cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Follower at the Frontier: International Competition and Japanese Industrial Policy

A dominant orthodoxy in political-economic analyses of international competition is to highlight how national industrial performance and the competitive balance between nations are determined by domestic features of national political economies. In contrast, this article reverses these causal arrows by highlighting how the international competitive environment itself can shape and reshape domestic and state structures. Japan's high-profile, large-scale national research and development programs in computer and semiconductor technologies serve as instructive testing grounds for this argument. Illustrating how shifts in international competitiveness can induce changes in domestic structures, Japan's R&D projects display a secular decline in the government's interventionist capabilities as the country's computer and semiconductor industry dramatically moves from industry follower to technological pioneer.
Allylic Oxidation of Δ5-Steroids with Pyridinium Chlorochromate (PCC) and Pyridinium Dichromate (PDC)

Abstract Pyridinium chlochromate (PCC), in refluxing benzene, or dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridinium dichromate (PDC) in pyridine, have been found to be effective reagents for the allylic oxidation of Δ5-steroids to yield the corresponding α, β - unsaturated ketones.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the risk of dementia with stroke.

ContextNext to Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia in the elderly, yet few specific risk factors have been identified.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship of plasma lipids and lipoproteins to dementia with stroke.Design and SettingProspective longitudinal community-based study over a 7-year period (1991-1998).ParticipantsA total of 1111 nondemented participants (mean [SD] age, 75.0 [5.9] years) were followed up for an average of 2.1 years (range, 1-7.8 years).Main Outcome MeasureIncident dementia with stroke according to standardized criteria, by baseline levels of total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, LDL levels corrected for lipoprotein(a), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), and apolipoprotein E genotype.ResultsTwo hundred eighty-six (25.7%) of the 1111 subjects developed dementia during follow-up; 61 (21.3%) were classified as having dementia with stroke and 225 (78.7%) as having probable Alzheimer disease. Levels of LDL cholesterol were significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia with stroke. Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of LDL cholesterol was associated with an approximately 3-fold increase in risk of dementia with stroke, adjusting for vascular risk factors and demographic variables (relative risk [RR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-6.1). Levels of LDL corrected for lipoprotein(a) were an even stronger predictor of dementia with stroke in the adjusted multivariate analysis. Compared with the lowest quartile, the RR of dementia with stroke for the highest quartile of lipoprotein(a)–corrected LDL cholesterol was 4.1 (95% CI, 1.8-9.6) after adjusting for vascular factors and demographic variables. Lipid or lipoprotein levels were not associated with the development of Alzheimer disease in our cohort.ConclusionsElevated levels of LDL cholesterol were associated with the risk of dementia with stroke in elderly patients. Further study is needed to determine whether treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol levels will reduce the risk of dementia with stroke.
Algorithms for the Qualitative Assessment of Gas Chromatograms

An important aspect of automating instruments is automating the detection of system malfunctions that render the generated data unanalyzable. This paper describes a set of algorithms that have been developed to detect and measure features associated with symptoms of analysis failure in gas chromatograms. Each algorithm is individually tested and validated qualitatively by comparing the algorithm output with the opinions of experienced chromatographers. When these algorithms are input into an expert system, the output can be used to detect and diagnose the underlying malfunction that causes the symptoms.
A new species of the rodent genus Hylomyscus from Angola, with a distributional summary of the H. anselli species group (Muridae: Murinae: Praomyini)

A new species of Hylomyscus, H. heinrichorum, is described from mountains in western Angola. Based on morphological traits and cranial morphometry, the new species is assigned to the H. anselli species group and is hypothesized to be most closely related to H. anselli Bishop proper, a species named from Zambia. Members of both the H. anselli and H. denniae species groups occupy the Afromontane Biotic Zone, found in various mountain systems to the south and east of the Congo Basin. Evidence is reviewed that supports the independent radiation of these two species groups within montane forest from different Guineo-Congolian ancestral stocks.
Neutron detectors for active interrogation of highly enriched uranium

We describe the results of our effort to optimize three neutron detector systems for active interrogation of highly enriched uranium: 1) a large-area detector for maximum absolute efficiency; 2) modular detectors for maximum flexibility in configuring a detector system for an application; and 3) a portable detector. All three systems contained /sup 3/He tubes, polyethylene to moderate the neutrons, and cadmium to filter out room-return thermal neutrons. The back and sides of the detectors were shielded with additional polyethylene or borated polyethylene. The electronics gated off the data acquisition during the interrogating pulse, either bremsstrahlung photons from an electron linac or neutrons from a DT generator. The sensitivity of each detector system depends on the distance between the detector and nuclear material as well as on the intervening material. We present representative data for several configurations showing the performance of each system.
An analysis of bidding in the Japanese government bond auctions

We examine the bidding patterns and auction profits in the Japanese Government Bond (JGB) auctions and empirically test the predictions of auction theory. We find that the average profit in JGB auctions is not reliably different from zero, and the degree of competition and the level of uncertainty are insignificant in determining auction profits. The winning shares of the U.S. dealers are positively related to auction profits, whereas the winning shares of their Japanese counterparts show a negative association. We also find that the share of winnings of Japanese dealers tends to be correlated with the share of winnings of their compatriot dealers but a similar relation is not found for U.S. dealers.
Political ecology: where is the policy?

