cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are yolk androgens and carotenoids in barn swallow eggs related to parental quality

Recently, evidence is mounting that females can adaptively engineer the quality of their offspring via the deposition of yolk compounds, including carotenoids and androgens. In this study, we simultaneously consider how both carotenoids and androgens in egg yolk relate to parental quality in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster). First, we found no relationship between concentrations or amounts of yolk androgens and carotenoids. Yolk carotenoids decreased with laying order, whereas we found no relationship between yolk androgens and laying order. Second, we tested the Investment Hypothesis, which predicts that high-quality females or females paired to high quality mates, allocate differentially more of these yolk compounds to their offspring. For carotenoids, we mostly found evidence to counter predictions of the Investment hypothesis: (1) Carotenoid concentrations varied among females, (2) heavier eggs contained lower carotenoid concentrations, although heavier yolks contained greater amounts of carotenoids, (3) eggs of earlier-laying females had lower concentrations in their eggs, and (4) yolk carotenoids were not correlated with clutch size or male plumage ornamentation. For androgens, we found weak support for the Investment Hypothesis: (1) Yolk androgens varied among females, (2) heavier eggs and yolks contained greater amounts, although not concentrations of androgens, (3) females paired to more colorful males laid eggs with greater concentrations of androgens, and (4) no effects of laying date or morphological correlates of female quality on androgen concentrations in egg yolks. Overall, these findings suggest that each yolk compound may have different functions and therefore may be regulated by different mechanisms.
Developing an inventory-based prioritization methodology for assessing inoperability and economic loss in interdependent sectors

Natural and man-caused disasters disrupt the production of commodities and services that are essential to the functions of infrastructure and economic sectors. The intrinsic interdependencies among these sectors trigger the propagation of disaster consequences that often result in a wider range of inoperability and amplified losses. This paper evaluates the impact of using inventory-enhanced policies on the recovery behavior among disrupted interdependent sectors. A dynamic inoperability input-output model (DIIM) is extended to identify the critical sectors based on two underlying minimization objectives, inoperability and economic loss. A dynamic cross prioritization plot (DCPP) is developed to integrate these objectives into a prioritization tool that allows variation in the importance associated with each objective. Implementing the methodology for the state of Virginia, a baseline inventory case revealed a high concentration of: (i) manufacturing sectors under the inoperability objective, and (ii) service sectors under the economic loss objective. Simulation of enhanced inventory policies to the manufacturing sectors reduced the recovery period by nearly a week and the total economic loss by $47.58M. The variation of importance attributed to the two objectives is demonstrated for the inventory-enhanced case. While the study focuses on enhancing inventory levels in Virginia's manufacturing sectors, complementary analysis is recommended to manage the resilience of the service sectors. The flexibility and scalability of the proposed prioritization methodology and the resulting decision support system can also be extended to accommodate analysis in other regions as well as other disaster scenarios.
Improvements on the accuracy of derivative estimation from DPIV velocity measurements

Accuracy of out-of-plane vorticity estimation from in-plane experimental velocity measurements is investigated with particular application to digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV). Simulations of known flow fields are used to quantify errors associated with amplification of the velocity measurement noise and method bias error due to spatial sampling resolution. A novel, adaptable, hybrid estimation scheme combining implicit compact finite difference and Richardson extrapolation schemes is proposed for improved vorticity estimation. The scheme delivers higher-order truncation error with less noise amplification than an explicit second order finite difference scheme. Finally, a complete framework for predicting, a priori, the random, bias, and total error of the vorticity estimation on the basis of the error of the resolved velocities and the choice of differentiation scheme is developed and presented.
Changes in Diarrheal Disease and Treatment Among Brazilian Children from 1986 to 1996

We examined changes in diarrhea prevalence and treatment in Brazil between 1986 and 1996. Over this 10-year period there was a small decline in diarrhea prevalence but treatment with oral rehydration therapy (ORT) increased greatly. Deaths due to dehydration were thus averted, although the costly burden of morbidity remained high. The decline in diarrhea prevalence was largely due to changes in the effects of several key covariates, such as breastfeeding, with only a modest role played by socioeconomic change, infrastructure improvements, and other behavioral factors. ORT treatment of diarrhea was essentially unrelated to child and family characteristics, suggesting that the large increase was due to the success of public health efforts to promote its use widely. Our results suggest that the most effective policies for reducing diarrhea prevalence are likely to be further increases in education and the promotion of breastfeeding. Persistent disparities in diarrhea prevalence mean that policies to prevent the disease should be targeted at disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
Systematic errors in shot noise thermometer measurements

