cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Absorption of harmonic light in plasmonic nanostructures

Surface plasmons are known for their ability to provide large field enhancement at the interface between a metal and another medium. They can be observed in a variety of structures ranging from plain metallic films to nanoparticles and gratings. Thanks to their large electric field enhancement, surface plasmons have also been exploited for the enhancement of second and third harmonic generation. In fact, metals possess a relatively high third order susceptibility and, although dipole-allowed quadratic nonlinearities are not present in the bulk, they also display an effective second order response that arises from symmetry breaking at the surface, magnetic dipoles (Lorentz force), inner-core electrons, convective nonlinear sources, and electron gas pressure. While much attention has been devoted to achieve efficient excitation of surface plasmons to improve far-field harmonic generation, little or no attention has been paid to the dissipation of the generated harmonic light. Therefore, we undertake a discussion of both harmonic generation and absorption in simple metallic/dielectric interfaces with or without excitation of surface plasmons. We demonstrate that, despite the best efforts embarked upon to study plasmon excitation, the absorbed harmonic energy can far surpass the energy emitted in the far-field. These findings suggest that quantification of the absorbed harmonic light should be an important parameter in evaluating designs of plasmonic nanostructures for frequency mixing.
AL (Light-Chain) Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Review of Diagnosis and Therapy.

Abstract The amyloidoses are a group of protein-folding disorders in which ≥1 organ is infiltrated by proteinaceous deposits known as amyloid. The deposits are derived from 1 of several amyloidogenic precursor proteins, and the prognosis of the disease is determined both by the organ(s) involved and the type of amyloid. Amyloid involvement of the heart (cardiac amyloidosis) carries the worst prognosis of any involved organ, and light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most serious form of the disease. The last decade has seen considerable progress in understanding the amyloidoses. In this review, current and novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis are discussed, with particular reference to AL amyloidosis in the heart.
A very-wide bandwidth digital VCO implemented in GaAs HBTs using frequency multiplication and division

A digital high-speed voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) has been developed which uses frequency-multiplication and division to attain a wide frequency range of 0.5-13.66 GHz. The circuit is implemented in differential current-mode logic using GaAs-AlGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). This paper discusses top-level system design as well as the design of several key components.
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics

Abstract The goal of pharmacogenomics is to provide the right dose of the right drug to the right patient. The vast majority of current drug response biomarkers can be classified into four general categories: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, disease pathway, and off-target effects. Several proof-of-concept examples of how pharmacogenomic information can be used to improve health outcomes exist. With improved mechanistic understanding of how drugs work (or do not), we can expect a growth in the number of actionable biomarkers to guide drug therapy. However, the path from discovery to implementation will be different for each drug and will depend on the clinical scenario. As with other areas of genomic medicine, pharmacogenomics will benefit from enhanced tools to assist providers in interpreting pharmacogenomic data in routine clinical care.
Analysis of distributed generation sources and load shedding schemes on isolated grids case study: The Bahamas

Caribbean islands such as the Bahamas, Grenada and St. Lucia are affected yearly by seasonal hurricanes and tropical storms which can lead to blackouts and voltage variations of the power system. The Bahamas in particular consists of 16 isolated island grids which inhabits a population of 300,000. Diesel generators are employed to provide electricity for each island, but with increasing oil prices, and maintenance cost the Bahamas Electricity Corporations faces a huge loss on electricity generation in the millions of dollars each year. To decrease this loss and to improve the power quality of the system, distributed generation systems are being sought after. This paper investigates the effects of utilizing renewable energy sources on the island of New Providence, Bahamas and analyzing various load shedding schemes on the system in the instance of a disturbance due to a natural disaster. A report of the New Providence Transmission system was used in modeling the 132kV grid system using the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program 12.0 (ETAP) environment to perform a load flow and transient analysis for reducing power losses in the transmission system and improving reliability of the Bahamian distribution system.
The Political Economy of Law and Economic Development in Islamic History

There appear to be two seemingly contradictory images of law and economic change in the Islamic world. Whereas some scholars have viewed Islamic societies as rigid and incapable of adapting to a changing environment, others have held the opposite image of Islamic societies as flexible, quick to adapt to change, and conducive to economic development. Researchers have often focused on either stagnation or change as being the more representative image that needs explanation, rarely looking to explain why both images coexisted. Using a political economy approach, this paper explains the nuanced flexibility of Islamic law by focusing on the relationship between the ruler and the legal-religious community. This community has been an influential group in Islamic societies because of its power in the interpretation and adjudication of the law and its ability to confer legitimacy on the rulers. Change or stagnation has emerged as the outcome of the strategic interaction between the rulers and legal community, rather than from a fixed characteristic of Islamic societies or an intrinsic quality of a new development.
Abdominal adiposity negatively associates with the rate of long term sequential skill learning

