cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia in children post-oncologic therapy: Review of case reports and institutional observation.

e21027 Background: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign tumor-like structure found in the liver with ill-defined etiology. In asymptomatic patients, serial imaging may be required to monitor...
Atmospheric OH oxidation chemistry of trifluralin and acetochlor

Trifluralin and acetochlor are two nitrogen-containing current use herbicides. While both herbicides have been observed in the atmosphere and have the potential to undergo atmospheric oxidation before deposition to off-target areas, the atmospheric photooxidation chemistry of these species is poorly understood. We use an oxidative flow reactor to expose the two herbicides to increasing concentrations of OH radicals, detecting pesticides and products using an iodide chemical ionization mass spectrometer. We identify new oxidation products and propose photooxidation mechanisms for trifluralin and acetochlor. Both herbicides contain reduced organic nitrogen atoms, and their OH oxidation produces isocyanic acid. While aerosol was observed in the flow reactor only for acetochlor, our results indicate that OH oxidation of neither herbicide would contribute to secondary organic aerosol formation under typical ambient atmospheric conditions. However, high wall losses of both pesticides in the flow reactor suggests that partitioning to pre-existing aerosol may occur and enable subsequent transport in the atmosphere.
Emotional Well-Being Is Impaired in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory condition. Objective: To measure emotional well-being in HS patients and compare to other populations, assess if there is an effect of disease severity on emotional well-being, and determine if emotional well-being is correlated with quality of life and depression. Methods: A total of 153 HS subjects were recruited, and 66 Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) surveys assessing emotional well-being were completed. Norms for comparison populations (disease-free undergraduates and adults) were used. A validated self-assessment tool was used to determine disease severity. Subjects completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to examine depression and quality of life, respectively. Results: HS subjects had lower positive affect than undergraduates and higher negative affect than adults. There were no differences in PANAS scores by Hurley stage (p > 0.05). PANAS scores for HS subjects correlated with worse quality of life (r = 0.66, p < 0.00001) and depression (r = 0.74, p < 0.00001). Conclusion: HS patients have poor emotional well-being. PANAS scores correlated with worse quality of life and depression. Providing appropriate resources and treatments may be beneficial for HS patients.
The use of nonhuman primates in studies of noise injury and treatment

Exposure to prolonged or high intensity noise increases the risk for permanent hearing impairment. Over several decades, researchers characterized the nature of harmful noise exposures and worked to establish guidelines for effective protection. Recent laboratory studies, primarily conducted in rodent models, indicate that the auditory system may be more vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) than previously thought, driving renewed inquiries into the harmful effects of noise in humans. To bridge the translational gaps between rodents and humans, nonhuman primates (NHPs) may serve as key animal models. The phylogenetic proximity of NHPs to humans underlies tremendous similarity in many features of the auditory system (genomic, anatomical, physiological, behavioral), all of which are important considerations in the assessment and treatment of NIHL. This review summarizes the literature pertaining to NHPs as models of hearing and noise-induced hearing loss, discusses factors relevant to the translation of diagnostics and therapeutics from animals to humans, and concludes with some of the practical considerations involved in conducting NHP research.
Cell-to-Cell Variation in Gene Expression for Cultured Human Cells Is Controlled in Trans by Diverse Genes: Implications for the Pathobiology of Aging

Cell-to-cell variation in gene expression increases among homologous cells within multiple tissues during aging. We call this phenomenon variegated gene expression (VGE). Long, healthy life requires robust and coordinated gene expression. We posit that nature may have evolved VGE as a bet-hedging mechanism to protect reproductively active populations. The price we may pay is accelerated aging. That hypothesis will require the demonstration that genetic loci are capable of modulating degrees of VGE. While loci controlling VGE in yeast and genes controlling interindividual variation in gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans have been identified, there has been no compelling evidence for the role of specific genetic loci in modulations of VGE of specific targets in humans. With the assistance of a core facility, we used a customized library of siRNA constructs to screen 1,195 human genes to identify loci contributing to the control of VGE of a gene with relevance to the biology of aging. We identified approximately 50 loci controlling VGE of the prolongevity gene, SIRT1. Because of its partial homology to FOXO3A, a variant of which is enriched in centenarians, our laboratory independently confirmed that the knockdown of FOXF2 greatly diminished VGE of SIRT1 but had little impact upon the VGE of WRN. While the role of these VGE-altering genes on aging in vivo remains to be determined, we hypothesize that some of these genes can be targeted to increase functionality during aging.
Effects of dietary buffers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and stomach morphology in finishing pigs.

