cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Onset of Instability by Oscillatory Modes in Hydromagnetic Couette Flow

The transition of the onset of instability from stationary modes to oscillatory modes for an incompressible, conducting Couette flow between two coaxial, perfectly conducting, non-permeable, rotating cylinders under the influence of an axially applied magnetic field is considered. Results for three cases are reported. These pertain to flow between (1) a rotating inner wall with a stationary outer wall, (2) counterrotating walls, and (3) corotating walls. It is found that, for high values of the Hartmann number, there may exist some range of convective wavenumbers for which neither of the two lowest modes of axisymmetrical disturbances will become stationary. Within this range, the neutral stability curve is determined by a complex-conjugate pair of oscillatory axisymmetrical modes of equal stability. The oscillatory modes may, in fact, become more critical than the stationary modes. It is demonstrated that the approximation of replacing the angular speed by its average value, combined with the assumption of a narrow gap between the cylindrical walls, eliminates the oscillatory axisymmetrical modes.
Utility of waist-to-height ratio in assessing the status of central obesity and related cardiometabolic risk profile among normal weight and overweight/obese children: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Body Mass Index (BMI) is widely used to assess the impact of obesity on cardiometabolic risk in children but it does not always relate to central obesity and varies with growth and maturation. Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) is a relatively constant anthropometric index of abdominal obesity across different age, sex or racial groups. However, information is scant on the utility of WHtR in assessing the status of abdominal obesity and related cardiometabolic risk profile among normal weight and overweight/obese children, categorized according to the accepted BMI threshold values. Cross-sectional cardiometabolic risk factor variables on 3091 black and white children (56% white, 50% male), 4-18 years of age were used. Based on the age-, race- and sex-specific percentiles of BMI, the children were classified as normal weight (5th - 85th percentiles) and overweight/obese (≥ 85th percentile). The risk profiles of each group based on the WHtR (<0.5, no central obesity versus ≥ 0.5, central obesity) were compared. 9.2% of the children in the normal weight group were centrally obese (WHtR ≥0.5) and 19.8% among the overweight/obese were not (WHtR < 0.5). On multivariate analysis the normal weight centrally obese children were 1.66, 2.01, 1.47 and 2.05 times more likely to have significant adverse levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin, respectively. In addition to having a higher prevalence of parental history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the normal weight central obesity group showed a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.0001). In the overweight/obese group, those without central obesity were 0.53 and 0.27 times less likely to have significant adverse levels of HDL cholesterol and HOMA-IR, respectively (p < 0.05), as compared to those with central obesity. These overweight/obese children without central obesity also showed significantly lower prevalence of parental history of hypertension (p = 0.002), type 2 diabetes mellitus (p = 0.03) and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.0001). WHtR not only detects central obesity and related adverse cardiometabolic risk among normal weight children, but also identifies those without such conditions among the overweight/obese children, which has implications for pediatric primary care practice.
Antiestrogenicity of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human breast cancer cells

The total concentration of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined to be 3400-fold greater in a sediment sample from an industrial site on the St. Lawrence River (SLR), NY, than in a sediment sample from a non-industrial site on the Kinderhook Creek (KC), NY. PAH fractions from extracts of the two environmental samples and two reconstituted mixtures as well as the 14 individual PAHs were examined for their toxic, estrogenic, and antiestrogenic activities using MCF-7 focus, recombinant human estrogen receptor (ER) binding, whole-cell ER binding, and 17b-estradiol (E2) metabolism assays. PAH fractions from the KC and SLR were antiestrogenic; they significantly inhibited the formation of foci elicited in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by 1 nM E2. Eight of the 14 individual PAHs, and the reconstituted mixtures were also antiestrogenic. Results from the whole-cell ER binding assay and the radiometric analysis of E2 metabolism indicate that the PAHs detected in the KC and the SLR environmental samples induce antiestrogenic responses in metabolically intact human breast cancer cells through at least two mechanisms: one involving competition for the ER by a PAH metabolite and the other involving depletion of E2 through induction of metabolism. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Chirp sine and cosine transforms for a split-step propagation algorithm

Split-step propagation algorithms are widely used to model the propagation of fields in complex environments. Typically one of the slowest steps in such an algorithm is the computation of the forward and inverse transforms. Chirp versions of the sine and cosine transforms were derived, to allow modification of the number of points used in the transforms according to the detail needed in a particular region.
Computer-assisted molecular modeling of benzodiazepine and thyromimetic inhibitors of the HepG2 iodothyronine membrane transporter.

