cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A truth serum for cancer--microRNAs have major potential as cancer biomarkers.

Identification of biological markers of cancer is a major area of research. Biomarkers could identify the presence of a tumor before it could otherwise be easily detected, and the ability to detect cancers at early stages is a key factor in increasing survivability. For example, the American Cancer Society finds that a reason breast cancer survival rates are so high is that there are good methods for early detection of tumors. However, this is not the case for most cancers. For lung cancer, the five-year survival is 15%, but for the 16% of lung cancer cases diagnosed at early stages, the five-year survival rate is 49% 1. While this is just one example, the ability to identify a cancer while it is still localized is clearly beneficial. Currently, most methods for discovering and testing tumor biomarkers are difficult and labor-intensive procedures, and at most, only several markers can be tested for at one time. However, due to the simplicity of getting a blood sample, easily testable biomarkers found in blood serum would be especially useful.
Solving a class of semidefinite programs via nonlinear programming

In this paper, we introduce a transformation that converts a class of linear and nonlinear semidefinite programming (SDP) problems into nonlinear optimization problems. For those problems of interest, the transformation replaces matrix-valued constraints by vector-valued ones, hence reducing the number of constraints by an order of magnitude. The class of transformable problems includes instances of SDP relaxations of combinatorial optimization problems with binary variables as well as other important SDP problems. We also derive gradient formulas for the objective function of the resulting nonlinear optimization problem and show that both function and gradient evaluations have affordable complexities that effectively exploit the sparsity of the problem data. This transformation, together with the efficient gradient formulas, enables the solution of very large-scale SDP problems by gradient-based nonlinear optimization techniques. In particular, we propose a first-order log-barrier method designed for solving a class of large-scale linear SDP problems. This algorithm operates entirely within the space of the transformed problem while still maintaining close ties with both the primal and the dual of the original SDP problem. Global convergence of the algorithm is established under mild and reasonable assumptions.
The Prenatal Diagnosis of Chromosomal Disorders

Tijo and Puck (1958) and Hayflick and Moorhead (1961) demonstrated that cells could be grown with relative ease from human tissues and that the resulting cell cultures retained the diploid chromosomal phenotype of the tissue of origin. Skin fibroblasts were shown to remain diploid throughout their extended life in tissue culture. Similar characteristics were later found to apply equally well to cultured amniotic fluid cells (Conover and Hirschhorn, 1971). The ability to determine the fetal karyotype from cultured amniotic fluid cells was achieved independently by Klinger and by Steele and Breg (1966). Valenti et al. (1969) reported the first prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in 1968. Experience with the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal disorders has grown appreciably in recent years (Milunsky et al., 1970; Milunsky, 1973, 1975, 1976; Emery, 1973; Polani and Benson, 1973; Wahlstrom, 1973; Nadler, 1974; Burton et al., 1974; Niermeijer, 1975; Ferguson-Smith and Ferguson-Smith, 1976b; Golbus, 1976; Galjaard, 1976; Boue, 1976).
Design Flexibility of Ultrahigh Efficiency Four-Junction Inverted Metamorphic Solar Cells

The inverted metamorphic solar cell has highly tunable bandgaps, in part due to the metamorphic subcells. Using phosphide-based compositionally graded buffers, we show a wide variety of GaInAs solar cells, ranging in bandgap from 1.2 to 0.7 eV. These metamorphic subcells are all high quality and can be used for a wide variety of multijunction designs. GaInAs solar cells with 0.70 eV bandgaps are developed using an InAsP buffer that extends beyond the InP lattice constant, allowing access to an additional 2 mA/cm2 of photocurrent at AM1.5D and 25 °C. This subcell is implemented into a four-junction inverted metamorphic solar cell combined with an appropriate antireflective coating, which increases the series-connected multijunction current by 0.5 mA/cm2 with respect to designs using 0.74-eV GaInAs. However, the optimal design depends on the spectrum and operating temperature. We show how the device flexibility can be used to fine-tune the design for various spectra in order to maximize energy yield for a given operating condition. One-sun devices achieve 35.3 ± 1.2% efficiency under the AM0 spectra and 37.8 ± 1.2% efficiency under the global spectra at 25 °C. Concentrator devices designed for elevated operating temperature achieve 45.6 ± 2.3% peak efficiency under 690× the direct spectrum and 45.2 ± 2.3% efficiency at 1000× and 25 °C. Device optimization is performed for the direct spectrum on 1-sun devices with 2% shadowing, which achieve 39.8 ± 1.2% efficiency under the direct spectrum at 1 sun, highlighting the excellent performance and bandgap tunability of the four-junction inverted metamorphic solar cell.
The First Sentences of Child and Chimpanzee

