cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial Development and Validation of a Patient-Reported Symptom Survey for Small-Fiber Polyneuropathy.

Abstract Small-fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN) affects unmyelinated and thinly myelinated peripheral axons. Several questionnaires have been developed to assess polyneuropathy from diabetes or chemotherapy, but none for SFPN from other or unknown causes. A comprehensive survey could help clinicians diagnose and assess treatment responses, define prevalence natural history and cures, and identify research subjects. Thus, we developed the 1-page Small-Fiber Symptom Survey, using input from patients and 21 medical/scientific experts. Participants comprised consenting consecutive patients evaluated for SFPN at the Massachusetts General Hospital plus normal control subjects. Participants SFPN status was stratified on the basis of the results of their objective diagnostic tests (distal leg skin biopsy and autonomic function testing). We measured internal consistency, test retest reliability, convergent validity, and performed a receiver operating curve analysis. The 179 participants averaged 46.6 ± 15.6 years old; they were 73.2% female and 92.2% Caucasian. Eighty-five had confirmed SFPN, mostly idiopathic. Principal component analysis revealed 5 symptom clusters. The questionnaire had good internal consistency (Cronbach α = .893), excellent test retest reliability (r = .927, P P = .009). The Small-Fiber Symptom Survey has satisfactory psychometric properties, indicating potential future utility for surveying patient-reported symptoms of SFPN regardless of its cause. Perspective This article reports the initial development and early psychometric validation of a new patient-reported outcome measure intended to capture the wide range of multisystem symptoms of SFPN. When further developed, it could potentially help clinicians diagnose and monitor patients, and help advance research.
Use of circulating tumor DNA levels to gauge necessity of surgery for patients undergoing trimodality therapy for esophageal cancer.

TPS214Background: Up to 40% of patients receiving neoadjuvant esophageal chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are found to have no evidence of malignancy post-operatively. Given this, a sensitive and specific biomarker is needed, as reliable identification of complete responders may spare patients the morbidity and mortality of esophagectomies. Recent work with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) collected from the plasma of cancer patients indicates tumors routinely shed large amounts of DNA into the blood. This ctDNA can be systematically analyzed, quantification of which has been correlated with local and systemic disease burden. To further increase the specificity of analysis, the somatic mutations that arose in the tumor can be detected in ctDNA via targeted and whole genome sequencing. However, information on the feasibility of using ctDNA quantification as a biomarker for neoadjuvant response assessment is lacking. We hypothesize that quantification of ctDNA throughout trimodality therapy can be of practical use in t...
An update on myofibromas and myofibromatosis affecting the oral regions with report of 24 new cases

Objectives Myofibromas are uncommon soft tissue tumors exhibiting considerable histopathologic overlap with other benign and malignant entities. The treatment of lesions arising in the oral cavity is controversial. Here, we present 24 new cases and review the literature. Study Design A search for oral myofibromas was performed within the archives of the University of Florida Oral Pathology and Surgical Pathology Services (1994-2015). Demographic information and immunohistochemical results were recorded. MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched for reports of myofibroma of the oral cavity and oropharynx published in the English-language literature between January 1990 and July 2016, and the results were analyzed. Results In total, 245 cases were identified: 24 from our present series and 221 from the literature. The distribution by gender was 54.6% male and 45.4% female, and the mean age was 23.1 years. Only 7 patients had known multiple lesions. Treatment modalities varied greatly. Of those with follow-up information, only 9 were cases with recurrences. Conclusions Myofibromas may resemble several other entities. Because of the potential for multiple (perhaps visceral) lesions and the possibility of overtreatment, accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance. Reports of cases with minimally invasive treatment are sparse, and no standardized treatment protocol has been established. This information should be a priority for future publications.
Genomic Analyses Reveal the Influence of Geographic Origin, Migration, and Hybridization on Modern Dog Breed Development

There are nearly 400 modern domestic dog breeds with a unique histories and genetic profiles. To track the genetic signatures of breed development, we have assembled the most diverse dataset of dog breeds, reflecting their extensive phenotypic variation and heritage. Combining genetic distance, migration, and genome-wide haplotype sharing analyses, we uncover geographic patterns of development and independent origins of common traits. Our analyses reveal the hybrid history of breeds and elucidate the effects of immigration, revealing for the first time a suggestion of New World dog within some modern breeds. Finally, we used cladistics and haplotype sharing to show that some common traits have arisen more than once in the history of the dog. These analyses characterize the complexities of breed development, resolving longstanding questions regarding individual breed origination, the effect of migration on geographically distinct breeds, and, by inference, transfer of trait and disease alleles among dog breeds.
CTB: Next Steps

