cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recommended Practices for Python Pedagogy in Graduate Data Science Courses

This Research to Practice Full Paper discusses experiences and recommendations highlighting best practices for teaching Python1 in data science at higher education institutions. Python has become the language of choice for teaching data science at both graduate and undergraduate programs. From data preprocessing, pattern extraction, predictive modeling, to visualization, the language has important libraries and tools to achieve this seamlessly. In this paper, the pedagogical approaches and learning objectives achieved by a cohort of graduate students specific to using Python at all stages of the KDD (Knowledge Discovery in Databases) life cycle are highlighted. The need to do this is motivated by describing an undergraduate data mining course taught at a STEM program in Computer Science. Teaching and research experiences to build projects are also elaborated across these groups. The paper then proposes recommended practices for teaching Python at the graduate level in similar data science programs.1Python Software Foundation, [Online]. Available: https://www.python.org/
The History You Don’t Know, and the History You Do: The Promise of Signature Pedagogies in History Education

The persistent separation of subject-matter content and pedagogical training in traditional teacher education programs has made it difficult for many beginning teachers to establish a base of knowledge they can use to develop pedagogical content knowledge as their careers unfold. While existing efforts to bridge this gap have focused on intensive collaborations between education faculty and their colleagues in disciplinary fields, or on the integration of disciplinary knowledge into teacher education coursework, work still can be done to address the problem of providing beginning teachers with the balance of deep and flexible content knowledge complemented by practical teaching maneuvers that so many of them crave. This chapter explores the possibility of addressing this gap via the development of signature pedagogies, following the lead established in many other professional fields, paying special attention to Lee Shulman’s conceptualization of the idea and its potential impact on teacher education in history.
The Humanitarian Turn at the UNSC: Explaining the development of international norms through machine learning algorithms:

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has transformed from a body almost exclusively focused on conflict to one that addresses a wide variety of issues. Despite a series of powerful works in recent years ...
Cancer-Specific Mortality, All-Cause Mortality, and Overdiagnosis in Lung Cancer Screening Trials: A Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE Benefit of lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in reducing lung cancer–specific and all-cause mortality is unclear. We undertook a meta-analysis to assess its associations with outcomes. METHODS We searched the literature and previous systematic reviews to identify randomized controlled trials comparing LDCT screening with usual care or chest radiography. We performed meta-analysis using a random effects model. The primary outcomes were lung cancer–specific mortality, all-cause mortality, and the cumulative incidence ratio of lung cancer between screened and unscreened groups as a measure of overdiagnosis. RESULTS Meta-analysis was based on 8 trials with 90,475 patients that had a low risk of bias. There was a significant reduction in lung cancer–specific mortality with LDCT screening (relative risk = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.74-0.89); the estimated absolute risk reduction was 0.4% (number needed to screen = 250). The reduction in all-cause mortality was not statistically significant (relative risk = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-1.01), but the absolute reduction was consistent with that for lung cancer–specific mortality (0.34%; number needed to screen = 294). In the studies with the longest duration of follow-up, the incidence of lung cancer was 25% higher in the screened group, corresponding to a 20% rate of overdiagnosis. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis showing a significant reduction in lung cancer–specific mortality, albeit with a tradeoff of likely overdiagnosis, supports recommendations to screen individuals at elevated risk for lung cancer with LDCT.
Maize as production and delivery vehicle of edible vaccines against the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and the swine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE)

Plants are becoming increasingly important as a production system for biopharmaceuticals and industrially important proteins. Early work focused on the production of these novel proteins in crop plants such as tobacco, potato and tomato. The work presented in this dissertation showed that maize can be used as a source and delivery vehicle for edible vaccines. Antigenic proteins from two economically important pathogens, enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the swine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) were expressed in transgenic maize. This study showed that the subunits of the E. coli heat labile enterotoxin (LT) can be synthesized in transgenic maize tissues. The B subunits of the labile toxin (LT-B) were expressed in transgenic maize kernels, and data obtained showed that the protein was accumulated, correctly processed and assembled in maize tissue. The role of plant regulatory sequences such as promoters, targeting and retention signals in accumulation of LT-B in transgenic maize kernels was studied. It was established that the seed specific 27 kDa gamma zein promoter achieved a significantly higher level of LT-B expression in kernels compared to the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. The use of the endoplasmic reticulum retention motif SEKDEL significantly enhanced kernel accumulation of LT-B. The LT-B gene was normally transmitted over three generations as expected. Analysis of the greenhouse and field grown LT-B expressing maize indicated that the level of LT-B expression increased in each successive generation. Sub-cellular localization of LT-B using immunogold labeling and electron microscopy techniques indicated that the LT-B was encapsulated in transgenic maize kernel
Connectionless Edge-Cache Servers for Reducing Cellular Bandwidth Usage in Vehicular Networks