To political ecologists today, it might seem odd – ridiculous perhaps – to ask whether political ecology is sufficiently political. It has been the better part of two decades since Michael Watts complained that the dominant expressions of political ecology of the 1980s displayed ‘a remarkable lack of politics . . . There is almost no sense of contest, struggle, and conflict and how the rough and tumble of everyday life’ shapes human relations with the environment (Watts, 1990: 128–29). Since then, there has been a veritable explosion of scholarship (far too numerous to cite) in political ecology that has taken up the challenge to deal in a more sophisticated way with the role of politics in shaping humanenvironment relations. In comparing political ecology to other intellectual traditions that attempt to explain environmental problems (such as ecoscarcity and environmental modernization), Robbins (2004) notes that the defining characteristic of the field today is ‘the difference between a political and an apolitical ecology’. So central has politics become in the field that serious critiques have been made that political ecology has become ‘politics without ecology’ (Vayda and Walters, 1999). Yet, it is possible to question whether, by its own definitions of the word ‘politics’, political ecology fully lives up to its promise to take politics seriously. In their article ‘Locating the political in political ecology’, Paulson et al. (2003: 209, emphasis added), define politics as ‘the practices and processes through which power, in its multiple forms, is wielded and negotiated’. The authors observe that one of the key challenges of political ecology is ‘to develop ways to apply the methods and findings [from political ecology research] in addressing social-environmental concerns’ (p. 208). Indeed, this concern to make politics not only a research subject but a practice has long been an explicit and central goal of political ecology. Peet and Watts (1996: xi), for example, state that political ecology ‘is driven naturally in our case by a normative and political commitment to the liberatory potential of environmental concerns’. Similarly, Robbins (2004: 13) observes that political ecology is explicitly and unapologetically normative, seeking ‘to plant the seeds for reclaiming and asserting alternative ways of managing [resources] . . . The goal . . . is preserving Progress reports
Root and shoot gas exchange respond additively to moderate ozone and methyl jasmonate without induction of ethylene: ethylene is induced at higher O3 concentrations

The available literature is conflicting on the potential protection of plants against ozone (O3) injury by exogenous jasmonates, including methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Protective antagonistic interactions of O3 and MeJA have been observed in some systems and purely additive effects in others. Here it is shown that chronic exposure to low to moderate O3 concentrations (4–114 ppb; 12 h mean) and to MeJA induced additive reductions in carbon assimilation (A n) and root respiration (R r), and in calculated whole plant carbon balance. Neither this chronic O3 regime nor MeJA induced emission of ethylene (ET) from the youngest fully expanded leaves. ET emission was induced by acute 3 h pulse exposure to much higher O3 concentrations (685 ppb). ET emission was further enhanced in plants treated with MeJA. Responses of growth, allocation, photosynthesis, and respiration to moderate O3 concentrations and to MeJA appear to be independent and additive, and not associated with emission of ET. These results suggest that responses of Pima cotton to environmentally relevant O3 are not mediated by signalling pathways associated with ET and MeJA, though these pathways are inducible in this species and exhibit a synergistic O3×MeJA interaction at very high O3 concentrations.
Developmental trends of eating disorder symptoms and comorbid internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents.

Objective To determine when gender differences in disordered eating symptoms emerge, when correlations between disordered eating and internalizing symptoms develop, and whether the relationship between internalizing and disordered eating symptoms varies based on age and/or gender.
The Lasting Effect of Civic Talk on Civic Participation: Evidence from a Panel Study

Extant research shows that individuals who discuss politics and current events with their peers also participate more actively in civil society. However, this correlation is not sufficient evidence of causation due to a number of analytical biases. To address this problem, data were collected through a panel study conducted on students who were randomly assigned to dormitories during their first year of college. In addition, the data were preprocessed before analysis with a matching procedure. These data show that discussing politics and current events caused these students to participate in civic activities during their first year of college. A follow-up study conducted on the same population during their fourth year of college shows that the positive effect of civic talk on civic participation still exists despite the passage of three years. Further analysis shows that the boost in civic participation initially after engaging in civic talk is the mechanism by which the effect of civic talk lasts into the future.
Three dimensional Monte Carlo code for photon migration through complex heterogeneous media including the adult human head

