cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance comparison of a point-scale LSP model and the NOAH distributed SVAT model for soil moisture estimation using microwave remote sensing

Soil moisture is a critical state variable in land surface hydrology, and has a significant influence on interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere through the exchange of water vapor and sensible heat. Assessment of the ability of passive microwave remote sensing to measure accurately the spatial and temporal variations of soil moisture is an essential first step for the successful incorporation of soil moisture data in many important applications such as mesoscale weather forecasting, climate modeling, agricultural productivity, watershed hydrology, ecological processes, and natural hazards research. An important part of this assessment is to understand the. relationship between soil moisture derived from microwave remote sensing and soil moisture as used and predicted by various models of the land surface water and energy balance, including soil-vegetation atmosphere transfer schemes (SVATS). Characterization of the relationship between microwave-derived and SVAT-modeled soil moisture is important at both point and distributed spatial scales, and this issue forms the basis of our current research. Two models used in this study include (1) the new modular vectorized version of the University of Michigan Land Surface Process/Radiobrightness (LSP/R) model. and (2) the NOAH Land Surface Model by NOAA NCEP, Oregon State University, the Army, and the Office of Hydrology. Both models are initialized with appropriate soil and vegetation parameters and are driven by local meteorological data.
Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) with the Trait of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene Remove Brood with All Reproductive Stages of Varroa Mites (Mesostigmata: Varroidae)

Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) is a trait of honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), which supports resistance to Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman. VSH is the hygienic removal of mite-infested pupa. Bees selectively bred for VSH produce colonies in which the fertility of mites decreases over time. In addition, mite fertility decreases after infested brood is exposed to VSH bees for 1 wk. The purpose of this study was to decide whether the reduction in mite fertility is caused by selective removal of mites that produce offspring. Initially, we monitored changes in a small patch of capped brood during exposure to VSH bees at 2-h intervals through 60 h, which provided a reference for the subsequent experiment. The first test showed that VSH bees uncapped, recapped, and began to remove many pupae in ≈2 h. The approach in the second experiment was to compare the percentage of fertile mites from brood exposed to VSH bees for a 3-h period to the percentage of fertile mites in brood that was protected from hygiene by a screen. There were no significant differences in fertility between mites on pupae that were being removed by the bees and mites on protected pupae. These results suggest that neither egg-laying by foundress mites nor mite offspring are the stimuli that trigger hygienic removal of mite-infested pupae by VSH bees. It may be that hygienic activities such as the uncapping of brood cells inhibits or disrupts reproduction by varroa mites.
Incidental focal hypermetabolic colorectal lesions identified by positron emission tomography: prevalence of malignancy

Colorectal cancer is commonly diagnosed in the United State and is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. Positron emission tomography has been used for the evaluation and management for patients with colorectal cancer. Frequently, abnormal incidental lesions are detected on positron emission tomography. This article will review current literature for the prevalence of malignancy and pre-malignancy in incidental focal hypermetabolic colorectal lesions detected by positron emission tomography and briefly discuss its clinical impact.
Transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington’s disease

Although the gene responsible for Huntington's disease was discovered in 1993, the pathogenic mechanisms by which mutant huntingtin causes neuronal dysfunction and death remain unclear. However, increasing evidence suggests that mutant huntingtin disrupts the normal transcriptional program of susceptible neurons. Thus, transcriptional dysregulation might be an important pathogenic mechanism in Huntington's disease.
The role of the AFD neuron in C. elegans thermotaxis analyzed using femtosecond laser ablation

Background: Caenorhabditis elegans actively crawls down thermal gradients until it reaches the temperature of its prior cultivation, exhibiting what is called cryophilic movement. Implicit in the worm's performance of cryophilic movement is the ability to detect thermal gradients, and implicit in regulating the performance of cryophilic movement is the ability to compare the current temperature of its surroundings with a stored memory of its cultivation temperature. Several lines of evidence link the AFD sensory neuron to thermotactic behavior, but its precise role is unclear. A current model contends that AFD is part of a thermophilic mechanism for biasing the worm's movement up gradients that counterbalances the cryophilic mechanism for biasing its movement down gradients. Results: We used tightly-focused femtosecond laser pulses to dissect the AFD neuronal cell bodies and the AFD sensory dendrites in C. elegans to investigate their contribution to cryophilic movement. We establish that femtosecond laser ablation can exhibit submicrometer precision, severing individual sensory dendrites without causing collateral damage. We show that severing the dendrites of sensory neurons in young adult worms permanently abolishes their sensory contribution without functional regeneration. We show that the AFD neuron regulates a mechanism for generating cryophilic bias, but we find no evidence that AFD laser surgery reduces a putative ability to generate thermophilic bias. In addition, although disruption of the AIY interneuron causes worms to exhibit cryophilic bias at all temperatures, we find no evidence that laser killing the AIZ interneuron causes thermophilic bias at any temperature. Conclusion: We conclude that laser surgical analysis of the neural circuit for thermotaxis does not support a model in which AFD opposes cryophilic bias by generating thermophilic bias. Our data supports a model in which the AFD neuron gates a mechanism for generating cryophilic bias.
Peripheral metabolism of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in iodine deficient rat.

