cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PET in Lung Cancer

An estimated 180,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and lung cancer accounts for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths. Most lung cancers are initially detected on chest radiographs, but many benign lesions have radiologic characteristics similar to malignant lesions. Thus, additional studies are required for further evaluation. CT is most frequently used to provide additional anatomic and morphologic information about lesions, but it is limited in distinguishing between benign and malignant abnormalities. Because of the indeterminate results obtained from anatomic images, biopsy procedures, including thoracoscopy and thoracotomy, may be used even though one half of the lesions removed are benign and do not need to be removed. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging provides physiologic and metabolic information that characterizes lesions that are indeterminate by CT, accurately stages the distribution of lung cancer and provides prognostic information. FDG PET imaging takes advantage of the increased accumulation of FDG in transformed cells and is sensitive (∼95%) to the detection of cancer in patients who have indeterminate lesions on CT. The specificity (∼85%) of PET imaging is slightly less than its sensitivity because some inflammatory processes, such as active granulomatous infections, avidly accumulate FDG. The high negative predictive value of PET suggests that lesions considered negative on the study are benign, biopsy is not needed and radiographic follow-up is recommended. Several studies have documented the increased accuracy of PET compared with CT in the evaluation of the hilar and mediastinal lymph-node status in patients with lung cancer. Whole-body PET studies detect metastatic disease that is unsuspected by conventional imaging and demonstrate some of the anatomic abnormalities detected by CT to be benign lesions. Management changes have been reported in up to 41% of patients on the basis of the results of whole-body studies.
Digital holographic microscopy with dual-wavelength phase unwrapping

We apply the techniques of digital holography to obtain microscopic three-dimensional images of biological cells. The optical system is capable of microscopic holography with diffraction-limited resolution by projecting a magnified image of a microscopic hologram plane onto a CCD plane. Two-wavelength phase-imaging digital holography is applied to produce unwrapped phase images of biological cells. The method of three-wavelength phase imaging is proposed to extend the axial range and reduce the effect of phase noise. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of digital holography in high-resolution biological microscopy.
Does the silver moss Bryum argenteum exhibit sex-specific patterns in vegetative growth rate, asexual fitness or prezygotic reproductive investment?

†Background and Aims Expected life history trade-offs associated with sex differences in reproductive investment are often undetected in seed plants, with the difficulty arising from logistical issues of conducting controlled experiments. By controlling genotype, age and resource status of individuals, a bryophyte was assessed for sexspecific and location-specific patterns of vegetative, asexual and sexual growth/reproduction across a regional scale. †Methods Twelve genotypes (six male, six female) of the dioecious bryophyte Bryum argenteum were subcultured to remove environmental effects, regenerated asexually to replicate each genotype 16 times, and grown over a period of 92 d. Plants were assessed for growth rates, asexual and sexual reproductive traits, and allocation to above- and below-ground regenerative biomass. †Key Results The degree of sexual versus asexual reproductive investment appears to be under genetic control, with three distinct ecotypes found in this study. Protonemal growth rate was positively correlated with asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction, whereas asexual reproduction was negatively correlated (appeared to trade-off ) with vegetative growth (shoot production). No sex-specific trade-offs were detected. Female sexexpressing shoots were longer than males, but the sexes did not differ in growth traits, asexual traits, sexual induction times, or above- and below-ground biomass. Males, however, had much higher rates of inflorescence production than females, which translated into a significantly higher (24x) prezygotic investment for males relative to females. †Conclusions Evidence for three distinct ecotypes is presented for a bryophyte based on regeneration traits. Prior to zygote production, the sexes of this bryophyte did not differ in vegetative growth traits but significantly differed in reproductive investment, with the latter differences potentially implicated in the strongly biased female sex ratio. The disparity between males and females for prezygotic reproductive investment is the highest known for bryophytes.
Volatility Reversion and Correlation Structure of Returns in Major International Stock Markets

This paper investigates the stochastic behavior of weekly stock market returns in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K. during the period 1984 to 1994. The analysis is carried out using an augmented version of Bollerslev's [7] multivariate GARCH model with structural dummies to test for differences in the mean, volatility, and covariance structure of returns during the pre- and post-October 1987 crash periods. In addition, the paper explores the issue of the volatility reversion and time-varying behavior of correlation structure of returns in these markets. Mean-spillovers exist from the U.S. and Japan to the U.K. The magnitude of these spillovers is, however, low. Volatility spillovers exist from the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, from Japan to the U.K. Mean returns in all three markets and volatility in Japan and the U.K. are the same during the two periods, while volatility in the U.S. is lower during the post-crash period. With the exception of the correlation of returns between Japan and the U.K., which has doubled since the October 1987 crash, the remaining correlations are statistically similar during the two periods. Simulations performed indicate that volatility is reverting in the sense that, when it departs from its long-run equilibrium level, it tends to revert back to that level.
A Case Study of Regional Climate Anomalies in the Arctic: Performance Requirements for a Coupled Model

