cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE MECHANISM OF VITAL STAINING WITH BASIC DYES

1. Solutions containing NH(4)OH and NaOH, and CO(2) and HCl may be used to produce various combinations of extracellular and intracellular reactions in starfish eggs, Gonionemus, and Nitella cells. 2. Staining by basic dyes is, with a constant intracellular reaction, favored by increased extracellular alkalinity. With a constant extracellular reaction, staining is hindered by increased intracellular alkalinity. 3. These facts are in opposition to the view that staining of cells by basic dyes is chiefly governed by a combination of the dyes with cell proteins. It is more in harmony with the view that the combination is with a substance or substances of acid nature.
LDx: Estimation of Linkage Disequilibrium from High-Throughput Pooled Resequencing Data

High-throughput pooled resequencing offers significant potential for whole genome population sequencing. However, its main drawback is the loss of haplotype information. In order to regain some of this information, we present LDx, a computational tool for estimating linkage disequilibrium (LD) from pooled resequencing data. LDx uses an approximate maximum likelihood approach to estimate LD (r2) between pairs of SNPs that can be observed within and among single reads. LDx also reports r2 estimates derived solely from observed genotype counts. We demonstrate that the LDx estimates are highly correlated with r2 estimated from individually resequenced strains. We discuss the performance of LDx using more stringent quality conditions and infer via simulation the degree to which performance can improve based on read depth. Finally we demonstrate two possible uses of LDx with real and simulated pooled resequencing data. First, we use LDx to infer genomewide patterns of decay of LD with physical distance in D. melanogaster population resequencing data. Second, we demonstrate that r2 estimates from LDx are capable of distinguishing alternative demographic models representing plausible demographic histories of D. melanogaster.
TRAM Regulates the Exposure of Nascent Secretory Proteins to the Cytosol during Translocation into the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Translocational pausing is a mechanism used by certain specialized secretory proteins whereby discrete domains of a nascent chain destined for the endoplasmic reticulum lumen are transiently exposed to the cytosol. Proteoliposomes reconstituted from total endoplasmic reticulum proteins properly assemble translocationally paused intermediates. The capacity of the translocon to correctly pause the nascent chain is dependent on a glycoprotein fraction whose active component is TRAM. In the absence of TRAM, the normally sealed ribosome-membrane junction still opens in response to a pause transfer sequence. However, nascent chain domains that are not exposed to the cytosol in the presence of TRAM are so exposed in its absence. Thus, TRAM regulates which domains of the nascent chain are visible to the cytosol during a translocational pause.
Segmentation analysis of US older adults living in multifamily housing: reasons for moving

This study investigated multifamily housing consumer profiles among the US people age 55 and above based on their reasons for moving into current multifamily housing. A total of 431 samples were collected by an online research survey company using convenience sampling. The three reasons for moving were found from an exploratory factor analysis: the multifamily living reason, the nearby activities reason and the financial reason. A cluster analysis uncovered three groups of multifamily housing consumers: the neighbourhood seekers, the upscale housing seekers and the affordable housing seekers. The segmentation of older consumers living in multifamily housing provides insights into the characteristics of consumers who find multifamily housing appealing and/or needed. It also identifies features and factors about multifamily that will appeal to each segment of the market.
Constructing critical autoethnographic self-studies with white educators

Autoethnography was used as a tool for white in‐service elementary teachers to examine their racial identity from a Critical White Studies (CWS) perspective. Two white in‐service teachers participated in two yearlong university courses focused on teaching linguistically and culturally diverse students. Each teacher collected their own data at their school site and used autoethnographic methods to critically analyze their own teaching experiences and personal reflections. Results from the study illustrate the ways in which autoethnographic study can be used as an instrument for white teachers to frame their own critique of their white racial identity, as it relates to their classroom instruction.
In vivo determination of cell cycle kinetics of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas using iododeoxyuridine and bromodeoxyuridine.

Using sequential infusions of two S-phase-specific drugs, iododeoxyuridine and bromodeoxyuridine, we have developed an in vivo method for determining the labeling index (LI), the S-phase duration (Ts), and total cell cycle times (Tc) of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In nine non-Hodgkin's lymphomas studied, the LI ranged from 1.5% in a follicular small cleaved-cell lymphoma to 29.6% in a diffuse large-cell lymphoma. The Ts ranged from 16 hr in a large-cell lymphoma (immunoblastic type) to 117 hr in a follicular small cleaved-cell lymphoma. The Tc varied from 69 hr in a large-cell lymphoma (immunoblastic type) to over 1000 hr in all low-grade lymphomas studied. Immunohistochemical methods using anti-BrdU antibodies were used to detect cell incorporation of the two S-phase-specific drugs. In this manner, cell cycle times could be calculated while the architecture of the tumor specimen was preserved. Difficulties in using this methodology, specifically in the calculation of the growth fraction and total cell cycle...
Polymorphism in selenospinels—A high pressure phase of CdCr2Se4☆

