cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of body bias on delay fault testing of nanoscale CMOS circuits

A body biasing technique has recently been proposed for microprocessors in sub-100 nm technology generations. It is shown that forward body bias (FBB) reduces the leakage power and suppresses the effect of process variation while reducing the complexity of dual V/sub th/ technology. We study the effect of body bias on the delay fault testing of CMOS circuits. We analyze the impact of both fixed and adaptive body biasing techniques on test cost and the quality of test. Statistical analysis on several benchmark circuits shows that the adaptive body biasing design have the most effective impact on delay fault by maintaining the test cost at its minimum under process variation while ensuring the test quality at its highest level.
Field validation of the Intelligent Asphalt Compaction Analyzer

The Intelligent Asphalt Compaction Analyzer (IACA) is a device based on Neural Network Technology that can measure the density of an asphalt pavement continuously in real-time during its construction. It was shown during limited field trials that the IACA could, in real-time, measure the density of an asphalt pavement during its construction with accuracy comparable to existing point-wise measurement technologies. In this paper, the validation of the performance of the IACA, i.e. accuracy of density measurements, is addressed. The results demonstrate that the IACA can be used to determine the density of the asphalt mat during compaction with an accuracy needed for quality control operations in the field.
High slew rate large bandwidth integrated dc SQUID magnetometer for NMR applications

We have developed an integrated dc SQUID magnetometer, with additional positive feedback (APF) unmodulated SQUID electronics system for low frequency true NMR applications. We constructed our SQUID circuit using an 11-layer Nb/Al/AlO/sub x//Nb process. Our design modifies previous APF approaches by incorporating selectable, high resolution on-chip feedback resistance. The on-chip resistance selection allows us to maximize the SQUID gain, dV/d/spl Phi/, at the operating point. With the use of APF we have achieved a slew rate greater than 10/sup 6/ /spl Phi//sub 0//s, and a bandwidth of approximately 300 kHz, which is suitable for sensitive NMR measurements. >
Use of Electrical Stimulation at Acupuncture Points for the Treatment of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in a Child

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a syndrome characterized by persistent, hyperesthetic pain in an extremity with concurrent evidence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction.1 This syndrome frequently results in a serious functional impairment with associated trophic changes that may eventually develop into permanent dysfunction. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy has been referred to as causalgia, reflex neurovascular dystrophy, post-traumatic pain syndrome, shoulder-hand syndrome, and Sudeck's atrophy. It generally develops after nerve injury, trauma, surgery, cervical osteoarthritis, carcinoma, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accident.1 The antecedent illness or injury may be relatively minor compared with the severity of the symptoms. In some instances, no antecedent injury or illness can be identified. This syndrome is most prevalent in middle-aged and older adults and is infrequently found in children.1–3 Classical treatments of RSD include active and passive range-of-motion exercises, casting, splinting, administration of corticosteroids, and sympathetic blocks.4…
Legal Education at a Crossroads: A Response to Measuring Merit: The Shultz-Zedeck Research on Law School Admissions

In July 2014 the number of graduates who passed the bar examination declined at law schools across the country. How could this possibly happen? To be fair, one cannot automatically assume this decline is attributable to lower entering credentials. After all, the median LSAT and grade point averages for the 2011 entering classes were not significantly lower than prior years. Thus, National Council of Bar Examiners (NCBE) President Erica Moeser may have erred when she characterized this year’s test-takers as “less able.” Perhaps the July 2014 bar examination, particularly the Multi-State portion, had flaws in the design or scoring. Alternatively, as Professor Deborah Merritt explains, a flaw in Exam Soft may have contributed to the decline in scores. This is a plausible explanation, in part because an internal review by the NCBE revealed no flaws or “unintended differences in the processes used to perform the equating of a more recent test.” Thus, if the median LSAT score of the 2011 entering class was similar to prior classes, if the bar examination is not to blame, and if the true cause was a technological glitch, then why should anyone be worried? This article suggests that, regardless of the factors causing the recent decline in bar results, bar pass rates will soon drop significantly due to the four-year decline in LSAT scores at the 25th percentile (and below). In other words, the median LSAT score of a law school can remain unchanged, but the bar pass rate of that school can plummet if the 25th percentile drops. That is precisely what has happened in recent years, and it should stop – now.
'Kiddie Crime?' The Utility of Criminal Law in Controlling Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying – the use of email, websites, Instant Messages, Twitter, Facebook and other online resources to torment, harass and/or embarrass other children – has become an increasingly common phenomenon in American schools. The emotional injuries – and the occasional suicides – attributed to cyberbullying have led some to call for making cyberbullying a crime in and of itself. This article analyzes the arguments for and against creating a new, “cyberbullying” offense. It argues that existing criminal law can adequately address cyberbullying when the “harm” it inflicts rises to the level that warrants the use of criminal sanctions; it also argues that the residual instances of cyberbullying which do not qualify for the use of criminal liability are better addressed by other, non-criminal means.
Eye tracking measures of attentional bias to individually-calibrated marijuana cues

