cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review on Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT) is typically the preferred curative therapy for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia, but its use has been reduced as a consequence of limited donor availability in the form of either matched-related donors (MRD) or matched-unrelated donors (MUD). Alternative options such as unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation and haploidentical HSCT have been increasingly studied in the past few decades to overcome these obstacles. A human leukocyte antigen- (HLA-) haploidentical donor is a recipient's relative who shares an exact haplotype with the recipient but is mismatched for HLA genes on the unshared haplotype. These dissimilarities pose several challenges to the outcomes of the patient receiving such a type of HSCT, including higher rates of bidirectional alloreactivity and graft failure. In the past 5 years, however, several nonrandomized studies have shown promising results in terms of graft success and decreased rates of alloreactivity, in part due to newer grafting techniques and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. We present here a summary and review of the latest results of these studies as well as a brief discussion on the advantages and challenges of haploidentical HSCT.
Ultrasound Measurement of the Fetal Adrenal Gland as a Predictor of Spontaneous Preterm Birth.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate whether ultrasound measurement of the fetal adrenal gland remote from delivery in asymptomatic women can accurately predict spontaneous preterm birth.METHODS:We conducted a prospective multicenter observational nested cohort study of asymptomatic nulliparous women with a single
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes A (muscle), B (heart) and C (testis) of mammals and the genes coding for these enzymes

Joh, T., Takeshima, H., Tsuzuki, T., Shimada, K., Tanase, S. & Skarzynski, T., Moody, P. C. E. & Wonacott, A. J. (1987) J. Mol. Morino, Y. (1987b) Biochemistry 26,2515-2520 Biol. 193. 171-187 Rossmann, M. G., Liljas, A., Branden, C . 4 & Banaszak, L. J. (1975) in The Enzymes (Boyer, P. D., ed.), 3rd edn, vol. 11A, pp. 6 1 10 1, Academic Press, New York Roderick, S. L. & Banaszak, L. J. (1986) J . .Bid. Chern. 261,
Identity of the etiological agent of the first deep entomophthoraceous infection of man in the United States.

A deep phycomycotic infection caused by Entomophthora Fres. was reported for the first time in the United States by Gilbert et al. (1970) and was further confirmed by culture and histologic examination of biopsy material by Eckert et al. (1972). The culture was isolated in this case from a hard mass invading the pericardium and the roots of both lungs in a 15-monthold boy and was deposited in the American Type Culture Collection as Entomophthora sp. ATCC 24293. In addition to species of Entomophthora, several species of Conidiobolus Bref. have been isolated from insects and mites (King, 1974). However, the only species of the Entomophthoraceae heretofore reported to be a mammalian pathogen is Conidiobolus coronatus (Cost.) Batko (Bridges et al., 1962; Clark, 1968; Martinson, 1971; Roy and Cameron, 1972). Recently King (1974; 1976) developed methods for the identification of and a key to species of the genus Conidiobolus. Following these procedures, ATCC 24293 was grown on ATCC medium 336 potato dextrose agar (see ATCC Catalogue of Strains, 1974, for formula) in Petri dishes for morphological observations. Cultures were directly examined microscopically and water mounts from cultures were prepared at intervals up to 14 da. Measurements of zygospores and width of older hyphal segments were made from water mounts. In addition, young cultures were inverted over microscope slides to collect primary conidia for measurements in water mounts. Cultures were also inverted over 2% water agar in Petri dishes to allow deposition of conidia for observation of production of types of conidia other than the primary and globose replicative conidia common to all species, and measurement of those conidia. 181
Separating Rare-Earth Elements with Ionic Liquids

The rare-earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements; this group consists of scandium, yttrium, and 15 lanthanides. Due to their essential role in permanent magnets, lamp phosphors, catalysts, and rechargeable batteries, the REEs have become an essential component of the global transition to a green economy. Currently, with China producing over 90 % of the global REE output and its increasingly tightening export quota, the rest of the world is confronted with the potential risk of REE shortage. As such, many countries will have to rely on recycling REEs from pre-consumer scrap, industrial residues, and REE-containing end-of-life products. Over the course of the last two decades, ionic liquids have been increasingly used to separate REEs in the recycling process. Ionic liquids (ILs) are a class of molten salts that are liquid at temperatures below 100 °C. ILs are amenable to the recycling of REEs because the cation and anion components are readily tailored to a given process, and they offer numerous advantages over typical organic solvents, such as low volatility, low flammability, a broad temperature range of stability, the ability to dissolve both inorganic and organic compounds, high conductivity, and wide electrochemical windows. In this chapter, we discuss the performance of several IL-based extraction systems used to separate and recycle REEs.
Evaluation of iodophor skin preparation techniques and factors influencing drainage from ventral midline incisions in horses.

