cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION FOR DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY STUDIES INVOLVING BINORMAL ROC CURVE INDICES

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and their associated indices are valuable tools for the assessment of the accuracy of diagnostic tests. The area under the ROC curve is a popular summary measure of the accuracy of a test. The full area under the ROC curve, however, has been criticized because it gives equal weight to all false positive error rates. Alternative indices include the area under the ROC curve in a particular range of false positive rates ('partial' area) and the sensitivity of the test for a single fixed false positive rate (FPR). We present a unified approach for computing sample size for binormal ROC curves and their indices. Our method uses Taylor series expansions to derive approximate large-sample estimates of the variance and covariance of binormal ROC curve parameters. Several examples from diagnostic radiology illustrate the proposed method.
Dynamic scalable visualization for collaborative scientific applications

Science disciplines are experiencing a data avalanche. As a result, scientific research is limited by data analysis and visualization capabilities. We have been working closely with genomic and plasma physics researchers on effective data visualization software tools. This paper reports our research on developing software tools for high-resolution display walls to alleviate the current limitation on visualization resolution and single-user window system. In the first case, we developed a novel data visualization tools for genomic data visualization that is dynamic and scale free. In the second case, we have developed a multi-cursor window system for shared data visualization for a collaborative environment. We have deployed both software tools to the scientific researchers. Our initial feedbacks show that these approaches have made significant impact on their productivity.
(Invited) Cost-Effective Layer Transfer by Controlled Spalling Technology

Although historically studied as a failure mode, substrate spalling can be transformed into a versatile layer transfer method by carefully controlling the thickness and intrinsic stress of a surface layer, and mechanically guiding the fracture path. This Controlled Spalling process requires no specialized equipment and can be applied to essentially any brittle substrate. We have successfully demonstrated i) device fabrication in Si, Ge, and III-V based materials, ii) removal of fully-processed CMOS circuits, iii) kerf-free ingot slicing, iv) 300 mm diameter layer transfer and v) a wide range of other materials such as GaN grown on sapphire.
Expression of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor and the Neurotrophins – Nerve Growth Factor, Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Neurotrophin 3—in Cultured Rat Hippocampal Astrocytes

Cultured astrocytes are known to possess a range of neurotrophic activities in culture. In order to examine which factors may be responsible for these activities, we have examined the expression of the genes for four known neurotrophic factors-ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 3 (NT3)-in purified astrocyte cultures derived from neonatal rat hippocampus. Hippocampal astrocytes were found to express mRNA for three neurotrophic factors-CNTF, NGF and NT3-at significantly higher levels than other cultured cell types or cell lines examined. BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA), however, was undetectable in these astrocytes. The levels of CNTF, NGF and NT3 mRNA in astrocytes were largely unaffected by their degree of confluency, while serum removal caused only a transient decrease in mRNA levels, which returned to basal levels within 48 h. Astrocyte-derived CNTF was found to comigrate with recombinant rat CNTF at 23 kD on a Western blot. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed strong CNTF immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm of astrocytes, weak staining in the nucleus, but no CNTF at the cell surface. NGF and NT3 were undetectable immunocytochemically. CNTF-like activity, as assessed by bioassay on ciliary ganglion neurons, was found in the extract of cultured astrocytes but not in conditioned medium, whereas astrocyte-conditioned medium supported survival of dorsal root ganglion neurons but not ciliary or nodose ganglion neurons. This conditioned medium activity was neutralized with antibodies to NGF. Astrocyte extract also supported survival of dorsal root ganglion and nodose ganglion neurons, but these activities were not blocked by anti-NGF. Part, but not all, of the activity in astrocyte extracts which sustained nodose ganglion neurons could be attributed to CNTF.
Integration of student-health physicians into U.S. medical schools and their affiliated teaching hospitals.

PURPOSE To determine whether physicians in the student health services (SHSs) at U.S. medical schools and their affiliated teaching hospitals, referred to here as academic medical centers (AMCs), have unique opportunities for integration into AMCs that do not exist for physician-faculty at SHSs on purely academic campuses. METHOD A survey of SHS offices at the 124 U.S. medical schools was conducted in the spring of 1999. The questionnaire asked about the reporting relationships of the SHS within the AMC, whether the student-health physicians had academic appointments within the AMC, and whether these physicians participated in the AMC's clinical services, administration, research, or teaching activities. RESULTS There were 116 (94%) responses (not all responses were complete and eight were excluded because their campuses offered no formal SHS). Approximately half of the SHSs (52/107, 49%) reported to their AMCs. Student-health physicians with career-track appointments were more likely to be found at SHSs reporting to AMCs (35/58, 60%) than at SHSs reporting solely to a division of student affairs (20/58, 34%). Having a career-track appointment increased the likelihood of the student-health physicians' attending on the wards (34/59, 58%), seeing private patients in an AMC's faculty practice (40/59, 68%), participating in administrative activities for an AMC (50/56, 89%), and participating in research activities (36/57, 63%). CONCLUSIONS Student health services that reported to their AMCs were more likely to have faculty with career-track appointments, and these appointments were more likely to result in the integration of student-health physicians into their AMC's clinical services, administration, and research activities. Career-track appointments, however, had no influence on whether teaching activities occurred within the SHS. Fully integrating student-health physicians into the AMC's activities enhances outcomes for both the SHS and its AMC.
Genetic ancestry of participants in the National Children's Study.