T3 cellular uptake is inhibited in the presence of benzodiazepines (BZs). The structure-activity relationship of BZ inhibition correlates strongly with halogen substitution of the nonfused phenyl ring and indicates that this ring is required for activity. A structure-activity series of thyromimetic (TH) inhibitors of the HepG2 iodothyronine transporter further point out the critical importance of the amino group of the alanine side chain, its L-stereo configuration, and the size of the substituents of the inner and outer phenyl rings. A third series of compounds, reported to interact at related sites, were inactive as HepG2 iodothyronine transport inhibitors, and therefore the potent inhibitors were restricted to the BZ and TH compounds. Using both of these BZ and TH structure-activity series along with computer-assisted molecular modeling techniques, we determined which chemical structural components were important at the transporter interaction site. By superimposing structures from active chemicals, ex...
Need Coding or Reimbursement Assistance

ASCO has offered coding and reimbursement assistance to members for more than 10 years. Staff in the Practice Division of the Cancer Policy and Clinical Affairs Department respond to oncology-related coding, reimbursement, and coverage questions, and many times, additional resources, policies, and educational materials are provided. This service was originally available through a dedicated telephone line and e-mail address. As of March 1, 2010, the coding and reimbursement service has moved to a new electronic format, and inquiries must be submitted online at http://www.asco.org/billingcoding. Some recent questions posed to the service are provided:
Cramer-Rao bounds for estimating range, velocity, and direction with an active array

We derive Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) expressions for the range (time delay), velocity (Doppler shift), and direction of a point target using an active radar or sonar array. First, general CRB expressions are derived for a narrowband signal and array model and a space-time separable noise model that allows both spatial and temporal correlation. We discuss the relationship between the CRB and ambiguity function for this model. Then, we specialize our CRB results to the case of temporally white noise and the practically important signal shape of a linear frequency modulated (chirp) pulse sequence. We compute the CRB for a three-dimensional (3-D) array with isotropic sensors in spatially white noise and show that it is a function of the array geometry only through the "moments of inertia" of the array. The volume of the confidence region for the target's location is proposed as a measure of accuracy. For this measure, we show that the highest (and lowest) target location accuracy is achieved if the target lies along one of the principal axes of inertia of the array. Finally, we compare the location accuracies of several array geometries.
PET Imaging Studies Show Enhanced Expression of mGluR5 and Inflammatory Response During Progressive Degeneration in ALS Mouse Model Expressing SOD1-G93A Gene

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative motor neuron disorder. Genetic studies have linked mutation of the gene SOD1 to ALS pathology as well as several other pathological processes including modulation of glutamatergic function and inflammatory processes. Since therapeutic approaches for ALS are focused on glutamatergic function, we investigated modulation of glutamate transport based on its receptor function as well as excitotoxicity-induced inflammatory response. In vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) using [18F]FPEB ([18F]3-fluoro-5-(2-pyridylethynyl)benzonitrile) and inflammatory response using [11C]PBR28 (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand 28) were done in an early and a late phase of neurodegeneration in four ALS mice expressing SOD1-G93A gene and four control base mice (C57/BL6). Accumulation of [18F]FPEB and [11C]PBR28 were quantitated in several brain areas and spinal cord to determine degeneration-induced modulation. The studies were completed with immunohistochemical analyses of mGluR5 and inflammatory response. These studies showed enhanced binding potential of [18F]FPEB in several brain areas including striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex. In the whole brain, the binding potential increased 49 ± 9 % from base mice to ALS-type mice and further enhanced 23 ± 4 % during disease progression. Also, in the spinal cord 6–22 %, enhanced accumulation of [18F]FPEB was observed during progression of the disease. The accumulation of [11C]PBR28 increased by 110 ± 33 % in the whole brain during progression of the disease indicating significant inflammatory process. [11C]PBR28 accumulation enhanced 89–264 % in the spinal cord and 204 % in the lungs. The end point immunohistochemical analyses verified the enhanced mGluR5 expression and inflammation. These results confirm the role of glutamate and inflammation in ALS-type pathology. These data also support the hypothesis that excessive glutamate may contribute to inflammation in the chronic neurodegenerative processes in ALS.
Analysis of Shear Cores Using Superelements

A number of multistory buildings, containing concrete shear cores to house vertical services, have sustained major damage in recent earthquakes. Simplified analytical models for the shear cores cannot account for the relative stiffness of intersecting walls and for the influence of openings on the wall stiffness. Wall stress calculations are also beyond the capabilities of many of these continuum models. To remedy this, a three-dimensional shear core analytical model composed of two-dimensional rectangular plane stress and plate bending finite elements was developed. A subassemblage of finite elements forms a superelement and a stack of superelements is assembled in series elimination fashion to model the core tower. Determination of vibration frequencies, mode shapes, and nodal displacements for several isolated shear cores demonstrates the capabilities of the model. This general purpose analytical model can be readily incorporated into existing multistory-building frame models, and can serve as a basis for evaluation of simpler continuum models.
Prostaglandin receptors of the EP2 and EP4 subtypes regulate B lymphocyte activation and differentiation to IgE-secreting cells.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines initiate physiologic cascades which cause allergic disease and asthma. Understanding how these cascades are triggered is critical for comprehending disease pathogenesis and for developing effective therapies. Novel therapies are needed to curb the increasing global incidence of allergy and asthma. Numerous mechanisms regulate IgE and Th2 cytokine production, however, an emerging concept is that E-series prostaglandins (PGEs), shift the immune response towards allergy by promoting production of IgE and a Th2 profile of cytokines (1). PGEs are lipid molecules which regulate diverse processes throughout the body. Prostaglandins are produced in most tissues (including lymphoid) by “constitutive” cyclooxygenases (COX-1), and in response to inflammatory stimuli, production is increased by expression of “inducible” cyclooxygenases (COX-2), (2). PGEs bind receptors (EP receptors) expressed by hematopoietic cells and promote Th2 and IgE responses at multiple levels. Firstly, PGEs induce development of Th2 cells via modulating cytokine production by antigen presenting cells. Secondly, they inhibit Th1 and promote Th2 profiles of cytokine production from mature differentiated T cells. Lastly, PGEs directly target B lymphocytes and enhance cytokine-directed immunoglobulin isotype class switching.
A Case for Federal Ride-Sharing Regulations: How Protectionism and Inconsistent Lawmaking Stunt Uber-Led Technological Entrepreneurship

