cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ring expansion reactions of anti-aromatic boroles: a promising synthetic avenue to unsaturated boracycles.

Conjugated boron heterocycles have emerged as attractive synthetic targets due to their potential in medicinal chemistry and as electronic materials. However, the development of unsaturated boracycles has been hampered by difficulties in their preparation. Recently, a new synthetic avenue to access these species has been developed that takes advantage of the high reactivity of boroles. These five-membered anti-aromatic heterocycles can react with substrates to furnish ring expansion products via the insertion of one, two, or three atoms into the boracyclic ring. The ring expansion can occur via two pathways, the first exploits the activated diene moiety of the heterocycle in Diels–Alder chemistry with the resulting bicyclic species undergoing further rearrangements. The second reaction pathway is initiated by the coordination of the Lewis basic site of a substrate to the highly Lewis acidic boron center rendering the endocyclic B–C bond of the borole nucleophilic, inducing the formation of larger boracycles via attack at the electrophilic site of the substrate. This review summarizes the current state of this chemistry and details the mechanisms leading to the products. The methodologies described herein could very well be extended to other substrates, as well as applied to other anti-aromatic heterocycles.
A Review of “The End of the Chinese Dream: Why Chinese People Fear the Future”

Equal parts analysis, polemic, condemnation, and personal observation, Gerard Lemos's The End of the Chinese Dream offers a contrarian perspective on China's current economic growth and rising powe...
Can Knowledge About Heterogeneity in Treatment Effects Help Us Choose Wisely

Randomized clinical trials help identify the potential health benefits and harms of an intervention. But patients vary widely in their responses, and such heterogeneity makes it difficult for physi...
Whose Battlefield Emotion

Reflecting on the chapters organised under ‘The Combatant: Emotional Experience and Writing’ and ‘The Public: Emotional Re-Creation’, Favret notices that many Western European depictions of war in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries cut emotion loose from the body of the combatant. Like the phenomenon of war itself in this period, feelings move on a large and broad scale: not just on the scale of the military unit, but also to the reading public and beyond, to the imaginary entity of the Nation. Something we might call ‘public’ or ‘national feeling’ is being constructed from the representation of battlefield emotion. The donation of so many arms, legs, heads and hearts that no longer feel feed this more abstract and impersonal sensibility.
The Politics of Heritage in Africa: Derek R. Peterson, Kodzo Gavua, and Ciraj Rassool (eds), The Politics of Heritage in Africa: Economies, Histories, and Infrastructures (Cambridge and New York, Cambridge University Press, 2015), vii + 291 pp., hardback, US$102.00, ISBN 978-1-107-09485-7; e-book, US$79.00, ISBN 978-1-316-23739-7.

The Politics of Heritage in Africa: Economies, Histories, and Infrastructures investigates historical and contemporary examples of heritage construction and deployment in Africa in a wide array of ...
The Changing Demographic Landscape of the Nation: Perspectives on College Opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

AbstractWith the rapidly changing demography of the United States, there is a need for greater attention to expanding opportunities and reducing barriers to education for all. This article focuses on one of the nation's fastest-growing immigrant groups—Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). A case study of a program at a community college shows the importance of developing educational practices and policies that support the unique needs and challenges of low-income AAPI students.
Motivations for volunteers in food rescue nutrition.

Abstract Objective A variety of organizations redistribute surplus food to low-income populations through food rescue nutrition. Why volunteers participate in these charitable organizations is unclear. The aim of this study is to document the participation and motivations of volunteers who are involved specifically in food rescue nutrition. Study design A cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases. Methods In phase 1, a new instrument, Motivations to Volunteer Scale, was developed and validated in 40 participants (aged ≥18 years). In phase 2, the new scale and a demographics questionnaire were administered to 300 participants who were volunteering in food pantries and churches. Results The pilot study showed that Motivations to Volunteer Scale exhibited an internal consistency of Cronbach's α of 0.73 ( P P t -test was insignificant ( P > 0.05). The scale was validated also by comparison to the Volunteer Function Inventory (r = 0.86, P 45 years, women, Hispanics, college/university graduates, physically inactive, non-smokers, and had an income ≥ $48,000. Conclusions The Motivations to Volunteer Scale is a valid tool to assess why individuals volunteer in food rescue nutrition. The extent of motivations of participants was relatively high, and the primary reason for volunteering was altruism. Health professionals should be encouraged to participate in food redistribution.
11C-PIB PET image analysis for Alzheimer's diagnosis using weighted voting ensembles

