cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU‐HH‐AUD C‐03: Machine Learning Tools for Predicting Clinical Complications in a Multi‐Plan IMRT Framework

Purpose: To apply machine learning algorithms to predict clinical outcomes (saliva flow rate, rectal bleeding, EUD, NTCP and PUC) for treatment plans taking into account dose and dose‐volume information. Method and Materials: One hundred twenty‐five (125) plans were generated for a representative head and neck case by varying the input dose‐volume constraints on the OARs (left parotid, right parotid and cord). The method that we used to predict continuous saliva flow rate from the treatment input constraint settings is a sequential minimal optimization algorithm for training a support vector regression model. Two hundred fifty‐six (256) plans were generated for the whole pelvis case by varying the input dose‐volume constraints on the rectum, bladder and bowel. We use the threshold of 66%/50Gy in conjunction with binary classification to predict rectal bleeding. The binary classification method employed is an optimized decision tree. We also calculated the EUD, NTCP, TCP and PUC for both 125 head and neck cases and 256 pelvic cases. Both Lyman‐Kutcher‐Burman (LKB) and Kallam and Agren‐Cronqvist's NTCP models were used. Both continuous and categorical values of these biological measures were predicted by modeling the planning surface using quadratic models and solving with linear programming with three different objective functions: minimizing maximum relative error, absolute error and sum of absolute errors. Results: We repeated the 10‐fold cross‐validation process 10 times and obtained a mean absolute error of 0.00078 with a 95% confidence interval [0.000769, 0.000792] for normalized saliva flow rate. We achieved an average correct prediction percentage of 97.35% and a 95% confidence interval for the correct prediction percentage as [96.89%, 97.81%]. Categorical correct prediction percentages for EUD, NTCP and PUC ranged from 75% to 96%. Conclusion: Our results indicate that machine learning techniques provide invaluable tools for the prediction of treatment complications from input constraints in a multi‐plan environment.
Sequential Bayesian inference models for multiple object classification

This paper explores the use of a Bayesian inference model for updating the classifications of multiple objects simultaneously when given a measurement on only one of the objects. It is proven that with prior knowledge on the number of objects being tracked, each measurement can update the probability mass function for every tracked object. This result is generalized to sensors that can only classify subsets of the objects. The paper also shows empirically that the rate of convergence to the correct classifications for all objects using this model is improved over tracking each object independently. Finally, the paper ends by demonstrating the efficacy of the model by fusing measurements from two different classification sensors in a multiple target tracking scenario.
Generalization Bounds for Time Series Prediction with Non-stationary Processes

This paper presents the first generalization bounds for time series prediction with a non-stationary mixing stochastic process. We prove Rademacher complexity learning bounds for both average-path generalization with non-stationary β-mixing processes and path-dependent generalization with non-stationary ϕ-mixing processes. Our guarantees are expressed in terms of β- or ϕ-mixing coefficients and a natural measure of discrepancy between training and target distributions. They admit as special cases previous Rademacher complexity bounds for non-i.i.d. stationary distributions, for independent but not identically distributed random variables, or for the i.i.d. case. We show that, using a new sub-sample selection technique we introduce, our bounds can be tightened under the natural assumption of convergent stochastic processes. We also prove that fast learning rates can be achieved by extending existing local Rademacher complexity analysis to non-i.i.d. setting.
Recruitment sources of invasive Bighead carp ( Hypopthalmichthys nobilis ) and Silver carp ( H. molitrix ) inhabiting the Illinois River

Knowledge of natal environments and dispersal of invasive Bighead carp (Hypopthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver carp (H. molitrix) inhabiting the Illinois River would be valuable for directing population reduction efforts intended to supplement electrical barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and limit the probability of these species invading the Great Lakes. However, the extent to which Bighead carp and Silver carp (collectively referred to as bigheaded carps) stocks in the Illinois River are derived from recruits that originate within the Illinois River itself versus immigrants from the Mississippi and Missouri rivers is unknown. Bigheaded carps are also known to use connected floodplain lakes during early life, but the contribution of these habitats to recruitment of Bighead and Silver carps in the Illinois River is also unknown. The aim of this study was to identify natal environment of adult bigheaded carps collected from the Illinois River during 2010–2011 using stable isotope and trace element analyses of otolith cores. Both water and otolith strontium:calcium ratios (Sr:Ca) and water and otolith oxygen isotope ratios (expressed as δ18O) were strongly correlated for known-origin bigheaded carps, consistent with other fish species. Most Bighead and Silver carps collected from the Illinois River used river channel rather than floodplain lake habitats during early life. The majority of adult Silver carp originated in the Illinois River, although 11–39 % were immigrants from the Missouri or middle Mississippi Rivers. In contrast, 97 % of the Bighead carp originated in the Illinois River. Our results indicate that efforts to substantially reduce abundance of bigheaded carps in the Illinois River drainage should continue to focus on the Illinois River itself, but will likely need to be expanded to include the middle Mississippi and Missouri Rivers for sustainable control of Silver carp.
Cutaneous vascular sensitivity to lower aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes in Orientals.

