cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Humanized Mice and PDX Models

Abstract Cancer biologists utilize several mouse models of cancer (xenografts, syngeneic mice, or genetically engineered mice) to evaluate tumor biology, efficacy, and toxicity of drugs; validate disease pathways; and identify translational biomarkers. Recent advancement in our understanding of the role of immune cells in tumor biology has resulted in an immediate need for models that can mimic all components of human immune system. The xenografts with human or mouse tumors and GEMM models that are currently used do not replicate the human immune system and its response to tumor antigens. Over the past decade severely immune-compromised mice that allow better engraftment of human tissues (such as thymus, liver, bone marrow, and stem cells) have been developed. Using these models, researchers have developed “humanized” mouse models that can recapitulate various components of the human immune system. In this chapter, we discuss the development of the various humanized mouse models and their utility in evaluating the role of the human immune system in tumor biology.
Time-Resolved X-Ray Diagnostics for High Density Plasma Physics Studies

Investigations of the many transient features of the high density plasmas produced in laser fusion and x-ray laser studies have stimulated the development of many x-ray and XUV diagnostic techniques. We review here a broad range of x-ray diagnostic instrumentation to spatially, spectrally and temporarily resolve x-ray emission from plasmas of direct interest to laser fusion, high density atomic physics studies and x-ray laser investigations performed at the OMEGA irradiation facility over the past few years. Several categories of instruments are described, including time-resolving x-ray crystal and transmission grating spectrographs, soft and hard x-ray spectrometric systems, a streak x-ray photographic system, and approaches to fast-time framing x-ray photography, radiography and spectroscopy. The primary characteristics of each approach are described and illustrated with typical data drawn from experiments performed on the 24-beam IR (1054/nm) and UV (351 nm) OMEGA system.
Flexible interconnect in 2.5D ICs to minimize the interposer's metal layers

In 2.5D ICs, the number of metal layers in the interposer contributes strongly to its manufacturing costs. Many systems implemented as 2.5D ICs include component dies, e.g. FPGA dies, that have flexible interconnect that increase connectivity options within the 2.5D IC. We present the first work to leverage flexible interconnect in FPGA dies within a 2.5D IC to decrease routing metal layers in the interposer. This is done by performing 3D global routing and reassigning flexible pins in the FPGA dies. In our experiments, we reduce the number of metal layers by up to 33% versus the number of layers required before reassigning flexible pins.
Expanding the scope of learning analytics data: preliminary findings on attention and self-regulation using wearable technology

The ability to pay attention and self-regulate is a fundamental skill required of learners of all ages. Learning analytics researchers have to date relied on data generated by a computing system (such as a learning management system, click stream or log data) to examine learners' self-regulatory abilities. The development of wearable computing through fitness trackers, watches, heart rate monitors, and clinical grade devices such as Empatica's E4 wristband now provides researchers with access to biometric data as students interact with learning content or software systems. This level of data collection promises to provide valuable insight into cognitive and affective experiences of individuals, especially when combined with traditional learning analytics data sources. Our study details the use of wearable technologies to assess the relationship between heart rate variability and the self-regulatory abilities of an individual. This is relevant for the field of learning analytics as methods become more complex and the assessment of learner performance becomes more nuanced and attentive to the affective factors that contribute to learner success.
Spectrum sharing between MIMO-MC radars and communication systems

By employing sparse sampling, MIMO radars with matrix completion (MIMO-MC) achieve the performance of MIMO radars but with significantly fewer data samples. Further, due to the way the sparse sampling modulates the interference channel between radar and communication systems, MIMO-MC radars are good candidates for spectrum sharing. In this paper, we design a scenario in which a MIMO-MC radar optimally co-exists with a MIMO wireless communication system in the presence of clutter. Both the radar and the communication systems employ transmit precoding. The precoders and the radar sub-sampling scheme are jointly designed to maximize the receive signal-to-interference ratio of the radar while meeting certain rate and power constraints for the communication system. Efficient optimization algorithms are provided. Simulation results demonstrate that MIMO-MC radars offer significant improvement as compared to MIMO radars in the co-existence scenario considered here.
Factors influencing the utilization of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer

Abstract Purpose Brain metastases are common in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) due to the inability of most chemotherapeutics to penetrate the blood–brain barrier. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is therefore recommended for use in patients with a good response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy. However, PCI is not always delivered; therefore, we investigated the reasons for PCI omission in patients who underwent therapy with curative intent. Methods and materials We retrospectively reviewed all patients with LS-SCLC who were treated with curative intent at our institution. Overall survival and cumulative incidence of brain metastasis were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The Pearson χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine factors associated with PCI use, and prognostic factors were analyzed with Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results We examined 208 patients who were treated for LS-SCLC at our institution. A total of 115 patients (55%) received PCI. The most common documented reason for PCI omission was patient refusal due to neurotoxicity concerns (38%). Physician assessment of being medically unfit (33%) and of advanced age (8%) were the second and third most common reasons, respectively. Karnofsky performance status and clinical American Joint Committee on Cancer stage but not PCI were significantly associated with overall survival. Only clinical stage remained an independent factor on multivariate analysis. Conclusions Approximately half of patients with LS-SCLC ultimately receive PCI, generally for guideline-recommended reasons. The most common reason for PCI omission was patient concerns regarding neurotoxicity. Efforts to decrease PCI neurotoxicity, including hippocampal-sparing radiation and memantine use, may increase the use of this survival-improving intervention in eligible patients with LS-SCLC.
Temporal Workplace Flexibility and Associated Work-Life Outcomes for Professionals

