cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Best Practices for School-Based Moral Education:

How can schools help students build moral character? One way is to use prepackaged moral education programs, but as we report here, their effectiveness tends to be limited. What, then, can schools ...
Prediction of inherited genomic susceptibility to 20 common cancer types by a supervised machine-learning method

Prevention and early intervention are the most effective ways of avoiding or minimizing psychological, physical, and financial suffering from cancer. However, such proactive action requires the ability to predict the individual's susceptibility to cancer with a measure of probability. Of the triad of cancer-causing factors (inherited genomic susceptibility, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors), the inherited genomic component may be derivable from the recent public availability of a large body of whole-genome variation data. However, genome-wide association studies have so far showed limited success in predicting the inherited susceptibility to common cancers. We present here a multiple classification approach for predicting individuals' inherited genomic susceptibility to acquire the most likely phenotype among a panel of 20 major common cancer types plus 1 "healthy" type by application of a supervised machine-learning method under competing conditions among the cohorts of the 21 types. This approach suggests that, depending on the phenotypes of 5,919 individuals of "white" ethnic population in this study, (i) the portion of the cohort of a cancer type who acquired the observed type due to mostly inherited genomic susceptibility factors ranges from about 33 to 88% (or its corollary: the portion due to mostly environmental and lifestyle factors ranges from 12 to 67%), and (ii) on an individual level, the method also predicts individuals' inherited genomic susceptibility to acquire the other types ranked with associated probabilities. These probabilities may provide practical information for individuals, heath professionals, and health policymakers related to prevention and/or early intervention of cancer.
Congenital Extrarenal Extra-Central Nervous System Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor of the Upper Extremity: A Case Report.

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is an extremely rare and highly aggressive tumor that occurs in infancy or childhood1. MRT was first described as a rhabdomyosarcomatoid variant of Wilms tumor because of its histologic resemblance to rhabdomyoblasts and its most frequent presenting location as a renal tumor2,3. Since then, MRT has also been found in the central nervous system (CNS), ileum, lung, heart, liver, skin, and intestines4-7. We present a rare case of congenital extrarenal extra-CNS MRT of the forearm in an infant with an aggressive course and poor outcome. The patient’s parents were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they provided consent. A four-month-old otherwise well baby girl had presented shortly after birth with a 0.5-cm area of bluish discoloration over the volar aspect of the left forearm. This discoloration had remained stable until three months of age, when this area began to rapidly enlarge and become more discolored. Ultrasound revealed a large heterogeneous soft-tissue mass in the forearm with areas of cystic change consistent with an infantile hemangioma versus sarcoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed left axillary lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent CT-guided needle biopsy of the lesion, which measured 7.8 cm × 3.4 cm. Histologic evaluation and immunohistochemical studies of the biopsy were demonstrative of a high-grade sarcoma, consistent with MRT (Figs. 1-A through 1-D⇓). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed. Because it was negative for the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region, the break-apart FISH ruled out Ewing and desmoplastic small round cell tumor; because it was negative for the FKHR gene, the break-apart FISH ruled out alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Karyotyping for the chromosomal t(X;18) translocation was negative, thus ruling out synovial sarcoma. Subsequent staging evaluation included bilateral bone marrow aspirate …
Impacts of oil price shocks on the United States economy: A meta-analysis of the oil price elasticity of GDP for net oil-importing economies

Policy makers are interested in estimates of the potential economic impacts of oil price shocks, particularly during periods of rapid and large increases that accompany severe supply shocks. Literature estimates of the economic impacts of oil price shocks, summarized by the oil price elasticity of GDP, span a very wide range due to both fundamental economic and methodological factors. This paper presents a quantitative meta-analysis of the oil price elasticity of GDP for net oil importing countries, with a focus on the United States (US). The full range of estimates of the oil price elasticity of GDP for the US in the data is − 0.124 to + 0.017, accounting for different methodologies, data and other factors. We employ a meta-regression model that controls for key determinant factors to estimate the mean and variance of the GDP elasticity across studies. We use a robust estimation technique to deal with heterogeneity of the data and well-known econometric issues that confront meta-analysis. The resulting regression model is used to simulate the oil price elasticity of GDP for the US, with a mean of − 0.020% and 68% confidence interval of − 0.035 to − 0.006, four quarters after a shock.
When Trust Is Not Enough: A Serial Mediation Model Explaining the Effect of Race Identity, eHealth Information Efficacy, and Information Behavior on Intention to Participate in Clinical Research:

Black participants remain significantly underrepresented in clinical research. Mistrust in medical researchers has been named a key barrier to the successful enrollment of minority study participan...
Abstract 11123: Intrinsic and Induced Left Bundle Branch Block are Not Interchangeable

