cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Korean American High School Students’ Perspectives on U.S. History

Along with the ever-increasing racial/ethnic diversity in U.S. schools, researchers began to investigate the impact of racial/ethnic identity on young people's understanding of the nation's history. Compared to other racial minorities, Asian American students have received little academic and educational attention. This article seeks to address this gap through a qualitative study on Korean American youth. Drawing from in-depth interviews with twenty Korean American high school students, this article examines how Korean American youth make sense of U.S. history and how their sociocultural backgrounds affect their historical perspectives as well as their ideas and experiences of learning history historical perspectives.
The Mechanics of A Free-Standing Straitned Film/Compliant Substrate System

The deformation of film/substrate systems due to a through-the-thickness distribution of mismatch strain is discussed for cases when the layers are thin, compliant and freestanding. The connection between substrate curvature and mismatch strain is reviewed within the framework of small strains and small deflections. These results are applied to determine the second-order correction to the Stoney formula and to note the connection between mismatch strain distribution and curvature history. Then, for small strains but large deflections, it is observed that a symmetric system with equi-biaxial mismatch strain can undergo a bifurcation in deformation mode. It is also shown that the bifurcation response is sensitive to system imperfections. Finally, the critical condition for introduction of an interface misfit dislocation in an epitaxial system is established, thereby extending the Matthews-Blakeslee criterion to the case of free-standing compliant systems.
Embedded equalization for ADC-based serial I/O receivers

In this paper, the performance impact of embedding partial equalization in ADC-based receivers is analyzed. A hybrid ADC receiver architecture which includes embedded equalization and selective digital equalization power-down based on threshold detection is proposed.
The world according to DARPA [Spectral Lines]

The most famous name in American innovation today isn't Apple or Google. Nor is it Facebook, Boeing, or Intel. The iconic American innovator is a government agency that neither earns a profit nor sells a single consumer product. That DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, runs with the big dogs of commercial innovation reflects the importance of science and technology to national security. War, not necessity, is the mother of invention.
Dental practice location: Some aspects of the importance of selection of place

Abstract In the past, dentists’ decisions regarding location have been characterized as “irrational.” With increasing competition, more thought and planning must accompany the dental practice location and development decision. The history of the community and site selection process by dentists is reviewed, and a call for is made for the application of atmospherics to dental site development.
The role of task and task-based assessment in a content-oriented collegiate foreign language curriculum:

This article explores the role of task and task-based assessment in a collegiate foreign language (FL) department that shifted its entire undergraduate curriculum from a form-based normative approa...
Competition between Internet search engines

The Internet search engine market has seen a proliferation of entrants over the last few years. While Yahoo! was the early market leader, there has been entry by both lower quality engines and higher quality ones. Prior work on quality differentiation requires that low quality products have low prices, in order to survive in a market with high quality products. However, the price charged to users of search engines is typically zero. Therefore, consumers do not face a trade-off between quality and price. We develop a vertical differentiation model to show that even lower quality engines can survive in this market. A key property of the model is that, due to low costs users who try out one engine may also sample a lower quality engine in the same session. This "residual demand" allows lower products to survive in equilibrium. We consider a two-period dynamic game between an incumbent and an entrant who enters in the second period. The incumbent has the first mover advantage due to early entry and brand loyalty, while the entrant may have a cost advantage, based on superior technology. The interaction of these two effects determines which product has higher quality in equilibrium, We also consider the issue of strategic investments inequality and show that incumbent may under invest or over-invest in its quality depending on entrant's cost structure.
Improved clinical trial enrollments for uterine leiomyosarcoma patients after gynecologic oncology partnership with a sarcoma center

Objective A retrospective chart review was performed to determine patient outcomes before and after partnership by gynecologic oncologists (GYN/ONC) with a sarcoma center (SC) for patients with recurrent unresectable/metastatic (RM) uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS).
The Devil You Know: Race, Scandal, and Judgment