An increasing proportion of workers are dual-earners in professional occupations, actively seeking rewarding, full-time careers while at the same time engaging in satisfying home and personal life. However, the demands of today’s global economic environment often make work-life integration problematic (Hill et al., 2006). One adaptive strategy to deal with work-life conflict is to choose to be flexible about when one works and opting to reduce work hours, especially when demands in the home are great (Allen and Shockley, 2009; Grzywacz, 2009; Voydanoff, 2007). This adaptive strategy is called temporal workplace flexibility.
T1-weighted parenchyma attenuated inversion recovery: A novel sequence that improves contrast ratio of enhancing brain lesions

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop and test a parenchyma attenuated T1-weighted inversion recovery MR sequence (PAIR) that increases the contrast between enhancing and non-enhancing tissues in the brain and to compare the contrast ratio of enhancing brain tumors on this sequence compared to spin echo magnetization transfer (SEMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS PAIR sequence parameters were developed to reduce signal from gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a healthy adult volunteer. Forty-one patients (17 men and 24 women) with a mean age of 55±13 (SD) years (range: 21-78years) with known or suspected brain tumors underwent PAIR and SEMT imaging after intravenous administration of gadobenate dimeglumine. In patients with confirmed tumors, PAIR and SEMT images were compared for contrast ratio of tumor-to-WM, tumor-to-GM, and tumor-to-CSF. RESULTS A total of 23 enhancing neoplastic lesions were found in 14/41 patients. All tumors were visualized on both contrast enhanced PAIR and SEMT images. PAIR images showed a 2.5 fold increase in maximum tumor-to-GM contrast ratio (P<0.0001), a 1.4 fold increase in maximum tumor-to-WM contrast ratio (P=0.0007) and a 5-fold increase in maximum tumor-to-CSF contrast ratio (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION PAIR provides improved lesion-to-background contrast ratio compared to SEMT and may be useful as an added sequence in tumor evaluation.
The RNA binding protein HuR is necessary for IL-2 homeostasis and CD4+ T cell differentiation

RNA binding proteins, such as HuR (ELAVL1), fine tune gene expression in activated T cells by interacting with their 3′ UTR AU-rich elements (AREs) via posttranscriptional gene regulation. IL-2 and many Th2 cytokine mRNAs contain 3′ UTR AREs. Thus, we hypothesized that HuR may play a critical role in CD4 + T cell differentiation by regulating IL-2 signaling pathways. We conditionally ablated HuR in CD4 + T cells (distal lck-Cre ROSA HuR fl/fl ) to test this hypothesis. HuR KO T cells are able to develop and egress the thymus normally. However, these cells cannot shut off IL-2 production and display defects in Th2 differentiation and cytokine expression. Proliferation defects, decreased p-stat5, and reductions in CD25 and prdm-1 transcription were also observed in the HuR KO T cells. In the absence of HuR, Il2ra (CD25) mRNA recruitment to heavy polysomes is reduced, indicating that HuR plays a critical role in its translation. This suggests that HuR regulates T cell activation and IL-2 homeostasis by controlling CD25 expression. When activated under Th0 conditions, 97% of HuR KO cells expressed IL-2 on day 5 compared to HuR WT cells (50%). HuR KO cells also had large increases in steady state IL-2 mRNA (30-fold) and 7-fold increases in secreted IL-2 protein. Furthermore, HuR KO cells produced scant amounts of the Th2 cytokines at the protein level. These findings led us to investigate the fate of other T cell lineages when HuR is absent. When polarized to Treg, Th17, and Tfh lineages, HuR KO T cells showed reduced levels of the signature transcription factors Foxp3, RoRγt, and Bcl6, respectively, as compared to controls. Thus, we conclude that HuR plays an indispensable role in normal IL-2 homeostasis and CD4 + T cell differentiation.
The Use of Immersive Virtual Reality for the Test and Evaluation of Interactions with Simulated Agents

We aim to better inform the scientific community regarding test and evaluation techniques for validating devices that will potentially be used by individuals interfacing with autonomous robotic teammates (particularly, members of the U.S. Military). Testing within immersive virtual environments (IVRs) similar to those experienced in military operations will be discussed with focus on the use of a commercial gaming engine for task development. Highlights of using commercial gaming engines will be illustrated throughout the paper to emphasize their utility for evaluating future technologies with attention given to testing efficiency and ecological validity. The study of interactions with simulated agents and future communication devices will be described in the context of the Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (RCTA) research program.
BVPs for Nonlinear Second-Order DEs