An ethnic predisposition to ethanol-provoked flushing among diverse Mongoloid populations may be the consequence of a delayed oxidation and accumulation of acetakfehyde. Orientals who flush after oral alcohol are more likely to have cutaneous erythema after topical ethanol or propanol, and the cutaneous vascular reaction to primary alcohols is actually provoked by the corresponding aldehyde. The cutaneous reaction to primary alcohols can be totally blocked by pretreatment with 4-methylpyrazole, a potent inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase.
The effect of customer segmentation on an inventory system in the presence of supply disruptions

Customer segmentation is an important marketing tool. Effective customer segmentation helps the enterprises increase profits and improve customer service level. On the other hand, due to possible detrimental consequences, supply disruptions have been receiving more and more attention. This paper aims to investigate the effect of customer segmentation on a single-product inventory system in the presence of supply disruptions. The concerned inventory system involves an unreliable supplier, a retailer, and customers. The retailer adopts a continuous-review (s, S) inventory policy. Partial backordering is considered when stockouts occur. This inventory system is simulated. Based on different customer backorder proportions, the effect of customer segmentation on the inventory system is studied under different scenarios about supply disruption severity. The experimental results show that supply disruption duration is an important factor in influencing the effect of customer segmentation on the inventory system. Some managerial insights are also derived from the results.
Instructional Effectiveness in the SHL Classroom: Comparing Teacher and Student Perceptions.

This article reports on a comparative study of teacher and student perceptions on effective instructional practices in the Spanish heritage language classroom. The data were collected through an online questionnaire administered to 460 students in different Spanish courses and 9 instructors at a large university as well as focus groups. Based on the results, it is suggested that teachers work toward a mutual understanding with students about the main classroom pedagogical activities, methods, and tools to prevent student dissatisfaction and disengagement.
An Optimal Approach to the Inverse Problem

We describe how remote sensing problems can be reformulated within the framework of optimization theory. This reformulation allows any prior knowledge about the solution to be naturally incorporated into the solution process. The inversion problem then reduces to a search for the global extremum in the possible presence of local extrema. Two algorithms are presented that can be used to solve this global optimization problem, and their application to the helioseismology inverse problem is detailed.
Chauncy, Gordon, and Ferré: Sovereign Love and Universal Salvation in the New England Tradition

John Hick has recently observed that within the "spectrum of disarray" in recent Christian theology regarding life after death, some "moderately traditional theologians," while retaining the idea of an afterlife, have moved to an avowal of universal salvation.' In part the importance of this trend lies in the fact that theologians of a universalist persuasion-Hick himself being a notable example-may now increasingly be accounted significant rather than peripheral figures. While universalism has always been an available option for a few, constituting since the early Christian centuries "a small underground stream of belief,"2 it has usually been strongly opposed by orthodox thinkers.
Women’s Situational Coping With Acquaintance Sexual Assault Applying an Appraisal-Based Model

Drawing on theories of appraisal-based coping, the present study applied structural modeling to examine relationships among personal goal orientations, primary and secondary appraisals of acquaintance sexual assault, and women’s emotional and behavioral responses to it. Based on 415 college women’s reports of a sexual assault experience, the model shows both direct and indirect effects. Assertive, diplomatic, and immobilized responding were each predicted by a unique profile of appraisals and orientations; personal goal orientations and primary appraisals were completely mediated by secondary appraisals. Ways that these findings can facilitate self-protective coping in an acquaintance sexual assault situation, leading to the development of effective, well-tailored self-defense and resistance programs, are discussed.
Cloning and Characterization of a Family of cDNAs from Human Histiocyte Macrophage Cells Encoding an Arginine-rich Basic Protein Related to the 70 kD U1-snRNP Splicing Factor

This paper describes the cloning and characterization of five cDNA members of a novel family of mRNAs, termed hm-1, isolated from human U937 macrophage cells. Two family members (clones 46 and 11) show complete mRNA features [including ribosome binding sites (RBS), polyadenylation signals, and poly(A) tails], and encode the same protein (designated HM-1), but differ substantially in their 5′ untranslated regions. The three other cDNAs (clones 20, 60, and 38) appear to represent partial cDNAs. The protein sequences deduced from the five hm-1 cDNAs are identical (some truncated), except for one Trp → Cys substitution. Full-length HM-1 is 246 amino acids long, has a predicted MW of 29431, is rich in arginine residues, has a pi of 10.25, and a mean hydrophobicity index of -1.23. HM-1 contains no obvious hydrophobic N-terminal cleavable signal sequence, and no potential N-glycosylation sites, but does contain three highly conserved motifs present in U1-70K splicing factors, and contains numerous C-terminal Arg...
Stabilization of active-site loops in NH3-dependent NAD+ synthetase from Bacillus subtilis

