cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional regression models of percentile flows for the contiguous United States: Expert versus data-driven independent variable selection

Abstract Study region 918 basins in the contiguous United States. Study focus Regional regression models were developed to predict 13 percentile flows for groups of basins clustered based on physical and climatic characteristics. The research question investigated how the number and information content of independent variables affected model performance, and compared data-driven versus expert assessment approaches for variable selection. New hydrological insights for the region A set of three variables selected based on an expert assessment of factors that influence percentile flows performed similarly to larger sets of variables selected using a data-driven method. Expert assessment variables included mean annual precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and baseflow index. Larger sets of up to 37 variables contributed little, if any, additional predictive information. Variables used to describe the distribution of basin data (e.g. standard deviation) were not useful, and average values were sufficient to characterize physical and climatic basin conditions. Effectiveness of the expert assessment variables may be due to the high degree of multicollinearity (i.e. cross-correlation) among additional variables. A tool is provided in the Supplementary material to predict percentile flows based on the three expert assessment variables. Future work should develop new variables with a strong understanding of the processes related to percentile flows.
Leisure with Children and Parental Satisfaction: Further Evidence of a Sex Difference in the Experience of Adult Roles and Leisure.

While it is often claimed that leisure enhances family quality and cohesion, little empirical research exists on this relationship (Orthner & Mancini, 1990). In particular, the relationship between...
A formal model for isolation management in cloud infrastructure-as-a-service

Datacenters for cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) consist of a large number of heterogeneous virtual resources, such as virtual machines (VMs) and virtual local area networks (VLANs). It takes a complex process to manage and arrange these virtual resources to build particular computing environments. Misconfiguration of this management process increases possibility of security vulnerability in this system. Moreover, multiplexing virtual resources of disjoint customers upon same physical hardware leads to several security concerns, such as cross-channel and denial-of-service attacks. Trusted Virtual Datacenter (TVDc) is a commerical product which informally presents a process to manage strong isolation among these virtual resources in order to mitigate these issues. In this paper, we formally represent this TVDc management model. We also develop an authorization model for the cloud administrative-user privilege management in this system.
Diagnostic Challenge of 12 cases of Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsy (HNPP) (P1.462)

Objective: To review presenting symptoms, identify electrodiagnostic findings, and the rationale for obtaining focused genetic testing in confirming the diagnosis of HNPP. Background: Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder commonly resulting in episodic sensory or motor symptoms, secondary to nerve injury stemming from pressure or stretching, at susceptible anatomic regions. Symptoms are commonly episodic and recurrent, but can be ignored or discounted by patients, or their physicians. Cumulative episodes can result in fixed mononeuropathies. The most common mutation is a deletion of the peripheral myelin protein 22 gene (PMP22), but also could be due to point mutations leading to frameshift and nonsense mutations. It is important to obtain a history of recurrent numbness, tingling in response to pressure on the limbs. Design/Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 12 patients diagnosed with HNPP at our institution from 2002–2017. We reviewed their history, electrodiagnostic studies, and genetic testing. Results: On further questioning, most patients had history of transient or episodic sensory symptoms in relation to minor pressure on the nerves. Key electrodiagnostic findings included: prolongation of distal latencies, conduction block or multifocal conduction slowing at entrapment sites, and short terminal latency index (TLI). Referring diagnosis included: Cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, immune-mediated neuropathy, such as GBS or CIDP, mononeuritis multiplex, or other demyelinating inherited neuropathy, such as CMT. Family history was obtained retrospectively in 3 patients. Conclusions: A detailed history and thorough exam, with a high index of clinical suspicion and knowledge of characteristic electrodiagnostic findings, despite lack of family history are important in diagnosing HNPP in order to avoid delayed or misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy. Study Supported by: NA Disclosure: Dr. Phan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Beydoun has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Research Grants: Argenx, Mallinckrodt, Pfizer, UCB; Consultant/Advisory Board: Alexion, Alnylam, Grifols, Octapharma, MT Pharma; Speaker: Grifols. Dr. Beydoun has received research support from Research Grants: Argenx, Mallinckrodt, Pfizer, UCB.
Inhibition of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1) signaling increases radiosensitivity in breast cancer cell lines

