cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Random Shading Effects in Solar Cells

This paper introduces a modeling scheme that takes the effects of shading patterns on the output power of a solar cell array using MATLAB. A module consisting of an array of parallel connected strings of solar cells is considered for analysis under shading conditions. The model finds the solutions of complex nonlinear equations of solar cell under random illumination conditions. The approach has been extended to special shading cases. Additionally the effect of load resistance variation on the maximum power point under different shading patterns is performed.
High-throughput analysis of multispectral images of breast cancer tissue

Statistical analysis of genetic changes within cell nuclei that are far from the primary tumor would help determine whether such changes have occurred prior to tumor invasion. To determine whether the gene amplification in cells is morphologically and/or genetically related to the primary tumor requires quantitative evaluation of a large number of cell nuclei from continuous meaningful structures such as milk-ducts, tumors, etc., located relatively far from the primary tumor. To address this issue, we have designed an integrated image analysis software system for high-throughput segmentation of nuclei. Filters such as Beltrami flow-based reaction-diffusion, directional diffusion, etc., were used to pre-process the images resulting in a better segmentation. The accurate shape of the segmented nucleus was recovered using an iterative "shrink-wrap" operation. The study of two cases of ductal carcinoma in situ in breast tissue supports the biological observation regarding the existence of a preferential intraductal invasion, and therefore a common origin, between the primary tumor and the gene amplification in the cell-nuclei lining the ductal structures in the breast
Stigma as a Communication Barrier for Participation in the Federal Government's Women, Infants, and Children Program

This study investigated the role of stigma as a barrier to participation in the federal Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program, Despite the relative success of the WIC program, participation among many qualified individuals is still low. The problem is particularly acute among middle-income women who qualify for the program. Using a series of five focus groups, conducted among eligible participants in five different cities in Alabama, data was collected and analyzed in terms of stigma management theory. The results indicate that the stigma of a governmental assistance program is a major barrier to participation in the program. Potential participants sometimes handle this stigma through direct rejection of participation or through indirect rationalizations for not participating.
Genetic Controls in Wood Formation

An explanation has already been given in Chapter 1 about how external factors (environmental), combined with internal factors, control the formation and qualities of wood. Both external and internal factors influence the physiology of the tree which, in turn, determines the kind of wood formed. Thus, without a good knowledge of physiology, one can only hypothesize what causes the production of differing types of wood. That is a major problem because, unfortunately, too little is known about the physiological processes and cell differentiation that control formation of wood with differing properties (Fig. 2.1).
Inverse Problem for a Linearized Jordan–Moore–Gibson–Thompson Equation

We consider an inverse problem for the linearized Jordan–Moore–Gibson–Thompson equation, which is a third-order (in time) PDE in the original unknown u that arises in nonlinear acoustic waves modeling high-intensity ultrasound. Both canonical recovery problems are investigated: (i) uniqueness and (ii) stability, by use of just one boundary measurement. Our approach relies on the dynamical decomposition of the Jordan–Moore–Gibson–Thompson equation given in Marchand et al. (Math. Methods Appl. Sci. 35, 1896–1929, 2012), which identified 3 distinct models in the new variable z. By using now z-model ♯3, we weaken by two units the regularity requirements on the data of the original u-dynamics over our prior effort Liu and Triggiani (J. Inverse Ill-Posed Probl. 21, 825–869, 2013), which instead employed z-model ♯1.
Reducing the Time From Diagnosis to Treatment of Patients With Stage II/III Rectal Cancer at a Large Public Hospital

Curative-intent therapy for stage II/III rectal cancer is necessarily complex. Current guidelines by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend preoperative concurrent chemoradiation followed by resection and additional adjuvant chemotherapy. We used standard quality improvement methodology to implement a cost-effective intervention that reduced the time from diagnosis to treatment of patients with stage II/III rectal cancer by approximately 30% in a large public hospital in Houston, Texas. Implementation of the program resulted in a reduction in time from pathologic diagnosis to treatment of 29% overall, from 62 to 44 days. These gains were cost neutral and resulted from improvements in scheduling and coordination of care alone. Our results suggest that: (1) quality improvement methodology can be successfully applied to multidisciplinary cancer care, (2) effective interventions can be cost neutral, and (3) effective strategies can overcome complexities such as having multiple sites of care, high staff turnover, and resource limitations.
A Comparison of Natality Rates in White-Footed Mice for Four Years

