cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observation Versus Initial Treatment for Men With Localized, Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

The optimal management of men with low-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer is controversial. In the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era, up to 70% of these men have low-risk disease (stage ≤T2a, PSA level <10 μg/L, Gleason score ≤3+3) and less than 6% risk for prostate cancer–specific death at 15 years (1-4). More than 90% of these men are currently treated with radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation, or brachytherapy (BT) (5), but as many as 60% may not have required therapy in their lives (6). Most men who undergo treatment have at least 1 long-term adverse effect (7-9). The cost of unnecessary treatment is not limited to adverse effects. In 2000, diagnosis and treatment was estimated to cost $1.3 billion in the United States, an increase of 30% since 1994 (10). A recent analysis estimated that the cost of diagnosis and treatment is just more than $5 million to prevent 1 prostate cancer death (11). Observation is an alternative to treatment of men with localized, low-risk disease and takes the form of active surveillance (AS) and watchful waiting (WW). With AS, men are followed closely—typically with serial PSA tests, digital rectal examinations, and biopsies—and treated with curative intent if the disease progresses. In the most mature series, 30% of men were ultimately treated, and prostate cancer–specific survival was 97.2% at 10 years (12). With WW, men are observed without monitoring and given palliative treatment when the disease becomes symptomatic. Traditionally, this approach has been reserved for men expected to die with, not of, prostate cancer, usually because of advanced age or comorbid conditions. However, in subgroup analyses of PIVOT (Prostate Cancer Intervention Versus Observation Trial), which followed 731 men (median age, 67 years) who had been randomly assigned to RP or WW for a median of 10 years (13), men with low-risk prostate cancer derived no benefit from RP compared with WW in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.15 [95% CI, 0.80 to 1.66]) or prostate cancer–specific mortality (HR, 1.48 [CI, 0.42 to 5.24]). The PRoTECT (Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment) trial (14), comparing active monitoring, RP, and radiotherapy, will also yield useful information about the relative benefits of observation with monitoring but will not close enrollment until 2015. We recently did a decision analysis suggesting that quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) improves with AS compared with initial treatment (15), and previous cost analyses have suggested that observation is less expensive than initial treatment (16-17) but did not formally estimate cost-effectiveness. Therefore, we did a cost-effectiveness analysis of AS and WW compared with initial treatment of low-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer in men aged 65 and 75 years.
Passive interrogation of a lead-insensitive two-mode elliptical core fiber strain sensor

We report on a two-mode elliptical core fiber strain sensor system with a passive phase interrogation technique based on frequency modulion of the laser source. We demonstrate DC phase tracking capability and high resolution detectability of AC signals. A reflectometric configuration is also discussed.
Respiratory muscle testing

Respiratory muscles are a vital component of the respiratory system. Compromise in the function of respiratory muscles is assessed with a careful history, determination of the breathing frequency, and observation of the pattern of thoracoabdominal movements in the upright and supine positions. The most important diagnostic tools include measurement of lung volumes, FVC, oximetry, Pi(max) and Pe(max), and SNIP. Measurement of Pes and Pga pressures, Tw Pmo, phrenic nerve stimulation, magnetic stimulation, and EMG add new dimensions to the study of these muscles. These tools are helpful in understanding patients with acute and chronic disease that affects the respiratory muscles.
Movements during colony founding by queens of the honey ant (Myrmecocystus mimicus Wheeler).

Abstract Habitat selection by ant queens has been little studied even though it may be a critical component of colony founding. We describe the movement pathways of honey ant queens (Myrmecocystus mimicus Wheeler) searching for sites on the ground to initiate nests. Typical paths may include segments of directional movement that are interrupted by segments of area-restricted search. Mechanisms producing area-restricted search might include variable step lengths and looping behavior. Cues that prompt the switch to local search remain undetected.
Bilateral Transplantation of the Ureters of the Female

Summary Transplantation of the ureters of women to the sigmoid flexure is a sound surgical procedure for the treatment of huge vesicovaginal fistulas, chronic interstitial cystitis with secondary contraction of the bladder in cases in which the bladder has been rendered useless, and some carcinomas of the bladder. Thirteen illustrative cases have been briefly described. There were three deaths; one from peritonitis and bronchopneumonia, one from pulmonary embolism, and one from bronchopneumonia alone. In the one case in which the patient died of peritonitis and bronchopneumonia, death followed transplantation of a badly diseased ureter after previous transplantation of the opposite ureter; peritonitis developed because there was an infection of the upper portion of the urinary tract. The operative risk is decreased when one ureter is transplanted at a time. Introduction of intravenous urography has been beneficial in the study of the excretory function of the kidneys before and after transplantation of the ureters. It also aids in determining the degree of pyelectasis and ureterectasis following transplantation, and the return of the renal pelvis and ureter to normal several weeks or months later. The preparation of the patient for operation for ureterosigmoidal transplantation is just as essential as it is for other operations on the large bowel.
The Value/Fact Distinction: Coase's Theorem Unifies Normative and Positive Economics

