cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early oncologic outcomes of robotic vs. open radical cystectomy for urothelial cancer

Objectives Oncologic outcomes of robotic cystectomy have focused on pathology and not on survival endpoints. We compared pathology, recurrence, and survival in a single surgeon series of open and robotic cystectomy since the introduction of robotic cystectomy.
Synergy between ABET EC 2000 and capstone senior design projects

This paper examines the synergy between senior-level capstone design courses and the fulfillment of ABET accreditation requirements under Engineering Criteria 2000. Also, specific examples of design projects in the power engineering area are presented. Assessment results are used in a course feedback process to improve metrics.
Null ideals and spanning ranks of matrices

Let Rbe a commutative ring and A↦M m×n . The spanning rank of Ais the smallest positive integer s for which A=PQ(m×s s×n) The spanning rank of the zero matrix is set equal to zero. If Ris a field, then the spanning rank of Ais just the classical rank of A. In the first section of this paper, various theorems and examples are given which indicate how much of the classical theory of rank is still valid for spanning rank over a commutative ring. If A= PQ(n×s s×n) is a spanning rank factorization of a square matrix and D= QP, then Dis called a spanning rank partner of A. In the second part of this paper, the null ideals N Aand N Dof Aand Drespectively are compared. For instance, we show N A=N Dif s= nand N A= XN Dif s<nwhenever Ris a PIDand A≠0. This result sometimes (e.g. s<<n) makes the computation of N Aeasy.
THE POLITICS OF PARTICIPATION: Mobilization and Turnout over Time

Recent studies have argued that mobilization is not only an important determinant of individual participation, but that it can explain the mystery of declining voter turnout in the United States over the past 40 years. We identify and evaluate three possible ways in which mobilization might have affected levels of turnout over time: (a) aggregate rates of mobilization may have declined, (b) the effectiveness of mobilization contacts may have declined, and (c) the targeting of mobilization may have changed. The first two theories have been well articulated in the literature; the third has not. We find no evidence of a decline in mobilizing activity, nor do we find that mobilizing techniques have become less effective. Although we find that campaigns are more likely to target habitual voters in recent years, this pattern of behavior can only explain a small amount of the overall decline in turnout.
New approaches in interventional EUS

S62 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY VOLUME 56, NO. 4 (SUPPL), 2002 Current affiliation: Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Digestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. Reprint requests: Robert H. Hawes, MD, MUSC, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., No. 210 CSB, Charleston, SC 29425. Copyright © 2002 by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 0016-5107/2002/$35.00 + 0 37/0/127758 doi:10.1067/mge.2002.127758 New approaches in interventional EUS
Modeling of wheel-soil interaction over rough terrain using the discrete element method

Abstract A numerical study was conducted using the discrete element method (DEM) to investigate the performance and mobility impacts of rough terrain operation for small unmanned ground vehicles. The DEM simulation was validated using experimental data from two types of single-wheel tests previously published in the literature: straight-line locomotion over flat, level soil, and wheel-digging. Results from the validation showed good qualitative agreement. Rough terrain was modeled using 20 sinusoidal profiles with varying frequency and amplitude. Straight-line single-wheel simulation test results for rough terrain showed decreases in mobility and efficiency compared to flat, level terrain. At low slip ratios average drawbar pull decreased as much as 15%, while driving torque increased as much as 35%. The frequency of the rough soil helped create oscillations in drawbar pull and driving torque, which significantly increased the span between minimum and maximum values. The impact of rough terrain was limited by the use of a low longitudinal velocity of 0.1 m/s and a soft lunar regolith simulant soil. Vertical accelerations that can lead to vehicle vibration, which have been shown to impact vehicle performance, were limited by the ease with which the wheel displaced soil.
New 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D3 compounds of high biological activity: synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-hydroxymethyl, 2-methyl, and 2-methylene analogues

New highly active isomers of the natural hormone 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 possessing an exomethylene group at the 2-position were prepared in a convergent manner, starting with (-)-quinic acid and the corresponding (20R)- and (20S)-25-hydroxy Grundmann ketones. These 2-methylene-19-norvitamins were efficiently converted to the 2-methyl and 2-hydroxymethyl derivatives, some of which exhibited pronounced in vivo biological activity. Configurations of the A-ring substituents were determined by 1H NOE difference spectroscopy as well as by spin decoupling experiments. It was established that the bulky methyl and hydroxymethyl substituents at C-2, due to their large conformational free energies, occupy mainly equatorial positions. Additionally, hydroxylation of the C(10)-C(19) double bond in 1alpha,25-(OH)2D3 was performed, resulting in 1alpha,19,25-trihydroxy-10,19-dihydrovitamin D3 derivatives in which the hydroxymethyl substituent at C-10, for steric reasons, is forced to occupy an axial position. In consequence, the vitamin D3 analogues were synthesized in which the 1alpha-hydroxy group, required for biological activity, is almost exclusively axially or equatorially oriented because of stabilization of the single A-ring chair conformations. The relative ability of the synthesized analogues to bind the porcine intestinal vitamin D receptor was assessed and compared with that of the natural hormone. It was established that vitamins possessing the axial orientation of the 1alpha-hydroxy substituent exhibit a significantly increased receptor binding affinity. Compounds with a 2-methylene substituent showed selective calcemic activity profiles, being extremely effective on bone calcium mobilization. 2alpha-Methyl-substituted vitamins proved to be much more active in vivo than the corresponding epimers with 2beta-configuration. All of the 2-substituted vitamins exhibited pronounced HL-60 differentiating activity, those 2alpha-substituted in the 20S-series being especially potent. The present studies imply that the axial orientation of the 1alpha-hydroxy group is necessary for biological activity of vitamin D compounds.
Incidence of opioid-managed pelvic pain after hysteroscopic sterilization versus laparoscopic sterilization, US 2005-2012.

