cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building Trust to Solve Commons Dilemmas: Taking Small Steps to Test an Evolving Theory of Collective Action

Extensive field research has found that when users of a resource do gain good feedback about the effect of their actions on a resource and can build norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness, they are frequently able to craft new institutions to solve puzzling dilemmas. We need to ask: How do different kinds of institutions support or undermine norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness? The finding from many field studies throughout the world that monitoring and graduated sanctions are close to universal in all robust common-pool resource (CPR) institutions is important as it tells us that without some external support of such institutions it is unlikely that reciprocity alone will allow individuals to solve CPR problems over time. On the other hand, the sanctions are graduated rather than initially severe. The current theory of crime deterrence – based on strict expected value theory – does not explain the graduated nature of these sanctions. But if people can learn to value trust and reciprocity and use them as fundamental norms for organizing their lives, they can agree on a set of rules that they agree to follow. Then graduated sanctions are a way of informing those, who have made an error or faced some emergency temptation, that others are watching and, if someone else were to break a rule, they would likely be observed. Thus, continuing to follow a positive norm of reciprocity is reasonable and it is then feasible to build trust over the long term.
System Productivity of Rabi Vegetables and Aman Rice varieties in Rabi Vegetables-Mungbean-Aman Rice Cropping Pattern

Field experiments were conducted during 2007-2010 to evaluate the agro-economic productivity of BRRI Aman rice varieties and Rabi vegetables at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in silty clay loam soil. Five Aman rice varieties having different growth durations and three winter vegetables viz., tomato, red amaranth and bush bean were evaluated in split plot design with three replications. Mungbean was grown in Kharif-I season. Rice varieties did not differ significantly in terms of grain yield (t ha -1 ). Among the three vegetables, the yields of tomato, red amaranth and bush bean were 35.02, 7.53 and 4.33 t ha -1 , respectively. Average yield of Mungbean was 0.89 t ha -1 . In case of rice equivalent yield (REY), Tomato-Mungbean-BRRI dhan33 cropping pattern produced comparatively high average REY (29.95 t ha -1 ) followed by Tomato-Mungbean-BRRI dhan39 (27.33 t ha -1 ) cropping pattern. Among the tested cropping patterns, Tomato-Mungbean-BRRI dhan33 and Tomato-Mungbean-BRRI dhan39 were more profitable than other patterns. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v10i2.13149 The Agriculturists 2012; 10(2) 120-126
Bacteriophage-Based Genetic System for Selection of Nonsplicing Inteins

A genetic selection system that detects splicing and nonsplicing activities of inteins was developed based on the ability to rescue a T4 phage strain with a conditionally inactive DNA polymerase. This phage defect can be complemented by expression of plasmid-encoded phage RB69 DNA polymerase. Insertion of an intein gene into the active site of the RB69 DNA polymerase gene renders polymerase activity and phage viability dependent on protein splicing. The effectiveness of the system was tested by screening for thermosensitive splicing mutants. Development of genetic systems with the potential of identifying protein splicing inhibitors is a first step towards controlling proliferation of pathogenic microbes harboring inteins in essential proteins.
Owning and reducing the cost of health care in the emergency department.