I show that in a true Coasean world - a world with no transaction costs - there would be no disagreement on moral questions. There would be no disagreement on what the appropriate distribution of income should be. There would be no disagreement on the question of capital punishment or abortion. If the government tried to re-distribute income contrary to the no-transaction cost ideal, then in a Coasean world, the beneficiaries would return the money to those from whom it was taken by taxation. Empirical studies of a near-Coasean economy show this predicted return occurring. Thus disagreements on values are actually disagreements over facts. I shall argue that the Coase Theorem itself suggests a moral rule: act to minimize transaction costs.
Measurement of the oxygen partial pressure and thermodynamic modeling of the U–Nd–O system

Abstract Fission products greatly impact the properties of fuel necessitating a thorough understanding of the thermochemical properties of oxide fuels with fission products. However, thermochemical data for the U–Nd–O system is insufficient even though neodymium is a major fission product. As neodymium will likely be present as a solute in UO 2 , this research focuses on the study of (U 1−y Nd y )O 2±x . Experimental measurements and analyses of the oxygen partial pressure (pO 2 )-temperature-oxygen to metal ratio (O/M ratio) relationships were performed using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and an oxygen analyzer. Thermodynamic computational modeling was performed using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method with the FactSage software. The Gibbs energy of the (U 1−y Nd y )O 2±x solid solution was described by the compound energy formalism (CEF), which is based on earlier thermodynamic modeling data of the binary U–O system from Gueneau et al.. The thermodynamic and phase diagram data of the U–Nd–O system produced in this work show good agreement with the experimental data.
Practicing Qi and consuming Ki: Folk epistemology and consumption rituals in Japan

Folk epistemology is a study of the commonsense knowledge and internalized beliefs of ordinary people. This paper discusses consumer knowledge in the context of consumption rituals in Japan. Studyi...
Plastic surgery practice models and research aims under the patient protection and affordable care act

As the health care landscape in the United States changes under the Affordable Care Act, providers are set to face numerous new challenges. Although concerns about practice sustainability with declining reimbursement have dominated the dialogue, there are more pressing changes to the health care funding mechanism as a whole that must be addressed. Plastic surgeons, involved in various practice models each with different relationships to hospitals, referring physicians, and payers, must understand these reimbursement changes to dictate adequate compensation in the future. In this article, the authors discuss bundle payments and accountable care organizations, and how plastic surgeons might best engage in these new system designs. In addition, the authors review the value of a focused and driven health-services research agenda in plastic surgery, and the importance of this research in supporting long-term financial stability for the specialty.
Eye Gaze Estimation Based on Accurate Location of Eye Corner

A gaze estimation system based on a single camera and IR light was proposed. The eye corners' location w as used in this paper,and a tw o-step eye corner locating method combining USM coarse positioning w ith fine positioning by Gabor eye corner filter w as presented. To solve the problem that the accuracy of traditional use of pupil-Purkinje image vector for polynomial fitting decreases w hen head moves,the vector w as corrected by using the distance of inner eye corners,and the error w as compensated by using the support vector regression to build the relationship betw een eye characteristic parameters and the polynomial error. Combined w ith the accurate location of eye corners,the relationship betw een 2D features around the eye and the screen coordinates w as built based on the designed system. Experimental results show ed that the accurate eye gaze estimation w ithin a certain range of head movement could be realized w ith the proposed system.
Analysis and Strategies on Difficult Points in the Teaching of Statistics Principle

Sampling deduction and index are difficult points in the teaching of statistics principle.Analysis and strategies were proposed based on the knowledge character of college students and teaching experience in order to help them improve the understanding to these difficult points.
Diffusions of β-cyclodextrins in mucus studied by 19 F diffusion NMR

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) based materials have been widely used as drug carriers for pharmaceutical applications. To understand the diffusion of β-CDs in mucus is important for selecting β-CD based drug carriers for applications targeting mucosal absorption because the surfaces of many biological membranes are covered with a highly viscous aqueous mucus layer which forms relatively effective diffusion barriers for drugs. In this study, 19F self-diffusion NMR technique has been applied to study the self-diffusions of β-CDs in mucus. The 19F NMR signals arose from 1-fluoroadamantane molecules entrapped in the cavities of β-CDs. The diffusive abilities of different β-CDs in mucus were assessed through analyzing the diffusion coefficients using the presented kinetic model, and Ogston’s and Renkin’s diffusion models for hydrogel systems. The kinetic results show that 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD and 2-Carboxyethyl-β-CD have the smallest binding affinities to bovine submaxillary mucin and human nasal mucin among five tested β-CDs. The mesh sizes of the bovine submaxillary mucus at different concentrations and that of the human nasal mucus were evaluated using the diffusion models. We hope that this 19F diffusion method will be useful to study the diffusion of β-CD based materials in other biological systems.
Printed interconnects for photovoltaic modules

