cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Many-body localization phase transition: A simplified strong-randomness approximate renormalization group

We present a simplified strong-randomness renormalization group (RG) that captures some aspects of the many-body localization (MBL) phase transition in generic disordered one-dimensional systems. This RG can be formulated analytically and is mathematically equivalent to a domain coarsening model that has been previously solved. The critical fixed-point distribution and critical exponents (that satisfy the Chayes inequality) are thus obtained analytically or to numerical precision. This reproduces some, but not all, of the qualitative features of the MBL phase transition that are indicated by previous numerical work and approximate RG studies: our RG might serve as a ``zeroth-order'' approximation for future RG studies. One interesting feature that we highlight is that the rare Griffiths regions are fractal. For thermal Griffiths regions within the MBL phase, this feature might be qualitatively correctly captured by our RG. If this is correct beyond our approximations, then these Griffiths effects are stronger than has been previously assumed.
Decline of Ottoman Jewry in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

All the prosperity, power and influence gained by Ottoman Jewry during the Golden Age of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries largely disappeared during the next two hundred years. Much of this change was the result of the simultaneous disintegration of the Ottoman Empire as a whole. Starting late in the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent, the empire began a slow process of decay which affected all elements of the population. It started with decline at the top of the Ruling Class. Ottoman greatness had been secured by the successive reigns of ten powerful and capable sultans who achieved a judicious Ruling Class mixture of Turks and other Muslims with elements of the conquered non-Muslim peoples, who were for the most part recruited and trained through the devsirme system, which converted young Christians to Islam and brought them into the service of the Sultan in high positions in both the administration and the army. The great sultans of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries balanced these two groups off so as to control and use both for the benefit of the state without abusing the people through misrule or excessive taxation. Insofar as the Ottoman Jews were concerned, this meant that whenever any member of the Ruling Class subjected them to misrule, or whenever Christian subjects tried to attack them with accusations of ritual murder, they were suppressed and punished, this providing them with the stability and security needed for successful undertakings in trade, industry and commerce, with the influential Jewish physicians and bankers at court making very certain that such cases were dealt with expeditiously and properly.
Substance Use in Adolescence

Adolescent-specific differences in psychosocial factors, behavioral responses, and neurobiological alterations influence the initiation and progression of substance use during adolescence. Adolescent substance use is characterized by excessive intake and a higher prevalence of drug use compared to adulthood. Additionally, exposure to drugs during this developmental period increases the likelihood of developing a future substance use disorder. In this chapter, we review the age-dependent differences in the short- and long-term consequences of three of the more commonly used drugs during adolescence: nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana. Although drug experimentation is relatively common during adolescence, permanent changes occur that make adolescence a period of enhanced vulnerability to substance use. These age-specific consequences are important to recognize and consider in the treatment of substance use that was initiated during adolescence.
Diagnostic tool for pneumothorax

Phase Stretch Transform (PST), a physics-inspired computational approach for feature enhancement, is used to develop a diagnostic assistance tool for pneumothorax in X-ray images. The tool, which is first of its kind, helps in locating the boundary of collapsed lung, a life-critical clinical examination.
Predicting 30-day all-cause readmissions from hospital inpatient discharge data

Inpatient hospital readmissions for potentially avoidable conditions are problematic and costly. In this paper, we build machine learning models using variables widely available in health claims data to predict patients' 30-day readmission risks at the time of discharge. These models show high predictive power on a U.S. nationwide readmission database. They are also capable of providing interpretable risk factors globally at the population level and locally associated with each single discharge. In addition, we propose a model-agnostic approach to provide confidence for each prediction. Altogether, using models with high predictive power, interpretable risk factors and prediction confidence may enable health care systems to accurately target high-risk patients and prevent recurrent readmissions by accurately anticipating the probability of readmission at the point of care.
Effect of Cooking on Bacteriological Populations of “Soul Foods”

Effect of typical cooking procedures on viable bacteria present in "soul foods" was determined. Time and temperature used were those determined to give a satisfactory product. Except for an aerobic plate count of 60 CFU/g in puddings (liver) and 10 CFU/g in jaws and neckbones, survival of vegetative bacterial cells in the cooked foods was nil.
Genetics and Development of Circadian Rhythms in Invertebrates

The scope of this review includes the developmental ontogeny and genetics of the driving oscillator and overt rhythms in invertebrates. The discussion is generally confined to meta-zoan organisms, except in cases where comparison with data from lower organisms is useful. The terms pacemaker and oscillator are usually used in the singular, although the actual physiological pacemaker may be made up of components—a population of coupled oscillators—or, at least, represented bilaterally in the two hemispheres of the brain. Only true circadian rhythms—those that persist in constant conditions—are covered; diel rhythms, which are expressed in LD but not in constant conditions, are not discussed.
The New Chemical Reporter 6-Alkynyl-6-deoxy-GlcNAc Reveals O-GlcNAc Modification of the Apoptotic Caspases That Can Block the Cleavage/Activation of Caspase-8