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of death and dementia worldwide. Early diagnosis confers many benefits, including improved care and access to effective treatment. However, it is still a medical challenge due to the lack of an efficient and inexpensive way to assess cognitive function [1]. Although research on data from Neuroimaging and Brain Initiative and the advancement in data analytics has greatly enhanced our understanding of the underlying disease process, there is still a lack of complete knowledge regarding the indicative biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease. Recently, computer aided diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and AD with functional brain images using machine learning methods has become popular. However, the prediction accuracy remains unoptimistic, with prediction accuracy ranging from 60% to 88% [2,3,6]. Among them, support vector machine is the most popular classifier. However, because of the relatively small sample size and the amount of noise in functional brain imaging data, a single classifier cannot achieve high classification performance. Instead of using a global classifier, in this work, we aim to improve AD prediction accuracy by combining three different classifiers using weighted and unweighted schemes. We rank image-derived features according to their importance to the classification performance and show that the top ranked features are localized in the brain areas which have been found to associate with the progression of AD. We test the proposed approach on 11C-PIB PET scans from The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database and demonstrated that the weighted ensemble models outperformed individual models of K-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forests, Neural Nets with overall cross validation accuracy of 86.1% ± 8.34%, specificity of 90.6% ± 12.9% and test accuracy of 80.9% and specificity 85.76% in classification of AD, mild cognitive impairment and healthy elder adults.
Imaging and Screening for Colorectal Cancer with CT Colonography

Despite being readily preventable, colorectal cancer ranks second behind only lung cancer in overall mortality. However, this situation could be reversed if screening tests that effectively detect advanced adenomas and early cancers were broadly applied. Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) reflects an ideal balance of minimal invasiveness with high-level performance, assuming all facets of the examination are appropriately addressed. Unfortunately, this promising screening test remains grossly underused. This article details the technical and interpretive approaches used by one successful CTC screening program.
Law School Initiatives in Housing and Community Development

This article sketches critical elements required for a successful law school clinic in housing and economic development. It also places development clinics in a broader institutional and strategic context. It describes the three clinical programs represented at the peer exchange to illustrate the recent emergence of law school initiatives in affordable housing and community development.
Development and Physiology of the Intestinal Mucosal Defense

Abstract The gastrointestinal (GI) tract has many important biological functions. The primary function of intestine is to absorb nutrients into the circulation. The millions of finger-like villi in the small intestine results in the huge surface area of the gut (400 m2), which fulfills the digestive function of the gut. The intestinal tract is colonized by many bacteria soon after birth, which contributes to the breakdown of foods, the uptake of nutrients, and the enhancement of intestinal development. Another important function of the GI tract is to serve as a barrier between the host and the external environment, achieved by the intestinal epithelium, a single cell layer, which separates luminal antigens of the GI tract (bacteria, bacterial products, and food) from the largest population of lymphocytes of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). One of the key functions of the GALT is to distinguish innocuous food antigens from pathogenic microorganisms and elicit an appropriate response. Maintaining the functional balance is central to preserving normal mucosal physiology. A decreased mucosal defense may lead to increased translocation of luminal content and subsequent activation of the intestinal mucosal immune system, contributing to the development of inflammatory or autoimmune conditions.
The Conversation of a University

This chapter argues that the essential task of a university is not teaching students to be experts in some field of endeavor but educating them, so they might learn how to act in accord with the basic moral constraints governing any endeavor. With the help of ideas from Plato, Aristotle, and Michael Oakeshott, this argument is developed by distinguishing actions from practices (what we do from how we do it) and prudential from moral practices (how best to achieve a purpose from how we ought to go about whatever purpose we might pursue). Our moral practices, which comprise our character, cannot be taught, but they can be learned—through conversations and similar educational contexts in which possible actions are imaginatively explored and critiqued in an open-ended manner, with the focus not on what we think or do but how. The difficulty for universities, amid so many practical pressures to do otherwise, to keep this essential educational task as their primary concern is acknowledged. Nevertheless it is the right thing for them to do.
Stability analysis of highly variable soils by elasto-plastic finite elements

Geotechnical analyses involving bearing capacity, excavation and slope stability of highly variable soils have been performed using elasto-plastic finite elements. The finite element analyses are validated against well-known solutions where possible, before being applied to more complicated problems in which the classical approaches are at best inconvenient, and at worst may lead to misleading results. The types of heterogeneity considered in this work include simple layering due to stratification, water table effects, voids due to excavation and variability based on a statistical description of the material properties. In the statistical approach, the results lead to a probabilistic interpretation of design parameters that have traditionally been dealt with using “average” soil properies in conjunction with a “Factor of Safety”.
Some Consequences of the High Resolution X-Ray Structure Analysis of Cytochrome f

A high resolution structure is described of the lumen-side domain of cytochrome f. This structure is the first for a polypeptide subunit of cytochrome or bc1 or b6f complexes, and has at least three unique or unprecedented features for a c-type cytochrome: (i) more than one structural domain; (ii) predominantly β-strand; and (iii) the N-terminal α-amino group is the orthogonal (6th) ligand, which is unprecedented for a heme protein.
Solitary Thyroid Nodule and Cancer

