cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High temperature creep and deformation microstructures in recrystallized Zircaloy-4

Uniaxial creep tests were performed on recrystallized Zircaloy-4 tensile specimens with an average grain size of 8.5 μm at the stress range of , where E is the elastic modulus, at three temperatures: 500, 550 and 600 °C with an objective to uncover the rate-controlling mechanism(s). A transition in creep mechanism was observed as the stress exponent increased from a value close to 1 at the low stress range to 4.1 at high stresses with the calculated activation energies (Qc) of 196 kJ/mol and 241 kJ/mol, respectively. Possible creep mechanisms have been shortlisted based upon the values of n and Qc. Transmission electron microscopy analyses of the dislocation structures in the crept specimens as well as validation of the experimental results with the predictions by standard creep models were undertaken to ascertain the underlying rate-controlling mechanisms. While Coble creep was noted to be the dominant mechanism in the n ~ 1 regime at low stresses, dislocation climb was identified to control the creep ra...
Molecule specific effects of PKA-mediated phosphorylation on rat isolated heart and cardiac myofibrillar function

Increased cardiac myocyte contractility by the β-adrenergic system is an important mechanism to elevate cardiac output to meet hemodynamic demands and this process is depressed in failing hearts. While increased contractility involves augmented myoplasmic calcium transients, the myofilaments also adapt to boost the transduction of the calcium signal. Accordingly, ventricular contractility was found to be tightly correlated with PKA-mediated phosphorylation of two myofibrillar proteins, cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), implicating these two proteins as important transducers of hemodynamics to the cardiac sarcomere. Consistent with this, we have previously found that phosphorylation of myofilament proteins by PKA (a downstream signaling molecule of the beta-adrenergic system) increased force, slowed force development rates, sped loaded shortening, and increased power output in rat skinned cardiac myocyte preparations. Here, we sought to define molecule-specific mechanisms by which PKA-mediated phosphorylation regulates these contractile properties. Regarding cTnI, the incorporation of thin filaments with unphosphorylated cTnI decreased isometric force production and these changes were reversed by PKA-mediated phosphorylation in skinned cardiac myocytes. Further, incorporation of unphosphorylated cTnI sped rates of force development, which suggests less cooperative thin filament activation and reduced recruitment of non-cycling cross-bridges into the pool of cycling cross-bridges, a process that would tend to depress both myocyte force and power. Regarding MyBP-C, PKA treatment of slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers caused phosphorylation of MyBP-C (but not slow skeletal TnI (ssTnI)) and yielded faster loaded shortening velocity and ∼30% increase in power output. These results add novel insight into the molecular specificity by which the β-adrenergic system regulates myofibrillar contractility and how attenuation of PKA-induced phosphorylation of cMyBP-C and cTnI may contribute to ventricular pump failure.
Method for Visualizing Coupled Particle and Fluid Transport in Porous Media

Understanding the transport of discrete particles in porous media is important to a number of problems involving subsurface flow and transport, water and waste-water treatment, and soil pedology. In prior research on this subject, a plexiglass box filled with glass beads was used to construct artificial porous media. The discrete particles were modeled by fluorescent particles suspended in distilled water. A laser was then used to excite the particles, which were tracked as the suspension was flushed through the medium. The fluorescence emitted by the particles was recorded with a digital camera, and the particle concentration, at the macroscopic scale, was obtained based on fluorescent light intensity. As an improvement to the original technique, the visualization technique reported in this paper uses halogen light as the excitation light source. The entire flow field can thus be visualized at once. With the use of a microscopic lens in the experimental set-up, the new system can also trace the path of a single particle.
Induced Airflow Created by Large Hovering Beetles

When hovering, the rhinoceros beetle, Strategus sp., produces a downstream wake pattern such that the induced velocity peak value occurs close to the body. Implicit are large radial inflows at the flapping plane. Such a pattern contrasts greatly with classic helicopter, propeller, and assumed insect induced velocity distributions.
The Characterization of Initial Growth of Polycrystalline Silicon Germanium Films on Zirconium Oxide

In this study, the initial growth characteristics of a SiGe film realized by ultrahigh-vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHV CVD) using GeH 4 and Si 2 H 6 on high- K gate oxide , ZrO 2 , has been investigated in the temperature range from 475°C to 550°C. The influence of surface reactions on growth characteristics such as the incubation of growth, roughness of the SiGe layer, and the interface reaction of the SiGe film with ZrO 2 were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From our analysis we conclude that ZrO 2 reacts with Si and forms zirconium silicide in the temperature range between 500°C and 550°C. The surface roughness of amorphous SiGe layers increase from 0.5nm to 1.5nm by increasing Ge content from 0.1 to 0.3. A further increase of surface roughness is observed from less than 1nm to 5nm as SiGe layer transitions from an amorphous to a poly crystalline layer.
BUBBLE DYNAMICS AND HEAT TRANSFER ASSOCIATED WITH POOL NUCLEATE BOILING UNDER MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS

A building block type approach is used to investigate mechanisms associated with nucleate boiling heat transfer and vapor removal under microgravity conditions. In this approach, starting with a single bubble, the complexity of the experiments is increased to include merger of neighboring bubbles. Key processes of interest are the heat transfer rates associated with micro/macrolayer evaporation and bubble dynamics. The bubble dynamics includes bubble growth and departure. The bubble growth is influenced by heat transfer, whereas, the forces acting on the bubble determine the bubble diameter at departure and bubble growth period. In microgravity, buoyancy force is practically non-existent. As such, forces (e.g. lift) that are insignificant at earth normal gravity become important at zero gravity and determine the bubble departure diameter. Experiments using single and multiple cavities microfabricated in silicon wafers have been performed at normal gravity and in the parabolic flight of the KC135. The experimental results of bubble dynamics and heat transfer have been validated with 2-D and 3-D numerical simulations of the process. Based on the scaling of the effect of gravitational acceleration, the requirements for space flight experiments are developed. The hardware used in the experiments will
Expression of Cnox-2, a HOM/HOX homeobox gene in hydra, is correlated with axial pattern formation.

Cnox-2 is a HOM/HOX homeobox gene that we have identified in the simple metazoan Hydra vulgaris (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). Cnox-2 is most closely related to anterior members of the Antennapedia gene complex from Drosophila, with the greatest similarity to Deformed. The Cnox-2 protein is expressed in the epithelial cells of adult hydra polyps in a region-specific pattern along the body axis, at a low level in the head and at a high level in the body column and the foot. The expression pattern of Cnox-2 is consistent with a role in axial pattern formation. Alteration of hydra axial patterning by treatment with diacylglycerol (DAG) results in an increase of head activation down the body column and in a coordinate reduction of Cnox-2 expression in epithelial cells in ‘head-like’ regions. These results suggest that Cnox-2 expression is negatively regulated by a signaling pathway acting through protein kinase C (PKC), and that the varying levels of expression of Cnox-2 along the body axis have the potential to result in differential gene expression which is important for hydra pattern formation.
Development overview and the construction of comprehensive evaluation index system of Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park

Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park has become the focus of cross-strait exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan as a new carrier,new platform and new model in agricultural exchanges and cooperation,which plays an increasingly important role in the development of crossd-strait relationships.This paper described the origin of Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park,and analyzed the creation time,the regional distribution and the major industry types of 29 Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park.Based on this,it introduced the principles and methods of the comprehensive evaluation system for Taiwan farmers Pioneer Park.And then it constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system with 10 guidelines subsystem and 46 specific evaluations using AHP method for Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park,from the aspect of construction foundation,internal efficiency and external efficiency.And the comprehensive evaluation system can be used to evaluate the overall benefits of Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park,so as to reflect the problems of Taiwan farmers' entrepreneurial park and their impact factors.
The Classroom as a Space of Resistance: Disrupting Neoliberal Politics Through Critical Communication Pedagogy

Once a space intended to be a bastion of unencumbered critical examination, the university was a place in which instructors and students were able to engage in critical examination. Today, however, this focus on critical thought and social justice has been challenged by the encroachment of neoliberalism, which does opposes pedagogy that challenges power. In this paper, I argue that critically-minded instructors can resist the influence of neoliberalism in the university by challenging students to recognize and respond to power through critical communication pedagogy.
Pharmacology of Chenodeoxycholic Acid: II. Absorption and metabolism

Studies on the absorption and metabolism of chenodeoxycholic (chenic) acid were carried out in healthy volunteers as well as gallstone patients on maintenance therapy with chenic acid for gallstone dissolution. Preliminary studies showed that chenic acid was completely absorbed in doses up to 400 mg when infused as a micellar solution into the jejunum, and that the increase in levels of unconjugated chenic acid in peripheral blood was directly proportional to dose, i.e., that a constant fraction of the administered dose appeared in peripheral blood, indicating that hepatic fractional clearance was constant in doses up to 400 mg. A preparation of [3H]chenic acid, prepared as part of these studies, was shown to be completely absorbed when ingested by mouth in a dose of 250 mg. To test the bioavailability of the eight commercial preparations, 400 mg of a given preparation was mixed with 40 mg of [3H]chenic acid. Radioactivity and unconjugated chenic acid (determined by gas-liquid chromatography) were measured in peripheral blood, and the ratio of mass to radioactivity was used to calculate absolute bioavailability. All preparations were completely absorbed, with the exception of one sample, which consisted of large crystals; after milling, this preparation was also completely absorbed. First pass clearance was determined by comparing the integrals of the plasma concentration time curve after intravenously administered [14C]chenic acid with those after simultaneous oral ingestion of [3H]chenic acid; it averaged 62%. Chenic acid was completely absorbed in gallstone patients on maintenance chenic acid therapy, irrespective of whether the agent was ingested during fasting, with meals, or 1 hr after a meal. After ingestion of [3H]chenic acid, all radioactivity in peripheral blood had the chromatographic behavior of unconjugated chenic acid, suggesting that no biotransformation occurred during intestinal absorption. Intravenously administered chenic acid was promptly excreted in bile as its glycine and taurine conjugates. Together, these studies indicate that chenic acid, if sufficiently small in particle size, is rapidly and completely absorbed, efficiently extracted by the liver, and excreted in bile as cheno- deoxycholyl conjugates. Based on these findings, as well as previous studies of bile acid metabolism, a pharmacokinetic model for chenic acid metabolism in man is proposed.
Psycho-Physiological Influences of Color as Related to Package Design