Objective To document natural bacterial flora on the ventral aspect of the equine abdomen, to compare 2 preparation techniques, and to identify potential risk factors that may contribute to incisional drainage. Design Prospective study. Animals 53 horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy. Procedure Group-1 horses (n = 26) were prepared with povidone-iodine and alcohol. Group-2 horses (27) were prepared with a film-forming iodophor complex. Numbers of bacterial colony-forming units (CFU) were measured before and after surgical scrub, following skin closure, and after recovery from general anesthesia. Swab specimens to identify normal skin bacterial flora and potential pathogens were obtained by swabbing a 4 x 4-cm area. Variables that might affect incisional drainage were also investigated. Results For both techniques, there was a significant reduction in bacterial numbers after skin preparation. Incisional drainage was observed in 14 (26%) horses (8 group-1 and 6 group-2 horses). Preexisting dermatitis, poor intraoperative drape adherence, high number of bacterial CFU obtained after recovery from anesthesia, and high number of CFU obtained from the surgery room environment were the main risk factors associated with subsequent incisional drainage. Bacillus spp, nonhemolytic Staphylococcus spp, Micrococcus spp, Corynebacterium spp, Streptomyces spp, other nonenteric genera, and nonhemolytic Streptococcus spp were the most common isolates obtained before surgical scrub. Conclusions and clinical relevance Both skin preparation techniques were equally effective in reducing numbers of bacterial CFU by 99%, and a significant difference was not found in incisional drainage rate between groups. Protection of the wound during recovery from anesthesia and the immediate postoperative period may reduce incisional drainage after abdominal surgery in horses.
Psychophysiologic aspects of respiratory control.

SUMMARY By fashion we have been taught that causes of medical and surgical diseases are known; yet in reality very little was understood about disease until recently, and we still operate in a scientific twilight. We have worked with myths inventing scientific explanations to cover our lack of knowledge about the causative factors in illness, and we have traditionally examined physiologic organ systems from a fragmented perspective. The psychological variables of behavior and emotion have not been considered as directly related to physiological functioning. Consequently, by convention, certain disease entities have been defined and categorized by behavior and feelings. Persons function as a psychobiologic unit. A complex interplay between persons and their environment determines their state of health. Identification and appropriate application of the physiologic and psychological components have been disassociated to such an extent that the systematic relationship of behavioral and physical patterns of functioning are not recognized. Nevertheless, with increasing awareness of respiratory psychobiologic adaptive influences, the chemical and mechanical control system is better understood. The existence of secondary breathing disorders, in pulmonary disease, are not isolated to a physiologic genesis. With the advent of new instruments (i.e., Coping Scale and Schedule of Recent Experience) to measure and quantify adaptive factors, wide swings of activation can be more readily stabilized.
Electronic Waste Worker Health: Studying Complex Problems in the Real World

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing problem in both industrialized and non-industrialized societies. Devices that users interact with innocuously each day contain hazardous materials such as lead and cadmium. These constituents become released into workers and the environment as electronic devices are broken down into recyclable components. The stream of e-waste targets globally marginalized communities where informal workers use straightforward and low-tech options, such as burning and pounding, to dismantle waste. Complex international problems like e-waste encompass many difficult issues, but also offer opportunities for researchers to embrace global perspectives and dynamic challenges. This paper explores my work researching e-waste worker health. Accepted paradigms in research on occupational health and solving global health issues have been challenged throughout my project. I have observed how research approaches are often biased toward a Western situation and how disadvantageous this can be to vulnerable populations in marginalized communities. By participating in a project exploring the health of Ghanaian e-waste workers, I grew as a researcher, as a health scientist, and as a global community member. I offer observations and reflections of this research experience hoping they will bring insight into understanding the issue of e-waste and possibilities for future work across the globe confronting this toxic threat.
Assessment of the symptomatic total hip

This new information has recently been incorporated into a series of algorithms for evaluating painful cemented and cementless total hip replacements. As the interpretation of many tests varies significantly between cemented and cementless components, the approach to these two situations differs accordingly. Careful review of sequential plain radiographs remains a mainstay of initial evaluation. The sedimentation rate is also a cost effective method of adding useful information. Based on this assessment, cemented and cementless components can be classified as loose, well fixed, or having lysis without being loose. Subsequent evaluation should incorporate new information regarding the effectiveness, limitations, and cost of various diagnostic tests available for the evaluation of the painful total hip replacement.
Update on immune therapy in melanoma