Background The National Children’s Study (NCS) is a prospective epidemiological study in the USA tasked with identifying a nationally representative sample of 100,000 children, and following them from their gestation until they are 21 years of age. The objective of the study is to measure environmental and genetic influences on growth, development, and health. Determination of the ancestry of these NCS participants is important for assessing the diversity of study participants and for examining the effect of ancestry on various health outcomes.
Some results on the size of sum and product sets of finite sets of real numbers

Let A and B be finite subsets of positive real numbers. Solymosi gave the sumproduct estimate max.jAC Aj;jA Aj/ .4dlogjAje/ 1=3 jAj 4=3 , whered e is the ceiling function. We use a variant of his argument to give the bound max.jAC Bj;jA Bj/ .4dlogjAjedlogjBje/ 1=3 jAj 2=3 jBj 2=3 : (This isn’t quite a generalization since the logarithmic losses are worse here than in Solymosi’s bound.) Suppose that A is a finite subset of real numbers. We show that there exists an a2 A such thatja AC Aj cjAj 4=3 for some absolute constant c.
On the diversity of cooperative systems

The paper addresses some of the opportunities and the challenges that could arise in the design and analysis of multi-hop systems that utilize cooperation among several intermediate regenerative relays to provide reliable high-quality communication between a source and a destination. This mode of communication can be viewed as a network-embedded distributed, or extended MIMO system. Using the infrastructure provided by the uplink cellular system, we develop and analyze a distributed space-time coding (DSTC) system based on the Alamouti design. We show that with limited feedback from the base station, a DSTC system with two relays, which act as tetherless antennae, is able to induce and collect diversity in a distributed MIMO setup.
Identification of the Bovine Follicular Fluid Protein Involved in the in vitro Induction of the Hamster Sperm Acrosome Reaction

Biochemical techniques were used to purify and identify the bovine follicular fluid protein involved in the in vitro induction of the acrosome reaction of hamster sperm. A follicular fluid protein fraction obtained by means of Sephadex G-1 50 and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography, when combined with an Amicon XM-50 follicular fluid ultrafiltrate containing a motility factor, stimulated the acrosome reaction as effectively as intact follicular fluid. Further purification of the effective protein fraction by trichloroacetic acid precipitation and ethanol solubilization resulted in a highly purified preparation of serum albumin as identified by SDS disc-gel electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. This highly purified albumin retains its full ability to induce the acrosome reaction in the presence of the XM-50 ultrafiltrate. The acrosome reaction inducing effectiveness of the albumin was dependent on its concentration. Similar treatment with trichloroacetic acid and ethanol further purified a crystalline bovine serum albumin to immunoelectrophoretic homogeneity and greatly increased its acrosome reaction inducing ability. This is the first demonstration that an appropriate treatment can greatly increase the acrosome reaction inducing ability of a serum albumin which was previously a poor inducer of acrosome reactions. The results presented in this paper indicate that albumin is the bovine follicular fluid protein involved in the in vitro induction of the hamster sperm acrosome reaction. The mechanism of action of albumin and/or its ligands in the acrosome reaction remains to be determined, but the mechanism appears to be more than just the maintenance of sperm viability and to require the presence of a sperm motility factor for optimal results.
Solar forcing of Holocene climate: New insights from a speleothem record, southwestern United States

Holocene climate change has likely had a profound infl uence on ecosystems and culture. A link between solar forcing and Holocene climate, such as the Asian monsoon, has been shown for some regions, although no mechanism for this relationship has been suggested. Here we present the fi rst high-resolution complete Holocene climate record for the North American monsoon region of the southwestern United States (southwest) in order to address the nature and causes of Holocene climate change. We show that periods of increased solar radiation correlate with decreased rainfall, the opposite to that observed in the Asian monsoon, and suggest that a solar link to Holocene climate is through changes in the Walker circulation and the Pacifi c Decadal Oscillation and El Nino‐Southern Oscillation systems of the tropical Pacifi c Ocean. Given the link between increased warming and aridity in the southwest, additional warming due to greenhouse forcing could potentially lead to persistent hyperarid conditions, similar to those seen in our record during periods of high solar activity.
Frequency response modelling of seismic waves using finite difference time domain with phase sensitive detection (TD–PSD)

