cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of radiotherapy in the management of patients with diffuse low grade glioma: A systematic review and evidence-based clinical practice guideline.

Adult patients (age ≥18 years) who have suspected low-grade diffuse glioma. What are the optimal neuropathological techniques to diagnose low-grade diffuse glioma in the adult? Histopathological analysis of a representative surgical sample of the lesion should be used to provide the diagnosis of low-grade diffuse glioma. Both frozen section and cytopathologic/smear evaluation should be used to aid the intra-operative assessment of low-grade diffuse glioma diagnosis. A resection specimen is preferred over a biopsy specimen, to minimize the potential for sampling error issues. Patients with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma. In adult patients (age ≥18 years) with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma, is testing for IDH1 mutation (R132H and/or others) warranted? If so, is there a preferred method? IDH gene mutation assessment, via IDH1 R132H antibody and/or IDH1/2 mutation hotspot sequencing, is highly-specific for low-grade diffuse glioma, and is recommended as an additional test for classification and prognosis. Patients with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma. In adult patients (age ≥18 years) with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma, is testing for 1p/19q loss warranted? If so, is there a preferred method? 1p/19q loss-of-heterozygosity testing, by FISH, array-CGH or PCR, is recommended as an additional test in oligodendroglial cases for prognosis and potential treatment planning. Patients with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma. In adult patients (age ≥18 years) with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma, is MGMT promoter methylation testing warranted? If so, is there a preferred method? There is insufficient evidence to recommend methyl-guanine methyl-transferase (MGMT) promoter methylation testing as a routine for low-grade diffuse gliomas. It is recommended that patients be enrolled in properly designed clinical trials to assess the value of this and related markers for this target population. Patients with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma. In adult patients (age ≥18 years) with histologically-proven WHO grade II diffuse glioma, is Ki-67/MIB1 immunohistochemistry warranted? If so, is there a preferred method to quantitate results? Ki67/MIB1 immunohistochemistry is recommended as an option for prognostic assessment.
A RISE Controller for an Electric Convoy

In this paper, the robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) control methodology is employed to promote interspacing distance regulation within a leader-follower convoy system by directly compensating for the preceding vehicle’s velocity behavior. The RISE technique was considered since it offers the advantage of requiring less restriction/knowledge on/of the preceding vehicle’s behavior (e.g., structure and/or frequency). Furthermore, the RISE algorithm is combined with a headway distancing method to aid in promoting convoy stability and as a result requires only measurement of the preceding vehicle’s position signal. Simulation results are provided for an electrically actuated convoy system that demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed method.© 2015 ASME
Abstract 1715: Leptin regulates the IL-1 system in breast cancer

Leptin and IL-1 are inflammatory cytokines promoting breast cancer angiogenesis that are often linked to worse prognosis. We hypothesize the leptin angiogenic effects in mammary tumor (MT) may be linked to, or regulated, in part by IL-1 signaling, therefore, leptin and IL-1 may have synergistic functions in MT progression. To test this hypothesis leptin-dose (0-6.2 nM) and time-course (0-48h) effects on levels of IL-1 system components (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra and IL-1R tI) were investigated in mouse MT-4T1 cells. To determine the contribution of specific leptin-activated signaling pathways on IL-1 regulation several kinase inhibitors AG490 (JAK2/STAT3), PD98059 (MEK/MAPK/ERK1/2), Wortmannin (PI-3K/AKT1), Rapamycin (mToR), Go6976 (PKC-Ca dependent), SB203580 (p38 MAP kinase) and SP600125 (JNK) were used and IL-1 system component levels were determined by ELISA and Western blot. To determine if leptin could regulate its own receptor (long isoform, OB-Rb and all isoforms) flow cytometry was used. Our results show that basal levels of IL-1α were 14 fold higher than IL-1β. Remarkably, leptin up-regulates all IL-1 system components and all OB-R isoforms showing the highest effects at 1.2nM/24h. JAK2/STAT3 and MAPK/ERK 1/2 were essential for leptin upregulation of IL-1 system. In contrast, PI-3K/AKT1, PKC and p38 kinases were mainly linked to leptin regulation of IL-1 receptor-related proteins (IL-1R tI and IL-1Ra). JNK and mTOR were related to leptin-mediated induction of IL-1R tI but were not involved on IL-1α or IL-1Ra regulation. Interestingly, leptin-mediated activation of mTOR appears to be a negative regulator of IL-1α but acts as an inductor of IL-1Ra. In conclusion, leptin is an important regulator of IL-1 system in MT. In turn, IL-1 signaling can promote VEGF expression and tumor macrophage recruitment that could indirectly enhance leptin-mediated angiogenic effects and MT growth. This work was supported in part by NIH/NCI 1SC1CA138658-02; NIH/UAB Breast SPORE Career Development Award; BC 504370 Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure and the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar Award (to RRGP). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1715.
Effects of Preservation Methods, Parasites, and Gut Contents of Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) on Polymerase Chain Reaction Products

