cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone administration during definitive radiation and temozolomide renders a poor prognosis in a retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients

Background Dexamethasone (DXM) is commonly used in the management of cerebral edema in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Bevacizumab (BEV) is FDA-approved for the progression or recurrence of GBM but has not been shown to improve survival when given for newly diagnosed patients concurrently with radiation (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ). Both DXM and BEV reduce cerebral edema, however, DXM has been shown to induce cytokine cascades which could interfere with cytotoxic therapy. We investigated whether DXM would reduce survival of GBM patients in the setting of concurrent TMZ and BEV administration.
Realities of Working in Virtual Teams: Affective and Attitudinal Outcomes of Using Computer-Mediated Communication

Many organizations are using computer-mediated communication to facilitate group work among virtual teams. However, little is known about the effects of using computer-mediated communication on team member outcomes. Examining use of computer-mediated communication as a continuum, the authors found that team members who used computer-mediated communication more often experienced lower levels of positive affect while working with their teams and had lower levels of affective commitment to their teams. Positive affect mediated the relationship between use of computer-mediated communication and affective commitment. Moreover, this study identified a tipping point (using computer-mediated communication more than 90% of the time) at which the use of computer-mediated communication was particularly detrimental to team outcomes.
Biomechanical stress induces novel arterial intima-enriched genes: implications for vascular adaptation to stress

Abstract Background The arterial vasculature is subjected to considerably greater biomechanical stress than the venous circulation. This is reflected in the difference in morphology between large arteries and veins, however little is known about the molecular differences that arise as a consequence of biomechanical stress. Previously, we identified a group of arterial intima-enriched (AIE) genes: sciellin, periplakin, SPRR3, envoplakin, galectin 7, and plakoglobin that are functionally related in that they contribute to the stress properties of stratified epithelium. We sought to test our hypothesis that these genes were regulated by biomechanical stress in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods Immunofluorescence was employed to determine the expression of the AIE genes in saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafts. Furthermore, we used a model of cyclic stress to determine if the AIE genes were regulated by biomechanical stress in VSMCs in vitro. Results Sciellin and periplakin were upregulated in saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafts after arterialization, but were absent in non-arterialized saphenous veins. Sciellin, SPRR3, and periplakin transcripts were all upregulated (4.67-, 4.95-, 2.77-fold, respectively) by prolonged exposure to cyclic strain (24-72 h), but not at earlier time points. Conclusions These findings suggest a novel role for several human AIE genes in the VSMC response to arterialization and extended cyclic strain. Summary Biomechanical stress has long been implicated in vascular pathologies. We report the novel finding of a group of genes, previously studied in stratified epithelium, that were regulated by prolonged cyclic stress in vascular smooth muscle cells. This may have important implications to vascular disease.
Rapid Colorimetric Method to Detect Indole in Shrimp with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Confirmation

: With increased public concern over the freshness and quality of seafood, more pressure is being applied to the industry to provide better products in the market place. Simple, fast, and inexpensive tests are needed to assess seafood quality. Seafood decomposition can be characterized by biogenic amine formation, such as the formation of indole in shrimp. We have developed a rapid colorimetric method using 4-(dimethylamino) benzaldehyde method that detects indole in decomposing shrimp. This method, as well as the confirmatory gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method, is centered on a simple toluene extraction technique that recovers indole with high efficiency. Excellent agreement was obtained between the colorimetric and GC/MS quantitative results for shrimp decomposition.
Earnings Performance and Discretionary Disclosures

While the influence of earnings performance on disclosure is a fundamental issue in the disclosure literature, our understanding of this influence is limited. In this paper, I examine a comprehensive set of disclosures from a sample of firms experiencing an extended period of seasonally adjusted increases in earnings. I study how these firms adjust disclosure in response to earnings increases, how disclosure changes as the period of strong earnings performance nears an end and how firms disclose during a subsequent period which includes earnings declines. I find an increase in disclosure during the period of increased earnings. This increase is pervasive across all types of disclosure and tends to be bundled with earnings announcements. The market responds positively to this disclosure including a positive response to information bundled with earnings, even after controlling for the current earnings. Firms continue to disclose at a high-level as they approach subsequent earnings declines. However, they shift disclosure to focus on the positive short-term results and do not discuss the impending decreases. While this behavior is systematic, the market does not appear to anticipate the subsequent earnings declines. Once the firms begin to announce earnings declines, the magnitude of disclosure returns to the level provided prior to the increased earnings. However, the mix of disclosure is different, suggesting managers choose the form of disclosures based on the type of news they are providing.
Retrolisthesis and lumbar disc herniation: a preoperative assessment of patient function.

