cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Complete Response and Disease Recurrence Following Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer.

Objective: Approximately 10-40% of rectal patients have a complete response (CR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT), and these patients have improved survival. Thus, non-operative management (“watch-and-wait” approach) may be an option for select patients. We aimed to identify clinical predictors of complete response following CRT. Methods: Patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for T3-T4, locally unresectable T1-T2, low-lying T2, and/or node-positive rectal cancer from August 2004 to February 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Most patients were treated with 50.4 Gy radiation and concurrent 5-fluoruracil or capecitabine. Patients were considered to have a CR if surgical pathology revealed ypT0N0M0 (operative management), or if they had no evidence of residual disease on clinical and radiographic assessment (non-operative management). Statistical analysis was carried out to determine predictors of CR and long-term outcomes. Results: Complete records were available on 138 patients. The median follow-up was 24.5 mos. 36 patients (26.3%) achieved a CR; 30/123 operatively managed patients (24.5%) and 6/15 (40%) non-operatively managed patients. None of the 10 patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma achieved a CR. CEA ≥5 μg/L at diagnosis (OR 0.190, 95% CI 0.037-0.971, p=0.046), tumor size ≥3 cm (OR 0.123, 95% CI 0.020-0.745, p=0.023), distance of tumor from the anal verge ≥3 cm (OR 0.091, 95% CI 0.013-0.613, p=0.014), clinically node positive disease at diagnosis (OR 0.201, 95% CI 0.045-0.895, p=0.035), and interval from CRT to surgery ≥8 weeks (OR 5.267, 95% CI 1.068-25.961, p=0.041) were independent predictors of CR. The CR group had longer 3-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (93.7% vs. 63.7%, p=0.016) and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) (91.1% vs. 67.8%, p=0.038). 3-year locoregional control (LRC) (96.6% vs. 81.3%, p=0.103) and overall survival (OS) (97.2% vs. 87.5%, p=0.125) were higher in the CR group but this did not achieve statistical significance. CR was not an independent predictor of LRC, DMFS, or DFS. Conclusions: CEA at diagnosis, tumor size, tumor distance from the anal verge, node positivity at diagnosis, and interval from CRT to surgery were predictors of CR. These clinical variables may offer insight into patient selection and timing of treatment response evaluation in the watch-and-wait approach.
Change in Residents' Experience in Continuity Clinic After Patient-Focused Primary Care Redesign

Abstract Objective Evaluation of efforts to redesign primary care has primarily focused on clinical services, with limited assessment of the effect on learners. This study evaluated the change in pediatric residents' perception of training, teamwork, and patient care in 2 different continuity clinic settings that were implementing patient-focused primary care redesign. Methods Continuity clinic residents at 2 large urban pediatric training programs completed a survey, developed de novo, before and after primary care redesign. Differences in the proportion of positive (≥4 of 5) ratings before and after redesign were compared using chi-squared tests in 2 practice sites, each of which focused on improving specific aspects of their practice. Results The response rate was >70% in both sites and in both years. Residents in the site focused on teamwork and continuity were more likely to report improved teamwork training (64% vs 83%; P P P P Conclusions Practice redesign focused on clinical outcomes can positively affect resident perception of their training and clinical experience in continuity clinic. Future redesign efforts deliberately involving residents might further enhance continuity clinic training.
Use of Cache-Friendly Blocking to Accelerate CFD Codes on Commodity Hardware

This paper presents an analysis of performance improvement of two CFD codes, the structured two-dimensional code GHOST and the unstructured two-/three-dimensional code UNCLE, both in-house codes at the University of Kentucky, with the specific target of cache performance optimization. The primary technique of choice is the blocking of data arrays, either within specific subroutines or of the computational grid as a whole. Both methods have produced significant improvements in performance without compromising accuracy. More advanced 64-bit commodity hardware reduces some of the relative gain from blocking due to its improved bandwidth and memory structure, but significant gains in performance are still seen. This study suggests that as cache sizes continue to increase, blocking may prove a general useful tool for accelerating CFD code performance.
Interstimulus interval in classical pupillary conditioning.

Classical pupillary conditioning to CS-UCS intervals of 1.5, 6, and 9 sec. was studied in adult human beings. There was no evidence of uniform conditioning in any experimental group. Nevertheless, one or more Ss did condition in each experimental group. There was no evidence of conditioning in either control group (0-sec. SI).
Modeling and Analysis of Ice Shed in Multistage Compressor of Jet Engines

