cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oncogenic Functions of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 2 in Human Renal Cancer

The secreted Frizzled-related proteins (sFRP) are modulators of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is involved in embryonic development and tumor progression. The functions of sFRP2 have not been studied in renal cancer. Transient transfection of sFRP2 promoted cell growth in renal carcinoma cells, whereby the largest effect was observed in A498 cells. To further study the functions of sFRP2 gene in renal carcinoma cells, we established A498 renal cancer cell lines, which stably expressed sFRP2. Stably expressed sFRP2 significantly promoted cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo tumor growth. The stably expressed sFRP2 cells were also found to have reduced UV-induced apoptosis and increased G(2) phase of the cell cycle. The phosphorylation level at Ser(33/37)/Thr(41) of beta-catenin was lower in the stable sFRP2 cell lines compared with the control cell line. sFRP2 significantly activated T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor transcriptional activity. In the stable sFRP2 cell line, expression of c-Fos, Bcl2, Bcl-w, cyclin B2, and cyclin E2 genes was significantly increased and p53 expression was decreased. This is the first report documenting that sFRP2 activates the canonical Wnt pathway and promotes cell growth by evoking diverse signaling cascades in renal cancer cells. This study may provide better strategies for the management of renal cancer through regulation of sFRP2 pathways.
Modeling Dyadic Effects in the Associations Between Relational Uncertainty, Sexual Communication, and Sexual Satisfaction for Husbands and Wives

This study models the individual and dyadic associations between relational uncertainty, indirect communication about sexual intimacy, and sexual satisfaction within marital relationships. A sample of 220 married couples completed questionnaires about their sexual relationship, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results indicate that (a) relational uncertainty is positively associated with indirect communication about sexual intimacy for both husbands and wives, (b) indirect sexual communication is negatively associated with husbands’ and wives’ own sexual satisfaction, (c) husbands’ and wives’ sexual satisfaction and indirectness about sexual intimacy are positively associated, and (d) husbands’ and wives’ indirect communication about sexual intimacy are negatively associated with their spouse’s sexual satisfaction. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for understanding the dynamics of sexual intimacy within marriage.
A coastal current in winter: Autonomous underwater vehicle observations of the coastal current east of Cape Cod

[1] Evolution of the coastal current structure on the shallow continental shelf east of Cape Cod was studied using autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) surveys and moored observations during the winters of 2005 and 2006. A coastally bounded plume of relatively fresh water, characteristic of a coastal current, persisted throughout both winters despite strong mixing. Nondimensional parameter analysis classified the plume as a bottom-trapped gravity current over a moderately steep slope, placing it in the context of other buoyant coastal currents. The range of water properties within the coastal current, its spatial extent and temporal variability were characterized on the basis of the data from repeat hydrographic sections. Along-shore freshwater transport was dominated by highly variable barotropic flow driven by local wind and basin-wide pressure gradients. It eventually contributed substantially to the average southward along-shore freshwater transport, estimated at 1.1 ± 0.3 × 103 m3 s−1 in February and 1.8 ± 0.4 × 103 m3 s−1 in the first half of March 2006. The contribution of baroclinic buoyancy-driven freshwater transport was typically an order of magnitude lower during both winters. Despite the relative weakness of the baroclinic freshwater transport, the coastal current potentially had a major impact on water mass modification during the winter. Continual presence of the low-salinity plume prevented the formation of cold dense water near the coast and its export offshore. The coastal current effectively isolated the inner-shelf zone, reducing its potential role in ventilation of the intermediate layers of the Wilkinson Basin of the Gulf of Maine.
Interdisciplinary applications of statistical physics to complex systems: seismic physics, econophysics, and sociophysics

This thesis applies statistical physics concepts and methods to quantitatively analyze complex systems. This thesis is separated into four parts: (i) characteristics of earthquake systems (ii) memory and volatility in data time series (iii) the application of part (ii) to world financial markets, and (iv) statistical observations on the evolution of word usage. In Part I, we observe statistical patterns in the occurrence of earthquakes. We select a 14-year earthquake catalog covering the archipelago of Japan. We find that regions traditionally thought of as being too distant from one another for causal contact display remarkably high correlations, and the networks that result have a tendency to link highly connected areas with other highly connected areas. In Part II, we introduce and apply the concept of "volatility asymmetry", the primary use of which is in financial data. We explain the relation between memory and "volatility asymmetry" in terms of an asymmetry parameter λ. We define a litmus test for determining whether λ is statistically significant and propose a stochastic model based on this parameter and use the model to further explain empirical data. In Part III, we expand on volatility asymmetry. Importing the concepts of time dependence and universality from physics, we explore the aspects of emerging (or "transition") economies in Eastern Europe as they relate to asymmetry. We find that these emerging markets in some instances behave like developed markets and in other instances do not, and that the distinction is a matter both of country and a matter of time period, crisis periods showing different asymmetry characteristics than "healthy" periods. In Part IV, we take note of a series of findings in econophysics, showing statistical growth similarities between a variety of different areas that all have in common the fact of taking place in areas that are both (i) competing and (ii) dynamic. We show that this same growth distribution can be reproduced in observing the growth rates of the usage of individual words, that just as companies compete for sales in a zero sum marketing game, so do words compete for usage within a limited amount of reader man-hours.
Evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures

Biliary strictures frequently present a diagnostic challenge during pre-operative evaluation to determine their benign or malignant nature. A variety of benign conditions, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, frequently mimic malignancies. In addition, PSC and other chronic biliary diseases increase the risk of cholangiocarcinoma and so require ongoing vigilance. Although traditional methods of evaluation including imaging, detection of circulating tumour markers, and sampling by endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography have a high specificity, they suffer from low sensitivity. Currently, up to 20% of biliary strictures remain indeterminate after pre-operative evaluation and necessitate surgical intervention for a definitive diagnosis. The discovery of novel biomarkers, new imaging modalities and advanced endoscopic techniques suggests that a multimodality approach might lead to better diagnostic accuracy.
DISABILITY STUDIES ENVISIONING OUR FUTURE - Guest Editors’ Introduction

This is the forum intro from the PACIFIC RIM CONFERENCE STRAND, DISABILITY STUDIES ENVISIONING OUR FUTURE
Historic earthquakes (1918 to 1923) and an assessment of source parameters along the San Jacinto fault system

Body waveform modeling is used to determine the source parameters of two earthquakes that occurred along the northern San Jacinto fault system in 1918 and 1923. The 1918 earthquake parameters are consistent with a 20- to 25-km rupture along the Claremont fault at a depth of 7 ± 5 km. Limited data for the 1923 event are more consistent with rupture on the San Jacinto fault than rupture along the San Andreas fault or a buried cross fault, although the greatest damage associated with the earthquake occurred closer to the San Andreas fault. Using the results of this study and previous studies of historic earthquakes along the southern San Jacinto fault, the relationships between rupture length and magnitude, focal depth and heat flow, and other parameters are examined in an effort to estimate the source properties of future events that are expected along currently quiescent portions of the fault zone. One important observation is that rupture lengths along the San Jacinto fault are shorter for an equivalent moment magnitude than those along the Imperial Valley-Mexicali fault system. The higher heat flow of the Imperial Valley region may be responsible for this difference.
A Microfabrication Approach to Mechanical Testing of Thin Films

An approach to measuring the mechanical properties of thin films with in-plane and thickness dimensions comparable to those of films in VLSI electronic devices and in multi-hip modules is being developed. The guiding principles are to utilize as much as possible the technology of microelectronic fabrication and to make the design downward-scalable in size so that eventually the very smallest films and structures can be tested. The necessary components have been designed; we are in the process of building and testing them. The specimen and associated instrumention are fabricated by semiconductor techniques on a 50 mm-diameter silicon wafer. Piezoresistors arranged as strain-sensitive Wheatstone bridges are fabricated by diffusion. One bridge, located on a grip section, is the load cell. After opening contact windows and metallization, the thin-film specimen is deposited. Then the silicon wafer is patterned and etched, leaving the specimen hanging between two instrumented grip sections linked by flexible silicon springs. Relative displacement of the grip sections is imposed by either a micrometer or a micro-stepper motor and measured by a scanned laser beam and by additional strain-sensitive bridges.
Comparison of three algorithms for the baseline correction of hyphenated data objects.

Three novel two-way baseline correction algorithms, that is, orthogonal basis (OB), fuzzy optimal associative memory (FOAM), and polynomial fitting (PF), were evaluated with high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC−MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) data objects. Among these algorithms, both OB and FOAM are two-way baseline correction algorithms, which reconstruct the entire two-way backgrounds from blank data objects, while the PF algorithm is a pseudo-two-way method, which models each ion chromatogram baseline with a third-order polynomial. The performance of baseline correction methods was first evaluated with respect to the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of 4 major peaks of the HPLC−MS total ion current (TIC) chromatograms of celery seed extracts. Then, the effect of baseline correction on pattern recognition was evaluated by using 42 two-way headspace (HS) solid phase microextraction (SPME) GC/MS data objects of 7 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture standard ...
"People-centered" therapeutic efficacy assessment criteria for Chinese medicine on solid tumor

