cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P2-08-15: 21-gene recurrence score testing utilization among older women from different races: A surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) study

Background: About 50% of breast cancers (BrCa) occur in women over the age of 65. Although chemotherapy improves survival in patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive BrCa, benefits of chemotherapy in older woman must be weighed against the risks of morbidity associated with chemotherapy and non-BrCa associated mortality at older ages. OncotyeDX, 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) identifies patients who may benefit from chemotherapy. In this study we looked at utilization of RS testing and likelihood of high-risk RS score in the older population across different races. Materials and Methods: We used Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) data, linked to RS scores by the SEER program, to identify women older than 18 diagnosed with ER positive BrCa between the years 2004 and 2015. Patients with Stage 4 disease and T4 tumors were excluded. Patients were stratified into low (RS 25) groups following TAILORx trial cut offs. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with utilization of RS testing and association with high-risk RS. Results: Of 539,693 patients older than 18 years of age with ER positive, stage I-III BrCa identified between 2004 and 2015 in SEER registries, 109,835 (20.35%) had RS testing performed. The odds of having RS testing done was lower among women ≥65 compared to younger women in all races. The characteristics that increased odds of testing included progesterone receptor positive tumors, later years of diagnosis (2010-2015 compared to 2004-2009), negative nodes, T1 tumors, and Grade 1-2 (compared to Grade 3) tumors, were largely consistent across race groups. Blacks and American Indian/Alaskan Natives had higher odds of high-risk RS compared to non-Hispanic whites, after adjusting for stage, grade, and age. Being age 65 and older reduced the odds of having high-risk RS by odds ratio (OR) 0.58 in non-Hispanic whites, adjusted for progesterone receptor status, tumor size, positive nodes, and grade. The reduced odds of high-risk RS associated with being age 65 and older was more pronounced among black women, adjusted OR 0.44 (0.37 - 0.51) and among Asian or Pacific Islander women OR 0.44 (0.37 - 0.51). Conclusion: Older women of all races are less likely to be tested for 21-gene RS. Among women who were tested, those age 65 and older were less likely to have high-risk RS result. Blacks and American Indian/Alaskan Natives have higher risk of having high-risk RS after controlling for stage, age and other clinical and pathologic predictors. Citation Format: Evin Gulbahce, Sandra White, Gregory J Stoddard, Kim Herget, Carol Sweeney. 21-gene recurrence score testing utilization among older women from different races: A surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-15.
Glycosaminoglycan binding motif at S1/S2 proteolytic cleavage site on spike glycoprotein may facilitate novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) host cell entry

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a pandemic and continues to spread around the globe at an unprecedented rate. To date, no effective therapeutic is available to fight its associated disease, COVID-19. Our discovery of a novel insertion of glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding motif at S1/S2 proteolytic cleavage site (681-686 (PRRARS)) and two other GAG-binding-like motifs within SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (SGP) led us to hypothesize that host cell surface GAGs might be involved in host cell entry of SARS-CoV-2. Using a surface plasmon resonance direct binding assay, we found that both monomeric and trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike more tightly bind to immobilized heparin (KD = 40 pM and 73 pM, respectively) than the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV SGPs (500 nM and 1 nM, respectively). In competitive binding studies, the IC50 of heparin, tri-sulfated non-anticoagulant heparan sulfate, and non-anticoagulant low molecular weight heparin against SARS-CoV-2 SGP binding to immobilized heparin were 0.056 μM, 0.12 μM, and 26.4 μM, respectively. Finally, unbiased computational ligand docking indicates that heparan sulfate interacts with the GAG-binding motif at the S1/S2 site on each monomer interface in the trimeric SARS-CoV-2 SGP, and at another site (453-459 (YRLFRKS)) when the receptor-binding domain is in an open conformation. Our study augments our knowledge in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and advances carbohydrate-based COVID-19 therapeutic development.
Neurofibromatosis-Associated Diffuse Lung Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Neurofibromatosis-1 or von Recklinghausen's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder. Cafe au lait macules are generally the initial presenting feature of the disease, and there can be varying degrees of involvement of the skeletal, neurological, and pulmonary organ systems as the disease progresses. The existence of neurofibromatosis-associated diffuse lung disease (NF-DLD) as a separate entity has always been questioned and, is often attributed to cigarette smoking, rather than a manifestation of NF-1. A 59-year-old male with a history of neurofibromatosis presented with shortness of breath and ataxia for 10 days. Exam findings were pertinent for tachycardia, tachypnea, and diffuse cutaneous neurofibromas. Workup showed white blood count (WBC) of 15.9 k/ul, electrocardiogram with biatrial enlargement and right axis deviation, and a chest X-ray showed left lower lobe infiltrate concerning for pneumonia. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed left basilar consolidation with surrounding ground-glass opacities and innumerable bilateral thin-walled cysts. The latter finding raised suspicion for NF-DLD. The patient was evaluated by pulmonology with recommendations to continue treatment for pneumonia and follow-up with high-resolution CT of the chest and complete pulmonary function testing in 12 weeks. He was discharged in a stable condition after five days of hospitalization. NF-DLD is a pulmonary manifestation of NF-1 with non-specific respiratory symptoms and a characteristic pattern of upper lobe cystic and basilar interstitial lung disease. It usually presents in the 4th or 5th decade, earlier in tobacco users, but a few pediatric cases have also been reported. The presentation of NF-DLD can be variable, ranging from dyspnea, chest pain, chronic cough, hemoptysis, or an incidental finding on CT. Multiple complications, including spontaneous pneumothorax due to the rupture of subpleural blebs, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic respiratory failure, are associated with NF-DLD. NF-DLD can be prevented by smoking cessation but, there are no known modalities for treatment; however, complications can be managed symptomatically. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenge that NF-DLD represents to clinicians. The patient's CT from two years ago showed emphysematous changes along with scattered fibrosis and scarring, and no cystic changes were mentioned, unlike his latest CT, which showed innumerable cysts. This patient had a history of smoking, which likely put him at a higher risk for the development of cysts. However, he quit smoking 10 years prior, which suggests that his lung changes are not secondary to cigarette smoke, further confirming our suspicion for NF-DLD. Although routine screening is not implemented due to the rarity of the disease, NF-DLD should not be ruled out in patients with NF-1 presenting with pulmonary symptoms until a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is obtained.
Sustainability in the Banking Industry Through Technological Transformation

