cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Project Step-Up: feasibility of a comprehensive school-based prevention program

Inner-city, low-income Black and Latino youth are at high risk for developing severe behavioral difficulties and dropping out of high school. After-school programs are excellent resources for targeting these issues, yet most focus on middle school populations, address either academic or socioemotional issues rather than a combination of efforts, and struggle to engage at-risk youth. This article presents feasibility data regarding mental health needs and participation in Project Step-Up, a secondary prevention high school program targeting socioemotional and academic domains with linkages provided to mental health resources for hard-to-engage youth. Results indicate that participants exhibit preservice mental health needs at greater rates than manifested in the general population, yet demonstrate attendance and retention rates exceeding those typically reported by after-school programs. Participation differences by race/ethnicity indicate Project Step-Up's success at engaging Black and Latino youth. Study limitations, curriculum revisions, and planned future evaluations are further discussed. Language: en
Heterogeneous Sympathetic Innervation Influences Local Myocardial Repolarization in Normally Perfused Rabbit Hearts

Background—Heterogeneity of sympathetic innervation is thought to contribute to the potential for fatal arrhythmia. However, little is known about the effects of heterogeneous innervation on repolarization. Methods and Results—To assess this relationship, we measured activation recovery intervals (ARIs) from 64 epicardial sites in 11 rabbits studied 2 weeks after regional denervation produced by phenol and 4 sham-operated rabbits. ARI results were compared with the distribution of sympathetic innervation measured from 3D reconstructions of serial autoradiographs of [125I]metaiodobenzylguanidine and 99mTc-sestamibi. ARIs were recorded during baseline sinus rhythm, norepinephrine (NE) infusion (0.1 μg · kg−1 · min−1), and left stellate ganglion stimulation (SS). NE shortened ARI in 98% of electrodes in the denervated region. The degree of ARI shortening and dispersion increased (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively) as denervation became more severe. SS shortened ARI in 30% of electrodes in the denervated area,...
Biological activities of two fungistatic antibiotics produced by Bacillus cereus UW85.

Abstract Cultures and culture filtrates of Bacillus cereus UW85 suppress damping-off of alfalfa caused by Phytophthora medicaginis. We studied the role in disease suppression of two antibiotics from culture filtrates of UW85 that reversibly inhibited growth of P. medicaginis. We purified the two antibiotics by cation-exchange chromatography and high-voltage paper electrophoresis and showed that one of them, designated zwittermicin A, was an aminopolyol of 396 Da that was cationic at pH 7.0; the second, designated antibiotic B, appeared to be an aminoglycoside containing a disaccharide. Both antibiotics prevented disease of alfalfa seedlings caused by P. medicaginis. Purified zwittermicin A reversibly reduced elongation of germ tubes derived from cysts of P. medicaginis, and antibiotic B caused swelling of the germ tubes. Mutants generated with Tn917 or mitomycin C treatment were screened either for antibiotic accumulation in an agar plate diffusion assay or for the ability to suppress damping-off disease of alfalfa. Of 2,682 mutants screened for antibiotic accumulation, 5 mutants were substantially reduced in antibiotic accumulation and disease-suppressive activity. Of the 1,700 mutants screened for disease-suppressive activity, 3 mutants had reduced activity and they accumulated less of both antibiotics than did the parent strain. The amount of antibiotic accumulated by the mutants was significantly correlated with the level of disease suppression. Addition of either zwittermicin A or antibiotic B to alfalfa plants inoculated with a culture of a nonsuppressive mutant resulted in disease suppression. These results demonstrate that B. cereus UW85 produces two fungistatic antibiotics that contribute to suppression of damping-off disease of alfalfa.
Kinetics of Protein Complex Dissociation Studied by Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange and Mass Spectrometry.

The growing importance of protein aggregation diseases requires the development of new methods to elucidate the molecular features that are responsible for the incipient protein–protein interactions. Kinetic information from protein–protein association/dissociation reactions is particularly valuable for revealing mechanistic insight, but robust tools that can provide this information are somewhat lacking. In this work, we describe a hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX)-based method that provides rate constant information for protein oligomer dissociation, using the well-studied β-lactoglobulin (βLG) dimer as a model system to validate our approach. By measuring the rate of exchange at different regions of the protein using top-down tandem mass spectrometry and fitting the resulting data to an appropriate mathematical model, we are able to extract the dimer’s dissociation rate constant. We exploit the fact that regions of the protein that are part of the protein–protein interface have exchange patterns that a...
A phase I dose-escalation and pharmacokinetic (PK) study of XL647, a novel spectrum selective kinase inhibitor, administered orally daily to patients with advanced solid malignancies (ASM)

