cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-dose relationship for local tumor control following alternate week concomitant radiation and chemotherapy of advanced head and neck cancer

Abstract Purpose : To analyze the time-dose relationship for local control of disease in patients with advanced head and neck neoplasms enrolled in two sequential Phase I dose escalation studies in which concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were delivered on an alternate week schedule (i.e., 1 week of concomitant therapy alternated with 1 week of rest). Methods and Materials : From 1986–1988, 65 patients were enrolled in two Phase I clinical trials. In trial one, 5-fluorouracil and hydroxyurea were administered concomitantly with radiation on an alternate week schedule (39 pts). In trial two, cisplatin was added to 5-fluorouracil and hydroxyurea (26 pts). Fifty-seven patients were evaluable for local control, including 26 patients who had failed prior local therapy and were retreated (group A), and 31 patients who had received no prior local therapy (group B). The median dose of RT and the median duration of therapy were 59.7 Gy and 12 weeks for group A, and 70.2 Gy and 14 weeks for group B, respectively. The biological effective dose of radiation therapy (RT) was calculated using the equation based on the linear quadratic model as proposed by J. Fowler. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic factors for local control. Results : Six of 26 patients in group A and 30 of 31 patients in group B had local control of disease. The 2-year Kaplan-Meier local failure rates were 84% for group A and 4% for group B, respectively. Despite the doubling of treatment duration compared to conventional daily radiotherapy and the low biological equivalent dose calculated (median biological equivalent dose for patients with local control of disease were 50.3 Gy and 48.8 Gy in groups A and B, respectively), local control was achieved in 5/17 patients in group A and 30/31 patients in group B who received RT dose of 59.4 Gy or higher. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the only significant predictor for local control of disease was RT dose (p = 0.004). Treatment duration, chemotherapy dose intensities, age, and performance status were not significant variables. Decreasing the RT dose by 10 Gy would increase the rate of local failure by 24%. Conclusion : Our data suggest that prolongation of treatment duration to twice the normal duration of conventional once-a-day radiotherapy does not result in loss of local control when aggressive cell-cycle specific chemotherapy is given concomitantly with radiotherapy. The usual time-dose relationship based on RT alone does not appear to be applicable when concomitant chemotherapy is added. The clinical significance of biological equivalent dose calculation based on radiotherapy alone is unclear when chemotherapy is given with radiation.
Creating the Context for Learning Engineering: A Seminar for Freshmen

Establishing the context in which the technical content of an engineering curriculum will be applied to problem solving in the workplace as well as the context in which engineering education will take place are important motivational aspects of freshman engineering education. We have developed a seminar for first semester in college, calculus ready freshman that addresses these contextual issues. Through assigned readings, examination of web sites, presentations by advanced students and faculty, group discussions and writing assignments students were encouraged to reflect on why they chose engineering, how they will achieve their educational goals, what it means to be an engineering professional, and what the engineering profession might be like when they graduate. Emphasis was placed on the engineering disciplines, professional ethics, advising, curriculum, student life, time management, sustainable engineering, and the global nature of collaboration and competition. The seminar was assessed by gathering student comments concerning each of its three major components. Generally, student reaction was positive.
Defect Scattering of Phonons in Phoiopcited GaAs

The time resolved heat pulse generated by above band gap light is studied at 2 K in undoped, semi—insulating GaAs. The phonon lineshape changes with irradiation by 1.1 micron below gap light. The changes in phonon lineshape are reversed by raising the sanple teaperature to 130 K and recooling to 2K. The results provide strong evidence for the change in acoustic phonon scattering when the defect EL2 is transferred to its metastable state. The phonon scattering anisotropies observed for the [100] and [111] directions is indicative of an anisotropic phonon-defect interaction.
Vergleichende Kern- und Nucleolenmessungen an verschiedenen Organgeweben mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der malignen Tumorzellen

An den Zellen verschiedener Organgewebe wurden mikrometrische Messungen vorgenommen mit der Absicht, den im Mikroskop so haufig bemerkten Grosenunterschied von Kern und Kernkorperchen zwischen malignen und nicht malignen Zellen zu demonstrieren; es ist moglich, durch sorgfaltige Untersuchung die cytologische Diagnose einer malignen Neubildung im Gewebsschnitte zu machen, wobei als Hauptfaktor die Grosenzunahme der Nucleolen in Betracht zu ziehen ist. Die Schwankungen in der Kern- und Nucleolengrose sind in den malignen Erkrankungen viel groser gefunden worden als in den nicht malignen; die Durchschnittswerte sind fur beide in ersteren merklich erhoht. Auch bei wenig vergroserten Kernen wurde das Kernkorperchen in malignen Veranderungen oft bedeutend vergrosert vorgefunden. Das Flachenverhaltnis von Nucleole zu Kern variierte in den nicht malignen Zellen im Ausmas von 1∶13 bis 1∶45 und daruber, in den malignen Zellen im Ausmas von 1∶5 bis 1∶17. Ein Teil der Messungen wurde graphisch dargestellt und in der betreffenden Tabelle interpretiert. Die in dieser Arbeit, unabhangig vonQuensels undKarps Arbeiten hervorgehobene tatsache der Nucleolenvergroserung, die als wichtiges Merkmal maligner Zellen gilt, wurde in den erwahnten Arbeiten bestatigt gefunden; es ware zu erwahnen, das die Zellen der verschiedenen Gewebe weniger beschadigt erschienen als die Krebszellen, die in Sekreten und Punktaten beobachtet wurden und daher sich zu Zeichnungen und Messungen sehr gut eigneten.
Activation and Ratio of the Upper Trapezius and Serratus Anterior Muscles during Dynamic and Isometric Exercises on Various Support Surfaces

