cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast parallel Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient algorithms for robot manipulator dynamics simulation

In this paper fast parallel Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (PCG) algorithms for robot manipulator forward dynamics, or dynamic simulation, problem are presented. By exploiting the inherent structure of the forward dynamics problem, suitable preconditioners are devised to accelerate the iterations. Also, based on the choice of preconditioners, a modified dynamic formulation is used to speedup both serial and parallel computation of each iteration. The implementation of the parallel algorithms on two interconnected processor arrays is discussed and their computation and communication complexities are analyzed. The simulation results for a Puma Arm are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed preconditioners. With a faster convergence due to preconditioning and a faster computation of iterations due to parallelization, the developed parallel PCG algorithms represent the fastest alternative for parallel computation of the problem withO(n) processors.
Intravenous modification of the hippuric acid test for liver function

A technique for carrying out the intravenous modification of the hippuric acid test for liver function is described. The excretion of 1 gm. of hippuric acid in one hour after 1.77 gm. of sodium benzoate has been injected is recommended as the standard for normal.
Macroeconomic forecasting using structural factor analysis

Abstract The use of a small number of underlying factors to summarize the information from a much larger set of information variables is one of the new frontiers in forecasting. In prior work, the estimated factors have not usually had a structural interpretation and the factors have not been chosen on a theoretical basis. In this paper we propose several variants of a general structural factor forecasting model, and use these to forecast certain key macroeconomic variables. We make the choice of factors more structurally meaningful by estimating factors from subsets of information variables, where these variables can be assigned to subsets on the basis of economic theory. We compare the forecasting performance of the structural factor forecasting model with that of a univariate AR model, a standard VAR model, and some non-structural factor forecasting models. The results suggest that our structural factor forecasting model performs significantly better in forecasting real activity variables, especially at short horizons.
An unusual cytoplasmic organelle in oocytes of Ilyanassa obsoleta

An unusual organelle in the oocytes of the marine mud snail Ilyanassa obsoleta is described and called a polymerosome, because of its several components. Polymerosomes appear at the beginning of vitellogenesis and persist, in part, through postvitellogenesis. The persistent part is similar to an organelle that has been described by other workers in the vegetal region and the polar lobe of the Ilyanassa egg.
Association of glass fragments by their trace elemental content using ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS in the analysis scheme

The importance of glass as evidence of association between a crime event and a suspect has been recognized for some time. Glass is a fragile material that is often found at the scenes of crimes such as burglaries, hit-and-run accidents and violent crime offenses. The physical and chemical properties of glass can be used to differentiate between possible sources and as evidence of association between two fragments of glass thought to originate from the same source. Refractive index (RI) comparisons have been used for this purpose but due to the improved control over glass manufacturing processes, RI values often cannot differentiate glasses, even if the glass originates from different sources. Elemental analysis methods such as NAA, XRF, ICP-AES, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) have also been used for the comparison of trace elemental compositions and these techniques have been shown to provide an improvement in the discrimination of glass fragments over RI comparisons alone. The multi-element capability and the sensitivity of ICP-MS combined with the simplified sample introduction of laser ablation prior to ion detection provides for an excellent and relatively non-destructive technique for elemental analysis of glass fragments. The methodology for solution analysis (digestion procedure) and solid sample analysis (laser ablation) of glass is reported and the analytical results are compared. An isotope dilution method is also reported as a high precision technique for elemental analysis of glass fragments. The optimum sampling parameters for laser ablation, for semi-quantitative analysis and element ratio comparisons are also presented. Finally, the results of a case involving the breaking of 15 vehicle windows in an airport parking lot and the association of a suspect to the breakings by the glass fragments found on his person are also presented.
Control of juvenile hormone production: the relationship between precursor supply and hormone synthesis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Abstract Tissue culture conditions for the production of juvenile hormone by excised corpora allata from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta , were optimized and hormone output was monitored by incorporation of [ 14 C-methyl]-methionine. Production was moderate in early fifth instar but undetectable in late fifth instar larvae. It was low in pupae, unmeasurable in adult males and high in adult females. Hormone production by glands of adult females was unaffected by the presence in the medium of juvenile hormone III, the hormone analogue, Methoprene, dibutyrylcyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic GMP and 25-hydroxycholesterol, an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis in mammals. The assay of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in homogenates of corpora allata from M. sexta was optimized and activity in homogenates from animals at various life stages was determined. The correlation between the activity of the enzyme and hormone production by intact glands was excellent in all cases examined except for adult males, which have very high HMG-CoA reductase levels, but produce no hormone. Unlike the HMG-CoA reductase of mammalian tissue, the activity of corpus allatum enzyme is unaffected by Mg 2+ ATP or fluoride ion, an inhibitor of phosphoprotein phosphatase. The activity is also unaffected by the presence of cAMP, cGMP, IBMX or 25-hydroxycholesterol.
Applying the Human Performance Improvement process to the U.S. Navy Enlisted Aide Program

