cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social media partnerships with patient organizations for neuro-oncology patient recruitment

Background In neuro-oncology, traditional methods of enrolling the large numbers of participants required for studies of disease etiology and treatment response are costly, labor intensive, and may not include patients in regions without tumor registries. Methods In the Yale Acoustic Neuroma (AN) Study and International Low-Grade Glioma (LGG) Registry, we partnered with several brain tumor patient organizations to develop social media enrollment campaigns and use web-based data collection resources at the Yale University School of Public Health to test alternative methods to enroll neuro-oncology patients for epidemiologic study. Results In the AN study, we enrolled 1024 patients over 2 years. Of these, 865 patients completed the online questionnaire, 697 returned written consent, 583 sent a pathology report, and 569 returned a saliva specimen. The completed 569 participants did not differ by age or treatment from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data but were more likely to be female (67% vs 52%) and white (94.8% vs 84%). Patients learned of the study through the Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA) website (61.3%), ANA support group members (18%), and social media (primarily Facebook). Costs per patient enrolled were approximately 10% to 20% that of traditional registry-based enrollment methods. Results for the LGG study were similar. Conclusions Although additional effort will be required to ensure a diverse participant population, partnership with established patient organizations along with use of web-based technology and social media allowed for the successful enrollment of neuro-oncology patients at a fraction of the cost relative to traditional methods.
Ventral hernia patient outcomes postoperatively housed on surgical vs non-surgical units.

Inpatient hospital units vary in staffing ratios, monitoring, procedural abilities, and experience with unique patients and diagnoses. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of patient cohorting upon ventral hernia repair outcomes. An IRB-approved retrospective review of open ventral hernia repairs between August 2013 and July 2017 was performed. The information of all patient locations during hospitalization, time at location, post-anesthesia care unit duration (PACU), and intensive care unit (ICU) duration was collected. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative details, cost, and patient outcomes were analyzed. Multivariable analysis of log length of stay (LOS) was assessed with adjustment for clinical and operative factors. 235 patients underwent open ventral hernia repair. 179 patients were admitted to surgical units, 33 non-surgical units, and 23 stayed on both units. Clinical characteristics including patient age, gender, BMI, and medical comorbidities were similar between patients boarded on surgical versus non-surgical units. Hernia, wound, and operative data were also statistically similar. Patients admitted to non-surgical units for any duration experienced longer hospital stay (4 vs. 6 days, p < 0.001). Patients housed on a non-surgical unit were more likely to transfer rooms than patients on surgical units, 42.9% vs. 10.1% (p < 0.001), respectively. Multivariable analysis of natural log-transformed LOS showed any stay on a non-surgical unit increased LOS by 1.0 days (95% Cl 0.9–1.2 days, p = 0.026). There were no differences in ICU or PACU stay, cost, or postoperative complications in patients housed on surgical versus non-surgical units. Postoperative surgical patients had an increased length of stay when admitted to non-surgical units. More frequent room transfers occurred in patients admitted to non-surgical units. Evaluation of patient outcomes and LOS in open ventral hernia repair patients based on hospital unit is unique to this study.
Cannabis and Coronavirus: Impact on Medical Cannabis Industries in Three States

The COVID-19 pandemic, while detrimental to the American economy as a whole, positively impacted the cannabis industry in many ways. This paper examines how the pandemic changed the medical cannabis industries in three states where medical cannabis programs were recently implemented -- Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. In all three states, cannabis dispensaries were declared essential businesses and have remained in operation throughout the pandemic. Due to the necessities of social distancing and minimizing contact, the medical cannabis programs in these states implemented new, innovative measures such curbside pickup, online ordering technology, drive-thru windows, delivery systems, and telehealth consultations. Additionally, some states loosened restrictions on supply limits and caregiver registration, making medical cannabis more accessible to patients. This paper suggests that many of these changes should remain permanent after the pandemic ends because they have modernized and, in some cases, legitimized, the cannabis industries in these states.
Short-chain free-fatty acid G protein-coupled receptors in colon cancer.

Abstract The dietary role of macronutrients and their metabolites in cancer has been evident for many decades. Dietary ingestion of fat, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, as well as probiotics that influence gut microbiota, have all been linked to gastrointestinal (GI) tract health and disease, particularly in the colon, where it has long been known that fat and fiber can regulate inflammation and carcinogenesis. Short-chained fatty acids (SCFA), including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which are biosynthesized by microbiota-mediated metabolism of dietary fiber, have previously been shown to play important roles in colorectal health, including decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress. Since the 1980s, a growing number of studies have also demonstrated a link between SCFA and colon epithelial cell carcinogenesis and prevention of colorectal cancers (CRC). While the effects of SCFA have historically been associated with their intracellular metabolism and function, the discovery of a family of G protein-coupled free-fatty acid receptors in the early 2000s suggests that many effects of SCFA are cell-surface receptor mediated. Indeed, the SCFA GPCRs FFA2 (previously termed GPR43), FFA3 (previously termed GPR41), and GPR109A are now well established to be expressed within the GI tract, where they modulate a variety of functions in response to luminal SCFA. While the role of SCFA in cancers, including CRC, has been reviewed in detail elsewhere, the goal of this report is to provide a review on the current body of evidence in regard to the effects of SCFA on FFA2, FFA3, and GPR109A in colon cancers.
Improving high school physics outcomes for young women