This paper discusses the therapeutic efficacy assessment criteria for Chinese medicine on solid tumor form "people-centered" point of view.Based on changes of treatment idea and therapeutic effect of Chinese medicine for tumor,and combined with domestic and overseas assessment criteria,this paper views that the therapeutic efficacy assessment criteria of Chinese medicine should reflect the stability of disease,and the evaluation indexes include disease-free survival and progression free survival.Some international indexes,such as quality of life and the tumor burden were introduced in this paper.Whether the TCM syndrome can be the evaluation index needs to be studied.
Research and Application on Detection Technology of Corrosion in Atmosphere Vertical Storage Tank Floor

In petroleum and chemical industry,lots of vertical storage tanks loaded different oils are in use.Since the mediums are flammable and explosive,it is an important and urgent problem to ensure the safe operation of vertical storage tanks.an idea is presented that the detection technology of corrosion by acoustic emission testing and magnetic flux leakage testing in atmosphere vertical storage tank according to the floor corrosion characteristics of atmosphere vertical storage tanks.Acoustic emission testing and evaluation are an effective method to detect and predict tank floor corrosion.When storage tanks are opened,magnetic flux leakage testing is an effective method for corrosive evaluation of tank floor.On the basis of the result of on-line acoustic emission testing,magnetic flux leakage testing can be applied for the tanks which are in high level of danger.Then the purpose of scientific maintenance of tank,safe operation and reduction of maintenance costs will be achieved.
Use of Raman spectroscopy to identify carbon nanotube contamination at an analytical balance workstation

ABSTRACTCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules of carbon with diverse commercial applications. CNTs are also lightweight, easily airborne, and have been shown to be released during various phases of production and use. Therefore, as global CNT production increases, so do concerns that CNTs could pose a safety threat to those who are exposed to them. This makes it imperative to fully understand CNT release scenarios to make accurate risk assessments and to implement effective control measures. However, the current suite of direct-reading and off-line instrumentation used to monitor the release of CNTs in workplaces lack high chemical specificity, which complicates risk assessments when the sampling and/or measurements are performed at a single site where multiple CNT types are handled in the presence of naturally occurring background particles, or dust. Herein, we demonstrate the utility of Raman spectroscopy to unequivocally identify whether particulate matter collected from a multi-user analyt...
Lethal Action and Metabolic Effects of Streptonigrin on Escherichia coli

Streptonigrin is lethal to cultures of Escherichia coli at concentrations that allow synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein to continue. At higher concentrations DNA synthesis is preferentially inhibited. The lethal event is accompanied by DNA degradation, an effect enhanced if protein synthesis is also inhibited by witholding a required amino acid or by adding chloramphenicol. The degradation products, which are released into the culture medium, include nucleotides and bases, but no unusual products were detected. Both an electron source and oxygen are required for streptonigrin to exert its greatest lethal effect. This suggests that a reaction product of oxygen and intracellularly reduced streptonigrin is the lethal agent. This agent is likely to be a peroxide or peroxy free radical but is not hydrogen peroxide.
Binding of iodinated beta adrenergic antagonists to proteins derived from rat heart.

Hydroxybenzylpindolol [Aurbach, G. D., Fedak, S. A., Woodard, C. J., Palmer, J. S., Hauser, D. & Troxler, F. (1974) Science, 186, 1223-1224] and hydroxyphenyl derivatives of alprenolol and KL-255 have been prepared. These compounds were iodinated and studied as potential ligands for the investigation of beta adrenergic receptors in vitro. The iodinated derivatives were potent inhibitors of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1.) activity. Iodohydroxybenzylpindolol (IHYP) proved to be the most useful ligand, and the properties of the binding of IHYP to proteins derived from rat ventricular muscle have been characterized. The l stereoisomers of propranolol, isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine were more potent by an average of two orders of magnitude than the corresponding d isomers in the inhibition of IHYP binding. The Kd values of 10 antagonists were determined by direct binding assay and by inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase. The Kd values of eight of these compounds, as determined by the two methods, were in good agreement, while in two cases they differed by approximately one order of magnitude. The EC50 values of isoproterenol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine for adenylate cyclase stimulation were determined and compared with their Kd values as determined by competition with IHYP for binding sites on rat ventricular muscle protein. The order of potency was the same in both cases, but the absolute potency of all three agonists was substantially lower in studies of adenylate cyclase than in binding studies. High concentrations of a variety of biologically active amines which would not be expected to interact with beta receptors did not affect the binding of IHYP. Specific binding was defined as the binding of IHYP in the presence of 1 µM d-isoproterenol minus its binding in the presence of 1 µM l-isoproterenol. When IHYP (0.02 nM) was incubated with 200-400 µg of protein, equilibrium was achieved in approximately 40-60 min. Dissociation of specific binding took place with a half-time of about 15 min. The Kd of IHYP was approximately 1.4 nM as determined both by Scatchard analysis and by direct measurements of rates of association and dissociation. The binding of IHYP was saturable, and there was approximately 0.16 pmole of IHYP binding sites per milligram of membrane protein. The binding sites have many of the properties expected of beta adrenergic receptors in vitro, and it is likely that these sites represent the physiologically significant receptors.
Surveillance of Tobacco Use Among South Asians in the US: Are We Underestimating Prevalence?

