cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertical Structure of Tropical Cyclones with Concentric Eyewalls as Seen by the TRMM Precipitation Radar

Ten years of data from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite’s Precipitation Radar are analyzed to determinethe typical vertical structure of the concentric eyewalls of tropical cyclones undergoing eyewall replacement. The vertical structure of the secondary (outer) eyewall is different from the primary (inner) eyewall and also different from the eyewall of single eyewall storms. The upper-troposphere portions of the outer eyewalls are like the rainbands from which they evolve. Their lower-tropospheric portions are more intense and more uniform than rainbands of single eyewall storms, suggesting that these secondary eyewalls are forming from rainbands undergoing axisymmetrization and building from below. The inner concentric eyewalls are more strongly affected by shear than are the eyewalls of single eyewall storms, while the outer eyewalls are relativelyunaffectedby shear, which suggeststhe outereyewall is amplifyingthe shearinduced asymmetry of the inner eyewall.
ARTICLE Coalescent analyses support multiple mainland-to-island dispersals in the evolution of Malagasy Triaenops bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae)

Aim We investigate the directionality of mainland-to-island dispersals, focusing on a case study of an African-Malagasy bat genus, Triaenops (Hipposideridae). Taxa include T. persicus from east Africa and three Triaenops species from Madagascar (T. auritus, T. furculus, and T. rufus). The evolution of this bat family considerably post-dated the tectonic division of Madagascar from Africa, excluding vicariance as a viable hypothesis. Therefore, we consider three biogeographical scenarios to explain these species’ current ranges: (A) a single dispersal from Africa to Madagascar with subsequent speciation of the Malagasy species; (B) multiple, unidirectional dispersals from Africa to Madagascar resulting in multiple, independent Malagasy lineages; or (C) early dispersal of a proto-species from Africa to Madagascar, with later back-dispersal of a descendant Malagasy taxon to Africa. Location East Africa, Madagascar, and the Mozambique Channel. Methods We compare the utility of phylogenetic and coalescent methodologies to address the question of directionality in a mainland-to-island dispersal event for recently diverged taxa. We also emphasize the application of biologically explicit demographic systems, such as the non-equilibrium isolation-withmigration model. Here, these methods are applied to a four-species haploid genetic data set, with simulation analyses being applied to validate this approach. Results Coalescent simulations favour scenario B: multiple, unidirectional dispersals from Africa to Madagascar resulting in multiple, independent Malagasy bat lineages. From coalescent dating, we estimate that the genus Triaenops was still a single taxon approximately 2.25 Ma. The most recent Africa to Madagascar dispersal occurred much more recently (c. 660 ka), and led to the formation of the extant Malagasy species, T. rufus.
HIV Infection of the BS-1 Human Stroma Cell Line: Effect on Murine Hematopoiesis

Abstract BS-1, a stroma cell line derived from normal human bone marrow, can support the growth of murine erythroid (BFU-E), granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), and megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) progenitor cells in a short-term in vitro coculture system. Exposure of BS-1 cell to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prior to coculture results in a marked reduction in the stroma cell's ability to support murine BFU-E and CFU-GM. The effect of HIV on the BS-1 cell's hematopoietic support function (HSF) is dependent on the multiplicity of infection (m.o.i.). BS-1 stimulation of CFU-GM is significantly impaired at m.o.i. values ranging from 10 to 0.1, whereas its support of BFU-E colony formation is inhibited at m.o.i. values of 10 and 1. No effect of HIV on the BS-1 cell's HSF is observed with further log dilutions of virus. The HIV-mediated suppression of the BS-1 cell's ability to support hematopoiesis is neutralized by a monoclonal antibody (titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:50) to the Gp160 surface antigen of the virus. Suppression of BS-1 cell's HSF is again observed with log dilution (>1:100) of the antibody, HIV suppression of the BS-1 cell's HSF correlates with replication of the virus. P24 antigen levels of 150 pG/ml are measured as early as Day 6 postinfection and rise to 360 pG/ml by Day 16 of culture. The results suggest that HIV may impair normal hematopoiesis by infecting the stroma cells of the bone marrow microenvironment and compromising their role as accessory cells in supporting the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Morphology of Galaxies: An Overview

Morphological classification has been and still is a very useful tool in modern extra-galactic astronomy. In this overview, I discuss galaxy morphology with regard to the techniques and problems of classification, as well as recent advances in the field.
Drug-Drug Interactions with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists

Objective:To review drug interaction studies of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and concurrent oral medications.Data Sources:PubMed was searched (to December 5, 2011) using the terms exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, and lixisenatide. The search was limited to studies published in English and conducted in adults. Abstracts from the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions from 2004 through 2011 were also searched.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All abstracts were screened for eligibility, which consisted of studies reporting the effects of GLP-1 RA administration on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of concurrent oral medications. Data extracted from eligible trials included study and population characteristics; pharmacokinetic parameters including maximum concentration (Cmax,), time to maximum concentration (tmax), and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC); and pharmacodynamic properties.Data Synthesis:Our search identified 254 potentially relevant ar...
Law and Science Policy in Federal Regulation of Formaldehyde