Packagers of consumer goods are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that color may have on the sales of their produces. However, the tactile senses (stimulation via proprioceptive mechansims) may interact significantly to compound the variables which in effect account for the physical perception of a given object.
Analytical bounds on the critical coupling strength in a population of heterogeneous biological oscillators

Synchronization of nonlinear oscillators is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the biological sciences; however, existing analytical techniques are ill-equipped to handle the large amount of heterogeneity present in realistic populations of biological oscillators. Using phase reduction, we derive upper and lower bounds on the critical coupling strength required to achieve frequency synchronization in a population with both arbitrarily distributed natural frequencies and phase response properties. Numerical simulations reveal that these bounds are reasonably tight in a network of oscillatory neurons as might be relevant to diseases characterized by pathological neural synchronization such as epilepsy or Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, we show how the upper bounds can be altered by including the influence of a periodic external perturbation.
A Multidimensional Theory of Early Modern Western Childhood

Historical findings on the nature of childhood in early modern times (1450- 1800) are compared for three national cases: England, France, and the American Colonies. The intellectual context for the...
Intraspinal devices for pain management

Intraspinal drug delivery is one of several important pain management therapies. Numerous delivery methods and drugs are available for administration into the epidural or intrathecal space. The choice of systems and drugs is based on the nature and duration of the patient's pain, his or her other medical problems, and patient resources. Patients must be carefully selected to ensure optimal results. Nurses can assist in this screening and perform preoperative teaching, postoperative care, and long-term follow-up. Essential knowledge includes general pain management principles as well as principles of intraspinal drug delivery.
American Academy of Dermatology Symposium on AIDS: Atlanta, Georgia, Dec. 1, 1990

The growing epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a world health problem in the 10 years since it was first identified. Because patients with HIV disease frequently have one or more cutaneous problems, the dermatologist is often the first physician to be consulted by a person infected with the HIV. The AIDS Symposium ofthe Forty-ninthAnnual Meeting ofthe American Academy ofDermatology held in December 1990 provided dermatologists with an overview of the epidemiology, virology, immunology, and other clinical aspects of HIV infection and AIDS in both children and adults. The current status of antibody testing, experimental treatments, and public education to help prevent the spread of the disease were discussed. The ethical, political, and economic issues created by AIDS were also presented.
A perspective on the statistical mechanics of 2D materials

Abstract 2D materials are fascinating for numerous reasons. Their geometrical and mechanical characteristics along with other associated physical properties have opened up fascinating new application avenues ranging from electronics, energy harvesting, biological systems among others. Due to the 2D nature of these materials, they are known for their unusual flexibility and the ability to sustain large curvature deformations. Further, they undergo noticeable thermal fluctuations at room temperature. In this perspective, we highlight both the characteristics and implications of thermal fluctuations in 2D materials and discuss current challenges in the context of statistical mechanics of fluid and solid membranes.
393. Effectiveness of Antioxidant Gene Therapy in Delaying Retinal Degeneration

