cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formulation and characterization of amphotericin B–polyethylenimine–dextran sulfate nanoparticles

Abstract A new aqueous nanoparticle system has been developed using complex coacervation employing the oppositely charged polymers polyethylenimine (PEI) and dextran sulfate (DS), with zinc sulfate as a stabilizing agent. Amphotericin B (AmB) was loaded into the nanoparticles as a model drug. The nanoparticles contained PEI and DS in the weight ratio of ∼1:2. They possessed a zeta potential of approximately +30 mV and demonstrated a narrow size distribution in the range 100–600 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.2. Electron microscopy revealed spherical nanocapsules with a smooth surface. Very favorable drug entrapment and recovery efficiencies of up to 85% were routinely observed. Processing parameters, such as the pH of the PEI solutions, ratio of the two polymers, as well as the concentrations of DS and zinc sulfate, all played a significant role in controlling particle size. Dissolution studies demonstrated a fast release that is dependent on the model drug solubility. The AmB‐loaded nanoparticles displayed no toxicity in tissue culture in contrast to free drug and were almost as efficacious as free drug in killing Candida albicans . Advantages of this simple technique are (1) ease of manufacturing and mild preparation conditions, (2) employment of completely aqueous processing conditions, (3) use of biocompatible polymers that can be prepared aseptically, (4) ability to control their size, and (5) a high level of drug entrapment. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:902–914, 2001
Mass relations for particles of arbitrary spin

Abstract The equal-time-limit of matrix elements of current commutators is calculated in a one-particle approximation, which does neither destroy locality nor current conservation. The result is applied to derive SU(3) mass relations for particles of arbitrary spin. For particles with spin S = 0 and S = 1 2 the usual (quadratic respectively, linear) relations are reproduced. For higher spins the relations become more complicated and the order in the masses increases with increasing spin values. For spin one octets we obtain the Gell-Mann-Okubo relation with the masses occurring in fourth order.
Optimum Policy Regions for Markov Processes with Discounting

In many practical situations the discount factor for future rewards and costs is not known precisely. In the modeling of such situations, this is often reflected in a dependence of the optimum policy on the discount factor. We discuss this dependence of the optimum policy on discount factor for the class of finite-state, time-invariant, Markov models. A procedure is developed for finding the value of the discount factor for which we are indifferent between two policies. This is then extended to a discussion of how we can find the complete description of the optimum policy regions over any range of the discount factor. Two examples are presented.
Cooperative game solution concepts that maximize stability under noise

In cooperative game theory, it is typically assumed that the value of each coalition is known. We depart from this, assuming that v(S) is only a noisy estimate of the true value V (S), which is not yet known. In this context, we investigate which solution concepts maximize the probability of ex-post stability (after the true values are revealed). We show how various conditions on the noise characterize the least core and the nucleolus as optimal. Modifying some aspects of these conditions to (arguably) make them more realistic, we obtain characterizations of new solution concepts as being optimal, including the partial nucleolus, the multiplicative least core, and the multiplicative nucleolus.
The “EX” and the “SOMA”: How They Communicate

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles that are capable of transferring intracellular proteins or nucleic acids contents to the microenvironment and throughout the body. Our current knowledge about the communication mechanisms between exosomes and their target cells still remains limited. The interaction between exosomes and their target cells is likely to require exquisite specificity. The pairing between membrane fusion and trafficking proteins such as SNAREs or Rab proteins may be one of the mechanisms associated with specificity. Exosomes may stimulate antitumor response by presenting tumor antigens to dendritic cells; on the other hand, their contribution to angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis of cancer may counteract these effects. Exosomes are known to transport miRNA; however, our knowledge of the interactions of these large non-coding RNA family and their effects and specificity on close or far away target cells is mostly unknown. As we improve our understanding of the biological fate of exosomal-miRNA, we will most likely obtain insights into the mechanisms involved in these events. Exosome mediated drug delivery is a promising strategy to efficiently deliver antitumor miRNAs or siRNAs to target cancer cells and to deliver chemotherapeutics for the treatment of malignant tumors. Here, we review some of the current knowledge on these communication mechanisms and address the potential roles of exosomes in cancer development, diagnosis, and development of therapeutics.
General Objectives in Teaching

(1949). General Objectives in Teaching. Journal of Architectural Education: Vol. 4, The Regional Meeting of the Southeastern Schools of Architecture, pp. 4-12.
Mechanistic insights into Mg2+-independent prenylation by CloQ from classical molecular mechanics and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics simulations.