Simulation of ice shed into a multistage axial compressor involves a coupled two phase flow of a continuous phase comprising of air and water vapor and a discrete phase with ice crystals and water droplets. A first principles based discrete phase model is formulated to capture the heat and mass transfer processes of ice flow in air. A quasi one-dimensional model is used to represent the continuous phase. An exchange of information at every time step between the two models leads to a coupled response that alters characteristics like temperature and pressure distributions across the compressor. However, an understanding of the impact of various assumptions used for modeling of the icing physics is imperative in order to establish the fidelity of the developed icing model, before its use in gas turbine engine ice ingestion studies. This paper describes the assumptions and semi-numerical models used in the coupled discrete-continuous phase flow numerical models. The input characteristics of the discrete phase related to the size and distribution of ice crystals, the assumed percentage of ice particles escaping through compressor bleed ports, simplifications associated with ice and droplet breakup on impact with compressor blades, moisture content affecting the dry air properties, are some of the factors that are variables in the icing study. The impact of these factors on the compressor flow dynamics is estimated through a parametric analysis.
Social Networks Influencing Black Girls’ Interpretations of Chris Brown’s Violence Against Rihanna:

This study identifies the social networks used by urban Black girls to interpret a highly publicized episode of dating violence and ensuing conflicts between hip-hop stars Chris Brown and Rihanna. ...
Agency and Communion, Ineffectiveness and Alienation Themes in the Life Stories of Latino and Southeast Asian Adolescents

McAdams’ life-story method has been used extensively with Caucasian and African American individuals, but not immigrants. We investigated the life stories of 40 Latino and Southeast Asian 15- to 18...
Diagnosis and Staging of Pancreatic Neoplasms

The relative value of current approaches to the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer is discussed. A rational sequence of testing is recommended based on the clinical presentation of the patient and the local institutional expertise and facilities that are available.
SU-F-T-546: A Radiobiological Comparative Study of Robotic and LINAC-Based Lung SBRT

Purpose: To expand the dosimetric comparison of CyberKnife and Elekta Versa HD regarding their capability to perform SBRT in lung cases by including radiobiological measures, which can estimate the clinical impact of the observed differences. Methods: This study analyzes treatment data of 10 patients, who were treated with SBRT on Elekta Versa HD and replanned using CyberKnife. The original structure sets from the RayStation treatment plans were transferred to MultiPlan and were used for planning, with the exception of the PTV. Special attention was given to the following structures during optimization in MultiPlan: PTV (expanded off GTV instead of ITV), ipsilateral and contralateral lungs, and chest wall. For each patient, the same dosimetric constraints were applied to both plans. The dose volume histograms (DVH) of the targets and organs at risk (OAR) were computed and used to compare the dosimetric differences between the two modalities. Additionally, the tumor control probability (TCP), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) and complication-free tumor control probability (P+) radiobiological indices were calculated and compared. Results: The dosimetric indices show a negligible differences (Versa – CK) for the PTV (mean dose difference of 1.7 Gy and average minimum dose difference of −0.3 Gy). For the OARs, the average differences in mean and maximum doses, which varied between 0.4 to 1.7 Gy and 1.1 to 4.7Gy, respectively. The average differences in the radiobiological indices were also similar TCP = 0.3±0.6%, Composite NTCP = 2.4±2.9%, and P+ = −.1±3.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Both modalities managed to meet the same dosimetric goals equally well. The similarities between the dosimetric and radiobiological indices indicate that the two treatment modalities are comparable. A larger patient cohort involving patients of different complexities would give a better insight for this comparison.
Biogeochemistry of two Appalachian deciduous forest sites in relation to episodic stream acidification

Bulk precipitation, throughfall, and soil water chemistry were studied from November 1983 to November 1984 at two ridge-top Appalachian deciduous forest sites to isolate causes of differing episodic stream acidification. The Fork Mountain site in West Virginia, which exhibited little episodic stream acidification, had lower deposition of H+ and SO inf4 sup2− and greater reductions of H+ in the water circulating through the forest canopy, forest floor, and mineral soil than the Peavine Hill site in Pennsylvania. Greater neutralization at Fork Mountain was linked to higher Ca and Mg carbonate contents in the sandstone and shale soil parent materials. Fork Mountain had greater amounts of exchangeable bases in the organic and mineral soil horizons. Neither site appeared to be accumulating SO inf4 sup2− in the soil, with Peavine Hill losing 56% more than was received in bulk deposition. Anions in soil leachate at Fork Mountain were largely balanced by Ca2+ and Mg2+, while at the Peavine Hill site A1" was the dominant cation. Results suggest that the typically-low carbonate content of sandstone and shale soil parent materials commonly found in Appalachian forests may be a key parameter controlling soil and stream acidification. Data for the one-year period also suggest bulk deposition of H+ was 63% greater at Peavine Hill than Fork Mountain.
The Tokugawa Taikun Diplomacy and Korea

