cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-dose interleukin-2 therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a contemporary experience.

Objective To present our experience of high-dose interleukin-2 (HDIL-2) in a high-volume National Cancer Institute–designated center for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Methods Patients with mRCC who received HDIL-2 monotherapy as a first- or second-line therapy during 2004-2011 were identified. Demographics, pathologic variables, renal function, time until the start of HDIL-2 therapy, number of cycles (1-3), responses (complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease), and primary renal cell carcinoma treatment were analyzed. Progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were determined. Results Of 906 patients in the kidney cancer database, 91 patients with mRCC were treated with HDIL-2 and 18 patients (20.5%) underwent prior cytoreductive nephrectomy. Median age was 51 years, and 73.9% were men. Median follow-up was 45 months. Pretreatment renal function impairment led to more treatment cycles (2-3) than in those with adequate initial kidney function (92.3% vs 50.6%, respectively; P = .002). Lower tumor stage correlated with a better response ( P = .023) and with longer time from diagnosis to initiation of HDIL-2 ( P = .011). Complications included hypotension (67.4%), renal impairment (63%), impaired liver function (42.4%), and thrombocytopenia (31.5%). Four patients (4.5%) had a complete response, 10 (11.4%) had a partial response, and 28 (31.8%) had a stable disease. Median progression-free survival and OS were 8.6 and 35.5 months, respectively. The estimated 2-year OS rate was 60.6%. Conclusion Incorporating HDIL-2 therapy in the treatment strategies for mRCC added to the patients' survival in this series. HDIL-2 therapy is well tolerated in patients with pre-existing renal impairment with no long-term renal toxicity.
Realization Using the Fornasini-Marchesini Model for Implementations in Distributed Grid Sensor Networks

A method for distributed information processing in grid sensor networks using the Fornasini-Marchesini (FM) local state space model has been proposed in the literature recently. The method can be used to implement linear systems in grid sensor networks. It can be shown that, the system matrices of the FM state space model have to satisfy particular conditions for the system to be implementable in real time in a sensor network. This constraint limits the type of systems implementable in real time on sensor networks. A necessary and sufficient condition for a causal transfer matrix to be realizable in the constrained FM model is established. A realization algorithm to derive an FM model that satisfies the desired condition, given an admissible causal transfer matrix, is also derived. The corresponding problem for the realization of noncausal transfer matrices is also addressed.
Exploring serial vertical interconnects for 3D ICs

Three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs) offer a promising solution to overcome the on-chip communication bottleneck and improve performance over traditional two-dimensional (2D) ICs. Long interconnects can be replaced by much shorter vertical through silicon via (TSV) interconnects in 3D ICs. This enables faster and more power efficient inter-core communication across multiple silicon layers. However, 3D IC technology also faces challenges due to higher power densities and routing congestion due to TSV pads distributed on each layer. In this paper, serialization of vertical TSV interconnects in 3D ICs is proposed as one way to address these challenges. Such serialization reduces the interconnect TSV footprint on each layer. This can lead to a better thermal TSV distribution resulting in lower peak temperatures, as well as more efficient core layout across multiple layers due to the reduced congestion. Experiments with several 3D multi-core benchmarks indicate clear benefits of serialization. For instance, a 4:1 serialization of TSV interconnects can save more than 70% of TSV area footprint at a negligible performance and power overhead at the 65nm technology node.
A Longitudinal Study Of Generic Alcohol And Tobacco Cues In Daytime Soap Opera Programs: Fall, 1986, 1991, And 2001

A longitudinal study was conducted to determine the frequency and context of generic alcohol and tobacco cues in daytime television soap opera programs broadcast in fall, 1986, 1991, and 2001. A content analysis of these programs showed that alcohol cues occurred significantly more frequently than tobacco cues. The alcohol cues occurred with significantly increasing frequency in 1991 vs. 1986, and then again in 2001 vs. 1991. Although the alcohol cues were generic (unbranded), in “appropriate” settings, and neither actively consumed nor directly related to storylines, their significantly increasing use could still be of concern.
Basic results in Vacuum Statistics

Abstract This is a review of recent work on constructing and finding statistics of string theory vacua, done in collaboration with Frederik Denef, Bogdan Florea, Bernard Shiffman and Steve Zelditch. To cite this article: M.R. Douglas, C. R. Physique 5 (2004).
THIRD FRONT RAILROADS AND INDUSTRIAL MODERNITY IN LATE MAOIST CHINA

AbstractIn the late 1960s, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) became concerned that the United States or the Soviet Union might invade. To protect national sovereignty, the Party carried out a massive campaign to industrialize China's West called the Third Front. This article focuses on Third Front railway building. It shows that, although Third Front railroads initially had problems, they eventually integrated large parts of western China into nationwide industrial networks, which accelerated and standardized regional transportation. To build railroads, the CCP compensated for the country's shortage of industrial capital with massive inputs of labor. This industrialization strategy placed a heavy burden on rural men. To boost morale, the CCP organized thought campaigns that praised hard work as a revolutionary contribution to China's industrialization and defense. This collective narrative of national security and industrial progress never entirely silenced discontent, but it did provide workers with a wa...
Liliputella, a new genus of microscopic, wingless and blind Scydmaenini of the Bismarck Islands (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae).

