cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymptomatic Construct Failure after Metastatic Spine Tumor Surgery: A New Entity or a Continuum with Symptomatic Failure?

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE To study the incidence, onset, underlying mechanism, clinical course, and factors leading to asymptomatic construct failure (AsCF) after metastatic spinal tumor surgery (MSTS). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE The reported incidence rates for implant and/or construct failure after MSTS are low (1.9%-16%) and based on clinical presentations and revisions required for symptomatic failures (SFs). AsCF after MSTS has not been reported. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 288 patients (246 for final analysis) who underwent MSTS between 2005-2015. Data collected were demographics and peri/postoperative clinical and radiological features. Early and late radiological AsCF were defined as presentation before and after 3 months, respectively. We analyzed patients with AsCF for risk factors and survival duration by performing competing risk regression analyses where AsCF was the event of interest, with SF and death as competing events. RESULTS We observed AsCF in 41/246 patients (16.7%). The mean time to onset of AsCF after MSTS was 2 months (range, 1-9 months). Median survival of patients with AsCF was 20 and 41 months for early and late failures, respectively. Early AsCF accounted for 80.5% of cases, while late AsCF accounted for 19.5%. The commonest radiologically detectable AsCF mechanism was angular deformity (increase in kyphus) in 29 patients. Increasing age (p<0.02) and primary breast (13/41, 31.7%) (p<0.01) tumors were associated with higher AsCF rates. There was a non-significant trend towards AsCF in patients with a spinal instability neoplastic score ≥7, instrumentation across junctional regions, and construct lengths of 6-9 levels. None of the patients with AsCF underwent revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS AsCF after MSTS is a distinct entity. Most patients with early AsCF did not require intervention. Patients who survived and maintained ambulation for longer periods had late failure. Increasing age and tumors with a better prognosis have a higher likelihood of developing AsCF. AsCF is not necessarily an indication for aggressive/urgent intervention.
The Ecological Context of Preschool-Aged Children’s Selection of Media Content

Today, preschool-aged children have an abundance of digital content to choose from, with some more desirable than others from a developmental perspective. We aim to describe and better understand the interplay of factors that influence children’s selection of media content using a year-long, multi-case ethnography of 13 diverse families in Southern California. We found that young children’s media content selection may be best understood as an ecologically situated process involving the interplay between the content, the child, their family, community, and societal spheres. Children do not make media selections on their own. Rather, these choices are supported or constrained by a range of resource, culture, and policy factors specific to family and community background. We argue that policy makers and technology designers are better served by an ecological perspective if they wish to understand how digital content is selected and used by children in sociocultural context.
The Origin of Life

The riddle of the origin of life remains unsolved irrespective of strenuous efforts by many researchers. What is the major difficulty, which has become the obstacle against solving the origin of life? The reason would be as follows. All kinds of extant organisms on the present Earth are living under the core life system composed of three biopolymers; DNA/RNA carrying genetic information, tRNA realizing genetic code and protein with catalytic function. Nowadays, all the biopolymers with ordered sequence are synthesized under the genetic system, as DNA is synthesized by self-replication, both tRNA and protein are produced by expression of the respective genes. However, all the first three biopolymers, as a matter of course, must be synthesized through random processes, because the sequence of every biopolymer with ordered sequence never be designed in advance. Therefore, the greatest obstacle, which makes it difficult to solve the riddle of the origin of life, would be to explain the way how synthesis of mere polymers with random sequence could be converted to production of biopolymers with ordered sequence during the repeated random processes. For the purpose, several hypotheses including RNA world hypothesis have been proposed by other researchers. However, the origin of life has been unfortunately unsolved still now. Then, first, those hypotheses proposed thus far have been introduced and discussed to clarify the problems encompassed in the hypotheses in the first part of this chapter. Thereafter, I introduce my idea how biopolymers with ordered sequence, as protein, tRNA and gene, could be formed through random processes on the primitive Earth. Recently, I proposed anticodon stem loop hypothesis on the origin of tRNA, suggesting that the first tRNA could be produced through random processes as a small and stable hairpin loop RNA composed of only 17 nucleotides including anticodon in the loop, based on analysis of 5′ anticodon stem sequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 tRNAs. Taking it into consideration together with protein 0th-order structure for producing an immature water-soluble globular protein by random joining of [GADV]-amino acids and with the first single-stranded RNA created by random joining of GNC anticodons carried by the most primitive tRNAs, it was understood that the “three keys” for formation of the respective three biopolymers with ordered sequence could be obtained. In other words, it has become possible to explain main steps to the emergence of life with the three keys for the first time. The establishment process of the fundamental life system composed of the six members containing three other members or cell structure, metabolism and genetic code, in addition to the three keys or protein, tRNA and gene, is explained to give a solution to the serious problem of the origin of life.
Understanding the Past, Present, and Future of Clinical Neuropsychology from a Health Service Provider Perspective