Tokugawa foreign relations with Korea continued processes from those in the Muromachi and Hideyoshi period. However, compared with the weakness of Muromachi shogunal power and Hideyoshi’s dependence on the authority of the Tennō the Tokugawa shogunate consolidated its power by dominating the daimyos, emperor, and the court. The regulations of buke shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses) and Kinchū narabini kuge shohatto (Laws for the Imperial Houses) promulgated in 1615 legally limited their power and regulated shogunal control over them. Asao Naohiro maintains that the period of the second shogun, Hidetada (1605–1623), was an important period in achieving shogunal dominance domestically and diplomatically.1 Unlike the Muromachi shoguns, the Tokugawa bakufu regulated the freedom of daimyos and rich merchants’ trade and participation in foreign relations. The Tokugawa shogunate entrusted Tsushima with handling practical diplomatic affairs, and in return the shogun allowed Tsushima to monopolise trade with Korea. As previously noted Korea redirected to a more practical and restricted approach in relations with Tokugawa Japan, and the pluralistic nature of Muromachi relations with Korea changed to the unified relations between the shogunate, Tsushima, and the Korean court. However, the basic characteristics of their relations remained unchanged from the Muromachi and Hideyoshi periods: the monopolistic involvement of Tsushima and the self-centred diplomatic ideologies were exhibited in their state-to-state relations.
Near Continuum Velocity and Temperature Coupled Compressible Boundary Layer Flow over a Flat Plate

The problem of a compressible gas flows over a flat plate with the velocity-slip and temperature-jump boundary conditions are being studied. The standard single- shooting method is applied to obtain the exact solutions for velocity and temperature profiles when the momentum and energy equations are weakly coupled. A double-shooting method is applied if these two equations are closely coupled. If the temperature affects the velocity directly, more significant velocity slip happens at locations closer to the plate’s leading edge, and inflections on the velocity profiles appear, indicating flows may become unstable. As a consequence, the temperature-jump and velocity-slip boundary conditions may trigger earlier flow transitions from a laminar to a turbulent flow state.
Treatment with Recombinant Human MG53 Protein Increases Membrane Integrity in a Mouse Model of Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2B

Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) and other dysferlinopathies are degenerative muscle diseases that result from mutations in the dysferlin gene and have limited treatment options. The dysferlin protein has been linked to multiple cellular functions including a Ca2+-dependent membrane repair process that reseals disruptions in the sarcolemmal membrane. Recombinant human MG53 protein (rhMG53) can increase the membrane repair process in multiple cell types both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we tested whether rhMG53 protein can improve membrane repair in a dysferlin-deficient mouse model of LGMD2B (B6.129-Dysftm1Kcam/J). We found that rhMG53 can increase the integrity of the sarcolemmal membrane of isolated muscle fibers and whole muscles in a Ca2+-independent fashion when assayed by a multi-photon laser wounding assay. Intraperitoneal injection of rhMG53 into mice before acute eccentric treadmill exercise can decrease the release of intracellular enzymes from skeletal muscle and decrease the entry of immunoglobulin G and Evans blue dye into muscle fibers in vivo. These results indicate that short-term rhMG53 treatment can ameliorate one of the underlying defects in dysferlin-deficient muscle by increasing sarcolemmal membrane integrity. We also provide evidence that rhMG53 protein increases membrane integrity independently of the canonical dysferlin-mediated, Ca2+-dependent pathway known to be important for sarcolemmal membrane repair.
Improving Clinical Information on Head CT Requisitions From the Emergency Department to Aid Interpretation and Billing Efficiency

OBJECTIVE. The accuracy of radiologic interpretations is higher when appropriate clinical information is provided, as is the likelihood of reimbursement for the studies. The purpose of this project...
When Will Telemedicine Appear in the ICU

As our population ages and the demand for high-level intensive care unit (ICU) services increase, the ICU physician supply continues to lag. In addition, hospitals, physician groups, and patients are demanding rapid access for the highest level of expertise in the care of critically ill patients. Telemedicine in the ICU combined with remote patient monitoring has been increasingly touted as a model of care to increase efficiencies and quality of care. Telemedicine in the ICU provides the potential to connect critically ill patients to sophisticated specialty care on a 24/7 basis, even for those hospitalized in rural locations where access to timely specialty consultations are uncommon. Research on the use of telemedicine in the ICU has suggested improved outcomes, such as reductions in mortality, reductions in length of stay, and greater adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Although the clinical footprint of telemedicine in ICU has grown over the past 20 years, there has been a relative slowing of implementation. This review examines the clinical evidence supporting the use of telemedicine in the ICU and discusses the impact on clinical efficacy and costs of care. Additionally, we review the current hurdles to more rapid adoption, including the significant financial investment, different models of care affecting the return on investment, and the varied cultural attitudes that impact the success and acceptance of care models using telemedicine in the ICU.
Physiology and Behavior Therapy

Our look at behavior therapy from a physiological perspective is about to end. We have reviewed some preliminary concepts, discussed some basic issues, and applied this thinking to several clinical problems. The central theme has been that behavior is a complex, multidetermined, interactive phenomenon for which no single explanation is sufficient.
Renal Transport of Organic Acids and Bases in Nonmammalian Vertebrates