Examinations of political misconduct have long focused on understanding the causes of corruption and its implications on the publics’ confidence in political leaders and institutions. However, few scholars have considered the ways in which social identity, namely, race, might affect citizens’ evaluations of elected officials involved in political scandals. To this end, this paper considers (1) how race and scandal interact to influence political and moral judgments, and (2) the effectiveness of a politicians’ response (i.e., accounts) in mitigating voter condemnation following alleged criminal and personal transgressions. Using data from two interrelated experiments, I demonstrate that black respondents, unlike their white counterparts, are less harsh in their judgments of elected officials who are a part of their racial in-group. This suggests, at least in part, that black voters may be more likely to protect, and less likely to reprimand, black politicians.
A 3-in-1 polymeric micelle nanocontainer for poorly water-soluble drugs.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelles have a proven capacity for drug solubilization and have entered phase III clinical trials as a substitute for Cremophor EL in the delivery of paclitaxel in cancer therapy. PEG-b-PLA is less toxic than Cremophor EL, enabling a doubling of paclitaxel dose in clinical trials. We show that PEG-b-PLA micelles act as a 3-in-1 nanocontainer for paclitaxel, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), and rapamycin for multiple drug solubilization. 3-in-1 PEG-b-PLA micelles were ca. 40 nm in diameter; dissolved paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin in water at 9.0 mg/mL; and were stable for 24 h at 25 °C. The half-life for in vitro drug release (t1/2) for 3-in-1 PEG-b-PLA micelles was 1–15 h under sink conditions and increased in the order of 17-AAG, paclitaxel, and rapamycin. The t1/2 values correlated with log Po/w values, implicating a diffusion-controlled mechanism for drug release. The IC50 value of 3-in-1 PEG-b-PLA micelles for MCF-7 and...
IT Governance-An Integrated Framework and Roadmap: How to Plan, Deploy and Sustain for Improved Effectiveness

The issues, opportunities and challenges of effectively managing and governing an organization’s Information Technology (IT) demands, investments and resources has become a major concern of the Board and executive management in enterprises on a global basis. A rapidly growing number of organizations have become increasingly dependent on a broad array of technologies to manage and grow their businesses. IT is an integral part of most organizations today and will certainly become more critical in the future. This paper proposes a comprehensive and integrated IT governance framework and roadmap which identifies the appropriate current and emerging best practices methodologies for each of the major IT Governance components that must be addressed in any approach and is critical for companies to achieve more effective alignment and management of IT. The framework can serve as a guideline for any organization to select and customize the appropriate approach applicable to its environment, plans, priorities, capabilities and available resources. The findings and implications are based on extensive primary and secondary research and are grounded in a review of current and emerging industry and government best practices and select case studies of leading global and regional organizations based on the recently published book by the author entitled, “Implementing Effective IT Governance and IT Management,” published by Van Haren Publishers, 2015.
An Update on the Role Portrayal of Men and Women in Magazine Advertising

This study examines the role portrayal of men and women in general audience, men's, and women's magazines. The Courtney and Lockeretz (1971) classification scheme was used in order to make comparisons over time. The findings suggest that some improvement has occurred in the extent to which women are shown in a working role relative to men. The data also suggests that a trend toward greater use of the decorative (inactive) nonworking role for both sexes has peaked and has reversed. The study also found that excessive nudity is most often found in ads in women's magazines using female models.
Regulation of myocardial phospholipid N-methylation by insulin and diabetes.

Phospho lipid N-methylation has been implicated in the actions of several hormones, neurohumoral modulators and pharmaceutical agents in the myocardium (Panagia et al. 1989; Taira et al. 1990; Hamaguchi et al. 1991). During N-methylaltion of phosphatidylethanolamine, the methyl group of S-adenosylmethionine is transferred to the amino head group of the phospholipid, resulting in the ultimate formation of phosphatidylcholine. Although the cytidinediphosphocholine pathway appears to serve as the primary source of phosphatidylcholine in the myocardium (Hatch et al. 1989), the conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine is considered important because it causes local changes in membrane structure (Post et al. 1995). One of the changes involves the redistribution of phospholipid within the membrane. This occurs because phosphatidylethanolamine, but not phosphatidylcholine, is preferentially located in the inner (cytoplasmic) leaflet of the membrane (Posts et al. 1995). When phosphatidylethanolamine is converted to phosphatidylcholine, a net transfer of phospholipid from the inner (cytoplasmic) leaflet to the outer (extracellular) leaflet of the membrane takes place (Crews 1985).
Plane and Solid Geometry: A Note on Purity of Methods

Traditional geometry concerns itself with planimetric and stereometric considerations, which are at the root of the division between plane and solid geometry. In this note (which is based on Arana and Mancosu. The Review of Symbolic Logic 5(2): 294–353, 2012), our major concern is with methodological issues of purity. In the first part we give a rough sketch of some key episodes in mathematical practice that relate to the interaction between plane and solid geometry. In the second part, we look at a late nineteenth century debate (“fusionism”) in which for the first time methodological and foundational issues related to aspects of the mathematical practice covered in the first part of the paper came to the fore. We conclude this part by remarking that only through an axiomatic and analytical effort could the issues raised by the debate on “fusionism” be made precise. The third part focuses on Hilbert’s axiomatic and foundational analysis of the plane version of Desargues’ theorem on homological triangles and its implications for the relationship between plane and solid geometry. Finally, building on the foundational case study analyzed in the third section, in the fourth and last section, we point the way to the analytic work necessary for exploring various important claims on “purity,” “content,” and other relevant notions.
CRISPR Technology Reveals RAD(51)-ical Mechanisms of Repair in Roundworms: An Educational Primer for Use with "Promotion of Homologous Recombination by SWS-1 in Complex with RAD-51 Paralogs in Caenorhabditis elegans".

