cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Impairment in Folate-Deficient Rats Corresponds to Depleted Brain Phosphatidylcholine and Is Prevented by Dietary Methionine without Lowering Plasma Homocysteine

Poor folate status is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. Although impaired brain methylation activity and homocysteine toxicity are widely thought to account for this association, how folate deficiency impairs cognition is uncertain. To better define the role of folate deficiency in cognitive dysfunction, we fed rats folate-deficient diets (0 mg FA/kg diet) with or without supplemental L-methionine for 10 wk, followed by cognitive testing and tissue collection for hematological and biochemical analysis. Folate deficiency with normal methionine impaired spatial memory and learning; however, this impairment was prevented when the folate-deficient diet was supplemented with methionine. Under conditions of folate deficiency, brain membrane content of the methylated phospholipid phosphatidylcholine was significantly depleted, which was reversed with supplemental methionine. In contrast, neither elevated plasma homocysteine nor brain S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine concentrations predicted cognitive impairment and its prevention by methionine. The correspondence of cognitive outcomes to changes in brain membrane phosphatidylcholine content suggests that altered phosphatidylcholine and possibly choline metabolism might contribute to the manifestation of folate deficiency-related cognitive dysfunction.
Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis: an Oriental experience.

Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare but potentially lethal disorder. A retrospective analysis of documented cases of IPH in our hospital was conducted in order to study the clinical spectrum and radiographic features, and to explore therapeutic strategies. Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out, collecting medical records of patients with pulmonary haemo­siderosis at Chang Gung Children's Hospital (CGCH), a tertiary children's hospital in northern Taiwan. Secondary causes of pulmonary haemosiderosis were excluded. Results: Five patients were diagnosed as having IPH over a 25-year period. The classical triad of IPH was found at initial presentation in only 2/5 patients. One patient had well-established pulmonary fibrosis, but no pulmonary symptoms. The clinical course of IPH was exceedingly variable, with a mean delay of 9 months before diagnosis was made. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) confirmed IPH in 3/5 patients. Immunological abnormalities were noted in two patients, without progression to immune disorders during follow up. While using corticosteroids alone, 4/5 patients continued to have recurrent bleeding episodes. All five patients required immunosuppressive therapy for maintenance of a symptom-free period, but survived to a mean follow up of 2 years. Conclusions: Early definitive diagnosis and aggressive immunosuppressive therapy of IPH are imperative in order to avoid pulmonary fibrosis and mortality in IPH. A chest radiograph should be included in a serial work-up of unexplained anaemia in children. An examination using BAL can confirm IPH and high-resolution thoracic computed tomography scans are useful for early detection of pulmonary fibrosis.
Self-stabilizing structured ring topology P2P systems

We propose a self-stabilizing and modeless peer-to-peer (P2P) network construction and maintenance protocol, called the Ring Network (RN) protocol. The RN protocol, when started on a network of peers that are in an arbitrary state, will cause the network to converge to a structured P2P system with a directed ring topology, where peers are ordered according to their identifiers. Furthermore, the RN protocol maintains this structure in the face of peer joins and departures. The RN protocol is a distributed and asynchronous message-passing protocol, which fits well the autonomous behavior of peers in a P2P system. The RN protocol requires only the existence of a bootstrapping system which is weakly connected. Peers do not need to be informed of any global network state, nor do they need to assist in repairing the network topology when they leave. We provide a proof of the self-stabilizing nature of the protocol, and experimentally measure the average cost (in time and number of messages) to achieve convergence.
Magnetic Particle Imaging

Rapid advances in the synthesis of superparamagnetic nanoparticles have stimulated widespread interest in their use as contrast agents for visualizing biological processes with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With this approach, strong particle magnetism alters the MRI signal from nearby water protons and this, in turn, affects observed image contrast. Magnetic particle detection with MRI is therefore indirect and suffers from several associated problems, including poor quantification and tissue-dependent performance. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) overcomes these problems by directly measuring the amount of superparamagnetic material at each location. Mass sensitivity, spatial resolution, and imaging time are also comparable to or better than those achieved with MRI. Moreover, MPI is relatively inexpensive, meets all current safety guidelines, is quantitative, provides unambiguous contrast with tissue-independent performance, and can detect lower particle concentrations. In this article, the basic principles behind MPI are described, factors affecting sensitivity and resolution are discussed, and potential utility for biomedical use is examined.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Lustrin A, a Matrix Protein from Shell and Pearl Nacre of Haliotis rufescens