With established economic principles providing that good regulation should, above all, effectively serve policy goals and promote innovation through efficiency and consistency, TNCs seem well suited for federal regulation. Regulation at present has been relatively consistent in addressing consumer safety concerns; however, ineffectiveness arises more so from measures that seem only to serve as barriers to market entry. While some ordinances feign embrace of TNC services while unnecessarily increasing the cost of operation to level the playing field with traditional taxi companies, others outright prevent companies like Uber from operating. Given the general agreement that Uber has brought much needed efficiency to low-cost transportation and innovation to dynamic pricing, there exists no reason (other than legislative remissness) for common sense regulation not to already be in place nationally. Instead, with such inefficient and inconsistent governance remaining in place, the only ends met are the continued bureaucratic protection of an outdated incumbent industry, "unreasonable burdens on business, [and] stifled innovation."
Effect of Nitrogen Nutrition on the free Amino Acid Pool of Choanephora Cucurbitarum and Parasitism by two Haustorial Mycoparasites

The susceptibility of Choanephora cucurbitarum to parasitism by the biotrophic haustorial mycoparasites, Tieghemiomyces parasiticus and Piptocephalis virginiana, was markedly affected by both the nitrogen (N) source and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in host culture media. Parasitism could not be correlated with host growth or pH of culture filtrates. Analyses of the free amino acid pool in host mycelium by gas-liquid chromatography revealed high concentrations of glutamic acid and to a lesser extent other amino acids when N sources or C/N ratios favorable for parasitism were present in media. Poor N sources for parasitism resulted in low levels of all pool amino acids except those used as the N source. When the C/N ratio was increased in media initially favorable for parasitism, concurrent reductions occurred in levels of free amino acids in host mycelium and in growth of the parasite. Reductions in parasitism could not be correlated to the absence of specific amino acids in the host pool. Axenic growth of T. parasiticus on a glycerol medium amended with the amino acid pool from host mycelium was markedly affected by the N source used in host culture media. Excellent axenic growth occurred after amendment with clarified amino acid extracts from host mycelium cultured in media having a favorable N source for parasitism, whereas poor axenic growth resulted after amendment with extracts from mycelia grown in media having an unfavorable N source. In the fungal host-haustorial mycoparasite relationship, it appears that the quantitative aspects of the free amino acid pool of the host are a primary determinant of the degree of susceptibility of host mycelium to parasitism.
Pan-STARRS, ATLAS and optical transient searches

The Pan-STARRS1 survey is collecting multi-epoch, multi-colour observations of the sky north of declination 30, and has designated 70deg2 for nightly observations that are particularly useful for t...
Extracurricular Participation, “At-Risk” Status, and the High School Dropout Decision

AbstractI estimate the effect of extracurricular participation on the high school dropout decision with a particular focus on at-risk students. Using a sample of tenth grade students from the Natio...
Symbolic Systems Biology: Hybrid Modeling and Analysis of Biological Networks

How do living cells compute and control themselves, and communicate with their environment? We describe the modeling and analysis of dynamic and reactive biological systems involving both discrete and continuous behaviors, to help begin to answer that question. Continuous components arise as differential equations specifying how the concentrations of various molecular species evolve over time. Discrete components of models of biological systems arise from state transitions (eg. from healthy to abnormal states), abstractions and approximations, nonlinear effects, and the presence of inherently discrete processes, often observed in systems governed by one or a few molecules. Once a hybrid model is obtained, analysis techniques such as those described in this and previous HSCC workshops can be usefully applied to help uncover structure in the dynamics of biological systems of interest.
The International Lender of Last Resort

