cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Information-Theoretic View of Spectrum Leasing via Secondary Cooperation

Spectrum leasing from a primary user to a set of secondary users may be implemented by requiring the secondary nodes to pay back the primary for the leased spectrum via cooperation (relaying). In this paper, this principle is studied from an information-theoretic standpoint by focusing on a scenario with one primary node and multiple secondary nodes, which may act as relays for the primary, communicating to a common receiver. The scenario is modelled as a multirelay channel where each relay (secondary user) has a private message for the destination. Achievable rate regions are derived for discrete memoryless and Gaussian models by considering Decode-and-Forward (DF), with both standard and parity-forwarding techniques, and Compress-and-Forward (CF), along with superposition coding at the secondary nodes. Numerical results for the Gaussian channel confirm that spectrum leasing via secondary cooperation is a promising framework to enable secondary spectrum access.
Variation in gene duplicates with low synonymous divergence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae relative to Caenorhabditis elegans

Background: The direct examination of large, unbiased samples of young gene duplicates in their early stages of evolution is crucial to understanding the origin, divergence and preservation of new genes. Furthermore, comparative analysis of multiple genomes is necessary to determine whether patterns of gene duplication can be generalized across diverse lineages or are species-specific. Here we present results from an analysis comprising 68 duplication events in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. We partition the yeast duplicates into ohnologs (generated by a whole-genome duplication) and non-ohnologs (from small-scale duplication events) to determine whether their disparate origins commit them to divergent evolutionary trajectories and genomic attributes. Results: We conclude that, for the most part, ohnologs tend to appear remarkably similar to nonohnologs in their structural attributes (specifically the relative composition frequencies of complete, partial and chimeric duplicates), the discernible length of the duplicated region (duplication span) as well as genomic location. Furthermore, we find notable differences in the features of S. cerevisiae gene duplicates relative to those of another eukaryote, Caenorhabditis elegans, with respect to chromosomal location, extent of duplication and the relative frequencies of complete, partial and chimeric duplications. Conclusions: We conclude that the variation between yeast and worm duplicates can be attributed to differing mechanisms of duplication in conjunction with the varying efficacy of natural selection in these two genomes as dictated by their disparate effective population sizes.
Women as Easy Scapegoats Witchcraft Accusations and Women as Targets in Tea Plantations of India

This article revisits a much-debated question: Why are women popular targets during witch hunts? By using in-depth interviews this article provides an answer. Women are easy targets or scapegoats for two reasons. First, it is widely believed in the community that was studied that witches do, in fact, exist, and the images of witches are always female. Second, tribal women hold lower positions than men in all social, political, and ritual matters, and this contributes to their vulnerability during the hunt for scapegoats. This article also highlights the roles that rumors play during manipulation of witchcraft accusations to gather support for witch hunts.
Behavioral Responses to Light and Thermal Gradients by the Western Drywood Termite (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)

The hypothesis that western drywood termite, Incisitermes minor (Hagen), nymphs are negatively phototactic was tested. Significantly more nymphs were found under the covered half of a petri dish than under the uncovered half exposed to either incandescent or fluorescent light, whereas there was no significant preference for either the covered or uncovered side when exposed to red darkroom light. The behaviors of I. minor nymphs when placed on temperature gradients for 24 h at 10, 30, or 50% RH were videotaped, analyzed, and quantified to test the hypothesis that I. minor nymphs actively avoid and move away from hot and cold temperatures. I. minor nymphs avoided temperatures >45°C and <1.2°C, formed aggregations away from the hottest or coldest temperatures and aggregated in the absence of a gradient. The distributions of termites on heated or cold gradients were significantly different from the controls and were not affected by relative humidity. Aggregations formed faster on heated gradients than on cool gradients while both formed faster than on the controls. Mean temperature preference values (mTPV) were significantly higher than the coolest temperatures on the cold gradients and significantly lower than the hottest temperatures on the heated gradients. Relative humidity did not have a significant effect on mTPV. The results of this study provide strong support for the theory that I. minor colonies relocate within structures or pieces of wood to avoid unfavorable conditions within their galleries.
Mobile Voice Access in Social Networking Systems

This paper presents a multimodal social networking system aimed at sharing geographic information among proximate users. The system provides users with a traditional Web-based interface along with a voice-based interface that can be accessed over a mobile phone. We describe the main design features of the system, different aspects of its functionality, as well as a number of design challenges imposed by multimodality on a social networking system. This paper also presents the results of the end-user acceptance study conducted to assess the usability of the system.
Learning to control: some practical experiments with neural networks

The author reports on a series of experiments for controlling a nonlinear industrial plant using various neural network controller architectures. The architectures studied include copying an existing controller, inverse dynamics control, and feedback linearizable learning control. These experiments have shown the capabilities and potentials of using neural networks for control. In addition, some shortcomings of the approach were revealed, such as the need to estimate the order of the plant. >
Distributed MEMS tunable matching network using minimal-contact RF-MEMS varactors

