cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maryland Dentists' Knowledge of Oral Cancer Risk Factors and Diagnostic Procedures

A questionnaire was mailed to 800 Maryland general practice dentists to assess their knowledge of risk factors and diagnostic procedures for oral cancer. Two indices were created based on 14 questions on knowledge of oral cancer risk factors and 9 questions on oral cancer diagnostic procedures. Data were analyzed statistically and evaluated with an alpha level of 0.05. Nearly all respondents identified use of tobacco, prior oral cancer lesions, and use of alcohol as risk factors. However, only 36% correctly identified that poor-fitting dentures are not a risk factor and 58% that poor oral hygiene is not a risk factor. Nearly 87% knew how to examine the tongue and surrounding areas, and 32% identified erythroplakia and leukoplakia as conditions associated with oral cancer. Appropriate knowledge about risk factors and diagnostic procedures is essential for dentists to counsel their patients and perform appropriate oral cancer examinations.
Aspects of Corrosion Testing of Thermal-Insulating Materials

The literature dealing with corrosion by thermal-insulating materials in residential buildings is reviewed. Current corrosiveness test methods are discussed. In view of their shortcomings, the need for a new procedure is evident. Possible methods applicable to various types of insulation are considered. The program for developing the new procedure is outlined. Preliminary test results indicate relationships between existing coupon and rapidly executable electrochemical tests. Field data, which are beginning to be collected, are needed to establish the validity of the new test and its ability to predict behavior under service conditions.
The effect of radar signal construction on detectability

Three spread spectrum radar signals with similar power spectral densities are analyzed using cyclostationary signal processing techniques. It is shown that squaring these signals yields information about the carrier frequencies, chip rates and hop frequencies. It is also shown that, in an environment that contains additive white noise, increasing the number of frequencies used to construct the signal decreases the detectability of the sub-pulse frequency spectral lines. >
Brand identification among stock car racing fans in the USA

In the USA, the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing has an astonishing degree of sponsor visibility and fan loyalty; however, little empirical research has been done to connect these. This study uses a sample of 1000 US fans surveyed by telephone to test a variety of predictors of fans' ability to identify a sponsor. Brand identification is more likely from younger fans, male subjects, self-identified big fans and from those who watch more races. Drivers' wins and experience also make primary sponsors more readily identifiable. Consistency of sponsorship during a year, and between years, promotes primary sponsor identification.
Design and tests of computer-furthered instruction

This paper discusses the philosophy of computer-furthered instruction (CFI), the design of a particular CFI system used in the required undergraduate course in probability theory and statistics taught in the School of Business at the University of Kansas, and performance and process tests of the effects of introducing the CFI system. The purpose of CFI systems is not to replace traditional methods used in teaching (i.e. lectures, discussions, reading assignments, homework exercises, etc.) but rather to take advantage of some of the unique attributes of real time computing to allow the students to see and perform assignments otherwise impossible. After contrasting CFI and CAI systems, we discuss the course in its standard format, the traditional problems usually encountered in teaching this course, and the package of programs used. Some sample CFI conversations are included. Statistical tests of performance and process changes induced by the CFI system are presented; their significance and implications are examined.
Mud Sticks: On the Alleged Falsification of Mendel's Data

GREGOR Mendel's celebrated paper (Mendel 1866) is a seemingly inexhaustible source of inspiration and controversy for each succeeding generation of geneticists and historians of genetics (Franklin et al. 2007). For the aficionado (or the fanatic) it is studied repeatedly, much as an avid sports fan enjoys each rerun of a classic matchup or a movie buff looks forward to yet another screening of Casablanca. Mendel's paper is special for a number of reasons. Its historical importance is beyond dispute, but its layout and style are also alluring. Unassuming and unpretentious, Mendel straightforwardly explains his rationale, his experiments, his results, and his interpretation. For the teacher of genetics, the paper is a cornucopia of raw data obtained from various types of crosses, data of the sort that scarcely exist in today's literature owing to the brevity of communications and the emphasis on summary statistics while the real data, when available at all, are relegated to supplemental online material. Above all Mendel's paper appears to reflect the author's simplicity, modesty, and guilelessness. The statistician R. A. Fisher (Fisher 1936), who devoted what must have been a great deal of his time to reconstructing the timeline and scale of Mendel's experiments, came to the conclusion that “there can, I believe, now be no doubt whatever that [Mendel's] report is to be taken entirely literally, and that his experiments were carried out in just the way and much in the order that they are recounted” (Fisher 1936, p. 132). (An electronic copy of Fisher's article is available online at http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/.)
Retailing research: Past, present, and future