Abstract The selenospinel, CdCr 2 Se 4 , has been transformed under high-pressure and temperature to a new structure with monoclinic symmetry related to the defect-NiAs structure and with the lattice parameters: a = 14.62A, b = 6.90A, c = 11.45A, and β = 91.0°. This is consistent with the spinel-to-monoclinic transformations found for the thiospinels, FeCr 2 S 4 , CoCr 2 S 4 , and MnCr 2 S 4 . The high-pressure phase is retained indefinitely at atmospheric pressure and room temperature but retransforms at 125C. The pressure-temperature boundary between the phases has a slope of −15.2°/kbar over the temperature range of 400–750C. Under pressure, the structural change is accompanied by a change from semiconducting to metallic electrical behavior with a drop in resistance from 5 × 10 2 –5.5 × 10 −2 ohms. The magnetic moment at 4.2K decreased from ∼5.6μ B for the spinel phase, which orders ferromagnetically, to ∼0.035μ B for the monoclinic phase, which has weak antiferromagnetic ordering.
Experimental study of the reactions K− +p → π− + Ω+ and K− +p → π− + Y∗ + (1385) at 8 and 16 GeV/c

Abstract Differential cross sections have been measured for K − + p → π − + Ω and K − + p → π − + Y ∗ + (1385) at 8 and 16 GeV/c and at small momentum transfer, using the missing mass spectrometer technique. The cross sections continue to be a factor of two higher than those for the corresponding associated production reactions obtained by line reversal, in disagreement with exchange degeneracy.
Structure and Evolution of the 22 February 1993 TOGA COARE Squall Line: Aircraft Observations of Precipitation, Circulation, and Surface Energy Fluxes

Abstract This study documents the precipitation and kinematic structure of a mature, eastward propagating, oceanic squall line system observed by instrumented aircraft during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). Doppler radar and low-level in situ observations are used to show the evolution of the convection from an initially linear NNW–SSE-oriented convective line to a highly bow-shaped structure with an embedded low- to midlevel counterclockwise rotating vortex on its northern flank. In addition to previously documented features of squall lines such as highly upshear-tilted convection on its leading edge, a channel of strong front-to-rear flow that ascended with height over a “rear-inflow” that descended toward the convective line, and a pronounced low-level cold pool apparently fed from convective and mesoscale downdrafts from the convective line; rearward, the observations of this system showed distinct multiple maxima in updraft strength with...
Nitric oxide and fetal coronary regulation.

The determinants of coronary flow in the heart were studied using the chronic near-term fetal sheep model. Coronary flows were measured using implanted Doppler probes on the fetal circumflex artery calibrated with radiolabelled microspheres. Experiments were conducted to calculate maximal coronary flow under conditions of systolic work, chronic, and acute hypoxemia. Pressure-flow conductance curves were also constructed during adenosine administration. These studied showed that maximal right ventricular systolic work increases flow from a resting level of some 200 mL x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) to only about 60% of the maximal coronary flow under chemical vasodilation with adenosine (800 mL x min(-1) x 100 g(-1)). Chronic hypoxemia leads to a resting flow of some 800 mL x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) but with a remaining reserve of some 400 mL x min(-1) x 100 g(-1). Nitric oxide synthase blockade with N(u)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) depresses coronary flow at all levels of oxygen content and depresses myocardial oxygen consumption even under normoxemic conditions. Fetal coronary flow increases dramatically during severe acute hypoxemia and may exceed the maximal levels found during adenosine administration without a loss of ventricular function. However, in the presence of L-NNA and severe hypoxemia, coronary flow does not exceed flows found during adenosine administration.
Real rigidities and real exchange rate volatility

Abstract This paper shows that certain real rigidities can help explain high volatility of real exchange rates relative to other macroeconomic aggregates. An international real business cycle model is used to demonstrate that real exchange rate volatility increases if (i) it is costly to move labor between sectors and (ii) the consumption of tradable goods requires distribution services. Model dynamics are generated by shocks to productivity and preferences based on sectoral output, employment and consumption data from G-7 countries. The introduction of intersectoral adjustment and distribution costs substantially increases the real exchange rate volatility generated by the model.
Effects of repeated collaborative retrieval on individual memory vary as a function of recall versus recognition tasks.