The mechanisms cells use to maintain genetic fidelity via DNA repair and the accuracy of these processes have garnered interest from scientists engaged in basic research to clinicians seeking improved treatment for cancer patients. Despite the continued advances, many details of DNA repair are still incompletely understood. In addition, the inherent complexity of DNA repair processes, even at the most fundamental level, makes it a challenging topic. This primer is meant to assist both educators and students in using a recent paper, “Promotion of homologous recombination by SWS-1 in complex with RAD-51 paralogs in Caenorhabditis elegans ,” to understand mechanisms of DNA repair. The goals of this primer are to highlight and clarify several key techniques utilized, with special emphasis on the clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats technique and the ways in which it has revolutionized genetics research, as well as to provide questions for deeper in-class discussion.
Intermodal nonlinear conversion of orbital angular momentum via MMF links

We investigate an ultrafast frequency and mode conversion process of orbital angular momentum (OAM) across the C-band in the high-index ring region of multimode fiber using intermodal nonlinear wave mixing, by in the best case up to 31.6% conversion efficiency.
A Structured Abstract: Combining Co-creation and CSR (An Investigation into Innovative Service Business Models)

Today’s competitive marketplace increasingly pressures organizations to provide benefits beyond those desired by end consumers, to enhance some facet of the surrounding community (Lacey et al. 2015). In response, many companies express broadening their value delivery aim from the shareholder to a more inclusive arena including multiple stakeholders and social causes. This focus shift is reflected in a variety of corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts in practice—from discrete charitable donations to the development of entirely new service innovations—with the overarching goal of “doing well by doing good” (Rangan et al. 2015). Corporate social responsibility, broadly, refers to organizational activities that benefit society (Brown and Dacin 1997; McWilliams and Siegel 2001) to enhance brand image in the eyes of consumers while stimulating market performance (Bruch and Walter 2005; Luo and Bhattacharya 2009). Specifically, one emerging trend in CSR practices involves incorporating a minority community in need directly into their service offering. In fact, businesses are creating opportunities for minority groups to be frontline employees that provide services to the majority population. These organizations operate with the dual goals of bridging the gap between majority-minority populations while providing tools for subsistence—not targeted aid—for the need community, achieving both through profitable service operations.
Skating to Where the Puck Is Going: Future Systems and Software Engineering Opportunities and Challenges

This paper provides an update and extension of a 2005 paper on The Future of Systems and Software Engineering Processes. Some of its challenges and opportunities are similar, such as the need to simultaneously achieve high levels of both agility and assurance. Others have emerged as increasingly important, such as the opportunities and challenges of dealing with smart systems involving ultralarge volumes of data; with multicore chips; with social networking services; and with cloud computing or software as a service. The paper is organized around eight relatively surprise-free trends and two “wild cards” whose trends and implications are harder to foresee. The eight surprise-free trends are: 1. Increasing emphasis on rapid development and adaptability; 2. Increasing software criticality and need for assurance; 3. Increased complexity, global systems of systems, and need for scalability and interoperability; 4. Increased needs to accommodate COTS, software services, and legacy systems; 5. Smart systems with increasingly large volumes of data and ways to learn from them; 6. Increased emphasis on users, social networking services, web applications, and end value; 7. Computational plenty and multicore chips; 8. Increasing integration of software and systems engineering. The two wild-card trends are: 9. Increasing software autonomy; and 10. Combinations of biology and computing.
A Review of Prostate Biopsy Techniques

Abstract Imaging of the prostate has improved dramatically over the last few decades and has led to the improved detection, staging, and treatment of prostate cancer. Technologies such as multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) identify three-dimensional regions of interest (ROI) suspicious for prostate cancer, which can then be targeted for biopsy. This is moving us away from the systematic non-targeted biopsies of the past where the entire prostate is sampled. The implementation of this technology has the potential to more accurately stage prostate cancer at the initial diagnosis, therefore pushing men with clinically significant prostate cancer towards earlier treatment and saving men with clinically insignificant cancer from unnecessary tests and treatment. This review will present and discuss the varying techniques for prostate biopsy which implement mpMRI.
A Distributed Architecture for Robust and Optimal Control of DC Microgrids

