cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overstory density, short growing seasons, and moisture limit Engelmann spruce establishment over time in high-elevation managed stands

For tree species with narrow ranges of climate suitability for regeneration such as Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.), understanding biophysical influences on juvenile establishment over time is crucial for supporting silvicultural practices responsive to climate change. We developed count-based models to identify abiotic and biotic variables explaining annual spruce establishment over 20–30 years following silvicultural regeneration treatments across 24 spruce stands in Colorado. Covariates retained in our final model encompassed information on climate, physiography, stand structure, and time. Establishment was positively related to germination- and second-year frost-free period beginning dates, indicating that moisture limitations at early life stages may be alleviated by longer retention of snowpack. Yet, recruits were positively influenced by both lengthier frost-free periods and lower heat–moisture indices, suggesting a tension between growing-season length and moisture limitation...
Predicting Discharge Location among Low-Energy Hip Fracture Patients Using the Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA)

Patterns of discharge location may be evident based on the “sickness” profile of the patient. This study sought to evaluate the ability of the STTGMA tool, a validated mortality risk index for middle-aged and geriatric trauma patients, to predict discharge location in a cohort of low-energy elderly hip fracture patients, with successful discharge planning measured by readmission rates. Low-energy hip fracture patients aged 55 years and older were prospectively followed throughout their hospitalization. On initial evaluation in the Emergency Department, each patient’s age, comorbidities, injury severity, and functional status were utilized to calculate a STTGMA score. Discharge location was recorded with the primary outcome measure of an unsuccessful discharge being readmission within 30 days. Patients were risk stratified into minimal-, low-, moderate-, and high-risk STTGMA cohorts. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant for all statistical tests. 408 low-energy hip fractures were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 81.3±10.6 years. There were 214 (52.5%) intertrochanteric fractures, 167 (40.9%) femoral neck fractures, and 27 (6.6%) subtrochanteric femur fractures. There was no difference in readmission rates within STTGMA risk cohorts with respect to discharge location; however, among individual discharge locations there was significant variation in readmission rates when patients were risk stratified. Overall, STTGMA risk cohorts appeared to adequately risk-stratify readmission with 3.5% of minimal-risk patients experiencing readmission compared to 24.5% of moderate-risk patients. Specific cohorts deemed high-risk for readmission were adequately identified. The STTGMA tool allows for prediction of unfavorable discharge location in hip fracture patients. Based on observations made via the STTGMA tool, improvements in discharge planning can be undertaken to increase home discharge and to more closely track “high-risk” discharges to help prevent readmissions.
Abstract P4-13-01: Trends in primary management of invasive lobular carcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB)

Background: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is typically strongly hormone receptor (HR) positive, with unique characteristics. It has been shown to have poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and recent studies describe the benefits of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET). We sought to determine how the primary management strategy in ILC has changed over time, and the impact of ILC tumor biology on its management. Specifically, we hypothesized that use of NAC has decreased, while NET use increased. Additionally, we investigated whether NET is associated with higher rates of breast conservation surgery (BCS) than other primary management strategies. Methods: We queried the NCDB from 2010-2016 and identified all women with ILC who underwent surgical therapy. Patients with stage IV disease were excluded. First course of treatment was classified as: NAC (chemotherapy starting 31-365 days before surgery), NET (short course defined as 7-30 days before surgery; long course defined as 31-365 days before surgery), and primary surgery. Tumors were considered HR+ if they were estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive. Trends over time in first treatment strategy were compared using Cochrane-Armitage tests. The association between first treatment strategy and use of BCS was assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among 79,709 women with ILC, 94.0% were HR+/HER2-, 4.7% were HER2+, and 1.3% were triple negative. The most common primary treatment strategy was surgery (92.3%), but the percent undergoing systemic treatment before surgery increased from 7.1% in 2010 to 8.8% in 2016 (p Analyzing the HR+/HER2- subset, 48.4% (295/609) of patients undergoing long course NET with a cT2 tumor underwent BCS compared to 35.3% for primary surgery, 27.3% for NAC, and 24.8% for short course NET (p Conclusions: The primary management of ILC is slowly evolving over time with a decrease in primary surgery. NAC use has increased appropriately in tumor subtypes with greatest potential benefit (i.e., triple negative or HER2 positive). In HR+/HER2- disease, NAC use has decreased, however NET use has increased and in cT2+ tumors NET was associated with higher rates of BCS. Citation Format: Rita A Mukhtar, Tanya L. Hoskin, Elizabeth B. Habermann, Judy C. Boughey. Trends in primary management of invasive lobular carcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-13-01.
Tracheostomy guidelines developed at a large academic medical center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Author(s): David, Abel P; Russell, Marika D; El-Sayed, Ivan H; Russell, Matthew S | Abstract: BackgroundDuring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, tracheostomy may be required for COVID-19 patients requiring long-term ventilation in addition to other conditions such as airway compromise from head and neck cancer. As an aerosol-generating procedure, tracheostomy increases the exposure of health care workers to COVID-19 infection. Performing surgical tracheostomy and tracheostomy care requires a strategy that mitigates these risks and maintains the quality of patient care.MethodsThis study is a multidisciplinary review of institutional tracheostomy guidelines and clinical pathways. Modifications to support clinical decision making in the context of COVID-19 were derived by consensus and available evidence.ResultsModified guidelines for all phases of tracheostomy care at an academic tertiary care center in the setting of COVID-19 are presented.DiscussionDuring the various phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians must carefully consider the indications, procedural precautions, and postoperative care for tracheostomies. We present guidelines to mitigate risk to health care workers while preserving the quality of care.
Detecting Adverse Drug Reactions from Twitter through Domain-Specific Preprocessing and BERT Ensembling.

