cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crizotinib in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

Introduction: Recent progress in identifying distinct subsets of lung cancer, based on critical driver mutations, has led to increasingly focused efforts in the development of selectively targeted therapies. The fusion oncogene, echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 – anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK), is present in approximately 5% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors. Crizotinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which silences the protein product of the ALK fusion gene and has recently been approved for the treatment of NSCLC aberrantly expressing ALK. Emerging data suggest that crizotinib may also have activity in other subsets of lung cancer, including tumors demonstrating amplification or mutation of the MET oncogene, or translocation of the ROS1 oncogene. Areas covered: This paper gives an overview of the molecular pathogenesis of ALK-associated NSCLC. It also reviews the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data on crizotinib and outlines the preclinical and clinical...
Establishment of state religion and requirements for public office

SUMMARYThere is a significant body of work on the broad question of the relationship between a positive affirmation of religion and the state. Scholars largely agree that a close relationship between religion and the state influences both political processes and state structures although the nature and extent of the impact and its direction remains an open question. While engaging this topic, the article deviates from the standard approach by looking not to the religious makeup of a country's citizens but to a country's constitution. The result is that countries fall into one of three categories based on a state's orientation toward state-established religion: first, countries that affirm establishment; second, countries that forbid establishment; and lastly, countries that are silent on the issue. Utilizing a dataset of all 186 of the world's written constitutions to analyze the variation in the requirements for office of each of these three groups, the following hypotheses are posed: First, constitution...
An in vitro model for infection with Leishmania major that mimics the immune response in mice.

By using a primary in vitro response specific for Leishmania major, normal T cells from resistant CBA/CaH-T6J and susceptible BALB/c mice commit to a Th1 and a Th2 response, respectively. Since commitment occurred, we measured the production of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-12, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and nitric oxide in the first 7 days of the response to identify factors that are critical for Th1 and Th2 development. While cells from resistant CBA mice produced more IFN-gamma, IL-10, and nitric oxide, cells from susceptible BALB/c mice produced more IL-1alpha, IL-5, PGE2, and TGF-beta. Although substantial amounts of IL-12 were detected, IL-12 did not associate with either Th1 or Th2 development. We did not anticipate that cells from resistant CBA mice would make more IL-10 in vitro. However, this also occurred in vivo since CBA mice produced substantial amounts of IL-10 following infection with L. major. Moreover, adding anti-IL-10 to primary in vitro responses enhanced production of IFN-gamma and nitric oxide by cells from CBA and BALB/c mice. Therefore, IL-10 cannot be regarded as a cytokine that associates with susceptibility to infection with L. major. Finally, the data presented here suggest that a collection of factors that can be produced by accessory cells influence Th commitment (e.g., IL-1, PGE2, and TGF-beta favor Th2 development).
Improvement of Filter Media for Cotton Dust Control

The performance of pile fabrics used as filter media in cotton-mill local-exhaust-ventilation systems was examined.. It was first established that a satisfactory laboratory-test aerosol of cotton dust could be generated from previously collected trash. It was found, as a by-product of this first step, that cotton dust contains few particles smaller than about 0.5 μm. A filtration apparatus was built for measurements at face velocities from 0.5 to 1.0 m/s. Within this range the penetration for these fabrics increased almost linearly with velocity. The particle-size distribution up- and downstream of the fabrics was almost identical, indicating that penetration was either of the "straight through" or of the "pinhole plug" type. The concepts of electrical stimulation of fabric filtration were explored to establish whether this method could be used to improve the performance of cotton-dust filter media. It was observed that an electric field generated by the application of 9 kV to wires on the up stream surfa...
The Field Cricket Gryllus assimilis and Two New Sister Species (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

ABSTRACT In preparation for revisionary studies of western U.S. Gryllus field crickets, some eastern U.S. names for species with supposed transcontinental distributions must be resolved. One such species, Gryllus assimilis (F.), as currently characterized, occurs in the West Indies, Brazil, Central America, and Mexico, and in five of the southernmost U.S. states. Our studies of calling songs and morphology indicate that at least three species exist among these populations. The type locality of G. assimilis is Jamaica, but the type specimen is lost and two similar species of Gryllus occur there. One of these species occurs widely outside of Jamaica, and we assign it to G. assimilis and designate a neotype. The other occurs only in Jamaica and is assigned to Gryllus jamaicensis T. J. Walker n. sp. Nearly all populations formerly known as G. assimilis from southern California, southern Arizona, southern Nevada, and Mexico west of the continental divide are assigned to Gryllus multipulsator Weissman n. sp. Po...
Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters Block the Protumorigenic Effects of Obesity in Mouse Models of Postmenopausal Basal-like and Claudin-Low Breast Cancer