This paper presents a distributed, robust, and optimal control architecture for a network of multiple dc–dc converters. The network of converters considered form a dc microgrid in order to regulate a desired dc bus voltage and meet prescribed time-varying power sharing criteria among different energy sources. Such coordinated microgrids provide an important framework for leveraging the benefits of distributed power generation and consumption. The proposed control design seamlessly accommodates communication architectures that range from the centralized to decentralized scenarios with graceful degradation of the performance with lessened communication ability. Moreover, the methods developed are applicable to the case where the desired proportion in which the sources provide the power varies with time. A distinguishing feature of the control design approach is that it regards the net load current as a disturbance signal, lending itself to tractable analysis with tools from the robust and optimal control theory. A quantifiable analysis of the closed-loop stability and the performance of the network of converters is performed; the analysis simplifies to studying the closed-loop performance of an equivalent single-converter system. The control approach is demonstrated through simulations and experiments.
A model for integrating human computing into commercial video games

Human Computing (HC) is a successful approach to crowdsourcing scientific research. Despite its success, many HC projects struggle to expand their user base and create sustained user engagement. In contrast, the commercial video game industry overall is very successful at encouraging users to spend significant time and resources to play over extended stretches of time, using techniques such as gameplay loops to engage players on many levels. When integrating scientific research into a video game, ideally the HC activities fit naturally within the gameplay loops and overall game themes, which game developers are best suited to accomplish. The authors propose a new HC to Video Games (HCtVG) model and associated framework, which provides a common means to connect HC research and video game developers. The HCtVG model comprises two major phases: Deconstruction and Analysis (DA) done by the researchers, and Game Integration (GI) completed by the game developers. During the DA, researchers deconstruct their research into a 5-Step Analysis Structure (5SAS) consisting of Suggest, Validate, Process, Select, and Exit steps. The 5SAS allows game developers to perform the GI phase, using the guidelines provided to integrate the HC activity into the gameplay and theme. This structure allows scientists to focus on their domain expertise while leveraging the skills of the game development community to design their video game integration. To demonstrate the HCtVG model, the authors apply the DA phase to an HC project seeking the discovery of chemotherapeutic co-medication properties for multi-drug resistant cancer research, and use the GI phase to design and integrate the HC activity into the popular game Minecraft.
Non-Invasive Carotid Imaging : A Comparative Assessment and Practical Approach

Stroke originating from carotid artery disease remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality, and both medical and invasive therapies targeting the carotid artery can improve patient outcomes. Multiple noninvasive imaging methods, including duplex ultrasonography, computerized tomographic angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography, are available to assess the extracranial carotid artery and guide clinical decision making. This article discusses the advantages and limitations of these imaging modalities and provides a practical framework by which clinicians may use imaging to evaluate patients with carotid artery disease.
Chapter II. 2 – Cell-Cell Interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the families of adhesion receptors involved in inflammatory or thrombotic responses and endothelial–endothelial cell adhesive junctions. It also discusses the signaling mechanisms associated with the adhesion processes, particularly those mediated by integrins and cadherins. Cell adhesion is instrumental in diverse biological phenomena, including tissue morphogenesis, inflammation, and thrombosis. Cell–cell interactions play a vital role in assembling cells together and in determining the overall tissue architecture during tissue generation. A relevant example is neovascularization or formation of new blood vessels. The endothelium that forms the inner layer of the vessel wall is a biologically active monolayer presenting a dynamic interface between flowing blood and tissues of the body. Adhesive junctions between endothelial cells not only help in maintaining the integrity of the vessel structure experiencing hemodynamic forces due to blood flow but also actively regulate the permeability of bioactive molecules and transmigration of various leukocyte populations across the endothelial monolayer during inflammation. In the vascular system, cell attachment during inflammatory or thrombotic processes occurs under flow conditions and depends on the balance between the dispersive hydrodynamic forces and the adhesive forces generated by the interaction of membrane-bound receptors and their ligands. Cellular interactions are required to be highly specific in nature for proper regulation of events to result in homeostatic inflammation and coagulation. Inflammatory processes normally protect the body from infections by foreign pathogens. However, when dysregulated leukocyte migration to healthy tissues can lead to unwanted disorders and pathologic conditions, defective modulation of the hemostatic mechanism can lead to the formation of platelet-rich thrombus that can compromise the patency of the blood.
Erzeugung und Darstellung von Polyedern

In diesem Abschnitt wird geklart, dass zur Charakterisierung und Erzeugung von Polyedern bereits recht wenige, namlich endlich viele geometrische Informationen ausreichen.
Simulation of heat transfer and stress analysis of continuous casting