B242 Background: XL647 is an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases involved in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, including EGFR/ErbB1, ErbB2/HER2 and VEGFR2/KDR. In a previous Phase I study, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of XL647 was 350 mg when given for 5 consecutive days every 14 days. The purpose of the present study is to determine the MTD of XL647 when administered daily to patients (pts) with ASM. Methods: Cohorts of ASM pts received escalating dose levels of XL647 daily for repeated 28 day cycles. Safety is monitored continually and PK sampling is conducted to determine the Cmax and T1/2 at each dose level. Plasma markers reflecting effects of XL647 on angiogenesis are being analyzed. Eyebrow hair bulbs from a subset of pts are being evaluated as a potential surrogate for the effects of XL647 on signal transduction pathways. Tumor response is being assessed every 8 weeks by RECIST. Results: Twenty-four pts have been enrolled to date. Dose levels of 75 mg (n=3), 150 mg (n=3), 200 mg (n=3), 300 mg (n=11) and 350 mg (n=4) have been studied. A single DLT of Grade (G) 3 pneumonitis occurred in 1/6 pts at the 300 mg level. At 350 mg 2/4 pts developed a DLT of clinically asymptomatic G3 QTc prolongation (by machine and G2 by manual re-read) and the 300 mg dose level was declared the MTD. To date, 5 pts have been enrolled in an expanded 15 pt MTD cohort at 300 mg. The majority of pts have discontinued due to progressive disease (PD); 1 pt withdrew consent and 2 pts discontinued due to AEs (G3 pneumonitis and G3/4 drug-induced transaminitis). All ongoing pts are currently receiving 300 mg. Eleven pts achieved stable disease (SD) lasting â‰¥ 3mo. The most common AEs reported include G1/2 rash, diarrhea, fatigue, dysgeusia, and G1 asymptomatic QTc prolongation. PK analysis indicates rapid absorption with steady state concentrations reached by day 15. Eyebrow samples from 3 pts were analyzed. XL647 caused a significant reduction in the phosphorylation of the EGFR downstream signaling kinases AKT and ERK in 2/3 and 3/3 pts, respectively. Levels of pharmacodynamic plasma markers were not significantly changed after administration of XL647 and no PK/PD relationships have been identified to date in this phase I population. DCE-MRI analysis is ongoing for some patients in the expanded MTD cohort. Conclusion: XL647 is generally well-tolerated when administered daily at doses up to 300 mg. Eyebrow samples represent a potential surrogate tissue for assessment of inhibition of EGFR downstream targets by XL647. Updated safety and PK results will be presented.
Arthroscopic Fixation of Glenoid Rim Fractures After Reduction by Labral Repair

Surgical fixation of displaced, intra-articular glenoid fractures represents a clinical challenge. These fractures have traditionally been treated through open approaches to the glenohumeral joint; however, the morbidity associated with open surgery may be reduced with arthroscopic techniques. Previously described arthroscopic methods commonly use clamps and/or Kirschner wires to obtain and maintain provisional fixation. We describe our technique for minimally invasive, arthroscopic fixation of glenoid rim fractures using labral repair as an indirect reduction maneuver, followed by final fixation with an extra-articular screw. This method is safe, efficient, and reliable, and it can be used to approach a variety of intra-articular glenoid fractures.
Prevention & Control of Heated Turbidity in Bottled Yellow Rice Wine

Heated turbidity was a serious problem, mainly caused by rapid packaging before complete wine cooling after high temperature sterilization and easily presented in mechanized bottle filling of yellow rice wine, which would directly influence wine quality and damage enterprise economic benefits. The prevention methods of heated turbidity included water cooling method, wind cooling method, and natural cooling method.
Multi-focus, high resolution inspection system for extended range applications

Visual inspection of parts or structures for defects typically requires good spatial resolution to see the defects, but may also require a large focus range. But to obtain the best resolution from an imaging system, it needs to have a low f-number which limits the usable depth of field. Methods to use autofocus or focus stacking provides more range at high resolution, but often at the expense of computation time, loss of a real time image and uncertainty in scale changes. This paper describes an approach to quickly move through a range of focus positions without the need to move optics mechanically in a manner that is highly repeatable, maintains high resolution and provides the potential for a live image directly viewable by an inspector, even at microscope level magnifications. This paper will present the approach we investigated and discuss the pros and cons for a range of applications from large structures to small feature inspection. The paper will present examples of what resolution was achieved and how the multiple images might also be used to determine other parameters such as pose of a test surface.
Unemployment Insurance and the Great Recession

The Unemployment Insurance system of the United States is a federal-state partnership. It responded well to the usual frictional unemployment and to the several recessions since its creation in 193...
1972 IFAC congress paper: Partial realization of random systems

Consider a vector-valued stationary random process {Y"k}^~"-"~, from which the estimates, R"0, R"1, ..., R"N, of the covariance matrices EY"kY'"k"-"i, i=0, 1, 1, ..., N, can be made. The three matrices, (G(N), F(N), H(N)) are said to form a minimal partial realization of the process {Y"k}^~"-"~ if we can write In the paper an algorithm is described for recursively calculating the minimal partial repreentations for the sequences R"0, ..., R"N, N=0, 1, ..., taken as inputs to the algorithm.
Making Meaning in Computers: Synthetic Ethology Revisited