An examination of the way in which the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Consumer Product Safety Commission each responded to evidence of formaldehyde's carcinogenicity in animal systems reveals the interplay between politics and science policy in regulatory determinations. In some cases there were significant and unjustified departures from reasoned decision-making. Agency decisions not to take action deserve special attention by citizens, the Congress, and the judiciary to ensure that federal regulatory agencies take the necessary steps to protect the public from significant health, safety, and environmental risks.
Reactive Dyes as a Spectral Probe for Protein Folding

A single blue dye was covalently attached to the active site of ribonuclease by reaction of the protein with Procion Blue MX-R, C.I. 61205 reactive blue 4, for 30 minutes at pH 8.5 and 35 degrees. This attachment resulted in the loss of over 95% of the catalytic activity of the enzyme without disruption of its folded structure as judged by size exclusion chromatography and by circular dichroic measurements. Addition of increasing concentrations of the denaturant guanidinium chloride to the protein-dye conjugate first generated visible difference spectra characteristic of the free dye followed by spectra at higher denaturant concentrations characteristic for displacement of the conjugated dye from the active site by the competitive inhibitor 2′-CMP. Formation of the latter difference spectra coincided with the denaturation of the protein-dye conjugate as judged by far ultraviolet circular dichroic measurements. The kinetics of refolding the denatured protein-dye conjugate were observed at 650 nm in 2 M guanidinium chloride maintained at pH 6 and 10 degrees. The decrease in absorbance fit well with a single first order reaction having a half-time of 1080 seconds. This value is within a factor of two of the half-time reported for the refolding of unconjugated ribonuclease observed using either tyrosine absorbance or fluorescence measurements.
Probabilistic spreading of recommendations in social networks

In this paper, we study how the recommendation of a product spreads across a social network assuming all members of the network recommend the product to their neighbors in a probabilistic manner. To do so, we consider a social network which is typically characterized by a scale-free network obeying power-law degree distribution. We take a layer-by-layer approach where nodes are labeled by how far they are from the origin node. Starting with the layer-1 nodes, we first compute the probability when the recommendation propagates outward from origin node considering the out-degree distribution. Then, we compute the probabilities when recommendations are made from nodes that are farther from the origin to nodes that are closer to the origin. Also, using the concept of clustering coefficient, we consider the recommendation probabilities within the same layer. Combining different possibilities, we are able to find the total effect. In order to demonstrate how recommendation spreads, we use Facebook data from SNAP and show how many nodes receive the recommendation in each layer and what the effect of the location of a node is with respect to the origin node.
Partisan-Ideological Conflict and Aging Policy: Seeking Common Ground to Avoid Leaping into the Abyss

Old-age politics has worked its way front and center in the partisan-ideological debates of the early twenty-first century, as Social Security, Medicare, and other aging-based programs and benefits consume a large and increasing proportion of the federal budget, and as the two parties appear unable to compromise on how to balance the budget and reduce the national debt. This partisan-ideological polarization over old-age benefits, however, remains somewhat tempered by (1) continued widespread support for Social Security and Medicare among the general public; (2) some intra-party conflict over the complexity of policies - Medicare in particular - and the role of government in providing public benefits directly, by subsidizing the private sector, or by privatizing them altogether; and (3) the dominance among mass membership aging-based interest groups of AARP, a relatively moderate organization with an enormous and ideologically diverse membership base.
Revealing the Pharmacophore of Ipomoeassin F through Molecular Editing

Ipomoeassin F, the flagship congener of a resin glycoside family exhibited single-digit nanomolar IC50 values against several cancer cell lines. To facilitate drug discovery based on this unique yet underexplored natural product, we performed the most sophisticated SAR studies of ipomoeassin F to date, which not only greatly bettered our understanding of its pharmacophore but also led to the discovery of two new derivatives (3 and 27) with similar potency but improved synthetic profile. The work presented here opens new avenues toward harnessing the medicinal potential of the ipomoeassin family of glycolipids in the future.
Combinatorial Strategies for Thin Organic Films - Polythiophene via Surface Polymerization by Ion Assisted Deposition

Combinatorial strategies are applied to surface polymerization by ion assisted deposition (SPIAD) for the production of polythiophene films. Thiophene ion energy in the range of 25–200 eV and ion to α-terthiophene neutral ratio are varied to tune the extent of surface polymerization and film photoluminescence. SPIAD polythiophene films are grown by both mass-selected and non-mass-selected ions, while x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface mass spectrometry are applied to determine film chemistry and the extent of polymerization. This work demonstrates that ion kinetic energy and ion to neutral ratio can be varied over a wide range in SPIAD to select films with useful optical or electronic properties. The essentially combinatorial approach of SPIAD can be dramatically extended by use of new ions and/or neutral species.
TRANSIENT CENTRAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY IN NON-CLASSIC 21-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY

A seven year-old boy with non-classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency had transient hormonal evidence of central precocious puberty within three months of beginning glucocorticoid treatment for rapidly progressive somatic virilization. Adrenal-derived sex hormones were normalized promptly by hydrocortisone treatment. GnRH-stimulated LH levels and basal testosterone returned to the prepubertal range without further intervention after six months of glucocorticoid therapy. This is the first report of transient central precocious puberty in the mild non-classic form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.
Ultrastructural observations of meiosis within antheridia of Achyla ambisexuals.

SUMMARYAntheridal production was induced by the addition of 1,000 units/ml of hormone A to hyphae of Achlya ambisexualis. Electron microscopy of nuclear divisions within hyphae demonstrated the pre...
Possible Evolution of Supermassive Black Holes from FRI quasars

We explore the question of the rapid buildup of black hole mass in the early universe employing a growing black hole mass-based determination of both jet and disk powers predicted in recent theoretical work on black hole accretion and jet formation. Despite simplified, even artificial assumptions about accretion and mergers, we identify an interesting low probability channel for the growth of one billion solar mass black holes within hundreds of millions of years of the Big Bang without appealing to super Eddington accretion. This result is made more compelling by the recognition of a connection between this channel and an end product involving active galaxies with FRI radio morphology but weaker jet powers in mildly sub-Eddington accretion regimes. While FRI quasars have already been shown to occupy a small region of the available parameter space for black hole feedback in the paradigm, we further suggest that the observational dearth of FRI quasars is also related to their connection to the most massive black hole growth due to both these FRIs high redshifts and relative weakness. Our results also allow us to construct the AGN luminosity function at high redshift, that agree with recent studies. In short, we produce a connection between the unexplained paucity of a given family of active galactic nuclei and the rapid growth of supermassive black holes, two heretofore seemingly unrelated aspects of the physics of active galactic nuclei.
Effects of hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymer on the foaming performance

The hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymer acts with the surfactant in the solution, and makes the mixed solution have certain special rheology, which can be used to enhance oil recovery and use it as high efficient oil flooding agent. The effects of hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymer (NAPs-14) on the surface tension, foam height, solution viscosity, and foam half-life of the surfactant foam solution are studied, and the results are compared with that of PVP360 of weaker effect on surfactant and HPAM of no effect on surfactant, and its effects on the foam stability of surfactant are also investigated. Results show that because the hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymer (NAPs-14) has certain surface non-activity, and it produces the association reaction with surfactant by hydro-probating, thus improves the viscosity and strength of foaming fluid film, lowers down the discharging rate, and eventually produces better foam stability. In comparison, HPAM also has good foam stability, however, it is not as good as NAPs-14, while PVP360 has little foam stability.
Hydrostatic and osmotic pressures modulate partitioning of tissue water in abdominal muscle during dialysis.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of simultaneous exposure of anterior abdominal muscle (AAM) to changes in intraperitoneal hydrostatic pressure (Pip) and to osmolality of peritoneal fluid on total tissue water (TTW) and on the pattern of distribution of TTW in the AAM. DESIGN A pilot study of single 60-min dwells in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, dialyzed with either isotonic (290 mOsm/kg) or hypertonic (510 mOsm/kg) dialysis solutions at nominal Pip of 0 mmHg or 6 mmHg. MEASUREMENTS TTW (from dry-weight-to-wet-weight ratios) can be divided into the extracellular volume [theta(ec), from quantitative autoradiography (QAR) with 14C-mannitol] and intracellular volume (theta(ic) = TTW - theta(ec)). Theta(ec) = theta(if) + theta(iv), where theta(if) = interstitial volume and theta(iv) = vascular volume [from QAR with 131I-immunoglobulin G (IgG)]. All measured parameters are standardized to tissue dry weight and expressed as mean +/- standard error. RESULTS Regardless of the osmolality of the dialysis solution, elevation of Pip to 6 mmHg results in tissue expansion, primarily in theta(if), which is doubled to 1.71+/-0.11 mL/g dry weight and 1.60+/-0.17 mL/g dry weight with isotonic and hypertonic dialysis, respectively, as compared to controls (0.64+/-0.04 mL/g dry weight). The local theta(iv) was not affected by Pip or osmolality of the bathing solution. The overall theta(iv) is 0.046+/-0.006 mL/g dry weight. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to access the effect of osmolality and Pip on theta(ic) demonstrated no significant change in theta(ic) (F = 1.2, p > 0.1) as calculated for controls (3.13+/-0.19 mL/g dry weight), after isotonic dialysis (3.13+/-0.20 mL/g dry weight), or after hypertonic dialysis (2.77+/-0.30 mL/g dry weight). CONCLUSION Elevation of Pip to 6 mmHg significantly increased TTW and expanded the tissue. Tissue expansion is primarily in interstitium (theta(if)), which is doubled from control value regardless of dialysis fluid osmolality.
A Positive TGF-β/c-KIT Feedback Loop Drives Tumor Progression in Advanced Primary Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is globally the second most common cause of cancer mortality. The majority of HCC patients are diagnosed at advanced stage disease for which no curative treatments exist. TGF-β has been identified as a potential therapeutic target. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating its functional switch from a tumor suppressor to tumor promoter in HCC and its interactions with other signaling pathways are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an aberrant molecular network between the TGF-β and c-KIT pathway that mediates the functional switch of TGF-β to a driver of tumor progression in HCC. TGF-β/SMAD2 signaling transcriptionally regulates expression of the c-KIT receptor ligand (stem cell factor [SCF]) with subsequent auto- and paracrine activation of c-KIT/JAK1/STAT3 signaling. SCF induces TGF-β1 ligand expression via STAT3, thereby forming a positive feedback loop between TGF-β/SMAD and SCF/c-KIT signaling. This network neutralizes TGF-β–mediated cell cycle inhibition and induces tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition, migration, and invasion. Disruption of this feedback loop inhibits TGF-β tumor-promoting effects and restores its antiproliferative functions. Consistent with our in vitro data, we demonstrate SCF overexpression and its correlation to SMAD2 and STAT3 activation in human HCC tumors, advanced tumor-node-metastasis stages, and shorter survival. CONCLUSIONS: Canonical TGF-β and c-KIT signaling forms a positive, tumor-promoting feedback loop. Disruption of this loop restores TGF-β tumor suppressor function and provides the rationale for targeting the TGF-β/SCF axis as a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.
Modulation of lens epithelial cell proliferation by enhanced prostaglandin synthesis after UVB exposure.