Understanding the mechanism of prenyltransferases is important to the design of engineered proteins capable of synthesizing derivatives of naturally occurring therapeutic agents. CloQ is a Mg2+-independent aromatic prenyltransferase (APTase) that transfers a dimethylallyl group to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate in the biosynthetic pathway for clorobiocin. APTases consist of a common ABBA fold that defines a β-barrel containing the reaction cavity. Positively charged basic residues line the inside of the β-barrel of CloQ to activate the pyrophosphate leaving group to replace the function of the Mg2+ cofactor in other APTases. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of CloQ, its E281G and F68S mutants, and the related NovQ were used to explore the binding of the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (4HPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate substrates in the reactive cavity and the role of various conserved residues. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics potential of mean force (PMF) calculations show that the effect of the ...
The Fate of Foreign Erythrocytes Introduced into the Blood Stream of the Rabbit

Altho it has been definitely established that the introduction of foreign red blood corpuscles into an animal produces profound physiologic changes, as evidenced by the appearance of specific antibodies in the body fluids, the actual fate of the cells thus introduced has not been determined. From the point of view of general biology, as well as from that of the particular field of immunity, however, the actual fate of cells so introduced appears to be of much importance in that the site and mode of the destruction of the foreign cells undoubtedly bear a direct relation to the site of antibody production, concerning which but few data have been secured.
Bragg Reflection of Waves by Artificial Bars

We consider the extension of previous theories for Bragg reflection of surface waves by parallel bars to the case of artificial bars placed discretely on the seabed. The case of non-resonant, weak reflection is considered first, followed by a consideration of the application of resonant interaction theory to the dominant Fourier mode of the bar field. Both theories are compared to numerical results, and discrepancies are seen in both cases. Finally, experimental results are compared to theory.
Al-Anon newcomers: benefits of continuing attendance for six months

ABSTRACTBackground: Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step mutual-help program for people concerned about another person’s drinking, is the most widely used form of help by Concerned Others. Objectives: This longitudinal study examined newcomers’ outcomes of attending Al-Anon. Aims were to better understand early gains from Al-Anon to inform efforts in the professional community to facilitate concerned others’ attendance of and engagement in Al-Anon. Methods: We compared two groups of Al-Anon newcomers who completed surveys at baseline and 6 months later: those who discontinued attendance by the 6-month follow-up (N = 133), and those who were still attending Al-Anon meetings (N = 97); baseline characteristics were controlled in these comparisons. Results: Newcomers who sustained participation in Al-Anon over the first 6 months of attendance were more likely than those who discontinued participation during the same period to report gains in a variety of domains, such as learning how to handle problems due to the...
Procedural Impact of a Dedicated Interventional Oncology Service Line in a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center

Abstract Purpose We tested the hypothesis that establishing a dedicated interventional oncology (IO) clinical service line would increase clinic visits and procedural volumes at a single quaternary care academic medical center. Methods Two time periods were defined: July 2012 to June 2013 (pre-IO clinic) and July 2013 to June 2014 (first year of dedicated IO service). Staff was recruited, and clinic space was provided in the institution's comprehensive cancer center. Clinic visits and procedure numbers were documented using the institution's electronic medical record and billing forms. IO procedures included were transarterial chemoembolization, Y-90 radioembolization, perfusion mapping for Y-90, portal vein embolization, and bland embolization. We compared changes in clinic visit and procedure numbers using paired t tests. Changes after IO initiation were compared to 1-year changes in the Medicare 5% Limited Data Set by cross-referencing Current Procedure Terminology and International Classification of Diseases codes in 2012 and 2013. Results Clinic visits increased from 9 to 204 ( P = .003, t = 8.89, df = 3). Procedures increased from 60 to 239 ( P = .018, t = 3.85, df = 4). Procedural volumes increased at least 150% for each subtype. The volumes in the 5% Limited Data Set did not change significantly over the 2-year period (443 to 385, P > .05). Conclusions The establishment of a dedicated IO service significantly increased clinic visits and procedural volumes. National trends were unchanged, suggesting that the impact of our program was not part of a sudden increase of IO procedures.
Rotation and translation registration of bandlimited interferometric images using a chirp z-transform

Image reconstruction algorithms for wide-field spatio-spectral interferometry require knowledge of registration parameters associated with low-resolution image measurements at various baseline orientations, such that the images can be registered to within the fine resolution of the final desired image. We have developed an image registration procedure that combines a nonlinear optimization algorithm with the sub-pixel precision of chirp z-transform resampling, particularly for rotation and translation, of bandlimited images with non-radially symmetric aberrations. We show the accuracy of this image registration technique on simulated images that have a complexity comparable to scenes observed experimentally with NASA’s wide-field imaging interferometry testbed. Registration to within a tenth of a pixel for translation and within three arcminutes for rotation is demonstrated at the largest simulated noise levels.
DynSleep: Fine-grained Power Management for a Latency-Critical Data Center Application