We report comparisons between the Shot Noise Thermometer (SNT), a primary thermometer based on the electronic noise from a tunnel junction, and the ITS-90 in the temperature range from 4 K to 30 K. The SNT indicates a temperature that is systematically high compared to T90, and we explain the probable origin of this effect. We characterize other systematic effects in the SNT and provide a roadmap for future extensions in the accuracy of the SNT which could make it metrologically useful in the lower-most ranges of the ITS-90 and especially in the range of the PLTS-2000.
Galectin-7 levels predict radiation response in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix

Abstract Objective We previously found that galectin-7 was upregulated in patients with cervical cancer who remained recurrence-free after chemoradiation. We hypothesized that pretreatment levels of galectin-7 predict radiation response in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. Methods Galectin-7 expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of a tissue microarray of paraffin-embedded specimens from 161 patients with cervical SCC treated with definitive radiation therapy in 1980–1999. Galectin-7 expression was scored as absent or present. Distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were computed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests. Results The median age at diagnosis was 45years (range 21–85) and median follow-up interval was 71months (range 0–285). Of the 161 patients, 105 (65%) had FIGO stage IB disease, 18 (11%) stage IIA, and 38 (24%) stage IIB. Median tumor diameter was 5.5cm (range 3.5–8). Seven patients (4%) received concurrent chemotherapy; 139 patients (86%) had galectin-7-positive tumors and 22 (14%) galectin-7-negative tumors. Five-year DMFS rates for patients with galectin-7-positive versus -negative tumors were 73% and 55% (p=0.05); DSS, 65% and 36% (p=0.004); and OS, 64% and 36% (p=0.005). In multivariate analysis adjusting for age, stage, and tumor diameter, galectin-7 expression remained a significant predictor of DMFS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.43, p=0.03), DSS (HR=0.34, p=0.001), and OS (HR=0.34, p=0.001). Conclusions Elevated galectin-7 expression is associated with improved outcomes after radiation therapy for cervical cancer. Further studies are required to validate these findings and clarify the role of galectin-7 in disease progression and radiation response.
Returning physicians to the workforce: History, progress, and challenges

There is growing recognition of the need to reeducate clinically inactive physicians seeking to return to practice and in the facilitation of this return. Physicians seeking to return to practice face many challenges: maneuvering the various requirements of licensing, medical, and credentialing boards; finding an appropriate educational program to become up to date in current practice; paying for the program; and overcoming personal obstacles. Educational programs also face challenges: cost of development and maintenance; allocation of staff and faculty time to reeducate returning physicians alongside other learners; provision of emotional counseling and career guidance; interpretation of varied licensing and board guidelines; and the need to tailor one's program to individual trainees. Despite these challenges, some programs are returning physicians to the workforce. To provide perspective, we review why physicians leave medicine and return. We then discuss challenges for returning physicians and program developers and highlight current educational resources and organizational efforts to facilitate return. We close by offering next steps for programs to facilitate return.
INFLUENCE OF LIGHT ON THE HYPOPHYSIS EFFECTS OF LONG-CONTINUED “NIGHT LIGHTING” ON HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED FEMALE FERRETS AND THOSE WITH OPTIC NERVES CUT12

Recent studies of the effects of modified light cycles upon sexual cycles of ferrets (1–11) indicate that the anterior pituitary influences sexual photoperiodicity in these animals, and that a refractory condition leading to regression occurs in spite of continued increase in stimulation by light. Many problems of effects of different wave lengths and intensities have been solved and there are indications that even with much reduced lighting in spring sexual activity occurs (10–14). Double cataract led to complete anestrus for two full seasons with and without experimental lighting (15, 16). This paper reports further studies dealing with the general problem, again utilizing female ferrets. The number of animals used has been small but results have been consistent except in 2 cases, referred to in a later paragraph. The animals have been used in such manner that each served as a control upon itself in different seasons when experimental lighting was or was not operating. Three seasons were covered by the ...
An improved model for flux reversal in Ni-Fe cores

The purpose of this work is to develop a quantitative model for the mechanism of flux reversal in nickel-iron (Ni-Fe) cores. The model allows the prediction of the instantaneous values of magnetic flux during reversal as a function of the applied magnetic-field intensity. Emphasis is placed upon the applicability of the results to practical engineering problems as well as the adherence of the model to the physical description of the process. This paper deals primarily with flux changes in grain-oriented 50% Ni-Fe tape-wound cores; however, the general approach is equally applicable to other alloys and types of core construction.
An approach to energy-error tradeoffs in approximate ripple carry adders

Given a 16-bit or 32-bit overclocked ripple-carry adder, we minimize error by allocating multiple supply voltages to the gates. We solve the error minimization problem for a fixed energy budget using a binned geometric program solution (BGPS). A solution found via BGPS outperforms the two best prior approaches, uniform voltage scaling and biased voltage scaling, reducing error by as much as a factor of 2.58X and by a median of 1.58X in 90nm transistor technology.
Implementing the American Society for Biochemistry and molecular biology recommended curriculum in a biochemistry and molecular biology degree program in a genetics and biochemistry department: The Clemson University experience