The automation of adverse drug reaction (ADR) detection in social media would revolutionize the practice of pharmacovigilance, supporting drug regulators, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public in ensuring the safety of the drugs prescribed in daily practice. Following from the published proceedings of the Social Media Mining for Health (SMM4H) Applications Workshop & Shared Task in August 2019, we aimed to develop a deep learning model to classify ADRs within Twitter tweets that contain drug mentions. Our approach involved fine-tuning $BERT_{LARGE}$ and two domain-specific BERT implementations, $BioBERT$ and $Bio + clinicalBERT$, applying a domain-specific preprocessor, and developing a max-prediction ensembling approach. Our final model resulted in state-of-the-art performance on both $F_1$-score (0.6681) and recall (0.7700) outperforming all models submitted in SMM4H 2019 and during post-evaluation to date.
Mapping Cerebral Connectivity Changes after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Riemannian Matching of Elastic Curves

Although diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can identify white matter (WM) alterations due to mild cases of traumatic brain injury (mTBI), the task of within-subject longitudinal matching of DTI streamlines remains challenging in this condition. Here we combine (A) automatic, atlas-informed labeling of WM streamline clusters with (B) streamline prototyping and (C) Riemannian matching of elastic curves to quantitate within-subject WM changes, focusing on the arcuate fasciculus. The approach is demonstrated in a group of geriatric mTBI patients imaged acutely and ~6 months post-injury. Results highlight the utility of differential geometry approaches when quantifying brain connectivity alterations due to mTBI.
Never-smoker African–American women suffer more from COPD compared with never-smoker Caucasian women

The prevalence of COPD is increasing; it will be the third leading cause of mortality in the USA by this year, 2020. There is a puzzling increasing trend of COPD in never-smoker black women, which may have relevance for the European situation.http://bit.ly/2ZLkOzR
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytologic Evaluation of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm and Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms of Pancreas.

Objectives To evaluate the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology in identifying mucinous cystic lesions (MCLs) in histologically proven cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) or mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and risk of malignancy associated with each cytologic category based on the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology (PSC) guidelines. Methods All resected cases with histologic diagnosis of IPMN or MCN at our institution from January 1, 2004, to August 31, 2019, with associated cytology were included. Available cytology slides of nondiagnostic (ND), negative/benign (BN), and atypical cytology (AC) cases were reviewed and reclassified based on the PSC guidelines. Results A total of 120 cases were identified, including 57 IPMNs with low-grade or moderate dysplasia (LGD/MD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD), 34 MCNs with LGD/MD or HGD, and 29 IPMNs with invasive malignancy. After cytology slide review and reclassification, we observed that ND and BN cases were paucicellular and lacked ancillary testing (carcinoembryonic antigen levels or KRAS mutation analysis). The risk-of-malignancy rates were 33% for ND, 11% for BN, 28.5% for AC, 17% for MCL, and 100% for suspicious/positive cytologic diagnosis. Conclusions A multidisciplinary approach including combined use of cytology and ancillary testing is helpful in establishing a diagnosis of MCL and identifying associated malignancy.
Noticing Motion Patterns: Temporal CNN with a Novel Convolution Operator for Human Trajectory Prediction

