cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical localization of catechol-O-methyltransferase in brain: potential role as an enzymatic barrier

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been localized to the non-neuronal elements of the central nervous systems. Its localization to pia-arachnoid and choroid plexuses imply an enzymatic barrier to prevent catechols of peripheral origin from entering the brain or CSF. The presence of COMT in ventricular ependyma suggests a restriction of free diffusion between CSF and brain parenchyma with the exception of specific areas where ependyma lacks the enzyme. Perineuronal oligodendrocytes adjacent to some cortical neurons contain COMT. The processes from these cells may protect specific catechol synapses from the more general effects of catecholamines acting by a neurohumeral mechanism.
92. Detection and Characterization of Immune Response Against AAVrh10 Vector After Intrathecal Vector Delivery in Non-Human Primates

Immune responses against recombinant AAV (rAAV) capsid are a major concern in clinical trials. It was first described in hemophilic patients injected by intrahepatic delivery that AAV capsids elicited a cytotoxic lymphocyte response leading to clearance of transduced hepatocytes. On the other hand, intramuscular delivery of rAAV1 in humans induced a tolerogenic response against rAAV capsid mediated by regulatory T cells leading to stable expression in patients for more than 3 years. Several parameters could modulate this response and among them the mode of delivery. While transfer to the intact CNS has been shown to elicit a minimal T cell-mediated response without a salient plasma cell-mediated immune response in preclinical animal studies, these data are lacking in primate studies after intrathecal (IT) injection. In our study, African Green primates were injected intrathecally with a serotype 10 AAV vector (AAVrh10), described to transduce efficiently the central nervous system (CNS), expressing artificial miRNAs against superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) as a therapy for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This vector was administered at a dose of 6e12 viral genomes per kilogram modeled directly off the anticipated dose per patient in the clinical trial and based on IT rAAV delivery in primate studies showing robust cortical and spinal cord transduction. We are currently characterizing what type of immune response is elicited against the AAV capsid after IT delivery. A particular interest will be given to cytokine secretion mediated by restimulated T lymphocytes in vitro and to neutralizing antibodies directed against AAVrh10 and their potential cross-reactivity to other serotypes. In addition to the proof-of-concept of knockdown and spread of AAV vector after delivery to the CNS of primates, this study is important for the safety of IT delivery in large animal models before translation to human clinical trials.
Phenomenological Description of Non-Newtonian Gravity

In searching for possible deviations from the predictions of Newtonian gravity (or from its generalization Einstein’s General Relativity), we will presume that these arise from a hypothetical new force such as the putative “fifth force,” as discussed in Chapter 1. If any such deviations are eventually established experimentally, it will require further experimental and theoretical work to decide whether they can be understood instead in terms of some generalized theory of gravity such as “supersymmetry” or “supergravity,” as some authors have suggested [ZACHOS, 1978; SCHERK, 1979A,B; FAYET, 1986A,B; GOLDMAN, 1986]. For present purposes, it is sufficient to characterize the experimental predictions of any specific theory in terms of relatively simple phenomenological potentials, as we describe below. We can then use experiments to fix the parameters of these potentials, while leaving for later the problem of deriving these parameters from a fundamental theory.
Relationship of the apolipoprotein E polymorphism with carotid artery atherosclerosis

From the cohort taking part in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a multicenter investigation of atherosclerosis and its sequelae in women and men ages 45-64 years, a sample of 145 subjects with significant carotid artery atherosclerosis but without clinically recognized coronary heart disease was identified along with 224 group-matched control subjects. The aim of this paper is to measure the association of the apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphism with the prevalence of significant carotid artery atherosclerotic disease (CAAD) after considering the contribution of established risk factor variables. The first model used a stepwise selection procedure to define a group of significant physical and lifestyle characteristics and a group of significant plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein variables that were predictive of CAAD status in this sample. Those variables selected included age (years), body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), consumption of cigarettes (CigYears; number of cigarettes/d x the number of smoking years), hypertension status, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (mg/dl), total cholesterol (mg/dl), and Lp[a] (micrograms/ml). The second model was built by forcing into the equation an a priori set of demographic, anthropometric, and lipoprotein variables, which were age, BMI, CigYears, hypertensive status, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol. In both models, the apo E genotype epsilon 2/3 was related to CAAD status. For both models, the estimated odds ratio of being a CAAD case associated with the apo E genotype epsilon 2/3 was > 2:1. The mechanism of the observed association between the epsilon 2/3 genotype and carotid atherosclerosis is unknown, but it is likely due to the known effects of the E2 isoform in causing delayed clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.
Price competition under linear demand and finite inventories: Contraction and approximate equilibria