Obesity is associated with functional and structural differences in the corticostriatal systems of the brain. These pathways are known to be critical for the acquisition of complex sensorimotor skills, such as the ability to learn a coordinated sequence of actions. Thus, individual differences in obesity should be associated with reduced efficiency of learning sequential skills. Here we measured long-term sequence learning across five days of training on the serial reaction time task in a cohort of neurologically healthy adults (N=30) with body types ranging from lean to obese. As expected, individuals with a greater degree of central adiposity, measured as central waist circumference, exhibited slower rates of learning, across all training days, than their leaner counterparts. This association between learning and central adiposity was restricted to response speeds, but not accuracy. These findings show that obesity is negatively associated with the efficiency of learning a long-term sequential skill, possibly due to previously observed associations between obesity and general basal ganglia function.
The Contribution of Stereoscopic and Motion Depth Cues to the Perception of Structures in 3D Point Clouds

Particle-based simulations are used across many science domains, and it is well known that stereoscopic viewing and kinetic depth enhance our ability to perceive the 3D structure of such data. But the relative advantages of stereo and kinetic depth have not been studied for point cloud data, although they have been studied for 3D networks. This article reports two experiments assessing human ability to perceive 3D structures in point clouds as a function of different viewing parameters. In the first study, the number of discrete views was varied to determine the extent to which smooth motion is needed. Also, half the trials had stereoscopic viewing and half had no stereo. The results showed kinetic depth to be more beneficial than stereo viewing in terms of accuracy and so long as the motion was smooth. The second experiment varied the amplitude of oscillatory motion from 0 to 16 degrees. The results showed an increase in detection rate with amplitude, with the best amplitudes being 4 degrees and greater. Overall, motion was shown to yield greater accuracy, but at the expense of longer response times in comparison with stereoscopic viewing.
68-Gallium DOTATATE scanning in symptomatic patients with negative anatomic imaging but suspected neuroendocrine tumor.

Aim The study's aim was to determine the utility of 68-Gallium DOTATATE positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scanning in patients with carcinoid-like symptoms and negative anatomical imaging. Methods Retrospective analysis of 22 of 196 patients with carcinoid-like symptoms and no evidence of primary neuroendocrine tumor (NET) based on anatomical imaging and endoscopy who underwent 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT as part of a prospective clinical trial. Results Of the biochemically positive patients (n = 11), 18% (n = 2) had additional evidence of NETs based on 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT. Of the patients identified by 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT, 50% (n = 1) had a treatment change and 100% showed symptom improvement. Of the biochemically negative patients (n = 11), 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT identified NETs in 64% (n = 7). Change in management occurred in 71% patients, and 57% of patients showed symptom improvement. Conclusion 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT imaging is useful in detecting NETs in symptomatic patients with negative anatomical imaging and changes the treatments in these patients.
Automated Piston Gauge Calibration System.

Piston gauges or pressure balances are important primary standards for the realization of the SI unit of pressure, the pascal. Because of their long-term stability, they are also used as secondary ...
Europäisierung des Datenschutzrechts

Die Europaisierung des Datenschutzrechts verschiebt Regelungs- und Entscheidungskompetenzen weg vom deutschen Gesetzgeber und weg von der deutschen Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit. In Grenzen allerdings verbleiben Bundestag und BVerfG selbst nach den weitreichenden Vorschlagen der Kommission fur eine Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (EU-DSGVO-E) vom 25.1.2012 Gestaltungsmoglichkeiten.
On Red Blood Cells, Hemolysis and Resealed Ghosts

This paper aims to consider, with a historical perspective, the characteristics of red blood cells and their ghosts that are associated with osmotic hemolysis and its reversal. Since hemolysis refers to the process by which a cell becomes permeable to hemoglobin (Hb) the term “ghost” is used to describe the resultant envelope or cell-like structure (also referred to as post-hemolytic residue or stroma) that survives the transition. This definition of the term, ghost, emphasizes the functional involvement of the plasma membrane and is independent of, or at least not biased by, the circumstances leading to its production. This definition, based on a loss of Hb by a change in the membrane’s permeability, excludes the types of changes in a cell’s Hb content that occurs, for instance, during erythroid maturation or by age related changes in cell density. While this definition of a ghost is general and independent of Hb content (ghosts can range from being nominally Hb-free to containing almost the cell’s original amount), it should also be understood that the resultant types/properties of ghosts reflect the conditions that attended the hemolytic step(s) and any subsequent treatment(s). This means that ghost characteristics are method-dependent and should be specified in every case.
A method for large-scale l 1 -regularized logistic regression

