cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Infection Preventionist’s View of the Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: Structure, Process, and Outcome

Acute Care Hospitals” 1 was groundbreaking because the articles distilled the latest information about 6 of the most pressing healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention problems into a compelling framework, with guidance for immediate interventions. Further, they were all included as a supplement to the regular monthly issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology that could be kept neatly in healthcare professionals’ offices for reference. Importantly, colleagues from all disciplines could access these articles online free of charge, along with patient educational material available in English, Spanish, and several additional languages. One central topic missing from the 2008 Compendium was hand hygiene, a cornerstone of infection prevention. The World Health Organization (WHO) Clean Care Is Safer Care initiative 2 was then the focus for hand hygiene monitoring and improvement, and it was unclear at that point whether another guidance document on the topic would have provided additional useful information. The 2014 Compendium updates will continue to be useful to front-line infection preventionists (IPs), healthcare epidemiologists, and others involved in the prevention of HAIs. This time around, the 6 original Compendium topics (strategies for preventing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA], Clostridium difficile infection [CDI], surgical site infection [SSI], ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP], catheter-associated urinary tract infection [CAUTI], and central line‐associated bloodstream infection [CLABSI]) have been joined by a new hand hygiene guidance document. 3 The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and their partners recognized that, given the substantial number of publications since 2008 on this topic, incorporating up-todate evidence into a hand hygiene guidance document could be useful for healthcare providers. It was particularly rewarding for me to participate as a Compendium hand hygiene section co-lead and representative of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). APIC is one of the major Compendium partnering organizations, and the participation and leadership of APIC representatives in the Compendium advisory group and writing groups enabled infection preventionists to provide our perspectives and input throughout the Compendium writing process.
Nucleotide sequences of Bacillus subtilis flagellar biosynthetic genes fliP and fliQ and identification of a novel flagellar gene, fliZ.

Abstract Three genes from the Bacillus subtilis major che-fla operon have been cloned and sequenced. Two of the genes encode proteins that are homologous to the Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium flagellar biosynthetic proteins FliP and FliQ. The third gene, designated fliZ, encodes a 219-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 24,872 Da. FliZ is not significantly homologous to any known proteins. Null mutants in fliP and fliZ do not have flagella; however, motility can be restored to the fliZ null mutant by expression of fliZ from a plasmid. FliZ has a conventional N-terminal signal sequence that does not direct secretion of the protein but appears to target the protein to the membrane. Two possible models of insertion of FliZ into the membrane are described.
Family Interaction, Social Cognition and Children's Subsequent Relations with Peers at Kindergarten

This study examined relations among family interaction qualities and children's social cognitions and subsequent social competence with peers. Thirty five-year-old children (fifteen boys) and their families were observed in their homes and the children were administered a social cognitive assessment battery during the summer prior to the children's entry into kindergarten. Interactional episodes were coded in terms of the degree of observed parent-child responsiveness, coerciveness and intrusiveness. Social cognitive measures consisted of self-efficacy and outcome expectations regarding aggressive and competent responding to hypothetical conflicts. Children's subsequent relations with peers in kindergarten were evaluated on the basis of teacher ratings. Social competence with peers was predicted by responsive family interactions and lower self-efficacy scores for both aggressive and competent responding. Aggression with peers was predicted by coercive and intrusive family interactions and higher self-effi...
Mercury reduction in products and processes : a review of the electrical and electronic industries

The electrical and electronics industries have significantly reduced the amount of mercury from various products and processes. However, the unique electromechanical and photoelectronic properties of mercury and mercury compounds have made replacement of mercury difficult in some applications. This paper identfies many of the source reduction and recycling alternatives for mercury in electrical and electronic applications and reviews the usage trends for mercury in the U.S. Data suggests that U.S. companies have clearly decreased the amount of mercury over the past 10 years ; the most significant change has occurred in batteries with a 99% decline in mercury use. For products where the photoelectronic properties of mercury are important (e.g., electric lighting), a recycling infrastructure is developing. One potential problematic area may be the use of mercury in semiconductors where mercury may be difficult to recycle and may generate a large quantity of waste relative to mercury use.
A new polymorph of lithium zinc phosphate with the cristobalite-type framework topology

A new form of lithium zinc phosphate has been prepared under high temperature and high pressure. The structure consists of lithium,zinc, and phosphorus atoms tetrahedrally coordinated to oxygen atoms. The three-dimensional framework structure can be described as belonging to the family of stuffed cristobalite structures with zinc and phosphorus atoms as framework tetrahedral atoms and lithium as extra-framework, charge-balancing cations. The cristobalite framework is derived from that of the diamond type, with the insertion of oxygen atoms between tetrahedral atoms. It is constructed from the stacking of hexagonal layers in the ABC sequence and consists of six-ring channels propagating in directions significantly offset from the stacking directions of layers. Crystal data for LiZnPO{sub 4}: M = 167.28, space group Cc (No. 9), a = 17.2962(1) {angstrom}, b = 9.7753(1), c = 16.1989(2) {angstrom}, {beta} = 98.953(1){degree}, V = 2705.47(5) {angstrom}{sup 3}, Z = 32, D{sub c} = 3.285 g cm{sup {minus}3}, MoK{alpha}, {mu} = 7.573 mm{sup {minus}1}, 2{theta}{sub max} = 56.52{degree}, R(F) = 2.35% for 506 parameters and 6,219 reflections with I > 2{sigma}(I).
A Review of Discharge Planning Research of Older Adults 1990-2008

