cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sildenafil in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease.

Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common nonmotor feature in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Data regarding the tolerability and efficacy of anti-ED medication in the PD population are limited. The aim of this work was to assess the safety and efficacy of sildenafil in treatment of ED in men with PD. Methods This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study consisting of two 4-week arms separated by a 2-week washout period. Treatment sequence (placebo-sildenafil vs. sildenafil-placebo) was randomized. Sildenafil was started at 50 mg and adjusted to 25, 50, or 100 mg after 2 weeks, depending upon side effects. The Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF; primary outcome measure) and the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life (secondary outcome measure) were obtained at baseline and end of each treatment period. The UPDRS was obtained at each study visit. The difference between group means was tested for statistical significance using t tests. Results Twenty men participated and completed both treatment arms of the study. There was one instance of headache as a side effect. There was a significant effect of sildenafil on sexual functioning as measured by the IIEF-EF domain (P < 0.0001; mean for sildenafil = 23.2 ± 7.0; mean for placebo = 12.3 ± 7.5). There were no treatment effects for quality of life (P = 0.3) or PD symptoms (P = 0.86). Conclusions Sildenafil was safe and improved ED in this sample of men with PD. Overall, PD symptoms and quality of life were not impacted by use of sildenafil.
Colonial Girlhood in Literature, Culture and History, 1840–1950

Colonial Girlhood in Literature, Culture and History, 1840–1950, edited by Kristine Moruzi and Michelle J. Smith, consists of sixteen essays produced by international scholars who examine colonial ...
Abstract 467: Oxidized lipids contribute to the suppression function of myeloid derived suppressor cells in cancer

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Immune evasion is an emerging hallmark of cancer progression. It is established that the defects in the function of antigen presenting cells and the accumulation of myeloid derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) are critical drivers of tumor mediated immune evasion. MDSCs represent a heterogeneous population of immature and pathologically activated myeloid cells that are expanded in many cancers and suppress immune responses by several defined mechanisms. Our recent findings indicate that the massive accumulation of oxidized lipids in dendritic cells (DCs) resulted in profound defects in their ability to mount antitumor responses. In this study we observed that MDSCs from tumor bearing mice and from cancer patients have higher amount of lipids than their counterpart in tumor free mice and healthy donors, respectively. The content of lipids in MDSC was even much higher in MDSCs infiltrating the tumor, and the accumulation of lipids in MDSC seems be caused by the uptake of extracellular lipids. MDSCs with a highest content of lipids showed a stronger ability to suppress antigen specific CD8 T cell responses than MDSCs with a normal content of lipids. By using mass-spectrometry we identified different oxidized species in lipids accumulated in MDSC from both tumor bearing mice and patients with cancer. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were responsible for the oxidation of lipids in MDSCs. Lack of MPO or ROS in MDSC almost completely abrogated the oxidation of lipids in these cells. Furthermore the reduced amount of oxidized lipids in MDSC from MPO KO mice or following the pharmacological inhibition of their oxidative machinery resulted in a profound defect in MDSC suppressive activity. In line with these findings, unsaturated fatty acids, highly susceptible to oxidation, favored the expansion of highly suppressive MDSC from hematopoietic progenitors in vitro, as oppose to non-oxidizable saturated fatty acids. Together, our data suggest that MDSCs have increased ability to pick up lipids from the microenvironment and to oxidize them via their potent oxidative machinery. In turn oxygenated lipids contribute to the suppressive activity of MDSC. The regulation of the oxidation of lipids in MDSC could be an attractive therapeutic strategy in cancer. Citation Format: Filippo Veglia, Vladimir Tyurin, Valerian Kagan, Dmitry Gabrilovich. Oxidized lipids contribute to the suppression function of myeloid derived suppressor cells in cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 467. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-467
Dynamics of the Disrupted 2015/16 Quasi-Biennial Oscillation

AbstractA significant disruption of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) occurred during the Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter of 2015/16. Since the QBO is the major wind variability source in the tropical lower stratosphere and influences the rate of ascent of air entering the stratosphere, understanding the cause of this singular disruption may provide new insights into the variability and sensitivity of the global climate system. Here this disruptive event is examined using global reanalysis winds and temperatures from 1980 to 2016. Results reveal record maxima in tropical horizontal momentum fluxes and wave forcing of the tropical zonal mean zonal wind over the NH 2015/16 winter. The Rossby waves responsible for these record tropical values appear to originate in the NH and were focused strongly into the tropics at the 40-hPa level. Two additional NH winters, 1987/88 and 2010/11, were also found to have large tropical lower-stratospheric momentum flux divergences; however, the QBO westerlies did not cha...
High-Q self-resonant structure for wireless power transfer

