cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Robust Method to Estimate Instantaneous Heart Rate from Noisy Electrocardiogram Waveforms

We propose a new algorithm for real-time estimation of instantaneous heart rate (HR) from noise-laden electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms typical of unstructured, ambulatory field environments. The estimation of HR from ECG waveforms is an indirect measurement problem that requires differencing, which invariably amplifies high-frequency noise. We circumvented noise amplification by considering the estimation of HR as the solution of a weighted regularized least squares problem, which, in addition, directly provided analytically based confidence intervals (CIs) for the estimated HRs. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, we applied it to simulated data and to noise-laden ECG records that were collected during helicopter transport of trauma-injured patients to a trauma center. We compared the proposed algorithm with HR estimates produced by a widely used vital-sign travel monitor and a standard HR estimation technique, followed by postprocessing with Kalman filtering or spline smoothing. The simulation results indicated that our algorithm consistently produced more accurate HR estimates, with estimation errors as much as 67% smaller than those attained by the postprocessing methods, while the results with the field-collected data showed that the proposed algorithm produced much smoother and reliable HR estimates than those obtained by the vital-sign monitor. Moreover, the obtained CIs reflected the amount of noise in the ECG recording and could be used to statistically quantify uncertainties in the HR estimates. We conclude that the proposed method is robust to different types of noise and is particularly suitable for use in ambulatory environments where data quality is notoriously poor.
Place matters: consensual features and regional variation in American well-being and self.

Consensual and regionally distinct features of well-being and self were examined in a nationally representative survey of midlife Americans (ages 25-75). Consistent with key American ideology, Study 1 found that a majority of Americans believe they have high levels of mastery, purpose, life satisfaction, overall health, family and work obligation, and partner and family support. Study 2 found distinct regional well-being profiles (e.g., New England reflected concern with not being constrained by others; Mountain showed concern with environmental mastery; West South Central with personal growth and feeling cheerful and happy; West North Central with feeling calm, peaceful, and satisfied; and East South Central with contributing to others' well-being). Study 3 found regional self profiles consistent with the well-being profiles.
A kinase-defective transforming growth factor-beta receptor type II is a dominant-negative regulator for human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.

Abstract The role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta type II receptor (T beta RII) in TGF-beta resistance and tumor progression is now well recognized. To test the effects of T beta RII loss in determining malignancy, we transfected a T beta RII-expressing, TGF-beta-sensitive, MCF-7 cell strain (ME24) with a tetracycline-repressible truncated T beta RII (kdT beta RII) construct lacking the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. Transfection of kdT beta RII into parental ME24 cells (designated ME24t6 after transfection) resulted in high expression levels of kdT beta RII mRNA and cell surface protein which were reversible by tetracycline treatment. ME24t6 cells did not respond to exogenous TGF-beta 1 as measured by inhibition of proliferation or fibronectin (FN) induction, indicating that the truncated T beta RII acted as a dominant-negative inhibitor of both the growth inhibitory and extracellular matrix (ECM) stimulatory TGF-beta effects. Furthermore, inhibition of kdT beta RII expression by tetracycline treatment led to TGF-beta 1-mediated cell growth arrest in the G1 phase of cell cycle and to the accumulation of the hypophosphorylated form of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. However, compared to parental ME24 cells, transfectants failed to show increased tumorigenicity, indicating that loss of T beta RII itself is not sufficient to account for differences in the malignant properties of T beta RII-expressing and non-expressing MCF-7 cell strains.
Plasma Etching and Patterning of CVD Diamond at <100° for Microelectronics Application

Oxidation resistance of diamond is an important characteristic to be considered in many high temperature microelectronics and other applications. We have tested the stability of CVD diamong by exposing to Ground State Atomic Oxygen (GSAO) at a temperature of 70°C. Polycrystalline diamond is quite stable at this temperature using GSAO. We have tested the stability of diamond using Excited State Atomic Oxygen (ESAO). Initially, CVD diamond was exposed to ESAO for 15 mind at 63°C and noted that the diamond was etched. We have also carried out the experiments at different time intervals such as 30 and mine. Etching rate of the diamond using ESAO is ≈ 0.2 - 0.25 μm/min at 63°C. We have successfully patterned the diamond using a Ni mask by exposing the sample to ESAO for longer time. ESAO has etched the diamond uniformly in all the directions of the diamond crystal as opposed to the molecular oxygen. Stability of the single crystal diamond has been tested using ESAO by using Ni mask material. We were able to etch the single crystal diamond (type Iia, 100 orientation) quite uniformly. An etching rate of single crystal diamond using ESAO was observed to be 0.3 μm/min.
Measuring changes in family energy management: consumption or efficiency

The Home Heating Energy Index (HHEI), a tool for measuring energy efficiency, which integrates house size, seasonal temperature variations, and type of heating fuel, was found to be an effective measure. Using 5-year longitudinal field study data from 24 families living in a cold climate, the tool explained 77% of family energy consumption and provided a definitive benchmark for evaluating home heating energy conservation. Factors which influenced family energy consumption and/or efficiency were: (1) family energy management behaviours, including no-dollar cost behavioural changes and enhancing the energy efficiency of some mechanical system; (2) housing factors, including structural characteristics and size of house; and, (3) family contextual factors, including socio-economic status, family size and stage of family life cycle.
Assessing the impact of the frequency of quality control testing on the quality of reported patient results.