This report describes synthetic ethology, a scientific methodology in which we construct synthetic worlds in which synthetic agents evolve and become coupled to their environment. First we review the motivations for synthetic ethology as an experimental methodology and explain how it can be used to investigate intentionality and meaning, and the mechanisms from which they emerge, with an especial emphasis on communication and language. Second, we present several examples of such experiments, in which genuine (i.e., not simulated) meaningful communication evolved in a population of simple agents. Finally we discuss the extension of the synthetic ethology paradigm to the problems of structured communications and mental states, complex environments, and embodied intelligence, and suggest one way in which this extension could be accomplished. Indeed, synthetic ethology offers a new tool in a comprehensive research program investigating the neuro-evolutionary basis of cognitive processes.
Inertial aided dense & semi-dense methods for robust direct visual odometry

In this paper we give an evaluation of different direct methods for computing frame-to-frame motion estimates of a moving sensor rig composed of an RGB-D camera and an inertial measurement unit. In particular, we compare how semi-dense and fully dense tracking methods, with and without the aid of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), perform with respect to changes in image resolution, shutter speed, frame-rates, as well as image and depth noise. To perform an accurate and unbiased evaluation we employ a series of synthetically generated datasets using a simulated sensor rig composed of an RGB-D camera and an IMU. Our findings show that in the absence of motion blur or for cameras with high enough frame-rates relative to the camera motion, the methods are comparable when taking in consideration both accuracy and computation time.
Hyperfine structure and nuclear and electronic Zeeman effect of the D 2 1 ↔ H 4 3 transition of Pr 3 + :Ca F 2

The electronic and nuclear magnetic moments and the effective nuclear-quadrupole interactions of the ground and excited states of the 2940.97-\AA{} $^{1}D_{2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}^{3}H_{4}$ transition of ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$ ions in tetragonal sites of Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ have been measured using spectral hole burning, rf- and microwave-optical double-resonance and laser-excited fluorescence-excitation spectroscopy. The ground state is an electronic doublet of $E$ symmetry whose electronic magnetic moment tensor is given by $\frac{{g}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}\ensuremath{\beta}}{h}=5.44$ MHz/G and ${g}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=0$. The nuclear magnetic splitting factor parallel to the ${C}_{4}$ axis is $\frac{{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}^{g}}{2\ensuremath{\pi}}=1.65$ kHz/G, and the effective quadrupole coupling constant ${D}^{g}=+1.39$ MHz is dominated by pseudoquadrupole effects. The excited state is an electronic singlet, and rf-optical double resonance was used to determine the nuclear Zeeman splittings and obtain a very precise value for the nuclear magnetic moment of $^{141}\mathrm{Pr}$, i.e., $4.2754(5){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$. For fields parallel to the ${C}_{4}$ axis, ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{e}$ is unenhanced: $\frac{{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}^{e}}{2\ensuremath{\pi}}=1.2924\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0001$ kHz/G. However, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}^{e}}{2\ensuremath{\pi}}=2.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ kHz/G shows modest enhancement due to second-order admixture of other $^{1}D_{2}$ electronic levels. This result is used to assign the symmetry of the excited state as ${A}_{1}$ in the point group ${C}_{4v}$, and to locate the $E \mathrm{level}\ensuremath{\sim}200$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ higher. Unlike that of the ground state, the excited-state quadrupole coupling is dominated by real electric quadrupole interactions, and the constant is determined to be ${D}^{e}=\ensuremath{-}0.44$ MHz.
A novel regime for the dynamical Casimir effect

The dynamical Casimir effect (DCE) is the production of photons by the amplification of vacuum fluctuations. In this paper we demonstrate new resonance conditions in DCE that potentially allow the production of optical photons when the mechanical frequency is smaller than the lowest frequency of the cavity field. We consider a cavity with one mirror fixed and the other allowed to oscillate. In order to identify the region where production of photons takes place, we do a linear stability analysis and investigate the dynamic stability of the system under small fluctuations. By using a numerical solution of the Heisenberg equations of motion, the time evolution of the number of photons produced in the unstable region is studied.
Lustre Lockahead: Early experience and performance using optimized locking

Summary Recent Cray-authored Lustre modifications known as Lustre Lockahead show significantly improved write performance for collective, shared-file I/O workloads. Initial tests show write performance improvements of more than 200% for small transfer sizes and over 100% for larger transfer sizes compared to traditional Lustre locking. Standard Lustre shared-file locking mechanisms limit scaling of shared-file I/O performance on modern high-performance Lustre servers. The new Lockahead feature provides a mechanism for applications (or libraries) with knowledge of their I/O patterns to overcome this limitation by explicitly requesting locks. MPI-IO is able to use this feature to dramatically improve shared-file collective I/O performance, achieving more than 80% of file per process performance. This paper discusses our early experience using Lockahead with applications. We also present application and synthetic performance results and discuss performance considerations for applications that benefit from Lockahead.
A Combination of Allogeneic Stem Cells Promotes Cardiac Regeneration