Our research examines how prior group collaboration modulates later individual memory. We recently showed that repeated collaborative recall sessions benefit later individual recall more than a single collaborative recall session (Blumen & Rajaram, 2008). Current research compared the effects of repeated collaborative recall and repeated collaborative recognition on later individual recall and later individual recognition. A total of 192 participants studied a list of nouns and then completed three successive retrieval sessions in one of four conditions. While two collaborative recall sessions and two collaborative recognition sessions generated comparable levels of individual recall (CRecall-CRecall
Transformation of the Warm Waters of the North Atlantic from a Geostrophic Streamfunction Perspective

To obtain a description of the hydrographic state of the North Atlantic Current‐subpolar front (NAC‐SPF) system, historical hydrographic data from the subpolar North Atlantic are projected into a baroclinic streamfunction space, resulting in three-dimensional Gravest Empirical Mode (GEM) fields for temperature and specific volume anomaly, parameterized by pressure, dynamic height, and day of the year. From the specific volume anomaly GEM, the corresponding potential vorticity field is calculated. These fields are constructed for 12 subregions, chosen to follow the mean path of the NAC‐SPF system. Analysis of the seasonal potential vorticity cycle of the GEM fields shows that the main mechanism for the formation of Subpolar Mode Water is winter convection. The GEM fields are also used to obtain the approximate location of formation sites for the different Subpolar Mode Water classes. The evolution of the mean fields for the waters is studied along baroclinic streamlines of the NAC‐SPF system. This shows that cross-frontal mixing, between the cold and fresh subpolar waters and the salty and warm waters coming north from the subtropics via the Gulf Stream, is the dominant mechanism for the light-to-dense transformation process of the NAC‐SPF waters that enter the western subpolar region. On the other hand, a combination of atmospheric cooling, vertical mixing during wintertime convection, and entrainment of the saltier waters found on the northeastern subtropical gyre is the main factor transforming the NAC‐SPF waters that enter the eastern subpolar gyre. This suggests that an influx along the eastern margin of salty water from the European Basin plays a significant role in the transformation of the NAC‐SPF waters that continue their way toward the Nordic seas.
Poverty, Literacy, and Politics: Living in the USA

The following article by Patrick Shannon is the second installment of a three-part series on literacy and educational policy in jlr's Critical Issues section. Previously (Volume 23, Number 2), Judith Green with Carol Dixon, David Pearson, and Sharon Quint commented respectively on the ideas they believed to be crucial for policymakers to know about literacy, from their view as literacy researchers. At the same time, we published Donna Alvermann's reaction to the views of the three researchers. Patrick Shannon now addresses how poverty and social disadvantages relate to literacy research and policy issues. In the next issue of jlr (Volume 23, Number 4), we will publish the comments of several high-ranking policymakers who have been asked to respond to the literacy researchers' views on literacy and educational policy.We hope that this series of “Critical Issues” pieces will stimulate increased dialogue about educational policy among researchers interested in literacy and between researchers and policymaker...
Mechanisms of EGF-induced stimulation of sodium reabsorption by alveolar epithelial cells

We investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on active Na+ absorption by alveolar epithelium. Rat alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) were isolated and cultivated in serum-free medium o...
On Paraphrase Identification Corpora

We analyze in this paper a number of data sets proposed over the last decade or so for the task of paraphrase identification. The goal of the analysis is to identify the advantages as well as shortcomings of the previously proposed data sets. Based on the analysis, we then make recommendations about how to improve the process of creating and using such data sets for evaluating in the future approaches to the task of paraphrase identification or the more general task of semantic similarity. The recommendations are meant to improve our understanding of what a paraphrase is, offer a more fair ground for comparing approaches, increase the diversity of actual linguistic phenomena that future data sets will cover, and offer ways to improve our understanding of the contributions of various modules or approaches proposed for solving the task of paraphrase identification or similar tasks.
Leopoldo Alas y Zola: Paralelismos divergencias temáticos

La opinion critica de Leopoldo Alas "Clarin" sobre las novelas naturalistas de Emile Zola es bien conocida. En las paginas siguientes, intentare senalar un numero de afinidades y contrastes en los dos novelistas, respecto de la manera como ellos abordaron los temas de la fertilidad, lo "maternal", la esterilidad, la decadencia y la podredumbre. Un analisis paralelo subrayay pone en evidencia las tendencias de Zola en el trabajo de Clarin y, al mismo tiempo, nos muestra como el autor espanol fue mas alla y dio sus propios matices a la vena naturalista.
I. Antigen presentation in the intestine: new rules and regulations *

The recognition that immune responses in the intestine differ from those seen systemically has led to a search for novel pathways involved in mucosal immunoregulation. One cell type that has surfaced as a prime candidate for such a regulatory role is the intestinal epithelial cell. A number of laboratories have documented that intestinal epithelial cells sample luminal antigens and process and present these to primed T cells. However, several unique features have emerged, making their potential role as antigen-presenting cells a critical part of mucosal homeostasis.
Endovascular embolization of prominent intercavernous sinuses for successful transsphenoidal resection of Cushing microadenoma: case report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Prominent intercavernous sinuses may result in vigorous bleeding during transsphenoidal resection of pituitary microadenomas and lead to incomplete or aborted tumor resection. We report the use of coil embolization of the intercavernous sinuses to prevent uncontrollable bleeding before transsphenoidal surgery is reattempted. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old man with Cushing disease underwent an attempt for transsphenoidal resection of an adrenocorticotrophic hormone― producing pituitary microadenoma. This approach was aborted secondary to profuse intercavernous sinus bleeding. The patient underwent endovascular coil embolization of the anterior intercavernous sinuses with complete obliteration. Six weeks later, he underwent successful transsphenoidal resection of the microadenoma. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful coil embolization of the intercavernous sinuses to prevent uncontrolled bleeding before transsphenoidal resection of pituitary microadenomas.
Queer Rhetoric in Situ