This study employed a randomized split sample survey to assess the accuracy of standard tobacco surveillance measures among South Asians living in the US. 219 South Asian adults completed a web-based survey of “standard” tobacco use questions, as they appear in national surveillance surveys, and half were randomly assigned to also receive questions about South Asian tobacco products. Prevalence of tobacco use was compared by experimental condition, assessed by only the standard questions for the control group (N = 116) and by both standard and South Asian questions for the experimental group (N = 103). Among the experimental group, sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of the standard use definitions were calculated, considering the inclusive definitions as the “gold standard.” Prevalence of any tobacco product use was higher among the experimental group, as was prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use, relative to the control group (34.7 vs. 17.2 % and 21.2 vs. 4.3 %, respectively). 70.6 and 33.3 % of true tobacco users (any product) and SLT users were correctly classified by the respective standard product questions. A majority of gutka, paan with tobacco, and supari with tobacco users (69, 86, and 75 %, respectively) did not otherwise endorse the standard SLT questions. Current tobacco surveillance measures may underestimate the use of tobacco in the South Asian population residing in the US. These results indicate that careful consideration must be given to how tobacco-related questions are presented to minority populations.
Tu1535 Endoscopic Ultrasound Staging of Stenotic Esophageal Cancers May Be Unnecessary to Determine the Need for Neoadjuvant Therapy

Introduction Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an essential component of preoperative staging for esophageal cancer and is used to determine which patients should proceed to primary surgical resection or receive neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery. However, when the EUS scope cannot traverse a tumor, the role of pre-dilatation is controversial due to the risk of perforation.
Fault Model Behavior

One aspect of paramount importance in deterministic testing is the performance of the fault models underlying the process. Recent research has shown that the fabrication process of a circuit is certainly an issue when measuring fault model performance [SHEN85]. However, it is also useful and informative to consider the functional limitations of fault models relative to the circuits themselves and independently of the technology chosen to realize them. Exhaustive simulation or simulation of particular test sets is one possible method that can be used to attack this sort of problem [HUGH86], [MILL88], [MILL89]. However, this approach is limited to relatively small samples of test sets due to otherwise exorbitant computation time requirements.
Prognostic significance of baseline peripheral absolute neutrophil, monocyte and serum β2-microglobulin level in patients with diffuse large b-cell lymphoma: a new prognostic model.

Summary There are limited reports that baseline peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute monocyte count (AMC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and serum β2-microglobulin level independently predict survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). To confirm these findings, we analysed these parameters together with components of the International Prognostic Index (IPI) in patients with newly-diagnosed DLBCL. We evaluated baseline clinical features for their ability to predict survival in 817 newly diagnosed, previously untreated patients with DLBCL who received frontline treatments between October 2001 and December 2011. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years. Multivariate analysis identified elevated baseline ANC (P = 0·036), AMC (P = 0·028) and serum β2-microglobulin level (P < 0·001), poor performance status (P < 0·001) and high number of extranodal disease sites (P = 0·0497) as independent unfavourable predictors of OS; serum β2-microglobulin level was the strongest predictor of survival outcomes among all the parameters. High baseline serum β2-microglobulin, ANC and AMC levels are independent prognostic factors for short overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. Our new model, based on the above five parameters, better stratifies patients into various risk categories than the IPI for newly diagnosed DLBCL.
Newer Diabetes Medications

Before 1995, the only approved medications in the USA for the treatment of diabetes hyperglycemia were various insulin preparations and a number of sulfonylureas. Previously, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed the biguanide phenformin from the market in 1977 due to its potential to induce fatal lactic acidosis. However, although almost every other country in the world was marketing metformin (which made its initial appearance in the 1950s), the patent for the drug had long since expired, leaving companies with little motivation to go through the registration process to bring metformin to the US market due to the immense possibility of generic copying.
Heard, Alexander. Made in America: Improving the Nomination and Election of Presidents.

