cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU‐GG‐T‐442: Dose Verification of SRS Monte Carlo Plan with a Moving Anthropomorphic Phantom

Purpose: Dose verification of Stereotactic Radiosurgery plan using Monte Carlo for tissue heterogeneity correction with a moving anthropomorphic phantom Method and Materials: An anthropomorphic lung phantom has gold fiducials, TLD capsules and GAFChromic films imbedded in a target in the left lung,TLD capsules are also inserted in heart and cord structures. The phantom was scanned, CT images were sent to Cyberknife Multiplan for planning. Target and critical structures were contoured. A SRS treatment plan with no tissue heterogeneity correction was generated to give 6Gy to 95% of the target, 5.4Gy to 99% of the target, no point > 2cm from target > 3.5Gy, conformai index < 1.2, cord < 1.8Gy, heart < 3Gy, 10% of whole lung < 2Gy. The plan was recalculated with Monte Carlo with 2% uncertainty for tissue heterogeneity correction for dose delivery. During delivery the phantom moved in superior/inferior and anterior/posterior direction, Cyberknife Synchrony tracking system took orthogonal x‐ray images of the phantom while infra‐red camera tracked LED diodes placed on the phantom to track phantom motion in real time. After the fiducials were identified by the tracking program and correlated with the motion of LED diodes, a motion model of the target was built; radiation started with the Cyberknife robot following the predicted target motion and adjusted its position during irradiation. Throughout delivery, the motion model was updated and adjusted with new x‐ray images of the fiducials. Results: Target TLD was 98.3% of Monte Carlodose;heart and cord TLD were within 7% acceptability. Profiles from 3 orthogonal films were displaced L/R 0mm/3mm, P/A 1mm/5mm and I/S 1mm/2mm from treatment plan profiles, within 5mm acceptability. Conclusion: Cyberknife Multiplan with Monte Carlo accurately predicts dose in heterogeneous tissue; Cyberknife Synchrony tracking system delivers dose accurately to a target in a moving phantom.
A novel wood‐binding domain of a wood–plastic coupling agent: Development and characterization

Poly(N-acryloyl dopamine) (PAD) was successfully synthesized through free-radical homopolymerization of N-acryloyl-O,O′-diphenylmethyldopamine and subsequent deprotection. The adhesive ability of PAD to wood was studied in detail. PAD underwent substantial oxidation and crosslinking reactions at about 80°C. Therefore, maple veneer samples bonded with PAD powder at a press temperature of 120°C had high shear strength and high water resistance. In contrast to conventional wood adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins, PAD resulted in an increase, rather than a decrease, in the shear strengths of two-ply laminated maple veneer test specimens that had undergone a water soaking and drying treatment. A mixture of PAD and polyethylenimine (PEI) resulted in much higher shear strength than PAD alone. To achieve high shear strength and high water resistance, the maple specimens bonded with PAD–PEI mixtures had to be cured above 150°C because reactions between PAD and PEI occurred at about 150°C. The water resistance of the maple specimens bonded with the PAD–PEI mixtures was dependent on the PAD:PEI weight ratio and the curing temperature. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1078–1084, 2003
Quantum-well states as fabry-Perot modes in a thin-film electron interferometer

Angle-resolved photoemission from atomically uniform silver films on iron (100) shows quantum-well states for absolutely determined film thicknesses ranging from 1 to ∼100 monolayers. These states can be understood in terms of Fabry-Perot modes in an electron interferometer. A quantitative line shape analysis over the entire two orders of magnitude of thickness range yields an accurate measurement of the band structure, quasiparticle lifetime, electron reflectivity, and phase shift. Effects of confinement energy gap, reflection loss, and surface scattering caused by controlled roughness are demonstrated.
Naturally small Dirac neutrino masses in superstring theories.

We show that a ${\mathrm{Z}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\bigotimes}${\mathrm{Z}}_{3}$ symmetry leads to the radiative generation of naturally small Dirac neutrino masses in a class of superstring theories. This model realizes in a simple and consistent way a recent suggestion by Masiero, Nanopoulos, and Sanda.
Effects of accelerated fractionation on radiation injury of the small intestine: a new rat model

The present study assessed the influence of shortening the overall treatment time (accelerated fractionation) on radiation injury of the small intestine. A rat model which allowed repeated irradiation of a localized segment of small intestine was developed. Young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were orchiectomized, and a loop of the distal ileum was transposed to the left part of the scrotum. The intestinal segment was irradiated with a total dose of 56 Gy, given in 20 fractions, the total treatment time being either 26, 12, or 7 days (i.e. 1, 2, or 3 fractions per day). Radiation injury was assessed by histopathologic examination at 6 hr and at 2 weeks after the last irradiation. The surgical procedure was without complications. Shortening the overall treatment time by giving more than one radiation dose per day resulted in markedly increased injury both at 6 hr and at 2 weeks. It is concluded that accelerated fractionation results in increased radiation injury of the intestine when compared with standard fractionation. Because there may be a relationship between early and late effects in the intestine, our results also indicate that increased late radiation enteropathy may result from accelerated fractionation.
Large photorefractive coupling coefficient in a thin cerium-doped strontium barium niobate crystal