Abstract Simulations of Arctic climate require treatment of land, ocean, ice, and atmospheric processes, and are further complicated by the dynamic nature of the sea ice cover. Here, the ability of a climate system model to simulate conditions over the Arctic Ocean during April–September 1990, a period of anomalous atmospheric circulation and sea ice conditions, is investigated. Differences between observations and model results are used to gain insight into the mechanisms that contributed to the observed record reduction in ice extent in late summer. The coupled model reproduces the general patterns seen in comparison sea level pressure fields in most months, but the discrepancies significantly affect the model’s ability to simulate details of sea ice transport and warm air advection linked to the unusual ice conditions. The use of prescribed sea ice fraction in the climate model yields relatively small changes in the surface energy balance compared to the fully-coupled simulation with dynamic ice cover,...
Role of protein dynamics in ion selectivity and allosteric coupling in the NaK channel

Flux-dependent inactivation that arises from functional coupling between the inner gate and the selectivity filter is widespread in ion channels. The structural basis of this coupling has only been well characterized in KcsA. Here we present NMR data demonstrating structural and dynamic coupling between the selectivity filter and intracellular constriction point in the bacterial nonselective cation channel, NaK. This transmembrane allosteric communication must be structurally different from KcsA because the NaK selectivity filter does not collapse under low-cation conditions. Comparison of NMR spectra of the nonselective NaK and potassium-selective NaK2K indicates that the number of ion binding sites in the selectivity filter shifts the equilibrium distribution of structural states throughout the channel. This finding was unexpected given the nearly identical crystal structure of NaK and NaK2K outside the immediate vicinity of the selectivity filter. Our results highlight the tight structural and dynamic coupling between the selectivity filter and the channel scaffold, which has significant implications for channel function. NaK offers a distinct model to study the physiologically essential connection between ion conduction and channel gating.
Growing Up Is Hard to Do: An Empirical Evaluation of Maturation and Desistance

Purpose With an increase in longitudinal datasets and analyses, scholars have made theoretical advances toward understanding desistance using biological, social, and psychological factors. In an effort to integrate the theoretical views on desistance, some scholars have argued that each of these views represents a piece of adult maturation. Yet to date, research has not empirically examined an integrated perspective. The purpose of this study is to conduct an exploratory examination of various “domains” of maturation to determine whether they explain desistance from crime separately and as a whole. Methods Using the Rutgers Health and Human Development Project, a longitudinal study spanning ages 12–31, we develop exploratory measures of maturation in five domains: (1) adult social roles, (2) identity/cognitive, (3) psychosocial, (4) civic, and (5) neurocognitive. We then utilize growth curve models to examine the relationship between these domains and crime over time. Results Although each of the domains is associated with crime at the bivariate level, only three (i.e., psychosocial, identity/cognitive transformation, and adult social role) remain significant in the growth curve models (only two in within-individual analyses). In addition, a combined measure of maturation is related to crime, indicating that greater maturation through emerging adulthood has a negative effect on criminal behavior and is, therefore, a factor influencing desistance. Conclusions Maturation emerges as a promising approach to integrating the multiple theoretical views that characterize the literature on desistance from crime. Further
Trapping of the posterior tibial tendon and interposition of soft tissue in severe fractures about the ankle joint.

Two cases of trapping of the posterior tibial tendon, in one of which there was associated trapping of the posterior tibial nerve, and two cases with interposition of a reflected portion of the deltoid ligament within the medial aspect of the joint space, are presented as complications of severe fracture-dislocation of the ankle joint, requiring open reduction. Failure to achieve anatomical reduction in fractures about the ankle is probably the largest cause of poor end results. It is suggested that any patient with fracture-dislocation of the ankle1 in which there is severe medial ligamentous injury and disruption of the mortise, which cannot be reduced by initial closed manipulation, be considered a candidate for early open surgical reduction. True anteroposterior roentgenograms of the ankle joint are necessary for any critical evaluation of mortise alignment.
A Master Key for China and India to Help Unlock the Freedom of the Seas Globally

The rules of the international order expect all nations to act consistently, including in their international relations at sea. In the maritime context, this includes a nation's actions as both a coastal State and a user (maritime) State. This paper will discuss the importance of applying international law consistently in both capacities, with a particular focus on the body of international law reflected in U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It will catalogue some of the specific words and actions of the PRC and India in their international relations at sea - both as user States and as coastal States. Next, it will identify problems when a particular nation engages in inconsistent actions in the maritime context. Finally, it will identify how every nation's government has a responsibility for helping to ensure that its State practice on maritime matters is consistent internally, in order to advance maritime freedom and promote respect for the international rule of law around the world.
Structured modeling