SUMMARY This paper describes an efficient approach for computing the frequency response of seismic waves propagating in 2- and 3-D earth models within which the magnitude and phase are required at many locations. The approach consists of running an explicit finite difference time domain (TD) code with a time harmonic source out to steady-state. The magnitudes and phases at locations in the model are computed using phase sensitive detection (PSD). PSD does not require storage of time-series (unlike a fast Fourier transform), reducing its memory requirements. Additionally, the response from multiple sources can be obtained from a single finite difference run by encoding each source with a different frequency. For 2-D models with many sources, this time domain phase sensitive detection (TD–PSD) approach has a higher arithmetic complexity than direct solution of the finite difference frequency domain (FD) equations using nested dissection re-ordering (FD–ND). The storage requirements for 2-D finite difference TD–PSD are lower than FD–ND. For 3-D finite difference models, TD–PSD has significantly lower arithmetic complexity and storage requirements than FD–ND, and therefore, may prove useful for computing the frequency response of large 3-D earth models.
Caregiver Responsiveness and Social Interaction Behaviors of Young Children With Autism

Although it is documented that parent interaction influences children's development, few studies have focused on methods for reliably assessing molar-level caregiver-child interactions that are use...
Host fish suitability for glochidia of Ligumia recta

Abstract In the early 1900s several hosts were identified for the black sandshell Ligumia recta. Recent attempts to propagate juvenile L. recta with two of the reported hosts (bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides) have produced inconsistent results and few juveniles. We conducted this study to determine which of the reported hosts or other fish hosts were the most suitable for glochidial metamorphosis. The duration of glochidial metamorphosis varied among seasons. Despite similar water temperatures, juveniles metamorphosed sooner and over a shorter period of time in the spring than early fall; the modal day of metamorphosis differed by 78 d. Relatively few juveniles were recovered from bluegill and largemouth bass in three trials. White crappie Pomoxis annularis and black crappie P. nigromaculatus were marginally suitable hosts. Although glochidia encysted on all hosts, >10× more juveniles metamorphosed on sauger Stizostedion canadense compared to other hosts tested.
Life cycle of a bioluminescent marine ostracode, Vargula annecohenae (Myodocopida: Cypridinidae)

Abstract We present the first complete description of a life cycle for a marine ostracode that uses bioluminescence for courtship. The life cycle of Vargula annecohenae consists of five juvenile instars separated by molts and an adult instar following the terminal molt. Body size is tightly conserved within each instar; therefore, most individuals can be reliably identified to instar by the length-to-height regression of carapace size. Sexual dimorphism becomes apparent in the penultimate A-I instar and remains evident through adulthood. Each juvenile instar of V. annecohenae lasts between 10 and 27 days, resulting in an estimated total juvenile development time of three months. Females have multiple broods and give birth to crawl-away juveniles following a 26 ± 1.6 day incubation period. Adults live up to 188 additional days, and thus V. annecohenae has a potential life span of up to nine months. This species is one of the large number of myodocopid ostracode species that use bioluminescence for courtshi...
Human Monoclonal Autoantibodies Reactive with Multiple Organs

Human monoclonal antibodies that react with normal tissues (autoantibodies) have recently been prepared from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and thyroiditis. This chapter describes the methods by which these monoclonal autoantibodies have been obtained and evaluates their reactivity with normal tissue antigens. In addition, the capacity of these monoclonal autoantibodies to react with antigens in multiple organs is described.
Bias in commitment space semantics: Declarative questions, negated quetions, and question tags

The paper introduces a formal framework for communication that captures not only information that is agreed upon by the interlocutors, but also the possible legal continuations of the communicative exchange. It allows for modeling conjunction, disjunction and denegation of speech acts. Assertions are analyzed as commitments of interlocutors for the truth of propositions. Questions are conversational moves that restrict the legal continuations to assertions by the other participant; this allows for the modeling of questions that restricts continuations to just one assertion. The framework is applied to biased questions, to questions with high and low negation, and to two types of question tags.
New Kid on the Block: The ALWD Citation Manual

