cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid aberration measurement with pixelated detectors

Aberration-corrected microscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope requires the fast and accurate measurement of lens aberrations to align or 'tune' the corrector. Here, we demonstrate a method to measure aberrations based on acquiring a 4D data set on a pixelated detector. Our method is compared to existing procedures and the choice of experimental parameters is examined. The accuracy is similar to existing methods, but in principle this procedure can be performed in a few seconds and extended to arbitrary order. This method allows rapid measurement of aberrations and represents a step towards more automated electron microscopy.
The Influence of Nurse Manager Leadership Style on Staff Nurse Work Engagement

BACKGROUND:Nursing literature supports the importance of an engaged nursing workforce as a means to positively influence performance. Nurse manager leadership style plays a critical role in engaging staff nurses. These relationships have been minimally studied in nurse managers and staff nurses.OBJE
Evaluating OpenSHMEM Explicit Remote Memory Access Operations and Merged Requests

The OpenSHMEM Library Specification has evolved considerably since version 1.0. Recently, non-blocking implicit Remote Memory Access (RMA) operations were introduced in OpenSHMEM 1.3. These provide a way to achieve better overlap between communication and computation. However, the implicit non-blocking operations do not provide a separate handle to track and complete the individual RMA operations. They are guaranteed to be completed after either a shmem_quiet(), shmem_barrier() or a shmem_barrier_all() is called. These are global completion and synchronization operations. Though this semantic is expected to achieve a higher message rate for the applications, the drawback is that it does not allow fine-grained control over the completion of RMA operations.
Design, fabrication, simulation and testing of an ocean wave energy converter with mechanical motion rectifier

Abstract Many wave energy converters have been developed in the past century with various power takeoff systems, including those devices with air turbines, linear electromagnetic motors, and hydroelectric components. Although these systems have their own advantages, power takeoffs are still recognized as the most important challenge in ocean wave energy technology. In this paper, a mechanical motion rectifier (MMR) based power takeoff system is proposed and prototyped for wave energy converter. This power takeoff system can convert the bidirectional wave motion into unidirectional rotation of generator by integrating two one-way bearings into a rack pinion system. A wave energy converter which contains a 1.2 m buoy and MMR based power takeoff system was designed and fabricated in this paper. The models of power takeoff system and single-body wave energy converter were built and analyzed. The simulation results in regular wave show that MMR based power takeoff can produce more power comparing with linear damping power takeoff system and the optimal PTO damping of MMR system is smaller than that of linear damping system. Lab testing of power takeoff mechanism and ocean testing of the overall ocean wave converter system were also conducted to validate the concept of MMR design. The disengagement and engagement of one-way bearings in the mechanical motion rectifier system were verified in both lab and ocean test.
Preferences for Medical Marijuana over Prescription Medications Among Persons Living with Chronic Conditions: Alternative, Complementary, and Tapering Uses

Abstract Objectives: Despite expanded legalization and utilization of medical cannabis (MC) internationally, there is a lack of patient-centered data on how MC is used by persons living with chronic conditions in tandem with or instead of prescription medications. This study describes approaches to use of MC vis-a-vis prescription medications in the treatment of selected chronic conditions. Design: Participants completed semistructured telephone interviews with open-ended questions. Content analysis of qualitative data identified themes and subthemes relating to patient approaches to using MC products. Participants: Thirty persons (mean age = 44.6 years) living with a range of chronic conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, spinal cord injury/disease, and cancer) who had qualified for and used MC in Illinois. Results: Participants described a range of approaches to using MC, including (1) as alternatives to using prescription or over-the-counter medications; (2) complementary use with pre...
Pursuing Eudaimonic Functioning Versus Pursuing Hedonic Well-Being: The First Goal Succeeds in Its Aim, Whereas the Second Does Not

We used a new methodology for assessing change motivation (Hudson and Fraley 2015, 2016) to test the hypothesis that striving to improve one’s hedonic well-being fails in its aim, whereas striving to improve one’s eudaimonic functioning succeeds. In three studies, participant goals to increase subjective well-being (SWB) were negatively correlated with concurrent SWB, whereas goals to increase relative intrinsic versus extrinsic value orientation (RIEVO) were positively correlated with concurrent RIEVO. In Study 3’s longitudinal investigation, Time 1 RIEVO change goals predicted increased RIEVO six and 12 weeks later, whereas Time 1 SWB change goals did not affect longitudinal SWB. Together, the data support the Aristotelian idea that people should pursue eudaimonia rather than happiness, not least because the latter pursuit may not be as effective.
Measuring Consumer Beliefs About Advertising: a Re-Examination and Extension of the Bauer-Greyser Inventory

The Attitude-toward-advertising scale by Bauer and Greyser (1968) is scrutinized both conceptually and empirically. We reconfigure its present items, and add a new dimension.
P700 Spectra and Concentrations in Several Plants and a Cyanobacterium