Data on reproductive rate that permit comparison of several years are scarce. For this reason some data are presented here that describe the population and reproduction of Peromyscus leucopus in a woods in New Jersey. Even the extensive literature on Peromyscus provides few opportunities to examine changes in breeding during different years. One study (Jameson, Jour. Mamm., 34: 44–58, 1953) discusses the breeding condition of Peromyscus maniculatus and P. boylii . He compares the percentages pregnant in various months but not in various years. However, he did give data for the fecundity (breeding condition) in three years but these data do not indicate the reproductive rate. The mice here described were collected at Seabrook, N. J., in the area described by Davis, et al. (Trans. N. Amer. Wildlife Conf., 16: 283–289, 1951) who discussed the effect of disposal of sewage effluent on mice. None of the data recorded here were collected in spots that were directly sprayed with effluent. Jackson (Ecol. Mono., 22: 259–281, 1952) described the characteristics of mice in the region in detail from data collected in 1951 and 1952 in nearby areas. To describe the vegetation of the area, the composition of the trees was determined in quadrats 100 × 100 feet. All trees more than 4.5 feet high were measured. By means of these quadrats an area primarily of oaks was delimited and used for this work. The trees in the 91 quadrats in this area …
Automated fibrinogen determination.

A simple, rapid, and accurate semiautomated micromethod for the determination of plasma fibrinogen is described. One tenth milliliter of plasma is diluted in 1.9 ml. barbital buffer (pH 7.5). The clotting time is determined by an electronic tinier after addition of 0.1 ml. thrombin (100 U. per ml.) to 0.1 ml. diluted plasma. The fibrinogen level is read from a calibration curve. Abnormal levels are confirmed by a chemical method. Discrepancies between results obtained by the two methods may be a clue to structural abnormalities of fibrinogen or the presence of fibrin split products.
BIFURCATION ANALYSIS OF A 65° DELTA WING ROLLING AT HIGH INCIDENCE

The bifurcation structure for the roll equilibrium solution of a 65° delta wing with sting angle as the control parameter is described. The solution of the autonomous system exhibits four bifurcations over the range investigated, reflecting the experimentally obtained multiplicity of roll attractors. Evidence is presented that suggests possible Hopf bifurcations that may lead to limit cycles under significant roll angle conditions. A clear understanding of the flow physics and resulting bifurcation structure is clearly essential to adequately model complex, highly non-linear systems.
Black Identities Inside Advertising: Race Inequality, Code Switching, and Stereotype Threat

ABSTRACtThis article explores Black identities within the U.S. advertising industry—an atmosphere charged by a history of discrimination against, and continuing underrepresentation of, African American practitioners. Drawing on theories of code switching and stereotype threat, the author interprets data from a set of focus groups with Black interns working at agencies in New York City and argues that their supposed race-based affiliations conceal deeper anxieties of cultural belonging marked by fissures of class and language that trigger self-monitoring and thus undermine retention and advancement in the advertising field. Furthermore, the author contends that the added psychological burden of stereotype threat makes Black interns wary of seeking out help from other more established Black employees—for fear of being seen as preferring their own race—thus placing them at a career development disadvantage vis-a-vis Whites, who have no qualms about affiliating with and mentoring other Whites. The author then...
Application of lumping method on complex reaction kinetic model

The application progress of lumping method on reaction kinetic model is introduced.Several experiences and suggestions on establishing the complex reaction kinetic model with the lumping method are proposed based on the summaries of establishing Daqing naphtha steam pyrolysis kinetic lumping model.
Analysis of Evaluation Model for Torpedo Weapon System

The torpedo weapon systems with high operational effectiveness have been playing a decisive role in the modern warfare under high-tech conditions.The paper describes the definition for torpedo weapon operational effectiveness.Some key researches are paid to introduce several typical newly analysis and evaluation methods for torpedo weapon systems,which is along with the characteristic and many dedicated applications of each method discussed.Finally,the existing problems of the operational effectiveness evaluations for torpedo weapon operational effectiveness analyses and evaluation are pointed out,and the development trends of it have been prospected.
Redesigning Physical Geography 101: bringing students into the discussion

AbstractThis article analyses student-learning outcomes from the redesign of Introduction to Physical Geography 101. Among the purposes of the redesigned course were to enhance student learning by providing rich interactive online content, provide more meaningful instructor–student and peer–peer exchanges, and to promote attitudes that facilitate student opportunities to construct new knowledge. Through empirically testing two of the redesigned course’s key components on students’ learning, we determine the positive effects on students’ exam scores. We offer, despite the additional work required from instructors and teaching assistants for such a redesigned course, that with further refinement these pedagogical changes may offer potential longer term impact on students’ learning behaviors.
Race, Empire, and English Language Teaching: Creating Responsible and Ethical Anti-Racist Practice. Suhanthie Motha. New York: Teachers College Press, 2014, 208 pp., $39.95 (paperback), $80.00 (cloth)

TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a field that has largely ignored race (Kubota & Lin, 2006). It has traditionally focused instead on the practice of teaching, which leaves...
Clem methods for studying primary cilia

CLEM (correlated light and electron microscope) imaging is a highly useful technique for examining primary cilia. With CLEM, it is possible to determine the distribution of tagged proteins along the ciliary membrane and axoneme with high precision. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) permits measurement of ciliary length and orientation in relation to nearby cellular structures in a 3D image; in optimal cases, this can be combined with superresolution microscopy of selected ciliary components as they enter or leave the cilium. This chapter discusses CLEM methods. In the method described in detail, samples are completely processed for sequential fluorescence and SEM observation. This method is ideal for robust antibody localization and minimizes image manipulation in correlating the fluorescent and SEM images. Alternative methods prepare samples for fluorescence imaging followed by processing for SEM then observation in the SEM. This method is ideal for optimal fluorescence imaging, particularly live cell imaging.
An Archaeology of Effectively Maintained Inequality Theory

Effectively maintained inequality (EMI) was proposed as a general theory of inequality. While the theory flows from a decades-long tradition of studying social background effects on educational att...
Media Coverage of FDA Drug Safety Communications about Zolpidem: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis.

FDA issues Drug Safety Communications (DSCs) to alert health care professionals and the public about emerging safety information affecting prescription and over-the-counter drugs. News media may amplify DSCs, but it is unclear how DSC messaging is transmitted through the media. We conducted a content analysis of the lay media coverage reaching the broadest audience to characterize the amount and content of media coverage of two zolpidem DSCs from 2013. After the first DSC, zolpidem news stories increased from 19 stories/week in the preceding 3 months to 153 following its release. Most (81%) appeared in the lay media, and 64% focused on the DSC content. After the second DSC, news stories increased from 24 stories/week in the preceding 3 months to 39 following. Among the 100 unique lay media news stories, at least half correctly reported three key DSC messages: next-day impairment and drowsiness as common safety hazards, lower doses for some but not all zolpidem products, and women’s higher risk for impairm...
Field evidence for the influence of weathering on rock erodibility and channel form in bedrock rivers

Erosion processes in bedrock-floored rivers shape channel cross-sectional geometry and the broader landscape. However, the influence of weathering on channel slope and geometry is not well understood. Weathering can produce variation in rock erodibility within channel cross-sections. Recent numerical modeling results suggest that weathering may preferentially weaken rock on channel banks relative to the thalweg, strongly influencing channel form. Here, we present the first quantitative field study of differential weathering across channel cross-sections. We hypothesize that average cross-section erosion rate controls the magnitude of this contrast in weathering between the banks and the thalweg. Erosion rate, in turn, is moderated by the extent to which weathering processes increase bedrock erodibility. We test these hypotheses on tributaries to the Potomac River, Virginia, with inferred erosion rates from ~0.1 m/kyr to >0.8 m/kyr, with higher rates in knickpoints spawned by the migratory Great Falls knickzone. We selected nine channel cross-sections on three tributaries spanning the full range of erosion rates, and at multiple flow heights we measured (1) rock compressive strength using a Schmidt hammer, (2) rock surface roughness using a contour gage combined with automated photograph analysis, and (3) crack density (crack length/area) at three cross-sections on one channel. All cross-sections showed significant (p < 0.01 for strength, p < 0.05 for roughness) increases in weathering by at least one metric with height above the thalweg. These results, assuming that the weathered state of rock is a proxy for erodibility, indicate that rock erodibility varies inversely with bedrock inundation frequency. Differences in weathering between the thalweg and the channel margins tend to decrease as inferred erosion rates increase, leading to variations in channel form related to the interplay of weathering and erosion rate. This observation is consistent with numerical modeling that predicts a strong influence of weathering-related erodibility on channel morphology. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mastication and Gut Hormones—Are There Any Associations?

Purpose of Review The human gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestine, and pancreas) secretes more than 20 different hormones. These hormones influence many physiological processes and may contribute to the risk of developing several chronic diseases. Consequently, a better understanding of the factors that influence their secretion and action may lead to a new approach in preventing or treating chronic disease. Several factors are known to influence the gut hormone response including the macronutrient content or the physical characteristics of the ingested meal. However, despite having a major role in the digestion of foods, the influence of mastication on the gut hormones has gained little attention. This brief review will discuss the limited number of studies that have been conducted and make suggestions for further research in this area.
Abstract 5235: Affecting activity of the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) with stapled alpha-helical peptides

The linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) is the only E3 ubiquitin ligase known to generate linear polyubiquitin chains in vitro. LUBAC is composed of three proteins - HOIL-1L, HOIP and SHARPIN - of which the interaction between HOIL-1L and HOIP has been shown to be critical for LUBAC assembly and function. This interaction occurs between the ubiquitin-like (UBL) domain of HOIL-1L and the ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain of HOIP. One known substrate of LUBAC is the regulatory subunit NEMO (NF kappa B essential modulator), part of the IKK complex, which results in activation of NF-κB. We hypothesize that disruption of the HOIL-1L-HOIP interaction would prevent LUBAC ubiquitylation activity and result in down-regulated activation of NF-κB. We have synthesized a family of small inhibitor peptides designed to mimic aspects of the bent alpha-helical interacting interface of HOIP-UBA. Here we demonstrate how single amino acid substitutions and hydrocarbon stapling can affect overall peptide shape and helicity, and correlate that structural information to peptide binding affinity, ability to affect LUBAC complex formation and resulting effect on LUBAC ubiquitylation activity in vitro. These findings continue to validate inhibition of LUBAC via interference with the HOIL-1L-HOIP interaction as a potential target to affect NF-κB signaling. Compounds which affect LUBAC activity have potential use in LUBAC-dependent NF-κB activation in the activated B cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the DLBCL subtype that is most resistant to current therapies. Citation Format: Amanda L. Whiting, Francisco Aguilar-Alonso, Joseph J. Mitala, Federico Bernal. Affecting activity of the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) with stapled alpha-helical peptides [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5235. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5235
The Behavioral Study of Mammalian Hearing

This chapter is a personal perspective on the neurobehavioral study of auditory cortex and the comparative study of mammalian hearing. These two lines of research have their roots in the cortical ablation studies of Dewey Neff and the comparative approach brought to it by Irving Diamond. Progress in these areas was accelerated by the development of behavioral tests for determining the sensory abilities of animals that began in the laboratory of James Smith of Florida State University and were adapted by Bruce Masterton and his students for testing hearing in animals. In addition to describing the study of auditory cortex by testing animals before and after cortical ablation and the study of mammalian hearing by comparing the audiograms and sound localization abilities of mammals of different sizes and lifestyles, the chapter describes how behavioral procedures for testing the sensory abilities of animals changed over time. It tells the stories that are not often found in the research reports, such as how the study of auditory cortex accidently led to the comparative study of mammalian hearing, why an auditory laboratory had to learn to do retinal whole mounts in order to explain mammalian sound localization, and what the reasons were behind the development of behavioral procedures for testing animal hearing. In addition to describing past and current views, thoughts on the future are presented.
KINEMATIC MODELING OF DIASTOLIC FILLING IDENTIFIES DISTINCT DIASTOLIC FUNCTION PATTERNS IN HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED AND REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION

Standard Doppler parameters do not characterize specific patterns of diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF vs. HFrEF. Parametrized kinematic modeling of diastolic filling (diastolic filling formalism, PDFF) may provide a more specific characterization of diastolic abnormalities. We studied 241 subjects
Are the Drivers of Healthcare Change Changing Healthcare Outcomes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) measures success defined as improving the patient’s experience of care within the National Academy of Medicine’s six aims for healthcare improvement: safety, effectiveness, patient centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. Better health is defined as increasing the overall health of populations. Improved quality of care could reduce overall healthcare cost and the patient’s experience of care.
The Phenomenon of Quenching: A Survey

In this paper we survey some recent results concerning the behavior of solutions of nonlinear evolutionary equations when the nonlinearity has a pole at a finite value of the solution. Simple examples of such equations are u t = u xx + 1/(1−u) or u tt = u xx +1/(1−u) Results for these, for higher dimensional problems and for related problems in which the nonlinearity occurs in the boundary condition are also discussed.
A prenatal intervention study to improve timeliness of immunization initiation in Latino infants.

This was a prospective randomized cohort study to assess the effectiveness of an educational immunization intervention with pregnant Latinas on timely initiation of infant immunization. Study participants were recruited from two community clinics in north San Diego County. A total of three hundred and fifty-two Latinas in the third trimester of pregnancy were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Participants received either a culturally and linguistically appropriate session on infant immunization (intervention) or a session on prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (control). The main outcome measures were pre-post immunization knowledge change and infant immunization status at 92 days. Immunization knowledge increased significantly in the intervention group [p < .0001, 95%CI (1.76, 2.47)]. No difference was found between groups in immunization series initiation: 95 percent of the children in the intervention group were up-to-date by 92 days from birth, and 93 percent of the control group was up-to-date at 92 days. The lack of significant association between receiving immunization education and infant immunization series initiation suggests that parent education may be necessary but not sufficient for timely immunization, particularly in clinics with effective well-child programs. Given the significant increase in immunization knowledge, the broader and perhaps more important implication is that language- and culturally specific infant health education messages in the prenatal period may have a positive long-term impact on the child's health and promote well-child care overall. Future studies should assess the role of prenatal well-child education in the context of clinics with low immunization levels
Synergy from gene expression and network mining (SynGeNet) method predicts synergistic drug combinations for diverse melanoma genomic subtypes.