Today, since late design changes are extremely costly, early performance information is required for the evaluation and support of design alternatives. This information may be generated by an accurate simulation model. A process for model development may be defined in accordance to a product's individual components. This will result in a structured or modular model that is more adaptable, and more easily understood than many performance models in use today. At each development phase the product is examined and decomposed. Each component, be it hardware or software, is defined, and structurally broken down into a segment that identifies a specific queue. Each queue resulting from this product decomposition is then modeled and called a module. Modules are then independently evaluated for accuracy. The modules are then combined, allowing for product level model verification or validation.
Fetal and maternal manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex: Value of fetal MRI:

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder characterized by benign hamartomas in various organ systems of the body. Prenatal screening of fetuses of mothers affected with TSC using ultrasonography (US) may detect cardiac lesions. Fetal US is not sensitive for evaluation of the brain. We describe brain MRI findings in a fetus with cardiac rhabdomyomas identified on prenatal screening US. Postnatal brain MRI at 5 days of age demonstrated fetal MRI findings without significant added information. Fetal MRI is the imaging modality of choice for evaluation of cerebral manifestations of TSC. Maternal manifestations of TSC in the abdomen or pelvis may also be demonstrated on fetal MRI.
Expropriation as an Attempt to Control Foreign Firms in LDCs: Trends from 1960 to 1979

Expropriations in 79 LDCs are analyzed from 1960 to 1979, with a concentration of takeovers noted in the early 1970s and a significant decline thereafter. Four hypotheses are suggested to explain this pattern. First, nationalization of sectors such as oil, mining and utilities, where foreign ownership, per se , is incompatible with economic control or national security, was virtually complete by 1975. Second, as time since independence passed, LDCs gained confidence in their own identities and their perceptions of foreign direct investment became less symbolic and more functional and pragmatic. Third, and most importantly, as bargaining power, technical and administrative capabilities, and knowledge of multinational firms increased, states became more confident of their ability to achieve control indirectly through regulation and, in industries where ownership was not of the essence, saw direct control through expropriation as less effecient and effective. Last, the economic problems faced by many of the LDCs in the late 1970s increased the attractiveness of foreign investment and/or constrained expropriation.
Feasibility Test of a Community-Relevant Intervention Designed to Promote African American Participation in Translational, Breast Cancer Disparities Research: Know About Health Options for Women (Know HOW).

There are marked racial differences in breast cancer, the second leading cause of death among US women. Understanding the causes of these differences is essential to eliminate breast cancer inequities. More prevalent in African American than in Caucasian women, metabolic syndrome has been associated with breast cancer outcomes. Further research is needed to understand metabolic syndrome's role in breast cancer disparities, thus novel strategies to increase minority participation in research are important. We embedded two approaches (comprehensive, focused) to increase African American participation in breast cancer research in a state-wide service program and pilot tested both approaches in rural African American women. We conducted three comprehensive and three focused outreach programs (n = 48) and assessed research participation through consent and actual provision of data for four types of data: survey, anthropometric, blood, and mammography records. The majority of participants provided written consent for all data collection procedures (96 % survey; 92 % anthropometric; 94 %, blood; 100 % mammography). There were no between group differences in consent rates. There was variation in the overall proportion of participants who provided data (96 % survey; 92 % anthropometric; 73 % blood; 40 % mammography). Women in the comprehensive approach were less likely to return for a scheduled mammogram than women in the focused approach (19 % vs 64 %, p = 0.0236). Both outreach programs promoted African American engagement in research. Differences in the provision of data by type may have been due to participant burden (i.e., time required to provide data). Study designs that embed research in service programs have promise to increase minority research participation.
THE STUDY ON TREATMENT OF 4-CP WASTEWATER USING THREE-PHASE BIOLOGICAL FLUIDIZED BED

4-CP wastewater is a highly toxic substance.In this paper,simulated test using three-phase biological fluidized bed(TBFB) to resolve 4-CP wastewater is presented.The characteristic of the TBFB is that the small pellet whose relatively density is 1 is used as carrier,and the microorganism accretes to the surface of the carrier which will form the bio-film.When wastewater flows from bottom to top,the carrier is fluidized.In treatment process,organism dissolved in liquid-phase or being colloidal together with dissolve oxygen permeates through bio-film,which is decomposed and utilized by the cell in the bio-film.Therefor,there is a concentration grads of organism and dissolve oxygen between the surface of bio-film and liquid-phase,which conduce that the organism in wastewater can be adsorbed to the bio-film continually.So,it is possibly to treat wastewater continually.
Simulation of aflatoxin testing plans for shelled peanuts in the United States and in the export market.