The conversion of light energy into chemical free energy in plants is a function of many parameters any one of which may become paramount. for example, the rate and efficiency of energy conversion by the photosynthetic apparatus of thylakoid membranes is dominated by the energy and spectral distribution of the incident light and the size and composition of the antenna system serving the reaction centers. Analysing these parameters and their impact on energy conversion requires experimental characterization of the antenna system and the reaction centers. A first step in this process is quantitation of the antenna size and reaction center concentration. Here we describe a technique to measure the concentration of P700 in thylakoid membranes and whole cells of cyanobacteria that is simple, rapid, and reliable (1,2). P700 spectra are shown for spinach, pea, tomato, cinnamon fern, Arabidopsis thaiiana and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803. in the five higher plants the ratio of total chlorophyll to P700 ranged from 490:1 to 650:1. in Synechocystis the chlorophyll:phycocyanin + chlorophyll:P700 ratio was 230:4,400:1.
Introducing Automatic Time Stamping (ATS) with a Reference Implementation in Swift

The need for associating a time with the arrival of data is prevalent in many applications but this is even more the case in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) which measure quantities from the real world. One common attribute of any measured real world quantity is the time of when it was acquired. Automating the process of time stamping data upon arrival frees the programmer from having to deal with this task manually thus reducing the number of errors, shrinking the code size and making the code more readable and maintainable. This paper explores the concept of variables that are automatically time stamped by the runtime system and its impact in building real-time applications. Such time stamping support enables seamless integration of a time model that is kept updated by real-time events within well-defined synchronization time bounds. This paper discusses the design of the Automatic Time Stamping (ATS) framework and the prototype implementation of such variables using open source programming language Swift. Our results demonstrate the viability of the ATS framework for most real-time applications. In doing this work we have learned that the abstraction of time in software programming models still have much room for improvements from the operating system level all the way up to the programming languages and runtimes used by the developers.
Public perceptions of mountain lake fisheries management in national parks

Abstract The legacy of fish stocking in mountain lake ecosystems has left behind a challenge for land managers around the globe. In the US and Canada, historically fishless mountain lakes have been stocked with trout for over a century. These non-native trout have cascading ecosystem effects, and can accumulate atmospherically deposited contaminants. While the negative impacts of stocking in these ecosystems have become increasingly apparent, wilderness fishing has garnered cultural value in the angling community. As a result, public lands managers are left with conflicting priorities. National park managers across the western US are actively trying to reconcile the cultural and ecological values of mountain lakes through the development of management plans for mountain lake fisheries. However, visitors' social perceptions, attitudes, and values regarding mountain lake fisheries management have remained unquantified, and thus largely left out of the decision-making process. Our study evaluated the recreation habits, values, and attitudes of national park visitors towards fish stocking and management of mountain lakes of two national parks in the Pacific Northwest. We found that most visitors favor fish removal using a conservation approach, whereby sensitive lakes are restored, while fish populations are maintained in lakes that are more resilient. An important consideration for managers is that many mountain lake anglers consume fish on an annual basis, thus we emphasize the use of outreach and education regarding the accumulation of contaminants in fish tissues. Our findings help elucidate the conflicting views of stakeholders, and we provide recommendations to inform management of mountain lakes fisheries in North America and abroad.
OR41 Potential role of non-hla antibodies in C4d negative and C4d positive antibody mediated rejections [AMR] following living/deceased donor renal transplantation

Aim To investigate the prevalence and potential immunological significance of antibodies reactive against non-HLA antigens in acute/chronic antibody mediated rejection/chronic rejection evidenced by histopathological findings. Methods 19 Patients with biopsy proven C4d+ AMR; 37 with C4d- AMR, and 8 patients with T-cell mediated rejection [TCR] were tested for a panel of 39 non-HLA antibodies using a commercial Kit. The ability of these non-HLA antibodies to bind C1q was also done. The patients were scored positive for non-HLA antibodies based on a 95% cut off above the normal limits for each antibody in the general population. Results All patients had AMR with varying degrees of Interstitial Fibrosis and Tubular Necrosis. Majority of patients with C4d+ / C4d- AMR had more than 3 non-HLA antibodies [39 total targets] above 95% cut off. Most also had donor-specific HLA antibodies [DSA]. No specific pattern in terms of antibodies against structural proteins affecting cellular transformation, migration and fibrosis were observed. Notably, high levels of Glutathione S-Transferase tehta-1[GSTT1] antibodies with Acute Tubular Necrosis [ATN] was predominant in C4d- AMR cases [60%] while only 8% with C4d+ AMR patients with GSTT1 had ATN. Only 25% patients with TCR had Non-HLA antibodies and only towards two targets while almost 85-90% of AMR patients had multiple non-HLA antibodies. Conclusions While non-HLA antigens like GSTT1 could be polymorphic and may induce allogenic response, many others could be against cryptic antigens exposed by injuries due to DSAs, or against altered self-antigens. Distinguishing immunological rejection from non-immunological injuries due to potential concurrent ATN and immunological injuries is challenging. The GSST1 antibodies detected were mostly C1q binding, but the mechanistic details of this finding is not clear now. The significance of this non-HLA Ab assay depends on more research into the genesis and predictive value of these pre-existing antibodies towards immunological rejection. Our current data tend to correlate with the concept of alloimmune mediated injuries leading to autoimmune responses based on concurrent HLA DSA and Non HLA antibodies. However AMR with no HA DSA and with non-HLA ab will be required for the de novo induction of non-HLA antibodies.
Cultural Values and Behavior Among African American and European American Children.