The arms control world has focused on finally achieving the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban (CTB) Treaty, a task that was accomplished in September with great agony. Completion of the treaty was welcome news. But it is a flawed instrument in that India a {open_quotes}threshold{close_quotes} nuclear weapon state, has said that it will never sign it. Ultimately that could be fatal to the treaty because India is one of the 44 states that must ratify it before it can enter into force. However, It is possible that India might sign and ratify the CTB within a few years, if the nuclear weapon states get serious about the nuclear disarmament commitment they made more than 25 years ago in Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and if the CTB is amended to meet India`s objections. Despite uncertainties regarding the long-range fate of the treaty, the CTB has immediate value. The Vienna Law of Treaties provides that signatories to a treaty must {open_quotes}refrain from acts which would defeat the object and purposes{close_quotes} of the treaty, pending its entry into force. In short, no nuclear tests.
Abstract P194: Nulliparity is Associated with Greater Common Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness and Adventitial Diameter in Overweight and Obese Young Women

Introduction: Higher parity (number of births) is associated with increased subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in mid-life and older women, and with increased risk of CVD overall. In the only study of reproductive age women, common carotid artery intima-media thickness was greater with each birth. These women were leaner than the US population (mean BMI 24 kg/m 2 ), and their fertility history was not assessed. Neither the relationship between parity and subclinical CVD in overweight and obese young women, nor the role infertility plays in this relationship, has been evaluated. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that increased parity would be associated with increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and adventitial diameter (AD) in overweight and obese young women without known fertility problems. Methods: The Slow Adverse Vascular Effects (SAVE) trial provided 349 adults, aged 25-45 years old, BMI 25-39.9 kg/m 2 , with intensive weight loss interventions. Participants were normotensive and non-diabetic. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure IMT and AD at baseline. An ancillary study obtained reproductive histories of 73% (191 of 261) of the women in the trial. Linear regression was used to estimate the relationship between parity and IMT and AD. Demographic, cardiovascular and reproductive risk factors were covariates in the multivariate models. Results: There were 70 nulliparous (age 34.9 ± 7.1) and 102 parous women (age 39.5 ± 4.9). Parous women (parity 2.0 ± .7) had decreased common carotid artery AD and IMT than nulliparous women after adjustment for age, race and cardiovascular disease risk factors (Table 1). No other reproductive factors were statistically significant. Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, this analysis demonstrates that parity is associated with markers of healthier common carotid arteries in a sample of disease-free, overweight or obese young women. This may represent a beneficial effect of pregnancy or indicate overall better health in overweight women who are capable of childbearing.
A Demographic Survey of Learning Behaviors among American Students.

A nationally representative survey of students' learning behaviors observed by classroom teachers of 1,500 school-aged American youth is presented. Participants comprised the standardization cohort...
A Little Bit of Sugar: Integrated Service-Learning Courses

Approaches to integrated service learning are detailed for three courses—Organizational Theory, Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Skills. The focus of this paper is on the process of integration rather than the specifics of the courses. A faculty member interested in developing a service-learning component in a course is advised to (1) publicly identify the course as one that includes a service-learning experience, (2) be passionate, organized, flexible, and experienced, (3) establish an excellent relationship with a community agency, (4) be flexible about course content and schedule, (5) recognize that some students may have problems with an experience-based approach to learning, and (6) conduct periodic evaluations of all stages of the service-learning experience.
Past and Future of Cell-Based Heart Repair

The field of heart regeneration has witnessed significant advancements toward developing new therapeutics in the past decade. Strategies to regenerate the adult human heart are in constant development in both the experimental and clinical arenas. Although stem cell therapies remain controversial, cell-based heart repair is a promising approach toward regenerating the adult human heart. Experience with cell therapy has resulted in several important milestones in clinical studies. There are still important roadblocks ahead before cell therapy can achieve the regeneration potential for broad numbers of patients. In this chapter, we focus on the history of cardiac cell repair and therapeutic strategies and discuss the lessons learned in cell-based heart regeneration.
Development and Flight Test Results of a Small UAS Distributed Flush Airdata System

AbstractSmall unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) have proven their effectiveness for measuring both the inertial and aircraft-relative wind. One of the more common aircraft-relative wind instruments ...
Education and the body: introduction

What does a focus on the body offer to historians of education? Participants at the 2016 ISCHE 38 Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, USA explored this question on multiple axes and levels. Conferenc...
Situating Tanure Ojaideâ€™s The Tale of the Harmattan: History, the environment, socio- economic and political concerns, and orature

Tanure Ojaideâ€™s book of poems, The Tale of the Harmattan (2007), offers poetry readers and those familiar with his opus a critical insight of the dismal socio-political and economic conditions of Nigeriaâ€™s Niger Delta region. Oil exploration and its devastating effects on the environment and the human family form the bulk of the poetâ€™s concerns. The poems range in style and form; however, what makes the collection a publication of substance is the poetâ€™s ability to examine contemporary issues with the eyes of a witness and the sincerity of one driven by empathy. This essay focuses on the poetâ€™s selection of themes and the historical, cultural, and political contexts of his poetry. More importantly, I argue that Ojaide employs bold rhetoric and an assortment of techniques to assert the importance of his persona as an eyewitness to historical happenings, especially the destruction of the Niger Deltaâ€™s ecosystem and environment as a result of oil exploitation and the marginalization of the ethnic minority people in whose land oil is exploited. Key words: Exploitation, harmattan, oil, Kaiama, Niger Delta, ecosystem, Egbesu boys, minority, Ken Saro-Wiwa, expatriates.
Anreizkompatible Mechanismen zur Allokation von Schadstoff-Emissions-Rechten

