cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Closed-form expressions for the line parameters of co-planar on-chip interconnects on lossy silicon substrates

This paper describes a complete modeling methodology for obtaining closed-form expressions for the frequency-dependent R, L, G, C line parameters of coplanar-type on-chip interconnects on lossy silicon substrates. The frequency-dependent series impedance parameters are obtained using a complex image method to take into account the effects of eddy-currents in the substrate. The frequency-dependent shunt admittance parameters are derived in terms of low- and high-frequency asymptotic static solutions of the equivalent circuit model combined with the complex image method. The proposed closed-from expressions are shown to be in good agreement with full-wave electromagnetic solutions and measurement data.
Exosome-delivered microRNAs modulate the inflammatory response to endotoxin

MicroRNAs regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally and function within the cells in which they are transcribed. However, recent evidence suggests that microRNAs can be transferred between cells and mediate target gene repression. We find that endogenous miR-155 and miR-146a, two critical microRNAs that regulate inflammation, are released from dendritic cells within exosomes and are subsequently taken up by recipient dendritic cells. Following uptake, exogenous microRNAs mediate target gene repression and can reprogramme the cellular response to endotoxin, where exosome-delivered miR-155 enhances while miR-146a reduces inflammatory gene expression. We also find that miR-155 and miR-146a are present in exosomes and pass between immune cells in vivo, as well as demonstrate that exosomal miR-146a inhibits while miR-155 promotes endotoxin-induced inflammation in mice. Together, our findings provide strong evidence that endogenous microRNAs undergo a functional transfer between immune cells and constitute a mechanism of regulating the inflammatory response.
Recent trends in participation in physical education among US high school students.

ABSTRACT: To examine recent trends in physical education (PE) enrollment, daily attendance in PE, and being physically active in PE among high school students in the United States, this study analyzed data from the 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1997 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (n=55,734). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test for significant linear time trends among the total student population and demographic subgroups (gender, race/ethnicity, and grade). Although PE enrollment in the total student population did not change from 1991 (48.9%) to 1997 (48.8%), the prevalence of students who attended PE daily, and the prevalence of students who were physically active >20 minutes in an average PE class both decreased significantly among nearly all demographic subgroups. The prevalence of students who were physically active >20 minutes in daily PE classes decreased from 34.2% in 1991 to 21.7% in 1997 (p<0.001). To reverse current trends, high schools should implement daily PE classes that emphasize participation in lifelong health-related physical activity for all students.
Regioselective arylation of 3‐bromopyridine

The addition of aryl Grignard reagents to the 1-phenoxycarbonyl salt of 3-bromopyridine affords 2-aryl-5-bromo-1-phenoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydropyridines and 4-aryl-3-bromo-1-phenoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydropyridines. The crude dihydropyridines were aromatized with o-chloranil in refluxing toluene to give 4- and 6-aryl-3-bromopyridines. The regioselectivity of this two-step process, 6- vs. 4-substitution, was examined and found to be dependent upon the structure of the Grignard reagent. Unhindered aryl Grignard reagents, e.g., phenyl and 2-naphthyl, gave mainly 6-aryl-3-bromopyridines (49-52%) along with 9% of the 4-substituted isomer and less than 4% of the 2-aryl-3-bromopyridine. Hindered aryl Grignard reagents, e.g., o-tolyl and 1-naphthyl, are less regioselective. When a catalytic amount of cuprous iodide is present during the Grignard reaction, nearly exclusive 1,4-addition results. The crude 4-aryl-3-bromo-1,4-dihydropyridines were aromatized with p-chloranil to provide 4-aryl-3-bromopyridines in good yield and high isomeric purity. The sequential use of the cuprous iodide-catalyzed Grignard reaction and the “normal” Grignard reaction provided a regiospeci-fic synthesis of 3-bromo-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenylpyridine from 3-bromopyridine.
Evaluation of reproducibility for perfusion assessment of tumors in MRI

A method is presented for the calculation of perfusion parameters in dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. This method requires identification of uptake curves for both tumor tissue and plasma. Inter-operator variability in the derived rate constant between plasma and extra-cellular extra-vascular space is assessed using semi-automated tumor margin identification with both manual and automated plasma identification. In addition, an assessment is made of the contribution to total variability made by differences in tumor margin identification and differences in plasma identification. Experimental results show a mean coefficient of variability (CV) for parameter measurement with manual plasma identification of 20.1%, with a mean CV for parameter measurement with automated plasma identification of 6.7%. Analysis shows that 67% of the variability in parameter measurement with manual plasma identification is attributable to differences in identified plasma signal, with the remainder attributable to differences in identified tumor margins.
Hughlings Jackson on joking