Systems biology perspectives are crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of complex diseases, and therefore hold great promise for the discovery of novel treatment strategies. Drug combinations have been shown to improve durability and reduce resistance to available first-line therapies in a variety of cancers; however, traditional drug discovery approaches are prohibitively cost and labor-intensive to evaluate large-scale matrices of potential drug combinations. Computational methods are needed to efficiently model complex interactions of drug target pathways and identify mechanisms underlying drug combination synergy. In this study, we employ a computational approach, SynGeNet (Synergy from Gene expression and Network mining), which integrates transcriptomics-based connectivity mapping and network centrality analysis to analyze disease networks and predict drug combinations. As an exemplar of a disease in which combination therapies demonstrate efficacy in genomic-specific contexts, we investigate malignant melanoma. We employed SynGeNet to generate drug combination predictions for each of the four major genomic subtypes of melanoma (BRAF, NRAS, NF1, and triple wild type) using publicly available gene expression and mutation data. We validated synergistic drug combinations predicted by our method across all genomic subtypes using results from a high-throughput drug screening study across. Finally, we prospectively validated the drug combination for BRAF-mutant melanoma that was top ranked by our approach, vemurafenib (BRAF inhibitor) + tretinoin (retinoic acid receptor agonist), using both in vitro and in vivo models of BRAF-mutant melanoma and RNA-sequencing analysis of drug-treated melanoma cells to validate the predicted mechanisms. Our approach is applicable to a wide range of disease domains, and, importantly, can model disease-relevant protein subnetworks in precision medicine contexts. Existing drugs have the potential to learn “new tricks” to fight cancer when working together in combinations. Researchers from The Ohio State University and Washington University in St. Louis developed a computational approach to predict synergistic drug combinations among thousands of potential pairs based upon how cancer cells alter certain genes and connections between genes. They found that drug predictions were more accurate when this method was applied to specific molecular subtypes of melanoma. The top drug combination predicted for melanoma with BRAF gene mutations included a known melanoma drug, vemurafenib, in combination with another agent not currently used for melanoma, tretinoin. This combination could kill melanoma cells and reduce tumor size in mice. Future applications include other examples of “precision medicine” to deliver the right drugs to the right patients at the right time.
The Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg Theorem

In this chapter, we prove the Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg theorem (Theorem 1.7), where we will also assume that \(\nu =1\).
Determining P, S, Br, and I content in uranium by triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The trace impurities of a uranium ore concentrate (UOC) can be examined to determine mine source, methods of production, and quality. This study presents a method to determine the concentration of halides and main group elements, specifically P, S, Br and I, utilizing triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. These analytes were measured in a uranium matrix to simulate a UOC sample. The concentrations determined with this method showed agreement with known values. Solutions with and without uranium were compared. A UOC certified reference material, CUP-2, was analyzed to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Chapter 11 – Therapeutic Touch

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the process involved in therapeutic touch (TT). In the language of TT, health is defined as the balanced, even flow of vital energy within a person and between a person and their environment. No distinction is made between physical and mental health; the person is treated holistically. Mind and body are simply different densities or manifestations of a unified energy field. TT is described as having four steps: centering, assessment, intervention, and evaluation/closure. Centering involves letting go of thoughts about the past and the future and bringing all of one's attention to bear on what is happening in the present moment. Many strategies are used for centering. Focusing on breathing in and breathing out with conscious awareness can be centering. Assessing the energy field has two dimensions: physical activity and an activity of consciousness. Assessment is performed by moving the hands slowly over the person's body from head to toe, front and back, scanning the space about 2–6 inches from the skin. Intervention entails clearing, mobilizing, directing, and balancing energy. At this stage the physical actions of the practitioner are very similar to the movements during the assessment phase; that is, the hands sweep slowly and steadily a few inches above the body from head to toe, front and back, with long, smoothing strokes. Finishing the TT session entails using professional, informed, and intuitive judgment.
Peripheral Nerve Injury in Thoracic Surgery Detected by Automated Somatosensory Evoked Potential Monitoring