Background: An extensive literature attests to the toxic impact of left bundle branch block (LBBB) on left ventricular (LV) mechanical function, whether the LBBB is naturally occurring (intrinsic) or is caused by right ventricular (RV) pacing (induced). In regard to impact on LV mechanical function, a preponderance of the literature would suggest that intrinsic and induced LBBB are equivalent. Methods and Results: Twenty-one patients with intrinsic LBBB, intact atrioventricular conduction, and an implanted pacing device with right atrial and ventricular leads were studied. Each patient underwent echocardiographic imaging during two conditions: 1. atrial pacing (intrinsic); 2. atrial and ventricular pacing (AV delay 30 milliseconds; induced). Compared to intrinsic LBBB, induced LBBB was associated with diminished LV ejection fraction (22±7 vs 25±7 %, p Conclusions: Intrinsic and induced LBBB are dissimilar. Relative to intrinsic LBBB, RV pacing places a larger mechanical burden on the LV. The use of RV pacing in cardiac resycnhronization therapy should be reconsidered. If RV pacing is to be used, and LV lead location is to be targeted to the region of latest LV mechanical activation, this assay should be performed during induced LBBB and not intrinsic LBBB.
Risk warning of important power user based on electricity load characteristic

With the rapid development of smart grid, the power supply security demand becomes higher. Important power user is the main pillar of social and economic development. It's power outage may cause person casualties, larger environment pollution, greater political influence and large economic loss. How to ensure the effective warning, analysis, diagnosis and treatment of safety power supply to important users become a new research subject. Electricity load directly reflect the power user's real time electricity consumption and its power risk is often accompanied by the occurrence of power safety accidents. The paper firstly analyzes the power load characteristic and mode, determine the risk index and threshold of power load, then on the basis, build security risk warning model and propose early warning method based on SMF-DFA, finally carry out the practical verification. The research result has important theoretical and practical significance to power risk management and power gird safe.
5.2 – Plasma and Red Blood Cells

This chapter begins by describing the components of plasma—the electrolytes and the major classes of proteins including albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen, and further describes the various kinds of globulins and their functions, including alpha, beta, and gamma globulins. It discusses the use of proteins as pH buffers and introduces the concept of the oncotic or colloid osmotic pressure. It then describes the erythrocyte, detailing its size, shape, and numbers in the blood. The overall structure of hemoglobin is illustrated, and how to calculate mean cell volume and mean cell hemoglobin concentration is shown. The function of erythropoietin in promoting erythrocyte genesis is discussed. Because iron is needed for hemoglobin synthesis, the metabolism of iron is described. The function of the reticuloendothelial system in degraded red blood cells is discussed. Lastly, the existence of blood types and their origin, and the consequence of this for blood transfusions, is described.
Writing and Record Keeping in Counseling

The growth and professionalism of the counseling field as well as the increasing emphasis on accountability has led to an expanding need for counselors to document and substantiate the value of their work. A survey of administrators of mental health agencies indicated that “ability to write clearly, concisely, and in a professional style” was one of the three most important skills they sought in masters level counselors (Cook, Berman, Genco, Repka, & Shrider, 1986, p. 150).
Mandatory Worker Participation is Required in a Declining Union Environment to Provide Employees With Meaningful Industrial Democracy

For many years, American workers directly or indirectly benefited from union representation. The 30-35 percent of employees actually represented by labor organizations in the late 1950s and early 1960s had their wages and benefits negotiated by those unions. Nonunion workers obtained similar benefits from employers seeking to remain nonunion. Over the past 50 years, private sector union membership has declined significantly to under 8 percent today. The individual employee has no bargaining power and must accept whatever he or she is offered. Workers have no say in firm decisions that directly affect their employment security and working conditions. The U.S. should consider federal regulations that would require all larger employers to establish employee involvement committees at each local facility that would be provided with relevant information and consulted before employers could make corporate decisions that will meaningfully affect employee interests. Workers should also have the right to elect one-third or one-quarter of corporate board members to provide them with a voice at the top managerial levels.
Evaluation of Mixotrophy-Associated Gene Expression in Two Species of Polar Marine Algae