The field of retailing has experienced significant changes in recent years. In this article, we review articles published in Journal of Retailing over the 2002–2007 time span, classified into ten broad topic categories: price, promotion, brand/product, service, loyalty, consumer behavior, channel, organizational, Internet, and other. Some areas have received a reasonable amount of attention; others would be worthy of additional work. We summarize a key insight from each article in the Appendix. Finally, we highlight some key insights for each area and some avenues for further research, in the hope that this review spurs additional research into these and other areas of importance to both academicians and retail practitioners.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND LOCAL CONTROL: RESPONSE TO INCENTIVES WITH AND WITHOUT AUTHORITY OVER RESOURCE GENERATION AND ALLOCATION

This article examines the interaction between school accountability and local control over revenue raising and resource allocation. In particular, it asks whether accountability policies are more or less effective at improving student outcomes in states with stronger local control. Local control is operationalized with multiple measures, including the percentage of education funding from categorical grants, state supreme court rulings overturning school finance systems, local entities’ taxing authority, and principals’ self-assessments of their ability to control school resources. Using the National Center for Education Statistics’ Schools and Staffing Survey and National Assessment of Educational Progress, the article finds that accountability policies are more effective when there is greater local control.
Think of the Children! Epistemic Justification and Cognitively Unsophisticated Subjects

I undermine the argument that ‘high’ epistemic standards are false because children and other cognitively unsophisticated subjects possess justification while lacking certain logical and epistemic concepts. I argue, instead, that the standards we often use to attribute logical and epistemic concepts to ordinary, cognitively sophisticated adults can easily be seen to cover many unsophisticated subjects; therefore, the alleged lack of certain concepts is no basis for rejecting ‘high’ epistemic standards. Whether or not such standards are correct has to be argued on other grounds.
Enteric GABA: mode of action and role in the regulation of the peristaltic reflex

The mode of action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the role of myenteric GABA neurons in the regulation of peristalsis were examined in various preparations of rat colonic muscle. GABA had no contractile, relaxant, or modulatory effect on smooth muscle cells isolated from the circular muscle layer. In innervated circular muscle strips, GABA elicited concentration-dependent relaxation accompanied by release of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Relaxation and VIP release were inhibited by tetrodotoxin and by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline but not by the GABAB receptor antagonist phaclofen. Relaxation was inhibited by the VIP receptor antagonist VIP-(10-28) implying that VIP release was coupled to muscle relaxation. Relaxation was augmented by atropine implying that GABA also activated cholinergic neurons causing release of acetylcholine that attenuated the relaxant response. This pharmacological profile was evident when GABA was released from intrinsic GABA neurons during peristalsis induced by radial stretch. Blockade of GABAA receptors with bicuculline inhibited the descending relaxation mediated by VIP motor neurons and the ascending contraction mediated by cholinergic motor neurons. Stimulation of these receptors with exogenous GABA had the opposite effect. We conclude that on release from myenteric neurons, GABA acts via GABAA receptors on cholinergic and VIP motor neurons responsible for the two components of the peristaltic reflex.
Epigenetic therapy can rescue trastuzumab resistance in HER2 over-expressing breast cancers.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 2623 A number of HER2 over-expressing breast cancers are resistant to trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting HER2. Our lab has generated cell lines resistant to trastuzumab (BT474\_R and SkBr3\_R) by serial passage through trastuzumab. We have shown that resistant lines and resistant primary tumor samples show an overall decrease of HER2 amplicon gene expression. It is known that histone modifications play a role in regulating gene expression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have the ability to alter gene expression, and their role in novel combination chemotherapy to treat breast cancers is being explored in the clinic currently. We chose to explore the effect of Trichostatin A, an HDACi, on HER2 amplicon gene expression and response to trastuzumab in HER2 overexpressing cell lines. Five commercially available breast cancer cell lines, BT474, SkBr3, MCF7, MD361, and UACC812, and two in vitro generated trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells lines (BT474\_R and SkBr3\_R) were used. Cells were treated with TSA and/or Herceptin and examined for cell viability, morphology, and apoptosis. HER2 amplicon gene expression was examined before and after 1, 4, and 24 hours treatment with 1 uM TSA by qRT-PCR. Acid extraction of histones was performed to confirm TSA induced changes in histone acetylation. All 8 cell lines were sensitive to TSA (IC50 range 51 nM to 330 nM) as demonstrated by cytotoxicity assays. As expected, BT474 and SkBr3 showed sensitivity to trastuzumab while de novo trastuzumab resistant cell lines (MD361, UACC812) and previously generated resistant cell lines showed little or no sensitivity to trastuzumab. In trastuzumab sensitive cell lines, the combination of TSA and trastuzumab led to decreased cell viability, greater than expected with either drug alone. In de novo resistant and secondarily resistant cell lines, TSA treatment enhanced trastuzumab induced growth inhibition. Interestingly, TSA treatment led to a 2-25 fold induction of genes in the HER2 amplicon examined including HER2, PP1RIB1 (DARPP32), GRB7, C17orF37, and STARD3 in both parental and in vitro generated resistant lines. In vitro acquired resistant lines had greater amplicon induction by TSA than parental controls. The induction of HER2 amplicon genes in resistant lines by TSA results in a HER2 amplicon gene expression pattern similar to the gene expression pattern of de novo trastuzumab sensitive cell lines. HDACi are powerful chemotherapeutic agents that will likely play a role in therapy regimens in the future. We have shown that HER2 amplicon gene expression is altered by TSA treatment and that resistant cell lines show increased induction of HER2 amplicon as compared to trastuzumab sensitive cell lines. We have also shown that TSA changes breast cancer cell sensitivity to trastuzumab. Further exploration into the epigenetic mechanisms of trastuzumab resistance and into the application of novel HDACi is warranted.
Varying predictive values dictate the need to standardise commercial kits for tTG testing

