cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lost in Technology? Political Parties and the Online Campaigns of Constituency Candidates in Germany's Mixed Member Electoral System

ABSTRACT The Internet is changing the technological context of election campaigns in dramatic ways. The question of the larger impact of this development on the structures and strategies of election campaigns has stimulated two competing hypotheses. The orthodox view perceives the new medium as facilitating centralized election campaigns that allow party headquarters to target and mobilize groups of voters in more efficient and direct ways. A revisionist view stresses the Internet as a means for individual constituency candidates running candidate-centered campaigns at the local level. From this perspective, the Internet has a decentralizing effect on the structure of election campaigns. This article tests both hypotheses on the basis of the German Candidate Study 2005. It looks in particular at the impact of the electoral context on the style of constituency candidates' online campaigns in the German Federal Elections of 2005.
COBALT COMPLEXES OF SILICON AND GERMANIUM HETEROCYCLOTRIYNES WITH ONE OR TWO CYCLYNE RINGS

The synthesis and structural characterization of Ge(OBET)2, SiPh2(OBET)(Co2(CO)6)2, and Ge(OBET)2(Co2(CO)6)2 are reported. Reaction of Li2(OBET), generated in situ from the reaction of nBuLi and o-(bisethynyl)tolane (OBET)H2, with GeCl4 in a 2:1 molar ratio gave Ge(OBET)2 in 64% yield. Ge(OBET)2 was characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, elemental analysis, FDMS, and X-ray crystallography. Co2(CO)8 selectively complexes to the bent alkynes adjacent to Ge or Si of Ge(OBET)2 and SiPh2(OBET) and severely distorts the ligands. Comparisons are made to related complexes.
Nitrate flux into the euphotic zone near Bermuda

Throughout most of the year, there exists within the North Atlantic subtropical ocean mixed layer a3He excess which can only be attributed to a flux of tritiugenic3He from below. The upward flux required to support this excess can be computed as the convolution of the time series of3He excess and gas-exchange rate. This flux is quantitatively consistent with the long-term evolution of the main thermocline inventories of tritium and 3He. Using the observed correlation of 3He with nitrate within the upper main thermocline, I estimate the annually averaged upward flux of nitrate into the euphotic zone to be 0.6 ±0.2 moles m−2 per yr. This flux is sufficient to support a new, non-regenerative primary productivity in excess of 3 moles carbon m−2per yr.
Mean-field pion calculations of heavy-ion collisions at Bevalac energies

Abstract A model for relativistic heavy-ion collisions is developed and applied to the 139 La + 139 La system for several collision energies as measured at the Bevalac. Nuclei are treated within a hydrodynamic approximation and a time-dependent Boltzmann equation is used to describe pions in a mean-field model. Good agreement in both pion multiplicity and spectrum is attained. These results place limits on the magnitude of the Landau-Migdal parameter g' .
The lateral distribution of event-related potentials during sentence processing

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded from adults as they read 160 different sentences, half of which ended with a semantically anomalous word. These deviant words elicited a broad, negative component (N400). Measured in the difference wave between ERPs to incongruous and congruous endings, the N400 was slightly larger and more prolonged over the right than the left hemisphere and diminished in amplitude over the course of the experiment. A left-greater-than-right asymmetry was again observed in the slow, positive ERP elicited by the first six words in the sentences, being most pronounced for subjects having no left-handers in their immediate family.
Liquid phase hydrodechlorination of chlorophenols over Pd/C and Pd/Al2O3: a consideration of HCl/catalyst interactions and solution pH effects

Abstract The liquid phase hydrodechlorination (HDC) of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) has been studied over 1% (w/w) Pd/C and Pd/Al2O3 under conditions of minimal mass transport constraints. The HDC of 2,4-DCP generated HCl and 2-CP as the only intermediate partially dechlorinated product which reacts further to yield phenol; cyclohexanone was formed over Pd/Al2O3, but not over Pd/C, prior to complete dechlorination. Pd/Al2O3 is characterized (on the basis of TEM analysis) by a narrow distribution of smaller Pd particles to give a surface area weighted mean particle diameter = 2.4 nm that is appreciably lower than the value of 13.2 nm established for Pd/C, where the latter is characterized by a broader distribution of larger (spherical) particles. The addition of NaOH served to increase fractional dechlorination by suppressing HDC inhibition due to the HCl that is generated. Reuse of the catalysts revealed an appreciable deactivation of Pd/C and a limited loss of activity in the case of Pd/Al2O3. Deactivation of Pd/C can be linked to a decrease (up to ca. 60%) in the initial BET surface area allied to appreciable leaching (up to ca. 40%) of the starting Pd content through the corrosive action of HCl and, while the average Pd diameter is essentially unaffected, there is evidence of a preferred leaching of larger Pd particles. The stronger metal/support interactions prevalent in Pd/Al2O3 results in limited Pd leaching and comparable initial HDC activities during catalyst reuse with/without NaOH addition. Inclusion of HCl in the reaction mixture (pH 5–1.5) resulted in a marked decline in the initial HDC rate associated with Pd/Al2O3 and a lesser drop in HDC activity for Pd/C. The difference in response to bulk solution pH variations are discussed in terms of the nature of the reactive species in solution and the amphoteric behavior of the Pd supports.
Optimal designed experiments using a Pareto front search for focused preference of multiple objectives

