cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal transmission range for cluster-based wireless sensor networks with mixed communication modes

Prolonging the network lifetime is one of the most important designing objectives in wireless sensor networks (WSN). We consider a heterogeneous cluster-based WSN, which consists of two types of nodes: powerful cluster-heads and basic sensor nodes. All the nodes are randomly deployed in a specific area. To better balance the energy dissipation, we use a simple mixed communication modes where the sensor nodes can communicate with cluster-heads in either single-hop or multi-hop mode. Given the initial energy of the basic sensor nodes, we derive the optimal communication range and identify the optimal mixed communication mode to maximize the WSN's lifetime through optimizations. Moreover, we also extend our model from 2-D space to 3-D space.
Risk factors for insomnia in a rural population.

Purpose This study compared in one data set the relative importance of most previously examined risk factors for different symptoms of insomnia. Methods Data were obtained from personal interviews of 1588 adults in a rural area. Statistical methods evaluated the association of 42 risk factors with any insomnia and each of four insomnia subtypes: difficulty with initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), and restless sleep (RS). Results Insomnia rates were greater in this rural population than most U.S. studies and greater in the United States than other countries. The correlations between insomnia subtype and energy level was highest for RS, –0.29, and lowest for EMA, –0.11. All sleep disturbances increased monotonically with depressive symptoms, but the increase was greatest for RS (r = 0.57) and weakest for EMA (r = 0.24). Anxiety and pain also were independently associated with each insomnia subtype. Insomnia problems of spouses were uncorrelated. Other risk factors were independently associated with some insomnia subtypes but not others. For example, the association of age with difficulty maintaining sleep was independent of health measures. Conclusion The results suggest that different insomnias have different rates and risk factors and therefore possibly different etiologies and management strategies.
Obtaining Diagnostic Classification Model Estimates Using Mplus

Diagnostic classification models (aka cognitive or skills diagnosis models) have shown great promise for evaluating mastery on a multidimensional profile of skills as assessed through examinee responses, but continued development and application of these models has been hindered by a lack of readily available software. In this article we demonstrate how diagnostic classification models may be estimated as confirmatory latent class models using Mplus, thus bridging the gap between the technical presentation of these models and their practical use for assessment in research and applied settings. Using a sample English test of three grammatical skills, we describe how diagnostic classification models can be phrased as latent class models within Mplus and how to obtain the syntax and output needed for estimation and interpretation of the model parameters. We also have written a freely available SAS program that can be used to automatically generate the Mplus syntax. We hope this work will ultimately result in greater access to diagnostic classification models throughout the testing community, from researchers to practitioners.
Phase III Clinical Trial Development: A Process of Chutes and Ladders

Purpose The Institute of Medicine report on cooperative groups and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) report from the Operational Efficiency Working Group both recommend changes to the processes for opening a clinical trial. This article provides evidence for the need for such changes by completing the first comprehensive review of all the time and steps required to open a phase III oncology clinical trial and discusses the effect of time to protocol activation on subject accrual. Methods The Dilts and Sandler method was used at four cancer centers, two cooperative groups, and the NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. Accrual data were also collected. Results Opening a phase III cooperative group therapeutic trial requires 769 steps, 36 approvals, and a median of approximately 2.5 years from formal concept review to study opening. Time to activation at one group ranged from 435 to 1,604 days, and time to open at one cancer center ranged from 21 to 836 days. At centers, group trials are significantly more likely to have zero accruals (38.8%) than nongroup trials (20.6%; P Conclusions The length, variability, and low accrual results demonstrate the need for the NCI clinical trials system to be reengineered. Improvements will be of only limited effectiveness if done in isolation; there is a need to return to the collaborative spirit with all parties creating an efficient and effective system. Recommendations put forth by the Institute of Medicine and Operational Efficiency Working Group reports, if implemented, will aid this renewal.
Advances in Development of the Fission Product Extraction Process for the Separation of Cesium and Strontium From Spent Nuclear Fuel

The Fission Product Extraction (FPEX) Process is being developed as part of the United States Department of Energy Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative for the simultaneous separation of cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) from spent light water reactor (LWR) fuel. Separation of the Cs and Sr will reduce the short-term heat load in a geological repository, and when combined with the separation of americium (Am) and curium (Cm), could increase the capacity of the geological repository by a factor of approximately 100. The FPEX process is based on two highly specific extractants: 4,4',(5')-Di-(t-butyldicyclo-hexano)-18-crown-6 (DtBuCH18C6) and Calix[4]arene-bis-(tertoctylbenzo-crown-6) (BOBCalixC6). The DtBuCH18C6 extractant is selective for strontium and the BOBCalixC6 extractant is selective for cesium. Results of flowsheet testing of the FPEX process with a simulated feed solution in 3.3-cm centrifugal contactors are detailed. Removal efficiencies, distribution coefficient data, coextraction of metals, and process hydrodynamic performance are discussed along with recommendations for future flowsheet testing with actual spent nuclear fuel.
Occupant posture analysis using reflectance and stereo image for "smart" airbag deployment