[Purpose] This study compared the activations of the upper trapezius (UT) and serratus anterior (SA) muscles and the SA/UT activation ratio during dynamic and isometric exercises on various support surfaces. [Subjects] We recruited 12 male subjects, all right-side dominant and with no congenital deformities in the upper extremities and no orthopedic or neurological disorders. [Methods] Push-ups and push-ups plus position maintenance exercises were performed on three different base surfaces: a wobble board, dual wobble boards, and a one-sided wobble board. Electromyography activities of the SA and UT muscles were recorded. [Results] The SA/UT ratio was significantly higher when dynamic exercises were performed using the one-sided wobble board than when they were performed on a normal wobble board or with dual wobble boards. The SA/UT ratio was significantly higher when isometric exercises were performed using a wobble board than when they were performed with a one-sided wobble board. [Conclusion] For clinical applications with a goal of selected SA muscle strengthening, greater benefit is achieved with isometric exercises performed on an unstable support surface and dynamic exercises performed on a stable support surface, as measured by the SA/UT ratio.
Kinetics of hemoglobin S gelation followed by continuously sensitive low-shear viscosity: Changes in viscosity and volume on aggregation☆

Abstract The kinetics of gelation of deoxyhemoglobin S were investigated as a function of temperature, concentration of hemoglobin, and solvent composition. Measurements were made by continuously monitoring the changes in viscosity with time, after polymerization had been induced by rapidly raising the temperature. A specially constructed low-shear viscometer was used. The solution density was also measured continuously to determine whether a volume change accompanied aggregation. The results confirm earlier work in showing that the time-dependence of the viscosity is composed of a variable latent period (several minutes to tens of hours) during which there is only a slight and very gradual increase in viscosity, followed by a stage in which the viscosity rises very sharply within a very short time. The length of the initial latent period is highly dependent upon the HbS ‡ concentration (33rd ± 6 power) and temperature. If the duration is interpreted as the inverse of a reaction rate, the activation energy is 96 ± 10 kcal/mol for solutions containing inosital hexaphosphate. Unlike measurements reported by others, no dependence of the latent period on shear rate was observed at the low shear rate employed. When IHP is omitted from the hemoglobin solutions, qualitatively similar results are obtained; however, the latent period depends on the 26th ± 6 power of the deoxyhemoglobin S concentration and yields an average activation energy of 125 ± 10 kcal/mol. The length of the latent period is increased 40-fold. Tris is known to prevent gelation but the inhibition can be partly reversed by adding IHP. When this is done, highly concentration-dependent latent periods are again observed. The results may be interpreted in terms of nucleation kinetic theories: a critical nucleus composed of approximately 30 hemoglobin molecules is required for gelation; and the energy barrier (which is larger in the absence of IHP) to the formation of this critical aggregate is approximately 100 kcal/mol. Gelation is not accompanied by a detectable volume change (limits 5 × 10−5 g/ml). This indicates that the volume change of the reaction must be less than + 60 cm3/mol when the aggregates represent one half of the HbS available for polymerization.
ZZ2-8/100 Type Used in Coal Full Hydraulic Drill Loader Research

According to the characteristics of coal mine rock heading.The mine crawler hydraulic drill loader capacity of the main structure and principles were described,through further analysis of the structure and design improvements,proving the reliability of the drill loader structural design and improveing the productivity of the mine.
Early Discharge Planning and Improved Care Transitions: Pre-Admission Assessment for Readmission Risk in an Elective Orthopedic and Cardiovascular Surgical Population