We established a mouse model of RPE(retinal pigment epithelium) oxidative stress by Cre-lox mediated deletion of the Sod2 gene, that codes for the protective enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), leading to some of the features of geographic atrophy. It is the purpose of these experiments to determine whether early delivery of Sod2 using adeno-associated virus (AAV) can prevent retinal degeneration seen in these mice and whether gene therapy can prevent degeneration once it has begun. Deletion of Sod2 was induced by doxycycline treatment of mice with a “floxed” allele of Sod2 and an RPE-specific tet-transactivator controlling expression of Cre (Sod2-cre mice). Retinal degeneration was monitored by electroretinography (ERG) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography over a period of 9 months. Mouse Sod2 with a Myc epitope under the control of a small chicken beta- actin promoter (smCBA) was packaged into self-complementary AAV serotype 1 vector (ScAAV1). Ten Sod2-cre adult mice were injected subretinally with ScAAV1-smCBA-Sod2-Myc or ScAAV1-smCBA-GFP into right and left eye respectively. Three mice were sacrificed a month following injection to collect retina and RPE separately. Using an anti-myc antibody, western blotting was performed to detect MnSOD expression. For rest of the mice ERG and SD-OCT were measured at different time points. Following doxycycline induction of Cre, mice demonstrated increased signs of oxidative stress in RPE and accumulation of autofluorescent material by 2 months of age. They showed a gradual decline in the ERG response and thinning of the outer nuclear layer (by SD-OCT) which were statistically significant by 6 months. Myc tagged MnSOD expression was detected in RPE of mice injected with vector driven by smCBA promoter and negligible expression was seen in the neural retina. ERG and OCT data suggests no adverse functional and structural integrity due to increased expression of MnSOD and sub retinal injection. ERG response and thinning retinal thickness was significantly delayed in Sod2-vector injected eyes compared to control eye injected with GFP vector. Deletion of Sod2 in the RPE leads to some of the salient features of dry AMD. ScAAV1 delivery of Sod2 led to expression in RPE. Delivery of ScAAV1-smCBA-SOD2-Myc vector can be used as a tool to reverse oxidative stress in this mouse model of dry AMD.
Sloppy morphological tuning in identified neurons of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion.

Neuronal physiology depends on a neuron’s ion channel composition and unique morphology. Variable ion channel compositions can produce similar neuronal physiologies across animals. Less is known regarding the morphological precision required to produce reliable neuronal physiology. Theoretical studies suggest that moraphology is tightly tuned to minimize wiring and conduction delay of synaptic events. We utilize high-resolution confocal microscopy and custom computational tools to characterize the morphologies of four neuron types in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of the crab Cancer borealis. Macroscopic branching patterns and fine cable properties are variable within and across neuron types. We compare these neuronal structures to synthetic minimal spanning neurite trees constrained by a wiring cost equation and find that STG neurons do not adhere to prevailing hypotheses regarding wiring optimization principles. In this highly modulated and oscillating circuit, neuronal structures appear to be governed by a space-filling mechanism that outweighs the cost of inefficient wiring.
The Three-Dimensional Structure of the cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase I - α Leucine Zipper Domain and Its Interaction with the Myosin Binding Subunit.

Vascular smooth muscle contractile state is tightly coupled to myosin light chain phosphorylation. Myosin light chain phosphorylation is regulated by the counter regulatory activities of myosin light chain kinase and myosin phosphatase. Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrovasodilators induce vascular smooth muscle cell relaxation in part by cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK)-mediated activation of myosin phosphatase. This in turn functions to dephosphorylate myosin light chains. Mechanistically this involves a protein-protein interaction mediated by a leucine zipper (LZ) domain that is localized within the N-terminus of cGK1 α and the C-terminus of myosin-binding subunit (MBS). To better understand the importance of this interaction in regulating smooth muscle vascular tone we have determined the three-dimensional structure of the LZ domain of cGK1 α , (cGKI α1–59 ) using triple resonance, multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We have expressed the LZ domain (cGKI α1–59 ) in E. coli under conditions facilitating the uniform incorporation of 13 C/ 15 N and 2 H isotopic labels and purified this expressed protein. Circular dichroism data supported that cGK1 α is comprised of an α-helix, while our NMR data identified that this helix commences at residue Ala9 and extends through to residue Leu47 of the LZ domain. 15 N backbone longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates are best fit to a rotational diffusion anisotropy model that is consistent with a coiled-coil dimmer structure, not a monomeric helix. This suggests that cGKI α1–59 is comprised of a coiled-coil conformation over this same region. A time course investigation carried out with the LZ domain and a homobifunctional amine reactive crosslinker [dithio-bis(succinimidyl propionate)] (DSP) supported the presence of a homodimer. Furthermore, 15 N heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) chemical shift mapping data has been used to identify residues that are critical for interacting with the C-terminal region of the myosin binding subunit (MBS). These data have allowed us to identify those residues necessary for cGK1 α dimerization, while simultaneously permitting a better understanding of the critical determinants of cGK1 α and MBS that are involved in regulating the contractile state of smooth muscles within blood vessels. The spatial and temporal contractile state of these blood vessels is important in the physiologic control of blood vessel tone and plays a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and atherosclerosis a leading cause of death in the US and worldwide.
Mr. Potts’ Dual Language Classroom

The school bell rings promptly at 10:35am at which point all of Mr. Potts’ fourth- and fifth-grade students, except Javier, rush outside in the 40 degree weather to play hand-ball, four-square, freeze tag, and soccer. Javier, with a concerned look on his face, immediately approaches Mr. Potts: “Senor Potts, perdi uno de mis guantes.
The 4-Aminobiphenyl Hemoglobin Adduct as a Biomarker of Effect

