cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dispatchable indoor location system for mobile phones based on a BlueTooth Low Energy array

This paper describes a system that provides the indoor location of an emergency 9-1-1 caller who uses a smart-phone while inside a large, multi-story building. The system consists of an Array of BlueTooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and a Database that together provide the indoor location, and a Smartphone Application that obtains the location information and makes an IP-based call, including the indoor location information, to a Next Generation 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP.) The Array and the Database together constitute a platform that can be used by developers to create other applications that use its data. Both the platform and the smartphone application will be described. Information about the architecture of the service platform and the operations and maintenance of the array are included. Tests to determine the accuracy of the caller's location are described and their results presented. Potential additional uses for the platform are proposed.
Stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and immune function.

A variety of Stressors have been shown to alter both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Over the past decade the pathways by which stress may influence the immune system has been the focus of intense study. One of the most important pathways is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (1, 2). It has been known for some time that glucocorticoids, the final product of HPA axis activation, have a wide range of effects on immune and inflammatory responses in humans and animals. In addition, other HPA hormones such as corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and corticotropin (ACTH) can directly and indirectly influence immune function.
Relationship Between Self-Report and Clinician-Rated Impairment in Depressed Outpatients

This study examined the potential of using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale as a valid measure of patient-reported status and predictor of three-month outcomes for 59 patients seeking outpatient treatment for depression. A moderate relationship between the GAF and patient report at baseline and follow-up suggests it may be clinically useful for routine monitoring of depressed patients.
Beyond Adjudication: Resolving International Resource Disputes in an Era of Climate Change

This Article examines the role of international adjudication as a mechanism for resolving international disputes and promoting global peace and security in an era of climate change. The central claim is that adjudication has limitations that make it ineffective as a tool for resolving international resource disputes. The Article argues that adjudication is limited due to source and process challenges and it illustrates this claim by reviewing cases adjudicated by the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and other international courts and tribunals. Four categories of adjudication limitation emerge: a) cases where the parties refused to submit to adjudication, b) cases where the judicial decision did not address the merits of the dispute, c) cases of noncompliance and d) cases where there was a recurrence of the dispute or conflict. In response, the Article suggests that reliance on adjudication as the primary form of international dispute resolution in this context is misplaced. Instead, the Article argues that adjudication may be more effective when combined with non-judicial dispute resolution methods such as mediation and facilitation. Three case studies illustrate how the integration of dispute resolution approaches has successfully resolved international resource disputes and the conflicts they were a part of. By establishing a clear descriptive account of the limitations of adjudication in this context, this Article seeks to move international dispute resolution beyond its traditional paradigm in order to advance global capacity to resolve disputes and prevent conflict in an era of climate change.
Fate and transport of radioactive gypsum stack water entering the Floridan aquifer due to a sinkhole collapse

Groundwater aquifers are an essential source of drinking water, and must be protected against contamination. Phosphogypsum stacks originating from the processing of phosphate rock contain small amounts of radionuclides, such as 226Ra. In September 2016, a sinkhole located beneath a phosphogypsum stack collapsed under central Florida's carbonate karst terrain, where the aquifer is mostly confined, raising concern over water quality in the regions nearby. Monitoring and modeling the transport of the contaminated plume is vital to ensure drinking water criteria are met and to improve decision making regarding treatment. To achieve this, a geochemical modeling using PHREEQC software was employed to investigate the trajectory of the plume based on hydraulic and hydrologic conditions. Adsorption was simulated as a removal mechanism that could further reduce the intensity of the plume. The aquifer's response to the release of contaminated water from the collapsed stack was quantified by simulating a number of scenarios, including variable radionuclide leakage quantities. Results suggest that it may take between 11-17 years and between 5.2 to 8.3 km from the sinkhole leak to reduce radionuclide concentrations to previous levels. Coupling the adsorption effect by minerals in Floridan aquifer (e.g. ferrihydrite, carbonate) can reduce radionuclide migration time to 9-16 years and distances between 4.3 to 7.8 km from the sinkhole leak. It can also reduce the distance needed to lower radionuclide concentrations, though not significantly. Additionally, due to the complexities of soil chemistry, the importance of groundwater remediation is emphasized.
Investigating an Intervention’s Causal Story: Mediation Analysis Using a Factorial Experiment and Multiple Mediators

Behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical interventions presume a causal story. This causal story is used to create a conceptual model of why the intervention caused the observed outcome. Methods are needed to investigate the extent to which changes in the outcome are due to exposure to an intervention. This chapter describes the use of a factorial experiment in which an intervention’s components are varied, the mediating mechanisms and outcome are measured, and then an analysis is performed to investigate an intervention’s causal story. To illustrate the procedures, a case study examines an intervention guided by the model of stigma communication (MSC; Smith, Commun. Theory 17:462–485, 2007; Stigma communication and health. In T. L. Thompson, R. Parrott, & J. Nussbaum (Eds.), Handbook of health communication (2nd ed., pp. 455–468). London, UK: Taylor & Francis, 2011; Commun. Monogr. 79:522–538, 2012). In the case study, we show how to conduct a mediation analysis when four components of an intervention have been manipulated in a 24 factorial experiment (N = 299), and, in addition, four hypothesized mediators have been measured. We reflect on how the results provide more precise conclusions about the theory guiding the intervention and opportunities for refinement.
Introduction: Making the Medicinal Poisoner

Crosby contends that the entry of women and minorities into the public sphere as political and discursive agents, including as members of the medical profession, was facilitated by a broader cultural change in metaphors: namely, in the figure of the poisonous woman. Historically, the specter of the poisonous woman has been used to exclude women and minorities from full citizenship, but democratizing reformers avoided reframing the dangerous figure until the second half of the nineteenth century, at which point American popular culture witnessed a feminist “medicalization” of the misogynist fantasy that transformed her into a heroic doctor. In this introduction, Crosby establishes the backstory to this frame shift—namely, the Democratic Party’s creation of the innocent “Democratic poisoner” and the Popular Health Movement’s empowerment of women as healers.
Drift region engineering to reduce hot carrier effects on high voltage MOSFETs

In this paper, we discuss strategies to reduce hot carrier (HC) effects on two different high voltage MOSFET devices types. One type is an LDMOS device which is a lateral device, and the other type is a shielded gate trench power MOSFET (SGTM) which is a vertical device. These two device types are widely used for different high voltage applications such as switch-mode power supplies, power amplifiers and DC/DC power supplies. HC injection has significant effects on both device types’ performance. For SGTM, we have found that the HC injection in the device’s off-state can strongly affect BV DSS (drain to source breakdown voltage) even at very short stress times (~100 seconds). This HC effect can be mitigated by adjusting the drift region doping concentration to compensate for the charge due to HC injection. For LDMOS, we develop a practical method to reduce the HC effect without sacrificing the Rdson or BV DSS by increasing the oxide thickness over the drift region.
Formalin instillation for refractory radiation-induced hemorrhagic proctitis. Report of 16 patients.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to evaluate use of topical (4 percent) formalin in management of radiation-induced hemorrhagic proctitis, refractory to other methods of treatment. Specifically, we wished to determine its safely, ability to stop bleeding, and complications associated with therapy. METHODS: Sixteen patients with radiation-induced hemorrhagic proctitis were treated with topical (4 percent) formalin. All had been previously treated with conservative regimens such as cautery, topical steroids, or laser, but these had failed. Five-hundred milliliters (ml) of a 4 percent formalin solution was instilled into the rectum in 50-ml aliquots. Each aliquot was kept in contact with rectal mucosa for approximately 30 seconds. Treatments were performed under local anesthesia in nine patients, sedation only in four, spinal in two, and general in one patient. RESULTS: In 12 patients, bleeding stopped after a single formalin instillation; in 3, bleeding was considerably reduced but continued sporadically. One patient required three treatments before bleeding stopped. Four patients developed postoperative anal pain, of which one also had significant tenesmus and reduced capacity. Of these four patients, only two had significant anal pain and fissures that lasted longer than one month. CONCLUSIONS: Topical (4 percent) formalin is safe and effective in treatment of radiation-induced hemorrhagic proctitis. A single treatment will stop bleeding in 75 percent of patients.
Influence of the commensal gastropod Crepidula plana on shell choice by the marine hermit crab Pagurus longicarpus, with an assessment of the degree of stress caused by different eviction techniques☆

Abstract Hermit crabs are notoriously choosy about the gastropod shells they live in. Many periwinkle shells at Nahant, Massachusetts, U.S.A. contain the gastropod Crepidula plana , which forms a thin flat shell inside the periwinkle shell. This study examined how the presence of C. plana affected shell selection behavior by the hermit crab Pagurus longicarpus : naked hermit crabs were offered different combinations of shells, including some containing C. plana and some that had been drilled by naticid gastropods, and their choices were recorded. Because we had to evict hermit crabs from their shells before conducting our choice tests, we also determined rates of recovery from five commonly used shell eviction techniques. No hermit crabs were successfully evicted using low salinity seawater. For the other techniques used, hermit crabs took significantly longer to recover after being removed by gentle but continuous pulling on the carapace and appendages than after being removed by immersion in heated seawater, cracking the shell using a vise, or prodding the hermit crab in the abdomen through a hole drilled in the shell. Even so, most hermit crabs recovered from all of the stresses tested within 20 h, and from at least some stresses within 2–6 h. If shells are to be re-used for experiments, heating seawater is the best technique for evicting P. longicarpus ; otherwise, cracking the shell using a vise is recommended. When provided with intact shells and similarly-sized shells containing adult C. plana , all of the hermit crabs chose shells without C. plana , and did so within only about 30 min. However, given a choice between shells housing C. plana and those bearing drill holes–shells which they normally avoid–the hermit crabs were about evenly divided in their choice of shells, and many of the hermit crabs never made a final decision even after 18 or 19 h, suggesting that the presence of C. plana greatly reduces shell attractiveness and suitability. The presence of C. plana increased total shell weight and reduced internal shell volume considerably, and also weakened the shell substantially, likely making the hermit crabs more vulnerable to predators; all of these factors may play a role in selecting for the intense avoidance behavior exhibited by this species for periwinkle shells bearing C. plana .
Transition-metal-propargyl complexes: versatile reagents in synthesis