We propose a novel way to learn, detect and extract patterns in sequential data, and successfully applied it to the problem of human trajectory prediction. Our model, Social Pattern Extraction Convolution (Social-PEC), when compared to existing methods, achieves the best performance in terms of Average/Final Displacement Error. In addition, the proposed approach avoids the obscurity in the previous use of pooling layer, presenting intuitive and explainable decision making processes.
Recalcitrant Staphylococcus aureus infections: obstacles and solutions

Antibiotic treatment failure of Staphylococcus aureus infections is very common. In addition to genetically encoded mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, numerous additional factors limit the efficacy of antibiotics in vivo. Identifying and removing the barriers to antibiotic efficacy is of major importance as even if new antibiotics become available, they will likely face the same barriers to efficacy as their predecessors. One major obstacle to antibiotic efficacy is the proficiency of S. aureus to enter a physiological state that is incompatible with antibiotic killing. Multiple pathways leading to antibiotic tolerance and the formation of tolerant sub-populations called persister cells, have been described for S. aureus. Additionally, S. aureus is a versatile pathogen that can infect numerous tissues and invade a variety of cell types, some of which are poorly penetrable to antibiotics. It is therefore unlikely that there will be a single solution to the problem of recalcitrant S. aureus infection. Instead, specific approaches may be required to target tolerant cells within different niches, be it through direct targeting of persister cells, sensitization of persisters to conventional antibiotics, improved penetration of antibiotics to particular niches or any combination thereof. Here we examine two well described reservoirs of antibiotic tolerant S. aureus, the biofilm and the macrophage, the barriers these environments present to antibiotic efficacy and potential solutions to the problem.
Surgical Considerations in the Treatment of Axillary-Subclavian Venous Thrombosis in the Era of COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Traditional treatment of axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis is resource intensive due to the need for advanced nursing care and increased utilization of intensive care units for thrombolysis procedures. We recently encountered this in the management of 2 patients with effort-induced upper extremity venous thrombosis following COVID-19 infection and offer a treatment paradigm for consideration. CASE REPORTS: A 30-year-old presented with 2 weeks of left upper extremity symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Duplex ultrasound demonstrated axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis and venogram confirmed total occlusion of the axillary and subclavian veins with profuse collaterals around the occlusion. Suction thrombectomy was performed successfully and veins remained patent at 6 month follow up. The patient declined first rib resection and stopped lifting weights. A 16-year-old presented with 4 days of right arm symptoms 1 month after testing positive for COVID-19. Duplex ultrasound revealed acute axillary and subclavian vein thrombosis and she underwent successful thrombectomy followed by balloon angioplasty with improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has strained health care resources such that the treatment of non-life-threatening conditions must be triaged to conserve resources. While axillary-subclavian venous occlusion is usually not life-threatening, timely treatment leads to decreased morbidity and better outcomes. Percutaneous aspiration and thrombectomy without adjunctive thrombolysis may be of benefit in reducing healthcare resource utilization while still achieving good outcomes during the COVID pandemic and beyond.
Locally interacting diffusions as Markov random fields on path space

Abstract We consider a countable system of interacting (possibly non-Markovian) stochastic differential equations driven by independent Brownian motions and indexed by the vertices of a locally finite graph G = ( V , E ) . The drift of the process at each vertex is influenced by the states of that vertex and its neighbors, and the diffusion coefficient depends on the state of only that vertex. Such processes arise in a variety of applications including statistical physics, neuroscience, engineering and math finance. Under general conditions on the coefficients, we show that if the initial conditions form a second-order Markov random field on d -dimensional Euclidean space, then at any positive time, the collection of histories of the processes at different vertices forms a second-order Markov random field on path space. We also establish a bijection between (second-order) Gibbs measures on ( R d ) V (with finite second moments) and a set of (second-order) Gibbs measures on path space, corresponding respectively to the initial law and the law of the solution to the stochastic differential equation. As a corollary, we establish a Gibbs uniqueness property that shows that for infinite graphs the joint distribution of the paths is completely determined by the initial condition and the specifications, namely the family of conditional distributions on finite vertex sets given the configuration on the complement. Along the way, we establish approximation and projection results for Markov random fields on locally finite graphs that may be of independent interest.
Translating from the rivers of Babylon to the coronary bloodstream.

