cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Reconstitution of Tissue Homeostasis and Stochastic Cell Fate Choice

Many adult tissues are dynamically sustained by the rapid turnover of cells. In recent years, statistical physics has provided a lens through which to study cell turnover and self-renewal in adult tissue maintenance. Individual cell fate choices between cell division and differentiation were found to be stochastic, evidenced by the statistical properties of long-term clonal tracing experiments in adult tissues. However, the mechanism of tissue homeostasis - how cell division and differentiation are precisely balanced in stochastic fate choice - is still unknown. Regulation mechanisms can involve intrinsic fate choice tuned at the single-cell level, or include extrinsic feedback from neighboring cells or signaling molecules. Since different mechanisms, intrinsic or extrinsic, will result in different universality classes at the level of abstract models, analytical and numerical results of interacting particle systems can be useful in discriminating the underlying rules in real tissues. Here we developed a system to allow detailed study of tissue homeostasis using epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Within two-dimensional cultures, we observe ongoing cell exclusions compensated by cell division, resulting in a steady-state of the cell sheet that is maintained for weeks. We construct a phenomenological description on the mechanism of feedback between cell division and differentiation through a theoretical model, and address the length scale associated to the feedback through analyses on the fine time-scale data obtained from in vitro experiments. Our findings constrain possible mechanisms of homeostatic control. Consistency of our findings with previous clonal experiments and recent in vivo mouse live imaging results will be discussed.
Ab initio study of the electronic and transport properties of waved graphene nanoribbons

Abstract We apply the nonequilibrium Green's function method based on density functional theory to investigate the electronic and transport properties of waved zigzag and armchair graphene nanoribbons. Our calculations show that out-of-plane mechanical deformations have a strong influence on the band structures and transport characteristics of graphene nanoribbons. The computed I-V curves demonstrate that the electrical conductance of graphene nanoribbons is significantly affected by deformations. The relationship between the conductance and the compression ratio is found to be sensitive to the type of the nanoribbon. The results of our study indicate the possibility of mechanical control of the electronic and transport properties of graphene nanoribbons.
Management of Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome

Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome (HHS) is a critical complication of diabetes mellitus that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. Patients with this syndrome present with hyperglycemia, hyperosmolality and significant dehydration that are often accompanied by acute neurological deficits. In this chapter, we will review the diagnostic characteristics and common triggers of HHS within the framework of a case presentation. Approaches to therapeutic interventions such as intravenous fluid therapy, intravenous insulin, and electrolyte repletion are reviewed. Finally, some direction is given to controversial issue regarding the type of intravenous fluid used and the role of anticoagulation in HSS. Management of patients with HHS begins with aggressive intravenous isotonic saline. Potential triggers, such as infection, diet or medication changes and ischemic events are evaluated and appropriately treated. Intravenous insulin is necessary to reduce both hyperglycemia and counter-regulatory hormones that have been activated by HHS. Dextrose infusions are used in conjunction with insulin drip to avoid acute drops in serum osmolality, or to allow for continued insulin infusion when lipolysis and ketogenesis complicate HHS. Severe dehydration is evident by elevated serum sodium, and total body water deficit may be calculated to guide fluid repletion. Other electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium and phosphate, require attentive monitoring and repletion. Hyperglycemic emergency states are well recognized as hypercoaguable, with increased risk for thrombotic events. For this reason, DVT prophylaxis with subcutaneous heparin is generally recommended.
What’s in it for me? Self-serving versus other-oriented framing in messages advocating use of prosocial peer-to-peer services☆

