cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P14.23 Transgender sex workers response to hiv in papua new guinea

Introduction Save the Children SRH Poro Sapot Project is a national STI and HIV prevention project. The project represent the voice, health and interests of sex workers, MSM and Transgender people in Papua New Guinea at international and national levels so that they voice and health must be heard and their issues be considered. Transgender women in Papua New Guinea, most of who were rejected by their own families are now on the streets doing sex work to survive. Sex work is illegal and most often they are faced with stigma and discrimination and violence. Over the years sex worker trannies have been infected and cannot access the health facilities because of our sexuality and therefore end up dying. The strong religious and cultural beliefs makes it hard for transgender sex workers to live a normal life. Methods A group of transgender sex workers (100) have been interviewed one by one in a closed door from March 2014 December 2014 within Save the Children office. The interview questions asked were issues faced by them when doing sex work in Port Moresby City in Papua New Guinea and how Save the Children SRH Poro Sapot Project has impacted on their lives. Results not receiving good sexual health services from the Governmental clinic’s Most trans gender sex workers we are raped not able to be served at the police stations when in need of help being forced to have sex without condom because we are just a sex objects Conclusion Through advocacy do by Save the Children they have realised who they are, they are aware of their human rights, health and legal issues, they are marginalise group that exist and more mobilised, they have been attending meetings international and national meetings to know the concept of being a Most At Risk Population and through Save the Children SRH Poro Sapot Project they have a voice to represent themselves and other transgender sex works in Papua New Guinea, some trans gender can get help that we need now because Save the Children is referring they to the right networking partners that are providing services that we need like VCCT/and STI checkups and other services that its free from stigma, discrimination and violence. Disclosure of interest statement Save the Children Sexual and Reproductive Health Program is funded by DFAT or AusAid.
Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Pilot Parenting Educational Intervention in a Pregnancy Buprenorphine Clinic

We developed a pilot evidence-based prenatal educational intervention to increase knowledge of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and early parenting skills for women with opiate dependency who enrolled in a pregnancy buprenorphine clinic. We developed, implemented, and tested modules regarding expectations during newborn hospitalization for observation or treatment of NAS and regarding evidence-based parenting skills in response to NAS behaviors. Testing evaluated baseline knowledge of early parenting skills with newborns at risk for NAS and change from baseline after the educational intervention. No statistically significant difference in composite knowledge scores was observed. A brief survey completed by the participants postpartum affirmed the perception of women that the educational intervention effectively prepared them for the early postpartum period while their newborns were hospitalized.
Structural brain anomalies in healthy adolescents in the NCANDA cohort: relation to neuropsychological test performance, sex, and ethnicity.

Structural MRI of volunteers deemed "normal" following clinical interview provides a window into normal brain developmental morphology but also reveals unexpected dysmorphology, commonly known as "incidental findings." Although unanticipated, these anatomical findings raise questions regarding possible treatment that could even ultimately require neurosurgical intervention, which itself carries significant risk but may not be indicated if the anomaly is nonprogressive or of no functional consequence. Neuroradiological readings of 833 structural MRI from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) cohort found an 11.8 % incidence of brain structural anomalies, represented proportionately across the five collection sites and ethnic groups. Anomalies included 26 mega cisterna magna, 15 subarachnoid cysts, 12 pineal cysts, 12 white matter dysmorphologies, 5 tonsillar ectopias, 5 prominent perivascular spaces, 5 gray matter heterotopias, 4 pituitary masses, 4 excessively large or asymmetrical ventricles, 4 cavum septum pellucidum, 3 developmental venous anomalies, 1 exceptionally large midsagittal vein, and single cases requiring clinical followup: cranio-cervical junction stenosis, parietal cortical mass, and Chiari I malformation. A case of possible demyelinating disorder (e.g., neuromyelitis optica or multiple sclerosis) newly emerged at the 1-year NCANDA followup, requiring clinical referral. Comparing test performance of the 98 anomalous cases with 619 anomaly-free no-to-low alcohol consuming adolescents revealed significantly lower scores on speed measures of attention and motor functions; these differences were not attributed to any one anomaly subgroup. Further, we devised an automated approach for quantifying posterior fossa CSF volumes for detection of mega cisterna magna, which represented 26.5 % of clinically identified anomalies. Automated quantification fit a Gaussian distribution with a rightward skew. Using a 3SD cut-off, quantification identified 22 of the 26 clinically-identified cases, indicating that cases with percent of CSF in the posterior-inferior-middle aspect of the posterior fossa ≥3SD merit further review, and support complementing clinical readings with objective quantitative analysis. Discovery of asymptomatic brain structural anomalies, even when no clinical action is indicated, can be disconcerting to the individual and responsible family members, raising a disclosure dilemma: refrain from relating the incidental findings to avoid unnecessary alarm or anxiety; or alternatively, relate the neuroradiological findings as "normal variants" to the study volunteers and family, thereby equipping them with knowledge for the future should they have the occasion for a brain scan following an illness or accident that the incidental findings predated the later event.
Metal Ion Levels in Young, Active Patients Receiving a Modular, Dual Mobility Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Dual mobility total hip arthroplasty (THA) components improve stability, yet use of a modular cobalt alloy acetabular liner may be associated with metal ion release. This study's purpose was to measure blood metal ion levels in young, active patients receiving a dual mobility THA prosthesis. Methods This is a prospective study of young, active patients undergoing primary THA. Twenty-six patients received a 22-mm cobalt alloy ( n = 10) or a 28-mm ceramic ( n = 16) femoral head, a modular cobalt chrome acetabular liner, with a highly cross-linked polyethylene insert (dual mobility). Seventeen control patients received a 32-mm cobalt alloy ( n = 6), oxidized zirconium ( n = 5), or ceramic ( n = 6) femoral head and polyethylene acetabular liner (conventional). All patients received a cementless, titanium femoral stem. Blood metal ion levels (μg/L) were measured preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. Results No difference was present for age or body mass index ( P = .5 and .9). At 1 year postoperatively, mean cobalt levels were greater in the dual mobility cohort (0.23 ± 0.39 vs 0.15 ± 0.07, P Conclusion The presence and clinical significance of increased cobalt levels in 4 patients with the use of a modular dual mobility prosthesis demonstrates the necessity of continued surveillance.
Utility of BBaD Neuromuscular Research Codes in the Era of ICD-10 (P4.093)

