cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Ameliorates Inflammation-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Mice through Activation of PPARγ

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) exerts a protective effect on experimental inflammatory bowel disease and shows promise as a chemopreventive agent against colorectal cancer (CRC) in mice, although the mechanisms by which it exerts its beneficial effects against malignancies in the gut are not completely understood. Mice lacking PPARgamma in immune and epithelial cells and PPARgamma-expressing littermates were fed either control or CLA-supplemented (1 g CLA/100 g) diets to determine the role of PPARgamma in inflammation-induced CRC. To induce tumor formation and colitis, mice were treated with azoxymethane and then challenged with 2% dextran sodium sulfate, respectively. Dietary CLA ameliorated disease activity, decreased colitis, and prevented adenocarcinoma formation in the PPARgamma-expressing floxed mice but not in the tissue-specific PPARgamma-null mice. Dietary CLA supplementation significantly decreased the percentages of macrophages in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) regardless of the genotype and increased regulatory T cell numbers in MLN of PPARgamma-expressing, but not in the tissue-specific, PPARgamma-null mice. Colonic tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression was significantly suppressed in CLA-fed, PPARgamma-expressing mice. This study suggests CLA ameliorates colitis and prevents tumor formation in part through a PPARgamma-dependent mechanism.
Unsteady 3D Rarefied Flow Solver Based on Boltzmann-ESBGK Model Kinetic Equations

Formulation and verification of unsteady rarefied flow solver based on BoltzmannESBGK equations in arbitrary three-dimensional geometries is presented. The solver is based on the finite volume method in physical space and the discrete ordinate method in velocity space with an implicit time discretization. Verification is carried out for an unsteady approach to equilibrium, a steady one-dimensional Couette flow and a two-dimensional quasi-steady gas damping problem. Finally, the application of the full 3D parallel solver is considered to simulate unsteady microscale gas damping in a micro-electro-mechanical system switch.
L2-Cohomology of geometrically infinite hyperbolic 3-manifolds

We give results on the following questions about a topologically tame hyperbolic 3-manifold M:¶1. Does M have nonzero square-integrable harmonic 1-forms?¶2. Does zero lie in the spectrum of the Laplacian acting on \(\Lambda^1 (M)/Ker(d)\)?
Do Different Standards of Judicial Review Affect the Gains of Minority Shareholders in Freeze-Out Transactions? A Re-Examination of Siliconix

Freeze-out transactions have been subject to different standards of judicial review in Delaware since 2001, when the chancery court, in In re Siliconix Inc. Shareholders Litigation, held that, unlike merger freeze-outs, tender offer freeze-outs were not subject to “entire fairness review”. This dichotomy, in turn, gave rise to a tension in the literature regarding the potential impact of Siliconix, as well as the treatment that freeze-outs should receive. While some defended the regime established by Siliconix, others argued for doctrinal convergence through a universal application of entire fairness, and still others proposed alternative variations of convergence based on how the negotiation process is conducted. The Delaware Chancery Court itself, in fact, subsequently made a partial step toward convergence by narrowing the scope of its precedent, as reflected in In re CNX Gas Corporation Shareholders Litigation. The empirical evidence on the effect of Siliconix (and, therefore, on the practical relevance of different standards of judicial review), however, is limited. In particular, in “Post-Siliconix freeze-outs: Theory and Evidence,” Guhan Subramanian found that minority shareholders obtain lower cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) in tender offer freeze-outs relative to merger freeze-outs, and, based on this finding, Subramanian advocates for doctrinal convergence. That article, however, does not formally examine whether Siliconix generated a structural change in relative CARs in both transactional forms and, therefore, whether the differences in outcomes are actually attributable to the disparity in standards of judicial review. The purpose of this work is, therefore, to fill this gap in the literature. To this end, this work uses a difference-in-differences approach, which compares changes over time (before and after Siliconix) between CARs in tender offers (the treatment group) and CARs in statutory mergers (the control group). As further discussed in the text, the results seem to suggest, in line with Subramanian’s intuition, that Siliconix actually had at least some negative effect on CARs in tender offers, since the estimator of difference-in-differences is consistently negative and generally significant. Based on the results, this work discusses specific policy implications, particularly in terms of regulatory convergence.
Surgical Techniques: Thrombolysis and Endovascular Intervention for ATOS

Patients with arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) most commonly present with distal emboli, either to the brachial, radial or ulnar arteries, or to the palm and digital vessels (most common). While endovascular intervention can be of benefit, digital emboli are often resistant to thrombolysis and brachial artery emboli can be easily removed surgically under local anesthetic, so the role of thrombolysis in arterial TOS is limited. However, if a large, proximal vessel is acutely occluded (most common in the setting of a subclavian artery aneurysm or in recurrent arterial TOS), preliminary thrombolysis can reestablish flow and define the anatomy prior to surgical repair, which must include bony decompression of the thoracic outlet. Almost no data exist regarding the use of endovascular stents or stent-grafts in this location. Indeed, such a treatment approach is generally discouraged, and if contemplated, must be accompanied by thoracic outlet decompression and unusually close followup.
Analyzing Factors Impacting Revining on the Vine Social Network