Organic acids (or anions) and organic bases (or cations) are transported by vertebrate renal tubules. In terms of renal transport, the organic acids are considered to encompass a diverse group of exogenous compounds — for example, para-aminohippurate (PAH) and phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP, phenol red) — that exist as anions at physiological pH and that apparently share a common transport system for net secretion. Because many of these compounds are dyes or are easily measured chemically, they were among the first substances used to demonstrate net tubular secretion, primarily in nonmammalion vertebrates (Dantzler 1987). More recently, studies with nonmammalian vertebrates have helped to define the mechanism involved in tubular transport of these compounds (Pritchard and Miller, 1991).
Establishing the Technical Adequacy of Functional Behavioral Assessment: Conceptual and Measurement Challenges.

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is being used increasingly in schools as a potentially effective means of matching intervention strategies to behavioral function. The unqualified use of FBA ...
Why has evidence of error-filled diagnostic medicine not led changes within the profession?

Variations among physicians in diagnosis and X-ray interpretation, the percentages of which have remained essentially unchanged for five decades, raise serious ethical concerns. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Software quality through the eyes of the end-user and static analysis tools: a study on Android OSS applications

Source code analysis tools have been the vehicle for measuring and assessing the quality of a software product for decades. However, recently many studies have shown that post-deployment end-user reviews provide a wealth of insight into the quality of a software product and how it should evolve and be maintained. For example, end-user reviews help to identify missing features or inform developers about incorrect or unexpected software behavior. We believe that analyzing end-user reviews and utilizing analysis tools are a crucial step towards understanding the complete picture of the quality of a software product, as well as towards reasoning about the evolution history of it. In this paper, we investigate whether both methods correlate with one another. In other words, we explore if there exists a relationship between user satisfaction and the application's internal quality characteristics. To conduct our research, we analyze a total of 46 actual releases of three Android open source software (OSS) applications on the Google Play Store. For each release, we employ multiple static analysis tools to assess several aspects of the application's software quality. We retrieve and manually analyze the complete reviews after each release of each application from its store page, totaling 1004 reviews. Our initial results suggest that having high or low code quality does not necessary ensure user overall satisfaction.
Physical education teacher resilience in high-poverty school environments

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the organizational context within high-poverty schools influences physical education (PE) teacher resilience. This study used an exploratory multipl...
El reencantamiento de la imagen digital: Los "Cortes publicitarios" de Daniel Martínez a través de las "propuestas" de Italo Calvino / The reenchantment of Digital Image: "Commercial Cuts" by Daniel Martínez through the "proposals" by Italo Calvino

This article engages with Daniel Martinez's Commercial Cuts, a video animation of the homonymous book of poems by the Spanish writer Javier Moreno. Commercial Cuts, I will discuss, is a videopoetic narrative on the mythical promise of salvation exercised by our world of adverstising. Following Italo Calvino's memos, and featuring the photograms from Martinez's narrative, I will discuss how this narrative ultimately emerges as a visual poetics that defends a recuperated mythical impulse of continuity for the contemporary visual regime. With it, it manages to overcome one of main blind spots of postmodernity: the negation of the mythical perspective. Este articulo analiza la videoanimacion de Daniel Martinez, Cortes Publicitarios, basada en el libro homologo de poemas del escritor espanol Javier Moreno. Cortes publicitarios es una narrativa sobre el valor mitico de salvacion las imagenes publicitarias. Usando los memos de Italo Calvino y los fotogramas de la animacion, discutiremos como la narrativa de Martinez emerge finalmente como una poetica visual que defiende un renovado impulso mitico de continuidad para el regimen visual contemporaneo. Con ello, consigue trascender uno de los puntos ciegos de la posmodernidad: la negacion de la perspectiva mitica.
Variation in antibiotic use in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by hospital pediatric volume.

e17703 Background: Antibiotic use in pediatric ALL patients varies significantly. Studies in other disciplines suggest increased patient volume is related to improved guideline adherence and fewer ...
3028 Peer-Coaching Effect On Laparoscopic Surgical Skills Amongst OB/GYN Residents. A Quality Improvement Randomized Controlled Study