423 Most human breast cancers are reported to be refractory to transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) mediated growth regulation while producing large amounts of TGFβ1 (reviewed in Cancer Metastasis Rev 20 (1-2):133, 2001). Ionizing radiation (IR) activates TGFβ1 through a redox mechanism (Radiat Res 166:839-48, 2006) Our recent studies show that TGFβ1 depletion in irradiated epithelial cells compromises ataxia telengiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase activity and autophosphorylation, leading to reduced phosphorylation of critical DNA damage transducers γH2AX, Chk2, p53 and Rad17, abrogation of the cell cycle block and apoptosis (Cancer Res 66 (22):10861, 2006). Radiosensitivity is increased as a result in both Tgfβ1 null murine epithelial cells and non-malignant human epithelial cells in which TGFβ signaling is inhibited. Therefore, we hypothesized that TGFβ inhibition might increase clonogenic cell death in irradiated cancer cells. We first established the relative TGFβ1 sensitivity in 6 epithelial cell lines. Non-malignant MCF10A, breast cancer cell line Hs578T and lung carcinoma A549 were found to be responsive to TGFβ1 mediated growth inhibition while MCF7, MDAMB231 and T47D breast cancer cell lines were refractory. We next examined the status of TGFβ1 regulated transcription in these cell lines. 9 TGFβ1 responsive genes (FN1, WNT5A, CTGF, POSTN, KRT15, SERPINE1, CD24, CA2 and JAG1) were measured by RT-PCR with and without TGFβ or a small molecule inhibitor of the TGFβ type I receptor kinase (400 nM, Calbiochem, Cat. No. 616451). All cell lines showed a degree of active TGFβ1 transcriptional control as evidenced by regulation by TGFβ1 and reversal by the small molecule inhibitor. We then treated the cell lines with TGFβ1 type kinase I small molecule inhibitor 48 hr prior to, and 3 hr post, graded doses of radiation in serum-replacement media before determining clonogenic survival. Inhibiting TGFβ signaling in MCF10A, MCF7, MDAMB231, T47D and Hs578T cells significantly increased radiosensitivity as measured by clonogenic cell death. The lung carcinoma cell line A549 was more radioresistant after treatment with the TGFβ1 inhibitor. These results show that blocking TGFβ1 signaling renders most epithelial cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy regardless of their sensitivity to TGFβ1 mediated growth regulation. One rationale for blocking TGFβ in cancer is because it initiates a deleterious cytokine cascade that stimulates inflammation, stromal remodeling and metastasis; another is that TGFβ mediate fibrosis, which is a late tissue effect of cancer therapy. The use of TGFβ inhibitors during cancer therapy in combination with DNA damaging agents may well provide therapeutic advantage, as is demonstrated by increased radiosensitivity in breast cancer cells. Supported by the Department of Energy Low Dose Radiation Program.
Advanced Imaging Interpretation by Radiologists and Nonradiologist Physicians: A Training Issue

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which nonradiologist physicians provide formal interpretations for advanced imaging and to consider whether adequate training can be achieved for those physicians. This investigation assumed that hospitals are the only places where formal imaging training occurs. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The CMS Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files (PSPSMFs) of the Medicare Part B datasets for 2015 were reviewed. We selected the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for four categories of noninvasive diagnostic imaging: CT, MRI, PET, and general nuclear imaging. Medicare place-of-service codes allowed us to determine the location of each study interpretation. We narrowed our analysis to data from the three major hospital places of service: inpatient facilities, hospital outpatient departments, and emergency departments. Provider specialties were determined using Medicare's 108 specialty codes. Procedure volumes among nonradiologist physicians were compared with those among radiologists. RESULTS. Of the 17,824,297 hospital-based CT examinations performed in the Medicare fee-for-service population, radiologists interpreted 17,698,360 (99.29%) and nonradiologists interpreted 125,937 (0.71%). Of the 4,512,627 MRI examinations performed, radiologists interpreted 4,469,275 (99.04%) and nonradiologist physicians interpreted 43,352 (0.96%). Of 391,688 PET studies performed, radiologists interpreted 368,913 (94.19%) and nonradiologist physicians interpreted 22,775 (5.81%). Of the 2,070,861 general nuclear medicine studies performed, radiologists interpreted 1,307,543 (63.14%) and nonradiologist physicians interpreted 763,318 (36.86%). Cardiologists had the largest involvement of nonradiologist physicians, contributing approximately 3% of all advanced imaging interpretations. All other nonradiologist physicians interpreted a tiny fraction of advanced imaging studies. CONCLUSION. Besides radiologists and cardiologists, no other medical specialty provides sufficient education for their trainees and practitioners in advanced imaging interpretation to justify allowing them to interpret these studies in practice, except under carefully controlled circumstances.
Between a beam and catenary: Influence of geometry on gravitational stresses and stability of natural rock arches