Robust detection of vehicle occupant posture is necessary for intelligent airbag deployment. This paper presents a vision-based method of estimating the size, posture and pose of the occupant. Utilizing raw reflectance and stereo disparity images, this algorithm presents a mixed-mode approach to finding occupant features. Extensive experiments show the viability of this mixed-mode method in identifying the occupant's head location and suggest the feasibility of extending the analysis system to include detection of features such as occupant arms and foreign objects.
Enhanced Hydrogen Production from DNA‐Assembled Z‐Scheme TiO2–CdS Photocatalyst Systems

A wide range of inorganic nanostructures have been used as photocatalysts for generating H2. To increase activity, Z-scheme photocatalytic systems have been implemented that use multiple types of photoactive materials and electron mediators. Optimal catalysis has previously been obtained by interfacing different materials through aggregation or epitaxial nucleation, all of which lowers the accessible active surface area. DNA has now been used as a structure-directing agent to organize TiO2 and CdS nanocrystals. A significant increase in H2 production compared to CdS or TiO2 alone was thus observed directly in solution with no sacrificial donors or applied bias. The inclusion of benzoquinone (BQ) equidistant between the TiO2 and CdS through DNA assembly further increased H2 production. While the use of a second quinone in conjunction with BQ showed no more improvement, its location within the Z-scheme was found to strongly influence catalysis.
A novel multi-frequency inversion algorithm for the retrieval of the subsurface properties of layered soil media

The characterization of subsurface structure and dielectric properties of soil media using microwave remote sensing technology has proven very useful in identifying soil stratigraphy, measuring soil moisture content, and assessing soil salinity. Following the formulation of a forward model for scattering from two-interface rough surfaces based on the small perturbation method (SPM), a multi-frequency inversion algorithm is presented in this paper. When backscattering coefficients at an oblique incidence at multiple frequencies are measured, the inversion algorithm is designed to retrieve the dielectric properties and roughness statistics of each distinct soil layer in a layer-stripping fashion. The dielectric constant of the top surface is first determined and then the top surface is mathematically stripped away. Subsequently, the measurements that would have been obtained if the properties of top surface are known are synthesized. The process is repeated and the medium is mathematically stripped away, layer by layer, with the dielectric constants being found in the process. In the development of the proposed inversion algorithm, both HH and VV data are inverted simultaneously for more accurate reconstruction of the dielectric properties of layered media. The premise behind this work lies in the use of virtual time-domain data realized using multi-frequency measurements. The time-domain data consist of a series of time echoes delayed at different times with each time-delayed echoes representing a reflection upon a rough interface. Time-domain data have very attractive features which can facilitate the inversion of material properties and roughness statistics of rough layers. The peak value of a time delay echo is strongly correlated with the dielectric contrast across an interface and the pulse shape of a time delay depends on the rms height and correlation length of a rough interface. The time difference between delay echoes is linearly related to the layer thickness. Numerical simulation results show that the real part of dielectric constants for both top and subsurface layers, the imaginary part of the dielectric constant for the top layer (but not the last layer), the roughness statistics for both rough interfaces, and the layer thickness can be retrieved with great accuracy.
The carbon stable isotope composition of pollen

The d 13 C value of plant tissue is increasingly used to infer environmental and ecological conditions in modern and ancient environments. Isolation techniques and morphological descriptions have been established that characterize plant pollen for the greater part of the Phanerozoic eon. If the d 13 C value of fossil pollen could be used as an indicator of the carbon isotope composition of ancient pollinating communities, it could provide insight into ancient paleoenvironments. Previous studies have revealed a correlation between the d 13 C value of pollen and the d 13 C value of bulk plant tissue in a few isolated species; this study sought to quantify the isotopic relationship between modern pollen and stem and leaf tissues across all the major phylogenetic clades of the tracheophytes. One-hundred and seventy-five different species of tracheophytes were collected from 11 arboreta and botanical gardens across the United States and analyzed for d 13 C value of pollen, leaf, and stem tissue. The carbon isotope difference between pollen and leaf tissue values in the same species was =F3.00x for N90% of data pairs, and the same relationship was true for comparisons between pollen and stem tissue. When the data was examined by phylogenetic clade, it was found that some groups, such as the Cornales and Ericales, exhibited a much closer and more consistent correlation between pollen and stem and leaf tissue. It was also noted that green-stemmed clades tended to show d 13 Cstembd 13 Cpollen while woody-stemmed clades showed the opposite (d 13 Cpollenbd 13 Cstem), a difference attributable to the different chemical composition of the two types of stem tissue. The chemical preparation method involving Schulze’s solution that is commonly employed to isolate pollen from pre-Quaternary sediments was shown not to affect the carbon isotope composition of pollen by more than 0.23x. The manual isolation of sufficient pollen from the fossil record for d 13 C analysis of a single species would be prohibitively laborious; however, these results showed that when understood in terms of paleobotanical taxonomy, d 13 C analyses of bulk fossil pollen can be used to infer the d 13 C value of the ancient plant community to within 1.5x.
PET Imaging for Gene & Cell Therapy