In 1968–1969 several lines of thought about language development came together in an exciting way. Ursula Bellugi and I, in the 1964 paper called “Three Processes in the Acquisition of Syntax” (1964a), had described one sort of common adult response to the telegraphic sentences of very young children, the kind of response called an “expansion.” An expansion is essentially a reading of the child’s semantic intention. Thus, when Eve said, “Mommy lunch,” her mother said, “That’s right, Mommy is having her lunch.” Dr. Bellugi and I did not commit ourselves as to the accuracy or “veridicality” of these readings. We were not sure whether children really intended, by their telegraphic sentences, what adults thought they intended, and we could not really see how to find out. Our focus was on the expansion as a potential tutorial mechanism. Whether or not children started out intending what adults attributed to them, it seemed to us that expansions would cause them to do so in the end. In 1968, I. M. Schlesinger, working at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Lois Bloom, working at Columbia University, independently came to the conclusion that children really did intend certain aspects of the meanings attributed to them by adult expansions (see Bloom 1970; Schlesinger 1971). They did not intend the meanings expressed in the expansions by grammatical morphemes, by inflections, articles, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs. There was nothing in the child’s performance to suggest that they had these things in mind. What they did intend were certain fundamental semantic relations such as agent-action, agent-object, action-object, possessor-possessed, and so on. There was, in the child’s speech, something to suggest that they intended these relations. This same “something,” the aspect of child speech that justified the attribution to them of certain relational meanings, turns out to be missing from the linguistic performance of an important comparison case: the home-raised chimpanzee named Washoe.
Detection of Entebbe Bat Virus After 54 Years

Abstract. Entebbe bat virus (ENTV; Flaviviridae: Flavivirus), closely related to yellow fever virus, was first isolated from a little free-tailed bat (Chaerephon pumilus) in Uganda in 1957, but was not detected after that initial isolation. In 2011, we isolated ENTV from a little free-tailed bat captured from the attic of a house near where it had originally been found. Infectious virus was recovered from the spleen and lung, and the viral RNA was sequenced and compared with that of the original isolate. Across the polypeptide sequence, there were 76 amino acid substitutions, resulting in 97.8% identity at the amino acid level between the 1957 and 2011 isolates. Further study of this virus would provide valuable insights into the ecological and genetic factors governing the evolution and transmission of bat- and mosquito-borne flaviviruses.
Line functional theory for strings. I

Despite recent enormous developments in string field theory two of the important issues, namely those concerning field content and symmetry principles, do not seem to be satisfactorily settled. More precisely, one might ask (a) what fundamental mathematical entities we should take to represent string fields, and (b) what symmetry principles we should impose on the string field action. Of course, these two issues are not independent, but rather go hand in hand. In gauge theory and general relativity vector potentials (Aμ(x)) and the metric of spacetime (gμν (x)) are the fundamental entities, in terms of which the gauge invariance and the general coordinate invariance are most naturally and conveniently implemented. What we have to first know in string field theory is an analogue of Aμ(x) and gμν(x) and associated invariance principles.
Toward a molecular theory of homogeneous bubble nucleation: II. Calculation of the number density of critical nuclei and the rate of nucleation.

In the present paper, we develop a method to calculate the rate of homogeneous bubble nucleation within a superheated L-J liquid based on the (n,v) equilibrium embryo free energy surface introduced in the first paper (DOI: 10.1021/jp404149n). We express the nucleation rate as the product of the concentration of critical nuclei within the metastable liquid phase and the relevant forward rate coefficient. We calculate the forward rate coefficient of the critical nuclei from their average lifetime as determined from MD simulations of a large number of embryo trajectories initiated from the transitional region of the metastable liquid configuration space. Therefore, the proposed rate coefficient does not rely on any predefined reaction coordinate. In our model, the critical nuclei belong to the region of the configuration space where the committor probability is about one-half, guaranteeing the dynamical relevance of the proposed embryos. One novel characteristic of our approach is that we define a limit for ...
Cytopathology of Pulmonary Adenocarcinomas with a Single Histological Pattern

s S55 differentiated NSCLC (PDNSCLC) can be challenging. Our aim was to correlate the cytomorphology in PDNSCLCs with their immunohistochemical (IHC) and molecular features. Materials and Methods: FNA cases of PDNSCLC with mutation or FISH studies were identified over a 5 year period and evaluated for cytology and ancillary study results. Results: 26 (16%) FNA cases of PDNSCLC were identified (F:M Z 1:1.2; average age: 65 years) from a total of 160 cytology cases of NSCLC with molecular testing, including 13 (50%) primary lung tumors and 13 (50%) metastases. The cytological features included a predominance of clustering (65%) or discohesion (35%). Marked pleomorphism was seen in 74% cases and necrosis was present in 57% cases. Focal features of adenocarcinoma (ADC) were seen in 52%, squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) in 35%, and both squamous and glandular features in 13%. IHC results revealed that 35% of cases were focally positive for both TTF1 and p63/p40, 35% negative for both, 17% focally TTF1+ only, and 13% focally p63/p40+ only. A KRAS mutation was identified in 8 patients (8/ 21, 38%), while no EGFR mutation, ALK, FGF, or c-Met rearrangement was identified. Conclusions: PDNSCLC represented 16% of our cases with molecular testing, and tended to have marked nuclear pleomorphism, necrosis, focal glandular and/or squamous differentiation, and often inconclusive IHC findings. Several (38%) tumors were found to have a KRAS mutation. Although PDNSCLC can be difficult to subclassify, acquisition of material for molecular testing to detect mutations, particularly KRAS mutations, is important.
Application of Artificial Intelligence to Systematics: Systex—A Prototype Expert System for Species Identification