Market forces and legislative action are restructuring US health care, with the hope of making care better and cheaper. A key element in this reformation is changing from reimbursement based on quantity and price of care and procedures to reimbursement based on quality or outcome related to price. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has had 2 advocacy positions relating to pricing and cost: first, that emergency department (ED) charges account for less than 2% of total health costs; and second, that the marginal cost of seeing an additional nonurgent patient in the ED is low. In this issue of Annals, Lee et al address these important issues of cost of and accounting approaches for emergency care with new data and analyses. First, the authors conclude that the ED fraction of the health care dollar is probably higher than 2% and may be as high as 5% to 10%. They also address the issue of measuring cost, including marginal cost, by proposing use of a new activity based costing (ABC) accounting system. In this editorial, we examine the differences between the ACEP advocacy positions and the findings of Lee et al. We also seek to examine how these positions fit with the current restructuring of health care. The ACEP first position used the Medical Expenditures Survey to conclude that ED care is a bargain, less than 2% of overall $2.6 trillion dollar total US health care spending. ACEP was not alone among specialties and experts in using the survey to examine costs. However, Lee et al highlight many of the limitations of drawing conclusions from this survey. It is based on the memory of randomly selected subjects. Patients who die or are homeless, severely disabled, or demented by the time of the survey are underrepresented because they cannot or do not participate. These omissions make any derived figure an underestimate of the true cost of care. However, Lee et al, in describing their own methodology, use a number of assumptions and data from other sources that themselves have assumptions and unknowns. This weakness clouds the end imputed cost in a complicated fashion that cannot be unraveled. The result is that although we now know that 2% is probably not the correct figure, we do not know the exact figure. What does seem likely is that the earlier and current approaches together define the boundaries of cost, somewhere between 2% and 10% of total health care spending.
Comparing perfusion metrics obtained from a single compartment versus pharmacokinetic modeling methods using dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging with glioma grade.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Numerous different parameters measured by perfusion MR imaging can be used for characterizing gliomas. Parameters derived from 3 different analyses were correlated with histopathologically confirmed grade in gliomas to determine which parameters best predict tumor grade. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with gliomas underwent dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DSC MR imaging). Data were analyzed by 3 different algorithms. Analysis 1 estimated relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) by using a single compartment model. Analysis 2 estimated fractional plasma volume (Vp) and vascular transfer constant (K trans ) by using a 2-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Analysis 3 estimated absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT) by using a single compartment model and an automated arterial input function. The Mann-Whitney U test was used make pairwise comparisons. Binary logistic regression was used to assess whether rCBV, Vp ,K trans , CBV, CBF, and MTT can discriminate highfrom low-grade tumors. RESULTS: rCBV was the best discriminator of tumor grade/type, followed by CBF, CBV, and K trans . Spearman rank correlation factors were the following: rCBV 0.812 (P .0001), CBF 0.677 (P .0001), CBV 0.604 (P .0001), K trans 0.457 (P .0001), Vp 0.301 (P .009), and MTT 0.089 (P .448). rCBV was the best single predictor, and K trans with rCBV was the best set of predictors of high-grade glioma. CONCLUSION: rCBV, CBF, CBV K trans , and Vp measurements correlated well with histopathologic grade. rCBV was the best predictor of glioma grade, and the combination of rCBV with K trans was the best set of metrics to predict glioma grade.
Differential Diagnosis of Limb Length Discrepancy in a 19th Century Burial from Southwest Mississippi

This paper reports on a 19th century skeleton from southwest Mississippi that displays shortening of several right side bones. Most notable is a 50-mm discrepancy in leg length involving the tibiae and fibulae. Osseous changes in the right foot suggest limited muscle function was present in this area. However, the shortened tibia and fibula show no signs of atrophy. After considering both osteological features and burial context, it is concluded that the individual was likely exposed to the poliovirus during childhood. While this diagnosis does not conform to the skeletal expectations of polio based on most paleopathological descriptions, the deformities observed fit within the range of what has been reported clinically. Based on this finding, it is suggested that polio should be considered as an etiological source of limb shortening even when signs of diffuse skeletal atrophy are lacking. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gut vagal afferent lesions increase meal size but do not block gastric preload-induced feeding suppression

Subdiaphragmatic vagal afferent (SVA) signals arising from gut sites may provide critical feedback for the control of food intake within a meal. To evaluate the role of SVAs in both spontaneous and...
Interactive effects of central leptin and peripheral fuel oxidation on estrous cyclicity.

A 48-h period of fasting inhibits estrous cycles in Syrian hamsters, and fasting-induced anestrus can be prevented by intracerebroventricular treatment with leptin during the fasting period. In the present experiment, the effects of intracerebroventricular leptin were blocked by systemic treatment with inhibitors of metabolic fuel oxidation. Leptin was infused continuously into the lateral ventricles (1 μg/day) during fasting on days 1 and 2 of the estrous cycle. Intraperitoneal injection of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) was used to block both central and peripheral glucose oxidation, and intragastric treatment with methyl palmoxirate (MP) was used to inhibit peripheral long-chain fatty acid oxidation during the fasting and leptin-treatment period. 2DG or MP were administered at doses that did not induce anestrus in ad libitum-fed hamsters. Despite elevated central levels of leptin, fasting-induced anestrus occurred in hamsters treated with either 2DG or MP. Thus an elevated intracerebroventricular leptin concentration is not a sufficient condition for normal estrous cycles when fuel oxidation is inhibited. These results raise the possibility that central leptin influences reproduction by indirect effects on peripheral fuel metabolism.
A revised method for the calculation of life expectancy tables from individual death records which provides increased accuracy at advanced ages

The authors present a revised method for calculating life expectancy tables for populations where individual ages at death are known or can be estimated. The conventional and revised methods are compared using data for U.S. and Hungarian males in an attempt to determine the accuracy of each method in calculating life expectancy at advanced ages. Means of correcting errors caused by age rounding age exaggeration and infant mortality are presented (ANNOTATION)
A Study on Removal of Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Coal Byproducts by Ion Exchange

Rare earth elements are known to occur in low concentrations in U.S. coals and coal byproducts. These low concentrations may make rare earth element recovery from these materials unattractive, using only physical separation techniques. However, given the significant production of rare earths through ion exchange extraction in China, two U.S. coal byproducts were examined for ion extraction, using ammonium sulfate, an ionic liquid, and a deep eutectic solvent as lixiviants. Extraction of rare earth elements in each case produced high recoveries of rare earth elements to the solution. This suggests that in at least the cases of the materials examined, U.S. coal byproducts may be technically suitable as REE ores. More work is required to establish economic suitability.
Where IP Isn't

