cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alias Lock Behavior of Sampled-Data Costas Loops

The potential false lock problem associated with the sampled data type of Costas loop implementation is addressed in this paper. The term "alias lock" is used here to differentiate this type of false lock behavior from the data sideband false lock behavior of analog Costas loops [1]-[8]. It is shown that the sampled-data version of the conventional Costas loop, sampled at a rate 1/T_{s} , can alias lock at frequencies that are multiples of 1/2T_{s} away from the carrier frequency. It is also shown that the alias lock problem of the sampled data version of the Costas loop with hard-limited in-phase channel is further Compounded by the potential occurrence of false lock frequencies at rational multiples of 1/2T_{s} , away from the carrier. The false lock S -curves of I-Q loops and decision-directed I-Q loops are investigated in detail, with and without additive noise. Close agreement between theory and earlier experimental results is also demonstrated.
Bias of Sire Evaluations for Natural Service Sires and Age of Sire

Abstract In the Herdmate Comparison natural service sires often were overevaluated relative to sires in artificial insemination, and younger sires were underevaluated relative to older sires. The Modified Contemporary Comparison was designed to remove these biases. These sire evaluation methods were compared for their evaluation of artificial insemination versus natural service sires. In addition, the Modified Contemporary Comparison and Herdmate Comparison were compared with the Northeast Artificial Insemination Sire Comparison for their evaluation of sires of different ages. Sires from natural service were evaluated lower on the Modified Contemporary Comparison than on the Herdmate Comparison. Younger sires were evaluated higher on the Modified Contemporary Comparison than on the Herdmate Comparison. In both cases the Modified Contemporary Comparison values were intermediate to those of the Herdmate Comparison and Northeast Artificial Insemination Sire Comparison. The Modified Contemporary Comparison appears to remove a substantial portion of the biases favoring natural service and older sires in the Herdmate Comparison. Both the Modified Contemporary Comparison and the Northeast Artificial Insemination Sire Comparison show positive genetic trend.
Marsh management plans in practice: Do they work in coastal Louisiana, USA?

Louisiana's coastal wetlands represent about 41% of the nation's total and are extensively managed for fish, fur, and waterfowl. Marsh management plans (MMPs) are currently used to avoid potential user conflicts and are believed to be a best management practice for specific management goals. In this article, we define MMPs and examine their variety, history, impacts, and future.
Three-Dimensional Coherent X-Ray Surface Scattering Imaging Near Total External Reflection

Researchers demonstrate coherent X-ray surface scattering imaging in a grazing-incidence geometry that takes advantage of enhanced X-ray surface scattering and interference near total external reflection. Surface patterns are reconstructed in three dimensions with nanometre resolution. The approach has applications in the analysis of buried nano-electronic and nanophotonic structures.
Al x Ga 1−x N–based deep-ultraviolet 320×256 focal plane array

We report the synthesis, fabrication, and testing of a 320×256 focal plane array (FPA) of back-illuminated, solar-blind, p-i-n, Al(x)Ga(1-x)N-based detectors, fully realized within our research laboratory. We implemented a pulse atomic layer deposition technique for the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition growth of thick, high-quality, crack-free, high Al composition Al(x)Ga(1-x)N layers. The FPA is hybridized to a matching ISC 9809 readout integrated circuit and operated in a SE-IR camera system. Solar-blind operation is observed throughout the array with peak detection occurring at wavelengths of 256 nm and lower, and falling off three orders of magnitude by ~285 nm. By developing an opaque masking technology, the visible response of the ROIC is significantly reduced; thus the need for external filtering to achieve solar- and visible-blind operation is eliminated. This allows the FPA to achieve high external quantum efficiency (EQE); at 254 nm, average pixels showed unbiased peak responsivity of 75 mA/W, which corresponds to an EQE of ~37%. Finally, the uniformity of the FPA and imaging properties are investigated.
Some applications of control theory to the stability analysis of biological and biochemical control systems

The differential equations describing a large class of biological and biochemical control systems are examined from the point of view of stability using the following methods: The stability properties of the equations transformed to the Lur'e canonical form are examined by methods based on the second Lyapunov method. These results illustrate that sustained concentration oscillations cannot arise in a second order chemical systems involving negative feedback and otherwise first order rate laws. For such systems involving feedback that is not purely negative, and for third and higher order chemical systems involving negative feedback, it is possible for limit cycles to arise. Phase-plane methods indicate that limit cycle behavior cannot arise in chemical control Systems involving negative feedback and two components if the rate law for the uninhibited step is described by first order kinetics, a rectangular hyperbola, or a sigmoidal relationship. Linear methods indicate that the potential for instabilities is always present in the case of chemical systems involving positive feedback, the potential for instability and limit cycle behavior increases each time the order of the differential equations describing the system is increased. Digital simulation of the equations illustrate that limit cycles can arise in multi-component chemical systems involving negative feedback even if the rate laws for the uninhibited steps are linear. A mapping of the range of values of the constants in the equations indicates that there is a definite range for which sustained concentration oscillations arise. Finally, the possibility of multiple stationary states arising in biochemical and biological control systems is discussed. Eleven different cases are considered, and examples illustrating the temporal and phase-plane behavior of actual systems involving multiple stationary states are presented. It is illustrated, for example, that the addition of a little positive feedback to an otherwise purely negative chemical feedback system imparts stability to stationary states are presented. It is illustrated, for example, that the addition of a little positive feedback to an otherwise purely negative chemical feedback system imparts stability to stationary states for the system.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY STUDIES OF LATH MARTENSITE

