the beta-hydroxybutyrate is predominantly neuronal, used at a rate of 0.032 +/- 0.009 mmol. kg-1. min-1, and accounts for 6.4 +/- 1.6% of total acetyl coenzyme A oxidation. These results are consistent with minimal accumulation of cerebral ketones with rapid utilization, implying blood-brain barrier control of ketone oxidation in the nonfasted adult human brain.
Electron Dynamics at Surfaces

Many surface processes involve the creation and decay of electronically excited states. At metal surfaces, these states have very short lifetimes and are strongly affected by defects, complicating experimental investigation. In this Perspective, Wolf and Ertl discuss results by Kliewer et al. (page 1399) and Petek et al. (page 1402), which illustrate the fundamental insights into the microscopic characteristics of electron dynamics at surfaces that can be obtained by state-of-the-art high spatial and temporal resolution studies.
Impacts of Microbial Inoculants as Integrated Pest Management Tools in Apple Production

This article analyzes the impacts of microbial inoculant (MI) technology, which is a part of integrated pest management, on the U.S. apple production using farm-level data. To test the likely production impacts suggested by agronomic literature, we estimate a pesticide use function and stochastic production functions with damage control input specification. The results show that although adoption of the MI technology does not reduce the use of pesticides, the technology has a significant positive impact on yields and is associated with higher technical production efficiency rates.
Information Habits of Community College Students: A Literature Survey.

Abstract Since the advent of the Internet and particularly the ability to search pages on the World Wide Web, the role of the library in this information age has been changing rapidly; no longer is it possible to only be an expert on collections, subject categorization and call number organization, the librarian must also be a technologist and a diviner of electronic information. The purpose of this literature review is to delineate several issues related to the question: how are the information-seeking habits (biases, preferences) of community college freshmen impacted by instruction on effective information retrieval, value-added practices of reference librarians, and the adoption and marketing of virtual reference services in a community college library/learning resource center setting? Attention must be paid to these factors when planning and implementing virtual reference.
Accounting for real exchange rate changes at long time horizons

Engel (1999) introduced real exchange rate accounting to determine the importance of nontradables for real exchange rate movements. We extend his approach in two directions. First, we identify a potential bias in the mean squared error (MSE) measure used in previous work. Second, using the corrected MSE measure we provide new empirical evidence that nontradables explain real exchange rate movements but only at really long horizons – over decades not years.
A Future Path of RBMS: A Bookseller’s Point of View

Rare books, manuscripts, early ephemera, photographs, film—everything rare, scarce, hard to find, and perhaps even harder to preserve—is this the final frontier, or are we rehashing the same questions that have been around since the hand-press days: what to collect, the cost of materials to buy and preserve, and how to get people into and using special collection libraries? Do we view the material itself as the treasure or spend our time figuring out how to create and then use new technology to legitimize and even promote our own positions? Are library positions so narrowly focused that any . . .
Inhibition of the GTPase activity of transducin by an NAD+:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes

The bacterial toxins, choleragen and pertussis toxin, inhibit the light-stimulated GTPase activity of bovine retinal rod outer segments by catalysing the ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit (T alpha) of transducin [Abood, Hurley, Pappone, Bourne & Stryer (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 10540-10543; Van Dop, Yamanaka, Steinberg, Sekura, Manclark, Stryer & Bourne (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 23-26]. Incubation of retinal rod outer segments with NAD+ and a purified NAD+:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes resulted in approx. 60% inhibition of GTPase activity. Inhibition was dependent on both enzyme and NAD+, and was potentiated by the non-hydrolysable GTP analogues guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) and guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-methylene]triphosphate (p[CH2]ppG). The transferase ADP-ribosylated both the T alpha and T beta subunits of purified transducin. T alpha (39 kDa), after ADP-ribosylation, migrated as two distinct peptides with molecular masses of 42 kDa and 46 kDa on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. T beta (36 kDa), after ADP-ribosylation, migrated as a 38 kDa peptide. With purified transducin subunits, it was observed that the GTPase activity of ADP-ribosylated T alpha, reconstituted with unmodified T beta gamma and photolysed rhodopsin, was decreased by 80%; conversely, reconstitution of T alpha with ADP-ribosyl-T beta gamma resulted in only a 19% inhibition of GTPase. Thus ADP-ribosylation of T alpha, the transducin subunit that contains the guanine nucleotide-binding site, has more dramatic effects on GTPase activity than does modification of the critical ‘helper subunits’ T beta gamma. To elucidate the mechanism of GTPase inhibition by transferase, we studied the effect of ADP-ribosylation on p[NH]pp[3H]G binding to transducin. It was shown previously that modification of transducin by choleragen, which like transferase ADP-ribosylates arginine residues, did not affect guanine nucleotide binding. ADP-ribosylation by the transferase, however, decreased p[NH]pp[3H]G binding, consistent with the hypothesis that choleragen and transferase inhibit GTPase by different mechanisms.
Regional mechanical properties of human patellar tendon allografts