The performance study described in this article was conducted to examine U.S. Navy enlisted aides (EAs) who were being relieved for duty-related performance and to make recommendations for improving the system. The vice chief of naval operations requested a review of the performance issues associated with 13 EAs who were being relieved for cause. Problems with personnel planning, a sufficient pool of qualified applicants, and poor performance of existing aides were identified as root causes. At the beginning of the project, 67 EAs were assigned to flag quarters (senior officers' government housing). In a 27-month period, 19% of EAs were removed for duty-related performance. In implementing the proposed interventions, the performance gaps were closed, thereby increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the EA program.
Candidate gene susceptibility variants predict intermediate end points but not angiographic coronary artery disease

Background Moderate-sized studies have suggested that variants of candidate genes can influence laboratory markers of coronary artery disease (CAD), but whether they predict parallel changes in clinical CAD risk is unknown. Methods We studied a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) from each of the 5 candidate genes for intermediate (laboratory) and clinical (angiographic CAD) end points in a large cohort of patients. The 5 gene SNPs were cholesteryl ester transfer protein ( CETP ) Taq IB (N = 3219), ATP-binding cassette ( ABCA1 ) G596A (N = 3302), lipoprotein lipase ( LPL ) Hin dIII (N = 909), plasminogen activator inhibitor, type 1 ( PAI1 ), 4G/5G (N = 1142), and hepatic lipase ( HL ) C-541T (N = 4704). Intermediate outcomes were high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TGs). Cases had 1- to 3-vessel CAD (≥70% stenosis); controls had angiographically normal coronaries. Results Cholesteryl ester transfer protein predicted HDL (mean, B1B1 35.0 mg/dL, B2B2 38.6 mg/dL; P P = .35, odds ratio [OR] = 0.89). ABCA1 predicted HDL (mean, GG=36.4 mg/dL, AA=39.2 mg/dL; P = .02) but not CAD (GG 74%, AA 75%; adjusted P = .96, OR=0.99). HL predicted HDL (CC 37.1 mg/dL, TT 40.9 mg/dL; P = .002) but not CAD (CC 71%, TT 68%, adjusted P = .66, OR=0.94). LPL predicted TG (median: [++] 134, [−−] 98 mg/dL; P P = .99, OR=1.00). PAI1 predicted TG (median, 4G4G 130 mg/dL, 5G5G 148 mg/dL; P = .16), but not CAD (4G4G 77%, 5G5G 76%; adjusted P = .62, OR=1.11). Conclusions Five SNPs predicted differences in risk-related lipids but not angiographic CAD. These discrepancies suggest that genetic determinants of CAD are complex and intermediate phenotypes are poor surrogates. These findings have important implications for future directions in genetic research.
'Every African a Nationalist': Scientific Forestry and Forest Nationalism in Colonial Tanzania

In 1959 the governors of Uganda and Kenya complained that the fast pace toward independence in neighboring Tanganyika put pressure on them to hasten independence in their own territories. The problem, as these officials saw it, was that Julius Nyerere and the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) had galvanized the overwhelming support of Africans for responsible self-government, with only token opposition from Asians, Europeans, and other Africans. Richard Tumbull, the Governor of Tanganyika, explained that, in spite of British efforts to manipulate Tanganyikan politics in order to delay independence, "here every African is a nationalist."' As a result, the colonial administration was unable to stave off independence for two or three decades by stoking political divisions. If it tried to do so, Tumbull warned, they would soon be confronted with a series of strikes, boycotts, and protests that would ultimately blossom into "a combination of Mau Mau and the Maji Maji rebellion, with all the support of modem techniques in guerilla warfare, sabotage, and fifth column activities."2 British security forces in Tanganyika, he noted, were weak and not up to the task of dealing with a guerilla war or even general disorder. In his explanation of TANU's rapid success in leading the territory to independence in December 1961, Nyerere offered a different perspective. He wrote that TANU and its supporters eschewed violence and kept the goal of independence clearly in their sites. "We had to choose whether to exploit the
Injury Mortality Following the Loss of Air Medical Support for Rural Interhospital Transport

Objectives: This study evaluated variation in mortality among interfacility transfers three years before and after discontinuation of a rotor-wing transport service. Methods: A retrospective cohort assessment was conducted among severely injured patients transferred from four rural hospitals to a single tertiary center in regions with continued versus discontinued rotor-wing service. Thirty-day mortality following discharge from the receiving tertiary facility served as the primary outcome measure. Results: Discontinuation of rotor-wing transport decreased interfacility transfers and increased transfer time. Transferred patients were four times more likely to die after (compared with before) rotor-wing service was discontinued (p = 0.05). No difference was noted in the region with continued rotor-wing service [odds ratio (OR) = 0.53, p = 0.47]. Conclusions: Injury mortality increased with loss of air transport for interfacility transfer in a rural area.
Partial tag comparison: a new technology for power-efficient set-associative cache designs

