cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental implications of the preservation of chloroplast ultrastructure in Eocene Metasequoia leaves

Batches of freshly fallen Metasequoia glyptostroboides litter were subjected to one of 12 degradation regimes varying in temperature, pH, and oxygen availability for a three-month decay period. The regimes were intended to simulate possible conditions prevailing during the first winter following the autumnal leaf fall for the Metasequoia dominated forests of Axel Heiberg Island ca. 45 Ma. The decayed leaves were examined by transmission electron microscopy to quantify the extent and quality of chloroplast preservation. The best preservation of chloroplast membranes was observed at pH 8.5 and at 10°C, although it was found that rapidly freezing samples also reliably preserved ultrastructural chloroplast features with a high degree of fidelity to the living state. The results from this study suggest that the ambient water chemistry of the depositional environment in the Eocene floodplain forests of Axel Heiberg Island could have been basic, and maintained by a natural carbonate buffering system, but they also demonstrate that the preservation of chloroplast features can occur under varying environmental conditions.
Are Models of Disability Useful in Real Cases? Pediatric Case Examples Realized in Research, Clinical Practice, and Education

Conceptual models are useful devices for organizing complex material and examining interrelationships among variables. For example, speakers at the 1990 II STEP Conference presented a systems model of motor control, the dynamical systems model as used in studying infant motor development, and the World Health Organization model as a systematic approach to the description of impairments, functional limitations, and disability. The purpose of this perspective is to provide examples of the usefulness of models of disability in organizing research, educational materials, and measurement in clinical practice. The disability model of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research was used: (1) to design a measurement strategy for assessing effects of spasticity reduction in a child with cerebral palsy, (2) to develop a new assessment of functional motor performance in infants, and (3) as the conceptual framework for a comprehensive reference book for the practice of pediatric physical therapy (the current edition has been reformatted to conform to the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health). Similar models of the dimensions of disability have guided extensive development of tests designed by physical therapists for assessing function and quality of life in children with neurologic conditions.
Ideology in the EU’s Second Chamber: A New Understanding of the Characterand Impact of the Council on EU Policy Making

This paper examines both the presence and the impact of ideology on the Council of the European Union. It argues that Member States within the Council should not be treated as unitary actors given that in fact, member states are represented by delegations of national ministers who often have very diverse ideological beliefs and preferences regarding EU integration. Through the analysis of an original database of all national ministers from all member states between 2000 and 2012 in conjunction with existing data on ideological and EU positions (Chapel Hill Expert Surveys) and the policy positions of EU actors, member states on a set of policy proposals as well as final outcomes (Decision Making in the European Union –DEU II data). This analysis demonstrates that there are statistically significant differences between the different Council formations and the median positions of the prime ministers of the member states supporting the need to disaggregate analyses of the Council and rejecting member states as unitary actors. Moreover, the research provides insights into the relative impact of prime ministers versus ministers on EU policy outcomes, as well as the role of the other branch of the EU legislative branch, the EP. While not conclusive, this research suggests that we need a more nuanced understanding of the Council to accurately evaluate the role of ideology in EU policy making and the impact of different national and EU level actors in the process.
Presidential Control, Expertise, and the Deference Dilemma

Courts reviewing agency action frequently point to superior political accountability and expertise as justifying deference to agencies. These fundamentals of deference often operate in tandem, providing distinct but complimentary reasons why courts will not substitute their judgment for that of agencies. But when courts review agency actions arising from shared regulatory space, political accountability — often expressed in the current fashion as presidential control — and expertise can seem at odds. How should courts respond when, for example, one agency lays claim to presidential control but another relies on expertise, and the two take inconsistent positions so that a court has to choose one over the other? This Article examines this “deference dilemma” and suggests means for confronting it. Overall, this analysis reveals that the expertise and presidential-control justifications for deference do not fit neatly into statutory schemes involving overlapping or competing jurisdiction, particularly when an independent agency is involved. This conclusion exposes weaknesses in both models of deference and supports the claim that — presidential direction and expertise notwithstanding — fidelity to statute and the reasoned-decisionmaking requirements remain the touchpoints of judicial review. These touchpoints are central to unlocking the deference dilemma and resolving it in a principled manner, as demonstrated by the framework developed in this Article. Approaching deference dilemmas in this way helps facilitate congressional control while recognizing the policymaking authority of the executive branch, and ultimately contributes to a norm that accounts for the roles of all three branches in administrative law.
Fat Embolism Syndrome

The traumatic fat embolism syndrome is throught to be caused by the embolization of fat from traumatized tissues to the pulmonary microvasculature or by the precipitation of stress-mobilized serum lipids within the pulmonary vascular tree. Nontraumatic causes of fat embolism syndrome have been documented and include pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholic liver disease, corticosteroid use, bone marrow transplantation, and osteomyelitis [261]. Release and embolization of marrow fat is presumed to occur primarily as a result of bone infarction or of marrow necrosis or replacement in these conditions.
More or Less Fair? FLSA Overtime Law and Workers' Preferences Regarding Reduced Work Time and Comp Time versus Pay

