cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Granin‐A, parathyroid hormone‐related protein, and calcitonin gene products in neuroendocrine prostate cancer

BACKGROUND The importance of the expression of granin A (GRN-A, chromogranin-A), calcitonin (CT) gene products (CGPs), and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has become appreciated in the neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation of prostate cancer. We have studied the prostate expression of these three NE cell products with in vivo and in vitro methods. METHODS GRN-A secretion was measured by immunoassay in serum samples from patients with prostate cancer. Immunohistology procedures were used to assess GRN-A, CGPs, and PTHrP expression in paraffin-embedded prostate tissue samples. Serum and tumor findings were evaluated according to the patient's clinical status. All three substances were also studied in prostate cancer cell cultures. RESULTS GRN-A, PTHrP, and CGPs were all secreted products of prostate cancer. Our studies demonstrated that GRN-A can serve as a prostate cancer serum and tumor marker with clinical value for both diagnosis and prognosis. Elevated serum GRN-A levels identified patients with prostate cancer, including some who did not have elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Serum GRN-A concentrations also had prognostic value for prostate cancer. PTHrP and CGPs were expressed in prostate cancer in addition to GRN-A, and all three were secreted by prostate cells in culture. Each had effects on prostate cell growth. CONCLUSIONS GRN-A, PTHrP, and CGPs are produced and secreted by prostate cells. These three NE cell products can serve as tumor and markers for prostate cancer that have diagnostic and prognostic value. In addition, their derived peptides regulate prostate cell growth. However, studies more conclusive than the preliminary observations of our group and of other investigators are needed to define the roles of PTHrP, GRN-A, and CGPs in prostate cancer. Prostate Supplement 8:23–31, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Experimental verification that a metamaterial wedge supports the propagation of a bandlimted modulated signal

We have performed CW measurements on the metamaterial wedge providing detailed insight into its behavior and operating bandwidth limitations. Measurements with a narrowband modulated signal have demonstrated that negative refraction exists with a practical QPSK signal modulation scheme. The CW measurements indicated that the metamaterial wedge would not allow the successful transmission of a QPSK modulated signal having bandwidths in excess of 4% to 5%. This bandwidth limitation was demonstrated experimentally where successful transmission of a modulated signal having 406.4 MHz was performed. A modulated signal having a bandwidth of 838 MHz could not be successfully transmitted through the wedge.
Levels of Experience in F. H. Bradley

Distinguant trois niveaux de la realite dans la metaphysique idealiste de F. H. Bradley, soient: 1) celui de l'experience immediate, 2) celui de l'experience relationnelle, et 3) celui de l'experience absolue, l'A. se propose d'etablir plusieurs liens entre eux qui relevent de differents principes: 1) l'ordre metaphysique, 2) l'ordre chronologique, 3) l'ordre epistemologique
Quality of Cancer Family History and Referral for Genetic Counseling and Testing Among Oncology Practices: A Pilot Test of Quality Measures As Part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Oncology Practice Initiative

Purpose Family history of cancer (CFH) is important for identifying individuals to receive genetic counseling/ testing (GC/GT). Prior studies have demonstrated low rates of family history documentation and referral for GC/GT. Methods CFH quality and GC/GT practices for patients with breast (BC) or colon cancer (CRC) were assessed in 271 practices participating in the American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Oncology Practice Initiative in fall 2011. Results A total of 212 practices completed measures regarding CFH and GC/GT practices for 10,466 patients; 77.4% of all medical records reviewed documented presence or absence of CFH in first-degree relatives, and 61.5% of medical records documented presence or absence of CFH in second-degree relatives, with significantly higher documentation for patients with BC compared with CRC. Age at diagnosis was documented for all relatives with cancer in 30.7% of medical records (BC, 45.2%; CRC, 35.4%; P .001). Referall for GC/GT occurred in 22.1% of all patients with BC or CRC. Of patients with increased risk for hereditary cancer, 52.2% of patients with BC and 26.4% of those with CRC were referred for GC/GT. When genetic testing was performed, consent was documented 77.7% of the time, and discussion of results was documented 78.8% of the time. Conclusion We identified low rates of complete CFH documentation and low rates of referral for those with BC or CRC meeting guidelines for referral among US oncologists. Documentation and referral were greater for patients with BC compared with CRC. Education and support regarding the importance of accurate CFH and the benefits of proactive high-risk patient management are clearly needed.
Empirical dairy profits under fluctuating prices