Photorefractive two-beam-coupling coefficients are measured and compared in thin and thick cerium-doped strontium barium niobate crystals fabricated from the same boule. For extraordinary polarization, the thin sample exhibits an intensity coupling coefficient as high as 45 cm−1, whereas the highest coefficient measured in the thick sample is only ~14 cm−1. The measured dependences of two-beam coupling on beam-crossing angle, pump–probe beam ratio, and wavelength are compared in these thin and thick crystals; also, comparisons are made in photorefractive response times and optical absorption. We infer that the measured coupling coefficients in the thin sample are more reliable, and we attribute the reduced coupling coefficients in the thick sample to beam fanning. Beam fanning is incorporated into a coupled-wave theory to predict the reduced coupling coefficients in the thick sample, along with the dependence of the coupling on the pump–probe beam ratio.
Interactive effects in memory for harmonic intervals

Subjects compared the pitches of two temporally separated tones, which were both accompanied by tones of lower pitch. The standard (S) and comparison (C) tones were either identical in pitch or they differed by a semitone. However, the tone accompanying the S tone was always identical in pitch to the tone accompanying the C tone. Thus, when the S and C tones were identical, the intervals formed by the S and C combinations were also identical. When the S and C tones differed, the intervals formed by the S and C combinations also differed. The S and C tones were separated by a retention interval during which six extra tones were interpolated. The tones in the second and fourth serial positions of the interpolated sequence were also accompanied by tones of lower pitch. It was found that when the intervals formed by the interpolated (I) combinations were identical in size to the interval formed by the S combination, errors in pitch recognition judgment were fewer than when the sizes of the intervals formed by the I combinations were chosen at random. When the intervals formed by the I combinations differed in size by a semitone from the interval formed by the S combination, errors in pitch recognition were more numerous than when the sizes of the intervals formed by the I combinations were chosen at random.
Management of thumb metacarpophalangeal ulnar collateral ligament injuries

Untreated ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) can lead to long-term pain and functional limitations.Detection of a UCL injury involves sequential examination of true and accessory ligaments and comparison with the uninjured side.Acute partial UCL injuries can be successfully treated nonoperatively.Acute complete or displaced UCL injuries can be successfully treated with operative repair.In cases of chronic UCL injury, treatment options include static and dynamic reconstructions.If painful arthrosis is present with chronic UCL instability, salvage may be performed with MCPJ fusion.
Factors influencing survival in bilateral breast cancer

One hundred and four patients with bilateral breast cancers, detected clinically, were studied. Patients with synchronous lesions experienced the worst survival. Lymph node metastases in the second mastectomy had obvious adverse effect on survival. The development of scirrhous carcinoma in the second breast did not alter survival. A maximum of 21 patients might have been adversely affected by the development of a second cancer because of lymph node metastases in the second breast only. Survivorship data suggest the adequacy of treatment of contralateral breast cancers when they become detectable by clinical means alone.
Search for black hole ringdown signals in LIGO S4 data

If a coalescing binary system results in a black hole we expect it to be a perturbed Kerr black hole and to radiate gravitational waves in the form of ringdowns. A search for such signals in data from the fourth LIGO science run is currently being developed. In this paper we outline the theory on which this search is based and use it to predict the range for this data set.
Effects of changes in the L-type calcium current on hysteresis in restitution of action potential duration.

Background: Electrical restitution and memory of action potential duration (APD) are considered key determinants of stability of activation. Calcium handling also impacts stability of activation via its modification of the above and independently. We determined the effects of reduction in an important calcium current, ICaL, on hysteresis in restitution of APD, which provides assessment of restitution and memory. Methods: Transmembrane potentials were recorded from isolated ventricular tissues from pigs. The pacing protocols consisted of sequential and oscillatory changes in diastolic intervals (DI). Two protocols were used, one where DIs ranged between 100 and 700 ms and the other where DIs ranged between 10 and 290 ms. Verapamil (2 μM/L) was used to reduce ICaL. From the hysteresis observed in restitution, loop area, thickness, overall tilt, and the maximum and minimum delays between DIs and APDs were calculated to obtain measures of memory and restitution. Results: Restitution during sequential and oscillatory changes in DI displayed hysteresis. All measures of hysteresis decreased after reduction in ICaL. The decreases in area, thickness, and overall tilt were most pronounced (50%, 50%, and 33%). Conclusion: Sequential and oscillatory changes in DIs reveal that while the overall slope of restitution of APD decreases with decrease in ICaL, so do measures of memory. Because slopes and memory are considered to have contrasting effects on stability, our results suggest that predicting effects of alteration in ICaL on stability of activation using slope alone may not be adequate. (PACE 2010; 451–459)
The entropies of topological Markov shifts and a related class of algebraic integers

