cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Beyond a Boundary”: Life, Death, and Cricket in Trinidadian Conceptions of the Afterlife

This article examines the place of life, death, and cricket in Trinidadian ideas concerning the afterlife. In his book Beyond a Boundary, C. L. R. James uses West Indian cricket as an analogy to reveal a number of central ideas concerning life, its purposes, and goals. It also gives vivid expression to the ambivalent—and often contradictory—attitudes Trinidadians hold concerning death and dying. Despite the prevalence of some common principles and practices, Trinidadians hold a wide array of beliefs concerning the afterlife. Trinidadian beliefs concerning the afterlife are shaped by the fact that many Trinidadians die in their homes and are buried by local religious leaders, rather than by commercial funeral homes, except for those living in major cities like Port of Spain and San Fernando. This article mainly focuses on members of one religion—the Spiritual Baptists, who see life as a “'pilgrim journey”—and contrasts their ideas about death with those of the followers of the Orisa and Kabalists, who see the transition between death and the afterlife as a more gradual process that takes place over many years.
Distinct Temporal and Spatial Activities of RU486 on Progesterone Receptor Function in Reproductive Organs of Ovariectomized Mice

RU486 is an incomplete progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist due to its partial agonist activity. To investigate the tissue-specific effects of RU486 on PR function in an ovariectomized mouse model, we used the progesterone receptor activity indicator mouse and evaluated the key determinants of progesterone-dependent gene activity: PR, coregulators, and kinases. As might be expected, acute RU486 treatment (6 h after injection) reduced PR transcriptional activity in the uterus, compared with vehicle or progesterone (P4) treatments. Chronic RU486 treatment (3 d) had a distinctly different effect on PR-mediated transcription, elevating PR activity in both the uterus and mammary gland, whereas chronic P4 treatment reduced PR activity in both tissues. This elevated uterine PR activity was associated with increased modified forms of PR and total protein levels of steroid receptor coactivator (SRC)-1 without affecting SRC-2 or SRC-3 protein levels. In addition to increased levels of coactivators, chronic RU486 treatment activated the ERK-1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways in the uterus in a manner comparable with P4 treatment. In contrast to our observations in the uterus, chronic RU486 treatment increased modified forms of PR and the SRC-3 protein levels (but not SRC-1 and SRC-2 levels) in luminal epithelial cells of the mammary gland. Chronic RU486 also activated the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, but not ERK-1/2, signaling pathways in mammary luminal epithelial cells. This report suggests that in comparison with chronic natural hormone (P4), a mixed antagonist/agonist (RU486) induces a distinct temporal and spatial pattern of cellular genetic regulators that accompany ligand-specific gene expression.
Environmental Control Technology for Oilfield Processes

The chapter introduces oilfield environmental control technology (ECT) as a part of petroleum engineering discipline that concerns interaction between the technology and natural environment. ECT is defined as intrinsic in and integrated with an oilfield process and its preventive function is distinguished from the remediating nature of conventional waste management technology (WMT). Discussed are conceptual methods of ECT for designing or modifying oilfield process. The ECT approach is used to analyze oilfield processes of drilling and production – their toxicity and inherent mechanisms for pollution generation.
Using POD to characterise panel backside heat losses

Repairing composite structures requires heating the repair site to a specific temperature and holding it at this temperature for a length of time. This is usually accomplished by placing a heating blanket over the repair site or by thermally radiating it. In either case, significant heat conduction occurs through the composite repair zone resulting in spatial variations in temperature. In general, one has access only to one side of the structure and is not aware of the specific nature of conditions on the backside. It is not uncommon for the backside structure in the neighborhood of the repair site to be such that the heat transfer is inhibited by pockets of trapped air or increased by metal structures. If the applied heat can be spatially controlled it is possible to eliminate temperature variations in the repair zone. This short paper describes attempts to estimate backside heat losses, or at a minimum to detect the presence/magnitude of these losses. Early attempts to estimate these losses by parameter estimation proved not to be adequate. The test was modified to include a backside heat sink, but thermocouple measurements suggested that there was negligible effect. The use of proper orthogonal decomposition of thermographic images taken during heating and cooling was considered as an alternative analysis. The POD indicated that there was no substantial heat loss to the sink because of the high thermal resistance of the panel. Given this finding, it appears that eliminating spatial temperature variations can only be done by active control of the heat source.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Padé Spline Functions

We present here the definition of Pade spline functions, their expressions, and the estimate of the remainders of pade spline expansions. Some algorithms are also given. AMS Subject Classification: 41A15, 65D07, 65D15.
Cardiac microdialysis to estimate interstitial adenosine and coronary blood flow.