Objective Compare incidence of opioid-managed pelvic pain within 12 months after hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilization. Methods Using administrative claims, we identified women aged 18–49 years without recent history of childbirth who underwent hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization between 2005 and 2012. We defined the outcome as ≥2 diagnoses for pelvic pain and ≥2 prescription fills for opioids. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) using Cox models and propensity score methods (matching and inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighting [IPTW]). Results We identified 71 875 eligible women (hysteroscopic n = 26 927 [37.5%], laparoscopic n = 44 948 [62.5%]). Of those, 236 (0.88%) hysteroscopic patients and 420 (0.93%) laparoscopic patients experienced the outcome (crude HR = 0.97, 95%CI: [0.83, 1.14]). Adjusted analyses also yielded near-null results (matched HR = 1.08, 95%CI [0.90, 1.31]; IPTW HR = 0.97, 95%CI [0.80, 1.18]). While most sensitivity analyses generated results close to the null, hazard ratios estimated using propensity score matching ranged from 0.65 to 1.53. Conclusions Among women without recent history of childbirth, we did not find compelling evidence of a clinically meaningful increase in the incidence of pelvic pain requiring opioids during the year after hysteroscopic sterilization. However, effects observed in sensitivity analyses may merit further investigation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bs Mixing at SLD

We set a preliminary 95% C.L. exclusion on the oscillation frequency of mixing using a sample of 400,000 hadronic Z0 decays collected by the SLD experiment at the SLC during the 1996-98 run. Three analyses are presented in this paper. The first analysis partially reconstructs the by combining a fully reconstructed Ds with the remaining charged B decay tracks. The second analysis selects a sample of events with a partially reconstructed charm vertex and a lepton track. The third naalysis reconstructs b-hadrons topologically and exploits the b→c cascade charge structure to determine the flavor of the b-hadron at decay. All three analyses take advantage of the large forward-backward asymmetry of the polarized decays and information in the hemisphere opposite to the reconstructed B vertex to determine the b-hadron flavor at production. The results of the three analyses are combined to exclude the following values of the oscillation frequency: Δms<7.6 ps-1 and 11.8<Δms<14.8 ps-1 at the 95% confidence level.
Comparison of the Pulmonary Bactericidal Capacity of Mice and Rats Against Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

After aerosol deposition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in mice and rats, completely different patterns of pulmonary bacterial clearance were observed in each animal species.
Arthrodesis for the Treatment of Arthrosis of the Ankle and Osteonecrosis of the Talus

We evaluated the results of arthrodesis that had been performed for arthrosis of the ankle and osteonecrosis of the talus in nineteen patients. Twelve patients were men, and seven were women. The mean age of the patients was thirty-four years (range, nineteen to fifty-eight years). The median interval between the injury and the index operation was twenty-one months (range, six to 408 months). The arthrodesis was performed at the level of the ankle only in three patients and in both the ankle and the subtalar joint in sixteen. External fixation was used in thirteen patients, internal fixation was used in four, and no fixation was used in two. Supplemental bone graft from the iliac crest was used in fourteen patients, and local bone graft was used in five. The mean duration of follow-up was six years (range, two to fifteen years). The clinical result was excellent in seven patients, good in six, fair in three, and poor in three. Union was achieved in sixteen ankles, but it was delayed in one of them. Complications occurred in four patients: one had a tibial stress fracture, one had an infection at the site of a non-union, and two had malalignment in plantar flexion. Overall, the arthrodesis was successful in these patients. The use of rigid fixation and bone-grafting had a rate of success approximating that reported for primary arthrodesis in patients who do not have avascular necrosis.
DYNAMICS IN AN SIR MODEL WHEN VACCINATION DEMAND FOLLOWS PRIOR LEVELS OF DISEASE PREVALENCE