O-GlcNAc modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is required for survival in mammalian cells. Genetic and biochemical experiments have found that increased modification inhibits apoptosis in tissues and cell culture and that lowering O-GlcNAcylation induces cell death. However, the molecular mechanisms by which O-GlcNAcylation might inhibit apoptosis are still being elucidated. Here, we first synthesize a new metabolic chemical reporter, 6-Alkynyl-6-deoxy-GlcNAc (6AlkGlcNAc), for the identification of O-GlcNAc-modified proteins. Subsequent characterization of 6AlkGlcNAc shows that this probe is selectively incorporated into O-GlcNAcylated proteins over cell-surface glycoproteins. Using this probe, we discover that the apoptotic caspases are O-GlcNAcylated, which we confirmed using other techniques, raising the possibility that the modification affects their biochemistry. We then demonstrate that changes in the global levels of O-GlcNAcylation result in a converse change in the kinetics of caspase-8 activation duri...
On averaging multiple estimates of decision weights within or across listeners

As a practical guide, a formula is provided for averaging multiple estimates of decision weights, for the purpose of improving the accuracy and reliability of the final estimate of decision weights. The averaging over multiple weight estimates can take place either within or across listeners.
Frailty and Comorbidities Among Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Examination of a Hospital-Based Survivorship Cohort.

Purpose: Cancer survivors are at increased risk for the early development of age-related chronic medical conditions compared with peers without a history of cancer; however, little is known regarding the burden of these conditions among survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers. In response, we sought to determine the prevalence of specific comorbidities and frailty among AYAs (15–39 years old at diagnosis) enrolled in a cancer survivorship cohort. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey of a tertiary medical center-based cancer survivorship cohort, we determined the prevalence of specific comorbidities and frailty using the survey-based FRAIL assessment. In separate models adjusting for age, we estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for the associations between patient characteristics and (1) any comorbidity and (2) frailty or prefrailty using log-binomial models. Results: We identified 271 AYA cancer survivors, most of whom were 30–39 years old at survey (57%). A majority of survivors (n = 163, 6...
Consequences of Increased Compensation Disclosure Transparency: Evidence From CEO Pay in Acquiring Firms:

We investigate the consequences of increased compensation disclosure transparency on the pay for chief executive officers (CEOs) in firms that are more prone to a misalignment between manager and shareholder interests. Prior research documents that acquiring CEOs’ pay is insensitive to poor post-deal performance after firms complete large acquisitions. Using the 2006 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) compensation disclosure regulation as our empirical setting, we find that this result disappears after firms begin to provide more transparent compensation disclosure. Our cross-sectional analyses show that acquiring firms with higher quality compensation disclosure exhibit greater CEO pay sensitivity to poor post-deal performance after 2006. Our findings indicate that increased compensation disclosure transparency helps strengthen the relation between CEO pay and poor performance in acquiring firms.
Performance optimization of A 1.2kV SiC high density half bridge power module in 3D package

Wide bandgap power semiconductor devices show significantly superior performance than Si power devices, power module solutions are being investigated trying to improve system-level performance by applying SiC and GaN power devices in various applications. This paper introduces the design of a 1.2kV high density SiC half bridge intelligent power module based on 3-dimensional package concept, also addressed is the performance optimization of the proposed power module design. In the designed module, SiC MOSFETs and corresponding gate driver circuits in half bridge are interconnected vertically with high interconnection density and low power loop profile. Ultra-low parasitic inductance, 1.3nH, is introduced from DC+ to DC-. Isolation function blocks and bootstrap power supplies are also integrated in the 3D package. An ultra-thin dielectric substrate, with good thermal and breakdown performance, is applied to further decrease the power module weight and volume. The entire 3-dimentional 1.2kV SiC power module are within 35mm × 15mm × 7mm space. Through optimization, the design can achieve 8ns turn-on transient with limited switching loss at up to 700V / 60A. Thermal performance of the designed module is also evaluated through simulations.
In-Vitro Flow Visualization of Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Laser Flow Visualization, Color Doppler Flow Mapping and Coated Albunex Particles

The development of color Doppler echocardiography flow mapping (CDFM) represented a major technological breakthrough in the noninvasive investigation of flow fields in the heart. CDFM displays the spatial distribution of abnormal blood velocities in the heart and has been primarily used for evaluation of valvular regurgitation [1]. However, quantitation of regurgitation by CDFM remains difficult [2].
Does use of permanent suture material affect outcome of the modified Pereyra procedure