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and measurement of a double-slug tunable matching network based on a distributed microelectromechanical-system (MEMS) transmission line. The tuner is implemented with a new minimal-contact RF-MEMS varactor that largely eliminates stiction while allowing the capacitance ratio to be set anywhere from 2 to 5. The measured performance of the tunable matching network demonstrates complete coverage of the Smith chart out to a maximum voltage standing-wave ratio of 12:1 from 10 to 30 GHz with excellent agreement between measurement and simulation results
Efficient algorithms for MPEG-4 AAC-ELD, AAC-LD and AAC-LC filterbanks

Recently MPEG has developed a new audio coding standard - MPEG-4 AAC enhanced low delay (ELD), targeting low bit rate, full-duplex communication applications such as audio and video conferencing. The AAC-ELD combines low delay SBR filterbank with a low delay core coder filterbank to achieve both high coding efficiency and low algorithmic delay. In this paper, we propose an efficient mapping of the AAC-ELD core coder filterbank to the well known MDCT. This provides a fast algorithm for the new filterbank. Since AAC-LD and AAC-LC profiles also use MDCT filterbank, this mapping enables efficient joint implementation of filterbanks for all 3 profiles. We also present a very efficient 15-point DCT-II algorithm that is useful for implementation of all 3 profiles with frame lengths of 960 and 480. This algorithm requires just 17 multiplications and 67 additions. The overall design structure and complexity analysis of proposed implementation of the filterbanks is also provided.
The NRF2 activation and antioxidative response are not impaired overall during hyperoxia-induced lung epithelial cell death.

Lung epithelial and endothelial cell death caused by pro-oxidant insults is a cardinal feature of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) patients. The NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation in response to oxidant exposure is crucial to the induction of several antioxidative and cytoprotective enzymes that mitigate cellular stress. Since prolonged exposure to hyperoxia causes cell death, we hypothesized that chronic hyperoxia impairs NRF2 activation, resulting in cell death. To test this hypothesis, we exposed nonmalignant small airway epithelial cells (AECs) to acute (1–12 h) and chronic (36–48 h) hyperoxia and evaluated cell death, NRF2 nuclear accumulation and target gene expression, and NRF2 recruitment to the endogenous HMOX1 and NQO1 promoters. As expected, hyperoxia gradually induced death in AECs, noticeably and significantly by 36 h; ~60% of cells were dead by 48 h. However, we unexpectedly found increased expression levels of NRF2-regulated antioxidative genes and nuclear NRF2 in AECs exposed to chronic hyperoxia as compared to acute hyperoxia. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed an increased recruitment of NRF2 to the endogenous HMOX1 and NQO1 promoters in AECs exposed to acute or chronic hyperoxia. Thus, our findings demonstrate that NRF2 activation and antioxidant gene expression are functional during hyperoxia-induced lung epithelial cell death and that chronic hyperoxia does not impair NRF2 signaling overall.
Incoherent Transverse Space Charge Effects during Injection, RF Capture and Early Acceleration in AGS

After a review of the present situation in the AGS incoherent space charge effects in respectively the just injected beam, the coasting beam and the bunched beam are considered. Numerical estimates of shifts and spreads in betatron frequencies are given. The ratio of peak to average azimuthal densities in bunched beams is calculated for parabolic and uniform initial energy distributions. It is concluded that the intensity limit of the AGS is probably set by loss of particles out of vertical betatron phase via resonances and coupling in the early bunched beam.
A delay estimation technique for single and double-track railroads

Abstract To route and schedule trains over a large complex network can be computationally intensive. One way to reduce complexity could be to “aggregate” suitable sections of a network. In this paper, we present a simulation-based technique to generate delay estimates over track segments as a function of traffic conditions, as well as network topology. We test our technique by comparing the delay estimates obtained for a network in Los Angeles with the delays obtained from the simulation model developed by Lu et al. [Lu, Q., Dessouky, M.M., Leachman, R.C., 2004. Modeling of train movements through complex networks. ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation 14, 48–75], which has been shown to be representative of the real-world delay values. Railway dispatchers could route and schedule freight trains over large networks by using our technique to estimate delay across aggregated network sections.
Comparison of optic nerve head measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the relationship between optic nerve head (ONH) measurements generated by optical coherence tomography (OCT; versions 2 and 3) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO) and to compare the association between OCT and CSLO ONH measurements with glaucoma disease status, as determined by clinical evaluation and perimetry. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods In a prospective study in the glaucoma service of an academic department of ophthalmology, 159 eyes (97 subjects) and 77 eyes (44 subjects) were recruited in two separate periods. All subjects were scanned with a CSLO device. Subjects tested within the first period of recruitment were scanned with OCT version 2 and in the second period with OCT version 3. The main outcome measure was the correlation between automatic and manually defined OCT ONH measurements and the correlation of CSLO and OCT ONH measurements between devices and with glaucoma disease status. Results A high correlation was found between ONH measurements obtained by the automatic determination of ONH margin and those obtained by manual tracing of the disk margin (r = .93 to .98). Optical coherence tomography and CSLO ONH measurements were highly correlated. Optical coherence tomography-measured mean disk area was significantly larger than that measured by CSLO, as were all other disk size-related parameters. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic (AROC) curves for the associations between CSLO and OCT ONH measurements and clinical diagnosis were found to be similar and in the range of 0.47 to 0.79 for both devices. Conclusions Automated OCT ONH measurements correlate highly with those obtained by manual tracing of disk margin. Optical coherence tomography and CSLO ONH analyses are highly correlated and have similar associations with glaucoma disease status.
An unexpected life in optical science: a personal history

