cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dependent Development: A Socialist Variant

This paper conceptualizes the political economy of the Soviet bloc in terms of concepts used to describe ‘classic dependence’ and ‘dependent development’ in the capitalist periphery. In particular, the rapid economic growth that occurred in Eastern Europe between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s can be termed ‘dependent development’ because the primary stimulus for it came from an external dominator (the Soviet Union) and because the process of economic growth and structural transformation made Eastern Europe more dependent economically upon the USSR and created ‘class linkages’ of common interest between the Soviet and East European elites. Dependent development of the Soviet bloc was also analogous to the Western case in that, despite initial successes, it ultimately created major economic, political, and social ‘contradictions’—which seemingly can only be resolved by a radical structural transformation. In addition to such similarities between ‘capitalist’ and ‘socialist’ dependency, there are several important differences as well that evidently derive from the fact that dependency relationships are more ‘political’ in the Soviet bloc and more ‘economic’ in the capitalist world.
SU-F-T-638: Is There A Need For Immobilization in SRS?

Purpose: Frameless Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is increasingly used in the clinic. Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) to simulation-CT match has replaced the 3-dimensional coordinate based set up using a stereotactic localizing frame. The SRS frame however served as both a localizing and immobilizing device. We seek to measure the quality of frameless (mask based) and frame based immobilization and evaluate its impact on target dose. Methods: Each SRS patient was set up by kV on-board imaging (OBI) and then fine-tuned with CBCT. A second CBCT was done at treatment-end to ascertain intrafraction motion. We compared pre- vs post-treatment CBCT shifts for both frameless and frame based SRS patients. CBCT to sim-CT fusion was repeated for each patient off-line to assess systematic residual image registration error. Each patient was re-planned with measured shifts to assess effects on target dose. Results: We analyzed 11 patients (12 lesions) treated with frameless SRS and 6 patients (11 lesions) with a fixed frame system. Average intra-fraction iso-center positioning errors for frameless and frame-based treatments were 1.24 ± 0.57 mm and 0.28 ± 0.08 mm (mean ± s.d.) respectively. Residual error in CBCT registration was 0.24 mm. The frameless positioning uncertainties led to target dose errors in Dmin and D95 of 15.5 ± 18.4% and 6.6 ± 9.1% respectively. The corresponding errors in fixed frame SRS were much lower with Dmin and D95 reduced by 4.2 ± 6.5% and D95 2.5 ± 3.8% respectively. Conclusion: Frameless mask provides good immobilization with average patient motion of 1.2 mm during treatment. This exceeds MRI voxel dimensions (∼0.43mm) used for target delineation. Frame-based SRS provides superior patient immobilization with measureable movement no greater than the background noise of the CBCT registration. Small lesions requiring submm precision are better served with a frame based SRS.
Adaptations in Demodicids (Trombidiformes: Demodicidae) for Utilization of the Mammalian Skin Complex

Demodicids have often been cited (e.g., Kaestner, 1968) as remarkably adapted for survival in a unique habitat, the hair follicle. Such statements are, however, largely inferential since few measurements and considerations of the adaptive features of these mites are available in the literature.
Doubly-Charged Ionomers with Enhanced Microphase-Separation

Two styrenic DABCO salt monomers allowed the synthesis of DABCO salt-containing random copolymers with two quaternized nitrogen cations on each ionic pendant group. Triethyl-(4-vinylbenzyl)ammonium chloride (VBTEACl) containing random copolymers served as singly charged controls. DABCO salt-containing copolymers with 20 mol % or lower ionic contents exhibited microphase-separated morphologies, agreeing with the multiplet-cluster model for random ionomers. Thermomechanical and morphological analyses revealed that doubly charged DABCO salts promoted more well-defined microphase-separation than singly charged analogues. Stronger ionic association of DABCO salts compared to trialkyl ammoniums resulted in superior thermomechanical and tensile properties of DABCO salt-containing ionomers. The doubly charged copolymers exhibited less water uptake per charge than the singly charged analogues. Anion exchange of the halides to more hydrophobic anions led to enhanced thermal stability, increased phase-mixing, and re...
BK nephropathy in the native kidneys of patients with organ transplants: Clinical spectrum of BK infection