Abstract We present a study that investigates the effectiveness of self-serving versus other-oriented motivational framing of messages designed to persuade people to sign up for a prosocial peer-to-peer (P2P) service. As part of the study, volunteer message senders were incentivized to recruit people to sign up for one of three types of prosocial P2P services. Senders were given an option of choosing one of four pre-designed invitation messages to send to their contacts, two framed for self-serving motivations and two framed for other-oriented motivations. We found that recipients were more attracted to click on messages emphasizing self-serving benefits. This may not match the expectation of senders, who generally prioritized other-oriented motives for participating in prosocial P2P services. However, after recipients clicked the messages to investigate further, effects of self versus other-framing messages depended on the nature of the service. Our findings suggest that, even for prosocial services, messages offering self-serving motivations are more effective than altruistic ones on inspiring interests. But the overall persuasive effect on conversion may be more nuanced, where the persuasion context (service type) appears to be a critical moderator.
Abstract 5568A: A network based analysis for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a complex heterogeneous disease characterized by the absence of three hallmark receptors: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). Compared to other breast cancer subtypes, TNBC is more aggressive, has a higher prevalence in African Americans, and more frequently affects younger patients. Currently, TNBC lacks clinically-accepted targets for tailored therapy, warranting the need for candidate biomarkers. Methods: BiomarkerBase, a biomarker knowledgebase developed by Amplion uses a comprehensive list of synonyms to identify biomarkers registered in the records of clinical trials via the government website clinicaltrials.gov. Under each of the registered breast cancer biomarkers (with the exceptions of HER2, ER, and PR), sub-searches were conducted for clinical trials that explicitly used TNBC (or the full name, triple negative breast cancer) in the title of the biomarkers’ studies. Of note, most trials in this review were completed phase II or III. The selected candidate biomarkers were classified into four FDA biomarker categories (surrogate, prognostic, predictive, or pharmacodynamic (PD)) as well as by location (blood/plasma, cell surface, cytoplasm, or nucleus). Current literature about the biomarkers was further examined using PubMed. There, we sought to find papers that studied how the biomarkers may interact. These markers were further organized into a “cellular protein network” that demonstrates potential connectivity. Results: Blood biomarkers include VEGF/VEGFR and IL-8; cell surface biomarkers include EGFR, IGFBP, c-Kit, c-Met, and PD-L1; cytoplasm biomarkers include PIK3CA/AKT/mTOR-related metabolites (GPC, PCh, Lactate/ glucose), pPKM2, F1,6BP, SPHK1, STAT1/IRF2BP2, S6, p4E-BP1, SUV39H1, PTEN, and ALDH1; and nucleus biomarkers include BRCA1, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), TP53, and Ki67. Table 1 provides an overview of the examined surrogate, prognostic, predictive, and PD biomarkers in TNBC in addition to current literature found in PubMed that provides support for their potential use. Conclusion: To date, there are no clinically-validated biomarkers for TNBC, which has hindered the development of tailored therapy for both chemosensitive and refractory TNBC. Before validation and use of these biomarkers occurs, stringent-clinical criteria must be met first. The list and cellular protein network provided is an inventory and reference point for promising biomarkers for breakthrough, targeted therapies in TNBC. Citation Format: Brett A. Fleisher, Sihem Ait-Oudhia. A network based analysis for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5568A. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5568A
Rehearsing Citizenship: Performance as Public Practice in the Undergraduate Curriculum

How can and should a theatre and/or dance graduate emerge as a democratic citizen? Our response to the volume about the relationship of theatre and performance to change is a strategic approach to theatre and dance training. When the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas undertook to reinvent its B.A. degree, the Performance as Public Practice Program (PPP) faculty used the opportunity to design a new introduction for undergraduate majors, TD 311C Performance as Public Practice.
Teaching for Hope in the Era of Grit

Background/ContextGrit has quickly become one of the leading educational goals and markers of success upheld by many schools, parents, and education policies. This article intends to give us pause ...
Category Theory as a Mathematics for Formalizing Ontologies

Category theory is discussed as an appropriate mathematical basis for the formalization and study of ontologies. It is based upon the notion of the structure manifest in systems of compositional relations and through mappings between systems that preserve composition. With one or two important exceptions, the basic concepts of category theory needed for an understanding of the other chapters involving category theory are presented here. The exceptions will be presented where they are used.
Private forest landowner attitudes toward off-highway vehicle access: a Minnesota case study.

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding has increased dramatically in the past decade, creating challenges for finding suitable places to ride, particularly where access to public lands is limited. This research examines the attitudes and willingness of private forest and seasonal recreation landowners to provide OHV access. A series of focus groups was conducted to inform a survey questionnaire mailed to a random sample of landowners in north central Minnesota. Results indicate low willingness among landowners to provide public OHV riding opportunities. Approximately 3% of respondents currently allow public access, but that increases significantly if OHV riding behaviors are to reflect lowered noise levels, increased age of riders, low speeds, and small group sizes. Results also indicate that landowner attitudes regarding OHV effects and rider behaviors differ when riders are family and friends versus the public.
CT radiomics to predict high-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