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of absorbable versus permanent suture on outcome of the modified Pereyra procedure for stress urinary incontinence. METHODS A review was performed of case-series reports of outcome of the modified Pereyra procedure for stress urinary incontinence that provided at least 1 year of follow-up and that specified the suture material used. Outcomes of cases in which permanent suture was used were compared with cases in which absorbable suture was used. The groups were further stratified according to whether success of the procedure was determined objectively or subjectively. Chi-square analysis was performed. RESULTS Fourteen case-series reports were examined, representing a total of 988 modified Pereyra operations. Overall, the relative risk (RR) of failure when absorbable suture was used was 1.8 times higher than with permanent suture (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.3; P < .0001) using objective or subjective outcome criteria. The RR of failure using absorbable suture when judged by objective criteria only was 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.3; P = .03) and when judged by subjective outcome only was 2.3 (95% CI 1.5-3.4; P < .0001). CONCLUSION Until a randomized controlled trial is done, the available evidence supports the use of permanent suture material whenever the modified Pereyra procedure is performed.
Deformations of Chiral Algebras

We start studying chiral algebras (as defined by A. Beilinson and V. Drinfeld) from the point of view of deformation theory. First, we define the notion of deformation of a chiral algebra on a smooth curve X over a bundle of local artinian commutative algebras on X equipped with a flat connection (whereas ‘usual’ algebraic structures are deformed over a local artinian algebra) and we show that such deformations are controlled by a certain *-Lie algebra g. Then we try to contemplate a possible additional structure on g and we conjecture that this structure up to homotopy is a chiral analogue of Gerstenhaber algebra, i.e. a coisson algebra with odd coisson bracket (in the terminology of Beilinson-Drinfeld). Finally, we discuss possible applications of this structure to the problem of quantization of coisson algebras. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 14, 18.
The effects of preferred provider organizations on health care use and costs

Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) now account for half the enrollment in managed care plans. There are more than 1,000 PPOs, and over 20% of the insured population in the United States are enrolled in this type of plan. Still, there have been few investigations of use and cost of health services in these plans. This paper presents an analysis of a convenience sample of 1,977 companies, most of them mid-sized, from 1988 to 1990. On average, PPOs were associated with cost savings of 12% per covered life (95% confidence interval, 7.2% to 16.9%) as compared to traditional plans with utilization review. The source of cost savings was primarily through lower utilization rates, including a 9.7% lower rate of physician office visits (5.2% to 14.3%) and a 9.3% lower rate of hospital admissions (4.1% to 14.5%). Cost savings were found in seven individual PPOs and a group of small PPOs in the study. Two PPOs were associated with added costs and results were indeterminate for four others. While PPOs may not achieve the level of savings reported by some health maintenance organizations, they may provide a means to achieve some degree of managed care savings for some employer groups.
Surgical anatomy of the infundibular septum in transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect

Anatomic variation of the infundibular septum was studied in transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect in 23 hearts and double-outlet right ventricle with anterior position of the aorta in two hearts. Anterior displacement of the infundibular septum (i.e., "false" Taussig-Bing heart) was associated with coarctation or interruption of the aortic arch in 88% of the cases, whereas posterior displacement resulted in subpulmonary narrowing in 100% of the cases. Anterior displacement makes intraventricular rerouting from the left ventricle to the aorta difficult because of a long oblique route. In addition, the right ventricular cavity becomes smaller after closure of the ventricular septal defect. Therefore, arterial switch accompanied with transatrial or transpulmonary closure of the defect without ventriculotomy is recommended. In hearts with posterior displacement of the infundibular septum, the anterosuperior rim of the defect is difficult to approach through the tricuspid valve, and the route from the left ventricle to the aorta is rather straight. Hence, the Rastelli procedure is preferable. In hearts without displacement of the infundibular septum, either arterial or atrial switch with transatrial closure of the ventricular septal defect is applicable.
Cerebellum and cognition: Does the rodent cerebellum participate in cognitive functions?

Abstract There is a widespread, nearly complete consensus that the human and non-human primate cerebellum is engaged in non-motor, cognitive functions. This body of research has implicated the lateral portions of lobule VII (Crus I and Crus II) and the ventrolateral dentate nucleus. With rodents, however, it is not so clear. We review here approximately 40 years of experiments using a variety of cerebellar manipulations in rats and mice and measuring the effects on executive functions (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility), spatial navigation, discrimination learning, and goal-directed and stimulus-driven instrumental conditioning. Our conclusion is that there is a solid body of support for engagement of the rodent cerebellum in tests of cognitive flexibility and spatial navigation, and some support for engagement in working memory and certain types of discrimination learning. Future directions will involve determining the relevant cellular mechanisms, cerebellar regions, and precise cognitive functions of the rodent cerebellum.
A novel variant in FN1 in a family with fibronectin glomerulopathy.