Digital revolution in financial services opened the market to competition, propelled by regulatory and compliance pressures, technological disruptions shaping innovative capabilities, and customer experience expectations. A dramatic, costly, and risky inflection point challenged the sustainability of the traditional banking industry. A new landscape that is competitive, collaborative, entrepreneurial, inclusive, and unrecognizable will emerge with strong alliances. An enhanced, instant, and comprehensive service overarching the complete financial life of the empowered customers is imperative. New agile strategies of key vendors will leverage the benefits of technological advancements while taking advantage of big data for generating value-added for clients and monetizing new business opportunities. Some ethical and safety concerns remain. Transformation, harmonization, and convergence will accelerate on the global scale and convert financial services to be intelligent, smart, mobile, and automated utilizing social media networks and cyber commerce.
A primer on Bayesian estimation of prevalence of COVID-19 patient outcomes

A common research task in COVID-19 studies often involves the prevalence estimation of certain medical outcomes. Although point estimates with confidence intervals are typically obtained, a better approach is to estimate the entire posterior probability distribution of the prevalence, which can be easily accomplished with a standard Bayesian approach using binomial likelihood and its conjugate beta prior distribution. Using two recently published COVID-19 data sets, we performed Bayesian analysis to estimate the prevalence of infection fatality in Iceland and asymptomatic children in the United States.
Quasi-hydrodynamic lubrication effect of clay particles on sand bed erosion

Publisher Summary The effect of kaolin clay particles in changing the critical shear stress for the incipient motion of sand by water flow is explored in this chapter. The chapter starts with pure sand as the clay weight fraction increases the critical shear stress decreases and reaches a minimum value at a characteristic weight fraction. Based on a quasihydrodynamic interpretation of the lubricating effect of interstitial clay particles, it is suggested that the characteristic weight fraction may mark the transition between thin-film and thick-film lubrication. This effect of clay must be accounted for in modeling the scour of riverine or estuarine sand beds containing clay. The lubricating effect of kaolin is determined by the orientation of the (individual) plate-like particles—in fresh water, they are stacked like decks of cards (face-to-face orientation), whereas in salt water, because of cohesion, their fractal arrangement is more like a card house (edge-to-face orientation). In salt water, at the same clay weight fraction, the flocs contain semirandomly oriented particles that are therefore less effective in reducing the critical shear stress.
The utilization distribution: wildlife research methods as a tool for understanding visitor use in remote parks and protected areas

In remote parks and other protected areas, estimates of visitor use levels and distributions are often limited in accuracy and feasibility. Visitors to these areas may not see any staff during thei...
Choice, Voice, and Exit: School Vouchers in Milwaukee

Do market-based policies, like school vouchers, that provide an exit option enhance or diminish parental involvement? I examine this question using original survey data from parents participating i...
A future with no MVC patients? Impact of autonomous vehicles on orthopaedic trauma may be slow and steady.

