cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scale Independent Approach to Strength Physics and Optical Interferometry

Dynamics of deformation and fracture is considered based on a field theoretical approach. The basic postulate of this approach is that deformation is always locally linear elastic, and that the nonlinear behavior in the plastic regime can be formulated by considering the interaction of these local dynamics. By requesting that the transformation matrix representing the local elastic deformation is coordinate dependent so that it describes nonlinearity, and that the law of elasticity be invariant under the coordinate dependent transformation, this formalism introduces a compensating field known as the gauge field. By applying the Lagrangian formalism to the gauge field, the theory derives field equations that describe interaction between the translational and rotational modes of displacement. The plasticity is viewed as energy dissipating dynamics of the deformation charge, a quantity derived from the symmetry charge associated with the invariance of the elastic law. Recent analysis indicates that transition from plastic deformation to fracture is governed by the behavior of the deformation charge, and that an optical interfermetric technique known as the electronic speckle-pattern interferometry can be used to visualize the deformation charge.
Using Cultural Algorithms to Improve Wearable Device Gesture Recognition Performance

Wearable computing devices are now mainstream. Many such devices have capable MEMS sensors that can be exploited for recognizing dynamic, in-the-air gestures. Noting the somewhat limited compute and battery life of today's devices, we present a computationally efficient approach to gesture recognition that can be effectively used inside an app running on standard, off-the-shelf hardware, such as an Android Smart watch. Our approach has two phases. The first phase is to construct finite state machines (FSM) for gesture recognition. We present a novel approach - which leverages techniques from functional programming languages - to define rich yet compact FSM. Such FSM can be further tuned for higher accuracy with help of some training data and a suitable optimization method - this is the second phase. To demonstrate effectiveness, we created a gesture recognition system for an automotive scenario as an Android Smart watch app and then tuned the gesture recognition engine using Cultural Algorithms optimization and training data. We achieved 77% gesture recognition accuracy which is on par which more computationally intensive techniques such as Hidden Markov Models.
Implicit and Intuitive Grasp Posture Control for Wearable Robotic Fingers: A Data-Driven Method Using Partial Least Squares

Functionality of a human hand can be augmented with wearable robotic fingers to enable grasping and manipulation of objects with a single hand. Such technology will have applications in manufacturing and construction, as well as health care. This paper presents a method for controlling extra robotic fingers, termed “Supernumerary Robotic Fingers (SR Fingers),” in coordination with human fingers to grasp diverse objects. Two hypotheses are proposed and verified through experiments. One is that humans prefer grasp posture of their fingers and that of the SR Fingers to be highly correlated when working together, which is represented with a few principal components, resembling grasp synergy in neuromotor control. The other hypothesis is that SR Finger posture can be controlled to coordinate with human finger posture via grasp synergy of the hybrid human–robotic hand. Partial least squares regression is used for predicting a desired posture of the SR Fingers from the measurement of human fingers. This method is implemented on a pair of wrist-mounted SR Fingers. Experiments demonstrate that the prototype SR Fingers can assist the human user in performing single-handed grasping tasks without requiring explicit commands.
Dispersion of Polymer-Grafted Nanorods in Homopolymer Films: Theory and Experiment

An understanding of the dispersion of nanoparticles into polymer melts is needed in order to control material properties of polymer nanocomposites. Here we study the dispersion of polymer-grafted nanorods in homopolymer melts of the same chemistry, using both experiment and theory. The theoretical calculations are performed over the range of experimental system parameters. Polymer-grafted gold nanorods (Au NRs) were found to be dispersed when the matrix chain lengths were small relative to the brush chain lengths, and aggregated at higher matrix chain lengths. Both classical density functional theory (DFT) and self-consistent field theory (SCFT) are used to calculate the structure of a polymer brush around an isolated NR in a polymer melt. Both theories predict a gradual transition from a “wet” to a “dry” brush as the grafting density, the NR radius, and/or the ratio of matrix to brush chain lengths is increased. DFT calculations of the interaction free energy between two NRs find an attractive well at in...
Phase Transitions in Graphite Intercalation Compounds

Graphite intercalation compounds offer a unique laboratory in which to study many kinds of phase transitions. These include melting, reorientations, staging, commensurate-incommensurate effects, and certain types of lattice gas transitions. Molecular and alkali-metal intercalates are discussed with reference to results of X-ray diffuse scattering studies as a function of temperature and pressure.
Numerical Simulation of Zone-Melting Recrystallization of Thin Silicon Films With A Tungsten Halogen Lamp

A two dimensional numerical simulation of incandescent lamp Zone-Melting Recrystallization (ZMR) was performed. A parametric study examined the thermal effects of lamp intensity, susceptor temperature, and ambient reflectivity, on the melt zone. The melt zone was found to vary linearly with lamp intensity and parabolically with susceptor temperature and ambient reflectivity.
Contraception for the teenager.