Glomerulopathy with fibronectin deposits (GFND) is a rare glomerular disorder. We report a 28-year-old male diagnosed with GFND by mass spectrometry on kidney biopsy tissue. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified that a previously undescribed FN1 gene mutation (c.3051G > T, p.W1017C) was likely responsible for this patient’s fibronectin glomerulopathy. We discuss the implications of this novel variant of FN1 and the importance of WES to identify a mutation in a gene of interest.
Modeling Pancreatic Cancer Dynamics with Immunotherapy

We develop a mathematical model of pancreatic cancer that includes pancreatic cancer cells, pancreatic stellate cells, effector cells and tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing cytokines to investigate the effects of immunotherapies on patient survival. The model is first validated using the survival data of two clinical trials. Local sensitivity analysis of the parameters indicates there exists a critical activation rate of pro-tumor cytokines beyond which the cancer can be eradicated if four adoptive transfers of immune cells are applied. Optimal control theory is explored as a potential tool for searching the best adoptive cellular immunotherapies. Combined immunotherapies between adoptive ex vivo expanded immune cells and TGF-[Formula: see text] inhibition by siRNA treatments are investigated. This study concludes that mono-immunotherapy is unlikely to control the pancreatic cancer and combined immunotherapies between anti-TGF-[Formula: see text] and adoptive transfers of immune cells can prolong patient survival. We show through numerical explorations that how these two types of immunotherapies are scheduled is important to survival. Applying TGF-[Formula: see text] inhibition first followed by adoptive immune cell transfers can yield better survival outcomes.
Tunable Energy Transfer from Dicyanoaurate(I) and Dicyanoargentate(I) Donor Ions to Terbium(III) Acceptor Ions in Pure Crystals

A temperature-dependent photoluminescence study is reported for single crystals of M[Au(CN)2]3 and M[Ag(CN)2]3 (M = Tb; Gd; Y). The results indicate that in both Tb[Au(CN)2]3 and Tb[Ag(CN)2]3 exclusive excitation of the donor leads to sensitized luminescence for the acceptor, characteristic of the 5D4 → 7FJ (J = 0−6) transition of Tb(III). However, the sensitized luminescence is much stronger in Tb[Ag(CN)2]3 than in Tb[Au(CN)2]3 due to a larger spectral overlap between the [Ag(CN)2-] emission and the Tb(III) absorption. Upon increasing the temperature, energy transfer is enhanced in Tb[Ag(CN)2]3 but inhibited in Tb[Au(CN)2]3. In Tb[Ag(CN)2]3, a large spectral overlap exists between the [Ag(CN)2-] donor emission and the Tb(III) acceptor absorption at all temperatures. The Tb(III) sensitized emission is strong at all temperatures and is enhanced upon a temperature increase while the [Ag(CN)2-] emission is quenched. An activation energy of 53.7 cm-1 (±2.5 cm-1) has been calculated for the energy transfer pro...
Mutant Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Causes Dentinogenesis Imperfecta.

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is an extracellular matrix protein highly expressed by odontoblasts in teeth. DSPP mutations in humans may cause dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI), an autosomal dominant dentin disorder. We recently generated a mouse model (named "DsppP19L/+ mice") that expressed a mutant DSPP in which the proline residue at position 19 was replaced by a leucine residue. We found that the DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice at a younger age displayed a tooth phenotype resembling human DGI type III characterized by enlarged dental pulp chambers, while the teeth of older DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice had smaller dental pulp chambers mimicking DGI type II. The teeth of DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice had a narrower pulp chamber roof predentin layer, thinner pulp chamber roof dentin, and thicker pulp chamber floor dentin. In addition, these mice also had increased enamel attrition, accompanied by excessive deposition of peritubular dentin. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that the odontoblasts in both DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice had reduced DSPP expression, compared to the wild-type mice. We also observed that the levels of DSPP expression were much higher in the roof-forming odontoblasts than in the floor-forming odontoblasts in the wild-type mice and mutant mice. Moreover, immunohistochemistry showed that while the immunostaining signals of dentin sialoprotein (N-terminal fragment of DSPP) were decreased in the dentin matrix, they were remarkably increased in the odontoblasts of the DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice. Consistently, our in vitro studies showed that the secretion of the mutant DSPP was impaired and accumulated within endoplasmic reticulum. These findings suggest that the dental phenotypes of the mutant mice were associated with the intracellular retention of the mutant DSPP in the odontoblasts of the DSPP-mutant mice.
Games of strategy in culture and economics research

Games are meant to be fun, yet economists have successfully developed games that are less fun and less understood by participants especially in developing countries. This paper surveys failures in ...
Photoacoustic Shadow-casting Microscopy (PASM)

Photoacoustic Shadow-casting Microscopy allows high-resolution imaging of biological samples with an unprecedented sensitivity. Given a desired SNR, PASM requires a much reduced excitation fluence, alleviating the photothermal damage to the specimen
Affect and alcohol: The moderating role of episode-specific drinking motives.

