cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Practical Significance of Taste in Kant's Critique of Judgment: Love of Natural Beauty as a Mark of Moral Character

In ? 42 of the Critique of Judgment, Kant expanature only because our experience of it (sometiates on the relation between taste and morality how) contributes to our moral vocation. when he explains that we have an intellectual interest in natural beauty.' He insists that taking such an interest in natural beauty is always a I. THE INTELLECTUAL INTEREST IN NATURAL BEAUTY mark of a good soul (Kennzeichen einer guten Seele) and that if a person's capacity to feel Given Kant's well-known thesis that pure judgpleasure in contemplating the beautiful in ments of taste are devoid of all interest, his nature is habitual, this indicates that he or she claim that we do-and should-take any kind has a mental attunement favorable to moral of interest in the beautiful should strike us as feeling (moralischen Gefihl glinstige Gemfithsurprising. To be precise, Kant has argued, in stimmung) (KU 5: 299; 165-166).2 Further, the first moment of the "Analytic of the BeautiKant declares that we do and in fact should ful," that aesthetic judgments are disinterested require others to take a direct interest in the in two distinct senses. In the first place, no beautiful in nature, thereby suggesting that we interest can serve as the determining ground or are in some sense obligated to cultivate taste basis for a judgment of taste because any such (KU 5: 302-303; 169).3 dependence would undercut both the autonomy This paper attempts to analyze and assess this and purity of taste. In the second place, Kant particular feature of Kant's account of the pracinsists, in a note appended to the former claim, tical significance of taste, namely, his theory that "judgments of taste, of themselves, do not that an aesthetic appreciation of natural beauty even give rise to any interest" (KU 5: 205n; is intimately connected with moral character.4 46).5 Having initially defined interest in the Section I addresses the very concept of an intelCritique of Judgment as "the liking we connect lectual interest in the beautiful in nature and with the representation of an object's existence" explains what is involved in loving natural (KU 5: 204; 45), Kant later remarks that "all beauty in this particular way. Section II interest consists in pleasure in the existence of attempts to determine why Kant thought that a an object" (KU 5: 296; 163).6 The direct implidirect, intellectual interest in natural, but not cation of Kant's thesis that pure aesthetic judgartistic, beauty is a sign of a good soul. The conments of reflection are entirely disinterested, cluding section, Section III, explores one puzzle then, is that the pleasure we feel in contemplatthis analysis raises, which is whether Kant ultiing the beautiful (in art and nature) is in no way mately grants a merely instrumental value to connected with any concern we might have for natural beauty, insofar as he suggests that we the existence of beautiful objects. This is precisely take pleasure in the existence of beauty in Kant's point in noting that the question of
Putting the P Back in Participatory

0 The fact that participatory approaches to adult ESL are becoming increasingly popular is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is heartening to see that participatory approaches are coming to be accepted as cutting edge rather than fringe views and that the field may even be on the verge of a paradigm shift. On the other hand, I am uncomfortable when the term participatory is used loosely to describe any approach that claims to involve learners in the shaping of curriculum goals or classroom processes. Often, the terms participatory and learner-centered are equated despite the fact that they have potentially different ideological implications, the former focusing on social transformation and the latter on self-realization. Although participatory pedagogy is rooted in a social change perspective, its inherently political nature is often obscured. As Edelsky (1991) says, "Buzzwords and movements not only can promote change; they can prevent it" (p. 161); my fear is that this may be the fate of participatory ESL. Whereas the learner-centered orientation puts primary emphasis on participants' involvement with curriculum development processes (i.e., on students setting their own goals, exploring their own experiences, shaping the curriculum, and evaluating their own learning), the participatory approach emphasizes drawing curriculum content from the social context of learners' lives as well as involving them in curriculum development processes. Whereas putting learners at the center of pedagogy is common to both views, they differ as to how and why this is done. The main tenet of the learner-centered approach is that adults learn best when they direct their own learning and their education is tailored to needs they have determined themselves. Further, the learner-centered approach posits a shift in the teacher's role from transmitter of information to facilitator of classroom dynamics and negotiator of the curriculum. As such, this approach is clearly a step forward from earlier ones in which experts determined curriculum content for learners and specified objectives based on the needs of
Mass transfer rates in ion exchange

The rates of both the liquid-phase mass transfer and the internal-diffusion steps in ion exchange were studied by means of shallow-bed experiments. The mass transfer coeffcients obtained fitted the general correlations for other packed-bed operations when the Schmidt group was evaluated with experimentally determined ionic counterdiffusivities. An incremental calculation of the diffusion rates within the particles yielded a value of the counterdiffusivity in the resin phase. A general design procedure based on these findings is proposed.
Effects of a Health Behavior Change Model—Based HIV/STI Prevention Intervention on Condom Use Among Heterosexual Couples: A Randomized Trial