This study explores the relationships of individualistic (e.g., competition, material success) and collectivistic values (e.g., familism, respect) with risky and prosocial behavior among African-American and European-Americanyouth. While previous work has focused upon immigrant adolescents, this study expands the research exploring cultural values to other racial-ethnic groups and to a younger developmental period. This study builds upon culture as individually experienced beliefs and practices, potentially espousing multiple cultural orientations and relationships to behavior. Data from Cohort 3 of a study of 219 urban, suburban, and rural children included African-American (42%) and European-American (58%) children, 54% female, ranging from grades 1–5 (mean age = 9). Multigroup structural equation models were tested resulting in a measurement model that fit similarly across groups (RMSEA = .05, CFI = .94). African-American children reported higher levels of individualism, and African-American and European-American children reported espousing similar levels of collectivism. Children in higher grades were found to be more collectivistic and less individualistic. Individualistic values were related to children’s lower prosocial and higher rates of problem and delinquent behavior. Collectivistic cultural values were associated with reduced rates of problem behaviors, controlling for race-ethnicity, gender and grade. Results provide support for the assertion that youth espouse multiple cultural orientations and that collectivistic cultural values can serve as promotive factors for children of diverse backgrounds. Practice and policy should seek to understand the role of family, school, and community socialization of multiple cultural orientations and nuanced associations with risk and resilience.
Prostate radiotherapy effects on testosterone levels: an empirical investigation

There is a paucity of clinical data to support the hypothesis that external beam radiation therapy causes iatrogenic hypogonadism in prostate cancer patients. All prostate cancer patients treated at a single institution with radiation therapy between 2002 and 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients treated with brachytherapy alone received 0 Gy of external beam radiation therapy and served as the control group. Patients treated with combination external beam radiation therapy + brachytherapy, or external beam radiation therapy alone were categorized into groups who received 45–54 Gy or > 60 Gy of external beam radiation therapy, respectively. Serum testosterone levels were routinely measured with prostate-specific antigen tests. The median follow-up periods for 149 evaluable patients in the control group (0 Gy), the 45–54 Gy group, and > 60 Gy group were 57, 62, and 55 months, respectively (p = 0.43). Among patients who underwent external beam radiation therapy, 53% were treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy, 65% with pelvic lymph node coverage, and 78% with 18 megavoltage photons. There were no differences in serum testosterone level declines over time between the 45–54 Gy group (p = 0.32) or the > 60 Gy group (p = 0.14) when compared to the control group (0 Gy). While body mass index was associated with baseline testosterone levels in univariate analysis (p < 0.0001), it was not associated with the rate of change following radiation therapy (p = 0.6). Empirical evidence does not support the hypothesis that incidental exposure of the testicular Leydig cells from scattered photons and/or daily portal imaging affects testosterone levels.
Legislating Instruction in Urban Schools: Unintended Consequences of Accountability Policy on Teacher-Reported Classroom Goal Structures:

Scholars have documented the effects of accountability policies on student outcomes and, to a lesser extent, instruction. Beyond test preparation and curriculum narrowing, little empirical evidence...
Vitamin C supplementation expands the therapeutic window of BETi for triple negative breast cancer.