Purpose Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are radiographically visible precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer. Despite standard criteria for assessing risk, only 18% of cysts are malignant at resection. Thus, a large number of patients undergo unnecessary invasive surgery for benign disease. The ability to identify IPMNs with low or high risk of transforming into invasive cancer would optimize patient selection and improve surgical decision-making. The purpose of this study was to investigate quantitative CT imaging features as markers for objective assessment of IPMN risk. Methods This retrospective study analyzed pancreatic cyst and parenchyma regions extracted from CT scans in 103 patients to predict IPMN risk. Patients who underwent resection between 2005 and 2015 with pathologically proven branch duct (BD)-IPMN and a preoperative CT scan were included in the study. Expert pathologists categorized IPMNs as low or high risk following resection as part of routine clinical care. We extracted new radiographically inspired features as well as standard texture features and designed prediction models for the categorization of high- and low-risk IPMNs. Five clinical variables were also combined with imaging features to design prediction models. Results Using images from 103 patients and tenfold cross-validation technique, the novel radiographically inspired imaging features achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.77, demonstrating their predictive power. The combination of these features with clinical variables obtained the best performance (AUC = 0.81). Conclusion The present study demonstrates that features extracted from pretreatment CT images can predict the risk of IPMN. Development of a preoperative model to discriminate between low-risk and high-risk IPMN will improve surgical decision-making.
Investigating the Association Between Advanced Practice Providers and Chemotherapy-Related Adverse Events in Women With Breast Cancer: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Purpose:The effect of advanced practice provider (APP) involvement in oncology care on cancer-specific outcomes is unknown. We examined the association between team-based APP–physician care during chemotherapy and chemotherapy-related adverse events (AEs) among women with breast cancer.Methods:We performed separate nested case-control analyses in two national cohorts of women who received chemotherapy for incident breast cancer. Cohorts were identified from Medicare (≥ 65 years of age) and MarketScan (18 to 64 years of age) data. Cases experienced a chemotherapy-related AE (emergency room visit and/or hospitalization). Controls were matched 1:1 on the basis of each patient’s age, comorbidities, census region, state’s APP scope of practice regulations, and observation period from chemotherapy initiation to first AE. APP exposure (any outpatient claim billed by an APP during the observation period) was assessed for each matched pair member.Results:Among the 1,948 cases in the Medicare cohort, 225 (12%) had ...
Further Perspectives on Operator Guidance and Training for Heavy Weather Ship Handling

Historically, mariners have received minimal formal training in heavy weather shiphandling, relying on mentoring and hands on experience to develop shiphandling skills for dangerous environmental conditions. Maritime organizations are increasingly turning to technology to reduce the inherent risks of heavy weather, including operator guidance systems and simulation to train watch personnel. Shiphandling simulators are on the cusp of extending training capabilities from simple maneuvering situations to highly realistic heavy weather scenarios, resulting in vastly improved training effectiveness. This is especially critical as actual time spent afloat may represent proportionately less of a mariner’s total career.
Model-Predictive Control Strategy for an Array of Wave-Energy Converters

To facilitate the commercialization of wave energy in an array or farm environment, effective control strategies for improving energy extraction efficiency of the system are important. In this paper, we develop and apply model-predictive control (MPC) to a heaving point-absorber array, where the optimization problem is cast into a convex quadratic programming (QP) formulation, which can be efficiently solved by a standard QP solver. We introduced a term for penalizing large slew rates in the cost function to ensure the convexity of this function. Constraints on both range of the states and the input capacity can be accommodated. The convex formulation reduces the computational hurdles imposed on conventional nonlinear MPC. For illustration of the control principles, a point-absorber approximation is adopted to simplify the representation of the hydrodynamic coefficients among the array by exploiting the small devices to wavelength assumption. The energy-capturing capabilities of a two-cylinder array in regular and irregular waves are investigated. The performance of the MPC for this two-WEC array is compared to that for a single WEC, and the behavior of the individual devices in head or beam wave configuration is explained. Also shown is the reactive power required by the power takeoff system to achieve the performance.
Altered Functional Expression of Alveolar Macrophage Subpopulations after Serpentine and Amphibole Asbestos Exposure