Abstract The self-weight of freestanding natural arches imparts stresses on the lintel and abutments, setting the conditions for rock fracture and erosion. Rock is weak in tension, therefore an ideal arch form is one that minimizes tensile stresses and supports the weight of the lintel in compression, e.g. an inverted catenary. However, rock mass structure, including bedding, cross-bedding and other discontinuities, often imparts strong control on the geometry of arches, leading to forms that are less favorable from a stress perspective. Here we analyze a suite of nineteen arch models created from ground- and drone-based photogrammetry to assess the three-dimensional static stress field under gravitational loading. The models represent a range of arch lengths from 4 to 88 m, as well as a variety of forms, and use material properties previously calibrated from dynamic analysis of ambient vibrations. Our results demonstrate that arches shaped like beams have relatively high tensile stresses and a nearly symmetrical statistical distribution of principal stresses, while those with convex forms have comparably lower tensile stresses and statistical distributions favoring compressive stresses. In-situ observations of tensile cracks frequently correspond to the location of predicted tensile stresses in our models. We calculated the ratio of mean principal stresses for each arch, which is theoretically 1 for a flat prismatic beam and approaches infinity for an ideal inverted catenary. We found several arches with mean principal stress ratio around 1 and that values increased with lintel convexity. These results indicate that while self-sculpture might attempt to create ideal stress-based forms, discontinuities can control lintel geometry and natural arches evolve with forms that may be less favorable for long-term stability. The mean principal stress ratio is a simple metric to classify and compare arches, which may be useful for assessment of arch stability supporting conservation and hazard analyses.
Adapting a health behavioral change and psychosocial toolkit to the context of physical disabilities: Lessons learned from disabled women with young children

Abstract Background Mothers with physical disabilities (MPDs) face the behavioral and psychosocial changes of the motherhood transition with fewer resources, additional barriers, and higher risks than nondisabled mothers. In this study we sought guidance from MPDs on adaptations needed to a health promotion toolkit for behavioral and psychosocial health that was originally developed for nondisabled, primarily low-income, women. Objective To identify general themes for adaptations that would increase the suitability of the toolkit for MPDs. Methods 11 MPDs were interviewed by videoconferencing in a mixed-methods study about their perspectives on improving relevance of the existing toolkit for this population. The toolkit contained three components: assessment scale, feedback template on assessment results, and a decision aid related to behavior change. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Nine themes for improving suitability of the toolkit for MPDs were identified. Themes covered: Using non-judgment language; including strengths, not just risks; using exercise items applicable to persons with physical disabilities; being aware that functional ability was the key body image concern; considering motivational stages of behavioral change; providing choice in goal-setting for change; including suggestions for social support; identifying resources for health and adaptive parenting; and making health promotion resources available in alternative platforms (paper, electronic). Conclusions The MPDs’ feedback revealed ways that our toolkit for behavioral and psychosocial health could be improved to be inclusive of MPDs. The participatory methods utilized here are also recommended in designing new or revising existing materials aimed at enhancing health promotion for people with disabilities.
Learning Interpretable Rules Contributing to Maximal Fuel Rate Flow Consumption in an Aircraft using Rule Based Algorithms

Optimizing fuel intake can be of great importance to the aviation industry as fuel constitutes to a major cost factor for the airlines. Fuel optimization can also help in saving fuel energy resources and in mitigating the detrimental effects of greenhouse gases like Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide and Carbon monoxide that aircrafts emit into the environment. In this paper, firstly critical phases of a flight are identified for maximal fuel consumption by performing thorough exploratory data analysis. Second, key drivers leading to fuel consumption are identified across each phase of the flight by performing feature selection using XgBoost and Prediction Rule Ensemble algorithms. The main aim of our paper was to extract interpretable and visually justifiable rules for the fuel intake in each phase of flight, which we have demonstrated using a new rule based algorithm called Generalized Linear Rules Model, which is still under research in the machine learning space. This algorithm has the ability to learn and interpret features. It was used in combination with another algorithm called Prediction rule Ensemble. These algorithms provide better trade-off between accuracy and the interpretability compared to the traditional rule based algorithms. The rules extracted from these algorithms along with their visualizations can be leveraged as actionable insights by the airliners to optimize the fuel consumption.
Synergistic application of continuous granulation and selective laser sintering 3D printing for the development of pharmaceutical dosage forms with enhanced dissolution rates and physical properties