The applicability of expert systems (a branch of artificial intelligence) to identifi- cation and classification in systematics is examined. Existing devices used for taxonomic iden- tification (dichotomous, tabular, and computerized keys) are reviewed and compared to expert systems. Expert systems technology is briefly reviewed, and a prototype expert system (SYSTEX) for species identification in one species group of the genus Signiphora Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae) is presented. SYSTEX is a rule-based, backward chaining system with 114 rules. It was developed using a commercially available expert system shell. In building the identification system and in its use, we find the expert system approach to be in most ways superior to the dichotomous key and other identification devices in terms of efficiency and ease of use, tolerance of missing data, explanatory capability, and the ability to provide meaningful output when an unambiguous identification is not possible. The potential for incorporation of phylogenetic hypotheses into an identification device is discussed. (Diagnosis; identification; classification; expert systems; artificial intelligence; dichotomous key; tabular key; computer identification; Signiphora; Signiphoridae.) The primary tasks of the systematist are the delineation of natural taxa and the de-
UC spaces revisited

(1988). UC Spaces Revisited. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 95, No. 8, pp. 737-739.
Grating Development for High-Peak-Power CPA Laser Systems

Diffraction gratings have competing performance requirements when used in high-peak-power chirped-pulse–amplification laser systems. Diffraction efficiency, wavefront quality, and laser-damage threshold are interdependent criteria for multilayer diffraction gratings. Critical fabrication-related artifacts will be discussed.
The Current Situation of Public Physical Education in the Third-rate Colleges and Universities in Henan Province and its Improvement Strategies

At present,the enrollment of the third-rate colleges and universities increases year by year,while the physical resources increase speed is relative lag,which caused a lot of inconvenience for the public sports teaching.Therefore,it is necessary to establish the personnel system conducive to the development of the physical education teachers,set up the scientific and reasonable sports equipment system,and build the insurance system of university physical sports to develop sports teaching in the third-rate colleges and universities.
Analysis of severe adverse drug reactions caused by ceftriaxone sodium injection

【Objective】 To investigate the related factors of severe adverse drug reaction(ADR)cases caused by Ceftriaxone Sodium injection for reference of clinical practice.【Methods】The data of 134 cases of severe adverse drug reactions obtained from literature from January 2000 to December 2009 were statistical analyzed,10 cases fatal adverse drug reactions collected by Hunan Center for ADRs from January 2004 to December 2009,144 cases severe adverse drug reactions were statistical analyzed,binding Excel electron table and hand-made select,establishing ADR report forms data.The contents of statistics included general state of patients,medical establishment occurred severe adverse drug reactions,the damage of organ/system and cause of death.【Results】The occur rate of anaphylactic shock was tiptop among 144 cases severe adverse drug reactions.At the same time,allergic shock caused by Ceftriaxone Sodium injection is main causation of the death.【Conclusion】 Ceftriaxone Sodium should be rational used in clinical practice with strengthen monitoring to reduce severe adverse drug reactions.
Gender Differences in Reactions to Fact Checking of Negative Commercials

One of most negative campaigns in history may have taken place during the 2014 Senate election cycle. Nearly 75% of senate ads aired during a two-week period in early fall of 2014 showed a candidate in a negative light, according to the Wesleyan Media Project. A postelection analysis by the Center for Public Integrity showed that 46% of the more than one million ads aired during the 2014 senate campaigns were negative. And, in the most competitive states, the proportion of negative ads was even higher (e.g., 67% in North Carolina, 58% in Kansas). Negative advertisements sponsored by candidates, interest groups, and political parties are being launched on the airways, in newspapers, on radio, and via the Internet at an unprecedented pace. These advertisements, however, are now routinely subjected to fact checking. The Washington Post, along with many other fact-checking organizations, such as PolitiFact, The AP Factcheck, and Factcheck.org, examine thousands of statements and political advertisements during campaigns to determine the accuracy of the claims. For instance, during the 2012 election cycle, PolitiFact had 36 reporters and editors working in 11 states producing more than 800 fact checks on the presidential campaign and hundreds more for candidates running for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
An anaerobic-aerobic sequential batch system using simultaneous organic and nitrogen removal to treat intermittently discharged organic solid wastes