This article describes the undergraduate biochemistry degree program at a medium-sized, “state-supported,” land-grant university and how this degree program implements the curriculum recommended by the Educational and Professional Development Committee of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The abbreviation used is: ASBMB, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Use of Mobile Lidar Data to Assess Hurricane Damage and Visualize Community Vulnerability

Hurricane Sandy, the worst storm of its type to hit U.S. New York City and the state of New Jersey in generations, caused devastating damage to the region's infrastructure, properties, and businesses. Various technologies for the acquisition of geospatial information have been used since the landing of Hurricane Sandy to support critical decision making related to search and rescue, damage assessment, environmental risk analysis, debris removal, and rebuilding processes. The challenge is to match the best sensing method with the desired postdisaster applications. A large-scale application of mobile terrestrial laser scanning technology to posthurricane situations is described for the support of disaster recovery operations in the United States. Several innovative data analysis approaches for supporting damage assessment and flood resilience analysis are presented. Opportunities for and challenges presented by the use of mobile terrestrial laser scanning to support postdisaster recovery operations are disc...
Variability in population and community biomass in a grassland community affected by environmental productivity and diversity

Temporal variability of the biomass of individual populations and total community biomass were studied in a species rich meadow (35-40 species 0.25 m -2 plot). Communities were experimentally subjected to fertilization and removal of the dominant Molinia caerulea in a factorial design. The typical dominance structure, with few dominants and many sub-ordinate species, developed in all the treatments. Variability was measured by the coefficient of variation between years, from the fifth to the eighth year of the experiment (to avoid the initial response to the manipulations). Dominant removal increased the diversity measured by the reciprocal of the Simpson index, while fertilization decreased both species number and diversity and also caused a shift in community composition. The variability of both the total community and of individual species was higher in the fertilized plots. The coefficient of variation decreased with species mean biomass in all the plots. In non-fertilized plots, the dominant species had lower variability than total biomass. The biomass values of individual species fluctuated in a concordant manner over the years (i.e. were positively correlated). All of these factors will decrease the strength of the expected portfolio effect. It is argued that the effect of environmental productivity on variability is more pronounced than the effect of diversity.
Risk of Intravenous Contrast Material–mediated Acute Kidney Injury: A Propensity Score–matched Study Stratified by Baseline-estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

Our findings provide additional evidence that the administration of intravenous contrast material does not increase the risk of acute kidney injury, even in patients with substantially compromised renal function.
BYSTANDER REPORTING OF A CRIME

A field experiment was conducted to study bystander reporting of a crime. The study investigated two primary dimensions upon which most programs which encourage reporting, namely, monetary reward and anonymity. Conditions of anonymity and reward were unobtrusively varied during a bogus interview conducted with shoppers before they entered a supermarket. Neither of these variables affected the reporting of a staged shoplifting. However, preincident behavioral intention to report was significantly correlated with reporting behavior. The findings are discussed with respect to research on intrinsic motivation and deindividuation.
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Does Sex Matter?

In this issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions , Kobayashi et al. [(1)][1] investigate sex differences in invasive measures of microvascular function and challenge the widely held view that microvascular dysfunction is the primary cause of the high prevalence of angina in the absence of
An activated Notch suppresses neurogenesis and myogenesis but not gliogenesis in mammalian cells

P19 cells, a mouse embryonal carcinoma line, can be induced to differentiate into neurons. After induction, however, only a small subpopulation of cells develop as neurons, suggesting that equipotent cells adopt different cell fates. In invertebrate systems, the lin-12-Notch family of genes is thought to control the choice of cell fate. We have therefore asked whether activation of murine Notch (mNotch) regulates neuronal differentiation in P19 cells. We demonstrate that a dominant gain-of-function mutant of mNotch suppresses neurogenesis, as well as myogenesis in P19 cells. Overexpression of the full-length mNotch protein also suppresses neurogenesis. In contrast, the differentiation of glia is not affected by an activated mNotch homologue. These data indicate that mNotch may play a central role in the choice of cell fate in differentiating cells in culture and suggests that mNotch may play a similar role in the choice of fate in the developing mammalian embryo.
Recommendations of the International Council for Standardization in Haematology for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Anticoagulation of Blood for Blood Cell Counting and Sizing: International Council for Standardization in Haematology: Expert Panel on Cytometry