Logistic regression with l1 regularization has been proposed as a promising method for feature selection in classification problems. Several specialized solution methods have been proposed for l1-regularized logistic regression problems (LRPs). However, existing methods do not scale well to large problems that arise in many practical settings. In this paper we describe an efficient interior-point method for solving l1-regularized LRPS. Small problems with up to a thousand or so features and examples can be solved in seconds on a PC. A variation on the basic method, that uses a preconditioned conjugate gradient method to compute the search step, can solve large sparse problems, with a million features and examples (e.g., the 20 Newsgroups data set), in a few tens of minutes, on a PC. Numerical experiments show that our method outperforms standard methods for solving convex optimization problems as well as other methods specifically designed for l1- regularized LRPs.
Preparation of Rodent Primary Cultures for Neuron–Glia, Mixed Glia, Enriched Microglia, and Reconstituted Cultures with Microglia

Microglia, neurons, and macroglia (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) are the major cell types in the central nervous system. In the past decades, primary microglia-enriched cultures have been widely used to study the biological functions of microglia in vitro. In order to study the interactions between microglia and other brain cells, neuron-glia, neuron-microglia, and mixed glia cultures were developed. The aim of this chapter is to provide basic and adaptable protocols for the preparation of these microglia-containing primary cultures from rodent. Meanwhile, we also want to provide a collection of tips from our collective experiences doing primary brain cell cultures.
Metastatic cancer of the umbilicus

An 89-year-old Hispanic male patient presented to the emergency department with melena, decreased appetite, and weight loss. The physical exam revealed a firm, nontender, irregular nodule under the umbilicus. Computed tomography of abdomen showed a pancreatic head tumor with extensive metastatic disease in the abdominal organs and extension to the umbilicus. Umbilical nodule can sometimes be the only clinical manifestation of advanced metastatic disease, a thorough examination is required in patients that present with umbilical tumors. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient care, Medical knowledge.
A Multi-step Usability Evaluation of a Self-Management App to Support Medication Adherence in Persons Living with HIV.

Abstract Purpose Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is essential to HIV management and sustaining viral suppression. Despite simplified regimens, adherence remains difficult for certain persons living with HIV (PLWH). There is evidence to support the use of mHealth apps for effective self-management in PLWH; however, a medication adherence app with real-time monitoring for this population has not been developed and rigorously evaluated by PLWH. We developed a mHealth app (WiseApp) for HIV self-management to help PLWH self-manage their health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of the WiseApp. Methods We conducted a three-step usability evaluation using 1) a traditional think-aloud protocol with end-users, 2) a heuristic evaluation with experts in informatics, and 3) a cognitive walkthrough with end-users. During the cognitive walkthrough, we tested two devices (fitness tracker and medication tracking bottle) that were linked to the WiseApp. Results The think-aloud protocol informed iterative updates to the app, specifically to make it easier to see different sections of the app. The heuristic evaluation confirmed the necessity of these design changes. The cognitive walkthrough informed additional updates and confirmed that overall, the app and the linked devices were usable for the end-users. Conclusion The results of the cognitive walkthrough with both experts and end-users informed iterative refinements to the WiseApp and finalization of a mHealth app for PLWH to better self-manage their health.
Multispectral IR Reflectography for Painting Analysis

InfraRed Reflectography (IRR) is traditionally used in the non-destructive diagnostics of ancient paintings to reveal features underlying the pictorial layer thanks to transparency characteristics to IR radiation of the materials composing the paints. Generally performed in wide-band modality, consisting in the acquisition of the radiation backscattered by a painting in a spectral range that depends on the detector used, it has recently been improved with the multispectral modality. Multi-spectral IR reflectography, based on reflectance measurement in narrow spectral bands, is presented herein. Main technologies, using either filters or dispersive systems, and the innovative scanner for multispectral IR reflectography are described. A few examples of application are shown, to highlight both the potential of multispectral analysis and its advantages over wide-band reflectography. The output is a stack of monochromatic images, one for each selected wavelength, which can be analysed separately as well as jointly. The multispectral option allows the choice of the most effective IR bands improving the ability to detect hidden features; interband comparison aids in localizing areas of different pictorial materials with particular IR reflectance. Besides the analysis of single monochromatic images, the joint processing of multispectral planes, such as subtraction and ratio methods, false colour representation and statistical tools, aids in enhancing details from hidden layers and providing information synthetized in a single image. Maintaining a visual approach in the data analysis allows this tool to be used by restorers and conservators, the actual end-users.
Magnesium-manganese oxides for high temperature thermochemical energy storage