The effects of supplemental alkaline salts on growth performance, blood chemistry, and stomach morphology were determined in two experiments using 248 finishing pigs fed finely ground diets. In Exp. 1, 128 pigs (56 kg average initial BW) were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet (488-microns mean particle size) for 66 d. Treatments were control and 1, 2, or 3% added NaHCO3 in a randomized complete block design. Average daily gain (linear effect, P .11). In Exp. 2, 120 pigs (55 kg average initial BW) were fed a pelleted wheat-soybean meal-based diet (355-microns mean particle size) during a 64-d growth assay. Treatments were 1) control, 2) 1% NaHCO3, and 3) 1% KHCO3. Average daily gain, ADFI, gain/feed, backfat thickness, stomach keratinization score, blood pCO2, plasma urea N, and digestibilities of DM and N were not affected by treatment (P < .15). However, addition of NaHCO3 and KHCO3 tended to decrease (P < .10) the incidence of ulcers and increased (P < .05) the concentration of blood HCO3- and digestibility of GE. These data indicate that 1% addition of either NaHCO3 or KHCO3 may help to reduce the severity of gastric ulcers in finishing pigs without adversely affecting growth performance or nutrient digestibility.
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma of the head and neck: Characteristics, treatment, and survival statistics.

Studies on microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) survival rates have been limited. This effort examines the association of patient demographics, treatment modalities, and tumor stage with overall survival (OS) in patients with MAC of the head and neck. All cases of MAC with primary sites of the skin of the head and neck, confirmed histologically, and diagnosed from 2004 to 2016 in the National Cancer Database, were analyzed. We utilized Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazard models to analyze the characteristics and survival outcomes of the 415 cases that met the criteria. The mean age of diagnosis was 63.8 years (SD ±15.8). Mean OS was 10.8 years with 5- and 10-year OS being 81.0% and 68.0%, respectively. Women were more frequently affected (59.0%; P < .001). Stand-alone primary site surgery was the most common treatment (81.4%): 15.9% of patients were treated with postexcision radiation therapy (RT). 18.3% were treated with RT with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy. RT was independently associated with a decreased hazard of death (HR = 0.23; P = .044). MAC of the head and neck disproportionately affects whites, is more common in women, and has the potential to metastasize. Surgical excision is the commonest treatment; our study shows benefit from judicious RT.
Hands-and-knees posturing and fetal occiput anterior position: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Persistent occiput posterior and occiput transverse positions are associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess if the use of hands-and-knees posturing increased the rate of occiput anterior position immediately after posturing during the second stage of labor or at the time of birth. DATA SOURCES An electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed from inception to September 2020. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Eligibility criteria included all randomized controlled trials of singleton gestations at ≥36 weeks’ gestation that were randomized to either the hands-and-knees posture group or control group. The primary outcome was a composite of occiput anterior positioning during the second stage of labor or at birth. Individual components of the composite were assessed as secondary outcomes. Additional secondary outcomes were a change to occiput anterior position immediately after the intervention, use of regional anesthesia, duration of labor, mode of delivery, third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration, neonatal birthweight, and Apgar score less than 7 at 5 minutes. METHODS The methodological quality of all the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model of DerSimmonian and Laird to produce a summary of the treatment effects in terms of relative risk or mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Of the 1079 studies screened, 5 met the inclusion criteria (n=1727 hands-and-knees posture vs n=1641 controls). When compared with the control group, patients who adopted the hands-and-knees posture had the same rate of occiput anterior positioning in the second stage of labor or at birth (81.2% vs 81.2%; relative risk, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.92–1.14), as well as immediately after the intervention (34.1% vs 18.0%; relative risk, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–2.90). On the basis of the post hoc subgroup analysis of patients with an ultrasound-diagnosed malposition before posturing, there was a higher rate of occiput anterior positioning immediately after the intervention (17.0% vs 10.3%; relative risk, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–2.52), but this relationship did not persist at delivery. The remainder of the subgroup analyses and secondary outcomes were not significant. CONCLUSION Adopting a hands-and-knees posture does not increase the rate of occiput anterior positioning at time of delivery.
Health-Informed Uncertainty Quantifications via Bayesian Filters with Markov Chain Monte Carlo Simulations for Fatigue Critical Rotorcraft Components

This paper presents the applications of Bayesian-filters (BF) with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations for probabilistic lifing assessment of aircraft fatigue critical components. Uncertainties in damage growth parameters are updated with new information obtained through structuralhealth monitoring (SHM) systems and the remaining useful life (RUL) are predicted. State transition function representing virtual damage growth of a component and measurement function representing the SHM measurements of the component are defined. State transition function is described by a typical Paris equation for fatigue crack propagation. In the equation, the initial crack size and crack growth rate are updated by incoming SHM measurements. Measurement functions are assumed in this study which describe the relationship between the damage features derived from SHM signals and the damage sizes. Damage tolerance (DT) and risk-based remaining useful life of fatigue critical structural components are determined at various reliability levels. The variabilities of RUL are also quantified for various magnitudes of random measurement noise and various measurement frequencies. It is found that the variability of the RUL is proportional to that of the measurement noise. In addition, more frequent measurements will result in less variability in RUL.
The Defect Technique in the Continuum