Study Objective We sought to improve laparoscopic skills amongst OB/GYN residents via a “peer-coaching” model. We hypothesized that if residents were paired in a “resident as educator” model, the simulation training would be beneficial to both parties. Design From October 2016 until May 2017, we performed a randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of a “peer-coaching” model. Sixteen OB/GYN residents were randomized into either individual practice (control group) or practice with a junior-senior combination (intervention group). Residents underwent a baseline assessment and an assessment six months later of two FLS tasks: peg transfer and precision circle-cutting. Scores were determined by time to completion and GOALS score (a validated assessment tool for grading proficiency for laparoscopy). Setting Community-academic hospital Patients or Participants See Design. Interventions See Design. Measurements and Main Results The GOALS score for both the peg transfer and circle cutting for the residents in the individual practice group improved an average of 2 points (p value=0.54 and 0.56 respectively). The peer-coaching group improved 5 points for the peg transfer (p=0.07) and 2 points for the circle cutting (p=0.62). The average difference in time to complete the circle-cutting activity for individuals in the control group was -62 seconds (p=0.08). The peer-coaching group also decreased their average time to complete the task by 97 seconds (p=0.48) Conclusion A ‘peer-coaching’ model does not significantly impact technical improvement. This study highlighted the limitations of implementing simulation practice into an OBGYN residency. As this study was intended as a quality improvement project, a new curriculum with protected simulation training was created. A survey noted that 100% of residents reported this intervention was highly effective in improving compliance with FLS practice and improvement of skills.
Virtual Conversations: Research and Practice in Online Language Exchanges

Advances in digital technology have created interesting opportunities for language learners to engage in conversation with native speakers. These opportunities provide the possibility for tremendous growth in language and culture learning (Lewis & O’Dowd, 2016) in ways that until recently did not exist. These interactions can take a variety of forms. Some instructors create highly controlled interactions with specific activities and pre-assigned partners. Others students are asked to connect to social media style sites where they experience enormous autonomy in choosing when they interact, who they interact with, and what they speak about (Malerba, 2012). Online exchanges with native speakers also vary according to the linguistic competence of the speakers. Generally, online exchanges have been used with learners who are at intermediate or advanced skill levels. However, the present study builds on recent research suggesting that even novice level learners can benefit from interacting with native speakers online (Satar & Ozdener, 2008; Schenker, 2017). In this study, the authors examined novice students’ perceptions of learning and changes in comfort level after participating in a series of online and in-person exchanges over the course of a semester. The study compared students’ perceptions of online interactions generally with those of in-person exchanges and also compared the results of the use of various services. Results suggest that students in all of the groups, online and in-person, felt more comfortable interacting with native speakers and felt that they improved their language skills by engaging in these activities. With that said, students in the in-person group tended to feel more comfortable speaking with native speakers, but students in most of the online groups felt that the one on one nature of the interactions in the online settings led to the most growth.
The Gravity of Transnational Terrorism

Transnational terrorism is an inherently international phenomenon as it involves attacks where the perpetrators are from a different country than the victims. Accordingly, a growing literature expl...
0105 Young driver license examination outcomes in relation to age, sex, length of learner permit and completion of driver training

Statement of purpose The on-road examination (ORE) for licensure marks the transition from supervised to unsupervised driving, but also to a driver’s highest lifetime crash risk. The period pre- and post- licensure has been studied, yet the point of licensure itself is less documented. We describe license examination outcomes in relation to applicant age, sex, length of learner permit and completion of driver training. Methods/Approach We utilized unique access to the State of Ohio’s de-identified administrative licensing data. We examined all drivers under the age of 25 who attempted the on-road examination (ORE) for the first time across the state of Ohio in 2018. This dataset contained age at the ORE, sex, an indication of completed driver training (mandatory for those under 18 years), and ORE outcomes. We derived length of learner permit and categorical age groups to examine the impact of age-defined driver training regulations. Results Applicants aged 16 and 17 spent 6 and 9 months (respectively) in the learner permit, on average. Applicants aged 18 years had a shorter learner period and only 27% completed driver training before attempting the ORE. Fail rates were lowest for the youngest applicants, with a linear increase in fail rates with increasing age. About 40% of applicants aged 18+ years failed the ORE at first attempt, compared to only 23% of those younger than 18 years. Conclusions Older applicants without complete training are more likely to fail. Almost no applicants finished training before attempting the ORE if they were older than the age set by regulation, which strongly indicates that participation in driver training is driven by statute. Significance These results should be considered when states contemplate policy that mandates driver training. Future work that relates license examination performance and driver training to crash outcomes will determine their impact on young driver safety.
DOCLINE and Freeshare

ABSTRACT The library that can fill Interlibrary Loan requests (ILLs) quickly is touted as a shining star with all library patrons. It is known throughout the institution for its ability to “get anything quickly.” This reputation can provide many benefits. Gone are the days of relying on ALA forms and the US Postal Service to deliver ILLs. Informal reciprocal lending groups such as Freeshare have been formed to help libraries contain the cost of ILL service.
Building Marketing Strategies for the Palm Beach Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Using Geographic Information Systems Technology

