cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Alone for HPV Related Oropharyngeal Cancers with High Risk Features.

BACKGROUND Current standard of care for oropharyngeal cancers with positive surgical margins and/or extracapsular extension is adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. It is unknown whether HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer benefits from this treatment intensification. OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcomes of HPV+ patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy alone when chemoradiotherapy was indicated based on high risk pathological features. They were compared with high risk HPV+ patients treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. METHODS All high risk HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer patients (9) who received radiotherapy alone were identified. We also identified 17 patients who received chemoradiotherapy as a comparison group. Median follow up time was 37.3 months. RESULTS No local failures developed in adjuvant radiotherapy group. There was 1 distant recurrence in this cohort and 3 in CRT cohort. Regarding toxicity, 8 (47.1%) chemoradiotherapy patients had >10 lb. weight loss (p = 0.013), despite 75% of them having a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placed. No individuals in radiotherapy group experienced a >10 lb. weight loss and none required a gastrostomy tube. CONCLUSIONS This series provides preliminary evidence suggesting that the omission of concurrent chemotherapy to adjuvant radiotherapy may offer comparative local control rates with a lower toxicity profile in the setting of HPV+ patients with traditional high risk features.
Commentary on the Special Issue on Instructional Coaching Models: Common Elements of Effective Coaching Models

Policymakers and educational leaders are increasingly focused on teacher performance and student outcomes, with the implicit assumption that teachers are fully responsible for their students’ gains...
Getting a Tenure-Track Faculty Position at a Teaching-Centered Research University

The goal of this article is to provide critical information to chemical engineers seeking a tenure-track faculty position within academia. We outline the application and submission process from start to finish, including a discussion on critical evaluation metrics sought by search committees. In addition, we highlight frequent mistakes made by applicants and provide suggestions on how to strengthen application packages.
Using Sketchbooks to Facilitate the Group Process with At-Risk Youth

There is a small body of social work literature on working with youth who are at risk in group settings using expressive art modalities. Authors have begun to explore the specific benefits of this and have found interpersonal and intrapersonal improvements, among other positive outcomes. The following article provides an overview of a particular ongoing activity, Sketchbooks, used to facilitate group process. In this article, the authors describe how individual Sketchbooks help foster therapeutic and strengths-based group factors in The Youth Public Arts Program (YPAP), a psycho-educational art program for youth who are at risk. The following describes the Youth Public Arts Program, the Sketchbook activity and 6-week curriculum, and examples of how the therapeutic factors are manifested in this particular group program.
Deformation of the Zurich cementless acetabular cup caused by implantation in a canine cadaver model

Objective To evaluate the change in geometry of the Zurich total hip arthroplasty (THA) acetabular component after implantation. Animals Hemipelves from adult mix-breed dogs weighing between 20 and 25 kg. Methods Digital image correlation imaging was performed prior to, immediately after, and 24 hours after impaction of Zurich THA acetabular component, and after removal of the cup from the specimen. Patterns of deformation were qualitatively described, and maximal deformations were compared between time points. Results All cups deformed after implantation into the hemipelves by “pinching” in a cranial-caudal direction and dorsoventral expansion, resulting in an ellipsoid configuration to the peripheral rim. The mean ± SD maximum deformation at the rim immediately post-impaction was 0.202 ± 0.052 mm, or approximately 0.4 mm of diametrical deformation. Deformation did not change after the 24-hour saline bath. Impaction and subsequent extraction had a marginal effect on the original cup geometry, as maximum deformation at the rim after cup extraction was 0.074 ± 0.032 mm, relative to prior to impaction. Conclusions The original Zurich cup geometry is distorted as a consequence of the press-fit mechanism. Further studies are required to determine whether deformation induced by impaction has any association with polyethylene wear rates or other prosthesis-related complications.
Pilgrimage and its effects on San Paolo fuori le mura during the Middle Ages

