cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LES and RANS simulation of wind- and wave-forced oceanic turbulent boundary layers in shallow water with wall modeling

Abstract Large-eddy simulation (LES) and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation of wind and wave forced oceanic turbulence in unstratified shallow water are performed in order to investigate the influence of wall modeling on results. The LES is also used to investigate the dependence of results on downwind and crosswind lengths of the computational domain, representative of a shallow shelf coastal ocean (10-to-30 m deep) unaffected by lateral boundaries. In an unstratified water column, wind and surface gravity-wave forcing generate Langmuir turbulence with largest scales consisting of full-depth Langmuir circulation (LC), counter rotating vortices aligned in the direction of the wind. The LC is known to enhance vertical mixing of momentum throughout the bulk flow, inducing a deviation of the near-bottom mean downwind velocity from the classical log law. In RANS simulations, a traditional wall treatment based on the assumption that the flow satisfies the classical law of the wall is not able to lead to a good representation of the deviation from the log law caused by LC without fine-tuning of one of the coefficients in the law of the wall. An alternative RANS approach is developed via a recent wall treatment presented in [1] based on weak imposition of the no-slip bottom boundary condition, leading to an accurate representation of the log-law deviation induced by the turbulence without having to tune input coefficients. From that standpoint, this weak enforcement of bottom boundary conditions is more robust and better suited for predictive modeling of flows with full-depth LC. In the case of LES, it is found that the deviation of the downwind velocity from the log law caused by the LC is well-resolved without the need to fine tune coefficients in traditional wall treatments. Finally, the use of wall modeling facilitates simulations with expanded domains over horizontal directions (downwind and crosswind). These expanded domains allow resolution of multiple interacting full-depth Langmuir cells. It is found that the horizontal size of the domain does not greatly impact depth profiles of turbulence statistics such as mean velocity and root-mean-square of velocity.
Population Densities of Two Rare Crayfishes, Cambarus obeyensis and Cambarus pristinus, on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee

Abstract Cambarus obeyensis (Obey Crayfish) and Cambarus pristinus (Pristine Crayfish) are species of conservation concern, but basic information needed by conservation managers is lacking. To provide a quantitative measure of abundance, we conducted a mark—recapture study at six 100-m reaches per species during May–August 2013. These sites were a subset that we selected from eighty-nine 100-m reaches surveyed during 2011–2013. We built regression models to predict crayfish abundance based on single-pass capture rates for the 12 mark—recapture sites and for all occupied sites identified during the 2011–2013 surveys. We also calculated site-level density and capture efficiency for each species. Cambarus pristinus occurred at significantly lower densities across a larger range than C. obeyensis. Capture efficiency for both species varied across sites, suggesting that monitoring programs should incorporate regular, quantitative estimates of density and capture efficiency. Our results indicate that both speci...
Video Boom: Nigeria and Ghana

This essay provides an overview of the video film phenomenon in Nigeria and Ghana. When dire economic circumstances killed off celluloid film production in both countries in the 1980s, video technology allowed feature film making on video to flourish as a popular art. A leaky distribution system keeps budgets very low, but the films are churned out in prodigious numbers. Ghanaian production is centered in Accra and is mostly in English; Nigerian videos, which now overshadow the Ghanaian industry, are made in English, Yoruba, Hausa, and other languages. Various genres and sub-genres have arisen, but family melodrama predominates.
Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis

Alpha amylase is an enzyme that splits the α-1, 4-glycosidic bonds of starch. Its optimal pH is 6.9. Its molecular weight is approximately 50,000. Chloride is required for optimal enzyme activity. Calcium is an integral part of the enzyme.
Neurologic Sequelae of Dancing Eye Syndrome

A persisting disability was found at long-term follow-up in 88% of 54 patients with dancing eye syndrome (DES) reported from the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London.
Abstract B041: Ibrutinib treatment counteracts the immunosuppressive activity of malignant B cells