I was attracted to medicine because it affords the opportunity to integrate science and humanism in service to others. And I became attracted to a career in research when I realized that the application of the scientific method to alleviate suffering from disease is one of our species’ proudest achievements. I feel privileged to be able to participate in this process and recognize that it carries with it enormous responsibilities (1). The evidence of the power of the scientific method to improve human health is compelling. In fact, since approximately 1840, people in the scientifically most advanced countries have enjoyed an amazing linear increase in life expectancy at birth, with the life expectancy at birth for women increasing nearly 40 years, from approximately 45 to 85 years (Figure ​(Figure1A1A and ref. 2). During the first approximately 100 years, from 1840 to 1940, increases in life expectancy were primarily due to improvements in sanitation, access to clean water, early attempts at vaccination, and the introduction of medical microbiology, epitomized by the research of Dr. George M. Kober, who improved the safety of the milk supply in Washington, DC, as a model for the country. During this period, children were the major beneficiaries of these scientific advances, since they were especially vulnerable to contagious illnesses. During the last 70 years, fueled in large part by the growth in funding by the NIH in the US and on a smaller scale by similar governmental agencies in other countries as well as the investments by pharmaceutical and, later, biotechnology companies, the increase in life expectancy has reflected medical innovations — new drugs, vaccines, devices, diagnostic and imaging technologies, surgical procedures and nonsurgical interventions, and disease prevention strategies that build on a solid base of evidence (3–5). Increasingly, the benefits have been enjoyed by the elderly, with the majority of benefit now going to those over 65 years of age and with the fastest growth in benefit going to those over 80 years of age (2). Figure 1 Life expectancy. As dramatic as these statistics are in their own right, they take on much more profound import when considered against humans’ estimated 200,000 years on earth (6). Assuming a life expectancy at birth of 25 years at the very beginning of the prescientific era, it took approximately 200,000 years to gain approximately 20 years of life expectancy at birth or approximately 10,000 years to gain a single year of life expectancy. In contrast, throughout the 170 years of the scientific era, it has required less than five years to gain a year of life expectancy at birth (Figure ​(Figure1B).1B). If the current trend continues, approximately half of the children born in the United States in the year 2000 will live to 100 years of age. The challenges before us are, therefore, clear: to sustain the improvements in life expectancy, reduce the burden of disability, and ensure that people the world over share equally in the benefits of better health.
Integrating a Machine Protection System for High-Current Free Electron Lasers and Energy Recovery Linacs

A fully integrated Machine Protection System (MPS) is critical to efficient commissioning and safe operation of all high-current accelerators. The MPS needs to monitor the status of all devices that could enter the beam path, the beam loss monitors (BLMs), magnet settings, beam dump status, etc. This information is then presented to the electron source controller, which must limit the beam power or shut down the beam completely. The MPS for the energy recovery linac (ERL) at the Jefferson Lab Free Electron Laser [1] generates eight different power limits, or beam modes, which are passed to the drive laser pulse controller (DLPC) (photocathode source controller). These range from no beam to nearly 2 megawatts of electron beam power. Automatic masking is used for the BLMs during low-power modes when one might be using beam viewers. The system also reviews the setup for the two different beamlines, the IR path or the UV path, and will allow or disallow operations based on magnet settings and valve positions. This paper will describe the approach taken for the JLab 10-kW FEL. Additional details can be found on our website http://laser.jlab.org [2].
Elder Financial Abuse: An Evaluation Framework and Supporting Evidence

Objectives: To develop a valid and reliable framework for evaluating cases of alleged elder financial abuse. Design: Experienced experts in elder financial abuse rated a framework with eight elements. Setting: Professionals attending an advanced training course on elder abuse. Participants: Deputy district attorneys (n=44), senior law enforcement detectives (n=59), Adult Protective Service workers, and public guardians and victim advocates (n=56) who had a combined total of 1,985 years of experience and who had investigated a total of 3,225 cases (mean of 13.1 years and 21.2 cases) were included. Measurements: These experienced professionals were asked to rate how well an evaluative framework matched their experience with elder financial abuse using a 5-point rating scale ranging from very little to almost entirely. Results: The mean rating for the model was 4.4 out of 5. About 90% of the sample rated it as almost entirely or very much matching their experience. There were no differences between professions. The reliability measure was 0.85. Conclusion: These results suggest a reliable and valid framework for evaluating cases of possible elder financial abuse.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Ethynyl- and Propynyl-Terminated Si(111) Surfaces