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to curing blood cancer. The Palm Beach Chapter requested our assistance in organizing its membership data to help in advertising efforts. We concentrated on the LLS program - Team in Training (TNT) - the world’s largest endurance sports training program and the number one fundraising arm of LLS. Since TNT relies on participants to raise funds for their cause, our goal in this project was to assist LLS in enhancing the effectiveness of their advertising efforts using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. GIS is a helpful mapping tool that stores, manages, and analyzes geospatial data. LLS Excel spreadsheet membership data was linked to a second set of geospatial data in a GIS obtained from the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) for the study area encompassing parts of Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. The two sets of data were linked using the common parameter of zip code numbers. The software, ArcGIS, was used to create fifteen GIS maps showing the geographical distribution of such parameters as the number of participants, percentage of participants to the total number of participants, median age, and mean income for each zip code. Color coding shows areas (zip codes) where there are higher concentrations of participants, leads, etc., as well as the characteristics of these areas. Selected analyses of the maps showed that simple marketing strategies could be constructed.
Hematologic abnormalities in Fanconi anemia: an International Fanconi Anemia Registry study [see comments]

We analyzed data from 388 subjects with Fanconi anemia reported to the International Fanconi Anemia Registry (IFAR). Of those, 332 developed hematologic abnormalities at a median age of 7 years (range, birth to 31 years). Actuarial risk of developing hematopoietic abnormalities was 98% (95% confidence interval, 93% to 99%) by 40 years of age. Common hematologic abnormalities were thrombocytopenia and pancytopenia. These were often associated with decreased bone marrow (BM) cellularity (75% of cases studied). Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities developed in 23 of 68 persons with BM failure who had adequate studies. Actuarial risk of clonal cytogenetic abnormalities during BM failure was 67% (47% to 87%) by 30 years of age. Fifty-nine subjects developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Actuarial risk of MDS or AML was 52% (37% to 67%) by 40 years of age. Risk was higher in persons with than in those without a prior clonal cytogenetic abnormality (3% [0% to 9%] v 35% [0% to 79%]; P = .006). One hundred twenty persons died of hematologic causes including BM failure, MDS or AML and treatment related complications. Actuarial risk of death from hematologic causes was 81% (67% to 90%) by 40 years of age.
Some path properties of iterated Brownian motion

Suppose that X1, X2 and Y are independent standard Brownian motions starting from 0 and let $$ X\left( t \right) = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{X^1}\left( t \right) if t \geqslant 0,} \\ {{X^2}\left( { - t} \right) if t < 0.} \end{array}} \right.$$ We will consider the process \( \left\{ {Z\left( t \right)\underline{\underline {df}} X\left( {Y\left( t \right)} \right),t \geqslant 0} \right\}\) which we will call “iterated Brownian motion” or simply IBM. Funaki (1979) proved that a similar process is related to “squared Laplacian.” Krylov (1960) and Hochberg (1978) considered finitely additive signed measures on the path space corresponding to squared Laplacian (there exists a genuine probabilistic approach, see, e.g., Mądrecki and Rybaczuk (1992). A paper of Vervaat (1985) contains a section on the composition of self-similar processes.
Utility in prognostic value added by molecular profiles for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

To the editor: We read with interest the report from Hong et al[1][1] on the incremental prognostic value of gene expression signatures in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We were surprised by the conclusions that these “signatures are inferior to clinical factors and provide little added
Effect of noise and reverberation on binaural and monaural word identification by subjects with various audiograms.

The Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) (Bell, Kreul, & Nixon, 1972; Kreul, Nixon, Kryter, Bell, Land, & Schubert, 1968) was used to test the word-identification ability of subjects with bilateral sensorineu...
Applications for enterprise simulation

The purpose of the paper is to describe several recent applications of enterprise simulation. An enterprise simulation is a simulation which is constructed with a top-down view of a business enterprise and which is intended to serve as a decision support tool for decision makers. Examples are taken from the domain areas of transportation, urban operations, supply chain management, entertainment, and manufacturing. The objective is to help clarify the meaning of the term enterprise simulation and to promote its use as an important management tool.
An assessment of uranium in surface air within the continental US

Abstract Historical trends and regional variations of uranium in surface air within the continental United States from the late 1970s to the present was assessed using results from DOE's Argonne National Laboratory's (ANL) East Environmental Monitoring program, and from 25 monitoring stations from EPA's Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) surveillance program. The historical total uranium activity levels for these databases fall within the range of concentration levels that have been observed in Europe. The ERAMS stations located in the northern and midsection of the country show a decrease in total uranium levels of ~40% over this time period. No other long-term trends were observed. Excluding three EPA ERAMS stations, due to likely local source-term effects, the mean average 234 U 238 U activity ratios within the US was determined to be 1.1 (0.31 SD). There was no evidence of any historical trend, seasonal changes, large regional effect or coastal variation for these ratios. Results from a simple mixing model show that the range of 234 U 238 U and 235 U 238 U activity ratios for the EPA ERAMS Lynchburg surface air monitoring station database reflect a mixing of natural uranium with a maximum of 1% high-enriched uranium from a local source.
The Dorsal Agranular Insular Cortex Regulates the Cued Reinstatement of Cocaine-Seeking, but not Food-Seeking, Behavior in Rats.

