cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between pretreatment dietary composition and weight loss during a randomised trial of different diet approaches.

Background Identifying pretreatment dietary habits that are associated with weight-loss intervention outcomes could help guide individuals' selection of weight-loss approach among competing options. A pretreatment factor that may influence weight-loss outcomes is macronutrient intake. Methods Overweight and obese Durham Veterans Affairs outpatients were randomised to a weight-loss intervention with a low-carbohydrate diet (n = 71) or orlistat medication therapy plus a low-fat diet (n = 73). Percentage fat, carbohydrate and protein intake prior to treatment were measured using 4-day food records. Linear mixed-effects models were used to determine whether pretreatment percentage macronutrient intake influenced weight trajectories and weight loss in each weight-loss condition. Results Participant's mean age was 53 years, baseline body mass index was 39.3 kg m–2 and 72% were male. A higher pretreatment percentage carbohydrate intake was associated with less rapid initial weight loss (P = 0.02) and less rapid weight regain (P = 0.03) in the low-carbohydrate diet condition but was not associated with weight trajectories in the orlistat plus low-fat diet condition. In both conditions, a higher pretreatment percentage fat intake was associated with more rapid weight regain (P < 0.01). Pretreatment percentage protein intake was not associated with weight trajectories. None of the pretreatment macronutrients were associated with weight loss on study completion in either condition. Conclusions Selection of a weight-loss approach on the basis of pretreatment macronutrient intake is unlikely to improve weight outcomes at the end of a 1-year treatment. However, pretreatment macronutrient intake may have implications for tailoring of interventions to slow weight regain after weight loss.
Book Review: Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery, 7th Edition

Charles H. Thorne Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013. ISBN-10: 1451109555 Before I opened this book, I first asked myself, as did Dr Thorne in his preface: Is a broad-based traditional textbook even necessary in a time where information can be quickly accessed on a smartphone or tablet computer? Dr Thorne's third time editing the now-classic Grabb & Smith's Plastic Surgery was undoubtedly even more challenging given the competing sources of digital and Internet-based plastic surgery content. As you'll see in this review, I believe the textbook is necessary and helpful, even in this “digital age.” After first perusing the 1030 pages, 102 more pages than the previous edition, I noticed that there are more lines per page but that the text is still crisp and readable. Even better is that nearly every page has at least 1 picture or diagram and the pages are tab color-coded into 9 parts by topic; the 9 parts are subdivided into 99 chapters. More than half of the chapters are completely rewritten, while …
Total dose radiation hard 0.35 /spl mu/m SOI CMOS technology

This paper presents the total dose radiation performance of 0.35 /spl mu/m SOI CMOS devices fabricated in a radiation hard full dose SIMOX technology. The radiation performance is characterized by transistor threshold voltage shifts, transistor array leakage currents, and 256 K SRAM standby currents as a function of total dose up to 10 Mrad(SiO/sub 2/). The worst case threshold voltage shifts of front channels are less than 60 mV for PMOS transistors at 1 Mrad(SiO/sub 2/) and less than 10 mV for NMOS transistors. No significant radiation induced leakage currents are observed in small transistor arrays to 10 Mrad(SiO/sub 2/). Standby currents of 256 K SRAMs are less than the 1.5 mA specification over the total dose range of 1 Mrad(SiO/sub 2/). The results suggest high density SRAMs and ASIC fabricated in this technology will perform well in harsh radiation environment.
Static SIMS study of the behavior of K atoms on CH3, CO2H and CO2CH3 terminated self-assembled monolayers

Abstract Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy has proven to be a very powerful tool in the study of the interaction of metal atoms with organic thin films since analysis of the emitted molecular cluster ions provide clear information about the presence of chemical reactions, metal penetration and metal nucleation. In this work, this approach is employed to examine the behavior of K atoms evaporated onto S(CH 2 ) 15 CH 3 , S(CH 2 ) 15 CO 2 H and S(CH 2 ) 15 CO 2 CH 3 self-assembled monolayers on Au substrates. On the CH 3 surface, no chemical reaction is observed, and the sticking probability of K atoms is quite low. However, we find that K atoms react with CO 2 H and CO 2 CH 3 groups, forming CO 2 K moieties at the vacuum interface, but do not react with the (CH 2 ) n  backbone. Additional exposure of K to the system results in K remaining at the vacuum interface, not penetrating through the organic layer. The results imply that the CO 2 K may act as a possible buffer layer to prevent chemical reactions when other types of metal atoms are employed.
Fantasy of a "virus" from the inorganic world: pathogenesis of cerebral amyloidoses by polymer nucleating agents and/or "viruses".