The Anglo-Irish writer Spike Milligan is said to have written the world’s funniest joke. With apologies to Monty Python’s Joke Brigade, it goes as follows: ‘Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other hunter whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator says “Calm down. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a gun shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says “OK, now what?”’ Humour is ubiquitous. It serves the goals of amusement, entertainment, release and escape. Its cognitive and therapeutic uses are well-known; for instance, children who listen to a humourous recording do better on tests of creativity. It encourages the neurological pastime of subdivision and classification so that we distinguish such categories as punning, semantic jokes, irony, wit, sarcasm, cartoons and slapstick. Humourous tasks lend themselves to physiological study, which show that it takes ∼250 ms to ‘get’ a joke. Insightful diagnosticians realize that brain disease affects the ability to get a joke so that some patients don’t understand our witticisms. Of course, neurologists examine the workings of the nervous system in everyday life, especially life away from the hospital. In a world of near-continuous incongruity we hear and see comedians, journalists and political figures making all manner of jokes, some of which are deliberate. When we hear these pronouncements we ask ourselves the usual neurological questions: where in the brain does joking happen? How, exactly, does joking work? Why do we smile or laugh at all? John Hughlings Jackson (1835–1911) articulated a number of neurological ideas that neurologists now use regularly (Hughlings Jackson, 1884; Temkin, 1971 …
The Marriage Trap in the Free-Love Novel and Queer Critique

This essay aims to restore the vital intellectual and political movement of free love to the study of American literature and culture, offering a brief overview of its major currents and analyzing three examples from a neglected archive of free-love novels, Mary Gove Nichols's Mary Lyndon (1855), Marie Howland's Papa's Own Girl (1874), and Lizzie Holmes's Hagar Lyndon (1893; published under the pen name May Huntley). In their denunciation of marriage and their investment in alternative forms of kinship, intimacy, and sociality, these novels suggest an important and overlooked historical connection between nineteenth-century reform culture and the contemporary queer critique of the progressive “marriage equality” movement. But in their ultimate turn back to marriage, they shed new light on the puzzling persistence of this institution, even for those who see its faults most clearly.
The changing public views of alcoholism.

In a representative sample of the adult population in Vancouver, Wash., the younger, the better educated and those with more exposure to mass media showed greater acceptance of social drinking, of ...
A repeat motif on a Coxiella effector protein facilitates apoptosis inhibition.

Intracellular pathogens manipulate host cells in myriad ways. Coxiella burnetii, a slow-growing (generation time ˜11 h), obligately intracellular bacterial pathogen inhibits host cell apoptosis in ...
Insights on surface spalling of rock

Surface spalling is a complex failure phenomenon that features crack propagation and detachment of thin pieces of rock near free surfaces, particularly in brittle rock around underground excavations when large in situ stresses are involved. A surface instability apparatus was used to study failure of rock close to a free surface, and damage evolution was monitored by digital image correlation (DIC). Lateral displacement at the free face was used as the feedback signal to control the post-peak response of the specimen. DIC was implemented in order to obtain the incremental displacement fields during the spalling process. Displacement fields were computed in the early stage of loading as well as close to the peak stress. Fracture from the spalling phenomenon was revealed by incremental lateral displacement contours. The axial and lateral displacements suggested that the displacement gradient was uniform in both directions at early loading stages and as the load increased, the free-face effect started to influence the displacements, especially the lateral displacement field. A numerical approach, based on the discrete element method, was developed and validated from element testing. Damage evolution and localization observed in numerical simulations were similar to those observed in experiments. By performing simulations in two- and three-dimensions, it was revealed that the intermediate principal stress and platen–rock interfaces have important effects on simulation of surface spalling.
Comparison of Nonlinear Analytical Solutions for Relative Orbital Motion

Comparison of several nonlinear analytical solutions available in the technical literature, and other solutions newly presented here, for relative orbital motion is the subject of this paper. Five core solutions are emphasized: the Quadratic Volterra solution using rectangular coordinates, the Multiple Scales solution using spherical coordinates, the Absolute Difference solution using orbital element difference coordinates, the Double Transformation solution using cylindrical coordinates, and the Double Transformation solution using spherical coordinates. Two additional solutions denoted the Approximated Double Transformation solutions using either cylindrical or spherical coordinates are also considered. Each solution is unique in its assumptions, formulation, and derivation, but all are approximate analytical based solutions with the objective of providing applicational utility with increased fidelity. Analysis is restricted to Keplerian motion with a circular reference orbit. Five of the solutions utilize series expansion concepts to second order accuracy, while the remaining two solutions utilize first order core accuracy coupled with nonlinear transformations. All results are transformed to relative rectangular coordinates so that various solutions are directly comparable. The intent of the study is to expose and discuss any significant similarities and/or differences in the various model solutions.
Anomalous refraction in silicon-based 2-dimensional photonic crystal structures

Silicon-based 2-dimensional slab photonic crystal structures were designed to exhibit anomalous refraction in the near-infrared region. Negative refraction and self-collimation were experimentally observed in the integrated device structures.
Why TV Cume Matters: An Exploratory Case Study of Four Local TV News Brands