Abstract The chemistry of transition-metal-propargyl complexes, LnMCH2CCR, is presented, with a particular focus on recent developments in the authors' laboratories. Included in the presentation are synthetic approaches to and reactions of these complexes. The latter are classified as (i) insertion into the M-CH2 bond, (ii) electrophilic addition to the CC bond, and (iii) addition of coordinatively unsaturated metal spedes to build complexes of higher nudearity. The last-mentioned reactions (iii), which have resulted in the development of new synthetic methods for heterobinuclear and homo- and heterotrinuclear metal-μ-allenyl complexes, dominate the chemistry given in this account. Several modes of bonding of a bridging allenyl ligand to two and three metals have been demonstrated for these complexes, and conversions among them have been investigated. Possible pathways for these cluster-building reactions are considered.
Long-Haul WDM Transmission with Over-1-Tb/s Channels using Electrically Synthesized High-Symbol-Rate Signals

Recent technical progress in 1-Tb/sA,-class transmission systems based on high-speed electronics are reviewed, and key technologies and issues for beyond-l-Tb/s/λ WDM transmission systems with an over-100-Gbaud symbol rate for achieving long-haul transport are discussed.
Artificial Intelligence for Dynamic Echocardiographic Tricuspid Valve Analysis: A New Tool in Echocardiography

There has been a resurgence of interest in the structure and function of the tricuspid valve (TV) with the established prognostic impact of functional tricuspid regurgitation. Current 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography prototype software is limited to exploration of the mitral and aortic valves exclusively. Thus, newer analytical software is required for dynamic geometric analysis of the TV morphology for remodeling. This article presents a preliminary experience with novel artificial intelligence-based semiautomated software for TV analysis. The software offers high correlation to surgical inspection by its ability to analyze morphology and dynamics of the valve throughout the cardiac cycle. In addition, it allows higher reproducibility of data analysis and reduces interobserver variability with minimal need for manual intervention. Integration of interactivity through preprocedural placement of specific devices of different sizes and shapes in the mitral and aortic positions facilitates prognostic evaluation of surgical and interventional procedures.
The SHORE Score: A Novel Predictive Tool for Improvement After Decompression Surgery in Adult Chiari Malformation Type I.

Background A practical scoring system predicting significant improvement after surgical decompression in adult Chiari malformation type I (CM-1) based on validated outcome measures is lacking. We aimed to develop a simple score and improvement calculator to facilitate the decision making process in symptomatic CM-1 patients. Methods We evaluated adult CM-1 patients who presented to our institution between September 2006 and September 2018 and underwent surgical decompression. Previously treated patients were excluded. Univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to derive an optimal model predictive of improvement on last follow-up as measured by the Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale. A score was derived using the beta coefficients of the model, and predictive performance was assessed using receiver operating curves with bootstrap validation. Finally, a web-based improvement calculator was deployed. Results The surgical cohort consisted of 149 adult CM-1 patients, of which 100 (67%) experienced significant clinical improvement (Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale ≥14) after a mean follow-up of 1.9 years. The final model predictive of significant clinical improvement consisted of headache with Valsalva (odds ratio [OR] = 2.39; P = 0.030), nonwhite race (OR = 2.57; P = 0.041), absence of visual symptoms (OR = 2.59; P = 0.015), syrinx absence (OR = 1.59; P = 0.315), and increased odontoid retroflexion (OR = 2.82; P = 0.009). The score was termed SHORE, which summarizes the model's predictive factors, each assigned 1 point. The model had an area under the curve of 0.754 with an optimism-correct value of 0.721. A calculator was deployed under: https://jhuspine2.shinyapps.io/SHORE_score/ . Conclusions The score and calculator can serve as supplements to clinical decision making by providing realistic and personalized expectations of postoperative outcome.
The Free2B Multi-Media Bullying Prevention Experience: An Exemplar of Scientific Edutainment