Abstract The reactive stability and energy density of magnesium-manganese oxides for high-temperature thermochemical energy storage have been investigated. Three variations of material with molar ratios of manganese to magnesium of 2/3, 1/1, and 2/1 were prepared using solid-state reaction synthesis and were tested for thermochemical reactive stability and energy storage capability. Results show that oxygen released and absorbed (standard cm3 g−1) by the materials remains unchanged over 20 cycles when cycled between 1200 and 1500 °C under an oxygen partial pressure (PO2) of 0.2 atm, indicating excellent reactive stability at high temperatures. Additional confirmation of reactive stability was obtained through testing over 10 energy storage cycles between 1000 and 1500 °C. The energy density of the material between 1000 and 1500 °C was determined through a combination of acid-solution calorimetry and drop calorimetry. The total volumetric energy densities (chemical, phase change, and sensible) obtained for samples of Mn/Mg of 2/3, 1/1, and 2/1 cycled between 1000 and 1500 °C are 1596, 1626 and 1654 MJ m-3, respectively.
Reactive Nanofluids for Tuning Resin Hardness

Polyurea resins derived from tolyldiisocyante (TDI) and a reactive solvent-free nanofluid (NF-NH2) surface-decorated with propylamines can be tuned over three to five orders of magnitude in storage modulus (10 MPa to 10 GPa) and hardness modulus (6 kPa to 4 GPa) by varying weight fractions of components. The thermal properties of this NF-NH2 are similar to several other nanofluids reported using the same bulky anionic counterion that also imparts liquidity in the absence of any solvent. This tuning suggests applications ranging from opaque protective coatings to clearcoats to sealants to adhesives.
Multi-flow calibration applied to microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry

Multi-flow calibration (MFC) is based on a single calibration standard and multiple nebulization gas flow rates (Q). Analytical signals are recorded at different Q conditions, and intensities from calibration standards and samples are plotted on the x and y axes, respectively. The analyte concentration in the sample is calculated by multiplying the standard concentration by the calibration plot slope. In the present work, MFC is used to determine Cr, Cu, Fe and Mn in water and food samples by microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry. Analyte percent recoveries for certified reference materials and addition/recovery experiments were in the 91–112% and 84–134% ranges for MFC and external standard calibration (EC), respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) for Cr, Cu, Fe and Mn were 20, 5, 7 and 2 μg L−1 using MFC (0.6, 8, 20 and 1 μg L−1 for EC). Precisions were in the 0.9–12.2% and 1.9–23.9% ranges for MFC and EC, respectively. MFC may minimize matrix effects as it exposes all solutions to a variety of plasma conditions. This normalizing effect may be capable of improving accuracies compared with EC for simple to moderately complex matrix samples. One of MFC's main limitations is the potential for systematic errors associated with solution preparation (a single calibration standard is used). Variation in Q may also result in higher LODs and lower sample throughputs compared with EC. On the other hand, neither negative effects due to a poor choice of Q nor additional experiments to optimize it are required with MFC.
Expert Commentary: Algorithm for the Treatment of Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is an increasingly common problem. It has many causes and thorough evaluation is required. Mechanical obstruction and nonsurgically correctable causes need to be ruled out or treated appropriately if present. Dietary manipulation and medical therapy are the mainstays of treatment. Patients with intractable symptoms can be considered for surgical therapy. Patients with postvagotomy or postgastrectomy gastroparesis can be treated with near-total gastrectomy. Patients with idiopathic or diabetic gastroparesis who do not take narcotics and have emesis and nausea as the primary cause can be treated with gastric neurostimulation. Patients with other causes can be treated with pyloroplasty. Despite this, persistent symptoms are common, and the clinician needs to establish a long-term relationship with these patients.
Validation of Physical Performance Tests in Individuals with Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis.

Individuals with advanced osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee experience significant impairments in balance and in essential physical functions such as walking and rising from a chair. There is limited evidence on valid outcome measures to capture these impairments. We sought to examine the construct validity of three physical performance measures in patients with advanced knee OA: a gait speed (GS) test, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. We designed a cross-sectional clinical measurement study in which patients with advanced knee OA completed two self-reported measures: the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score—Physical Function Shortform (KOOS-PS) and a four-part numeric pain rating scale (Q-NPRS). They were also administered the GS test, TUG test, and SPPB. Convergent and divergent construct validity were assessed by examining relationships between the GS test, the SPPB, the TUG test, the KOOS-PS, and the Q-NPRS and calculating Pearson correlation coefficients (r). The scores for the GS, TUG test, and SPPB were compared with established normative values for age-matched healthy controls. Forty-four subjects (mean age, 66.9 ± 8.1 years) participated in the study. The GS test showed low concordance with the SPPB component tests and the TUG test. The relationships between the physical performance measures and the self-reported measures were low. The scores for the GS test, TUG test, and SPPB in our sample were significantly worse when compared with age-matched normative values, indicating impairments in physical performance. These results advance the understanding of the validity of the GS test, TUG test, and SPPB in demonstrating the impairments in physical performance that patients with advanced knee OA experience in walking, balancing, and rising from a chair. Future research should examine the reproducibility and responsiveness of the GS test, TUG test, and SPPB in patients with advanced knee OA, in order to facilitate the integration of these measures into clinical practice.
Deployable tessellated transducer array for ultrasound focusing and bio-heat generation in a multilayer environment