Abstract Findings regarding the moderating influence of drinking motives on the association between affect and alcohol consumption have been inconsistent. The current study extended previous work on this topic by examining episode-specific coping, enhancement, conformity, and social drinking motives as moderators of the association between daytime experiences of positive and negative affect and evening social and solitary alcohol consumption. Nine hundred and six participants completed daily diary surveys measuring their daily affect and evening drinking behavior each day for 30 days during college and again 5 years later, after they had left the college environment. Results of multilevel modeling analyses suggest that the associations between affect, drinking motives, and alcohol consumption are not straightforward. Specifically, whereas daytime positive affect and non-coping drinking motives predicted greater social consumption, daytime positive affect was related to lower solitary alcohol consumption among college students who were low in state social drinking motives. In addition, coping motives were related to greater social consumption during college and greater solitary alcohol consumption after college. Future research should continue to examine these episode-specific drinking motives in addition to trait-level drinking motives.
Motion Planning and Iterative Learning Control of a Modular Soft Robotic Snake.

Snake robotics is an important research topic with applications in a wide range of fields including inspection in confined spaces, search-and-rescue, and disaster response. Snake robots are well-suited to these applications because of their versatility and adaptability to unstructured and high-risk environments. However, compared to their biological counterparts, rigid snake robots have kinematic limitations that reduce their effectiveness in negotiating tight passageways. Due to their continuously deformable body, soft robotic snakes offer a solution that can address this discrepancy between traditional snake robots and biological snakes. To achieve functional autonomy, this paper combines soft mobile robot modeling, proprioceptive feedback control, and motion planning. We propose a pressure-operated soft robotic snake with a high degree of modularity, with our customized embedded flexible local curvature sensing. On this platform, we introduce the use of iterative learning control using feedback from the on-board curvature sensors to enable the snake to control its locomotion direction. We also present a motion planning and trajectory tracking algorithm using an adaptive bounding box, which allows for efficient motion planning that still takes into account the kinematic state of the soft robotic snake. We test this algorithm experimentally, and demonstrate its performance for obstacle avoidance scenarios.
Ionic Silicon Protects Oxidative Damage and Promotes Skeletal Muscle Cell Regeneration.

Volumetric muscle loss injuries overwhelm the endogenous regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle, and the associated oxidative damage can delay regeneration and prolong recovery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of silicon-ions on C2C12 skeletal muscle cells under normal and excessive oxidative stress conditions to gain insights into its role on myogenesis during the early stages of muscle regeneration. In vitro studies indicated that 0.1 mM Si-ions into cell culture media significantly increased cell viability, proliferation, migration, and myotube formation compared to control. Additionally, MyoG, MyoD, Neurturin, and GABA expression were significantly increased with addition of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mM of Si-ion for 1 and 5 days of C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Furthermore, 0.1–2.0 mM Si-ions attenuated the toxic effects of H2O2 within 24 h resulting in increased cell viability and differentiation. Addition of 1.0 mM of Si-ions significantly aid cell recovery and protected from the toxic effect of 0.4 mM H2O2 on cell migration. These results suggest that ionic silicon may have a potential effect in unfavorable situations where reactive oxygen species is predominant affecting cell viability, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Furthermore, this study provides a guide for designing Si-containing biomaterials with desirable Si-ion release for skeletal muscle regeneration.
Maternal perception of paternal breastfeeding support: A secondary qualitative analysis

Abstract Objective To describe how women perceive paternal support of breastfeeding and identify actions women value during the early breastfeeding postpartum. Design A qualitative secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews using thematic analysis collected after birth and via telephone at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after discharge. Setting A regional medical center in the southeast region of the United States. Participants Sixty-two women yielded 130 transcripts with 32 transcripts conducted after birth, and 19, 16, 27, and 36 transcripts conducted after discharge via telephone at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Finding Women reported three themes of paternal support of breastfeeding (1) participating in the breastfeeding decision, (2) being a partner of breastfeeding, and (3) caring for breastfeeding mothers. Conclusion and implication for practice Paternal support of breastfeeding is a learning process that requires teamwork for women and their partners to master breastfeeding. Women and their partners as co-parents solve breastfeeding problems and achieve their breastfeeding goals, which promotes maternal well-being and bonding with their infants. Future interventions will guide partners to support breastfeeding and women's postpartum physical and psychological needs.
Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic in Complex Societal System for Resilience Study: A Systems Approach