Background Over the previous several months we have noticed an increased false-positive coeliac serology rate in patients referred from a particular catchment area of our centre. We investigated serologic methods employed and compared it to methods used at our centre and other hospitals in our catchment. Methods The authors investigated serological methods employed to screen 67 patients referred for histological conformation of coeliac disease to our service in the previous year (2008). Pathology departments in referring hospitals were contacted to ascertain serological methods used. Coeliac disease was diagnosed based on biopsy evidence (gold standard). Predictive values for the screening serological tests were calculated. Conclusion Positive predictive values vary significantly between commercially available tTG kits. When faced with a high false-positive trend it is worthwhile investigating laboratory methods used, bench marking against reference laboratories and standardising serological testing.
Compressible large eddy simulation using unstructured grids - Channel and boundary layer flows

An unstructured grid algorithm for tetrahedral cells has been developed for Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The finite volume form of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved for cell-averaged conservative variables. Inviscid flux computations are performed by applying a Riemann solver across each face, the values at the points on the faces being obtained by least-squares reconstruction from the cell-averaged values. The viscous fluxes and heat transfer are obtained by application of Gauss' theorem. The numerical scheme is explicit, with second-order spatial and temporal accuracy. The sub-grid scale model is of the constant coefficient Smagorinsky type, with van Driest damping for the viscous sublayer. For channel flow, results at a Reynolds number (based on channel height and bulk velocity) of 5600 and Mach number of 0.5 are compared to incompressible direct numerical simulations (DNS) and experiments. Mean velocity and velocity fluctuations compare well with the DNS and experimental data. For boundary layer flow, results at a Reynolds number (based on the inflow boundary layer thickness) of 20,000 and Mach 3 are compared to experimental data. Preliminary results for profiles of the streamwise mean velocity and turbulence intensity and for the skin friction show good agreement with experiment. 'Graduate Research Assistant, Member AIAA okongo@jove.rutgers.edu http://cronos.rutgers.edu/~okongo 'Professor, Associate Fellow AIAA knight@jove.rutgers.edu http://www-srac.rutgers.edu/~knight Copyright ©1998 by Nora Okong'o and Doyle D. Knight. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. with permission.
The Influence of Water Activity on the Hydration Rate of Tricalcium Silicate

Tricalcium silicate does not undergo hydration at relative humidities (RH's) below 80%. But, the rate at which its hydration rate decreases as a function of the RH has not yet been elucidated. By invoking correspondence between RH and water activity (aH, unitless), both of which are related to the chemical potential of water, the reaction evolutions of triclinic tricalcium silicate (i.e., T1-Ca3SiO5 or C3S) are tracked in water + isopropanol (IPA) mixtures, prepared across a wide range of water activities. Emphasis is placed on quantifying the: (a) rate of hydration as a function of aH, and (b) the critical (initial, aH0c or the achieved) water activity at which hydration effectively ceases, i.e., does not progress; here identified to be ≈ 0.70. The hydration of tricalcium silicate is arrested even when the system remains near saturated with a liquid phase, such that small, if any, capillary stresses develop. This suggests that changes in chemical potential induced via a vapor-phase or liquid-phase route both induce similar suppressions of C3S hydration. A phase boundary nucleation and growth (pBNG) model is fit to measured hydration rates from the onset of the acceleration period until well beyond the rate maximum when the water activity is altered. The simulations suggest that for a fixed hydrate nucleation density, any water activity reductions consistently suppress the growth of hydration products. Thermodynamic considerations of how water activity changes may influence reactions/hydrate evolutions are discussed. The outcomes improve our understanding of the chemical factors that influence the rate of Ca3SiO5 hydration.
Cost-benefit evaluation of self-centring concentrically braced frames considering uncertainties