This paper addresses the on-going controversy regarding whether to allow private sector employers to substitute compensatory (comp) time for premium pay for workers' overtime work hours. It employs data from a unique survey that actually asked over 800 workers their preference for pay vs. future time off, the Work in America Time is of the Essence survey. The results of statistical analysis suggest that workers' relative preference for comp time is significantly weaker if they have jobs or duties that do not appear to exempt from overtime law coverage. Their relative preference is also related to whether time or money is their main problem, their overtime work is voluntary or mandatory and several other workplace, job and demographic characteristics. The results suggest how FLSA overtime law should be reformed and how reforms may benefit rather than harm workers who express a need for more time off from work.
Bicriteria Online Matching: Maximizing Weight and Cardinality

Inspired by online ad allocation problems, many results have been developed for online matching problems. Most of the previous work deals with a single objective, but, in practice, there is a need to optimize multiple objectives. Here, as an illustrative example motivated by display ads allocation, we study a bi-objective online matching problem. In particular, we consider a set of fixed nodes ads with capacity constraints, and a set of online items pageviews arriving one by one. Upon arrival of an online item i, a set of eligible fixed neighbors ads for the item is revealed, together with a weight w ia for eligible neighbor a. The problem is to assign each item to an eligible neighbor online, while respecting the capacity constraints; the goal is to maximize both the total weight of the matching and the cardinality. In this paper, we present both approximation algorithms and hardness results for this problem. An α, β-approximation for this problem is a matching with weight at least α fraction of the maximum weighted matching, and cardinality at least β fraction of maximum cardinality matching. We present a parametrized approximation algorithm that allows a smooth tradeoff curve between the two objectives: when the capacities of fixed nodes are large, we give a p1-1/e 1/p , 1-p1-1/e 1/1-p -approximation for any 0≤p≤1, and prove a 'hardness curve' combining several inapproximability results. These upper and lower bounds are always close with a maximum gap of 9%, and exactly coincide at the point 0.43, 0.43. For small capacities, we present a smooth parametrized approximation curve for the problem between 0,1-1/e and 1/2,0 passing through a 1/3,0.3698-approximation.
Jet-Cooled Fluorescence Spectroscopy of a Natural Product: Anethole

The jet-cooled fluorescence spectroscopy of the natural product molecule anethole ((E)-1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)benzene) has been studied. Single vibronic level fluorescence spectroscopy was used to verify the existence of two rotamers, syn and anti, with electronic origins at 32 889 and 32 958 cm–1, respectively. The excitation and emission spectra show characteristics similar to those of styrene and styrene derivatives, including Cs symmetry and low amplitude motions of the propenyl (vinyl) group. As in styrene, the low amplitude modes show substantial Duschinsky mixing. Interestingly, the methoxy group shows very little activity in the spectroscopy of anethole but is found to influence the activity of the propenyl group. This activity is easily observed in the Franck–Condon activity of the propenyl-bending mode. Differences are explained using simple molecular orbital arguments. The observed torsional structure was modeled and compared to ab initio calculations, allowing us to determine a barrier to int...
Ignition of a Liquid Hydrocarbon Containing Nano-Sized Aluminum using an Aerosol Shock Tube

An experimental approach has been taken to investigate nanoparticle additives in a liquid fuel using an aerosol shock tube. Aluminum nanoparticles have shown the potential to increase combustion efficiencies due to their high energy densities. Challenges exist, however, with nanoparticle suspension in liquid fuels. Nanoparticles have a tendency to agglomerate and thus prevent ignition. This study looked at the effect of aluminum nanoparticle additives to toluene. An aerosol shock tube approach was used to evaluate the combustion of a baseline toluene mixture and a toluene/Al nanoparticle mixture with 95% dilution in argon. An aerosol fuel injection method was used to ensure injection of the nanoparticle-doped fuel into the shock tube. The combustion of both the toluene and toluene/Al nanoparticles was determined over the temperature range of 1404 – 1790 K and a pressure around 1.9 atm behind the reflected shock wave. To determine the influence of aluminum nanoparticle additives, the ignition delay times were studied and the results from these experiments are reported. In general, the ignition delay times for temperatures below about 1700 K were not affected by the Al additives, but at higher temperatures the ignition delay times appears to be shorter than for neat toluene.
A Review of the Genus Heterothrips Hood (Thysanoptera: Heterothripidae) in North America, with Descriptions of Two New Species

Since the genus Heterothrips was erected by Hood in 1908 over forty species have been described. Of the presently recorded species about half are North American. In this review we are concerned only with those forms in North America including Mexico.
Demonstration of fast and accurate discrimination and quantification of chemically similar species utilizing a single cross-selective chemiresistor.