Introduction Orthopaedic trauma results in significant patient morbidity. Autonomous vehicle (AV) companies have invested over $100 billion in product development. Successful AVs are projected to reduce motor vehicle collision (MVC)-related injuries by 94%. The purpose of this study was to estimate the timing and magnitude of AV impact on orthopaedic trauma volume. Methods ICD 9 codes consistent with acetabulum (OTA 62), pelvis (OTA 61), hip (OTA 31), femur (OTA 32-33), tibia (OTA 41-43), ankle (OTA 44), and calcaneus (OTA 82) fractures and the proportion of cases caused by MVC were taken from the National Trauma Databank (NTDB) 2009-2016. Regression was performed on estimates of market penetration for autonomous vehicles taken from the literature. Results For NTDB years 2009 to 2016, 300,233 of 987,610 fractures of interest were the result of MVC (30.4%). However, the percentage of MVC mechanism of injury ranged from 9% to 53% depending on fracture type. Regression of estimates of AV market penetration predicted an increase of 2.2% market share per year. In the next 15 years we project 22% market penetration resulting in a 6% reduction in orthopaedic lower extremity trauma volume. Conclusion Adoption of AVs will result in a projected 8% reduction in MVC-related orthopaedic trauma-related injuries over a 15-year period. Although this represents a significant reduction in morbidity, the advent of AVs will not eliminate the need for robust orthopaedic trauma programs. The gradual rate of injury reduction will allow hospitals to adapt and reallocate resources accordingly.
Cost-effectiveness of field trauma triage among injured children transported by emergency medical services.

Abstract Background A pediatric field triage strategy that meets the national policy benchmark of ≥95% sensitivity would likely improve health outcomes but increase heath care costs. Our objective was to compare the cost-effectiveness of current pediatric field triage practices to an alternative field triage strategy that meets the national policy benchmark of ≥95% sensitivity. Study design We developed a decision-analysis Markov model to compare the outcomes and costs of the two strategies. We used a prospectively collected cohort of 3507 (probability weighted, unweighted n = 2832) injured children transported by 44 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies to 28 trauma and non-trauma centers in the Northwestern United States from 1/1/2011 to 12/31/2011 to derive the alternative field triage strategy and to populate model probability and cost inputs for both strategies. We compared the two strategies by calculating quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and health care costs over a time horizon from the time of injury until death. We set an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio threshold of less than $100,000 per QALY for the alternative field triage to be a cost-effective strategy. Results Current pediatric field triage practices had a sensitivity of 87.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.9 to 95.0%) and a specificity of 82.3% (95% CI 81.0 to 83.5%) and the alternative field triage strategy had a sensitivity of 97.3% (95% CI 82.6 to 99.6%) and a specificity of 46.1% (95% CI 43.8 to 48.4%). The alternative field triage strategy would cost $476,396 per QALY gained compared to current pediatric field triage practices and thus would not be a cost-effective strategy. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated similar findings. Conclusion Current field triage practices do not meet national policy benchmarks for sensitivity. However, an alternative field triage strategy that meets the national policy benchmark of ≥95% sensitivity is not a cost-effective strategy.
The influence of step-down technique on lower extremity mechanics during curb descent.

Abstract When stepping down from a curb, individuals typically make initial ground contact with either their rearfoot or forefoot. The purpose of this study was to compare vertical ground reaction forces, lower extremity mechanics, and intra-limb work distribution when individuals adopt a rearfoot technique vs. a forefoot technique, during simulated curb descent. Sixteen subjects stepped down from a platform with both a rearfoot and a forefoot technique. Vertical ground reaction forces and sagittal plane joint kinematics and kinetics were examined for the lead limb during the step-down task. Paired t-tests were used for comparison. Subjects demonstrated greater ankle joint power and negative work, and less hip joint power and negative work, with the forefoot technique vs. the rearfoot technique. Total lower extremity negative work was greater for the forefoot technique vs. the rearfoot technique. The percent contribution to the total negative work was greater for the ankle joint, and less for the hip and knee joints, with the forefoot technique vs. the rearfoot technique. The results of this study may provide insight into how curb descent technique can be modified to alter lower extremity loading.
Timing of Vaccine Decision-Making Among First-Time Parents.

Abstract Objective Decreased childhood vaccination can lead to local outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease. In a pilot study from our group, 72% of parents of newborns reported initiating their vaccine decision-making for that child prior to conception. Since a sound understanding of the timing of parental vaccine decision-making is needed to direct educational efforts, we surveyed a national cohort of first-time parents to extend our preliminary findings. Methods From March 2019-March 2020, first-time parents of newborns in mother-baby units of the Better Outcomes through Research for Newborns (BORN) network completed the Vaccine Preference Development Survey (VPDS). The VPDS measures intent to vaccinate, timing of vaccine decision-making, and sources of influence. Univariate and multivariate analyses explored associations between intent to vaccinate and timing of vaccine decision-making with demographic variables. Results Twenty-three sites provided surveys through site-specific nonrandom systemic sampling; 91% (1393/1524) of surveys were used in the analysis. Most parents planned to fully vaccinate (1191/1380, 86.3%) and started vaccine decision-making prior to conception (850/1378, 61.7%). Maternal age, race and ethnicity, relationship status, and education were all significantly associated with planning to fully vaccinate and preconception decision-making (p Conclusions Vaccine decision-making occurs preconception for most new parents. Initiating vaccine discussions during the birth hospitalization may be too late.
The Psychiatric Consequences of Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse and Addiction

Psychiatric symptoms are commonly associated with alcohol and drug use, particularly in chronic addictive use. The relationship between alcohol and drug addiction and idiopathic psychiatric disorders is complex and requires a thorough understanding of both categories of disorders. Not only are the etiology and prognosis of each disorder different, but each requires a unique and sophisticated approach to treatment (1–4).
Ranolazine and late cardiac sodium current--a therapeutic target for angina, arrhythmia and more?