Abstract We consider a multi-period price competition among multiple firms with limited inventories of substitutable products, and study two types of equilibrium: with and without recourse. Under a linear demand model, we show that an equilibrium without recourse uniquely exists. In contrast, we show an equilibrium with recourse need not exist, nor be unique. In a low-influence regime, using the equilibrium without recourse, we construct an approximate equilibrium with recourse with the same equilibrium price trajectory.
Masters Program Hernia Pathway: Robotic Complex Ventral Hernia Repairs (TAR)

The Rives-Stoppa retromuscular incisional hernia repair technique is a preferred technique for open incisional hernia repair. In this technique, the retromuscular plane behind the rectus muscle is dissected, creating a pocket for mesh placement. In recent times, this open technique was adapted to the robot. A retrorectus dissection, with or without the addition of a transversus abdominis release, or posterior component separation is able to be carried out. Essentially, every step of the open approach is reproduced in a minimally invasive fashion. This chapter will describe the evolution of the procedure from infancy to current techniques. It will also describe pearls and common pitfalls and assist robotic surgeons in reproducing this repair technique for ventral hernias.
Design and implementation of a multi winding high frequency transformer for MPSST application

Development of the new generation of high power and high frequency power electronic switches along with the need for compact controllable converters for utilization of distributed energy resources in the grid, have led to significant developments in the area of solid state transformers in the last years. The design process of a high frequency transformer as the main element in the solid state transformer is illustrated in this article. A multi winding transformer for multiport SST application is designed, studied and built in this research. In a MPSST several windings feed the core. As the result, coupling coefficient between each pair of windings, become an important factor which is studied in this study. Since the transformer is designed for high frequency applications, the power loss in the wire and core of the transformer increases as the result of higher skin effect and eddy current loss in high frequency. Three important factors in the design of HF transformer for MPSST are discussed in the paper. First, four different possible core materials are compared based on their flux density, frequency range, loss and price. Then the cable selection is illustrated and finally, different winding placement and distribution on the same core are suggested and the inductance and coupling coefficient matrices are calculated using ANSYS Maxwell 3D simulation. The transformer is built in the lab and the inductance values matches the expected values from the simulation.
Ultrasound features of purulent skin and soft tissue infection without abscess.

Ultrasound (US) aids clinical management of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) by differentiating non-purulent cellulitis from abscess. However, purulent SSTI may be present without abscess. Guidelines recommend incision and drainage (I & D) for purulent SSTI, but US descriptions of purulent SSTI without abscess are lacking. We retrospectively reviewed pediatric emergency department patients with US of the buttock read as negative for abscess. We identified US features of SSTI with adequate interobserver agreement (kappa > 0.45). Six independent observers then ranked presence or absence of these features on US exams. We studied association between US features and positive wound culture using logistic regression models (significance at p 0.45 for focal collection > 1.0 cm (κ = 0.57), hyperemia (κ = 0.57), swirling with compression (κ = 0.52), posterior acoustic enhancement (κ = 0.47), and cobblestoning or branching interstitial fluid (κ = 0.45). Only cobblestoning or interstitial fluid was associated with positive wound cultures in logistic regression models at 8 and 48 h. Cobblestoning or interstitial fluid on US may indicate presence of culture-positive, purulent SSTI in patients without US appearance of abscess. Although our study has limitations due to its retrospective design, this US appearance should alert imagers that the patient may benefit from early I & D.
Examining Dimensions of Treatment Intensity and Treatment Fidelity in Mathematics Intervention Research for Students at Risk

To prevent academic failure and promote long-term success, response-to-intervention (RtI) is designed to systematically increase the intensity of delivering research-based interventions. Interventi...
Extended Asymmetrical Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy for Adult Spinal Deformity: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) is an effective technique to correct fixed sagittal malalignment. A variation of this technique, the "trans-discal" or "extended" PSO (Schwab grade IV osteotomy), involves extending the posterior wedge resection of the index vertebra to include the superior adjacent disc for radical discectomy. The posterior wedge may be resected in asymmetric fashion to correct concurrent global coronal malalignment.This video illustrates the technical nuances of an extended asymmetrical lumbar PSO for adult spinal deformity. A 62-yr-old female with multiple prior lumbar fusions presented with worsening back pain and posture. Preoperative scoliosis X-rays demonstrated severe global sagittal and coronal malalignment (sagittal vertical axis [SVA, C7-plumbline] of 13.5 cm, pelvic incidence [PI] of 60°, lumbar lordosis [LL] of 14° [in kyphosis], pelvic tilt [PT] of 61°, thoracic kyphosis [TK] of 18°, and rightward coronal shift of 9.3 cm). The patient gave informed consent to surgery and for use of her imaging for medical publication. Briefly, surgery first involved transpedicular instrumentation from T10 to S1 with bilateral iliac screw fixation, and then T11-12 and T12-L1 Smith-Petersen osteotomies were performed. Next, an extended asymmetrical L4 PSO was performed and a 12° lordotic cage (9 × 14 × 40 mm) was placed at the PSO defect. Rods were placed from T10 to iliac bilaterally, and accessory supplemental rods spanning the PSO were attached. Postoperative scoliosis X-rays demonstrated improved alignment: SVA 5.5 cm, PI 60°, LL 55°, PT 36°, TK 37°, and 3.7 cm of rightward coronal shift. The patient had uneventful recovery.
Exercise and Immunosenescence