Objective: To compare the utility of the updated Barohn, Bryan and Dimachkie neuromuscular research database codes (BBaD) to the International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) coding system for research in neuromuscular conditions. Background: ICD-10 was recently implemented in the United States. While ICD-10 increases the precision of billing over ICD-9, it is not clear how useful the ICD-10 codes will be for neuromuscular clinical research. Methods: We compare the BBaD coding system to ICD-10 codes, and identify diagnostic gaps, which might have implications for neuromuscular clinical research. Results: There are 460 BBaD codes for NM conditions. Each code has a prefix of MUS (muscle) or PNS (peripheral nervous system) followed by a three-digit number. Since 2001 we have 6194 BBaD NM code entries at the University of Kansas Medical Center. ICD-10 gaps were identified in several broad categories and lack of precision was evident. Limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and other muscular dystrophies including Duchenne muscular dystrophy were all lumped in one classification of G71.0. There are 63 BBaD codes for each subtype of muscular dystrophy. Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) neuropathies showed another major gap as all subtypes are lumped under G60.0 while there are 21 BBaD codes for CMT. Myasthenia gravis (MG) classification gaps involved differentiating seropositive from seronegative MG, ocular versus generalized, and associated with thymoma or not. We have 12 BBaD codes for neuromuscular junction defects, while there are only 3 for ICD-10. Precision in coding helped in our NM research recruitment. Conclusions: Expert neuromuscular centers particularly those conducting research require a more comprehensive and detailed coding system than that presented in ICD-10. Using BBaD might facilitate NM research by increasing efficiency of retrospective chart reviews and observational studies, decreasing the time to complete feasibility questionnaires, and improving the efficiency of recruitment for clinical trials. Disclosure: Dr. Jawdat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Glenn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Herbelin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pasnoor has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bryan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dimachkie has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer, Depomed, Merck, CSL-Behring, Nufactor, Biomarin, Baxter and Catalyst as a consultant, speaker, and advisory board member. Dr. McVey has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barohn has received personal compensation for activities with Grifols & Genzyme, Speakers Bureau, NuFactor as speaker and consultant.
Genetic causes of resistance to entinostat in luminal breast cancer model systems.

1065Background: Based on promising phase II data, the histone deacetylase inhibitor Entinostat (ENT) is in phase III trials for patients with metastatic ER-positive breast cancer. Predictors of sensitivity and resistance, however, remain unknown. Methods: Luminal cell lines SKBR3 (ER-/HER2+), BT474 (ER+/HER2+) and MCF7 (ER+/HER2-) were treated with or without ENT at their IC50 doses and their gene expression profiles determined. In addition, a total of 27 MMTV-Neu mouse tumors (luminal) were untreated (N = 8), or treated with ENT at 12 mg/kg for 3 weeks (N = 5), 6 weeks (N = 6), or until progression after complete response (N = 8). We investigated their gene expression profiles by microarray and copy number (CN) by arrayCGH, and utilized the Dawnrank analysis, a network-based bioinformatics tool that integrates DNA and RNA data to identify driver genes, to find predictors of resistance to ENT. Results: Supervised analysis of gene expression data coming from the 3 treated cell lines showed significant upre...
Network-Based Genomic Analysis of Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Differentiation.