This integrative review of the literature analyzed the research about hospital discharge planning within the historical timeline of public policy changes that affected service utilization. There were 36 articles reviewed that represented a variety of disciplines, nursing (n = 21), social work (n = 6), medicine (n = 5), and sociology (n = 4). The review revealed several interesting findings. Though the family is the first line of defense against problems, little work done has been done that focuses on building partnerships between patients, families, and health care providers. The costs of care drive the health care system; yet costs of interventions were rarely described. Intensive case management of at-risk populations has neither been widely adopted nor is it reimbursed through public funding, even though it has been found to be cost effective.
ESCAPING THE LOCAL TRAP? THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY-REPRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS IN URBAN GOVERNANCE

: This article explores the potential dangers of parochialism in using community-based associations to represent community interests and the role of these organizations in advising on citywide policies in urban governance. Based on recent theoretical debates on citizen participation at the local level, we analyze whether community-based participation potentially leads to parochial pursuit of community interests at the expense of broader regional goals by investigating the effect of organizational and community characteristics. Using Los Angeles neighborhood councils as an empirical case, this exploratory analysis finds that the nature of neighborhood council members’ civic activities is related to the degree to which they may potentially pursue parochial interests. A similar relationship is found between the geographic location of communities and such pursuits. Lastly, neighborhood council members’ civic activities and other community characteristics also influence their activities concerning advice on citywide policies. These findings suggest ways that neighborhood councils might play a greater role in advising on citywide policies in urban governance.
Four perspectives on media research in the 1980s

Industry researchers call for more sophisticated audience research, methodological tools and message research to meet the challenges of the 1980s. Refreshing options exist for integrating academic and private sector research priorities.
Delay analysis of multi-user dynamic spectrum access networks

Packet delay is a key quality of service (QoS) parameter for networks. In this paper, we derive the closed-form expression for the pdf of the delay in multi-PU, multi-SU dynamic spectrum access networks. We show that the transmission delay has an exponential distribution when the activity periods of the PUs and SUs are exponentially distributed. We also derive the dominant QoS exponent which mainly characterizes the tail-end of distribution. Simulations show that the dominant QoS exponent is approximately a linear function of number of PUs for fixed number of SUs and a linear function of the inverse of the number of SUs for fixed number of PUs.
Magnetohydrodynamic Stabilization of Axisymmetric Mirror Systems Using Pulsed ECRH

AbstractThis paper, part of a continuing study of means for the stabilization of magnetohydrodynamic interchange modes in axisymmetric mirror-based plasma confinement systems, represents a preliminary look at a technique that would employ a train of plasma pressure pulses produced by electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) to accomplish the stabilization. The use of sequentially pulsed ECRH rather than continuous-wave ECRH facilitates the localization of the heated-electron plasma pulses in regions of the magnetic field with positive field-line curvature, e.g., in the “expander” region of the mirror magnetic field, outside the outermost mirror. The technique proposed relies on the time-averaged effect of plasma pressure pulses generated in regions of positive field-line curvature to overcome the destabilizing effect of plasma pressure in regions of negative field-line curvature within the confinement region. The plasma pulses, when produced in regions of the confining field having a negative gradient,...
Datacenters as computers: Google engineering & database research perspectives

In this collaborative keynote address, we will share Google's experience in building a scalable data infrastructure that leverages datacenters for managing Google's advertising data over the last decade. In order to support the massive online advertising platform at Google, the data infrastructure must simultaneously support both transactional and analytical workloads. The focus of this talk will be to highlight how the datacenter architecture and the cloud computing paradigm has enabled us to manage the exponential growth in data volumes and user queries, make our services highly available and fault tolerant to massive datacenter outages, and deliver results with very low latencies. We note that other Internet companies have also undergone similar growth in data volumes and user queries. In fact, this phenomenon has resulted in at least two new terms in the technology lexicon: big data and cloud computing. Cloud computing (and datacenters) have been largely responsible for scaling the data volumes from terabytes range just a few years ago to now reaching in the exabyte range over the next couple of years. Delivering solutions at this scale that are fault-tolerant, latency sensitive, and highly available requires a combination of research advances with engineering ingenuity at Google and elsewhere. Next, we will try to answer the following question: is a datacenter just another (very large) computer? Or, does it fundamentally change the design principles for data-centric applications and systems. We will conclude with some of the unique research challenges that need to be addressed in order to sustain continuous growth in data volumes while supporting high throughput and low latencies.
Adjudication Error, Finality, Asymmetry in the Criminal Law