AbstractSelf-centring concentrically braced frame (SC-CBF) systems have been developed to reduce post-earthquake damages in braced frames. However, due to special details required by the SC-CBF system, the construction cost of an SC-CBF is expected to be higher than that of a conventional CBF. In this study, the seismic performance and economic effectiveness of two prototype buildings utilising SC-CBFs are assessed and compared with buildings utilising conventional CBFs by evaluating the annual probabilities of exceeding various damage levels, expected annual losses, life cycle costs (under seismic hazard) and economic benefit of using SC-CBFs considering prevailing uncertainties. The results of this study show that the SC-CBF buildings have lower drift-related losses but higher acceleration-related losses. The SC-CBF is found to be beneficial for the 6-storey configuration, but not for the 10-storey configuration. For the 6-storey buildings studied here, if the construction cost of the SC-CBF is assumed ...
Soft switching for half bridge current doubler for high voltage point of load converter in data center power supplies

In this paper, a single stage system which converts 400 V to 1 V within one stage and performs as the high voltage point of load (HV POL) converter for data centers is proposed. A load dependent soft switching method has been proposed for half bridge current doubler with simple auxiliary circuit. The operation principles of the soft switching converter have been analyzed in detail. A lossless RCD current sensing method is used to sense the output current value to reduce the auxiliary circuit loss and turn off loss of secondary side devices as load reduces to achieve higher efficiency. Experimental efficiency has been tested to prove the proposed method can increase the converter's efficiency in both heavy and light load condition. A prototype of the half bridge current doubler circuit has been built to verify the theory.
Perfusion of the proximal small intestine with peptone stimulates gastric acid secretion in man.

To determine whether intestinal peptone perfusion stimulates gastric acid secretion in man, the duodenum was infused with 10% peptone (w/v, 400 mOs/1) at 2 ml per min for 4 hr in 7 normal subjects and 7 duodenal ulcer patients. The duodenum was perfused through a gastroduodenal tube which had two balloons straddling the pylorus to present duodenogastric reflux. As a control, 0.2 m NaCl was perfused into the duodenum at 2 ml per min for 4 hr on another day. The order of testing was randomized. Gastric acid secretion increased gradually during duodenal peptone perfusion and reached a peak response during the 2nd hr of infusion. During the 2nd hr of peptone infusion the mean (± se ) peak 30-min secretory rate was 203.8 ± 31.9 μEq per min, and during NaCl infusion it was 87.8 ± 27.2 μEq per min (P se ). Mean (± se ) peak secretory response during the 2nd hr of duodenal peptone perfusion was 32.6 ± 4.6% of the peak response to pentagastrin. During the time periods when gastric acid secretion was at a peak response, serum gastrin, measured at 30-min intervals throughout both tests, was unchanged from basal and NaCl control. However, the mean serum gastrin did increase slightly (approximately 16 pg per ml) but significantly in the 14 subjects during the last 90 min of duodenal peptone perfusion. Validation experiments revealed good reproducibility of the responses to duodenal peptone or NaCl perfusion, absence of an increase in gastric acid secretion or serum gastrin in response to gastric perfusion of 10% peptone in a volume equivalent to the volume which refluxed during the 4 hr of duodenal peptone perfusion, and no effect on gastric acid secretion or serum gastrin of the gastroduodenal tube with or without inflation of the duodenal and gastric balloons. These studies indicate that there is an intestinal phase of gastric acid secretion in normal man and in patients with duodenal ulcer in response to duodenal peptone perfusion, that it has a latent period of about 1 to 2 hr until the peak response is reached, and that the response is probably not primarily attributable to gastrin release.
Beam's-eye-view aided treatment planning for a nasopharyngeal lesion: a case report.

Abstract We report on the application of CT-based multilevel treatment planning to achieve complete and uniform dose distribution over the entire target while sparing critical structures. Treatment strategy and parameters are chosen on the slice containing the isocenter. Target coverage and organ sparing is achieved on all other slices by independently adjusting the asymmetric field width at each level, simulating the effects of custom blocks. The optimized field borders are back projected using beam’s eye views (BEV) from each treatment angle. The BEV printouts are used to assist the physician in the delineation of field blocking on the simulation films.
Mapping Murine Corneal Neovascularization and Weight Loss Virulence Determinants in the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Genome and the Detection of an Epistatic Interaction between the UL and IRS/US Regions