"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." This in a nutshell describes the life and scientific career of Craig Bohren.
Crosstalk-Aware PWM-Based On-Chip Links With Self-Calibration in 65 nm CMOS

This paper proposes two crosstalk-aware signaling techniques based on pulse width modulation (PWM) for energy-efficient on-chip global busses. Two bits of information are encoded into transition type and pulse width for transmission over one wire. The effect of crosstalk on pulses is compensated by pre-correction techniques and self-calibration circuitry mitigates variability. Measurements from 5 mm on-chip links in 65 nm CMOS show that the proposed schemes simultaneously achieve 15% performance improvement, 46% peak energy reduction, up to 25% average energy reduction, and >;2X leakage reduction compared to conventional repeaters. Self-calibration of the encoder and decoder circuits against process variation reduced the delay spread of 21 chips by >; 2.5X.
Hypercoagulability in Dogs with Blastomycosis

Background Blastomycosis is a potentially fatal fungal disease that most commonly affects humans and dogs. The organism causes systemic inflammation and has a predilection for the lungs. The inflammation might lead to a hypercoagulable state with microemboli in the pulmonary circulation which could contribute to inadequate oxygen exchange in infected dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives Dogs with blastomycosis will be hypercoagulable compared with healthy case-matched controls. Animals Client-owned dogs with a diagnosis of blastomycosis (n = 23) and healthy case-matched controls (n = 23). Methods Prospective case-controlled study of client-owned dogs presented to a veterinary teaching hospital with clinical signs compatible with blastomycosis. Complete blood counts, fibrinogen, PT, aPTT, thromboelastometry (TE), thrombin antithrombin complexes (TAT), and thrombin generation were evaluated. Results Cases had a leukocytosis compared with controls [mean (SD) 16.6 (7.6) × 103/μL versus 8.2 (1.8) × 103/μL, P < .001], hyperfibrinogenemia [median 784 mg/dL, range 329–1,443 versus median 178 mg/dL, range 82–257, P < .001], and increased TAT concentrations [mean (SD) 9.0 (5.7) μg/L versus 2.0 (2.8) μg/L, P < .001]. As compared to controls, cases were also hypercoagulable as evaluated by thromboelastometry and had increased in vitro thrombin generation on calibrated automated thrombography. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Hypercoagulability occurs in dogs with systemic blastomycosis. Additional studies are needed to explore a possible contribution of thrombogenicity to the clinical manifestations of systemic blastomycosis.
ANATOMICAL PROPERTIES OF BRAINSTEM TRIGEMINAL NEURONS THAT RESPOND TO ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF DURAL BLOOD VESSELS

Single unit recording studies in anesthetized cats have identified a population of neurons in the brainstem trigeminal complex that can be activated by stimulation of major dural blood vessels. Such dura-responsive neurons exhibit response properties that are appropriate for a role in the mediation of vascular head pain in that they typically exhibit nociceptive facial receptive fields whose periorbital distribution is similar to the region of referred pain evoked by dural stimulation in humans. In the present study, intracellular labelling with horseradish peroxidase was used to examine the anatomical characteristics of brainstem trigeminal neurons that respond to dural stimulation. A total of 17 neurons was labelled that responded to electrical stimulation of dural sites overlying the superior sagittal sinus or middle meningeal artery. Fourteen of these neurons also responded to electrical stimulation of the cornea. The neurons in this sample were located in the rostral two-thirds of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and the caudalmost part of the nucleus interpolaris. Within caudalis, the neurons were located in the deeper part of the nucleus, primarily lamina V, and were concentrated ventrolaterally. The dendritic arborizations of the dura-responsive neurons typically exhibited a dorsolateral-to-ventromedial orientation and did not extend into the superficial laminae of caudalis. Dura-responsive neurons had axonal collaterals and boutons in the nucleus caudalis, nucleus interpolaris, the infratrigeminal region ventral to nucleus interpolaris, the nucleus of the solitary tract, and the medullary reticular formation. The axonal boutons within the trigeminal complex exhibited a ventrolateral distribution which largely overlapped the distribution of the somata. The results are consistent with previous evidence that dura-responsive brainstem trigeminal neurons may have a role in the mediation of dural vascular head pain and also indicate that such neurons may contribute to nociceptive processing within the dorsal horn. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Application of SELEX in vivo identifies tumor specific RNA aptamers