A specialized extracellular matrix of proteins and polysaccharides controls the morphology and packing of calcium carbonate crystals and becomes occluded within the mineralized composite during formation of the molluscan shell and pearl. We have cloned and characterized the cDNA coding for Lustrin A, a newly described matrix protein from the nacreous layer of the shell and pearl produced by the abalone, Haliotis rufescens, a marine gastropod mollusc. The full-length cDNA is 4,439 base pairs (bp) long and contains an open reading frame coding for 1,428 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals a highly modular structure with a high proportion of Ser (16%), Pro (14%), Gly (13%), and Cys (9%). The protein contains ten highly conserved cysteine-rich domains interspersed by eight proline-rich domains; a glycine- and serine-rich domain lies between the two cysteine-rich domains nearest the C terminus, and these are followed by a basic domain and a C-terminal domain that is highly similar to known protease inhibitors. The glycine- and serine-rich domain and at least one of the proline-rich domains show sequence similarity to proteins of two extracellular matrix superfamilies (one of which also is involved in the mineralized matrixes of bone, dentin, and avian eggshell). The arrangement of alternating cysteine-rich domains and proline-rich domains is strikingly similar to that found in frustulins, the proteins that are integral to the silicified cell wall of diatoms. Its modular structure suggests that Lustrin A is a multifunctional protein, whereas the occurrence of related sequences suggest it is a member of a multiprotein family.
Contribution of cumulus cells and serum to the maturation of oocyte cytoplasm as revealed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

The fertilisability and developmental capacity of mouse oocytes matured in vitro were examined by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). While more than 50% of cumulus-enclosed oocytes were fertilised by IVF after maturation in serum-supplemented medium, none were fertilised when the oocytes matured without serum. By ICSI, the majority (78-94%) of the oocytes were fertilised regardless of the presence or absence of serum in oocyte maturation media. Although the majority (88-92%) of cumulus-free germinal vesicle oocytes underwent nuclear maturation in both serum-free and serum-containing media, those matured in the presence of serum were more readily fertilised by ICSI (43%) than those matured without it (3-5%). The cumulus-free oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells but without serum were fertilised at 36%, suggesting some secreted factor promotes the oocyte's cytoplasmic maturation. The oocytes fertilised by ICSI developed into normal-term fetuses regardless of the presence or absence of serum or cumulus cells in oocyte maturation medium. These results lead us to conclude that (a) the cytoplasm of the oocytes can mature in serum-free medium and (b) the presence of both the serum and the cumulus cells in the medium surrounding maturing oocytes is beneficial for the development of the fertilisation- and development-competence of oocyte cytoplasm.
Environmental Forensics Aspects of PAHs from Wood Treatment with Creosote Compounds

Abstract This article presents a review of forensic methods used for characterizing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and distinguishing whether their source is from the creosote treatment of wood at commercial wood-treating facilities. PAHs constitute about 85% of creosote from the distillation of coal tar and are mainly two- to four-ring compounds, although additives may alter this description. Creosote PAHs vary greatly in mobility and biodegradability depending on the number of rings and the degree of alkylation. Wood treatment with creosote generally involves the use of wastewater lagoons, disposal ditches, or drip collection areas. Creosote PAHs may be distinguished from PAHs of other origin both by chemical fingerprinting and by isotopic analysis. Age-dating sediments may also date creosote releases to surface waters.
Inquiry-Guided Learning In A Management Of Technology Environment

Inquiry-guided learning is a teaching technique that encourages active participation of students and, in addition to better retention, such learning is credited with promoting critical thinking, sourcing information, organizing information, promoting self learning and enhancing the life-long learning experience. In applied degree programs where technology and management courses run parallel, different tools must be used to involve students and tie in real life scenarios to prepare students for opportunities in industry, government, and society. This paper describes how data is sourced, prioritized, organized, and presented in priority and audit tables. It also demonstrates simulation board games as teaching tools in textile management and technology curricula. A simulation board game is used to practice decision making tools and skills in a team environment. Audit tables are used to detect and correct potential sources of quality problems.
Impact of Large-Scale Circulation on Tropical Storm Frequency, Intensity, and Location, Simulated by an Ensemble of GCM Integrations

Tropical storms simulated by a nine-member ensemble of GCM integrations forced by observed SSTs have been tracked by an objective procedure for the period 1980‐88. Statistics on tropical storm frequency, intensity, and first location have been produced. Statistical tools such as the chi-square and the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test indicate that there is significant potential predictability of interannual variability of simulated tropical storm frequency, intensity, and first location over most of the ocean basins. The only common point between the nine members of the ensemble is the SST forcing. This implies that SSTs play a fundamental role in model tropical storm frequency, intensity, and first location interannual variability. Although the interannual variability of tropical storm statistics is clearly affected by SST forcing in the GCM, there is also a considerable amount of noise related to internal variability of the model. An ensemble of atmospheric model simulations allows one to filter this noise and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to interannual tropical storm variability. An EOF analysis of local SSTs over each ocean basin and a combined EOF analysis of vertical wind shear, 850-mb vorticity, and 200-mb vorticity have been performed. Over some ocean basins such as the western North Atlantic, the interannual frequency of simulated tropical storms is highly correlated to the first combined EOF, but it is not significantly correlated to the first EOF of local SSTs. This suggests that over these basins the SSTs have an impact on the simulated tropical storm statistics from a remote area through the large-scale circulation as in observations. Simulated and observed tropical storm statistics have been compared. The interannual variability of simulated tropical storm statistics is consistent with observations over the ocean basins where the model simulates a realistic interannual variability of the large-scale circulation.
Blunted nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of renal nerve discharge within PVN of rats with heart failure.