Due to high productivity and the ability to cast to a form which could be rolled directly to a final product, continuous casting was selected for analysis and simulation. Three-dimensional finite element was used because of its capability to analyze any type of ingot with arbitrary section. Various types of boundary conditions which occur during the solidification process, as well as temperature dependent material properties were discussed. Two generalized models for heat transfer and stress analysis were developed. The first model, based on variation of heat transfer boundary conditions, was used to predict temperature distribution and solid shell formation. The second model, by considering applied thermal and mechanical loads and enforced displacements on the ingot, was used to calculate the stress distribution within the solid shell.
HIGH TEMPERATURE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MOLDED GRAPHITES

Properties of molded graphites have been measured to temperatures exceeding their creep thresholds. These include thermal expansion, flexural dynamic and static modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, and tensile strength. The equipment and methods for measurement are briefly described and data are presented for typical graphites.
k-Barrier Coverage for Physical Security in Stealthy Lattice Wireless Sensor Networks

Any unauthorized access to a critical space is a physical breach in our society that can be viewed as a physical security problem. It is essential to build a barrier that prevents any intruder’s attempt to cross it and access a critical area. In this paper, we address the problem of physical security in stealthy lattice wireless sensor networks using a belt of sensors around a critical area. Precisely, we propose a theoretical framework to analyze the k-barrier coverage problem, where any path that crosses this belt intersects with the sensing range of at least k sensors, k≥1. Specifically, we analyze the k-barrier coverage problem from a tiling perspective, where the sensors’ sensing disks are tangential to each other. We study two deterministic sensor deployment strategies, which yield square lattice and hexagonal lattice wireless sensor networks, respectively. First, we introduce the concept of intruder’s abstract paths along a k-barrier covered sensor belt region, and compute their number. Second, we propose a polynomial representation of all abstract paths. Third, we compute the number of sensors deployed over a k-barrier covered sensor belt region for both lattices. Fourth, we define the concept of weakly k-barrier covered path crossing a k-barrier covered sensor belt region, and compute its length for both lattices. Also, we define the observability of intruder’s abstract path, and compute its value for both lattices. Fifth, we provide more generalized results when the intruder moves randomly across a k-barrier covered sensor belt region. Sixth, we corroborate our analysis with simulation results.
Off-Grid Generators, Gen Sets, and Biomass Systems

With the exception of solar-powered systems, the electricity produced in off-grid systems is provided by a rotating generator. The operating principles, frequency, and voltage control aspects, circuit model, and efficiency of synchronous generators are described in this chapter. The mechanical power provided to the generator can come from several sources, including wind turbines, hydro turbines, and internal combustion engines. Internal combustion engines are especially common. The operating principles, efficiency, and fuel consumption of internal combustion engine-coupled generators are described in this chapter. Biomass systems are also covered as they produce biogas and syngas that can be used as fuel for internal combustion engines. In particular, anaerobic and gasification processes are detailed.
The potential role of germline single nucleotide polymorphisms for selecting the ideal candidates for sunitinib therapy in patients with locally-advanced renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents the eighth most common malignant cancer diagnosed in the United States (1). Despite a stage migration of RCC towards a more localized disease over the past decades, a considerable proportion of patients is still diagnosed with loco-regional disease. In case of organ-confined RCC, the overall prognosis for surgically treated patients is fairly good, with a 5-year cancer specific mortality (CSM)-free rate of 91% and for stage I (T1N0M0) and 74% for stage II (T2N0M0).
Application of alloy solidification theory to cellular automata modeling of near-rapid constrained solidification

Abstract To utilize the full potential of additive manufacturing routes for metallic part production, understanding how microstructure and texture develop as functions of alloying additions and process conditions is critical. Use of cellular automata (CA) with alloy solidification theory can provide a useful augmentation to experimental microstructure observations, as it can accurately and efficiently reproduce nucleation and growth of cubic crystal structures common to binary and ternary alloy solidification. We apply CA to model constrained solidification under thermal gradient magnitudes and solidification velocities representative of those commonly encountered along the melt pool boundary in Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS®), a specific alloy-based additive process. Various sets of alloying elements, quantities, and nucleation parameters are used to show the model’s ability to predict realistic trends in nucleation and growth of single phase β -Ti alloys. 2D and 3D model implementations are qualitatively and quantitatively compared, and alloy composition (element and quantity) is shown to play a critical role on the columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) through changes to the interfacial response function. Simulation results are further used to define a parameter that correlates with the CET over a range of imposed conditions, linking alloy solidification theory to the CA prediction of microstructure. This CA model can serve as a useful tool when designing sets of alloying additions that would produce given microstructures, while coupled application of this CA to process scale simulations of additive process temperature fields will facilitate design of both specific alloy compositions and sets of process conditions for microstructure control.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 Signaling Promotes Metastasis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. To identify TNBC therapeutic targets, we performed integrative bioinformatics analysis of multiple breast cancer patient-derived gene expression datasets and focused on kinases with FDA-approved or in-pipeline inhibitors. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) was identified as a top candidate. SPHK1 overexpression or downregulation in human TNBC cell lines increased or decreased spontaneous metastasis to lungs in nude mice, respectively. SPHK1 promoted metastasis by transcriptionally upregulating the expression of the metastasis-promoting gene FSCN1 via NFκB activation. Activation of the SPHK1/NFκB/FSCN1 signaling pathway was associated with distance metastasis and poor clinical outcome in TNBC patients. Targeting SPHK1 and NFκB using clinically-applicable inhibitors (safingol and bortezomib, respectively) significantly inhibited aggressive mammary tumor growth and spontaneous lung metastasis in orthotopic syngeneic TNBC mouse models. These findings highlight SPHK1 and its downstream target NFκB as promising therapeutic targets in TNBC.
Linking bedrock discontinuities to glacial quarrying