Production theory suggests that average profits would be greater with more variation in prices, if farmers correctly adjust use of inputs and outputs to changes in prices. We provide an empirical nonparametric analysis of farmers’ profits under price changes over 12 years using an unbalanced panel of dairy farmers. Each year that a farm participated, we have quantities of milk and other outputs and usage of 30 different inputs. If that farmer participated in the survey the following year, the profit that farmer would have earned that following year using the netput vector of the previous year and the price vector of the following year was calculated. This passive profit was compared to the actual profit the farmer produced the following year. Of the 2371 observations, 56% show netput vector changes which enhanced net profit implying that as a group, these farmers were not generally able to correctly adjust inputs in response to price changes consistently. Logit regression failed to differentiate character...
Splenectomy Complicating Left Nephrectomy

AbstractPurpose: We attempted to clarify the details of incidental splenectomy complicating left nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the literature and operations involving splenectomy performed during left nephrectomy between 1984 and 1994 at our university. Factors reviewed included patient characteristics, renal pathology, mechanisms of injury, blood transfusions and postoperative complications.Results: Of the 418 left nephrectomies 18 (4.3 percent) resulted in splenectomy via a transperitoneal approach. Patients with a large or upper pole renal lesion, malignancy or advanced age are increasingly likely to undergo unanticipated splenectomy.Conclusions: Our results, combined with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggest that all patients older than 65 years undergoing left transperitoneal nephrectomy or those at increased risk for splenic injury should receive preoperative pneumococcal vaccination.
Effects of different annuloplasty ring types on mitral leaflet tenting area during acute myocardial ischemia

Objective The study objective was to quantify the effects of different annuloplasty rings on mitral leaflet septal-lateral tenting areas during acute myocardial ischemia. Methods Radiopaque markers were implanted along the central septal-lateral meridian of the mitral valve in 30 sheep: 1 each to the septal and lateral aspects of the mitral annulus and 4 and 2 along the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets, respectively. Ten true-sized Carpentier-Edwards Physio, Edwards IMR ETLogix, and GeoForm annuloplasty rings (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif) were inserted in a releasable fashion. Marker coordinates were obtained using biplane videofluoroscopy with ring inserted at baseline (RING_BL) and after 90 seconds of left circumflex artery occlusion (RING_ISCH). After ring release, another dataset was acquired before (No_Ring_BL) and after left circumflex artery occlusion (No_Ring_ISCH). Anterior and posterior mitral leaflet tenting areas were computed at mid-systole from sums of marker triangles with the midpoint between the annular markers being the vertex for all triangles. Results Compared with No_Ring_BL, mitral regurgitation grades and all tenting areas significantly increased with No_Ring_ISCH. Compared with No_Ring_ISCH, (1) all rings significantly prevented mitral regurgitation and reduced all tenting areas; (2) Edwards IMR ETLogix and GeoForm rings reduced posterior mitral leaflet area, but not anterior mitral leaflet tenting area, to a significantly greater extent than the Carpentier-Edwards Physio ring; and (3) Edwards IMR ETLogix and GeoForm rings affected tenting areas similarly. Conclusions In response to acute left ventricular ischemia, disease-specific functional/ischemic mitral regurgitation rings (Edwards IMR ETLogix, GeoForm) more effectively reduced posterior mitral leaflet area, but not anterior mitral leaflet tenting area, compared with true-sized physiologic rings (Carpentier-Edwards Physio). Despite its radical 3-dimensional shape and greater amount of mitral annular septal-lateral downsizing, the GeoForm ring did not reduce tenting areas more than the Edwards IMR ETLogix ring, suggesting that further reduction in tenting areas in patients with FMR/IMR may not be effectively achieved on an annular level.
Low-voltage class AB buffers with quiescent current control

This paper presents a simple class AB buffer which is suitable for low-voltage (1.5 V) applications. The proposed buffer uses an adaptive load to reduce the sensitivity of the quiescent current to the process variation. The main feature of this scheme is its simplicity. The circuit was fabricated in a 2.0 /spl mu/m digital CMOS process. Experimental results demonstrate that the buffer can operate with a supply voltage below 2 V, and it has the capability to drive small resistive loads.
Regulation of Rabbit Intestinal Acyl Coenzyme A-Cholesterol Acyltransferase In Vivo and In Vitro

The rate of intestinal cholesterol esterification may be an important determinant of the rates of entry and exit of cholesterol from the body. Acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase, the intracellular cholesterol esterifying enzyme, may play a role in this process. To assess this, the response of rabbit intestinal acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase in vivo was studied. Animals were fed a diet containing cholesterol and corn oil, and they responded with an increase in acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase activity. The increase was apparent in all segments of the intestine proximal to the distal ileum, and it occurred specifically in the villus cells where the bulk of lipid absorption is believed to take place. In cultured intestinal explants, the activity responded rapidly to sterols (increased) and to fatty acids (decreased) when control intestine was used. If intestine from cholesterol-corn oil-fed animals was cultured, sterols still induced an increase, but fatty acids did not affect the enzyme activity. The acutely induced increases in acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase activity were not prevented by cycloheximide. The results show that acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltrans ferase in the absorptive cells of intestine responds both acutely and chronically to dietary factors, supporting the hypothesis that acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase plays a role in cholesterol absorption.
Hybrid Lyot coronagraph for WFIRST-AFTA: coronagraph design and performance metrics