Of the three ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) salts used for anticoagulation of blood specimens for hematologic testing, potassium salts are the most readily soluble. Tripotassium EDTA is dispensed as a liquid and thus causes a slight dilution of the specimen. This salt also has been shown to affect the red blood cell size more at increased concentrations and on storage than the dipotassium salt. Therefore, dipo-tassium EDTA is recommended as the anticoagulant of choice in specimen collection for blood cell counting and sizing. The amount of dipotassium EDTA used is 1.5–2.2 mg (3.7–5.4 μ mol) per milliliter of blood.
Vortical Features of a Rotor Blade in Reversed Flow

The nature of the flow around a rotating blade in reverse flow is described, integrating results from fixed and rotary wing experiments. The highly 3-dimensional flow phenomena do not conform to expectations based on 2-D airfoil aerodynamics. Fixed-wing results from load measurements and flow visualization showed that the sharp-edge vortex (SEV) is a primary feature when the blade is yawed either forward or backward. The loads are better modeled using the Polhamus leading edge suction analogy. Vortex-induced pressure gradient induces an inward radial flow overcoming centrifugal effects, but away from the vortex, outward radial flow is evident everywhere. A strongly three-dimensional and attached SEV is evident under the blade at 240 degrees azimuth. This detaches and convects with the flow, remaining close to the blade by 270 degrees. The vortex seen at 300 degrees is clearly detached, but growth of the core diameter corresponding to vortex bursting, causes strong suction under the blade. The flow around the blunt edge is again strongly 3-D. Some evidence of intermittent separation is seen, but the azimuth-resolved, ensemble-averaged flow is mostly attached around the blunt edge. Preliminary static pressure contours derived from the measured 3-component velocity field are presented.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Selection of Work Sampling Observation Times: Part II-Restricted Random Sampling

Abstract This paper considers the problem of sampling from a finite population defined on the interval (1, 2, …, T), using a restricted form of random sampling in which the spacing between consecutive observations must be at least some minimum value, M. For this type of restricted random sample, of size N, the value M can be arbitrarily specified in the range from zero, corresponding to simple random sampling with replacement, to a maximum of T/N, corresponding to systematic sampling. An efficient procedure is developed for generating a sample for specified values of N, M and T. It is then shown, by computer simulation, that values of M in the range from 60 to 90 percent of T/N retain most of the advantages of systematic sampling, while avoiding most of the disadvantages for some special processes., Also, the error variance associated with stratified sampling is comparable to restricted random sampling with a minimum spacing of about 70 percent, and both methods are almost as efficient as systematic sampling.
Concealed positive force-frequency relationships in rat and mouse cardiac muscle revealed by ryanodine.

Increases in stimulation frequency between 0.3 and 2 Hz decrease developed tension in rat, seemingly inconsistent with the explanation that an elevation of intracellular Na+-ion concentration is re...
Specific features of defect and mass transport in concentrated fcc alloys

Abstract Diffusion and mass transport are basic properties that control materials performance, such as phase stability, solute decomposition and radiation tolerance. While understanding diffusion in dilute alloys is a mature field, concentrated alloys are much less studied. Here, atomic-scale diffusion and mass transport via vacancies and interstitial atoms are compared in fcc Ni, Fe and equiatomic Ni Fe alloy. High temperature properties were determined using conventional molecular dynamics on the microsecond timescale, whereas the kinetic activation-relaxation (k-ART) approach was applied at low temperatures. The k-ART was also used to calculate transition states in the alloy and defect transport coefficients. The calculations reveal several specific features. For example, vacancy and interstitial defects migrate via different alloy components, diffusion is more sluggish in the alloy and, notably, mass transport in the concentrated alloy cannot be predicted on the basis of diffusion in its pure metal counterparts. The percolation threshold for the defect diffusion in the alloy is discussed and it is suggested that this phenomenon depends on the properties and diffusion mechanisms of specific defects.
Treatment of selected patients with an ununited fracture of the proximal part of the scaphoid by excision of the fragment and insertion of a carved silicone rubber spacer.

Management of cervical spine injuries in polytrauma patients involves a comprehensive assessment that consists of a physical examination and imaging studies to identify substantial injury. The management of diagnosed cervical spine injuries in polytrauma patients should be coordinated with the management of other injuries. Timely management is required in polytrauma patients with a spinal cord injury. A high oxygen saturation level must be maintained and a mean arterial blood pressure of 85 mm Hg is recommended. Reduction via traction or urgent surgical decompression, as indicated, should be considered. Reduction that is performed within a few hours postinjury may reverse neurologic deficits, and decompression that is performed within 24 hours postinjury increases the likelihood of substantial recovery. Neuroprotection with the use of methylprednisolone is not recommended in polytrauma patients with a cervical spine injury. Early surgical treatment is safe in polytrauma patients with a cervical spine injury who are adequately resuscitated. The surgical approach is directed by the fracture type and the requirements for decompression. Anterior surgical approaches are preferred in polytrauma patients with a cervical spine injury, and definitive surgical treatment may be delayed.
Factors Influencing Social, Cultural, and Academic Transitions of Chinese International ESL Students in U.S. Higher Education