UNLABELLED Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) most commonly causes recrudescent labial ulcers; however, it is also the leading cause of infectious blindness in developed countries. Previous research in animal models has demonstrated that the severity of HSV-1 ocular disease is influenced by three main factors: host innate immunity, host immune response, and viral strain. We have previously shown that mixed infection with two avirulent HSV-1 strains (OD4 and CJ994) results in recombinants with a wide range of ocular disease phenotype severity. Recently, we developed a quantitative trait locus (QTL)-based computational approach (vQTLmap) to identify viral single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predicted to influence the severity of the ocular disease phenotypes. We have now applied vQTLmap to identify HSV-1 SNPs associated with corneal neovascularization and mean peak percentage weight loss (MPWL) using 65 HSV-1 OD4-CJ994 recombinants. The vQTLmap analysis using Random Forest for neovascularization identified phenotypically meaningful nonsynonymous SNPs in the ICP4, UL41 (VHS), UL42, UL46 (VP11/12), UL47 (VP13/14), UL48 (VP22), US3, US4 (gG), US6 (gD), and US7 (gI) coding regions. The ICP4 gene was previously identified as a corneal neovascularization determinant, validating the vQTLmap method. Further analysis detected an epistatic interaction for neovascularization between a segment of the unique long (UL) region and a segment of the inverted repeat short (IRS)/unique short (US) region. Ridge regression was used to identify MPWL-associated nonsynonymous SNPs in the UL1 (gL), UL2, UL4, UL49 (VP22), UL50, and ICP4 coding regions. The data provide additional insights into virulence gene and epistatic interaction discovery in HSV-1. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) typically causes recurrent cold sores; however, it is also the leading source of infectious blindness in developed countries. Corneal neovascularization is critical for the progression of blinding ocular disease, and weight loss is a measure of infection severity. Previous HSV-1 animal virulence studies have shown that the severity of ocular disease is partially due to the viral strain. In the current study, we used a recently described computational quantitative trait locus (QTL) approach in conjunction with 65 HSV-1 recombinants to identify viral single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in neovascularization and weight loss. Neovascularization SNPs were identified in the ICP4, VHS, UL42, VP11/12, VP13/14, VP22, gG, US3, gD, and gI genes. Further analysis revealed an epistatic interaction between the UL and US regions. MPWL-associated SNPs were detected in the UL1 (gL), UL2, UL4, VP22, UL50, and ICP4 genes. This approach will facilitate future HSV virulence studies.
Standards for health-related aerosol measurement and control

The purpose of much of what was contained Chapters 6 and 7 is aimed in part at providing information to enable the risk of aerosol exposure in the workplace (and elsewhere) to be assessed realistically and in a manner relevant to health. Part of that assessment involves making appropriate measurements of aerosol exposure. The three possible routes of exposure — dermal, ingestion and inhalation — were mentioned in Chapter 6. For the inhalation route, attention is focused in particular on: — the health-related particle size-selective criteria that have evolved from knowledge about inhalation and deposition and that are being proposed for use as the basis of such exposure measurement; and
The mutational spectrum of FOXA2 in endometrioid endometrial cancer points to a tumor suppressor role

Abstract Background Forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) plays an important in development, cellular metabolism and tumorigenesis. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) identified a modest frequency of FOXA2 mutations in endometrioid endometrial cancers (EEC). The current study sought to determine the relationship between FOXA2 mutation and clinicopathologic features in EEC and FOXA2 expression. Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing were used to identify mutations in 542 EEC. Western blot, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to assess expression. Methylation analysis was performed using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) and sequencing. Chi-squared, Fisher's exact, Student's t- and log-rank tests were performed. Results Fifty-one mutations were identified in 49 tumors (9.4% mutation rate). The majority of mutations were novel, loss of function (LOF) (78.4%) mutations, and most disrupted the DNA-binding domain (58.8%). Six recurrent mutations were identified. Only two tumors had two mutations and there was no evidence for FOXA2 allelic loss. Mutation status was associated with tumor grade and not associated with survival outcomes. Methylation of the FOXA2 promoter region was highly variable. Most tumors expressed FOXA2 at both the mRNA and protein level. In those tumors with mutations, the majority of cases expressed both alleles. Conclusion FOXA2 is frequently mutated in EEC. The pattern of FOXA2 mutations and expression in tumors suggests complex regulation and a haploinsufficient or dominant-negative tumor suppressor function. In vitro studies may shed light on how mutations in FOXA2 affect FOXA2 pioneer and/or transcription factor functions in EEC.
Perspectives on International Urological Volunteerism: A Survey of IVUmed Resident Scholar Alumni

Abstract Introduction The primary intentions of international surgical programs are to directly benefit those receiving medical care, educate local physicians and staff, and improve care delivery models. IVUmed, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing urological care to resource poor areas of the world, provides scholarship opportunities for urology trainees. We assessed the motivations and barriers of IVUmed traveling resident scholars regarding continuing international surgical work after completion of the program. Methods An Internet based survey was sent to all previous IVUmed resident scholars assessing potential factors associated with repeat international service. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between survey responses and the likelihood of repeating an international service trip after completion of training. Results Of 196 IVUmed resident scholar participants 100 (51%) responded to the survey. Of the 69 attending surgeons 17 (25%) had repeated an international service trip. Altruism (100%), personal fulfillment (99%) and practicing in a resource limited setting (94%) were the most frequently cited motivating factors for repeat participation, while lack of time (96%) was the most commonly reported barrier. Respondents in private practice were less likely to participate in a subsequent trip compared to those in an academic setting (OR 0.16, CI 0.03–0.80, p = 0.03). No other factors were associated with the likelihood of repeating an international service trip. Conclusions Among urologists who participated in a funded international scholarship program during residency repeat participation during the subsequent 7 years was modest. Private practitioners were less likely to repeat international service compared to academic urologists.
Towards enabling deep learning techniques for adaptive dynamic programming