Kuru and the transmissible virus dementias are in a group of virus-induced slow infections that we have described as sub-acute spongiform virus encephalopathies (SSVEs) because of the strikingly similar histopathological lesions they induce. Scrapie, mink encephalopathy, and the chronic wasting disease with spongiform encephalopathy of captive mule deer and of captive elk all appear, from their histopathology, pathogenesis, and the similarities of their infectious agents, to belong to the same group (Gajdusek and Gibbs 1975; Gajdusek etal. 1965, 1966; Masters et al. 1981 a, b; Williams and Young 1980,1982; Williams et al. 1982). The basic neurocytological lesions in all these diseases are a progressive vacuolation in the dendritic and axonal processes and cell bodies of neurons and, to a lesser extent, in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes; an extensive astroglial hypertrophy and proliferation; and, spongiform change or status spongiosis of gray matter and extensive neuronal loss (Beck et al. 1975, 1982; Klatzo et al. 1959).
Design of spherical meanderline antennas

We present a new study of an electrically small spherical antenna with Q approaching the lower bound. The structure is a natural successor to earlier work by some of the present authors [1] and is designed to excite the TM 10 spherical mode for minimum Q. This new topology consists of meanderline arms entirely conformal to a spherical surface, facilitated by a precise conformal printing technique. Measurements of some antenna prototypes are presented in [2] but without a complete discussion of the electromagnetic design considerations. Here, we discuss details of the design parameters, material choices and a technique for mitigating the excitation of higher order modes which disrupt the impedance behavior of the structure. The presentation will include measured results of antennas at several different electrical sizes printed on both the concave and convex surface of a hemisphere.
A subspace approach to layer extraction

Representing images with layers has many important applications, such as video compression, motion analysis, and 3D scene analysis. This paper presents an approach to reliably extracting layers from images by taking advantages of the fact that homographies induced by planar patches in the scene form a low dimensional linear subspace. Layers in the input images will be mapped in the subspace, where it is proven that they form well-defined clusters and can be reliably identified by a simple mean-shift based clustering algorithm. Global optimality is achieved since all valid regions are simultaneously taken into account, and noise can be effectively reduced by enforcing the subspace constraint. Good layer descriptions are shown to be extracted in the experimental results.
The concept of nursing

The author contends that with the acceptance of health care as a universal human right has come a variety of national, provincial, state, and local systems for providing health care. An international network of rapid communications makes peoples everywhere aware of the variety of systems and the fact that some systems other than their own show better results, as measured by, for example, the infant mortality rate, or the incidence of venereal disease. Traditional roles for doctors, nurses, health educators, social workers and others are in question. To meet the needs of the people, health educators, physicians, social workers, nurses and all other categories of health personnel must constantly evaluate their roles and be ready to modify them for the common good and modify the programmes that prepare them for their work. While the roles of doctors, nurses and others are, necessarily, in these rapidly changing times, in · a fluid state, some health workers must provide a 24-hour service that helps human beings with their essential daily activities when they lack the strength, knowledge, or will, to carry them out unaided and to work towards the development of a healthy independence. This intimate and essential service is, in the author's opinion, the universal element in the concept of nursing. The most successful preparation of nurses will, the author argues, always include whatever gives them the broadest possible understanding of humanity and the world in which they live. It will also provide an opportunity to see expert nursing care given and to have the satisfaction of seeing the care they themselves give, hasten a person's recovery, help a person cope with a handicap, or die in peace when death is inevitable.
ANODR: anonymous on demand routing with untraceable routes for mobile ad-hoc networks

In hostile environments, the enemy can launch traffic analysis against interceptable routing information embedded in routing messages and data packets. Allowing adversaries to trace network routes and infer the motion pattern of nodes at the end of those routes may pose a serious threat to covert operations. We propose ANODR, an anonymous on-demand routing protocol for mobile ad hoc networks deployed in hostile environments. We address two closely related problems: For route anonymity, ANODR prevents strong adversaries from tracing a packet flow back to its source or destination; for location privacy, ANODR ensures that adversaries cannot discover the real identities of local transmitters. The design of ANODR is based on "broadcast with trapdoor information", a novel network security concept which includes features of two existing network and security mechanisms, namely "broadcast" and "trapdoor information". We use simulations and implementation to validate the effectiveness of our design.
Enhanced Support for OpenSHMEM Communication in Portals

The looming challenges of exascale computing are generating renewed interest in the Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) parallel programming model. From a high-performance interconnect perspective, the one-sided communication model in PGAS addresses some of the challenges that could inhibit the viability of traditional two-sided MPI message passing on millions of cores. The OpenSHMEM project is a recent effort at standardizing a lightweight one-sided communication interface to enable the development of highly scalable PGAS applications. The Portals data movement layer is a low-level one-sided interface that has successfully supported several higher-level one-sided and two-sided interfaces, including PGAS network transport layers. This paper describes the design and implementation of OpenSHMEM on the latest generation of the Portals interface, including a description of how Portals has evolved to maximize performance for PGAS-style communication operations.
Grain Boundary Analysis of Silicon Nitride Materials