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to investigate the feasibility and usefulness of cardiac microdialysis for the simultaneous estimation of regional cardiac interstitial fluid (ISF) adenosine (ADO) concentration and coronary blood flow (CBF); and 2) to determine the changes in the ISF levels of ADO and CBF during cardiac stimulation or regional myocardial ischemia. Cardiac microdialysis probes were implanted in the left ventricular myocardium of chloralose-urethan-anesthetized dogs and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer. The concentration of ADO in the effluent dialysate was used as an index of intramyocardial ISF ADO concentration while local CBF was measured by H2 clearance via a platinum wire within the dialysis fiber. Dialysate ADO was elevated immediately after insertion of the microdialysis probe, declined rapidly in the first 20 min, stabilized by 60 min, and remained constant for 2 h. Based on the relationship in vitro and in vivo between microdialysis probe perfusion rate and dialysate ADO concentration, ISF ADO concentration within the left ventricular myocardium was estimated to be 0.9-1.3 microM. Dobutamine (10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) infusion resulted in a 36% increase in CBF and a 2.5-fold increase in dialysate ADO (n = 9; P less than 0.05). Regional myocardial ischemia, induced by occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), caused a 13-fold increase in dialysate ADO in the LAD perfused myocardium (n = 9; P less than 0.05). These results are consistent with the ADO hypothesis and suggest that cardiac microdialysis provides a reliable technique for the sampling of regional intramyocardial ISF.
Self-Creation, Identity, and Authenticity: A Study of 'A History of Violence' and 'Eastern Promises'

This essay explores philosophical questions about practical identity that emerge in David Cronenberg's films, "A History of Violence" and "Eastern Promises." I distinguish the metaphysical problems of personal identity from the practical problems and contend that the latter are of central importance to the topic of authenticity. Central scenes from both films are examined with an eye to their engagement with the issues of authenticity and self-creation.
Polyamines in intestinal growth.

The total cellular mass of the small intestine is well controlled and can adapt, with hypo- or hyperplasia, to a wide variety of stimuli. Luminal nutrients, hormonal factors and pancreatic and biliary secretions have all been implicated in the regulation of intestinal mucosal growth. The polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) and the key enzyme controlling their synthesis (ornithine decarboxylase, ODC) are critical for many cell growth processes and appear to play important roles in intestinal growth. During intestinal adaptation in response to jejunectomy, lactation, pancreaticbiliary diversion, starvation-refeeding and feeding with kidney bean lectin, intestinal contents of ODC and polyamines are increased, paralleling increases in mucosal proliferative indices and DNA synthesis. With administration of the specific inhibitor of ODC (difluoromethylornithine, DFMO) the increase in ODC and polyamines is inhibited and intestinal growth is suppressed. In addition, the oral administration of exogenous polyamines results in precocious maturation of the neonatal rat intestine. These results suggest that the polyamines are important for intestinal growth.
Evolution of frequency clusters in the naturally occurring dust acoustic wave.

The spatiotemporal evolution of the naturally occurring dust acoustic wave mode is experimentally investigated in a weakly coupled dc glow discharge dusty plasma system over a range of neutral gas pressures through the application of a time-resolved Hilbert Transform. Frequency clusters are observed over a range of neutral gas pressures, though their spatial distribution varies with neutral gas pressure. It is also observed that the wave frequency is observed to drop by $\ensuremath{\sim}10$ Hz across these frequency clusters independent of the experimental parameters.
Metabolic status of the elderly over 65 years old in Yangpu district community,Shanghai(2013)

Objective To investigate the wholistic metabolic status of the elderly over 65 in community,to facilitate better intervention. Methods The elders over 65 years in Shanghai Yangpu District were selected by cluster random sampling.Results The detection rate of the total metabolic disorders was 81. 46%,female was higher than that of male( χ2= 6. 55,P 0. 05). The positive rate of abnormal metabolism by descending order: hypertension,overweight and central obesity,diabetes,obesity,IGR.( χ2= 109. 64,P 0. 05) /( χ2= 5. 22,P = 0. 02) Detection rate of central obesity and obesity in male was lower than that of female.( χ2= 109. 64,P 0. 05) /( χ2= 5. 22,P = 0. 02); The detection rate of overweight and hypertension in advanced age group was higher than that of non-advanced age group( χ2= 4. 15,P = 0. 04) /( χ2= 33. 82,P 0. 001). The detection rate of IGR in non-advanced age was lower than that of advanced age( χ2= 9. 13,P = 0. 002 5).Male,increasing age and adverse lifestyle behaviors can lead to hypertension or diabetes /IGR or overweight /obesity or central obesity. Conclusion The metabolic abnormalities detection rate of elderly people in Yangpu community was high,health education and the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease should be strengthened to improve quality of life.
SERS Detection of Ricin B-Chain via N-Acetyl-Galactosamine Glycopolymers

A novel sensing scheme is exemplified through the detection of ricin B-chain (RBC) in water and liquid food matrices: surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with an N-acetyl-galactosamine glycopolymer capture layer. The sensing scheme’s detection limit was well below that of the predicted oral exposure limit. Theoretical predictions of the normal Raman spectrum of the glycomonomer give insight into polymer–RBC intermolecular interactions.
Platelets and platelet phosphatides in uremia.