Crystallographic and substructural features of lath martensite formed in an Fe-20Ni-5Mn (wt.%) alloy containing small amounts of lath martensite in a matrix of austenite have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The average austenite/martensite orientation relationship determined by an accurate method is (111)f || (011)b and [[MATH]01]f 3.90 from [[MATH][MATH]1]b, while the habit plane of the laths is close to (575)f or ([MATH]54)b. Adjacent laths within a packet of laths adopt the same variant of the orientation relationship, but may be misoriented relative to each other by about 2°. The martensite laths contain screw dislocations in all four b directions, but one set of the four is clearly dominant. The martensite/austenite interface on one side of a lath is planar, while that on the opposite side is irregular. Dislocation tangles in the austenite associated with the irregular interface suggest that the laths thicken mainly in the direction away from the initial planar interface. The martensite/austenite interface contains a single set of dislocations with Burgers vector ab/2 [1[MATH]1] = af/2 [0[MATH]1], which form loops around the laths. The observed interface dislocation structure satisfies the requirements for a glissile semi-coherent interface.
Development of a smartphone application to measure physical activity using sensor-assisted self-report.

Introduction: Despite the known advantages of objective physical activity monitors (e.g., accelerometers), these devices have high rates of non-wear, which leads to missing data. Objective activity monitors are also unable to capture valuable contextual information about behavior. Adolescents recruited into physical activity surveillance and intervention studies will increasingly have smartphones, which are miniature computers with built-in motion sensors. Methods: This paper describes the design and development of a smartphone application (“app”) called Mobile Teen that combines objective and self-report assessment strategies through (1) sensor-informed context-sensitive ecological momentary assessment (CS-EMA) and (2) sensor-assisted end-of-day recall.Results: The Mobile Teen app uses the mobile phone’s built-in motion sensor to automatically detect likely bouts of phone non-wear, sedentary behavior, and physical activity. The app then uses transitions between these inferred states to trigger CS-EMA self-report surveys measuring the type, purpose, and context of activity in real time. The end of the day recall component of the Mobile Teen app allows users to interactively review and label their own physical activity data each evening using visual cues from automatically-detected major activity transitions from the phone’s built-in motions sensors. Major activity transitions are identified by the app, which cues the user to label that “chunk,” or period, of time using activity categories.Conclusions: Sensor-driven CS-EMA and end-of-day recall smartphone apps can be used to augment physical activity data collected by objective activity monitors, filling in gaps during non-wear bouts and providing additional real-time data on environmental, social, and emotional correlates of behavior. Smartphone apps such as these have potential for affordable deployment in large scale epidemiological and intervention studies.
Visit-to-Visit Variability of Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Visit-to-visit variability of blood pressure (BP) has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in some but not all studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between visit-to-visit variability of BP and CVD and all-cause mortality. Medical databases were searched through June 4, 2014, for studies meeting the following eligibility criteria: adult participants; BP measurements at ≥3 visits; follow-up for CVD, coronary heart disease, stroke, or mortality outcomes; events confirmed via database, death certificate, or event ascertainment committee; and adjustment for confounders. Data were extracted by 2 reviewers and pooled using a random-effects model. Overall, 8870 abstracts were identified of which 37 studies, representing 41 separate cohorts, met inclusion criteria. Across studies, visit-to-visit variability of systolic BP and diastolic BP showed significant associations with outcomes in 181 of 312 (58.0%) and 61 of 188 (32.4%) analyses, respectively. Few studies provided sufficient data for pooling risk estimates. For each 5 mm Hg higher SD of systolic BP, the pooled hazard ratio for stroke across 7 cohorts was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.28), for coronary heart disease across 4 cohorts was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.07-1.51), for CVD across 5 cohorts was 1.12 (95% CI, 0.98-1.28), for CVD mortality across 5 cohorts was 1.22 (95% CI, 1.09-1.35), and for all-cause mortality across 4 cohorts was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.05-1.36). In summary, modest associations between visit-to-visit variability of BP and CVD and all-cause mortality are present in published studies. However, these findings are limited by the small amount of data available for meta-analysis.
Hemodynamic Responses Elicited By γ2-MSH or Blood Replacement in Hemorrhaged Rats

