cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prolongation of Pseudopregnancy by Induction of Deciduomata in the Rat.

SummaryThe induction of deciduomata resulted in prolongation of pseudopregnancy to the period of normal pregnancy in the rat. This prolongation occurred in the absence of fetal tissue and was associated with the presence of metrial glands, maintenance of corpora lutea, and inhibition of follicular development.
Insecticides for the Control of the Mexican Bean Beetle

Field tests over a period of three years indicate that potassium hexafluoaluminate and synthetic cryolite are satisfactory for the control of the Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna corrupta Muls.) when used as sprays at the rate of 3 pounds to 50 gallons of water. Barium fluosilicate (80 per cent) must be used at the rate of 5 pounds to 50 gallons of water to give satisfactory control, and is considered too expensive to be recommended. These compounds have not given satisfactory control when used as dusts. There appears to be no advantage in changing current recommendations for the use of magnesium arsenate except that the dosage should be increased from 1 pound to 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water where the infestation is heavy. If fluorine compounds are used, the problem of poisonous residues on green beans is not avoided, and green beans should not be sprayed with any of the above compounds after the pods have set.
Serotonergic inhibition of action potential evoked calcium transients in NOS-containing mesopontine cholinergic neurons.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing mesopontine cholinergic (MPCh) neurons of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) are hypothesized to drive the behavioral states of waking and REM sleep thr...
A Tarsian Peculiarity (Dio Prus. Or. 33) with an Unnoticed Fragment of Porphyry

The appearance of a new volume of Dio Chrysostom in the Loeb Classical Library seems to be an appropriate occasion to discuss a curious problem in the first oration addressed to the people of Tarsus. It has puzzled the translator, Professor H. Lamar Crosby, and there was little to help him in the work done by earlier students of Dio. The passages that bear most directly upon the point are not to be found in the books and articles that deal with the orator, and it is only because the demands of other studies have led me to explore a number of patristic texts that I am able to go somewhat beyond previous writers in explaining an odd and unrefreshing phenomenon of ancient manners.
Landslide Length-Width Ratios as an Aid in Landslide Identification and Verification

Regression analysis of the length-width ratios of 153 rotational, rotational-complex landslides occurring in facies of the semi-consolidated Plio-Pleistocene Santa Clara Formation of northwestern Santa Clara County, California indicate that specific length-width ratios are unique to individual facies. The landslide data upon which these analyses were performed included all previously mapped (regional study and site specific) landslides that had at least one dimension (length or width) in excess of 30 m. An individual length-width ratio was established for all landslide data from a particular facies. Individual landslide length-width ratios which departed greatly from the relationship established by regression analysis were identified as landslides which needed to be field checked. In all cases that were field checked, those tentatively identified as landslides with highly divergent length-width ratios proved to have been misidentified as landslides. As economic realities (time, personnel, and equipment) generally preclude the field checking of all landslides identified by air photo analysis, particularly in regional zoning studies, the use of regionally derived length-width ratios is suggested as one means of selecting those areas that warrant specific field evaluations.
Electromagnetic Propulsion System for Spacecraft using Geomagnetic Fields and Superconductors

This paper describes the use of different electromagnetic systems to produce a thrust force for spacecrafts in localized magnetic field. The proposed propulsion system developed in such a manner will have its own magnetic field, which will interact with the external geomagnetic field, and will be in a form of electromagnet. The force output of normal solenoids, with core, and challenges involved in thrust production are analyzed. Superconducting solenoids are considered as the viable electromagnets for the purpose. Different optimization techniques and viability of such a propulsion system in present day technology is discussed. The propulsion system developed in such a manner is comparable to present day MPD Thrusters and electric engines.
Ordering-induced direct-to-indirect band gap transition in multication semiconductor compounds

Using first-principles calculations and symmetry analysis, we show that as cation atoms in a zinc blende--based semiconductor are replaced through atomic mutation (e.g., evolve from ZnSe to $\mathrm{CuGaS}{\mathrm{e}}_{2}$ to $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{u}}_{2}\mathrm{ZnGeS}{\mathrm{e}}_{4}$), the band gaps of the semiconductors will become more and more indirect because of the band splitting at the zone boundary, and in some cases will even form the segregating states. For example, although ZnSe is a direct band gap semiconductor, quaternary compounds $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{u}}_{2}\mathrm{ZnGeS}{\mathrm{e}}_{4}$ and $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{u}}_{2}\mathrm{ZnSnS}{\mathrm{e}}_{4}$ can be indirect band gap semiconductors if they form the primitive mixed CuAu ordered structures. We also find that the stability and the electronic structure of the quaternary polytypes with different atomic ordering are almost negative-linearly correlated. We suggest that these intrinsic properties of the multication semiconductors can have a large influence on the design and device performance of these materials.
Construction and identification knockdown and RESC concurrent rescue of RNAi lentiviral vector on human PTEN gene