Servers running in datacenters are commonly kept underutilized to meet stringent latency targets. Due to poor energy-proportionality in commodity servers, the low utilization results in wasteful power consumption that cost millions of dollars. Applying dynamic power management on datacenter workloads is challenging, especially when tail latency requirements often fall in the sub-millisecond level. The fundamental issue is randomness due to unpredictable request arrival times and request service times. Prior techniques applied per-core DVFS to have fine-grain control of slowing down request processing without violating the tail latency target. However, most commodity servers only support per-core DFS, which greatly limits potential energy saving. In this paper, we propose DynSleep, a fine-grain power management scheme for datacenter workloads through the use of per-core sleep states (C-states). DynSleep dynamically postpones the processing of some requests, creating longer idle periods, which allow the use of deeper C-states to save energy. We design and implement DynSleep with Mem-cached, a popular key-value store application used in datacenters. The experimental results show that DynSleep achieves up to 65% core power saving, and 27% better than the per-core DVFS power management scheme, while still satisfying the tail latency constraint. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to analyze and develop power management technique with CPU C-states in latency-critical datacenter workloads
The Use of Audience Response Systems Technology with Limited English Proficient, Low Literate and Vulnerable Populations

Audience Response Systems (ARS) have been used to improve the interactivity of educational activities for many years. Most studies of ARS have addressed education of literate trainees. How well the...
Spinal Substrates of Visceral Pain

Visceral pain is a common finding of patients who require medical attention. Yet, neurophysiological mechanism underlying visceral pain, associated referred pain, and parietal pain have not been vigorously pursued (Cervero, 1983a). Several theories have been proposed to explain visceral pain, but only recently they have been reexamined using techniques that were developed to study the spinothalamic tract or dorsal horn cells with ascending projections. The spinothalamic tract (STT) in anesthetized monkeys has provided new insights to the mechanisms of visceral pain and referred pain.
A case study of black box fail-safe testing in web applications

Abstract External failures like network changes can affect system operation negatively. Mitigation requirements try to prevent or reduce their effects. This paper presents a black box testing approach that tests fail-safe behavior in web applications. Failure mitigation tests are built based on a functional test suite. Mitigation requirements are used to build mitigation models and mitigation tests paths through them. A genetic algorithm is used to generate failure scenarios (failure mitigation test requirements). Weaving rules describe how mitigation test paths are combined with behavioral test paths to create failure mitigation test paths. These are then transformed into an executable test suite. The paper also evaluates the genetic algorithm used to generate test requirements with respect to efficiency and effectiveness. A large case study, a commercial mortgage lending system, is used to explore applicability, scalability, and effectiveness of the approach.
Deciding How to Deceive: Differences in Communication and Detection Between Good and Bad Liars

To study deception, participants were randomly assigned the role of allocator or recipient in an ultimatum negotiation game. Allocators “earned” 7 dollars and divided the money between themselves and recipient and communicated the decision either face-to-face or through text chat. Recipients were unaware the amount the allocator had, and therefore, allocators could deceive. Most allocators used deception. We hypothesized that participants who self-identified as good liars would communicate more face-to-face than through text chat when deceiving, and this was supported for deceptive omission but not fabrications. Good liars were more likely to have their truths correctly detected than bad liars.
A mitohormetic response to pro-oxidant exposure in the house mouse

Mitochondria are hypothesized to display a biphasic response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) exposure. In this study, we evaluated the time course changes in mitochondrial performance and oxidative stress in house mice following X-irradiation. Forty-eight mice were equally divided among six groups, including a nonirradiated control and five experimental groups that varied in time between X-ray exposure and euthanasia (1 h and 1, 4, 7, and 10 days after X-irradiation). We measured parameters associated with mitochondrial respiratory function and ROS emission from isolated liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria and levels of oxidative damage and antioxidants in liver, skeletal muscle, and heart tissues. Mitochondrial function dropped initially after X-irradiation but recovered quickly and was elevated 10 days after the exposure. Hydrogen peroxide production, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation showed inverse U-shaped curves, with levels returning to control or lower than control, 10 days after X-irradiation. Enzymatic antioxidants and markers for mitochondrial biogenesis exhibited a tissue-specific response after irradiation. These data provide the first chronological description of the mitohormetic response after a mild dose of irradiation and highlight the protective response that cells display to ROS exposure. This study also provides valuable information and application for future mitochondrial and oxidative stress studies in numerous physiological settings.
Tremors: Essential Tremor and Beyond