This chapter introduces the past, present, and future of clinical neuropsychology, as well as discusses the diverse opportunities available for working with various populations and providing a range of services in typical and unique settings. Given that medical advancement across the lifespan has allowed individuals at all ages to live longer and survive diseases, disorders, and injuries, opportunities are available at all levels for clinical neuropsychologists to meet the needs of diverse multicultural individuals. This section will introduce the reader to historical milestones and paints a picture of how the field of clinical neuropsychology was developed. Included are specific clinical experiences, both historical and recent, that relate to the major overarching discussion of the dynamic practice of clinical neuropsychology. The chapter outlines the requirements for neuropsychologists in their pre-doctoral and post-doctoral educational training. Clinical neuropsychologists, often provide detailed neuropsychological evaluations, which require a keen understanding related to assessing the whole person, and outline nine major areas to consider during an evaluation. Also, the chapter works to introduce screening measures that are often used in medicine and are common in the practice of clinical neuropsychology. Given our current understanding of neuroscience and behavior, the chapter focuses on the integration of the mind and body experience in treatment. Finally, the chapter ends by directing the reader to look toward the future, focusing on the significant impact of the advancement of medical treatments, clinical interventions, and medication within the field of neuropsychology to improve the practice and client outcomes in the treatment of mental health concerns. In our dynamic and problem-saturated society, health service providers will need to understand diversity of both human development, cluture, and neurodiversity and better support multiculturalism if they are to be successful within a clinical setting.
Forecast-Aided State Estimation Smoothing Parameter Optimization using Winter-Holt's Methodology and RMSE

Power systems state estimation process can be improved by considering state and measurement forecasts. These state and measurement forecasts are obtained using the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) approach for nonlinear state estimation. The EKF model usually requires the estimation of parameters responsible for fitting the state space forecasting model to historical data. One of the popular methods for this fitting is the Holt Linear Exponential Model. This model smooths the main dataset with its trend using two parameters a and β. The two parameters a and β are selected based on knowledge of the user or trial and error, thus making the forecasted values inaccurate. Holt's method takes into account the level and trend of the main dataset but not the seasonality. This paper proposes the use of Winter-Holt's exponential smoothing model for forecasting which takes into consideration the seasonality of the load data. In addition, the smoothing parameters will be determined by optimizing the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) thus reducing the error inherent from choosing the parameters by trial and error.
Non-English Primary Language Is Associated with Short-Term Outcomes After Supratentorial Tumor Resection

Background Despite research indicating that patients with non-English primary language (NEPL) have increased hospital length of stay (LOS) for craniotomies, there is a paucity of neurosurgical research examining the impact of language on short-term outcomes. This study sought to evaluate short-term outcomes for patients with English primary language (EPL) and NEPL admitted for resection of a supratentorial tumor. Methods Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project New Jersey State Inpatient Database, this study included patients 18–90 years old who underwent resection of a supratentorial primary brain tumor, meningioma, or brain metastasis from 2009 to 2017. The primary outcomes were total, preoperative, and postoperative LOS. Secondary outcomes were complications, mortality, and discharge disposition. Univariable and multivariable analyses compared Spanish primary language (SPL), non-English non-Spanish (NENS) primary language, and EPL groups. Results A total of 7324 patients were included: 2962 with primary brain tumor, 2091 with meningioma, and 2271 with brain metastasis. Patients with SPL (n = 297) were younger and more likely to have noncommercial insurance, lower income, and fewer comorbidities. Patients with NENS (n = 257) had similar age and comorbidities to the EPL group but had a greater proportion of noncommercially insured and low-income patients (P Conclusions Patients with NEPL have different short-term outcomes after supratentorial tumor resection that varies based on primary language. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving these findings and to clarify unique experiences for different populations with NEPL.
Anterior cingulate cortex activity during attentional control corresponds with rumination in depression and social anxiety.

Abstract Rumination and worry are transdiagnostic perseverative cognitions that have overlapping and distinct characteristics. While the mechanisms of perseverative cognitions remain incomplete, limited data indicate anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as it relates to top-down functions contributes to perseverative cognitions in internalizing conditions. The current study extends this work in patients with major depression (n = 39) or social anxiety (n = 42). During fMRI, participants viewed images comprising letter strings superimposed on task-irrelevant threatening or neutral faces. To moderate task difficulty, there was a low perceptual load condition where the target letter was in a string of identical letters and high load condition with the target letter in a mixed letter string increasing task difficulty. Regions of interest (ROI) comprised dorsal ACC and rostral ACC. Bilateral amygdala was also examined. Results showed diagnostic groups had similar levels of rumination and worry. Exploratory hierarchical regression analysis comprising clinical measures, task performance, and the 4 ROIs revealed significantly less dorsal ACC engagement during low (vs. high) load to task-irrelevant faces corresponded with more rumination, but not worry, regardless of diagnostic status. However, the ACC finding did not survive Bonferroni correction. Preliminary results suggest dorsal ACC response during attentional control may serve as a transdiagnostic mechanism of rumination.
United States Healthcare Burden of Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Pain Disorder Hospitalizations from 2002 to 2018.