Molecular analysis of biological specimens usually requires extraction of high-molecular weight DNA free of foreign DNA contaminants. DNA was extracted from black flies at different life stages that had been preserved by 4 methods: larvae and adults in ethanol, larvae in Carnoy's solution, adults on card-points, and adults hand-swatted and sun-dried. Using specific primers for the mitochondrial ND4 gene, a 257-bp amplicon was obtained from specimens preserved by ethanol, card-point mounting, and sun-drying. Successful amplification often required DNA dilutions ≥1:20 (<1–10 ng). DNA from specimens preserved in Carnoy's solution (ethanol: acetic acid, 3:1) yielded degraded DNA, resulting in fewer successful amplications. Parasitic nematodes and, to a lesser extent, gut contents resulted in extra products when amplified with randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. Sufficient DNA was extracted from the head of a larva for a successful polymerase chain reaction (PCR), eliminating the need to remove the contaminating gut and parasites.
Accurate solution of the nonlinear partial differential equations from thermal hydraulics

Both analytical and numerical results are employed to compare the accuracy of numerical methods for the solution of the system of nonlinear partial differential equations that represent the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in thermal-hydraulic codes. The analysis points out the types of errors that need to be addressed to make the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in thermal-hydraulic codes more accurate. Simulation results depict trends that are expected from the analytical results. Conclusions based on both the analytical and numerical results show that modern numerical methods can provide significant improvements in accuracy over the approaches employed in the current thermal-hydraulic codes.
Growth of the human fetus: I. Normal growth and its variation

Abstract New values for birth weight in relation to gestational age are presented, with rounded figures for departure from the mean by standard deviation and for the commonly used percentiles. On the basis of these data and a review of the literature, it is suggested that the fetal growth curve during much of the third trimester (up to 38 weeks from the last menstrual period) follows a straight-line course. An explanation for much higher values given by some authors for the early part of the third trimester is suggested. It is likely that the normal birth weight curves of various population groups do not differ from one another during the first half of the third trimester or somewhat longer. Late in the third trimester, however, true differences appear. These are caused by limitation of the fetal supply line (mother and placenta). Departure from the straightline growth curve occurs at various points depending on the severity of limitation.
A simple and inexpensive method for drying high-percentage polyacrylamide gradient gels.

The authors have developed a simple method for drying high-percentage polyacrylamide gradient gels without any cracking or curling and without using a gel dryer
Mitochondrial health, the epigenome and healthspan.

Food nutrients and metabolic supply–demand dynamics constitute environmental factors that interact with our genome influencing health and disease states. These gene–environment interactions converge at the metabolic–epigenome–genome axis to regulate gene expression and phenotypic outcomes. Mounting evidence indicates that nutrients and lifestyle strongly influence genome–metabolic functional interactions determining disease via altered epigenetic regulation. The mitochondrial network is a central player of the metabolic–epigenome–genome axis, regulating the level of key metabolites [NAD+, AcCoA (acetyl CoA), ATP] acting as substrates/cofactors for acetyl transferases, kinases (e.g. protein kinase A) and deacetylases (e.g. sirtuins, SIRTs). The chromatin, an assembly of DNA and nucleoproteins, regulates the transcriptional process, acting at the epigenomic interface between metabolism and the genome. Within this framework, we review existing evidence showing that preservation of mitochondrial network function is directly involved in decreasing the rate of damage accumulation thus slowing aging and improving healthspan. * 2HG, : 2-hydroxyglutarate; 5-mC, : 5-methylcytosine; α-KG, : α-ketoglutarate; AcCoA, : acetyl CoA; AMPK, : AMP-activated protein kinase; BCAA, : branched-chain amino acid; BCKDH, : branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex; CHD, : coronary heart disease; CVD, : cardiovascular disease; EREF, : Evolutionarily Recent Environmental Factors; FA, : fatty acid; FH, : fumarate hydratase; FUM, : fumarate; GSH, : glutathione; HAT, : histone acetyltransferase; HDAC, : histone deacetylase; HMT, : histone methyltransferase; IDH, : isocitrate dehydrogenase; jmjC, : jumonji-domain containing; LOGE, : Late Onset Genetic Effects; MAI, : Mediterranean Adequacy Index; ME, : metastable epiallele; MMR, : maximal metabolic rate; mTOR, : mammalian target of rapamycin; nDNA, : nuclear DNA; OxPhos, : oxidative phosphorylation; PDH, : pyruvate dehydrogenase; PGC-1α, : peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α; PTM, : posttranslational modifications; ROS, : reactive oxygen species; SAM, : S-adenosylmethionine; SDH, : succinate dehydrogenase; SIRT, : sirtuin; Succ, : succinate; TCA, : tricarboxylic acid; T2DM, : type 2 diabetes mellitus; TET, : ten-eleven translocation family of dioxygenases; VO2max, : maximal respiratory rate capacity
Pharmacological profiling an abundantly expressed schistosome serotonergic GPCR identifies nuciferine as a potent antagonist