Life expectancy in the developed world has increased exponentially over the last century, predisposing the elderly population to an unprecedented risk of infectious disease and malignancy. This apparent increase in disease susceptibility appears to be due to inexorable declines in the normal functioning of the immune system, with this age-related effect commonly being referred to as immunosenescence. The decline in functioning of the immune system is thought to be multifactorial (see Chaps. 1 and 2) and in part reflects a manifestation of repeated exposures to external pathogens and persistent viral infections throughout the lifespan, although certain lifestyle factors (i.e. smoking, inactivity, socio-economic status ) have also been linked with impaired immunity and biomarkers of ageing. Immunosenescence describes a progressive deterioration of systemic immunity, however, ageing is associated with a more pronounced functional decline in adaptive (i.e. T- and B-lymphocytes and their products) compared to innate immunity. Many of these age-related changes within the T-cell compartment (i.e. inverted CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio, low mitogen-induced T-cell proliferation, memory cell inflation, low IL-2 synthesis) have been clustered together over the years to form an “immune risk profile” (IRP) that has proven to be a useful set of biomarkers to predict morbidity and mortality in the elderly (Pawelec et al., J Comp Pathol 142(Suppl 1):S39–44, 2010). However, circulating levels of inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, IL-1ra and C-reactive protein have also been found to be useful prognostic markers in very old people (Jylha et al., J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 62(9):1016–1021, 2007).
Positive Commuting Perturbations of Selfadjoint Operators and Hyponormality

Let P be a selfadjoint operator on a separable, infinite dimensional Hilbert space. Then there exists a completely hyponormal operator T having a polar factorization T = UP, U unitary, and satisfying the condition that T*T and TT* commute, if and only if P ≧ 0 and σp(P) contains at least two points, 0 is not in σp(P), and, whenever σp(P) is not empty, neither sup σp(P) nor inf σp(P) belongs to σp(P) with a finite multiplicity.
Abstract TP168: Racial Disparities in Stroke Risk Factors and Interventions in an Underserved Metropolitan Population

Introduction: Direct comparisons of stroke risk factors and rates of acute stroke treatment between Asians, Blacks and Whites are limited due to a lack of racial diversity in typical hospital catchment areas. Methods: Consecutive patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral [ICH] or subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]) admitted to a single, comprehensive stroke center located in a racially diverse, underserved metropolitan area were prospectively enrolled in a registry between 9/2014-2/2017. Stroke risk factors, admission NIHSS, insurance status and acute stroke treatments (including IV tPA and/or mechanical thrombectomy) were compared between Asian, White and Black patients. Results: Of 1045 stroke patients, 170 (16%) were Asian, 226 (22%) were Black and 649 (62%) were White. Asians had significantly higher rates of ICH than Blacks or Whites (17% versus 6% and 8%, respectively, P<0.001), while Blacks had higher rates of SAH than other race groups (12% versus 3% among Asians and Whites, P=0.002)....
Digital Reformatting and Data Rescue with RADD and the PROUD and PRAVDA Kits

Despite the short remaining time to rescue unique cultural and personal materials stored on many twentieth- and early twenty-first-century audiovisual and digital storage media, realistic rescue options are starkly limited. Building a rescue apparatus in house, especially to archival standards, requires significant expertise and expense and is often of limited continuing use. Outsourcing digital capture of these materials overwhelms the resources of even well-funded academic libraries and archives, never mind public libraries, small archives, and local historical societies. To address this problem realistically, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Information School has built and documented an in-house rescue installation called RADD (Recover Analog and Digital Data) as well as two self-contained, portable, and shippable rescue kits: PROUD (Portable Recovery of Unique Data) for digital materials and PRAVDA (Portably Reformat Audio and Video to Digital from Analog) for audio and video. All three units are actively rescuing cultural heritage materials, as well as serving training and outreach functions.
Parental threats and adolescent depression: The role of emotion dysregulation.