The orthodox argument for IP proceeds in three steps. First, creative works are often difficult and expensive to create - think of the poet in pursuit of the right verse, or pizza-fueled late nights spent programming a new video game. Second, once the author or inventor produces the first version of a work, others will find it quick and cheap to copy the work. Third, unless the law equips the creator with enforceable exclusive rights, the copyist, having invested nothing in the creation of the work, will outcompete the originator and deny her a return on her investment. The practices of the fashion industry are hard to square with the traditional justification. The global fashion industry produces a huge variety of creative goods without strong IP protection in one of its biggest markets (the United States), and without apparent utilization of nominally strong IP rights in another large market (the countries of the European Union). Copying and derivative re-working of fashion designs are rampant in both the U.S. and E.U., as the traditional account would predict. Yet innovation and investment remain vibrant. Why, when other major content industries have obtained increasingly powerful IP protections for their products, does fashion design remain mostly unprotected - and economically successful? We argue that the fashion industry counter-intuitively operates within a low-IP equilibrium in which copying does not deter innovation and may actually promote it. We call this the piracy paradox. Our article offers a model explaining how the fashion industry's piracy paradox works, and how copying functions as an important element of, and perhaps even a necessary predicate to, the industry's swift cycle of innovation. In so doing, we aim to shed light on the creative dynamics of the apparel industry. But we also hope to spark further exploration of a fundamental question of IP policy: to what degree are IP rights necessary to induce innovation in particular industries? Are stable low-IP equilibria imaginable outside of the fashion industry?
Reconstitution of Infectivity and Transcriptase Activity of Homologous and Heterologous Viruses: Vesicular Stomatitis (Indiana Serotype), Chandipura, Vesicular Stomatitis (New Jersey Serotype), and Cocal Viruses

RNA TRANSCRIPTASE ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN RECONSTITUTED FROM FRACTIONATED COMPONENTS OF FOUR RHABDOVIRUSES: vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) (Indiana serotype), Cocal, VSV (New Jersey), and Chandipura viruses. Heterologous reconstitution of transcription has been observed between template and enzyme fractions of VSV Indiana and Cocal viruses but not to any significant extent between components of the other two viruses with VSV Indiana template or enzyme. Homologous reconstitution of infectivity has been obtained for each virus from their respective parts as well as heterologous reconstitution between Cocal and VSV Indiana components.
Measurement of Pressure -Rise in a Pulse Detonation Engine

*† ‡ § Experimental measurements of static pressure -rise and thrust are made in a pulse deton ation engine (PDE). The research employs a valved ethylene -air 3 -tube PDE at an operating frequency of 20 Hz per tube. New terminology and definitions for pressure -rise in a PDE are introduced. The mean PDE fired static pressure was quantified with both low and high frequency pressure sensors. Pressure measurements were obtained at the combustor head -end and tail -end for configurations with straight and converging exit nozzles. It was determined that the high frequency pressure measurements provided a more accurate measure of the mean PDE fired pressure. The test measurements are used to validate computational predictions obtained using a quasi -1D limit cycle code. The overall PDE pressure -rise was found to be sensitive to system flow losses and the e xit nozzle geometry. It was observed that in an un -optimized configuration, with straight exit nozzle, the PDE operated with an overall pressure loss instead of a pressure gain. However, an overall pressure gain was observed when the PDE included a conve rging exit nozzle. The PDE thrust was quantified using a thrust stand to measure thrust directly, and by using tube pressure measurements to calculate thrust. The thrust calculated by pressure measurements was found to over -predict both the thrust stand measured thrust and computational thrust predictions.
The influence of embedding media and fixation on the post-embedment ultrastructural demonstration of complex carbohydrates. II. Dialyzed iron staining.

The influence of fixation and the embedding medium on post-embedment dialyzed iron (DI) staining of acidic complex carbohydrates in mouse colon was studied at the ultrastructural level. DI staining of ultrathin sections from non-osmicated tissues embedded in epoxy resins was very weak, whereas DI staining of non-osmicate tissues embedded in non-epoxy resins such as polystyrene, polyester resins, methacrylates and newly developed embedding mixtures was strong. Brief exposure to OsO4 (5 min) abolished the DI staining in stored secretions of goblet and mucous cells, in apical cytoplasmic vesicles and at the microvillous surface of columnar absorptive cells and in the Golgi cisternae of all colonic cell types in epoxy embedded tissues, but only reduced slightly or had no effect on the DI reactivity observed in these sites in tissues embedded in non-epoxy resins. Prolonged exposure to OsO4 (60 min) prior to embedment in non-epoxy resins further reduced DI staining in all reactive sites and abolished the staining in Golgi cisternae of all colonic epithelial cells. Embedment of non-osmicated tissues in a styrene-Vestopal W mixture and of tissues briefly exposed to OsO4 after primary glutaraldehyde fixation in styrene-methacrylate is recommended for optimal post-embedment DI staining of the acidic groups of complex carbohydrates.
Pancreatic Cancer in Obesity: Epidemiology, Clinical Observations, and Basic Mechanisms