Abstract Background context The presence of retrolisthesis has been associated with the degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. However, retrolisthesis in patients with L5–S1 disc herniation has not been shown to have a significant relationship with worse baseline pain or function. Whether it can affect the outcomes after discectomy, is yet to be established. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between retrolisthesis (alone or in combination with other degenerative conditions) and postoperative low back pain, physical function, and quality of life. This study was intended to be a follow-up to a previous investigation that looked at the preoperative assessment of patient function in those with retrolisthesis and lumbar disc herniation. Study design Cross-sectional study. Patient sample Patients enrolled in SPORT (Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial) who had undergone L5–S1 discectomy and had a complete magnetic resonance imaging scan available for review (n=125). Individuals with anterolisthesis were excluded. Outcome measures Time-weighted averages over 4 years for the Short Form (SF)-36 bodily pain scale, SF-36 physical function scale, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Sciatica Bothersomeness Index (SBI). Methods Retrolisthesis was defined as a posterior subluxation of 8% or more. Disc degeneration was defined as any loss of disc signal on T2 imaging. Modic changes were graded 1 to 3 and collectively classified as vertebral end plate degenerative changes. The presence of facet arthropathy and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy was classified jointly as posterior degenerative changes. Longitudinal regression models were used to compare the time-weighted outcomes over 4 years. Results Patients with retrolisthesis did significantly worse with regard to bodily pain and physical function over 4 years. However, there were no significant differences in terms of ODI or SBI. Similarly, retrolisthesis was not a significant factor in the operative time, blood loss, lengths of stay, complications, rate of additional spine surgeries, or recurrent disc herniations. Disc degeneration, modic changes, and posterior degenerative changes did not affect the outcomes. Conclusions Although retrolisthesis in patients with L5–S1 disc herniation did not affect the baseline pain or function, postoperative outcomes appeared to be somewhat worse. It is possible that the contribution of pain or dysfunction related to retrolisthesis became more evident after removal of the disc herniation.
Radial and spinal bone mineral density in a patient population

Density of the radius (by single-photon absorptiometry) and the spine (by dual-photon absorptiometry) was measured in 281 normal young women and in a large heterogeneous group of 1,622 consecutive female patients. Both spinal and radial density were useful measurements when performed on patients with medical indications; spine and radius densities in these patients averaged 10-20% below those of age-matched controls. However, patients younger than 60 years of age had deficits of spine density that were twice as large as those in the radius, and twice as many of these patients had spinal osteopenia, compared with those with radial osteopenia. After age 70, loss of density in the radius approximated that in the spine and the prevalence of osteopenia was similar at both sites. The poorer sensitivity of the radius measurement reflected the fact that it did not predict spine density. The standard error of the estimate was 0.12 gm/cm2 in normal subjects and 0.15 gm/cm2 in patients. At any given radial density, the spinal density of patients averaged 0.18 gm/cm2 (15-20%) below that in normal subjects. Predictions of spinal density from body weight were as accurate as predictions from radial density. Preferential spinal osteopenia occurring without radial osteopenia precluded radial densitometry as a screening method for individuals with osteoporosis before age 60. However, measurement of the radius was more effective than body weight for defining groups at risk, even though the radius did not reliably predict individual spine density. A radius shaft density less than 0.55 gm/cm2 occurring with a body weight less than 55 kg was associated with a high prevalence of spinal osteopenia.
Modeling accelerator-based neutron measurements

Comparisons are shown between transport model calculations and secondary-neutron cross sections from 400 MeV/nucleon Kr + Pb interactions. Variations are made in the input files used for the calculations in order to take into account corrections applied to the data for background, flux attenuation, and other effects inherent with neutron measurements at accelerator facilities. Results show that the calculations are very sensitive to a number of input parameters that have an effect on the overall shape and magnitude of the calculated spectra, which in turn have a significant effect on the degree of agreement between data and code. Recommendations are made regarding what input data to select for model calculations, based on these results.1 2
Compiler-assisted detection of transient memory errors

The probability of bit flips in hardware memory systems is projected to increase significantly as memory systems continue to scale in size and complexity. Effective hardware-based error detection and correction require that the complete data path, involving all parts of the memory system, be protected with sufficient redundancy. First, this may be costly to employ on commodity computing platforms, and second, even on high-end systems, protection against multi-bit errors may be lacking. Therefore, augmenting hardware error detection schemes with software techniques is of considerable interest. In this paper, we consider software-level mechanisms to comprehensively detect transient memory faults. We develop novel compile-time algorithms to instrument application programs with checksum computation codes to detect memory errors. Unlike prior approaches that employ checksums on computational and architectural states, our scheme verifies every data access and works by tracking variables as they are produced and consumed. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed comprehensive error detection solution is viable as a completely software-only scheme. We also demonstrate that with limited hardware support, overheads of error detection can be further reduced.
Distributive target tracking in sensor networks with a markov random field model

