cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An empirical study on quality issues of production big data platform

Big Data computing platform has evolved to be a multi-tenant service. The service quality matters because system failure or performance slowdown could adversely affect business and user experience. To date, there is few study in literature on service quality issues of production Big Data computing platform. In this paper, we present an empirical study on the service quality issues of Microsoft ProductA, which is a company-wide multi-tenant Big Data computing platform, serving thousands of customers from hundreds of teams. ProductA has a well-defined escalation process (i.e., incident management process), which helps customers report service quality issues on 24/7 basis. This paper investigates the common symptom, causes and mitigation of service quality issues in Big Data platform. We conduct a comprehensive empirical study on 210 real service quality issues of ProductA. Our major findings include (1) 21.0% of escalations are caused by hardware faults; (2) 36.2% are caused by system side defects; (3) 37.2% are due to customer side faults. We also studied the general diagnosis process and the commonly adopted mitigation solutions. Our study results provide valuable guidance on improving existing development and maintenance practice of production Big Data platform, and motivate tool support.
Biaryl ethers as potent allosteric inhibitors of reverse transcriptase and its key mutant viruses: Aryl substituted pyrazole as a surrogate for the pyrazolopyridine motif

Biaryl ethers were recently reported as potent NNRTIs. Herein, we disclose a detailed effort to modify the previously reported compound 1. We have designed and synthesized a series of novel pyrazole derivatives as a surrogate for pyrazolopyridine motif that were potent inhibitors of HIV-1 RT with nanomolar intrinsic activity on the WT and key mutant enzymes and potent antiviral activity in infected cells.
Contrasting roles of a novel K+ channel blocker and a K+ channel opener on electro-mechanical activity in canine heart tissue

We tested the effects of a potassium channel opener diazoxide on the action potential duration (APD) and contractile force changes in canine Purkinje tissue induced by a novel class III anti-arrhythmic agent (C3A), KCB-328 (0.5 microM) with 3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl ring structure (0.5 microM). KCB-328 shortened APD(25) by 8.3+/-2.1%, prolonged APD(50) and APD(90) by 31.2+/-5.3 and 50.0+/-7.1%, respectively. Diazoxide (0.1 mM) shortened APD at all levels by 58.3+/-8.1, 54.1+/-6.1, and 42.8+/-5.8%, respectively. In the presence of diazoxide, KCB-328 still prolonged APD(50) and APD(90) (12.5+/-3.8 and 26.8+/-5.9%, respectively). KCB-328 increased force of contraction in a dose-dependent manner. KCB-328 increased force less in the presence of diazoxide. Administration of diazoxide only, reduced force of contraction. We conclude that APD prolongation by KCB-328 may occur even in the presence of diazoxide. It is not sufficient for the restoration of already diminished contractile force and that such an APD prolongation may be unrelated to the restoration of force of contraction even though both are most often seen to occur simultaneously.
A Queuing Network Model for Visual Search and Menu Selection

Random menu search is a task component involved in many human-machine interfaces and has been modeled with various cognitive models including ACT-R and EPIC. Based on a review of empirical data in menu search and strengths and limitations of existing models, this article proposes a model that is based on the queueing network approach, which has been successfully applied in some other task domains (e.g., response time, driver performance). The queueing network model for random menu selection was implemented and evaluated through model simulation. In contrast to existing models that rely on multiple task-specific strategies to account for performance and eye movement data, the queueing network model uses only one strategy already employed in an existing cognitive model to account for the same data. The value of this ”minimal task strategy” approach for modeling complex menu search tasks is discussed, based on the reported findings of the queueing network model and a comparison to existing models.
Fabrication, characterization and testing of thin films with novel microstructures

A new approach is presented to produce uniform thickness, electron-transparent, free-standing single-phase or multiphase thin films with nanocrystalline grain sizes that lend themselves readily to in situ heating and straining in a transmission electron microscope. The second phase in the multiphase films is in the form of through-thickness rods, and their diameter, spacing and spatial arrangement can be controlled. Preliminary results of deformation studies on such films are presented.
The activation of carcinogens by mammary cells: inter-organ and intra-organ specificity.