The purpose of this paper is to examine the history of San Paolo fuori le mura (Saint Paul's Outside the Walls), the basilica in Rome dedicated to St. Paul, and to demonstrate the overall impact that pilgrimage had on the development of the church and its interior ornamentation. Several factors played a key role in this basilica's significance as a pilgrimage destination throughout the Middle Ages. I will argue that the various methods employed by the papacy to promote its own supremacy from the time of Constantine were used purposely to attract pilgrims to the city. Political and economic gains were the incentives for the church's attempts to make Rome into a pilgrimage center.
Concomitant Use of Atypical Antipsychotics With Other Psychotropic Medication Classes and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective More than half of youth treated with atypical antipsychotic (AAP) medications are also treated with concomitant antidepressants or stimulants. This study assessed the association between antidepressant or stimulant use concomitant with AAPs and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method Medicaid Analytic eXtract data were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of youth (aged 5–20 years) who initiated AAP treatment. In AAP-treated youth, concomitant antidepressant (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRI]/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs], tricyclic/other cyclic antidepressants [TCAs], and other antidepressants) or stimulant use was assessed. The risk of incident T2DM was estimated using discrete time failure models, adjusting for disease risk score estimated using >125 baseline and time-dependent covariates. Results Among 73,224 AAP initiators, 43.0% had concomitant antidepressant use (76.4% were SSRI/SNRIs) and 43.8% had concomitant stimulant use. The study cohort had an average follow-up of 24.8 months (median = 22.0 months, interquartile range [IQR] = 10.0–38.0 months). In current AAP-treated youth, concomitant SSRI/SNRI (relative risk [RR] = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.30–2.59) or TCA use (RR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.28–5.87) was associated with an increased risk of T2DM. By contrast, concomitant use of other antidepressants or stimulants with AAPs was not associated with an increased risk of T2DM. In concomitant users of AAPs and SSRI/SNRIs, the risk of T2DM increased with the duration of SSRI/SNRI use (RR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.15–4.83 for ≥180 days vs. 1–180 days) as well as with the cumulative SSRI/SNRI dose (RR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.08–3.67 for >2,700 mg vs. 1-2,700 mg fluoxetine dose equivalents), after adjusting for the duration and cumulative dose of AAP use. By contrast, in concomitant users of AAPs and stimulants, neither duration nor cumulative dose of stimulants was associated with an increased risk of T2DM. Conclusion In AAP-treated Medicaid-insured youth, concomitant SSRI/SNRI use was associated with a heightened risk of T2DM, which intensified with increasing duration and dose.
Asynchronous Computing and Emergence of Computational Chaos

Abstract One of the prilnary advantages of artificial neural networks is their inherent ability to perform massively parallel, nonlinear signal processing. However, if such networks must operate in a concurrently asynchronous regime, a phenomenon referred to as “computational chaos” may occur. which impedes the efficient retrieval of information usually stored in the system's attractors. In this paper. we characterize the computational chaos occurring in a widely used neural network model by estimating the complete Lyapunov spectrum associated with its dynamics. We also provide conditions that prevent the emergence of computational chaos in such concurrently asynchronous neural networks
Three-year Trajectories of Emotional Expressiveness among Maltreating Mothers: The Role of Life Changes

Parents are perhaps the most direct and profound influences on children's development of emotional competence. For example, how and what emotions parents express in the family has implications for children's ability to understand and regulate their emotions. What is less well understood is what potential environmental or contextual factors impact parents' emotional expressiveness, particularly in high-risk samples prone to atypical emotional expressiveness (e.g., deficits in the production and recognition of emotional expressions). The present longitudinal study examined the association between life changes and parents' expression of positive and negative emotions, as well as, how these associations changed over time in a sample of maltreating mothers. Eighty-eight mothers with a substantiated history of physical abuse completed measures of emotional expressiveness and life changes experienced over the past 6 months when their children were in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Results indicated that life changes decreased over time, while parental emotional expressiveness remained stable. Moreover, life changes were associated across time with the expression of negative emotions, but were unrelated to expressions of positive emotions. Findings have important implications for understanding emotional expressiveness in high-risk samples.
ADP Release from Red Cells Subjected to High Shear Stresses

The deposition of thrombotic material (primarily platelets) upon the surfaces of natural but damaged surfaces (e.g. BAUMGARTNER et al.), as well as onto any artificial surfaces (e.g. LEONARD et al., GRABOWSKI et al.) requires continuous blood flow rather than blood “stasis”. For the simple reason that the material to be deposited comprises only a few percent of the volume of the blood, it can thus be only derived from a very much larger volume of blood than a volume of a deposit. This absolute flow requirement makes it necessary to reconsider many current biochemical theories about the mechanisms governing thrombotic processes — since the“essential” blood stream not only supplies the reaction partners but also carries away activating species (e.g. released mediators, activated enzymes, as elaborated elsewhere: SCHMID-SCHONBEIN 1977). This notwithstanding, it is well established that thrombotic processes are much enhanced by rapid flow, especially in the presence of red cells. The reason for the enhancement of platelet “reactivity” in the presence of flowing red cells has not been established. Applying mass transport principles customary in engineering sciences, BLACKSHEAR et al., LEONARD et al. And TURRITO et al. have often explained the phenomenon by the assumption of an enhanced “platelet diffusivity” (diffusion coefficient), i.e. an acceleration of spontaneous platelet motions towards the vessel wall by directed convective motion induced by “swirling” red cells that “mix” the platelets and move them towards the thrombotic deposit. In life sciences (see textbook of General Physiology), and especially in circulatory physiology,a more strict differentiation between processes governed by diffusion (motion of dissolved species along a concentration gradient) and convection (motion of the solute or continuous phase) is customary. GOLDSMITH et al. have therefore recently used the term“radial dispersion coefficients”.
Theoretical Studies on the Unimolecular Decomposition of Methanol