"Be sure to bluebook this!" These very words often strike terror in the hearts of law students, clerks, and attorneys. An archaic book, unreadable and undecipherable, chock-full of rules that make the misplacement of a single space or period a capitol offense, The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (herein after "the bluebook") has become the bible for legal citation. Written by law students (yes, law students) at four major East Coast law schools, the bluebook has been the citation standard for the legal community for too many years to count. Every five years or so, a new edition is issued with a multitude of changes. The reasoning behind the changes is often obscure to the legal community at large. Some are made for politically correct reasons, such as including the first names of authors of legal periodical articles and treatises instead of mere initials to indicate the body of scholarship of female authors. Other changes appear on their face to have no real purpose, such as the change in the abbreviation for citing decisions of bankruptcy appellate panels. Making the bluebook understandable to law students has plagued the legal writing teaching community for years. The bluebook is hard to understand, with one set of rules for law reviews and a different set of rules for briefs and legal memoranda. To confound the problem, the only examples given in the text are in law review style. And so the new kid on the block was conceived. The ALWD CITATION MANUAL: A PROFESSIONAL SYSTEM OF CITATION (hereinafter "the manual") was published by Aspen Law & Business in the summer of 2000. Backed by the Association of Legal Writing Directors, Darby Dickerson of Stetson University College of Law has drafted a user-friendly citation guide that is taking the legal writing community by storm. In its first year, the manual was adopted "at more than ninety law schools, many paralegal programs, and several law reviews." Quite simply, the ALWD manual has far exceeded the legal writing community's expectations. The manual is straightforward, full of explanations in plain English, and has an example for everything. Part I of this article will examine the design and organizational features of the manual. Part II will highlight the main rule differences between the manual and the bluebook. Part III will emphasize the benefits to Missouri lawyers of using the ALWD manual for its citation needs. Lastly, an appendix includes a chart summarizing the two citation manuals for selected rules.
Preparation of cis Carotenoids by Total Synthesis

The most brilliant achievement in polyene chemistry during the last decade has been the total synthesis of certain naturally occurring carotenoids and of some analogs and homologs that have not yet been found in plants. The synthesis of β-carotene was announced in 1950 by Karrer and Eugster (226), almost simultaneously by Inhoffen, Bohlmann, Bartram and Pommer (184), and somewhat later by Milas et al. (316). Since this breakthrough the new field has been broadened and deepened by the research groups of Karrer, Inhoffen, Isler, Weedon, and others [cf. also Surmatis et al. (428)]. The pertinent literature till 1952 has been discussed in detail by Inhoffen and Siemer (193); for a brief survey cf. Karrer (223). In 1957 Isler and Zeller’s excellent review has appeared (210). The present report, which of course cannot do justice to the authors active in this fascinating field, will be restricted to a few stereo chemically important aspects of carotenoid synthesis.
Salter-Harris Type IV Epiphyseal Fracture of the Proximal Phalanx of the Great Toe: A Case Report:

Epiphyseal fractures account for about one fifth of pediatric fractures. Approximately 10% cause major growth disturbances, depending on the location and type of the fracture and the skeletal maturity of the child. Intra-articular Salter-Harris type IV fractures are rare, carry a poor prognosis, and almost always need surgical reduction to prevent deformity. We present a case report of a pediatric patient who returned to normal function after the successful surgical reduction of a Salter-Harris type IV fracture in the proximal phalanx of the great toe.
Book Review: Partho Datta, Planning the City: Urbanization and Reform in Calcutta c. 1800–1940:

Partho Datta, Planning the City: Urbanization and Reform in Calcutta c. 1800–1940, Delhi: Tulika Books, 2012, pp. 332.
Examining the oral language competency of children from Korean immigrant families in English-only and dual language immersion schools:

In this study, we examined the bilingual language development among Korean American first-graders in two southern California cities and explored the opportunities for language use available to them...
The inflammatory response following a laser-induced cortical microhemorrhage in a rodent model is dominated by brain-resident microglia and not blood-borne macrophages

Brain microhemorrhages are linked to cognitive decline, but the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. We used in vivo nonlinear microscopy to characterize the inflammatory response after a laser-induced cortical microhemorrhage.
Research equipment technology and etherification adsorption process of light gasoline

Adsorption of light gasoline is a new technology,its principle of petrol and sorbents through the full contact of the adsorbent has a special structure of gasoline nitride on adsorption to the adsorbent,thereby reducing nitrogen oxide content in gasoline,thus to avoid catalyst(acidic resin) poisoning.The low investment in equipment technology,the high rate of adsorption rate,absorbent and low prices,with great potential for the development and application of space,causing the world's oil refining sector,a great deal of concern has become the latest major oil companies at home and abroad one of the focus of research and development topics.
Comparison of upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy versus computed tomography for evaluation of post-operative leak in a bariatric surgery patient.