Diffusion of information in the Vine video social network happens via a revining mechanism that enables accelerated propagation of news, rumors, and different types of videos. In this paper we aim to understand the revining behavior in Vine and how it may be impacted by different factors. We first look at general properties of information dissemination via the revining feature in Vine. Then, we examine the impact of video content on revining behavior. Finally, we examine how cyberbullying may impact the revining behavior. The insights from this analysis help motivate the design of more effective information dissemination and automatic classification of cyberbullying incidents in online social networks.
Diet–Gene Interactions: Haptoglobin Genotype and Nutrient Status

Many disease states are independently influenced by both diet and genes. Dietary and genetic factors can also act synergistically to have a joint effect on human health through diet–gene interaction. For example, the protein products of genes (enzymes, transporters, receptors, hormones, etc.) may interact with nutritional constituents of foods to influence metabolic processes and health status. Commonly occurring polymorphisms in the genes that code for these protein products can lead to differences both in the amount of protein produced and in how efficiently that protein functions, thus leading to individual differences in processes such as digestion and metabolism. Among researchers and healthcare practitioners, there is a growing interest in utilizing genetic information to predict and manage the large interindividual differences in response to intake of food and nutrients. Recent advances in human genomics have enabled cost-effective and rapid detection of variations in genes affecting nutrient metabolism, but their full impact on nutrient requirements remains to be elucidated. The common haptoglobin polymorphism is an example of a polymorphism which may have an important influence on chronic disease via its impact on nutrient status. The objective of this chapter is to introduce the concept of diet–gene interactions and to discuss the various effects that genes can have on metabolic responses to food, focusing on the common haptoglobin polymorphism as an example.
Modified Iteration and Probability

It is always a pleasant event when apparently disparate areas of mathematics intersect: when a theorem in one discipline translates into, proves, generalizes, simplifies or "explains" a theorem in another. This phenomenon occurs frequently between probability theory and various aspects of classical analysis. Examples are so abundant that it is perilous even to begin a list. This note presents another such interaction. Iteration of functions produces fixed points, at least under suitable conditions. We are going to present a modification of the usual iteration procedure which has the pernicious property of retarding or even destroying the convergence to the fixed point and ascertain (purely analytically) just when this convergence is destroyed. Our modification comes about not purely by malice, but turns out to correspond to picking a non-optimal strategy in a certain iterative game of chance. The analytic criterion then reappears as an immediate corollary to an elementary pointwise convergence theorem. Here is the analytic set-up. G(w) is a strictly convex, continuously differentiable function on the interval 0 6 w 0, G(1) = 1, and 0 < G'(w) < 1 for 0 < w < 1. These conditions are more than enough to ensure that if mqnl1 = G(qn) (io = 0), then qn -* 1, the fixed point of G. Let wn be a sequence with 0 < wn < 1. Modify the in to get a sequence (n by defining 40 = 0 and
Lights, Camera, Action: The Adoption of State Film Tax Credits

Over the last 20 years, states have adopted tax incentives focused on film production. Louisiana adopted the first state tax incentive program for film production in 1992, and by 2009 such tax incentive programs had expanded to 44 states plus the District of Columbia. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that explain the pattern of adoption of state film tax incentive programs. We develop a theoretical framework for analyzing states’ decision to adopt these programs that considers both internal characteristics and diffusion. We empirically investigate the timing of states’ adoption of film tax incentives using the Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying predictors. The estimates of many of the hazard ratios are consistent with our expectation, although several are statistically insignificant. As expected, the pattern of adoption across states supports the hypothesis that it is a “mimicking” phenomenon. However, we find that fiscal stress results in faster adoption of film tax credits, contrary to expectations, but consistent with the notion that states look at them as a “luxury.”
Clinical Assessment of Lifestyle and Behavioral Factors During Weight Loss Treatment

This chapter provides an overview of the clinical assessment of lifestyle and behavioral factors in people who present for weight loss treatment. We focus on the clinical evaluation of patients through direction questioning during an in-person evaluation. This includes detailed questions about eating and activity behaviors and their specific contributions to the development of obesity. In addition, these questions assess a number of relevant psychosocial domains, such as mood and self-esteem, which can contribute to the development of obesity as well as successful treatment. These questions can be augmented with psychometrically validated instruments that can be completed in advance of this evaluation to assess specific domains or relevance and interest. Assessment of these factors will allow the practitioner to tailor the treatment approach to the specific needs of a given patient.
Credit Planning in India: Its Rationale and Content*