Im BWL-Schrifttum werden verschiedene anreizkompatible Mechanismen zur Allokation einer knappen Ressource auf die Geschaftseinheiten einer divisionalisierten Unternehmung diskutiert. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, ob diese Mechanismen auch geeignet sind, Emissionsrechte fur einen bestimmten Schadstoff, wie beispielsweise das Treibhausgas CO2, innerhalb eines Staates in die produktivste Verwendung zu lenken. Wird ein Preis pro emittierter Mengeneinheit vorgegeben, so lasst sich der Groves-Mechanismus problemlos anwenden und damit die starke Anreizkompatibilitat sichern. Wird dagegen eine feste Obergrenze fur den Gesamtausstos an Schadstoff vorgegeben, so scheint der Groves-Mechanismus kaum praktisch implementierbar zu sein. Versucht man, den Preis so zu bestimmen, dass ein vorgegebener Gesamtausstos eingehalten wird, so zerstort die Endogenisierung des Preises sowohl die starke wie die schwache Anreizkompatibilitat.
General and Cross-Pathway Controls of Amino Acid Biosynthesis

Hogness and Mitchell (1954) initially reported that the level of Neurospora crassa tryptophan synthetase increased in a histidine auxotroph grown under conditions of histidine limitation. Carsiotis and Lacy (1965) then observed that levels of this enzyme, and another Trp biosynthetic enzyme, indole glycerol phosphate synthetase, increased in a variety of different His- mutants that were starved for His (Carsiotis and Lacy 1965). By 1974, it was established that either His or Trp starvation resulted in elevation of enzymes involved in Arg, His and Trp biosynthesis (Carsiotis and Jones 1974; Carsiotis et al. 1974). These studies demonstrated that addition of 3AT (3-amino-1,2,4triazole) to cultures resulted in His starvation. They introduced the concept of cross-pathway control (Carsiotis and Jones 1974) to describe “[the] phenomenon wherein starvation for a single amino acid causes derepression of biosynthetic enzymes of other amino acids as well as those of the deficient amino acid.” A similar phenomenon observed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae became known as the general control of amino acid biosynthesis (Guerzoni 1972; Schurch et al. 1974; Delforge et al. 1975; Wolfner et al. 1975).
Brief: Managing computing technology

While computing is applied widely in the production segment of the petroleum industry, its effective application is the primary goal of computing management. Computing technology has changed significantly since the 1950's, when computers first began to influence petroleum technology. The ability to accomplish traditional tasks faster and more economically probably is the most important effect that computing has had on the industry. While speed and lower cost are important, are they enough Can computing change the basic functions of the industry When new computing technology is introduced improperly, it can clash with traditional petroleum technology. This paper examines the role of management in merging these technologies.
The Animals Among Us: How Pets Make Us Human

(2018). The Animals Among Us: How Pets Make Us Human. Anthrozoos: Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 649-651.
Safety in numbers: Identifying multiple targets for beta cell proliferation

Combined inhibition of DYRK1A and TGF-β pathways synergistically enhances proliferation and differentiation of human pancreatic beta cells.
Acceleration region dynamics in a magnetically shielded Hall thruster

The influence of the cathode flow fraction and facility background pressure on the acceleration region of a magnetically shielded Hall thruster is experimentally characterized. The location of the acceleration region is measured using laser-induced fluorescence on H9, a 9-kW class Hall thruster, for six different facility background pressures and four different cathode flow fractions. The results show that when the facility pressure is increased from 7.1 × 10– 6 to 3.0 × 10– 5 Torr-Xe, the acceleration region shifts inward 1.6 ± 0.5 mm. Similarly, when the cathode flow fraction is increased from 7% to 15%, the acceleration region shifts inward 0.9 ± 0.5 mm. This experiment leads to two conclusions. First, introducing neutrals in the cathode region can directly impact the acceleration mechanism in the thruster. Second, changing the cathode flow fraction affects the acceleration region of the thruster in a similar manner as the background pressure. This result is discussed in the context of the neutral density environment created by both injection schemes. Calculations of this parameter show that the increase in neutral density in the proximity of the acceleration region is similar when varying the background pressure and changing the cathode flow fraction. This provides correlational evidence linking the role of neutral density to the acceleration region shift.
Prediction of a Nonvalence Temporary Anion Shape Resonance for a Model (H2O)4 System

Ab initio calculations are used to demonstrate the existence of a nonvalence temporary anion shape resonance for a model (H2O)4 cluster system with no net dipole moment. The cluster is composed of ...
Mie scattering and microparticle-based characterization of heavy metal ions and classification by statistical inference methods.