Abstract Film-based photovoltaic modules employ monolithic interconnects to minimize resistance loss and enhance module voltage via series connection. Conventional interconnect construction occurs sequentially, with a scribing step following deposition of the bottom electrode, a second scribe after deposition of absorber and intermediate layers, and a third following deposition of the top electrode. This method produces interconnect widths of about 300 µm, and the area comprised by interconnects within a module (generally about 3%) does not contribute to power generation. The present work reports on an increasingly popular strategy capable of reducing the interconnect width to less than 100 µm: printing interconnects. Cost modeling projects a savings of about $0.02/watt for CdTe module production through the use of printed interconnects, with savings coming from both reduced capital expense and increased module power output. Printed interconnect demonstrations with copper-indium-gallium-diselenide and cadmium-telluride solar cells show successful voltage addition and miniaturization down to 250 µm. Material selection guidelines and considerations for commercialization are discussed.
Predictive factor for intraoperative tumor rupture of Wilms tumor

For Wilms tumor, intraoperative tumor rupture with wide tumor spillage during surgical manipulation raises the classification to stage 3. Then, postoperative chemotherapy must be more intensive, and abdominal radiotherapy is added. Therefore, intraoperative tumor rupture should be avoided if possible. However, predictive factors for intraoperative tumor rupture have not been sufficiently described. Here we examined the risk factors for intraoperative tumor rupture. Patients with Wilms tumor who underwent treatment according to the National Wilms Tumor Study or the Japanese Wilms Tumor Study protocol at our institution were reviewed retrospectively. Collected cases were categorized into two groups: the ruptured group and the non-ruptured group. Risk factors for intraoperative tumor rupture, including the ratio of the tumor area to the abdominal area in a preoperative single horizontal computed tomography slice (T/A ratio), were investigated in both groups. The two groups were not different in age, body weight, tumor laterality, sex, or histological distribution. The T/A ratio in the ruptured group was significantly higher than that in the non-ruptured group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified a discriminative value for a T/A ratio >0.5. The T/A ratio can be a predictive factor for intraoperative tumor rupture of Wilms tumor.
Waiting to Endow

Among the many responsibilities of today's academic department head is manager and fundraiser. This is the story of how Jerry O'Neill, and academic department head, deals with two difficult management problems. On the one hand, he must deal with a potential donor given to making embarrassing statement and on the other hand handle a non-perfurming academic.
Robotic navigation to subcortical neural tissue for intracellular electrophysiology in vivo.

This work represents an automated method for accessing subcortical neural tissue for intracellular electrophysiology in vivo. We have implemented a novel algorithm to detect obstructions during reg...
Perioperative Management of Factor V Leiden and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background: Perioperative management of a patient with factor V Leiden has been infrequently reported with most studies focused in the orthopedic literature. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 74-year-old woman who underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy without immediate perioperative embolic or thrombotic phenomena and her management throughout her hospital course. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first known report regarding factor V Leiden and surgical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Fall Detection Using Deep Learning in Range-Doppler Radars

In this paper, we propose an approach that uses deep learning to detect a human fall. The proposed approach automatically captures the intricate properties of the radar returns. In order to minimize false alarms, we fuse information from both the time-frequency and range domains. Experimental data is used to demonstrate the superiority of the deep learning based approach in comparison with the principal component analysis method and those methods incorporating predefined physically interpreted features.
Effectiveness of a multi-component quality improvement intervention on rates of hyperglycaemia

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted, hospital-wide glycaemic control quality improvement programme. Methods The quality improvement intervention comprised three components, derived through root cause analysis: standardising and simplifying care (including evidence-based order sets), increasing visibility (through provider access to clinical data and direct feedback) and educational outreach (directed at the entire institution). Effectiveness was determined at a single urban acute care hospital through time-series analysis with statistical process control charts. Primary outcomes included rate of hyperglycaemia and rate of hypoglycaemia. Results The study included 70 992 hospital admissions for 50 404 patients, with 3 35 645 patient days. The hyperglycaemia ratio decreased 25.2% from 14.1% to 10.5% (95% CI 3.3 to 3.9 percentage points, p 299 mg/dL) decreased 31.8% from 4.8% to 3.3% (95% CI 1.4 to 1.7 percentage points, p Conclusions We demonstrate improved hospital-wide glycaemic control after a multifaceted quality improvement intervention in the context of strong institutional commitment, national mentorship and Lean management
Metallurgical problems affecting the economics of aluminum production

How much of the growth of the aluminum industry is due to technological improvements made by metallurgical engineers? How much are new designs of reduction furnaces and plants, as well as operational techniques, contributing to the security of invested capital and its rapid return?
Nonword repetition in adults who stutter: The effects of stimuli stress and auditory-orthographic cues.