We describe a novel Monte Carlo code for photon migration through 3D media with spatially varying optical properties. The code is validated against analytic solutions of the photon diffusion equation for semi-infinite homogeneous media. The code is also cross-validated for photon migration through a slab with an absorbing heterogeneity. A demonstration of the utility of the code is provided by showing time-resolved photon migration through a human head. This code, known as 'tMCimg', is available on the web and can serve as a resource for solving the forward problem for complex 3D structural data obtained by MRI or CT.
IN SITU LONGITUDINAL PRE-STRETCH IN THE HUMAN FEMOROPOPLITEAL ARTERY

In situ longitudinal (axial) pre-stretch (LPS) plays a fundamental role in the mechanics of the femoropopliteal artery (FPA). It conserves energy during pulsation and prevents buckling of the artery during limb movement. We investigated how LPS is affected by demographics and risk factors, and how these patient characteristics associate with the structural and physiologic features of the FPA. LPS was measured in n = 148 fresh human FPAs (14–80 years old). Mechanical properties were characterized with biaxial extension and histopathological characteristics were quantified with Verhoeff–Van Gieson Staining. Constitutive modeling was used to calculate physiological stresses and stretches which were then analyzed in the context of demographics, risk factors and structural characteristics. Age had the strongest negative effect (r = −0.812, p < 0.01) on LPS and could alone explain 66% of LPS variability. Male gender, higher body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia and tobacco use had negative effects on LPS, but only the effect of tobacco was not associated with aging. FPAs with less pre-stretch had thicker medial layers, but thinner intramural elastic fibers with less dense and more fragmented external elastic laminae. Elastin degradation was associated with decreased physiological tethering force and longitudinal stress, while circumferential stress remained constant. FPA wall pathology was negatively associated with LPS (r = −0.553, p < 0.01), but the effect was due primarily to aging. LPS in the FPA may serve as an energy reserve for adaptive remodeling. Reduction of LPS due to degradation and fragmentation of intramural longitudinal elastin during aging can be accelerated in tobacco users.
Bridging the Gap between Instructional and Research Laboratories: Teaching Data Analysis Software Skills through the Manipulation of Original Research Data.

The gap between graduate research and introductory undergraduate teaching laboratories is often wide, but the development of teaching activities rooted within the research environment offers an opportunity for undergraduate students to have first-hand experience with research currently being conducted and for graduate students to develop communication and pedagogical skills. We describe the development, evaluation, and redesign of a Microsoft Excel-based activity where data analysis from contemporary research was adapted into a data analysis training exercise, requiring undergraduate students to engage with the data by performing a series of analytical tasks guided by commentary from the researcher. In addition to learning common data analysis techniques, this exercise provided an opportunity for undergraduate students to practice problem solving and collaboratively work through trouble-shooting. Throughout the activity development, multiple iterations allowed the authors to explore the impact of differen...
All General Factors Are Not Alike

In their focal article, Ree, Carretta, and Teachout (2015) argue that a large general factor (DGF), defined as the first component of an unrotated principal components solution, is characteristic of many different domains. In their view, ignoring the DGF in assessment and prediction in industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology is counterproductive. They readily acknowledge that the existence of a DGF does not preclude the existence of distinguishable specific factors. Their message is simply that the general factor (unrotated) frequently accounts for over half the reliable variance, and rather than ignore it, the reasons for it and the usefulness of it should be investigated. Further, the general factor is a construct, and all constructs must be supported by the various kinds of evidence that demonstrate construct validity. The DGF is no exception.
The Effects of Job Instability and Financial Strain on C-Reactive Protein in a Sample of Mexican Immigrants

Objective: Mexican immigrants have lower cardiovascular disease risk than US citizens, but risk increases with level of acculturation. Our study investigated whether job stress and financial strain would be related to inflammation (C-reactive protein), lipids, and blood pressure, and if they would play a role in the acculturation process in Mexican immigrants. Method: A sample of 310 Mexican immigrants living in the United States were studied on measures of job stress, financial strain, acculturation, and cardiovascular disease risk factors (C-reactive protein, lipids, and blood pressure). Results: Job instability, financial strain, and acculturation, were related to inflammation, but psychological demands and decision latitude were not related. Lipids and clinic blood pressure were not related to the variables of interest. Body mass index was related to both increased acculturation and inflammation, and when controlling for BMI, acculturation was no longer a significant predictor of inflammation. Job instability and financial strain remained significant predictors of inflammation after controlling for BMI, gender, and age. Job instability and financial strain were not related to acculturation, suggesting that these factors are significant stressors for both newly arrived and more established immigrants. Conclusions: Job instability and financial strain predict increased inflammation in Mexican immigrants but they do not play a role in the relationship between acculturation and C-reactive protein. The effects of acculturation on inflammation in this study were mediated by BMI. Ethn Dis. 2016;26(1):37-44; doi: 10.18865/ed.26.1.37
Fourier Transform Infrared Studies of Ammonia Photochemistry in Solid Parahydrogen