Performance characteristics of gas-phase microsensors will determine the ultimate utility of these devices for a wide range of chemical monitoring applications. Commonly employed chemiresistor elements are quite sensitive to selected analytes, and relatively new methods have increased the selectivity to specific compounds, even in the presence of interfering species. Here, we have focused on determining whether purposefully driven temperature modulation can produce faster sensor-response characteristics, which could enable measurements for a broader range of applications involving dynamic compositional analysis. We investigated the response speed of a single chemiresitive In2O3 microhotplate sensor to four analytes (methanol, ethanol, acetone, 2-butanone) by systematically varying the oscillating frequency (semicycle periods of 20–120 ms) of a bilevel temperature cycle applied to the sensing element. It was determined that the fastest response (≈ 9 s), as indicated by a 98% signal-change metric, occurred ...
Angiomotin stabilization by tankyrase inhibitors antagonizes constitutive TEAD-dependent transcription and proliferation of human tumor cells with Hippo pathway core component mutations

// Albino Troilo 1,* , Erica K. Benson 1,* , Davide Esposito 1 , Rachel-Ann A. Garibsingh 1 , E. Premkumar Reddy 1 , Sathish Kumar Mungamuri 1 and Stuart A. Aaronson 1 1 Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Stuart A. Aaronson, email: // Keywords : tankyrase inhibitors, TEAD, YAP, angiomotin, tumor cell proliferation Received : February 24, 2016 Accepted : March 26, 2016 Published : April 29, 2016 Abstract The evolutionarily conserved Hippo inhibitory pathway plays critical roles in tissue homeostasis and organ size control, while mutations affecting certain core components contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we demonstrate that proliferation of Hippo pathway mutant human tumor cells exhibiting high constitutive TEAD transcriptional activity was markedly inhibited by dominant negative TEAD4, which did not inhibit the growth of Hippo wild-type cells with low levels of regulatable TEAD-mediated transcription. The tankyrase inhibitor, XAV939, identified in a screen for inhibitors of TEAD transcriptional activity, phenocopied these effects independently of its other known functions by stabilizing angiomotin and sequestering YAP in the cytosol. We also identified one intrinsically XAV939 resistant Hippo mutant tumor line exhibiting lower and less durable angiomotin stabilization. Thus, angiomotin stabilization provides a new mechanism for targeting tumors with mutations in Hippo pathway core components as well as a biomarker for sensitivity to such therapy.
Combined local infiltration anesthesia and pentothal sodium anesthesia in cesarean sections; a preliminary report.

Abstract Carefully combined local infiltration anesthesia and Pentothal anesthesia give excellent results in cesarean section (both mother and infant) providing undue haste and tissue trauma are eliminated.
Binding of [3H]amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene to rat striatal membranes. Effects of purine nucleotides and ultraviolet irradiation.

The binding of the rigid dopamine analogue [3H]amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapthalene ([3H]ADTN) to rat striatal membranes was characterized in the presence and absence of purine nucleotides. At 37°, when assays were carried out in the presence of ATP or GTP, the binding of [3H]ADTN increased for approximately 5 min and then progressively declined. However, when assays were carried out at 20°, [3H]ADTN binding reached equilibrium and was stable in both the absence and presence of purine nucleotides. Scatchard analysis of binding isotherms showed that the affinity of the binding sites for [3H]ADTN decreased by approximately 3-fold in the presence of either 0.3 mM ATP or GTP. An unexpected finding was that the density of binding sites increased by approximately 5-fold. In contrast, the nonhydrolyzable purine nucleotide analogues guanylylimidodiphosphate and adenylylimidodiphosphate did not affect the binding of [3H]ADTN. The pharmacological specificity of [3H]ADTN binding, determined either in the absence or presence of ATP or GTP, was characteristic of binding to dopamine receptors in that dopamine, epinine, and (±)-ADTN were more potent than (-)-norepinephrine or (-)-epinephrine in inhibiting [3H]ADTN binding, and binding was inhibited by a variety of neuroleptics including (+)-butaclamol and (α)-flupenthixol. However, there were effects of purine nucleotides on the affinities of the receptor for the partial agonist apomorphine and for a variety of antagonists. In the presence of nucleotides, antagonists were 2 to 10 times less potent in inhibiting [3H]ADTN binding, whereas apomorphine was 300-fold less potent. Exposure of striatal membranes to UV irradiation (λmax = 310 nm) for 30 min reduced [3H]ADTN binding observed in the absence of nucleotide by 60% and eliminated the increase in binding observed in the presence of nucleotide. Neither [3H]spiroperidol binding nor dopamine- or ADTN-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was affected by this treatment. The results suggest that, in the presence of ATP or GTP, [3H]ADTN binds to a second class of binding sites in the striatum. These additional sites (Bmax ∼ 20 pmoles/mg of protein) are not associated with either [3H]spiroperidol binding or dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.
Foundations of mathematics and literacy: The role of executive functioning components