Objective: The objective of the current article is to highlight an example of a new paradigm, Scientific Edutainment. The manuscript describes how educational researchers and technologists worked together to develop a multi-media bullying prevention experience, called Free2B for middle school students paying particular attention to ensure that the programming was not only relevant to all students but also was appealing and responsive to the needs of urban youth. Bullying is the most common form of aggression experienced among school-aged youth, which impairs students’ learning and social-emotional functioning1,2 and has financial costs to society3. Given that the prevalence of bullying is highest in middle school4,5, finding brief and feasible methods for motivating and sustaining change at this age is critically important, especially in the case of urban, under-resourced schools6. Method: In response to this challenge, multidisciplinary bullying prevention researchers collaborated with international technologists to develop the Free2B multi-media bullying prevention experience through an iterative Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach. In addition, the research team conducted a series of pilot studies to iteratively develop and initially evaluate the multi-media program, helping to ensure relevance specifically for urban middle school youth. Results: Results from the pilot studies indicated that the vast majority of middle school students found the Free2B multi-media bullying prevention experience to be enjoyable, relevant to their needs, and addressed important strategies to address peer bullying and victimization. In addition, the brief prevention experience was associated with increases in problem-solving knowledge, prosocial attitudes about bullying, increased sympathy, and confidence in handling peer conflicts. Conclusion: The current paper illustrates the use of a new paradigm, termed Scientific Edutainment, as a way to combine evidenced-based developmental science with the latest in entertainment technology to provide innovative, engaging, and technologically-sophisticated educational programming.
How the Kentucky Children's Hospital RT Team Mastered Daunting Growth and Change

Background: In 2018, the KCH Respiratory Therapy (RT) team grew by 50% and transitioned to a vertical hospital environment. Several novel approaches were taken to make these changes successful for staff with minimal cost. In 2017, the KCH RT team was an experienced group of 30 respiratory therapists; 50% of the team had 10 or more years of experience as pediatric therapists. The RT team was bolstered by geographic proximity to each other throughout a shift. Plans to open a 72 bed single patient room NICU presented numerous threats. The new vertical geography meant that the RT team would lose their window on each other. RT staff would need to stay in their NICU “neighborhood” to assist nursing with patient monitoring in the single patient room environment. After the NICU move, there would only be 2 RTs left for all of PICU, progressive care and acute care. Although 13.5 FTEs were approved to address these concerns, adding so many new staff at once posed a significant challenge, especially with the pending geographical changes. Methods: A KCH RT Education Steering team was assembled in July 2017. This team re-wrote the orientation plan for new hires and participated in interviews. The KCH Lead RT role was established to provide clinical and logistical support to the shift. A Lead is assigned around the clock; the Lead team members work as regular staff therapists when not assigned to the Lead role for a shift. A start of shift huddle was implemented. The Leads function as clinical experts and are a lifeline of support for new therapists. The Lead also arranges just in time training for staff when unique or less common patient needs arise. Results: Fifteen therapists on-boarded to KCH between January 2018 and July 2018. One had prior pediatric ICU experience, 2 had prior adult ICU experience, and 12 were new graduates. The education committee and the Lead RT role augmented staff ownership of transition needs. Conclusions: The combined efforts of the education team and the introduction of the Lead RT as a clinical expert and peer mentor resulted in faster acclimation of new hires to all areas of KCH. Prior, a new graduate typically took two years to fully acclimate to NICU and PICU. 14 of the 15 new hires were taking full assignments in NICU by the end of three months. 80% of the new hires now attend deliveries, far sooner than the usual 12 months. The Lead therapists report increased job satisfaction. Employee engagement scores increased by 7%.
Amphiphilic proteins coassemble into multiphasic condensates and act as biomolecular surfactants

Cells contain membraneless compartments that assemble due to liquid-liquid phase separation, including biomolecular condensates with complex morphologies. For instance, certain condensates are surrounded by a film of distinct composition, such as Ape1 condensates coated by a layer of Atg19, required for selective autophagy in yeast. Other condensates are multiphasic, with nested liquid phases of distinct compositions and functions, such as in the case of ribosome biogenesis in the nucleolus. The size and structure of such condensates must be regulated for proper biological function. We leveraged a bio-inspired approach to discover how amphiphilic, surfactant-like proteins may contribute to the structure and size regulation of biomolecular condensates. We designed and examined families of amphiphilic proteins comprising one phase-separating domain and one non-phase separating domain. In particular, these proteins contain the soluble structured domain glutathione S-transferase (GST) or maltose binding protein (MBP), fused to the intrinsically disordered RGG domain from P granule protein LAF-1. When one amphiphilic protein is mixed in vitro with RGG-RGG, the proteins assemble into enveloped condensates, with RGG-RGG at the core, and the amphiphilic protein forming the surface film layer. Importantly, we found that MBP-based amphiphiles are surfactants and control droplet size, with increasing surfactant concentration resulting in smaller droplet radii. In contrast, GST-based amphiphiles at increased concentrations co-assemble with RGG-RGG into multiphasic structures. We propose a mechanism for these experimental observations, supported by molecular simulations of a minimalist model. We speculate that surfactant proteins may play a significant role in regulating the structure and function of biomolecular condensates.
Jury selection and jury trial in Spain: between theory and practice