Human-level control through deep learning and deep reinforcement learning have revealed the unique and powerful potentials through a very complex Go game. The AlphaGo, developed by Google DeepMind, has beat the top Go game player early this year. The scientific and technological advancement behind the success of AlphaGo attracted researchers from multiple areas, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational intelligence and so on. Adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) methods have the similar fundamental principle with reinforcement learning, and show strong performance for continuous time and continuous state systems. Deep learning techniques are also possible to be integrated for ADP designs. In this paper, we discuss the key techniques and components in deep reinforcement learning and then present the successful applications for computer games and maze navigation. Future opportunities for deep learning enabled ADP will be discussed at the end.
Data Visualization Saliency Model: A Tool for Evaluating Abstract Data Visualizations

Evaluating the effectiveness of data visualizations is a challenging undertaking and often relies on one-off studies that test a visualization in the context of one specific task. Researchers across the fields of data science, visualization, and human-computer interaction are calling for foundational tools and principles that could be applied to assessing the effectiveness of data visualizations in a more rapid and generalizable manner. One possibility for such a tool is a model of visual saliency for data visualizations. Visual saliency models are typically based on the properties of the human visual cortex and predict which areas of a scene have visual features (e.g. color, luminance, edges) that are likely to draw a viewer's attention. While these models can accurately predict where viewers will look in a natural scene, they typically do not perform well for abstract data visualizations. In this paper, we discuss the reasons for the poor performance of existing saliency models when applied to data visualizations. We introduce the Data Visualization Saliency (DVS) model, a saliency model tailored to address some of these weaknesses, and we test the performance of the DVS model and existing saliency models by comparing the saliency maps produced by the models to eye tracking data obtained from human viewers. Finally, we describe how modified saliency models could be used as general tools for assessing the effectiveness of visualizations, including the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
Religion and the Arts: History and Method

In Religion and the Arts: History and Method, Diane Apostolos-Cappadona analyses the origins and methodological journey of this field though concerns with repatriation, museum exhibitions, and globalization, to offer an indispensable introduction to study of the field.
Rethinking Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis: Biofilm Formation Treated in a Cadaveric Model.

Introduction Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (PFT) of the hand remains a challenging problem that often requires surgical irrigation and parenteral or oral antibiotics. The authors hypothesize that the pathophysiology and microenvironment of PFT can be likened to that of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), in which bacteria thrive in a closed synovial space with limited blood supply. As such, they postulate that PFT is also facilitated by bacterial attachment and biofilm formation rendering standard treatments less effective. In this study, they evaluate infected tendons for the presence of biofilm and explore new treatment strategies. Methods Fresh human cadaveric hand tendons were harvested and divided into 0.5-cm segments. Samples were sterilized and inoculated with 1 × 10 4 CFU/mL green fluorescent Staphylococcus aureus (GFP-SA) for 48 hours at 37°C. After saline washing to remove plank tonic bacteria, samples were treated for 24 hours with (1) saline irrigation, (2) antibiotics (vancomycin), (3) corticosteroids, or (4) antibiotics/corticosteroid combined. Samples were visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Following bacterial challenge, CLSM revealed heterogeneous green fluorescence representing bacterial attachment with dense biofilm formation. SEM at > 3,000X, also demonstrated bacterial colonization in grape-like clusters consisted with a thick matrix characteristic of biofilm. Bacterial load by direct colony counting decreased by 18.5% with saline irrigation alone, 42.6% with steroids, 54.4% with antibiotics, and 77.3% with antibiotics/steroids combined ( p Conclusion Staphylococcus aureus readily formed thick biofilm on human cadaveric tendons. The addition of both local antibiotics and corticosteroids resulted in greater decreases in biofilm formation on flexor tendons than the traditional treatment of saline irrigation alone. We suggest rethinking the current treatment of PFT and recommend considering a strategy more analogous to PJI management with the adjunctive use of local antibiotics, corticosteroids, and mechanical agitation.
The Application of Image Analysed Fluorescence Microscopy for Characterising Planktonic Bacteria and Protists

Fluorescence microscopy has contributed to a major and recent shift in our understanding of plankton ecology. (Pomeroy 1974, Sieburth 1977, Azam et al. 1983, Ducklow 1983). This shift is illustrated by an increased awareness of the important role microorganisms play in marine carbon and nutrient cycles (Williams 1981, Goldman and Caron 1985).
Invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic assessment in adults with Fontan palliation.