Aim:To construct the lentiviral expression vectors of human PTEN for RNAi and for concurrent rescue of RNAi escape strategy construct (RESC).Methods:PTEN shRNA sequence of human was designed by on-line designer software on Corp. Invitrogen. After synthesis and annealing,double strand oligonucleotides (dsoligoes) that digested with XbaⅠ and XhoⅠ were cloned into the pFLRu-GFP plasmid and lentiviral expression vector of pFLRu-U6-shPTEN was obtained. Based on pFLRu-U6-shPTEN,exogenous mRNA of PTEN were drawn into RNAi,and the vector of combining the expression of shRNA and rescue cDNA in the same vector pFLRu-U6-rrshPTEN were gotten after being digested with EcoRⅠ and BamHⅠ enzymes. They were then transformed into chemically competent E.coli XL10 blue bacteria. And after identification by sequencing and digestion,293T cell line was transfected by above positive recombined plasmids and lentiviral packing materials pCMV-dR8.2ΔR and pCMV-VSV-G plasmids. They were incubated for 48 to 72 h in a 37 ℃,5% CO2 incubator. Culture supernatant was harvested and stored at -80 ℃,then the virus titer was determined by serial dilution assay.Results:It was showed that all the plasmids,recombinant vectors pFLRu-U6-shPTEN and pFLRu-U6-rrshPTEN,were positive clone vectors after screening positive clones by ampicillin,digested and sequenced by the use of primer forward of U6 primer.Conclusion:Lentiviral shRNA expression vector and RESC vector combining the expression of shRNA and concurrent rescue cDNA in the same vector are successfully constructed. They obviate to misinterpretation of phenotypes as a result of false-positive responses by off-target effectively and provide the stable transfection vectors for research on PTEN gene.
Middle School Interdisciplinary Team Organization and Its Relationship to Teacher Stress

The purpose of this study was to compare stress reported by middle school teachers participating on interdisciplinary teams with stress of teachers in middle schools without these teams. Participan...
Shock Tube Measurement for the Dissociation Rate Constant of Acetaldehyde Using Sensitive CO Diagnostics.

The rate constant of acetaldehyde thermal dissociation, CH3CHO = CH3 + HCO, was measured behind reflected shock waves at temperatures of 1273–1618 K and pressures near 1.6 and 0.34 atm. The current measurement utilized sensitive CO diagnostics to track the dissociation of CH3CHO via oxygen atom balance and inferred the title rate constant (k1) from CO time histories obtained in pyrolysis experiments of 1000 and 50 ppm of CH3CHO/Ar mixtures. By using dilute test mixtures, the current study successfully suppressed the interferences from secondary reactions and directly determined the title rate constant as k1(1.6 atm) = 1.1 × 1014 exp(−36 700 K/T) s–1 over 1273–1618 K and k1(0.34 atm) = 5.5 × 1012 exp(−32 900 K/T) s–1 over 1377–1571 K, with 2σ uncertainties of approximately ±30% for both expressions. Example simulations of existing reaction mechanisms updated with the current values of k1 demonstrated substantial improvements with regards to the acetaldehyde pyrolysis chemistry.
A Synthesize Protocol for Graphene Nanosheets

Chemical synthesis is cheap and easy to be tailored. Reduction of graphite oxide to form graphene nanosheets is a necessary step that determines yield, quality, chemical and surface properties of graphene nanosheets. In this report, the reduction of graphite oxides by chemical and thermal methods has been employed to convert graphite oxide synthesized by the same wet chemical method using KMnO4 and H2O2. The characterization results from the two reduction methods indicate that a combination of wet oxidation of graphite and thermal reduction method is an efficient and environmental friendly way to produce graphene.
The perceived stability and biological basis of religious beliefs, factual beliefs, and opinions

Previous work shows that children view group membership and psychological traits in essentialist terms, perceiving them to be both biologically determined and stable across time. To what extent might individuals view mental states such as beliefs similarly? Given that beliefs are often based on experience and can change across time, one hypothesis is that beliefs on the whole do not elicit essentialism. An alternative hypothesis, however, is that some beliefs may be perceived as inherited and stable over time-characteristics associated with essentialism. In three studies, we examined two aspects of psychological essentialism regarding three different types of beliefs (religious beliefs, factual beliefs, and opinions) in 8- to 10-year-old children and adults, asking whether beliefs are seen as (a) biologically based and/or (b) stable across time. Both children and adults distinguished among belief types when considering biology; opinions were perceived to be more rooted in biology than were other beliefs. By contrast, fewer consistent differences emerged when children and adults considered stability. For example, both children and adults perceived opinions and factual beliefs to be equally changeable. Finally, although children typically perceived beliefs to be more rooted in biology than adults, more specific patterns across belief types (e.g., perceiving opinions to be more rooted in biology than religious beliefs) remained relatively stable across age groups. Thus, development and social learning may play a larger role in perceptions of the biological component of essentialism than in judgments of particular beliefs. We discuss implications for literatures on essentialism, religious cognition, and social cognitive development.
The Photo-Oxidation of Polypropylene Monofilaments: Part I: Chemical Changes and Mechanical Deterioration

