cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Longitudinal Study of Determinants of Career Satisfaction in Medical Students

Context: There is evidence of significant career dissatisfaction among practicing physicians and those considering medicine as a profession. Most research on career satisfaction has examined practicing physicians. This study was undertaken to look at determinants of satisfaction in those at the earliest stage of their medical careers – medical students. Methods: As part of a larger study, students comprising one class at the University of Washington School of Medicine were surveyed three times over the course of their medical education. For the present study we examined measures specifically related to determinants of career satisfaction. Findings: Over time, students’ sense of the importance of most measured determinants of satisfaction showed significant change, the majority of which were in the direction of decreased importance. However, most of the change was relative. That is, factors that students considered to be most important at the start of medical school continued to be most important throughout the educational experience and those factors students considered to be least important at Year 1 continued to be least important at Years 2 and 4. Discussion: These findings have implications for medical education, a time when students are forming expectations that will impact their career satisfaction. In addition to information on career satisfaction, students should understand the professional values of medicine, their own values and expectations, current practice patterns, economics, and the role of advocacy. Key Words: job satisfaction, career choice, medical education
Lower bounds on the estimation error in problems of distributed computation

Information-theoretic lower bounds on the estimation error are derived for problems of distributed computation. These bounds hold for a network attempting to compute a real-vector-valued function of the global information, when the nodes have access to partial information and can communicate through noisy transmission channels. The presented bounds are algorithm-independent, and improve on recent results by Ayaso et al., where the exponential decay rate of the mean square error was upper-bounded by the minimum normalized cut-set capacity. We show that, if the transmission channels are stochastic, the highest achievable exponential decay rate of the mean square error is in general strictly smaller than the minimum normalized cut-set capacity of the network. This is due to atypical channel realizations, which, despite their asymptotically vanishing probability, affect the error exponent.
Winter Diet of River Otters in Kentucky

Abstract Lontra canadensis (River Otter) have been reintroduced throughout much of their former range in North America, but our understanding of the function they serve in ecosystems to which they have been reintroduced remains incomplete. We examined the winter diet of reintroduced River Otters in Kentucky based on contents of 126 stomachs collected over three trapping seasons, 2006–2009. Fish and crayfish were the main prey, occurring in 86% and 27% of stomachs containing prey items, respectively. We identified 8 families and 11 genera of fish and 4 genera and 6 species of crayfish in the diet of River Otters. The most frequently consumed family of fish by occurrence was Centrarchidae (36%), followed by Catostomidae (11%), Cyprinidae (11%), and Clupeidae (7%). Centrarchidae were also found at the greatest volume (53%) of any family of fish, followed by Catostomidae (14%), Clupeidae (12%), and Cyprinidae (12%). Of the centrarchids, Group A fish (Lepomis, Ambloplites, and Pomoxis spp.; 28%) occurred at a ...
Fuzzy proximity measures for robot grasp planning

Fast procedures for computing fuzzy proximity measures between a multifingered robot hand and an object to be grasped are presented. T.N. Nguyen and H.E. Stephanou (1990) presented a fuzzy approach for prehension, identified sources of fuzziness, and proposed a fuzzy algorithm for multifingered prehension. These ideas are extended by assuming fuzziness in the object location and geometric hand configuration, computing information on proximity of the hand and object, analyzing the computational efficiencies, and indicating how geometric information can be used in the process of prehension. The implementation details are outlined. The computation is useful in grasp planning and in analyzing the local behavior of the robot hand in the vicinity of the object. >
Crack propagation due to brittle and ductile failures in microporous thermoelastoviscoplastic functionally graded materials

Abstract Plane strain transient finite thermomechanical deformations of heat-conducting functionally gradient materials comprised of tungsten and nickel–iron matrix are analyzed to delineate brittle/ductile failures by the nodal release technique. Each material is modeled as strain-hardening, strain-rate-hardening and thermally-softening. Effective properties are derived by the rule of mixtures. At nominal strain-rate of 2000 s −1 brittle crack speed approaches Rayleigh’s wave speed in the tungsten-plate, the nickel–iron-plate shatters at strain-rates above 1130 s −1 , and the composite plate does not shatter. The maximum speed of a ductile crack in tungsten and nickel–iron is about 1.5 km/s, and that in the composite is about 0.14 km/s.
A Medical Image Retrieval Framework

Many investigators are incorporating medical image feature analysis into computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems to increase the precision and accuracy of characterization by radiologists. Searching medical databases for images similar to a given query image that corresponds to a case under current study and enabling access to those other clinical data and known diagnoses from those similar cases is expected to have great impact in CAD systems. However, efficiently and accurately searching for similar medical images in database systems is a very challenging task. In this paper, we propose a two-step content-based medical image retrieval framework. A candidate subset is first created utilizing the wavelet decomposition. The actual retrieval process is then constrained within this candidate subset. Besides the improved efficiency due to the reduced searching space, this framework also leads to improved retrieval accuracy, as demonstrated with our experimental results
Prostate cancer: is inapparent tumor at endorectal MR and MR spectroscopic imaging a favorable prognostic finding in patients who select active surveillance?