PIP: Although adolescents are now fecund at an earlier age, they are not ready for parenthood financially, educationally, or socially until a much later time. More and more states directly or indirectly permit minors to consent for their own contraceptive needs, a trend that must be applauded. Studies of adolescent attitudes, knowledge, and use of contraceptives indicate a woeful ignorance and lack of use, even among college students. From a medical and practical point of view, the IUD is considered the most suitable contraceptive for the teen-ager. A well-established menstrual cycle of at least 2 years should be be present if oral contraceptives are used. Abstience, although medically ideal, must be initiated by the patient; otherwise, the failure rate is high. The failure rate for the condom, diaphragm, and spermicidal foam is high, except when 2 methods are used at the same time. Coitus interruptus, douche, and rhythm have no application for adolescents. Girls who have had an abortion should receive contraceptive counseling immediately following the abortion. Sterilization must be considered very cautiously for this age group.
Challenges to diagnosis and management of infections in older adults

Infectious diseases continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality among adults aged 65 and older despite improvements in antibiotic therapy and vaccinations. Older adults are at increased risk for developing infections compared to younger adults because of age-associated changes in immune function, comorbidities, and repeated exposures to healthcare settings. Diagnosing infections can be challenging in older adults because common signs and symptoms of infection (e.g., fever, leukocytosis) can be absent, especially in frail adults with cognitive impairment. Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, and Clostridium difficile diarrheal illness are among the most common causes of infection in this age group. This chapter reviews the challenges associated with diagnosis and management of the most frequently encountered infections in older adults.
Petroleum Out of Place

Some of the most widely publicized pollution episodes occur following extraction, during fuel transportation and processing. A tanker spill or a pipeline break wastes oil to the environment rather than moving it to market for sale. Thus the artificial network for containing petroleum gets coupled to the wrong consuming ecosystem. The spill produces a growing pool of a “resource out of place.”
Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Firm-level Technical Efficiency: Stochastic Frontier Model Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms

It has been recognized that multinational corporations can spill over to non-affiliated firms in host economies. Existing studies of foreign direct investment (FDI) and productivity growth often assume firms are perfectly efficient. Our paper relaxes this assumption and explores how FDI affects a firm’s technical efficiency improvement as well as its technical progress in a stochastic frontier model. The stochastic frontier model estimates a firm’s production frontier given a set of production inputs. The deviation of a firm’s actual output level from its maximum level of output is defined as technical inefficiency. Using data from more than 12,000 Chinese manufacturing firms, we find that FDI in a firm's own industry (horizontal FDI) does not necessarily improve the firm’s technical efficiency. However, firms with a larger absorptive capacity tend to benefit more from horizontal FDI than others. We also find that foreign presence in a firm’s downstream industries helps improve the firm’s technical efficiency, while foreign presence in upstream industries does not. In addition, a generalized Malmquist index decomposition shows that foreign affiliates achieve a higher productivity growth than domestic firms mainly through a faster improvement in technical efficiency rather than through technical progress.
Purine Metabolism and Rett Syndrome

Levels of purine and pyridine nucleotides and their metabolites were determined in erythrocytes and plasma of 31 Rett pattients and 17 age-matched controls at the Departments of Molecular Biology and Child Psychiatry, University of Siena, Children’s Hospital, Siena, Italy.
Association between carotid artery tortuosity and carotid dissection: a case-control study.

Background Carotid artery dissections have long been associated with compromise of the structural integrity of the arterial wall from heritable connective-tissue disorders, hypertension, and trauma. However, an association between spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection and tortuous or redundant carotid anatomy has not been fully explored. Methods Patients with CTA confirmed spontaneous cervical internal carotid artery dissections were compared to a group of age and sex matched controls who also received CTA of the neck. Patients with trauma or aortic dissections were excluded. Five radiologists reviewed the CTA images to evaluate internal carotid artery tortuosity (reported as loops, kinks or coils), retrojugular and retropharyngeal courses of the internal carotid artery, presence of fibromuscular dysplasia and presence of atherosclerotic disease. Baseline data collected included demographic characteristics (sex, age, smoking history) and cardiovascular comorbidities. Results A total of 83 cervical internal carotid artery dissection and their age and sex matched controls were included in this study. 46% of patients were female in each group and mean age was 49.2±10.6 years. The presence of any carotid tortuosity was 53% (N.=44) and 34% (N.=28) in the per-patient analysis of dissection and control groups, respectively (P=0.02). Loops were reported in 22% (N.=18) of dissection patients and 8% (N.=7) of controls (P=0.03). Retrojugular course of the internal carotid artery were seen in 23% (N.=38) of dissection patients and 9% (N.=15) of controls (P=0.0009) in the per-vessel analysis. Conclusions Our study suggests that there is an association between the presence of tortuous carotid artery anatomy and spontaneous carotid artery dissection. This finding emphasizes the importance of the presence of tortuous arteries on CTA imaging to increase the index of suspicion for a potential dissection.
Uranium and arsenic characterization of well water and sediment in Black Falls, Arizona