SummaryThe peripheral metabolism of radiothyroxine (T4∗ and radiotriiodothyronine (T3∗) was studied in iodine deficient and control rats. The half-life and space of distribution of these hormones were similar in the 2 groups of animals. The quantity of hormone degraded daily, however, was less in iodine deficient than in its control rat because less was produced.
Mitigating performance degradation of network-based control systems under denial of service attacks

One obstacle for the widespread deployment of network-based control systems (NBCS) is the stochastic delay induced by the underlying shared and open networks. Denial of service (DoS) attacks cause significant disruptions to the Internet, compounding the delay jitter and loss of packets that are used to transmit sensor measurements and control signals. Existing works have mainly focused on controller design under network normal operation, which might be inadequate to the threats of DoS attacks. In this paper, the authors present two mitigation measures from the viewpoint of network intrusion detection and response. The basic idea is that the routers close to the attack sources actively drop the attack traffic or lower-priority traffic to protect the resource for the legitimate application traffic. The simulation results indicate that the proposed defense measures are effective for ameliorating the NBCS performance degradation. We suggest that a plausible direction for the security of NBCS may combine the proposed network defense measures with specific controller design to compensate for delay jitter/packet loss.
Guanine nucleotide exchange factors: Activators of Ras superfamily proteins

Members of the Ras superfamily of proteins function as regulated GDP/GTP switches that cycle between active GTP-complexed and inactive GDP-complexed states. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) stimulate formation of the GTP-bound state, whereas GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) catalyze the formation of the GDP-bound state. We describe three studies that evaluate the mechanism of action of GEFs for Ras (SOS1 and RasGRF/CDC25) or Ras-related Rho (Dbl and Vav) proteins. Growth factor-mediated activation of Ras is believed to be mediated by activation of Ras GEFs (CDC25/GRF and SOS1/2). Although the mechanisms of Ras GEF regulation are unclear, recent studies suggest that translocation of SOS1 to the plasma membrane, where Ras is located, might be responsible for Ras activation. Our observation that the addition of the Ras plasma membrane-targeting sequence to the catalytic domains of CDC25 and SOS1 greatly enhanced their transforming and transactivation activities (10-50 fold and 5-10 fold, respectively) suggests that membrane translocation alone is sufficient to potentiate GEF activation of Ras. We have determined that two Ras-related proteins, designated R-Ras and R-Ras2/TC21, can trigger the malignant transformation of NIH 3T3 cells via activation of the Ras signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, like Ras and R-Ras, we observed that TC21 GTPase activity was stimulated by Ras GAPs. However, we observed that both SOS1 and CDC25 were activators of normal TC21, but not R-Ras, transforming activities. Therefore, TC21, but not R-Ras, may be activated by the same extracellular signaling events that activate Ras proteins. Dbl family proteins are believed to function as GEFs and activators of the Ras-related Rho family of proteins. However, one Dbl family oncogene, designated Vav, has been reported to be a GEF for Ras proteins. Therefore we were interested in determining whether Dbl family oncogenes cause transformation by triggering the constitutive activation of Rho or Ras proteins. Our results suggest that Dbl oncogenes cause transformation via a Ras-independent activation of MAP kinases and Rho family proteins.
Microscopic Quantification of Cell Integrity in Raw and Processed Onion Parenchyma Cells

A cell viability assessment method based computer vision analysis of the uptake of neutral red dye was used to quantify cell membrane integrity in raw and processed parenchyma cells of onion tissues. The presence of stained vacuoles was used as an indicator of tonoplast membrane integrity and photomicrographs were acquired for microscopic image analysis and cell integrity quantification. Two different image analysis methods, involving the analysis of the saturation and green components of RGB (red, green, blue) images, were compared to the conventional cell count method. Use of the saturation component of RGB images allowed for the visualization and quantification of viable and inviable cells as well as extracellular air spaces. The combination of neutral red uptake, as visualization by light field microscopy, and saturation image analysis, allowed for quantitative determination of the effects of high pressure processing on onion cell integrity.
The new Professional Development Centre boasts 1,000 courses, O'Reilly Books, and CS classics

ACM is expanding the PDC along three axes: Doubling the number of online courses, adding 500 books from Safari (including O'Reilly's library), and classic computer science books that you can help select.
Peyronie’s disease: contemporary review of non-surgical treatment