Obesity induces chronic inflammation and is an established risk and progression factor for triple-negative breast cancers, including basal-like (BL) and claudin-low (CL) subtypes. We tested the effects of dietary supplementation with ethyl esters of the marine-derived anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA; Lovaza) on growth of murine BL and CL mammary tumors. Female ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet or a diet-induced obesity (DIO) diet with or without EPA+DHA (0.025%, resulting in blood levels of EPA and DHA comparable with women taking Lovaza 4 g/d) for 6 weeks. All mice were then orthotopically injected with Wnt-1 cells (a BL tumor cell suspension derived from MMTV-Wnt-1 transgenic mouse mammary tumors) or M-Wnt cells (a CL tumor cell line cloned from the Wnt-1 tumor cell suspension). Mice were killed when tumors were 1 cm in diameter. EPA+DHA supplementation did not significantly affect Wnt-1 or M-Wnt mammary tumor growth in normoweight control mice. However, EPA+DHA supplementation in DIO mice reduced growth of Wnt-1 and M-Wnt tumors; reduced leptin:adiponectin ratio and proinflammatory eicosanoids in the serum; improved insulin sensitivity; and decreased tumoral expression of COX-2 and phospho-p65. Thus, EPA+DHA supplementation in mouse models of postmenopausal BL and CL breast cancer offsets many of the protumorigenic effects of obesity. These preclinical findings, in combination with results from parallel biomarker studies in women, suggest that EPA+DHA supplementation may reduce the burden of BL and CL breast cancer in obese women. Cancer Prev Res; 8(9); 796–806. ©2015 AACR .
Thermal Characteristics of a Compact, Passive Thermal Energy Storage Device

A Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system uses a Phase Change Material (PCM) to store heat during peak power operation of variable power dissipating devices via the latent heat effect. The TES composite developed is a plate-like structure that consists of a central core of foamed aluminum that is packed with a PCM. By considering the elements of the composite to be thermal resistors and constructing a flat -plate thermal conductivity apparatus, the plate-to-plate effective thermal conductivity is determined. The composite effective thermal conductivity is primarily composed of the thermal conductivity of the aluminum foam which is reduced by the effect of the aluminum foam-to-plate bond resistance. Heat flow through the PCM slightly augments the effective thermal conductivity. An increase in aluminum foam metal fraction results in an increase in the effective thermal conductivity of the composite because only about 2% of the heat flow is through the PCM, and the interfacial bond resistance decreases due to increased contact area. The trade-off is that as there is an increase in aluminum foam metal fraction, the volumetric latent heat decreases; thus, the storage time is reduced.
Introduction to Part One

In the early nineteenth century, many visionary thinkers espoused various ideas about how humans and other organisms relate to nature, thus establishing the rudimentary foundations of contemporary ecological planning and design.1 Knowledge of these relationships has been used by the general public and professionals in a variety of fields as a means of justifying the decisions they make about the use of the landscape, such as allocating natural resources for the exclusive use of humans; as a mandate for moral action; as an aesthetic norm for beauty; and as a reliable source of scientific evidence to guide future uses.2 These various ways of employing the knowledge of these relationships are intertwined. I will attempt to unfold them as I sketch the history of ecological planning.
Effect of Storage on Lipid Composition and Functional Properties of Dried Egg Products

Abstract Changes in functional properties and lipid composition of whole egg solids, egg yolk solids, and free flowing egg yolk solids stored at 1.7, 12.8, 23.9 and 35 C for 3 to 6 months were examined. In general, storage of dried egg products at 23.9 C for 6 months or at 35 C for 3 months or more resulted in a decrease of pH, emulsion stability (mayonnaise test), and cephalin content. Viscosity of rehydrated egg products increased markedly at higher storage temperatures. Browning of egg products, as measured by Gardner values, was observed under high storage temperatures. No changes in total lipid content, lecithin content, and fatty acid composition were observed in this study.
Type of Farming Modifications Needed in the Great Plains

