cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sialyl-Tn Polysaccharide A1 as an Entirely Carbohydrate Immunogen: Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation

Sialyl Thomsen-nouveau (STn) is a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) that is overexpressed in a variety of carcinomas such as breast, ovarian, and colon cancer. In normal tissue, STn is not detectable, which is critical for opportunities in developing cancer immunotherapies. A novel, entirely carbohydrate, semisynthetic STn-polysaccharide (PS) A1 conjugate was prepared and evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. STn-PS A1 was combined with commercially available monophosphoryl lipid A-based adjuvant, and after immunization, ELISA indicated a strong immune response for inducing anti-STn IgM/IgG antibodies. The specificity of these antibodies was concomitantly investigated using FACS analysis, and the results indicated excellent cell surface binding events to STn-expressing cancer cell lines MCF-7 and OVCAR-5. An INF-γ ELISpot assay was conducted to further confirm a robust cellular immunity invoked by STn-PS A1. Most importantly, the raised antibodies conferred complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity again...
Making Sense of 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus': A Study of Rhetorical Discursive Bias in Morse v. Frederick

At its core, this article questions the cognitive influence communicative interactions in oral arguments may have upon the Justices’ decision-making ability. This article opens inquiry into judicial behavior in oral arguments, by examining, from a communication perspective, the Justices’ rhetorical discursive interaction and then considering the scholarly and social repercussions of the Justices’ interaction. By offering a unique perspective through research and methodology, this article presents findings that are distinct from the common aggregate behavioral models and typical longitudinal studies conducted by political scientists and psychologists. In addition, analysis of a specific case enables research focused upon each Justice’s individual rhetorical discursive interaction in oral argument. Mapping the Justices’ individual behavior enables readers to determine the manner in which certain Justices may have controlled the discursive flow of information and arguments within the case’s oral argument, and the mapping exposes a judicial discursive bias that may influence the Justices’ decision-making ability.
Mammalian Synthetic Biology: Engineering Biological Systems

The programming of new functions into mammalian cells has tremendous application in research and medicine. Continued improvements in the capacity to sequence and synthesize DNA have rapidly increased our understanding of mechanisms of gene function and regulation on a genome-wide scale and have expanded the set of genetic components available for programming cell biology. The invention of new research tools, including targetable DNA-binding systems such as CRISPR/Cas9 and sensor-actuator devices that can recognize and respond to diverse chemical, mechanical, and optical inputs, has enabled precise control of complex cellular behaviors at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. These tools have been critical for the expansion of synthetic biology techniques from prokaryotic and lower eukaryotic hosts to mammalian systems. Recent progress in the development of genome and epigenome editing tools and in the engineering of designer cells with programmable genetic circuits is expanding approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease and to establish personalized theranostic strategies for next-generation medicines. This review summarizes the development of these enabling technologies and their application to transforming mammalian synthetic biology into a distinct field in research and medicine.
Wireless EGG Monitor

Real time monitoring and detection of abnormal heart rhythms, specifically through acquisition of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals for extended periods (24 to 48 hours) have been sought by many researchers. Abnormal ECG signals could appear any time in the day during regular patient activities. Spurious noise associated with motion and muscular contraction is usually coupled with the acquired ECG signal. Cancelling muscle contraction and motion artifacts from real time ECG signals is extremely vital for accurate ECG signal classification for analysis by trained medical specialists. The intent of this research was to develop a bi-electrode wireless acquisition system that captured and transmitted ECG signals and motion acceleration information to a host computer system for data capture and analysis. The designed wireless ECG system includes a 3-axis micro electromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer for motion detection.
Impact of Economics Learning on Risk Preferences and Rationality: An Empirical Investigation

This study examines whether or not academic experience in economics reduces risk aversion and irrationality. Irrationality was measured by behavioral deviations from Expected Utility Theory (EUT), and adherence to the cognitive limitations described by Prospect Theory (PT). Two survey experiments were administered to economics and non-economics majors at Occidental College to detect risk preferences and exhibition of certainty, framing, reflection and lottery effects as defined in PT. Economics majors were found to have lower risk aversion and different rationality behavior (not always more rational), and these differences were mainly due to self-selection. Economics learning reduced risk aversion and, to a limited degree, irrationality among non-economics students, but not among economics majors. The study also shows that monetary incentives reduced risk aversion, but did not have much impact on rationality.
The Development of Germanic ai and au in Old High German

(1947). The Development of Germanic ai and au in Old High German. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 174-181.
Parathyroid Ultrasound Imaging: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Tips

Expert sonographs acquire the ability to detect nuances when performing parathyroid ultrasound. This chapter provides a visual atlas of advanced parathyroid ultrasound concepts from the experienced and multidisciplinary perspective of radiologists and endocrinologists.
Making thrombolysis safer in stroke

Thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of acute ischemic stroke in 1996 and remains the only approved pharmacologic treatment for this condition.1 Although considered the standard of care, tPA is underused in stroke patients for several reasons, including the strict eligibility criteria, narrow treatment window, and risk of life-threatening bleeding.1,2 In this issue of Blood, Simao et al present findings using a mouse model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury that indicate some adverse effects of tPA therapy in stroke patients may be mitigated by blocking the protease plasma kallikrein (PKal).3
Federal research priorities in child abuse and neglect research: A commentary on multi-site research networks

The National Institutes of Health has a long history of supporting investigator initiated child abuse research, including risk-factor studies on prevalence, course and consequences of child abuse and neglect. These studies laid the ground work for prevention research as well as the development and testing of therapeutic interventions. The newly established Pediatric Trauma and Critical Illness Branch at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development represents a new opportunity to call attention to the need for greater collaboration among researchers to build on prior work, pursue complex lines of inquiry, address more medically focused research and new clinical questions that will heighten the awareness of the unique needs for treatment and care of abused children.
Recurrent Thromboembolic Events after Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Primary Brain Tumors.

Background Stroke mechanisms and the risk of recurrent thromboembolism are incompletely understood in patients with primary brain tumors. We sought to better delineate these important clinical features. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults with primary brain tumors diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed acute ischemic stroke at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 2005 to 2015. Study neurologists collected data on patients' cancer history, stroke risk factors, treatments, and outcomes. Stroke mechanisms were adjudicated by consensus. The primary outcome was recurrent thromboembolism (arterial or venous) and the secondary outcome was recurrent ischemic stroke. Kaplan–Meier statistics were used to calculate cumulative outcome rates, and Cox hazards analysis was used to evaluate the association between potential risk factors and outcomes. Results We identified 83 patients with primary brain tumors and symptomatic acute ischemic stroke. Median survival after index stroke was 2.2 years (interquartile range, .5-7.0). Tumors were mostly gliomas (72%) and meningiomas (13%). Most strokes were from unconventional mechanisms, particularly radiation vasculopathy (36%) and surgical manipulation (18%). Small- or large-vessel disease or cardioembolism caused 13% of strokes, whereas 29% were cryptogenic. Cumulative recurrent thromboembolism rates were 11% at 30 days, 17% at 180 days, and 27% at 365 days, whereas cumulative recurrent stroke rates were 5% at 30 days, 11% at 180 days, and 13% at 365 days. We found no significant predictors of outcomes. Conclusion Patients with primary brain tumors generally develop strokes from rare mechanisms, and their risk of recurrent thromboembolism, including stroke, is high.
Iamblichus and the Talisman of Gnosis

For Neoplatonic philosophers, the Delphic oracle had authoritatively characterized their two great teachers, Iamblichus and Porphyry. Later Platonists cited the Pythia’s oracular pronouncement, “The Syrian is full of god; the Phoenican a polymath” as revealed wisdom. The Syrian Iamblichus, “full of god,” was more highly regarded in Platonic circles than the learned Porphyry, but because Iamblichus’ theurgical Platonism vanished after the sixth century, we are left with only “learned” reports about theurgic divination. Contemporary scholars are polymaths; we are the children of Porphyry. So, when Porphyry asks for a precise definition of theurgic divination, it seems entirely reasonable, and it is hard for us to appreciate Iamblichus’ barbed response. He chastises Porphyry for presuming that divination can be discursively explained and says he needs a talisman (ἀλeξιοφάρµακον) to protect him from his discursive addiction. Divination, he says, can only be known through experiences that awaken the soul to an innate gnosis that precedes dualist thinking. This paper will explore that talismanic gnosi s .
Foresighted deception in dynamic security games

Deception has been widely considered in literature as an effective means of enhancing security protection when the defender holds some private information about the ongoing rivalry unknown to the attacker. However, most of the existing works on deception assume static environments and thus consider only myopic deception, while practical security games between the defender and the attacker may happen in dynamic scenarios. To better exploit the defender's private information in dynamic environments and improve security performance, a stochastic deception game (SDG) framework is developed in this work to enable the defender to conduct foresighted deception. To solve the proposed SDG, a new iterative algorithm that is provably convergent is developed. A corresponding learning algorithm is developed as well to facilitate the defender in conducting foresighted deception in unknown dynamic environments. Numerical results show that the proposed foresighted deception can offer a substantial performance improvement as compared to the conventional myopic deception.
Chapter 16 – Intrahousehold Inequality