Summary Impaired human oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (hOPC) differentiation likely contributes to failed remyelination in multiple sclerosis. The characterization of molecular pathways that regulate hOPC differentiation will provide means to induce remyelination. In this study, we determined the gene expression profile of PDGFαR + hOPCs during initial oligodendrocyte commitment. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was used to define progenitor and differentiation-specific gene expression modules and functionally important hub genes. These modules were compared with rodent OPC and oligodendrocyte data to determine the extent of species conservation. These analyses identified G-protein β 4 (GNB4), which was associated with hOPC commitment. Lentiviral GNB4 overexpression rapidly induced human oligodendrocyte differentiation. Following xenograft in hypomyelinating shiverer / rag2 mice, GNB4 overexpression augmented myelin synthesis and the ability of hOPCs to ensheath host axons, establishing GNB4 as functionally important in human myelination. As such, network analysis of hOPC gene expression accurately predicts genes that influence human oligodendrocyte differentiation in vivo .
Potential Impact of Fluopyram on the Frequency of the D123E Mutation in Alternaria solani

Succinate dehydrogenase-inhibiting (SDHI) fungicides have been widely applied in commercial potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) fields for the control of early blight, caused by Alternaria solani Sorauer. Five-point mutations on three AsSdh genes in A. solani have been identified as conferring resistance to SDHI fungicides. Recent work in our laboratory determined that A. solani isolates possessing the D123E mutation, or the substitution of aspartic acid for glutamic acid at position 123 in the AsSdhD gene, were collected at successively higher frequencies throughout a 3-year survey. In total, 118 A. solani isolates previously characterized as possessing the D123E mutation were evaluated in vitro for boscalid and fluopyram sensitivity. Over 80% of A. solani isolates with the D123E mutation evaluated were determined to be highly resistant to boscalid in vitro. However, effective concentration at which the fungal growth is inhibited by 50% values of isolates with the D123E mutation to fluopyram, ranging from 0.2 to 3 µg/ml, were sensitive and only slightly higher than those of baseline isolates to fluopyram, which ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 µg/ml. Five A. solani isolates with the D123E mutation were further evaluated in vivo for percent disease control obtained from boscalid and fluopyram compared with two wild-type isolates, three isolates possessing the F129L mutation, two isolates possessing the H134R mutation, two isolates possessing the H133R mutation, and one isolate with the H278R mutation. Relative area under the dose response curve values for boscalid and fluopyram were significantly lower for all five D123E-mutant isolates, demonstrating reduced disease control in vivo. In field trials, the frequency of A. solani isolates with the D123E mutation recovered from treatments receiving an in-furrow application of fluopyram ranged from 5 to 37%, which was significantly higher compared with treatments receiving foliar applications of standard protectants, in which the frequency of the D123E mutation in isolates ranged from 0 to 2.5%. Results suggest that A. solani isolates possessing the D123E mutation have a selective advantage under the application of fluopyram compared with SDHI-sensitive isolates, as well as isolates possessing other mutations conferring SDHI resistance. These data illustrate the importance of implementing fungicide resistance management strategies and cautions the use of fluopyram for in-furrow applications that target other pathogens of potato.
Safety evaluation of the interchangeable use of robenacoxib (Onsior™) tablets and solution for injection in dogs

Robenacoxib (Onsior™) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug developed for canine and feline use for the control of pain and inflammation. It is available as both tablets and solution for injection. The objective of this safety study was to investigate the interchangeable use of two robenacoxib formulations in dogs using a novel study design alternating between oral tablets and subcutaneous injections. Thirty-two naive healthy 4-month dogs were enrolled in this 88-day study and were randomized among four groups to be untreated or to receive robenacoxib at the highest recommended or elevated dose rates. The dogs were administered three 20-day treatment cycles each separated by a 14-day washout period. Each 20-day cycle was comprised of 10 days of once daily oral administration, 3 days of subcutaneous administration, followed by further 7 days of oral administration (Groups 2 to 4). The control group (Group 1) received oral empty gelatin capsules or subcutaneous saline injections. Assessment of safety was based on general health observations, clinical observations, physical and neurological examinations including ophthalmological examinations, electrocardiographic examinations and clinical pathology evaluations, food and water consumption, body weight, and macroscopic and microscopic examinations. Blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic evaluation. Blood concentrations of robenacoxib confirmed systemic exposure of all treated dogs. All dogs were in good health through study termination and there were no serious adverse events during the course of the study. No changes in body weight, food consumption, ophthalmic, neurological examinations, electrocardiograms, buccal mucosal blood times, clinical pathology or organ weight were attributable to robenacoxib formulation administration. Primary treatment-related abnormalities were of low incidence at all doses. They were confined to macroscopic and microscopic changes observed locally at the subcutaneous injection sites and microscopic findings within the gastrointestinal tract. These findings were as expected based on previous studies with robenacoxib solution for injection alone and the known properties of this class of compound and mode of administration. There were no adverse effects which could be attributed specifically to the interchangeable use of oral and injectable robenacoxib. Alternating regimens of robenacoxib tablets and solution for injection were well tolerated in healthy young dogs.
‘Cyclical Bias’ in Microbiome Research Revealed by A Portable Germ-Free Housing System Using Nested Isolation