Purpose The goals of this investigation were to examine the synthesis of prostaglandins after UVB exposure of lens epithelial cells and to investigate their role in cell proliferation. Methods Cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells (cell line N/N1003A) were exposed to low levels of UV radiation. Prostaglandins were assayed by radioimmunoassay; products of arachidonic acid metabolism were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Cell proliferation was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation and proliferative autoradiography. Results Cultured lens epithelial cells exposed to UVB radiation showed a dose-dependent increase in basal prostaglandin synthesis measured 24 hours after UV exposure. At an optimal dose (250 J/m2) of UVB, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis was enhanced tenfold. Product identity was confirmed using thin-layer chromatography and mass spectroscopy with authentic standards. Incubation of irradiated cells with exogenous arachidonic acid followed by extraction and thin-layer chromatography revealed that the cultures produced PGE2, prostaglandin I2 (measured as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha), prostaglandin F2 alpha, and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. The synthesis of all of these products was enhanced threefold in cells exposed to 250-J/m2 UVB. Indomethacin pretreatment eliminated the synthesis of prostaglandins, further confirming their identity. To discover the relationship between PGE2 synthesis and irradiation-induced cell proliferation, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA was determined 24 or 48 hours after exposure. These experiments revealed a fivefold increase in incorporation induced by UVB exposure. UVB-enhanced incorporation of thymidine was eliminated by pretreatment of cultures with indomethacin to eliminate PG synthesis. However, when 100 nM PGE2 was added to the indomethacin-treated irradiated cultures, incorporation of the label was restored toward the level detected in the UVB-stimulated cells. Addition of other prostaglandins to the cultures was ineffective. Conclusions The results indicate that the synthesis of PGE2 is enhanced by exposure of lens epithelial cells to UVB radiation. PGE2 seems to play a specific role in cell proliferation after UV exposure. This increase in PGE2 synthesis may be important in posterior subcapsular cataract formation in humans and in animals exposed to UVB radiation in vivo.
FDA drug labeling: rich resources to facilitate precision medicine, drug safety, and regulatory science

Here, we provide a concise overview of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug labeling, which details drug products, drug-drug interactions, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and more. Labeling data have been collected over several decades by the FDA and are an important resource for regulatory research and decision making. However, navigating through this data is challenging. To aid such navigation, the FDALabel database was developed, which contains a set of approximately 80000 labeling data. The full-text searching capability of FDALabel and querying based on any combination of specific sections, document types, market categories, market date, and other labeling information makes it a powerful and attractive tool for a variety of applications. Here, we illustrate the utility of FDALabel using case scenarios in pharmacogenomics biomarkers and ADR studies.
Commission des Météores et Météorites