Tremor is a fairly common movement disorder presenting to an outpatient pediatric neurology practice. Tremors can be primary or secondary to underlying neurologic or systemic diseases. When assessing a child with tremor, it is paramount to evaluate the phenomenology of the tremor, determine the presence or absence of other neurologic signs and symptoms, and the possible modifying influence of medications. Proper classification is essential for specific diagnosis and prompt adequate management. Treatment considerations should take into account objective assessment of tremor severity and the degree of disability or impairment experienced by the child. Overall effectiveness of pharmacologic treatments of tremor is unfortunately disappointing. In this article we review the clinical examination, classification, and diagnosis of tremor. The pathophysiology of the different forms of tremor is outlined, and treatment options are discussed.
Randomness in transportation utility models: The triangular distribution may be a better choice than the normal and Gumbel

Discrete Choice Random Utility Models (RUMs) analyze, predict and model human choices and have been successfully used in modeling driving decisions. A random term is included in RUMs to resolve similar alternatives and model the unpredictable factors leading a person to make a choice among a discrete set of options. There is no agreed and scientifically proven best way of modelling this term despite having been applied in many diverse fields and little attention has been paid to the underlying phenomena that justify one choice over another. In this paper, we examine theoretically and in a particular taxi traffic simulation in Singapore, the most common choices for the random term, logit and probit, and also contrast them with simple alternatives such as the uniform or triangular distributions. We provide a Unified Random Graph Model (URGM) to explore randomness in RUMs, identify the differences between distribution choices, introduce a novel distribution distance metric, and explore the effect such choices have in a RUM. We contend that the theoretical and practical advantages of the Gaussian and the Gumbel distribution (GaGs) have been overrated in the traffic simulation literature, even without any categorical theoretical or empirical justification for one over the other (we show the Gaussian approximates the Gumbel 81–94% depending on the metric). We provide evidence in favor of the triangular distribution and show that it can approximate the GaGs in the 90s% without some of their demerits. These results are corroborated by our theoretical and experimental analysis, were the Triangular outperforms GaGs and has several theoretical advantages. The analysis is in many ways comparable to the activation function debate in the deep learning literature.
Characteristics of Whole Evolutions

After introducing the brief history of the concept of systems and the systemic yoyo model in the previous chapter, we now in this chapter look at the theoretical foundation on why such an intuitive model of general systems holds for each and every system that is either tangible or imaginable.
Vorwärtsmodellierung: Das direkte Problem

Nachdem die Grundlagen bereitgestellt sind, widmet sich die Arbeit im Folgenden der Modellierung der Ausbreitung kanzeroser Zellen im zerebralen Gewebe. Nach einer Einfuhrung in das Grundlegende wird im weiteren Verlauf das Modell entwickelt. Im Anschluss werden Verfahren zur Diskretisierung und Losung des direkten Problems (Vorwartsproblem) bereitgestellt. Die vorgestellte Strategie wird abschliesend durch numerische Experimente bestatigt.
Reaction and Opposition

The increasing encroachment of science into what had been undisputedly religious territory provoked a wave of resentment and opposition in the late seventeenth century.
Tumor-Like Lesions

A solitary bone cyst is a benign lesion of unknown etiology. These lesions are usually a single-chambered cystic lesion of bone that is filled with fluid. The lesion was described for the first time by Virchow (1876) in a case involving the proximal end of the humerus in a 56-year-old woman. Solitary bone cysts are an uncommon lesion, usually found in the long bones of children and adolescents. They are usually asymptomatic until fractured. Males are involved more than females in a ratio of 3:1.
Response of the nonhuman primate to polychlorinated biphenyl exposure1

The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been used extensively for industrial purposes during the past 40 years. These compounds are extremely stable, not hydrolyzed by water, acid or alkali, and are able to withstand temperatures up to 650 C without disintegrating. These properties make them ideal for use in adhesives, paints, varnishes, printing inks, and as general fillers. Since they do not conduct electricity, they have found widespread use in electrical equipment such as transformers. However, it was only during the past decade that the health significance of these compounds in man and lower animals has been brought to public attention.
From Lamech to Bezalel: Biblical Reflections on the Polyvalence of “Technology”

Transhumanism suggests that we should use technologies to enhance human beings, particularly to reduce illness, unnecessary suffering, and social ills. In this regard, there is a natural conversation between transhumanism and Christianity. To begin a substantive conversation with transhumanism, a re-conception of “technology” is needed, one that expands our understanding and can provide criteria for evaluating its function in our lives. This chapter suggests that, read in a narrative fashion, biblical texts can serve as a resource for deliberating about this and related challenges. Such an approach show both the destructive and constructive nature of technology for human communities and therefore the need to recognize the relationship between technology and human aspirations, especially religious ones.
Has Tranexamic Acid in Total Knee Arthroplasty Made Tourniquet Use Obsolete