Purpose: To retrospectively determine whether inapparent tumor at endorectal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR spectroscopic imaging is a favorable prognostic finding in prostate cancer patients who select active surveillance for management. Materials and Methods: Committee on Human Research approval was obtained and compliance with HIPAA regulations was observed, with waiver of requirement for written consent. Ninety-two men (mean age, 64 years; range, 43–85 years) were retrospectively identified who had biopsy-proved prostate cancer, who had undergone baseline endorectal MR imaging and MR spectroscopic imaging, and who had selected active surveillance for management. Their mean baseline serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 5.5 ng/mL, and the median Gleason score was 6. Two readers with 10 and 3 years of experience independently reviewed all MR images and determined whether tumor was apparent on the basis of evaluation of established morphologic and metabolic findings. Another investigato...
Factors Associated with Successful Epoetin Alfa Therapy in Premature Infants

OBJECTIVE:To determine the impact of two different recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa) dosing strategies on the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, and explore relationships between specific patient and drug regimen variables with epoetin alfa therapy outcomes.DESIGN:Retrospective cohort study.SETTING:Level III university neonatal intensive care unit.METHODS:Infants who received epoetin alfa therapy three times weekly for more than one week were categorized into two epoetin alfa dosing strategy groups: group A (300–749 units/kg/wk) and group B (750–1200 units/kg/wk). The following patient variables were collected and their relationship to therapy outcomes (corrected reticulocyte count [%], hematocrit [%], and number of RBC transfusions after therapy was started) were evaluated using independent Student's t-test, correlation analysis, and stepwise linear regression: birth weight (kg), gestational age (weeks), postnatal age at therapy onset (days), duration of mechanical ventilation (da...
Integrative structural modeling with small angle X-ray scattering profiles

Recent technological advances enabled high-throughput collection of Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) profiles of biological macromolecules. Thus, computational methods for integrating SAXS profiles into structural modeling are needed more than ever. Here, we review specifically the use of SAXS profiles for the structural modeling of proteins, nucleic acids, and their complexes. First, the approaches for computing theoretical SAXS profiles from structures are presented. Second, computational methods for predicting protein structures, dynamics of proteins in solution, and assembly structures are covered. Third, we discuss the use of SAXS profiles in integrative structure modeling approaches that depend simultaneously on several data types.
Evaluation of predictive models for Douglas-fir bark thickness at breast height following 12 biomass harvest treatments

Abstract Foresters often require an estimation of bark thickness from a reference height (typically breast height) to accurately estimate the bark or wood volume of a tree. Various models for estimating the bark thickness of interior Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca ) from measured dbh (diameter at breast height) were evaluated. Sample trees were from northern Rocky Mountain mixed conifer stands that had been subjected to four levels of experimental woody biomass harvesting. Among simple linear, nonlinear, and segmented linear mixed effects models, the segmented linear model performed best. A join point (where the linear equations are linked) for the segmentation was statistically detected at approximately 19.0 cm dbh. The join point seems to indicate the size at which juvenile Douglas-fir trees boost the production of bark tissue, perhaps as those trees express dominance over competing understory vegetation. Woody biomass utilization level had no impact on bark thickness, indicating that the bark:dbh relationship does not depend on biomass utilization intensity. The study results enable accurate bark thickness estimation for interior Douglas-fir in this region, and suggest several silvicultural applications for juvenile Douglas-fir stand management.
Periodic Structures and Filters

This chapter contains sections titled: Capacitively Loaded Transmission-Line��-��Circuit Analysis Wave Analysis of Periodic Structures Periodic Structures Composed of Unsymmetrical Two-Port Terminated Periodic Structures Matching of Periodic Structures k 0 - ?> Diagram Group Velocity and Energy Flow Floquet's Theorem and Spatial Harmonics Periodic Structures for Traveling-Wave Tubes Sheath Helix Some General Properties of a Helix Introduction to Microwave Filters Image-Parameter Method of Filter Design Filter Design by Insertion-Loss Method Specification of Power Loss Ratio Some Low-Pass-Filter Designs Frequency Transformations Impedance and Admittance Inverters A Microstrip Half-Wave Filter Microstrip Parallel Coupled Filter Quarter-Wave-Coupled Cavity Filters Direct-Coupled Cavity Filters Other Types of Filters This chapter contains sections titled: Problems References
The comprehensive approach to ischemic heart disease by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: are we there yet?