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Melanoma is the 6th most common cancer in the United States and advanced disease has traditionally been associated with a poor prognosis. Historical therapies had suboptimal activity, including cytotoxic agents and cytokine therapies. However, since 2011, novel targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors have greatly improved outcomes in this challenging disease.Areas covered: This article reviews the evolving landscape of advanced melanoma therapeutics, focusing on recent immune therapy advances. We will review clinical data from the last 1-2 years with anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1/PDL-1, oncolytic viruses and novel combination approaches. We will discuss landmark clinical trials that led to the integration of these agents into clinical management paradigms. We will also briefly cover the search to identify accurate biomarkers of response to these therapies. Finally, we discuss future directions of clinical research with combination immune therapy strategies.Expert opinion: Immune...
Psychiatry and the nursing home

In the last two decades, nursing homes have become major providers of health services for the frail elderly. Despite ample evidence of need for specialized psychiatric services in the nursing home setting, the majority of patients who could benefit from such care do not receive it. The authors propose a fourfold role for the psychiatrist, encompassing clinical care, consultation, teaching, and research. Features of this role can be adapted to fee-for-service, community mental health center, and academic models of psychiatric practice.
Asymptotic Behavior of Loss Rate for Feedback Finite Fluid Queue with Downward Jumps

We consider a feedback fluid queue with a finite buffer and downward jumps, where the net flow rate and the jump size for the buffer content are controlled by a background Markov chain with a finite state space. The feedback means that the transition structure of the background Markov chain may change when the buffer content becomes empty or full. In this chapter, we show that the loss rate for this fluid queue decays exponentially as the buffer size gets large under a negative drift condition.
Novel Methods of Studying Polymer Surfaces by Employing Contact Angle Goniometry

Highly sophisticated instrumentations are available today for studying solid polymeric surfaces. Nevertheless, the relatively modest technique of contact angle goniometry has a disproportionately high potential for providing information on surface energetics and surface transformation that are largely unexploited. Such techniques employing one- and twocondensed-phase contact angle measurements are especially useful for studying the interfacial properties of polymeric surfaces, both electrically charged and neutral, that exhibit variability in surface composition and thus in surface properties, due to segmental mobility. Plasma-treated polymer surfaces, hydrogel surfaces, tissue and cellular interfaces are ordinarily prone to rapid and drastic surface changes depending on the polarity of the adjacent fluid phase or solid surface. Relations that have proven to be useful include adhesion tension and the relative contact angle hysteresis both as a function of the advancing contact angle. Hence, information can be obtained on surface hydrophilicity, thin film stability as related to disjoining pressure, and water-solid interfacial tension, all which play an important role in such widely diverse phenomena as the biocompatibility of contact lenses and other biomaterials, surgical trauma, tear film stability, cellular interaction, and bioadhesion.
Care and Management of the AIDS Patient

This is the final article in a four-part continuing education series on patient care and the clinical management of disease. After studying this article, the reader should be able to: 1) understand the different types of infectious viral diseases and their effects; 2) review proper technique for handling of infectious patients; 3) have a better understanding of the complexity of involvement in AIDS-related patients; and 4) improve their patient handling technique to reduce the chance of infection.
Pharmacokinetic Characterization and Dose Selection of a Novel Sumatriptan Nasal Spray Formulation, DFN‐02

This 3-way, single-dose, randomized crossover study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and dose proportionality of 5-, 10-, and 15-mg doses of intranasal sumatriptan (DFN-02) coformulated with a permeation enhancer (DDM) in 18 healthy adults. The objective was to determine which DFN-02 dose approximates the PK of a 6-mg dose of sumatriptan delivered via subcutaneous injection in the deltoid muscle of the arm. Sumatriptan plasma concentrations peaked with DFN-02 between 10 and 15 minutes postdose, declining thereafter, with a t1/2 of about 2.5 hours; mean Cmax and AUC0-∞ values increased linearly across doses. After DFN-02 doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg, mean Cmax was 40.7 ± 14.2, 71.2 ± 22.1, and 101.0 ± 49.5 ng/mL, and mean AUC0-∞ was 49.9 ± 20.6, 87.1 ± 31.2, and 120.5 ± 53.3 ng·h/mL, respectively. The increase in sumatriptan bioavailability was less than dose-proportional among the DFN-02 doses studied. Based on the established PK of a 6-mg subcutaneous sumatriptan injection (mean Tmax , 12 minutes; mean Cmax , 74 ± 15 ng/mL in the deltoid area of the arm) and the peak and time to peak sumatriptan concentrations of the DFN-02 doses tested, a 10-mg dose of DFN-02 was found to be the closest match. Overall, DFN-02 was well tolerated at doses of 5 to 15 mg, and no new safety concerns were identified.
The Washingtons: George and Martha, “Join'd by Friendship, Crown'd by Love”: Fraser, Flora New York: Alfred A. Knopf 440 pp., $30.00, ISBN 9780307474438 Publication Date: December 2015

Flora Fraser comes to the topic of George and Martha Washington's romance, marriage, and partnership as a biographer. That means she brings a specific set of skills, a distinct lens, and a concern ...
Cultural Communication Characteristics and Student Connectedness in an Online Environment: Perceptions and Preferences of Online Graduate Students