Tracking in sensor networks has shown great potentials in many real world surveillance and emergency system. Due to the distributive nature and unpredictable topology structure of the randomly distributed sensor network, a good tracking algorithm must be able to aggregate large amounts of data from various unknown sources. In this paper, a distributive tracking algorithm is developed using a Markov random field (MRF) model to solve this problem. The Markov random field (MRF) utilizes probability distribution and conditional independency to identify the most relevant data from the less important data. The algorithm converts the randomly distributed network into a regularly distributed topology structure using cliques. This makes tracking in the randomly distributed network topology simple and more predictable. Simulation demonstrate that the algorithm performs well for various sensor field setting, and for various target sizes.
Kinematics of High-Energy Particles

A condensed account of previously published formulas describing the energy, momentum, and angle transformations is given. Jacobians of the Lorentz transformations are discussed. A classificati on system is developed for reactions based both on the properties of the Jacobians and on the law giving the transformation of angles between the center-of-mass and the laboratory frames of reference. The use of the classification scheme is discussed. (L.T.W.)
Pearls & Oy-sters: The effects of renal replacement therapy on cerebral autoregulation

PEARLS  Hemodialysis (HD) has been associated with increases in intracranial pressure (ICP). Osmotic shifts occurring during HD are thought to be associated with the development of this phenomenon.  In comatose patients with acute brain injury, an elevation of ICP during HD may be associated with worse cerebral autoregulation. Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) may be a safer alternative in these patients. OYSTER  HD may increase ICP; therefore, caution should be exercised when HD is needed in patients with acute brain injury. CASE REPORT A 59-year-old man with hyperten
Calibrating building energy models using supercomputer trained machine learning agents

Building energy modeling BEM is an approach to model the energy usage in buildings for design and retrofit purposes. EnergyPlus is the flagship Department of Energy software that performs BEM for different types of buildings. The input to EnergyPlus can often extend in the order of a few thousand parameters that have to be calibrated manually by an expert for realistic energy modeling. This makes it challenging and expensive thereby making BEM unfeasible for smaller projects. In this paper, we describe the 'Autotune' research that employs machine learning algorithms to generate agents for the different kinds of standard reference buildings in the US building stock. The parametric space and the variety of building locations and types make this a challenging computational problem necessitating the use of supercomputers. Millions of EnergyPlus simulations are run on supercomputers that are subsequently used to train machine learning algorithms to generate agents. These agents, once created, can then run in a fraction of the time thereby allowing cost-effective calibration of building models. Published 2014. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Time Integration of Diapycnal Diffusion and Richardson Number–Dependent Mixing in Isopycnal Coordinate Ocean Models

Abstract In isopycnal coordinate ocean models, diapycnal diffusion must be expressed as a nonlinear difference equation. This nonlinear equation is not amenable to traditional implicit methods of solution, but explicit methods typically have a time step limit of order Δt ⩽ h2/κ (where Δt is the time step, h is the isopycnal layer thickness, and κ is the diapycnal diffusivity), which cannot generally be satisfied since the layers could be arbitrarily thin. It is especially important that the diffusion time integration scheme have no such limit if the diapycnal diffusivity is determined by the local Richardson number. An iterative, implicit time integration scheme of diapycnal diffusion in isopycnal layers is suggested. This scheme is demonstrated to have qualitatively correct behavior in the limit of arbitrarily thin initial layer thickness, is highly accurate in the limit of well-resolved layers, and is not significantly more expensive than existing schemes. This approach is also shown to be compatible wi...
Katrina and Colonialism: The Sins of Our Forefathers Perpetuated?

How is public administration theory responsible for governmental successes and failures in natural disaster response? By using postcolonial theory to name the post-Katrina cultural rebirth in Lou isiana as colonialist administration, we can see how public adminis tration theory is implicated in the need to stifle colonialist actions. In turn, we can start to assess how culture in Louisiana is currently be ing framed by the state. The potential for cultural dissolution, re birth, or maintenance of the status quo arguably rests within the weathered hands of public administrators and theorists. The ground ing purpose of this inquiry is to: (a) propose an interdisciplinary dis cursive space for postcolonialism in public administration theory and practice, and (b) examine the intersections of colonialism and the state at the juncture of responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
A Topic-Based Search, Visualization, and Exploration System

From literature surveys to legal document collections, people need to organize and explore large amounts of documents. During these tasks, students and researchers will search for documents based on particular themes. In this paper, we use a popular topic modeling algorithm, Latent Dirichlet Allocation, to derive topic distributions for articles. We allow users to specify personal topic distribution to contextualize the exploration experience. We introduce three types of exploration: user model re-weighted keyword search, topic-based search, and topic-based exploration. We demonstrate these methods using a scientific citation data set and a Wikipedia article collection. We also describe the user interaction model.
Abstract 207: The Stroke Prevention Clinic, Extending Care Past The Stroke Center