Liliputella microscopica gen. & sp. nov. is described and placed in the tribe Scydmaenini. This taxon is known from a single male collected on Dyaul Island, the Bismarck Archipelago (Papua New Guinea). With only 0.68 mm of body length, this beetle is one of the smallest within Scydmaenini. Liliputella microscopica is also blind, wingless, strongly flattened and lightly pigmented, suggesting a possible subterraneous habitat. Alternatively, a large and deep ventral cephalic cavity, a unique character not known in any other species of Scydmaeninae, may be a glandular structure indicative of myrmecophily or termitophily. Liliputella shares several interesting characters with genera that also include blind, wingless and presumably subterraneous species, Eudesis and Pseudoeudesis , e.g., humeral denticles, adjacent antennal insertions or strikingly short tarsi. Morphological structures of the new genus are compared with those of other Scydmaenini, and a preliminary identification key to the genera of this tribe is presented. Possible morphological adaptations of Liliputella to miniaturization are also discussed.
Abstract LB-258: Developing therapeutic siRNA against HER2 in breast cancer cells

Over-expression of oncogene HER2 was found in 20-30% primary breast cancers which involved in tumor initiation and progression. Breast cancer patients with high levels of HER2 (HER2 positive) showed poor clinical outcome. Increasing evidence indicated that the majority of patients with HER2 positive did not respond well to anti-HER2 drugs Trastuzumab (Herceptin) and Lapatinib. Even those who showed initial response ultimately became resistant to the treatment. The molecular mechanism of resistance includes the mutation of HER2 gene and the blocking of antigen of HER2 protein. The discovery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) raises the possibility of exploring new approach for cancer treatment. The siRNA against HER2 (siHER2) can reduce HER2 protein level by degrading mRNA expression. In our study, seventy-six siRNA sequences targeting the coding region of human HER2 gene were designed and synthesized. We quantified the RNA levels of HER2 and cell viability after HER2+ breast cancer cells (BT474, SkBr3 HCC1954) were transfected with siHER2 and scramble control siRNAs. Ten siRNA sequences were selected with greater than 50% knockdown efficiency and 40% inhibition of cell viability. We also measured the dose of 50% inhibition of cell growth (GI50) of top 5 siHER2 sequences in 20 HER2+ cell lines. The GI50 data showed that most of cell lines which were resistant to Trastuzumab were still sensitive to siHER2 treatment. Therefore, our data indicated that the siRNA against HER2 can potentially be used to overcome resistance of HER2 drugs, making it an alternative cancer therapeutic for HER2 positive patients. Currently, in vivo delivery of optimized siHER2 using nanoparticle is under evaluation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-258. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-258
Underage drinking, brief interventions, and trauma patients: are they really special?

BACKGROUND: While the relationship between underage drinking and injury has been well established, few studies have examined whether presenting for an acute injury moderates the efficacy of a brief intervention (BI) on alcohol misuse. METHOD: Patients (aged 14-20) in the emergency department screening positive for risky drinking (AUDIT-C score) completed a baseline assessment, were randomized to conditions [a stand-alone computer-delivered BI (n=277), a therapist-delivered BI (n=278), or a control condition (n=281)], and completed a 3-month follow-up. This secondary analysis of Project U connect examined regression models (controlling for baseline values) to examine the main effects of injury, and the interaction effects of injury by BI condition, on alcohol consumption and consequences. RESULTS: Among 836 youth enrolled in the randomized controlled trial (mean age = 18.6, 51.6% male, 79.4% Caucasian), 303 (36.2%) had a primary complaint of intentional or unintentional injury. At baseline, injured patients were more likely to be male (p CONCLUSION: A therapist or computer BI reduced alcohol consumption and consequences among risky drinkers regardless of reason for ED presentation highlighting the opportunity to reach a broad array of youth. Although the therapist BI was not moderated by injury presentation, the computer BI was particularly effective at reducing alcohol consequences among those presenting with injury at three month follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1 TYPE OF STUDY: Criteria. Language: en
Improved Bowel Care With a Polyethylene Glycol Based Bisacadyl Suppository

To test its effectiveness for bowel care in myopathy patients, a bisacodyl suppository based in polyethylene glycol (PEGBS) was compared with a conventional bisacodyl suppository based in hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVOBS). Nineteen patients with upper motor neuron paralysis received 57 HVOBS and 114 PEGBS trials in a crossover design. The average time for complete bowel evacuation was 2.4 (range 1.0 to 4.5) hours with HVOBS and 1.1 (range 0.3 to 1.8) hours with PEGBS. Three patients later discontinued the PEGBS because of cramps or fecal incontinence. The remaining 16 patients continued to use PEGBS for three years and 15 reported a sustained savings in time. It is concluded that the replacement of HVOBS with PEGBS will reduce bowel care time in myelopathy patients by about half.
Thinking Outside of Outpatient: Underutilized Settings for Psychotherapy Education