The application of tranexamic acid (TXA) in total joint arthroplasty has dramatically improved peri-operative blood management. In light of these benefits, a study by Huang et al., "Intravenous and Topical Tranexamic Acid Alone Are Superior to Tourniquet Use for Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty," evaluates the need for continued use of the intra-operative tourniquet, which remains a routine practice with documented benefits and adverse effects. This review evaluates the study's design and critically interprets its findings for clinical practice. Through a prospective, randomized trial, Huang et al. demonstrated that among selected patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty, the use of a tourniquet results in no reduction in blood loss beyond that provided by TXA alone. Moreover, the use of TXA without a tourniquet led to improved early clinical outcomes such as reduced post-operative swelling, improved knee range of motion at discharge, and enhanced patient satisfaction. As medicine is practiced in an increasingly value-driven environment, this study provides a useful method for evaluating the utility of commonly used interventions. Its findings highlight the need for future investigations into the optimal administration of TXA in total knee arthroplasty.
Phonon properties and thermal conductivity from first principles, lattice dynamics, and the Boltzmann transport equation

A computational framework for predicting phonon frequencies, group velocities, scattering rates, and the resulting lattice thermal conductivity is described. The underlying theory and implementation suggestions are also provided. By using input from first principles calculations and taking advantage of advances in computational power, this framework has enabled thermal conductivity predictions that agree with experimental measurements for diverse crystalline materials over a wide range of temperatures. Density functional theory and density functional perturbation theory calculations are first used to obtain the harmonic and cubic force constants. The harmonic force constants are the input to harmonic lattice dynamics calculations, which provide the phonon frequencies and eigenvectors. The harmonic properties and the cubic force constants are then used with perturbation theory and/or phenomenological models to determine intrinsic and extrinsic scattering rates. The full set of phonon properties is then used to solve the Boltzmann transport equation for the mode populations and thermal conductivity. The extension of the framework to include higher-order processes, capture finite temperature effects, and model alloys is described. A case study on silicon is presented that provides benchmarking and convergence data. Available packages that implement the framework are compared.
Bio-logics of Jewishness: media constructions of the nuances of race and ethnicity

ABSTRACTThe specific ethno-racial position of Jewishness offers an ideal case study for contemporary U.S. racialisation processes. Despite a proclaimed end to biologisation in a supposed ‘post-raci...
Quantification of NOx uptake in plain and TiO2-doped cementitious materials

Abstract This study brings new understanding of the interaction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with cement-based materials, necessary for optimizing these materials for NOx sequestration. The masses of nitrites and nitrates produced through NOx uptake in cement-based materials are quantified for both plain portland cement pastes (OPC) and nano TiO2-doped OPC. Both nitrite and nitrate were bound within plain OPC, with a nitrite:nitrate ratio of 1:2. This intrinsic NOx sequestration capacity is attributed to the microstructural features and alkalinity of cement-based materials. The capacity is increased by 360%, with a lower nitrite:nitrate ratio of 1:1.3, in TiO2-doped OPC. The increase in NOx uptake and the change in nitrite:nitrate ratio is attributed to the microstructural differences and activation of photocatalytic reactions that are associated with TiO2 addition. Comparing NOx exposure with and without UV on TiO2-doped OPC shows that photocatalytic activities have greater influences on NOx uptake than microstructural differences induced by TiO2 addition.
Visuospatial functioning is associated with sleep disturbance and hallucinations in nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) associated with reduced quality of life and a more severe disease state. Previous research has shown an associatio...
Application of Dzyadyk’s Polynomial Kernels in the Constructive Function Theory

This is a survey of recent results in the constructive theory of functions of complex variable obtained by the author through the application of the theory of Dzyadyk’s kernels combined with the methods and results from modern geometric function theory and the theory of quasiconformal mappings.
Characterization of nanofibers for tissue engineering: Chemical mapping by Confocal Raman microscopy

Nanofiber scaffolds are used in bioengineering for functional support of growing tissues. To fine tune nanofiber properties for specific applications, it is often necessary to characterize the spatial distribution of their chemical content. Raman spectroscopy is a common tool used to characterize chemical composition of various materials, including nanofibers. In combination with a confocal microscope, it allows simultaneous mapping of both spectral and spatial features of inhomogeneous structures, also known as hyperspectral imaging. However, such mapping is usually performed on microscopic scale, due to the resolution of the scanning system being diffraction limited (about 0.2-0.5 micron, depending on the excitation wavelength). We present an application of confocal Raman microscopy to hyperspectral mapping of nanofibers, where nanoscale features are resolved by means of oversampling and extensive data processing, including Singular Value Decomposition and Classical Least Squares decomposition techniques. Oversampling and data processing facilitated evaluation of the spatial distribution of different chemical components within multi-component nanofibers.
Utilizing PROTAC technology to address the on-target platelet toxicity associated with inhibition of BCL-XL