Mixotrophic flagellates can comprise significant proportions of plankton biomass in marine ecosystems. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of this ecological strategy, and the identification of major environmental factors controlling phagotrophic behavior (light and nutrients), the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying mixotrophic behavior are still unclear. In this study, we performed RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis for two mixotrophic prasinophytes, Micromonas polaris and Pyramimonas tychotreta, under dissolved nutrient regimes that altered their ingestion of bacteria prey. Though the strains examined were polar isolates, both belong to genera with widespread distribution. Our aim was to characterize the transcriptomes of these two non-model phytoflagellates, identify transcripts consistent with phagotrophic activity and assess their differential expression in response to nutrient stress. De novo assembly of the transcriptomes yielded large numbers of novel coding transcripts with no known match within public databases. A summary of the transcripts by Gene Ontology terms showed many expected expression patterns, including genes involved in photosynthetic pathways and enzymes implicated in nutrient uptake pathways. Searches of KEGG databases identified several genes associated with intra-cellular digestive pathways actively transcribed in both prasinophytes. Differential expression analysis showed a larger response in P. tychotreta, where 23,373 genes were up-regulated and 1,752 were down-regulated in the low nutrient treatment when phagotrophy was enhanced. In contrast, in M. polaris, low nutrient treatments resulted in up-regulation of 314 transcripts while down-regulating 371. With respect to phagotrophic-related expression, 37 genes were co-expressed in both P. tychotreta and M. polaris, and although the response was less pronounced in M. polaris, it is consistent with differences in observed ingestion behavior. This study presents the first genomic data for Pyramimonas tychotreta, and also contributes to the limited available data for Micromonas polaris. Furthermore, it provides insight into the presence of genes associated with phagocytosis within the Prasinophyceae and contributes to the understanding of potential target genes required for the construction of a complete model of gene regulation of phagocytic behavior in algae.
Neurofibromatosis (NF) in Pregnancy

The neurofibromatoses are a group of autosomal dominant diseases characterized by the formation of ectodermal and mesodermal tissue tumors [1]. These patients develop both benign and malignant tumors of the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) and in other organs. Neurofibromas are benign tumors composed of neoplastic Schwann cells, nonneoplastic fibroblasts, mast cells, macrophages, pericytes, endothelial cells, and perineural cells [2]. Although the neurofibromatoses have common characteristics, two distinct forms have been recognized based on clinical and genetic findings, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), formerly known as von Recklinghausen’s disease, and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common form, but both could have multisystem involvement. Neurofibromas, the characteristic lesion of all forms, may complicate both general endotracheal anesthesia (GETA) and neuraxial anesthesia. The life expectancy of these patients appears to be shortened by approximately 8–15 years. The most common causes of death are from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, central nervous system tumors, and vasculopathy [3].
Programming Politics: Using p5.js to Create Interactive Art Connected to Current Events

This lightning talk describes a proposal for a class that includes a mix of programming and politics. Students would use the p5.js library to learn basic programming, making this class appropriate to undergraduate non-majors. With a focus on interfacing with an audience, students learn variables and arrays, loops, if then statements, text animation, and functions, as well as p5.js specific libraries for video and the Kinect. For a major/final project, students are asked to consider a social issue (e.g., poverty, global warming, gun reform) and create an interactive art exhibit using a PC, Kinect, keyboard, and/or mouse, and their choice of photography/graphics/video. All viewpoints are accepted. The integration of social science (e.g., Political Science, Sociology), humanities (e.g., American Studies, Gender Studies), and programming would offer a wide spectrum of students with an immediate and tangible product, while also broadening their concept of what can be accomplished and communicated through code. Additionally, students would study other example of interactive installations as a means to see what is possible and come to terms with what forms may constitute art. Most significantly, this alternative version of project-based learning would motivate students to apply and continue to learn what is necessary to implement their artistic vision and communicate their views. Furthermore, each student's unique project would minimize the risk of cheating and require students to synthesize not only specific programming tasks, but also an understanding of audience and concepts of usability relevant to the brief time a user may interact with the installation.
An Investigation of Sex Differences, Implicit Memory, and Perceptual Identification in the Survival Memory Paradigm

Robust support has been found for a survival processing effect on memory when information is encoded for its fitness relevance (Nairne et al. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 33:263–273, 2007). However, support for this effect has been limited to forms of memory that require intentional, explicit retrieval processes. Thus far, the literature has failed to identify the effect in implicit, automatic memory using conceptual and perceptual production tasks (McBride et al. Mem Cogn 41:862–871, 2013; Tse and Altarriba Mem Cogn 38:1110–1121, 2010). In the current study, an alternative implicit memory test that employs different memory processes was employed in a further attempt to examine the survival processing effect in implicit memory. Participants rated a list of unrelated nouns according to their relevance to either a grassland survival or home-moving scenario in a within-subjects (Experiment 1a) or a between-subjects (Experiment 1b) design. A perceptual identification task was then completed in which accuracy and response times were recorded for the identification of occluded words previously rated in the survival context, moving context, or novel words. Overall, there was no response difference across participants in the implicit or explicit conditions. However, a significant interaction between rating scenario and sex was found in Experiment 1a, suggesting that males and females differentially identify occluded words studied from an evolutionarily relevant perspective. Implications of these results for the survival processing advantage are discussed.
Women on Hormone Therapy with Ischemic Stroke, Effects on Deficits and Recovery.