Background: Peyronie’s disease (PD) remains a therapeutic dilemma for the treating physician. This is in spite of a large array of treatments which have been used since the time of de la Peyronie in the mid 18 th century. Part of this problem is due to an incomplete understanding of the etiopathophysiology of this scarring disorder. Having a better understanding of the how and why the scarring occurs may help prevent progression, but ultimately reversing the existing scar remains the real challenge. Methods: This review discusses the current non-surgical treatment options for Peyronie's disease. Published articles in peer-reviewed journals are used, recognizing that the majority of the published trials are compromised by being single-center studies without a placebo control. Results: A variety of treatments options have emerged, most with limited and unreliable benefit, but a few treatments have shown a consistent albeit incomplete response rate. Could this suggest that all PD is not the same and that the heterogeneous nature of this scarring disorder may account for why some patients respond and others do not? Further investigation of this diverse response rate may yield insights into the pathophysiology of PD. In the meantime, there have been many oral treatments offered for PD. Currently the only scientifically sensible treatments appear to be pentoxifylline, L-arginine, and possibly the phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors. Intralesional injection has been used for many years. The current treatment options include verapamil and interferon, with reported benefit with respect to reduced deformity and improved sexual function. Intralesional clostridial collagenase is in the midst of phase 3 trial analysis by the FDA in the USA and may become the newest and only FDA approved treatment for Peyronie’s disease. External mechanical traction therapy has also recently emerged as a technique to reduce curvature, recover lost length, enhance girth, and possibly obviate surgery. Conclusions: It appears at this time that there is no clear, reliable and effective non-surgical treatment for Peyronie’s, but it does appear from the published literature that several of the available treatments can result in reduction of deformity, improved sexual function, and may at a minimum stabilize the disease process so that deformity does not get worse particularly during the acute phase of this scarring disorder. Combination therapy in an effort to create a synergy between the chemical effects of oral and injectable drugs with the mechanical effects of external traction therapy may provide the best opportunity today for reduction of deformity in the man with Peyronie's disease.
Obesity and the Odds of Weight Gain following Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer.

Background. Increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of mortality; however, quantifying weight gain in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PC) remains unexplored. Methods. Between 1995 and 2001, 206 men were enrolled in a randomized trial evaluating the survival difference of adding 6 months of ADT to radiation therapy (RT). BMI measurements were available in 171 men comprising the study cohort. The primary endpoint was weight gain of ≥10 lbs by 6-month followup. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess whether baseline BMI or treatment received was associated with this endpoint adjusting for known prognostic factors. Results. By the 6-month followup, 12 men gained ≥10 lbs, of which 10 (83%) received RT
A transaction definition based on message passing

In object oriented databases (OODB) all interactions among objects are via messages. A message can be viewed as a command to activate a specific method within the object to which the message is sent. The paper motivates and proposes an OODB transaction definition based on message passing. It first describes several previous OODB transaction definitions and identifies requirements for a transaction definition based on message passing. Then it provides an introduction to transaction trees, a view of an OODB transaction. A more formal definition of a transaction tree is then given, followed by an indication of areas for future research. >
Experimental results of testing high-temperature-high-current pulsed operation of SiC MOSETs and SiC diodes

Using hot plate experiments testing to a maximum temperature of 200 °C, we performed tests to determine the maximum single pulse current allowable for Cree CMF20120D SiC MOSFETs and Cree C4D40120D Schottky diodes. Using single pulse switching of a resonant circuit, a half-sine shaped current pulse of 5∼10 μsec duration was used to test the devices. A criterion for maximum allowable peak current was determined from the point of dramatic increase in conduction loss as a function of peak current. At 200 °C, maximum single pulse current was found to be 200 amp for the SiC MOSFET and about 500 amp for the SiC Schottky diode (both legs in parallel). We also report measurements of leakage current on the devices as a function of temperature, and will present measurements on an IGBT device of comparable current rating for comparison. Simple measurements of this type are a useful way of determining operational limits of SiC devices at temperatures that are not reported in the device data sheet.
Training in the Workplace: Continuity and Change