Developed primarily for motion on discrete lattices representative of molecular crystals described in Chap. 11, the defect technique was extended to the continuum in this chapter and analyzed in novel ways for simple 1-dimensional systems, the motion without defects being described by the diffusion equation. The first focus was on taking the continuum limit of discrete lattice results. The second was to obtain and catalog 1-dimensional results for perfect and imperfect absorption. The third was to do the same for higher dimensional systems with high symmetry, explicit results being obtained in each of these cases in terms of known special functions such as the error function and Bessel functions. The basic equation was next generalized to one in which, before the introduction of the defect, the moving particles have a tendency to be attracted to a center, necessitating, therefore, the replacement of the diffusion equation by the Smoluchowski equation. Novel results were displayed in this scenario including an effect involving non-monotonicity relative to the strength of the attraction. Finally, a brief discussion was given of how to build a theory of the coalescence of signaling receptor clusters in immune cells by reversing the defect technique.
G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 (GRK2) Regulates T Cell Response in a Murine Model of House Dust Mite-Induced Asthma

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is an adapter protein that modulates G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signaling. It also regulates the functions and activity of other intracellular proteins in many cell types. Accordingly, GRK2 is thought to contribute to disease progression by a variety of mechanisms related to its multifunctional roles. Indeed, GRK2 levels are enhanced in patient samples as well as in preclinical models of several diseases. We have previously shown that GRK2 regulates mast cell functions, and thereby contributes to exacerbated inflammation during allergic reactions. In the current study, we observed that GRK2 levels are enhanced in the lungs of human asthma patients and in mice sensitized to house dust mite extract (HDME) allergen. Consistent with these findings, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels were reduced in the lungs of GRK2+/– mice in a HMDE mouse model of asthma. Because Th2 cells are the major source of these cytokines during asthma, we determined the role of GRK2 in regulating T cell-specific responses in our HMDE mouse model. We observed a significant reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), lung eosinophil and lymphocyte count, serum IgE, Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13), goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus production in mice that had reduced GRK2 expression specifically in T cells. Collectively, our studies reveal an important role for GRK2 in regulating T cell response during asthma pathogenesis and further elucidation of the mechanisms through which GRK2 modulates airway inflammation will lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for asthma.
Group-size effects on virus prevalence depend on the presence of an invasive species

The extent to which host group size affects the hosts’ exposure to parasites and pathogens has been explored by behavioral ecologists for almost 50 years, and we know that host and parasite taxa, mobility of host and parasite, and the extent of spatial structure within groups all affect the group-size relationship. Here we examine how the prevalence of an arthropod-borne viral pathogen changes with host group size in a host-parasite system recently invaded by an introduced species that also serves as a host for the virus. Infection by the alphavirus, Buggy Creek virus (BCRV), in swallow bugs (Cimex vicarius) increased with colony size of the cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota; the bugs’ principal host) in the absence of invasive house sparrows (Passer domesticus) but decreased with swallow colony size in the presence of sparrows. The sparrow-adapted lineage A of BCRV declined to near extinction in the largest cliff swallow colonies, regardless of sparrow presence. The results may reflect BCRV’s divergence into a lineage (B) that amplifies mostly in bugs and thus is transmitted more effectively in large cliff swallow colonies that maintain high numbers of the blood-feeding bugs, whereas the other lineage (A) is adapted to house sparrows and does not require large numbers of bugs and cliff swallows for effective transmission and persistence. The results show that an alternative host can modify the group-size consequences for the original host and illustrate another complexity in analyzing the costs and benefits of coloniality whenever invasive species are present. Predicting the spread of viral pathogens can be important in assessing threats to wildlife or humans, and the size of a host’s social group is regarded as a potentially important determinant of pathogen exposure. Invasive species can sometimes profoundly alter disease dynamics when they enter a host-parasite system and serve as alternative hosts, thereby either increasing or decreasing the original host’s exposure to pathogens. For an arthropod-borne virus that is vectored by a blood-feeding bug that parasitizes a colonially breeding bird, we found that virus infection in bugs increased with host (bird) group size when an invasive bird species was absent but decreased with host group size when the invasive was present. The study indicates that the presence of alternative hosts is another variable to consider in trying to predict how pathogen exposure is affected by host group size.
Detector characterization for the Rockets for Extended-source X-ray Spectroscopy focal plane