Studies of inequality often ignore resource allocation within the household. In doing so they miss an important element of the distribution of welfare that can vary dramatically depending on overall environmental and economic factors. Thus, measures of inequality that ignore intrahousehold allocations are both incomplete and misleading. We discuss determinants of intrahousehold allocation of resources and welfare. We show how the sharing rule, which characterizes the within-household allocations, can be identified from data on household consumption and labor supply. We also argue that a measure based on estimates of the sharing rule is inadequate as an approach that seeks to understand how welfare is distributed in the population because it ignores public goods and the allocation of time to market work, leisure, and household production. We discuss a money metric alternative, that fully characterizes the utility level reached by the agent. We then review the current literature on the estimation of the sharing rule based on a number of approaches, including the use of distribution factors as well as preference restrictions.
Managing Ecological Disturbances: Learning and the Structure of Social-Ecological Networks

Abstract Ecological disturbances (i.e. pests, fires, floods, biological invasions, etc.) are a critical challenge for natural resource managers. Land managers play a key role in altering the rate and extent of disturbance propagation. Ecological disturbances propagate across the landscape, while management strategies propagate across social networks of managers. Here we use an agent-based model to examine the joint diffusion of ecological disturbances and management strategies across a social-ecological network, accounting for the fundamental role of social-ecological feedbacks. We examine the management of a generic ecological disturbance as a function of different learning strategies and the social-ecological network. Our approach provides a general scaffold that can be modified to examine a variety of processes in which both social and ecological flows propagate across a social-ecological network. Our findings highlight the importance of full and accurate information to assess successful strategy, limited clustering and alignment between the social and the ecological system.
Advances in Neuro-Ophthalmic Imaging

Recent years have brought a rapid evolution of diagnostic imaging studies in neuro-ophthalmic practice. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and several of its derivations (swept-source OCT, enhanced-depth imaging OCT, and OCT-angiography) are advancing diagnosis, and in some cases prognostication, in a variety of inflammatory, ischemic, and compressive optic neuropathies. These technologies hold potential in the laboratory as well, yielding insights into the mechanisms of a variety of neurological conditions. In addition, further developments in magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography techniques are shaping the approach to the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis.
A Functional Approach to the Development of the Head of Teleosts: Implications on Constructional Morphology and Constraints

The relative roles of intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of form in teleost skulls is assessed on the basis of a functional approach to development. The patterns of emerging kinematic connections, changing proportions of structural elements, and their probable functions have been analyzed in phylogenetically closely related lineages with strikingly different modes of development: (1) the oviparous Pomacentridae with free-living larvae subjected to intense environmental selection pressures; (2) the viviparous Embiotocidae which give birth to highly developed juveniles that have been shielded from environmental influences. The developmental patterns in the two groups are very similar. Thus it is suggested that transformations in functional components, changes accompanying the proportional reduction in eye size, and the changes in the functional “hot spots” are governed by internal rules inherited from a common ancestor. It is concluded that internal programmatic rules governing the emergence of morphological variations and transformations and their vitally adaptive functions are inseparably interconnected at the level of the generative process.
Far Infrared Absorption in Superconductors

A convenient characterization of the response of a metal to electromagnetic fields is the complex conductivity: $$ \sigma (\omega ,\text{q) = }\sigma _\text{1} (\omega ,\text{q) - i}\sigma _\text{2} (\omega ,\text{q) = }\frac{{\text{i}\omega \varepsilon \text{(}\omega \text{,q)}}} {{\text{4}\pi }} $$ (1) giving the current per unit electric field of frequency ω and wave number q. (We consider only the transverse conductivity, where E and J are perpendicular to q.) As indicated in (1), an equivalent description in terms of a complex dielectric constant E is also possible. For metals in the normal state σn(ω, q) can be calculated in the free-electron approximation by applying Fourier analysis to the well-known Chambers integral expression for the current: $$\vec J(\vec r,t) = \frac{{3\sigma _o }} {{4\pi \ell }}\int {\frac{{\vec R[\vec R\cdot\vec E(\vec r',t')]}} {{R^4 }}} \quad e - R/\ell \quad d_{\tau '}$$ (2) where \(\rm \sigma _o = ne^2\,\,\,\ l/mv_o ,\,\,\,\vec R = \vec r' - \vec r,\,t' = t - (R/v_o ),\,l\) is the mean free path, and Vo is the Fermi velocity. At ω = 0, for example, one finds σ2 = 0, and the q-dependence of σ1 is: $$ \rm \sigma _{1n} (O,\,q) = \sigma _o f(ql), $$ (3) where $$ \rm f(ql) = \frac{3}{{2q^3 l^3 }}[(1 + q^2 l^2 )\,\tan ^{ - 1} ql - ql] $$ (4) which has the asymptotic forms: $$ \rm f(ql) = \frac{3}{{2q^3 l^3 }}[(1 + q^2 l^2 )\,\tan ^{ - 1} ql - ql] $$ (4a) $$ \rm \to \left( {\frac{{3\pi }} {{4pl}}} \right)\left( {1 - \frac{4} {{\pi pl}} + \ldots } \right)(ql \to \infty ). $$ (4b)
Representations of Analytic Sets