Drug and Alcohol Dependence 156 (2015) e183–e245 e243 days of consecutive abstinence during treatment and positively associated with reductions in negative affect during treatment. Conclusions: These data suggest neurofunctional differences related to treatment outcomes between individuals with cocaine dependence with and without methadone treatment, which may relate to differences in the efficacies of existing treatments. Financial support: This research was supported by NIH grants from NIDA (P50 DA009241, R01 DA030058). SWY receives support from DA007238-23 (PI: Petrakis). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.653 Eye tracking measures of attentional bias to individually-calibrated marijuana cues Jin H. Yoon ∗, Anka Vujanovic, Mike Weaver, Robert Suchting, C. Green, Joy Schmitz, Scott D. Lane Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston, Houston, TX,
Personal Archiving: Preserving Our Digital Heritage edited by Donald T. Hawkins

Hawkins is a blogger, a consultant, and a researcher in information science and how it connects to technology. He is credited in the author note with more than 300 publications on this topic. He wo...
Integrin α3-subunit expression modulates alveolar epithelial cell monolayer formation

We investigated expression of the α3-integrin subunit by rat alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) grown in primary culture as well as the effects of monoclonal antibodies with blocking activity against...
A Troubling Requirement

Since the Enron collapse in mid-2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has been pressed to require that companies include the hypothetical expense of their employee stock options in their financial statements. Many lawmakers and commentators on financial matters have argued that employee stock options are a form of compensation, and the failure to show the cost of those instruments results in misleading financial reports. FASB has no idea how companies might be able to establish the fair value of employee stock options. The responsible course would be for the Board to wait until it or some other entity has created a model for pricing employee stock options that is generally recognized as faithfully representing what it purports to represent. Until then, FASB should stick to its current requirement that disclosure occur in the footnotes to the financial statements rather than in the computation of net income.
Target sites: Sensory

Publisher Summary Among the most complex of mammalian organs are the special sensory organs, engendering great sensitivity to toxicologic assault. Humans and other animals have developed sophisticated mechanisms to prevent the special sensory organs from injury by bloodborne toxins. Despite the development of this “blood–organ barrier,” certain toxins are characteristically capable of gaining access to the organs and causing injury. Furthermore, given their obligatory exposure to the environment, these organs remain susceptible to external chemical assault.
Cerebellar hypoplasia in a case with neurofibromatosis type 1.

A 6-year-old boy was followed by our clinic due to epilepsy and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). The patient experienced generalised tonic–clonic seizures for the previous 3 years, which were controlled by 1.5 years of valproic aci and clonazepam treatments. Physical examination found many cafe-au-lait spots on various parts of the body and Lisch nodules in the iris on eye examination. Neurological examination showed cerebellar dysfunctions (gait …
T Plate Internal Fixation for Distal Radius Fracture

Objective To evaluate the therapy results of T plate internal fixation for distal radius fracture.Methods According to AO type,26 cases of B,C type of distal radius fracture are treated with T plate through dorsal open reduction,through X ray to evaluate union of fracture and Denis standard of wrist joint function to follow up.Results Average follow up time is 7.3month of all cases,average bone union time is 6-12weeks of all cases.Functional recovery: 16 cases excellent,6cases good,3 cases common and 1 case weak.Conclusions The cases with B,C type of distal radius fracture can be get satisfied therapy results by T plate through dorsal open reduction.
A preliminary look at the immune mechanism by which lentinan inhibits acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii in mice

Objective To examine the immune mechanism by which lentinan(LTN)inhibits acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii in mice through balancing of the Th1/Th2 immune response and maintaining that balance. Methods Mice were intraperitoneally injected with T.gondii tachyzoites and their survival rate was calculated when pre-treated with LTN and when treated with LTN post-infection.IFN-γand IL-4 are key cytokines of Th1 and Th2 cells,respectively.Levels of IFN-γand IL-4 in spleen cell suspensions were determined using ELISA.The immunoglobulins IgG1 and IgG2a are associated with Th1 and Th2 response.Levels of these immunoglobulins in serum were also determined. Results Lentinan markedly increased the survival rate for mice treated with LTN post-infection and mice pre-treated with LTN in comparison to the control group.Mice treated with LTN post-infection all died on day 10post-infection,but mice pre-treated with LTN had a survival rate of 18.4% on day 13post-infection.On day 3 post-infection,mice pre-treated with LTN and mice treated with LTN post-infection had developed a Th1 immune response.Mice pre-treated with LTN had an IFN-γlevel of 186.28pg/ml while mice treated with LTN post-infection had an IFN-γlevel of 117.07pg/ml.There were significant differences in IFN-γlevels in comparison to the control group(P0.01).Mice pre-treated with LTN had an IgG2a level of 0.332(A490)while mice treated with LTN post-infection had an IgG2a level of 0.320(A490)(P0.01),and IgG2a levels peaked on day 7.Mice pre-treated with LTN and mice treated with LTN post-infection began to develop a Th2immune response.Mice pre-treated with LTN had an IL-4 level of 121.28pg/ml while mice treated with LTN post-infection had an IL-4level of 94.47pg/ml(P0.01).Mice pre-treated with LTN had an IgG1 level of 0.382(A490)and while mice treated with LTN post-infection had an IgG1level of 0.354(A490)(P0.05). Conclusion LNT helped mice to develop a Th1/Th2 immune response.This balance shifted at the appropriate time from Th1to Th2,parasites were eliminated,and the balance between the Th1 and Th2 response was maintained.This avoided an excessive immune response as would induce immunopathological damage.
Active Television Interference Characteristic of UHV AC Transmission Line