This multi-year exploratory research examined the perceptions of connectedness of students enrolled in an online cohort-based Master’s program in educational technology. The research specifically examined the level of connectedness the graduate students from low-context and high-context cultures felt towards their peers, the professors, and the program. Participants (n = 50) were surveyed on their perceptions of connectedness and what elements of the program and course design led to their level of connectedness. Fourteen participants agreed to follow-up interviews. The data were used to compare how students who identified as low-context culture differed in their perceptions of connectedness to students who identified as high-context culture. The findings suggest that no matter what cultural identification students indicated, the feelings of connectedness toward peers, the professors, and the program were strong. Participants indicated feeling most connected to program professors, primarily due to the intensity and methods of communication. Findings indicate other program and course design elements that led to student connectedness. Implications for online course and program design are discussed. Resume Cette recherche exploratoire pluriannuelle a examine les perceptions de la reliance des etudiants inscrits a un programme de maitrise en technologie de l'education fonde sur des cohortes en ligne. La recherche a tout particulierement examine le niveau de reliance que les etudiants diplomes, provenant de contextes culturels de bas ou de haut niveau, ressentent envers leurs pairs aussi bien qu’envers les professeurs ou le programme. Les participants (n=50) ont ete interroges sur leur perception de la reliance et sur les elements du programme et de la conception des cours qui influencent leur niveau de reliance. Quatorze participants ont accepte de participer a des entretiens. Les donnees ont ete utilisees pour comparer la maniere dont les etudiants identifies comme provenant de contextes de bas niveau culturel avaient des perceptions differentes de la reliance de ceux identifies comme provenant de contexte de haut niveau culturel. Les resultats suggerent que, peu importe la categorie culturelle des etudiants, le sentiment de reliance envers les pairs, les professeurs, et les programmes etait fort. Les participants font part de sentiments particulierement en lien avec les professeurs programme notamment en raison de l’intensite et des methodes de communication. Les resultats pointent d’autres elements de conception de programme et de cours favorisant la reliance etudiante. Finalement, la discussion porte sur les implications de ces resultats concernant la conception des cours et programmes en ligne.
Modeling Stress and Assessing Reactivity in the Laboratory

Stress is now a fashionable public concern. However, the concept has been of interest to the medical profession for centuries (Gatchel et al., 1989). At the beginning of the twentieth century, the work of Cannon (1927, 1929, 1935) formalized the notion of stress. Cannon was among the first to use the term stress in a nonengineering context (Carroll, 1992); the terms stress and strain have long been used in the physical sciences. Though a physiologist by training, Cannon was aware of psychological and emotional influences, stating that emotional stress could cause considerable physiological alterations and viewing stress as a potential cause of medical problems.
Methods of Computation of System Kernels

The objective of functional identification is the determination of system kernels that furnish a complete description of the stimulus-response functional relation.
Fatigue and Musculoskeletal Pain

Fatigue is an internal and subjective feeling of tiredness. In the rheumatic disorders, it is associated with pain, sleep problems, psychological distress, and functional disability. About 40% of people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis report ‘substantial' levels of fatigue; however, over three quarters of the individuals with fibromyalgia, a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder with psychosocial overtones, report having severe fatigue.
Relevant temperatures in mosquito and malaria biology

Most biological process-based models that approximate temperature to estimate the various mosquito and parasite life history variables that influence disease transmission intensity. However, mosquitoes, and parasites within them, do not experience ‘average temperatures’, but are exposed to temperatures that can fluctuate considerably throughout the day. In addition, endophilic mosquitoes will be exposed to indoor temperatures and not directly to outdoor air temperature. Further, mosquito larvae live in aquatic habitats and so again, are not exposed directly to outdoor air temperatures. In this chapter we highlight how these different temperatures can all change malaria risk predictions. To understand malaria dynamics, inform operational control objectives and predict consequences of climate change, we need a better mechanistic understanding of vector-parasite interactions, with improved integration of the biological and environmental parameters at a scale relevant to conditions actually experienced by both mosquitoes and malaria parasites.
A Call for Open Science in Giftedness Research.