Queer theory often poses normativity as a primary exigency and target for queer resistance, which can result in anticipatory and ahistorical readings. A methodology of “queer rhetoric in situ” intervenes in this propensity by examining the contingent, historically specific relations among locally enforced norms, rhetors, acts, and multiple audiences. Queerness and normativity should be understood as shifting, fractured valences, rather than two cohesive opposing forces attached to perceived forms of sexual orientation, families, or activisms. A rhetorical case study of the Gay Liberation Monument’s controversial and delayed instantiation in New York’s Greenwich Village illustrates the stakes of this methodological shift.
Adult Endothelial Progenitor Cells From Human Peripheral Blood Maintain Monocyte/Macrophage Performance in Vitro Culture

Objective:To examine the biological characteristic of adult endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs),especially the monocyte function performance of the cells. Methods:Mononuclear cells(MNCs)isolated from human peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation were plated on human fibronectin-coated culture plates and cultured in EGM-2 medium.The surface marker profile,proliferative capacity and performance of EPCs were examined. Results:The growth curve showed that the formed spindle shape cells had little proliferative capacity.Although the cells ex- pressed some endothelial lineage markers,they also had expression of monocyte marker.For the first time,we identified the mono- cytoid performance of EPCs by combining DiI-Ac-LDL and Indian ink uptake test.All the cells were positive for the Indian ink uptake in the culture.The cells also underwent in vitro angiogenesis assay,but the result was negative. Conclusion:Although adult EPCs from human peripheral blood have some EC lineage properties,they maintain typical mono- cyte function and have little proliferative capacity.
INVESTIGATION OF HIV/AIDS AMONG 523 OUTPATIENTSAT STD CLINICS IN LUANNAN DISTRICT,HEBEI

Objective:To investigate HIV/STD infection prevalence and the epidemiological characteristics of outpatients at STD clinics in Luannan District,and provide scientific data for HIV/STD prevention and intervention.Methods:An anonymous questionnaire survey on behaviors was given to 523 outpatients at STD clinics.ELISA was used for the determination of HIV and syphilis.Results:The total prevalence of HIV/STD was 17.97%(94/523),including 0.19%(1/523)HIV,and 8.99%(47/523) syphilis.Co-infections accounted for 2.10%(11 cases).In the last three months,46.85%(245 cases) had non-married sex peers and only 28.16%(69 cases) used condoms at every sexual activity.Conclusion:The STD infection rate is high in outpatients at STD clinics in Luannan District.Non-married sex behaviors and low percent of condom use at every sexual activity are high risk for STD/AIDS infections.We suggest that efforts should be made to strengthen propaganda and education for STD/AIDS prevention,facilitate condom use programs and HIV voluntary counseling and testing(VCT) services,diagnose and treat STD/AIDS patients,so as to improve the quality of STD/AIDS control and prevention.
Inhibition of synthesis of lung proteins by halothane.

The effect of halothane exposure on synthesis of lung proteins was investigated. In rat lungs perfused in situ with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer containing plasma levels of 19 amino acids, 690 µM [14C]phenylalanine, 5.6 mM glucose, and 4.5% bovine serum albumin, protein synthesis was linear for at least 4 hr. Halothane (1-4% equilibrated with O2/N2/CO2, 4:15:1) rapidly inhibited protein synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, with about a 10% depression of the rate for each 1% increment in halothane. The inhibition was rapidly and completely reversed when halothane delivery was stopped; it was not associated with depletion of tissue ATP or with nonspecific changes in cellular permeability. A similar reversible and dose-dependent inhibition of protein synthesis was observed in primary cultures of mixed lung cells incubated in Dulbecco’s minimal essential medium containing 10% donor calf serum. These results suggested a significant but reversible inhibition of protein synthesis, exerted at the cellular level, in lungs exposed to halothane.
Theses for Computation and Recursion on Concrete and Abstract Structures

The main aim of this article is to examine proposed theses for computation and recursion on concrete and abstract structures. What is generally referred to as Church’s Thesis or the Church-Turing Thesis (abbreviated CT here) must be restricted to concrete structures whose objects are finite symbolic configurations of one sort or another. Informal and principled arguments for CT on concrete structures are reviewed. Next, it is argued that proposed generalizations of notions of computation to abstract structures must be considered instead under the general notion of algorithm. However, there is no clear general thesis in sight for that comparable to CT, though there are certain wide classes of algorithms for which plausible theses can be stated. The article concludes with a proposed thesis RT for recursion on abstract structures.
An Experimental Model of Neonatal Testicular Torsion: Evidence Against an Exclusively Extravaginal Etiology