Bariatric surgery patients commonly undergo post-operative fluoroscopic evaluation for complications, including leaks, in order to progress with oral intake and recovery. As one of the most severe and potentially life-threatening complications, leaks occur in as many as 5% of bariatric surgery patients. Several characteristics of these patients complicate the detection of leaks, including large body habitus and limited mobility. The early detection of leaks can lead to significant reductions in morbidity and mortality in bariatric surgery patients. In a retrospective case series of 619 patients, of whom 20 had experienced a leak, CT scan had a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 100%, while upper gastrointestinal (UGI) evaluation had an inferior sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 95%. In addition to greater sensitivity and specificity, CT scan can identify other complications, such as abscesses and bowel obstructions. Also, UGI evaluation is notably more dependent on patient and technologist complian...
For Shame! How Goal Attainability, Goal Orientation, Model Size, and Emotions Shape Female Consumers’ Self-Perceptions: An Extended Abstract

Advertisements for beauty-enhancement products commonly feature unrealistically thin models as the ideal point for which female consumers should strive. Unfortunately, many of these campaigns negatively impact the self-perceptions of the consumers that they are purportedly able to aid in achieving their goals. Some brands (e.g., Dove) have responded to this issue by using heavier models in their ads. However, the brands and advertisements are generally better received with thin models, making this a difficult path to follow for many marketers. This paper further develops our understanding of consumer response to such advertisements by integrating goal-striving and social comparison theories to explain how goal attainability may diminish the negative impacts of the thin ideal on female consumers. The paper further explores the mechanism through which the advertisements affect consumers by proposing shame as an emotional mediator and promotional focus as moderator of the effects. The results of two experimental studies provide evidence that support these propositions.
α-Mannosidase-II

α-Mannosidase II, also known as Golgi mannosidase II, mannosyl-oligosaccharide 1,3-1,6-α-mannosidase, 1,3-(1,6)mannosyl-oligosaccharide l,-D-mannohydrolase, and GlcNAc transferase I-dependent α1,3(α1,6)-mannosidase, is a glycosylhydrolase that catalyzes cleavage of the final two mannose residues during mammalian Asn- linked oligosaccharide processing and the removal of α1,3 and α1,6 mannose residues from GlcNAcMan5GlcNAc2-Asn to form GlcNAcMan3GlcNAc2-Asn. The enzyme is a member of glycosylhydrolase family 38.
Divalent Metal Ion Activation of a Guanine General Base in the Hammerhead Ribozyme: Insights from Molecular Simulations

The hammerhead ribozyme is a well-studied nucleolytic ribozyme that catalyzes the self-cleavage of the RNA phosphodiester backbone. Despite experimental and theoretical efforts, key questions remain about details of the mechanism with regard to the activation of the nucleophile by the putative general base guanine (G12). Straightforward interpretation of the measured activity–pH data implies the pKa value of the N1 position in the G12 nucleobase is significantly shifted by the ribozyme environment. Recent crystallographic and biochemical work has identified pH-dependent divalent metal ion binding at the N7/O6 position of G12, leading to the hypothesis that this binding mode could induce a pKa shift of G12 toward neutrality. We present computational results that support this hypothesis and provide a model that unifies the interpretation of available structural and biochemical data and paints a detailed mechanistic picture of the general base step of the reaction. Experimentally testable predictions are mad...
Optimal Estimating Function Theory

Classical statistical inference emphasizes unbiased estimators rather than unbiased estimating equations.
Singular Control of Multidimensional Brownian Motion

Abstract A multidimensional Brownian motion with an additive input (control) is considered. There is no limit of the rate on input. The cost of control is proportional to the weighted sum of the total amounts of positive and negative input components. There is also a holding cost associated with the position of the process in the space. The problem is to minimize the total discounted holding cost and the cost of control. It is proved that the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation has a solution. The solution is the optimal cost of the problem. An existence of the optimal policy is demonstrated.
Cardiothoracic Critical Care

High-value CCC is rapidly evolving to meet the demands of increased patient acuity and to incorporate advances in technology. The high-performing CCC system and culture should aim to learn quickly and continuously improve. CCC demands a proactive, interactive, precise, an expert team, and continuity.
Monsanto Analytical Testing Program for NPDES Discharge Self-Monitoring

The Monsanto Analytical Testing (MAT) program was devised and implemented in order to provide analytical standards to Monsanto manufacturing plants involved in the self-monitoring of plant discharges as required by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions. Standards are prepared and supplied at concentration levels normally observed at each individual plant. These levels were established by canvassing all Monsanto plants having NPDES permits and by determining which analyses and concentrations were most appropriate. Standards are prepared by Monsanto's analyses and concentrations were most appropriate. Standards are prepared by Monsanto's Environmental Sciences Center (ESC) using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods. Eleven standards are currently available, each in three concentrations. Standards are issued quarterly in a company internal round-robin program or on a per request basis or both. Since initiation of the MAT program in 1981, the internal round-robin program has become an integral part of Monsanto's overall Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) program. Overall, results have shown that the company's plant analytical personnel can accurately analyze and report standard test samples. More importantly, such personnel have gained increased confidence in their ability to report accurate values for compounds regulated in their respective plant NPDES permits. 3 references, 3 tables.
Social Work and Criminal Justice: The Uneasy Alliance