Abstract Background Bromodomain and extra-terminal inhibitors (BETi) have shown efficacy for the treatment of aggressive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, BETi are plagued by a narrow therapeutic window as manifested by severe toxicities at effective doses. Therefore, it is a limitation to their clinical implementation in patient care. Methods The impact of vitamin C on the efficacy of small compounds including BETi was assessed by high-throughput screening. Co-treatment of TNBC by BETi especially JQ1 and vitamin C was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Findings High-throughput screening revealed that vitamin C improves the efficacy of a number of structurally-unrelated BETi including JQ1, I-BET762, I-BET151, and CPI-203 in treating TNBC cells. The synergy between BETi and vitamin C is due to suppressed histone acetylation (H3ac and H4ac), which is in turn caused by upregulated histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) expression upon vitamin C addition. Treatment with JQ1 at lower doses together with vitamin C induces apoptosis and inhibits the clonogenic ability of cultured TNBC cells. Oral vitamin C supplementation renders a sub-therapeutic dose of JQ1 able to inhibit human TNBC xenograft growth and metastasis in mice. Interpretation Vitamin C expands the therapeutic window of BETi by sensitizing TNBC to BETi. Using vitamin C as a co-treatment, lower doses of BETi could be used to achieve an increased therapeutic index in patients, which will translate to a reduced side effect profile. Fund University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bankhead Coley Cancer Research program (7BC10), Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, and NIH R21CA191668 (to GW) and 1R56AG061911 (to CW and CHV).
The impact of clothing on ozone and squalene ozonolysis products in indoor environments

Multiphase reactions of ozone with human skin oils impact indoor air quality by depleting ozone and forming semi-volatile organic compounds, which can be respiratory and skin irritants. Here we demonstrate the impact of clothing on indoor air composition and human exposure by integrating indoor chemistry modeling over a wide range of different spatial and temporal scales. Constrained by molecular dynamics simulations that provide key kinetic parameters, the kinetic model reproduces experimental measurements and predicts that squalene could persist in clothing for several hours to over a day depending on ozone concentrations. Soiled clothing protects skin from ozone exposure even with high concentrations, but can enhance concentrations of oxidation products to a ppb level depending on air exchange rates. Computational fluid dynamics simulations reveal that primary products have ~1.6–2.0 times higher concentrations in the breathing zone than in bulk room air, while secondary products are distributed more uniformly throughout a room. Reactions of ozone with human skin oils impact indoor air quality by depleting ozone and forming semi-volatile organic compounds. Here, the authors examine the impact of clothing on indoor air composition and human exposure by integrating indoor chemistry modeling over a range of spatial and temporal scales.
Unraveling the Relationships between Low Self-Control, Substance Use, Substance-Using Peers, and Violent Victimization

Low self-control, substance use, and affiliations with delinquent peers have been tied to victimization, but the related relationships between these variables and their effects on violent victimization have rarely been studied. The current study considers whether low self-control, substance use, and affiliations with substance-using peers shape violent victimization, and how these variables are related to one another, within an integrated self-control/routine activities theoretical model using path modeling in MPLUS and two waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Results suggest that (1) low self-control increases substance use and affiliations with substance-using peers, (2) substance use and affiliations with substance-using peers reciprocally shape each other, and (3) all three variables directly and indirectly shape violent victimization, providing direction for theoretical and policy development.
Simulation on the Effect of Gait Variability, Delays, and Inertia with Respect to Wearer Energy Savings with Exoskeleton Assistance

Exoskeletons are human-robot interfaces that have enormous potential to assist people with everyday tasks. To improve the design of exoskeletons for use in clinical populations, it is important to further our understanding of how exoskeleton design and control parameters lead to sub-optimal effectiveness. Here we simulated the effect of three factors, gait variability, wearer-exoskeleton delays, and exoskeleton inertia, have on the predicted energy assistance provided by an exoskeleton with a finite-state controller trained on a set of stroke survivors’ free walking gait data. Results indicate that larger errors between the wearer’s desired ankle trajectory and the exo’s estimated ankle trajectory result in statistically large reductions in the actual assistance provided. Specifically lags on the order of even 10 ms can illustrate statistically sub-optimal performance. Likewise subjects that exhibit large gait variability will have a statistical reduction in actual assistance. However, reasonably low exoskeleton inertias are not significant as a factor in terms of sensitivity to wearer assistance. Therefore, to improve cooperative control algorithms for exoskeletons and achieve true assistance based on wearer induced motion, this work implies that designers should prioritize minimizing delays and wearers should train to reduce variability in order to maximize energy savings.
Abstract 549: Cardiac Aging is Associated With Impaired Mitophagy and Formation of Megamitochondria

Aging is associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Currently, the molecular mechanisms contributing to the cardiac aging process and the resulting pathogenesis are unclea...
WUDESIM: a toolkit for simulating water quality in the dead-end branches of drinking water distribution networks

This work introduces WUDESIM, an open-source C/C++ toolkit for modeling water quality in the dead-end branches of drinking water distribution networks. WUDESIM is linked to the programmers’ toolkit...
Hereford and Lincoln Cathedral Libraries during the High Middle Ages

In this study evidence is brought forth from large treasuries of scholastic manuscripts at Hereford and Lincoln that challenges R. M. Thomson's assessment of the importance of those collections during the High Middle Ages. As it turns out, as early as the twelfth century those libraries contained copies of the most important works in the developing Parisian theological curriculum, and the earliest copies of those works may reside in these and other English cathedral libraries. Manuscripts preserving early versions of the Sentences are especially interesting, since they make it possible to study the evolution of Peter Lombard's thought during his lifetime.
IVC Filter Retrieval: Routine Approach