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the rationale of credit planning in India. One of the more remarkable aspects of planning policies and techniques in India was the relative neglect of the role of financial intermediaries in the growth process. The most important among them are the commercial banks. Financial intermediaries such as the LIC, banks, etc., are resource mobilizers and their efforts at increasing the funds available for disposition and the planning of such disposition become integral elements of the total resource mobilization and allocation exercise. The concept of credit planning and resource mobilization should encompass not only the commercial banks but, so as to have an integrated picture of the financing pattern of the economy, all the financial institutions, namely, the LIC, the Provident Fund Scheme, the insurance companies, the cooperative banks, the specialized term-lending agencies and the commercial banks. The mobilization of resources through the various agencies has to be viewed in a coordinated manner and the deployment of funds from the various institutions to the public and private sectors, to various areas of economic activity and regions of the country have also to be interrelated.
Theorizing Presidential Tenure: The Difficult Case of FDR's Fourth Term

This article examines Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pursuit of a fourth term in 1944, despite the significant erosion of his physical health beginning in late 1943. Not only did Roosevelt pursue a fourth term against long odds that he would not survive it, but he put little effort into the selection and policy education of Vice President Truman. This pursuit of a fourth term is critical to debates over presidential tenure, and particularly evaluations of the 22nd Amendment, which since 1951 has limited presidents to two terms. It is a "difficult case," however, because despite obvious miscalculations on the part of FDR and his advisors in 1944– which reinforce arguments of term limits proponents–a two term limit would have prevented a third term for Roosevelt as well, thereby depriving the nation of his experienced leadership in a time of war, especially in the crucial early years of the war. The article concludes by supporting the existing two term limitation which, despite its faults, effectively addresse...
Nucleic acid synthesis in intact nuclei isolated from mouse fibroblasts. Characterization of the system and effects of glucocorticoids.

In the course of continuing investigations out the effects of glucocorticoids on nucleic acid synthesis in mouse fibroblasts, we have characterized a nuclear system capable of carrying on both DNA and RNA synthesis. Intact nuclei isolated from logarithmically growing fibroblasts can incorporate both ribonucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates into cold acid-insoluble material under the direction of endogenous enzyme and template. The extent of DNA synthesis does not approach that proceeding in intact cells. The incorporation of both ribo- and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates into macromolecular material is DNA template-dependent and requires the presence of all four complementary nucleotides. The DNA formed is of low molecular weight and does not sediment with bulk DNA on alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation. Although DNA and RNA synthesis is significantly inhibited in nuclei isolated from cells treated with growth-inhibitory doses of glucocorticoids, the apparent 2-fold greater inhibition of DNA synthesis with respect to RNA synthesis as measured by thymidine and uridine incorporation in whole cells is not observed. Neither DNA nor RNA synthesis is inhibited by direct addition of very high levels of glucocorticoids to nuclear suspensions or broken whole cells. The intact nuclear system has also been examined with respect to enzymatic functions which affect the state of the nucleoside triphosphate precursors and the RNA and DNA products.
Calcium Supplements and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: What Do Clinicians and Patients Need to Know?

Chung and colleagues' work breaks new ground and offers guidance about sensible calcium supplementation that emphasizes dietary sources and recognizes that with calcium, more is not necessarily better.
Modeling of flashing-induced flow instabilities for a natural circulation driven novel modular reactor

Abstract An analytical study based on frequency domain analysis is presented on the flashing-induced flow instability in a natural circulation test facility, which was designed to investigate the flow instability for a BWR-type novel modular reactor (NMR). To address the flashing phenomena at low pressure conditions, such as initial startup transients or accidents, the liquid enthalpy change in the P-T diagram due to reduced hydrostatic head in the riser or chimney was treated as an axially uniform heat flux. Based on the drift flux model, the system transfer function was obtained through small perturbations about the steady state in the frequency domain. The D-partition method was used to determine the neutral stability boundary in the dimensionless stability plane, which was constituted of the subcooling number and phase change number. From the frequency domain analysis, the flashing stability boundary and the density wave oscillations boundary could be predicted. Some parametric studies had been performed on the system pressure and the inlet flow resistance coefficients in the stability analysis. The results showed that the flashing stability boundary was more sensitive to the system pressure than the density wave oscillations. In addition, the theoretical stability boundaries were benchmarked against the experimental stability boundaries from quasi-steady state tests. Although the general stability boundary agreed well with the experiments, certain discrepancies still existed due to the assumptions of thermal equilibrium in current study. In the future, the thermal non-equilibrium conditions including subcooled boiling will be taken into account in the flashing induced stability analysis.
Using repeated daily assessments to uncover oscillating patterns and temporally-dynamic triggers in structures of psychopathology: Applications to the DSM–5 alternative model of personality disorders.