As the interest in gene therapy increases, the development of an efficient and reliable means to monitor gene delivery and expression in patients is becoming more important. An ideal imaging modality would be non-invasive, allowing for repeated imaging, thus validating stages subsequent to vector administration and allowing for the improvement of clinical protocols. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been employed for some time in clinical imaging and has in more recent years been adapted to enable imaging in small animal models, including gene therapy models for a range of diseases. PET imaging is based on the detection of trace quantities of positron-emitting molecular probe within cells postadministration, permitting imaging of target molecules in vivo, and numerous tracers have been developed for a wide range of applications, including imaging of reporter gene activity. Use of radiolabelled substrates that interact with specific transgene proteins, has identified a number of reporter genes that are suitable for imaging vector mediated gene delivery and expression in both pre-clinical and clinical situations. These reporter genes enable non-invasive analysis of the location, level and kinetics of transgene activity. Among the various imaging modalities in existence, the PET approach displays arguably the optimum characteristics in terms of sensitivity and quantitation for in vivo gene expression measurements. Given the existing availability of PET scanning equipment and expertise in hospitals, this imaging modality represents the most clinically applicable means of analysing gene therapy in patients. This review outlines the principles of PET imaging in the context of gene and cell therapy at both pre-clinical and clinical levels, comparing PET with other relevant modalities, and describes the progress to date in this field.
Progressive muscle relaxation to decrease anxiety in clinical simulations

Abstract Nursing students experience anxiety during simulations which could negatively affect learning. This pilot study examined progressive muscle relaxation to decrease anxiety. The experimental group participated in progressive muscle relaxation while the control group sat quietly. Although there were no significant differences in post-test scores, there was a significant decrease in anxiety from the experimental group pre-test to their post-test ( p
Regulation of Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Biological nitrogen fixation, a process found only in some prokaryotes, is catalyzed by the nitrogenase enzyme complex. Bacteria containing nitrogenase occupy an indispensable ecological niche, supplying fixed nitrogen to the global nitrogen cycle. Due to this inceptive role in the nitrogen cycle, diazotrophs are present in virtually all ecosystems, with representatives in environments as varied as aerobic soils (e.g., Azotobacter species), the ocean surface layer (Trichodesmium) and specialized nodules in legume roots (Rhizobium). In any ecosystem, diazotrophs must respond to varied environmental conditions to regulate the tremendously taxing nitrogen fixation process. All characterized diazotrophs regulate nitrogenase at the transcriptional level. A smaller set also possesses a fast-acting post-translational regulation system. Although there is little apparent variation in the sequences and structures of nitrogenases, there appear to be almost as many nitrogenase-regulating schemes as there are nitrogen-fixing species. Herein are described the paradigms of nitrogenase function, transcriptional control and post-translational regulation, as well as the variations on these schemes, described in various nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Regulation is described on a molecular basis, focusing on the functional and structural characteristics of the proteins responsible for control of nitrogen fixation.
Assessment of Programs and Services

Accountability in higher education is no longer something that is merely addressed with some cursory effort. Justifying the worth of your program is not just a requirement dictated by upper level a...
Non-Chloride Products

Potassium sulfate can be produced in many ways, and with a number of compounds supplying the sulfate ion. These include brine, epsomite, glaubers salt, gypsum, kainite, langbeinite, kieserite, salt cake, sulfur dioxide or sulfuric acid. Each has been, or is currently being used to produce this product (Table 7–1), depending upon its local availability and the economics involved. Each source will be discussed below.
Isothermal thermogravimetric analysis of soybean oil oxidation correlated to thin film micro-oxidation test methods

An isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method was used to generate a model capable of predicting the results of the Thin Film Micro-Oxidation (TFMO) test in a soybean oil system. Utilizing a series of pseudorate constants and “activation energies”, weight loss data from the TGA method can predict oxidation, polymerization, evaporation, and the formation of high molecular weight deposits, normally observed in the TFMO test. These parameters can be used in simple computer simulations which can calculate the weight of each component of a lubricant as it decomposes. This allows evaluation of lubricants without the difficult to obtain TFMO equipment, instead utilizing equipment available in most laboratories.
Metabolism of arterial tissue: oxidative capacity of intact arterial tissue.

SummaryThe oxidative capacity of succinic oxidase and cytochrome oxidase systems in 3 aortic segments (ascending and arch, descending thoracic, abdominal), inferior vena cava and liver slices of man, rabbit and dog was studied. A species difference was found to exist: a) man exhibited the lowest oxidative values for both systems; b) the dog, the highest values for the succinic oxidase system in the thoracic aorta; c) the rabbit, intermediate values for the succinic oxidase system in all 3 aortic segments; d) oxidative values for the cytochrome oxidase system were of approximately equal magnitude in the aortic tissue of dog and rabbit. A significant decrease in oxidative capacity of aortic tissue was associated with aging in man, while the vena cava and liver remained unaffected. No appreciable change with age was found in rabbit and dog.The significance of the above findings in relation to atherogenesis was discussed.
Concentration-dependent viscosity of binary and ternary mixtures of nonassociating proteins: measurement and analysis.

