cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cancer Care Continuum Research and Educational Innovation: Are Academic Internists Keeping up with Population Trends?

Academic internists play a unique role in conducting innovative research, developing educational curricula, and influencing policy. As the population of patients living with and beyond cancer is expected to reach 22 million by 2030, it is essential for academic internists to lead innovative research in clinical care and medical education across the cancer care continuum. We characterized cancer-related topics presented at the 2015–2019 annual meetings of the Society of General Internal Medicine, a national organization of over 3,000 academic general internists. We analyzed all scientific (n = 3,437), Innovation in Medical Education (n = 756), and Innovation in Clinical Practice (n = 664) abstracts for content across the cancer continuum: prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and palliative/end-of-life care (P/EOL). Of 3,437 scientific abstracts, 304 (8.8%) related to cancer. Prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and P/EOL were addressed in 52 (17.1%), 145 (47.7%), 18 (5.9%), 57 (18.8%), 12 (4.0%), and 29 (9.5%) of scientific abstracts, respectively. Some addressed multiple phases, and 6 were classified as “other.” Breast (mean = 18.2, SD = 4.66), colorectal (mean = 12.8, SD = 3.11), and lung (mean = 8.2, SD = 2.29) cancers were most presented in scientific abstracts per year. Five (0.66%) of the 756 Innovation in Medical Education abstracts and 41 (6.2%) of the 665 Innovation in Clinical Practice abstracts addressed cancer. Similarly, they primarily focused on screening and prevention. To lead innovation in clinical care, education, and policy across the cancer continuum and prepare the future workforce, academic internists should expand their focus to later phases, particularly survivorship and P/EOL.
Machine learning of Truck Traffic Classification groups from Weigh-in-Motion data

Abstract The pavement Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) design requires high-dimensional traffic feature inputs by categories, including Vehicle Class Distributions (VCD), Monthly Distribution Factors (MDF), Hourly Distribution Factors (HDF), and Normalized Axles Load Spectra (NALS). In simplifying the Pavement ME design practice, Truck Traffic Classification (TTC) groups are commonly used for characterizing traffic inputs. Thus, properly defining TTC groups is critical for state-specific pavement ME design practice. In this study, the truck traffic data from existing Weight-in-Motion (WIM) stations were mined to develop specific TTC groups to assist with pavement ME design practice in Georgia. An effective data analytics procedure was developed by leveraging unsupervised machine learning techniques to reduce the high-dimensional traffic features by stratified Principal Component Analysis (PCA), followed by K-means clustering to establish appropriate TTC groups. For a case study, the performance of two typical designs was evaluated using the AASHTOWare pavement mechanistic-empirical (ME) design software with respect to two scenarios of traffic inputs: (1) the derived cluster-based groups, and (2) the national default TTC groups. The results indicated that direct application of the national default TTC groups resulted in over-design of pavement structure in Georgia. Therefore, it is highly recommended that customized TTC groups should be developed using state-specific WIM data.
Information Storage and Retrieval Systems

Does the field of information storage and retrieval as presently constituted qualify as a science? If not, can it ever become a science? These two questions continue to be topics of discussion for professionals associated with the field. While it is not difficult to reach an affirmative answer to the initial question, the process of arriving at such an answer is instructive because it provides a useful perspective for a review of progress in information storage and retrieval (ISR).
Nonlinear Multiple Regression Models

In this chapter, nonlinear transformations are introduced that expand multiple linear regression options to include situations in which marginal responses are either increasing or decreasing, rather than constant. We will explore Tukey’s Ladder of Powers to identify particular ways to rescale variables to produce valid models with superior fit. An example will be offered in the context of naive models built for forecasting, and in Chap. 14, a second example with cross sectional data expands on nonlinear model building and sensitivity analysis.
Discussion of JLR Critical Issues in Literacy

At first glance, one might view these three papers, which are aimed at identifying critical issues in literacy in the United States, as being quite similar in their intent. All three point to the need for policymakers to consider equity-related issues, societal changes, and education's desire for an increased presence in the policy arena. However, on closer reading, the authors' intentions take on different or added meanings as a consequence of the perspectives they use to frame their papers. Not surprisingly, yet another layer of meaning becomes available once the assumptions that appear to inform those perspectives are brought to light. As the discussant for the three papers, I see my task as exploring the issues that the authors put forward, including what I perceive to be some of the underlying assumptions that frame their different perspectives. From this exploration will come several questions that I would like the invited policymakers to consider as they join in the dialogue on critical issues in literacy in an upcoming issue of the Journal.
Unifying data-directed and goal-directed control: an example and experiments