The Jury Court in Spain is composed of nine citizens and is headed by a magistrate belonging to the Provincial Court, Chamber of Criminal. These citizens participate as lay assessors in a very particular way. The Spanish Jury Law 5/1995 contemplates its intervention in criminal proceedings as a sort of ‘duty-right’; one hand, inasmuch as it is a right, the law guarantees a remuneration; on the other, inasmuch as it is a duty, the Jury Law does not provide any sort of sanction because of inassistance. Also legal status of the Spanish jurors is established by a complicated system of qualification and disqualifications causes. There are four categories for disqualification: incapacities, incompatibilities, prohibitions and excuses, which contemplate various personal and professional circumstances. In contrast, certain omissions in the regulation may be appreciated such as the conscientious objection for example, which becomes the most controversial question with regard to the duty to act as a juror. The purpose of present paper is to discuss the abover points and examines how jury selection and service actually proceeds in Spanish Jury Courts. An initial reference is made to the composition of the lists of prospective jurors, which includes an explanation of the way in which prospective jurors are designated by random from the electoral census and how the definitive lists are drawn up in each province at two-yearly intervals and delivered to the Provincial Courts. Subsequently, the trial jury selection system is presented along with other measures that relate to jury participation in criminal proceedings, such as the completion of a questionnaire on lawful grounds for disqualification and the distribution of a copy of the ‘jury handbook’ to each selected juror. References are also made to the possibility of challenges for cause and without cause (peremptory challenges) both by the parties to the trial, defence and prosecution, as well as to the requirement to take oath to all jurors. In all this exposition the example of Provincial Court of Burgos shall be used with consideration of practical experiences and even if possible, statistics, to its conducting of jury trials in criminal proceedings. Having discussed the above points, the paper draws to a close with a number of succinct concluding remarks DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN : http://ssrn.com/abstract=1986731
Leaving the laboratory: Using Field Science to Disrupt and Expand Historically Enduring Narratives of Science Teaching and Learning

Despite efforts to help youth form better connections to the natural world, many recent science initiatives (such as the Next Generation Science Standards) privilege laboratory science over field science, thus reinforcing an image of science that is placeless and individual. To better understand the impact of field science on youth, we examined youths’ experiences and participation in field science across two separate research projects, one of which was associated with a school (the “moth project”) and one of which occurred in an informal setting (the “herpetology project”). We argue that field science, which is not given the same attention in NGSS as science derived from laboratory work, might disrupt and expand science teaching and learning. By expand, we mean that field science offers novel opportunities for youth and educators to develop and engage in practices that disrupt persistent sociohistorical narratives of how science work is accomplished, and that emphasize the cultural production of knowledge in a setting by making public the meaning making that is negotiated in a community. Such expanded moments differ from many experiences in which youth and educators expand typical ways of knowing and participating valued across many formal and informal settings.
Recording and automated analysis of naturalistic bioptic driving.

This article describes how people with moderate central vision loss are legally permitted to drive with a bioptic telescope in 39 United States (US) states and the Netherlands, but the safety of bioptic driving remains highly controversial. There is no scientific evidence about bioptic use and its impact on safety. The authors propose searching for evidence by recording naturalistic driving activities in patients’ cars. In a pilot study the authors used an analogue video system to record two bioptic drivers’ daily driving activities for 10 and 5 days, respectively. In this technical report, the authors also describe the novel digital system that collects vehicle maneuverer information and enables recording over more extended periods, and discuss the approach to analyzing the vast amount of data. The observations of telescope use by the pilot subjects were quite different from their reports in a previous survey. One subject used the telescope only seven times in nearly 6 hours of driving. For the other subject, the average interval between telescope use was about 2 minutes, and Mobile (cell) phone use in one trip extended the interval to almost 5 minutes. The authors demonstrate that computerized analysis of lengthy recordings based on video, global positioning systems (GPS), acceleration, and black box data can be used to select informative segments for efficient off-line review of naturalistic driving behaviors. The inconsistency between self-reports and objective data as well as infrequent telescope use underscores the importance of recording bioptic driving behaviors in naturalistic conditions over extended periods. The authors argue that the new recording system is important for understanding bioptic use behaviors and bioptic driving safety.
In Vitro Antibody Production