Abstract Childhood exposure to parental threatening behaviors places adolescents at greater risk for depression. However, the association between parental threatening behaviors and depressive symptoms among trauma-exposed inpatient youth, and potential factors that exacerbate the harmful effects of such parenting, have remained unexplored. One factor that may contribute to depression is low emotional clarity, which is characterized by difficulties recognizing and understanding one's emotions. The current investigation examined the interactive effects of childhood exposure to maternal threatening behaviors and emotional clarity deficits in relation to depressive symptoms among inpatient psychiatric youth who had been exposed to a potentially traumatic event (i.e., exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence). Participants (N = 50, Mage = 15.1 years, SD = 0.51, range 12–17) completed measures of emotion dysregulation, childhood exposure to maternal threatening behavior, and depressive symptoms. A significant interaction was found between exposure to maternal threatening behaviors and deficits in emotional clarity in relation to depressive symptom severity. Greater exposure to maternal threatening behaviors was related to more severe depressive symptoms, yet only among children with greater deficits in emotional clarity. Findings underscore the need for interventions that target emotional clarity among trauma-exposed youth who have experienced parental threats.
Larval pheromone disrupts pre-excavation aggregation of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) neonates precipitating colony collapse

Newly eclosed larvae of Cactoblastis cactorum Berg (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) contain their activity to an arena formed at the base of their eggstick, marked with a mandibular gland pheromone. Laboratory and field studies were undertaken to determine if these pre-excavation aggregations, essential to their successful penetration of the host plant, could be disrupted with mandibular gland extract causing the incipient colonies to perish. Cladodes or whole plants were sprayed with the pheromone, obtained by extracting macerated caterpillars in hexane, hexane only, or left unsprayed, and the survivorship of caterpillars that eclosed from eggsticks attached to the cladodes recorded at a later date. In 4 separate experiments, the average survivorship of C. cactorum larvae from cohorts on cladodes sprayed with the extract (15%) differed markedly from survivorship of caterpillar cohorts on cladodes treated with the solvent only (84%) or left untreated (80%). This differential mortality was attributed to the elicitation of the independent dispersal of the caterpillars by the mandibular gland pheromone and their failure to reaggregate in numbers sufficient to mount a successful attack on the host plant. The potential for managing pest populations of caterpillars employing this target-specific alternative to conventional pesticides is discussed.
A Decomposition of International Capital Flows

We propose a method to break down capital flows into portfolio growth and portfolio reallocation components and apply it to data on US equity and bond outflows. The decomposition is part of an integrated approach that decomposes purchases of any asset into portfolio growth and reallocation components. US equity and bond outflows depend not just on portfolio growth and the reallocation between US and foreign equity and bonds, but also on reallocation decisions higher up on the decision tree. This includes reallocation between portfolio and non-portfolio assets and between equity and bonds. We also consider the decomposition of US equity and bond outflows to individual foreign countries. The data shed light on the importance of the various components in accounting for capital flows over both the short and long run.
Potential phylogenetic significance of the number of functional abdominal spiracles in beetle pupae, with focus on Staphylinoidea (Coleoptera)

The distribution of functional abdominal spiracles in pupae of Coleoptera is reviewed based on published descriptions and original observations. Aquatic Coleoptera typically have strong modifications, generally including dramatic reductions in the number of functional spiracles and often their modification into either spiracular gills or snorkels, as a response to their environment. But pupae of the great majority of Coleoptera, which are terrestrial, show broad stability across higher taxa. Most terrestrial beetles have at least the first five pairs of abdominal spiracles functional, up to and including a full set of eight pairs. However, the number is unexpectedly low in Scarabaeoidea and within Staphyliniformia, where Histeridae and all Staphylinoidea have a confirmed maximum of four pairs of spiracles. The relation between pupal size and number of functional spiracles in terrestrial pupae is explored, and it is suggested that those groups with an unexpectedly small number of functional spiracles may have passed through a “small-size bottleneck” in their ancestry. However, this hypothesis does not explain why several families of very small beetles in other groups of Coleoptera do not show a similar reduction, and little evidence was found to support a strong relation between pupal size and number of functional spiracles at lower taxonomic levels (below family). Whether pupae are exarate or obtect apparently also has little correlation with the number of functional spiracles. However, the consistency and stability of spiracular reductions in the above groups suggests that deep historical factors are involved and thus the reductions may be of phylogenetic significance. It is urged that establishing the number of functional spiracles in beetle pupae become as standard a feature of pupal descriptions as chaetotaxy and whether they are exarate or obtect.
Ethical decision-making in simultaneous heart-liver transplantation.