Corona and sparking on high voltage transmission line will bring television interference(TVI).However,studies on active TVI from HV transmission lines,especially the HVAC lines,are in obvious shortage.Thus,by introducing aborad test methods of TVI characteristics,we put forward test methods of TVI from HVAC transmission lines.Under good weather condition,several tests about TV picture,TVI field strength,the television signal field strength before and after energizing the lines,has been carried near some straight spans and tention towers of Chinese UHV AC Pilot Demonstration Project.According to the results,the TVI's interference characteristics to TV picture have been analyzed.The analysis indicates that,with increasing distance from the outer phase,the TVI field strength from a UHV single circuit in good weather attenuates negative exponentially.Further discussion concluded that the method of using CISPR quasi-peak value for the assessment of interference on TV picture caused by UHV transmission line corona and sparking noise,which is adopted abroad,needs to be further evaluated.
Sexuality and the older woman.

The sexuality of older women has been an area that has received very little investigation until recently. This article explores myths, realities, and alterations in the physiologic function of older women. In addition to hormonal, physical, and functional parameters, other issues also must be considered in this population, such as relationship /interpersonal issues, levels of expectations, "libido mismatch," partner availability, and partner and self-health. Sexual function is a quality of life issue that remains an integral part of successful aging
Using [18F]Fluorothymidine Imaged With Positron Emission Tomography to Quantify and Reduce Hematologic Toxicity Due to Chemoradiation Therapy for Pelvic Cancer Patients

Purpose The purpose of the present prospective clinical trial was to determine the efficacy of [ 18 F]fluorothymidine (FLT)-identified active bone marrow sparing for pelvic cancer patients by correlating the FLT uptake change during and after chemoradiation therapy with hematologic toxicity. Methods and Materials Simulation FLT positron emission tomography (PET) images were used to spare pelvic bone marrow using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT BMS) for 32 patients with pelvic cancer. FLT PET scans taken during chemoradiation therapy after 1 and 2 weeks and 30 days and 1 year after completion of chemoradiation therapy were used to evaluate the acute and chronic dose response of pelvic bone marrow. Complete blood counts were recorded at each imaging point to correlate the FLT uptake change with systemic hematologic toxicity. Results IMRT BMS plans significantly reduced the dose to the pelvic regions identified with FLT uptake compared with control IMRT plans ( P t test). Radiation doses of 4 Gy caused an ∼50% decrease in FLT uptake in the pelvic bone marrow after either 1 or 2 weeks of chemoradiation therapy. Additionally, subjects with more FLT-identified bone marrow exposed to ≥4 Gy after 1 week developed grade 2 leukopenia sooner than subjects with less marrow exposed to ≥4 Gy ( P 35 Gy was 18.8% ± 1.8% greater at 30 days after therapy than at 1 year after therapy. The white blood cell, platelet, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts at 1 year after therapy were all lower than the pretherapy levels ( P t test). Conclusions IMRT BMS plans reduced the dose to FLT-identified pelvic bone marrow for pelvic cancer patients. However, reducing hematologic toxicity is challenging owing to the acute radiation sensitivity (∼4 Gy) and chronic suppression of activity in bone marrow receiving radiation doses >35 Gy, as measured by the FLT uptake change correlated with the complete blood cell counts.
Chromosomal Microarray in the Era of Next Generation Sequencing: Still Going Strong and Making a Difference in Patient Care. Cases from Medical University of South Carolina