Nephropathy secondary to BK virus, a member of the Papoviridae family of viruses, has been recognized for some time as an important cause of allograft dysfunction in renal transplant recipients. In recent times, BK nephropathy (BKN) of the native kidneys has being increasingly recognized as a cause of chronic kidney disease in patients with solid organ transplants, bone marrow transplants and in patients with other clinical entities associated with immunosuppression. In such patients renal dysfunction is often attributed to other factors including nephrotoxicity of medications used to prevent rejection of the transplanted organs. Renal biopsy is required for the diagnosis of BKN. Quantitation of the BK viral load in blood and urine are surrogate diagnostic methods. The treatment of BKN is based on reduction of the immunosuppressive medications. Several compounds have shown antiviral activity, but have not consistently shown to have beneficial effects in BKN. In addition to BKN, BK viral infection can cause severe urinary bladder cystitis, ureteritis and urinary tract obstruction as well as manifestations in other organ systems including the central nervous system, the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system and the hematopoietic system. BK viral infection has also been implicated in tumorigenesis. The spectrum of clinical manifestations from BK infection and infection from other members of the Papoviridae family is widening. Prevention and treatment of BK infection and infections from other Papovaviruses are subjects of intense research.
Predictors of Long-Term School-Based Behavioral Outcomes in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract Objective: To explore predictors of 8-year school-based behavioral outcomes in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: We examined potential baseline predictors of school-based behavioral outcomes in children who completed the 8-year follow-up in the multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD. Stepwise logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified baseline predictors that were associated with a higher risk of truancy, school discipline, and in-school fights. Results: Stepwise regression analysis explained between 8.1% (in-school fights) and 12.0% (school discipline) of the total variance in school-based behavioral outcomes. Logistic regression identified several baseline characteristics that were associated with school-based behavioral difficulties 8 years later, including being male (associated with truancy and school discipline), African American (school discipline, in-school fights), increased conduct disorder (CD) symptoms (truancy...
An Unusual Subcutaneous Mass in an Otherwise Healthy Patient: A Case Report of Localized Histoplasmosis Diagnosed on Excisional Biopsy.

Patients are commonly referred to general surgery clinics for evaluation of soft-tissue masses of the trunk and extremities. The primary goal of surgical referral is to confirm the presence of a mass, to assess the need for additional imaging and/or testing, and to gauge amenability to surgical biopsy, whether incisional or excisional. This is a case of a 67-year-old woman who was referred to surgery clinic for a small soft-tissue mass near her left elbow that had increased in size and pain over the past year. The mass had been present for several years. After MRI imaging revealed a nonspecific process, an excisional biopsy was performed. Following a careful review of the patient’s history, risk factors, and histological results, a diagnosis of localized subcutaneous Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum infection was made. Without signs or symptoms of active, systemic disease, no further treatment was recommended. The patient was provided risk factor counseling for symptoms or signs of active histoplasmosis and outpatient follow-up. Histologically, most masses will return as benign and mesenchymal in origin. However, soft-tissue masses may arise from uncommon etiologies and a broad differential is needed to ensure appropriate management and recommendations.
Building Sangha in the American Healthcare Setting for Persons With Chronic Disease

Background For persons with chronic disease, participation in meditation interventions can reduce anxiety, depression, and chronic disease symptoms in a dose dependent fashion. Unfortunately, information about how to support long-term participation in such an intervention is lacking. Therefore, a recent discovery of persons with chronic lung disease who have maintained a self-led meditation group for more than four years created an opportunity to analyze experiences, meanings and relationship dynamics of this community-based meditation group. Methods A focused ethnography was conducted using the following techniques: participant observation of four group meditation sessions, semi-structured interviews of six group participants, the interviewer's reflective practice and collection of demographic information. Analysis of transcribed audio-recordings followed an iterative approach. Results Findings highlighted the inclusive nature of the group sessions that supported meditation practice through the processing of ancient wisdom traditions similar to a traditional Sangha. Reflecting the current culture of non-affiliation, the group often moved beyond religious teachings to use the environment, literature and pop culture representations to teach wisdom traditions. Data analysis revealed that the holistic group characteristics of wisdom circling, non-Stopping, organic way-finding and sacred space were supported by identifiable yet inseparable individual and group actions. This holistic pattern is best described through the metaphor of flocking birds. Conclusions This self-led group supports long term meditation practice and provides a sense of eudemonic well-being for a diverse group of individuals in an accessible community setting.
Fault Diagnosis and Fault-Tolerant Control Operation of Nonisolated DC–DC Converters

This paper proposes a fault diagnosis and identification method for nonisolated dc–dc converters. The method can detect the fault, and identify the faulty switch and the switch fault type in less than one switching cycle. The main idea is to apply the derivative of the inductor current based on the modulation of the particular dc–dc converter to provide a predictive current emulator model. The measured inductor current and its corresponding predicted current are used to diagnose the switch fault. The method, implemented in a digital signal processor, is robust to common converter asymmetry such as load variations, input disturbances, etc. The proposed fault diagnosis method has been analyzed, tested, and validated for a boost converter.
Tobacco use disorder and treatment: new challenges and opportunities