Ethynyl- and propynyl-terminated Si(111) surfaces synthesized using a two-step halogenation/alkylation method have been characterized by transmission infrared spectroscopy (TIRS), high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), atomic-force microscopy (AFM), electrochemical scanning–tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) and measurements of surface recombination velocities (S). For the ethynyl-terminated Si(111) surface, TIRS revealed signals corresponding to ethynyl ≡C–H and C≡C stretching oriented perpendicular to the surface, HREELS revealed a Si–C stretching signal, and XPS data showed the presence of C bound to Si with a fractional monolayer (ML) coverage (Φ) of ΦSi–CCH = 0.63 ± 0.08 ML. The ethynyl-terminated surfaces were also partially terminated by Si–OH groups (ΦSi–OH = 0.35 ± 0.03 ML) with limited formation of Si3+ and Si4+ oxides. For the propynyl-terminated Si(111) surface, TIRS revealed the presence of a (C–H)...
Effect of the introduction of an engineered sharps injury prevention device on the percutaneous injury rate in healthcare workers.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of introducing an engineered device for preventing injuries from sharp instruments (engineered sharps injury prevention device [ESIPD]) on the percutaneous injury rate in healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods. We undertook a controlled, interventional, before‐after study during a period of 3 years (from January 1998 through December 2000) at a major medical center. The study population was HCWs with potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. HCWs who sustain a needlestick injury are required by hospital policy to report the exposure. A confidential log of these injuries is maintained that includes information on the date and time of the incident, the type and brand of sharp device involved, and whether an ESIPD was used. Intervention. Introduction of an intravenous (IV) catheter stylet with a safety‐engineered feature (a retractable protection shield), which was placed in clinics and hospital wards in lieu of other IV catheter devices that did not have safety features. No p...
Cardiac Disease in Chronic Uremia: Investigation

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population, accounting for nearly half of the deaths among the dialysis population. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical screening tools available to the attending nephrologist and consulting cardiologist to detect both symptomatic and asymptomatic cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients. The author presents a detailed overview of (1) assessment of left ventricular (LV) function in the hemodialysis population and (2) noninvasive cardiovascular screening in patients before anticipated renal transplantation. Specific guidelines are offered for the pretransplantation evaluation of cardiac disease based on the patient's cardiovascular risk factors, symptomatology, and stress testing with either thallium or dobutamine echocardiography. Recent studies of cardiovascular screening in selected hemodialysis populations may not be extrapolated to the general ESRD population pending further investigation. Crucial questions relating to the utility of cardiovascular screening and intervention in the general ESRD population remain and deserve further study.
Improvement with ongoing Enzyme Replacement Therapy in advanced late-onset Pompe disease: a case study.

Benefits of enzyme replacement therapy with Myozyme® (alglucosidase alfa), anecdotally reported in late-onset Pompe disease, range from motor and pulmonary improvement in less severely affected patients, to stabilization with minimal improvement in those with advanced disease. We report a case of a 63-year-old patient with significant morbidity who made notable motor and pulmonary function gains after two years on therapy. Thus, improvements in those with advanced disease may be possible after long-term treatment.
Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Medicare Patients: Multicriteria Decision Analysis

Background In the setting of finite healthcare resources, developing cost-efficient strategies for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis is paramount. The current levels of knowledge allow for PJI diagnostic recommendations based on scientific evidence but do not consider the benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks of the different diagnostic alternatives.
iPRIMED's learning approach: preparing the next generation of learners and leaders

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the perspective of Navin Kumar, founder and CEO of iPRIMED, a workforce development company in India. The paper explores core adult learning concepts to focus upon iPRIMED's approach to training the next generation of learners and leaders. This is an important topic because India is faced with talent shortages and organizations there have been experiencing difficulties in recruiting employees who have been adequately trained to lead complex projects (The Economist, 2007; Khilji, 2012). Design/methodology/approach – This paper was based on a structured interview with Navin Kumar and informed by adult learning literature. Findings – The perspective of a South Asian leader in today's globalized environment indicates that experiential and transformational learning is important in educating the next generation of learners and leaders. If successful and sustained, it can have a huge impact on India, South Asia and the global community. By incorporating adult l...
Agreement of Daily Diary and Retrospective Measures of Condom Use

This study compares condom use reported two ways. 251 heterosexual participants (63% female) reported condom use on a prospective daily diary and on a retrospective questionnaire. Proportion of condom use with vaginal sex was calculated from the diary data and contrasted with retrospective categories. Responses were consistent for some participants, especially those who used condoms never or always, but responses from others showed considerable variability. Participants with few sexual encounters were more likely than those with more encounters to use “never” and “every time” endpoints. The results call into question the way participants interpret the meaning of retrospective categories.
A standardized protocol for repeated social defeat stress in mice

A major impediment to novel drug development has been the paucity of animal models that accurately reflect symptoms of affective disorders. In animal models, prolonged social stress has proven to be useful in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying affective-like disorders. When considering experimental approaches for studying depression, social defeat stress, in particular, has been shown to have excellent etiological, predictive, discriminative and face validity. Described here is a protocol whereby C57BL/6J mice that are repeatedly subjected to bouts of social defeat by a larger and aggressive CD-1 mouse results in the development of a clear depressive-like syndrome, characterized by enduring deficits in social interactions. Specifically, the protocol consists of three important stages, beginning with the selection of aggressive CD-1 mice, followed by agonistic social confrontations between the CD-1 and C57BL/6J mice, and concluding with the confirmation of social avoidance in subordinate C57BL/6J mice. The automated detection of social avoidance allows a marked increase in throughput, reproducibility and quantitative analysis. This protocol is highly adaptable, but in its most common form it requires 3-4 weeks for completion.
A Brief Report on the Effects of a Self-Management Treatment Package on Stereotypic Behavior.