Abstract The present study was designed to determine whether extravaginal torsion of the spermatic cord (EVT) can be distinguished from intravaginal torsion (IVT) on the basis of gross and histologic examination of the testis. It is traditionally believed that EVT, postulated to occur only in neonates, can be grossly distinguished from IVT, which occurs in older patients, on the basis of adherence between testis and tunica vaginalis. Such adherence is felt to be present in EVT but not IVT. This concept that the two types of torsion can be distinguished in the operating room has important clinical ramifications. In cases of EVT, contralateral orchidopexy theoretically need not be performed, since adhesions develop between tunica vaginalis and dartos by a few weeks of age. This is in contrast to IVT, in which contralateral orchidopexy is necessary due to the bilateral nature of the bell clapper deformity. Using a rat model, we first demonstrated that IVT could produce adherence of the tunica vaginalis to testis. Then, eight rats were operated on, producing right IVT and left EVT. Animals were then sacrificed at intervals of up to one month. Gross and histologic examination showed involvement of the tunica vaginalis in an ischemic and inflammatory response in a majority of testes, regardless of the type of torsion. Attempts to distinguish EVT from IVT on the basis of grossly evident adhesions between tunica vaginalis and testis are of questionable validity. Early contralateral orchidopexy is therefore recommended in all cases of neonatal torsion.
Mitigating Permeability Contrasts in Heterogenous Reservoirs Using Advanced Preformed Particle Gels

The present work presents a nanocomposite preformed particle gel for conformance control in mature oilfields. This product was observed to have a better performance than conventional hydrogels without nanomaterials. Preformed particle hydrogel was designed by the reaction of monomer, initiator, cross-linker, additives, and sodium montmorillonite nanomaterial, whereas conventional hydrogel is designed from just monomer, initiator, cross-linker and additives. The presence of nanomaterial in hydrogel design affords it tremendous improvement in nanocomposite gel properties and behaviour compared to conventional hydrogels without any nanomaterial. Additionally, swelling performance, post-degraded gel viscosity, and long-term thermal resistance of nanocomposite gel increased by several orders of magnitude compared to hydrogels with no nanomaterial. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) revealed the presence of a very dense 3D network compared to hydrogels with no nanomaterial. On incorporation of nanomaterial, increase in gel strength of up to 600% was observed. Thus, they are potential replacements for existing preformed particle gels in mitigating permeability variations in mature reservoirs. [Received: March 14, 2014; Accepted: March 2, 2015]
Organizing design alternatives using VHDL configurations

Efficient management of design alternatives is not only desirable in searching for optimal solutions for a given design task, but crucial for maintenance and reuse of existing design bases. A methodology for organizing alternatives, based on the VHDL (VHSIC hardware description language) construct configuration, is presented. The language basics of the VHDL configuration are reviewed. Different forms of configurations and their characteristics are identified. A scheme of presenting configurations as graphic symbols is outlined. The use of configuration in circuit construction is classified into three categories. A methodology is then presented for organizing design alternatives in the VHDL design environment. An adder design example is used to illustrate some of the key features of the methodology. >
Fracking: A creature of government?:

Like most other things, fracking has its good and bad points. In the former regard, it is a technological breakthrough that can increase the supplies of energy of the entire economy. In the latter,...
When Sex Threatened the State: Illicit Sexuality, Nationalism, and Politics in Colonial Nigeria, 1900-1958. By Saheed Aderinto. (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2015. Pp. xiii, 241. $32.00.)

Finally since Luise White's groundbreaking Comforts of Home [1990], which detailed the problem of prostitution in colonial Nairobi, students of African studies are once again provided with an intri...
Switching between internal and external modes: A multiscale learning principle

Brains construct internal models that support perception, prediction, and action in the external world. Individual circuits within a brain also learn internal models of the local world of input they receive, in order to facilitate efficient and robust representation. How are these internal models learned? We propose that learning is facilitated by continual switching between internally biased and externally biased modes of processing. We review computational evidence that this mode-switching can produce an error signal to drive learning. We then consider empirical evidence for the instantiation of mode-switching in diverse neural systems, ranging from subsecond fluctuations in the hippocampus to wake-sleep alternations across the whole brain. We hypothesize that these internal/external switching processes, which occur at multiple scales, can drive learning at each scale. This framework predicts that (a) slower mode-switching should be associated with learning of more temporally extended input features and (b) disruption of switching should impair the integration of new information with prior information.
Creating Student Organizations to Promote Careers in Academic Pharmacy.

The high rate of faculty vacancies is an issue that has plagued schools and colleges of pharmacy throughout the United States for the past 10-15 years. A 2002 survey by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) found a severe faculty shortage, with an average of six open positions per
Prevalence of Laryngeal Cleft in Pediatric Patients With Esophageal Atresia.