The photo-oxidation of commercial, isotactic polypropylene monofilament, initiated by xenon-arc irradiation in air, leads to the initial accumulation in the fiber surface of both carbonyl species and hydroperoxide groups. These chemical changes are accompanied by a severe drop in the elongation at break. Extended irradiation leads to a substantial accumulation of these oxidation products throughout the fiber and to a loss of tensile strength. Oxidation products were identified and estimated from transmission and internal reflection in spectroscopy [∼C(O)∼ and —OH] and by chemical analysis (—OOH). Marked increases in fiber wettability were also found to accompany photo-oxidation.Distinct differences in product ratios from photo-oxidized polypropylene film and fiber samples were observed. These differences are consistent with the morphological control of the efficiency of initiation after hydroperoxide photocleavage, but are more likely to result from some radical scavenging by the unextractable phenolic ad...
Writing the Genome: Are We Ready?

Since the completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP-read), improvements of sequencing technology, dramatic reductions in sequencing cost, and importantly, progress in understanding of the function of the human genome have been continual. Recent advances in sequencing-based technologies and DNA-editing methods [e.g., CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)] present the possibility of synthesizing and editing DNA on a large scale. With these possibilities, a question is raised: would construction of large scale (0.1–1 billion bp) genomes lead to further understanding and applications of genomic information? A collaborative group called the Center of Excellence for Engineering Biology, led by New York University synthetic biologist Dr. Jef D. Boeke, formally announced the Human Genome Project-Write (HGP-write) in the …
Abstract #3824: The regulation of RhoB after DNA damage

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Commonly used antitumor treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy, function by damaging the DNA of rapidly proliferating cells. However, resistance to these agents is a predominant clinical problem. A member of the Rho family of small GTPases, RhoB, has been shown to be integral in mediating cell death after ionizing radiation (IR) or other DNA damaging agents in transformed cell lines, as loss of RhoB causes radio- and chemotherapeutic resistance. In addition, RhoB protein expression and activity increase after genotoxic stress suggesting that it may play a role in cellular stress response(s). However, the signaling pathways that govern RhoB-induced cell death after DNA damage remain enigmatic. The upstream activation of Rho GTPases is mediated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). GEFs catalyze the exchange of GDP for GTP in vivo , thereby promoting the active Rho state. Here, we show that RhoB activity increases in human breast and cervical cancer cell lines after treatment with DNA damaging agents that cause single- and/or double-stranded DNA breaks. This increase in RhoB activity after genotoxic stress is correlated with an increase in binding of the nuclear GEF, Neuroepithelioma Transforming Gene 1 (Net1) to the nucleotide free mutant of RhoB which preferentially binds active GEFs specific for RhoB. Furthermore, loss of RhoB protein expression using siRNA or over-expression of Net1 potentiates cell death caused by DNA damage. Collectively, these data suggest that Net1 is a key mediator in activating RhoB after genotoxic stress, thereby facilitating cell death after treatment with DNA damaging agents. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 3824.
UiRef: analysis of sensitive user inputs in Android applications

Mobile applications frequently request sensitive data. While prior work has focused on analyzing sensitive-data uses originating from well-defined API calls in the system, the security and privacy implications of inputs requested via application user interfaces have been widely unexplored. In this paper, our goal is to understand the broad implications of such requests in terms of the type of sensitive data being requested by applications.To this end, we propose UiRef (User Input REsolution Framework), an automated approach for resolving the semantics of user inputs requested by mobile applications. UiRef's design includes a number of novel techniques for extracting and resolving user interface labels and addressing ambiguity in semantics, resulting in significant improvements over prior work. We apply UiRef to 50,162 Android applications from Google Play and use outlier analysis to triage applications with questionable input requests. We identify concerning developer practices, including insecure exposure of account passwords and non-consensual input disclosures to third parties. These findings demonstrate the importance of user-input semantics when protecting end users.
Abstract 430: Impairment of Instant Membrane Resealing by Lipid Raft Clustering in Endothelial Cells: Role in NLRP3 Inflammmasome Activation