We review the design, performance, and future prospects for the Hybrid Lyot Coronagraph (HLC) on the WFIRSTAFTA telescope. Together with a pair of deformable mirrors for active wavefront control, the HLC creates high contrast dark fields of view at 10-9 contrast levels, extending to within angular separations of 3 λ0/D from the central star, over spectral bandwidths of 10% or more.
Partial ordering of life cycle inventory databases

Life cycle inventory (LCI) databases provide information of fundamental importance to the mainstream practice of life cycle assessment (LCA). Development and management of LCI data resources is a tremendous task. This paper seeks to develop design principles for organizing efforts around distributed database management by considering the structure of inventory networks. A number of LCI databases in wide use are placed into a partial ordering using graph theoretic techniques. First, strongly connected components, which indicate cyclic dependencies, are identified in each network. Then, those components are collapsed to single nodes, rendering the graphs acyclic. The acyclic graphs are then ordered topologically. Large databases were found to contain a single large strongly connected component, designated the background, that satisfied dependencies of other processes in the database. Processes with a lower position in the ordering than the background, designated the foreground, depended on inputs from the background in order to operate, but no background processes required inputs from any foreground processes. Processes higher in the order than the background, designated the downstream, satisfied dependencies in the background but did not themselves require the background. Databases sharing a common set of product flows could be compared on the basis of their foreground, background, and downstream segments. Making a distinction between an acyclic foreground and a strongly connected background has computational utility because the foreground and background databases can be managed independently. Describing LCA studies on the basis of their dependence on background product flows would allow them to be easily moved among distinct databases that provide the same products and would also facilitate critical review. Background databases themselves can be broken up by scope into mutually dependent systems that can be independently maintained. LCI database maintainers should consider maintaining the foreground and background components of their databases separately because of the differing implications of modeling decisions made in each of the two cases. A framework for database-independent enumeration of intermediate flows would advance distributed data management.
Regulatory CD4 T cells

Recent studies have strongly suggested that regulatory T cells are essential for the maintenance of self-tolerance. In 1995, a major subset of naturally arising regulatory T cells has been identified as CD25+CD4 T cells and has become since a focus of intense investigations. In addition to the control of autoimmunity, these cells have been implicated in the regulation of immune responses and inflammation in the course of some infections. Despite growing realization of the functional significance of this subset of T cells in the immune homeostasis, molecular mechanisms governing the function of CD25+ CD4 T cells are poorly understood. Our analysis of genes differentially expressed in CD25+ CD4 vs. CD25- CD4 T cells revealed the forkhead transcription factor Foxp3 as specifically expressed in CD25+ CD4 regulatory T cells. We further found that the lethal lymphoproliferative autoimmune syndrome observed in Foxp3-mutant mice results from a CD25+ CD4 regulatory T cell deficiency and not from a cell-intrinsic defect in control of activation or expansion of CD25- CD4 T cells. Further analysis of a Foxp3 reporter gene expression knocked into the Foxp3 locus revealed that Foxp3 expression is limited exclusively to a subset of α/β T cells in the thymus and in the periphery including both CD25+ and CD25- T cells. We find expression of Foxp3 in regulatory T cell precursors the thymus is dependent upon increased avidity interactions of TCR with self-peptide MHC class II complexes in combination with a second unknown signal. Thus, regulation of immune homeostasis by Foxp3 expressing regulatory T cells seems to be induced in response to thymic generation of a cohort of T cells with self-reactive TCR. In aggregate, our results demonstrate that Foxp3 serves as a regulatory T cell lineage specification factor and defines the genetic mechanism of dominant tolerance. Failure of dominant tolerance due to Foxp3 deficiency results in fatal autoimmune disorders in mice and humans. This abstract was published in Cancer Immunity , a [Cancer Research Institute][1] journal that ceased publication in 2013 and is now provided online in association with Cancer Immunology Research . [1]: http://cancerresearch.org/
Gangliosides of the Neuronal Membrane and the Neuritogenic Phenomenon

Gangliosides, since their discovery over four decades ago, have been proposed to subserve a variety of functions commensurate with their broad distribution among vertebrate cells and their remarkable structural diversity (Macher and Sweeley, 1978: Brunngraber, 1979: Svennerholm et al, 1980: Rapport and Gorio, 198l: Hakomori, 1981: Ledeen and Yu, 1982: Wiegandt, 1982: Makita et al, 1982: Ledeen, 1983). Although it is no longer possible to view these substances as neuronal markers, special interest still attaches to their putative role(s) in neurons owing to their unusually high concentration in the central nervous system. Thus, their concentration in gray matter exceeds that in liver by approximately 14-fold (Svennerholm et al, 1972; Seyfried et al, 1978; Ledeen and Yu, 1982). At the same time it is recognized that great diversity exists among neurons, those of theperipheral nervous system, for example, possessing considerably lower concentrations than those of brain. Molecular patterns are also found to vary among different neuronal types.
Secretion, Digestion, Absorption