Importance Esophageal atresia (EA), with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), and laryngeal cleft are rare congenital anomalies that often occur together. Previous reports have established a link between EA/TEF and laryngeal cleft, but there have been no large case series to further characterize this relationship. Objectives To assess the prevalence of laryngeal cleft among patients with EA/TEF, identify associations between types of laryngeal cleft and EA/TEF, and identify factors associated with the timing of diagnosis for both conditions. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective analysis of 270 patients. The Esophageal Atresia database was used to identify patients seen at the Esophageal and Airway Treatment (EAT) Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, a tertiary referral hospital, from August 1, 2009, to August 1, 2016. Patients were included if they were younger than 18 years at the time they were diagnosed with EA, TEF, or both and had undergone a procedure or examination by a surgeon from the EAT Center. Patients with acquired airway or esophageal problems were excluded. Main Outcomes and Measures Data regarding patient demographics, primary diagnoses, dates of diagnosis, comorbidities, and airway/esophageal surgical interventions were collected and analyzed. Association between type of EA/TEF and laryngeal cleft type was evaluated. Secondary outcomes were age at diagnosis between patients who resided in Massachusetts and those who resided outside the state. Results Of 270 patients diagnosed with EA/TEF during the 7-year period, 138 (51.1%) were male, and the median age at diagnosis of EA/TEF was 1.0 years (IQR, 0.4-2.0) and at diagnosis of laryngeal cleft was 1.1 years (interquartile range [IQR], 0.6-2.8). Laryngeal cleft was diagnosed in 53 of the 270 patients (19.6%) (95% CI, 14.9%-24.4%). No apparent difference was found in the distribution of types of laryngeal cleft by type of EA/TEF. Among patients with EA/TEF type A or B, 9 patients (56%) had a type I cleft, 6 (38%) had a type II cleft, and 1 (6%) had a type III cleft. Among those with EA/TEF type C or D, 20 (57%) had a type I cleft, 11 (31%) had a type II cleft, and 3 (9%) had a type III cleft. Out-of-state patients were more likely to be diagnosed with EA/TEF at an older age than in-state patients (mean difference, 1.5 years; 95% CI, 0-2.9 years). Conclusions and Relevance Pediatric patients with EA/TEF have a much greater prevalence of laryngeal cleft than the general population. Multidisciplinary esophageal and airway programs serve as an ideal clinical setting for management of EA/TEF.
Good marriages gone bad: Health mismatches as a cause of later-life marital dissolution

This study explores the impact of health status on marital dissolution for couples in late mid-life. A key feature of the empirical framework is that it incorporates the interaction of health between the spouses. This specification allows not only a general test of whether health matters but also a specific test of an important implication of cost-benefit models of marriage dissolution. In particular,cost-benefit models imply that marriages exhibiting a ``health mismatch'' (where one partner has substantially better health than the other one) are more likely to get divorced than couples who have similar health (whether good or bad). Using a Cox proportional hazards model, we test this hypothesis by estimating the impact of different spousal health combinations on the probability of marital dissolution (as indicated by separation). Data are taken from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1992–1998) and consist of 4,241 couples where at least one spouse is between the ages of 51 and 61 in 1992. We do find evidence for the health mismatch hypothesis, but only among couples in which both couples report their marriages to be very satisfying. Among other couples, no effect is found. This suggests that health is of minor consequence for already unhappy couples, but health mismatches pose a significant risk of dissolution to happy couples within this age cohort, possibly because of the unexpected nature of poor healthat a relatively young age.
Waste Product Handling

The optimal waste treatment system is most effectively identified through a survey to ascertain waste volume and characteristics and water consumption records. Wastewater pollution is measured through biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), total organic carbon (TOC), settleable solids (SS), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and fats, oil, and grease (FOG). Two important aspects to consider when treating industrial waste loads are (1) the hydraulic load and (2) the pollution strength of the wastewater. More composting is being practiced as a method for solid waste disposal.
Fish and Shellfish Toxins

Fish- and shellfish-associated toxins are generally derived from toxic microalgae or cyanobacteria growing in the water from which the fishes are harvested with the exception of the scombroid toxin, which is associated with bacterial decarboxylation of fish protein. Six types of algal toxins that are involved in fish and shellfish poisoning include (i) paralytic shellfish poisoning, (ii) diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, (iii) neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, (iv) ciguatera fish poisoning, (v) azaspiracid shellfish poisoning, and (vi) amnesic shellfish poisoning. Scombroid toxin shows allergenic response, while the majority of the algal toxins (Na-channel blocker) affect nerve impulse propagation. Fish and shellfish poisoning are manifested by the diarrhetic, neurological, or anaphylactic response and are prevalent in people living in the coastal areas because of the increased consumption of seafood. Global warming and climate change have been attributed to increased fish-related food poisoning due to increased toxic algal bloom. Toxins are heat-stable; thus, cooking or heating may not be able to inactivate them. To prevent food poisoning, fish and shellfish should be harvested from clean water or purchased from a certified or licensed source before consumption.
The development of fluorescence guided surgery for pancreatic cancer: from bench to clinic.