The 1987 United States aflatoxin testing plan for shelled peanuts was designed with a final accept level of 25 parts per billion (ppb) total aflatoxin. Some of the importers of U.S. peanuts use aflatoxin testing plans with accept levels lower than 25 ppb. For example, the accept level of a testing plan used in The Netherlands is 5 ppb B1 or 10 ppb total aflatoxin. Whenever export lots are re-tested for aflatoxin by an importing country, some lots accepted in the United States will be rejected by the importing country's aflatoxin testing plan. Computer models were developed to determine the effects of decreasing the final accept level of the U.S. testing plan on the number of lots accepted and rejected in the United States and the number of exported lots accepted and rejected by The Netherlands testing plan. Decreasing the final accept level of the U.S. testing plan from 25 to 5 ppb increased the number of lots rejected in the United States by 371% while reducing the number of exported lots rejected by 51%. For every additional 8.3 lots rejected in the United States, one less export lot will be rejected.
PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE PHEOPHYTIN PRIMARY ELECTRON ACCEPTOR IN PHOTOSYSTEM II

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the photochemical properties of the pheophytin primary electron acceptor in photosystem II (PS-II). Plant photosynthesis begins with the absorption of photons by chloroplasts followed by charge separation and stabilization, thus, converting photonic energy to chemical energy. In a experiment described in the chapter, chemical analysis showed that the PS-II fragments contain two nonheme Fe-atoms per reaction center. The iron content and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) doublet were unaffected when the PS-II fragments were treated with 0.5 M LiClO 4 , but the Fe-content decreased to 0.6 per reaction center and the EPR doublet almost completely disappeared when the fragments were treated with 0.55 M LiClO 4 and 2.5 mM o -phenanthroline. Properties of the EPR doublet in PS II show a remarkable similarity in the chemical make-up of PS II and the photosynthetic bacteria, and are consistent with the idea that an exchange interaction between reduced pheophytin and the singly reduced PQ − –Fe 2+ complex produces the EPR doublet signal.
Capital Structure Effects on Prices of Firm Stock Options: Tests Using Implied Market Values of Corporate Debt

This paper introduces a new methodology for measuring and analyzing capital structure effects on option prices of individual firms in the economy. By focusing on individual firms we examine the cross sectional effects of leverage on option prices. Our methodology allows the market value of each firm's debt to be implied directly from two contemporaneous, liquid, at-the-money option prices without the use of any historical price data. We compare Geske's parsimonious model to the alternative models of Black Scholes (BS) (1973), Bakshi, Cao, and Chen (BCC, 1997) (stochastic volatility (SV), stochastic volatility and stochastic interest rates (SVSI), and stochastic volatility and jumps (SVJ)), and Pan (2002) (no-risk premia (SV0), volatility-risk premia(SV), jump-risk premia (SVJ0), volatility and jump risk premia (SVJ)) which allows state-dependent jump intensity and adopts implied state-GMM econometrics. These alternative models do not directly incorporate leverage effects into option pricing, and except for Black-Scholes these model calibrations require the use of historical prices, and many more parameters which require complex estimation procedures. The comparison demonstrates that firm leverage has significant statistical and economic cross sectional effects on the prices of individual stock options. The paper confirms that by incorporating capital structure effects using our methodology to imply the market value of each firm's debt, Geske's model reduces the errors pricing options on individual firms by 60% on average, relative to the models compared herein (BS, BCC, Pan) which omit leverage as a variable. However, we would be remiss in not noting that after including leverage there is still room for improvement, and perhaps by also incorporating jumps or stochastic volatility at the firm level would result in an even better model.
Compiler-directed lightweight checkpointing for fine-grained guaranteed soft error recovery

This paper presents Bolt, a compiler-directed soft error recovery scheme, that provides fine-grained and guaranteed recovery without excessive performance and hardware overhead. To get rid of expensive hardware support, the compiler protects the architectural inputs during their entire liveness period by safely checkpointing the last updated value in idempotent regions. To minimize the performance overhead, Bolt leverages a novel compiler analysis that eliminates those checkpoints whose value can be reconstructed by other checkpointed values without compromising the recovery guarantee. As a result, Bolt incurs only 4.7% performance overhead on average which is 57% reduction compared to the state-of-the-art scheme that requires expensive hardware support for the same recovery guarantee as Bolt.
“When I Ask a Question, They Look at me Strangely”

This study uses qualitative interviews with 66 women journalists from print, broadcast, and online media in India, to understand how women political reporters assigned to the political beat negotiate gender issues and organizational and news routines while being effective journalists entrusted to cover matters of policy and enhance political awareness among audiences. Using Shoemaker and Reese’s hierarchy-of-influences model that introduces five levels of influence on news content, this study explores how institutional, news gathering, societal procedures, and professional practices influence the functions of women journalists on the political beat and percolate into the content they produce. The results show that in India’s growing media market, organizational and news routines, as well as the contentious issue of gender, control access to beats, especially the political beat, and percolate into news content produced by women political reporters.
The Effects of Age, from Young to Middle Adulthood, and Gender on Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Dopaminergic Midbrain.