Using a recently developed automated viscometer (Grupi, A.; Minton, A. P. Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 10732–10736), the dependence of solution viscosity upon the concentrations of bovine serum albumin, h...
pH responsive granulocyte colony-stimulating factor variants with implications for treating Alzheimer's disease and other central nervous system disorders

Systemic injection of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has yielded encouraging results in treating Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Making G-CSF a viable AD therapeutic will, however, require increasing G-CSF's ability to stimulate neurons within the brain. This objective could be realized by increasing transcytosis of G-CSF across the blood brain barrier (BBB). An established correlation between G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR) binding pH responsiveness and increased recycling of G-CSF to the cell exterior after endocytosis motivated development of G-CSF variants with highly pH responsive G-CSFR binding affinities. These variants will be used in future validation of our hypothesis that increased BBB transcytosis can enhance G-CSF therapeutic efficacy. Flow cytometric screening of a yeast-displayed library in which G-CSF/G-CSFR interface residues were mutated to histidine yielded a G-CSF triple His mutant (L109H/D110H/Q120H) with highly pH responsive binding affinity. This variant's KD, measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), increases ∼20-fold as pH decreases from 7.4 to below histidine's pKa of ∼6.0; an increase 2-fold greater than for previously reported G-CSF His mutants. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) enabled expression and purification of soluble, bioactive G-CSF triple His variant protein, an outcome inaccessible via Escherichia coli inclusion body refolding. This purification and bioactivity validation will enable future identification of correlations between pH responsiveness and transcytosis in BBB cell culture model and animal experiments. Furthermore, the library screening and CFPS methods employed here could be applied to developing other pH responsive hematopoietic or neurotrophic factors for treating CNS disorders.
Rearrangement of the chromosome 11 bcl-1 locus in centrocytic lymphoma: analysis with multiple breakpoint probes

Centrocytic lymphoma is a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) composed of lymphocytes resembling cleaved follicular center cells (centrocytes). Previous studies have suggested an association between t(11;14) chromosomal translocations and bcl-1 rearrangement in centrocytic and related intermediate lymphocytic lymphomas. To further characterize the association between bcl-1 and centrocytic lymphoma, Southern blot analysis was performed on samples from 23 patients using four separate bcl-1 breakpoint probes spanning 63 kb of the chromosome 11 bcl-1 locus. Rearrangements were identified in six patients with the major translocation cluster (MTC) probe and in another six with probe p94PS, located about 24 kb 5' of MTC. Eleven of these 12 cases showed comigration of rearranged bcl-1 and Ig heavy chain-joining genes, consistent with the t(11;14) chromosomal translocation. No rearrangements were observed with the bcl-1 locus probes p210 or p11EH located 5' of p94PS, nor with bcl-2 or c-myc oncogene probes. No bcl-1 rearrangements were identified in B-cell follicular NHL (15), small noncleaved cell (Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's) NHL (8), T-cell NHL (4), multiple myeloma (14), and pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (9). One of 23 B-cell NHL of large cell type and one of 19 chronic lymphocytic leukemias or small lymphocytic NHL had MTC rearrangement. Thus, bcl-1 rearrangement occurred at MTC or p94PS in 12 of 23 centrocytic lymphomas (52%), confirming a nonrandom association and suggesting a pathogenetic role for the bcl-1 locus in this immunohistologic subtype of NHL.
ACEITABILIDADE DE “ALMONDEGA” ELABORADO COM CARNE DE PANGA (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

O objetivo deste projeto e buscar um novo produto para aumentar o consumo da carne de peixe entre adolescentes e jovens e buscar no produto uma referencia para atender as criancas. Uma opcao de excelente e a carne de panga ( Pangasius hypophthalmus) que possui um custo-beneficio (25% mais barato que outras especies, como a Merluza) ao consumidor, que ocasionou a forte aceitacao do produto no mercado. As almondegas de panga ( Pangasius hypophthalmus) foram fabricadas no Instituto Federal Goiano – Campus Ceres. O melhor resultado encontrado teve aceitacao de 70% dos provadores apontando que gostou muito, tendo como destaque a idade de 18 para 19 anos com uma maior aceitacao entre os provadores, apenas nao so foi bem aceito como na media 85% dos provadores recomendarao para criancas.
Multi-step Treatment for Acquired Alexia and Agraphia (Part II): A Dual-Route Error Scoring System