In iodine-deficient countries, goiter is endemic and the incidence of thyroid nodules is high. In the United States where table salt is iodinated, thyroid nodules are clinically detectable in only 4–7% of the general population. An aging population and incidental findings from usage of unrelated radiographic studies have however resulted in a higher prevalence of this endocrine entity. High-resolution ultrasonography, which is being used with increasing frequency to image the neck for a variety of disorders, detects thyroid nodules in 16–67% of unselected patients. In autopsy series, 30–60% of thyroids harbor nodules. Many of these micronodules are less than 1 cm in diameter and are usually not clinically relevant in asymptomatic patients.
Migration Flows: Signifying 'America' in African Novels

Migration by continental Africans to the West in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries has contributed to the New African Diaspora, a topic which has been given considerable attention by historians and scholars of various disciplines. To what extent have concepts of migration become elements of fictional works by especially West African writers, as they relate to migration flows? This question suggests various push and pull forces, developed in certain characterizations that reveal the circumstances of migration, the realities of adaptation, and the relationships to new and older homelands. A number of African writers have dealt with issues of migration to the West, particularly to the U.S. Such novels as Chukwuemeka Ike's To My Husband from Iowa (1996), Ike Oguines A Squatters Tale (2'007, Chris Abani's Graceland (2004) and The Virgins of Flames (2007), and Benjamin Kwakyes The Other Crucifix (201'7 use differing approaches to revealing the causes of migration and their after effects, often mining the writers own biographical experiences. Furthermore, Chimamanda Adichies forthcoming novel, Americanah, is expected to offer additional representations of this issue. The novels under consideration explore America and its mythology as a site of imagined and actual conceptions, including race relations, popular culture, and educational pursuits.
National and Local Trends in Serious Violence, Firearm Victimization, and Homicide:

The recent upturn in U.S. homicide rates may have resulted from increases in the number of serious violent incidents, growth in the percentage involving firearms, or increases in lethality. Data fr...
Characteristics of RN to BSN students in online programs.

Abstract Background Registered nurse to baccalaureate in nursing (RN-BSN) programs has rapidly moved to online formats to increase the ability of working nurses to earn their BSN degree. Nursing faculty are tasked with designing programs to meet the needs of the nursing workforce using best practices for online learning. Objectives Describe RN-BSN student perceptions of their online programs, including clinical experiences. Specific aims were: 1) evaluate student satisfaction in online courses, 2) describe experiences students were required to have to meet clinical objectives, 3) determine generational differences in satisfaction with online learning 4) determine the students' perception of the value of course content in online program 5) examine life responsibilities impacting student program participation. Design A descriptive cross-sectional design with convenience sampling was used. Setting Participants included 43 RN-BSN students currently enrolled in at least one online course at one of six accredited nursing programs across the United States. Methods Survey data were collected over 4 months in the summer of 2019. The research team created a 9-item online survey, including investigator-initiated questions and demographic information. Results Overall satisfaction in online programs was high. Technology, nursing informatics, computer classes, research and evidence-based practice, public health, pathophysiology, pharmacology, leadership, reading text books, assessment, brushing up on skills, and emotional intelligence were most valued content. Least valued content included discussion boards and group projects. Clinical requirements and setting varied across programs. Life responsibilities impacted students' participation in online programs. Conclusions Overall, students were satisfied and found value in their online RN-BSN coursework. Clinical experiences varied between RN-BSN programs and participation in online courses was impacted by extracurricular obligations. Based on this study, more data regarding what could be counted as clinical hours is needed. Faculty need to consider alternative ways to achieve learning outcomes. This study's outcomes may help guide faculty in developing RN-BSN programs and student-centered courses.
Associations of air pollution with obesity and body fat percentage, and modification by polygenic risk score for BMI in the UK Biobank

