cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Returns Policy Model for Supply Chain with E-marketplace

A system framework and model of returns policy for supply chain with e-marketplace are put forward.The two-echelon supply chain is composed of one supplier who supplies a single product and accepts returns policy and one retailer who sells a seasonal product with uncertain demands,the retailer can utilize the e-marketplace as a secondary market to directly online-sell "returns" which unsold in traditional markets.Further,the effects of both risk-averse degrees and variance of profit on the expected profit are considered generally,and the optimal order quantity for both traditional market and e-market are deduced.Using the genetic algorithms,the simulation analysis is carried out,and the outcome of two models for traditional market and e-market is compared finally.
Post-digestion 18 O Exchange/Labeling for Quantitative Shotgun Proteomics of Membrane Proteins

The role of membrane proteins is critical for regulation of physiologic and pathologic cellular processes. Hence it is not surpassing that membrane proteins make ∼70% of contemporary drug targets. Quantitative profiling of membrane proteins using mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is critical in a quest for disease biomarkers and novel cancer drugs. Post-digestion (18)O exchange is a simple and efficient method for differential (18)O/(16)O stable isotope labeling of two biologically distinct specimens, allowing relative quantitation of proteins in complex mixtures when coupled with shotgun MS-based proteomics. Due to minimal sample consumption and unrestricted peptide tagging, (18)O/(16)O stable isotope labeling is particularly suitable for amount-limited protein specimens typically encountered in membrane and clinical proteomics. This chapter describes a protocol that relies on shotgun proteomics for quantitative profiling of the detergent-insoluble membrane proteins isolated from HeLa cells, differentially transfected with plasmids expressing HIV Gag protein and its myristylation-defective N-terminal mutant. Whilst this protocol depicts solubilization of detergent-insoluble membrane proteins coupled with post-digestion (18)O labeling, it is amenable to any complex membrane protein mixture. Described approach relies on solubilization and tryptic digestion of membrane proteins in a buffer containing 60% (v/v) methanol followed by differential (18)O/(16)O labeling of protein digests in 20% (v/v) methanol buffer. After mixing, the differentially labeled peptides are fractionated using off-line strong cation exchange (SCX) followed by on-line reversed phase nanoflow reversed-phase liquid chromatography (nanoRPLC)-MS identification/quantiation of peptides/proteins. The use of methanol-based buffers in the context of the post-digestion (18)O exchange/labeling eliminates the need for detergents or chaotropes that interfere with LC separations and peptide ionization. Sample losses are minimized because solubilization, digestion, and stable isotope labeling are carried out in a single tube, avoiding any sample transfer or buffer exchange between these steps.
THE ROLE OF ARTHROSCOPY IN THE TREATMENT OF SCAPHOLUNATE INSTABILITY

Diagnosis of scapholunate instability is made using clinical provocative maneuvers such as the Watson test and a two-compartment arthrogram. The history of treatment options for this instability pattern is reviewed. A technique for arthroscopic treatment is described in which anatomic reduction and multiple pin fixation precipitate fibrous ankylosis to stabilize the joint. Best results were seen in patients with less than 3 months' symptom duration and less than 3-mm side-to-side gap difference. This treatment offers less loss of motion and minimal surgical surgical trauma to the wrist than other techniques currently in use.
“Top-Out” Removal of Well-Fixed Dual-Taper Femoral Stems: Surgical Technique and Radiographic Risk Factors

Abstract Background Contemporary “dual-taper” modular femoral neck-stem designs have been associated with taper corrosion–related adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) requiring revision surgery and stem removal. Extended trochanteric osteotomy is recognized as the workhorse procedure for revision hip surgery. The aim of our study is to describe our “top-out” stem removal surgical technique and identify preoperative radiographic risk factors associated with periprosthetic fractures when using this technique. Methods This is a single-center, single-surgeon, retrospective case series. Operative and clinic records were reviewed for patients with dual-taper modular femoral neck-stem junction who underwent revision surgery for taper tribocorrosion–related ALTR. Results Eighty-three patients (36 men and 47 women; mean age, 61.8 ± 10.3; body mass index, 30.2 ± 8.6) were revised using the top-out technique. Significant improvements in postoperative Harris hip score ( P = .004), EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D; P P P = .002) and overhang ratio (R = 0.312; P = .01) and negatively correlated with radiographic implant medial calcar prominence (R = −0.299; P = .01). Conclusion Removal of well-fixed femoral components can be challenging, and the burden of revision surgery for taper tribocorrosion–related ALTR of these femoral stems is likely to rise. A top-out technique with systematic preoperative planning with radiographs provides a viable, alternative surgical option to remove well-fixed femoral component while preserving the femoral bony envelope.
Good People Declaiming Well: Quintilian and the Ethics of Ethical Flexibility