Background/Methods: Readmission prevention is a marker of patient care quality and requires comprehensive, early discharge planning for safe hospital transitions. Effectively performed, this process supports patient satisfaction, efficient resource utilization, and care integration. This study developed/tested the utility of a predictive early discharge risk assessment with 366 elective orthopedic/cardiovascular surgery patients. Quality improvement cycles were undertaken for the design and to inform analytic plan. An 8-item questionnaire, which includes patient self-reported health, was integrated into care managers’ telephonic pre-admission assessments during a 12-month period. Results: Regression models found the questionnaire to be predictive of readmission (p ≤ .005; R 2 = .334) and length-of-stay (p ≤ .001; RR 2 = .314). Independent variables of “lives-alone” and “self-rated health” were statistically significant for increased readmission odds, as was “self-rated health” for increased length-of-stay. Quality measures, patient experience and increased rates of discharges-to-home further supported the benefit of embedding these questions into the pro-active planning process. Conclusion: The pilot discharge risk assessment was predictive of readmission risk and length-of-stay for elective orthopedic/cardiovascular patients. Given the usability of the questionnaire in advance of elective admissions, it can facilitate pro-active discharge planning essential for producing quality outcomes and addressing new reimbursement methodologies for continuum-based episodes of care.
Diagnosis and Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias in the Postoperative Period

Various rhythm disturbances occur in the postoperative patient. Proper management requires an awareness of clinical circumstances in which they are most likely to happen. Often, the appearance of new arrhythmias in the postoperative period is a manifestation of underlying remediable medical problems. Direct antiarrhythmic therapy is unnecessary in many patients when these precipitating conditions are properly treated.
Urinary tract diversion and undiversion in the pediatric age group.

Commonly used techniques for urinary diversion and undiversion are discussed. No one procedure should be considered optimal, and the patient’s individual anatomy and physiology must be considered. As the experience with reconstructive techniques increases, the need for diversion may give way to earlier correction of the original pathology.
Isotopic and quantum-rovibrational-state effects for the ion-molecule reaction in the collision energy range of 0.03-10.00 eV.

We report detailed quantum-rovibrational-state-selected integral cross sections for the formation of H3O+via H-transfer (σHT) and H2DO+via D-transfer (σDT) from the reaction in the center-of-mass collision energy (Ecm) range of 0.03–10.00 eV, where (v+1v+2v+3) = (000), (100), and (020) and . The Ecm inhibition and rotational enhancement observed for these reactions at Ecm < 0.5 eV are generally consistent with those reported previously for H2O+ + H2(D2) reactions. However, in contrast to the vibrational inhibition observed for the latter reactions at low Ecm < 0.5 eV, both the σHT and σDT for the H2O+ + HD reaction are found to be enhanced by (100) vibrational excitation, which is not predicted by the current state-of-the-art theoretical dynamics calculations. Furthermore, the (100) vibrational enhancement for the H2O+ + HD reaction is observed in the full Ecm range of 0.03–10.00 eV. The fact that vibrational enhancement is only observed for the reaction of H2O+ + HD, and not for H2O+ + H2(D2) reactions suggests that the asymmetry of HD may play a role in the reaction dynamics. In addition to the strong isotopic effect favoring the σHT channel of the H2O+ + HD reaction at low Ecm < 0.5 eV, competition between the σHT and σDT of the H2O+ + HD reaction is also observed at Ecm = 0.3–10.0 eV. The present state-selected study of the H2O+ + HD reaction, along with the previous studies of the H2O+ + H2(D2) reactions, clearly shows that the chemical reactivity of H2O+ toward H2 (HD, D2) depends not only on Ecm, but also on the rotational and vibrational states of H2O+(X2B1). The detailed σHT and σDT values obtained here with single rovibrational-state selections of the reactant H2O+ are expected to be valuable benchmarks for state-of-the-art theoretical calculations on the chemical dynamics of the title reaction.
Linear Constant Coefficient Differential Equations

Let y1 and y2 denote the displacements of the bodies of mass m1 and m2 from their equilibrium positions, y1 = 0 and y2 = 0, respectively, where distances are measured in the downward direction. In these coordinates, y1(t) and y2(t) − y1(t) represent the length the upper and lower springs are stretched at time t. There are two spring forces acting on the upper body. By Hooke’s law, the force of the upper spring is − k1y1(t) while the force of the lower spring is given by k2(y2(t) − y1(t)), where k1 and k2 are the respective spring constants. Newton’s law of motion then implies $$ {m}_{1}{y}_{1}\prime\prime(t) = -{k}_{1}{y}_{1}(t) + {k}_{2}({y}_{2}(t) - {y}_{1}(t)). $$
A Reliability Generalization on the Children’s Hope Scale

The Children’s Hope Scale is one of the most commonly used self-report measures of a child’s future oriented goal motivation. This study presents a reliability generalization on both the internal consistency and test-retest reliability estimates for the Children’s Hope Scale. While 225 published works were analyzed 4.2% authors did not report reliability estimates for their study and 10.7% induced from a previous study. The average internal consistency score (N = 164) was .81 (95% CI = .79 -- .82) and the test-retest (N = 15) at .71 (95% CI = .64 -- .78) respectively. An analysis of variance showed that non-English language samples produced moderately lower (albeit still acceptable) Cronbach’s Alpha estimates. The results of the reliability generalization suggest the score reliabilities produced by the Children’s Hope Scale are acceptable across samples. The findings of this study paired with the growing number of validation studies suggest researchers can use of the Children’s Hope Scale with increased confidence.
Humanistic Management: Protecting Dignity and Promoting Well-Being