Purpose of review Simultaneous heart-liver (SHL) transplants are only a small proportion of overall heart and liver transplantation, they have been increasing in frequency and thus challenge the equitable allocation of organs. Recent findings The incidence of SHL transplants is reviewed along with the outcomes of SHL transplants and their impact on the waitlist, particularly in the context of solitary heart and liver transplantation. The ethical implications, most importantly the principles of utility and equity, of SHL transplant are addressed. In the context of utility, the distinction of a transplant being life-saving versus life-enhancing is investigated. The risk of hepatic decompensation for those awaiting both solitary and combined organ transplantation is an important consideration for the principle of equity. Lastly, the lack of standardization of programmatic approaches to SHL transplant candidates, the national approach to allocation, and the criteria by which programs are evaluated are reviewed. Summary As with all multiorgan transplantation, SHL transplantation raises ethical issues of utility and equity. Given the unique patient population, good outcomes, lack of alternatives, and overall small numbers, we feel there is continued ethical justification for SHL, but a more standardized nationwide approach to the evaluation, listing, and allocation of organs is warranted.
Healthcare Fragmentation and Incident Acute Coronary Heart Disease Events: a Cohort Study

Highly fragmented ambulatory care (i.e., care spread across many providers without a dominant provider) has been associated with excess tests, procedures, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Whether fragmented care is associated with worse health outcomes, or whether any association varies with health status, is unclear. To determine whether fragmented care is associated with the risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events, overall and stratified by self-rated general health. We conducted a secondary analysis of the nationwide prospective Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort study (2003–2016). We included participants who were ≥ 65 years old, had linked Medicare fee-for-service claims, and had no history of CHD (N = 10,556). We measured fragmentation with the reversed Bice-Boxerman Index. We used Cox proportional hazards models to determine the association between fragmentation as a time-varying exposure and adjudicated incident CHD events in the 3 months following each exposure period. The mean age was 70 years; 57% were women, and 34% were African-American. Over 11.8 years of follow-up, 569 participants had CHD events. Overall, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the association between high fragmentation and incident CHD events was 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92, 1.39). Among those with very good or good self-rated health, high fragmentation was associated with an increased hazard of CHD events (adjusted HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.06, 1.73; p = 0.01). Among those with fair or poor self-rated health, high fragmentation was associated with a trend toward a decreased hazard of CHD events (adjusted HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.29, 1.01; p = 0.052). There was no association among those with excellent self-rated health. High fragmentation was associated with an increased independent risk of incident CHD events among those with very good or good self-rated health.
Anaphor reconstruction in Japanese relative clauses: An experimental study

Abstract This study conducted two experiments to examine the derivation of the head noun phrase in Japanese relative clauses, with a focus on whether the anaphors jibun ‘self’ and jibun-jishin ‘self-self’ within the head noun phrase can be co-referential with the relative clause subject. It aims to settle a long-standing debate among the previous studies concerning the interpretation of the anaphors inside the head noun phrase: while several studies claimed that the co-reference between the anaphor jibun ‘self’ and the relative clause subject is prohibited, many other studies argued that such co-reference is possible. In addition, it has been claimed that while co-indexing the anaphor jibun with the relative clause subject might be marginally acceptable, it would become fully acceptable if we replace jibun with the morphologically complex anaphor jibun-jishin ‘self-self’, which implies that the morphological make-up of an anaphor may affect its ability to be co-indexed with the relative clause subject. The results of two carefully controlled truth value judgment experiments show that neither the simplex anaphor jibun nor the complex anaphor jibun-jishin within the head noun phrase of relative clauses can take the relative clause subject as its antecedent, which suggests that the head noun phrase does not reconstruct and therefore lends support to the pro-binding analysis of Japanese relative clauses. Moreover, the findings also suggest that the morphological make-up of an anaphor does not affect its ability to take the relative clause subject as its antecedent, despite the claim that it is more acceptable to co-index the complex anaphor jibun-jishin with the relative clause subject than the simplex anaphor jibun.
The Perils of Laundering Control through Customers: A Study of Control and Resistance in the Ride-hail Industry

Customer abuse of frontline service workers is widespread. Yet despite growing recognition of this problem, we know very little about the role that service companies play in potentially enabling cu...
Quantification of Potential Inequities in Breast Cancer Incidence in New Mexico Through Bayesian Disease Mapping