Our discussion of differential equations up to this point has focused on solutions of initial value problems. We have made good use of the fact that these problems have unique solutions under mild conditions. We have also encountered boundary value problems in a couple of chapters. These problems require the solution or its derivative to have prescribed values at two or more points. Such problems arise in a natural way when differential equations are used to model physical problems. An interesting complication arises in that BVPs may have many solutions or no solution at all. Consequently, we will present some results on the existence and uniqueness of solutions of BVPs. A useful device will be the contraction mapping theorem (Theorem 7.5), which is introduced by the definitions below. One of the goals of this chapter is to show how the contraction mapping theorem is commonly used in differential equations.
Impulsratenerhöhung durch Elektronenstreuschichten bei der Mikrosonden-Analyse dünner Schichten

Die Elektronenstrahl-Mikroanalyse hat sich als Schichtdicken-Mesverfahren in den letzten Jahren einen festen Platz erobert. Dank verfeinerter Techniken sind mittels der Mikrosonde noch Monolagen von Elementen mittlerer bis hoher Ordnungszahl nachweisbar (Hutchins1). Baumgartl, Ryder und Buhler2 haben Nachweisgrenzen von <1 A mittlerer Dicke an Metallen erzielt. Deshalb erhebt sich die Frage, ob eine weitere Steigerung der Nachweisempfindlichkeit praktisch sinnvoll ist.
AGE TO INDIUM RESONANCE FOR D-D NEUTRONS IN HEAVY WATER

The neutron age to the 1.44-ev resonance in indium has been determined from activation measurements for a D(d,n)He/sup 3/ neutron source in 99.8% heavy water. Appropriately averaged and corrected indium foil activities yield the value 119.1 plus or minus 1.5 cm/sup 2/ for the age in an infinite medium. Independent theoretical calculations for exactly this experimental arrangement all yield values in agreement with this experimental result. It appears, therefore, that there is at present no discrepancy between theory and experiment for the age of 2-3 Mev neutrons in heavy water. (auth)
Deep-Water Sea-Floor Array Observations of Seismo-Acoustic Noise in the Eastern Pacific and Comparisons with Wind and Swell

We report results from the analysis of data from an array of Ocean-Bottom Seismographs (OBSs) employed in an array of 150 meter aperture at a depth of 3800 meters off the California coast. The array recorded noise samples four times per day for a month using pressure and three-component inertial sensors.
Quality of Life at a Finer Grain: The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership

This chapter describes the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP), a network of “information intermediaries” in 34 cities that develop and maintain neighborhood-level data warehouses. Their common mission is to make the data broadly available and help local stakeholders, particularly the residents of distressed neighborhoods, use the data themselves to achieve their goals more effectively. The chapter first reviews the types of NNIP institutions (primarily civic groups and university centers) and the range of their local administrative data. It then discusses how NNIP data are used to advance community interests by (1) comprehensively reviewing the well-being of the community, (2) addressing strategic issues, (3) and serving as the basis for program evaluation. It illustrates these themes by providing brief case studies from three NNIP partners in New Orleans, Cleveland, and Providence. The chapter concludes by describing the work of the partnership as a whole and implications for national policy.
Deformation twin identification in magnesium through clustering and computer vision

Abstract The application of clustering and computer vision to microscale deformation data for the segmentation and identification of deformation twins, the strains that they sustain, and their evolution under uniaxial compression across mm-scale fields of view is demonstrated on the magnesium alloy WE43. A 5.7 mm × 3.4 mm deformation map containing 100 million (7678 × 13,004) data points was obtained using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and stitched digital image correlation. The experimental approach used a chemically-functionalized nanoparticle assembly for speckle patterning, external codes for improved microscope control and test automation, and post-test stitching of 209 individual strain fields. Deformation twins were segmented by k-means clustering, and clusters were then identified by two different metrics: the (i) use of the Schmid factor of the most probable twin system combined with the Euclidean distance of the cluster centroid strains to the theoretical twin strains; and (ii) cluster size evolution combined with cluster shape identification through use of a convolution neural net incorporating twin strains as a color map. The accuracy and precision of these approaches were examined through use of a ground truth data set, and possible improvements by combining metrics are discussed. The combined experimental and analytical approach was demonstrated on the analysis of the accommodation of effective strain by twinning in relation to the grain orientation relative to the compression axis.
Infant Colic Represents Gut Inflammation and Dysbiosis.

