cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Generally Applicable Calibration Algorithm for Digitally Reconfigurable Self-Healing RFICs

A generally applicable calibration technique for digitally reconfigurable self-healing radio frequency integrated circuits based on a hybrid of the Nelder-Mead and Hooke-Jeeves direct search algorithms is presented. The proposed algorithm is applied to the multiobjective problem of gain error and phase error minimization for a self-healing phase rotator test case. For the 8-D phase rotator calibration problem, we show that the proposed hybrid Nelder-Mead and Hooke-Jeeves calibration algorithm is capable of reducing the gain error and phase error of the phase rotator output to less than a maximum of 0.5 dB and 2°, respectively, relative to the chosen gain and phase targets. A 3-GHz self-healing phase rotator test chip was fabricated in a 45-nm silicon-on-insulator CMOS process, and the measured data were obtained to validate the performance of the proposed calibration algorithm.
Unidentified reticuloendothelial cell storage disease.

1. An abnormal cell of probably reticuloendothelial origin with prominent cytoplasmic granules was observed in the bone marrow, liver and a lymph node of an adult white female with incidentally discovered, asymptomatic hepatosplenomegaly. 2. Histochemical studies revealed the granules to consist of a chemical complex which contained bound lipid and protein. 3. The cells differed from those of Gaucher’s disease, Niemann-Pick’s disease and other storage diseases. The significance of these cells remains unknown.
Synthesis of Amino-ADT Provides Access to Hydrolytically Stable Amide-Coupled Hydrogen Sulfide Releasing Drug Targets

As additional physiological functions of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are discovered, developing practical methods for exogenous H2S delivery is important. In particular, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) functionalized with H2S-releasing anethole dithiolethione (ADT-OH) through ester bonds are being investigated for their combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. The chemical robustness of the connection between drug and H2S-delivery components, however, is a key and controllable linkage in these compounds. Because esters are susceptible to hydrolysis, particularly under acidic conditions such as stomach acid in oral drug delivery applications, we report here a simple synthesis of amino-ADT (ADT-NH2 ) and provide conditions for successful ADT-NH2 derivatization with the drugs naproxen and valproic acid. Using UV-vis spectroscopy and HPLC analysis, we demonstrate that amide-functionalized ADT derivatives are significantly more resistant to hydrolysis than ester-functionalized ADT derivatives.
Experimental characterization of extra-focal radiation in CT scanners

Quantitative computed tomography (CT) applications based on statistical iterative reconstruction algorithms require accurate models of the CT acquisition process, with a key component being the x-ray fan beam intensity. We present a method to experimentally determine the extra-focal radiation profile incident on individual CT detectors. Using a tungsten cylinder as a knife edge, a super-sampled signal was created from sinogram data, which traced the “occlusion” of the x-ray source as seen by a detector. By differentiating this signal and correcting for finite detector size and motion blur, the effective source profile can be recovered. Extra-focal scatter was found to be on the order of 1-3 percent of the focal beam intensity, with lower relative magnitude at the isocenter and increasing towards the edge of the fan beam, with its profile becoming asymmetric at large angles. The implications for reconstruction algorithms and QCT applications will be discussed.
Instalment Selling of Durable Consumers' Goods

by the Department of Commerce. According to figures published by the Bureau of the Census,1 instalment credit sales amounted to 6.4 billions of dollars in 1929 and 3.6 billions in 1935. Instalment sales amounted to 13% of total retail sales in 1929 and 11% of total retail sales in 1935. For 1936, the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has estimated2 that instalment sales amounted to 4.5 billions of dollars, or over one-third (36%) of total credit granted by retail establishments, and 12% of total retail sales (for 1937, the preliminary estimate is 12.25%). Durable consumers goods account for the largest portion of instalment sales, although clothing and "soft" goods have, to some extent, been sold upon an instalment base during the last few years. Contrasted to other types of merchandise, durable goods are items which retain a sale or resale value for some time after their original purchase. In the case -of the non-payment of instalments by the buyer, repossession, reconditioning and resale are advantageous. Theoretically, the resale value ought never to fall below the total of the unpaid instalments. Instalment selling has made the purchase of automobiles, radios, and similar expensive merchandise possible to an increasing number of people. The Census Bureau," for example, reports for 1935 that 59.9% of the sales of motor vehicle dealers handling new cars were made upon instalment credit, that 54.9% of the sales of household appliance and radio stores were of an instalment nature, and that the comparable figure for furniture stores was 48.7%. Undoubtedly, instalment selling has thus raised American standards of living while the increased sale of relatively costly merchandise accompanying this development has made possible economies in the production of such goods and their lower selling prices. These lower prices, in turn, have brought many types of durable goods within the reach of additional lower income groups. Here are the two great gains made possible by the wide use of instalment selling. Certain disadvantages, on the other hand, are also discernable. Instalment sales fluctuate more rapidly than open book credit sales which, in turn, fluctuate more rapidly than cash sales. Turning to the automobile industry, it is found that the number of cars (new and used) sold upon instalment credit was 63.0% of the total in 1929, 63.2% in 1930, 61.3% in 1931, 49.7% in 1932, 56.8% in 1933, 56.6% in 1934, 60.8% in 1935, and 59.4% in 1936.' Detailed figures for similar commodities indicate clearly that instalment sales fluctuate more rapidly than total sales. To the extent that this occurs, the durable consumer goods industries have * A paper delivered before a Round Table Session of the American Economic Association, the American Statistical Association and the American Marketing Association at Atlantic City, Dec. 30, 1937.
Localized Pain Accompanying Faradic Excitation of the Stomach and Duodenum