AbstractThis article demonstrates the value of analyzing non-duplicated audience data that often are overlooked by television professionals. To that end, this exploratory single-market case study focused on the ratings performance of four competing daily television newscasts. Findings suggest that, despite appearances of audience stability using conventional average-quarter-hour data, substantial audience volatility was found when calculating audience turnover using cume data. In addition, the findings provided circumstantial evidence of the impact of occasional viewers on building and maintaining brand equity. The study concludes with practical implications for media brand managers and recommendations for future research using some custom ratings analysis tools available from Nielsen Media Research.
Turbine blade structural dynamic analysis

The paper presents structural dynamic analysis and test results for the Space Shuttle Main Engine turbine blades. Athough these blades are designed to avoid coincidence of natural frequencies with harmonic excitation forces, the complexity of the turbine hardware, its nonlinearities and lack of information regarding the forcing function have led to fatigue failures. A comparison of single-blade analysis and test modal frequencies, shapes, and stresses is given; analysis techniques to describe the forcing function, compute dynamic responses, and incorporate the nonlinearities of Coulomb-friction dampers are presented. Recommendations are made for new research to improve forcing function computations and structural damping estimates used in the analysis.
INSTRUMENTAL VARIABLES METHODS WITH HETEROGENEITY AND MISMEASURED INSTRUMENTS

We study the consequences of substituting an error-laden proxy W for an instrument Z on the interpretation of Wald, local instrumental variable (LIV), and instrumental variable (IV) estimands in an ordered discrete choice structural system with heterogeneity. A proxy W need only satisfy an exclusion restriction and that the treatment and outcome are mean independent from W given Z. Unlike Z, W need not satisfy monotonicity and may, under particular specifications, fail exogeneity. For example, W could code Z with error, with missing observations, or coarsely. We show that Wald, LIV, and IV estimands using W identify weighted averages of local or marginal treatment effects (LATEs or MTEs). We study a necessary and sufficient condition for nonnegative weights. Further, we study a condition under which the Wald or LIV estimand using W identifies the same LATE or MTE that would have been recovered had Z been observed. For example, this holds for binary Z and therefore the Wald estimand using W identifies the same “average causal response,” or LATE for binary treatment, that would have been recovered using Z. Also, under this condition, LIV using W can be used to identify MTE and average treatment effects for e.g., the population, treated, and untreated.
Influence of IFN-α on IL-10 excretion of psoriasis keratinocyte in vitro

Aim:To explore the function of IFN-α in pathogenesis of psoriasis through analyzing the influence of IFN-α to IL-10 excretion of psoriasis keratinocyte in vitro.Methods:The epidemic lesions of patients(experiment group,n=28)and healthy skin of ordinary people(control group,n=28)were get to obtain keratinocyte by cell culture.Different levels of IFN-α were added and IL-10 density was detected with ELISA method after 96 hours.Results:When lower and higher level of IFN-α were added to experiment group,the levels of IL-10 were lower than that without IFN-α(P0.05).When lower and higher level of IFN-α were added to control group,the levels of IL-10 were lower than that without IFN-α(P0.05).Under the effect at the same density,the IL-10 level of experiment group was lower than that of control group(P0.05).Conclusion:IFN-α could decrease IL-10 excretion of psoriasis keratinocyte.
Response of Normal Canine Ureter to Photodynamic Therapy Using a Cylindrical Fiber

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was performed utilizing a cylindrical optical fiber to determine feasibility of distal ureteral treatment on 10 study and two control NIH foxhounds. The study animals were administered three mg./kg. dihematoporphyrin ether (Photofrin II) intravenously followed 48 hours later by open cystotomy. One ureter was irradiated with 42 joules of 630 nm. light delivered by a 660 micron diameter optical fiber modified for cylindrical light distribution. Intravenous urography was performed both at three days and six weeks post PDT. Hydroureteronephrosis was revealed in one treated ureter and one untreated ureter. Mild dilatation of the ureter was noted by urography in another treated ureter and in one ureter that did not undergo light irradiation; no distal obstruction was revealed in either case by proximal infusion of saline or by histopathology. Nine of the 10 treated ureters were found to have either no abnormal pathology or only minimal lymphocytic infiltration. In this study, the normal ureter was shown to tolerate photodynamic therapy at energy densities equivalent to those used to effect tumor regression and the feasibility of using a cylindrical optical fiber for treatment of ureteral malignancies was confirmed.
Inert gas transport in the microcirculation: risk of isobaric supersaturation.