Effective control in a multi-level cooperating knowledge source problem solver (such as Hearsay-II) requires the system to reason about the relationships among competing and cooperating knowledge source (KS) instantiations (both past and potential) that are working on different aspects and levels of the problem. Such reasoning is needed to assess the current state of problem solving and to develop plans for using the system's limited processing resources to the best advantage. The relationships among KS instantations can be naturally represented when KS activity is viewed simultaneously from a data-directed and a goal-directed perspective. In this paper we show how data- and goal-directed control can be integrated into a single, uniform framework, and we present an example and experimental results of sophisticated focusing using this framework.
Proposal: interactive media for research in uncertainty

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a proposal for use of interactive media for research in uncertainty. Emerging forms of electronic media distributed through the Internet and the World Wide Web have the potential to transform the way research and development is conducted. The proposal makes some suggestions for the development of an Internet resource for the uncertainty community in particular and more generally for computational probability, and decision theory. Several computer science research communities maintain bibliographies, and verified BIBTEX entries updated and distributed on a regularly basis. Other communities are building up Postscript libraries of theses, papers, and manuscripts, and WWW sites for conference abstracts, and programs. This is successful because it is coupled with the Connectionist News Group moderated out of CMU, acting as a bulletin board and discussion group for new entries. A considerably richer working environment can be developed with point-and-click WWW interfaces, which combines features such as browsing of distributed Postscript libraries.
"With Friends Like These ...": Toward a More Efficacious Response to Affinity-Based Securities and Investment Fraud

This article highlights the increase in affinity fraud - securities and investment fraud targeting members of a particular racial or ethnic group perpetrated either by a member of that group or someone claiming to advance the groups' interests. Affinity fraud differs from other forms of securities fraud because perpetrators establish their credibility and the credibility of their investment schemes by appealing to the trust that group members share, often promising that some of the invested funds will be used to assist the group's church or ethnic community. This reliance on group trust and sense of community persuades otherwise cautious people to participate in these fraudulent investment schemes. These schemes fleece people out of millions of dollars and have drawn the concern of state regulators around the country, causing such regulators to rank it among the top five most problematic securities schemes. This Article argues that the fact that these securities schemes prey on people's charitable impulses and sense of group trust justifies enhancing the punishment of those who commit affinity fraud.
Molecular approaches to identify and differentiate Bacillus anthracis from phenotypically similar Bacillus species isolates.

Background Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus can usually be distinguished by standard microbiological methods (e.g., motility, hemolysis, penicillin susceptibility and susceptibility to gamma phage) and PCR. However, we have identified 23 Bacillus spp. isolates that gave discrepant results when assayed by standard microbiological methods and PCR. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), multiple-locus sequence typing (MLST), and phenotypic analysis to characterize these isolates, determine if they cluster phylogenetically and establish whether standard microbiological identification or PCR were associated with false positive/negative results.
Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: pitfalls and perils of sonographic assessment

Objectives Duplex sonography has been proposed as a diagnostic modality for detection of chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency, a recently proposed hypothesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. We reviewed potential challenges of duplex sonography for diagnosis of chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency and used interim pooled data from a study aimed to apply cerebrovascular venous insufficiency criteria to a group of patients with MS and control patients without MS. Methods Duplex sonography for chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency was performed in patients with MS and controls. Extracranial and deep cerebral veins were studied by using a published chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency protocol and criteria. Comparative imaging was performed to explore how physiologic factors and imaging techniques could affect key parameters. The effects of varying definitions on fulfilling chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency diagnostic criteria were also explored. Results Forty-two patients were enrolled. Twenty-five (60%) had a reduction in internal jugular vein cross-sectional area by 50% or more, cross-sectional area of 0.3 cm(2) or less, and/or a B-mode abnormality. No patients had reflux longer than 0.88 seconds in both sitting and supine positions, the presence of duplex sonographic reflux on transcranial Doppler imaging, or a larger internal jugular vein cross-sectional area in the sitting versus supine position. Fourteen patients (33.3%) had either a flap or septum, and 1 had a web. Collateral veins to the vertebral veins were identified in 14 of 42 patients (33.3%). The use of transcranial Doppler imaging versus quality Doppler profiles resulted in fewer patients meeting criteria for chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency. Conclusions There are several important variables, including physiologic, technical, and criterion definitions, in the application of sonographic assessment of chronic cerebrovascular venous insufficiency that may affect diagnostic accuracy.
The Prognostic Value of Early Repolarization with ST‐Segment Elevation by Age and Gender in the Hispanic Population