A two-week summer program that engages young women in inquiry-based physics experiments and connects them with female professional role models improves performance in introductory physics.
Improving tolerability of pembrolizumab with weight based dosing: A meta-analysis.

2639Background: Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), has demonstrated significant clinical activity in various cancers. Despite a favorable toxicity profile, discontinuation due...
Microtubule Targeting Agents in Disease: Classic Drugs, Novel Roles

Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) represent one of the most successful first-line therapies prescribed for cancer treatment. They interfere with microtubule (MT) dynamics by either stabilizing or destabilizing MTs, and in culture, they are believed to kill cells via apoptosis after eliciting mitotic arrest, among other mechanisms. This classical view of MTA therapies persisted for many years. However, the limited success of drugs specifically targeting mitotic proteins, and the slow growing rate of most human tumors forces a reevaluation of the mechanism of action of MTAs. Studies from the last decade suggest that the killing efficiency of MTAs arises from a combination of interphase and mitotic effects. Moreover, MTs have also been implicated in other therapeutically relevant activities, such as decreasing angiogenesis, blocking cell migration, reducing metastasis, and activating innate immunity to promote proinflammatory responses. Two key problems associated with MTA therapy are acquired drug resistance and systemic toxicity. Accordingly, novel and effective MTAs are being designed with an eye toward reducing toxicity without compromising efficacy or promoting resistance. Here, we will review the mechanism of action of MTAs, the signaling pathways they affect, their impact on cancer and other illnesses, and the promising new therapeutic applications of these classic drugs.
Convergence analysis for linear turbo equalization

In this paper, we propose a method for the analysis of linear turbo equalization that makes use of extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) charts. Given the channel knowledge and a time-invariant set of linear equalizer coefficients, the evolution of soft information in the soft-input soft-output (SISO) equalizer can be estimated via analytically measuring the mutual information between the transmitted symbols and their estimated a priori values at the two end points of an EXIT chart. Using this estimated equalizer EXIT chart and an empirically generated decoder EXIT chart, convergence analysis can be undertaken. In comparison with existing EXIT chart based methods, the proposed approach can significantly reduce the reliance on extensive computer simulation.
Birc6 drives drug resistance and cell survival in chronic myeloid leukemia (1055.6)

BIRC6 is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), a family of functionally and structurally related endogenous proteins known to inhibit apoptosis. High levels of BIRC6 have been re...
The DIII-D Radiative Divertor Project: Status and plans

New divertor hardware is being designed and fabricated for the Radiative Divertor modification of the DIII–D tokamak. The installation of the hardware has been separated into two phases, the first ...
The average likelihood ratio for large-scale multiple testing and detecting sparse mixtures

Large-scale multiple testing problems require the simultaneous assessment of many p-values. This paper compares several methods to assess the evidence in multiple binomial counts of p-values: the maximum of the binomial counts after standardization (the `higher-criticism statistic'), the maximum of the binomial counts after a log-likelihood ratio transformation (the `Berk-Jones statistic'), and a newly introduced average of the binomial counts after a likelihood ratio transformation. Simulations show that the higher criticism statistic has a superior performance to the Berk-Jones statistic in the case of very sparse alternatives (sparsity coefficient $\beta \gtrapprox 0.75$), while the situation is reversed for $\beta \lessapprox 0.75$. The average likelihood ratio is found to combine the favorable performance of higher criticism in the very sparse case with that of the Berk-Jones statistic in the less sparse case and thus appears to dominate both statistics. Some asymptotic optimality theory is considered but found to set in too slowly to illuminate the above findings, at least for sample sizes up to one million. In contrast, asymptotic approximations to the critical values of the Berk-Jones statistic that have been developed by Wellner and Koltchinskii (2003) and Jager and Wellner (2007) are found to give surprisingly accurate approximations even for quite small sample sizes.
An Emic View of Student Writing and the Writing Process