Abstract We evaluated the effects of a self-management treatment package (SMTP) on the stereotypic behavior of an adolescent with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Latency to stereotypy was systematically increased in the training setting (academic) and the effectiveness of the SMTP was evaluated within a multiple-probe design across three generalization settings (vocational, meal/snack, leisure). Intervals were systematically increased from 3 min 30 s to 15 min in the training setting. Reinforcement was contingent on the absence of vocal and motor stereotypy for a prescribed interval within a differential reinforcement of the omission of behavior (DRO) paradigm. Following training, increases in latency to stereotypy were observed across generalization settings. Participant interview responses indicated social validity of the SMTP. Results are discussed with respect to possible mechanisms responsible for self-management behavior.
Interior stress calculations in 2-D time-domain transient BEM analysis

Abstract An improved and accurate formulation of time-domain BEM for determining the interior stresses in a 2-D transient dynamic analysis is presented. A new set of simpler and better behaved transient dynamic stress-kernels is derived. With these interior stress-kernels, it has been possible to overcome all the analytical complexities that have hindered the accurate determination of interior stresses in the past. The accuracy and stability are established via a few numerical examples, including those involving stress concentrations.
Simple asymptotic potential model for finding weakly bound negative ions

A peculiar class of weakly bound states is discussed. These states are made up of three entities (A, B, and C) which have the following property: A does not form bound states with B or C separately but there is a BC bound state and an ABC bound state. The term Tango state is suggested to distinguish this class from other weakly bound systems. Two of the mechanisms for forming the ABC Tango state are discussed. The following systems are predicted to form bound states: ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}},$ ${\mathrm{HeH}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}},$ ${\mathrm{NeH}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}},$ ${\mathrm{ArH}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}},\dots{}$ and ${\mathrm{Mg}}_{2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}};$ quantum chemistry calculations very strongly indicate that ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and ${\mathrm{HeH}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ form bound states. For the first four species, any exchange of D for H will also be a Tango state.
Senior citizen gaming: more than just buffets

Purpose – The purposes of this paper are: to review senior gambling literature and summarize the current situation; to discover the gambling characteristics of senior citizens; to discover senior casino patrons' motivational factors for gambling; and to suggest potential research areas.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is an extensive review of literature about senior citizen gaming is performed.Findings – This paper illustrates the current situation and the gambling characteristics and motivational factors for the elderly and provided marketing strategies for casinos and destination marketers.Practical implications – Seven marketing strategies are provided based on the findings of this paper.Originality/value – This paper will be of value to anyone seeking to better understand the current situation and motivational factors for senior gaming.
Lime stabilization and land disposal of cold region wastewater lagoon sludge

Abstract Effects of lime [Ca(OH) 2 ] stabilization upon the pathogenic population in accumulated solids associated with the operation of two aerated wastewater lagoons in Alaska and two facultative wastewater lagoons in northern Utah were evaluated. The subsequent drying, at a temperature of 12 °C, of the lime stabilized sludges on sand and soil beds was also investigated. The lime stabilization of the lagoon sludges was evaluated by dosing the sludges with lime and applying sludges to bench scale drying beds. Lime addition produced high fecal coliform reduction, and the limed sludges readily dewatered on both sand and soil beds.
Finding a needle in a haystack: Conditions for reliable detection in the presence of clutter

We study conditions for the detection of an N-length iid sequence with unknown pmf p1, among M N-length iid sequences with unknown pmf p0. We show how the quantity M2 N D(p 1||p0) determines the asymptotic probability of error.
A solvable model of a polymer in random media with long-range disorder correlations