This study examines an intervention for heterosexual couples to prevent human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections. It also evaluates the effect of the intervention, which is based on current models of health behavior change, on intermediate outcomes (individual and relationship factors) and consistency of condom use. Eligible couples were administered a baseline interview and randomized to either a 3-session theory-based intervention or a 1-session standard of care comparison condition. Men and women completed 3-month interviews; only women completed 6-month interviews. No significant intervention effect on condom use was found among couples at 3 months (n = 212) or among women (n = 178) at 6 months. However, condom use increased significantly between baseline and 3 months and baseline and 6 months for participants in both treatment conditions. Intervention effects on condom use self-efficacy were found at 3 months and 6 months and on health-protective communication at 3 months. These findings provide valuable information for the design of future studies to help disentangle the effects of intervening with couples.
Polar Orbiting Passive Atmospheric Calibration Spheres (POPACS) - Sphere and Container Development

Project POPACS (Polar Orbiting Passive Atmospheric Calibration Spheres) is set to launch at the end of 2012 so as to coincide with the start of Solar Maximum 24. This project is spearheaded by small-satellite enthusiast and Starshine manager Gil Moore, who is the science lead and launch funder. The project will use the 3U Canisterized Satellite Dispenser (3U CSD) developed by Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC) to launch three 10 cm diameter spheres of different masses (1, 1.5, and 2 kg). These spheres will be tracked to measure changes in the density of the upper auroral atmosphere in response to solar stimuli. However, there are several inherent design concerns. For one, machining spheres is no small task, and is usually accomplished by machining and assembling two hemispheres. The proposed sphere is comprised of one 6061-T6 aluminum (1 kg) and two stainless steel (1.5 and 2 kg) hollow shells plated with a highly reflective metallic finish for tracking purposes. Due to the mass, tolerance, and center of gravity requirements, designing a way to attach the hemispheres becomes a challenge. Also, because the 3U CSD is designed for use with CubeSats, a suspension and deployment mechanism must be designed to ensure the spheres do not come in contact with each other or the CSD. Any contact could cause structural deformation (dents) or damages to surface finish and thus compromise the mission. Ideally, there would be minimal points of contact, and at these points a rubber O-ring would be used as an interface. The spacers must also not interfere in the orbit path of the spheres, and, preferably, should remain with the CSD rather than become orbital debris. The design is to be treated as a dynamic envelope within the CSD, and must fit tight tolerances set by PSC, particularly when subjected to vibration. For structural stability, 6061 aluminum or higher would be best, but mass restrictions must be taken into consideration. The total mass of the spacer-sphere assembly must be less that 6 kg. This paper presents the designs selected to mitigate the concerns and enable the mission to proceed as desired: a sphere assembly with threaded halves for mating, and the spring-loaded “banana peel” suspension and deployment mechanism.
A 3.7mW 3MHz bandwidth 4.5GHz digital fractional-N PLL with −106dBc/Hz In-band noise using time amplifier based TDC

A digital fractional-N PLL that employs a time amplifier based TDC and a truly fractional divider to achieve low in-band noise with a wide bandwidth of 3MHz is presented. Fabricated in 65nm CMOS process, the prototype PLL consumes 3.7mW at 4.5GHz output frequency and achieves better than -106dBc/Hz in-band noise and 490fs rms integrated jitter. This translates to a FoM J of -240.5dB, which is the best among the reported fractional-N PLLs.
Practical considerations (substation earthing)

Prior to the major changes in this industry in the 1970s and 1980s the majority of the work carried out by the British switchgear manufacturers was for the nationalised CEGB and area boards, using CEGB and the company's own standard equipment and arrangements. Because of subsequent changes in the switchgear business due to privatisation and rationalisation of companies, a lot of these standard layouts now do not apply and the experts who originally designed the systems are no longer with the companies. We found that when completing our own turnkey projects the earthing detail design was being re-engineered for each contract which was costly and time consuming. In order to minimise these problems it was decided to introduce a standard earthing policy which is relatively easy to use, and has the versatility to be easily customised to suit the greater variety of clients and standards which we now have to cater for. This paper covers some of the considerations covered in this standard.
A hybrid data sharing-data partitioning architecture for transaction processing

Proposes and evaluates a hybrid architecture that combines the approaches, and offers the advantages of both data sharing and data partitioning. Some databases are shared between systems, while others are retained private by specific systems. The issue is to determine which databases to share, which to retain private, and how to route transactions and partition the private databases among systems so as to minimize response time or overheads, while balancing the load among systems. A simulated annealing heuristic is used to solve this optimization problem. Trace data from large mainframe systems running IBM's IMS database management system are used to illustrate the methodology and to demonstrate the advantage of the hybrid approach. >
Clinical Pharmacology of Sodium Cellulose Phosphate