We give an algebraic characterization of the class of spectral radii of aperiodic non-negative integral matrices, and describe a method of constructing all such matrices with given spectral radius. The logarithms of the numbers in are the entropies of mixing topological Markov shifts. There is an arithmetic structure to , including factorization into irreducibles in only finitely many ways. This arithmetic structure has dynamical consequences, such as the impossibility of factoring the p-shift into a direct product of nontrivial homeomorphisms for prime p.
SELF-CARE EFFECTIVENESS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS

Several researchers have discussed the need to define ''outcomes'' in health care more holistically, particularly from women's health, chronic illness, and self-care perspectives. Interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic illness that primarily affects women, is a poorly understood condition that can produce hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Management of IC usually requires behavioral changes in all life dimensions. Multidimensional health outcomes were examined in a survey of 138 women with IC. Item-item and item-factor correlations were used to identify relationships between indicators of health outcomes and self-reported effectiveness of more than 300 self-care strategies used to manage IC. The effectiveness of behavioral and cognitive self-care strategies correlated differentially with dimensions of health. Uncertainty correlated most strongly with the quality of relationships with health care providers. Psychiatric nurses are well prepared to address the complex body-mind phenomena of IC, promoting ef...
High-Pressure Studies in the System MgO--SiO2 and the Constitution of the Upper Mantle: ABSTRACT

The compositions MgO·SiO2 (enstatite) and 2MgO·SiO2 (forsterite) were studied over the pressure range 20 to 130 kilobars at temperatures between 500° and 1,200°C. This pressure range corresponds with depths of about 75-400 km. which include part of the 200-900-km. seismic discontinuity zone in the upper mantle. Orthoenstatite is the high-pressure high-temperature polymorph, and clinoenstatite is the high-pressure low-temperature polymorph. The equilibrium boundary for the orthoenstatite-clinoenstatite transition intersects the temperature axis at 540°C.; at 100 kb the equilibrium temperature is 870°C. At 115 kb and 600°C. clinoenstatite breaks down to forsterite plus stishovite. Forsterite is stable to at least 130 kb. The experimental results: (1) support Birch's (1952) hypothesis that the inhomogeneous region in the upper mantle is due to pressure-dependent phase transformations; (2) confirm Ringwood's predictions that (a) enstatite breaks down to forsterite plus stishovite at about 120 kb, and (b) higher pressures are required for the forsterite-spinel inversion; (3) explain, when coupled with the results of Bowen and Tuttle (1949) on the system MgO--SiO2--H2O, the absence of clinoenstatite in terrestrial rocks and its occurrence in meteorites; and (4) explain the experimental results of Turner, Heard, and Griggs (1960) which show that orthoenstatite may be transformed to clinoenstatite by deformation; the latter exemplifies the Becke concept of shear-induced diaphthoresis. End_of_Article - Last_Page 546------------
Syntactic Complexity in Ambiguity Resolution

This article presents two self-paced reading experiments which investigate the role of storage costs associated with maintaining incomplete syntactic dependencies in structural ambiguity resolution. We argue that previous work has been equivocal regarding syntactic influences because it has examined ambiguities where there is little or no resource differential between competing alternatives. The candidate structures of the ambiguities explored here incur substantially different storage costs. The results indicate that storage-based biases can be sufficiently powerful to create difficulty for a structural alternative even when it is promoted by nonsyntactic factors. These findings are incorporated into a model of ambiguity resolution in which structural biases operate as independent graded constraints in selecting between structural alternatives.
Reviews, Catalogs, & New Publications

Mary Douglas. ed. 1987 Constructive Drinking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 22.7 cm. 15 cm, 291 pp., index, individual bibliography for each paper. ISBN 0-521-33504-3 hardback.
Prediction of Merits of Potential Matings from Sire-Maternal Grandsire Models with Nonadditive Genetic Effects

Abstract Models for BLUP of matings under a nonadditive genetic model were derived for two equivalent models. These models were, first, an animal model with missing data on dams and, second, a sire-maternal grandsire model. The second model results in a marked decrease in the order of the mixed model equations and produces predictions identical to those of the animal model. The sire-maternal grandsire model first predicts merits of mating groups. Then a back solution can be used to predict individuals within mating groups. Also, minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimation for the sire-maternal grandsire model was found to produce the same estimates as those obtained employing the animal model for minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimation.
The Pitfalls Of Multiple Dummy Variables In A Regression

This study reports long-been-neglected pitfalls when using multiple dummy variables in a regression model. We conduct simulation analysis to explain the mathematical meaning of a product term of two dummy variables, and find that the interaction dummy term indicates only the extra contribution, not the additive contribution of two dummies. The results suggest that testing and estimating interaction effects of dummy variables are not meaningful, and that dummy variable techniques should be handled carefully when introducing two or more dummies in a multiple regression model.
Paraganglioma—Role of preoperative evaluation and endovascular embolization