Rapid changes are occurring in the organization of production in advanced industrial societies. These changes result from new technologies, increased competition, and new production techniques. Increased training for workers has been identified as essential for remaining competitive in this rapidly changing environment. Research on the organization of work suggests that training is most likely to occur where workers are organized into internal labor markets that cultivate and retain their skills and is less likely to occur in organizations which rely on secondary labor markets. Our study of 20 manufacturing plants supports the hypothesis that approaches to training are strongly differentiated by the division between enterprises with and without internal labor markets. Training for advanced technologies and contemporary production techniques appears to grow out of existing institutionalized internal labor markets. Where such labor markets do not exist, training is less likely to occur or is superficial in ...
Quantitative tandem mass spectrometric imaging of endogenous acetyl-L-carnitine from piglet brain tissue using an internal standard.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) based mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) is increasingly being used as an analytical tool to evaluate the molecular makeup of tissue samples. From the direct analysis of a tissue section, the physical integrity of sample is preserved; thus, spatial information of a compound’s distribution may be determined. One limitation of the technique, however, has been the inability to determine the absolute concentration from a tissue sample. Here we report the development of a quantitative MSI technique in which the distribution of acetyl-l-carnitine (AC) in a piglet brain sample is quantified with MALDI MSI. An isotopically labeled internal standard was applied uniformly beneath the tissue section, and wide-isolation tandem mass spectrometry was performed. Normalizing the analyte ion signal by the internal standard ion signal resulted in significant improvements in MS images, signal reproducibility, and calibration curve linearity. From the improved MS images, the ...
Discussion of “An Examination of the U.S. Public Accounting Profession’s Public Interest Discourse and Actions in Federal Policy Making”.

The history of the public accounting profession is filled with perceived crises in professionalism. Baudot et al. (An examination of the U.S. public accounting profession’s public interest discourse and actions in federal policy making, 2015) focus on the post Sarbanes–Oxley period, highlighting how the advocacy efforts of the public accounting profession directed toward financial regulation represent the most recent of crises. This study makes an important contribution to the literature because it illustrates the inherent challenges faced by a regulatory structure that requires private interests to act in the public good. The purpose of this commentary is to provide a historical and institutional context for the study’s findings, to assess the current state of research, and to offer suggestions for future research.
Partial Deoxygenation of Glycerol Catalyzed by Iridium Pincer Complexes

Iridium pincer complexes (POCOP)Ir(CO) (POCOP = κ3-C6H3-1,3-[OP(tBu)2]2) and substituted POCOP derivatives catalyze deoxygenation of glycerol to n-propanol and 1,3-propanediol in good yield under moderate conditions (acidic aqueous dioxane, 200 °C, 80 bar H2). Catalyst solubility in the polar reaction mixture is improved by incorporation of a polar moiety in the para position of the POCOP phenyl ring, with the best results obtained with a dimethylamino substituent.
Carotid Stenting in Patients with Symptomatic Coronary Artery Disease: A Preferred Approach.

endarterectomy (CEA) is superior to medical therapy in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis. Surgical endarterectomy, however, has several limitations. In the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), the risk of stroke or death was 5.8% overall. In high risk patients with significant coronary artery disease, morbidity and mortality as high as 18% has been reported. Cranial nerve palsies occur in 8% to 27% of patients. Furthermore, although inadequately studied, restenosis after endarterectomy appears to occur in 8% to 19% of p a t i e n t s – 9 , 1 1 , 1 2 and scarring from the initial operation makes repeat endarterectomy difficult. Percutaneous techniques have the potential for being safer, less traumatic, more cost effective, and usable in patients at high surgical risk. An advantage compared with CEA is that they are not limited to the cervical portion of the carotid artery. Percutaneous balloon angioplasty of the carotid arteries was first performed in the early 1980s, 3 – 1 8 but concern about potential risks of embolization to the central nervous system has slowed developement. Ongoing technical refinements, powerful new anti-platelet agents, and the addition of stent implantation have made the percutaneous approach an attractive alternative to conventional endarterectomy. As the technique of stent supported carotid angioplasty (SSCA) has evolved, the target population has expanded and new strategies are being formulated to reduce the risk of neurological complications. Multicenter experience in 2,048 patients 9 – 2 7 was recently reported. The peri-procedural risks for major and minor strokes and death are acceptable for the early stage of development, with a minor stroke occurance rate of 4.8%, major stroke occurance rate of 1.32%, and a 30 day post-procedure mortality rate of 1.37%. 8 This review discusses current indications, institutional protocol and procedural results, in-hospital and follow-up evaluation of the first 124 consecutive patients treated at Washington Adventist Hospital.
To Kill a Mockingbird and the Turn from the Gothic to Southern Liberalism

To Kill a Mockingbird is often described as a Southern Gothic novel. Manson argues it is better viewed as a Bildungsroman and novel of manners, with the Gothic representing a phase Scout and Jem must grow out of on their way toward and then past their elders’ Southern liberal segregationism. Lee depicts the South as more complicated than outsiders view it, with a native strain of critique of both racism and segregation rooted in Southern values. The critique of Atticus in Go Set a Watchman is already present in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Point Estimation I

A point estimator gives a single value as an estimate of a parameter. For example, \(\overline{Y } = 10.54\) is a point estimate of the population mean μ.
Recent results in low power research

In this talk, we present CAD techniques for low power design. We focus on results in the following areas: voltage islands generation, power grid analysis, floorplan design, and bus design
A Retrospective Study of the Impact of Rapid Diagnostic Testing on Time to Pathogen Identification and Antibiotic Use for Children with Positive Blood Cultures