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 2331 Background: Recent reports have demonstrated that strategies capable of targeting molecular alterations specific to tumors and/or the vasculature that support them are capable of effecting antitumor responses in the clinical setting. The authors describe a novel and powerful technique utilizing an in vivo application of SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) to create RNA aptamers capable of specifically recognizing tumor tissue. The protein targets of these aptamers can be identified through well-delineated processes. In addition these aptamers can be utilized directly or indirectly (as escorts of toxic moieties) as therapeutic reagents. Methods: Balb C mice bearing 10-day-old intrahepatic tumors (CT26) were inoculated systemically with a random, nuclease-resistant RNA oligonucleotide library whose variable sequences were 40 nucleotides in length. After a 20-minute circulation period, mice were sacrificed and the intrahepatic tumors removed. Total RNA was then extracted, and RT-PCR performed with aptamer specific primers. Following amplification and transcription, the enriched population of aptamers was then inoculated into tumor bearing mice. This cycle was repeated a total of 14 times. A limited number of aptamer clones were then sequenced. Binding specificity of the aptamers generated, to tumor and normal organs were ascertained through fluorescent labeling, P32 affinity binding, and gel-shift assays. Results: From 20 clones isolated after round 14, two main aptamer families with shared sequences were identified. One aptamer from each family (apt14-8 and apt14-16) were tested from tumor tissue-specific binding as follows: (1) Utilizing a hexyl-ATP fluorescent labeling strategy, apt14-8 and apt14-16 specifically labeled hepatic CT26 tumors prepared on cryostat sections in comparison to a control aptamer population (from round 2). Apt14-8 and apt14-16 failed to label normal liver, brain, kidney, lung, and spleen. (2) 32P-labeled apt14-16 and apt14-8 demonstrated an increased affinity (over 3-fold) in binding the total tumor membrane protein fraction when compared to control aptamer. (3) 32P-labeled Apt 14-8 and apt 14-16 demonstrated shifts on an electrophoretic mobility shift assay in those lanes where tumor membrane protein was instilled, but not in those lanes where normal liver membrane protein was present. Competition with an excess of unlabeled apt 14-8 or apt14-16 respectively eliminated the shift, whereas competition with unlabeled control aptamer did not. Conclusion: Through an in vivo application of SELEX, RNA aptamers can be created that specifically recognize tumor tissue. Given the complexity of the random RNA libraries (over 1016) this technique is a promising approach to developing targeted therapeutics.
Tunneling Mediated by Heavy Large Amplitude Motion

The excited state intramolecular proton transfer kinetics of a variety of organic molecules have been studied by picosecond fluorescence spectroscopy. The temperature, solvent, and molecular structure dependence of the excited state dynamics can be rationalized by invoking proton tunneling. The kinetic studies suggest that the proton tunneling, in some of the molecules studied, is strongly influenced by vibrational motion of the heavy atoms (carbon and oxygen) of the reactant.
Attributions as a Function of Managers' Assignment of Credit to Self, Superiors, or Subordinates

21 college students evaluated an hypothetical manager's statement assigning credit for success to himself, superiors, or subordinates. A subordinate-creditor received more favorable ratings than di...
Inheritance and Persistence of Permethrin Resistance in the Predatory Mite, Amblyseius fallacis (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Genetic analysis of permethrin resistance in the predatory mite, Amblyseius fallacis , indicated a polygenic, recessive basis for resistance. In the laboratory, with and without the immigration of resistant biotypes, permethrin resistance did not decline in mites left untreated over 25 generations. This was comparable to the stability of azinphosmethyl resistance in this same strain. In the field when influenced by large immigrant populations of susceptible biotypes, permethrin-resistant predators persisted initially after a permethrin spray applied in an apple orchard during the early growing season, but by late fall they were flooded out and resistance was diminished through hybridization. The implications of these results for management of S-P-resistant A. fallacis in apple integrated pest management systems are discussed.
The minipterional craniotomy for anterior circulation aneurysms: initial experience with 72 patients.