Ranolazine is a new antianginal drug approved for clinical use in the United States in January 2006. A study published in this same issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology characterizes ranolazine block of late sodium current caused by the long QT syndrome 3 mutations. This commentary discusses the implications of that study and the background and implications for block of late cardiac sodium current in general. British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 148, 4–6. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706713
What's in a Name? Would a Rose by Any Other Name Really Smell as Sweet?

What do William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, and Robert Frost have in common? All are common sources for law review article titles. This compendium of titles will not necessarily help you decide on the title for your next article, but it will at least provide amusement and help you delay until another day that which you ought to be doing today. As one would expect, the works of William Shakespeare provide a myriad of titles and phrases well suited to law review article titles. So do the works of Charles Dickens. Somewhat surprisingly Hamlet is more popular than Macbeth and A Tale of Two Cities more popular than Bleak House. There are far fewer references to James Bond and Dr. Seuss than you might imagine.
Estimating ionospheric delay using kriging: 2. Impact on satellite‐based augmentation system availability

[1] An augmentation of the Global Positioning System, the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) broadcasts, at each node of an ionospheric grid, an estimate of the vertical ionospheric delay and an integrity bound on the vertical delay error. To date, these quantities have been determined from a planar fit of slant delay measurements, projected to vertical using an obliquity factor specified by the standard thin shell model of the ionosphere. In a future WAAS upgrade (WAAS Follow-On Release 3), however, they will be calculated using an established, geo-statistical estimation technique known as kriging that generally provides higher estimate accuracy than planar fit estimation. This paper analyzes the impact of kriging on system availability. In a preliminary assessment, kriging is found to produce improvements in availability of up to 15%.
Delivery of Movies via the Internet: Uncovering the Effects of the Availability of Digital Formats on Physical Sales

The impact of the availability of technology-enabled digital goods on the sales of the physical counterpart faces uncertainty in the electronic commerce domain. We address the issue empirically by identifying the effect of the availability of digitally-delivered movies on physical DVD movie sales. Unique to our study is our interest in not only purchased digital goods, but rented digital goods as well. We construct a robust panel dataset consisting of movie data collected from Amazon and Barnes and Noble on the same day for every movie observed. A key feature of our dataset is the availability of digital purchase and digital rental movie formats at Amazon. Our results show that the availability of the digital purchase format does not have a significant effect on DVD sales. Surprisingly, the availability of the digital rental format is associated with a significant reduction in DVD sales. The results imply that a product substitution effect may be occurring between the digital rental and the physical DVD purchase of the same movie. We also conduct robustness tests to show under which conditions the effect is greatest. Our results also provide practical implications to inform strategies regarding movie format release windows.
Vitamin D in cutaneous carcinogenesis: part II.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a known risk factor for skin cancer but is also the principal means by which the body obtains vitamin D. Several studies have suggested that vitamin D plays a protective role in a variety of internal malignancies. With regard to skin cancer, epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that vitamin D and its metabolites may have a similar protective effect. These noncalcemic actions of vitamin D have called into question whether the current recommended intake of vitamin D is too low for optimal health and cancer prevention. Part I will review the role of vitamin D in the epidermis; part II will review the role of vitamin D in keratinocyte-derived tumors to help frame the discussion on the possible role of vitamin D in the prevention of skin cancer.
Use of soil-streamwater relationships to assess regional patterns of acidic deposition effects in the northeastern USA

Declines of acidic deposition levels by as much as 50% since 1990 have led to partial recovery of surface waters in the northeastern USA but continued depletion of soil calcium through this same period suggests a disconnection between soil and surface water chemistry. To investigate the role of soil-surface water interactions in recovery from acidification, the first regional survey to directly relate soil chemistry to stream chemistry during high flow was implemented in a 4144-km2 area of the Catskill region of New York, where acidic deposition levels are among the highest in the East. More than 40% of 95 streams sampled in the southern Catskill Mountains were determined to be acidified and had inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations that exceeded a threshold that is toxic to aquatic biota. More than 80% likely exceeded this threshold during the highest flows, but less than 10% of more than 100 streams sampled were acidified in the northwestern portion of the region. Median Oa horizon soil base saturation ranged from 50% to 80% at 200 sites across the region, but median base saturation in the upper 10 cm of the B horizon was less than 20% across the region and was only 2% in the southern area. Aluminum is likely to be interfering with root uptake of calcium in the mineral horizon in approximately half the sampled watersheds. Stream chemistry was highly variable over the Catskill region and, therefore, did not always reflect the calcium depletion of the B horizon that our sampling suggested was nearly ubiquitous throughout the region. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
A plasmoid model for the solar wind