BCL-XL, an anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein, plays a key role in cancer cell survival. However, the potential of BCL-XL as an anti-cancer target has been hampered by the on-target platelet toxicity because platelets depend on BCL-XL to maintain their viability. Here we report the development of a PROTAC BCL-XL degrader, XZ424, which has increased selectivity for BCL-XL-dependent MOLT-4 cells over human platelets compared with conventional BCL-XL inhibitors. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of utilizing a PROTAC approach to achieve tissue selectivity.
Charge on collision

Planets are assembled from the ground up, beginning with millimetre-sized interstellar dust grains. Microgravity experiments suggest that centimetre-sized dust aggregates form from these smaller grains via collisional charging.
Instruments for Quality of Life and Mental Health Assessment

Head and neck cancer patients have an incredibly high rate of depression, reported at approximately 40%, and possess the highest suicide rates in the cancer community (Barber et al., JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 142(3):284–8, 2016; Misono et al., J Clin Oncol 26(29):4731–8, 2008). It is thus extremely important to know which tools are available to screen for depression and quality of life (QOL) difficulties in this population in order to identify at-risk and suffering patients. In addition, head and neck cancer patients may struggle with a disfigured appearance, altered speech and swallowing abilities, social isolation, and high stress/anxiety. Accurately assessing QOL metrics can assist us in improving our patients’ well-being and improve treatment outcomes. This chapter will summarize the tools available for assessing quality of life and will provide an organized and concise reference for head and neck surgeons interesting in utilizing these instruments.
ZeroLender: Trustless Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Lending Platform

Since its inception a decade ago, Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology have been garnering interest from a large spectrum of financial institutions. Although it encompasses a currency, a payment method, and a ledger, Bitcoin as it currently stands does not support bitcoins lending. In this paper, we present a platform called ZeroLender for peer-to-peer lending in Bitcoin. Our protocol utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to achieve unlinkability between lenders and borrowers while securing payments in both directions against potential malicious behaviour of the ZeroLender as well as the lenders, and prove by simulation that our protocol is privacy-preserving. Based on our experiments, we show that the runtime and transcript size of our protocol scale linearly with respect to the number of lenders and repayments.
Highly accessible platform technologies for vision-guided, closed-loop robotic assembly of unitized enclosure systems

Equipping robotics with the capacity to make decisions based on real-time information about their physical environment is crucial to the success of in situ robotics and offers many process advantages in prefabrication scenarios as well. However, the perceived technical challenges of producing environmentally-aware closed-loop robotics have limited their use in construction and design applications. To address this challenge, a low-cost and largely open-source computer vision-guided closed-loop robotic control paradigm is developed. The system is used here to identify construction materials in the workspace and calculate their position in space and determine their place in the facade panel assembly. The industrial robot arm is equipped with an RGB-depth camera in an eye-in-hand configuration to give control over the positioning of the camera for greatest accuracy. The control system relies on a simple TCP client/server connection between the robot and a central control computer to pass information and instructions from the computer vision system to the robot and vice versa. This setup delivers process flexibility, enabling pick-and-place procedures of the material positioned randomly within the workspace. In this work, the technologies are deployed in a factory-type setting but would also be necessary for any on-site robotic construction system, building towards an on-site robotics future. The final product of this research is a unitized spandrel panel wherein the vision-guided robot finds and places the insulation, cement board, and masonry cladding materials.
Abstract 16626: Endothelial Zinc Transporter Zip8 Regulates Ventricular Trabeculation and Compaction

Trabeculation and subsequent compaction of the ventricular wall are essential for normal heart morphogenesis. In human, excessive trabeculation and impaired myocardial compaction during earlyheart ...
On the Role of Design in K-12 Computing Education