Dual-route neuropsychological models posit two distinct but interrelated pathways for reading and writing: the lexical and the sublexical. Individuals with reading/writing deficits often rely on the combined power of the integrated system to perform print-processing tasks. The resultant errors reflect varying degrees of lexical and sublexical accuracy in a single production; however, no system presently exists to analyze errors robustly in both routes. The goal of this project was to develop a system that simultaneously, quantitatively, and qualitatively captures changes in lexical and sublexical errors following treatment. Errors are evaluated hierarchically in both routes according to proximity to a target. This dual-route error scoring (DRES) system was developed using data from a novel treatment study for eight patients with acquired alexia/agraphia; a computerised version of the system was also developed (ADRES). Repeated-measures multivariate analyses of variance and post hoc analyses revealed significant dual-route treatment effects. Qualitative analyses revealed unique patterns of change across participants, reflecting the benefits of error evaluation beyond a binary correct/incorrect judgment. Finally, categorical error shifts were observed via group-level analysis. The results of this study indicate that treatment-induced evolution of reading/writing can be meaningfully and comprehensively represented by this novel scoring system.
Small Mammal Inventory of a Remediated Portion of Silver Bow Creek, Montana

Silver Bow Creek in southwestern Montana has been heavily impacted by past mining and smelting activities resulting in a floodplain largely devoid of vegetation and wildlife. Much of the creek has been remediated by removal of mine tailings, reconstruction of the stream channel, and floodplain re-vegetation. We gathered data on small terrestrial mammals and bat species following remediation of a portion of the creek. Small mammals were live trapped and bats were monitored using ultrasonic detectors. We determined the presence of four species of small mammals (rodents and insectivores) and four species of bats utilizing this remediated portion of Silver Bow Creek. Both capture rates of small mammals and bat activity were low compared to other studies in this part of Montana.
Habitats and Biota of the Gulf of Mexico: An Overview

An overview of 13 chapters that assess baseline conditions and status of habitats and biota in the Gulf of Mexico before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Brief summaries of water and sediment quality, energy flow—including natural oil and gas seeps, coastal and offshore habitats, major groups of biota and their diseases and mortalities, and commercial and recreational fisheries are provided. Biodiversity in the Gulf is high, but environmental impacts are numerous and varied and most occur within the coastal zone.
Two-step model for ultrafast interfacial electron transfer: limitations of Fermi’s golden rule revealed by quantum dynamics simulations

Interfacial electron transfer (IET) is one of the crucial steps in the light-harvesting process that occurs in various assemblies for solar energy conversion, such as dye-sensitized solar cells or dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells. Computational studies of IET in dye–semiconductor assemblies employ a variety of approaches, ranging from phenomenological models such as Fermi’s golden rule to more complex methods relying on explicit solutions of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. This work investigates IET in a model pyridine–TiO2 assembly, with the goals of assessing the validity of Fermi’s golden rule for calculation of the IET rates, understanding the importance of conformational sampling in modeling the IET process, and establishing an approach to rapid computational screening of dye-sensitizers that undergo fast IET into the semiconductor. Our results suggest that IET is a two-step process, in which the electron is first transferred into the semiconductor surface states, followed by diffusion of the electron into the nanoparticle bulk states. Furthermore, while Fermi’s golden rule and related approaches are appropriate for predicting the initial IET rate (i.e., the initial transfer of an electron from the dye into the semiconductor surface states), they are not reliable for prediction of the overall IET rate. The inclusion of conformational sampling at room temperature into the model offers a more complete picture of the IET process, leading to a distribution of IET rates with a median rate faster than the IET rate obtained for the fully-optimized structure at 0 K. Finally, the two most important criteria for determination of the initial IET rate are the percentage of electron density on the linker in the excited state as well as the number of semiconductor acceptor states available at the energy of the excited state. Both of these can be obtained from relatively simple electronic structure calculations at either ab initio or semiempirical levels of theory and can thus be used for rapid screening of dyes with the desired properties.
Effect of stress on the capacitance and electric permittivity of three-dimensionally printed polymer, with relevance to capacitance-based stress monitoring

Abstract This paper provides the first report of the effect of stress on the capacitance and electric permittivity of a three-dimensionally (3D) printed polymer. This effect is relevant to capacitance-based stress monitoring. The reported capacitance, permittivity and stress are all in the out-of-plane direction. The stress is compressive up to 0.9 kPa. The printing involves bottom-up stereolithography, using an ultraviolet-curable acrylate ester resin. Each specimen has 20 layers. The layer thicknesses are 26, 33 and 46 μm. Both the capacitance and permittivity increase monotonically and reversibly with increasing stress for all three layer thicknesses, such that the increase is relatively abrupt in the low-stress regime below 0.1 kPa. This means that the capacitance can serve repeatedly as an indicator of stress, with the sensitivity being particularly high at low stresses. For all three layer thicknesses, there is a very slight degree of irreversibility in the capacitance change upon unloading, such that the capacitance is slightly higher during unloading than during the prior loading. The capacitance increase is attributed totally to the increase in permittivity. The increase in permittivity with increasing stress is attributed to the increase in the degree of in-plane molecular alignment. For any stress level, whether during loading or unloading, the permittivity decreases with increasing layer thickness.
Trends in Management of Intracranial Meningiomas: Analysis of 49,921 Cases from Modern Cohort.