The range and efficiency of wireless power transfer systems are limited by the quality factor of the transmit and receive coils used. Multi-layer self-resonant structures have been proposed as a low-cost method for creating high-Q coils for high-frequency wireless power transfer. In these structures thin foil layers are separated by a dielectric material in order to form a capacitance that resonates with the inductance of the structure, while also forcing equal current sharing between conductors. In order to reduce winding loss, these structures are made with foil layers much thinner than a skin depth, which makes the layers of the structure extremely difficult to handle. In this paper, we present a modified self-resonant structure in which the layered conductors are made from standard PCB substrates with no vias. The PCB substrates provide an inexpensive way to handle thin conductive layers, and the modified self-resonant structure ensures that the poor dielectric properties of the PCB substrates do not impact the quality factor of the structure. The modified self-resonant structure makes it feasible to achieve advantages similar to litz wire, but at multi-MHz frequencies where effective litz wire is not commercially available. Experimental results show that the structure has a quality factor of 1177 at 7.08 MHz, despite only being 6.6 cm in diameter. The quality factor normalized by the diameter is more than 6.5x larger than other coils presented in the literature.
Image Analysis Confirmation of DNA Aneuploidy in Flow Cytometric DNA Distributions Having a Wide Coefficient of Variation of the GO/G1 Peak

With nuclei extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues, resolution of normal diploid DNA and abnormal near-diploid/aneuploid populations by flow cytometry (FCM) is especially difficult. These samples, compared with fresh tissue, tend to show a broader DNA distribution, appearing as a wide (high) coefficient of variation (CV) of the GO/Gl peak. To address the question of whether there may be aneuploid populations hidden in wide CV diploid GO/Gl peaks, the authors measured DNA content in nuclei extracted from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue by morphometric image analysis (IA) in addition to FCM. Of 29 samples showing little evidence of DNA aneuploidy by FCM, in 20 of 20 with GO/Gl CVs greater than or equal to 5.50% there was an aneuploid population when analysis was performed by IA. Of the remaining nine samples with CVs less than or equal to 4.41%, all were diploid in the GO/Gl region by both FCM and IA. The presence of aneuploid populations in FCM distributions with wide CV GO/Gl peaks can be confirmed by IA.
Activation of Neutrophils and the Role of Eicosanoids in the Initiation of Organ Failure

The response to stimuli such as infection, blunt injury or ischemia is inflammation. Localization of this homeostatic response to the site of the stimulus is an important protective mechanism. However, in the setting of a large infectious or traumatic injury the exuberant production of inflammatory mediators could lead to their escape into the vasculature and transport to distant tissues where the remote action of these agents could be potentially injurious (Nuytinck et al., 1989). Thus, ischemia and reperfusion of the hindlimb will lead to the generation of vasoactive and vasotoxic agents that influence local permeability in the limb as well as distant permeability in the lungs.
Second order smoothness of weak solutions of degenerate linear equations

Abstract Let m and n be positive integers and { Y k ( x ) } k = 1 m be a collection of m first order Lipschitz vector field derivatives in a bounded open set Ω ⊂ R n . Given a real-valued function b in Ω, we find conditions guaranteeing that a weak solution u of ∑ k = 1 m Y k ′ Y k u = b in Ω has some second order smoothness. More precisely, if Z is a first order vector field derivative, we study when the iterated weak derivatives Z Y k u exist in Ω and belong to L l o c 2 ( Ω ) . The main theorem extends a result of the author for the special case when m = n and Z = Y i for some i. Corollaries include the existence of Z X j u , j = 1 , … , n , for weak solutions u of divergence form equations div ( Q ∇ u ) = b if Q ( x ) is a nonnegative definite, symmetric n × n matrix and { X j } j = 1 n are the derivatives corresponding to the rows of Q . The reverse orders Y k Z u and X j Z u are also considered.
The “New” U(1) Problem

Beford accepting the invitation to talk at this conference I pointed out that I had had no part in the most recent developments in the subject. However I agreed to present a review of those developments, along with some discussion of the work which prompted them, which I did about a year ago in collaboration with Roberto Peccei.1
The health impact of experiences of discrimination, violence, and immigration enforcement among Latino men in a new settlement state

Among Latinos in the United States, particularly in new settlement states, racial/ethnic discrimination, violence, and immigration enforcement contribute to health disparities. These types of experiences were explored among Latino men in North Carolina through quantitative assessment data ( n = 247). Qualitative in-depth interviews were also conducted with a subsample of Latino men who completed the assessment ( n = 20) to contextualize quantitative findings. Participants reported high rates of unfair treatment, discrimination or violence, and questioning about their immigration status. Having been questioned about one's immigration status was significantly associated with increased drug use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.07, 4.38]) and increased depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI [1.07, 7.67]). Qualitative themes included: reports of frequent discrimination based on immigration status, race/ethnicity, and language; workplaces and police interactions as settings where reported discrimination is most common and challenging; frequent violent victimization; psychological consequences of experiences of discrimination and violence and concerns related to immigration enforcement for Latino men and their families; inter- and intra-community tensions; health-care services as safe spaces; use of coping strategies; and system-level approaches for reducing discrimination and violent victimization of Latinos. Findings point to the need to address underlying causes of discrimination and violence toward Latinos, particularly those related to immigration enforcement, to support health and well-being.
The FDA Review Criteria for Assessment of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Devices — Too Much or Not Enough Regulation?