Obesity, now a worldwide epidemic, causes myriad medical problems. One of the most significant obesity-related problems is the well-recognized relationship between obesity and various malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease--the annual death rate nearly approximates its incidence. While surgical extirpation provides the best chance at long term survival, systemic therapy is largely ineffective: even those patients undergoing successful operative resection have only approximately 20% 5-year survival. These poor outcomes are largely a consequence of poor understanding of tumor biology. Clearly, identification of novel treatment strategies is of paramount importance; investigation of pancreatic cancer biology from the novel aspect of obesity offers the potential to identify unique therapeutic targets. This manuscript reviews the epidemiology, clinical findings, and putative basic science mechanisms underlying obesity-related pancreatic cancer.
Studies on a radioassay for intrinsic factor antibody: comparison of methods and false positive results due to elevated serum B12 levels.

Availability of a kit method (Corning Immo Phase® IFAB) for intrinsic factor antibody (IFAB) has made it possible for a routine radioimmunoassay (RIA) laboratory to test for the antibody, thereby providing another aid in diagnosing pernicious anemia. Comparison of data from a charcoal method with the kit method was favorable, each method detecting 35 (74%) positives and 12 (26%) negatives of 47 pernicious anemia patients. Compared with a charcoal method study the kit method had fewer false positives due to elevated serum B12. False positive results occurred for only 24 hours after a 1-mg injection of B12, and results remained negative the following seven days. The authors’ studies supported the manufacturer’s statement that results are unreliable when the serum B12 level exceeds 3,500 pg/ml. Clinical experience with the Corning Immo Phase IFAB test and false positive results is summarized.
Black Guerrilla Warfare: Strategy and Tactics

(1970). Black Guerrilla Warfare: Strategy and Tactics. The Black Scholar: Vol. 2, The Black Soldier, pp. 30-38.
Diurnal Regulation of Cellular Processes in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803: Insights from Transcriptomic, Fluxomic, and Physiological Analyses

ABSTRACT Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 is the most widely studied model cyanobacterium, with a well-developed omics level knowledgebase. Like the lifestyles of other cyanobacteria, that of Synechocystis PCC 6803 is tuned to diurnal changes in light intensity. In this study, we analyzed the expression patterns of all of the genes of this cyanobacterium over two consecutive diurnal periods. Using stringent criteria, we determined that the transcript levels of nearly 40% of the genes in Synechocystis PCC 6803 show robust diurnal oscillating behavior, with a majority of the transcripts being upregulated during the early light period. Such transcripts corresponded to a wide array of cellular processes, such as light harvesting, photosynthetic light and dark reactions, and central carbon metabolism. In contrast, transcripts of membrane transporters for transition metals involved in the photosynthetic electron transport chain (e.g., iron, manganese, and copper) were significantly upregulated during the late dark period. Thus, the pattern of global gene expression led to the development of two distinct transcriptional networks of coregulated oscillatory genes. These networks help describe how Synechocystis PCC 6803 regulates its metabolism toward the end of the dark period in anticipation of efficient photosynthesis during the early light period. Furthermore, in silico flux prediction of important cellular processes and experimental measurements of cellular ATP, NADP(H), and glycogen levels showed how this diurnal behavior influences its metabolic characteristics. In particular, NADPH/NADP + showed a strong correlation with the majority of the genes whose expression peaks in the light. We conclude that this ratio is a key endogenous determinant of the diurnal behavior of this cyanobacterium. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microbes that use energy from sunlight and CO 2 as feedstock. Certain cyanobacterial strains are amenable to facile genetic manipulation, thus enabling synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications. Such strains are being developed as a chassis for the sustainable production of food, feed, and fuel. To this end, a holistic knowledge of cyanobacterial physiology and its correlation with gene expression patterns under the diurnal cycle is warranted. In this report, a genomewide transcriptional analysis of Synechocystis PCC 6803, the most widely studied model cyanobacterium, sheds light on the global coordination of cellular processes during diurnal periods. Furthermore, we found that, in addition to light, the redox level of NADP(H) is an important endogenous regulator of diurnal entrainment of Synechocystis PCC 6803.
Test & Research on Dam Vibration of Longyangxia Hydropower Station