Although psychiatry residents are expected to achieve competency in conducting psychotherapy during their training, it is unclear how psychotherapy teaching is integrated across diverse clinical settings. Between January and March 2015, 177 psychiatry residency training directors were sent a survey asking about psychotherapy training practices in their programs, as well as perceived barriers to psychotherapy teaching. Eighty-two training directors (44%) completed the survey. While 95% indicated that psychotherapy was a formal learning objective for outpatient clinic rotations, fifty percent or fewer noted psychotherapy was a learning objective in other settings. Most program directors would like to see psychotherapy training included (particularly supportive psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy) on inpatient (82%) and consultation-liaison settings (57%). The most common barriers identified to teaching psychotherapy in these settings were time and perceived inadequate staff training and interest. Non-outpatient rotations appear to be an underutilized setting for psychotherapy teaching.
Binding of tissue plasminogen activator to human monocytes and monocytoid cells

Monocytes and monocytoid cell lines previously have been shown to express receptors for plasminogen and urokinase (u-PA). In the present study, the monocytoid cell lines, U937 and THP-1, are shown to bind tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in a specific, saturable, and reversible manner. These cells bound t-PA with low affinity (kd = 0.67 to 0.97 mumol/L) and high capacity (0.71 to 3.3 x 10(6) receptors/cell). Human peripheral blood monocytes bound t-PA with a kd (0.9 mumol/L) similar to that of the monocytoid cells but with a lower capacity (0.17 x 10(6) sites/cell). These binding parameters also were similar to the low-affinity interaction of t-PA with endothelial cells as measured with the cells in suspension (kd = 0.73 mumol/L and 1.1 x 10(6) sites/cell). Lysine analogues and active or diisopropylfluorophosphate-inactivated u-PA inhibited t-PA binding to monocytes, monocytoid cells, and endothelial cells with similar IC50 (concentration producing 50% inhibition) values, suggesting that the same recognition specificity mediates t-PA binding to all of these cell types. The existence of a high-affinity binding site for t-PA on monocytoid cells was also explored in detail. Unlike endothelial cells where plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 has been implicated in mediating a high-affinity interaction of t-PA with the cells, no evidence for a role of this inhibitor in ligand binding to the monocytoid cells was found. Furthermore, using both high and low 125I-t- PA concentrations, competition analyses with lysine analogues or u-PA, or treatment of the cells with carboxypeptidase B, failed to indicate the presence of distinguishable classes of t-PA binding sites. In sum, low-affinity receptors for t-PA are expressed at high density on monocytes and monocytoid cells, identifying a new element in the fibrinolytic arsenal of these cells.
Experimental bovine Trichophyton verrucosum infection. Preliminary clinical, immunological and histological observations in primarily infected and reinoculated cattle.

Summary The cutaneous application of different doses of viable Trichophyton verrueosum to the unabraded skin of cattle of various ages resulted in clinically recognizable ringworm infection of varying extent and duration. Confluent lesions covering the whole inoculated area were produced by 107 viable units of the fungus, whereas the minimal infective dose of 103 viable units produced limited areas of infection only. The level of nutrition within the limits imposed had no effect on the extent or severity of lesions. The fungus was found to invade the keratinized portions of skin and hair of cattle of all ages at the same rate. However, both the cutaneous inflammatory response and the resolution of lesions were most rapid in older animals. The ability to eliminate infection more rapidly was associated with a marked delayed hypersensitivity response commencing 14 days after infection. Such hypersensitivity was not detectable by this means after the resolution of lesions. T. verrueosum could not be isolated in culture from skin lesions until 21 days after inoculation and could only be isolated for half the period that lesions were present. Cattle were resistant to cutaneous reinfection with viable T. verrueosum on previously infected or fresh skin sites at 2 months and at more than one year after the resolution of primary lesions. A mild delayed hypersensitivity response developed in every site within 48 hr. of reinoculation. The intravenous inoculation of previously-infected cattle with 104 viable units of T. verrueosum resulted in an immediate-type cutaneous reaction at the original site of infection.
A geometrical model for void saturation in air-entrained concrete under continuous water exposure