All forms of criminal charge adjudication produce errors of mistaken conviction or acquittal. Yet in most criminal justice systems, an endpoint of sorts is eventually reached and further attempts to correct errors are disallowed. The first issue discussed is whether such “finality” in charge adjudication should be presumptive or non-presumptive. My contention is that it should be presumptive. But should it be presumptive only for convictions or also for acquittals? As against strong forms of asymmetry, I urge weaker forms, according to which we should seek to correct both kinds of errors while exhibiting some degree of preference for correcting errors of wrongful conviction over those of wrongful acquittal. The issues that must be faced if we are to set up procedures allowing rebuttal of the presumption of finality are then surveyed. Doing so reveals the forms that weak asymmetry might take.
Evaluation of a breast lymphoscintigraphy quality initiative

1082 Learning Objectives This poster will demonstrate the following: 1. Develop an evidence-based protocol to standardize breast lymphoscintigraphy procedures. 2. Implement a successful training module for technologist injected breast lymphoscintigraphy studies. 3. Technologists can achieve migration rates equal to or exceed published benchmarks. Our organization developed a quality initiative to train technologists in breast lymphoscintigraphy injections and standardize practice without compromising quality. A baseline for physician injected breast lymphoscintigraphy migration rates measured 96.4% over the year prior to our initiative. We then created a comprehensive training program for technologists. The technique included single periaeriolar injections of
Pediatric Oncology: Psychosocial Care in Context

Cancer in children has always been inexorably linked to feelings of unfathomable unfairness, urgent pleas for cures, and the psychological challenges for patients and their families. While the incidence of childhood cancer represents only about 2 % of all cancers, the impact of its treatment extends beyond the child and includes the family and the community. The worldwide incidence of childhood cancer has been estimated to be about 200,000 cases annually. Approximately 80 % of children are cured in developed countries, but that cure rate is inversed in resource-poor countries where often less than 20 % of children are cured. The incidence of cancer also appears to be slowly increasing (Rodriguez-Galindo et al. 2013; Spector et al. 2013; Pritchard-Jones et al. 2013).
Copy Number Variations in the Survival Motor Neuron Genes: Implications for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

Proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant death worldwide, is an early-onset, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of spinal α-motor neurons. This loss of α-motor neurons is associated with muscle weakness and atrophy. SMA can be classified into five clinical grades based on age of onset and severity of the disease. Regardless of clinical grade, proximal SMA results from the loss or mutation of SMN1 (survival motor neuron 1) on chromosome 5q13. In humans a large tandem chromosomal duplication has lead to a second copy of the SMN gene locus known as SMN2. SMN2 is distinguishable from SMN1 by a single nucleotide difference that disrupts an exonic splice enhancer in exon 7. As a result, most of SMN2 mRNAs lack exon 7 (SMNΔ7) and produce a protein that is both unstable and less than fully functional. Although only 10-20% of the SMN2 gene product is fully functional, increased genomic copies of SMN2 inversely correlates with disease severity among individuals with SMA. Because SMN2 copy number influences disease severity in SMA, there is prognostic value in accurate measurement of SMN2 copy number from patients being evaluated for SMA. This prognostic value is especially important given that SMN2 copy number is now being used as an inclusion criterion for SMA clinical trials. In addition to SMA, copy number variations (CNVs) in the SMN genes can affect the clinical severity of other neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and progressive muscular atrophy (PMA). This review will discuss how SMN1 and SMN2 CNVs are detected and why accurate measurement of SMN1 and SMN2 copy numbers is relevant for SMA and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Density Functional Theory Modeling of the Proposed Nitrite Anhydrase Function of Hemoglobin in Hypoxia Sensing