This study uses student reflections of previous success in academic writing to guide instructors as they design writing assignments. Seventy-one students in five classes responded to a questionnaire designed to help them identify particularly successful writing experiences and reflect on the circumstances, strategies, and methods they believed impacted their success. Student responses to these questions were analyzed to identify broad categories or themes. This process produced an “emic” or insider’s view of what constitutes successful writing assignments and writing process. The findings suggest that students self report their writing as successful when the writing assignment engenders engagement, commitment, collaboration, a systematic approach, and opportunities for external confirmation. Instructors can include these considerations as they plan the writing assignments for their courses. Discovering what student writers believe constitutes good writing and what strategies most effectively help them produce high quality writing provides an opportunity to design writing assignments that empower students to join the conversation in their discourse community. If faculty are aware of student perceptions of writing assignments and use those perceptions in assignment design, the products may be more satisfying for both student writers and faculty readers.
Competition between superconductivity and nematic order: anisotropy of superconducting coherence length

We study the interplay between nematic order and superconductivity, motivated by a recent experiment on FeSe observing strongly distorted vortex shapes [Song et al., Science 332, 1410 (2011)]. We show that the nematic order strongly enhances the anisotropy in the superconducting coherence length, beyond that expected from considerations of the Ginzburg-Landau theory. We obtain universal functions describing the coupling between the nematic order and superconductivity, and discuss connections of our results to the experiments.
Reading the Rural Modern: Literacy and Morality in Republican China1

This essay was runner-up in the 2007 History Compass Graduate Essay Prize, Asia Section. In the mid-1920s many education reformers turned their attention away from the urban illiterates who had been the focus of recent mass education efforts and toward the countryside and rural residents instead. In order to engage rural readers, reformers created a body of literature that addressed rural issues, articulating a reformed vision of a modern countryside as they did so. As the most prominent of the mass education programs, the Mass Education Movement's publications reached millions of Chinese. On the pages of their 1920s publications, the MEM constructed a vision of a ‘rural modern’ that emphasized a literate citizenry as the basis of a reformed countryside and modern nation. In this way, even while reformers attempted to democratize access to knowledge, they affirmed a Confucian relationship of education to morality.
EFFECT ON READING COMPREHENSION OF TRAINING TO AUTOMATICITY IN WORD-READING

Automaticity training, aimed at decreasing latencies to read a specific set of words, was given to an experimental group of third-graders. A control group of third-graders was not given this traini...
Computational models: a modest role for content

Abstract The computational theory of mind construes the mind as an information-processor and cognitive capacities as essentially representational capacities. Proponents of the view (hereafter, ‘computationalists’) claim a central role for representational content in computational models of these capacities. In this paper I argue that the standard view of the role of representational content in computational models is mistaken; I argue that representational content is to be understood as a gloss on the computational characterization of a cognitive process.
Processes Contributing to Variability in Regional Patterns of Juvenile River Herring Abundance across Small Coastal Systems

Abstract Many populations of anadromous herring, (e.g., alewives Alosa pseudoharengus and blueback herring A. aestivalis, collectively referred to as river herring) are in decline. To help understand the various processes influencing their relative abundance, we studied juvenile river herring populations in 11 small, coastal Massachusetts systems. We examined diel and seasonal movements, variation in patterns of abundance, and relationships between juvenile river herring numbers and seven abiotic and biotic factors (stream discharge, pond temperature, habitat availability, pond transparency, pH, food availability, and spawning stock size). Seasonally, juvenile downstream migration peaked in early summer, and most juvenile river herring emigrated between 1200 and 1600 hours. Little or no emigration occurred in late summer when stream channels were often dewatered, although several streams experienced a smaller, more variable emigration peak in the fall. In univariate regressions, stream discharge, pond vol...
Effects of substrate temperature on the growth of thin platinum deposits on rock salt

Abstract Effects of rock salt substrate temperatures before and during deposition of platinum were examined. Crystallographic orientation and uniformity of particle distribution increased with increasing predeposition substrate temperature at a fixed deposition temperature of 200°c. Crystallographic orientation and particle density decreased with increasing deposition substrate temperature at a fixed predeposition substrate temperature at 450°c. For a fixed predeposition substrate temperature of 400°c and a deposition temperature of 200°c, varying the deposition time from 15 min to 1 min at a constant incidence rate of 8 × 1012 cm−2 sec−1 did not result in a significant change in the surface density of particles, indicating that nucleation was completed in less than 1 min and only growth was being observed. The observed temperature dependence of the surface density of particles indicates that this particle density is apparently diffusion controlled, but the existence of preferential growth sites on the su...
A smoke-mixing device for measuring nicotine preference

A smoke-mixing device is described that allows individuals to select their preferred nicotine deliveries from cigarette smoke on a puff-by-puff basis. This methodology offers advantages over previous strategies to investigate the role of nicotine as a reinforcing constituent of tobacco.
Comparison between ADT and PPT for 2X DRAM patterning

Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography is almost only solution reachable for next-generation lithography below 30nm half pitch with relative cost competitiveness. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of EUV lithography for applying 2X nm dynamic random access memory (DRAM) patterning. Very short wavelength of 13.5nm adds much more complexity to the lithography process. To understand for challenges of EUV lithography for high volume manufacturing (HVM), we study some EUV specific issues by using EUV full-field scanners, alpha demo tool (ADT) at IMEC and pre-production tool (PPT) at ASML. Good pattern fidelity of 2X nm node DRAM has been achieved by EUV ADT, such as dense line and dense contact-hole. In this paper, we report on EUV PPT performance such as resolution limit, MEEF, across slit CD uniformity (CDU) and focus & exposure latitude margin with 2X nm node DRAM layers in comparison with ADT performance. Due to less flare and aberration of PPT, we have expected that PPT shows good performance.
Targeted intracellular codelivery of chemotherapeutics and nucleic acid with a well-defined dendrimer-based nanoglobular carrier

Codelivery of different therapeutics has a potential to efficaciously treat human diseases via their synergetic effects. We have recently developed a new class dendrimers, poly(l-lysine) dendrimers with a silsesquioxane cubic core (nanoglobules). These dendrimers have compact globular and well-defined structures and highly functionalized surfaces, and can be used as versatile carriers for biomedical applications. In this study, a generation-3 (G3) nanoglobular dendrimer was used to conjugate a peptide c(RGDfK) with a PEG spacer for codelivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and siRNA. Doxorubicin (DOX) was coupled to the RGD targeted nanoglobule via a degradable disulfide spacer to give G3-[PEG-RGD]-[DOX]. G3-[PEG-RGD]-[DOX] showed higher cytotoxicity than free DOX at high doses in glioblastoma U87 cells. G3-[PEG-RGD]-[DOX] was further complexed with siRNA and such complexes were readily internalized by U87 cells as shown by confocal microscopy. The siRNA complexes of the targeted conjugate resulted in significantly higher gene silencing efficiency in U87-Luc cells than those of control conjugates G3-[PEG-RGD] and G3-[DOX]. The nanoglobules are promising carriers for the codelivery of nucleic acids and chemotherapeutic agents.
Ultrastructural analysis of polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the adult mouse.

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus are recognized as the principal circadian clock in mammals. The adult SCN express a high level of polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), a cell surface sialoglycoprotein capable of modulating cell-cell interactions. In the present study, the expression of PSA-NCAM in the mouse SCN was studied at the ultrastructural level by immunolabeling using monoclonal antibodies against the polysialic acid (PSA) moiety of PSA-NCAM. We showed that neuronal somal expression of PSA-NCAM was distributed heterogeneously in the SCN, with extensive staining of somas in the central region of the SCN, and minimal somal staining in the ventral portion of the nuclei. In contrast, immunoreactive neuropil, including unmyelinated fine axon fascicles was distributed throughout the SCN. The PSA-NCAM was also detected adjacent to synaptic junctions by both immunoperoxidase and immunogold techniques. For astrocytes, immunostaining of somas and larger processes was sparse, but staining was profuse along fine processes. Immunostained fine astrocytic processes were frequently observed between apposing neuronal somas, and in close association with synaptic junctions and small blood vessels. These findings, together with the demonstrated role of PSA-NCAM in modulating cell-cell interactions in other brain regions support a role for PSA-NCAM in regulating cell-cell interactions in the SCN. Anat Rec 256:448–457, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Perinatal stimulation facilitates suckling onset in newborn rats

The fetus' experience of birth derives from a sequence of stimulation provided by the mother's labor contractions, her licking and handling, and the contrasting environmental conditions of the uterus and outside world. In the present investigation, Day 21 fetal rats were externalized from the dam's body; subjects in one uterine horn were compressed by simulated uterine contractions while control subjects in the opposite horn were not compressed. All pups were Cesarean-delivered, stroked, and exposed to a thermal environment simulating either room (21°C), nest (33°C), or intrauterine (36°C) temperature. After 1-hr exposure to the experimental temperature, all pups were maintained at 33°C and tested for their suckling response to an anesthetized dam. When newborns were tested at 120 min postpartum, simulated contractions increased the probability of nipple attachment in pups exposed to 21°C relative to noncompressed littermates maintained at the same temperature. Atypically warm postpartum conditions (nestlike or intrauterine) obviated the effects of compression by increasing suckling above the levels seen in noncompressed newborns exposed to the cool condition. Thus, compressions facilitate the achievement of suckling under thermal conditions resembling those typically encountered by the newborn rat. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 32: 91–99, 1998
Pediatric concussions in sports; a simple and rapid assessment tool for concussive injury in children and adults

Background We established a routine protocol for concussion evaluation in athletes for nonmedical personnel. The evaluation, management guidelines, and return-to-play recommendations were summarized with a memorable mnemonic on a convenient handheld card.
Exclusion of genetic linkage to 4q21-23 and 17q21 in a family with lewy body parkinsonism

Genetic analysis of markers from chromosomes 4q21-23 and 17q21 in a family with apparently autosomal dominant Lewy body parkinsonism is presented. This analysis shows that the locus leading to this disease is not allelic with that previously shown to lead to Lewy body parkinsonism on chromosome 4 or to the locus on chromosome 17 leading to frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism. A brief clinical comparison of this family with families showing linkage to these loci is presented. The data suggest that at least one other major genetic determinant for Lewy body parkinsonism remains to be identified.
Split ends antagonizes the Notch and potentiates the EGFR signaling pathways during Drosophila eye development.