Instant membrane resealing importantly contributes to the functional and structural integrity of the endothelial cells (ECs) that are exposed to various physical and chemical stimuli in blood stream. The present study was designed to explore the molecular mechanisms mediating this endothelial membrane resealing with a focus on the role of lipid rafts (LR) clustering. Using high energy Laser gun, a tiny hole was made in cultured EC bathed with FM1-43, and the rapid entry of this FM1-43 to produce fluorescence was used to measure membrane resealing. We demonstrated that ECs exhibited a Ca2+-dependent instant membrane resealing, as shown by a significant reduction of fluorescence appearance within these cells compared to ECs bathed with Ca2+ free solution. This Ca2+-dependent instant membrane resealing was also observed in ECs up stimulation of Lactobacillus casei cell wall fragments (LCWE), which was commonly used to produce arteritis. When ECs were pretreated with LRs clustering stimulators such as C-16 ceramide, ASMase or FasL, EC membrane resealing was substantially abolished and membrane wounding areas are enriched with LR clusters. By dual wavelength high speed wavelength switching microscopy, we found that a small Ca2+ influx (fura-2 fluorescence) was recorded at beginning of LCWE treatment of ECs (about 10 min), but membrane was immediately resealed (no PI fluorescence). However, if the LR stimulator FasL was used to pretreat these ECs, a large flushing of both PI and Ca2+ into ECs was monitored. By calculation of df/dt and time of PI fluorescence reaching the maximum, it was shown that FasL largely increased LCWE-induced PI fluorescence to a level equal to ECs with Ca2+-free solution over a 20-min period (maximum df/dt=1.17 fold/sec±0.22 at 14 min with FasL+Ca2+, 0.87 fold/sec±0.21 at 19 min with Ca2+ free, and 0.03 fold/sec±0.01 at 20 min with Ca2+ in bath). In addition, it was shown that impaired EC membrane resealing significantly enhanced the production of active caspase-1, a marker of NLRP3 inflammasome activation (a ~3-fold increase). These results strongly suggest that ceramide-associated LR clustering impairs the instant membrane resealing in ECs, which may activate EC inflammasomes leading to vascular inflammation and injury.
Estimation of the Magnetotelluric Response Function: The Path from Robust Estimation to a Stable Maximum Likelihood Estimator

The robust statistical model of a Gaussian core contaminated by outlying data in use since the 1980s, and which underlies modern estimation of the magnetotelluric (MT) response function, is re-examined from first principles. The residuals from robust estimators applied to MT data are shown to be systematically long-tailed compared to a distribution based on the Gaussian and hence inconsistent with the robust model. Instead, MT data are pervasively described by the stable distribution family for which the Gaussian is an end member, but whose remaining distributions have algebraic rather than exponential tails. The validity of the stable model is rigorously demonstrated using a permutation test. A maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), including the use of a remote reference, that exploits the stable nature of MT data is formulated, and its two-stage implementation, in which stable parameters are first fit to the residuals, and then the MT responses are solved for, with iteration between them, is described. The MLE is inherently robust, but differs from a conventional robust estimator because it is based on a statistical model derived from the data rather than being ad hoc. Finally, the covariance matrices obtained from MT data are pervasively improper as a result of weak non-stationarity, and the Cramer–Rao lower bound for the improper covariance matrix is derived, resulting in reliable second-order statistics for MT responses. The stable MLE was applied to an exemplar broadband data set from northwest Namibia. The stable MLE is shown to be consistent with the statistical model underlying linear regression and hence is unconditionally unbiased, in contrast to the robust model. The MLE is compared to conventional robust remote reference and two-stage estimators, establishing that the standard errors of the former are systematically smaller than for either of the latter, and that the standardized differences between them exhibit excursions that are both too frequent and too large to be described by Gaussian statistics. These excursions are more prevalent when the tail thickness parameter of the stable distribution is small, and are attributed to rising bias in the robust estimator that is also consistent with the Berry–Esseen theorem that defines the rate of convergence to the central limit theorem value. An explanation for weak non-stationarity of MT data is proposed, and several extensions to the present work are described.
Early HIV Diagnosis Leads to Significantly Decreased Costs in the First 2 Years of HIV Care in an Urban Charity Hospital in New Orleans

We undertook a retrospective cohort study of patients with a positive HIV test in the emergency department who were then linked to care. Inpatient, outpatient, and emergency costs were collected for the first 2 years after HIV diagnosis. Fifty-six patients met the inclusion criteria; they were predominantly uninsured (73%) and African American (89%). The median total cost for a newly diagnosed patient over the first 2 years was US$36 808, driven predominantly by outpatient costs of US$17 512. Median inpatient and total costs were significantly different between the lowest ( 499 cells/mm3) CD4 count categories (US$21 878 vs US$6607, P <.05; US$61 378 vs US$18 837, P <.05, respectively). Total costs were significantly different between viral load categories <100 000 HIV-RNA copies/mL and ≥100 000 HIV-RNA copies/mL (US$28 219 vs US$49 482, P <.05). Costs were significantly lower among patients diagnosed earlier in their disease. Decreased cost is another factor supporting early diagnosis and linkage to care for patients with HIV.
Sports Dermatology: Prevention

The four main categories of skin conditions that afflict the athlete include infections, trauma, inflammation, and encounters with the environment. Knowledge of the etiology of cutaneous skin problems of athletes helps the clinician best formulate a prevention plan. Most of the skin ailments that sideline athletes can be prevented through proper disqualification, appropriate use of equipment, and selective use of pharmacologic agents.
“From PI to IP”: Litigation Response to Tort Reform