An understanding of the vascular architecture of paragangliomas can aid in both diagnosis and treatment. There is a growing role for vascular evaluation and intervention of these highly vascular tumors. This article addresses the specifics of the vasculature of paragangliomas, with focus on preoperative imaging, preoperative balloon test occlusion and endovascular embolization. The authors present both common and improvised techniques.
Stage IV EGFR Mutation-Negative and ALK Mutation-Negative Lung Adenocarcinoma: Long-Term Survival is Possible

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States with a five-year survival of 16.8% for all stages and median survival of four months for Stage IV disease. We report a case of a 54-year-old male with a seven-year survival after being diagnosed with Stage IV epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-negative and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation-negative adenocarcinoma of the lung, demonstrating an exceptional response to treatment.
In Vivo Behavior of Revertants from Staphylococcus aureus L-Phase Variants Compared with the Parent Strain

The in vivo behavior of revertants of Staphylococcus aureus L-phase variants were studied in mice. The Giorgio strain of S. aureus was induced into L-phase variants by methicillin. After 13 serial passages in methicillin agar and six passages in antibiotic-free agar, reversion occurred. Six revertants, all phage untypable, coagulase negative, and mannitol negative, were inoculated intravenously into Swiss albino mice in comparison with the parent strain. Inoculation of 108 colony-forming units resulted in 38% mortality at 28 days for the Giorgio group and 0 to 2% for the revertants. The geometric mean titer of staphylococci in the kidneys was 3.5 × 105 for the Giorgio group and 0.5 × 100 to 1.0 × 102 for the revertants. Serial colony counts of blood, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys in mice inoculated with 107 colony-forming units showed faster clearance and failure of the revertant to colonize the kidneys. It is concluded that the in vivo behavior of the L-phase revertants was vastly different from that of the parent Giorgio strain.
Protein dynamics are influenced by the order of ligand binding to an antibiotic resistance enzyme.

The aminoglycoside N3 acetyltransferase-IIIb (AAC) is responsible for conferring bacterial resistance to a variety of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses revealed a surprising result; the dynamics of the ternary complex between AAC and its two ligands, an antibiotic and coenzyme A, are dependent upon the order in which the ligands are bound. Additionally, two structurally similar aminoglycosides, neomycin and paromomycin, induce strikingly different dynamic properties when they are in their ternary complexes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a system in which two identically productive pathways of forming a simple ternary complex yield significant differences in dynamic properties. These observations emphasize the importance of the sequence of events in achieving optimal protein–ligand interactions and demonstrate that even a minor difference in molecular structure can have a profound effect on biochemical proc...
Effects of Thoracic Spinal Exercise Program in VDT Workers: Pain Relief and Increased Flexibility

2 ) Objectives: The purpose of this study of the Thoracic Spinal Exercise Program was to evalu - ate its effects on VDT workers. These effects were found to include a decrease thoracic kypho - sis, increase thoracic spine mobility and decrease in the VAS (visual analog scale). These mea - sures provide a means of assessing the muscle endurance and muscle strength of the subjects. Methods: This study was conducted during the period from July 1 to August 31, 2003, and involved 58 VDT workers belonging to a company located in Seoul who were working seated in front of a computer for most of the day. After applying the thoracic exercise program, we examined the changes in the of thoracic kyphosis angle, spinal length (C7-S3), TFED (thoracic flexibility in the extension direction), MEBH (maximal elevation with both hands in the over - head direction) and CE (chest expansion). Results: Obtained from this study are as follows. 1. A significant reduction in the VAS was observed in the exercise group (pre-exercise 5.90 ±0.88 points, post-exercise 4.23±0.82 points), as compared with the control group (pre-exer - cise 6.00±0.90 points, post-exercise 5.93±0.81 points). 2. A significant reduction in thoracic kyphosis (pre-exercise 36.97±7.49, post-exercise 31.83 ±5.90) and a significant increase in thoracic flexibility in the extension direction (pre-exercise 7 . 4 7±2.30, post-exercise 11.77±3.65) were observed in the exercise group. The thoracic
Research of mapping method based on structure between heterogeneous data model

The size of the gap between source model and target model has a profound impact on the efforts to create mapping rules.A model mapping approach based on structure is proposed on the basis of abstractly analyzing the characteristic of the structure of models,using a tree structure to describe the model and through calculate the similarity to find the mapping relations of models.This approach can make data integration between heterogeneous data model come true beyond compare,it can not only to be a theoretical guidance for model transformation,but also can be a measurement for validating the mapping rules between models.
Correlation of immunologic and nutritional status with infectious complications after major abdominal trauma.