Background: The traditional measure used to evaluate QC performance is the probability of rejecting an analytical run that contains a critical out-of-control error condition. The probability of rejecting an analytical run, however, is not affected by changes in QC-testing frequency. A different performance measure is necessary to assess the impact of the frequency of QC testing. Methods: I used a statistical model to define in-control and out-of-control processes, laboratory testing modes, and quality control strategies. Results: The expected increase in the number of unacceptable patient results reported during the presence of an undetected out-of-control error condition is a performance measure that is affected by changes in QC-testing frequency. I derived this measure for different out-of-control error conditions and laboratory testing modes and showed that a worst-case expected increase in the number of unacceptable patient results reported can be estimated. The laboratory thus has the ability to design QC strategies that limit the expected number of unacceptable patient results reported. Conclusions: To assess the impact of the frequency of QC testing on QC performance, it is necessary to move beyond thinking in terms of the probability of accepting or rejecting analytical runs. A performance measure based on the expected increase in the number of unacceptable patient results reported has the dual advantage of objectively assessing the impact of changes in QC-testing frequency and putting focus on the quality of reported patient results rather than the quality of laboratory batches.
First-harmonic diffusion model for holographic grating formation in photopolymers

We present a model with which to describe and predict the formation of gratings during exposure in holographic photopolymers. This model combines the action of photopolymerization and of free-monomer diffusion during holographic exposures. We consider the free-monomer density to be spatially varying, during exposure, with a single first-harmonic term out of phase with respect to the intensity interference pattern. Examples of behavior predicted by the model include the variation of the saturation diffraction efficiency with recording exposure intensity and with beam intensity modulation, as well as the variation of recorded grating modulation during dark diffusion transient. The model is supported by experiments carried out by exposure of DuPont HRF-150-38 holographic photopolymers.
An Interactive Text Message Intervention to Reduce Binge Drinking in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial with 9-Month Outcomes

Background Binge drinking is associated with numerous negative consequences. The prevalence and intensity of binge drinking is highest among young adults. This randomized trial tested the efficacy of a 12-week interactive text message intervention to reduce binge drinking up to 6 months after intervention completion among young adults. Methods and Findings Young adult participants (18–25 y; n = 765) drinking above the low-risk limits (AUDIT-C score >3/4 women/men), but not seeking alcohol treatment, were enrolled from 4 Emergency Departments (EDs) in Pittsburgh, PA. Participants were randomized to one of three conditions in a 2:1:1 allocation ratio: SMS Assessments + Feedback (SA+F), SMS Assessments (SA), or control. For 12 weeks, SA+F participants received texts each Thursday querying weekend drinking plans and prompting drinking limit goal commitment and each Sunday querying weekend drinking quantity. SA+F participants received tailored feedback based on their text responses. To contrast the effects of SA+F with self-monitoring, SA participants received texts on Sundays querying drinking quantity, but did not receive alcohol-specific feedback. The control arm received standard care. Follow-up outcome data collected through web-based surveys were provided by 78% of participants at 3- months, 63% at 6-months and 55% at 9-months. Multiple imputation-derived, intent-to-treat models were used for primary analysis. At 9-months, participants in the SA+F group reported greater reductions in the number of binge drinking days than participants in the control group (incident rate ratio [IRR] 0.69; 95% CI .59 to.79), lower binge drinking prevalence (odds ratio [OR] 0.52; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.98]), less drinks per drinking day (beta -.62; 95% CI -1.10 to -0.15) and lower alcohol-related injury prevalence (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.88). Participants in the SA group did not reduce drinking or alcohol-related injury relative to controls. Findings were similar using complete case analyses. Conclusions An interactive text-message intervention was more effective than self-monitoring or controls in reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related injury prevalence up to 6 months after intervention completion. These findings, if replicated, suggest a scalable approach to help achieve sustained reductions in binge drinking and accompanying injuries among young adults. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01688245
Variability of apatite fission-track annealing kinetics; II, Crystallographic orientation effects