Prior studies suggest that the insular cortex (IC), and particularly its posterior region (the PIc), is involved in nicotine craving and relapse in humans and rodents. The present experiments were conducted to determine whether the IC and its different subregions regulate relapse to cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. To address this issue, male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent cocaine self-administration followed by extinction training and reinstatement tests. Before each reinstatement, the PIc or the more anterior dorsal agranular IC (AId) was inactivated to determine their roles in the reinstatement to cocaine seeking. In contrast to the nicotine findings, PIc inactivation had no effect on cue-induced reinstatement for cocaine seeking. However, AId inactivation reduced cued reinstatement while having no effect on cocaine-prime reinstatement. AId inactivation had no effect on reinstatement of food-seeking behavior induced by cues, a food-prime, or cues+food-prime. Based on previous work hypothesizing a role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the IC during craving and relapse, a subsequent experiment found that CRF receptor-1 (CRF1) blockade in the AId similarly reduced cued reinstatement. Our results suggest that the AId, along with CRF1 receptors in this region, regulates reinstatement to cocaine seeking, but not food seeking, depending on the type of reinstatement, whereas PIc activity does not influence cue-induced reinstatement.
Fourteen things you can do with a stick

Some years back, Dick Zitto and I were teaching a week of mechanics to elementary school teachers in Canton, Ohio, city school system. Our mandate was to use simple materials and to be interesting. To start the session, I decided to have a discussion, partly prompted and partly free association on the ways one might use a stick to study physical phenomena.
The use of gas proportional counters to distinguish protons from pions in the cosmic radiation at energies of near or greater than 100 GeV

Abstract Several possible methods to distinguish protons and pions in the cosmic radiation at energies of over 100 GeV are discussed. One of these methods based on multiple sampling of ionization losses in an array of gas proportional counters together with a measurement of energy in an ionization calorimeter or momentum in a magnet spectrograph is discussed in greater detail. Fluctuations in ionization losses (“Landau” fluctuations) make the method difficult but not impossible. Experimental results on Landau fluctuations with a variety of incident particles and energies are presented and it is shown that they are in better agreement with the theory of Blunck and Leisegang than with that of Landau. Artificial events in which the sampled ionization losses obeyed the Landau and Blunck and Leisegang distributions are generated on a computer by a Monte Carlo program. Based on an analysis of a sample of 20000 such events by likelihood ratio method the attainable proton-pion separation in the cosmic radiation at 100 GeV energy is presented.
Transforming Trauma Teams Through Transactive Memory: Can Simulation Enhance Performance?

BackgroundIn situ simulation holds promise to enhance the effectiveness of performance. However, a dearth of theory remains to explain the efficacy of simulation-based education within health care teams.AimThe aim of this study was to examine team cognitive processes across two trauma simulations and to identify whether these processes impact observer-rated performance.MethodTwenty-four health care professionals within an emergency department participated in one of two 30-minute trauma scenarios. Before and after participating, they reported their team transactive memory perceptions. Performance in the scenarios was video recorded for evaluation.ResultsParticipants reported significant increases in transactive memory (p < .05) after participating in the trauma simulations. Furthermore, transactive memory was positively related to observer-rated performance (r = .58, p < .01).ConclusionOur results suggest that simulation has potential to be an effective method to increase transactive memory perceptions amo...
Roles of pattern of secretion of luteinizing hormone and the ovary in attainment of puberty in ewes lambs

Abstract Four experiments were conducted to examine (1) how patterns of luteinizing hormone (LH) change as lambs approach first estrus, (2) whether mimicry of these changes by exogenous LH will initiate events of the pubertal process, (3) aspects of possible roles of the ovary and estradiol in the initiation of an ovulatory surge of LH in prepubertal lambs and (4) the time requirements for the presence of the ovary in induction of that surge of LH. In 19 lambs (Exp. 1), concentrations of LH in plasma were higher at puberty than 7 weeks earlier. Increased concentrations of LH in samples taken every 20 min for 6 hr during the luteal and follicular phases preceding first estrus were attributed to increased amplitude, but not increased frequency, of episodic pulses of LH. In Exp. 2, endocrine events which are included in the natural onset of ovarian cyclic activity (i.e. surge of LH and subsequent rise in progesterone) were initiated in 5 6 , 4 6 , 1 5 , 1 6 , and 3 6 lambs, receiving either injections of 7.5 μg/hr, 15 μg/hr, 30 μg/2hr, 45 μg/3hr or constant infusions of 15 μg/hr of purified ovine LH, respectively. However, these lambs did not exhibit estrus or cyclic ovarian activity. In Exp. 3, the mechanism by which hourly injections of LH prompted surges of LH was determined to be mediated through ovarian stimulation and not through a direct effect of exogenous LH on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. All the intact (n=5) but no acutely (two weeks) ovariectomized (n=5) lambs had a preovulatory-like surge in response to exogenous LH. Further, (Exp. 4) it was shown that the ovarian signal must be maintained or evoked within 6 hr preceding the surge of LH, because lambs (n=20) ovariectomized at or 9, 18 or 27 hr after initiation of the exogenous LH with the one exception failed to show a surge of LH. It could not be demonstrated that the ovarian signal involved changes in peripheral concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone or estradiol-17β, although patterns of LH in ovariectomized lambs were responsive to both negative and positive feedback effects of estradiol (n=6, Exp. 3) and in general estradiol levels were increasing prior to the induced surge of LH.
Bacterial conversion of dextrin into a polysaccharide with the serological properties of dextran.