A straightforward method for classifying heavy metal ions in water is proposed using statistical classification and clustering techniques from non-specific microparticle scattering data. A set of c...
Establishing trees in an Appalachian silvopasture: response to shelters, grass control, mulch, and fertilization

In order to successfully introduce trees into existing pastures, it is important to determine and recommend a whole range of tree establishment practices. In the spring of 1995, approximately 350 bare-root seedlings each of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) were planted in six randomized paddocks within a silvopastoral study area at the Agroforestry Research and Demonstration Site in Blacksburg, Virginia. Three seedling establishment studies were tested, including (1) a tree protection study, (2) a water retention study, and (3) a fertilization study. Seedlings were planted using two different tree shelters (60 cm-tall poultry wire cage and 1.2 m-tall plastic Tubex), two water retention treatments (mulch and herbicide spray), and one fertilizer treatment. All treatments were compared to untreated controls. Tree survival, damage, and stem volume were compared for each species. Tree survival was comparable among all studies over three growing seasons. Tree establishment using poultry wire and Tubex shelters resulted in significant reduction of deer damage and significant increase in stem volume from 1996 to 1998. Tubex shelters had a pronounced positive impact on tree height and also on stem form; height of both black walnut and honeylocust was twice the height of control seedlings. Mulch and herbicide treatments for moisture control resulted in significant stem volume increases over thecontrol treatment from 1997 to 1998. However, mulching was less effective than the herbicide treatment. There was no significant tree growth response resulting from fertilization during this same period.
Gait differences in patients with multiple sclerosis who have low and high levels of disability

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often results in gait impairment and disability. Objective: To investigate differences in spatiotemporal gait characteristics of people with MS who have low versus high levels of disability. Between trial and inter-limb consistency and the association of gait variables with level of disability were also investigated. Methods: Participants with MS who had either low-disability [n=7; 3 females; EDSS mean: 2.7{+/-}0.5, range 2.0-4.5; BMI=26.9{+/-}6.6] or high-disability [n=11; 6 females; EDSS mean: 2.7{+/-}0.5, range 6.0-6.5; BMI=27.8{+/-}1.5) performed 2 trials of self-selected walking on an instrumented walkway. Differences in group, limb, and group by limb interactions were assessed using analysis of variance, independent-measures t-tests, and Cohen's d effect sizes (ES). Between-trial consistency of gait were assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (2, k). Results: Participants in the high disability group had increased step time (ES=0.8), cycle time (ES=0.8), and ambulation time (ES=1.2) while taking shorter strides (ES=0.9) and more steps at a slower rate (ES=1.1). The high disability group demonstrated less between-trial consistency for 69% of gait variables when compared to the low disability group. Conclusion: People with MS who have high levels of disability walk differently and with less consistency than those with lower levels of disability. Key Words: walking, motor disorders, coordination impairment, central nervous system, patient outcome assessment
The MEK1/2 pathway as a therapeutic target in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma

Abstract Rationale High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the deadliest of gynecological cancers due to high rate of recurrence and acquired chemoresistance. Mutation and activation of the RAS/MAPK pathway has been linked to cancer cell proliferation and therapeutic resistance in numerous cancers. While RAS mutations are not commonly observed in HGSOC, less is known about downstream pathway activation. We therefore sought to investigate the role of MEK1/2 signaling in ovarian cancer. Methods MEK1/2 pathway activity was evaluated in clinical HGSOC tissue samples and ovarian cancer cell lines by using tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and RT-qPCR. OVCAR8 and PEO4 HGSOC cell lines were used to assess the effect of MEK1/2 inhibition on cell viability, proliferation rate, and stem-like characteristics. Xenografts were used in mice to investigate the effect of MEK1/2 inhibition on tumor growth in vivo. A drug washout experimental model was used to study the lasting effects of MEK1/2 inhibition therapy. Results MEK1/2 signaling is active in a majority of HGSOC tissue samples and cell lines. MEK1/2 is further stimulated by cisplatin treatment, suggesting that MEK1/2 activation may play a role in chemotherapy resistance. The MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, drastically inhibits MEK1/2 downstream signaling activity, causes prominent cell cycle arrest in the G1/0-phase in cell cultures, and reduces the rate of tumor growth in vivo, but does not induce cell death. Cells treated with trametinib display a high CD133+ fraction and increased expression of stemness-associated genes. Transient trametinib treatment causes long-term increases in a high ALDH1 activity subpopulation of cells that possess the capability of surviving and growing in non-adherent conditions. Conclusions MEK1/2 inhibition in HGSOC cells efficiently inhibits proliferation and tumor growth and therefore may be a promising approach to suppress ovarian cancer cell growth. MEK1/2 inhibition promotes stem-like properties, thus suggesting a possible mechanism of resistance and that a combination with CSC-targeting drugs should be considered.
Soil Moisture Evaluation Using Machine Learning Techniques on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) And Land Surface Model