Abstract An anaerobic-aerobic sequential batch system using simultaneous organic and nitrogen removal was investigated to treat intermittently discharged organic solid wastes. Two different recirculation ratios of 10% and 20% day−1 of liquid volume of the anaerobic reactor were examined. In both conditions, methanogenesis occurred during the first 5 days of the process, whereas only denitrification occurred during the subsequent 10 days. At the end of the experiment, high COD removal efficiencies of 97.7% and 96.4% were achieved for the 10% and 20% day−1 recirculation ratios, respectively. A relatively large amount of COD consumed by denitrification was achieved for the 20% day−1 condition, indicating that an increase in the recirculation ratio enhances denitrification. Consequently, the final nitrogen removal efficiencies were 69.0% and 81.9% for the 10% and 20% day−1 recirculation ratios, respectively. To optimize the recirculation ratio, model equations were developed for the scale of this study. The modelling results demonstrated that high recirculation during the active solubilization period enhances the nitrogen removal efficiency. Recirculating 35% day−1 during the first 5 days and 10% day−1 during the subsequent 10 days is recommended as optimal for achieving high organic and nitrogen removal efficiencies.
Die serologische Spezifizität der Proteine

Obgleich die Artspezifizitat ebenso an Eiweiskorpern hoherer Pflanzen und Bakterien, wie an denen der Tiere nachweisbar ist, beruht die Kenntnis der serologischen Artverschiedenheit der Proteine der Hauptsache nach auf Versuchen mit pracipitierenden Immunseren, die erhalten werden, wenn man Tieren, gewohnlich Kaninchen, das Blutserum anderer Tierarten einspritzt (Bordet, Tschistowitch). Die Eiweiskorper der Gewebe wurden wegen der groseren Schwierigkeit der Materialbeschaffung nicht ausfuhrlich untersucht, und auch gewohnlich nicht isolierte Serumeiweiskorper, sondern das im unveranderten Blutserum vorliegende Proteingemisch. Trotz dieser Beschrankungen wurde ein wichtiges allgemeines Resultat erzielt, das sich aus einer Anzahl von Arbeiten1, besonders aus den Versuchen von Nuttall (1) ergab, der in der Lage war, Blutproben von mehr als 500 Tierarten zu sammeln, die er mit ungefahr 30 Immunseren prufte. Das Nuttall zur Verfugung stehende Material war oft sparlich und nicht immer gut konserviert, und die Proben konnten nicht alle zu gleicher Zeit angestellt werden, aber die sehr sorgfaltigen Untersuchungen sind vollkommen ausreichend, um zu zeigen, das die Immunseren am starksten auf die zum Immunisieren benutzte Serumart einwirken und daneben auf die Seren verwandter Tierarten, und zwar im allgemeinen mit einer Intensitat, die der zoologischen Verwandtschaft entspricht. Demnach ware es, wie an anderer Stelle bemerkt wurde, moglich, den Stammbaum der Saugetiere, an denen die Untersuchungen hauptsachlich vorgenommen wurden, annahernd auf Grund der Serumreaktionen allein aufzustellen2.
Activation clustering in neural and social networks: Research Articles

Questions related to the evolution of the structure of networks have received recently a lot of attention in the literature. But what is the state of the network given its structure? For example, there is the question of how the structures of neural networks make them behave? Or, in the case of a network of humans, the question could be related to the states of humans in general, given the structure of the social network. The models based on stochastic processes developed in this article, do not attempt to capture the fine details of social or neural dynamics. Rather they aim to describe the general relationship between the variables describing the network and the aggregate behavior of the network. A number of nontrivial results are obtained using computer simulations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 10: 42–50, 2005
Testing the Reliability of a Measure of Motivation to Engage With Telehealth Technology

Telehealth systems and devices allow for the exchange of important healthcare data between users and practitioners (Malvey & Slovensky, 2014). To date, there has been little research on the motivat...
Notes on unusual clay tobacco pipes found in Seattle

Many institutions and research facilities contain donated collections of unusual artifacts which have not been described or researched. Analysis of these materials, along with the scanty knowledge of their provenience, can provide the archaeologist with a large body of comparative material culture. The collection of terra cotta tobacco pipes discussed herein provides information on such an assemblage.
Improving Nonmetric Sex Classification for Hispanic Individuals.

Current techniques used by forensic anthropologists for the identification of unknown human skeletal remains have largely been created using U.S. Black and White samples. When applied to Hispanics, these techniques perform poorly and can lead to misclassifications; consequently, there is an imperative need for population-specific standards for Hispanics. This research examines the classification accuracies obtained by the original Walker (Am J Phys Anthropol, 136, 2008) and Klales et al. (Am J Phys Anthropol, 149, 2012) methods for nonmetric sex estimation and provides recalibrated regression equations specifically for Hispanics. Ordinal data were collected for five skull and three pelvic traits from a sample of 54 modern Hispanic individuals. Recalibration of the Klales et al. equation improved accuracy (90.3% vs. 94.1%), while recalibration of the Walker method equation decreased accuracy (81.5% vs. 74.1%), but greatly improved sex bias (22.2% vs. −7.4%), thereby making the recalibrated equations more appropriate for use with Hispanics.
Use at Common Law and Under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act