Let X be a Polish space. Recall that a set A ⊆ X is analytic if it is the continuous image of a Polish space. We denote by Σ 1 1 (X) the class of analytic subsets of X.
Marriage and the Dual-Career Family

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by L.J. Waite, volume 14, pp. 9261–9265, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Potential gains from spatially-explicit coordinated planning between two large public ownerships in Minnesota

Many forested landscapes throughout the world involve a mix of public forest ownerships. This study explores how coordinated planning between two large public ownerships in Minnesota impact landscape-level trade-offs between timber production and production of core area of older forest (COF) for the region. COF is an important metric for wildlife habitat. Emphasis is on better understanding potential gains from both coordinated planning at the site-level where ownerships share stand boundaries and from coordinated planning at a broader policy level involving assumed values of COF by the public. The study area involves over 300,000 ha, 150,000 analysis units and a 100-year planning horizon. The concept of influence zones in modeling spatial interdependencies is described and implemented. The estimated total area of COF is assumed an important landscape metric for forest wildlife habitat condition for each forest planning period. COF has a surrounding buffer protecting it from edge effects. Differences are recognized between COF condition requirements and condition requirements for its surrounding buffer. A spatially-explicit harvest scheduling model is applied in conjunction with moving-windows techniques of GIS to find near-optimal management schedules for the large landscape. Multiple model runs are examined to help better understand both potential gains from coordinated planning and the tradeoffs between timber and COF production. Results demonstrate the ability to incorporate detailed site-level COF production into management scheduling models for broad, landscape-level planning. For the study area and the assumed COF definitions, substantially larger gains are possible by coordinating COF value assumptions across ownerships, as compared to possible gains from coordinating on-the-ground management activities in areas involving shared stand boundaries. Although a general map of the study area shows a definite intertwining mosaic of ownership by the two large public agencies, a detailed breakdown of influence zone information shows that a low percentage of the land is influenced by both of these ownerships for COF production. This research helps illuminate potential large gains from coordinated planning at a broad policy level by large public ownerships through coordination of assumed COF values. For the study area, these gains are substantially greater than gains from combined modeling efforts addressing spatial detail and shared stand boundaries or neighborhoods. From a practical standpoint, this is important, as spatial detail adds substantially to model size, making combined analysis a major undertaking. Detailed site-level coordination also presents operational challenges in schedule implementation.
Fungi-derived xylindein: effect of purity on optical and electronic properties

We present a study of optical and electronic properties of solutions and films based on the fungi-derived pigment xylindein, extracted from decaying wood and processed without and with a simple purification step (“ethanol wash”). The “post-wash” xylindein solutions exhibited considerably lower absorption in the ultraviolet spectral range and dramatically reduced photoluminescence below 600 nm, due to removal of contaminants most likely to be fungal secondary metabolites. The “post-wash” xylindein-based films were characterized by two orders of magnitude higher charge carrier mobilities as compared to “pre-wash” samples. This underlines the importance of minimizing contaminants that disrupt the conductive xylindein network in xylindein-based electronic devices.
A statistical approach for process optimisation of digital light processing 3D printing process

This study focuses on experimental design-based approach for process optimisation of a custom-made digital light processing 3D printer. Output measures are developed taking precision and accuracy into consideration. Initial runs were conducted to identify the prominent factors which might play role on output measures. The results indicate that the layer thickness plays a significant role for the two of the developed output measures, photopolymerisation time for one measure, and sequence time for two measures as the interaction-effects also play a role to some. A composite figure that considers all three output measures simultaneously is also developed and a stepwise regression analysis is conducted to identify significant factors. The regression model has moderate R2 value (68.12%), also indicating that layer thickness and photopolymerisation period play a role. The recommended levels for layer thickness is found to be 0.2 millimetres and photopolymerisation period as 12 seconds based on the composite figure.
20 kHz ultrasound assisted treatment of chronic wounds with concurrent optic monitoring