Quarrying and abrasion are the two principal processes responsible for glacial erosion of bedrock. The morphologies of glacier hard beds depend on the relative effectiveness of these two processes, as abrasion tends to smooth bedrock surfaces and quarrying tends to roughen them. Here we analyze concentrations of bedrock discontinuities in the Tsanfleuron forefield, Switzerland, to help determine the geologic conditions that favor glacial quarrying over abrasion. Aerial discontinuity concentrations are measured from scaled drone-based photos where fractures and bedding planes in the bedrock are manually mapped. A Tukey honest significant difference test indicates that aerial concentration of bed-normal bedrock discontinuities is not significantly different between quarried and non-quarried areas of the forefield. Thus, an alternative explanation is needed to account for the spatial variability of quarried areas. To investigate the role that bed-parallel discontinuities might play in quarrying, we use a finite element model to simulate bed-normal fracture propagation within a stepped bed with different step heights. Results indicate that higher steps (larger spacing of bed-parallel discontinuities) propagate bed-normal fractures more readily than smaller steps. Thus, the spacing of bed-parallel discontinuities could exert strong control on quarrying by determining the rate that blocks can be loosened from the host rock.
Life Course Pathways From Childhood Socioeconomic Status to Later-Life Cognition: Evidence From the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVES A growing body of research indicates that older adults are at greater risk for poorer cognition if they experienced low socioeconomic status (SES) as children. Guided by life course epidemiology, this study aimed to advance understanding of processes through which childhood SES influences cognition decades later, with attention to the role of scholastic performance in adolescence and SES in midlife. METHOD We used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), which has followed a cohort of high school graduates since they were 18 years old in 1957. Childhood SES was measured prospectively in adolescence, and measures of memory and language/executive functioning were based on neurocognitive assessments at age 72. We used participants' scores on a statewide standardized test in high school as an indicator of scholastic performance in adolescence. The measure of SES in midlife included years of postsecondary education, income, and occupation status at age 53. RESULTS Findings from structural equation models indicated that scholastic performance in adolescence and midlife status attainment together fully mediated associations between childhood SES and both memory and language/executive functioning at age 72. Adolescent scholastic performance was directly associated with later-life cognition, as well as indirectly through midlife status attainment. DISCUSSION Findings provide support for both latency and social pathway processes when considering how SES in childhood influences later-life cognition. Results contribute to growing calls for social policies and programs to support optimal brain health at multiple phases throughout the life course, especially among individuals with lower SES as children.
Query batching optimization in database systems

Abstract Techniques based on sharing data and computation among queries have been an active research topic in database systems. While work in this area developed algorithms and systems that are shown to be effective, there is a lack of rigorous modeling and theoretical study for query processing and optimization. Query batching in database systems has strong resemblance to order batching in the warehousing context. While the latter is a well-studied problem, the literature on optimization techniques for query batching problem is quite scarce/nonexistent. In this study, we develop a Mixed Binary Quadratic Program (MBQP) to optimize query-batching in a database system. This model uses the coefficients of a linear regression on the query retrieval time, trained by a large set of randomly generated query sets. We also propose two heuristics, the so-called restricted-cardinality search methods I and II, for solving the proposed MBQP. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed techniques, we conduct a comprehensive computational study over randomly generated instances of three well-known database benchmarks. The computational results show that when the proposed MBQP is solved using the designed heuristics, an improvement of up to 61.8% in retrieving time is achieved.
Use of sport-related concussion information sources among parents of United States middle school children.

Abstract Objective Parents may use various information sources to obtain information about sport-related concussions (SRC). This study examined SRC-related information sources used by parents of United States middle school children (age: 10–15 years). Methods A panel of 1083 randomly selected U.S. residents, aged ≥18 years and identifying as parents of middle school children, completed an online questionnaire capturing parental and child characteristics, and utilization and perceived trustworthiness of various sources of SRC-related information. Multivariable logistic regression models identified factors associated with utilizing each source. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) excluding 1.00 were deemed significant. Results Doctors/healthcare providers (49.9%) and other healthcare-related resources (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WebMD) (37.8%) were common SRC-related information sources; 64.0% of parents utilized ≥1 of these sources. Both sources were considered “very” or “extremely” trustworthy for SRC-related information among parents using these sources (doctors/healthcare providers: 89.8%; other healthcare-related resources: 70.9%). A 10-year increase in parental age was associated with higher odds of utilizing doctors/healthcare providers (adjusted odd ratio (ORadjusted) = 1.09, 95%CI: 1.02–1.16) and other healthcare-related resources (ORadjusted = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.03–1.19). The odds of utilizing doctors/healthcare providers (ORadjusted = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.40–0.84) and other healthcare-related resources (ORadjusted = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.44–0.93) were lower among parents whose middle school children had concussion histories versus the parents of children who did not have concussion histories. Conclusion One-third of parents did not report using doctors/healthcare providers or other healthcare-related resources for SRC-related information. Factors associated with underutilization of these sources may be targets for future intervention. Continuing education for healthcare providers and educational opportunities for parents should highlight accurate and up-to-date SRC-related information.
Modeling the elective vascular surgery recovery after coronavirus disease 2019: Implications for moving forward.

OBJECTIVE: Delays in elective surgery caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a substantial backlog of cases. In the current study, we sought to determine the estimated time to recovery for vascular surgery procedures delayed due to COVID-19 in a regional health system METHODS: Utilizing data from a 35-hospital regional vascular surgical collaborative consisting of all hospitals performing vascular surgery in the state of Michigan, a 35-hospital regional health collaborative consisting of all hospitals completing vascular surgery procedures within the state of Michigan, we estimated delayed surgical cases for adults undergoing carotid endarterectomy, carotid stenting, endovascular and open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and lower extremity bypass. We utilized Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models to predict surgical volume in the absence of the COVID-19 pandemic and utilized historical data to predict elective surgical recovery time. RESULTS: Median statewide monthly vascular surgical volume for the study period was 439 procedures, with a maximum statewide monthly case volume of 519 procedures. For the month of April 2020, elective vascular surgery procedural volume decreased by approximately 90%. Significant variability was seen in estimated hospital capacity as well as estimated backlogged cases, with the recovery of elective cases estimated to take approximately 8 months. If hospitals across the collaborative share the burden of backlogged cases, the recovery could be shortened to approximately 3 months. CONCLUSION: In this study of vascular surgical volume in a regional health collaborative, elective surgical procedures decreased by 90% resulting in a backlog of over 700 cases. Recovery time if all hospitals in the collaborative share the burden of backlogged cases would be reduced from 8 months to 3 months, underscoring the necessity of regional and statewide policies to minimize patient harm due to delays in recovery for elective surgery.
Ectopic endometriosis of the eyelid

A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman with a history of endometriosis on estrogen hormone replacement therapy presented for removal of a bothersome papillomatous lesion on her left lower eyelid margin...
Understanding Response Rates in Random Digit Dial Surveys

This research methods brief presents data from random digit dial (RDD) surveys in nine countries. We show that response rates to such surveys are typically below 60 percent and can be as low as 7 percent. We also show that most of the sample is lost at two points in the survey: non-contact, where respondents do not pick up the phone, and early refusal, where respondents terminate the interview before the survey begins. Beyond that point, cooperation is relatively high, with breakoffs during the interview ranging from effectively 0 to 10 percent across the nine countries. This evidence suggests that the most promising ways to increase response rates are strategies that increase pick-up rates and improve the first impression respondents have of the interviewer. While increasing contact and consent rates should logically improve response rates, it is not a guarantee. Future research would be needed to confirm whether respondents who are newly induced to answer and consent to the survey would be just as cooperative as those who would have consented without further intervention.
Effect of Angle of Incidence on the Response of Cylindrical Electrostatic Probes at Supersonic Speeds