The NH3-dependent NAD+ synthetase (NADS) participates in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) by transforming nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NaAD) to NAD+. The structural behavior of the active site, including stabilization of flexible loops 82–87 and 204–225, has been studied by determination of the crystal structures of complexes of NADS with natural substrates and a substrate analog. Both loops are stabilized independently of NaAD and solely from the ATP-binding site. Analysis of the binding contacts suggests that the minor loop 82–87 is stabilized primarily by a hydrogen bond with the adenine base of ATP. Formation of a coordination complex with Mg2+ in the ATP-binding site may contribute to the stabilization of the major loop 204–225. The major loop has a role in substrate recognition and stabilization, in addition to the protection of the reaction intermediate described previously. A second and novel Mg2+ position has been observed closer to the NaAD-binding site in the structure crystallized at pH 7.5, where the enzyme is active. This could therefore be the catalytically active Mg2+.
Pancreas-specific deletion of Prox1 affects development and disrupts homeostasis of the exocrine pancreas.

Background & Aims The exocrine portion of the pancreas functions in digestion and preserves pancreatic homeostasis. Learning how this tissue forms during embryogenesis could improve our understanding of human pancreatic diseases. Expression of the homeobox gene Prox1 in the exocrine pancreas changes throughout development in mice. We investigated the role of Prox1 in development of the exocrine pancreas in mice. Methods Mice with pancreas-specific deletion of Prox1 ( Prox1 ΔPanc ) were generated and their pancreatic tissues were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, histologic techniques, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and morphometric analysis. Results Loss of Prox1 from the pancreas led to multiple exocrine alterations, most notably premature acinar cell differentiation, increased ductal cell proliferation, altered duct morphogenesis, and imbalanced expression of claudin proteins. Prox1 ΔPanc mice also had some minor alterations in islet cells, but beta-cell development was not affected. The exocrine congenital defects of Prox1 ΔPanc pancreata appeared to initiate a gradual process of deterioration that resulted in extensive loss of acinar cells, lipomatosis, and damage to ductal tissue in adult mice. Conclusions Pancreas-specific deletion of Prox1 causes premature differentiation of acinar cells and poor elongation of epithelial branches; these defects indicate that Prox1 controls the expansion of tip progenitors in the early developing pancreas. During later stages of embryogenesis, Prox1 appears to regulate duct cell proliferation and morphogenesis. These findings identify Prox1 as an important regulator of pancreatic exocrine development.
Biogenic Amine Formation in Fresh Vacuum-Packaged Beef During Storage at 1°C for 120 Days1

Undesirable changes in vacuum-packaged beef products during prolonged storage can present a problem to some consumers. Bacterial proteolysis and decarboxylation can release pressor amines, such as tyramine and histamine, that can be toxic when ingested by individuals taking monoamine oxidase-inhibiting drugs. This study determined the effect of carcass decontamination on bacterial growth and biogenic amine production in vacuum-packaged subprimals. Beef carcasses were treated with 200 ppm chlorine or 3% lactic acid sprays, fabricated, vacuum packaged, and stored at 1°C. Samples were evaluated up to 120 d for amine concentrations, total aerobic counts, and lactic acid bacteria. Of all the amines monitored, only tyramine was consistently detected over the course of the study. Significant levels of tyramine were detected starting at day 20 of storage in all treatments and controls. By day 60, the levels had increased to about 50 μg/g and continued to increase to about 180 μg/g by 120 d of storage. Tryptamine was detected in some samples by 60 d of storage, but the levels were variable and did not follow any trend. Initial aerobic plate counts ranged from 10-200 CFU/cm2, whereas lactic acid bacteria counts were from 6-46 CFU/cm2. Bacterial numbers increased exponentially until about day 60, when they leveled off at between 106-107 CFU/cm2, with no differences between any of the treatments and/or controls. Although the vacuum-packaged beef was organoleptically acceptable up to day 60 (day 90 for some samples), it could pose some risk to individuals sensitive to biogenic amines if the product is stored at 1°C or higher for 60 d or more.
Incommensurability and Deliberation: Prolegomena to Pluralist Politics

