cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Link throughput of multi-channel opportunistic access with limited sensing

We aim to characterize the maximum link throughput of a multi-channel opportunistic communication system. The states of these channels evolve as independent and identically distributed Markov processes (the Gilbert-Elliot channel model). A user, with limited sensing and access capability, chooses one channel to sense and access in each slot and collects a reward determined by the state of the chosen channel. Such a problem arises in cognitive radio networks for spectrum overlay, opportunistic transmissions in fading environments, and resource-constrained jamming and anti-jamming. The objective of this paper is to characterize the optimal performance of such systems. The problem can be generally formulated as obtaining the maximum expected long-term reward of a partially observable Markov decision process or a restless multi-armed bandit process, for which analytical characterizations are rare. Exploiting the structure and optimality of the myopic channel selection policy established recently, we obtain a closed- form expression of the maximum link throughput for two-channel systems and lower and upper bounds when there are more than two channels. These results allow us to study the rate at which the optimal performance of an opportunistic system increases with the number of channels and to obtain the limiting performance as the number of channels approaches to infinity.
A cytosolic phospholipase A2-initiated lipid mediator pathway induces autophagy in macrophages.

Autophagy delivers cytoplasmic constituents to autophagosomes and is involved in innate and adaptive immunity. Cytosolic phospholipase (cPLA2)-initiated proinflammatory lipid mediator pathways play a critical role in host defense and inflammation. The crosstalk between the two pathways remains unclear. In this study, we report that cPLA2 and its metabolite lipid mediators induced autophagy in the RAW246.7 macrophage cell line and in primary monocytes. IFN-γ–triggered autophagy involves activation of cPLA2. Cysteinyl leukotrienes D4 and E4 and PGD2 also induced these effects. The autophagy is independent of changes in mTOR or autophagic flux. cPLA2 and lipid mediator-induced autophagy is ATG5 dependent. These data suggest that lipid mediators play a role in the regulation of autophagy, demonstrating a connection between the two seemingly separate innate immune responses, induction of autophagy and lipid mediator generation.
Performance evaluation and optimization of SCTP in wireless ad-hoc networks

In this paper we evaluate the performance of the stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) in a wireless ad-hoc network environment under two routing protocols: DSR and AODV. Furthermore, we propose a cross-layer optimization to the SCTP and DSR protocols that handle pro-actively route failures. The novelty in the proposed mechanism consists in the identification of route failures which is done at the transport layer, allowing thus faster recovery. Our simulation results prove the efficiency of our approach for a variety of mobility scenarios.
Complications in the multiple-ligament-injured knee

Abstract Multiple-ligament knee injuries require careful evaluation to make an accurate diagnosis and to identify associated neurovascular injuries that can threaten limb viability. Other concomitant bony and soft-tissue injuries may include open joint injuries, fracture-dislocations, and compartment syndrome. Surgical reconstruction of multiple-ligament knee injuries requires careful preoperative planning and surgical timing to decrease the potential for iatrogenic neurovascular injuries and wound complications. Postoperative loss of motion and residual instability can result in severe functional deficits. Other complications related to surgical reconstruction may include tourniquet problems, anterior knee pain, medial femoral condyle ostenecrosis, heterotopic ossification, and compartment syndrome. This article reviews the complications that are often associated with multiple-ligament knee injuries.
Long-Lived Asset Impairments in the Shipping Industry and the Impact on Financial Statement Ratios: Comparing U.S. GAAP and IFRS Standards

In this paper, we investigate asset impairment standards particularly as they relate to differences between United States generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for the impairment of long-lived assets in the shipping industry and the corresponding impact on financial statement analysis ratios. Our study provides evidence that return on assets and asset turnover ratios diverge significantly as a result of the difference between US GAAP and IFRS on asset impairments within the shipping industry. Reporting differences between US GAAP and IFRS can impede the comparability of financial reporting. Asset impairment accounting differences can have significant differences for companies reporting under these two accounting standards.
Chemical Modifiers of Photocarcinogenesis

It is widely claimed that much cancer is of environmental origin. The term is used to include such varied factors as diet, natural and modified atmospheric constituents, occupational exposure to chemicals, and sources of ionizing radiation. The emphasis on environmental effects is based, in some cases, on a desire to minimize concern for possible hazards of consumer products, or in other cases to focus attention on hazards of the workplace.
General Principles Involved in the Use of Radioactive Phosphorus (P32) in Cancer Diagnosis and its Employment Outside the Gastrointestinal Tract