Abstract The current study investigated the relations between the three cognitive processes that comprise executive functioning (EF)—response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility—and individual components of mathematics and literacy skills in preschool children. Participants were 125 preschool children ranging in age from 3.12 to 5.26 years (M = 4.17 years, SD = 0.58). Approximately 53.2% were female, and the sample was predominantly Caucasian (69.8%). Results suggest that the components of EF may be differentially related to the specific components of early mathematics and literacy. For mathematics, response inhibition was broadly related to most components. Working memory was related to more advanced mathematics skills that involve comparison or combination of numbers and quantities. Cognitive flexibility was related to more conceptual or abstract mathematics skills. For early literacy, response inhibition and cognitive flexibility were related to print knowledge, and working memory was related only to phonological awareness. None of the EF components was related to vocabulary. These findings provide initial evidence for better understanding the ways in which EF components and academic skills are related and measured. Furthermore, the findings provide a foundation for further study of the components of each domain using a broader and more diverse array of measures.
New media challenges and opportunities.

Interventions that capitalise on pervasive new media technologies are critical to addressing the continued HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). The term new media as used here encompasses the digital content typically accessible through the Internet that usually includes aspects of user feedback and creative participation. Although what is considered ‘new’ today is ever-changing, broadly, these interventions include technology-based approaches that use social networking sites (eg, Facebook, Twitter), mobile dating/hook-up apps that employ global positioning system technology to connect users based on their location (eg, Grindr, Jack'd) and researcher-developed applications (apps) that enable dialogue between users. New media technologies allow for the delivery of tailored content that is specific to each user's risk behaviours and context, provide a platform for diffusion and scalability not possible with in-person interventions, and facilitate recruitment, engagement and retention of MSM in interventions. Reviews of published work—including a review published by our team in 20151—detail formative studies that demonstrate MSM receptivity to new media interventions; larger trial results are more limited, but are underway.1–3 In this editorial, we discuss new media challenges and opportunities and highlight examples of interventions, existing and under development, that are using new media approaches in novel ways. The number of publicly available HIV/STI-related new media technologies along the continuum of prevention and care has exploded over the past decade.1 ,2 Yet, what is commercially available is not necessarily reflective of the populations most at risk. To illustrate, a May 2015 systematic inventory of Android and iOS mobile apps identified 285 apps relevant to HIV/STI prevention. These apps were generally free (83%), and about half (53%) reported information about one or more HIV/STI prevention modalities.3 While the number of HIV-related apps increased more than 400% from …
Culturally Authentic Scaling Approach: A Multi-Step Method for Culturally Adapting Measures for Use with Ethnic Minority and Immigrant Youths

Given the increasing ethnic and racial diversity of youths in the U.S., researchers must be conscious of how youth are being recruited, retained, and assessed in research programs. In this article, we describe an efficient and replicable methodology, the Culturally Authentic Scaling Approach (CASA), which can be implemented to culturally adapt measures for use with ethnic minority and immigrant youths. Specifically, the steps involved in the CASA method are described, including developing community partnership, evaluating the theoretical equivalence, adjusting the selection and administration of measures. Engaging in an on-going dialogue with the community to increase cultural validity and build community relationships is also discussed. Addressing the cultural validity of measures used with ethnic and immigrant youths enhances the probability that the information obtained will be reflective of the cultural background of the participants and an accurate assessment of their experiences
Fiber-wireless convergence for next generation heterogeneous mobile data communications

In this paper, a leading-edge radio access network empowered by fiber-wireless integration is envisioned. Recent research progress is discussed in aspects of advanced waveforms, digital/analog radio-over-fiber interface, coordinated multi-point transmissions, and all-band multi-tier networking, which are key enabling technologies for the future 5G heterogeneous network.
A Gartner Duct Cyst Masquerading as Anterior Vaginal Prolapse.

BACKGROUND:Gartner duct cysts are embryologic remnants of the mesonephric ducts that may present as a vaginal mass or cyst.CASE:A patient was referred for surgical management of prolapse whose bulging anterior vagina was actually a Gartner duct cyst that required excision as a result of symptoms. Pr
Perceptions and attitudes of residents living near a wind turbine compared with those living near a coal power plant

Abstract This study addresses resident attitudes and visual and auditory impacts from nearby electricity generation. Unlike most prior studies, questions allowing bidirectional answers are used, allowing positive or negative responses, and matched questions are applied in paired communities, one community proximate to utility-scale wind generation and the second proximate to fossil generation. At least a few individuals had negative attitudes and reported negative visual and auditory impact regardless of which type of generation-but residents near the wind turbine predominately had positive attitudes toward the facility, and reported more positive than negative visual and auditory impacts. Conversely, residents near coal generation reported substantially more negative attitudes, visual impacts, and auditory impacts from the coal plant. When asked about willingness-to-pay to keep or remove the nearby facility, residents near the wind turbine would, on average, say they would pay $2.56 a month to keep it in place, whereas residents near the coal plant were, on average, willing to pay $1.82 a month to remove that facility. Demographics did not have significant effect on the results.
Lattice Matched Carbide–Phosphide Composites with Superior Electrocatalytic Activity and Stability