Reactive collisions typically involve dramatic changes in the electronic structure of the species, and it is necessary to account for these to calculate accurate potential energy surfaces, particularly in the critically important saddle-point or transition-structure regions. As a consequence a realistic theoretical description of reactive potential energy surfaces requires very accurate electronic wave functions;1-3 large flexible basis sets are necessary and the effects of electron correlation must be included. To date relatively few such studies have been carried out on systems involving more than three or four atoms.
Volume Transmission-Mediated Protective Impact of Choroid Plexus-Cerebrospinal Fluid Growth Factors on Forebrain Ischemic Injury

Following brain or spinal cord ischemia, there is compensatory upregulation and distribution of many growth factors that contribute significantly to neuronal repair. Working homeostatically in concert with glial and cerebral endothelial cells, the epithelium of the choroid plexus secretes numerous peptides and proteins into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which conveys these trophic factors, by volume transmission, to neurons at damage sites. Forebrain injury by transient global or focal ischemia results in considerable morbidity to choroid epithelial cells at the blood-CSF barrier; however, despite marked ischemic damage to the choroidal parenchyma, restorative processes ensure that the structural and functional integrity of this key transport interface is regained within several hours of interrupted blood flow. There is also an injury-induced elevation of growth factors in CSF and tissues bordering the cerebroventricular system. Our working hypothesis for the forebrain injury model is that the lateral choroid plexus-ventricular CSF system has an integral role in minimizing damage to adjacent regions, such as the hippocampus, by acting as a source in supplying trophic factors and as a sink in removing potentially deleterious metabolites. We marshal evidence that CSF-administered growth factors, delivered pre- as well as postischemia, attenuate neuronal damage or promote repair of injured brain and cord. Thus the choroid plexus, an expression source of numerous growth factors, is a useful protein- and CSF-generating organ for boosting growth factor availability to stressed neuropil regions.
Effects of Sorbitol on the Pharmacokinetics of Lamivudine Solution and the FDA's Decision to Increase the Dose of Lamivudine Solution for Pediatric Patients.

The article by Adkison et al. described sorbitol effects on lamivudine exposures. The results indicate a plausible mechanism for lower lamivudine exposures in pediatric patients receiving the solution formulation with concomitant medications containing sorbitol. In this commentary, we discuss lower lamivudine exposures in pediatric patients receiving the solution formulation, the impact of sorbitol on lamivudine exposures, and the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) decision to increase the dose of the lamivudine solution for all pediatric patients.
A two-stage stochastic PDE-constrained optimization approach to vibration control of an electrically conductive composite plate subjected to mechanical and electromagnetic loads

A new two-stage stochastic partial differential equation (PDE)-constrained optimization methodology is developed for the active vibration control of structures in the presence of uncertainties in mechanical loads. The methodology relies on the two-stage stochastic optimization formulation with an embedded first-order black-box PDE-constrained optimization procedure. The PDE-constrained optimization procedure utilizes a first-order active-set algorithm with a conjugate gradient method. The objective function is determined through solution of the governing PDEs and its gradient is computed using automatic differentiation with hyper-dual numbers. The developed optimization methodology is applied to the problem of post-impact vibration control (via applied electromagnetic field) of an electrically conductive carbon fiber reinforced composite plate subjected to an uncertain, or stochastic, impact load. The corresponding governing PDEs consist of a nonlinear coupled system of equations of motion and Maxwell's equations. The conducted computational study shows that the obtained two-stage optimization solution allows for a significant suppression of vibrations caused by the randomized impact load in all impact load scenarios. Also, the effectiveness of the developed methodology is illustrated in the case of a deterministic impact load, where the two-stage strategy enables one to practically eliminate post-impact vibrations.
Cas13-induced cellular dormancy prevents the rise of CRISPR-resistant bacteriophage

Clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) loci in prokaryotes are composed of 30-40-base-pair repeats separated by equally short sequences of plasmid and bacteriophage origin known as spacers1-3. These loci are transcribed and processed into short CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) that are used as guides by CRISPR-associated (Cas) nucleases to recognize and destroy complementary sequences (known as protospacers) in foreign nucleic acids4,5. In contrast to most Cas nucleases, which destroy invader DNA4-7, the type VI effector nuclease Cas13 uses RNA guides to locate complementary transcripts and catalyse both sequence-specific cis- and non-specific trans-RNA cleavage8. Although it has been hypothesized that Cas13 naturally defends against RNA phages8, type VI spacer sequences have exclusively been found to match the genomes of double-stranded DNA phages9,10, suggesting that Cas13 can provide immunity against these invaders. However, whether and how Cas13 uses its cis- and/or trans-RNA cleavage activities to defend against double-stranded DNA phages is not understood. Here we show that trans-cleavage of transcripts halts the growth of the host cell and is sufficient to abort the infectious cycle. This depletes the phage population and provides herd immunity to uninfected bacteria. Phages that harbour target mutations, which easily evade DNA-targeting CRISPR systems11-13, are also neutralized when Cas13 is activated by wild-type phages. Thus, by acting on the host rather than directly targeting the virus, type VI CRISPR systems not only provide robust defence against DNA phages but also prevent outbreaks of CRISPR-resistant phage.
Adult sex ratio influences mate choice in Darwin’s finches

The adult sex ratio (ASR) is an important property of populations. Comparative phylogenetic analyses have shown that unequal sex ratios are associated with the frequency of changing mates, extrapair mating (EPM), mating system and parental care, sex-specific survival, and population dynamics. Comparative demographic analyses are needed to validate the inferences, and to identify the causes and consequences of sex ratio inequalities in changing environments. We tested expected consequences of biased sex ratios in two species of Darwin's finches in the Galapagos, where annual variation in rainfall, food supply, and survival is pronounced. Environmental perturbations cause sex ratios to become strongly male-biased, and when this happens, females have increased opportunities to choose high-quality males. The choice of a mate is influenced by early experience of parental morphology (sexual imprinting), and since morphological traits are highly heritable, mate choice is expressed as a positive correlation between mates. The expected assortative mating was demonstrated when the Geospiza scandens population was strongly male-biased, and not present in the contemporary Geospiza fortis population with an equal sex ratio. Initial effects of parental imprinting were subsequently overridden by other factors when females changed mates, some repeatedly. Females of both species were more frequently polyandrous in male-biased populations, and fledged more offspring by changing mates. The ASR ratio indirectly affected the frequency of EPM (and hybridization), but this did not lead to social mate choice. The study provides a strong demonstration of how mating patterns change when environmental fluctuations lead to altered sex ratios through differential mortality.
Abstract 2001: Inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channel activity in medullary thyroid cancer using small molecule compounds

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a type of neuroendocrine cancer (NE) with increasing incidence worldwide. Compared with well-differentiated thyroid cancers, distant metastases are more commonly observed in MTC patients, ranging from 7-23%. The inability to treat metastatic MTC contributes to a decreased patient survival rate. Currently, at least nine mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) named Nav1.1-Nav1.9 have been identified as potential safe drug targets for treating metastasis in various cancers. Herein, we investigate the effects of targeting VGSCs in MTC using small molecule inhibitors. Two MTC cell lines, TT and MZ, were treated with four compounds and the changes in mRNA and protein expression of VGSC isoform Nav1.7 were assessed through RT-PCR and western blotting. Treatment by one of the compounds exhibited a 28-fold decrease in mRNA expression of VGSC isoform 1.7. Furthermore, a cell proliferation assay, proliferation assay (MTT) a MTT, assay to study cell proliferation after treatment showed decreasing cell viability resulted from the treatment. and Additionally, morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis in fluorescently labeled MTC cell lines after 48 hours of treatment with VGSC inhibitory compounds were observed. A Boyden chamber assay was also performed on MTC cell lines to examine changes in migration and invasion after administering the potential inhibitory compounds. This study has generated preliminary evidence that voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) may indeed be potential targets for treating metastatic MTC. The results may be translated to future studies focused on controlling metastasis through specified drug treatment in MTC, leading to the limitation of cancer progression by means of targeting VGSCs. Citation Format: Paras Ahuja, Rachael Guenter, Jaden Cowan, Yazen Shihab, Jason Whitt, Herbert Chen, Sadanandan Velu, Renata Jaskula-Sztul. Inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channel activity in medullary thyroid cancer using small molecule compounds [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2001.
Adversarially Robust Generalization Requires More Data

Machine learning models are often susceptible to adversarial perturbations of their inputs. Even small perturbations can cause state-of-the-art classifiers with high "standard" accuracy to produce an incorrect prediction with high confidence. To better understand this phenomenon, we study adversarially robust learning from the viewpoint of generalization. We show that already in a simple natural data model, the sample complexity of robust learning can be significantly larger than that of "standard" learning. This gap is information theoretic and holds irrespective of the training algorithm or the model family. We complement our theoretical results with experiments on popular image classification datasets and show that a similar gap exists here as well. We postulate that the difficulty of training robust classifiers stems, at least partially, from this inherently larger sample complexity.
Does the GMAT matter? The impact of a GMAT waiver policy on MBA student performance

The purpose of this research was to determine if the GMAT actually mattered for MBA student performance. A waiver option was recently instituted in our MBA program based on GPA and/or professional ...
Health Literacy in Adult Oncology: An Integrative Review.