Finding a best designed experiment based on balancing several competing goodness measures of the design is becoming more important in many applications. The Pareto front approach allows the practitioner to understand trade-offs between alternatives and make more informed decisions. Efficient search for the front is a key to successful use and broad adoption of the method. A substantial computational improvement that conducts a more focused search when the experimenter has a focused a priori preference for the prioritizations of the multiple criteria is described. By utilizing a user-specified desirability function weight distribution for quantifying the preferences on different criteria, an algorithm to efficiently populate the desired portion of the front for two-criterion optimization is developed. Improvements over the full Pareto front search for completeness of the front in the region of interest, computational efficiency, and variation of the search are demonstrated with a screening design example where the objectives are precise model estimation and capability to protect against model mis-specification. Much of the existing literature focuses exclusively on finding the Pareto front, but does not offer strategies for making a choice of a best solution from the rich set of options identified on the front. A streamlined decision-making process with a set of tailored graphical tools to facilitate an informed and justifiable decision is described. The graphics incorporate a priori focused prioritization of the criteria, and hence are helpful to match decisions to design goals.
Process control of nonlinear time variant processes via artificial neural network

One of the major difficulties in analyzing the dynamic responses of industrial processes is the fact that the characteristics of processes frequently change over time. For time varying processes, conventional neural networks which are trained off-line cannot accurately predict process outputs over time. Hence, it is important to introduce recent process data to the network and update their weights as soon as new data is received. In this paper we introduce an algorithm to train the neural network model recursively. A controller is developed using a mathematical model and is employed as a nonlinear controller. The resulting architecture controls the process extremely well in the region of interest and has ability to learn continuously from new incoming data. >
Variable-rate variable-power hybrid M-FSK M-QAM for fading channels

This paper investigates a variable-rate variable-power hybrid non-coherent M-FSK M-QAM system. The goal is to combine the spectral efficiency merit of M-QAM with the power efficiency advantage of M-FSK and as such extend the region of availability even at very low channel gain values. A basic system is first designed to maximize the average spectral efficiency while meeting average power and target bit error rate constraints. In addition, a peak power constraint is imposed in a more general system. The optimization procedure leads to optimum rate and power loading functions which are compared for the different modes of operation.
Macroscopic assessment, dissection protocols and histologic sampling strategy for renal cell carcinomas

Abstract There are substantial data identifying pathologic stage as the single most important prognostic feature predictive of patient outcome for renal cell carcinoma. The pathologist, therefore, must be familiar with the nuances of staging so that dissection protocols and histologic sampling strategies can be designed to achieve an accurate pathologic stage. The most critical staging issue is identification of renal-limited disease versus extension beyond the kidney. Since the latter occurs either by venous involvement or perinephric fat extension, it is important to understand the gross anatomy of the two perinephric compartments, and the complex renal venous system and its interconnections. This article will, therefore, review the gross anatomy of the normal kidney pertinent to handling tumor resections, offer several dissection approaches (each capable of providing accurate staging information) and provide recommendations for histologic sampling.
Plasma Gelsolin and Circulating Actin Correlate with Hemodialysis Mortality

Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) binds actin and bioactive mediators to localize inflammation. Low pGSN correlates with adverse outcomes in acute injury, whereas administration of recombinant pGSN reduces mortality in experimental sepsis. We found that mean pGSN levels of 150 patients randomly selected from 10,044 starting chronic hemodialysis were 140 ± 42 mg/L, 30 to 50% lower than levels reported for healthy individuals. In a larger sample, we performed a case-control analysis to evaluate the relationship of pGSN and circulating actin with mortality; pGSN levels were significantly lower in 114 patients who died within 1 yr of dialysis initiation than in 109 survivors (117 ± 38 mg/L versus 147 ± 42 mg/L, P 3-fold risk for mortality compared with those with pGSN ≥150 mg/L. The 69% of patients with detectable circulating actin had lower pGSN levels than those without (127 ± 45 mg/L versus 141 ± 36 mg/L, P = 0.026). Compared with patients who had elevated pGSN and no detectable actin, those with low pGSN levels and detectable actin had markedly increased mortality (odds ratio 9.8, 95% confidence interval 2.9 to 33.5). Worsening renal function correlated with pGSN decline in 53 subjects with CKD not on dialysis. In summary, low pGSN and detectable circulating actin identify chronic hemodialysis patients at highest risk for 1-yr mortality.
Nanoparticle-assisted surface immobilization of phospholipid liposomes.