Introduction Rapid identification of bloodstream pathogens provides crucial information that can improve the choice of antimicrobial therapy for children. Previous impact studies have primarily focused on adults. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of rapid testing in a children’s hospital on time to organism identification and antibiotic use in the setting of an established antimicrobial stewardship program.
Lagrangian mechanisms of flame extinction for lean turbulent premixed flames

Abstract Flame extinction is a critical impediment invariably limiting the performance of modern turbulent combustion technology. Combustion systems operating at lean conditions are highly susceptible to dynamic flame stability induced by local flame extinction. This stimulates flame blow-out and inevitably termination of the combustion process. The present study focuses on understanding the driving mechanisms which lead to flame extinction. A Lagrangian flame-vortex model is developed and used to study the flame extinction mechanisms. The model dynamically simulates the turbulent reacting flow exploiting a Lagrangian vortex element scheme and detailed strained kinetics. This systematic modeling strategy effectively encapsulates the dynamics of premixed turbulent flames in terms of stability and extinction. Two extinction modes of flame blow-out are analyzed using the model, the first of which is induced by decreasing equivalence ratio primarily resulting in diminishing strain rate limit of the flame. The alternate mode is focused on inflow-velocity induced extinction which is caused principally by increased hydrodynamic strain in the flow-flame field. The mechanics of both modes are examined utilizing the model’s unique Lagrangian tracking capability for extinction-inducing fluid element clusters. This technique enables isolation and detailed analyses of flame and fluid properties leading to blow-out, demonstrating the crucial driving mechanisms of flame extinction.
Metabolic syndrome and breast cancer: Effects of a 16-week combined exercise intervention.

TPS9648 Background: Current evidence suggests that breast cancer treatments such as chemotherapy lead to excessive weight gain, fatigue, physical inactivity, and negative alterations in components ...
Enforcing Professional Norms for Federal Litigation Conduct: Achieving Reciprocal Cooperation

The article utilizes the disciplinary case, In re Cook, 49 F. 3d 263 (7th Cir. 1995), to reflect on available norm-enforcement schemes when state-licensed attorneys engage in civil litigation misconduct in the federal courts. The federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Cook was disappointed in the state disciplinary process because it failed to promote reciprocal cooperation between federal and state courts when such misconduct is reported to state disciplinary officials. The article explores how there can be better coordination between federal courts and state disciplinarians, as well as enhanced coordination between federal district and appeals courts, when state-licensed attorneys misbehave in federal courts.
The source of a movement: making the case for social media as an informational source using Black Lives Matter

ABSTRACTSocial media is growing as a technological and social phenomenon, with billions of people using it every day around the world. Given its increasing ubiquity, researchers continue to seek to understand social media and its implications for the social world. Part of the growing body of scholarship on social media includes uncovering the most effective methodologies for exploration that appropriately consider differences between the technology of social media and the ways in which people use them. New directions for social media research include the use of big data and analysing the socio-technical nature of social media. Using data from an ongoing study on college Millennials that includes questions about their thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement, the author suggests another direction for future research: studying the implications of social media as an informational source.
Management Of Bilateral Acoustic Neuroma

This article has reviewed the genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis 2. The history, nomenclature, genetic etiology, epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, pathogenesis, and presentation of neurofibromatosis 2 have been given. A related but distinctly different disorder, neurofibromatosis 1, has also been described. The diagnostic evaluation of neurofibromatosis 2 has been discussed with an emphasis on the importance of early diagnosis. An analysis of the surgical treatment of bilateral acoustic neuromas as well as nonsurgical therapeutic alternatives has been presented. The results and complications in the operative management of 86 acoustic tumors in 49 patients with neurofibromatosis 2 have been described in detail. The poor immediate hearing results and the even poorer long-term hearing results have been examined in light of the invasive histopathology of these tumors. It has been emphasized that patients with neurofibromatosis 2 and asymptomatic family members require comprehensive, multidisciplined, long-term management.
Compassionate response: Intersection of religious faith and public policy

Much of social work practice is rooted in compassion. Addressing compassion as a virtue, this article examines the possibilities for compassion to be more explicitly and purposefully built into act...
Poverty and Root Causes of Resistance in Developing Countries

Antimicrobial use provides selective pressure for resistant strains but there are other factors that combine with use to promote the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, mobile elements, and genes. Many of these factors are only superficially understood, if at all, and are complicated to study. Comparative antimicrobial resistance data from populations with different risk factors for resistance are hard to come by and inevitably suffer from bias. Nonetheless, a few studies document regional variations in resistance and some provide clues about factors that might exacerbate resistance. Data from these studies appear to suggest that antimicrobial misuse, prophylactic use, diagnostic imprecision, and interpersonal spread are key factors in the selection and dissemination of resistant strains. All these factors are promoted by poverty at the individual patient, health system, and national levels.
The Confluence and Integration of Therapies Based on Modulation of the Intraocular Pressure and Ocular Blood Flow