The primary argument for an international lender of last resort is to reduce the likelihood that a country would transmit a deflationary shock to its trading partners, because the price of its currency would decline in response to a temporary surge in import payments or a shortfall in export earnings. This decline would transmit deflationary pressure to its trading partners, both when the price of its parity was reduced and when the price of its currency was allowed to decline. The cliche from the 1930s was that some countries followed a ‘beggar-thy-neighbor’ policy; they sought to increase manufacturing employment either by allowing market forces to lead to a decline in the price of their currency, or by establishing new and lower parities for their currencies. When the price of the Austrian schilling was allowed to decline in May 1931, deflationary pressure was transmitted to Germany; subsequently deflationary pressure was transmitted to Britain. When the price of the British pound declined after Britain went off gold in September 1931, the deflationary pressure was transmitted to the United States, France, Italy, and to the other countries that maintained parities for their currencies in terms of gold. When the link between the US dollar and gold was severed in March 1933, the deflationary pressure was transmitted to France and other countries that retained their gold parities.
Evaluating non-industrial private forest landowner willingness to manage for forest carbon sequestration in the southern United States

Forest carbon sequestration is considered one of the most efficient strategies for climate change mitigation, and forests provide significant carbon storage in the United States. Non-industrial private forest (NIPF) ownership is the dominant ownership group in the southern US, but little is understood about landowners' willingness to manage forests for carbon sequestration. This study examines NIPF landowner willingness to delay final timber harvest for additional carbon sequestration despite unknowns about positive or negative impacts to profitability that result from carbon price fluctuations. Survey data from 735 landowners in the southern United States were used to estimate a probit model analyzing their participation behavior. Landowner willingness to participate in carbon sequestration practices was 55%, 25%, and 16% when such practices were more profitable, revenue neutral or less profitable than timber management only, respectively. Although many landowners would require a significant monetary incentive to participate in carbon sequestration, others would participate with little or no incentive. Those having recreational goals for their property were the most likely group to participate in carbon sequestration. Management changes (i.e., management plan and verification requirements) and carbon revenue were the two most important determinants of their probability of participation. In summary, this study provides a better understanding of the relationship between landowner participation and socioeconomic details, sequestration program attributes, attitudes, and behaviors. Designing education, incentive, and assistance programs that align with landowners' recreational goals would result in a low-cost carbon sequestration policy.
THE PRODUCTION OF DISTILLED WATER USING WASTE HEAT FROM THE JACKET-COOLING WATER OF DIESEL ENGINES

ABSTRACT This paper presents a system where waste heat from the jacket-cooling water of diesel engines is used to drive a multieffect saline water distillation plant. Economic analysis of the cost of distilled water is presented using the waste heat from the jacket-cooling water of a 1000 kw diesel engine. The analysis shows that enhancing the heat-transfer coefficient per unit cost of heat-transfer surface in the distillation section results in lower distilled water cost as well as increasing the water output. The paper then presents a case study where the wiped-film rotating-disk evaporator, developed and tested at this Center, is used as the main element in the multieffect section. Using seawater feed, this case study shows that as much as 500 m3 per day of distilled water can be produced economically from this waste heat source.
American Artists against War, 1935 - 2010

American Artists against War, 1935-2010 David McCarthy. University of California Press, 2015.Having published books on Pop Art and H. C. Westermann's art and the Cold War, David McCarthy has taken on an ambitious and broad topic. The present volume examines the work of the many American artists: painters, printmakers, sculptors, and those who worked in many or mixed media, in their often fervent attempts to document and protest abuses of governmental power and war itself. And he makes a distinction between artists who use very specific imagery in their art to make their political/social points and those who confine their protest to the oral and written word or participate in demonstrations, as individual citizens with some authority, rather than speaking through their art. Particularly in the introduction, McCarthy points out that some styles or forms of art more readily take on social issues than others. After pointing out that the social realists were quite emphatic in their choice of subjects and imagery, he notes that the abstract expressionists and other abstractionists had social values too, but their need to move beyond figuration showed their support and involvement in social action via protest, writing, etc. He gives Ad Reinhardt as an example of that kind of artist activism unconnected to the visual appearance of the art. Thus, while he helped organize protests, signed petitions, and contributed art for an anti-Vietnam war group, he was publicly critical of political art per se.Of the five chapters in the book, "Artists against War and Fascism," deals with the more obvious and best known period, up to and including World War Two. The horrendous exterminations and other atrocities were attacked by artists like Evergood, Gropper, and David Smith, in various media and over and over. Particularly valuable are the illustrations of works that are rarely seen in books and even more rarely in exhibitions. Several of these artists, whom the author refers to as the Old Left, remained active and turned a lot of their attention to their increased awareness of the Holocaust and the destruction wrought by the Atom Bombs on Japan; this is the subject of the second chapter, "Doom." Here, sculpture and collage are more dominant than in the earlier period.The next chapter, "End Your Silence," is primarily directed at the work of artist and their opposition to the Vietnam War (which the author sometimes refers to as the Vietnamese Civil War) but also to their concern with American policies and involvement in the Dominican Republic and Asia. The treatment of color in regard to the armed forces is also addressed briefly, including the work of African American activist artists. Again, artists not only created individual works that addressed both specific actions and broader issues but also participated in written protest. …
A 3 wire body weight support system for a large treadmill