Study Objective. Our objectives were to estimate the incidence of symptoms of peripheral nerve injury (sPNI) in thoracic surgical patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery or open thoracotomy and to determine whether intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) waveform changes correlate with postoperative peripheral neuropathic symptoms. Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study in the operating room of a tertiary hospital. We measured SSEPs intraoperatively and assessed patients for sPNI postoperatively. Results. Forty-four patients consented. Six were excluded from analysis. We found that 42% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 26% to 57%) of patients undergoing thoracic surgery had significant changes in SSEP amplitude and latency. Furthermore, 16% (95% CI = 4% to 28%) of patients had new postoperative symptoms of sensory or motor deficits in an upper extremity. We calculated a sensitivity of 66.7% (95% CI = 29.0% to 100%) and a specificity of 50% (95% CI = 33% to 67.3%) for the identification of sPNI based on automated intraoperative SSEP changes. Conclusions. We identified the incidence of SSEP changes in thoracic surgery (42%) and the incidence of postoperative sPNI after thoracic surgery (16%). We identified a positive correlation between intraoperative SSEP changes and postoperative sPNI, which after multivariate analysis was not significant given the small sample size of the study. By the time sensory and/or motor changes are detected postoperatively, it may be too late to reverse the nerve damage. Future versions of the EPAD device could provide anesthesiologists a way to monitor for the development of sPNI, and make changes before a potential injury becomes permanent.
In situ transmission electron microscopy deformation and mechanical responses of additively manufactured Ni-based superalloy

Abstract In situ nanodeformation by sharp indenter tip on nanopillars of various sizes was applied on an additively manufactured Ni-based alloy containing equiaxed grains and nano-features for the first time. In situ microscopy compression results showed more homogeneous deformation of the smaller nanopillars (compression mode) than the larger ones (indentation mode) due to their length and the contact area between the nanopillar and the indenter tip established during in situ deformation tests. Finite element modeling indicated a higher average stress level in smaller nanopillars. The local mechanical response of additively manufactured 718 was similar to a wrought 718 alloy.
Assessing Leader Humility.

The character strength of humility has been linked to a growing number of desirable leader-related outcomes. Consequently, academics and practitioners alike have begun to search for interventions t...
Microstructural Neuroimaging of Frailty in Cognitively Normal Older Adults

Physical frailty is an age-related clinical syndrome that is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, including cognitive impairment and dementia. Recent studies have shown that frailty is associated with specific volumetric neuroimaging characteristics. Whether brain microstructural characteristics, particularly gray matter, associated with frailty exist and what their spatial distribution is have not been explored. We identified 670 participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who were aged 60 and older and cognitively normal and who had concurrent data on frailty and regional microstructural neuroimaging markers by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), including mean diffusivity (MD) of gray matter and fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter. We identified neuroimaging markers that were associated with frailty status (non-frail, pre-frail, frail) and further examined differences between three groups using multivariate linear regression (non-frail = reference). Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, years of education, body mass index, scanner type, and Apolipoprotein E e4 carrier status. Compared to the non-frail participants, those who were frail had higher MD in the medial frontal cortex, several subcortical regions (putamen, caudate, thalamus), anterior cingulate cortex, and a trend of lower FA in the body of the corpus callosum. Those who were pre-frail also had higher MD in the putamen and a trend of lower FA in the body of the corpus callosum. Our study demonstrates for the first time that the microstructure of both gray and white matter differs by frailty status in cognitively normal older adults. Brain areas were not widespread but mostly localized in frontal and subcortical motor areas and the body of the corpus callosum. Whether changes in brain microstructure precede future frailty development warrants further investigation.
Association of Socioeconomic Characteristics With Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes in Japan.