Objective To dissect potential confounding effects of breast milk and formula feeding on crying + fussing, fecal calprotectin, and gut microbiota in babies with colic. We hypothesized that infant colic is associated with gut inflammation linked to intestinal dysbiosis. Study design A nested case-control design of 3 of our studies was used to analyze clinical and laboratory data at presentation, comparing babies with colic with controls. All investigators other than the biostatistician were blinded during data analysis. Subjects were recruited based on their age and crying + fussy time. We screened 65 infants, 37 with colic, as defined by Barr diary (crying + fussing time >3 hours daily), who were compared with 28 noncolicky infants. Results Fecal calprotectin was elevated in babies with colic. For each mode of infant feeding (breast milk, formula, or breast + formula), infants' fecal calprotectin was higher in babies with colic. Infants with colic had similar levels of fecal alpha diversity (richness) when compared with controls, and alpha diversity was lower in breast-fed babies. Beta diversity at the phylum level revealed significant differences in microbial population. A phylum difference resulted from reduced Actinobacteria (95% of which are Bifidobacilli) in babies with colic. Species significantly associated with colic were Acinetobacter and Lactobacillus iners. Conclusions Colic is linked with gut inflammation (as determined by fecal calprotectin) and dysbiosis, independent of mode of feeding, with fewer Bifidobacilli. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT01279265 and NCT01849991.
Payout Policy Trade-Offs and the Rise of 10b5-1 Preset Repurchase Plans

We are the first to document and study the use of Rule 10b5-1 preset repurchase plans. Though the rule’s original intent was to clarify conditions for enforcing insider trading laws, generally thou...
Optical Network Control & Management Plane Evolution — A Large Datacenter Operator Perspective

Legacy management technologies and concepts are a major blocker to efficiently building and operating a large scale optical network. We provide an overview of new, modern device management technologies and discuss deployment and operational efficiencies that they enable.
Zoos’ and Aquariums’ Impact and Influence on Connecting Families to Nature: An Evaluation of the Nature Play Begins at Your Zoo & Aquarium Program

Zoos and aquariums can be an instrumental avenue for connecting children to nature, thereby contributing to the development of conservation values and environmental stewardship. Survey data from 21...
Analytical Approaches for the Identification of Quorum Sensing Molecules

Abstract Chemical communication in bacteria relies on the production, release, and detection of small molecules called autoinducers (AIs) that regulate gene expression in a cell-density-dependent manner (quorum sensing, QS). QS not only serve as intraspecies but also in interspecies communication. Furthermore, the clinical significance of interkingdom crosstalk between bacteria and human host is becoming more and more evident. Typically, signal molecules are produced at a very low concentration and their detection requires highly sensitive techniques. Biosensors have allowed fast screening of microorganisms for AI production; however, for their specific identification, the gold choice are mass spectrometry-based methodologies, coupled with either gas or liquid chromatography. Sample extraction, cleanup, and preconcentration greatly improve autoinducer identification from complex matrices allowing reliable quantification. The present chapter provides an overview on the most recent and advanced analytical approaches to identify and quantify these bacterial chemical messages with a special focus on N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs/Acyl-HSLs).
Determination of representative volume elements for small cracks in heterogeneous, linear-elastic domains

Abstract A method is introduced for determining the size of a representative volume element for microstructurally small cracks (RVEMSC) in heterogeneous, linear-elastic domains. RVEMSC is defined as the minimum volume required around a crack front such that crack-front parameters are converged with respect to volume size. This method uses finite element models of idealized microstructures, where microstructural constituents are represented by varying the elastic modulus (E). RVEMSC is expressed using two parameters: d 1 , MSC (the required distance from a crack front to the sides of a volume) and d 2 , MSC (the required distance from a crack to the top and bottom of a volume), both expressed in terms of the number of microstructural constituents (e.g. grains). RVEMSC is found for cases involving different crack sizes, error tolerances, and boundary conditions. For a given type of boundary condition, a conservative estimate of RVEMSC is provided as a closed-form function of crack size, average grain size, and desired error tolerance. The solutions for RVEMSC are validated numerically using models of synthetic, realistic microstructures, whose volumes are determined from the RVEMSC equations. The equations are shown to be applicable for a variety of crack sizes and error tolerances. The convergence rates for macroscale parameters are compared with convergence rates of crack-front parameters, and RVEMSC is found to lead simultaneously to converged macroscale parameters. Furthermore, a correlation analysis is performed between microstructural features and required volumes for converged crack-front parameters, and the results indicate that highly misoriented neighboring grains (implicitly represented by large differences in E) located near a crack front lead to larger required volumes to guarantee crack-front parameter convergence. A combination of constraint and microstructural effects are found to contribute to RVEMSC, where smaller cracks tend to be more sensitive to microstructural effects while larger cracks tend to be more sensitive to constraint effects.
Outcomes for Ectopia Cordis.