A 3 DoF parallel cable driven body weight support (BWS) system has been developed for the University of Utah's Treadport Locomotion Interface, for purposes of rehabilitation, simulation of steep slopes, and display of reduced gravity environments. The Treadport's large belt (6 by 10 feet) requires a multi-cable support system to ensure that the unloading forces are close to vertical. This paper presents the design and experimental validation, including the system model and force control.
Obesity and Cancer: Evidence, Impact, and Future Directions

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence, particularly from prospective epidemiologic studies but with additional support from animal models and mechanistic studies, supported conclusions in 2016 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in their review of the preventive effects of weight control on cancer risk. CONTENT: The workgroup concluded that obesity is causally related to cancer at 13 anatomic sites (esophagus: adenocarcinoma; gastric cardia; colon and rectum; liver; gallbladder; pancreas; breast: postmenopausal; uterine endometrial; ovary; kidney: renal cell; meningioma; thyroid; and multiple myeloma). Further, avoiding weight gain and excess body fat will prevent cancer. Evidence on weight loss and reduction in risk of cancer is more limited. Ongoing clinical trials address the benefits of weight loss interventions after diagnosis. SUMMARY: Here, we review the evidence from the 2016 IARC that obesity is causally related to cancer at 13 anatomic sites and identify areas for future research, including the consequences of childhood adiposity, the relation between velocity of weight gain and cancer risk, and improved methods for analysis of life-course adiposity and cancer risk. Refining understanding of mechanisms may further inform prevention strategies.
Capital Formation and the Exchange Rate

Agriculture can speed economic transformation by financing capital for the urban sector. Some countries have extracted massively from agriculture in the context of little or no agricultural growth. The result has been reduced income in agriculture and even massive starvation. Overvalued exchange rates as a means of extracting from agriculture often have an unfavorable effect on agricultural growth. A contribution from agriculture has quite a different impact when agricultural productivity is growing rapidly through technological change. Taiwan illustrates how a wide variety of mechanisms for capital transfer from agriculture played a substantial positive role in the development of the urban industrial sector. A comparative statement of the role of trade in a rapid agricultural growth strategy is presented.
Counting and miscounting sheep: genetic evidence for pervasive misclassification of wild fauna as domestic stock

The original analyses of faunal assemblages excavated from Blydefontein Rock Shelter, Karoo in 1967 (Sampson) and 1985 (Bousman) were undertaken by Klein and Cruz-Uribe and did not identify remains of domestic stock. Reanalysis of the 1985 faunal assemblage by Scott and Plug found the remains of domestic stock. Ten specimens were morphologically identified as sheep or sheep/goat. One of those specimens identified as a domestic caprine yielded a direct radiocarbon determination of 2860–2765 cal. BP, some 800 years older than any other evidence of domestic stock in the region. Eight of the specimens identified as domestic stock were provided for ancient DNA analysis, and we were able to recover DNA from five of them. Mitochondrial genome sequencing allowed us to identify one of the specimens morphologically identified as sheep/goat to sheep, and identify four other such specimens as originating in indigenous southern African bovid species. Crucially, the specimen purported to provide evidence of surprisingly early domestic stock in southern Africa came instead from an eland. Two recently published papers have challenged the authenticity of the genetic results. The challenges, however, are rooted in significant misunderstandings of molecular genetics.
Balancing the Childhood Immunization Program with the Urgent Needs for Adult Hepatitis B Immunization

In 10 years, do we want to look back on a decade in which the public health community protected a highly vulnerable population of young adults from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through a difficult and challenging process of prioritizing scarce vaccine resources, or one in which we missed our last opportunity to prevent HBV infection among a group of individuals who could not afford the simple protection of a vaccine?
Comparison of the Southern Hemisphere Springs of 1988 and 1987

Differences between southern hemisphere (SH) springs of 1988 and 1987 in the stratosphere are discussed. The two years present a case study of opposite phases of the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the QBO’s effect on SH spring stratospheric conditions. During 1988 (easterly QBO phase), mid-latitude temperatures were warmer than 1987 (westerly QBO phase) during July and August while polar temperatures were similar. During September, October, and November, 1988 polar temperatures were substantially higher than in 1987. Total ozone values reflected these thermal differences, with record low ozone values in October 1987 following the September ozone hole depletion phase, and higher total ozone values in October 1988. The large temperature differences result from a larger warming rate in 1988 than in 1987. Similarly, the higher total ozone amounts in October 1988 resulted from a weaker depletion during September 1988. The faster warming rate of temperature, and slower depletion rate for ozone in 1988 do not occur in a smooth linear fashion, but occur as a series of events, which result from strong planetary wave one events.
BRILLOUIN SCATTERING: A NEW WAY YO MEASURE ELASTIC MODULI AT HIGH PRESSURES