A method is presented that permits the length of any horizontal, confined fission-track inclined at a specified angle to the crystallographic c axis in apatite to be converted to an equivalent track length parallel to the crystallographic c axis. The model is based on the results of annealing experiments for six selected apatites (five calcian fluorapatites and Durango apatite) representing a subset of the 15 total apatite specimens studied. An iterative process of calculation is required to project fission-track lengths onto the c axis and computer source code implementing the solution to this problem is presented. This method of projecting apatite fission-track lengths onto the crystallographic c axis is shown to remove effectively fission-track length variation within single fission-track populations due to anisotropic track-length reduction for all 15 apatites studied. In addition, a model is developed that offers predictions that closely reproduce published experimental data concerning the relationship between fission-track density (etched fission tracks per unit area of apatite surface) and the arithmetic mean fission-track length. Finally, it is shown that natural fission-track populations exhibit fission-track length anisotropy similar to that of fission-track populations created and annealed in the laboratory. This observation implies that the same process by which apatite fission tracks anneal in the laboratory is responsible for annealing of apatite fission tracks in the geological environment.
Enhancing Learning in Africa through Students’ Collaboration with Parents, Teachers and Peers

Education scholars agree on the positive role that parents play in fostering educational success. Much research donealso shows ways in which teachers contribute greatly to students’ performance in school. Limited research focuseson how students’ interactions with one another effect their academic performance. This study examines ways inwhich students were impacted by collaborating with their parents, teachers and with each other during a writingworkshop in one elementary school in Northwestern Tanzania. Data seems to suggest that students accessed theirparents’ funds of knowledge; they became agents of change and used each other’s academic input to improve theirwriting. Implications for research and teaching are discussed.
Structure, Orientation, and Surface Interaction of Alzheimer Amyloid-β Peptides on the Graphite

The misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides into amyloid fibrils in solution and on the cell membrane has been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Although it is well-known that the presence of different surfaces can accelerate the aggregation of Aβ peptides into fibrils, surface-induced conformation, orientation, aggregation, and adsorption of Aβ peptides have not been well understood at the atomic level. Here, we perform all-atom explicit-water molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the orientation change, conformational dynamics, surface interaction of small Aβ aggregates with different sizes (monomer to tetramer), and conformations (α-helix and β-hairpin) upon adsorption on the graphite surface, in comparison with Aβ structures in bulk solution. Simulation results show that hydrophobic graphite induces the quick adsorption of Aβ peptides regardless of their initial conformations and sizes. Upon the adsorption, Aβ prefers to adopt random structure for monomers and to ...
The Control of Grasshoppers by Airplane Dusting

This paper contains a brief review of some of the Russian literature with reference to the control of the migratory grasshoppers, Locusta migratoria Linn. and Calliptamus italicus Linn., by airplane dusting. Several arsenical dusts have been tried experimentally with varied results. Disodium acid arsenite and disodium acid arsenate dusts were used with striking success against hoppers when they were on the wing. This indicates that certain arsenicals can probably be used as contact insecticides.
Toxicity and repellency of Chenopodium oil to four species of stored-product insects

Chenopodium oil, an essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., was evaluated for its toxicity and repellency to adults of Callosobruchus machulatus (F.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Lasioderma serri...
The arrow of complexity hypothesis.

The evolution of the biosphere exhibits a trend of increasing complexity of the most complex organisms. Even though we are uncertain about the proper way to measure complexity, it is hard to deny the trend that the earliest prokaryotic cells are simpler than the eukaryotic cells that arose from them, and these were simpler than the multicellular life forms that evolved from them, and so on. But this trend is controversial to interpret and explain, and even to describe properly. Some think that the trend has for all intents and purposes already been explained. In contrast, I argue that the trend is not yet adequately explained but instead is a major remaining challenge in understanding the creativity of evolution. Progress on this challenge is slowed in part because many people fail to realize that the explanation of life’s complexity is still a mystery. Some people believe that natural selection given an infinite space of genetic possibilities will inevitably produce more and more complex adaptations. But soft artificial life models like Tierra, Avida, and Echo show conclusively that those mechanisms are in general insufficient to produce a trend of increasing complexity. The proof is simple: The models embody those mechanisms but they don’t exhibit the requisite behavior. Mechanisms like natural selection in an infinite space of genetic possibilities might be necessary for explaining the trend, but they are not sufficient. This implies that we need new concepts, theories, and models if it is to resolve the arrow of complexity hypothesis. Fortunately, soft artificial life models can be just the right tool for exploring answers to this question. But these models are not fool-proof. Some models beg the interesting questions, and others fail to produce the relevant behavior. So, proper use of these models requires care and experience. But in the right hands, they can provide a public, repeatable, and empirically grounded method for making incremental progress on the question of the creativity of evolution.
Steel factor induces serine phosphorylation of Stat3 in human growth factor-dependent myeloid cell lines