The Medical Device Law of 1976 provided specific regulations for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the evaluation of substantial equivalency and safety and effectiveness of medical devices, including in vitro diagnostic devices such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems, prior to clearance for market release. As technology progressed through the years, the FDA continued to refine the requirements used in their evaluation of new devices to insure that each new technological advance was thoroughly tested prior to market introduction. Recently, the FDA Office of Device Evaluation published a document entitled, “Review Criteria for Assessment of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Devices”.1 This document details the FDA recommendations for the type of clinical testing a manufacturer should perform; the way data should be presented to the FDA; and the minimal performance characteristics of a new system. These new review criteria will be discussed along with their potential implications for the manufacturers of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test(AST) devices.
Carbon assimilation in contrasting streamside and inland Spartina alterniflora salt marsh

Carbon assimilation and standing crop biomass of Spartina alterniflora were studied in a contrasting streamside and inland salt marsh in Louisiana Gulf coast, USA. A substantially lower leaf dry weight, leaf area index, and standing crop biomass were recorded for inland plants as compared to streamside plants. Net assimilation rates ranged between 8 to 25 μmol m−2 s−1 for streamside and between 4 to 19 μmol m−2 s−1 for inland plants. The average photosynthetic rates were significantly lower for inland plants which were growing in an apparently more stressed environment. In addition, the differences were more profound with progression of the growing season. The reduced photosynthetic activity in the inland marsh was attributed to greater soil waterlogging, increased anaerobic root respiration, plant toxins (sulfide), restricted nutrient uptake or a combination of these factors.
Endocrine Effects of Erythropoietin

Uremic men may manifest a variety of hormonal abnormalities, including decreased serum concentrations of testosterone and thyroid hormones and increased serum levels of growth hormone and prolactin. Some previous investigations have reported that erythropoietin therapy may reverse these hormonal changes. To investigate this possibility further, we measured serum prolactin, testosterone, LH, FSH, TSH, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, growth hormone and IGF-I in 21 generally elderly male hemodialysis patients before and during erythropoietin therapy; many of the patients also received an anabolic steroid or metoclopramide treatment. Despite a significant erythropoietic response in a majority of the subjects, no significant changes were seen in any of the hormonal parameters other than a small decrease in serum growth hormone concentrations. Advanced age and chronic illness in our patients may have played a role in limiting the hormonal response reported by others.
Efficiency Versus Equity: A False Dichotomy?

Marc Tool has made a convincing argument that, over the last sixty years, economists have been compelled to do institutional analysis. The compelling forces have been the problems and situations facing people trying to improve their material circumstances. The world-wide depression of the 1930s was the event that broke “the pervasive grip of the Marshallian/Hicksianorthodoxy on the minds and hearts of an increasing number of economists and policy makers” (Tool 1981a, p. 569). Other events such as World War II, de-colonization, and rapid advances in technology have caused the shift to institutional analysis to continue. A major point made by Tool is that these structural shifts in the economy have compelled policy makers to be concerned with normative issues as they consider questions of efficiency. If economists failed to respond to the concerns of policy makers, the discipline would be left out of the most important public debates. The orthodoxy Tool referred to posed a trade off between equity and efficiency; equity enhancements necessarily impose an opportunity cost in terms of efficiency. The shift to institutional analysis is a recognition of the fact that the relationship between equity and efficiency is much more complicated than a simple trade-off. The characteristics of that relationship will be explored in this chapter.
Drug Interactions with Antipsychotic Agents

Antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment for psychotic disorders. Both the newer atypical antipsychotics and their more traditional counterparts are subject to drug-drug interactions amongst themselves, with other psychotropics and with agents used in the treatment of various physical ailments. Furthermore, drug interactions have been documented to occur with many agents commonly used in conjunction with antipsychotics such as anticholinergics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, anxiolytics and lithium.
Scoping Reviews and Systematic Reviews: Is It an Either/Or Question?

Tricco and coworkers engaged 26 experts across the globe and used a structured Delphi approach to examine and adapt the 27 PRISMA items for application to scoping reviews. The editorialist discusse...
Chronic pain clinic efficiency analysis: optimization through use of the Gantt diagram and visit diagnoses.