A method to determine the composition of the grain boundary phases in sintered silicon nitride was derived using an AEM (Analytical Electron Micriscope) with an UTW-EDX (Ultra-Thin Window Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer). The composition of the specimen was determined by the peak ratio of the EDX spectra for rare earth, silicon, nitrogen, and oxygen ions.
Genetical Aspects of Aging

In this brief review of selected genetical aspects of aging, I make a strong argument for the importance of an evolutionary perspective as a guide to genetic analysis. The current consensus regarding the nonadaptive nature of aging and the emphasis upon the theories of antagonistic pleiotropy and mutation accumulation have major implications for the experimentalist. After giving some formal definitions of aging and reviewing the evolutionary theory, I consider four of these implications: 1)the polygenic basis for the senescent phenotype; 2)the stochastic nature of the processes of aging in iteroparous organisms; 3)the likelihood of multiple, independent mechanisms; and 4)the prediction of significant species specificity as regards mechanisms of aging. In considering these issues, I shall summarize some relevant research results, including work from our own laboratories -- in particular, research relevant to various somatic mutational theories of aging.
Abstract W P78: Effect of Weather Patterns on the Admission and Outcome of Intracranial Aneurysms

Introduction: There have been speculations that regional weather patterns play a role in the rupture of cerebral aneurysms, although the literature has been scarce and inconsistent. Furthermore, there are no studies analyzing the effect of weather patterns on the outcome of ruptured aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to use a nationwide sample to analyze the effects of temperature, precipitation, daily sunlight and relative humidity on hospital admission rate and outcome of ruptured aneurysms. Methods: Patients were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2001-2010) by ICD-9 codes for subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage and a procedural code for aneurysm repair. Climate data were obtained from the State of the Climate Report 2010 released by the National Climatic Data Center. Multivariate regression models were used to analyze the effects of average monthly temperature, precipitation, percent possible sunlight and relative morning humidity on monthly hospital admission, in-...
Glucagon Stimulation Test for GHD (GST)

Indication 1. In order to evaluate patients with suspected growth hormone (GH) deficiency. 2. In order to assess growth hormone reserve when insulin tolerance test or growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)–arginine tests are contraindicated, not preferred, or not available.
Fiscal Revenue Losses and Trade Diversion from the Economic Partnership Agreements: Are the Concerns Justified?

In contrast to existing published literature that assumed the EPAs tariff cuts, this paper uses the tariff cuts actually agreed by some African countries to quantify fiscal revenue losses from the EPAs. It finds that the profile in the tariff cuts vary significantly across countries. Revenue losses are limited and spread over long transition periods. Using taxable imports instead of total imports (a standard method of the literature), in order to take into account tax breaks and preferences granted to other partners in regional groups, increases the estimated revenue losses but they remain limited. Trade diversion, a source of additional indirect revenue loss, could be significant.
Space Shuttle third flight /STS-3/ entry RCS analysis

Flight data obtained from three Space Transportation System orbiter entries (STS-1, 2, and 3) are processed and analyzed to determine the roll interactions caused by the firing of the entry reaction control system (RCS). Comparisons between the flight-derived parameters and the predicted derivatives without interaction effects are made. The flight-derived RCS Plume flow-field interaction effects are independently deduced by direct integration of the incremental changes in the wing upper surface pressures induced by RCS side thruster firings. The separately obtained interaction effects are compared to the predicted values and the differences are discussed.
Life history of the parasite Diolcogaster facetosa (Weed) Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its behavioral adaptation to the defensive response of a lepidopteran host.

Diolcogaster facetosa (Weed) attacks young green cloverworm larvae in the eastern United States. Development of D. facetosa from oviposition to adult emergence takes 2.5 weeks at constant 30°C to 4 weeks at constant 21°C. Females require ca. 1 day longer than males to complete pupal development at each of four temperatures tested. This solitary parasite passes through three larval stages and emerges from its host through the side of the third, fourth, or fifth abdominal segment; the host dies in the fifth or sixth stadium. Parasitized green cloverworm larvae leave the plant and wander on the substrate before parasite emergence. White cocoons are formed by D. facetosa at or slightly below soil level. Young green cloverworm larvae drop from foliage upon disturbance and hang on silken threads several centimeters below the leaf. Adult D. facetosa females can detect these threads and slide down them to oviposit in the suspended larvae. This behavior of the parasite, the fact that only early instars of the green cloverworm consistently drop on threads, and the inability of the first instar's thread to support the weight of the parasite during descent collectively indicate that under field conditions the most successfully parasitized green cloverworm hosts of D. facetosa are second and third instars. The biology of D. facetosa is compared with the biologies of the two other braconid species most frequently associated with the green cloverworm.
Micro Determination of Serum Proteins by Gasometric Carbon Analysis