1. The platelets of 20 uremic subjects were studied, utilizing the following procedures; phase platelet count, serum prothrombin time, thromboplastin generation test with evaluation of plasma, serum, and platelet reagents. 2. Platelet phospholipids from these subjects were used as reagents in the thromboplastin generation test and examined by means of silicic acid paper and column chromatography. 3. Thrombocytopenia was the most common abnormality encountered and was associated with either normal or abnormal prothrombin consumption. Some patients demonstrated defective prothrombin utilization despite normal platelet counts, but their platelets had normal thromboplastic activity, as did those of all patients studied. 4. The paper chromatographic pattern of the phosphatides in all subjects was the same as that reported for normal platelets. Similar results were obtained on column chromatographic analysis of a pooled extract from nine of the uremic patients. 5. On the basis of these studies it was not possible to demonstrate a qualitative platelet defect in uremia.
Latent domains modeling for visual domain adaptation

To improve robustness to significant mismatches between source domain and target domain - arising from changes such as illumination, pose and image quality - domain adaptation is increasingly popular in computer vision. But most of methods assume that the source data is from single domain, or that multi-domain datasets provide the domain label for training instances. In practice, most datasets are mixtures of multiple latent domains, and difficult to manually provide the domain label of each data point. In this paper, we propose a model that automatically discovers latent domains in visual datasets. We first assume the visual images are sampled from multiple manifolds, each of which represents different domain, and which are represented by different subspaces. Using the neighborhood structure estimated from images belonging to the same category, we approximate the local linear invariant subspace for each image based on its local structure, eliminating the category-specific elements of the feature. Based on the effectiveness of this representation, we then propose a squared-loss mutual information based clustering model with category distribution prior in each domain to infer the domain assignment for images. In experiment, we test our approach on two common image datasets, the results show that our method outperforms the existing state-of-the-art methods, and also show the superiority of multiple latent domain discovery.
Wild edible plants of the Pacific Northwest. Nutritive values.

Ecologic concern has generated interest in eating wild plants, such as those used by Indians. These data on food composition of such potential foods are revealing.
Nonsurgical (nonscalpel) facial rejuvenation: 100 pearls.

A well-credentialed plastic surgeon working in a fully accredited facility who obtains a good surgical result may no longer be enough to satisfy patients. Today, patients also want to have a good experience. It is often the little things that make the big difference.
Ballistic Missile Defense

Every military weapon, it seems, has an anti-weapon defense. Swords versus shields; tanks versus tank traps, poison gas versus gas masks; and so on. Anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defensive weapons are important for several reasons. The connection between offensive missiles and defensive technologies played a role in the nuclear-weapons debate with the former Soviet Union. As long as the US has some ABM prowess, Russia has been less cooperative on strategic arms treaties. The US spends considerable funds, some $10 billion per year on ABM research and deployment.
Rethinking the State and Development: The Importance of Palliative Development

Globalization has changed the models of development that are open to most states both in the industrialized and less industrialized world. The debt crisis of the last 30 years has challenged import substitution models that combined multinational penetration with substantial state investment in heavy industry. It was expected that globalization would produce either a triumph of effusive growth free market neoliberal reform (by writers on the right) — or a complete collapse of all forms of stateled growth (by writers on the left). The expectations of the Washington Consensus were dashed by the slow growth of employment in neoliberal reformers, and the experience of Asia post 1997 — where those nations who defied the IMF prospered, while those who followed the IMF stagnated. The expectations of the left that the role of the government and the nation-state in development would be eliminated were dashed by robust development and improvements of standards of living in China and elsewhere in East Asia despite extensive participation in the globalization process. The effects of globalization have been anything but uniform — and anything but predictable.
Web timeouts and their implications

Timeouts play a fundamental role in network protocols, controlling numerous aspects of host behavior at different layers of the protocol stack. Previous work has documented a class of Denial of Service (DoS) attacks that leverage timeouts to force a host to preserve state with a bare minimum level of interactivity with the attacker. This paper considers the vulnerability of operational Web servers to such attacks by comparing timeouts implemented in servers with the normal Web activity that informs our understanding as to the necessary length of timeouts. We then use these two results--which generally show that the timeouts in wide use are long relative to normal Web transactions--to devise a framework to augment static timeouts with both measurements of the system and particular policy decisions in times of high load.
Butterworth Filter Application for Structural Health Monitoring

Most of the existing Structural Health Monitoring SHM systems are vulnerable to environmental and operational damages. The majority of these systems cannot detect the size and location of the damage. Guided wave techniques are widely used to detect damage in structures due to its sensitivity to different changes in the structure. Finding a mathematical model for such system will help to implement a reliable and efficient low-cost SHM system. In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed to detect the size and location of damages in physical structures using the piezoelectric sensor. The proposed model combines both pitch-catch and pulse-echo techniques and has been verified throughout simulations using ABAQUS/ Explicit finite element software. For empirical verification, data was collected from an experimental set-up using an Aluminum sheets. Since the experimental data contains a lot of noises, a Butterworth filter was used to clean up the signal. The proposed mathematical model along with the Butterworth filter have been validated throughout real test bed.
Dynamic characterization of elastico-mechanoluminescence towards structural health monitoring:

Light emission from zinc sulfide phosphors during elastic loading (elastico-mechanoluminescence, or EML) is characterized for application in structural health monitoring. Micron-sized EML particles...
Natural products: Taming reactive benzynes

Natural products often serve as sources of new drugs, either directly or after synthetic modification, but site-selective functionalization of complex small molecules is challenging. Now, a method has been developed that enables selective modification of a wide range of natural products by engaging a benzyne intermediate in a variety of reaction modes.
News and views: the chimpanzee and us.

Publication of the draft DNA sequence of the chimpanzee genome is an especially notable event: the data provide a treasury of information for understanding human biology and evolution.
Modeling the Evolution and Life Cycle of Radiative Cold Pools and Fog

AbstractDespite an increased understanding of the physical processes involved, forecasting radiative cold pools and their associated meteorological phenomena (e.g., fog and freezing rain) remains a challenging problem in mesoscale models. The present study is focused on California’s tule fog where the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model’s frequent inability to forecast these events is addressed and substantially improved. Specifically, this was accomplished with four major changes from a commonly employed, default configuration. First, horizontal model diffusion and numerical filtering along terrain slopes was deactivated (or mitigated) since it is unphysical and can completely prevent the development of fog. However, this often resulted in unrealistically persistent foggy boundary layers that failed to lift. Next, changes specific to the Yonsei University (YSU) planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme were adopted that include using the ice–liquid-water potential temperature to determine vertical s...
Abstract 19439: Adeno-Associated Virus Mediated Gene Delivery: Implications for Scalable in vivo Cardiac Models of Optogenetics

The growing use of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as transgene delivery vehicles in clinical trials requires comprehensive assessment of their performance. Their serotype-mediated ability to target specific tissues, as well as their low immunogenicity, make them prime candidates for gene therapy. Here we quantify transgene expression and explore the mechanisms of virus uptake in rat cardiomyocytes (CMs) in vitro and in vivo by the cardiac specific AAV serotypes 1, 6, and 9. In vitro syncytia of neonatal rat ventricular CMs (n=7 per serotype) were infected with AAVs containing the transgene for eGFP. Adult rats (n=6 each serotype) were intravenously injected with 0.1-0.5x10 12 AAV particles containing the transgene for channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2-mCherry). Open chest functional testing of optical excitability was performed on the rat heart in situ 3-4 weeks after infection. In vitro expression profiles revealed that AAV 1 and 6 (6±0.4 and 32±1.7 a.u. respectively) outperformed AAV9, which had no detectable levels of eGFP expression. In contrast, intact hearts expressed significantly higher levels of the transgene using AAV9. Hearts infected at the highest viral titer were optically excitable (4.8 mW/mm 2 ). We further tested the mechanism of virus uptake, focusing on purported receptor-mediators for AAV1/6 (cell surface sialic acid) and AAV9 (the 37/67 kDa lamininR receptor). In vitro desialyzation of the neonatal CMs with neuraminidase treatment (25μL/mL) significantly decreased eGFP expression. We showed robust lamininR expression in the adult rat heart via immunostaining, but no expression in cultured neonatal CMs, in line with the observed differential AAV9 expression. The combined transgene expression and cell surface receptor data explain the preferential efficiency of AAV1/6 in vitro and AAV9 in vivo in the rat heart. Furthermore, AAV9 systemic delivery with a generic promoter resulted in preferred cardiac expression of the delivered opsins.
A DEVS based modeling architecture of electrical power systems

Recurrent energy planning issues cited in the literature are (1) the growth in demand for energy, (2) the challenge of diversity in energy supply and (3) the concern about energy security and environmental constraints, particularly the challenge of climate change (Safi et al. 2012). Decision-makers in the power system infrastructure domain have to deal with physical and financial constraints as well as uncertainties related to renewables, costs, etc. (Van Dam 2009). In this research, Spark!, an energy system simulation model developed on a DEVS (Discrete Event System Specification) platform, offers a realistic representation of large scale power grids. The model captures the intermittence of renewables, constraints of conventional generation resources, geographical and climate information, the transmission capacities, and offers flexible time resolution.
USE OF ELECTRONIC PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES AND AUTOMATED DEVICES FOR HEART FAILURE DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Congestive Heart failure (CHF) is a major health issue affecting 6.5 million people in the U.S. alone. Current reimbursement policies use readmission rates and length of hospital stays as indicators of quality of care. This project aimed to improve patients’ self-monitoring practices post-hospital
Augmented Reality and Telestrated Surgical Support for Point of Injury Combat Casualty Care: A Feasibility Study