In the preparation of this report, the following members of Commission 22 assisted by sending me summaries of research carried out, and bibliographies of papers published in the field of Meteoritics: — Astapovich, Babadjanov, Ceplecha, Cook, Elford, Ellyett, Halliday, Hirose, Hoppe, Kizilirmak, Kresak, Lindblad, McCrosky, Nielsen, Oleak. I wish to thank all these for their help. I would like also to thank a number of other scientists who have kept me supplied with relevant papers, and pre-prints in advance of publication.
Management of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding

Variceal bleeding is a fatal complication of portal hypertension, which can be secondary to cirrhosis or various disorders that lead to increased portal pressures in a patient with preserved hepatic function. Current guideline recommendations base prophylaxis on the size of the varices and their likelihood of bleeding based on their endoscopic appearance and the severity of liver disease. Non-selective beta blockers are the mainstay of medical primary prophylaxis. In active variceal bleeding, medications are given to decrease portal pressures and endoscopy is performed with variceal band ligation to stop bleeding. For secondary prophylaxis, a combination of beta blockers and variceal band ligation is used to prevent re-bleeding. If acute variceal bleeding treated by endoscopy with band ligation fails to control bleeding, interventional radiology can be performed for a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure or a surgical consultation should be called for evaluation for portacaval shunting to decompress the portal system.
Token-based consistency of replicated servers

A comparison is made of token-based protocols to primary-backup, multiphase-commit, and quorum-consensus protocols for maintaining consistency among replicated servers. Two generalizations of strict serializability for multiple operations on replicated objects are proposed. In a simple experiment using the ISIS message delivery system as a testbed, a token scheme showed better performance than the ISIS-supplied two-phase commit, especially for heavily loaded servers. The results also demonstrated that the token technique is much less sensitive to the load on the servers than the two-phase-commit protocol technique. >
Representation of Temporal Patterns of Signal Amplitude in the Anuran Auditory System and Electrosensory System

The temporal structure of sensory signals plays an important role in the biology of many animals including man (Emlen, 1972; Gerhardt, 1982; Heiligenberg, 1991; Kay, 1982; Rose, 1986). This chapter focuses on how temporal variations in the amplitude of acoustic or electric signals are represented in auditory systems of frogs and toads (anurans) and in the electrosensory system of a weakly electric fish.
The Foundations of Uncertainty with Black Swans

We extend the foundation of subjective probability to integrate rare events that are potentially catastrophic, called black swans, such as natural hazards, market crashes, catastrophic climate change and major episodes of species extinction. Such events are generally treated as ‘outliers’ and often disregarded. We propose a new axiomatization of subjective probability requiring equal treatment for rare and frequent events—the Swan Axiom—and characterize the subjective probabilities that the axioms imply: these are neither finitely additive nor countably additive but a combination of both. They exclude countably additive probabilities as in De Groot (1970) and Arrow (1971), and are a strict subset of Savage (1972) probabilities that are finitely additive measures. Our subjective probabilities are standard distributions when the sample has no black swans. The finitely additive part assigns however more weight to rare events than do standard distributions and in that sense explains the persistent observation of ‘power laws’ and ‘heavy tails’ that eludes classic theory. The axioms extend earlier work in Chichilnisky (2000; 2002) to encompass the foundation of subjective probability, and axiomatic treatments of subjective probability by Savage (1972), Villegas (1964) and the foundations of choice under uncertainty in Arrow (1971).
Clustered Microcysts on Breast Ultrasound: What Is an Appropriate Management Recommendation?

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to determine outcomes of lesions identified as clustered microcysts on breast ultrasound to augment the existing literature and help guide appropriate mana...
Treatment of Socially Reinforced Problem Behavior

This chapter introduces the background on socially reinforced problem behavior and provides alternative approaches on how to treat such behavior. Motivations, reinforcement, and strategies of treatment are discussed.
Capecitabine and Temozolomide in Neuroendocrine Tumor of Unknown Primary.

Incidence of low grade well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NET) is on the rise. The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society estimates that the United States has more than 150,000 gastroenteropancreatic NET patients. About 10% of metastatic NETs can be unknown primary, and due to their rarity, dedicated treatment algorithms and regimens are not defined. Combination of capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM) is one of the systemic treatments used in gastroenteropancreatic NETs. We explored clinical activity of CAPTEM in NET of unknown primary. Methods. Retrospective review of NET of unknown primary managed at the University of Kentucky over the past five years (2012–2016). Result. 56 patients with NET of unknown primary were identified; 12 patients were treated with CAPTEM. Median progression-free survival on CAPTEM in grade II and grade III NET of unknown primary was 10.8 and 7 months, respectively. Six patients showed reduction in metastatic tumor volume at three-month CT scan. Three patients had stable disease and three patients showed disease progression at the first surveillance scan. Common side-effects were as follows: four patients developed grade II thrombocytopenia, three patients developed grade I lymphocytopenia, and two patients developed hand foot syndrome (grades I and III). Six patients developed grade I fatigue. Conclusion. CAPTEM should be considered for grades I and II NET of unknown primary, especially in the case of visceral crisis or bulky disease.
Influence of the Vibralung Acoustical Percussor on pulmonary function and sputum expectoration in individuals with cystic fibrosis.