The U.S. is the leading nation for international students to pursue higher education; the majority of whom are from countries with significant differences in culture and language from American students. As such, many international students start higher education in ESL support programs. While on the surface international students supposedly add cultural and linguistic diversity to American higher education by contributing to the internationalization of campuses, international students’ transition into U.S. life and academe is often fraught with challenges including culture shock, adjusting to the new environment and society, adjustment to norms of academic performance, acquisition of academic and language skills, and negotiating chilly campus climates. Such factors can affect academic success, social/cultural acclimation, and even personal/ethnic identity. However, little is researched about international ESL students’ transitions into U.S. higher education. This study employs qualitative research with semistructured interview and grounded theory as analytical technique and aims to rectify the existing research literature limitation by identifying factors that facilitate and inhibit social, cultural, and academic transitions among international ESL students that best serve and accelerate their academic career in the United States.
Direct Myocardial Revascularization: Venous Autograft Technique

Postoperative assessment of results of the saphenous vein graft technique in 1756 patients.
Characteristics of the mate‐recognition pheromone in brachionus plicatilis (rotifera)

The chemical recognition systems used by aquatic invertebrates to discriminate mates are poorly understood. We describe the results of analysis of a surface glycoprotein that serves as a mate‐recognition pheromone (MRP) for the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Binding of a polyclonal antibody to the MRP signal on females is described. The binding of anti‐MRP to purified MRP in nitrocellulose membranes is non‐linear. Anti‐MRP also can be used to detect MRP in crude homogenates of rotifer proteins where MRP comprises 0.06 to 0.14% of total protein. As little as 1–2 ng of MRP can be detected in crude homogenates. We estimated that a single B. plicatilis female has about 0.11 ng of MRP concentrated primarily in her corona. Males can discriminate conspecific females from those of other species, females from different geographic populations, and males from females in their own populations. Monosaccharide analysis of the MRP demonstrated the presence of mannose, glucose, N‐acetylglucosamine, fucose, and N‐a...
Indigenous migration dynamics in the Ecuadorian Amazon: a longitudinal and hierarchical analysis.

Amazonian indigenous populations are approaching a critical stage in their history in which increasing education and market integration, rapid population growth and degradation of natural resources...
Ex-situ probing of PEFC liquid droplet dynamics in the presence of vibration

Abstract PEFC performance degradation when exposed to vibration has been attributed to liquid water redistribution; however, fundamental liquid droplet behavior under such conditions is not well understood. As this technology continues to penetrate automotive, aerospace, and marine markets, where vibration and mechanical shock may be common, it is necessary to characterize droplet dynamics under such conditions. This work uses ex-situ experimental techniques to study the effects of sinusoidal vibration on water and gas-diffusion layer interactions for open cathode and flow channel based designs. Parameters such as contact angle, key droplet dimensions, adhesion force, and detachment velocity were measured for a range of frequencies and amplitudes. Vertical and horizontal oriented cells were investigated. The results show that vibration can significantly impact wetting; in some cases, increasing the barrier for liquid removal. Sessile droplet contact angle and dimensions such as height and wetting diameter, shifted toward more hydrophilic wetting under elevated frequency. Droplet detachment velocities were measured to be higher at 100 Hz then at 0 Hz for air speeds up to 10 m s−1. These results may be of interest to PEFC modelers and flow-field designers.
Alternative Approach for Combining Multiple Crash Modification Factors Using Adjustment Function and Analytic Hierarchy Process

The safety effects of multiple treatments have recently emerged as an important issue of validation for the Highway Safety Manual procedures to improve performance of the predictive process. To estimate the combined safety effects of multiple crash modification factors (CMFs) more reliably, several combining approaches have been suggested. However, several critical issues still exist for the combining methods, such as overestimation, region-specific method, and a nonscientific approach. Therefore, this study suggests a novel adjustment method to combine multiple CMFs and to enhance the reliability of combining the safety effects of multiple treatments. Various combinations of CMFs for single and multiple treatments were estimated or obtained from previous studies and used for an exploratory analysis. Moreover, an alternative combining approach with the development of an adjustment function was suggested through comparison with the existing combining methods by using a multicriterion decision-making proces...
Statistical Optimization of FinFET Processor Architectures under PVT Variations Using Dual Device-Type Assignment