Background: While the incidence and mortality from stroke in the United States has declined in the past 20 years, there are still more than 795,000 strokes per year, of which 185,000 are recurrent events. There remains great disparity between racial groups -the incidence and mortality among African Americans, is two to four times higher than Non-Hispanic Whites. Despite great advances in drug therapies, the impact on stroke prevention has not been fully realized. There is a need for improved delivery of effective treatments. Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of a comprehensive; clinic based, navigator-assisted approach to disease management, although in the context of specific clinical situations. Examples are, SAMMPRIS, and Look AHEAD. We propose that learning from the development of the “stroke center” for acute stroke care, we may apply a similar model to stroke prevention. We have created a Stroke Prevention Clinic (SPC), organized like an outpatient “stroke center”, offering evaluation, treatment, and long-term follow up of patients for risk factor control and lifestyle interventions for secondary prevention. Our Stroke Prevention Nurse is an integral part of this model. In this abstract we report the impact of this program on follow up rates. Methods: In 2011 we launched our SPC. The specific elements of this program included: 1. A Stroke Prevention Nurse: 2. Dedicated day for clinic. All providers in the same area. 3. Use of Advance Practice Nurse and stroke fellows, as well as vascular neurology attending. 4. Database. We assessed the proportion of completed appointments within 90 days after discharge from the hospital and compared it with the year prior to implementation. Results: A sample from July 2010 to February 2011 revealed completed follow up by 90 days of 28.3% (70/247), for the period July 2011 to February 2012 the proportion was 35.6% (89/250). During calendar year 2014, 54.3% (233/429) completed their appointments within 90 days. Conclusion: Implementation of the Stroke Prevention Clinic increased follow up completion within 90 days of discharge.
Hyperglycemic Stress and Carbon Stress in Diabetic Glucotoxicity

Diabetes and its complications are caused by chronic glucotoxicity driven by persistent hyperglycemia. In this article, we review the mechanisms of diabetic glucotoxicity by focusing mainly on hyperglycemic stress and carbon stress. Mechanisms of hyperglycemic stress include reductive stress or pseudohypoxic stress caused by redox imbalance between NADH and NAD(+) driven by activation of both the polyol pathway and poly ADP ribose polymerase; the hexosamine pathway; the advanced glycation end products pathway; the protein kinase C activation pathway; and the enediol formation pathway. Mechanisms of carbon stress include excess production of acetyl-CoA that can over-acetylate a proteome and excess production of fumarate that can over-succinate a proteome; both of which can increase glucotoxicity in diabetes. For hyperglycemia stress, we also discuss the possible role of mitochondrial complex I in diabetes as this complex, in charge of NAD(+) regeneration, can make more reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of excess NADH. For carbon stress, we also discuss the role of sirtuins in diabetes as they are deacetylases that can reverse protein acetylation thereby attenuating diabetic glucotoxicity and improving glucose metabolism. It is our belief that targeting some of the stress pathways discussed in this article may provide new therapeutic strategies for treatment of diabetes and its complications.
Playing by the Rules: Parental Mediation of Video Game Play:

This study examined parental mediation of children’s video game play in an Internet survey of 433 parents of children aged 5 to 18 years. We assessed the valence of active mediation (i.e., positive, negative, neutral) and the relationship between parental involvement and mediation techniques. Furthermore, we explored whether parental mediation was associated with child delinquency. Our results demonstrate that active mediation is generally negative or neutral in nature. Involved parents were more likely to use each mediation strategy than less involved parents; however, parental involvement did not predict negative mediation. Restrictive and negative mediation were significantly related to child delinquency. In sum, the findings show that parents are involved in monitoring their children’s use of this medium, just as they are with television.
Coparental Communication With Nonresidential Parents as a Predictor of Children’s Feelings of Being Caught in Stepfamilies

This study tested the degree to which remarried couples’ coparental communication with nonresidential parents predicted young adult children’s feelings of being caught between their parents (i.e., the ex-spouses). Participants included 120 stepfamily triads from the United States. Results indicate that residential parents’ and stepparents’ antagonistic coparental communication with the nonresidential parent are positively associated with young adults’ feelings of being caught, whereas parents’ supportive coparental communication is inversely associated with feeling caught. When combined, coparents’ reports of antagonistic coparental communication account for 22.5% of the shared variance in young adults’ feelings of being caught.
Tissue respiration changes in chronic exercise. Comparison with responses to other types of stresses.

The influence of physical activity on tissue metabolism is still largely unknown, in spite of the fact that several studies have been reported in this area. The purpose of this study was to determine more precisely whether a daily endurance type of exercise has any influence on the resting aerobic metabolism of the key tissues involved in exercise.
Response of rat tissue lipases to physical training and exercise.