Objectives To utilize a large multicenter neonatal cohort to describe survival and clinical outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) or preterm infants with ectopia cordis. Study design Data were prospectively collected on 2 211 262 infants (born 2000-2017) from 845 US centers. Both VLBW (401-1500 g or 22-29 weeks of gestation) and non-VLBW (>1500 g and >29 weeks) infants had diagnoses or anatomic descriptors consistent with ectopia cordis and/or pentalogy of Cantrell. The primary outcome was neonatal survival, defined as hospital discharge or initial length of stay of ≥12 months. Results In total, 180 infants had ectopia cordis, 135 (76%) with findings of pentalogy of Cantrell. VLBW infants comprised 52% of the population. VLBW mortality was 96% with 79% dying within 12 hours, compared with 59% and 36%, respectively, for non-VLBW. One-third of VLBW infants received life support compared with 65% of non-VLBW. Surgery was reported for 34% of VLBW and 68% of non-VLBW infants. Congenital heart disease was reported in 8% of VLBW and 36% of non-VLBW, with conotruncal abnormalities most common. Survival exceeded 50% for infants >2500 g and >37 weeks of gestation. Conclusions Survival of VLBW infants with ectopia cordis was poor and substantially worse compared with non-VLBW, with notable discrepancies in resuscitative efforts and surgical interventions. Although gestational age and weight strongly influence current survival, more detailed information regarding the severity of cardiac and noncardiac abnormalities is required to fully determine prognosis and inform counseling.
Optimization of Drive Parameters for Resolution, Sensitivity and Safety in Magnetic Particle Imaging

Magnetic Particle Imaging is an emerging tracer imaging modality with zero background signal and zero ionizing radiation, high contrast and high sensitivity with quantitative images. While there is recent work showing that the low amplitude or low frequency drive parameters can improve MPI’s spatial resolution by mitigating relaxation losses, the concomitant decrease of the MPI’s tracer sensitivity due to the lower drive slew rates was not fully addressed. There has yet to be a wide parameter space, multi-objective optimization of MPI drive parameters for high resolution, high sensitivity and safety. In a large-scale study, we experimentally test 5 different nanoparticles ranging from multi to single-core across 18.5 nm to 32.1 nm core sizes and across an expansive drive parameter range of 0.4 – 416 kHz and 0.5 – 40 mT/ $\mu _{0}$ to assess spatial resolution, SNR, and safety. In addition, we analyze how drive-parameter-dependent shifts in harmonic signal energy away and towards the discarded first harmonic affect effective SNR in this optimization study. The results show that when optimizing for all four factors of resolution, SNR, discarded-harmonic-energy and safety, the overall trends are no longer monotonic and clear optimal points emerge. We present drive parameters different from conventional preclinical MPI showing ~ 2-fold improvement in spatial resolution while remaining within safety limits and addressing sensitivity by minimizing the typical SNR loss involved. Finally, validation of the optimization results with 2D images of phantoms was performed.
PERCeIDs: PERiodic CommunIty Detection

Many complex networked systems, both natural and human-made, exhibit periodic behavior driven by underlying seasonal processes: election cycles and regular sporting events in social networks, cell cycle phases in gene networks, and load variation in infrastructure networks due to weather or daylight patterns. The "natural" periodicity may vary across network communities. At the same time this periodic community behavior is central to (i) understating the overall system dynamics and (ii) for detection of the communities themselves. The predominant approach to dynamic community detection first detects communities and then as a second step quantify seasonality in their activity. How to jointly detect communities and their inherent periodicity, while also accounting for non-periodic one-off events? We propose PERCeIDs, a framework for periodic overlapping community detection from temporal interaction data. We model observed pairwise interaction activity as a mixture of periodic and outlier (non-periodic) components. We explicitly enforce periodic structure within our model by learning a succinct Ramanujan basis dictionary for community behaviors. By explicitly modeling periodicity, PERCeIDs outperforms baselines on both detecting highly overlapping communities with up to 2-fold improvement in NMI compared to state-of-the-art baselines, while offering an interpretable temporal structure for discovered communities in the dataset. Implementation of our method can be found at http://www.cs.albany.edu/~petko/lab/code.html.
Apathy and the Risk of Predementia Syndromes in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives Apathy is a potential predictor of dementia in older adults, but this investigation has been limited to older adults with a preexisting neurological illness like mild cognitive impairment (MCI), stroke or Parkinson's disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between apathy at baseline and incident predementia syndromes, including MCI and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait, in community-dwelling older adults. Method We prospectively studied the association between apathy (using the 3-item subscale of the Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS3A]) and incident cognitive disorders in 542 community-dwelling older adults enrolled in the Central Control of Mobility in Aging study using Cox proportional hazard models. Associations were reported as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for age, education, baseline cognitive performance, and depressive symptoms. Results Apathy was associated with incident MCR (HR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.10-5.20), but not predementia syndromes overall nor MCI. In sensitivity analyses of MCI subtypes, apathy was associated with nonamnestic MCI (HR 2.44, 95% CI: 1.14-5.22), but not amnestic MCI. Our study was limited by a short follow-up time (median 13.6 months; interquartile range 29.8) and a brief subscale measurement of apathy, GDS3A. Discussion In our study, apathy predicted MCR but not MCI in community-dwelling older adults. These results and the current literature suggest that apathy is an early risk factor for dementia. Additionally, apathy may be a novel treatment target that could forestall the disability of dementia.
The Disintegration of Nd 147