This study demonstrated the first case of combining novel continuous granulation with powder-based pharmaceutical 3-dimensional (3D) printing processes to enhance the dissolution rate and physical properties of a poorly water-soluble drug. Powder bed fusion (PBF) and binder jetting 3D printing processes have gained much attention in pharmaceutical dosage form manufacturing in recent times. Although powder bed-based 3D printing platforms have been known to face printing and uniformity problems due to the inherent poor flow properties of the pharmaceutical physical mixtures (feedstock). Moreover, techniques such as binder jetting currently do not provide any solubility benefits to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with poor aqueous solubility (>40% of marketed drugs). For this study, a hot-melt extrusion-based versatile granulation process equipped with UV-Vis process analytical technology (PAT) tools for the in-line monitoring of critical quality attributes (i.e., solid-state) of indomethacin was developed. The collected granules with enhanced flow properties were mixed with vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer and a conductive excipient for efficient sintering. These mixtures were further characterized for their bulk properties observing an excellent flow and later subjected to a PBF-3D printing process. The physical mixtures, processed granules, and printed tablets were characterized using conventional as well as advanced solid-state characterization. These characterizations revealed the amorphous nature of the drug in the processed granules and printed tablets. Further, the in vitro release testing of the tablets with produced granules as a reference standard depicted a notable solubility advantage (100% drug released in 5 minutes at >pH 6.8) over the pure drug and the physical mixture. Our developed system known as DosePlus combines innovative continuous granulation and PBF-3D printing process which can potentially improve the physical properties of the bulk drug and formulations in comparison to when used in isolation. This process can further find application in continuous manufacturing of granules and additive manufacturing of pharmaceuticals to produce dosage forms with excellent uniformity and solubility advantage. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=119 SRC="FIGDIR/small/430988v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (36K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@29c7caorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@fbae3eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@16c8de1org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d6b088_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG
Brain markers predicting response to cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: an independent replication of Whitfield-Gabrieli et al. 2015.

Predictive brain markers promise a number of important scientific, clinical, and societal applications. Over 600 predictive brain markers have been described in published reports, but very few have been tested in independent replication attempts. Here, we conducted an independent replication of a previously published marker predicting treatment response to cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder from patterns of resting-state fMRI amygdala connectivity1. The replication attempt was conducted in an existing dataset similar to the dataset used in the original report, by a team of independent investigators in consultation with the original authors. The precise model described in the original report positively predicted treatment outcomes in the replication dataset, but with marginal statistical significance, permutation test p = 0.1. The effect size was substantially smaller in the replication dataset, with the model explaining 2% of the variance in treatment outcomes, as compared to 21% in the original report. Several lines of evidence, including the current replication attempt, suggest that features of amygdala function or structure may be able to predict treatment response in anxiety disorders. However, predictive models that explain a substantial amount of variance in independent datasets will be needed for scientific and clinical applications.
An $$O(s^r)$$ O ( s r ) -resolution ODE framework for understanding discrete-time algorithms and applications to the linear convergence of minimax problems

There has been a long history of using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to understand the dynamics of discrete-time algorithms (DTAs). Surprisingly, there are still two fundamental and unanswered questions: (i) it is unclear how to obtain a suitable ODE from a given DTA, and (ii) it is unclear the connection between the convergence of a DTA and its corresponding ODEs. In this paper, we propose a new machinery—an $$O(s^r)$$ -resolution ODE framework—for analyzing the behavior of a generic DTA, which (partially) answers the above two questions. The framework contains three steps: 1. To obtain a suitable ODE from a given DTA, we define a hierarchy of $$O(s^r)$$ -resolution ODEs of a DTA parameterized by the degree r, where s is the step-size of the DTA. We present a principal approach to construct the unique $$O(s^r)$$ -resolution ODEs from a DTA; 2. To analyze the resulting ODE, we propose the $$O(s^r)$$ -linear-convergence condition of a DTA with respect to an energy function, under which the $$O(s^r)$$ -resolution ODE converges linearly to an optimal solution; 3. To bridge the convergence properties of a DTA and its corresponding ODEs, we define the properness of an energy function and show that the linear convergence of the $$O(s^r)$$ -resolution ODE with respect to a proper energy function can automatically guarantee the linear convergence of the DTA. To better illustrate this machinery, we utilize it to study three classic algorithms—gradient descent ascent (GDA), proximal point method (PPM) and extra-gradient method (EGM)—for solving the unconstrained minimax problem $$\min _{x\in \mathbb {R}^n} \max _{y\in \mathbb {R}^m} L(x,y)$$ . Their O(s)-resolution ODEs explain the puzzling convergent/divergent behaviors of GDA, PPM and EGM when L(x, y) is a bilinear function, and showcase that the interaction terms help the convergence of PPM/EGM but hurts the convergence of GDA. Furthermore, their O(s)-linear-convergence conditions not only unify the known scenarios when PPM and EGM have linear convergence, but also showcase that these two algorithms exhibit linear convergence in much broader contexts, including when solving a class of nonconvex-nonconcave minimax problems. Finally, we show how this ODE framework can help design new optimization algorithms for minimax problems, by studying the difference between the O(s)-resolution ODE of GDA and that of PPM/EGM.
MM-429: Impact of Prolonged Lenalidomide Maintenance (≥3 years) and Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Post-Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Context Lenalidomide maintenance therapy after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, optimal duration of maintenance, as well as factors predicting outcomes, need further evaluation. Objective To determine impact of duration of therapy and identify factors affecting outcome of lenalidomide maintenance. Design Retrospective study of consecutive patients with MM seen at Mayo Clinic, Rochester between 1/1/2005 and 12/31/2016. Patients or Other Participants Two hundred thirteen patients treated with lenalidomide-based maintenance post-ASCT were included. Main Outcomes Measures Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and impact of duration of therapy on PFS and OS. Results The median follow-up was 5.4 (95% CI: 4.9, 5.9) years from diagnosis. Median age at initiation of maintenance was 60 years (range: 35–76). Cytogenetics data were available in 202 (95%) patients; 31% (63/203) harbored high-risk cytogenetics based on the mSMART 3.0 criteria. The median PFS was 4 years (95% CI: 3.4, 4.5) from diagnosis of MM and 3 years (95% CI: 2.6, 3.5) from start of maintenance; median OS was not reached from diagnosis of MM (5-year OS: 77%). Excluding patients progressing within 3 years of starting maintenance (n=65), patients receiving ≥3 years of maintenance (n=48) had superior 5-year OS of 100% versus 88% in patients who received Conclusions Maintenance therapy with lenalidomide is well tolerated, and a longer duration (≥3 years) is associated with improvement in OS, irrespective of cytogenetic risk group and ISS stage.
Tigers bringing risk and security: Gendered perceptions of tiger reintroduction in Rajasthan, India