Steel factor (SLF) acts synergistically with various hematopoietic growth factors that use the Jak-Stat pathways in vivo and in vitro, although the contribution by SLF to this pathway is unknown. We show here that SLF induces time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of Stat3 in the human growth factor-dependent cell lines MO7e and TF-1. This phosphorylation occurs exclusively on serine residues. Simultaneous stimulation with SLF plus other cytokines that induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3, such as interleukin-9 (IL-9) in MO7e cells or IL-6 in TF-1 cells, resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced serine phosphorylation of Stat3. Serine phosphorylation alone did not promote nuclear translocation or DNA binding activity to the sis-inducible element of Stat3. However, costimulation with SLF plus IL-9 in MO7e cells resulted in the nuclear translocation of serine-hyperphosphorylated Stat3. Serine phosphorylation of Stat3 was also observed by the stimulation of cells with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-3, which do not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3. These results suggest that SLF might modulate the Jak-Stat3 pathway by serine phosphorylation and that the Jak-Stat pathway may be differentially regulated by the combinational stimulation of two or more cytokines.
Lateral Medullary Syndrome Following Varicella

The acute onset of lateral medullary (Wallenberg’s) syndrome in a 6-year-old boy 32 days after varicella infection is reported from the Children’s Hospital, Harvard Med Sch, Boston.
Does School Type Matter in Academic Achievement in Regional Examination? Comparative Study of Private and Government Schools in Dessie Administrative Town, North Central Ethiopia

ABSTRACT : Academic achievement is a cumulative outcome of different factors. School type has a paramount effect on students’ performance in regional examination. This study was conducted to critically examine the effect of school type on students result in regional examination. An e x-post facto research design was employed to look into the impacts of school type on academic achievement in regional examination. Data analyses were undertaken using chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). Independent sample t-test was used to test mean differences between private and government schools. ANOVA test was used to analyze mean differences based on level of satisfaction in school services. Chi-square test was used to see associations between school types with facilities and activities. Key informant interview and observation were also undertaken to substantiate the quantitative results. The t-test results revealed that private schools have scored statistically better than government ones. Students from private schools were highly satisfied with their school services. Private schools were found better equipped in library and laboratory facilities than government schools. Student centered method of teaching and tutorial classes have been more applied in private schools. Parents’ involvement in school related affairs were better in private schools. Based on the findings, the recommendations that experience sharing between private and government schools as well as among schools should be organized by Dessie town administration educational office. More effort has to been done by concerned bodies so as to narrow the performance gab between private and government schools. In addition, government schools should be equipped with facilities as of the private schools. KEY WORDS : Academic achievement, regional examination, private/government schools, school services, library and laboratory facilities, and method of teaching and tutorial classes. About the Author: Amogne Asfaw Eshetu is a Lecturer at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies WU (Wollo University), Dessie, P.O. Box 1145, North Central Ethiopia. For academic interests, the author can be contacted via phone at: +251913423595 or via e-mail at: amuvenu@yahoo.com How to cite this article? Eshetu, Amogne Asfaw. (2015). “Does School Type Matter in Academic Achievement in Regional Examination? Comparative Study of Private and Government Schools in Dessie Administrative Town, North Central Ethiopia” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies , Vol.7(2) February, pp.161-170. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press and UMP Purwokerto, ISSN 1979-7877. Chronicle of the article: Accepted (December 5, 2014); Revised (January 15, 2015); and Published (February 28, 2015).
Competing Indentation Deformation Mechanisms in Glass Using Different Strengthening Methods

Chemical strengthening via ion exchange, thermal tempering, and lamination are proven techniques for strengthening of oxide glasses. For each of these techniques, the strengthening mechanism is conventionally ascribed to the linear superposition of the compressive stress profile on the glass surface. However, in this work we use molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the underlying indentation deformation mechanism beyond the simple linear superposition of compressive and indentation stresses. In particular, the plastic zone can be dramatically different from the commonly assumed hemispherical shape, which leads to a completely different stress field and resulting crack system. We show that the indentation-induced fracture is controlled by two competing mechanisms: the compressive stress itself and a potential reduction in free volume that can increase the driving force for crack formation. Chemical strengthening via ion exchange tends to escalate the competition between these two effects, while thermal tempering tends to reduce it. Lamination of glasses with differential thermal expansion falls in between. The crack system also depends on the indenter geometry and the loading stage, i.e., loading vs. after unloading. It is observed that combining thermal tempering or high free volume content with ion exchange or lamination can impart a relatively high compressive stress and reduce the driving force for crack formation. Therefore, such a combined approach might offer the best overall crack resistance for oxide glasses.
Disruption of rcsB by a duplicated sequence in a curli-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 results in differential gene expression in relation to biofilm formation, stress responses and metabolism