Phospholipid liposomes (100−200 nm diameter) are deposited onto solid substrates after stabilizing them against fusion with the solid by allowing charged nanoparticles to adsorb at ∼25% surface coverage. The immobilized vesicles remain stable over a period of days. Epifluorescence imaging shows that they diffuse freely over surfaces with the same charge but adsorb tightly onto surfaces with opposite charge. Nanoparticle adsorption to surface patterns of opposite charge provides a facile method to create large-scale surface-supported arrays of intact liposomes. This surface attachment method is simple chemically and applies generally for solid surfaces that can be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Offering routes to localize proteins and other vesicle-contained objects at surfaces in tailored spatial patterns, these immobilized liposome arrays may find diverse applications in the emerging field of nanobiotechnology.
Routing in Sparse Vehicular Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

A vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) may exhibit a bipolar behavior, i.e., the network can either be fully connected or sparsely connected depending on the time of day or on the market penetration rate of the wireless communication devices. In this paper, we use empirical vehicle traffic data measured on 1-80 freeway in California to develop a comprehensive analytical framework to study the disconnected network phenomenon and its network characteristics. These characteristics shed light on the key routing performance metrics of interest in disconnected VANETs, such as the average time taken to propagate a packet to disconnected nodes (i.e., the re-healing time). Our results show that, depending on the sparsity of vehicles or the market penetration rate of cars using Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) technology, the network re-healing time can vary from a few seconds to several minutes. This suggests that, for vehicular safety applications, a new ad hoc routing protocol will be needed as the conventional ad hoc routing protocols such as Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) and Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing (AODV) will not work with such long re-healing times. In addition, the developed analytical framework and its predictions provide valuable insights into the VANET routing performance in the disconnected network regime.
Towards Partially Synchronous Overlays: Issues and Challenges

The main advantage of synchronous systems over asynchronous systems is that timing and reliability guarantees can be established ensuring a strong programming model for many applications. These strong guarantees are not provided by the current model of the Internet. However the Internet possesses some synchronous properties which can be exploited to observe partial synchrony, leading to a stronger programming model. In this paper, we argue the importance of synchrony and describe mechanisms which can be used for the construction of partially synchronous overlays on the Internet
Splenectomy is associated with hypercoagulable thrombelastography values and increased risk of thromboembolism

Background Previous investigators have demonstrated that postinjury thrombocytosis is associated with an increase in thromboembolic (TE) risk. Increased rates of thrombocytosis have been found specifically in patients after splenectomy for trauma. We hypothesized that patients undergoing splenectomy (1) would demonstrate a more hypercoagulable profile during their hospital stay and (2) that this hypercoagulable state would be associated with increased TE events. Methods This was a 14-month, prospective, observational trial evaluating serial rapid thrombelastography (rTEG) at 3 American College of Surgeons−verified, level 1 trauma centers. Inclusion criteria were highest-level trauma activation and arrival within 6 hours of injury. Exclusion criteria were 20% total body surface area. Serial rTEG (activated clotting time, k-time, α-angle, MA, lysis) and traditional coagulation testing (prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen and platelet count) were obtained at admission and then at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. Thromboembolic complications were defined as the development of deep-vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke during hospitalization. Patients were stratified into splenectomy versus nonsplenectomy cohorts. Univariate analysis was then conducted followed by longitudinal analysis using generalized estimating equations to evaluate the effects of time, splenectomy, and group-time interactions on changes in rTEG and traditional coagulation testing. We used an adjusted generalized estimating equation model to control for age, sex, ISS, admission blood pressure, base deficit, and hemoglobin. Results A total of 1,242 patients were enrolled; 795 had serial rTEG data. Of these, 605 had serial values >24 hours and made up the study population. Splenectomy patients were younger, more hypotensive, and in shock on arrival. Although there was no difference in 24-hour or 30-day mortality, splenectomy patients were more likely to develop TE events. Using the GEE model, we found that α-angle and MA in splenectomy patients were lesser (more hypocoagulable) within the first 6 hours; however, they became substantially greater (more hypercoagulable) at 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours; all P P Conclusion This multicenter, prospective study demonstrates that patients undergoing splenectomy have a more hypercoagulable state than other trauma patients. This hypercoagulable state (identified by greater α-angle and mA values) begins at approximately 48 hours after injury and continues through at least day 5. Moreover, this hypercoagulable state is associated with increased risk of TE complications.
Adherence to Medication