Dysfunction of the dopaminergic ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is implicated in psychiatric disorders including attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), addiction, schizophrenia and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Although the prevalence of these disorders varies by age and sex, the underlying neural mechanism is not well understood. The objective of this study was to delineate the distinct resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the VTA and SNc and examine the effects of age, from young to middle-adulthood, and sex on the rsFC of these two dopaminergic structures in a data set of 250 healthy adults (18-49 years of age, 104 men). Using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals we compared the time course of the VTA and SNc to the time courses of all other brain voxels. At a corrected threshold, paired t test showed stronger VTA connectivity to bilateral angular gyrus and superior/middle and orbital frontal regions and stronger SNc connectivity to the insula, thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus and amygdala. Compared to women, men showed a stronger VTA/SNc connectivity to the left posterior orbital gyrus. In linear regressions, men but not women showed age-related changes in VTA/SNc connectivity to a number of cortical and cerebellar regions. Supporting shared but also distinct cerebral rsFC of the VTA and SNc and gender differences in age-related changes from young and middle adulthood in VTA/SNc connectivity, these new findings help advance our understanding of the neural bases of many neuropsychiatric illnesses that implicate the dopaminergic systems.
Reduction of Cu-Ni-Pd pad discoloration caused by Cu re-deposition

Cu-Ni-Pd bonding pads are used extensively in high current wirebonded devices. However in certain cases, there is a susceptibility to discoloration caused by copper re-deposition on the palladium surface. To prevent this mechanism, the best solution is to remove the Cu ions or the electrolyte. Initial evaluations were done using a surfactant with a chelating agent to prevent Cu ions from re-depositing. While the process was successfully used, one drawback given the acidic nature of the surfactant is reduced saw blade life and correspondingly reduced manufacturability. A design solution is also proposed to ensure that the occurrence of copper re-deposition, and subsequently pad discoloration, is prevented through robust die design.
Improving School Experiences for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is one of the most common metabolic diseases in children worldwide and the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is growing. T1D is complicated to manage and adolescents with diabetes face unique, age-specific challenges. The purpose of this article is to discuss ways in which schools can create a positive environment and improve the experiences and outcomes for adolescents with T1D. METHODS The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PubMed databases were searched and yielded a total of 27 articles that were used in this integrative literature review. RESULTS Common concerns identified by students with T1D and their parents included a lack of full-time school nurses, lack of teacher knowledge of diabetes, lack of access to diabetes tools, lack of freedom to perform diabetes self-care, lack of nutritional information in cafeterias, and lack of communication between parents and school personnel. Students who are unable to attend school on a daily basis may not be able to achieve their academic potential. CONCLUSIONS Implications for school health including specifics for school nurses, teachers, students, and school environment were identified.
Optimal Sensor Location for Nonlinear Dynamic Systems via Empirical Gramians

Abstract This paper presents a new approach for determining sensor locations for nonlinear dynamic systems. The method uses empirical observability gramians for obsetvability analysis and combines the information from this investigation with observability measures which have been previously proposed in the literature. This approach offers the advantage over other methods in that it is directly applicable to nonIinear systems without resorting to linearization of the model. The presented procedure has been applied to a binary distillation column model. Additionally, the effect of scaling of a model for sensor placement has been examined as well as the conclusions which can be drawn from different observability measures
IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION ON ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG A SAMPLE OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS

While the number of entrepreneurship education programmes is growing, their impacts remain under-researched. Importantly, this study was designed to examine the impacts of entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial intentions among a sample of undergraduates. Using a descriptive research design, data was collected from 166 participants. Analysis was done using inferential statistics (Chi square “X 2 ”). Results revealed that students’ exposure to entrepreneurial education influences entrepreneurial intentions positively. That is intentions to become self employed in the future was triggered as a result of inculcating entrepreneurial skills, and knowledge. The study findings were discussed in the context of the Functional Theory (which posits that entrepreneurial education is performing its function as a social component of the society); as well as the Theory of Planned Behavior (which argues that intentions are the best predictors of behavior). Its implication for developing entrepreneurial mindset in the Nigerian youths to foster economic development was also emphasized.
Biomechanics and Etiology of ACL Graft Failure