Background Systemic injections of compounds such as γ 2 -melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ 2 -MSH), which increase sympathetic neurogenic vasoconstriction, may be beneficial in treating hemorrhage-induced hypotension. Methods This study characterized (1) the hemodynamic responses elicited by systemic injections of γ 2 -MSH in pentobarbital-anesthetized hemorrhaged rats, and (2) the hemodynamic responses elicited by the replacement of withdrawn blood in these rats. Results Controlled hemorrhage (4.8 ± 0.3 mL/rat at 1.5 mL/min) resulted in a pronounced and sustained fall in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). The fall in MAP was associated with a reduction in heart rate (HR) and hindquarter (HQR) vascular resistance but no changes in mesenteric (MR) or renal (RR) vascular resistances. Systemic injections of γ 2 -MSH (10–40 μg/kg, i.v.) produced dose-dependent increases in HR, MAP, and vascular resistances of 20 to 60 s in duration in the hemorrhaged rats. In contrast, injection of the withdrawn blood produced an immediate and sustained increase in MAP, which was associated with a pronounced vasodilation in the hindquarter bed but no changes in MR or RR. Conclusions These findings suggest that although γ 2 -MSH elicits pressor and vasoconstrictor responses in hemorrhaged rats, the bolus injection of this peptide may not in itself be an effective strategy for the sustained restoration of MAP in these rats. Moreover, although blood replacement effectively restores MAP via increases in cardiac output rather than total peripheral resistance, it appears that this manipulation produces an active vasodilation in the hindquarter bed. The possibility that this vasodilation involves a sympathetic neurogenic vasodilator system, which innervates the hindlimb vascular bed but not mesenteric or renal vascular beds, will be discussed.
Physician Attitudes and Practices Related to Voluntary Error and Near-Miss Reporting

Physicians are less likely to report events than other colleagues. There are barriers to physician reporting that need to be addressed to encourage reporting and create a fair culture around reporting.
US NOAA Fisheries and UK SAHFOS CPR surveys: comparison of methods and data

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey has sampled four routes: Boston–Nova Scotia (1961–present), New York toward Bermuda (1976–present), Narragansett Bay–Mount Hope Bay–Rhode Island Sound (1998–present) and eastward of Chesapeake Bay (1974–1980). NOAA involvement began in 1974 when it assumed responsibility for the existing Boston–Nova Scotia route from what is now the UK's Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS). Training, equipment and computer software were provided by SAHFOS to ensure continuity for this and standard protocols for any new routes. Data for the first 14 years of this route were provided to NOAA by SAHFOS. Comparison of collection methods; sample processing; and sample identification, staging and counting techniques revealed near-consistency between NOAA and SAHFOS. One departure involved phytoplankton counting standards. This has since been addressed and the data corrected. Within- and between-survey taxonomic and life-stage names and their consistency through time were, and continue to be, an issue. For this, a cross-reference table has been generated that contains the SAHFOS taxonomic code, NOAA taxonomic code, NOAA life-stage code, National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) taxonomic code, Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) serial number and authority and consistent use/route. This table is available for review/use by other CPR surveys. Details of the NOAA and SAHFOS comparison and analytical techniques unique to NOAA are presented.
Epidemiology: key to translational, team, and transdisciplinary science.

My perspective on positioning epidemiology for the next generation is derived from my experience in research, from the broad view of the field that came from directing the extramural cancer epidemiology program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and, from considerable thought, with input from influential colleagues, about the nature of science in the modern world. As a thesis statement, I think that epidemiology will grow in importance as a central set of methods and a unique perspective toward discovery and its application in population health. I believe that epidemiology can play a key role in bringing together scientists, professionals and others in a transdisciplinary problem-solving approach to important health and healthcare problems. There are many important such problems (e.g., issues in global health) that are elaborated by my colleagues in this series of essays. I am primarily concerned about advancing the perspective that epidemiology has a central role in team science, no matter what the health issue at hand. To develop this thesis in these brief remarks, I will touch on how epidemiology relates to several concepts now in common usage: translational science, team science, transdisciplinary science, and knowledge integration. The interested reader is invited to go deeper into these topics with the references provided. I begin, however, with a framework for cancer control research adopted by Dr. Barbara Rimer and myself when we led the NCI’s new Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences between 1998 and 2003 (1) (Fig. 1). This framework built on an earlier structuring of cancer control science as a multiphase process by Peter Greenwald and Joe Cullen (2) and a later conceptualization of cancer control by a Canadian advisory group (3). Our framework formulated cancer control science as a constantly evolving process with multiple opportunities for feedback loops that advanced from basic discovery research, to intervention research, informed and stimulated by surveillance data, to application and policy. The important function of knowledge synthesis and decision-making is seen as central to this process. Epidemiology plays a key role all along the way in fundamental etiologic research, intervention research, the analysis and interpretation of surveillance data and in knowledge synthesis (e.g., reviews, meta-analysis) of
The substitutability of external control and self-control