Composites of electrocatalytically active transition-metal compounds present an intriguing opportunity toward enhanced activity and stability. To identify potentially scalable pairs of a catalytically active family of compounds, we demonstrate that phosphides of iron, nickel, and cobalt can be deposited on molybdenum carbide to generate nanocrystalline heterostructures. Composites synthesized via solvothermal decomposition of metal acetylacetonate salts in the presence of highly dispersed carbide nanoparticles show hydrogen evolution activities comparable to those of state-of-the-art non-noble metal catalysts. Investigation of the spent catalyst using high resolution microscopy and elemental analysis reveals that formation of carbide–phosphide composite prevents catalyst dissolution in acid electrolyte. Lattice mismatch between the two constituent electrocatalysts can be used to rationally improve electrochemical stability. Among the composites of iron, nickel, and cobalt phosphide, iron phosphide display...
The impact of underlying disease state on outcomes in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum: A national survey

Background Whether the underlying disease affects the outcomes in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is unclear. Objectives To determine the impact of comorbid disease associations and concomitant procedural treatments on patient outcomes in hospitalizations of patients with PG. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the National Inpatient Sample for hospitalizations of patients with PG from the years 2002 to 2011, analyzing in-hospital mortality rate and health care resource utilization. Results Inflammatory bowel disease was the most frequent comorbid association, followed by inflammatory arthritis, hematologic malignancies/dyscrasia, and vasculitis. Multivariable modeling showed that vasculitis and hematologic malignancy/dyscrasia, when compared with inflammatory bowel disease, were associated with a 4-fold to 6-fold increased risk of in-hospital mortality and increasing health care resource utilization. Inpatient procedural interventions, including skin grafts, biopsies, and debridement, did not affect mortality and were associated with an increased length of stay. Limitations The database does not account for outpatient follow-up; additionally, there was a low rate of coded comorbid conditions. Conclusions Comprehensive evaluation to determine the underlying comorbidity for patients with PG is important for patient risk stratification.
Static fracture testing of PMMA plates having flawed fastener holes

Results of static fracture tests on PMMA plates with part-elliptical cracks at fastener holes are presented. Experimental configurations include three crack locations with respect to both open and loaded holes. During static testing, slow growth prior to specimen separation allows for calculation of the maximum stress-intensity factor and identification of the location on the crack border at which it occurs. The testing techniques developed produce a simple, economical means of experimentally validating theoretical analyses of crack problems.
RNaseI from Escherichia coli cannot substitute for S-RNase in rejection of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia pollen

Unilateral incompatibility often occurs between self-incompatible (SI) species and their self-compatible (SC) relatives. For example, SI Nicotiana alata rejects pollen from SC N. plumbaginifolia, but the reciprocal pollination is compatible. This interspecific pollen rejection system closely resembles intraspecific S-allele-specific pollen rejection. However, the two systems differ in degree of specificity. In SI, rejection is S-allele-specific, meaning that only a single S-RNase causes rejection of pollen with a specific S genotype. Rejection of N. plumbaginifolia pollen is less specific, occurring in response to almost any S-RNase. Here, we have tested whether a non-S-RNase can cause rejection of N. plumbaginifolia pollen. The Escherichia coli rna gene encoding RNAseI was engineered for expression in transgenic (N. plumbaginifolia x SC N. alata) hybrids. Expression levels and pollination behavior of hybrids expressing E. coli RNaseI were compared to controls expressing SA2-RNase from N. alata. Immunoblot analysis and RNase activity assays showed that RNaseI and SA2-RNase were expressed at comparable levels. However, expression of SA2-RNase caused rejection of N. plumbaginifolia pollen, whereas expression of RNaseI did not. Thus, in this system, RNase activity alone is not sufficient for rejection of N. plumbaginifolia pollen. The results suggest that S-RNases may be specially adapted to function in pollen rejection.
La interpretación de la poesía tradicional japonesa: texto, contexto e intertexto

Este ensayo analiza el campo de la poesia tradicional japonesa (waka 和歌) desde la perspectiva del lector/espectador y de la experiencia literaria generada, con el objetivo de investigar las formas en las que la presentacion de los poemas afecta sus posibilidades interpretativas. En primer lugar, se discuten los aspectos formales del texto, que son analizados en terminos de su estilo y recursos poeticos. Luego, la genesis social de los poemas es descrita en terminos de su significado cultural, el uso de poemas waka como forma de comunicacion estandar y en particular la practica comun de presentar los poemas junto a prefacios explicativos (kotobagaki 詞書), a menudo de naturaleza narrativa. Una distincion conceptual entre tema, topico y ocasion posibilita un analisis mas profundo de las posibilidades narrativas demostradas por la eleccion de antologistas y dramaturgos de crear nuevos contextos narrativos (o de eliminarlos). A modo de conclusion, se muestra como la friccion entre el texto en si y el contexto en el que es presentado subyace cada nuevo acto de lectura de waka y se convierte en una fuente de posibilidades interpretativas de gran fertilidad estetica.
A Prospective Trial to Compare Deep Inspiratory Breath Hold With Prone Breast Irradiation.