The role of NO and nitrite-bound methemoglobin (HbIIINO2–) in hypoxic signaling is highly controversial. One provoking possibility is that hemoglobin (Hb) functions as a nitrite anhydrase, producing N2O3 (from nitrite) as an NO carrier. The ability of Hb to generate N2O3 would provide an intriguing means of NO release from red blood cells. We have investigated this proposed new reactivity of Hb using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. For this purpose, models of the Hb/myoglobin (Mb) active site have been constructed. Our results show that the O-bound (nitrito) form of Hb/MbIIINO2– is essential for the formation of N2O3. The formation and release of N2O3 is shown to be energetically favorable by 1–3 kcal/mol, indicating that the anhydrase function of Hb/Mb is biologically feasible.
Retinal remodeling in human retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in the human is a progressive, currently irreversible neural degenerative disease usually caused by gene defects that disrupt the function or architecture of the photoreceptors. While RP can initially be a disease of photoreceptors, there is increasing evidence that the inner retina becomes progressively disorganized as the outer retina degenerates. These alterations have been extensively described in animal models, but remodeling in humans has not been as well characterized. This study, using computational molecular phenotyping (CMP) seeks to advance our understanding of the retinal remodeling process in humans. We describe cone mediated preservation of overall topology, retinal reprogramming in the earliest stages of the disease in retinal bipolar cells, and alterations in both small molecule and protein signatures of neurons and glia. Furthermore, while Muller glia appear to be some of the last cells left in the degenerate retina, they are also one of the first cell classes in the neural retina to respond to stress which may reveal mechanisms related to remodeling and cell death in other retinal cell classes. Also fundamentally important is the finding that retinal network topologies are altered. Our results suggest interventions that presume substantial preservation of the neural retina will likely fail in late stages of the disease. Even early intervention offers no guarantee that the interventions will be immune to progressive remodeling. Fundamental work in the biology and mechanisms of disease progression are needed to support vision rescue strategies.
Staphylocoagulation in Plasmas of Various Animal Species.

SummaryMarked species variations in the staphylocoagulation phenomenon are encountered and can be explained in terms of several factors. Comparing with rabbit plasma as an empirical standard (shortest staphylocoagulation times encountered), the ability to shorten staphylocoagulation time by addition of co-factor (human serum albumin) is evidence for lesser amounts of cofactor in such plasmas as horse and bovine. Cofactor cannot be recovered completely or uniformly in plasma fractions obtained with the classical (NH4)2 SO4 salting procedures. Nevertheless, the “albumin” is consistently rich in cofactor (for activation of prostaphylocoagulase) and devoid of thrombin (which interferes in tests on some euglobulins).Excess of inhibitor (s), in part at least directed against active staphylocoagulase as shown by pre-incubation of prostaphylocoagulase with cofactor before adding to plasma (or plasma dilution + fibrinogen) is a feature of some plasmas, notably rat and chicken. Owing to this, the demonstration of c...
Historical sociology in the field: Teaching Irish identity through field experience:

Teaching Irish Historical Sociology in the field offers unique opportunities for students to engage with sites critical to the historical development of Irish identity. For the past fourteen years, I have taught an Irish Historical Sociology course in Ireland designed to teach students the contested nature and layers of Irish identity based on the waves of migration that have come to Ireland throughout the centuries. The course begins by examining the earliest people to come to Ireland and then examines the impact of the Celtic Migrations, the introduction of Christianity, the Anglo-Norman invasion/settlement, the Plantation migration, the famine, the Irish revival in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as changes in demography, economy, and religion in the twentieth century. Through on-site lectures, talks, and experiences in music and dance, the environment, traditional crafts, folklore and heritage, local history, and sports students learn the various groups who came to the island over...
Extending the Conversation: A Network Analysis of Workplace Spirituality Associations

Examining academic networks provides insight into boundaries and boundary crossing as well as knowledge diffusion. We examine four academic networks focused on business, spirituality, and religion to identify network boundaries and boundary crossing. Scholars tend to align with networks consistent with the nature of their employing institution, both in its relative emphasis on research and its religious affiliation. Network and religious differences contribute to the relative isolation of research communities, despite shared topical interests and reliance on similar scholarly sources. The use of normative authorities may limit networking, but the relative absence of weak network links across networks may underestimate similarities. Increased boundary crossing may enhance innovation across networks.
313 DIAGNOSES ASSOCIATED WITH ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC USE IN PRIVATELY INSURED CHILDREN.

Background Atypical antipsychotic medications have not been carefully studied in children. Studies, however, have shown a dramatic increase in their use, with a prevalence of 13 per 1,000 children in a Midwestern Medicaid population in 2001 for psychiatric diagnoses such as attention-deficit, conduct, and mood disorders. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of atypical antipsychotics in commercially insured children and the diagnoses associated with treatment. Methods Prescription and medical claims were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of children 2 to 18 years of age covered by a large private insurance agency in the Midwest. The prevalence of children receiving atypical antipsychotics between January 2002 and December 2005 was determined along with associated diagnoses. We used chi-square tests for statistical comparisons. Results The study population included 198,849 children with a mean age of 10.3 years (SD = 5.0). A total of 2,305 children received at least one prescription for an atypical antipsychotic (11.6 per 1,000 children). Children prescribed atypical antipsychotics were 64% male and had a mean age of 12.3 years (SD = 3.8). Males were 1.7 times more likely to receive atypical antipsychotics than females (95% CI 1.6, 1.9). Children 10 years of age and older were 2.5 times more likely to be prescribed atypical antipsychotics than children less than 10 years (95% CI 2.3, 2.8). The most common diagnoses were disruptive behavior disorders (65%), mood disorders (64%), and anxiety disorders (45%). The majority (74%) of children had more than one diagnosis. Males on atypical antipsychotics were 2.5 times more likely to have a diagnosis of disruptive disorder (95% CI 2.1, 3.0), whereas females were 1.6 times more likely to have a diagnosis of a mood disorder (95% CI 1.4, 2.0) and 1.4 times more likely to have an anxiety disorder (95% CI 1.2, 1.7). Children 10 to 14 years of age on atypical antipsychotics are 2.8 times more likely to have a diagnosis of disruptive disorder than children 15 to 18 years old (95% CI 2.3, 3.4), whereas children 15 to 18 years of age were 1.7 times more likely to have a diagnosis of a mood disorder than children 10 to 14 years old (95% CI 1.4, 2.1). A total of 173 children (7.5%) had no psychiatric diagnosis coded during the study period. Conclusions The rate of atypical antipsychotic use in privately insured youth is similar to that of a Medicaid population (11.6 vs 13 per 1,000). Although disruptive behavior disorders are the primary diagnoses in youth on atypical antipsychotics, the majority of children prescribed an atypical antipsychotic have multiple psychiatric diagnoses. Studies are needed to assess the risk-benefit ratio and long-term safety and efficacy in these patients.
Learning object models from few examples