Abstract Background The combination of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and cardiac stem cells (CSCs) synergistically reduces scar size and improves cardiac function in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Whereas allogeneic (allo-)MSCs are immunoevasive, the capacity of CSCs to similarly elude the immune system remains controversial, potentially limiting the success of allogeneic cell combination therapy (ACCT). Objectives This study sought to test the hypothesis that ACCT synergistically promotes cardiac regeneration without provoking immunologic reactions. Methods Gottingen swine with experimental ischemic cardiomyopathy were randomized to receive transendocardial injections of allo-MSCs + allo-CSCs (ACCT: 200 million MSCs/1 million CSCs, n = 7), 200 million allo-MSCs (n = 8), 1 million allo-CSCs (n = 4), or placebo (Plasma-Lyte A, n = 6). Swine were assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and pressure volume catheterization. Immune response was tested by histologic analyses. Results Both ACCT and allo-MSCs reduced scar size by −11.1 ± 4.8% (p = 0.012) and −9.5 ± 4.8% (p = 0.047), respectively. Only ACCT, but not MSCs or CSCs, prevented ongoing negative remodeling by offsetting increases in chamber volumes. Importantly, ACCT exerted the greatest effect on systolic function, improving the end-systolic pressure-volume relation (+0.98 ± 0.41 mm Hg/ml; p = 0.016). The ACCT group had more phospho-histone H3+ (a marker of mitosis) cardiomyocytes (p = 0.04), and noncardiomyocytes (p = 0.0002) than did the placebo group in some regions of the heart. Inflammatory sites in ACCT and MSC-treated swine contained immunotolerant CD3+/CD25+/FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (p Conclusions ACCT demonstrates synergistic effects to enhance cardiac regeneration and left ventricular functional recovery in a swine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy without adverse immunologic reaction. Clinical translation to humans is warranted.
Treatment-Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Adults: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Treatment Strategies.

Objective This study sought to assess the cost-effectiveness of 7 treatment strategies for treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults. Methods A model was developed to evaluate treatment alternatives for adults (18-64 years old) that consisted of 2 parts: a decision analytic model and a Markov model. The decision analytic model stratified 7 outpatient treatment strategies, and the Markov model accumulated benefits and costs across the life expectancy of a simulated cohort of individuals. The model was parameterized with probabilistic and deterministic parameters from the literature and an outcomes database to perform a Monte Carlo simulation of a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 adults with OCD to estimate net health benefits (NHBs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for each treatment strategy. OCD was considered treatment refractory in adults with an OCD diagnosis who failed first-line therapies. Encounters took place from 2012 to 2015, and the analyses were performed from November 2016 to February 2017. Results Partial hospitalization with step-down to intensive outpatient treatment was the most cost-effective of the 7 strategies, with an estimated ICER of $7,983 and mean (SD) NHB of 10.96 (0.53) quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) remaining. This result was 2.2 QALYs greater than that of the trial-based antidepressant and cognitive-behavioral therapy (ADM + CBT) strategy. Three additional ADM + CBT strategies were estimated not to be statistically significantly different from each other. These 4 ADM + CBT strategies outperformed both pharmacotherapy-only strategies. Conclusions Treatment strategies that include higher-intensity CBT, with effectiveness outcomes that approached efficacy estimates, were superior to real-world CBT strategies. However, given the limited availability of high-quality CBT, especially through use of commercial insurance networks, specialized treatment programs offer greater effectiveness than real-world therapies in achieving wellness for this severe patient population.
Psychotherapeutic Virtues and the Grammar of Faith

A new method for integrating secular psychotherapies into Christian practice, “the virtues approach,” is presented, which promises more fine-grained assessment of continuities and discontinuities b...
The phase II/III transition : Toward the proof of efficacy in cancer clinical trials

Few phase III investigations show a benefit for an experimental treatment when compared to a standard therapy or placebo. This illustrates the need for more reliable estimates of treatment effects from the phase II investigations used to design the more definitive phase III trials. In this manuscript, we examine four aspects of phase II clinical trial designs: (1) selecting endpoints; (2) defining the patient population for evaluation; (3) determining a level of activity that would justify a phase III trial; and (4) estimating sample sizes. In each area, problems with the conventional approaches are discussed and alternatives for the successful transition of phase II results to a phase III setting are suggested. An application of the design for patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer is illustrated.
Accretion-disk modelling of the optical-UV spectrum of quasars

The thin accretion-disk spectrum, including the effect of electron scattering , is calculated for a grid of the accretion parameters (black hole mass and accretion rate). It is shown that the luminosity and spectral slope in the UV and optical bands are uniquely determined by these parameters and depend only weakly on the viscosity parameter. The model calculations are compared with data from IUE and ground based observations for a sample of ∼70 quasars and Seyfert 1 nuclei, with UV spectra and fluxes in the 912-1450A band. It is found that the black hole mass is in the range 108 – 109.5M⊙ for the quasars, and 107.5 – 108.5M⊙ for the Seyferts in the sample, and that the ratio of UV to Eddington luminosities varies from ∼ 1 for luminous, high redshift quasars, to ≪ 0.01 for low luminosity objects. The optical (4200-7500A) band gives similar results. The correlation between the spectral slope and luminosity of quasars in the UV and optical bands can be explained by evolution along curves of constant black hole mass and decreasing accretion rate. The relation between the spectrum and the accretion parameters can be used to constrain the cosmological evolution of the objects.
ULAMA: A Utilization-Aware Matching Approach for robust on-demand spatial service brokers