Germ-Free (GF) research has required highly technical pressurized HEPA-ventilation anchored systems for decades. Herein, we validated a GF system that can be easily implemented and portable using Nested Isolation (NesTiso). GF-standards can be achieved housing mice in non-HEPA-static cages, which only need to be nested ‘one-cage-inside-another’ resembling ‘Russian dolls’. After 2 years of monitoring ~100,000 GF-mouse-days, NesTiso showed mice can be maintained GF for life (>1.3 years), with low animal daily-contamination-probability risk (1 every 867 days), allowing the expansion of GF research with unprecedented freedom and mobility. At the cage level, with 23,360 GF cage-days, the probability of having a cage contamination in NesTiso cages opened in biosafety hoods was statistically identical to that of opening cages inside (the ‘gold standard’) multi-cage pressurized GF isolators. When validating the benefits of using NesTiso in mouse microbiome research, our experiments unexpectedly revealed that the mouse fecal microbiota composition within the ‘bedding material’ of conventional SPF-cages suffers cyclical selection bias as moist/feces/diet/organic content (‘soiledness’) increases over time (e.g., favoring microbiome abundances of Bacillales, Burkholderiales, Pseudomonadales; and cultivable Enterococcus faecalis over Lactobacillus murinus and Escherichia coli), which in turn cyclically influences the gut microbiome dynamics of caged mice. Culture ‘co-streaking’ assays showed that cohoused mice exhibiting different fecal microbiota/hemolytic profiles in clean bedding (high-within-cage individual diversity) ‘cyclically and transiently appear identical’ (less diverse) as bedding soiledness increases, and recurs. Strategies are proposed to minimize this novel functional form of cyclical bedding-dependent microbiome selection bias.
The Paradox of Automation as Anti-Bias Intervention

A received wisdom is that automated decision-making serves as an anti-bias intervention. The conceit is that removing humans from the decision-making process will also eliminate human bias. The paradox, however, is that in some instances, automated decision-making has served to replicate and amplify bias. With a case study of the algorithmic capture of hiring as heuristic device, this Article provides a taxonomy of problematic features associated with algorithmic decision-making as anti-bias intervention and argues that those features are at odds with the fundamental principle of equal opportunity in employment. To examine these problematic features within the context of algorithmic hiring and to explore potential legal approaches to rectifying them, the Article brings together two streams of legal scholarship: law and technology studies and employment & labor law. Counterintuitively, the Article contends that the framing of algorithmic bias as a technical problem is misguided. Rather, the Article’s central claim is that bias is introduced in the hiring process, in large part, due to an American legal tradition of deference to employers, especially allowing for such nebulous hiring criterion as “cultural fit.” The Article observes the lack of legal frameworks that take into account the emerging technological capabilities of hiring tools which make it difficult to detect disparate impact. The Article thus argues for a re-thinking of legal frameworks that take into account both the liability of employers and those of the makers of algorithmic hiring systems who, as brokers, owe a fiduciary duty of care. Particularly related to Title VII, the Article proposes that in legal reasoning corollary to extant tort doctrines, an employer’s failure to audit and correct its automated hiring platforms for disparate impact could serve as prima facie evidence of discriminatory intent, leading to the development of the doctrine of discrimination per se. The article also considers other approaches separate from employment law such as establishing consumer legal protections for job applicants that would mandate their access to the dossier of information consulted by automated hiring systems in making the employment decision.
Monte Carlo raytracing method for calculating secondary electron emission from micro-architected surfaces

Abstract Secondary electron emission (SEE) from inner linings of plasma chambers in electric thrusters for space propulsion can have a disruptive effect on device performance and efficiency. SEE is typically calculated using elastic and inelastic electron scattering theory by way of Monte Carlo simulations of independent electron trajectories. However, in practice the method can only be applied for ideally smooth surfaces and thin films, not representative of real material surfaces. Recently, micro-architected surfaces with micron-sized features have been proposed to mitigate SEE and ion-induced erosion in plasma-exposed thruster linings. In this paper, we propose an approach for calculating secondary electron yields from surfaces with arbitrarily-complex geometries using an extension of the ray tracing Monte Carlo (RTMC) technique. We study microfoam structures with varying porosities as representative micro-architected surfaces, and use RTMC to generate primary electron trajectories and track secondary electrons until their escape from the outer surface. Actual surfaces are represented as a discrete finite element meshes obtained from X-ray tomography images of tungsten microfoams. At the local level, primary rays impinging into surface elements produce daughter rays of secondary electrons whose number, energies and angular characteristics are set by pre-calculated tables of SEE yields and energies from ideally-flat surfaces. We find that these micro-architected geometries can reduce SEE by up to 50% with respect to flat surfaces depending on porosity and primary electron energy.
Imaging dynamic and selective low-complexity domain interactions that control gene transcription