A routine IVC filter retrieval should be a relatively easy and straightforward procedure. Proper pre-procedure workup, which is best performed in the setting of an IVC filter clinic, is key to selecting patients and giving the operating physician the best chance of a successful procedure. The procedure itself, including technique and recommended equipment, is reviewed in this chapter. It is also important for the operating physician to be ready to escalate to more complex retrieval techniques should these routine steps fail.
Urban growth and the emergent statistics of cities

Urban theory models cities as spatial equilibria to derive their aggregate properties as functions of extensive variables, such as population size. However, this assumption seems at odds with cities' most interesting properties as engines of fast and variable processes of growth and change. Here, we build a general statistical dynamics of cities across scales, from single agents to entire urban systems. We include agents' strategic behavior to produce predictable growth rates, which requires balancing relative incomes and costs over time. We implement these dynamics using stochastic differential equations and control theory to demonstrate a number of general emergent properties of cities deriving from limit theorems applied to growth rates. This framework establishes necessary conditions for scaling to be conserved by urban dynamics and shows how exponent corrections can be calculated. These ideas are tested using stochastic simulations and a long timeseries for 382 US Metropolitan Areas over nearly five decades.
Clastic Sediments in Caves

Abstract This article focuses on the natures, origins, and significances of clastic (detrital) sediments in caves. Clastic sediments are fragments of preexisting rocks that have been transported and redeposited. Streams transport large quantities of clastic sediments through caves, including stream gravels and mud, but clastic sediments also move as gravity flows by slumping and sliding. Sedimentology and stratigraphy offer the means to understand the origins and transport mechanisms behind individual clastic deposits. Together, the two methodologies consider layering within deposits and grain sizes, sorting, mineralogies, geochemistries, and sedimentary structures. Facies are recognized where those variables include diagnostic properties tied to particular depositional processes or driving forces. As is shown using examples, stratigraphy and facies analysis make it possible to reconstruct cave or landscape histories, including system responses to disturbances such as climate change and land use. Notably, system responses typically reflect changes in sediment supply, hydraulic gradients, or obstructions. These factors are recorded in passage morphologies, which should always be considered when studying clastic sediments in caves and examples are cited.
Looking At Screens: Examining Human-Computer Interaction and Communicative Breakdown in an Educational Online Writing Community

Abstract This study, a qualitative examination of students’ experiences within an online writing community, frames human-computer interaction (HCI) as a dialogic negotiation of users and systems within networked publics. It demonstrates how an interface-level examination of these interactions, particularly at moments of glitch and error, reveals their impact on the landscape and design of educational online writing communities, puncturing the technological transparency that permeates HCI. Using a micro-ethnographic approach, this study draws from screen capture recordings, questionnaires, observations, and visual-elicitation interviews to construct two cases that demonstrate the significance of interface-level interactions in shaping the networked public square of an educational online writing community, re-framing conceptualizations of both student and system “error.” By encouraging readers to look at (rather than through) the interfaces mediating students’ interactions with online writing communities, this article shows how interface-level interactions emerge from and fold back into complex dialogic systems with implications for the teaching, research, design, and analysis of educational online writing communities.
A Multi-level Longitudinal Model of Risk Factors for Generalized and Separation Anxiety Symptoms in a Community Sample of 6-year-olds.

The current longitudinal study examined the relations between variables in four domains—contextual (SES, family conflict, stress), parent (caretaker depression), parenting (support hostility, autonomy granting), and child (negative affect, effortful control, sensory regulation, attachment)—and both the presence of generalized and separation anxiety symptoms at age 6 in a community sample of 796 children and the change in these anxiety symptoms from ages 4 to 6. Anxiety was highly stable over time. Specific results revealed both direct and indirect pathways between age 4 and age 5 variables, and age 6 anxiety. Caretaker depression and the child variables of attachment, effortful control, negative affect, and sensory regulation were directly related to anxiety symptoms at age 6. Contextual variables (SES) at age 4 were indirectly related to age 6 anxiety through parent depression at age 5. Parent depression was indirectly related to age 6 anxiety through age 5 child negative affect. Child negative affect at age 4 was indirectly related to age 6 anxiety through age 5 effortful control and age 4 effortful control was indirectly related to age 6 anxiety through age 5 negative affect. With the exception of attachment, there was a reduction in the impact of other variables when initial levels of anxiety symptoms were included in the model. Implications of results for early intervention and further study are discussed.
3-colorability of graphs with minimum degree at least 6

Let $G$ be an $n$-vertex graph and let $L:V(G)\rightarrow P(\{1,2,3\})$ be a list assignment over the vertices of $G$, where each vertex with list of size 3 and of degree at most 5 has at least three neighbors with lists of size 2. We can determine $L$-choosability of $G$ in $O(1.3196^{n_3+.5n_2})$ time, where $n_i$ is the number of vertices in $G$ with list of size $i$ for $i\in \{2,3\}$. As a corollary, we conclude that the 3-colorability of any graph $G$ with minimum degree at least 6 can be determined in $O(1.3196^{n-.5\Delta(G)})$ time.
Post-Operative Radiation Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Higher Positive to Examined Lymph Node Ratio is Associated With Improved Overall Survival.