Abstract Laser light scattered from thermal phonons in a transparent sample undergoes frequency shifts from which phonon velocities in the sample can be calculated. Elastic moduli of the sample can then be calculated from the phonon velocities. Since no mechanical or electrical coupling to the sample is necessary, very small (0.15 mm), single-crystal samples can be used. It is possible to place these samples under hydrostatic pressure in a gasketed diamond-anvil cell and to pass the laser light through the transparent diamond anvils. Measurements on NaCl have yielded data that are in good agreement with measurements by ultrasonic techniques, and with the Hildebrand and Decker equations of state.
A Natural Diffusion Distance and Equivalence of Local Convergence and Local Equicontinuity for a General Symmetric Diffusion Semigroup

In this paper, we consider a general symmetric diffusion semigroup on a topological space with a positive -finite measure, given, for , by an integral kernel operator: . As one of the contributions of our paper, we define a diffusion distance whose specification follows naturally from imposing a reasonable Lipschitz condition on diffused versions of arbitrary bounded functions. We next show that the mild assumption we make, that balls of positive radius have positive measure, is equivalent to a similar, and an even milder looking, geometric demand. In the main part of the paper, we establish that local convergence of to is equivalent to local equicontinuity (in ) of the family . As a corollary of our main result, we show that, for , converges locally to , as converges to . In the Appendix, we show that for very general metrics on , not necessarily arising from diffusion, , as R. Coifman and W. Leeb have assumed a quantitative version of this convergence, uniformly in , in their recent work introducing a family of multiscale diffusion distances and establishing quantitative results about the equivalence of a bounded function being Lipschitz, and the rate of convergence of to , as . We do not make such an assumption in the present work.
CRYOGENIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR LARGE SCALE SUPERCONDUCTIVE MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE (SMES)

Cryogenic engineering developments for SMES include designs and studies of pressurized He II solenoid cooling, composite NbTi-Al conductor stability, rapid liquid helium dump systems for protection, 200 kA to 800 kA leads, and load bearing struts cooled at 28 K and 78 K. 5500 MWh and 20 MWh units are used as examples. Reliability targets for long term operation without quenches require unusually stringent conductor stability designs.
Correction to: Ultrasound localization of lacerated flexor tendon ends in the hand: a cadaveric study.

In the results section of the abstract, it states "99.0% (n = 05/96 tendons)" when it should state "99.0% (n = 95/96 tendons)".
Calibrating CII RT283’s Modularization Critical Success Factor Accomplishments

Modularization is a well-known construction technique where sections of the job are moved from on-site to a fabrication shop. Previously, the researchers identified the 21 most influential Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for successful modularization and quantified the degree of each CSF’s accomplishment by conducting a survey with 19 subject matter experts, and a case study with three modular projects. Through this methodology, the findings relied on the experience of experts. However, still missing from the understanding of modularization CSFs is a validation of the current degree of each CSF’s accomplishment by examining actual modular projects using a sufficient number of samples. This paper presents a comparison of CSF accomplishment degree between 25 actual sample projects (project based) and the industry experts’ survey results (experience-based estimation). The study results indicate that the industry experts made a good estimation of the current occurrence degree of each CSF. The study did identify, however, three significantly overestimated CSFs and three underestimated CSFs. The three most overestimated CSFs are Owner-Furnished/Long Lead Equipment Specification, Cost Savings Recognition, and OM 2) achieve higher modular project performance by accomplishing the CSFs
Catalog of 5' Fusion Partners in ALK-positive NSCLC Circa 2020.

Abstract Since the discovery of anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion-positive (ALK+) NSCLC in 2007, the methods to detect ALK+ NSCLC have evolved and expanded from fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to next-generation DNA sequencing, targeted RNA sequencing, and whole transcriptome sequencing. As such, the deep sequencing methods have resulted in the expansion of distinct fusion partners identified in ALK+ NSCLC to 90 (one variant PLEKHM2-ALK is found in small cell lung cancer but included in this catalog) by the end of January 2020; about 65 of them (since 2018) and most of the recent novel fusion partners were reported from China. Thirty-four of the distinct fusion partners are located on the short arm of chromosome 2; 28 of these 34 fusion partners are located on 2p21-25, in which ALK is located on 2p23.2-p23.1. Many of these new ALK+ NSCLC fusion variants have responded to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Several of these novel ALK fusion variants were identified as being resistant to EGFR TKIs or as dual 3'ALK fusions. In addition, at least 28 intergenic ALK rearrangements have also been reported, with three of them reported as responding to crizotinib. This review aims to serve as a central source of reference of fusion partners in ALK+ NSCLC for clinicians and scientists. We aim to update and improve the list going forward.
Use of Skeletal Muscle Index as a Predictor of Wait-List Mortality in Patients With End-Stage Liver Disease