This paper presents a novel caching mechanism based on Connectionless Edge Cache Servers in vehicular networks. The goal is to intelligently cache content within the vehicles and the edge servers so that majority of the vehicle-requested content can be obtained from those caches, thus minimizing the amount of cellular network usage needed for fetching content from a central server. A notable feature of the cache servers in this work is that they do not have backhaul connectivity. This makes the connectionless servers to be relatively less expensive compared to the usual Roadside Service Units (RSUs), and potentially moveable in response to specific events that are expected to generate content in large volumes. In the absence of backhaul connectivity in the edge servers, the vehicles ferry content across the edge servers to build optimal cached content distribution so that the cellular usage from the vehicles is minimized. We have implemented the scheme using ONE simulator and compared it with various other caching mechanisms including a manually pre-filled technique that provides a performance upper bound. It was shown that the proposed mechanism outperforms the other schemes in two different network scenarios, one based on East Lansing (MI) map, and the other based on a synthetic transportation network.
Abstract P527: Temporal Trend of Mechanical Thrombectomy Utilization in Treatment of Perioperative Ischemic Stroke Following Elective Inpatient Surgery in the United States

Background: Perioperative ischemic stroke (PIS) significantly increases morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing elective surgery. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) can improve outcomes of ischemi...
Principles for Pedicle Choice: Avoiding Vascular Compromise

Reduction mammaplasty remains a procedure with exceedingly high satisfaction for both patient and surgeon alike. A reduction mammaplasty can conceptually be understood as the attempt to achieve three goals: aesthetic appearance, considering the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) position, parenchymal shape, and acceptable scars; viable NAC, which has the normal three-dimensional shape with preserved pigmentation; and sensate NAC with retained lactation. The therapeutic procedures scale with the desired correction, trading safety for degree of correction. As in all plastic surgery, patient selection and patient counseling are critical. Techniques range from suction lipectomy and parenchymal wedge resection, typically for more modest reduction and treatment of pseudoptosis, to pedicle-based techniques, by far the most common form of reduction mammaplasty in North America. As the desired correction exceeds debatable extremes, reduction and free nipple graft offer a reasonable solution that compromises one of the three objectives, while more safely assuring the other two. As in all plastic surgery, exciting new advances in avoiding vascular compromise are always on the horizon.
One march, many paths: Insights into allergic march trajectories.

Abstract Objective The classical allergic march model posits that atopy begins in infancy with atopic dermatitis and progresses to asthma and allergic rhinitis in a subset of individuals. The growing prevalence and severity of allergic diseases have prompted renewed interest in refining this model. This review outlines epidemiologic evidence for the existence of allergic march trajectories (distinct paths of atopy development in individuals); reviews the roles that genetics, environment, and disease endotypes play in determining trajectory outcomes; and discusses the clinical utility of the trajectory model. Data Sources PubMed search of English-language articles and reviews without date limits pertaining to the epidemiology, genetics, and immunologic mechanisms of allergic march trajectories and disease endotypes. Study Selections Studies and reviews were selected based on their high quality and direct relevance to the review topic. Results Recent work in the field has revealed that immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergy and eosinophilic esophagitis are components of the allergic march. Furthermore, the field is acknowledging that variability exists in the number and sequence of allergic manifestations that individuals develop. These allergic march pathways, or trajectories, are influenced by genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors that are incompletely understood. Conclusion Continued elucidation of the landscape and origins of allergic march trajectories will inform efforts to personalize allergic disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Eliminating HIV reservoirs for a cure: the issue is in the tissue.

Purpose of review Advances in antiretroviral therapy have saved numerous lives, converting a diagnosis with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) from a death sentence into the possibility for a (nearly) normal life in many instances. However, the obligation for lifelong adherence, increased risk of accumulated co-morbidities, and continued lack of uniform availability around the globe underscores the need for an HIV cure. Safe and scalable HIV cure strategies remain elusive, in large part due to the presence of viral reservoirs in which caches of infected cells remain hidden from immune elimination, primarily within tissues. Herein, we summarize some of the most exciting recent advances focused on understanding, quantifying, and ultimately targeting HIV tissue viral reservoirs. Recent findings Current studies have underscored the differences between viral reservoirs in tissue compartments as compared to peripheral blood, in particular, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Additionally, several novel or modified techniques are showing promise in targeting the latent viral reservoir, including modifications in drug delivery platforms and techniques such as CRISPR. Summary Elimination of tissue viral reservoirs is likely the key to generation of an effective HIV cure. Exciting studies have come out recently that reveal crucial insights into topics ranging from the basic biology of reservoir seeding to effective drug targeting. However, there are still many outstanding questions in the field about the relative importance of specific reservoirs, such as the GI tract, that may alter the final strategy pursued.
Diet of Coyotes on the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge During the White-Tailed Deer Pre-Fawning and Fawning Seasons