We present 193 nm in situ photochemical studies of NH3 isolated in solid parahydrogen (pH2) at 1.8 K using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. By recording FTIR spectra during and after irradiation we are able to identify and assign a number of rovibrational transitions to ortho-NH2(X2B1) and NH(X3Σ–). Spectroscopic analysis shows that these two radical species rotate freely in solid pH2 and that effects of the unpaired electron spin remain essentially unchanged from the gas phase. We provide detailed mechanistic studies that show the nascent ortho-NH2 photoproduct is rapidly cooled within the pH2 matrix to the ground vibrational and rotational state before (1) subsequent photodissociation or (2) tunneling-driven reaction (ktun = 1.88(17) min–1) with the pH2 host to produce ortho-NH3 in a defect site. Once the ortho-NH3 is produced in this defect site it slowly converts (kconv = 7.72(51) × 10–3 min–1) back to a single substitution site even at 1.8 K. We demonstrate the in situ photolysis of NH...
Fiber-wireless integrated mobile backhaul network based on a hybrid millimeter-wave and free-space-optics architecture with an adaptive diversity combining technique

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel fiber–wireless integrated mobile backhaul network based on a hybrid millimeter-wave (MMW) and free-space-optics (FSO) architecture using an adaptive combining technique. Both 60 GHz MMW and FSO links are demonstrated and fully integrated with optical fibers in a scalable and cost-effective backhaul system setup. Joint signal processing with an adaptive diversity combining technique (ADCT) is utilized at the receiver side based on a maximum ratio combining algorithm. Mobile backhaul transportation of 4-Gb/s 16 quadrature amplitude modulation frequency-division multiplexing (QAM-OFDM) data is experimentally demonstrated and tested under various weather conditions synthesized in the lab. Performance improvement in terms of reduced error vector magnitude (EVM) and enhanced link reliability are validated under fog, rain, and turbulence conditions.
Secure Data Obfuscation Scheme to Enable Privacy-Preserving State Estimation in Smart Grid AMI Networks

While the newly envisioned smart(er) grid (SG) will result in a more efficient and reliable power grid, its collection and use of fine-grained meter data has widely raised concerns on consumer privacy. While a number of approaches are available for preserving consumer privacy, these approaches are mostly not very practical to be used due to two reasons. 1) Since the data is hidden, this reduces the ability of the utility company to use the data for distribution state estimation. 2) The approaches were not tested under realistic wireless infrastructures that are currently in use. In this paper, we propose to implement a meter data obfuscation approach to preserve consumer privacy that has the ability to perform distribution state estimation. We then assess its performance on a large-scale advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network built upon the new IEEE 802.11s wireless mesh standard. For the data obfuscation approach, we propose two secure obfuscation value distribution mechanisms on this 802.11s-based wireless mesh network (WMN). Using obfuscation values provided via this approach, the meter readings are obfuscated to protect consumer privacy from eavesdroppers and the utility companies while preserving the utility companies’ ability to use the data for state estimation. We assessed the impact of this approach on data goodput, delay, and packet delivery ratio (PDR) under a variety of conditions. Simulation results have shown that the proposed approach can provide very similar performance to that of nonprivacy approach with negligible overheads on the meters and network.
Putting Down Roots: Why Universities Need Gardens

Wendell Berry’s agrarian vision challenges the disintegrated, industrial model of higher education that prevails in our contemporary economy. Berry’s hope for the recovery of a university rests upon three requirements: an imagination guided by a unified organization of knowledge, a common, communal langague, and responsible work. A university that embodies and unites these three principles might provide students with a rooted education, one that would form fully developed humans capable of serving their places. Working in a campus garden may seem unimportant, but such simple practice can foster responsible connections to our places and educate students in coherent forms of wisdom.
Future Decreases in Freezing Days across North America

AbstractThis study used air temperatures from a suite of regional climate models participating in the North American Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) together with two atmospheric reanalysis datasets to investigate changes in freezing days (defined as days with daily average temperature below freezing) likely to occur between 30-yr baseline (1971–2000) and midcentury (2041–70) periods across most of North America. Changes in NARCCAP ensemble mean winter temperature show a strong gradient with latitude, with warming of over 4°C near Hudson Bay. The decline in freezing days ranges from less than 10 days across north-central Canada to nearly 90 days in the warmest areas of the continent that currently undergo seasonally freezing conditions. The area experiencing freezing days contracts by 0.9–1.0 × 106 km2 (5.7%–6.4% of the total area). Areas with mean annual temperature between 2° and 6°C and a relatively low rate of change in climatological daily temperatures (<0.2°C day−) near the time of sprin...
Understanding the “Spillover Effect” of Negative Economic News on Consumers’ Evaluations of Online Advertising