2193 During the 1940 - 1970’s, uranium mining took place on the Navajo Reservation, resulting in hundreds of abandoned mines and areas of mine waste. Radiation-related health problems resulting from these mining activities have been well documented (Brugge 2002). However, health problems related to the chemical properties of uranium as a heavy metal, along with the presence of arsenic as a co-contaminant, is a concern and under investigation. This study focuses on the seasonal characterization of uranium and arsenic present in water collected from rural wells in the Black Falls area, southeast of Cameron, Arizona. Basic water chemical analyses were performed as well as uranium and arsenic analyses. Field pH measurements were gathered. Anionic characterization of sulfates, bicarbonates, nitrates, and chlorides were collected using Ion Chromatography with a conductivity detector. Cationic analyses consisted of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Cationic analyses were determined using Atomic Absorption spectroscopy. Elemental uranium and arsenic analyses were collected by ICP-MS. Sedimentary analysis was gathered by SEM-EDS to further characterize the surrounding soil. Three of the wells were shown to have elevated uranium, arsenic and bicarbonate concentrations. Carbonate complexes are important for speciation studies of uranyl carbonates and arsenates.
Assessing solid tumor response with and without RECIST.

504 Background: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) has become widely accepted as gold standard for response evaluation in clinical trials. It remains underutilized in routine clinical practice. We compared tumor response assessment made with and without RECIST. Methods: This study included patients with solid tumors who underwent imaging from January 2013 to December 2014 at a single academic center. Tumor response was assessed by a radiologist using RECIST and by an oncologist (Onc) and resident (Res) without using RECIST (standard report). Tumor response was classified as progressive disease (PD), stable disease (SD), partial response (PR) and complete response (CR). Agreement in assessment between RECIST and standard report was determined by percent agreement and Kappa statistic. Results: 292 imaging studies were included. Concordance between RECIST and Onc-interpreted standard report is presented in Table 1. Overall agreement between RECIST and Onc-interpreted standard report was 56...
Degradation of poly(β-amino ester) gels in alcohols through transesterification: Method to conjugate drugs to polymer matrices

Poly(β amino ester) polymers have received growing attention in the literature, owing to their ease of synthesis, versatile co-monomer selection, and highly tunable degradation kinetics. As such, they have shown extensive potential in many biomedical applications as well. In this work, it is demonstrated for the first time that PβAE polymers containing primary and secondary amine groups can undergo degradation by primary alcohols via transesterification mechanism. While this work emphasizes an important aspect of solvent compatibility of these networks, it also represents an interesting, simple mechanism for post synthesis drug incorporation, with riboflavin conjugation being demonstrated as a model compound.
Massachusetts Health Reform's Effect on Hospitalizations with Substance Use Disorder–Related Diagnoses

Objective To examine whether Massachusetts (MA) health reform affected substance (alcohol or drug) use disorder (SUD)–related hospitalizations in acute care hospitals. Data/Study Setting 2004–2010 MA inpatient discharge data. Design Difference-in-differences analysis to identify pre- to postreform changes in age- and sex-standardized population-based rates of SUD-related medical and surgical hospitalizations, adjusting for secular trends. Data Extraction Methods We identified 373,751 discharges where a SUD-related diagnosis was a primary or secondary discharge diagnosis. Findings Adjusted for age and sex, the rates of drug use–related and alcohol use–related hospitalizations prereform were 7.21 and 8.87 (per 1,000 population), respectively, in high-uninsurance counties, and 8.58 and 9.63, respectively, in low-uninsurance counties. Both SUD-related rates increased after health reform in high- and low-uninsurance counties. Adjusting for secular trends in the high- and low-uninsurance counties, health reform was associated with no change in drug- or alcohol-related hospitalizations. Conclusions Massachusetts health reform was not associated with any changes in substance use disorder–related hospitalizations. Further research is needed to determine how to reduce substance use disorder–related hospitalizations, beyond expanding insurance coverage.
A New Qualitative Methods Section

In the fall of 2002, over 1,000 members of the American Political Science Association—including 28 former Association Presidents and seven former APSR editors—signed a petition to launch a new APSA Organized Section for Qualitative Methods. The proposed section would sponsor training and research focused on the several branches of methodology associated with the qualitative tradition. The goal will be to promote an integrated understanding of these methods and their relationship to other branches of methodology, including the quantitative tradition. The new section would complement the activities of the existing Political Methodology Section, seeking to develop productive avenues of cooperation.
Corneal Potential Maps Measured With Multi-Electrode Electroretinography in Rat Eyes With Experimental Lesions.