There have been several efforts to utilize satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements to determine surface soil moisture conditions of agricultural regions. The results have been mixed since the relation between the SAR signal and surface soil moisture is confounded by variations in topographic features, surface roughness and vegetation density etc. We designed an experiment to investigate SAR based soil moisture retrieval using different machine learning techniques. In addition, a high resolution land surface model customized and deployed for generating soil moisture at 250m resolution using various static and dynamics input data.
Private organizations, public data: Land trust choices about mapping conservation easements

Abstract Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have fewer transparency requirements than governments, yet they increasingly shape land use and protected areas. Land information disclosure by NGOs can improve coordination and accountability, but create potential privacy concerns. We focus on decisions by land conservation NGOs (land trusts) to share digital maps of conservation easements on private lands. We asked which land trusts were more likely to contribute digital maps to public databases, and what benefits and concerns with disclosure did land trust staff report? Regressions from a census of 1138 and survey of 241 land trusts showed that organizations were more likely to share digital maps when they had larger budgets, a statewide sharing norm, regional collaborations, a strategic plan for new acquisitions, higher perceptions of map usefulness, and lower privacy concerns. Key informant interviews provided depth about beneficial map uses and privacy concerns. More land trusts would likely contribute to protected areas databases if mapping capacity increased, transparency norms were reinforced, map benefits better articulated, and privacy concerns were addressed.
A Pathophysiologic Primary Prevention Review of Aspirin Administration to Prevent Cardiovascular Thrombosis.

ABSTRACT Objective: Cardiovascular disease is the leading metabolic cause of mortality in the United States. Among current therapies, low-dose aspirin has been shown to reduce cardiovascular thrombosis. However, aspirin also causes major complications (hemorrhagic stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding). The American Heart Association recommends that aspirin only be prescribed for "high-risk" individuals. No guidelines are available as to the duration of aspirin therapy. Methods: A reasonable approach to aspirin administration is to determine the appropriateness of aspirin therapy based on the pathophysiology of coronary artery thrombosis. It suggests that the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score be used as the basis for determining "high risk." This score was shown to accurately predict future cardiovascular events. The greater the CAC score, the greater the extent of coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque and future cardiovascular risk. Results: A CAC score >400 places an individual at very-high 10-year risk for an atherosclerotic event. Since aggressive medical therapy initiates stabilization of unstable atherosclerotic plaques within 1 month and reversal within 2 years, this treatment significantly reduces the risk of the individual for a cardiovascular event. Thus, most individuals aged 400 should receive aspirin therapy for a maximum of 2 years. Conclusion: Utilization of a CAC score greatly simplifies the decision of whom to treat with aspirin and for what duration. Importantly, focusing on two factors (hemorrhage and plaque stabilization) is easily understood by both the physician and the patient. Abbreviations: CAC = coronary artery calcium; CVD = cardiovascular disease; LDL = low-density lipoprotein; OCT = optical coherence tomography
The year in review: : economics at the antitrust division 2013-2014

During 2013–2014, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice brought a wide range of matters to successful conclusions. The three matters that are discussed below demonstrate the diverse set of issues that the division examines every year.
Effect of biaxial strain and composition on vacancy mediated diffusion in random binary alloys: A first principles study of the SiGe system

We present the results of a systematic study using the density functional theory (within the local density approximation) of the effects of biaxial strain and composition on the self-diffusion of Si and Ge in SiGe alloys diffusing by a vacancy mechanism. The biaxial strain dependence of the vacancy formation energy was reconfirmed with previous calculations. The effect of biaxial strain on the interaction potential energy between a substitutional Ge atom and a vacancy was calculated. These calculations were used to estimate the change in the activation energy (due to biaxial strain) for the self-diffusion of Si and Ge in Si by a vacancy mechanism. The composition dependence of the vacancy formation energy was calculated. A database of ab initio migration energy barriers for vacancy migration in different local environments was systematically developed by considering the effect of the first nearest neighbor sites explicitly and the effect of the other sites by a mean field approximation. A kinetic Monte Carlo simulation based on the migration energy barrier database was performed to determine the dependence (on the composition)of the activation energy for the diffusion of Si and Ge in SiGe. A detailed study of the variation of the correlation factor with composition and temperature in SiGe was performed using the results of the KMC simulation. These analyses constitute essential building blocks to understand the mechanism of vacancy mediated diffusion processes at the microscopic level.
Microscale Analysis of Stress Wave Propagation Through Plastic Bonded Explosives Under Micro-Sphere Shock Impact