The Great Plains presents the problem of building an economy which is decidedly different from any economy which has been established in other agricultural areas of this country. This economy will be different, both for the individual farmer and for the community, and it will affect the manner in which national programs and policies are applied. The peculiarity of the region is to be explained mainly by the variations in production and the consequent wide range of income. Most other areas have built their economy upon a rather fixed annual production. It is true that this production may vary 10 or 20 per cent and in rare years even more, but in the Great Plains the variations range from four bushels of wheat one year to 40 bushels the next with a possibility of five, ten or forty bushels during the following year. This variation is so accentuated because the Great Plains is one of the world's richest soil belts, and rainfall is the controlling factor. When rainfall is plentiful, extraordinary yields result, and of course when the amount of rainfall is inadequate poor crops or failures prevail. If the climate were consistently humid as it is in the Mississippi Valley or consistently arid as it is in Arizona, an economy could soon be devised that would fit the area. However, we should recognize that a true definition of semi-arid means that half of the years are dry and the other half are wet rather than that there is fifteen inches of rainfall every year as over against thirty inches in humid areas. Furthermore, the wet and dry years do not come in series nor alternately, but are unpredictable in their succession. By such a definition, we have described the fundamental characteristic upon which a Great Plains economy must be built. Not only is there a fine economic balance to be struck because of the variations of income, but the checks and balances of nature are also very fine. Land cannot be plowed up and tilled in a manner which is suitable to wet years only, but the manner of tillage must be such as to guard against serious wind erosion during the dry years. Such a dry year may follow immediately upon a wet year. Range must be grazed in such a manner during periods of luxuriant
Senior Executive Adopt-a-Work Unit: A Model for Safety Improvement

Article-at-a-Glance Background At The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH), the patient safety committee created a safety program that focused on encouraging staff in selected units to identify and eliminate potential errors in the patient care environment. As part of this program, senior hospital executives each adopted an intensive care unit and worked with the unit staff to identify issues and to empower staff to address safety issues. JHH Patient Safety Program The program consisted of eight steps, which together require six months for implementation: (1) conduct a culture survey; (2) educate staff on the science of safety; (3) identify staff safety concerns through a staff safety survey; (4) implement the senior executive adopt-a-work unit program; (5) implement improvements; (6–7) document results, share stories, and disseminate results; and (8) resurvey staff. Results The senior executive adopt-a-work unit program was successful in identifying and eliminating hazards to patient safety and in creating a culture of safety. Discussion The program can be broadly implemented. The keys to program success are the active role of an executive advocate and staff's willingness to openly discuss safety issues on the units. Regular meetings between the advocates and the units have provided a forum for enhancing executive awareness, increasing staff confidence and trust in executive involvement, and swiftly and effectively addressing areas of potential patient harm.
Integration of acibenzolar-S-methyl with antibiotics for protection of pear and apple from fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora

Abstract Orchard experiments on integration of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) with antibiotics for protection of pear and apple from fire blight were conducted in the west coast region of the United States over a period of 5 years. In 11 pathogen-inoculated trials, a single treatment of streptomycin or oxytetracycline provided an average of 84 and 60% disease control, respectively. The addition of one or two treatments of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) to the single antibiotic program contributed an additional 6 and 11% disease control, respectively, for both antibiotic materials. Among trials, ASM treatment timings were varied from early to late bloom but an effect of timing on disease control could not be determined. In mature commercial pear orchards, ASM treatments at full bloom and petal fall were superimposed onto the grower’s antibiotic program used in each orchard. For the 15 orchards with fire blight, the ASM-treated plots showed 38% fewer infections than adjoining plots that received antibiotic program only. When integrated with antibiotics, ASM provides added disease suppression to fire blight control programs, but the modest degree of protection provided will likely limit its use to high disease risk situations, which includes orchards with a previous disease history, and those planted recently to highly susceptible cultivars.
A Comprehensive Model of Electric-Field-Enhanced Jumping-Droplet Condensation on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Superhydrophobic micro/nanostructured surfaces for dropwise condensation have recently received significant attention due to their potential to enhance heat transfer performance by shedding positively charged water droplets via coalescence-induced droplet jumping at length scales below the capillary length and allowing the use of external electric fields to enhance droplet removal and heat transfer, in what has been termed electric-field-enhanced (EFE) jumping-droplet condensation. However, achieving optimal EFE conditions for enhanced heat transfer requires capturing the details of transport processes that is currently lacking. While a comprehensive model has been developed for condensation on micro/nanostructured surfaces, it cannot be applied for EFE condensation due to the dynamic droplet–vapor–electric field interactions. In this work, we developed a comprehensive physical model for EFE condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces by incorporating individual droplet motion, electrode geometry, jumping f...
Marking the Present: Literary Innovation in Ginés Pérez de Hita’s La guerra de los moriscos