There is considerable evidence that alveolar macrophages play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asbestosis (Kagan 1985, Kagan 1988), since these phagocytic cells are a notable feature of histologic lesions at sites of asbestos deposition in the lungs (Davis 1963, Brody et al. 1981, Oghiso et al. 1984). Multinucleated giant cells also are a prominent component of the macrophage response to inhaled asbestos (Kagan et al. 1983a, Kagan 1988). Conceivably, the accumulation of alveolar macrophages in evolving asbestotic lesions may reflect a localized tissue response to the release of asbestos-induced pulmonary chemoattractants. Support for this concept is provided by experimental studies which have demonstrated that inhalation of, asbestos fibers can evoke the release of chemotactic stimuli for alveolar macrophages (Kagan et al. 1983b, Warheit et al. 1985). Asbestos inhalation also is associated with enhanced expression of immune- associated (la) surface antigens on alveolar macrophages and with augmented production of the immunostimulatory monokine, interleukin-1 (Hartmann et al. 1984a, Hartmann et al. 1984b). Since the surface expression of la antigens on macrophages is a useful morphologic correlate of macrophage activation (Garrett et al. 1984, Kunkel et al. 1984), these findings collectively suggest that contact with asbestos fibers may induce alveolar macrophages to become functionally activated.
Purity Independent Subtyping of Tumors (PurIST), A Clinically Robust, Single-sample Classifier for Tumor Subtyping in Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: Molecular subtyping for pancreatic cancer has made substantial progress in recent years, facilitating the optimization of existing therapeutic approaches to improve clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer. With advances in treatment combinations and choices, it is becoming increasingly important to determine ways to place patients on the best therapies upfront. Although various molecular subtyping systems for pancreatic cancer have been proposed, consensus regarding proposed subtypes, as well as their relative clinical utility, remains largely unknown and presents a natural barrier to wider clinical adoption. Methods: We assess three major subtype classification schemas in the context of results from two clinical trials and by meta-analysis of publicly available expression data to assess statistical criteria of subtype robustness and overall clinical relevance. We then developed a single-sample classifier (SSC) using penalized logistic regression based on the most robust and replicable schema. Results: We demonstrate that a tumor-intrinsic two-subtype schema is most robust, replicable, and clinically relevant. We developed Purity Independent Subtyping of Tumors (PurIST), a SSC with robust and highly replicable performance on a wide range of platforms and sample types. We show that PurIST subtypes have meaningful associations with patient prognosis and have significant implications for treatment response to FOLIFIRNOX. Conclusions: The flexibility and utility of PurIST on low-input samples such as tumor biopsies allows it to be used at the time of diagnosis to facilitate the choice of effective therapies for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and should be considered in the context of future clinical trials.
Relationships are Key: Family Life Educators’ Use of Social Networking Sites

This exploratory study examined the use of social networking sites (SNSs) by Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs). Using a phenomenological approach, 19 CFLEs were interviewed. The participants ...
Incorporating biological modeling into patient-specific plan verification

Purpose Dose-volume histogram (DVH) measurements have been integrated into commercially available quality assurance systems to provide a metric for evaluating accuracy of delivery in addition to gamma analysis. We hypothesize that tumor control probability and normal tissue complication probability calculations can provide additional insight beyond conventional dose delivery verification methods. Methods A commercial quality assurance system was used to generate DVHs of treatment plan using the planning CT images and patient-specific QA measurements on a phantom. Biological modeling was performed on the DVHs produced by both the treatment planning system and the quality assurance system. Results The complication-free tumor control probability, P+ , has been calculated for previously treated intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) patients with diseases in the following sites: brain (-3.9% ± 5.8%), head-neck (+4.8% ± 8.5%), lung (+7.8% ± 1.3%), pelvis (+7.1% ± 12.1%), and prostate (+0.5% ± 3.6%). Conclusion Dose measurements on a phantom can be used for pretreatment estimation of tumor control and normal tissue complication probabilities. Results in this study show how biological modeling can be used to provide additional insight about accuracy of delivery during pretreatment verification.
HP Labs India's Technology to Make Printed Paper Documents Tamper-Proof

Proof “The objective of this paper is to discuss the cost-effective technologies developed at HP Labs India to make paper documents tamper-proof. We started with a real customer problem: to ensure that printed government land records should be tamper-proof. We first looked at existing techniques to see if they could address the problem but subsequently had to come up with our own technology. To address the problem, there was a need to identify good pilot customers to promote adoption of technology. Another challenge was around the customer's lack of awareness in terms of the impact of fraudulent documents on their business, and the difficulty of selling solutions versus selling products. Technology invention plays a small part in the final success of any customer-driven innovation, and so other factors should not be ignored. There were several other specific conclusions related to the innovator, the customer-facing staff and the customers. The key contributions of this work was starting with a real customer problem and dealing with end-to-end issues related to adoption of technology to make paper documents tamper-proof. “
Election Interference: International Law and the Future of Democracy

Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election produced the biggest political scandal in a generation, marking the beginning of an ongoing attack on democracy. In the run-up to the 2020 election, Russia was found to have engaged in more “information operations,” a practice that has been increasingly adopted by other countries. In Election Interference, Jens David Ohlin makes the case that these operations violate international law, not as a cyberwar or a violation of sovereignty, but as a profound assault on democratic values protected by the international legal order under the rubric of self-determination. He argues that, in order to confront this new threat to democracy, countries must prohibit outsiders from participating in elections, enhance transparency on social media platforms, and punish domestic actors who solicit foreign interference. This important book should be read by anyone interested in protecting election integrity in our age of social media disinformation.
Effectiveness of a Cultural Stroke Prevention Program in the United States—South Asian Health Awareness About Stroke (SAHAS)

There are few stroke education programs focused on the South Asian population in the United States. The South Asian Health Awareness about Stroke (SAHAS) program was developed to provide culturally appropriate stroke education to South Asians from 2014 to 2017. Participants recruited for the SAHAS program were educated through a uniquely developed, culturally-specific, educational presentation. Each participant was asked to complete identical educational questionnaires both before (pre-) and after (post-) the intervention, which were then scored and evaluated. Overall, the 357 participants who completed the SAHAS program had a significant, modest 9% improvement in questionnaire score (p 60 (p < 0.0001). Having programs targeted and developed for specific minority groups with an emphasis on familial commitment and active participation may aid in raising awareness and reducing the elevated adverse stroke outcomes in South Asians.
Long-term Effect of Cranioplasty on Overlying Scalp Atrophy.