Introduction: Regulatory B cells (B-reg cells) and cytokine producing B cells have been increasingly recognized as key regulators of adaptive and innate immunity. Malignant B cells, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells share many features of B-reg cells and suppress host adaptive immunity via multiple mechanisms, including production of suppressive cytokines such as IL-10, surface expression of checkpoint molecules such as PD-L1 and CD200, as well as inducing expansion of regulatory T cells and Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC). Ibrutinib is an orally available irreversible BTK inhibitor that has been proved to be a safe and effective therapy for CLL. Recently we and others have demonstrated favorable cellular immunomodulatory effects of Ibrutinib through inhibition of an alternative target interleukin-2 induced T-cell kinase (ITK) that promotes Th1/Tc1 polarization. Herein, we explore the influence of Ibrutinib on the immune suppressive features and the B-reg phenotype associated with malignant B cells. Methods: PBMCs were collected from CLL patients treated with Ibrutinib at the time of pretreatment, cycle 3 day 1 (8 weeks into treatment) and cycle 6 day 1(20 weeks into treatment). Surface expression of checkpoint molecules and immunosuppressive capability of CLL cells were evaluated. For brief stimulation (“B10” condition), PBMCs were stimulated with Phorbol Myristate Acetate (PMA)/Ionomycin/Golgi-stop plus CpG for 5 hours. For prolonged stimulation (“B10-Pro” condition), PBMCs were stimulated with CpG plus CD40L for 48 hours, PMA / Ionomycin / Golgi-stop were added for final 5 hours. Results: CLL cells collected from patients treated with Ibrutinib in vivo were significantly impaired in their capability to make IL-10 after in vitro stimulation. On average, there is about a threefold reduction (P Conclusion: CLL cells cause both global and tumor specific immunosuppression via multiple mechanism recapitulating regulatory B cells including production of IL-10, expression of checkpoint molecules such as CD200, and induction of suppressive/regulatory cells such as Treg cells and MDSC cells. Here we demonstrate that Ibrutinib treatment has a powerful in vivo immunomodulatory effect on the malignant B cells by counteracting all the aforementioned B-reg like activities, which makes it a promising immunotherapeutic agent. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Meixiao Long, Kyle A. Beckwith, Priscilla Do, Amber Gordon, Amy Lehman, Kami Maddocks, Carolyn Cheney, Jeffrey Jones, Leslie Andritsos, Farrukh Awan, Jennifer Woyach, Johnson J. Amy, Natarajan Muthusamy, John Byrd. Ibrutinib treatment counteracts the immunosuppressive activity of malignant B cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B041.
Mice with AML1 ( Runx1 ) Haploinsufficiency Have Significant Platelet Abnormalities That Accurately Mimic Those Seen in Human Patients with Germ Line Inactivating Mutations in AML1 .

The AML1/CBFβ transcription complex, a critical regulator of the formation of definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), is one of the most frequent targets of genetic alterations in acute leukemia. In addition to somatic alterations of AML1 and CBFβ in acute leukemia, germ-line loss-of-function mutations of AML1 are the underlying cause of an autosomal dominant familial platelet disorder with a predisposition to acute myeloid leukemia (FPD/AML). Importantly, a subset of the mutations identified in families with FPD/AML result in AML1 null allele, suggesting that AML1 haploinsufficiency is the underlying molecular abnormality. To explore the functional consequences of AML1 halpoinsufficiency on megakaryocyte development and platelet function, we analyzed the hematopoietic system of AML1+/- mice. Loss of a single AML1 allele resulted in a 15% reduction in the number of circulating platelets and a significant impairment in platelet function including a decrease in dense granule content and an impaired ability to aggregate in response to collagen stimulation. Further analysis indentified a left shift in the DNA ploidy of megakaryocytes and a reduction in GPV expression, consistent with impaired megakaryocyte maturation. In addition, electron microscopy indicated a reduction in platelet demarcation channels within the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes. Importantly, however, we did not observe a reduction in the total number of megakaryoctyes or a decrease in megakaryocyte colony forming units. These data suggest that the haploinsufficiency of AML1+/ − does not alter the initial formation of megakaryocytes, but instead impairs the ability of these cells to efficiently mature and produce functional platelets. To explore the underlying mechanism responsible for the observed impairment in megakaryocyte maturation, we analyzed the pattern of expression of several putative AML1 transcriptional targets. Although AML1 binding sites have been identified within the promoter of c-mpl , the gene encoding the receptor for thrombopoietin (TPO), we did not observe any difference in c-mpl expression levels or in circulating TPO concentration between AML1+/ − and +/+ mice. In addition, i n vivo TPO stimulation induced a similar magnitude of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production in both AML1 +/+ and +/− mice. By contrast, analysis of members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of gene, several which have been identified as transcriptional targets of AML1, revealed a reduction in PKCδ levels in platelets from AML1+/ − mice. Taken together, our data suggest that AML1 haploinsufficiency leads to abnormalities in platelet that are identical to those observed in patients with FPD/AML. Thus, these mice should prove useful for exploring the molecular mechanisms through which AML regulates the normal maturation of megakaryocytes. Our early analysis suggests altered PKCδ signaling is a possible contributing factor to the observed phenotypic abnormalities.
Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Induction Therapy Protocol Revision in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients

tudy objective Induction immunosuppression significantly improves graft outcomes following kidney transplantation, but protocols vary among transplant centers due to the lack of data identifying an optimal induction agent. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an evidence-based protocol change in induction therapy in adult kidney transplant recipients. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Large tertiary care academic medical center. Patients A total of 349 patients transplanted between August 2011 and December 2013 were included in the study. A protocol revision in 2012 reserved the use of lymphocyte-depleting induction therapy to a select group of traditionally high-risk patients based on findings of previous randomized, controlled trial performed at this center. Measurements and Main Results The primary outcome was biopsy proven acute rejection and graft loss. The use of non-depleting induction therapy increased significantly after the protocol revision, with no significant differences in rejection or infection rates identified between protocols. When comparing graft survival between the protocol cohorts, there was no significant difference. A cost-minimization analysis indicated that the revised protocol was associated with considerable medication cost savings. Conclusion A protocol targeting the use of lymphocyte-depleting induction to a select group of high-risk recipients appears to have equivalent efficacy and safety and is less costly compared with a more traditional induction protocol. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
An Intraoperative Look at a Residual/Recurrent Tentorial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula

Background Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) often are treated via transarterial or transvenous embolization. Incomplete penetration of the draining vein/occult residual often will become apparent on follow-up angiography, requiring repeat embolization, or at times, surgical resection. Case Description A 41-year-old woman presented with cerebellar hemorrhage from a tentorial dAVF treated with transvenous coil embolization. Follow-up angiography disclosed a residual/recurrent fistula treated with transvenous Onyx embolization. After further follow-up angiography demonstrated another occult residual/recurrence, the fistula was disconnected with the tentorial dura excised via a retrosigmoid approach. Six-month follow-up angiography demonstrated no recurrence. Conclusions Although endovascular treatment of dAVFs is generally first-line therapy, surgical disconnection of fistulas, particularly high-risk residual/recurrent fistulas, is an excellent option in well-selected cases.
Hold your nose to get lean

Decreased olfactory function is associated with lean phenotype, improved peripheral metabolism, and increased energy expenditure during a high-fat diet.
RNA-sequencing analysis of lung primary fibroblast response to eosinophil-degranulation products predicts downstream effects on inflammation, tissue remodeling and lipid metabolism.

The association of eosinophils with inflammation and tissue remodeling is at least partially due to their release of toxic granule proteins and other mediators, including cytokines. Tissue remodeling and consequent functional defects are affected by activity of connective tissue fibroblasts. Exaggerated fibroblast activation, accumulation and change of phenotype may lead to fibrosis and loss of tissue function. So far, little information has been reported on how eosinophils affect inflammation and tissue remodeling via the activation of fibroblasts. We have recently shown that eosinophil activation with IL-3 led to a robust eosinophil degranulation on immunoglobin-G (IgG) coated plates. Thus, in the present study, we analyze the effects of IL-3-activated eosinophil degranulation products on primary human lung fibroblasts (HLF) using whole transcriptome sequencing. Conditioned media was obtained from eosinophils that were pre-activated with IL-3 or IL-5 and subsequently cultured for 6 h on IgG to induce degranulation. This conditioned media was added on human lung fibroblasts (HLF) for 24 h and the cell lysates were then subjected to whole transcriptome sequencing to identify global changes in gene expression. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), and validated by qPCR. In HLF, the expression level of 300 genes was changed by conditioned media from IL-3-activated eosinophils compared to control fibroblast cultures. Among these 300 genes, the expression level of 35 genes coding for known proteins was upregulated by IL-3- versus IL-5-pre-activated eosinophils. Of the 35 upregulated genes, IPA identified C3, CH25H, CXCL1, CXCL8, CYP1A1, ICAM1, IL6 and UCN2 as having downstream functions on inflammation, tissue remodeling and lipid synthesis. This analysis combined with previous RNA sequencing analyses of eosinophils suggest IL-1s, OSM and TNFSF12 as potential upstream regulators of fibroblasts. This study has identified several novel pro-inflammatory and pro–remodeling mediators produced by fibroblasts in response to activated eosinophils. These findings may have significant implications on the role of eosinophil/fibroblast interactions in eosinophilic disorders.
Life as an early career researcher: interview with Yu Shrike Zhang.

Yu Shrike Zhang talks to Francesca Lake, Head of Open Access Publishing: Yu Shrike Zhang received his BE degree in biomedical engineering in 2008 from Southeast University, PR China and PhD degree in biomedical engineering in 2013 from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is currently an Instructor of Medicine and Associate Bioengineer in the Division of Engineering in Medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. His research interests include organs-on-chips, biomaterials, bioprinting, biomedical devices, biomedical imaging and biosensing with a focus on innovating medical engineering technologies to recreate functional tissues and biomimetic tissue models. He was also a finalist in the inaugural Future Science Early Career Research Award.
Information loss in effective field theory: entanglement and thermal entropies