Abstract Air pollution has consistently been associated with cardiometabolic outcomes, although associations with obesity have only been recently reported. Studies of air pollution and adiposity have mostly relied on body mass index (BMI) rather than body fat percentage (BF%), and most have not accounted for noise as a possible confounder. Additionally, it is unknown whether genetic predisposition for obesity increases susceptibility to the obesogenic effects of air pollution. To help fill these gaps, we used the UK Biobank, a large, prospective cohort study in the United Kingdom, to explore the relationship between air pollution and adiposity, and modification by a polygenic risk score for BMI. We used 2010 annual averages of air pollution estimates from land use regression (NO2, NOX, PM2.5, PM2.5absorbance, PM2.5-10, PM10), traffic intensity (TI), inverse distance to road (IDTR), along with examiner-measured BMI, waist-hip-ratio (WHR), and impedance measures of BF%, which were collected at enrollment (2006–2010, n = 473,026) and at follow-up (2012–2013, n = 19,518). We estimated associations of air pollution with BMI, WHR, and BF% at enrollment and follow-up, and with obesity, abdominal obesity, and BF%-obesity at enrollment and follow-up. We used linear and logistic regression and controlled for noise and other covariates. We also assessed interactions of air pollution with a polygenic risk score for BMI. On average, participants at enrollment were 56 years of age, 54% were female, and 32% had completed college or a higher degree. Almost all participants (~95%) were white. All air pollution measures except IDTR were positively associated with at least one continuous measure of adiposity at enrollment. However, NO2 was negatively associated with BMI but positively associated with WHR at enrollment, and IDTR was also negatively associated with BMI. At follow-up (controlling for enrollment adiposity), we observed positive associations for PM2.5-10 with BMI, PM10 with BF%, and TI with BF% and BMI. Associations were similar for binary measures of adiposity, with minor differences for some pollutants. Associations of NOX, NO2, PM2.5absorbance, PM2.5 and PM10, with BMI at enrollment, but not at follow-up, were stronger among individuals with higher BMI polygenic risk scores (interaction p
Electrocardiographic right ventricular strain precedes hypoxic pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrests: Looking beyond pulmonary embolism.

Abstract Aim The role of the right ventricle (RV) in pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is poorly defined outside of pulmonary embolism. We aimed to (1) describe the continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) manifestations of RV strain (RVS) preceding PEA/Asystole in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), and (2) determine the prevalence and clinical causes of RVS in PEA/Asystole IHCA. Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we evaluated 140 patients with continuous ECG data preceding PEA/Asystole IHCA. We iteratively defined the RVS continuous ECG pattern using the development cohort (93 patients). Clinical cause determination was blinded from ECG analysis in the validation cohort (47 patients). Results The overall cohort had mean age 62.1 ± 17.1 years, 70% return of spontaneous circulation and 30% survival to discharge. RVS continuous ECG pattern was defined as progressive RV depolarization delay in lead V1 with at least one supporting finding of RV ischaemia or right axis deviation. Using this criterion, 66/140 (47%) cases showed preceding RVS. In patients with RVS, no pulmonary embolism was found in 9/13 (69%) autopsies and 8/10 (80%) CT chest angiograms. The positive and negative predictive value of RVS pattern for diagnosing a respiratory cause of PEA/Asystole in the validation cohort was 81% [95% CI 64–98%] and 58% [95% CI 36–81%], respectively. Conclusion RVS continuous ECG pattern preceded 47% of PEA/Asystole IHCA and is predictive of a respiratory cause of cardiac arrest, not just pulmonary embolism. These suggest that rapid elevations in pulmonary pressures and resultant RV failure may cause PEA in respiratory failure.
Analysis and Comparison of Hybrid-Resonant Switched-Capacitor DC–DC Converters With Passive Component Size Constraints

This article explores the merits of a variety of hybrid-resonant switched-capacitor (SC) dc–dc converters under strict size constraints on passive components (flying capacitors and inductors). Topologies are compared using a “minimum power loss” figure of merit (FOM) that captures conduction- and frequency-dependent losses in active semiconductor devices and losses related to passive components as they scale with size and relative voltage rating. Similar to past work on pure SC converters, the method leverages a charge-multiplier approach and is used to show the impact of area or volume constraints on inductors and capacitors. Building on past work, considerations for treating both “direct-” and “indirect-” conversion architectures are provided, as well as treatment of converters that require multiple inductors. Common topologies are compared using the generalized FOM under different scaling scenarios; general trends are validated using an experimental prototype.
Advances and opportunities in development of deformable organic electrochemical transistors

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have been revived as potentially versatile platforms for bioelectronic applications due to their high transconductance, direct ionic-electronic coupling, and unique form factors. This perceived applicability to bioelectronics can be attributed to the incorporation of organic mixed conductors that facilitate both ionic and electronic transport, enabling material-inherent translation from biological signals to abiotic readouts. In the past decade, multiple synthetic breakthroughs have yielded channel materials that exhibit significant hole/electron transport while displaying electroactivity in aqueous media. Yet, implicit in the rationale of OECTs as bioelectronic devices is they can be fabricated to be mechanically compatible with biological systems, even though unified guidelines for deformable OECTs remain unclear. In this Perspective, we highlight recent advances for imparting deformability. Specifically, materials selection, design, and chemistry for integral parts of the transistor – substrate, electrolyte, interconnects, and (polymeric) channel materials—will be discussed in the context of benchmarks set by select bioelectronics applications. We conclude by identifying key areas for future research towards mechanically compliant OECTs.
A Phase I/Ib Trial of PD 0332991 (Palbociclib) and T-DM1 in HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer After Trastuzumab and Taxane Therapy.