(1991). Heard, Alexander. Made in America: Improving the Nomination and Election of Presidents. Congress & the Presidency: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 191-192.
Empowering Engagement: Understanding Social Media User Sense of Influence

ABSTRACTFor all the hope and hype hailing the democratizing effect of social media, few studies have explained public influence as an element of social media engagement. Insight into how and why individuals attempt to exert influence over organizations online is particularly underdeveloped. This study takes the first step in understanding sense of influence online through in-depth interviews with social media users. Findings call into question assumptions in research about the motives and meanings underlying individual efforts to exert influence via social media. The data from 19 in-depth interviews with active social media users suggest that sense of influence is enacted for social relationships rather than to influence organizations or society, and information is the driving force of that effort. Findings also place the imperative on strategic communication to emphasize the value of the organization’s role on social interaction toward a fully functioning society.
The Transmission of Religious Beliefs across Generations: Do Grandparents Matter?*

Despite substantial changes in the family’s structure over the past four decades, parents continue to exert a lasting imprint on the religious ideology and commitments of their children. However, r...
The ‘Orientals’ Strike Back: Displacement, Diasporic Resistance, and Spatial Justice in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire

This article examines the forced migration of the Chinese community from San Francisco’s Chinatown after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Situating this spatial struggle in the context of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century urban reforms, it reveals the discursive limits of progressivism and the rhetoric of spatial modernity that was prevalent in America. Drawing attention to the earthquake as a destructive yet revelatory moment of trans-Pacific ties, the article analyses the multi-stranded racial, spatial and material negotiations that allowed the Chinese community to manoeuvre within the structure of domination and effectively resist hegemonic discourse. It demonstrates how, in the quest for spatial justice, coalitions of Chinese elites and politicians relied on existing Sino-American trade networks as leverage for inclusion, sought financial aid from the far-flung Qing government, deployed legal assistance from conglomerations of Chinese-American lobbyists and Western-trained Chinese lawyers, and mobilised capital from wealthy Hong Kong merchants to reconstruct Chinatown from scratch.
A Cost of Pretending

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of pretending on the pretenders' self-esteem. People use social pretenses to avoid criticism and receive praise to maintain and augment this self-esteem. Nevertheless, there is a hidden opportunity cost of pretending. Participants were led (or not) to pretend that they possessed knowledge they did not have (i.e., made-up words), and did or did not receive praise for being knowledgeable. Pretending blunts the effects of praise. Praise raised control participants' self-esteem more than it did that of pretenders.
Tabu Search Foundations: Longer Term Memory

In some applications, the short term TS memory components are sufficient to produce very high quality solutions. However, in general, TS becomes significantly stronger by including longer term memory and its associated strategies. In the longer term TS strategies, the modified neighborhood produced by tabu search may contain solutions not in the original one, generally consisting of selected elite solutions (high quality local optima) encountered at various points in the solution process. Such elite solutions typically are identified as elements of a regional cluster in intensification strategies, and as elements of different clusters in diversification strategies. In addition, elite solution components, in contrast to the solutions themselves, are included among the elements that can be retained and integrated to provide inputs to the search process.
Kissing, Cuddling, and Massage at Most Recent Sexual Event: Findings From a U.S. Nationally Representative Probability Sample