Purpose/Objective(s) A recent randomized controlled trial for post-operative radiation therapy (PORT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with N2 disease has suggested no clinical benefit. However, data regarding the possible correlation between lymph node disease burden and PORT outcomes is lacking. Materials/Methods The National Cancer Database (NCDB) NSCLC participant user file was used to identify patients who received upfront surgical resection and documented pathologic N2 disease. Patients not receiving chemotherapy were excluded. A positive to examined lymph node (PEN) ratio was calculated by dividing the number of positive lymph nodes by the number of examined lymph nodes (range 0 – 1.0). The PEN ratio was then divided into quartiles to compare overall survival (OS) with and without PORT. Cox proportional hazards modeling (CPHM) was used to assess the association between OS and PORT status by quartile group. Results From 2004 to 2017, 22,354 NSCLC patients received upfront surgery and were found to have pathologic N2 disease. The median number of lymph nodes examined was 11 (Interquartile Range 6, 16). Median OS decreased with increasing PEN ratio: 0-0.16: 58 months, 0.17-0.30: 49 months, 0.31-0.50: 37 months, 0.51-1.0: 29 months, P Conclusion While a recent prospective clinical trial demonstrated no clinical benefit to PORT in the setting of N2 disease, this analysis shows that there may be a select population of patients that may benefit as the ratio of positive to examined lymph nodes increases. Secondary analyses in prospective trials may help delineate the role of the PEN ratio in treatment selection.
Characterizing Fatigue Limits

Unlike in low cycle fatigue (LCF), where life is a function of applied stress or strain, and stress ratio is a parameter, high cycle fatigue(HCF) tries to deal with infinite life endurance limits (FLS). In the long-life regime, then, the issue is whether HCF failure will occur under a stress level that is exceeded, or infinite life can be achieved if the stresses are below that level. If, in the ideal world, the stress-life or S–N curves had a horizontal asymptote at some reasonably achievable number of cycles, then the terminology infinite life, endurance limit, or FLS corresponding to some large number of cycles would all refer to the same information. In the early days of fatigue, it was generally felt that such an endurance limit existed and that the information on the stresses corresponding to this limit could and should be represented by some simple equation or plot. Material capability of this type is often called the runout stress, but it is more correct to refer to it as the FLS corresponding to a given number of cycles, typically 10 7 or greater. While 10 6 and 10 7 have been used widely as the fatigue limit for many years in many applications, recent data indicate that FLSs for some materials may continue to decrease at cycle counts up to and beyond 10 10 cycles. Today, high speed rotating machinery can achieve service lives approaching and perhaps exceeding cycle counts of 10 9 –10 10 . Thus, testing must include large numbers of cycles representative of potential service exposures.
A Study of Driver Interactions with an Inflating Air Cushion

Conceptually, a steering wheel mounted air cushion is inflated before the upper torso of the driver significantly interacts with the cushion. However, this might not be the case for some seating postures or vehicle crash environments which could cause the driver to significantly interact with an inflating cushion. This paper reports on experiments that utilized several environments to study the interaction between an inflating driver air cushion and mechanical surrogates. In these laboratory environments, the measured responses of mechanical surrogates increased with diminishing distance between the surrogate's sternum and the steering wheel mounted air cushion.
What is Positive Law

The following notes attempt a brief introduction to the mature works of Nietzsche that speak most pointedly and most explicitly to the fundamental questions of jurisprudence. The main texts upon which it relies are contained in Jenseits von Gut und Bose, first published in 1886, immediately after Also Sprach Zarathustra; and Zur Genealogie der Moral, first published in 1887.1 By Nietzsche's own instructions, these last two books are to be read as a single work, since the latter was written as an "addition intended to complete and clarify" the former. Oddly perhaps the title of this Essay does not even allude to the work of Nietzsche. It only asks the question: what is positive law? Wrongheaded as it may seem, the omission is deliberate. The task before us indeed calls upon us to think through the question of the essence of positive law. To study Nietzsche is not to ascertain the historical record of "what Nietzsche said," nor to seek mastery of that mass of materials in the construction of tidy "nietzschean" doctrines. Great thinkers demand that we let their words draw our attention to the matter at issue in their thought. At issue in Nietzsche's thought is the question of the essence of positive law.
New single-bias all-optical ETO configuration for a 15 kV-100A SiC thyristor eliminating the turn-on leakage current