The full benefit of many effective medications will be achieved only if patients adhere to prescribed treatment regimens. Unfortunately, applying terms such as “noncompliant” and “nonadherent” to patients who do not consume every pill at the desired time can stigmatize them in their future relationships with health care providers. This article on medication adherence (or compliance) reviews strategies to assess and enhance this important aspect of patient care.
Proprietary rehabilitation: Challenges and opportunities in the new millennium

Proprietary rehabilitation has developed into a distinct professional sector with procedures, practices, and philosophy that differ from those in the public rehabilitation program. As the new millennium commences, proprietary rehabilitation will face a variety of challenges and opportunities that could affect the future of this sector of the rehabilitation profession. Among these issues are changes in occupational information upon which many proprietary rehabilitation practices are based; increased opportunities for early intervention and establishment of disability management programs within industry; adjustment to the movement to a managed health care system; and the necessity to demonstrate fiscal efficacy of rehabilitation services to workers with compensable injuries. This article discusses these issues and suggests some ways in which those involved in proprietary rehabilitation can properly position themselves to address and benefit from these challenges and opportunities.
Can the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation Predict Low Back Pain Incidence in a ‘90-day-pain-free-cohort’?

LBP is a major public health concern with enormous human and economic burden. The validity of the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE), a widely used job assessment tool, has not been studied previously in individuals with past LBP. The primary aim of this research was to study the relationship between RNLE measures and incident LBP episode risk after a 90-day pain free period using a prospective study design. One hundred and thirty industrial workers were identified as eligible to become an incident case for LBP. Univariate relationships between RNLE measures and incidence of LBP episode were studied using the Cox proportional hazards model. Significant associations between RNLE measures and incident LBP risk were found. It is concluded that the RNLE is predictive of incident LBP episode risk in individuals with past pain.
Gravity tectonics or plate tectonics: example of the Numidian flysch, Tunisia

The Numidian flysch unit is the largest tectonic unit in the western Mediterranean, extending from Gibraltar to southern Italy. Displacement of the unit is supposedly to the S, a result of either gravity tectonics or plate tectonics. Both interpretations have their adherents, and to solve this dilemma the Numidian flysch in Tunisia was studied. Field data indicate surprisingly that the Numidian flysch in northeastern Tunisia (Mogods–Hedil area) did not move at all, which renders the question of the emplacement mechanism irrelevant. In northwestern Tunisia (Kroumiria) the flysch moved presumably only a few km to the S, not 50 km as was thought previously. Analysing this small displacement it appears unlikely that gravity tectonics was of importance because move ment over the fault was probably upward; moreover, sedimentological data do not indicate a high area from which sliding could have occurred. A plate tectonic interpretation cannot explain, however, why flysch movement was spasmodic instead of continuous and contemporaneous with plate movement, or why plate deformation was restricted to the thin flysch unit.
Urban Forests as Green Infrastructure

Urban forests capture air and water pollutants as they provide shade, habitat, and social value. The health and character of urban forests are determined by the priorities that communities place on them, the local regulations that direct land use choices, and the extent to which local governments address resource shortages through zoning, resource planning, and resource regulation. Local governments can plan and regulate urban forests to benefit (economically, socially, and environmentally) from the services that trees can provide to communities. This essay explores the role of urban forests in the local provision of local green infrastructure and the ways that local governments capture of the benefits of urban forests by planning and implementing tree protections.
How Do Consumers Respond To Storylines in Television Advertisements? A Principal- Components Analysis Tool Helps Decipher Moment-to-Moment Evaluations

ABSTRACT Marketers and advertisers long have searched for new and more powerful ways to measure the effectiveness of advertising. One data source that has proven useful is consumers9 moment-to-moment affective responses to television advertisements. The current study examined consumers9 moment-to-moment advertisement evaluations by applying a form of principal-components analysis that allows researchers to understand divergence in consumer response and link this divergence to specific elements of the advertisement9s storyline. Application of this technique revealed a consistent principal-component structure across a sample of advertisements and demonstrated a link between each principal component and consumers9 retrospective advertisement and brand evaluations.
The Role of the Infected Egg in the Transmission of Visceral Lymphomatosis