Abstract Purpose To compare heart and lung doses for adjuvant whole breast irradiation (WBI) between radiation plans generated supine with deep inspiratory breath hold (S-DIBH) and prone with free-breathing (P-FB) and examine the effect of breast volume (BV) on dosimetric parameters. Methods and Materials Patients with left breast ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive cancer receiving adjuvant WBI were enrolled on a single-institutional prospective protocol. Patients were simulated S-DIBH and P-FB; plans were generated using both scans. Wilcoxon signed-rank and rank-sum tests were used to compare intrapatient differences between plans for the entire cohort and within BV groups defined by tertiles. Results Forty patients were enrolled. Thirty-four patients are included in the analysis owing to patient withdrawal or inability to hold breath. With WBI dose of 4005 to 4256 cGy, mean heart dose (MHD) was 80 cGy in S-DIBH and 77 cGy in P-FB (P = .08). Mean ipsilateral lung dose (MLD) was 453 cGy in S-DIBH and 45 cGy in P-FB (P Conclusions MHD did not differ between P-FB and S-DIBH, whereas MLD was significantly lower with P-FB. Analysis according to breast volume revealed improved cardiac dosimetry with S-DIBH for women with smallest BV and improved cardiac dosimetry with P-FB for women with larger BV, thereby providing a dosimetric rationale for using breast size to help determine the optimal positioning for WBI.
Long-Term Results After Lung Volume Reduction Surgery: A Single Institution’s Experience

Background The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) showed a clear survival and quality of life benefit for patients selected for lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). However, long-term outcomes after LVRS are still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate overall mortality and functional durability in this single-institution cohort of patients undergoing LVRS. Methods A single-institution registry identified all patients who had undergone LVRS from January 2006 through August 2017. Records were retrospectively reviewed, and data were collected to include pulmonary functions test values, he University of California, San Diego shortness of breath questionnaire and complication and mortality rate. Results LVRS was performed in 135 patients with a 2.2% 90-day mortality rate (n = 3). Estimated 1-, 2- and 5-year survival was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88 to 0.97), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.83 to 0.95), and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.57 to 0.81), respectively. Mean improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second% predicted from preoperative baseline at 1 and 2 years was 5.3 (95% CI, 3.1 to 7.4) and 4.3 (95% CI, 1.9 to 6.6), respectively. There was a mean improvement in maximum workload of 5.2 W (95% CI, 0.9 to 9.4) at 1 year. Also, shortness of breath questionnaire scores had a mean decrease of −17.3 points (95% CI, −21.8 to −13) at 6 months and −13.9 points (95% CI, −18.4 to −9.3) at 1 year. Conclusions LVRS is an effective operation with overall improvement in functional status and quality of life in appropriately selected patients.
Rationalizing Black Death: Sport Media’s Dehumanizing Coverage of Black College Football Players

College GameDay (CGD) commentary and imagery is one source of socialization that reinforces ideologies that rationalize police violence (and our tolerance thereof). As the most watched college sport broadcast of all time (Volner D, More than 179 million fans watched 100 billion minutes of college football games on ESPN’s TV networks during the 2016 college football season; 15 million unique devices streamed ESPN games. ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved from http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2016/12/179-million-fans-watched-100-billion-minutes-college-football-games-espns-tv-networks-2016-college-football-season-15-million-unique-devices-streamed-espn-games, 2016), CGD primes audiences to make certain associations (Moy P, Tewksbury D, Rinke EM, Agenda-setting, priming, and framing. In: Jenson KB, Craig RT, Pooley JD, & Rothenbuhler EW (eds), The international encyclopedia of communication theory and philosophy. Wiley, 2016). Through analysis of regular- and postseason CGD pregame and game-of-the-week broadcasts during the 2016 football season, the authors examine the use of animal metaphors and the belief that Black people possess superstrength. The chapter documents prominent narratives promoting Black players as invulnerable in the broadcasts while making the case these narratives serve to prime audiences—including law enforcement—to ascribe inhuman abilities to Black people, thus reinforcing the belief lethal force against them is justified.
Comparative analysis of stress on faculty and students based on salivary IgA

The goal of this project is to test students and faculties stress levels in their saliva compared between the beginning of this semester and the end of the semester. IgA levels are influenced by many physiological factors, including the hormones associated with stress. The findings conclude that there is significance between IgA levels in a student or faculty based on hours since they had left class and hours until they have class. Students and faculty showed a correlation between IgA and time since being in class or work (p-value = 0.03), however no significance of the duration of the expected rest period (p-value = 0.71). The significance of this finding is that students and faculty tend to be more stressed after being in class/work based on IgA levels in their saliva.
Revealing the Synergy between Oxide and Alloy Phases on the Performance of Bimetallic In–Pd Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol

In2O3 has recently emerged as a promising catalyst for methanol synthesis from CO2. In this work, we present the promotional effect of Pd on this catalyst and investigate structure–performance rela...
Book review. Chłopicki, Władysław and Dorota Brzozowska (eds.) (2017). Humorous Discourse. Boston/Berlin: De Gruyter.