The following observations, hitherto unreported, were made during the course of experiments designed to test the reaction of the human gall bladder to faradic stimulation of the gastro-intestinal t...
Lymphocele formation after extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy: possible predisposing factors.

AbstractA retrospective review of 61 patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed to assess possible predisposing factors for lymphocele development. The procedure was done to facilitate staging of prostatic carcinoma in all of the patients. The complication occurred in 9 patients (14.8 per cent). Analysis revealed a statistically significantly higher incidence of lymphoceles in patients without drainage (p less than 0.05) and in patients whose lymph nodes had no metastatic disease (p less than 0.025). Furthermore, 9 patients (without drainage and with nodes that were free of tumor but who received mini-dose heparin therapy) as a subgroup had the highest incidence of lymphocele formation. Although these individual factors have been attributed to this complication after lymphadenectomy they may act synergistically.
Analgesic nephropathy--a continuing problem.

Analgesic abuse, if not diagnosed, can lead to end-stage renal disease. Patients being evaluated for chronic urinary tract infection, hypertension, or renal insufficiency should be questioned regarding analgesic ingestion. Urographic findings may be the first clue to diagnosis.
A Requirement for Metamorphic Interconversion in the Antimicrobial Activity of Chemokine XCL1.

Chemokines make up a superfamily of ∼50 small secreted proteins (8–12 kDa) involved in a host of physiological processes and disease states, with several previously shown to have direct antimicrobial activity comparable to that of defensins in efficacy. XCL1 is a unique metamorphic protein that interconverts between the canonical chemokine fold and a novel all-β-sheet dimer. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that, within the chemokine family, XCL1 is most closely related to CCL20, which exhibits antibacterial activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of WT-XCL1 and structural variants was quantified using a radial diffusion assay (RDA) and in solution bactericidal assays against Gram-positive and Gram-negative species of bacteria. Comparisons of WT-XCL1 with variants that limit metamorphic interconversion showed a loss of antimicrobial activity when restricted to the conserved chemokine fold. These results suggest that metamorphic folding of XCL1 is required for potent antimicrobial activity.
Doping of LiNbO3 and (Na,Li)NbO3-based solid solutions

Doping of LiNbO3 and (Na,Li)NbO3 with ions of different valence above stoichiometry has been performed. The effect of modifiers on the grain structure and electrical properties of these compounds has been investigated. It is shown that the conductivity of ceramics can be controlled.
5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine: regional brain concentrations following intraventricular administration to rats.

The concentrations of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) and serotonin (5-HT) were measured in brainstem, hypothalamus and cerebral cortex 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours following the bilateral, lateral ventricular injection of 5,7-DHT (100 μg/each ventricle) into adult male rats. At 6 hours, 5,7-DHT levels had decreased 99% from 0 hr values in all brain regions. Thereafter, 5,7-DHT levels continued to decline in cortex, but not in hypothalamus or brainstem; at 24 hr, but not 48 hr, 5,7-DHT peaks were still measurable in each brain region examined. Serotonin levels in all three regions also fell markedly by 2-6 hours after 5,7-DHT administration. At 24 hours, hypothalamus and brainstem 5HT levels had declined >70% and cerebral cortex ∼50% below control values. The relevance of these findings to the protective action of monoamine reuptake blockers is discussed.
Invoking the glorious war: Framing the Persian Gulf conflict through directive language

Urging public support for United States intervention in the Persian Gulf War, President Bush faced two challenges. First, he had to overcome the traumatic public memory of Vietnam. Second, strong public support for economic sanctions and opposition to military action required Bush to convince Americans that war was imperative. The declaration of hostilities on January 16, 1991, is superimposed on a series of earlier messages aimed at supplanting the failure of Vietnam with the glory of World War II. The ultimate purpose was, of course, to justify armed conflict in the Gulf region. This essay examines the use directive language in achieving that purpose.
Value of calcium and phosphate in a bicarbonate-containing platelet additive solution with low plasma levels in maintaining key in vitro platelet storage parameters.