Providing surgical care in remote environments presents a significant challenge. Telepresence and telesurgery have the potential to bridge the gap between definitive care and nonsurgical critical care for prolonged field care scenarios. This feasibility study investigated several key questions regarding the suitability of these technologies for this application. First, what are the technology requirements and minimum specifications for telestration capabilities between a surgical specialist at a Medical Treatment Facility and a remote non-surgeon in a far-forward environment using existing telecommunication systems within the US Army? Second, what training requirements are needed to prepare surgeons and non-surgeons to control lower extremity junctional hemorrhage, and to use associated telestration hardware, software and communications systems? Third, what is the transferability of this training paradigm and technology suite to a wider range of medical care and clinical procedural skills to anticipated future military medical care needs and environments? Our initial feasibility study indicates that telementoring and telestration using augmented reality (AR) systems appears well suited to providing surgical support and training across dispersed groups of medical providers. Forward surgical support using AR and telestration technologies are viable for point of injury surgical support and may be essential to filling this “missing middle” in the Combat Casualty Care continuum. We anticipate that the life and limb saving capabilities supported by this approach will be necessary in future Multi-Domain Battlefield Concept and in cases of remote and dispersed operations.
Prognostic Significance of Baseline Serum Sodium in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum sodium at the time of diagnosis and long term clinical outcomes in a large national cohort of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Methods and Results We studied 25 440 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction treated at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States between 2002 and 2012. Serum sodium at the time of heart failure diagnosis was analyzed as a continuous variable and in categories as follows: low (115.00–134.99 mmol/L), low‐normal (135.00–137.99 mmol/L), referent group (138.00–140.99 mmol/L), high normal (141.00–143.99 mmol/L), and high (144.00–160.00 mmol/L). Multivariable Cox regression and negative binomial regression were performed to estimate hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) and incidence density ratios (95% CI) for the associations of serum sodium with mortality and hospitalizations (heart failure and all‐cause), respectively. The average age of patients was 70.8 years, 96.2% were male, and 14% were black. Compared with the referent group, low, low‐normal, and high sodium values were associated with 36% (95% CI, 28%–44%), 6% (95% CI, 1%–12%), and 9% (95% CI, 1%–17%) higher risk of all‐cause mortality, respectively. Low and low‐normal serum sodium were associated with 48% (95% CI, 10%–100%) and 38% (95% CI, 8%–77%) higher risk of number of days of heart failure hospitalizations per year, and with 44% (95% CI, 32%–56%) and 18% (95% CI, 10%–27%) higher risk of number of days of all‐cause hospitalizations per year, respectively. Conclusions Both elevated and reduced serum sodium, including values currently considered within normal range, are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Opposing roles of microRNA Argonautes during Caenorhabditis elegans aging

Argonaute (AGO) proteins partner with microRNAs (miRNAs) to target specific genes for post-transcriptional regulation. During larval development in Caenorhabditis elegans, Argonaute-Like Gene 1 (ALG-1) is the primary mediator of the miRNA pathway, while the related ALG-2 protein is largely dispensable. Here we show that in adult C. elegans these AGOs are differentially expressed and, surprisingly, work in opposition to each other; alg-1 promotes longevity, whereas alg-2 restricts lifespan. Transcriptional profiling of adult animals revealed that distinct miRNAs and largely non-overlapping sets of protein-coding genes are misregulated in alg-1 and alg-2 mutants. Interestingly, many of the differentially expressed genes are downstream targets of the Insulin/ IGF-1 Signaling (IIS) pathway, which controls lifespan by regulating the activity of the DAF-16/ FOXO transcription factor. Consistent with this observation, we show that daf-16 is required for the extended lifespan of alg-2 mutants. Furthermore, the long lifespan of daf-2 insulin receptor mutants, which depends on daf-16, is strongly reduced in animals lacking alg-1 activity. This work establishes an important role for AGO-mediated gene regulation in aging C. elegans and illustrates that the activity of homologous genes can switch from complementary to antagonistic, depending on the life stage.
Threat of entry and the use of discretion in banks’ financial reporting

Abstract This paper studies managers’ use of accounting discretion to deter entry. Using state-level changes in branching regulation under the Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act, I find geographically-constrained community banks increased their loan loss provisions to appear less profitable when faced with the threat of entry by competitors. Additional tests rule out alternative explanations that firm economics or regulators drove the increase. I complement my analyses with survey-based evidence. Findings from the survey confirm that banks prefer to locate in markets where incumbents have high profitability and low credit losses, and that banks use competitors’ financial statements to analyze competition.
Evaluation of the mediastinum by gallium-67 scintigraphy in lung cancer.