We have demonstrated a decreased neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS) message in the hypothalamus of rats with heart failure (HF). Subsequently, we have demonstrated that NADPH diaphorase (a ...
Learning to Be a Clinician-Educator: A Fellow-Driven Curricular Reform.

“Ideally, medical education should change as our knowledge base changes and as the needs, or the perceived needs, of patients, medical practitioners, and society change.”—David Kern, MD, MPH [(1)][1] Approximately 1 year ago, our fellowship program director posed the following questions to
Writing Reports to Facilitate Patent Applications

Brief disclosures may often be sufficient for the filing of a Technical Advance with Sandia's Intellectual Property Center, but still be inadequate to facilitate an optimum patent application where more detail and explanation are required. Consequently, the crafting of a patent application may require considerably more additional interaction between the application preparer and the inventors. This inefficiency can be considerably mitigated if the inventors address some critical aspects of a patent application when they write a technical report.
Design of a Compliant XY Positioning Stage With Large Workspace

Flexure mechanisms become more and more popular because of their better performance, easy maintenance, wear-free properties and predictability of kinematic variables changes. Comparing to traditional ball bearings or linear slides, however, range of motion limits flexure mechanisms applications in existing market. This paper presents the design of a novel planar XY stage synthesizing the benefits of parallel and serial kinematic constraint. By parallel connecting two mechanisms: the vertical and horizontal subsystems, which both have degrees of freedom (DOFs) in primary moving direction but different degrees of constraints (DOCs) in rotation, this system is able to reduce three parasitic rotation angles (pitch, roll and yaw) less than one micro radium and also have motion range up to 40mm × 40mm. Analytical model and finite element analysis (FEA) are present to validate the performance of this stage and also determine appropriate operation parameters.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The shape stability of a lipid vesicle in a uniaxial extensional flow

The dynamics of a lipid vesicle in a uniaxial extensional flow are investigated by using a spectral boundary integral equation method. The vesicle at its stationary state assumes an axisymmetric shape of mirror symmetry, with its surface velocity vanishing everywhere. When the reduced volume of the vesicle is less than 0.75, there exists a critical capillary number, beyond which the stationary shape is unstable. The most unstable mode breaks the mirror symmetry of the shape so that the vesicle deforms into a dumbbell shape with two unequally sized ends. This is followed by the formation of a thin tube bridging the two dumbbell ends, whose length increases with time. The numerical results are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations.
The acoustic vowel space of modern Greek and German.

The spectral characteristics of vowels in Modern Greek and German were examined. Four speakers of Modern Greek and three speakers of German produced four repetitions of words containing each vowel of their native language. Measurements of the fundamental frequency and the first three formants were made for each vowel token. These measurements were then transformed into log frequency ratios and plotted as points in the three-dimensional auditory-perceptual space proposed by Miller (1989). Each vowel token was thus represented by one point, and the points corresponding to each vowel category were enclosed in three-dimensional target zones. For the present corpus, these zones differentiate the five vowels of Modern Greek with 100% accuracy, and the fourteen vowels of German with 94% accuracy. Implications for the distribution of common vowels across languages as a function of vowel density are discussed.
Prevalence and Course of Atrial Fibrillation in Critically Ill Trauma Patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia. Its prevalence, risk factors, course, and complications are not well described in critically ill trauma patients. This was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study at an academic, level 1 trauma center. Trauma patients >18 years, identified from the trauma registry and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), were sequentially screened for AF. A matched cohort was created by selecting patients consecutively admitted before and after the patients who experienced AF. Of 2591 patients screened, 191 experienced AF, resulting in a prevalence of 7.4%. There was no difference in injury severity score (ISS) between those with and without AF, but patients with AF had higher observed mortality (15.5% vs 6.7%, P < .001). Patients with a history of AF (n = 75) differed from new-onset AF (n = 106) in their mean age, 78.9 ± 8.4 versus 69.2 ± 17.9 years; mean time to AF onset, 1.1 ± 2.3 versus 5.2 ± 10.2 days; median duration of AF, 29.8 (1-745.2) versus 5.9 (0-757) hours; and rate of AF resolution, 28% versus 82.1%, respectively. Despite a higher ISS, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and length of stay, the new-onset AF group experienced a similar rate of mortality compared to the history of AF group (14.7% vs 16.0%). Patients with AF had a higher mortality when compared to those in sinus rhythm. The course of AF in the new-onset AF group occurred later was shorter and was more likely to convert; however, these patients had a longer ICU stay when compared to those who had a history of AF.
The Long-Term Political and Economic Consequences of 9/11