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a key regulator of muscle contraction in parasitic flatworms. In Schistosoma mansoni, the myoexcitatory action of 5-HT is effected through activation of a serotonergic GPCR (Sm.5HTRL), prioritizing pharmacological characterization of this target for anthelmintic drug discovery. Here, we have examined the effects of several aporphine alkaloids on the signaling activity of a heterologously expressed Sm.5HTRL construct using a cAMP biosensor assay. Four structurally related natural products - nuciferine, D-glaucine, boldine and bulbocapnine - were demonstrated to block Sm.5HTRL evoked cAMP generation with the potency of GPCR blockade correlating well with the ability of each drug to inhibit contractility of schistosomule larvae. Nuciferine was also effective at inhibiting both basal and 5-HT evoked motility of adult schistosomes. These data advance our understanding of structure-affinity relationships at Sm.5HTRL, and demonstrate the effectiveness of Sm.5HTRL antagonists as hypomotility-evoking drugs across different parasite life cycle stages.
Action Research: Strategies for Learning Subtraction Facts.

Many young children experience difficulties in learning subtraction. These difficulties arise early and continue into second grade and beyond, largely because many students fail to move beyond inefficient counting strategies for answering unknown subtraction facts. Every primary and remedial teacher knows children who lag behind the demands of the mathematics curriculum because of inadequate concept understanding and fact mastery in subtraction. This article describes the instructional efforts and success of two firstgrade teachers who cooperated in a yearlong subtraction study with a research team of four faculty members and four honor students at Illinois State University. Performance profiles of students in the experimental and in the control groups are presented, and implications for teaching are discussed.
IFN-γ Induces Histone 3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation in a Small Subset of Promoters to Stably Silence Gene Expression in Human Macrophages

The mechanisms by which IFN-γ activates expression of interferon-stimulated genes that have inflammatory and host defense functions are well understood. In contrast, little is known about how IFN-γ represses gene expression. By using transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis, we found that stable repression of a small group of genes by IFN-γ is associated with recruitment of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 and deposition of the negative mark histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) at their promoters. Repressed genes included MERTK, PPARG, and RANK, which have anti-inflammatory functions and promote osteoclast differentiation. Gene repression and H3K27me3 persisted after IFN-γ signaling was terminated, and these silenced genes were no longer responsive to glucocorticoids, IL-4, and M-CSF. These results identify cytokine-induced H3K27 trimethylation as a mechanism that stabilizes gene silencing in macrophages. IFN-γ-induced macrophage activation is thus reinforced by a chromatin-based mechanism that blocks anti-inflammatory and opposing pathways.
Howard Wilcox Haggard and the Institutionalization of Modern Alcohol Studies.

Objective:This biographical sketch and accompanying bibliography provide a new look at Howard Wilcox Haggard, M.D., Ph.D., whose career highlights the consolidation of alcohol studies as a field in twentieth-century America.Method:The article relies in large part on the works of Haggard assembled for the bibliography project, supplemented by published and unpublished documents and records from collections at Rutgers University.Results:Haggard began his career in respiratory physiology, influenced by his work on chemical weapons for the Army during the First World War. As his reputation grew, he moved into anesthesiology and supplemented his research with textbooks and popular science bestsellers. Haggard moved into the burgeoning field of alcohol studies after the repeal of National Prohibition and, in 1940, became the inaugural editor and president of the corporation of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, now the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Under the aegis of the Yale Laboratory for...
Oxa1 Superfamily: New Members Found in the ER

Oxa1/Alb3/YidC family members promote the insertion of proteins into the mitochondrial inner membrane, the chloroplast thylakoid membrane, and the bacterial plasma membrane. Remarkably, two recent studies identify new Oxa1 homologs that reside in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and function in ER membrane protein biogenesis.
Telomeres and Telomerase in Birds: Measuring Health, Environmental Stress, and Longevity