SummaryCultures of certain acetic acid bacteria from “ropy” beer, when grown with dextrin but not when grown with other common carbohydrates, produce abundant amounts of polysaccharide material which has serological properties like those of the dextran which is produced from sucrose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides. A cell-free enzyme system, capable of causing the conversion of dextrin to material serologically like dextran, has been obtained from one of the cultures.
Virtual question changes: reference in evolving environments

Purpose – As virtual reference and online discovery tools evolve, so do interactions with patrons. This study aims to describe how synchronous virtual reference transactions changed over a six‐year period at a university library.Design/methodology/approach – Transcripts from October and February from October 2004 to February 2010 were coded for question type, interlibrary loan discussions, and referrals. Subcategories for holding types and referrals were also recorded.Findings – The number and types of questions changed with the virtual reference platform used, both increasing and decreasing. The number of questions more than doubled from the beginning to the end of the six‐year study period. The number of holdings questions at the end of the study period was six times higher than the number at the beginning. Patterns relating to interlibrary loan discussions and referrals were noted.Research limitations/implications – The study examined transcripts from one university library. Findings cannot be generali...
The Messinian problem in the Pannonian Basin, Eastern Hungary — Insights from stratigraphic simulations

Abstract Earlier studies revealed a prominent unconformity in the Messinian stratigraphic record of the lacustrine Pannonian Basin, but it was unclear what factors were responsible for the formation of this unconformity, and thus its origin remained controversial. The problem was further complicated by the fact that stratal patterns in the Messinian varied significantly along the paleo-margins of the lake. Our study introduces quantitative stratigraphic simulations to analyze the role of subsidence, sediment supply, and lake-level changes in the formation of the unconformity and the various architectural patterns that evolved in response to the Messinian events. The results suggest that a relative lake-level fall occurred in the Messinian, accompanied and followed by tectonic inversion in several parts of the basin. Since the rate of tectonic subsidence and/or uplift varied in space and time, the size of the relative lake-level fall varied significantly across the basin, while various stratal architectural patterns formed in the same time interval. The age of the unconformity was estimated, based on seismic correlations with paleomagnetic chronozones, to be between 5–6 Ma, which was refined by stratigraphic simulations. Galeacysta etrusca cysts were found in the unconformity, which confirmed its late Messinian age. The surface is called the Intra-Messinian Unconformity (IMU) in this paper. Seismic interpretations and simulations of stratal architecture led to the formulation of a basin fill model and identification of four stratigraphic architectural patterns related to Messinian events including a major lake-level fall and coeval and subsequent uplift events in certain parts of the basin.
Distinguishing implicit and explicit learning

I agree with Dienes and Berry’s (1997) and Neal and Hesketh’s (1997) call for investigations of the qualitative differences between implicit and explicit learning and note that such investigations must be guided by a workable definition of what is implicit and by theories that predict what the qualitative differences might be. Following Schacter, Bowers, and Booker’s (1989) retrieval intentionality criterion, I propose using anencoding intentionality criterion to distinguish implicit from explicit learning; we can reasonably infer that implicit learning has occurred when a variable known to influence explicit learning has no effect in a comparable implicit learning condition. I then suggest that implicit learning depends on noncognitive, nonhierarchical associations, whereas explicit learning depends on cognitive, hierarchical associations, and briefly describe an experiment that confirms a qualitative difference between implicit and explicit learning predicted by this hypothesis.
Information, Neighborhood Characteristics, and Home Mortgage Lending

Abstract This study explores the role of information externalities and neighborhood characteristics in mortgage lending. It assumes that a lender's knowledge about a neighborhood depends on its physical distance to that neighborhood. In addition, this paper proposes a measure of correlation in outcomes of loans made for neighboring properties, to assess the effect of neighborhood attributes. The empirical results reveal that loan rejection rates rise with increases in the lender-property distance for applications received by small institutions. Furthermore, the effect of neighborhood attributes is modest, conditional on loan, applicant, and lender characteristics. Further exploration indicates group disparities in these effects.