Background The pterional craniotomy is well established for microsurgical clipping of most anterior circulation aneurysms. The incision and temporalis muscle dissection impacts postoperative recovery and cosmetic outcomes. The minipterional (MPT) craniotomy offers similar microsurgical corridors, with a substantially shorter incision, less muscle dissection, and a smaller craniotomy flap. Objective To report our experience with the MPT craniotomy in select unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms. Methods From January 2009 to July 2013, 82 unruptured aneurysms were treated in 72 patients, with 74 MPT craniotomies. Seven patients had multiple aneurysms treated with a single MPT craniotomy. The average patient age was 56 years (range: 24-87). Aneurysms were located along the middle cerebral artery (n = 36), posterior communicating (n = 22), paraophthalmic (n = 22), choroidal (n = 1), and dorsal ICA segments (n = 1). The MPT craniotomy utilized an incision just posterior to the hairline and a single myocutaneous flap. Results The average aneurysm size was 5.45 mm (range: 1-14). There were no instances of compromised operative corridors requiring craniotomy extension. Three significant early postoperative complications included epidural and subdural hematomas requiring evacuation, and a middle cerebral artery infarction. Average length of hospitalization was 3.96 days (range: 2-20). Two patients required reoperation for wound infections. Average follow-up was 421 days (range: 5-1618). Minimal to no temporalis muscle wasting was noted in 96% of patients. Conclusion The MPT craniotomy is a worthwhile alternative to the standard pterional craniotomy. There were no instances of suboptimal operative corridors and clip applications when the MPT craniotomy was utilized in the treatment of unruptured middle cerebral artery and supraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysms proximal to the terminal internal carotid artery bifurcation.
Studies on MIF and the Role of Macrophage Associated Esterases in the Response of the Macrophage to MIF

It has been known for some time that “activated” macrophages obtained from immune animals have altered morphology and metabolism, and that they show enhanced capacities to deal with a number of microorganisms (1,2). A number of these studies have shown that the lymphocyte is involved in these activation processes (3,4). Their action can be partially explained by the production of soluble mediators such as macrophage activating factor (MAF) which increases the capacity of macrophages to kill bacteria and tumor cells (5,6). This factor cannot be distinguished from migration inhibitory factor (MIF) (7,8,9).
Initial patient study with dedicated dual-modality SPECT-CT mammotomography

Dual-modality SPECT-CT dedicated breast imaging offers great promise in the detection/staging of cancer and the monitoring of treatment therapies. The sequential acquisition with emission (nuclear) and transmission (x-ray) 3D imaging systems can aid in localizing the radioactive uptake of a tumor from the emission image by using the anatomical structure from the transmission image as a roadmap. Both independent SPECT and CT subsystems are mounted onto a single gantry that rotates around the vertical axis of a pendant, uncompressed breast. To evaluate the feasibility of this dedicated system, geometric phantoms and breast phantoms using fiducial markers were acquired to study the sampling and resolution properties and demonstrate the fusion of the functional-anatomical images. In addition, a preliminary investigation on the clinical performance of the system was done by imaging two women with confirmed breast cancer: one on the independent SPECT system and the other on the SPECT-CT system. Further patient hybrid imaging studies are in progress. This compact dedicated SPECT-CT system is capable of non-invasively providing complementary functional and anatomical fully-3D activity distribution information of the breast, and has the potential to help further enhance the visual and quantitative information over the independent systems.
Paramagnetic Lanthanide(III) Ions as NMR Probes for Biomolecular Structure and Function

Paramagnetic lanthanide(III) ions (Ln3+) have been used successfully as spectroscopic probes for the study of chemical, physical and physiological properties of many Ca2+-dependent biological systems in the past several years. Some paramagnetic Ln3+ (e.g. Pr3+, Eu3+, and Yb3+) possessing very short electronic relaxation times are able to exhibit relatively sharp isotropically shifted 1H NMR features attributable to the protons in the close proximity of the metal. Thus, the use of such Ln3+ ions as substitutes for Ca2+ in proteins raises the possibility of detailed NMR study of the Ca2+ binding environment in proteins. These paramagnetic Ln3+ ions have also been used as NMR probes for the study of the structural and functional roles of several metal-dependent antibiotics, such as the anthracyclines. We report in this contribution the use of two dimensional NMR techniques for the studies of paramagnetic Ln3+-substituted Ca2+proteins in terms of the configuration of the metal-binding sites and the interactions with ligands, and for the study of metallo-antibiotics.
Analysis of a sudden bluff failure along the southwest Lake Michigan shoreline

Abstract Elevated lake levels in the Lake Michigan-Huron basin have resulted in erosion at the bases of coastal bluffs composed of unconsolidated glacial deposits. Base erosion leads to a general steepening of the bluff face that can cause the bluffs to suddenly fail, transporting sediment into the nearshore hydrodynamic system. Sudden bluff failure impacts infrastructure built near the bluffs and the sediment budget of the coastal region. A better understanding of the mechanics that govern bluff failure will improve predictions of bluff retreat and sediment budgets. Here we present findings collected from a set of newly developed in-situ monitoring devices that record and measure several properties of the bluff leading up to and during a sudden failure. The devices are capable of accurately measuring, amongst other properties, displacement of the failing bluff at the millisecond sampling rate needed to capture sudden changes. A bluff failure was recorded on December 13, 2016, which prior to failure underwent an elevated creep rate for approximately 1.5 days and a highly-accelerated creep rate for the final 2.5 h. A creep to failure technique was used to analyze the displacement record and substantiated that the bluff failure was likely caused by the formation of segregation ice within the bluff as temperatures dropped from − 1 to − 12 °C over a 40-hour period prior to failure. Finally, a time to failure prediction estimate provided an upper bound for the time until ultimate failure from any one instance of time depending on the instantaneous creep rate.
Advocacy Circle—Develop Your Brand