Articulating an accurate and clinically useful structure of psychopathology is a crucial and difficult task. Dimensions identified through cross-sectional factor analyses are increasingly being linked with temporally dynamic processes of social cognition, emotion regulation, symptom expression, and functional impairment to demonstrate how between-person structures and within-person dynamics can be integrated. The present research considers how structure and processes are integrated in the DSM-5, specifically in the alternative model for personality disorders (AMPD). Participants (n = 248) completed a 14-day electronic diary, and results indicated that personality impairments oscillated across days and were triggered by daily negative emotions and cognitive distortions. Importantly, some aspects of the AMPD model that are identified as potentially redundant in cross-sectional research are shown here to increment each other in the prediction of dynamic oscillations and triggers. Thus, longitudinal designs and temporally dynamic analyses may provide new and novel evidence to fully inform structures of psychopathology. Such research is a needed step in the integration of the structure and process in classification and diagnosis of psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record
Student Outcomes of Eco-Restoration Service-Learning Experiences in Urban Woodlands:

Service learning with ecological restoration projects can positively affect participants’ attitudes, behaviors, and learning, but little is known about the longevity of these effects. Furthermore, ...
Sexual health education for young tourists

Abstract There is a pressing need for developing effective sexual health education for a high-risk group of young tourists. The purpose of this study was to explore the necessity of sexual health education for young tourists and to identify the characteristics of potentially successful sexual health messages. The data were obtained from three mixed-gender focus groups and 13 individual interviews (N = 32) and analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. The findings highlight the necessity for innovative sexual health education methods supporting young adults' decision-making in tourism. Participants' recommendations for sexual health education for tourists included informing decisions about safer sex instead of condemning sex; developing tourism-focused, age-specific, and gender-sensitive messages; varying messages’ emphases on risks vs. benefits; and individualizing the messages based on risk perceptions and motivations. These recommendations can be explained and applied using context-specific, harm reduction, and health promotion approaches as well as the methods of targeting, framing, and tailoring.
Inter-organ regulation of haem homeostasis

Haem is an iron-containing cofactor required for life. Many cellular processes rely on haem and failure to maintain iron homeostasis results in numerous pathological conditions. A study now identifies a Caenorhabditis elegans inter-organ signalling pathway in which secreted intestinal HRG-7 and neuronally secreted BMP signals coordinate animal haem homeostasis.
Questioning the Influence of a Spiritual Lens on Teaching, Empathy Building, and Meaning Making in a Community College: A Duoethnography

ABSTRACTIn this study, we examined our understanding of the way our spiritual lens informed our practice as mathematics instructors. In this duoethnography, we conceptualize our work through a servant leadership model and employed it to understand our approach to our students, teaching, and classroom environment. The data for this study consisted of our written exchanges in response to multiple questions focused on the perceptions of our students and our practice. Throughout our exchange we described the way our spiritual lens provided a way to perceive our work. Three findings emerged from the data: (a) the imperative that our teaching support student connections and success in our classes; (b) our need to develop empathy recognizing the innate value of our students; and (c) that we must break through to the affective to engage holistic approaches in this technical discipline. We conclude that incorporating these findings with a sensitivity toward the affective supports our work toward developmental math...
Dynamical Theory of Optical Linewidths in Glasses

Many physical properties of amorphous solids are strikingly different from those of crystalline solids at low temperatures [1]. One of these anomalous properties, which is the subject of this chapter, is the low-temperature homogeneous optical linewidth of an optically active ion imbedded in a glass matrix. Recently there has been a considerable amount of experimental work [2–10] in this area due to advances in high-resolution spectroscopic techniques. The linewidths have been determined by fluorescence line-narrowing in inorganic glasses [2, 3] and by photochemical [5–9] and non-photochemical [10] hole-burning in organic glasses.
Falls as Risk Factors for Fractures

Publisher Summary Several types of fractures among the elderly are usually due to a fall. Fall-related injuries are the leading cause of mortality by unintentional injuries among adults aged 65 years and older in the United States. Falls are also the leading cause of non-fatal injuries among the elderly. An estimated 5–10% of those over age 75 visit a hospital emergency department each year for treatment of a fall-related injury; about one-third are subsequently hospitalized. Most falls in the elderly are probably due to both intrinsic (host) and extrinsic (environmental) factors. Although there has been a great deal of progress in the identification of intrinsic risk factors, investigation of extrinsic factors remains more limited. Environmental factors are thought to be particularly important in falls among the more active elderly, whereas intrinsic factors may play more of a role among the frail elderly. In studies of risk factors for falls, a fall is usually defined as “an event that results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or other lower level.” Falls due to an overwhelming force or event, such as a motor vehicle accident or loss of consciousness, are usually excluded. Early research on the identification of fall risk factors has been focused on all falls, despite the fact that the majority of falls do not result in injury. Some researchers suggest that fall-related serious injury, not falls per se, is the significant outcome measure and, thus, research and preventive actions should focus on risk factors for injurious falls. However, it is plausible that efforts to reduce falls in general would also reduce injuries. The most effective approach remains to be clearly established.
Mechanisms of Immune Complex Injury