Abstract Aging is a complex suite of subcellular-, cellular-, and tissue-damaging events that culminate in the demise of the organism. One of the hallmarks of cellular aging is telomere shortening, a phenomenon observed in vertebrates including mammals and birds. Although the domestic chicken remains a premier avian model for the life sciences in this postgenomic era, researchers have expanded the array of bird species used in aging research. Recently, there has been an explosion in the use of telomere length measurements as a proxy for the cumulative impact of environmental stressors on welfare, longevity, aging, and reproductive success in wild and captive birds. This chapter provides a brief summary of the state of telomere research in birds and explores selected research studies that use telomere shortening as a surrogate to measure environmental stress in wild and captive bird populations.
Differential response to carfilzomib based on initial therapy with bortezomib in multiple myeloma.

e19515Background: Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) are efficacious in multiple myeloma (MM). In randomized phase 3 studies Carfilzomib doubled the progression free survival (PFS) compared to Bortezomib ...
The diagnosis of asymptomatic disease is associated with fewer healthy days: A cross sectional analysis from the national health and nutrition examination survey

Objective To examine the effect of the diagnosis of asymptomatic disease on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Design Secondary analysis of a national data set. Method We analysed adult participants in the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the civilian non-institutionalized US general population. Across three asymptomatic diseases (glucose intolerance, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension), we examined four groups (without disease; with disease but no diagnosis; with disease and diagnosis but no treatment; and with disease, diagnosis, and treatment). For each asymptomatic disease, we examined group differences in self-rated health (ordinal logistic regression) and Healthy Days outcomes (number of the last 30 days that physical health was not good, mental health was not good, or inactive; regression). Models were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, insurance status, income, education, race, body mass index, and comorbid conditions. Results Analyses included 6012 respondents (glucose intolerance), 2772 respondents (hyperlipidaemia), and 5524 respondents (hypertension). In adjusted models, those who did not know about their disease had the same self-rated health scores as those without the disease, those with the disease without treatment, and those with disease and treatment. In adjusted analyses of the Healthy Days questions, those with unknown disease reported the same number of unhealthy days as those without disease with the exception of glucose intolerance. Conversely, in four of the nine possible comparisons, those with known disease without treatment reported more unhealthy days than those with who did not know about their disease. Conclusions In adjusted analyses, individuals knowing about their asymptomatic disease are more likely to experience decrements in healthy days compared to those without knowledge of their asymptomatic disease. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? There has been sparse evidence that diagnosis of asymptomatic diseases is related to reduced health-related quality of life in population studies. Previous studies have included patients receiving treatment, which impedes the ability to isolate the effects of diagnosis from the effects of treatment. What does this study add? This report examines three asymptomatic health conditions: glucose intolerance, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension. Those who did not know about their health condition generally had the same health-related quality of life scores as those without health conditions. Conversely, those diagnosed with disease but not receiving treatment reported worse health-related quality of life.
Educational Attainment, Health Status, and Program Outcomes in Latino Adults With Arthritis Participating in a Walking Program.

INTRODUCTION Latinos are disproportionately likely to lack a high school diploma, compared with non-Hispanic whites, a trend associated with worse outcomes in arthritis and indicating a need for health interventions. Camine Con Gusto (CCG) is the Spanish version of the evidence-based Walk With Ease program for arthritis. This study compared baseline health status and examined differences in program efficacy and adherence among Latino adults with and without a high school diploma enrolled in a pre-post evaluation of CCG. METHODS CCG participants (n = 233) were classified into 2 groups: high school diploma or more (n = 129) and less than high school diploma (n = 104). We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of education with measures of baseline health and program adherence. We computed effect sizes for the difference between education groups by using mean change scores for arthritis symptoms, physical function, and psychosocial variables. RESULTS The group without a high school diploma was more likely to report worse general health (OR = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.28-4.53) and lower levels of arthritis self-efficacy (OR = 1.95; 95% CI, 1.05-3.63) than the group with a high school diploma. CCG improved outcomes for both groups, with no significant between-group differences. The group without a high school diploma was less likely to read most of the program workbook (OR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.97), but we found no significant differences in the amount of walking between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION CCG was equally effective among Latinos with and without a high school diploma; however, education did affect participants' engagement with the program workbook. Adaptation of interventions for Latinos should consider how information can best be conveyed to those with lower levels of formal education.
Rapid Synthesis of Monodispersed TATB Microparticles in Ionic Liquid Micelles

Controlling microscopic morphology of energetic materials is of significant interest for the improvement of their performance and production consistency. As an important insensitive high explosive material, triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) has attracted tremendous research effort for military grade explosives and propellants. In this study, a new, rapid and inexpensive synthesis method for monodispersed TATB microparticles based on micelle-confined precipitation was developed. Surfactant with proper hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value was found to be critical to the success of this synthesis. The morphology of the TATB microparticles can be tuned between quasi-spherical and faceted by controlling the speed of recrystallization.
An Evaluation of Connect for Health: A Social Referral Program in RI

