cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechatronics capstone design projects at the University of Washington

Being the synergistic combination of mechanical, electrical, and computer technologies in the design of complex products and processes, mechatronics is inherently multidisciplinary. The teaching of mechatronics is not well suited to the structure of the standard engineering curriculum, which has a highly disciplinary alignment. At the university level, successful mechatronics programs have emerged that can serve as models representing the various ways that mechatronics can be taught. One such program at the undergraduate level is the multi-course guided curriculum in mechatronics that is available to students in their senior year in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Washington. The culmination of this mechatronics thread is an intense, ten-week capstone design course in which students are organized into teams of three or four students each, with each team addressing a different significant, open-ended mechatronics project. Following a brief review of our mechatronics program as a whole, the curriculum into which it fits, and the individual constituent courses, described in this paper are our capstone design course and three typical projects from that course.
Lessons on Renal Physiology from Transgenic Mice Lacking Aquaporin Water Channels

Abstract . Several aquaporin-type water channels are expressed in kidney: AQP1 in the proximal tubule, thin descending limb of Henle, and vasa recta; AQP2, AQP3, and AQP4 in the collecting duct; AQP6 in the papilla; and AQP7 in the proximal tubule. AQP2 is the vasopressin-regulated water channel that is important in hereditary and acquired diseases affecting urine-concentrating ability. It has been difficult to establish the roles of the other aquaporins in renal physiology because suitable aquaporin inhibitors are not available. One approach to the problem has been to generate and analyze transgenic knockout mice in which individual aquaporins have been selectively deleted by targeted gene disruption. Phenotype analysis of kidney and extrarenal function in knockout mice has been very informative in defining the role of aquaporins in organ physiology and addressing basic questions regarding the route of transepithelial water transport and the mechanism of near isoosmolar fluid reabsorption. This article describes new renal physiologic insights revealed by phenotype analysis of aquaporin-knockout mice and the prospects for further basic and clinical developments.
Where Should We Stand to Get the Best Perspective on Collective Violence

Using critical and interactionist perspectives, sociology can improve students' understanding of collective violence. Th is article presents a conceptual tool for teaching about this topic. Th e tool is a taxonomy of ideas about security, threat, conflict, peace and justice. Th e bottom level of the taxonomy consists of founda- tional paradigms (values and assumptions). Th e second, more detailed, level con- sists of ideologies - left, center, and right. Th e top, most detailed, level contains two discourses, the dominant "war on terrorism" discourse, and the less influential "capitalist crisis" discourse. Th e war on terrorism discourse is shared by the political right and center. It identifies terrorists or criminals as the main sources of violence. Th e capitalist crisis discourse represents the left in foreign policy debate, and views collective violence as responses, however, indirect, to structural violence, i.e., exploita- tion and repression. To suggest ways this taxonomy can be used, this article offers a cursory discussion of media discourse and public opinion, illustrating the role of some of these ideas in US political culture. In addition to helping students under- stand both discourses, sociologists should share the "capitalist crisis" view with the public because it is the best for understanding collective violence and its resolution.
Magneto-optical effect of DPS-DNG layered structure

The influence of an applied static magnetic field on a periodic structure composed of alternating layers of double positive index of refraction (DPS) uniaxial and double negative index of refraction (DNG) has been studied. We present theoretical and numerical results of our investigation of the reflection spectra of the visible waves on this structure. This structure works as a bandpass filter, and our evaluation indicates this structure functions as a tunable optical bandpass filter. The bandgap effect varies with the periodic parameters of the DPS-DNG structure, applied magnetic field, incidence angle, and frequency.
An enhanced macromodeling approach for differential output drivers

This paper presents an approach for building new compact macromodels of differential output drivers. Composed of enhanced physical-based elements, the new models are capable of capturing the important intrinsic nonlinear and dynamic characteristics of the drivers. We demonstrate the approach with two typical digital drivers, low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) driver and pre-emphasis driver. The obtained macromodels achieve excellent accuracy in capturing behaviors at various input patterns, loading conditions and supply voltages.
Fuel Optimal Maneuvers with Spacecraft Attitude Constraints

Satellite cluster maneuvers are often analyzed using idealized assumptions about the available thrust. In this paper, an near-optimal planner for spacecraft formations in elliptical reference orbits is presented for a satellite with realistic thruster placements, as well as one undergoing rotation. A spline approximation for thrust effect integrals is used to solve for minimum fuel maneuvers for individual spacecraft in a relative reference orbit utilizing the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman formulation; these results are then compared with linear programming. The formulations are applied to the operating conditions of the CU Sat mission for possible use in an on-board application.
Correlation Between Student Performances on Course Level Integrated Clinical Skills Examinations and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in a Chiropractic College Program

Purpose: This retrospective study measured correlation of student performance between 2 objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and an introductory integrated clinical skills course that preceded the OSCEs. The hypothesis was that there would be a strong, positive correlation between the earlier level examinations and the upper level OSCE, high enough that earlier examinations could be viewed as predictors of upper level OSCE performance. Methods: Using student scores for 5 academic terms of upper level OSCEs for 2008–2009 (n = 208) and respective earlier scores, correlation coefficients were calculated for the upper level OSCE and Clinical Skills course, and upper and lower level OSCEs. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate how well the lower level OSCE and clinical skills scores, both as lone and combined independent variables, predicted the upper level OSCE scores. Results: There was at least a moderate correlation between both sets of scores: r = .51 (p < .001) between upper level OSCE and clinical skills course, r = .54 (p < .001) between the upper and lower level OSCEs. A combination of clinical skills and lower level OSCE scores suggested a moderate prediction of upper level OSCE scores (R2 = .38.) Conclusions: Correlations were found to be of at least a moderate level. According to linear regression analysis, a combination of the earlier scores was moderately predictive for the upper level OSCE. More research could be done to determine additional components of student performance.
Bis(μ-N-acetyl-N-phenyl-glycinato-κO:O')bis-[dinitrato-κO,O'-bis-(1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')lanthanum(III)].

In the title complex, [La2(C10H10NO3)2(NO3)4(C12H8N2)4], each LaIII ion is ten-coordinated by four N atoms from two bidentate 1,10-phenanthroline ligands and by six O atoms, two from the N-acetyl-N-phenyl­glycinate ligands and four from two nitrate anions. Two LaIII cations, which exhibit a distorted bicapped square-anti­prismatic coordination, are bridged by two N-acetyl-N-phenyl­glycinate ligands into a dimeric structure, generated by inversion symmetry. There is a π–π contact between the benzene rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.409 (3) A].
Talking Walls: Brazilian Immigrants and Architecture in Lagos

This paper argues that visual conservation projects that center Brazilian architecture as the traditional architecture of “old Lagos” stage a form of resistance against the elision of Lagos’ distinct identity into the larger unit of the post-independence nation of Nigeria. Yet in the same move, works on the architectural history of the modern city that present Brazilian architecture as its traditional style, also serve to constrain the complexity of the Brazilian community that existed in 19th century Lagos, narrowing the significance of their presence to their roles as laborers and builders. Thus while the city is able to be constructed as a space of modernity and difference through its Brazilian architectural heritage, the distinctiveness of the Brazilian community itself is erased and they are seamlessly captured into the nationalist narrative of a Yoruba melting pot.
Elephant Bar Restaurant: Mezzanine Financing

In November 2003, John Fruehwirth, a principal at Allied Capital was considering a $20 million mezzanine investment in growth capital for the Elephant Bar Restaurant, a California restaurant chain. Elephant Bar had had some initial success in California but now Allied’s investment committee had to wrestle with the question of whether the restaurant concept was strong enough to travel and become a national brand or whether it was mainly a "California Concept." And if the concept was strong enough to travel, would Allied Capital be able to meet its underwriting standards? Because Elephant Bar is a company with aggressive growth plans, it is significantly riskier than traditional mezzanine investments. The case can be used in courses on venture investing, to illustrate another funding source available to young companies. Traditional mezzanine financing is often used to provide a portion of the funding for late stage investments, such as leverage buyouts. The case can also be used in courses on private equity, to illustrate the perspective, risk mitigation strategies, and return expectations of mezzanine investors.
The Rule of 13 in House and Senate Elections

As I document in this note, the party of a candidate for a U.S. House or Senate seat cannot be too out-of-line with his or her district. Specifically, if the district is more than 13 points different from the candidate’s party (as judged by the most recent presidential election), then he or she has essentially zero chance of winning. In an earlier version of this note (published on Ricochet.com, approximately one week before the 2014 midterm elections), I used the Rule to make predictions about four races: the Kentucky and Arkansas senate races and the 2nd and 3rd House races in West Virginia. All four predictions were correct even though many pundits called the races tossups or near-tossups. The rule predicts that Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) has no chance of winning reelection in 2018 (unless Manchin becomes a Republican or West Virginia voters trend significantly leftward during the next few years).
Giant vibrational resonances in A6C60 compounds.

Formation of alkali-${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ compounds ${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{n}}$${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$(A=K, Rb) induces very large enhancements in the optical strength of two intra-${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ vibrational resonances and the emergence of a strong electronic transition centered at 1.2 eV. The vibrational spectra are particularly well defined for the ${\mathit{A}}_{6}$${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ semiconductor compounds, and it is proposed that the ca. ninetyfold enhancement of the 1428-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ mode and its large shift (to 1342 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$) are generated by coupling to electronic excitations located on the molecule, consistent with recent theoretical descriptions of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}^{6\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and the ionic solid bcc-${\mathit{A}}_{6}^{+}$${\mathrm{C}}_{60}^{6\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$.
The Systematics of the Subfamily Ornithodorinae (Acarina: Argasidae). V. a Revised Key to Larval Argasidae of the Western Hemisphere and Description of Seven New Species of Ornithodoros

Described as new, from larvae only, are: Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) casebeeri from the rodent, Ototylomys sp., in Costa Rica; O. (A.) chironectes from water opossum, Chironectcs minimus , and cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus griseus , in Nicaragua; O. (A.) clarki from bats, Pteronotus davyi fulvus and P. suapurensis , in Nicaragua; O. (A.) knoxjonesi from bat, Balantiopteryx p. plicata , in Nicaragua; O. (A.) marmosae from murine opossum, Marmosa robinsoni , and mouse, Rhipidomys sp., in Venezuela and Colombia; O. (A.) tiptoni from bat, Noctilio leporinus , from Venezuela and O. (A.) tuttlei from paca, Agouti paca , and tapir, Tapirus terrestris , in Venezuela. In addition, the following species described by Kohls, Clifford, and Jones are now placed in the subgenus Alectorobius: O. setosus, O. eptesicus, O. peruvianus, O. peropteryx, O. mimon , and O. echimys .
Social structure optimization in team formation

This paper presents a mathematical framework for treating the Team Formation Problem explicitly incorporating Social Structure (TFP-SS), the formulation of which relies on modern social network analysis theories and metrics. While recent research qualitatively establishes the dependence of team performance on team social structure, the presented framework introduces models that quantitatively exploit such dependence. Given a pool of individuals, the TFP-SS objective is to assign them to teams so as to achieve an optimal structure of individual attributes and social relations within the teams. The paper explores TFP-SS instances with measures based on such network structures as edges, full dyads, triplets, k-stars, etc., in undirected and directed networks. For an NP-Hard instance of TFP-SS, an integer program is presented, followed by a powerful Lin-Kernighan-TFP (LK-TFP) heuristic that performs variable-depth neighborhood search. The idea of such λ-opt sequential search was first employed by Lin and Kernighan, and refined by Helsgaun, for successfully treating large Traveling Salesman Problem instances but has seen limited use in other applications. This paper describes LK-TFP as a tree search procedure and discusses the reasons of its effectiveness. Computational results for small, medium and large TFP-SS instances are reported using LK-TFP and compared with those of an exact algorithm (CPLEX) and a Standard Genetic Algorithm (SGA). Finally, the insights generated by the presented framework and directions for future research are discussed. HighlightsWe propose a methodological toolbox that incorporates social structures into TFP.The use of optimization techniques in the area of social science is motivated.The relation between social science findings and team outcomes is explored.Explicit, rigorous functions of social structures to evaluate outcomes are presented.LK-TFP heuristic based on variable depth neighborhood search is proposed for TFP.
Fatty acids of the triglycerides and phospholipids of HeLa cells and strain L fibroblasts

Lipids of strain L fibroblasts (mouse), grown in chemically defined medium, contained approximately 20% 16:0, 5% 16:1, 20% 18:0, and 50% 18:1 acids; and small amounts of 12:0, 14:0, 15:0, 15:1, and 20:0 acids. No polyunsaturated acids, such as 18:2, were present. The distribution of the fatty acids in the phospholipids and triglycerides was similar. When grown in the presence of dialyzed serum, 18:2 acid was found in the cells and replaced 18:1 acid. Lipids of two lines of HeLa cells (human), grown with serum present, contained at least 20 fatty acids of which 16:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, and 18:2 were dominant. The phospholipids contained considerably more 18:2 acid than did the triglycerides, the principal unsaturated acid in which was 18:1. Cells contaminated with pleuropneumonia-like organisms also showed this difference in distribution.
On Clifford Geertz: field notes from the classroom.

As an anthropologist, philosopher, political scientist, literary critic, and all-around, all-star intellectual, Clifford Geertz helped a vast public make sense of the human condition. But for nearly everyone in that public, his ideas operated like gravity—invisibly, as attraction at a distance. They worked differently up close, especially in the classroom, where they bounced off the walls in all directions, lighting up subjects in unpredictable patterns. I would like to testify to Cliff’s prowess as a teacher.
Electronic constructivism in an online environment: compelling questions, creativity and collaboration

Using today's technologies to study historical events and influential people can go far beyond searching the Web and reporting the findings. Online students can use authentic resources and their own creativity to interpret their findings, demonstrate their knowledge, and make history come alive. Instructors can pose intriguing questions and compelling scenarios that will inspire and motivate online students. Culminating projects that involve research, analysis, original creations, and collaboration add relevance to online classes. WebQuests, and other applicable formats are among the most outstanding examples that contribute to high online retention. This creative approach to instruction is only one of the reasons why the author's university's retention and student satisfaction rates for online programs continue to be almost 100%. Results from a survey of current students and graduates revealed what students and faculty value most about online learning, the most common challenges they face, and proven methods for being an effective online learner, collaborator, and facilitator. Recommendations are based on nine years of efforts by faculty and administrators to find the most educationally sound, administratively efficient, and financially viable way to offer outstanding online learning experiences.
Total Synthesis of (−)-Nemorosone and (+)-Secohyperforin

A general strategy for the synthesis of polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols is described in which a scalable, Lewis acid catalyzed epoxide-opening cascade cyclization is used to furnish common intermediate 4. The utility of this approach is exemplified by the total syntheses of both ent-nemorosone and (+)-secohyperforin, which were each accomplished in four steps from this intermediate.
PREX1 Protein Function Is Negatively Regulated Downstream of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Activation by p21-activated Kinases (PAKs).

Downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) stimulation, the phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3)-dependent Rac exchange factor (PREX) family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activates Rho GTPases, leading to important roles for PREX proteins in numerous cellular processes and diseases, including cancer. PREX1 and PREX2 GEF activity is activated by the second messengers PIP3 and Gβγ, and further regulation of PREX GEF activity occurs by phosphorylation. Stimulation of receptor tyrosine kinases by neuregulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) leads to the phosphorylation of PREX1; however, the kinases that phosphorylate PREX1 downstream of these ligands are not known. We recently reported that the p21-activated kinases (PAKs), which are activated by GTP-bound Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), mediate the phosphorylation of PREX2 after insulin receptor activation. Here we show that certain phosphorylation events on PREX1 after insulin, neuregulin, and IGF1 treatment are PAK-dependent and lead to a reduction in PREX1 binding to PIP3. Like PREX2, PAK-mediated phosphorylation also negatively regulates PREX1 GEF activity. Furthermore, the onset of PREX1 phosphorylation was delayed compared with the phosphorylation of AKT, supporting a model of negative feedback downstream of PREX1 activation. We also found that the phosphorylation of PREX1 after isoproterenol and prostaglandin E2-mediated GPCR activation is partially PAK-dependent and likely also involves protein kinase A, which is known to reduce PREX1 function. Our data point to multiple mechanisms of PREX1 negative regulation by PAKs within receptor tyrosine kinase and GPCR-stimulated signaling pathways that have important roles in diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Theories of Political Disobedience

Christian teaching still provides for millions of its adherents the ultimate authority for determining the claims of secular rulers and laws for obedience. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the original teaching itself is far from clear on the question. Christ’s own prescription to ‘Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s’ does not indicate how to decide what rightly pertains to each authority. A more precise formulation is given by St Paul: ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation’ (New Testament, Authorised Version, Romans xiii. 1–2). Although this appeared to give all rulers, no matter how evil, unqualified divine authority to rule as they thought fit, this was not the case. It was not simply that no ruler had authority in matters of faith, but that there emerged the concept that the rightful and just exercise of authority was a condition of its acceptability and legitimacy.
Preinstallation Considerations and Prerequisites

Implementing Oracle Identity and Access Management Suite or a part of the package to provide application security within an enterprise cannot be properly executed without proper analysis of the current environment and some planning for the future.
From Chernobyl to the Classroom: A Case Study Connecting Historic Events to Class Projects

The year 2016 marks the thirty-year anniversary of the explosion of reactor four at the Chernobyl power plant, the subsequent evacuation of the surrounding region, and the dispersion of radioactive material across Europe. As an attempt to integrate history as a motivator in computer science, this work describes a two-day excursion to the Chernobyl exclusion zone to gather background radiation data as a part of an Operating Systems class project, as well as creating radiation, photographic, and location data sets for use in subsequent classes.
A Case Study of Ozone Pollution with XTREMES

This article contains an extreme value analysis of a time series using XTREMES. The series consists of ground ozone data in the Houston area recorded during 1992 and 1993. In addition to fitting the marginal tail distribution, we consider a number of issues that are pertinent to the analysis of dependent observations. In particular, we discuss in length the various ways of estimating the extremal index that measures the degree of clustering of large values caused by dependence.
Exploring the Politics of Possibility [review of Alternative Food Networks: Knowledge, Practice and Politics]

First paragraphs: After 40-plus years of visioning and planning, are the basic tenets of the food movements, such as reconfiguration of capitalist society, relocalization, social justice, and sustainability, still credible? Further, will more progress be made if we critically outline the failings of activist projects and force a reckoning, or should more purchase be given to highlighting socially progressive efforts created by food movements as a way to stimulate momentum? These are the questions I ponder into the wee hours of the night. These are the questions my monthly sustainable foods community of practice salons chew on. These are the questions Goodman, Dupuis, and Goodman ask. Perhaps these questions resonate with you. It was with great anticipation that I bought Alternative Food Networks: Knowledge, Practice and Politics as soon as it was released in paperback (2013). David Goodman, E. Melanie Dupuis, and Michael Goodman are noted agri-food systems scholars with a penchant for pushing the lines of inquiry toward increasingly substantive discourse and for clarifying the murkiness of relatively neglected aspects of the food system. I fully expected to find a book striking a balance between critical evaluation and constructive analysis—and I was not disappointed...
Optimization of DSC MRI Echo Times for CBV Measurements Using Error Analysis in a Pilot Study of High-Grade Gliomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The optimal TE must be calculated to minimize the variance in CBV measurements made with DSC MR imaging. Simulations can be used to determine the influence of the TE on CBV, but they may not adequately recapitulate the in vivo heterogeneity of precontrast T2*, contrast agent kinetics, and the biophysical basis of contrast agent–induced T2* changes. The purpose of this study was to combine quantitative multiecho DSC MRI T2* time curves with error analysis in order to compute the optimal TE for a traditional single-echo acquisition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven subjects with high-grade gliomas were scanned at 3T with a dual-echo DSC MR imaging sequence to quantify contrast agent–induced T2* changes in this retrospective study. Optimized TEs were calculated with propagation of error analysis for high-grade glial tumors, normal-appearing white matter, and arterial input function estimation. RESULTS: The optimal TE is a weighted average of the T2* values that occur as a contrast agent bolus transverses a voxel. The mean optimal TEs were 30.0 ± 7.4 ms for high-grade glial tumors, 36.3 ± 4.6 ms for normal-appearing white matter, and 11.8 ± 1.4 ms for arterial input function estimation (repeated-measures ANOVA, P CONCLUSIONS: Greater heterogeneity was observed in the optimal TE values for high-grade gliomas, and mean values of all 3 ROIs were statistically significant. The optimal TE for the arterial input function estimation is much shorter; this finding implies that quantitative DSC MR imaging acquisitions would benefit from multiecho acquisitions. In the case of a single-echo acquisition, the optimal TE prescribed should be 30–35 ms (without a preload) and 20–30 ms (with a standard full-dose preload).
3D dynamic coverage and avoidance control in power-constrained UAV surveillance networks

This paper considers dynamic coverage control of multiple power-constrained UAVs. The UAVs are deployed to patrol a domain until the entire space has reached a satisfactory level of coverage. This is achieved through the gathering of visual information by a forward-facing camera, modeled as an anisotropic spherical sector. Coverage and collision avoidance guarantees are met through the design of a high-level kinematic hybrid control scheme consisting of a hold state as well as three coverage modes: local, global and scan mode. Energy-aware methods are encoded into the global coverage state to shift the bulk of spatial redistribution onto less constrained agents. The efficacy of this algorithm is presented through simulation.
Early B-cell repertoires.

It is clear now from many studies, that the early B cell repertoire differs significantly from that expressed in the adult. These differences result from not only the variety of V genes that are expressed but also the mechanisms involved in V gene rearrangements [1–5]. Additionally, the phenotypes of early B cells are typical of the B-1 phenotype while the majority of adult cells are of the B-2 type [6]. Previous studies have also established that the ability of B cells to respond to different antigens develops in a hierarchy with a particularly late development of the ability to respond to Polysaccharide antigens [1, 7, 8]. In contrast to the late appearance of B cells capable of responding to specific antigens, the early B cell repertoire is marked by the properties of interconnectivity, autoreactivity and multispecificity which result from the character of the receptors expressed by early B cells.
Viscoelasticity and Plasticity Considerations in the Fracture of Glasslike High Polymers

A theory of fracture for amorphous high polymers below their glass transition temperatures which considers the effects of viscoelastic material properties on the stress-concentrating ability of structural defects is presented. The rheological history of the sample is coupled with a time-dependent stress-concentration factor and results in a complete description of the fracture initiation phenomenon. Experimental data on constant strain rate failure and creep failure of polymethylmethacrylate are in agreement with the theoretical predictions. Extension of the theory to crack propagation phenomena is also considered.
Can Centralization of Cancer Surgery Improve Social Welfare

The empirical association between high hospital procedure volume and lower mortality rates has led to recommendations for the centralization of complex surgical procedures. Yet redirecting patients to a select number of high-volume hospitals creates potential negative consequences for market competition. We use patient-level data to estimate the association between hospital procedure volume and patient mortality and costs. We also estimate the association between hospital market concentration and mortality, cost, and prices. We use our estimates to simulate the change in social welfare resulting from redirecting patients at low-volume hospitals to high-volume facilities. We find that a higher procedure volume leads to significant reductions in mortality for patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer, but not colon cancer. Procedure volume also influences costs for both surgeries, but in a nonlinear fashion. Increased market concentration is associated with higher costs and prices for colon cancer, but not pancreatic cancer patients. Simulations indicated that centralizing pancreatic cancer surgery is unambiguously welfare enhancing. In contrast, there is less evidence to suggest that centralizing colon cancer surgery would be welfare improving.
Lawsuits for Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer: Tumor Biology in Causation and Risk Management Strategies

The idea that plaintiff patients alleging failure to diagnose breast cancer might represent a unique disease state was suggested to the senior author in defense expert witness testimony, malpractice case reviews, and clinical practice. The distinguishing features of 57 suits compared to breast cancer generally included that (1) the median age was only 42, (2) 71% of the mammograms were negative, (3) 76% had lymph node metastases, (4) 46% had more than five positive nodes, and (5) 46% had negative estrogen receptor values. Primary cancers were large and a disproportionate number of patients were pregnant or lactating. Thus, these patients have a poor outcome because of the particular biology of their disease. Risk management strategies, however, can be developed that might lesson the problem.
Hearing treatment for reducing cognitive decline: Design and methods of the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Introduction Hearing impairment is highly prevalent and independently associated with cognitive decline. The Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial to determine efficacy of hearing treatment in reducing cognitive decline in older adults. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03243422 . Methods Eight hundred fifty participants without dementia aged 70 to 84 years with mild-to-moderate hearing impairment recruited from four United States field sites and randomized 1:1 to a best-practices hearing intervention or health education control. Primary study outcome is 3-year change in global cognitive function. Secondary outcomes include domain-specific cognitive decline, incident dementia, brain structural changes on magnetic resonance imaging, health-related quality of life, physical and social function, and physical activity. Results Trial enrollment began January 4, 2018 and is ongoing. Discussion When completed in 2022, Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders study should provide definitive evidence of the effect of hearing treatment versus education control on cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults with mild-to-moderate hearing impairment.
Lung Cancer Screening in Patients with COPD—A Case Report

We present two cases demonstrating the nuances that must be considered when determining if a patient could benefit from low dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening. Our case report discusses the available literature, where it exists, on lung cancer screening with special attention to the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and poor functional status. Patients with COPD and concurrent smoking history are at higher risk of lung cancer and may therefore benefit from lung cancer screening. However, this population is at increased risk for complications related to biopsies and lobar resections. Appropriate interventions other than surgical resection exist for COPD patients with poor pulmonary reserve. Risks and benefits of lung cancer screening are unique to each patient and require shared decision-making.
Discovering communities for microgrids with spatial-temporal net energy

Smart grid has integrated an increasing number of distributed energy resources to improve the efficiency and flexibility of power generation and consumption as well as the resilience of the power grid. The energy consumers on the power grid, e.g., households, equipped with distributed energy resources can be considered as “microgrids” that both generate and consume electricity. In this paper, we study the energy community discovery problems which identify energy communities for the microgrids to facilitate energy management, e.g., load balancing, energy sharing and trading on the grid. Specifically, we present efficient algorithms to discover such communities of microgrids considering both their geo-locations and net energy (NE) over any period. Finally, we experimentally validate the performance of the algorithms using both synthetic and real datasets.
Evidence for an Aneugenic Mechanism of Action for Micronucleus Induction by Black Cohosh Extract.

Black cohosh extract (BCE) is a popular botanical dietary supplement marketed to relieve symptoms of various gynecological ailments. Studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) showed that BCE induces micronucleated erythrocytes in female rats and mice. Subsequently, the NTP showed that a variety of BCEs, including the sample that induced micronuclei (MN) in vivo ("NTP BCE") had a similar effect in human TK6 cells. Further testing with the MultiFlow® DNA Damage Assay revealed that TK6 cells exposed to NTP BCE, as well as a BCE reference material (BC XRM), exhibited a signature consistent with aneugenic activity in TK6 cells. Results from experiments reported herein confirmed these in vitro observations with NTP BCE and BC XRM. We extended these studies to include a novel test system, the MultiFlow Aneugen Molecular Mechanism Assay. For these experiments, TK6 cells were exposed to NTP BCE and BC XRM over a range of concentrations in the presence of fluorescent Taxol (488 Taxol). After 4 h, nuclei from lysed cells were stained with a nucleic acid dye and labeled with fluorescent antibodies against phospho-histone H3 (p-H3) and Ki-67. Whereas BCEs did not affect p-H3:Ki-67 ratios (a signature of aneugenic mitotic kinase inhibitors), 488 Taxol-associated fluorescence (a tubulin binder-sensitive endpoint) was affected. More specifically, 488 Taxol-associated fluorescence was reduced over the same concentration range that was previously observed to induce MN. These results provide direct evidence that BCEs destabilize microtubules in vitro, and this is the molecular mechanism responsible for the aneugenicity findings. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2019. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society.
High-resolution reflection spectra for Proxima b and Trappist-1e models for ELT observations

The closest stars that harbor potentially habitable planets are cool M-stars. Upcoming ground- and space-based telescopes will be able to search the atmosphere of such planets for a range of chemicals. To facilitate this search and to inform upcoming observations, we model the high-resolution reflection spectra of two of the closest potentially habitable exoplanets for a range of terrestrial atmospheres and surface pressures for active and inactive phases of their host stars for both oxic and anoxic conditions: Proxima b, the closest potentially habitable exoplanet, and Trappist-1e, one of 3 Earth-size planets orbiting in the Habitable Zone of Trappist-1. We find that atmospheric spectral features, including biosignatures like O2 in combination with a reduced gas like CH4 for oxic atmospheres, as well as climate indicators like CO2 and H2O for all atmospheres, show absorption features in the spectra of Proxima b and Trappist-1e models. However for some features like oxygen, high-resolution observations will be critical to identify them in a planet's reflected flux. Thus these two planets will be among the best targets for upcoming observations of potential Earth-like planets in reflected light with planned Extremely Large Telescopes.
Readmission and reinjury patterns in pediatric assault victims.

Repeated pediatric assault should be a never event. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the readmission and reinjury patterns in pediatric victims of assault including readmissions to different hospitals across the US. The 2010–2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried for all nonelective admissions for patients under the age of 18 years. Primary outcomes were readmission or reinjury within 1 year. Results were weighted for national estimates. Assault-related injury occurred in 46,294 pediatric patients with 11.4% of patients being readmitted within 1 year. Of those readmitted, 35.2% presented to a different hospital. Reinjury within 1 year occurred in about 1% of patients, with 14.8% of those presenting to a different hospital. Age 15, female gender, and leaving AMA were found to be independent prognostic indicators of readmission within 1 year among pediatric assault patients. Care of children who are admitted and discharged for assault injuries is more fragmented that previously thought. Quality metrics fail to capture this previously hidden population. Our results identify treatable factors which could improve the care of children after assault.
Non-invasive prenatal testing in the context of IVF and PGT-A.

Abstract The high incidence of chromosome aneuploidy in human gametes and embryos is a major cause of in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure and miscarriage. In order to improve live birth rates with single-embryo transfer, the use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) has significantly increased. PGT encompasses methods that allow embryos to be tested for inherited conditions or screened for chromosomal abnormalities. However, PGT-A is a screening method and results can never be used to definitively predict the chromosomal status of the embryo and fetus. The objective of this manuscript is to review prenatal screening and diagnostic methods available in pregnancies conceived by IVF-PGT-A.
The rise to dominance of genetic model organisms and the decline of curiosity-driven organismal research.

Curiosity-driven, basic biological research “…performed without thought of practical ends…” establishes fundamental conceptual frameworks for future technological and medical breakthroughs. Traditionally, curiosity-driven research in biological sciences has utilized experimental organisms chosen for their tractability and suitability for studying the question of interest. This approach leverages the diversity of life to uncover working solutions (adaptations) to problems encountered by living things, and evolutionary context as to the extent to which these solutions may be generalized to other species. Despite the well-documented success of this approach, funding portfolios of United States granting agencies are increasingly filled with studies on a few species for which cutting-edge molecular tools are available (genetic model organisms). While this narrow focus may be justified for biomedically-focused funding bodies such as the National Institutes of Health, it is critical that robust federal support for curiosity-driven research using diverse experimental organisms be maintained by agencies such as the National Science Foundation. Using the disciplines of neurobiology and behavioral research as an example, this study finds that NSF grant awards have declined in association with a decrease in the proportion of grants funded for experimental, rather than genetic model organism research. The decline in use of experimental organisms in the literature mirrors but predates the shift grant funding. Today’s dominance of genetic model organisms was thus initiated by researchers themselves and/or by publication peer review and editorial preferences, and was further reinforced by pressure from granting agencies, academic employers, and the scientific community.
The Desirability of Law Enforcement Careers among College Students in a Hispanic Community

This study examines the effects of attitudes toward the police and punitive ideology on Hispanic criminal justice majors’ interest in law enforcement careers. To date, relatively few studies of the...
A fast, general synteny detection engine

The increasingly widespread availability of genomic data has created a growing need for fast, sensitive and scalable comparative analysis methods. A key aspect of comparative genomic analysis is the study of synteny, co localized gene clusters shared among genomes due to descent from common ancestors. Synteny can provide unique insight into the origin, function, and evolution of genome architectures, but methods to identify syntenic patterns in genomic datasets are often inflexible and slow, and use diverse definitions of what counts as likely synteny. Moreover, the reliable identification of putatively syntenic regions (i.e., whether they are truly indicative of homology) with different lengths and signal to noise ratios can be difficult to quantify. Here, we present Mology, a fast, flexible, alignment-free, nonparametric method to detect regions of syntenic elements among genomes or other datasets. The core algorithm operates on consecutive, rank-ordered elements, which could be genes, operons, motifs, sequence fragments, or any other orderable element. It is agnostic to the physical distance between distinct elements and also to directionality and order within syntenic regions, although such considerations can be addressed post hoc. We describe the underlying statistical theory behind our analysis method, and employ a Monte Carlo approach to estimate the false positive rate and positive predictive values for putative syntenic regions. We also evaluate how varying amounts of noise affect recovery of true syntenic regions among Saccharomycetaceae yeast genomes with up to ~100 million years of divergence. We discuss different strategies for recursive application of our method on syntenic regions with sparser signal than considered here, as well as the general applicability of the core algorithm.
Mirroring Empowerment: Exploring Structural Barriers to Volunteer Motivation Fulfillment in an All-Female Youth Sport Program:

This study utilizes structuration theory to reveal how volunteer coaches in an all-female youth sport program describe barriers and agency to their organizational mission of athlete empowerment. Th...
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia – Clinical Features and Making the Diagnosis

The clinical presentation of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) may range from insidious nonspecific symptoms to severe acute life-threatening manifestations, reflecting the extent of bone marrow involvement and degree of extramedullary spread (Table 2.1). In younger patients anemia-induced fatigue may be the only presenting feature. Dyspnea, angina, dizziness, and lethargy may reflect the degree of anemia in older patients presenting with ALL. Approximately half of all patients may present with fever attributable to the pyrogenic cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF, released from the leukemic cells, infection, or both.
Mechanisms of Action in Psychotherapy

With regard to psychotherapy, mechanisms of action refer to the processes by which psychotherapeutic change occurs. Since there are many approaches to psychotherapy (e.g., psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive behavioral), specifying the mechanisms of change is a complicated endeavor. The most comprehensive approach to identifying mechanisms of change in psychotherapy is to consider both nonspecific factors (i.e., those mechanisms that are common among different schools of psychotherapy) and specific factors (i.e., those mechanisms that are unique to one or more approaches to psychotherapy). In light of the research evidence, this entry discusses the specific and nonspecific factors that have been proposed to be responsible for change that occurs in the psychotherapeutic process. Keywords: mechanisms of action; mechanisms of change; mental health; processes of change; psychotherapies; specific vs. non-specific factors; therapeutic change; therapy
Design and simulation of SAW sensors for wireless sensing

This paper presents the design and frequency response simulation of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices using MATLAB/spl trade/ used for passive wireless sensing of various measurands. Since SAW devices are widely used in radio frequency sensing applications, it is desirable to evaluate the device prior to fabrication especially in cases where the device material and dimensions have a major influence on the performance of the overall system. Three different types of SAW configurations namely the delay line, one-port resonator and two-port resonator was simulated in MATLAB/spl trade/. Both the equivalent circuit and the transmission matrices approaches have been used to simulate the frequency response of these SAW devices. The measured and simulated frequency responses are compared for a 433.92 MHz one-port resonator and it appears that the equivalent circuit approach is good for near resonance simulation whereas transmission matrix approach is a better choice if the response over a wide frequency range is required. Also, the effect of interdigital transducer (IDT) lead resistance, acoustic aperture and number of finger pairs on the performance of the system was studied and it was observed that an increase in the acoustic aperture and number of finger pairs increases the gain of the SAW device whereas an increase in the lead resistance lowers the gain. The results obtained are presented here along with the design parameters used in the simulations.