SUMMARY We shall begin with the principal, and complicated, conclusion: Regrettably, the social work profession has largely abandoned the criminal justice field. That is not to say that social workers are not employed in criminal justice settings. Certainly they are. Significant numbers of social workers earn their living as probation and parole officers, caseworkers in public defender offices, counselors in correctional institutions and halfway houses, and so on. As a profession, however, social work no longer has a major presence in the criminal justice field (Gibelman and Schervish, 1993). Relatively few social workers embark on their professional education with the aim of employment in the criminal justice field. Virtually no courses in social work education programs focus explicitly or comprehensively on criminal justice (Knox and Roberts, 2002; McNeece and Roberts, 1997). Workshops offered at professional conferences or continuing education seminars rarely focus on criminal justice issues per se. An...
Quantitative Determination of MAR Hydrolase Residue Specificity In Vitro by Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

ADP-ribosylation is a posttranslational modification that involves the conjugation of monomers and polymers of the small molecule ADP-ribose onto amino acid side chains. A family of ADP-ribosyltransferases catalyzes the transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) onto a variety of amino acid side chains including aspartate, glutamate, lysine, arginine, cysteine, and serine. The monomeric form of the modification mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation (MARylation) is reversed by a number of enzymes including a family of MacroD-type macrodomain-containing mono(ADP-ribose) (MAR) hydrolases. Though it has been inferred from various chemical tests that these enzymes have specificity for MARylated aspartate and glutamate residues in vitro, the amino acid and site specificity of different family members are often not unambiguously defined. Here we describe a mass spectrometry-based assay to determine the site specificity of MAR hydrolases in vitro.
Ultrasound biomicroscopy of filtration blebs

Aim: To assess the internal anatomy of filtering blebs in vivo. Materials and methods: We performed high-resolution, high-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy on filtration blebs with a range of clinical appearances to evaluate the internal ostium, scleral flap, and subconjunctival space in eachtype ofbleb. Results: Diffuse, spongy, thin-walled and cystic, encapsulated, and failed blebs were successfully imaged without morbidity. The pattern of subconjunctival aqueous flow was assessed and sites of blockage to flow determined. Conclusion: Improved knowledge of the internal structure of filtration blebs should allow us to recognize earlier stages of bleb failure and characteristics of nonfunctional blebs with the intent of manipulating bleb structure to establish or improve function.
CD5-Positive Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Patient with Wilson’s Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare extra-nodal B-cell lymphoma that proliferates within small/intermediate blood vessels and capillaries while sparing large blood vessels and organ parenchyma. Clinical presentation is highly variable and may include B symptoms, neurological deficits, and/or cutaneous findings. The diagnosis of IVLBCL is difficult due to multiorgan involvement and nonspecific symptoms. We describe the case of a 68-year-old male who presented with progressive weakness, confusion, and falls. He had a past medical history of liver cirrhosis secondary to Wilson's disease. Physical exam and laboratory results revealed a lethargic man with jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, and abnormal liver/kidney function tests. He expired after a short hospital course in the setting of hepatic and renal failure. Postmortem examination revealed large neoplastic lymphoid cells involving multiple organ blood vessels; however skin and neurologic involvement was absent. The neoplastic cells demonstrated B-cells positive for CD5, rendering a diagnosis of IVLBCL. Our case represents the occurrence of IVLBCL with CD5-positivity in a patient with Wilson's disease, diagnosed at autopsy demonstrating the challenging nature of diagnosing IVLBCL.
Do Bitcoin Users Really Care About Anonymity? An Analysis of the Bitcoin Transaction Graph

The pseudonymous nature of Bitcoin has sparked the twin rivaling researches in Bitcoin community, that is, either protecting or attacking anonymity. In spite of this intense battle, the answer to a primary question is absent – Do Bitcoin users themselves care about anonymity? This paper demystifies this doubt via analyzing the Bitcoin transaction graphs with the following three contributions: 1). We outline three representative metrics that can signify whether users concern about anonymity. 2). We examine the collective trend of anonymity concerns from a macroscope. 3). We pay particular attention on critical addresses in a microscope to unveil their anonymity concerns.This paper arrives at both expected conclusions and unexpected surprises. In particular, the expected ones are: rich addresses concern more about anonymity than poor ones. Miner addresses start caring about anonymity when exchange rate soars. Stock addresses never hide their intent of jump-and-dump. The surprises are: the majority of the users show weak concerns on anonymity. One can easily find both hot and cold wallet addresses owned by big organizations.
Symbolically Annihilating Female Police Officer Capabilities: Cultivating Gendered Police Use of Force Expectations?