The Notch and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways interact cooperatively and antagonistically to regulate many aspects of Drosophila development, including the eye. How output from these two signaling networks is fine-tuned to achieve the precise balance needed for specific inductive interactions and patterning events remains an open and important question. Previously, we reported that the gene split ends (spen) functions within or parallel to the EGFR pathway during midline glial cell development in the embryonic central nervous system. Here, we report that the cellular defects caused by loss of spen function in the developing eye imaginal disc place spen as both an antagonist of the Notch pathway and a positive contributor to EGFR signaling during retinal cell differentiation. Specifically, loss of spen results in broadened expression of Scabrous, ectopic activation of Notch signaling, and a corresponding reduction in Atonal expression at the morphogenetic furrow. Consistent with Spen’s role in antagonizing Notch signaling, reduction of spen levels is sufficient to suppress Notch-dependent phenotypes. At least in part due to loss of Spen-dependent down-regulation of Notch signaling, loss of spen also dampens EGFR signaling as evidenced by reduced activity of MAP kinase (MAPK). This reduced MAPK activity in turn leads to a failure to limit expression of the EGFR pathway antagonist and the ETS-domain transcriptional repressor Yan and to a corresponding loss of cell fate specification in spen mutant ommatidia. We propose that Spen plays a role in modulating output from the Notch and EGFR pathways to ensure appropriate patterning during eye development.
Differentiated Contracts: Giving Students Freedom to Learn

Each semester students enter college classrooms, waiting for dictation from the instructor on what they will read, discuss, and learn. Using direct instruction, often based on Hunter's (1994) Instr...
Effects of neutron irradiation on Nd-Fe-B magnetic properties

Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets from two different manufacturers were irradiated in the Omega West reactor at Los Alamos National Laboratory, with fast neutrons at temperatures of 426 K (153 degrees C) and 350 K (77 degrees C) to fluences of 5.0*10/sup 16/ N/cm/sup 2/ and 6.1*10/sup 16/ N/cm/sup 2/, respectively. At intervals during the irradiation the samples were removed from the reactor and the remanence measured at room temperature. The initial loss of remanence for irradiation at 426 K was 10% for a fluence of 10/sup 15/ N/cm/sup 2/. At 350 K the initial loss rate was roughly half this value. The loss rates were nearly the same for samples from the two different manufacturers. These losses are due to the irradiation since the remanence does not decay with annealing at 426 K. Remagnetization after irradiation results in full recovery of the remanence and roughly a 20% increase in the coercivity. Evidence from this experiment suggests that the primary mechanism for loss of remanence is nucleation of reverse domains by the collision cascade and subsequent growth into the original domain. >
Constitutive behavior of superplastic materials

Superplasticity is an intriguing inelastic process in solid materials with deformation upto several thousand percent. Forming sheet and bulk materials using superplastic forming has become an established manufacturing method in aerospace and lately in other industries. Developing the right constitutive behavior is important not only for modeling the process for manufacturing by engineering mechanicians but for choosing the right composition and processing for material scientists. Such an ideal constitutive equation has been eluding the analysts so far. This paper examines some of the fundamental misgivings about the origin of inelastic process in superplasticity compared to other well known deformation processes. Also an attempt is made to understand the basic characteristics of superplastic inelastic deformation at macroscopic, mesoscopic and atomic levels.
From Healing to Witchcraft: On Ritual Speech and Roboticization in the Hospital

Healthcare Information Technology (HIT), touted as a panacea by U.S. political actors ranging from Newt Gingrich to Barack Obama, is central to emerging forms of healthcare governance which Holmes et al.—in their critique of the institutionalization of magical thinking brought about by Orwellian techno-Newspeak—have provocatively labeled fascistic. Drawing from data collected over 3 years of working with and teaching continuing education (CE) courses for thousands of registered nurses as lead political educator for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), I argue that HIT is an integral component of a broader technological restructuring of healthcare and thus society, both of which are part of a social discourse that is tied to a transformative system of ritual speech, with profound implications for healthcare work, patient health, and democracy.
Understanding and harnessing the graft‐versus‐leukaemia effect

The graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) effect is a central component of the stem cell allograft's ability to cure haematological malignancies. The GVL effect is mediated by donor-derived natural killer cells and T lymphocytes, which have distinct mechanisms of recognizing and targeting the recipient's malignant cells. After transplantation the cytokine milieu is favourable to the early establishment of a GVL effect, but the need to prevent graft-versus-host disease limits the full potential of this process. Clinical studies have identified some critical components of the transplant preparation, donor selection, stem cell source (peripheral blood versus bone marrow) and post-transplant management that can be manipulated to optimize the GVL effect. However, further developments focusing on the selective depletion of unwanted alloreactivity with preservation of GVL effects, and the use of vaccines or the adoptive transfer of leukaemia-specific lymphocytes, will be required to enhance the GVL effect to reliably eradicate more resistant leukaemias.
Visualization in the neurosciences: utility in research, teaching, and clinical practice

Discusses the uses of visualization in the field of neuroscience is reported. The applications discussed are image analysis for basic neurobiological problems, image analysis from basic to applied neurobiological problems, management of images and graphics from anatomical experiments, and visualization and analysis of multivariate electrophysiological data sets. >
Teaching Business Statistics in a Computer Lab: Benefit or Distraction?

Teaching in a classroom configured with computers has been heralded as an aid to learning. Students receive the benefits of working with large data sets and real-world problems. However, with the advent of network and wireless connections, students can now use the computer for alternating tasks, such as emailing, web browsing, and social networking. Do these distractions diminish the benefits of the computers? An experiment was conducting comparing exam scores in two different classes, one class held in a traditional classroom and another class taught in a computer lab classroom. Holding constant other factors such as student's ability and demographics, the results show a small negative effect from conducting class in a computer equipped classroom.
Effect of polymeric steric stabilizers on the settling of alumina

The effect of polymeric steric stabilizers on the dispersion stability of alumina was determined by settling experiments. The theoretical settling density was determined for alumina in a 90:10 wt% toluene-ethanol mixed solvent. Polymers evaluated were sulfonated polystyrenes, Shell's functionalized Kraton block polymers (styrene-hydrogenated diene), ICI's polymeric surfactants, homopolystyrene, a nonfunctionalized Kraton block polymer, and two Union Carbide Corporation silwet surfactants. The high-molecular-weight sulfonated polystyrene (60,000) containing a low level of sulfonation, functionalized Kraton block polymers, and one ICI polymeric surfactant were effective in improving the dispersion stability of the alumina. The percent of theoretical settling density for the “good” polymeric steric stabilizers ranged from 45 to 50%. The low-molecular-weight sulfonated polystyrene (10,000 MW), homopolystyrene, unfunctionalized Kraton block polymer, one ICI polymeric surfactant, and the silwet surfactants were ineffective in improving the dispersion stability of the alumina in the mixed solvent. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Photorefractive Spatial Light Modulator

A novel concept for implementing a high resolution spatial light modulator using a thin slab of photorefractive crystal is described. Experimental demonstration as well as an analysis of the operation and performance of the device are given.
Lotus 1-2-3 simulation of frequency encoding on the basilar membrane

A spreadsheet simulation was designed to describe frequency encoding on the basilar membrane according to the place theory (Greenwood, 1961). For any given frequency, the simulation displayed the location of maximum amplitude on the basilar membrane and the relevant critical bandwidth. The authors found a very high correlation between data given by the simulation and data from empirical research. The high correlation indicates the validity of the place theory of frequency encoding and the usefulness of this simulation for future research purposes.
Epoetin alpha decreases the number of erythrocyte transfusions in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma: results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is an expected consequence of intensive chemotherapy regimens administered to patients with acute leukemia. This study was designed to determine whether epoetin alpha would decrease the number of transfusion events and units of packed erythrocytes (PRBCs) transfused, and the secondary objective was to study the effects of epoetin alpha on quality of life (QOL) and complete remission (CR) rates. METHODS: Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), or Burkitt lymphoma (BL) who were receiving frontline myelosuppressive chemotherapy were randomized to receive epoetin alpha or no epoetin during the first 6 cycles of their planned chemotherapy. QOL was assessed by using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Anemia questionnaires. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were randomized to receive epoetin alpha, and 54 patients received no epoetin. Transfusion data were available for 79 of 81 evaluable patients (98%) who completed the treatment/observation period. The trial was stopped early because of poor accrual before the target of 123 evaluable patients was met. A mean of 10.6 units of PRBCs over 5 months were administered to those who received epoetin alpha compared with 13 units for those who did not receive epoetin (P = .04). There was no significant difference in QOL as assessed by the FACT-Anemia or ESAS instruments. The CR rate and the 3-year CR duration were not affected adversely by use of epoetin alpha. CONCLUSIONS: Epoetin alpha decreased the number of PRBC transfusions and did not appear to have a negative impact on remission duration. No difference in QOL was observed. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Real-Time Model-Based Gait Retraining for Knee Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 66 million Americans (or nearly 1 in 3 adults) currently suffer from arthritis, with osteoarthritis (OA) being the most common form, and the knee being the joint most commonly affected. Despite the need for early treatment, few clinical interventions slow the progression of knee OA. Since articular cartilage is responsive to the amount of joint loading, reducing compressive loads in the diseased compartment may slow the rate of cartilage breakdown. Because medial compartment load cannot be measured non-invasively in vivo, an external measure to quantify the desired load reduction has been sought. The best candidate found thus far is the external knee adduction moment during gait [1]. This moment exhibits two peaks during the gait cycle, one during early stance phase and the other during late stance. A high peak knee adduction moment has been correlated with increased disease severity [2] and an increased rate of disease progression [3].Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The accumulation of visceral adipose tissue may be influenced by intra-abdominal temperature.