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has great potential to thermally ablate diseased tissues with minimal invasion. Yet, HIFU practice has limited cancer treatment potential since the absorption, diffusion, and reflection of ultrasound prevent HIFU from penetrating the body to deep and concealed diseased tissue. To explore a vision of deployable HIFU transducers, this research introduces an origami-inspired concept wherein a deployable tessellated acoustic array is employed to reduce the distance between the HIFU transducer and diseased tissues. A flat-foldable HIFU transducer array is considered, such that the compact shape is used to pass through the human body and then deployed into the operational form for treatment. Here a theoretical framework is developed to study the focusing and thermal heating capabilities of the tessellated array in a multilayer environment. It is observed that the wavefield and thermal elevation realized by the foldable array are functionally similar to those of an ideal arc-shaped transducer. Folding patterns that permit adequate curvature and high quality factor, and that balance slenderness and conformability are found to be beneficial for an ultrasound focusing practice. The efficacy of the analytical predictions are verified through direct numerical simulations. All together, the results encourage attention to foldable array concepts as potential means to advance in-vivo HIFU-based procedures.
Designing a commercial medical bundle for cancer care: Hawaii Medical Service Association's Cancer Episode Model.

Abstract Background Oncology care is expensive and exhibits substantial variation in cost and quality across clinicians and patients. Unlike many conditions with established bundled payment programs, cancer care includes a mix of inpatient and outpatient care that precludes hospital-based designs. In 2018, we worked with Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA), the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii, to design a novel commercial bundle for cancer care, the Cancer Episode Model. Methods Descriptive analysis of HMSA's Cancer Episode Model, including its inclusion criteria, episode definitions, suite of enhanced services, shared savings model, and incentivized quality metrics. We also compare HMSA's Cancer Episode Model to Medicare's Oncology Care Model and three major commercial oncologic alternative payment models offered by Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna. Results HMSA's Cancer Episode Model builds upon the successes and limitations of Medicare's Oncology Care Model and existing commercial alternative payment models. Compared to Medicare's Oncology Care Model, HMSA's Cancer Episode Model has stricter inclusion criteria, fewer incentivized quality metrics, a higher proportion of regional pricing, a different risk-adjustment model, and first-dollar shared savings. Compared to the majority of existing commercial models, HMSA's Cancer Episode Model includes total cost of care and a different risk-adjustment model. Conclusions Reviewing features of the Cancer Episode Model in comparison to other programs is intended to provide guidance to health plans and health policymakers in the design of programs and policies aimed at improving cancer care value. Level of evidence Level IV.
3.24 Magnetic Resonance of Bone Microstructure and Chemistry

Bone is a composite biomaterial that models and remodels in response to the stresses to which it is subjected. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have demonstrated significant potential for the study of bone architecture at multiple length scales and are providing new insight into micro- and ultrastructure as well as chemistry of mineral and matrix phases. This article introduces the fundamentals of NMR and MRI to the reader unfamiliar with the technology and covers a range of possible applications to the study of this important biomaterial and tissue, with focus on innovations spanning the 5 years since the work’s first edition. Areas covered include the evaluation of scale, topology and orientation of trabecular networks by three-dimensional (3D) MRI both ex vivo and in vivo, with particular emphasis on the methods for extraction of structural measures and their mechanical implications in the human skeleton in health and disease. Finally, solid-state proton and phosphorus NMR spectroscopy and imaging are shown to provide new insight into mineral and matrix chemistry, including the role of bone water. The wide availability of NMR spectroscopy and imaging devices based on magnetic resonance are having a significant impact as both investigational tools and for the clinical evaluation of degenerative and metabolic bone disease in laboratory animals and humans.
Myocardial Performance and Baroreceptor Reflexes in Preterm Neonates: An Echocardiographic Evaluation Using the Tilt Table Test Method

Myocardial Performance and Baroreceptor Reflexes in Preterm Neonates: An Echocardiographic Evaluation Using the Tilt Table Test Method
Safe Learning under Uncertain Objectives and Constraints.