Abstract This paper investigates an on-demand spatial service broker for suggesting service provider propositions and the corresponding time of service to mobile consumers while meeting the consumer’s maximum travel time and wait time constraints. The goal of the broker is to maximize the number of matched requests while also keeping the “eco-system” functioning and robust against variations in the supply–demand ratio by engaging as many service providers as possible and maintaining providers’ participation to ensure that providers do not drop out. This problem is important because of its many related societal applications in the on-demand and sharing economy (e.g., on-demand ride-hailing services, on-demand food delivery, etc.). Challenges of this problem include the need to satisfy many conflicting requirements of the broker, consumers and service providers and the high computational complexity since solving the problem for a number of available consumers at any time instant is NP-hard. Related work in spatial crowdsourcing and ridesharing has mainly focused on maximizing the number of matched requests and minimizing travel cost, but did not consider the importance of maintaining provider engagement and balancing provider utilization, which could become a priority when the available supply exceeds the demand. In this paper, we propose a Utilization-Aware Matching Approach (ULAMA) which employs novel provider-centric heuristics for balancing the utilization of providers, and a consumer-priority-based greedy matching algorithm that prioritizes consumers for maximizing the number of matched requests. Experimental results show that our proposed approach outperforms related work by achieving the lowest variance in provider utilization while matching all available providers even when supply greatly exceeds demand. Our approach also achieved a larger number of matched requests, particularly when supply exceeds demand and also when both supply and demand are balanced.
A conservative scheme for simulation of free-surface turbulent and wave flows

Abstract A numerical scheme with good conservation properties is developed for the simulation of free-surface turbulent and viscous wave flows using a surface-fitted curvilinear grid. The Navier–Stokes equations are written in a strong conservative formulation with respect to the curvilinear coordinates, and are discretized by a pseudo-spectral method in the horizontal directions and a finite-difference method in the vertical direction. Large-eddy simulation (LES) is implemented with the conservative scheme to extend the simulation capability to turbulent flows with higher Reynolds numbers. Fully nonlinear kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions are implemented at the free surface. The numerical scheme is validated using a variety of wave and vortical flow test cases. The results show good agreement with previous theoretical and numerical predictions, whereas the present scheme achieves significant improvement in the conservation of mass and momentum over the non-conservative scheme developed by Yang & Shen [1] . Meanwhile, the present conservative scheme is found to be more stable than the non-conservative scheme for the simulation of sideband waves and broadband waves. The effect of viscous dissipation on the long-term nonlinear wave evolution is also captured by the present scheme. The ability of the present scheme for simulating long-term wave-current-turbulence interaction is demonstrated by the computation of Langmuir circulation, for which the non-conservative scheme produces significant errors in mass and momentum conservation and the simulation fails. Flow features of the Langmuir circulation, such as the counter-rotating vortices and converging-diverging zones, have been successfully captured with our numerical scheme. The turbulence statistics also agree with the characteristics of Langmuir circulation.
Molecular Cloning and Serological Characterization of an Altered c-abl Gene Product Produced in Ph1 CML Patients

The reciprocal translocation between human chromosomes 9 and 22, termed the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph 1), is observed in more than 90% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. This translocation fuses sequences from a variable distance 5′ to the c-abl locus on chromosome 9 to sequences in a breakpoint cluster region (bcr) on chromosome 22. The appearance of the Ph 1 chromosome is correlated with the production of a novel 8.7-kb RNA transcript containing both bcr and c-abl sequences as well as with a 210-kd phosphoprotein (p210c-abl ) representing non-abl polypeptide sequences fused to c-abl-derived sequences. Antibodies prepared to a number of different c-abl domains and to bcr determinants were employed to characterize the normal and altered c-abl gene products. By combining a variety of cDNA cloning techniques, we have isolated bcr/abl clones representing 8.7 kb of contiguous mRNA sequence.
Revision Surgery for 5th Metatarsal Fractures