This Essay was prepared for a symposium on the Uniform Trade Secrets Act hosted at Hamline University School of Law. At common law, a party may not claim that an intellectual work is a trade secret without proving that the secret is continuously used to augment the competitive advantage of his business products. The Act dispenses with this requirement: An intellectual work counts as a trade secret whether or not it is actually used in competition as long as it has “potential” economic value.Common law made more sense than the Act’s drafters appreciated. Trade secrecy makes considerable sense as an application of usufructuary property principles to the realms of innovation and information-gathering. If a party wants the benefit of an intellectual property usufruct, it must deploy its intellectual work actively and productively. This Essay illustrates with three doctrines: the treatment of precommercial use, negative know-how, and situations in which a claimant arguably abandons a secret by discontinuing its use.
Bulk versus Spectral Wave Parameters: Implications on Stokes Drift Estimates, Regional Wave Modeling, and HF Radars Applications

AbstractAccurate estimates of Stokes drift are necessary to quantify Lagrangian transport and upper-ocean mixing. These can be estimated from directional wave spectra. Here, a methodology for the reconstruction of such spectra is developed using partitioned bulk wave parameters provided by global wave models. These reconstructed spectra agree well with global wave model–simulated full spectra. Regional wave model simulations with reconstructed spectra as open boundary conditions lead to more accurate estimates of bulk wave parameters in the coastal ocean. Furthermore, the reconstructed directional spectra can be used to improve high-frequency (HF) radar–derived surface Lagrangian current estimates. Stokes drift vertical profiles from complete directional spectra are more accurate, and therefore coupled ocean circulation and wave models should incorporate spectral estimates for wave–current interaction studies. Based on model simulations conducted here, it is recommended that regional wave modeling studies...
Off-line application of the fixed frequency clamped mode series-resonant converter

The performance of the clamped-mode series-resonant converter is studied for various applications. Prototypes designed for operation below and above resonant frequency and zero-current turn-off or zero-voltage turn-on switching conditions are described. Theoretical characteristics were used for the circuit's design in each operating mode; the corresponding region of operation is defined and verified experimentally. Main sources of loss are identified. >
The Cost-Effectiveness of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients 80 Years of Age and Older.

Abstract Background This study investigates the cost-effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients 80 years old. Methods A Markov, state-transition model projecting lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) was constructed to determine cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective. Costs (in 2016 US dollars), health state utilities, and state transition probabilities were obtained from published literature. Primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate parameter assumptions. Results At our base-case values, THA was cost-effective compared to non-operative treatment with a total lifetime accrued cost of $186,444 vs $182,732, and a higher lifetime accrued utility (5.60 vs 5.09). Cost per QALY for THA was $33,318 vs $35,914 for non-operative management, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $7307 per QALY. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated THA to be cost-effective with a utility of successful primary THA above 0.67, a peri-operative mortality risk below 0.14, and a risk of primary THA failure below 0.14. Analysis further demonstrated that THA is a cost-effective option below a base-rate mortality threshold of 0.19, corresponding to the average base-rate mortality of a 93-year-old individual. Markov cohort analysis indicated that for patients undergoing THA at age 80 there was an approximate 28% reduction in total lifetime long-term assisted living expenditure compared to non-operatively managed patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis. Conclusion The results of our model demonstrate that THA is a cost-effective option compared to non-operative management in patients ≥80 years old. This analysis may inform policy regarding THA in elderly patients.
Atrial fibrillation 50 years after acute rheumatic fever as the first manifestation of rheumatic mitral stenosis.

(2017). Atrial Fibrillation 50 Years After Acute Rheumatic Fever as the First Manifestation of Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings: Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 232-233.
Quality of life improvement after chest wall masculinization in female-to-male transgender patients: A prospective study using the BREAST-Q and Body Uneasiness Test

Summary Background Chest reconstruction in many female-to-male (FTM) transgender individuals is an essential element of treatment for their gender dysphoria. In existing literature, there are very few longitudinal studies utilizing validated survey tools to evaluate patient reported outcomes surrounding this surgery. The purpose of our study is to prospectively evaluate patient reported satisfaction, improvement in body image, and quality of life following FTM chest wall reconstruction. Methods Our study was a prospective analysis of FTM patients who underwent chest reconstruction by a single surgeon (C.A.) between April 2015 and June 2016. The patients were surveyed preoperatively and 6 months after surgery utilizing the BREAST-Q breast reduction/mastectomy questionnaire and the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT-A). Analysis was performed on their self-reported demographic information, survey results, and chart review data. Results Of 87 eligible patients, 42 completed all surveys and could be linked to their chart data. From the BREAST-Q surveys, significant improvements were observed in the domains of breast satisfaction, psychosocial well-being, sexual satisfaction, and physical well-being. From the BUT-A surveys, we observed significant improvement in body image, avoidance, compulsive self-monitoring, and depersonalization. Groups with mental health conditions had poorer initial BUT-A scores and greater degree of improvement after surgery. Conclusions As the prevalence of gender affirming surgery increases and as health policies are being developed in this area, the need for evidence-based studies surrounding specific interventions is essential. This study demonstrates significant improvement in a number of quality of life measurements in FTM patients after undergoing chest masculinization surgery.
How Perceptions About Naturalness Affect Science in Yellowstone National Park