A model describing magnetized plasmoids as a possible origin of the solar wind is discussed. The magnetized plasmoids are assumed to be created and accelerated to a very high speed through reconnection processes from small-scale magnetic loops. Afterward, the plasmoids are considered to be nearly in a relaxed state under magnetic helicity conservation and to expand freely and linearly. Characteristics of such plasmoids with finite β are examined. The results show remarkable agreement between the model predictions and spacecraft observations including temperature characteristics such as the dependence on the heliocentric distance and ion mass. The validity of the assumptions and the applicability of the model are also discussed.
Pulmonary hypertension: Classification and treatment

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) comprises a variety of conditions that lead to elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. Because the treatment for PH depends on the cause, it is critical to accurately classify the cause of the problem. A useful classification system, developed and refined at the World Conference on Pulmonary Hypertension, held every five years, has been developed. In this system, patients can be classified as having PH due to the following: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); left-sided heart disease; lung or respiratory disease; chronic thromboembolic disease; or multifactorial or unclear mechanisms. Although challenges in classifying patients remain, such as the patient with some left-sided heart disease but ‘out of proportion' PH, this system has been critical in helping guide therapy. For patients who are deemed to be in group 1 (PAH), several approved therapies are available, including prostanoids (available in intravenous, subcutaneous and inhaled forms), endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Each of these agents has been approved based on improvement in exercise capacity demonstrated in randomized controlled trials. A treatment algorithm that provides guidance for choosing the appropriate treatment for PAH patients has been published. Patients who are considered to be ‘high risk', such as those with overt right heart failure, are generally appropriate for parenteral therapy, whereas those who are only moderate or low risk are usually candidates for initial oral therapy. In addition, close follow-up allows for the consideration of additional therapies. Many current trials, in fact, are studying this ‘goal-directed' approach to the treatment of PAH.
Long-Term Survival and Quality of Life Justify Cardiac Surgery in the Very Elderly Patient

Background Elderly patients are often discouraged from undergoing cardiac surgery procedures owing to the perception of high mortality and poor functional outcomes. This study evaluates long-term survival and quality of life after cardiac surgery in octogenarian and nonagenarian patients. Methods We identified a 459 patient cohort greater than 80 years of age who underwent elective cardiac surgery at our institution from 1994 to 1999. Survival was assessed with Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared with an age-matched and sex-matched population cohort. Among survivors, quality of life was assessed 8 years postoperatively using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12 Health Survey, version 2. Risk factors for mortality were identified with Cox regression. Results Operative mortality was 4.1%. Actuarial postoperative 5-year and 10-year survival was 53% and 27%, respectively. When compared with age- and sex-matched general population data, relative survival (excluding operative deaths) was 90.4% at 5 years and 78.7% at 10 years. Risk factors for late mortality included age greater than 85, male sex, low body mass index, renal failure, and postoperative respiratory failure. Survivors' median quality of life mental health score was higher (55.2 versus 48.9; p p = 0.66) to the general elderly population. Conclusions Cardiac surgery in the very elderly patient can be performed with low operative mortality, excellent long-term survival, and postoperative quality of life exceeding that of the general elderly population.
Predicting Performance in the Basic Research Methods Course in Psychology

The purpose of the study was to develop a predictive equation for estimating performance in the basic course in methods of psychological research from scores on the Differential Aptitude Test reasoning scales and on the Davis Reading Test, from measures of attitudes toward issues in psychology, and from self-ratings of abilities and of expected course grade. Results showed a significant multiple correlation between performance and each of the several predictors, especially test and attitude scores. The regression equation was used to predict successfully grades earned in course sections not in the original sample.
Performance & Optimization of M / G / c / c Building Evacuation Networks

Evacuation networks from buildings represent a complex architectural and engineering phenomenon. The problem is fundamentally a transient stochastic process embedded on a three-dimensional graph network topology. Not only is the analysis of the problem challenging, but synthesizing the way occupants should exit the facility is also problematic. This paper addresses the two key concerns in the evacuation problem: performance analysis and their optimization. Two facilities on the University of Massachusetts campus provide the backdrop and case studies for this paper. Extensive computational results support the theoretical decomposition approach to the problems.
Single-conformation spectroscopy and population analysis of model γ-peptides: New tests of amide stacking