Abstract Background Preclinical breast cancer models with acquired HER2 resistance exhibit decreased proliferation with CDK4/6 inhibition in tumors with intact Rb and low p16 levels. Adding cytotoxic agents like T-DM1 enhances the inhibitory CDK4/6 cytostatic effect. Patients and Methods A phase I/Ib 3+3 dose escalation/expansion trial of palbociclib and T-DM1 identified 150 mg on days 5 to 18 as the palbociclib maximal tolerated dose combined with day 1 intravenous T-DM1 in 21-day treatment cycles. Patients were previously treated with trastuzumab and a taxane with no limitation on prior therapy lines, including prior pertuzumab, lapitinib, neratinib, and T-DM1. Median age was 54 years and two-thirds were estrogen receptor positive. Primary objectives included maximum tolerated dose as determined by dose-limiting toxicity, and secondary end points of safety, toxicity, response rate, response duration, and progression-free survival. Results From May 2014 to August 2018, 18 total patients were treated. The median number of cycles was 6.5 (1–22). A maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The most common G3 toxicity of more than 10% incidence was hematologic. Overall response rate (complete response + partial response) was 33% (95% confidence interval, 13%–59%). Median duration of response in responders was not reached and median-progression free survival was 6 months (95% confidence interval, 2.5–11.6). Conclusions The combination of day 1 T-DM1 and days 5 to 18 palbociclib is safe, tolerable, and active in previously treated HER2-positive relapsed patients. Observed hematologic toxicity is manageable. The trial response rate confirms that a CDK 4/6 inhibitor can resensitize HER2-resistant breast cancer.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Validation for Use in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A 2-Year Follow-up Study.

OBJECTIVE Our study aims to evaluate the correlation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function (PROMIS PF) with legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) among patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS A prospectively maintained database was retrospectively reviewed for ACDF surgeries performed between May 2015 and September 2017. Inclusion criteria were primary elective, single- or multilevel ACDFs for degenerative spinal pathology. Patients lacking preoperative or 2-year PROMIS PF surveys were excluded. Mean scores were calculated for visual analogue scale (VAS) neck, VAS arm, Neck Disability Index (NDI), 12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), and PROMIS PF at preoperative and 6-week, 12-week, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year postoperative timepoints. A t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were utilized to evaluate score improvement and PROM relationships respectively. RESULTS The 50 subject cohort was 60.0% male, 50% obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) and had an average age of 50.9 years. Significant improvements were demonstrated for VAS neck and NDI at all postoperative timepoints (p < 0.001) and for SF-12 and PROMIS PF at all timepoints except 6 weeks (p ≤ 0.025). VAS arm improvement was seen up to 1 year (p ≤ 0.016). PROMIS PF demonstrated strong correlations with NDI and SF-12 PCS at all evaluated timepoints and with VAS neck at all postoperative timepoints except 6 weeks (all p < 0.01). CONCLUSION PROMIS PF was strongly correlated with pain, disability, and physical function up to 2 years for patients undergoing ACDF. Our results support the long-term validity of PROMIS PF for measurement of patient-reported physical function among ACDF cohorts.
Patient and Provider Satisfaction with Telemedicine in a Comprehensive Weight Management Program.

Background: Telemedicine use became widespread at our weight management center in 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determ...
Medial amygdala ERα expression influences monogamous behaviour of male prairie voles in the field.

Formation of long-term pair-bonds is a complex process, involving multiple neural circuits and is context- and experience-dependent. While laboratory studies using prairie voles have identified the...
The Transition Towards Smaller and Smaller Incisions

Micro-coaxial phacoemulsification with torsional ultrasound is an exciting new technology that allows the surgeon to remove the cataract through a smaller incision with enhanced safety and efficiency.
The Social Foundations of Law

Relying on the rhetorical and ideological construct of the social contract, the American legal system has focused on promoting formal equality, in which universal laws are applied equally to everyone. Although embracing political and civil rights, American lawmakers have been reluctant to expand social rights, guarantees of basic economic or material social goods. To address the widespread insecurity and unfairness of the current American political and economic organization, this Article proposes the adoption of a system of substantive equality that will focus on outcomes, equitable distribution, and basic guarantees of social good. Lessons may be drawn from international norms utilizing a human rights paradigm, societies that have undertaken the process of allocating responsibility for dependency among societal institutions, certain periods of American history, and some states’ jurisprudence granting affirmative rights, especially through key state constitutional provisions.
Mycosis fungoides with epidermal mucinosis: a variant of mycosis fungoides with a spongiosis-like pattern.