Objective The aim of this study is to identify scheduling inefficiencies and to develop a personalized schedule based on diagnosis, service time (face-to-face time between the patient and the provider), and patient wait time using a Gantt diagram in a chronic pain clinic. Design This is an observational prospective cohort quality improvement (QI) study. Setting This study was carried out at a single outpatient multidisciplinary pain management clinic in a university teaching hospital. Subjects New and established chronic pain patients at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Montefiore Chronic Pain Clinic were recruited for this study. Methods Time tracking data for each phase of clinic visit and pain-related diagnoses were collected from 81 patients on 5 clinic days in March 2016 for patient flow analysis. Results A Gantt diagram was created using Microsoft Excel® software. Areas of overbooking and underbooking were identified. Median service times (minutes) differed dramatically based on the diagnosis and were highest for facial pain (23 [IQR, 15-31]) and chronic abdominal and/or pelvic pain (21.5 [IQR, 16-27]) and lowest for myalgia. Abdominal and/or pelvic pain and facial pain median service times consistently exceeded the 15-minute allocation for return visits. Conclusion Schedule efficiency analysis using the Gantt diagram identified trends of overbooking and underbooking and inefficiencies in examination room utilization. A 15-minute appointment for all return patients is unrealistic due to variation of service times for some diagnoses. Scheduling appointments based on the diagnosis is an innovative approach that may reduce scheduling inefficiencies and improve patient satisfaction and the overall quality of care. To the best of our knowledge, this type of scheduling diagram has not been used in a chronic pain clinic.
Transition from source- to stress-controlled plasticity in nanotwinned materials below a softening temperature

Nanotwinned materials have been widely studied as a promising class of nanostructured materials that exhibit an exceptional combination of high strength, good ductility, large fracture toughness, remarkable fatigue resistance, and creep stability. Recently, an apparent controversy has emerged with respect to how the strength of nanotwinned materials varies as the twin thickness is reduced. While a transition from hardening to softening was observed in nanotwinned Cu when the twin thickness is reduced below a critical value, continuous hardening was reported in nanotwinned ceramics and nanotwinned diamond. Here, by conducting atomistic simulations and developing a theoretical modeling of nanotwinned Pd and Cu systems, we discovered that there exists a softening temperature, below which the material hardens continuously as the twin thickness is reduced (as in nanotwinned ceramics and diamond), while above which the strength first increases and then decreases, exhibiting a maximum strength and a hardening to softening transition at a critical twin thickness (as in nanotwinned Cu). This important phenomenon has been attributed to a transition from source- to stress-controlled plasticity below the softening temperature, and suggests that different hardening behaviors may exist even in the same nanotwinned material depending on the temperature and that at a given temperature, different materials could exhibit different hardening behaviors depending on their softening temperature.
Big League Social Media: Cultivating Community Online

Given the growing attention from researchers and practitioners , this case addresses a timely problem many non-profit sport organizations face: social media management. Due to a lack of technical skills and knowledge , many organizations fail to effectively utilize social media to promote their organizations. This case outlines facts surrounding a local Little League Baseball program , Greenville Little Leagues (GLL) , and its annual Tournament of State Champions. GLL has recognized the opportunity to use social media as a cost-effective means to develop a fan community and promote the tournament to new supporters (parents , players , families , etc.). The case outlines the organizational details regarding the operation of GLL , the tournament , and GLL's current social media usage. This case provides an opportunity for students to 1) examine effective tactics for using social media to develop community; 2) develop strategies non-profit sport organizations could use to promote community building; 3) identify cost-effective social media tactics for engaging a rapidly changing audience; and 4) articulate how to effectively utilize volunteers to share social media responsibilities. The case is intended for use in event management , organizational behavior , and/or marketing courses and provides an ideal opportunity for instructors to highlight how theory and research can and should inform practice.
Comparing Virtual Reality to Conventional Simulator Visuals: Effects of Peripheral Visual Cues in Roll-Axis Tracking Tasks

This paper compares the effects of peripheral visual cues on manual control between a conventional fixed-base simulator and virtual reality. The results were also compared with those from a previous experiment conducted in a motion-base simulator. Fifteen participants controlled a system with second-order dynamics in a disturbance-rejection task. Tracking performance, control activity, simulator sickness questionnaire answers, and biometrics were collected. Manual control behavior was modeled for the first time in a virtual reality environment. Virtual reality did not degrade participants’ manual control performance or alter their control behavior. However, peripheral cues were significantly more effective in virtual reality. Control activity decreased for all conditions with peripheral cues. The trends introduced by the peripheral visual cues from the previous experiment were replicated. Finally, VR was not more nauseogenic than the conventional simulator. These results suggest that virtual reality might be a good alternative to conventional fixed-base simulators for training manual control skills.
Unlikely Rivals? Integrating Study Abroad into the Political Science Curriculum