Evidence has been presented by epidemiologists that the etiology of the majority of human cancers has environmental factors. It is currently felt that the major environmental factor for cancers other than that of the skin is chemical (1). With the exception of alkylating and acylating agents, almost all chemical carcinogens must be metabolically activated (i.e., converted to an ultimate carcinogen) to initiate neoplasia or induce mutations (1). This activation process is important not only in vivo but is crucial for in vitro systems that are employed to study the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and to screen for environmental chemical carcinogens. Most in vitro models use either various cell homogenate fractions or intact cultured cells to metabolically activate the chemical to be evaluated. For example, Ames and his collaborators (2) use an S9 fraction of liver homogenate to metabolically activate carcinogens; the metabolic derivatives are then assayed for their ability to induce bacterial mutations. Similar systems have been used that employ specific locus mutations in mammalian cells (3,4). In other models, carcinogens are activated by cultured intact mammalian cells. The activity of the metabolized carcinogen is assayed by specific locus mutation or transformation in the activating cell itself (5), or in other co-cultivated cells that have lost their ability to activate carcinogens (6). The validity of using mutagenesis as an endpoint to identify active carcinogens has been reviewed extensively (7).
The function of plastids in the deep-sea benthic foraminifer, Nonionella stella

Curiously, the benthic foraminifer, Nonionella stella, found in the upper 3 cm of sediments collected off California at a depth of ;600 m, retains chloroplasts. We examined the origin and physiological function of the organelles within the host cell. Transmission electron micrographs, fluorescence and absorption spectra, Western blots, and enzyme assays revealed that the chloroplasts were intact and retained functionality for up to 1 year after sample collection. 16S rDNA gene sequences established that the plastids were derived from diatoms closely related to Skeletonema costatum and Odontella sinensis. Western blots of three major chloroplast proteins (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase [RuBisCO], the D1 protein, and the fucoxanthin chlorophyll a protein complex) confirmed that the organelle retained both nuclear and chloroplast encoded proteins, which suggests that the turnover of the plastid machinery is extremely low. Moreover, the two carboxylating enzymes examined, RuBisCO and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase, retained catalytic activity. Three hypotheses regarding the function of sequestered chloroplasts in deep-sea foraminifera were considered: (1) the organelles are photosynthetic under extremely low irradiance levels, (2) the organelles utilize exogenous substrates to generate an electrochemical gradient that permits chemoautrophy in the dark, and (3) they are used for the assimilation of inorganic nitrogen. Our results suggest that the chloroplasts are used to meet the nitrogen requirements of the host. Immunolocalization of the nuclear encoded protein, nitrate reductase, supports this hypothesis. This protein is widely distributed in photoautotrophs but is not encoded in eukaryotic protists such as foraminifera.
Predicting the spreading kinetics of high-temperature liquids on solid surfaces

The rate of movement of liquid drops toward their equilibrium position on smooth, horizontal solid surfaces (spreading kinetics) is considered in this study. A model for nonreactive liquid spreading which was developed for low-temperature liquids is applied to results for a set of high-temperature liquids and room-temperature liquids. These data were generated in a single laboratory following a consistent experimental methodology. The liquid-solid pairs were chosen to result in weak or no interfacial chemical reaction. Furnace atmospheres were chosen to provide data for liquid metals with submonolayer, thin or thick oxide films. Analysis of the high-temperature spreading kinetics for liquids covering a broad range of viscosity, surface tension, and density shows that they can be predicted with a constant shift factor applied to the deGennes expression for nonreactive spreading. The consequences of gravitational and inertial forces, substrate roughness, weak interfacial reactions, and liquid-metal oxide films are discussed.
Impact fracture behavior of injection molded long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene

In this work the variation in Izod impact strength with spatial location was examined for injection molded long glass fiber polypropylene composite plaques. These plaques were fabricated at different sets of processing conditions, with injection speed and melt temperature being varied. By carefully machining test specimens, fifteen different plaque locations both in the in-flow and cross-flow directions were tested. The part morphology was described with the use of characteristic layer thickness ratios, i.e., the shell and the core to part thickness ratios, which were measured experimentally. It was shown that the variation in impact strength with sample location strongly correlates to shell to part thickness ratio. In addition, it was observed that different failure mechanisms exist for different fiber orientations, i.e., for fibers oriented transversely to the crack plane or on the crack plane itself. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fracture surface was conducted and the results supported our findings on the microstructural level.
In silico discovery of gene-coding variants in murine quantitative trait loci using strain-specific genome sequence databases.