Background Hormone replacement therapy (HT) for post-menopausal women is associated with increased incidence of ischemic stroke risk. Effects of HT on stroke related deficits and functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are uncertain. We retrospectively examined female consult data for HT use and National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) at baseline and recovery for 2015 and 2016 in a large stroke telemedicine program. Hypothesis The age of women who acknowledged HT use will negatively impact stroke severity and outcomes. Methods We analyzed consult data from two consecutive years for all women and included HT use, current age, and baseline and 24 h NIHSS's. We included all women consults regardless of IV Alteplase treatment. 24 h NIHSS and three month modified Rankin scale (mRS) were included from women given IV Alteplase. Results Strokes were identified in 523 women and 244 women received Alteplase therapy. Women without HT use numbered 459 and 64 women listed HT use. Mean NIHSS scores regardless of HT use significantly improved 24 h NIHSS vs. baseline NIHSS (p<0.0001). Baseline NIHSS scores were significantly improved in women on HT vs. non-HT users (p=0.01) in women age 50 to 79 years. Although mean NIHSS scores at 24h was not different from HT to no HT use (4.9 ± 1.6 vs. 7.8 ± 0.6, p=0.08) a trend was present for lower NIHSS scores for women 50-79 years. The mRS scores at three months indicated significant improvements among HT users vs. non-HT use (1.46 ± 0.4 vs. 2.51 ± 0.2, p=0.05). Conclusion While cautions persist on the use, route and dosage of HT for risks of ischemic stroke, the HT moderation of AIS deficits and outcomes in women <80 years of age warrants further investigation.
Effect of intra-op morphine on children with OSA undergoing tonsillectomy.

Abstract Objectives 1. To compare outcomes after tonsillectomy for pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) given morphine intra-operatively and post operatively compared to those who were not – specifically Recovery Room (RR) time, length of stay (LOS), Emergency Department (ER) visits. Study design Retrospective case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care children's hospital. Subjects and methods All children between 1 and 17 years old who had undergone tonsillectomy in a single institution from 2013 to 2016. Comparison between children who had received morphine intra-operatively was made for outcomes. Results 556 patients were included, 73 patients had morphine intraoperatively and 483 did not; these latter children were older (8.8 vs 6.5 years, P Conclusion Children with OSA who receive intra-op morphine have a longer LOS suggesting that its use should be examined more closely in this population.
Endometrial Receptivity Testing

Implantation of an embryo in the human uterus is the culmination of three major actions, which include development, synchronization, and signaling between the embryo and endometrium. These events result from coordinated genetic and hormonal intracellular signaling in both the host uterus and implanting blastocyst (Wang and Dey, Nat Rev Genet 7(3):185–199, 2006). For success in any reproductive cycle, precise coordination of these events is critical. Endometrial receptivity refers to the ability of the uterine lining to allow an embryo to attach, implant into the myometrium, and develop a placenta and ultimately result in a successful pregnancy. While the implantation process is complex and multifactorial, synchrony between a healthy embryo and a receptive endometrium is paramount. Accurate testing to diagnose endometrial receptivity over the years has been challenging. Many researchers have studied and developed endometrial histology, biomarkers, and noninvasive ultrasound markers to detect defects in endometrial receptivity (Lessey BA, Fertil Steril 96(3):522–529, 2011).
Regionally Specific Human Pre-Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Produce Both Oligodendrocytes and Neurons after Transplantation in a Chronically Injured Spinal Cord Rat Model after Glial Scar Ablation

Chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating medical condition. In the acute phase after injury, there is cell loss resulting in chronic axonal damage and loss of sensory and motor function including loss of oligodendrocytes that results in demyelination of axons and further dysfunction. In the chronic phase, the inhibitory environment within the lesion including the glial scar can arrest axonal growth and regeneration and can also potentially affect transplanted cells. We hypothesized that glial scar ablation (GSA) along with cell transplantation may be required as a combinatorial therapy to achieve functional recovery, and therefore we proposed to examine the survival and fate of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived pre-oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (pre-OPCs) transplanted in a model of chronic SCI, whether this was affected by GSA, and whether this combination of treatments would result in functional recovery. In this study, chronically injured athymic nude (ATN) rats were allocated to one of three treatment groups: GSA only, pre-OPCs only, or GSA+pre-OPCs. We found that human iPSC derived pre-OPCs were multi-potent and retained the ability to differentiate into mainly oligodendrocytes or neurons when transplanted into the chronically injured spinal cords of rats. Twelve weeks after cell transplantation, we observed that more of the transplanted cells differentiated into oligodendrocytes when the glial scar was ablated compared with no GSA. Further, we also observed that a higher percentage of transplanted cells differentiated into V2a interneurons and motor neurons in the pre-OPCs only group when compared with GSA+pre-OPCs. This suggests that the local environment created by ablation of the glial scar may have a significant effect on the fate of cells transplanted into the injury site.
PIPPET: A Bayesian framework for generalized entrainment to stochastic rhythms