As increasing globalization and political fragmentation highlight the need for students to expand their perspective as “global citizens,” one might expect political science students to be at the forefront of study abroad opportunities. Yet students within the social sciences made up only 17.2 percent of U.S. study abroad students in 2016/17, outnumbered by students in business and management (20.7%) as well as STEM (25.8%), according to the Institute of International Education’s 2018 Open Doors Report on International Exchange. While the participation of social science majors in study abroad programs is still high relative to the total student population in the major, growth in study abroad participation has not kept pace with other majors and is worthy of further exploration.
A Survey Study of Spiritual Change and Related Factors Among the Surviving Loved Ones of Homicide Victims

A survey study was conducted as the second phase of a sequential mixed-methods study of spiritual change after the homicide of a loved one. The purpose of the study was to test the Theory of Post-Homicide Spiritual Change (Theory of PHSC), which emerged in Phase 1 of the larger study. The formulation of survey research questions and hypotheses was guided by the emerging theory. Data were collected online using Qualtrics. Respondents (N = 112) completed a demographic and background questionnaire that was devised for the study based on a review of important factors in homicidal bereavement. They also responded to established measures, including a modified version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES), and the Perceived Justice Scale. The ISLES was comprised of two subscales-Comprehensibility and Footing in the World. Significant findings revealed that posttraumatic growth (PTG) was higher among those for whom 3 or more years had passed since the murder, as compared with those for whom fewer than 3 years had passed. The age of the victim was positively correlated with integration of loss. Christian respondents reported higher levels of integration of loss and PTG, as compared with non-Christian respondents. Integration of loss was a mediator of the relationship between perceived justice and integration of loss, while footing in the world was a mediator of the relationship between comprehensibility and PTG. Contrary to hypotheses, integration of loss did not differ by time since murder. This finding is interpreted in terms of the limitations of the study sample and in terms of future research directions in this area. The results of this study yield important insight into spiritual change and related factors that can be used to guide service provision with the homicide survivor population.
An Outer Bound for Linear Multi-Node Exact Repair Regenerating Codes

In distributed storage, erasure codes provide fault-tolerance while reducing the storage overhead compared to replication. The network traffic cost during the repair of node failures, called repair bandwidth, is an important metric in code design. Regenerating codes are a class of erasure codes developed with the aim of reducing the repair bandwidth while maintaining a high level of fault-tolerance. They exhibit a tradeoff between the storage overhead per node and the repair bandwidth. However, a fundamental understanding of the storage-repair bandwidth tradeoff under exact repair is open in general. In this work, we consider the exact repair problem of multiple failures in a centralized way. Building upon techniques from the literature, we first provide an alternative proof of the functional repair bound. Then, we derive a new outer bound for linear centralized multi-node exact repair codes and illustrate its performance under various parameter settings. The derived outer bound shows that, in general, the centralized multi-node functional repair tradeoff is not achievable under linear exact repair.
Advances in tissue and organ engineering

Tissue engineering has evolved as a dynamic research field that encompasses multidisciplinary approaches involving cytology,material science,bioreactor engineering,and medicine.The overarching goal is to construct human tissue and organs in the laboratory for tissue regeneration or replacement.It offers a potential solution to the donor shortage in organ transplantation and to the difficulties in regenerative medicine.The basic components for tissue engineering include seed cell selection,bio-scaffold construction,and ex vivo tissue formation via a bioreactor. Over the past decade,tremendous progress has been made in bioengineering cartilage,trachea,urinary bladder,heart valve and endocrine tissues. However,there remain significant challenges in creating complex and human-sized tissues and organs for clinical use.In this article,we review the basic components and strategies for bioengineering organs. We attempt to provide an overview of current progress and challenges in developing organ-level tissue engineering and in the successful translation of bioengineered tissue and organ products into daily clinical practice. Key words: Tissue engineering; Tissue; Organ
Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatopulmonary syndrome in children

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a group of rare and serious complications caused by liver disease, which is summarized as "progressive chronic liver disease, pulmonary vasodilatation, abnormal gas exchange leading to arterial hypoxemia" . Progressive hypoxemia causes high mortality in children with HPS, and liver transplantation is the only effective cure method.At present, there are few research on HPS in children, especially in China.The possible etiology, pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and detection methods, treatment and prognosis are reviewed in this paper. Key words: Hepatopulmonary syndrome; Children; Diagnosis; Treatment
Predictors of Prescription Drug Misuse among High School Students in the United States