Canis latrans (Coyote) is known to influence herbivore communities through predation. In particular, Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) recruitment rates on the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Louisiana may be negatively influenced by Coyote predation on fawns during summer months. Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge is mostly bottomland forest surrounded by agricultural croplands and, although Coyote diets have been extensively studied, prey selection in bottomland forests is poorly understood. We collected scat samples within Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge to determine food habits of Coyotes. Coyotes used prey differently between pre-fawning and fawning seasons and exhibited inverse consumption of White-tailed Deer and small mammals by season. Consumption of White-tailed Deer increased ∼27% from the pre-fawning to fawning seasons, whereas consumption of small mammals decreased ∼21% . These findings are an important first step towards understanding prey selection by Coyotes in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
Accelerating Two Photon Microscopy Imaging Speeds Using Silicon Photomultipliers

We demonstrate a new approach to two photon detection electronics that dramatically increases bandwidth and dynamic range, enabling higher imaging speeds and SNR than conventional PMTs. We have made this technology available through the OpenSiPM project.
MRI radiomics features of mesorectal fat can predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and tumor recurrence in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

To interrogate the mesorectal fat using MRI radiomics feature analysis in order to predict clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This retrospective study included patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer from 2009 to 2015. Three radiologists independently segmented mesorectal fat on baseline T2-weighted axial MRI. Radiomics features were extracted from segmented volumes and calculated using CERR software, with adaptive synthetic sampling being employed to combat large class imbalances. Outcome variables included pathologic complete response (pCR), local recurrence, distant recurrence, clinical T-category (cT), post-treatment T category (ypT), and post-treatment N category (ypN). A maximum of eight most important features were selected for model development using support vector machines and fivefold cross-validation to predict each outcome parameter via elastic net regularization. Diagnostic metrics of the final models were calculated, including sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, accuracy, and AUC. The study included 236 patients (54 ± 12 years, 135 men). The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for each clinical outcome were as follows: for pCR, 0.89, 78.0%, 85.1%, 52.5%, 94.9%, 83.9%; for local recurrence, 0.79, 68.3%, 80.7%, 46.7%, 91.2%, 78.3%; for distant recurrence, 0.87, 80.0%, 88.4%, 58.3%, 95.6%, 87.0%; for cT, 0.80, 85.8%, 56.5%, 89.1%, 49.1%, 80.1%; for ypN, 0.74, 65.0%, 80.1%, 52.7%, 87.0%, 76.3%; and for ypT, 0.86, 81.3%, 84.2%, 96.4%, 46.4%, 81.8%. Radiomics features of mesorectal fat can predict pathological complete response and local and distant recurrence, as well as post-treatment T and N categories. • Mesorectal fat contains important prognostic information in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). • Radiomics features of mesorectal fat were significantly different between those who achieved complete vs incomplete pathologic response (accuracy 83.9%, 95% CI: 78.6–88.4%). • Radiomics features of mesorectal fat were significantly different between those who did vs did not develop local or distant recurrence (accuracy 78.3%, 95% CI: 72.0–83.7% and 87.0%, 95% CI: 81.6–91.2% respectively).
Double Dimer Covers on Snake Graphs from Super Cluster Expansions

In a recent paper, the authors gave combinatorial formulas for the Laurent expansions of super $\lambda$-lengths in a marked disk, generalizing Schiffler's $T$-path formula. In the present paper, we give an alternate combinatorial expression for these super $\lambda$-lengths in terms of double dimer covers on snake graphs. This generalizes the dimer formulas of Musiker, Schiffler, and Williams.
Identification of gene expression patterns using planned linear contrasts

In gene networks, the timing of significant changes in the expression level of each gene may be the most critical information in time course expression profiles. With the same timing of the initial change, genes which share similar patterns of expression for any number of sampling intervals from the beginning should be considered co-expressed at certain level(s) in the gene networks. In addition, multiple testing problems are complicated in experiments with multi-level treatments when thousands of genes are involved. To address these issues, we first performed an ANOVA F test to identify significantly regulated genes. The Benjamini and Hochberg (BH) procedure of controlling false discovery rate (FDR) at 5% was applied to the P values of the F test. We then categorized the genes with a significant F test into 4 classes based on the timing of their initial responses by sequentially testing a complete set of orthogonal contrasts, the reverse Helmert series. For genes within each class, specific sequences of contrasts were performed to characterize their general 'fluctuation' shapes of expression along the subsequent sampling time points. To be consistent with the BH procedure, each contrast was examined using a stepwise Studentized Maximum Modulus test to control the gene based maximum family-wise error rate (MFWER) at the level of α new determined by the BH procedure. We demonstrated our method on the analysis of microarray data from murine olfactory sensory epithelia at five different time points after target ablation. In this manuscript, we used planned linear contrasts to analyze time-course microarray experiments. This analysis allowed us to characterize gene expression patterns based on the temporal order in the data, the timing of a gene's initial response, and the general shapes of gene expression patterns along the subsequent sampling time points. Our method is particularly suitable for analysis of microarray experiments in which it is often difficult to take sufficiently frequent measurements and/or the sampling intervals are non-uniform.
Discrete functions of nuclear receptor Rev-erbα couple metabolism to the clock