Abstract When presented with complex rhythmic auditory stimuli, humans are able to track underlying temporal structure (e.g., a “beat”), both covertly and with their movements. This capacity goes far beyond that of a simple entrained oscillator, drawing on contextual and enculturated timing expectations and adjusting rapidly to perturbations in event timing, phase, and tempo. Here we propose that the problem of rhythm tracking is most naturally characterized as a problem of continuously estimating an underlying phase and tempo based on precise event times and their correspondence to timing expectations. We formalize this problem as a case of inferring a distribution on a hidden state from point process data in continuous time: either Phase Inference from Point Process Event Timing (PIPPET) or Phase And Tempo Inference (PATIPPET). This approach to rhythm tracking generalizes to non-isochronous and multi-voice rhythms. We demonstrate that these inference problems can be approximately solved using a variational Bayesian method that generalizes the Kalman-Bucy filter to point-process data. These solutions reproduce multiple characteristics of overt and covert human rhythm tracking, including period-dependent phase corrections, illusory contraction of unexpectedly empty intervals, and failure to track excessively syncopated rhythms, and could could be plausibly approximated in the brain. PIPPET can serve as the basis for models of performance on a wide range of timing and entrainment tasks and opens the door to even richer predictive processing and active inference models of rhythmic timing.
Solubility of Water in Carbonatites

Water solubility in carbonatite magmas at 1 bar total pressure has been explored. Three compositions of carbonatite magma have been studied: natrocarbonatite from Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania, and two...
Broadening the Toolkit for Quantitatively Evaluating Noncanonical Amino Acid Incorporation in Yeast

Genetic code expansion is a powerful approach for advancing critical fields such as biological therapeutic discovery. However, the machinery for genetically encoding noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) is only available in limited plasmid formats, constraining potential applications. In extreme cases, the introduction of two separate plasmids, one containing an orthogonal translation system (OTS) to facilitate ncAA incorporation and a second for expressing a ncAA-containing protein of interest, is not possible due to a lack of the available selection markers. One strategy to circumvent this challenge is to express the OTS and protein of interest from a single vector. For what we believe is the first time in yeast, we describe here several sets of single plasmid systems (SPSs) for performing genetic code manipulation and compare the ncAA incorporation capabilities of these plasmids against the capabilities of previously described dual plasmid systems (DPSs). For both dual fluorescent protein reporters and yeast display reporters tested with multiple OTSs and ncAAs, measured ncAA incorporation efficiencies with SPSs were determined to be equal to efficiencies determined with DPSs. Click chemistry on yeast cells displaying ncAA-containing proteins was also shown to be feasible in both formats, although differences in reactivity between formats suggest the need for caution when using such approaches. Additionally, we investigated whether these reporters would support the separation of yeast strains known to exhibit distinct ncAA incorporation efficiencies. Model sorts conducted with mixtures of two strains transformed with the same SPS or DPS both led to the enrichment of a strain known to support a higher efficiency ncAA incorporation, suggesting that these reporters will be suitable for conducting screens for strains exhibiting enhanced ncAA incorporation efficiencies. Overall, our results confirm that SPSs are well behaved in yeast and provide a convenient alternative to DPSs. SPSs are expected to be invaluable for conducting high-throughput investigations of the effects of genetic or genomic changes on ncAA incorporation efficiency and, more fundamentally, the eukaryotic translation apparatus.
Thyroid Hormone Inhibition of Human Thyrotropin β-Subunit Gene Expression is Mediated by a Cis-acting Element Located in the First Exon

Abstract Thyroid hormone regulation of the human thyrotropin beta-subunit gene (TSH beta) was examined in a human embryonal cell line (293). Transient expression studies were performed with chimeric plasmids containing the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Sequences in the first exon between +9 and +37 base pairs (bp) enhanced gene expression from the human TSH beta promoter in the absence of thyroid hormone as well as mediated a concentration-dependent triiodothyronine (L-T3) decrease in gene expression. Thyroid hormone inhibition of expression was also conferred to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter by inserting +3 to +37 bp of the human TSH beta gene downstream from the start of transcription. Primer extension analysis of RNA from transfected cell cultures revealed accurate transcription initiation in only those constructs which contained sequences between +9 and +37 bp. Moreover, RNA analysis confirmed that L-T3 inhibition of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity from chimeric pTSH beta CAT constructs occurred at a pretranslational level. In addition, a nuclear thyroid hormone receptor, c-erbA-beta, bound to this region in an avidin-biotin DNA binding assay. These data suggest that L-T3, bound to its receptor, may inhibit human TSH beta expression by interfering with an element that functions to enhance gene expression.
In vivo metabolic evaluation of breast tumor mouse xenografts for predicting aggressiveness using the hyperpolarized (13)C-NMR technique.