Etiology of failure of primary ACL reconstruction is varied, and may be categorized with regard to timing in relation to the index procedure. While early graft failures (<3 months) are typically related to loss of fixation, sepsis, or aseptic biological reaction, more common are failures in the 3–12 month postoperative range which are often due to errors in surgical technique or aggressive physical therapy. Late failures are typically caused by trauma; a failure at any time may be multifactorial in nature. Understanding the potential cause(s) of graft failure is imperative for the treating surgeon prior to consideration of revision ACL reconstruction. This chapter will review the biomechanics of the native and reconstructed ACL and discuss the numerous potential failure mechanisms of ACL graft tissue.
Developing a Fitbit-supported lifestyle physical activity intervention for depressed alcohol dependent women.

Purpose Women in alcohol treatment are more likely to relapse when in unpleasant, negative emotional states. Given the demonstrated benefits of exercise for decreasing depression, negative affect, and urges to drink, helping women engage in a lifestyle physical activity (LPA) intervention in early recovery may provide them a tool they can utilize “in the moment” in order to cope with negative emotional states and alcohol craving when relapse risk is highest. New digital fitness technologies (e.g., Fitbit activity monitor with web and mobile applications) may facilitate increases in physical activity (PA) through goal setting and self-monitoring.
Dynamic Experiments using Simultaneous Compression and Shear Loading

Material characterization at high strain rates under simultaneous compression and shear loading has been a challenge due to the differing normal and shear wave speeds. An experimental technique utilizing the compression Kolsky bar apparatus was developed to apply dynamic compression and shear loading on a specimen nearly simultaneously. Synchronization between the compression and shear loading was realized by generating the torsion wave near the specimen which minimizes the time difference between the arrival of the compression and torsion waves. This modified Kolsky bar makes it possible to characterize the dynamic response of a material to combined compression and shear impact loading. This method can also be applied to study dynamic friction behavior across an interface under controlled loading conditions. The feasibility of this method is demonstrated in the dynamic characterization of a simulant polymer bonded explosive material.
Impact of Notch disruption on myeloid development.

The Notch pathway is a conserved signaling network that regulates many cellular processes including renewal of stem cells, differentiation of multiple cell lineages, proliferation and apoptosis.1 Notch signaling involves the binding of Notch ligands to Notch receptors followed by proteolytic cleavage events, translocation of intracellular Notch (ICN) to the nucleus and regulation of target genes via the interaction of transcription factor CSL/RBPJ and the MAML family of transcriptional co-activators.1, 2 The Notch pathway is involved in lymphoid development and recurrent activating mutations in NOTCH1 contribute to T lymphoblastic leukemias.3 Whether Notch signaling is actively involved in the regulation of myeloid development and myeloid leukemogenesis is less clear due to conflicting reports.4, 5, 6 In this study, we abrogated canonical Notch signaling throughout the hematopoietic system to evaluate the role of Notch in myelopoiesis and to conclusively determine if inhibition of Notch signaling can contribute to aberrant myelopoiesis and lead to the development of a myeloid neoplasm.
Moyshe Levin (Ber Sarin) of Yung-Vilne and His Solo Publishing Venture for Children

Moshe [Moyshe] Levin, talented author and artist, was better known by his pseudonym Ber Sarin, the pen name he used when he wrote short Yiddish books in rhyme for children who were just beginning to read. He wrote the lively texts, illustrated them in color and black and white, and self-published many of them in Vilnius (Vilna) Lithuania in the 1930s. The books were popular and successful with teachers and children. He was a graduate of the Vladimir Medem Teachers’ Seminary, a teacher in the TSYSHO school system, and a member of Yung-Vilne .2017 is the 75th anniversary of Levin’s murder at the hands of the Nazis. Levin left behind a wife and daughter who also perished during the Holocaust. Levin’s literary legacy, the books themselves, survived in limited numbers in only a handful of libraries; some are now available on the web. This article includes a brief biography of Moshe ]Moyshe] Levin (Ber Sarin), an overview and discussion of his work for children, information on the current whereabouts of his works, and a bibliography with brief annotations of the works the author was able to view.
Abstract WP268: Evaluation and Validation of Prehospital Acute Stroke Severity Scale to Predict Large Vessel Occlusion in Patients with Proven Large Vessel Occlusion; Single Center Study in US

Background: In 2015 guidelines regarding endovascular treatment (ET) of Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were changed, leading to more patients being transferred to compr...
Future perspectives in bladder reconstruction

From the time the fetus develops, the bladder is exposed to a variety of possible injuries and may require replacement or repair. Currently, gastrointestinal segments are commonly used as tissues for bladder replacement or repair. However, gastrointestinal tissues are designed to absorb specific solutes, whereas bladder tissue is designed for the excretion of solutes. When gastrointestinal tissue is in contact with the urinary tract, multiple complications may ensue, such as infection, metabolic disturbances, urolithiasis, perforation, increased mucous production, and malignancy.4,37,38,45 Due to the problems encountered with the use of gastrointestinal segments, numerous investigators have attempted to use alternative methods, materials, and tissues for bladder replacement or repair. These include auto-augmentation, ureterocystoplasty, methods for tissue expansion, sero-muscular grafts, matrices for tissue regeneration, and tissue engineering using cell transplantation.
Cellular resistance to topoisomerase poisons.