Abstract This paper describes a history of science and management on the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). In 1983 YNP began to shape public perceptions about management issues. In this case study, YNP shaped public perceptions to cause an unnatural condition (the appearance of the Northern Range was due to the extermination of wolves) to be portrayed as a natural condition (the appearance was due to climate change). Perception shaping can adversely affect the quality of science and influence the role of science in resource management. Perception shaping can have devastating ecologic consequences.
The Open Office: Google and the Modern Penitentiary

Firms, such as Google and IDEO, have turned to multipurpose, open office plans to encourage spontaneous employee interactions and creativity. At the outset, these environments seem like play spaces rife with distraction. How does anyone do work here? How do these environments foster discipline and productivity? This chapter challenges the idea that open offices are communal, Zen-like spaces. Rather, the chapter proposes that the reason why open offices work is because they resemble one of the most effective instruments of discipline—the modern-day penitentiary. A prison.
Development from 1800 to the Present

Chapter three, covering a very long span of time, mirrors, we believe, the slow growth of western civilization, population, and technology during that period. Toward the end of the period, populations had begun to show marked rates of growth; the nation-State system as we know it had come into being; and weapons of war had reached a plateau in their development. War itself had become more and more an activity that had to be regulated so as not to encroach upon non-participating States. Moreover, as war and the preparation therefor became more expensive, it became less and less the whimsical sport of monarchs.1 The decision to go to war had to be rationalized to those who were expected to fight or to pay. It is no wonder then that some serious thought and effort were being devoted to the formulation of international rules of conduct. As industrialization, technology, and populations grew, the problems of government and society became more complex and there seem to have arisen increasing tensions between nation-States. There was a need for rules. The purpose of this chapter is to review the patterns of growth in three general areas during the last century and a half in order to show how this growth influenced the development of international rules for bays.
Chemical characteristics of a desert stream in flash flood

Changes in selected chemical parameters during a single flash flooding event on Sycamore Creek, Arizona, are described. Particulate materials increase markedly during flash flooding to exceedingly high levels (to 55 g l−1). Peak concentrations occur at the leading edge of the initial flood wave. Total dissolved substances decline regularly during flooding by dilution and fail to respond to minor pulses in discharge. Selected dissolved constituents such as nitrate and phosphate generally increase during flash flooding, the pattern being similar to that of suspended materials, suggesting leaching of particulates in stream water as the major source of these nutrients. Clearly those interested in estimating outputs from watersheds or inputs to reservoirs in the southwest must monitor peak flow events and need pay little attention to flows less than perhaps 10 times the median discharge. Such flows account for only 7 per cent of the total runoff from the Sycamore Creek watershed.
Algorithmic Graph Embeddings (Extended Abstract)

The complexity of embedding a graph into a variety of topological surfaces is investigated. A new data structure for graph embeddings is introduced and shown to be superior to the previously known data structures. In particular, the new data structure efficiently supports all on-line operations for general graph embeddings. Based on this new data structure, very efficient algorithms are developed to solve the problem “given a graph G and an integer k, construct a genus k embedding for the graph G” for a large range of the integers k and for a large class of graphs.
Gain of Additional BIRC3 Protein Functions through 3ʹ-UTR-Mediated Protein Complex Formation

Summary Alternative 3ʹ untranslated regions (3ʹ UTRs) are widespread, but their functional roles are largely unknown. We investigated the function of the long BIRC3 3ʹ UTR, which is upregulated in leukemia. The 3ʹ UTR does not regulate BIRC3 protein localization or abundance but is required for CXCR4-mediated B cell migration. We established an experimental pipeline to study the mechanism of regulation and used mass spectrometry to identify BIRC3 protein interactors. In addition to 3ʹ-UTR-independent interactors involved in known BIRC3 functions, we detected interactors that bind only to BIRC3 protein encoded from the mRNA with the long 3ʹ UTR. They regulate several functions, including CXCR4 trafficking. We further identified RNA-binding proteins differentially bound to the alternative 3ʹ UTRs and found that cooperative binding of Staufen and HuR mediates 3ʹ-UTR-dependent complex formation. We show that the long 3ʹ UTR is required for the formation of specific protein complexes that enable additional functions of BIRC3 protein beyond its 3ʹ-UTR-independent functions.
Tissue Engineering an Ear