The safety and effectiveness of sodium cellulose phosphate (SCP) in the treatment of calcium urolithiasis of absorptive hypercalciuria was explored. Eighteen patients with absorptive hypercalciuria with intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium, normal or suppressed parathyroid function, and active stone disease received 10 to 15 Gm SCP daily (2.5 to 5 Gm with meals) and 2 to 3 Gm magnesium gluconate daily (1 to 1.5 Gm twice daily orally separately from SCP) for eight to 54 months, while maintained on a moderate calcium and oxalate restriction. During treatment, serum calcium, immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, and urinary cyclic AMP remained within the normal range. Serum alkaline phosphatase and bone density (measured by photon absorptiometry) did not change significantly or remained within normal limits. Serum concentrations of magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron and blood hematocrit were not significantly altered by therapy. However, urinary calcium returned toward normal, and incidence of renal stone formation markedly decreased. The results suggest that SCP is a safe and an effective drug for absorptive hypercalciuria.
ESL student attitudes toward corpus use in L2 writing

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of corpora in L2 writing instruction. Many studies have argued for corpus use from a teacher’s perspective, that is, in terms of how teachers can develop instructional materials and activities involving a corpus-based orientation. In contrast, relatively little attention has been paid to investigations of learners’ actual use of corpora and their attitudes toward such use in the L2 writing classroom. This paper describes a study of corpus use in two ESL academic writing courses. Specifically, the study examined students’ corpus use behavior and their perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of corpora as a second language writing tool. The study’s qualitative and quantitative data indicate that, overall, the students perceived the corpus approach as beneficial to the development of L2 writing skill and increased confidence toward L2 writing.
Family-based association tests for genomewide association scans.

With millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified and characterized, genomewide association studies have begun to identify susceptibility genes for complex traits and diseases. These studies involve the characterization and analysis of very-high-resolution SNP genotype data for hundreds or thousands of individuals. We describe a computationally efficient approach to testing association between SNPs and quantitative phenotypes, which can be applied to whole-genome association scans. In addition to observed genotypes, our approach allows estimation of missing genotypes, resulting in substantial increases in power when genotyping resources are limited. We estimate missing genotypes probabilistically using the Lander-Green or Elston-Stewart algorithms and combine high-resolution SNP genotypes for a subset of individuals in each pedigree with sparser marker data for the remaining individuals. We show that power is increased whenever phenotype information for ungenotyped individuals is included in analyses and that high-density genotyping of just three carefully selected individuals in a nuclear family can recover >90% of the information available if every individual were genotyped, for a fraction of the cost and experimental effort. To aid in study design, we evaluate the power of strategies that genotype different subsets of individuals in each pedigree and make recommendations about which individuals should be genotyped at a high density. To illustrate our method, we performed genomewide association analysis for 27 gene-expression phenotypes in 3-generation families (Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain pedigrees), in which genotypes for ∼860,000 SNPs in 90 grandparents and parents are complemented by genotypes for ∼6,700 SNPs in a total of 168 individuals. In addition to increasing the evidence of association at 15 previously identified cis-acting associated alleles, our genotype-inference algorithm allowed us to identify associated alleles at 4 cis-acting loci that were missed when analysis was restricted to individuals with the high-density SNP data. Our genotype-inference algorithm and the proposed association tests are implemented in software that is available for free.
When is it safe to switch from oral contraceptives to hormonal replacement therapy

Women may continue to use oral contraceptives (OCs) into their 40's and 50's, but to date no method has been evaluated to ascertain their ovarian status, i.e., whether fertility and estrogen production have diminished sufficiently so they could be safely switched to hormonal replacement therapy. A group of 12 postmenopausal women who had been, for long periods of time, on a regimen of 3 back-to-back packages (i.e., 63 days on, 7 days off) of low-dose oral contraceptives have been studied. Secondly, a group of 9 perimenopausal women aged 36 to 47 were examined in the same manner. The third group consisted of early reproductive age women (arbitrarily divided into subsets aged 17-25 and 26-35 using low-dose OCs in the customary regimen) as normal controls. Blood samples were obtained on the last day of a pill cycle and at 7 days off the pill. In some menopausal women, blood samples were obtained at both 7 and 14 days off OCs. Serum was assayed by RIA for estradiol, FSH and LH. As expected in the young reproductive age women, estradiol levels increase at one week off the pill, together with a rebound in FSH and LH to follicular phase levels. In the perimenopausal group, there was a sharp distinction based on age. The women over 40 showed a more marked rise in FSH while those aged 36-40 showed a distinctly lesser response. Estradiol levels were variable, but tended to show some age grouping. Little diagnostic separation was observed for LH. In postmenopausal women, FSH levels were not always elevated at one week post-pill, and even in a second trial with sampling at one and two weeks off the OC, not all postmenopausal women showed a "menopausal" increase in FSH. The more uniform feature was that estradiol levels never increased above basal values. The study found that serum estradiol levels increase after a week off the pill in controls, but are unchanged at one and two weeks in the menopausal group. FSH levels rebound normally in reproductive age women and usually, but not always, increase substantially in postmenopausal women. After two weeks off OCs, an increased FSH and/or no change in basal estradiol levels is strong evidence that it is now safe (contraceptively speaking) to switch from OCs to standard hormone replacement regimens.
Hemorrhagic Colloid Cyst in a 9-Year-Old Girl