ABSTRACTThis essay discusses the relationship between Quintilian’s vision of the ideal orator and his emphasis on declamation. I argue that, for Quintilian, declamation was much more than a useful exercise. Rather, it was a method for training orators to experience the world from a variety of perspectives, something Quintilian considered to be both an essential rhetorical skill and an important quality of the “good man speaking well.” I further argue—taking an exercise from my own first-year writing classes as an example—that contemporary adaptations of ancient rhetorical pedagogy often fail to fully engage with the ethical dimensions of exercises such as declamation. I conclude by calling for a greater consideration of the ethical dimension of ancient rhetorical exercises in our contemporary adaptations of them so that we can truly meet Quintilian on his own ground.
Why Students Learn More From Dialogue- Than Monologue-Videos: Analyses of Peer Interactions

In 2 separate studies, we found that college-age students learned more when they collaboratively watched tutorial dialogue-videos than lecture-style monologue-videos. In fact, they can learn as well as the tutees in the dialogue-videos. These results replicate similar findings in the literature showing the advantage of dialogue-videos even when observers watched them individually. However, having the observing students watch collaboratively as dyads provided data to carry out in-depth analyses of their conversations and activities in order to understand why dialogue-videos are superior to monologue-videos. Toward that goal, transcripts of video dialogues and monologues, as well as peer-to-peer conversations of the observing students collected in a prior study, were analyzed using the ICAP (interactive, constructive, active, passive) framework as a lens. Three sets of analyses were carried out. The 1st set focused on the content of the videos in terms of the tutors’ and the tutees’ moves. The 2nd set focus...
The relationship of maternal prenatal development to progress in labor and fetal-newborn health

A study of 32 normal married primigravidas was conducted to determine the relationships among maternal psychological and physiological variables, subsequent progress in labor, and the health status of the fetus and neonate. At the onset of phase 2 of labor (3 cm of cervical dilatation), self-reported anxiety and endogenous plasma epinephrine were significantly correlated. With the deletion of subjects to control for the effect of medications, higher epinephrine levels were significantly associated with lower uterine contractile activity at the onset of phase 2 and with longer labor in phase 2 (3-10 cm of cervical dilatation). Psychological variables measured in pregnancy correlated significantly with the variables measured at the onset of phase 2 labor. Conflict concerning the acceptance of pregnancy showed the most significant relationships to the phase 2 labor variables, with correlations of 0.39 for anxiety, 0.59 for plasma epinephrine, -0.70 and -0.52 for the two adjacent Montevideo units, and 0.58 for duration of labor in phase 2. Conflict regarding the acceptance of pregnancy also correlated significantly with the newborns' 5 minute Apgar scores. Anxiety in labor and plasma epinephrine were significantly correlated with the fetal heart rate pattern during phase 2 of active labor. The fetal heart rate pattern was significantly correlated with newborns' Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes. The results of this study support the following hypotheses: conflicts in pregnancy are predictive of maternal anxiety and stress-related biochemical factors, and these variables are related to prolonged labor and to fetal-newborn depression.
Epidural analgesia for labor and delivery

Summary Epidural anesthesia for labor and delivery is the safest technique that provides complete pain relief. The discovery of spinal opiate receptors and the effectiveness of small doses of opiates augmenting the analgesia of dilute concentrations of local anesthetics has greatly increased the choice of solutions in the anesthesiologist's armamentarium. We are better able to customize the anesthetic to the needs of the patients and our obstetric colleagues. The benefits of epidural anesthesia are numerous and the risks small when proper precautions are taken.
Plane of nutrition affects growth rate, organ size and skeletal muscle satellite cell activity in newborn calves.

Summary Plane of nutrition effects on body, tissue and cellular growth in the neonatal calf are poorly understood. The hypothesis that a low plane of nutrition (LPN) would limit skeletal muscle size by reducing fibre growth and muscle progenitor cell activity was tested. At birth, calves were randomly assigned to either a LPN (20% CP, 20% fat; GE=1.9 Mcal/days) or a high plane of nutrition (HPN; 27% CP, 10% fat, GE = 3.8 Mcal/days) in a 2 × 3 factorial design to test the impact of diet on neonatal calf growth, organ weight and skeletal muscle morphometry with time. Groups of calves (n = 4 or 5) were euthanised at 2, 4 and 8 week of age and organ and empty carcass weights were recorded. Body composition was measured by DXA. Longissimus muscle (LM) fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), fibre/mm2 and Pax7 were measured by immunohistology. Satellite cells were isolated at each time point and proliferation rates were measured by EdU incorporation. Calves fed a HPN had greater (p < 0.05) BW, ADG and hip height than those fed a LPN for 2, 4 or 8 weeks. HPN calves contained a greater (p < 0.05) percentage of fat tissue than LPN calves. Liver, spleen and thymus weights were less (p < 0.05) in LPN calves than HPN animals. Calves fed HPN had larger (p < 0.05) LM CSA at 8 weeks than LPN fed animals with no differences between the groups in numbers of satellite cells per fibre. Proliferation rates of satellite cells isolated from HPN fed calves were greater (p < 0.05) at 2 weeks than LPN fed animals, which exhibited greater (p < 0.05) proliferation rates at 4 weeks than HPN fed calves. We conclude a LPN diet reduces body growth and organ size and metabolically reprograms satellite cell activity.
Conversational Intelligence: Bots and Lessons Learned