Three groups of monochromatic electrons corresponding to gamma-rays of 91.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 kev, 320\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 kev, and 534\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4 kev have been identified in the disintegration of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{147}$. These gamma-rays are ascribed to transitions in ${\mathrm{Pm}}^{147}$. Evidence has been obtained for a complex beta-spectrum of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{147}$. On the basis of coincidences, a partial scheme of disintegration for ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{147}$ is proposed. The total energy decrease from the ground state of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{147}$ to the ground state of ${\mathrm{Pm}}^{147}$ nuclei is 1.425\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.015 Mev.
Ethical Allocation of Remdesivir.

As the federal government distributed remdesivir to some of the states COVID-19 hit hardest, policymakers scrambled to develop criteria to allocate the drug to their hospitals. Our state, Michigan,...
First-Principle Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Terahertz Absorptive Hydrogenated TiO2 Nanoparticles

Recently, terahertz (THz) materials are emerging as new promising material owing to its excellent electromagnetic response in the THz frequency range. While naturally occurring materials hardly respond to THz radiation, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to develop artificial absorbers in the THz region. Various encouraging new materials are being developed day to day having unique electromagnetic properties. TiO2 is one of that materials which engrossed extensive attention in the field of terahertz absorbing materials research. It has attracted significant importance because of its wide band gap, high permittivity as well as low dielectric loss characteristics. It has been reported that hydrogenated TiO2 nanoparticles can absorb 0.6–2.5 THz radiation and is very useful for THz optoelectronics like waveguides, filters, metamaterials, etc. This chapter with the help of density functional theory demonstrates effects of hydrogenation on properties of rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) that shows significant improvement in absorption towards THz spectral range.
Comparison of Patient Perception and Satisfaction of Face-to-Face Versus Telemedicine Encounters in Hand Surgery:

Background:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge has enabled the widespread usage of telemedicine (TM) and presents a unique opportunity to determine the hand surgery patients’ perception o...
On a Proof of the Strong Law of Large Numbers

Inspired by a recent preprint of N. Curien, we provided what may be a new and elementary proof of the Law of Large Numbers.
Personal Injuries and Global Remedies: International Terror Torts in United States' Courts

The United States is currently undergoing a dramatic volte-face regarding the role of U.S. courts in the battle against international terrorists and, more recently, state sponsors of terrorism. More has happened in the past decade than the previous 200 years combined. This article is an attempt to outline the history and development of international tort law in American courts as it pertains to acts committed by terrorist entities. The article begins with a history of the judiciary's traditional role in this field, along with an overview of issues such as sovereign immunity and terrorist victim compensation. The article then shifts its focus to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's so-called "anti-terrorism exception" and its sister legislation, which reflect a new and revolutionary theory of assigning liability to terrorists and state-sponsors of terrorism. The article concludes with a review of the most recent developments in ensuring that successful claimants actually get to collect their judgments.
A Systematic Consultative Approach to Behavior Management in Head Start

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a systematic consultative approach on behavioral management in a Head Start program. Head Start teachers received both lecture-based and on-site training and consultation from occupational therapy students and behavioral consultants. Five children were identified to receive individual attention by the team. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was used to measure changes in children's behavior in classroom settings. Change scores on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure indicated a significant improvement in children's ability to perform positive behaviors in the classroom (p = .019) and teachers satisfaction with performance (p = .03). Teachers reported an increase in knowledge regarding behavioral management techniques and use of strategies for behavioral management. A systematic consultative approach should be considered in early education settings for management and prevention of behavior problems. Occupational therapists shoul...
A study of particle swarm optimization in gene regulatory networks inference

Gene regulatory inference from time series gene expression data, generated from DNA microarray, has become increasingly important in investigating genes functions and unveiling fundamental cellular processes. Computational methods in machine learning and neural networks play an active role in analyzing the obtained data. Here, we investigate the performance of particle swarm optimization (PSO) on the reconstruction of gene networks, which is modeled with recurrent neural networks (RNN). The experimental results on a synthetic data set are presented to show the parameter effects of PSO on RNN training and the effectiveness of the proposed method in revealing the gene relations.
Abstract 13002: Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valve: Impact of Cardiovascular Surgery

Background: We sought to a) understand characteristics & long-term outcomes of a contemporary group of patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) +/- aortopathy & b) determine if surgery for BAV improves hard outcomes. Methods: We studied 1896 consecutive patients with BAV (age 50±14 years, 75% men) that underwent initial evaluation between 2003-2007, at a tertiary-care center. Baseline clinical, echocardiographic, chest tomography, surgical & outcomes data was recorded. Euroscore was calculated. Endpoint was a composite of death or aortic dissection. Results: Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), aortic root size & Euroscore were 55±8 %, 3.6±0.8 cm and 4±2. 671 (35%) patients had aortic root ≥4 cm, 30% had ≥III+ aortic regurgitation (AR) & 10% had mean AV gradient ≥40 mm Hg. At 8±2 years of follow-up, 924 (49%) patients underwent surgery related to BAV [884 AV replacement (+/- combination procedures) and 470 (25%) with ascending aortic grafting] & there were 177 (9%) events (8 dissections). Medi...
(WHEN) AM IMY BORROWER’S KEEPER? GOOD FAITH AND LOAN WORKOUTS