Current practices in study design and data analysis have led to low reproducibility and replicability of findings in fields such as psychology, medicine, biology, and economics. Because gifted education research relies on the same underlying statistical and sociological paradigms, it is likely that it too suffers from these problems. This article discusses the origin of the poor replicability and introduces a set of open science practices that can increase the rigor and trustworthiness of gifted education’s scientific findings: preregistration, open data and open materials, registered reports, and preprints. Readers are directed to Internet resources for facilitating open science. To model these practices, a pre peer-review preprint of this article is available at https://psyarxiv.com/nhuv3/.
Optimizing multi-modal cancer treatment under 3D spatio-temporal tumor growth

In this paper we introduce a new mixed-integer linear programming (MIP) model that explicitly integrates the spread of cancer cells into a spatio-temporal reaction-diffusion (RD) model of cancer growth, while taking into account treatment effects. This linear but non-convex model appears to be the first of its kind by determining the optimal sequence of the typically prescribed cancer treatment methods-surgery (S), chemotherapy (C), and radiotherapy (R)-while minimizing the newly generated tumor cells for early-stage breast cancer in a unique three-dimensional (3D) spatio-temporal system. The quadratically-constrained cancer growth dynamics and treatment impact formulations are linearized by using linearization as well as approximation techniques. Under the supervision of medical oncologists and utilizing several literature resources for the parameter values, the effectiveness of treatment combinations for breast cancer specified with different sequences (i.e., SRC, SCR, CR, RC) are compared by tracking the number of cancer cells at the end of each treatment modality. Our results provide the optimal dosages for chemotherapy and radiation treatments, while minimizing the growth of new cancer cells.
Computational analysis of glenohumeral joint growth and morphology following a brachial plexus birth injury.

Abstract Children affected with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) undergo muscle paralysis. About 33% of affected children experience permanent osseous deformities of the glenohumeral joint. Recent evidence suggests that some cases experience restricted muscle longitudinal growth in addition to paralysis and reduced range of motion at the shoulder and elbow. It is unknown whether altered loading due to paralysis, muscle growth restriction and contracture, or static loading due to disuse is the primary driver of joint deformity after BPBI. This study uses a computational framework integrating finite element analysis and musculoskeletal modeling to examine the mechanical factors contributing to changes in bone growth and morphometry following BPBI. Simulations of 8 weeks of glenohumeral growth in a rat model of BPBI predicted that static loading of the joint is primarily responsible for joint deformation consistent with experimental measures of bone morphology, whereas dynamic loads resulted in normal bone growth. Under dynamic loading, glenoid version angle (GVA), glenoid inclination angle (GIA), and glenoid radius of curvature (GRC) (−1.3°, 38.2°, 2.5 mm respectively) were similar to the baseline values (−1.8°, −38°, 2.1 mm respectively). In the static case with unrestricted muscle growth, these measures increased in magnitude (5.2°, −48°, 3.5 mm respectively). More severe joint deformations were observed in GIA and GRC when muscle growth was restricted (GVA: 3.6°, GIA: −55°, GRC: 4.0 mm). Predicted morphology was consistent with literature reports of in vivo glenoid morphology following postganglionic BPBI. This growth model provides a framework for understanding the most influential mechanical factors driving glenohumeral deformity following BPBI.
Progress‐report on researches in terrestrial magnetism and electricity at Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, for year April 1936 to March 1937

Since the report published in the Transactions of the Seventeenth Annual Meeting, the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington has continued activities along the same general lines, namely: (1) Maintenance of field-work for the purpose of secular-variation studies and of observatory-records of the continual changes in the Earth's magnetic and electric fields; (2) development of magnetic and electric apparatus for use in the field and at observatories; (3) development of apparatus for recording ionospheric conditions, thus permitting their investigation and correlation with other geophysical phenomena; (4) theoretical formulation and experimental investigation of the fundamental aspects of nuclear physics; (5) reduction and study of accumulated observational data. Since only limited funds could be apportioned for magnetic-survey work, the amount of fieldwork to be undertaken was restricted. The principal field-operations were conducted by W. C. Parkinson, who early in 1936 inaugurated an extensive program in Australasia and the Pacific Islands. Using Sydney, Mew South Wales, as a base, during June 1936 to April 1937, he completed five expeditions, namely: Queensland and New South Wales (II stations); Victoria and Tasmania (6 stations); Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Papua (15 stations); New Zealand (12 stations); Gilbert islands, Ocean Island, and Nauru Island (6 stations). Data at stations in North Australia, South Australia, and China were obtained also in cooperation with organizations in those countries through the loan of magnetic instruments.
Black queer womanhood matters: searching for the queer herstory of Black Lives Matter in television dramas

Although the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) was created by three Black women, two of whom identify as queer, mainstream representations of the movement often erase the founders’ identities. This p...
Adapting the Teubner reciprocal relations for stokeslet objects

Self-propelled colloidal swimmers move by pushing the adjacent fluid backwards. The resulting motion of an asymmetric body depends on the profile of pushing velocity over its surface. We describe a method of predicting the motion arising from arbitrary velocity profiles over a given body shape, using a discrete-source "stokeslet" representation. The net velocity and angular velocity is a sum of contributions from each point on the surface. The contributions from a given point depend only on the shape. We give a numerical method to find these contributions in terms of the stokeslet positions defining the shape. Each contribution is determined by linear operations on the Oseen interaction matrix between pairs of stokeslets. We first adapt the Lorentz Reciprocal Theorem to discrete sources. We then use the theorem to implement the method of Teubner[1] to determine electrophoretic mobilities of nonuniformly charged bodies.
To test before or to test after---an experimental investigation of the impact of test driven development