The water level of Longyangxia Hydropower Station reached new record high in August,2005.The vibrations increased significantly in dam and the platform of tail water.In accordance with test result at site,by using recent stability test result,the amplitude and spectrum analysis are made for dam top,corridor platform of tail water.The vibration source is inferred,and vibration reduction proposal are put forward.
Role of interleukin-4 in the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness

Airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity are consistent features of allergic asthma. The inflammatory response is characterized chiefly by an increase in eosinophils and T cells in bronchial mucosa and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids(1–5). Furthermore, as therapeutic interventions that reduce airway inflammation ameliorate airway hyperreactivity, inflammation is hypothesized to play a key role in the development of asthma-associated airway hyperreactivity(6,7). As a primary regulator of the inflammatory cascade, the T lymphocyte has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma(8). Considerable circumstantial evidence has been accumulating to support this hypothesis. For example, increased numbers of activated T cells are found in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics as compared with control subjects(3). The degree of peripheral blood T lymphocyte activation correlates with the severity of asthmatic symptoms(9). In patients with allergic asthma, which is characterized as such by elevated serum IgE levels, allergen challenge induces a selective recruitment of CD4+ T cells into the airways(5). Moreover, the degree of activation of CD4+ lymphocytes correlates with the number of eosinophils in BAL fluid, with the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity, and with disease severity(10). CD4+ T cells isolated from bronchoalveolar fluids (BAL) of allergic asthmatics express increased levels of markers of acute and chronic activation(11). Such lymphocytes demonstrate a specific pattern of cytokine expression, namely, elevated levels of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA, a pattern consistent with a T-helper 2 (TH2) pattern of differentiation(12) A possible immunopathogenic role for Th2 CD4+ T lymphocytes in asthma is suggested by the eosinophilia that characterizes asthma in general and the elevated IgE levels associated with allergic asthma.
Optimizing ATM cash flow network management

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service providers are increasingly challenged with improving the quality of customer service while reducing the cost of cash flow management. Effectively balancing the need to have enough cash in the ATMs to avoid out-of-cash incidents as well as to reduce the cash interest cost and the cash refill cost challenges the most experienced cash flow management teams. In this paper we propose an optimization framework for managing the ATM cash flow network. The interactions among various constraints and cost factors are included in the framework to allow decision-making regarding the optimal cash refill amount and schedule. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach using sample data from a large commercial bank.
Underwriting Strategy and the Underwriting Cycle in Medical Malpractice Insurance

The underwriting cycle—the periodic swing in underwriting profitability in the insurance industry—has received considerable research attention. Studies have focused on causes of the cycle, whether there is truly a cycle, and the relationship between insurance company failure rates and the cycle. Little, if any, research, however, has focused on changes in underwriting practices over the course of the underwriting cycle. The current study considers three aspects of insurers’ underwriting strategy: (i) product concentration, (ii) geographic concentration, and (iii) focus on states with caps on general damages. Our analyses of the NAIC data show that all three aspects display trends that run opposite that of the combined ratio in medical malpractice insurance. During soft markets, which are characterised by low prices, low underwriting profitability and high loss ratios, insurers employ a looser underwriting strategy with lower product and geographic concentration, and less focus on safer states. We observe the use of a tighter underwriting strategy during hard markets, when loss ratios are low and prices and profitability are high. On the basis of observed associations between loss ratios and underwriting strategy, we also indirectly test the capital constraint theory and the risky debt theory. Our empirical results show that weakened capital bases at the firm level are associated with tighter underwriting.
A Probabilistic Homomorphic Encryption Algorithm over Integers - Protecting Data Privacy in Clouds

With a practical homomorphic encryption algorithm, cloud service providers can operate on users' encrypted data without having to decrypt the data. Currently only one fully homomorphic encryption algorithm and some of its variants are available in literature, first developed by Graig Gentry in 2009. Unfortunately, these algorithms are not practical because of their prohibitively expensive computing cost. This paper presents an efficient homomorphic encryption algorithm which allows both arithmetic additions and multiplications on cipher texts until the data exceeds the size of the decryption key. The proposed encryption algorithm is probabilistic because every time encrypting a same plaintext it will produce a different cipher text. This probabilistic feature is useful in hiding the equality relationship among encrypted data. In this paper, we also discuss the algorithm's security weakness, which is vulnerable to some attacks. However, in some applications, the algorithm is extremely useful. This paper describes an application of a shared encrypted storage in clouds that the algorithm can be used to protect data privacy from outside attackers. At the end of the paper, we analyze the efficiency of the algorithm, and compare them to the best implementation of the Gentry-like algorithms.
A data-driven smart proxy model for a comprehensive reservoir simulation