Problem identification Patients with cancer face high expectations for performing health literacy activities necessary for self-management and decision making, but only 12% of adults in the United States are proficient in health literacy. This review explores evidence regarding what is known about functional, interactive, and critical health literacy in adult oncology populations. Literature search The review was conducted by searching extensively in the CINAHL® Plus database. Data evaluation Of 614 articles retrieved from the literature search, 22 were included in the final sample. Most were cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational studies. Synthesis Health literacy research in the United States focuses primarily on functional health literacy, but studies that include interactive and/or critical health literacy indicate their applicability in adult oncology populations. Implications for research Additional research is needed to clarify the role of health literacy in cancer care to develop effective interventions that facilitate self-management and decision making.
Metal–Organic Framework MIL-100 Catalyzed Acetalization of Benzaldehyde with Methanol: Lewis or Brønsted Acid Catalysis?

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of catalyst materials that present the opportunity to develop Lewis acid catalysts with uniform, well-defined, tunable, isolated active sites f...
Brain Atrophy Following Deep Brain Stimulation: Management of a Moving Target

Clinical vignette: A 51-year-old man with essential tremor (ET) had bilateral ventralis intermedius nucleus deep brain stimulation (VIM-DBS) placed to address refractory tremor. Despite well-placed DBS leads and adequate tremor response, he subsequently experienced worsening. Re-programming of the device and reconfirming the electrical thresholds for benefits and side effects were both performed. Six years following DBS implantation, repeat imaging revealed brain atrophy and a measured lead position change with a coincident change in clinical response. Clinical dilemma: What do we know about brain atrophy affecting lead placement and long-term DBS effectiveness? What are the potential strategies to combat narrowed therapeutic thresholds and to maximize DBS therapeutic benefit? Clinical solution: Decreasing the electrical field of stimulation and programming in a bipolar configuration are strategies to provide symptomatic tremor control and to minimize stimulation-induced side effects. Gaps in knowledge: Currently, effects of brain atrophy, and factors underpinning emergence of side effects and/or loss of benefit in chronic VIM-DBS remain largely unexplored.
Improvement in Quality of Life Following Surgical Resection of Benign Intradural Extramedullary Tumors: A Prospective Evaluation of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Historically, symptomatic, benign intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spine tumors have been managed with surgical resection. However, minimal robust data regarding patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following treatment of symptomatic lesions exists. Moreover, there are increasing reports of radiosurgical management of these lesions without robust health-related quality of life data. OBJECTIVE To prospectively analyze PROs among patients with benign IDEM spine tumors undergoing surgical resection to define the symptomatic efficacy of surgery. METHODS Prospective, single-center observational cohort study of patients with benign IDEM spine tumors undergoing open surgical resection. Pre- and postoperative Brief Pain Index (BPI) and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) questionnaires were used to quantitatively assess their symptom control after surgical intervention. Matched pairs were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS A total of 57 patients met inclusion criteria with both pre- and postoperative PROs. There were 35 schwannomas, 18 meningiomas, 2 neurofibromas, 1 paraganglioma, and 1 mixed schwannoma/neurofibroma. Most patients were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment (ASIA) E (93%) with high-grade spinal cord compression (77%), and underwent either a 2 or 3 level laminectomy (84%). Surgical resection resulted in statistically significant improvement in all 3 composite BPI constructs of pain-severity, pain-interference, and overall patient pain experience (P < .0001). Surgical resection resulted in statistically significant improvements in all composite scores for the MDASI core symptom severity, spine tumor, and disease interference constructs (P < .01). Three patients (5%) had postoperative complications requiring surgical interventions (2 wound revisions and 1 ventriculo-peritoneal shunt). CONCLUSION Surgical resection of IDEM spine tumors provides rapid, significant, and durable improvement in PROs.
Solution Mixing Calculations as a Geometry, Linear Algebra, and Convex Analysis Problem