Test Driven Development (TDD) requires the developer to create the test suite before designing and writing the application program. Unlike traditional software development practices, in TDD test development precedes application development. Such a practice also redefines the role of the developer. Lately, TDD is growing in popularity as a part of Agile methodologies. There is a critical need for rigorous empirical research to understand the role and impact of TDD as a software development practice. The goal of this dissertation research is to fill this gap. A laboratory experiment was conducted to understand the influence of TDD on the outcomes of the software development process. Software quality, learning and task satisfaction were examined as outcome variables. In the experiment, groups that used the traditional method of software development were compared with those that used TDD. Individual programmers were also compared with paired programmers, when both used TDD. Individual programmers using TDD were found to produce a higher quality of software as compared to programmers using the traditional method of software development. Comprehension, as a part of the learning measure, was also found to be significantly higher in case of programmers using TDD as compared to those using the traditional method of software development. Programmers using TDD were also found to achieve higher task satisfaction as compared to those using the traditional method of software development. Another important finding of this study was that collaborating pairs outperformed second best programmers in nominal groups in terms of software quality, when both groups used TDD.
The Herglotz Representation Theorems and the Easy Direction of Loewner’s Theorem

In this chapter, we will show (b)⇔(c) in Theorems 1.3 and 1.6 and also (b)⇒(a) and the equivalent part of Theorem 1.8. We’ll have a different proof of (c)⇒(a) in Chapter 16. We want to study functions f on \({\mathbb {C}}_+\) with \( \operatorname {\mathrm {Im}} f(x)>0\), but begin with functions f on \({\mathbb {D}} =\{z\in {\mathbb {C}}\mid \lvert z\rvert 0\) and use conformal mapping.
Neuromorphic Photonics for RF Signal Processing

Neuromorphic photonics use light to imitate the neural models and systems of nature for solving complex human problems that are challenging for conventional electronic approaches. Neural algorithms are natural designs that govern the survival of the organism, therefore, are highly effective for the designated tasks. In this paper, we review two small-scale neural algorithms – spike timing dependent plasticity process for learning and jamming avoidance response in Eigenmannia, discuss the marriage of those neural algorithm and photonics, as well as explore their real-life applications in human society.
Nanosome-Mediated Delivery Of Protein Kinase D Inhibitor Protects Chondrocytes From Interleukin-1β-Induced Stress And Apoptotic Death.

Background Inflammatory stress caused by protein kinase D (PKD) plays a critical role in damaging chondrocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM) during osteoarthritis (OA). The PKD inhibitor (PKDi) (CRT0066101) has been used to overcome inflammation in different cell types. However, the efficacy of a therapeutic drug can be limited due to off-target distribution, slow cellular internalization, and limited lysosomal escape. In order to overcome this issue, we developed nanosomes carrying CRT0066101 (PKDi-Nano) and tested their efficacy in vitro in chondrocytes. Methods Chondrocytes were subjected to IL-1β-induced inflammatory stress treated with either PKDi or PKDi-Nano. Effects of treatment were measured in terms of cytotoxicity, cellular morphology, viability, apoptosis, phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), and anabolic/catabolic gene expression analyses related to cartilage tissue. Results and Discussion The effects of PKDi-Nano treatment were more pronounced as compared to PKDi treatment. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were significantly reduced following PKDi-Nano treatment (P < 0.001). Cellular morphology was also restored to normal size and shape. The viability of chondrocytes was significantly enhanced in PKDi-Nano-treated cells (P < 0.001). The data indicated that PKDi-Nano acted independently of the Akt pathway. Gene expression analyses revealed significant increases in the expression levels of anabolic genes with concomitant decreases in the level of catabolic genes. Our results indicate that PKDi-Nano attenuated the effects of IL-1β via the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that PKDi-Nano can be used as a successful strategy to reduce IL1β-induced inflammatory stress in chondrocytes.
HIV, confidentiality, and duty to protect: Considerations for psychotherapists in the age of treatment as prevention

Confidentiality and duty to protect are complex issues for psychotherapists treating clients with HIV. The application of the Tarasoff ruling to situations involving HIV has long been debated with questions about how the Tarasoff principles of identifiability of the victim, foreseeability of harm, and necessary protective action apply to HIV within the context of psychotherapeutic relationships. The complexity of these debates is compounded by advances in HIV medicine including the availability of antiretroviral therapy and pre- and postexposure prophylaxis in addition to the current state of knowledge about treatment as prevention. The purpose of this article is to revisit Chenneville's (2000) decision-making model on HIV, confidentiality, and duty to protect in the age of pre- and postexposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy. This revised model may serve as a critical framework for psychotherapists providing services to clients with HIV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Sub-Sampling Direct RF-to-Digital Converter With 1024-APSK Modulation for High Throughput Polar Receiver