For helpful comments and input, the authors thank David Abrams, Alma Cohen, Allan Ferrel, Michael Frakes, Mark Lemley, Jonathan Masur, Michael Meurer, Michael Risch, Pam Samuelson, David Schwartz, Ted Sichelman, Charles Silver, Matthew Spitzer, Melissa Wasserman, Heidi Williams, prior anonymous reviewers, and participants in the 2012 Empirical Patent Law Conference sponsored by Cornell Law School and the University of Illinois College of Law, the 2012 Intellectual Property Scholars Conference, the University of Texas School of Law’s Drawing Board workshop, a conference in memory of Ted Eisenberg (Tel Aviv Univ, 2015), and Empirical Legal Studies Workshop (Tel Aviv Univ, 2015). The authors thank Melissa Bernstein, Ross MacDonald, Grace Matthews, and Jane O’Connell for research assistance. The first part of the title is in quotation marks because it was also the first part of the title for a 2005 news story in the journal IP Law & Business (Cohen 2005).
Quantitative analysis of adipose tissue on chest CT to predict primary graft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients: a novel optimal biomarker approach

In this study, patients who underwent lung transplantation are categorized into two groups of successful (positive) or failed (negative) transplantations according to primary graft dysfunction (PGD), i.e., acute lung injury within 72 hours of lung transplantation. Obesity or being underweight is associated with an increased risk of PGD. Adipose quantification and characterization via computed tomography (CT) imaging is an evolving topic of interest. However, very little research of PGD prediction using adipose quantity or characteristics derived from medical images has been performed. The aim of this study is to explore image-based features of thoracic adipose tissue on pre-operative chest CT to distinguish between the above two groups of patients. 140 unenhanced chest CT images from three lung transplant centers (Columbia, Penn, and Duke) are included in this study. 124 patients are in the successful group and 16 in failure group. Chest CT slices at the T7 and T8 vertebral levels are captured to represent the thoracic fat burden by using a standardized anatomic space (SAS) approach. Fat (subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT)/ visceral adipose tissue (VAT)) intensity and texture properties (1142 in total) for each patient are collected, and then an optimal feature set is selected to maximize feature independence and separation between the two groups. Leave-one-out and leave-ten-out crossvalidation strategies are adopted to test the prediction ability based on those selected features all of which came from VAT texture properties. Accuracy of prediction (ACC), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87/0.97, 0.87/0.97, 0.88/1.00, and 0.88/0.99, respectively are achieved by the method. The optimal feature set includes only 5 features (also all from VAT), which might suggest that thoracic VAT plays a more important role than SAT in predicting PGD in lung transplant recipients.
Millions of Acres, Billions of Trees: Socioecological Impacts of Shifting Timberland Ownership†

Over the past 30 years, ownership changes in the United States have affected more than 50 million acres of timberland. Corporations in the U.S. forest products industry either sold off most of their timberland or restructured themselves to take advantage of changes in the tax code. These changes were the result of broader economic shifts in the U.S. economy related to the process of financialization. As a result, ownership of timberland has been separated from manufacturing capacity tied to the production from that land. The central questions we address are how have these changes in ownership affected management of timberlands and what impacts have been experienced by people and places dependent upon this resource for their livelihoods. This study focuses on Alabama, one of the nation's leading states in the production of wood-based products. The study is based on 40 formal semistructured interviews with key actors in the industry, and frequent informal interactions with residents in timber-dependent regions throughout the state. Our research suggests that there have been significant changes, but that these are not necessarily catastrophic and are in keeping with longer-term trends associated with absentee ownership.
Phenytoin Augmentation of Levetiracetam Treatment: A Case of Forced Normalization With Emergence of Psychosis

Forced normalization is the emergence of psychoses following stabilization of seizures in an uncontrolled epileptic patient. The current study is a case of forced normalization, a phenomenon characterized by normalization of electroencephalogram (EEG) findings and resolution of seizures. This case report is unique and rare because the patient meets the diagnostic merit of forced normalization, which occurred due to a nonconventional method of seizure control management. We discuss the recognition and differential diagnoses of such cases, understanding the phenomenon of forced normalization and treatment strategies, which may help clinicians in their clinical practice.
Optimization and Performance of a Fortran 90 MPI-Based Unstructured Code on Large-Scale Parallel Systems