In this paper, we consider non-convex optimization problems under \textit{unknown} yet safety-critical constraints. Such problems naturally arise in a variety of domains including robotics, manufacturing, and medical procedures, where it is infeasible to know or identify all the constraints. Therefore, the parameter space should be explored in a conservative way to ensure that none of the constraints are violated during the optimization process once we start from a safe initialization point. To this end, we develop an algorithm called Reliable Frank-Wolfe (Reliable-FW). Given a general non-convex function and an unknown polytope constraint, Reliable-FW simultaneously learns the landscape of the objective function and the boundary of the safety polytope. More precisely, by assuming that Reliable-FW has access to a (stochastic) gradient oracle of the objective function and a noisy feasibility oracle of the safety polytope, it finds an $\epsilon$-approximate first-order stationary point with the optimal ${\mathcal{O}}({1}/{\epsilon^2})$ gradient oracle complexity (resp. $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}({1}/{\epsilon^3})$ (also optimal) in the stochastic gradient setting), while ensuring the safety of all the iterates. Rather surprisingly, Reliable-FW only makes $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(({d^2}/{\epsilon^2})\log 1/\delta)$ queries to the noisy feasibility oracle (resp. $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(({d^2}/{\epsilon^4})\log 1/\delta)$ in the stochastic gradient setting) where $d$ is the dimension and $\delta$ is the reliability parameter, tightening the existing bounds even for safe minimization of convex functions. We further specialize our results to the case that the objective function is convex. A crucial component of our analysis is to introduce and apply a technique called geometric shrinkage in the context of safe optimization.
Abstract PO-123: Disparities in optimal treatment of oral and pharyngeal cancers by ethnicity and smoking status

Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer (OPC) is a deadly cancer with complex treatment plans and outcomes. In practice, surgery followed by radiation or chemotherapy is considered the “optimal treatment” associated with better OPC survival. However, not all OPC patients receive the optimal treatment. Prior research has documented that survival varies by smoking status and ethno-racial groups, but little is known about the relationship between a patient’s smoking status, ethnicity, and the choices they make about cancer treatment post diagnosis. To shed light on this under- studied issue, data from the Florida Cancer Data System were analyzed. A logit model was built with the response variable treatment pattern arranged into three levels: surgery only (reference), surgery followed by radiation or chemotherapy, and other treatment types. The predictors included smoking status, race-ethnicity, smoking by race-ethnicity interaction, health insurance, age at diagnosis, gender, and marital status. Overall, the odds of receiving optimal treatment for Non-Hispanic Whites and Non-Hispanic Blacks are 29%-34% (p Citation Format: Hannah J. Fechtel, Yi Guo. Disparities in optimal treatment of oral and pharyngeal cancers by ethnicity and smoking status [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-123.
Poetics of the Hunt: Re-reading Agency and Re-thinking Ecology in William Somerville’s The Chase

As a persistent vein of literary history has well documented, the genre of fable enjoyed greater stature and critical regard in late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century England than at almost any other time in history. The vitality of the form during this particular period arises less from universal agreement to its anthropocentric premise, and more from the range of hesitations that accompanied such agreement. And both the anthropocentric premise and the hesitations that accompany it are themselves necessary byproducts of the somewhat nervous modern humanism that arose from the doctrines of Renaissance Humanism and sought to appropriate those values in the service of constructing the modern democratic political state. This chapter seeks to re-examine from an ecological perspective that resists anthropocentrism the literary work of animals in poetry about hunting during this particularly challenging moment in history when philosophers were re-engaging the relative status of humans and animals, and simultaneously re-theorizing those principles on which political states could be re-organized. How might those of us interested in preserving democratic political structures, yet equally committed to substituting more ecologically alert articulations of the natural world to which we belong, re-read the poetry of this time?
Captured Time: Simone Weil’s Vital Temporality Against the State

This chapter examines Weil’s critique of the “idolatry” of the State regarding its deleterious effects on the experience of time. For Weil, the State maximizes its control by constituting a temporality that captures both the past (in the form of myth) and the future (in the form of progress) within a totalized present conserved through nationalist ideology. We argue that the temporal operation of the State is one of overdetermination, of overriding and foreclosing culturally diverse, intellectually nourishing, and politically explorative relationships to the past and future. We propose, in the spirit of Weil, an alternative temporality of renewed historical enrichment and investigation in the direction of the past, as well as an exigent, political creativity oriented toward the future. On our reading, this “rooting in” time requires a freeing of the multiplicity of pasts from nationalist narratives and an affirmation of the future’s proper indeterminacy.
Healthy ankle and hindfoot kinematics during gait: Sex differences, asymmetry and coupled motion revealed through dynamic biplane radiography

Abstract The aims of this study were to compare male versus female and dominant versus non-dominant kinematics in the ankle and hindfoot, and to characterize coupled motion between the subtalar and tibiotalar joints during the support phase of gait. Twenty healthy adults walked on a laboratory walkway while synchronized biplane radiographs of the ankle and hindfoot were collected at 100 frames/s. A validated tracking technique was used to measure tibiotalar and subtalar kinematics. Differences between male and female range of motion (ROM) were observed only in tibiotalar (AP and ML) and subtalar (ML) translation (all differences
PD-L1 inhibition with avelumab plus abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide in African Americans with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