The aim of this study is to validate a proposed definition of sarcopenia in predicting wait-list mortality. We retrospectively evaluated 355 adults (age ≥18 years) with cirrhosis listed for first-time LT from January 1, 2010, to April 1, 2018 from our center. Demographic, laboratory, and outcome data were collected in conjunction with computed tomography scans performed within 3 months of listing. Using imaging analysis software, the skeletal muscle index (SMI), which is a marker for sarcopenia-related mortality, was calculated. A survival analysis was performed to evaluate the association of the proposed sarcopenia definition of SMI <50 cm2 /m2 for men or <39 cm2 /m2 for women with wait-list mortality or delisting. Median SMI was 54.1 cm2 /m2 (range, 47-60 cm2 /m2 ). A total of 61 (17.2%) patients exhibited sarcopenia according to the proposed threshold, and 24.6% (57/232) of men were sarcopenic compared with 3.3% (4/123) of women (P < 0.001). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) SMI was also higher for men (56.6 ± 9.6 cm2 /m2 ) than for women (50.7 ± 8.0 cm2 /m2 ; P < 0.001). Median follow-up time among patients was 2.1 months (0-12 months), and 30 events were observed (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.02; P = 0.41). There was no statistically significant difference in time on the waiting list between patients with and without sarcopenia (P = 0.89) as defined at the threshold. Using the prespecified definitions of sarcopenia based on SMI, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality and delisting from the transplant waiting list between patients with and without sarcopenia in this population. Practice and region-specific patterns for pretransplant selection and median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease at transplant may affect SMI as a predictor of wait-list mortality.
Autoimmune cytopenia in 7 children with B-combined immunodeficiency

目的 探讨伴自身免疫性血细胞减少的B－联合免疫缺陷病患儿的临床及免疫特征。 方法 选择2012年9月至2016年5月在首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院住院的7例患儿，经基因突变分析证实为B－联合免疫缺陷病，描述其临床及免疫特征。 结果 患儿均具有淋巴细胞减少[ (0.39～2.91)×109/L]。RAG1突变的病例1、2、3、5中，病例1、5的B淋巴细胞比例明显降低(分别为0.003和0.028)伴CD4＋T淋巴细胞比例降低，且病例1的B淋巴细胞比例既往正常，提示进展性病程；病例2、3的CD3＋T淋巴细胞、CD4＋T淋巴细胞比例明显降低(分别为0.131、0.039，0.169、0.149)伴B淋巴细胞比例正常。NHEJ1突变的病例4患儿B淋巴细胞比例明显降低(0.001)。LIG4突变的病例6、7患儿B淋巴细胞比例明显降低(分别为0.001和0.004)，且病例6患儿B淋巴细胞比例既往正常，提示进展性病程。患儿均具有自身免疫性血细胞减少(红系和/或粒系和/或巨核系)。 结论 B－联合免疫缺陷病患儿易出现自身免疫性血细胞减少。
Enhanced Biomechanical Performance of a Modern Polyester Surgical Mesh for Extensor Mechanism Reconstruction in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Extensor mechanism (EM) disruption following total knee arthroplasty is a devastating postoperative complication. Reconstruction with a synthetic mesh is one treatment option, although the optimal mesh material remains unknown. This study sought to compare the mechanical properties of 2 mesh material types that can be used for EM reconstruction. Methods Mechanical properties of a polypropylene mesh (Marlex mesh) and Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) mesh were compared using force-displacement data from a material testing machine simulating knee movement during normal human gait. Tension to failure/ultimate tensile load, stiffness coefficients, axial strain, and cyclic hysteresis testing were measured and calculated. Results Compared to polypropylene mesh, LARS mesh demonstrated a significantly higher mean ultimate tensile load (2223 N vs 1245 N, P = .002) and stiffness coefficient (255 N/mm vs 14 N/mm, P = .035) in tension to failure testing, and significantly more energy dissipation (hysteresis) in hysteresis testing (771 kJ vs 23 kJ; P ≤ .040). LARS mesh also demonstrated significantly less maximum displacement compared to the polypropylene mesh (9.2 mm vs 90.4 mm; P ≤ .001). Conclusion Compared to polypropylene mesh, LARS mesh showed superior performance related to force-displacement testing. The enhanced mechanical performance of LARS mesh may correlate clinically to fewer failures, increased longevity, and higher resistance to plastic deformation (extensor lag). Future research should evaluate survivorship and clinical outcomes of these meshes when used for EM reconstruction.
Pharmacist-Prescribed And Over-The-Counter Hormonal Contraception In Los Angeles County Retail Pharmacies

Federal and state policies to increase access to birth control have included expanding access to preventive and emergency hormonal contraception at pharmacies for women and girls of all ages withou...
Uncertainty quantification reveals the physical constraints on pumping by peristaltic hearts.