Background Early repolarization (ER), once thought to be a benign finding on electrocardiograph (ECG), has recently been associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. As there are limited data in the Hispanic population, we investigated possible associations between automated ECG ER readings and overall mortality, using the classic definition involving J-point elevation with ST segment elevation. Methods An ECG and electronic medical record (EMR) database from a regional medical center was interrogated. Inclusion criteria included Hispanic ethnicity and age over 18 from 2000 to 2011. A Cox model assessed the outcome of death. Varying morphological characteristics of ER were analyzed for high-risk features. Results There were n = 33,944 Hispanics of who n = 532 (1.6%) had ER with a mean follow-up period of 5.29 years. After adjustment for demographic, clinical, lifestyle, and laboratory variables, ER was not significantly related to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90–1.54, P = 0.23). However, mortality risk of ER varied by gender and age (P interaction = 0.007). The risk of ER for mortality was highest for females (HR: 2.01, CI: 1.39–3.10, P = 0.001), with the highest overall risk for women over the age of 75 (HR: 2.09, CI: 1.12–3.92, P = 0.021) compared to women under age 75 (HR: 1.72, CI: 0.95–3.11, P = 0.075). Conclusions ER is not associated with an increased risk of death in the overall Hispanic population. However, our analysis suggests a higher risk of overall mortality in the elderly Hispanic female population with ER.
Assessing the Nation's Progress Toward Elimination of Disparities in Health Care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality submitted the first annual National Healthcare Disparities Report to Congress in December, 2003. This first report will provide a snapshot of the state of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in access and quality of care in America. It examines disparities in the general population and within the Agency’s priority populations. While focused on extant data, the first report will form the foundation for future versions, which examines causes of disparities and shape solutions to the problem. As patient advocates and agents of change, primary care physicians play a critical role in efforts to eliminate disparities in health care. Continuing participation by primary care physicians in the development and refinement of the National Healthcare Disparities Report is essential.
Small-Sample Properties of Nonlinear Least Squares and Maximum Likelihood Estimators in the Context of Autocorrelated Errors

Abstract Rao and Griliches (1969) compared several methods of parameter estimation in models having autocorrelated errors. They concluded that nonlinear least squares estimators were not superior to two-stage linear estimators. This study partially replicates the Rao and Griliches Monte Carlo simulation and, in addition, examines the maximum likelihood estimator as a possible competitor. The simulation results are not consistent with those of Rao and Griliches; the small-sample efficiency of nonlinear and maximum likelihood estimators appears to be consistently high and thus reverses some of Rao and Griliches's conclusions.
Infant gaze aversion and heart rate during face-to-face interactions

Infant gaze aversion and heart rate were measured during the interactions of 4-month-old infants and their mothers. The mother's activity level was varied by instructing her to interact naturally (moderate activity), to remain still-faced (low activity) or to keep her infant's attention (high activity). The interactions were then analyzed for amount of maternal activity, infant gaze aversion and for tonic heart rate during each of the interactions, and the temporal relationship between isolated episodes of gaze aversion and corresponding heart rate was assessed during the “natural” interactions. Infant gaze aversion was greater and tonic heart rate was elevated during the low and high activity interactions. Heart rate accelerations occurred prior to the onset of gaze aversion and heart rate decelerations occurred during the gaze aversion periods.
Characterizing communication networks in a web-based classroom: Cognitive styles and linguistic behavior of self-organizing groups in online discussions

In this study, we explore the cognitive style profiles and linguistic patterns of self-organizing groups within a web-based graduate education course to determine how cognitive preferences and individual behaviors influence the patterns of information exchange and the formation of communication hierarchies in an online classroom. Network analysis was performed on communication data collected from 1131 student messages posted in 19 asynchronous online discussion forums to determine centrality, clique membership, and core-periphery structure in the communication networks. The social network data were examined in relation to the students' cognitive style profiles, which were assessed using the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI) (Kirton, 1976, 2011). The cognitive style composition of small cliques (dyadic and triadic) was found to be highly heterogeneous, often with large cognitive gaps between clique members, which suggests that web-based environments may mask cognitive style differences that have been shown to create conflict in face-to-face interactions. In addition, the cognitive style mean of the students in the core of the network was found to be significantly more adaptive than that of the periphery group. To further characterize the nature of the communicative interactions, automated linguistic analysis was used to analyze the students' writing samples. Interestingly, students in the core of the social network demonstrated a significantly higher usage of several language features associated with individuals who actively promote enhanced group performance and cohesion. For our sample, the linguistic behaviors of students in the core of the social network, coupled with their more adaptive cognitive style preferences, suggest that these students may inherently place greater value on fostering group cohesion than those in the periphery.
A comparison of regularizations for an ill-posed problem

We consider numerical methods for a quasi-boundary value regularization of the backward parabolic problem given by {u t +Au=0, 0<t<T {u(T)= f, where A is positive self-adjoint and unbounded. The regularization, due to Clark and Oppenheimer, perturbs the final value u(T) by adding αu(0), where α is a small parameter. We show how this leads very naturally to a reformulation of the problem as a second-kind Fredholm integral equation, which can be very easily approximated using methods previously developed by Ames and Epperson. Error estimates and examples are provided. We also compare the regularization used here with that from Ames and Epperson.
Influence of upper air conditions on the Patagonia icefields

Abstract Upper-air conditions archived in the NCEP-NCAR Reanalysis have been used to investigate changes in precipitation and snowfall over the Patagonia icefields during 1960–99. Apparently, whereas total precipitation has not changed, warming has caused a decrease in the amount falling as snow. Precipitation at a site is taken to be proportional to the product of the relative humidity and the component of the wind in a particular critical direction, both at 850 hPa (∼ 1400 m) at a point over the ocean to the west of the icefields; whether it falls as rain or snow is assumed to depend on whether the temperature at the elevation of the site is above or below + 2 °C. The critical direction is assumed to be 270°, which is perpendicular to the north–south trending Andes and is also the prevailing wind direction in this zone of strong westerlies. Because of the scarcity of precipitation records on or near the icefields, the constant of proportionality cannot be determined, so the investigation is limited to examining relative changes in those upper air variables. Warming at 850 hPa has been ∼ 0.5 °C over the 40 years, both winter and summer, with the effects that it has: (1) shifted from snow to rain ∼ 5% of the precipitation, the total of which has changed little, and (2) increased annual melt in the ablation areas by ∼ 0.5 m w.e. The icefields have been losing mass since at least 1870, so this 40-year trend represents only an acceleration of the longer-term trend of adjusting to climate change since the Little Ice Age.
The Case of the Etymologies in Plato's Cratylus

The Cratylus contains Plato's most extensive study of the relation of language to reality and to the pursuit of wisdom. Yet the dialogue has remained relatively neglected in efforts to understand Plato's deepest metaphysical and epistemological commitments. The blame for such neglect lies largely in the dialogue's extensive, difficult, even mysterious etymological section. Recent attempts to make sense of the bulk of the Cratylus are shedding much welcome light on the important roles that the etymological analyses play in the dialogue and in Plato's philosophy more generally. The article outlines three strategies of interpretation before concluding with the author's own proposal.
Factor Structure and Construct Validity of the Interaction with Disabled Persons Scale

The current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Interaction with Disabled Persons Scale (IDP). An exploratory factor analysis (N=358) found three factors underlying attitudes toward individuals with disabilities as measured by the IDP. These factors were labeled social discomfort, empathy, and fear of having the disability. The estimates of reliability were acceptable for the three factors. The putative factor struoture was recovered in a confirmatory factor analysis conducted on a second, independent sample (N=272). The three factors were related in appropriate directions with other measures of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities, self-esteem, amount of prior contact, experience with, and the closeness of relationships with individuals with disabilities.
Bioeemediation of petroleum‐contaminated clayey soil with pretreatment

Abstract Petroleum‐contaminated clayey soil destined for bioremediation on site requires pretreatment to change its density and its transmissibility. A feasibility study was performed to develop the conditions for the oil and grease reduction in the contaminated soil and to evaluate the influence of sawdust, nutrients and oxygen addition on the biodegradation process. The study demonstrated depletion of oil and grease concentration below 1000 mg kg‐1 (class B level ‐ Ministry of Environment Quebec) as well as the specific retardant influence of the sawdust additive.
Dihadron azimuthal correlations at large pseudo-rapidity difference in multiplicity-selected d + Au collisions by STAR

Abstract The long-range pseudo-rapidity correlations observed in pp and p + Pb collisions at the LHC have raised extensive interest. The tantalizing observation of similar effect by PHENIX calls for careful examination of the RHIC d + Au data. In this talk, we present dihadron correlations in multiplicity-selected d + Au collisions by STAR, in both Δϕ and Δη and from both TPC and FTPC.
Assessment of Crohn’s Disease Lesions in Wireless Capsule Endoscopy Images

Capsule endoscopy (CE) provides noninvasive access to a large part of the small bowel that is otherwise inaccessible without invasive and traumatic treatment. However, it also produces large amounts of data (approximately 50 000 images) that must be then manually reviewed by a clinician. Such large datasets provide an opportunity for application of image analysis and supervised learning methods. Automated analysis of CE images has only focused on detection, and often only for bleeding. Compared to these detection approaches, we explored assessment of discrete disease for lesions created by mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD). Our work is the first study to systematically explore supervised classification for CD lesions, a classifier cascade to classify discrete lesions, as well as quantitative assessment of lesion severity. We used a well-developed database of 47 studies for evaluation of these methods. The developed methods show high agreement with ground truth severity ratings manually assigned by an expert, and good precision (>;90% for lesion detection) and recall (>;90%) for lesions of varying severity.
Spatio-temporal measures of cortical functioning in normal and abnormal vision☆

Abstract Computer-generated displays of scalp-monitored spatiotemporal potential field patterns evoked by visual stimulation are used to demonstrate that dysfunctions in the visual system can be detected. Such dysfunctions may go unnoticed unless adequate spatial sampling is performed. Various display techniques are presented and discussed. These displays and similar techniques have application in the investigation of numerous and diverse electrophysiological phenomena.
Comparing the circumstances of Lithuanian independence, 1918–1922 and 1988–1992

(1994). Comparing the circumstances of Lithuanian independence, 1918–1922 and 1988–1992. Journal of Baltic Studies: Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 123-130.
Predicting prokaryotic ecological niches using genome sequence analysis.

Automated DNA sequencing technology is so rapid that analysis has become the rate-limiting step. Hundreds of prokaryotic genome sequences are publicly available, with new genomes uploaded at the rate of approximately 20 per month. As a result, this growing body of genome sequences will include microorganisms not previously identified, isolated, or observed. We hypothesize that evolutionary pressure exerted by an ecological niche selects for a similar genetic repertoire in those prokaryotes that occupy the same niche, and that this is due to both vertical and horizontal transmission. To test this, we have developed a novel method to classify prokaryotes, by calculating their Pfam protein domain distributions and clustering them with all other sequenced prokaryotic species. Clusters of organisms are visualized in two dimensions as ‘mountains’ on a topological map. When compared to a phylogenetic map constructed using 16S rRNA, this map more accurately clusters prokaryotes according to functional and environmental attributes. We demonstrate the ability of this map, which we term a “niche map”, to cluster according to ecological niche both quantitatively and qualitatively, and propose that this method be used to associate uncharacterized prokaryotes with their ecological niche as a means of predicting their functional role directly from their genome sequence.
Population genetic structure reveals terrestrial affinities for a headwater stream insect

Summary 1. The spatial distribution of stream-dwelling organisms is often considered to be limited primarily according to the hierarchical structure of the hydrologic network, and previous conceptual models of population genetic structure have reflected this generality. Headwater specialists, however, are confined to short upstream sections of the network, and therefore are unlikely to respond in the same way as species with a broader range of habitat tolerance. 2. Here, we propose a model to describe spatial patterns of genetic diversity in headwater specialists with a limited ability for among-stream dispersal. The headwater model predicts a partitioning of genetic variance according to higher-elevation ‘islands’ of terrestrial habitat that provide required headwater stream conditions. The model therefore expects a geographic pattern of genetic variance similar to that expected for low-dispersal terrestrial species occupying the adjacent habitat. 3. Using a 1032-bp mitochondrial DNA fragment encompassing parts of the COI and COII genes, we demonstrate that Madrean Sky Islands populations of the giant water bug Abedus herberti conform to the proposed headwater model. Furthermore, they exhibit phylogeographic patterns broadly concordant with those shown for several terrestrial species in the region, including a major zone of discontinuity in the Chiricahua mountain range. 4. Overall, populations are highly isolated from one another, and a nested clade analysis suggested that A. herberti population structure, similarly to terrestrial Sky Islands species studied previously, has been influenced by Pleistocene climatic cycles causing expansion and contraction of temperate woodland habitat. 5. Because they have no ability to disperse among present-day mountaintop habitat islands, A. herberti and other headwater species with limited dispersal ability are vulnerable to the projected increasing rate of climatic warming in this region.
25th Anniversary Article: The Evolution of Electronic Skin (E-Skin): A Brief History, Design Considerations, and Recent Progress

Human skin is a remarkable organ. It consists of an integrated, stretchable network of sensors that relay information about tactile and thermal stimuli to the brain, allowing us to maneuver within our environment safely and effectively. Interest in large-area networks of electronic devices inspired by human skin is motivated by the promise of creating autonomous intelligent robots and biomimetic prosthetics, among other applications. The development of electronic networks comprised of flexible, stretchable, and robust devices that are compatible with large-area implementation and integrated with multiple functionalities is a testament to the progress in developing an electronic skin (e-skin) akin to human skin. E-skins are already capable of providing augmented performance over their organic counterpart, both in superior spatial resolution and thermal sensitivity. They could be further improved through the incorporation of additional functionalities (e.g., chemical and biological sensing) and desired properties (e.g., biodegradability and self-powering). Continued rapid progress in this area is promising for the development of a fully integrated e-skin in the near future.
Childhood Living Arrangements and Adult Children’s Relations with their Parents

We examine the relationship of childhood living arrangements to adult child-parent relations. Compared with adult children raised in intact families, adult children whose parents divorced have less frequent contact with their parents and report a lower-quality relationship with their parents. We observe these negative effects for both custodial and noncustodial parents, although the effects are larger for noncustodial parents. Remarriage of the custodial parent tends to offset the negative impacts of divorce on relations with the custodial parent and to amplify the negative impacts on relations with noncustodial parents. Further, the longer the adult child lived apart from the parent, the weaker the relations with noncustodial parents.
Mechanism responsible for the hypoglycemic actions of dichloroacetate and 2-chloropropionate.

Abstract Dichloroacetate, an activator of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, is known to lower blood glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and alanine when given to diabetic and 24 h fasted rats. Under certain conditions, especially when pyruvate carboxylase is made rate limiting for want of bicarbonate, dichloroacetate effectively inhibits glucose synthesis from lactate by isolated hepatocytes. 2-Chloropropionate also activates the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, lowers blood glucose, lactate, and pyruvate in 24 h fasted rats, but stimulates gluconeogenesis from lactate or alanine by isolated hepatocytes. Dichloroacetate is catabolized to glyoxylate and thence to oxalate by liver cells, whereas 2-chloropropionate cannot be catabolized to these products. Glyoxylate and oxalate are potent inhibitors of glucose synthesis from lactate, pyruvate, and alanine, but not from dihydroxyacetone. Inhibition is much more pronounced in a bicarbonate-deficient medium, in which pyruvate carboxylase is probably rate limiting for gluconeogenesis. It seems likely, therefore, that the inhibition of lactate gluconeogenesis by dichloroacetate is actually caused by oxalate, which inhibits pyruvate carboxylation. Nevertheless, the major effect of dichloroacetate, and probably the sole effect of 2-chloropropionate, on blood glucose concentration is to limit substrate availability in the blood for hepatic gluconeogenesis. Since oxalic acid stone formation and renal dysfunction may prove to be side effects of any therapeutic application of dichloroacetate, we suggest that further studies on the treatment of hyperglycemia and lactic acidosis with pyruvate dehydrogenase activators be carried out with 2-chloropropionate rather than dichloroacetate.
Soil-structure interaction effects on the seismic response of tall chimneys

Abstract The effects of soil-structure interaction on the seismic response of tall ( >100 m ) steel and reinforced concrete chimneys are described. Detailed models of a 130m high steel chimney and a 150m high reinforced concrete chimney are used as structural models. The foundations are represented as rigid blocks resting on a uniform viscoelastic soil model. Perfect bonding between the foundation and the soil is assumed. Parametric studies of the interaction effects on the magnitude and distribution of bending moments and shear forces include four soil rigidities and two seismic excitations characterized by very different frequency contents. The results obtained indicate strong interaction effects for intermediate and soft soils ( V s ⩽500 m/sec ). The extent of the interaction effects are highly dependent on the characteristics of the seismic excitation.
Impact of daylight saving time on residential energy consumption and cost

Abstract This study is an evaluation of the effect of using or not using daylight saving time on a residential building's HVAC and lighting energy consumption. Daylight saving time is the practice of shifting clock time ahead by one hour. The well-verified and robust hour-by-hour simulation code DOE-2.1 E is used to predict a residence's annual energy consumption at 224 locations in the US. The quantities tracked are annual electrical energy use, electrical cost, natural gas quantity, natural gas cost and total energy cost. The house used in the study is an existing structure in Lawrence, KS, and its actual characteristics, operation schedules and utility bills are used in the preparation of the energy model. The results show that for this residence, which is somewhat typical of US houses, total energy consumption is just slightly increased on average when summer daylight saving time is used instead of standard time year-round. Other combinations of standard and daylight saving time are also examined.
Dissolution of barium sulfate scale deposits by chelating agents

The occurrence of barium sulfate scale (BaSO4) is a severe problem and its associated environmental concerns in oil and gas production worldwide will cause considerable production losses. Chemical dissolution will create a new direction for controlling the scale deposits by chelating agents, which form strong complexes with metal ions in solution. Chemical dissolvers based on the aminoacetate group can be considered strong chelating agents for barium ions. Diethylenetrinitrilopentaacetic acid (DTPA) and ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA) are two major chelating agents used for the dissolution experiments. The kinetic studies for the dissolution reaction of scale-forming materials will be presented. Dissolution follows the first-order kinetics for the stirred system. The activation energies obtained in the stirred system of DTPA and EDTA, 9.59 and 9.31 kcal/mol, respectively, suggested that mass transfer is not the controlling factor. In this system, the surface reaction is considered as the rate-con...
High-Power Multimode X-Band RF Pulse Compression System for Future Linear Colliders

We present a multimode $X$-band rf pulse compression system suitable for a TeV-scale electron-positron linear collider such as the Next Linear Collider (NLC). The NLC main linac operating frequency is 11.424 GHz. A single NLC rf unit is required to produce 400 ns pulses with 475 MW of peak power. Each rf unit should power approximately 5 m of accelerator structures. The rf unit design consists of two 75 MW klystrons and a dual-moded resonant-delay-line pulse compression system that produces a flat output pulse. The pulse compression system components are all overmoded, and most components are designed to operate with two modes. This approach allows high-power-handling capability while maintaining a compact, inexpensive system. We detail the design of this system and present experimental cold test results. We describe the design and performance of various components. The high-power testing of the system is verified using four 50 MW solenoid-focused klystrons run off a common 400 kV solid-state modulator. The system has produced 400 ns rf pulses of greater than 500 MW. We present the layout of our system, which includes a dual-moded transmission waveguide system and a dual-moded resonant line (SLED-II) pulse compression system. We also present data on the processing and operation of this system, which has set high-power records in coherent and phase controlled pulsed rf.
An Approximation Bound Analysis for Lasserre’s Relaxation in Multivariate Polynomial Optimization

Suppose f,g 1,⋯,g m are multivariate polynomials in $x\in\mathbb{R}^{n}$ and their degrees are at most 2d. Consider the problem: $$\mbox{Minimize}\quad f(x) \quad\mbox{subject to}\quad g_1(x) \geqslant 0, \cdots, g_m(x) \geqslant 0. $$ Let f min (resp., f max) be the minimum (resp., maximum) of f on the feasible set S, and f sos be the lower bound of f min given by Lasserre’s relaxation of order d. This paper studies its approximation bound. Under a suitable condition on g 1,⋯,g m , we prove that $$(f_{\max}-f_{\mathrm{sos}}) \leqslant Q(f_{\max}-f_{\min}) $$ with Q a constant depending only on g 1,⋯,g m but not on f. In particular, if S is the unit ball, $Q=\mathcal{O}(n^{d})$ ; if S is the hypercube, $Q=\mathcal{O}(n^{2d})$ ; if S is the boolean set, $Q=\mathcal{O}(n^{d})$ .
Characterizing matrix remodeling in collagen gels using optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has shown promise at non-destructively characterizing engineered tissues such as collagen gels. However, as the collagen gels develop, the OCT images lose contrast of structures as the gels develop, making visual assessment difficult. Our group proposed quantitatively characterizing these gels by fitting the optical properties from the OCT signals. In this paper, we imaged collagen gels seeded with smooth muscle cells (SMCs) over a 5-day period and used the data to measure their optical properties. Our results showed that over time, the reflectivity of the samples increased 10-fold, corresponding to a decrease in anisotropy factor g, without much change in the scattering coefficient μs. Overall, the optical properties appeared to be dominated by scattering from the collagen matrix, not the cells. However, SMCs remodeled the collagen matrix, and this collagen remodeling by the cells is what causes the observed changes in optical properties. Moreover, the data showed that the optical properties were sensitive to the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that break down local collagen fibrils into smaller fragments. Blocking MMPs in the SMC gels greatly impeded both the remodeling process and change in optical properties at day 5. Treating day 1 acellular gels with MMP-8 for 3 hr managed to partially reproduce the remodeling observed in SMC gels at day 5. Altogether, we conclude that matrix remodeling in general, and MMPs specifically, greatly affect the local optical properties of the sample, and OCT is a unique tool that can assess MMP activity in collagen gels both non-destructively and label free.
Stroke Risk Factors and Stroke Prevention

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of chronic disability in the United States. In the past several decades, case series, case-control studies, and prospective cohort studies have successfully identified nonmodifiable risk markers for stroke, such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, heredity and several well-established modifiable risk factors for ischemic stroke. Hypertension, atrial fibrillation, other cardiac diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, carotid stenosis, and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are all potentially treatable conditions that predispose to stroke. Research on other putative stroke risk factors-including antiphospholipid antibodies, elevated homocysteine, alcohol, inflammation, and infection-is ongoing. Controlled trials have shown that stroke risk can be reduced by blood-pressure control, lipid-lowering agents, surgery for carotid stenosis, warfarin for atrial fibrillation, and antiplatelet agents. It is hoped that an improved understanding of stroke risk factors will reduce the future burden of stroke.
Dynamical Effects on Jet Energy Loss in a QCD Medium

Abstract Computation of radiative energy loss in a finite size dynamically screened QCD medium is a key ingredient for obtaining reliable predictions for jet quenching in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. We develop a theory which allows calculating, to first order in the number of scattering centers, the energy loss of a heavy quark traveling through a finite size dynamical QCD medium. We show that the result for a dynamical medium is significantly larger compared to a medium consisting of randomly distributed static scattering centers. Therefore, a quantitative description of jet suppression at RHIC and LHC experiments must correctly account for the dynamics of the medium's constituents. Furthermore, qualitative predictions that come from this energy loss formalism are also presented.
The Continuing Struggle for Human Rights Protection

Insincere Commitments: Human Rights Treaties, Abusive States, and Citizen Activism. By Smith-Cannoy Heather. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2012. 206 pp., $29.95 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-1-589-01887-7). It has been more than 65 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. Starting with that diplomatic instrument identifying 30 norms whose implementation would arguably guarantee a life with human dignity, states have proceeded to negotiate and often ratify a large number of treaties specifying—and presumably making legally binding—the contents of global human rights law. Why then does real human dignity remain so elusive for so many around the world? The answer by Heather Smith-Cannoy of Lewis and Clark College is that too many states are insincere in their professed commitment to international human rights law. Her starting point fits with a substantial body of literature proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that most states most of the time elevate other values over protecting human rights. The real trumps in the game of international relations are not human rights but pursuit of national security and national economic advantage—or sometimes just elite convenience, power, and wealth. One might therefore be inclined to say that the plethora of rulemaking on behalf of human rights since 1948 is without merit—a matter of public posturing that does …
Abstract LB-314: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer have significant reductions in immune cells responsible for adaptive immunity

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background: Cell-mediated immunity is essential for maintaining immune surveillance against tumor progression. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, yet there is a paucity of information on peripheral blood leukocyte immunophenotypes of these patients. Therefore, we enumerated the immune cells of IBC patients with or without metastasis. Methods: This ongoing prospective study consists of 43 IBC patients, 22 with non-metastatic IBC and 21 with metastatic disease (MIBC). Peripheral blood was collected prior to starting a new therapy and analyzed to determine the immunophenotype of T cells, B cells, regulatory T (TR) cells, natural killer cells (NK), and dendritic cells (DC) by 6-color flow cytometry. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine the differences between healthy donors (HD, N=15), non-metastatic IBC and MIBC patients. Results: Among the 43 IBC patients, 22 are hormonal receptor (HR)+ with 11 HER-2+, 8 are HR- but HER2+, and 13 are triple receptor negative. Non-metastatic IBC patients have significantly lower median percentages (%) of lymphocytes (P=0.018), B cells (P=0.028), and myeloid DC (P=0.049), and higher median % TR cells (P=0.039) when compared with those of HD. In addition, non-metastatic IBC patients have significantly lower median counts of B cells (P=0.003), myeloid DC (P=0.009), and plasmacytoid DC (P=0.037) when compared with those of HD. Moreover, compared with non-metastatic IBC patients, MIBC patients were significantly older (P=0.029) and have significantly lower median % and absolute counts of lymphocyte and B cells (all P<0.02), lower median ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells (P=0.028), and lower median number of TR cells (P=0.013). Conclusion: This preliminary cross-sectional analysis suggests that non-metastatic IBC patients have significant reductions in various effector cells, in particular, B-cells and antigen-presenting DC that may lead to compromised adaptive immunity. Moreover, metastatic IBC patients are more immunocompromised than non-metastatic IBC patients. Longitudinal study is warranted to further assess the role of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of IBC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-314.
Fostering Creativity in Philosophy

The American Philosophical Association suggests that studying philosophy can have an important impact on one’s creative thinking ability. This paper abstracts from the empirical research on creativity a reasonable model of creative thinking, and discusses what the account implies about fostering creative thinking in philosophy courses. Given the empirical research on creativity and the nature of philosophy, studying philosophy can have an important impact on one’s creative thinking ability, but faculty need to focus on it in their courses.