BACKGROUND Use of recently developed platelet (PLT) additive solutions (PAS) with 5% plasma levels may reduce the frequency and/or severity of transfusion reactions attributed to plasma. PLTs suspended in bicarbonate-containing PAS-5 with 5% plasma levels can maintain key PLT parameters during 7-day storage. This study evaluates the role of calcium and phosphate, as constituents of PAS-5, in maintaining PLT parameters. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS An Amicus apheresis PLT unit (n = 13) was equally divided into four 60-mL aliquots in CF-250 polyolefin bags. Four different formulations of PAS-5 were prepared: PAS-5, PAS-5 without phosphate (−PO4), PAS-5 without calcium (−Ca), and PAS-5 without Ca and phosphate (−Ca/−PO4). PLTs were centrifuged, and the supernatant was expressed and replaced with the respective PAS, yielding PLTs suspended in 95% PAS and 5% plasma. PLTs were stored at 20 to 24oC with agitation for 7 days. PLT in vitro parameters were evaluated on Days 1, 5, and 7. RESULTS In PLT PAS-5 aliquots, pH levels were maintained better compared with those in −Ca and –Ca/−PO4 aliquots. Glycolysis was greater in −Ca and –Ca/−PO4 PLT aliquots compared with PAS-5 aliquots. Hypotonic stress response and morphology were less and p-selectin (CD62P) binding was greater in –Ca/−PO4 PLT aliquots. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species was greater in –Ca/−PO4 PLTs. Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was greater in –Ca and −Ca/−PO4 PLT aliquots during storage. CONCLUSION The removal of calcium and phosphate from PAS-5 leads to the activation of p38 MAPK and deterioration of key PLT storage parameters.
Quality Analytics in a Big Data supply chain: Commodity data analytics for quality engineering

While the world is experiencing a global shortage of natural resources, a new one in the form of Digital Data has emerged! The ability to harness this new resource has become a renewed basis for competitive advantage where leveraging Big Data effectively means winning in the marketplace. It is going to transform industries and professions around the world. However, traditional data management techniques and analytical methodologies that has taken us from the late 20th century and into the early 21st century are not sustainable in today's business environment where organizations are constantly being challenged to right size the work force, increase labor productivity, increase customer satisfaction and at the same time improving product quality and reliability.
Trends in antineoplastic receipt after Medicare payment reform: Implications for future oncology payment design.

6513 Background: The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) changed antineoplastic reimbursement from average wholesale price to average sales price +6%, reducing many outpatient reimbursement rates and ...
Constraint programming approach for scheduling batch operations with incompatible job families in fab and compatible job families in backend

This study presents a constraint programming (CP) approach for modeling batch operations both in fab (incompatible job families) and backend (compatible job families) which involves the constraints of different job release times, non-identical job sizes, and different batch size. We formulate this scheduling problem as CP and compare with a mixed integer programming (MIP) approach. The models are tested on a set of common problem instances from a paper in the literature. Computational results show that CP outperforms the MIP approach with respect to solution quality and run time.
Risk of venous thromboembolism following influenza vaccination in adults aged 50 years and older in the Vaccine Safety Datalink

Abstract Background Influenza-like illness and inflammation are known risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). However, few studies have characterized the risk of VTE following influenza vaccination. We examined VTE risk after vaccination in adults 50 years old and older within the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Methods We used the self-controlled case series method to determine the risk of VTE among age-eligible adults who received influenza vaccine (with or without pandemic H1N1) and experienced a VTE during the months of September through December in 2007 through 2012. Presumptive VTE cases were identified among VSD participants using diagnostic codes, diagnostic tests, and oral anticoagulant prescription. Potential cases were validated by medical record review. The VTE incidence rate ratio was calculated among confirmed cases for the risk window 1 to 10 days after vaccination relative to all other person-time from September through December. Results Of the 1,488 presumptive cases identified, 508 were reviewed, of which 492 (97%) were confirmed cases of VTE. The analysis included 396 incident, confirmed cases. Overall, there was no increased risk of VTE in the 1 to 10 days after influenza vaccination (IRR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.69–1.17) compared to the control period. Results were similar when all person-time was censored before vaccination. A post hoc analysis showed an increased risk among current tobacco smokers (IRR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.06–6.23). No clustering of VTE was observed in the 1–42 days after vaccination. Discussion Overall, there was no evidence that inactivated influenza vaccine was associated with VTE in adults ≥50 years old. An increased risk was found among current smokers in a post hoc analysis. These findings are consistent with previous research and support the safety of annual vaccination in this population.
Antagonistic Relationship Between VEP Potentiation and Gamma Power in Visual Snow Syndrome