In undisturbed, healthy eyes, the time-dependent differential visual thresholds at all retinal points are extremely stable. By contrast, in glaucomatous eyes, at some, if not at all, retinal points, the timedependent differential visual thresholds are unstable and fluctuate (Fig. 21.2 ). Moreover, if the IOP is increased by 15–20 mmHg the differential light sensitivity decreases sharply at some retinal points but remains stable in other points (Fig. 21.3 ). It is evident that in the onset and progression of glaucoma there is are slow declines in the stability of the visual threshold and in retinal sensitivity and that the rate of progression of this pathology differs considerably from point to point in the retina. Thus, at the time of the initial clinical diagnosis of the disease there still remain nearly, if not completely, normal functioning retinal points coexisting with neighboring affected areas. Consequently, the aim of therapy is not only to minimize further damage in the affected points but more importantly, protect those retinal areas that continue to function normally. In this respect there is good reason to belive that the optimal therapy to achieve both aims would not be the same. For many years a primary use of drugs applied to the eye has been to reduce the IOP of patients with open angle glaucoma. This has been associated with a major effort from pharmaceutical companies to develop more active ocular hypotensive compounds. The therapeutic action of ocular hypotensive drugs to reduce the rate of loss of vision in patients with open angle glaucoma is of special physiological and pharmaceutical interest in that open angle 21
Probing the Khan-Penrose colliding plane impulsive gravitational waves solution

Khan and Penrose obtained an exact solution for colliding plane impulsive gravitational waves with the remarkable feature that the spacetime before the collision is flat and after the collision is not only curved, but develops a future curvature singularity. The spacetime has been extensively investigated analytically by various authors using the Newman-Penrose equations. We feel that a separate insight is provided by using the method of Weber and Wheeler to calculate the momentum imparted to test particles by the colliding waves. In this paper we probe the curvature by considering the momentum imparted to test particles by the colliding gravitational waves so as to try to visualise the way the curvature increases in the chosen coordinates as the singularity is approached.
Using Qualitative Data Collection Procedures to Investigate Supported Education Issues

There is growing interest in the potential contributions of qualitative research to scholarly inquiry, and what was a quiet and perhaps peripheral aspect of educational research has been moving rap...
Localization Critical Exponents

The problem of Anderson localization has generated intense interest for over three decades. It can serve as a simple model for understanding the dynamics of vibrational or electronic excitons in molecular and inorganic crystals, as well as the transport of electrons in doped semiconductors. So far, most studies have been focused on determining the critical disorder and the correlation (localization) length exponent, v. Although initially there has been substantial disagreement about the value of the critical disorder for different model problems, more recently a consensus seems to have been reached, particularly for the original diagonally disordered Anderson model with a rectangular probability distribution of site energies,1,2,3 and perhaps for the quantum site percolation model.2,4 On the other hand, the case of the localization length exponent is much less clear. Using an e-expansion technique (e= d— 2, where d is the dimension of space), Wegner5 found that v = l/ e + 0(e 3), which gives v = 1 in three dimensions. More recently, Wegner6 discovered that this result is in error, and a correct calculation yields v = 1/ e—(9/4) ζ (3) e 2 + 0(e 3), where ζ (x) is the Riemann zeta function (ζ (3) = 1.202…). This result when evaluated for e = 1 gives an (unphysical) value of v ≈ —1.7. Numerical work has also led to ambiguous results. Another interesting set of critical exponents, πk. (k = 2,3,4…), which will be described below, and which have received somewhat less attention, involve the inverse participation ratio and its generalizations.5,7 In this paper, we summarize numerical calculations of v, π2, π3, and π4, and comment on the relationship among the different πk, which in this case implies a multifractal structure to the critical wavefunctions.
Chapter 27 Bison Winter Road Travel: Facilitated by Road Grooming or a Manifestation of Natural Trends?