How might bots and conversational intelligence change the way we work and socialize, and lead us to rethink the computing experience? Why now? Inspired by online life in China and WeChat we have learned many lessons, both by building advanced bots such as Xiaoice/China, Rinna/Japan, and Tay-Zo/US, and by providing the Bot Framework and Cognitive Services to develop a conversational experience. While it's early days for AI, what are actionable challenges and opportunities in the area of conversational intelligence, and how can bots and language understanding help improve the way we collaborate and work together?
A Molecular Mechanism for Nonphotochemical Quenching in Cyanobacteria

The cyanobacterial orange carotenoid protein (OCP) protects photosynthetic cyanobacteria from photodamage by dissipating excess excitation energy collected by phycobilisomes (PBS) as heat. Dissociation of the PBS–OCP complex in vivo is facilitated by another protein known as the fluorescence recovery protein (FRP), which primarily exists as a dimeric complex. We used various mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques to investigate the molecular mechanism of this FRP-mediated process. FRP in the dimeric state (dFRP) retains its high affinity for the C-terminal domain (CTD) of OCP in the red state (OCPr). Site-directed mutagenesis and native MS suggest the head region on FRP is a candidate to bind OCP. After attachment to the CTD, the conformational changes of dFRP allow it to bridge the two domains, facilitating the reversion of OCPr into the orange state (OCPo) accompanied by a structural rearrangement of dFRP. Interestingly, we found a mutual response between FRP and OCP; that is, FRP and OCPr destabilize ...
Gastric pH and nosocomial pneumonia: a meta-analysis

Source Citation Cook DJ, Laine LA, Guyatt GH, Raffin TA. Nosocomial pneumonia and the role of gastric pH. A meta-analysis. Chest. 1991 Jul;100:7-13.
Breaking the Cigarette Habit: Effects of a Technique Involving Threatened Loss of Money

Participants in a program to break the cigarette habit posted money for a period of either 12 weeks (1965–66 groups) or 16 weeks (1866–1967 group). Participants forfeited their money to the group if they smoked, but earned their money back by completing specified periods of abstinence. Of 25 participants in a college community, 21 abstained for the duration of the program, and the success rates at follow-up periods of more than a year (for the 1965–66 groups) and of 3 months (for the 1966–67 group) from the end of the program are 38 % and 36%, respectively.
The Embowered Woman as Enchanting Commodity: “A Smile of Fortune” and The Rover

In “A Smile of Fortune” and The Rover, Conrad evokes a familiar representation of femininity that is literally as well as figuratively confined, the embowered woman. Here, the familiar figure of the professional seaman ponders a disturbing, developing attraction he has for a cloistered woman who is disempowered and degraded in the eyes of others. Both texts situate their heroines as the object of men’s appraisal, a model through which Conrad considers the intimate connection between the isolation and psychological trauma these women experience and their desirability to men. Dramatizing the disjunction between those “enchanting” illusory figures and the women they overlay allows Conrad to critique reductive codes of romance, even as he acknowledges their prevalence, and, perhaps, inevitability.
Pregnancy history, coronary artery calcification and bone mineral density in menopausal women.

AbstractObjective: This study examined relationships, by pregnancy histories, between bone mineral density (BMD) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in postmenopausal women.Methods: Forty women identified from their medical record as having pre-eclampsia (PE) were age/parity-matched with 40 women having a normotensive pregnancy (NP). Vertebral (T4–9) BMD and CAC were assessed by quantitative computed tomography in 73 (37 with PE and 36 with NP) of the 80 women. Analyses included linear regression using generalized estimating equations.Results: Women averaged 59 years of age and 35 years from the index pregnancy. There were no significant differences in cortical, trabecular or central BMD between groups. CAC was significantly greater in the PE group (p = 0.026). In multivariable analysis, CAC was positively associated with cortical BMD (p = 0.001) and negatively associated with central BMD (p = 0.036). There was a borderline difference in the association between CAC and central BMD by pregnancy history...
Survey Interviewing: Departures from the Script