Purpose Adults who stutter (AWS) are less accurate in their immediate repetition of novel phonological sequences compared to adults who do not stutter (AWNS). The present study examined whether manipulation of the following two aspects of traditional nonword repetition tasks unmask distinct weaknesses in phonological working memory in AWS: (1) presentation of stimuli with less-frequent stress patterns, and (2) removal of auditory-orthographic cues immediately prior to response. Method Fifty-two participants (26 AWS, 26 AWNS) produced 12 bisyllabic nonwords in the presence of corresponding auditory-orthographic cues (i.e., immediate repetition task), and the absence of auditory-orthographic cues (i.e., short-term recall task). Half of each cohort (13 AWS, 13 AWNS) were exposed to the stimuli with high-frequency trochaic stress, and half (13 AWS, 13 AWNS) were exposed to identical stimuli with lower-frequency iambic stress. Results No differences in immediate repetition accuracy for trochaic or iambic nonwords were observed for either group. However, AWS were less accurate when recalling iambic nonwords than trochaic nonwords in the absence of auditory-orthographic cues. Conclusions Manipulation of two factors which may minimize phonological demand during standard nonword repetition tasks increased the number of errors in AWS compared to AWNS. These findings suggest greater vulnerability in phonological working memory in AWS, even when producing nonwords as short as two syllables.
Divine Desire: Paul’s Apocalyptic God of Rescue:

In his apocalyptic understanding of the gospel, Paul weaves together the presence of hostile powers, warfare imagery, and a powerful description of a God who seeks to deliver humanity and creation ...
FPGA implementation of self-reconfigurable fuzzy logic controller

Nowadays, new system design requirements are increasing more and more. Even though, the SoC FPGA based is a good choice given their flexibility, the Reconfigurable System on Chip (RSoC) is a better flexible solution that allows chip Partial Reconfiguration (PR). In this study, we present a PR design approach of FPGA based Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) for electromechanical system. In order to enhance flexibility and performance of the considered system, a self-reconfigurable system is designed. Based on Zynq Processor of the Zedboard, the system switches between different versions of the HW speed FLC. Experimental results were validated and the efficiency of the approach was confirmed.
Ultrasonic-Wave Generation by Surface and Bulk Heating in Multimaterial Structures

In many light-absorbing materials a substantial fraction of the annihilated photon’s energy is transformed into heat. If the light is pulsed, then pulses of heat are produced which, in turn, generate pulsed elastic disturbances; this phenomenon is commonly known as the photoacoustic effect. Whereas the heat pulses are exponentially damped as they move away from the source, the elastic waves propagate with relatively little attenuation. The elastic waves so generated contain information about the thermal, elastic, and optical properties of the material in which they are produced as well as information about materials in contact with the generating material. The information carried by the elastic wave is more localized--that is, the resolution is greater-- the higher is the frequency of the light pulses; and if the frequency is increased to the microwave range, the resolution can approach or even surpass that of the optical microscope. The generation of high-frequency elastic waves by photothermal means is of current interest because of its relevance to several areas of physics, including: the development of the photoacoustic microscope1 , thermal-wave imaging2 , determination of thermoelastic material parameters, nondestructive evaluation of devices3 , and laser annealing and melting phenomena in semiconductors.
Chapter 8 Carbonate-Terrigenous Sedimentation on the North Puerto Rico Shelf

Abstract The narrow steep high wave energy north shelf of Puerto Rico is characterized by rapid terrigenous sedimentation off river mouths and slow accumulation of purely calcareous non-reefal sediment between river mouths. Fine grained terrigenous sediments accumulate in pods or wedges up to 40 meters in thickness. Shifting of river mouths moves the loci of terrigenous sedimentation which is then replaced by carbonate sedimentation. After abandonment of a river mouth location, the accumulated offshore terrigenous sediment, if located near one of the many canyons indenting the shelf, is gradually removed from the shelf, down the canyon system. It is believed likely that transgressions of sea level remove any accumulated terrigenous sands seaward down the steep shelf. Hence the present day accumulations and lateral relationships of carbonate non-carbonate depocenters on the north Puerto Rico shelf have largely formed during the Holocene.
Locally minimal sets for conformal dimension

We show that for each 1• fi < d and K <1 there is a subset X of R d such that dim(f(X))‚ fi = dim(X) for every K -quasiconformal map, but such that dim(g(X)) can be made as small as we wish for some quasiconformal g , i.e., the conformal dimension of X is zero. These sets are then used to construct new examples of minimal sets for conformal dimension and sets where the conformal dimension is not attained.
A Diet Low in Red and Processed Meat Does Not Reduce Rate of Crohn's Disease Flares.