A few days after the 9/11 attacks, Vice President Dick Cheney warned that there might never be an “end date” in the “struggle” against terrorism, a point at which it would be possible to say, “There, it’s all over with.”
Solid-Phase Synthesis of β-Mannosides

The linkage of S-phenyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-alpha-D-thiomannopyranoside to a cross-linked polystyrene support in the form of its 4,6-O-polystyrylborinate ester is described. The activation of this polymer-supported mannosyl donor is achieved at -60 degrees C in dichloromethane in the presence of 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylpyrimidine with the combination 1-benzenesulfinyl piperidine and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride. Addition of the donor alcohol at -60 degrees C followed by warming to room temperature and subsequent cleavage from the resin by gentle heating in aqueous acetone yields anomerically pure 2,3-di-O-benzyl-beta-D-mannopyranosides in excellent yield. Successful, diastereoselective coupling is demonstrated with a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary glycosyl acceptors, including typical carbohydrates and threonine derivatives.
Amnionic fluid volume in prolonged pregnancy.

Abstract The evidence implicating reduced amnionic fluid volume as a major problem in prolonged pregnancy seems clear. Oligohydramnios serves to explain the association of umbilical cord compression fetal heart rate patterns in labors complicated by fetal distress and such cord entrapment may even explain the release of meconium into the amnionic fluid. Ultrasonic assessment of amnionic fluid volume, regardless of the definition of oligohydramnios used, appears to single out the prolonged pregnancy where the fetus is at risk. Important questions remain as to how best to quantify fluid volume using sonography and, importantly, whether normal amnionic fluid volume reliably predicts fetal well being for a predictable period of time. That is, oligohydramnios diagnosed using ultrasound seems meaningful, but whether a normal fluid volume permits safe expectant management needs further evaluation. This is particularly relevant if the liquor volume may subside within 24 to 48 hours as reported by Beischer et al. Unfortunately, the mechanisms by which amnionic fluid volume decreases in prolonged pregnancies remain unknown. As in Ballantyne's time, we still do not know "… what functions the fetus is performing during these accessory weeks … nor how he is performing them …" But we have learned that oligohydramnios has a central role in producing some of the fetal complications associated with prolonged pregnancy.
Iatrogenic Pharmaceutical Amyloidosis Associated with Insulin and Enfuvirtide Administration

Drug-induced amyloidosis is a rare form of iatrogenic amyloidosis and represents a localized process. Insulin and Enfuvirtide are two peptide drugs which may cause localized amyloidosis after prolonged use (i.e., AIns and AEnf, respectively) commonly identified as abdominal subcutaneous masses at the injection site. In particular, self-assembled aggregation process of insulin is known to occur at certain conditions leading to impaired systemic absorption through the amyloid plaques and, in some cases, severe insulin resistance. Moreover, AIns can be misdiagnosed as systemic immunoglobulin-derived amyloidosis especially when the clinical context is unknown or the patient presents a monoclonal gammopathy. Enfuvirtide is a new antiretroviral agent termed “fusion inhibitor” and used for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The injection site reactions to Enfuvirtide are frequent. Therefore, precise amyloid typing by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or mass spectrometry-based proteomics is required for diagnosis of iatrogenic amyloidosis and bears clinical significance.
The “enhanced” warrior: drone warfare and the problematics of separation

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, are increasingly employed for military purposes. They are extolled for improving operational endurance and targeting precision on the one hand and keeping drone crew from harm on the other. In the midst of such praise, what falls by the wayside is an entangled set of concerns about the ways in which the relationship between the pilots and their operational environment is being reconfigured. This paper traces the various manifestations of this reconfiguration and goes on to situate our being-with drones in a broader set of sociotechnical practices that shape our understanding of visual technologies. Our inquiry is grounded in technical reports of performance, media coverage of accidents, as well as a detailed first-person account of a former drone pilot. Our analysis suggests that being-with drones is disciplining our perception in subtle ways that remain underexplored. We conclude that when it comes to appraising technologies that interface with the human sensorium, functionalist claims of enhancement are inadequate to the task and propose that phenomenology’s commitment to the phenomena themselves can serve as a useful corrective.
Development and operation of a 6LiF: ZnS(Ag)—scintillating plastic capture-gated detector

Abstract We report on the design, construction, and operation of a capture-gated neutron detector based on a heterogeneous scintillating structure comprising two scintillator types. A flat, 500 µm thick sheet composed of a mixture of lithium-6-fluoride capture agent, 6LiF, and zinc sulfide phosphor, ZnS(Ag), is wrapped around scintillating polyvinyl toluene (PVT) in a form of cylinder. The 6LiF: ZnS(Ag) sheet uses an aluminum foil backing as a support for the scintillating material and as an optical reflector, and its optical properties have been characterized independently. The composite scintillator was tested using 252Cf, DD fusion, 137Cs, and 60Co sources. The intrinsic detection efficiency for neutrons from an unmoderated 252Cf source and rejection of gammas from 137Cs were measured to be 3.6 % and 10−6, respectively. A figure of merit for pulse shape discrimination of 4.6 was achieved, and capture-gated spectroscopic analysis is demonstrated.
Inscribing Individuals into a Formalized System: The “Labour” Performed by Affective Spaces