BACKGROUND The healthcare burden of pediatric functional gastrointestinal pain disorders (FGIDs) is unclear. Our study aimed to characterize the burden of these hospitalizations in the United States (US). METHODS We utilized the US National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2018 to capture pediatric hospitalizations (ages 4 to 18 years old) with a primary discharge diagnosis of abdominal pain, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, abdominal migraine, cyclic vomiting syndrome, or fecal incontinence. We calculated the FGID hospitalization prevalence rate, length of stay (LOS), and inflation-adjusted costs annually and assessed for statistically significant trend changes using joinpoint analyses. KEY RESULTS 22.3 million pediatric hospitalizations were captured, and 1 in 64 pediatric hospitalizations were attributed to a primary FGID hospitalization. The overall FGID hospitalization prevalence rate initially remained stable but decreased significantly from 2013 to 2018. Constipation and abdominal pain hospitalization rates, respectively, increased and decreased significantly over time. Constipation hospitalizations were more prevalent for younger non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics. FGID hospitalization rates stratified by sex were similar. Mean LOS was 2.3 days; average LOS increased significantly from 2002 to 2013 and then stabilized. FGID hospitalization costs averaged $6,216 per admission and increased significantly for all FGIDs except dyspepsia. Endoscopic procedures were the most common interventions. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES FGID hospitalization prevalence rates decreased recently, possibly due to national healthcare policy implementation. Nonetheless, constipation admissions increased. LOS was stable in recent years but associated costs-per-hospitalization were increasing over time, probably due to endoscopic procedures. More studies are needed to explain these prevalence and cost trends.
Paralleled Two-Stage Single-Phase AC-DC Converter Modules Utilizing a Second-Stage Input-Current based Droop Control Strategy

This paper presents a high-power-density high-efficiency single-phase universal-input to 28V isolated ac-dc conversion system comprising multiple paralleled two-stage ac-dc converter modules. The two-stage converter modules utilize a totem-pole bridgeless boost PFC converter followed by an isolated LLC resonant converter. A new droop control strategy is presented which employs the input current of the secondary dc-dc conversion stage to enable adequate output current distribution between paralleled modules when powering a common output load. The proposed droop control strategy also incorporates a variable droop resistance based on the instantaneous value of the dc-bus voltage to compensate for the effect of the twice-line frequency dc-bus voltage ripple and ensure a stable output dc voltage. To validate the proposed control strategy, two 1-kW universal input-to-28V ac-dc converter modules are designed, built, and tested. The prototype system achieves a current distribution error of less than 0.3% at the peak output power of 2kW while maintaining a high conversion efficiency of greater than 91% across a 3:1 output power range.
Essay Development for Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities: Graphic Organizers for Visualizing Organizational Patterns:

Students with disabilities often find expressive writing frustrating and difficult. The prospect of writing a well-developed five-paragraph essay can be especially daunting. One reason is that stru...
Measurement of link DGD without polarization scrambling using the degree of polarization and symmetric/asymmetric partial optical filtering

We show a technique for DOP-based DGD-measurement that does not require polarization scrambling at the transmitter that uses partial-optical-filtering in the monitoring tapline. This technique is simple, input-SOP-independent, and has a wide DGD-measurement range.
Recruiting Terrorism Informants: The Problems with Immigration Incentives and the S-6 Visa

Since the FBI’s post-9/11 establishment of a preventative stance toward terrorism has increased the need for intelligence, the agency has turned to the increased use of immigration law to recruit additional confidential informants. Using the threat of immigration consequences — particularly deportation — to produce terrorism intelligence presents novel problems for both the intelligence gathering process and the informants. Informants recruited in this manner who also lack established ties to foreign terrorist organizations have an enormous incentive to fabricate information to fulfill their end of the agreement and avoid deportation. Recruiting informants via immigration law also affords less protection than recruiting them by offering monetary rewards or reductions in sentencing. Furthermore, the FBI’s recruitment tactics encourage ethnic and religious profiling, alienating Muslim and Middle Eastern communities. Although Congress created the S-6 visa classification specifically to induce cooperation from informants in terrorism investigations, the visa is rarely used due to its stringent eligibility requirements for informants. In order for law enforcement to successfully use the S-6 visa program and to encourage the trust of and cooperation from informants, legislative overhaul is needed. An S-6 visa program that emphasizes pre-existing ties to terrorist organizations, increases the availability of S-6 visas, and lowers the barriers to the visas’ use will produce counterterrorism intelligence that is more reliable and actionable and provide greater protection for civil liberties and to informants themselves.
An Empirical Study of Employment Arbitration: Case Outcomes and Processes