Colloid cysts of the third ventricle are benign intracranial tumors that usually become symptomatic in adults, rather than in children. Rare hemorrhages in these cysts can cause acute obstructive hydrocephalus and sudden death. We report a novel pediatric case of hemorrhagic colloid cyst in a 9-year-old girl who presented with headaches, nausea, and had sudden deterioration of her mental status. The patient underwent emergent ventriculostomy and then craniotomy to resect the colloid cyst; she had an excellent recovery.
ECONOMIC VALUATION OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES: 1971-1997

The purpose of this paper is to provide ecologists and resource managers with a sense of where the economic science of ecosystem valuation has come from and where it might go in the future. To accomplish this, the paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of peer-reviewed economic data on surface freshwater ecosystems in the United States and examines major accomplishments and gaps in the literature. Economic value has been assigned to nonmarket goods and services provided by surface freshwater systems in the United States by 30 published, refereed articles in the scientific literature from 1971 to 1997. These studies have used variations of three approaches for a quantitative assessment of economic value: travel cost methods, hedonic pricing methods, and contingent valuation methods. To determine the economic value of nonmarket ecosystem goods and services, each method focuses on a different aspect of social benefit associated with lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands. Valuation methodologies work from different underlying assumptions while possessing unique limitations and uncertainties. Dollar benefit estimates derived for nonmarket freshwater ecosystem goods and services from these studies tend to be specific to a particular method, ecosystem, and socioeconomic circumstance. Creative interdisci- plinary research is needed on the quantitative measurement of surface freshwater ecosystem goods and service values, the relation of these values to key limnological variates, and communication of limnological insights to the public and social scientists in ways that facilitate and improve future management and research.
On choice of technique in the Robinson-Solow-Srinivasan model

We report results on the optimal “choice of technique” in a model originally formulated by Robinson, Solow and Srinivasan. By viewing this model as a specific instance of the general theory of intertemporal resource allocation associated with Brock, Gale and McKenzie, we resolve long-standing conjectures in the form of theorems on the existence and price-support of optimal paths, and on their long-run behavior. We also examine policies, due to Stiglitz, as a cornerstone for a theory of transition dynamics in this model. We present examples to show that: (i) an optimal program can be periodic; (ii) a Stiglitz' program can be bad; and (iii) a Stiglitz production program can be non-optimal. We then provide sufficient conditions under which the policies proposed by Stiglitz coincide with optimal behavior.
Study of adherence to exercise in heart failure: the HEART camp trial protocol.

Background: Adherence to the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) 2010 guidelines recommending 30 minutes of supervised moderate intensity exercise five days per week is difficult for patients with heart failure (HF). Innovative programs are needed to assist HF patients to adhere to long-term exercise. The objective of this prospective randomized two-group repeated measures experimental design is to determine the efficacy of a behavioral exercise training intervention on long-term adherence to exercise at 18 months in patients with heart failure. Methods/Design: A sample size of 246 subjects with heart failure will be recruited over a 3 year period. All subjects receive a cardiopulmonary exercise test and 9 supervised exercise training sessions during a 3 week run-in period prior to randomization. Subjects completing at least 6 of 9 training sessions are randomized to the HEART Camp Intervention group (HC) or to a standard care (SC) exercise group. The HC intervention group receives cognitive-behavioral strategies that address the intervention components of knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, behavioral self-management skills and social support. The SC group is provided access to the exercise facility and regular facility staff for the 18 month study period. The primary aim is to evaluate the effect of HEART Camp on adherence to exercise, with our central hypothesis that the HC group will have significantly better adherence to exercise at 18 months. Secondary aims include evaluating which components of the HEART Camp intervention mediate the effects of the intervention on adherence; evaluating the effect of HEART Camp on specific health outcomes; exploring selected demographic variables (race, gender, age) as potential moderators of the effect of the HEART Camp intervention on adherence; and exploring the perceptions and experiences that contextualize exercise adherence. Discussion: The HEART Camp intervention is the first to test a multi-component intervention designed to improve long-term adherence to exercise behavior in patients with HF. Improving long-term adherence to exercise is the logical first step to ensure the required dose of exercise that is necessary to realize beneficial health outcomes and reduce costs in this burdensome chronic illness. Trial registration: Clincaltrials.gov NCT01658670.
Challenges Of The UNCG/Tec De Monterrey/Disney College Program