SummaryThe results of this study indicate that physical training causes an adaptive increase in epinephrine-stimulated fatty acid mobilization potential in adipose tissue of rested animals. Exhaustion caused an increase in ESL activity of similar magnitude in untrained animals. The exercise effect was not additive with the training effect when trained animals were exercised or exhausted.Lipoprotein lipase was unaffected by training and increased in heart and muscle of untrained animals following exhaustion. Trained animals exhibited a similar but smaller trend toward increased LPL activity with exercise or exhaustion.Taken together, the results of this study are compatible with the concept that exercise increases lipolysis in adipose tissue and LPL mediated triglyceride fatty acid uptake by muscular tissues. Physical training appeared to increase the responsiveness of adipose tissue to adrenergic stimulation. An increased adipokinetic response by adipose tissue of trained animals would be compatible with ...
The Electronic Seismologist goes to FISSURES

Why do so many seismologists who need to do computations on data start right off writing their own computer programs? Wouldn't you expect that for most computational needs someone has already written a program you could use or easily modify to do what is needed? Many of the general purpose seismic analysis packages such as “SAC,” “Geotool,” “Datascope,” or “PITSA” are very adaptable or configurable to a large variety of tasks. Of course, the one that can do what you need and that you already know doesn't understand your data format. So, at a minimum, you must write a data format converter. Too often, even when an existing public domain program is available that will do exactly the task at hand, a seismologist writes a new program or modifies an inappropriate program. Such duplication of effort is inefficient, yet it seems to be accepted, if not expected. As the complexity,...
A construção do "eu" transcendente em Terceiro Enoch

Culturas complexas, via de regra, tem mais de uma nocao de eu transcendente disponivel para significacao. Elas podem ou nao estar relacionadas e frequentemente competem entre si. Mas todas elas se relacionam de algum modo as crencas no pos-morte. A viagem celestial, embora possa ser explicada pelas teorias da neurociencia e se estabeleca como experiencia valida ou nao de acordo com as normas culturais, e uma forma de antecipar a realidade ultima do eu no pos-vida.
Policy decision-making, public involvement and nuclear energy: what do expert stakeholders think and why?

Despite renewed interest in involving the general public in energy and environmental policymaking, little is known about how policy stakeholders with specialized knowledge and extensive experiences perceive the value of such activity. This study seeks to explore how a series of social, cognitive, and communication factors relates to expert stakeholders’ attitudes toward public involvement in energy policymaking. Using data from a national survey of key stakeholders involved in making high-level decisions on nuclear energy, we find governmental stakeholders are more likely to think public involvement is important when perceiving public opinion as being split. Scientists and non-profit stakeholders, however, attach high-level importance to public involvement regardless of their perception of public opinion. Additionally, the perception of a divided public for the issue of nuclear energy is driven by frequent use of online media. Perceived importance of a salient media agenda – the economics of nuclear facil...
The Exit Option, Withdrawing from Global Capitalism: China under Mao

In recent years, the People’s Republic of China, like many underdeveloped countries, has sought to industrialize and to sell more of its manufactured products overseas. Thus China’s exports of textiles to the US increased dramatically after 1980, reaching a value of $500 million in 1982, when the US was mired in a severe recession. With American textile producers idled and workers laid off, pressure mounted to restrict China’s access to the US market. Washington responded by cutting Beijing’s textile quota in half, whereupon China reduced its purchases of American grain by more than $500 million.
A Feminist Call for Transforming the Criminal Justice System

In the past 30 years, the number of incarcerated women in the United States has increased at a faster rate than that of men. This article outlines the ideologies and mechanisms of the “Prison Natio...
Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Primer for the Neonatologist

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common surgical emergency among NICU patients. Patients with NEC requiring surgical intervention have the highest morbidity and mortality and accrue the highest costs. The objective of this review is to provide the neonatologist with an overview of options available for the surgical management of this complex and potentially devastating disease. When evaluating patients with NEC, surgical intervention is reserved for those patients with pneumoperitoneum, confirmed stool or pus in the peritoneal cavity, or worsening clinical status. Options range from peritoneal drain placement to laparotomy with enterostomy creation, anastomoses, or temporizing measures with planned second-look operations. The choice of operation has not been shown to have a significant effect on any clinically important outcomes. The mortality rate for surgically managed NEC remains dependent upon the severity of disease and is directly correlated to gestational age.
On the epistemological foundations of cognitive science

For those who believe that the best work in artificial-intelligence research promises to deliver a coherent and decidable ‘theory of mind’, the following remarks from a prominent practitioner may have a salutary effect: [T]he problem is that a unique abstract characterization of man’s cognitive functioning does not exist. … The fact that it is not possible to uniquely determine cognitive structures and processes poses a clear limitation on our ability to understand the nature of human intelligence. I once thought it could mean unique identification of the structures and processes underlying cognitive behavior. Since that is not possible, I propose that we take ‘understanding the nature of human intelligence’ to mean possession of a theory that will enable us to improve human intelligence.1
Aviation navigation feedback device