One of the most important tools for studying fluid flow behavior in oil and gas reservoirs is reservoir simulation. It is constructed based on a comprehensive geological information. A comprehensive numerical reservoir model has tens of millions of grid blocks. Therefore, it becomes computationally expensive and time consuming to run the model for different reservoir simulation scenarios. There are many efforts have been made to reduce the computational size using the proxy models. Proxy models are the substitute to the complex numerical simulation by producing a meaningful representation of the complex system in a very short time. The conventional proxy models are either statistical or mathematical approaches. These conventional approaches are still limited to the complexity of the reservoir and the number of the numerical simulation runs needed to build the proxy model. In this study, a smart proxy model that is based on artificial intelligence and data mining is presented. A grid based smart proxy model is developed to reproduce the dynamic reservoir properties of a full- field numerical simulation in few seconds. A comprehensive spatio-temporal database is built using the conducted numerical simulation run. The data from the database is trained, calibrated, and verified throughout the development of the smart proxy model. Smart proxy model is able to produce pressure and saturation at each reservoir grid block accurately and with a significantly less computational time compared to the numerical reservoir simulation model.
Facile Soft-Templated Synthesis of High-Surface Area and Highly Porous Carbon Nitrides

Mesoporous carbon nitride is synthesized in a one-pot approach using different nonionic surfactants (Pluronic F-127, Pluronic P-123, and Triton X-100) and a melamine cyanurate hydrogen-bonded complex using just water as the solvent. We obtain three-dimensional assembled nanostructures from low-dimensional carbon nitride sheets by taking advantage of supramolecular assembly of melamine and cyanuric acid, moderate interactions between the surfactant and precursors, structure directing effects of the surfactants, and the good thermal stability of the melamine cyanurate sheets formed around the micelles. Different morphologies, including sheetlike, hollow spherical, and tubular or highly porous networks, result depending upon the synthesis approach and the surfactant/precursor ratio. Pseudoternary phase diagrams map the composition of the starting solution to the resultant carbon nitride morphology. Increasing the amount of surfactant leads to a higher carbon residue (C/N ∼ 1) and large BET surface areas (≤30...
Definitive chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Objective Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is considered the standard of care for organ preservation and is the only potentially curative therapy for surgically unresectable patients with stage III to IVb locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In patients with high risks for adverse events utilizing cisplatin, carboplatin has been empirically substituted. The objective of this study was to estimate the locoregional control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse events in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck patients treated with CRT utilizing carboplatin. Study design A retrospective single-arm analysis. Methods Data on consecutive patients who fit the eligibility criteria were collected. Eligible patients were treated with 70 Gy of radiation therapy and at least two cycles of carboplatin (area of curve [AUC] of 5 between January 2007 to December 2013. Results Fifty-four patients were identified. Overall locoregional control rate was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI] 37%-63%). Median progression-free and overall survival were 21 (CI 11-33) and 40 (CI 33-NA) months, respectively. One-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 81% (CI 67%-89%), 59% (CI 41%-73%), and 42% (CI 22%-61%), respectively. Stage III/IVa patients (n = 45) had a median survival of 62 (CI 37-NA months) and 3 years of 71% (CI 53%-84%), whereas stage IVb (n = 9) had a median survival of 31 (CI 4-NA) months and none survived to 3 years. Conclusion Definitive CRT with carboplatin for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was well tolerated and demonstrated comparable results to CRT with cisplatin. Level of evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2260-2264, 2017.
IMMU-07. CHECKPOINT MOLECULE B7-H3 IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED ON MEDULLOBLASTOMA AND PROVES TO BE A PROMISING CANDIDATE FOR CAR T CELL IMMUNOTHERAPY.

Abstract BACKGROUND: B7-H3 (CD276) is a member of the B7 family of molecules involved in immune regulation and is over-expressed on a wide variety of solid tumor types. For this study we used a second-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell targeting B7-H3 with the 41BB using a binder based on antibody MGA271. This CAR was previously created by the Mackall group and showed strong efficacy against an osteosarcoma model. The goal of this study was to test the anti-tumor function of the B7-H3 CAR in a myc-amplified highly aggressive medulloblastoma xenograft model. METHODS: We screened several medulloblastoma cell lines for B7-H3 expression and tested cytokine release (IL-2, TNF-α, INF-g) in vitro. Immunodeficient mouse xenograft models of a human Group 3, myc-amplified medulloblastoma cancer cell-line (D425) was used for in vivo efficacy studies. RESULTS: High expression of B7-H3 antigen was observed on various medulloblastoma cell lines (D425, MED8A, SU_MB002, D283, D341) and a freshly resected primary tumor sample classified as group 2 SHH subgroup. 24hr co-incubation of B7-H3 CAR T-cells and tumor cells resulted in a high cytokine release of IL-2, TNF-α, INF-g. Administration of a single intratumoral infusion of 1 x 106 B7-H3 CAR T-cells into the posterior fossa was able to eradicate tumor burden. Furthermore, intravenous administered single infusion of 10x 106 B7-H3 CAR T-cells succeeded in crossing the blood-brain barrier and lead to prolonged survival (p= 0,007). CONCLUSIONS: We show B7-H3 overexpression on various medulloblastoma and primary patient sample. CAR T-cell targeting B7-H3 is efficacious in eradicating medulloblastoma.
Loss of coordination in complex directed networks: An incremental approach based on matrix measures