During the past decade, significant advances have been made in the imaging speed, resolution, quality, and versatility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). What was deemed unfeasible in cardiovascular patients in 1990 can now be achieved regularly as the result of the advent of more
Culturally sensitive care: A review of models and educational methods

The disparities in health care outcomes between the majority population and cultural and racial minorities in the USA are a problem likely influenced by the lack of culturally competent care. Emergency medicine and other primary care specialties remain on the front lines of this struggle due to the nature of their open door practice. In order to provide culturally appropriate care, health care providers must recognize the factors impeding cultural awareness, seek to understand the biases and traditions in medical education potentially fueling this phenomenon, and create a health care community open to individuals’ “otherness,” thus leading to better communication of ideas and information between patients and their health care providers. This chapter highlights the rationale for and current problems in teaching cultural competency in physicians and examines several different models implemented to teach and promote cultural competency in the health care environment. However, the literature addressing the true efficacy of such programs in leading to long-lasting change and improvement in minority outcomes remains insufficient.
Rethinking the Weimar Republic: Authority and Authoritarianism, 1916–1936. By Anthony McElligott. (London, England: Bloomsbury Academic, 2014. Pp. xi, 372. $120.00.)

In a thought‐provoking new approach to the Weimar Republic, the author of this book recasts Weimar history as a struggle over authority that crossed conventional chronological markers. Along with c...
Two New Species of Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae) from East African Bats (Chiroptera)

Microtrombicula (Eltonella) tanzaniae is described from specimens collected from Noack's African Leaf-nosed Bat, Hipposideros ruber ruber , Persian Leaf-nosed Bat, Triaenops persicus afer , and Egyptian Slit-faced Bat, Nycteris thebaica , and Whartonia novemsetosa from Egyptian Fruit Bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus , taken in Tanzania, Africa. New host and locality records are given for Whartonia oweni .
Imaging atherosclerosis with 18FDG PET: Measurement variation due to slice position

1692 Objectives Reproducible quantitative measurement of vessel wall inflammation is important for monitoring disease state among patients as well as between scan instances for individual patients. We aim to describe the effect that slice position has on measurements of the aorta. Methods 10 prospectively enrolled participants (65yrs±4.5, 70% male, 83kg±18) underwent two 18FDG PET/CTs (Dose=321MBq±56, Uptake Time=139min±5) 6-months apart on a single Siemens Biograph mCT. Scanning was caudocranial for 6-7 bed positions (3min/bed). Iterative reconstruction (2 iterations, 24 subsets, 2.0 FWHM Gaussian filter) was utilized to produce 3mm slice, 256x256 PET data fused to CT. Spherical regions of interest were drawn on the ascending (AAo) and descending (DAo) aorta at the carina (S0). The DAo was measured in 50mm increments for 150 slices below S0 (S50, S100, S150). Linear regression was used to measure slice-dependent changes in blood pool (BLP) activity, with correction for ROI area. Axial slice position related to max SUV and Target to Background Ratios (TBR = same slice max SUV of whole aorta/mean SUV of lumen) used simple linear regression. Results Regression is reported in terms of average% caudocranial change over the 150-slice interval with 95%CI. There was a -16%(-2% to -19%) linear decrease in BLP uptake with more cranial slice location. After adjustment for a 93% increase in ROI size (avg 1.5cm2 at S150 and 2.9cm2 at S0), there was an -11%(-2% to -20%) change. TBR increased by 15%(7% to %23) over the interval while max SUV of the whole aorta was unchanged (6.6%, -2.7% to 16.0%). Conclusions Progressive blood clearance of radiotracer due to time delays between bed positions may be a significant source of changes in background BLP activity within the aorta, which may affect the accuracy and comparability of TBR measurements. Research Support Supported by the NIH intramural research program and the Imaging Sciences Training Program (ISTP).
Midday depression in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in Yucca glauca : Relative contributions of leaf temperature and leaf-to-air water vapor concentration difference.

Yucca glauca in the Colorado shortgrass prairie undergoes a pronounced midday depression in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance under summer field conditions. This phenomenon can be duplicated in the laboratory using potted plants by simulating a typical summer daily pattern of leaf temperature and leaf-to-air water vapor concentration difference (Δw). The decrease in photosynthetic rate appears to be due primarily to high leaf temperatures, while the decrease in stomatal conductance can be attributed mainly to high Δw values. Stomatal conductance also decreases when leaf temperatures exceed a critical threshold value, even when Δw is artificially maintained at a constant level. The threshold temperature is commonly attained for leaves in situ, but only after substantial stomatal closure has already occurred as a result of high Δw values.The photosynthetic temperature optimum and threshold temperature which promotes stomatal closure increases substantially as the growing season progresses. As a result, the midday depression in photosynthesis occurs at higher temperatures in mid-summer than in late spring. Preliminary evidence suggests that the photosynthetic temperature optimum closely follows the naturally-occurring morning leaf temperatures, while the threshold temperature for stomatal closure matches afternoon leaf temperatures.
Higher education administration: One sociologist's view