We present an exactly solvable model of a Gaussian (flexible) polymer chain in a quenched random medium. This is the case when the random medium obeys very long-range quadratic correlations. The model is solved in d spatial dimensions using the replica method, and practically all the physical properties of the chain can be found. In particular, the difference between the behaviour of a chain that is free to move and a chain with one end fixed is elucidated. The interesting finding is that a chain that is free to move in a quadratically correlated random potential behaves like a free chain with R2~L, where R is the end-to-end distance and L is the number of links, whereas for a chain anchored at one end R2~L4. The exact results are found to agree with an alternative numerical solution in d = 1 dimensions. The crossover from long-range to short-range correlations of the disorder is also explored.
SEQUENCES OF SYNTHESIS OF γ-1 MACROGLOBULIN AND γ-2 GLOBULIN ANTIBODIES DURING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESPONSES TO PROTEINS, SALMONELLA ANTIGENS, AND PHAGE

The nature of the antibodies produced by the rabbit during the primary and secondary responses to T2 phage, proteins, and the O and H antigens of Salmonella typhosa has been determined. Immune sera have been fractionated by zone electrophoresis, sucrose density ultracentrifugation, and anion exchange chromatography. The resulting fractions have been assayed by phage neutralization or hemagglutination (antisera to proteins) or bacterial agglutination. In confirmation and extension of earlier work from this laboratory, the primary response to these antigens, with the exception of the O antigen of the Salmonella , included the early synthesis of 19S, γ-1 globulin antibody, and the later synthesis of 7S, γ-2 globulin antibody. The primary response to the O antigen consisted of the synthesis of only a macroglobulin agglutinin. The secondary response to the proteins, including the H antigen of the Salmonella , comprised the early synthesis of large amounts of the 7S γ-2 globulin antibody to the same level attained during the primary response. The secondary response to the phage consisted in the synthesis of 7S, γ-2 globulin antibody alone. Treatment of the macroglobulin phage-neutralizing antibody with mercaptoethanol resulted in complete loss of its neutralizing activity. A working hypothesis to explain these observations was presented. A salient feature of this hypothesis was the suggestion that different cells synthesized the two distinct molecular forms of antibody. The significance of the sequential synthesis of the two forms of antibody is not known. It was proposed that the system for synthesis of macroglobulin antibody is an auxiliary system for antibody synthesis, perhaps the first to develop phylogenetically and ontogenetically. It is felt that the present observations indicate a clear-cut qualitative distinction between the primary and secondary responses to immunization whereby these responses might be identified in various experimental situations. It is also felt that these findings with the primary and secondary responses to various antigens in the rabbit may be of widespread occurrence in nature among a variety of species.
Interactions Between Carbon Nanotubes and Bacteria

While carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess diverse application potential ranging from polymer nanocomposites to nanostructured therapeutic devices, their environmental implications are still not well understood. In this study, we conducted experiments to monitor changes in bacterial physiology as a consequence of interactions with the CNTs. Our experiments included a common anaerobe, Escherichia coli, in an SWNT system as a model for understanding the environmental implications of CNTs. Observations over several weeks indicated that the bacteria in the presence of SWNTs showed significant morphological changes, that included elongation. It is interesting to note that similar morphological changes have been reported in response to extreme temperature and pressure, chemical agents, and quantum dots. In this presentation, the authors will present further physiological evidence, such as bacterial growth and substrate consumption rates, towards defining a possible bacteria-CNT interaction model consistent with these experimental observations, and will discuss the overall environmental implications.
Plasma membrane glycoprotein which mediates adhesion of fibroblasts to collagen

DEFECTS in cell behaviour associated with malignancy may be causally related to alterations in the plasma membrane of the cell on transformation1. Much interest has focused on a protein found on the surface of normal but not transformed cells 2–7. This protein, designated SF (ref. 5), LETS (ref. 8), band 1 (ref. 9), L1 (ref. 3) or CSP (ref. 10), is a glycoprotein7,9,11 with a molecular weight of 210,000–250,000 (refs 7, 8 and 12). It is present in the serum12 and is sensitive to removal from the surface of normal fibroblasts by low levels of trypsin2,3,9. Several biological properties of this protein have been described. Normal fibroblasts arrested in mitosis lack this protein8,9. As normal cells approach confluency, there is a quantitative increase in the amount of this protein present on the cell surface8,9, whereas confluent normal cells, stimulated by the addition of serum, have lowered levels8. In conflict with these results, implying a growth regulatory function, is the finding that stimulation of growth-arrested normal cells by thrombin leads to thymidine incorporation without a concomitant decrease in the levels of this protein13. We now present evidence which points to a functional role for the protein as a mediator of the adhesion of fibroblasts to collagen. The protein is probably identical to a serum factor previously reported to be necessary for the attachment of SV40-transformed 3T3 fibroblasts to collagen-coated dishes14. Based on this functional role, we propose the name cell adhesion factor (CAF) for this protein.
Determining the RF resistance and Q-factor of air-core inductors