Chlopicki, Wladyslaw and Dorota Brzozowska. Eds (2017). Humorous Discourse. Boston/Berlin: De Gruyter.
Epidemiology of alopecia areata, ophiasis, totalis, and universalis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune alopecia with heterogeneous severity and distribution. Previous studies found conflicting results about AA epidemiology. Objective To determine the prevalence, incidence, and predictors of AA, alopecia totalis, alopecia ophiasis, and alopecia universalis. Methods A systematic review of all published cohort and cross-sectional studies that analyzed AA and its subtypes. MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and GREAT were searched. At least 2 reviewers performed study title/abstract review and data extraction. Random-effects meta-analysis was used because of significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.97%). Results Ninety-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval, N) of AA overall was 2.11% (1.82-2.42, N = 302,157,365), with differences of population-based (0.75% [0.49-1.06%], N = 301,173,403) and clinic-based (3.47% [3.01-3.96], N = 983,962) studies. The prevalences of alopecia totalis, ophiasis, and universalis were 0.08% (0.04-0.13, N = 1,088,149), 0.02% (0.00-0.06, N = 1,075,203), and 0.03% (0.01-0.06, N = 1,085,444), respectively. AA prevalence (95% confidence interval) increased over time ( 2009: 3.22% [2.59-3.92]; P Conclusions AA affects 2% of the global population. AA prevalence is lower in adults than children, is increasing over time, and significantly differs by region.
Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in and Through Film: The Case Study of Rwanda

In “Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in and through Film,” Johnston examines how films can bear witness to what happened during and after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Discussing several films in some detail, he claims that film can transform the perspectives of both international and local audiences, as well as contribute to the development of a new film industry. Johnston mentions one of the pioneering figures in the rapidly evolving Rwandan film industry, Eric Kabera, the founder and president of the Rwanda Film Centre. Kabera directed films such as Keepers of Memory (2004), which focuses on those survivors who look after genocide memorials and more recently Intore (2014), which highlights the work of musicians and dancers in building peace for both the present and future of Rwanda.
Case studies of female-headed farms and households in Liberia: a comparative analysis of Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Nimba counties

Purpose: This study explores female-headed households in Grand Bassa, Lofa and Nimba counties to discern Liberia's smallholding, subsistence agriculture. Amid environmental and communal dynamics, a...
Racial Differences in Atrial Fibrillation Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice and is associated with significant morbidity and healthcare cost. Most of the AF studies have predominantly included white population, with under-representation of minority population. In this review, we analyze the racial differences in epidemiology, disease awareness, risk factors, genetics, treatments, and outcomes of AF. African Americans have a higher prevalence of established AF risk factors but lower incidence and prevalence of AF than non-Hispanic whites. There is also a significant racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of AF-related symptoms and the detection and awareness of AF. Non-white patients are afforded decreased use of rhythm control treatment strategies and anticoagulation both with warfarin and NOACs for stroke prevention. They are less likely to receive catheter ablation (CA) of AF, compared with non-Hispanic whites. AF in the minority racial and ethnic groups carries increased morbidity and mortality compared with white groups, especially in the black individuals with AF, who have been shown to have a lower QoL compared with their white or Hispanic counterparts. Minorities experience stroke more frequently than the whites which is usually more severe and disabling. There are significant racial differences in AF risk factors, manifestations, management, and outcomes. Recognition of these differences will aid in developing better preventive and treatment strategies for AF to decrease morbidity and mortality. In addition, this knowledge will enhance our understanding regarding the pathophysiology of AF including genetic predisposition.
PMUT-Enabled Underwater Acoustic Source Localization System

The present work presents the novel application of Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) arrays in an Underwater Acoustic Source Localization System. Based on the difference in the time of arrival of ultrasonic bursts originating from an acoustic beacon, the system is capable of determining the direction to the source with no theoretical limitation on the angular range. A cross correlation technique is used to estimate the time of arrival difference between the received signals. Experiments are performed with the prototype submerged in liquid in a tank for arbitrary positions of a beacon, showing large potential for application of the system in a miniaturized, integrated platform for underwater source localization.
Multistatic Moving Object Localization by a Moving Transmitter of Unknown Location and Offset