Summary1. A manometric micro-method for the determination of serum proteins by protein carbon estimation has been outlined which gives consistently reproducible results on as little as 0.1 cc of serum. 2. Certain advantages, both technical and theoretical, in the use of carbon rather than nitrogen as the reference element in serum protein determination is discussed.
A comparison of balancing scores for estimating rate ratios of count data in observational studies

ABSTRACTIn this article, we conduct a Monte Carlo study to examine four balancing scores (BS1: propensity score, BS2: prognostic score, BS3: adjusted propensity score estimated by the estimated prognostic score, and BS4: adjusted propensity score estimated by the estimated prognostic score and other covariates) for adjusting bias in estimating the marginal and the conditional rate ratios of count data in observational studies. Simulation results show that BS1–BS4 are not much different in terms of estimating the marginal and the conditional rate ratios, however, choosing the appropriate matching algorithm is more important than selecting a balancing scores.
Zur Darstellung quasi-gleichmäßig verteilter ozeanographischer Daten durch Trendflächen mit einer abhängigen und drei unabhängigen Variablen

Trendflachen mit drei unabhangigen Variablen (geographischen Koordinaten) und einer abhangigen Variablen konnen unter Benutzung von Elektronenrechnern leicht errechnet und zur Darstellung ozeanographischer Parameter benutzt werden. Voraussetzung ist, das die Beobachtungspunkte ziemlich gleichmasig verteilt sind, obwohl sie nicht auf einem Gitternetz liegen mussen. Als Beispiel werden Trendflachen 1. bis 3. Grades gebracht, die physikalischen, chemischen und mikrobiologischen Daten nach der Methode der kleinsten Quadrate angepast wurden. Diese Daten stammen aus einem engen Beobachtungsnetz im kustennahen Meeresgebiet Nordwestfloridas. Wir betrachten die hier besprochene Methode als potentiell wertvoll in der Reduktion groserer Datenmengen und in der Veranschaulichung der regionalen Variation der untersuchten Parameter.
A Note on Coefficients of Cyclotomic Polynomials

(1964). A Note on Coefficients of Cyclotomic Polynomials. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 183-185.
Origins of concentration gradients for diffusiophoresis

Fluid transport that is driven by gradients of pressure, gravity, or electro-magnetic potential is well-known and studied in many fields. A subtler type of transport, called diffusiophoresis, occurs in a gradient of chemical concentration, either electrolyte or non-electrolyte. Diffusiophoresis works by driving a slip velocity at the fluid–solid interface. Although the mechanism is well-known, the diffusiophoresis mechanism is often considered to be an esoteric laboratory phenomenon. However, in this article we show that concentration gradients can develop in a surprisingly wide variety of physical phenomena – imposed gradients, asymmetric reactions, dissolution, crystallization, evaporation, mixing, sedimentation, and others – so that diffusiophoresis is in fact a very common transport mechanism, in both natural and artificial systems. We anticipate that in georeservoir extractions, physiological systems, drying operations, laboratory and industrial separations, crystallization operations, membrane processes, and many other situations, diffusiophoresis is already occurring – often without being recognized – and that opportunities exist for designing this transport to great advantage.
Reducing HIV risk among Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men: Qualitative analysis of behavior change intentions by participants in a small-group intervention.

Objective: The southeastern United States has the fastest-growing Hispanic/Latino population in the country and carries a disproportionate HIV burden. Among Hispanics/Latinos, men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) in particular, are at elevated risk of HIV infection; however, very few efficacious behavioral HIV prevention interventions are available for use with this vulnerable population. To address this shortage of prevention resources, our communitybased participatory research (CBPR) partnership developed and is currently evaluating the efficacy of the HOLA en Grupos intervention to increase condom use and HIV testing among Hispanic/Latino MSM. Methods: We recruited 304 Hispanic/Latino MSM who were randomized to receive the small group HOLA en Grupos intervention that was implemented during four 4-hour long sessions over four consecutive Sundays, or a 4-session small group general health education comparison intervention. At the end of the fourth session of the HOLA en Grupos intervention, the intervention facilitators asked participants to write down the sexual health-related behaviors they intended to change as a result of their participation. Results: Qualitative analysis of the participants’ responses identified six types of intended behavior changes: increasing and maintaining condom use; identifying strategies to support correct and consistent condom use; increasing communication and negotiation with sexual partners about condom use; getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; applying other sexual health promotion strategies; and sharing newly learned sexual health information with their peers. Conclusion: Most risk-reduction intentions aligned with the intervention’s key messages of using condoms consistently and getting tested for HIV. However, participants’ stated intentions may have also depended on which behavior changes they perceived as most salient after participating in the intervention. Participants’ intentions to share information with their peers may result in elements of the intervention content reaching others within their social networks, and potentially contributing to a broader community-level impact.
Periodic leaky wave antenna for spoof plasmon radiation

In this paper, we present a compact methodology to design periodic leaky wave antennas that enable the radiation of spoof plasmon type surface waves. The approach is based on structurally modifying a flat corrugated reactance surface. In particular a properly engineered periodic perturbation is introduced that enables the excitation of the n = −1 spatial Floquet mode. This mode is characterized by a complex wavenumber whose real part is less than that of free space. As a result the guided spoof plasmons efficiently couple to radiating modes. Representative numerical experiments are performed that validate the proposed design methodology.
Randomized phase Ib/II study of PF-05212384 plus 5-fluorouracil-leucovorin-irinotecan (FOLFIRI) versus bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI in metastatic colorectal cancer (B2151007; NCT01937715).