In this article, material stress during microscale shock wave propagation through hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binder and polycrystalline cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX) based plastic bonded explosive is analyzed. An elliptical shock wave was created by 250 µm-size zirconia sphere impactors accelerated by a laser-based particle launch setup. Particle velocity and strain rate during shock wave stress rise were measured in the target using photon Doppler velocimetry. Viscous behavior of the HTPB binder was characterized through measurement of shock viscosity at strain rates higher than 106/s. Volumetric stress was measured at the interface region close to polycrystalline HMX particle and HTPB binder using in-situ time-gated Raman spectroscopy. Results show measured shock stress rise at the HTPB-HMX interface region is close to idealized simulation values. In-situ time-gated Raman spectroscopy predicts stress due to shock wave reflection from the HMX phase at the HTPB-HMX interface region. Predicted stress is higher than stress propagated through the binder because of impedance mismatch between HTPB and HMX.
When Therapy Challenges Patriarchy: Undoing Gendered Power in Heterosexual Couple Relationships

Power is part of all relationships. It is reflected in how the needs, interests, and goals of one person influence the other. Those in power positions tend to be less aware, less tuned into their partners. This chapter explains why power tends to be gendered in heterosexual relationships and why addressing power in couple therapy is not only an ethical or social justice issue, but also a pragmatic clinical concern that enables other changes important to relationship satisfaction and personal health and well-being. The author draws on detailed case examples to discuss common questions when working with gendered power in couple therapy: Why is power a relationship issue? Why is power so difficult to recognize? What about role reversals? What if men don’t feel powerful? Do men always have power? What if people don’t want equal roles? Covert and invisible power processes related to societal norms and gender construction are illustrated and gendered individualism is identified as a factor that contributes to power imbalances in heterosexual relationships. Therapist leadership that actively counters societally based power imbalances and facilitates new relational options is encouraged.
Experimental and Clinical Chemoteratogenesis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the experimental and clinical chemoteratogenesis. During recent years the field of modern therareutics has made stupendous progress, marked by the development of new drugs which possess tremendous therapeutic activity, as well as complex pharmacological action. Despite this development and the systematic pharmacological screening entailed, it has not been possible to avoid an appalling biological reaction, which has brought the pharmacologist face to face with problems of a teratological nature. Because of the difficulty of extrapolating data from animals to man, the clinician must be doubly vigilant, not only to recognize important clinical signs, but also to detect unanticipated manifestations and to determine their etiology. In 1961 a drug which has been proved to be innocuous both pharinacologically and clinically was found to be extremely dangerous to the fetus when taken by a pregnant woman. This observation urgently refocused attention on the teratogenic capabilities of drugs.
Solutions to problems from part 7

J. Zhang [1] has studied the system (2.19)—(2.22) which is a conservation law, with nonlocal terms, in the bounded region $$\left\{ {{x_1} > 0,{x_2} > 0, \ldots ,{x_m} > 0,{x_1} + {x_2} + \cdots + {x_m} = 1} \right\}$$ (4.1) . He proved existence and uniqueness of the solution, and obtained numerical results for the intermediate and long term behavior of the solution when the initial data consists of several “hills.”
Distributed Detection with Memory

A binary distributed detection system comprises a bank of local decision makers (LDMs) and a central information processor (the data fusion center, DFC). All LDMs survey a common volume for a binary {H 0 ,H 1 } phenomenon. Each LDM forms a binary decision: it either accepts H 1 ("target-present") or H 0 ("target-absent"). The LDM is fully characterized by its performance probabilities (probability of false alarm and probaility of detection). The decisions are transmitted to the DFC through noiseless communication channels. The DFC then optimally combines the local decisions to obtain a global decision ("target-present" or "target-absent") which minimizes a Bayesian objective function. The main difference between the present study and previous ones is that, along with the local decisions, the DFC in our architecutre remembers and uses its most recent decision in synthesizing each new decision. We show that this feature endows our architecture with a detection performance that is generally much better than that of a memoryless DFC system. Moreover, when operating in a stationary environment, our architecture converges to a steady-state decision in finite time with probability one, and its detection performance during convergence and in steady state is strictly determined.
Network Traffic Analysis With Query Driven Visualization SC 2005 HPC Analytics Results

Our analytics task is to identify, characterize, and visualize anomalous subsets of as large of a collection of network connection data as possible. We use a combination of HPC resources, advanced algorithms, and visualization techniques. To effectively and efficiently identify the salient portions of the data, we rely on a multistage workflow that includes data acquisition, summarization (feature extraction), novelty detection, and classification. Once these subsets of interest have been identified and automatically characterized, we use a stateof- the-art high-dimensional query system to extract this data for interactive visualization. Our approach is equally useful for other large-data analysis problems where it is more practical to identify interesting subsets of the data for visualization than it is to render all data elements. By reducing the size of the rendering workload, we enable highly interactive and useful visualizations.
Test ideals in quotients of $F$-finite regular local rings