Whole genome chromosomal microarray analysis provides excellent copy-number variation (CNV) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) data with high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. However, since next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies appeared on the market, remarkable progress has been made in terms of speed, read length, and throughput. These advances, as well as a significant decrease in the cost, have facilitated integration of NGS applications into clinical diagnostics. The ability to detect CNV and LOH from NGS data would extend the utility of this powerful approach that has mainly been used for detection of point mutations or small insertion/deletions. Consequently, clinical laboratories are considering NGS as a sole platform for studies of all the types of genetic aberrations. However, currently chromosomal microarray is the best option for discerning CNV and LOH events both technically (in terms of whole genome coverage, breakpoint resolution, sensitivity, specificity, robust results) and financially. We present several cases that illustrate the utility of chromosomal microarray assessment for (i) diagnosis: child born with massive constitutional UPD, reclassified cases of biphenotypic leukemia and renal cell carcinoma, (ii) prognosis— case of pediatric ALL with small deletions of important prognostic genes, adult high grade MDS transforming to AML with HER2 amplification, and (iii) treatment—a Ph-like B-ALL with rare gene fusion and adolescent pre B-ALL with atypical deletion of mismatch repair gene. In conclusion, an integrated approach combining analysis of CNVs and LOH by microarray with NGS interrogation of clinically important SNPs and small insertions/deletions is the best alternative for comprehensive genomic diagnostics.
Quantification of rat supraglottic laryngeal sensation threshold

Objective Laryngeal adductor response (LAR) to air puff is used as a reliable method in evaluating sensation thresholds (ST) in human laryngeal sensory disorders. This method has been difficult to perform in small subjects such as rodents. The aims of this study were to 1) evaluate ST to air puff under binocular microlaryngoscopy in rats to evaluate laryngeal sensory disorders, 2) determine sensory thresholds at varying target locations, and 3) determine the ideal depth of anesthesia. Study Design Animal study. Methods Rats were induced with ketamine/xylazine. The level of anesthesia was monitored by spontaneous glottic closure and corneal reflex testing. Air puffs were delivered to the epiglottis, arytenoid, and piriform sinus at varied pressures with pulse time kept constant. Sensation thresholds were determined by direct visualization of the larynx using a binocular microscope. Topical lidocaine was then applied to the larynx and ST was determined. Trials were repeated in a small subset of animals. Results Twenty-six trials were performed in 14 rats. Mean STs were 39 ± 9.7 mm Hg at the epiglottis, 48.8 ± 10.5 at the arytenoid, and not detectable at the pyriform sinus. Repeated trials demonstrated consistent results. Lidocaine effectively ablated the LAR in each trial. The LAR was difficult to induce while corneal reflex was absent and was difficult to distinguish from spontaneous glottic closures while under lighter sedation. Conclusion Air pulse stimulation in rats is a simple, reliable, and effective way to determine laryngopharyngeal STs in rats and can be used as an efficient and affordable method for experimentation involving laryngeal sensory disorders. Level of Evidence NA. Laryngoscope, 2017
On privacy vs. cooperation in multi-agent systems

This paper considers distributed systems arising when multiple agents cooperatively solve a quadratic optimisation problem. To maintain privacy of their states over time, agents implement a noise-a...
Patient engagement in patient-centered outcomes research: challenges, facilitators and actions to strengthen the field.

Aim: To describe challenges to and facilitators of patient engagement to inform future strategies and suggested actions to strengthen engagement. Methods: Interviews with 19 principal investigators of projects funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and with 33 patients from 18 of the 19 projects. Results: Facilitators included using existing resources, having clear goals, educating patients and treating patients respectfully. Logistical challenges included extra time and work, institutional barriers and difficulty having meetings. Substantive challenges to selecting, educating and engaging patients, and incorporating feedback were also reported. Conclusion: To bolster the infrastructure for engagement, we suggest funders, institutions and researchers focus on resources and training for researchers and patients, networks and programs to connect stakeholders and model policies.
Using Kantian Ethics in Medical Ethics Education

Contemporary medicine has unique challenges that render principlism inadequate as a sole paradigm for medical ethics education. Shortcomings of this ethical system include the often contradictory nature of the principles, difficulty with integration and internalization of the principles, and the inadequate treatment of moral relativism. Principlism has also contributed to the rise of consumerism in medicine by making autonomy “chief among equals” of the principles. The ethics of Immanuel Kant is offered as a potential helpful addition to medical trainee ethics curricula. Kant’s Categorical Imperative to “act in such a way that you treat humanity...never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end” respects patient autonomy and dignity while simultaneously offering an ethical foundation for the relationship between the patient and the physician. The concept of autonomy is discussed, specifically how Kant’s idea of autonomy is very different from that in contemporary medicine, and is in fact more nuanced and helpful for the ethical development of physicians. By focusing on intentionality as opposed to outcomes, Kant’s philosophy also is applicable to the “blame and shame” medical culture, establishes a deeper sense of duty for the physician, and is clinically helpful for patient and peer interaction.
A Growing Consensus for Change in Interpretation of Clinical Research Evidence

Context: The paradigm of evidence-based practice (EBP) is well established among the health care professions, but perspectives on the best methods for acquiring, analyzing, appraising, and using r...
Comment on Theeuwes's Characterization of Visual Selection.