TPS3657 Background: Despite recent advances in cytotoxic chemotherapies and targeted agents, metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) continues to be an area of great unmet medical need. Patients with m...
Vaccine vial stopper performance for fractional dose delivery of vaccines

Shortages of vaccines such as inactivated poliovirus and yellow fever vaccines have been addressed by administering reduced-or fractional-doses, as recommended by the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, to expand population coverage in countries at risk. We evaluated 3 kinds of vaccine vial stoppers to assess their performance after increased piercing from repeated withdrawal of doses needed when using fractional doses (0.1 mL) from presentations intended for full-dose (0.5 mL) delivery. Self-sealing capacity and fragmentation of the stopper were assessed via modified versions of international standard protocols. All stoppers maintained self-sealing capacity after 100 punctures. The damage to stoppers measured as the fragmentation rate was within the target of ≤ 10% of punctures resulting in a fragment after as many as 50 punctures. We concluded that stopper failure is not likely to be a concern if existing vaccine vials containing up to 10 regular doses are used up to 50 times for fractional dose delivery.
The Characterization of BTEX in Variable Soil Compositions Near Unconventional Oil and Gas Development

Abstract A growing number of environmental investigations are now elucidating the pathways through which specific processes of unconventional oil and gas development can impact environmental quality. The preponderance of pertinent studies has focused on the analysis of groundwater resources, collectively revealing the potential subsurface impacts that can result from inadequate annular structure and poor well casing integrity. Robust atmospheric studies have attributed the emissions of rogue greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds to mechanical inefficiencies commonly found in midstream production structures, such as gas flaring stations, condensate tanks, and pipelines. However, the interplay between unconventional oil and gas development activities and soil quality has not received as much attention. Here, we present a study of soils near production infrastructure with verified emissions of volatile contaminants. These findings provide an initial indication of the interactions between atmospheric BTEX contamination events and the accumulation of those contaminants in soil. Additionally, these efforts include an initial exploration of some in situ remediation approaches for the mitigation of BTEX soil contamination.
Improving the Parallel Performance of an NBody Application Using Adaptive Techniques in HPX

The overheads of manually tuning a loop's parameters, such as chunk size, might prevent an application from reaching its maximum parallel performance. In this paper, we address this challenge by implementing a multinomial logistic regression model on an HPX loop. We present a framework that captures both the static and dynamic information of the runtime environment and feeds this information to a learning model which assigns an efficient loop chunk size automatically. Our evaluated execution results show that the proposed technique improves the performance of an NBody application by an average about 33%, 17%, and 19% compared to using existing HPX auto-parallelization tools when run with problem sizes of 105, 106, and 107 particles respectively.
Enhancing the Performance of an Optical High-Order QAM Communication Channel by Adding Correlated Data to Robust Neighboring Channels in a Heterogeneous Network

An enhanced high-order QAM communication using data correlation with neighboring channels is demonstrated. The effectiveness of this approach is verified by using 10-Gbaud 4/16/64/256-QAM channels in simulation and 5/10-Gbaud 16-QAM channels in experiment.
Experiments and Predictions of Large Deformation and Failure in Thermomechanical Loading Environments.

The response of 304L stainless steel to combined mechanical and thermal loadings is studied to enable the development of validated computational simulation methods for predicting deformation and failure in coupled thermomechanical environments. Experimental coupling was accomplished on axisymmetric tubular specimens that were mechanically loaded by internal pressurization and thermally loaded asymmetrically by side radiant heating. Mechanical characterization experiments of the 304L stainless steel tube material was completed for development of a thermal elastic-plastic material constitutive model used in the finite element simulations of the validation experiments. The design and implementation of the experimental methodology and results of preliminary experiments were presented at 2010 SEM Annual Conference [1, 2].
From brain connectivity models to identifying foci of a neurological disorder

We propose a novel approach to identify the foci of a neurological disorder based on anatomical and functional connectivity information. Specifically, we formulate a generative model that characterizes the network of abnormal functional connectivity emanating from the affected foci. We employ the variational EM algorithm to fit the model and to identify both the afflicted regions and the differences in connectivity induced by the disorder. We demonstrate our method on a population study of schizophrenia.
Using Everyday Language to Support Students in Constructing Thematic Interpretations