Purpose Conventional full-field flash electroretinography (ERG) yields a single response waveform that can be useful in the early detection and diagnosis of many diseases affecting the retina. It is an objective measurement that probes the entire retina. However, localized areas of dysfunction have relatively small influence on ERG amplitudes compared to normal ranges. Here we evaluate the use of corneal potential maps obtained in response to full-field flash stimuli for sensitivity to local areas of retinal damage. Methods A contact lens electrode array was used to record 25 ERG waveforms simultaneously following saturating full-field flash stimuli (multi-electrode electroretinography, meERG) in rats. Waveforms were evaluated for a-wave and b-wave amplitudes; these values were normalized and further evaluated for spatial differences across the corneal surface. Cluster analysis and a support vector machine approach were used to classify meERG responses from healthy eyes and eyes with central (photocoagulation) or peripheral (cryocoagulation) experimental lesions. Results A normative normalized corneal potential map was obtained from healthy eyes (n = 26). Corneal potential maps from eyes with experimental lesions (n = 13) could be classified with sensitivity and specificity of approximately 80% based solely on the normalized spatial distribution of corneal potentials, that is, with no knowledge of absolute amplitudes. Conclusions Corneal potential maps obtained in response to full-field flash stimuli are altered in eyes with scotomas in the central and far-peripheral retina. The meERG approach yields useful spatial information following a single brief flash, analogous to body-surface potential maps used to evaluate heart and brain.
Structure of Flamelets in Turbulent Reacting Flows and Influences of Combustion on Turbulence Fields

Attention is focused on the reaction-sheet regime of turbulent reacting flows. In this regime the chemistry occurs in thin sheets convected and distorted by turbulent motions. Consideration is given to structures of reaction sheets, to their stability, and to influences of these sheets on the turbulence in turbulent combustion. These considerations are pursued separately for premixed and nonpremixed combustion.
Clinical outcomes in male patients with lactotroph adenomas who required pituitary surgery: a retrospective single center study

Lactotroph adenomas (LA) are the most frequently encountered pituitary tumors. Although more frequently observed in women, LAs in men were recently included in a more aggressive category regardless of histological grading, by the WHO. We aimed to perform a rigorous retrospective review of a single center’s pre-operative evaluation, patient characteristics and outcomes of male LAs patients requiring pituitary surgery. A retrospective review, over 11 years, of patients who underwent resection of a pituitary adenoma at a single center was conducted. Predictors of persistent disease in male LAs patients along with a comparison to predictors of silent corticotroph adenomas (SCAs) patients who also underwent surgery at the center was also conducted. Thirty-one male patients with LAs were identified. When compared to SCAs patients, LAs male patients were younger (41 vs. 50 years of age, p = 0.01). Men with LAs had more invasive tumors (75% vs. 44.7% p = 0.02). More LAs in men had residual tumor after surgery than patients with SCA (92.6% vs. 42.1%, p < 0.001). Male patients with LAs and patients with SCA had similar rates of requiring additional surgery (28.9% vs. 24.1%, p = NS) and radiation therapy (18.4% vs. 19.4%, p = NS). High rates of DA resistance, invasive tumors and postoperative residual disease in male patients with LA who required surgery are shown. Surgery improved optic chiasm compression, PRL level and central hypogonadism but, not surprisingly, failed to normalize other pituitary hormones and/or eliminate need for DA therapy.
Resolution of the basal plasma membrane calcium flux in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Steady-state cytosolic calcium (Ca2+i) concentration in a vascular smooth muscle cell is determined by Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ extrusion across the plasma membrane, yet no means for determining the absolute magnitude of these transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes in the basal state of the resting cell has been devised. We now report a method that combines fluorescence measurement of Ca2+i, 45Ca kinetics, and computer modeling to yield the basal plasma membrane Ca2+ flux in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells. Kinetic analysis of basal Ca2+i and Ca2+i transients following chelation of extracellular Ca2+ yields a unique value for the ratio of the rate constant governing Ca2+ pumping into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to that for plasma membrane Ca2+ extrusion (1.12 +/- 0.06). When this ratio was used to constrain the least-squares fitting of 45Ca efflux data from A7r5 cells, it was possible to determine unique values for the unidirectional, steady-state Ca2+ fluxes across both SR and plasma membranes. The basal unidirectional plasma membrane Ca2+ flux was 0.062 +/- 0.018 fmol . min-1 . cell, and the basal SR Ca2+ flux was 0.069 +/- 0.019 fmol . min-1 . cell-1. These results demonstrate, within the limitations of measuring the absolute value of Ca2+i, the feasibility of measuring previously unresolvable subpicoamp basal Ca2+ fluxes in intact cells under normal physiological conditions.
Aquatic Conservation Planning at a Landscape Scale

Inland surface waters provide vital ecosystem services and support a diverse and important biota. An overriding feature of freshwater ecosystems is ­connectedness, which has been compromised by a wide range of human actions. Strong connections between terrestrial watersheds and receiving waters, and upstream and downstream linkages within river systems, make a large-scale ­perspective essential in conservation planning. In this chapter, we present the essential elements of large-scale aquatic conservation planning, with emphasis on stream and river ecosystems of the Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion. We review relevant aspects of the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems, discuss ­different approaches to aquatic conservation, and provide a case study of large-scale conservation planning and implementation in the Connecticut River basin.
Upper Paleolithic Connubia, Refugia, and the Archaeological Record from Eastern Europe