Many eukaryotic transcription factors (TFs) contain intrinsically disordered low-complexity sequence domains (LCDs), but how these LCDs drive transactivation remains unclear. We used live-cell single-molecule imaging to reveal that TF LCDs form local high-concentration interaction hubs at synthetic and endogenous genomic loci. TF LCD hubs stabilize DNA binding, recruit RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II), and activate transcription. LCD-LCD interactions within hubs are highly dynamic, display selectivity with binding partners, and are differentially sensitive to disruption by hexanediols. Under physiological conditions, rapid and reversible LCD-LCD interactions occur between TFs and the RNA Pol II machinery without detectable phase separation. Our findings reveal fundamental mechanisms underpinning transcriptional control and suggest a framework for developing single-molecule imaging screens for drugs targeting gene regulatory interactions implicated in disease.
Lecithin in swine diets: II. Growing-finishing pigs.

Lecithin was investigated in diets for growing-finishing pigs. Diets were based on corn and soybean meal and contained a constant ME:lysine level. The use of lecithin as an emulsifier on utilization of soy oil by the pig was investigated in Exp. 1. Diets were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial structure with two levels of lecithin (0 and 2%) and two levels of soy oil (0 and 6%). There were no interactions between lecithin and soy oil for any measurements of growth performance. In general, the inclusion of lecithin or soy oil did not affect (P > .1) ADG but did improve (P < .01) gain/feed during the finishing period and during the entire experiment. During the finishing period, gain/ME intake was improved (P < .01) by both lecithin and soy oil. The use of lecithin as an energy source for pigs was investigated in Exp. 2. Dietary treatments were corn and soybean meal diets with 0, 1, 2, or 3% lecithin. There were no significant differences in performance of pigs as measured by ADG, ADFI, gain/feed, and gain/ME intake among the four lecithin levels. Lecithin did not improve utilization of soy oil by growing-finishing pigs. Furthermore, lecithin was not an efficacious source of supplemental dietary fat for growing-finishing pigs in this study.
AGE-RELATED MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DELETIONS : EFFECT OF DIETARY RESTRICTION

Results from quantitative PCR analysis of the frequency of deleted mitochondrial genomes in male Fischer 344 rats reveal an age-related rise in this molecular abnormality. We used this model to examine the ability of dietary restriction (DR) to prevent this potentially pathogenic change. DR prevented age-related increase in frequency of mitochondrial deletions in the liver. In contrast, however, DR had no effect on the age-related increase in deletion frequency in the brain. These data suggest that the effects of DR on age-related accumulation of mitochondrial DNA deletions may be tissue specific.
Effect of Viscous and Buoyancy Forces on Nonwetting Phase Trapping in Porous Media

The trapping of residual nonwetting phase in packings of equal spheres has been investigated for a wide range of capillary numbers, vμ/σ (ratio of viscous to capillary forces) and Bond numbers, ΔpgR2/σ (ratio of gravity to capillary forces). For vertical displacement, residual saturations varied from normal values of about 14.3% when the Bond number was less than 0.00667 and the capillary number was less than 3 × 10−6, down to near zero when either the Bond number exceeded 0.35 or the capillary number exceeded about 7 × 10−4. Precise correlation of residual saturation with a linear combination of Bond and capillary numbers showed that the effects of gravity and viscous forces on trapping are superposed. The equivalence of gravity and viscosity forces is used to determine relative permeability of the displacing fluid at the flood front. Relative permeabilities to the wetting phase behind the flood front at less than normal residual saturations are reported. For displacement at various dip angles, the effect of gravity is greater than that predicted by using results for vertical displacement with the Bond number resolved according to angle of dip.
Solubility of molybdenite and the transport of molybdenum in hydrothermal solutions

The solubility of M0O2 was measured in NaCl solutions at temperatures between 300 and 450°C. Experiments were performed under water-saturated vapor pressure conditions using Barnes vessels with capacities of 0.5 and 1.1 liters. NaCl concentration varied from 0.0316 M to 5.7 M, and oxygen fugacity was controlled by the Fe30^-Fe203 buffer. Run solutions, with quench pH mostly in the range of 4 to 5, were characterized by a blue color, indicating a mixed oxidation state of Mo(5+) and Mo(6+). Depending on the NaCl concentration, Mo content changes from several tens of ppm to over 3000 ppm in the solutions. The strong dependency of M0O2 solubility upon NaCl concentration, especially at temperatures above 350 °C, suggests a relationship between NaCl and molybdenum complexing. Given some constraints on the system (i.e., mild acidity of quench solutions and coexistence of Mo(5+) and Mo(6+)), a speciation scheme was devised for aqueous molybdenum complexes based on solubility data. According to this calculation, HMoO^" is important only at temperatures below 300 °C. With increasing temperature, ion pairs of NaHMoO^° and Na2MoO^° are the dominant species for Mo(6+), while MoO(OH)2Cl is the dominant Mo(5+) complex.
A respiration–diffusion model for ‘Conference’ pears: II. Simulations and relation to core breakdown