At first glance, La guerra de los moriscos; Segunda parte de las guerras civiles de Granada seems to be a logical sequel to Historia de los bandos de los Zegries y Abencerrajes, for it treats the next salient chapter of Muslim experience on the Iberian Peninsula—the rebellion of the Alpujarras. Indeed, both volumes of Perez de Hita’s narratives are valuable; the first for its romantic portrayal of Al-Andalus and the second for its sympathetic portrait of the Moriscos. The two works are also similar in structure—Perez de Hita’s second volume depicts a rise and fall that can be divided into two parts: the beginning of the rebellion and the Moriscos’ rise in strength, complete with a long, anachronistic scene of jousting and games (reminiscent of those found in Historia de los bandos de los Zegries y Abencerrajes); followed by betrayals within the Morisco leadership (like the betrayal of the Abencerrajes in Historia de los bandos), contributing to the Moriscos’ eventual defeat and relocation to different parts of the peninsula.
Inside/Outside/In-between: Understanding how Jewish Identity Impacts the Lives and Narratives of Ashkenazi Female Public School Educators

Since Ashkenazi Jews in the United States are not a visible minority, it often becomes difficult to distinguish what/who is a Jew. As many Jewish females may appear to be of the dominant culture, they often get overlooked in discussions and courses on teacher education and multiculturalism/multicultural education. However, their identity as both Jewish and White and the absence of conversation regarding their multiple positions in education and in society can contest, as well as support, their connection to multiculturalism. The purpose of this research was to identify how four middle class Ashkenazi females in the greater Los Angeles area understand their identities and experiences as Jews and as public school educators, how these multiple identities impact their perceptions of their pedagogy, and how these women navigate the structures of public schooling. Narrative Inquiry and Listening Guide method of analysis were utilized to present multilayered portraits of these women in order to challenge the status quo of the White female teacher identity and the positioning of Jewish females in regards to the perseverance of Christianity in public education. Story threads emerged from the narratives which indicated that while Jewish identity is fluid and exists on a continuum over time, it was not a primary reason why these women became teachers. Although each woman made individual decisions regarding the degree to which her Jewishness was presented in the classroom and on campus, they did not actively design their curriculum due to them being Jewish; rather they unconsciously incorporated aspects of Judaism in their pedagogy.
Garlic Organosulfur Compounds Reduce Inflammation and Oxidative Stress during Dengue Virus Infection

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes significant global human disease and mortality. One approach to develop treatments for DENV infection and the prevention of severe disease is through investigation of natural medicines. Inflammation plays both beneficial and harmful roles during DENV infection. Studies have proposed that the oxidative stress response may be one mechanism responsible for triggering inflammation during DENV infection. Thus, blocking the oxidative stress response could reduce inflammation and the development of severe disease. Garlic has been shown to both reduce inflammation and affect the oxidative stress response. Here, we show that the garlic active compounds diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl sulfide (DAS) and alliin reduced inflammation during DENV infection and show that this reduction is due to the effects on the oxidative stress response. These results suggest that garlic could be used as an alternative treatment for DENV infection and for the prevention of severe disease development.
Observation of edge states at telecom wavelengths in a nanoscale topological photonic crystal

Topological photonics [1] is a burgeoning field of photonics due to its potential in realizing robust propagation of light for chip-scale optical communications [2] as well as novel phenomena such as fractional quantum Hall states by engineering the photonic edge states to interact with quantum emitters [3]. Towards these goals and building upon previous work [4], we have designed an all-dielectric nanoscale photonic crystal which supports topological edge states and experimentally observed the transmission of edge states near 1500 nm.
Investigating Symmetry in the Primary Grades.

children were thoroughly engrossed in investigating the symmetry of the letter S. "I think it folds." "No, it can't, because if you folded it here, these two parts wouldn't match. They'd be going different ways. Let's try turning it." "Yes, that will work! See, it takes two part turns." These were second-grade children and what they were doing was part of a week-long unit that integrated the concepts of bilateral and rotational symmetry. Symmetry was the chosen topic for several reasons. First, it is a familiar idea. Objects that are well-balanced, well-proportioned, and have regularity of form abound in the environment. Many works of nature leaves, snowflakes, even humans themselves exemplify symmetry. Recognizing the aesthetic appeal of things that are duly proportioned, man has created works of art and architecture that are symmetric. This overt presence of symmetry in the environment makes it of natural interest to children. Secondly, symmetry lends itself to intuitive interpretations that can be investigated through informal, hands-on manipulations. Such activities seem to be more closely related to the way the young child thinks and learns than some more formal geometric experiences that rely heavily on vocabulary and abstract perceptions. Thirdly, symmetry is good mathematics, and early work with the subject can provide foundations for extensions in several directions. As a result of considerations such as these, bilateral symmetry is appearing in many current elementary texts. A design has bilateral symmetry with respect to a line / if for every point P on the design, there is a corresponding point P' the same distance from / but on the opposite side. (Fig. 'a) This concept has an intuitive but mathematically sound interpretation that can be physically tested by a young learner. By folding the design along the line of symmetry, it can be seen that the parts of the design "match." Similarly, a design has rotational symmetry about a point О if every point P of the design can be made to correspond with another design point F when the design is rotated about О by less than a full turn. (Fig. 'b) This type of symmetry also has a test that young learners can physically apply. By tracing the design, then turning the tracing part of a full turn, they can readily determine if the design can be made to match itself.
Mechanical Twinning in Crystal Plasticity

Twinning in a general sense may encompass a variety of energy-invariant transformations of a crystal structure. A twin in a crystalline solid is usually defined as two regions of a crystal separated by a coherent planar interface called a twin boundary, though interpenetrating twins with irregular interfaces are also possible. Limiting values of deformation gradients in each region, on either side of the interface, differ by a simple shear. Twinning can be induced by a variety of mechanical, thermal, electrical, or chemical stimuli. Annealing twins or growth twins emerge during growth of a crystal. Another notable example is a set of finely twinned layers or lamina associated with kinematically compatible, low energy configurations emerging at or near the transformation temperature in the crystallographic theory of martensite (Ball and James 1987; Bhattacharya 1991), i.e., solid-solid polymorphic phase transformations. The present Chapter does not address such phase transformations, annealing, or crystal growth. Rather, the focus of Chapter 8 is a particular kind of twinning labeled mechanical twinning, which by definition is induced by mechanical stresses (Kosevich and Boiko 1971; James 1981). The part of the mechanical stress tensor responsible for twinning is most typically a resolved shear stress acting on the normal to the plane of the twin, in the direction of twinning shear or twin propagation. The term deformation twinning (Christian and Mahajan 1995) is used interchangeably with mechanical twinning.
Fighting racism, battling burnout: causes of activist burnout in US racial justice activists

Social movement scholars have identified activist burnout – when the accumulation of stressors associated with activism become so overwhelming they compromise activists’ persistence in their activi...
Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometries

Ancient mathematics was motivated by very practical reasoning. What we now call land management and commerce were the overriding considerations, and calculational questions grew out of those transactions. As a result, many of the ideas considered involved meshing rectangles and triangles, their areas, and their relative proportions. Basic geometry and trigonometry grew out of these largely pragmatic considerations.
Case 4: Weakness and Headaches in a 14-year-old Boy

1. Alyssa White, MD* 2. Xibei Liu, MD* 3. Samrat U. Das, MD† 1. *University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV 2. †Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV A 14-year-old boy presents to the hospital with headache and weakness for the third time in 3 months. One day before hospital admission the patient developed a severe headache that resolved with sumatriptan use. Hours before arriving at the hospital he played basketball for half an hour outside, but on returning home he noticed a worsening throbbing right-sided frontal headache without radiation. Within a few minutes the patient developed progressively increasing weakness in all 4 extremities, which prompted him to lie down. His previous presenting symptoms had included fever, headache, dizziness, blurry vision, stumbling gait, and stiffness, muscle tightness, and a tingling sensation in all 4 extremities. At previous presentations, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and migraines were suspected, and the patient was started on high-dose (1 g per 24 hours for 5 days) intravenous methylprednisolone, with a prednisone taper, to which he responded very well and symptoms (headaches, dizziness, weakness, ataxia) resolved. The child was in good health until 3 months ago. His medical history is significant for intermittent asthma, triggered by weather changes, which is well controlled …
Splicing up hematopoietic development

In this issue of Blood, Yu et al have identified a new role for the spliceosome factor breast carcinoma amplified sequence 2 (BCAS2) in developmental hematopoiesis.1
Abstract 356: IFN-γ-Dependent TET2 Repression in Coronary Allograft Vasculopathy

Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) occurs in 50% of heart transplant recipients at 10 years after surgery. Allograft failure secondary to CAV accounts for 30% of deaths in transplant recipients....
The psychology of organizational and social sustainability

This paper presents 12 dimensions of work with the aim of providing further understanding of the relationship between work and the psychological wellbeing of workers. Previous research has indicated that these dimensions are significant in establishing such a relationship, which is essential to creating good work. These dimensions are also influential in their effect on the psychological state of workers and are translated specifically into actionable items in the workplace. A hypothetical system model is developed to relate these dimensions to one another, to workers, and to organizations. This set of dimensions also serves as a basis for further development of work design and evaluation tools.
Investigation of Various GeF 4 Gas Mixtures for Improvement of Germanium Ion Implantation

Germanium implant is commonly used in advanced semiconductor device manufacturing as one of the major material modification steps. Germanium Tetrafluoride (GeF 4 ) is almost exclusively used as the primary source gas and its impact on ion source performance (poor source lifetime due to fluorine-induced halogen cycle) is well known. Our previous studies have demonstrated that mixing GeF 4 with hydrogen (H 2 ) can reduce the halogen cycle impact and prolong the source life as well as increase the beam current [1, 2]. In this work, we further investigated GeF 4 mixed with other candidates such as inert, hydride and fluorohydride gases (e.g. Xe, N 2 , GeH 4 and CH 3 F). Ge+ beam current performance and source effects were examined and compared with pure GeF 4 and previously reported GeF 4 /H 2 mixtures.
Recent Knowledge: Human/Animal Skin Decontamination

Skin decontamination, an important step mitigating percutaneous absorption through the stratum corneum (SC), is a highly complex process. Thus, understanding diffusion mechanisms and measuring dermal absorption rates are critical to protect humans from toxic exposures. Here, highly varied literature is placed in a biological and clinical perspective in regards to decontamination. Recent data have shown multiple layers of SC structural heterogeneity, which result in unique substance partitioning characteristics across the membrane. As such, attempts to model and understand this behavior in alternative in vitro membranes prove difficult. More synthetic and natural membranes are being explored as models for vivo behavior. In addition, commonly accepted decontamination methods are undergoing risk assessment. These recent and varied literature findings update available knowledge regarding skin decontamination and its challenges.
Effect of gratitude on cardiovascular health outcomes: a state-of-the-science review

Positive psychological attributes, such as gratitude, play a critical role in improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Gratitude not only enhances psychological, and physical well-being but may al...
IDENTIFICATION OF COEFFICIENTS IN DISTRIBUTED PARAMETER MODELS

A partial differential equation model of a cantilevered beam with a tip mass at its free end is used to study damping in a composite. Four separate damping mechanisms consisting of air damping, strain rate damping, spatial hysteresis and time hysteresis are considered experimentally. Dynamic tests were performed to produce time histories. The time history data is then used along with an approximate model to form a sequence of least squares problems. The solution of the least squares problem yields the estimated damping coefficients. The resulting experimentally determined analytical model is compared with the time histories via numerical simulation of the dynamic response. The procedure suggested here is compared with a standard modal damping ratio model commonly used in experimental modal analysis.
A Rare Case of Primary Anorectal Melanoma and a Review of the Current Landscape of Therapy.

Introduction: Anorectal mucosal melanoma (ARMM) is an uncommon and highly aggressive malignancy. Given its rarity, there is insufficient evidence on the optimal medical management which presents as...
A Distinctive Lineage-Negative Cell Population Produces IL-17A in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Interleukin (IL)-17A is a key proinflammatory cytokine indicated in multiple pathologies, including skin tumorigenesis. While IL-17A is a signature cytokine of Th17 cells, IL-17A is also produced b...
More Than Just Numbers on a Screen: The Dynamic Telemetry Displays of Parker Solar Probe I&T

In August 2018, the Parker Solar Probe launched from Cape Canaveral and began its journey to the Sun's corona, a mission quite unlike anything that has ever flown before. As could be expected, such an extraordinary mission, with its potentially revolutionary science, requires an extraordinarily complex spacecraft. From its high redundancy (including triple redundant processors), incredibly robust Guidance and Control (G&C) and Autonomy systems, unique cooling system, and multiple instrument suites, the Parker Solar Probe presented a unique challenge for the Integration and Test team at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and required an equally complex test environment. One particular way the challenge of building and testing such a complex system was addressed was through the use of many specially designed telemetry display pages. These new-look displays, made with an emphasis on graphics and intuitive data visualization, played a large role in the successful I&T campaign, from first box integration to launch day. This paper will describe some of the telemetry displays created in support of the Parker Solar Probe's Integration and Test phase. It will present some of the special techniques used by the team in crafting these pages in the context of how they specifically contributed to each step of the I&T flow.
Validation of the Health-Related Independence for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Measure- Caregiver Version

Little is known about Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (YA-ASD) health, healthcare and safety needs. This study describes the validation of a health care transition measure for YA-ASD, the Health-Related Independence (HRI). We collected data from caregivers (n = 490) at five Autism Treatment Network sites and compared the psychometric properties of HRI to the gold standard (STARx) and other validated measures. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis and item culling resulted in 30 items addressing six subscales. Content, criterion, and construct validity and internal consistency indicated high validity and reliability for the scale and subscales. HRI is a validated caregiver-report measure of YA-ASD’s self-management, safety, and transition skills. This novel measure will be a useful tool in clinics, intervention development, and research.
Neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront surgery for early-stage left-sided pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A propensity-matched analysis from a national cohort of distal pancreatectomies.

BACKGROUND There are limited data on the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for early-stage distal pancreas adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Previous studies focused on adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas or dealt with borderline and locally advanced tumors of the body and tail. METHODS This is a retrospective study of the National Cancer Database between 2006 and 2015. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to compare overall survival estimates between NAT and upfront resection (UR) groups. RESULTS A total of 5003 distal pancreatectomies for PDAC were identified, of whom 408 (9%) received NAT. After 1:1 matching, 353 NAT patients were compared with 353 UR patients. NAT was associated with lower 90-day mortality. There were no differences in the number of lymph nodes retrieved, or length of stay. With matching, the NAT group had higher median overall survival compared with UR (33.0 vs. 27.0 months; p = 0.009) and adjusted overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.63, 95% confidence interval = 0.51-0.77; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The receipt of NAT followed by distal pancreatectomy for early-stage distal PDAC is associated with improved overall survival compared with UR. This study supports the use of NAT in the multimodal therapy paradigm of early-stage adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas.
CDS-Implied Risk of US Delinquency: Implications for the US Debt Ceiling

In this article, we use a structural credit risk model developed by Geske (1977) and generalized by Chen et al. (2014) to assess the delinquency risk of US Treasury debt implied by US sovereign CDS spreads. We also use the fitted structural model to determine the implied debt ceiling for the Federal Government. TOPICS:Fixed income and structured finance, credit risk management, quantitative methods, statistical methods, financial crises and financial market history Key Findings ▪ As Treasury prices declined, U.S. CDS spreads widened sharply. As the risk of a delinquency credit event increases, the likelihood of a CDS payout being triggered also increases. ▪ U.S. CDS spreads rise and become more volatile around debt ceiling impasses because of the Federal Government’s limited ability to find alternative sources of funding in the short-term when it approaches the statutory debt ceiling and its inability to raise income tax receipts quickly enough. ▪ Mitigating the debt ceiling problem by cutting Federal Government spending and using the cash to pay interest on Treasury securities and retire Federal Government debt would better contribute to reducing the probability of delinquency by the Federal Government.
Free Radicals: An Obituary for “Curiosity-Driven” R&D

There has been a "death" in our family — our family of scientists and engineers. It has gone almost unnoticed. Unnoticed because it was slow (and tragic). Unnoticed even though there was much rhetoric associated with the circumstances surrounding its passage, including expressions like: need for relevance, need for market driven R&D, strategic R&D, etc.
Understanding the Improbable: A Survey of Fat Tails in Environmental Economics

We survey the growing literature on fat-tailed distributions in environmental economics. We then examine the theoretical and statistical properties of such distributions, focusing especially on whe...
Does a G.E.D. Lead to More Training, Post-Secondary Education, and Military Service for School Dropouts?

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth for the years 1979-91, the authors investigate how school dropouts' acquisition of a General Educational Development certificate (G.E.D.) affected the probability that they would obtain training, post-secondary education, or military service. The authors find that G.E.D. recipients had a higher probability than other dropouts of obtaining post-secondary education and non-company training, defined as training provided by government or by proprietary schools. Still, less than half of G.E.D. recipients obtained post-secondary education or training by age 26. The probability of entering military service appears to have been unaffected by acquisition of a G.E.D.
Stochastic event simulation model for quantitative prediction of road tunnel downtime

Abstract Given the importance of road tunnels in a transportation network, it is essential to quantitatively assess and predict tunnel functionality loss due to disruptive events. In this study, a stochastic event simulation model was developed to evaluate the resilience of tunnel infrastructure, quantified using a functionality metric as a function of loss in traffic capacity and its duration. The model consists of individual modules to account for disruptive events that cause tunnel closures. In this paper, the mechanism and probabilistic models used for each simulation module are presented. A simulation for Eisenhower tunnel, Colorado, was conducted using the proposed method as a validation case study. The results showed that the proposed model could simulate realistic tunnel operation status. While the validation was made for a specific tunnel, the model was designed to be applied to the resilience analysis of any road tunnel with defined design and operation parameters.
Shortfin mako hot sets – Defining high bycatch conditions as a basis for bycatch mitigation

Abstract Shortfin mako sharks, Isurus oxyrinchus, were listed under Appendix II of CITES in 2019 in part due to the results of the last stock assessment for the North Atlantic population, which determined the population is overfished and experiencing overfishing. With population numbers expected to continue to decline, the managing body, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), has called for efforts to reduce shortfin mako bycatch. We evaluate the potential for reducing mako bycatch by identifying mako hot sets, those with particularly high shortfin mako bycatch. Environmental conditions were evaluated for their influence on catch per unit effort (CPUE) of shortfin mako sharks. Standardized CPUEs were calculated from the US pelagic longline observer program (2004–2012) using a generalized additive model (GAM) with a delta-lognormal approach applied to the environmental variables sea surface height, sea surface temperature, bathymetry, and chlorophyll-a concentration. Quantile regression (QR) was also performed to evaluate whether environmental variables can predict fishing conditions with high CPUE. The results of the GAM and QR methods were compared and assessed for their ability to predict and identify locations where shortfin mako CPUE is particularly high. The results suggest that using the binomial portion of the delta-lognormal model, the probability of positive bycatch, is the best basis to define an algorithm to avoid setting in conditions that might have high mako bycatch. Bycatch avoidance strategies built from probability of positive bycatch perform well enough at identifying hot sets to avoid half the shortfin mako bycatch with only a 20% reduction in effort.
Chapter 23. Possible Roles of Protein Kinase C in Cell Function

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the recognized substrates for protein kinase C, the relationship between these substrates, and the role of hormones and phorbol esters on cell function. The finding that tumor-promoting phorbol esters can bind to protein kinase C, activating the enzyme and producing the characteristic set of responses for this arm of the pathway is of greater significance. It appears that a number of hormone receptors in the plasma membrane are substrates for phosphorylation by protein kinase C. This conclusion is based mainly on the results obtained following the stimulation of cells with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), but in two instances similar results have been obtained with purified receptors phosphorylated with purified protein kinase C. The functional consequences of these phosphorylation events include feedback inhibition of the effects of mitogens and adrenergic agonists at the receptor level, stimulation of the secreton of stored proteins in secretory cells, and stimulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) accumulation for certain secreted proteins. As protein kinase C was initially isolated from the brain as an enzyme that phosphorylated histone, it might be expected that it has relatively broad substrate specificity in vitro . The link between protein phosphorylation and these latter events is obscure. A major goal of future research should be to identify the functional role of phosphorylation of the proteins that are presently thought to be protein kinase C substrates.
Chapter VII Serological Identification of Atypical Mycobacteria

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses serological identification of atypical mycobacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis form only rough colonies and cannot be identified by the seroagglutination test. Serological techniques have also been used as tools for identification. The most discriminating and useful test is the seroagglutination test. This test is applicable only to smooth colony-forming mycobacteria. The majority of the atypical mycobacteria are of this colony form. The seroagglutination test is based on the presence of species- or type-specific antigens on the surface of the smooth colony-forming bacteria. Cultures that kill the animals in several weeks are considered Mycobacterium avium ( M. avium ), whereas non-pathogenic cultures are designated Mycobacterium intracellulare ( M. intracellulare ). A serological study of M. avium and M. intracellulare revealed that the avian strains belonged almost exclusively two types: 1 and 2. Type 2 predominates. Later, a type 3 was discovered in England, which is found frequently on the European continent.
Career development of young adult cancer survivors: A conceptual framework

BACKGROUND: Research with young adult cancer survivors has found that they are often lacking appropriate career development skills. As a result, they are often disconnected with the labor market and deal low levels of career readiness, low career self-efficacy, and higher rates of under and unemployment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe a multi-domain model that provides a framework for conceptualizing the career development of young adult cancer survivors. METHODS: This study utilized a comprehensive review of the literature to develop a theoretical based conceptual model. RESULTS: The model emphasizes the interaction of contextual and career development domains to improve participation in the areas of work, society, community, and home. CONCLUSION: A brief discussion of potential implications regarding research, service and policy are offered with the overall goal of conceptualizing career development as a public health intervention for young adult cancer survivors and other young adults with chronic health conditions.
Oral Absorption: from Physiology to Regulatory

Intestinal absorption consists of the sum of multiple processes. First, solubility, dissolution rate, lipophilicity, pKa (negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant, Ka), and molecular weight (MW) are major physicochemical properties driving the absorption potential of a drug. The drug's permeability is a major determinant of its ability to be absorbed in the intestine. Intestinal absorption can occur through different mechanisms. Within the “rule of 5” chemical space, drugs are usually absorbed through a passive process. Also, intestinal transporters could either hinder or promote a molecule's absorption and can lead to drug-drug interactions (DDIs). In vitro and in vivo tools exist to study intestinal absorption. These tools provide data with different degrees of granularity and with distinct human absorption predictability. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed guidelines to assess molecules' properties in terms of intestinal absorption and potential of DDIs. Keywords: absorption; intestine; physicochemical properties; transporter; FDA
Managing technology selection and development decisions in new product development process

Managing development decisions for new products based on dynamically evolving technologies is very vital and complex task. Managers often have to choose between introducing moderately better, less risky product early and a superior, costly, and highly risky product later. We developed a modeling framework in order to analyze the implications of time to market, performance and development cost. The model considers development uncertainty in a competitive environment. Our analysis helps determining optimal new product launch time and the best managerial actions in order to maximize total profit.