The misuse of prescription medication is a prominent public health concern in the United States. The current study examines prescription drug misuse among adolescents under age 18, a segment of the...
A game theoretic macroscopic model of lane choices at traffic diverges with applications to mixed–autonomy networks

Abstract Vehicle bypassing is known to increase delays at traffic diverges. However, due to the complexities of this phenomenon, accurate and yet simple models of such lane change maneuvers are hard to develop. In this work, we present a macroscopic model for predicting the number of vehicles that perform a bypass at a traffic diverge when taking an exit link. We interpret the bypassing maneuver of vehicles at a traffic diverge as drivers acting selfishly; every vehicle selects lanes such that its own cost of travel is minimized. We discuss how we model the costs that are incurred by the vehicles. Then, taking into account the selfish behavior of vehicles, we model the lane choice of vehicles at a traffic diverge as a Wardrop equilibrium. We state and prove the properties of the equilibrium in our model. We show that there always exists an equilibrium for our model. Moreover, although our model is an instance of nonlinear asymmetrical routing games which in general have multiple equilibria, we prove that the equilibrium of our model is unique under certain assumptions that we observed to hold in all our case studies. We discuss how our model can be calibrated by running a simple optimization problem. Then, using our calibrated model, we validate it through simulation studies and demonstrate that our model successfully predicts the aggregate lane change maneuvers that are performed by vehicles at a traffic diverge. Having shown the predictive power of our model, we discuss how our model can be employed to obtain the optimal lane choice behavior of vehicles, where the social or the overall cost of all vehicles is minimized. Finally, we demonstrate how our model can be utilized in scenarios where a central authority can dictate the lane choice and trajectory of certain vehicles, for example autonomous vehicles directed by a central authority, so as to increase the overall vehicle mobility at a traffic diverge. Examples of such scenarios include the case when both human driven and autonomous vehicles coexist in the network.
Accurate Real-time CNC Curve Interpolators Based Upon Richardson Extrapolation

Abstract Real-time CNC interpolators achieving a constant or variable feedrate V along a parametric curve r ( ξ ) are usually based on truncated Taylor series expansions defining the time-dependence of the curve parameter ξ . Since the feedrate should be specified as a function of a physically meaningful variable (such as time t , path arc length s , or curvature κ ) rather than ξ , successive applications of the differentiation chain rule are necessary to determine Taylor series coefficients beyond the linear term. The closed-form expressions for the higher-order coefficients are increasingly cumbersome to derive and implement, and consequently error-prone. To address this issue, the use of Richardson extrapolation as a simple means to compute rapidly convergent approximations to the higher-order coefficients is investigated herein. The methodology is demonstrated in the context of (1) an arc-length-dependent feedrate for cornering motions; (2) direct real-time offset curve interpolation; and (3) a curvature-dependent feedrate. All of these examples admit simple implementations that circumvent the need for tedious symbolic calculations of higher-order coefficients, and are compatible with real-time controllers with millisecond sampling intervals.
A ‘Whirlwind of Eloquence’: Sources for a Moral Reading of Ulysses’s ‘turbo’ (Inf. XXVI, 137)

The article investigates the significance of the ‘turbo’ imagery that Dante adds at the end of Ulysses’s tale (Inferno xxvi) as a possible key to decoding the nature of this character’s sin. It arg...
Treating Mental Illness and Relational Concerns in Incarcerated Settings

Rates of incarceration in the United States have grown dramatically over the past 50 years. These high rates of incarceration call for mental health and relational therapy to incarcerated individua...
Assessment of patient navigation programs for breast cancer patients across the city of Boston

Healthcare systems contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Patient navigation is a widely cited system-based approach to improve outcomes among populations at risk for delays in care. Patient navigation programs exist in all major Boston hospitals, yet disparities in outcomes persist. The objective of this study was to conduct a baseline assessment of navigation processes at six Boston hospitals that provide breast cancer care in preparation for an implementation trial of standardized navigation across the city. We conducted a mixed methods study in six hospitals that provide treatment to breast cancer patients in Boston. We administered a web-based survey to clinical champions (n = 7) across six sites to collect information about the structure of navigation programs. We then conducted in-person workflow assessments at each site using a semi-structured interview guide to understand site-specific implementation processes for patient navigation programs. The target population included administrators, supervisors, and patient navigators who provided breast cancer treatment-focused care. All sites offered patient navigation services to their patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. We identified wide heterogeneity in terms of how programs were funded/resourced, which patients were targeted for navigation, the type of services provided, and the continuity of those services relative to the patient’s cancer treatment. The operationalization of patient navigation varies widely across hospitals especially in relation to three core principles in patient navigation: providing patient support across the care continuum, targeting services to those patients most likely to experience delays in care, and systematically screening for and addressing patients’ health-related social needs. Gaps in navigation across the care continuum present opportunities for intervention. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT03514433, 5/2/2018
Progenitor cell engraftment in the lung: at last?