Background The identification of genes underlying complex traits has been aided by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping approaches, which in turn have benefited from advances in mammalian genome research. Most recently, whole-genome draft sequences and assemblies have been generated for mouse strains that have been used for a large fraction of QTL mapping studies. Here we show how such strain-specific mouse genome sequence databases can be used as part of a high-throughput pipeline for the in silico discovery of gene-coding variations within murine QTLs. As a test of this approach we focused on two QTLs on mouse chromosomes 1 and 13 that are involved in physical dependence on alcohol.
Vitamin A Treatment for the Infant at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the effects of vitamin A deficiency in the developing lung. 2. Explain the conclusions of the Neonatal Research Network trial of vitamin A supplementation to very low-birthweight infants. 3. Describe potential future refinements in vitamin A therapy. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains one of the most significant costs of survival for the very low-birthweight (VLBW) infant. Many of the risk factors for the evolution of this multifactorial disorder are well known. Although some of these risk factors can be modified after birth, others, such as lung immaturity and impaired lung repair, are less well understood and, therefore, have been less susceptible to therapy. Research data suggest strongly that vitamin A deficiency and alterations in vitamin A kinetics increase the risk of BPD in VLBW infants. Further, it has been hypothesized that treatment of the BPD-prone infant with doses of vitamin A designed to correct this deficiency can reduce the incidence of BPD significantly. There seems to be some confusion about the terms “vitamin A,” “retinoids,” and “carotenoids.” Vitamin A is a general term for natural and synthetic compounds that exhibit the biologic properties of retinol, one of a small family of molecules termed retinoids. Retinoids consist of three chemically related but functionally distinct molecules (retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinoic acid) and their synthetic analogues. Carotenoids are a family of more than 600 naturally occurring molecules, but only a few of these (eg, beta carotene) are precursors of retinol. In this article, vitamin A applies to retinol and its esters (eg, retinyl palmitate) that are commercially available for use in humans. Retinol is supplied as retinyl esters in diets of animal origin or is generated in the gut from beta carotene present in diets of vegetable origin. Some physicians and commentators mistakenly think that vitamin …
On the Effective Use of Security Test Patterns

Capturing attacker behavior in a security test plan allows the systematic, repeated assessment of a system's defenses against attacks. To address the lack of security experts capable of developing effective black box security test plans, we have empirically developed an initial set of six black box security test patterns. These patterns capture the expertise involved in creating a black box security test plan in the same way that software design patterns capture design expertise. Security test patterns can enable software testers lacking security expertise (in this paper, "novices") to develop a test plan the way experts could. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the ability of novices to effectively generate black box security tests by accessing security expertise contained within security test patterns. We conducted a user study of 47 student novices, who used our six initial patterns to develop black box security test plans for six requirements from a publicly available specification for electronic health records systems. We created an oracle for the security test plan by forming a panel of researchers who manually completed the same task as the novices. We found that novices will generate a similar black box test plan to the oracle when aided by the six black box security test patterns.
Robinson's Ecological Correlations and the Behavior of Individuals: methodological corrections

Sixty years ago the late William S. Robinson (1913-96) published his Ecological Correlations and the Behaviors of Individuals. 1. The paper became an all-time classic and it is one of the most influential methodological papers in social sciences. To underscore its impact on epidemiology, this classic was reprinted in this journal, 2. along with an original re-analysis of Robinson's data and conclusion from a multilevel and historical perspective, 3. with discussions. 4-7. In this research letter, we identify, and correct, an error in Robinson's original analysis.
A comparative study of the early vascularization of porous carbon and bone as a graft

Utilizing rats as a model, it was demonstrated that both iliac crest bone and porous carbon disks, when used as onlay grafts, become vascularized as early as 3 days. There is no significant difference between the two. The soft tissues, periosteum, and recipient bone are all capable of supplying vascularization to the graft or implant.
Cd1d regulates B cell development but not B cell accumulation and IL10 production in mice with pathologic CD5+ B cell expansion