Single-conformation ultraviolet and infrared spectra of a series of model γ-peptides are reported, with the goal of providing new tests of amide stacking as an amide–amide binding motif. The data also serve to illustrate the power and challenges of carrying out single-conformation spectroscopy of neutral molecules of this size in the gas phase under jet-cooled conditions. Building on recent work on Ac-γ2-hPhe-NHMe (James et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 14243), the effects of derivatization and H2O complexation on amide stacking are studied. Ac-γ2-hPhe-N(Me)2 shows only amide stacked structures, blocking the competing position for formation of an amide-amide H-bond. The Ac-γ2-hPhe-NHMe-H2O complex includes structures in which the H2O molecule forms a bridge between the two stacked amide planes, retaining and enhancing amide stacking. IR population transfer methods are also employed to study the dynamics of photodissociation of the amide stacked-H2O complex. Finally, IR ion-gain spectroscopy is introduced as a means of recording infrared spectra containing contributions from all conformers present, based on IR-induced broadening of the UV absorptions. Its role in estimating fractional abundances is tested on Ac-γ2-hPhe-NHMe.
Ocular accommodative changes in humans induced by positional changes with respect to gravity

Results are presented for an experimental study concerning ocular accommodation measurements in normal human subjects while they were rotated at a speed of 1 deg/sec about their naso-occipital axis. A few rotations were done about an interaural axis. It is shown that altering the head position with respect to gravity is followed by a change in ocular refraction, with the major change being in a lens-thickening or accommodative direction. Reasons for ascribing these changes to reflex changes in ocular accommodation are given. Arguments are presented relating this accommodative response to the utricles, which are nearly parallel to the earth horizontal.
Self-organizing maps in mining gene expression data

Abstract Modern DNA microarray technology provides means of measuring gene expression patterns of the whole genome of simple organisms at once. Exploratory analysis of these large-scale expression datasets is becoming vital to extracting functional information from the measurements. We demonstrate how self-organizing maps (SOM) can be applied to exploratory analysis of gene expression data from a yeast DNA microarray database in order to very rapidly find gene families with similar expression patterns. SOM not only enabled quickly selecting the gene families identified in previous work, but it facilitated identifying additional genes with similar expression patterns. Identifying new families of genes also appears to be possible as demonstrated by additional clusters of genes discovered from the data. Moreover, further insight into the primary pattern variations that discriminate between the families became explicit.
Compositional Control of Ceramic Microstructures: An Overview

A review is given of the controlled use of compositional variation in the sintering of ceramics. The difficulties in determining the mechanisms of operation of sintering additives are outlined and the mechanistic approaches for studying the subject are described. Important remaining issues, new developments and opportunities for developing unique ceramic microstructures through the controlled use of compositional variation are described. Attention is focused on lattice defects and grain growth inhibition, particle pinning, multiple doping, anion effects, anisotropy effects, scavenging, surface diffusion and the formation of wavy grain boundaries.
Grammar writing for a grammar-reading audience

Thousands of languages are currently in danger of extinction without having been adequately documented by linguists. This fact represents a tragedy for communities in which endangered languages are spoken, for linguistics as a discipline and for all of humanity. One major role of the field of linguistics is to describe languages accurately and thoroughly for the benefit of all concerned. This paper presents the results of an informal survey of major users of grammatical descriptions and gives lists of dos and don’ts for those contemplating a descriptive study of one of the many endangered languages of the world. Concrete suggestions are provided that will help grammar writers produce user-friendly, thorough and useful grammatical descriptions.
Constructing optimal subnetworks for the crossed cube network

We present an algorithm that constructs subnetworks from an n-dimensional crossed cube, denoted CQn, so that for any given κ, 2 ≤ κ ≤ n − 1, the algorithm can generate a κ-connected subnetwork that contains all 2n original nodes of CQn and preserves the symmetrical structure. The κ-connected subnetworks constructed are all optimal in the sense that they use the minimum number of links to maintain the required connectivity. Being able to construct κ-connected, all-node subnetworks are important in many applications, such as computing in the presence of faulty links, or diagnosing the system with a lower fault bound. Links that are not used by the induced subnetworks could be used in parallel by some other computing tasks, improving the overall resource utilization of the system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2012 © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sensorimotor neuropathy in hemophagocytosis syndrome

Hemophagocytosis syndromes are uncommon disorders marked by generalized proliferation of benign histiocytes and multiple organ failure. A 24-year-old woman presented with a fulminant illness consisting of fever, hepatic insufficiency and anemia, followed by respiratory compromise, cardiomyopathy, and uremia. She developed a sensorimotor polyneuropathy, with normal cerebrospinal fluid findings. Sural nerve biopsy demonstrated mild to moderate axonopathy, with regeneration and occasional segmental demyelination/remyelination. The recent and old hemorrhages present in the perineurium, and the marked infiltration by foamy histiocytes (macrophages) distributed mostly in the subperineurial space, were presumably responsible for the Wallerian degeneration. Documentation of histiocytes in peripheral nerves in hemophagocytosis syndrome has not previously been shown.
Extraordinary floods in early Chinese history and their absolute dates