87Background: African Americans (AA) are at higher risk for prostate cancer death compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. Early immune-based therapy prolonged overall survival in men ...
Avoid Sign Errors

Abstract Sign errors are the most preventable cause of space mishaps, but ironically the leading one as well. This paper recounts the trials and tribulations of several missions, and shows that sign errors can occur anywhere. In every case, engineers overlooked human weaknesses, such as poor communications across functional areas. This paper therefore beseeches the space community members to vigilantly guard against these elementary mistakes. Most generally, they should identify all sign-sensitive items and ensure configuration control at the appropriate level, conduct end-to-end verification, use simple tests to safeguard against gross errors, and validate flight software. The paper also delineates more hands-on lessons in design, manufacturing, testing, and operations: design for unambiguity, plan to quickly correct sign errors during satellite initialization, and avoid taking hasty actions during routine operations. Moreover, this paper prescribes preventive actions for equipment known to be particularly trouble-prone: tantalum capacitors, connectors, actuators such as torque rods, and sensors such as star trackers. These prescriptions look obvious, but when it comes to signs, one should heed the advice of Andy Groves: “Only the paranoid survive. Success breeds complacency; complacency breeds failure.”
Mechanical characteristics of wood-bark interface of shrub willow

Abstract The mechanical behavior of the wood-bark interface of shrub willow was tested to investigate the influence of key factors: harvest season, moisture content, and cultivars. The mechanical properties enable the design and optimization of the performance of debarking equipment for short-rotation woody stems and can help improve understanding of the mechanical performance of the wood-bark interface. Results show that the low moisture content samples have a significantly higher shear modulus, G (Mean =0.34 GPa) and modulus of toughness U t (Mean = 12.84 kPa). However, the degree of ductility (0.02) and the ratio of ultimate strain e u to strain e 50 (2.18) are lower for low moisture content samples. Different willow cultivars have no significant influence on the mechanical properties of the wood-bark interface tested. Results also reveal that the values of ultimate strain e u (0.11), modulus of toughness U t (16.09 kPa), and degree of ductility (0.031) are significantly higher for samples collected in the dormant season compared to the growing season. Covariance analysis reveals that aspect ratio of the sample has a significant effect on shear modulus, G (p = 0.041), ultimate strain, e u (p = 0.008), modulus of toughness (p = 0.012) and degree of ductility (p = 0.001). Identifying the combination of these desirable properties provides a framework to achieve the maximum debarking efficiency and effectiveness for short-rotation woody crops.
A Comparative Analysis of Gene and Protein Expression Throughout a Full 28-Day Retinal Regeneration Time-Course in Adult Zebrafish.

Following photoreceptors ablation by intense light exposure, adult zebrafish are capable of complete regeneration due to the ability of their Muller glia (MG) to re-enter the cell cycle, creating progenitors that differentiate into new photoreceptors. The majority of previous reports on retinal regeneration focused on the first few days of the regenerative response, which include MG cell-cycle re-entry and progenitor cell proliferation. With this study, we analyzed the full 28-day time-course of regeneration by pairing a detailed morphological/immunological analysis with RNA-seq transcriptional profiling at 8 key time points during retinal regeneration. We observed several novel findings. First, we provide evidence for two separate peaks of MG gliosis, with the secondary gliotic peak occurring after MG cell-cycle re-entry. Second, we highlight a distinct transcriptional shift between 5- and 10-days post lesion that highlights the transition from progenitor proliferation to differentiation into new photoreceptors. Third, we show distinctly different patterns of transcriptional recovery of the photoreceptor opsins at 28 days post lesion. Finally, using differential gene expression analysis, we revealed that the established functional recovery of the retina at 28 days post lesion does not, in fact, return to an undamaged transcriptional state, potentially redefining what the field considers complete regeneration. Together, to our knowledge, this work represents the first histological and transcriptomic map of a 28-day time-course of retinal regeneration in adult zebrafish.
Postnatal Unit Experiences Associated With Exclusive Breastfeeding During the Inpatient Stay: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

Background:Efforts to provide accessible and effective infant feeding support are advancing to set up new families to meeting their goals. However, data continue to be limited for understanding how...
Seismic Isolation for Advanced Fast Reactors

We present the results of a survey of the state of seismic isolation technology. The emphasis of the review is placed in the United States. The purpose of this survey was to provide an engineering ...
Damage Resistant Optical Coatings Prepared Using High Temperature, Plasma Chemical-Vapor-Deposition