Importance Socioeconomic factors in the disparities in COVID-19 outcomes have been reported in studies from the US and other Western countries. However, no studies have documented national- or subnational-level outcome disparities in Asian countries. Objective To assess the association between regional COVID-19 outcome disparities and socioeconomic characteristics in Japan. Design, setting, and participants This cross-sectional study collected and analyzed confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths (through February 13, 2021) as well as population and socioeconomic data in all 47 prefectures in Japan. The data sources were government surveys for which prefecture-level data were available. Exposures Prefectural socioeconomic characteristics included mean annual household income, Gini coefficient, proportion of the population receiving public assistance, educational attainment, unemployment rate, employment in industries with frequent close contacts with the public, household crowding, smoking rate, and obesity rate. Main outcomes and measures Rate ratios (RRs) of COVID-19 incidence and mortality by prefecture-level socioeconomic characteristics. Results All 47 prefectures in Japan (with a total population of 126.2 million) were included in this analysis. A total of 412 126 confirmed COVID-19 cases (326.7 per 100 000 people) and 6910 deaths (5.5 per 100 000 people) were reported as of February 13, 2021. Elevated adjusted incidence and mortality RRs of COVID-19 were observed in prefectures with the lowest household income (incidence RR: 1.45 [95% CI, 1.43-1.48] and mortality RR: 1.81 [95% CI, 1.59-2.07]); highest proportion of the population receiving public assistance (1.55 [95% CI, 1.52-1.58] and 1.51 [95% CI, 1.35-1.69]); highest unemployment rate (1.56 [95% CI, 1.53-1.59] and 1.85 [95% CI, 1.65-2.09]); highest percentage of workers in retail industry (1.36 [95% CI, 1.34-1.38] and 1.45 [95% CI, 1.31-1.61]), transportation and postal industries (1.61 [95% CI, 1.57-1.64] and 2.55 [95% CI, 2.21-2.94]), and restaurant industry (2.61 [95% CI, 2.54-2.68] and 4.17 [95% CI, 3.48-5.03]); most household crowding (1.35 [95% CI, 1.31-1.38] and 1.04 [95% CI, 0.87-1.24]); highest smoking rate (1.63 [95% CI, 1.60-1.66] and 1.54 [95% CI, 1.33-1.78]); and highest obesity rate (0.93 [95% CI, 0.91-0.95] and 1.17 [95% CI, 1.01-1.34]) compared with prefectures with the most social advantages. Among potential mediating variables, higher smoking rate (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.33-1.78) and obesity rate (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34) were associated with higher mortality RRs, even after adjusting for prefecture-level covariates and other socioeconomic variables. Conclusions and relevance This cross-sectional study found a pattern of socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes in Japan that was similar to that observed in the US and Europe. National policy in Japan could consider prioritizing populations in socially disadvantaged regions in the COVID-19 response, such as vaccination planning, to address this pattern.
Adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon improves skeletal muscle function in aged mice

Abstract The loss of skeletal muscle function with age, known as sarcopenia, significantly reduces independence and quality of life and can have significant metabolic consequences. Although exercise is effective in treating sarcopenia it is not always a viable option clinically, and currently there are no pharmacological therapeutic interventions for sarcopenia. Here we show that chronic treatment with pan-adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon improved muscle function in male mice by a mechanism linked to skeletal muscle metabolism and tissue remodeling. In aged mice, 6 weeks of AdipoRon treatment improved skeletal muscle functional measures in vivo and ex vivo. Improvements were linked to changes in fiber type, including an enrichment of oxidative fibers, and an increase in mitochondrial activity. In young mice, 6 weeks of AdipoRon treatment improved contractile force and activated the energy sensing kinase AMPK and the mitochondrial regulator PGC-1a (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha). In cultured cells, the AdipoRon induced stimulation of AMPK and PGC-1a was associated with increased mitochondrial membrane potential, reorganization of mitochondrial architecture, increased respiration, and increased ATP production. Furthermore, the ability of AdipoRon to stimulate AMPK and PGC1a was conserved in nonhuman primate cultured cells. These data show that AdipoRon is an effective agent for the prevention of sarcopenia in mice and indicate that its effects translate to primates, suggesting it may also be a suitable therapeutic for sarcopenia in clinical application.
Labor Market Networks and Asset Returns

This paper proposes a measure of labor market connectivity based on the similarity in the composition of occupational knowledge characteristics across industries and provides evidence of return predictability in the cross-section of industries that are connected through the labor market. In long-short portfolios, an industry's return is strongly predicted by the past return of its labor-market-connected neighboring industries with an annualized return of up to 9%, which is not explained by established asset pricing models. The return predictability remains significant after controlling for the supply chain momentum as well as the industry lead-lag effect, and is concentrated in stocks with higher arbitrage costs and higher ownership of uninformed investors. We find similar predictive relations for the labor productivity, wages, employment, and profitability of labor connected industries. Our findings are consistent with positive spillover of productivity shocks among industries that are connected through the labor market. Informational frictions, costly arbitrage, and investors' limited attention magnify the delayed response of stock prices to the spillover of labor productivity shocks, which results in the observed return predictability.
On the mechanism of iron-induced synthesis of apoferritin in HeLa cells.

Abstract The induction of ferritin was studied in suspension cultures of HeLa cells. New synthesis of apoferritin was assessed by the incorporation of 14C-leucine into ferritin, the labeled protein being isolated from the cells by antibody precipitation after a preliminary purification in the presence of carrier human ferritin. Apoferritin synthesis was found to be accelerated by incubation with iron salts, the effect being maximal throughout the concentration range of 10 to 100 µg of iron per ml. The stimulation was specific for ferritin as opposed to the general mixture of cell proteins, and was specific for iron among the heavy metal ions tested. The response to added iron was "immediate" in experiments that could have detected a 10-min lag. Bipyridyl largely prevented the stimulatory effect of iron, whereas deferoxamine prevented cellular uptake of iron and even removed much iron previously incorporated into cellular ferritin. No measurable breakdown of carbon-labeled ferritin was observed in a 4-hour incubation of deferoxamine-treated cells. This speaks against the idea that iron-deficient ferritin has a rapid turnover and that added iron causes accumulation of ferritin merely by stabilizing it. Actinomycin failed to prevent the stimulatory effect of iron, thus contradicting the gene level hypothesis for the short term control of ferritin synthesis. Actinomycin in fact enhanced the effect of iron. A translational inhibitor may be proposed to explain the result, and perhaps to represent the receptor for iron in its role in ferritin induction.
An Analysis of the Demand for and Value of Outdoor Recreation in the United States.