There has been a marked resurgence of interest in the general topic of immune complex glomerulonephritis in the past two to three years. Several factors account for this phenomenon, including the recent availability of assays for circulating immune complexes in human renal disease, but the major reason is that several basic observations made in the laboratory have prompted important revisions in the way we now think about immune complex nephritis. These changes have occurred particularly in two areas. First, there have been important changes in the concepts of how these granular deposits form in glomeruli. Secondly, there have also been some new discoveries with respect to the mechanisms by which these deposits mediate glomerular injury. This presentation will review some of these observations and give you some idea, at least from our prospective, of current thinking about the pathogenesis of immune complex glomerulonephritis.
SOME SYSTEMS FOR MODELING COMPUTER SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

This paper presents four models of use in analyzing a system's security requirements in the abstract. A discussion of relations between security and information bindings is included, and a number of features for study are outlined.
Linear Viscoelastic and Uniaxial Extensional Rheology of Alkali Metal Neutralized Sulfonated Oligostyrene Ionomer Melts

The linear viscoelastic and nonlinear extensional behavior of melts of alkali metal salts of oligomeric sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) ionomers were characterized by dynamic shear and nonlinear, uniaxial extensional flow experiments. The oligomeric SPS had a weight-average molecular weight of 4000 g/mol, a polydispersity index of 1.06, and a degree of sulfonation of 6.5 mol %. The molecular weight was below the entanglement molecular weight of PS, so all rheological effects were due to association of the ionic dipoles and nanophase separation of the ionic species that provides a transient elastic network. The SPS salts exhibited linear viscoelastic properties similar to well-entangled polystyrene (PS) melts, with a distinct rubbery region that had a shear modulus comparable to that of high molecular weight PS. Time–temperature superposition failed as a consequence of overlapping relaxations for the terminal response of the chain and ion hopping of the ionic dipoles. Unlike entangled PS melts, the modulus of...
Vive Tracking Alignment and Correction Made Easy

The alignment of virtual and real coordinate spaces is a general problem in virtual reality research, as misalignments may influence experiments that depend on correct representation or registration of objects in space. This work proposes an automated alignment and correction for the HTC Vive tracking system by using three Vive Trackers arranged to describe the desired axis of origin in the real space. The proposed technique should facilitate the alignment of real and virtual scenes, and automatic correction of a source of error in the Vive tracking system shown to cause misalignments on the order of tens of centimeters. An initial proof-of-concept simulation on recorded data demonstrates a significant reduction of error.
Computer Modeling for Geothermal Systems: Predicting Carbonate and Silica Scale Formation, CO2 Breakout and H2S Exchange

This paper describes chemical equilibrium models for predicting carbonate and silica scale formation, CO2 breakout and H2S gas exchange in geothermal brine systems to high concentration and temperature. The equilibrium description is based on a minimization of the free energy of the system with solute activities described by the semiempirical equations of Pitzer (1973; 1987). The carbonate model is parameterized by appropriate osmotic, electromotive force and solubility data (T ≤ 250°C) available in binary and ternary solutions in the seawater Na–K–H–Ca–Cl–SO4–H2O system. The silica model is parameterized by solubility data to 320°C in the Na–Mg–Cl–SO4–SiO2–H2O system. The H2S model is parameterized by solubility data in the H2S–NaCl–H2O system to 320°C. The predictive capabilities of the models are demonstrated by comparison to both laboratory and field data. Examples have been given to illustrate the use of the carbonate model to predict downhole brine compositions in contact with specified formation minerals, temperature and pressure effects on carbonate scaling, the effect of scale inhibitors and breakout characteristics. Application of the silica model demonstrates the effect of temperature on silica scale formation. These illustrations show that the models can be used to reliably predict important chemical behavior in geothermal operations.
The productive role of cognitive reappraisal in regulating affect during game-based learning