Multicomponent solution calculations can be complicated for students and practiced chemists alike. This article describes how to simplify the calculations by representing a solution’s composition as a point in a “concentration space,” whose axes are the concentrations of each solute. The graphical representation of mixing processes in a concentration space diagram enables qualitative insights such as whether a mixture can be made from a set of stock solutions and the relative volume proportions needed, solely by visual inspection and without detailed calculation. The diagrams correspond to elementary linear algebra equations which facilitates the specification of quantitative calculations. The relationship of the solution mixing problem to convex analysis is discussed. Example applications of this approach to problems of calculating the composition following mixing, determining the volumes to use to create a specified mixture, selecting a set of stock solutions maximizing the number of possible unique mixtures that can be made, random experiment sampling, and common-ion effect problems are demonstrated.
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a common cause of knee pain and dysfunction in both adult and skeletally immature patients. OCD is a focal lesion of subchondral bone and subsequently the overlying articular cartilage. Classically thought to be an acquired idiopathic lesion, OCD can lead to articular cartilage softening, swelling, delamination, partial detachment, and potentially complete osteochondral separation resulting in a loose body. The instability and cartilage damage that OCD lesions impart, as well as third body wear from resulting loose bodies, may contribute to premature osteoarthritis. When treating stable, juvenile OCD, the majority of patients can achieve a favorable outcome with conservative, non-operative management. Surgical intervention is dependent on lesion stability, physeal status, and clinical symptoms. Surgical intervention types can be separated into palliative, reparative, and restorative techniques. The overall goal for the treatment of OCD lesions is to relieve pain, reduce mechanical symptoms, and prevent development of secondary osteoarthritis.
Paid Parental Leave Policies Among U.S. News & World Report 2020-2021 Best Hospitals and Best Hospitals for Cancer.

This cross-sectional study examines paid parental leave policies for faculty and staff physicians at leading US hospitals and cancer centers.
Technology Transfer in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): A Survey

The basic concept of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is that both the developed and developing countries benefit from this mechanism. Contributing two objectives; sustainable development to developing countries and emission reduction credit to developed countries, CDM is also expected to contribute to the developing countries’ national development goals. In addition, CDM has potential to support “technological leapfrogging” for the developing countries to bypass the inefficient technological choices, adopted by the developed countries during their industrial period (Philbert, 2004). Hence beyond its primary objectives, CDM is considered as a Technology Transfer (TT) tool to boost technology transfer and diffusion between the developed and developing countries. However, with the increase in the number of CDM projects in developing countries, there are increasing concerns on the geographic distribution of CDM projects (e.g. Nelwamondo 2008, Dechezlepretre et al. 2008) , the benefits between the countries (Ellis et al. 2007), and the perceived lack of technology transfer within the CDM (Nelwamondo 2008). This paper begins with description of the CDM as a TT tool with some contemporary scenarios in present CDM projects and analyses some factors affecting TT among different developing countries. Some issues as sustainability and distributive issues of the CDM projects are also dealt to find whether there are some gaps or limitations in present CDM scenario with respect to the technology transfer. Finally the paper tends to make some conclusions and recommendations for improving the technology performance of the CDM projects. This study has used mainly the UNEP Risoe Center CDM Pipeline database and some literatures as the main information sources. Since searching data from the Project Design Documents (PDDs) would be time consuming, and also the required data for the analysis were already synthesized in some literatures as Coninck et al. 2007, Dechezlepretre et al. 2007 and Dechezlepretre et al. 2008; the analyzed data are used for the study of the section – CDM as a technology transfer tool. For the sections – factors affecting technology transfer and emerging concept in CDM, literature review was conducted to arrive to the conclusion.
A Note on Yield Curve Reduction

To ensure accurate market compliance, yield curves used for marking-to-market are typically constructed of as many liquid fixed income instruments as possible. This can result in curves of very high cardinality. The high cardinality associated with such curves renders them impractical for use during simulation or for the calculation of risk metrics. Thus, reduction of such curves is highly desirable. An approach is presented for the optimal reduction of market compliant yield curves. The optimality condition is portfolio specific, in order to minimize pricing errors for the portfolio whose risk metrics are being computed.
Predicting material microstructure evolution via data-driven machine learning

Predicting microstructure evolution can be a formidable challenge, yet it is essential to building microstructure-processing-property relationships. Yang et al. offer a new solution to traditional partial differential equation-based simulations: a data-driven machine learning approach motivated by the practical needs to accelerate the materials design process and deal with incomplete information in the real world of microstructure simulation.
Life in the Early Days

The origin and early evolution of life is a matter of more than purely geneological interest; as we grapple with this problem, we expect to gain deeper insight into general aspects of cellular physiology. As yet any effort along these lines must remain somewhat speculative; hut the rewards of a good guess can be great. Even if you dream up a wrong answer to a well-put question, the consolation prize may still be yours when someone else takes a long step forward in the course of demonstrating what a silly notion you had.
A single phase to three phase power converter for motor drive applications