Abstract Moisture transport properties in concrete have been shown to have great implications on the freeze-thaw (F-T) durability. In this paper, the slow process of gradual air void filling in air-entrained concrete under continuous wet exposure is further explored based on Fagerlund’s work. The concomitant effect on the air-void properties is quantified by a geometrical model, where the change in specific surface and void spacing is computed due to gradual void saturation of different size classes based on the linear traverse method. This information, when combined with the measured secondary rate of water absorption, is able to predict the time to reach a critical saturation level gauged by the threshold void spacing, as exemplified by an air-entrained 0.45 water-cement (w/c) ratio concrete mix. Air void characteristics (air content and the size distribution), the important factors in controlling internal frost durability, are simulated using an S-shaped curve and their effect on the critical time is investigated by this geometrical model.
QuaRo: A Queue-Aware Robust Coordinated Transmission Strategy for Downlink C-RANs

A queue-aware robust (QuaRo) coordinated transmission strategy is proposed for Cloud Radio Access Networks (C-RANs) with a central BaseBand processing Unit (BBU) connected to multiple Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such QuaRo strategy is adaptive to both user-traffic urgency via Queue State Information (QSI) and wireless channel opportunity via the observed (yet imperfect) Channel State Information (CSI). This involves clustering the RRHs into virtual user-centric clusters and performing Coordinated Beamforming (CB) from each virtual cluster to the target user in the downlink. The underlying control policy is formulated via Lyapunov optimization to minimize the average total transmit power at the RRHs while ensuring the stability of the system. In particular, the designed control policy does not require a-priori knowledge of the probability distribution of data-traffic arrival and channel states, and is robust against the instantaneous channel estimation error in each time slot. Extensive simulation results are presented to illustrate performance gains and robustness of the proposed solutions.
Engineering Process Characterization of High-Pressure Homogenization—from Laboratory to Industrial Scale

Fluid foods are a rapidly growing segment serving the needs of consumers’ healthy life style. Though high-pressure pasteurized beverages have been recently commercialized, the batch nature of the technology has been a hurdle for wider adaptation of the technology for high-throughput commodity-oriented beverage products. Further development of continuous flow through high-pressure processing methods is desired. High-pressure homogenization (HPH) consists of forcing a pressurized fluid to flow through a minute gap, which not only homogenizes the fluid but also increases the fluid’s temperature. HPH offers the possibility of combining homogenization and preservation into a single unit operation. By manipulating initial temperature and applied pressure, HPH treatment can be used to pasteurize or sterilize the product. This work critically examines the efforts in understanding fundamental process engineering aspects of HPH, including pressure-thermal process characterization, valve design (gap size and pressure relation), flow pattern, temperature history, and residence time distribution. This review will also highlight the HPH impact on food quality and bioactive compound retention. Quality aspects examined include particle size distribution and microbial and enzyme inactivation. The insight gained by this review will assist readers to gain a better appreciation of the HPH process design and system scale-up.
Development of a laser Doppler displacement encoder system with ultra-low-noise-level for linear displacement measurement with subnanometer resolution - Final CRADA Report

An U.S. DOE Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between ANL and Optodyne, Inc. has been established to develop a prototype laser Doppler displacement encoder system with ultra-low noise level for linear measurements to sub-nanometer resolution for synchrotron radiation applications. We have improved the heterodyne efficiency and reduced the detector shot noises by proper shielding and adding a low-pass filter. The laser Doppler displacement encoder system prototype demonstrated a ~ 1 nm system output noise floor with single reflection optics. With multiple-pass optical arrangement, 0.1 nm scale closed-loop feedback control is achieved.
MRI characteristics associated with high-grade myxoid liposarcoma

Aim To identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features differentiating high-grade (>5% round-cell component) from low-grade myxoid liposarcomas (LPS) (≤5% round-cell component). Materials and methods Informed consent was waived. Patients with myxoid LPS and MRI before biopsy, neoadjuvant therapy, and surgery were included retrospectively. High-grade components were recorded from histological specimens by a pathologist (24 years of experience). Images were evaluated by a senior radiologist (>12 years of experience) for tumour size, location, tissue layer, and MRI features (signal intensity, heterogeneity, margin, and perilesional characteristics). Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test to identify associations with a round-cell component, and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of high-grade tumours were used. Results Thirty-one patients (16 women [mean 51.1 years; range 19–79 years] and 15 men [mean 45.5 years; range 18–95 years]) with myxoid LPS (23 low-grade, eight high-grade) were included. All high-grade lesions had lipid signal, a peritumoural capsule and peritumoural contrast enhancement, and more commonly exhibited heterogeneous signal; however, the average size of ≥10 cm was the strongest independent indicator of high-grade status (odds ratio [OR], 14.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6, 131). Conclusion Size ≥10 cm is most strongly associated with high-grade myxoid LPS (round-cell component >5%). Other features possibly differentiating high-grade from low-grade status include lesion margin, lipid signal, and perilesional characteristics.
The population-level impact of public-sector antiretroviral therapy rollout on adult mortality in rural Malawi.