Abstract We conducted an exploratory study on affect regulation during game-based learning where 110 college-aged participants (Mage = 22.14, SDage = 1.24; 50.0% female; 70.0% White) played an easy, medium, and difficult level of an educational game (Physics Playground) while self-reporting their strongest affective state and regulation strategies associated with each level. Participants also self-reported their effort and completed a physics posttest after gameplay. We found that frustration, confusion, determination, and curiosity were the dominant affective states (81.4% of total reports) while cognitive reappraisal and acceptance were the major affective regulation strategies (others individually occurred less than 10.1% of the time). Engaging in cognitive reappraisal – an affective regulation strategy that involves changing the way one thinks about a situation – was beneficial for successfully solving a level when participants were frustrated or confused, but had no effect when participants were determined or curious. Engaging in cognitive reappraisal when experiencing high frustration/confusion positively predicted posttest scores, but only for those who put a high amount of effort into the game. For students who were low in effort or low in frustration/confusion, simply accepting one's emotions when experiencing high frustration/confusion was beneficial. We discuss theoretical implications and applications towards game-based learning supports to promote persistence and learning outcomes.
External validation of the SORG 90-day and 1-year machine learning algorithms for survival in spinal metastatic disease

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Preoperative survival estimation in spinal metastatic disease helps determine the appropriateness of invasive management. The SORG ML 90-day and 1-year machine learning algorithms for survival in spinal metastatic disease were previously developed in a single institutional sample but remain to be externally validated. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to externally validate these algorithms in an independent population from another institution. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective study at a large, tertiary care center. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients 18 years or older who underwent surgery between 2003 and 2016. OUTCOME MEASURES Ninety-day and 1-year mortality. METHODS Baseline characteristics of the validation cohort were compared to the developmental cohort for the SORG ML algorithms. Discrimination (c-statistic and receiver operating curve), calibration (calibration slope, intercept, calibration plot, and observed proportions by predicted risk groups), overall performance (Brier score), and decision curve analysis were used to assess the performance of the SORG ML algorithms in the validation cohort. RESULTS Overall, 176 patients underwent surgery for spinal metastatic disease, of which 44 (22.7%) experienced 90-day mortality and 99 (56.2%) experienced 1-year mortality. The validation cohort differed significantly from the developmental cohort on primary tumor histology, metastatic tumor burden, previous systemic therapy, overall comorbidity burden, and preoperative laboratory characteristics. Despite these differences, the SORG ML algorithms generalized well to the validation cohort on discrimination (c-statistic 0.75–0.81 for 90-day mortality and 0.77–0.78 for 1-year mortality), calibration, Brier score, and decision curve analysis. CONCLUSION and RELEVANCE Initial results from external validation of the SORG ML 90-day and 1-year algorithms for survival prediction in spinal metastatic disease suggest potential utility of these digital decision aids in clinical practice. Further studies are needed to validate or refute these algorithms in large patient samples from prospective, international, multi-institutional trials.
The Prevalence of Expiratory Flow Limitation in Youth Elite Male Cyclists.

The present investigation tested the hypotheses that there would be greater prevalence of expiratory flow limitation (EFL) in endurance-trained (ET) youth cyclists compared with a recreationally active control (CON) group. METHODS Twelve ET youth male cyclists (16.3 ± 1.0 yr (13-18 yr), 176.5 ± 6.2 cm, 64.2 ± 5.9 kg) and 12 CON subjects (17.6 ± 2.2 yr (13-18 yr), 177.9 ± 7.1 cm, 74.8 ± 11.2 kg) completed an incremental exercise test to determine peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak) on a cycle ergometer. Maximal flow volume loops (MFVL), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC, and peak expiratory flow were assessed before and after exercise, with inspiratory capacity maneuvers and dyspnea ratings measured in the last 20 s of each stage. EFL was quantified as the percentage of the expiratory tidal volume that overlapped with the maximal flow volume loop. RESULTS V˙O2peak, dyspnea ratings at peak, and ventilation were higher in the ET compared with CON group (P < 0.05). The ET group experienced greater EFL prevalence at V˙O2peak, with 11 of 12 subjects exhibiting EFL compared with 5 of 12 subjects in the CON group (P = 0.014). When matched for absolute ventilation of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 L·min, there were no differences in EFL severity between the ET and CON groups (P = 0.473). CONCLUSIONS Elite youth male cyclists have a greater prevalence of EFL at maximal exercise than do CON subjects who are similar in age, height, and lung size. Future research should determine whether EFL in youth ET male cyclists may limit their exercise performance.
Research reportExpression of membrane currents in rat neocortical neurons in serum-free culture. I. Inward currents

The gigaseal whole-cell voltage clamp technique has been used to investigate the timing of expression and properties of voltage-dependent inward currents in cultured neocortical-pyramidal-shaped neurons. The dissociated primary cultures of synchronized (same cell cycle), growth arrested (G1-phase) and birth-dated neurons from fetal rat (E18) were maintained in a serum-free medium. The earliest inward current is expressed within 24 h. This current is carried by Na+ and the channels are located in distal neurites at discrete sites. The Na+ channels near the cell body are expressed after 5 days in culture, at which time the neuritic Na+ current persists. The magnitude of the current near the soma increases with age of the neuron. The Na+ current is blocked by both tetrodotoxin (TTX) and nitrendipine. The sensitivity to nitrendipine changes with age of the culture. The results suggest that Na channels expressed early during neuronal development have some structural component common also to Ca2+ channels.
Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in Los Angeles