Repairing fractures of the 5th metatarsal (MT) between the proximal metaphysis and diaphysis poses a challenge to physicians due to the low blood supply and high forces experienced in the area. Fifth MT fractures can be treated nonoperatively or operatively; however, operative treatment typically results in faster recovery and a lower rate of re-fracture and is especially recommended for athletes. Intramedullary screw fixation is the most commonly used operative repair technique. Re-fracture of the 5th MT following screw fixation can occur and is common particularly in the athletic population, occurring in 4–12% of athletes. Causative factors are thought to include the high demands and stresses placed on the repair upon return to sport and improper screw length or positioning during initial repair. Thus, during revision surgery, it is essential to determine the proper screw length and ideal screw positioning to achieve a successful and lasting repair. The primary author’s practice advocates the use of shorter screw lengths due to the curvature of the 5th MT bone as opposed to the longer screw which is historically recommended and used with a “high and inside” technique.
Decreased 5'-nucleotidase activity in a T lymphocyte subpopulation from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The activity of the ectoenzyme 5′-nucleotidase (5′N) was determined in the T lymphocyte subpopulations from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). 5′N could be detected only in the T cells from patients whose B cells also had enzyme activity. The specific activity of CLL T4 cells was 0.17 +/- 0.02 micron/h/mg protein, similar to that of normal T4 cells, which was 0.13 +/- 0.08 micron/h/mg. The CLL T8 cells, however, had a significantly lower 5′N activity (0.17 +/- 0.02 micron/h/mg) than normal T8 cells (0.41 +/- 0.11 micron/h/mg) (P = .003). Normal null cells had very low activity, while much higher levels were found in the null cells of CLL patients whose B cells had activity. These findings document a difference in activity of an enzyme between the T8 cell population of patients with CLL and that of normal subjects.
Clinical study on the effect of hyperbaric oxygen assisted therapy on neuroprotein level in children with viral encephalitis

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the levels of neuro-related proteins in children with viral encephalitis. Methods 74 cases of children with viral encephalitis in our hospital from March 2017 to October 2018 were divided into control group (n=37) and experimental group (n=37) according to different treatment methods. The control group was given routine treatment, and the experimental group was given hyperbaric oxygen treatment on the basis of the above. The clinical efficacy, changes of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), myelin basic protein (MBP) before and after treatment, and recovery time of vital signs were observed. Results Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in the levels of neuro-related proteins between the two groups (P>0.05); after treatment, the contents of NSE, beta-EP, and MBP in the experimental group significantly decreased, and the total cure rate of the experimental group was significantly higher (91.89% vs.62.16%), the recovery time of vital signs significantly shortened, with statistically significant differences compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can not only effectively reduce the levels of neuro-related proteins in children with viral encephalitis, improve the total clinical cure rate and shorten the recovery time of vital signs. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Children; Viral encephalitis; Neuroprotein level
Elastic modulus mapping for bovine cortical bone from submillimeter- to submicron-scales using PeakForce Tapping atomic force microscopy

Abstract Bone is a composite material consisting of organic and inorganic components that are organized into hierarchical structures to provide load-bearing functions. This paper presents the results of PeakForce Tapping atomic force microscopy (AFM) scans on cut and polished bovine cortical bone specimens that were submerged in water. The elastic modulus map and surface morphology were obtained for various bone hierarchical structures from submillimeter- to submicron-scales. The elastic modulus of osteons (20.51 ± 6.85 GPa) was slightly lower than the interstitial bone (21.87 ± 5.48 GPa); they were both much greater than that of the cement lines (7.49 ± 4.23 GPa). The elastic modulus in the lamella structures varied periodically from higher values in thick sub-lamellae (21.49 ± 6.58 GPa) to the lower values in thin sub-lamellae (9.67 ± 2.69 GPa). The results also show relatively softer mineralized collagen fibril bundle arrays (12.94 ± 2.71 GPa) embedded in harder matrix materials (28.39 ± 5.75 GPa). The variations in the elastic modulus suggest different degrees of mineralization or different fibril orientations. The histograms of elastic modulus indicate the dominating compositions or dominating fibril orientations.
Patterns and individual differences in the coordination of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity during rest and acute stress tasks

Abstract Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is a core and central component of emotion. The myriad social and cognitive challenges faced by humans require flexible modulation of ANS activity for different contexts. In this study, simultaneous activity of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system was measured using respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-ejection period (PEP), respectively. Samples combined four previous studies (N=325) in which RSA and PEP were collected continuously during a resting baseline and an acute stressor, the Trier Social Stress Task. The concurrent relation between RSA and PEP responses was modeled in order to determine the extent to which SNS and PNS activity is coordinated at rest, in response to a stressor, and during recovery, and whether this coordination was moderated by age, race, sex, or baseline RSA and PEP. Overall, RSA and PEP were reciprocally coupled within task periods, perhaps reflecting shared regulatory mechanisms in the brain, independent of reciprocal responses to environmental demands. However, recovery from a stressor was characterized by uncorrelated activity and coactivation on average. Individuals also vary in the extent to which their SNS and PNS are reciprocally coupled; women, younger adults, and individuals with higher baseline RSA showed more reciprocal coupling than men, older adults, and those with lower baseline RSA, respectively, perhaps reflecting a greater range of physiological responding in the former group.
New Onset Nystagmus in a Patient with Multiple Sclerosis.