I'll be honest. The principal reason I became an administrator is because I grew increasingly frustrated spending endless hours, days, weeks, and months of my life on committees that were supposed to recommend choices, solutions, and directions to other people who either didn't listen to what the committee had to say, in some cases never intended to listen to what the committee had to say, or did listen to the committee but made a different decision. Most readers don't have to imagine the frustration of a young assistant professor investing his or her life in all this wasted effort; we've all been there. I suppose, too, that I've always had a lot of social worker in me; the opportunity to serve has always had appeal. I developed an idea early on that I could make a contribution, that some of my ideas might work out better than what some other folks might be proposing, and that there was a lot of bad management around-lots of people wasting lots of other people's time. This is the kind of thinking that draws attention and often results in yet further invitations to get involved. I had no idea whatsoever, though, that I would at some juncture, after some intermediate steps, find myself in the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Within four years after my initial faculty appointment at Penn State I was asked to serve in two administrative positions simultaneously, as Professorin-charge of a 700-student undergraduate program in Individual and Family Studies, and as Divisional Professor-in-charge of this large interdisciplinary academic unit of 40 faculty members and 100 graduate students within the College of Human Development at Penn State. I still considered myself very much a faculty member in these roles. Unlike the orderly progression that typically characterizes one's career in the professorial ranks, there is often nothing predictable or rational about progression in administration. Witness my case. Penn State hired a new dean for my college against the advice of the search committee and the faculty. Disaster struck. The dean was fired nine months later, after doing some serious damage. During those nine months, many of the top scholars
INTRAVITAL MULTIPHOTON IMAGING OF AT1A RECEPTOR-MEDIATED UPTAKE OF ANGIOTENSIN II AND MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION IN THE PROXIMAL TUBULE OF THE KIDNEY

In the present study, we used intravital multiphoton imaging to study G protein-coupled AT1 (AT1a) receptor-mediated uptake of angiotensin II (ANG II) and its effect on mitochondrial function in the kidney. Munich-Wistar rats were infused with Alexa 488-conjugated ANG II for 2 hours, with blood pressure maintained at 150 mmHg throughout the experiment. After 60 min infusion, moderate levels of Alexa 488-ANG II was visualized in the proximal tubules, but striking responses were visualized 2 hours later. Internalized Alexa 488-ANG II was predominantly localized to the basolateral side, where it colocalized with tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM), a mitochondrial membrane potential-dependent dye. TMRM is a lipophilic cationic dye that is primarily accumulated in the mitochondria of proximal tubules. Some internalized Alexa 488-ANG II was visualized in the nuclei. Furthermore, the uptake of Alexa 488-ANG II by the proximal tubules was significantly attenuated in caveolin 1-knockout mice, and blocked in AT1a receptor-knockout mice. Our results provide important intravital multiphoton evidence that circulating ANG II is taken up by the proximal tubules via an AT1a receptor-mediated mechanism, and that internalized ANG II may be transported to the mitochondria, where it may alter mitochondrial function in the proximal tubules of the kidney.
Motor action, emotion, and motive.

(2004). Motor Action, Emotion, and Motive. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child: Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 124-142.
A Review of “Spies in the Sky: The Secret Battle for Aerial Intelligence during World War II”

The 1970s revelation of the British code-breaking successes during World War II, the so-called Ultra Secret, forced a re-examination and reassessment of the Allies' conduct of the war and their maj...
Rethinking civic computing in China

Civic computing research is concerned with the relationship of digital technologies to civic participation. We discuss Foucault’s work on the care of the self which considers how a person seeks a certain mode of being such as happiness, perfection, or wisdom. We describe our qualitative study of Chinese mainland citizens who used technologies to understand and participate in political events, in particular the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement. We examine how care of the self offers an alternative, critical perspective for rethinking civic participation and civic computing.
Recovery of Thymic Epithelial Cells and T Cell Immune Reconstitution After Cord Blood Transplantation in Adults Depends On Angiogenesis and Neovascularization

Abstract 4175 Umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) is increasingly used as alternative source for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. UCBT in adults results in delayed and insufficient immune reconstitution leading to high infection-related morbidity and mortality. A significant component of immune reconstitution after UCBT involves the thymic regeneration, which can be measured by T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TRECs). TREC levels are a strong predictive factor for overall survival in adult recipients of UCBT. HSCT compromises thymopoiesis due to injury of the thymic microenvironment, particularly thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Human UCB is enriched in endothelial precursors that can sustain thymopoiesis in immunodeficient mice transplanted with human thymic grafts, where they engraft and promote neovascularization and wound healing. We hypothesized that thymic neovascularization induced by the UCB-derived endothelial progenitors might be a critical factor involved in the recovery of TEC, which subsequently support T cell development and expansion via production of interelukin-7 (IL-7) and stem cell factor (SCF; a kit ligand). In the present study we examined whether markers of angiogenesis and neovascularization ANG1 and VEGF were associated with TEC function as determined by assessment of IL-7 and SCF levels and with thymic regeneration as determined by TREC values and recovery of T cell subsets. 27 evaluable patients with a median age of 50 years with hematopoietic malignancies were treated with reduced intensity conditioning (Flu/Mel/rATG) followed by infusion with two sequential UCB grafts and GvHD prophylaxis with tacrolimus and sirolimus. Results are based on 27 evaluable patients. Assessments were done prior to transplantation and at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months after UCBT. At various time points after UCBT, serum levels of IL-7 and SCF displayed a strong correlation (p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
An ESR Investigation of the Photolysis of Benzene Polycarboxylate Anions in Aqueous Solution