Examination of the response of injured patients' lymphocytes to the mitogen phytohemagglutin in a defined medium provides a mechanism to define the relationship between alteration in immune function and septic complications. Lymphocytes from 30 victims of gunshot wounds to the abdomen were examined. Response to mitogen was measured by incorporation of [3H]-thymidine as a function of lymphocyte concentration, with a constant amount of mitogen phytohemagglutinin and a standard incubation period. A saturation curve was obtained, and lymphocyte response was expressed as the concentration necessary for half-maximal incorporation of radioactive label, L1/2. Lymphocyte transformation was compared with that found in a group of 50 healthy volunteers. On arrival in the emergency center, the in vitro lymphocyte response of patients was markedly diminished. There were seven patients for whom a lymphocyte curve could not be generated, i.e., L1/2 greater than 1 X 10(6). For the other 23 patients, L1/2 = 4.75 X 10(5) (SEM - 7.5 X 10(4)) compared with L1/2 = 1.5 X 10(5) (SEM - 5 X 10(4)) for normal volunteers (p less than 0.01). Measurement of skin test response, white blood cell count, anthropometric measurements, and albumin level were not predictive of patient course. In contrast the in vitro lymphocyte viability corresponded to the degree of injury, and recovery of lymphocyte function was associated with improvement in the patient's clinical course.
Purification of Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cells

The ability to perform biological studies on Natural Killer (NK) cells requires effective methods for their isolation from hematopoietic cells of other lineages. NK cells are a discrete lymphocyte subset distinguishable from B- and T-lymphocytes on the basis of both physical and phenotypic characteristics that can be exploited for then purification. Techniques based on differential cell buoyancy (centrifugation on discontinuous density gradients, such as Percoll [1]) have been used to enrich NK cells from mixed lymphocyte populations, but do not allow purification of these cells to homogeneity. The mononuclear cell suspensions obtained, although enriched in NK cells, also contain variable proportions of other cell types (notably monocytes and/or activated T- and B-lymphocytes) (2) and subsets of NK cells of higher density are lost in these preparations.
Following the Money: Lessons from the Panama Papers, Part 1: Tip of the Iceberg

Widely known as the “Panama Papers,” the world’s largest whistleblower case to date consists of 11.5 million documents and involves a year-long effort by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists to expose a global pattern of crime and corruption where millions of documents capture heads of state, criminals and celebrities using secret hideaways in tax havens. Involving the scrutiny by over 400 journalists worldwide, these documents reveal the offshore holdings of at least several hundred politicians and public officials, including the prime ministers of Iceland and Pakistan, the president of Ukraine, and the King of Saudi Arabia. More than 214,000 offshore entities appear in the leak, connected to people in more than 200 countries and territories.Since these disclosures became public, national security implications already include abrupt regime change, and probable future political instability. It appears likely that important revelations obtained from these data will continue to be forthcoming for years to come. Presented here is Part 1 of what may ultimately constitute numerous-installment coverage of this important inquiry into the illicit wealth derived from bribery, corruption, and tax evasion. This article proceeds as follows. First, disclosures regarding the treasure trove of documents from the Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca are reviewed. Second, is a discussion of the impact and cost of bribery and corruption to the global community. Third, I define and briefly explore issues surrounding “tax evasion.” Fourth, the impact of social media and technological change on transparency is discussed. Next, a few thoughts about implications for future research are offered.
The Conundrum of Un-Free Trade

Article discussing free trade. Free trade may be an attractive idea, but current trade conditions are clearly not free.
Enhanced follicular recruitment in an in vitro fertilization program: clomiphene alone versus a clomiphene/human menopausal gonadotropin combination.

In an attempt to improve the pregnancy rate following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer by increasing the numbers of embryos available for transfer to each patient, a prospective, randomized comparison of clomiphene citrate alone (50mg/day, cycle days 5 to 9) with the combination of clomiphene as above plus human menopausal gonadotropin (2ampules/day, cycle days 6, 8, and 10) was undertaken from January through April 1983, with 17 patients in each group. The combination produced increased follicular development, compared with clomiphene alone, resulting in the retrieval of more fertilizable oocytes. Two clinical pregnancies resulted in each group. These results show that a fixed combination of clomiphene and human menopausal gonadotropin produces a greater degree of enhanced follicular recruitment, resulting in the recovery of an increased number of fertilizable oocytes. The lack of a statistically significant increase in the number of embryos transferred per patient in the combination group as well as the identical number of clinical pregnancies in both groups suggests that this particular combination of clomiphene and human menopausal gonadotropin offers no advantage over the use of clomiphene alone for enhanced follicular recruitment.
Some Insights into the Effective Promotion of Gift Certificates: Behavior and Media Characteristics of Department Store Gift Certificate Purchasers

Gift certificates are a potentially profitable element in the product mix of the retailer. This research extends knowledge about gift giving behavior and provides department store managers with insights into effectively promoting gift certificates.
Relationships, Being-ness, and Voice: Exploring Multiple Dimensions of Humanizing Work with Black Girls

ABSTRACTThis work argues for an approach to research and education practices that considers the historically deficit-based research practices and views on Black girls and develops humanizing research methods that consider the multiple oppressions that act as barriers for this group. Research must acknowledge the precarious position of Black girls in order to adequately address their needs and inform policy around Black girl achievement. We contend, along with Ruth Nicole Brown (2009), that the research process needs to celebrate Black girls as much as it works to relieve the social, political, and economic challenges they navigate. Through a series of vignettes, the authors explain how relationships, a regard for being, and voice offer methods for humanizing educational research with Black girls.
Exploring the Moderating Effects of Cognitive Abilities on Social Competence Intervention Outcomes.