Background:The Vibralung Acoustical Percussor is a new airway clearance therapy (ACT) utilizing intrapulmonary sound waves in addition to positive expiratory pressure (PEP). We evaluated the safety...
Poster: Swarming Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems for Mosquito-Borne Disease Research and Control

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) are an emerging application area for many industries including surveillance, agriculture monitoring, and vector-borne disease control. With drastically lower costs and increasing performance and autonomy, future application evolution will more than likely include the use of sUAS swarms. Several largely successful experiments in recent years, using off the shelf sUAS, have been conducted to address the long standing challenge of controlling and monitoring vector-borne diseases. In this paper we build on lessons learned from these prior efforts, and discuss ways in which swarms of sUAS could be deployed to place and monitor Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps for reducing the mosquito population.
Prognostic Implications of Single-Sample Confirmatory Testing for Undiagnosed Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background Current clinical definitions of diabetes require repeated blood work to confirm elevated levels of glucose or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) to reduce the possibility of a false-positive diagnosis. Whether 2 different tests from a single blood sample provide adequate confirmation is uncertain. Objective To examine the prognostic performance of a single-sample confirmatory definition of undiagnosed diabetes. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting The ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study. Participants 13 346 ARIC participants (12 268 without diagnosed diabetes) with 25 years of follow-up for incident diabetes, cardiovascular outcomes, kidney disease, and mortality. Measurements Confirmed undiagnosed diabetes was defined as elevated levels of fasting glucose (≥7.0 mmol/L [≥126 mg/dL]) and HbA1c (≥6.5%) from a single blood sample. Results Among 12 268 participants without diagnosed diabetes, 978 had elevated levels of fasting glucose or HbA1c at baseline (1990 to 1992). Among these, 39% had both (confirmed undiagnosed diabetes), whereas 61% had only 1 elevated measure (unconfirmed undiagnosed diabetes). The confirmatory definition had moderate sensitivity (54.9%) but high specificity (98.1%) for identification of diabetes cases diagnosed during the first 5 years of follow-up, with specificity increasing to 99.6% by 15 years. The 15-year positive predictive value was 88.7% compared with 71.1% for unconfirmed cases. Confirmed undiagnosed diabetes was significantly associated with cardiovascular and kidney disease and mortality, with stronger associations than unconfirmed diabetes. Limitation Lack of repeated measurements of fasting glucose and HbA1c. Conclusion A single-sample confirmatory definition of diabetes had a high positive predictive value for subsequent diagnosis and was strongly associated with clinical end points. Our results support the clinical utility of using a combination of elevated fasting glucose and HbA1c levels from a single blood sample to identify undiagnosed diabetes in the population. Primary funding source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Genetic abnormalities and drug resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Recent advances in cytogenetics and molecular genetics have made it possible to identify an array of genomic abnormalities with prognostic and therapeutic significance. Hyperdiploidy >50 chromosomes and ETV6-CBFA2 fusions have been used to identify low-risk cases, and BCR-ABL and MLL-AF4 to define high-risk leukemias. Despite their clinical utility, the risk classification system based on these findings lack absolute precision and should be complemented with other variables, the most important of which is the early blast cell response to remission induction therapy. Studies of tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes in the BCL2 family genes may unravel the mechanisms of leukemia cell progression and the development of drug resistance, leading to innovative therapies.
Ethical issues in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease.

The early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is a boon in that it enables advance planning, but that planning process can engender conflict between respect for future-oriented autonomy and future welfare.
Sensory and Physiological Bases of Touch

Touch has been defined as the variety of sensations evoked by stimulation of the skin by mechanical, thermal, chemical, or electrical events. Even Aristotle, in dividing our contact with the world into the five senses, was doubt­ ful that “touch” described but a single sense. Because there is such a variety of sensations aroused by stimuli interacting with the skin, it might be more appropriate to describe this modality as the “senses of touch.” And, as befits such a symphony of sensations, there are a multitude of instruments con­ tributing their voices, each in its own fashion. The mechanical and physio­ logical characteristics of the skin and these receptor structures, as with those in other senses, define and limit the sensitivity of the skin to stimuli. In most of this chapter we will be describing the anatomy and morphology of those structures, both visible and below the surface, that constrain and define the events that eventually will evoke a tactile sensation. In the remainder of the chapter, there will be a discussion of the most basic measures of the skin’s sensitivity. The issues involved with the processing of more complex tactile stimuli will be presented in other chapters in this volume.
A plan for the development of a conceptually based mathematics curriculum for disadvantaged children