This paper is concerned with the theretical background and implications of isobaric supersaturation and bubble formation in the microcirculation following an abrupt shift from one inspired inert ga...
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Remedies in Complex Situations

At least two corrective justice arguments exist for recognizing that indigenous peoples should have some intellectual property (IP) rights in their traditional knowledge. An earlier article deployed the first argument, and this article sets forth the second argument, which exploits the idea of free riding. This idea can be used to develop an understanding of fairness. This understanding can in turn be projected onto corrective justice. The corrective justice argument deployed here is salient for "complex situations." These situations are sequential across many actors which are not closely related to each other and which involve harm to indigenous peoples. The existence of complex situations is important because they make discerning remedies more difficult. In sum, corrective justice applies in two situations. The first consists of simple situations in which trans-temporal groups of closely related white colonizers voluntarily and intentionally harm non-white indigenous peoples. The second consists of complex situations as defined above. By investigating a modestly challenging example of sequential harm in a hypothetical tort case, one can gain important insights for rectifying injustice done to the IP rights of indigenous peoples in complex situations.
Delivery of bevacizumab to atheromatous porcine carotid tissue using echogenic liposomes

AbstractUltrasound is both a valuable diagnostic tool and a promoter of beneficial tissue bioeffects for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Vascular effects can be mediated by mechanical oscillations of circulating microbubbles that may also encapsulate and shield therapeutic agents in the bloodstream. Here, the effect of color-Doppler ultrasound exposure on bevacizumab-loaded liposome delivery into the vascular bed was assessed in atheromatous porcine carotids. Bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenic antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), was loaded into echogenic liposomes (BEV-ELIP) and confirmed to be immunoreactive. BEV-ELIP flowing within the lumen were exposed to color-Doppler ultrasound at three acoustic pressures for 3.5 min during treatment at physiologic temperature and fluid pressure. To confirm the presence of bubble activity, cavitation was detected within the lumen by a single-element passive cavitation detector. After treatment, the artery was fixed at physiologic pressure ...
eSeniorCare: Technology for Promoting Well-Being of Older Adults in Independent Living Facilities

The aging population (seniors) maintains a strong desire to remain independent as long as possible while maintaining their physical health and emotional well-being. We have witnessed a growth in technological solutions delivered as Apps on mobile devices for health and wellness. However, several challenges remain in their application to assist seniors in the dimensions of health and wellness. They fail to provide sufficient connectivity and a level of usability that is appropriate for seniors. To that end, we are developing a tablet-based application, eSeniorCare, to integrate various components of health and wellbeing targeting successful aging. Our design and development followed an iterative process involving feedback from the participants. We conducted a 31-week study of the application with 16 participants at an independent facility in collaboration with Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Our study found that through the use of the application, participants demonstrated improved technological health management skills and decreased risk for depression, suggesting that eSeniorCare represents an important step toward improving senior care and quality of life.
The Future of United States and Latin American Economic Relations

Economic relations between the United States and Latin America remain strong and should continue to be vital for the coming decades. While both the US and Latin American countries are beginning to ...
Recollection is Fast and Easy: Pupillometric Studies of Face Memory

Abstract In this chapter, we discuss several distinct conceptualizations of recognition memory, and their treatment of the (putative) processes underlying recollection and familiarity. We focus most closely on the concept of recollection, which many dual-process memory models assume to be a relatively slow, controlled process, during which contextual details from encoding are brought to mind (i.e., retrieval of episodic detail). We then introduce the use of pupillometry—continuously measuring pupil diameter during task performance—as an efficient means to estimate effortful cognitive processes during memory encoding and retrieval. We review evidence from three pupillometric studies of face memory, providing evidence to suggest that recollection is not slow and effortful, as is often assumed, but is instead fast and easy.
Women at the Top: Leadership, Institutions and the Quality of Democracy

Women’s contributions to Third Wave transitions from authoritarian rule toward democracy have been well documented. They helped make democracies more open and pluralistic, strengthened civil society and broadened the definition of leadership to include ‘female’ as well as ‘male’ qualities. As the number of women reaching top-level positions in democracies increases, women are gaining access to and exercise power in countries that are classified as democratic, but which often fall well short of the democratic ideal. Research on women and political power needs to broaden its focus from the ‘women and democracy’ narrative, which equates democratic quality with gender outcomes, to study the concrete impacts of women’s leadership in specific cases. In the face of growing skepticism about democracy and increasing economic and political uncertainty, how can women’s leadership strengthen liberal democratic institutions and help assure that democratic governance can be sustained?
Bio-optical Properties of Cyanobacteria Blooms in Western Lake Erie