Abstract Background/objectives Although echocardiographic-Doppler cardiac index (CI) assessment is widely used to guide heart failure management in patients with biventricular circulation, this application has not been studied in the Fontan population. The objective of this study was to: (1) determine the correlation between Doppler and cardiac catheterization CI calculation; (2) determine the association between Doppler CI and the occurrence of Fontan failure. Methods Retrospective review of adult Fontan patients followed at Mayo Clinic Adult Congenital Heart Disease program, 1994–2015. Inclusion criteria were: systemic left ventricle and echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization performed within the same week. Fontan failure was defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, heart transplantation listing, and palliative care. Results 59 patients (age 29±6years; men 32[54%]) underwent 97 studies. Of the 59, 41[69%] had atriopulmonary Fontan and 12 (20%) had cirrhosis. Compared to patients without cirrhosis, patients with cirrhosis had higher Doppler CI (3.6±0.6 vs 2.8±0.4L/min∗m 2 , p =0.039); Fick CI (3.3 [2.5–3.7] vs 2.4 [1.6–3.1] L/min/m 2 , p =0.028); lower systemic vascular resistance (20±3 vs 25±4 WU∗m 2 , p =0.04). There was a positive correlation between Doppler and Fick CI ( r =0.52; p 2 were associated with Fontan failure (odds ratio [OR] 1.58, p =0.046) and (OR 1.43, p =0.051) respectively. Conclusions Doppler CI assessment in feasible in a selected group of Fontan patients and it is predictive of clinical outcomes. The application of this concept in systemic right ventricles deserves further research.
The SANE Approach to Real Collective Responsibility

In this paper, I offer an argument for the existence of ‘real collective responsibility’ and the beginnings of an analysis of it. ‘Real collective responsibility’ refers to the responsibility that is borne by a group of individuals, but which is not reducible to the responsibility of each individual in the group. The approach I take is to draw an analogy between the uncontroversial way in which an individual’s moral responsibility may be mitigated when her behavior is coerced, and the way in which group dynamics may exert pressure constraining the behavior of each member of a group. This sort of consideration suggests that real collective responsibility may occur when a group finds itself in a highly stable, accessible Nash equilibrium, which I refer to as the SANE condition for real collective responsibility.
The use of dry needling for a subject with acute onset of neck pain: a case report.

Background and Purpose Neck pain is a common complaint treated by the physical therapist. Trigger points (TrPs) have been studied as a source of neuromusculoskeletal pain, though the ability of clinicians to accurately locate a TrP is not well supported. Dry needling (DN) is an intervention utilized by physical therapists where a monofilament needle is inserted into soft tissue in order to reduce pain thereby facilitating return to prior level of function. The purpose of this case report is to report the outcomes of DN as a primary treatment intervention for acute, non‐specific cervical region pain.
Charge symmetry breaking and the d d -> alpha pi0 reaction -- recent theoretical developments

The status of the theoretical effort to calculate charge-symmetry-breaking pion production reactions will be presented. The main emphasis will be on the d d -> alpha pi0 reaction, especially in relation to the recent IUCF experiment. Suggestions for future theoretical and experimental work will be made.
Aesthetic Clinic Marketing in the Digital Age

Social media provides a new way for aesthetic practitioners to connect with consumers and to differentiate their clinics. However, to most clinic managers and practitioners, digital media represents a sea of confusion that they cannot even begin to know how to navigate. With over 20 years of experience in medical aesthetics, Lewis offers a unique understanding of the challenges clinics face every day to market their products and services ethically, manage patients and stay profitable. This text serves as an expert user's guide written specifically for healthcare professionals in need of an in-depth introduction and comprehensive actionable program for digital marketing, social media, and aesthetic clinic management. It is a must-read for practitioners.
Synthesis and physical properties of new fluoroether sulfones

Abstract Eight new strategically designed fluoroether sulfone solvents have been synthesized through different synthetic pathways for potential applications in lithium-sulfur battery electrolytes. The structures of these compounds have been confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis. Several 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME)-based electrolyte formulations have been prepared with these solvents to derive an electrolyte with good ionic conductivity (>5 mS cm−1 at 25 ℃). The viscosity of these new additives has also been determined as it is directly related to the ionic conductivity. Three of these solvents that contain a trifluoromethyl group displayed acceptable ionic conductivity.
Hexagonal Boron Nitride Single Crystal Thermal Oxidation and Etching in Air: An Atomic Force Microscopy Study

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a two dimensional (2D) material, has emerged as an important substrate and dielectric for electronic, optoelectronic, and photonic devices based on graphene and other atomically thin two dimensional materials. Here we report on the initial oxidation of (0001) hBN single crystals in ambient air as functions of temperature and time, as determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). For oxidation times of 20 minutes, the first evidence of oxidation appears at 900°C, with the formation of shallow, hexagonal-, and irregular-shaped pits that are less than 100 nm across and several nanometer deep. Oxidation at 1100°C for 20 minutes produced 1.0–2.0-micron size pits with flat and pointed bottoms that were approximately hexagonal-shaped, but with rough and irregular edges, and multiple interior steps. Oxidation was not uniform on the surface of hBN, but starts where dislocations in the crystal intersected the surfaces. Pit depth increased linearly with temperature and oxidation times. In addition to the surface pits, small particles formed on the surface. Elemental analysis of the thermally oxidized hBN crystals by SEM/EDS revealed the major elements of these particles were boron and oxygen.
Changing Secondhand Economies