Tobacco use remains a global problem, and options for consumers have increased with the development and marketing of e-cigarettes and other new nicotine and tobacco products, such as "heat-not-burn" tobacco and dissolvable tobacco. The increased access to these new products is juxtaposed with expanding public health and clinical intervention options, including mobile technologies and social media. The persistent high rate of tobacco-use disorders among those with psychiatric disorders has gathered increased global attention, including successful approaches to individual treatment and organizational-level interventions. Best outcomes occur when medications are integrated with behavioral therapies and community-based interventions. Addressing tobacco in mental health settings requires training and technical assistance to remove old cultural barriers that restricted interventions. There is still "low-hanging fruit" to be gained in educating on the proper use of nicotine replacement medications, how smoking cessation can change blood levels of specific medications and caffeine, and how to connect with quitlines and mobile technology options. Future innovations are likely to be related to pharmacogenomics and new technologies that are human-, home-, and community-facing.
“‘Type-Cast Set’: What Autobiographies of Latino/a Performers Show About Playing to (Stereo)Type ”

Through the autobiographies of Rita Moreno, Rosie Perez, and John Leguizamo, this essay establishes a trajectory of the utilization and reformation of stereotypes for Latino/a performers so as to make these texts part of the genre of life-writing within Latino/a literature. These actors have been struggling with the stereotypical roles they enact and have reformulated them to better represent the embodied experience of being Latino/a on the stage and screen for both their sake as the individual performer but also for their community as well. Keywords: Latino/a; stereotypical roles; performance on stage and screen; participatory resistance.
STABILITY OR CHAOS IN DISCRETE EPIDEMIC MODELS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the stability or chaos in discrete epidemic models. It describes a study on certain systems of difference equations that are formulated as deterministic epidemic models. The simplest of these is the equation x n +1 = (1− x n ) (1− e − A x n ). The model underlying this equation is a variation of the classical Reed–Frost model and A is a parameter that can be interpreted as the infectivity of the disease. There is a strong stability for all A > 0 and chaos does not appear. The chapter presents the analysis of the equation x n +1 = (1− x n ) (1− e −Ax n ) and the complete proofs of stability properties.
Stalking the typical undergraduate software engineering course: results from a survey

A survey of undergraduate software engineering courses was conducted. The survey covered the issues of course level, course content, course organization, project characteristics and department demographics. The descriptive statistics show that the typical course focuses on the software development life cycle and includes a project intended for actual use. The project is carried out by teams of students, with student leaders. A factor analysis disclosed that three different sorts of courses are currently being offered. The most predominant course is the Later-Life-Cycle course, which focuses on the later stages of the software life cycle. Detailed design, coding, testing and maintenance receive in-depth coverage in this style of course, and the students’ grades are heavily dependent upon the project The Early-Life-Cycle course emphasizes requirements analysis, specification and system design. Written reports are an important component of this course, and the project is again a large portion of the students’ grades. The third style of course is the Theoretical-Issues course. Software metrics, project management and legal and ethical issues are covered. The students are upper level, and use journal articles as a source of materials. The issues of suitable textbooks and sources of materials and training for teaching user-interface design surfaced as problem areas.
Protein and Amino Acid Diagenesis Dating

This chapter reviews the general biogeochemical principles underlying the use of various protein and amino acid diagenetic processes as a means of assigning relative and Chronometric ages to various sample materials including bone, shell and teeth. The focus of this discussion is on racemization and epimerization processes and their application to archaeological materials and related Quaternary geological, climatic, or environmental contexts. The factors influencing accuracy and precision of the age estimates based on the measurement of the rates of amino acid racemization and modeling of factors influencing these rates are discussed.
ART EDUCATION AVATARS IN CYBERSPACE: RESEARCH IN COMPUTER-BASED TECHNOLOGY AND VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION

Movable avatars that represent people are floating everyday in cyberspace. People select avatars that are pictorial, graphic, or iconic characters, with which they identify or admire. Avatars transform themselves into multiple human, animal, object, and electronic incarnations assuming different roles, forming networks, solving problems, and taking risks in cyberspace. Cyberspace is a world of changing forms. They range from the lowest level avatars, such as “smileys,” heads that wink, blush, or turn and are attached to e-mail messages to the more seductive, whimsical, or mysterious “anime” characters in electronic games.At the turn of the twenty-first century, people find themselves inundated with such images. So what does research tell us about technology’s role for the field of art education? This paper presents an overview of historical precedents, preservice education, social activism, and global examples and concludes with a summary section on “learnings” and yearnings in art education. Initially, publications in art education that referred to technology tended to contain mostly reviews of artists and new discoveries in art/science/technology, media art, position papers, program descriptions, and reports of interactive arts-related Web sites. Later, researchers reported findings about their action research programs in schools, the results of actual learning, outreach with marginal groups, cross-cultural initiatives, and critical and metaphoric theoretical explorations. They incorporated new qualitative paradigms in their research and recognized the impact of configuration and context, the subtleties of practice and unique outcomes, assessment methods allowing for personal expression, and arts-based reporting formats (Eisner, 1993). I limit my review of technological research to recent electronic examples reported in art education sources.
Metal work function engineering on epitaxial (100)Ge and (110)Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor devices