Integrating out high energy degrees of freedom to yield a low energy effective field theory leads to a loss of information with a concomitant increase in entropy. We obtain the effective field theory of a light scalar field interacting with heavy fields after tracing out the heavy degrees of freedom from the time evolved density matrix. The initial density matrix describes the light field in its ground state and the heavy fields in equilibrium at a common temperature $T$. For $T=0$, we obtain the reduced density matrix in a perturbative expansion; it reveals an emergent mixed state as a consequence of the entanglement between light and heavy fields. We obtain the effective action that determines the time evolution of the reduced density matrix for the light field in a nonperturbative Dyson resummation of one-loop correlations of the heavy fields. The Von-Neumann entanglement entropy associated with the reduced density matrix is obtained for the nonresonant and resonant cases in the asymptotic long time limit. In the nonresonant case the reduced density matrix displays an incipient thermalization albeit with a wave-vector, time and coupling dependent effective temperature as a consequence of memory of initial conditions. The entanglement entropy is time independent and is the thermal entropy for this effective, nonequilibrium temperature. In the resonant case the light field fully thermalizes with the heavy fields, the reduced density matrix loses memory of the initial conditions and the entanglement entropy becomes the thermal entropy of the light field. We discuss the relation between the entanglement entropy ultraviolet divergences and renormalization.
Perceptual attention as the locus of transfer to nonnative speech perception

Abstract One’s native language (L1) is known to influence the development of a nonnative language (L2) at multiple levels, but the nature of L1 transfer to L2 perception remains unclear. This study explored the hypothesis that transfer effects in perception come from L1-specific processing strategies, which direct attention to phonetic cues according to their estimated relative functional load (RFL). Using target languages that were either familiar (English) or unfamiliar (Korean), perception of unreleased final stops was tested in L1 English listeners and four groups of L2 English learners whose L1s differ in stop phonotactics and the estimated RFL of a crucial cue to unreleased stops (i.e., vowel-to-consonant formant transitions). Results were, overall, consistent with the hypothesis, with L1 Japanese listeners showing the poorest perception, followed by L1 Mandarin, Russian, English, and Korean listeners. Two exceptions occurred with Russian listeners, who underperformed Mandarin listeners in identification of English stops and outperformed English listeners in identification of Korean stops. Taken together, these findings support a cue-centric view of transfer based on perceptual attention over a direct phonotactic view based on structural conformity. However, transfer interacts with prior L2 knowledge, which may result in significantly different perceptual consequences for a familiar and an unfamiliar L2.
Numerical Study on the Effect of Air–Sea–Land Interaction on the Atmospheric Boundary Layer in Coastal Area

We have performed large-eddy simulations (LES) to study the effect of complex land topography on the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) in coastal areas. The areas under investigation are located at three beaches in Monterey Bay, CA, USA. The sharp-interface immersed boundary method is employed to resolve the land topography down to grid scale. We have considered real-time and what-if cases. In the real-time cases, measurement data and realistic land topographies are directly incorporated. In the what-if cases, the effects of different scenarios of wind speed, wind direction, and terrain pattern on the momentum flux at the beach are studied. The LES results are compared with simulations using the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) and field measurement data. We find that the land topography imposes a critical influence on the ABL in the coastal area. The momentum fluxes obtained from our LES agree with measurement data. Our results indicate the importance of capturing the effects of land topographies in simulations.
ALL IS NOT SEXUALITY THAT LOOKS LIKE IT

I am grateful for the observations of these five wonderful and thought-provoking interlocutors: Camille Robcis, Todd Shepard, Suzanne Stewart-Steinberg, Regina Kunzel, and Michal Shapira. They have prompted me to read a whole range of clarifying texts—from Jacques Derrida's reflections on Friedrich Nietzsche to the work of classicist James Davidson on Michel Foucault and George Devereux (as well as more writings by Devereux) to historian Chris Waters's recovery of Edward Glover, and from literary scholar Shoshana Felman's brilliant Jacques Lacan-inspired rescue operation for psychoanalytic textual interpretation (in the special issue of Yale French Studies she edited in 1977) to Charles Shepherdson's turn-of-the-millennium revisionist take on Lacan and Foucault in Vital Signs. They have prompted me, too, to reconsider key texts by Sigmund Freud. And I am glad that the interlocutors challenge me with questions. These include: why the Left abandoned psychoanalysis (Robcis); how I have come to think about practices and desires and the relationships between “the sexual” and other realms of human existence (Shepard and Stewart-Steinberg, each in their own way); how a more integrated and comprehensive master narrative of psychoanalysis might be written, connecting the first and second halves of the twentieth century (Shapira); and how to delve more deeply into the role of analysands in shaping what counts as psychoanalysis (Kunzel).
The Endocrine Manifestations of Von Hippel Lindau Disease

Abstract Introduction: Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease has important genotype–phenotype correlations with respect to the risk of pheochromocytoma. The type II variant of VHL has a 50% lifetime inci...
Pain Management at Home