Using data from the 2014 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, a probability survey of Americans aged 14+, we assessed the prevalence and correlates of kissing, cuddling, and massage during 1,493 individuals' most recent sexual event from the past year. Most respondents reported kissing (87%) and cuddling (70%); fewer (23%) reported massage. Each was significantly associated with age, education, and relationship structure. Respondents younger than 30 were significantly more likely to indicate they did not kiss because kissing would have been too intimate with their partner. Only cuddling was significantly associated with event-level emotional intimacy and sexual pleasure.
Technical and dosimetric implications of respiratory induced density variations in a heterogeneous lung phantom.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is an ablative dose delivery technique which requires the highest levels of precision and accuracy. Modeling dose to a lung treatment volume has remained a complex and challenging endeavor due to target motion and the low density of the surrounding media. When coupled together, these factors give rise to pulmonary induced tissue heterogeneities which can lead to inaccuracies in dose computation. This investigation aims to determine which combination of imaging techniques and computational algorithms best compensates for time dependent lung target displacements. A Quasar phantom was employed to simulate respiratory motion for target ranges up to 3 cm. 4DCT imaging was used to generate Average Intensity Projection (AIP), Free Breathing (FB), and Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) image sets. In addition, we introduce and compare a fourth dataset for dose computation based on a novel phase weighted density (PWD) technique. All plans were created using Eclipse version 13.6 treatment planning system and calculated using the Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm and Acuros XB. Dose delivery was performed using Truebeam STx linear accelerator where radiochromic film measurements were accessed using gamma analysis to compare planned versus delivered dose. In the most extreme case scenario, the mean CT difference between FB and MIP datasets was found to be greater than 200 HU. The near maximum dose discrepancies between AAA and AXB algorithms were determined to be marginal ( 85%) when compared to MIP and PWD (< 85%) for AAA computations. For AXB, however, the delivery accuracy for all datasets were greater than 85% (gamma 3%,1 mm), with a corresponding reduction in overall lung irradiation. Despite the substantial density variations between computational datasets over an extensive range of target movement, the dose difference between CT datasets is small and could not be quantified with ion chamber. Radiochromatic film analysis suggests the optimal CT dataset is dependent on the dose algorithm used for evaluation. With AAA, AIP and FB resulted in the best conformance between measured versus calculated dose for target motion ranging up to 3 cm under both conventional and SBRT tolerance criteria. With AXB, pass rates improved for all datasets with the PWD technique demonstrating slightly better conformity over AIP and FB based computations (gamma 3%, 1 mm). As verified in previous studies, our results confirm a clear advantage in delivery accuracy along with a relative decrease in calculated dose to the lung when using Acuros XB over AAA.
Effects of tool path in remanufacturing cylindrical components by laser metal deposition

Laser metal deposition as an additive manufacturing process has been widely utilized for component repair. In this study, in order to investigate the influence of tool path on characteristics of coatings for cylindrical part repair, multi-layer cobalt-based alloy was coated on cylindrical tool steel substrates using the blown powder laser metal deposition process following the helix (H), circle-line-circle (CLC), and line-arc-line (LAL) routes. A series of analysis was performed on the coatings including shape’s profile, powder-catch efficiency, microstructure, EDS, XRD, and Vickers hardness. The result shows coatings fabricated using the H and CLC routes have consistent thickness while more material was deposited near the middle for the LAL route. Powder-catch efficiency for the CLC and LAL paths was up to 28% while it was only 14% for the H route. The microstructure near the coating’s starting point was columnar dendrites growing parallel to the heat flux direction. Cooling speed reduced after several layers’ coating and equiaxed-like morphology appeared. Much gas porosity was discovered near the interface for LAL-coated samples. EDS and XRD analysis show Fe was diffused into the coatings. Microhardness measurement reveals that the hardness of LAL fabricated samples was slightly higher than the hardness of H and CLC samples. The result shows that the CLC path is more suitable for repairing/coating cylindrical components due to a relatively consistent shape, a high powder-catch efficiency, and defect-free deposits.
Native-Metal-Oxide-Coated Plasmonic Electrode Metasurfaces for Nanophotonic Light Trapping and Efficient Charge Collection

Metasurfaces are emerging nanostructured materials that enable controlled light manipulation on a 2-dimensional plane. The range of potential light control properties of metasurfaces lends them to the application of light management in thin-film optoelectronic devices. The challenge with implementing metasurfaces in thin-film photovoltaic devices is to make them multifunctional - so that they can efficiently act as both electrodes and as the light trapping element. In particular, plasmonic metasurfaces are limited to certain metal materials and, therefore, the surface electronic workfunction of the metasurface may not allow efficient charge collection from a semiconductor coating despite having excellent light trapping properties. This study focuses on the design and formation of ultra-thin, p-type native metal oxide coatings on plasmonic metasurfaces consisting of nanostructured silver, copper and nickel thin films. The light scattering and near-field light localization properties of the metasurface electrodes are characterized in thin-film photovoltaic device formats and their efficiencies for hole collection from organic semiconductor thin films are predicted.
Generative Models For Low-Rank Video Representation And Reconstruction From Compressive Measurements

Generative models have recently received considerable attention in the the field of compressive sensing. If an image belongs to the range of the pretrained generative network, we can recover it from its compressive measurements by estimating the underlying compact latent code. In practice, all the pretrained generators have certain range beyond which they fail to generate reliably. Recent researches show that convolutional generative structures are biased to generate natural images. Based on this hypothesis, we propose joint optimization of latent codes and the weights of the generative network to solve compressive sensing. The main advantage of this method is that we no longer have the need of a pretrained generator as we are optimizing weights of the network. Furthermore, we are getting compact representation of each image from latent code optimization. We empirically demonstrate that our proposed method provides better or comparable accuracy and low complexity compared to the existing methods on different video compressive sensing problems.
Stepwise progressive parametric multiple testing procedure with correlated normal test statistics.