It is now known that several antimicrobial and antitumor drugs destroy cells by interacting with cellular DNA topoisomerases. These enzymes are ubiquitous in nature and are required for the regulation of DNA structure (topology) in the cell. Specifically, DNA topoisomerases regulate the coiling of the DNA double helix, a parameter critical for processes such as replication and transcription. Topoisomerases alter DNA coiling by transiently cleaving DNA. They have been defined mechanistically as type I if they nick a single strand of the DNA double helix and type II if they cleave both strands. The discovery of antitumor drugs that specifically target topoisomerases has not only led to an improved understanding of tumor cell biology but has also fostered the rapid development of new anticancer drugs. This chapter reviews the anticancer drugs that target topoisomerases and focuses on cellular mechanisms of resistance to these drugs.
Geriatric Cardiology: Two Decades of Progress and Strategy for the Future

![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] Over the past 2 decades, the engagement of the cardiology community in the unique care considerations of older adults has been transformational. In part due to the demographic shift as well as the arrival of new therapeutic options, our
Work In Progress - A Multidisciplinary Minor in Web Design

This talk discusses a new multidisciplinary minor in web design that George Mason University is currently initiating. The goal of this minor is to provide students with transformative learning experiences to gain competence in all the major disciplines involved in web design.
Residency Specialty Choice Trends Over 24 Years

Studies have shown a decrease in the match rate in general medical and primary care-focused specialties among US medical school graduates and an increase in that of subspecialties with “controllable lifestyles.” We evaluated the percentage of Harvard Medical School graduates who matched into high-income controllable lifestyle, low-income controllable lifestyle, and noncontrollable lifestyle specialties from 1994 to 2017. Using linear regression, we found that the percentage of students matching into high-income and low-income controllable lifestyle specialties has increased over time, while those matching into noncontrollable lifestyle specialties – comprised largely of primary care fields – decreased. Such trends may impact the US physician workforce composition over time, with growth of residency positions into fields such as internal medicine exceeding the matriculation of U.S. medical graduates into these positions. We examine whether future policies should focus on incentivizing students to pursue such noncontrollable lifestyle specialties by highlighting controllable lifestyle elements within these fields and emphasizing alternative rewards which may attract candidates to these pursuits. Keywords: RESIDENCY SPECIALTY CHOICE TRENDS, CONTROLLABLE LIFESTYLE, INCOME LEVEL, CAREER CHOICE
Singular Integration in BEM by Interpolation: The EFIE Case

An approach of populating all weakly singular and near weakly singular integrals enchanted in Electrical Field Integral Equation (EFIE) Boundary Element Methods (BEM) using universal look-up-tables and multi-dimensional interpolation is outlined. The method is compared to a state-of-the-art singularity subtraction method for the lowest order Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis functions in various PEC triangular meshes. For common triangle, weakly singular, interactions the proposed approach out-performs singularity subtraction integration by 3 - 4 decimal digits, while offering up to 100 × speed-ups. Early implementations for common edge, near weakly singular, interactions show 40 × speed-ups but at a somewhat lower, yet acceptable, accuracy.
Is the Apparent Degree of Fermentation a Reliable Estimator of Fermentability

The analysis of fermentability, or real degree of fermentation (RDF), involves the determination of real extract (RE) in a fermented sample. Considering that RDF analysis is expensive and time cons...
A Multi Dimensional Assignment Formulation for New Product Development Problems

This paper considers the application of an upper bounding technique to a maximization formulation of new product development (NPD) problems. NPD procedures are increasingly being used by many high-technology firms to rapidly develop multiple new products lines using a small but flexible workforce and infrastructure. Mathematically speaking, these problems are quite difficult and may be described as the allocation of heterogeneous resources to heterogeneous but perhaps interdependent activities. Typically, each resource may distribute its capacity among many activities, each resource is capable of processing more than one type of task to varying degrees of success, and activities may be processed by more than one resource either sequentially or simultaneously. NPDs may include precedence constraints, where sequencing, quite often in the form of simultaneity, for the beginning and ending of activities is carefully controlled while processing times and quality of services for resources are not independent. Network models for these problems are very difficult to pose since, unlike PERT, there are multiple projects, all interlinked with precedence. Consequently, a multi-dimensional assignment problem (MAP) formulation is proposed. Unfortunately, MAP data structures exhibit horrendous complexity for branch and bound when using continuous relaxations due to the very poor bound quality and cannot be solved for problems of even fairly small size. In this paper an upper bound problem is developed by exploiting a feature of the cost coefficients. This upper bound on the maximization formulation of the MAP with axial constraints preserves much of the structure of the original problem.
Percutaneous exclusion of a giant ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm.