For various historical, linguistic, and political reasons our understanding of the Upper Paleolithic Old World (and especially of Europe) is predominantly based on data collected in western Europe. This chapter attempts to redress somewhat this West European bias by evaluating hypotheses proposed to explain late Pleistocene pan-European phenomenon with data gathered in central and eastern Europe.
The interaction of depression and prior opioid use on pain and opioid requirements after total joint arthroplasty

Abstract Background Preoperative opioid use causes increased pain and opioid requirements after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), but the effect of depression on this relationship is not well defined. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of primary TJA patients using an institutional database. Demographic variables, inpatient opioid requirements, and discharge prescription quantities were collected and compared between patients with and without a prior diagnosis of depression in both the prior opioid-using and nonusing cohorts. Results Four hundred and three patients were analyzed between August 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017. Among prior opioid users, patients with depression experienced higher inpatient pain levels (4 vs 3; P = .001), required more inpatient opioids (117 oral morphine equivalents [OMEs] vs 70 OMEs; P = .022), were prescribed more opioids at discharge (1163 OMEs vs 750 OMEs; P = .02), and required more long-term opioid refills (57.7% vs 15.4%; P Conclusions Depression is not associated with increased pain or opioid requirements among opioid-naive patients after TJA but is associated with significantly higher pain and opioid requirements among patients who use opioids preoperatively. The interaction of these variables may highlight a target for preoperative counseling and risk modification in the arthroplasty population.
Populism and Imperialism: Politics, Culture, and Foreign Policy in the American West, 1890-1900

Review of: "Populism and Imperialism: Politics, Culture, and Foreign Policy in the American West, 1890-1900" by Nathan Jessen
Altered immune system in offspring of rat maternal vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

Obesity in women results in reduced fertility and increased complications during pregnancy. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) effectively reduces weight, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, but is a...
Should We Use an Abstract Comic Form to Persuade?: Experiments with Online Charitable Donation

This paper examines the use of the abstract comic form for persuading online charitable donations. Persuading individuals to contribute to charitable causes online is hard and responses to the appeals are typically low; charitable donations share the structure of public goods dilemmas where the rewards are distant and non-exclusive. In this paper, we examine if comics in abstract form are more persuasive than in the plain text form. Drawing on a rich literature on comics, we synthesized a three-panel abstract comic to create our appeal. We conducted a between-subject study with 307 participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk on the use of abstract comic form to appeal for charitable donations. As part of our experimental procedure, we sought to persuade individuals to contribute to a real charity focused on Autism research with monetary costs. We compared the average amount of donation to the charity under three conditions: the plain text message, an abstract comic that includes the plain text, and an abstract comic that additionally includes the social proof. We use Bayesian modeling to analyze the results, motivated by model transparency and its use in small-sized studies. Our experiments reveal that the message in abstract comic form elicited significantly more donations than text form (medium to large effect size=0.59). Incorporating social proof in the abstract comic message did not show a significant effect. Our studies have design implications: non-profits and governmental agencies interested in alleviating public goods dilemmas that share a similar structure to our experiment (single-shot task, distant, non-exclusive reward) ought to consider including messages in the abstract comic form as part of their online fund-raising campaign.
Hearing Aid Reimbursement: A Discussion of Influencing Factors

Reimbursement for hearing aids in the present time has become as complicated, if not more so, than any other area of health care. For many years, hearing aids were a noncovered item where insurance was concerned. The predominant model of bundling costs into a single dollar amount was copied decades ago from hearing instrument specialists. However, insurance companies and federal agencies are increasingly covering the cost of the diagnostic hearing evaluation and at least some of the costs associated with hearing aid purchases. One operational question is whether the bundled charge model is still appropriate, or should audiologists follow more closely the example of optometry whereby professional services are charged separately from the cost of goods sold? The models that have evolved constitute a broad mixture of bundling, partial bundling (i.e., partial unbundling), and complete unbundling. There exists no uniformity for which charge method is best. But, with greater frequency, insurance requirements are forcing a movement toward partial or complete unbundling of associated costs. Regardless of which charge model is adopted, calculation of the cost of service delivery for each audiology practice is an essential business component to justify charges and make educated decisions regarding participation in various insurance, cooperative, or network plans.
Error and Uncertainty Characterization