In vivo imaging/spectroscopic biomarkers for solid tumor aggressiveness are needed in the clinic to facilitate cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. In mouse models of human melanoma and breast cancer, we were able to detect the metabolic differences among tumors of different metastatic potential and between normal and cancer tissues by optical imaging of the mitochondrial redox state of snap-frozen tissue samples. Such metabolic differences indicate that tumors of different aggressiveness have different metabolic homeostasis, which supports that kinetic parameters such as rate constant(s) can also serve as biomarkers for cancer aggressiveness and treatment response. Here we present our preliminary study on the mouse xenografts of the aggressive and indolent human breast cancer cell lines using the hyperpolarized 13C-NMR (HP-NMR) technique. By recording the time courses of 13C-pyruvate tracer and its metabolite signals in vivo, particularly the 13C-lactate signal, the apparent rate constants of both the forward and reverse reactions catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were extracted via the ratiometric modeling of the two-site exchange reaction that we developed. Data from four breast tumors (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231 medium and large) with different aggressiveness are included. We demonstrate the feasibility to quantify the apparent rate constants of LDH reactions in breast tumor xenografts.
Evasion of Innate Host Antiviral Defenses by Picornaviruses

The family Picornaviridae includes a number of medically important viruses, such as poliovirus (PV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV); viruses of significance to veterinary medicine, such as foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV); and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a murine virus with broad capabilities to infect other animal species that has been used widely in studies of the interaction of viruses with the interferon (IFN) system. The remarkable diversity that is evident in these adaptive strategies across the various picornaviral genera suggests that they are relatively recent additions in the evolution of the picornaviruses. In the case of PV and most other picornaviruses, the 3A association appears to be primarily with membranes derived from the ER. The studies described above reveal that the picornaviruses have evolved multiple strategies for evading innate antiviral host defenses, but they are in no way complete for even one member of this large virus family. The diversity of specialized mechanisms of evasion found in only certain groups of viruses, is likely to reflect, at least in part, differences in the tissue tropisms of various picornaviruses, as well as the redundant nature of innate antiviral defenses. Expression of a cleavage-resistant G3PB mutant preserved the ability of the cell to assemble stress granules late in the infection cycle, and also reduced the yields of PV. Although roles for stress granule formation and autophagy in innate cellular defenses against picornaviruses remain speculative, these are likely to be productive lines of future investigation.
Magnetic Actuator Transient Operation

This chapter discusses the transient effects of turning on (or off) the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) currents or voltages. The basic timeline for transient operation of magnetic actuators consists of many steps. For many applications, a time delay slows the speed of response. The steps discussed in the chapter are: (i) the magnetic flux density rises, partly determined by a time constant called the magnetic diffusion time or nonlinear infusion time; (ii) the force rises as the magnetic flux density rises; (iii) the force produces acceleration of the armature and/or attached mass; and (iv) after a certain time, during which the armature may or may not reach the end of its stroke, the energizing circuit may be turned off; if the current suddenly becomes zero, then the magnetic flux density (and related force) falls, partly determined by the magnetic diffusion time or nonlinear effusion time.
Arterial spin labeling‐fast imaging with steady‐state free precession (ASL‐FISP): a rapid and quantitative perfusion technique for high‐field MRI

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a valuable non-contrast perfusion MRI technique with numerous clinical applications. Many previous ASL MRI studies have utilized either echo-planar imaging (EPI) or true fast imaging with steady-state free precession (true FISP) readouts, which are prone to off-resonance artifacts on high-field MRI scanners. We have developed a rapid ASL-FISP MRI acquisition for high-field preclinical MRI scanners providing perfusion-weighted images with little or no artifacts in less than 2 s. In this initial implementation, a flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) ASL preparation was combined with a rapid, centrically encoded FISP readout. Validation studies on healthy C57/BL6 mice provided consistent estimation of in vivo mouse brain perfusion at 7 and 9.4 T (249 ± 38 and 241 ± 17 mL/min/100 g, respectively). The utility of this method was further demonstrated in the detection of significant perfusion deficits in a C57/BL6 mouse model of ischemic stroke. Reasonable kidney perfusion estimates were also obtained for a healthy C57/BL6 mouse exhibiting differential perfusion in the renal cortex and medulla. Overall, the ASL-FISP technique provides a rapid and quantitative in vivo assessment of tissue perfusion for high-field MRI scanners with minimal image artifacts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Costs of Freedom: New Institutional Comparison of China’s and the U.S.’s Responses to the Financial Collapse