Background & Aims Diet may be an important factor in the progression of Crohn's disease (CD). We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine whether reduced consumption of red and processed meats decreases the risk of symptomatic relapse of CD, analyzing results from the Food and Crohn's Disease Exacerbation Study (FACES) trial. Methods Adults with CD were recruited into the FACES trial from IBD Partners, an Internet-based cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, from November 2013 through June 2015. Individuals who were in remission (CD activity index [sCDAI] scores of ≤150), had completed a biannual survey, and reported consumption of red meat at least once weekly were randomly assigned to groups that consumed a minimum of 2 servings/week of red or processed meat (high meat, n = 118) or not more than 1 serving per month (low meat, n = 96) for 49 weeks. The primary outcome was relapse of CD, defined as increase in sCDAI score by ≥70 points and to >150 or a need for CD surgery or new CD medication. A secondary outcome, moderate or severe relapse, was based on an increase in sCDAI to >219. Results During the trial, the high-meat groups reported consumption of 2 or more servings of red or processed meat during 98.5% of observed weeks compared with 18.8% of weeks for the low-meat group. Any and moderate to severe relapse occurred in 62% of participants in the high-meat group and 42% of participants in the low-meat group. There were no significant differences in time to any (P = .61) or moderate/severe (P = .50) relapse. Conclusions In an analysis of data from the FACES trial, we found that among patients with CD in remission, level of red and processed meat consumption was not associated with time to symptomatic relapse. ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT0192673.
Simultaneous Sparse Recovery and Blind Demodulation

The task of finding a sparse signal decomposition in an overcomplete dictionary is made more complicated when the signal undergoes an unknown modulation (or convolution in the complementary Fourier domain). Such simultaneous sparse recovery and blind demodulation problems appear in many applications including medical imaging, super resolution, self-calibration, etc. In this paper, we consider a more general sparse recovery and blind demodulation problem in which each atom comprising the signal undergoes a distinct modulation process. Under the assumption that the modulating waveforms live in a known common subspace, we employ the lifting technique and recast this problem as the recovery of a column-wise sparse matrix from structured linear measurements. In this framework, we accomplish sparse recovery and blind demodulation simultaneously by minimizing the induced atomic norm, which in this problem corresponds to the block $\ell _{1}$ norm minimization. For perfect recovery in the noiseless case, we derive near optimal sample complexity bounds for Gaussian and random Fourier overcomplete dictionaries. We also provide bounds on recovering the column-wise sparse matrix in the noisy case. Numerical simulations illustrate and support our theoretical results.
Abstract #41: Grape seed extract inhibits the growth of human head and neck carcinoma cells under both in vitro and in vivo conditions

Head and neck cancer accounts for nearly 40,000 cases of cancer diagnosed annually in the United States and has 5 year survival rate of ~50%. Despite considerable advancement in conventional therapeutic approaches to treat this malignancy, the survival rate of head and neck cancer patients remains almost same. Accumulating evidences suggest that consumption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with lower risk of cancer. Besides nutrients, fruits and vegetables contain non-nutritive phytochemicals, which have shown anti-cancer activity in many cancer models. Accordingly, in the present study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effects of grape seed extract (GSE), an excellent source of proanthocyanidins, against human head and neck cancer FaDu and UMSCC-22B cell lines. We observed that treatment with GSE (10- 40 µg/ml) for 24-72 h results in concentration- and time-dependent decrease in viability of both the cells lines. In case of FaDu cells, treatment with GSE for 24 h resulted in a decrease in the viability of these cells by 41-66% (P Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 41.
Neural function during emotion processing and modulation associated with treatment response in a randomized clinical trial for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with exaggerated threat processing and deficits in emotion modulation circuitry. It remains unknown how neural circuits are associated with response to evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Method We examined associations between PTSD symptoms and indicators of neural response in key emotion processing and modulation regions. Fifty-six military Veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to one of three evidence-based treatments (prolonged exposure, sertraline, and PE plus sertraline) in a randomized clinical trial ("PROGrESS"; 2018, Contemp Clin Trials, 64, 128-138). Twenty-seven combat-exposed controls (CCs) served as a comparison group at pretreatment. Before and after PTSD treatment, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess brain activation and connectivity during the validated Shifted Attention Emotion Appraisal Task (2003, J Neurosci, 23, 5627-5633; 2013, Biol Psychiatry, 73, 1045-1053). Results Greater activation in emotion processing (anterior insula) and modulation (prefrontal cortex) regions and increased connectivity between attentional control (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and superior parietal cortex) and emotion processing (amygdala) regions, at pretreatment, were associated with subsequent PTSD symptom improvement. Conclusions This study is one of the first to examine task-based activation and functional connectivity in a PTSD treatment trial, and provides evidence to suggest that activation in and connectivity between emotion processing and modulation regions are important predictors of treatment response.
The zinc transporter ZIP9 (Slc39a9) regulates zinc dynamics essential to egg activation in zebrafish