Despite the established link between visceral obesity and major chronic diseases, little is known about physiologic factors that directly and specifically lead to the accumulation of visceral fat. I hypothesize that reduced intra-abdominal temperature might be a physical factor underlying the partitioning of adipose tissue to the intra-abdominal region rather than the periphery. The hypothesis is supported by biochemical reports that rat and bovine lipoprotein lipase have increased activity when incubated at lower temperatures. Persons exercising in cool water have been found to preserve subcutaneous fat whereas comparable exercise without local cooling results in subcutaneous fat loss. Pima Indians, a group that commonly acquires extreme levels of visceral fat, have been found to have lower intra-abdominal temperatures during sleep than weight-matched European-Americans. In a study of four young men and four young women, I have noted that mean intra-abdominal basal temperatures were higher for women than men (36.51 +/- 0.18 degrees C vs. 35.91 +/- 0.11 degrees C; p = .0014). Since the men are more likely to acquire visceral obesity at later age, this also provides support for my hypothesis. Investigators might wish to examine further the temperature dependence of adipose-tissue lipoprotein lipase, the temperature variation between sites of adipose tissue, and the effects of foods, physical activities, smoking and drugs on localized body temperature.
Mining Semantic Time Period Similarity in Spatio-Temporal Climate Data

Over the last decade, advances in high performance computing and remote sensing have produced a vast amount of spatio-temporal data. One area that this data explosion is most prevalent is climate science. With this in mind, there is an increasing need to characterize large spatio-temporal datasets. One such characterization is to find periods of time that exhibit the same spatio-temporal pattern. The focus of this research is to find similar spatio-temporal patterns for semantic time periods. A semantic time period could be any arbitrary division in time such as year, month, or week. The proposed approach first characterizes the data spatially by using one of three approaches including local entropy, local spatial autocorrelation, and local distance-based outliers, to identify interesting spatial features in the dataset. Then, a location/time period matrix which is analogous to a term/document matrix in natural language processing is created to capture the spatial features for a given semantic time period. This matrix contains a count of for each spatial location, the number of times that it is a feature of interest during a semantic time period. Then using latent semantic analysis, the cosine similarity for each semantic time period is calculated. The results are then clustered using affinity propagation. The results show that the similarity matrix produced by distance-based outliers creates the best clustering. The approach is demonstrated on a modeled global climate dataset where we clustered years from 1948 to 2012.
Gonadotropin specificity of androgen secretion by amphibian testes.

Testes of amphibians representing three anuran and four urodelan families were examined for their abilities to secrete androgens in vitro in response to highly purified amphibian (Rana) and ovine LH or FSH. A relatively high specificity for LHs over FSHs was found for Rana catesbeiana, Ambystoma tigrinum, and Bolitoglossa species. For Rana, testis pieces and dispersed testis cells responded similarly. Ovine and homologous Ambystoma LHs were highly active in Ambystoma, relative to the respective FSHs, and Rana LH was moderately more potent than Rana FSH. In contrast, androgen secretion by testes of Bufo marinus and Pseudoeurycea smithi was elicited by both gonadotropins; LH appeared to be somewhat more potent than FSH, but dose—response curves were not parallel. In Xenopus laevis, ovine gonadotropins were equally potent, and only a slight specificity for Rana LH over FSH was observed. For Taricha species, FSHs were generally equally potent to, or more potent than LHs. Homologous pituitary homogenate, but not Rana or ovine gonadotropins, stimulated androgen secretion by Necturus maculosus testes. Although LH specificity was observed in the two species in which homologous gonadotropins were tested (Rana and Ambystoma), the results generally do not support the hypothesis of LH specificity for testicular androgen secretion in Amphibia.
TEXTURAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF α‐AMYLASE TREATED POI STORED AT 4C