Theeuwes (2018, this issue) argues that the classic dichotomy describing the factors that guide attention (bottom-up and top-down) is inadequate and should be replaced by a trichotomy (bottom-up, top-down, and selection history). In contrast, I argue that top-down is a broad category that comfortably includes selection history. While one can certainly choose to subdivide broad categories, there is no obvious stopping point for such an endeavor; how long can it be before this trichotomy turns into a “quadchotomy”?
Constituents of Tabebuia guayacan: The structure of guayacanin

Abstract The heartwood of T. guayacan has yielded tectol and a new, novel dibenz-xanthene derivative (guayacanin). The structure of guayacanin suggests its biogenetic derivation through the condensation of prenylnaphthalene quinols. The tetrahydro derivative of the xanthene was synthesized by an analogous acid catalyzed reaction of prenylnaphthalene quinol derivatives of lapachol and 1,4 naphthalene diol.
A Circumscribed Ellipsoid Method for Multiobjective Programming and Applications to Financial Planning

This paper proposes a portfolio selection model for common stock investments. Although the usage of the beta coefficient in the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) has its limitations, still it is one of the most powerful tools in financial planning. In the proposed model, individual beta has a range described as a tolerance and the different combinations of betas form scenarios. The objective of the model is to find the portfolio with the lowest unsystematic risk and the least conflicting solution among scenarios at the investor’s best knowledge. The problem is solved through an interactive multiobjective programming approach based on a circum scribed ellipsoid interior point algorithm. In the process of solving the problem, the investor can appropriately incorporate any information regarding the securities and the investor’s preference.
Moral agency in pain medicine: philosophy, practice and virtue.

Although established as a field of spe- cialization, pain medicine remains some- what fractionated. Such lack of cohesion cre- ates dissonance on multiple levels, and thus, impedes the provision of effective pain care. This paper asserts that there is a core philos- ophy of medicine that reflects the intellectual and moral quality of the healing relationship. I argue that pain medicine, in all its constitu- ent disciplines, is bound to this philosophy. The intricate relationship between pain, the pain patient, and the pain physician creates pragmatic and moral dilemmas that may not be well served by the use of prima facie prin- ciples. It is argued that an agent-based, vir- tue ethics best enable the clinician to both apprehend the complexity of this relation- ship and appreciate other ethical approaches in the discourse arising from issues of care.
Abstract 5427: Inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) transcriptional activity and cell mobility via G9a/GLP-mediated methylation of HIF-1α

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a main regulator of cellular response to hypoxia and its transcriptional activity is crucial for cancer cell migration and invasion. Post-translational modifications of the α subunit of HIF-1 (HIF-1α) play dominant roles in regulating its function. In this study, we demonstrated that the lysine methyltransferases G9a and GLP catalyzed mono- and di-methylation of HIF-1α at lysine (K) 674 in vitro and in vivo. Functionally, K674 methylation suppressed HIF-1 transcriptional activity as well as expression of the HIF-1 target genes including PTGS1, NDNF, SLC6A3, and Linc01132 in human glioblastoma U251MG cells. Moreover, mutation of K674 of HIF-1α significantly enhanced U251MG cell migration under hypoxia. Importantly, we found that G9a level was downregulated by hypoxia in glioblastoma, which was negatively correlated with PTGS1 expression and survival rate in glioblastoma patients. These findings reveal a novel naturally existing negative feedback mechanism that maintains high activity of HIF-1 and cell mobility in human glioblastoma. Citation Format: Lei Bao, Yan Chen, Hsien-Tsung Lai, Cheng-Ming Chiang, Gregg L. Semenza, Yingfei Wang, Weibo Luo. Inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) transcriptional activity and cell mobility via G9a/GLP-mediated methylation of HIF-1α [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5427.
Unexpected bone marrow findings in a patient with pancytopenia and coagulopathy

![Figure][1] An 8-year-old girl presented with fever, lymphadenopathy, oral ulcers, and gum oozing. She was found to have pancytopenia and prolonged prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time suspicious for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Bone marrow examination showed no evidence
Corporate Monarchy in the Twelfth-Century Kingdom of Jerusalem

While the conflicts between Queen Melisende of Jerusalem and the men in her family have received considerable scholarly attention, explanations for the ease with which they reconciled remain elusive. As this article argues, contrary to theories advanced in the past, Melisende’s role in government was not the product of a consensus among nobles to temporarily suspend the norms of political participation that invested all authority in a single, male, ruler. The position she occupied was not “exceptional,” a disruption in the fabric of patriarchal dynastic succession that cloaked the Latin East. Rather, she occupied a legitimate position as co-ruler of the Kingdom, filling the role envisioned for her by her father, Baldwin II, who recognized in corporate monarchy an ideal political configuration for the challenges presented by governing in the Latin East. Past failures to provide an accurate and complete understanding of Melisende’s role in the governance of Jerusalem has circumscribed our understanding of the nature of monarchy and rulership in this crusader kingdom, which remains inaccurate and incomplete as a result. In their attempt to impose a uniform, static template of feudal governance on the crusader kingdoms of Latin East, scholars have under appreciated the extent to which medieval monarchy was both fluid and contingent. As the discussion here demonstrates, modes of governing were constantly adjusted to the demands of a particular time and place, responding to the unique political culture of a particular region. This was especially true for monarchy in the nascent crusader kingdom of twelfth-century Jerusalem, which witnessed the evolution of a political system formed in the crucible of war.
How to build a pancreas transplant program