Background Connect for Health is a social referral program based at Hasbro Children's Hospital and the Center for Primary Care in Providence, RI, that aims to address basic needs in order to improve the health and well-being of patients. Methods A qualitative program evaluation was conducted by interviewing providers and patients, assessing perceptions of effectiveness and barriers to success. Results Providers felt their workload was alleviated and believed the program was addressing the social determinants of health. Patients similarly felt that their needs were met but acknowledged some barriers to accessing resources such as transportation, business hours, and language barriers. Ultimately, patients and providers viewed the program as effective but both groups perceived structural barriers such as housing and limited resources. Discussion A structured program of referral for social services and benefits can alleviate some patient needs and provider workloads, but fundamental socio-economic disparities and inadequate resources limit effectiveness.
Viscosity of Mineral Oil Diluted by Biodiesel Methyl Esters: Methods for Mixture Predictions and Small Samples after Tribometer Testing

The use of biodiesels in internal combustion engines leads to tribology concerns because significant oil dilution occurs when biodiesels leak into the oil pan. Dilution by biodiesels may substantially alter oil lubricity and lead to reduced viscosity, which produce tribological changes on engine materials. It is also possible that such oil-biodiesel mixtures undergo further viscosity decreases when subjected to the high temperatures and high contact pressures typical of internal combustion engine boundary lubrication. This research presents new methods to test viscosity reductions because of biodiesel addition in mineral oil and to assess prediction of mixture viscosity considering the chemical breakdown of biodiesel. The results of dynamic viscosity versus dilution rates are presented for small after-tribometer-testing samples of SAE 15W40 mineral oil diluted by four biodiesels (from canola, peanut, and soybean and chicken fat oil). The small sample remaining after tribometer-testing required an ad-hoc method, the suitability of which is discussed; large viscosity decreases in a range of about 70 to 95 % were observed for after tribometer testing of the mixtures. Preliminary data of viscosity versus temperature also are presented for the mineral oil diluted by increasing fractions of different biodiesels and by six pure fatty-acid methyl esters (methyl-oleate, -palmitate, -linoleate, -laurate, -myristate, and -stearate, which are typical components of biodiesels), and they are discussed to explain tribological properties of such mixtures. The results suggest that the viscosity of commercial biodiesels blended in oils could not be fully explained by assuming the former as mixtures of pure methyl esters, which is consistent with the previous experimental data on their tribological effects.
Alcohol-Related, Drug-Related, and Non-Substance-Related Aggression: 3 Facets of a Single Construct or 3 Distinct Constructs?

Background Aggression often occurs alongside alcohol and drug misuse. However, it is not clear whether the latent and manifest relations among alcohol-related, drug-related, and non-substance-related aggression are separate manifestations of a single construct or instead are 3 distinct constructs. Methods To examine these associations, we conducted a preregistered analysis of 13,490 participants in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. In a structured interview, participants reported their lifetime perpetration of these 3 aggression phenotypes. Results The data were better fit by a model that treated these aggression phenotypes as 3 distinct latent factors, as compared to models in which the items all loaded onto 1 ("general") or 2 ("substance-related" and "non-substance-related") aggression factors. This 3-factor model fit better for men than women. Subsequent exploratory analyses then showed that among these 3 factors, alcohol-related aggression explained the variance of overall aggression better than the other 2 factors. Conclusions Our findings suggest that these 3 forms of aggression are distinct phenotypes (especially among men). Yet, people's alcohol-related aggression can accurately characterize their overall aggressive tendencies across these domains. Future research will benefit from articulating the unique and shared pathways and risk factors underlying each of these facets of aggression.
An international survey: Tobacco smoking cessation strategies within left ventricular assist device centers.

Background:Tobacco smoking is a significant source of morbidity in patients with a durable left ventricular assist device. While various cessation strategies have been investigated, the ability of ...
Emotion and error: Paradise Lost 8.529–617

When Adam tells Raphael of the emotion he feels for Eve, the archangel's response becomes another instance of the inability among angels and humans in Paradise Lost to understand emotion. Noting Ad...
Guest Editorial Special Section on the 2020 International Conference on Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (CS-MANTECH)

It is a special pleasure to be able to present IEEE T ransactions on S emiconductor M anufacturing readers with a selection of papers from the 2020 International Conference on Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (CS-MANTECH). This has been an extraordinarily challenging year by almost any measure, with personal and business disruptions on a dramatic scale worldwide. However, progress in advancing the manufacturing of compound semiconductor devices continues unabated, and through this Special Section I hope to provide a window into some recent areas of progress. Under more normal circumstances, the CS-MANTECH conference is an annual event that provides a technical forum for presenting advancements in compound semiconductor devices. CS-MANTECH is unique in its strong emphasis on manufacturing technologies related to compound semiconductor device production. This year, however, the global COVID-19 pandemic made holding an international conference impossible. While we could not hold the conference as originally planned, authors still prepared high-quality papers reporting their advances in compound semiconductor devices and associated manufacturing technologies. The full conference program proceedings for the 2020 conference are available online at https://csmantech.org/digests .
Growth In Medicare Advantage Greatest Among Black And Hispanic Enrollees.