In Part I (Scandura, 1972b), theoretical foundations were presented together with a plan for engineering an idealized curriculum and for developing specific curriculum products. The purpose of Part II is to show how this plan would operate in practice. In studying the applications, the reader will probably want to refer back to the plan in Part I. To keep the discussion within bounds, only Phase I of the long-range engineering is considered. The viability of the overall approach, however, will become clear with the present discussion.
A historical perspective on understanding IASCC

Abstract Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) emerged over six decades ago with cracking of stainless steel fuel cladding, and it subsequently affected a wide range of components at much lower fluences than the fuel cladding. It was originally viewed as a distinct and mysterious phenomenon, with many hundreds of possible radiation effects playing a role. Oddly, given this complexity, for decades there was misplaced hope that minor compositional variations – such as reduced S or P – would make a dramatic difference. In the 1980s, common dependencies in irradiated and unirradiated materials were observed both in plant experience and laboratory data. Knowledge of SCC in unirradiated materials provided hypotheses of the key irradiation contributions, which led to critical tests of the ideas. Simplistic, short term tests gave way to more sophisticated and sensitive experiments that have had a big impact on our understanding of IASCC, which remains incomplete.
A Coherent, High Resolution Processor to Localize and Track Acoustic Sources

Abstract : Localizing a source using matching-field processing requires enough array elements to have an adequate array gain and a very good knowledge of the oceanic environment. It often is complicated by the presence of loud, fast-moving interferers, and the source itself being non-stationary. Our goal is to develop a robust matched-field processing technique well suited for practical applications in challenging environments.
Experimental Extraction of Ballisticity in Germanium Nanowire nMOSFETs

In this paper, we report the experimental extraction of ballistic transport parameters of high-performance Germanium Nanowire nMOSFETs (Ge NWTs) with lengths ${L}_{\text {NW}} = {40}$ –100 nm, width ${W}_{\text {NW}} = {40}$ nm, and height ${H}_{\text {NW}} = {10}$ nm using temperature-dependent measurements. The extracted contact resistivity ( $\rho {c}$ ) and sheet resistance (Rsh) imply that parasitic series resistance ( ${R}_{\text {SD}}$ ) of fabricated Ge NWTs is affected by $\rho _{c}$ of the metal-nGe ( ${3.42} \times {10}^{-{5}}\,\,\Omega \cdot \text {cm}^{{2}}$ at 292 K), which decreases with the increase in temperature. Ballistic efficiency (BE) is found to be 22%–47% at 292 K depending on the dimension of the device. It decreases with increased temperature and increases with ${L}_{\text {NW}}$ scaling down to 40 nm. The transition region with fluctuating BE is observed near ${L}_{\text {NW}} = {50}$ –60 nm, where the electron transport enters deeper into bthe allistic regime. BE is found to be sensitive to temperature and drops from 58% (170 K) to 37% (390 K) for ${L}_{\text {NW}} = {40}$ -nm Ge NWT. Therefore, in order to maintain the high ballisticity of the devices, it is important to optimize the device structure and eliminate the self-heating effect.
Citizenship Islands: The Ongoing Emergency in the Mediterranean Sea

I present the concept of “citizenship islands” to analyze the ongoing emergency in the Mediterranean Sea. Citizenship islands are based on the idea of “nonplaces” for noncitizens who are both constantly present and invisible. Citizenship islands are a test of what is to come, as noncitizens such as migrants and refugees continue to arrive, even as countries refuse their right of entry and of seeking asylum. Based on research in Lampedusa, I argue that as understandings of citizenship change, the ongoing emergency in the Mediterranean Sea forces a focus on noncitizens. What is happening around discourses of citizenship, mobility, and migration requires new language to describe and analyze what is already happening, and to theorize new research tools for the future. Nonplaces invite a paradox between visibility and invisibility, between in-dependence and inter-dependence, highlighting the importance of language in characterizing the experience of migrants and refugees and how that language shapes relationships between newcomers/noncitizens and already established residents/citizens.
Spatial programming of defect distributions to enhance material failure characteristics

Abstract Defects play a major role in determining the mechanical properties of materials. Examples of this span from dislocations, grain boundaries, and precipitates in metallurgy to voids and imperfect interfaces in natural composites. These can enable complex failure modes and balance competing mechanical properties. With the increasing adoption of additive manufacturing in both research and industry, there are unprecedented opportunities for controlling the internal composition and structure of a material system. However, the very nature of forming a material in increments produces a set of characteristic defects (e.g., void formation due to incomplete merger of new material), which results in local heterogeneity and anisotropy. Rather than seeking to prevent these characteristic defects, we utilize them to improve the damage resistance of printed structures by systematically controlling their distribution within a single material. Inspired by the well-known Bouligand structure found in tough natural materials, we use a helical build sequence in which each layer is added at a defined pitch angle relative to the previous layer. The resulting helical defect distribution can guide the crack tip during fracture and enhance damage resistance. Microstructural evidence from crack surface images and X-ray microtomography reveals intricate mixing of twisting and branching cracks during failure, and is explained via an analytical model. Since these improvements are obtained solely from the defect distribution within a single material, the findings of this work could improve the failure characteristics of a broad range of printed materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites).
Mutual Funds: Skill and Performance