Abstract Despite significant improvements in outcomes over the last two decades, the volume of pancreas transplants performed annually in the United States continues to decline. In the face of this negative trend, efforts at several pancreas transplant centers are underway to expand their pancreas transplant volumes through alterations in the structure and function of their pancreas transplant programs. The transplant community owes it to the diabetic communities that it serves to maximize access to pancreas transplantation, considering that the results of modern-day pancreas transplantation are excellent and continue to improve. There is no doubt that pancreas transplant remains an outstanding option for select patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease or symptomatic hypoglycemic events. Through strong commitment from department leadership, personal investment from medical and surgical faculty and programmatic restructuring of recipient and donor selection, the transformation of low-volume pancreas transplant centers into high-volume programs is achievable. As a means of providing a roadmap to encourage other transplant centers to enhance their pancreas transplant programs, we will outline strategies that can be readily instituted to transform a pancreas transplant program, and delineate the basic steps that any transplant center can take to achieve high-volume transplant rates while maintaining excellent outcomes.
Party, candidate, and voter incentives under free list proportional representation:

Under free list proportional representation voters can: (a) cast preference votes for candidates; (b) cast multiple preferences; and (c) distribute preferences across multiple lists. Alternatively,...
Phase II Study of Combination Obinutuzumab, Ibrutinib, and Venetoclax in Treatment-Naïve and Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

PURPOSEThe development of highly effective targeted agents for chronic lymphocytic leukemia offers the potential for fixed-duration combinations that achieve deep remissions without cytotoxic chemo...
Abstract PR07: Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment with losartan to enhance immunotherapy of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is the most lethal of the gynecologic malignancies. Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cellsâ€”which have revolutionized the treatment of multiple malignanciesâ€”have had limited efficacy in OvCa patients. This lack of efficacy is partly due to abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition leading to a buildup of compressive forces that induce vessel collapse, hypoperfusion, poor delivery of nutrients and drugs, and compromised trafficking of cytotoxic T cells to these tumors. The resulting tumor microenvironment (TME) is also hypoxic, acidic, and immunosuppressive. Our overarching hypothesis is that losartan, an FDA-approved antihypertensive drug that blocks angiotensin signaling, can overcome these challenges by normalizing the TME to enhance the delivery and efficacy of therapies in OvCa. Retrospective study showed that treatment with angiotensin blockers is associated with a 30-month overall survival benefit in OvCa patients. In our OvCa models, losartan reduced matrix content and reopened compressed vessels. As a result, blood perfusion increased, leading to enhanced drug delivery and improved chemotherapy efficacy. Losartan also relieved lymphatic vessel collapse in the diaphragm, which increased the drainage of peritoneal fluid and reduced ascites. Using unbiased RNASeq analysis, we found that in addition to normalizing the tumor matrix and vasculature, losartan treatment also activates immune response pathways. Furthermore, losartan increases the infiltration and function of immune effector cells and improves the outcome of immunotherapy using ICBs. Our findings provide the rationale and supporting data for a clinical trial on combined losartan and immunotherapy in ovarian cancer patients. This abstract is also being presented as Poster B75. Citation Format: Yao Sun, Wenjianlong Zhao, David R. Spriggs, Rakesh K. Jain, Lei Xu. Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment with losartan to enhance immunotherapy of ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr PR07.
People of Haitian Heritage

Haiti, located on the island of Hispaniola between Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, shares the island with the Dominican Republic. Unemployment and underemployment exist; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs owing to the marked decrease in assembly sector jobs. In addition, Haiti’s economy suffered a severe setback when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake devastated its capital city, Port-au-Prince, in January 2010, fueling additional migration. This chapter follows the dominant values and beliefs according to the 12 domains of the Purnell Model of Cultural Competence: overview/heritage, communication, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy, death rituals, spirituality, health-care practices, and health-care practitioners.
A Heuristic for Learn-and-Optimize New Mobility Services with Equity and Efficiency Metrics