Background The histopathologic diagnosis of mycosis fungoides (MF) has classically relied on the presence of atypical epidermotropic T-lymphocytes predominating over spongiosis. However, in some cases of MF, prominent epidermal mucinosis in a spongiosis-like pattern mimics a spongiotic dermatitis. To our knowledge, only one series in the literature has thus far recognized the presence of epidermal mucinosis in MF. Methods We evaluated 30 skin biopsies from 18 patients with the clinical diagnosis of MF, which fulfilled all histopathologic criteria for patch- or plaque-stage MF, but also showed epidermal mucinosis in a spongiosis-like pattern. A total of 15 specimens were studied by immunohistochemistry, and seven were tested for T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements. Twenty biopsies of spongiotic dermatitides were included as controls. Results We confirmed the presence of epidermal mucinosis in all 30 cases of MF with a spongiosis-like pattern based on histopathologic criteria and the colloidal iron stain for mucin. Immunohistochemistry in 15 specimens showed significant loss of pan-T-cell antigens CD5 (10/15) and CD7 (14/15); and TCR clonality was detected in 7 specimens from 6 patients, supporting the diagnosis of MF. Conclusions We report helpful histopathologic criteria for distinguishing MF with epidermal mucinosis in a spongiosis-like pattern from spongiotic dermatitis.
Interactions between cAMP-dependent and SNF1 protein kinases in the control of glycogen accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The synthesis of glycogen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is stimulated by nutrient limitation and requires both glycogen synthase and the glycogen branching enzyme. Of the two glycogen synthase genes present in yeast, GSY2 appears to be more important for the accumulation of glycogen upon entry into stationary phase. In cells grown on glucose, GSY2 mRNA levels increased approximately 10-fold during the transition from logarithmic to stationary phase. Growth of cells in glycerol, however, resulted in constitutive expression of GSY2 mRNA and the corresponding protein, GS-2, suggestive of glucose repression of GSY2. Mutants defective in the SNF1 gene, which encodes a protein kinase important in glucose repression mechanisms, are known not to accumulate glycogen. A modest 2-4-fold decrease in total GS-2 level was observed, and upon entry into stationary phase, the enzyme was blocked in the inactive, phosphorylated state in snf1 strains. The GS-2 protein is thought to be regulated by covalent phosphorylation of three COOH-terminal sites (Hardy, T.A., and Roach, P.J. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 23799-23805), removal of which results in constitutively active glycogen synthase that bypasses phosphorylation controls. Expression of COOH-terminally truncated GS-2 in snf1 cells restored glycogen accumulation, and so we propose that the SNF1 kinase controls the phosphorylation state of GS-2. Cyclic AMP pathways also exert control over glycogen accumulation. In bcy1 cells, which have constitutively active cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, greatly reduced levels of both GS-2 message and protein were observed. With wild type GSY2 placed under control of the ADH1 promoter, bcy1 cells did not accumulate glycogen despite increased GS-2. Overexpression of truncated GS-2, however, resulted in definite though reduced glycogen accumulation; the glycogen synthesized was structurally distinct from wild type with properties characteristic of less branched polysaccharide. We conclude that the cAMP pathway controls both the expression and the phosphorylation state of GS-2. Furthermore, other factor(s) necessary for glycogen biosynthesis, such as the branching enzyme GLC3, must also be under negative control by the cAMP pathway. The results demonstrate interactive controls of GS-2 by the cAMP-dependent and SNF1 protein kinases.
High-speed active network node - its concept and implementation for gigabit-network applications

The spread of the IP (internet protocol) network is giving rise to various new services. The problem is that the use of the end-to-end communication model is slowing the development of the next generation of applications. The active network (AN) as stated in D.L. Thennenhause et al. (1997) is an attempt to establish a new platform that encourages the evolution of network applications. The AN processes communication data in the network by using application-dependent protocols. Existing off-the-shelf network nodes offer only fixed functionality at the user's site, and computer systems can not support wide-bandwidth processing of telecom packets such as gigabit, Ethernet. In this paper, we introduce the overall concept of our programmable node system and its implementation. Some application implementation results are also described.
Recombinant Core Streptavidins A MINIMUM-SIZED CORE STREPTAVIDIN HAS ENHANCED STRUCTURAL STABILITY AND HIGHER ACCESSIBILITY TO BIOTINYLATED MACROMOLECULES