Theme The effects of road grooming on bison ( Bison bison ) distribution and movements in Yellowstone National Park have been debated since the early 1990s. Meagher (1993) expressed concern that energy saved by bison traveling on packed snow, in combination with better access to foraging habitat, resulted in enhanced population growth and increased movements to boundary areas. Thus, she recommended prohibiting road grooming to reduce the number and rate of bison leaving the park and induce them to revert to their traditional ( i.e. , pre‐road grooming) distributions (Meagher 2003). Conversely, Bjornlie and Garrott (2001) suggested that grooming of roads during winter did not have a major influence on bison ecology because of minimal use of roads for travel (19%) compared to off‐road areas, decreased use of roads during the grooming season, and short distances traveled on roads. In 2003, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rebuked the National Park Service for not identifying which argument it found persuasive and instructed the agency to gather necessary data to make a reasoned choice (294 F. Supp. 2d 92, 115). To aid in this decision, we documented (1) spatial patterns in bison road travel, (2) landscape attributes affecting these trends, and (3) abiotic and biotic factors influencing temporal variability in travel on and off roads during November‐May from 1996–1997 through 2005–2006 to evaluate if trends in road travel were facilitated by road grooming or a manifestation of general bison travel patterns throughout the landscape.
IX. The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit III: Crimes Against Children

BAU III, a component of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC), provides specialized behaviorally based operational support to federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies involved in crimes against children and cyber investigations. BAU III is comprised of Supervisory Special Agents and Professional Staff who are leading authorities in behavioral crimes involving child victims. Through the process of Criminal Investigative Analysis, BAU III reviews and assesses the facts of a criminal act and interprets offender behavior and victim/offender dynamics during the commission of the crime or as displayed at the crime scene.
Seismic Behavior of Symmetric and Asymmetric Steel Structures with Rigid and Semirigid Diaphragms

AbstractThe torsional behavior of braced frames can be significantly influenced by the sequence of brace buckling, hinge development in beams or columns, and in-plane deformation of the diaphragm, ...
Abstract 4394: Novel edible medicinal plant induced cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death in gynecologic cancer and the fifth most common form of cancer diagnosed among women. Caucasians have a higher incidence and mortality rate compared to African-Americans. The low survival rate of ovarian cancer among patients is caused by the fact that ovary organs are located inside the pelvic region in the female reproductive system; many cases are diagnosed in advanced stage, when cancer has already metastasized beyond the ovaries. Consequently, there is an urgent need to prevent ovarian cancer at the early stage and provide effective treatment. Herbal medicine with lesser or no side effect is currently considered as an alternative cancer treatment because it possesses many bioactive compounds essential to destroy cancer cells. A preliminary study in our laboratory demonstrates that extracts of Vernonia species have antitumor activities against cancer cells. Therefore, our overall goal in this study was to test the therapeutic mechanisms of a Vernonia species (an edible medical plant) in the treatment of ovarian cancer. To reach our goal, we tested the cytototic and apoptotic effects of the Vernonia species on OVCAR-3 cells. Data generated from the trypan blue test and MTT assay demonstrated that extracts of Vernonia species exhibited significant growth-inhibitory effects on OVCAR-3 cells. Oxidative stress biomarkers showed slight decrease in the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and an increase in catalase activity and glutathione peroxidase in treated cells compared to the control group. Further experiments, including cell morphology and apoptosis analysis, showed that VA caused growth-inhibitory effects on OVCAR-3 cells through cell cycle arrest at the Go/G1 checkpoint and activation of caspase-3 activity leading to apoptosis. Collectively, findings from this study provide convincing scientific evidence that the Vernonia species tested here may represent a potential anticancer candidate against ovarian cancer. This research work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. NIMHD-G12MD007581). Citation Format: Ariane T. Mbemi. Novel edible medicinal plant induced cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4394.
On the Fourth-Order Structure Function of a Fractal Process

Multifractal processes are key to modeling complex nonlinear systems. MITRE has applied fractal theory to agent-based combat simulations to understand complex behavior on the battlefield. The outstanding features of general fractal processes are long-range correlation and intermittency. If B is the lower band edge frequency of the high-pass signal component, the flatness function F(B), defined as the ratio of the fourth-order moment to the square of the second-order moment of a stationary process, is a measure of the intermittency or burstiness of a random process at small scales. If F(B) increases with no upper bound as B increases, then the process is intertmittent. In this work, we have derived an expression for the fourth-order structure function of the increments of a fractional Brownian motion (fBm) process through the use of integrals over the generalized multispectrum. It was concluded that the flatness function is independent of the lower edge of the high-pass signal component B, as expected of an fBm.
An Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Equity Approach to Examining Subnational Health Aid

Achieving healthy lives and well-being for all, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3, requires a multifaceted development approach underpinned by substantial investments. This chapter presents an argument for using disaggregated (micro level) information to develop evidence-based health aid policies. It calls for rethinking traditional notions of health aid allocation in two ways: first, by providing a broader perspective grounded in theory and research to assess health aid’s effectiveness, efficiency, and equity; second, by discussing the challenges that have constrained the research on health aid and how researchers are addressing these challenges.
Looking Through a Different Lens: Patient Satisfaction With Telemedicine in Delivering Pediatric Fracture Care.