Circadian and metabolic physiology are intricately intertwined, as illustrated by Rev-erbα, a transcription factor (TF) that functions both as a core repressive component of the cell-autonomous clock and as a regulator of metabolic genes. Here, we show that Rev-erbα modulates the clock and metabolism by different genomic mechanisms. Clock control requires Rev-erbα to bind directly to the genome at its cognate sites, where it competes with activating ROR TFs. By contrast, Rev-erbα regulates metabolic genes primarily by recruiting the HDAC3 co-repressor to sites to which it is tethered by cell type–specific transcription factors. Thus, direct competition between Rev-erbα and ROR TFs provides a universal mechanism for self-sustained control of the molecular clock across all tissues, whereas Rev-erbα uses lineage-determining factors to convey a tissue-specific epigenomic rhythm that regulates metabolism tailored to the specific need of that tissue.
Optimal surgical management of Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer in an increasingly aging population: challenges and recent progress.

Lung cancer remains the main cause of cancer deaths in the USA. The dismal prognosis for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) despite current advances in chemotherapy is disappointing. In an increasingly aging population, computed tomography screening allows the detection of very early Stage I NSCLC lesions. Although many retrospective trials have indicated better prognosis for those undergoing lobectomy versus sublobar resection (anatomical segmentectomy or wedge resection), the issue remains equivocal. This is particularly true for patients with significant comorbid cardiorespiratory disease compromising postoperative recovery. This review will describe landmark retrospective studies related to the topic, in an attempt to highlight the difficulties associated with surgical decision making. Key factors in the characteristics of the lesions will be examined equally with the ultimate objective of allowing the decision of lobectomy versus sublobar resection to be centered around the need of the individual pat...
Using spectral distance, spectral angle and plant abundance derived from hyperspectral imagery to characterize crop yield variation

Vegetation indices (VIs) derived from remote sensing imagery are commonly used to quantify crop growth and yield variations. As hyperspectral imagery is becoming more available, the number of possible VIs that can be calculated is overwhelmingly large. The objectives of this study were to examine spectral distance, spectral angle and plant abundance (crop fractional cover estimated with spectral unmixing) derived from all the bands in hyperspectral imagery and compare them with eight widely used two-band and three-band VIs based on selected wavelengths for quantifying crop yield variability. Airborne 102-band hyperspectral images acquired at the peak development stage and yield monitor data collected from two grain sorghum fields were used. A total of 64 VI images were generated based on the eight VIs and selected wavelengths for each field in this study. Two spectral distance images, two spectral angle images and two abundance images were also created based on a pair of pure plant and soil reference spectra for each field. Correlation analysis with yield showed that the eight VIs with the selected wavelengths had r values of 0.73–0.79 for field 1 and 0.82–0.86 for field 2. Although all VIs provided similar correlations with yield, the modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) produced more consistent r values (0.77–0.79 for field 1 and 0.85–0.86 for field 2) among the selected bands. Spectral distance, spectral angle and plant abundance produced similar r values (0.76–0.78 for field 1 and 0.83–0.85 for field 2) to the best VIs. The results from this study suggest that either a VI (MSAVI) image based on one near-infrared band (800 or 825 nm) and one visible band (550 or 670 nm) or a plant abundance image based on a pair of pure plant and soil spectra can be used to estimate relative yield variation from a hyperspectral image.
Effective theory of Floquet topological transitions.

We develop a theory of topological transitions in a Floquet topological insulator, using graphene irradiated by circularly polarized light as a concrete realization. We demonstrate that a hallmark signature of such transitions in a static system, i.e., metallic bulk transport with conductivity of order ${e}^{2}/h$, is substantially suppressed at some Floquet topological transitions in the clean system. We determine the conditions for this suppression analytically and confirm our results in numerical simulations. Remarkably, introducing disorder dramatically enhances this transport by several orders of magnitude.
Tumor shedding of laminin binding protein modulates angiostatin production in vitro and interferes with plasmin-derived inhibition of angiogenesis in aortic ring cultures.