Abstract The continuing spread of COVID-19 has triggered a global health crisis with raising a series of problems in healthcare, economics, policymaking and environment, which significantly affected the resilience of the whole societal system. We emphasize the societal system, as an adaptive and complex system, has a fundamental impact on the spread of the virus linked to individual behavior change and disaster governance system. This paper combined system thinking and resilience thinking to visualize the complexity and comprehend the governance system under global pandemic threats towards recovering the resilient society. We underline the societal system can be affected by the pandemic, and in turn, impinge on the individual behaviors and governance with a proposed multi-stage and multi-scalar framework dealt with the process from crisis to recovery. Meanwhile, a qualitative system dynamics model is proposed inspired by the general Susceptible-Infected-Recovery (SIR) model with multiple interactions and interdependency of intervention policies, human psychological factors and mobility-related factors to explore the influence on the societal system with time effect. Through this perspective, we should enhance the sense of crisis and integrate resilience thinking into the current hazards and recovery process combined with the interconnectedness among societal system in the future.
Clinical Outcomes of Histologically Verified Salivary Ductal Carcinomas: Retrospective Analysis of 89 Patients Treated Over 47 Years.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Salivary duct carcinomas (SDC) make up < 2% of salivary duct tumors but are very aggressive with a low 5-year survival rate of 35%. This series reports long term outcomes of patients with SDC treated at a single institution. MATERIALS/METHODS Patients ≥18 years with histological confirmation of SDC treated with curative intent from 1961-2018 were included in this analysis. Patients were excluded if treatment was palliative intent (N = 14), and if staging (N = 4) or locoregional control (LRC) status (N = 7) was not recorded. 89 patients (74% male) met criteria for inclusion. Median age was 66 years (range: 32 - 89). AJCC 8 staging of patients were as follows: 13% (I), 6% (II), 12% (III), 62% (IVa), and 7% (IVb). 67% of patients were lymph node positive. Kaplan Meier analyses were used to estimate LRC and OS rates. Bivariate regression analyses using disease and treatment characteristics (i.e., perineural invasion (PNI), extracapsular extension (EE), vascular invasion (VI), CN VII sacrifice, extraparenchymal involvement (EI)) for prediction of LRC and OS were performed. RESULTS Median follow-up was 48.5 months (0.4-343 mo). Most patients were treated with combined modality therapy; 82% (n = 73) undergoing curative surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) with (26%, n = 23) or without (56%, n = 50) concurrent chemo while 4.5% (n = 4) were treated with definitive RT; 2.3% (n = 2) receiving concurrent chemo. 13.5% (n = 12) were treated with surgery alone. Crude post-treatment LRC after surgery alone, surgery followed by adjuvant RT, and definitive RT alone were 66.7, 78.1 and 0% (P = 0.002), respectively. The odds of achieving LRC were diminished with incidence of VI (odds ratio (OR) = 0.07, P = 0.02), EI (OR = 0.3, P = 0.03), and T3/T4 staging (OR = 0.3, P = 0.03). Chemotherapy did not influence LRC. The occurrence of distant metastases was associated with PNI (OR = 5, P = 0.003) and EI (OR = 2.6, P = 0.03). EI status was also associated with a shorter time to recurrence (26 vs 17.3 mo, P = 0.04). Median overall survival (OS) was 55.3 months (41.7-81.7 95% CI) with 82% surviving at 2 years, 47% at 5 years, and 28% at 10 years. Failure to achieve LRC (81.7 vs 36 mo, P < 0.001), distant metastases (108.5 vs 41.7 mo, P < 0.001), VI (86.2 vs 46.8 mo, P = 0.046), T3/T4 staging (125.8 vs 48.8 mo, P = 0.02), PNI (88.1 vs 48.8 mo, P = 0.03), and EI (108.5 vs 47.3 mo, P = 0.004) were found to significantly reduce median OS. CONCLUSION SDC is an aggressive tumor that requires a multimodality treatment approach. Patients analyzed here had a 5-year survival greater than what is typically reported for SDC (47 vs. 35%). Definitive radiotherapy was less likely to control gross disease and should be reserved for the adjuvant setting if surgery is an option. We identified incidence of extraparenchymal involvement, perineural and vascular invasion as negative prognostic indicators of disease control and survival.
Symptoms: Menopause, Infertility, and Sexual Health

By 2022, the number of survivors is expected to grow to nearly 18 million. Therefore, addressing acute and chronic negative sequelae of a cancer diagnosis and its treatments becomes a health imperative. For women with a history of breast cancer, one of the common goals of treatment and prevention of recurrence is to reduce circulating concentrations of estradiol, especially in women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Hormone deprivation after a diagnosis of breast cancer impacts physiological targets other than in the breast tissue and can result in unwanted side effects, all of which can negatively impact quality of life and function and cause distress. Symptoms that are most strongly linked by evidence to hormone changes after cancer diagnosis and treatment include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes, fatigue, mood changes, and diminishing sexual function, including vaginal atrophy (decreased arousal, dryness and dyspareunia), infertility, decreased desire and negative self-image. Weight gain and resulting body image changes are often concomitants of the abrupt onset of treatment-induced menopause.
Skeletal Muscle Responses to Unweighting in Humans

An overview of earth-based studies is presented emphasizing the data on muscular strength and size derived from experiments under simulated microgravity. The studies involve the elimination of weight-bearing responsibility of lower-limb human musculature to simulate the unweighting effects of space travel in the absence of exercise. Reference is given to bedrest and unilateral lower-limb suspension, both of which provide data that demonstrate the decreased strength of the knee extensors of 20-25 percent. The response is related to the decrease in cross-sectional area of the knee extensors which is a direct indication of muscle-fiber atrophy. Most of the effects of unweighting are associated with extensor muscles in the lower limbs and not with postural muscles. Unweighting is concluded to cause significant adaptations in the human neuromuscular system that require further investigation.
Interpreting Quantum Theories