The Rockets for Extended-source X-ray Spectroscopy (tREXS) are a series of NASA funded suborbital rockets that will make large field-of-view observations of the diffuse soft X-ray emission from the Cygnus Loop and Vela supernova remnants. The tREXS focal plane camera is made up of an array of 11 Vega-CIS113 CMOS detectors, with a 12th as the zero-order detector. To optimize the performance of the camera, a test setup was developed where a single CMOS detector can be characterized to determine which settings have the highest impact on detector performance characteristics such as readout noise. This paper will discuss this test setup, the initial testing that has occurred using an engineering grade detector, and the initial results on how changing bias potentials and pixel timings impact the readout noise. Improvements that will be made to the final focal plane camera electronics based on the findings in the initial testing will also be discussed.
Past, Present, and Future Policy and IT Landscape in Public Mental Health Care

The purpose of this chapter is to trace the evolution of recent mental health policy in the United States since the beginning of the fourth quarter of the twentieth century, and to outline the relationship this evolution has had with mental health service delivery and the use of IT in the field. The chapter begins with an overview of mental health policy and the evolution of information technology. IT use and policies from 1975 to 2014 are reviewed by time period. The author presents each decade with Hallmarks, the Policy Context, and the IT Context, The early years are characterized by angst in the mental health field. The later decades are ones of alternating concern and hope about the future of mental health services and technology. The author offers predictions for the future use of IT in mental health.
Relationship of body satisfaction to virtual product experience and perceived risk of product performance in online and multi-channel apparel shopping

The purpose of this study was to investigate how consumers’ body satisfaction relates to utilitarian and hedonic perceptions of virtual product experience, perceived risks of product performance, attitudes toward product and brand, and behavioral intentions toward information search and purchase across shopping channels. A conceptual model was developed, combining two theories: perceived risk theory and the technology acceptance model. A Web-based experimental survey was conducted. Out of 7,000 female college students randomly selected from a large midwestern university in the U.S., 403 female students responded. Findings from SEM analysis showed that individuals’ satisfaction with their own bodies positively related to perceived enjoyment of virtual product experience and indirectly related to perceived risk of product performance, attitude toward product or brand, and channel choice and usage intentions for pre-purchase information search and purchase. Perceived enjoyment of virtual product experience was an intervening variable on the relationships between body satisfaction and the other risk perception and attitudinal and behavioral response variables. Hedonic product experience in online apparel shopping helped consumers with higher body satisfaction to alleviate perceived risks of product performance, facilitate more favorable attitude toward product or brand, and increase behavioral intentions for information search offline and purchase online. The findings provide an understanding that current prevailing risk reduction strategies in online apparel markets—virtual product experience technology and multi-channel retailing—are more effective for consumers with stronger
What is the optimal management of early-stage low-grade follicular lymphoma in the modern era?

BACKGROUND Despite international practice guidelines endorsing radiotherapy (RT) as the preferred initial therapy, treatment approaches vary for patients with early-stage follicular lymphoma. The authors engaged the National Cancer Data Base to analyze patterns of care and survival outcomes for patients with early-stage follicular lymphoma in the era of modern therapy. METHODS A National Cancer Data Base retrospective cohort study was conducted of 35,961 patients with lymph node and extranodal, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I to II, WHO grade 1 to 2 follicular lymphoma who were diagnosed between 1998 and 2012. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify sociodemographic, treatment, and tumor characteristics that were predictive of overall survival (OS) and treatment use. Propensity score-adjusted Cox proportional hazards ratios for survival in patients treated for follicular lymphoma were used. RESULTS Of the 35,961 patients with follicular lymphoma included in the current study, 63% had stage I disease, 79% were without extranodal disease, and 61% were aged >60 years. RT use decreased from 37% in 1999 to 24% in 2012 (P<.0001), with corresponding significant increases in observation and single-agent chemotherapy. Patients who received RT had 5-year and 10-year OS rates of 86% and 68%, respectively, compared with 74% and 54%, respectively, for those who did not receive RT (P<.0001). On multivariable survival analysis, including a propensity score to account for potential uncaptured confounding variables due to a lack of randomization, upfront RT remained independently associated with improved OS (hazard ratio of death, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.63 [P<.0001]). CONCLUSIONS RT is an increasingly underused treatment approach in the era of modern therapy for patients with early-stage follicular lymphoma. The use of RT appears to improve OS and should remain standard practice as encouraged by clinical practice guidelines. Cancer 2015;121:3325–3334. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
The Longitudinal Study