In this paper a new single-bias optically-triggered (OT) emitter-turn-off (ETO) configuration for a 15kV–100A SiC thyristor, used in the next generation high-voltage high-frequency and high-power-density applications is outlined. Optical turn-off and turn-on of the OT ETO is achieved using an auxiliary optically-triggered power transistor (OTPT) in the anode path of the SiC thyristor. Leakage current during the turn-on transition of OT ETO is caused by the undesired activation of the turn-off path of the gate of the thyristor. This undesired activation is due to parasitic inductances and high di/dt in the commutation path, resulting in additional switching loss and electro-magnetic noise. In contrast to other works, the proposed method removes the leakage current enhancing the switching performance, reducing the switching loss and EMI. The other feature of the proposed work is using a single high-voltage bias eliminating the need for low-voltage (LV) control bias and devices in conventional methods. The system reliability is increased via using optical link to turn the SiC thyristor on and off, precluding the susceptibility to external noise. The proposed method and the OTPT are respectively verified through simulation and experimental results.
A comparison of computational and algorithmic advances for solving Richards' equation

We evaluate computational advancements that have occurred over the last decade, summarize algorithmic advances made in the numerical solution of Richards' equation (RE), and compare the relative importance of these two contributions for the solution of this common, and important, water resources model. To evaluate computational performance, we rely upon data intended to identify and rate the floating point performance of the world's fastest computers for which a decade of results exist. We review a series of algorithmic changes made in the solution of RE over this same period. Our, perhaps surprising, findings are that each of these two factors has contributed more than a two order of magnitude improvement in performance and each factor is roughly as important as the other. The overall computational results are not mutually exclusive and optimally are multiplicative. For the optimal case, an equivalent accuracy solution to a one-dimensional RE problem used as a test case can be obtained in approximately five orders of magnitude less computational time today than it could have been obtained using then current algorithmic methods and a state-of-the-science computational platform a decade ago.
On some inequalities involving the zeros and weighted L^p norms of polynomials

Using Parseval's identity and the Hardy-Littlewood-Polya inequality on the maximal decreasing rearrangement, we establish some sharp inequalities involving the weighted L p norm and the zeros of polynomials.
Corporate Inversions - Background, Causes, and Policy Options

Corporate inversions have been front page news during most of 2014. In addition to providing background on inversions, this presentation discusses why inversions are occurring and various policy options.What is the primary driver of inversions? Contrary to many public reports, the 35% US corporate tax rate is not the cause. Rather, US MNCs have shifted so much income to tax havens that they have a liquidity issue (i.e., the lock-out effect). In addition, US MNCs may also be worried the SEC and their external auditors could start questioning their assumption that foreign earnings are indefinitely reinvested.Treasury Notice 2014-52 puts some fingers in the proverbial dike, but the bottom line is that inversions are going to continue until the US modifies its tax system. US MNCs want a territorial system with minimal base erosion protections, while others would accept a territorial system with strong base erosion protections. Both options have major issues. The ideal solution would be to attempt to equalize the tax burden of US MNCs, foreign MNCs, and domestic US businesses. This could be accomplished if the US viewed itself as a source country and based its tax on the volume of sales to US customers. Many US states have effectively adopted this approach because of the fierce tax competition among states.
Characterization of a partial cDNA clone for the NILE glycoprotein and identification of the encoded polypeptide domain

A partial cDNA clone [2.4 kilobase (kb)] for the nerve growth factor-inducible large external (NILE) glycoprotein was selected from a lambda gt11 expression library constructed using mRNA from PC 12 cells. A 0.2 kb subclone (pNILE-1B) was used for Northern blot analysis of NILE message present in 2 NILE-positive neuronal cell lines and 2 NILE-negative glial cell lines. pNILE-1B hybridizes with components of 6.8 and 2.0 kb in the 2 neuronal cell lines but fails to show hybridization with any components in the 2 glial cell lines. Only the 6.8 kb species would be large enough to code for the NILE polypeptide. A rabbit antiserum was prepared against the NILE-beta-galactosidase fusion protein produced by the NILE clone. This antiserum (anti-NILE-beta-gal) immunoprecipitates NILE glycoprotein from neuronal cell lines, further confirming the authenticity of the NILE cDNA clone. The epitope recognized by anti-NILE-beta-gal is contained in an 85 kDa tryptic fragment from the phosphorylated carboxy terminus of NILE. The 160 kDa tryptic fragment containing the amino terminus is not recognized by anti-NILE-beta-gal. Both immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments indicate that the anti-NILE-beta-gal epitope is not exposed on the cell surface but is accessible only after cells are treated with detergent. The cytoplasmic nature of the determinant is also indicated by its absence on a truncated, soluble form of NILE released from cells (possibly by a proteolytic mechanism) into the medium. This released NILE is 15-20 kDa smaller than the detergent-extracted NILE and, in addition to lacking the anti-NILE-beta-gal epitope, does not contain the cytoplasmic site(s) of phosphorylation. Nucleotide sequencing of the pNILE-1B subclone confirms the location of the anti-NILE-beta-gal epitope in the cytoplasmic domain. The clone contains an open reading frame coding for a 79 amino acid segment of the polypeptide that differs in only 2 residues from the cytoplasmic domain of the L1 glycoprotein.
Note: An application of Vizing and Vizing-like adjacency lemmas to Vizing's Independence Number Conjecture of edge chromatic critical graphs