Engraftment of progenitor cells to effect repair of injured lungs has been a major challenge. A new study combines a conditioning strategy adopted from bone marrow transplantation with a lung injury model to bring this potential therapeutic approach closer to reality.
Examining a Coupled Continuum Pipe-Flow Model for Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport in a Karst aquifer

A coupled continuum pipe-flow (CCPF) model has been de­veloped for groundwater flow and solute transport in a karst aquifer withconduits. Groundwater flow in conduits is simu­lated througha pipe flow model and flow in fissured matrix rock is described by Darcy’s law. Water mass exchange between the two domains is modeled by a first-order exchange rate method. In this study, we investigate mathematical well-posed­ness (mathematical term, whichmeans solution existence and uniqueness) of the CCPF model, develop a finite elementary method to numerically approximate the mathematical model and study the convergence of the numerical method. The study results prove the modeling approachis mathematically well posed and numerically converged. To study the accuracy of the CCPF model, a recently developed Stokes-Darcy (SD) model and CCPF model are compared withlaboratory experimental results. It was found that the SD model simulations matchwell withexperimental results, but the CCPF model overestimates the hydraulic head in the matrix, especially around the matrix and conduit interface. The model underestimates solute trans­port in the conduit and does not capture the plume distribution in the matrix. In comparison withthe SD model, the CCPF model requires an additional parameter, the first-order mass exchange rate, and the parameter is normally obtained throughinverse method curve fitting. The SD method may provide an approachto directly estimate the parameter value.
Opiates Promote T Cell Apoptosis Through JNK and Caspase Pathway

Opiate addicts are prone to recurrent infections. In the present study we evaluated the molecular mechanism of opiate-induced T cell apoptosis. Both morphine and DAGO ([D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin) enhanced T cell apoptosis. Morphine as well as DAGO activated c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK) in T cells. Moreover, opiates increased the expression of ATF-2, a specific substrate for JNK and P38 mitogen activated kinases (MAPK). Furthermore, opiates attenuated extracellular signal related kinase (ERK) in T cells. Both morphine and DAGO cleaved pro-caspases 8, 9, and 10 and generated caspases 8, 9 and 10 (active products). Morphine as well as DAGO also cleaved poly- (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) into 116 and 85 kD proteins indicating the activation of caspase-3. These results suggest that opiate-induced T cell apoptosis may be mediated through the JNK cascade and activation of caspases 8 and 3.
The New Boys: Women with Disabilities and the Legal Profession

This article fuses the fields of law, feminist theory, and cultural studies to examine the status of women attorneys with disabilities. It is the first study of its kind in the United States. The author conducted an empirical, qualitative, and ethnographic study of women attorneys with disabilities in the United States. Thirty-eight attorneys participated and their narratives form the basis for critical analysis of disability animus and discrimination in the legal profession. The results show an alarming trend toward disabled women attorneys self-accommodating in the workplace, rather than enforcing their employment rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Relying on the scholarship of covering, passing, and mitigation conducted in the law and social sciences, the author advances theories about ableism in the legal profession, particularly with regard to disabled women. These theories inform and complement strategies for increasing overall diversity in the legal profession. She suggests litigation and professional culture-based measures for improving the status of disabled women attorneys and all attorneys stigmatized by perceived differences.
A low voltage graded-channel MOSFET (LV-GCMOS) for sub 1-volt microcontroller application

We report for the first time, a bulk silicon, low voltage graded-channel MOSFET (LV-GCMOS) capable of operating below 1 volt, while delivering the required circuit performance. Channel engineering enabled a lowering of the subthreshold slope by more than 10 mV/dec, allowing for a reduction in the threshold voltage without causing excessive leakage. A 1-Volt HC08 based microcontroller has been built with this technology, achieving >1 MHz operation at 0.9 V, with low stand-by leakage.
Lessons From Medicaid’s Divergent Paths On Mental Health And Addiction Services

Over the past fifty years Medicaid has taken divergent paths in financing mental health and addiction treatment. In mental health, Medicaid became the dominant source of funding and had a profound ...
Differences in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Adolescent Girls in Metropolitan Versus Non-metropolitan Areas: Considering the Moderating Roles of Maternal Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Access.