Where do new ideas come from? Our view is that building new ideas is a process; new ideas come from old ideas that are revisited, reviewed, extended, and connected (Davis, 1984; Maher & Davis, 1995). Building new ideas also involves the retrieval and modification of representations of existing ideas. The representations that a learner builds for a mathematical idea or procedure can take different forms – physical objects or actions on objects, words, and symbols, for example. As the learner’s experience increases, old representations become elaborated, extended, and linked to new ones (Maher, 2008; Davis & Maher, 1997)
Immune response in experimentally induced uremia. VII. Uremic thymocytes amplify the response of control lymph node cells to alloantigens

The effect of experimentally induced uremia in the rat on the synergistic response between thymus cells (TC) and lymph node cells (LNC) was examined. It was found that: (1) Uremic TC and LNC interact in a synergistic fashion which is greater than that observed for control cells; (2) The response of uremic LNC to alloantigens is suppressed when compared to the response of control LNC; (3) Uremic TC provide more help to control LNC in their response to alloantigens than do control TC; and (4) Treatment of uremic rats with cortisone acetate (CA) enhances their TC ability to amplify control LNC response to alloantigens. Thus, it appears that, while the response of uremic LNC to alloantigens is markedly suppressed, there are potent amplifier cells present in the thymus of uremic rats which have the ability to act in synergism with control LNC in response to alloantigens. This effect is significantly greater than the synergistic activity of control thymocytes.
Realignment strategies in the US retail industry during a recessionary time: Dominant themes, trends, and propositions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the range of realignment strategies employed by retailers in the USA in response to the 2008 economic recession. Design/methodology/approach – Following the grounded theory approach, National Retail Federation News Briefs published between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed by sorting them into thematic categories and comparing trends in strategic decisions during the recession (2008-2009) and after the recession (2010-2011). Based on the emergent categories, propositions were developed to provide theoretical explanations of the findings. Findings – The authors found five thematic categories of realignment strategies: promotional, organizational, price, operational, and product realignments. In line with contingency theories, retailers used these strategies to achieve a greater fit with the altered business environment and consumer consumption patterns. While promotional realignment was most prevalent, followed by organizational realignment, different realignment...
On localized states for elementary systems

We argue that the concept of localization for elementary systems is inherently ambiguous as in the example of an extended body in classical physics, and that there do not exist uniquely defined localized states. We discuss two sets of invariance requirements for the determination of localized states. Besides rederiving the results of Newton and Wigner, we study the consequences of postulated Lorentz invariance of localization. The corresponding Lorentz-invariant localized states are not uniquely determined. As all of these different types of states are completely equivalent, for all macroscopic kinematic purposes we have to accept all of them as possible candidates for localized states. We speculate that different types of elementary systems might require different types of localized states for their description. These localized states are useful for the enumeration of all possible relativistic wave functions, quantum field operators and relativistic wave equations one can associate with a given elementary system.
Invited Review: Oxygen sensing during intermittent hypoxia: cellular and molecular mechanisms

To the majority of the population, recurrent episodes of hypoxia are more likely encountered in life than sustained hypoxia. Until recently, much of the information on the long-term effects of intermittent hypoxia has come from studies on human subjects experiencing chronic recurrent apneas. Recent development of animal models of intermittent hypoxia and techniques for exposing cell cultures to alternating cycles of hypoxia have led to new information on the effects of episodic hypoxia on oxygen-sensing mechanisms in the carotid body chemoreceptors and regulation of gene expression. The purpose of this review is to highlight some recent studies on the effects of intermittent hypoxia on oxygen sensing at the carotid bodies and regulation of gene expression. In a rodent model, chronic intermittent hypoxia selectively enhances hypoxic sensitivity of the carotid body chemoreceptors. More interestingly, chronic intermittent hypoxia also induces a novel form of plasticity in the carotid body, leading to long-term facilitation in the sensory discharge. Studies on cell cultures reveal that intermittent hypoxia is more potent in activating activator protein-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 transcription factors than sustained hypoxia. Moreover, some evidence suggests that intermittent hypoxia utilizes intracellular signaling pathways distinct from sustained hypoxia. Reactive oxygen species generated during the reoxygenation phase of intermittent hypoxia might play a key role in the effects of intermittent hypoxia on carotid body function and gene expression. Global gene profile analysis in cell cultures suggests that certain genes are selectively affected by intermittent hypoxia, some upregulated and some downregulated. It is suggested that, in intact animals, coordinated gene regulation of gene expression might be critical for eliciting phenotypic changes in the cardiorespiratory systems in response to intermittent hypoxia. It is hoped that future studies will unravel new mechanisms that are unique to intermittent hypoxia that may lead to a better understanding of the changes in the cardiorespiratory systems and new therapies for diseases associated with chronic recurrent episodes of hypoxia.
Introduction to programming: blooming in America