This first step cultivation analysis examines the quantity, temporal dynamics, and stance of municipal police officer use of force depictions based on the gender of the officer. The 112 theatricall...
Making a Case for Integrating Evidence-Based Sexual Risk Reduction and Mental Health Interventions for Adolescent Girls

Recently identified as the top concern of teens, mental health issues now compete with sexual health risks as major threats to the well-being of adolescent females. Depression and anxiety can lead to or compound the negative repercussions of sexual behavior choices that result in disproportionately high rates of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), hetero-sexually acquired HIV, and unplanned pregnancy rates in girls ages 15-19. There are a limited number of CDC- and DHHS-recognized HIV/STI and teen pregnancy evidence-based interventions (EBIs) targeted to adolescent girls of diverse races/ethnicities and none that simultaneously address common mental health disorders. The Health Improvement Project for Teens (HIPTeens), a manualized gender-specific sexual risk reduction intervention, and the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) Program, a manualized cognitive-behavioral skills intervention that reduces depression and anxiety, are recognized by national agencies as strong EBIs that have successfully improved their targeted outcomes. Baseline data from the HIPTeens clinical trial revealed that a substantial portion of the more than 700 girls enrolled had moderate to high levels of depressive symptoms as well as other mental health challenges (e.g., binge drinking and eating, cannabis use). Thus, there is an urgent need to combine EBIs, such as HIPTeens and COPE, to curtail these leading public health problems confronting today's adolescents.
Cannabinoids Inhibit the CXCL12-Induced Migration of T Lymphocytes.

Abstract Cannabinoids are both exogenous compounds produced by Cannabis sativa, known for their psychoactive properties, and a family of related endogenous ligands whose functions have been recently characterized. The reported effects of cannabinoids on the immune system include inhibition of T lymphocyte proliferation, altered production of cytokines by T helper cells and decreased antibody formation by B cells. Cannabinoid receptors have been detected in several immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages, basophils and B and T lymphocytes. CB2 (Cannabinoid Receptor 2) appears to be the predominant cannabinoid receptor in the immune system, while the CB1 receptor is found primarily in the brain. We observed high levels of CB2 expression in the Jurkat T lymphocyte cell line, while others have reported expression of the CB2 receptor in CD8+ T lymphocytes. Here, we studied the ability of synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids to modulate a key function of T lymphocytes: chemotactic migration in response to the chemokine CXCL12 (also known as stromal cell-derived factor-1). We observed a 40–50% inhibition of CXCL12-induced chemotaxis in Jurkat T cells with the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (at 15 μM concentration) and with the synthetic cannabinoids CP55,940 and Win-55,212–2 (each at 10 μM concentration). Inhibition occurred in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that it is a regulated, receptor-mediated process. Further studies showed that the inhibition of migration involved, in part, significant down-regulation of the CXCL12 receptor, CXCR4. We are currently elucidating the signaling cascade whereby endogenous cannabinoids may limit T cell migration in response to CXCL12. Thus, cannabinoids may be novel mediators of immunosuppression when clinically desired.
Microstructural densification and alignment by aspiration‐ejection influence cancer cell interactions with three‐dimensional collagen networks

Extracellular matrix microstructure and mechanics are crucial to breast cancer progression and invasion into surrounding tissues. The peritumor collagen network is often dense and aligned, features which in vitro models lack. Aspiration of collagen hydrogels led to densification and alignment of microstructure surrounding embedded cancer cells. Two metastasis-derived breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, were cultured in initially 4 mg/ml collagen gels for 3 days after aspiration, as well as in unaspirated control hydrogels. Videomicroscopy during aspiration, and at 0, 1, and 3 days after aspiration, epifluorescence microscopy of phalloidin-stained F-actin cytoskeleton, histological sections, and soluble metabolic byproducts from constructs were collected to characterize effects on the embedded cell morphology, the collagen network microstructure, and proliferation. Breast cancer cells remained viable after aspiration-ejection, proliferating slightly less than in unaspirated gels. Furthermore, MDA-MB-231 cells appear to partially relax the collagen network and lose alignment 3 days after aspiration. Aspiration-ejection generated aligned, compact collagen network microstructure with immediate cell co-orientation and higher cell number density apparently through purely physical means, though cell-collagen contact guidance and network remodeling influence cell organization and collagen network microstructure during subsequent culture. This study establishes a platform to determine the effects of collagen density and alignment on cancer cell behavior, with translational potential for anticancer drug screening in a biomimetic three-dimensional matrix microenvironment, or implantation in preclinical models.
An Internal Cluster Validity Index Using a Distance-based Separability Measure