The management of chronic pain should be a priority in geriatric home care. Pain is a common problem that has tremendous potential to influence the physical function and quality of life of elderly people during their remaining years. The experience of pain and its management at home are not analogous to institutional settings. Family and caregivers have important influences on pain management and may require education and support for the long-term management of chronic pain patients. Existing pain management strategies should be tailored to meet the special needs of geriatric patients and be sensitive to caregiver concerns. Implications, indications, and applications for high-tech pain management strategies need to be clarified for the management of older people at home.
Agrobacterium-Mediated Transfer and Stable Incorporation of Foreign Genes in Plants

The transfer of genetic material between a prokaryotic organism to eukaryotic organisms represent a unique phenomenon in biology. The Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer to plants is the classic example of such a phenomenon. The genes required for this transfer are located on a 200-kbp Ti plasmid. As illustrated in Figure 9.1, a specific sector (the T-DNA) of the Ti plasmid is the element transferred. The 25-kbp T-DNA is bordered by 23-bp directly repeated sequences termed left and right borders. These borders are the targets where specific cleavages occur to generate T intermediates in the Agrobacterium cell. The T intermediates are transferred by still unknown mechanisms to plant cells during infection of the host at wounded sites. A prerequisite for the transmission of the T intermediates is the close interaction of the bacterial cells with the plant cells. Plant signals in the form of phenolic compounds generated by phenylalanine ammonia lyase- and tyrosine ammonia lyase-initiated lignin biosynthetic pathways are recognized by A. tumefaciens through a sophisticated two-component gene regulatory system (recently reviewed in 38). This regulatory system operates through the products of two virulence genes: virA and virG These genes are part of a six-operon vir regulon on the Ti plasmid (52). On recognition of the plant signal, transcription of the normally silent operons is initiated through the signal transduction pathway. Specific gene products of the vir regulon catalyze events that lead to the generation of T-intermediates and to their efficient transfer into the plant host cell. Once entered, the T-DNA is processed for eventual integration into one or more of the chromosomes of the host cell.
Light-Intensity Physical Activity and Cardiometabolic Risk Among Older Adults With Multiple Chronic Conditions.

Purpose:To assess the relationship between light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) and cardiometabolic risk factors among middle-aged and older adults with multiple chronic conditions.Design:Cross...
The unintended impact of smoking-risk information on concerns about radon: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective Health communications are often viewed by people with varying levels of risk. This project examined, in the context of radon risk messages, whether information relevant to high-risk individuals can have an unintended influence on lower-risk individuals. Two studies assessed whether information about lung cancer risk from smoking reduced concerns about lung cancer risk from radon among nonsmokers. Method American nonsmokers viewed radon messages that varied in what they communicated about smoking's effect on lung cancer risk. Study 1 used a 4-arm factorial, randomized, controlled design in which smoking information was included or excluded from messages assembled from 2 existing radon pamphlets. Study 2 used a 3-arm parallel, randomized, controlled design in which a new radon message excluded smoking information, described smoking as a lung cancer risk, or also described smoking's synergistic effect with radon. Results In Study 1, the inclusion of smoking information reduced nonsmokers' (n = 462) concern-related reactions to possible radon exposure. In Study 2, nonsmokers' (n = 583) concern-related reactions were reduced in both smoking-information conditions; intentions to test their home for radon and perceived importance of testing were reduced in the synergistic condition. Conclusion People reading health-risk information contextualize their risk relative to the risk of others. For people at midlevel risk, concern and related reactions prompted by a health message may be dampened when the message includes information about others who are more at risk. In the case of radon and smoking risks, the inclusion of smoking information can reduce the impact that radon messages have on nonsmokers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Correlation of clonogenic cancer stem cell (CSC) growth with clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing treatment with high dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) and rituximab