Scalp thinning over a cranioplasty can lead to complex wound problems, such as extrusion and infection. However, the details of this process remain unknown. The aim of this study was to describe long-term soft-tissue changes over various cranioplasty materials and to examine risk factors associated with accelerated scalp thinning. Methods A retrospective review of patients treated with isolated cranioplasty between 2003 and 2015 was conducted. To limit confounders, patients with additional scalp reconstruction or who had a radiologic follow-up for less than 1 year were excluded. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure scalp thickness in identical locations and on the mirror image side of the scalp at different time points. Results One hundred one patients treated with autogenous bone (N = 38), polymethylmethacrylate (N = 33), and titanium mesh (N = 30) were identified. Mean skull defect size was 104.6 ± 43.8 cm2. Mean length of follow-up was 5.6 ± 2.6 years. Significant thinning of the scalp occurred over all materials (P < 0.05). This was most notable over the first 2 years after reconstruction. Risk factors included the use of titanium mesh (P < 0.05), use of radiation (P < 0.05), reconstruction in temporal location (P < 0.05), and use of a T-shaped or "question mark" incision (P < 0.05). Conclusions Thinning of the native scalp occurred over both autogenous and alloplastic materials. This process was more severe and more progressive when titanium mesh was used. In our group of patients without preexisting soft-tissue problems, native scalp atrophy rarely led to implant exposure. Other risk factors for scalp atrophy included radiation, temporal location, and type of surgical exposure.
Students choosing fat-free chocolate milk during school lunch consume more calories, total sugar, protein, minerals and vitamins at lunch.

Objective: To examine how milk consumption varies by milk choice and measure the association of milk choice on the nutritional and energetic content of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) lunches. Design: An observational plate waste study using the Digital Photography of Foods Method. Setting: Data were collected from two suburban South Carolina schools in one district during February and March 2013. Participants: Totally, 968 NSLP lunches selected by 619 kindergarten to fifth grade students. Results: Most students chose chocolate milk (75 %). A multinomial logit model indicated milk choice varied significantly by sociodemographic characteristics. An ordinary least square regression indicated that consumption rates of low-fat white milk were 8·5 % lower than fat-free chocolate milk (P = 0·039) and milk consumption rates varied statistically by sociodemographic characteristics. Ordinary least square regressions found that the consumption of energies and nutrients from NSLP lunches varied with sociodemographic characteristics and milk choice; students selecting chocolate milk consumed 58 more energies (P < 0·001) and 10 more grams of total sugar (P < 0·001) than students selecting low-fat white milk from their NSLP lunches. Students consumed statistically similar energies and nutrients from the non-milk components of their meals. Conclusions: Students selecting chocolate milk consumed more energies and nutrients from their NSLP lunches with the increases in consumption attributed to the milk component of the meal. The findings have implications for recent changes to NSLP guidelines that allow schools to offer both low-fat and fat-free flavoured milk, reversing the previous ban on low-fat flavoured milk under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
Implications of Pass/Fail Step 1 Scoring: Plastic Surgery Program Director and Applicant Perspective.

As early as 2022, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 results will be reported as pass or fail, rather than as 3-digit numeric scores. This survey examines the perspectives of plastic surgery applicants and program directors (PD) regarding this score reporting change. Methods A 24-item survey was distributed to integrated applicants from the 2018-19 and 2019-20 application cycles. An analogous 28-item survey was sent to integrated and independent plastic surgery training program directors. Data were analyzed using summary tables and marginal homogeneity tests. Results 164 applicants (33.2%) and 64 PDs (62.1%) completed the survey. Most applicants (60.3%) and PDs (81.0%) were not in favor of the score reporting change. As a result of binary scoring, a majority of respondents anticipate that residency programs will use Step 2 CK scores to screen applicants (applicants: 95.7%, PDs: 82.8%), prioritize students from more prestigious medical schools (applicants: 91.5%, PDs: 52.4%), and that dedicated research time will become more important (applicants: 87.9%, PDs: 45.3%). Most applicants (66.4%) and PDs (53.1%) believe that there will be an increase in plastic surgery applicants. Applicants and PDs anticipate that the top 3 metrics used by programs when deciding to offer an interview will change as a result of binary Step 1 scoring. Conclusions Most plastic surgery applicants and PDs do not support the change in United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scoring to pass or fail. The majority believe that other metrics (such as Step 2 CK scores, research experience, and medical school reputation) will become more important in the application process.
Local power and the location of subsidized renters in comparative perspective: public support for low- and moderate-income households in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom

In the context of worsening housing affordability for low- and moderate-income households, we assemble data from metropolitan areas in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom to analyze r...
Adjustment in General Equilibrium: Some Industrial Evidence

The link between output changes and factor mix adjustments in general equilibrium is examined for each of nine industries using pooled data from twelve developed countries over the years 1970 to 1985. Specifications of the Stolper-Samuelson theorem and the specific factors model of production are built on the assumptions and structure of theory with each industry isolated in turn. In their simplest version with only capital and labor input, these competitive general equilibrium models explain a good deal of the observed variation in industrial factor mixes. The specific factors model performs somewhat better.
Radar-based monitoring system for medication tampering using data augmentation and multivariate time series classification

Abstract Inadvertent use of medication that has been tampered with can cause serious harm. Monitoring how and when medication was last used or touched is important for mitigating risks. In this paper, we present a new radar-based monitoring system that can detect eight different types of tampering methods with three types of medication containers. Our system works by using a FMCW and CW Doppler radar to capture motion speed, direction, and range, which we use for classifying activities. For monitoring activities at home, our system can be setup underneath a kitchen cabinet to monitor medication left out on the countertop. As our system uses radar, we can preserve privacy of individuals as the signatures from the radar are specific to the locations of the antennas and not necessarily associated with an individual. For classifying activities we created a processing pipeline that extracts a set of features from the raw multivariate time series signals from the radar. We then used three types of data augmentation techniques including jittering, scaling, and magnitude warping, to increase our data sets and increase our classification model accuracy. In addition, we evaluated our system using 5-fold cross validation and with different types of augmentation data sets. Our system can achieve 99% accuracy using a logistic regression classifier with multiple people.
Feasibility Study on MR-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Sciatic Nerve in a Swine Model: Preliminary Results

Spastic patients often seek neurolysis, the permanent destruction of the sciatic nerve, for better pain management. MRI-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) may serve as a noninvasive alternative to the prevailing, more intrusive techniques. This in vivo acute study is aimed at performing sciatic nerve neurolysis using a clinical MRgHIFU system. The HIFU ablation of sciatic nerves was performed in swine (n = 5) using a HIFU system integrated with a 3 T MRI scanner. Acute lesions were confirmed using T1-weighted contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI and histopathology using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The animals were euthanized immediately following post-ablation imaging. Reddening and mild thickening of the nerve and pallor of the adjacent muscle were seen in all animals. The HIFU-treated sections of the nerves displayed nuclear pyknosis of Schwann cells, vascular hyperemia, perineural edema, hyalinization of the collagenous stroma of the nerve, myelin sheet swelling, and loss of axons. Ablations were visible on CE MRI. Non-perfused volume of the lesions (5.8–64.6 cc) linearly correlated with estimated lethal thermal dose volume (4.7–34.2 cc). Skin burn adjacent to the largest ablated zone was observed in the first animal. Bilateral treatment time ranged from 55 to 138 min, and preparation time required 2 h on average. The acute pilot study in swine demonstrated the feasibility of a noninvasive neurolysis of the sciatic nerve using a clinical MRgHIFU system. Results revealed that acute HIFU nerve lesions were detectable on CE MRI, gross pathology, and histology.
Reality Check: How Reality Television Can Affect Youth and How a Media Literacy Curriculum Can Help

For the past decade, reality television programming has dominated the television market while inherently giving the impression that what occurs on the screen is in fact reality. Although mature audiences may be savvy about the differences between reality and reality television, for children and adolescents, these differences can be less clear. It is important to know what values youth are ascertaining from reality television, as studies have suggested that these media images may have a negative impact on adolescent values. Fortunately, media literacy education has shown promising results in counteracting the negative impact of some television programming. The goals of this paper are to show the potential benefits for the development of a media literacy curriculum for psychiatry residents, including critical media literacy skills, media history taking, and counseling concepts. Our hopes are that trained residents may learn to effectively teach these literacy skills to their patients, patients' families, educators, and other health professionals as a preventive measure against potential negative mental health effects of reality television.
Mitochondrial DNA has a pro-inflammatory role in AMD.