Many populations served by special education, including those identified with autism, emotional impairments, or students identified as not ready to learn, experience social competence deficits. The Social Competence Intervention-Adolescents’ (SCI-A) methods, content, and materials were designed to be maximally pertinent and applicable to the social competence needs of early adolescents (i.e., age 11-14 years) identified as having scholastic potential but experiencing significant social competence deficits. Given the importance of establishing intervention efficacy, the current paper highlights the results from a four-year cluster randomized trial (CRT) to examine the efficacy of SCI-A (n = 146 students) relative to Business As Usual (n = 123 students) school-based programming. Educational personnel delivered all programming including both intervention and BAU conditions. Student functioning was assessed across multiple time points, including pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Outcomes of interest included...
Provenance-Directed Chase&Backchase

The Chase&Backchase algorithm for rewriting queries using views is based on constructing a canonical rewriting candidate called a universal plan (during the chase phase), then chasing its exponentially many subqueries in search for minimal rewritings (during the backchase phase). We show that the backchase phase can be sped up significantly if we instrument the standard chase to maintain provenance information. The particular provenance flavor required is known as minimal why-provenance in the literature, and it can be computed by exploiting the analogy between a chase step execution and query evaluation.
What is the cause of this synchronous palpable abdominal mass in a woman recently diagnosed with lung cancer as demonstrated in Figure 1

Key Clinical Message Colonic metastases from lung cancer are rare [1, 2]. Presentation of an abdominal mass in the setting of a new lung cancer diagnosis should prompt complete evaluation including endoscopic and CT imaging. This case also highlights the need for immunohistochemical analysis of unusual tumor deposits facilitating appropriate treatment.
Catalytic Systems for the Production of Poly(lactic acid)

Different ways of synthesizing poly(lactic acid) are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the development of various catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide, which has become the most common way to access high molecular weight poly(lactic acid). To complement a survey of the best catalysts for this reaction, we discuss the different mechanisms by which these complexes catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of lactide. The chapter concludes with a description of the methods used for stereoselective polymerization of lactide.
Navigating Chance: Statistics, Empire, and Agency in R. L. Stevenson’s Treasure Island

By all accounts, the dashing adventure in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is a success. Having risked life and limb against piracy and the high seas, the adventurers discover an immense fo...
Role of Robotics in the Management of Infertility

The relatively new field of robotic surgery is being used to manage a number of conditions related to female infertility.
Update on Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

This review presents a critical appraisal of current therapeutic strategies for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We present the reader with the most recent evidence to support medical and surgical interventions in patients with IIH and provide recommendations about treatment initiation and escalation. We also indicate areas where knowledge gaps exist regarding therapeutic efficacy and superiority of one intervention over another. A double-masked, randomized prospective study of medical management of patients with mild IIH (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial—IIHTT) has established that acetazolamide therapy has additional efficacy when compared to weight loss alone. Furthermore, management of IIH-related headache, even in patients with papilledema, may require treatment other than ICP lowering for patients to experience symptomatic relief. Finally, a number of uncontrolled interventional studies have shown transverse sinus stenting to be a potentially effective treatment for medically refractory IIH. Medical therapy with acetazolamide should be considered in addition to structured weight loss in patients with mild IIH. Surgical treatment for patients with vision-threatening disease IIH can be performed by either optic nerve sheath fenestration or cerebrospinal fluid diversion, with venous sinus stenting emerging as an alternate therapy. Headache relief from ICP lowering therapy is variable and often not sustained.
Conclusion: Iran’s Non-State Foreign Policy and the Shah’s Legacy

Iran’s non-state foreign policy under the Shah’s rule had huge ramifications for the Middle Eastern power arrangement. The Shah built Iran’s strategic connections with the Iraqi Kurds and the Lebanese Shia to contain geopolitical and geocultural threats against Iran’s national integrity and security. At the same time, a deep institutional politics in Iran intervened in the trajectory and fate of these connections. Iran’s non-state foreign policy in the period of 1958–79 also shows the durability and continuity of geographical and historical forces in the future path(s) for the geopolitics of the Middle East and its regional balance of power. “We are in a really terrible situation since Moscow’s twin pincers coming down through Kabul and Baghdad surround us,” the Shah shared his concern with Alam.
High-Pressure Studies of Cesium Uranyl Chloride