Using data from reports filed by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) pursuant to California Code requirements, this article examines outcomes of employment arbitration. The study analyzes 3,945 arbitration cases, of which 1,213 were decided by an award after a hearing, filed and reaching disposition between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. This includes all the employment arbitration cases administered nationally by the AAA during this time period that derived from employer-promulgated arbitration procedures. Key findings include: (1) the employee win rate among the cases was 21.4 percent, which is lower than employee win rates reported in employment litigation trials; (2) in cases won by employees, the median award amount was $36,500 and the mean was $109,858, both of which are substantially lower than award amounts reported in employment litigation; (3) mean time to disposition in arbitration was 284.4 days for cases that settled and 361.5 days for cases decided after a hearing, which is substantially shorter than times to disposition in litigation; (4) mean arbitration fees were $6,340 per case overall, $11,070 for cases disposed of by an award following a hearing, and in 97 percent of these cases the employer paid 100 percent of the arbitration fees beyond a small filing fee, pursuant to AAA procedures; (5) in 82.4 percent of the cases, the employees involved made less than $100,000 per year; and (6) the mean amount claimed was $844,814 and 75 percent of all claims were greater than $36,000. The study also analyzes whether there is a repeat player effect in employer arbitration. The results provide strong evidence of a repeat employer effect in which employee win rates and award amounts are significantly lower where the employer is involved in multiple arbitration cases, which could be explained by various advantages accruing to larger organizations with greater resources and expertise in dispute resolution procedures. The results also indicate the existence of a significant repeat-employer–arbitrator pairing effect in which employees on average have lower win rates and receive smaller damage awards where the same arbitrator is involved in more than one case with the same employer, a finding supporting some of the fairness criticisms directed at mandatory employment arbitration.
Male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster: Genetics of the vermilion region

Male sterility is one of three phenotypic effects of mutations at three loci in region 9F4 to 10C2 of the polytene X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster, female sterility and reduced viability being other mutant effects. The male sterile (ms) alleles at these loci are allelic with lethal mutations. Male sterile mutations are induced at lower frequencies than lethal mutations at these loci by EMS. Because gene products of two of the loci are essential to larval development and the product of the other locus is essential to pupal development, the occurrence of ms mutations is not restricted to loci whose products function solely in developing adult tissue. Mutations at a locus in 10A2-5 cause male sterility without adversely influencing viability or female fertility. We conclude that many loci whose products function in nonreproductive tissue can mutate to a form for which male sterility is a secondary effect. Another group of loci encode products that function exclusively in reproductive tissue.
The impact of passband characteristics on imaging microwave radiometer brightness temperatures over the ocean

[1] Radiative transfer modeling is used to estimate the effects of nonideal receiver frequency passband characteristics on the measured brightness temperatures from imaging microwave radiometers over the ocean. The analysis includes microwave frequencies from 6 to 40 GHz and applies to the lower frequency channels of conically scanning, space-based radiometers such as AMSR-E, SSMI, SSMIS, and WindSat. The analysis demonstrates that frequency passband characteristics can have significant effects on the brightness temperatures for microwave imaging channels. The largest effects are due to shifts in the center frequency of the passband. The imaging channels near the water vapor resonance at 22.235 GHz are most sensitive to passband characteristics. The effects for these channels depend on the water vapor in the scene.
In vitro comparison of V-Loc™ versus Biosyn™ in a one-layer end-to-end anastomosis of equine jejunum.

Objective To compare a unidirectional barbed suture (V-Loc™) to its suture material equivalent (Biosyn™) in a single-layer end-to-end anastomosis of equine jejunum. Study Design Experimental in vitro study. Animals Jejunal sections from adult horses (n = 5) without gastrointestinal disease. Methods Jejunal end-to-end anastomoses (n = 9) were performed for each group (V-Loc™, Biosyn™) with a continuous Lembert pattern with an interruption every 120°. Anastomosis construction time, luminal diameter, and number of suture bites were recorded. Anastomosis constructs were distended with fluid at 1 L/min until failure. Location and intraluminal pressure at failure were recorded and all measurements were compared between groups. Results V-Loc™ anastomoses were significantly faster to perform (13.1 ± 0.35 minutes) when compared to the Biosyn™ group (15.6 ± 0.72 minutes; P = .0004). No differences were observed for anastomotic index or number of suture bites. V-Loc™ anastomosis constructs had a significantly decreased bursting pressure (160 ± 11.6 mmHg) compared to Biosyn™ constructs (184 ± 16.9 mmHg; P = .01). Conclusions V-Loc™ allowed faster construction time and did not cause a decreased anastomosis luminal diameter when compared with Biosyn™. V-Loc™ had a decreased bursting strength compared with Biosyn™, albeit well above pathologic pressures encountered clinically. Use of V-Loc™ may be beneficial for decreasing the amount of exposed suture material because of the absence of knots after construction and has the potential to result in decreased adhesions.
Wills Eye Institute 5-Minute Ophthalmology Consult