CD1d is a widely expressed lipid antigen presenting molecule required for CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell development. Elevated CD1d expression is detected in CD5+ IL10-producing B cells, called B10 B cells, and is correlated with poorer prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a CD5+ B cell malignancy with B10-like functional properties. Whether CD1d expression regulates CD5+ B cell accumulation, IL10 competence, and antibody production in naive mice with pathologic CD5+ B cell expansion remains untested. Using three different transgenic mouse models of benign or leukemic CD5+ B cell expansion, we found that CD1d was differentially expressed on CD5+ B cells between the three models, but loss of CD1d expression had no effect on CD5+ B cell abundance or inducible IL10 expression in any of the models. Interestingly, in the CLL-prone Eμ-TCL1 model, loss of CD1d expression suppressed spontaneous IgG (but not IgM) production, whereas in the dnRAG1xEμ-TCL1 (DTG) model of accelerated CLL, loss of CD1d expression was associated with elevated numbers of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and an inverted CD4+:CD8+ T cell ratio. Unexpectedly, before leukemia onset, all three transgenic CD1d-deficient mouse strains had fewer splenic transitional B cells than their CD1d-proficient counterparts. The results show that CD1d expression and iNKT cells are dispensable for the development, accumulation, or IL10 competence of CD5+ B cells in mice prone to benign or leukemic CLL-like B cell expansion, but reveal a novel role for iNKT cells in supporting B cell progression through the transitional stage of development in these animals. These results suggest CD1d-directed therapies to target CLL could be evaded by downregulating CD1d expression with little effect on continued leukemic CD5+ B cell survival. The data also imply that iNKT cells help restrain pro-leukemic CD8+ T cell expansion in CLL, potentially explaining a reported correlation in human CLL between disease progression, the loss of NKT cells, and a paradoxical increase in CD8+ T cells.
Hydration of Single-Stranded Phosphodiester and Phosphorothioate Oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Infrared spectroscopy was used to identify hydration-sensitive structural differences between single- stranded phosphorothioate (PS) and phosphodiester (PO) oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Spectra were recorded in the mid-infrared region, 500-1800 cm-1, at relative humidities between 0 and 98%; the PS and PO spectra are substantially different. The hydration effects on spectral bands in these single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides is markedly different from such behavior in double- and triple-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides. A strong absorption occurs at 656 cm-1 in the phosphorothioate sample which is completely absent from the PO spectra. Gravimetric measurements were carried out on one PS and one PO sample to monitor and confirm hydration. The calculated BET adsorption constants [Brunauer, S., Emmett, RH. and Teller, E. (1938) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 60, 309-319] are 1.2 and 1.4 water molecules per nucleotide in the first hydration layer of PS and PO respectively. While the gravimetric data indicate that the single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides hydrate very similarly to duplex DNA, the mid-infrared conformational marker bands are strikingly different from those observed for duplex DNA. In particular, the Vas of the phosphate group (PO2) at 1222 cm-1 in the single-stranded PO spectra is independent of relative humidity.
Strategic issues in global R&D projects

The internationalization of Research and Development (R&D) has been extensively studied from an economical, industrial, and organizational perspective. However, at the R&D project level little has been reported in the literature. This paper presents the findings of a study of strategic issues and their influence on R&D project performance in transnational companies headquartered in Brazil or the US. The paper suggests that changes in our business environment have lead to more multinational R&D programs with implications for organizational process, leadership and business strategy. We identified five major shifts in R&D-based business environment that affect project planning and execution, and the way people work in teams. These paradigm shifts must be understood for managing and leading R&D organizations effectively, and for defining appropriate policy guidelines for aligning the R&D projects appropriately with the overall enterprise strategy. Further, the results suggest a need for structuring management processes that deal with these changes and strategic issues. A better understanding of the dynamics and degree to which these issues impact project performance should help managers in fine-tuning their business processes, support systems and management styles to achieve increased resource effectiveness and competitiveness.
On nomenclature and synonymy of Trichius rosaceus, T. gallicus , and T. zonatus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini)

The name Scarabaeus rosaceus Voet, 1766–1778, currently in use as one of two names for a west Palaearctic Trichius species, is unavailable because Voet’s work is not consistently binominal. The valid name for the species is Trichius gallicus Dejean, 1821 with the Sardinian and North African populations forming the subspecies T. g. zonatus Germar, 1831. The lectotype of Trichius zonatus Germar is designated.
Mechanical effects on skeletal growth

The growth (i.e. increase of external dimensions) of long bones and vertebrae occurs longitudinally by endochondral ossification at the growth plates, and radially by apposition of bone at the periosteum. It is thought that mechanical loading influences the rate of longitudinal growth. The 'Hueter-Volkmann Law' proposes that growth is retarded by increased mechanical compression, and accelerated by reduced loading in comparison with normal values. The present understanding of this mechanism of bone growth modulation comes from a combination of clinical observation (where altered loading and growth is implicated in some skeletal deformities) and animal experiments in which growth plates of growing animals have been loaded. The gross effect of growth modulation has been demonstrated qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Sustained compression of physiological magnitude inhibits growth by 40% or more. Distraction increases growth rate by a much smaller amount. Experimental studies are underway to determine how data from animal studies can be scaled to other growth plates. Variables include: differing sizes of growth plate, different anatomical locations, different species and variable growth rate at different stages of skeletal maturity. The two major determinants of longitudinal growth are the rate of chondrocytic proliferation and the amount of chondrocytic enlargement (hypertrophy) in the growth direction. It is largely unknown what are the relative changes in these key variables in mechanically modulated growth, and what are the signaling pathways that produce these changes.
Correctness guarantees in learning management system integration

Grade calculation in historical educational environments depends on a grade journal that is only visible to the instructor. In modern educational environments, this journal has been replaced by more transparency in the form of a computerized learning management system. Unfortunately, there are not correctness guarantees for the students and the faculty. Relational databases measured correctness guarantees with ACID (Atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability) properties. These guarantees are missing in distributed learning management systems. In the research, tools and algorithms are developed that can guarantee consistency and durability client side, inside a web browser, on behalf of the student and the faculty.
FtsZ Rings, Polar Morphology and Cell Lysis