According to a recent CNN national opinion poll, only 25 % of Americans believe that the economic recession is over (Silverleib 2014). The economic recession, which officially started in December 2007, has significantly impacted consumers’ behavior. According to Loechner (2009), “the recession has caused a profound, deep-rooted change in consumers’ spending habits in favor of a more restrained approach (p. 1).” Moreover, the economic downturn has forced firms to reformulate their marketing strategies as a new type of consumer has emerged, one who buys in a “frugal, careful, conservative, and commonsensical way” (Lindstrom 2008, p. 207).
Cross-Over: From African American to National and World Culture

Throughout American history, the language of African Americans has had a special place in the performing arts and is featured in the lyrics of Negro spirituals, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Hip Hop and Gospel songs, as well as the salacious banter of stand-up comedians. It has been used not only by African American performers, but also by minstrels performing in blackface, and the white creators of the Amos n’ Andy radio hit.
RelaxFault memory repair

Memory system reliability is a serious concern in many systems today, and is becoming more worrisome as technology scales and system size grows. Stronger fault tolerance capability is therefore desirable, but often comes at high cost. In this paper, we propose a low-cost, fault-aware, hardware-only resilience mechanism, RelaxFault, that repairs the vast majority of memory faults using a small amount of the LLC to remap faulty memory locations. RelaxFault requires less than 100KiB of LLC capacity, has near-zero impact on performance and power. By repairing faults, RelaxFault relaxes the requirement for high fault tolerance of other mechanisms, such as ECC. A better tradeoff between resilience and overhead is made by exploiting an understanding of memory system architecture and fault characteristics. We show that RelaxFault provides better repair capability than prior work of similar cost, improves memory reliability to a greater extent, and significantly reduces the number of maintenance events and memory module replacements. We also propose a more refined memory fault model than prior work and demonstrate its importance.
Development of a Multi-modal Sensor for in vivo Monitoring of Tumor Oxygen Dynamics

A multi-modal sensor has been developed for non-invasive, real time, in vivo monitoring of oxygen intake, consumption and blood flow dynamics in tumor tissue during ischemia-reperfusion. The sensor head integrated a near infrared tissue oximeter for tissue oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration measurement, a laser Doppler for blood flow measurement, and an electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscope (EPRS) for oxygen tension measurement. The sensor has been tested on athymic NU/NU mice with xenograft pancreatic cancer implanted on right legs. Ischemia-reperfusion was introduced by physical ligation of the femur artery. Preliminary results demonstrated technical feasibility of simultaneous tissue oxygen and blood flow measurements. Further data analysis is on the way.
Endoscopic Management of Cavernous Carotid Surgical Complications: Evaluation of a Simulated Perfusion Model.

Objective Endoscopic surgical treatment of pituitary tumors, lateral invading tumors, or aneurysms requires surgeons to operate adjacent to the cavernous sinus. During these endoscopic endonasal procedures, the carotid artery is vulnerable to surgical injury at its genu. The objective of this simulation model was to evaluate trainees regarding management of a potentially life-threatening vascular injury. Methods Cadaveric heads were prepared in accordance with the Oregon Health & Science University body donation program. An endoscopic endonasal approach was used, and a perfusion pump with a catheter was placed in the ipsilateral common carotid artery at its origin in the neck. Learners used a muscle graft to establish vascular control and were evaluated over 3 training sessions. Simulation assessment, blood loss during sessions, and performance metric data were collected for learners. Results Vascular control was obtained at a mean arterial pressure of 65 mm Hg using a muscle graft correctly positioned at the arteriotomy site. Learners improved over the course of training, with senior residents ( n = 4) performing better across all simulation categories (situation awareness, decision making, communications and teamwork, and leadership); the largest mean difference was in communication and teamwork. Additionally, learner performance concerning blood loss improved between sessions ( t = 3.667, P Conclusions In this pilot endoscopic endonasal simulation study, we successfully demonstrate a vascular complication perfusion model. Learners were able to gain direct applicable expertise in endoscopic endonasal techniques, instrumentation use, and teamwork required to optimize the technique. Learners gained skills of vascular complication management that transcend this model.
A large-scale perspective for managing prairie avifauna assemblages across the western US: influences of habitat, land ownership and latitude

Future demands for increased food production are expected to have severe impacts on prairie biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Prairie avifauna of North America have experienced drastic population declines, prompting numerous conservation efforts, which have been informed primarily by small-scale studies. We applied a large-scale perspective that integrates scale dependency in avian responses by analyzing observations of 20 prairie bird species (17 grassland obligates and three sagebrush obligate species) from 2009-2012 in the western prairie region of the United States. We employed a multi-species model approach to examine the relationship of land ownership, habitat, and latitude to landscape-scale species richness. Our findings suggest that patterns and processes influencing avian assemblages at the focal-scale (e.g., inference at the sampling unit) may not function at the landscape-scale (e.g., inference amongst sampling units). Individual species responses to land ownership, habitat and latitude were highly variable. The broad spatial extent of our study demonstrates the need to include lands in private ownership to assess biodiversity and the importance of maintaining habitat diversity to support avian assemblages. Lastly, focal-scale information can document species presence within a study area, but landscape-scale information provides an essential complement to inform conservation actions and policies by placing local biodiversity in the context of an entire region, landscape or ecosystem.
Cytostatic Agents: Monoclonal Antibodies Utilized in the Treatment of Solid Malignancies