A simple and low-cost converter topology for driving a three-phase motor load from a single-phase AC power supply is presented. Using only two active devices with roughly one p.u. current rating, the converter can retain nearly full starting torque during motor starting with one extra capacitor and supply excellent balanced output voltage to the motor under steady-state conditions. Under positive sequence operation, the converter has no low-frequency output harmonic distortion, high total input power factor, and reasonable input current distortion. The fundamental frequency model for the system, harmonic distortion on the motor side and the input AC line side, the rating/stress for devices, reactive component selection, and the control strategies for starting and steady-state operation are detailed. Analytical, simulation, and experimental results are presented. >
Positive identification of glycosylation sites in proteins and peptides using a modified beckman LF 3600 N-Terminal protein sequencer

Publisher Summary Positive identification of the glycosylation sites during N-terminal sequence analysis could become a real advantage. Usually, glycoamino acids appear as blank cycles during a sequencing run. Further sequence analysis is necessary after deglycosylation of the sample and the identification of oligosaccharide and PTH-Asn derivatives is a time and sample consuming task. The techniques developed for the LF 3600 N-terminal protein sequencer provide a fast and efficient way to positively identify Ser (O-Unked Sac), -Thr (O-Unked Sac) and Asn (N-linked Sac) carbohydrate structures during N-terminal sequence analysis. In addition, different forms of carbohydrate structures at a single amino acid site have different retention times and can be distinguished by further analysis. After fraction collection of individual peaks during the chromatography of a sequencing cycle, the structure of oligosaccharides at a specific site can be further examined with subsequent analyses, such as mass spectral analysis, capillary electrophoresis (CE), or high pH anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC). Adding to the flexibility of the instrument, it can be switched back to the regular mode for high sensitivity protein and peptide sequencing. This chapter describes the use of a modified Beckman LF3600 microsequencing system for the positive identification of glycosylation sites of different protein and peptide samples. The analysis of glycopeptides from carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is presented. CEA is a heavily glycosylated membrane bound glycoprotein that has been intensively characterized as an important tumor marker for colonic cancer. An example for a glycoprotein is the starch binding domain (SBD) of enzyme glucoamylase, which is an industrially important exoamylase used for saccharification of liquefied starch from various sources to produce glucose and finally fructose syrups. For both, CEA and SBD, the identification of the glycosylation sites is an important contribution in understanding their functionality.
Abstract 3506: Heregulin induces transformation of mammary epithelial cells via HER3 activation

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Heregulin (HRG)s are high-affinity combinatorial ligands for the HER family of tyrosine kinase receptors. HRG induces heterodimerization and cross-talk between members of the HER tyrosine kinase receptor family. HRG interaction with HER3 induces heterodimerization between HER3 and other HER receptors, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2, resulting in cross-talk-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Several studies have revealed that HRG is expressed in about 40% of invasive breast carcinomas, many of which are triple negative breast carcinomas. We have previously demonstrated that HRG expression induces tumorigenesis and metastasis of MCF-7 cells. We tested the effect of HRG on non-committed MCF10A cells. MCF-10A cell line is an immortalized, non-transformed epithelial cell line derived from human fibrocystic mammary tissue. These cells lack the ability to form tumors in nude mice and the ability to grow in anchorage-independent assays. We found that forced expression of HRG in MCF10A induced cellular transformation, while the control MCF10A/Vector cells did not growth. MCF10A/HRG cells express constitutive phosphorylation of HER3 and induction of the signaling cascade. HER3 phosphorylation occurs as a result of HRG induction of HER3 heterodimerization with EGFR in an autocrine manner. Lapatinib, a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor which interrupts the HER2 and EGFR pathways, blocked HER3 phosphorylation and the resulted signaling in MCF10A/HRG cells and prevented their anchorage-independent growth demonstrating that HER3 phosphorylation is responsible, at least in part, for the transformation of MCF10A/HRG cells. This study provides an alternate targeting prospective for breast carcinomas that express HER3 and HRG by targeting the autocrine-loop (HRG/HER3) and thus preventing HRG from binding to HER3, disrupting the possible receptor heterodimerization, and leading to blockage of the proliferative signals and promoting inhibition of growth. Citation Format: Ruth Lupu, Ashwani Khurana, Ghiara Lugo, Anatilde Gonzalez Guerrico. Heregulin induces transformation of mammary epithelial cells via HER3 activation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3506. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3506
A method for discrete system identification and approximation

Abstract This paper considers a problem of time invariant system identification where the system and the signals have a discrete representation in the z transform domain. The problem is considered for three types of inputs; deterministic, random, and mixed. The solution shows how, under certain conditions, it is possible to identify unknown linear systems with discrete representations. Also under consideration is the discrete time domain approximation problem known as the compensation problem. It is further shown that all of the results that apply to discrete systems with one dimensional representation can be extended to systems with N dimensional representations. The solutions are determined by triangular matrix equations, which avoid tedious matrix inversions and lend themselves to implementation with existing digital computer equipment.
Thermophysics of metal alkanoates II. Heat capacities and thermodynamic properties of sodium propanoate