Very little is known regarding regional biomechanical properties of patellar tendon allografts. Ten human bone–tendon–bone (BTB) patellar grafts were separated into equal thirds and underwent cyclic and failure testing. Grafts were non-irradiated and processed using proprietary sterilization methods. The central third was the thickest region (4.9 ± 0.4 mm) compared to the medial and lateral (p < 0.05). The lateral third was the longest region (58.8 ± 8.8 mm) compared to the medial (47.9 ± 8.5 mm) and central (47.2 ± 8.8 mm) portions (p < 0.05). Cyclic testing demonstrated no regional differences with respect to elongation (n.s.) and creep strain (n.s.). Failure testing demonstrated increased maximum load and stiffness in the central region (1,680 ± 418 N and 278 ± 67 N/mm, respectively) as compared to the medial (1,033 ± 214 N, p < 0.002, 201 ± 37 N/mm, p < 0.03) and lateral thirds (908 ± 412 N, p < 0.03, 173 ± 66 N/mm, p < 0.002). Elongation at maximum load did not vary between regions. Central region maximum stress (41.0 ± 12.5 MPa) was greater than that of the medial third (28.1 ± 3.6 MPa, p < 0.02), with strain at maximum stress larger in the central third (0.21 ± 0.03) compared to lateral (0.16 ± 0.03, p < 0.01). The central third of a non-irradiated, human bone–patellar tendon–bone construct is thicker and biomechanically superior to the medial and lateral regions in most respects. These findings reinforce the use of the central third of a patellar tendon allograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Further investigations are required to determine whether the decreased biomechanical properties of the medial and lateral third of the BTB construct negatively influence the mechanical function of hemi-BTB grafts.
Using Abstraction to Verify Arbitrary Temporal Properties

Summary form only given. It is a known fact that finitary state abstraction methods (i.e. methods in which the abstract domain is finite), such as predicate abstraction, are inadequate for verifying general liveness properties or even termination of sequential programs. In this talk we will present an abstraction approach called ranking abstraction which is sound and complete for verifying all temporally specified properties, including all liveness properties. We will start by presenting a general simple framework for state abstraction emphasizing that, in order to get soundness, it is necessary to apply an over-approximating abstraction to the system and an under-approximating abstraction to the (temporal) property. We show that finitary version of this abstraction are complete for verifying all safety properties. We also show examples of simple programs whose termination provably cannot be established by finitary abstraction. We then consider abstraction approaches to the verification of deadlock freedom, presenting some sufficient conditions guaranteeing that deadlock freedom is inherited from the concrete to the abstract. Finally, we introduce the method of ranking abstraction and illustrate its application to the verification of termination and more general liveness properties. In this presentation we emphasize the similarity between predicate abstraction and its extension into ranking abstraction. In particular, the fact that the user does not have to provide a full ranking function but only to specify the ingredients from which such a function can be constructed. We also sketch how abstraction refinement can be applied to ranking abstraction, thus opening the way to a CEGAR-like methodology. Time permitting, we will present a brief comparison between ranking abstraction and the methods of transition abstraction developed by Podelski, Rybalchenko, and Cook which underly the Terminator system. The talk is based on results obtained through joint research with I. Balaban, Y. Kesten, and L.D. Zuck.
An inexact inference for damage assessment of existing structures