A strong emphasis on safety while operating vehicles, planes, and heavy machinery is essential. The operators, company, and public have a great interest in safety due to the concerns of public relations and customer well-being. This project details an aviation navigation feedback device (or “smart” ear seal coined “SmartSealz”) for pilots, who often face long working hours and stressful conditions. A working prototype has been produced that acquires the appropriate signals, processes them, and gives essential feedback through tactile actuators. These signals include air pressure, magnetic field strength, linear acceleration and angular velocity. Performance and efficiency were determined by using results from inflight navigation testing. Navigational signal acquisition circuits are being designed to meet or exceed Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) standards. From initial testing the current prototype was shown to be consistent with altitude feedback at elevations between 1700 and 8800 ft and had a 20-degree error when testing magnetic heading feedback. Ultimately, this “SmartSealz” device provides a solution to the safety implications resulting from fatigued or distracted operators.
Heteroleptic Nickel Complexes for the Markovnikov-Selective Hydroboration of Styrenes

First-row transition metal catalysis offers a cheaper, more environmentally sustainable alternative to second- and third-row transition metal catalysts. Nickel has shown great promise as a tool for the borylation of unsaturated compounds to yield boronic esters, but Markovnikov-selective hydroborations of simple styrenes have not been well-explored. Herein, we report the synthesis of benzyl boronic esters via nickel-catalyzed hydroboration of styrenes using a heteroleptic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–phosphine nickel complex, IMes(Cy3P)NiCl2. The IMes(Cy3P)NiCl2 complex displays a broad substrate scope and maintains the integrity of yield and regioselectivity when challenged with substrates bearing increased steric hindrance. The heteroleptic complexes also tolerate both electron-withdrawing and -donating groups, in contrast to traditional bis-phosphine and Ni(0) complexes.
Constitutively Active AKT Induces Myeloproliferative Disease, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and T Cell Lymphoma despite Impaired Engraftment

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway is commonly dysregulated in human malignancies, including leukemia. AKT, a downstream effector of PI3K, is constitutively phosphorylated in myeloproliferative disease (MPD) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples, suggesting that the PI3K/AKT pathway may be an attractive therapeutic target. In myeloid malignancies, this pathway is most commonly activated not by mutations in PI3K, AKT or loss of PTEN, but rather by mutations in a spectrum of upstream tyrosine kinases, such as BCR-ABL, ETV6-PDGFRb, FIPL1-PDGFRa, JAK2V617F, or FLT3-ITD. To further understand the contribution of PI3K/AKT activation to disease pathogenesis, we modeled the activation of AKT in myeloid neoplasms by such upstream effectors using a myristoylated allele of AKT (myr-AKT) that is constitutively activated. Bone marrow from 5-fluorouracil-primed C57 Bl/6 donor mice was transduced with a bicistronic retrovirus expressing myr-AKT and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or control retrovirus expressing EGFP alone, and transplanted into 30 and 5 lethally irradiated syngeneic recipients, respectively. The myr-AKT transplant recipients had a median survival of 53 days. Of 30 myr-AKT mice, 27 (90%) developed a myeloproliferative disease (MPD), characterized by splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, expanded Mac1 + Gr1 + , Mac1 + ckit + , and CD71 + Ter119 + populations in the bone marrow and spleen, and increased splenocyte myeloid colony formation. Of these 27 myr-AKT mice with MPD, 19 (70%) also had thymic T cell lymphoma, characterized by infiltration of the thymus, heart, lungs, and muscle with CD4 + /CD8 + lymphoblasts. Three of 30 (10%) myr-AKT mice developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with phenotypic attributes of erythroleukemia (AML M6) in humans, characterized by infiltration of the spleen, liver and bone marrow with CD71 hi ckit + blasts. Control EGFP recipients had no evidence of disease. Splenocytes from mice with AML and thymocytes from mice with T cell lymphoma caused disease when transplanted into secondary recipients, whereas splenocytes from mice with MPD were unable to transplant disease. Of note, we observed that myr-AKT expression caused impaired engraftment in recipient mice, as evidenced by a decrease in the %EGFP in the bone marrow over time. Although myr-AKT expressing cells can home normally to the bone marrow, myr-AKT significantly impairs the lodging ability of transduced bone marrow in irradiated recipients by 2 weeks after transplant. Furthermore, we observed an increased rate of apoptosis in myr-AKT-expressing bone marrow and spleen cells in myr-AKT recipient mice. Taken together, these data suggest that constitutive activation of AKT paradoxically increases apoptosis and impairs engraftment of transduced cells, but demonstrate that constitutive activation of AKT alone nonetheless recapitulates the spectrum of human myeloid neoplastic phenotypes associated with activation of upstream tyrosine kinase effectors.
Ultrasound-microbubble-mediated drug delivery efficacy and cell viability depend on microbubble radius and ultrasound frequency