Surgical correction of ear anomalies continues to be a challenge for plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Tissue engineering is an option in the future for producing a natural-appearing ear, with the flexibility and durability of elastic cartilage. In order to engineer an ear, auricular tissue has been regenerated by isolating and seeding cells (chondrocytes) onto polymeric scaffolds and implanted in the patient. Despite initial success in animal models, advancement has been slow because of scaffold design flaws including poor retention of shape of the construct. The success of tissue engineering depends upon an equilibrium of the biocompatible scaffold, quality and quantity of chondrocytes, growth factors, vascularization, and mechanical forces. The elastic property of auricular cartilage is unique because of the large elastin extracellular matrix component. Expansion of auricular chondrocytes in tissue culture can assure the number of cells necessary to adequately seed a construct. By stimulating cell expansion in vitro and enhancing matrix production in vivo, reliable neocartilage production and shape retention can be expected. Three-dimensional (3D) printing and computer-aided design (CAD) can assist in creating precise copies of the unaffected ear. Scaffold nanotopography is crucial in the support of the phenotypic maintenance of the seeded chondrocytes. Future clinical applicability will emphasize 3D printing of CAD-generated ear-shaped constructs. Following proper expansion of homologous chondrocytes in an FDA-approved, in-house tissue processing center, the cell-construct hybrid would be delivered to the surgery suite.
Hepatitis C Virus and Hispanic Criminal Justice Clients: A Missed Opportunity.

To compare the willingness for HCV testing, HCV-knowledge, socio economic status, and HCV related risky behavior among male and female Latino offenders. Participants (n = 201) were recruited from the corrections system in Miami and interviewed. Backward stepwise logistic regression was conducted to compare gender-associated risk. Females (n = 81) were more likely to be engaged in risky sexual and drug behavior compared to males (n = 120). Overall, around 70% of the study population were interested to be tested for HCV if offered with no gender difference (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.4–4.9). However, females were more likely to have lower income (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5–0.9) and engage in more HCV related risky sexual behaviors (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3–6.2), despite having better HCV related knowledge in five out of six items (OR 1.5–3.2), but had less crime activity (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5–0.8). HCV screening among Latino offenders would offer an efficient opportunity to reduce its burden as well as increase knowledge among vulnerable and high-risk population.
Digestibility of diets containing calcium salts of fatty acids or soybean oil in horses.

Calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFAs) frequently are fed to ruminants, but their fate in the equine digestive system is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare Enertia s/f, a proprietary CSFAs, and soybean (SB) oil with respect to impact on apparent total tract nutrient digestion and cecal fermentation parameters in horses. Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were used in a crossover design in which horses consumed a diet for 32 d consisting of 1.5% body weight (BW) (as-fed) smooth bromegrass hay and 0.5% BW (as-fed) pelleted concentrate containing 4.9% CSFAs or 4.1% SB oil. Fecal samples were collected every 4 h from day 30 to 32 of each period and analyzed for apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), and gross energy (GE) using acid detergent insoluble ash as an internal marker. Cecal digesta was obtained at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h following the morning meal on day 29 of each period and analyzed for pH and concentrations of volatile fatty acid (VFA) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Serum was collected on day 33 of each period following a 16-h fast and analyzed for triglycerides and cholesterol. Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, NDF, ADF, CP, CF, and GE were unaffected by lipid source (P > 0.10). Serum triglycerides tended to be greater in horses consuming CSFAs compared to SB (P = 0.10); however, serum cholesterol was not different (P = 0.45). In horses consuming SB, cecal pH decreased below baseline (hour 0) at hours 2, 4, and 6 (P 0.10). Cecal concentrations of total VFAs were greater in horses consuming SB compared to CSFAs at hour 2 (P = 0.01). Cecal concentrations of acetate, propionate, acetate:propionate (A:P), and butyrate were affected by time (P < 0.01). Propionate was less at hour 2 in horses fed CSFAs compared to horses fed SB (P = 0.04). A treatment × time interaction was detected for total cecal LCFAs concentration (P < 0.01); LCFAs concentration was greater at hour 2 for horses consuming CSFAs compared to horses fed SB (P = 0.02). SB oil and CSFAs have similar effects on the digestion of DM, NDF, ADF, GE, CF, and CP.
Comments on Control of Wave Energy Converters

The main objective of this letter is to consolidate the knowledge about the dynamics and control of oscillating-body wave energy converters (WECs). A number of studies have shown that control systems strongly affect power absorption; however, there remains a need for a concise and integrated explanation of the theoretical and practical implications that control can have on both performance and the broader WEC design process. This short letter attempts to fill this gap by presenting a discussion on the key practical aspects concerning the dynamics and control of oscillating-body WEC. In particular, the focus is on the choice of control models and a simple causal control scheme suitable for real-time implementation. Finally, consideration is given to the effect of the power takeoff (PTO) on the maximization of electrical power, thus leading to the derivation of useful conditions for the control co-design of the PTO system.
Is incident stroke associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events

In this issue of Neurology ®, Sposato et al.1 perform a population-based retrospective cohort study of older adults with cardiovascular disease to determine whether initial ischemic stroke is associated with incident heart disease within the first year after stroke. The study defined major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as a composite outcome, specifically including myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, incident coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, or cardiovascular death. The primary finding from the study is that first-ever ischemic stroke is associated with incident unadjusted MACE risk (hazard ratio [HR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3–4.8), with the adjusted risk highest in the first 30 days (HR 25.0, 95% CI 4.3–4.8); this is still significant but with lower risk in the next 60 days (HR 4.8, 95% CI 4.1–5.7), with lowest risk past 90 days (HR 2.2, 95% CI 2.0–2.4). These effect estimates are quite robust, and the authors are to be commended for their careful attention to detail when handling these data.
Similar Seed Composition Phenotypes Are Observed From CRISPR-Generated In-Frame and Knockout Alleles of a Soybean KASI Ortholog