Human-wildlife conflict has been documented to impact some communities heterogeneously, particularly along gender lines (e.g., women experiencing inequitably increased workloads and economic hardship, and decreased physical safety and psychological wellbeing), leading to different attitudes towards wildlife. Despite possible gendered discrepancies, women's perceptions of conservation management are often insufficiently explored, leading to incomplete understandings of conservation dynamics, and unjust conservation policies. In an effort to investigate if and how perceptions of tiger reintroductions are disparate, we conducted focus group discussions with women and men living in and around Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, India. Results demonstrate clear gendered delineations in perceptions, where male participants predominantly focused on economic and ecological benefits, and female participants highlighted threats to personal safety and hidden costs (e.g., potential abuse, dowry concerns). This research underscores the importance of documenting and understanding gendered perceptions of carnivores to achieve the broad community support necessary for successful reintroduction efforts worldwide.
Analysis of Cooling for the ITER ECH Waveguide Transmission Line

Finite element analysis calculations are performed to determine the temperature profile in sections of the ITER Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) transmission line waveguide. Each aluminum, corrugat...
Hypothesis: Obesity Is Associated with a Lower Mutation Threshold in Colon Cancer.

Neoplastic progression requires accumulation of several mutations (mutation threshold). We hypothesize that obesity raises the risk of microsatellite stable (MSS) colon cancer (CC) at least in part by decreasing the mutation threshold. Thus, we posit that obese patients require fewer mutations, particularly driver mutations, compared to their normal BMI counterparts. Further, we suggest that the reduced number of required mutations in obese patients could be due to several factors, including the high levels of cytokines that accompany obesity. Cytokine-activated ERK, AKT, and JAK/STAT signaling could synergize with CC-initiating mutations to promote intestinal neoplastic development. Therefore, driver mutations that induce these specific pathways may not be “required” for neoplastic development in obesity; alteration in cell signaling consequent to obesity can substitute for some driver mutations in neoplastic progression. This hypothesis is supported by preliminary analyses of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Thus, we observed that, compared to normal weight patients, cancer genomes of obese MSS CC patients exhibit fewer somatic mutations, and correspondingly lower numbers of mutations in driver genes (P = 0.026).The most striking observation was the lower number of KRAS mutations detected in patients with high body-mass index (BMI). These intriguing observations require further validation with increased number of patients, taking into account all possible confounding factors. If the hypothesis is confirmed, future studies should also address several possible explanations for the observed lower mutation threshold in obese MSS CC patients.
Genetic control of the cell division cycle in yeast: III. Seven genes controlling nuclear division☆

Temperature-sensitive mutations in seven genes (cdc 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, and 15) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae confer a defect in nuclear division. Following a shift from the permissive to the restrictive temperature, asynchronous populations of these mutant cells accumulate uniformly in nuclear division. Depending upon the particular gene defect, mutants appear to terminate development at an early stage of nuclear division (cdc 2), at a medial stage (cdc 6, 7, 9, 13), or at a late stage (cdc 14, 15). Experiments employing temperature shifts, time-lapse photomicroscopy, and synchronous cultures permitted a determination of the time in the cell cycle at which each of the thermolabile gene products completes its function at the permissive temperature (the execution point) for the ensuing nuclear division. These studies reveal a program of gene activity required for nuclear division that commences at the beginning of the cell cycle. Subsequent to the block in nuclear division the mutant strains do not undergo cell separation or bud initiation. Apparently, nuclear division is normally a prerequisite for the latter two processes.
Dealing with Difficult Parents: And with Parents in Difficult Situations