To evaluate clustering results is a significant part of cluster analysis. There are no true class labels for clustering in typical unsupervised learning. Thus, a number of internal evaluations, which use predicted labels and data, have been created. They are also named internal cluster validity indices (CVIs). Without true labels, to design an effective CVI is not simple because it is similar to create a clustering method. And, to have more CVIs is crucial because there is no universal CVI that can be used to measure all datasets, and no specific method for selecting a proper CVI for clusters without true labels. Therefore, to apply more CVIs to evaluate clustering results is necessary. In this paper, we propose a novel CVI - called Distance-based Separability Index (DSI), based on a data separability measure. We applied the DSI and eight other internal CVIs including early studies from Dunn (1974) to most recent studies CVDD (2019) as comparison. We used an external CVI as ground truth for clustering results of five clustering algorithms on 12 real and 97 synthetic datasets. Results show DSI is an effective, unique, and competitive CVI to other compared CVIs. In addition, we summarized the general process to evaluate CVIs and created a new method - rank difference - to compare the results of CVIs.
Strategic Flight Cancellation Under Ground Delay Program Uncertainty

Under certain capacity constraints, flight operators will strategically cancel flights hours to days in advance of their scheduled departure times to improve their overall operating schedule. Altho...
Residency Board Certification Requirements and Preoperative Surgical Home Activities in the United States: Comparing Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Surgery

Better management of the perioperative process has come unto the spotlight in recent years as a way to possibly reduce costs while improving the quality of care. However, perioperative care is not a subject traditionally comprehensivelycovered in any 1 medical specialty. Various elements of perioperative care are included in each of the 4 residencies studied (anesthesiology, family medicine, internal medicine, and surgery), but many of the activities inherent to the PSH are not required for board certification in any of the specialties, particularly in the intraoperative and postoperative phases. All 4 specialties appear to have room for improvement by expanding perioperative care education.
Safety and efficacy outcomes of the Pioneer Plus catheter in endovascular revascularization of lower extremity chronic total occlusions.

Abstract Objective Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety outcomes of the Pioneer Plus catheter (Philips, San Diego, Calif) and report the in-hospital and 30-day outcomes of lower extremity chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions assisted by the Pioneer Plus catheter. In addition, we explored the factors associated with procedural success. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 135 consecutive procedures in 116 patients from July 2011 to September 2018 performed by eight operators with various levels of experience at a high-volume center where the Pioneer Plus catheter was used for lower extremity CTO. The patient demographics, preprocedural symptoms, preprocedural testing results, procedural setting, and angiography findings were abstracted. The outcomes were divided into device-related and procedure-related outcomes. Device-related efficacy outcome included procedural success. Device-related safety outcomes included device-related complications. Procedure-related outcomes included procedure-related complications, 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events, and 30-day major adverse limb events. We conducted univariate comparisons of the provider, patient, and procedural characteristics stratified by procedural success. Results Procedural success was observed in 118 procedures overall (87.4%), and success rates ≤95.8% were observed for operators with an experience level of >25 devices deployed. No device-related complications, such as pseudoaneurysm formation, vessel perforation, or arteriovenous fistula formation, were observed. The Pioneer Plus catheter was mostly often used for CTO in the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. Overall, the procedure-related complications included access site hematoma (5.2%), major bleeding (0.7%), pseudoaneurysm formation (0.7%), distal embolization (1.5%), and acute arterial thrombosis (1.5%). The 30-day major adverse limb events included index limb unplanned amputation (0.7%), index limb reintervention (4.4%), and index limb acute limb ischemia (0.7%) and occurred in 5.9% of the procedures. The only factor associated with procedural success was operator experience (P Conclusions The results from the present study have shown that Pioneer Plus catheter use is safe and effective when used to cross lower extremity CTO. However, further investigation is needed to identify patient- and provider-level factors to optimize patient outcomes.
Delirium documentation in hospitalized pediatric patients with cancer.

Objective Screening tools for delirium are being used more consistently in pediatric critical care. However, screening is not universal, and delirium may be underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or undocumented in hospitalized patients. We evaluated the identification and documentation of delirium in pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. Method A retrospective chart review on all hospitalized pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients admitted to an Academic Cancer center between 2013 and 2016. Patients aged less than 21 years of age with active cancer were included. Patients with major psychiatric conditions, developmental delays, or autism were excluded. Data were collected to characterize documentation concerning the identification and diagnosis of delirium. Results Of 201 hospitalization records, 54 (26.9%) admissions from 109 unique patients had documentation of delirium. The overall documented incidence of delirium was 3.2% of hospitalizations or 8.2% of unique patients. Patients prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines were more likely to have documentation of delirium. ICD coding under-reported delirium while physician documentation was inaccurate in 26% (53/201) when compared with the chart review. Significance of results Delirium was frequently undocumented or miscoded. Implementing a validated, universal screening tool for delirium may improve identification and clinical outcomes.