Objective Using a "double-pulse" adaptation paradigm, in which two stimuli are presented in quick succession, this study examines the neural mechanisms underlying potentiation of the visual evoked potential (VEP) in visual snow syndrome. Background Visual snow is a persistent visual disturbance characterized by rapid flickering dots throughout the visual field. Like the related condition of migraine with aura, visual snow has been hypothesized to arise from abnormal neuronal responsiveness, as demonstrated by a lack of typical VEP habituation to repeated visual stimulation. Yet the exact neural mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Previous "double-pulse" experiments suggest that typical VEP habituation reflects disruptive gamma-band (50-70 Hz) neural oscillations, possibly driven by inhibitory interneurons. Given that migraine has been associated with reduced cortical inhibition, we propose here that visual snow may likewise reflect diminished inhibitory activity, resulting in decreased gamma power following initial visual stimulation and concomitant potentiation of the subsequent VEP response. Methods We compared VEP responses to double-pulse adaptation in a 22-year-old man with a 2-year history of visual snow versus a group of age- and gender-matched controls (N = 5). The patient does not have a comorbid diagnosis of episodic migraine or migraine with aura, and controls had no personal or family history of migraine. Results In contrast to the pattern of habituation observed in controls, visual snow was associated with persistent potentiation of the VEP response. Consistent with our predictions, time-frequency analysis revealed reduced gamma-band power following the initial stimulus in visual snow relative to controls. Conclusions These results support an antagonistic interplay between gamma power and rapid neural adaptation, shedding new light on the neural mechanisms of VEP potentiation in visual snow.
Incorporating a Raspberry Pi into a computer information systems initial course

The Raspberry Pi is a small computer useful for teaching students basic computer knowledge. This paper discusses the integration of the Raspberry Pi in an introductory information systems course. Previously, the initial course in the College of Engineering and Information Sciences was a general applications course not focused on computer science or engineering. A new course was developed integrating the raspberry pi with hands on labs to improve student engagement. The initial course should be exciting and motivating to students. By creating a new course with interesting labs that integrate the Raspberry Pi, higher pass rates and student satisfaction will be achieved.
A High Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among University Students in Appalachia Reflects a Need for Educational Interventions and Policy Advocacy.

Abstract Objectives To measure prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among college students in Appalachia, compare food-insecure and food-secure students on correlates, and identify predictor variables. Design Cross-sectional, online questionnaire. Setting University in Appalachia. Participants Nonprobability, random sample of 1,093 students (317 male [30.1%]; 723 females [68.4%]). Main Outcome Measures Food insecurity, coping strategies, money expenditure, academic progress, and demographics. Analysis Correlational, chi-square, and regression. Results A total of 239 students experienced low food security (21.9%) whereas 266 had experienced very low food security (24.3%) in the past 12 months. Predictor variables were higher money expenditure and coping strategy scale scores, lower grade point averages, male gender, receiving financial aid, fair or poor self-rated health status, and never cooking for self or others. These variables accounted for 48.1% of variance in food security scores. Most frequently used coping strategies included purchasing cheap, processed food (n = 282; 57.4%), stretching food (n = 199; 40.5%), and eating less healthy meals to eat more (n = 174; 35.4%). Conclusions and Implications Food-insecure students need interventions that teach budgeting skills and how to purchase and prepare healthy foods, as well as policies that increase access to food resource assistance.
In their own words: disaster and emotion, suffering, and mental health

Purpose: In this article, I explore emotions, trauma, and mental health issues residents experienced after tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri in 2011. Methods: The research is ba...
Balloon Angioplasty for the Treatment of Symptomatic Vasospasm

Angioplasty was performed in 45 patients who were symptomatic from vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. This was done using a micro balloon via a percutaneous transfemoral approach. Two thirds of these patients improved neurologically acutely. One patient died during the procedure secondary to vessel rupture. Long term follow-up has been good without any cases of delayed deterioration. The overall results indicate that angioplasty can offer improvement to patients with ischemic deficits due to vasospasm.
Natural Effector Cells in Influenza Virus Infection

It is known that specific IgA antibody is protective in preventing influenza infection.(1,2) Once infected, however, cellular mechanisms of the host are important and contribute toward limiting the infection.(3) The nature of the cellular immune effectors that develop in mice in response to influenza virus infection has been well described. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play a crucial role in preventing virus spread and dissemination of virus in mice,(4,5) and virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) T lymphocytes contribute to the destructive intrapulmonary lesion that characterizes influenzal pneumonia disease.(6,7)
Failed Fatherhood and the "Trap of Ambivalence": Assimilation, Homonormativity, and Effeminophobia in The New Normal.