The involvement of ftsZ in cell division was first suggested by study of the ftsZ84 (Ts) mutation (Lutkenhaus et al. 1980). This mutation blocks cell division at the nonpermissive temperature leading to a “smooth” filamentous morphology; filaments without any sign of constriction. This phenotype contrasts with that induced by mutations in other fts genes which display an “indented” filamentous morphology (Begg and Donachie, 1985; Taschner et al., 1988). These results suggest that ftsZ acts earlier in the division pathway than other identified cell division genes. More recently, the construction of conditional ftsZ null mutations confirmed the notion that ftsZ is an essential cell division gene (Dai and Lutkenhaus, 1991; Wang et al. 1991; Pla et al. 1991). The involvement of ftsZ in cell division is also supported by studies that examined the effect of increasing ftsZ expression. Increases in the level of FtsZ leads to a hyperdivision activity in the form of a minicell phenotype (Ward and Lutknehaus, 1985). This result suggests that FtsZ is the rate limiting component for cell division.
From Magnum Opus to Mea Culpa: A Cautionary Tale of Lessons Learned from a Failed Decision Support System

In this article, I present a case study of a failed decision support system (DSS) and describe the creation and collapse of a decision support project conducted with a client over a number of years. I provide insights and advice on organization, systems, data, and ongoing management and software support, as gleaned from mistakes made during the course of the project. The insights should prove useful for researchers, developers, and students of OR/MS-based decision support systems and the organizations that implement them.
A modified procedure for determining inulin space.

Summary1. Inulin recovery was found to be incomplete in five hours after the termination of a two—hour inulin infusion. Since the unrecovered inulin amounted to an average of 15% of the inulin present in the dog at the time of equilibration, an equivalent error was introduced into the calculation of the inulin space by the method of Gaudino and Levitt. 2. By administering a solution made from pure, accurately weighed, dry inulin, and determining the inulin content of the urine excreted during the infusion, the amount of inulin remaining in the dog can be computed with an average error of only 3.8%. In addition, the time needed for urine collection is greatly reduced.
Trends in cancer survivors’ experience of patient-centered communication: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)

Two Institute of Medicine reports almost a decade apart suggest that cancer survivors often feel “lost in transition” and experience suboptimal quality of care. The six core functions of patient-centered communication: managing uncertainty, responding to emotions, making decisions, fostering healing relationships, enabling self-management, and exchanging information, represent a central aspect of survivors’ care experience that has not been systematically investigated. Nationally representative data from four administrations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) was merged with combined replicate weights using the jackknife replication method. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess (1) characteristics of cancer survivors (N = 1794) who report suboptimal patient-centered communication and (2) whether survivors’ patient-centered communication experience changed from 2007 to 2013. One third to one half of survivors report suboptimal patient-centered communication, particularly on core functions of providers helping manage uncertainty (48 %) and responding to emotions (49 %). In a fully adjusted linear regression model, survivors with more education (Wald F = 2.84, p = .04), without a usual source of care (Wald F = 11.59, p < .001), and in poorer health (Wald F = 9.08, p < .001) were more likely to report less patient-centered communication. Although ratings of patient-centered communication improved over time (p trend = .04), this trend did not remain significant in fully adjusted models. Despite increased attention to survivorship, many survivors continue to report suboptimal communication with their health care providers. Survivorship communication should include managing uncertainty about future risk and address survivors’ emotional needs. Efforts to improve patient-centered communication should focus on survivors without a usual source of care and in poorer health.
Enhancement of aging rat laryngeal muscles with endogenous growth factor treatment.

Abstract Clinical evidence suggests that laryngeal muscle dysfunction is associated with human aging. Studies in animal models have reported morphological changes consistent with denervation in laryngeal muscles with age. Life‐long laryngeal muscle activity relies on cytoskeletal integrity and nerve–muscle communication at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). It is thought that neurotrophins enhance neuromuscular transmission by increasing neurotransmitter release. We hypothesized that treatment with neurotrophin 4 (NTF4) would modify the morphology and functional innervation of aging rat laryngeal muscles. Fifty‐six Fischer 344xBrown Norway rats (6‐ and 30‐mo age groups) were used to evaluate to determine if NTF4, given systemically ( n = 32) or directly ( n = 24), would improve the morphology and functional innervation of aging rat thyroarytenoid muscles. Results demonstrate the ability of rat laryngeal muscles to remodel in response to neurotrophin application. Changes were demonstrated in fiber size, glycolytic capacity, mitochondrial, tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk), NMJ content, and denervation in aging rat thyroarytenoid muscles. This study suggests that growth factors may have therapeutic potential to ameliorate aging‐related laryngeal muscle dysfunction.
The Umayyad Caliphate: Mu‘āwiyah Establishes a Dynasty