This article deals with a California case involving alleged predatory lending and analyzes the duty of fair dealing and why lenders prefer an objective reasonableness standard to that of subjective good faith.
Anti-histone autoantibodies recognize centromeric heterochromatin in metaphase chromosomes and hidden epitopes in interphase cells.

IgM autoantibodies from a subset of patients with undifferentiated rheumatic disease syndromes stained mouse kidney nuclei with a distincti ve va riable large-speckled (VLS) indirect immunofluores­ cence (IIF) pattern. However, these antibodies did not stain nuclei of tissue culture cells prepared with conventional fixation. These sera were shown to react with histone H3 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and adsorption with H3 reduced or eliminated the IIF reaction. Sera yielding a VLS-IIF pattern reacted in ELISA with all three H3 variants as well as the native (H3-H4h tetramer, but the reactive determinants were unavailable for binding when chromatin was the sub­ strate. By IIF assay, the epitopes were exposed after treatment of tissue culture cells with 0.5 M NaCI, and were removed by J.5 M NaC!. These sera also stained the centromeric region of metaphase chromosomes. These observations suggest that the VLS-IIF pattern is due to antihodies that recognize epitopes on constitutive heterochromatin near the centromere. The epitopes are exposed in differenti­ ated cells but hidden in dividing cells . Histone in heterochromatin, or CENP-A , a histone-like protein in the centromere with a sequence similarity to histone H3, are candidates for the target antigen.
T Cell–Extrinsic CD18 Attenuates Antigen-Dependent CD4+ T Cell Activation In Vivo

The β2 integrins (CD11/CD18) are heterodimeric leukocyte adhesion molecules expressed on hematopoietic cells. The role of T cell-intrinsic CD18 in trafficking of naive T cells to secondary lymphoid organs and in Ag-dependent T cell activation in vitro and in vivo has been well defined. However, the T cell-extrinsic role for CD18, including on APC, in contributing to T cell activation in vivo is less well understood. We examined the role for T cell-extrinsic CD18 in the activation of wild-type CD4(+) T cells in vivo through the adoptive transfer of DO11.10 Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells into CD18(-/-) mice. We found that T cell-extrinsic CD18 was required for attenuating OVA-induced T cell proliferation in peripheral lymph nodes (PLN). The increased proliferation of wild-type DO11.10 CD4(+) T cells in CD18(-/-) PLN was associated with a higher percentage of APC, and these APC demonstrated an increased activation profile and increased Ag uptake, in particular in F4/80(+) APC. Depletion of F4/80(+) cells both reduced and equalized Ag-dependent T cell proliferation in CD18(-/-) relative to littermate control PLN, demonstrating that these cells play a critical role in the enhanced T cell proliferation in CD18(-/-) mice. Consistently, CD11b blockade, which is expressed on F4/80(+) macrophages, enhanced the proliferation of DO11.10 CD4(+) T cells in CD18(+/-) PLN. Thus, in contrast to the T cell-intrinsic essential role for CD18 in T cell activation, T cell-extrinsic expression of CD18 attenuates Ag-dependent CD4(+) T cell activation in PLN in vivo.
Chip formation, cutting forces, and tool wear in turning of Zr-based bulk metallic glass

The chip light emission and morphology, cutting forces, surface roughness, and tool wear in turning of Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) material are investigated. Machining results are compared with those of aluminum 6061-T6 and AISI 304 stainless steel under the same cutting conditions. This study demonstrates that the high cutting speeds and tools with low thermal conductivity and rake angle activate the light emission and chip oxidation in BMG machining. For the BMG chip without light emission, serrated chip formation with adiabatic shear band and void formation is observed. The cutting force analysis further correlates the chip oxidation and specific cutting energy and shows the significant reduction of cutting forces for machining BMG at high cutting speeds. The machined surface of BMG has better surface roughness than that of the other two work materials. Some tool wear features, including the welding of chip to the tool tip and chipping of the polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool edge, are reported for turning of BMG. This study concludes that BMG can be machined with good surface roughness using conventional cutting tools.
Spectral simulation of an unsteady compressible flow past a circular cylinder

An unsteady compressible viscous wake flow past a circular cylinder was successfully simulated using spectral methods. A new approach in using the Chebyshev collocation method for periodic problems is introduced. It was further proved that the eigenvalues associated with the differentiation matrix are purely imaginary, reflecting the periodicity of the problem. It was been shown that the solution of a model problem has exponential growth in time if improper boundary conditions are used. A characteristic boundary condition, which is based on the characteristics of the Euler equations of gas dynamics, was derived for the spectral code. The primary vortex shedding frequency computed agrees well with the results in the literature for Mach = 0.4, Re = 80. No secondary frequency is observed in the power spectrum analysis of the pressure data.
Radiation therapy of penile cancer.