Most standardized survey interviews are designed for an interviewer to deliver a specific script and follow a set of predefined paths through the survey interview. Most standardized interviewing practices dictate that each interviewer read the questions exactly as they are worded and avoid any deviation from the questions, at least when they are read the first time. However, as this chapter discusses, interviewers sometimes deviate from the standardized script – for example, by modifying the wording of the question or, occasionally, by providing a definition to respondents. Research suggests that when interviewers are well trained and monitored — for example in centralized phone rooms — most deviations from standardized practice are minor and are occasioned by the wording or structure of the question or by a lack of fit between the assumptions of the question and the respondent’s situation. This chapter reviews several different types of these deviations and discusses the positive and negative effects that they can have on survey data quality.
CHAPTER 5 – Trigonometry: The Circular Functions

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of trigonometry of the circular functions. From the definitions of trigonometry, it is understood that if t is real and W (t) = (x, y), then sin t = y, cos t = x, and tan . The domain of tan t is restricted so that x ≠ 0, that is, D: tan t = all reals except , where n is an integer. If a function, f (−x) = f (x), f is said to be even; on the other hand, if f (−x) = −f (−x), then f is said to be odd. A periodic function is one in which the function values repeat at a constant interval. The period of sin t and cos t is 2π. Both sin t and cos t show their periodic or wave nature by repeating y values at 2π intervals. The tangent function is also periodic, but its period is π. Composites of the trigonometric functions—for example, (1 − cos t) and (sin t + cos t)—can be graphed by adding the separate parts.
Trends in brown bear reduction efforts in Alaska, 1980–2017

Abstract: For >35 years Alaska, USA, has attempted to reduce brown bear (Ursus arctos) abundance through adoption of progressively more liberal hunting regulations. We document these changes in a portion of Alaska we term the Liberal [brown bear] Hunting Area (LHA) constituting 76% of Alaska's area. In most instances, regulation liberalizations were intended to reduce brown bear abundance in the expectation this would reduce predation by bears on wild ungulates and thereby increase hunter harvests of these ungulates. Miller et al. (2011) described the hunting regulation changes in the LHA and corresponding increases in brown bear harvests through 2010. We update the changes in regulations and harvests through 2017 and report a shift in the kinds of regulations liberalized. We also document the expansion of regulations pertaining to brown bear population reduction to the small and isolated population on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula (outside the LHA) that resulted in a 25-fold harvest increase in the year of r...
Three years in - changing plan features in the U.S. health insurance marketplace.

A central objective of recent U.S. healthcare policy reform, most notably the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace, has been to increase access to stable, affordable health insurance. However, changing market dynamics (rising premiums, changes in issuer participation and plan availability) raise significant concerns about the marketplaces’ ability to provide a stable source of healthcare for Americans that rely on them. By looking at the effect of instability on changes in the consumer choice set, we can analyze potential incentives to switch plans among price-sensitive enrollees, which can then be used to inform policy going forward. Data on health plan features for non-tobacco users in 2512 counties in 34 states participating in federally-facilitated exchanges from 2014 to 2016 was obtained from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services. We examined how changes in individual plan features, including premiums, deductibles, issuers, and plan types, impact consumers who had purchased the lowest-cost silver or bronze plan in their county the previous year. We calculated the cost of staying in the same plan versus switching to another plan the following year, and analyzed how costs vary across geographic regions. In most counties in 2015 and 2016 (53.7 and 68.2%, respectively), the lowest-cost silver plan from the previous year was still available, but was no longer the cheapest plan. In these counties, consumers who switched to the new lowest-cost plan would pay less in monthly premiums on average, by $51.48 and $55.01, respectively, compared to staying in the same plan. Despite potential premium savings from switching, however, the majority would still pay higher average premiums compared to the previous year, and most would face higher deductibles and an increased probability of having to change provider networks. While the ACA has shown promise in expanding healthcare access, continued changes in the availability and affordability of health plans are likely to result in churning and switching among enrollees, which may have negative ramifications for their health going forward. Future healthcare policy reform should aim to stabilize marketplace dynamics in order to encourage greater care continuity and limit churning.
KNOWBOT; An adaptive data base interface

This paper reports on an adaptive interface KNOWBOT designed to solve some of the problems that face the users of large centralized data bases. The interface applies the neural network approach to information retrieval from a data base. The data base is a subset of the Nuclear Plant Reliability Data System. The interface KNOWBOT preempts an existing data base interface and works in conjunction with it. By design, KNOWBOT starts as a tabula rasa but acquires knowledge through its interactions with the user and the data base. The interface uses its gained knowledge to personalize the data base retrieval process and to induce new queries. The interface also forgets the information that is no longer needed by the user. These self-organizing features of the interface reduce the scope of the data base to the subsets that are highly relevant to the user needs. A proof-of-principal version of this interface has been implemented in Common LISP on a Texas Instruments Explorer I workstation. Experiments with KNOWBOT have been successful in demonstrating the robustness of the model especially with induction and self-organization. This paper describes the design of KNOWBOT and presents some of the experimental results.
Surface Properties and Surface Characterization of Biomaterials