A substantial amount of ongoing work in organizations can be characterized as processes of formalization in which unique circumstances are rendered legible to organizational frameworks and inscribed into institutionalized ways of knowing and doing. Embedded in these processes is the need to manage, distance, and condition the affective and physical experience of the players involved. Using twelve months of ethnographic data gathered in the Family Law unit of the courts in a large county of California, we explore how formalization happens. We find that a dynamic combination of actants (technologies of formalization) engender affective spaces that serve as passage points in the process of formalization. These affective spaces condition the bodies and emotions of customers in a manner that generally mitigates unstable intensity and renders the customer ready to focus on the “facts” of the case. We suggest that by attending to the multiple actants in an environment we are able to interrogate both the origin and effects of “affect” as well as better understand how key passage points work in the service of formalization processes. In so doing we expand the conversation about the challenges of public service delivery and put forth the beginning of a theory of how affective spaces serve organizational and institutional goals.
Abstract 215: Tracking transplanted cells with paramagnetic fluorinated nanoemulsions

Visualization of distinct cell populations in vivo is one of the most formidable challenges in biomedical sciences. Clinical translation of cutting-edge therapies that involve administration of live immunotherapeutic or stem cells can benefit from understanding the fate of injected cells in vivo. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as a prime method for non-invasive, longitudinal cell tracking. Fluorine-19 MRI (19F MRI) involves the use of non-radioactive 19F label in the form of biologically inert, cytocompatible perfluorocarbons (PFC). Immediately prior to injection, cells of interest are labeled ex vivo with water-based PFC nanoemulsions. 19F MRI yields background-free images of labeled cells in an anatomical context provided by conventional 1H MRI. Both datasets are acquired on the same scanner in one imaging session. This technology has recently been used to detect immunotherapeutic dendritic cells delivered to colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. We sought to enhance sensitivity and versatility of 19F MRI by using paramagnetic relaxation agents. Covalent modification of clinically relevant PFCs with metal-binding ligands enabled stable and uniform incorporation of gadolinium and iron in the fluorous phase of nanoemulsions. Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement resulted in up to 50-fold reduction in 19F longitudinal relaxation time (T1) compared to state-of-the-art commercial tracers. The ultralow 19F T1 of our paramagnetic tracers enabled in vivo cell tracking with rapid, three-dimensional, zero time-to-echo (ZTE) 19F MRI pulse sequences in mice bearing subcutaneous allografts of 19F-labeled GL261 cells. Moreover, the high local concentration of paramagnetic metals imparted negative contrast in T2*-weighted 1H images. Combination of the new agents with conventional 19F tracers comprises a previously unavailable toolbox of 19F contrast agents, selectively detectable by appropriate acquisition methods. This enables “multicolor” 19F MRI tracking of multiple cell populations, e.g., for monitoring the interaction of host immune cells with injected therapeutic cells or cancer xenografts. Overall, the design of biocompatible, fast-relaxing 19F tracers addresses the issue of modest sensitivity of 19F MRI and reduces the barriers to widespread adoption of this powerful imaging technique. Citation Format: Alexander A. Kislukhin, Hongyan Xu, Stephen R. Adams, Kazim Narsinh, Roger Y. Tsien, Eric T. Ahrens. Tracking transplanted cells with paramagnetic fluorinated nanoemulsions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 215. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-215
Terahertz Superresolution Stratigraphic Characterization of Multilayered Structures Using Sparse Deconvolution

Terahertz sparse deconvolution based on an iterative shrinkage algorithm is presented in this study to characterize multilayered structures. With an upsampling approach, sparse deconvolution with superresolution is developed to overcome the time resolution limited by the sampling period in the measurement and increase the precision of the estimation of echo arrival times. A simple but effective time-domain model for describing the temporal pulse spreading due to the frequency-dependent loss is also designed and introduced into the algorithm, which greatly improves the performance of sparse deconvolution in processing time-varying pulses during the propagation of terahertz waves in materials. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements verify the algorithms and show that sparse deconvolution can be considered as an effective tool for terahertz nondestructive characterization of multilayered structures.
Return to Play After Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in National Football League Players

Background:National Football League (NFL) players who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been shown to have a lower return to play (RTP) than previously expected. However,...
Bias Correction of Long-Term Satellite Monthly Precipitation Product (TRMM 3B43) over the Conterminous United States