The average human adult secretes from 1–2 liters of saliva daily, which helps keep the mouth wet, aids speech, and lubricates food for easier swallowing. Dry mouth results when saliva is scanty. The enzyme in saliva, ptyalin, is secreted in the salivary gland as zymogen granules (Fig. 21.1).
Rice husk as an adsorbent: A new analytical approach to determine aflatoxins in milk

Aflatoxins determinations are usually expensive and employ environmentally unfriendly procedures, thus, the search for new materials and technologies, that are both ecologically safe, inexpensive and able to fulfill its role with little pre-processing is growing. One interesting approach is employing by-products as adsorbents during the extraction step of aflatoxins especially in products such as milk and dairy that are so important in basic dietary. Thus, a method to use rice husk, an agroindustry residue that is a promising material to adsorb aflatoxins to enable further analysis steps, is proposed by applying a Plackett-Burman design followed by 2(2) central composite rotational design. Rice husks were prepared by washing the husk with a solvents sequence. The washed particles were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, characterized by an elemental analyser and analysed for the presence of pesticides and mycotoxins. The rice husks contained 41% carbon, 4.3% hydrogen and 0.2% nitrogen, without mycotoxins and pesticides. The adsorptions were conducted using 0.5 g of rice husk, with 42 mesh, and 10 mL of milk contaminated with several know levels of aflatoxins M1 and B1. The solution was filtrated trough the adsorbent layer using a pressure of 10 in. Hg. The adsorbed mycotoxins were removed with 6 mL of methanol:chloroform (80:20). This condition achieved recovery of around 100% for both mycotoxins, with the average quantity of mycotoxin adsorbed equal 0.0150 µg g(-1) of afla B1 and 0.0174 µg g(-1) of afla M1.
A PC-based free text retrieval system for health care providers: design and development

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and development of the Clinical Practice Library of Medicine (CPLM). CPLM is an investigational project aimed at providing health care practitioners with critical in-depth information similar to that obtained from a medical reference library or consultant. When used in conjunction with the physician's knowledge, CPLM can provide valuable diagnostic prompting information to assist in rapidly reaching a suitable diagnosis for timely administration of appropriate treatment. This system may also be used to assist paramedical professionals working in remote areas where other expert medical assistance may not be available.
Psychological distress and attitudes toward seeking help for personal and career counseling: the contributions of public and self-stigma

The current study observed the relation between psychological distress, stigma (public and self) and help-seeking attitudes for career and personal concerns. In particular, the study examined the contribution of psychological distress and stigma (public and self) to help-seeking attitudes. A total of 510 (N = 202 for career and N =308 for personal) students at a large Midwestern university completed an online survey in fall 2014. Data was analyzed using hierarchical moderated multiple regression. First, neither career distress nor personal distress contributed significant variance to help-seeking attitudes. Second, stigma (public and self), for both career and personal concerns, contributed significant variance to help-seeking attitudes; the relations were negative. Third, neither the interactions of career distress and public stigma nor personal distress and public stigma contributed significant variance to help-seeking attitudes. Last, the interaction of career distress and self-stigma did not contribute significant variance to help-seeking attitudes, but the interaction of personal distress and self-stigma did contribute significant variance. Results were discussed based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), modified labeling theory (MLT) and approach-avoidance models. Limitations, implications, and future studies were discussed.
The Sums of Powers of Integers

(1935). The Sums of Powers of Integers. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 42, No. 9P1, pp. 540-548.
Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship Study of 5a-Carbasugar Analogues of SL0101

The Ser/Thr protein kinase, RSK, is associated with oncogenesis, and therefore, there are ongoing efforts to develop RSK inhibitors that are suitable for use in vivo. SL0101 is a natural product that demonstrates selectivity for RSK inhibition. However, SL0101 has a short biological half-life in vivo. To address this issue we designed a set of eight cyclitol analogues, which should be resistant to acid catalyzed anomeric bond hydrolysis. The analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to selectively inhibit RSK in vitro and in cell-based assays. All the analogues were prepared using a stereodivergent palladium-catalyzed glycosylation/cyclitolization for installing the aglycon. The l-cyclitol analogues were found to inhibit RSK2 in in vitro kinase activity with a similar efficacy to that of SL0101, however, the analogues were not specific for RSK in cell-based assays. In contrast, the d-isomers showed no RSK inhibitory activity in in vitro kinase assay.
Converging on Error Management: A Review of Current Findings and Future Needs