Abstract The surface of a biomaterial typically represents a very small fraction of a biomaterial, but the surface structure and composition usually differ from the bulk. Since the surface region of a biomaterial is what interacts with the biological environment, characterization of its structure and composition is essential. Specialized techniques are required to characterize the small amount of matter in the surface region of a biomaterial. This chapter describes the unique properties of surfaces and how to characterize them. Overviews of surface analysis techniques such as contact angle measurements, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry and scanning probe microscopy are provided.
Surgical Safety Culture in South Carolina Hospitals

Improving safety culture is a priority for hospital operating rooms where small errors can have catastrophic consequences. A variety of initiatives have sought to improve surgical safety culture an...
Comment on Knaeble and Dutter (2017)

Knaeble and Dutter (2017) looked at the issue of when adding covariates can change the sign of the least-squares estimate of a regression coefficient. I will use different, and I hope simpler, nota...
Edge-Based Discovery of Training Data for Machine Learning

We show how edge-based early discard of data can greatly improve the productivity of a human expert in assembling a large training set for machine learning. This task may span multiple data sources that are live (e.g., video cameras) or archival (data sets dispersed over the Internet). The critical resource here is the attention of the expert. We describe Eureka, an interactive system that leverages edge computing to greatly improve the productivity of experts in this task. Our experimental results show that Eureka reduces the labeling effort needed to construct a training set by two orders of magnitude relative to a brute-force approach.
Dynamic Supramolecular Hydrogels Spanning an Unprecedented Range of Host–Guest Affinity

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) macrocycles exhibit a broad range of host-guest binding affinity. Attaching pendant CB[7] and complementary guests on 8-arm PEG macromers affords supramolecular hydrogels with cross-link affinity spanning more than 5 orders of magnitude (1.5 × 107 to 5.4 × 1012 M-1) without changing network topology. Cross-link affinity translates directly to bulk dynamic properties; hydrogels with high-affinity cross-linking behave like covalent gels with limited ability to relax or self-heal. Cross-link affinity furthermore dictates the release rate of encapsulated macromolecules, as well as cell infiltration and material clearance in vivo. This work thus informs a role for affinity in dictating supramolecular hydrogel properties by quantifying and isolating this feature over an unprecedented range.
Common replenishment cycle order policies for multiple products with capacity expansion opportunities and quantity discounts

Abstract Many companies face the challenge of maintaining hundreds, if not thousands, of items in inventory, where each product draws from a common resource (e.g., warehouse space). The introduction of this common resource constraint complicates the traditional lot-sizing problem due to the interdependencies of the lot sizes. This challenge intensifies when the firm can adjust the capacity of the common resource and with the presence of quantity discounts, which may encourage the company to increase lot sizes. This paper develops efficient solutions for a constrained, multi-product lot-sizing problem with a common replenishment cycle, all-units quantity discounts, and a flexible common resource capacity. Historically, the common replenishment cycle (similar to the popular periodic review inventory system) excels in convenience but tends to lag behind in cost effectiveness. We extend the traditional common replenishment cycle approach through the introduction of a refinement policy that allows for more flexibility in the lot-sizing decisions. This modification allows companies to leverage quantity discounts for certain items without detrimental increases to the required common resource capacity (by increasing the cycle length). Via numerical examples and sensitivity analysis, we identify situations where the common replenishment cycle approach with refinement policy outperforms the alternative independent cycles approach in both convenience and cost. Good candidate companies include (1) a growing retailer, (2) a factory with limited storage space, (3) a retailer without secondary warehouse space, (4) a company purchasing bulky items, and (5) a firm located in an expensive city with premium storage space costs.
A vector partition function for the multiplicities of slkC

Abstract We use Gelfand–Tsetlin diagrams to write down the weight multiplicity function for the Lie algebra sl k C (type Ak−1) as a single partition function. This allows us to apply known results about partition functions to derive interesting properties of the weight diagrams. We relate this description to that of the Duistermaat–Heckman measure from symplectic geometry, which gives a large-scale limit way to look at multiplicity diagrams. We also provide an explanation for why the weight polynomials in the boundary regions of the weight diagrams exhibit a number of linear factors. Using symplectic geometry, we prove that the partition of the permutahedron into domains of polynomiality of the Duistermaat–Heckman function is the same as that for the weight multiplicity function, and give an elementary proof of this for sl 4 C (A3).
An Examination of the Experiences of Black Football Athletes

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of Black college athletes that played football and graduated from a Division I Power 5 institution. It is well documented that Black football players graduate from Power 5 institutions lower rates than any other student or athlete group, due to a variety of obstacles they face on campus. Despite these obstacles, there are athletes in this group who do graduate from their institution and successfully transition into professional careers. The research conducted for this article is adapted from a dissertation that explores the campus environment that Black college football players must navigate. This article focuses on the impact the social support network has, helping these athletes maneuver through their organizational environment and prepare for life after athletics. Understanding the possible influences of a support network can be a critical strategy for the survival of this group of athletes.
Parametric study and design guidelines for rigid wheels for planetary rovers