One of the questions raised repeatedly at this meeting was whether biochemical markers such as DNA and protein adducts of chemical carcinogens were or could be biomarkers of effect, which is to say that the concentration of the marker is proportional in some way to the probability of developing cancer. The question was left unresolved, principally for lack of data which could be used to attempt an answer. In several studies of 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin adducts and bladder cancer in Prof. S. R. Tannenbaum’s laboratory at MIT, we have now made measurements of this biomarker in more than 500 subjects collectively. It is the purpose of this paper to compile these data and analyze them with a view to determining the predictive power of this biomarker.
RT-PCR Analysis of Pain Genes: Use of Gel-Based RT-PCR for Studying Induced and Tissue-Enriched Gene Expression

Frequently, it is important to ascertain whether a molecule that is involved in one model of pain is also involved in other models of pain. Similarly, it may be important to determine whether a molecule involved in nociception in one tissue is also expressed in other tissues and to ascertain the degree of enrichment. Additionally, before initiating a complex set of experiments or purchasing an expensive immunoassay kit, it may be useful to obtain initial supporting evidence to justify the time and money. Is the transcript for the target receptor, protein, or peptide precursor present in, for example, the dorsal root ganglion? And, if present, how abundant is it? Here is where the power of PCR can be applied to obtain a quick but informative answer. In this chapter, we mainly detail the use of gel-based RT-PCR and also provide suggestions on tissue dissection and interpretation of results. The use of gel-based RT-PCR can address many of the questions of abundance or tissue specificity with a minimum of expense and time.
The Incidence and Scope of Child-Abusive Behavior

Maltreatment of children by their parents is not a new development in the history of societies. As investigators like Burgess (1979) and Steele (1976) have pointed out, violence within families has probably existed since the early beginnings of civilization when family units first developed. In ancient Rome, children were considered the property of their parents; fathers could, if they so desired, kill their own offspring with complete legal impunity. In Biblical times, there are frequent accounts of children being sacrificed or killed, such as when the Pharaoh directed the killing of all Hebrew children (Exodus 1:15, 1:22) and when King Herod ordered that all male children under two years of age be murdered (Matthew 2:16).
Devices and Techniques for Contact Microgripping

The gripping and manipulation of microparts significantly differs from the handling and assembly of macroscopic components. In the macroworld gravity dominates, whereas in the microdomain, it becomes negligible, and superficial forces dominate pick and place operations. Releasing a part from the grasp of a microgripper is not a simple task as the part may stick to the gripper due to the presence of these adhesive forces. For this reason, beside the numerous attempts of downscaling traditional grippers also innovative actuation strategies have been proposed. The chapter critically reviews some of the most widely used micromanipulation techniques with contact, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages and describing some innovative solutions based on capillary forces.
Surface Tension Driven Actuation

The ability of plants to extract work from evaporation is the inspiration behind all of the work in this chapter. Transpiration mechanisms are explored as a method for driving mechanical and electrical energy conversion. We present two types of energy scavenging devices that were inspired by nature, and specifically, by different transpiration mechanisms used in plants. The first type of device consists of a new class of mechanical actuators that operate via the evaporation of water. The second type of device uses evaporation-driven flow to generate electrical power using a charge-pumping mechanism.
TIGHT BOUNDS FOR THE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION OF THE STRENGTH OF COMPOSITES

Using the chain-of-bundles probability model as the basic mathematical model for composite strength, a sequence of tight but conservative bounds for the probability distribution for the strength of composites is considered. This sequence of bounds numerically converges rapidly to a limiting distribution function from which the probability distribution for composite strength can be obtained easily via an application of the “weakest link rule”. A detailed example is given to illustrate these principles and additional conclusions.
Utility of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Measurements Before the Administration of Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Objective To determine the utility of routine measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before the administration of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (DOX) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Patients and Methods We investigated the frequency of LVEF measurements before the initiation of therapy in 291 patients with DLBCL at our institution from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2013, and reviewed whether LVEF varied in patients with an underlying risk of cardiac disease (CD), the relationship between LVEF and subsequent DLBCL treatment, and congestive heart failure (CHF) occurrence in DOX-treated patients. Results Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured in 258 patients before the administration of chemotherapy and was not associated with underlying CHF risk (P=.94). Left ventricular ejection fraction was normal in 243 patients (94%) and low in 15 patients. Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy was administered to 206 patients with normal LVEF (85%) vs 8 patients with low LVEF (53%) (P=.006). However, when previous CD was factored out, LVEF did not influence subsequent treatment decisions (P=.51). Congestive heart failure occurred in 18 patients, and the risk was similar in patients treated with and without DOX. For all patients who had LVEF measured, CHF incidence did not differ between patients who received DOX and those who did not (P>.99). Moreover, there was no difference in CHF incidence after receiving DOX between those who had normal and low LVEF results (P=.45). Conclusion The decision to administer DOX was influenced by LVEF status only when previous CD was factored out. Furthermore, CHF incidence posttreatment did not differ between patients who did and did not receive DOX. These preliminary findings challenge the practice of performing cardiac screening before DOX for patients with DLBCL.
Sequence-to-Segment Networks for Segment Detection