Communicating with parents is one of the most challenging and potentially stressful tasks that teachers face on a daily basis. Whether trying to resolve a heated argument or delivering bad news, it is essential to know how to handle difficult situations and establish positive relationships with your students’ parents. In this updated second edition of the bestselling Dealing with Difficult Parents, award-winning educators Todd Whitaker and Douglas J. Fiore help you develop a repertoire of tools and skills for comfortable and effective interaction with parents. The book’s features include: Tools to help you understand parents’ motivations and how to work with them rather than against them; Detailed scripts for dealing with even the most stubborn and volatile parents; New strategies for increasing parent involvement to foster student success; An all-new chapter on the role that social media can play in interacting with parents; and A new chapter on initiating contact with parents to build positive credibility. This must-read book will equip you with the skills you need to expertly navigate even the most challenging encounters with parents, and walk away feeling that you have made a positive and meaningful impact.
Lie algebras and exactly solvable problems in quantum mechanics

A formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of Lie algebras is introduced. Exactly solvable problems in an arbitrary number of dimensions are classified and discussed briefly.
Consistent ground-plane mapping: A case study utilizing low-cost sensor measurements and a satellite image

Vision-aided localization systems are often utilized in urban settings to take advantage of structured environment, high availability of unique visual features, as well as complimenting aiding measurements from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). In this paper, we present a case study for roadway texture mapping that combines low-cost sensor measurements that are already available on many production vehicles (e.g. single frequency GPS, wheel odometry, and a forward looking camera) together with a satellite image. The aim of the method presented here is to obtain high resolution texture of the ground plane that is consistent with the low-resolution satellite image through an optimization process that estimates the smooth vehicle trajectory using Maximum-a-Posteriori (MAP). The main benefit of this system comes from the facts that: (1) it utilizes only low-cost sensors and information that are readily available, (2) it can be easily embedded into existing maps. Data and analysis of a drive captured around a block is used in this study.
Review of Drought Management and Planning for Water Resources by Joaquin Andreu, Giuseppe Rossi, Federico Vagliasindi, and Alida Vela

The book Drought Management and Planning for Water Resources—edited by Joaquin Andreu, Giuseppe Rossi, Federico Vagliasindi and Alida Vela—summarizes the results of the project “Water Resources Management Under Drought Conditions: Criteria and Tools for Conjunctive Use of Conventional and Marginal Water in Mediterranean Regions” WAMME project . The objective of the book is to present to potential users and the scientific community the results of a number of case studies in representative watersheds of the Mediterranean area. The book consists of nine chapters written by 20 different authors. Chapter 1 discusses the droughts of 1990–1995 and 1998– 2002 in the Jucar Basin in southeastern Spain. Approximately 80% of the water demand in the basin is for irrigation. Chapters 2 to 4 deal with strategies for water management under drought conditions. The second chapter describes guidelines for the reuse of marginal water for agriculture, urban, and industrial use. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with conjunctive use of surface and groundwater and conjunctive use of conventional and marginal waters. Chapter 3 discusses methods for conjunctive water use and compares the different methods. The first part of Chapter 4 discusses the development of an optimization model for
A comparison of alternative measures of organizational aspirations

Research on organizational aspirations has used various representations of firm-level aspirations and based those representations on various performance measures. To advance our understanding of the measurement of aspirations, we empirically compare three different aspiration models defined using six different performance measures to explain three different firm outcomes (financial misrepresentation, R&D spending, and income-stream uncertainty). The results moderately support a model with separate historical and social aspirations over a model of aspirations that systematically switches between the two. The results strongly support both the separate and switching models over a model where aspirations constitute a weighted average of historical and social comparisons, the model associated most directly with Cyert and March's original specification. We discuss the implications of these results and highlight directions for future research.
Variation in the Monocyte Proteome