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (O157) strain 86–24, linked to a 1986 disease outbreak, displays curli- and biofilm-negative phenotypes that are correlated with the lack of Congo red (CR) binding and formation of white colonies (CR−) on a CR-containing medium. However, on a CR medium this strain produces red isolates (CR+) capable of producing curli fimbriae and biofilms. To identify genes controlling differential expression of curli fimbriae and biofilm formation, the RNA-Seq profile of a CR+ isolate was compared to the CR− parental isolate. Of the 242 genes expressed differentially in the CR+ isolate, 201 genes encoded proteins of known functions while the remaining 41 encoded hypothetical proteins. Among the genes with known functions, 149 were down- and 52 were up-regulated. Some of the upregulated genes were linked to biofilm formation through biosynthesis of curli fimbriae and flagella. The genes encoding transcriptional regulators, such as CsgD, QseB, YkgK, YdeH, Bdm, CspD, BssR and FlhDC, which modulate biofilm formation, were significantly altered in their expression. Several genes of the envelope stress (cpxP), heat shock (rpoH, htpX, degP), oxidative stress (ahpC, katE), nutrient limitation stress (phoB-phoR and pst) response pathways, and amino acid metabolism were downregulated in the CR+ isolate. Many genes mediating acid resistance and colanic acid biosynthesis, which influence biofilm formation directly or indirectly, were also down-regulated. Comparative genomics of CR+ and CR− isolates revealed the presence of a short duplicated sequence in the rcsB gene of the CR+ isolate. The alignment of the amino acid sequences of RcsB of the two isolates showed truncation of RcsB in the CR+ isolate at the insertion site of the duplicated sequence. Complementation of CR+ isolate with rcsB of the CR− parent restored parental phenotypes to the CR+ isolate. The results of this study indicate that RcsB is a global regulator affecting bacterial survival in growth-restrictive environments through upregulation of genes promoting biofilm formation while downregulating certain metabolic functions. Understanding whether rcsB inactivation enhances persistence and survival of O157 in carrier animals and the environment would be important in developing strategies for controlling this bacterial pathogen in these niches.
Integrating natural language processing expertise with patient safety event review committees to improve the analysis of medication events

Abstract Objectives Many healthcare providers have implemented patient safety event reporting systems to better understand and improve patient safety. Reviewing and analyzing these reports is often time consuming and resource intensive because of both the quantity of reports and length of free-text descriptions in the reports. Methods Natural language processing (NLP) experts collaborated with clinical experts on a patient safety committee to assist in the identification and analysis of medication related patient safety events. Different NLP algorithmic approaches were developed to identify four types of medication related patient safety events and the models were compared. Results Well performing NLP models were generated to categorize medication related events into pharmacy delivery delays, dispensing errors, Pyxis discrepancies, and prescriber errors with receiver operating characteristic areas under the curve of 0.96, 0.87, 0.96, and 0.81 respectively. We also found that modeling the brief without the resolution text generally improved model performance. These models were integrated into a dashboard visualization to support the patient safety committee review process. Conclusions We demonstrate the capabilities of various NLP models and the use of two text inclusion strategies at categorizing medication related patient safety events. The NLP models and visualization could be used to improve the efficiency of patient safety event data review and analysis.
Principles Underlying the Development of the US Science Enterprise

The scope of the US scientific enterprise, and its outputs, have grown considerably since the middle of the 20th Century. In terms of capital investment, number of workers and general productivity it has become the strongest research system in the world. Although a large part of that strength exists in government laboratories and in industrial laboratories, a major portion is found in the academic sector, which focuses its efforts mainly on long-term, fundamental research and on educating future scientists, engineers and technical workers.
Group Process, Self-Efficacy, and Cohesion: Applying the Principles of Change

The purpose of every after-school program should be to bring about positive, constructive change (Granger et al. 2007). The change might be to help students learn new ways of acting (behavior) and new academic skills, or to develop new techniques for interacting with others in a group setting. You decide what kind of change you want to bring about in your after-school program. Group-centered after- school prevention programs, such as my Reading Orienteering Club, integrate learning and counseling, make full use of group process by stressing interaction and cohesion, stress intrinsic (internal) motivation rather than extrinsic (rewards or prizes), and seek to rebuild self-ef?cacy (belief that the student can accomplish a task) by giving emphasis to vowel clustering
Transatlantic Settlers, Slaves, and Courtyard Knaves: Telescoping Space