Abstract A respiration–diffusion model for ‘Conference’ pears was used to simulate three-dimensional internal O 2 and CO 2 concentration profiles for intact pears as a function of the storage conditions. Although the skin was the major barrier to gas transport, the internal gas gradients in the fruit could not be neglected. Especially at high temperatures, when the respiration rate is high, the internal gradients increased considerably. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the effect of biological variability present on the respiration and diffusion parameters, and on the gas concentration profiles. It was found that at room temperature, the O 2 concentration underneath the fruit skin is mainly determined by the O 2 transfer coefficient and consumption rate. However, for typical storage temperatures this dependency is less pronounced. A comparison of simulated gas concentration contours of pears stored with delayed controlled atmosphere and those immediately stored under controlled atmosphere (CA), illustrated the importance of an appropriate storage management right after harvest. When CA storage was applied immediately after harvest, the O 2 and CO 2 concentrations reached very low and very high values, respectively, possibly causing irreversible membrane damage and inducing core breakdown. These values were not found for delayed controlled atmosphere. A model validation experiment on affected pears indicated that the diffusion and respiration parameters for affected tissue were different from those for healthy tissue.
New advances in endovascular technology

Future research on and development of intravascular stents, stent grafts, and other implantable devices will be aimed largely at improving their blood and tissue biocompatibility. Most of the modifications resulting from this research and development will alter the surface properties we currently understand: surface energy or "wetability," electrical surface charge, surface texture, and surface chemistry. However, as knowledge of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of bioprosthetic surface materials expands, new areas for exploration will develop, increasing the opportunities for improvement.
Electron Device Subjected to Temperature Cycling: Predicted Time-to-Failure

The Boltzmann–Arrhenius–Zhurkov constitutive equation is employed to assess the fatigue lifetime of a solder material subjected, during failure-oriented-accelerated-testing (FOAT), to temperature cycling and experiencing plastic deformations (low cycle fatigue condition). The damage caused by a single cycle is quantified, in accordance with Hall’s concept, by the hysteresis loop area of the inelastic strain energy. The suggested methodology is illustrated by a numerical example. It is shown how the operational lifetime of the material can be predicted from the FOAT data.
A Linear Quadratic Differential Game Approach to Dynamic Contract Design for Systemic Cyber Risk Management under Asymmetric Information

In this paper, we consider a delegated dynamic systemic cyber risk management problem between a resource owner (principal) and a risk manager (agent). The principal can only observe cyber risk outcomes of the network rather than the efforts that the agent spends on protecting the resources. Under this asymmetric information, the principal aims to minimize the systemic cyber risks by designing a dynamic contract that specifies the compensation flows and the anticipated efforts of the manager by taking into account his incentives and rational behaviors. We formulate a bi-level mechanism design problem for dynamic contract design which can be seen as a special class of differential game. We show that the principal has rational controllability of the systemic risk by designing an incentive compatible estimator of the agent's hidden efforts. We characterize the optimal mechanism design by reformulating the problem into a stochastic optimal control program and derive the solution explicitly. We further reveal a separation principle for dynamic risk management where the effort estimation and the compensation design can be achieved separately.
Initial Evaluation of Computer-Assisted Radiologic Assessment for Renal Mass Edge Detection as an Indication of Tumor Roughness to Predict Renal Cancer Subtypes

Objective. To develop software to assess the potential aggressiveness of an incidentally detected renal mass using images. Methods. Thirty randomly selected patients who underwent nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) had their images independently reviewed by engineers. Tumor “Roughness” was based on image algorithm of tumor topographic features visualized on computed tomography (CT) scans. Univariant and multivariant statistical analyses are utilized for analysis. Results. We investigated 30 subjects that underwent partial or radical nephrectomy. After excluding poor image-rendered images, 27 patients remained (benign cyst = 1, oncocytoma = 2, clear cell RCC = 15, papillary RCC = 7, and chromophobe RCC = 2). The mean roughness score for each mass is 1.18, 1.16, 1.27, 1.52, and 1.56 units, respectively ( ). Renal masses were correlated with tumor roughness (Pearson’s, ). However, tumor size itself was larger in benign tumors ( ). Linear regression analysis noted that the roughness score is the most influential on the model with all other demographics being equal including tumor size ( ). Conclusion. Using basic CT imaging software, tumor topography (“roughness”) can be quantified and correlated with histologies such as RCC subtype and could lead to determining aggressiveness of small renal masses.
A Facile Synthesis of 5-N, N-Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl)Amino-2-Thiophenecarboxaldehyde

Abstract Amination of 5-bromo-2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde with an acyclic secondary amine - bis(2-methoxyethyl)amine was effected by using weak base sodium bicarbonate. The resulting 5-N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)amino-2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde was treated with boron tribromide to give 5-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-2-thiophenecarbox- aldehyde.
The Ethics of Moods