The authors summarize the recent literature on mutual fund manager skill and performance. They discuss the latest contributions in the field and reinterpret them through the lens of the rational expectations framework (efficient market hypothesis). They further discuss the importance of (1) the choice of benchmark model and (2) the time-series and cross-sectional sample selected in performance studies. The article has three main conclusions. First, although net alpha is a measure of the abnormal return of an extra dollar invested in a particular fund (i.e., performance), it does not measure mutual fund manager skill. To measure the latter, the product of gross alpha and the size of the fund—value added—is needed. Second, the set of real-time available index funds is the relevant counterfactual to use when assessing the skill and performance of investment managers. Nontradable factors that are constructed with the benefit of hindsight are not a realistic benchmark. Third, the authors can think of no good reason to exclude high-quality mutual fund data either in the cross section or time series when making inferences regarding skill and performance. TOPICS:Manager selection, mutual fund performance, performance measurement Key Findings • Net alpha is not an appropriate measure of mutual fund manager skill; value added, the product of assets under management and gross alpha, is a measure of mutual fund manager skill. • The set of real-time available index funds is the relevant counterfactual investment opportunity set for assessing skill and performance of investment managers. • Studies of skill and performance should not exclude high-quality data on mutual funds from either the cross section or the time series.
1289-P: The Association between Time-in-Range, Mean Glucose, and Incidence of Hypoglycemia in Youth with Newly Diagnosed T1D

New hypoglycemia guidelines define CGM data were collected from youth starting CGM within 1 month of a T1D diagnosis. For each patient, for each two-week period, TIR, MG, and percent time in hypoglycemia (Hyp) ( In total, 1049 two-week periods from 51 patients were reviewed; 41% of these patients were female, the mean age was 9.4 years, and patients wore their CGMs an average of 89% within each two-week period. For csHyp, there was a non-significant negative association with TIR and a significant negative association with MG (p We found no association between csHyp and TIR. These findings suggest that high TIR may be maintained without increasing csHyp. Further study should examine the use of CGM to improve TIR. Disclosure A. Gu: None. P. Prahalad: None. D.M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S. Consultant; Self; Abbott, Sanofi. Research Support; Self; Bigfoot Biomedical, Dexcom, Inc., Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care. A. Addala: None. D. Scheinker: None.
Novel Biomarker for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) characterized by heavy and prolonged alcohol intake could cause various forms of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The spectrum of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) consists of steatosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma depending on the duration and severity of alcohol intake [1,2]. Interestingly only one-third of heavy drinkers (typically a sub-group of AUD patients), who exhibit specific heavy drinking patterns [3,4] would develop any clinically relevant form of liver damage.
The effect of menu presentation on consumers’ willingness to purchase:

Consumers may perceive information costs differently because they are affected by how information is presented during the decision-making process. Using a self-reported research design, this study ...
Periodicity in Britain: The Periodic Tables of Odling and Newlands

Two British chemists, William Odling and John A. R. Newlands, published separate periodic arrangements of the elements in the middle 1860s, several years before Mendeleev’s first periodic table. This chapter provides an overview of the periodic systems of Odling and Newlands, their development over time, the reception of their work, and our perspective on the often-discussed question of who deserves recognition as a discoverer of the periodic law.
Dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations in purge of vacuum-packaged pork chops and the relationship to shelf life and models for estimating microbial populations

The objectives of this study were to determine the dissolved CO2 and O2 concentrations in the purge of vacuum-packaged pork chops over a 60 day storage period, and to elucidate the relationship of dissolved CO2 and O2 to the microbial populations and shelf life. As the populations of spoilage bacteria increased, the dissolved CO2 increased and the dissolved O2 decreased in the purge. Lactic acid bacteria dominated the spoilage microflora, followed by Enterobacteriaceae and Brochothrix thermosphacta. The surface pH decreased to 5.4 due to carbonic acid and lactic acid production before rising to 5.7 due to ammonia production. A mathematical model was developed which estimated microbial populations based on dissolved CO2 concentrations. Scanning electron microscope images were also taken of the packaging film to observe the biofilm development. The SEM images revealed a two-layer biofilm on the packaging film that was the result of the tri-phase growth environment.
Broadly-tunable room-temperature monolithic terahertz quantum cascade laser sources

We report a monolithic terahertz source made of an array of 10 electrically-tunable mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers with intra-cavity terahertz difference-frequency generation. Continuous tunability between 2 and 4 THz is demonstrated at room temperature.