Exploring the degrees to which transnational, inter-governmental, and trans-governmental forces explain transatlantic behavior (and if a ranking is even discernible), this chapter shifts attention to historical human flows (of settlers, slaves, and ‘courtyard knaves’). While strengthening an earlier observation of south Atlantic and north-south Atlantic flows, the chapter finds the necessary and logical colonial needs for human flows sowing the seeds of enormous subsequent complications. It also (a) reaffirms the transatlantic-global linkage; (b) previews the illegal flows of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with cash, drugs, and humans as cargo; (c) scrutinizes the evolution of the functions of a central agency, such as the state; and (d) captures more glimpses of how the old, indigenous order across the Americas was completely transformed.
Immune Infiltration in Malignant Gliomas

Abstract Malignant gliomas are one of the most prevalent primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. These aggressive and lethal tumors require rigorous treatment courses of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, as well as surgical intervention. With new forms of therapy being searched for, one possibility being explored is harnessing the body’s intrinsic immune system to stifle tumor growth either directly or indirectly by enhancing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. Nanoparticles can be utilized to specifically target immune components of the tumor microenvironment and rejuvenate them in an immunotherapy setting. This concept also involves utilizing immune cells, like macrophages, as a vehicle to carry and release nanomedicine, as well as other drugs of interest, to the sites of glioma progression and invasion. This chapter highlights our current understanding of the tumor microenvironment, CNS immune trafficking, and associated chemokine axes in the context of malignant gliomas.
Effects of Inadequate Sleep on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Inflammation in Women: Findings From the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network.

Background Insufficient sleep increases blood pressure. However, the effects of milder, highly prevalent but frequently neglected sleep disturbances, including poor sleep quality and insomnia, on v...
Social Institutions, Transgendered Lives, and the Scope of Free Expression

In addition to their official functions, state-sponsored social institutions, such as prisons and civil marriage, serve a more covert function, fostering and sustaining largely unnoticed social ideology. Because such institutions are to some degree coercive, and because the ideology thus promoted is designed to constrain channels of free expression, First Amendment protection is implicated, and can legitimately be applied to the social institution as a whole (not just as it impacts particular individuals). This view is defended through an examination of the ideological implications of the legal landscape governing marriage, as it affects transgendered individuals.
Paramecia swimming in viscous flow

Ciliates like Paramecia exhibit fore-aft asymmetry in their body shapes, and preferentially swim in the direction of the slender anterior rather than the wider posterior. However, the physical reasons for this preference are not well understood. In this work, we propose that specific features of the fluid flow around swimming Paramecia confer some energetic advantage to the preferred swimming direction. Therefore, we seek to understand the effects of body asymmetry and swimming direction on the efficiency of swimming and the flux of fluid into the cilia layer (and thus of food into the oral groove), which we assumed to be primary factors in the energy budgets of these organisms. To this end, we combined numerical techniques (the boundary element method) and laboratory experiments (micro particle image velocimetry) to develop a quantitative model of the flow around a Paramecium and investigate the effect of the body shape on the velocity fields, as well as on the swimming and feeding behaviors. Both simulation and experimental results show that velocity fields exhibit fore-aft asymmetry. Moreover, the shape asymmetry revealed an increase of the fluid flux into the cilia layer compared to symmetric body shapes. Under the assumption that cilia fluid intake and feeding efficiency are primary factors in the energy budgets of Paramecia, our model predicts that the anterior swimming direction is energetically favorable to the posterior swimming direction.
Tensions in Collaborative Cyber Security and how They Affect Incident Detection and Response

Security often requires collaboration, but when multiple stakeholders are involved, it is typical for their priorities to differ or even conflict with one another. In today’s increasingly networked world, cyber security collaborations may span organizations and countries. In this chapter, we address collaboration tensions, their effects on incident detection and response, and how these tensions may potentially be resolved. We present three case studies of collaborative cyber security within the U.S. government and discuss technical, social, and regulatory challenges to collaborative cyber security. We suggest possible solutions, and present lessons learned from conflicts. Finally, we compare collaborative solutions from other domains and apply them to cyber security collaboration. Although we concentrate our analysis on collaborations whose purpose is to achieve cyber security, we believe that this work applies readily to security tensions found in collaborations of a general nature as well.
The role of prototypical cases in biomedical case-based reasoning

Representing biomedical knowledge is an essential task in biomedical informatics intelligent systems. Case-based reasoning (CBR) holds the promise of representing contextual knowledge in a way that was not possible before with traditional knowledge representation and knowledge-based methods. A main issue in biomedical CBR has been dealing with maintenance of the case base, and particularly in medical domains, with the rate of generation of new knowledge, which often makes the content of a case base partially obsolete. This article proposes to make use of the concept of prototypical case to ensure that a CBR system would keep up-to-date with current research advances in the biomedical field. It proposes to illustrate and discuss the different roles that prototypical cases can serve in biomedical CBR systems, among which to organize and structure the memory, to guide the retrieval as well as the reuse of cases, and to serve as bootstrapping a CBR system memory when real cases are not available in sufficient quantity and/or quality. This paper presents knowledge maintenance as another role that these prototypical cases can play in biomedical CBR systems.
Potentiometric microdetermination of oxiranes