Research in literary response indicates that in classroom contexts, high school students have difficulty constructing thematic interpretations of literary texts, tending instead to summarize or bui...
Evaluating National Park entrance station queues: A case study in Grand Teton National Park

Abstract In this study, two park entrance stations to the Moose-Wilson Corridor in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) were examined. The Granite Canyon entrance station along with the proposed Moose entrance station were evaluated for queueing measures of performance in present and for future conditions. Methods of evaluation included the applications of Little’s Law and simulation modeling. It was determined that a similar service rate of 25 s can be anticipated for both considered queueing stations, resulting in a capacity of 144 vehicles per hour. Both systems, were sensitive to increases of arrival and service rates greater than 100 vehicles per hour and 35 s, respectively. A minimum 47.1-meter (154 ft) distance from the downstream intersection was estimated as a conservative minimum length for the proposed Moose entrance station to avoid queue spill back. The results of this study provided information to the future planning and design of GRTE’s Moose queueing station. Additionally, this study provides a guide for data collection as well as the use of queueing theory methodology to gain an understanding of a queueing setting, quantifying observations and the development and computation of data to assist in a policy decision making process. Therefore, this study presents a case where queueing theory methodology was used to generate information and emphasizes how queueing effects can be considered for policy changes in a National Park.
Machine learning predicts rapid relapse of triple negative breast cancer

ABSTRACT Purpose Metastatic relapse of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) within 2 years of diagnosis is associated with particularly aggressive disease and a distinct clinical course relative to TNBCs that relapse beyond 2 years. We hypothesized that rapid relapse TNBCs (rrTNBC; metastatic relapse or death 2 years). Patients and Methods We identified 453 primary TNBCs from three publicly-available datasets and characterized each as rrTNBc, lrTNBC, or ‘no relapse’ (nrTNBC: no relapse/death with at least 5 years follow-up). We compiled primary tumor clinical and multi-omic data, including transcriptome (n=453), copy number alterations (CNAs; n=317), and mutations in 171 cancer-related genes (n=317), then calculated published gene expression and immune signatures. Results Patients with rrTNBC were higher stage at diagnosis (Chi-square p 0.75. Conclusions We provide a new approach to define TNBCs based on timing of relapse. We identify distinct clinical and genomic features that can be incorporated into machine learning models to predict rapid relapse of TNBC.
Multifunctional topology optimization of strain-sensing nanocomposite beam structures

Controlling volume fractions of nanoparticles in a matrix can have a substantial influence on composite performance. This paper presents a multi-start topology optimization algorithm that designs nanocomposite structures for objectives pertaining to stiffness and strain sensing. Local effective properties are obtained by controlling local volume fractions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an epoxy matrix, which are assumed to be well dispersed and randomly oriented. Local Young’s modulus, conductivity, and piezoresistive constant drive the global objectives of strain energy and resistance change. Strain energy is obtained via a modified solution of Euler-Bernoulli equations and resistance change is obtained via solution of a bilinear quadrilateral finite element problem. The optimization uses a two-step restart method in which Pareto points from the first step are used as starting conditions in the second step. An efficient method for obtaining analytic sensitivities of the objective functions is presented. The method is used to solve a set of example problems pertaining to the design of a composite beam in bending. The results show that the strain energy may be optimized by placing high volume-fraction CNT elements away from the neutral axis. Resistance change is optimized through a combination of shifting the neutral axis, formation of conductive paths between electrodes, and asymmetric distribution of highly piezoresistive elements. Results also show that the strain energy is governed by the volume fraction constraint and the resistance change is dependent on a combination of the volume fraction constraint and the boundary electrode location.
Risk Factors for Skin Tearing in Collagenase Treatment of Dupuytren Contractures