Design is a distinct discipline with its own practices, tools, professions, and areas of scholarship. However, practitioners from other fields often leverage aspects of design in their own work, leading to subfields like engineering design and architecture design that are neither wholly design nor wholly the intersecting discipline. Similarly, design and computing are known to intersect in educational contexts. Unfortunately, we do not yet have a clear understanding of how to characterize the kinds of design that may accompany computing topics, resulting in challenges to teaching and learning. This gap is particularly prevalent in K-12 computing education, where design is often used to promote student engagement but rarely studied as its own disciplinary phenomenon. Toward the goal of better understanding the nature and role of design in computing education, this article motivates and describes two qualitative, exploratory analyses of how design skills manifest in popular K-12 computing education curricula and activities. We find evidence to suggest two types of design within existing computing education curricula and standards: nondisciplinary problem-space design, which deals with defining software requirements, and disciplinary program-space design, which deals with choosing how best to meet those requirements. We find that these two types of computing design may exist independently, but they often overlap, creating an intriguing intersection of discipline-specific computing design educational activity. Finally, we discuss the practical implications of proceeding with research and educational practice in light of these results, highlighting the need for further exploration into the unique overlap of design and computing education.
Outcomes of changing systemic therapy in patients with relapsed breast cancer and 1 to 3 brain metastases

The development of brain metastases (BMs) in breast cancer (BC) patients remains a challenging complication. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend local treatment of BMs without changing systemic therapy (CST) in patients with stable extracranial disease. We retrospectively investigated the impact of CST (when applicable as per treating physician’s discretion) following the diagnosis and management of oligometastatic (1–3) BMs in patients without extracranial metastases on the progression-free survival time (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Among the 2645 patients with BC and BMs treated between 2002 and 2015, 74 were included for analysis. 40.5% of patients had HER2 + disease. Median time from diagnosis of BC to BMs was 17.6 months. 54%, 8%, and 38% of BMs were managed by radiation, craniotomy, or combination, respectively. Following the primary management of BMs, we observed that CST occurred in 26 (35.5%) patients, consisting of initiation of therapy in 13.5% and switching of ongoing adjuvant therapy in 22%. Median PFS was 6.6 months among patients who had CST compared to 7.1 months in those who did not (HR = 0.88 [0.52–1.47], p = 0.62). Median OS was 20.1 months among patients who had CST compared to 15.1 months in those who did not (HR = 0.68 [0.40–1.16], p = 0.16). Upon the successful local management of oligometastatic BMs in patients without extracranial disease, we did not find a significant difference in survival between patients who experienced a change in systemic therapy as compared to those who did not.
Neutrino heating re-starts the stalled engine

The detection of two transition metals in the remnant of a supernova lends support to a mechanism for the explosion of a massive star called the neutrino-driven convective supernova engine, where a plume of hot material re-invigorates a stalled shockwave.
Delegation and the regulation of U.S. financial markets

Abstract We analyze the institutional determinants of U.S. financial market regulation with a general model of the policy-making process in which legislators delegate authority to regulate financial risk at both the firm and systemic levels. The model explains changes in U.S. financial regulation leading up to the financial crisis. We test the predictions of the general model with a novel, comprehensive data set of financial regulatory laws enacted specifically between 1950 and 2009. The theoretical and empirical analysis finds that economic and political factors impact Congress’ decision to delegate regulatory authority to executive agencies, which in turn impacts the stringency of financial market regulation, and our estimation results indicate that political factors may have been stronger and resulted in inefficiencies.
Rare novel LPL mutations are associated with neonatal onset lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency in two cases.

Background Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a monogenic lipid metabolism disorder biochemically characterized by hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Neonatal onset LPL deficiency is rare. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features of neonatal LPL deficiency and to analyze the genetic characteristics of LPL gene. Methods In order to reach a definite molecular diagnose, metabolic diseases-related genes were sequenced through gene capture and next generation sequencing. Meanwhile, the clinical characteristics and follow-up results of the two newborns were collected and analyzed. Results Three different mutations in the LPL gene were identified in the two newborns including a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.347G > C and c.472 T > G) and a reported homozygous mutation (c.836 T > G) was identified. Interestingly, both the two neonatal onset LPL deficiency patients presented with suffered recurrent infection in the hyperlipidemia stage, which was not usually found in childhood or adulthood onset LPL deficiency patients. Conclusion The two novel mutaitons, c.347G > C and c.472 T > G, identified in this study were novel, which expanded the LPL gene mutation spectrum. In addition, suffered recurrent infection in the hyperlipidemia stage implied a certain correlation between immune deficiency and lipid metabolism abnormality. This observation further supplemented and expanded the clinical manifestations of LPL deficiency.
Chapter 15 Joint Ventures and Other Types of Functionally-Analogous Collaborative Arrangements

The concept of a “(business) joint venture” has been defined (usually implicitly) in a wide variety of ways. This study defines a “(business) joint venture” narrowly to refer to a business entity created by two or more other business entities (the parents) to engage in one or more business activities. Firms can collaborate in business activities without creating separate business entities that each collaborator partially owns—e.g., by entering into long-term leases that may include restrictive covenants or by establishing joint committees to structure collaborative activities and, when cross-payments are or may be appropriate, to determine when cross-payments should be made and the magnitude of any cross-payments that should be made.
Critical Incident History Questionnaire Replication: Frequency and Severity of Trauma Exposure Among Officers From Small and Midsize Police Agencies