The growth of solid tumors is largely controlled by the process of angiogenesis. A 67 kDa protein, the laminin binding protein (LBP), is shed from malignant cells in significant amounts and binds to laminin-1 (Starkey et al., Cytometry 1999;35:37–47; Karpatova et al., J Cell Biochem 1996;60:226–34). However, the functions of shed LBP are not fully understood. We hypothesize that matrix-bound LBP could modulate local tumor angiogenesis. In support of this hypothesis, we demonstrate that shed LBP exhibits sulfhydryl oxidase-like activities, and modifies the production of angiostatins from plasmin in vitro. The molecular weights of the autocatalytic products of lys-plasmin incubated with LBP in vitro suggest that PMDs (plasmin A chains attached to degraded B chains) (Ohyama et al., Eur J Biochem 2004;271:809–20) are preferentially generated. Using rat aortic ring assays, we also show that shed LBP reverses plasmin-dependent inhibition of vascular outgrowth. To elucidate which LBP region(s) are active in modulating angiogenesis, limited proteolysis experiments were conducted to determine stable rLBP domains likely to fold correctly, and these were cloned, expressed and purified. The stable LBP fragments were tested for binding to laminin-1 and for competition with shed LBP activity in the aortic ring assay. Results of these studies suggest that the active LBP domains lie within the 137–230 amino acid sequence, a region known to contain 2 bioactive sequences. Since this fragment binds to laminin-1 and modulates angiogenesis, it appears likely that binding of shed LBP to matrix laminin-1 is related to its functions in tumor angiogenesis. The findings presented in this manuscript suggest that LBP shedding could provide a useful therapeutic target. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Utility of on-line three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous atrial septal defect closure.

Key echocardiographic assessments during percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure are the maximal defect diameter, the presence or absence of tissue rims, and the spatial relationships between the implanted device and cardiac structures. These assessments drive device selection and may help identify situations that may place a patient at risk for device erosion or other complications. On-line three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) enables the rendering of nearly unlimited tissue planes within an acquired pyramidal-shaped volume with minimal image post-processing. We present several cases of percutaneous ASD closure guided by on-line 3D TEE imaging that highlight the potential advantages of this new imaging technology. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of neurosteroids and nongenomic effects of progestins in the ventral tegmental area in mediating sexual receptivity of rodents.

Progesterone (P4) in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and ventral tegmental (VTA) is important for facilitation of lordosis; however, P4's actions in these brain areas are different. Using lordosis in rodents as in vivo experimental models, we have examined the effects progestins exert in the midbrain and hypothalamus. Localization and blocker studies indicate that P4's actions in the VMH require intracellular progestin receptors (PRs) but in the VTA they do not. Progestins that have rapid, membrane effects, and/or are devoid of affinity for PRs, facilitate lordosis when applied to the VTA. Manipulation of GABA and/or GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complexes (GBRs) in the VTA alter lordosis, which suggests that progestins may interact with GBRs to facilitate receptivity by enhancing the function of GABAergic neurons. Interfering with P4's metabolism to 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), the most effective endogenous positive modulator of GBRs, or the biosynthesis of the neurosteroid 3α,5α-THP in the VTA attenuates female sexual behavior in rodents. Stimulation of mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors (MBRs), which enhance neurosteroid production, by infusions of a MBR agonist to the VTA enhances lordosis. 3α,5α-THP is increased in the midbrain of mated > proestrous > diestrous rodents. These data suggest that 3α,5α-THP has a proximate modulatory role on lordosis. In summary, the actions of P4 in the VTA are different from those in the VMH that involve PRs. In the VTA, P4 may facilitate lordosis following metabolism to and/or biosynthesis of 3α,5α-THP, which may have subsequent actions at GBRs and/or MBRs to acutely modulate female sexual behavior in rodents.
The Mechanical Design Optimization of a High Field HTS Solenoid

This paper describes the conceptual design optimization of a large aperture, high field (24 T at 4 K) solenoid for a 1.7 MJ superconducting magnetic energy storage device. The magnet is designed to be built entirely of second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor tape with excellent electrical and mechanical properties at the cryogenic temperatures. The critical parameters that govern the magnet performance are examined in detail through a multiphysics approach using ANSYS software. The analysis results formed the basis for the performance specification as well as the construction of the magnet.
Effect upon auditory interval discrimination by perturbations in the nanosecond region

A temporal uncertainty, or jitter, of less than 200 nsec in the intervals of an auditory pulse train significantly raises the interval (pitch) discrimination threshold. The results suggest a preneural, i.e., cochlear, analysis for high frequency auditory pulse trains.
Cooperative binding of monodisperse anionic amphiphiles to the i-face: phospholipase A2-paradigm for interfacial binding.

Equilibrium parameters for the binding of monodisperse alkyl sulfate along the i-face (the interface binding surface) of pig pancreatic IB phospholipase A2 (PLA2) to form the premicellar complex ...
Simultaneously Treating Stuttering and Disordered Phonology in ChildrenExperimental Treatment, Preliminary Findings

The purpose of this article is to describe treatment designed to simultaneously treat disordered phonology and stuttering in children who exhibit both disorders and to compare changes in stuttering...
Elevated PBDE Levels in Pet Cats: Sentinels for Humans?