Abstract INTRODUCTION SINCE the original suggestion of Doyle (1929), many investigators have presented circumstantial evidence that the infectious agent or agents of lymphomatosis were transmitted from parent to offspring via the egg while others obtained results which led them to conclude that egg transmission did not occur, or if it did, it was of little or no consequence. For a review of this literature see Cole (1949) and Cottral et al. (1954). It has been suggested (Waters, 1954b; Cottral et al., 1954; and Burmester et al., 1955) that a part of these apparent differences in results and in interpretation may be attributable to the variation in the predominate form of lymphomatosis that occurred in the different flocks. The primary basis for this suggestion was the report of Hutt and Cole (1953) that in their experimental flock over three-quarters of all birds that died of lymphomatosis had the neural form of the …
Knee Arthroplasty After Subchondroplasty: Early Results, Complications, and Technical Challenges

Abstract Background Calcium phosphate bone substitutes (CPBS) are commonly used to augment and repair bone voids and defects after fractures around the knee joint. The purpose of this study was to determine whether prior arthroscopic application of a CPBS, for repair of magnetic resonance imaging–identified subchondral fractures associated with osteoarthritis (procedure referred to as subchondroplasty) adversely affected the performance and/or outcome of subsequent knee arthroplasty. Methods Twenty-two patients who had arthroscopic repair of a periarticular fracture combined with use of a CPBS who later had knee arthroplasty were identified. Average follow-up for study patients was 23.5 months (range 12-52 months). These patients were matched demographically and for follow-up duration in a 2:1 ratio to a group of control subjects undergoing arthroplasty who had not undergone prior surgery. Results Technical challenges related to surgical performance, clinical outcomes, and complications were determined for both the groups. At most recent follow-up, study patients had an average Oxford score of 40.6 (range, 25-48) compared with control subjects with an average score of 40.1 (range, 12-48). There was no difference in complications or surgical complexity between groups, and only standard primary components were used. Conclusion The results of our study suggest that prior arthroscopic repair combined with CPBS of periarticular fractures around the knee does not compromise the early outcomes and surgical performance or increase complications related to subsequent arthroplasty. However, longer follow-up of these patients is warranted to confirm that implant durability remains uncompromised.
Analysis of 12 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides residues in 209 vegetable samples from farmers' markets in Jianggan district of Hangzhou

Objective To understand the status of 12 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides residue in 8 farmers' markets of Jianggan district,so as to provide scientific evidence for safety assessment. Methods The vegetable samples were collected from one typical farmer's market of each township or neighborhood of Jianggan district to detect the pesticides residues by gas chromatography. Results Leaf vegetables were dominant in this detection,accounting for 51. 7%. A total of 209 vegetable samples were detected,the detection rate was 13. 4%(28 /109),and the over- limit rate was 2. 39%(5 /209). The positive rate of organophosphorus pesticides residues in Brassica and Leaf vegetables were obviouslly higher than that in others. Methamidophos,acephate and omethoate were found frequent in the 12 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides. The differences had no statistical significance both in the detection rates and the over- limit rates between nonlocal vegetables and local vegetables. Conclusion High detection rate and over- limit rate of organophosphorus pesticides were found in vegetables of farm's market of Jianggan district,so the relevant departments should take measures to reduce the organophosphorus pesticides residual level to protect the health of consumers.
Multisensory Interactions across Spatial Location and Temporal Synchrony

The process of integrating information across sensory modalities is highly dependent upon a number of stimulus characteristics, including spatial and temporal coincidence, as well as effectiveness. Typically, these properties have been studied in isolation, but recent evidence suggests that they are interactive. This study focuses on interactions between the spatial location and temporal synchrony of stimuli. Participants were presented with simple audiovisual in parametrically varied locations, and with parametrically varied stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). Participants performed spatial location and perceived simultaneity tasks (PSS). Accuracies and response times were measured. Accuracies of spatial localization were dependent upon spatial location, with no effect of SOA and interaction seen, however, RT analysis showed an effect of SOA and an interaction; more peripheral presentations showed greater slowing of RT in asynchronous conditions, and fewer violations of the race model. With the PSS tasks...
Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT-Guided Biopsy and Cryoablation with Autoradiography of Biopsy Specimen for Treatment of Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by small benign tumors of mesenchymal origin also known as phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors mixed connective tissue variant. Excellent prognosis is expected with eradication of the culprit tumor. These small tumors are notoriously difficult to localize with conventional imaging studies; this often leads to an extensive work up and prolonged morbidity. We report a patient with clinical diagnosis of TIO whose culprit tumor was localized with Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT and MRI. Biopsy and cryoablation were performed under Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT guidance. Autoradiography of the biopsy specimen was performed and showed in situ correlation between Ga-68 DOTATOC uptake and histopathology with millimeter resolution.
Optimizing Protonation States for Selective Double-Strand DNA Photocleavage in Hypoxic Tumors: pH-Gated Transitions of Lysine Dipeptides