This paper investigates an susceptible, infectious, recovered (SIR) model with childhood vaccination demand modeled as a function of prior levels of disease prevalence. Stability conditions for endemic and disease-free equilibria are uncovered, and both Hopf bifurcations and chaos are found with certain constellations of parameter values. Policy interventions directed toward increasing vaccination are explored, and the implied magnitudes of the external benefit of vaccination are modeled.
Effect of Postmastectomy Radiation on Survival of AJCC pN2/N3 Breast Cancer Patients

Background: The effectiveness of postmastectomy radiation (PMRT) in breast cancer patients with N2 and N3 nodal status is often evaluated in combination with other postmastectomy adjuvant treatments. To account for interaction effects and determine the individual impact of PMRT alone, the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was analyzed from 2004-2011. Patients and Methods: We evaluated a cohort of 38,442 women diagnosed with pathological stage N2/N3 breast cancer who underwent mastectomy between 2004 and 2011 from the NCDB. Overall survival was the outcome variable; primary predictor variable was treatment (PMRT, adjuvant anti-hormonal therapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy). Additional variables addressed and adjusted for included: age, race, Charlson Comorbidity index, education, income, payer status, distance traveled, facility type, diagnosing/treating facility, treatment delay, grade of tumor, tumor size, and stage at diagnosis, tumor histology, ER/PR status, and lymph node invasion as well as PMRT boost and dosage. Multivariate Cox regression was used to investigate the effect of PMRT on overall survival while adjusting for secondary predictive factors. Results: The majority of patients received one or more postmastectomy procedures such as radiation (69.31%), chemotherapy (88.79%), and/or hormone therapy (62.66%). The median overall survival for all patients was 8.41 years. In multivariate analysis, effects of treatment on survival were significant for chemotherapy alone, hormonal therapy alone, and a combination of PMRT with either chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or both. Compared to patients without treatment, patients who received PMRT alone were not significantly associated with an increased risk of death; patients who received hormone therapy alone or chemotherapy alone had a reduced risk of death by 15% and 31%, respectively. With the combination of all three treatments, risk of death was reduced by 64%. Conclusion: PMRT was not found to be a significant predictor of risk of death for pN2/N3 breast cancer patients when adjusting for socioeconomic factors, disease characteristics, and interaction effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.
Progestational agents and blood coagulation. VI. Relationship of ABO blood types to changes induced by oral contraceptives.

Abstract Effects of several types of oral contraceptive medications upon the blood coagulation and fibrinolysin systems in women were studied and correlated with blood groups. No correlation was found between therapy-induced changes in these systems and blood groups.
Enabling data mining of handwritten coursework

Data mining has become an increasingly important tool for education researchers and practitioners. However, work in this field has focused on data from online educational systems. Here, we present techniques to enable data mining of handwritten coursework, which is an essential component of instruction in many disciplines. Our techniques include methods for classifying pen strokes as diagram, equation, and cross-out strokes. The latter are used to strike out erroneous work. We have also created techniques for grouping equation strokes into equation groups and then individual characters. Our results demonstrate that our classification and grouping techniques are more accurate than prior techniques for this task. We also demonstrate applications of our techniques for automated assessment of student competence. We present a novel approach for measuring the correctness of exam solutions from an analysis of lexical features of handwritten equations. This analysis demonstrates, for example, that the number of equation groups correlates positively with grade. We also use our techniques to extend graphical protocol analysis to free-form, handwritten problem solutions. While prior work in a laboratory setting suggests that long pauses are indicative of low competence, our work shows that the frequency of long pauses during exams correlates positively with competence. Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsWe present techniques to enable data mining of handwritten coursework.Our methods classifying pen strokes as diagram, equation, and cross-out strokes.Our methods group free-form pen strokes into equation groups.Our techniques have been applied to a database containing 28 million pen strokes.We demonstrate that lexical properties of handwriting are indicative of competence.
Is the Unauthorized Use of Former Collegiate Student-Athletes' 'Likeness' a Violation of Their Right of Publicity?

This article analyzes three high-profile lawsuits brought by former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes Ed O'Bannon (O’Bannon v. NCAA, Collegiate Licensing Committee (CLC) and Electronic Arts Incorporated (EA); Sam Keller (Keller v. NCAA, CLC, and EA; and Ryan Hart (Hart v. EA). The central question raised by all three cases: does the “likeness” (personal attributes) displayed of the former student-athletes in the NCAA College Football video game (Keller and Hart) and the NCAA College Basketball video game (O'Bannon) without the former collegiate players’ consent, violate their right of publicity? This article discusses how courts have interpreted and developed the violation of the right of publicity tort, and presents a general overview and legal analysis of the three relevant cases. A secondary issue presented in O’Bannon is how the courts will interpret the vague and ambiguous language used in the standard agreement (Student-Athlete Statement Division I Form 08-3a Section IV) that, according to the NCAA, perpetually relinquishes the rights of student-athletes. Whichever way the courts decide, the decision will forever affect the way the NCAA conducts its commercial business.
Designing Water Disaster Management Policies: Theory and Empirics