The radicals produced by continuous uv photolysis of agueous solutions of the anions of benzene polycarboxylic acids have been detected and identified by means of their ESR spectra. The behavior of terephthalate (1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) under basic conditions (pH 13) is typical. With terephthalate alone, only the lines of the trianion radical are seen. In the presence of 1.3 M 2-propanol, the intensity of these lines is greatly enhanced and joined by those of a new radical, which can be identified from its spectrum to be the cyclohexadienyl radical formed by H addition at a ring carbon atom bearing a carboxyl group. The parameters of this radical (in gauss) are a(CHCO2−)=42.93, a(ortho)=8.15, a(meta)=2.34 G and g factor 2.00305. Addition of acetone further enhances the intensities of the lines of these radicals. The chemical mechanism proposed to account for the radical formation is quenching of the triplet state of terephthalate by the alcohol with competitive H transfers to a carboxylate oxygen and to the substituted ring position. Optical laser photolysis studies support this mechanism in that triplet state guenching by the alcohol is observed along with corresponding formation of the trianion radical [1]. Analogous ESR results were found with many of the other benzene carboxylates up to the hexacarboxylate. (With phthalate only the anion is seen. ) In the two cases where the carboxyl groups are not opposite each other (1,3-benzenedicarboxylate and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) H addition occurs opposite one of the carboxyl groups. In 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate two isomers are seen with addition at either 1 or 4 positions.
Testicular cancer: The usage of central review for pathology diagnosis of orchiectomy specimens.

Abstract Background Radical orchiectomy specimens present a unique set of challenges for pathology assessment owing to their rarity and complexity. This study compares second opinion pathology reports generated at a single, large academic institution to primary reports from outside hospitals. Methods A database search was conducted for orchiectomy cases that were sent to our institution for management of testicular cancer from 2014 to 2015. Cases sent for consultation without a finalized diagnosis from the outside hospitals were excluded. A total of 221 consecutive cases were evaluated for comparison of final diagnoses between the outside institution and central pathology review. Results This study revealed significant discrepancy involving multiple parameters between original and second opinion pathology reports. Of 221 cases of germ cell tumors assessed, 31% showed some discrepancy of histologic subtype. Overall, reporting of lymphovascular invasion changed in 22% of cases; of those, initially called positive 23% were changed to negative and of those initially called negative 12% were changed to positive. Although the overall discrepancy for spermatic cord invasion was 9%, an initial positive diagnosis was negated 35% of the time. The pathologic stage was altered in 23% of cases, mostly secondary to differences interpreting lymphovascular and spermatic cord invasion. Conclusion Pathologists evaluating orchiectomy specimens should be aware of the major pitfalls in classification and staging, many of which may affect patient management.
Lights, Camera, Action: Facilitating the Design and Production of Effective Instructional Videos

This paper outlines a rudimentary process intended to guide faculty in K-12 and higher education through the steps involved to produce video for their classes. The process comprises four steps: planning, development, delivery and reflection. Each step is infused with instructional design information intended to support the collaboration between instructional support staff and faculty to produce video that will be meaningful to students and support their success in a class. In outlining this approach, the paper also explores technological and pedagogical considerations related to each of these steps that can help faculty and staff determine how best to incorporate video into online classes. Finally, supported by research on best video practices and with examples from our own experiences as instructional designers and instructors, the paper outlines how these steps relate to four broad categories of video: introduce, model, explain/inform and feedback.
The Substance of Things: Categorical and Comparative Analysis of Faith’s Foundation—Church, Faith, and Christ

A comparative analysis of the predominant forms of theological engagement with economic justice demonstrates ways in which differing traditions in black religious experience can speak to economic issues and point to the diversity of understandings of the categories of faith, church, and Christ and highlights their social implications. Within this analysis, the voices of congregants are treated as an epistemological source for understanding ethical ideas regarding Christian behavior in the marketplace. The data were collected over eighteen months. Clergy and laity participated in personal interviews and focus groups, respectively (all were recorded and transcribed). The purpose of interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and data gathered from informal conversations, church documents, and artifacts was to grasp their views and values.
Recombinant, Chimeric, Live, Attenuated Vaccines Against Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses

Many arthropod-borne flaviviruses are important human pathogens responsible for diverse illnesses, including yellow fever (YF), Japanese encephalitis (JE), and TBE and dengue. Live, attenuated vaccines have afforded the most effective and economical means of prevention and control, as illustrated by YF 17D and JE SA14-14-2 vaccines. Recent advances in recombinant DNA technology have made it possible to explore a novel approach for developing live attenuated flavivirus vaccines against other flaviviruses. Full-length cDNA clones allow construction of infectious virus bearing attenuating mutations or deletions incorporated in the viral genome. It is also possible to create chimeric flaviviruses in which the structural protein genes for the target antigens of a flavivirus are replaced by the corresponding genes of another flavivirus. By combining these molecular techniques, the DNA sequences of DEN4 containing a deletion in the 3′NCR, a DEN2 PDK-53 candidate vaccine and YF 17D vaccine have been used as the genetic backbone to construct chimeric flaviviruses with the required attenuation phenotype and expression of the target antigens. Encouraging results from preclinical and clinical studies have shown that several chimeric flavivirus vaccines have the safety profile and satisfactory immunogenicity and protective efficacy to warrant development as products for human use. The chimeric flavivirus strategy has led to the rapid development of novel live, attenuated vaccines against DEN, TBE, JE and WN. This chapter reviews an extensive body of work on the development of these vaccine candidates, one of which is licensed and others are in advanced clinical development. A similar approach is being used to create vaccines against alphaviruses. Here the experience is less, but some promising data have been developed, particularly using SIN virus as a vector for structural genes of heterologous alphaviruses. The principal issues for this technology will be to achieve convincing nonclinical data on safety, the proper balance of attenuation and immunogenicity, and proof of concept in large animal models and ultimately humans.
Coastal Karst Development in Carbonate Rocks

Coastal karst cave development globally is biased towards the tropics and subtropics, where carbonate deposition is ongoing, and therefore carbonate coasts are common. The Carbonate Island Karst Model (CIKM) delineates the unique conditions that separate coastal karst from traditional karst areas of continental interiors. In these warm-water carbonate islands, diagenetically immature, or eogenetic carbonate rocks are host to a fresh-water lens that creates flank margin caves in a diffuse flow environment. Diagenetically mature, or telogenetic carbonates, can also host flank margin caves. Flank margin caves can form rapidly, as carbonate sediment is deposited, to produce syndepositional caves called banana holes. Flank margin caves can survive as open voids for millions of years, and as infilled diagnostic features for tens of millions of years. Vadose fast flow routes called pit caves form as a result of surface micritization to provide point recharge to the fresh-water lens. The presence of non-carbonate rocks can perch vadose flow, creating stream caves that terminate in the fresh-water lens. When sea level falls to create large exposed carbonate platforms, phreatic conduit flow develops to carry recharge to the platform periphery. Collapse of these conduits, as well as bank margin fracture, account for the majority of blue holes in carbonate platforms. Closed depressions in eogenetic carbonate islands are commonly constructional, relicts from variable carbonate deposition. The most common sinkhole type is the cave-collapse sinkhole. Morphometric analysis of flank margin caves supports cave origin as the amalgamation of individual chambers, provides evidence of denudation rates, and can differentiate flank margin caves from some pseudokarst cave types.
The Improv Paradigm: Three Principles that Spur Creativity in the Classroom

Improvised scenes work when improvisers listen to their scene partners and agree and add onto each other’s ideas without judgment. These three principles derived from improvisation—listening, agreeing, and not judging—come together to form the improv paradigm, which can be used to modify pedagogy in order to improve student outcomes. Teachers can introduce activities that specifically target how students listen, agree, and judge each other. The principles of the improv paradigm can also be used to reflect on and improve how teachers teach. Colleagues and supervisors can focus on how teachers consciously or unconsciously listen to their students, agree or disagree with their ideas, and judge students’ responses in order to adjust moment-to-moment teacher behavior to create a more creative learning environment. Once improved, these skills lead to more trusting, collaborative, and creative classrooms that foster creative ideation instead of causing students to feel shamed or judged and therefore stop contributing and creating.
Comparison of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for resectable pancreatic cancer using Markov decision modeling.