The use of radioactive phosphorus (P32) for the diagnosis of malignant neoplasia was initially suggested by basic research on phospholipid turnover in normal and neoplastic tissues. The work of Jones et al. (1940) demonstrated that the phospholipid turnover of tumors bears a greater resemblance to the more active tissue, such as liver, kidney and intestine, as well as the fact that each type of tumor displays a characteristic type of activity, the rate of turnover differing among different groups. These workers also noted P32 was retained in greater concentration and for longer periods in tumors than in other tissues of the host, in this particular instance the laboratory mouse. The tumor uptake was high and rapid in the early intervals after administration of P32, and there was a pronounced capacity for retention of the isotope for long periods. It was felt that this characteristic served to distinguish tumor from normal tissue. Marshak (1940) similarly found that while the fraction of P32 bound by mice liver nuclei remained constant, the relative concentration in tumor nuclei of the same animal rose to more than twice that of the tumor tissue. At 48 hours, the specific activity of tumor nuclei was found to be more than four times that of liver nuclei. Erf and Lawrence (1941) after studying mice carrying various neoplasms and concluding that wherever there was leukemic or neoplastic infiltration, there was a higher uptake of P32 than in uninvolved tissue, injected radioactive phosphorus into humans dying of various malignant tumors and measured tissue content after death.
Semi-automatic semantic annotation of images using machine learning techniques

The success of the Semantic Web hinges on being able to produce semantic markups on Web pages and their components, in a way that is cost-effective and consistent with adopted schemas and ontologies. Since images are an essential component of the Web, this work focuses on an intelligent approach to semantic annotation of images. We propose a three-layer architecture, in which the bottom layer organizes visual information extracted from the raw image contents, which are mapped to semantically meaningful keywords in the middle layer, which are then connected to schemas and ontologies on the top layer. Our key contribution is the use of machine learning algorithms for user-assisted, semi-automatic image annotation, in such a way that the knowledge of previously annotated images - both at metadata and visual levels - is used to speed up the annotation of subsequent images within the same domain (ontology) as well as to improve future query and retrieval of annotated images.
Angiographically Silent Macular Edema.

Aman in his late 70s presented with a 1-month history of blurry vision in his left eye. He reported fatigue,muscle stiffness, joint pain, anda 10-lbunintentionalweight loss.Onocular examination, his best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 OD and 20/60 OS. Anterior segment examination findings were unremarkable. Fundusexamination revealedbilateralmicroaneurysmsanddothemorrhages throughout the posterior pole, along with bilateral macular edema and serous neurosensory detachment in the left eye (Figure 1A). Optical coherence tomography of the right eye revealed severe cystoid macular edema, and fluorescein angiography showednormal fillingwithmultiplemicroaneurysms.Anoptical coherence tomographic imageof the left eye showed a large neurosensory detachment withoverlyingandsurroundingcystoidmacular edema. Fluorescein angiography of the left eye demonstrated hypofluorescence without pooling or leakage of fluorescein dye over the area of neurosensory detachment, which was persistent in later frames (Figure 1B). Quiz at jamaophthalmology.com Neurosensory detachment A Hypofluorescence and macular edema B
Genetic disruption of atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A alters renin and angiotensin II levels.

We have studied cardiovascular and renal phenotypes in Npr1 (genetic determinant of natriuretic peptide receptor-A; NPRA) gene-disrupted mutant mouse model. The baseline systolic arterial pressure ...
The surgery fellow's education workshop: A pilot study to determine the feasibility of training senior learners to teach in the operating room

Background In 2013, we developed an education workshop to enhance the teaching skills of surgical fellows. We sought to investigate the feasibility of the monthly educational workshop format and its effect on participant teaching skills. Study Design Surgical and medical education faculty created a broadly applicable curriculum developed from evidence-based teaching principles, delivered across 8 monthly 90-minute weekday sessions. Workshop feasibility and effect were assessed using evaluations, attendance records, and a variety of self-reported surveys. Each session was associated with a specified education action plan to be completed between sessions. Results A total of 13 fellows intended to participate. More than 60% attendance was achieved in 7 of 8 sessions. In all, 11 of 13 fellows were engaged (actual attendance or excused absence) across 75% or more of the sessions. Mean participant satisfaction scores ranged from 4.0 to 4.9 on a 5 point Likert scale across 87.5% of sessions. Postworkshop surveys showed increased understanding of the following: (1) knowledge gaps related to education; (2) the role of education for academic surgeons; (3) educational tools to improve teaching performance; and (4) perceived knowledge and attitudes about teaching in the operating room. An action plan was performed in 43% of cases; the most common reason for nonparticipation was lack of time (38%). Conclusions Our pilot supports the feasibility of an educational workshop series to enhance fellow’s educational skills in the area of intraoperative teaching. Participant engagement and satisfaction were high in this self-selected group of initial trainees. Sessions were effective, resulting in a thoughtful self-assessment of teaching skills.
Lightweight Engineering of Military Vehicles Through Requirements Analysis and Function Integration