The zinc transporter ZIP9 (SLC39A9) was recently characterized as a membrane androgen receptor in various teleost and mammalian cell models. ZIP9 shows the highest expression in ovaries of teleosts, a tissue in which both androgen signaling and zinc dynamics have significant roles. To examine the role of ZIP9 in ovarian physiology, we generated a ZIP9-mutant zebrafish strain using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. zip9-/- females showed significant reductions in fecundity, embryo viability, and growth of their offspring compared to wildtype (WT) fish. Furthermore, a high proportion of zip9-/- eggs failed to undergo normal chorion elevation during activation. In WT eggs, zinc was detected in cortically-localized vesicles which underwent exocytosis upon activation. zip9-/- eggs showed abnormal cortical vesicle development and had a significantly depressed activation-induced zinc release compared to WT eggs. Moreover, pharmacologically sustained elevation of zinc in WT eggs prior to activation resulted in abnormal chorion elevation similar to that observed in zip9-/- eggs. These results indicate that ZIP9 is essential for proper zinc modulation during zebrafish egg activation and presents the first evidence of zinc modulation during egg activation in a non-mammalian species.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders in young adults [...]
Human Orthogonal IL-2/IL-2Rβ As a Tunable Approach to Enhance CD19-Speific CAR-T Cell Antitumor Activity

Immunotherapy using T cells engineered with a chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) can produce deep and durable control of B-cell malignancies that is associated with the engraftment and persistence of the CAR T cells following adoptive transfer. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a central T cell cytokine that promotes T cell proliferation and effector function with a potential to enhance CAR T cell immunotherapy; however, the use of recombinant IL-2 to support T cell immunotherapy is limited by the significant toxicity associated with IL-2 infusion. Previous work has demonstrated the feasibility of engineering murine IL-2 and it’s receptor to create an orthogonal (ortho) cytokine-receptor pair capable of delivering IL-2’s signal without the associated toxicity (Sockolosky JT et al. Science 2018). In order to translate this novel approach to humans, we engineered a human orthogonal IL-2 (ortho-hIL-2) and human orthogonal IL-2Rβ (ortho-hIL-2Rβ) pair based upon similar mutations to those required in the murine system. We show that hoIL-2 induces JAK-STAT signaling and supports proliferation of the IL-2 dependent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) line, SeAx, and primary human CD8+ primary T cells when hoIL-2Rb is expressed in these cells. HoIL-2 at concentrations 1000-fold higher than wild-type IL-2 failed to induce signaling in the absence of the orthogonal receptor illustrating the high selectivity of ortho-hIL-2 for the ortho-hIL-2Rβ. Using a CD19-specific, 4-1BB-costimulated CAR T cell (CART19), we show that ortho-hIL-2 induced a dose-dependent increase in ortho-hIL-2Rβ CAR-T cell expansion and serum cytokines in vivo by as much as 1000-fold at 2 weeks following adoptive transfer into NSG mice bearing CD19+ Nalm6 leukemia xenografts and daily ortho-hIL-2 treatment. We further demonstrate that hoIL-2 can rescue the anti-leukemic effect of an otherwise suboptimal CAR T cell dose. In addition to augmenting initial CAR T cell engraftment and efficacy, we also show that ortho-hIL-2 administration initiated at the time of leukemic relapse following CAR T cell therapy can rescue an otherwise failed anti-leukemic response. In aggregate, these data demonstrate the ability of the human orthogonal IL-2 cytokine-receptor system to support T cell expansion in vivo and the potential of combining this approach with CAR T cell immunotherapy to augment the anti-tumor efficacy of engineered T cells. Disclosures Sockolosky: Synthekine Therapeutics: Current equity holder in private company. Garcia: Synthekine: Current equity holder in private company, Other: founder. Milone: Novartis: Patents & Royalties.
Steady-State Control Strategy of Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection HVDC Project in the Philippines

The sea-crossing Mindanao - Visayas Interconnection (MVIP) HVDC Project will help to increase the power reliability and optimize energy layout in the Philippines. In this paper, the overview information of the MVIP Project are introduced firstly. Then basic control strategy and operation modes are designed. In addition, two special steady-state control strategies are also elaborated, including low-power start control and power direction control. At last, a simulation model is established in PSCAD/EMTDC platform, and smooth start-up as well as steady-state operation are realized. The validity and feasibility of the proposed strategies are verified according to the case study.
Does society benefit from investor overconfidence in the ability of financial market experts

Abstract This paper develops a securities market model in which participants’ beliefs diverge and prices are monotonic in beliefs. Relative to rational expectations (i.e., correct and unanimous beliefs), overconfidence among uninformed traders about the precision of experts’ information leads to Pareto-superior equilibria. Efficiency-enhancing departures from rational expectations occur over a dense subset of parameter space, but only for one configuration of beliefs: uninformed traders must be more confident than informed experts. Overconfidence in the form of excessive trust in the predictive ability of experts sets off a virtuous cycle of increased trading that improves liquidity and reduces transaction costs for everyone.
Secure Communication Channels Using Atmosphere-limited Line-of-sight Terahertz Links