The UN World Water Assessment Programme report (Adikari & Yoshitani 2009) identifies several types of water-related disasters, including floods, windstorms, tidal wave and tsunami, droughts, and wa...
In young readers, the left hemisphere supports the link between temporal processing and phonological awareness

Phonological awareness, the ability to manipulate the sounds of language, is key for learning to read. The first step towards phonological competence is identification of syllables and rimes. In a continuous speech stream, syllables and rimes are marked by slow temporal rhythmic modulations, including changes in vowel intensity or amplitude rise time (ART). Prior work suggests that children's sensitivity to ART predicts reading ability and dyslexia across languages. Yet, little is known about the brain bases of this sensitivity that might be key to both language and reading acquisition. The present study explored the hypothesis that children's brain response to slow temporal modulations, tested with amplitude rise perception, relates to child reading acquisition. Fifteen young readers (ages 7–12) completed ART and a control intensity discrimination task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Behavioral findings validated the link between ART sensitivity, language and literacy abilities in young rea...
Sampling Survey on the antibody levels of measles among the residents in Jingxi County

Objective To evaluate the immune status against measles in population so as to provide a scientific basis for speeding up measles control and elimination. Methods Based on the systematic sampling and stratified random sampling methods,650 residents selected from Wanji,Pangling,Dongping,Luolong,Dali,Ganhe,Napo,Shangba and Shangmin administrative villages were divided into the age groups of 0-,6-,11-,16-,21-,26-,31-,36-,41-,46-,51-and 56-60 years and the childbearing age group of 18-35 years( each n = 50). Venous blood samples were taken from all residents surveyed to detect human immunoglobulin G( IgG) antibody to measles by ELISA method. Results A total of 675 residents were surveyed and 594 were found to be positive for measles antibody,with the positive rate of 88. 00%. The antibody geometric mean titer( GMT) was 1:413. There were statistically significant differences in the positive rate of measles virus to antibody among different areas( χ2= 30. 067,P 0. 002),but no statistically significant difference was found among different age groups( including the childbearing age group)( χ2= 14. 621,P = 0. 263) and among different genders( χ2= 0. 002,P = 0. 962). Conclusions The positive rate of measles antibody among population in Jingxi County is higher,which forms a certain immune barrier,but there exist differences in the antibody levels among different areas. It is necessary to strengthen the screening and management of immunization program and timely implement the vaccination and boosting in the weak areas of the county.
SU-F-J-109: Generate Synthetic CT From Cone Beam CT for CBCT-Based Dose Calculation

Purpose: The use of CBCT for dose calculation is limited by its HU inaccuracy from increased scatter. This study presents a method to generate synthetic CT images from CBCT data by a probabilistic classification that may be robust to CBCT noise. The feasibility of using the synthetic CT for dose calculation is evaluated in IMRT for unilateral H&N cancer. Methods: In the training phase, a fuzzy c-means classification was performed on HU vectors (CBCT, CT) of planning CT and registered day-1 CBCT image pair. Using the resulting centroid CBCT and CT values for five classified “tissue” types, a synthetic CT for a daily CBCT was created by classifying each CBCT voxel to obtain its probability belonging to each tissue class, then assigning a CT HU with a probability-weighted summation of the classes’ CT centroids. Two synthetic CTs from a CBCT were generated: s-CT using the centroids from classification of individual patient CBCT/CT data; s2-CT using the same centroids for all patients to investigate the applicability of group-based centroids. IMRT dose calculations for five patients were performed on the synthetic CTs and compared with CT-planning doses by dose-volume statistics. Results: DVH curves of PTVs and critical organs calculated on s-CT and s2-CT agree with those from planning-CT within 3%, while doses calculated with heterogeneity off or on raw CBCT show DVH differences up to 15%. The differences in PTV D95% and spinal cord max are 0.6±0.6% and 0.6±0.3% for s-CT, and 1.6±1.7% and 1.9±1.7% for s2-CT. Gamma analysis (2%/2mm) shows 97.5±1.6% and 97.6±1.6% pass rates for using s-CTs and s2-CTs compared with CT-based doses, respectively. Conclusion: CBCT-synthesized CTs using individual or group-based centroids resulted in dose calculations that are comparable to CT-planning dose for unilateral H&N cancer. The method may provide a tool for accurate dose calculation based on daily CBCT.
Studies Conducted Using the National Research Council Database

Three areas of literature are summarized in this chapter. They relate to the (1) probability of a firm commercializing from a SBIR-funded project, (2) employment growth in firms that conducted a SBIR-funded project, and (3) relationships with other firms forged from SBIR-funded projects.
Terahertz Imaging of Cutaneous Edema: Correlation With Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Burn Wounds.