Quantifying errors and uncertainties associated with satellite precipitation products (SPPs) is fundamental to guarantee their correct use in several applications, including hydrological predictions, climate studies, and water resource management. Numerous factors affect the accuracy and precision of these products, including the sensor frequencies and channels, the type of precipitation, the heterogeneity of precipitation within the sensor footprint, as well as the choice of algorithm that transfers the sensor retrieval information to a precipitation rate. This chapter analyses these sources and summarizes the most common methods to estimate, quantify, and model errors and uncertainties associated with SPPs.
Prospective investigation of immunotherapy-induced fatigue by rest and stress echocardiography.

e24060Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) effect durable responses in cancer patients (pts). Myocarditis is rare but fatigue is commonly reported, and whether ICI-induced fatigue is due ...
Abstract TP397: Modified Rankin Scores at 90-Days Post-Discharge

Background: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a validated tool used to assess a patient’s functional status. Comprehensive Stroke Centers are required to obtain mRS scores at 90-days for acute isc...
Anti-selective [3+2] (Hetero)annulation of non-conjugated alkenes via directed nucleopalladation.

2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans and indolines are common substructures in medicines and natural products. Herein, we describe a method that enables direct access to these core structures from non-conjugated alkenyl amides and ortho-iodoanilines/phenols. Under palladium(II) catalysis this [3 + 2] heteroannulation proceeds in an anti-selective fashion and tolerates a wide variety of functional groups. N-Acetyl, -tosyl, and -alkyl substituted ortho-iodoanilines, as well as free –NH2 variants, are all effective. Preliminary results with carbon-based coupling partners also demonstrate the viability of forming indane core structures using this approach. Experimental and computational studies on reactions with phenols support a mechanism involving turnover-limiting, endergonic directed oxypalladation, followed by intramolecular oxidative addition and reductive elimination. Dihydrobenzofurans and indolines are common substructures in medicines and natural products. Herein, the authors report a palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] (hetero)annulation proceeding in an anti-selective fashion and enabling direct access to these valuable heterocycles with broad reaction scope.
Visualizing the Costs and Benefits of Correcting P-Values for Multiple Hypothesis Testing in Omics Data

The multiple hypothesis testing problem is inherent in high-throughput quantitative genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and other “omic” screens. The correction of p-values for multiple testing is a critical element of quantitative omic data analysis, yet many researchers are unfamiliar with the sensitivity costs and false discovery rate (FDR) benefits of p-value correction. We developed models of quantitative omic experiments, modeled the costs and benefits of p-value correction, and visualized the results with color-coded volcano plots. We developed an R Shiny web application for further exploration of these models which we call the Simulator of P-value Multiple Hypothesis Correction (SIMPLYCORRECT). We modeled experiments in which no analytes were truly differential between the control and test group (all null hypotheses true), all analytes were differential, or a mixture of differential and non-differential analytes were present. We corrected p-values using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH), Bonferroni, and permutation FDR methods and compared the costs and benefits of each. By manipulating variables in the models, we demonstrated that increasing sample size or decreasing variability can reduce or eliminate the sensitivity cost of p-value correction and that permutation FDR correction can yield more hits than BH-adjusted and even unadjusted p-values in strongly differential data. SIMPLYCORRECT can serve as a tool in education and research to show how p-value adjustment and various parameters affect the results of quantitative omics experiments.
Using Immunohistochemistry to Expand the Spectrum of Lynch Syndrome–Related Tumors

The most common genetic and molecular process leading to sporadic colorectal cancer is chromosomal instability. By contrast, mismatch repair deficiency, which results in high levels of microsatellite instability or lack of mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression on immunohistochemistry (IHC), is the predominant cancer pathway in patients with Lynch syndrome (LS). Importantly, patients with LS may still develop sporadic tumors through chromosomal instability. Testing tumors with IHC staining helps expand the spectrum of LS-related tumors. In this series, we describe 4 cancers in patients with LS that are not typical of the syndrome. Lack of MMR protein expression on IHC staining confirmed that 2 cancers are related to LS, expanding the spectrum of LS-related tumors, and the presence of MMR protein expression on IHC in the other 2 cases confirmed that they were sporadic and not related to mismatch repair deficiency and, thus, not related to LS.
Smoking Abroad and Smokeless at Home: Holding the Tobacco Industry Accountable in a New Era

In June of 2009, President Obama signed into law historic legislation that gives the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products. With this law, the government has finally meaningfully addressed the pressing need for national legal regulation of tobacco products, a need that has been apparent for decades. In this article, I assess the new law in light of the means by which the tobacco industry made a deadly and highly addictive product - the cigarette - a defining feature of American society and culture. Numerous scholars have cogently documented and analyzed the industry’s deceptive manufacturing and marketing practices. This article contributes to that literature by providing a theory describing the industry’s strategy, which serves to underscore its extreme malleability and to justify substantial legal intervention. I call the strategy a “disinformation plus path-dependence” strategy, as it consists of (1) the pervasive dissemination of disinformation to encourage nonrational decisionmaking by consumers about product use, and (2) the subsequent deprivation of free choice on the part of those who become addicted to the products, even if the disinformation problem is corrected. After explaining how the industry used this strategy to sell cigarettes and the government’s inadequate responses, I highlight the two most recent manifestations of the strategy that the industry has implemented in response to declining U.S. cigarette sales: heavy marketing of smokeless-tobacco products in the United States and of cigarettes in other parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. Given the nature of the industry’s strategy, and, in particular, of these two recent manifestations, I argue that, although the new law is a significant step, it will not alone succeed in countering the industry’s most recent or future manifestations of its strategy. I thus call for adoption of further national and transnational policy measures based on the lessons we have learned over our decades-long experience with the “disinformation plus path-dependence” strategy.
Discrete Branch Length Representations for Genetic Algorithms in Phylogenetic Search