The New Normal, NBC’s 2012 sitcom about gay fathers, contradicts itself: While striving to normalize gay men as respectable parents, the show often mocks feminine gay men as unsuitable parents. I t...
Submicron Crystals of the Parkinson's Disease Substantia nigra: Calcium Oxalate, Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) results of the death of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. When activated, the NLRP3 inflammasome of phagocytes releases inflammatory agents, their release resulting in the death of proximal cells. The hallmark protein of PD, aggregated α-synuclein, is phagocytized and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. Because crystalline particles are known to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, to enhance α-synuclein expression and aggregation in dopaminergic neurons and because their facets may mis-template adsorbed α-synuclein, we probe here, by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), four human PD substantia nigra specimens for their crystalline particles. Samples weighing 5 mg of PD stages 1, 2, 4 and 5 were processed by proteolysis and centrifugation. TEM-grids were dipped in the centrifugate diluted to 1 mL and the dried films were searched for crystalline particles. Two types of crystalline particles, known to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome were found. Endogenous calcium oxalate, a downstream product of ascorbate and dopamine oxidation-produced hydrogen peroxide; and TiO2, the with pigment of foods and medications. The number-density of the NLRP-inflammasome activating crystalline particles found approached the reported about-equal number-densities of microglia and neuronal cells in the brain. The observations of COD and protein-coated TiO2 support two putative feedback loops, both leading to dopaminergic neuron death. In one, polymeric oxidized-dopamine catalyst accelerates H2O2-generation, the H2O2 indirectly oxidizing ascorbate in an ascorbate-fueled, oxalate-generating, loop the excess oxalate precipitating the subsequently inflammasome-activating COD crystals; In the second, protein-adsorbing facets of TiO2 mis-template the aggregation of α-synuclein to produce inflammasome-activating mis-folded α-synuclein.
Optimal use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in immune thrombocytopenia

The thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are a class of platelet growth factors commonly used to treat immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). There are three agents that have been investigated for the treatment of chronic ITP: the peptide agent romiplostim and the small molecule agents eltrombopag and avatrombopag. These agents offer a higher clinical response rate than most other ITP therapies but may require indefinite use. This review is a critical appraisal of the TPO-RAs in adult ITP, defining the optimal patient groups to receive these agents and assisting the hematologist with agent choice, goals of treatment, dosing strategies, and toxicity management. Use of endogenous thrombopoietin levels to predict response to eltrombopag and romiplostim treatment is discussed and alternative dosing protocols suited for certain patient subgroups are described. Finally, indications for discontinuation and combination therapy with other agents are considered.
2162: The impact of Clostridium difficile infection on disease severity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) but the impact of CDI on disease severity is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of CDI on long-term disease outcome in a cohort of IBD patients. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We analyzed patients enrolled in a prospective IBD natural history registry. Patients who tested positive at least once formed the CDI positive group. We generated a 2:1 propensity matched control cohort based on risk factors of CDI in the year before infection. Healthcare utilization data (emergency department use, subsequent hospitalizations, telephone encounters), medications, labs, disease activity, and quality of life metrics were temporally organized. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of 198 patients (66 CDI, 132 matched controls) were included [56.6% female; 60.1% Crohn’s disease (CD), 39.9% ulcerative colitis (UC)]. Groups were not significantly different in the year before infection in all metrics but in the year of infection, having CDI was significantly associated with more steroid and antibiotic exposure, elevated C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and low vitamin D (all p<0.01). Infection was associated with increased disease activity metrics (UC: p=0.036, CD: p=0.003), worse disease-related quality of life (p=0.003), and increased healthcare utilization (p<0.001). In the next year after infection those with prior CDI continued to have increased exposure to vancomycin or fidaxomicin (p<0.001) and all other antibiotics (p=0.01). They also continued to have more clinic visits (p=0.006), telephone encounters (p=0.001), and worse disease-related quality of life (p=0.03), but disease activity and biomarkers of severity were not significantly different between groups. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: CDI infection in IBD is significantly associated with various surrogate markers of disease severity, increased healthcare utilization and poor quality of life during the year of infection. CDI patients continue to experience poor quality of life after infection with increased clinic visits and antibiotic exposure while disease activity is no longer significantly increased. These findings suggest that CDI infection may have a lasting effect on healthcare utilization beyond the acute treatment period.
Social Justice, Recognition Theory and the First Amendment: A New Approach to Hate Speech Restriction

There is no way to overstate the severity of the problems related to social inequality today, and treatment of hate speech in the United States is problematic in light of these escalating tensions....
Acoustic and linguistic factors affecting perceptual dissimilarity judgments of voices