Telemedicine may transform health care by overcoming geographical and travel-associated barriers to patient care. This study assesses patient satisfaction with telemedicine for fracture care. Methods Two groups of patients were compared from suburban/rural Pennsylvania. One group reported to a regional medical center for real-time video consultation with a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon facilitated by a physician's assistant. The other group underwent conventional outpatient clinic visits at a tertiary care hospital. The distance between the tertiary care hospital and the regional medical center was 69 miles. New or follow-up fracture patients not living in the vicinity of either medical center were included. A satisfaction survey and questionnaire were administered to both groups at the end of their visit. Results One hundred sixty-seven patients returned the questionnaires (66 conventional and 101 telemedicine). Telemedicine visits decreased indirect and direct costs (P = 0.032). Travel costs and travel times were lower (P < 0.001) in the telemedicine group. Patient satisfaction was similar. Only 8 of 101 patients in the telemedicine cohort preferred their next visit to be a conventional follow-up. Discussion Utilization of video consultation and trained physician assistants to provide pediatric orthopaedic care across suburban/rural areas can increase pediatric orthopaedic surgeon access and decrease travel costs while maintaining patient satisfaction.
Extending a multi-beam laser writer for optical and EUV masks

While laser mask pattern generators (MPGs) continue to serve the application spaces for legacy-node chip production and second-level writing for advanced masks, they also capture some masks with large data volumes resulting from optical proximity corrections. To improve throughput and print performance for these masks, a software-based data path has been implemented on the ALTA multi-beam MPG platform. Running on a multicore architecture, the new data path provides more than an order of magnitude increase in processing speed for data preparation and rasterization compared to the existing hardware solution. The programs performing the data preparation and rasterization, along with the general-purpose computers on which they run, are referred to as the raster engine (RE). The RE accepts MEBES, OASIS, and GDSII formats, optimizes the data on a 0.1-nm grid, and applies both system and user-defined critical dimension (CD) corrections prior to printing. During mask printing, the prepared data are rasterized out to a 0.5-nm writing grid while applying additional corrections required by the ALTA architecture. A beam engine (BE) converts the rasterized data to radio frequency (RF) signals that drive the 32-channel acousto-optical modulator. The edge-placement resolution in the scan direction is controlled using timing, whereas the stripe-axis resolution is achieved using fixed beam spacing with 80 gray intensity levels. Significant improvements are observed in the scan-axis print performance and the consistency of corner rounding. This paper also examines the effects of the number of passes used in multi-pass printing on the tradeoff between print quality and mask write times. Finally, the capability to align to the fiducials defined by the SEMI P48 standard for EUV masks has been added to the ALTA system.
The Customer Isn’t Always Right: The Implications of Illegitimate Complaints:

Due to the common business practice of the “customer is always right,” many companies have a risk of dealing with illegitimate complaints. Although illegitimate complaints are a major issue in the ...
Evaluating the economic return to public wind energy research and development in the United States

The U.S. government has invested in wind energy research since 1976. Building on a literature that has sought to develop and apply methods for retrospective benefit-to-cost evaluation for federal research programs, this study provides a quantitative analysis of the economic social return on these historical wind energy research investments. Importantly, the study applies multiple innovative methods and varies important input parameters to test the sensitivity of the results. The analysis considers public wind research expenditures and U.S. wind power deployment over the period 1976–2017, while also accounting for the full useful lifetime of wind projects built over this period. Assessed benefits include energy cost savings and health benefits due to reductions in air pollution. Overall, this analysis demonstrates sizable, positive economic returns on past wind energy research. Under the core analysis and with a 3% real discount rate, the net benefits from historical federal wind energy research investments are found to equal $31.4 billion, leading to an 18 to 1 benefit-to-cost ratio and an internal rate of return of 15.4%. Avoided carbon dioxide emissions are not valued in monetary terms, but are estimated at 1510 million metric tons. Alternative methods and input assumptions yield benefit-to-cost ratios that fall within a relatively narrow range from 7-to-1 to 21-to-1, reinforcing in broad terms the general finding of a sizable positive return on investment. Unsurprisingly, results are sensitive to the chosen discount rate, with higher discount rates leading to lower benefit-to-cost ratios, and lower discount rates yielding higher benefit-to-cost ratios.
Resuscitating the Chimney Graft to Innominate Artery for Straightforward Cannulation During Infancy

Arterial cannulation with a chimney polytetrafluoroethylene graft to the innominate artery is commonly used for antegrade cerebral perfusion during neonatal aortic arch surgery. When properly retained and prepared before sternal closure, resuscitation of the polytetrafluoroethylene graft to innominate artery can be performed months later during sternal reentry. It is a safe and reproducible technique for expeditious arterial cannulation at stage II palliation in single-ventricle patients or complete intracardiac repair of biventricular lesions. We report our experience utilizing this technique successfully during reoperation in 90 of 92 patients, with no adverse thromboembolic events identified.