We have determined the variability of the monocyte proteome and identified those proteins that demonstrate the greatest variation in the general control population. Monocytes were isolated from 18 healthy (9 male and 9 female) donors ages 18-50 and with no known genetic or blood disorder. A combination of Ficoll-Paque PLUS density centrifugation of cells found in the buffy coat and positive selection with monoclonal antibodies against CD14, coupled to magnetic beads, led to >98% purity of monocytes. A 100,000 g microsomal membrane fraction or 100,000 g supernatant fraction from a control subject was compared to the equivalent fractions from a distinct control subject by two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE). Those protein spots that demonstrated Cy3-/Cy5- ratios greater than 2.5-fold in at least one experiment were selected for further statistical analysis. We determined variability for 31 cytosolic and 12 membrane protein spots. Proteins have been identified for 27 of the cytosolic protein spots and 9 of the microsomal membrane protein spots by in-gel digestion with trypsin followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in line with tandem mass spectrometry. We identified 24 distinct monocyte proteins that demonstrated the greatest variability in this general control population. The proteins demonstrating the greatest variance in the cytosolic fraction were enolase-1 and WD (tryptophan-aspartate) repeat-containing protein 1, and in the membrane fraction they were lamin B1 and L-plastin. This study demonstrates the importance of considering variance in the control population when performing future protein profiling comparisons of monocytes derived from disease versus control populations.
87Sr lattice clock with inaccuracy below 10- 15

Aided by ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy, the overall systematic uncertainty of the $^{1}S_{0}\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}^{3}P_{0}$ clock resonance for lattice-confined $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$ has been characterized to $9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$. This uncertainty is at a level similar to the Cs-fountain primary standard, while the potential stability for the lattice clocks exceeds that of Cs. The absolute frequency of the clock transition has been measured to be 429 228 004 229 874.0(1.1) Hz, where the $2.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ fractional uncertainty represents the most accurate measurement of a neutral-atom-based optical transition frequency to date.
Network Analysis for Modern Monetary Theory

This article integrates Scott Fullwiller's two social fabric matrices for Federal Reserve and Treasury operations to help establish a number of results. First, the resulting network demonstrates that the components are involved in an intense, extensive, and complex network of interconnections. Second, given the numerous pathways in the network, it becomes clear that one needs to identify specific pathways when undertaking a discussion. Third, the article identifies variant criteria that guide the rules, regulations, and requirements of real-world monetary operations, and clarifies that the conflict between normative belief criteria and variant criteria is crucial for understanding the formulation of alternative monetary policies. Fourth, the article establishes that, beyond social criteria, technological criteria also deliver rules, regulations, and requirements to the institutions. Fifth, it further refines the social fabric matrix itself. Finally, the integrated matrix provides a base to which component...
Introduction to Paper by Betty A. Levine, Ph.D., et al, “Assessment of the Integration of a HIS/RIS with a PACS”

SHARING INFORMATION between a PACS and hospital information system/radiology information system (HIS/RIS) is as important today as it was in the late 1980s and the 1990s. We have not solved many of the issues that were identified in this classic article, and new issues have since arisen. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requirements will affect the way information is shared between systems and how access to the information is provided. Although HIPAA aims to protect a patient’s privacy, it complicates the movement of information between computerized systems, further confounding the development of HIS/RIS and PACS interfaces. Although PACS has become more available to institutions, the PACS interface to the HIS/RIS often remains a complete mystery or is less than what is considered desirable.
Risk and protective factors for alcohol use among pregnant African-American, Hispanic, and White adolescents: The influence of peers, sexual partners, family members, and mentors

Abstract Factors affecting the drinking patterns of 183 pregnant, African-American, Hispanic and White adolescents were investigated, including the influence of peers, sexual partners, family members, and mentors. Among participants who drank alcohol prior to their pregnancies, 87% quit or cut back on their drinking behaviors. Those adolescents who lived in environments where their partners, peers, and relatives were drinking and using drugs were more likely to have consumed alcohol in the previous month, while adolescents who identified mentors and/or parents who provided high levels of support were less likely to have consumed alcohol. Finally, distinct patterns of both drinking and life circumstances among the African-American, Hispanic, White adolescents were revealed. The implications of those findings for future research and intervention with pregnant adolescents are discussed.
Journalistic moral engagement: Narrative strategies in American muckraking

The narrative strategies of mid-20th-century investigative journalists who published in leftist American magazines expanded the kinds of truths that could be told. Using specific cases of institutional failure the journalists maneuvered the message through a variety of narrative techniques including direct advocacy of alternatives to the larger question of capitalisms morality. Their style offers an alternative model for American investigative journalists. (authors)
Infrared spectral evaluation of methanol/ammonia vapor mixtures