Abstract Importance Healthcare workers (HCW) are slated to be early recipients of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines due to increased risk of exposure to patients with COVID-19, and will be tasked with administering approved vaccines to the general population. As lynchpins of the vaccination effort, HCWs’ opinions of a vaccine’s safety and efficacy may affect both public perception and uptake of the vaccine. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and address potential hesitancy prior to vaccine administration. Objective To understand healthcare workers’ attitudes about vaccine safety, efficacy, and acceptability in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, including acceptance of a novel coronavirus vaccine. Design, Setting, Participants A cross-sectional survey was distributed to participants enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study surveilling SARS-CoV-2 infection among 1,093 volunteer sampled University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health System employees. Surveys were completed online between September 24 and October 16, 2020. In total, 609 participants completed this supplemental survey. Results We averaged a 9-statement Likert scale matrix scored from 1 (“strongly disagree”) to 5 (“strongly agree”) and found respondents overwhelmingly confident about vaccine safety (4.47); effectiveness (4.44); importance, self-protection, and community health (4.67). Notably, 47.3% of respondents reported unwillingness to participate in a coronavirus vaccine trial, and most (66.5%) intend to delay vaccination. The odds of reporting intent to delay coronavirus vaccine uptake were 4.15 times higher among nurses, 2.45 times higher among other personnel with patient contact roles, and 2.15 times higher among those without patient contact compared to doctors. Evolving SARS-CoV-2 science (76.0%), current political climate (57.6%), and fast-tracked vaccine development timeline (83.4%) were cited as primary variables impacting HCW decisions to undergo vaccination. Of note, these results were obtained prior to release of Phase III data from companies manufacturing vaccines in the U.S. Conclusions and Relevance Despite overall confidence in vaccines, a majority of HCW expressed concerns over a novel coronavirus vaccine. A large proportion plan to delay vaccine uptake due to concerns about expedited development, emerging scientific discoveries, and the political climate. Forthcoming vaccination campaigns must address these unique points of coronavirus vaccine hesitancy in order to achieve adequate vaccine coverage.
The mask of the red death: Leadership, hubris, and the Covid-19 crisis

Throughout history, societies have been beset by disasters that took them by surprise, often with widespread and devastating consequences. When crops, animals, or people began dying with unusual fr...
Prediction of rail defect development using parametric bootstrapping modified Weibull equations

The railroad industry has historically used the 2-Parameter Weibull equation to determine the rate of rail fatigue defect occurrences and to forecast the fatigue life of railroad rail. However, the...
Direct numerical and large–eddy simulation of complex turbulent flows

Abstract A notable trend in the direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large-eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flows over the past two decades has been their application to multiphysics flows and highly complex geometries. This article discusses key aspects of this development for incompressible flows from the author's perspective. Numerical errors are discussed in terms of their impact on the multiple scales of motion. A dynamic theory to predict the impact of numerical error on solutions to the LES equations is discussed, compared to actual LES, and used to comment on the various sources of numerical error. Numerical methods that are well–suited for RANS are not directly applicable to LES. An unstructured-grid numerical algorithm to perform DNS and LES in both canonical and complex engineering geometries is discussed. Key features of an unstructured overset method capable of performing DNS and LES of the flow over a large number of moving bodies in turbulent flow are presented. Flows that were considered complex in past years are now canonical; two illustrative examples are presented. The analysis of ‘big data’ is considered from a couple of perspectives: numerical issues such as finite precision error and scalability, and the ability to obtain quantitative answers to fundamental questions that would have been inconceivable a couple of decades ago. The synergy between DNS and experiments is discussed using an illustrative example. The article concludes with the author's outlook for the field's development.
Dynamin-related protein 1 regulates substrate oxidation in skeletal muscle by stabilizing cellular and mitochondrial calcium dynamics

Mitochondria undergo continuous cycles of fission and fusion to promote inheritance, regulate quality control, and mitigate organelle stress. More recently, this process of mitochondrial dynamics has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive to nutrient supply, ultimately conferring bioenergetic plasticity to the organelle. However, whether regulators of mitochondrial dynamics play a causative role in nutrient regulation remains unclear. In this study, we generated a cellular loss-of-function model for dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), the primary regulator of outer membrane mitochondrial fission. Loss of DRP1 (shDRP1) resulted in extensive ultrastructural and functional remodeling of mitochondria, characterized by pleomorphic enlargement, increased electron density of the matrix, and defective NADH and succinate oxidation. Despite increased mitochondrial size and volume, shDRP1 cells exhibited reduced cellular glucose uptake and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Untargeted transcriptomic profiling revealed severe downregulation of genes required for cellular and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, which was coupled to loss of ATP-stimulated calcium flux and impaired substrate oxidation stimulated by exogenous calcium. The insights obtained herein suggest that DRP1 regulates substrate oxidation by altering whole-cell and mitochondrial calcium dynamics. These findings are relevant to the targetability of mitochondrial fission and have clinical relevance in the identification of treatments for fission-related pathologies such as hereditary neuropathies, inborn errors in metabolism, cancer, and chronic diseases.
WE-AB-BRB-02: Development of a Micro-Sized Dosimeter for Real-Time Dose Monitoring and Small Field Dosimetry