This paper describes a novel, wearable, battery powered ultrasound applicator that was evaluated as a therapeutic tool for healing of chronic wounds, such as venous ulcers. The low frequency and low intensity (~100mW/cm 2 ) applicator works by generating ultrasound waves with peak-to-peak pressure amplitudes of 55 kPa at 20 kHz. The device was used in a pilot human study (n=25) concurrently with remote optical (diffuse correlation spectroscopy - DCS) monitoring to assess the healing outcome. More specifically, the ulcers’ healing status was determined by measuring tissue oxygenation and blood flow in the capillary network. This procedure facilitated an early prognosis of the treatment outcome and – once verified - may eventually enable customization of wound management. The outcome of the study shows that the healing patients of the ultrasound treated group had a statistically improved (p<0.05) average rate of wound healing (20.6%/week) compared to the control group (5.3%/week). In addition, the calculated blood flow index (BFI) decreased more rapidly in wounds that decreased in size, indicating a correlation between BFI and wound healing prediction. Overall, the results presented support the notion that active low frequency ultrasound treatment of chronic venous ulcers accelerates healing when combined with the current standard clinical care. The ultrasound applicator described here provides a user-friendly, fully wearable system that has the potential for becoming the first device suitable for treatment of chronic wounds in patient's homes, which - in turn - would increase patients’ compliance and improve quality of life.
Determinants and Consequences of Nonproprietary Voluntary Disclosure

We examine a voluntary disclosure that is nonproprietary in nature and simply reflects management’s intention to explain how a widely-known nonrecurring economic event is reported in financial statements. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) retroactively reinstated previously expired tax provisions, including a tax credit for research and development expenditures. Nuances in GAAP reporting requirements related to retroactive tax legislation create a unique setting to examine voluntary disclosure choices by credibly separating the message of the disclosure from the underlying economics. We use tax disclosures in the 10-K filing to examine the determinants and consequences of nonproprietary disclosure. We find support that analyst following, engaging a Big 4 auditor, and competition increase the likelihood of voluntary disclosure. We also find evidence that suggests that some of the non-disclosing firms failed to adhere to GAAP and improperly recorded the benefits of the ATRA in their 2012 financial statements. Finally, we find that ATRA disclosures are useful to investors as firms disclosing the impact of the ATRA, compared to non-disclosing control firms, have greater first quarter 2013 analyst ETR forecast improvement. We also find that ATRA disclosure is positively associated with firm liquidity at the time of the disclosure event.
The Coexistence of Oculocutaneous Albinism with Schizophrenia.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an extremely rare skin disorder which occurs in 0.005% of the world population, whereas schizophrenia is a rare mental illness which affects 1% of the world population. Researchers have spent much time searching for the causes of schizophrenia, as they are still largely unknown. It was previously hypothesized that schizophrenia could be caused by a defect in melatonin metabolism, leading to increased melanin production and the production of hallucinogenic agent. However, this implies that albinos would be protected against schizophrenia (since they have little to no melanin production), and although rare, there have been several case reports of albinos with schizophrenia, refuting this hypothesis. Following their discovery of schizophrenic albinos, several researchers have instead wondered whether schizophrenia and albinism could actually be genetically linked. To further this discussion, we present a case report of a 25-year-old African-American male with OCA2 and schizophrenia. He was hospitalized after his mother discovered the existence of a BB that was lodged in his forehead from a failed suicide attempt in response to command auditory hallucinations. The BB was removed during his hospitalization, and he was psychiatrically stabilized on a combination of risperidone, lithium, and escitalopram.
208 The effect of copper on the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into osteoblasts

Large bone defects present a tremendous challenge to the treating surgeon. Tissue engineering using scaffolds of various sizes and shapes that contain stem cells and other osteoinductive molecules offer a potential solution to this difficult problem. The aim of this project was to evaluate whether osteogenic medium infused with copper influences the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) into osteoblasts. Copper is a key cofactor for lysyl oxidase, an enzyme involved in producing a collagen matrix through which bone can grow. Lysyl oxidase expression is up-regulated in bone marrow stromal cells (Khosravi et al. 2014 PLoS One 9, e100669). Our hypothesis was that the presence of copper in the osteogenic medium would positively influence the number of osteoblastic nodules formed. Swine ASC were isolated as described (Monaco et al. 2009 Open Tissue Eng. Regen. Med. J. 2, 20-33). The ASC were divided in 7 different treatments: 5 concentrations of copper in the osteogenic medium (0.1, 1, 10, 50, and 100 µM) plus 2 control treatments (osteogenic medium without copper and a negative control, DMEM). The medium was changed twice a week for 4 weeks. The experiment was replicated 6 times. At the end of the culture period, cells were stained with Alizarin Red S and Von Kossa stains. In each well, we counted the total number of nodules that were either formed or forming. Data were analysed using the generalized linear model (GLM) procedure (SPSS Inc./IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The least significant difference (l.s.d.) post hoc test was used to perform statistical multiple comparison. The α-level was set at 0.05. The results showed that more nodules were formed in the 0.1 and 1 µM copper groups compared with the osteogenic control, but there was no statistical difference between those 2 treatments. Table 1 illustrates the total number of formed and forming nodules in addition to their standard deviation. There was a positive effect on nodule formation when copper concentrations of 0.1 and 1 µM were added to the osteogenic medium. In contrast, copper concentrations of 50 and 100 µM had a cytotoxic effect. These results confirm that low concentrations of copper have a positive effect on osteogenesis. This preliminary experiment is the first step towards the analysis of the behaviour of ASC on scaffolds with copper incorporated into their matrix. Table 1.The average number (standard deviations in parentheses) of total formed and forming osteoblast nodules compared between treatment groups
A decision support system for strategic supply chain capacity planning under uncertainty: conceptual framework and experiment