Background Recent evidence from health and demographic surveillance sites (HDSS) has shown that increasing access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is reducing mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, due to limited vital statistics registration in many of the countries most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there is limited evidence of the magnitude of ART's effect outside of specific HDSS sites. This paper leverages longitudinal household/family roster data from the Malawi Longitudinal Survey of Families and Health (MLSFH) to estimate the effect of ART availability in public clinics on population-level mortality based on a geographically dispersed sample of individuals in rural Malawi. Objective We seek to provide evidence on the population-level magnitude of the ART-associated mortality decline in rural Malawi and confirm that this population is experiencing similar declines in mortality as those seen in HDSS sites. Methods We analyze longitudinal household/family-roster data from four waves of the MLSFH to estimate mortality change after the introduction of ART to study areas. We analyze life expectancy using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and examine how the mortality hazard changed over time by individual characteristics with Cox regression. Results In the four years following rollout of ART, life expectancy at age 15 increased by 3.1 years (95% CI 1.1, 5.1), and median length of life rose by over ten years. Contribution Our observations show that the increased availability of ART resulted in a substantial and sustained reversal of mortality trends in SSA and assuage concerns that the post-ART reversals in mortality are not occurring at the same magnitude outside of specific HDSSs.
The potential of imposed magnetic fields for enhancing ignition probability and fusion energy yield in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion

We examine the potential that imposed magnetic fields of tens of Tesla that increase to greater than 10 kT (100 MGauss) under implosion compression may relax the conditions required for ignition and propagating burn in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets. This may allow the attainment of ignition, or at least significant fusion energy yields, in presently performing ICF targets on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) that today are sub-marginal for thermonuclear burn through adverse hydrodynamic conditions at stagnation [Doeppner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 055001 (2015)]. Results of detailed two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic-burn simulations applied to NIF capsule implosions with low-mode shape perturbations and residual kinetic energy loss indicate that such compressed fields may increase the probability for ignition through range reduction of fusion alpha particles, suppression of electron heat conduction, and potential stabilization of higher-mode Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. Optimum initial applied fields are found to be around 50 T. Given that the full plasma structure at capsule stagnation may be governed by three-dimensional resistive magneto-hydrodynamics, the formation of closed magnetic field lines might further augment ignition prospects. Experiments are now required to further assess the potential of applied magnetic fields to ICF ignition and burn on NIF.
Abstract 4013: A novel multifunctional protein tag enables simple and sensitive bioluminescent quantification of tagged proteins

Dysregulation of protein expression is a key mechanism of tumorigenesis. The most commonly used approach to monitor changes in expression is to perform SDS-PAGE, followed by immunoblotting, a labor-intensive process that requires high-quality antibodies to detect proteins at endogenous levels of expression. We have developed a novel protein tag utilizing NanoLuc Binary Technology (NanoBiT), a binary complementation system based on NanoLuc luciferase. The tag, designated High BiT (HiBiT), is only 11 amino acids in length, which minimizes potential interference with protein function. The amount of HiBiT-tagged protein is measured using a lytic detection reagent containing Large BiT (LgBiT), which binds with high affinity to HiBiT (KD~1 nM) to reconstitute a bright, luminescent enzyme. HiBiT-tagged proteins can be quantified in cell lysates over 7 orders of magnitude of linear dynamic range with a limit of detection of less than 10-19 moles (3 fg of 30 kDa protein). The simple add-mix-read assay protocol can be completed in minutes, providing an assay that is compatible with high-throughput applications. The sensitivity of the assay allows quantification of expression at endogenous levels, and the small tag size is ideal for CRISPR-mediated genome editing. HiBiT-tagged proteins separated by SDS-PAGE can be detected on blots at sub-picogram levels with a detection reagent containing LgBiT. By eliminating the multiple steps of blocking, binding, and washing of traditional blotting techniques, the protocol takes minutes instead of hours. Additionally, the cell surface expression, internalization, or secretion of HiBiT-tagged proteins can be measured in minutes using a non-lytic detection reagent containing the cell-impermeable LgBiT protein. HiBiT represents a next-generation protein tag that allows simple quantification of proteins of interest in their cellular context or following SDS-PAGE. Citation Format: Christopher Eggers, Braeden Butler, Robin Hurst, Mary Hall, Brock Binkowski, Lance Encell, Marie Schwinn, Thomas Machleidt, Keith Wood, Frank Fan. A novel multifunctional protein tag enables simple and sensitive bioluminescent quantification of tagged proteins [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4013. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4013
Magnetically Ordered Transition-Metal-Intercalated WSe2

Introducing magnetic behavior in nonmagnetic transition metal dichalcogenides is essential to broaden their applications in spintronic and nanomagnetic devices. In this article, we investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of transition-metal-intercalated tungsten diselenide (WSe2) using density functional theory. We find that intercalation compounds with composition of T1/4WSe2 (T is an iron-series transition-metal atom) exhibit substantial magnetic moments and pronounced ferromagnetic order for late transition metals. The densities of states of the T atoms and the magnetic moments on the W sites indicate that the moments of the intercalated atoms become more localized with increasing atomic number. A large perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy of about 9 meV per supercell has been found for Fe1/4WSe2. Furthermore, using mean field theory, we estimated high Curie temperatures of 660, 475, and 379 K for Cr, Mn, and Fe, respectively. The predicted magnetic properties suggest that WSe2 may ha...
THE OXIDATION OF SOOT DEPOSITS FROM DIESEL ENGINES