There is a growing use of remote sensing observations for detecting and quantifying freshwater cyanobacteria populations, yet the inherent optical properties of these communities in natural settings, fundamental to bio-optical algorithms, are not well known. Towards bridging this knowledge gap, we measured a full complement of optical properties in western Lake Erie during cyanobacteria blooms in the summers of 2013 and 2014. Our measurements focus attention on the optical uniqueness of cyanobacteria blooms, which have consequences for remote sensing and bio-optical modeling. We found the cyanobacteria blooms in the western basin during our field work were dominated by Microcystis, while the waters in the adjacent central basin were dominated by Planktothrix. Chlorophyll concentrations ranged from 1 to over 135 ${\mu}g/L$ across the study area with the highest concentrations associated with Microcystis in the western basin. We observed large, amorphous colonial Microcystis structures in the bloom area characterized by high phytoplankton absorption and high scattering coefficients with a mean particle backscatter ratio at 443nm greater than 0.03, which is higher than other plankton types and more comparable to suspended inorganic sediments. While our samples contained mixtures of both, our analysis suggests high contributions to the measured scatter and backscatter coefficients from cyanobacteria. Our measurements provide new insights into the optical properties of cyanobacteria blooms, and indicate that current semi-analytic models are likely to have problems resolving a closed solution in these types of waters as many of our observations are beyond the range of existing model components. We believe that different algorithm or model approaches are needed for these conditions, specifically for phytoplankton absorption and particle backscatter components. From a remote sensing perspective, this presents a challenge not only in terms of a need for new algorithms, but also for determining when to apply the best algorithm for a given situation. These results are new in the sense that they represent a complete description of the optical properties of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms, and are likely to be representative of bloom conditions for other systems containing Microcystis cells and colonies.
TDDFT Study of Charge-Transfer Raman Spectra of 4-Mercaptopyridine on Various ZnSe Nanoclusters as a Model for the SERS of 4-Mpy on Semiconductors

We have used DFT and TDDFT calculations mostly at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level to investigate the optimized geometry and the normal (static) Raman and preresonance Raman (RR) spectra of ZnnSem nanoclu...
Density Functional Theory Modeling of MnO2 Polymorphs as Cathodes for Multivalent Ion Batteries

Multivalent ion batteries (MVIBs) provide an inexpensive and energy-dense alternative to Li-ion batteries when portability of the battery is not of primary concern. However, it is difficult to find...
On the behavior of acoustic/elastic metamaterials with anisotropic mass density

The effect of anisotropic mass density in acoustic/elastic metamaterials on wave propagation is presented in this research. The use of microstructures to achieve anisotropic physical properties in metamaterials is an intensive field of study. In this work, a two-dimensional (2D) ‘mass-in-mass’-spring lattice system is utilized to achieve anisotropic effective mass density in two orthogonal principal directions.In each direction, the effective mass density is frequency-dependent and can be “effectively negative” if it falls within the frequency bandgap region. A 2D numerical continuum model,based on a recently developed cantilever-in-mass model, is further presented and examined to study how wave input angles affect 2D wave propagation. Results show that wave attenuation is dependent on both input frequency and wave input angle in a 2D metamaterial. This study demonstrates a case whereby wave attenuation is achieved,by selecting wave input frequency in the bandgap region to enact “negative effective mass d...
Interdisciplinary Experiences in Dance and Physical Therapy Students: A Mixed-Methods Study

The purpose of this interdisciplinary educational experience was to explore dynamic interaction between student dancers and graduate physical therapy students in a structured learning environment ...
Alpha 7 nicotinic receptors attenuate neurite development through calcium activation of calpain at the growth cone

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated ion channel that plays an important role in cellular calcium signaling contributing to synaptic development and plasticity, and is a key drug target for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Here we show that α7 nAChR mediated calcium signals in differentiating PC12 cells activate the proteolytic enzyme calpain leading to spectrin breakdown, microtubule retraction, and attenuation in neurite growth. Imaging in growth cones confirms that α7 activation decreases EB3 comet motility in a calcium dependent manner as demonstrated by the ability of α7 nAChR, ryanodine, or IP3 receptor antagonists to block the effect of α7 nAChR on growth. α7 nAChR mediated EB3 comet motility, spectrin breakdown, and neurite growth was also inhibited by the addition of the selective calpain blocker calpeptin and attenuated by the expression of an α7 subunit unable to bind Gαq and activate calcium store release. The findings indicate that α7 nAChRs regulate cytoskeletal dynamics through local calcium signals for calpain protease activity.
Experimental Analysis of Habitat Selection and Maintenance of Genetic Variation

A major goal of evolutionary genetics is to provide explanations for the maintenance of genetic variation within populations. Among numerous possibilities that have been considered, substantial attention has been devoted to effects of heterogeneous environments (Hedrick, 1986), the basic premise being that selection pressures will then be variable in space and/or in time, and that such variable selection may play a significant role in maintaining polymorphism. Nevo (1988, and references therein) argues that there is sufficient evidence from natural populations to implicate environmental heterogeneity as a significant factor in maintaining polymorphisms. Nevertheless, he does point out that it is not at all clear what proportion of polymorphic loci are maintained by environmental heterogeneity or by other mechanisms, and emphasises the need for critical experimentation to substantiate causal ecological-genetic relationships.
The Deficiency of IT Capability of A Firm Vis-À-Vis Competition and IT Outsourcing Decisions: A Two Stage DEA and PLS Analysis