448Background: Meta-analysis of smaller studies have shown that neoadjuvant chemotherapy is more beneficial for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer than upfront surgery by comparing life exp...
Ultra-compliant carbon nanotube stretchable direct bladder interface

Abstract The bladder, stomach, intestines, heart, and lungs all move dynamically to achieve their purpose. A long-term implantable device that can attach onto an organ, sense its movement, and deliver current to modify the organ function would be useful in many therapeutic applications. The bladder, for example, is a smooth muscle organ that can suffer from incomplete contractions that result in urinary retention with patients requiring using catheterization. Those affected may benefit from a combination of strain sensor and electrical stimulator to better control bladder emptying. We describe the materials and design of such a device made from thin layer carbon nanotube (CNT) and Ecoflex 00-50 and demonstrate its function with in vivo feline bladders. During bench-top characterization, the resistive and capacitive sensors exhibited reliable output throughout 5,000 stretching cycles under physiology condition. In vivo measurement with piezoresistive device showed a high correlation between sensor resistance and volume. Stimulation driven from Pt-PDMS composite electrodes successfully induced bladder contraction. We present method for reliable connection and packaging of medical grade wire to the CNT device. This work is an important step toward the translation of low-durometer elastomers, stretchable CNT percolation and Pt-PDMS composite, which are ideal for large strain bioelectric applications to sense or modulate dynamic organ states.
Diffuse white matter response in trauma-injured brain to bone marrow stromal cell treatment detected by diffusional kurtosis imaging.

Abstract Diffuse white matter (WM) response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and transplantation of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) after the injury were non-invasively and dynamically investigated. Male Wistar rats (300–350 g) subjected to TBI were intravenously injected with 1 ml of saline (n = 10) or with hMSCs in suspension (∼3 × 106 hMSCs, n = 10) 1-week post-TBI. MRI measurements of T2-weighted imaging and diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) were acquired on all animals at multiple time points up to 3-months post-injury. Functional outcome was assessed using the Morris water maze test. DKI-derived metrics of fractional anisotropy (FA), axonal water fraction (AWF) and radial kurtosis (RK) longitudinally reveal an evolving pattern of structural alteration post-TBI occurring in the brain region remote from primary impact site. The progressive structural change is characterized by gradual disruption of WM integrity at an early stage (weeks post-TBI), followed by spontaneous recovery at a later stage (months post-TBI). Transplantation of hMSCs post-TBI promotes this structural plasticity as indicated by significantly increased FA and AWF in conjunction with substantially elevated RK at the later stage. Our long-term imaging data demonstrate that hMSC therapy leads to modified temporal profiles of these metrics, inducing an earlier presence of enhanced structural remodeling, which may contribute to improved functional recovery.
Assessing Form-Dependent Optical Scattering at Vacuum- and Extreme-Ultraviolet Wavelengths of Nanostructures with Two-Dimensional Periodicity

In an industrial setting, only optical methods are fast enough to tease out the killer defects that may render a computer chip inoperable. Comprised of billions of periodic nanoelectronic devices, they yield optical responses like form birefringence, even for deep-ultraviolet (DUV) light. This study reveals how the form-dependent optical response changes as the wavelength approaches the periodicity, by realistically comparing five wavelengths numerically. Surprising results are obtained at 47 nm. Similarly optimizing sets of wavelengths, materials, and their optical constants may even foster improved optical materials in the far-ultraviolet regime.
The Impact of Neighborhood Support Systems on the Individual

The previous chapter showed that the social fabric of the neighborhood is an important determinant of how people feel about their neighborhood. This chapter takes the analysis one step further and examines the relationship between various attributes of the neighborhood—particularly its social fabric and the support that it provides to the residents—and people’s reported health, happiness, and life satisfaction. The framework used for the analysis is similar to that presented in previous chapters, and it draws upon the choice-constraint model. A person’s physical and emotional health is assumed to be influenced by the characteristics of the individual, the neighborhood environment, and the social support system.
Engineering orthogonal signalling pathways reveals the sparse occupancy of sequence space

Gene duplication is a common and powerful mechanism by which cells create new signalling pathways1,2, but recently duplicated proteins typically must become insulated from each other and from other paralogues to prevent unwanted crosstalk3. A similar challenge arises when new sensors or synthetic signalling pathways are engineered within cells or transferred between genomes. How easily new pathways can be introduced into cells depends on the density and distribution of paralogous pathways in the sequence space that is defined by their specificity-determining residues4,5. Here we directly investigate how crowded this sequence space is, by generating novel two-component signalling proteins in Escherichia coli using cell sorting coupled to deep sequencing to analyse large libraries designed on the basis of coevolutionary patterns. We produce 58 insulated pathways comprising functional kinase–substrate pairs that have different specificities than their parent proteins, and demonstrate that several of these new pairs are orthogonal to all 27 paralogous pathways in E. coli. Additionally, from the kinase–substrate pairs generated, we identify sets consisting of six pairs that are mutually orthogonal to each other, which considerably increases the two-component signalling capacity of E. coli. These results indicate that sequence space is not densely occupied. The relative sparsity of paralogues in sequence space suggests that new insulated pathways can arise easily during evolution, or be designed de novo. We demonstrate the latter by engineering a signalling pathway in E. coli that responds to a plant cytokinin, without crosstalk to extant pathways. Our work also demonstrates how coevolution-guided mutagenesis and the mapping of sequence space can be used to design large sets of orthogonal protein–protein interactions. Engineered two-component signalling proteins in Escherichia coli have residue specificities different to their parent proteins and are orthogonal to all extant paralogues, demonstrating that sequence space is not densely occupied.
Willingness to Pay versus Willingness to Vote: Consumer and Voter Avoidance of Genetically Modified Foods