The β-ketoacyl-[acyl carrier protein] synthase 1 (KASI) gene has been shown in model plant systems to be critical for the conversion of sucrose to oil. A previous study characterized the morphological and seed composition phenotypes associated with a reciprocal chromosomal translocation that disrupted one of the KASI genes in soybean. The principle findings of this work included a wrinkled seed phenotype, an increase in seed sucrose, a decrease in seed oil, and a low frequency of transmission of the translocation. However, it remained unclear which, if any, of these phenotypes were directly caused by the loss of KASI gene function, as opposed to the chromosomal translocation or other associated factors. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis was used to generate multiple knockout alleles for this gene, and also one in-frame allele. These soybean plants were evaluated for morphology, seed composition traits, and genetic transmission. Our results indicate that the CRISPR/Cas9 mutants exhibited the same phenotypes as the chromosomal translocation mutant, validating that the observed phenotypes are caused by the loss of gene function. Furthermore, the plants harboring homozygous in-frame mutations exhibited similar phenotypes compared to the plants harboring homozygous knockout mutations. This result indicates that the amino acids lost in the in-frame mutant are essential for proper gene function. In-frame edits for this gene may need to target less essential and/or evolutionarily conserved domains in order to generate novel seed composition phenotypes.
Three-dimensional polarization imaging of (Ba,Sr)TiO3:MgO composites

The dielectric tuning and loss of (Ba,Sr)TiO3:MgO bulk composites depend strongly on the connectivity and interaction among the two phases. To investigate this relationship, the polar structure and dynamics of these composites is mapped as a function of space and time using a pair of three-dimensional probes: second-harmonic confocal scanning optical microscopy (SH-CSOM), which maps ferroelectric polarization in three dimensions, and time-resolved scanning optical microscopy (TR-CSOM), which maps polarization dynamics along two spatial dimensions and one time dimension. SH-CSOM measurements reveal a high degree of homogeneity within the (Ba,Sr)TiO3 regions, while TR-CSOM measurements indicate that topologically connected regions respond with a spatially uniform phase.
Implementing automated prognostic models to inform palliative care: more than just the algorithm.

Palliative care is associated with improved patient-centred and caregiver-centred outcomes, higher-quality end-of-life care, and decreased healthcare use among patients with serious illness.1–3 The Centre to Advance Palliative Care has established a set of recommended clinical criteria (or ‘triggers’), including a projected survival of less than 1 year,4 to help clinicians identify patients likely to benefit from palliative care. Nevertheless, referrals often occur within the last 3 months of life5 due in part to clinician overestimation of prognosis.6 A growing number of automated predictive models leverage vast data in the electronic medical record (EMR) to accurately predict short-term mortality risk in real time and can be paired with systems to prompt clinicians to refer to palliative care.7–12 These models hold great promise to overcome the many clinician-level and system-level barriers to improving access to timely palliative care. First, mortality risk prediction algorithms have been shown to outperform clinician prognostic assessment, and clinician–machine collaboration may even outperform both.13 Second, algorithm-based ‘nudges’ that systematically provide prognostic information could address many cognitive biases, including status quo bias and optimism bias,14 15 that make clinicians less apt to identify patients who may benefit from palliative care. Indeed, such models have been shown to improve the frequency of palliative care delivery and patient outcomes in the hospital and clinic settings.9 16 17 With that said, successful implementation of automated prognostic models into routine clinical care at scale requires clinician and patient engagement and support. In this issue of BMJ Quality & Safety , Saunders and colleagues report on the acceptability of using the EMR-based Modified Hospitalised-Patient One-Year Mortality Risk (mHOMR) score to alert clinicians to individual patients with a >21% risk of dying within 12 months. The goal of the clinician notification of an elevated risk score was to prompt …
Spiral instabilities: little interaction with a live halo

In order to address the question of whether spiral disturbances in galaxy discs are gravitationally coupled to the halo, we conduct simulations of idealized models of disc galaxies. We compare growth rates of spiral instabilities in identical mass models in which the halo is held rigid or is represented by particles drawn from an equilibrium distribution function. We examine cases of radial and azimuthal bias in the halo velocity ellipsoid in one of our models, and an isotropic velocity distribution in both. We find at most marginal evidence for an enhanced growth rate of spiral modes caused by a halo supporting response. We also find evidence for very mild dynamical friction between the spiral disturbance and the halo. We offer an explanation to account for the different behaviour between spiral modes and bar modes, since earlier work had found that bar instabilities became significantly more vigorous when a responsive halo was substituted for an equivalent rigid mass distribution. The barely significant differences found here justify the usual simplifying approximation of a rigid halo made in studies of spiral instabilities in galaxies.