This research in progress addresses the issue of how IT capabilities of firms can influence their IT sourcing decisions. Drawing from strategic theoretic views, the research model is developed to argue that firms engage in outsourcing of their strategic IS activities based partly on the relative efficiency (with respect to their competitors) of their key IT input resources and factors, in addition to other drivers including their imitative response following industry trends in this regard. The paper develops hypotheses with respect to the impact of the relative efficiencies of three key input factors – businessaligned IS planning, IS knowledge acquisition, and top management’s proactive use of IS – on the significant outsourced IS activities that contribute to competitive action potential of a firm. Data is collected using the survey method and a two-stage DEA-partial least squares (PLS) approach is employed to validate the framework. An “efficiency score” using DEA for capturing a relative level of IT competence of firms will be generated, which will further guide a firm as to whether or not it needs to fill the gap through outsourcing arrangements.
Spontaneous Recanalization After Carotid Artery Dissection: The Case for an Ultrasound-Only Monitoring Strategy

Dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) accounts for 5% to 25% of ischemic strokes in young adults. We report a case of spontaneous recanalization of a traumatic ICA dissection in which carotid duplex (CDU) and transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasound (TCCD) were used. A 47-year-old male presented with intermittent episodes of headache, blurry vision, anisocoria, and loss of taste sensation following a whiplash injury while body surfing. Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) of the neck revealed absent flow in the cavernous ICA and a clot at the skull base. Carotid duplex, used to further evaluate flow, demonstrated reverberating color Doppler and spectrum signal. A TCCD showed ICA occlusion and smaller-caliber intracranial ICA. The patient reported for follow-up after 1 month on anticoagulation therapy. Upon his return, CDU and TCCD were normal and the ICA showed normal color and spectrum signals. Computed tomography angiogram confirmed ultrasound findings of a dramatic improvement of ICA patency. Additionally, the patient reported that his headaches had resolved. Extracranial CDU and TCCD are useful for monitoring patient progress in cases of spontaneous recanalization following carotid artery dissection. These inexpensive and noninvasive imaging modalities proved to be critical in the initial and follow-up evaluations of the extracranial and intracranial vascular system, providing a strong alternative to expensive magnetic resonance imaging and invasive angiograms and offering more hemodynamic information than "static" MRA.
Exploring the Environmental Justice Implications of Hurricane Harvey Flooding in Greater Houston, Texas.

Objectives. To assess the environmental justice implications of flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Greater Houston, Texas, we analyzed whether the areal extent of flooding was distributed inequitably with respect to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, after controlling for relevant explanatory factors.Methods. Our study integrated cartographic information from Harvey’s Inundation Footprint, developed by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, with sociodemographic data from the 2012–2016 American Community Survey. Statistical analyses were based on bivariate correlations and multivariate generalized estimating equations.Results. The areal extent of Harvey-induced flooding was significantly greater in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of non-Hispanic Black and socioeconomically deprived residents after we controlled for contextual factors and clustering.Conclusions. Results provide evidence of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic injustices in the distribution of flooding and represent an importa...
The Use of Baobab Leaves ( Adansonia digitata L.) for Food in Africa: A Review

The Use of Baobab Leaves (Adansonia digitata) for Food in Africa: A Review. The massive long-lived African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a celebrated member of a small pantropical group of trees in the Malvaceae family. Its much-loved fruit is generally considered the tree’s most important food offering, and the baobab is more widely known as a fruit and fiber tree than a vegetable tree. Recent studies indicate that baobab leaves are eaten throughout its range, most notably in West Africa, and there is now ample documentation of the tree being valued in some places chiefly for its edible leaves. This paper presents a review of the use of baobab leaves for food in Africa. It identifies the species as one of Africa’s important leafy vegetables and highlights issues related to baobab management strategies for leaf production, the distinguishing characteristics of palatable leaves, and the seasonal dimension of leaf consumption. The culinary uses of baobab leaves and their nutritiousness are discussed, as well as current efforts to cultivate young baobabs for their leaves. The use of baobab leaves for food outside of Africa is also noted, and several suggestions are offered for future studies of baobab leaf consumption in Africa.
Religion, Sustainability Movements, and Ecumenism: A Case Study in Santiago de Cuba

The Centro Cristiano Lavastida de Servicio y Capacitacion (Lavastida Christian Center for Service and Training) was founded in 1995 in Santiago, during the economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. This ecumenical center has promoted the growth of agroecology, permaculture, and other sustainability initiatives through collaborative work with state organizations as well as international movements and NGOs. The founders of the Centro, as well as some of its staff, have historical connections to the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC), which is affiliated with the WCC. The CIC is a statesponsored Protestant ecumenical organization that has promoted greater dialogue between the Cuban government and churches. The Centro is part of a larger network of civil society organizations that have responded to the state's diminished capacity to serve as sole provider of social welfare by engaging more deeply in social and ecological projects.
Asymptotic statistical properties of communication-efficient quickest detection schemes in sensor networks