Objective We sought to characterize patterns and treatment for intracranial meningiomas in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results set of cancer registries. Methods SEER data was queried from 2004–2012 for cases of intracranial meningioma using appropriate topography and histology codes. Results A total of 49,921 patients with intracranial meningioma were identified. The vast majority of cases were associated with a benign histology ( n = 47,047, 94.2%). There were 21,145 patients (42.4%) who underwent surgical management, 2783 who received radiation alone (5.6%), and 25,993 who underwent surveillance only (52.1%). Surgical management decreased in frequency from 48.8% of all cases in 2004 to 38.3% of cases in 2012 ( P P P Conclusion The incidence of intracranial meningiomas increased, while tumor size at the time of diagnosis decreased. Moreover, the number undergoing no treatment increased as a treatment strategy and was more likely employed for older patients, those of African-American race, and those with smaller tumors.
Injectivity and self-contact in second-gradient nonlinear elasticity

We prove the existence of globally injective weak solutions in mixed boundary-value problems of second-gradient nonlinear elastostatics via energy minimization. This entails the treatment of self-contact. In accordance with the classical (first-gradient) theory, the model incorporates the unbounded growth of the potential energy density as the local volume ratio approaches zero. We work in a class of admissible vector-valued deformations that are injective on the interior of the domain. We first establish a rigorous Euler–Lagrange variational inequality at a minimizer. We then define a self-contact coincidence set for an admissible deformation in a natural way, which we demonstrate to be confined to a closed subset of the boundary of the domain. We then prove the existence of a non-negative (Radon) measure, vanishing outside of the coincidence set, which represents the normal contact-reaction force distribution. With this in hand, we obtain the weak form of the equilibrium equations at a minimizer.
Balanced low-calorie vs. high-protein-low-carbohydrate reducing diets. I. Weight loss, nutrient intake, and subjective evaluation.

Is weight loss greater on one of the currently popular reducing diets than on a more traditional, balanced low-calorie diet?
African Colonial Urban Experience

The urban experience of Africans during colonial rule derived only partly from colonization. Old patterns of urbanization were not displaced but they continued to contest, resist, appropriate, and localize colonial ideas. Colonial urbanization was predicated upon the tripartite objectives of achieving financial self-sufficiency of colonies, ensuring the good health and well-being of European populations, and securing the unstated rule (except under fascists regimes) of racial and cultural superiority. They were also guided by racial ideologies of difference which tried to establish that European lives were naturally the opposite of African ways; with Europeans needing neat, well-catered-for built cities. These ideas justified the neglect of rural communities and native urban settlements in favor of new colonial towns (areas), administrative and commercial hubs, and racially segregated communities. How did these policies evolve? How were they implemented, and how did Africans respond to them? This chapter is an overview of colonial urbanization as experienced by Africans who were affected by the racism and social-economic dislocations of European rule. It demonstrates African behaviors to resist, reimagine and reshape colonial purposes and designs, and thereby establishes them as co-makers of colonial towns and cities.
Abstract 1481: Renal Targeted Protein Therapeutics in Experimental Overt Heart Failure With Renal Dysfunction

BACKGROUND: C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a 22-amino-acid peptide produced mainly in the endothelium and is a ligand for a guanylyl cyclase-coupled receptor, the NPR-B receptor. Recent studies have revealed that in overt heart failure (HF), the predominant natriuretic peptide (NP) receptor in the kidney is the NPR-B receptor. CNP has a potent cardiac unloading action with modest hypotensive actions but with minimal renal actions. Based on our previous knowledge, we mutated 3 amino acid (aa) sequence in the ring structure of CNP (GSM 15–17 to REA15–17) and fused a novel 5 aa sequence from ANP to the N-terminus together with the 6 aa C-terminus of BNP to the C-terminus of CNP. We hypothesized that this novel hybrid peptide ABC-NP would maintain CNP’s inherent cardiac unloading characteristics plus gaining renal enhancing properties without hypotension effects. METHODS: We determined the cardiorenal and humoral actions of intravenous infusion of ABC-NP at 2 pmol/Kg/min, 10 pmol/Kg/min and 100 pmol/Kg /min in 7 dogs with rapid ventricular pacing induced overt HF with cardiorenal dysfunction (240 bpm for 10 days). * p RESULTS: ABC-NP enhanced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), from 31±5 to 45±7, 51±6 and 60±7 ml/min*, induced natriuresis (from 3±2 to 12±8, 17±13 and 29±19 μEq/min*) and diuresis (from 0.13±0.03 to 0.4±0.1, 0.6±0.2 and 0.8±0.3 ml/min*) with a modest reduction in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (from 21±1 to 19±1, 20±1 and 21±1 mmHg*). Importantly, mean arterial blood pressure was maintained. These actions were associated with suppression of plasma renin* and increases in urinary cGMP* and cAMP* excretion. CONCLUSION: We report for the first time that this novel peptide ABC-NP has potent natriuretic and GFR enhancing actions without hypotensive properties in an experimental model of overt CHF. The increase of urinary cAMP excretion in addition to cGMP excretion suggests that this novel peptide may have biological effects beyond the known natriuretic peptide receptors which are linked to cGMP. This renal specific peptide may have potential therapeutic benefit in states of renal dysfunction with volume overload to enhance GFR and sodium excretion without the detrimental side effect of hypotension.
Biological Effects of Vitrification and Devitrification