Purpose To determine factors associated with skin tearing at the time of manipulation in patients undergoing collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) treatment for Dupuytren contractures. Methods We identified 368 digits in 261 patients who underwent a total of 469 CCH treatments at a tertiary care referral center from April, 2010 to December, 2013. Medical records were reviewed for the primary outcome, skin tearing at manipulation. Patient-related and disease-specific explanatory variables were collected. We used bivariate analysis to screen for risk factors and multivariable logistic regression to determine associated risk factors for skin tearing. Results The overall rate of skin tearing with CCH treatment was 12%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed older age (odds ratio = 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.07) and amount of contracture correction (odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.04) to be associated with skin tearing at manipulation. Conclusions A 10-year increase in age results in a 1.5 times increase in the odds of skin tearing. A 30° increase in contracture correction results in a 1.8 times increase in the odds of skin tearing. Patients can be counseled before CCH treatment that older age and increased contracture correction are risk factors for this common complication. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
The Impact of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Index and Biologically Effective Dose on Outcomes After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Acromegaly: Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a safe and effective treatment for acromegaly. OBJECTIVE To improve understanding of clinical and dosimetric factors predicting biochemical remission. METHODS A single-institution cohort study of nonsyndromic, radiation-naive patients with growth hormone-producing pituitary adenomas (GHA) having single-fraction SRS between 1990 and 2017. Exclusions were treatment with pituitary suppressive medications at the time of SRS, or <24 mo of follow-up. The primary outcome was biochemical remission-defined as normalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 index (IGF-1i) off suppression. Biochemical remission was assessed using Cox proportional hazards. Prior studies reporting IGF-1i were assessed via systematic literature review and meta-analysis using random-effect modeling. RESULTS A total of 102 patients met study criteria. Of these, 46 patients (45%) were female. The median age was 49 yr (interquartile range [IQR] = 37-59), and the median follow-up was 63 mo (IQR = 29-100). The median pre-SRS IGF-1i was 1.66 (IQR = 1.37-3.22). The median margin dose was 25 Gy (IQR = 21-25); the median estimated biologically effective dose (BED) was 169.49 Gy (IQR = 124.95-196.00). Biochemical remission was achieved in 58 patients (57%), whereas 22 patients (22%) had medication-controlled disease. Pre-SRS IGF-1i ≥ 2.25 was the strongest predictor of treatment failure, with an unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.51 (95% CI = 0.26-0.91, P = .02). Number of isocenters, margin dose, and BED predicted remission on univariate analysis, but after adjusting for sex and baseline IGF-1i, only BED remained significant-and was independently associated with outcome in continuous (HR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.01, P = .02) and binary models (HR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.39-5.22, P = .002). A total of 24 patients (29%) developed new post-SRS hypopituitarism. Pooled HR for biochemical remission given subthreshold IGF-1i was 2.25 (95% CI = 1.33-3.16, P < .0001). CONCLUSION IGF-1i is a reliable predictor of biochemical remission after SRS. BED appears to predict biochemical outcome more reliably than radiation dose, but confirmatory study is needed.
Vegetable Protein Isolates and Concentrates by Ultrafiltration

Vegetable protein products have been consumed for centuries in the Orient. However, it was not until this century that the rest of the western world recognized them, and soybeans in particular, for their human food value. At present, soybeans are the major cash crop in the United States and are the major source of edible oil. Once the oil is removed, however, the major portion of the defatted soybean meal is used mostly as animal feed, with perhaps about 3–5% being used directly as human food. Although this may appear to be relatively small, it is apparent that a large number of food companies routinely incorporate vegetable proteins into some of their traditional food products and are developing new product formulations using vegetable proteins as a major ingredient or sole source of protein. The annual growth rate of this usage directly in human food is increasing at the rate of 10% per year [1].
SARS-CoV-2 infection induces robust, neutralizing antibody responses that are stable for at least three months

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic with millions infected and numerous fatalities. Questions regarding the robustness, functionality and longevity of the antibody response to the virus remain unanswered. Here we report that the vast majority of infected individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 experience robust IgG antibody responses against the viral spike protein, based on a dataset of 19,860 individuals screened at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. We also show that titers are stable for at least a period approximating three months, and that anti-spike binding titers significantly correlate with neutralization of authentic SARS-CoV-2. Our data suggests that more than 90% of seroconverters make detectible neutralizing antibody responses and that these titers are stable for at least the near-term future. One Sentence Summary Antibody responses induced by natural mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection are robust, neutralizing and are stable for at least 3 months.
Mechanisms of Intranasal Deferoxamine in Neurodegenerative and Neurovascular Disease.

Identifying disease-modifying therapies for neurological diseases remains one of the greatest gaps in modern medicine. Herein, we present the rationale for intranasal (IN) delivery of deferoxamine (DFO), a high-affinity iron chelator, as a treatment for neurodegenerative and neurovascular disease with a focus on its novel mechanisms. Brain iron dyshomeostasis with iron accumulation is a known feature of brain aging and is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of neurological diseases. A substantial body of preclinical evidence and early clinical data has demonstrated that IN DFO and other iron chelators have strong disease-modifying impacts in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), ischemic stroke, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Acting by the disease-nonspecific pathway of iron chelation, DFO targets each of these complex diseases via multifactorial mechanisms. Accumulating lines of evidence suggest further mechanisms by which IN DFO may also be beneficial in cognitive aging, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, other neurodegenerative diseases, and vascular dementia. Considering its known safety profile, targeted delivery method, robust preclinical efficacy, multiple mechanisms, and potential applicability across many neurological diseases, the case for further development of IN DFO is considerable.
Rehabilitation of Oral Cancer Patients using Dental Implants and Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Dental implants have become an integral part of orofacial rehabilitation. In addition to their use for tooth replacement, they have become important in maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. Head and neck cancers often require ablative surgery that includes the maxilla and mandible. The use of dental implants to support prostheses replacing portions of the jaws and facial skeleton has given individuals with this disease functionality, aesthetics, and emotional support that have never before been possible. Digital technology has further provided opportunities in the planning and execution of maxillofacial rehabilitation using dental implants. This allows the use of advanced surgical and prosthetic techniques with an improved result for the patients.
Bringing ecocomposition to a multimodal composition course: Critical literacy and place at work in English 250