Author(s): Daugherty, Shane; King, Briana; Milliron, Melody; Carlson, Jestin N. | Abstract: CasePresentation: A 50-year-old male with a history of multiple sclerosis with dizziness and nystagmus presented to the emergency department. On physical exam, nystagmus was noted. Computed tomography of the head without contrast was obtained showing a low density in the left frontal lobe. During admission, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were consistent with Balo’s concentric sclerosis. Discussion: Balo’s concentric sclerosis is a rare, inflammatory demyelinating disease, often considered to be an infrequent variant of multiple sclerosis with alternating rings of healthy myelin and demyelination leading to pathognomonic findings of concentric lamella on T2 or contrast-enhanced T1 MRI imaging.
Deep Reinforcement Scheduling of Energy Storage Systems for Real-Time Voltage Regulation in Unbalanced LV Networks With High PV Penetration

The ever-growing higher penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in low-voltage (LV) distribution systems brings both opportunities and challenges to voltage support and regulation. This paper proposes a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based scheduling scheme of energy storage systems (ESSs) to mitigate system voltage deviations in unbalanced LV distribution networks. The ESS-based voltage regulation problem is formulated as a multi-stage quadratic stochastic program, with the objective of minimizing the expected total daily voltage regulation cost while satisfying operational constraints. While existing voltage regulation methods are mostly focused on one-time-step control, this paper explores a day-horizon system-wide voltage regulation problem. In other words, the size of action and state spaces are extremely high-dimensional and need to be delicately handled. Furthermore, in order to overcome the difficulty of modeling uncertainties and develop a real-time solution, a learn-to-schedule feedback control framework is proposed by adapting the problem to a model-free DRL setting. The proposed algorithm is tested on a customized 6-bus system and a modified IEEE 34-bus system. Simulation results validate the effectiveness and near-optimality of voltage regulation by ESS in comparison with a deterministic quadratic program solution.
Optimizing Roadside Advertisement Dissemination in Vehicular Cyber-Physical Systems

In this paper, we address a promising application in the Vehicular Cyber-Physical Systems (VCPS) called roadside advertisement dissemination. Its application involves three elements: the drivers in the vehicles, Roadside Access Points (RAPs), and shopkeepers. The shopkeeper wants to attract as many customers as possible, through using RAPs to disseminate advertisements to the passing vehicles. Upon receiving an advertisement, the driver may detour towards the shop, depending on the detour distance. Given a fixed number of RAPs and the traffic distribution, our goal is to optimize the RAP placement for the shopkeeper to maximally attract potential customers. This application is a non-trivial extension of traditional coverage problems, the difference being that we use RAPs to cover the traffic flows. RAP placement algorithms may pose complex trade-offs. If we place RAPs at locations that can provide small detour distances to attract more customers, these locations may not necessarily be located in heavy traffic regions. While heavy traffic regions cover more flows, they can cause large detour distances, making shopping less attractive to customers. To balance this trade off, novel RAP placement algorithms are proposed. Since real-world traffic distributions exhibit unique patterns, here we further consider the Manhattan grid scenario and then propose corresponding near-optimal solutions. Real trace-driven experiments validate the competitive performance of the proposed algorithms.
Endothelial peNOS signaling and ET-1 mRNA expression during acute hyperinsulinemia in type 2 diabetes (1072.5)

Increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) and reduced endothelial nitric oxide production are thought to play a role in vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, little is known in humans about changes in endothelial signaling in response to insulin stimulation. Therefore, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling and ET-1 expression were measured from vastus lateralis skeletal muscle biopsies taken before and 60 min into a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp in 6 healthy controls (body fat: 22.8±3.6 %, glucose disposal rate (GDR): 12.6±2.4 mg/kg lean body mass (LBM)/min) and 5 T2D (body fat: 43.4±4.6%, GDR: 6.7±2.5mg/kg LBM/min). Muscle samples were analyzed for pAKT (ser473), AKT, peNOS (ser1177) and eNOS protein and ET-1 mRNA expression. In response to insulin, peNOS/eNOS was not significantly different between groups (controls: 1.13±0.22, T2D: 0.69±0.31 fold change from baseline; p>0.05). The increase in ET-1 mRNA from baseline (controls: 1.0±0.4, T2D: 3.4±1.4, p>0.05) was also not different ...
Who gives nutritional advice? Who follows it?

Nutritional advice is rampant. Nutritional books, nutritional articles, specialty magazines, health food stores, and weight reduction institutes all give advice. Proposed national dietary guidelines have been published and more are likely to follow. Some respite from the flood may occur following a lawsuit against the estate of Adele Davis and her publishers following the death of an infant who was treated by his parents according to information they gleaned from one of Adele Davis9 books. Many reasons have been given for the proliferation of "nutritional experts." Hard data, easily verifiable, are hard to obtain. The minimal needs for vitamins and minerals can be verified in animals and confirmed by elimination of disease symptoms.
Improvements in SOI technology for RF switches

Over the past few years, CMOS Silicon-oninsulator (SOI) has emerged as the dominant technology for RF switches in RF front end modules for cell phones and WiFi. RF SOI technologies were created from silicon processes originally used for high speed logic applications, but the technology was modified to meet the performance needs of RF switches. The RF SOI technologies have been improved to follow the evolving system requirements for insertion loss, isolation, voltage tolerance, linearity, integration and cost. In this paper, the performance results of the latest generations of RF SOI switch technologies from IBM are reviewed and technology elements that contribute to improved performance are discussed. Future improvements are also discussed.
Functionally Graded CVD Mullite Environmental Barrier Coatings