Laura Ruetsche, Interpreting Quantum Theories. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. xvii, 377. Most philosophical work on quantum physics has concerned simple systems. And for good reason. Even one or two particle systems can exhibit the striking features we have come to associate with quantum physics—features such as entanglement, interference, and non-locality. But as far as physics goes, such systems barely scrape the surface. In particular, they have only a finite number of degrees of freedom, which means their states are characterized by a finite number of independent parameters. The systems studied in fields such as high energy particle physics and many-body physics, meanwhile, have uncountably many degrees of freedom. They are far more complicated than the usual philosophical fare. This is untroubling as long as the conceptual heart of quantum physics can be effectively condensed down. But what if philosophers’ toy systems are fundamentally different from realistic ones? That would be a problem. And indeed, as Laura Ruetsche convincingly argues in Interpreting Quantum Theories, systems with uncountable degrees of freedom—what Ruetsche collectively calls QM ∞ —are fundamentally different from the systems that have become the stock and trade of philosophy of physics, in ways that change the interpretational project. Ruetsche’s book does two things exceedingly well. The first is to provides a (comparatively) accessible and philosophically-oriented introduction to the algebraic approach to quantum physics, which is essential for understanding QM ∞ . This is a valuable contribution. The algebraic approach is the setting for much recent philosophical work. And yet learning it is notoriously difficult, as even pedagogical texts are aimed at research-level mathematicians. Ruetsche’s book is technically demanding, but it works to bring non-mathematicians along. It is, without a doubt, the best place to enter this literature. Second, the book sets the agenda for future work on QM ∞ , by effectively and judiciously drawing important foundational questions out of a sprawling and difficult physics literature. In this regard, it is a close cousin to John Earman’s excellent Bangs, Crunches, Whimpers, and Shrieks, which has had a significant influence on subsequent philosophy of spacetime physics. 1 Philosophers of physics will be addressing the questions Ruetsche has raised, in many cases for the first time, for years to come. Interpreting Quantum Theories centers on what might be called the problem of inequivalent representations. The quantum theories that philosophers are accustomed to are set in a mathematical structure known as a (separable) Hilbert space, which is an at-most countably infinite dimensional complex vector space. Rays in a Hilbert space represent possible states of a physical system, and self- adjoint operators on that Hilbert space correspond to properties of the system. 1 John Earman, Bangs, Crunches, Whimpers, and Shrieks (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995).
Dynamic Rod Worth Measurement

The dynamic rod worth measurement (DRWM) technique is a method of quickly validating the predicted bank worth of control rods and shutdown rods. The DRWM analytic method is based on three-dimensional, space-time kinetic simulations of the rapid rod movements. Its measurement data is processed with an advanced digital reactivity computer. DRWM has been used as the method of bank worth validation at numerous plant startups with excellent results. The process and methodology of DRWM are described, and the measurement results of using DRWM are presented.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE DELAYED MIXING STRATIFIED CHARGE ENGINE CONCEPT

A single cylinder engine was used to simulate the delayed mixing stratified charge combustion process. A rich charge was drawn into the engine through the carburetor. Combustion was inititate with a spark; later air was injected to complete the combustion process. The results showed that emissions could be controlled by the delayed mixing combustion process. The engine specific power was also at reasonable levels. However, the engine efficiency was low. /SASI/
Response to changes in key stimuli through the co-evolution of sensor morphology and control

Co-evolving a robotpsilas sensor morphology and control program increases the potential that it can effectively complete its tasks and provides a means for adapting to changes in the environment. In previous work, we presented a learning system where the angle, range, and type of sensors on a hexapod robot, along with the control program, were evolved. Although three sensor stimuli were detectable by the system, it used only two due to the relative importance of these two stimuli in completing the task. In the research presented in this paper, we used the same system, but reduced the availability of a key stimuli; the most effective solution now required the use of all three stimuli. The learning system still performed well by pacing sensors appropriate for the third stimuli and creating a program that utilized these sensors to successfully solve the problem.
Fluid Biomarkers in Clinical Trials of Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics.