This unit describes the antigenic stimulation of in vitro antibody production by B cells and the subsequent measurement of secreted antibodies. A generalized system for inducing in vitro antibody production is presented along with a procedure for quantifying the number of antibody-producing cells by plaque-forming cell (PFC) assays: the Cunningham-Szenberg technique and the Jerne-Nordin technique. The assay can be modified as described to measure all classes of antibodies or to enumerate total immunoglobulin-secreting B cells. A protocol for preparing the resting B cells by Percoll gradient centrifugation is also described.
The effect of pollen irradiation on reproductive capacity, seedling growth, and variation of Betula nigra—I. Seed yield, germination, and germinant abnormalities

Abstract Pollen samples of Betula nigra exposed to 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 roentgens (R) of gamma radiation were used in controlled crosses. Pollen irradiation had no effect on the number of female inflorescences developing into mature catkins or on the number of seeds per catkin. Amount of filled seed and germination percentage, however, decreased as the exposure level increased; the 8000 R lots had only 17·8 and 10·9 per cent, respectively, of the controls. Viability of the filled seeds was reduced to 59·7 per cent after exposure to 8000 R compared with 90 per cent or better from all other treatments. Seed from the 8000 R treatment also had a low rate of germination. Germinants having an abnormal number or shape of cotyledons increased in frequency with exposure level up to 13·3 per cent after 8000 R. Non-viable abnormal germinants similarly increased to 12·6 per cent at 8000 R. Pollen irradiation thus has a pronounced detrimental effect on the reproductive capacity of this species. Low levels of radiation appeared to have a stimulating effect on rate and percentage of germination but these differences were not statistically significant. The increase in aberrant seedlings indicates that pollen irradiation may be an effective means of inducing variation in B. nigra .
Chromosome Band 7q34 Deletions Resulting in KIAA1549-BRAF and FAM131B-BRAF Fusions in Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas

The majority of pediatric low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are characterized by constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway through various mechanisms including BRAF mutations, inactivation of NF1, and KIAA1549-BRAF and FAM131B-BRAF fusions. The KIAA1549-BRAF fusion typically results from a 2.0 Mb tandem duplication in chromosome band 7q34. In the present study, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based array analysis of three LGGs demonstrated deletions in 7q34 that resulted in a BRAF fusion. Case 1 was likely a pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) with three deletions in 7q33q34 and an exon 15-9 KIAA1549-BRAF fusion. SNP array analysis of case 2, a possible dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT), revealed a 2.6 Mb deletion, which included the 5' end of BRAF and extended to the 3' end of FAM131B. In case 3, deletions involving BRAF and FAM131B were observed in both a primary and a recurrent PA. RNA-based sequence analysis of cases 2 and 3 confirmed a fusion between FAM131B exon 2 and BRAF exon 9. The presence of fusion transcripts in these three LGGs highlights the utility of SNP array analysis to identify deletions that are suggestive of fusion proteins. BRAF fusions can result from multiple non-overlapping deletions, suggesting various complex mechanisms of formation.
Making Sense of ‘Substantially Unlikely’: An Empirical Analysis of the Joseph Standard in Mandatory Detention Custody Hearings

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the “substantially unlikely” burden set forth in Matter of Joseph. Under Joseph, an Immigration Judge must defer to the government’s decision to subject a noncitizen to mandatory detention under INA § 236(c); the noncitizen may obtain a bond hearing only if she first proves that the government is “substantially unlikely” to prevail on the immigration charges subjecting her to detention. I examine how the Board of Immigration Appeals has applied the Joseph standard in 165 custody appeal decisions issued over a four-year period. I find that Immigration Judges confront a host of difficult legal and evidentiary questions in Joseph hearings, and that the BIA interprets the Joseph standard as requiring that virtually all doubt be resolved in favor of the government. I argue that this uneven allocation of the risk of error between the individual and the government is inconsistent with traditional due process requirements.The author is a recent graduate from New York University School of Law (J.D. 2011) and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (M.P.A. 2011).
Healthcare in the Home: How Distributed Health Service Delivery Can Reduce Costs and Improve Outcomes

Recent studies of home healthcare provision using existing technologies have shown reductions of 15-30% compared with hospital-based care for similar patient populations, with savings that may potentially be realized from a full embrace of existing telehealth and home healthcare services over the next 25 years projected at $200 billion. Considerably greater cost reductions may be attainable using powerful, distributed technologies currently under development, and benefiting from ubiquitous broadband that is a proximate reality. By allowing a competitive environment to evolve in which entry by distributed health service providers occurs at scale, government at various jurisdictional levels can simultaneously address first-order national concerns related to the budget, the economy, and the quality of life of citizens.
Tachyarrhythmias and Ectopic Beats With Aberrant Intraventricular Conduction in Children

Ectopic foci associated with aberrant intraventicular conduction (AIVC) may either be ventricular foci or supraventricular foci. The electrocardiogram may not help in this differentiation. Knowledge of the site of origin is essential to determine appropriate therapy for patients who develop sustained tachycardias and may be of prognostic value in those who have frequent premature contractions. To determine the site of the ectopic focus, His bundle electrograms were performed in seven children whose conventional ECGs showed arrhythmias with frequent premature ectopic beats and runs of bigeminy with AIVC. In two patients the focus was in the supraventricular area while the other five had a ventricular focus. Incomplete right bundle branch block was noted in one patient with a supraventricular focus but complete bundle branch block occurred in both patients with both ventricular and supraventricular foci.
Antipyrine pharmacokinetics in the tail-suspended rat model.