This paper explores the implications of certain modes of practical reasoning and judgment for liberal-democratic political practices. I approach the question of practical reasoning through the lens of a problem in the theory of value pluralism, as inspired by the writings of Isaiah Berlin. Value pluralists posit that some goods and values are incommensurable to one another; however, this claim presents a puzzle for how best to conceive of reasoned choice between incommensurable alternatives. If the objects of choice are incommensurable to one another, and thus cannot be measured or ranked, how can agents make reasoned choices among them? Are there ways of conceiving of the meaning of in commensurability and the nature of practical reasoning such that the two can fit together? While many writers in the literature on value pluralism have acknowledged this problem, no one has, as of yet, developed a satisfactory response to it. I propose to take up this task by elaborating some important features of practical reasoning, centered on our ability to give an account of our choices to one another. On my view, practical reasoning is not formal, but highly contextual. Our ability to give accounts of our choices consists in reconstructing the particular details of competing considerations, and elaborating the reasons attaching to them. This is not a process of commensuration, but it is a type of reasoning. I bring these considerations to bear on political theory by highlighting their significance for thinking about the political implications of value pluralism. On this view, value pluralism generates liberal practices that are, because rooted in this contextualism, more open-ended and deliberative than prevailing judicial, rights-based approaches.
Effect of column and mobile phase modifications on retention behavior in size exclusion chromatography of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on poly(divinylbenzene).

Results are reported from a study, the goal of which was the reduction of the nonsize effects that govern the size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on poly(divinylbenzene) (PDVB). Thought to arise from electron-pair donor--electron-pair acceptor (EPD-EPA) interactions between column packing and PAH eluate, nonsize effects could be substantially reduced by the addition of bulky substituents to the PAH, thereby perturbing EPD-EPA interactions between column and eluate. In this work we study the effect of adding a bulky substituent to the column material itself and have selected a sulfonated column material for this purpose. The-SO2OH group provides considerable steric shielding of the PDVB phenyl groups from the PAH eluates and thus its presence could weaken column-eluate interactions, but it is also electron-withdrawing and could possibly aggravate nonsize behavior, because the electron-pair acceptor strength of PDVB could be increased by electron-withdrawing substituents. It was found that either an increase or decrease of EPD-EPA bonding could result with the sulfonated PDVB (S-PDVB) columns, depending on the nature of the mobile phase. Size-dependent elution of PAHs could be obtained with S-PDVB for two classes of PAH by the inclusion of a small amount of hydrogen-bonding solvent, i.e. methanol, to the mobile phase. It is thought that the methanol additive, by strongly hydrogen bonding with the S-PDVB sulfonic acid groups, provides the additional steric shielding necessary to minimize EPD-EPA interactions.
Sequential Cooperative Robust Optimization (SCRO) for Multi-Objective Design Under Uncertainty

The optimal design of systems under uncertainty is a critical challenge faced by design engineers. Robust optimization is a well-studied and widely used technique for the design of engineering systems that possess uncertainty, and numerous robust optimization techniques have been presented in recent years. The majority of the robust optimization techniques presented in the literature suffer from a computational efficiency challenge, either due to the expense of obtaining objective or constraint function uncertainty information, or due to the fact that many robust optimization approaches (with a few notable exceptions) require that a potentially expensive uncertainty analysis calculation (e.g. Monte-Carlo simulation) be nested within an already potentially expensive optimization solver (e.g. a genetic algorithm). Additionally, many robust optimization approaches focus solely on design problems that possess a single design objective, and the robust techniques that do consider problems with multiple design objectives often require various simplifying assumptions or are even more computationally expensive to implement. Clearly there are opportunities for improvement in the area of robust optimization, and this paper presents a new robust design Optimization approach called Sequential Cooperative Robust Optimization (SCRO), which uses both a sequential approach and multi-objective optimization techniques in an effort to decouple the deterministic system optimization problem from the associated uncertainty analysis problem. The SCRO approach first fits surrogate models to the system objective and constraint functions, in addition to system sensitivity functions, using as few function calls as possible in order to improve computational efficiency. The approach then performs a series of sequential multi-objective optimizations using the developed surrogate models. These optimizations work to find points in the design space that are optimal with respect to deterministic performance and both objective and feasibility robustness metrics based on predicted system sensitivities. The SCRO approach has the potential to find solutions not available to other robust optimization approaches, and can be more efficient than other more traditional robust optimization techniques due to its use of surrogate approximation and a sequential framework.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Politics and Religion