Expansion of the Medicare Advantage program during 2009–18 saw greater enrollment among racial/ethnic minorities and other traditionally marginalized groups. Growth was more rapid among Black, Hisp...
Initial Spindle Positioning at the Oocyte Center Protects Against Incorrect Kinetochore-Microtubule Attachment and Aneuploidy in Mice

Spindle formation and positioning are two critical events that must be regulated tightly to avoid erroneous chromosome segregation. Following nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), the spindle is predominantly assembled centrally before migrating towards the cortex to allow the first asymmetric division. The biological significance of primary central positioning of the spindle has not yet been studied. Because the spindle forms where NEBD occurs, nucleus position greatly influences the site of spindle assembly. We find that nucleus positioning is a dynamic process that depends on maternal age. Moreover, we show that preferential initial spindle positioning at the oocyte center is an insurance mechanism to avoid premature exposure to cortical Cdc42 signaling that hinders proper kinetochore-microtubule attachments, thereby protecting against the development of aneuploid gametes. These findings will help in understanding why female gametes are notoriously associated with high rates of aneuploidy, the leading genetic cause of miscarriage and infertility in women.
Innovations in Accessible Scholarly Communication

What does it mean to make scholarly communications accessible to people with disabilities and those who face other specific barriers to access? This talk gives an overview of recent work to support equitable access across the lifecycle of scholarly communication, offering useful updates and strategies for scholars, editors, publishers, librarians, and other professionals. Participants will understand what accessibility means today and how they can reduce barriers in their work by following accessibility standards and best practices, and learning from leading examples in the field.
The Use of Virtual Screening in ALK5 Kinase Inhibitor Discovery and Validation of Orally Active ALK5 Kinase Inhibitors in Oncology

The multifunctional cytokine, TGF-β, is often overexpressed in human tumors and in preclinical studies has been demonstrated to have autocrine and paracrine protumor activities including immune evasion, invasiveness, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, tumor-stromal interactions, survival, induction of tumor interstitial pressure, and decreased drug penetration. These findings suggest that antagonism of the TGF-β pathway may be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. One attractive target, the type I TGF-β receptor (ALK5) has an intracellular serine/threonine kinase, which is required for TGF-β signaling and is amenable to inhibition by small molecule, ATP binding site-targeted kinase inhibitors.
Simulated response of water quality in public supply wells to land use change

[1] Understanding how changes in land use affect water quality of public supply wells (PSW) is important because of the strong influence of land use on water quality, the rapid pace at which changes in land use are occurring in some parts of the world, and the large contribution of groundwater to the global water supply. In this study, groundwater flow models incorporating particle tracking and reaction were used to analyze the response of water quality in PSW to land use change in four communities: Modesto, California (Central Valley aquifer); York, Nebraska (High Plains aquifer); Woodbury, Connecticut (Glacial aquifer); and Tampa, Florida (Floridan aquifer). The water quality response to measured and hypothetical land use change was dependent on age distributions of water captured by the wells and on the temporal and spatial variability of land use in the area contributing recharge to the wells. Age distributions of water captured by the PSW spanned about 20 years at Woodbury and >1,000 years at Modesto and York, and the amount of water <50 years old captured by the PSW ranged from 30% at York to 100% at Woodbury. Short-circuit pathways in some PSW contributing areas, such as long irrigation well screens that crossed multiple geologic layers (York) and karst conduits (Tampa), affected age distributions by allowing relatively rapid movement of young water to those well screens. The spatial component of land use change was important because the complex distribution of particle travel times within the contributing areas strongly influenced contaminant arrival times and degradation reaction progress. Results from this study show that timescales for change in the quality of water from PSW could be on the order of years to centuries for land use changes that occur over days to decades, which could have implications for source water protection strategies that rely on land use change to achieve water quality objectives.
Shifting Positionalities: A Critical Discussion of a Duoethnographic Inquiry of a Personal Curriculum of Post/Colonialism