We call comparing a small part of two tags a Partial Comparison. In this paper, we show that the partial comparison method can filter out most of the unmatched tag comparisons for different cache configurations. The delay of the partial comparison operation is only 60% of that of the full comparison. This paper proposes to use the partial comparison technique to reduce energy dissipation on major cache components of set-associative caches. We show that when adaptive schemes based on partial comparison are applied to amplifiers and bit-lines, the power consumption of set-associative caches is similar to that of direct-mapped caches. We used the CACTI cache model to evaluate the proposed cache architecture and the Simplescalar CPU simulator to produce final results. The power simulation results suggest that the proposed set-associative cache architecture is very power-efficient. In the simulated cache configurations, 25%-60% of cache accessing energy was saved.
Delineation of individual human chromosomes in metaphase and interphase cells by in situ suppression hybridization using recombinant DNA libraries

A method of in situ hybridization for visualizing individual human chromosomes from pter to qter, both in metaphase spreads and interphase nuclei, is reported. DNA inserts from a single chromosomal library are labeled with biotin and partially preannealed with a titrated amount of total human genomic DNA prior to hybridization with cellular or chromosomal preparations. The cross-hybridization of repetitive sequences to nontargeted chromosomes can be markedly suppressed under appropriate preannealing conditions. The remaining single-stranded DNA is hybridized to specimens of interest and detected with fluorescent or enzymelabeled avidin conjugates following post-hybridization washes. DNA inserts from recombinant libraries for chromosomes 1, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 22, and X were assessed for their ability to decorate specifically their cognate chromosome; most libraries proved to be highly specific. Quantitative densitometric analyses indicated that the ratio of specific to nonspecific hybridization signal under optimal preannealing conditions was at least 8:1. Interphase nuclei showed a cohesive territorial organization of chromosomal domains, and laserscanning confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to aid the 3-D visualization of these domains. This method should be useful for both karyotypic studies and for the analysis of chromosome topography in interphase cells.
Basic properties of the spheral solar cell

Spheral solar technology consists of silicon spheres embedded in aluminum foil. Sphere processing consists of obtaining metallurgical-grade silicon feedstock in the form of irregular shaped particles, melting them into spheres, upgrading them in purity, and diffusion. Cell processing consists of bonding the spheres to a perforated foil, exposing the core, and applying an insulator and a backfoil to complete the cell. Flexible 10 cm/sup 2/ solar cells of 10 cm/sup 2/ are repeatably produced with average and peak efficiencies of 10% and 11%, respectively. >
Rate-constrained optimal block-adaptive coding for digital tape recording of HDTV

An image coding algorithm for digital video tape recorders (DVTR) must satisfy several requirements which do not arise in other applications of video compression. A key constraint on the data format is satisfied if every frame (or field) of video is partitioned into a small number of subimages, each independently coded with a fixed number of bits. This requirement excludes the use of interframe coding and most variable-rate image coding algorithms. We propose to use a new algorithm that codes a subimage efficiently under this data format constraint and allows virtually lossless reproduction at reasonable low bit rates. Each subimage is partitioned into non-overlapping blocks and each block is coded by one of a finite set of predesigned block quantizers covering a range of bit rates. For the ith block in the subimage, a rate function Ri(Li) and a distortion function Di(Li) is tabulated for each block quantizer Li. A near-optimal quantizer allocation algorithm based on the Lagrange Multiplier method is used to select a particular quantizer for each block. The objective is to minimize the distortion of the entire subimage under the constraint on the total number of bits for the subimage. A system for the compression of HDTV for DVTR's based on this rate-constrained optimal block-adaptive technique is designed using the DCT and vector quantization with a multistage structure. Simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm has the potential of achieving virtually lossless compression for digital tape recording of HDTV.
STAPHYLOCOCCAL MULLER PHENOMENON: RELATIONSHIP TO THE PLASMINOGEN-PLASMIN SYSTEM