As space flight becomes more commonplace, the influence of physiologic changes associated with the microgravity environment become of greater concern. Exposure to weightlessness has been shown to have numerous effects on body composition and organ function in animals and humans. However, studies examining possible alterations in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics are not readily available. Antipyrine is a marker of hepatic oxidative function and total body water. The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of simulated weightlessness on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine. Weightlessness was simulated through the use of the tail-suspended rat model. Rats were suspended for a total of 7 days. During the study period, antipyrine pharmacokinetics, after a single 20 mg/kg i.v. or p.o. dose, were evaluated at base line (day-1) and 1, 3 and 7 days after the initiation of suspension. Total body clearance was significantly elevated in the tail suspended rats from both the i.v. and p.o. dosing groups after 3 and 7 days of simulated weightlessness. In addition, clearance was elevated after 1 day of tail-suspension in the p.o. dosing group. Steady-state volume of distribution was not statistically different over the entire study period in either dosing group. Data from the present study suggest that brief periods of tail-suspension may markedly alter the pharmacokinetics of drugs in the rat and that more studies are required in models of weightlessness and actual space flight to understand the complex interaction between microgravity and hepatic metabolic activity.
Neonatal Progesterone Programs Adult Uterine Responses to Progesterone and Susceptibility to Uterine Dysfunction.

In this report, we investigated the consequences of neonatal progesterone exposure on adult rat uterine function. Female pups were subcutaneously injected with vehicle or progesterone from postnatal days 3 to 9. Early progesterone exposure affected endometrial gland biogenesis, puberty, decidualization, and fertility. Because decidualization and pregnancy success are directly linked to progesterone action on the uterus, we investigated the responsiveness of the adult uterus to progesterone. We first identified progesterone-dependent uterine gene expression using RNA sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR in Holtzman Sprague-Dawley rats and progesterone-resistant Brown Norway rats. The impact of neonatal progesterone treatment on adult uterine progesterone responsiveness was next investigated using quantitative RT-PCR. Progesterone resistance affected the spectrum and total number of progesterone-responsive genes and the magnitude of uterine responses for a subset of progesterone targets. Several progesterone-...
SKELETAL STRAIN PATTERNS IN RELATION TO EXERCISE TRAINING DURING GROWTH

Bones are believed to alter their shape in response to changes in tissue strains produced by physical activity and the goal of this study is to examine whether modeling responses of a growing bone to changes in physical exercise are adjusted to maintain a uniform distribution of functional strains. We test this idea by comparing in vivo strains recorded in the tibiotarsus of white leghorn chicks during ‘intensive’ treadmill exercise (60% of maximum speed, carrying a weight equal to 20% body weight on the trunk: 60%/L) with strains that had been recorded previously during ‘moderate’ treadmill exercise (35% of maximum speed, unloaded: 35%/UNL) at similar bone sites. Our hypothesis is that modeling adjustments of bones subjected to the intensive load-carrying exercise should re-establish strains recorded in the bones subjected to moderate exercise. At each exercise level, the animals were exercised for 5 days per week (2500 loading cycles per day) from 2 to 12 weeks of age. As in the moderate exercise group studied earlier, strains measured at six functionally equivalent sites on the tibiotarsus of the 60%/L group were consistently maintained during growth from 4 to 12 weeks of age. In addition, the pattern of strain recorded at these sites was uniformly maintained over the full range of speeds recorded (from 0.48 to 2.70 m s-1 at 12 weeks of age). Peak strains measured at 4 weeks of age in the load-carrying exercise group were initially elevated by 57% overall compared with peak strains recorded in the moderate exercise group. At 8 weeks of age, strain levels in the 60%/L group differed by only 4% overall compared with those recorded in the 35%/UNL group. The nature of strain (tensile versus compressive) and the orientation of principal strain at corresponding sites were also similar in the two groups. At 12 weeks of age, however, bone strain levels in the 60%/L group were again elevated (47% overall) compared with those recorded in the 35%/UNL group, although the general pattern and orientation of strains remained similar. This finding suggests a transient modeling response of the bone to the onset of exercise training, which was lost during subsequent growth, possibly because the normal pattern of functional strain was not altered significantly by the faster load-carrying exercise.
Can assessing chronic pain outcomes data improve outcomes