Two recombinant core streptavidins were designed and characterized to understand the role of the terminal sequences, present in naturally truncated core streptavidins, in the properties of streptavidin. One recombinant core streptavidin, Stv-25, has an amino acid sequence very similar to natural core streptavidins. The other recombinant molecule, Stv-13, has further truncation of the terminal residues and consists essentially of only the beta-barrel structure characteristic of streptavidin. These recombinant core streptavidins are tetrameric and bind four biotins/molecule, as does natural streptavidin. The solubility characteristics of Stv-13, determined by varying the concentration of ammonium sulfate or ethanol, were almost the same as those of Stv-25 and natural core streptavidin. However, Stv-13 showed an enhanced structural stability compared with Stv-25 and natural core streptavidin. For example, Stv-13 retained greater than 80% of its biotin binding ability after incubation in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride at pH 1.5, under which conditions, Stv-25 and natural core streptavidin retained only about 20% of their biotin binding ability. In addition, Stv-13 showed higher accessibility to biotinylated DNA than natural core streptavidin. Apparently, the terminal regions, present on the surface of natural core streptavidin, spatially hinder biotinylated macromolecules from approaching the biotin binding sites.
Full-mouth extractions in a hemophiliac patient

Abstract A case of full-mouth extraction of twenty-three teeth in a 36-year-old white male hemophiliac patient with antihemophilic globulin deficiency is reported. Eleven teeth were extracted on the first day, and twelve teeth were extracted on the second day. Only one other case in which so many teeth were extracted in such a short period of time has been reported in the literature.
Conformal iterated function systems with applications to the geometry of continued fractions

In this paper we obtain some results about general conformal iterated function systems. We obtain a simple characterization of the packing dimension of the limit set of such systems and introduce some special systems which exhibit some interesting behavior. We then apply these results to the set of values of real continued fractions with restricted entries. We pay special attention to the Hausdorff and packing measures of these sets. We also give direct interpretations of these measure theoretic results in terms of the arithmetic density properties of the set of allowed entries.
Cervical motion segment contributions to head motion during flexion\extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation

Abstract Background Context Cervical spine segmental contributions to motion may reveal movement abnormalities associated with whiplash, disc herniation, disc arthroplasty, or fusion. Purpose The objective of this study was to determine the cervical spine segmental contributions to head flexion\extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation during dynamic motion in young, healthy individuals. Study Design The study design was a descriptive control study. Patient Sample Twenty-nine young (20–35 years of age) healthy individuals comprised the patient sample. Outcome Measures Physiologic measures of contributions from each cervical motion segment to the primary head rotation were the outcome measures for this study. Methods Twenty-nine healthy participants performed full range of motion (ROM) flexion\extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation while biplane radiographs were collected at 30 images per second. Surface-based markers were used to determine head kinematics for each movement, and a validated volumetric model-based tracking technique was used to determine intervertebral kinematics. Contributions from each cervical motion segment to the primary head rotation were determined continuously during each of the three head movements. This study was funded by Synthes Spine (F). Results For each head movement, motion segments in the lower cervical spine increased their contributions to head motion near the end of the ROM. Cervical motion segment contributions to left and right lateral bending were mirror images of each other, as were contributions to left and right axial rotation. However, cervical motion segment contributions to flexion were not mirror images of the contributions to extension. Conclusions Cervical motion segment contributions to head motion change over the full ROM and cannot be accurately characterized solely from endpoint data. The continuously changing segmental contributions suggest that the compressive and shear loads applied to each motion segment also change over the ROM. The clinical implication of increased contributions from the inferior motions segments near the end ROM is that the clinician may advise the patient to avoid end ROM positions to lessen the demand on the discs of inferior motion segments.
Adolescent end of life preferences and congruence with their parents' preferences: results of a survey of adolescents with cancer.

Background Little is known about how well family members accurately represent adolescents when making EOL decisions on their behalf. This study reports on surveys given to adolescents with cancer and their parents as part of a larger study facilitating advanced care discussions, as well as the results of a survey for health care providers. Procedure Trained facilitators administered surveys orally to adolescents and families in the intervention arm of the FAmily CEntered Advance Care Planning (ACP) for Teens with Cancer (FACE-TC) study. In addition, a post-hoc survey was sent to oncology providers. Results Seventeen adolescent/family dyads completed this survey. Seventy five percent of adolescents believed it was appropriate to discuss EOL decisions early and only 12% were not comfortable discussing death. Most preferred to be at home if dying. There were substantial areas of congruence between adolescents and their surrogates, but lower agreement on the importance of dying a natural death, dying at home and “wanting to know if I were dying.” Among providers, 83% felt their patients' participation in the study was helpful to the patients and 78% felt it was helpful to them as providers. Conclusions Adolescents with cancer were comfortable discussing EOL, and the majority preferred to talk about EOL issues before they are facing EOL. There were substantive areas of agreement between adolescents and their surrogates, but important facets of adolescents' EOL wishes were not known by their families, reinforcing the importance of eliciting individual preferences and engaging dyads so parents can understand their children's wishes. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:710–714. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PROXHY: a process-oriented extensible hypertext architecture