Objective: In vivo visualization and quantification of edema, or `tissue swelling' following injury, remains a clinical challenge. Herein, we investigate the ability of reflective terahertz (THz) imaging to track changes in tissue water content (TWC)-the direct indicator of edema-by comparison to depth-resolved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a burn-induced model of edema. Methods: A partial thickness and full thickness burns were induced in an in vivo rat model to elicit unique TWC perturbations corresponding to burn severity. Concomitant THz surface maps and MRI images of both burn models were acquired with a previously reported THz imaging system and T2-weighted MRI, respectively, over 270 min. Reflectivity was analyzed for the burn contact area in THz images, while proton density (i.e., mobile TWC) was analyzed for the same region at incrementally increasing tissue depths in companion, transverse MRI images. A normalized cross correlation of THz and depth-dependent MRI measurements was performed as a function of time in histologically verified burn wounds. Results: For both burn types, strong positive correlations were evident between THz reflectivity and MRI data analyzed at greater tissue depths (>258 μm). MRI and THz results also revealed biphasic trends consistent with burn edema pathogenesis. Conclusion: This paper offers the first in vivo correlative assessment of mobile TWC-based contrast and the sensing depth of THz imaging. Significance: The ability to implement THz imaging immediately following injury, combined with TWC sensing capabilities that compare to MRI, further support THz sensing as an emerging tool to track fluid in tissue.
A wild-type mouse-based model for the regression of inflammation in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis can be induced by the injection of a gain-of-function mutant of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9)–encoding adeno-associated viral vector (AAVmPCSK9), avoiding the need for knockout mice models, such as low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient mice. As regression of atherosclerosis is a crucial therapeutic goal, we aimed to establish a regression model based on AAVmPCSK9, which will eliminate the need for germ-line genetic modifications. C57BL6/J mice were injected with AAVmPCSK9 and were fed with Western diet for 16 weeks, followed by reversal of hyperlipidemia by a diet switch to chow and treatment with a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor (MTPi). Sixteen weeks following AAVmPCSK9 injection, mice had advanced atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic root. Surprisingly, diet switch to chow alone reversed hyperlipidemia to near normal levels, and the addition of MTPi completely normalized hyperlipidemia. A six week reversal of hyperlipidemia, either by diet switch alone or by diet switch and MTPi treatment, was accompanied by regression of atherosclerosis as defined by a significant decrease of macrophages in the atherosclerotic plaques, compared to baseline. Thus, we have established an atherosclerosis regression model that is independent of the genetic background.
Implementation of a universal cervical length screening program: identifying factors associated with decline rates

AbstractPurpose: Cervical length (CL) measurement is now accepted as a screening strategy for identifying women at risk for preterm birth (PTB). However, patient acceptability may limit its implementation. Our objective was to identify characteristics associated with women who decline this screening.Materials and methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of women offered UCL screening from January 2012 to June 2012. Women with a singleton gestation 18 0/7–23 6/7 weeks at the time of anatomy scan were included. Trained sonographers were instructed to perform UCL screening on all eligible patients using an “opt-out” approach. Chi square statistics and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare categorical and continuous data, where appropriate. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio for factors associated with declining UCL screeningResults: 1348 women were offered CL screening; 131 (9.7%) declined. Overall, multiparous women were more than twice as likely to declin...
Localized Application of Fertilizers in Vegetable Crop Production

Localized applications of fertilizers are alternatives to broadcast applications across the entire field surface for economic, environmental and technological reasons. These alternative methods are the modified broadcast method, the banding application method, and the fertigation method used with drip irrigation. Beginning with the scientifically established fact that root system architecture of plants responds to fertilizer placement, this chapter covers first environmental regulation in the United States, the nutrient losses through leaching, the methods used for measuring nutrient loads, nutrient load estimates, the main factors that affect nutrient loads in field production, and some common strategies used for reducing nutrient loss (nitrification inhibitors, grafting and irrigation management). Using the vegetables grown on Florida’s sandy soil as an example, the second section outlines the principles and practices for localized fertilizer applications to vegetable crop production. In commercial vegetable production, soil testing is the foundation for all sound fertility programs. The implementation of the soil-test recommendation requires (1) the selection of the proper rate, source, timing and placement of fertilizer, (2) the correct conversion of nutrient rates provided by the soil test results (N, P2O5 or K2O needed on a per hectare basis) to that of organic amendments, cover crop residues or fertilizers on a length-of-row basis, and (3) custom-built, well-calibrated equipment. In commercial production, localized fertilizer applications need to be adjusted to the production system capabilities and constraints (flat ground or raised beds; direct-seeded or transplanted crop; irrigation method; and/or mulching). A well-planned fertilization program requires an irrigation schedule to maximize nutrient-use efficiency and yield potential while reducing the risk of nutrient losses due to leaching.
Analysis of Different Approaches to Modeling of Nozzle Flows in the Near Continuum Regime