Let S be an F -finite regular local ring and I an ideal contained in S. Let R = S/I. Fedder proved that R is F -pure if and only if (I [p] : I) * m[p]. We have noted a new proof for his criterion, along with showing that (I [q] : I) ⊆ (τ [q] : τ), where τ is the pullback of the test ideal for R. Combining the the F -purity criterion and the above result we see that if R = S/I is F pure then R/τ is also F -pure. In fact, we can form a filtration of R, I ⊆ τ = τ0 ⊆ τ1 ⊆ . . . ⊆ τi ⊆ . . . that stabilizes such that each R/τi is F -pure and its test ideal is τi+1. To find examples of these filtrations we have made explicit calculations of test ideals in the following setting: Let R = T/I, where T is either a polynomial or a power series ring and I = P1 ∩ . . . ∩ Pn is generated by monomials and the R/Pi are regular. Set J = Σ(P1 ∩ . . . ∩ Pi ∩ . . . ∩ Pn). Then J = τ = τpar. This paper concerns the study of the test ideal in F -finite quotients of regular local rings. Test elements play a key role in tight closure theory. Once known, they make computing tight closures of ideals and modules easier. In fact, in an excellent Gorenstein local ring with an isolated singularity, R/τ ∼= Hom(I∗/I, E) where I is generated by a system of parameters that are test elements and E is the injective hull of R (see [Hu1] and [S1]). We also know for parameter ideals I that I : τ = I∗. Thus knowing τ is basically equivalent to knowing the tight closure of a system of parameters which is contained in the test ideal. A recent paper of Huneke and Smith [HS] links tight closure to Kodaira vanishing for graded rings R with characteristic either 0 or p where p 0. Recall that the a-invariant for a graded ring R, denoted a, is equal to −min{i|[ωR]i 6= 0}, where ωR is the canonical module for R. If R is Gorenstein, then ωR = R(a). Huneke and Smith prove that the test ideal is exactly the ideal generated by elements of degree greater than the a-invariant of R if and only if a strong Kodaira vanishing holds on R. A recent paper of Hara [Ha] confirms that this strong Kodaira vanishing holds in finitely generated algebras over a field of characteristic zero. In this paper we study test ideals of F -finite rings which are reduced quotients of a regular local ring. Reduced quotients of F -finite regular local rings have been studied by both Fedder [Fe] and Glassbrenner [Gl]. Fedder’s work concerns F purity aspects of these rings, and Glassbrenner’s results use Fedder’s techniques to examine strong F -regularity. The object that plays a key role in their work is Received by the editors November 4, 1996. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 13A35.
Chapter 8 Modeling Leukocyte Rolling

Publisher Summary Computer modeling is a powerful tool, giving detailed insights into in vivo biological processes and in vitro experiments. Typically, only some of the data generated by a model, and in a reduced form, can be observed or measured by an experimentalist. Leukocyte rolling—a behavior commonly observed in inflammation—is mediated by a continuous series of molecular bonds between the cell and the substrate that rapidly form and dissociate. Molecular site densities and parameters—such as molecular lengths and reaction rates—have been experimentally measured or estimated from experiments. The leukocytes are viscoelastic bodies studded with viscoelastic microvilli. Some of their viscoelastic properties are accessible to experimental interrogation. This chapter discusses the need for modeling leukocyte rolling, summarizes the history of research in this field, and guides through the development process of a leukocyte rolling model, including model parameters, model cellular, molecular and environmental interaction rules, model algorithm, and model validation. Some rolling models use a direct approach, where key molecules, bonds, and cellular elements are tracked in time and space, whereas others use semianalytic, analytical, or agent-based modeling methods.
Transcriptome-wide analysis of the response of the thecosome pteropod Clio pyramidata to short-term CO2 exposure.

Abstract Thecosome pteropods, a group of calcifying holoplanktonic mollusks, have recently become a research focus due to their potential sensitivity to increased levels of anthropogenic dissolved CO2 in seawater and the accompanying ocean acidification. Some populations, however, already experience high CO2 in their natural distribution during diel vertical migrations. To achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms of pteropod calcification and physiological response to this sort of short duration CO2 exposure, we characterized the gene complement of Clio pyramidata, a cosmopolitan diel migratory thecosome, and investigated its transcriptomic response to experimentally manipulated CO2 conditions. Individuals were sampled from the Northwest Atlantic in the fall of 2011 and exposed to ambient conditions (~ 380 ppm) and elevated CO2 (~ 800 ppm, similar to levels experienced during a diel vertical migration) for ~ 10 h. Following this exposure the respiration rate of the individuals was measured. We then performed RNA-seq analysis, assembled the C. pyramidata transcriptome de novo, annotated the genes, and assessed the differential gene expression patterns in response to exposure to elevated CO2. Within the transcriptome, we identified homologs of genes with known roles in biomineralization in other mollusks, including perlucin, calmodulin, dermatopontin, calponin, and chitin synthases. Respiration rate was not affected by short-term exposure to CO2. Gene expression varied greatly among individuals, and comparison between treatments indicated that C. pyramidata down-regulated a small number of genes associated with aerobic metabolism and up-regulated genes that may be associated with biomineralization, particularly collagens and C-type lectins. These results provide initial insight into the effects of short term CO2 exposure on these important planktonic open-ocean calcifiers, pairing respiration rate and the gene expression level of response, and reveal candidate genes for future ecophysiological, biomaterial and phylogenetic studies.
Land use/land cover water quality nexus: quantifying anthropogenic influences on surface water quality