Abstract Capacitance-voltage characterization of epitaxial n-type (100)Ge and (110)Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (MOS Cs) was performed using two work function Al and Pt gate metals to evaluate the orientation effect on flat-band voltage (VFB) shift, Fermi level pinning factor (S), and interface induced defects (Dit). These epitaxial (100)Ge/AlAs/GaAs and (110)Ge/AlAs/GaAs heterostructures were grown in-situ using two separate molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) chambers. A VFB shift of >700 mV, S > 0.5, and Dit value of ~ 6 × 1011 cm−2 eV−1 in the energy range of 0.05 eV to 0.3 eV below the conduction band, have been demonstrated from epitaxial n-type (100)Ge and (110)Ge surfaces, which are comparable to the reported bulk Ge MOS-C values, suggesting a robust MOS-C developed process as well as device quality epitaxial (100)Ge and (110)Ge layers on GaAs substrates using an AlAs intermediate buffer. Thus, the metal work function engineering on device-quality MBE grown crystallographically oriented Ge materials, can offer a promising path for extending the performance and application of Ge-based field-effect transistors for low-power devices.
‘Novel Reading and Insanity’: Nineteenth-Century Quaker Fiction Reading Practices

Standard histories of nineteenth-century Quakerism note that fiction reading was prohibited or strongly discouraged in the Religious Society of Friends, and multiple public documents from the perio...
PRISM: Pose Registration for Integrated Semantic Mapping

Many robotics applications involve navigating to positions specified in terms of their semantic significance. A robot operating in a hotel may need to deliver room service to a named room. In a hospital, it may need to deliver medication to a patient's room. The Building-Wide Intelligence Project at UT Austin has been developing a fleet of autonomous mobile robots, called BWIBots, which perform tasks in the computer science department. Tasks include guiding a person, delivering a message, or bringing an object to a location such as an office, lecture hall, or classroom. The process of constructing a map that a robot can use for navigation has been simplified by modern SLAM algorithms. The attachment of semantics to map data, however, remains a tedious manual process of labeling locations in otherwise automatically generated maps. This paper introduces a system called PRISM to automate a step in this process by enabling a robot to localize door signs – a semantic markup intended to aid the human occupants of a building – and to annotate these locations in its map.
Expanding Our View: Demographic, Behavioral, and Contextual Factors in College Sexual Victimization

Despite efforts on some college campuses to address the issue of sexual victimization, the numbers have not changed much over the last four decades. The purpose of this study is to examine how demographic, contextual, and behavioral factors influence sexual victimization on college campuses. Using data from the Fall 2011 National College Health Assessment/American College Health Association survey, we examine three hypotheses: (1) contextual factors will have a greater effect on the likelihood of victimization than behavioral factors; (2) demographic factors will have a greater effect on the likelihood of victimization than behavioral factors; and (3) contextual factors for men will have a greater effect than contextual factors for women. While previous studies have tackled portions of these larger objectives, few studies have focused on all three sets of factors of analysis simultaneously. Overall, we find that behavioral factors predict sexual victimization better than either demographic or contextual factors for both men and women. However, we also find that some contextual factors are significant, including variables not generally discussed in the literature, such as perception of typical student behaviors and dissemination of violence prevention programming and information. In addition, we add to the literature by showing how demographic, behavioral, and contextual factors of sexual victimization vary in significance for men and women. These findings support the calls for more sexual violence prevention programming on college campuses that is more intersectional and addresses the issue of sexual violence based on the knowledge we have gained about individual, interactional, and institutional factors that contribute to this problem.
Polymeric Bipyridines as Chelating Agents and Catalysts

Anchoring reagents to insoluble supports has come to be known as solid pilase synthesis. Based on the pioneering of Merrifield in polypeptide synthesis1, rapid developments have occurred in this field such that many of these applications are now considered routine.
Multi-factorial barriers and facilitators to high adherence to lung-protective ventilation using a computerized protocol: a mixed methods study

Lung-protective ventilation (LPV) improves outcomes for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) through the administration of low tidal volumes (≤ 6.5 ml/kg predicted body weight [PBW]) with co-titration of positive end-expiratory pressure and fraction of inspired oxygen. Many patients with ARDS, however, are not managed with LPV. The purpose of this study was to understand the implementation barriers and facilitators to the use of LPV and a computerized LPV clinical decision support (CDS) tool in intensive care units (ICUs) in preparation for a pilot hybrid implementation-effectiveness clinical trial. We performed an explanatory sequential mixed methods study from June 2018 to March 2019 to evaluate the variation in LPV adherence across 17 ICUs in an integrated healthcare system with > 4000 mechanically ventilated patients annually. We analyzed 47 key informant interviews of ICU physicians, respiratory therapists (RTs), and nurses in 3 of the ICUs using a qualitative content analysis paradigm to investigate site variation as defined by adherence level (low, medium, high) and to identify barriers and facilitators to LPV and LPV CDS tool use. Forty-two percent of patients had an initial set tidal volume of ≤ 6.5 ml/kg PBW during the measurement period (site range 21–80%). LPV CDS tool use was 28% (site range 6–91%). This study’s main findings revealed multi-factorial facilitators and barriers to use that varied by ICU site adherence level. The primary facilitator was that LPV and the LPV CDS tool could be used on all mechanically ventilated patients. Barriers included a persistent gap between clinician attitudes regarding the use of LPV and actual use, the perceived loss of autonomy associated with using a computerized protocol, the nature of physician-RT interaction in ventilation management, and the lack of clear organization measures of success. Variation in adherence to LPV persists in ICUs within a healthcare delivery system that was an early adopter of LPV. Potentially promising strategies to increase adherence to LPV and the LPV CDS tool for ARDS patients include initiating low tidal ventilation on all mechanically ventilated patients, establishing and measuring adherence measures, and focused education addressing the physician-RT interaction. These strategies represent a blueprint for a future hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial.
State and Local Government Pension Funding on the Eve of the COVID-19 Recession