Wills Eye Institute 5-Minute Ophthalmology Consult is part of the 5-Minute Clinical Consult book collection. Previous volumes of the 5-Minute Clinical Consult series contain titles covering primary care, cardiology, sports medicine, toxicology, urology, infectious diseases, emergency medicine, paediatrics, and orthopaedics. Purchasing Wills Eye Institute 5-Minute Ophthalmology Consult provides online access to its complete contents. This allows the physician to access the book at multiple practice sites and at home via computer. The hardcover text is somewhat unique in ophthalmology in that it contains no black-and-white or colour images. However, the online edition contains an image bank with over 400 excellent colour figures.
Role of IL-13 and its receptors in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (TUM7P.961)

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) affect primarily skin and are characterized by proliferation of mature CD4+ T-helper cells. Diagnose is difficult in the absence of specific markers for malignant lymphocytes. The pattern of cytokine production in the skin and blood is considered to be of major importance for the pathogenesis of CTCL. Abnormal cytokine expression in CTCL may be responsible for enhanced proliferation of the malignant cells and/or the depression of the anti-tumor immune response. Cytokine IL-13 promotes growth or survival of several tumors as well as suppresses immunosurveillance. Here we show that IL-13 and its receptors IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2 are highly expressed in the clinically involved skin of CTCL patients. We also show that the tumor cells, identified by the expression of CD4 and TOX (thymus high-mobility group box), in the skin and blood of CTCL patients produce IL-13 and express both receptors. This finding is intriguing since CTCL is a T-cell origin tumor yet T cells do not express IL-13 receptors. Thus IL-13 is implicated as a possible autocrine factor for CTCL. Furthermore expression of the decoy IL-13Rα2 by CTCL cells may represent a novel marker of CTCL malignancy. Soluble human IL-13Rα2 and an anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody are being tested for inhibition of tumor cell proliferation in the peripheral blood of patients. Altogether these results identify potential tumor markers for the early diagnosis of CTCL as well as novel therapeutic targets.
Is the physical vacuum really Lorentz-invariant?

It is argued that the physical vacuum in a. nonlinear quantized field will in general not. be invariant under the full symmetry group of the underlying equations or Lagrangian, but only covariant. Fixed point considerations generically break the symmetry down to an amenable subgroup.
Regional Analysis of Distribution of Catskill Deltaic Sands in Northern West Virginia: ABSTRACT

Detailed mapping of "clean" sandstones of the Hampshire and Pocono formations of northern West Virginia illustrates paralic facies of north-south trend, intersected by belts of sandstones with east-west trends representing fluvial and tidal channel facies. The strike-trending paralic sandstones commonly have maximum thickness of 20 to 30 ft, and successive isopach maps of individual sandstones indicate irregular shifts that are interpreted to represent embayed shorelines advancing and retreating in uneven fashion. These small-scale changes affect small segments of the shoreline and probably result from fluctuations in sediment supply related to upstream avulsion or stream capture. Isolith maps of multiple sandstones of intervals such as the Fifth, Fourth, Gordon, Thirty-f ot and Fifty-foot, show greater shoreline shifts probably due to sea level changes. Regional cross sections through the Catskill clastic wedge show vertical stacking of shoreline sands in a belt with north-south trend. This preferential zone of subsidence is bounded on the west by the eastern margin of the Rome trough, and on the south by the northern edge of the Pocono dome. This interpreted subsidence increases southward toward the Pocono dome, suggesting basement sub-blocks with southerly tilt. End_Page 1433------------------------------ Dip-trending sandstones show southeast-northwest trends with a large degree of vertical persistence. Major fluvial axes occur approximately every 40 mi along strike and may also be a reflection of basement structure. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1434------------
Superconductivity in oxides: From strong to weak coupling

Abstract It is proposed that an essential feature of the superconductivity of high- T c oxides is a cross-over from strong to weak coupling regimes as the hole concentration increases. This cross-over is a necessary consequence of the mechanism of hole superconductivity recently proposed, and it leads to clear observable consequences. In particular, an unusual feature obtained is that the quasi-particle gap is non-zero at T c for low hole concentration.
Hyponatremia in critical illness