In a world facing multiple crises, our foundational institutions are failing to offer effective solutions. Drawing on the emerging consilience of knowledge, Michael Pirson debunks the fundamental yet outdated assumptions of human nature that guide twentieth-century management theory and practice - as captured in the 'economistic' paradigm - and instead provides an urgently needed conceptual and practical 'humanistic' framework, based on the protection of human dignity and the promotion of well-being. By outlining the science-based pillars of this innovative system, Pirson provides a twenty first-century model for the responsible twenty first-century leader seeking sustainable ways to organize in a world of crisis. Highlighting relevant applications for research, practice, teaching and policy, this book is ideal for graduate students and professionals seeking to develop their understanding of responsible business, business ethics and corporate responsibility.
Achieving ADA/ISPAD clinical guideline goals is associated with higher insulin sensitivity and cardiopulmonary fitness in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Results from RESistance to InSulin in Type 1 ANd Type 2 diabetes (RESISTANT) and Effects of MEtformin on CardiovasculaR Function in AdoLescents with Type 1 Diabetes (EMERALD) Studies

Objective Most youth with type 1 diabetes do not meet the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) targets for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), lipids, and body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that ISPAD/ADA goal achievement would be associated with better insulin sensitivity (IS) and cardiopulmonary fitness. Methods IS was quantified as glucose infusion rate (GIR) from a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in youth with type 1 diabetes from the RESistance to InSulin in Type 1 ANd Type 2 diabetes (RESISTANT) (n = 86) and Effects of MEtformin on CardiovasculaR Function in AdoLescents with Type 1 Diabetes (EMERALD) (n = 41) cohorts (n = 127; age 15.7 ± 2.2 years, 52% girls). Cardiopulmonary fitness was measured as peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak/kg) during upright (RESISTANT) or supine (EMERALD) cycle ergometry and were stratified by cycle type. Goal achievement was defined as HbA1c 35 mg/dL, triglycerides < 150 mg/dL and BMI < 85th percentile. Participants were stratified into 3 groups: achieving 0-3 goals (n = 52), 4 goals (n = 48), and 5-6 goals (n = 27). Differences between groups were examined with generalized linear models. Results IS was lower in youth who met 0-3 goals (5.2 ± 3.4 mg/kg/min) vs those who met 4 goals (7.4 ± 4.1 mg/kg/min, P = .04) and those who met 5-6 goals (8.5 ± 4.3 mg/kg/min, P = .003), and remained significant after adjustments for sex and diabetes duration. Upright VO2peak was lower in youth who met 0-3 goals (25.8 ± 4.6 mL/kg/min) vs those who met 4 goals (33.0 ± 7.8 mL/kg/min, P = .01) and those who met 5-6 goals (33.2 ± 4.4 mL/kg/min, P = .004). Similar and significant relationships were observed in EMERALD participants for supine VO2peak. Conclusions ADA/ISPAD goal achievement was associated with greater IS and cardiopulmonary fitness.
Long-term retention of skills in multi-day training contexts: A review of the literature

Abstract Multi-day training courses, designed to prepare groups of people to respond should a critical situation arise, include a range of knowledge and skill competencies. Due to infrequent requirements to perform these skills outside of training, and the importance of correct execution in critical situations, understanding the retention, and forgetting of such skills is an important consideration for industry. In an effort to determine the optimal training contexts and optimal retraining period for skills included in multi-day training course, a review of the literature in healthcare, military, and marine and offshore safety and survival contexts provides a body of knowledge regarding the retention, and decay of complex knowledge and skills taught in contexts relevant to multi-day course formats. The present review has identified task factors to consider including the influence of characteristics such as task difficulty, type of skill, and the specificity of training to the work domain. Factors related to the learner include the skill level attained during training, the amount a practice received and subsequent on-the-job exposure to specific skills. There are also indications that for some tasks, we can expect retention of skills for 6 months at best. The authors recommend experimental studies designed to gain understanding of specific training factors during original, refresher, and non-training time periods, which can benefit later retention of potentially life-saving skills taught in multi-day training courses.
Influence of Social Connectedness on Apparel Purchases through Social Commerce

The present study expands the scope of social media research by investigating whether social connectedness influences the motivations for using social commerce and consequent attitude toward and purchases of apparel products through social commerce (i.e., apparel shopping through social media platforms). A new conceptual framework was proposed by incorporating variables from self-psychology theory and the technology acceptance model. A convenience sample of 531 respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 completed an online survey. The results confirmed social connecteness positively influences consumers attitude toward and intention to adopt social commerce. The present study provides new insightâ€”TAM variables mediate the relationship between social connectedness and attitude toward social commerce.
Farnesylation of the Transducin G Protein Gamma Subunit Is a Prerequisite for Its Ciliary Targeting in Rod Photoreceptors

Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles, which protrude from the plasma membrane and receive a wide range of extracellular signals. Various cilia use G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for the detection of these signals. For instance, vertebrate rod photoreceptors use their cilia (also called outer segments) as antennae detecting photons by GPCR rhodopsin. Rhodopsin recognizes incoming light and activates its G protein, transducin, which is composed of three subunits α, β, and γ. Similar to all G protein γ subunits, the transducin Gγ1 subunit undergoes C-terminal prenylation resulting in the addition of an isoprenoid farnesyl; however, the significance of this posttranslational modification is unclear. To study the role of the farnesyl group, we genetically introduced a mutant Gγ1 that lacked the prenylation site into the retinal photoreceptors of mice. The biochemical and physiological analyses of these mice revealed that mutant Gγ1 dimerizes with the endogenous transducin Gβ1 subunit and that the resulting Gβγ dimers display reduced hydrophobicity. Although mutant Gβγ dimers could form a heterotrimeric G protein, they could not mediate phototransduction. This deficiency was due to a strong exclusion of non-farnesylated Gβγ complexes from the cilia (rod outer segments). Our results provide the first evidence that farnesylation is required for trafficking of G-protein βγ subunits to the cilium of rod photoreceptors.
Modeling and Prediction of Forest Growth Variables Based on Multilevel Nonlinear Mixed Models

In this article, we describe estimation and prediction methods for nonlinear modeling of forest growth variables that are subject to nested sources of variability. The multilevel nonlinear mixed- effects models that we consider are useful for a variety of forestry applications, but we concentrate on the problem of estimating, and making projections from, growth curves for tree height based on longitudinal data grouped by location. Wolfinger and Lin consider estimating equation approaches to fitting more general nonlinear mixed-effects models, and we adapt their zero-expansion estimating equations to the multilevel case. We develop methods of prediction based on these models that allow predictions of future height both for individual trees and for plot averages. We illustrate these methods by fitting and making predictions from a Chapman-Richards type growth model for tree height data from a loblolly pine spacing study in Putnam County, Georgia. The mean and variance of prediction errors based on our methods are examined by means of cross-validation. We provide a more complete and unified presentation of linearization-based estimation and prediction based on multilevel nonlinear mixed-effects models than has previously appeared in the forestry literature, and we argue that these models lead to substantial advantages in growth and yield prediction over traditional forestry methods. FOR. SCI. 47(3):311-321.
Small Cell Architecture—A Histological Equivalent of EGFR Amplification in Glioblastoma Multiforme?

Although there is much written about the molecular definitions of "primary" glioblastomas (GBM), there is little known about the histological features of this predominant subtype. We hypothesized that the "small cell architecture" would represent a histological feature of most primary GBMs. This was tested by comparing the presence of the small cell phenotype with the presence or absence of amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a common event in primary GBMs. After a pilot study that found a correlation between this small cell phenotype and EGFR amplification, we selected 9 pure small cell GBMs (SCGBM) and 12 non-SCGBMs to be studied for EGFR amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In this set of 21 cases, 8 of 9 SCGBMs and 5 of 12 non-SCGBMs were amplified for EGFR. We then correlated the EGFR status of 79 GBMs unselected for their histological features from a set that had been previously characterized in regard to EGFR amplification. Fourteen of 21 (67%) exclusively small cell neoplasms, 8 of 25 (32%) GBMs with both small cell and non-small cell areas, and 3 of 33 (9%) non-small cell GBMs were amplified for EGFR (p = 0.0004 with an exact test). We conclude that EGFR amplification is associated with a small cell phenotype in GBMs and that SCGBMs are an important component of "primary" GBMs.
Bringing Mindfulness into the Law School Classroom: A Personal Journey

This autobiographical essay discusses how the author used the techniques and benefits associated with mindfulness to improve his law school classroom teaching. Mindfulness is a state of non-judgmental present moment awareness that is often cultivated through meditation practice but also carried forward into everyday life. The essay discusses how this stance of mindfulness helped the author achieve a greater connection with his students in a variety of both doctrinal and non-traditional classes by fostering more openness, receptivity, and responsiveness to where students are at in the classroom moment, as well as the greater clarity, courage, and compassion that can be so helpful to the teacher who strives for an enhanced teaching experience.
Problem oriented case planning

• • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • •.• • • • • • • • ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • ••• i Acknowledgement••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••• :.i
Real-Time Predictive Analytics Using Degradation Image Data

Prognostics by using degradation image streams is challenging due to the high-dimensionality and complex spatial-temporal structure of images. In this paper, we proposed a penalized (log)-location-scale regression model that can utilize high dimensional tensors to predict the residual useful lifetime of systems. Our method first reduces the dimensionality of tensor covariates by projecting them onto a low tensor space. Next, the coefficient tensor is decomposed by utilizing CANDECOMP/PARAFAC (CP) decomposition. The decomposition facilitates further dimension reduction of coefficient tensors. By doing so, the number of parameters to be estimated is dramatically reduced. Furthermore, a numerical algorithm with global convergence property was developed for the model estimation.
The Fox and the Crow: Predatory Open Access Journals in Otolaryngology :