The physical nature of vitrification has been described in detail in previous chapters. Its relevance to cryobiology is attested to by the fact that papers describing its exploitation have been appearing with rapidly increasing frequency in recent years. This success is based to a large extent on a deeper and more complete understanding of non-equilibrium phase diagram behaviour and its biological implications, but many gaps in our basic understanding still need to be filled in. The purpose of this review is to document current knowledge concerning the biological acceptability of vitrification and the biological damage associated with devitrification and to relate existing knowledge to the problem of organ cryopreservation.
Against Data Attacks on Smart Grid Operations: Attack Mechanisms and Security Measures

This chapter provides a survey and some highlights of recent developments on cyber security issues related to smart grid operations. In particular, we present data attack models and attack mechanisms on system state estimation, generation dispatch, and market operations. Security measures via sensor protection and data authentication are discussed. Although presented in the context of a smart grid, the main ideas are applicable to general cyber physical systems.
Measurement of the Renin-Angiotensin System

Renovascular disease irrespective of the cause activates multiple pressor systems, most specifically the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This complex hormone system exerts several renal and vascular effects, and seminal studies have outlined the sentinel importance of this system in the context of renovascular disease. Experiments using Goldblatt’s classic 2 kidneys-1-clip model generate the prototype of angiotensin-dependent hypertension (Laragh, Am J Hypertens 4:541S–545S, 1991; Pickering, Semin Nucl Med 19:79–88, 1989). In humans, numerous methods to assess the levels of these hormones in the plasma have been proposed to characterize the hemodynamic significance of renovascular disease and to provide guidance on who will benefit of revascularization. However, in recent years, many of these diagnostic methods have been abandoned due to complex work-up, relatively low sensitivity and specificity, and the advent of more reliable non-invasive imaging techniques (Covic and Gusbeth-Tatomir, Prog Cardiovasc Dis 52:204–208, 2009). Although one could argue that the pressure in identifying the pressors roles has decreased, since preservation of function has become the most predominant argument, still, characterization of the RAAS system is important since it may provide useful additional information, including those for important therapeutic decisions.
Ground State Properties of Polyacetylene with Off-Diagonal Random Disorder

We employ a supersymmetric functional integral formalism to obtain exact results for the influence of “off-diagonal” disorder on the nature of the zerotemperature ground state of the continuum model of polyacetylene.
Correlation of radiomic features with PD-L1 expression in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC) to predict recurrence and overall survival (OS).

e24247Background: Outcomes in patients with ES-NSCLC (stages 1 and 2) remain dismal despite curative intent surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. With low dose chest CT screening for lung c...
Presynchronization strategy using prostaglandin F2α, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and detection of estrus to improve fertility in a resynchronization program for dairy cows.

Objectives of experiment 1 were to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and reinsemination patterns of cows whose estrous cycles or ovulation were presynchronized with prostaglandin (PGF2α) or PGF2α and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) after non-pregnancy diagnosis in programs focusing on inseminating cows based on tail paint removal. Objectives of experiment 2 were to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and reinsemination patterns of cows with or without a corpus luteum (CL) present at non-pregnancy diagnosis in a program utilizing PGF2α and GnRH to presynchronize estrous cycles before resynchronization. Lactating Holstein cows from three herds were enrolled in the experiments at non-pregnancy diagnosis (d 0). Estrus was determined daily based on tail paint removal. In experiment 1, cows were assigned randomly to two treatments: (1) PGF2α on d 0 (n = 967; P7); and 2) PGF2α on d 0 and GnRH on d 7 (n = 962; P7G7). Cows not reinseminated based on tail paint removal were submitted to the timed-AI Cosynch-72 protocol 7 d after presynchronization treatments. Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) was greater (P = 0.01) for P7G7 cows than P7 cows. Cows inseminated based on tail paint removal had increased (P < 0.01) P/AI than cows submitted to the timed AI protocol. In addition, an interaction was detected (P = 0.03) between method of insemination and presynchronization treatment such that cows submitted to timed AI in the P7G7 treatment had greater P/AI than P7 cows. Nonetheless, P7 cows were inseminated at a faster rate (P < 0.01) than P7G7 cows. In experiment 2, presence of a CL was determined by transrectal ultrasonography at initiation of the P7G7 protocol (n = 1479). In a random subset of cows (n = 210), blood samples were collected immediately after ultrasound examination to determine progesterone concentration in order to evaluate accuracy of detection of a CL by ultrasonography. Accuracy of detection of a CL was 80%. Hazard to insemination and P/AI did not differ among cows regardless of CL status. In conclusion, herds relying mostly on detected estrus to reinseminate cows may achieve greater pregnancy outcomes if presynchronizing with PGF2α and GnRH instead of only PGF2α, albeit at a slower insemination rate. In addition, pregnancy outcomes and reinsemination patterns were similar for cows bearing or not bearing a CL when utilizing the P7G7 protocol, indicating a limited benefit of evaluating ovarian luteal structures by ultrasonography.
Methods of safety prediction: analysis and integration of risk assessment, leading indicators, precursor analysis, and safety climate