This paper reports on the results of implementing an approach to grading where by the final grade is determined not by a sum of points earned on a common set of exercises but completion of exercises whose basis is rooted in Bloom's taxonomy, ensuring the student's grade reflects his cognitive achievements.
[NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 18:] Scientific and Technical Information (STI) policy and the competitive position of the US aerospace industry

With its contribution to trade, its coupling with national security, and its symbolism of U.S. technological strength, the U.S. aerospace industry holds a unique position in the Nation's industrial structure. Federal science and technology policy and Federal scientific and technical information (STI) policy loom important as strategic contributions to the U.S. aerospace industry's leading competitive position. However, three fundamental policy problems exist. First, the United States lacks a coherent STI policy and a unified approach to the development of such a policy. Second, policymakers fail to understand the relationship of STI to science and technology policy. Third, STI is treated as a part of general information policy, without any recognition of its uniqueness. This paper provides an overview of the Federal information policy structure as it relates to STI and frames the policy issues that require resolution.
A long, remarkable journey: tangential migration in the telencephalon

Recent studies on the origin of cell populations in rodent and chicken embryonic brains provide evidence for extensive tangential migration within the developing telencephalon. On the basis of these findings, a new concept of corticogenesis has emerged, which proposes that two distinct neuronal populations cooperate in the formation of the cortex. One population consists of radially migrating neurons that originate in the ventricular zone of the pallium (cortex) and give rise to the glutamatergic pyramidal neurons. The second population consists of tangentially migrating neurons that originate in the ventricular zone of the subpallium (subcortical telencephalon) and give rise to GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-producing local circuit neurons. The subpallium is also the origin of other cell types that follow distinct tangential trajectories to migrate to structures such as the olfactory bulb and the striatum. Here, we review evidence that supports the existence of several tangential migration pathways in the telencephalon, and summarize recent findings that describe their regulation.
State-selective charge transfer cross sections for light ion impact of atomic hydrogen

This article compares results of approaches applicable in a lower impact energy regime by benchmarking them using key experimental data in order to make knowledge of these cross sections available across the range parameters needed by fusion plasma diagnostics.
The climatology of hail in the plain of Friuli Venezia Giulia

Hail is quite common on the plain of Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG), for this reason a network of polystyrene hailpads was established in 1988. This network remains active today monitoring hail frequency and aspect. We use the data of this network to define the hail climatology for Friuli Venezia Giulia, in particular, its spatial and temporal frequency, and to give a physical interpretation of the observed behavior. The main features that emerge from the analysis are that, even if hail is a local phenomenon, its climatology can be interpreted only by accounting for the mesoscale mechanisms triggered by the interplay between synoptic perturbations and the complex orography of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The analysis also reveals the importance of the lower level (say below 1500 m) water vapor amount for the occurrence of hail. The yearly frequency of hail days in Friuli was also compared with that of other regions and Countries, as well as with the time series of the North Atlantic Oscillation index. The results reveal some significant, even if weak, connections.
Nobody knows my name: In praise of african american evaluators who were responsive

The essential place of race and culture in the meanings of responsive evaluation are argued through (1) a historical accounting of the significant but inexplicably unknown contributions of early African American evaluators and (2) the unassailable warrant for contemporary responsiveness to our “long silenced cultures of color.”
Anatomical and functional evidence for trace amines as unique modulators of locomotor function in the mammalian spinal cord.

The trace amines (TAs), tryptamine, tyramine, and β-phenylethylamine, are synthesized from precursor amino acids via aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). We explored their role in the neuromodulation of neonatal rat spinal cord motor circuits. We first showed that the spinal cord contains the substrates for TA biosynthesis (AADC) and for receptor-mediated actions via trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) 1 and 4. We next examined the actions of the TAs on motor activity using the in vitro isolated neonatal rat spinal cord. Tyramine and tryptamine most consistently increased motor activity with prominent direct actions on motoneurons. In the presence of N-methyl-D-aspartate, all applied TAs supported expression of a locomotor-like activity (LLA) that was indistinguishable from that ordinarily observed with serotonin, suggesting that the TAs act on common central pattern generating neurons. The TAs also generated distinctive complex rhythms characterized by episodic bouts of LLA. TA actions on locomotor circuits did not require interaction with descending monoaminergic projections since evoked LLA was maintained following block of all Na+-dependent monoamine transporters or the vesicular monoamine transporter. Instead, TA (tryptamine and tyramine) actions depended on intracellular uptake via pentamidine-sensitive Na+-independent membrane transporters. Requirement for intracellular transport is consistent with the TAs having much slower LLA onset than serotonin and for activation of intracellular TAARs. To test for endogenous actions following biosynthesis, we increased intracellular amino acid levels with cycloheximide. LLA emerged and included distinctive TA-like episodic bouts. In summary, we provided anatomical and functional evidence of the TAs as an intrinsic spinal monoaminergic modulatory system capable of promoting recruitment of locomotor circuits independent of the descending monoamines. These actions support their known sympathomimetic function.
Neurotransmitter Plasticity at the Molecular Level