The water vapor absorption is one of the biggest challenges typically mentioned for terahertz wireless communication. However, this absorption could also be used to an advantage. We propose to exploit water vapor absorption for enhancing the security of communication against eavesdropping. We simulate the properties of a terahertz channel, and propose that tuning the carrier frequency can be used for range-based security.
A New Test Of Risk Factor Relevance

Textbook models assume that investors are trying to insure against bad states of the world associated with specific risk factors when investing. This is a testable assumption and we develop a survey framework for doing so. Our framework can be applied to any risk factor. We demonstrate the approach using consumption growth, making our results applicable to most modern asset-pricing models. Participants respond to changes in the mean and volatility of stock returns consistent with textbook models, but we find no evidence that they view an asset's correlation with consumption growth as relevant to investment decisions.
Feasibility of Artificial Insemination Network for Egyptian Buffalo Development: A Literature Reviews

Literature reviews confirmed that Egypt has a comparative advantage in milk production rather than red meat production, particularly from buffalo. Furthermore, water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, limiting horizontal expansion in fodder acreage. Furthermore, there is fierce competition between food and feed demand on available agricultural land resources. As a result, horizontal expansion in dairy buffalo stock would be impossible. As a result, the only option for buffalo development in Egypt is vertical expansion through increased milk yield to meet the current deficit in domestic milk production. The Egyptian consumer prefers buffalo milk for its color taste and high content of total solids, particularly fat. Buffalo milk is more expensive than cow milk, and its production is increasing faster than cow milk production. The proposed genetic improvement of buffalo milk yield is being accelerated using an artificial insemination (AI) network. A recent study [1], provided evidence that the return of genetic investment in dairy buffalo would be feasible, (IRR = 19.71%) However, according to official statistics, Egypt has only two AI-centers for buffalo selected buffalo sires, serving four AI-units. As a result, the goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of establishing an AI-network in Egypt by estimating (NPV, IRR, and payback period) and its sensitivity to unfavorable changes that the proposed program may face. The study used a field survey data collected from an AI-unit of the buffaloes’ semen and an AI-Center for raising buffalo sires in Nile Delta. The findings showed that, while the Egyptian economy's average discount rate was 17.5 %, the estimated IRR for one AI-unit was around 35 % under the most likely scenario. A 10% decrease in semen price and a 10% increase in insemination costs would result in IRRs of approximately 28% and 31%, respectively. Under the most likely conditions, the estimated IRR for the AI-center was around 31%. 10% Decrease in Semen Price, and 10% increase in feed costs or in Sire’s price would result in 26%, 30% or 28% respectively. The lowest sale price of semen dose is thus the most effective variable on the IRR. Unfavorable changes, on the other hand, would keep investments with high incentives in establishing a feasible AI-Network for rapidly increasing the dairy buffalo milk yield.
Greenhouse gas – carbon dioxide emissions reduction technologies

This chapter begins by discussing the environmental and health effects of the greenhouse gases and emissions of the greenhouse gases, with an emphasis on those emitted from fossil fuel combustion, specifically CO2. This is followed by discussions of the CO2 capture technologies, transport and storage of CO2, and the economics of CO2 capture and sequestration. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the permanence, monitoring, mitigation, and verification of CO2 capture and storage.
Nanostructured Metal Films

Schatz GC, McMahon JM, Gray SK (2007) Tailoring the parameters of nanohole arrays in gold films for sensing applications. Proc SPIE 6641 664103/1–8 DOI:10.1117/12.790647. McMahon JM, Henzie J, Odom TW, Schatz GC, Gray SK (2007) Tailoring the sensing capabilities of nanohole arrays in gold films with Rayleigh anomaly-surface plasmon polaritons. Opt Express 15:18119–18129. DOI:10.1364/OE.15.018119. Gao H, McMahon JM, Lee MH, Henzie J, Gray SK, Schatz GC, Odom TW (2009) Rayleigh anomaly-surface plasmon polariton resonances in palladium and gold subwavelength hole arrays. Opt Express 17:2334–2340. DOI:10.1364/OE.17.002334. Odom TW, Gao H, McMahon JM, Henzie J, Schatz GC (2009) Plasmonic superlattices: hierarchical subwavelength hole arrays. Chem Phys Lett 483:187–192. DOI:10.1016/j.cplett.2009.10.084. McMahon JM, Gray SK, Schatz GC (2011) Surface nanophotonics theory. In: Wiederrecht G (ed) Comprehensive nanoscience and technology. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Behavioral contrast when responses are maintained by unsignaled delayed reinforcement