Conical nozzle flows are studied for Reynolds numbers of 1,230 and 12,300 using different numerical techniques: DSMC Method, Navier‐Stokes/CFD accounting for velocity slip and temperature jump boundary conditions, and statistical and deterministic approaches to the solution of BGK equation. Detailed comparison of the stability, accuracy, and convergence of the employed numerical techniques provides better understanding of their benefits and deficiencies, and assists in selecting the most appropriate technique for a particular nozzle and flow application. The deterministic and statistical solutions of the BGK equation were found to be in good agreement with the benchmark DSMC results. The Navier‐Stokes solution differs from DSMC in the boundary layer.
Response to George Gonzalez

This response pertains to the review of our book, God Guns Gold and Glory—American Character and its Discontents, reviewed in this journal by George Gonzalez. Our response contends that the “review...
Poor Self-efficacy for Healthcare Provider Interactions Among Individuals with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

Two factors that influence HIV health behaviors and therefore may contribute to gaps in the HIV treatment continuum are poor health-related self-efficacy and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, the relationship between HAND and self-efficacy has not been assessed. In an HIV sample, 91 individuals with intact cognition (HAND-) and 40 individuals with HAND (HAND+) were administered a measure of self-efficacy for healthcare interactions with providers. Participants with HAND had significantly lower scores on this measure, which were correlated with poorer episodic and semantic memory performance, as well as self-reported memory symptoms in daily life. Findings suggest that neurocognitive impairment, and particularly memory dysfunction, may play an important role in self-efficacy for healthcare interactions in HIV. Further examination of the interplay between HAND and self-efficacy is warranted as these two factors may be important for the public health goal of identifying targets for improving access, delivery, and maintenance of HIV care.
GENETIC VARIATION IN THE GENUS BUFO II. ISOZYMES IN NORTHERN ALLOPATRIC POPULATIONS OF THE AMERICAN TOAD, Bufo americanus

ABSTRACT . Electrophoretically demonstrable variation was analyzed in enzymes encoded by fourteen structural gene loci in 620 individuals of northern allopatric Bufo americanus representing 25 populations. Average individual heterozygosity was 11.6 percent, mean percentage of loci polymorphic was 25.7 percent, and average number of alleles detected per locus was 1.45. Extensive clinal variation in allelic frequencies and genic variability was observed. Marginal populations of this species appear to be as variable as central populations. The American toad possesses more genic variability than any other vertebrate species reported to date. This may be a reflection of an adaptive strategy unique to toads.
Trypanosomatid surface and secreted carbohydrates

Publisher Summary Trypanosomatid parasites have evolved unique lifestyles, shuttling between their insect vectors and vertebrate hosts, encountering extremely inhospitable environments specifically designed to keep such microbial intruders in check. Their survival tactics often involve glycoconjugates that form a protective obstacle against unwelcoming forces. A general trait of the parasite's cell surface architecture is an intricate and often highly structured glycocalyx that allows the parasite to interact with and respond to its external environment. The variety of the glycoconjugate structures and, accordingly the array of functions that are attributed to these molecules, from host cell invasion to deception of the host's immune system, are astonishing. The observation of parallels and similarities in structure that underscore evolutionary relationships among the various parasites is also remarkable. In this chapter the structures and functions of the major glycoconjugates of trypanosomatid parasites and glycosylphosphatidyl inositol anchors are highlighted.
Well Compensated But Never Quite Solved: Lingering Dyslexia

Tim, whose family owned a bookstore, first came for evaluation in third grade to explain and provide recommendations for his academic struggles, particularly in reading, spelling, written language, and memorization of math facts. He then came for two separate evaluations during middle and high school. The longitudinal information thus available about the progression of his reading problems illustrates a common case of partially remediated word reading disability.
Adolescent Self-Help in Substance Abuse Interventions

Self-help, also called mutual help, is an intervention for everyone who misuses substances. In this chapter, adolescent self-help/mutual help is defined as a safe no cost group process, including 12 steps, spiritual or other grounding, in which peer youth involved in substance misuse along with sponsors and/or mentors mutually support recovering youth to deal with cravings, life stressors, and to promote change. After presenting selected data on substance use, the US treatment utilization data are presented to highlight the limited adolescent self-help information, which is supported by the literature reviewed. Based on the literature review it is suggested that self-help/mutual help can be a promising approach for adolescents. Further research and controlled trials are recommended to add to understanding adolescent and youth self-help.
“Tryin’ to Survive”: Black Male Students’ Understandings of the Role of Race and Racism in the School-to-Prison Pipeline

This article examines Black male students’ perceptions of the role of race and racism in perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline. Through a phenomenological investigation of ten Black male stude...
An Empirical Study of Race and Law School Hiring