We are motivated by a common dilemma that exists when coupling new mobility services with existing transportation systems — the unbalanced nature of operations with regard to efficiency and equity objectives. To address this issue, we study the joint routing and resource allocation problem. Vehicles need to repeatedly and simultaneously choose the route and the resource (i.e., capacity) allocation policy with unknown demand. Efficiency is measured by the total travel distance, and equity is measured by the minimum service level. We propose a two-phase heuristic that solve the learn-and-optimize problem iteratively with small cumulative regret. In Phase 1, the algorithm selects the best demand estimator; In Phase 2, it finds the near optimal operational plan. We examine the effectiveness of the algorithm in a case study from the Miami Dade County that uses idle shuttle vehicles to deliver packages during off-peak hours. The results show that we can improve the minimum service level from 33% to approximately 68% while maintaining small incremental travel costs. This heuristic can provide a general guidance for practitioners and researchers on operating new mobility services in a stochastic network.
Single-molecule imaging of epigenetic complexes in living cells: insights from studies on Polycomb group proteins

Chromatin-associated factors must locate, bind to, and assemble on specific chromatin regions to execute chromatin-templated functions. These dynamic processes are essential for understanding how chromatin achieves regulation, but direct quantification in living mammalian cells remains challenging. Over the last few years, live-cell single-molecule tracking (SMT) has emerged as a new way to observe trajectories of individual chromatin-associated factors in living mammalian cells, providing new perspectives on chromatin-templated activities. Here, we discuss the relative merits of live-cell SMT techniques currently in use. We provide new insights into how Polycomb group (PcG) proteins, master regulators of development and cell differentiation, decipher genetic and epigenetic information to achieve binding stability and highlight that Polycomb condensates facilitate target-search efficiency. We provide perspectives on liquid-liquid phase separation in organizing Polycomb targets. We suggest that epigenetic complexes integrate genetic and epigenetic information for target binding and localization and achieve target-search efficiency through nuclear organization.
Does Air Quality Really Impact COVID-19 Clinical Severity: Coupling NASA Satellite Datasets with Geometric Deep Learning

Given that persons with a prior history of respiratory diseases tend to demonstrate more severe illness from COVID-19 and, hence, are at higher risk of serious symptoms, ambient air quality data from NASA's satellite observations might provide a critical insight into which geographical areas may exhibit higher numbers of hospitalizations due to COVID-19, how the expected severity of COVID-19 and associated survival rates may vary across space in the future, and most importantly how given this information, health professionals can distribute vaccines in a more efficient, timely, and fair manner. Despite the utmost urgency of this problem, there yet exists no systematic analysis on linkages among COVID-19 clinical severity, air quality, and other atmospheric conditions, beyond relatively simplistic regression-based models. The goal of this project is to glean a deeper insight into sophisticated spatio-temporal dependencies among air quality, atmospheric conditions, and COVID-19 clinical severity using the machinery of Geometric Deep Learning (GDL), while providing quantitative uncertainty estimates. Our results based on the GDL model on a county level in three US states, California, Pennsylvania and Texas, indicate that AOD attributes to COVID-19 clinical severity in 39, 30, and 132 counties out of 58, 67, and 254 total counties, respectively. In turn, relative humidity is another important factor for understanding dynamics of clinical course and mortality risks due COVID-19, but predictive utility of temperature is noticeably lower. Our findings do not only contribute to understanding of latent factors behind COVID-19 progression but open new perspectives for innovative use of NASA's datasets for biosurveillance and social good.
Can Machine Learning Provide Understanding? How Cosmologists Use Machine Learning to Understand Observations of the Universe

The increasing precision of observations of the large-scale structure of the universe has created a problem for simulators: running the simulations necessary to interpret these observations has become impractical. Simulators have thus turned to machine learning (ML) algorithms instead. Though ML decreases computational expense, one might be worried about the use of ML for scientific investigations: How can algorithms that have repeatedly been described as black-boxes deliver scientific understanding? In this paper, I investigate how cosmologists employ ML, arguing that in this context, ML algorithms should not be considered black-boxes and can deliver genuine scientific understanding. Accordingly, understanding the methodological role of ML algorithms is crucial to understanding the types of questions they are capable of, and ought to be responsible for, answering.
Activity Control Design Principles: Next Generation Access Control for Smart and Collaborative Systems

Traditionally, access control solutions have focused on how to utilize a specific type of decision parameter for access control decisions. While these “decision parameter”-focused approaches have been well accepted, they typically consider access control with centralized administration. Smart and collaborative computing systems (SCSs) such as online social networks, the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected cyber-physical systems (CPSs) require a disparate approach to meet their unique and complex access control requirements primarily because there are multiple participants who create, share, manage and protect resources (e.g., files, smart devices) individually, collaboratively or even competitively. A distinct feature of SCSs is the diffuse nature of control activities and their complex influence on other activities. Activity control (ACON) extends the scope of traditional access control models and considers how multiple administrative authorities (including users) can manage complex and interacting usage, service and control activities. In this paper, we articulate key characteristics and limitations of various existing access control models and highlight the significance and necessity of activity control in smart collaborative ecosystems. We then propose an extended ACON framework for catering to the needs of dynamic SCSs. Furthermore, we compare existing access control design principles and propose a set of activity control design principles for smart and collaborative computing systems. The proposed ACON framework and design principles will provide a solid foundation for secure SCS design and development.
A History of Modern Morocco