Hyponatremia is the commonest electrolyte disorder in hospitalized patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although most patients are asymptomatic at presentation, many present neurological symptoms which can easily be overlooked and have the potential to progress and produce neurological sequelae, and even death, if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The classification of hyponatremia is based on serum osmolality and the volume status of the patient. When iatrogenic causes are excluded, inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and cerebral salt wasting are the commonest mechanisms of hyponatremia in neurological and critically ill patients and their differentiation is crucial because they require drastically different management. The risks of overly rapid correction (which mostly comprise osmotic demyelination) must be borne in mind when treating hyponatremia. Management mainly depends on the speed of onset of hyponatremia and the presence of symptoms. Vasopressin antagoni...
Progress and prospects for GaN and the III–V nitride semiconductors

Abstract We review recent research results pertaining to GaN, AIN and InN, focusing on present-day techniques and future prospects. The molecular beam epitaxy and metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy growth techniques, as they have been applied to the nitrides, are described. New developments in plasma-based sources and substrates are covered. We also discuss the most recent developments towards an eventual GaN-based device technology, including the first GaN p-n junction light-emitting diode. Ongoing work, aimed at developing the necessary processing skills for GaN devices, is presented. We conclude by discussing near-term goals and identifying critical areas in need of future research.
Selective activation of thyroid hormone signaling pathways by GC-1: A new approach to controlling cholesterol and body weight

The current report describes progress in development of a selective thyroid hormone receptor modulator, GC-1. This compound binds selectively to the β-isoform of the thyroid hormone receptor, and its uptake into the heart is relatively low. Studies in rats, mice and monkeys show that GC-1 lowers cholesterol with 600- to 1400-fold more potency and approximately two- to threefold more efficacy than atorvastatin, a compound that blocks HMG-CoA reductase. GC-1 also decreases plasma levels of triglyceride and lipoprotein (a), and induces loss of fat. These effects can be observed under conditions where there is either no or minimal effect on heart rate, and no detectable loss of muscle. Although more study is required, compounds of this class deserve further investigation for treating lipid disorders and obesity.
The effect of NaCl and LiCl on vasopressin-sensitive adenyl cyclase.

Abstract (1) Addition of NaCl at concentration above 150 mM–200 mM produced progressive inhibition of AVP-sensitive renal medullary adenyl cyclase; this inhibition became marked at 250–300 mM. Since this is the range of NaCl concentrations in renal medulla under physiological conditions, NaCl may modulate the kidney response to vasopressin. Studies on the effects of other medullary solutes are in progess. (2) At lower concentrations, LiCl also inhibited vasopressin-sensitive adenyl cyclase. The concentration of LiCl required to produce significant inhibitory effects was markedly lowered when NaCl was present in the system. These results suggest that Li inhibits vasopressin-induced antidiuresis at the level of adenyl cyclase.
A 5 gigabit/sec all-optical parallel analog-to-digital converter

Summary form only given. We present the design and demonstration of an all-optical A/D converter whose attractive features include (1) direct optical sampling of the input RF signal, (2) optical quantization scheme, (3) utilization of optical signal multiplexing to provide parallel processing of quantized signals, and (4) low-power consumption.
The “Bimodal” Aspect of Proficiency‐Oriented Instruction

Neurolinguists have recently demonstrated that language learning is a multifaceted process which activates simultaneously the modes of perception of the left and right cerebral hemispheres. Current brain research therefore points to the need for “bimodal” foreign language instruction - that is, eclectic pedagogical practices which stimulate in tandem the brain's two hemispheres. This paper evaluates the “bimodality” of the theoretical model accepted by advocates of proficiency-oriented instruction and recommends that further research be conducted to ascertain the effects on student proficiency of a “bimodal” pedagogical approach.
Forward Inferences: From Activation to Long-Term Memory.

Past research has been inconsistent regarding the extent to which forward inferences are activated and encoded during reading. To investigate the prevalence and the time course of forward inferences, 3 different tasks were employed. In Experiment 1, participants’ naming times were facilitated to a probe word when it represented a predicted action, both when that action was highly predictable and when it was only moderately predictable. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants were slow to read a subsequent sentence that contradicted the intended inference, indicating that the inference had been encoded and retained in working memory in both the high‐and low‐predictability conditions. In Experiment 4, the results of a recall task suggest that the high‐predictability forward inferences were encoded into the long‐term memory representation of the text. These findings suggest that forward inferences may be more prevalent and more persistent than has been indicated previously.
Intelligent Design" Real-Time Simulation for Smart Grid Control and Communications Design