Starting with the framework of New Institutional Economics, this Comment examines the institutional arrangements of Chinese and U.S. governance, and then scrutinizes their respective policy responses to the financial collapse of 2008. The latent thesis is that, notwithstanding differences in economic development, the more centralized arrangement of China allowed for a more timely and competent response, while the comparatively more decentralized arrangement of the U.S. resulted in languid and ineffective measures, themselves punctuated by political brinksmanship. The Comment concludes that the Chinese institutional arrangement should, by virtue of design, produce a more timely and internally consistent response than the U.S., but at the expense of individual liberty.
Quasi-two-day wave-tide interactions as revealed in satellite observations

[1] In this paper we demonstrate how observations from Sun-synchronous and quasi-Sun-synchronous satellites can be analyzed to reveal the signatures of nonlinear interactions between tides and planetary waves in Earth's mesosphere and lower thermosphere. This is done by ordering data in longitude space, and demonstrating how peaks in the spectra of such data series can be identified with specific waves or combinations of waves. We use as an example the quasi-two-day wave (QTDW) oscillations in temperature observed by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on the Aura satellite and the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) on the TIMED satellite. We show that the QTDW not only produces secondary waves due to nonlinear interactions with the migrating (Sun-synchronous) diurnal and semidiurnal tides, but that secondary waves are also produced by nonmigrating tide-QTDW interactions. Moreover, these latter secondary waves are of similar amplitude to the resident tides and the QTDW, and serve an important role in defining longitude structures due to the presence of these waves.
Hepatic neoplasms: Surgically relevant segmental anatomy and imaging techniques

With advances in imaging and surgical techniques, the diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary liver neoplasms have improved. Advances in imaging have contributed to the early detection of the tumors and have allowed more precise preoperative characterization and localization of the lesions. Refinements in surgical technique have permitted more extensive resections, while at the same time placing even greater importance on accurate preoperative imaging of the tumor. Presurgical planning requires precise definition of the extent of the tumor vis-a-vis hepatic segmental anatomy. The goal of this essay is to discuss the segmental anatomy of the liver, the types of segmental resections possible, and the strengths and weaknesses of the various imaging techniques used in the preoperative assessment of potential candidates for hepatic resection. Staging of hepatic malignant tumors and technical details of the imaging techniques are not discussed.
The System of Occupations: Modeling Occupations in Sociodemographic Space

What accounts for changes in the social composition of occupations over time ? We address this question by adapting an ecological theory of competition from McPherson (1983). This theory suggests that occupations compete for members in a niche space defined by the social composition of an occupation's members. As one occupation successfully acquires and retains new people with different sociodemographic characteristics, other occupations experience shifts in their sociodemographic composition. Using the Current Population Survey Annual Demographic Files (1972-82), we test dynamic hypotheses about changes in the age and education composition of occupations. The data strongly support the theory. We then ask whether the same dynamics apply to the professions and occupations. The data suggest that professional closure limits the movement of professions in the education dimension
The impact of school finance reform on indicators of expenditure inequality

Abstract Many indicators of per-pupil expenditure inequality vary in response to changes in enrollment patterns as well as in expenditure patterns. Enrollment-compensated indicators of inequality should be used in making prereform, postreform estimates of the impact of school finance reforms. However, neither enrollment-compensated nor uncompensated indicators reveal any short-run impact in a case study of the 1975 New Jersey reform. Despite this lack of change registered by the static indicators, a substantial proportion of districts are found to be mobile, in the sense of moving at least two expenditure deciles over the study period. Enrollment changes are the only identified cause for such mobility.
Aminated poly(vinylbenzylchloride-co-2,4,5-trichlorophenyl acrylate) microspheres for optical pH sensing