Current computer vision systems rely primarily on fixed models learned in a supervised fashion, i.e., with extensive manually labelled data. This is appropriate in scenarios in which the information about all the possible visual queries can be anticipated in advance, but it does not scale to scenarios in which new objects need to be added during the operation of the system, as in dynamic interaction with UGVs. For example, the user might have found a new type of object of interest, e.g., a particular vehicle, which needs to be added to the system right away. The supervised approach is not practical to acquire extensive data and to annotate it. In this paper, we describe techniques for rapidly updating or creating models using sparsely labelled data. The techniques address scenarios in which only a few annotated training samples are available and need to be used to generate models suitable for recognition. These approaches are crucial for on-the-fly insertion of models by users and on-line learning.
Double-stranded RNA induces sickle erythrocyte adherence to endothelium: a potential role for viral infection in vaso-occlusive pain episodes in sickle cell anemia.

Vaso-occlusive pain episodes in sickle cell anemia are hypothesized to be precipitated by adherence of sickle erythrocytes to vascular endothelium in the microcirculation. Febrile episodes, thought to be viral in etiology, are frequently associated with vaso-occlusion; however, a direct link between viral infection and vascular occlusion has not yet been established. Many pathogenic viruses contain double-stranded RNA or replicate through double-stranded RNA intermediates. Double-stranded RNA has been shown to induce vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) protein expression on endothelial cells. Recently, a new adhesion pathway has been described between VCAM-1 expressed on cytokine stimulated endothelium and the alpha 4 beta 1 integrin complex expressed on sickle reticulocytes. Based on these observations, the hypothesis was developed that viral infection, through double-stranded RNA intermediates, increases endothelial VCAM-1 expression leading to sickle erythrocyte adhesion to endothelium via an alpha 4 beta 1-VCAM-1- -dependent mechanism. In support of this hypothesis, endothelial cells exposed to the synthetic double-stranded RNA poly(I:C) or the RNA virus parainfluenza 1 (Sendai virus) express increased levels of VCAM-1 and support increased sickle erythrocyte adherence under continuous flow at 1.0 dyne/cm2 shear stress as compared with unstimulated endothelium. Blocking antibodies directed against either VCAM-1 on the endothelium or alpha 4 beta 1 on sickle erythrocytes inhibit nearly all of the increased sickle cell adherence caused by poly(I:C) or Sendai virus. These results support the hypothesis that viruses, through double-stranded RNA elements, can induce sickle erythrocyte adherence to endothelium through alpha 4 beta 1-VCAM-1--mediated adhesion and provide a potential link between viral infection and microvascular occlusion precipitating sickle cell pain episodes.
Impact of Combined Stimuli on the Perception of Transient Forces

This paper discusses the development and characterization of a system for replicating the sensation of object-hand collisions. We present a novel wearable haptic band, comprised of a C2 tactor voice coil actuator and a servo-powered pressing mechanism. A virtual reality simulation in which a user actively bounces a ball on the hand was synced with the vibrations from a C2 tactor and pressure from a servo motor. User studies were conducted to determine the just-noticeable difference of pressure stimuli and realism of impact events with and without vibrations during the rendering of transient forces. We found that the presence of vibration reduced the just-noticeable difference of pressure, and that the addition of a constant vibration feedback to pressure appears to have more of an impact on the perception of the lower pressure levels than the higher pressure levels. These results indicate important considerations for the design of future devices that render transient haptic forces.
Imaging of Tumors in Epilepsy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses imaging of tumors in epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of seizures and is clearly superior to computerized tomography (CT) in its ability to demonstrate structural abnormalities. Up to 70% of patients being evaluated for epilepsy surgery and with a normal CT will demonstrate a structural abnormality on MRI. MRI is particularly more sensitive than CT in detecting temporal lobe lesions. Pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) or juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas represent a distinct, biologically indolent, low-grade variant of astrocytomas. On MRI, PAs are well defined lesions that are intense or slightly hypointense relative to brain on Tl-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas are rare, cortical, supratentorial lesions that usually occur in the temporal lobe, are frequently associated with a long-standing history of seizures. Gangliogliomas are slow-growing, low-grade central nervous system tumors, characterized by a mixture of glial cells and neuronal cells. Gangliogliomas can be indistinguishable from pilocytic astrocytomas on imaging, but should be considered in any young patient with seizures and a temporal lobe lesion. It is found that differentiating Meningioangiomatosis from low-grade astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ganglioglioma, and meningioma may be difficult based on imaging.
Participatory Designs for Critical Literacies from under the Covers.