Abstract This paper addresses the design of rigid wheels for planetary rovers in loose, granular soil. Wheel surface features, such as grousers, are known to improve tractive capability in planetary-relevant soils. However there are no comprehensive design guidelines for these wheel features. In this research, a series of intensive and extensive parametric studies were carried out in full-scale vehicle slope experiments and single-wheel tests that assess the influence of grouser count, height, orientation, and end-cap in various longitudinal and lateral slip conditions. This work also investigates the traction process of grousers based on a soil flow imaging technique. The soil motion analysis reveals that grousers reduce forward soil flow/motion resistance and increase net traction. A grouser design formula is derived from the soil flow observation, and design guidelines of rigid wheels of planetary rovers for loose soil are proposed based on these results. The proposed guidelines are applied to the modification of grouser design of the Mars Science Laboratory rover to improve tractive performance on loose terrain.
Autologous activated natural killer cells suppress primitive chronic myelogenous leukemia progenitors in long-term culture

A graft-versus-leukemia effect has been well documented to prevent relapse in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after allogeneic marrow transplantation. One type of lymphocytes that may contribute to this effect are natural killer cells (NK), which after activation with interleukin (IL)-2, exhibit a broad range of cytolytic activity against allogeneic and autologous cells. We have previously demonstrated that IL-2-activated NK (ANK) can be generated from blood of patients with CML and are benign in origin. Their proliferation and function, however, diminish with disease progression in CML, suggesting a role in tumor surveillance. We studied the effect of IL-2-activated NK (ANK) on normal and malignant primitive and committed progenitors in a novel long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) assay. Because ANK destroy marrow stromal layers, the use of classic stroma-dependent long-term cultures is not possible. Therefore, we used the stroma noncontact LTBMC system developed in our laboratory to analyze the effect of autologous ANK cells on primitive hematopoietic progenitors. Autologous ANK (CD56+/CD3- ) were generated from the peripheral blood of 10 patients with chronic phase CML and from six normal individuals by culturing CD5/CD8-depleted mononuclear cells for 14 days in 1,000 U/mL IL-2. At the same time ANK cultures were initiated, sorted normal (CD34+/DR+) marrow populations were plated in Transwell inserts of the stroma noncontact culture. On day 15, hydrocortisone, which rapidly inhibits ANK function, was removed, and autologous ANK were added to the Transwell inserts with fresh LTBMC medium without hydrocortisone but supplemented with 1,000 U/mL IL-2. After 48 hours, the number of colony-forming cells (CFC) was enumerated in methylcellulose culture. To determine the effect of ANK on more primitive long-term culture-initiating cells (LTCIC), the IL-2- supplemented LTBMC medium was replaced with fresh hydrocortisone containing LTBMC medium, and cultures were maintained for an additional 5 weeks. We demonstrate that autologous ANK did not suppress normal CFC or LTCIC. In contrast, ANK from eight patients with CML with potent cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive (K562) NK-resistant (Raji) tumor targets exhibited an ANK dose-dependent suppression of both CFC and LTCIC. Interestingly, ANK from two patients with CML who exhibited diminished cytotoxicity also did not suppress autologous CFC and LTCIC. These studies indicate that ANK with potent major histocompatibility complex unrestricted cytotoxic activity suppress malignant hematopoiesis. This effect was not mediated by soluble factors and was absolutely dependent on direct cell-to-cell contact. We further demonstrate that the beta2 integrin receptor is involved in ANK recognition of CML targets. These observations support the use of autologous ANK therapy to prevent relapse of CML after autologous marrow transplantation or use of ANK to purge CML marrow for autologous transplantation.
Method of determining geometric patient size surrogates using localizer images in CT.

Purpose Size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) requires accurate estimates of patient size surrogates. AAPM Report 204 shows that the SSDE is the product of CTDIvol and a scaling factor, the normalized dose coefficient (NDC) which depends on patient size surrogates for CT axial images. However, SSDE can be determined from CT localizer prior to CT scanning. AAPM Report 220 charges that a magnification correction is needed for geometric patient size-surrogates. In this study, we demonstrate a novel "model-based" magnification correction on patient data. Methods 573 patient scans obtained from a clinical CT system including 229 adult abdomen, 284 adult chest, 48 pediatric abdomen, and 12 pediatric chest exams. LAT and AP dimensions were extracted from CT localizers using a threshold extraction method (the ACR DIR). The model-based magnification correction was applied to the AP and LAT dimensions extracted using the ACR DIR. NDC was calculated using the effective diameter for the ACR DIR only, the model-based localizer-based and axial-based approaches. The LAT and AP dimensions were extracted from the "gold" standard CT axial scans. Outliers are defined as points outside the 95% confidence intervals and were analyzed. Results NDC estimates for the localizer-based model-based approach had an excellent correlation (R2 = 0.92) with the gold standard approach. The effective diameter for ACR DIR and model-based approaches are 8.0% and 1.0% greater than the gold standard respectively. Outliers were determined to be primarily patient truncation, with arms down or with devices. ACR DIR size extraction method fails for bariatric patients where the threshold is too high and some of their anatomy was included in the CT couch, and small patients due to the CT couch being included in the size measurement. Conclusion The model-based magnification method gives an accurate estimate of patient size surrogates extracted from CT localizers that are needed for calculating NDC to achieve accurate SSDE.
Rural/Urban Differences in the Predictors of Opioid Prescribing Rates Among Medicare Part D Beneficiaries 65 Years of Age and Older