Detecting segments of interest from an input sequence is a challenging problem which often requires not only good knowledge of individual target segments, but also contextual understanding of the entire input sequence and the relationships between the target segments. To address this problem, we propose the Sequence-to-Segment Network (S$^2$N), a novel end-to-end sequential encoder-decoder architecture. S$^2$N first encodes the input into a sequence of hidden states that progressively capture both local and holistic information. It then employs a novel decoding architecture, called Segment Detection Unit (SDU), that integrates the decoder state and encoder hidden states to detect segments sequentially. During training, we formulate the assignment of predicted segments to ground truth as bipartite matching and use the Earth Mover's Distance to calculate the localization errors. We experiment with S$^2$N on temporal action proposal generation and video summarization and show that S$^2$N achieves state-of-the-art performance on both tasks.
Preliminary Analysis and Simulation of Railroad Dispatcher Workload

Railroad dispatch centers increasingly use technology to assist dispatchers as they interact with multiple entities across a variety of tasks to ensure trains and track personnel function safely on...
A comparison of implant complications and failures between the maxilla and the mandible.

Abstract Statement of problem Identifying factors that affect the clinical outcomes of implant therapy is important. Purpose The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether implant location was a factor affecting the complication and failure rates of single-tooth implant-supported restorations in a predoctoral setting. Material and methods The charts of 431 patients treated with a surgically placed dental implant and restored with a single crown in the predoctoral clinic were analyzed. Data on implant location, type of complication (surgical or prosthetic), and type of failure were collected and analyzed according to implant location using the Fisher Exact Test and Mantel-Haenszel Exact Chi Square Test analysis (α=.05). Results The charts revealed 158 complications (68 surgical and 90 prosthetic) in 110 patients, and 3.9% of the implants failed. No statistically significant difference was found between the number of surgical complications or prosthetic complications in the maxilla and the mandible (P=.469). Conclusions Jaw location (maxilla compared with mandible) of the implant had no statistically significant impact on the incidence of surgically or prosthetically related complications. No statistically significant difference was found in overall implant failures, surgical failures, and prosthetic failures between maxillary and mandibular implants.
Guardians of White Innocents and White Innocence

Chapter 6 focuses on the coded language that defined the opposition to desegregation. Archival letters, memos, and speeches are used to illustrate the ways that opponents resisted school desegregation. Opponents argued that racism played no factor in their opposition to desegregation but that court-ordered desegregation violated states’ rights, parents’ freedom of choice, and that busing city students to the county was too expensive of a remedy. This chapter explores and challenges those arguments. Financial data are used to show that desegregation provided lucrative benefits to white, suburban schools and concludes that while letter-writing campaigns and political speeches that were commonly used to oppose school desegregation were nonviolent, they were racist. Ultimately, the forms of “dignified disdain” that St. Louisans exhibited are examined and found to be just as harmful as the types of violent opposition to school desegregation that occurred in other cities around the country.
Is J/ψ-Nucleon Scattering Dominated by the Gluonic van der Waals Interaction? ∗

Abstract The gluon-exchange contribution to J ψ - nucleon scattering is shown to yield a sizeable scattering length of about −0.25 fm, which is consistent with the sparse available data. Hadronic corrections to gluon exchange which are generated by ϱπ and D D intermediate states of the J ψ are shown to be negligible. We also propose a new method to study J ψ - nucleon elastic scattering in the reaction π + d → J ψ p p .
Preserving Incumbent User’s Location Privacy Against Environmental Sensing Capability

In dynamic spectrum access (DSA), Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) systems are implemented to detect the incumbent users’ (IU) activities for protecting them from secondary users’ (SU) interference as well as maximizing secondary spectrum usage. However, IU location information is often highly sensitive and hence it is preferable to hide its true location under the detection of ESCs. In this paper, we design novel schemes to preserve both static and moving IU’s location information by adjusting IU’s radiation pattern and transmit power. We first formulate IU privacy protection problem for static IU. Due to the intractable nature of this problem, we propose a heuristic approach based on sampling. We also formulate the privacy protection problem for moving IUs, in which two cases are analyzed: (1) protect IU’s moving traces; (2) protect its real-time current location information. Our analysis provides insightful advice for IU to preserve its location privacy against ESCs. Simulation results show that our approach provides great protection for IU’s location privacy.
Interleukin-1β drives NEDD8 nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation, fostering parkin activation via NEDD8 binding to the P-ubiquitin activating site.