This article examines the funding of public pension plans through 2019. Particular attention is paid to the impact of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board’s Standard No. 68. It addressed (1)...
Extremal Problems on a Geoboard.

There are many fascinating geoboard problems and patterns that are of interest to high school students. One of these is the nine-point circle, presented on an isometric grid geoboard by Robert L. Jones in the February 1976 issue of the Mathematics Teacher. The following geoboard-related extremal problem deals with both concave and con vex polygons. It is related to the problem given in almost every geometry book that asks how many diagonals there are in a convex polygon of sides. The problem can be simply rephrased:
Environmentally-induced mdig is a major contributor to the severity of COVID-19 through fostering expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor NRPs and glycan metabolism

The novel {beta}-coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected more than 101 million people and resulted in 2.2 million death worldwide. Recent epidemiological studies suggested that some environmental factors, such as air pollution, might be the important contributors to the mortality of COVID-19. However, how environmental exposure enhances the severity of COVID-19 remains to be fully understood. In the present report, we provide evidence showing that mdig, a previously reported environmentally-induced oncogene that antagonizes repressive trimethylation of histone proteins, is a master regulator for SARS-CoV-2 receptors neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and NRP2, cathepsins, glycan metabolism and inflammation, key determinants for viral infection and cytokine storm of the patients. Depletion of mdig in bronchial epithelial cells by CRISPR-Cas-9 gene editing resulted in a decreased expression of NRP1, NRP2, cathepsins, and genes involved in protein glycosylation and inflammation, largely due to a substantial enrichment of lysine 9 and/or lysine 27 trimethylation of histone H3 (H3K9me3/H3K27me3) on these genes as determined by ChIP-seq. These data, accordingly, suggest that mdig is a key mediator for the severity of COVID-19 in response to environmental exposure and targeting mdig may be one of the effective strategies in ameliorating the symptom and reducing the mortality of COVID-19.
Bayesian Cross-Matching of High Proper Motion Stars in Gaia DR2 and Photometric Metallicities for $\sim$1.7 million K and M Dwarfs

We present a Bayesian method to cross-match 5,827,988 high proper motion Gaia sources ($\mu>40 \ mas \ yr^{-1}$) to various photometric surveys: 2MASS, AllWISE, GALEX, RAVE, SDSS and Pan-STARRS. To efficiently associate these objects across catalogs, we develop a technique that compares the multidimensional distribution of all sources in the vicinity of each Gaia star to a reference distribution of random field stars obtained by extracting all sources in a region on the sky displaced 2$^\prime$. This offset preserves the local field stellar density and magnitude distribution allowing us to characterize the frequency of chance alignments. The resulting catalog with Bayesian probabilities $>$95% has a marginally higher match rate than current internal Gaia DR2 matches for most catalogs. However, a significant improvement is found with Pan-STARRS, where $\sim$99.8% of the sample within the Pan-STARRS footprint is recovered, as compared to a low $\sim$20.8% in Gaia DR2. Using these results, we train a Gaussian Process Regressor to calibrate two photometric metallicity relationships. For dwarfs of $3500<T_{eff}<5280$ K, we use metallicity values of 4,378 stars from APOGEE and Hejazi et al. (2020) to calibrate the relationship, producing results with a $1\sigma$ precision of 0.12 dex and few systematic errors. We then indirectly infer the metallicity of 4,018 stars with $2850<T_{eff}<3500$ K, that are wide companions of primaries whose metallicities are estimated with our first regressor, to produce a relationship with a $1\sigma$ precision of 0.21 dex and significant systematic errors. Additional work is needed to better remove unresolved binaries from this sample to reduce these systematic errors.
The microbiome in IPF: tissue is not the issue.