Although neither politics nor religion admit of easy definition, witness the voluminous literature filled with discussions of what they are all about, the relations between them are quite varied and complex and often they exhibit struggles and contests at several levels of social reality. Here I intend to explore some of the relations between politics and religion. I am inclined to do so for several reasons. Two major issues addressed by sociologists during the 1970s-I refer to studies of civil religion (cf. Sociological Analysis, 1976, n. 2) and new religious movements (Robbins and Anthony, 1978)-have raised many questions about the relations between religion and politics. I am prompted further to explore the relations between them because of their importance in international affairs, too little attended to in the sociology of religion. Moreover, the struggles within nations such as Iran, Poland, Russia, about which we have had papers during these meetings, are to some extent religio-political contests. In addition, the religious situation in many Latin American countries has fostered dissent from the regnant political orders, a major example being the governmental policy of abertura, an apparent advance toward democratization in Brazil which has been opposed in many particulars by church spokesmen in this predominantly Catholic population (Lernoux, 1980). Those conflicts in Brazil have recently been in the news because of the visit of the peripatetic John Paul, who has raised political dust in several countries during the past year but who is always in danger of being used by the current political leadership. The tasks of the 1980s in the sociology of religion must surely include careful attention to the relations between politics and religion whether in the form of Church-state issues, the connections between religion and civil society or the nexus between religious orientations and the modes of historical action. Overall the objective here is mainly theoretical, that is, an attempt at aiding inquiries into several analytical dimensions of the issues. I The approach in this paper explores a basic dilemma of our time, a dilemma that in nuce I call pluralization versus privatization. On the side of pluralization, there is evidence of increased publicization of private matters by those promoting apparently private interests and objectives as if they were indeed matters central to the public good. The issue becomes more complicated because of the multiplication of actors who are engaged in the promotion of the common welfare and because of the increased diversity of opinion and act among those engaged in public affairs. The increased numbers and diversity by themselves would not pose difficulties were it not
Overseas M&A:How Chinese Enterprises Cope with the Challenges from the Europe and America's Anti-monopoly

With the rapid development of Chinese economy and the encouragement of government policies,more and more Chinese enterprises began to go abroad to acquire overseas enterprises,trying to cross-border industrial restructuring.However,anti-monopoly laws are causing failures of some of these MA activities.This article attempts to present for the Chinese enterprises seeking overseas MA tentative tactics by analyzing anti-monopoly legal system and trends in the context of Chinese enterprises.
Exploratory research on eliminating high-abundance proteins in human serum by acetonitrile precipitation

Objective:To explore the effect of acetonitrile precipitation on eliminating high-abundance proteins in human serum.Methods:Elimination of serum high-abundance proteins were practiced with different volume acetonitrile precipitation.Results:The method of acetonitrile precipitation could eliminate the vast majority of high abundance proteins in serum and gain more proteins of low molecular weight.2 times volume of acetonitrile combined with 0.1% TFA could more effective eliminate highly abundant proteins.Conclusion:Acetonitrile precipitation can eliminate high abundant proteins in human serum,which is a convenient,economic,effective method of eliminating micro-molecular protein in human serum.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: Definition, Staging, and Ultrasound Assessment.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the definition of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and the sonographic diagnostic assessment of these cases prior to therapy. Materials and Methods: The article addresses the terminology used to refer to the condition and describes the systematic ultrasound assessment of the condition, including the ultrasound diagnosis, the staging of the disease, cervical assessment and pre-operative mapping. Results: From an etymologic and medical point of view, the term ‘fetofetal transfusion’ is more appropriate than ‘TTTS’. However, as the latter, and its attendant acronym TTTS, have been widely adopted in the English language, it is impractical to change at this point. TTTS is defined sonographically in the combined presence of a maximum vertical pocket (MVP) of 8 cm or greater in one sac and 2 cm or less in the other sac, regardless of the gestational age at diagnosis. Staging of the condition using the Quintero staging system is practical, reproducible, and accepted. Transvaginal cervical length assessment should be an integral part of the ultrasound evaluation. Pre-operative mapping to anticipate the location of the placental vascular anastomoses and avoid injuring the dividing membrane is also discussed. Conclusions: The term ‘TTTS’ can continue to be used in the English medical literature. The condition can be diagnosed and assessed following a systematic ultrasound methodology. The use of such ultrasound methodology breaks the examination into a distinct set of components, assuring a comprehensive examination and proper communication among caregivers.
Causal Schemata and the Attribution of Supernatural Causality

The present study sought to explore the causal schemata operating in attributions to supernatural causes. The decision to attribute an event to supernatural as opposed to natural causes was expecte...
MANY CANDIDATES, FEW CHOICES

We are about to enter a new millennium. The world will be celebrating. But nobody will bring us any joy. I tell you, there is nobody to vote for in Russia. Irina, unemployed mechanical engineer The hallmark of any democratic election is a ballot that presents voters with distinct choices over candidates and parties and, presumably, policies. Candidates shape these choices through their electoral strategies – whether they run for office, whether they join a party, which district they contest, and how they campaign. Thus, candidates and their decisions shape election outcomes, ranging from national results – winners and losers, legislative factions and governments – to electoral infrastructure – information about voters' preferences and the viability of candidate or party strategies, coordination among voters and candidates, and cooperation in political parties. This chapter focuses on the first of these decisions: the decision to contest a seat in the State Duma. As noted in Chapter 2, Russia's experience with competitive elections highlights an important paradox: Offering voters choices between different candidates does not always produce a consolidated democracy. The analysis of candidate entry provides the first illustration of this phenomenon. While the number of candidates contesting each seat in Russia has declined over time, it remains high. Many hopeless candidates vie for each national legislative mandate. Some races are decided by a small plurality of votes. Many candidates run as independents.
Grasshopper growth cones: divergent choices and labeled pathways.