Summary This paper is concerned with the problem of understanding the dynamical mechanisms responsible for the loss of a desired behavior in complex directed networks. Specifically, we give 2 sufficient conditions for the desynchronization of a directed complex network, which are based on the use of matrix measures. The effectiveness of our approach is shown on 2 applications that are directly motivated by our research in smart cities and systems/synthetic biology.
Comorbid Conditions in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Recognition and Management

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology, primarily affects older adults and leads to a progressive decline in lung function and quality of life. With a median survival of 3-5 years, IPF is the most common and deadly of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. Despite the poor survivorship, there exists substantial variation in disease progression, making accurate prognostication difficult. Lung transplantation remains the sole curative intervention in IPF, but two anti-fibrotic therapies were recently shown to slow pulmonary function decline and are now approved for the treatment of IPF in many countries around the world. While the approval of these therapies represents an important first step in combatting of this devastating disease, a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating patients with IPF remains critically important. Included in this comprehensive assessment is the recognition and appropriate management of comorbid conditions. Though IPF is characterized by single organ involvement, many comorbid conditions occur within other organ systems. Common cardiovascular processes include coronary artery disease and pulmonary hypertension, while gastroesophageal reflux and hiatal hernia are the most commonly encountered gastrointestinal disorders. Hematologic abnormalities appear to place patients with IPF at increased risk of venous thromboembolism, while diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism are prevalent metabolic disorders. Several pulmonary comorbidities have also been linked to IPF, and include emphysema, lung cancer and obstructive sleep apnea. While the treatment of some comorbid conditions such as coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism is recommended irrespective of IPF, the benefit of treating others, such as gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary hypertension, remains unclear. In this review we highlight common comorbid conditions encountered in IPF, discuss disease-specific diagnostic modalities and review the current state of treatment data for several key comorbidities.
Moving from Intuition to Data: Building the Evidence to Support and Increase Living Donor Kidney Transplantation.

Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) offers patients with ESRD the best chance for long-term survival ([1][1]). Although kidney transplantation, in general, affords better outcomes than long-term dialysis, LDKT provides benefits over deceased donor kidney transplantation, including faster
7 Evaluating a brief campus sexual assault prevention program for first-year college students

Purpose According to the Centres for Disease Control and the American College Health Association, a comprehensive strategy for campus-based sexual assault prevention should span individual, peer/partner, organisational, and community levels blended with universal, selective, and indicated approaches. Campus-based educational programs are one component of this broad strategy and are often implemented, but rarely evaluated. We present evaluation data from a theoretically-grounded sexual assault prevention program, Relationship Remix, administered on campus to first-year students at a large public university. Relationship Remix falls within the universal prevention domain and spans multiple socio-ecological levels by emphasising individual values and behaviour, including some content on bystander intervention, and being delivered by peers (e.g., trained student volunteers). Methods/Approach First-year students attended the 1.5 hour program in groups during the first semester at a large, public Midwestern university. Students completed web-based surveys immediately before and after attending Relationship Remix. Data regarding attitudes and knowledge are reported among 2305 first-year students who were 55.1% female, 70.7% White, and 90.6% heterosexual. Results On 8 of 10 questionnaire items assessing program-related knowledge and attitudes, students reported significantly more favourable responses at post-test. For example, students reported greater awareness of campus resources, ability to define consent, and confidence in communicating with partners. Conclusion and Significance/Contribution The findings suggest that Relationship Remix positively impacts students’ beliefs and attitudes related to consensual sex and prevention of sexual misconduct. Future research should examine behavioural outcomes and whether this program may be effective in reducing sexual misconduct within multi-pronged prevention strategies. This study provides critical information to inform future prevention programming strategies for campus sexual assault.
Selection of a faculty member in academia: a case for verbal decision analysis

Personnel selection problem is often viewed as a multi criteria problem and there are many examples when different multi criteria techniques support the process. The multi criteria approach was used in several studies of faculty selection in academia but not many recognised that there were peculiarities in the selection process. Most studies concentrated on rank ordering of a small number of finalists while one of the main tasks of the search committee in academia is to select a smaller number of candidates from a possibly large pool of applicants for a more thorough review. In our paper we propose a three-step approach to the problem and recommend verbal decision analysis (VDA) as a tool. Using a VDA method provides a reliable preference elicitation process and the decision rules are easy to understand and explain. Free tool ORCON_Z helps with the practical application. The proposed procedure was well received by the participants and provided valuable information during the selection process.
Pulmonary Complications of Obstetric and Gynecologic Conditions

The respiratory and the female reproductive systems are not embryologically or functionally related. However, the reproductive system can exert significant effects on the respiratory system as a result of the various hormonal changes that occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle and especially during pregnancy. In addition, there are several unique gynecologic and/or obstetric conditions that can directly affect the respiratory system. The following chapter reviews the effects of pregnancy on the respiratory system, as well as the special issues concerning the management of common respiratory conditions (e.g., pneumonia, asthma) during pregnancy. In addition it reviews several gynecologic disorders with unique pulmonary complications.
A case study of psychodynamic group psychotherapy for bipolar disorder.