I met Elizabeth at a local FPA chapter meeting. She has been a member of a peer-to-peer group that has been operational for over twenty years. Elizabeth is in the long-term care field, which is the one area of financial services where women had an earlier penetration. Since women live longer than men, they recognize long-term care as primarly a female concern.
The production of 13N using beam-target D-3He fusion reactions

The D-3He fusion reaction has been used to produce medical radioisotopes using the University of Wisconsin Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusion Device. The high-energy 14.7 MeV proton ge...
Zermelo–Fraenkel System and von Neumann Ordinals

In this chapter we present the Zermelo–Fraenkel axiom system which is an enhancement of Zermelo’s 1908 system by Fraenkel, Skolem and others, as well as the von Neumann ordinals, which assigns, in a remarkably simple, constructive, and canonical fashion, a unique representative well-order to each ordinal number.
The Impact of Complement-Binding Donor-Specific Antibodies on Adverse Events Long-Term after Heart Transplantation

Purpose Donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after heart transplantation (HTx) are risk factors for the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE), and decreased survival. The C1q assay identifies DSA that can bind complement and thus cause injury to the donor organ by activating the complement cascade and eventually, the membrane attack complex. As we routinely assess for DSA in the first-year after HTx, we assessed patients with complement binding DSA (CB-DSA) and their effects on long-term outcome. Methods Between 2012 and 2015, we identified 23 HTx patients who developed CB-DSA in the first-year after HTx. A control group without DSA was included (n=360). Endpoints included 5-year survival, 5-year freedom from CAV (as defined by stenosis ≥ 30% by angiography) and non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE: myocardial infarction, new congestive heart failure, percutaneous coronary intervention, implantable cardioverter defibrillator/pacemaker implant, stroke). We also stratified these CB-DSA into Class I (n=6) and Class II (n=17) antibodies and analyzed outcomes. Finally, we assessed whether the strength of complement binding led to more adverse events. Results CB-DSA that develop in first year after HTx had significantly lower 5-year freedom from NF-MACE compared to the control group. Higher binding levels of CB-DSA (MFI>10000) led to significantly reduced 5-year survival. Patients with CB-DSA with class II antibodies had numerically reduced survival compared to class I antibodies, but this was not statistically significant. (see table) Conclusion CB-DSA appear to be biomarkers for the subsequent development of NF-MACE and higher binding levels of CB-DSA are a significant concern for 5-year survival. A larger number of CB-DSA patients and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these preliminary findings. Consideration to treat high binding levels of CB-DSA might be pursued in asymptomatic patients.
Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle Glenoid Augmentation: An Ideal Graft Option

Recent work has demonstrated the importance of addressing bone loss in the surgical management of anterior shoulder instability. Multiple options exist for reconstituting the glenoid articular surface to include anatomic vs nonanatomic techniques, and utilizing autograft vs allograft material. An ideal approach would provide an autograft source of osteochondral material that is well matched to the defect, readily available, cost effective, and with minimal comorbidity. The distal clavicle autograft provides such an option. The graft has a cortical and cancellous side for direct fixation, and is amenable to arthroscopic techniques. Recent work has demonstrated the utility of this graft noting that the distal clavicle graft provides an anatomic restoration of the glenoid radius with an articular cartilage cap comparable in thickness to that of the native glenoid. Along with a summary of the pertinent literature, this review article outlines the rationale, indications, and technical notes for this procedure.
Influence of Oligonucleotide Grafting Density on Surface-Mediated DNA Transport and Hybridization

Adsorption of soluble DNA to surfaces decorated with complementary DNA plays an important role in many bionanotechnology applications, and previous studies have reported complex dependencies of the surface density of immobilized DNA on hybridization. While these effects have been speculatively ascribed to steric or electrostatic effects, the influence of surface-mediated molecular transport (i.e., intermittent "hopping diffusion") has not been fully appreciated. Here, single-molecule tracking and Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) were employed to characterize the mobility and the hybridization efficiency of adsorbed ssDNA oligonucleotides ("target") at solid-liquid interfaces exhibiting surface-immobilized ssDNA ("probe") over a wide range of surface grafting densities. Two distinct regimes were observed, with qualitatively different transport and hybridization behaviors. At dilute grafting density, only 1-3% of target molecules were observed to associate with probes (i.e., to hybridize). Adsorbing target molecules often searched unsuccessfully and "flew", via desorption-mediated diffusion, to secondary locations before hybridizing. In contrast, at high probe grafting density, approximately 20% of target DNA hybridized to immobilized probes, and almost always in the vicinity of initial adsorption. Moreover, following a dehybridization event, target molecules rehybridized at high probe density, but rehybridization was infrequent in the dilute density regime. Interestingly, the intermittent interfacial transport of mobile target molecules was suppressed by the presence of immobilized probe DNA, presumably due to an increased probability of readsorption following each "hop". Together, these findings suggested that many salient effects of grafting density on surface-mediated DNA hybridization can be directly related to the mechanisms of surface-mediated intermittent diffusion.
An electronic registry to improve adherence to active surveillance monitoring among men with prostate cancer at a safety-net hospital: protocol for a pilot study.