Abstract While surgery remains the treatment of choice for larger, exophytic tumors, especially those involving more than glans and prepuce, radiation therapy is often useful in the management of selected nondeeply infiltrating penile cancers 3 cm. or less in size. Ten patients treated by radiation therapy between the years 1968 and 1973 remain free of demonstrable disease; 1 of these also had cancer in bilateral inguinal nodes treated by radical groin dissection, and he, too, has no evidence of cancer five years following node removal.
Diffusion within a porous medium with randomly distributed heat sinks

Abstract Heat sinks filled with phase-change material, a design concept suitable for the thermal management of electronic airborne systems, find limited applicability at present due to lack of structural rigidity and poor isothermal cooling characteristics. A composite heat sink device (CHSD) is a new design concept proposed in this work, which combines the thermal benefit of the phase-change material with the structural rigidity provided by a solid porous matrix. The device consists of a solid porous matrix with pores filled with capsules containing a phase-change material. Numerical simulations of a CHSD steady-model indicate the existence of a maximum capsule density beyond which a transition from disperse diffusion (when all capsules actively participate in the diffusion process) to concentrate diffusion (when the capsules close to the heated surface shield the capsules placed further away) occurs. This observation is important for optimizing the volume of the CHSD.
A mathematical model of spinal response to impact.

Abstract A discrete-parameter model of the human body under a variety of impact situations is developed, emphasizing the spine as the main load-carrying element. The model simultaneously accounts for axial, shear and bending deformations of the discs, the viscoelastic behavior of the discs, the variable size and mass of the vertebrae and discs, the natural curved shape of the spine, and the eccentric inertial loading caused by the head and trunk. A trapezoidal seat acceleration pulse is applied in the sagittal plane. Numerical results generated for the pilot ejection problem, using a 10g peak acceleration pulse with finite rise time, show that bending deformations of the spinal column appreciably affect the overall body response. The effects of pulse rise time and horizontal components of acceleration are evaluated. Results are in the form of time-histories for the axial force, shear force, and moment at the disc-vertebra interfaces.
Attachment styles and close relationships: A four‐year prospective study

A longitudinal study of 177 adults examined the stability of adult attachment styles and of romantic relationships over a 4-year period. Findings included the following: (a) attachment styles were highly stable over time; (b) Time 1 attachment style was a significant predictor of Time 2 relationship status, but (c) this effect was mediated by concurrent attachment style at Time 2; (d) secure respondents were less likely than insecure respondents to report one or more breakups during the 4-year interval, but (e) paradoxically, ambivalent respondents were just as likely as secure respondents to be in a relationship with the same partner they had identified 4 years earlier; and (f) attachment stability was moderated to some extent by the experience of breakup or initiation of new relationships during the interim. Respondents' ability to recall their previous attachment style was also examined. Methodological and theoretical implications are discussed, particularly with respect to the conceptualization of attachment styles as traits versus reflections of current relationship status.
A modern analytical toolbox: defect (W&D) studies of automotive coating systems, including depth profiling studies

Chemical and microscopy measurement technologies have proven to be very powerful in our failure analysis efforts to detail composition and morphology changes of multilayered automotive coating systems obtained from the field. Weathering and durability (W&D) analyses used include those following chemical composition and property changes, at surface/near-surface and interface/interphase loci, as well as depth profiling through one or more system layers. Microscopy tools include a variety of techniques to study surfaces and normal cross sections. Both macro- and micro-morphology details can be effectively imaged to help investigators correlate coating system appearance changes with the mechanisms, and associated kinetics, of degradation. This article will offer an overview of commonly used analyses for developing new coating systems and for tracking appearance, chemical, physical, and mechanical changes due to common mechanisms causing coating systems to fail during service in the field.
Timing patterns in event lists: Recurrent geomagnetic storms

The time separations between events in an extended list of occurrence times may reveal recurrence patterns of predictive and interpretive value. A strategy for extracting the period and amplitude of cyclic or recurrent phenomena from lists of event times is developed and applied to 119 years of geomagnetic storm data. The ensemble of time intervals separating pairs of sudden commencement geomagnetic storms (SSCs) differs significantly from that expected for randomly occurring events, permitting the detection of preferred intervals between event occurrences and a determination of the strength and significance of recurrence patterns. Through 11 sunspot cycles, SSCs show persistent nonrandomness at the solar rotation period and its low multiples. The recurrence period is shorter on descending cycle phase than on the ascending phase. The strength of SSC recurrence near 27 days is comparable on ascending and descending phases, in contrast with the behavior of gradual commencement storms triggered by corotating solar wind streams.