The trend toward lighter-weight vehicles in the private sector has been pushed by demands to improve fuel economy, improve dynamic performance, and reduce material and transportation costs. The same demands exist and are even more acute for military vehicles. The reduction of weight across a military vehicle platform can affect hundreds of thousands of vehicles with dramatic ramifications for military budgets, logistic support, deployment time and cost, and other factors critical to national defense. In this paper we report on methods developed for requirements analysis and function integration based on a modeling framework (developed in previous work) which captures requirements, functions, working principles, components, component parameters, test measures, and tests. We also show that the problem of assigning the mass of individual components to requirements is not solvable in practice. The methods are demonstrated using a case study of the United States Department of Defense Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).© 2009 ASME
Formation of NiAl2O4 Spinel by Solid Reaction

The investigation of phase equilibrium of NiO-A2O3 system at 1650°C shows that Al2O3 dissolves by 20 mole % into spinel crystal but NiO does not dissolve. The lattice constant of the spinel is decreased continuously by the dissolution of Al2O3. The particle size of NiO, the method of preparation of NiO and additive impurities affect the rate of spinel formation but compacting pressure of NiO-Al2O3 mixture does not affect. The activation energy of spinel. formation by Jander' sequation is about 33Kcal/mole in air, and this value is approximately the same as that of electrical conductivity of spinel in air. The activation energies of the electrical conductivity of spinel in oxygen, air and vacuum are 28.9, 30.8 and 36.2 Kcal/mole respectively. The decrease in the rate of spinel formation with a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere is related to the decrease in the activation energy of the electrical conductiviiy of the spinel.
Enzyme for Decomposition of Creatinine and its Action on the “Apparent Creatinine” of Blood

The nature of the substance in filtrates of whole blood and plasma which gives the color with alkaline picrate (Jaffe's reaction) has been for many years a subject of controversy. One group of investigators believe that this material is true creatinine—others deny that creatinine exists in normal blood. Because of the non-specific methods employed for the identification of creatinine, and the very minute quantities of the chromogenic material available in normal blood, it has been difficult for either group to present convincing evidence.To obtain a definitive answer regarding the nature of the Jaffe-reactive material in blood, and also to develop a specific method for the analysis of creatinine in biological fluids, an attempt was made to obtain a specific enzyme for creatinine. By means of a technique similar to that described by Dubos and Avery1 and Dubos2 it has been possible to isolate 4 different species of soil bacteria with a high degree of adaptability toward a substrate of creatinine. One strain...
Notes on Clavarioid Fungi. IV. Nomenclature and Synonymy of Clavulinopsis Pulchra and Clavaria Laeticolor

The genus Clavulinopsis vanOvereem, as understood by Corner (1950) and me, includes several species which are world-wide in dis? tribution and which are represented by many herbarium specimens. One of these is C. pulchra (Pk.) Corner (Clavaria pulchra Peck). In the original description of C. pulchra, Peck (1876) stated that the species was associated with Clavaria fusiformis Sow. ex Fr., but differed from it in shape and habit of the fruiting bodies. Because of their use of Clavaria in the broadest possible sense, Coker (1923) and Burt (1922) retained the original genus name. In spite of Donk's (1933) reference to vanOvereem's name, Clavtdinopsis, he (Donk) still accepted the original genus designation. The type of Clavaria pulchra at NYS consists of fruiting bodies collected in two different locations, Northville and Chittenango Falls, New York, and represents two different species. The material from Northville may be briefly described as follows :
Discussion on the prevention of antibiotics enterprise environmental impact statement

During the production process of the antibiotics, mostly they have low utilization rate of raw materials, low-purity refining, and little pollution influence by high concentration of organic waste water, solid, gas and noise which are the major pollutants. The waste water's ingredient of antibiotics is very complicated, so to deal with it is more difficult. So far, we also take several measures to deal with it except a single approach, and make a separate way to solve the waste which is difficult to biochemical. We make the main way of recycling and burning to solid waste. The treatments of waste gas are mostly by absorbing, absorption, catalysis and buring in chief, there takes special attention to the treatment of waste gas during solving waste water's.
Toleration of Intravenous Azithromycin

ObjectiveTo study the toleration of various infusate concentrations of single intravenous doses of azithromycin.DesignRandomized, double-blind, two-treatment, two-period, crossover.SettingClinical ...
Radiation Protection and Safety

This chapter tests the knowledge of radiation safety principles. Safety principles such as ALARA, dose exposure limits, and shielding design are addressed.
Interest Group Politics

The impact of financial globalization has been dramatic, connecting wider swathes of countries and individuals, generating employment, and raising incomes around the world. Nevertheless, the process of financial globalization is almost never uniform in its impact on the various stakeholders in an economy. This chapter discusses the theoretical models that underpin predictions about financial globalization, introduces the critical interest groups in society, and explores the key findings of the extant literature, paying special attention to how the impact of globalization is often not direct, but depends on political institutions and endowments, even in nondemocratic societies. Finally, the piece highlights the unique role played by multinational corporations (MNCs) as additional actors in the policy process and consequently ‘agents of change.’
Neurovascular Repair After Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes result from vessel rupture, increasing bleeding in the surrounding areas, and damaging adjacent tissues. The components of the blood and heme breakdown products induce toxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which all lead to neuronal death and degeneration. There is also a reduction in cerebral blood flow resulting from vasoconstriction, as well as alterations to the endothelial cells, glial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and cerebral vessels surrounding the neurons. The vascular neural network is a model that can be used to evaluate the interactions of neurons with these cells and tissues in order to better understand stroke pathophysiology and treatment. Disruption of this network after stroke results in breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (which manifests as brain edema), and insufficient blood supply to meet the demands of neural activity. Thus, neurovascular repair is essential to recovery, as can be seen by the increase in neurogenesis and angiogenesis that occurs after an insult to the brain, as well as the recruitment of glial cells to clear the hemorrhage and create an environment for healing. Astrocytes, pericytes, matrix proteases, and vascular smooth muscle cells also play significant roles in restoration of function. Thus, it is clear that targeting various components of neurovascular interactions may be most effective at accelerating repair. This chapter explores the interactions of the cells in the vascular neural network, how they are altered in the context of stroke, the natural mechanisms of neurovascular repair, and various therapies being investigated to enhance the process.
Communication in the Spaceflight Multi-Team System: Training and Technology Recommendations to Support Boundary Spanners

Long-duration exploration missions (LDEMs) in space rely on the coordinated efforts of a large, dynamic, and global multi-team system (MTS) that crosses organizational, geographic, cultural, and te...
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposite Coatings

The synthesis of nanocomposite coatings is described in this paper. The nanocomposite feedstock powders are synthesized using mechanical milling, and the characteristics of the milled powders, i.e., morphology, agglomeration behavior, powder size, grain size and structural evolution during milling, are analyzed using X-ray diffraction, SEM and TEM. Using high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying, the nanocomposite coatings are sprayed, and the microstructures and properties of the resulting coatings are characterized.
Nano-membrane based Plasmonic Devices for Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Gas Sensing

Surface-enhanced infrared absorption for gas sensing is still not successful due to the intrinsically weak light-matter interaction. Herein, we demonstrate a plasmonic device integrated with metal-organic framework on Si 3 N 4 membrane substrate for CO 2 sensing.
Interlayer Structural Models of Beulah Zap Lignite Based on Its Wide Angle X-ray Scattering

Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXRS) in the 0.5-2.5 A -1 region of the intensity curve of Beulah Zap (BZ) lignite indicates that the average distance between adjacent layers is ca. 3.5 A. The resulting interlayer structural curve, calculated by Fourier transform from the WAXRS intensity, indicates that only two layers occur in the average short-range structural domain of BZ with the distances between atoms in the adjacent layers occurring between 3.4 and 5.7 A. Both the WAXRS intensity curve (in reciprocal space) and the interlayer structure curve (in molecular space) are consistent with an average short-range structural domain in which the flexible spacers (attachments) between the polycyclic units are important contributors and where the PC units in the adjacent chains are not eclipsed.
The abundant DNA adduct N7-methyl deoxyguanosine contributes to miscoding during replication by human DNA polymerase η

Aside from abasic sites and ribonucleotides, the DNA adduct N7-methyl deoxyguanosine (N7-CH3 dG) is one of the most abundant lesions in mammalian DNA. Because N7-CH3 dG is unstable, leading to deglycosylation and ring-opening, its miscoding potential is not well-understood. Here, we employed a 2′-fluoro isostere approach to synthesize an oligonucleotide containing an analog of this lesion (N7-CH3 2′-F dG) and examined its miscoding potential with four Y-family translesion synthesis DNA polymerases (pols): human pol (hpol) η, hpol κ, and hpol ι and Dpo4 from the archaeal thermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus. We found that hpol η and Dpo4 can bypass the N7-CH3 2′-F dG adduct, albeit with some stalling, but hpol κ is strongly blocked at this lesion site, whereas hpol ι showed no distinction with the lesion and the control templates. hpol η yielded the highest level of misincorporation opposite the adduct by inserting dATP or dTTP. Moreover, hpol η did not extend well past an N7-CH3 2′-F dG:dT mispair. MS-based sequence analysis confirmed that hpol η catalyzes mainly error-free incorporation of dC, with misincorporation of dA and dG in 5–10% of products. We conclude that N7-CH3 2′-F dG and, by inference, N7-CH3 dG have miscoding and mutagenic potential. The level of misincorporation arising from this abundant adduct can be considered as potentially mutagenic as a highly miscoding but rare lesion.
Eisenhower Reconsidered: Policymaking Lessons for Today

Abstract President Dwight D. Eisenhower oversaw an unprecedented period of U.S. peace and prosperity. These accomplishments were not all preordained or simply the result of favorable domestic and international conditions. When he became president in 1953, Ike inherited a contentious global and domestic environment. The challenges led many Americans to wonder if the sacrifices made during World War II had only garnered a fleeting peace. Eisenhower's achievements are notable because of this setting and should lead us to explore the methods that he used to navigate the ship of state. In particular, Ike's comprehensive and disciplined approach to policymaking stands out. It allowed Eisenhower to escape the worst aspects of America's partisan politics and guide the nation toward its most vital and enduring interests.
Hospital facility safety standards

Abstract Hospital facility safety standards are numerous. They include rules and regulations promulgated by elected public bodies such as the Congress and state legislatures. They also include those regulations developed by private agencies, and made national standards because of their adoption by public agencies. This chapter addresses the major standard-making organizations involved in hospital facility safety, also noted as Life Safety Standards.
Why the South Prevailed: Civil Rights, Anticommunism, and the Origins of the “Liberal Media”

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Donald Trump’s public loathing toward the press is not an outlier in conservative political development; rather, he is part of a understudied tradition of conservat...
Acute Stroke Imaging

Treatment of acute ischemic stroke has been revolutionized in the recent years with a series of successful clinical trials. Advanced neuroimaging plays a central role in selecting patients for endovascular intervention or thrombolytic therapy. For patients within the early-treatment window (0–6 hours), NCCT and CTA can usually provide enough information. For late-window (6–24 hours) patients, either CT perfusion or MRI DWI with or without MR perfusion is recommended to estimate the volume of infarction and/or penumbra and select candidates for thrombectomy. This chapter will discuss the application of CT- and MRI-based techniques in acute stroke imaging, with emphasis on the pearls and pitfalls of CT perfusion.
Neuropsychology with older adults

Abstract The process of growing older is accompanied by a variety of cognitive changes, both in normal healthy aging and in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. This chapter will first provide a review of the cognitive changes commonly experienced by older adults. Second, this chapter will discuss the role of neuropsychology in the assessment of cognitive changes that are reflective of neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. Finally, this chapter will review research on the association between mental health symptoms and cognitive functioning in older adults, with an emphasis on late-life depression and anxiety.
Two-step pickup-stripping process in the /sup 24/Mg( p,p')/sup 24/Mg reaction at 40 MeV to some negative parity states in /sup 24/Mg

Remarkably similar bell-shaped angular distributions are observed in the /sup 24/Mg( p,p') reaction at 40 MeV to some negative parity states in /sup 24/Mg. Two-step ( p,d,p') coupled channel calculations give a good account of these angular distributions.
The Roles of Energetic Displacement Cascades in Ion Beam Modifications of Materials

The roles of energetic displacement cascades are ubiquitous in the fields of radiation damage and ion beam modifications of materials. These roles can be described on two time scales. For the first, which lasts ≈ 10-11 s, small cascade volumes are characterized by large supersaturations of point defects, structural disorder, and energy densities in excess of some tenths of eV's per atom. During this period, the system can be driven far from equilibrium with significant rearrangement of target atoms and the production of Frenkel pairs. Experimental studies of ion beam mixing in conjunction with molecular dynamics computer simulations, have contributed largely toward understanding these dynamic cascade processes. At later times, the microstructure of the material evolves as cascades begin to overlap, or at elevated temperatures, point defects migrate away from their nascent cascades. It will be shown how the primary state of damage in cascades influences this microstructural development. Examples involving radiation-enhanced diffusion and ion-induced amorphization will be discussed.
THE GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO QUALITY EDUCATION - AN OVERVIEW OF FREE QUALITY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN SIERRA LEONE

The Free Quality School Education (FQSE) is a critical priority policy of the Government of Sierra Leone for national transformation through education. The Government of Sierra Leone is aware of the influence and power of education in national development and, therefore, has prioritized education as its flagship program. This paper is to establish a positive effort made by the Government of Sierra Leone in its commitment to implement and bring to reality the Free Quality School Education countrywide. The paper introduced in brief the historical flashback of education in Sierra Leone, followed by the changes in the education system. The researcher viewed some problems of education in Sierra Leone over the years. In an overview, the paper went on to demonstrate the Government's effort in promoting education since independence in 1961. As a point of clarification, the paper reviewed the knowledge of Quality Education. In a clearer picture, the paper views the result and analysis of Government commitment in the Free Quality School Education. The methods used for the research were interviews, observation, discussion, and information from the internet and books (secondary data). The paper highlighted the conclusion with recommendations. Article visualizations:
Clinical Applications of Measurement Invariance.

Measurement invariance (Measurement invariance; Millsap, 2011; Widaman et al., 2010) is a technical measurement modeling approach that test whether an assessment instrument provides the same kind o...
Severe stenosis of bioprosthetic valve due to late valve thrombosis

The typical cause of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction over years is calcification of leaflets, pannus formation, or tears due to structural degeneration. Thrombosis is rare as the valves get endothelialized early on, and, hence, anticoagulation is not recommended beyond 6 months after valve replacement. While bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is unusual (0.03% to 0.34%/year), it can be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Here, we present a case of a middle-aged man with history of bioprosthetic mitral valve who presented with syncopal episode and was referred to us for mitral valve replacement for tentative bioprosthetic valve degeneration and stenosis. However, preoperative work up revealed prosthetic valve thrombosis which was successfully treated with anticoagulation.
Matched pair analysis to evaluate weight loss during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer as a prognostic factor for survival.

Background One frequent consequence of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) is weight loss (WL). HNC patients reportedly lose about 9% of their weight during treatment, regardless of pre-treatment WL and nutritional support. We investigated whether high WL during RT has an association with overall (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Methods We retrospectively reviewed weight during RT in HNC patients treated at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center between 2003 and 2017. High WL was defined as greater than or equal to the median WL. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for WL during RT. Multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to estimate survival outcomes. Propensity score matching was performed to obtain balanced matched-pairs and compare survival outcomes. Results A total of 843 patients received either definitive (71%) or post-operative (29%) RT. Median follow-up was 53.6 months [interquartile range (IQR) 35.7-88.9]. Median WL was 5.8% (IQR 0.24-10.6) from baseline weight. Patients with high WL had better OS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61-0.93, P=0.01] and CSS (HR 0.71, 95% CI, 0.55-0.93, P=0.01). 258 matched-pairs were analyzed. Median follow-up was 54.8 months (IQR 35.8-90.4). Median OS was 39.2 months (IQR 21.4-75.7) for high WL versus 36.7 months (IQR 14.6-61.7) for low WL cohorts (P=0.047). Conclusions Different from previous reports, this study shows that patients with less WL have worse OS. WL during RT may not be a reliable marker for worse prognosis. A better way to evaluate malnutrition in patients undergoing RT is warranted.
Midterm Results of Primary Exeter Cemented Stem in a Select Patient Population.

Background Most North American surgeons predominantly use uncemented stems in primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and reserve cemented stems for selected older patients and those with poor bone quality. However, data on this "selective use" strategy for cemented stems in the population at risk for periprosthetic fracture and implant loosening are limited. The purpose of this study was to describe implant survivorship, complications, and radiographic results of a specific collarless, polished, tapered cemented stem (Exeter; Stryker) used selectively in a predominantly elderly population undergoing primary THA. Methods We identified 386 patients who underwent a total of 423 primary THAs with selectively utilized Exeter stems for the treatment of osteoarthritis between 2006 and 2017. In the same time period, 11,010 primary THAs were performed with uncemented stems and 961 with non-Exeter cemented stems. The mean patient age was 77 years, 71% were female, and the mean body mass index was 29 kg/m2. Competing risk analysis accounting for death was utilized to determine cumulative incidences of revision and reoperation. The mean follow-up was 5 years (range, 2 to 12 years). Results The 10-year cumulative incidence of any femoral component revision in this patient cohort was 4%, with 10 stems revised at the time of the latest follow-up. There were no intraoperative femoral fractures. The indications for revision were postoperative periprosthetic femoral fracture (n = 6), dislocation (n = 3), and infection (n = 1). There were no revisions for femoral loosening. The 10-year cumulative incidence of reoperation was 10%. The 10-year cumulative incidence of Vancouver B periprosthetic femoral fracture was 2%. Radiographically, there were no cases of aseptic loosening or osteolysis. There was a significant improvement in median Harris hip score, from 53 preoperatively to 92 at a mean follow-up of 5 years (p Conclusions The strategy of selectively utilizing a collarless, polished, tapered cemented stem produced a low (4%) cumulative incidence of stem revision at 10 years postoperatively and resulted in no cases of aseptic loosening. The use of the Exeter stem did not eliminate postoperative femoral fractures in this predominantly elderly, female patient population. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Women’s career confidence in a fixed, sexist STEM environment

Innovation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields in the U.S. is threatened by a lack of diversity. Social identity threat research finds messages in the academic environment devalue women and underrepresented groups in STEM, creating a chilly and hostile environment. Research has focused on the mechanisms that contribute to STEM engagement and interest at the K-12 and undergraduate level, but the mechanisms that predict sustained engagement at the graduate level have not been studied. In a longitudinal study of doctoral students in STEM disciplines, we demonstrate that students’ beliefs that their STEM colleagues believe intelligence is a fixed (vs. malleable) trait undermine women’s engagement in STEM. Specifically, perceiving a fixed ability environment predicts greater perceptions of sexism, which erode women’s self-efficacy and sense of belongingness and lead women to consider dropping out of their STEM career. These findings identify one potential pathway by which women leave their STEM fields, perpetuating gender disparities in STEM.
A pathway toward high-throughput quantum Monte Carlo simulations for alloys: A case study of two-dimensional (2D) GaSxSe1-x.

The study of alloys using computational methods has been a difficult task due to the usually unknown stoichiometry and local atomic ordering of the different structures experimentally. In order to combat this, first-principles methods have been coupled with statistical methods such as the cluster expansion formalism in order to construct the energy hull diagram, which helps to determine if an alloyed structure can exist in nature. Traditionally, density functional theory (DFT) has been used in such workflows. In this paper, we propose to use chemically accurate many-body variational Monte Carlo (VMC) and diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) methods to construct the energy hull diagram of an alloy system due to the fact that such methods have a weaker dependence on the starting wavefunction and density functional, scale similarly to DFT with the number of electrons, and have had demonstrated success for a variety of materials. To carry out these simulations in a high-throughput manner, we propose a method called Jastrow sharing, which involves recycling the optimized Jastrow parameters between alloys with different stoichiometries. We show that this eliminates the need for extra VMC Jastrow optimization calculations and results in significant computational cost savings (on average 1/4 savings of total computational time). Since it is a novel post-transition metal chalcogenide alloy series that has been synthesized in its few-layer form, we used monolayer GaSxSe1−x as a case study for our workflow. By extensively testing our Jastrow sharing procedure for monolayer GaSxSe1−x and quantifying the cost savings, we demonstrate how a pathway toward chemically accurate high-throughput simulations of alloys can be achieved using many-body VMC and DMC methods.
Surgical Revascularization in Patients with ”Ischemia-related” Ventricular Fibrillation: Is It Sufficient to Prevent Sudden Death?

Acute ischemia is a major contributing factor in sudden cardiac death attributable to ventricular fibrillation [1, 2]. Surgical revascularization is a generally accepted treatment for acute ischemia. However, the role of revascularization in secondary prevention for the survivors of cardiac death is controversial [3, 4]. In the presence of acute ischemia as the only causative factor in the arrhythmia, revascularization has proved very effective in the case of critical narrowing of at least one coronary artery [5]. If narrowing is due to coronary spasm, however, calcium blockers and ICD implantation are the preferred therapies. Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are the typical arrhythmias caused by acute ischemia.
CEBPG transcription factor correlation with antioxidant and DNA repair genes in normal bronchial epithelial cells of individuals with and without bronchogenic carcinoma

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 140 Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of bronchogenic carcinoma (BC), yet only 10-15% of heavy smokers develop BC, indicating a genetically determined variation in risk. In previous studies, transcript abundance values for several antioxidant and DNA repair genes were correlated in normal bronchial epithelial cells (NBEC) from non-BC individuals but correlation was reduced in NBEC from BC individuals. From these data, the hypothesis was made that in NBEC, antioxidant and DNA repair genes are co-regulated by one or more transcription factors and that individuals with sub-optimal regulation are at increased risk for BC. More than 10 transcription factors have recognition sites in the regulatory regions of each of the correlated antioxidant or DNA repair genes. Of these, only CEBPG was significantly (p < 0.0001) correlated with four of the genes (XRCC1, ERCC5, GSTP1, and SOD1) in non-BC individuals and significantly less correlated (p < 0.01) with these four genes in BC individuals. We concluded from this study that CEBPG is the transcription factor primarily responsible for regulating the transcription of key antioxidant and DNA repair genes in non-BC individuals, and further, that the heavy smokers selected for development of BC are those who have sub-optimal regulation of antioxidant and DNA repair genes by CEBPG. In order to establish a model with which to experimentally confirm the regulatory role of CEBPG, we measured the transcript abundance of CEBPG, XRCC1, ERCC5, GSTP1 and SOD1 in the H209, H460, H1437, BEP2D, H1355 and H23 lung cell lines. The greatest correlation observed in these cell lines was between CEBPG and the DNA repair gene ERCC5, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a p value of <0.0001. In order to provide experimental confirmation of ERCC5 upregulation by CEBPG, CEBPG expression vector will be transfected into the cell line expressing the lowest level of CEBPG and ERCC5, followed by measurement of CEBPG protein and ERCC5 transcript abundance. Characterization of key antioxidant and DNA repair enzyme gene regulation in NBEC should lead to improved drug targets for chemoprevention and better biomarkers for risk, leading to improved early detection.
Collaborative foraging using beacons

A classic example of multiagent coordination in a shared environment involves the use of pheromone deposits as a communication mechanism. Due to physical limitations in deploying actual pheromones, we propose a sparse representation of the pheromones using movable beacons. There is no communication between the beacons to propagate pheromones; instead, robots make movement and update decisions based entirely on local pheromone values. Robots deploy the beacons throughout the environment, and subsequently move them and update them using a variation of value iteration. Simulation results show that our approach is effective at finding good trails, locally improving them, and adapting to dynamic changes in the environments.
Human Rights, Humanitarianism, and the Politics of Human Dignity