Mu‘āwiyah was proclaimed caliph at Īliyā’ (Jerusalem) in a.h. 40 (660).1 With his accession the seat of the provincial government, Damascus, became the capital of the Moslem empire, though that empire was somewhat circumscribed. During the arbitration ‘Amr ibn-al-‘Āṣ, Mu‘āwiyah’s right-hand man, had wrested Egypt from ‘Alids, but al-‘Irāq now declared al-Ḥasan, eldest son of ‘Ali and Fāṭimah, the legitimate successor of ‘Ali, and Makkah and al-Madīnah were lukewarm in their loyalty to the representations of the Sufyānids, who had failed to acknowledge Muḥammad until the fall of Makkah and whose Islam was therefore considered of convenience rather than conviction. The interests of al-Ḥasan, who was more at home in the harem than on the throne, lay in fields other than those of imperial administration. It was not long before he abdicated in favour of his more able rival and retired to al-Madīnah to a life of ease and pleasure, a step which he was induced to take by Mu‘āwiyah’s guarantee of a magnificent subsidy and pension1 which he himself had fixed and which included five million dirhams from the Kūfah treasury2 plus the revenue of a district in Persia for the duration of his lifetime.
How do strained semiconductors relax

Multilayer semiconductor devices are used in applications ranging from satellites to compact disc players. However, making such devices is far from easy. For example, growing individual semiconductor layers that are atomically aligned with the underlying substrate can create enormous strains if the semiconductor lattice has a different atomic spacing from the substrate lattice. This strained layer can relax by adding extra lattice planes, or by missing some out, producing misfit dislocations.
Effects of pre-conditioning and testing protocols on performance of different PV technologies

In order to compare panels produced using different technologies in a meaningful manner, it is important to use testing protocols that are relevant to each technology, and that provide results representative of the actual performance of the module under working conditions. Preconditioning process and testing protocols affect the module performance and must be controlled in order to obtain accurate comparisons. The effects of preconditioning processes and testing protocols on various PV technologies are studied and analyzed.
NKT cells as a novel platform for cancer immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptors (P2038)

Transgenic expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) in primary T cells is an attractive strategy for cancer immunotherapy. However, poor homing of CAR T cells to the tumor site limits their therapeutic potential. Because Vα24-invariant Natural Killer T cells (NKTs) naturally localize to solid tumors, we examined their ability to serve as a cellular carrier for anti-tumor CARs. We genetically modified primary human NKTs to express a CAR against GD2 ganglioside, which is highly expressed in tumors of neuroectodermal origin such as neuroblastoma or melanoma. CAR expression rendered NKTs highly cytotoxic against GD2-positive neuroblastoma cells without affecting their native CD1d-restricted reactivity. The comparison of CAR constructs encoding different co-stimulatory endodomains revealed a striking Th2-like or Th1-like polarization of NKTs by CARs with CD28 or CD137, respectively. CAR NKTs had potent and long-lasting anti-tumor activity in a metastatic model of neuroblastoma in humanized NOD/SCID/IL-2γ(null) mice. Furthermore, in contrast to CAR T cells from the same donor, CAR NKTs did not induce graft-versus-host disease. These results establish the potential of NKTs to serve as an effective cellular platform for anti-tumor CAR therapy.
Psychiatric comorbidity with hypothalamic hamartoma: Systematic review for predictive clinical features.

Abstract Objective We conducted a systematic review of the English-language literature to identify clinical features associated with a higher risk of psychiatric symptoms (aggression and rage behaviors) in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) and epilepsy. Methods Two publicly-accessible databases (PubMed and Cochrane Library) were searched for Hypothalamic Hamartoma AND Epilepsy. We identified peer-reviewed original research publications (case reports or clinical series; N = 19) in which clinical data was provided on an individual basis. Subjects were cohorted into those with (N = 51) and without (N = 68) behavioral aggression. Multiple clinical features were collated and subjected to univariate analysis to determine possible differences between these two cohorts. Results The presence of aggression significantly correlated with 1) male gender, 2) younger age at time of first seizure onset, 3) the presence of intellectual disability, and 4) the presence of multiple seizure types (versus gelastic seizures only). For those patients undergoing surgical treatment, aggression also correlated with younger age at the time of surgical intervention. Conclusion Possible predictive clinical features for the presence of aggression and rage behaviors in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma and epilepsy are identified. These results may contribute to the complex treatment decisions that are unique to this population.
Evaluating disease prediction models using a cohort whose covariate distribution differs from that of the target population