Supply chains now cope with a lot of uncertainties, and their stakeholders are intensely interconnected, revealing new opportunities at a tremendous pace. In this context, companies must rethink th...
The interplay between private and public governments: the relationship between homeowner associations and municipal finance

Homeowner associations (HOAs), as a form of private residential governance, have grown exponentially in the United States, representing a profound transformation in urban governance. This paper exa...
Bibliodiversity: Denationalizing and Defrancophonizing Francophonie

Language policy has historically served to bolster France’s overseas colonial ambitions. Similarities have been recorded in the postcolonial era under the aegis of francophonie and in the French government policy agenda. While President Emmanuel Macron has expressed the desire to turn a new page, critics highlight how diplomatic soft power initiatives continue to prioritize neocolonial ties. Postcolonial studies themselves have been treated with suspicion in France, but a new generation of intellectuals and writers challenges the narrow conceptualization of francophonie, calling for greater bibliodiversity, collectively channeling efforts aimed at reframing the symbiotic link between French as language and France as nation, and advocating for a denationalization, defrancophonization, and decolonizing of francophonie.
Chemically Mediated Multi-trophic Interactions

In the Anthropocene, species loss is very well documented, but associated losses of genetic, functional, and multidimensional diversity are not so clear. Interaction diversity and phytochemistry are two axes of multidimensional and functional diversity that have been neglected in terms of understanding losses of diversity, but it is likely that major alterations to phytochemical variation among and within plant species has consequences for stability of biotic communities as well as ecosystem function. A great deal of research in ecology and evolution has examined chemical mediation of plant-animal interactions, and many of those studies have focused on plant compounds that reduce or deter insect damage and directly or indirectly affect secondary consumers. From these studies, it is clear that complex mixtures rather than specific molecules are often responsible for determining the outcomes of these trophic interactions as well as pollination, dispersal, competition, and other plant-animal interactions. Until recently, it has been difficult to generate and adequately analyze high quality data on phytochemical mixtures, rather the focus was on crude measures of broad classes of compounds or on well-studied compounds for which specific quantitative methods had been developed. In this chapter, we focus on two focal theoretical frameworks that drive investigations of chemically mediated interactions with a focus on mixtures: coevolution and trophic interaction theory. We briefly summarize relevant chemical and statistical approaches and present general questions for guiding empirical studies of complex mixtures and phytochemical variation. These questions and modern approaches to chemical ecology should contribute to substantially enhancing existing trophic interaction theory and to understanding the chemical losses that are occurring in ecosystems around the globe.
Computational graph-based framework for integrating econometric models and machine learning algorithms in emerging data-driven analytical environments

In an era of big data and emergence of disrupting mobility technologies, statistical models have been utilized to uncover the influence of significant factors, and machine learning algorithms have ...
Younger Individuals Increase Their Use of Nursing Homes Following ACA Medicaid Expansion.

Abstract Objectives This study examines the effect of Medicaid eligibility expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the utilization of nursing home services by younger individuals and those covered by Medicaid. Design Compared the age of nursing home residents, proportion of individuals covered by Medicaid, annual nursing home admissions in those younger than 65, and nursing home length of stay in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility through the ACA to states that did not. We used data from LTCFocus (nursing home level), the Minimum Data Set (individual level), and Medicaid expansion status from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Setting and Participants The study included 15,005,888 nursing home admissions, 2,446,950 of which were residents younger than 65, across 14,132 nursing homes between 2009 and 2016. Methods A time-varying difference-in-difference model including state and year fixed effects with effect modification by pre-2014 nursing home occupancy. Results Facilities in expansion states with a pre-ACA occupancy rate of more than 70% increased the fraction of residents younger than 65 by 2.74% to 6.32%, compared with similar facilities in nonexpansion states. Medicaid admissions varied, with an increase in year 2 after expansion compared with nonexpansion states. Among residents entering from an acute care hospital, the proportion younger than 65 increased in facilities with pre-2014 occupancy rates of more than 70%, compared with similar facilities in nonexpansion states, an increase of up to 6.51%. Median nursing home length of stay for individuals younger than 65 decreased relative to nonexpansion states across all occupancy categories, ranging from 1.68 to 6.06 days after Medicaid expansion. Conclusions and Implications Medicaid expansion increased access to nursing home post-acute care for individuals younger than 65. It remains unclear if the benefit of post-acute care is the same among this group, or if the needs of younger individuals can be adequately met in this setting.
A Process Capability Study Using Control Charts