Contrary to long-held assumptions, recent work indicates that neurons may profoundly change transmitter status during development and maturity. For example, sympathetic neurons, classically regarded as exclusively noradrenergic or cholinergic, can also express putative peptide transmitters such as substance P. This neuronal plasticity is directly related to membrane depolarization and sodium ion influx. The same molecular mechanisms and plastic responses occur in mature as well as developing neurons. Further, contrary to traditional teaching, adult primary sensory neurons may express the catecholaminergic phenotype in vivo. Transmitter plasticity is not restricted to the peripheral nervous system: ongoing studies of the brain nucleus locus ceruleus in culture indicate that specific extracellular factors elicit marked transmitter changes. Consequently, neurotransmitter expression and metabolism are dynamic, changing processes, regulated by a variety of defined factors. Transmitter plasticity adds a newly recognized dimension of flexibility to nervous system function.
A regularized trust region method for joint reconstruction of spin magnitude, T 2 ∗ decay, and off-resonance field map

Joint reconstruction of three parameter images — spin magnitude, T 2 ∗ decay and off-resonance field map — is an important technique in some applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite its importance, the reconstruction problem is very challenging due to its nonlinearity and ill-conditioning. The standard conjugate gradient (CG) method with regularization is usually very slow for this problem. In this work, we propose a novel regularized trust region (TR) method that reconstructs the three images by solving a constrained linear sub-problem in each iteration. In particular, this method employs a change-of-variable technique, making the sub-problem linear yet keeping the convergence fast. To solve the sub-problem, we use a penalty method with preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) algorithm. Based on a synthesized data set, we demonstrate that our algorithm stably converges even with a poor initial guess, and the convergence rate is much higher than that of the CG algorithm.
Isomers in 156Gd, 172Yb and 182W

Abstract With pulsed beam and electronic timing techniques isomers in 156Gd (t case1 2 = 2.7 ± 0.1 μ sec ) , 172 Yb (t 1 2 = 3.6 ± 0.1 μ sec ) and 182 W (t 1 2 = 1.4 ± 0.1 μ sec ) have been identified. In on their decays and some tentative spin assignments are given. NUCLEAR REACTIONS Sm, Er, Hf (α, 2n), Eα = 27 MeV; measured Eγ, Iγ, Ice, αγ-delay. 156Gd, 172Yb, 182W deduced levels, T 1 2 , J, π. Enriched 170Er target, Ge(Li) detector.
What Is a Screening Test?: Misclassification Bias in Observational Studies of Screening for Cancer

Objective To demonstrate the importance of accurately identifying clinical distinctions of subjects in observational studies of screening.
A stable three-level finite difference scheme for solving the parabolic two-step model in a 3D micro-sphere heated by ultrashort-pulsed lasers

Ultrashort-pulsed lasers with pulse durations of the order of sub-picosecond to femtosecond domain possess exclusive capabilities in limiting the undesirable spread of the thermal process zone in the heated sample. Parabolic two-step micro heat transport equations have been widely applied for thermal analysis of thin metal films exposed to picosecond thermal pulses. In this study, we develop a three level finite difference scheme for solving the heat transport equations in a three-dimensional micro-sphere heated by ultrashort-pulsed lasers. It is shown that the scheme is unconditionally stable. The method is illustrated by numerical examples.
Temporal and spatial patterns in tumour prevalence in brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur) in the tidal Potomac River watershed (USA)

For two decades, fish tumour surveys have been used to monitor habitat quality in the Chesapeake Bay (USA) watershed. Tributaries with sediments contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known to cause liver neoplasia, were frequently targeted. Here, we compare surveys in brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus conducted in 2009-2011 in the tidal Potomac River watershed (including the Anacostia River) with previous surveys. Using logistic regression, we identified length and sex as covariates for liver and skin tumours. We reported a statistically significant decrease in liver tumour probabilities for standardized 280 mm Anacostia bullheads between the 1996 and 2001 samplings (merged collections: female-77.5%, male-43.0%) and 2009-2011 (female-42.2%, male-13.6%). However, liver tumour prevalence in bullheads from the Anacostia, Potomac River (Washington, DC) and Piscataway Creek (17 km downriver) was significantly higher than that for Chesapeake Bay watershed reference locations. The causes of skin tumours in bullheads are uncertain, requiring further research. The similar liver tumour prevalence in these three locations suggests that the problem is regional rather than restricted to the Anacostia. To monitor habitat quality and the success of pollution control actions, we recommend conducting tumour surveys on a 5-year cycle coordinated with sediment chemistry analyses.
Serious Psychological Distress as a Barrier to Cancer Screening Among Women