Functionally graded mullite coatings have been deposited on flat SiC substrates and on SiC fibers by chemical vapor deposition. The composition of the coating was varied from near-stoichiometric mullite (3Al 2 O 3 2SiO 2 )at the coating/substrate interface to approximately i-Al 2 O 3 , a derivative of the mullite structure in which all Si had been replaced by Al, at the coating surface. These mullite coatings were adherent on thermal cycling and exhibited excellent high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion resistance. Mullite has a close CTE match with SiC, accounting for superior coating adhesion, while the coating surface in contact with aggressive environments was virtually Si-free, accounting for improved hot-corrosion resistance.
Facial emotion recognition in continuous video

Facial emotion recognition-the detection of emotion states from video of facial expressions-has applications in video games, medicine, and affective computing. While there have been many advances, an approach has yet to be revealed that performs well on the non-trivial Audio/Visual Emotion Challenge 2011 data set. A majority of approaches still employ single frame classification, or temporally aggregate features. We assert that in unconstrained emotion video, a better classification strategy should model the change in features, versus simply combining them. We compute a derivative of features with histogram differencing and derivative of Gaussians and model the changes with a hidden Markov model. We are the first to incorporate temporal information in terms of derivatives. The efficacy of the approach is tested on the non-trivial AVEC2011 data set and increases classification rates on the data by as much as 13%.
Katherine Sharpe. Coming of Age on Zoloft: How Antidepressants Cheered Us Up, Let Us Down, and Changed Who We Are

First-person narratives by college students about their psychiatric treatment are a unique source of feedback for counselors and psychiatrists, bringing to the fore the voice of the patient, which ...
The Atmospheric Response to Weak Sea Surface Temperature Fronts

AbstractThe response of the atmospheric boundary layer to fronts of sea surface temperature (SST) is characterized by correlations between wind stress divergence and the downwind component of the SST gradient and between the wind stress curl and the crosswind component of the SST gradient. The associated regression (or coupling) coefficients for the wind stress divergence are consistently larger than those for the wind stress curl. To explore the underlying physics, the authors introduce a linearized model of the atmospheric boundary layer response to SST-induced modulations of boundary layer hydrostatic pressure and vertical mixing in the presence of advection by a background Ekman spiral. Model solutions are a strong function of the SST scale and background advection and recover observed characteristics. The coupling coefficients for wind stress divergence and curl are governed by distinct physics. Wind stress divergence results from either large-scale winds crossing the front or from a thermally direct...
Rural Food Pantry Users’ Stigma and Safety Net Food Programs

Increasing numbers of individuals in our community have been seeking local food pantry assistance. Previous studies of food pantries found that users show low rates of governmental aid receipt, especially in rural areas. We assessed evidence that suggests that post-recession need has mitigated rural reluctance to pursue government assistance. The inadequacy of government and local food assistance to address the problem of food insecurity in our community is discussed.
High-performance VLSI through package-level interconnects

A packaging technique utilizing controlled-collapse chip connection to integrate two existing high-performance VLSI devices into a single pin-grid-array (PGA) package is described. The design and layout of the multilayer ceramic package, electrical and thermal performance, and future enhancements are discussed. The performance of the package is compared to that of a companion two-cavity, wire-bonded evaluation package. The potential use of the packaging technique as a substitute for wafer-level integration is examined. >
"You mean we have to work together!?!": a study of the formation and interaction of programming teams in a college course setting

We explored how software development teams form and interact in a computer science college course setting and what an instructor can do to enhance effective teamwork. The experiences of computer science college course's teams are compared and contrasted to the theory of Bruce Tuckman's stages of small group development model, which he characterized as forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. Participants repeatedly self-assessed their enthusiasm and skill levels over time using a questionnaire by agreeing or disagreeing to statements utilizing a five-point Likert scale. The data shows patterns similar to that of Tuckman's model. Since most people find his model easy to understand, it may provide an effective tool to teach teamwork and monitor team development. Indicators for which instructors or students can watch to identify a team that is struggling are provided.
Pulsed upconversion of Tm3+-doped sol–gel silicate glasses

Abstract Upconversion processes allow materials to emit light of shorter wavelength than the light incident upon them. Materials with high upconversion efficiency have numerous potential applications in solid-state physics, such as blue upconversion lasers. We study the time-evolution of upconversion fluorescence of Tm 3+ in a sol–gel glass host following pulsed, red light excitation. The 1 D 2 → 3 F 4 intensity varies quadratically with the laser intensity, indicating a two-photon upconversion mechanism. Maximum upconversion intensity occurred for 0.5% Tm 3+ with 1% Al 3+ . We analyzed the main relaxation processes affecting the upconversion emission, namely ion clustering and atmospheric water adsorption.