LB-87 CSC have been identified in many tumor types, but the clinical significance remains unclear. Results from our group indicate that MM is comprised of 2 cellular compartments: terminally differentiated plasma cells (PC) and rare clonogenic MM stem cells resembling memory B cells. We also found that MM-CSC are relatively resistant to anti-MM agents when compared to MM-PC in vitro (Matsui et al Cancer Res 2008). Thus, we conducted a phase II trial with a combination of agents targeting both cellular compartments: Cy (50 mg/kg/day x 4 days) for MM-PC and rituximab (375 mg/m2 x 2 doses prior to Cy then weekly x 4 following count recovery and at 3, 6, 9, 12 mos post-Cy in absence of progression) for MM-CSC. Patients (pts) with primary refractory disease, high risk 1st remission (defined as B2M > 5.0 or del 13 by FISH or cytogenetics), or relapsed disease responding to salvage treatment were eligible. 21 pts were enrolled and treated. Median age was 58 (range 42-70). 62% (13/21) of pts had Durie Salmon Stage III and 50% (7/14) were ISS Stage 3 based on available data. Median number of prior treatments was 1 (range 1-4). At time of trial entry, 15 were considered high risk 1st remission, 1 primary refractory and 5 > PR2. There were no treatment-related deaths, although 3/21 pts have died due to disease progression. Based on uniform response criteria, the following responses were seen: 1 CR, 2 very good PR, 14 PR (or continued PR), 4 progressive disease. At present, 3 pts remain progression-free (139-616 days after Cy). Median time to progression was 213 days (range 60-651). Median duration of response was 194 days (range 60-638). Median overall survival has not been reached with median follow-up of 494 (range 119-1014) days. Correlative studies quantified changes in MM-CSC during and up to 1 yr post-Cy. Complete data is available for 16/21 pts. In the majority, the relative frequency of clonogenic MM-CSC decreased by an average of 44 (range 5-95) %, immediately after treatment. Clonogenic MM-CSC returned to pre-treatment levels within 12 mos in 11 pts who demonstrated median progression-free survival (PFS) of 185 (range 60-280) days. In contrast, pts (n=5) with a persistent decrease in clonogenic MM-CSC at 12 mos had a significantly prolonged PFS of 564 (range 431-651) days (p
CAVITY ABSORBER-EMITTERS FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE SOLAR THERMOPHOTOVOLTAICS

Solar energy has been an important component of the world's energy infrastructure for many years, but certain limitations have hindered its ability to become a primary source of renewable energy. In particular, intermittency and fundamental limitations on conversion efficiency have restricted adoption of direct photovoltaic conversion with PV cells. Recent developments in more advanced cell chemistries and concentrated solar power systems (CSP) seek to address some of these limitations and enable higher grid penetration of solar derived power. This thesis examines one of these such technologies, solar thermophotovoltaics (STPV), and presents opportunities to improve on past work in the field to enable higher conversion efficiencies and lower cost solar power. STPV power systems typically utilize a monolithic absorber-emitter component that is heated with concentrated sunlight through a highly absorptive surface. The monolith radiatively illuminates a low-bandgap PV cell from a different, spectrally selective emitter surface, producing electricity. This added spectral selectivity allows for improved photovoltaic conversion efficiencies compared to a standard PV cell illuminated with the solar spectrum. STPV systems, however, often operate above 1000°C and are hindered by substantial parasitic thermal losses. In this thesis we first present an overview of the loss mechanisms currently limiting STPV system efficiencies and some theoretical approaches to address these losses. Previously demonstrated STPV systems have significant drops in efficiency through re-emission losses from the hot absorber surface. Selective absorber coatings can reduce these losses; however, experimentally demonstrated efficiency improvements have been limited due to non-ideal spectral selectivity and high-temperature instability. Through an alternative approach, we present a purely geometric solution to mitigate re-emission losses by varying the area ratio, defined as the ratio of thermal emitter area to solar absorber area. We model how our solution could theoretically improve previously demonstrated STPV systems and also discuss the practical limitations of our approach. Secondly, we investigate the potential of integrating a cavity-based geometry for the absorber-emitter monolith in place of typical planar designs. By incorporating a cavity in place of the planar absorber-emitter, we take advantage of both increased absorption across the full solar spectrum and enable very high area ratios in a compact design. Third, we address how thermal gradients might develop within the absorber-emitter monolith and how these gradients might impact system performance. We present a numerical model capable of predicting PV cell performance degradation under uneven illumination resulting from emitter temperature gradients. Finally, we validate our model through experiments using cavities made from high-temperature refractory materials and a high-powered laser to emulate highly concentrated sunlight. By integrating a cavity-type absorber-emitter with…
Synthesis of 3-aryl-2-phosphinoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ligands for use in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

3-Aryl-2-phosphinoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ligands were synthesized from 2-aminopyridine via two complementary routes. The first synthetic route involves the copper-catalyzed iodine-mediated cyclizations of 2-aminopyridine with arylacetylenes followed by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with phosphines. The second synthetic route requires the preparation of 2,3-diiodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine or 2-iodo-3-bromoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine from 2-aminopyridine followed by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki/phosphination or a phosphination/Suzuki cross-coupling reactions sequence, respectively. Preliminary model studies on the Suzuki synthesis of sterically-hindered biaryl and Buchwald–Hartwig amination compounds are presented with these ligands.
Differentiable Combinatorial Losses through Generalized Gradients of Linear Programs

Combinatorial problems with linear objective function play a central role in many computer science applications, and efficient algorithms for solving them are well known. However, the solutions to these problems are not differentiable with respect to the parameters specifying the problem instance – for example, shortest distance between two nodes in a graph is not a differentiable function of graph edge weights. Recently, attempts to integrate combinatorial and, more broadly, convex optimization solvers into gradient-trained models resulted in several approaches for differentiating over the solution vector to the optimization problem. However, in many cases, the interest is in differentiating over only the objective value, not the solution vector, and using existing approaches introduces unnecessary overhead. Here, we show how to perform gradient descent directly over the objective value of the solution to combinatorial problems. We demonstrate advantage of the approach in examples involving sequence-to-sequence modeling using differentiable encoder-decoder architecture with softmax or Gumbel-softmax, and in weakly supervised learning involving a convolutional, residual feed-forward network for image classification.
Composability Challenges for Effective Cyber Physical Systems Applications in the Domain of Cloud, Edge, and Fog Computing