Objectives This study is among the first to examine metropolitan status differences in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation and completion among United States adolescent girls and is unique in its focus on how maternal socioeconomic status and health care access moderate metropolitan status differences in HPV vaccination. Methods Using cross-sectional data from 3573 girls aged 12–17 in the U.S. from the 2008–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we estimate main and interaction effects from binary logistic regression models to identify subgroups of girls for which there are metropolitan versus non-metropolitan differences in HPV vaccination. Results Overall 34 % of girls initiated vaccination, and 19 % completed all three shots. On average, there were no metropolitan status differences in vaccination odds. However, there were important subgroup differences. Among low-income girls and girls whose mothers did not complete high school, those in non-metropolitan areas had significantly higher probability of vaccine initiation than those in metropolitan areas. Among high-income girls and girls whose mothers completed college, those in metropolitan areas had significantly higher odds of vaccine initiation than those in non-metropolitan areas. Moreover, among girls whose mothers experienced a medical cost barrier, non-metropolitan girls were less likely to initiate vaccination compared to metropolitan girls. Conclusions Mothers remain essential targets for public health efforts to increase HPV vaccination and combat cervical cancer. Public health experts who study barriers to HPV vaccination and physicians who come into contact with mothers should be aware of group-specific barriers to vaccination and employ more tailored efforts to increase vaccination.
Phosphotyrosine (p-Tyr)-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms of p190 RhoGAP-p120 RasGAP Interaction: Tyr 1105 of p190, a Substrate for c-Src, Is the Sole p-Tyr Mediator of Complex Formation

p190 RhoGAP is a 190-kDa protein that stably associates with p120 RasGAP and regulates actin dynamics through members of the Rho family of small GTPases. Previous studies have indicated a direct relationship between levels of p190 tyrosine phosphorylation, the extent and kinetics of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced actin rearrangements, and EGF-induced cell cycle progression, suggesting that p190 links Ras-mediated mitogenic signaling with signaling through the actin cytoskeleton. Determining which tyrosine residues in p190 are phosphorylated, what factors regulate phosphorylation of these sites, and what effect tyrosine phosphorylation has on p190 function is key to understanding the role(s) that p190 may play in these processes. To begin investigating these questions, we used biochemical approaches to characterize the number and relative levels of in vivo-phosphorylated tyrosine residues on endogenous p190 from C3H10T1/2 murine fibroblasts. Only two tryptic phosphopeptides containing phosphotyrosine (p-Tyr), a major site, identified as Y1105, and a minor, unidentified site, were detected. Phosphorylation of Y1105, but not the minor site, was modulated in vivo to a greater extent by overexpression of c-Src than by the EGF receptor and was efficiently catalyzed by c-Src in vitro, indicating that Y1105 is a selective and preferential target of c-Src both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro and in vivo coprecipitation analysis using glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins containing wild-type and Y1105F variants of the p190 middle domain, variants of full-length p190 ectopically expressed in COS-7 cells, and endogenous p190 and p120 in C3H10T1/2 cells revealed that p190 could bind to p120 in the presence and absence of p190 tyrosine phosphorylation. p-Tyr-independent complexes comprised 10 to 20% of the complexes formed in the presence of p-Tyr. Mutation of Y1105 from Tyr to Phe resulted in complete loss of p-Tyr-dependent complex formation, indicating that p-Y1105 was the sole p-Tyr residue mediating binding to p120. These studies describe a specific mechanism by which c-Src can regulate p190-p120 association and also document a significant role for p-Tyr-independent means of p190-p120 binding.
Collegially Validated Limitations of Empirically Validated Treatments

In principle, virtually all clinical psychologists are committed to conducting evidence-based treatments. In application, however, conflicts arise over the definitions and details of identifying what is effective. The healthy debate on the merits of treatment manuals is only one, moderately Important consideration in the larger, complex conflict over what constitutes evidence of effectiveness and what should be validated. Here several choice points or decision rules in recent attempts to empirically validate psychological interventions are highlighted. In order to reduce barriers to the dissemination of empirically validated psychotherapies, we must first collegially validate practitioners' collective experiences that the decision rules and resultant lists are frequently inapplicable to and inconsistent with their daily practice. Specific examples of misguided choice points are provided, and several suggestions for revitalizing the science-practice marriage are advanced.
Distinctive subpopulations of catfish serum antibody and immunoglobulin

High molecular weight antibodies and immunoglobulin of the channel catfish were found to be composed of heterogeneous mixtures of covalent subpopulations. Although these proteins appeared tetrameric in physiological buffers (mol. wt approximately 700,000), molecular weight estimates in the presence of the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that they dissociated into eight distinct subpopulations. Each dissociative subpopulation was found to be stable under the conditions of electrophoretic analysis, and furthermore each was apparently composed of equimolar H and L chains. Based upon relative mobilities it seems probable that the catfish antibody was composed of various combinations of covalent linkages between covalently-linked H-L chain pairs, i.e. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Further studies suggest the presence of size heterogeneity in catfish light chains. Whether or not this distinction represents isotypic L chain differences is not yet known but these findings coupled with the complex architecture of the physiological tetramer suggest an unusual and previously unappreciated level of complexity present in fish antibody.