Multiple testing problems are often seen in clinical trials. An appropriate testing procedure should be specified to deal with the potential inflation of type I error rate due to multiplicity. In t...
Improving Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding at Hospital Discharge: A Regional Quality Improvement Project

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at discharge is a core measure of hospital perinatal care quality. Hospital practices that support breastfeeding significantly impact success, exclusivity, and duration. However, there is variation in both hospital practices and provider recommendation of formula supplementation to breastfed infants, impacting EBF rates. Introduction of formula supplementation in the hospital can have a negative impact on breastfeeding outcomes post-discharge. We are an academic, regional practice providing newborn care at multiple sites. Publically available data from Joint Commission’s Quality Check website revealed that EBF rates ranged from 28-75% …
Science, Technology and the Nightly News: A Service Learning-Based Approach in Teaching Science Communication to Journalism Students

Journalists have often been accused of over-simplifying complex scientific stories leading to less audience engagement and information at a time when U.S news media continue to experience declining audiences. U.S. media has also experienced a gradual decline in coverage of science stories for a variety of reasons. Through a partnership with the National Science Foundation, journalism students at a university in the Midwest sought to correct this problem using a service-learning approach that produced science-based video content distributed through NSF channels. Results show improved student comprehension of scientific content may increase the quality of science stories available on television news.
What Do We Know About Remdesivir Drug Interactions

The global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐Co‐V‐2) has resulted in a critical need to rapidly develop new pharmacologic interventions and disseminate information. This has led to confusing and conflicting information on drug efficacy. Remdesivir has emerged as a promising treatment for SARS‐Co‐V‐2 infection yet published clinical pharmacology and drug interaction studies are limited. Additional studies of the disposition of remdesivir, its active metabolite (GS‐441524), and its triphosphate metabolite (GS‐443902) are needed.
Current anti-depressant use is associated with cortical bone deficits and reduced physical function in elderly women

Abstract Background Anti-depressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are associated with an increased risk of fracture. The mechanism is unclear and may be due to effects on bone metabolism, muscle strength, falls or other factors. It is unknown if serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have similar effects. Methods We compared musculoskeletal health in current female anti-depressant users and non-users from a population-based multiethnic (35.6% black, 22.3% white and 42.1% mixed) cohort study of adults ≥65 years old in New York (N = 195) using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), trabecular bone score (TBS), vertebral fracture assessment (VFA), high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), body composition, and grip strength. Results Current anti-depressant users were more likely to be white than non-white (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–2.9) and were shorter than non-users, but there were no differences in age, weight, BMI, physical activity, calcium/vitamin D intake, falls or self-rated health. There were more pelvic fractures in current vs. non-users (7.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.04). Age- and weight-adjusted T-score by DXA was lower in current users at the 1/3-radius (−1.6 ± 1.1 vs. −1.0 ± 1.4, p = 0.04) site only. There was no difference in TBS, vertebral fractures or fat/lean mass by DXA. Age- and weight-adjusted grip strength was 13.3% lower in current users vs. non-users (p = 0.04). By HR-pQCT, age- and weight-adjusted cortical volumetric BMD (Ct. vBMD) was 4.8% lower in users vs. non-users at the 4% radius site (p = 0.007). A similar cortical pattern was seen at the proximal (30%) tibia. When assessed by anti-depressant class, deteriorated cortical microstructure was present only in SSRI users at the radius and only in SNRI users at the proximal tibia. Conclusions Anti-depressant use is associated with cortical deterioration and reduced physical function, but effects may be class-specific. These findings provide insight into the mechanism by which anti-depressants may contribute to the increased fracture risk in older women.
Change detection in non-stationary Hawkes processes through sequential testing

Detecting changes in an incoming data flow is immensely crucial for understanding inherent dependencies, formulating new or adapting existing policies, and anticipating further changes. Distinct modeling constructs have triggered varied ways of detecting such changes, almost every one of which gives in to certain shortcomings. Parametric models based on time series objects, for instance, work well under distributional assumptions or when change detection in specific properties - such as mean, variance, trend, etc. are of interest. Others rely heavily on the “at most one change-point” assumption, and implementing binary segmentation to discover subsequent changes comes at a hefty computational cost. This work offers an alternative that remains both versatile and untethered to such stifling constraints. Detection is done through a sequence of tests with variations to certain trend permuted statistics. We study non-stationary Hawkes patterns which, with an underlying stochastic intensity, imply a natural branching process structure. Our proposals are shown to estimate changes efficiently in both the immigrant and the offspring intensity without sounding too many false positives. Comparisons with established competitors reveal smaller Hausdorff-based estimation errors, desirable inferential properties such as asymptotic consistency and narrower bootstrapped margins. Four real data sets on NASDAQ price movements, crude oil prices, tsunami occurrences, and COVID-19 infections have been analyzed. Forecasting methods are also touched upon.
Insider Ownership and Firm Value: Evidence from Real Estate Investment Trusts