The first line of defence in the airways is the epithelium. In health there are numerous mechanisms to repel invaders and facilitate repair of this barrier. However, when these mechanisms are ineffective, absent or simply become exhausted, fibrosis can ensue.1 For many years epidemiological studies have highlighted potential environmental triggers which could target and damage the epithelium in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but more recently we have come to understand the role of bacteria, and specifically the role of the ever-present respiratory microbiota in fibrogenesis. The dysbiosis of the lower airway microbiota in IPF has now been well described. There are clear associations with both the content and quantity of bacteria and clinical disease behaviour, with the most consistent signal related to the overall bacterial burden.2–5 This relationship is not simply the result of extensive anatomical changes or related to the extent of fibrosis6 and is specific to IPF.7 However, the potential mechanisms by …
COÛTS et AVANTAGES des DIFFERENTS TYPES d’ACTIONS CUMULÉES en DROIT AMÉRICAIN (Costs and Benefits of Different Forms of Aggregate Litigation in the United States)

French Abstract: Ce rapport destine, a des lecteurs de langue francaise, decrit les differents types d’actions cumulees qui existent aux Etats-Unis. Il fait valoir les avantages majeurs ainsi que les inconvenients des differentes formes de cumul d’actions delictuelles collectives en droit americain. Ce rapport a ete presente pour la premiere fois a la conference internationale GRERCA qui s’est tenue sur ce sujet a Bucarest en octobre 2019. [ Les multiples rapports presentes seront publies par la maison d’edition belge, LARCIER] English Abstract: This paper describes American forms of complex litigation for a European reader. It introduces the major advantages and disadvantages of different forms of joinder in American mass tort litigation. It was originally presented at the GRECA international conference on mass torts, in Bucharest in October 2019. (The conference proceedings are forthcoming from the LARCIER publisher, in Belgium.)
Exploring Students’ Dynamic Measurement Reasoning About Right Prisms and Cylinders

This study presents the results of a series of design experiments that aimed to engage twelve fourth-grade students in mathematical activity exploring the volume of right prisms and cylinders as a ...
Maternal mosaicism for a missense variant in the SMS gene that causes Snyder-Robinson syndrome.

There is increasing recognition for the contribution of genetic mosaicism to human disease, particularly as high-throughput sequencing has enabled detection of sequence variants at very low allele frequencies. Here, we describe an infant male who presented at 9 months of age with hypotonia, dysmorphic features, congenital heart disease, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Whole-genome sequencing of the proband and the parents uncovered an apparent de novo mutation in the X-linked SMS gene. SMS encodes spermine synthase, which catalyzes the production of spermine from spermidine. Inactivation of the SMS gene disrupts the spermidine/spermine ratio, resulting in Snyder-Robinson syndrome. The variant in our patient is absent from the gnomAD and ExAC databases and causes a missense change (p.Arg130Cys) predicted to be damaging by most in silico tools. While Sanger sequencing confirmed the de novo status in our proband, PCR and deep targeted resequencing to ~84,000-175,000x depth revealed that the variant is present in blood from the unaffected mother at ~3% variant allele frequency. Our findings thus provided a long-sought diagnosis for the family while highlighting the role of parental mosaicism in severe genetic disorders.
METABOLISM OF PHENYLALANINE-CONTAINING PEPTIDE AMIDES IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract Simmonds, Sofia (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.) and David D. Griffith. Metabolism of phenylalanine-containing peptide amides in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 83:256–263. 1962.—A study was made of the hydrolysis, by fresh and lyophilized cells of a phenylalanine auxotroph of Escherichia coli, of l-phenylalanyl-glycinamide and glycyl-l-phenylalaninamide. The former dipeptide amide is hydrolyzed to yield phenylalanine and glycinamide, the latter to yield glycine and phenylalaninamide. The slow degradation of phenylalaninamide yields the free amino acid. In spite of the presence of intracellular activity toward the two dipeptide amides, neither permits as much growth as that observed with an equimolar concentration of free phenylalanine. The relatively small extent of growth on the dipeptide amides, and also on l-phenylalaninamide, appears to result from the inability of the cells in a growing culture to take up all of the exogenous amide added to the growth medium. This, in turn, probably reflects the presence in the medium of the amides as a mixture of charged and uncharged forms, of which only the latter are readily taken into the cells.
Extrafloral nectaries producing rewards for pollinator attraction in Acacia longifolia (Andr.) Willd.

ABSTRACT Evidence is presented that the extrafloral nectaries (EFN) of Acacia longifolia Andr. Willd. serve as sources of rewards that attract pollinating insects. Bees and wasps feed at EFN often crawling over inflorescences and passively vectoring pollen as birds do on A. terminalis. The position in relation to inflorescences, timing of secretion in relation to flowering, and visitation behavior of pollinating insects support this hypothesis.
Altered cytotoxicity of ROS-inducing compounds by sodium pyruvate in cell culture medium depends on the location of ROS generation