The pressure behavior of crystalline Cs2UO2Cl4 has been explored using a diamond anvil cell. The uranyl fluorescence intensity decreases dramatically with increasing pressure. Using the O–U–O symmetric stretching frequency, an apparent linear decrease in bond length with increasing pressure was observed. A linear decrease in fluorescence intensity with increasing pressure was attributed to a large growth in the nonradiative relaxation, likely attributed to increased relaxation through phonon modes. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules calculations and ab initio wave function methods (CASSCF) support the U≡O bond in UO22+ being highly sensitive to the bond distance, but negligibly affected by the U–Cl bond length.
Isolated Precocious Puberty

Incomplete or isolated precocious puberty is defined as partial sexual development that is transient and occurring in the absence of other stigmata of puberty. It encompasses isolated breast development (premature thelarche), isolated pubic hair appearance (premature adrenarche or pubarche), and isolated uterine bleeding (premature menarche). Isolated pubertal signs may be seen in prepubertal girls 1–4 % of the time. The major underlying theme in the setting of isolated pubertal signs includes an absence of increased linear growth or advanced skeletal maturation. In addition, baseline hormonal values are typically within the normal range for age and sexual development. There may be slow progression, stabilization, or waning over the course of time following the diagnosis of isolated precocious puberty. It is important to recognize the condition and follow up at appropriate intervals as approximately 20–30 % of cases may progress to central precocity. Nonetheless, 2/3 of patients will not progress and eventually experience puberty and growth at the normal expected time without sequelae.
Two-Point Frequency Shift Method for Shear Wave Attenuation Measurement

Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is an increasingly used noninvasive modality for quantitative evaluation of tissue mechanical properties. SWE typically uses an acoustic radiation force to produce laterally propagating shear waves that are tracked in the spatial and temporal domains, in order to obtain the wave velocity. One of the ways to study the viscoelasticity is through studying the shear wave phase velocity dispersion curves. Shear wave attenuation can be also characterized in viscoelastic tissues with methods that use multiple lateral data samples. In this article, we present an alternative method for measuring the shear wave attenuation without using a rheological model two-point frequency shift (2P-FS). The technique uses information related to the amplitude spectra FS of shear waves measured at only two lateral locations. The theoretical basis for the 2P-FS is derived and validated. We examined how the first signal position and the distance between the two locations affect the shear wave attenuation estimation in the 2P-FS method. We tested this new method on digital phantom data created using the local interaction simulation approach (LISA) in viscoelastic media. Moreover, we tested data acquired from custom-made tissue-mimicking viscoelastic phantom experiments and ex vivo porcine liver measurements. We compared results from the 2P-FS method with the other two techniques used for assessing a shear wave attenuation: the FS-based method and the attenuation-measuring ultrasound shear wave elastography (AMUSE) technique. In addition, we evaluated the 2P-FS algorithm with different levels of added white Gaussian noise to the shear wave particle velocity using numerical phantoms. Tests conducted showed that the 2P-FS method gives robust results based on only two measurements and can be used to measure attenuation of viscoelastic soft tissues.
Cognitive process scores associated with self-reported behavioral dysfunction on the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) in chronic traumatic brain injury.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often experience long-term cognitive impairment that affects daily functioning, but neuropsychological tests are often not associ...
Smcr8 deficiency disrupts axonal transport-dependent lysosomal function and promotes axonal swellings and gain of toxicity in C9ALS/FTD mouse models

G4C2 repeat expansions in an intron of C9ORF72 cause the most common familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (collectively, C9ALS/FTD). Mechanisms and mediators of C9ALS/FTD pathogenesis remain poorly understood. C9orf72 and Smcr8 form a protein complex. Here, we show that expression of Smcr8, like C9orf72, is reduced in C9ALS/FTD mouse models and patient tissues. Since Smcr8 is highly conserved between human and mouse, we evaluated the effects of Smcr8 downregulation in mice. Smcr8 knockout (KO) mice exhibited motor behavior deficits, which resemble those of C9ALS/FTD mouse models, and displayed axonal swellings in their spinal cords and neuromuscular junctions. These deficits are caused by impaired autophagy-lysosomal functions due to disrupted axonal transport in mutant motor neurons. Consistent with its interaction with C9orf72 and their downregulation in patient tissues, Smcr8 deficiency exacerbated autophagy-lysosomal impairment in C9orf72 KO mice. The disease relevance of Smcr8 downregulation was reflected by exacerbated axonal swellings and gain of toxicity pathology arising from Smcr8 haploinsufficiency in a mouse model of C9ALS/FTD. Thus, our in vivo studies suggested that Smcr8 deficiency impairs axonal transport dependent autophagy-lysosomal function and exacerbates axonal degeneration and gain of toxicity in C9ALS/FTD mouse models.
Behavioral Evaluation of Angelman Syndrome Mice at Older Ages