Most biological functional systems are complex, and this complexity is a fundamental driver of diversity. Because input parameters interact in complex ways, a holistic understanding of functional s...
Service learning as community development? Local resident perspectives of community-engaged educational travel

There is strong body of literature exploring community member and resident perspectives on tourism that has emerged from numerous locations across the globe. Yet virtually none of this writing explores the role of repeat community-engaged service learning with local communities. What theory does exist on the topic indicates that increased rates of community member participation yield more positive viewpoints on community–program partnerships. Engagement in this form of tourism development in communities may have an influence on participation in the community institutions that have the most ability to influence local development outcomes. This qualitative, ethnographic study fills this gap in the literature by analyzing community members' emic perspectives of a recurring educational service learning program to a lesser developed region of Costa Rica. Surprisingly, community residents do not view educational service learning as a form of tourism, though they do see it as valuable for setting the stage for desired tourism development in the future. Findings also indicate community members' involvement in key institutions makes it more likely that they perceive the impact of students in the community positively. As the first study to analyze educational service learning travel from a community development and resident perspective, this work will provide a valuable theoretical contribution relevant to those engaged in this form of travel across the Global South.
Analysis of correlations between local geographic atrophy growth rates and local OCT angiography-measured choriocapillaris flow deficits.

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively assess correlations between local geographic atrophy (GA) growth rates and local optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-measured choriocapillaris (CC) flow deficits. Thirty-eight eyes from 27 patients with GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were imaged with a commercial 1050 nm swept-source OCTA instrument at 3 visits, each separated by ∼6 months. Pearson correlations were computed between local GA growth rates, estimated using a biophysical GA growth model, and local OCTA CC flow deficit percentages measured along the GA margins of the baseline visits. The p-values associated with the null hypothesis of no Pearson correlation were estimated using a Monte Carlo permutation scheme that incorporates the effects of spatial autocorrelation. The null hypothesis (Pearson’s ρ = 0) was rejected at a Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate of 0.2 in 15 of the 114 visit pairs, 11 of which exhibited positive correlations; even amongst these 11 visit pairs, correlations were modest (r in [0.30, 0.53]). The presented framework appears well suited to evaluating other potential imaging biomarkers of local GA growth rates.
Agri-food implications of Fukushima nuclear disaster: 10 years later

Abstract. On March 11, 2011, the strongest ever recorded in Japan earthquake occurred which triggered a powerful tsunami and caused a nuclear accident in Fukushima nuclear plant. The latter was a “manmade” disaster having immense impacts on people’s life, health, and property, infrastructure, supply chains, economy, policies, natural and institutional environment, etc. This paper presents work in progress and assesses preparedness for and agri-food impacts of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, identifies challenges in post-disaster recovery, and withdraws lessons for improving disaster risk management. Japan was not well prepared for such a huge disaster while the agri-food sector and consumption have been among the worst-hit areas. The triple disaster was a rare but high-impact event, therefore, it is necessary to “prepare for the unexpected”. Risk assessment is to include diverse hazards and multiple effects of a likely disaster, it is to be discussed with all stakeholders, and measures taken to educate and train all for complex disasters. It is necessary to modernize property rights, regulations, safety standards, and norms, enhance the capability of responsible public authorities and improve coordination between diverse actors. It is important to set up mechanisms for effective public resource allocation and reduction of agents’ costs. Different elements of the agri-food chain have dissimilar capabilities requiring differential public support. There is a strong “regional” interdependency of agrarian, food, and rural assets (and damages), and it is important to properly locate risk and take prevention and recovery measures. Disaster response demonstrated the important role of small-scale farms and food organizations, and the high efficiency of private, market, and collective governance. Before, during, and after a disaster, all available information from all sources is to be immediately publicized in understandable form through all possible means. Disaster provides an opportunity to discuss, introduce and implement fundamental changes in agricultural, economic, regional, energy, disaster management, etc. policies. It is important to learn from past experiences, prepare for multiple disasters, and make sure that “lessons learned” are not forgotten. Keywords. Agri-food, Fukushima nuclear disaster. JEL. Q10, O31, O33, Q01, Q16, Q18.
Modulation of muscle redox and protein aggregation rescues lethality caused by mutant lamins

Abstract Mutations in the human LMNA gene cause a collection of diseases called laminopathies, which includes muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy. The LMNA gene encodes lamins, filamentous proteins that form a meshwork on the inner side of the nuclear envelope. How mutant lamins cause muscle disease is not well understood, and treatment options are currently limited. To understand the pathological functions of mutant lamins so that therapies can be developed, we generated new Drosophila models and human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes. In the Drosophila models, muscle-specific expression of the mutant lamins caused nuclear envelope defects, cytoplasmic protein aggregation, activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 redox pathway, and reductive stress. These defects caused reduced larval motility and death at the pupal stage. Similarly, patient-derived cardiomyocytes expressing mutant lamins showed nuclear envelope deformations. The Drosophila models allowed for genetic and pharmacological manipulations at the organismal level. Genetic interventions to increase autophagy, decrease Nrf2/Keap1 signaling, or lower reducing equivalents partially suppressed the lethality caused by mutant lamins. Moreover, treatment of flies with pamoic acid, a compound that inhibits the NADPH-producing malic enzyme, partially suppressed lethality. Taken together, these studies have identified multiple new factors as potential therapeutic targets for LMNA-associated muscular dystrophy.