The human voice is a complex acoustic signal that conveys talker identity via individual differences in numerous features, including vocal source acoustics, vocal tract resonances, and dynamic articulations during speech. It remains poorly understood how differences in these features contribute to perceptual dissimilarity of voices and, moreover, whether linguistic differences between listeners and talkers interact during perceptual judgments of voices. Here, native English- and Mandarin-speaking listeners rated the perceptual dissimilarity of voices speaking English or Mandarin from either forward or time-reversed speech. The language spoken by talkers, but not listeners, principally influenced perceptual judgments of voices. Perceptual dissimilarity judgments of voices were always highly correlated between listener groups and forward/time-reversed speech. Representational similarity analyses that explored how acoustic features (fundamental frequency mean and variation, jitter, harmonics-to-noise ratio, speech rate, and formant dispersion) contributed to listeners' perceptual dissimilarity judgments, including how talker- and listener-language affected these relationships, found the largest effects relating to voice pitch. Overall, these data suggest that, while linguistic factors may influence perceptual judgments of voices, the magnitude of such effects tends to be very small. Perceptual judgments of voices by listeners of different native language backgrounds tend to be more alike than different.
Chest—Height—Weight Tables for College Women

(1940). Chest—Height—Weight Tables for College Women. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 55-57.
On the wake hazard alleviation associated with roll oscillations of wake-generating aircraft

An explanation is provided for the difference in wake vortex alleviation achieved by roll oscillations in flight tests with B-747 and L-1011 transport aircraft. Both aircraft had their landing flaps extended and several spoilers deployed. Numerical analysis shows that the growth in amplitude of the initial waves in the vortex filament is brought about by the sinusoidal instability. In the case of the B-747, growth is enhanced by a vortex whose strength is about the same as the tip vortex which is shed near the fuselage by the inboard end of the flaps. Conversely, the L-1011 is estimated to shed a negligible fuselage vortex and to have a relatively strong wingtip vortex. These characteristics bring about a rotation and amplification of the initial waves in the vortex filaments in the wake of the B-747 but not in the L-1011 vortex wake. An aircraft following the B-747 would then experience only intermittent encounters with the intense parts of the wake vortices so that the time-averaged wake-induced rolling moment is substantially reduced.
Abnormal Vital Signs Predict Critical Deterioration in Hospitalized Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Post-hematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients

Introduction: Hospitalized pediatric hematology-oncology and post-hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients have frequent deterioration requiring Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) care. Critical deterioration (CD), defined as unplanned PICU transfer requiring life-sustaining interventions within 12 h, is a pragmatic metric to evaluate emergency response systems (ERS) in pediatrics, however, it has not been investigated in these patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate if CD is an appropriate metric to assess effectiveness of ERS in pediatric hematology-oncology and post-HCT patients and if it is preceded by an actionable period of vital sign changes. Methods: A retrospective review of all unplanned PICU transfers and floor cardiopulmonary arrests in a dedicated pediatric hematology-oncology hospital between August 2014 and July 2016. Vital signs and physical exam findings 48 h prior to events were converted to Pediatric Early Warning System-Like Scores (PEWS-LS) using cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic criteria. Results: There were 220 deterioration events, with 107 (48.6%) meeting criteria for CD, representing a rate of 2.98 per 1,000-inpatient-days. Using the first event per hospitalization (n = 184), patients with CD had higher mortality (17.4 vs. 7.6%, p = 0.045), fewer median ICU-free-days (21 vs. 24, p = 0.011), ventilator-free-days (25 vs. 28, p < 0.001), and vasoactive-free-days (27 vs. 28, p < 0.001). Using vital sign data 48 h prior to deterioration events, those with CD had higher PEWS-LS on PICU admission (p < 0.001), spent more time with elevated PEWS-LS prior to PICU transfer (p = 0.008 to 0.023) and had a longer time from first abnormal PEWS-LS (p = 0.007 to 0.043). Significant difference between the two groups was observed as early as 4 h prior to the event (p = 0.047). Conclusion: Hospitalized pediatric hematology-oncology and post-HCT patients have frequent deterioration resulting in a high mortality. In these patients, CD is over 13 times more common than floor cardiopulmonary arrests and associated with higher mortality and fewer event-free days, making it a useful metric in these patients. CD is preceded by a long duration of abnormal vital signs, making it potentially preventable through earlier recognition.
Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter from Wildfire-induced Microcystis aeruginosa Blooms controlled by Copper Sulfate as Disinfection Byproduct Precursors Using APPI(-) and ESI(-) FT-ICR MS