This report is based on a study of participants in an international, academic exchange program that includes a Walt Disney World internship. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) was a principal partner in developing the UNCG/Tec de Monterrey/Disney College Program (UNCG Program). This cooperative arrangement involves students enrolled in degree programs at one of the Tec de Monterrey campuses in Mexico. The report analyzes the challenges faced by the UNCG Program Director and assisting faculty in the early development of the UNCG Program as well as the challenges presented since the Program has matured.
Real Estate Mutual Funds: Abnormal Performance and Fund Characteristics

Executive Summary. The assets in real estate mutual funds have increased by a factor of thirty-eight over the past eight years. This rate of growth far outstrips equity and bond mutual funds over t...
Mechanisms and implications of the link between sleep apnoea and chronic kidney disease

Keywords: disease progression; kidney disease; oxidative stress; renin–angiotensin system; sleep apnoea
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy, a diagnosis that should not be missed

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is an accelerated form of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome resulting in multi-organ ischemia and failure. It is a rare and life-threatening condition that can be easily mistaken with hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelets syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. In order to make a diagnosis, it is required to have multi-organ thrombosis over 1 week affecting at least three organs or systems, and to have positive antiphospholipid antibody on two occasions (6 weeks apart), and histopathologic confirmation of small vessel occlusion. However, due to similarities in clinical and laboratory findings between CAPS and some other obstetric complications, potential misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis are common, increasing the risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. In this review we summarized information presented in previous studies, focusing on CAPS related to pregnancy. We reviewed diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, and common presentation ranging from malaise, abdominal pain, dyspnea, hypertension, to altered mental status and seizures. We also discussed management in pregnancy and included a detailed algorithm with steps to take. Of note, the most significant reduction in mortality was seen in patients receiving triple therapy which will be discussed in this review.
Subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane in the second trimester.

PURPOSE To report the experience of treating a woman who presented with a subfoveal neovascular membrane during the fifth month of her second pregnancy. METHODS Case report. RESULTS The visual acuity of the eye 1 month after 1 intravitreal injection of bevacizumab was 20/30 after the birth of her daughter. CONCLUSION A woman presented with a subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane during the fifth month of her second pregnancy. The decision was made to withhold anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy until after delivery.
The Improvements of the New Contract Law to the Right to the Unpeaceful Plea

The provision of the new contract law to the right to the unpeaceful plea includes five parts:the executor who exercises the right to the unpeaceful plea;particulars of a matter;procedure;effect and consequence. Comparing it with the Continent Law System and the relative provisions in China's old Contract Law,you will find out the improvements and the significance both in theory and practice.
Office treatment of male sexual dysfunction.

SUMMARY Sexually dysfunctional patients should not be pushed aside. If they cannot obtain a sympathetic hearing from their urologist, to whom can they go? An emotional block may produce as much flaccidity of the penis as a vascular or neurologic lesion. In addition to the usual physical examination, the differentiation between the functional and the organic causes of the sexual dysfunction requires a longitudinal history that documents the sequence of sexual development, the sequence of the development of sexual dysfunction, the patient's experience with various sexual partners, the onset and abatement of symptoms, and the presence or absence of nocturnal or morning erections. Even when the cause of sexual dysfunction is found to be a lesion or an organic disorder, the urologist has a responsibility to ascertain to what degree the lesion is contributing to the dysfunction and to what degree secondary anxiety, depression, and other psychologic factors may be contributing. A double-barreled therapeutic attack on both the organic and functional aspects of the problem will often succeed in patients in whom a single-focus effort will fail. The urologist needs to know a few principles of basic psychotherapy when treating the sexually dysfunctional patient. He must talk to and listen to both the patient and his sexual partner. If the urologist is unable to spend the few extra hours necessary, referral to an appropriate specialist, trained in treatment of sexual dysfunctions, may be necessary.
Errors and bias in using predictive scoring systems