Otolaryngologists regularly receive invitations from open access otolaryngology–head and neck surgery journals to submit papers or to join the editorial board. Some of these journals are considered “predatory.” There has been no published attempt to see if bogus otolaryngological articles would be accepted by such journals. We sent a fake article describing a supposed otosclerotic lesion localized in the fallopian tube and surgically treated by phacoemulsification of the stapes to 41 such journals. Eight journals accepted the paper, 7 requested structural revision, 2 requested revision even though the reviewer recommended rejection, 4 rejected the paper only because they found it had already been published by another open access journal (without the authors’ knowledge), and 2 rejected the paper. Eighteen journals had not responded after 6 weeks. A contemporary retelling of the poem “The Fox and the Crow” concludes our article, which illustrates predatory practices among specific open access otolaryngology journals.
Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Gene Therapy in Light of Luxturna (and Zolgensma and Glybera): Where Are We, and How Did We Get Here?

The recent market approvals of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene therapies in Europe and the United States are landmark achievements in the history of modern science. These approvals a...
Microcystin in multiple life stages of Hexagenia limbata, with implications for toxin transfer

Abstract Microcystins are present in some aquatic organisms, but the potential transfer to and accumulation in terrestrial organisms is less understood. We measured microcystin concentrations in multiple terrestrial life stages of Hexagenia limbata to determine whether this cyanotoxin is transferred from one life stage to another and if H. limbata subimagos and imagos transport the algal toxin microcystin into terrestrial systems. Hexagenia limbata (n = 43) were hand collected from the shore of a low-nutrient lake with a history of Microcystis aeruginosa, located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. We quantified microcystin concentrations in H. limbata with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (n = 39), with a subset verified with high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (n = 8, including duplicates). Microcystin ranged from the method limit of detection (MLOD) to 0.64 µg/g dry weight with detectable concentrations in subimagos, imagos, and spent females, indicating a potential for transport of this toxin to terrestrial systems. These data indicate that emerging aquatic insects are a potential vector for the transfer of microcystins from aquatic to terrestrial food webs and may pose a threat in and around systems with both H. limbata and more extensive blooms of M. aeruginosa.
Consistent Routing and Scheduling with Simultaneous Pickups and Deliveries

We study the planning and scheduling of order shipments among laboratories of an instrument‐calibration company. To address a generic version of the company’s combined routing and scheduling problem, we introduce a model variant with simultaneous pickups and deliveries in which consistency of site visits is also desired. We provide alternative formulations of the problem and propose branch‐and‐check and branch‐and‐price implementations, with an analysis of the instance characteristics for which each of these algorithms outperforms the other. Using the data collected from the company, our results indicate that the proposed framework can help the company to significantly reduce transportation costs and shipment times. We also investigate the influence of consistency and tardiness bounds on transportation costs, showing that while tardiness bounds significantly increase transportation costs, the enforcement of consistency requirements results in more consistent solutions at only slightly higher cost. The impact of enforcing consistency requirements increases when tighter tardiness bounds are imposed.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing platform for detecting amyloid-β peptide interaction with an aggregation inhibitor

Soluble, small amyloid-β oligomers (AβO) are recognized as significant contributors to the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although drugs for treating AD symptoms have been approved, no therapy targeting amyloid-β (Aβ) capable of modifying the course of the disease is available. In an effort to develop a label-free method for screening new anti-AD therapeutic agents, we show the use of a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate for detecting the interactions between Aβ peptides and spin-labeled fluorine (SLF), a peptide aggregation inhibitor. Changes in the peak positions and intensity ratios of two spectral peaks near 1600cm−1 and 2900cm−1 can be used to monitor the molecular interactions between SLF and Aβ. This study demonstrates the potential of SERS spectroscopy for rapidly screening and identifying new anti-Aβ therapeutic agents.
Increased accuracy and speed in whole genome bisulfite read mapping using a two-letter alphabet

DNA methylation, characterized by the presence of methyl group at cytosines in a DNA sequence, is an important epigenomic mark with a wide range of functions across diverse organisms. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) has emerged as the gold standard to interrogate cytosine methylation. Accurately mapping WGBS reads to a reference genome allows reconstruction of tissue methylomes at single-base resolution. Algorithms used to map WGBS reads often encode the four-base DNA alphabet with three letters by reducing two bases to a common letter. We introduce another bisulfite mapping algorithm (abismal), based on the novel idea of encoding a four-letter DNA sequence as two letters, one for purines and one for pyrimidines. We show theoretically that this encoding benefits from higher uniformity and specificity when subsequences are selected from reads for filtration. In our implementation, this leads to a decreased mapping time relative to the three-letter encoding. We demonstrate, using data from multiple public studies, that the abismal software tool improves mapping accuracy at significantly lower mapping times compared to commonly used mappers, with most notable improvements observed in samples originating from the random priming post-bisulfite adapter tagging protocol.
dittoSeq: universal user-friendly single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing visualization toolkit