Introduction The incidence of breast cancer among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women varies across the United States. We applied county-level Bayesian disease mapping to quantify potential inequities in 10-year breast cancer incidence in New Mexico to better inform health equity initiatives among its non-Hispanic at-risk AI/AN population. Methods We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 2005 through 2014 to identify new cases of breast cancer in New Mexico's 33 counties. To account for spatial variation, a county-level Area Deprivation Index, and the small area estimation problem inherent in these data, we borrowed strength globally and locally by applying Bayesian disease mapping to the counts of age-adjusted county-level breast cancer incidence. We quantified the disparity effect, as measured by the age-adjusted rate ratio, comparing the incidence of breast cancer between at-risk non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White women and assessed whether the ratio differed among counties. Results Accounting for over-dispersion and spatial correlation among the 33 counties and a county-level Area Deprivation Index, the posterior mean of the overall age-adjusted rate ratio was 0.384 (95% credible interval, 0.253--0.546). The age-adjusted rate of breast cancer in non-Hispanic AI/AN women was 0.38 times the corresponding age-adjusted rate for non-Hispanic White women; however, a significant reduction in breast cancer incidence was observed in 16 of the 33 counties. Conclusion The application of Bayesian disease mapping to these data provided substantial evidence of an overall disparity in breast cancer incidence between at-risk non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White women in New Mexico, which was more marked than previously reported and limited to certain counties. Targeted statewide and county-level health-equity initiatives may lead to a reduction in these disparities.
A Step Toward Making VMAT TBI More Prevalent: Automating the Treatment Planning Process.

Abstract Purpose Our purpose was to automate the treatment planning process for total body irradiation (TBI) with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Methods and Materials Two scripts were developed to facilitate autoplanning: the binary plug-in script automating the creation of optimization structures, plan generation, beam placement, and setting of the optimization constraints and the stand-alone executable performing successive optimizations. Ten patients previously treated in our clinic with VMAT TBI were used to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed autoplanning process. Paired t tests were used to compare the dosimetric indices of the produced auto plans to the manually generated clinical plans. In addition, 3 physicians were asked to evaluate the manual and autoplans for each patient in a blinded retrospective review. Results No significant differences were observed between the manual and autoplan global Dmax (P Conclusions Large reductions in planning time without sacrificing plan quality were obtained using the developed autoplanning process compared with manual planning, thus reducing the required effort of the treatment planning team. Superior lung sparing with the same target coverage and similar global Dmax were observed with the autoplans as compared with the manual treatment plans. The developed scripts have been made open-source to improve access to VMAT TBI at other institutions and clinics.
TLE4 Is a Critical Mediator of Osteoblast and Runx2-Dependent Bone Development.

Healthy bone homeostasis hinges upon a delicate balance and regulation of multiple processes that contribute to bone development and metabolism. While examining hematopoietic regulation by Tle4, we have uncovered a previously unappreciated role of Tle4 on bone calcification using a novel Tle4 null mouse model. Given the significance of osteoblasts in both hematopoiesis and bone development, this study investigated how loss of Tle4 affects osteoblast function. We used dynamic bone formation parameters and microCT to characterize the adverse effects of Tle4 loss on bone development. We further demonstrated loss of Tle4 impacts expression of several key osteoblastogenic genes, including Runx2, Oc, and Ap, pointing towards a potential novel mechanism for Tle4-dependent regulation of mammalian bone development in collaboration with the RUNX family members.
Reconsidering the Partnership Approach in International Migration Cooperation

In the last few years, the importance of cooperating on issues of migration has become ever more apparent. The 2015–16 migration crisis in Europe and successive surges in irregular migration at the US–Mexico border since 2014 have illustrated the limitations of acting unilaterally and demonstrated the role that cooperation can play in managing migration more effectively. As a result, governments in Europe and North America have invested significant resources and political capital in their relationships with key countries of origin and transit. But an initial review suggests that while recent partnerships on migration are distinguished by their scope and ambition, they raise similar questions to their predecessors: namely, how effective they are in achieving their goals and whether they constitute true ‘partnerships’ in the proper sense of the term.
Cognitive Mechanisms in Pediatric Voice Therapy - An Initial Examination.

Abstract Introduction Voice disorders are a common communication disorder in children. Behavioral voice therapy is recommended by both Otolaryngologists and Speech-Language Pathologists as a first-line approach for treatment of benign vocal fold lesions that affect children in large numbers. However, the role of cognitive mechanisms critical to voice therapy have not yet been explored. Objective This proof-of-concept study aims to provide preliminary data on the potential relation between cognitive abilities and behavioral results of voice therapy for children with benign phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions. Methods Six children (4;05 –9;02 years) diagnosed with vocal fold nodules completed a battery of cognitive tests from the NEuroPSYchological (NEPSY-II) Assessment and a standard course of “Adventures in Voice” therapy. Recordings pre and post intervention were analyzed acoustically using the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID) and perceptually using visual analog scales (VAS) for severity and resonance separately. Raw and age-corrected scaled scores from the NEPSY-II were then examined for their possible relation to voice outcomes. Results Multiple cognitive functions correlated with voice outcomes. Raw score measures for Design Fluency, Inhibition, Fingertip Tapping, and Narrative Memory correlated favorably with all voice outcome measures. Age correlated with all NEPSY-II raw scores and perceptual voice outcome measures. Scaled scores for Auditory Attention, Design Fluency, Fingertip Tapping (Dominant hand), and Narrative Memory correlated with all voice outcome measures. Conclusion Results suggest that there is merit to further investigation of the relation between cognitive skills and their development and voice treatment outcomes in children with benign phonotraumatic lesions. Future studies with larger samples will build on present findings.
The ATP at NIST