Objective This manuscript reviews how patient-reported outcomes data can be used to guide efforts to improve patient outcomes. Design Review Manuscript. Setting The clinical management of chronic, non-cancer pain. Subjects Adult patients receiving treatment for chronic, non-cancer pain. Results While there have been great advances in the science of pain and various therapeutic medications and interventions, patient outcomes are variable. This manuscript reviews how outcomes data can be used to guide efforts to improve patient outcomes. Conclusions Patient outcomes can be improved with standardization of the process of patient care, as well as through other quality improvement efforts. The cornerstone to any effort to improve patient outcomes starts with the integration of valid outcomes data collection into ongoing patient care. Outcome measurement tools should provide information on several key domains, yet the process of data collection should not pose a significant burden on either the patient or health care team. Efforts to improve patient outcomes are ongoing, and should be a high priority for every health care team.
From phenomenon to mechanism: An investigational strategy

1. The author describes an investigational strategy useful in the field of psychopharmacology. 2. This strategy is based on the ability of a multi-disciplinary team first to measure significant changes in a behavioral or physiological variable in response to an experimental manipulation. 3. This initial measurement allows investigators to identify a phenomenon but not its underlying mechanism. 4. Study then proceeds to assess the anatomical substratum essential to mediating the physiologic change and receptology. 5. Finally, changes in second messenger mechanisms are determined. 6. Study of the neurobiologic effects of bright light is used as an illustration.
Age-related macular degeneration histopathologic studies. The 1992 Lorenz E. Zimmerman Lecture.

Background: Delineation of the morphologic aspects of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is helpful in correlation with the clinical features and may contribute to understanding the pathogenesis. Methods: All eyes on file in the Eye Pathology Laboratory, Wilmer Institute, with the known features of ARMD were analyzed according to age, sex, and race. Methods included routine sections in the macula, stepped-serial and serial sections, and electron microscopy and two-dimensional reconstruction in selected cases. Results: There were 760 eyes with ARMD from 450 patients. Only 5.3% of these patients were black. Nodular drusen were observed in 6.2% of eyes (n = 47), basal laminar deposits in 54.7%, basal linear deposits in 27.6%, neovascularization in 38.2%, and disciform scars in 40.8%. Three types of soft drusen were identified and were observed in 28.0%. The mean diameter of the disciform scar was 3.73 mm, and mean thickness was 0.27 mm. In disciform scars greater than 0.2 mm in thickness, only approximately 25% of the surface of the scar had some remaining photoreceptor cells. Serous or hemorrhagic detachments were observed in 10.4% of eyes. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) atrophy without disciform scars was observed in 24.6% of eyes. Areolar atrophy was the most common feature observed in eves of black patients. Conclusion: This comprehensive histopathologic evaluation provides the tabulation of the various morphologic features of ARMD. Basal laminar deposit and basal linear deposit, but not nodular drusen, are important positive associations with choroidal neovascularization, disciform scarring, and visual loss. Preservation of photoreceptor cells was seen only over disciform scars 0.2 mm thickness or less.
Simplified odd-even sort using multiple shift-register loops

By using anN-loop shift-register structure called a uniform ladder,N records can be sorted by a simplified adaptation of the odd-even transposition-sort algorithm to finish in (N + 1)/2 loop times (periods) using (N − 1) comparators. The sorting can be overlapped with input/output; the percentage of unoverlapped sorting times is less than 20% of the total time with a single ladder, less than 6% using two ladders, and is zero with a sufficient number of ladders.
Comparison of the effects of insulin and H2O2 on adipocyte glucose transport.

The abilities of insulin and the insulin mimickers spermine and H2O2 to stimulate 3-O-methyl glucose transport in isolated rat ft cells were stuided in an attempt to determine possible common mechanisms of action. All three agents caused a seven- to 12-fold stimulation of initial rates of glucose transport with insulin being the most effective agent. Insulin and spermine displayed similar time courses for the onset of their stimulation of transport; an initial lag before any effect was seen and then a gradual rise until the full effect was reached. The time course of H2O2 activation of glucose transport was different since stimulation was seen at the earliest time point tested and then gradually rose to the maximal effect. Trypsinization of cells removed insulin receptors and rendered the cells insensitive to insulin but not to spermine or H2O2. However, trypsinization did alter the time course of H2O2 action, causing an initial lag phase to appear and a general slowing of the activation kinetics. Pretreatment of cells with 2,4-dinitrophenol to lower ATP levels prevented the stimulatory effects of insulin and the mimickers. All three of the agents revealed a similar temperature dependency for stimulated glucose transport, resulting in linear Arrhenius plots with activation energies of 10.2–11.4 kcal/mole. These results show that (1) H2O2 does not act directly on the glucose transport system of rat adipocytes and (2) insulin and H2O most likely act through a common energy-dependent biochemical pathway to stimulate glucose transport, but H2O2 enters the stimulus-response sequence distal to the initial steps in insulin action.