IT IS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED THAT A HIGH-BANDWIDTH and highly available networked communication system should overlay the transmission system topology in order to enable the control and protection envisaged today to make the grid more efficient and more reliable. The specifications for such a communication system have been difficult to develop, however, because it needs to support a great variety of applications, many of which have not yet been developed. Organizations such as the North American SynchroPhasor Initiative (NASPI) are trying to build on this vision of a communication system that can utilize phasor measurement data to initiate fast controllers, including flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices.
Approximating extent measures of points

We present a general technique for approximating various descriptors of the extent of a set P of n points in Rd when the dimension d is an arbitrary fixed constant. For a given extent measure μ and a parameter e > 0, it computes in time O(n + 1/eO(1)) a subset Q ⊆ P of size 1/eO(1), with the property that (1 − e)μ(P) ≤ μ(Q) ≤ μ(P). The specific applications of our technique include e-approximation algorithms for (i) computing diameter, width, and smallest bounding box, ball, and cylinder of P, (ii) maintaining all the previous measures for a set of moving points, and (iii) fitting spheres and cylinders through a point set P. Our algorithms are considerably simpler, and faster in many cases, than previously known algorithms.
Impact of the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines on screening mammography rates on women in their 40s

Background The 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force breast cancer screening update recommended against routine screening mammography for women aged 40–49; confusion and release of conflicting guidelines followed. We examined the impact of the USPSTF update on population-level screening mammography rates in women ages 40–49. Methods and Findings We conducted a retrospective, interrupted time-series analysis using a nationally representative, privately-insured population from 1/1/2006-12/31/2011. Women ages 40–64 enrolled for ≥1 month were included. The primary outcome was receipt of screening mammography, identified using administrative claims-based algorithms. Time-series regression models were estimated to determine the effect of the guideline change on screening mammography rates. 5.5 million women ages 40–64 were included. A 1.8 per 1,000 women (p = 0.003) decrease in monthly screening mammography rates for 40–49 year-old women was observed two months following the guideline change; no initial effect was seen for 50–64 year-old women. However, two years following the guideline change, a slight increase in screening mammography rates above expected was observed in both age groups. Conclusions We detected a modest initial drop in screening mammography rates in women ages 40–49 immediately after the 2009 USPSTF guideline followed by an increase in screening rates. Unfavorable public reactions and release of conflicting statements may have tempered the initial impact. Renewal of the screening debate may have brought mammography to the forefront of women's minds, contributing to the observed increase in mammography rates two years after the guideline change. This pattern is unlikely to reflect informed choice and underscores the need for improved translation of evidence-based care and guidelines into practice.
ECONOMICS AND FEDERAL WATER PROJECTS

While the science of economics is widely used in Federal water resource development projects, the usual procedure of applying an analytical discipline to arrive at a conclusion is reversed. The “answer” is usually provided ahead of time and economics is assigned the task of justifying the preconceived conclusion. This leads to a series of mitigatory effects in which economics as a science is not allowed to freely function. This article attempts to illustrate some of these “unusual” uses of economics in Federal water projects and note the “answers” we would logically expect from the economic discipline. Even though the theory of economics is often subverted, there are positive aspects to the role of economics in evaluating Federal water projects.
Social Identity, Political Speech, and Electoral Competition:

Much research in political science suggests that social identity can be an important factor in motivating behavior. If voters care about social identity, when will politicians find it in their interests to make group-based appeals? Do social identity concerns affect the policy platforms offered by candidates? In a model of political speech and electoral competition, in which voters care about both social identities and policy, we demonstrate that social identity concerns can lead to platform divergence even when the policy dimension is uncorrelated with identity. For example, policy-motivated politicians can employ identity rhetoric to obtain ‘slack’ in the policy dimension. Further, the need for candidates to resort to group-based appeals depends on such factors as the relative sizes of social groups; the policy preferences of group members; whether candidates care about policy and if so, their preferred policies; and the extent of individual identification with groups. The analysis demonstrates that soc...
Abductor hallucis false motor points : Electrophysiologic mapping and cadaveric dissection

False motor points (FMPs) can occur in intrinsic foot or hand muscles, causing spuriously prolonged distal motor latencies by misrepresenting the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) onset. We investigated the motor point (MP) and possible FMPs in abductor hallucis (AH) by three methods : (1) electrophysiologic mapping of the CMAP with a grid of approximately 29 G 1 sites over AH (n = 20), including commonly used MPs just anterior to (Ant-MP) and posteriorto (Post-MP) the navicular tuberosity ; (2) electrophysiologic mapping with direct percutaneous threshold stimulation of AH (same grid as above) ; and (3) cadaveric dissection (n = 4). We found AH FMPs in 19 of 20 feet (2.7 FMPs/foot) which resulted in prolongation of the CMAP onset latency by 0.5-2.3 ms. Post-MP had a significantly lower mean threshold stimulus intensity than all other grid sites, including the FMPs. The anatomic MP of AH was consistently found just inferior and posterior to the navicular tuberosity. This study demonstrates that AH FMPs : (1) can be identified in virtually all feet ; (2) do not correspond to the true MP (i.e., Post-MP); and (3) are likely due to superimposed compound action potentials from nearby muscles or nerves.
Systems engineering tradeoffs for a bio-aerosol lidar referee system