This article first presents a study of two educational researchers’ history and curriculum of colonialism. Using a process of duoethnography, we engage in dialogic and collaborative personal ethnographies in which we contrast and analyze critical educational incidents and products (e.g., a high school report card, old personal photos, and current teaching lesson plans at the high school and college levels). We focus this process on the ideological scripts framing and informing our educational histories, as students and then as teachers, in order to unpack some of the cultural underpinnings of our views of teaching language arts for equity and diversity. Furthermore, in the article we critique the duoethnographic process, analyzing and discussing issues surrounding representation, trustworthiness, and self-reflexivity.
Traffic-Aware Channel Assignment in Wireless Sensor Networks

Existing frequency assignment efforts in wireless sensor network research focus on balancing available physical frequencies among neighboring nodes, without paying attention to the fact that different nodes have different traffic volumes. Ignoring the different traffic requirements in different nodes in frequency assignment design leads to poor MAC performance. Therefore, in this paper, we are motivated to propose traffic-aware frequency assignment, which considers nodes' traffic volumes when making frequency decisions. We incorporate our traffic-aware frequency assignment design into an existing multi-channel MAC, and compare the performance with two conventional frequency assignment schemes. Our performance evaluation demonstrates that traffic-aware channel assignment can greatly improve multi-channel MAC performance. Our traffic-aware assignment scheme greatly enhances the packet delivery ratio and system throughput, while reducing channel access delay and energy consumption.
Increasing Voter Turnout: Is Democracy Day the Answer?

It has often been argued that voter turnout in the United States is too low, particularly compared with turnout in other industrialized democracies, and that a healthy democracy should have higher turnout. One proposal that has been considered by Congress to increase voter turnout is the creation of Democracy Day, making Election Day a national holiday. In this study I evaluate the likely effectiveness of an election holiday in increasing turnout by studying how state regulations making election day a holiday for state employees affects voter turnout among state employees in those states. I exploit these natural experiments in a difference-in-difference context, using various groups of non-state employees as controls. My analysis relies on data from Voting Supplements to the Current Population Survey in November 2004 and 2006. The results are clear. There is no evidence from the natural experiment of states providing an election holiday for state employees that such holidays significantly increase voter turnout. I conclude that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout.
Effects of dietary fatty acids on delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice.

Effects of an essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD) (0% corn oil (CO)) diet and a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA (50% CO)) on one aspect of in vivo T cell function (delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH)) were assessed. After a 70-day feeding trial, DTH'was reduced by 30% in mice fed the EFAD diet, but the response of mice fed the high PUFA diet equaled that of control mice fed a diet containing 13% CO. The time required for the EFAD diet to reduce DTH was 42 days. Although consumption of the EFAD diet reduced DTH, this reduction was rapidly reversed, within 7 days, by switching the EFAD mice to the control diet. These results indicate that: 1) consumption of the EFAD diet reduces one aspect of in vivo T cell function (DTH), but the effect can be reversed by refeeding the control diet; and 2) a high PUFA diet does not adversely affect DTH. J. Nutr. Ill: 2039-2043, 1981.
Comparison of Two Methods for Obtaining Size Distribution Characteristics of Particulate Matter in Large-Volume Parenterals

The size distributions of the particulate matter present in six types of large-volume parenteral solutions, as determined by an automatic particle counter and a microscopic counting technique, were compared by plotting log N> d versus log D. The resulting data were analyzed individually and also as averages. The data showed a linear relationship between log N> D and log D over the 1–100-μm particle-size range, indicating that both methods determine a similar particle-size distribution. The data also indicated that the particle-size distributions were largely independent of the type of solution and obeyed a power law of the form N> D = N> 1DK. These observations suggest that the major source of contamination is air-borne dust particles, which fall into a solution randomly, and that it may be possible to monitor the smaller, more abundant particles with the automatic particle counter to obtain a rapid estimate of parenteral cleanliness. The automatic particle counter thus appears to be a viable alternative to the microscopic counting technique for assessing the particulate matter content of parenterals.
Cervical Cancer Screening: Attitudes and Behaviors of Young Asian American Women

Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese American women experience high incidence rates of cervical cancer but low rates of cervical cancer screenings. This study examines the behaviors and attitudes towards screening in young Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese American women (n = 304) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Results indicated Vietnamese American (OR = 2.51) and Filipino American (OR = 2.31) women had greater odds of ever having a Pap test than Korean American women. Those older (OR = 1.55), born in the USA (OR = 2.64), and those comfortable with the test (OR = 3.41) also had greater odds of ever having a Pap test. Correct knowledge of cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus did not significantly affect the odds of having a Pap test. Interventions to increase Pap testing in these populations should focus on increasing levels of comfort and should target those younger and foreign born.
Allocation or misallocation of limited medical resources.