Abstract Background The purposes of the study were to examine the association of serious psychological distress (SPD) and cancer-screening utilization in a nationally representative sample of women aged 40 to 74 years and to identify barriers and facilitating factors to breast and cervical cancer screening among women with SPD. Methods Women aged 40 to 74 ( n = 17,770) were selected from the Household Component of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey series of 2007, 2009, and 2011. SPD was defined as a score of 13 of higher on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale–6 items (K6 scale) of nonspecific psychological distress. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between SPD and up-to-date cancer screening. Findings Women with SPD had significantly lower rates of up-to-date clinical breast examination (67.56% vs. 81.93%), mammography (59.94% vs. 75.56%), and Pap smear (72.27% vs. 85.37%). In multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographics, insurance, health behaviors, comorbidity, and service utilization, SPD was associated with nearly 40% decreased odds of being up to date with all three screening tests. Having a usual place of care, being physically active, and a greater number of past-year medical visits were strongly associated with higher odds of screening utilization among women with SPD. Conclusions Women with mental health problems have substantial risk for low use of routine breast and cervical cancer screenings. The K6 may be a useful tool to screen this risk factor. Frequent contact with the health care system among women with mental health problems opens up opportunities to reduce the mental illness-related disparities in utilization of cancer screening.
A practical electrode-array myoprocessor for surface electromyography

A myoprocessor which produces a relatively smooth and accurate measure of a muscle's electrical activity during both slow and rapid movements over a mechanical frequency range from 0 to 20 Hz is described. This is achieved partly by spatial averaging of weakly correlated EMG signals from electrodes distributed over the surface of the muscle. With the cutoff frequency for the final smoothing filter set at 30 Hz, the microprocessor output has a SNR of about 6. >
Postoperative myocardial ischemia. Therapeutic trials using intensive analgesia following surgery. The Study of Perioperative Ischemia (SPI) Research Group.

Recent data suggest that postbypass and postoperative myocardial ischemia are related to adverse cardiac outcome following myocardial revascularization. Therapeutic trials to suppress postoperative ischemia are warranted. Because anesthetics can suppress a variety of physiologic responses to stress as well as myocardial ischemia intraoperatively, we examined whether use of intensive analgesia in the stressful postoperative period could decrease postoperative ischemia. In 106 patients undergoing elective myocardial revascularization, we standardized the anesthetic prior to bypass (sufentanil 5-10 micrograms/kg [induction] and 4.2-6.0 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 [infusion] supplemented with up to 0.5 mg/kg of diazepam). During bypass, patients were randomly assigned to receive either morphine sulfate (group M, n = 54, up to 2 mg/kg) or sufentanil (group S, n = 52, 1 microgram/kg and 1 microgram.kg-1.h-1). In the intensive care unit (ICU), group M received low-dose analgesia (morphine sulfate 1-10 mg intravenously every 30 min, average dose = 2.2 +/- 2.1 mg/h), while group S continued to receive intensive analgesia (infusion of sufentanil at 1 microgram.kg-1.h-1). Both groups received supplemental midazolam in the ICU (group M = 1.1 +/- 1.1 mg/h; group S = 0.6 +/- 0.6 mg/h; P = 0.01). All analgesic and sedative-hypnotic medications were discontinued at 18 hours following myocardial revascularization. Using continuous two-channel electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring (CC5 and CM5), we documented and characterized ECG changes consistent with ischemia during the preoperative, intraoperative (pre- and postbypass), and postoperative (on- and off-treatment) periods. The total ECG monitoring time was 8,486 h, averaging 81 h per patient. During the prebypass (anesthetic control) period, groups M and S had a similar incidence, but group S episodes were more severe: maximum ST-segment change (median), S versus M: -1.8 mm versus -1.4 mm (P = 0.04). During the postbypass period, both groups had a similar incidence of ischemia, but episodes in group S were less severe: maximum ST-segment change, S versus M: -1.8 mm versus -2.7 mm (P = 0.0005). During the ICU-on-therapy period, the incidence of ischemic episodes was less in group S patients, and the severity was less: area-under-the-ST-time curve, S versus M: -21 mm.min versus -161 mm.min (P = 0.05). After discontinuation of the drug regimen in the ICU, the incidence and severity of ischemic episodes was similar. The incidence of hypotension, hypertension, and tachycardia was similar in both groups in both the intraoperative and ICU periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)