Publisher Summary The growth cones of individual neurons traverse long distances during embryogenesis, yet they find their correct targets and make their appropriate synaptic connections. One would like to understand how growth cones know where to go (pathway selection) and in particular, how the growth cones of different cells, confronted with the same environment, are determined to make different and stereotyped choices of which way to go. Results demonstrate that growth cones find their correct targets not by random growth, but rather by an active process of precise pathfinding. This chapter shows that the growth cones of pioneer neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) establish stereotyped axonal pathways. The chapter emphasizes the divergent choices made by the growth cones of two sibling pioneer neurons. Later it shows that the growth cones of later cells follow specific axonal pathways laid down by pioneers, and when confronted with several available pathways, make specific choices of which one to follow. The divergent choices made by the growth cones of two sibling interneurons are also emphasized here. Neuronal specificity results in large part from the ability of each individual growth cone to make a sequential series of pathway choices that take it to its correct target. These results lead to propose the “labeled pathways” hypothesis whereby axonal pathways are differentially labeled, probably by cell surface markers, and growth cones use these labels for guidance. One way to search for these “labels” is to make monoclonal antibodies, and progress made using this approach is discussed in this chapter.
New directions of catalysis research

Abstract A variety of surface science technologies have been applied on catalysis studies, in an effort to understand surface structure, composition and chemical bonding in catalytic reactions at a molecular level. Many of the characterizations, however, were performed in vacuum before and after the reactions. A new direction in surface science and catalysis is to study the surface structures and surface intermediates in situ during the high pressure/high temperature reactions. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and infrared–visible sum frequency generation (SFG) are viable for the task. In order to obtain a better comprehension of industrial catalysts, model supported catalysts with ordered structures should be introduced into catalysis research. Metal clusters of uniform size and separation can be produced on oxide surfaces by lithographic microfabrication technologies.
Phase I study of definitive chemoradiation with gemcitabine and the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 in unresectable pancreatic cancer.

TPS512Background: Targeting cell cycle checkpoints has the potential to enhance the efficacy of chemoradiation therapy. Tumor cells commonly have an abnormal G1 checkpoint due to mutations in the p53 pathway making them reliant on the G2 checkpoint to repair DNA damage. In our preclinical studies, WEE1 inhibition with AZD1775 abrogates the G2 checkpoint and sensitizes pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenografts to chemoradiation. Additionally, AZD1775 attenuates homologous recombination repair and promotes replication stress in cancer cells. Given our preclinical findings, we designed a phase I dose escalation study of the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 with gemcitabine and radiation in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (NCT02037230). Methods: The primary objective of our phase I study is to determine the MTD (maximum tolerated dose) of AZD1775 when combined with gemcitabine and radiation in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Our secondary objectives are to estimate the efficacy of this ...
Large dynamic range terahertz spectrometers based on plasmonic photomixers (Conference Presentation)

Heterodyne terahertz spectrometers are highly in demand for space explorations and astrophysics studies. A conventional heterodyne terahertz spectrometer consists of a terahertz mixer that mixes a received terahertz signal with a local oscillator signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal in the radio frequency (RF) range, where it can be easily processed and detected by RF electronics. Schottky diode mixers, superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers and hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers are the most commonly used mixers in conventional heterodyne terahertz spectrometers. While conventional heterodyne terahertz spectrometers offer high spectral resolution and high detection sensitivity levels at cryogenic temperatures, their dynamic range and bandwidth are limited by the low radiation power of existing terahertz local oscillators and narrow bandwidth of existing terahertz mixers. To address these limitations, we present a novel approach for heterodyne terahertz spectrometry based on plasmonic photomixing. The presented design replaces terahertz mixer and local oscillator of conventional heterodyne terahertz spectrometers with a plasmonic photomixer pumped by an optical local oscillator. The optical local oscillator consists of two wavelength-tunable continuous-wave optical sources with a terahertz frequency difference. As a result, the spectrometry bandwidth and dynamic range of the presented heterodyne spectrometer is not limited by radiation frequency and power restrictions of conventional terahertz sources. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept terahertz spectrometer with more than 90 dB dynamic range and 1 THz spectrometry bandwidth.
Single-stage laparoscopic management of choledocholithiasis: An analysis after implementation of a mastery learning resident curriculum.