Purpose While research has been done comparing rural/urban differences in opioid prescribing to the disabled Medicare Part D population, research on opioid prescribing among the aged Medicare Part D population is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the predictors of opioid prescribing to aged Medicare Part D beneficiaries and investigating whether these predictors vary across rural and urban areas. Methods This is an analysis of ZIP Codes in the continental United States (18,126 ZIP Codes) utilizing 2017 data from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The analytic approach includes aspatial descriptive analysis, exploratory spatial analysis with geographically weighted regression, and explanatory analysis with spatial error regime modeling. Findings Both beneficiary and prescriber characteristics play an important role in determining opioid prescribing rates in urban ZIP Codes, but most of them fail to explain the opioid prescribing rates in rural ZIP Codes. Conclusion We identify potential spatial nonstationarity in opioid prescribing rates, indicating the complex nature of opioid-related issues. This means that the same stimulus may not lead to the same change in opioid prescribing rates, because the change may be place specific. By understanding the rural/urban differences in the predictors of opioid prescribing, place-specific policies can be developed that can guide more informed opioid prescribing practices and necessary interventions.
Ebooks in Academic Libraries

The number of ebooks continues to grow in academic libraries. Ebooks have many advantages that make them attractive as a library resource. However, ebooks also have restrictions. These include use ...
Abstract 1700: Excessive ROS in ovarian cancer cells impairs anti-tumor capacities of immune cells through exosomal miR-155/PD-L1 pathway

Background and Objective: Genetic and metabolic alterations in cancer cells promote the sustained oxidative stress as reflected by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We and other groups have identified that the ROS-sensitive microRNAs regulate the cancer cell response to ROS. However, it has yet to be determined how these miRNAs convey the ROS signal to downstream effectors and thus produce biological consequences. Accumulative evidence indicates that tumor-derived exosomes are emerging mediators of tumorigenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate how ROS convey the oncogenic signals through cellular interactions via exosomes within the tumor microenvironment. Methods and Results: Through NanoString nCounter miRNA analysis, we identified miR-155-5p as the most abundant miRNAs enriched in the exosomes derived from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells treated with a ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Mechanistically, tumor exosomal miR-155-5p was transferred to tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), directly targeting PD-L1 to inhibit the infiltration of TAM into tumor microenvironment. The role of tumor-derived exosomal miR-155-5p was determined by co-culture experiments and gain or loss of function studies in vitro, and confirmed in xenograft mouse models in nude mice and immunocompetent mice. In addition, we established a 3D-3-culture system to entail the co-culture of NAC-treated EOC cell spheroids, TAM and T cells. We found that CD8+ T-cell ratio was increased and production of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α was promoted. What9s more, the immunocompetent EOC mouse model was established and treated with NAC-modified mouse ovarian cancer cell-released exosomes. The results showed that NAC-modified tumor growth was significantly reduced compared to control group. Further analysis showed that miR-155-5p increased in TAM, while PD-L1 expression levels decreased in macrophages from tumors and spleens. Moreover, the T cell function was also augmented as evaluated by the expression of Ki-67 and Granzyme B on CD8+ T cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study reveals a novel mechanism underlying PD-L1 expression in EOC. Ovarian cancer cells with excessive ROS levels release exosomes that mediate the interaction between cancer cells and immune cells; it is this interplay that produces an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by upregulation of PD-L1 in macrophages, and eventually contributes to the progress of EOC through the ROS/miR-155-5p/PD-L1 pathway. Citation Format: Xiang Li, Gao-chan Wang, Jun He. Excessive ROS in ovarian cancer cells impairs anti-tumor capacities of immune cells through exosomal miR-155/PD-L1 pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1700.
Phonological development in Spanish immersion: A comparison of programmatic context

Studies of lexical and syntactic development in immersion programs are numerous, yet phonological development has received much less attention. This study compares the pronunciation of English home language students in one-way and two-way Spanish immersion programs across three sound classes: voiceless stops, rhotics, and vowels. Learner productions were analyzed acoustically and compared to those of Spanish-English bilingual peers. Findings suggest that the two-way immersion context may facilitate more nativelike articulation. Amount of exposure to native speaker input, emerging adolescent identity, and decreases in instructional use of the minority language are explored as contributing factors to the greater outcomes of two-way students.
Probing layered structure of Inconel 625 coatings prepared by magnetron sputtering