We have been investigating ultrasound-mediated drug delivery from microbubbles (MBs) as an alternative therapy to reduce hyper-proliferation of smooth muscle cells. We sought to determine if MB size affects drug delivery, cell viability, or cell adherence. Control, DiI, and drug-incorporated-rapamycin-microbubbles (R-MBs) were size sorted into “small” and “large” sub-populations with number-average mean diameters of 1.7µm and 3.7µm respectively. Drug dose was maintained by keeping the surface area between MB sub-populations constant. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were exposed to size-sorted R-MBs and insonated at 1MHz, 300 kPa, with 50 cycle sinusoids at a PRF of 100Hz for 8s. Insonation with large MBs reduced the proliferation rate of cells by 66.0% vs. 56.1% (n=8, p=0.46) with small MBs. The LIVE/DEAD® Viability/Cytotoxicity assay revealed a significant reduction in live cells (61.% live vs. 77.6% live), n=4, p=0.41), and a greater, but not statistically significant, increase in the permeabilized cells after insonation (1MHz) with large MBs (15.6%) versus small MBs (11.1%). We also investigated the effect of ultrasound frequency (1, 2.25, 5, and 10MHz) on MB on rupture and viability following 20 ultrasound pulses (20 cycle-sinusoids) at a peak negative pressure 600 kPa. 1MHz insonation ruptured the most microbubbles of either size, permeabilized the most cells (50% & 43% for small and large MBs respectively) and killed (33% & 31%) the most cells. More small (d=1.8 µm) MBs were ruptured at every frequency (p<0.001, see Fig. 4). Permeabilization of cells was approximately inversely related to frequency of insonation. 1MHz ultrasound permeabilized the most cells, but also killed the most cells. The permeable/dead cell ratio was 64% for large MBs and 98% for small MBs indicating a better therapeutic ratio when using small MBs.1
Effects of Paternal High Fat Diet on Plasma Leptin, Adiponectin, and Insulin in Offspring of C57BL/6 Mice

Parental obesity is a predictor of childhood excess weight. Having a father, mother or sibling with a BMI of 40 increases the risk of adult obesity 5 fold compared to individuals who have normal we...
Carefree Hybrid Methodology for Rotor Hover Performance Analysis

A new, hierarchical hybrid computational fluid dynamics–free wake method has been assessed for the S-76 rotor in hover. The computational fluid dynamics–free wake-based dual-solver approach address...
Effect of soybean vein necrosis on yield and seed quality of soybean

AbstractSoybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) rapidly became a widespread virus of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the USA and Canada within a few years of its initial detection in 2008; however, the economic impact of soybean vein necrosis (SVN) symptoms caused by virus infection remains unknown. Field studies were conducted in six states in the USA during 2013, 2014 and 2015 to determine the effect of SVN on soybean yield and seed quality. Quantitative parameters, including seeds per pod, pods per plant, yield and 100-count seed weight, were assessed from plants or seeds collected from research and commercial production fields. Qualitative parameters, including protein and oil concentration, were also obtained from samples collected in Indiana and Iowa. Results from all states suggest that yield is not impacted by SVN; however, seed quality was affected in four of seven location-years. In Iowa, oil concentration decreased by 0.11% as disease incidence increased by 1% (P = 0.04). In Indiana, SVNV infect...
A novel method for evaluating regional RV function in the adult congenital heart with low-dose CT and SQUEEZ processing.

Abstract Background Measuring local RV function in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) with echocardiography or MRI is challenging because of the complex geometry and existing pacing devices. Visual assessment of ventricular function via low-dose cardiac CT has been recently performed. This pilot study assessed whether low-dose 4D cine CT combined with automatic measurement of regional shortening could quantify right-ventricular function in ACHD patients. Methods Seven patients with Tetralogy of Fallot either contraindicated for MRI or assessed for coronary artery disease and seven non-congenital patients were imaged with ECG-gated cardiac CT utilizing a 320-detector row scanner. Right ventricular global function and regional shortening were quantified. Results Non-congenital patients were imaged with 2.9±2.1mSv and 395±359 HU blood-myocardium contrast. The ACHD patients were imaged with 2.1±1.3mSv and 726±296 HU contrast. Right ventricles of the ACHD patients had higher end-diastolic volume (297±107mL vs 123±34mL, p=0.001), lower ejection fraction (32.0±4.9% vs 45.0±6.0%, p=0.001), and higher dyskinetic fraction (10.9±3.7% vs 2.6±2.8%, p Conclusions In this initial pilot study, right ventricular global and regional systolic function were measured using low-dose cine CT with SQUEEZ quantification in non-congenital patients as well as ACHD patients with Tetralogy of Fallot. Unique regional features of RV dyskinesia were identified in the ACHD patients which could yield a more precise quantification of RV function.
Aura II: making real-time systems safe for music