Demand equations for 37 outdoor recreational activities were estimated across a sample of U.S. counties using a multi-community, multi-site travel cost model. Results suggest that determinants of t...
Circuit delay variability due to wire resistance evolution under AC electromigration

Electromigration (EM) in signal interconnects can induce voids, and the evolution of these voids may cause the wire resistance to increase with time. Previous approaches use the mean time to failure metric based either on a fixed resistance increase or open circuit failure criterion. This work shows that even noncatastrophic EM on critical paths may cause performance degradation, resulting in incorrect circuit operation. HSPICE-based Monte Carlo simulations on a set of on-chip structures are performed to quantify the impact of EM on circuit performance degradation.
Scalable QoS-based resource allocation in hierarchical networked environment

In this paper, we study the problem of allocating end-to-end bandwidth to each of multiple traffic flows in a large-scale network. We adopt the QoS-based resource allocation model (Q-RAM) (K-S. Lui et al., 2000), whereby each flow derives an utility based on the amount of its allocated bandwidth. Our goal therefore is to maximize the total utility derived across all network flows. The NP-hard nature of the resource allocation problem is compounded by the need to select an appropriate path between each source-destination pair. We propose a hierarchical decomposition scheme that allows the resource allocation problem to be solved in a decentralized and scalable fashion. The hierarchy we use is based on a (natural) partitioning of the network into subnets, with resource allocation decisions made on a subnet-by-subnet basis. A novel distributed transaction scheme is used to ensure that resource allocations are consistent across all the subnets traversed by each flow. We provide both analytical and experimental evidence to show that our scheme is very scalable and yet does not sacrifice the quality of the allocations.
Impact of Instruction in the Creighton Model FertilityCare System on Time to Pregnancy in Couples of Proven Fecundity: Results of a Randomised Trial

Background The Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS) teaches women to identify days when intercourse is likely to result in pregnancy. We sought to assess the impact of the CrMS on time to clinically identified pregnancy (TTP), via per-cycle pregnancy rates (fecundability).
Prediction of quality of life improvements in patients with lumbar stenosis following use of membrane stabilizing agents

Abstract Objective Membrane stabilizing agents (MSAs) improves function and reduces neuropathic pain in a subset of patients with LSS. No study has investigated the pre-treatment demographic and psychosocial factors associated with quality of life (QOL) outcomes following the use of MSAs. In this study we sought to create prediction models for post-treatment outcome. Methods All patients who were diagnosed with LSS and treated with MSAs at a single institution between September 2010 and March 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. QOL outcomes were collected prospectively. Prediction tools were created using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. Outcome measures were: 1 – need for surgery within 1 year after initiating MSA treatment, 2 – time until surgery after initiating MSA treatment, 3 – any improvement in EuroQol (EQ)-5D QOL index, 4 – improvement in EQ-5D index exceeding the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Results 1346 patients were included. For goal 1 (need for surgery), the prediction model was less robust. For goal 2 (time to surgery), only age was a significant predictor, with each 10-year increase in age causing the hazard of eventually having surgery to increase by 20%. 382 patients were available for analysis for goals 3 and 4 (predicting improvement in EQ-5D). Prediction models for these goals were good with C-statistics 0.73 and 0.85, respectively. Predictive factors for superior outcomes included lower baseline EQ-5D index (worse QOL), less baseline depression, greater median income, and being married. Conclusion MSA treatment provides improvements in quality of life for those individuals with LSS. Treatment effects of MSAs will be greatest in those with worse quality of life, less depression, married patients, and those of higher socio-economic status.
Patterns of Sentimentality in Victorian Novels

In this article, I discuss a project in which I use text mining and corpus linguistics to explore patterns of sentimentality in mid-Victorian novels. The strong and formulaic conventions of sentimentality as a genre enable me to investigate how text analysis, machine classification, and word cloud visualisations can reveal low-level patterns that correspond to the higher-level formations of sentimentality. Specifically, I use the Naive Bayes classification algorithm and Dunning's Log Likelihood Ratio (through the MONK Project and WordHoard) to identify instances of sentimentality and isolate the words that are most salient in affective writing. I also use the study to think through issues raised when employing computational text analysis and distant reading to inform critical positions.