With the demographic shift of the global population towards longer life expectancy, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has rapidly expanded and is projected to triple by the year 2050. Current treatments provide symptomatic relief but do not affect the underlying pathology of the disease. Therapies that prevent or slow the progression of the disease are urgently needed to avoid this growing public health emergency. Insights gained from decades of research have begun to unlock the pathophysiology of this complex disease and have provided targets for disease modifying therapies. In the last decade, few therapeutic agents designed to modify the underlying disease process have progressed to clinical trials and none have been brought to market. With the focus on disease modification, biomarkers promise to play an increasingly important role in clinical trials. Six biomarkers have now been included in diagnostic criteria for AD and are regularly incorporated into clinical trials. Three biomarkers are neuroimaging measures—hippocampal atrophy measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), amyloid uptake as measured by Pittsburg compound B positron emission tomography (PiB PET), and decreased fluorodeoxyglucose (18F) uptake as measured by positron emission tomography (FDG PET)—and three are sampled from fluid sources—cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels
Experimental verification of thermodynamic fatigue life prediction model using entropy as damage metric

AbstractA fatigue model based on entropy generation is presented and validated through experiments. This model is purely physical and combines statistical mechanics with thermodynamic laws applied at a local scale. The model does not require an empirical damage surface or phenomenological constitutive modeling constants. Damage evolution parameter varies from 0 to 1. As it is for the irreversible internal entropy production, this parameter is a non-decreasing quantity that increases with the degradation of a material.
The relationship between enzyme activity and the catecholamine content and secretion of pheochromocytomas.

We evaluated 7 patients (5 familial and 2 sporadic) with pheochromocytomas. As 4 of the patients had bilateral pheochromocytomas, we were able to analyze 11 tumors. We also analyzed 7 adrenal medullae from 4 patients undergoing bilateral adrenalectomy for palliation of metastatic breast carcinoma. There was a substantial quantity of dopamine (DA) in both the pheochromocytomas (658 μg/g) and the normal adrenal medullae (254 μg/g). Dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was present in both the pheochromocytomas (29.3 nmol/mg·min) and the normal adrenal medullae (8.6 nmol/mg·min). There was no significant correlation between the DBH activity and the DA or norepinephrine concentration of the pheochromocytomas. All of the pheochromocytomas (84 pmol/mg·min) and normal adrenal medullae (52 pmol/mg·min) had phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) activity, although some of the pheochromocytomas did not synthesize or secrete epinephrine (E). Although the correlation coefficient between the PNMT activity and t...
R-domination on block graphs

The k-domination problem is to select a minimum cardinality vertex set D of a graph G such that every vertex of G is within distance k from some vertex of D. We consider a generalization of the k-domination problem, called the R-domination problem. A linear algorithm is presented that solves this problem for block graphs. Our algorithm is a generalization of Slater's algorithm [12], which is applicable for forest graphs.
Evolution of Smartn Players

Abstract To model the evolution of strategic intelligence, player types are drawn from a hierarchy of "smartness" analogous to the levels of iterated rationalizability. Nonrationalizable strategies die out, but when higher levels of smartness incur maintenance costs, being right is always as good as being smart. Moreover, if a manifest way to play emerges, then dumb players never die out, while smarter players with positive maintenance costs vanish. These results call to question the standard game-theoretic assumption of super-intelligent players. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: B40, C70, C72, C73.
Revisited and Revised: Is RhoA Always a Villain in Cardiac Pathophysiology?

The neonatal rat ventricular myocyte model of hypertrophy has provided tremendous insight with regard to signaling pathways regulating cardiac growth and gene expression. Many mediators thus discovered have been successfully extrapolated to the in vivo setting, as assessed using genetically engineered mice and physiological interventions. Studies in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes demonstrated a role for the small G-protein RhoA and its downstream effector kinase, Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK), in agonist-mediated hypertrophy. Transgenic expression of RhoA in the heart does not phenocopy this response, however, nor does genetic deletion of ROCK prevent hypertrophy. Pharmacologic inhibition of ROCK has effects most consistent with roles for RhoA signaling in the development of heart failure or responses to ischemic damage. Whether signals elicited downstream of RhoA promote cell death or survival and are deleterious or salutary is, however, context and cell-type dependent. The concepts discussed above are reviewed, and the hypothesis that RhoA might protect cardiomyocytes from ischemia and other insults is presented. Novel RhoA targets including phospholipid regulated and regulating enzymes (Akt, PI kinases, phospholipase C, protein kinases C and D) and serum response element-mediated transcriptional responses are considered as possible pathways through which RhoA could affect cardiomyocyte survival.
Prophecy as Arguing with God and the Ideal of Justice

Biblical prophecy seeks both to reconcile people to God and to reconcile God with people. Close examination of the roles of Abraham (Genesis 18), Moses (Exodus 32) and Elijah (1 Kings 19) demonstra...
Dental Quackery: A Retrospective View

Dr. Mandel looks at dubious theories from dentistry’s past and questions some practices on the horizon. Instances of dental quackery are easy to spot in history, but what qualifies as quackery in contemporary dentistry? A historical perspective leads to an evaluation of questionable practices in the field today.
Response to commentaries: a variety of questions about fundamental motives and religious experience

In our target article, we proposed that evolved, fundamental motives (self-protection, disease avoidance, coalition formation, status seeking, mating and mate retention, and kin care) could affect ...
Comparative Cognition: Comparing Human and Monkey Memory

Humans store a limited number of items in short-term working memory to perform subsequent operations. A newly described assessment of memory in rhesus monkeys suggests qualitative similarities and quantitative dissimilarities to humans.