This article presents a direct RF-to-digital converter (RDC) for polar receivers, in which the amplitude information of the received signal is detected by a reconfigurable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and its phase is digitized using a time-to-digital converter (TDC). The RDC prototype also includes a multi-phase reference generator and an ADC sampling position adjustment unit realizing the sub-sampling technique. Unlike conventional direct-RF sampling receivers, the proposed RDC samples the input RF signal at the baseband rate. The RDC is capable of digitizing a variety of modulation waveforms, such as quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), phase shift keying (PSK), and amplitude phase shift keying (APSK). When comparing QAM to APSK, the later has advantages of relaxed system requirements on phase noise and linearity. The proposed direct RF-to-digital polar converter IC achieves a maximum data rate of 1.94 GB/s with a 1024-APSK modulation at a carrier frequency of 6 GHz, while consumes only 3.8 mW power under 1.1 V supply.
Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin assembly drives microtubule-independent motility and phagocytosis in the evolutionarily divergent amoeba Naegleria

Much of our current understanding of actin-driven phenotypes in eukaryotes has come from the "yeast to human" opisthokont lineage, as well as the related amoebozoa. Outside of these groups lies the genus Naegleria, which shared a common ancestor with humans over a billion years ago, and includes the deadly "brain-eating amoeba." Unlike nearly every other known eukaryotic cell type, Naegleria amoebae are thought to lack cytoplasmic microtubules. The absence of microtubules suggests that these amoebae rapidly crawl and phagocytose bacteria using actin alone. Although this makes Naegleria a powerful system to probe actin-driven functions in the absence of microtubules, surprisingly little is known about Naegleria9s actin cytoskeleton. Here, we use microscopy and genomic analysis to show that Naegleria amoebae have an extensive actin cytoskeletal repertoire, complete with nucleators and nucleation promoting factors. Naegleria use this cytoskeletal machinery to generate Arp2/3-dependent lamellar protrusions, which correlate with the capacity to migrate and phagocytose bacteria. Because human cells also use Arp2/3-dependent lamellar protrusions for motility and phagocytosis, this work supports an evolutionarily ancient origin for these actin-driven processes and establishes Naegleria as a natural model system for studying microtubule-independent cytoskeletal phenotypes.
Multilevel Current Source Converter-Based STATCOM Suitable for Medium-Voltage Applications

This paper investigates the Multilevel Current Source Converter (MCSC) STATCOM. It proposes a new method of modulation. The new modulation method produces less THD and $di/dt$ at the terminals of the MCSC STATCOM when compared to the widely used Phase-Shifted Carrier SPWM (PSC-SPWM). To ensure the inductors' currents remain balanced, a Current Balancing Algorithm (CBA) is presented. The CBA does not require any controls. It relies on assigning optimum switching states to each CSC module in real-time. In addition, two control strategies are presented in this paper. The first one assumes the STATCOM to be a SISO. Therefore, it only requires one PI controller. However, the gains for the controller must be changed if the STATCOM was to transition from capacitive mode to inductive mode, or vice versa. The second control strategy overcomes this problem by implementing a TITO integral state feedback controller. The contributions of this paper are validated via simulation and experimental results.
Output feedback adaptive dynamic programming for linear differential zero-sum games

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of finding optimal output feedback strategies for solving linear differential zero-sum games using a model-free approach based on adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). In contrast to their discrete-time counterparts, differential games involve continuous-time dynamics and existing ADP approaches to their solutions require access to full measurement of the internal state. This difficulty is due to the fact that direct translation of the discrete-time output feedback ADP results requires derivatives of the input and output measurements, which is generally prohibitive in practice. This work aims to overcome this difficulty and presents a new embedded filtering based observer approach towards designing output feedback ADP algorithms for solving the differential zero-sum game problem. Two output feedback ADP algorithms based respectively on policy iteration and value iteration are developed. The proposed scheme is completely online in nature and works without requiring information of the system dynamics. In addition, this work also addresses the excitation bias problem encountered in output feedback ADP methods, which typically requires a discounting factor for its mitigation. We show that the proposed scheme is bias-free, and therefore, does not require a discounting factor. It is shown that the proposed algorithms converge to the solution obtained by solving the game algebraic Riccati equation. Two numerical examples are demonstrated to validate the proposed scheme.
From architects’ terms to computable descriptions of spatial qualities

Architects speak of space and place using terms such as enclosure or privacy. These terms imply certain patterns of use and inhabitation. Spatial qualities in this study are the terms used to descr...
Muscle: 50+ Years of Electron Microscopy