This paper begins with two recent, contrasting historical accounts of when human rights were invented. In Inventing Human Rights (2007), Lynn Hunt tells the story of how the psychological foundations for human rights were laid with the rise of the humanitarian sentiment prior to the revolutionary period of the late eighteenth century. In The Last Utopia (2010), on the other hand, Samuel Moyn goes against the grain of most recent scholarship by focusing on a crisis of political utopianism in the 1970s as the locus for the roots of the contemporary resonance of human rights. Both historians draw our attention, though in different ways, to the relationship between human rights and humanitarianism. In addressing this relation, I argue for the need to distinguish the logic of humanitarianism (viewing others as objects of suffering) from that of human rights (viewing others as subjects of rights). Drawing on recent work by discourse theorists such as Jurgen Habermas and Rainer Forst, I distinguish between passive and active components of human dignity, relating the former to the politics of humanitarianism and the latter to the politics of human rights. I further distinguish between two perspectives on the politics of human rights: internal and external. Relying on these two sets of distinctions, I defend the following claims. A theory of human rights needs to be able to account for both perspectives, internal and external. When it comes to the relation between humanitarianism and human rights, invoking humanitarian motifs within the politics of human rights runs the risk of wrongly viewing violations of human dignity in overly passive terms. Yet as a historical matter, humanitarian motifs may have been essential in getting the contemporary politics of human rights off the ground. Rather than proposing that we try to purify human rights practice of humanitarian motifs, I maintain that we must keep in mind the potential underside of the latter. The ultimate aim of human rights in practice must be to go beyond viewing others as merely objects of concern to viewing them as subjects of rights.
KrylovSubspace Based Eigenvalue Analysis

This chapter contains sections titled: Subspace Iteration Methods Based on Krylov Subspace Projection Deflation Techniques Non-standard Eigenvalue Problems Shift-and-Invert Preconditioner ]]>
An application of sensitivity analysis to the voltage control of radial networks

Presents a model for voltage control in subtransmission/distribution networks based on the sensitivities of node voltages with respect to the available control actions, such as load curtailment or load transfer. A novel model for radial network voltage control based on the power summation method is described. Network analysis and sensitivity evaluation are performed by algorithms that explore particular network characteristics to avoid costly matrix manipulations. A case study with a realistic Brazilian system is presented and discussed. >
Financial Strain and Medication Adherence Among Diabetes Patients in an Integrated Health Care Delivery System: The Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE)

Objective To examine self-reported financial strain in relation to pharmacy utilization adherence data. Data sources/study setting Survey, administrative, and electronic medical data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Study design Retrospective cohort design (2006, n = 7,773). Data collection/extraction methods We compared survey self-reports of general and medication-specific financial strain to three adherence outcomes from pharmacy records, specifying adjusted generalized linear regression models. Principal findings Eight percent and 9 percent reported general and medication-specific financial strain. In adjusted models, general strain was significantly associated with primary nonadherence (RR = 1.37; 95 percent CI: 1.04-1.81) and refilling late (RR = 1.34; 95 percent CI: 1.07-1.66); and medication-specific strain was associated with primary nonadherence (RR = 1.42, 95 percent CI: 1.09-1.84). Conclusions Simple, minimally intrusive questions could be used to identify patients at risk of poor adherence due to financial barriers.
Production Simulation for Power System Studies

Predicting expected generation for different power plants as well as the system's total expected production cost is an integral part of quantitative power system analyses. Numerous publications presenting "exact" as well as "approximate" methods of solving stochastic production simulation problem exist in the literature. However, there is no one publication where a comprehensive review of this extremely important topic is presented. Such a review is the subject of this paper.
Adverse effects and pyrogenic reactions during hemodialysis.

By December 1986, more than 90 000 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) underwent chronic dialysis in the United States. Two recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studies of adverse effects in this population reported in this issue ofJAMA1,2are seemingly addressed to nephrologists but may have interest for a wider audience. National funding to support ESRD patient care began with legislation and regulation in 1973 and 1974. Reports on this publicly funded program were to be made available to Congress, and quality of care was to be monitored by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The framework to realize these objectives developed through cooperation of treatment providers, statutory ESRD Networks (whose function includes monitoring quality of patient care), the Health Care Financing Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. It is now possible to monitor quality continuously for a large program. Much information exists on patients
Nematology: terra incognita no more.

The genome sequence of the plant-parasitic roundworm Meloidogyne incognita opens new avenues to boosting food production.
Hair in the back of a throat: non-supersymmetric multi-center solutions from Kähler manifolds

We find a class of non-supersymmetric multi-center solutions of the STU model of five-dimensional ungauged supergravity. The solutions are determined by a system of linear equations defined on a four-dimensional Kahler manifold with vanishing Ricci scalar and a U(1) isometry. The most general class of such Kahler manifolds was studied by LeBrun and they have non-trivial 2-cycles that can support the topological fluxes characteristic of bubbled geometries. After imposing an additional U(1) symmetry on the base we find explicit multi-center supergravity solutions. We show that there is an infinite number of regular multi-center solutions with non-trivial topology that are asymptotic to the near-horizon limit of a BMPV black hole.