Summary A visualization suite for major forms of bulk and single-cell RNAseq data in R. dittoSeq is color blindness-friendly by default, robustly documented to power ease-of-use, and allows highly customizable generation of both daily-use and publication-quality figures. Availability and implementation dittoSeq is an R package available through Bioconductor via an open source MIT license. Supplementary information Supplementary Code and figures are available at Bioinformatics online. Full vignettes are available through Bioconductor, https://bioconductor.org/packages/dittoSeq/, and github, github.com/dtm2451/dittoSeq/.
Outcomes of Post-Neoadjuvant Intense Hormone Therapy and Surgery for High Risk Localized Prostate Cancer: Results of a Pooled Analysis of Contemporary Clinical Trials.

Purpose:We report on the post-radical prostatectomy outcomes of patients enrolled in 3 randomized, multicenter, clinical trials of intense neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy prior radical pro...
Metronomic therapy with Cyclophosphamide or Doxorubicin inhibits mouse mammary adenocarcinoma growth and metastasis development

5852 Metronomic therapy consists of a chronic, equally spaced, administration of low doses of different chemotherapeutic drugs without rest periods. We have previously demonstrated a complete eradication of rat lymphomas, as well as of a high percentage of rat sarcomas, by low dose Cy metronomic therapy devoid of toxicity. To confirm the efficacy of this treatment, herein we tested metronomic therapy in a mouse mammary adenocarcinoma tumor model (M-234p) using Cyclophosphamide (Cy) or Doxorubicin (Dox). BALB/c mice were s.c. challenged on day 0 with M-234p fragments and treated either orally with Cy (0.2 mg/ml in drinking water) from day 10 on, or i.p. with Dox (1 mg/kg body weight) from day 8 on, two times/week. The respective control groups were treated with the vehicle using the same administration route and the same schedule. Tumors were measured and animals were weighted twice a week. A significant inhibition of tumor growth was evident in treated mice (mean tumor volume ± S.E.: on day 27, Cy-treated: 1178 ± 375 mm3 vs. Control: 4082 ± 1652 mm3, p
Imparting the skills employers seek: community-engaged learning as career preparation

This paper explores the potential for postsecondary community-based educational experiences to impart the skills employers most desire from new college graduates. We gathered one U.S. university’s community-engaged learning (CEL) stakeholders to collect detailed descriptions of the behaviors students practice during CEL. Students, faculty, and community partner participants had at least one semester of service-learning or nonprofit internship experience coordinated by the university’s Center for Community Work and Learning. Qualitative responses generated from 46 participants were coded and then compared to the top skills business executives and hiring managers reported in 2018 as priorities for new college graduates. Data analysis yielded clearer understanding of the intersection between career readiness and CEL, as well as a potential tool to aid students in better articulating the skills they gain from CEL to future employers.
Volumetric Estimation of Non-structured Heterogeneous Waste

The aim of this paper is to introduce a novel method for volumetric estimation of non-structured heterogeneous waste stored in the trash container of smart waste management application. First, AI-aided method of trash volume estimation based on millimeter wave radar data is presented. Subsequently, the conditions and configuration of experimental setup are described, with research methodology. Further on, insight into experiment outcome in terms of radar sensors and AI-based detector performance benchmarked against legacy sensors is discussed. The final part of the paper summarizes the conclusions of experiment and recommendations for expanding the research.
Gun Homicide Research: What We Know and Where We Need to Go:

Guns are used in the majority of homicides in the United States, making the problem of homicide largely a problem of gun violence. This article presents three types of gun homicide (mass shootings,...
Competitive Algorithms for the Online Minimum Peak Appointment Scheduling

This paper describes a fundamental online scheduling problem called the minimum peak appointment scheduling (MPAS) problem. In this problem, there is a sequence of arriving appointments, each with specified required duration. The goal is to schedule the appointments in an online manner and to minimize the resulting peak utilization throughout the scheduling interval. While described as appointment scheduling, the MPAS has far broader applicability that captures other settings. The paper provides a formal modeling framework to analyze the aforementioned MPAS problem. It is shown that the offline version of the MPAS problem is identical to the offline version of the well-known bin packing problem. However, in the online variant, there is additional flexibility regarding how appointments are packed into chairs (bins). The paper describes the first competitive online algorithm to the MPAS problem called the harmonic rematching (HR) algorithm. The analysis shows that the HR algorithm has an asymptotic competitive ratio of 1.5. Considering that the current best lower bound on randomized online algorithms is 1.536, this highlights the fact that the HR algorithm performs better than any bin packing online algorithm in this setting.
Optimality in the Estimation of a MA System from a Long AR Model