Air-core inductors are large-body, low-loss components that find frequent use in circuits such as RF power amplifier matching networks. The physical attributes of the inductors make loss characterization using standard commercial instruments (e.g., impedance analyzers or resonant coaxial lines) problematic. In this paper, a resistance and quality factor extraction technique based on low-impedance microstrip test fixtures is demonstrated at frequencies near 800 MHz. It is shown that an inductor resistance on the order of 0.1–1 Ω can be accurately determined. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 29: 89–93, 2001.
Esophageal varices on computed tomography and subsequent variceal hemorrhage.

Purpose Endoscopy is recommended to screen for esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to identify features on abdominal CT imaging associated variceal hemorrhage (VH).
Vitellogenic and embryogenic activity of the microtubule disruptor vinblastine following ingestion by the wasp Bracon hebetor

Abstract The reproductive performance of Bracon hebetor females was adversely affected by the consumption of sub-lethal doses of vinblastine. While all oogenic cell types present in the gonads at the time of treatment displayed various degrees of fecundity and/or fertility depression, the transitional cells proved to be the least susceptible to vinblastine damage. Vitellogenically active oocytes were most sensitive to vinblastine. In these oocytes development was blocked at or prior to the terminal growth phase. Oviposited eggs which did arise from the exposed vitellogenic oocytes were few in number and characterized by aberrant morphology. Embryogenic effects were predominantlydue to pre-blastoderm formation damage and most pronounced in oocytes exposed during the most advanced stages of gonadal development, late vitellogenesis through meiotic metaphase I. Reduced egg hatchability also occurred in exposed undifferentiated oogonial cells but the effect was less severe than that seen in the more mature oogenic cells. All observed effects could be accounted for by vinblastine's selective interference with microtubule-dependent processes. Fecundity effects were most closely associated with oocyte cortex and possibly follicular cell damage which prevented vitellogenic growth beyond the terminal growth phase. Fertility effects were caused by the inhibition of early embryonic karyokinesis with the most plausible target being mitotic spindle formation.
Blood Vessel Formation: What Is Its Molecular Basis?

Medical students learning the anatomy of the human cardiovascular system recognize that the blood vessels are named mainly on the basis of luminal diameter, branching, position, and organ supplied. Students and physicians rely upon the general constancy of vascular determinants from one individual to another and take for granted that anatomy books will not go out of date. It is only when they learn that these vessels with their proper diameters and branches are formed in the embryo, mostly before the heart starts beating, that students begin to appreciate the true complexity of the genetic program that governs the development of the vascular system.
MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B phosphorylation by MST1 and MST2 inhibits cell proliferation.

Summary Background MST1 and MST2 are the mammalian Ste20-related protein kinases most closely related to Drosophila Hippo, a major regulator of cell proliferation and survival during development. Overexpression of MST1 or MST2 in mammalian cells is proapototic; however, little is known concerning the physiologic regulation of the endogenous MST1/MST2 kinases, their role in mammalian cell proliferation, or the identity of the MST1/MST2 substrates critical to proliferative regulation. Results We show that MST1 and MST2 activity increases during mitosis, especially in nocodazole-arrested mitotic cells, where these kinases exhibit both an increase in both abundance and activation. MST1 and MST2 also can be activated nonphysiologically by okadaic acid or H 2 O 2 . The MOBKL1A and MOBKL1B polypeptides, homologs of the Drosophila MATS polypeptide, are identified as preferred MST1/MST2 substrates in vitro and are phosphorylated in cells in an MST1/MST2-dependent manner in mitosis and in response to okadaic acid or H 2 O 2 . MST1/MST2-catalyzed MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B phosphorylation alters the ability of MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B to bind and regulate downstream targets such as the NDR-family protein kinases. Thus, MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B phosphorylation in cells promotes MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B binding to the LATS1 kinase and enables H 2 O 2 -stimulated LATS1 activation loop phosphorylation. Most importantly, replacement of endogenous MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B by a nonphosphorylatable mutant is sufficient to accelerate cell proliferation substantially by speeding progression through G1/S as well as mitotic exit. Conclusions These results establish that MST1 and MST2 are activated in mitosis and catalyze the mitotic phosphorylation of MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B. MOBKL1A/MOBKL1B phosphorylation, in turn, is sufficient to inhibit proliferation through actions at several points in the cell cycle.
MOTOR SKILLS BIBLIOGRAPHY: IX. PSYCHOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS, 1939, VOLUME 13

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