With semiconductor technology scaling to the 22nm node and beyond, fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) has started replacing complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), thanks to its superior control of short-channel effects and much lower leakage current. However, process, supply voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations across the integrated circuit (IC) become worse with technology scaling. Thus, to analyze timing, leakage power, and dynamic power under PVT variations, statistical analysis/optimization techniques are more suitable than traditional static timing/power analysis and optimization counterparts. In this article, we propose a statistical optimization framework using dual device-type assignment at the architecture level under PVT variations that takes spatial correlations into account and leverages circuit-level statistical analysis techniques. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to study statistical optimization at the system level under PVT variations. Simulation results show that leakage power yield and dynamic power yield at the mean value of the baseline can be improved by up to 44.2% and 21.2%, respectively, with no loss in timing yield for a single-core processor and up to 43.0% and 50.0%, respectively, without any loss in timing yield for an 8-core chip multiprocessor (CMP), at little area overhead. Under the same (99.0%) power yield constraints, leakage power and dynamic power are reduced by up to 91.2% and 4.3%, respectively, for a single-core processor, and up to 44.6% and 12.5%, respectively, for an 8-core CMP, with no loss in timing yield. We also show that optimizations performed without taking module-to-module and core-to-core spatial correlations into account overestimate yield, establishing the importance of taking such correlations into account.
Unger's Argument from Absolute Terms

(2017). Unger's Argument from Absolute Terms. Philosophical Papers: Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 443-461.
Large-Scale Simulation of Acoustic Waves in Random Multiscale Media

The effective coefficients in the problem of the acoustic wave propagation have been calculated for a multiscale 3D medium by using a subgrid modeling approach. The density and the elastic stiffness have been represented by the Kolmogorov multiplicative cascades with a log-normal probability distribution. The wavelength is assumed to be large as compared with the scale of heterogeneities of the medium. We consider the regime in which the waves propagate over a distance of the typical wavelength in source. If a medium is assumed to satisfy the improved Kolmogorov similarity hypothesis, the term for the effective coefficient of the elastic stiffness coincides with the Landau-Lifshitz-Matheron formula. The theoretical results are compared with the results of a direct 3D numerical simulation.
Pluronic P85 increases permeability of a broad spectrum of drugs in polarized BBMEC and Caco-2 cell monolayers

Purpose. Previous studies demonstrated that inhibition of P glycoprotein (P-gp) by Pluronic P85 (P85) block copolymer increases apical (AP) to basolateral (BL) transport of rhodamine 123 (R123) in the polarized monolayers of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BBMEC) and Caco-2 cells. The present work examines the effects of P85 on the transport of fluorescein (Flu), doxorubicin (Dox), etoposide (Et), taxol (Tax), 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT), valproic acid (VPA) and loperamide (Lo) using BBMEC and Caco-2 monolayers as in vitro models of the blood brain barrier and intestinal epithelium respectively.
GT-TS: Experimental design for maximizing cell type discovery in single-cell data

We present the Good-Toulmin like estimator via Thompson sampling, a computational method for iterative experimental design in multi-tissue single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data. Given a budget and modeling cell type information across tissues, GT-TS estimates how many cells are required for sampling from each tissue with the goal of maximizing cell type discovery across samples from multiple iterations. In both real and simulated data, we demonstrate the advantages of GT-TS in data collection planning when compared to a random strategy in the absence of experimental design.
Multicenter randomized phase 2 trial of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) versus bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) for first-line treatment of patients (pts) with intermediate- or poor-risk germ cell tumors (GCT).

4508Background: A prior single arm phase 2 trial of TIP in intermediate- and poor-risk GCT found superior rates of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) compared to h...
Compound and Dose-Dependent Effects of Two Neonicotinoid Pesticides on Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Metabolic Physiology

Use of neonicotinoid pesticides is now ubiquitous, and consequently non-targeted arthropods are exposed to their residues at sub-lethal doses. Exposure to these neurotoxins may be a major contributor to poor honey bee colony health. Few studies have explored how sub lethal exposure to neonicotinoids affects honey bee metabolic physiology, including nutritional and energetic homeostasis, both of which are important for maintaining colony health. Reported here are results from a study of chronic oral exposure of honey bees to two sub lethal concentrations of clothianidin and imidacloprid. Neonicotinoids altered important aspects of honey bee nutritional and metabolic physiology in a compound and dose-dependent manner; both compounds at low doses reduced honey bee body weight. Low-dose clothianidin exposure resulted in bees having protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and glycogen levels similar to newly emerged bees. High-dose clothianidin exposure lowered lipids and glycogen content of bees. High-dose imidacloprid exposure resulted in bees having depressed metabolic rate. Low-dose imidacloprid exposure resulted in bees consuming low and high levels of protein and carbohydrate rich foods, respectively. Results suggest neonicotinoids interfere with honey bee endocrine neurophysiological pathways. Compound and dose-dependent effects might represent respective chemical structural differences determining an observed effect, and thresholds of compound effects on honey bee physiology.
Joint embeddings with multimodal cues for video-text retrieval