A potentiometric microtitration for the determination of high molecular weight oxiranes is presented. It is based on the reaction of oxiranes with quaternary ammonium bromide and titration with 0.01N perchloric acid. The preferred solvent is acetic acid although small amounts of toluene or chloroform may be used. Epoxy equivalents as high as 370,000 have been determined.
Evaluating a general class of filters for image denoising

Recently, an energy-based unified framework for image denoising was proposed by Mrazek et al. [10], from which existing nonlinear filters such as M-smoothers, bilateral filtering, diffusion filtering and regularisation approaches, are obtained as special cases. Such a model offers several degrees of freedom (DOF) for tuning a desired filter. In this paper, we explore the generality of this filtering framework in combining nonlocal tonal and spatial kernels. We show that Bayesian analysis provides suitable foundations for restricting the parametric space in a noisedependent way. We also point out the relations among the distinct DOF in order to guide the selection of a combined model, which itself leads to hybrid filters with better performance than the previously mentioned special cases. Moreover, we show that the existing trade-off between the parameters controlling similarity and smoothness leads to similar results under different settings.
Parametric investigation of combustion instabilities in a single-element lean direct injection combustor:

Self-excited combustion dynamics in a liquid-fueled lean direct injection combustor at high pressure (1 MPa) are described. Studied variables include combustor and air plenum length, inlet air temp...
Multifidelity Quasi-Newton Method for Design Optimization

Multifidelity approaches are frequently used in design when high-fidelity models are too expensive to use directly and lower-fidelity models of reasonable accuracy exist. In optimization, corrected...
Are Diversifying M&As Operational Hedges?

Conventional wisdom suggests diversification reduces risk. However, the change in the riskiness of the firm after diversifying acquisitions has not been directly tested in the literature. Using a sample of 447 diversifying M&As that occurred between 1980 and 2003, we find that total firm risk does not decrease significantly after these transactions. We then conduct tests on various segment- and firm-level risk variables and show that while total firm risk does not change, core-business risk increases significantly after the diversifying M&A transactions. When we compare these 447 diversifying M&A transactions to 632 related M&A transactions that occurred in the same time period, we find that capital expenditures in the acquirers' core business segments increase significantly more after diversifying transactions relative to that of non-diversifying transactions. The evidence supports the hypotheses that diversifying firms i) take on more risk in their core segments post-transaction, and ii) invest more in their core segments post-transaction in order to exploit their core competency better. They are able to increase core-business risk post-transaction because the newly acquired unrelated unit serves an operational hedging purpose. We also find that diversifying firms with higher ability managers invest significantly more in their core segments post-acquisition compared to diversifying firms with lower ability managers. This is consistent with studies that argue that better managers hedge more. Overall, the evidence in this paper adds to the risk management literature that says hedging is a means of allocating risk rather than reducing risk and offers an alternative explanation for why firms diversify.
Abstract 1521: Tumor-produced hyaluronan contributes to the formation tolerogenic immunosuppressive microenvironment

Immunosuppressive ligand PD-L1 considered as a major player in mechanism of negative regulation of anti-tumor immune response and its expression is highly up-regulated in human and experimental tumors, including bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is characterized by aberrant hyaluronan metabolism resulting in increased HA production in tumor tissue. Hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid (HA) is a prominent component of tumor stroma/microenvironment. Membrane-bound or free extracellular HA favors tumor progression by inducing tumor cell motility, invasive properties, proliferation, production of growth factors and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Here, we provide evidence that tumor-produced hyaluronan, one of the key tumor stroma components, contributes to the formation of tolerogenic/immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and stimulated PD-L1 expression. We found that tumor-derived HA specifically binds to CD44 receptor expressed by myeloid precursors, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and promotes its expansion with differentiation toward PD-L1-expressing F4/80+ macrophages. Inhibition of HA synthesis in tumor cells with pharmacologic inhibitor 4-MU, or blockade of CD44 signaling in myeloid cells with antagonistic anti-CD44 antibody, prevented the macrophage differentiation and tumor-induced up-regulation of PD-L1 expression. We also found that tumor-derived HA stimulated production of immunosuppressive and inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and PGE2 by myeloid cells in CD44-dependent manner. Moreover, tumor-produced HA stimulated development of PD-L1-expressing macrophages in both murine and human myeloid cells. Our study reveals that tumors may evade the immune system by creating a protective tolerogenic “shield” in the form of tumor-produced HA, which binds to the CD44-expressing tumor-recruited MDSCs, stimulating production of immunosuppressive factors and promoting development of the PD-L1+ macrophages. Inhibiting of hyaluronan synthesis by tumors or targeting HA-CD44 signaling could provide an attractive approach to break tumor-induced immune tolerance and unleash the anti-tumor immune response. Citation Format: Paul R. Dominguez-Gutierrez, Paul Crispen, Sergei A. Kusmartsev. Tumor-produced hyaluronan contributes to the formation tolerogenic immunosuppressive microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1521.
A Novel Approach to Develop a Closed-Form Solution for MHD Flow Induced by a Rotating Disk