Co-incident with the introduction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) into household materials nearly 30 years ago, feline hyperthyroidism (FH) has increased dramatically. Risk of developing FH is associated with indoor living and consumption of canned cat food. We hypothesized that increases in FH were, in part, related to increased PBDE exposure, with key routes of exposure being diet and ingestion of house dust. This study was designed to determine whether body burdens of PBDEs in hyperthyroid (HT) cats were greater than that of young or sick non-HT cats. Serum samples and clinical information were collected from 23 cats. Serum and dry and canned cat food were analyzed for PBDEs. A spectrum of BDE congeners was detected in all cats, with BDE-47, 99, 207, and 209 predominating. Mean ± standard error (and median) cumulative ΣPBDE serum concentrations of young, old non-HT, and HT cats were 4.3 ± 1.5 (3.5), 10.5 ± 3.5 (5.9), and 12.7 ± 3.9 (6.2) ng/mL, respectively. Due to high variability within eac...
Rock physics and multiple-point geostatistics for seismic inversion

Summary This paper presents a novel inversion technique that combines rock physics and multiple-point geostatistics (MPG) in a Bayesian framework. The proposed method can be applied in its current implementation to any inverse problem that can be approximated as a series of 1D forward-modeling operators. Rock-physics principles are incorporated at the beginning of the process, defining the links between reservoir properties (e.g., lithology, saturation) and physical properties (e.g., compressibility, electrical conductivity). MPG is used to define and explore the space of solutions. The method can be extended to satisfy multiple physical constraints simultaneously; in other words, the solutions can be conditioned with different types of geophysical data. Results of two synthetic tests and a real data application are presented to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed inversion technique.
Effects of arsenic species and phosphorus on arsenic absorption, arsenate reduction and thiol formation in excised parts of Pteris vittata L.

Abstract Understanding the arsenic (As) detoxification mechanisms employed by the newly discovered As hyperaccumulator Chinese Brake fern ( Pteris vittata L.) is important to optimize As accumulation capability. The present experiment was carried out to determine the location of As reduction and thiol formation in Chinese Brake fern and the ability of excised plants to absorb As under P influence. Live Chinese Brake ferns were separated into three parts: pinnae (leaflets), fronds (aboveground biomass, de-rooted), and roots (belowground biomass, de-topped). The excised plants were then exposed to 0.5-strength Hoagland nutrient solutions containing 667 μM As(III), As(V), or monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and 0 μM P or 500 μM P for 1 day. Arsenate and arsenite were separated using an As speciation cartridge and As was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS). The pinnae absorbed the greatest amounts of As followed by fronds and roots. In the presence of P, the phytoavailability of As species was As(III)>MMA>As(V) for pinnae and roots and As(V)>As(III)≅MMA for fronds. The fact that As(III) was the predominant form in excised aerial tissues whereas As(V) was the main form in excised roots clearly demonstrated that As reduction occurred mostly in the fronds, mainly in the pinnae. Absorption of As species resulted in formation of thiol, with MMA causing the greatest level of formation. Although addition of P to the solution suppressed As(V) accumulation in excised pinnae and roots, it enhanced As(V) reduction, and reduced thiol production. The results suggested that the ability to efficiently reduce As(V), facilitated by P, and to quickly produce thiols might have both contributed to the capability of Chinese Brake fern to hyperaccumulate As.
Complications of single-stage radical cystectomy and ileal conduit.

Abstract Single-stage radical cystectomy without pelvic lymphadenectomy and ileal conduit urinary diversion was performed on 241 consecutive patients over a three and one-half-year period. Operative mortality rate was 2.5 per cent; early and late complications occurred in 32 and 34 percent of patients, respectively. In general, complications were less severe than in the past. Wound complications remain a major source of morbidity, but wound disruption and anastomotic leaks have been virtually eliminated.
Backscatter analysis of dihedral corner reflectors using physical optics and the physical theory of diffraction

Physical optics (PO) and the physical theory of diffraction (PTD) are used to determine the backscatter cross sections of dihedral corner reflectors in the azimuthal plane for the vertical and horizontal polarizations. The analysis incorporates single, double, and triple reflections; single diffractions; and reflection-diffractions. Two techniques for analyzing these backscatter mechanisms are contrasted. In the first method, geometrical optics (GO) is used in place of physical optics at initial reflections to maintain the planar nature of the reflected wave and subsequently reduce the complexity of the analysis. The objective is to avoid any surface integrations which cannot be performed in closed form. This technique is popular because it is inherently simple and is readily amenable to computer solutions. In the second method, physical optics is used at nearly every reflection to maximize the accuracy of the PTD solution at the expense of a rapid increase in complexity. In this technique, many of the integrations cannot be easily performed, and numerical techniques must be utilized. However, this technique can yield significant improvements in accuracy. In this paper, the induced surface current densities and the resulting cross section patterns are illustrated for these two methods. Experimental measurements confirm the accuracy of the analytical calculations for dihedral corner reflectors with right, acute, and obtuse interior angles.
High power spike pulses emitted from a microwave FEL