For multimedia applications, constructing a joint representation that could carry information for multiple modalities could be very conducive for downstream use cases. In this paper, we study how to effectively utilize available multimodal cues from videos in learning joint representations for the cross-modal video-text retrieval task. Existing hand-labeled video-text datasets are often very limited by their size considering the enormous amount of diversity the visual world contains. This makes it extremely difficult to develop a robust video-text retrieval system based on deep neural network models. In this regard, we propose a framework that simultaneously utilizes multimodal visual cues by a “mixture of experts” approach for retrieval. We conduct extensive experiments to verify that our system is able to boost the performance of the retrieval task compared to the state of the art. In addition, we propose a modified pairwise ranking loss function in training the embedding and study the effect of various loss functions. Experiments on two benchmark datasets show that our approach yields significant gain compared to the state of the art.
A Case of Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis in the setting of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Sclerosing cholangitis represents a spectrum of cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and stricture of the bile ducts. A 67-year-old Caucasian female with a history of breast cancer in remission, presented with jaundice and an exophytic mass at the base of the tongue. Laboratory data revealed cholestasis with alkaline phosphatase 953 U/L, total bilirubin 7.7 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 6.4 mg/dL, and gamma-glutamyltransferase 3369 U/L. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed widespread lymphadenopathy in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis concerning for lymphoma, acute pancreatitis and biliary dilation with hyperenhancement of the common bile duct wall. Diffuse intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation and narrowing with multifocal stenosis of the proximal and distal aspects of the common bile duct was seen on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Findings were consistent with sclerosing cholangitis. Pathology of the oral lesion revealed activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy was initiated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, adriamycin, vincristine, etoposide, and prednisone (CHOEP-14) regimen, which resulted in significant clinical improvement along with a remarkable decrease in the liver function tests. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has only rarely been reported in the literature as a cause of secondary sclerosing cholangitis, i.e., only 0.2% to 2.0% of patients with NHL present with biliary tract obstruction. It is essential for gastroenterologists, oncologists, and radiologists to recognize sclerosing cholangitis occurring secondary to a systemic disease because early initiation of treatment can improve clinical outcome, as manifested by our case.
Expansion of Filtrations

By an expansion of the filtration F = (ℱt)t≥0, we mean that we expand the filtration F to get a new filtration ℍ=(Ht)t≥0 which satisfies the usual hypotheses and Ft ⊂ Ht each t ≥ 0. There are three questions we wish to address: (1) when does a specific, given semimartingale remain a semi-martingale in the enlarged filtration; (2) when do all semimartingales remain semimartingales in the enlarged filtration; (3) what is a new decomposition of the semimartingale for the new filtration.
Treatment Strategies for Neuroretinitis: Current Options and Emerging Therapies.

To explore and critically appraise the published data on the current and emerging treatment modalities for neuroretinitis. The optimum treatment strategy for neuroretinitis due to Bartonella henselae in immunocompetent individuals is not clear and a matter of debate. The role of systemic corticosteroids in infectious neuroretinitis and the optimum immunosuppressive regimen for use in recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis also remains ill defined. There is no class 1 evidence to support a specific treatment strategy for neuroretinitis. For uncomplicated B. henselae–associated neuroretinitis in immunocompetent patients, initiation of antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy remains controversial. In patients with severe vision loss and/or moderate to severe systemic symptoms, a 4- to 6-week regimen of doxycycline or azithromycin with rifampin may provide some benefit. The routine use of systemic corticosteroids in infectious neuroretinitis is not recommended. Targeted antimicrobial agents should be instituted in cases of neuroretinitis due to specific infectious etiologies (e.g., syphilis, Lyme disease, tuberculosis). Azathioprine may be beneficial in cases of recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis. There is a need for collaborative, multicenter prospective studies to provide definitive guidelines regarding the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids and to evaluate future therapies in infectious and recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis.
The Allocation of Excepted Political Positions: What and Whose Executive Priorities Do They Serve?

Scholars have only begun to examine the roles played by non-career SES and Schedule C personnel in managing the bureaucracy. This, despite the fact that these individuals help to establish, communi...
Error Types and Associations of Clinically Significant Events Within Food and Drug Administration Recalls of Linear Accelerators and Related Products.