Abstract Quie, Paul G. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis) and Lewis W. Wannamaker. Staphylococcal Muller phenomenon: relationship to the plasminogen-plasmin system. J. Bacteriol. 82:770–783. 1961.—The staphylococcal factor that produces particulate proteolysis (Muller phenomenon) in whole blood or hemoglobinserum agar plates has been obtained in supernatants from broth cultures. This has facilitated study of the phenomenon in a sterile system. The bacterial factor has been partially separated from other extracellular products by starch zone electrophoresis. Staphylococcal Muller factor and staphylokinase are similar in heat stability, in electrophoretic mobility, and in activation of a serum proteolytic system. A relationship of the Muller phenomenon to the plasminogen-plasmin system is also suggested by the observation that purified plasminogen may be substituted for serum in the sterile system, and by the finding that inhibitors of the plasminogen-plasmin system also inhibit the Muller phenomenon. Although growing colonies of streptococci fail to exhibit the Muller phenomenon, particulate proteolysis can be demonstrated with streptokinase, using a double-diffusion technique. A similar phenomenon can be produced with urine, suggesting that urokinase may substitute for the bacterial activators in the Muller phenomenon. Although evidence from other sources suggests that the serum Muller factor is particulate, the serum factor appears to be freely diffusible in agar and is not readily sedimented in the ultracentrifuge.
Jewish Women's History in the Roman Period: a Task for Christian Theology

As a teacher, as a scholar, as a dean, and as a churchman, Krister Stendahl has worked for decades to further Jewish-Christian relations and to promote women's studies and women. It is out of gratitude to him that I present these theses, which I see as a continuation of his work.
Illness Narrative, Depression, and Sainthood: An Analysis of the Writings of Mother Teresa

In 2007, the letters of The Blessed Mother Teresa to her confessors were published for the public in a book entitled Come Be My Light. What surprised many readers was that Mother Teresa felt very distant from God and described feeling great “darkness” for many years. This paper draws parallels between the writings of Mother Teresa and those of writers’ illness narratives describing the psychiatric condition of Depression. The author provides this textual analysis to explore Mother Teresa’s experience within a psychiatric paradigm (Major Depressive Disorder), in comparison with and contrast to the spiritual paradigm of a “Dark Night of the Soul.”
Analysis of the Work Flow in a Complex Project

The paper presents the findings of a study conducted at a large 360-bed and 730,000+ square feet hospital in Southern California. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the work flow of trades working on the project site and to identify problems that prevent a continuous flow of work of dry wall, electrical, and mechanical trades working in different rooms. Data was collected through different methods including direct observation of the work and trade meetings, document analysis, value stream mapping, and interviews. The paper focuses on a specific area of the project related to building repetitive units (rooms and bathrooms). A large portion of the lead time to complete the units was related to waiting/idle times resulting from problems in the information flow and especially how people make commitments to execute these tasks.
On Design Preference Elicitation With Crowd Implicit Feedback

We define preference elicitation as an interaction, consisting of a sequence of computer queries and human implicit feedback (binary choices), from which the user’s most preferred design can be elicited. The difficulty of this problem is that, while a humancomputer interaction must be short to be effective, query algorithms usually require lengthy interactions to perform well. We address this problem in two steps. A black-box optimization approach is introduced: The query algorithm retrieves and updates a user preference model during the interaction and creates the next query containing designs that are both likely to be preferred and different from existing ones. Next, a heuristic based on accumulated elicitations from previous users is employed to shorten the current elicitation by querying preferred designs from previous users (the “crowd”) who share similar preferences to the current one.
Research on Schizophrenia in the NIMH Laboratory of Psychology and Psychopathology, 1954-1987

Since its creation in 1954 (as the Laboratory of Psychology) through the present time, the Laboratory of Psychology and Psychopathology has devoted a major effort to the study of schizophrenia . Shakow's studies on impaired reaction time performance led to the development of the concept of segmental set; Rosenthal's work on genetic factors in the etiology of schizophrenia, as well as on the interaction of stress and diathesis, helped to illuminate the nature of transmission of schizophrenia . These investigations set standards of excellence for careful analysis of psychopathological behavior. Our present program of research on schizophrenia emphasizes autonomic, psychophysiological and event-related brain potential investigations of schizophrenic patients and long-term followup of a highrisk population in Israel. In this group, poor attention in children at genetic risk has proved to be a predictor of later development of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Our work also emphasizes a theoretical analysis of the neuropsychological elements that make up attention in relation to psychopathological states.
Biological impact of missing-value imputation on downstream analyses of gene expression profiles

Motivation: Microarray experiments frequently produce multiple missing values (MVs) due to flaws such as dust, scratches, insufficient resolution or hybridization errors on the chips. Unfortunately, many downstream algorithms require a complete data matrix. The motivation of this work is to determine the impact of MV imputation on downstream analysis, and whether ranking of imputation methods by imputation accuracy correlates well with the biological impact of the imputation. Methods: Using eight datasets for differential expression (DE) and classification analysis and eight datasets for gene clustering, we demonstrate the biological impact of missing-value imputation on statistical downstream analyses, including three commonly employed DE methods, four classifiers and three gene-clustering methods. Correlation between the rankings of imputation methods based on three root-mean squared error (RMSE) measures and the rankings based on the downstream analysis methods was used to investigate which RMSE measure was most consistent with the biological impact measures, and which downstream analysis methods were the most sensitive to the choice of imputation procedure. Results: DE was the most sensitive to the choice of imputation procedure, while classification was the least sensitive and clustering was intermediate between the two. The logged RMSE (LRMSE) measure had the highest correlation with the imputation rankings based on the DE results, indicating that the LRMSE is the best representative surrogate among the three RMSE-based measures. Bayesian principal component analysis and least squares adaptive appeared to be the best performing methods in the empirical downstream evaluation. Contact:ctseng@pitt.edu; guy.brock@louisville.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Three-dimensional harmonic functions near termination or intersection of gradient singularity lines: A general numerical method