Purpose: To investigate a miniature optical dosimeter for real-time, high-resolution dosimetry, and explore its potential applications for in vivo measurements and small field dosimetry. Methods: A micro-sized hemispherical (400 µm radius) scintillating detector was constructed from lanthanide activated phosphors doped with Europium (GOS:Eu) and encapsulated in a 17 gauge plastic catheter. A photon counting PMT and CCD-chip spectrometer were used to detect signals emitted from the detector. A single band-passing spectral approach (630nm) was implemented to discriminate the micro-phosphor optical signal from background signals (Cerenkov radiation) in the optical fiber. To test real-time monitoring capabilities, a 3D-printed phantom was used to detect an 192Ir HDR brachytherapy source at locations ranging from 1 to 4 cm radially and 12 cm along the travel axis of the HDR wire. To test the application of the micro-sized detector for small field dosimetry, the linearity of detector was characterized through irradiation of 6MV photon beam at dose-rates ranging from 100 to 600 MU, and the effect of field size was characterized through detections of beams ranging from 30×30 to 1×1 cm2 size. Results: With a 1 second integration time for the spectrometer, the recorded measurements indicated that the micro-sized detector allowed accurate detection of source position at distances of up to 6 cm along the axis of travel in water. EB measurements showed that the detected signal was linearly correlated with dose rate (R^2 = 0.99). The crossbeam profile was determined with a step size of ∼500 µm. Conclusion: Miniaturization of optical dosimeters is shown to be possible through the construction of lanthanide activated doped phosphors detectors. The small size of the detector makes it amenable to a variety of applications, including real-time dose delivery verification during HDR brachytherapy and EB beam calibrations in small fields.
Digital mechanics: an informational process based on reversible universal cellular automata

Abstract This paper is written from the perspective of a computer scientist and addressed to theoretical physicists. As a consequence it may seem somewhat unusual, but rest assured, everything is really quite simple! The point of this paper is that the study of certain phenomena from computer science suggests that there are computer systems (cellular automata) that may be appropriate as models for microscopic physical phenomena. Cellular automata are now being used to model varied physical phenomena normally modelled by wave equations, fluid dynamics, Ising models, etc. We hypothesize that there will be found a single cellular automaton rule that models all of microscopic physics; and models it exactly. We call this field DM, for digital mechanics.
Challenges of teaching with technology across the curriculum: issues and solutions

Introduction to Technology Across the Curriculum Major Applications of Instructional Technology Technology in the Science Classroom Technology in the Math Classroom Technology in the Social Studies Classroom Technology in the Language Arts Classroom Technology in the Foreign Languages Classroom Technology in the Fine Arts Classroom Technology in the Technology Classroom Technologies for Students With Disabilities Integrating Technology Into Classroom Instruction
Immunomodulation With Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Since its introduction over a decade ago for the treatment of primary immunodeficiencies, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has demonstrated activity in a variety of autoimmune disorders. An understanding of IVIG's immunomodulatory effects provides the rationale for its potential application in the management of autoimmune disorders. The agent has exhibited the ability to block fragment crystallizable receptors on phagocytes, interact with the idiotype-anti-idiotype network, and modulate T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, and natural killer cell populations, as well as complement activity. Its immunomodulatory effects have been demonstrated in a variety of disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Kawasaki disease. Numerous case reports and small studies revealed IVIG's activity in a variety of other autoimmune disorders, but controlled clinical trials are necessary to clarify these initial observations.
Product Component Genealogy Modeling and Field‐failure Prediction

Many industrial products consist of multiple components that are necessary for system operation. There is an abundance of literature on modeling the lifetime of such components through competing risks models. During the life-cycle of a product, it is common for there to be incremental design changes to improve reliability, to reduce costs, or due to changes in availability of certain part numbers. These changes can affect product reliability but are often ignored in system lifetime modeling. By incorporating this information about changes in part numbers over time (information that is readily available in most production databases), better accuracy can be achieved in predicting time to failure, thus yielding more accurate field-failure predictions. This paper presents methods for estimating parameters and predictions for this generational model and a comparison with existing methods through the use of simulation. Our results indicate that the generational model has important practical advantages and outperforms the existing methods in predicting field failures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.