Analytical results and tradeoffs are reported for an aerosol lidar system that is intended to serve as a referee during testing of standoff bio-aerosol detection systems. The lidar system is still under development by Dugway Proving Grounds -- results from the operational system are not included in this paper. The recommended configuration of the lidar system is to use a 1064 nm lidar in elastic mode to measure the concentration of the aerosol, and a 355 nm excitation to measure the fluorescence of the bio-aerosol. Both of these measurements are important in scoring the performance of the systems that will be tested at DPG. Performance tradeoffs and predictions are presented primarily for the elastic mode lidar. The elastic mode lidar is designed to make measurements out to ranges of approximately 15 km. The UV fluorescence mode of operation is intended to support discrimination of bio-aerosols from non-biological aerosols, and is only required to operate at a range of 1 km. The optical design of the proposed telescope supports dual wavelength operation, allows for effective TV camera imaging for test and alignment support, and tailors the optical overlap function for the UV and near IR lidar to optimize the performance of both subsystems.
Recombination products from the radiolysis of tricaproin

A low molecular weight triglyceride, tricaproin, has been selected to study the higher molecular weight products produced by irradiation. In a previous publication the identification of the primary radiolytic products in tricaproin was reported. In the present work, 28 compounds considered to have been produced by the combination of free radicals have been identified. Among these are hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, alkanediol diesters and glyceryl ether diesters. Reaction mechanisms for the production of these compounds are discussed.
Use of Methylxanthine Therapies for the Treatment and Prevention of Apnea of Prematurity

Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is a common complication of preterm birth, which affects more than 80 % of neonates with a birth weight less than 1,000 g. Methylxanthine therapies, including caffeine and theophylline, are a mainstay in the treatment and prevention of AOP. Despite their frequent use, little is known about the long-term safety and efficacy of these medications. In this review, we systematically evaluated the literature on neonatal methylxanthine therapies and found that caffeine is associated with fewer adverse effects and a wider therapeutic window when compared with theophylline. When used as a therapeutic agent, larger doses of caffeine citrate have been shown to improve acute neonatal outcomes when administered promptly, although further studies are needed to assess the long-term neurological consequences associated with the use of large loading doses. In a secondary analysis of data obtained from a randomized controlled trial, the prophylactic use of caffeine was associated with substantial cost savings and improved clinical outcomes. However, there remains a paucity of well-controlled, randomized clinical trials that have examined the use of caffeine as a prophylactic agent, and further prospective trials are needed to determine if caffeine is a safe and effective prophylactic agent. Additionally, measuring plasma concentrations longitudinally as a marker of therapeutic efficacy and/or toxicity has not been shown to be clinically useful in neonates who are responsive to treatment and exhibit no signs or symptoms of toxicity. However, in cases where toxicity is of concern or for neonates with congenital or pathophysiologic process that may alter the pharmacokinetics of these drugs, therapeutic drug monitoring may be warranted to monitor for methylxanthine toxicity.
The interaction of seedling density dependence and fire in a matrix population model of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests once dominated much of the southeastern USA, but have been reduced to a small fraction of the original range through human activities during the past 200 years. Successful restoration of longleaf pine populations depends on managing fire frequency and stand densities. In order to investigate the interactions between fire frequency and density dependence, we incorporated four functions relating seedling establishment and survival to mature tree density in a matrix population model. Under a regime of frequent fires (FF; once in each 4-year time step), longleaf pine population dynamics were relatively insensitive to the form of density dependence. With fire return times longer than 4 years, the stability of the population (based on the deviation of population size from the FF equilibrium) was highest with density-dependent functions that had the least effect on seedlings at low density. The dominant eigenvalues (λ) of the density-independent matrix models (using the maximum values for fecundity and seedling survival) were related to the rate of approach of the density-dependent model to equilibrium. Models with convex or linear shaped density-dependent functions showed evidence of chaotic-type dynamics at higher growth rates, however the least stable model (based on the deviation of the infrequent fire regime population size from the FF equilibrium), using a concave Beverton-Holt density-dependent function, had a monotonic approach to equilibrium even at an unrealistic λ of 2.50. The interaction of fire and mature tree density on longleaf pine seedling establishment and survival must be accurately determined in order to properly simulate these populations.