This research describes a new architecture for hypertext environments. The architecture merges the process, object-oriented, and hypertext models to provide hypertext services to object-based, distributed, application components. Through this architecture, applications are integrated to form a comprehensive hypertext computing environment, allowing links to connect applications or objects in different applications. The architecture separates hypertext and application functionality so that multiple applications can use the facilities of a common hypertext layer. The design of the architecture is such that components can be extended or tailored in order to support future applications, multimedia objects, or the needs of specific applications or users. The process-based, object-oriented framework allows objects of arbitrary complexity to live and interact in a hypertext world. Additionally, the protocol and facilities which support component interaction provide location transparency, arbitrary object granularity, and parallel computation over a network. This dissertation provides a conceptual model of hypertext and a general architecture for hypertext system construction. Related literature from object-oriented programming, operating systems, multimedia applications, and database is discussed in terms of the architecture. A hypertext data model, computational model, and hypertext system taxonomy are used to discuss the capabilities of current hypertext systems. Interaction scenarios are provided in order to illustrate object interaction and the distribution of work among the components of the architecture. A prototype system, implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of the architecture, is discussed. The prototype illustrates all aspects of the architecture including distributed application and hypertext components, cross-application linking, and anchors acting as proxy objects for applications. Application scenarios, problems and limitations, and future research issues provide an understanding of the power of the architecture and its potential for impacting the design of next-generation hypertext systems.
Geometric estimation of intestinal contraction for motion tracking of video capsule endoscope

Wireless video capsule endoscope (VCE) provides a noninvasive method to examine the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially small intestine, where other endoscopic instruments can barely reach. VCE is able to continuously provide clear pictures in short fixed intervals, and as such researchers have attempted to use image processing methods to track the video capsule in order to locate the abnormalities inside the GI tract. To correctly estimate the speed of the motion of the endoscope capsule, the radius of the intestinal track must be known a priori. Physiological factors such as intestinal contraction, however, dynamically change the radius of the small intestine, which could bring large errors in speed estimation. In this paper, we are aiming to estimate the radius of the contracted intestinal track. First a geometric model is presented for estimating the radius of small intestine based on the black hole on endoscopic images. To validate our proposed model, a 3-dimentional virtual testbed that emulates the intestinal contraction is then introduced in details. After measuring the size of the black holes on the test images, we used our model to esimate the radius of the contracted intestinal track. Comparision between analytical results and the emulation model parameters has verified that our proposed method could preciously estimate the radius of the contracted small intestine based on endoscopic images.
Conversion of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland for Dryland Crops in a Semiarid Region

Information was needed regarding practices suitable for returning grassland to cropland when Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expired. A study on Pullman soil (Torrertic Paleustoll) involved seven tillage treatments (no-tillage and reduced, sweep, disk, moldboard plus disk, burn-sweep, and burn-disk tillage) with vegetation retained and the five non-burn tillage treatments with vegetation removed before treatment. Fertilizer (NH 4 NO 3 ) was applied at 0, 34, and 67 kg N ha -1 in 1995 and at 0, 67, and 134 kg N ha -1 in 1996 and 1997. Initial soil water contents were low, and soil never was filled with water at planting time. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] yielded ≤720 kg ha -1 in 1995, and the 1995-1996 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop failed. Sorghum was not planted in 1996 because of a drought. Sorghum yielded 2260 to 4700 kg ha -1 in 1997. Wheat yielded 1410 to 1980 kg ha - 1 in 1996-1997. Vegetation retention or removal affected yields slightly. Fertilization affected sorghum yields slightly and increased wheat yields. Vegetation control was difficult with no-tillage. Disk tillage to dislodge grass, followed by reduced-or no-tillage, appears best for converting CRP grassland to cropland in this semiarid region. Because of low initial soil water contents, a 90-d period is inadequate for obtaining adequate soil water storage unless precipitation is much above normal. Forgoing planting a crop soon after killing the vegetation when precipitation is low would provide more time for storing soil water and increase the potential for obtaining favorable yields.
A Comparison of Career Counseling Provided by Master’s and Doctoral Counselors

A survey of master’s- and doctoral-level practitioners is conducted to explore the current trends in career counseling practice. Master’s practitioners(n = 151) report significantly larger career counseling caseloads than do doctoral clinicians (n = 150). Respondents who report an exclusive emphasis on career counseling consist almost entirely of master’s practitioners working from person-centered or cognitive-behavioral perspectives; no respondent reports using a specific career counseling theory. In responding to a career counseling case study, master’s practitioners desire additional information about the client’s personality and career values. Doctoral respondents desire additional family information about the client.