Introduction: A Localized View of Ecocomposition Chapter One. Theoretical Foundation and Conceptual Framework Chapter Two. Methodology and Data Collection Chapter Three. Data Analysis and Findings Chapter Four. Conclusions and Lessons Learned Appendix A. Initial Questionnaire Appendix B. End-of-the-Semester Questionnaire Appendix C. Reflection Essay Appendix D. Assignment 1 Appendix E. Assignment 2 References iii
Comparative Judicial Politics

It is hard to think of a political system that does not trumpet its commitment to "the rule of law," based on the principle that citizens are better off when the political system establishes rules for all to follow, rather than subjecting citizens either to arbitrary rule or to anarchy1. By entrusting the interpretation and enforcement of laws to legal specialists, the government agrees to abide by its own laws, and the courts can rule against the government to uphold the "laws of the land." Governments in most political systems are at least rhetorically deferential to this concept.
Estimating the Potential Pool of HIV-infected Deceased Organ Donors in the United States

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is no longer a contraindication to transplantation. For HIV-infected patients, HIV-infected deceased donors (HIVDD) could attenuate the organ shortage and waitlist mortality. However, this practice would violate United States federal law. The goal of this study was to estimate the potential impact of legalizing transplantation of HIV-infected organs by quantifying the potential pool of HIVDD. Using Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, HIV-infected deaths compatible with donation were enumerated. Using HIV Research Network (HIVRN) data, CD4 count, plasma HIV-1 RNA level, AIDS-defining illnesses and causes of death were examined in potential HIVDD. Using UNOS data, evaluated donors who later demonstrated unanticipated HIV infections were studied. From NIS, a yearly average of 534 (range: 481-652) potential HIVDD were identified, with 63 (range: 39-90) kidney-only, 221 (range: 182-255) liver-only and 250 (range: 182-342) multiorgan donors. From HIVRN, a yearly average of 494 (range: 441-533) potential HIVDD were identified. Additionally, a yearly average of 20 (range: 11-34) donors with unanticipated HIV infection were identified from UNOS. Deceased HIV-infected patients represent a potential of approximately 500-600 donors per year for HIV-infected transplant candidates. In the current era of HIV management, a legal ban on the use of these organs seems unwarranted and likely harmful.
The properties of intracellular calcium stores in cultured rat cerebellar neurons

Cerebellar Purkinje neurons contain a remarkable array of cellular components potentially concerned with regulation of the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i. These include high concentrations of Ca(2+)-binding proteins, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3R), and ryanodine receptors (RyR). The latter two molecules are thought to be associated with intracellular Ca2+ stores. We have examined the properties of such stores in cultured rat cerebellar neurons taken from 16 d rat embryos. In this system, about half of the neurons could be identified as Purkinje-like cells, as indicated by staining for the Ca(2+)-binding protein calbindin D-28k, as well as for IP3R and RyR. In double immunofluorescent staining, the IP3R and RyR immunoreactivity primarily colocalized with the staining for calbindin. The cells responded to glutamate, kainate, and quisqualate with large increases in the somatic [Ca2+]i but failed to respond directly to NMDA (10-50 microM). Furthermore, the neurons expressed active membrane conductances, repetitive action potential firing, and spontaneous firing patterns similar to those reported for cerebellar Purkinje neurons in vivo. Action potential firing produced changes in somatic [Ca2+]i that were quite small or absent in most cells. However, blocking spike repolarization with tetraethylammonium (5 mM) produced substantial transient elevations in somatic [Ca2+]i, suggesting the expression of some Ca2+ channels in the somatic membrane. Caffeine (10 mM) released Ca2+ from intracellular stores in about one-half of the cultured neurons. This effect could be repeated if the stores were first reloaded by a depolarization-induced elevation in [Ca2+]i. The effects of caffeine were reduced by prolonged application of ryanodine (10 microM). We were also able to demonstrate that the caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ stores could regulate electrophysiological events in some cells, altering patterns of spontaneous activity. Furthermore, in the presence of caffeine, [Ca2+]i signals induced by an evoked spike train were larger and accompanied by long-lasting after hyperpolarizations. We conclude that in addition to providing a releasable pool of Ca2+, the caffeine-sensitive stores also influence cellular events by their contribution to Ca2+ buffering.
Optimizing data partitioning for data-parallel computing

Performance of data-parallel computing (e.g., MapReduce, DryadLINQ) heavily depends on its data partitions. Solutions implemented by the current state of the art systems are far from optimal. Techniques proposed by the database community to find optimal data partitions are not directly applicable when complex user-defined functions and data models are involved. We outline our solution, which draws expertise from various fields such as programming languages and optimization, and present our preliminary results.