AbstractThe Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) has provided a valuable precipitation dataset for hydrometeorological studies (1998–2015). However, TMPA shows some differences when compared to the ground-based estimates. In this study, a correction model is developed to improve the accuracy of the TRMM precipitation monthly product by reducing the bias compared to the ground-based estimates. The TRMM 3B43 precipitation product is compared with the Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) and with gridded precipitation estimates acquired from the CPC Unified Precipitation Project, two ground-based precipitation estimates, in the conterminous United States. The bias between the satellite and ground-based estimates is compared with mean surface temperature and elevation, respectively. A weak linear relationship is observed between the bias and temperature but a moderate inverse linear relationship is observed between the bias and ...
Bond strength of etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesive systems to enamel and dentin irradiated with a novel CO 2 9.3 μm short-pulsed laser for dental restorative procedures

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of CO2 9.3 μm short-pulsed laser irradiation on the shear bond strength of composite resin to enamel and dentin. Two hundred enamel and 210 dentin samples were irradiated with a 9.3 µm carbon dioxide laser (Solea, Convergent Dental, Inc., Natick, MA) with energies which either enhanced caries resistance or were effective for ablation. OptiBond Solo Plus [OptiBondTE] (Kerr Corporation, Orange, CA) and Peak Universal Bond light-cured adhesive [PeakTE] (Ultradent Products, South Jordan, UT) were used. In addition, Scotchbond Universal [ScotchbondSE] (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN) and Peak SE self-etching primer with Peak Universal Bond light-cured adhesive [PeakSE] (Ultradent Products) were tested. Clearfil APX (Kuraray, New York, NY) was bonded to the samples. After 24 h, a single plane shear bond test was performed. Using the caries preventive setting on enamel resulted in increased shear bond strength for all bonding agents except for self-etch PeakSE. The highest overall bond strength was seen with PeakTE (41.29 ± 6.04 MPa). Etch-and-rinse systems achieved higher bond strength values to ablated enamel than the self-etch systems did. PeakTE showed the highest shear bond strength with 35.22 ± 4.40 MPa. OptiBondTE reached 93.8% of its control value. The self-etch system PeakSE presented significantly lower bond strength. The shear bond strength to dentin ranged between 19.15 ± 3.49 MPa for OptiBondTE and 43.94 ± 6.47 MPa for PeakSE. Etch-and-rinse systems had consistently higher bond strength to CO2 9.3 µm laser-ablated enamel. Using the maximum recommended energy for dentin ablation, the self-etch system PeakSE reached the highest bond strength (43.9 ± 6.5 MPa).
Hurthle Cell Thyroid Neoplasms

Hurthle cell adenomas and carcinomas are thyroid neoplasms that are composed predominantly (>75 %) or exclusively of Hurthle cells and lack cytologic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Hurthle cell neoplasms are classified by the World Health Organization as oncocytic variants of follicular neoplasms. Hurthle cell neoplasms present as a thyroid mass, affect women more often than men, and usually occur in adults. The mean patient age for a Hurthle cell adenoma is 45 years, which is 5–10 years younger than that for Hurthle cell carcinomas. Hurthle cell adenomas are benign and lack the capsular and/or vascular invasion seen in Hurthle cell carcinomas. Hurthle cell adenomas usually are smaller than carcinomas but may overlap in size. Hurthle cell adenomas have a lower Ki67 proliferative labeling index and less often have diffuse nuclear cyclin D1 staining compared with Hurthle cell carcinomas. However, in evaluating an individual lesion, no immunohistochemical or genetic marker can separate Hurthle cell adenoma from carcinoma definitively. Hurthle cell tumors show a low prevalence of RAS mutation or PAX8–peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ translocation. Many chromosomal abnormalities have been identified, and chromosomal gains are more common than losses in both benign and malignant Hurthle cell neoplasms. Hurthle cell carcinomas tend to have more chromosome losses than adenomas, and among carcinomas, losses, particularly of chromosome 22, are more frequent in tumors associated with death from disease. GRIM-19 (gene associated with retinoic-interferon–induced mortality 19) point mutations, thought to be involved in tumorigenesis via mitochondrial metabolism and cell death, have been identified in Hurthle cell tumors and are more specific than other markers for Hurthle cell neoplasms. Unlike hyperplastic or adenomatous nodules, Hurthle cell neoplasms generally are solitary encapsulated lesions. Hurthle cell neoplasms with papillary growth are differentiated from oxyphilic PTC by the lack of characteristic nuclear features of PTC. Hurthle cell adenomas are benign, treated by lobectomy, and have an excellent prognosis. Hurthle cell carcinomas invade soft tissue and show nodal involvement more often than conventional follicular carcinomas. Hurthle cell carcinoma accounts for 2–3 % of thyroid carcinomas and 20 % of follicular carcinomas. Hurthle cell carcinomas are thought to be somewhat more aggressive than follicular carcinomas and have a 5-year survival rate of 50–60 %. Features associated with aggressive behavior include large tumor size and vascular invasion. Tumors with only capsular invasion and no vascular invasion usually behave less aggressively than those with vascular invasion.
EBF contains a novel zinc coordination motif and multiple dimerization and transcriptional activation domains.