Three experiments offered participants the opportunity to undertake an activity that had long-term benefits but either small or large short-term costs. The experiments investigated how self-control efforts to undertake the activity are affected by real or primed externally imposed controls. Two forms of self-control were assessed: bolstering the value of the offered activity and self-imposed penalties for failure to undertake it. The results showed that greater short-term costs elicited more self-control efforts when externally imposed controls were absent and less self-control efforts when externally imposed controls were present. Both externally imposed controls and self-control efforts prevented short-term costs from affecting participants intention to undertake the activity. The results were interpreted as suggesting that externally imposed control and self-control are substitutable means for pursuing activities with long-term benefits and short-term costs.
Humanbecoming and Practice Fairness-Unfairness

In this column a synthetic definition of fairness-unfairness is followed by a situation study involving an exchange between two undergraduate nursing students and their professor. A series of situations unfolds in which the students encounter a refugee and her family as they enter the American healthcare system. Students share their impressions of fairness-unfairness in this family’s experiences. The professor interacts with the students to demonstrate the humanbecoming way of being with persons while bearing witness to the choices made in living out their values.
Bilateral medialization laryngoplasty

Bilateral medialization laryngoplasty represents an innovative procedure for voice and swallowing rehabilitation. The authors purpose is to discuss its indications, technique, and results.
Excess cones in the retinal degeneration rd7 mouse, caused by the loss of function of orphan nuclear receptor Nr2e3, originate from early-born photoreceptor precursors

The orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 is a direct transcriptional target of NRL, the key basic motif leucine zipper transcription factor that dictates rod versus cone photoreceptor cell fate in the mammalian retina. The lack of NR2E3 function in humans and in retinal degeneration rd7 mutant mouse leads to increased S-cones accompanied by rod degeneration, whereas ectopic expression of Nr2e3 in the cone-only Nrl(-/-) retina generates rod-like cells that do not exhibit any visual function. Using GFP to tag the newborn rods and by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine birthdating, we demonstrate that early-born post-mitotic photoreceptor precursors in the rd7 retina express cone-specific genes. Transgenic mouse studies in the rd7 background show that Nr2e3 when expressed under the control of Crx promoter can restore rod photoreceptor function and suppress cone gene expression. Furthermore, Nr2e3 expression in photoreceptor precursors committed to be rods (driven by the Nrl promoter) could completely rescue the retinal phenotype of the rd7 mice. We conclude that excess of S-cones in the rd7 retina originate from photoreceptor precursors with a 'default' fate and not from proliferation of cones and that Nr2e3 is required to suppress the expression of S-cone genes during normal rod differentiation. These studies further support the 'transcriptional dominance' model of photoreceptor cell fate determination and provide insights into the pathogenesis of retinal disease phenotypes caused by NR2E3 mutations.
Characteristics of master's programs in agribusiness management

Abstract This study describes and compares agribusiness master’s programs in North America. These programs include the master of business administration (MBA) and master in (or “of”) agribusiness (MAB) degrees. Accredited MBA programs with an agribusiness emphasis are required to have a clear required core of courses in finance, management, marketing management, and human behavior. Additional required courses in policy, agricultural marketing, production or managerial economics, and quantitative methods are also frequently required. MAB programs have more diversity regarding the four core subjects with a greater percentage of the courses taught within departments of agricultural economics. Evaluation of agribusiness master’s programs in agricultural economics departments is difficult without any formal evaluation criteria.
TeleHealth Improves Diabetes Self-Management in an Underserved Community: Diabetes TeleCare

OBJECTIVE To conduct a 1-year randomized clinical trial to evaluate a remote comprehensive diabetes self-management education (DSME) intervention, Diabetes TeleCare, administered by a dietitian and nurse/certified diabetes educator (CDE) in the setting of a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in rural South Carolina. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants were recruited from three member health centers of an FQHC and were randomized to either Diabetes TeleCare, a 12-month, 13-session curriculum delivered using telehealth strategies, or usual care. RESULTS Mixed linear regression model results for repeated measures showed a significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin (GHb) in the Diabetes TeleCare group from baseline to 6 and 12 months (9.4 ± 0.3, 8.3 ± 0.3, and 8.2 ± 0.4, respectively) compared with usual care (8.8 ± 0.3, 8.6 ± 0.3, and 8.6 ± 0.3, respectively). LDL cholesterol was reduced at 12 months in the Diabetes TeleCare group compared with usual care. Although not part of the original study design, GHb was reduced from baseline to 12 and 24 months in the Diabetes TeleCare group (9.2 ± 0.4, 7.4 ± 0.5, and 7.6 ± 0.5, respectively) compared with usual care (8.7 ± 0.4, 8.1 ± 0.4, and 8.1 ± 0.5, respectively) in a post hoc analysis of a subset of the randomized sample who completed a 24-month follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth effectively created access to successfully conduct a 1-year remote DSME by a nurse CDE and dietitian that improved metabolic control and reduced cardiovascular risk in an ethnically diverse and rural population.
Molecular Diagnosis of Lyme Disease: Review and Meta-analysis