We know the ontological import of moods (Stimmungen) for Heidegger: moods or affective dispositions are not superficial additions to existence, not restricted to our “emotional” lives, not inner subjective feelings, but manifest an ontological truth of Dasein. Moods represent a fundamental feature of existence, which is never without a mood, always situated and disposed in a mood. In addition to the ontological dimension of affective dispositions, and their constitutive role for thinking and for philosophy, I would like in the following chapter to explore the ethical scope of moods. Indeed, I argue that to be in a mood, to be thrown in a mood, engages a certain response, already a responsibility, an ethical relation. It may be objected that moods display a kind of radical opaqueness, withdrawal, and even unintelligibility (one does not know why one is in such or such a mood) that seem to prevent any possible appropriation in an ethical response. I will nonetheless argue that this expropriation precisely calls us to an ethical response, an original responsibility that allows us to speak of an “ethics of moods.” Ultimately, the ethics of moods is a responsibility for finitude itself, for the secret of moods, a being-responsible in which it is a matter, not of overcoming moods, but of assuming their mystery, of respecting their secret, and as it were being their enigma.
Patterns of Care and Outcomes of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and 3D Conformal Radiotherapy for Early Stage Glottic Cancer: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

Early stage glottic cancer has traditionally been treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). However, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has been recently adopted as an alternative to decrease toxicity. Here, we compared the usage and outcomes of IMRT and 3DCRT for patients with early stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glottic larynx. Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients with Stage I–II SCC of the glottis who received 55–75 Gy using IMRT (n = 1623) or 3DCRT (n = 2696). Median follow up was 42 months with a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 72%. Using a nominal logistic regression, race, ethnicity, year of diagnosis and fraction size were associated with the receipt of IMRT (p < 0.05). Using Kaplan–Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards models as well as a propensity matched cohort, there was no difference in OS for patients who received IMRT versus 3DCRT (hazard ratio (HR), 1.08; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.93–1.26; p = 0.302). However, there was a survival benefit for patients receiving slight hypofractionation as compared to conventional fractionation (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69–0.92; p = 0.003). IMRT was associated with similar survival as 3DCRT, supporting the implementation of this potentially less toxic modality without compromising survival.
Music as sexual violence? Investigating the case of bar/club-based sex trafficking and sonic harm

Accounts of human trafficking suggest music’s uniquely insidious role for victims forcibly trafficked into strip club-based sex work, wherein music is ubiquitous. In sociological fieldwork, sex wor...
Use of CT simulation and 3-D radiation therapy treatment planning system to develop and validate a total-body irradiation technique for the New Zealand White rabbit.

Well-controlled ionizing radiation injury animal models for testing medical countermeasure efficacy require robust radiation physics and dosimetry to ensure accuracy of dose-delivery and reproducib...
The role of relationships and sense of belonging among first-generation, low-income youth on future college entrance

This study uses a subsample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine protective factors for lower-income, first-generation students. A logistic regression model is used to explore the impacts of (1) gender, (2) race, (3) perceived sense of belonging during middle or high school, and 4) protective adult relationships on this population’s probability of attending higher education. The analysis reveals that being female and endorsing a stronger sense of belonging during middle or high school are both associated with greater likelihood of attending college. Race and protective adult relationships were not significant factors in predicting the likelihood of college attendance. The author explores the implications for these findings for both policy and practice and advocates for future research investigating which environmental factors exert the most influence on propelling low-income, first-generation students into higher education.
From Sampling to Optimization on Discrete Domains withApplications to Determinant Maximization

We show a connection between sampling and optimization on discrete domains. For a family of distributions $\mu$ defined on size $k$ subsets of a ground set of elements that is closed under external fields, we show that rapid mixing of natural local random walks implies the existence of simple approximation algorithms to find $\max \mu(\cdot)$. More precisely we show that if (multi-step) down-up random walks have spectral gap at least inverse polynomially large in $k$, then (multi-step) local search can find $\max \mu(\cdot)$ within a factor of $k^{O(k)}$. As the main application of our result, we show a simple nearly-optimal $k^{O(k)}$-factor approximation algorithm for MAP inference on nonsymmetric DPPs. This is the first nontrivial multiplicative approximation for finding the largest size $k$ principal minor of a square (not-necessarily-symmetric) matrix $L$ with $L+L^\intercal\succeq 0$. We establish the connection between sampling and optimization by showing that an exchange inequality, a concept rooted in discrete convex analysis, can be derived from fast mixing of local random walks. We further connect exchange inequalities with composable core-sets for optimization, generalizing recent results on composable core-sets for DPP maximization to arbitrary distributions that satisfy either the strongly Rayleigh property or that have a log-concave generating polynomial.
Removing residual airborne sensor motion for measuring seismic signals from a drone

Acquiring seismic data using drones requires excellent knowledge of the drone’s motion since positional measurements made from an airborne sensor represent a combination of sensor and ground motion...
On the Relationship Between Carrier Mobility and Velocity in sub-50 nm MOSFETs via Calibrated Monte Carlo Simulation