Combustion and gasification characteristics of deposits from diesel exhaust were investigated from samples collected from Opel, VW Rabbit and Oldsmobile diesel engines. Properties which may influence soot reactivity such as morphology, specific surface area, organic adsorbate, and occlusions of inorganic origin were characterized. Effects of temperature, oxygen pressure, and stepwise combustion on reactivity were also determined. Ignition and combustion kinetics of various soot deposits were measured gravimetrically, and requirements for fast soot oxidation in the presence of exhaust gas were assessed. It was found that reliable completion of soot combustion after ignition depends largely on oxygen pressure and soot bulk density. Ignition temperature can be lowered by suitable catalysts. Organic molecules, adsorbed on the soot surface, may also have an important influence on soot deposit ignition. Results confirm that partial combustion products suspended in exhaust gas are not oxidized significantly under conditions prevailing in diesel exhaust.
Tracking calibration stability in climate monitoring microwave radiometers using onboard 3-point calibration

Tracking the radiometer calibration stability is very important for climate monitoring radiometers as long term accuracy of observations is needed to create reliable climate models. This presentation discusses the advantages of 3-point onboard calibration techniques over 2-point methods to track radiometer calibration stability.
A Cognitive-Humanistic Approach to the Hard-to-Reach Client:

The reluctant client challenges the worker because of the cognitive distance between them. Concrete, convergent thinkers, such clients are baffled by the abstract, reflective, and introspective. A ...
Production of square temperature waves in filaments of field emission microscopes operating at low temperatures

An important consideration in the measurement of activation energies of surface processes observed with the field emission microscope is the production of a square temperature wave. That is, the initial temperature rise to the final operating temperature must be sufficiently rapid so that uncertainties in time measurements can be eliminated. The temperature-current characteristics of a typical field emission microscope tungsten filament operating in a low temperature bath such as liquid nitrogen or liquid helium are derived from the well known solution of the heat conduction equation. The steady state current-temperature curves are of the form i = F + (B/T) where B is negative for filament end temperatures above 50° K, zero at this temperature, and negative below. The steady state temperature-current curve for the filament of a tube operating at liquid helium temperature represents an unstable equilibrium. These predictions were confirmed experimentally with a 0.1 mm diameter, 2.5 cm long filament. A circuit capable of producing a filament temperature above 4.2° K to any desired temperature below 600° K in less than 0.3 sec will be described.
Ecological Functions and Integrity: Approaches to Valuation

Within the context of understanding how we measure ecological integrity, and its relationship to regional and national economies, this paper has the following three objectives: (1) To introduce the concept of functional integrity in ecosystems and its means of measurement; (2) To begin quantitative analysis of the effects of anthropogenic activities on ecosystem function and integrity in comparison to variability induced by natural disturbances; and (3) To explore the relationship between regional or national loss of integrity and the corresponding changes in economic welfare measures.
A Rare Case of Vulvar Superficial Angiomyxoma in a Pediatric Patient.

Abstract Background Superficial angiomyxoma (SAM) is a rare, benign cutaneous tumor. Originally described as a component of Carney complex, it is now recognized as a sporadic condition. Case A 7-year-old girl was referred for management of a 2.5-cm mass arising from the right labia majora. Key pathologic features included lobules of spindle-shaped cells in a myxoid matrix and prominent neutrophilic infiltrate. The cells were positive for CD34 and negative for desmin, progesterone receptor, and estrogen receptor staining. Summary and Conclusion This case is that of the youngest described patient with vulvar SAM. Patients should be carefully examined for manifestations of Carney complex to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. It is critical to distinguish SAM from aggressive angiomyxoma. The patient was referred to genetics and will be followed for local recurrence.
Building Trust: Cooperation between Rivals India and Pakistan

This article uses the case study of India–Pakistan to explore how rivals build cooperation over time. India and Pakistan have shared an intense rivalry since their independence and subsequent partition in 1947, having fought three major wars and several militarised disputes over the last 70 years. The authors use network analysis to study the pattern of all treaties between the two countries between 1947 and 2017. This expects rivals to focus on non-security issues such as trade as they work to build trust and patterns of cooperation. The article finds that given the long and intense rivalry between the two neighbours, and the subsequent lack of trust, India and Pakistan have adopted a functionalist approach towards building cooperation; most of their bilateral treaties are related to non-security issues such as trade, telecommunications, transport and technology. Only a few of their treaties are nested within prior treaties, indicating ad hoc rather than institutionalised cooperation. The authors...
Community Control: A Grassroots Response.