Scoring systems used to predict clinical outcomes for critically ill patients have been refined in the past decade, yet even the most recently developed systems contain flaws that limit their application. In general, prediction rules are derived by defining an association between a number of clinical variables and a particular outcome in a reference patient population. By systematically examining the qualities of the independent variables and the size and scope of the derivation data set, potential sources of error and bias can be identified. Existing and future predictive systems must be validated on large groups of patients and continuously updated to keep pace with new approaches to the practice of critical care medicine.
Hirschsprung’s Disease

Hirschsprung’s disease or aganglionic megacolon is an anomaly caused by the absence of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the distal colon. It produces intestinal obstruction or lethal enterocolitis in the neonatal period and constipation of varying degree in the older child.
John Bardeen: genius in action

Scientific genius is no easier to pinpoint than artistic genius. It derives from a combination of factors, including – but not limited to – intuition, imagination, far-reaching vision, exceptional native gifts that blossom into significant technical skills, and the willingness and ability to challenge conventional wisdom. Perhaps even more importantly, scientific genius depends on an instinct for invention, an ability to focus on the problem at hand, and a determination to pursue that problem to a successful conclusion.
Favorable Local Control From Consolidative Radiation Therapy in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Despite Gross Residual Disease, Positive Margins, or Nodal Involvement

Purpose To report the influence of radiation therapy (RT) dose and surgical pathology variables on disease control and overall survival (OS) in patients treated for high-risk neuroblastoma at a single institution. Methods and Materials We conducted a retrospective study of 67 high-risk neuroblastoma patients who received RT as part of definitive management from January 2003 until May 2014. Results At a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 26 patients (38.8%) failed distantly; 4 of these patients also failed locally. One patient progressed locally without distant failure. Local control was 92.5%, and total disease control was 59.5%. No benefit was demonstrated for RT doses over 21.6 Gy with respect to local relapse–free survival ( P =.55), disease-free survival ( P =.22), or OS ( P =.72). With respect to local relapse–free survival, disease-free survival, and OS, no disadvantage was seen for positive lymph nodes on surgical pathology, positive surgical margins, or gross residual disease. Of the patients with gross residual disease, 75% (6 of 8) went on to have no evidence of disease at time of last follow-up, and the 2 patients who failed did so distantly. Conclusions Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma in this series maintained excellent local control, with no benefit demonstrated for radiation doses over 21.6 Gy, and no disadvantage demonstrated for gross residual disease after surgery, positive surgical margins, or pathologic lymph node positivity. Though the limitations of a retrospective review for an uncommon disease must be kept in mind, with small numbers in some of the subgroups, it seems that dose escalation should be considered only in exceptional circumstances.
The Effect of Stock Prices on Real Investment in the Vertical Supply Chain

We investigate whether suppliers utilize information in customer stock prices to guide investment decisions. Using mutual fund flow-driven price pressure to identify exogenous negative shocks to stock prices, we show that suppliers decrease relationship-specific investments (RSI) following declines in their customers’ market values. Specifically, suppliers reduce R&D and suppliers and customers generate fewer related patents. The effect is not driven by industry-wide trends and is robust to controlling for the customer’s own investment, the supplier’s own mutual fund price pressure, and rival stock prices. Our findings suggest that information in stock prices affects investment decisions by other product market participants.
New Dynamic Modes in Selective Nanophotothermolysis

In this chapter, we perform optical, thermal, kinetic, and dynamic modeling to develop and test new ideas and new dynamic modes in selective nanophotothermolysis, involving nanocluster aggregation in living cells, nanobubble overlapping around heated intracellular nanoparticles/clusters, and the laser thermal explosion mode of single nanoparticles—nanobombs—delivered to the cells. This chapter contains material adapted from our publications listed at the end of the chapter. A detailed list of references and reviews on a given topic of this chapter can be found in those original papers.
Surgical Management of Vertex Epidural Hematoma: Technical Case Report and Literature Review

Background Vertex epidural hematoma (VEH) is an uncommon presentation of extra-axial hematomas. It can represent a surgical dilemma regarding when and how to operate, particularly considering the potential implication of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Objective Here, we illustrate the surgical technique for VEH as well as a review of the existing literature. Methods A 60-year-old man sustained a ground-level fall resulting in complete diastasis of the sagittal suture with underlying large VEH causing significant mass effect on the SSS and bihemispheric convexities. Twenty-four hours later, the patient deteriorated, with decreased level of alertness and worsening asymmetric paresis on his lower extremities. He subsequently underwent surgical evacuation of the hematoma, decompression of the SSS, and fracture repair. A modified bicoronal approach, with bilateral parasagittal craniotomies, was performed. A central island of bone was left intact to spare the diastatic fracture from the craniotomies. This was done to ensure a stable anchor point for tacking-up the underlying displaced dura and SSS. The central bone prevents extensive bleeding from the diastatic fracture and eliminates the risk of further blood reaccumulation and tearing of a possible injured sinus during bone flap elevation. Results The technique performed allowed us to evacuate completely the hematoma while preserving the SSS and repairing the sagittal suture to avoid further bleeding. Complete neurologic recovery of the patient occurred after VEH evacuation. Conclusions Because of its rare nature, VEH represents a surgical challenge. Because neurosurgeons encounter this condition relatively infrequently, literature regarding the medical and surgical management of this entity is warranted.
Barriers to Timely Completion of Radiation Therapy in Patients with Cervical Cancer in an Urban Tertiary Care Center.