We report pH-switching properties of the new family of dipeptide–acetylene conjugates where pH-gated light-activated double-strand (ds) DNA cleavage is controlled by variations in electronic and geometric parameters. The conjugates have higher activities at the slightly acidic pH values that separate normal and cancerous tissue (pH < 7). This favorable pH dependence originates from several elements of structural design. Basicities of the two amines determine the threshold pH range where the changes in binding and reactivity are observed, whereas the distance between the two amino groups and the hydrophobic aryl alkyne moiety can further modulate DNA binding. The changes of the protonation state from a neutral molecule to a dication results in dramatically increased efficiency of ds DNA photocleavage, the most therapeutically valuable type of DNA cleavage.
Th17 Cells: Differentiation and Regulation

The increased IL-17A production by CD4+ T cells from T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic DO11.10 mice was first observed by Infante-Duarte and colleagues in 2000 [1]. The transgenic TCR recognizes ovalbumin (OVA) peptide 322-339 in association with I-Ad. When stimulated with OVA322-339 in the presence of cell lysates of Borrelia burgdorferi, these CD4+ Th cells preferentially produce IL-17A along with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The cytokine profile produced by these CD4+ Th cells is distinctive from those by Th1 or Th2 cells. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) was shown to have a similar effect to cell lysates of Borrelia burgdorferi in inducing IL-17A production by these CD4+ Th cells. In 2003, Aggarwal et al. [2] showed that IL-23 preferentially promotes IL-17A and IL-17F production by activated CD4+ T cells in vitro suggesting that during a secondary immune response IL-23 can promote a distinct differentiation status from well-characterized Th1 and Th2 cells. In an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, Cua and colleagues demonstrated that it is IL-23 rather than IL-12 mediating autoimmune inflammation of the brain [3]. Furthermore, they provided in vivo evidence that IL-23 drives a pathogenic T cell population mediating inflammation in EAE and arthritis models [4, 5]. These pathogenic CD4+ T cells produce IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6, and TNF. The term “Th17 cells” was proposed in 2005 by two independent groups led by Dong and Weaver, respectively [6, 7], to describe a Th cell lineage, which is distinctive from Th1 and Th2 cells. A Th17 cell is governed by its master transcription factor, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor (ROR)-γt [8]. The discovery of Th17 cells heralded a major shift in T cell biology and our understanding of the mechanism of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Cytokines produced by Th17 cells include IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, GM-CSF, IL-21, and TNF depending on inflammatory settings [9]. Those autoimmune diseases thought to be mediated by Th1 cells are now recognized to be mediated mainly by Th17 cells [10].
242Pu absolute neutron-capture cross section measurement

The absolute neutron-capture cross section of 242 Pu was measured at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center using the Detector for Advanced Neutron-Capture Experiments array along with a compact parallel-plate avalanche counter for fission-fragment detection. During target fabrication, a small amount of 239 Pu was added to the active target so that the absolute scale of the 242 Pu(n,γ) cross section could be set according to the known 239 Pu(n,f) resonance at En,R = 7.83 eV. The relative scale of the 242 Pu(n,γ) cross section covers four orders of magnitude for incident neutron energies from thermal to ≈ 40 keV. The cross section reported in ENDF/B-VII.1 for the 242 Pu(n,γ) En,R = 2.68 eV resonance was found to be 2.4% lower than the new absolute 242 Pu(n,γ) cross section.
HIV Infection Is Associated with Increased Fatty Infiltration of the Thigh Muscle with Aging Independent of Fat Distribution.

BACKGROUND Lower muscle density on computed tomography (CT) provides a measure of fatty infiltration of muscle, an aspect of muscle quality that has been associated with metabolic abnormalities, weakness, decreased mobility, and increased fracture risk in older adults. We assessed the cross-sectional relationship between HIV serostatus, age, thigh muscle attenuation, and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). METHODS Mean CT-quantified Hounsfield units (HU) of the thigh muscle bundle and CSA were evaluated in 368 HIV-infected and 145 HIV-uninfected men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) Cardiovascular Substudy using multivariable linear regression. Models all were adjusted for HIV serostatus, age, race, and body mass index (BMI); each model was further adjusted for covariates that differed by HIV serostatus, including insulin resistance, hepatitis C, malignancy, smoking, alcohol use, and self-reported limitation in physical activity. RESULTS HIV-infected men had greater thigh muscle CSA (p<0.001) but lower muscle density (p<0.001) compared to HIV-uninfected men. Muscle density remained lower in HIV-infected men (p = 0.001) when abdominal visceral adiposity, and thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue area were substituted for BMI in a multivariable model. Muscle density decreased by 0.16 HU per year (p<0.001) of increasing age among the HIV-infected men, but not in the HIV-uninfected men (HIV x age interaction -0.20 HU; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION HIV-infected men had lower thigh muscle density compared to HIV-uninfected men, and a more pronounced decline with increasing age, indicative of greater fatty infiltration. These findings suggest that lower muscle quality among HIV-infected persons may be a risk factor for impairments in physical function with aging.
A reduced-order model for the dynamic and post-buckling behavior of tensegrity structures