Real-time interactive software can be difficult to construct and debug. Aura is a software platform to facilitate highly interactive systems that combine audio signal processing, sophisticated control, sensors, computer animation, video processing, and graphical user interfaces. Moreover, Aura is open-ended, allowing diverse software components to be interconnected in a real-time framework. A recent assessment of Aura has motivated a redesign of the communication system to support remote procedure call. In addition, the audio signal processing framework has been altered to reduce programming errors. The motivation behind these changes is discussed, and measurements of run-time performance offer some general insights for system designers.
On Demarcations between Science in Context and the Context of Science

As far as I can remember most historians of science of the post-World War II generation acknowledged the significance of examining scientific documents in conjunction with the contextual circumstances in which science developed. Historians, it seems, simply took the pertinence of contextual circumstances for granted. That perspective was endemic to the times and inherent in the questions being raised from within the discipline. The generation of historians of science and technology mentioned here were lured into history almost immediately after the end of World War II. For most of them, who were trained scientists, history became the vocation; the subject matter of these new endeavors nevertheless remained firmly rooted in the sciences.
Equivalence Theorem on Bogoliubov-Parasiuk-Hepp-Zimmermann-Renormalized Lagrangian Field Theories

The equivalence theorem for Bogoliubov-Parasiuk-Hepp-Zimmermann-renormalized Lagrangian field theories is proved by means of Feynman graphs. The transformation of Green's functions under a transformation of the Lagrangian vertex is also derived.
Manual Transformation: Exploring Adult Transformative Learning Through Hands-on Artmaking

Transformative learning seeks to encourage learners to critically reflect on their assumptions and preconceptions, thereby transforming their existing frameworks and perspectives (Cranton, 1992; Mezirow, 1975). This qualitative study investigates what transformative learning looks like among a diverse group of adult learners at a graduate school of education, who all attended sculpture classes intentionally designed to enable such change. In order to study transformative learning, I will present the abbreviated journeys of five participants. When transformative learning is part of the teacher’s intention, how, if at all, does learning through hands-on artmaking in mixed media sculpture classes transform these adults with regard to their understanding of their identities as artists and learners (“Who am I?”), their approaches to artmaking (“How do I make art?”), and their understanding of art itself (“What is art?”)? Furthermore, the study seeks to understand what aspects of their class experiences contributed to these transformations. The study examines the studio creations of five adults from diverse backgrounds and experiences, reflects on their artmaking processes, and considers what they themselves wrote about their artmaking experiences. Using transformative learning theory as an interpretive framework, the study analyzes semi-structured interviews, retrospective surveys, field notes, artworks, and weekly reflective journals to understand the nature of transformative learning in an intentionally designed sculpture curriculum.
Volumetric scout CT images reconstructed from conventional two-view radiograph localizers using deep learning (Conference Presentation)

In this work, a deep neural network architecture was developed and trained to reconstruct volumetric CT images from two-view radiograph scout localizers. In clinical CT exams, each patient will receive a two-view scout scan to generate both lateral (LAT) and anterior-posterior (AP) radiographs to help CT technologist to prescribe scanning parameters. After that, patients go through CT scans to generate CT images for clinical diagnosis. Therefore, for each patient, we will have two-view radiographs as input data set and the corresponding CT images as output to form our training data set. In this work, more than 1.1 million diagnostic CT images and their corresponding projection data from 4214 clinically indicated CT studies were retrospectively collected. The dataset was used to train a deep neural network which inputs the AP and LAT projections and outputs a volumetric CT localizer. Once the model was trained, 3D localizers were reconstructed for a validation cohort and results were analyzed and compared with the standard MDCT images. In particular, we were interested in the use of 3D localizers for the purpose of optimizing tube current modulation schemes, therefore we compared water equivalent diameters (Dw), radiologic paths and radiation dose distributions. The quantitative evaluation yields the following results: The mean±SD percent difference in Dw was 0.6±4.7% in 3D localizers compared to the Dw measured from the conventional CT reconstructions. 3D localizers showed excellent agreement in radiologic path measurements. Gamma analysis of radiation dose distributions indicated a 97.3%, 97.3% and 98.2% of voxels with passing gamma index for anatomical regions in the chest, abdomen and pelvis respectively. These results demonstrate the great success of the developed deep learning reconstruction method to generate volumetric scout CT image volumes.
An Explorer’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practice

For a program or practice to establish a sound evidence base, it must proceed through a series of studies to determine its effectiveness. Similar to the story in the previous chapter, the initial trial usually occurs in ideal conditions, then progresses to studies in more so-called real-world settings. This can create a tension between internal and external validity. As programs are implemented in community-based settings, program developers should create written guidelines (manual) and fidelity measurements to help ensure it is implemented as intended. In this chapter, we review the most developed evidence-based approaches for common behavioral health concerns, including anxiety, traumatic stress, depression, and child behavior problems. We conclude with a discussion of the common elements movement and how different programs can be embedded within a system of evidence-based services to support a range of community needs.