Abstract In structural engineering practice, situations exist where the available information is inexact or imprecise. Frequently, experienced structural engineers are capable of providing meaningful answers to such problems. The purpose of this investigation is to construct an expert system called SPERIL-II for the damage assessment of existing structures on the basis of the knowledge of experienced structural engineers. SPERIL-II is a knowledge-based damage assessment system in which there are the following three steps in the assessment process: ( 1 ) the evaluation of local damageability from input data, (2) the evaluation of global damageability, (3) the estimation of the safety or damage state of the structure. This paper introduces an inexact inference using AND/OR/COMB relation and Dempster's rule of combination to combine two fuzzy sets with certainty factors. This inexact inference is used in all steps, and a suitable measure is given according to the importance of the structure in step (3).
Solution properties of ion-containing polymers in polar solvents

The placement of ionic groups within the molecular structure of a polymer produces marked modification in physical properties. A large number of studies have been performed on these ion-containing polymers, but few have focused on the effects of anion–cation interactions (i.e., counterion binding or ionization) on hydrodynamic volume, especially as the molecular structure of the solvent and nature of counterion are varied. In this study changes in hydrodynamic volume are followed through reduced viscosity measurements as a function of the abovementioned molecular parameters. The dilute solution properties of various polyelectrolytes that contain sulfonate and carboxylate groups were investigated as a function of the counterion structure, charge density, molecular weight, and solvent structure. The polymeric materials were selected because of their specific chemical structure and physical properties. In the first instance a (2-acrylamide-2 methylpropanesulfonic acid)-acrylamide-sodium vinyl sulfonate terpolymer was synthesized and subsequently neutralized with a series of bases. Viscometric measurements on these materials indicate that the nature of the cation affects the ability of the polyelectrolyte to expand its hydrodynamic volume at low polymer levels. The magnitude of the molecular expansion is shown to be due in part to the ability of the counterion to dissociate from the backbone chain, which, in turn, is directly related to the solvent structure. The changes in solution behaviour of these inomers lend support for the existence of ion pairs (i.e., site binding) and ionized moieties on the polymer chains. Measurements performed in a variety of solvent systems further confirm this interpretation. In addition, and acrylamide-sodium vinyl sulfonate copolymer was partially hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide to study the effect of varying the charge density at a constant degree of polymerization and counterion structure. The results show that the charge density has a significant effect on the magnitude of the reduced viscosity and dilute solution behaviour. These observations, made in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents, are related to the interrelation of hydrodynamic volume, counterion concentration, and site binding. Again the controlling factor is the degree of site binding of the counterion onto the polymer backbone. Finally, we observe that the increased hydrodynamic volume affects viscosity behavior beyond the polyelectrolyte effect regime. If the average charge density on the macromolecule is relative high and/or the molecular weight is large (≥ 106) sufficient intermolecular interactions will occur to produce rapid changes in reduced viscosity.
Treatment of severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia by fetal tracheal occlusion: clinical experience with fifteen cases.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether prenatal tracheal occllusion improves survival in a selected population of fetuses affected by severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Study Design: Fetuses with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia were selected as candidates for fetal intervention by specific criteria designed to predict a 90% mortality rate with conventional postnatal treatment. Results: Fifteen fetuses underwent tracheal occlusion with 5 survivors (33%). Two fetuses were lost to early preterm labor. In 13 mothers, postoperative gestation ranged from 19 to 68 days, with a mean duration of pregnancy after tracheal occlusion of 38 days. The 5 survivors were hospitalized for an average of 76 days. Despite dramatic lung growth in some fetuses after tracheal occlusion, intensive management was required, and most deaths were caused by respiratory insufficiency. Conclusion: Prenatal tracheal occlusion can result in impressive lung growth in a subset of fetuses with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia. However, survival remains compromised by pulmonary functional abnormality and the consequences of prematurity. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:1059-66.)