Personal predictive models for disease development play important roles in chronic disease prevention. The performance of these models is evaluated by applying them to the baseline covariates of participants in external cohort studies, with model predictions compared to subjects' subsequent disease incidence. However, the covariate distribution among participants in a validation cohort may differ from that of the population for which the model will be used. Since estimates of predictive model performance depend on the distribution of covariates among the subjects to which it is applied, such differences can cause misleading estimates of model performance in the target population. We propose a method for addressing this problem by weighting the cohort subjects to make their covariate distribution better match that of the target population. Simulations show that the method provides accurate estimates of model performance in the target population, while un-weighted estimates may not. We illustrate the method by applying it to evaluate an ovarian cancer prediction model targeted to US women, using cohort data from participants in the California Teachers Study. The methods can be implemented using open-source code for public use as the R-package RMAP (Risk Model Assessment Package) available at http://stanford.edu/~ggong/rmap/ .
Photovoice as a method for the development of collaborative archaeological practice

This article evaluates the extent to which the participatory method photovoice can be a useful tool for archaeologists working collaboratively with communities. It involves distributing cameras to ...
Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa. IV. The effects of cooling rate and warming rate on the maintenance of motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial function

Objective To test the hypotheses that there is a two-factor aspect of cellular damage during cryopreservation that occurs in human sperm (osmotic effects versus intracellular ice formation) and that there is a cooling rate by warming rate interaction related to this damage. Design Ejaculates from healthy men were cooled at 0.1, 1.0, 10, 175, or 800°C/min to −80°C in a solution of 0.85 M glycerol and plunged into liquid nitrogen. Samples were warmed at 400°C/min (experiment 1) or either 1°C or 400°C/min (experiment 2). After warming, sperm were assessed for survival using motility as the endpoint in experiment 1 and motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial function in experiment 2. Results In experiment 1, over the various cooling rates with a standard 400°C/min warming rate, a plot of motility versus cooling rate produced a classical inverted U-shaped curve (n = 6) with maximum motility at the 10°C/min cooling rate. In experiment 2, over the various cooling rates, both 1 and 400°C/min warming rates produced similar but shifted plots of motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial function versus cooling rate, which also produced inverted U-shaped patterns (n = 11). Maximal survival for each of the three endpoints occurred at 10°C/min cooling rate for the rapidly warmed sperm and at 1°C/min for the slowly warmed sperm. Conclusions These data support the hypotheses that a two-factor hypothesis of cryodamage applies to human spermatozoa and that an interaction exists between cooling rate and warming rate. These data also suggest that motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial function are not differently affected by cooling and warming during cryopreservation.
The Experience of Regeneration and Erosion of Certainty in the Theology of Second-Generation Quakers: No Place for Doubt?

The convincement accounts of first- and second-generation Quakers reveal changes in the implicit, narrative theology of regeneration and revelation, despite a relatively consistent articulated theology. Early Friends experienced one, overarching grace that encompassed justification, sanctification and the restoration of creation, emphasizing the culminating experience of regeneration. Anxiety about election, inherited from Puritanism, was replaced with assurance grounded in an experience of victory over sin that both justified and sanctified, and conferred a new, immediate understanding of the truth. This understanding was a subjective, relational knowledge of God’s presence that was only secondarily propositional. Without the broad vision linking justification and sanctification, which dissipated with the passing of the historical moment, second-generation Friends were left with the expectation of victory over sin, but with no explicit teaching on justification and an experience that suggested the strugg...
Vapor-printed polymer electrodes for long-term, on-demand health monitoring

We vapor print conformal conjugated polymer electrodes directly onto living plants and use these electrodes to probe the health of actively growing specimens using bioimpedance spectroscopy. Vapor-printed polymer electrodes, unlike their adhesive thin-film counterparts, do not delaminate from microtextured living surfaces as the organism matures and do not observably attenuate the natural growth pattern and self-sustenance of the plants investigated here. On-demand, noninvasive bioimpedance spectroscopy performed with long-lasting vapor-printed polymer electrodes can reliably detect deep tissue damage caused by dehydration and ultraviolet A exposure throughout the life cycle of a plant.
A Mixed-Methods Study of Stem Cell Transplantation Utilization for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Background Current guidelines recommend that autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) be considered for all eligible patients with multiple myeloma during first-line treatment. However, less than one-third of patients in the United States undergo the procedure. The reasons for this are unclear. Patients and Methods We performed a mixed-methods study including qualitative interviews of patients who declined AHSCT at a high-volume regional transplantation center. Results Over a 12-month period, 63% (129/206) of patients underwent AHSCT during first-line therapy. The consulting physician deemed 26% (47) ineligible. An additional 11% (23) were eligible but declined. In the qualitative interviews, 3 themes emerged regarding AHSCT refusal: (1) possible toxicity and disruption in quality of life; (2) unclear gains of AHSCT versus standard chemotherapy; and (3) the sense that transplantation was not suggested for them specifically, rather it was “the routine”; we coined this theme “impersonalized medicine.” Conclusion On the basis of our findings, we stress the importance of providers helping patients weigh the respective benefits and outcomes of AHSCT and non-AHSCT treatment approaches during the clinical encounter, a key tenet of shared decision-making.
Does Perceived Stress Differ According to n-3 Fatty Acid Consumption in Undergraduate Students? (P18-041-19)