A case study involving the use of X-bar and R charts to improve a process is presented in this paper. Interesting aspects of the study are that the process was operating satisfactorily at the outset of the investigation and that the investigator was co..
TU‐EF‐303‐02: Fluorescence‐Guided Neurosurgery

Many medical physics diagnostic and therapeutic developments have significant overlap with biophysical approaches to measuring and modeling molecular and cellular systems. Although these methods may differ dramatically in terms of temporal and spatial scales, many of the underlying concepts are identical, suggesting potential synergies across the scales. For example, while clinical imaging is typically in the (sub)millimeter and second regime, biophysical imaging technologies reach sub-nanometer and sub-picosecond scales. Despite these scale differences, the use of molecular labeling, resulting large datasets, and need for quantitative analysis methods are similar, and solutions developed for one application are easily translated to others. Similarly, mathematical models used to understand clinical responses are often based on molecular and cellular networks that have been elucidated by biophysical studies. In turn, such models are directly useful for guiding on-going biophysical and biomedical research. Relevant biophysical applications are found in the cancer, neuroscience, and cardiac fields, which are also research focus areas for many AAPM members. Presentations by physicists working in biophysics will explore potential synergies with diagnostic and therapeutic medical physics, as well as help identify areas of common interest that would be ripe for novel collaborations. Learning Objectives: 1. 1.To learn about differences in temporal and spatial scales of medical physics and biophysics 2. To learn about common methods used in medical physics and biophysics 3. To learn about synergistic opportunities between medical physics and biophysics
The value of endangered species

Au-dela des differentes justifications de la these preservationniste developpees par R. Elliot, Holmes Roston et R. Attfield a partir des notions de valeur intrinseque et valeur intrumentale, l'A. defend la valeur contributive et la valeur de la variete des especes en danger, contre l'elimination des organismes vivants.
China's Engagement with Latin America: Partnership or Plunder?

The emergence of China as a significant economic force in Latin America has sparked both optimism and alarm. With titles such as 'The Coming China Wars' and 'The Dragon in the Backyard,' recent books and articles depict China as a rising imperial power scouring the globe for natural resources and as a competitive threat to Latin America. Other studies applaud China’s pragmatic, unorthodox development strategies and portray China as a successful model for developing countries. The competing narratives about China’s rise do agree on one thing: China has become a formidable force in the developing world whose influence merits careful evaluation. Will China's engagement with Latin America produce alternative paradigms of economic development that improve the quality of life while respecting ecological limits? Or will China replicate the trade and investment regimes that reinforced the economic and political subordination of developing countries, facilitated the exploitation of their natural resources, and brought the planet's ecosystems to the brink of collapse? This chapter attempts to bridge the contentious debate over China’s role in Latin America by interrogating the dominant narratives that portray China as either a menace to Latin America’s development or as a model worthy of emulation. The chapter proceeds in five parts. Part I places China’s engagement with Latin America in historical context by providing an introduction to the economic history of Latin America. Part II examines the claim that China’s economic rise should be regarded as a model for Latin America. Part III evaluates the claim that China poses a threat to Latin America’s development. Parts IV and V discuss the implications of China’s rise for international economic law and for sustainable development, including China's role in the World Trade Organization, China's bilateral trade and investment agreements with Latin American nations, and China's potential contributions to sustainable development law.
MPTP Neurotoxicity And The “Biochemical” Blood-Brain Barrier

About 25 years ago, major breakthroughs were made in our understanding of the neurochemistry of the basal ganglia and the biochemical pathology of Parkinson’s disease, which eventually led to the successful introduction of levodopa as replacement therapy for this malady. This dramatic success story, especially after the subsequent introduction of peripheral DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors and dopamine receptor agonists as adjuvants, was hailed as one of the best examples of how basic biomedical research can lead to rational therapies for human diseases. Meanwhile, the cause of Parkinson’s disease, i.e. the progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, remained unknown. Furthermore, replacement therapy, which was once considered revolutionary, was found to be of little help in the treatment of subjects with advanced Parkinsonism and entirely ineffective in arresting the inexorable progression of Parkinson’s disease. Another important fact that emerged in the last decade concerns the lack of evidence that Parkinson’s disease is a genetic disorder, as evidenced by the absence of increased concordance among identical twins. This led to the belief that it may be caused by environmental factors (if it is not nature, it must be nurture).
Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan 1979–89