Abstract “Spiking” is observed on the high power (∼10 MW) emitted from our 24 GHz FEL oscillator. The features of the spike are similar to those reported from our 1.5 mm wavelength FEL, but the spike FWHM is approximately 450 ps. Spikes may occur randomly or in a sequence which is not the mode-locked period of the resonator. The slippage of the FEL is varied by changing the diameter of the drift tube (cylindrical waveguide); for 17 mm diameter, the slippage should be nearly zero since the electron axial speed is the same as the wave group velocity for the TE11 mode. The absence of slippage rules out the sideband instability, but spiking occurs both with and without slippage. Comparison with a numerical model and a solitary-wave theory for spiking are presented. Measurements of the FEL spectrum are reported under conditions of multimode oscillation, feedback with a tuned reflector, and injection of a “seed” signal; the latter two methods result in a more coherent spectrum; nevertheless, spiking persists.
Rapid extinction of an avoidance response following a period of response prevention in the avoidance apparatus.

Thirty-three rats were trained to avoid shock in a novel avoidance apparatus that required S to climb or jump onto a ledge in order to avoid. When Ss had achieved a learning criterion, they were as...
Structured reasoning about actor systems

The actor model of distributed computing imposes important restrictions on concurrent computations in order to be valid. In particular, an actor language implementation must provide fairness, the property that if a system transition is infinitely often enabled, the transition must eventually happen. Fairness is fundamental to proving progress properties. We show that many properties of actor computation can be expressed and proved at an abstract level, independently of the details of a particular system of actors. As in abstract algebra, we formulate and prove theorems at the most abstract level possible, so that they can be applied at all more refined levels of the theory hierarchy. Our most useful abstract-level theorems concern persistence of actors, conditional persistence of messages, preservation of unique actor identifiers, monotonicity properties of actor local states, guaranteed message delivery, and general consequences of fairness. We apply the general actor theory to a concrete ticker and clock actor system, proving several system-specific properties, including conditional invariants and a progress theorem. We develop our framework within the Athena proof system, in which proofs are both human-readable and machine-checkable, taking advantage of it library of algebraic and relational theories.
AN ESSAY ON ROMANTIC GENIUS, RORSCHACH MOVEMENT, AND THE DEFINITION OF CREATIVITY.

I have interpreted a recent Saturday Review article (1) most specifically, as a new variation on the theme of anti-psychometrics, (2) less specifically, as a new manifestation of humanistic dissatisfaction with scientific psychology, and (3) generally, as a protest from Snow's “traditional culture” regarding who in our society shall be called intellectually great. The variation involves attacking aptitude tests of creativity for their failure to measure aptitude for artistic creativity. I have suggested that the movement dimension of the Rorschach test does precisely this—although it does not measure what the Guilford originality tests measure, namely, aptitude for unusual, remote, and/or clever response. This aptitude is relatively independent of Rorschach's “capacity for ‘inner creation’,” a capacity which must be well above-average to qualify as a genius in Romantic terms. Because this independence has long been recognized by Romanticism, it is to be expected that an abundance of the Guilford aptitude ...
Science and punishment: biology behind bars

Teaching prisoners about animal behaviour helps them understand problems in their own lives, argues Marc Bekoff
Hybrid insulin cocrystals for controlled release delivery

The ability to tailor the release profile of a drug by manipulating its formulation matrix offers important therapeutic advantages. We show here that human insulin can be cocrystallized at preselected ratios with the fully active lipophilically modified insulin derivative octanoyl-Ne-LysB29–human insulin (C8-HI). The cocrystal is analogous to the NPH (neutral protamine Hagedorn) crystalline complex formed with human insulin, which is commonly used as the long-acting insulin component of diabetes therapy. The in vitro and in vivo release rates of the cocrystal can be controlled by adjusting the relative proportions of the two insulin components. We identified a cocrystal composition comprising 75% C8-HI and 25% human insulin that exhibits near-ideal basal pharmacodynamics in somatostatin-treated beagle dogs. The dependence of release rate on cocrystal ratio provides a robust mechanism for modulating insulin pharmacodynamics. These findings show that a crystalline protein matrix may accommodate a chemical modification that alters the dissolution rate of the crystal in a therapeutically useful way, yet that is structurally innocuous enough to preserve the pharmaceutical integrity of the original microcrystalline entity and the pharmacological activity of the parent molecule.
Note on André's reflection principle

This note generalizes Andre's reflection principle to give a new combinatorial proof of a formula for the number of lattice paths lying within certain trapezoids.
Recent developments in abortion law in industrialized countries.