Real estate investment trust (REIT) provides a unique laboratory to study the relation between insider ownership and firm value. One, a REIT has to satisfy special regulations which weaken alternative mechanisms to control agency problems. Empirically, I find a significant and robust nonlinear relation between Tobin's Q and REIT insider ownership that is consistent with the trade-off between the incentive alignment and the entrenchment effect of insider ownership. Two, many REITs are Umbrella Partnership REITs (UPREITs) which have dual ownership structure. They have both common shares and Operating Partnership Units (OP units). Property owners can contribute their properties to the UPREIT in exchange for OP units. Their capital gains taxes remain deferred as long as they hold onto their OP units and the UPREIT does not sell the properties they contributed. OP units owners are locked in with the firm and have incentive to monitor firm management, but their interests diverge from the common shareholders because their tax bases are much lower. Consistent with the trade-off between positive monitoring effect of OP units and tax-induced agency costs, I find that UPREIT's firm value increases with the fraction of OP units, but the effect is significantly weaker for the UPREITs where insiders hold OP units.
The Fragility of Goodness: Appendix to Part III Human and divine

Some philosophers (or whatever you like to call them) suffer from what may be called ‘loss of problems’. Then everything seems quite simple to them, no deep problems seem to exist any more, the world becomes broad and flat and loses all depth, and what they write becomes immeasurably shallow and trivial… …quia plus loquitur inquisitio quam inventio… (Augustinus). Wittgenstein, Zettel , 456–7 Up until this point, we have presented a picture of Aristotle that sets him in strong contrast to the Plato of the middle dialogues. This is an Aristotle whom one can find almost throughout the corpus , speaking in a consistent and recognizable voice. But we have stressed throughout this book the depth and complexity of these ethical problems, the likelihood that any thinker of depth will not only feel their depth but will also feel the force of both the Platonic and the Aristotelian positions. We have also stressed Aristotle's fundamental commitment to investigate the major accounts of a problem presented him by his philosophical tradition, assessing them sympathetically and responding to their depth. It therefore seems appropriate to pause here and assess the evidence that Aristotle himself was drawn to Platonic intellectualism in ethics. We cannot by any means give a full account of all the passages in question or deal with all the arguments that have been advanced on all sides of these questions. This would be a book in itself. But we will be fairer to our question, and to Aristotle, if we schematically set out the main lines of the issue and sketch a position towards it.
The Value Proposition

As mentioned in the introduction, the purpose of any business is to generate money. The logic behind this objective is that without financial viability, the business cannot maintain or grow resources. The business will not be able to develop new products or services, hire, and pay employees or any other activity that society regards. The question is how does a business consistently generate money? The simple answer is through the creation of value for its customers, employees, investors, and the country. Furthermore, due to the interests of these three groups being inextricably linked, sustained value can only occur when value is created for all three groups simultaneously.
Corporate Reputation, Internalization and the Market Valuation of Multinational Firms

The paper examines the role of reputation to explain the relative market value compared to the accounting value for a multinational firm. The results are consistent with internalization theory in that greater multinationality corresponds to a higher valuation of the firm if corporate reputation id high. However, greater multinationality alone does not correlate positively to a significantly greater value which differs from the tenets of imperfect capital markets theory but correlates negatively to a significantly greater value, which confirms the views of the managerial objectives theory.
Influence of Sexually Degrading Music on Men's Perceptions of Women's Dating‐Relevant Cues

Summary This study examined the influence of manipulated and naturalistic exposure to sexually degrading music on young men's perceptions of women's dating-relevant affective cues. Three hundred ninety-seven undergraduate heterosexual men completed an affect-identification task in which they judged whether women communicated sexual interest, friendliness, sadness, or rejection. Either sexually degrading popular music, non-sexually degrading popular music, or no music played on headphones. Participants completed questionnaires assessing music-listening habits and rape-supportive attitudes. Manipulated exposure to degrading music did not affect men's sensitivities to or biases for women's cues. In contrast, men who reported greater naturalistic exposure to rap and hip-hop music and who endorsed more rape-supportive attitudes were more likely to perceive women's positive affect as sexual interest, if the women were provocatively dressed. On balance, these findings are largely inconsistent with theoretical expectations regarding the deleterious effects of sexually degrading music on attitudes and concurrent social perception. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.