Research interest in secondhand economies has expanded in recent years among scholars of diverse disciplines, especially anthropology, history, geography, and sociology. The introduction to this Sp...
Female Reproductive Tract

Gynecologic pathology specimens constitute a sizable percentage of the specimens received in the surgical pathology grossing suite, as many non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the uterus, ovary, and fallopian tube may require surgical management. Hysterectomy specimens are among the most common gynecologic specimens received. The adnexa (ovary, fallopian tubes and ligaments) may also be removed at the same time, depending on the clinical scenario. There are various types of hysterectomies. A total simple hysterectomy, the most common type, includes the uterine corpus and cervix. Total simple hysterectomy specimens are performed for most endometrial cancers, as well as most non-cancerous lesions of the uterus. A supracervical hysterectomy is less common and includes the uterine corpus only, without the cervix. A radical hysterectomy includes the uterine corpus, cervix, parametrium, and the upper portion of the vagina (vaginal cuff). This procedure is typically performed for primary cervical carcinoma or endometrial carcinomas that extensively involve the cervix or that are centered in the lower uterine segment.
"It Made Me the Person I Am Today…": Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Reflect on Their Experiences.

Purpose: As survival rates of childhood, adolescent, and young adult (YA) cancers improve, there is a growing population of YA cancer survivors who can provide insight into the lived experience of ...
Defensive Medicine and Obstetric Practices: Evidence from the Military Health System

We estimate the extent of defensive medicine by physicians during labor and delivery, drawing on a novel and significant source of variation in liability pressure. In particular, we embrace the no‐liability counterfactual made possible by the structure of liability rules in the Military Heath System. Active‐duty patients seeking treatment from military facilities cannot sue for harms resulting from negligent care, while protections are provided to dependents treated at military facilities and to all patients—active‐duty or not—who receive care from civilian facilities. Drawing on this variation and addressing endogeneity in the choice of treatment location by estimating mother fixed effects specifications and by exploiting exogenous shocks to care location choices stemming from base‐hospital closures, we find suggestive evidence that liability immunity increases cesarean utilization and treatment intensity during childbirth, with no measurable negative effect on patient outcomes.
Hispanic Americans: A Brief Profile:

The latest population statistics show the Hispanic population in the US to be fast-growing, young and very diverse in nature. While the Hispanic group lags behind the general population in average ...
Technique for Medial Closing-Wedge Proximal Tibia Osteotomy in the Valgus Knee

Valgus malalignment can be corrected with a medial closing-wedge proximal tibia osteotomy in patients with symptomatic lateral compartment disease. Advantages of this technique include the inherent stability of the closing wedge with direct bone contact and reliable healing that enables early weight bearing and shorter recovery time. In addition, a tibial-based osteotomy alters joint contact forces in both flexion and extension versus femoral-based osteotomies. The purpose of this article is to present a reproducible technique for medial closing-wedge proximal tibia osteotomy and review the indications, preoperative planning, rationale, and clinical outcomes.
Distinct groups of smokers in primary care based on mental health diagnosis

To determine whether statistically distinct classes of smokers exist according to mental health (MH) diagnoses within primary care and to evaluate whether class membership is associated with healthcare utilization. Data were obtained from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic medical record for encounters between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014, from the New York/New Jersey region. Data from a subset of 25,713 smokers from a larger sample of 111,333 primary care patients were used. An exploratory latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to determine the presence of distinct groups of smokers based on observed MH diagnosis, while a confirmatory LCA assessed for reliability of those distinct groups. Using group as a predictor, we then utilized regression to determine whether group membership was associated with elevated numbers of primary care, integrated primary care, and specialty care encounters. Diagnosis was based on primary care encounter codes. Three independent groups of current smokers were established: those with no MH diagnoses (77.8%), those with depressive diagnoses (16.7%), and those with alcohol/substance use diagnoses (5.5%). Most smokers were in the non-MH group, which utilized the least healthcare services (e.g., 2.7 primary care visits per year). The depressed group had 3.6 primary care visits per year and were most likely to use integrated primary care. The alcohol/substance-use group utilized primary and specialty services significantly more often than the other two groups, with an average of 5.5 primary care visits per year. Distinct classes of smokers can be identified in primary care settings.
Improving Sports Media’s Crystal Ball for National Basketball Association Playoff Elimination

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is divided into two conferences, each of which comprises 15 teams. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams from each conference, based on win...