Abstract Coating/substrate interface and oxide layers present in Inconel 625 film may cause significant impacts on its corrosion behavior. However, layered structure of Inconel 625 coatings remains poorly understood due to its requirement of high spatial resolution. This study applies X-ray reflectometry (XRR) to probe the layered structure of magnetron-sputtered Inconel 625 film with atomic spatial resolution. Our results indicate that there exists a 2 nm thick Cr-rich Inconel sublayer underneath the principal film. On top of the principal film, it is found a 2 nm thick oxide layer mainly consisting of NiO. In addition, we detected ~2 A contamination layer on the sapphire substrate, although argon ion sputter cleaning had been applied to the substrate prior to deposition. By comparing the coatings with different deposition time, we observed that the thickness of principal Inconel 625 layer grows linearly with deposition time, with all other layers remaining constant. Our findings provide insight into the layered structures of Inconel 625 coatings with atomic-scale spatial resolution, and provide directions for future efforts that aim to improve the corrosion resistance of Inconel 625 coatings.
Development of Spaceborne SoOp Reflectometry Model for Complex Terrains

Following the launch of multiple global navigation satellite system (GNSS) reflectometry (GNSS-R) missions, the Signals of Opportunity (SoOp) method has proven to be a powerful tool for geophysical parameter retrieval for land applications such as soil moisture. Having demonstrated the feasibility of the SoOp techniques at P- and S-band, the development of SoOp measurements beyond the GNSS frequency regime is highly anticipated. The SoOp Coherent Bistatic (SCoBi) model and simulator, developed in 2017 and open-sourced in 2018, has been made available to provide multifrequency, fully polarimetric SoOp simulations for ground-based applications through the joint use of analytical wave theory and distorted Borne approximation to evaluate land contributions from multilayer dielectric profiles composed of soil moisture, vegetation, and surface roughness effects. This paper describes the advancement of SCoBi from a ground-and airborne-based model to a spaceborne model. This extension allows for fully polarimetric, complex delay-Doppler map (DDM) simulations through evaluation of the coherent superposition of electric fields emerging from a grid of oriented facets. The model generates a grid of facets by determining the geometry of contributing elements from digital elevation models, with each element providing its contribution under a flat-earth assumption. This module will enable the analysis of fully polarimetric scattering from frequencies available across the ultra-high frequency (UHF) regime.
Studies of Hot Spots in Imploding Wire Arrays at 1 MA on COBRA

We present recent results from hot spot investigations in imploding Al wire array z‐pinches on the COBRA generator at Cornell University using x‐ray diagnostics. Measurements of the temporal and spatial distribution of hot spots in stagnating plasmas by an x‐ray streak‐camera are included. Experiments show that hot spots have nanosecond lifetime and appear randomly along the array axis after plasma stagnation in secondary pinches in 8 mm diameter and during plasma stagnation in the arrays with 4 mm diameter.
A synthetic float analysis of upper-limb meridional overturning circulation interior ocean pathways in the tropical/subtropical Atlantic

Abstract Synthetic floats are released in an ocean general circulation model to study fluid pathways followed by the upper limb of the meridional overturning circulation from the subtropical South Atlantic to the subtropical North Atlantic. The floats are designed to track this fundamentally three-dimensional, non-isentropic flow while sampling water properties and all terms of the equation governing the vertical component of relative vorticity. The low-resolution ocean simulations demonstrate how upper-limb flow navigates the complex, time-dependent system of wind-driven gyres. Pathways that extend into the interior North Atlantic before entering the Caribbean Sea are emphasized over the more direct western boundary route. A large number of floats are released in the southern hemisphere to verify the importance of such interior pathways in the model and document key events that occur along them. Upper limb water first approaches the equator in a modified inertial western boundary layer. Equatorial processes (visco-inertial boundary layer dynamics, upwelling, heating) are necessary to reset water properties and permit fluid to permanently cross the equator, typically requiring eastward retroflection into the EUC. After upwelling at the equator, fluid that does not advect northward or southward into the interior returns to the western boundary and turns northward in a frictional western boundary layer. The generation of negative relative vorticity by planetary vorticity advection can break the boundary layer constraint and permit retroflection into the NECC near 5° N from late spring through fall. Once in the interior, this fluid advects northward into the southern subtropical gyre in a flow governed by Ekman dynamics. There the fluid subducts and advects southwestward to enter the Caribbean Sea under the influence of layered thermocline dynamics. The importance of interior pathways is confirmed although we note that fluid parcels generally take complex paths and frequently make multiple attempts to enter the northern hemisphere or multiple treks around gyres.