Abstract Angelman syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder presenting with severe deficits in motor, speech, and cognitive abilities. The primary genetic cause of Angelman syndrome is a maternally transmitted mutation in the Ube3a gene, which has been successfully modeled in Ube3a mutant mice. Phenotypes have been extensively reported in young adult Ube3a mice. Because symptoms continue throughout life in Angelman syndrome, we tested multiple behavioral phenotypes of male Ube3a mice and WT littermate controls at older adult ages. Social behaviors on both the 3-chambered social approach and male–female social interaction tests showed impairments in Ube3a at 12 months of age. Anxiety-related scores on both the elevated plus-maze and the light ↔ dark transitions assays indicated anxiety-like phenotypes in 12 month old Ube3a mice. Open field locomotion parameters were consistently lower at 12 months. Reduced general exploratory locomotion at this age prevented the interpretation of an anxiety-like phenotype, and likely impacted social tasks. Robust phenotypes in middle-aged Ube3a mice appear to result from continued motor decline. Motor deficits may provide the best outcome measures for preclinical testing of pharmacological targets, towards reductions of symptoms in adults with Angelman syndrome.
The Continuing Calculator Controversy.

To use or not to use calculators in the elementary school classroom? That seems to be a question as controversial now as it was in 1975 when the National Advisory Committee on Mathematical Education offered the following advice: "beginning no later than the end of the eighth grade, a calculator should be available for each mathematics student during each mathematics class. Each student should be permitted to use the calculator during all of his or her mathematical work including tests." In An Agenda for Action (1980), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommended that "mathematics programs must take full advantage of the power of calculators and computers at all grade levels." This recommendation was reaffirmed by the NCTM in a position statement (Calculators in the Mathematics Classroom, April 1986) with the further call "that publishers, authors, and test writers integrate the use of the calculator into their mathematics materials at all levels." Despite the strength of these recommendations, some have expressed sharp disagreement with the idea of using calculators in the elementary classroom. One particularly outspoken critic of these recommendations has been John Saxon, who is probably best known for his writing and promotion of a series of alternative high
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Neurology and Neuro-Ophthalmology

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a recent advancement in retinal imaging that uses high-speed OCT and advanced processing algorithms to generate en face angiographic images of the retinal and choroidal microcirculation, utilizing the non-invasive motion-contrast of intra-luminal erythrocyte flow. This chapter offers a review of the recent translational and clinical applications of OCT-A in the fields of neurology and neuro-ophthalmology, focusing on non-glaucomatous optic neuropathies and other central neurological disorders.
Documenting growth parameters and age in Arctic fish species in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas

Abstract Basic life history parameters of Arctic fishes have not been well characterized for many species in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Increasing environmental and anthropogenic changes in the Arctic may impact the biology of Arctic fishes and can best be evaluated if a benchmark is available against which to evaluate future changes in the biology of Arctic fishes. We used data from over 45,000 individual fishes to determine the length and weight relationships of 28 species, and further determined ages of 17 species of Arctic fishes. Specimens that we captured in the Pacific Arctic tended to be small in size, often less than 300 mm, and generally showed positive allometric growth. Despite their small sizes, individuals of some species, especially in Agonidae, Zoarcidae and Stichaeidae, were long-lived, reaching ages of up to 26 years. In the Chukchi Sea, individuals were shorter-lived and tended to be larger and longer-at-age. In contrast, the species that lived longer than a decade reached their maximum ages in the Beaufort Sea. While these long-lived species were smaller at age in the Beaufort Sea, they ultimately reached a greater maximum age than their Chukchi Sea conspecifics. Growth variation can have a large effect on management reference points, and understanding species-specific parameters would be required before any management action is considered, as mandated in the 2009 U.S. Arctic Fisheries Management Plan.
High Bandwidth Low Power 2.5D Interconnect Modeling and Design

The 2.5D interconnect modeling methodologies are investigated in this work. 3D models of silicon interposer with various port settings are discussed and compared with 2D model. With preferred port setting and modeling methodology, the 2D model and 3D model show good correlation in the die to die interconnect model, with less than 5% difference for resistance and capacitance. 3D model gives more realistic inductance which is about 30% to 40% worse than the 2D model. Example designs of 3-layer silicon interposer with different inter layer distance and line configurations (staggered vs. stacked) are presented to show how the geometry variation affects field distribution and crosstalk. The staggered layer to layer line routing and stacked routing configurations show similar resistance, self-inductance, capacitance and aggregated crosstalk results, while the crosstalk distribution is different. 3D modeling of via break out region with non-ideal ground path is also studied here, in order to understand the crosstalk contribution from the line and from the via. The overall modeling and design process described in this paper are aimed to provide a guidance on model and port setting, and to determine physical design trade off for high I/O density 2.5D interconnect design.