This paper introduces a new approach to tackle the boundary value problem representing magnetohydrodynamics flow developed by a rotating disk. The problem comprises of a coupled and non-linear differential system which appears difficult to be computed exactly. A contemporary MATLAB’s package bvp4c is used to solve the problem numerically and then, with the help of the numerical solution, a closed-form solution is constructed via a systematic method. All computations are made for a specific value of the magnetic interaction parameter. Residuals of governing equations are plotted which ascertain that the obtained closed-form solution matches closely with the exact solution.
Free Gracilis Muscle Transfers Compared with Nonfree Muscle Flaps for Reanimation of Elbow Flexion: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives Elbow flexion loss is a debilitating upper extremity injury. Surgical treatment options include nonfree muscle transfers (tendon transfers, nerve transfers, Steindler procedure, Oberlin transfers, and pedicled muscle transfers) or free muscle transfers. We sought to determine if free muscle transfers and nonfree muscle transfers have similar outcomes for elbow flexion reanimation. Materials and Methods A literature search for studies evaluating free and nonfree muscle transfers for elbow flexion reanimation was performed. Included studies reported on transfer failure (strength <M3, unable to flex arm against gravity), strength, range of motion (ROM), or Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. Pooled odds ratios were used to calculate failure rate, and pooled mean differences were used to calculate differences in strength, ROM, and DASH scores. Results Six studies were included ( n = 331 patients). Free muscle patients experienced lower failure rates than nonfree muscle patients. There was no significant difference in ROM. A nonsignificant trend toward better mean strength and DASH scores among free muscle patients was observed. Conclusion Free muscle transfers may be superior to nonfree muscle transfers for elbow flexion reanimation, given their lower failure rates. Well-powered future studies may reveal differences in strength and DASH scores between free and nonfree muscle transfers.
Seasonality and Formation of Barrier Layers and Associated Temperature Inversions in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific

AbstractSeasonality and formation of barrier layers (BLs) and associated temperature inversions (TIs) in the eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean were investigated using raw and gridded Argo profil...
Power Factor Control in Buildings by Air Conditioners with Built-in Active Filters

Active filters built in air conditioners have excess distortion compensation capacity in the off-season and periods of light loads. It was assumed that this excess capacity during these periods of light loads could be used to improve the leading power factor. This paper investigates the possibility of utilizing the excess distortion compensation capacity in the automatic power factor regulator of an air conditioner with a built-in active filter to improve the leading power factor of the electric system during periods of light loads for the air conditioner such as in the off-season. As a result of this investigation and an evaluation of the results, the desired level of control was achieved for power factor improvement.
Effects of colonization of gnotobiotic swiss webster mice with helicobacter bilis

Helicobacter bilis (Hb) causes hepatitis in some strains of inbred mice. The current study confirmed that Hb directly causes portal hepatitis in outbred gnotobiotic Swiss Webster (SW) mice, as we previously reported for conventional SW mice. Hbmonoassociated SW mice also developed mild enterocolitis, expanded gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), and tertiary lymphoid tissue in the lower bowel. At 1 and 10 mo after infection, Hb-induced GALT hyperplasia exhibited well-organized, ectopic germinal centers with increased mononuclear cell apoptosis, MHC class II antigen presentation, and pronounced endothelial venule formation, consistent with features of tertiary lymphoid tissue. In the lower bowel, Hb induced mainly B220+ cells as well as CD4+ IL17+, CD4+ IFNγ+, and CD4+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and significantly increased IL10 mRNA expression. This gnotobiotic model confirmed that Hb causes portal hepatitis in outbred SW mice but stimulated GALT with an antiinflammatory bias. Because Hb had both anti- and proinflammatory effects on GALT, it should be considered a 'pathosymbiont provocateur' and merits further evaluation in mouse models of human disease.
A ‘People to Come’: Agricultural Crisis, Immigrant Settlements, and Manumission in Fermín Toro’s Los mártires

The first Venezuelan novel, Los martires (1842) by Fermin Toro (1806–1865), is not only a depiction of London’s working classes, it offers a unique lens through which to view Venezuela’s national e...