Abstract The Side Effects of Drugs Annuals is a series of volumes in which the adverse effects of drugs and adverse reactions to them are surveyed. The series supplements the contents of Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs: The International Encyclopedia of Adverse Drug Reactions and Interactions. This review of the literature published in 2016 encompasses discussion on cytostatic agents, specifically monoclonal antibodies utilized in the treatment of solid malignancies including inhibitors of the vascular endothelial pathway, epidermal growth factor pathway, HER2/neu pathway, platelet-derived growth factor pathway, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Generalized Hessian approximations via Stein's lemma for constrained minimization

We consider the problem of convex constrained minimization of an average of n functions, where the parameter and the features are related through inner products. We focus on second order batch updates, where the curvature matrix is obtained by assuming random design and by applying the celebrated Stein's lemma together with subsampling techniques. The proposed algorithm enjoys fast convergence rates similar to the Newton method, yet the per-iteration cost has the same order of magnitude as the gradient descent. We demonstrate its performance on well-known optimization problems where Stein's lemma is not directly applicable, such as M-estimation for robust statistics, and inequality form linear/quadratic programming etc. Under certain assumptions, we show that the constrained optimization algorithm attains a composite convergence rate that is initially quadratic and asymptotically linear. We validate its performance through widely encountered optimization tasks on several real and synthetic datasets by comparing it to classical optimization algorithms.
Breast reconstruction and risk of arm lymphedema development: A meta-analysis.

Summary Background Lymphedema remains a significant complication following breast cancer surgery when there is axillary lymph node intervention. Previous systematic reviews have identified risk factors for breast cancer-related lymphedema, including increased BMI, number of lymph nodes dissected and radiotherapy. However, they have not examined the effect of breast reconstruction on lymphedema occurrence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to evaluate the association between breast reconstruction (BR) and lymphedema. Methods We searched PubMed (1966–2016), Embase (1966–2016), Scopus (2004–2016) and Google Scholar (2004–2016) for studies involving breast reconstruction and upper-extremity lymphedema or breast cancer-related lymphedema. Our primary outcome was lymphedema occurrence. We performed a meta-analysis using random effects due to heterogeneity of the studies. Results Our search strategy identified 934 articles. After screening, 19 studies were included in our meta-analysis evaluating outcomes based on number of patients (7501) or number of breasts surgically treated (2063). Breast reconstruction was significantly associated with lower odds of lymphedema (p Conclusions Breast reconstruction is associated with lower rates of lymphedema compared to mastectomy only or breast conserving surgery patients. Although the study does not prove causation, we hypothesize that this association is likely due to multiple factors, including a self-selecting population and mechanisms through which BR may contribute to primary or secondary prevention of lymphedema. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify this beneficial relationship between breast reconstruction and reduced lymphedema risk.
Floating neighborhoods reveal contribution of individual trees to high sub-stand scale heterogeneity

Abstract Forest structure is typically characterized using approaches that fail to capture the sub-stand heterogeneity reflecting the processes shaping stand structure at neighborhood patch scales. We propose a focal-tree based approach that flexibly scales across natural tree neighborhoods and demonstrate it by quantifying small-scale structural heterogeneity using diameter distributions across multiple scales in an old-growth mixed conifer forest in western Oregon exhibiting a rotated sigmoid shape. Tree-centered delineation of neighborhoods via Delaunay triangulation (spatial tessellation) was used to connect natural tree neighbors. At the First-order neighborhood scale, each tree was connected to an average of 6 neighbors in 75 m2 of convex hull area, which increased to 118 neighbors covering 2542 m2 by the Fifth-order scale. Agglomerative clustering identified the ten most prevalent sub-stand diameter distribution types (DDTs). At the smallest scale, these ten DDTs were characterized by four different distribution shapes (negative exponential, concave, rotated sigmoid, and unimodal) and varied considerably in the abundance of trees in different size classes and species composition (Douglas-fir composing the larger trees and western hemlock and western redcedar the smaller). On average, each individual tree contributed to over 3 different DDTs at any given scale. Small-scale tree neighborhoods were tremendously heterogeneous, such that the stand-level diameter distribution represented an aggregation across extremely disparate sub-stand distributions. As expected, these distributions exhibited spatial smoothing (i.e., increasing homogeneity with increasing scale) as small, heterogeneous tree neighborhoods were expanded into larger neighborhoods with more similar average composition, which converged on a rotated-sigmoid shape by the Fifth-order scale. Structural complexity in the demonstration stand likely owes more to shade-tolerant ingrowth below residual trees than to gap processes. The diversity of structural contribution (e.g., the number of DDTs to which a tree contributes) may be a more informative measure of structural complexity than indices based on a fixed spatial perspective. The floating neighborhood delineation and scaling approach allows for the identification of natural neighborhoods, permits the assessment of multiple conditions for any given tree, and provides of a logical mechanism for exploring scale-dependent ecological phenomena.
Die induktive Blende im rechteckigen Hohlleiter