Does race matter in the law school hiring process? Do minority candidates benefit from affirmative action or are they hurt by racial discrimination? Is the lack of minority law professors the result of a lack of qualified minority candidates? And more broadly, what do law schools look for when making hiring decisions? These questions have been asked for decades; now, in this ground-breaking empirical analysis of law school hiring, some answers are finally offered. This paper takes an in-depth look at the candidates applying for law teaching jobs in the 2004-2005 academic year to measure how much a candidate’s race affected his or her chances of being hired as a law professor. Two findings emerge, both surprising and thought-provoking. First, being a minority had a statistically significant positive effect on a candidate’s chances of being hired, suggesting that affirmative action has a place in law school hiring. However, being a minority also had a statistically significant negative effect on where the candidate was hired, suggesting that discrimination is also present. In the realm of law school hiring, race appears to cut both ways. The article closes by reviewing potential explanations for these seemingly contradictory findings. Regardless of the why and how, it is clear that traditional qualifications and academic pedigree alone cannot explain law school hiring decisions.
Accelerated Prediction of Bradycardia in Preterm Infants Using Time-Frequency Analysis

The rapid growth of the high-performance data processing algorithms and fusion of wearable technologies has enabled us to continuously monitor the health status of infants. However, monitoring preterm infants is still a challenge due to their frightfully tiny size and their undeveloped skin. In this paper, we have demonstrated a framework of complete monitoring of the preterm infants and real-time accelerated prediction of bradycardia. Real-time prediction of bradycardia episodes in the NICU has the potential to provide quality care to these neonates. In the proposed system we incorporated a multi-GPU gradient boosting algorithm that was able to outperform the traditional CPU’s performance. This can overcome the manually maintained progress reports by nurses, which is a major hurdle in the NICU. The system maps the workflow in a Java based responsive application to provide statistical information along with growth charts and reports. The system extracts data with a specific interval to feed the GPU based extreme gradient boosting model. The feature extraction was performed on the time and frequency domain of the heart rate of infants to predict an episode of bradycardia. With an average accuracy of 86% and shortest detection time when compared to the models of other similar products, the proposed system showed that it can improve care time, minimize the skill gap, analyze early disease perdition, and reduce preterm infant’s morbidity and mortality.
Exposing Inconsistent Web Search Results with Bobble

Given their critical role as gateways to Web content, the search results a Web search engine provides to its users have an out-sized impact on the way each user views the Web. Previous studies have shown that popular Web search engines like Google employ sophisticated personalization engines that can occasionally provide dramatically inconsistent views of the Web to different users. Unfortunately, even if users are aware of this potential, it is not straightforward for them to determine the extent to which a particular set of search results differs from those returned to other users, nor the factors that contribute to this personalization. We present the design and implementation of Bobble, a Web browser extension that contemporaneously executes a user's Google search query from a variety of different world-wide vantage points under a range of different conditions, alerting the user to the extent of inconsistency present in the set of search results returned to them by Google. Using more than 75,000 real search queries issued by over 170 users during a nine-month period, we explore the frequency and nature of inconsistencies that arise in Google search queries. In contrast to previously published results, we find that 98% of all Google search results display some inconsistency, with a user's geographic location being the dominant factor influencing the nature of the inconsistency.
Orienting Hawaii to the Future: Multi-mode Adult Education

Unlike any other state in the union, studying the future has become a legitimate statewide activity in Hawaii. Largely since 1969, when Governor John burns authorized the creation of an advisor committee to convene a conference on Hawaii 2000, many citizens of the state have been engaged in a great variety of activities with the intent of encouraging and enabling them to gain control over their personal and collective futures.
Analysis of Nasal Obstruction Patterns Following Reductive Rhinoplasty

Cosmetic rhinoplasty has been linked to iatrogenic breathing disturbances using clinical tools. However, few studies have evaluated outcomes using validated, patient-centered instruments. We aim to determine the incidence and severity of nasal obstruction following cosmetic rhinoplasty as measured by patient-centered, disease-specific instruments. This is a retrospective review of adult patients who underwent cosmetic rhinoplasty at Stanford Hospital between January 2017 and January 2019. General demographic as well as Nasal Obstruction and Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) questionnaire data were included. Scores were tracked across postoperative visits and compared to the preoperative state. Patients were subdivided into dorsal hump takedown, correction of the nasal tip, and both. Of the 68 included patients, 56 were women, and the mean age was 30.6 years. Although mean SCHNOS and NOSE scores increased at the first postoperative interval, mean scores decreased on each subsequent visit. There were no significant increases in SCHNOS or NOSE scores for either dorsal hump takedown, tip correction, or both. There were only two patients who recorded NOSE scores higher than baseline at most recent postoperative visit. Our results indicate reductive rhinoplasty is not associated with a greater risk of breathing obstruction when performed with modern airway preservation techniques. The initial increases in obstructive symptoms we observed on the first postoperative visit likely represent perioperative swelling given the improvement on follow-up visits. Both the NOSE and SCHNOS are patient-centered questionnaires capable of evaluating nasal obstruction following cosmetic rhinoplasty. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Investigation of hot-air assisted radio frequency (HARF) dielectric heating for improving drying efficiency and ensuring quality of dried hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.)