The message-passing interface (MPI) has become the standard in achieving effective results when using the message passing paradigm of parallelization. Codes written using MPI are extremely portable and are applicable to both clusters and massively parallel computing platforms. Since MPI uses the single program, multiple data (SPMD) approach to parallelism, good performance requires careful tuning of the serial code as well as careful data and control flow analysis to limit communication. We discuss optimization strategies used and their degree of success to increase performance of an MPI-based unstructured finite element simulation code written in Fortran 90. We discuss performance results based on implementations using several modern massively parallel computing platforms including the SGI Origin 3800, IBM Nighthawk 2 SMP, and Cray T3E-1200.
Growth hormone and prolactin-staining tumors causing acromegaly: a retrospective review of clinical presentations and surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Acromegaly results in disfiguring growth and numerous medical complications. This disease is typically caused by growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas, which are treated first by resection, followed by radiation and/or medical therapy if needed. A subset of acromegalics have dual-staining pituitary adenomas (DSPAs), which stain for GH and prolactin. Presentations and treatment outcomes for acromegalics with DSPAs are not well understood. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of more than 5 years of pituitary adenomas resected at their institution. Data were collected on variables related to clinical presentation, tumor pathology, radiological size, and disease recurrence. The Fisher's exact test, ANOVA, Student t-test, chi-square test, and Cox proportional hazards and multiple logistic regression were used to measure statistical significance. RESULTS Of 593 patients with pituitary adenoma, 91 presented with acromegaly. Of these 91 patients, 69 (76%) had tumors that stained for GH only (single-staining somatotrophic adenomas [SSAs]), while 22 (24%) had tumors that stained for GH and prolactin (DSPAs). Patients with DSPAs were more likely to present with decreased libido (p = 0.012), signs of acromegalic growth (p = 0.0001), hyperhidrosis (p = 0.0001), and headaches (p = 0.043) than patients with SSAs. DSPAs presented with significantly higher serum prolactin (60.7 vs 10.0 µg/L, p = 0.0002) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (803.6 vs 480.0 ng/ml, p = 0.0001), and were more likely to have IGF-1 levels > 650 ng/ml (n = 13 [81.3%] vs n = 6 [21.4%], p = 0.0001) than patients with SSAs despite similar sizes (1.8 vs 1.7 cm, p = 0.5). Patients with DSPAs under 35 years of age were more likely to have a recurrence (n = 4 [50.0%] vs n = 3 [11.1%], p = 0.01) than patients with SSAs under the age of 35. DSPA patients were less likely to achieve remission with surgery than SSA patients (n = 2 [20%] vs n = 19 [68%], p = 0.01). Univariate analysis identified single-staining tumors (p = 0.02), gross-total resection (p = 0.02), and tumor diameter (p = 0.05) as predictors of surgical remission. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that SSAs (p = 0.04) were independently associated with surgical remission of acromegaly. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that DSPAs had more time until disease remission (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS Acromegalics with tumors that stain for prolactin and GH, which represented almost a quarter of acromegalics in this cohort, had more aggressive clinical presentations and postoperative outcomes than SSAs. Prolactin staining provides useful information for acromegalics undergoing pituitary surgery.
Pareto Improving Selection of the Global Best in Particle Swarm Optimization

Particle Swarm Optimization is an effective stochastic optimization technique that simulates a swarm of particles that fly through a problem space. In the process of searching the problem space for a solution, the individual variables of a candidate solution will often take on inferior values characterized as “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.” Several approaches to solving this problem have introduced varying notions of cooperation and competition. Instead we characterize the success of these multi-swarm techniques as reconciling conflicting information through a mechanism that makes successive candidates Pareto improvements. We use this analysis to construct a variation of PSO that applies this mechanism to gbest selection. Experiments show that this algorithm performs better than the standard gbest PSO algorithm.
Pacific Elementary School

This chapter describes the program on which the research projects described in the book were based. The goal is to contextualize the It began with a brief description of the history of the school, and of the Chinese immersion program. It also details the program’s policies on admission, language use and script use, its curriculum based on the 50-50 immersion program model, its teachers, and its assessment practices particularly in Chinese, its student outcome based on school-wide data, and parental involvement in the Chinese immersion program.
Creation and Validation of Linkage Between Orthopedic Registry and Administrative Data Using Indirect Identifiers.

Abstract Background Registries and administrative databases have unique and complementary strengths in device epidemiologic studies. We sought to develop, validate, and assess a sequential algorithm using indirect identifiers to link registry and administrative data. Methods Hip and knee arthroplasty procedures performed at 6 New York State hospitals enrolled in American Joint Replacement Registry in 2014 were included. After conducting a direct linkage using patient identifiers including name and social security numbers, we validated the methodology of indirect linkage using facility ID, patients’ year and month of birth, sex, and zip code, and procedure date and site (hip/knee). We further evaluated the influence of absent indirect identifier(s) and compromised data quality on linkage success. Results Using our sequential algorithm, 3739 of the 4063 directly linked records (92.03%) were matched with indirect identifiers, with an accuracy of >99.9%. Main reasons for nonmatching included discrepancies in procedure codes and dates. When one of the indirect identifiers was not available, the linkage algorithm still achieved over 90% sensitivity and 99.8% accuracy. Analyses showed that the algorithm was robust when quality of data was moderately compromised. Conclusion This study demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy of an algorithm to create linkages between a registry and an administrative database using indirect identifiers. The methodology will enable long-term surveillance and outcome assessment of a wide variety of devices and procedures. Variations in the coding of procedures, availability of indirect identifiers, and their quality have limited impact on this algorithm.
Homeostasis of the intervertebral disc requires regulation of STAT3 signaling by the adhesion G-protein coupled receptor ADGRG6