Delineation of the metastatic spread of lung cancer has been attempted by a variety of means. Controversy as to the indications for organ surveys, mediastinoscopy, scintillation scanning, and biopsy techniques still exists. Since definition of the micrometastatic state is yet unachieved, the staging of disease for therapy continues to be predicated on documented spread beyond the site of the origin. The records of 75 patients in whom the presence or absence of mediastinal metastases was known were retrospectively reviewed to establish the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy of 67Ga scintigrams. Comparisons were made with chest roentgenograms, mediastinal tomograms, and endoscopic findings. Five patients had 67Ga-negative studies. In the 70 patients having 67Ga-positive lung lesions, mediastinal 67Ga uptake had a sensitivity of 88 percent, a specificity of 86 percent, predictive values of 93 percent for a positive test and 76 percent for a negative test, and a test accuracy of 87 percent. These studies, plus those of others, permit selectivity of choosing candidates for mediastinoscopy. If the primary is 67Ga positive, a negative mediastinal scan obviates mediastinoscopy. If the mediastinum is 67Ga positive, mediastinal exploration is indicated. The level of involvement dictates whether resection is undertaken in suitable surgical candidates. This approach, employed since 1976, has lowered the costs of staging, and 67Ga has become our scintigram of choice.
Laserchemotherapy of Tumours: Clinical Aspects

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a selective, experimental treatment for solid tumors. PDT consists of the activation of a photosensitizing agent by light. The photodynamic reaction induced by light causes damage to the tissue containing the photosensitizer in the presence of oxygen. The idea of treating tumors by photosensitizers is as old as the early 1900s; already in 1903, topic application of eosin and exposition to sunlight was known to produce a response in skin tumors. Later, in 1924, Policard reported reddish fluorescence in animal and human tumors observed under Wood lamp. The presence of fluorescence was attributed to endogenous porphyrins accumulated after infection of the observed tissue by hemolytic bacteria.2 In 1942, Auler and Banzer3 reported animal tumor fluorescence after systemic administration of Hematoporphyrin (HP) and in 1960 Lipson and coworkers prepared the Hematoporphyrine derivative (HPD), a mixture of porphyrins obtained by treating HP with acetic and sulphuric acids.4 They demonstrated that HPD was selectively accumulated by malignant as well as by actively proliferating tissues and produced the first demonstration of endoscopic diagnosis of malignant tissues by detection of fluorescence in the respiratory and in the upper digestive tract.5 After the development of the laser, diagnosis through fluorescence and particularly PDT have been studied further.
521. Clostridium difficile Timeout: A Nurse-Driven Protocol to Optimize Testing Stewardship

Background There remains a challenge in distinguishing colonization vs. infection with Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea. At our institution, despite effective antimicrobial stewardship efforts, C. difficile tests and positive infections remained high identifying a need for C. difficile testing stewardship optimization.
Seismic Cloaking Protection from Earthquakes

Each year, large ground motions from earthquakes cause infrastructure damage and loss of life worldwide. Here we present a novel concept that redirects and attenuates hazardous seismic waves using an engineered seismic-muffler acting as a cloaking device. The device employs vertically-oriented, sloping-opposing boreholes or trenches to form muffler walls and is designed to: 1) reflect and divert large amplitude surface waves as a barrier, while 2) dissipating body and converted waves traveling from depth upward into the muffler duct. Seismic wave propagation models suggest that a seismic-muffler can effectively reduce broadband ground motion directly above the muffler. 3D simulations are also compared for validation with experimental data obtained from bench-scale blocks containing machined borehole arrays and trenches. Computer models are then scaled to an earth-sized model. Results suggest a devastating seismic energy magnitude 7.0-$\mathrm {M}_{\mathrm {E}}$ earthquake can be reduced to less damaging magnitudes experienced in the muffler vicinity, 4.5- $\mathrm {M}_{\mathrm {E}}$ (surface wave) and 5.7- $\mathrm {M}_{\mathrm {E}}$ (upgoing coupling into the muffler). Our findings imply that seismic-muffler structures significantly reduce the impact of the peak ground velocity of dangerous surface waves, while, seismic transmission upward through the muffler base at depth has marginal effects.
Genomic tableaux

We explain how genomic tableaux [Pechenik---Yong '15] are a semistandard complement to increasing tableaux [Thomas---Yong '09]. From this perspective, one inherits genomic versions of jeu de taquin, Knuth equivalence, infusion and Bender---Knuth involutions, as well as Schur functions from (shifted) semistandard Young tableaux theory. These are applied to obtain new Littlewood---Richardson rules for K-theory Schubert calculus of Grassmannians (after [Buch '02]) and maximal orthogonal Grassmannians (after [Clifford---Thomas---Yong '14], [Buch---Ravikumar '12]). For the unsolved case of Lagrangian Grassmannians, sharp upper and lower bounds using genomic tableaux are conjectured.
Effects of energy intake on energetic efficiency and body composition of beef steers differing in size at maturity.