The cloud computing paradigm allows ubiquitous access to resources and computational services. These shared assets can be accessed with limited administrative constraints, can rapidly be configured, and provide a huge shared pool of easily accessible information. Often, a significant portion of the computational services is provided by assets at the edge of these clouds, such as by the computational components of cyber physical systems, resulting in the closely related paradigm of edge computing. If smart devices are used to provide similar functionality at the edge of the cloud, these compositions are often referred to as fog computing. In all these cases, bringing data intensive systems with multi-modality together requires more than technical communications. A common information sphere must allow the homogenous access to heterogeneous information structures, often not simply manifested in different facets and viewpoints, but in conceptually different worldviews. This chapter provides an evaluation of the challenges and a survey of available concepts applicable to cope with these challenges. The central idea is the rigorous separation of propertied concepts and processes that are working on these concepts, allowing to unambiguously identify complementary and competitive views, both needed for the successful application of cyber physical systems in complex environments.
Statistical arbitrage in the US equities market

We study model-driven statistical arbitrage in US equities. Trading signals are generated in two ways: using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) or regressing stock returns on sector Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). In both cases, the idiosyncratic returns are modelled as mean-reverting processes, which leads naturally to ‘contrarian’ strategies. We construct, back-test and compare market-neutral PCA- and ETF-based strategies applied to the broad universe of US equities. After accounting for transaction costs, PCA-based strategies have an average annual Sharpe ratio of 1.44 over the period 1997 to 2007, with stronger performances prior to 2003. During 2003–2007, the average Sharpe ratio of PCA-based strategies was only 0.9. ETF-based strategies had a Sharpe ratio of 1.1 from 1997 to 2007, experiencing a similar degradation since 2002. We also propose signals that account for trading volume, observing significant improvement in performance in the case of ETF-based signals. ETF-strategies with volume informatio...
Statistical mechanics via the method of complementary variational principles: II. Application to D-dimensional ionic and dipolar fluids† The research described herein was supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the Department of Energy. This is Document No. NDRL-2330 from the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory.

In this paper we present a comparison of the thermodynamic behaviour exhibited by a fluid system whose constituent molecules move in a space of dimensionality two or three, and interact via a (scre...
A Cultural Approach to Understanding Professional Experiences of Foreign-Born Faculty in U.S. Educational Leadership Preparation Programs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the professional experiences of foreign-born faculty members serving in U.S. educational leadership preparation programs, utilizing a cultural approach to discern their lived experiences related to professional life. Cultural values were explored as reflected in professional life experiences. The information, gathered through the phenomenological approach, was used to analyze the influence of national background on the professional experiences of foreign-born faculty in educational leadership preparation programs.
Sparse stochastic finite-state controllers for POMDPs

Bounded policy iteration is an approach to solving infinite-horizon POMDPs that represents policies as stochastic finite-state controllers and iteratively improves a controller by adjusting the parameters of each node using linear programming. In the original algorithm, the size of the linear programs, and thus the complexity of policy improvement, depends on the number of parameters of each node, which grows with the size of the controller. But in practice, the number of parameters of a node with non-zero values is often very small, and does not grow with the size of the controller. Based on this observation, we develop a version of bounded policy iteration that leverages the sparse structure of a stochastic finite-state controller. In each iteration, it improves a policy by the same amount as the original algorithm, but with much better scalability.
Kaon Physics: What the Future Holds in Probing the Standard Model and Beyond

The status and prospects of current and future kaon physics experiments is discussed. Both precision measurem ents and the search for and measurement of ultra-rare decays are powerful probes of many models of new physics beyond the Standard Model. The physics reach of these experiments is briefly discussed.
Typical Event Horizons in AdS/CFT

We consider the construction of local bulk operators in a black hole background dual to a pure state in conformal field theory. The properties of these operators in a microcanonical ensemble are studied. It has been argued in the literature that typical states in such an ensemble contain firewalls, or otherwise singular horizons. Here, we argue this conclusion can be avoided with a proper definition of the interior operators.
A Formal Method for Designing the Interface of Interactive Systems