Abstract Early B cell factor (EBF) was identified and cloned as a transcription factor expressed specifically in B lymphocytes and adipocytes. This protein was also identified as olfactory factor 1 (Olf-1) in olfactory neurons. In this study, we analyzed the structural requirements for DNA binding, homodimerization and transcriptional activation by EBF. A carboxyl-terminal region, containing a repeat of alpha-helices related to the helix-loop-helix motif, is important for dimerization of EBF in solution and can confer dimerization upon a heterologous DNA binding protein. The amino-terminal DNA binding domain by itself is monomeric, but can mediate assembly of dimers on optimized and correctly spaced half-sites. Mutational analysis of the DNA binding domain of EBF indicated that a novel zinc coordination motif consisting of H-X3-C-X2-C-X5-C is important for DNA recognition. Deletion analysis and transfer of regions of EBF onto a heterologous DNA binding domain identified a serine/threonine-rich transcriptional activation domain. Moreover, the DNA binding domain of EBF can mediate transcriptional activation from optimized binding sites. Thus, EBF contains both a complex DNA binding domain that allows for dimerization and transcriptional activation, and additional dimerization and activation domains.
Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Difluoromethylation, Difluoromethylenation, and Polydifluoromethylenation Reactions

One way to introduce fluorine into a molecule is through fluoroalkylation reactions. Transition-metal catalysts play an increasing role in selectively incorporating fluoroalkyl groups into organic molecules, especially during the late stages of a synthesis. In this review, we highlight the development of methodologies to incorporate the (CF2H), (CF2R), and ((CF2)n) functionalities into organic substrates by transition-metal complexes. Also discussed are the structural changes that can arise when repeating arrays of (CF2) or (CH2CF2) units are introduced into a single molecule through polydifluoromethylenation reactions.
Database animations for many majors: pre-conference workshop

This workshop demonstrates and discusses animations designed for teaching database concepts to diverse majors, as part of enhancing computational fluency of all students. The first animation introduces relational databases by contrasting a database with a spreadsheet in data representation and querying capabilities. The second animation provides a conceptual overview of querying relational databases including SQL. Of particular significance are the capabilities for customizing the animations to specific student interests or majors, which will also be demonstrated as part of this workshop. Plans for ongoing communication will be made, and the discussion will continue over lunch, courtesy of NSF DUE grant 0941584/0941401.
Lunar Topographic Studies

In the previous two chapters we learned how to use the telescope to observe and draw lunar features. Once you have learned your way around the Moon’s topography and acquired some proficiency in using the basic tools available to today’s amateur lunar observer, you might start thinking about more advanced projects you can undertake.
Preventive misconception: its nature, presence, and ethical implications for research.

Background Ethical aspects of prevention trials, as they differ from therapeutic trials, have not been fully explored. This article aims to define and demonstrate the existence of “preventive misconception” (PM), a misunderstanding in which research participants in prevention trials make an “overestimate in probability or level of personal protection that is afforded by being enrolled in a trial of a preventive intervention.” Methods A rating tool was developed to evaluate PM, using data collected between August 2000 and July 2002 as part of a nationwide study of the quality of informed consent in a trial of a shingles vaccine. During 2005–2006, two pair of raters assessed the responses of 50 participants to questions asked after the participants had given consent to participate in the shingles trial. Two pair of raters evaluated the response for the presence and type of PM. Each pair of raters adjudicated their responses and inter-rater reliability was assessed. Results Adjudicated pairs of raters agreed that 32% (CI: 20.7%–45.9%) of participants showed evidence of PM (kappa=0.71, CI: 0.52–0.90); that 12% (CI: 5.2%–24.2%) of participants underestimated the probability of receiving placebo (kappa=0.53, CI: 0.24–0.83); and that 24% (CI: 14.2%–37.6%) overestimated the likely personal effectiveness of the experimental intervention (kappa=0.42, CI: 0.08–0.76). Conclusions This study newly describes the concept of preventive misconception and empirically demonstrates its existence in trials of prevention. Study participants may overestimate the protection that they receive by being enrolled in a trial of prevention, which poses ethical challenges for research.
Grandparents as Support and Socialization Agents

In recent years, there has been an expansion of our views of the cast of individuals who influence the socialization of infants and children. Over the past decade, we have watched a shift away from an exclusive focus on the mother-child dyad as the primary unit of analysis. During the 1970s, the father came to be portrayed as an active and competent contributor to infant caregiving and development (Lamb, 1976; Parke & O’Leary, 1976; Pedersen & Robson, 1969), and by the end of the decade, the father-mother-child triad was beginning to receive the attention that it deserved—both theoretically (Lewis, 1979; Lewis & Weinraub, 1976; Parke, Power, & Gottman, 1979) and empirically (Belsky, 1980; Pedersen, 1980). Families, in turn, were increasingly recognized as functioning within a variety of other social systems, including both formal and in?formal support systems, as well as cultural systems (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Cochran & Brassard, 1979; Parke & Lewis, 1981). Currently, we are attempting to move beyond the recognition of this embeddedness of families and to begin to delineate (1) the links between these social systems; (2) the functions that different systems play; and (3) the impact of variations in the amount and the quality of contact on family functioning and child development.
Switching Predictive Control Using Reconfigurable State-Based Model