The quickest change detection problem is studied in a general context of monitoring a large number K of data streams in sensor networks when the “trigger event” may affect different sensors differe...
Does Type of Disability Matter to Public Health Policy and Practice

Background: Surveillance has been insufficient to inform and evaluate public health practices for people with disabilities. No studies have investigated whether there is statistical justification for subdividing the large, heterogeneous group of people with disabilities into subpopulations, for surveillance. Methods: Pooled data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2004-2010, unweighted n=132,198) included the following disability types: physical, cognitive, visual, hearing loss, and multiple disabilities. We examined differences among the disability subgroups and the no disability group on receipt of flu shot, dental exam, and timely care; insurance status; usual source of care (USOC); mental and physical health; and multiple chronic conditions (MCC). Results: The disability subgroups were sociodemographically heterogeneous and differed from each other and the no disability group on health status (mental, physical, and MCC) and healthcare outcomes (flu shot, dental exam, timely receipt of care, USOC, insurance status). Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that disability subgroups differ in the magnitude of the disparities they experience compared to each other and to people without disabilities. Disability subgroups should be examined separately for public health measures to enable effective tailoring of public health policies and programs to better meet the needs for all people.
Treatment Choice With Trial Data: Statistical Decision Theory Should Supplant Hypothesis Testing

A central objective of empirical research on treatment response is to inform treatment choice. Unfortunately, researchers commonly use concepts of statistical inference whose foundations are distan...
Abstract CT020: Phase I dose escalation of olaparib (PARP inhibitor) and selumetinib (MEK Inhibitor) combination in solid tumors with Ras pathway alterations

Background: Preclinical data from our team demonstrated that MEK inhibition increases antitumor efficacy of PARP inhibitors in tumors with Ras pathway alterations. We sought to identify dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of olaparib and selumetinib combination in solid tumors with Ras pathway alterations. Methods: Olaparib and selumetinib were given orally twice daily. Dose escalation with three planned dose levels (DL) was performed using the modified toxicity probability interval 2 design with toxicity assessed by CTCAE v4.03. RECIST criteria (v1.1) were used to assess response. Clinical benefit was defined as partial (PR) or complete response, or stable disease for 4 months or longer. Results: 14 patients are evaluable for toxicity in the dose escalation phase, and 12 patients are evaluable for response. Median age was 56.5 years, and 10/14 (71%) patients were female. Median number of prior treatments was 4 (1-9). Of the 14 patients enrolled, 11 had KRAS mutations, 1 amplified KRAS, 1 NRAS mutation and 1 amplified NRAS. The majority of patients had gynecologic cancers. 4 and 3 patients were treated at DL1 and DL2, respectively, and 7 patients at DL3. No DLTs were observed (Table 1). MTD was not reached. DL3 (olaparib 300mg; selumetinib 75mg) was confirmed as the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D). Of 12 evaluable patients, ORR was 17%, and CBR 33%. 2 patients had a PR: 1 patient with KRAS mutant primary peritoneal cancer, and 1 with NRAS mutant ovarian cancer. 2 patients remained on treatment for more than 15 months: 1 with KRAS mutant primary peritoneal cancer (on DL-1), and 1 with KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer (DL1). All patients with clinical benefit were BRCA wildtype. Conclusions: The combination of olaparib and selumetinib is well-tolerated at the identified RP2D. This combination also shows promising preliminary anti-tumor activity in patients with mutant RAS. Enrollment to expansion cohorts is ongoing. Citation Format: Katherine C. Kurnit, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Kenneth Hess, Robert L. Coleman, Priya Bhosale, Katerina Savelieva, Filip Janku, David Hong, Aung Naing, Shubham Pant, Jordi Rodon, Timothy A. Yap, Anil K. Sood, Pamela T. Soliman, David M. Gershenson, Gordon B. Mills, Shannon N. Westin. Phase I dose escalation of olaparib (PARP inhibitor) and selumetinib (MEK Inhibitor) combination in solid tumors with Ras pathway alterations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT020.
Earlier Palliative Care Referrals Associated with Reduced Length of Stay and Hospital Charges

Background: Inpatient palliative care consultation services have been shown to have a dramatic impact on the time cancer patients spend in the hospital, which directly affects overall health care c...
Reformation and Revolution: Reflections on Luther, Lenin, and Liberal Democracy in Dark Times