Although the idea of “community control” has been criticized as unworkable by some social scientists and educators, it is reemerging as a possible alternative to present bureaucratic arrangements i...
Visualising newsvendor profits: the single-period problem with location-scale demand distributions

The single-period, or newsvendor, problem is typically formulated to maximise expected profits or minimise expected costs. Recent research has suggested that decision-makers tend not to act in acco...
Becoming better Muslims: religious authority and ethical improvement in Aceh, Indonesia

In Becoming Better Muslims, David Kloos frames the devotional transformations experienced by Aceh’s men and women, young and old, in their everyday life in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. In a s...
Progress in Understanding the Origins of Excellent Corrosion Resistance in Metallic Alloys: From Binary Polycrystalline Alloys to Metallic Glasses and High Entropy Alloys

Some of the factors responsible for good corrosion resistance of select polycrystalline and emerging alloys in chloride solutions are discussed with a goal of providing some perspectives on the cur...
Broadband measurements of permittivity and permeability

Theory and system designs from multiple band measurements of permittivity and permeability will be presented. Measured data will be presented for various microwave absorbers from 5–100 GHz. An analysis of system errors is also presented.
Comparing Receipt of Prescribed Post-acute Home Health Care Between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries: an Observational Study.

Medicare Advantage (MA) covers more than 1/3rd of all Medicare beneficiaries. MA plans are required to provide the same benefits as Traditional Medicare (TM), but can impose utilization management tools to control costs. To assess differences between TM and MA enrollees in the probability of receiving prescribed post-acute home health (HH) care and to describe MA plan characteristics associated with HH receipt. Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of claims data, HH patient assessment data, and MA plan data from 2011 to 2017. Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older with an incident hospitalization for joint replacement, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, urinary tract infection, septicemia, acute renal failure, or congestive heart failure. Receipt of prescribed HH as indicated by a HH discharge code and corresponding HH patient assessment within 14 days of hospital discharge. There were 2,723,245 beneficiaries prescribed HH at discharge (68% TM, 32% MA). About 75% of TM enrollees and 62% of MA enrollees received prescribed post-acute HH. In adjusted analyses, MA enrollees had an −11.7 percentage point (pp) (95% confidence interval (CI): −16.8, −6.5) lower probability of receiving HH compared with TM enrollees. In adjusted analyses, HMO enrollees in plans with cost sharing (− 8.4 pp; 95% CI: − 14.3, − 2.5), referrals (− 3.7 pp; 95% CI: − 6.1, − 1.2), and pre-authorization (− 5.1 pp; 95% CI: − 8.3, − 2.0) were less likely to receive prescribed HH. In adjusted analyses, PPO enrollees in plans with cost sharing were −7.0 pp (95% CI: − 12.7, − 1.4) less likely to receive HH, but there was no difference for those with referrals (1.1 pp; 95% CI, − 1.5, 3.7) or pre-authorization (1.6 pp; 95% CI: − 0.6, − 3.9). Among Medicare beneficiaries, MA enrollees were less likely to receive prescribed post-acute HH compared with TM. As enrollment in MA continues to grow, it is important to examine how differences in utilization relate to outcomes.
Transparent Hole-Selective Contacts for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells using Molybdenum Oxide and a Thin Aluminum Oxide Passivation Layer

The amorphous silicon layers in silicon heterojunction solar cells absorb light in the short wavelength region of the solar spectrum, lowering the generation current available to the device. Here, we present an alternative to the hole-selective amorphous silicon layers using only wide-bandgap oxide materials. Using thermal ALD, we deposit a 1 nm hydrogenated aluminum oxide layer followed by a 4 nm molybdenum oxide layer on n-type crystalline silicon. We show that this contact provides good surface passivation while remaining thermally stable up to 200°C.
Cerebrovascular Accident Manifesting as Altered Mental Status During a Telehealth Visit: Preoperative Evaluation in the COVID-19 Era

We present the case of a 91-year-old patient scheduled for a preoperative telehealth evaluation who was found to have altered mental status from an acute stroke Her care, if delayed, could have caused permanent morbidity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic This case highlights the digital leap the pandemic spurred: 1 telehealth in the elderly, 2 meaningful history and physical during telehealth visit, 3 family engagement and education, and 4 meaningful impact on patient outcomes
The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Progression

In the era of genomic medicine, cancer treatment has become more personalized as novel therapeutic targets and pathways are identified. Research over the past decade has shown the increasing importance of how the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is a major structural component of the TME, regulate oncogenic functions including tumor progression, metastasis, angiogenesis, therapy resistance, and immune cell modulation, amongst others. Within the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been identified in several systemic cancers as critical regulators of the malignant cancer phenotype. This review of the literature comprehensively profiles the roles of CAFs implicated in gastrointestinal, endocrine, head and neck, skin, genitourinary, lung, and breast cancers. The ubiquitous presence of CAFs highlights their significance as modulators of cancer progression and has led to the subsequent characterization of potential therapeutic targets, which may help advance the cancer treatment paradigm to determine the next generation of cancer therapy. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed overview of the key roles that CAFs play in the scope of systemic disease, the mechanisms by which they enhance protumoral effects, and the primary CAF-related markers that may offer potential targets for novel therapeutics.
Dynamic Feature Alignment for Semi-supervised Domain Adaptation.