Abstract The harmonic function u near point 0 from which a single singularity ray emanates is assumed to be dominated by the term r λ ρ ρ U where r = distance from point 0, p = known constant and ρ = chosen function of angular spherical coordinates θ, ϑ, for which a partial differential equation with boundary conditions, especially those at the singularity rays, and a variational principle, are derived. Because grad U is nonsingular, a 1numerical solution is possible, using, e.g. the finite difference or finite element methods. This reduces the problem to finding λ of the smallest real part satisfying the equation Det ( A ij ) = 0 where A ij is a large matrix whose coefficients depend linearly on μ = λ ( λ + 1). In general λ and A ij are complex. Solutions can be obtained either by reduction to a standard matrix eigenvalue problem for μ, or by successive conversions to nonhomogeneous linear equation systems. Computer studies have confirmed the feasibility of the method and have shown that highly accurate results can be obtained. Solutions for cracks and notches ending at a plane or conical surface, and for cracks ending obliquely at a halfspace surface, are presented. In these cases, λ is real and the singularity is always weaker ( λ > p ) than on the singularity line and may even disappear ( λ > 1). Furthermore, elastic stresses under a wedge-shaped rigid sliding stamp or at a corner of a crack edge, and also harmonic functions at three-sided pyramidal notches, have been analyzed. Here λ p was found to occur. A simple analytical solution for one class of special cases has also been found and used to check some of the numerical results.
AUTOMATIC FINAL TEST OF ELECTRONIC CLOCKS

An automatic test system which eliminates the need for human judgement from the in-process production testing of Electronic Clocks is described. The system, designed on a building block concept, is composed mostly of commercially available equipment with a minimum amount of custom hardware. Solid state electronic cameras and an inhouse developed computer vision system eliminate the need for an operator to view the displays of the clocks while they are under test.
Dynabooks: Supporting Teachers to Engage All Learners in Key Literacies

We focus on how a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can be used to design Dynabooks that are sensitive to the needs of all learners as they engage in sense making, expression, and inquiry in challenging domains. UDL directs our attention to multiple representations, supports for students’ action and expression, and ways to engage diverse students with material. We report on how a UDL approach has been developed in Dynabooks for reading, science, and mathematics and discuss some key challenges going forward, as well as the lessons for educators.
The Mayoralty and the Democratic Creed The Evolution of an Ideology and an Institution

The democratic creed is as ambiguous as it is ambitious, and this affords political elites numerous opportunities to maneuver for strategic policy advantage. One target of these maneuvers is the electoral process, and those who lose, or expect to lose, in this arena are free to seek changes in the formal rules of the game-to alter election procedures or to limit the scope of voter participation-in ways they believe will maximize their substantive interests. The mayoralty is a case in point. Throughout its brief history, the operative meaning of mayoral leadership has varied considerably, and much of this variation has been the result of elite efforts to capitalize on the ambiguities of the democratic creed. Debates over the existence of the mayoralty, the scope of its authority, and its role in urban governance all have been influenced by struggles over the meaning of electoral politics, and these struggles, in turn, have often been prompted by strategic policy calculations. It was thus at the beginning, ...
Pial arteriovenous fistulae in pediatric patients: associated syndromes and treatment outcome

Objective Pediatric pial arteriovenous fistulae (pAVF) are rare vascular lesions of the CNS, reported to have up to a 25% association with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The presentation, treatment and syndromes associated with pAVF in children are reported here. Design A pediatric database for pAVF was retrospectively reviewed. Patients with carotid–cavernous fistulae, dural arteriovenous fistulae, brain arteriovenous malformations and vein of Galen malformations were excluded. Radiographic outcome was assessed using digital subtraction angiography, and clinical outcome by the Functional Status Scale (6=normal, maximal incapacity=30). Results Between July 2003 and June 2011, seven patients with pAVF (six intracranial and one spinal) were treated. Mean age was 4.2 years. The most common clinical presentation was high output cardiac failure (43%). Two patients (29%) harbored a known mutation in the RASA1 gene, associated with a hereditary vascular syndrome: capillary malformation–arteriovenous malformation. No patient had hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Treatment resulted in complete lesional obliteration in six of seven patients, with treatment ongoing in the seventh. Five of seven patients had combined endovascular and surgical treatment while two underwent endovascular embolization alone. Functional Status Scale scores at the most recent follow-up were 6 in all but one patient who had presented with a pretreatment hemianopsia. Conclusion Treatment is effective in obliterating pAVF in children, with an excellent prognosis seen in our cohort. Genetic screening is indicated, with capillary malformation–arteriovenous malformation being the most frequently seen syndrome. No patients had hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia.
Alterations in genes other than EGFR/ALK/ROS1 in non-small cell lung cancer: trials and treatment options