Abstract Traditional approaches for modeling the behavior of tensegrity structures have their origin either on form-finding applications or on the desire to capture their quasi-static behavior. As such, they generally assume that (i) bars are perfectly rigid, (ii) cables are linear elastic, and (iii) bars experience pure compression and strings pure tension. In addition, a common design constraint is to assume that the structure would fail whenever any of its bars reaches the corresponding Euler buckling load. In reality, these assumptions tend to break down in the presence of dynamic events. In this work, we develop a physics-based reduced-order model to study aspects related to the dynamic and nonlinear response of tensegrity-based structures. With very few degrees of freedom, our model captures their buckling and post-buckling behavior as well as their dynamic response. We then adopt our model to show how, under dynamic events, buckling of individual members of a tensegrity structure does not necessarily imply structural failure. Our research suggests that efficient structural design of impact-tolerant tensegrity structures could be achieved by exploiting rather than avoiding the buckling behavior of its compression members.
Screening Mammography: Patient Perceptions and Preferences Regarding Communication of Estimated Breast Cancer Risk

OBJECTIVE. Many models exist to estimate a woman's risk of development of breast cancer. At screening mammography, many imaging centers collect data required for these models to identify women who may benefit from supplemental screening and referral for cancer risk assessment. The purpose of this study was to discern perceptions and preferences of screening mammography patients regarding communication of estimated breast cancer risk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. An anonymous survey was distributed to screening and surveillance mammography patients between April and June 2015. Survey questions were designed to assess patient preferences regarding the receipt and complexity of risk estimate communication, including hypothetical scenarios with and without > 20% estimated risk of breast cancer. The McNemar test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS. The survey was distributed to 1061 screening and surveillance mammography patients, and 503 patients re...
Problems in Question Answering

Research in computational question answering has always been conducted with respect to specific tasks. Woods’ LSNLIS program answers questions about its technical knowledge of moon rocks (see Woods 1972); Winograd’s SHRDLU answers questions about the manipulation of blocks on a table (see Winograd 1972); Shortliffe’s MYCIN helps physicians diagnose diseases and prescribe drugs by engaging in question answering dialogues (see Shortliffe 1974); Schank’s SAM reads stories and answers questions about what it reads (see Schank et al. 1975). While all of these programs are concerned with question answering, each one has perceived the problem from a different angle.
Warning About Shortcuts in Drug Development.

Throughout history, cures and symptomatic treatments have been touted based on extrapolations from poorly understood measures and theories. At best, this has been attributed to naive believers advocating for proposed therapies without awareness of the accompanying uncertainties and risks. At worst
The new paradigm of systemic therapies for metastatic melanoma

New treatments for metastatic melanoma work through distinct mechanisms: enhancing the immune response and blocking cellular proliferation. Agents that enhance the immune response include ipilimumab, pembrolizumb, and nivolumab; agents that block cellular proliferation include vemurafenib, dabrafenib, trametinib, cobimetinib, binimetinib, and selumetinib. The translational impact of laboratory discoveries has revolutionized management of metastatic melanoma and enhanced the prognosis of affected patients.
The management of localized esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Western approach

Esophageal cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and carries a poor prognosis both in the locally advanced and metastatic setting. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for the majority of esophageal cancers globally, while esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) now predominates in the Western world. Historically, clinical trials have not separated the two histologic subtypes, with similar regimens being used for both. This, however, is changing with the recent publication by the Cancer Genome Atlas Research Group confirming that comprehensive analysis reveals ESCC demonstrates frequent genomic amplifications of CCND1 and SOX2 and/or TP63 and biologically are more like head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, whereas EACs strongly resemble the chromosomally unstable variant of gastric cancer. With a lack of viable targets in squamous cell carcinoma, immunotherapeutic approaches are now being investigated in both early stage and metastatic ESCC with promising results being reported in the preliminary data published to date.
Behavioral and Psychological Phenotyping of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: Implications for Weight Management.