Introduction: Surgeons face major challenges in achieving curative R0 resection for pancreatic cancers. When the lesion is localized, they must appropriately visualize the tumor, determine appropri...
Over a Decade of Crop Transgenes Out-of-Place

An early concern about genetically engineered crops was that transgenes might have undesirable consequences if they ended up in plants and places for which they were not intended. It has been over two decades since the first transgenic plants were environmentally released and over a decade since they have been commercialized. It is time to take stock of crop transgenes out of place. I have assembled a selected compilation of 22 incidents of in which crop transgenes were detected in living organisms (seeds or plants) in situations for which they were not intended. Contrary to initial concerns, crop transgenes have rarely introgressed into wild populations, but rather have often ended up in a different variety of the same species. Evolving regulatory policy should heed the large (and increasing) number of well-documented cases of transgenes out-of-place. In particular, it should treat the processed products of transgenic crops differently from living organisms, such as grain, that, if planted, are capable of multiplying their genes.
A comparison of reinforcement learning methods for automatic guided vehicle scheduling

Automatic Guided Vehicles or AGVs are increasingly being used in manufacturing plants for transportation tasks. Optimal scheduling of AGVs is a difficult problem. A learning AGV is very attractive in a manufacturing plant since it is hard to manually optimize the scheduling algorithm to each new situation. In this paper we compare four reinforcement learning methods for scheduling AGVs. Q-learning[Watkins and Dayan 921 and R-learning[Schwartz 931 do not use action models. Q-learning optimizes the discounted total reward, while R-learning optimizes the average undiscounted reward per step. ARTDP[Barto et al. to appear] is a discounted method that uses action models. H-learning[Tadepalli and Ok 941 is an undiscounted version of ARTDP based on an algorithm of Jalali and Ferguson[Jalali and Ferguson 891. In our domain(see Figure l), there are two queues generating jobs, an AGV, a moving obstacle and two lanes. Queue 1 generates jobs for lane 2 half the time and Queue 2 always generates lane 1 jobs. The task of AGV is to move jobs from the queues to their destination lanes while avoiding collisions with the obstacle, which randomly moves up and down. There are a total of 540 states. At any time an AGV may do nothing, load, unload, or move up, down, left or right. The goal is to maximize the average reward per step. An experiment compared Q-learning, R-learning, ARTDP and H-learning in our AGV domain. The reward is -5 when the AGV collides with the obstacle, +5 when it unloads a job to lane 1, and +l when it unloads a job to lane 2. Figure 1 shows the medians of average reward per step over 30 trials evaluated separately after turning off learning at various stages. To enable exploration, 50% of the time a randomly chosen action was excuted during learning. The parameters of ARTDP, Q-learning, and R-learning were tuned to this domain by trial and error. ARTDP with discount factor y=O.9 and Q-learning could not converge to the optimal policy even after 2 million steps. Even though R-learning and ARTDP with high y converged to the
Wind Turbine Experimental Dynamic Substructure Development

Structural dynamic development of modern wind turbines is important for control and to maximize the fatigue life of the wind turbine components. Modeling can be used in development to aid designs. In some cases an experimental dynamic model, or substructure, may be cheaper to develop and more accurate than an analytical model. Some applications for which dynamic substructures could be useful for wind turbine development are presented. Recent advances have provided renewed interest in the topic of experimental dynamic substructures. A focus group has been formed in the Society for Experimental Mechanics to advance the experimental dynamic substructures technology and theory. Sandia National Laboratories has developed two identical test beds to enable the focus group to advance the work. The system chosen was an Ampair 600 wind turbine with a fabricated tower and base. Some modifications were made to the system to make it more linear for initial studies. The test bed will be available for viewing in the technology booth of the IMAC exposition. A description of the turbine and modifications will be presented. Initial measurements on the full system will be described. Organizations already performing experiments on the test bed are the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Technical University-Delft and University of Wisconsin.
Smoking Status Matters: A Direct Comparison of Smokers’ and Nonsmokers’ Psychophysiological and Self-Report Responses to Secondhand Smoke Anti-Tobacco PSAs

Extensive research demonstrates that exposure to threatening anti-tobacco messages can lead to defensive message processing which reduces message effectiveness. However, research investigating whet...
EMT Concept and Examples from the Vertebrate Embryo

Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) creates a family of invasive cell types from the relatively sedentary epithelial cells that line the surfaces of the body. The mesenchymal cell’s primary trait is that, unlike the epithelium of origin, it can invade extracellular matrix and migrate great distances in the embryo. It is a bipolar cell with a very active front end rich in filopodia that apparently drive motility by providing new actin cortex for the myosin endoplasm of the fibroblast to slide forward on. In this chapter, we describe the progression of EMTs as they actually occur in the vertebrate embryo from primitive streak stages to craniofacial remodeling stages in older embryos. We propose a mechanism of TGFβ driven LEF-1 transcription that may be responsible for most, if not all, embryonic EMTs that result in formation of fully active, invasive mesenchymal cells, and we emphasize the importance of studying physiologically relevant signal transduction pathways that lead to the acquisition of invasive motility in vivo, rather than pathways that give rise to nonmotile, stress-fiber rich cells in vitro.
Thrombocytosis in Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia: Incidence and Clinical Significance