Abstract Background Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is an underutilized treatment for choledocholithiasis. We sought to evaluate the impact of a simulation-based mastery-learning curriculum for surgical residents on laparoscopic common bile duct exploration utilization and to compare outcomes for patients treated with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods The number of laparoscopic common bile duct explorations performed before and after curriculum implementation was reviewed and outcomes were compared between patients with choledocholithiasis managed with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Based on cost savings from increased utilization of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, the annual return on investment associated with the curriculum was calculated. Results Twenty-two residents completed the curriculum. In the pre-curriculum period, an average of 1.7 laparoscopic common bile duct explorations was performed yearly, which increased to 8.4 cases per year after curriculum implementation (P Conclusion A simulation-based mastery-learning curriculum increased institutional utilization of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and adoption of the curriculum resulted in positive return on investment.
PROSPECTS FOR SMALL CRYOCOOLERS

Small cryocoolers are commonly used in the areas of infrared detection, satellite communication, and cryopumps. Some emerging application areas deal with SQUID and Josephson junction devices, which require temperatures of about 8 K or below. The need for high reliability in these small cryocoolers has dictated the use of regenerative-cycle machines, but such machines are presently limited to temperatures above about 8 K. This paper discusses some of the research being done to improve reliability, decrease noise, and reduce the low-temperature limit of small cryocoolers.
Does crash risk increase when emergency vehicles are driving with lights and sirens

Abstract Introduction Emergency vehicles, such as police, ambulances, and fire vehicles, need to arrive at the scene of emergencies as quickly as possible, and thus they often travel in emergency mode – using their lights and sirens and often bypassing traffic signals. We examined whether travelling in emergency mode increased crash risk among police, ambulance and fire vehicles. Methods We conducted a quasi-induced exposure analysis using data from the Iowa Crash Database for the period of 2005 through 2013. The data are maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IADOT), Office of Driver Services (ODS) and includes all investigating police officer's reports of motor vehicle crashes. The quasi-induced exposure method is an approach to calculate crash risk in the absence of exposure data using vehicles without a contributing cause (did not contribute to the crash) as a proxy for the baseline driving population. Results From 2005 – 2013, police vehicles were involved in 2406 crashes and ambulances and fire vehicles were involved in 528 crashes. Police vehicles were 1.8 times more likely to crash while driving in emergency mode than usual mode; this was a statistically significant increase. Ambulance and fire vehicles were not more likely to crash in emergency mode compared with usual mode. For police, other factors that contributed to crash risk included gender, age, icy/snowy roads, unpaved roads, and intersections. For ambulances and fire vehicles, other factors that contributed to crash risk included gender, age, weekends, icy/snowy roads and urban locations. Conclusion Crash risk increased when police vehicles drove with lights and sirens but did not increase for ambulance and fire vehicles. Further research is necessary to develop and evaluate strategies to mitigate crash risk among police vehicles. Cultural approaches which prioritize transportation safety in conjunction with reaching the scene as quickly as possible may be warranted.
Applied Social Research, History of

The history of applied social research is reviewed. The social sciences generally are a product of the Enlightenment and most of the social sciences originated in applied concerns. Thus, in contrast to the conventional view that the basic science is developed first and then applied to solving certain problems, most of the social sciences developed in the opposite direction: in the effort to understand and solve various social problems (education, crime, poverty, pestilence), the pioneers of the social sciences developed the theories, concepts, and methods that came eventually to comprise the basic disciplines. The history of applied social research is, indeed, the history of the social sciences themselves.
Adult-onset idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and pregnancy in a 35-year-old woman: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is a rare condition characterized by low gonadotropin production, absent or incomplete puberty and absence of a central nervous system tumor. An adult-onset form of IHH has been found previously only in men. CASE: A 35-year-old woman completed puberty and experienced monthly menstrual cycles for 5 years before developing hypogonadotropic secondary amenorrhea that lasted for 17 years. Clinical evaluation failed to explain her prolonged hypogonadotropic amenorrhea, and successful pregnancy was completed following induction of ovulation with exogenous gonadotropin therapy. CONCLUSION: This case may represent an extreme of the phenotypic spectrum of IHH that has been previously reported to occur in men only. In gonadotropin-sensitive women, pregnancy may be achieved with administration of exogenous human menopausal gonadotropins or with gonadotropin-releasing hormone by infusion pump.
Carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex control of venular pressure diameter relations in rat intestine

We tested the hypothesis that the venules of the small intestinal muscle are responsible for decreases in vascular capacitance during bilateral carotid artery occlusion. We measured microvascular v...
Occupational Disease: Magnitude and Issues of the Problem