Abstract Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly of industrialized nations, and there is increasing evidence to support a role for chronic inflammation in its pathogenesis. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been recently reported to be pro-inflammatory in various diseases such as Alzheimer's and heart failure. Here, we report that intracellular mtDNA induces ARPE-19 cells to secrete inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, which have been consistently associated with AMD onset and progression. The induction was dependent on the size of mtDNA, but not on specific sequence. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of AMD, and our findings indicate that mtDNA induces IL-6 and IL-8 more potently when oxidized. Cytokine induction was mediated by STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) and NF-κB as evidenced by abrogation of the cytokine response with the use of specific inhibitors (siRNA and BAY 11-7082, respectively). Finally, mtDNA primed the NLRP3 inflammasome. This study contributes to our understanding of the potential pro-inflammatory role of mtDNA in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Ultrasonographic detection of testicular ischemia in a canine model using phospholipid coated microbubbles (MRX-115)

The purpose of this study was to determine if the sonographic contrast agent MRX-115 could improve the accuracy of Doppler ultrasonographic diagnosis of testicular ischemia. Testicular duplex ultrasonography was performed on six dogs before and after surgical ligation of the testicular artery, and before and after intravenous injection of MRX-115. Six radiologists blinded to experimental conditions rated the testicular blood flow. Receiver operating characteristics curves for conditions with and without administration of contrast agent were compared using Student's t-test for paired observations. Statistically significant differences were found both for the testes viewed individually (P = 0.003) and for the testes in comparison to the contralateral side (P = 0.0001). MRX-115 therefore is found to improve duplex sonographic evaluation of testicular ischemia.
Open source disruptive-innovation strategy

Is open source software disrupting the software industry? If yes, how does this process work and what are its likely impacts? The purpose of this article is to explore the market effects of open source software as a disruptive innovation. The research framework it proposes accounts for the dynamic complexity of the open-source disruptive innovation strategy (DIS) of disrupter firms or communities, and the disruptive-innovation response strategies (DIRS) of incumbent software firms. The article articulates essential components of DIS and DIRS, namely new software performance dimensions and organizational innovations that open source enables. The interaction of DIS and DIRS processes through time can lead either to the failure or to the co-existence of incumbent and disrupter firms or communities. The article extends disruptive innovation theory and helps managers make sense of the complex competitive dynamics introduced by open source.
A Review of: “Pharmaceutical Stress Testing: Predicting Drug Degradation”

Stress testing of pharmaceuticals is undertaken to investigate degradation pathways of active ingredients and predict the shelf-life of drug products. Currently, there is no regulatory guidance ava...
Novel small folded shorted-patch antennas

The size of a conventional shorted-patch antenna can be reduced by almost a half via folding the shorted patch together with the ground plane. The resonant frequency of the folded shorted-patch antenna may be further lowered by reducing the width of the shorting walls or by moving the folded patch upward. It is shown that the antenna length of a folded shorted-patch can be reduced to less than 1/8 the length of a conventional patch antenna. A practical folded shorted-patch antenna for the Bluetooth ISM band is designed and measured to demonstrate its application potential. This size-reduced antenna can achieve an impedance bandwidth of 4% and has a nearly omnidirectional radiation pattern, which may be suitable for some mobile communications systems.
Serum and Wound Vancomycin Levels After Intrawound Administration in Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infection is the most common cause of readmissions after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Intrawound vancomycin powder (VP) has reduced infection rates in spine surgery; however, there are no data regarding VP in primary TJA. Methods Thirty-four TJA patients received 2 g of VP intraoperatively to investigate VP's pharmacokinetics. Serum and wound concentrations were measured at multiple intervals over 24 hours after closure. Results All serum concentrations were subtherapeutic ( Conclusions VP produced highly therapeutic intrawound concentrations while yielding low systemic levels in TJA. VP may serve as a safe adjunct in the prevention of periprosthetic joint infection.
Beyond the white coat ceremony.

Note from Anna B. Reisman, Co-Director, Yale Internal Medicine Residency Writers’ Workshop, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and VA Connecticut Health Care System: This issue inaugurates a new feature: selected writings from the Yale Internal Medicine Residency Program’s Writers’ Workshop. The annual workshop began in 2003. Abraham Verghese and Richard Selzer, among the best known physician-writers in the United States, have served as workshop leaders, teaching the craft of writing to more than 35 residents. In designing the workshop with my co-director, Dr. Asghar Rastegar, our aim was to make participants better physicians by providing a creative outlet for reflection. The tempo of a resident’s day is typically furious — one patient dies, perhaps, another sickens, a third refuses a necessary procedure, a fourth’s wife cries inconsolably at the bedside — with no time in between to ponder what happened, much less what it meant to the patient or to the resident and how it might shape the way the resident practices medicine in the future. Without time to muse about the experience, many residents take the easy road: They emotionally detach. Writing, we believe, can be an antidote to this tendency. The exercise of writing not only makes us empathic; it also sharpens our diagnostic skills. One of the keys to compelling writing is attention to detail: the nervous twitch of an old man’s eye muscles or the decayed front teeth of a young woman, a former crack addict. Such details not only make our writing come alive but also sensitize us to our patients’ plights and sharpen our diagnostic skills. The stories and essays written by the Writers’ Workshop participants present a range of experiences, real and imagined, and take us deep into the minds of young doctors trying to make sense of what they do.
Strategically Mobile Agents