Wir betrachten einen verlustlosen Hohlleiter mit Rechteckquerschnitt, der sich von z = -∞ nach z = +∞ erstreckt und in dessen Ebene z = 0 sich eine unendlich dunne metallische Blende befinde, deren Konfiguration aus Fig. 13.1 ersichtlich ist. Wir beschranken uns im wesentlichen auf die Behandlung der zur Mittelebene x = a/2 symmetrischen „induktiven“ Blende. Die von z= -∞ her einfallende Welle sei wie zuvor vom magnetischen Typ (H 10-Welle) mit einer einzigen elektrischen Feldkomponente E y . Die Feldkomponenten sind durch die Beziehungen (12.1) bis (12.3) des vorigen Kapitels gegeben, wenn wir das Seitenverhaltnis b/a so wahlen, das die Grundwelle durch die Lange von a bestimmt ist. Den Reflexions- und Transmissionskoeffizienten fur die elektrische Feldkomponente E y definieren wir wie in den Gl. (12.4) und (12.5). In der Blendenoffnung, die wieder als Apertur bezeichnet werde, durchsetzt das elektrische Feld E y die Ebene z = 0 und setzt sich im Bereich z > 0 fort. Auf den beiden metallischen Blendenhalften einschlieslich deren Kanten verschwindet E y . Man wird bei der symmetrischen Blende erwarten, das E y vom Wert Null an den beiden Kanten zu einem Maximum in der Mittellinie x = a/2 anwachst. Aus Symmetriegrunden leuchtet ein, das die induktive Blende keine weiteren elektrischen Feldkomponenten auf den Plan ruft, so das E y die einzige elektrische Feldkomponente ist.
Trophoblast Cells as Immune Regulators

Medawar, in the early 1950s, recognized for the first time, the unique immunology of the maternal-fetal interface and its potential relevance for transplantation. In his original work, he described the “fetal allograft analogy” whereby the fetus may be viewed as a semi-allogeneic conceptus that has evaded rejection by the maternal immune system. Although numerous hypotheses have been proposed to prove this observation, none have demonstrated that the maternal immune system is antagonist to the invading trophoblast. In the present manuscript we have reviewed recent studies demonstrating the expression and function of TLRs in trophoblast cells and based on this data we propose an alternative view for maternal-fetal immune interactions.
Selective use of leuprolide acetate in women undergoing superovulation with intrauterine insemination results in significant improvement in pregnancy outcome.

Objective To examine the incidence of premature luteinization in individuals undergoing hMG with IUI therapy, the association between premature luteinization, cycle fecundity, and pregnancy outcome, and to determine if the selective use of leuprolide acetate (LA) in women demonstrating premature luteinization improves pregnancy outcome in subsequent hMG with IUI cycles. Design and Setting Retrospective analysis of superovulation cycles from January 1990 until December 1991 at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Patients All women with ovulatory function undergoing hMG superovulation with IUI. Interventions All patients were tested for evidence of premature luteinization. Those demonstrating premature luteinization were started on LA in the luteal phase in their subsequent hMG with IUI cycle. Main Outcome Measures Peak serum E 2 , the number of mature preovulatory follicles, the number of ampules of hMG, days of hMG therapy, cycle fecundity, and spontaneous abortion rate. Results Thirty-three percent of all hMG with IUI patients showed evidence of premature luteinization, with premature luteinization occurring in 22.2% of conception cycles and 37.4% of nonconception cycles. For those women who demonstrated premature luteinization in their conception cycle, 90.0% of the pregnancies ended with either spontaneous abortion or were biochemical in nature compared with 44.3% in the cycles without evidence of premature luteinization. Cycle fecundity was 11.1% in patients demonstrating premature luteinization compared with 26.3% for patients without premature luteinization. All women demonstrating premature luteinization and not conceiving were placed on LA in the luteal phase and had a subsequent cycle fecundity of 18.9% with the percent pregnancy wastage being significantly less (33.3% versus 90.0%) when LA was used. Conclusions Premature luteinization is a common occurrence during hMG therapy and is associated with decreased cycle fecundity and an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion and biochemical pregnancies. The selective use of LA in those individuals demonstrating premature luteinization results in a significant increase in the percent of women conceiving a viable pregnancy.
Binge ethanol exposure induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in the brain of adult mice.