Anthropogenic forces widely influence the composition, configuration, and trend of land use and land cover (LULC) changes with potential implications for surface water quality. These changes have the likelihood of generating non-point source pollution with additional environmental implications for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring the scope and trajectory of LULC change is pivotal for region-wide planning, tracking the sustainability of natural resources, and meeting the information needs of policy makers. A good comprehension of the dynamics of anthropogenic drivers (proximate and underlying) that influence such changes in LULC is important because any potential adverse change in LULC that may be inimical to sustainable water quality might be addressed at the anthropogenic driver level rather than the LULC change stage. Using a dense time stack of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper images, a hydrologic water quality and socio-geospatial modeling framework, this study quantifies the role of anthropogenic drivers of LULC change on total suspended solids and total phosphorus concentrations in the Lower Chippewa River Watershed, Wisconsin, at three time steps—1990, 2000, and 2010. Results of the study demonstrated that proximate drivers of LULC change accounted for between 32 and 59 % of the concentration and spatial distribution of total suspended solids, while the extent of phosphorus impairment attributed to the proximate drivers ranged between 31 and 42 %.
Addressing Coverage Gaps For Low-Income Parents

This paper examines how rates of uninsurance for low-income parents have been changing over time and the extent to which expanding coverage to parents through Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) could help them. We find that uninsurance rates have been rising for low-income parents, especially those living in poverty, and that Medicaid and SCHIP could greatly reduce uninsurance among parents and would likely increase their access to care. Such expansions would still leave many noncitizen parents uninsured and would require reaching and enrolling families whose children have remained uninsured despite being eligible for public coverage.
Nuclei and Lifts of π-Partial Characters

In this paper, we obtain a common generalization of the Isaacs and Navarro constructions of nuclei for characters of π-separable groups. The construction of Isaacs used the lattice of all subnormal subgroups, and the construction of Navarro used the lattice of all normal subgroups. We show that a generalized nucleus can be constructed using other lattices of subnormal subgroups, and these nuclei have properties similar to the properties of the nuclei constructed by Isaacs and Navarro.
Improving Tennis Player Performance Using System Development Interpretations Methodology

This research demonstrates a unique analytical approach to improving a player’s performance in the game of tennis. We introduce a system development interpretations (SDI) methodology for associating player characteristics and factors in a hierarchical structure. We then show how this tool is applied in a human performance environment such as tennis. This approach was developed as a multi-disciplinary quality tool for process improvement that identifies factor dependencies and depicts their impact on the resulting player performance. From the implementation of the SDI methodology, the research was able to define the tennis player’s difficulties and it has allowed the researchers to build an entire team profile of the Clemson University tennis programme as well as to introduce important conceptual foundations in this field.
Improvement of RNA-DNA oligonucleotide design by using mammalian nuclear extracts

An RNA-DNA oligonucleotide (RDO) has been shown to either correct or cause a specific point mutation in episomal or genomic target DNA in mammalian cells. The original design of the RDO consists of a double-hairpin capped duplex comprising a 25 nucleotide-long DNA stretch (DNA-containing strand) paired to a fully complementary 2'-O-methyl RNA stretch with a pentameric DNA interruption that carries a mismatch to target DNA (RNA-containing strand). In order to improve the gene conversion activity of the RDO, several oligonucleotides with structural and chemical modifications were synthesized and compared in their gene correction activity. Previously, we established an in vitro system capable of RDO-mediated gene correction of a point mutation (G → A) in the E. coli β-galactosidase gene by using mammalian nuclear extracts. Conversion frequencies among six mammalian cell types and the chicken DT40 cell line were compared by using a convenient bacterial assay that score blue or white colonies. This in vitro reaction with DT40 nuclear extract is now used to study the structure and activity relationship of the RDO. Modifications of the original RDO design including a complete sequence complementarity of the RNA-containing strand to target DNA, a replacement of the central five DNA residues with 2'-O-methyl RNA, and chemical modification of the hairpin loops result in a ten-fold increase in gene correction activity. Moreover, we show that the single-base correction in the target DNA is preferentially driven by the DNA-containing strand of the RDO by comparing two RDOs that carry a mismatch to target DNA either on the RNA- or DNA-containing strand. Thus, the highly sensitive and convenient assay utilizing E. coli β-galactosidase is not only useful to compare the gene correction frequency among different cell types but also to optimize the RDO structure.