Lightly crosslinked monodisperse poly(vinylbenzylchloride-co- 2,4,5-trichlorophenylacrylate) microspheres were prepared by dispersion polymerization. Then microspheres were derivatized with various secondary amines to convert the vinylbenzylchloride to a pH sensitive amine. These microspheres were embedded in poly(vinylyalcohol) hydrogel to form a membrane. Optical sensitivity of this membrane for pH is based on refractive index changes accompanying swelling and shrinking of the polymer microspheres. The membrane appears turbid (opaque-white) because the refractive index of microspheres is greater than that of the hydrogel. 2,4,5- trichlorophenyl acrylate (TCPA) was added into the polymer formulation in order to introduce porosity and hydrophilicity to the microspheres. In the amination procedure, the large 2,4,5-trichlorophenol group is replaced by the smaller amine forming a more hydrophilic amide. This shortened the response time of the membrane from hours to a few seconds. The membrane is more turbid at short wavelengths. In addition, turbidity of the membrane increases as the pH of solution increases. There is a linear relation between microsphere concentration of the membrane and its turbidity. The range in which the membrane is sensitive to pH is from 6 to 8.5, with an apparent pKa of 7.5.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Maintaining quality of care and patient satisfaction with radical prostatectomy in the era of cost containment

Abstract Objectives To determine the effect of shortened hospital stay after radical retropubic prostatectomy on costs, adverse surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Methods The effect of changes in preoperative counseling, perioperative care and analgesic management on hospital length of stay; mean cost per case and cost per hospital day; and 30-day complication, hospital readmission and mortality rates were analyzed for a consecutive sample of 374 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between July 1989 and November 1995. Satisfaction with length of stay, analgesic regimen, and surgical outcome was assessed in a random subset of 150 patients by anonymous questionnaire. Results Length of stay (LOS) was shortened from a median 7 to 2 nights after surgery during the study ( P Conclusions Shortened LOS after radical retropubic prostatectomy can be accomplished safely and can meet with high levels of patient satisfaction while significantly reducing hospital-related costs. The potential for further incremental reductions in cost with reductions in LOS to less than 2 nights appears to be small, and future efforts at cost reduction for this procedure should center on decreasing the intensity of care during hospitalization.
THE SINGLE-ITEM LOT-SIZING PROBLEM WITH IMMEDIATE LOST SALES

Abstract We introduce a profit maximization version of the well-known Wagner–Whitin model for the deterministic uncapacitated single-item lot-sizing problem with lost sales. Demand cannot be backlogged, but it does not have to be satisfied, either. Costs and selling prices are assumed to be time-variant, differentiating our model from previous models with lost sales. Production quantities and levels of lost sales in different periods represent a twofold decision problem. We first transform the total profit function into a special total cost function. We then prove several properties of an optimal solution. A forward recursive dynamic programming algorithm is developed to solve the problem optimally in O( T 2 ) time, where T denotes the number of periods in the problem horizon. The proposed algorithm can solve problems of sizes up to 400 periods in less than a second on a 500 MHz Pentium ® III processor.
Fungal Diagnostics in Pneumonia

Fungal pneumonia is increasingly common, particularly in highly immunosuppressed patients, such as solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, and the diagnosis is evolving. Although standard techniques such as microscopy and culture remain the mainstays of diagnosis, relatively recent advances in serological and molecular testing are important additions to the field. This article reviews the laboratory tools used to diagnose fungal respiratory disease.
On the Conduct of Site Relations in Educational Research

portant, intellectual, tasks of research. Site relations is an underdeveloped and misunderstood element of the research undertaking and, as a result, schools are often badly treated (Baldridge, Deal, Rudolph, & Wheeler, 1973). What effect this might have on present research findings or future research attempts is unknown. Site relations became an important and integral part of a longitudinal, large-scale research effort of the Center for Educational Policy and Management at the University of Oregon. This research project was a 3-year effort designed to discover if empirical relationships existed among variables such as collegial decision making, teacher task interdependence, patterns of teacher communications and school managerial structures. The project involved 40 elementary schools, half of which were to implement the independent variable, team teaching, and half of which were to serve as control schools. Data collection took place in all schools and included questionnaires, interviews and logbooks which were, admittedly, time consuming for teachers and principals. The project faced problems similar to those of other research stud-
High-Throughput Cell Imaging, Counting and Characterization on a Chip

We introduce a lensfree on chip imaging platform that enables high-throughput monitoring, counting, and identification of several different microscopic objects such as different cell types within a heterogeneous solution. This imaging platform can in principle be miniaturized to a hand-held device that can be used by minimally trained health care providers at the point-of-care to measure the cell count of e.g., red blood cells from whole blood samples with a counting speed of >100,000 cells/sec. This novel optical imaging platform can also be merged with microfluidic systems to be able to rapidly monitor and count hundreds of thousand of cells within a field-of-view (FOV) of ∼10 cm2 in vitro. The immediate impact of this lensfree on chip cell counting approach is its improved speed, significantly larger field-of-view and simplified design that permits considerable miniaturization of the entire cell counting device.Copyright © 2008 by ASME