Background In 2017, there will be an estimated 12,820 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States, causing an estimation of 4,210 deaths. Among U.S. women, there is a 33% greater incidence and 71% higher cervical cancer mortality in high-poverty counties when compared to low-income counties [1]. In those dispositioned to chemoradiation, treatment time of less than eight weeks is associated with compromised pelvic control. We sought to identify patient or disease characteristics and socioeconomic or psychosocial barriers that contribute to delays in treatment completion in order to formulate new policies to address these needs. ​​​​​​Methods Cervical cancer patients treated with primary chemoradiation through the University of Maryland from 2011-2016 were identified retrospectively. Patients were placed in one of two groups: those who completed radiation treatment within 56 days, and those who failed to complete treatment within 56 days. Time to completion of radiation therapy was evaluated in relation to patient and disease variables. ​​​​Results Forty-three patients with sufficient information for inclusion were identified. The median age was 51 years. Ten patients were stage I at diagnosis (23.3%), 16 were stage II (37.2%), 11 were stage III (25.5%) and six were stage IV (14%). Histopathology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in 37 patients (86%), adenocarcinoma in three patients (7%), mixed histology in two patients (4.7%), and neuroendocrine histology in one patient (2.3%). Twenty patients (46.5%) completed treatment within the recommended timeframe of 56 days while 23 patients (53.5%) did not. The most common reasons for a protracted treatment, or failure to complete the prescribed treatment were non-compliance/psychosocial factors (10 patients, 43.5%). Age, race, primary language, marital status, insurance, employment status, HIV status, mental health, substance abuse, tobacco use, stage at diagnosis, performance status at diagnosis, BMI (body mass index, kg/m2) at diagnosis, and income by zip code were not significantly associated with protracted treatment. The distance to treatment center was a significant factor (p=0.07); patients who lived closest to the treatment center were least likely to complete RT in the designated time frame. This is most likely due to the location of the treatment center, which is in the heart of an urban, low socioeconomic area. Conclusions More than half of all cervical cancer patients presenting to an urban tertiary care center do not complete chemoradiation therapy in the recommended timeframe. Underlying psychosocial factors are prominent. The role for patient navigation in this vulnerable population must be investigated.
Elastic urban video surveillance system using edge computing

During the past decade, the concepts and applications of Internet of Things (IoT) are pervasively propagated to the academia and industries. The widely distributed IoT devices contribute to building an effective smart urban surveillance system, which manages the regular operations and handles emergencies. The real time monitoring uploads massive amounts of data to the backbone network and requires prompt feedbacks. The recent rapid development of "Edge Computing" (also called "Fog Computing" or Mobile Edge Computing in different literature) aims at pushing the computation and storage resources from the remote data center to the edge of network for reducing the burden of backbone and the computing latency In this paper, we design a three-tier edge computing system architecture to elastically adjust computing capacity and dynamically route data to proper edge servers for the real-time surveillance applications. A system prototype integrating Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is implemented in an OpenStack based virtualization environment. Moreover, we introduce schemes of resource reallocation and workload balance in urgent situations. Experimental results of the prototype show the great potentials of using edge computing for future large-scale and distributed smart urban surveillance applications.
Against progress: Understanding and resisting the temporality of transformational weight loss narratives

ABSTRACTNarratives of personal transformation through weight loss, often presented in the form of before-and-after photos, have the power to bend time into a nonlinear structure that glorifies the future at the expense of the past and present. In this article, the author proposes that the temporality created by presenting weight loss as a way to perfect one’s life is actually a manifestation of a larger, progress-driven temporality embedded in Western history and culture. An analysis of this larger temporality through its appearance in the colonial paradigm of progress and the queer studies concept of reproductive futurism provides a critical lens through which to examine its materialization in dieting discourse and internalization by fat dieters. This lens reveals that disillusioned dieters may have trouble giving up on their weight loss attempts because doing so involves rejecting a much larger temporal pattern. People who have given up on dieting may develop an ambivalent relationship to the present as...
Emerging Trends in Antimicrobial Resistance: A Laboratory Perspective