Positive and negative behavioral contrast were studied in pigeons when keypecking was maintained by a variable-interval (VI) schedule with a 1- or 2-s unsignaled delay prior to each reinforcer. In three different conditions, extinction (defined as removing the reinforcer) alternated with the VI schedule. These extinction conditions were programmed as 20-s blackouts of the chamber, 100-s blackouts of the chamber, or 20-s changes in the color of the response key. Adding extinction in any of these forms increased response rates maintained by the delayed-reinforcement contingency (positive contrast), and removing extinction decreased these response rates (negative contrast). Differential behavioral contrast did not occur systematically across pigeons as a function of the different extinction conditions. The results extend to responding maintained by delayed reinforcement the range of circumstances under which behavioral contrast occurs. The role of contingencies controlling low response rates and different types and durations of stimuli in generating behavioral contrast are discussed.
Loss of E protein transcription factors E2A and HEB delays memory‐precursor formation during the CD8+T‐cell immune response

The transcription factors E2A and HEB (members of the E protein family) have been shown to play essential roles in lymphocyte development, while their negative regulators, the Id proteins, have been implicated in both lymphocyte development and in the CD8+ T-cell immune response. Here, we show that E proteins also influence CD8+ T cells responding to infection. E protein expression was upregulated by CD8+ T cells during the early stages of infection and increased E protein DNA-binding activity could be detected upon TCR stimulation. Deficiency in the E proteins, E2A and HEB, led to increased frequency of terminally differentiated effector KLRG1hi CD8+ T cells in mice during infection, and decreased generation of longer-lived memory-precursor cells during the immune response. These data suggest a model whereby E protein transcription factor activity favors rapid memory-precursor T-cell formation while their negative regulators, Id2 and Id3, are both required for robust effector CD8+ T-cell response during infection.
COMPUTERS: APPLICATIONS TO THE QUANTIFICATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

Computerized behavior analysis systems in quantification of human behavior, noting simulation and data collection
Materialization Trade-Offs in Hierarchical Shortest Path Algorithms

Materialization and hierarchical routing algorithms are becoming important tools in querying databases for the shortest paths in time-critical applications like Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), due to the growing size of their spatial graph databases [16]. A hierarchical routing algorithm decomposes the original graph into a set of fragment graphs and a boundary graph which summarizes the fragment graphs. A fully materialized hierarchical routing algorithm pre-computes and stores the shortest-path view and the shortest-path-cost view for the graph fragments as well as for the boundary graph [9]. The storage cost of the fully materialized approach can be reduced by a virtual or a hybrid materialization approach, where few or none of the relevant views are pre-computed. This paper explores the effect of materializing individual views for the storage overhead and computation time of hierarchical routing algorithms. Our experiments with the Twin Cities metropolitan road-map show that materializing the shortest-path-cost view for the boundary graph provides the best savings in computation time, for a given amount of storage and a small number of fragments. Materializing the relevant part of the shortest-path-cost view for the fragment graphs provides the next best savings, followed by materializing the shortest-path view for the boundary graph. Virtual shortest-path-view on fragments can reduce storage costs by an order of magnitude or more for large graphs
Quality Assurance and Quality of Construction

Modern quality assurance (QA) systems, including statistically based specifications, are being reviewed and adopted by many states throughout the nation. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) initial involvement in quality assurance systems started 15 years ago, in 1963. At that time, the Office of Research and Development's efforts were directed toward arousing the highway industry's interest in quality assurance and developing guidelines in this area. Currently, there are 21 states using quality-assurance-type specifications as their normal specifications for asphaltic concrete construction. In addition, there are seven states that are developing or using QA-type specifications for asphaltic concrete on selected trial projects. Part of the reasoning for the shift toward the adoption of modern quality assurance systems by state highway and transportation agencies can be attributed to their efforts to apply sound management techniques to the highway industry. The adoption and application of sound management techniques has become essential in this age of increasing costs and reduced revenues and will lead to a better-performing highway system.
Moral Dilemmas and ‘Ought and Ought Not’

Although common sense and literature support the possibility of moral dilemmas, many traditional and contemporary philosophers deny this possibility because of several arguments. Probably the strongest argument against the possibility of moral dilemmas can be called the argument from ought and ought not. Various versions of this argument have been presented by McConnell, Hare, and Conee. Its basic form can be outlined as follows. If any agent is in any moral dilemma, then that agent ought to adopt each of two alternatives but cannot adopt both. If any agent ought to adopt any alternative, but that agent cannot adopt that alternative together with another alternative, then that agent ought not not to adopt that other alternative. Therefore, if any agent is in any moral dilemma, then that agent both ought and ought not to adopt each alternative. It is not possible that any agent both ought and ought not to adopt any alternative. Therefore, it is not possible for any agent to be in any moral dilemma.