The diagnosis of Lyme disease is difficult because tests that reflect active disease or have reasonable sensitivity and specificity are lacking or not timely. Molecular methods are controversial because of differences in assays, gene targets, and limited clinical validation. This review summarizes published assays for Lyme disease diagnosis using skin, plasma, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine. Meta-analyses show the strengths and weaknesses of these methods. Overall, assays for skin and synovial fluid (68% and 73%, respectively) have high sensitivity and uniformity. The low test sensitivity of CSF (18%) and plasma (29%), variable sensitivities among CSF and urine assays, and persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA in urine and synovial fluid even with therapy and convalescence make these unsuitable for primary diagnosis. Molecular assays for Lyme disease are best used with other diagnostic methods and only in situations in which the clinical probability of Lyme disease is high.
Re-evaluation of a technique of pituitary incubation in vitro as an assay for corticotropin releasing factor.

The in vitro pituitary incubation system used previously for the characterization of CRF activity has been reinvestigated. Under the conditions as used to assay CRF, there is no detectable destruction of ACTH activity. The effect of CRF cannot therefore be explained on the basis of inhibition of ACTH inactivation. CRF does not act either by potentiating ACTH at the adrenal level or by an inherent adrenocorticotrophic activity. When considering the minimal active dose of purified substances, this test system appears to be highly specific for CRF. There is complete agreement as to characterization of CRF between data obtained in vitro and with recent in vivo assay systems.
A new quantitative basis for electrocardiographic theory: the normal QRS complex.

A theory of electrocardiography based on a fixed-location, eccentric-dipole representation of ventricular depolarization and a homogeneous, resistive, linear medium in the shape of the human torso yields quantitative predictions of instantaneous amplitude and shape of QRS body surface potentials on one normal human subject to an accuracy of approximately ±15 per cent for electrodes dispersed over the entire torso.
A recursive doubling algorithm for solution of tridiagonal systems on hypercube multiprocessors

Abstract The recursive doubling algorithm as developed by Stone can be used to solve a tridiagonal linear system of size n on a parallel computer with n processors using O(log n ) parallel arithmetic steps. In this paper, we give a limited processor version of the recursive doubling algorithm for the solution of tridiagonal linear systems using O( n / p + log p ) parallel arithmetic steps on a parallel computer with p n processors. The main technique relies on fast parallel prefix algorithms, which can be efficiently mapped on the hypercube architecture using the binary-reflected Gray code. For p ≪ n this algorithm achieves linear speedup and constant efficiency over its sequential implementation as well as over the sequential LU decomposition algorithm. These results are confirmed by numerical experiments obtained on an Intel iPSC/d5 hypercube multiprocessor.
Sex and Employment-Setting Differences in Work-Family Conflict in Athletic Training

Context: Work-family conflict (WFC) has received much attention in athletic training, yet several factors related to this phenomenon have not been examined, specifically a practitioner's sex, occu...
Motion, Captured: an Open Repository for Comparative Movement Studies

This paper begins to describe a new kind of database, one that explores a diverse range of movement in the field of dance through capture of different bodies and different backgrounds - or what we are terming movement vernaculars. We re-purpose Ivan Illich's concept of 'vernacular work' [11] here to refer to those everyday forms of dance and organized movement that are informal, refractory (resistant to formal analysis), yet are socially reproduced and derived from a commons. The project investigates the notion of vernaculars in movement that is intentional and aesthetic through the development of a computational approach that highlights both similarities and differences, thereby revealing the specificities of each individual mover. This paper presents an example of how this movement database is used as a research tool, and how the fruits of that research can be added back to the database, thus adding a novel layer of annotation and further enriching the collection. Future researchers can then benefit from this layer, further refining and building upon these techniques. The creation of a robust, open source, movement lexicon repository will allow for observation, speculation, and contextualization - along with the provision of clean and complex data sets for new forms of creative expression.
Oxygen desaturation during a 6-min walk identifies a COPD phenotype with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality.