Likelihood analysis for phylogenetics is a well suited domain for optimization by genetic algorithm. A major factor in the performance of genetic algorithms is representation and operators. In this paper we present promising preliminary results on using a discrete set of edge lengths in the phylogenetic trees. We find that discretizing the edge lengths changes the fundamental character of the search and can produce higher quality trees. Our results suggest a search that is more robust to traps in local optima and an opportunity to better control the balance between topology search and edge length search.
Mechanical Pulp Refiner Transfer Function Identification, a Stochastic Approach

In this paper, application of Bivariate Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) models via Dynamic Data System (DDS) Methodology are proposed as the stochastic transfer function models for on-line system identification and optimum control of mechanical pulping process. The objective is to define a methodology to minimize the energy consumption. The bivariate ARMA modelings are, therefore, applied to the mechanical process to estimate transfer functions between power delivered to the refining process, disk gap and feed rate. The results indicate that the dynamics of refining process can be described as a first order system. Furthermore, it is shown that there is a coupled relationship between the dynamics of refining process and the dynamics of the refiner structure.
Study of the lipid binding characteristics of the apolipoproteins from human high density lipoprotein: I. Electron microscopic and gel filtration studies with synthetic phosphatidylcholines

Abstract The characteristics of the lipid · protein complex produced by the addition of the major apolipoproteins (apo AI and apo AII) of human high-density lipoprotein to synthetic phospholipids has been studied. Under the in vitro conditions utilized, apo AI binds to 1,2-dimyristoyl- sn -glycerophosphocholine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl- sn -glycerophosphocholine liposomes, but does not alter their morphologic characteristics. This binding occurs at temperatures above or below that of the transition ( T t ) of the lipid bilayer. In contrast, apo AII spontaneously generates small, homogeneous disc-shaped lipid-protein complexes ( 50 × 100 A ) from large phospholipid globules or from liposomes prepared with these lipids. This type of complex was only formed when the lipid/apo AII mixtures were warmed above the transition temperatures. The incorporation of apo AI into this small complex with apo AII may be greatly facilitated or inhibited depending on the sequence of addition of the various components. Under optimal circumstances, a maximum of 1 molecule of apo AI is incorporated with each molecule of apo AII into complexes with these two synthetic phospholipids.
Joint ventures as an export market

Abstract This article examines the growth of joint venture operations in the US Fishery Conservation Zone in the North Pacific since 1977. Joint ventures currently in operation are outlined and the foreign and domestic partners described. The most common joint ventures in the area are contractual joint ventures, which include over-the-side sales of fish, joint lease of processing ships and marketing, seafood trade agreements and joint ventures through US subsidiaries of foreign companies. Supply and demand factors in the joint venture market are analysed and it is pointed out that the joint ventures market does not satisfy the main principles of perfect competition. The author concludes that, because it is an imperfect market, US fishermen receive less for their fish than they would under pure competition conditions.
The dislocation structure in L12 ordered alloy Ni3Ge

Abstract The dislocation structure in polycrystalline Ni3Ge deformed at room temperature has been studied transmission electron microscopy. The structure consists mainly of screw 〈110〉 dislocations and superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF)-coupled partial dislocations. A few dislocations are present as antiphase boundary (APB)-coupled partials. Two kinds of SISF partial dislocation are observed: SISF pairs with dissimilar Burgers vectors and SISF pairs with antiparallel Burgers vectors. The energies of the APBs on {111} and {001} planes have been estimated to be 169 and 148 mJ m−2 respectively, and the SISF energy has been measured to be between 15 and 30 mJ m−2. Dissimilar SISF partials appeared to be formed the dissociation of a segment of a segment of a perfect dislocation, confirming a mechanism for SISF formation first suggested by Pak, Saburi and Nenno in 1976. Anomalous yield stress behaviour in the low-temperature region (below room temperature) is attributed mainly to mechanism(s) based on...
Fixed-Rate Reimbursement Fails to Cover Costs for Patients with Delayed Graft Function