This article invites a conversation about how critical participatory research transforms the production of knowledge, enables a complex chronicling of counter stories, and nurtures the contestation of dominant narratives with the very people who have been misrepresented as Others. Through a series of research stories fomented in prison, courtrooms, and social movements, I hope to incite a provocative imagination for critical research “to be of use” in a moment of neoliberal gentrification of educational studies.
Effect of correlation on covariate selection in linear and nonlinear mixed effect models

The effect of correlation among covariates on covariate selection was examined with linear and nonlinear mixed effect models. Demographic covariates were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III database. Concentration-time profiles were Monte Carlo simulated where only one covariate affected apparent oral clearance (CL/F). A series of univariate covariate population pharmacokinetic models was fit to the data and compared with the reduced model without covariate. The “best” covariate was identified using either the likelihood ratio test statistic or AIC. Weight and body surface area (calculated using Gehan and George equation, 1970) were highly correlated (r = 0.98). Body surface area was often selected as a better covariate than weight, sometimes as high as 1 in 5 times, when weight was the covariate used in the data generating mechanism. In a second simulation, parent drug concentration and three metabolites were simulated from a thorough QT study and used as covariates in a series of univariate linear mixed effects models of ddQTc interval prolongation. The covariate with the largest significant LRT statistic was deemed the “best” predictor. When the metabolite was formation-rate limited and only parent concentrations affected ddQTc intervals the metabolite was chosen as a better predictor as often as 1 in 5 times depending on the slope of the relationship between parent concentrations and ddQTc intervals. A correlated covariate can be chosen as being a better predictor than another covariate in a linear or nonlinear population analysis by sheer correlation These results explain why for the same drug different covariates may be identified in different analyses. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solid-state NMR characterization of amphomycin effects on peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid biosyntheses in Staphylococcus aureus.

Amphomycin and MX-2401 are cyclic lipopeptides exhibiting bactericidal activities against Gram-positive pathogens. Amphomycin and MX-2401 share structural similarities with daptomycin, but unlike daptomycin they do not target bacterial membrane. In this study, we investigate in vivo modes of action for amphomycin and MX-2401 in intact whole cells of Staphylococcus aureus by measuring the changes of peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid compositions using solid-state NMR. S. aureus were grown in a defined media containing isotope labels [1-(13)C]glycine and L-[e-(15)N]lysin, L-[1-(13)C]lysine and D-[(15)N]alanine, or D-[1-(13)C]alanine and [(15)N]glycine, to selectively (13)C-(15)N pair label peptidoglycan bridge-link, stem-link, and cross-link, respectively. (13)C{(15)N} and (15)N{(13)C} rotational-echo double resonance NMR measurements determined that cyclic lipopeptide-treated S. aureus exhibited thinning of the cell wall, accumulation of Park's nucleotide, inhibition of glycine utilization for purine biosynthesis, reduction of ester-linked D-Ala in teichoic acids, and reduction of peptidoglycan cross-linking. Whole cell NMR analysis also revealed that S. aureus, in presence of amphomycin and MX-2401, maintained the incorporation of D-Ala during peptidoglycan biosynthesis while the incorporation of D-Ala into teichoic acids was inhibited. These effects are consistent with amphomycin's dual inhibition of both peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid biosyntheses in S. aureus.
Transient Uncertainty Analysis in Solar Thermal System Modeling