Abstract Degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc (IVD) are a leading cause of disability affecting humans worldwide. While this is primarily attributed to trauma and aging, genetic variation is associated with disc degeneration in humans. However, the precise mechanisms driving the initiation and progression of disease remain elusive due to a paucity of genetic animal models. Here, we discuss a novel genetic mouse model of endplate-oriented disc degeneration. We show that the adhesion G-protein coupled receptor G6 (ADGRG6) mediates several anabolic and catabolic factors, fibrotic collagen genes, pro-inflammatory pathways, and mechanical properties of the IVD, prior to the onset of overt histopathology of these tissues. Furthermore, we found increased IL-6/STAT3 activation in the IVD and demonstrate that treatment with a chemical inhibitor of STAT3 activation ameliorates disc degeneration in these mutant mice. These findings establish ADGRG6 as a critical regulator of homeostasis of adult disc homeostasis and implicate ADGRG6 and STAT3 as promising therapeutic targets for degenerative joint diseases. Author summary Degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc (IVD) are a leading cause of disability affecting humans worldwide. While this is primarily attributed to trauma and aging, genetic variation is associated with disc degeneration in humans. However, the precise mechanisms driving the initiation and progression of disease remain elusive due to a paucity of genetic animal models. Here, we discuss a novel genetic mouse model of endplate-oriented disc degeneration. We show that the adhesion G-protein coupled receptor G6 (ADGRG6) mediates fibrotic collagen expression, causing increased mechanical stiffness of the IVD prior to the onset of histopathology in adult mice. Furthermore, we found increased IL-6/STAT3 activation in the IVD and demonstrate that treatment with a chemical inhibitor of STAT3 activation ameliorates disc degeneration in these mutant mice. Our results demonstrate that ADGRG6 regulation of STAT3 signaling is important for IVD homeostasis, indicating potential therapeutic targets for degenerative joint disorders.
Sedation in the Critical Care Unit

Providers encounter unique challenges in the sedation of neurocritically ill patients. Sedative selection requires thoughtful consideration of the risks and benefits of specific pharmacologic agents. Sedative agents should provide enough sedation to maintain patient comfort while allowing frequent and accurate neurologic examinations during sedation interruption. The ideal sedative agent is patient-specific, taking into account the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the drug and patient, drug interactions, and comorbid conditions. While analgosedation is preferred by critical care guidelines, more traditional sedatives that have been used for the routine sedation of brain-injured patients include propofol, dexmedetomidine, benzodiazepines, and ketamine. Butyrophenones such as haloperidol have a limited place in the management of neurocritical patients. A working knowledge of available sedatives and significant neurocritical care sedative concepts are essential for ensuring safety while optimizing patient outcomes.
Preliminary investigation of AdaptiSPECT-C designs with square or square and hexagonal detectors employing direct and oblique apertures

We report our investigation of system designs and 3D reconstruction for a dedicated brain-imaging SPECT system using multiple square or square and hexagonal detector modules. The system employs shuttering to vary which of multiple pinhole apertures are enabled to pass photons through to irradiate the detectors. Both multiplexed and nonmultiplexed irradiation by the pinholes are investigated. Sampling is assessed by simulated imaging of a uniform activity concentration in a spherical tub filling the VOI and a tailored Defrise phantom consisting of a series of activity containing slabs aligned axially. Potential image quality for clinical imaging is assessed through simulated imaging of an XCAT brain phantom with an activity distribution simulating perfusion imaging.
High-throughput, low-cost reaction screening using a modified 3D printer

We describe a reaction screening system, based on a 96-well array, and scaled to suit use on the individual scientist's bench. The system was built by modifying a desktop 3D printer and fitting it with a glass syringe and microtiter plate. The effects of experimental variables were characterized, and the performance of the system was optimized. Precise volumes of reaction mixtures (<3% CV) were dispensed into the 96-well array in ca. 40 minutes. The system was used to screen reagents and solvents for the N-alkylation, Katritzky transamination, and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. Product distributions derived from electrospray mass spectra and represented as heat maps facilitated recognition of optimum conditions. Screening of 96 reaction mixtures was completed in the modest time of approximately 105 minutes (∼65 seconds per reaction mixture). The system is constructed from open-source software and inexpensive 3D printer hardware.
Citizen Participation: An Administrative Strategy for Transportation Improvement

Structuring effective citizen participation strategies is a difficult task which tends to be neglected in transportation improvement. Primary effort is devoted to elegant patronage models, innovative modes of transportation, and engineering design. However, if realistic citizen participation is neglected, a project will seldom be implemented, because the level of public support needed to adopt the plan and sustain criticism which arises during construction will not have been developed.
A Single-MOSFET MAC for Confidence and Resolution (CORE) Driven Machine Learning Classification