Frequency and severity of trauma exposure are thought to influence posttraumatic reactions. Weiss et al.'s Critical Incident History Questionnaire (CIHQ; 2010) measures these variables among law enforcement officers; they reported findings using a sample of officers from large urban departments. We noted the need for replication studies utilizing samples from smaller and rural police agencies. The purpose of this study was to replicate the CIHQ findings from Weiss et al. using a sample (N = 193) of officers from small and midsize police departments and officers whose duties include policing rural and isolated jurisdictions. Frequency and severity findings were similar to those reported by Weiss et al. (). Regarding frequency, the present study found the critical incident exposure mean score was 188.5, compared to 168.5 from Weiss et al. (). Making a mistake that kills or injures a colleague had the highest mean nomothetic severity rating in both studies. Among the various variables examined in this study, PTSD symptoms demonstrated the strongest association with the exposure indices, based on Spearman rank correlations (r = .26-.46).
Introduction to cryptography

This tutorial is designed for computer scientists who have no prior experience with cryptography. Terminology and concepts related to computer cryptography will be described. Specific topics include private key cryptosystems, public key cryptosystems, authenticity, digital signatures, and certificates. Simplified algorithms which serve as examples of the above will be presented. Attendees should be familiar with the exclusive OR operation, the integer mod (i.e., %) operation, and the definition of prime numbers.
Constructing Multilevel Metadata Networks for Sharing Dispersed and Transient Information in a Mobile Environment

An intelligent multi-user mechanism has been prototyped at the Information System Collaboratory of the Pennsylvania State University, which is capable of resolving global queries with differing and overlapping information needs, spatial scalability and temporal assumptions. The sources of information for this prototype are mechanical damage monitoring sensors embedded in equipment at plant sites, on-board ships or aircrafts, archived historical and diagnostic databases like those available through NALCOMIS (NAVMASSO document J-004 EM-001C, 1995) logistics and maintenance databases at depots, interactive electronic technical manuals stored in databases, dynamic models of damage, and models of operational performance. The concept-of-operation includes mobile access to this information by equipment maintainers on-board ships, aircrafts and other mobile platforms. Real-time interoperation of these system components and databases, under dynamic equipment operating conditions of thermo-mechanical and environmental stress, requires complex interactions of internal representations of sensor data, performance requirements, resources and equipment models, with rich semantics. To support such interactions, following the work of Bright, Hurson and Pakzad (Bright, Hurson, and Pakzad, Transactions on Database Systems, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 212–253, 1994) local schema terms of available data sources are organized as the leaf nodes in a semantic network of metadata. The physical nodes of the network are partitioned into a top-down multi-level search control structure of increasing precision and decreasing semantic aggregation. Each physical node supports search through all lower layers of metadata in connected tree configurations. The resulting multilayered semantic network is modeled as a Thesaurus of terms T and relationships R. A relationship in R may be crisp or fuzzy. The DTIC (Defense Technical Information Center) thesaurus for equipment maintenance was used as a starting point in this work. It was further enhanced by application specific terms and endowed with a distance function. This distance function is used to formulate user adaptable Graphic User Interfaces (GUI) for making quality of service tradeoffs in the resolution of global queries. Step-by-step construction of the thesaurus as a multilevel metadata network, its scalability, dynamic adaptation through usage, and tolerance of semantic imprecision in query resolution are discussed in this paper. Furthermore, performance metrology for evaluating quality of service in global query resolution is also developed (Phoha, in Proceedings of the NIST Workshop on Advancing Measurements and Testing for Information Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, Oct. 1998). This work was funded by DARPA for the past four years under grant DE-FC36-94G010064, for establishing a National Information Infrastructure Testbed for Electronic Commerce in equipment health monitoring, failure diagnosis and prognosis services.
The Effects of Incentives and Research Requirements on Participation Rates for a Community-Based Preventive Intervention Research Study

This investigation utilized prospective survey data to examine the influence of a research incentive ($100) and requirement (videotaping) on decisions to participate in prevention research. Individuals were significantly attracted by the incentive, and marginally deterred by the requirement. Interaction analyses revealed that the positive incentive effect was stronger among prospective participants with less education and who were otherwise less likely to participate. These findings indicate that monetary incentives can be useful for increasing participation rates, and may help reduce sampling bias by increasing rates most strongly among individuals who are typically less likely to take part in research projects.