The 1517 Protestant Reformation and the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution represent two crucial moments in the history of modern politics, in which forms of rebelliousness gave way to new forms of oppression. Luther’s rebellion asserted the metaphysical primacy of the individual believer, searching for an authentic relationship with and justification by God. Accused of heresy, Luther inaugurates a movement fiercely hostile to those who blaspheme against his Truth. Accused of radicalism, Luther becomes an apostle of a new kind of authoritarianism centered on an absolutist state. Lenin’s rebellion asserted the primacy of a disciplined and determined revolutionary party acting in the name of a revolutionary proletariat. Claiming to inaugurate a universal emancipation, Lenin institutes a (“proletarian”) dictatorship. Anticipating the “withering” of the state, he lays the foundations of an all-powerful, totalitarian state, foundations on which his successor, Stalin, constructs precisely such a state. Neither of these individuals anticipated or fully sought all of consequences of their acts, much less all that was done in their names after their passing. At the same time, both were zealous revolutionaries acting with an unwavering faith in the righteousness of their causes and the essential, even metaphysical, malevolence of their opponents. In this way, each achieved real “greatness,” one reason we now, today, recall their efforts. At the same time, each also engendered, and adamantly justified, much destruction, violence, and suffering.
Endogeneity in International Business Research: A Commentary

I present three points to complement the issues raised by Reeb, Sakakibara and Mahmood (Journal of International Business Studies 43 (3): 211–218, 2012). First, accounting for endogeneity (i.e., attempting to establish causal identification) requires that we expend effort in thinking through rival theories to the theories we wish to test. Second, because approaches to account for endogeneity have limitations, it is important that we view accounting for endogeneity as an effort accomplished through a cumulative body of research. Finally, access to more or ‘big’ data will not solve this issue in its own right.
Advances in Design and Test of Monolithic 3-D ICs

Monolithic 3-D (M3D) technology enables unprecedented degrees of integration on a single chip. The miniscule monolithic intertier vias (MIVs) in M3D are the key behind higher transistor density and more flexibility in designing circuits compared to conventional through silicon via (TSV)-based architectures. This article presents a comprehensive design and test techniques for emerging M3D-enabled circuits and systems.
Academic Achievement and the Implications for Prison Program Effectiveness and Reentry

The current study examines how academic achievement—measured as verbal and math performance—is associated with prison programming and reentry. We assess how academic achievement might be directly a...
Global sweatshops: the history and future of North-South solidarity campaigns in Bangladesh and beyond

In Achieving Workers’ Rights in the Global Economy, sociologist Richard P. Appelbaum and labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein put together a collection of research, analysis, and plans for action by...
Design Considerations for Child-Robot Interaction in Pediatric Contexts

Social robots can improve quality of life for children undergoing prolonged hospital stays, both by offering a fun and interactive distraction and by providing practical assistance during procedure support and pain management. In this paper, we present important considerations for robots involved in pediatric contexts. These considerations are based on a need-finding interview conducted with a gaming technology specialist at a children's hospital. By summarizing their experiences, we identify considerations affecting the design of robot morphology and behavior for this unique use case, as well as the explore the role of parents, healthcare staff, and child life specialists.
Elevated Glucose Challenge Test in a Nondiabetic Index Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes in a Subsequent Pregnancy.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a 1-hour glucose challenge test (GCT) ≥140 mg/dL in a nondiabetic index pregnancy is associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a subsequent pregnancy. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study from a single institution from June 2009 to December 2018. Women with a nondiabetic index singleton gestation who underwent a 1-hour GCT at 24 to 28 weeks and had a successive singleton delivery were included. GDM was defined by a 1-hour GCT of ≥ 200 mg/dL, ≥2 of 4 elevated values on a 3-hour GCT, or a diagnosis of GDM defined by International Classification of Disease codes in the electronic medical record. Univariable analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between an elevated 1-hour GCT result in the index pregnancy, maternal characteristics, and the development of GDM in the subsequent pregnancy. Variables found to be significant (p Results A total of 2,423 women were included. Of these, 340 (14.0%) had an elevated 1-hour GCT in the index pregnancy. Women with an elevated 1-hour GCT in the index pregnancy compared with those without were significantly more likely to be older, married, privately insured, of Hispanic ethnicity or Asian race, chronically hypertensive, have a higher body mass index (BMI), have a shorter inter-pregnancy interval, and to develop GDM in the subsequent pregnancy (14.4 vs. 3.3%, p Conclusion An elevated 1-hour GCT in a nondiabetic index pregnancy is associated with a fourfold increased risk of GDM in a subsequent pregnancy. Key Points
Botulinum Toxins for the Treatment of Cancer-Related, Postradiation, Postsurgical, and End of Life Pain

Botulinum neurotoxins exert an analgesic effect through a variety of mechanisms including inhibition of acetylcholine release from neuromuscular junction and release of pain mediators from peripheral nerve endings, dorsal root ganglia, and at the spinal sensory neuron level. Four open-label prospective studies have demonstrated effectiveness of ona-, abo-, and incobotulinum toxins in relieving pain at the site of radiation or surgery for cancer. Furthermore, single-case observations with onabotulinumtoxinA have shown that local intramuscular injection of this toxin can alleviate chronic and disabling local pain in advanced cancer and improve the quality of the end of life state among patients with terminal cancer.