Objectives Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FAs) have been shown to have a beneficial effect on stress. As college students experience high levels of stress, our objectives were to quantify the relationship of n-3 FAs and fish consumption with perceived stress (PS) in undergraduate students (age 18–24) at a public New England university.
Repeatable patterns of small-scale spatial variation in intertidal mussel beds and their implications for responses to climate change.

The interaction of ocean conditions and weather with small-scale physical features of a habitat can have profound effects on the experiences of individual organisms. On topographically complex shorelines, and particularly within dense aggregations of organisms such as mussel beds, a mosaic of environmental conditions can develop, and the resulting variation in conditions within the aggregation could drastically alter the performance of neighboring individuals. Using a suite of sensors mounted to individual Mytilus californianus mussels over two summer field deployments, we have characterized the temperature variation and valve gaping behavior differences found at two spatial scales: within a group separated by centimeters, and between groups of mussels located at the upper and lower extents of the natural mussel zone separated by meters. While temperature conditions near the lower edge of the mussel bed were generally more benign, temperature extremes were similar at both heights in the bed, and variation in body temperature among neighbors increased as the daily mean temperature increased. These patterns were similar across years despite a 3.8 °C difference in mean air and seawater temperatures between years. Gaping behavior was also highly variable among individuals, though that variability diminished at the high end of the mussel bed where the total time mussels spent submerged was much more constrained. These data indicate that an individual mussel's physiological status and past history can be drastically different than those of its nearby neighbors, complicating our ability to characterize representative conditions within a habitat. These observations also provide for the possibility that the impacts of future climate change will be highly specific to certain individuals based on their relative exposure or protection within the mosaic. To address such possibilities, future work must examine the correlation between genotypic and physiological traits that determine performance and individuals' unique experiences in their disparate micro-environments.
Geographic disparities in residential proximity to colorectal and cervical cancer care providers.

Background Persistent rural-urban disparities for colorectal and cervical cancers raise concerns regarding access to treatment providers. To the authors knowledge, little is known regarding rural-urban differences in residential proximity to cancer specialists. Methods Using the 2018 Physician Compare data concerning physician practice locations and the 2012 to 2016 American Community Survey, the current study estimated the driving distance from each residential zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) centroid to the nearest cancer provider of the following medical specialties involved in treating patients with colorectal and cervical cancer: medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, general surgery, gynecological oncology, and colorectal surgery. Using population-weighted multivariable logistic regression, the authors analyzed the associations between ZCTA-level characteristics and driving distances >60 miles to each type of specialist. ZCTA-level residential rurality was defined using rural-urban commuting area codes. Results Nearly 1 in 5 rural Americans lives >60 miles from a medical oncologist. Rural-urban differences in travel distances to the nearest cancer care provider(s) increased substantially for cancer surgeons; greater than one-half of rural residents were required to travel 60 miles to reach a gynecological oncologist, compared with 8 miles for their urban counterparts. Individuals residing within ZCTAs with a higher poverty rate, those of American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicity, and/or were located in the South and West regions were more likely than their counterparts to be >60 miles away from any of the aforementioned providers. Conclusions The substantial travel distances required for rural, low-income residents to reach a cancer specialist should prompt a policy action to increase access to specialized cancer care for millions of rural residents.
Next Generation Imaging Spectrometers Enabled by Advanced Detectors for Earth Science/Applications as Well as Solar System Exploration

Spectroscopy is a powerful analytical method based in the interaction of light with matter that is used to test hypotheses across a broad range of scientific disciplines as well as for quantitative applications. In the late 1970's the concept for a new type of instrument that measured spectra for every point in an image was conceived and proposed using the most advanced infrared detector array available at the time. The Airborne Imaging Spectrometer first flew in 1982. New discoveries were made with the first flights of this instrument. Since that time increasingly advanced airborne and space imaging spectrometers have been developed and deployed for science and applications on Earth and for exploration throughout the solar system. This paper presents recent imaging spectrometer instrument developments and results as well as examples of new instrument architectures enabled by next generation detectors. These new designs support spatial measurement scales from 50 microns to 1 kilometer with full spectroscopy for range of new Earth and solar system missions and are expected to be deployed in the coming decade and beyond.