Objective Risk for obesity is determined by a complex mix of genetics and lifetime exposures at multiple levels, from the metabolic milieu to psychosocial and environmental influences. These phenotypic differences underlie the variability in risk for obesity and response to weight management interventions, including differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods As part of a broader effort focused on behavioral and psychological phenotyping in obesity research, the National Institutes of Health convened a multidisciplinary workshop to explore the state of the science in behavioral and psychological phenotyping in humans to explain individual differences in physical activity, both as a risk factor for obesity development and in response to activity-enhancing interventions. Results Understanding the behavioral and psychological phenotypes that contribute to differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior could allow for improved treatment matching and inform new targets for tailored, innovative, and effective weight management interventions. Conclusions This summary provides the rationale for identifying psychological and behavioral phenotypes relevant to physical activity and identifies opportunities for future research to better understand, define, measure, and validate putative phenotypic factors and characterize emerging phenotypes that are empirically associated with initiation of physical activity, response to intervention, and sustained changes in physical activity.
Spectacles of Terror: Media and the Cultural Production of Terrorism

This study examines the cultural production of terrorism by analyzing both terror and anti-terror campaigns. With the aid of information and communication technologies, terrorist groups are able to publicize their own messages, resulting in the globalization of their ideologies and an increase in the quantity and quality of their cultural production. In a perverse reversal, corporate news networks, in their constant search for content, publicize terrorist activities and sensationalize these stories as part of their profit-maximizing operations. The symbiotic relationship between seemingly disparate actors, including corporate news networks, terrorist networks, and the counter-terrorism security apparatus, means that the spectacle of terrorism is being created by both terror and anti-terror campaigns.
Quality of Life and Body Image as a Function of Time from Mastectomy.

We sought to determine the impact of time after surgery on quality of life (QoL) and body image in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy. Female patients with unilateral breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy were surveyed regarding their body image (Body Image After Breast Cancer Questionnaire; BIBCQ) and QoL (FACT-B). Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics (SPSS version 24). Ninety-four of the 109 patients approached completed both surveys (86.2% response rate). Median patient age at the time of surgery was 49.5 (range 29–82); the survey was administered at a median of 14.2 months postoperatively (range 0.3–192.1 months). Seventy-four patients (78.7%) had reconstruction, and 52 patients (55.3%) chose to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Patients who reported an above average overall body image perception on the BIBCQ tended to be further out from their surgery than those who reported a below average perception (median 20.9 vs. 8.1 months, respectively, p = 0.009). Patients who reported above average QoL also tended to be further out from their surgery compared with those with below average overall QoL (median 21.8 vs. 6.4 months, respectively, p = 0.004). Receipt of reconstruction, contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, disease stage, patient race, education, insurance type, income, marital status, employment status, and age at surgery did not significantly affect body image nor QoL in this cohort. Better body image perception and higher QoL were associated with being further out from surgery. These findings suggest that body image and QoL may improve with time, as patients acclimatize to their “new normal.”
Morphology and fracture behavior in aliphatic polyketones

Morphological features and fracture mechanisms in aliphatic polyketone (PK) samples, prepared via compression molding and injection molding processes, were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, transmitted optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The PK samples studied are found to have a crystallinity of about 38%. The fracture mechanisms observed in the PK samples are found to be sensitive to strain rate, notch, and stress state. Upon double-notch four-point-bend fracture, the PK fails in a brittle fashion under impact condition and fails in a ductile manner when the testing rate is low. Crazing is the dominant fracture mechanism under the low-rate test conditions, even in the region close to the surface (plane stress region) of the sample. The dominant fracture mechanisms under uniaxial tension are found to be shear yielding and voiding due to debonding of the less-compliant sub-micrometer particles in the PK matrix. No sign of crazing is observed in uniaxial tensile specimens.
Researching the Appropriateness of Care in the Complementary and Integrative Health Professions: Part I.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this article is to report on the Center of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine at RAND Corporation. The overall project examined the appropriateness of chiropractic spinal manipulation and mobilization for chronic low back pain and chronic cervical pain using the RAND and University of California Los Angeles Appropriateness Method, including patient preferences and costs, to acknowledge the importance of patient-centered care in clinical decision-making. Methods This article is a narrative summary of the overall project and its inter-related components (ie, 4 Research Project Grants and 2 centers), including the Data Collection Core, whose activities and learning will be the subject of a following series of methods articles. Results The project team faced many challenges in accomplishing data collection goals. The processes we developed to overcome barriers may be of use to other researchers and for practitioners who may want to participate in such studies in complementary and integrative health, which previously was known as complementary and alternative medicine. Conclusion For this large, complex, successful project, we gathered online survey data, collected charts, and abstracted chart data from thousands of chiropractic patients. The present article delineates the challenges and lessons that were learned during this project so that others may gain from the authors’ experience. This information may be of use to future research that collects data from independent practitioners and their patients because it provides what is needed to be successful in such studies and may encourage participation.