Medicare uses a fixed reimbursement schedule to pay the initial hospital costs for renal transplantation. This creates the potential to underpay for patients who develop the common complication of delayed graft function. We undertook a pilot study to determine if delayed graft function resulted in higher hospital charges and thus a loss in revenue when caring for these patients. Of 34 patients who experienced delayed graft function between October 12, 1987 and July 7, 1989, 9 (group 1) were randomly selected for study. During this same period 136 patients had immediate graft function; from them, another 9 (group 2) were selected by matching age, sex, and date of transplantation. The average (+/- SD) hospital stays for groups 1 and 2 were 17 +/- 8 and 10 +/- 2 days, respectively (p less than 0.001). The average time on dialysis for group 1 was 10.3 +/- 6.3 days (range 2-22 days). All dollars values were adjusted to a 1989 level, and we excluded kidney acquisition costs and professional fees. The average per patient charges for group 1 were $41,474 +/- 15,211 (range $21,926-$66,311), compared with $23,774 +/- 3245 (range $19,317-$29,702) for group 2 (p less than 0.001). We adjusted the charge values to estimate actual costs by using our hospital's average cost:charge ratio of 0.90 for 1987 and 1988, and 0.85 for 1989; the group 1 and group 2 average patient costs were $37,157 +/- 13,836 and $21,397 +/- 2921, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparison of the Affective Responses to Continuous Training and High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols: Application of the Dual-Mode Model.

Alicea, SK, Parrott, AD, Manos, TM, and Kwon, YS. Comparison of the affective responses to continuous training and high-intensity interval training protocols: application of the dual-mode model. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is time-efficient and has physiological benefits similar to or greater than that of continuous training (CT); however, there are mixed results regarding how HIIT protocols influence affect. The purpose of this study was to compare acute affective responses between HIIT and CT protocols over time using the Dual-Mode Model (DMM) as a theoretical framework. Subjects included 12 healthy women (aged 19-28 years) who completed a HIIT protocol consisting of a 2-minute work interval (100% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) followed by a 2-minute rest interval (∼55% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max), and a CT protocol set at the workrate corresponding to their respiratory compensation point (RCP; ∼80% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max). Protocols were matched for average intensity, total duration, and energy expenditure. After blood pressure, anthropometrics, body composition, and V[Combining Dot Above]O2max measurements were taken, responses were recorded for affect (Feeling Scale [FS]), arousal (Felt Arousal Scale [FAS]), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) before each protocol, during the last 10 seconds of every 2 minutes during the protocol, and at time points 2, 5, and 10 minutes after the protocol. Heart rate was also monitored continuously, and exercise enjoyment was measured before and after exercise. A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed no significant differences in affect between CT (M = 2.5, SD = 2.1) and HIIT (M = 2.6, SD = 2.1) protocols over the duration of the exercise. There were no significant differences in mean RPE between CT (M = 12.9, SD = 2.7) and HIIT (M = 13.0, SD = 1.9) protocols (t = 0.333, p = 0.745) or in enjoyment between CT (M = 2.3, SD = 1.1) and HIIT (M = 2.0, SD = 0.9) protocols (t = -0.288, p = 0.492). In addition, based on visual inspection, the general patterning of the mean FS and FAS values between HIIT and CT was similar within the circumplex model, supporting the DMM. In conclusion, a HIIT protocol at V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and 1:1 exercise:rest interval did not result in a different affect response, perceived exertion, or enjoyment level when compared with a CT protocol at RCP.
Continuous low thrust trajectory optimization for preliminary design

Mission design using continuous low thrust propulsion is an interesting but challenging task. In this paper, a virtual central gravitational field method is proposed for continuous low thrust trajectory design in preliminary stage. The basic idea of presented method is to form a virtual gravity using continuous thrust, in which the spacecraft flies in a virtual conic orbit to accomplish trajectory maneuver. Therefore, the continuous thrust non-Keplerian trajectory can be parameterized, and solved analytically. Instead of providing some special initial guesses for the more accurate optimizer, a large number of feasible initial guesses can be located quickly using the proposed method. Three examples are presented as the applications of the proposed technique to test its suitability, including the Earth to Mars rendezvous mission; the Earth–Mars–Ceres rendezvous mission; and a near-Earth collision-speed maximal interception mission. In order to verify the efficiency of the proposed method, the solutions gene...
The informal dimension of human resource management in Korea: Yongo, recruiting practices and career progression

AbstractThis research reports on the influence of informal social networks in Korea (i.e. Yongo) on recruitment and promotions practices of large, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By using a social network theory frame, this research contributes to the convergence–divergence debate in International Human Resource Management. From our analysis, we can conclude that large firms use Yongo and related practices on the upper management level, whereas SMEs draw on informal social networks on middle and upper management level. The influence of Yongo is weakened by the recent need for skillful employees with specialized competencies. We regard Korean HR practices as being in a state of ‘soft divergence’ because Yongo still represents an influential factor in HR practices. Moreover, we refer to the debate on the persistence of informal relationships in East Asia by demonstrating that Yongo is a rather culturally driven institution; hence, we assume that it may persist and not diminish any time soon. Fina...