Very small premature babies are now kept in neonatal intensive care units for many months to give them a chance at near normal life, but at a cost of up to $1 million. Is that a proper allocation of our finite medical resources (personnel, equipment, supplies, and other necessities) for premies? Or is such action a misallocation of these resources? Both sides of the argument have positive and negative merit. A final philosophical statement is that each human created in the image of God has supreme value. It is it the obligation of fellow humans and society in general to preserve and dignify human life and to care for the total needs of individual citizens to enable them to be healthy and productive members of society. This general principle should help individual physicians make proper microallocation life and death decisions for individual patients and assist governmental bodies responsible for making macroallocation decisions concerning the short- and long-term needs and priorities of the population as ...
Effects of particle size, slice thickness, and reconstruction algorithm on coronary calcium quantitation using ultrafast computed tomography

The recent emphasis on early diagnosis of coronary artery disease has stimulated research for a reliable and non-invasive screening method. Radiographically detectable coronary calcium has been shown to predict both pathologic and angiographic findings. Ultrafast computed tomography (UFCT), in quantifying coronary calcium, may become an accurate non-invasive method to evaluate the severity of coronary disease. The currently applied index of UFCT coronary calcium amount is the coronary calcium score of Agatston et al. This score has not been thoroughly evaluated as to its accuracy and dependence on scanning parameters. A potential drawback of the score is its dependence on predetermined CT number thresholds. In this investigation we used a chest phantom to determine the effects of particle size, slice thickness, and reconstruction algorithm on the coronary calcium score, and on the calcium mass estimated with a new method which is not dependent on thresholds.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Predicting the effects of surface roughness on laminar-turbulent transition for axisymmetric bodies

A procedure for assessing the effects of uniformly distributed surface roughness on the location of laminarturbulent transition is presented. A dimensionless roughness Reynolds number RK is defined which allows one to isolate the effects of body shape on causing premature transition due to roughness. A comparative evaluation of the sensitivity of body shape to tripping the flow can be made by examining the variation of RK along the surface from a class of geometric shapes. The results demonstrate that secondary effects such as roughness can play a critical role in the location of the laminar-turbulent transition. Extensive numerical results were obtained for elliptical forebodies. Their sensitivity to roughness and the determination of critical roughness heights over a wide range of body Reynolds numbers are presented. For these shapes, it was found that the critical roughness height could be expressed as a function of the body Reynolds number.
Comparisons of Native Shiga Toxins (Stxs) Type 1 and 2 with Chimeric Toxins Indicate that the Source of the Binding Subunit Dictates Degree of Toxicity

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) cause food-borne outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis. The main virulence factor expressed by STEC, Stx, is an AB5 toxin that has two antigenically distinct forms, Stx1a and Stx2a. Although Stx1a and Stx2a bind to the same receptor, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), Stx2a is more potent than Stx1a in mice, whereas Stx1a is more cytotoxic than Stx2a in cell culture. In this study, we used chimeric toxins to ask what the relative contribution of individual Stx subunits is to the differential toxicity of Stx1a and Stx2a in vitro and in vivo. Chimeric stx1/stx2 operons were generated by PCR such that the coding regions for the A2 and B subunits of one toxin were combined with the coding region for the A1 subunit of the heterologous toxin. The toxicities of purified Stx1a, Stx2a, and the chimeric Stxs were determined on Vero and HCT-8 cell lines, while polarized HCT-8 cell monolayers grown on permeable supports were used to follow toxin translocation. In all in vitro assays, the activity of the chimeric toxin correlated with that of the parental toxin from which the B subunit originated. The origin of the native B subunit also dictated the 50% lethal dose of toxin after intraperitoneal intoxication of mice; however, the chimeric Stxs exhibited reduced oral toxicity and pH stability compared to Stx1a and Stx2a. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that the differential toxicity of the chimeric toxins for cells and mice is determined by the origin of the B subunit.
The Impact of Conflict Resolution Training on Middle School Students

The effectiveness of a conflict resolution training program in an American, midwestern, middle school was examined. The participants were 198 students in Grades 6 through 9. A pretest-posttest control-group experimental design was used. Those in the experimental group received 14 hr of training during a 25-min homeroom period. Significant differences between experimental and control groups occurred in knowledge of the negotiation procedure and ability to apply it to actual conflicts.
On maximum achievable noise reduction in ANC systems

Active noise control (ANC) is primarily a signal estimation problem. The nature of noise to be canceled, the acoustic paths, and the transfer functions of microphones/loudspeakers place fundamental limits on the performance of ANC systems. In this paper we analyze the performance of ANC systems from the maximum achievable noise attenuation level (NAL max ) prospective for different ANC system structures i.e feed-forward, feedback and hybrid. We first derive NAL max for stochastic noise and then generalize the result to accommodate tonal (sinusoidal) noises. These results are invaluable in choosing an ANC design scheme.