The heat capacity of sodium propanoate has been measured from 9 to 580 K by adiabatic calorimetry and considerable metastability noted between 60 and 215 K. Values at 298.15 K of Cp,mR, SmoR, “Hmo−Hmo(0)’R, and “Gmo−Hmo(0)’RT are 16.16, 18.29, 2809.1 K, and −8.872. Comparisons with d.s.c. results and other reported phase behavior are provided.
Software note: Rival penalized competitive learning (RPCL): a topology-determining algorithm for analyzing gene expression data

DNA arrays have become the immediate choice in the analysis of large-scale expression measurements. Understanding the expression pattern of genes provide functional information on newly identified genes by computational approaches. Gene expression pattern is an indicator of the state of the cell, and abnormal cellular states can be inferred by comparing expression profiles. Since co-regulated genes, and genes involved in a particular pathway, tend to show similar expression patterns, clustering expression patterns has become the natural method of choice to differentiate groups. However, most methods based on cluster analysis suffer from the usual problems (i) dead units, and (ii) the problem of determining the correct number of clusters (k) needed to classify the data. Selecting the k has been an open problem of pattern recognition and statistics for decades. Since clustering reveals similar patterns present in the data, fixing this number strongly influences the quality of the result. While there is no theoretical solution to this problem, the number of clusters can be decided by a heuristic clustering algorithm called rival penalized competitive learning (RPCL). We present a novel implementation of RPCL that transforms the correct number of clusters problem to the tractable problem of clustering based on the degree of similarity. This is biologically significant since our implementation clusters functionally co-regulated genes and genes that present similar patterns of expression. This new approach reveals potential genes that are co-involved in a biological process. This implementation of the RPCL algorithm is useful in differentiating groups involved in concerted functional regulation and helps to progressively home into patterns, which are closely similar.
Separation and characterization of the protein moiety of human α1-lipoprotein

Abstract A delipidation procedure was applied to human serum α 1 -lipoprotein samples prepared ultracentrifugally, to separate without denaturing its protein moiety. In the final protein residue, 0.6% lipides, predominantly as phospholipides, were present. Data on the physicochemical characterization of the delipidized protein residue are presented. No change in electrophoretic mobility was observed. Calculated values for the sedimentation constant and molecular weight were found to be slightly lower than those of albumin. The chromatogram was characterized by the absence of sulfur-containing amino acids. Aspartic acid was N-terminal.
Soil response to long-term grazing in the northern Great Plains of North America

Abstract Grazing management affects ecosystem function through impacts on soil condition. We investigated the effects of long-term (over 70 years) grazing on soil properties and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission within a moderately grazed native vegetation pasture (MGP), heavily grazed native vegetation pasture (HGP), and a fertilized crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex. Link) Schult.) pasture (FCWP) near Mandan, ND, USA. Grazing-induced changes in species composition and N fertilizer application contributed to differences in soil properties and N2O emission between pastures. Soil organic C (SOC) was 5.7 Mg ha−1 greater in FCWP and HGP than MGP at 0–5 cm, whereas HGP had 2.4 Mg ha−1 more SOC than FCWP and MGP at 5–10 cm. At 30–60 cm, SOC in FCWP was 4.0 and 7.5 Mg ha−1 greater than in HGP and MGP, respectively. Particulate organic matter (POM) C and N in the surface 5 cm of FCWP were three- and five-fold greater, respectively, than in HGP and MGP. Acidification from N fertilization in FCWP decreased soil pH and cation exchange capacity compared to HGP and MGP in the surface 5 cm. Annual N2O emission was over three-fold greater in FCWP compared to HGP and MGP, and was positively associated with POM-C across all pastures (P ≤ 0.0001; r2 = 0.85). Results from this study suggest fertilized crested wheatgrass enhances deep storage of SOC, but contributes to surface acidification and greater N2O emission relative to native non-fertilized pastures in the northern Great Plains.
The Role of the Mentor in Supporting New Teachers: Associations with Self-Efficacy, Reflection, and Quality.

In our study, we examined variation in mentoring aspects of an induction program for 77 novice teachers and associations with self-efficacy, reflection, and quality of student–teacher interactions. Mentors’ previous experience and full- vs. part-time status predicted novices’ perception of support, reflection, and observed student–teacher interactions. Time spent with a mentor, participation in mentor-facilitated professional development activities and the quality of mentors’ interactions with novice teachers were related to novice teachers’ perceptions of mentoring success, self-reflection, and efficacy. The data in our study add to the growing research suggesting the need to look within the mentoring experience to more fully understand the working mechanisms and important contributors to their success.