Poi, a purplish paste made of cooked taro (Colocasia esculenta), hardens rapidly to a rubbery gel at a refrigeration temperature of 4C. This gelling phenomenon was averted by an addition of α-amylase in poi prior to refrigeration. Two sources (porcine pancreas and Aspergillus oryzae) of the enzyme were compared at usage levels of 200 units and 2,000 units. Both the viscosity readings and textural analyses indicated that the enzymatic treated poi maintained a fresh-poi like softness. The α-amylase from porcine pancreas exhibited the least effect at the 200 unit level, while the α-amylase from Aspergillus oryzae caused a slight thinning of the starch staple. The sensory evaluation indicated that the textural attributes were in agreement with the instrumental measurements. Their flavor profiling indicated a loss of the taro taste, however, no off-flavor was observed from the enzymatic treatment at 4C for up to seven days. Le poi, une pâte violacee preparee a partir de taro cuit (Colocasia esculenta), durcit rapidement en gel caoutchouteux a une temperature refrigeree de 4°C. Ce phenomene de gelification peut etre evite par addition d'α-amylase dans le poi avant refrigeration. Deux sources de cette enzyme (pancreas porcin et Aspergillus orysae) sont comparees a des concentrations d'utilisation de 200 et 2000 unites.
MULTIELEMENT ANALYSIS OF FOODS STORED IN THEIR OPENED CANS1

A multielement analysis of canned foods was performed on foods stored in their opened containers. Canned fruits and fruit juices were sampled upon initial opening as well as two and five days after opening. After mineralization, the samples were analyzed for 25 elements using an inductively coupled argon plasma. The following elements were quantitated: Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Sn, Ti, and Zn. The concentration of Fe and Sn increased between successive sampling days. These increases did not exceed permissible limits of Sn in canned foods and the Fe concentrations may be of nutritional interest. A decrease in the concentration of P between successive sampling days was associated with insoluble material formation. Scanning electron microscope micrographs coupled with X-ray fluorescence analysis of the can interior surfaces were used to characterize the corrosion of the interior surface of the cans.
Fluorescent antibody test for neonatal congenital syphilis: A progress report**

Sera from newborn infants with reactive VDRL and FTA-ABS tests were examined in an indirect IgM fluorescent antibody procedure. This experimental test was reactive in all 18 cases of neonatal syphilis and nonreactive in all clinically normal infants studied. Although the γM-FTA-ABS test appeared to be at least as specific as the VDRL and FTA-ABS tests, further study is necessary in order to definitely establish its sensitivity. The test appears to be specific for neonatal congenital syphilis and sometimes reverts to normal after adequate treatment.
Representations for Lie superalgebras of type C

Abstract Let G =osp(2,2n) be the classical Lie superalgebra of type C of rank n+1. Let λ be a partition with λ1⩽n. Then λ labels a finite-dimensional irreducible G -module, V(λ). We describe the character of V(λ) in terms of tableaux. This tableaux description of characters enable us to decompose T=⊗fV, the f-fold tensor product of the natural representation of G , into its irreducible submodules and to show that the centralizer algebra of G on T is isomorphic to the Brauer algebra Bf(2−2n) for n>f.
Neuroleptic dose: A statistical model for analyzing historical trends

Neuroleptic dosing practices during inpatient treatment of schizophrenia were examined for 1490 admission episodes during 1973 through to 1982 in two wards of a university hospital. Chlorpromazine-equivalent dose levels (CPZE) declined 50% between 1974 and 1980. As expected, length of treatment and choice of drug were both strongly related to CPZE. The general drop in CPZE is not explained by shorter treatment and changing choice of drug, however. Oral fluphenazine, haloperidol, and depot fluphenazine are used to higher maximum levels than chlorpromazine and other neuroleptics, when maximum dose is reached after one week or longer. The results illustrate that by seeking an appropriate statistical model, aggregate trends in dosing practices can be described while avoiding several of the shortcomings of earlier surveys of hospital practice.
Altruism as a reason for participation in clinical trials was independently associated with adherence.

Abstract Background To determine whether altruism as reason for participation in research is independently associated with adherence to a medical regimen in a clinical trial. Methods Participants were 475 participants in the Women's Estrogen for Stroke Trial. Before randomization to estrogen or placebo, all women were questioned about reason for participation and baseline features that may contribute to adherence. Adherence was defined as completion of at least 80% of expected pill intake during the trial. Results Women who reported at least one altruistic reason for participation were more likely to be college educated, have a higher level of social support, and a better functional status. They were also more likely to be adherent to their study medication {155 of 212 (73%) vs. 158 of 253 (62.5%), P Conclusion Altruism may explain a small portion of the variation in adherence among research participants. This relationship may have implications for recruitment of participants in clinical research. The possible contribution of altruism to the relationship between adherence and outcomes in clinical trials is worthy of further investigation.