Rodric Braithwaite, who served as British ambassador to the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, is well-positioned to write a superb reflective history of the Russian experience in that ill-fa...
Prenatal screening of pregnant women for infections caused by cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpesvirus, rubella, and Toxoplasma gondii

A service-oriented screening program for serologic detection of viral and parasitic infections during gestation is described for three different population groups. Significance of a determination of primary cytomegalovirus infection is documented. A screening program for detection of immunity to rubella is recommended, but the feasibility of similar programs for herpes simplex virus and Epstein-Barr virus warrants further study. Because of the low frequency of toxoplasmosis, education of patients instead of screening may be appropriate.
The 2010 Chilean Mining Rescue (A) & (B)

On August 5, 2010, 700,000 tons of some of the hardest rock in the world caved in Chile's century-old San Jose mine. The collapse buried 33 miners at a depth almost twice the height of the Empire State Building-over 600 meters (2000 feet) below ground. Never had a recovery been attempted at such depths, let alone in the face of challenges like those posed by the San Jose mine: unstable terrain, rock so hard it defied ordinary drill bits, severely limited time, and the potentially immobilizing fear that plagued the buried miners. Could the trapped miners and rescue workers mobilize before air and resources were depleted? The case describes the ensuing efforts that draw the resources of countless people and multiple organizations in Chile and around the world.
Complications Following Insertion and Replacement of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tubes

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertion was introduced in 1980 as an alternative to nasogastric tubes and surgically placed gastrostomy tubes. The procedure is indicated in those patients who have an inability to sustain adequate nutrition in the presence of a functioning gastrointestinal tract. We report four deaths that arose within a ten-week period in 1998.
Multi-Inhibitory Effects of A2A Adenosine Receptor Signaling on Neutrophil Adhesion Under Flow

A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) signaling negatively regulates inflammatory responses in many disease models, but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. We used the selective A2AAR agonist, ATL313, to examine how A2AAR signaling affects human and murine neutrophil adhesion under flow. Treating neutrophils with ATL313 inhibited selectin-induced, β2 integrin-dependent slow rolling and chemokine-induced, β2 integrin-dependent arrest on ICAM-1. ATL313 inhibited selectin-induced β2 integrin extension, which supports slow rolling, and chemokine-induced hybrid domain "swing-out," which supports arrest. Furthermore, ATL313 inhibited integrin outside-in signaling as revealed by reduced neutrophil superoxide production and spreading on immobilized anti-β2 integrin Ab. ATL313 suppressed selectin-triggered activation of Src family kinases (SFKs) and p38 MAPK, chemokine-triggered activation of Ras-related protein 1, and β2 integrin-triggered activation of SFKs and Vav cytoskeletal regulatory proteins. ATL313 activated protein kinase A and its substrate C-terminal Src kinase, an inhibitor of SFKs. Treating neutrophils with a protein kinase A inhibitor blocked the actions of ATL313. In vivo, ATL313-treated neutrophils rolled faster and arrested much less frequently in postcapillary venules of the murine cremaster muscle after TNF-α challenge. Furthermore, ATL313 markedly suppressed neutrophil migration into the peritoneum challenged with thioglycollate. ATL313 did not affect A2AAR-deficient neutrophils, confirming its specificity. Our findings provide new insights into the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of A2AAR signaling and the potential utility of A2AAR agonists in inflammatory diseases.
Cytopathologist-performed ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration of head and neck lesions: the Weill Cornell experience

Introduction Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) yields diagnostic material more often than palpation-guided FNA does. It is often performed by an interventional radiologist (IR) but rarely by a cytopathologist (CP). Herein we describe our method of performance and growing experience with this technique. Materials and methods Data from US-FNA of head and neck lesions performed over a 33-month period by both a CP and an IR were reviewed. Special attention was paid to cases for which histologic follow-up was available. Association in concordance between cytologic and histologic diagnoses was attempted using Fisher's exact test. Mean size of masses biopsied, number of passes performed, and passes needed to achieve adequacy were compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Tests were 2-sided with P Results Of the 175 US-FNAs performed, 108 (62%) were done by the CP and 67 (38%) by the IR. Fifty-eight patients had histologic follow-up; 37 (64%) for the CP and 21 (36%) for the IR. Mean mass size was significantly smaller for the IR at 2.11 cm versus 2.9 cm for the CP ( P = 0.021). Adequacy was achieved after 1 pass in 70% of cases (26 of 37) by the CP and 67% (14 of 21) by the IR. Number of passes performed did not vary significantly between groups. A variety of masses were biopsied; however, the small sample size precluded meaningful evaluation of cytologic concordance to final histology. Conclusions CP-performed US-FNA has been successfully delivered to clinicians at our institution.