The response of cylindrical probes at various angles of incidence has been studied in low-density hypersonic argon plasma. All mean free paths were larger than probe radii (rp) except the ion-ion mean free path which was smaller than rp in most of the tests. In nearly all experiments, an ion current peak has been observed near the zero angle of incidence. The magnitude of this effect is shown to depend strongly on probe radius-to-Debye length ratio (rp/AD) and is significant for 0.5 < rp/lD < 2. Insensitivity of this effect to probe length appears to be closely related to the presence of ion collisions. A physical model is proposed which explains the effect in terms of ionneutral collisions in the presheath of the probes. A simple theory is presented in the paper which attempts to account for the measured data on the ion current peak. The readings obtained with aligned and transverse probes are interpreted using collisionless theories (Laframboise, Smetana, modified Langmuir) and the current vs angle-ofattack variation is used to infer "collision-free" value of the ion current to aligned probes. The experimental results appear to agree with Laframboise's theory in the orbital-motion-limited region. Disagreements with theory reported by several investigators can be explained either in terms of ion-neutral collisions associated with aligned probes (in "nearly collisionless" plasmas) or in terms of an end effect (in highly rarefied plasmas).
Factors influencing the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in milk.

Abstract The influences of the initial bacterial count and heat treatment of raw whole milk and the initial pH of sterile reconstituted nonfat dry milk on growth and enterotoxin A production by Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. In milk relatively free from competing microorganisms, an S. aureus population of 2 to 3million per milliliter was associated with detectable enterotoxin A. It was detected after 4 to 6 hours in low-count raw milk or sterile reconstituted nonfat dry milk inoculated initially with 10 3 to 10 5 S. aureus per milliliter. Though S. aureus reached 2 to 3million per milliliter in commercial raw milks, no enterotoxin A was detected. Growth inhibition of S. aureus in raw milks may or may not always result in simultaneous inhibition of enterotoxin A production. Good growth and detectable enterotoxin A resulted in heat treated raw milk (pasteurized or heated at 65.6C for 16sec). Enterotoxin A was produced in sterile reconstituted nonfat dry milk at initial pH's of 4.5 to 6.5 (adjusted with HCl). At pH 4.5 lactic acid was bactericidal to S. aureus .
Discrete-time H/sub 2//H/sub infinity / norm-bounding pole placement control and estimation

A mixed H/sub 2//H/sub infinity / control problem for discrete-time systems is approached from a covariance assignment viewpoint. A controller which simultaneously meets the following three criteria is proposed: pole placement in a specified disc in the stability region, assignment of an upper bound to the H/sub 2/ cost, and satisfaction of an H/sub infinity / disturbance bound. Examples are given to illustrate the results. An application to the observer design problem is also described. >
Growth inhibition of mouse lymphoma cells, L5178Y, in vitro, by glucocorticoids: Alterations in choline metabolism

Abstract The effects of prednisolone and other glucocorticoids were studied in a cell culture system of L5178Y mouse lymphoma. A relatively high level of 8 × 10 −6 M prednisolone was required to reduce growth by 50%. The response was due to an increase in generation time and was not a result of the cytolytic effects of the steroid. A synchronous cell population was obtained by successive treatment with excess thymidine and Colcemid. Using this technic it was determined that an exposure to prednisolone for a time longer than a complete cell cycle was required in order to bring about inhibition of cell multiplication. In the course of experiments involving brief exposure to prednisolone, it was determined that prednisolone when added to synchronized cells inhibited incorporation of 14 C-choline into the lipid cell fraction. The inhibition of choline incorporation in cells selected for increased resistance to prednisolone was about half that observed in steroid-sensitive cells.
Ocular neovascularization in eyes with a central retinal artery occlusion or a branch retinal artery occlusion.

PURPOSE To investigate the ocular neovascularization (ONV) rate in eyes with a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) or a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), and to study factors that may influence the ONV rate secondary to CRAO. METHODS This was a retrospective case series of consecutive patients (286 total eyes: 83 CRAOs and 203 BRAOs) who were diagnosed with a retinal artery occlusion from 1998 to 2013 at the Retina Consultants of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between hypothesized risk factors and ONV development. RESULTS Twelve (14.5%) of the 83 eyes with a CRAO developed ONV. Eleven of 12 eyes (91.7%) had iris neovascularization, ten of 12 eyes (83.3%) had neovascular glaucoma, and two of 12 eyes (16.7%) had neovascularization of the optic disc. The average time for ONV development secondary to CRAO was 30.7 days, ranging from the date of presentation to 137 days. Only two (<1.0%) of the 203 eyes with a BRAO developed iris neovascularization. Diabetes mellitus type 2 was a risk factor for ONV development following a CRAO with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.2 (95% confidence interval: 1.4-19.8) (P=0.02). CONCLUSION ONV is an important complication of CRAO and is a less-frequent complication of BRAO. Patients with a CRAO, especially those with diabetes mellitus type 2, should be closely monitored for the first 6 months for ONV.