Copper-based algaecides are usually used for controlling algae bloom triggered by the elevated levels of nutrients after wildfires, resulting in the promoted reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in forming disinfectant byproducts (DBPs). To identify the best strategy for handling this source water, we employed Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to characterize the DBPs precursors after 4-d Microcystis aeruginosa bloom cultured with black (BE) and white (WE) ash water extracts under 0, 0.5, and 1.0 mg-Cu/L. The disappeared DOM during disinfections, primarily composed of O1-14, N1O1-14 and N2O1-14, had a higher average molecular weight (MW) and double-bond equivalent (DBE), relative to DOM after incubation, regardless of disinfects and Cu2+. This result suggests assigned features with larger MW and more double bonds/rings as preferable DBP precursors. We observed a larger number of disappeared assigned features with low DBE of 1-10 in control without Cu2+ addition, possibly explaining lower DOM chlorine reactivity in forming carbonaceous and oxygenated DBPs, relative to the treatments with Cu2+ addition. We found a larger number of O1-14 and N1O1-14 with DBE=5-16 in the treatments, potentially explaining higher DOM chloramine reactivity in forming N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), compared to the control. Our study suggests removing oxygen- and nitrogen-containing organic compounds with more double bonds/aromatic rings as a preferable strategy for handling source water after controlling post-fire algae blooms with copper sulfate.
Ioinc liquid droplet lasers

We demonstrated lasing in dye-doped ionic liquid droplets and characterized lasing properties. Ionic liquid is a new type of solvent which has not been studied in liquid laser before. The unique properties of ionic liquids offer great potentials for the development of novel optofluidic devices.
How can economists use the cognitive challenges framework to enhance economic education

Chew and Cerbin (2021) outline nine cognitive challenges to student learning with which economic educators are likely familiar, even if the language used to describe them differs. In this article, ...
Parenting Stress and Child Externalizing and Internalizing Problems Among Low-Income Families: Exploring Transactional Associations.

Although the association between parenting stress and child behavioral outcomes is well established (Deater-Deckard, Clin Psychol 5:314–332, 1998), longitudinal research examining the direction of these effects is limited. This study examined transactional associations between parenting stress and child externalizing and internalizing behaviors among 1209 low-income female caregivers (Mage = 34.51) with children in early childhood or early adolescence (i.e., either 2- to 5-years-olds or 9- to 15-year-olds at Time 1) across a 6 year time span using three time points. Parent-driven associations between parenting stress and child internalizing problems for the early childhood group were found. In the early adolescent group, transactional and child-driven associations were found between parenting stress and child externalizing problems, but only child-driven associations for internalizing problems. Thus, transactional associations were only supported for the early adolescent group. These findings suggest developmental differences in how parenting stress and child behavioral problems are linked among low-income families. Clinical implications are discussed.
SME Growth, Financing Constraints, and Corruption: Evidence from Transition Economies

In this study, using a unique firm-level survey database, I investigate which firm constraints in the business environment directly affect growth for over 15,000 mostly small- and medium-sized firms in 30 Eastern European and Central Asian countries. I also examine how financing constraints inhibit firm growth, the determinants of firm financing constraints, and the relevant role of country-level development, institutions, and corruption. I find that out of a full set of ten different growth constraints in the business environment that firms report, only financing and legal constraints negatively affect both firm sales and employment growth. I also find that older, larger, and foreign-owned firms report lower financing constraints while exporting firms report higher financing constraints. In countries with higher levels of GDP per capita, stock market development, legal systems and property rights, and lower levels of corruption, firms face lower levels of financing constraints. I provide novel empirical evidence that both firm- and country-level corruption hinder firms’ access to financing.
Graph-aided Online Learning with Expert Advice

Online learning with expert advice plays an important role in various machine learning tasks. When multiple experts are available at hand, the learner can perform the learning task after collecting advice from the experts. In conventional learning with expert advice, the learner performs the learning task by either selecting the advice of one expert or combining all experts' advice. In the present paper, we consider the case where taking advice from experts incur costs, and the learner can only afford limited number of queries due to budget limitation. Expert advice are modeled as signals lying on a graph, and the learner selects and requests advice from only a subset of experts at each time based on the graph structure. Upon observing the incurred loss, the graph is refined actively ‘on the fly.' The proposed approach is proved to achieve sublinear regret. Numerical tests on real datasets are also presented to showcase the merits of our proposed approach.
Unboxing dendritic cells: Tales of multi-faceted biology and function.