Complex, dynamic, computational models are routinely used to evaluate and optimize the design and performance of solar thermal systems. As models become more complex, performing uncertainty analysis on such models can be quite challenging and computationally expensive. This paper presents an effective approach to quantify uncertainties associated with transient simulation results from a dynamic solar thermal energy system model with uncertain parameters. The proposed method utilizes the concept of impulse response and convolution process to estimate the sensitivities to time-varying external inputs. Using this method, the number of simulations required to propagate uncertainties through dynamic models can be significantly reduced. An example is presented throughout the paper to demonstrate the procedure of the proposed uncertainty analysis approach.
Kinetics of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Abstract This review encompasses the fundamentals of kinetics of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). ATRP is a versatile reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) technique, frequently utilized to synthesize advanced functional materials. Detailed mechanistic investigations over the past two decades allowed for an in-depth understanding of the underlying processes and rational design of the reaction conditions. Various aspects of ATRP kinetics are reviewed such as initiation modes, methods allowing to decrease catalyst concentration, influence of the initiator, catalyst (transition metal, ligand, counterion), solvent, additives, type of monomer, and effect of temperature and pressure. Techniques utilized to determine kinetic parameters of catalytic systems are discussed. Finally, guidelines for synthesis of polymers with targeted architectures, predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions, and high retained chain end functionality are presented.
The Birds, the Bees, and Innate Immunity.

The cytoplasm is usually a DNA-free zone, but during fertilization, sperm DNA enters oocyte cytoplasm and could potentially trigger a response. Abe et al. (2017) identify NLRP14 as a germ-cell-specific negative regulator of DNA sensing that may be of particular importance during fertilization.
A W-band SiGe power amplifier with P sat of 23 dBm and PAE of 16.8% at 95GHz

This paper presents a double-stacked four-way combined W-band power amplifier (PA) in 0.13μm SiGe BiCMOS process with 3dB small-signal bandwidth between 86.6–103.3GHz. This chip achieves a saturated power (P sat ) of 23 dBm at a peak PAE of 16.8% at 95 GHz with P sat of more than 21 dBm across 85105 GHz. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the highest efficiency reported for silicon-based PAs at these frequencies with output power greater than 23 dBm. This paper also demonstrates the modulation measurements of constellation schemes QPSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM in the W-Band with data rates up to 12Gbps.
Ankle tenography. A therapeutic imaging modality.

Tenography is a minimally invasive imaging modality in which the synovial sheath surrounding a tendon is opacified with percutaneously administered contrast. Perhaps more appropriately called tenosynoviagraphy , 5 the technique as applied to the sheaths of the ankle tendons was first described by Palmer 4 in 1970 and later refined in 1984. 2,3,6 Since that time, tenography has largely been replaced as a primary imaging modality by ultrasound and MR imaging, modalities that are capable of yielding high-resolution, multiplanar, cross-sectional images of all of the ankle tendons and their surrounding soft tissues. 1 When looked upon as a therapeutic modality, however, tenography is a quick and easily performed method of treating chronic ankle tendon pain that has been recalcitrant to conventional conservative measures, such as splinting and non–weight bearing. After a brief review of the anatomy of the ankle tendons, this article explains in detail the technique for performing ankle tenography. Potential pitfalls, as well as clinical indications and contraindications, are discussed.
Uniform Invariance Principles for Intersection Local Times

Let Sn be a strongly aperiodic stable random walk, i.e. in the domain of attraction of a non-degenerate stable random variable U of index β in R d. $$ \frac{{{S_n}}}{{{b_n}}}\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{_\mathcal{L}} U $$ Thus for some bn which is regularly varying of order β.
Stochastic Source Seeking for Mobile Robots in Obstacle Environments Via the SPSA Method

This paper considers a class of stochastic source-seeking problems to drive a mobile robot to the minimizer of a source signal. Our approach is first analyzed in an obstacle-free scenario, where measurements of the signal at the robot location and information of a contact sensor are required. We extend our results to environments with obstacles under mild assumptions on the step size. Our approach builds on the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation idea to obtain information of the signal field. We prove the practical convergence of the algorithms to a ball whose size depends on the step size that contains the location of the source. The novelty relies in that we consider nondifferentiable convex functions, a fixed step size, and the environment may contain obstacles. Our proof methods employ nonsmooth Lyapunov function theory, tools from convex analysis, and stochastic difference inclusions. Finally, we illustrate the applicability of the proposed algorithms in a two-dimensional scenarios.
A Longitudinal Study of Self-Awareness and Depressed Mood in Adolescence

The relationship between longitudinal variations of self-awareness and depressed mood in 479 adolescents was examined across four waves of data collection over a seven-year period. Self-awareness was significantly associated with depressed mood, and this association was strongest during midadoles-cence. Regression analyses of changes of depressed mood over time suggest mutual influence between self-awareness and depressed mood. Stressful life events, such as pubescent changes and the relationship with significant others, explained variations in self-awareness. Different influences of these life events were important at varying stages of adolescence.
Role of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Intervertebral Disc Formation and Maintenance.