Most research on domain adaptation has focused on the purely unsupervised setting, where no labeled examples in the target domain are available. However, in many real-world scenarios, a small amount of labeled target data is available and can be used to improve adaptation. We address this semi-supervised setting and propose to use dynamic feature alignment to address both inter- and intra-domain discrepancy. Unlike previous approaches, which attempt to align source and target features within a mini-batch, we propose to align the target features to a set of dynamically updated class prototypes, which we use both for minimizing divergence and pseudo-labeling. By updating based on class prototypes, we avoid problems that arise in previous approaches due to class imbalances. Our approach, which doesn't require extensive tuning or adversarial training, significantly improves the state of the art for semi-supervised domain adaptation. We provide a quantitative evaluation on two standard datasets, DomainNet and Office-Home, and performance analysis.
Response to the Comments on Time, Tense, and Causation by Storrs McCall, Nathan Oaklander, and Quentin Smith

Let me begin with the gentlest of my three critics — Professor Storrs McCall. With regard to some very fundamental issues in the philosophy of time, his views are in some ways, as we shall see below, close to my own. At the same time, there are some very important differences. Thus, on the one hand, I hold a view of time that, as Storrs McCall points out, is quite similar in some respects to the view advanced by C. D. Broad in his book, Scientific Thought (1923, pp. 53–84) — since it involves, first of all, the idea that while the past and the present are now real, the future is not, and secondly, the idea that the world grows over time by the accretion of new facts or states of affairs. Storrs McCall, by contrast, has put forward a rather different view of time in his very interesting and important book, A Model of the Universe (1994). On that view, the world, rather than growing by the accretion of new facts, shrinks, so to speak, by the deletion of facts. But McCall is not putting forward what might be called a “flipped-over” Broad-type view — to the effect that while the future and the present are real, the past is not. (It is risky, in the philosophy of time, to claim that no one has ever held a certain view. But in the case of the flipped-over Broad-type view, a list of advocates does not, at least, readily spring to mind.) McCall’s view is rather that what gets deleted with the passage of time is simply the future possibilities that are not actualized — possibilities that McCall views in a fashion similar to the way that David Lewis views other possible worlds — namely, as things that are no less concrete than past facts or present facts.
Discovery of Multi-Level Security Policies

With the increasing complexity and dynamics of database systems, it becomes more and more difficult for administrative personnel to identify, specify and enforce security policies that govern against the misuse of data. Often security policies are not known, too imprecise or simply have been disabled because of changing requirements.
Transient electromagnetic scattering from multiple cavities embedded in the 2-D infinite ground plane

This paper presents an analytical method for modeling time-variant scattering from multiple cavities embedded in the ground plane. This work builds upon existing methods for modeling the single cavity problem, with special attention paid to the coupling between scattered fields from multiple cavities. No assumptions of cavity periodicity or similarity are required for implementing this method.
Combatting Insider Threats

Risks from insider threats are strongly context dependent, and arise in many ways at different layers of system abstraction for different types of systems. We discuss various basic characteristics of insider threats, and consider approaches to the development and use of computer-related environments that require systems and networking to be trustworthy in spite of insider misuse. We also consider future research that could improve both detectability, prevention, and response. This chapter seeks to cope with insider misuse in a broad range of application domains— for example, critical infrastructures, privacy-preserving database systems, financial systems, and interoperable health-care infrastructures. To illustrate this, we apply the principles considered here to the task of detecting and preventing insider misuse in systems that might be used to facilitate trustworthy elections. This discussion includes an examination of the relevance of the Saltzer-Schroeder-Kaashoek security principles and the Clark-Wilson integrity properties for end-to-end election integrity. Trustworthy system developments must consider insider misuse as merely one set of threats that must be addressed consistently together with many other threats such as penetrations, denials of service, system faults and failures, and other threats to survivability. In addition, insider misuse cannot be realistically addressed unless significant improvements are made in the trustworthiness of component systems and their networking as well as their predictably trustworthy compositions into enterprise solutions— architecturally, developmentally, and operationally.
Raman Microscopy and Imaging: Applications to Skin Pharmacology and Wound Healing

The utility of confocal Raman microscopy to study biological events in skin is demonstrated with three examples. (i) monitoring the spatial and structural differences between native and cultured skin, (ii) tracking the permeation and biochemical transformation in skin of a Vitamin E derivative and (iii) tracking the spatial distribution of three major skin proteins (keratin, collagen, and elastin) during wound healing in an explant skin model.