Abstract The earliest extraordinary floods recorded in Chinese historical texts occurred shortly before the beginning of Xia, the first hereditary dynasty in China. Yu, the founder of Xia, is credited with having successfully controlled these floods. Three different methods have been applied here to absolutely date these events, using royal genealogies, and records of an ancient solar eclipse and a planetary conjunction. The genealogies of the predynastic Shang lords and dynastic Shang and Zhou kings, which have been confirmed by archeological data, have been used to calibrate the parallel but not yet confirmed Xia royal genealogy. Using 30 years as an average time interval between two generations and backtracking from known endpoints the beginning of the Xia dynasty was determined to be not earlier than 20th century B.C. Dating of a recorded solar eclipse placed the 5th year of the 4th Xia king at 1876 B.C. Textual records of the 1953 B.C. five-planet conjunction have been found, and the event was shown to have occurred in the lifetime of King Yu. The evidence taken together suggests that the Xia dynasty began in the middle of the 20th century B.C., and the extraordinary floods during the reigns of the sage kings Yao and Shun occurred shortly before that, i.e., in the first half of the 20th century B.C. Radiocarbon dates from the Erlitou and Gaocheng cultures, generally believed to be Xia cultures, are consistent with the results reported here. In view of this analysis and recent archeological discoveries the traditional dates for the beginning of Xia and the earliest-recorded extraordinary floods require drastic revision.
Carrier Grade Wi-Fi: Air interface requirements and technologies

The IEEE 802.11 standardization group has recently ratified 802.11ac as the newest major amendment of the 802.11 family of Wi-Fi standards. While 802.11ac has specified a number of improvements over 802.11n such as: (i) 8 spatial streams (ii) mandatory bandwidth of 80 MHz and (iii) multi-user MIMO on the downlink, these improvements mostly target to improve the per-link throughput, and in case of MU-MIMO, traffic performance on the downlink. In order to satisfy the air interface high efficiency requirements and technologies, herein referred to broadly as 5G-Carrier Grade WiFi (5G-CGW), it is important to consider other metrics for system performance, such as area-throughput and Quality of Experience (QoE), which are more relevant in use cases where there can be a dense deployment of access points (APs), and stations (STAs). Recently, 802.11 started a study group called High Efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW) to develop the next generation of Wi-Fi physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) protocols that would satisfy these requirements. In this paper we will first provide an overview of the state-of-the-art in 802.11 standards, followed by a discussion on some of the limitations of 802.11ac in use cases of interest such as dense deployments in apartment buildings, stadiums and airports. We will provide an overview and preliminary simulation results of three technologies that have shown promise for meeting the requirements of CGW: (i) Multi-User Parallel Channel Access (MU-PCA) which would allow APs to simultaneously transmit to and to receive from a number of STAs in the frequency domain: enabled through multiplexing. This would alleviate the problem of underutilization of frequency resources caused by the need to support STAs of different bandwidths. (ii) Uplink Multi-User MIMO (UL MU-MIMO): IEEE 802.11ac standardized multi-user simultaneous transmissions in the downlink via downlink MU-MIMO. Uplink MU-MIMO needs to be defined to enable multiple users to share the spatial domain and transmit at the same time in the uplink. (iii) Fractional CSMA and Transmit Power Control (TPC): In a dense deployment of APs, the performance of overlapping basic service sets (BSSs) can be improved by coordinating the transmitted power in the adjacent APs in such a manner that STAs on the edge of coverage face reduced interference.
Polyurethane ionomers. I. Structure–properties relationships of polyurethane ionomers

The influence of chemical structure on mechanical properties of polyurethane ionomers (PU ionomers) has been examined. NCO-terminated prepolymers prepared from primarily 4,4-methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol (PTMO) were chain extended with tertiary amine-containing diols and the ionomers obtained by quaternization of the prepolymers. The N-methyldiethanolamine chain extender gave the best physical properties. The mechanical properties of the PU ionomers were improved with decreasing chain length of PTMO and with increasing concentration of quaternary ammonium centers (or NCO/OH ratio of PU prepolymers). A lower degree of quaternization resulted in a decrease in the mechanical properties of the resulting PU ionomers, but their properties could be improved by post-quaternization. The adhesion of the PU ionomers to aluminum and the glass transition temperature increased with increasing concentration of quaternizing centers.
Intracranial germinoma: a rare but important differential diagnosis in children with growth retardation.