Induction of oxidative stress by drugs and other xenobiotics is an important mechanism of cytotoxicity. However, in vitro studies on the relationship between oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in cultured cells is frequently complicated by the fact that cell culture medium components affect reactive oxygen species (ROS) exposures in ways that vary with the mode of ROS production. The objectives of this study were to first determine the mode of ROS induction by certain model compounds when they are applied to cultured cells, and then to determine how ROS induction and cytotoxicity were affected by the ROS-quenching medium component pyruvate. Three compounds, eseroline, benserazide, and pyrogallol induced H2O2 in cell culture media independent of cells. However, another compound, menadione, induced H2O2 in a manner largely dependent on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells used in this study, which is consistent with its known mechanism of inducing ROS through intracellular redox cycling. 1 mM pyruvate, as well as catalase, reduced the H2O2 in culture wells with each ROS inducer tested but it only reduced the cytotoxicity of cell-independent inducers. It reduced the cytotoxicity of benserazide and pyrogallol >10-fold and of eseroline about 2.5-fold, but had no effect on menadione cytotoxicity. From this data, it was concluded that depending on the mechanism of ROS induction, whether intra- or extracellular, a ROS-quenching medium component such as pyruvate will differentially affect the net ROS-induction and cytotoxicity of a test compound.
Security via Surveillance and Monitoring

We consider a class of surveillance and monitoring wireless sensor networks, where sensors are highly energy constrained. The goal is to explore the design space of energy-efficient/conserving communication mechanisms and protocols for this class of applications, and to gain a better understanding of the resulting performance implications and trade-offs. Firstly, we focus on a generic security surveillance and monitoring sensor network and examine how energy efficiency might be achieved via topology control or duty-cycling of the sensor nodes. This approach aims at prolonging the network lifetime by turning sensors on and off periodically and by utilizing the redundancy in the network. Secondly, we study a specific task scenario, i.e., the selfmonitoring of a surveillance sensor network. This may be viewed as a case study where we investigate the energy-efficient design of specific networking algorithms as well as the design trade-offs involved for given performance requirements.
The regulation of intermediate filament reorganization in mitosis. p34cdc2 phosphorylates vimentin at a unique N-terminal site.

Abstract The disassembly of vimentin-containing intermediate filament (IF) networks during mitosis in BHK-21 cells is accompanied by increased phosphorylation of vimentin (Chou, Y.-H., Rosevear, E., and Goldman, R. D. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 86, 1885-1889). We have recently identified p34cdc2 as the catalytic subunit of one of the two endogenous vimentin kinases in mitotic baby hamster kidney cells (Chou, Y.-H., Bischoff, J. R., Beach, D., and Goldman, R. D. (1990) Cell 62, 1063-1071). To begin to characterize the biochemical basis of the p34cdc2-mediated IF disassembly process, we have purified and sequenced the 32P-labeled tryptic peptides derived from in vitro-phosphorylated vimentin. The results demonstrate that Ser-55, in the N-terminal non-alpha-helical domain of vimentin, is the most favored phosphorylation site. This finding supports the idea that the N-terminal domain of type III IF protein plays a crucial role in regulating IF structure and supramolecular organization.
A Review of “Culture Jam: Hijacking Commercial Culture”

Seeing Is Believing: Handicams, Human Rights and the News, produced and directed by Katerina Cizek and Peter Wintonick, 2002. 58 minutes. Distributed by West Glen Films. Contact: info@westglen.com ...
Neuroblastoma in Childhood--An Evaluation of Surgical Management

Forty-five patients with neuroblastoma are reviewed, 41 more than 16 months post-operative. Fifteen of the forty-one are alive and well, a survival of 36.6 per cent. There appears to be some correlation between survival of patients with neuroblastoma and a major surgical insult to the tumor. In 22 patients where biopsy alone was carried out, there was a mortality of 87 per cent. In 19 patients treated by a surgical attempt at radical removal of the tumor, without subsequent radiation therapy, 12 survived, a rate of 63 per cent. Time age of the surviving patients at the time of diagnosis was 4.4 months as contrasted with an average of 34 months for those who died. The survival of 11 of 15 patients for periods ranging from 16 months to 12 years after diagnosis is unrelated to x-ray therapy. No patient in this series, free of gross metastases at the time of operation, has died up to the time of this report. Forty-nine per cent of the surviving patients had gross metastases, but no patient with metastases to lung or bone survived.
The Art and Science of Optical Design

The Art and Science of Optical Design is a comprehensive introduction to lens design, covering the fundamental physical principles and key engineering issues. Several practical examples of modern computer-aided lens design are worked out in detail from start to finish. The basic theory and results of optics are presented early on in the book, along with a discussion of optical materials. Aberrations, and their correction, and image analysis are then covered in great detail. Subsequent chapters deal with design optimisation and tolerance analysis. Several design examples are then given, beginning with basic lens design forms, and progressing to advanced systems, such as gradient index and diffractive optical components. In covering all aspects of optical design, including the use of modern lens design software, this book will be invaluable to students of optical engineering as well as to anyone engaged in optical design at any stage.
The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change: Climate change: present scientific knowledge and uncertainties