Construction safety prediction is an emerging field where various forms of information and analytical techniques are used to predict the likelihood or severity of a future injury. A review of this ...
Transbronchial cryobiopsy for diffuse parenchymal lung disease: 30- and 90-day mortality.

This study suggests 30- and 90-day mortality after transbronchial cryobiopsy is higher than reported, confirming concerns raised about safety in advanced diffuse lung disease. Keen attention towards patient selection and procedural planning is warranted.http://bit.ly/2ySoZNq
Analysis of batched service time data using Gaussian and semi-parametric kernel models

Batched data is a type of data where each observed data value is the sum of a number of grouped (batched) latent ones obtained under different conditions. Batched data arises in various practical b...
Cognitive Profiles and Autism Symptoms in Comorbid Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with Down syndrome (DS) is estimated to be around 16%. This study aims to fill gaps in the literature by describing developmental and behavioral phenotypes in this group relative to those with DS or ASD in isolation. METHODS Participants included 173 children (Mage = 73 months) with ASD, DS, or DS + ASD. Two 3 × 2 repeated-measures analyses of variance were completed with between-subject factors of the diagnostic group (DS, ASD, and DS + ASD) and within-subject factors of cognitive performance (verbal and nonverbal developmental quotient [DQ]) or ASD symptoms (social affect [SA] and restricted and repetitive behaviors [RRBs]). RESULTS Significant group-by-scale interactions were found, and pairwise comparisons revealed that for verbal DQ, DS + ASD < DS, ASD, whereas for nonverbal DQ, DS + ASD < DS < ASD. For SA, DS < DS + ASD < ASD, whereas for RRB, DS, DS + ASD < ASD. CONCLUSION Findings suggest greater cognitive impairment in DS + ASD on both verbal and nonverbal measures. Despite these significant cognitive challenges, ASD symptoms appeared less severe in DS + ASD relative to peers with ASD in isolation, although SA symptoms were elevated over DS-only. This unique DS + ASD presentation has important implications for early identification and intervention. Given previous research suggesting relative social strengths in DS and less severe ASD symptoms documented in this study, future research may benefit from investigating different aspects of SA (i.e., components related to reciprocal social interaction vs. social communication) in those with DS + ASD to more clearly delineate the social phenotype in this group and potentially inform intervention efforts.
Smart Cities Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index

Every major car manufacturer and leading technology company today is pursuing the development of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs). However, given cities will be most affected by CAVs, there is an urgent need to assess whether our cities are prepared and will respond well to the advancement in CAV technology. This paper proposes the first readiness index to measure the extent to which current cities are ready for CAVs. We consider three key elements in computing a CAV readiness score: a city's policies and regulations, its physical infrastructure, and its cyber infrastructure. We identify 16 major factors related to the key elements contributing to a city's readiness, and compute the readiness index as a weighted average of these factors. Moreover, we collected survey responses regarding the importance of each factor from 13 of the most populous US cities. We also selected a metric for quantifying each factor, and collected the corresponding data from our survey and existing studies. We then leverage decision trees as a machine learning model to predict 52 major US cities' readiness for CAVs. While it is difficult to draw general conclusions on our cities' readiness due to limited data availability, our preliminary study does suggest that there is a big gap between our industry and public's interest in CAVs and the policy and infrastructure support provided by our cities. Most importantly, we believe that the proposed readiness index provides practical guidelines for policy makers and planners to improve their cities' policies and infrastructure to facilitate CAVs.
Larval Dispersal Modeling Suggests Limited Ecological Connectivity Between Fjords on the West Antarctic Peninsula

Larval dispersal is a key process for community assembly and population maintenance in the marine environment, yet it is extremely difficult to measure at ecologically relevant spatio-temporal scales. We used a high-resolution hydrodynamic model and particle-tracking model to explore the dispersal of simulated larvae in a hydrographically complex region of fjords on the West Antarctic Peninsula. Modeled larvae represented two end members of dispersal potential observed in Antarctic benthos resulting from differing developmental periods and swimming behavior. For simulations of low dispersing larvae (pre-competency period = 8 days, settlement period = 15 days, swimming downward) self-recruitment within fjords was important, with no larval settlement occurring in adjacent fjords 100 km distance) occurred within surface layers (<100 m depth) and was enhanced by episodic katabatic wind events that may be common in glaciomarine fjords worldwide.