Hereford and Charolais steers were fed at three levels of feed intake (low, medium or ad libitum) to similar weights within breed groups to evaluate effects of energy intake on energetic efficiency and body composition. Two methods were employed to partition metabolizable energy intake into use for maintenance and gain. Method one used an assumed daily fasting heat production of 77 kcal/weight (W).75; method two estimated fasting heat production from the regression of log daily heat production against metabolizable energy intake (kcal/W.75). Net energy for gain (NEg) was determined in method one by regressing retained energy (kcal/W.75) against feed intake (g/W.75). For method two, the estimated maintenance requirement of feed was subtracted from total feed intake and retained energy was regressed against feed intake above maintenance to estimate NEg. Conclusions regarding feed energy utilization for maintenance and gain were the same by either method of energy partitioning. Charolais steers used feed energy less efficiently for gain than Hereford steers, and ad libitum steers used feed energy less efficiently for gain than steers at lower intakes (P less than .05). Charolais steers made leaner (P less than .05) gains than Hereford steers. Although steers consuming the lowest level of feed made gains containing a lower percentage of fat and a higher percentage of protein (P less than .05) than steers at higher intakes, body composition within a breed was not altered by level of energy intake when animals, within breeds, were slaughtered at similar end weights.
Acute Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathies

The definition and classification of cardiomyopathies were recently revised by an expert panel of the American Heart Association (Maron et al., Circulation 113:1807–1816, 2006) following the initial classification by the World Health Organization in 1995 (Richardson et al., Circulation 93:841–842, 1996). Cardiomyopathies are considered “a heterogeneous group of diseases of the myocardium associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction that usually (but not invariably) exhibit inappropriate ventricular hypertrophy or dilatation and are due to a variety of causes that frequently are genetic” (Maron et al., Circulation 113:1807–1816, 2006). Cardiomyopathies are generally considered as primary (disease solely or predominantly confined to heart muscle) or secondary, showing pathological myocardial involvement secondary to a systemic or multiorgan disease process. Both forms are commonly seen in children, although primary forms predominate.
Resection and chemotherapy is the optimal treatment approach for patients with clinically node positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Abstract Background Clinically lymph node positive (cLNP) intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) carries a poor prognosis, without clear management guidelines for the practicing clinician. We sought to evaluate current practice patterns for cLNP ICC, including associations with survival. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with cLNP ICC, without extrahepatic metastases. Results We identified 1023 patients with cLNP ICC, 77%% (n = 784) of whom received chemotherapy alone. Resection was undertaken in 23% (n = 239) of patients and was most commonly utilized in combination with chemotherapy (n = 150). Median survival for all patients was 13.6 months. Patients undergoing resection in combination with chemotherapy were associated with an improved survival (22.5 months) as compared to those patients receiving chemotherapy alone (11.9 months) or resection alone (12.4 months) (p Conclusions While the decision to pursue resection for ICC is multifactorial and patient specific, the presence of clinically positive LNs should not represent a contraindication.
Thickness measurement of multilayer film stack in perovskite solar cell using spectroscopic ellipsometry

The rapid surge in perovskite solar cell efficiency has necessitated the development of viable metrology techniques during device integration, paving the way for commercialization. Ellipsometry is considered the most appropriate technique for fast and accurate thickness measurement for large scale production. However, a precise and well-calibrated model is a prerequisite for this technique. While ellipsometry of individual device layers has been reported in recent perovskite literature, a comprehensive multilayer modeling approach is thus far unavailable. Perovskite optoelectronic devices generally consist of a six-layer film stack with three transparent layers required for optical absorption in the perovskite layer. Spin casted thin films, now common in this line of research, impart their own difficulties into ellipsometric modeling. Roughnesses at each heterointerface, similarities in optical spectra of transparent layers, and anomalous dispersion of perovskite are just a few of such challenges. In this work, we report the process of building an ellipsometry model from scratch for thickness measurement of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) perovskite and indium tin oxide (ITO)/hole transport layer (HTL) bilayer thin film stacks on a glass substrate. Three promising representatives of HTLs (CuI, Cu2O, and PEDOT:PSS) were studied. The models were extended to measure the individual layer thicknesses of the MAPI/HTL/ITO film stack on a glass substrate using the models developed for individual layers. Optical constants of all the representative thin films were thus extracted for a wide wavelength range (300 nm–900 nm).
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The reproducible generation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) in vitro has been critical to overcoming many limitations of animal and primary cell models of vascular biology and disease. Since this initial advance, research in the field has turned toward recapitulating the naturally occurring subtype specificity found in vSMCs throughout the body, and honing functional models of vascular disease. In this review, we summarize vSMC derivation approaches, including current phenotype and developmental origin-specific methods, and applications of vSMCs in functional disease models and engineered tissues. Further, we discuss the challenges of heterogeneity in hiPSC-derived tissues and propose approaches to identify and isolate vSMC subtype populations.
Laser-driven detonation wave in hafnium oxide film: Defect controlled laser damage and ablation