For many years, the focus of research in the area of human error was the prevention of erroneous actions and assessments through training and design. However, errors are a fundamental aspect of human adaptation in complex systems and will never be eliminated completely. More recent approaches to error stress the need to minimize its negative consequences through support for error management, i.e., the detection, explanation, and recovery from erroneous actions. For the most part, these efforts have examined the first step in this sequence — error detection. However, there continue to be gaps in our understanding of how operators explain and recover from errors. This paper reviews the current state of error management research and methods. Findings are presented from an ongoing converging operations approach to error management research. Finally, promising areas in which to make further advances in this field are identified.
Foundation-directed therapeutic development in Huntington's disease.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease that devastates patients and their families. It is caused by expansion of the CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene (HTT) and characterized pathologically by the loss of pyramidal neurons in several cortical areas, striatal medium spiny neurons, and hypothalamic neurons. Clinically, a distinguishing feature of the disease is uncontrolled involuntary movements (chorea) accompanied by progressive cognitive and psychiatric impairment. Currently there are no effective disease-modifying treatments for HD, although antidepressant and antipsychotic medications are typically utilized to manage HD symptoms, in addition to the only approved drug for the treatment of chorea in HD, tetrabenazine (TBZ). CHDI is a not-for-profit organization focused solely on HD. Herein we describe our foundation-directed therapeutic development efforts highlighting our collaborations and internal programs that are in various stages of development.
Body image disorders: anorexia nervosa versus reverse anorexia (muscle dysmorphia)

Abstract Background Among body image disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) in females and muscle dysmorphia (MD) in males, emerge as the more representative. Objective To describe the relationship of clinical characteristics between AN and MD. Method A review of specialised textbooks and the available literature in Medline/PubMed and SciELO was made. Results There are similarities and differences between both disorders. They begin in adolescence, show a great diagnostic crossover, use/abuse of pharmacological drugs, similar co-morbidities, improvement with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and behavioural-cognitive psychotherapy, they are focused in body image, but AN pursuits thinness while MD muscle development. From a psychosocial perspective, body image disorders come out due to western socio-cultural pressures related to gender role stereotypes, which emphasise a slim feminine figure versus a vigorous masculine one. The nosological classification of MD is controversial and it has been including within the obsessive-compulsive spectrum of the DSM-5. Conclusions Both disorders imply body dissatisfaction with different degrees of body image distortion, even reaching delusional dimensions. Future studies are required which can lay the foundations of new categorisations of these disorders that better clarify their essence.
A Qualitative View of Hailers: Retail Salespeople Near the Entrance of Retail Stores

Retail salespeople are critical in customers’ perceptions of the retail environment and retail experiences. They occupy a pivotal and boundary-spanning position for retailers, as they are the primary point of contact between a retailer and customers (Bell et al. 2010). Westbrook (1981) named salespeople as the most influential component of overall retail store satisfaction. Retail salesperson behavior is a critical influence on the success or failure of a retailer because of its influence on consumer responses, including store patronage and purchase intentions (Darian et al. 2001), purchase decisions (Babin et al. 1999), perception of service quality (Mittal and Lassar 1996), and overall image of the retail store (Weitzl et al. 1989). This study examines a particular retail salesperson behavior that has been largely overlooked in the literature: retail salespeople standing and waiting for customers near the store entrance in traditional shopping malls. For purposes of this research, these retail salespeople are called “hailers.” The subsequent behavior of hailers after the initial greeting distinguishes them from designated “greeters.” Once hailers greet a customer, they attempt to continue the interaction, accompany the customer throughout the store, and attempt to influence the customer to make a purchase. Theory and the small amount of previous research that incorporates retail salespeople greeting customers as they enter the store suggests that a retail salesperson’s presence at the entrance of a store would be a positive influence. This practice is common and many retailers require their salespeople to stand within a few feet near the entrance. However, anecdotal evidence and initial exploratory results suggest the opposite. Many consumers feel uncomfortable with a hailer’s presence because they feel like the salesperson is waiting to use high pressure sales tactics on them. This image can lead to negative outcomes for the retailer. Also, this work addresses the calls that Babin et al. (1999) make for future research to investigate (1) the antecedents of attitude toward the salesperson in retail settings and (2) the effect of specific salesperson behaviors on a consumer’s attitude toward the salesperson and the retailer.
Deterring the development and use of nuclear weapons: A multi-level modeling approach:

We describe a multi-country, multi-stakeholder model for the accrual and use of nuclear weapons and illustrate the model’s value for addressing nuclear weapon proliferation issues using an historic Pacific Rim scenario. We instantiate the agent-based dynamic-network model for information and belief diffusion using data from subject matter experts and data mined from open source news documents. We present the techniques that supported model instantiation. A key feature of this model and these techniques is enabling rapid model reuse through the ability to instantiate at two levels: generically and for specific cases. We demonstrate these generic and specific cases using a scenario regarding North Korea’s interest in nuclear weapons and the resulting impact on the Pacific Rim circa 2014—that is, prior to the fourth and fifth nuclear weapons test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. A key feature of this model is that it uses two levels of network interaction—country level and stakeholder level—thus...
Stochastic Game Theoretic trajectory optimization in continuous time

A Stochastic Game Theoretic Differential Dynamic Programming (SGT-DDP) algorithm is derived to solve a differential game under stochastic dynamics. We present the update law for the minimizing and maximizing controls for both players and provide a set of backward differential equations for the second order value function approximation. We compute the extra terms in the backward propagation equations that arise from the stochastic assumption compared with the original GTDDP. We present the SGT-DDP algorithm and analyze how the design of the cost function affects the feed-forward and feedback parts of the control policies under the game theoretic formulation. The performance of SGT-DDP is then investigated through simulations on two examples, namely, a first order nonlinear system, the inverted pendulum and the cart pole problems with conflicting controls. We conclude with some possible future extensions.
Age of Sexual Debut and Physical Dating Violence Victimization: Sex Differences Among US High School Students.

BACKGROUND Research has shown that early age of sexual debut is associated with physical dating violence (PDV), but sex-specific associations are sparse. We estimated the prevalence of PDV victimization in high school students who have initiated sexual intercourse and examined sex-specific association between age of sexual debut and PDV victimization. METHODS Data on 8637 students in grades 9 through 12 who had initiated sex was obtained from the 2009-2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The association was examined using multiple logistic regression, accounting for the complex survey design, and stratified by sex. RESULTS Approximately 15% of sexually active students reported past-year PDV victimization. The odds of PDV victimization among girls who had sexual debut at <12 years was 2.46 (95% CI = 1.50-4.02) and 2.20 (95% CI = 1.42-3.41) for boys, compared to those who initiated sex at 16 years and older. CONCLUSIONS Evidence supports the belief that early sexual debut is associated with higher odds of PDV victimization, particularly for girls. Healthcare providers, school counselors, and educators should be aware of this sex difference in the association between early sexual debut age and PDV victimization while focusing PDV interventions on adolescents with early sexual debut age.
Association Between Process Based Quality Indicators and Mortality for Patients With Substance Use Disorders

Objective:Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with elevated rates of mortality. Little is known about whether receiving appropriate care is associated with lower mortality for patients with SUDs. This study examined the association between the receipt of care for SUDs and subsequent 12 and 24 month mortality.Method:This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans who received care for SUDs paid for by the Veterans Health Administration during October 2006 September 2007 (n = 339,966). Logistic regressions were used to examine the association between quality indicators measuring receipt of care and mortality while controlling for patient characteristics and facility service area.Results:There were four quality indicators: SUD treatment initiation, SUD treatment engagement, SUD related psychosocial treatment, and SUD related psychotherapy. Outcomes measured were mortality 12 and 24 months after the end of the observation period, through September 2009. Receipt of indicated care ranged from 26.5% ...
Testing the Usability of a Portable DVD Player and Tailored Photo Instructions with Older Adult Veterans.

DVD-delivered behavioral skills training may help disseminate efficacious treatments to older adults independent of internet access. The present study examined the usability of a portable DVD playe...
Reading Peace Beyond Trauma, Resistance, and Hope in The Hunger Games

This chapter examines the politics of peace in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy. Readers encounter both violence as entertainment and a critique of such ‘militainment’ (Stahl) and find insights into the motivations of (child) soldiers. A vision of local, relational, and low-tech peace is provided by Collins that dismantles a system of gender binaries and hinges on hope of rebirth through memory of the losses of war, love, and education. After a close reading of the peace and conflict themes in the series, the chapter closes with an analysis, drawing on Freud, Lacan, and Caruth, of ‘the dream of the burning child.’ Empathetic awakenings related to youth and conflict may be possible in the ethico-political reflection space provided by the series in the post-9/11 US context.
Salt Balance in Ground Water Reservoir Operation

Necessity of planned operation of ground water reservoirs for seasonal and cyclic storage of water in California; sources and disposal of salts in ground reservoirs; relationships and requirements for water to maintain salt balance in hypothetical ground water reservoir.
Hydration dynamics in zeolite A - An X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopic study

Abstract The structural evolution of sodium zeolite A with increasing hydration has been studied by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The lattice parameter and cell volume, determined from time resolved XRD patterns during hydration at ambient conditions, display contraction followed by expansion, suggestive of a hydration-driven flexibility transition, with a two phase region separating hydrated zeolite A from its dehydrated form. Details of bonding dynamics of water molecules with sodium ions and characteristic building units of zeolite Na-A were studied using time resolved FTIR as the sample underwent hydration. The O-H stretching vibration shifts from 3450 cm−1 representing chemisorption to 3350 cm−1 indicating physisorption with increasing hydration. The FTIR data strongly suggest that both water and sodium ions change their locations and bonding as a function of water content. The structural and dynamic observations support our earlier calorimetric studies of the enthalpy of water absorption, pointing to a phase transition related to framework flexibility in response to hydration and to variable water content in both the less hydrated and the more hydrated phase.
Transmission Electron Microscope Nanosculpting of Topological Insulator Bismuth Selenide

We present a process for sculpting Bi2Se3 nanoflakes into application-relevant geometries using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope. This process takes several minutes to sculpt small areas and can be used to cut the Bi2Se3 into wires and rings, to thin areas of the Bi2Se3, and to drill circular holes and lines. We determined that this method allows for sub 10 nm features and results in clean edges along the drilled regions. Using in situ high-resolution imaging, selected area diffraction, and atomic force microscopy, we found that this lithography process preserves the crystal structure of Bi2Se3. TEM sculpting is more precise and potentially results in cleaner edges than does ion-beam modification; therefore, the promise of this method for thermoelectric and topological devices calls for further study into the transport properties of such structures.
Scheduling and Pricing of Load Flexibility in Power Systems

This paper proposes a fundamental approach for scheduling and pricing of load flexibility in power systems operation. An optimal control model is proposed to co-optimize the continuous-time flexibility of loads with the operation of generating units to supply the flexibility requirements of the net-load, while satisfying delay-based and deadline-based service quality constraints of the flexible loads. A function space-based solution method is developed to solve the continuous-time problem, which is based on reducing the dimensionality of the continuous-time decision and parameter trajectories by modeling them in a finite-order function space formed by Bernstein polynomials. The proposed method converts the continuous-time problem into a mixed-integer linear programming problem with the Bernstein coordinates of the trajectories as the decision variables. The proposed method not only allows for full exploitation of the load flexibility through higher order solution spaces, but also includes the traditional discrete-time solution as a special case. This paper proves that the Lagrange multiplier associated with the continuous-time power balance constraint is the continuous-time marginal price of electricity in the presence of flexible loads. The marginal price is calculated in a closed from, which demonstrates the dependence of the price on the incremental cost rates of generating units, on parameters of the flexible loads, as well as on ramping limitations of generating units and flexible loads. Numerical results, provided for the IEEE Reliability Test System, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in deploying load flexibility to reduce operation cost and ramping requirement of the system, as well as smoothing the load and marginal price trajectories of the system.
Courtly, Careful, Thrifty: Subsistence and Regional Origin at New Philadelphia

Three years of research at the New Philadelphia site in western Illinois have provided the opportunity to integrate archaeological and documentary information to improve the understanding of family organization, economic patterns, and subsistence activities in this small, racially integrated, agrarian community. Analysis of the faunal remains recovered, and the study of available historical records, permit one to compare and contrast households within the town site, and to explore how the different regional backgrounds of the town’s residents affected their livelihoods. Patterns of migration, regional origin, social organization, and intricate familial relationships are continuing to emerge even as new data are being collected. Because of its small size and its discrete and relatively recent existence, New Philadelphia presents a unique opportunity to study the entire history of a community in minute detail.
Pitfalls of Frozen Section to Intraoperative Consultations of Evaluating Lymph Nodes for Involvement by Metastatic Malignancies: Benign Processes Mimicking Metastatic Carcinoma

Intraoperative assessment of lymph nodes has emerged as an essential tool to guide clinical teams during the management of several solid tumors. As discussed in Chap. 5, identification of lymph node metastases can dramatically alter treatment plans in real time, leading to more aggressive management in some scenarios and termination of a procedure that was preoperatively considered as potentially curative in others. Accordingly, it is essential that the pathologist render accurate diagnoses, as errors may trigger irreversible surgical interventions or necessitate additional procedures at a later date. However, a number of potential pitfalls may be encountered in the intraoperative assessment of lymph nodes, leading to both false-negative and false-positive results. Among these pitfalls are benign epithelial and other (nonepithelial) mimics of carcinoma that may be found in lymph nodes and confused with metastatic disease as well as sampling errors, among others. In this chapter, these potential sources of error are considered along with some practical considerations that may allow the practicing pathologist to recognize these challenges and avoid the pitfalls.
Global Aspects of the Biochemistry of the Elements

Life is a product of chemical evolution that took place on the earth, and both life and the biosphere that encompasses it have evolved under the constraints this planet imposes. The biosphere could not exist in the absence of its surroundings—the atmosphere, the hydrophere, and the lithosphere. In other words, life—whether taken as an individual living cell or as the biosphere as a whole—is an open system, constantly interacting with its surroundings. The form that this interaction takes is the exchange of material and energy. Inorganic materials are processed and altered by organisms, and then are returned to the surroundings. In view of these interactions, it is not surprising that a large number of elements are not only processed by organisms but that as many as 30 of them are essential to organisms. Figure 1-1 summarizes the known biological functions of elements. Readers are referred to Frieden (1985a,b) for recent reviews of essential trace elements.
Examining Predictors of Depression Among Older Incarcerated Women

For older women in prison, adjustments to prison life are often affected by a variety of mental and physical health symptoms. Many come to prison with specific histories of traumatic life experiences that place them at risk for high levels of depression. Using data gathered from 327 older women (mean age = 56.5), we examined the relationship between a variety of preprison conditions and prison deprivation factors as possible predictors of depression. Stepwise regression results indicated that depression was greater for those with prior abuse histories, functional health problems along with poorer perceptions of mental and physical health, safety and other prison environment concerns. Although race was not a significant predictor in the regression model, a t-test did find that whites were more depressed than African Americans in our sample. Other correlates of depression are also identified that lend insights into the high rates of depression found among elderly women in prison. With such high rates of psy...
Thermoelectric System Economics: Where the Laws of Thermoelectrics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Economics Intersect

Thermoelectric technology has key benefits and strengths in many terrestrial energy recovery applications. Thermoelectric system cost is a key factor governing final decisions on the use of thermoelectric energy recovery systems in all terrestrial applications; thus cost being just as important as power density or efficiency for the adoption of waste energy recovery (WER) thermoelectric generators (TEG). New integrated cost analysis / thermoelectric analysis approaches have now shown key relationships and interdependencies between overall TEG system costs, including TE material costs, manufacturing costs, and specifically heat exchanger costs; and the TE performance design metrics such as TE material properties, TE device design parameters, heat exchanger performance metrics such as hot-side and cold-side conductances and UA values, and hot side heat flux in achieving optimal TEG WER designs. These new approaches have led to a new thermoelectric system economics paradigm that strongly influences TEG cost and performance decisions. While prior work provided foundations for the latest cost scaling analysis / TE performance analysis, this new work offers new insights and understandings and provides the basis for new thermoelectric system economics. Optimum TEG system cost conditions can now be tied directly to the TE materials, TEG design parameters, and heat exchanger design parameters through critical non-dimensional analysis. The non-dimensional analysis and metrics show the TEG system cost and performance interdependencies and intercouplings in one unifying and cohesive relationship. Prior work by T.J. Hendricks, S.K. Yee, and S. LeBlanc, J of Electronic Mater, 45, (3), 1751-1761, 2015 has shown that the system design that minimizes cost (e.g., the G [$/W] value) can be close to designs that maximize power, but these design regimes are not necessarily aligned with high system conversion efficiency or high specific power. Key sensitivities and interrelationships between critical cost metrics and critical TE performance and design metrics in the new thermoelectric system economics paradigm are explored. Quantitative data showing these sensitivities and their implications on TEG system design in terrestrial WER applications are presented. Critical non-dimensional parameter mapping has shown where heat exchanger cost- dominated conditions, TE material or manufacturing cost-dominated conditions, and combinations of cost conditions control and drive the overall TEG cost and performance. This new cost-performance paradigm shows the required pathways and challenges to achieving TEG system costs of $1 -$3/Welec.
Clinician and Staff Perceptions of Barriers to Providing Contraception in Primary Care.

Introduction Short interpregnancy periods increase the likelihood of preterm delivery and low birth weight,1 both of which are significant causes of infant morbidity and mortality.2 Since nearly half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned,3 opportunities exist to better understand barriers to contraceptive services. Studying these barriers as perceived by clinical staff can better guide programs to improve interpregnancy spacing. Methods Between September and November 2017, 76 staff and 95 primary care clinicians from two family medicine residency practices (Highland Family Medicine (HFM) in Rochester, New York and St Margaret Family Medicine (SM) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) completed surveys. Questions assessed perceived barriers to providing contraceptive services, contraception knowledge, and opportunities for improvement. Survey-based analysis focused on comparative descriptive statistics between staff and provider responses. Results Clinicians ranked side effects and patient lack of awareness and misconceptions about contraceptive methods more highly than staff (P=0.0073 and P=0.0001, respectively). Staff identified childcare and work absence as more significant barriers (P=0.0114 and P=0.0380, respectively). Providers felt appointment timing was the largest constraint to contraceptive care. Staff perceived financial limitations and scheduling to be the top barriers. Nonclinician staff exhibited significant knowledge gaps regarding contraception. Conclusions Numerous modifiable barriers contribute to difficulty providing contraceptive services. Providers and staff largely agree on the perceived barriers, but there is a significant gap in nonclinician staff knowledge of contraception. Education can address one of the leading concerns, but improvement efforts should also address areas such as availability of devices, scheduling issues, and resident supervision.