Abstract This research investigates the use of a formal method as a tool for designing and evaluating the interlace of interactive computer systems. The method enables one to make a formal description of the user actions and system responses, to identify flaws and inconsisten cies of the system, to make predictions about the user difficulties and errors with various parts of the interface, to test these predictions, and modify the interface according to the predictions that are confirmed. The new interlace version that comes out is expected to be more consistent and predictable. and therefore, easier to learn and use. It can be improved iteraiively. An experiment was run to test our predictions about subjects' errors and difficulties with a graphics system, light subjects with knowledge about computers participated in the study. In a first session, they were asked to learn how to use the system. In a second session (two days later), they had to complete a questionnaire about this system. Results confirmed our predictions (with very few exceptions). Several recommendations are proposed for improving the user interface. Despite a few shortcomings, this formal method greatly helps in testing and improving the consistency and predictability of a system.
Technology Integration in Schools

It is commonly believed that learning is enhanced through the use of technology and that students need to develop technology skills in order to be productive members of society. For this reason, providing a high quality education includes the expectation that teachers use educational technologies effectively in their classroom and that they teach their students to use technology. In this chapter we have organized our review of technology integration research around a framework based on three areas of focus: (1) increasing access to educational technologies, (2) increasing the use of technology for instructional purposes, and (3) improving the effectiveness of technology use to facilitate learning. Within these categories, we describe findings related to one-to-one computing initiatives, integration of open educational resources, various methods of teacher professional development, ethical issues affecting technology use, emerging approaches to technology integration that emphasize pedagogical perspectives and personalized instruction, technology-enabled assessment practices, and the need for systemic educational change to fully realize technology’s potential for improving learning. From our analysis of the scholarship in this area, we conclude that the primary benefit of current technology use in education has been to increase information access and communication. Students primarily use technology to gather, organize, analyze, and report information, but this has not dramatically improved student performance on standardized tests. These findings lead to the conclusion that future efforts should focus on providing students and teachers with increased access to technology along with training in pedagogically sound best practices, including more advanced approaches for technology-based assessment and adaptive instruction.
Parallel application of a Navier-Stokes solver for projectile aerodynamics

Advancements in computer technology and state-of-the-art numerical procedures enables finding solutions to complex, time-dependent problems associated with projectile aerodynamics, store separation from fighter planes, and other multibody systems. Application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to multibody configurations has proven to be a valuable tool in evaluating potential new designs. Recent application of this technology has been directed at the evaluation of the submunition separation process. The complete set of time-dependent, Reynolds-averaged, thin-layer Navier–stokes equations is solved numerically to obtain a solution to this problem. The numerical technique used is an implicit, finite difference scheme. 3D numerical computations have been made for a generic missile configuration at Mach number = 2.5 and at 14° angle of attack. The model consists of a 3-caliber ogive and a 10-caliber cylindrical after body. This chapter describes the parallelization effort of the F3D code and the computational validation of the numerical results. The basic configuration used in this study is an ogive-cylinder configuration. All computations were performed on the Cray C-90 supercomputer and a variety of systems from SGI and Convex. Computed results from the Cray C-90 and an SGI PCA are compared with available experimental data for the same conditions and the same configuration. A time-marching Navier-Stokes code, successfully used over a decade for projectile aerodynamics, has been implemented and optimized to run on a modem RISC-based parallel computer, SGI PCA. The parallelized version of the code has been used to compute a 3D turbulent supersonic flow.
Elderly-animal friendship bonds

Studies have been done which have found attachments between people and their pets. The present study was conducted to determine the variables of the elderly-animal friendship bond. The study focused on self-perceived criteria of the aged regarding their intimate association with their dogs. Results indicated self-perceived variables of companionship, emotional bond, usefulness, loyalty and no negotiation. There were significant differences in responses between the male and female S s with regard to the variables of loyalty and no negotiation.
Lemma Barkeloo and Phoebe Couzins: Among the Nation's First Women Lawyers and Law School Graduates

This Article is a historical narrative of Lemma Barkeloo and Phoebe Couzins who attended the Washington University School of Law in 1869 and are believed by many to be the nation’s first women law students. After passing the Missouri bar with the highest marks of a group of five applicants, Lemma Barkeloo became Missouri’s first, and the country’s second, licensed woman attorney. In her first few months of practice, Barkeloo became the first woman lawyer in the United States to try a case in court. Before attending law school, Phoebe Couzins was a champion of women’s rights. She served as a delegate to the American Equal Rights Association Convention in New York and she spoke to a joint meeting in the Missouri State General Assembly on behalf of women’s suffrage. Couzins went on to become the Law School’s and the University’s first woman graduate. Throughout her career she continued to fight for women’s suffrage and women’s rights. Lemma Barkeloo and Phoebe Couzins shared courage and conviction, and a desire to do justice. Their spirit survives in the lives of all women law students and lawyers who have followed in their footsteps. This Article was originally delivered as an introduction to Dean and Professor Susan Appleton’s installation ceremony as the Lemma Barkeloo and Phoebe Couzins Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law.