Even when based on clear information, costly regulatory decisions will be controversial. When the decisions are costly and when the data on which they are based are uncertain—when the data do not come close to suggesting a technically “correct” path—the decisions are even more disputed. This uncertainty gives political and organizational factors considerable room in which to operate. This chapter discusses key issues and uncertainties in toxic-substance control prior to discussing political and organizational factors in Chapter 3.
Relationships between Arceuthobium americanum and the structure of Pinus contorta var. murrayana stands in central Oregon

We examined the importance of the dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobiumamericanum in determining the size-class structure ofPinuscontorta var. murrayana forests in the centralOregon pumice zone. We considered the interrelationships among A.americanum abundance, P. contorta populationstructure, soil type, site topography, the density of competing tree and shrubspecies, and understory woody litter. We found that A.americanum was associated with reduced live basal area(P < 0.001) and increased bole diameter variability(P < 0.001) of P. contorta, andalso with an increase in the density of saplings and seedlings(P < 0.001) at the expense of dominant andtall-intermediate trees. Saplings and seedlings were over 15 times as dense inheavily infested stands as in uninfested stands. Reflecting this shift towardsmaller size classes, each unit increase in stand-level dwarf mistletoe rating(DMR) reduced live basal area by 1.32 m2/ha and reducedthe density of dominant-sized trees by 45 trees/ha. The significant reductionsin live basal area and the density of dominant trees contrast with otherstudiesconducted in P. contorta stands containing A.americanum. However, DMR uniquely explained less than 25% of thetotal site-level variance in all size class variables except sapling density(36%), and varied in importance relative to interspecific competition betweenPinus ponderosa and P. contorta, theeffects of abiotic factors, and intercohort dynamics in determining thestructureof P. contorta stands across the study site. DMR uniquelyexplained less of the variance in live basal area (12%) than abiotic factors(28%) and P. ponderosa density (16%), and only 15% ofvariability in the density of the dominant P. contortasizeclass. Furthermore, the relative effects of DMR on specific P.contorta size classes varied across patch- and stand-level spatialscales. We conclude that the relative importance of the effects of A.americanum on specific P. contorta size classesdepends on spatial scale, and should be interpreted in relation to patchdynamics, site-level topoedaphic variability, and interspecific competitionamong the dominant tree species present.
Drugs That Act on the Immune System: Immunosuppressive and Immunostimulatory Drugs

Abstract Side Effects of Drugs Annual is an annual publication including the most recently published adverse effects and toxicities associated with medications. The series supplements the contents of Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs: The International Encyclopedia of Adverse Drug Reactions and Interactions. This is a review of current literature published between January 2017 and January 2018 including any publications regarding immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory agents, specifically focusing on the following medications: belatacept, cyclosporine (ciclosporin), everolimus, fingolimod, glatiramer acetate, leflunomide, mycophenolic acid (mycophenolate mofetil), sirolimus, tacrolimus, temsirolimus, thiopurines, and levamisole. Included is a special review on vasculopathy/vasculitis associated with levamisole and adultered cocaine.
Factors associated with failed ulnar nerve fascicle to biceps motor branch transfer: a case control study.

We sought to identify predictors of failed ulnar nerve fascicle (to flexor carpi ulnaris) to biceps motor branch transfer. A retrospective review of adult brachial plexus patients treated with flex...
Cannabinoid Receptor Interacting Protein 1a (CRIP1a): Function and Structure.

Cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a) is an important CB1 cannabinoid receptor-associated protein, first identified from a yeast two-hybrid screen to modulate CB1-mediated N-type Ca2+ currents. In this paper we review studies of CRIP1a function and structure based upon in vitro experiments and computational chemistry, which elucidate the specific mechanisms for the interaction of CRIP1a with CB1 receptors. N18TG2 neuronal cells overexpressing or silencing CRIP1a highlighted the ability of CRIP1 to regulate cyclic adenosine 3′,5′monophosphate (cAMP) production and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. These studies indicated that CRIP1a attenuates the G protein signaling cascade through modulating which Gi/o subtypes interact with the CB1 receptor. CRIP1a also attenuates CB1 receptor internalization via β-arrestin, suggesting that CRIP1a competes for β-arrestin binding to the CB1 receptor. Predictions of CRIP1a secondary structure suggest that residues 34-110 are minimally necessary for association with key amino acids within the distal C-terminus of the CB1 receptor, as well as the mGlu8a metabotropic glutamate receptor. These interactions are disrupted through phosphorylation of serines and threonines in these regions. Through investigations of the function and structure of CRIP1a, new pharmacotherapies based upon the CRIP-CB1 receptor interaction can be designed to treat diseases such as epilepsy, motor dysfunctions and schizophrenia.