This project was initiated with the aim of preserving for the future a portion of the extensive muscle ultrastructural image archive accumulated over a 50 year period by the author and her laboratory. Between the late 1950s and current times electron microscopy (EM) evolved. The early EM revealed the ultrastructural identification and definition of cell organelles and laid the foundation for cell biology. This continues with he discovery of new structural organizations and organelles. Currently EM images provide the essential basis for identification of structural changes associated with mutational experiments and newly discovered pathology. The most recent development of techniques allowing near atomic level of resolution brings microscopy to modern times. This evolution has been greatly enriched by the rebirth of light microscopy, fueled by dynamic views of events based on video techniques, by the availability of specific targeting of cell components and by confocal microscopy that allows 3-D structural reconstructs. Correlation between light and electron microscopy, when appropriately done, is highly revealing.The images in this publication present descriptive and structure-function correlations covering the whole animal kingdom with some areas more extensively illustrated than others. The first part classifies the images based in their site of origin, the second part identifies functional correlations, the third part introduces results of mutational experiments, the fourth part covers aging and pathology examples, the fifth part is a guide to the techniques. The images are presented with a numerical identification correlated with a very succinct description. References are limited to the directly relevant published material from the author’s laboratory that are helpful in extending the limited legends and in assigning contributions. With very few exceptions, references to the literature are not given. The author asks for the forgiveness of the many friends, trainees, collaborators and competitors whose contributions and priorities are not recognized. The work has been stimulated by interactions with teachers and advisors. Keith R. Porter, father of the endoplasmic reticulum and sarcoplasmic reticulum instilled admiration for Nature’s work and was always been a guiding light in the author’s work. Richard J. Podolsky and Andrew F. Huxley taught the importance of structural correlations. Past and present trainees and collaborators, whose names appear in the reference list, have added depth of understanding.In the case of skeletal muscle much necessary information is gained by using the muscle bible: “Myology”, A.G. Engel and C. Franzini-Armstrong, Eds. 3rd Edition, McGraw Hill, N.Y. 2004.
Modeling recent gun purchases: A social epidemiology of the pandemic arms race

Abstract In this paper, we document the social patterning of recent gun purchases to advance a contemporary social epidemiology of the pandemic arms race. We employ cross-sectional survey data from the 2020 Health, Ethnicity and Pandemic Study, which included a national sample of 2,709 community-dwelling adults living in the United States. We use binary logistic regression to model recent pandemic gun purchases as a function of age, sex, race/ethnicity, nativity status, region of residence, marital status, number of children, education, household income, pandemic job change, religious service attendance, pandemic religion change, and political party. Overall, 6% of the sample reported purchasing a new gun during the pandemic. Multivariate regression results suggest that pandemic gun purchasers tend to be male, younger, US-born, less educated, recently unemployed, experiencing changes in their religious beliefs, Republicans, and residents of southern states. To our knowledge, we are among the first to formally document a new population of pandemic gun owners that is characterized by youth, US-nativity, and religious volatility. Our analyses underscore the need for public health initiatives designed to enhance gun-related safety during pandemics, including, for example, addressing underlying motivations for recent gun purchases and improving access to training programs.
Accelerated migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells after a photodynamic therapy-like challenge: Role of nitric oxide

Employing an in vitro model for 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT), we recently reported that human prostate cancer PC3 cells rapidly and persistently overexpressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) after a moderate ALA/light challenge. The upregulated iNOS/NO was shown to play a key role in cell resistance to apoptotic photokilling and also in the dramatic growth spurt observed in surviving cells. In the present study, we found that PC3 cells surviving an ALA/light insult not only proliferated faster than non-stressed controls, but migrated and invaded faster as well, these effects being abrogated by an iNOS inhibitor or NO scavenger. Photostressed prostate DU145 cells exhibited similar behavior. Using in-gel zymography, we showed that PC3 extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was strongly activated 24 h after ALA/light treatment and that MMP-9 inhibitor TIMP-1 was downregulated, consistent with MMP-9 involvement in enhanced invasiveness. We also observed a photostress-induced upregulation of α6 and β1 integrins, implying their involvement as well. The MMP-9, TIMP-1, and integrin effects were strongly attenuated by iNOS inhibition, confirming NO's role in photostress-enhanced migration/invasion. This study reveals novel, potentially tumor-promoting, side-effects of prostate cancer PDT which may be averted through use of iNOS inhibitors as PDT adjuvants.
Multicultural Inclusion Confronts Questions of National Identity

This chapter examines the role of national identity in shaping the prospects for multiculturalism—a topic that has received surprisingly little attention in the scholarly literature on multiculturalism thus far. It does so by examining the US immigrant experience, with the underlying assumption that its response to diversity should be viewed as but one variant of a common experience in contemporary liberal democracies.