The incidence of thoracic aortic aneurysms has been well-documented in patients after surgery for truncus arteriosus communis.[1][1] The patient was a 37-year-old woman with past medical history of truncus arteriosis type I with multiple previous surgeries and sternal infections leading to a
Smooth Fictitious Play in $N\times 2$ Potential Games

The paper shows that smooth fictitious play converges to a neighborhood of a pure-strategy Nash equilibrium with probability 1 in almost all $N\times 2$ ($N$-player, two-action) potential games. The neighborhood of convergence may be made arbitrarily small by taking the smoothing parameter to zero. Simple proof techniques are furnished by considering regular potential games.
Commentary on Burton v. State

In March of 2009, Samantha Burton went into labor only 25 weeks into her pregnancy. This is a very serious pregnancy complication that not only risks the pregnant woman’s health, but also greatly reduces her potential child’s chance of survival despite the most aggressive care. Ms. Burton’s doctor prescribed, among other things, inpatient bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy, which would have required her to be separated from her two minor children at home. Ms. Burton found that recommendation unacceptable, and as a competent adult, asked to be discharged or to obtain a second opinion from another hospital. Instead of abiding by Ms. Burton’s request, a court order was obtained that required Ms. Burton to submit to any and all care the doctor believed was “necessary to preserve the life and health of [Ms. Burton’s] unborn child.” Ms. Burton was eventually coerced into a cesarean section, during which the doctor discovered that her child had already died in utero. Ms. Burton’s case is tragic—she not only endured the trauma of losing her child, but the state’s invasion into her basic autonomy. On appeal, the court overruled the decision, finding that the trial court had used the wrong legal standard in compelling Ms. Burton’s care. As part of the Feminist Judgment Series, Nadia Sawicki adds a vital concurrence to that appellate decision, which would have also overturned the trial court’s decision as unsupported by substantial evidence. Her contribution highlights the need to hold lower courts accountable for avoidable evidentiary errors in addition to legal ones. This commentary provides additional support and context to explain why the trial court’s evidentiary missteps are so important to correct.
Chapter 5 – Tetrapeptides

Publisher Summary This chapter presents three papers concerned with tetrapeptide syntheses. One concerned SP synthesis of pyro-Glu-Tyr-Arg-Trp amide, which was found to exhibit detectable luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LH-RF) activity. Two other papers concerned syntheses of tetrapeptide amides related to the C-terminal Trp-Met-Asp-Phe amide of the gastrins. This gastrin tetrapeptide displays marked biological activity, and in a new approach to analog synthesis, Jones set out to prepare tetrapeptides whose structures might be predicted by considering the codons of the messenger RNA for this four-unit gastrin sequence and the complementary nucleotide sequences predicted by base paring in an antiparallel or parallel direction. Unfortunately, upon synthesis, none exhibited a stimulation or inhibition of gastric acid secretion in anesthetized rat or cat preparations. However, one did show some inhibition of gastric juice volume, and acid and pepsin output in a conscious dog with innervated gastric pouches.
Examining intercultural competence of L3 learners in higher education

Abstract This study examined third language (L3) learning in higher education from an intercultural competence (IC) perspective. Semi-structured interviews were used to record eight (n = 8) international students’ (ISs) descriptions of their L3 learning experience. All students were full-time students at a large, public university in the United States (US) and were non-native speakers of English. Therefore, participants were learning an L3 in their second language (L2) context, English. In addition to deductive coding interview transcripts, via NVivo 11, utilizing Deardorff's (2006) intercultural competence framework, an inductive coding approach based on patterns that emerged from the data was also used. Findings strongly suggested that various factors, including the desire to learn/speak an additional language helped ISs to minimize objective challenges they confronted in relation to L3 learning. Furthermore, most participants showed an intuitive understanding of the relationship between language and culture. Subsequently, they developed skills pertaining to IC including consciousness of their own culture, openness as well as the willingness and ability to learn and function in new cultures. Due to the number of international students studying in universities in the US, coursework in higher education should include teaching IC explicitly as a component of language instruction.