This paper investigates the multistatic localization of a moving object in position and velocity using an uncoordinated moving transmitter of unknown position and velocity. The measurements are time delays and frequencies and each kind is subject to an unknown amount of offset. We have shown that incorporating the direct-path measurements between the transmitter and receivers to the indirect-path measurements from the transmitter through the object to the receivers improves the localization performance, although nuisance parameters including the transmitter position, velocity and offsets are required for estimation. The condition about the localization geometry that can eliminate the degradation due to the offsets is derived for IID Gaussian noise. Algebraic solution to localize the moving object is developed together with the performance analysis in reaching the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound accuracy under Gaussian noise over the small error region. The particular case of having time delay measurements only is examined and the optimal geometry for handling unknown transmitter position and time offset is devised. Simulations validate the theoretical developments.
The C-Word (Cheater): Infidelity as the Ultimate Threat

This book focuses on the meaning-making and experiences of men in the United States who purposefully sought out extramarital relationships online. These men did not fall into an affair due to opportunity. They created their own opportunities by logging on, creating a profile on Ashley Madison, and vetting potential partners. For these men, ending their marriages was not an attractive option, and living with unmet emotional needs proved untenable. To avoid the hurt, financial challenges, stigma, and upset of a divorce, the men engaged in the Infidelity Workaround, in an effort to outsource the emotional aspect of their primary partnerships to a more enthusiastic third party.
Control co-design of 13 MW downwind two-bladed rotors to achieve 25% reduction in levelized cost of wind energy

Abstract Wind energy is recognized worldwide as cost-effective and environmentally friendly and is among the fastest-growing sources of electrical energy. To further decrease the cost of wind energy, wind turbines are being designed at ever larger scales, which is challenging due to greater structural loads and deflections. Large-scale systems such as modern wind turbines increasingly require a control co-design approach, whereby the system design and control design are performed in a more integrated fashion. We overview a two-bladed downwind morphing rotor concept that is expected to lower the cost of energy at wind turbine sizes beyond 13 megawatts (MW) compared with continued upscaling of traditional three-bladed upwind rotor designs. We describe an aero-structural-control co-design process that we have used in designing such extreme-scale wind turbines, and we discuss how we were able to achieve a 25% reduction in levelized cost of energy for our final turbine design compared to a conventional upwind three-bladed rotor design.
Emergent metachronal waves using tension-driven, fluid-structure interaction models of tomopterid parapodia.

Metachronal waves are ubiquitous in propulsive and fluid transport systems across many different scales and morphologies in the biological world. Tomopterids are a soft-bodied, holopelagic polychaete that use metachrony with their flexible, gelatinous parapodia to deftly navigate the midwater ocean column that they inhabit. In the following study, we develop a three-dimensional, fluid-structure interaction model of a tomopterid parapodium to explore the emergent metachronal waves formed from the interplay of passive body elasticity, active muscular tension, and hydrodynamic forces. After introducing our model, we examine the effects that varying material properties have on the stroke of an individual parapodium. We then explore the temporal dynamics when multiple parapodia are placed sequentially and how differences in the phase can alter the collective kinematics and resulting flow field.
ARE TORSOS THE BASIS FOR INFANTS' CATEGORIZATION OF CATS VERSUS DOGS? A REPLY TO VIDIC AND HAAF (2004)

Vidic and Haaf (2004) questioned the idea that infants use head information to categorize cats as distinct from dogs (Quinn & Eimas, 1996) and argued instead that the torso region is important. However, only null results were observed in the critical test comparisons between modified and unmodified stimuli. In addition, a priori preferences for the paired test stimuli were not assessed, thus leaving open the possibility that novel category preferences for unmodified stimuli could have been blocked by spontaneous preferences for modified stimuli. Moreover, only a single cat-dog pairing and set of pig parts were used as test stimuli, thereby raising the issue of whether the infants could have been responding to idiosyncratic featural differences between particular exemplars rather than features diagnostic of whole categories. The evidence does not support the conclusion that the torso is important for infants’ categorization of cats versus dogs.
The Microeconomics of an R&D-Based Model of Endogenous Growth

This paper explores the microeconomic structure underlying a class of endogenous growth models in which product differentiation and stochastic quality growth coexist. The general equilibrium model generates a stationary stochastic equilibrium in which a nondegenerate ergodic distribution of firm size depends systematically on parameters of the model. Features of the model necessary for stable endogenous aggregate growth are explored, and predictions of the model are compared with microeconometric evidence on R&D intensity, firm growth, and concentration.
A Context-Sensitive Nomadic Exhibition Guide

The paper describes a nomadic guide that considers the context of use (CoU) for information selection and presentation. A nomadic system is defined by continuous access to information spaces independent from specific devices. The CoU is defined by the location and characteristics of the user. Interests of the user deduced from the navigation in the physical and information space are the main goal of information adaptation in the paper. A prototype of a nomadic system that adapts the information to the user needs is presented.