Subsequent to accurate 2 D inverse m odeling in the regime s ensitive to electrostatics o f industrial sub-50 nm NMOSFETs, a 2D full-band Monte Carlo device simulator was calibrated in the regime sensitive to transport parameters. The relationship between electron mobility and high-electric-field velocity at the maximum of the source-channel potential energy barrier was investigated. The results show a strong correlation, as was demonstrated previously experimentally. Moreover, further proof is provided that the velocity at which carriers are injected from the source region in modern NMOSFET’s is only about half of the limiting thermal velocity.
Environmental Law from the Policy Perspective: Understanding How Legal Frameworks Influence Environmental Problem Solving

Introduction References Understanding the Subject Matter Introduction The Environment Environmental Problems Role of Law in Environmental Problems Conclusion References Legal Frameworks in Environmental Law Introduction Types of Law Hierarchy of Law Legislative Frameworks Executive Frameworks Judicial Frameworks and the Role of Judicial Review Conclusion References Applications of Environmental Law Introduction Preventive versus Reactionary Considerations Planning for Environmental Harm: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Externalization as the Cause of Environmental Harm: Pollution Mitigating the Impacts of Environmental Harm: Biodiversity Protection Environmental Harm and Spatial Considerations: Land Use Conclusion References Index
Universalism in Hinduism

One of the distinctive features of Hinduism, especially modern Hinduism, is its emphasis on universalism. Also known as religious pluralism—and sometimes perennialism or the perennial philosophy—universalism can be defined maximally as the idea that all (and minimally as the idea that many) religions contain at least some measure of truth and lead their practitioners to God-realization—that is, liberation or salvation as conceived in Hindu traditions. Known in contemporary Hindu thought as ‘the harmony of religions’ or ‘the equality of religions’ and prominently associated with the teachings of Ramakrishna and Mahatma Gandhi, universalism is controversial. This article will explore the following dimensions of this doctrine and the controversies associated with it: Its conceptual and social foundations in ancient Hindu scriptures, philosophies, and practices; the process by which its modern formulations both emerge from and influence liberal Christian thought in dialog with Hinduism; criticisms of this doctrine by both Christians and Hindus; and recent attempts to reformulate this doctrine taking these criticisms and into account.
Accommodation in emmetropic and myopic young adults wearing bifocal soft contact lenses

Purpose: To assess the effect of bifocal soft contact lenses on the accommodative errors (lags) of young adults. Recent studies suggest that bifocal soft contact lenses are an effective myopia control treatment although the underlying mechanism is not understood. Methods: Accommodation responses were measured for four target distances: 100, 50, 33 and 25 cm in 35 young adult subjects (10 emmetropes and 25 myopes; mean age, 22.8 ± 2.5 years). Measurements were made under both monocular and binocular conditions with three types of lenses: single vision distance soft contact lenses (SVD), single vision near soft contact lenses (SVN; +1.50 D added to the distance prescription) and bifocal soft contact lenses (BF; +1.50 D add). Results: For the SVD lenses, all subjects exhibited lags of accommodation, with myopes accommodating significantly less than emmetropes for the 100 and 50 cm target distances (p < 0.05). With the SVN lenses, there was no significant difference in accommodative responses between emmetropes and myopes. With the BF lenses, both emmetropic and myopic groups exhibited leads in accommodation for all target distances, with emmetropes showing significantly greater leads for all distances (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Overall, myopes tended to accommodate less than emmetropes, irrespective of the contact lens type, which significantly affected accommodation for both groups. The apparent over-accommodation of myopes when wearing the BF contact lenses may explain the reported efficacy as a myopia control treatment, although further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism underlying this accommodative effect.
On the complexity of aggregating information for authentication and profiling

Motivated by applications in online privacy, user authentication and profiling, we discuss the complexity of various problems generalized from the classic 0-1 knapsack problem. In our scenarios, we assume the existence of a scoring function that evaluates the confidence in the personal online profile or authenticity of an individual based on a subset of acquired credentials and facts about an individual and show how the specific properties of that function affect the computational complexity of the problem, providing both NP-completeness proofs under certain conditions as well as pseudo-polynomial-time solutions under others.
Abstract 17007: Does Age Modify Gender-based Differences in Clinical Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Introduction: Women experience higher complication rates and mortality after PCI than men but it remains unknown whether these differences are sustained among younger and older patients. Hypothesis/Objectives: To investigate if previously reported gender-based disparities in outcome following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are modified by age in a large and racially-diverse cohort in the drug eluting stent (DES) era. Methods: A total of 23,400 patients (7942 female, 34%) underwent PCI of de novo lesion(s) from 01/2005 to 12/2012 at Mount Sinai Hospital. We compared demographics, procedural characteristics, and 1-year rates of death, myocardial infarction, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), by sex in younger (≤65 years old, n=11,381) and older (>65 years old, n= 12,019) patients. Results: Regardless of age, compared to males, females had higher body mass index (BMI), better renal function, smoked less, but were more hypertensive and diabetic. Women had higher HDL and LDL cholesterol ...