Abstract Hot-air assisted radio frequency (HARF) dielectric heating was utilized to dry inshell hazelnuts (Barcelona and Jefferson) in order to achieve rapid, uniform drying and better nut quality. The process parameters studied were electrode gap (EG) (14, 15 and 16 cm) and sample thickness (ST) (3, 5 and 7 cm) for HARF drying, 2-step hot-air (HA)-HARF drying at different intermediate moisture contents (MC) (16, 14 and 12%, wet basis), and two HARF modes (continuous and intermittent). The optimal intermittent HARF operations were identified as 15 cm EG and 5 cm or 7 cm ST, resulting in drying time of 100.5 min and 180.9 min for Barcelona and Jefferson, respectively, vs. 22 h using HA drying. The 2-step HA-HARF drying at 12% intermediate MC reduced shell cracking ratio
A Raspberry Pi Mesh Sensor Network for Portable Perimeter Security

Wireless sensor networks play an important role for perimeter monitoring in remote environments. While commercial wireless sensor networks for providing audio-visual monitoring exist, they are often expensive to deploy. In this paper, we describe and implement a wireless mesh network consisting of inexpensive battery-operated Raspberry Pi nodes. The choice of the Raspberry Pi enables the construction of cost-effective sensor nodes that are extendable and expendable. We conduct a series of test to illustrate the efficacy of our network in a building monitoring use case. Our nodes can be built for as little as 49.00 per node and is capable of node-to-node transmission of up to 50 feet. Custom sleep states enable battery life to last 14 hours on 4 AA batteries. Our results support our thesis that an all-Pi mesh sensor is capable of providing portable perimeter security.
Enhanced CXCR4 Expression Associates with Increased Gene Body 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Modification but not Decreased Promoter Methylation in Colorectal Cancer.

In colorectal cancer (CRC), upregulation of the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis, highlighting the need to further elucidate CXCR4’s regulation in CRC. For the first time, DNA methylation and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine aberrations were investigated to better understand the epigenetic regulation of CXCR4 in CRC. CXCR4 expression levels were measured using qPCR and immunoblotting in normal colon tissues, primary colon cancer tissues and CRC cell lines. Publicly available RNA-seq and methylation data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were extracted from tumors from CRC patients. The DNA methylation status spanning CXCR4 gene was evaluated using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA). The methylation status in the CXCR4 gene body was analyzed using previously performed nano-hmC-seal data from colon cancers and adjacent normal colonic mucosa. CXCR4 expression levels were significantly increased in tumor stromal cells and in tumor colonocytes, compared to matched cell types from adjacent normal-appearing mucosa. CXCR4 promoter methylation was detected in a minority of colorectal tumors in the TCGA. The CpG island of the CXCR4 promoter showed increased methylation in three of four CRC cell lines. CXCR4 protein expression differences were also notable between microsatellite stable (MSS) and microsatellite instable (MSI) tumor cell lines. While differential methylation was not detected in CXCR4, enrichment of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in CXCR4 gene bodies in CRC was observed compared to adjacent mucosa.
Comparative toxicokinetics of Trans-resveratrol and its major metabolites in Harlan Sprague Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice following oral and intravenous administration.

Abstract Trans-resveratrol (RES) is a naturally occurring stilbene found in numerous plants and foods. Due to its widespread human exposure and lack of toxicity and carcinogenicity data, RES was nominated to the National Toxicology Program for testing. To aid the toxicology studies, the dose, sex, and species differences in RES toxicokinetics was investigated in Harlan Sprague Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice following single intravenous (IV) (10 mg/kg) or oral gavage administration (312.5, 625, and 1250 mg/kg and 625, 1250, and 2500 mg/kg in rats and mice, respectively). Following IV and gavage administration, systemic exposure of RES based on AUC was trans-resveratrol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide (R3G)> > trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate (R3S) > RES in both species. Following gavage administration Tmax_predicted values were ≤ 263 min for both species and sexes. RES elimination half-life was longer in rats than mice, and shortest in male mice. Clearance was slower in mice with no apparent sex difference in both species. In both rats and mice, following gavage administration AUC increased proportionally to the dose. After gavage administration, enterohepatic recirculation of RES was observed in both rats and mice with secondary peaks occurring around 640 min in the concentration-time profiles. RES was rapidly metabolized to R3S and R3G in both species. Extensive first pass conjugation and metabolism resulted in low levels of the parent compound RES which was confirmed by the low estimates for bioavailability. The bioavailability of RES was low, ~12–31% and ~2–6% for rats and mice, respectively, with no apparent difference between sexes.