The evidence-based practice of active surveillance to monitor men with favorable-risk prostate cancer in lieu of initial definitive treatment is becoming more common. However, there are barriers to effective implementation, particularly in low-resource settings. Our goal is to assess the efficacy and feasibility of a health information technology registry for men on active surveillance at a safety-net hospital to ensure patients receive guideline-recommended care. We developed an electronic registry for urology clinic staff to monitor men on active surveillance. The health information technology tool was developed using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model and iteratively tailored to the needs of the clinic by engaging providers in a co-design process. We will enroll all men at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center who choose active surveillance as a treatment strategy. The primary outcomes to be assessed during this non-randomized, pragmatic evaluation are number of days delayed beyond recommended date of follow-up testing, the proportion of men who are lost to follow-up, the cancer stage at active treatment, and the feasibility and acceptability of the clinic-wide intervention with clinic staff. Secondary outcomes include appointment adherence within 30 days of the scheduled date. Use of a customized electronic approach for monitoring men on active surveillance could improve patient outcomes. It may help reduce the number of men lost to follow-up and improve adherence to timely follow-up testing. Evaluating the adoption and efficacy of a customized registry in a safety-net setting may also demonstrate feasibility for implementation in diverse clinical contexts. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03553732 , An Electronic Registry to Improve Adherence to Active Surveillance Monitoring at a Safety-net Hospital. Registered 11 June 2018.
Using Stories to Encourage Optimal Physical Development

The childhood obesity epidemic has plagued many nations throughout the world with a myriad of health issues that were once reserved for adulthood. Childhood obesity often becomes a life sentence for these children due to the increased likelihood of becoming obese adults. Considering the importance of establishing healthy behaviors early in a child’s life, it is vital for educators to seek out any and all available methods to increase children’s interest in physical development and activity. One possible approach is the incorporation of storytelling into games and instructional activities. By combining stories and characters with traditional teaching practices, it is possible to increase a child’s interest and motivation to engage in physical activity. The use of a story allows the child to form a deeper connection to the content of the lesson. This chapter describes techniques educators can utilize to integrate stories effectively into a classroom setting to encourage optimal physical development for students during early childhood. These techniques include digital and health-related stories, games, and movement stories.
Random distributional response model based on spline method

Abstract The aim of this paper is to develop a random distribution on scalar regression model framework to account for the entire subject-specific distribution of the outcome, and to relate these distributions to a set of covariates. We develop a basis representation by approximating quantile functions of distributions measured at the grid points in [0,1], based on the non-decreasing basis function. Then, we estimate the basis coefficients of covariates by using an empirical risk minimization method, with the restriction that all subject-specific quantile functions have their monotone increasing property in the original data space. Finally, we conduct a test procedure to identify the association between the distribution and a set of covariates. We systematically investigate the rate of convergence of our estimator and its asymptotic distribution under the nullity. We also show our estimation and test procedures through simulations and an analysis of Canadian weather data obtained from a historical database.
Early ctDNA response assessment for prediction of platinum sensitivity in small cell lung cancer.

9067Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease, characterized by inevitable chemotherapy resistance and rapid progression. We hypothesized that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)...
Exercise Progression to Incrementally Load the Achilles Tendon.

Purpose The purposes of our study were to evaluate Achilles tendon loading profiles of various exercises and to develop guidelines to incrementally increase the rate and magnitude of Achilles tendon loading during rehabilitation. Methods Eight healthy young adults completed a battery of rehabilitation exercises. During each exercise, we collected three-dimensional motion capture and ground reaction force data to estimate Achilles tendon loading biomechanics. Using these loading estimates, we developed an exercise progression that incrementally increases Achilles tendon loading based on the magnitude, duration, and rate of tendon loading. Results We found that Achilles tendon loading could be incrementally increased using a set of either isolated ankle movements or multijoint movements. Peak Achilles tendon loads varied more than 12-fold, from 0.5 bodyweights during a seated heel raise to 7.3 bodyweights during a forward single-leg hop. Asymmetric stepping movements like lunges, step ups, and step downs provide additional flexibility for prescribing tendon loading on a side-specific manner. Conclusion By establishing progressions for Achilles tendon loading, rehabilitative care can be tailored to address the specific needs of each patient. Our comprehensive data set also provides clinicians and researchers guidelines on how to alter magnitude, duration, and rate of loading to design new exercises and exercise progressions based on the clinical need.
Welcome Mats and On‐Ramps for Older Adults: The Impact of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Expansions on Dual Enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid

For many low-income Medicare beneficiaries, Medicaid provides important supplemental insurance that covers out-of-pocket costs and additional benefits. We examine whether Medicaid participation by low-income adults age 65 and up increased as a result of Medicaid expansions to working-age adults under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Previous literature documents so-called "welcome mat" effects in other populations but has not explicitly studied older persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. We extend this literature by estimating models of Medicaid participation among persons age 65 and up using American Community Survey data from 2010 to 2017 and state variation in ACA Medicaid expansions. We find that Medicaid expansions to working-age adults increased Medicaid participation among low-income older adults by 1.8 percentage points (4.4 percent). We also find evidence of an "on-ramp" effect; that is, low-income Medicare beneficiaries residing in expansion states who were young enough to gain coverage under the 2014 ACA Medicaid expansions before aging into Medicare were 4 percentage points (9.5 percent) more likely to have dual Medicaid coverage relative to similar individuals who either turned 65 before the 2014 expansions or resided in non-expansion states. This on-ramp effect is an important mechanism behind welcome mat effects among some older adults.
Screening for Barrett’s oesophagus: are we looking for the right thing?

Over the past several decades, while the incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) in Western countries has risen dramatically, our primary strategy for preventing OAC deaths has been an endoscopic screening of individuals with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) symptoms for Barrett’s oesophagus (BO) and regular endoscopic surveillance for those found to have BO. However, there is no definitive study establishing that endoscopic surveillance prevents OAC deaths, and observational studies on this issue have reached contradictory conclusions. While there is no proof that surveillance for BO is effective, there is indisputable evidence that current screening practices are not. Only ~12% of patients diagnosed with OAC have a prior diagnosis of BO.1 Thus, our endoscopic screening policy has failed to identify the large majority of patients who develop this malignancy. The reasons for this failure are not clear, but one of several proposed explanation is that OACs might develop from a precursor other than the BO sought during endoscopic screening.2 An interesting study by Curtius et al in Gut suggests otherwise.3 Curtius et al used a sophisticated, multiscale computational model of OAC to determine whether all expected cases of BO in the US adult population could account for the incidence of OAC reported in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) cancer registry.3 The model used published estimates of GORD prevalence and SEER-provided OAC incidence curves to calibrate the prevalence of BO and its rate of neoplastic progression. For the year 2010, the model predicted that 2.2 million adults in the USA had …
Lattice dislocation induced misfit dislocation evolution in semi-coherent {111} bimetal interfaces

The study of dislocation plasticity mediated by semi-coherent interfaces can aid in the design of certain heterostructured materials, such as nanolaminates. The evolution of interface misfit patterns under complex stress fields arising from dislocation pileups can influence local dislocation/interface interactions, including effects of multiple incoming dislocations. This work utilizes the Concurrent Atomistic-Continuum modeling framework to probe the evolution of misfit structures at semi-coherent Ni/Cu and Cu/Ag interfaces impinged by dislocation pileups generated via nanoindentation. A continuum microrotation metric is computed at various stages of the indentation process and used to visualize the evolution of the interface misfit dislocation pattern. The stress state from approaching dislocations induces mixed contraction and expansion of misfit dislocation structures at the interface. A lower number of misfit nodes per unit interface area coincides with greater localized deformation with regard to atoms near misfit nodes for Ni/Cu. The decreased misfit node spacing for Cu/Ag alternatively distributes the restructuring associated with plastic deformation over a larger percentage of atoms at the interface. Interface sliding facilitated by misfit dislocation motion is found to facilitate deformation extending into the bulk lattices centered on misfit nodes. The depth of penetration of those fields is found to be greater for Ni/Cu than for Cu/Ag. The study of dislocation plasticity mediated by semi-coherent interfaces can aid in the design of certain heterostructured materials, such as nanolaminates. The evolution of interface misfit patterns under complex stress fields arising from dislocation pileups can influence local dislocation/interface interactions, including effects of multiple incoming dislocations. This work utilizes the Concurrent Atomistic-Continuum modeling framework to probe the evolution of misfit structures at semi-coherent Ni/Cu and Cu/Ag interfaces impinged by dislocation pileups generated via nanoindentation. A continuum microrotation metric is computed at various stages of the indentation process and used to visualize the evolution of the interface misfit dislocation pattern. The stress state from approaching dislocations induces mixed contraction and expansion of misfit dislocation structures at the interface. A lower number of misfit nodes per unit interface area coincides with greater localized deformation with regard to atoms near misfit nodes for Ni/Cu. The decreased misfit node spacing for Cu/Ag alternatively distributes the restructuring associated with plastic deformation over a larger percentage of atoms at the interface. Interface sliding facilitated by misfit dislocation motion is found to facilitate deformation extending into the bulk lattices centered on misfit nodes. The depth of penetration of those fields is found to be greater for Ni/Cu than for Cu/Ag.