Mixed-signal machine-learning classification has recently been demonstrated as an efficient alternative for classification with power expensive digital circuits. In this paper, a high-COnfidence high-REsolution (CORE) mixed-signal classifier is proposed for classifying high-dimensional input data into multi-class output space with less power and area than state-of-the-art classifiers. A high-resolution multiplication is facilitated within a single-MOSFET by feeding the features and feature weights into, respectively, the body and gate inputs. High-resolution classifier that considers the confidence of the individual predictors is designed at 45 nm technology node and operates at 100 MHz in subthreshold region. To evaluate the performance of the classifier, a reduced MNIST dataset is generated by downsampling the MNIST digit images from 28 $\times$ 28 features to 9 $\times$ 9 features. The system is simulated across a wide range of PVT variations, exhibiting nominal accuracy of 90%, energy consumption of 6.2 pJ per classification (over 45 times lower than state-of-the-art classifiers), area of 2,179 $\mu$$m^{2}$ (over 7.3 times lower than state-of-the-art classifiers), and a stable response under PVT variations.
2570. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO) Colonization

Background MDRO present a greater threat to public health than ever before, and antimicrobial options are decreasing. Altered colonic microbiota following antimicrobial exposure allows for subsequent colonization by MDRO. Ingestion of prophylactic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) could be an approach to prevent the spread of, and subsequent infection due to MDRO, by promoting a healthy bacterial milieu within the colon.
Strain rate sensitivity, microstructure variations, and stress-assisted β → α′′ phase transformation investigation on the mechanical behavior of dual-phase titanium alloys

Abstract In this study, the microstructures of three widely used dual-phase titanium alloys: Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo are characterized using backscatter electron imaging and the deformation behaviors in their individual α and β phases are investigated using in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction during uniaxial tension experiments. This is accompanied by calculation of the strain rate sensitivity (SRS) in these alloys, as a function of applied loading. The results of the calculated SRS and the mechanical response (in terms of lattice strains and hardening behaviors) are rationalized based on the local microstructure, composition, and texture of the alloy. A stress-induced β (BCC) to α" (orthorhombic) phase transformation is observed during the in-situ diffraction experiment, which permitted analysis of the lattice strain evolution during the phase transformation. Results from this study provide insights into the relationship between microstructure, composition, applied loading, and the deformation behavior, including effects on loading with time holds. Specifically, the results show that the microstructure, and not necessarily the chemical composition (Mo content), along with the applied loading have a dominant role in the observed SRS variation in titanium alloys. Also, the evolution of the α" (orthorhombic) phase is observed for the first time during deformation of an industrially relevant titanium alloy, Ti-6246.
Recurrence rates of inflammation after switching from originator infliximab to biosimilar infliximab-abda for non-infectious uveitis.

Purpose To describe the frequency of ocular flares in patients with noninfectious uveitis who were switched from the originator infliximab to a biosimilar infliximab. Design Retrospective case series. Methods All patients with noninfectious uveitis who were switched from the originator infliximab to biosimilar infliximab-abda for nonmedical reasons were reviewed. Patients were excluded if they had less than 3 months of follow-up on either drug. Data included patient demographics, infliximab dosage information, additional immunosuppression medications, and numbers of and times to flares. The main study outcome was frequency of flares, defined as new or worsening inflammatory activity on examination or imaging. Results A total of 17 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were no statistical differences between the duration of follow-up while on the originator and the duration while on the biosimilar infliximab (12.0 vs. 10.1 months, respectively; P = .307). Patients experienced more flares per person-years after switching to infliximab-abda (.92), than on the originator infliximab (0.19; P = .028). Four of the 6 patients (66.7%) who experienced flare after switching to infliximab-abda did so within 90 days. Only 1 patient had flares while on originator infliximab went on to develop a single flare on infliximab-abda. The final normalized dosage for patients who flared and remained on infliximab-abda (1.301 mg/kg/week) was higher than that for those who did not flare (1.186 mg/kg/week) but was not statistically significant (P = .417). Conclusions Patients who were switched to biosimilar infliximab-abda experience more flares than when previously treated with the originator infliximab. Providers should closely observe patients who switch to biosimilar infliximab, especially within the first 90 days. Patients who do have flares after switching may achieve quiescence with increased biosimilar dosage.
Afterword: whither gender and the far right?

This afterward synthesizes the primary arguments of each of the contributors to this volume, and suggests several next steps for analyses of gender and the far right. The chapter suggests that ther...
Thermalization in small quantum systems

Chaos and ergodicity are the cornerstones of statistical physics and thermodynamics. Although classically, even small systems such as a particle in a two-dimensional cavity can exhibit chaotic behavior and thereby relax to a microcanonical ensemble, quantum systems formally cannot. However, recent theoretical work and, in particular, the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH), indicate that quantum systems can also thermalize. Indeed, ETH provides a framework connecting microscopic models and macroscopic phenomena, based on the notion of highly entangled quantum states. On page 794 of this issue, Kaufman et al. ( 1 ) demonstrate such thermalization in the relaxation dynamics of a small lattice system of interacting bosonic particles. By directly measuring the entanglement entropy of subsystems, as well as other observables, they show that after the initial transient time, the system locally relaxes to a thermal ensemble while globally maintaining a zero-entropy pure state.