Neuroinflammation, typified by elevated levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) α and β, and deficits in proteostasis, characterized by accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and other aggregates, are associated with neurodegenerative disease independently and through interactions of the two phenomena. We investigated the influence of IL-1β on ubiquitination via its impact on activation of the E3 ligase parkin by either phosphorylated ubiquitin (P-Ub) or NEDD8. Immunohistochemistry and Proximity Ligation Assay were used to assess colocalization of parkin with P-tau or NEDD8 in hippocampus from Alzheimer patients (AD) and controls. IL-1β effects on PINK1, P-Ub, parkin, P-parkin, and GSK3β—as well as phosphorylation of parkin by GSK3β—were assessed in cell cultures by western immunoblot, using two inhibitors and siRNA knockdown to suppress GSK3β. Computer modeling characterized the binding and the effects of P-Ub and NEDD8 on parkin. IL-1α, IL-1β, and parkin gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in brains of 2- and 17-month-old PD-APP mice and wild-type littermates. IL-1α, IL-1β, and parkin mRNA levels were higher in PD-APP mice compared with wild-type littermates, and IL-1α-laden glia surrounded parkin- and P-tau-laden neurons in human AD. Such neurons showed a nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation of NEDD8 that was mimicked in IL-1β-treated primary neuronal cultures. These cultures also showed higher parkin levels and GSK3β-induced parkin phosphorylation; PINK1 levels were suppressed. In silico simulation predicted that binding of either P-Ub or NEDD8 at a singular position on parkin opens the UBL domain, exposing Ser65 for parkin activation. The promotion of parkin- and NEDD8-mediated ubiquitination by IL-1β is consistent with an acute neuroprotective role. However, accumulations of P-tau and P-Ub and other elements of proteostasis, such as translocated NEDD8, in AD and in response to IL-1β suggest either over-stimulation or a proteostatic failure that may result from chronic IL-1β elevation, easily envisioned considering its early induction in Down’s syndrome and mild cognitive impairment. The findings further link autophagy and neuroinflammation, two important aspects of AD pathogenesis, which have previously been only loosely related.
A geometric and structural approach to the analysis and design of biological circuit dynamics: a theory tailored for synthetic biology

Much of the progress in developing our ability to successfully design genetic circuits with predictable dynamics has followed the strategy of molding biological systems to fit into conceptual frameworks used in other disciplines, most notably the engineering sciences. Because biological systems have fundamental differences from systems in these other disciplines, this approach is challenging and the insights obtained from such analyses are often not framed in a biologically-intuitive way. Here, we present a new theoretical framework for analyzing the dynamics of genetic circuits that is tailored towards the unique properties associated with biological systems and experiments. Our framework approximates a complex circuit as a set of simpler circuits, which the system can transition between by saturating its various internal components. These approximations are connected to the intrinsic structure of the system, so this representation allows the analysis of dynamics which emerge solely from the system's structure. Using our framework, we analyze the presence of structural bistability in a leaky autoactivation motif and the presence of structural oscillations in the Repressilator.
Machine Learning in Dermatology: Current Applications, Opportunities, and Limitations

Machine learning (ML) has the potential to improve the dermatologist's practice from diagnosis to personalized treatment. Recent advancements in access to large datasets (e.g., electronic medical records, image databases, omics), faster computing, and cheaper data storage have encouraged the development of ML algorithms with human-like intelligence in dermatology. This article is an overview of the basics of ML, current applications of ML, and potential limitations and considerations for further development of ML. We have identified five current areas of applications for ML in dermatology: (1) disease classification using clinical images; (2) disease classification using dermatopathology images; (3) assessment of skin diseases using mobile applications and personal monitoring devices; (4) facilitating large-scale epidemiology research; and (5) precision medicine. The purpose of this review is to provide a guide for dermatologists to help demystify the fundamentals of ML and its wide range of applications in order to better evaluate its potential opportunities and challenges.
Smooth Adversarial Training

It is commonly believed that networks cannot be both accurate and robust, that gaining robustness means losing accuracy. It is also generally believed that, unless making networks larger, network architectural elements would otherwise matter little in improving adversarial robustness. Here we present evidence to challenge these common beliefs by a careful study about adversarial training. Our key observation is that the widely-used ReLU activation function significantly weakens adversarial training due to its non-smooth nature. Hence we propose smooth adversarial training (SAT), in which we replace ReLU with its smooth approximations to strengthen adversarial training. The purpose of smooth activation functions in SAT is to allow it to find harder adversarial examples and compute better gradient updates during adversarial training. Compared to standard adversarial training, SAT improves adversarial robustness for "free", i.e., no drop in accuracy and no increase in computational cost. For example, without introducing additional computations, SAT significantly enhances ResNet-50's robustness from 33.0% to 42.3%, while also improving accuracy by 0.9% on ImageNet. SAT also works well with larger networks: it helps EfficientNet-L1 to achieve 82.2% accuracy and 58.6% robustness on ImageNet, outperforming the previous state-of-the-art defense by 9.5% for accuracy and 11.6% for robustness.
Efficacy of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway in Elderly Patients Undergoing Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery

Abstract Objective Elderly patients are a vulnerable patient population in elective spinal surgery. Older patients have more medical comorbidities and are also more sensitive to opiate medications. Despite this, spine and peripheral nerve surgery is still feasible in these patients, and an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) regimen can further enhance the safety profile. Methods This is a before and after cohort study at a single institution on elderly patients who underwent elective spine and peripheral nerve surgery. Patients were prospectively enrolled in a novel ERAS protocol from April 2017 to December 2018. The control group was a historical cohort of patients who underwent surgery from September 2016 to December 2016. The primary outcome was self-reported opioid use at 1- and 3-months postoperatively. The secondary outcome was compliance with the ERAS protocol across several measures including patient-controlled (PCA) use, patient-reported pain scores, mobilization and ambulation status, and Foley catheter use. Results Among 504 patients aged 65 and older compared to historic controls there was a significant reduction in the use of post-operative opioids at one month (36.2% vs. 71.7%, p Conclusions ERAS facilitates reduction in opiate use at 1- and 3-month intervals postoperatively in patients greater than 65 years old undergoing elective spine and peripheral nerve surgery. Early mobilization and ambulation are safe and feasible in this population.
Hemispheric lateralization of semantic feature distinctiveness.

Recent models of semantic memory propose that the semantic representation of concepts is based, in part, on a network of features. In this view, a feature that is distinctive for an object (a zebra has stripes) is processed differently from a feature that is shared across many objects (a zebra has four legs). The goal of this paper is to determine whether there are hemispheric differences in such processing. In a feature verification task, participants responded ‘yes’ or ‘no’ following concepts which were presented to a single visual field (left or right) paired with a shared or distinctive feature. Both hemispheres showed faster reaction times to shared features than to distinctive features, although right hemisphere responses were significantly slower overall and particularly in the processing of distinctive features. These findings support models of semantic processing in which the dominant left hemisphere more efficiently performs highly discriminating ‘fine’ encoding, in contrast to the right hemisphere which performs less discriminating ‘coarse’ encoding.
Bezold-Jarisch reflex-mediated asystole during dobutamine stress testing: a case report.

Background The Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR) is a cardioinhibitory parasympathetic response to activation of ventricular mechanoreceptors, which can result in bradycardia, atrioventricular block, or asystole. This phenomenon has been triggered by acute myocardial ischaemia, intra-arterial nitroglycerine use, natriuretic peptides, and with exceptional rarity, in middle-aged women only, by dobutamine infusion during stress echocardiography. Case summary We present the case of a 61-year-old woman who suffered a 5.1-s sinus pause during her 20 μg/kg/min infusion of dobutamine. Recovery was immediate following termination of dobutamine infusion. Concurrent echocardiography was normal, and subsequent cardiac catheterization and electrophysiologic study were normal. Discussion This is the fifth documented case of a severe BJR causing asystole during dobutamine infusion, which adds to the accumulating evidence supporting the benign nature of the condition.
Advancing Humor-Focused Sentiment Analysis through Improved Contextualized Embeddings and Model Architecture.

Humor is a natural and fundamental component of human interactions. When correctly applied, humor allows us to express thoughts and feelings conveniently and effectively, increasing interpersonal affection, likeability, and trust. However, understanding the use of humor is a computationally challenging task from the perspective of humor-aware language processing models. As language models become ubiquitous through virtual-assistants and IOT devices, the need to develop humor-aware models rises exponentially. To further improve the state-of-the-art capacity to perform this particular sentiment-analysis task we must explore models that incorporate contextualized and nonverbal elements in their design. Ideally, we seek architectures accepting non-verbal elements as additional embedded inputs to the model, alongside the original sentence-embedded input. This survey thus analyses the current state of research in techniques for improved contextualized embedding incorporating nonverbal information, as well as newly proposed deep architectures to improve context retention on top of popular word-embeddings methods.
Public Service Motivation and Public Opinion: Examining Antecedents and Attitudes

Practitioners, policymakers, and scholars across fields and disciplines seek to understand factors that shape public opinion and public service values, especially in today's polarized context. Yet we know little about how the two relate. Research on public service motivation (PSM), a drive to help others grounded in public institutions, has grown to examine career decisions and behaviors within and outside the workplace, but does the influence of PSM extend to individual values? Using data from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study surrounding the 2016 US presidential election, we first examine the antecedents of PSM; how do individual characteristics as well as socioeconomic and sociocultural factors influence levels of PSM? Second, we describe the role PSM plays in shaping public opinion on policy preferences, budget priorities, and political behaviors. Findings have implications for both understanding who has PSM as well as how PSM shapes public preferences, attitudes, and behaviors.
Money Talks, but is Prior Pay Silenced Under the Equal Pay Act? Rizo v. Yovino

In Rizo v. Yovino, 1 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that relying on an employee’s prior pay in establishing their current salary is not justifiable under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, because...