The relatively recent emergence of antimicrobial resistance among several bacterial genera not only complicates the therapeutic management of infected patients,1 but also challenges laboratory testing practices and procedures. To effectively meet these challenges laboratorians must realize the important role they assume in the midst of this “resistance crisis” and re-evaluate their goals and responsibilities regarding provision of susceptibility data. In essence, we must focus this re-evaluation on three central issues regarding laboratory service: Production of accurate and relevant susceptibility testing data Surveillance of emerging resistance mechanisms and trends Meaningful communication of results to physicians
Murdoch, Moral Concepts, and the Universalizability of Moral Reasons

It is widely held that moral reasons are universalizable. On this view, when I give a moral reason for my action, I take this reason to apply with equal normative force to anyone placed in a releva...
Dynamic Mechanical Compression of Chondrocytes for Tissue Engineering: A Critical Review.

Articular cartilage functions to transmit and translate loads. In a classical structure-function relationship, the tissue resides in a dynamic mechanical environment that drives the formation of a highly-organized tissue architecture suited to its biomechanical role. The dynamic mechanical environment includes multiaxial compressive and shear strains as well as hydrostatic and osmotic pressures. As the mechanical environment is known to modulate cell fate and influence tissue development toward a defined architecture in situ, dynamic mechanical loading has been hypothesized to induce the structure-function relationship during attempts at in vitro regeneration of articular cartilage. Researchers have designed increasingly sophisticated bioreactors with dynamic mechanical regimes, but the response of chondrocytes to dynamic compression and shear loading remains poorly characterized due to wide variation in study design, system variables, and outcome measurements. We assessed the literature pertaining to the use of dynamic compressive bioreactors for in vitro generation of cartilaginous tissue from primary and expanded chondrocytes. We used specific search terms to identify relevant publications from the Pubmed database and manually sorted the data. It was very challenging to find consensus between studies because of species, age, cell source and culture differences, coupled with the many loading regimes and the types of analyses used. Early studies that evaluated the response of primary bovine chondrocytes within hydrogels, and that employed dynamic single-axis compression with physiologic loading parameters, reported consistently favorable responses at the tissue level, with upregulation of biochemical synthesis and biomechanical properties. However, they rarely assessed the cellular response with gene expression or mechanotransduction pathway analyses. Later studies that employed increasingly sophisticated biomaterial-based systems, cells derived from different species, and complex loading regimes, did not necessarily corroborate prior positive results. These studies report positive results with respect to very specific conditions for cellular responses to dynamic load but fail to consistently achieve significant positive changes in relevant tissue engineering parameters, particularly collagen content and stiffness. There is a need for standardized methods and analyses of dynamic mechanical loading systems to guide the field of tissue engineering toward building cartilaginous implants that meet the goal of regenerating articular cartilage.
Coupling between shear and bending in the analysis of beam problems: Planar case

"This is a copy of an article published in the Journal of Sound and Vibration © 2018 Academic Press"
Elevated GLI3 expression in germinal center diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous and aggressive malignancy that accounts for 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Gene expression profiling further classified this disease int...
Toward a collective rhetoric rooted in choice: Consciousness raising in the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective’s Ourselves and Our Children

ABSTRACTContemporary feminists struggle over “choice.” A central demand of the second wave, some feminists insist on the continued significance of choice to their activism and theorizing; others are critical of the term, arguing that an emphasis on choice diverts attention from political issues and blames women for the oppressions they experience. The tension at the root of this debate is echoed in feminist theorizing about consciousness raising. In her germinal essay “The Rhetoric of Women’s Liberation: An Oxymoron,” Campbell argues that through consciousness raising, feminists illuminated the political underpinnings of women’s personal problems and prompted collective activism aimed at finding structural solutions to those problems, all the while affirming the centrality of choice to women’s lives. What Campbell left unstated, however, is how a process based in choice will promote a political, collective response. In this essay, I offer an analysis of the 1978 volume Ourselves and Our Children, arguing ...
Chapter Fifteen – Complexes in Analytical Chemistry: Complexometric Titrations

Publisher Summary A complex ion is one in which part or all of the coordination positions are occupied. Only in a gas phase at a high temperature, it is possible for a metal ion to exist in a simple uncoordinated state. The instant the metal ion is dissolved in a solvent, a solvent sheath forms around the metal ion and its anion by occupying the coordination positions. The extent of solvation and the number of coordinated solvent molecules are determined by the type of metal ion and solvent. The maximum number of ligands that can coordinate to the central ion is given by the coordination number for the central ion. Ligands are attached to the central ion at only one point and are called unidentate ligands. If each ligand has two or more coordinating sites, the ligands are called multidentate ligands. In this system, the coordination results in the formation of rings. This particular type of coordination compound is called a chelate and the ligands involved in the coordination are chelating agents.