Often referred to as the bridge between innate and adaptive immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) that constitute a unique, yet complex cell system. Among other antigen presenting cells, DCs display the unique property of inducing protective immune responses against invading microbes, or cancer cells, while safeguarding the proper homeostatic equilibrium of the immune system and maintaining self-tolerance. Unsurprisingly, DCs play a role in many diseases such as autoimmunity, allergy, infectious disease, and cancer. This makes them attractive but challenging targets for therapeutics. Since their initial discovery, research and understanding of DC biology has flourished. We now recognize the presence of multiple subsets of DCs distributed across tissues. Recent studies of phenotype and gene expression at the single cell level have identified heterogeneity even within the same DC type, supporting the idea that DCs have evolved to greatly expand the flexibility of the immune system to react appropriately to a wide range of threats. This review is meant to serve as a quick and robust guide to understand the basic divisions of DC subsets and their role in the immune system. Between mice and humans, there are some differences in how these subsets are identified and function, and we will point out specific distinctions as necessary. Throughout the text, we are using both fundamental and therapeutic lens to describe overlaps and distinctions and what this could mean for future research and therapies.
Abstract A112: Eradication of cancer stem-like cells in PDAC

Background: Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Cancer Stem-Like Cells (CSLCs) are drug resistant and can act as tumor initiating cells. Evidence suggests that CSLCs can be selected by chemotherapy that targets the more sensitive somatic cancer cells. In the current study we found that Gem treatment can not only select CSLCs, but can also induce transformation of somatic cancer cells into CSLCs. We also observed that p21 is required to maintain CSLCs in a quiescent state. Methods: Cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by using MTS and FACS analysis. ALDH and p21 were localized by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. CLSCs were analyzed by ALDH assay, clonogenic in vitro assays and in vivo tumor initiation. Both in vitro and in vivo silencing of p21 was accomplished using nanoparticle coupled siRNA. Results: Gem treatment induced the p21 and led to a transient cytostasis and chemoresistance in PDAC cell lines. Analysis of resected tumor samples revealed that Gem treatment also induced p21 expression and ALDH positivity in tumors of Gem treated but not untreated patients. In vitro studies indicated that Gem induced the acquisition of a CSLC phenotype and the expression of pluripotent transcription factors (PFTs). Silencing of p21 blocked the both basal and Gem induced CSLC numbers, the maintenance of quiescence, and resistance to Gem in vitro. In vivo, silencing of p21 greatly increased the effectiveness of Gem treatments to inhibit tumor growth and did not increase toxicity. Conclusion: These data indicate that p21 maintains chemotherapy induced CSLCs quiescence and drug resistance such that targeting p21 in combination with cytotoxic therapies is beneficial in eradicating both basal and Gem transformed CSLCs. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Thiruvengadam Arumugam, Vijaya Ramachandran, Craig Logsdon. Eradication of cancer stem-like cells in PDAC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A112.
The chemistry of enaminoketones—V

Abstract The reaction of organolithium or the corresponding Grignard reagents with some representative enaminoketones produced 1,2-addition along with some 1,4-addition products. The former, enaminealcohols, could be converted to cyclic, conjugated, iminium salts or directly aromatized to pyridinium salts.
Development and validation of a fatigue-modified , EMG-assisted biomechanical model of the lumbar region

EMG-assisted biomechanical modeling is a well-established modeling technique for estimating muscle forces in biomechanical models of the lumbar spine. Fatigue, however, creates a problem in that fatigue alters the relationship between the EMG signal generated by the muscle and the amount of force being generated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of fatigue on EMG-related components in an EMG-assisted biomechanical model: the gain factor (i.e. maximum muscle stress value in N/cm), force-length modulation factor, and force-velocity modulation factor. This is a particularly relevant research topic in that fatigue is considered a potential risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders, and being able to quantify muscle forces and joint reaction forces in these fatigued conditions would be helpful to understand the underlying risk factors in these types of exertion. The present study can inform and guide efforts in determining safety criteria in task design to decrease incidences of musculoskeletal disorders. This study was conducted in two phases: the isometric extension phase (1) and the isokinetic extension phase (2). Each was designed to provide the data necessary to evaluate the hypothesis that either the length-force modulation factor (Phase 1) or forcevelocity modulation factor (Phase 2) need to be dependent on the level of fatigue experienced by the extensor muscle of the lumbar region. Four subjects participated in each of these phases, performing trunk extension exertions at a level of 50% of their maximum force generation capacity to generate muscular fatigue in the trunk extensor muscles. In the isometric phase subjects performed controlled, isometric trunk extension test contraction exertions at 10, 20, and 30 angles
Improving the trustworthiness of service QoS information in service-based systems

Service-oriented architecture facilitates rapid development and management of large-scale distributed service-based systems (SBS), where new workflows are composed of available services. Besides services' capabilities, the qualities of services (QoS) also need to be considered in service composition in order to have high-quality workflows. The QoS profiles of services provided by their service providers may be inaccurate. In this paper, an approach is presented to improving the trustworthiness of the QoS information of services to facilitate the development of high-quality workflows in SBS. Our approach is based on identifying the deviation between the QoS profiles of the services claimed by their service providers and the QoS profiles determined by monitors and service user feedbacks. An example is given to illustrate the approach.