The intervertebral disks (IVD) are an essential component of the spine. Degeneration of the disks, commonly due to age or injury, is a leading cause of chronic lower back pain. Despite its high prevalence, there is no effective treatment for disk disease due to limited understanding of disk at the cellular and molecular level. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of the intracellular developmental pathway sonic hedgehog (Shh) during the formation and postnatal maintenance of the IVD. Recent studies corroborate that the down-regulation of SHH expression is associated with pathological changes in the IVDs and demonstrate the reactivation of the hedgehog pathway as a promising avenue for rescuing disk structure and function. Understanding the role of developmental signaling pathways that regulate disk formation and maintenance may help develop strategies to recapitulate the same mechanism for disk treatment and hence improve the quality and longevity of patient lives.
Optical Chirality Sensing with an Auxiliary‐Free Earth‐Abundant Cobalt Probe

Broadly useful chiroptical enantiomeric excess (ee) sensing remains challenging and typically involves carefully designed molecular receptors or supramolecular assemblies. Herein, we report on the enantioselective sensing of 35 amino acids, amino phosphonic acids, hydroxy acids, amino alcohols, and diamines with an auxiliary-free cobalt probe. Chiroptical analysis of the enantiomeric composition and concentration of minute sample amounts was achieved with high accuracy by using earth-abundant cobalt salts and hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Despite the absence of an auxiliary ligand, the cobalt assay is applicable to aromatic and aliphatic compounds and yields strong CD signals at high wavelengths. This method obviates the general prerequisite for chromophoric metal ligands to generate chiroptical signals through ECCD (exciton-coupled circular dichroism) effects or through analyte-to-ligand chirality induction, and it offers operational simplicity, cost efficiency, waste reduction, and speed.
Neurovascular Coupling in the Dentate Gyrus Regulates Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis.

Summary Newborn dentate granule cells (DGCs) are continuously generated in the adult brain. The mechanism underlying how the adult brain governs hippocampal neurogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated how coupling of pre-existing neurons to the cerebrovascular system regulates hippocampal neurogenesis. Using a new in vivo imaging method in freely moving mice, we found that hippocampus-engaged behaviors, such as exploration in a novel environment, rapidly increased microvascular blood-flow velocity in the dentate gyrus. Importantly, blocking this exploration-elevated blood flow dampened experience-induced hippocampal neurogenesis. By imaging the neurovascular niche in combination with chemogenetic manipulation, we revealed that pre-existing DGCs actively regulated microvascular blood flow. This neurovascular coupling was linked by parvalbumin-expressing interneurons, primarily through nitric-oxide signaling. Further, we showed that insulin growth factor 1 signaling participated in functional hyperemia-induced neurogenesis. Together, our findings revealed a neurovascular coupling network that regulates experience-induced neurogenesis in the adult brain.
Cloud Masking for Landsat 8 and MODIS Terra Over Snow-Covered Terrain: Error Analysis and Spectral Similarity Between Snow and Cloud

Automated, reliable cloud masks over snow-covered terrain would improve the retrieval of snow properties from multispectral satellite sensors. The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA chose the currently operational cloud masks based on global performance across diverse land cover types. This study assesses errors in these cloud masks over snow-covered, midlatitude mountains. We use 26 Landsat 8 scenes with manually delineated cloud, snow, and land cover to assess the performance of two cloud masks: CFMask for the Landsat 8 OLI and the cloud mask that ships with Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance products MOD09GA and MYD09GA. The overall precision and recall of CFMask over snow-covered terrain are 0.70 and 0.86; the MOD09GA cloud mask precision and recall are 0.17 and 0.72. A plausible reason for poorer performance of cloud masks over snow lies in the potential similarity between multispectral signatures of snow and cloud pixels in three situations: (1) Snow at high elevation is bright enough in the "cirrus" bands (Landsat band 9 or MODIS band 26) to be classified as cirrus. (2) Reflectances of "dark" clouds in shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands are bracketed by snow spectra in those wavelengths. (3) Snow as part of a fractional mixture in a pixel with soils sometimes produces "bright SWIR" pixels that look like clouds. Improvement in snow-cloud discrimination in these cases will require more information than just the spectrum of the sensor's bands or will require deployment of a spaceborne imaging spectrometer, which could discriminate between snow and cloud under conditions where a multispectral sensor might not.
Incremental causal effects

Causal evidence is needed to act and it is often enough for the evidence to point towards a direction of the effect of an action. For example, policymakers might be interested in estimating the effect of slightly increasing taxes on private spending across the whole population. We study identifiability and estimation of causal effects, where a continuous treatment is slightly shifted across the whole population (termed average partial effect or incremental causal effect). We show that incremental effects are identified under local ignorability and local overlap assumptions, where exchangeability and positivity only hold in a neighborhood of units. Average treatment effects are not identified under these assumptions. In this case, and under a smoothness condition, the incremental effect can be estimated via the average derivative. Moreover, we prove that in certain finite-sample observational settings, estimating the incremental effect is easier than estimating the average treatment effect in terms of asymptotic variance. For high-dimensional settings, we develop a simple feature transformation that allows for doubly-robust estimation and inference of incremental causal effects. Finally, we compare the behaviour of estimators of the incremental treatment effect and average treatment effect in experiments including data-inspired simulations.