The determination of moving average (MA) models from a prior autoregressive (AR) approximation of a specified (target) spectral matrix is addressed. First, an existing technique based on a direct modeling of the target expression is revisited. In this regard, the influence of the order of the prior AR approximation, and the number of its harmonics used in the determination of the MA model, is described. Further, a simple selection technique of these parameters is presented that leads to an optimum MA approximation. Next, the relationship between a method based on the Cholesky factorization of the covariance matrix and the present technique is investigated to derive additional insight into its convergence properties. Finally, an alternative modeling technique based on an AR representation of the inverse of the target spectral matrix is presented.
Inferring regulatory networks from multiple sources of genomic data

This thesis addresses the problems of modeling the gene regulatory system from multiple sources of large-scale datasets. In the first part, we develop a computational framework of building and validating simple, mechanistic models of gene regulation from multiple sources of data. These models, which we call physical network models, annotate the network of molecular interactions with several types of attributes (variables). We associate model attributes with physical interaction and knock-out gene expression data according to the confidence measures of data and the hypothesis that gene regulation is achieved via molecular interaction cascades. By applying standard model inference algorithms, we are able to obtain the configurations of model attributes which optimally fit the data. Because existing datasets do not provide sufficient constraints to the models, there are many optimal configurations which fit the data equally well. In the second part, we develop an information theoretic score to measure the expected capacity of new knock-out experiments in terms of reducing the model uncertainty. We collaborate with biologists to perform suggested knockout experiments and analyze the data. The results indicate that we can reduce model uncertainty by incorporating new data. The first two parts focus on the regulatory effects along single pathways. In the third part, we consider the combinatorial effects of multiple transcription factors on transcription control. We simplify the problem by characterizing a combinatorial function of multiple regulators in terms of the properties of single regulators: the function of a regulator and its direction of effectiveness. With this characterization, we develop an incremental algorithm to identify the regulatory models from protein-DNA binding and gene expression data. These models to a large extent agree with the knowledge of gene regulation pertaining to the corresponding regulators. The three works in this thesis provide a framework of modeling gene regulatory networks. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Chapter Twelve - Auxin Biology and Biosynthesis

This chapter discusses the recent advances in understanding auxin biosynthesis from both a biological and analytical perspective. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is the most abundant of the naturally occurring auxins, and the terms auxin and IAA are used interchangeably throughout. To more clearly differentiate among the multiple predicted IAA synthesis pathways, future analysis needs to involve the quantification of levels and synthesis rates of more metabolites than just IAA. Furthermore, the clear evidence for cross-talk between auxin homeostasis pathways and other hormonal or metabolic networks necessitates broader metabolite profiling to get at these interactions. In addition to the need for more internal standards, cellular resolution down to the subcellular level is the next big technological challenge associated with the characterization of auxin homeostasis.
Clinical Outcomes Associated with Polymyxin B Dose in Patients with Bloodstream Infections Due to Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Rods

There is significant variation in the use of polymyxin B (PMB), and optimal dosing has not been defined. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between PMB dose and clinical outcomes. We included patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative rods who received ≥48 h of intravenous PMB. The objective was to evaluate the association between PMB dose and 30-day mortality, clinical cure at day 7, and development of acute kidney injury (AKI). A total of 151 BSIs were included. The overall 30-day mortality was 37.8% (54 of 151), and the median PMB dosage was 1.3 mg/kg (of total body weight)/day. Receipt of PMB dosages of <1.3 mg/kg/day was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (46.5% versus 26.3%; P = 0.02), and this association persisted in multivariable analysis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 1.81; P = 0.04). Eighty-two percent of patients who received PMB dosages of <1.3 mg/kg/day had baseline renal impairment. Clinical cure at day 7 was not significantly different between dosing groups. AKI was more common in patients receiving PMB dosages of ≥250 mg/day (66.7% versus 32.0%; P = 0.03), and this association persisted in multivariable analysis (OR = 4.32; 95% CI = 1.15 to 16.25; P = 0.03). PMB dosages of <1.3 mg/kg/day were administered primarily to patients with renal impairment, and this dosing was independently associated with 30-day mortality. However, dosages of ≥250 mg/day were independently associated with AKI. These data support the use of PMB without dose reduction in the setting of renal impairment.
A Review of “Moving Your Library: Getting the Collection From Here to There”

Moving a library is not something to be approached lightly. It involves months of planning, and very few people actually have experience in moving an entire collection. That is where Steven Carl Fo...
On the assignment of loops to graphs

It is shown that it is always possible to assign m+1 loops (oriented circuits) to a graph, planar or nonplanar of nullity m so that the number of loops traversing in one direction through any edge equals the number of loops traversing in the opposite direction of the edge. Furthermore, any m of those m+1 loops are linearly independent. A procedure is given for the enumeration of these loops. >