Many technologies face disapproval from some portion of the general public due to perceived risks or externalities. Individuals can respond to these controversial technologies either as consumers by choosing favorable alternatives or as voters by supporting regulation. We examine the relationship between willingness to pay a premium for products that avoid a controversial technology and willingness to vote in favor of a ban or mandatory labeling, with a focus on how this relationship is influenced by income and perceived risks. In a survey regarding genetically modified (GM) food, we find that the majority of respondents make consumer and voter choices that can be explained by a standard utility maximization framework. However, certain respondent characteristics are correlated with inconsistent choice patterns. In particular, low‐income voters appear to be overly supportive of regulation relative to their private willingness to pay. Voters who are uncertain about the safety of GM food also tend to be more in favor of regulation than their consumer choices would imply.
Sensor Selection for Hypothesis Testing: Complexity and Greedy Algorithms

In this paper, we consider sensor selection for (binary) hypothesis testing. Given a pair of hypotheses and a set of candidate sensors to measure (detect) the signals generated under the hypotheses, we aim to select a subset of the sensors (under a budget constraint) that yields the optimal signal detection performance. In particular, we consider the Neyman-Pearson detector based on measurements of the chosen sensors. The goal is to minimize (resp., maximize) the miss probability (resp., detection probability) of the Neyman-Pearson detector, while satisfying the budget constraint. We first show that the sensor selection for the Neyman-Pearson detector problem is NP-hard. We then characterize the performance of greedy algorithms for solving the sensor selection problem when we consider a surrogate to the miss probability as an optimization metric, which is based on the Kullback-Leibler distance. By leveraging the notion of submodularity ratio, we provide a bound on the performance of greedy algorithms.
Assessments of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S.

To understand the likelihood of any risk of apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to domestic and foreign fruit export markets, knowledge of its host plant use is needed. Here, assessments of R. pomonella infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit were made in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S. In field surveys in 2010– 2017 in central Washington, 6.7% of Crataegus douglasii and 6.1% of feral Malus domestica trees (both temperate plants) in fly-managed (insecticide- treated) sites were infested by larvae. In unmanaged sites, 54.1% of C. douglasii and 16.3% of feral M. domestica tree samples were infested. In field surveys of 36 types of temperate fruit in 2015–2018 in southwestern Washington, new host records for R. pomonella were one species and three hybrids of Crataegus , as well as Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca – all of which produced adult flies. In addition, Prunus avium was a new host record for Washington State, producing one adult fly. Prunus armeniaca x Prunus salicina and Vitis vinifera exposed to flies in the laboratory produced adult flies. Of 37 types of tropical and subtropical fruit hung in fly-infested M. domestica trees in southwestern Washington, only Mangifera indica produced puparia. Out of nine tropical and subtropical fruit types in laboratory tests, Musa acuminata x balbisiana produced puparia but no adult flies. Results provide a basis for further research and hypotheses concerning host use by R. pomonella and its potential impact on protecting both U.S. and tropical and subtropical fruit markets.
Examining the effect of case and trial factors on defense attorneys’ plea decision-making

Defense attorneys are attuned to the defendant’s likelihood of conviction at trial, based on the strength of the evidence, in forming their plea decisions. A higher threshold for conviction (i.e. u...
Vascular Complications Increase Hospital Charges and Mortality in Adult Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the United States.

Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) who suffer vascular complications frequently accrue additional procedures and costs. We sought to evaluate the effect of ECMO-related vascular complications on hospital charges and in-hospital mortality. Adult discharges involving ECMO from 2004 to 2013 in the National Inpatient Sample were examined. There were 12,636 patients in the cohort. Vascular complications, focusing on arterial complications were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. A multivariable survey linear regression model using median hospital charges was used to model the effect of vascular complications on charges. We used multivariable survey logistic regression to evaluate the effect of vascular complications on in-hospital mortality. Of the 12,636 patients examined, 6467 (51.2%) had ECMO-related vascular complications. Median charges in patients with vascular complications were $ 477,363 (interquartile range: 258,660–875,823) and were $ 282,298 (interquartile range: 130,030–578,027) without vascular complications. On multivariable analysis, patients with vascular complications had 24% higher median charges than patients without vascular complications (Ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–1.33; P
Palmer amaranth control, fecundity, and seed viability from soybean herbicides applied at first female inflorescence

Bayer Crop ScienceBayer AG; Virginia Soybean Board; Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station; National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA)