cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel technique for aligning paraboloids

A technique is described for aligning an autocollimating test of an off-axis paraboloidal segment. A corner reflector (corner-cube retroreflector) is incorporated as an alignment aid to interferometrically align a paraboloidal segment to a spherical wavefront. This alignment task is typically quite challenging and time consuming because the interferograms obtained from a partially aligned autocollimating test cannot be easily interpreted for alignment correction. The normal alignment process requires iterative cycles of adjustment, realignment, and evaluation to achieve results. The use of a corner reflector significantly reduces the time required for the alignment of a n autocollimating test because it provides images and interferograms that can easily be interpreted for alignment correction. The wide dynamic range of this alignment technique makes it applicable to a variety of alignment tasks involving paraboloidal mirrors.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Is ethylene the Natural Regulator of Abscission

Ethylene and abscission have been linked in the literature for many decades, but only recently has ethylene’s role been supported by critical evidence. Thus it seems almost paradoxical to consider whether ethylene is the regulator of abscission. The question is made appropriate by attention to the involvement of ethylene in a natural abscission and to the mechanism(s) by which ethylene initiates abscission.
Coupled Reduction and Removal of Heavy Metals by a Mixed Microbial Ecosystem

Contamination of surface water by conglomerate mixtures of metals is a significant health problem in aquatic environments near mining and metal (tannery) processing operations. Metals, such as hexavalent chromium (CrVI), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) have been shown to occur at elevated levels in many near-shore environments (Capone et al., 1983). In situ bioremediation of these metals has been suggested as a mechanism to alleviate the presence of these contaminants. In this regard, our laboratory has examined the bioremediation and removal of various individual heavy metals from soil and water, in simulated ponds using a mixed microbial ecosystem. In these experiments 80–90% of the metals examined were reduced and recovered from both soil and water in the biomass formed on the pond surface (Ibeanusi et al., 1989; Archibold et al., 1989; Bender et al, 1987).
Vibration Energy Harvesting System With Mechanical Motion Rectifier

Mechanical motion rectifier (MMR) has been used as power takeoff system to harvest energy for different applications. The dynamics of single degree of freedom energy harvesting system with MMR is piecewise linear due to the engagement and disengagement of one-way clutches. The energy harvesting performance of single degree of freedom system with MMR under force and motion excitation are studied and compared with ideal linear damping and non-MMR system in this paper. Under harmonic force and motion excitation, the optimal excitation frequency and output power of MMR system is less sensitive to the power takeoff inertia compared with non-MMR system. Furthermore, the output power of MMR system under harmonic motion excitation is larger than non-MMR system. The performance index of MMR, non-MMR and linear damping systems are compared under random excitation. It is found that MMR system has a better performance over both non-MMR and linear damping system, which makes it a better choice for energy harvesting.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Luke Effect and Federal Taxation

Professor Martin J. McMahon, Jr.'s article, The Matthew Effect and Federal Taxation, demonstrates that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer in the United States, that something must be done to deal with increasing income inequality, and that income tax rates should be more progressive. Increasing tax rates on the super-rich as he suggests, however, will not eliminate these problems by itself. There is no way to decrease income inequality without increasing rate progressivity on a wider range of taxpayers. To do so would be politically problematic, and it therefore seems unlikely that these problems can be solved through the federal tax system.
Atomic Force Microscope Spectroscopy: Progress toward Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Studies

The emerging field of live cell nanoscopy and force spectroscopy could revolutionize the way biologists explore the living cell at a molecular resolution. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and force spectroscopy analysis have been used to directly measure reversible physiochemical and specific binding interactions between cells. Stickiness is important biofilm formation stage that could also be measured at nN level. A significant source of foodborne illness results from biofilms. These are caused by microorganisms that attach to surfaces and grow as highly organized multicellular communities. This study examines the impact of silver resistance on bacterial adhesion and its viscoelastic formation. We present the first set of data that evaluates the elastic deformation of a bacterial cell surface upon evolution of silver resistance in E. coli MG1655 using AFM compared to controls in 200 generations. The adhesion stickiness and stiffness mean of the treated (evolved Ag resistant) and non-treated samples were tested at nN level. The evolved samples had a significantly (P<0.05) higher stickiness ratio and value (from 0.01± 0.04 nN to 0.06± 0.02 nN) compared to the controls (non-resistant) strains (from0.01± 0.02 nN to0.04± 0.02 nN). The highest difference of adhesion force happened on Generation 100. According to images of the bacteria in different generations, we can see some major phenotype changes on the appearance at generation 100. The MIC data for the non-evolved strains of E. coli MG 1655 through 200 generations were also significantly lower 38.58± 10.09 mg/l compare to evolved strains 272.25 ± 153.94 mg/l (p<0.01). The experiment demonstrates important features of phenotype modulation resulting from the evolution of Ag resistance that will be further studied by this group.
Discovery of 3-aminopicolinamides as metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGlu4) positive allosteric modulator warheads engendering CNS exposure and in vivo efficacy

This letter describes the further chemical optimization of the picolinamide-derived family of mGlu4 PAMs wherein we identified a 3-amino substituent to the picolinamide warhead that engendered potency, CNS penetration and in vivo efficacy. From this optimization campaign, VU0477886 emerged as a potent (EC50=95nM, 89% Glu Max) mGlu4 PAM with an attractive DMPK profile (brain:plasma Kp=1.3), rat CLp=4.0mL/min/kg, t1/2=3.7h) and robust efficacy in our standard preclinical Parkinson's disease model, haloperidol-induced catalepsy (HIC).
The Dose–Response Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Body Composition and Breast Tissue among Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer: A Randomized Trial

Observational data indicate that behaviors that shift energetic homeostasis, such as exercise, may decrease the risk of developing breast cancer by reducing the amount of energy-dense, metabolically active adipose tissue. Between December 2008 and April 2013, we conducted a single-blind, 5-month, clinical trial that randomized premenopausal women at high risk of developing breast cancer to one of three groups: 150 min/wk of aerobic exercise (low dose), 300 min/wk of aerobic exercise (high dose), or control. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) was quantified using computerized algorithms on breast dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Over 5 months, compared with the control group: the low-dose and high-dose groups lost -1.5 ± 0.5 and -1.3 ± 0.5 kg of body mass (linear Ptrend = 0.032); -1.5 ± 0.4 and -1.4 ± 0.3 kg of fat mass (linear Ptrend = 0.003); -1.3 ± 0.3 and -1.4 ± 0.3% of body fat (linear Ptrend < 0.001); -15.9 ± 5.4 and -26.6 ± 5.0 cm(2) of subcutaneous adipose tissue (linear Ptrend < 0.001); and -6.6 ± 1.9 and -5.0 ± 1.9 cm(2) visceral adipose tissue (nonlinear Ptrend = 0.037). For each -1 cm(2) reduction in visceral adipose tissue, BPE decreased by -3.43 ± 1.34 cm(2) (P = 0.010) and explained 9.7% of the variability in BPE. Changes in other aforementioned body composition outcomes did not significantly correlate with changes in BPE. These mechanistic data support observational evidence that shifting energetic homeostasis through exercise may alter the risk of developing breast cancer. Additional adequately powered studies are needed to confirm and expand upon our findings that changes in body composition are associated with changes in BPE. Cancer Prev Res; 9(7); 581-8. ©2016 AACR.
The expression of rat homeobox-containing genes is developmentally regulated and tissue specific.

Seven rat homeobox-containing sequences have been isolated by screening a genomic library with a probe derived from a Drosophila antennapedia cDNA clone. The characterization of two of these homeobox-containing clones has been described (Falzon, M., Sanderson, N.D. and Chung, S. Y. (1987) Gene 54, 23–32). Sequence analysis of the remaining five homeobox regions reveals a 180 bp domain sharing 70–95% identity at the amino acid level with the homeodomain from the Drosophila antennapedia gene and with the homeodomains from other metazoan species. Genomic blot analysis shows that each of the homeobox-containing DNA segments is probably present in a single copy per haploid genome. Northern blot analysis of RNA transcripts indicates that the rat homeobox-containing sequences are expressed during embryogenesis and in newborn and adult tissues in a tissue-specific manner; RNA expression is predominantly detected in spinal cord and kidney. Moreover, the pattern of RNA transcripts observed is distinct for each homeobox sequence, indicating differential regulation. Among the seven rat homeobox-containing sequences, the flanking sequences of five of the clones have no obvious sequence similarity with previously published sequences of homeobox-containing genes from other species. Two of the rat clones have been identified as potential homologues to mouse homeobox-containing sequences. For both pairs, a high degree of amino acid conservation (greater than 95%) is observed within the homeodomain and its immediate flanking regions between the putative homologous genes in mouse and rat. This strengthens the assertion that some of the mammalian homeobox-containing genes encode highly conserved proteins and may serve important biological functions.
p53 gene mutation spectrum in human unknown primary tumors

Mutations affecting the p53 gene are associated with many human malignancies, but little is known about changes in p53 in unknown primary tumors (UPTs), which are characterized as tumors with advanced stages of malignancy. We therefore investigated the frequency of p53 mutations in a series of 15 unknown primary tumor biopsies and eight cell lines established from UPTs. Mutations in the conserved regions of the p53 gene were verified by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of exons 5-9 and were verified by direct DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products. A point mutation leading to an amino acid change in the p53 protein was found in six cases, and a mutation causing a change to termination was found in one case. A frameshift mutation was observed in one cell line. In one patient and one cell line we observed more than one mutation in the p53 coding sequence. Overall, the frequency of mutations that changed the p53 coding sequence in the UPTs we studied was 26% (6/23). Mutations were distributed in eight codons of the p53 gene. Seven of these tumors showed a reduction to homozygosity at the p53 allele, but one tumor apparently retained heterozygosity. We conclude that although UPTs represent highly metastatic advanced tumors that are expected to have a high incidence of p53 mutations, the frequency of p53 mutations is relatively low, suggesting that p53 mutations may not play a major role in the development and progression of this unique tumor type.
Efficacy of spinal cord stimulation as an adjunct therapy for chronic refractory angina pectoris

Abstract Introduction Patients with chronic refractory angina whose symptoms are not controlled with conventional therapies have a poor quality of life. Adjunctive therapies, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be considered in these cases. We sought to examine whether SCS is associated with changes in exercise capacity and angina severity in these patients. Methods We searched Pubmed, Medline and other databases until December 2015. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Exercise capacity included exercise duration and rate pressure product, determined via an exercise test. Angina severity included daily angina frequency and nitrate consumption. Results A total of 518 participants (1048.25 person-years of follow-up), from 14 studies met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 66.8years and 68.5% were men. SCS implant duration ranged from 3weeks to 5years (median: 6months). Using random effects meta-analysis, we found that SCS was associated with a higher exercise duration (1.90min, 95% CI 1.71, 2.06) and lower angina severity, 1.55 less daily angina episodes, (95% CI −1.75, −1.33), 1.54 less daily nitrates consumed, (95% CI −1.81, −1.26), and a 22 points higher SF-36 angina frequency score (95% CI 10.76, 32.81; p Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests that SCS, as an adjunct therapy to medical management, may be associated with a longer exercise duration and lower angina frequency and nitrate consumption in patients with chronic refractory angina pectoris who are not candidates for percutaneous intervention or revascularization.
Compression Myelopathy Due to an Intramedullary Cyst Containing Ectopic Choroidal Plexus Tissue

This is a unique condition where there is ectopic choroid tissue in the spinal cord causing pressure myelopathy.
Nuclear PRMT5, cyclin D1 and IL-6 are associated with poor outcome in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients and is inversely associated with p16-status.

// Bhavna Kumar 1, 2 , Arti Yadav 2 , Nicole V. Brown 3 , Songzhu Zhao 3 , Michael J. Cipolla 1 , Paul E. Wakely 4 , Alessandra C. Schmitt 4, 6 , Robert A. Baiocchi 5 , Theodoros N. Teknos 1, 2 , Matthew Old 1, 2, * , Pawan Kumar 1, 2, * 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA 2 The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210 USA 3 Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA 4 Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA 5 Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA 6 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303 USA * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Pawan Kumar, email: Pawan.Kumar@osumc.edu Keywords: PRMT5, OPSCC, HPV, cyclin D1, IL-6 Received: July 22, 2016 Accepted: December 27, 2016 Published: January 17, 2017 ABSTRACT Protein arginine methyltransferase-5 (PRMT5) plays an important role in cancer progression by repressing the expression of key tumor suppressor genes via the methylation of transcriptional factors and chromatin-associated proteins. However, very little is known about the expression and biological role of PRMT5 in head and neck cancer. In this study, we examined expression profile of PRMT5 at subcellular levels in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and assessed its correlation with disease progression and patient outcome. Our results show that nuclear PRMT5 was associated with poor overall survival ( p 10 pack-years ( p = 0.013). In addition, nuclear PRMT5 was directly correlated with cyclin D1 ( p = 0.0101) and IL-6 expression ( p < 0.001). In a subgroup survival analysis, nuclear PRMT5-positive/IL-6-positive group had worst survival, whereas nuclear PRMT5-negative/IL-6-negative group had the best survival. Similarly, patients with p16-negative/nuclear PRMT5-positive tumors had worse survival compared to patients with p16-positive/nuclear PRMT5-negative tumors. Our mechanistic results suggest that IL-6 promotes nuclear translocation of PRMT5. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that nuclear PRMT5 expression is associated with poor clinical outcome in OPSCC patients and IL-6 plays a role in the nuclear translocation of PRMT5.
Attractiveness and relationship longevity: Beauty is not what it is cracked up to be

Across four studies, we examined the relational repercussions of physical attractiveness (PA). Study 1 (n = 238) found that those rated as more attractive in high school yearbooks were married for shorter durations and more likely to divorce. Study 2 (n = 130) replicated these effects using a different sample (high-profile celebrities). Study 3 (n = 134) examined the link between PA and the derogation of attractive alternatives, a relationship maintenance strategy. Study 4 (n = 156) experimentally manipulated perceived PA and examined its relation with both derogation of attractive alternatives and current relationship satisfaction. PA predicted likelihood of relationship dissolution and decreased derogation of attractive alternatives. Furthermore, PA predicted greater vulnerability to relationship threats—in this case, relationship alternatives—resulting from poor relationship satisfaction.
Wide field OCT angiography by using swept source OCT in living human eye

To investigate the application of wide field OCT angiography (OCTA) in living human eye. Normal and pathologic eyes were recruited and imaged by a 1060 nm swept source OCTA system with A-line speed of 100 kHz provided by Carl Zeiss Meditec. Inc.. Wide field OCTA images were generated in a single scan within 5 seconds based on the tracking capability installed in the system with 9 x 9 mm2 and 12 x 12 mm2 field of view and sampled by 500 A-lines x 500 Bframes with 2 repetitions in the same location for one 3D data. Complex optical microangiography (OMAG) algorithm was used to extract the blood flow information. The en face maximum projection provided by the device was used to generate 2-dimensional angiograms of different layers and color-code images. Wide field en face OCTA images of different macular diseases showed a great agreement with fluorescein angiography (FA). Meanwhile, OCTA provides depth-resolved information and detailed vascular images of venous occlusion and DR patients in far peripheral region, and choroidal vessels imaging in serpiginous choroidopathy patient, providing a better visualization of vascular network compared to FA.
In Search of the "Maya Diet": Is Regional Comparison Possible in the Maya Tropics?

For years archaeologists have attempted to describe the ancient “Maya diet” and other pan-Maya patterns in the use of animals. We need such descriptions before we can understand what animal-use choices were defined by regional culture values rather than by local resource availability. But differences in archaeological methods and theoretical focus as well as biases imposed by variability in preservation and taphonomy, both between and within sites, obstruct our comparing data sets from various Maya sites, and thereby recognizing the ancient pan-Maya animal-use patterns. This paper compares data from archaeological sites across the Maya world, discussing the theoretical premises of the research and the biases in recovery methods and preservational conditions, to evaluate the utility of the data for regional comparison. The paper discusses the possibilities for a realistic interpretation of regional or pan-Maya animal- use patterns and presents suggestions for increasing sample comparability and regional interpretation.
Psychological Reactance in Marital Enrichment Training.

This investigation was the second in a series of empirical studies on marital enrichment training using the Training in Marital Enrichment (TIME) model. In addition to further study of the TIME model, interest was also directed in the current study to more fully clarifying the nature of change in the model by including a measure of the construct of psychological reactance. Participants were 17 heterosexual couples who volunteered for participation in a marriage enrichment program which was advertised in Catholic parishes in a midwestern city. Participants met over a 7-week period for a minimum of 12 hours of the training program. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Therapeutic Reactance Scale were used. Marital satisfaction as measured by a subscale of the DAS was reported as significantly greater following the marital enrichment training with the TIME model. Most of the reported gains in marital satisfaction came from the female participants. While the total dyadic adjustment score was found to increase in a positive direction, indicating overall greater total marital adjustment, the gains made were not at significant levels. While it is uncertain why this effect would hold only for the women in the sample, the results do suggest that this factor should be taken into account in marital enrichment efforts. (Contains 12 references.) (ABL) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************
Auditory Training for Adults Who Have Hearing Loss: A Comparison of Spaced Versus Massed Practice Schedules.

Purpose The spacing effect in human memory research refers to situations in which people learn items better when they study items in spaced intervals rather than massed intervals. This investigatio...
Growing livelihoods: Local food systems and community development

This practical book is organized around case studies to support the idea that building local food systems can grow local economies and improve social well-being. The book addresses topics within th...
Between Mith and Utopia: A Human Search for Carlos Fuentes’ Cristal Frontier

Carlos Fuentes’s The Crystal Frontier weaves through nine stories, each of which represents an allegorical version of Mexican (non-) identity. Underlying each tale is a landscape of economic prowess created and controlled by a Mexican entrepreneur: Leonardo Barroso (also know as the Godfather). Barroso’s powerful image is built on his ability to operate within the same framework as a wealthy American citizen. Though this offers him a unique level of superficial freedom, Fuentes demonstrates that this does not necessarily mean he is free to choose an authentic identity. Ultimately, as Barroso upholds the image that his economic power provides, the hollowness of his identity is exposed. At the same time, Barroso’s relationships and interactions with individuals on both sides of the Mexamerican (northern Mexican) border also reveal the invisible barriers surrounding the marginalized voices of Mexico (Van Delden 174). As a nation trapped by the strong presence of America’s economy, Mexico remains passive and paralyzed in a cyclical pattern of mythical appropriation. Fuentes shows that in Mexico’s contemporary relationship with the United States, Mexico’s identity has been lost. Nevertheless, Fuentes acknowledges that there is hope for Mexico. Buried in limbo between the bordering nations, a self -determined nation awaits a return to the earth. Fuentes digs beneath the self-destructing Mexican identities to reveal an imaginable community of justice, dignity, and authenticity.
Gottwesen and the De-Divinization of the Last God: Heidegger’s Meditation on the Strange and Incalculable

Heidegger’s last god marks the transition from the end of metaphysics to the other beginning through the twofold movement of being’s bestowing withdrawal, the self-concealment that is the unconcealment of the refusal. Through a close reading of passages in the Black Notebooks, I argue that the last God signifies the fissure of being—the space of oscillation—that opens and closes itself in relation to those who practice restraint. Most notably, the epoch of the last god signifies the time when the gods will be over and done. In response to Nietzsche’s death of god, the last god is the god after there are no more gods, the god depleted of godhood, the god that is neither transcendent nor immanent. Those who would use Heidegger as a foundation to construct a new theological edifice have not grasped the collapse of the polarity of theism and atheism intimated by the intimation of the last god. It is in the nonshowing that the essence of the godship shows itself, for there is no reality beneath the veneer of appearance; being is nothing but the appearance behind which there is nothing but the appearance of being.
Creation of a Computer Modeling Course for Undergraduate Earth Science Students

Entire fields within the Earth sciences now exist in which computer modeling has become the primary work of the discipline. Undergraduate geology/Earth science programs have been slow to adapt to this change, and computer science offerings frequently do not meet geology students' needs. To address these problems, a course in Computer Modeling in the Earth Sciences has been developed at Vassar College. The course uses the STELLA (Structural Thinking Experimental Learning Laboratory with Animation) iconographical box modeling software to teach the fundamentals of dynamical systems modeling and then builds on the knowledge students have gained with STELLA to teach introductory programming. Modeling topics include U-Pb concordia/discordia dating techniques, the impact of climate change on a chain of lakes in eastern California, heat flow in permafrost, and flow of ice in glaciers by plastic deformation. The course has been received enthusiastically by students, who reported not only that they enjoyed learning...
Breast Cancer Tumor Size Assessment with Mammography, Ultrasonography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging at a Community Based Multidisciplinary Breast Center:

Paramount to staging and patient management is accurately measuring the size of invasive breast cancers. We assessed the accuracy of mammography (MG), ultrasonography (US), and magnetic resonance i...
Rehabilitation of the MI survivor. Management options to maximize posthospital outcome.

PreviewTo restore the survivor of myocardial infarction to maximal health and to prevent further cardiac complications, the physician has a number of management options. Exercise, vocational and psychologic counseling, risk factor reduction, drug treatment, and coronary bypass surgery may all play a rehabilitative role. The authors explore these options in what one reviewer called “a good overview of the state of the art”.
Searching using probabilistic hints in unstructured peer-to-peer networks

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking is designed for sharing resources at the edge of the Internet. Searching in file-sharing P2P networks has been an important research topic, and it has drawn significant attention recently. Hints can be utilized to improve query success rates. Determining how to efficiently and effectively propagate hints is a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a searching protocol called HS-SDBF (Hint-based Search by Scope Decay Bloom Filter) that addresses this issue. HS-SDBF uses a data structure named SDBF (Scope Decay Bloom Filter) to represent and propagate probabilistic hints. Compared to existing proactive schemes, HS-SDBF can answer many more queries successfully at a lower amortized cost considering both the query traffic and hint propagation traffic. The experimental results support the performance improvement of our protocol.
Setting Up a Laboratory for Sleep-Related Animal Research

A growing appreciation of the importance of sleep and the impact of sleep disorders on public health has led to a surge in basic sleep research. While humans are the ultimate beneficiaries, the use of animal models is a critical part of this effort. Primary mammalian model systems include rat, mouse, hamster, dog, cat, and monkey. The benefits of small nonmammalian animal models are reflected in the recent increase in studies in zebrafish, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans . This article will discuss the set up of behavioral monitoring in both a mammalian and nonmammalian model. Even though a major portion of sleep research is behavioral assessment, molecular studies are essential to understand the mechanisms underlying behavior. Thus this article will also discuss the basic set up to carry out molecular and biochemical studies.
A Computer Program for Orthomodular Lattices

This paper describes a computational approach to studying certain aspects of small finite orthomodular lattices (OML’s). The program has two main parts: one, to construct a representation of an OML L, and to perform some simple analyses on L; and two, to construct at least a portion of S 0 (L), the Foulis semigroup (or Baer *-semigroup) of the Sasaki projection functions on L. The representation is constructed from an input which represents the Greechie diagram of L. Such a diagram depicts an orthoposet as a collection of maximal Boolean subalgebras, and if an input does not represent a lattice, the program indicates why not. While the operations of the program are not asserted to be optimal, extensive efforts have been made to use information about the problem area to find efficient methods of performing the various tasks of the program. The methods used and some results are described, and some remarks about possible future work are also given.
PRISM – A Philosophical Foundation for Complex Situations

The uncertainty inherently associated with complexity challenges decision-making processes, indicating a need for a construct for decision making in complex situations. A review of the literature on systems, complexity, and paradigms indicates that such a construct must be internally consistent with well-defined philosophical foundations and further that systems and complexity (as used in complex situations) are not necessarily internally consistent with traditional philosophical foundations. Therefore, a decision making construct for complex situations requires research into different foundations. This research addresses these gaps, deriving axiological and methodological components based on a set of principles consistent with the ontology and epistemology of Sousa-Poza and Correa-Martinez (Pragmatic idealism as the basis for understanding complex domains: the trinity and SOSE. In: 2005 IEEE international conference on systems, man and cybernetics vol 3, pp 2744–2750, 2005). The combination of these four philosophical components – a pragmatic ontology, rational epistemology, idealist axiology and situational methodology – is asserted to establish a foundational perspective for complexity and systems.
The Muscarinic Modulation of Acetylcholine Release from the Rat: Neostriatum Changes with Senescence

Alzheimer’s Disease, an age-related neurological disorder, is associated with a loss of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain (Whitehouse et al., 1982; Coyle et al., 1983). Treatment strategies for the disease have been aimed to improve cholinergic function in the central nervous system. The general target for improving cholinergic function has been the muscarinic receptor, and attempts have been made to increase the action of acetylcholine (ACh) at these receptors with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, muscarinic agonists, or the ACh precursor, choline. These attempts to increase cholinergic function by increasing the activity of ACh at muscarinic receptors, however, have been met with variable success (Molloy and Cape, 1989).
A Statistical Model of Expansive Growth in Plant and Fungal Cells: The Case of Phycomyces

Abstract Expansive growth is a process by which walled cells of plants, algae, and fungi use turgor pressure to mediate irreversible wall deformation and regulate their shape and volume. The molecular structure of the primary cell wall must therefore perform multiple functions simultaneously, including providing structural support by combining elastic and irreversible deformation and facilitating the deposition of new material during growth. This is accomplished by a network of microfibrils and tethers composed of complex polysaccharides and proteins that can dynamically mediate the network topology via periodic detachment and reattachment events. Lockhart and Ortega have provided crucial macroscopic understanding of the expansive growth process through global biophysical models, but these models lack the connection to molecular processes that trigger network rearrangements in the wall. Interestingly, the helical growth of the fungal sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus is attributed to a limited region (called the growth zone) where microfibrils are deposited, followed by reorientation and slip. Based on past evidence of dominant shear strain between microfibrils (slippage), we propose a mechanistic model of a network of sliding fibrils connected by tethers. A statistical approach is introduced to describe the population behavior of tethers that have elastic properties and the ability to break and reform in time. These properties are responsible for global cell wall mechanics such as creep and stress relaxation. Model predictions are compared with experiments from literature on stress relaxation and turgor pressure step up for the growing cells of P. blakesleeanus, which are later extended to incised pea (Pisum sativus L.) and the algae Chara corallina using the unique dimensionless number Πpe for each species. To our knowledge, this research is the first attempt to use a statistical approach to model the cell wall during expansive growth, and we believe it provides critical insights on cell wall dynamics at a molecular level.
Complex relationships between perfluorooctanoate, body mass index, insulin resistance and serum lipids in young girls.

Abstract Background Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) has been used extensively in the manufacture of both commercial and household products. PFOA serum concentrations have been associated with adverse health effects, including lower body mass in children and infants. Objective To determine if there is an association between serum PFOA concentration and body mass, serum insulin and lipid profile in exposed young girls. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of PFAS environmental biomarkers and insulin resistance in 6 to 8 year-old girls from Greater Cincinnati (n=353). In 2004–2006, blood samples were obtained to measure polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), fasting insulin, glucose and lipids. Clinical exams included anthropometric measurements and pubertal maturation staging. Linear regression and mediation analyses, specifically structural equation modeling (SEM), were used to determine the strength and direction of the relationships between PFAS, pubertal maturation status, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol and insulin resistance. Results The median PFOA (7.7ng/ml) was twice the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2006). Only PFOA, a PFAS sub-species, showed statistically significant relationships with the outcomes. In regression models, PFOA was associated with decreased BMI and waist-to-height ratio (p=0.0008; p=0.0343), HDL-cholesterol (p=0.0046) and had a borderline inverse association with the HOMA Index of insulin resistance (p=0.0864). In SEM, PFOA retained an inverse relationship with BMI (p Conclusions These findings suggest PFOA exposure in young girls affects both BMI and ultimately insulin resistance. In mediation analysis with puberty in the model, the direct effects of PFOA on insulin resistance and were reduced.
Cultivating, Cleansing, and Performing the American Germ Invasion: The Anatomy of a Chinese Korean War Propaganda Campaign:

Amid a lull in the Korean conflict of early 1952, Chinese officials launched a sensationalized propaganda campaign against purported American germ attacks in Korea and China. To boost enthusiasm fo...
Investigating Community Gaps in Breastfeeding Support

Introduction. Memphis, Tennessee, has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the country. Breastfeeding continuation depends on early identification of problems, especially at the AAP recommended 3-5 day visit. Preliminary data indicate a gap in care at the 3-5 day visit, with many newborns from underserved populations having their first visit after 2 weeks of life. By this time, even if breastfeeding was initiated, many mothers have already switched their infants to formula feedings. Study Objective. To understand breastfeeding-related practices and identify barriers to the 3-5 day visit among medical …
Radiation Therapy for Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Radiotherapy has been historically considered ineffective in the management of ACC, despite the fact that the modality provides good palliation in unresectable tumors. Further, new research has shown that radiotherapy may also be effective in an adjuvant setting, though it remains underutilized in this regard.
Multi-region saliency-aware learning for cross-domain placenta image segmentation

Abstract We propose a multi-region saliency-aware learning (MSL) method for cross-domain placenta image segmentation. Unlike most existing image-level transfer learning methods that fail to preserve the semantics of paired regions, our MSL incorporates the attention mechanism and a saliency constraint into the adversarial translation process, which can realize multi-region mappings in the semantic level. Specifically, the built-in attention module serves to detect the most discriminative semantic regions that the generator should focus on. Then we use the attention consistency as another guidance for retaining semantics after translation. Furthermore, we exploit the specially designed saliency-consistent constraint to enforce the semantic consistency by requiring the saliency regions unchanged. We conduct experiments using two real-world placenta datasets we have collected. We examine the efficacy of this approach in (1) segmentation and (2) prediction of the placental diagnoses of fetal and maternal inflammatory response (FIR, MIR). Experimental results show the superiority of the proposed approach over the state of the art.
The rings and small moons of Uranus and Neptune

All four giant planets are encircled by distinctive systems of rings and small, inner satellites. These all reside within or near their central planet's Roche limit, the rough boundary within which bodies held together by self-gravity will be disrupted by tidal forces. However, the similarities of the four ring-moon systems end here; in most other regards, they are remarkably diverse. We study these systems for three key reasons: (1) for the information they reveal about the properties, history and ongoing evolution of the planetary systems of which they are a part; (2) as dynamical analogues for other astrophysical systems such as protoplanetary disks; and (3) for the wealth of fascinating properties and origin scenarios that make them worthy of study in their own right. The inner Uranus system is characterized by 10 narrow rings, some quite dense, as well as a variety of more tenuous structures. These are accompanied by 13 known moons all orbiting interior to Miranda. Nine of these, Bianca through Perdita, comprise the most densely packed set of moons in the solar system, with orbits so close that their interactions appear to drive chaos over time scales approximately 106 years. Neptune has five named rings, all optically thin, interleaved with seven inner moons. The most notable feature is a set of arcs embedded within the Adams ring; two of these arcs have been stable for time scales of decades. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Future exploration of ice giant systems'.
Radial Scars and Complex Sclerosing Lesions of the Breast: Prevalence of Malignancy and Natural History Under Active Surveillance

When needle core biopsies (NCBs) of the breast reveal radial scar or complex sclerosing lesions (RSLs), excision is often recommended despite a low risk of malignancy in the modern era. The optimal management of NCBs revealing RSLs is controversial, and understanding of the natural history of unresected RSLs is limited. We retrospectively analyzed pathology and imaging data from 148 patients with NCB revealing RSL without atypia from 2015 to 2019 to determine the prevalence of malignancy and the behavior of RSLs undergoing active surveillance (AS). The mean age of patients was 52 years, and most lesions were screen-detected (91%). The median lesion size was 6.0 mm (range 2–39). Most patients (66%, n = 98) underwent immediate surgery, while 34% (n = 50) of patients underwent AS, with a median follow-up of 16 months (range 6–51). Of the excised RSLs, 99% (n = 97) were benign and 1% (n = 1) revealed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In 17% (n = 17) of cases, additional high-risk lesions were discovered upon excision. Among the 50 patients undergoing AS, no lesions progressed on interval imaging. In this cohort, 99% of RSLs undergoing excision were benign, 1% revealed DCIS, and there were no invasive cancers. In the first study of patients with RSLs undergoing AS, we found that all lesions either remained stable or resolved. We propose that the vast majority of patients with RSL on NCB can be safely offered AS, and that routine excision is a low-value intervention.
The Bentley Global Experience Initiative: An Application of Assessment Data towards Pedagogical Development.

Since 2009, Bentley University has engaged in assessment of intercultural effectiveness in undergraduate students. The instrument used was the Intercultural Effectiveness Scale, which measures six dimensions using a self-report instrument. The longitudinal data analysis showing results in correlation and causation indicated that while international education experiences have a significant positive effective on Global Mindset, they do not indicate a positive significant effect on other dimensions of intercultural effectiveness (Berdrow, Woolford, Skaletsky, Bird; 2020). In 2018, Bentley University engaged in a curriculum design process to re-envision its undergraduate core curriculum. Taking the opportunity to apply lessons from the assessment of intercultural effectiveness, a component of the new design was the Global Experience. This paper briefly outlines the assessment initiative and the curriculum design outline, with an emphasis on the creation of the Bentley Global Experience Initiative, a comprehensive program supporting faculty and students.
Comments Regarding “Volumetric, UV–Vis and FT IR Studies of Isoniazid in Diethylsulfoxide Solutions”

A polemic is given concerning the volumetric properties and comparisons presented in the published paper by Markarian and coworkers.
Decreased enrollment of patients with advanced lobular breast cancer compared to ductal breast cancer in interventional clinical trials.

1092Background: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria are often used to measure tumor response in cancer trials, especially in the stage IV setting. However, RECIST require...
Neuropsychologically Driven Evidence-Based Interventions in School Psychology

A neuropsychological interpretive schema is advantageous in its ability to provide a framework for understanding the potential role of internal information processing capacities in causing learning problems. Neuropsychology provides a roadmap for understanding potential cognitive causes of behavior and is an imperative step for understanding learning problems in children. The current chapter explores how neuropsychology can be applied in education settings. Neuropsychology has had a significant influence on disability evaluations of children in special education. Despite its direct relevance for understanding children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuropsychological research and training have been highly under-represented in the field of school psychology. There are several barriers to its inclusion in the field including a lack of training, personnel, and theoretical biases. Furthermore, a lack of simplified models of brain functioning that provide clear guidance for evaluations, specifically intended for educational purposes, is a major obstacle for the growth of neuropsychology in the school setting. Additionally, school psychologists frequently criticize the interpretive component of neuropsychology since it appears to involve a high degree of inference on the part of the assessor in order to provide a conclusive diagnosis. The current chapter addresses these issues by (1) providing outlines and examples for those wishing to implement neuropsychology in educational assessments, (2) introducing a new method for interpreting psychoeducational assessments that is more explicit and objective than clinical judgment in isolation, and (3) providing direct guidance for possible intervention approaches.
Modern technologies in the future of the seafarers

Благосъстоянието на моряците се превръща във важен въпрос, на който трябва да обърне внимание цялата корабоплавателна индустрия. С ограничените комуникации, напрежението и работата дълго време в затворено пространство, човешкото поведение и взаимоотношенията се променят. Условията на живот на екипажа често остават пренебрегнати. Човешкият фактор е най-важният компонент, осигуряващ морската безопасност. Компаниите са длъжни да осигуряват добри условия на труд и да предлагат ясни правила, които изграждат добри трудови взаимоотношения между екипажа и корабо-собственика. През следващите пет години, комуникационните възможности на борда на корабите се очаква да бъдат подобни на тези предлагани от всяка мобилна мрежа и оператор.
Yield of a second right colon examination during colonoscopy after a first examination using a mucosal exposure device.

Background and Aims Double right colon examination during colonoscopy has been advocated to reduce the risk of interval cancer in the right colon. Whether 2 examinations are necessary when the first examination is performed with a mucosal exposure device is uncertain. We documented the rates of missed adenomas, sessile serrated lesions, and hyperplastic polyps after an initial right colon examination by a high-level detector using a mucosal exposure device. Methods At a single tertiary hospital outpatient practice, we prospectively collected data on the yield of a second examination of the right colon after an initial examination by a single high-detecting colonoscopist using a mucosal exposure device. Results During the study period, 1331 eligible consecutive patients underwent colonoscopy. Right colon adenoma, sessile serrated lesion, and hyperplastic polyp miss rates were 15.8%, 14.1%, and 16.7%, respectively. Four percent of patients had adenomas detected in the right colon only with a second examination. Conclusions A second examination of the right colon is warranted, even when using a distal mucosal exposure device to perform colonoscopy.
Gender Differences in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Utilization for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation is a guideline-recommended indication for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in high-risk patients. ICD implantation is lower in women than in men, a difference that has persisted over the last two decades. The goal of this review is to explore potential factors in under- utilization of ICDs in women and to provide information on gender differences in mortality benefit of ICDs. Epidemiological evidence shows that women with cardiovascular disease tend to present at an older age, have more non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, and develop fewer ventricular arrhythmias than men. Significant gender differences in participants of ICD clinical trials challenge the applicability of mortality benefit of ICDs in women. Studies of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices have shown improved survival in women over men, a fact that is not reflected in the number of CRTs implanted in women. A gender gap in the implantation of ICDs for primary prevention of SCD continues to exist. Understanding of differences in epidemiology and physiology between women and men is an important step in providing appropriate device therapy to patients at risk of SCD.