Vapor analytes of methanol and ammonia are quantitatively generated separately and as mixtures in the presence of water vapor. Generation of these analytes relies on the vapor liquid equilibria properties of associated aqueous solutions for delivering targeted vapor amounts into an equilibrium vapor cell. Gravimetric solution preparation and maintaining a constant solution temperature permits control of the analyte amount that is delivered to the optical equilibrium vapor cell. A laboratory Fourier transform infrared spectrometer examines the fixed path length optical cell contents. This examination furnishes vapor-phase infrared absorbances for analyte mixtures in the Beer's Law concentration range. Literature vapor liquid equilibrium data and infrared absorbance measurements show that the methanol/ammonia binary compontents of the ternary aqueous solutions of this study exhibit ideal solution behavior.
A Bayesian approach to demand estimation and inventory provisioning

This article addresses the problem of explicitly taking into account uncertainty about the demand for spare parts in making inventory procurement and stockage decisions. The model described provides for a unified treatment of the closely related problems of statistical estimation of demand and resource allocation within the inventory system, and leads to an easily implemented, efficient method of determining requirements for spare parts both in the early provisioning phase and in later periods of operations when demand data have accumulated Analyses of the model's theoretical foundations and of sample outcomes of the model based upon data on parts intended for use in the F-14 lead to conclusions of great importance to both support planners and operations planners Finally, of particular significance is the ability afforded the planner by this model to quantify the impact on inventory system costs of varying levels of system reliability or management uncertainty as to projected system performance. This will provide an economic basis for analysis of such alternatives as early deployment, operational testing, and equipment redesign.
Neural mechanisms of rapid natural scene categorization in human visual cortex

People are remarkably adept at quickly detecting the presence of items of interest in their field of view. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of healthy volunteers presented with a series of photographs, and asked to spot either people or cars in them, shows how this is achieved by the visual system. The brain rapidly determines whether there are objects relevant to whatever task it is attempting anywhere in the field of view even if they are not in regions that are under direct scrutiny. Intriguingly, the evidence shows that, contrary to our subjective experience of a complete internal representation of the external world, the neural representation of real-world scenes is limited to those objects that are directly relevant for ongoing behaviour. Human beings are able to rapidly detect the presence of object categories such as animals or vehicles, even when a scene is presented very briefly. The use of functional magnetic resonance imaging during an object categorization task now indicates that the rapid detection of categorical information in natural scenes is mediated by a category-specific biasing mechanism in object-selective cortex that operates across the visual field. The visual system has an extraordinary capability to extract categorical information from complex natural scenes. For example, subjects are able to rapidly detect the presence of object categories such as animals or vehicles in new scenes that are presented very briefly1,2. This is even true when subjects do not pay attention to the scenes and simultaneously perform an unrelated attentionally demanding task3, a stark contrast to the capacity limitations predicted by most theories of visual attention4,5. Here we show a neural basis for rapid natural scene categorization in the visual cortex, using functional magnetic resonance imaging and an object categorization task in which subjects detected the presence of people or cars in briefly presented natural scenes. The multi-voxel pattern of neural activity in the object-selective cortex evoked by the natural scenes contained information about the presence of the target category, even when the scenes were task-irrelevant and presented outside the focus of spatial attention. These findings indicate that the rapid detection of categorical information in natural scenes is mediated by a category-specific biasing mechanism in object-selective cortex that operates in parallel across the visual field, and biases information processing in favour of objects belonging to the target object category.
FA iPS: correction or reprogramming first?

In this issue of Blood , Muller et al show that Fanconi anemia (FA) cells are resistant, but not completely refractory, to reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.[1][1] Genetic complementation before reprogramming restores DNA repair, rescues reprogramming, and yields iPS cells
Prevalence of selected zoonotic and vector-borne agents in dogs and cats in Costa Rica

To estimate the prevalence of enteric parasites and selected vector-borne agents of dogs and cats in San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica, fecal and serum samples were collected from animals voluntarily undergoing sterilization. Each fecal sample was examined for parasites by microscopic examination after fecal flotation and for Giardia and Cryptosporidium using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Giardia and Cryptosporidium IFA positive samples were genotyped after PCR amplification of specific DNA if possible. The seroprevalence rates for the vector-borne agents (Dirofilaria immitis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) were estimated based on results from a commercially available ELISA. Enteric parasites were detected in samples from 75% of the dogs; Ancylostoma caninum, Trichuris vulpis, Giardia, and Toxocara canis were detected. Of the cats, 67.5% harbored Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Ancylostoma tubaeforme, or Toxocara cati. Both Cryptosporidium spp. isolates that could be sequenced were Cryptosporidium parvum (one dog isolate and one cat isolate). Of the Giardia spp. isolates that were successfully sequenced, the 2 cat isolates were assemblage A and the 2 dog isolates were assemblage D. D. immitis antigen and E. canis antibodies were identified in 2.3% and 3.5% of the serum samples, respectively. The prevalence of enteric zoonotic parasites in San Isidro de El General in Costa Rica is high in companion animals and this information should be used to mitigate public health risks.