Abstract Purpose Medical devices in radiation therapy undergo a complex process of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Little is known about which processes within the radiation therapy medical device industry are most prone to events involving wrong dose, volume, or targeting in radiation therapy treatment. Methods and Materials We carried out a retrospective analysis of the United States FDA Medical Device Recalls database for recalls of products classified as "Accelerator, Linear, Medical" from 2010 to 2016. Each recall event was classified using a modified Delphi method among 3 experts in safety according to product type, error category, and severity score. Error categories included inconvenience; suboptimal plan or treatment; incorrect dose, volume, or targeting; and nonradiation injury risk. Variables investigated were product type, recall year, FDA-determined cause, and quantity of units recalled. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors prognostic of incorrect dose, volume, or targeting. Results We identified a total of 250 recall events between 2010 and 2016, with 165 eligible for analysis. Linear accelerators (LINACs) (28%) and LINAC control software (19%) were the most frequently recalled products. The most common FDA-determined causes for recalls were software design (42%) and device design (26%). On univariate analysis (P Conclusions Review of these data shows that problems with LINAC control software were associated with incorrect dose delivery at a 4-fold higher rate than errors with LINACs. Manufacturers should focus on improvements in software design to minimize dose- and targeting-related errors to patients.
Learning V2V interactive driving patterns at signalized intersections

Abstract Semantic understanding of multi-vehicle interaction patterns at intersections play a pivotal role in proper decision-making of autonomous vehicles. This paper presents a flexible framework to automatically extract these interaction patterns from observed temporal sequences based on driving primitives. A Bayesian nonparametric approach is developed to segment vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) sequential observations into small analytically interpretable components (called driving primitives) without using prior knowledge. Then, an unsupervised clustering method is developed to gather these driving primitives into groups (called driving patterns) by integrating with dynamic time warping. In addition, the extracted driving primitives are used to quantitatively analyze the similarities between behaviors at different intersections using a relative entropy metric, i.e., KullbackLeibler (KL) divergence. Finally, 706 naturalistic V2V events from eight typical urban signalized intersections are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed primitive-based framework. Experimental results demonstrate that there exist 15 types of interactive driving patterns for V2V behaviors at intersections in our database. Moreover, the distribution of interactive driving patterns could characterize the types of intersections.
Chapter 2 – Linear Equations

The solution of linear systems of equations is of paramount importance in engineering and science. This chapter introduces the basics of solving linear equations using Gaussian elimination. The method is introduced systematically by covering every step in the row reduction of the augmented matrix so that the portion corresponding to the coefficient matrix is in upper triangular form. The system may have no solution or infinitely many solutions. The chapter details the use of back substitution to find the solution to the upper triangular system, if it exists. Gaussian elimination can be used to compute the inverse matrix, although the inverse is rarely computed in practice; rather, it is used for theoretical purposes. The chapter proves the important result that a homogeneous system has a unique solution if and only if its coefficient matrix is invertible. The chapter concludes with the presentation of two practical applications, the solution to a truss and an electrical circuit problem.
Is It the Era for Personalized Screening

Breast cancer screening is a recognized tool for early detection of the disease in asymptomatic women, improving treatment efficacy and reducing the mortality rate. There is raised awareness that a "one-size-fits-all" approach cannot be applied for breast cancer screening. Currently, despite specific guidelines for a minority of women who are at very high risk of breast cancer, all other women are still treated alike. This article reviews the current recommendations for breast cancer risk assessment and breast cancer screening in average-risk and higher-than-average-risk women. Also discussed are new developments and future perspectives for personalized breast cancer screening.
Abstract 225: The Adverse Mental Health Impact of Emergency Medical Services Related Public Health Messaging for Cardiac Arrest Patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, various emergency medical services (EMS) and health agencies in New York City (NYC), and other hard-hit cities, issued new guidelines terminating re...
The evolving role of genetics in ophthalmology.

Advances in molecular genetics over the past three decades have helped identify a substantial number of genetic variants causing inherited eye diseases that can be identified rapidly by appropriate...
High-throughput global transcriptional profiling to identify the STAT3 signaling pathway as a potential biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in metastatic/advanced urothelial carcinoma.

474Background: Advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a significant public health burden with median overall survival of 15 months. Although, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have provi...
Rising seas, changing salt lines, and drinking water salinization

As sea level rise drives saltwater farther inland, drinking water supplies of some coastal cities will be contaminated. This paper evaluates how climate change is shifting the location of ‘salt lines,’ the zone where coastal fresh water meets the ocean, and implications for drinking water management. It focuses on changes from climate, as opposed to water overuse or water quality mismanagement, and reviews recent literature along three dimensions. Firstly, the paper reviews regulations on salinity in drinking water. Secondly, the paper summarizes studies on surface water and groundwater salinization, as it relates to both slow-onset change and extreme events. Thirdly, it reviews management responses. To minimize risk to potable water supplies,the paper suggests layered adaptation: managing for periods of short-term water loss, while fundamentally changing drinking water systems at risk of long-term salinization; implementing local, technical solutions to avoid or remove salt, while transforming regional watershed freshwater flows.