Aim: Intracranial germinoma is a rare malignant tumour in childhood with an excellent prognosis under adequate therapy. Finding the right diagnosis at an early stage is difficult because of the slow-growing tumour and the resulting lack of clinical symptoms. Methods: Our patients with histologically secured germinoma were retrospectively assessed concerning growth retardation, pituitary hormone status, magnetic resonance imaging scan results and clinical symptoms to find out whether there is a leading parameter. Results: In all our patients, the leading symptom was growth retardation of at least 2 y before being diagnosed. Conclusion: Growth retardation seems to be a very early sign of germinoma in the suprasellar region. Therefore, early neuroradiological imaging combined with pituitary hormone status should be considered in every paediatric patient with a history of secondary growth retardation.
Erasing the Stigma: Where Science Meets Advocacy

One of the greatest barriers to individuals with mental illnesses in achieving their life goals is the stigma of mental illness. A major focus of mental health advocates is tearing down this stigma. Approaching this task from a research-informed perspective is important to ensure that resources are wisely spent, and adopted strategies are effective. This article provides a review of existing research regarding public stigma reduction, looking at approaches within mental health and other stigmatized communities. Recommendations are made for adopting approaches involving Targeted, Local, Credible, and Continuous Contact.
Variability in reproductive success viewed from a life-history perspective in baboons.

Nonhuman primates, like humans, mature slowly and have low fertility during a relatively long life. As data have accumulated on life-history patterns of nonhuman primates, comparative studies have yielded important insights into the evolution of this slow life-history style of primates. However, in order to understand selection pressures and evolutionary potential within species, it is important to complement comparative studies with detailed studies of life-history variability within species and to identify sources of this variability. Here we present a summary of how foraging environment, social status, and group size (a measure of population density) contribute to within-population variance in reproductive success for savannah baboons. We also discuss the extent to which savannah baboons, with their highly flexible and adaptable behavior, change their foraging environments by shifting home ranges and seeking rich food sources and how low-ranking females, which disproportionately bear the costs of social life, may mitigate those costs.
Cassini RPWS observations of dust in Saturn's E Ring

Abstract The Cassini radio and plasma wave science (RPWS) instrument is sensitive to few-micron dust grains impacting on the spacecraft at relative speeds of order 10 km/s. Through the first year or so of operations in orbit at Saturn, the RPWS has made a number of both inclined and equatorial crossings of the E ring, particularly near the orbit of Enceladus. Assuming water ice grains, the typical size particle detected by the RPWS has a radius of a few microns. Peak impact rates of about 50 s −1 are found near the orbit of Enceladus corresponding to densities of order 5×10 −4 m −3 . The variation of dust fluxes as a function of height above or below the equator is well described by a Gaussian distribution with a scale height of about 2800 km although there is usually some non-Gaussian variation near the peak fluxes suggesting some structure in the core of the ring. Offsets of the peak number densities are typically of the order of a few hundred km from the geometric equator. A near-equatorial radial profile through the orbit of Enceladus shows a sharply peaked distribution at the orbit of the moon. A size distribution averaged over several passes through the orbit of Enceladus is determined which varies as m −2.80 . The peak in dust number density at the orbit of Enceladus is consistent with previous optical measurements and strongly supports the suggestion that Enceladus is a primary source for E ring particles.
Destruction of Fish by Frost

IN regard to Prof. Bonney's letter of January 26 (p. 295), I would ask whether the fish were not killed by want of air due to the stagnancy of the water in the canal?
Reference analysis of the American Historical Review

This paper attempts to evaluate the literature of the field of history through a multi‐decade reference analysis of the American Historical Review. Reference analysis, a subsection of the larger field of bibliometrics, is a method of determining the characteristics of a field or subject by careful examination of the literature of that area. This study will analyze references from one issue of the AHR from the years 1950, 1970, 1990, and 2002 in five areas: total citations, age of the citations, language of the citations, format of the citations (e.g. monograph, journal, etc.), and the number of authors per citation. Hopefully, this analysis will help to define the patterns (if any) that have characterized the field of history through time.
Behavioral controls for achieving weight loss in the severely retarded

Abstract A weight loss program for severely retarded adults based on behavioral controls consisted of: (1) a manual for parents of parents of retardates, (2) colored tokens to represent food groups, (3) monetary payments for weight lost, and (4) daily weighings. Despite very limited intellectual capacities, subjects were able to develop new eating behaviors resulting in weight losses that were maintained at follow-up.
Single crystal absorption and fluorescence studies of tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedione

Abstract The 370 nm 1 A u (S 1 )« 1 A g polarized crystal absorption spectra of tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedione (TMCBD) are reported at improved resolution (1 cm − ). These spectra, together with the first obtained fluorescence spectrum and polarized IR data, confirm that TMCBD undergoes distortion in the 1 A u state to the boat form (C 2v ). The distorting mode is a carbonyl out-of-plane wag of b 1u symmetry possessing frequencies of 306 and 290 cm −1 in the excited and ground states. The extensive vibronic coupling observed for the 1 A u ⇌ 1 A g systems and the very pronounced mirror symmetry breakdown between absorption and fluorescence are discussed.