Abstract Alcohol abuse causes brain damage and cognitive dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as machinery to ensure the proper folding of newly synthesized proteins. The perturbation of ER, i.e., ER stress, plays a pivotal role in some neurological disorders. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine kinase, is involved in the regulation of ER stress. The current study sought to determine whether binge ethanol exposure induces ER stress in adult mouse brain and the role mTOR signaling during this process. Adult C57BL6 mice received binge ethanol exposure by daily gavage (5 g/kg, 25% ethanol w/v) for 1, 5 or 10 days. Binge ethanol exposure caused neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation after 5 days of exposure, and a concomitant increase of ER stress and inhibition of mTOR. However, ethanol exposure did not significantly alter spatial learning and memory, and spontaneous locomotor activity. Ethanol treatment induced ER stress and the death of cultured neuronal cells. Cotreatment with an ER stress inhibitor, sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) significantly diminished ethanol-induced ER stress and neuronal apoptosis, suggesting that ER stress contributes to ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. Furthermore, the blockage of mTOR activity by rapamycin increased ER stress in cultured neuronal cells; whereas the activation or inhibition of ER stress by tunicamycin or 4-PBA respectively had little effects on mTOR signaling. These results suggested that mTOR signaling is upstream of ER stress and may thereby mediate ethanol-induced ER stress.
Turnover Intentions of Volunteer Resource Managers: The Roles of Work Motivations, Person–Organization Fit, and Emotional Labor

Volunteer management careers and the influence of workplace factors on volunteer manager turnover intentions have received relatively little attention in the empirical research literature. This stu...
Abstract TP180: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Sleep Duration and Sleep Disturbances Among Stroke Survivors

Introduction: Sleep disorders and short sleep duration have been associated with increased incidence of stroke. Despite evidence of racial/ethnic disparities in stroke, few studies have examined di...
A Data-Driven Approach to Unlikely, Possible, Probable, and Definite Acute Concussion Assessment.

Abstract Kutcher and Giza suggested incorporating levels of certainty in concussion diagnosis decisions. These guidelines were based on clinical experience rather than objective data. Therefore, we...
Monitoring Red Blood Cell Aggregation Dynamics in Stasis and Under Flow Using a Microfluidic Dielectric Sensor

This paper reports on monitoring the red blood cell (RBC) aggregation dynamics under flow and in static condition using a microfluidic dielectric sensor. The sensor employs a three-dimensional (3D), parallel-plate, capacitive sensing structure with a floating electrode integrated into a microfluidic channel with a height of 50μm. Using an impedance analyzer, the sensor is shown to measure the real part of complex relative dielectric permittivity of human whole blood in a frequency range of 10kHz-100MHz under flow and in static condition. The dielectric permittivity of human whole blood at 1MHz indicates the formation of RBC aggregate structures called rouleaux under static condition and their complete breakdown under a physiological shear flow rate of 500s−1• This work also demonstrates that the kinetics of RBC aggregation is dependent on fibrinogen concentration of the blood sample and establishes that the sensor is capable of distinguishing this difference in the aggregation process even under physiological shear flow rates. This work demonstrates the potential of dielectric spectroscopy in obtaining information on RBC aggregation dynamics using µL-volumes of whole blood under flow and in stasis.
Using SNOMED CT-encoded problems to improve ICD-10-CM coding—A randomized controlled experiment

Abstract Objective Clinical problems in the Electronic Health Record that are encoded in SNOMED CT can be translated into ICD-10-CM codes through the NLM’s SNOMED CT to ICD-10-CM map (NLM Map). This study evaluates the potential benefits of using the map-generated codes to assist manual ICD-10-CM coding. Methods De-identified clinic notes taken by the physician during an outpatient encounter were made available on a secure web server and randomly assigned for coding by professional coders with usual coding or map-assisted coding. Map-assisted coding made use of the problem list maintained by the physician and the NLM Map to suggest candidate ICD-10-CM codes to the coder. A gold standard set of codes for each note was established by the coders using a Delphi consensus process. Outcomes included coding time, coding reliability as measured by the Jaccard coefficients between codes from two coders with the same method of coding, and coding accuracy as measured by recall, precision and F-score according to the gold standard. Results With map-assisted coding, the average coding time per note reduced by 1.5 min (p = 0.006). There was a small increase in coding reliability and accuracy (not statistical significant). The benefits were more pronounced in the more experienced than less experienced coders. Detailed analysis of cases in which the correct ICD-10-CM codes were not found by the NLM Map showed that most failures were related to omission in the problem list and suboptimal mapping of the problem list terms to SNOMED CT. Only 12% of the failures was caused by errors in the NLM Map. Conclusion Map-assisted coding reduces coding time and can potentially improve coding reliability and accuracy, especially for more experienced coders. More effort is needed to improve the accuracy of the map-suggested ICD-10-CM codes.
Garvin: The Heart of the City: Creating Vibrant Downtowns for a New Century

Having read many narratives on the rise, fall, and rise again of American downtowns, it was a pleasure to read Alexander Garvin’s The Heart of the City, which adds a fresh new chapter to the story....