Summary form only given. The EDA industry faces a substantial shift. Electronic systems are going through fundamental and rapid change in domains ranging from TVs and in-vehicle devices to phones, tablets, and even PCs. These new systems require unprecedented connectivity, hardware and software complexity, and application and user interactions. To meet these challenges, the EDA industry must evolve and expand quickly to enable highly interdependent silicon, software, system, and experience solutions. The EDA industry's current offering need to be reassessed, and the scope of the industry's capabilities and environments needs to encompass exploration, design, verification, and debug across the complete hardware and software stack. This keynote will highlight opportunities for innovation and the changes necessary to support this brisk evolution and value creation in electronic systems.
The biosynthesis of DNA by insects: II. The origin of thymidylic acid during adult development of the cecropia silkworm

Abstract Alternate pathways of TMP production were examined in developing pupae of the silkmoth Hyalophora cecropia . It was found that injected [ 14 C]thymidine was more effective in labeling DNA thymine when the label was in the pyrimidine ring [2- 14 C] rather than in the 5-methyl group, indicating that a demethylation step may be involved in the metabolism of thymidine. A labeled intermediate, 5-hydroxymethyl deoxyuridine, was found when cell-free preparations of whole pupae were supplied with either ring- or methyl-labeled thymidine. Another labeled product, deoxyuridine, was formed from ring-labeled thymidine. Labeled-TMP, TDP and TTP were also detected under both labeling conditions. Partially purified preparations of thymidine kinase also showed thymidine 7-hydroxylase activity which was less sensitive than the kinase to inhibition by 2-mercaptoethanol, dCDP, and high substrate concentrations. Cell-free preparations of whole pupae convert dCMP into both dCTP and precursors of TTP, thus demonstrating that the reduction of cytidine phosphate compounds could contribute to the production of both pyrimidine nucleotide precursors of DNA.
Refining restriction enzyme genome maps

A genome map is an ordering of a set of clones according to their believed position on a DNA string. Simple heuristics for genome map assembly based on single restriction enzyme with complete digestion data can lead to inaccuracies and ambiguities. This paper presents a method that adds additional constraint checking to the assembly process. An automaton is presented that for any genome map produces a refined genome map where both the clones and the restriction fragments in each clone are ordered satisfying natural constraints called step constraints. Any genome map that cannot be refined is highly likely to be inaccurate and can be eliminated as a possibility.
A New Microporous Surface Coating for Enhancement of Pool and Flow Boiling Heat Transfer

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the development and the performance enhancement associated with the microporous coating in nucleate pool and flow boiling of highly wetting fluids, which are inert, dielectric, and can have low boiling points making them desirable for electronics cooling applications; however, their poor thermophysical properties require the use of heat transfer enhancement methods to provide a useful operating range. The microporous coating was developed specifically to enhance nucleate boiling performance in highly wetting fluids and to be benign enough for direct application to sensitive electronic chips. The microporous coating is a mixture of small particles (1- to 20-μm-diameter) and epoxy binder that creates a thin (≈50-μm thick), porous structure that contains re-entrant cavities. It is a surface treatment used to increase vapor/gas entrapment volume and active nucleation site density by forming a porous structure with cavities much smaller than conventional metallic porous coatings. Coating development improves incipience using re-entrant cavities and to enhance nucleate boiling heat transfer and critical heat flux (CHF) by significantly increasing the number of active nucleation sites. Under flow boiling conditions, the enhanced heat transfer benefit of the microporous coating depends on the boiling regime. In the boiling-dominated, subcooled convective boiling regime, the coating enables widespread subcooled boiling, thus providing significant heat transfer enhancements. The chapter discusses the development, optimization, and performance of the microporous coating and also highlights the physics behind the enhancement provided by the microporous coating.
The Papyrus Object Library

The Papyrus Object Library is a set of routines that provide simple access to persistent recoverable storage. It is intended to be used as one of several tools for implementing Data Managers in Papyrus. Three primary goals have shaped the design of the Object Library. The first is flexibility in adapting to Data Manager needs. The Object Library can be used to implement traditional storage managers as well as to provide persistence to programming languages. The second goal is to insulate Data Manager implementors from operating system and file system details without sacrificing performance. Simple localized modifications to one module of the Library can be easily made to take advantage of operating system features that can improve performance such as mapped files or raw I/O. The last goal is to provide high performance. The system is designed to provide very fast access to objects and very efficient allocation and deallocation of objects.
Climate Change and Consumption