During the last decade, we have seen tremendous progress in the therapy of lung cancer. Discovery of actionable mutations in EGFR and translocations in ALK and ROS1 have identified subsets of patients with excellent tumor response to oral targeted agents with manageable side effects. In this review, we highlight treatment options including corresponding clinical trials for oncogenic alterations affecting the receptor tyrosine kinases MET, FGFR, NTRK, RET, HER2, HER3, and HER4 as well as components of the RAS-RAF-MEK signaling pathway.
COMPASS Intervention Quality and Active Ingredients

In this chapter we continue to explore the elements of the Integrated Model, focusing specifically on the quality of the intervention practice, i.e., teaching quality and thus, teacher behavior. One key question concerning teaching quality, e.g., fidelity, is to examine whether the intended outcomes were indeed a result of the intervention. If the outcomes were poor, an obvious question is whether the intervention was implemented correctly. If the outcomes were good, but fidelity was low, then the findings could be explained by other factors. We begin with a discussion of mechanisms of change or the underlying factors that help explain why COMPASS works with a focus on teaching quality. We also present several other ways we measured teaching quality that included both structural and procedural fidelity. As discussed in the chapter, we were able to answer many questions such as how well teachers followed through and updated their student’s IEP following COMPASS and whether teaching quality improved over time and correlated with child outcomes. Using our other measures of quality, we were able to observe novel ways for expanding our assessment of quality in terms of teacher and child engagement and the use of a promising common elements approach.
The impact of androgen deprivation on artificial urinary sphincter outcomes

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) causes systemic tissue atrophy. It is unclear if this tissue atrophy adversely impacts artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) outcomes. We sought to evaluate the effect of ADT on adverse AUS outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively identified 518 men undergoing primary AUS placement at our institution between 1998 and 2014. Rates of device explant for infection/erosion, mechanical failure, and urethral atrophy in men with >6 months of ADT use within 2 years prior to AUS placement were compared to ADT naive men. Results: Fifty of the patients (50/518, 9.7%) had >6 months of ADT use within 2 years prior to AUS placement while 442 were ADT naive. Multivariable survival analysis of AUS events by competing risks failed to show any effect of ADT on device explantation for infection/erosion (HR 1.12, P=0.68), replacement for mechanical failure (HR 0.92, P=0.77), or urethral atrophy (HR 0.77, P=0.46). Conclusions: This study did not show evidence supporting differences in adverse AUS outcomes between men with ADT use and ADT naive men.
One-dimensional thermomechanical model for high strain rate deformation of austenitic shape memory alloys

Abstract Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit the ability to absorb large dynamic loads and, therefore, are excellent candidates for structural components where impact loading is expected. While most models focus on the shape memory effect and/or pseudoelasticity of polycrystalline SMAs under quasi-static loading conditions; models for dynamic loading are limited. Many of the existing high strain rate models assume that the latent heat generated during deformation contributes to the change in the stress strain behavior during dynamic loading. . The driving force for phase transformation is also related to the phase front velocity, which is not considered in existing models for the constitutive relationship of SMAs at high strain rate deformation. In this paper, the relationship between the driving force for phase transformation and phase front velocity is discussed and a new one-dimensional rate-dependent model is established to model the dynamic loading behavior of SMAs.
When less is more: validating a brief scale to rate interprofessional team competencies.

ABSTRACTBackground: There is a need for validated and easy-to-apply behavior-based tools for assessing interprofessional team competencies in clinical settings. The seven-item observer-based Modified McMaster-Ottawa scale was developed for the Team Objective Structured Clinical Encounter (TOSCE) to assess individual and team performance in interprofessional patient encounters.Objective: We aimed to improve scale usability for clinical settings by reducing item numbers while maintaining generalizability; and to explore the minimum number of observed cases required to achieve modest generalizability for giving feedback.Design: We administered a two-station TOSCE in April 2016 to 63 students split into 16 newly-formed teams, each consisting of four professions. The stations were of similar difficulty. We trained sixteen faculty to rate two teams each. We examined individual and team performance scores using generalizability (G) theory and principal component analysis (PCA).Results: The seven-item scale shows...
Not All Patients With Diabetes Have the Same Risks: Perioperative Glycemic Control Is Associated With Postoperative Infection Following Knee Arthroscopy.