This chapter summarizes what we know about climate change, and where the key uncertainties and gaps in our present knowledge lie. Contrary to the impression you might get from following the debate in the news, we actually know a great deal about the climate – about its present status, observed variation and trends, the extent of human influence on it, and potential future changes. We parse the questions of the reality and importance of climate change into four separate, specific questions. Is the climate changing? Are human activities responsible for the observed changes? What are the likely climate changes over the next century or so? What will the impacts of future climate changes be? For each of these, we will review the available evidence and summarize the present scientific consensus, the degree of uncertainty, and the key remaining disagreements. Is the climate changing? To answer this question, we must first sharpen it in three ways. First, we must define what we mean by “climate.” Climate is not just temperature, but also includes such factors as humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, and winds, etc. Although changes in any of these quantities can matter, we focus on temperature because it is the climatic characteristic for which the best data are available and the one that should be most directly influenced by greenhouse-gas emissions. Second, we must specify the time period we will consider.
Everyday cognition in temporal lobe and frontal lobe epilepsy

The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the performance of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) on cognitively-based daily living tasks. The hypothesis was that patients with TLE would demonstrate relatively more impairment on a test of everyday memory, while patients with FLE would demonstrate relatively more impairment on a test of everyday executive function. The five Daily Living subtests of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) were administered to twenty-five patients with TLE and nine patients with FLE. The two groups were matched on all demographic variables. The hypothesis was not confirmed: the TLE and FLE patient groups did not demonstrate a double dissociation in memory and executive daily functioning. Rather, both groups were significantly impaired in daily memory functioning, while their executive daily functioning test scores were within normal limits. Relative deficits were also noted in attention in the TLE group and in language in the FLE group, suggesting that despite having focal lesions, functional impairments may be seen in a broad range of daily activities in these patient groups. Generalizability of the findings is limited due to the small number of subjects and because the everyday cognition measures employed may not have been adequately sensitive. Future studies are needed with larger sample sizes to provide a better understanding of how cognitive impairment in epilepsy is associated with deficits in daily functioning.
Comparative Analyses of Rigid Pavements

Stress conditions in concrete pavements were analyzed using the finite element method for slabs on liquid and elastic subgrades. The study consisted of the following parts: (1) The effect of the efficiency of load transfer across the joints; (2) the loading positions that produce the most critical stress and deflection conditions in the pavement; (3) the effect of temperature warping and gaps under the pavement; (4) the nonlinear effect due to the partial contact between the slabs and the supporting subgrade; (5) the stress conditions in the continuously reinforced concrete pavements; and (6) stress and deflection basins in the concrete slabs and the subgrade contact pressures. Implications of the computed results on pavement designs are discussed.
Deformation in laboratory-shocked quartz

Abstract Single crystal quartz, shocked in the laboratory to 150–260 kbar pressures, was examined using optical, X-ray, electron microscope, and cathodoluminescence techniques. Results indicate that long range crystal order is maintained for pressures up to 150 kbar, and possibly as high as 260 kbar. Deformation occurred by production of glass intermingled in the crystal lattice, and by formation of planar elements (microfault zones, glassy plates, fractures, and shock lamellae) apparently created during initial loading. Microfault zones were formed in shear, fractures and lamellae in tension, and glassy plates in an intermediate stress regime. No dislocations attributable to shock were observed. Vitrification occurred as a sharp phase transition, with no transitional lattice distortion. Quartz shocked to 150 and 260 kbar was similar in appearance, and could not be definitely distinguished.
Prolonged salutary effects of isosorbide dinitrate and nitroglycerin ointment on regional left ventricular function

To assess the long-term effects of orally and topically administered nitrates on left ventricular function, 11 patients with previous myocardial infarction were studied with use of isosorbide dinitrate, 20 mg orally, nitroglycerin ointment, 12.5 to 40 mg and placebo ointment. Both nitrates produced a sustained decrease in systolic blood pressure and estimated left ventricular wall stress but no change in heart rate during 4 hours of study. The triple product of heart rate, systolic blood pressure and left ventricular ejection time decreased by 21 percent after administration of isosorbide dinitrate (P < 0.001) and 19 percent after administration of nitroglycerin ointment (P < 0.001). The echocardiographic left ventricular end-diastolic dimension decreased significantly after isosorbide dinitrate (from 52.4 to 49.2 mm at 2 hours, P < 0.01) and nitroglycerin ointment (from 52.4 to 50.5 mm, P < 0.01). The end-systolic dimension was similarly reduced. Left ventricular sites showing abnormally small excursion (less than 3 mm) on wall motion videotracking showed improved motion after the administration of each nitrate, and the velocity of systolic inward motion was consistently increased after each. Thus, determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption, such as systolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection time, left ventricular size and triple product appear to be consistently reduced for at least 4 hours after administration of isosorbide dinitrate and nitroglycerin ointment, and impairment of left ventricular wall motion appears to be significantly decreased.