Advanced control methodologies have helped the development of modern vehicles that are capable of path planning and path following. For instance, Model Predictive Control (MPC) employs a predictive model to predict the behavior of the physical system for a specific time horizon in the future. An optimization problem is solved to compute optimal control actions while handling model uncertainties and nonlinearities. However, these prediction routines are computationally intensive and the computational overhead grows with the complexity of the model. Switching MPC addresses this issue by combining multiple predictive models, each with a different precision granularity. In this artcle, we proposed a novel switching predictive control method based on a model reduction scheme to achieve various model granularities for path following in autonomous vehicles. A state-based model with tunable parameters is proposed to operate as a reconfigurable predictive model of the vehicle. A runtime switching algorithm is presented that selects the best model using machine learning. We employed a metric that formulates the tradeoff between the error and computational savings due to model reduction. Our simulation results show that the use of the predictive model in the switching scheme as opposed to single granularity scheme, yields a 45% decrease in execution time in tradeoff for a small 12% loss in accuracy in prediction of future outputs and no loss of accuracy in tracking the reference trajectory.
What do riders tweet about the people that they meet? Analyzing online commentary about UberPool and Lyft Shared/Lyft Line

Abstract Uber and Lyft offer services, entitled UberPool and Lyft Shared (formerly Lyft Line), which allow passengers to share rides with other travelers for a discounted price. These services may reduce the number of vehicles on the road by increasing vehicle occupancy. However, there are drawbacks, including increased and unpredictable travel time and the social implications of sharing a confined space with strangers. To understand how travelers, drivers, and others understand and communicate about these services, we study online commentary about UberPool and Lyft Line on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter. We analyzed more than 2000 “tweets” about the services, coding for who tweets, the emotional tone of the tweets, and what aspects of the services are tweeted about. We find that positive tweets are quite rare and are outnumbered by negative tweets. However, the most common tone is humorous. As expected, there is considerable negative tweeting about service characteristics such as routing and travel time, and tweeters comment about how happy they are when another passenger is not picked up. However, most tweets are about other passengers and their behavior. Negative tweets about other passengers outnumber positive ones, but most tweets about other passengers feature humor about their conversation, behavior, and interactions with the tweeter. Passing on humorous observations and stories about UberPool and Lyft Line experiences with other passengers appears to be a substantial subgenre of the public discourse about sharing rides. This suggests that in many cases sharing with others may be leading to a rich cultural experience.
FORM-MEANING CONNECTIONS AND THE FRENCH CAUSATIVE: An Experiment in Processing Instruction

This study examines the generalizability of VanPatten and Cadierno (1993b) by investigating the relative effect of two types of explicit grammar instruction on learners' ability to interpret and produce sentences containing the French causative. Nine classes of 179 fourth-semester French students were assigned to three groups: (a) processing instruction, (b) traditional instruction, and (c) no instruction. The results indicate that processing instruction is as effective as traditional instruction in enabling learners to interpret the French causative and that traditional instruction is more effective in enabling learners to produce the French causative.
Parent Perspectives of Their Involvement in IEP Development for Children With Autism

The present study investigated parents’ experiences in making educational decisions for their children with autism and their satisfaction with said outcomes. Parents completed a survey describing (...
Routine Laser-assisted Indocyanine Green Angiography in Immediate Breast Reconstruction: Is It Worth the Cost?

Background Laser-assisted indocyanine green angiography (LAIGA) has been proven to accurately detect mastectomy skin flap necrosis (MSFN) intraoperatively and prevent postoperative complications in breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of the routine use of LAIGA in immediate breast reconstruction and to perform a break-even point analysis. Methods This is a retrospective review of prospectively gathered data from all patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction from January 2014 to January 2015. LAIGA was routinely used in all cases. Patients were followed for at least 90 days to capture postoperative complications. Costs were calculated by reviewing itemized bills and Medicare Reimbursement Current Procedural Terminology codes to assess surgeon fees. Outcomes and costs were compared with a historical cohort of patients who underwent breast reconstruction before the implementation of LAIGA. Results Two-hundred-and-six immediate breast reconstructions (126 patients) were performed using LAIGA for a total cost of $210,700. The average cost of MSFN in our LAIGA cohort was $30,496. The routine use of LAIGA decreased the MSFN rate from 12.4% to 6.3% and prevented MSFN on 13 breasts resulting in a gross cost savings of $396,453, and net savings of $185,753. Break-even point analysis demonstrated that number of cases needed to break even decreases as the average MSFN cost and MSFN reduction rate increase. Conclusion The routine use of LAIGA in immediate breast reconstruction is cost-effective in reducing the incidence of MSFN, implant loss, and overall unexpected reoperation rate.