Background: This study examines the effectiveness of long-term outpatient psychodynamic group psychotherapy for individuals with bipolar disorder who may have psychiatric comorbidity. Method: The I...
Variations on the balloon analogue risk task: A censored regression analysis

In the present project, we reexamined the balloon analogue risk task (BART) by evaluating three variations on the task: one that does not require pumping, one that controls for trial duration, and another that withholds feedback on popping until the end of each trial. To accurately assess the censored data produced by the BART, performance was compared across these variations using Bayesian analysis with censored regression. The first experiment compared a task that required pumping to one that did not, and revealed that the tendency to respond earlier than is optimal does not reflect an avoidance of effort. The second experiment included a condition in which the duration of each trial was held constant by continuing to automatically inflate a balloon to its maximum size after a cash-in response; feedback on the pop time was withheld until the end of each trial. This condition revealed that the tendency to respond earlier is not driven by a desire to finish the task quickly by cashing in early, but the results also strongly suggested that the immediate experience of popping created a greater aversion to risk (although this condition difference was inconsequential by the end of the experiment). The article concludes by considering the implications of these results for cognitive neuroscience approaches to understanding performance on the BART.
Investigating learning outcomes and subjective experiences in 360-degree videos

Abstract Virtual Reality experiences, particularly the 360-degree video, have become popular in recent years for creating immersive educational experiences. However, much is still unknown regarding the educational effectiveness of this medium. Here we examined pre-to-post changes in well-being, simulator sickness, and learning outcomes across four devices of varying levels of immersion: a smartphone, Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift DK2, and Oculus CV1 using a space-themed 360° educational video. More immersive devices induced greater induction of place illusion, greater positive affect, and better learning outcomes while demonstrating low prevalence of simulator sickness. Greater immersion was also associated with an increased interest in learning more about the video's subject-matter. On the other hand, less immersive technology led to increased simulation sickness which may have led to suboptimal educational experiences. Overall, we found support for the hypothesis that highly immersive experiences using 360° videos provide positive educational experiences while minimizing simulator sickness.
Weakly anisotropic residual contact stress in silicon demonstrated by electron backscatter diffraction and expanding cavity models

The residual stress field surrounding an elastic-plastic spherical indentation contact in Si is determined by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)-based experimental measurements and expanding hemispherical cavity-based models. The experiments provide support for indentations as test vehicles for assessment of EBSD as a two-dimensional deformation mapping method but make clear that selection of coordinate axes is critical to determining the correct representation of a stress field. The use of principal stress coordinates rather than the conventional Cartesian coordinates is required in cases in which the direction of the stress field is not aligned with Cartesian axes. In particular, the use of principal coordinates in the analysis of a spherical indentation stress field in Si removed misleading artefacts from the Cartesian-based field and revealed only a weak effect of Si crystalline elastic anisotropy. The experimental results are supported by isotropic and anisotropic finite element analysis models.
Integrated Lithium Niobate Photonic and Applications

I will present ultra-low loss thin film lithium niobate photonics platform that enables realization of high-Q optical cavities, efficient electro-optic modulators, and broad frequency combs. Applications in telecommunications, microwave-photonics, and quantum photonics will be discussed. © 2019 The Author(s)
A Study on Recent Applications of Blockchain Technology in Vehicular Adhoc Network (VANET)

Technology has taken over aspects of our lives today, which were unimaginable a few years ago. Innovations such as high-end transport systems that include connected autonomous vehicles (CAV), and digital currencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, have made our lives more comfortable and convenient. It may not seem at first, but most of these technologies work on similar lines. For example, CAVs use DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) technology, which has a peer-to-peer aspect. On the other hand, Bitcoin uses a technology called Blockchain, which was founded on its peer-to-peer nature and lack of need for a trusted central authority. Cybersecurity of vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) has become a prime research area for cybersecurity researchers. Minor vulnerabilities in VANET may lead to severe fatalities. This concernment has engaged numerous researchers with the purpose of improving the defense mechanism of these susceptible networks. This paper presents a brief meta-analysis of the field of cybersecurity of autonomous vehicles using Blockchain and discusses how VANETs and CAVs can be protected using the same.