6MWD: patients who desaturate have higher morbidity/mortality rates when compared with those who do not desaturatehttp://ow.ly/J63B3006JCg
Abstract A23: AMPK's role in glioblastoma survival: An insight into its regulation on transcription factors and mTOR

AMP kinase (AMPK) is an evolutionarily conserved enzyme required for adaptive responses to various physiological and pathological conditions. The multisubunit structure and sensitivity to various stresses confer complexity to AMPK function which scores beyond energy sensing. Here we show that inhibition of AMPK reduces viability of patient-derived primary Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) lines and tumors. We demonstrate that primary GBM cells coopt the AMPK-CREB1 pathway to coordinate global bioenergetics program through control of the transcription factors HIF1alpha and GABPA. But a growing number of AMPK activators are being developed to treat human diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This may be because AMPK activity can inhibit biosynthetic kinases like mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and acetyl Co-A carboxylase (ACC). We found that AMPK silencing in glioma cells did not affect mTOR or downstream targets. AMPK is not absolutely necessary for mTOR inhibition, suggesting that in certain contexts, activated AMPK and mTOR may coexist. Indeed, this is what we observed in glioblastoma suggesting that basally active AMPK may not be sufficient to put a brake on mTOR. Further analysis of our preliminary data from primary tumor cells on Cap-dependent and well reported procancer IRES dependent translation under tumor microenvironment context will demonstrate significance of AMPK in translational machinery in GBM and will benefit in finding new therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Rishi Raj Chhipa, Biplab Dasgupta. AMPK9s role in glioblastoma survival: An insight into its regulation on transcription factors and mTOR. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Translational Control of Cancer: A New Frontier in Cancer Biology and Therapy; 2016 Oct 27-30; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A23.
Quantifying economic and environmental impacts of transportation network disruptions with dynamic traffic simulation

Several transportation network vulnerability models have been proposed. However, most only consider disruptions as a static snapshot in time and the impact on total travel time. These approaches cannot consider the time-varying nature of travel demand nor other undesirable outcomes that follow from transportation network disruptions. This paper proposes an algorithmic approach to assess the vulnerability of a transportation network that considers the time-varying demand with an open source dynamic transportation simulation tool. The open source nature of the tool allows us to systematically consider many disruption scenarios and quantitatively compare their relative criticality. This is far more efficient than traditional approaches which would require days or weeks of a transportation engineers time to manually set up, run, and assess these simulations. In addition to travel time, we also collect statistics on additional fuel consumed and the corresponding carbon dioxide emissions. Our approach, thus provides a more systematic approach that is both time-varying and can consider additional negative consequences of disruptions for decision makers to evaluate.
Effect of Molecular Weight of Phase Polymers on Partition of Cells in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Due to their aqueous environment and biocompatible polymers, aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) provide a mild environment for partition of cells. A comprehensive understanding of cell partition in ATPS will facilitate cell separation and fractionation in ATPS for downstream cell-based analytical applications and various cellular and molecular biology studies. We report the effect of molecular weight of phase polymers on partition of cells between two aqueous phases and their interface. We generate three different ATPS by dissolving polyethylene glycol and dextran of different molecular weights in a standard cell culture medium of fixed composition. After suspending cells in each ATPS, we quantify the number of cells partitioned into each segregated phase and the interface between the two phases. Importantly, we use two-phase solutions of an identical interfacial tension from each ATPS to avoid the effect of interfacial tension on cell partition. Our results indicate that decreasing the molecular weight of one of the phase polymers results in distribution of a greater number of cells toward the phase rich in that polymer. Regardless of molecular weight of polymers used, two-phase solutions made with higher concentrations of polymers cause a significant shift toward cell partition to the interface. This study elucidates the role of polymer molecular weight on cell partition in ATPS and offers formulations for rapid and effective cell partition.
Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Integrative Oncology: A Survey of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practitioners.

Abstract Objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine is increasingly integrated into cancer care. We sought detail on the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) with acupuncture and oriental medicine (AOM) by surveying practitioners at integrative oncology (IO) sites across the United States. Design: Online survey of licensed acupuncturists. Setting/Location: IO sites in the United States. Subjects: Fifteen licensed acupuncturists who completed the survey between February 2014 and June 2014. Outcome measures: Demographics, IO setting characteristics, AOM treatment characteristics, and practitioner-reported outcomes. Results: Respondents reported an average of 31.3 ± 17.2 patients per week, and one-third (10.1 mean; 7.2 standard deviation [SD]) were treated for CIPN. Medical doctors (86.7%) were the most common providers with whom respondents worked. Traditional Chinese medicine style acupuncture was utilized by a majority of respondents (86.7%), and the most commonly used po...
Needed B2B marketing capabilities: Insights from the USA and emerging Latin America

Abstract Firms from all parts of the world are expanding operations globally in a turbulent economic context, requiring the understanding of nontraditional markets. Much attention has been focused on China and India, but researchers have neglected Latin America, a region economically as important as Germany, India, Japan, and South Korea. Latin America, as is true of many developed and emerging markets, has a strong presence of industrial − or business to business (B2B) − transactions. The configuration and convergence-divergence of marketing capabilities are relevant for the understanding of the globalization phenomenon. This study aims to examine B2B marketing capabilities of firms in Chile, Mexico and Peru (as Latin American countries), seeking conceptual issues in order to comprehend their business perspectives and contribute to the almost nonexistent body of research in this region. How do the results from Latin America compare with the USA? While the study shows directional convergence between Chile and Peru, there also is interesting divergence between all Latin American countries and the USA. The findings offer a portfolio of marketing topics that we believe are worthy of practitioner and academic consideration. We propose a model of convergence-divergence of B2B marketing capabilities across nations and state propositions for hypothesis testing.
MENOPAUSE: EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS

Menopause is the physiologic, psychological, and social transition from reproductive years to nonreproductive years. The interest and attention directed to the perimenopausal and postmenopausal years is increasing as life expectancy expands. At the turn of the last century, in 1900, the life expectancy of women in industrialized countries averaged just over 50 years. At the turn of this century, the expectancy will average about 80 years. Thus, in 1900, menopause heralded for many women an approaching end to life, but today it announces for women the start of a period of life that will comprise about one-third of their expected life span. Health providers and medical researchers should direct efforts not only to extending these years but to improving the quality of life.
Being-Centered Leadership: Leader as an Enlightened Sage

This chapter takes as axiomatic that leadership is a voyage of inner discovery and that Self-knowledge is the key to leading from within. This journey begins with knowing oneself and culminates in living one’s deepest values selflessly, working for the common good. This chapter presents a unique conception of the leader as an enlightened sage who operates from a higher stance of being, effortlessly anchored in Self-knowledge and self-mastery. As a prelude to the conception of a sage steady in the wisdom of the Self (sthitaprajna), this chapter also highlights the need, the importance, and the practice of Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is also essential for leading a fulfilled life. Since happiness is sought for the sake of the self, it stands to reason that the quest for fulfillment should begin with knowing the Self.
Role of mast cells in the generation of a T-helper type 2 dominated anti-helminthic immune response

Mast cells are long-lived, innate immune cells of the myeloid lineage which are found in peripheral tissues located throughout the body, and positioned at the interface between the host and the environment. Mast cells are found in high concentrations during helminth infection. Using Kitw-sh mast cell deficient mice, a recently published study in Bioscience Reports by Gonzalez et al. (Biosci. Rep., 2018) focused on the role of mast cells in the immune response to infection by the helminth Hymenolepis diminuta. The authors showed that mast cells play a role in the modulation of Th2 immune response characterized by a unique IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 cytokine profile, as well as subsequent robust worm expulsion during H. diminuta infection. Unlike WT mice which expelled H. diminuta at day 10, Kitw-sh deficient mice displayed delayed worm expulsion (day 14 post infection). Further, a possible role for mast cells in the basal expression of cytokines IL-25, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin was described. Deletion of neutrophils in Kitw-sh deficient mice enhanced H. diminuta expulsion, which was accompanied by splenomegaly. However, interactions between mast cells and other innate and adaptive immune cells during helminth infections are yet to be fully clarified. We conclude that the elucidation of mechanisms underlying mast cell interactions with cells of the innate and adaptive immune system during infection by helminths can potentially uncover novel therapeutic applications against inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.
Abstract 437: Increasing Cardiac Fatty Acid Oxidation Protects Against High Fat Diet Induced Cardiomyopathy in Mice

In the obese and diabetic heart, an imbalance between fatty acid uptake and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) promotes the development of cardiac lipotoxicity. We previously showed that cardiac specific d...
Separation and thickness measurements of superficial and deep slabs of the retinal nerve fiber layer in healthy and glaucomatous eyes.

Purpose The authors describe a new method to analyze retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness maps. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness maps of healthy and glaucomatous eyes. Methods OCT RNFL raster scans from 98 healthy and 50 glaucomatous eyes were analyzed. The RNFL thickness maps were separated into a superficial slab of the RNFL (SNFL) and deep slab of the RNFL (DNFL) through a partial-thickness plane set at the modal thickness (mode). Associations between mode and OCT signal strength (SS), age, axial length, and visual field mean deviation (VFMD) were tested (Pearson coefficient, r). Thicknesses of inferior SNFL (i-SNFL) and superior SNFL (s-SNFL) regions and inferior DNFL (i-DNFL), superior DNFL (s-DNFL), nasal DNFL (n-DNFL), and temporal DNFL (t-DNFL) regions were calculated. The region thicknesses were compared between healthy and glaucomatous eyes (t test) and between glaucomatous eyes with early, moderate, and severe disease (analysis of variance and linear regressions of thickness on VFMD). Diagnostic accuracy and correlation with VFMD of RNFL regions thicknesses were calculated as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Pearson r, respectively. P Main Outcome Measures Thickness of regions in SNFL and DNFL slabs. Results The mode was not associated with SS, age, axial length, or VFMD. It circumscribed the thicker RNFL around the optic disc of healthy and glaucomatous eyes and was used to separate the SNFL and DNFL slabs of RNFL thickness maps. The thickness of the SNFL slab was less in glaucomatous eyes than in healthy eyes (P 0.95, P 0.60, P Conclusions Glaucomatous RNFL thinning is predominantly detected within a slab with thickness greater than the mode. Superficial slab of the RNFL thickness has great AUC and correlation with VFMD in glaucomatous eyes. The usefulness for diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma needs further study.
Materials and Process Development of Aerospace Polymer Matrix Composites