The clinical significance of an elevated cations. None were fatal, and all occurred platelet count in the course of chronic in the group with counts over a 1 x 1 0’/cu granulocytic leukemia was studied in a mm. The occurrence of thrombocytosis as group of 111 previously untreated pa- a new observation in the face of previous tients, whose entire course was evaluated normal counts (15 patients) was associby one clinic. Seventy-one patients (64%) ated with frank blastic crisis (six cases) developed a platelet count >450,000/cu or heralded its onset with a median duramm either at diagnosis (56 patients) or tion of 8 mo (nine cases). Thrombocytosis in the subsequent course (15 patients). per se was associated with a shorter surTwenty-nine of the 71 patients had counts vival (median 36 mo) as opposed to 45 in excess of 1 x 10’/cu mm. Four patients mo in the group (40 cases) whose count had serious thrombohemorrhagic compli- was never elevated.
Developing Critical Information Literacy in First-Year Engineering Students

This Work-in-Progress Paper for the Innovative Practice Category addresses information literacy among first-year engineering students. The study investigates students enrolled in a common course taken during their first semester that has a project linked to the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges. Over a two-year period, the course coordinator and the engineering librarian teamed up to improve information literacy of the students through the course project. This paper shows that the timing of the librarian’s visits to the class, the development of resources to assist the students in their research, and incorporating reference requirements into the rubric directly impacted the way students acquired information about their project. When the above steps were applied, 77% of the teams met the reference requirement. It is also shown through a new but similar project that when the above steps were not applied, students reverted back to the habit of not providing references or only using the internet for their research. Thus, almost no teams (5%) fully met the reference requirement for this case.
The association of criminal justice supervision setting with overdose mortality: a longitudinal cohort study.

Author(s): Binswanger, Ingrid A; Nguyen, Anh P; Morenoff, Jeffrey D; Xu, Stanley; Harding, David J | Abstract: Background and aimsDespite the high prevalence of substance use among people in the US criminal justice system, little is known about the incidence of overdose mortality by use patterns, drug convictions and supervision setting. We examined the associations between these characteristics and overdose mortality.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsIndividuals sentenced to prison, jail, probation or jail plus probation for a felony conviction in Michigan, USA from 2003 to 2006.MeasurementsUsing the National Death Index, we assessed overdose mortality to December 2012. We calculated overdose mortality rates by pre-sentence opioid use, drug convictions and supervision setting. Multivariable analyses were conducted using competing risks regression with time-varying covariates.FindingsAmong 140 266 individuals followed over a mean of 7.84 years [standard deviation (SD) = 1.52], 14.9% of the 1131 deaths were due to overdose (102.8 per 100 000 person-years). Over the follow-up, more than half of overdose deaths occurred in the community (57.7%), nearly a third (28.8%) on probation and 12.8% on parole. The adjusted risk of overdose death was lower on probation [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.60, 0.85] than in the community without probation or parole (HR = 1.00) but not significantly different on parole (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.87, 1.47). Pre-sentence daily opioid use (HR = 3.54, 95% CI = 3.24, 3.87) was associated with an increased risk. Drug possession (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.93, 1.31) and delivery convictions (HR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.77, 1.09) were not significantly associated with overdose mortality.ConclusionsBased on the absolute or relative risk, parole, probation and community settings are appropriate settings for enhanced overdose prevention interventions. Ensuring that individuals with pre-sentence opioid use have access to harm reduction and drug treatment services may help to prevent overdose among people involved with the criminal justice system.
Snow-mediated plasticity does not prevent camouflage mismatch

Global reduction in snow cover duration is one of the most consistent and widespread climate change outcomes. Declining snow duration has severe negative consequences for diverse taxa including seasonally color molting species, which rely on snow for camouflage. However, phenotypic plasticity may facilitate adaptation to reduced snow duration. Plastic responses could occur in the color molt phenology or through behavior that minimizes coat color mismatch or its consequences. We quantified molt phenology of 200 wild snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), and measured microhabitat choice and local snow cover. Similar to other studies, we found that hares did not show behavioral plasticity to minimize coat color mismatch via background matching; instead they preferred colder, snow free areas regardless of their coat color. Furthermore, hares did not behaviorally mitigate the negative consequences of mismatch by choosing resting sites with denser vegetation cover when mismatched. Importantly, we demonstrated plasticity in the initiation and the rate of the molt and established the direct effect of snow on molt phenology; greater snow cover was associated with whiter hares and this association was not due to whiter hares preferring snowier areas. However, despite the observed snow-mediated plasticity in molt phenology, camouflage mismatch with white hares on brown snowless ground persisted and was more frequent during early snowmelt. Thus, we find no evidence that phenotypic plasticity in snowshoe hares is sufficient to facilitate adaptive rescue to camouflage mismatch under climate change.