An ion-beam sputtered film of hafnium oxide was irradiated with an intense nanosecond laser pulse above the ablation threshold. The transmitted laser power was measured as a function of time, with a resolution of a few hundred picoseconds. The spatial origin of the defect-triggered ablation was monitored for each event. A phenomenological model of a rapidly expanding, absorbing disk can explain the observed time dependent transmission and structure sizes of the affected material. The required expansion speeds, ranging from 1 to 100 km/s, and their observed dependence on the local laser intensity, are compatible with a laser-driven detonation wave as described by the Chapman–Jouget (CJ) theory. Because the energy deposited by the laser pulse is too low to explain detonation in a material with the density of hafnium oxide, we hypothesize that the detonation wave propagates in the electron–hole subspace. We modified the CJ theory to describe laser-driven detonation in an electron–hole plasma and to account for plasma expansion sideways to the laser beam.
Multi-modal meta-analysis of 1494 hepatocellular carcinoma samples reveals vast impacts of consensus driver genes on phenotypes

To characterize the phenotypic associations of driver genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we identify 11 consensus driver genes across six HCC cohorts and 1,494 samples in total. The consensus driver genes include TP53, CTNNB1, ALB, AXIN1, RB1, ARID1A, RPS6KA3, ACVR2A, NFE2L2, CDKN2A and HNF1A. Integrative analysis of driver mutations, copy number variations and transcriptomic data reveals that these are associated with majority (63%) of the mRNA transcriptome, but only a small fraction (9%) of miRNAs. Genes associated with TP53, CTNNB1, ARID1A and HNF1A mutations contribute to four most densely connected clusters of biological pathways. Phenotypically, these driver genes are significantly associated with patients9 overall survival. Some driver genes are significantly linked to HCC gender and age disparities. CTNNB1, ALB and TP53 have higher relative risks (RR=1.2, 1.1 and 1.1) in males. Oppositely, AXIN1, which encodes axin-1, a component of the beta-catenin (encoded by CTNNB1) destruction complex has higher RR (1.6) in females. RB1 mutations are more frequent in younger patients (RR=1.3). This study consolidates a group of consensus driver genes in HCC, which collectively show vast impacts on the phenotypes. These driver genes may warrant as valuable therapeutic targets of HCC.
Self-assembled nanocolumns in Bi2Se3 grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Layered van der Waals (vdW) materials grown by physical vapor deposition techniques are generally assumed to have a weak interaction with the substrate during growth. This leads to films with relatively small domains that are usually triangular and a terraced morphology. In this paper, we demonstrate that Bi2Se3, a prototypical vdW material, will form a nanocolumn morphology when grown on GaAs(001) substrates. This morphology is explained by a relatively strong film/substrate interaction, long adatom diffusion lengths, and a high reactive selenium flux. This discovery paves the way toward the growth of self-assembled vdW structures even in the absence of strain.
Tolerance estimation and metrology for reverse engineering based remanufacturing systems

Tolerances are critical to the product’s design, manufacturing, and quality. However, tolerances are often overlooked in a reverse engineering (RE) process for industrial applications, especially i...
Measuring the competition effects of price-matching guarantees

The theoretical literature on price-matching guarantees (PMGs) finds that this policy has both a competition-softening and a competition-enhancing effect. Which effect dominates depends on market structure. This paper is the first to propose a structural framework to measure the impact of PMGs on market competition through a counterfactual analysis. The structural model proposed here can be estimated using price data alone. I estimate the model using data from the automotive tire market, and I find that the competition-softening effect is stronger than the competition-enhancing effect. PMGs keep transaction prices between 1% and 8% higher than they would be in the absence of such policy. PMGs exert the strongest effect on price-sensitive consumers, who tend to be the poorest. This consumer segment pays up to 10% higher prices in the presence of PMGs. The tire market has some unique features that facilitate the competition-enhancing effect of PMGs. Hence, that the competition-softening effect dominates even in the tire market suggests that PMGs may increase prices in many other markets, too.
The Bulge / Halo Interface Rotational Kinematics from [Fe/H] = -3.0 to Solar

Kinematics and abundances have been determined for a large sample of K giants in a field at ∼2 kpc from the center to study the relationship between the bulge and the halo. There are two different kinematic groups evident. The metal-poor stars have low rotation and high velocity dispersion, and so can be associated with the halo. The metal-richer stars have intermediate rotation. Our data suggest that the bulge and halo could be separate kinematical entities.
Modeling electrostatically induced collapse transitions in carbon nanotubes.

Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate how a mechanically bistable single-walled carbon nanotube can act as a variable-shaped capacitor. If the voltage is tuned so that collapsed and inflated states are degenerate, the tube's susceptibility to diverse external stimuli---temperature, voltage, trapped atoms---diverges following a universal curve, yielding an exceptionally sensitive sensor or actuator. The boundary between collapsed and inflated states can shift hundreds of angstroms in response to a single gas atom inside the tube. Several potential nanoelectromechanical devices could be based on this electrically tuned crossover between near-degenerate collapsed and inflated configurations.