Purpose To determine the association between glycemic control and infection following knee arthroscopy, and to determine the clinical utility of a threshold HbA1c level. Methods A national database identified patients who underwent knee arthroscopy from 2007 to 2016. Patients with concomitant open portions, more complex knee procedures, procedures performed for infection and patients with prior septic knee arthritis were excluded. Patients with an HbA1c level checked within 3 months of surgery were compared to control groups of nondiabetics and diabetics undergoing knee arthroscopy without a perioperative HbA1c. The study group was then stratified based on their HbA1c. The incidence of deep infection within 6 months was identified and compared to those in the control groups. A subgroup analysis was performed to investigate any trend in the timing of postoperative infection. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine and test a threshold value of HbA1c. Results 13,470 study patients were included, with an overall rate of infection of 0.33%. The rate of infection ranged from 0.25% to 1.03%. The rate of infection in study patients was greater than the nondiabetes control group's ( P P = .765). The inflection point of the ROC curve corresponded to an HbA1c level of 8.0 mg/dL ( P = .006, specificity = 76%, sensitivity = 44%, area under curve [AUC] = 0.619). Conclusions The risk of infection following knee arthroscopy increases as the perioperative HbA1c increases. ROC analysis determined that an HbA1c above 8.0 mg/dL could serve as a threshold level; however, the AUC and low sensitivity reflected the poor utility of this test as an independent predictor for infection. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Design of circular dual and quad ridge horn antennas for millimeter wave applications

The design of circular dual and quad ridged horn antennas covering the 18 to 45 GHz band is discussed. An exponential taper and blending fillet for the ridge profile are presented to minimize 3 dB beamwidth variation while maintaining high boresight gain for both dual and quad ridge horns. Boresight gain for a quad ridge design is greater than 15 dBi, while boresight gain greater than 17.9 dBi is shown for a dual ridge circular horn design. Both horns have axial 3 dB beamwidth variation less than 5 degrees over the entire frequency band.
Motor adaptation to lateral pelvis assistance force during treadmill walking in individuals post-stroke

The goal of this study was to determine how individuals post-stroke response to the lateral assistance force applied to the pelvis during treadmill walking. Ten individuals post chronic (> 6 months) stroke were recruited to participate in this study. A controlled assistance force (∼10% of body weight) was applied to the pelvis in the lateral direction toward the paretic side during stance of the paretic leg. Kinematics of the pelvis and legs were recorded. Applying pelvis assistance force facilitated weight shifting toward the paretic side, resulting in a more symmetrical gait pattern but also inducing an enlarged range of motion of the pelvis during early adaptation period. The neural system of individuals post stroke adapted to the pelvis assistance force and showed an aftereffect consists of reduced range of motion of the pelvis following load release during post adaptation period.
High Temperature Oxidation of Some Iron-Chromium Alloys

The scaling characteristics of three Fe-Cr alloys have been investigated by determining their weight gain vs. time curves at 1600° to 2000°F. The scales formed thereby have been examined using the techniques of X-ray diffraction and spectrographs and metallographic analyses in an attempt to explain the discontinuities in the curves and to elucidate the mechanism of scaling.
Two-dimensional halide perovskite nanomaterials and heterostructures

Over the last several years, there has been tremendous progress in the development of nanoscale halide perovskite materials and devices that possess a wide range of band gaps and tunable optical and electronic properties. Particularly, the emerging two-dimensional (2D) forms of halide perovskites are attracting more interest due to the long charge carrier lifetime, high photoluminescence quantum efficiency, and great defect tolerance. Interfacing 2D halide perovskites with other 2D materials including graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) significantly broadens the application range of the 2D materials and enhances the performance of the functional devices. The synthesis and characterization of 2D halide perovskite nanostructures, the interface of the 2D halide perovskites with other 2D materials, and the integration of them into high-performance optoelectronic devices including solar cells, photodetectors, transistors, and memory devices are currently under investigation. In this article, we review the progress of the above-mentioned topics in a timely manner and discuss the current challenges and future promising directions in this field.
Popitz’s Imaginative Variation on Power as Model for Critical Phenomenology

Heinrich Popitz’s Phenomena of Power aims to uncover power as “a universal component in the genesis and operation of human societies”. In order to uncover this “universal” concept of power, Popitz employs Husserl’s method of the “imaginative variation” [Phantasievariation]. Yet, contrary to phenomenology’s traditionally descriptive posture, Phenomena of Power’s project is at once descriptive and normative—seeking not only to describe power, but to also describe the way in which power can be remade. In the present paper it is argued that this normative component of Popitz’s project offers the burgeoning field of critical phenomenology an illustration of the way in which Husserl’s “imaginative variation” might be employed not only as a descriptive tool of pure essences, but also as an instrument in the refashioning of social reality.
Loss of DNA polymerase β induces cellular senescence.