Multilayer dielectric optical coatings, nominally consisting of 1000 or more optical-quarterwave layers, have been prepared by reacting SiCl{sub 4} and a halogenated dopant (e.g. GeCl{sub 4}) with O{sub 2} in a microwave-driven plasma. The dopant concentration is such that the index difference ({Delta}n) between adjacent quarterwave layers is about 0.02 or less. The deposition is carried out at high substrate temperatures (850 to 1100{degree}C) producing a fully dense, fused silica coating. Surface damage thresholds of high reflectivity (HR) coatings prepared by this plasma process are comparable to those for fused silica. For example, at 1.06 {mu}m and 16-ns we measure surface damage thresholds greater than 45 J/cm{sup 2} compared to about 45--60 G/cm{sup 2} for super-polished optical fused silica. 25 refs., 12 figs., 1 tab.
Increased hatching success as a direct benefit of polyandry in birds

Multiple mating by females is difficult to explain in primarily socially monogamous taxa such as birds because mating outside the pair bond often provides no obvious benefit to females. Although indirect selection is often invoked to explain the evolution of polyandry, current evidence suggests that selection on indirect benefits of mating is weak. Here, I consider a direct benefit of remating in birds: increased fertilization success. I test whether increased hatching success of a female's eggs is related to rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP), a proxy of polyandry, across 113 bird species. I use two statistical approaches, control for phylogenetic uncertainty, and assess the fit of competing evolutionary models. Results show there is indeed a positive relationship between rates of EPP and hatching success in birds. I propose that by mating with many males, females may increase their fertility. I end by discussing the biological rationale for this explanation, alternative interpretations of the results, and how this study furthers our understanding of polyandry and mating system evolution.
A-B-O(H) blood group substances in the human maternal-fetal barrier and amniotic fluid.

Abstract The placenta, membranes, and amniotic fluid obtained from 20 full-term human pregnancies were studied for the presence of A, B, O(H) blood group substances and this in turn was related to the blood group and secretor status of the mother and infant. 1. 1. In cases of maternal-fetal heterospecificity, only when the mother was a secretor could her blood group substance be found in the amniotic fluid and fetal membranes as well as in the decidua basalis and decidua vera. The concentration of the maternal antigen was greater in the amniotic fluid than it was in the maternal serum. Also the maternal antigen was not found in the fetal circulation (cord serum) or in the fetal secretions. 2. 2. In cases of maternal-fetal heterospecificity, only when the fetus was a secretor could the fetal antigen be found in the decidua vera and decidua basalis as well as in the amniotic fluid, membranes, and occasionally the placental villi. The concentration of fetal antigen was greater in the decidua vera than it was in the fetal serum. These and other findings suggest that the blood group substances A, B, and O(H), despite their large molecular weight, do traverse the membranes directly from the uterine wall to the amniotic fluid and vice versa. It is also suggested that when the mother is a secretor the source of antigen is the uterine glands. The clinical implications of these findings have been discussed.
Functional relevance of specific interactions between herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP4 and sequences from the promoter-regulatory domain of the viral thymidine kinase gene.

Abstract The herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 immediate-early regulatory protein ICP4 is required for induced expression of HSV early and late genes, yet the mechanism by which this occurs is not known. We examined the promoter and flanking sequences of the HSV early gene that encodes thymidine kinase for the ability to interact specifically with ICP4 in gel retardation assays. Protein-DNA complexes containing ICP4 were observed with several distinct regions flanking the tk promoter. cis-Acting elements that interact with cellular transcription factors were apparently not required for these interactions to form. Purified ICP4 formed protein-DNA complexes with fragments from these regions, and Southwestern (DNA-protein blot) analysis indicated that the interaction between ICP4 and these sequences can be direct. None of the tk sequences that interact with ICP4 contains a consensus binding site for ICP4 (S. W. Faber and K. W. Wilcox, Nucleic Acids Res. 14:6067-6083, 1986), reflecting the ability of ICP4 to interact with more than one DNA sequence. A mutated ICP4 protein expressed from the viral genome that retains the ability to bind to a consensus binding site but does not bind specifically to the identified sites flanking the tk promoter results in induced transcription of the tk gene. These data support hypotheses for ICP4-mediated transactivation of the tk promoter in Vero cells that do not require the intrinsic ability of ICP4 to bind specifically in or near the promoter of the tk gene.
An amyloid β-protein fragment, Aβ[12–28], equipotently impairs post-training memory processing when injected into different limbic system structures

Previously, amyloid β-protein (Aβ) fragments 1–28, 12–28 and 12–20 were found to impair retention in mice when injected intracerebroventricularly after footschock active avoidance training. We now have measured the dose-dependence of amnestic effects of peptide 12–28 stereotacally injected into amygala, caudate, hippocampus, mammillary bodies and septum, which limbic structures are known to be involved in memory processing and into the medial thalamus, which largely is involved in sensory processing during training. Peptide 12–28 impaired retention with remarkably similar efficacy when injected into limbic structures but was not at all amnestic upon thalamic injection. Present results together with those in the literature lead us to suggest that Aβ may exert dysregulatory cognitive effects by incoordination of K+-channel function in neurons, glia and endothelial cells.