In 1968, Vizing conjectured that, if G is a @D-critical graph with n vertices, then @a(G)@?n2, where @a(G) is the independence number of G. In this note, we apply Vizing and Vizing-like adjacency lemmas to this problem and obtain better bounds for @D@?{7,...,19}.
Direct visualization of phase transition dynamics in binary supported phospholipid bilayers using imaging ellipsometry

Via imaging ellipsometry, we study the phase transition dynamics induced by selective gelation of one component in a binary supported phopholipid bilayer. We find the modulation of two attendant morphological features: emergence of extended defect chains due to a net change in the molecular areas and fractal-like domains suggesting weak line tension. A time-lapse analysis of the ellipsometric images reveals the cluster size of 4–20 molecules undergoing gelation indicating weak cooperativity. These results demonstrate the use of ellipsometry for in situ, label-free, non-contact, and large-area imaging of dynamics in interfacial films.
Reactions of TMSI with cephalosporin esters

Abstract The direct synthesis of 3-iodomethyl cephalosporin esters from 3-acetoxy- and 3-carbamoylmethyl analogues may be achieved using TMSI. The “one-pot” conversion of sodium cephalothin into a C-3 heterocycle-substituted cephalosporin may also be performed using TMSI-mediated chemistry.
TWAIL: Past and Future

While TWAIL could be viewed as a methodology, it is a methodology that is still being developed. The work of current TWAIL scholars on particular areas of international law is of special importance to TWAIL as these studies will hopefully reveal particular ways in which the relationship between international law and the Third World plays out, and will thereby add to the analytical resources available to TWAIL scholars.
Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in tissues of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract 1. 1. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was detected in homogenates of cricket fat body and testes, but not Malphigian tubules or central nervous system. 2. 2. The specific activity of fat body ADH is greater than that of the testes, but the testes is the principal abdominal site of alcohol metabolism due to the quantity of enzyme contained in that organ. 3. 3. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity is insufficient to alter the concentration of an ethanol solution perfusing the abdominal nervous system during an acute exposure.
Tracheal Tumors: Surgical Management

In a 15-year period, 63 patients with primary tracheal tumors were seen. Twenty-eight patients with primary tumors and 8 with secondary tumors of the trachea were treated by resection with single-stage reconstruction. There were 24 cylindrical resections of trachea, 2 lateral resections of trachea, and 10 carinal reconstructions. Thirty-five additional patients with primary tracheal tumors were managed by staged reconstruction, irradiation, or no treatment. The most common primary lesion was squamous cell carcinoma and the second, adenoid cystic carcinoma. Benign primary tumors and low-grade malignant tumors obtained excellent palliation and usually cure. Surgical removal of squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma, usually with adjunctive irradiation, provided good palliation or the probability of cure. Resection of selected secondary tumors provided long-term palliation.
Quantitative Refinement of Calibrated 14C Distributions

A new method is presented for using known ordering or other relationships between 14C samples to reduce 14C dating uncertainty. The order of sample formation is often known from, for example, stratigraphic superposition, dendrochronology, or crosscutting field relations. Constraints such as a minimum time between dates and limits from historical information are also readily included. Dendrochronologically calibrated calendric date histograms initially represent each date. The method uses Bayes theorem and the relational constraints to upweight date ranges in each date distribution consistent with the other date distributions and the constraints, and downweight unlikely portions. The reweighted date distributions retain all dating possibilities present in the initial calibrated date distributions, but each date in the result now reflects the extra information such as ordering supplied through the constraints. In addition, one may add information incrementally, and thus analyze systematically its effect on all the date distributions. Thus, the method can be used to assess the consistency of the quantitative data at hand. The Bayesian approach also uses the empirical calibrated date distributions directly, so information is not lost prematurely by summarized dates to a mean and variance or "confidence intervals." The approach is illustrated with data from two densely sampled paleoseismic sites on the San Andreas Fault in southern California. An average reduction in 14 C date distribution variance of 59% is achieved using ordering information alone, and 85% is achieved by also applying sedimentation rate constraints and historical information.