Morocco is notable for its stable and durable monarchy, its close ties with the West, its vibrant cultural life and its centrality to regional politics. This book, by distinguished historian Susan Gilson Miller, offers a richly documented survey of modern Moroccan history. Arguing that pragmatism rather than ideology has shaped the monarchy's response to crisis, the book begins with the French invasion of Algeria in 1830 and Morocco's abortive efforts at reform, the duel with colonial powers and the loss of independence in 1912, the burdens and benefits of France's forty-four year dominion and the stunning success of the nationalist movement leading to independence in 1956. In the post-independence era, the book traces the monarchy's gradual monopolization of power and the resulting political paralysis, with a postscript bringing events up to 2012. This concise, readable book will inform and enthral students and all those searching for the background to present-day events in the region.
Advocacy Fatigue: Self-Care, Disability Discrimination, and Legal Attrition

The need for self-advocacy and community organizing is a constant in the lives of people with disabilities. In enforcing their rights under civil rights laws, people with disabilities are drawn into a game of attrition through litigation — where their limited economic means, community supports, and physical and mental resources are leveraged against them as they have to choose between basic needs and broader policy changes and legal justice for all. This phenomenon can best be described as “advocacy fatigue.” I define advocacy fatigue as the increased strain on emotional, physical, material, social, and wellness resources that comes from continued exposure to system inequities and inequalities and the need to advocate for the preservation and advancement of one’s rights and autonomy. Advocacy fatigue can diminish emotional and physical health, career prospects, and financial security because of the ongoing exposure to stress and discrimination. While this concept has been explored in part under the term “compassion fatigue” in fields such as social work, teaching, and nursing, I view it broadly and inclusively. Other scholars have focused their work on the negative effects of crisis and care-giving on professionals paid to do that kind of work. While those concerns should inform public policy and professional training, this kind of emphasis on providers has left out the traumas that come from reliving discrimination and being placed in a disadvantaged position in an adversarial system that views disability rights as the bestowal of charity.Using a disability studies perspective, I will first define advocacy fatigue, drawing on such fields as psychology, gender studies, critical race theory, and socio-legal studies. Then, I will show how concerns in the professional literature around care-giving have reinforced views of people with disabilities as the sources of problems, rather than the bearers of them. I will conclude by presenting examples of advocacy fatigue in action in education, work, and healthcare, and offer strategies for better capturing and responding to this experience in the United States and Canada.
Aspects and Applications of Derivatization/SIMS

The sensitivity and specificity of static SIMS can be increased dramatically by using chemical derivatization to produce “preformed” ions. This sensitivity can extend to the parts-per-billion (ppb) range for selected components in complex mixtures such as body fluids. We have applied derivatization/SIMS to several classes of compounds, including peptides [1,2], saccharides [3], ketones and ketosteroids [4] and amine-containing drugs [5].
TU‐G‐BRD‐06: The Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Houston (IROC Houston) QA Center International Activities Outside North America

Purpose: To describe the extent of IROC Houston’s (formerly the RPC) QA activities and audit results for radiotherapy institutions outside of North America (NA). Methods: The IROC Houston’s QA program components were designed to audit the radiation dose calculation chain from the NIST traceable reference beam calibration, to inclusion of dosimetry parameters used to calculate tumor doses, to the delivery of the radiation dose. The QA program provided to international institutions includes: 1) remote TLD/OSLD audit of machine output, 2) credentialing for advanced technologies, and 3) review of patient treatment records. IROC Houston uses the same standards and acceptance criteria for all of its audits whether for North American or international sites. Results: IROC Houston’s QA program has reached out to radiotherapy sites in 43 different countries since 2013 through their participation in clinical trials. In the past two years, 2,778 international megavoltage beam outputs were audited with OSLD/TLD. While the average IROC/Inst ratio is near unity for all sites monitored, there are international regions whose results are significantly different from the NA region. In the past 2 years, 477 and 87 IMRT H&N phantoms were irradiated at NA and international sites, respectively. Regardless of the OSLD beam audit results, the overall pass rate (87 percent) for all international sites (no region separation) is equal to the NA sites. Of the 182 international patient charts reviewed, 10.7 percent of the dose calculation points did not meet our acceptance criterion as compared to 13.6 percent for NA sites. The lower pass rate for NA sites results from a much larger brachytherapy component which has been shown to be more error prone. Conclusion: IROC Houston has expanded its QA services worldwide and continues a long history of improving radiotherapy dose delivery in many countries. Funding received for QA audit services from the Korean GOG, DAHANCA, EORTC, ICON and CMIC Group