To achieve the level of greenhouse gas emissions reductions called for by climate change experts, officials and policy analysts may need to develop an unfamiliar category of regulated entity: the consumer. Although industrial, manufacturing, retail, and service sector firms undoubtedly will remain the focus of climate change policy in the near term, individuals and households exert a greenhouse footprint that seems simply too large for policymakers to ignore in the long term. This paper, written as a foreword for the Environmental Law Reporter's symposium issue, "Climate Change and Consumption," emerges from an interdisciplinary conference of the same title held at Vanderbilt University in April 2008. The paper begins by providing an overview of the limited role that consumer behavior and decision making has played in environmental law to date. It then describes theoretical and empirical frameworks for understanding the consumer and consumption that could be deployed to inform law and policy if, as we predict, the consumer becomes a much more significant target of environmental regulation. The paper concludes by summarizing the symposium articles, which range widely across disciplines and areas of focus, but which reflect a common belief that the carbon-constrained consumer is worthy of significant academic and policy attention.
Buffer architectures and routing algorithms in the performance of Shufflenet

Shufflenet achieves high throughput by allowing different users in the network to transmit information concurrently through different channels. Because optical memory can be expensive, a shufflenet with deflection routing has been proposed. The authors investigate four control strategies (CS) using different routing algorithms and buffer architectures. The performance of the control strategies is studied by simulating in 64-node (2,4) shufflenet with deflection routing. Trade-offs between throughput, buffer cost and routing complexity in the network are observed and discussed. It is concluded that CFDL ('Care' packet First, 'Don't Care, packet Last) is a very effective routing algorithm. The shufflenet performs very well with deflection routing, even when only a few buffers are provided at each node in the network.
Two-Level Push-Relabel Algorithm for the Maximum Flow Problem

We describe a two-level push-relabel algorithm for the maximum flow problem and compare it to the competing codes. The algorithm generalizes a practical algorithm for bipartite flows. Experiments show that the algorithm performs well on several problem families.
CBI authoring tools in postsecondary institutions: a review and critical examination

Abstract Although new technologies offer authoring systems to the postsecondary author, many early CBI problems continue to plague current authoring efforts. The problems of a generation ago such as: labor and cost-intensity, uneven pedagogical integrity across lessons, and the absence of authoring tools which simplify programming while ensuring instructional quality have not been resolved. Fundamental changes in the methods and tools used to create CBI, and in the forces driving the creation of such methods and tools, are needed. This paper reviews authoring developments in CBI, examines various authoring features, trends, issues and next generation tools needed to promote effective authoring at the postsecondary level.
Hepatocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and host defense mechanisms in the alcohol-injured liver

The consumption of alcohol is associated with many health issues including alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The natural history of ALD involves the development of steatosis, inflammation (steatohepatitis), fibrosis and cirrhosis. During the stage of steatohepatitis, the combination of inflammation and cellular damage can progress to a severe condition termed alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Unfortunately, the pathogenesis of AH remains uncharacterized. Some modulations have been identified in host defense and liver immunity mechanisms during AH that highlight the role of intrahepatic lymphocyte accumulation and associated inflammatory cytokine responses. Also, it is hypothesized that alcohol-induced injury to liver cells may significantly contribute to the aberrant lymphocytic distribution that is seen in AH. In particular, the regulation of lymphocytes by hepatocytes may be disrupted in the alcoholic liver resulting in altered immunologic homeostasis and perpetuation of disease. In recent studies, it was demonstrated that the direct killing of activated T lymphocytes by hepatocytes is facilitated by the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). The ASGPR is a well-characterized glycoprotein receptor that is exclusively expressed by hepatocytes. This hepatic receptor is known for its role in the clearance of desialylated glycoproteins or cells, yet neither its physiological function nor its role in disease states has been determined. Interestingly, alcohol markedly impairs ASGPR function; however, the effect alcohol has on ASGPR-mediated cytotoxicity of lymphocytes remains to be elucidated. This review discusses the contribution of hepatocytes in immunological regulation and, importantly, how pathological effects of ethanol disrupt hepatocellular-mediated defense mechanisms.
Empirical L2-distance lack-of-fit tests for Tobit regression models

Standard Tobit regression models assume a linear relationship between the partially observed response variable and the predictors, while applications often see some nonlinear connections. This paper proposes an empirical L"2-distance lack-of-fit test to check the adequacy of the presumed parametric form for the regression function in Tobit regression models. The proposed test statistic is shown to be asymptotically normal, consistent against some fixed alternatives, and has nontrivial power for some local nonparametric alternatives. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the finite sample performance of the proposed test.
Practical aspects of school drug-abuse policy development.

(1979). Practical Aspects of School Drug-Abuse Policy Development. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 343-345.