To realize its promise of providing scaleable and optimal use of network resources, mobile agent technology must be integrated with non-mobile architectures (e.g., client-server) while taking into account the specific needs of applications. This paper introduces a general characterization of mobile agent applications that provides a framework for reasoning about such optimization issues. This framework is refined to enable analysis of alternative mobility policies, and the development of a new strategic mobility policy that uses the application characterization to intelligently decide on mobility. The analysis shows that the extreme cases of ‘always mobile’ and ‘always stationary’ are sub-optimal with respect to strategic mobility. Strategic mobility has been implemented in a software prototype called Mobile-AgentX and successfully tested in an application of concurrent engineering of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS).
The Persistence of Sail in the Age of Steam: Underwater Archaeological Evidence from the Dry Tortugas

The Persistence of Sail in the Age of Steam: Underwater Archaeological Evidence from the Dry Tortugas. Donna J. Souza. New York: Plenum Press, 1998. 189 pp.
Chronic administration of morphine alters immediate-early gene expression in the forebrain of post-dependent rats.

Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that acute, systemic administration of morphine results in an induction of the immediate-early gene (IEG) proteins, c-Fos and Jun-B, in the dorsomedial portion of the rat caudate-putamen (CPu). These studies have also shown that morphine can induce c-Fos in the central medial nucleus of the thalamus (CM). To determine whether this response is altered in post-dependent rats, twice-daily injections of an ascending dose of morphine were administered for 5 days, followed by a withdrawal period of 7 or 14 days. A challenge injection of morphine (10 mg/kg) was administered on the last day of withdrawal. As compared to an acute dose of morphine in a naive animal, the induction of c-Fos was increased in the dorsolateral CPu following challenge injection at 7 days, but not at 14 days. Induction of c-Fos in the CM following the challenge injection was blunted following 7 day, but not at 14 days, of withdrawal. An increase in the IEG protein, Jun-B, was also seen following 7 but not 14 days of withdrawal in both the dorsomedial and dorsolateral CPu. These findings demonstrate that a chronic treatment of morphine can result in altered patterns of IEG expression upon challenge with acute morphine, in a time-dependent manner, within the rat CPu and CM.
Fetal cardiovascular effects of lower urinary tract obstruction with giant bladder

Objective Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) with massive bladder distension impacts on a variety of developing organ systems with consequent morbidity and mortality. The impact of LUTO on the fetal cardiovascular system has not previously been investigated. We hypothesize that a giant, distended bladder within the pelvis may cause vascular compression with observable consequences. Methods Fetal echocardiography was performed in 42 fetuses with LUTO and compared with 35 normal controls matched for gestational age. Parameters investigated included cardiothoracic ratio, presence or absence of ventricular hypertrophy and pericardial effusion. Doppler echocardiographic examination of mitral and tricuspid valve inflow and the ductus venosus was performed. To assess arterial vascular impedance, pulsatility indices (PIs) were calculated for segments of the descending aorta and right and left iliac arteries (RIA and LIA). Results In the LUTO group an increased cardiothoracic ratio was seen in nine (21%), ventricular hypertrophy in 12 (29%) and small pericardial effusion in 15 (36%). Filling characteristics of the right ventricle in the LUTO group demonstrated greater dependency upon atrial contraction, and ductus venosus flow demonstrated higher downstream impedance to filling, than in controls, suggesting altered compliance. The LUTO group also had lower distal descending aorta PI (1.53 ± 0.38 vs. 1.76 ± 0.44, P = 0.04), lower RIA-PI (1.31 ± 0.29 vs. 1.76 ± 0.44, P < 0.001) and lower LIA-PI (1.41 ± 0.44 vs. 1.73 ± 0.31, P < 0.01) than controls, suggesting vascular compression and increased impedance to flow. Conclusions LUTO with giant urinary bladder compresses the iliac arteries, which may lead to increased afterload. Further study is warranted to examine the impact of fetal treatment such as bladder drainage on these cardiovascular parameters. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The chemical potential for stress-driven surface diffusion

Stress-driven morphological instability in solids is governed by a surface-diffusion mechanism that is dependent upon the chemical potential that is merely the sum of the surface energy and the surface value of the bulk strain energy. This version of the chemical potential is shown to be incomplete and the exact expression is rigorously derived in the context of finite deformation. The role of the surface stress in the new and complete formulation for the surface roughening phenomenon is demonstrated.