An effort to bring new insights into the US abortion debate this article reviews recent legal developments concerning abortion in 7 other industrialized countries. In addition to the US the author examines developments in Canada England Ireland France Belgium Romania and Bulgaria. In the US the Supreme Court has become the battleground for an increasingly bitter abortion debate. The 1989 ruling in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services has setback the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which guaranteed a womans right to an abortion. Although the Webster did not overturn Roe it did significantly weaken the trimester approach to abortion regulation and open the door to further restrictions. In Canada however the court has overturned a previously burdensome abortion law. The abortion debate in England has centered around the standard that says that an abortion may not take place when the fetus is "capable of being born alive." Conforming to present scientific knowledge English law now allows abortions on demand during the 1st 12 weeks of pregnancy -- bringing England closer to the practice of other European countries. Belgium has also recently approved of unimpeded abortions during the 1st 12 weeks. In France the governments has ordered the manufacturer of RU486 to make the abortifacient available to French women. Ireland however remains the only industrialized country in the world where abortion is still illegal. The cases of Bulgaria and Romania show what can happen when abortion becomes the pawn of social policy and ideology. Romania is the extreme case. Prior to his downfall in 1989 President Ceaucescu had instituted one of the most restrictive abortion laws as part of a pronatalist policy. This resulted in widespread misery for women and created a great number of unwanted children which the author warns is the result of restrictive abortions laws.
Comments on “bounds for the anisotropic Ising model”☆

Abstract It is suggested that a certain step of a recent report on the rigorous bound for T c ( R )- T c (0) of the anisotropic Ising system needs more justification.
Regular Exercise and Plasma Lipid Levels Associated with the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A 20-Year Longitudinal Study.

We investigated the effects of regular exercise on the plasma lipid levels that contribute to coronary heart disease (CHD), of 20 sedentary men who participated in an exercise program over 20 consecutive years. The men, whose initial ages ranged from 30–51 years, participated in the University of Nevada-based exercise program for an average of 45 min/day, 3.5 days/week. The study examined plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and TC to HDL-C (TC/HDL-C) ratios. All lipid values improved significantly during the study (p < .05). The largest changes occurred during the first year of participation and slow, gradual improvements continued in the subsequent years. We concluded that regular exercise has positive effects on plasma lipid levels, which results in reducing the risk of CHD in middle-aged and older adults.
Pathways at the hypothalamic level through which traumatic stress activates ACTH secretion.

Experiments were performed to delineate the afferent pathways through which traumatic stress reaches the basal hypothalamus. ACTH secretion in response to a unilateral leg break or a tight rubber band around the tibia was assessed by a rise in plasma corticosterone 20 min later. Complete basal hypothalamic deafferentation blocked the rise in plasma corticosterone caused by a leg break on either side. Unilateral basal hypothalamic deafferentation significantly blocked contralateral but not ipsilateral leg break. Contralateral leg break was not blocked if a 1 mm rim of tissue was left below the unilateral deafferentation. Contralateral leg break was also blocked by an anterior quarter section on one side but not by a posterior quarter section. Neither unilateral nor complete basal hypothalamic deafferentation blocked the rise in plasma corticosterone following a rubber band tourniquet on a single extremity. In all operated groups with “effective” deafferentations, including complete basal hypothalamic isola...
Localization for correlated binary-alloy disorder

A one-dimensional tight-binding model with correlated binary-alloy disorder is studied both numerically and analytically. The dependence of the localization length on the correlation parameter is determined for various energies and impurity correlations. The results are compared with the predictions of the quasiuniversality idea recently developed by the authors.
Engineering polydactyl zinc-finger transcription factors.

The availability of rapid and robust methods for controlling gene function is of prime importance not only for assigning functions to newly discovered genes, but also for therapeutic intervention. Traditionally, gene function has been probed by often-laborious methods that either increase the level of a gene product or decrease it. Advances now make it possible to rapidly produce zinc-finger proteins capable of recognizing virtually any 18 bp stretch of DNA—a sequence long enough to specify a unique address in any genome. The attachment of functional domains also allows the design of tailor-made transcription factors for specific genes. Recent studies demonstrate that artificial transcription factors are capable of controlling the expression of endogenous genes in their native chromosomal context with a high degree of specificity in both animals and plants. Dominant regulatory control of expression of any endogenous gene can be achieved rapidly and can be also placed under chemical control. A wide range of potential applications is now within reach.
Do statins increase the risk of idiopathic polyneuropathy

A recent European case-control study suggested that statins increase the risk for polyneuropathy, a rare but serious neurologic condition. This risk was assessed in 272 patients with idiopathic polyneuropathy and 1,360 matched controls in the Intermountain Health Care electronic database. It was found that statin use before diagnosis was not significantly greater in patients than controls (odds ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 2.1, p = 0.27), nor were doses different between patients and controls.