Materials and process development is cross-cutting by nature as similar material properties are often required by multiple programs. At NASA, therefore, working as a materials research engineer provides a unique opportunity to be associated with a variety of programs and vehicle platforms. Furthermore, dual applicability in both aeronautics and space structures provides opportunity to work with legacy materials for aircraft and spacecraft but also to develop new materials as the architecture, operation, or mission of vehicles evolve. Materials work at NASA is often driven by the associated application, generally based on structural load requirements and operating temperature regime. My research, specifically, is focused on polymer-based composites, which are a lightweight alternative to metals for primary or secondary structures.
Decompression and Fusion with or Without Instrumentation

Abstract Fusion methods for degenerative spondylolisthesis and stenosis have been continuously evolving over the past few decades. Non-instrumented arthrodesis has been replaced with posterolateral instrumented arthrodesis and the potential addition of an interbody arthrodesis. In this chapter we discuss the advantages and disadvantages seen in the literature with posterolateral instrumented f arthrodesis (IF) versus non-instrumented arthrodesis as well as with posterolateral instrumented arthrodesis and additional interbody arthrodesis (IBF) in the setting of degenerative spondylolisthesis.
Reframing Neurodiversity as Competitive Advantage: Opportunities, Challenges, and Resources for Business and Professional Communication Educators:

This article outlines opportunities and challenges of teaching neurologically diverse students in the business communication course, providing basic resources and information for instructors to sup...
Clinical Outcomes of a Modified Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA® Gastro™ Airway) During Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Children and Adolescents: A Randomized Study.

Introduction During esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), general anesthesia (GA) may be provided using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with the endoscope inserted behind the cuff of the LMA into the esophagus. Passage of the endoscope may increase the intracuff of the LMA. We evaluated a newly designed LMA (LMA® Gastro™ Airway) which has an internal channel exiting from its distal end to facilitate EGD. The current study compared the change of LMA cuff pressure between this new LMA and a standard clinical LMA (Ambu® AuraOnce™) during EGD. Methods Patients less than 21 years of age and weighing more than 30 kg were randomized to receive airway management with one of the two LMAs during EGD. After anesthetic induction and successful LMA placement, the intracuff pressure of the LMAs was continuously monitored during the procedure. The primary outcome was the change of intracuff pressure of the LMAs. Results The study cohort included 200 patients (mean age 13.6 years and weight 56.6 kg) who were randomized to the LMA® Gastro™ Airway (n=100) or the Ambu® AuraOnce™ LMA (n=100). Average intracuff pressures during the study period (before and after endoscope insertion) were not different between the two LMAs. Ease of the procedure was slightly improved with the LMA® Gastro™ Airway (p<0.001). Discussion The LMA® Gastro™ Airway blunted, but did not prevent an increase in intracuff pressure during EGD when compared to the Ambu® AuraOnce™ LMA. Throat soreness was generally low, and complications were infrequent in both groups. The ease of the procedure was slightly improved with the LMA® Gastro™ Airway compared to the Ambu® AuraOnce™ LMA.
Echocardiography-Guided Risk Stratification for Long QT Syndrome.

Abstract Background The ability to identify those patients at the highest phenotypic risk for long QT syndrome (LQTS)–associated life-threatening cardiac events remains suboptimal. Objectives This study sought to validate the association between electromechanical window (EMW) negativity, as derived from echocardiography, and symptomatic versus asymptomatic status in patients with LQTS. Methods We analyzed a cohort of 651 patients with LQTS (age 26 ± 17 years; 60% females; 158 symptomatic; 51% LQTS type 1; 33% LQTS type 2; 11% LQTS type 3; 5% multiple mutations) and 50 healthy controls. EMW was calculated as the difference between the interval from QRS onset to aortic valve closure midline, as derived for continuous-wave Doppler, and the electrocardiogram-derived QT interval for the same beat. Results A negative EMW was found among nearly all patients with LQTS compared to controls, with more profound EMW negativity in patients with symptomatic LQTS compared to those with asymptomatic LQTS (−52 ± 38 ms vs. −18 ± 29 ms; p Conclusions In this validation study, patients with a history of LQTS-associated life-threatening cardiac events had a more profoundly negative EMW. EMW outperformed heart rate–corrected QT interval as a predictor of symptomatic status. EMW is now a clinically validated risk factor. In December 2019, our institution’s echocardiography clinical practice committee approved use of EMW for patients with LQTS, making it a routinely reported echocardiographic finding.