We aim to establish that accelerated aging and premature cellular senescence seen in individuals with Down syndrome is related to reduced DNA polymeraseβ. We report here that primary fibroblasts from Down syndrome individuals exhibit greater SA-β-gal staining (fourfold increase, P < 0.001), increased p16 transcript abundance (threefold increase, P < 0.01), and reduced HMGB1 nuclear localization (1.5-fold lower, P < 0.01). We also find that DNA polymerase β expression is significantly reduced in Down syndrome primary fibroblasts (53% decline, P < 0.01). To evaluate whether DNA polymerase β might be causative in senescence induction, we evaluated the impact of murine DNA polymerase β nullizygosity on senescence. We find that unexposed DNA polymerase β -null primary fibroblasts exhibit a robust increase in the number of senescent cells compared to wild-type (11-fold, P < 0.001), demonstrating that loss DNA polymerase β is sufficient to induce senescence. We also see an additional increase in response to hydroxyurea (threefold greater than WT-HU, P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that loss of DNA polymerase β is sufficient to induce senescence. Additionally, we report a significant induction in spontaneous DNA double strand breaks in DNA polymerase β null MEFs (fivefold increase from wild-type, P < 0.0001). Our findings strongly suggest that DNA polymerase β is causative in senescence induction, reasonably pointing to DNA polymerase β as a likely factor driving the premature senescence in Down syndrome. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:603-612, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Teaching qualitative research methods with Second Life, a 3-dimensional online virtual environment

Since the 1950s, 3-dimensional virtual environments (3DVEs) have been developed to simulate real-world experiences. These virtual worlds have evolved with realistic graphics and large numbers of users with whom to engage in virtual representations of real-life situations. This study investigated how students perceived the usefulness of Second Life (SL) as a tool for teaching research methods to a doctoral-level qualitative research class. Two classes of doctoral students were assigned to groups of three students and were charged with conducting an ethnographic study in a SL community. Students conducted observations and interviews of community members as a simulation of conducting ethnographic research in an unfamiliar culture. Data sources included an end-of-course survey, observation field notes, interview transcriptions, journals, discussion board posts, and video conferencing. Nineteen students agreed to have their data included for analysis. Results indicate that SL provided an innovative means for teaching important aspects of qualitative research, such as securing key informants, gatekeeping, observing and taking field notes, and interviewing, among others. Students experienced the affective aspects of conducting research as well, including how to handle rejection and frustration, the need for flexibility, interacting in a strange world, and how to handle awkward situations, sometimes with hilarious results. While the majority of students found SL to be an innovative way to learn research skills, a few experienced technical glitches, causing frustration that hindered their learning. Students created a list of tips for new users of SL to ease their transition into the virtual environment.
THERMAL EXPANSION OF INTERLAYER WATER IN CLAY SYSTEMS. I. EFFECT OF WATER CONTENT

The specific expansibility (∂V w /∂T) p of the interlayer water. in Na-Saturated montmorillonite was determined as a function of tempenature, T, at several water contents by a dilatometrc technique. It was found that, at any water content, (∂v w /∂T) p was lineanly related to 1/T 2 and that, at any tmpenature, (∂v w /∂T) p decresed exponentially with incresing water content untul it became equal to the Specific expanibility of pure bulk water. at that temperature. Also, It was found that the temperature of maximum density decreased with decreasin water content. Calculations showed that the diference between (∂v w /∂T) p and the Specific expansibility of pure bulk water could not be ascribed entirely to the effiect of the exchangeable cations. Hence, the particly surfaces must have contributed to the enhancement of (∂v w ∂T) p .
Asian and Caucasian: designing apparel for these two different ethnic groups

Abstract: Clothing fit is one of the most important factors that influence consumers’ purchase decisions, and has a great impact on purchase returns. To provide satisfactory fit information to consumers, sizing systems are continuously evolving. Technology such as 3D body scanning has been used to collect individual’s anthropometric data in various countries (i.e., SizeUK, SizeUSA, SizeKorea, SizeThailand, SizeFrance, SizeBrazil, SizeJapan). Although those measurements provide necessary data for the development of a sizing system, standard measurements alone cannot completely solve the issues of sizing and fit. Other important variables such as ethnicity, body type or shape, body image, and perception of acceptable fit are intertwined. This section will provide an understanding of the rising issues regarding the apparel design for different ethnic groups in relation to meeting their different needs.
Unmet needs in cystic fibrosis.

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem illness caused by abnormalities in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene and protein. CFTR is an ion channel regulating transpor...
Lower bounds for the geometric–arithmetic index of graphs with pendant and fully connected vertices

Abstract Using majorization, we find lower bounds for the geometric–arithmetic index of graphs containing either pendant or fully connected vertices.