cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the analytical solutions for water waves generated by a prescribed landslide

This paper presents a suite of analytical solutions, for both the free-surface elevation and the flow velocity, for landslide-generated water waves. The one-dimensional (horizontal, 1DH) analytical solutions for water waves generated by a solid landslide moving at a constant speed in constant water depth were obtained for the linear and weakly dispersive wave model as well as the linear and fully dispersive wave model. The area enclosed by the landslide was shown to have stronger lasting effects on the generated water waves than the exact landslide shape. In addition, the resonance solution based on the fully dispersive wave model was examined, and the growth rate was derived. For the 1DH linear shallow water equations (LSWEs) on a constant slope, a closed-form analytical solution, which could serve as a useful benchmark for numerical models, was found for a special landslide forcing function. For the two-dimensional (horizontal, 2DH) LSWEs on a plane beach, we rederived the solutions using the quiescent water initial conditions. The difference between the initial conditions used in the new solutions and those used in previous studies was found to have a permanent effect on the generated waves. We further noted that convergence rate of the 2DH LSWE analytical solutions varies greatly, and advised that case-by-case convergence tests be conducted whenever the modal analytical solutions are numerically evaluated using a finite number of modes.
Direct displacement design of tall cross laminated timber platform buildings with inter-story isolation

Abstract Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is a relatively new engineered wood material viable for the tall building construction. Currently, existing multi-story CLT buildings are mostly built in regions with low seismicity. Due to the lightweight nature of the wood material, CLT buildings have a relatively lower seismic force demand and great potential to achieve resilient performance in earthquakes. This study explores the potential use of an inter-story isolation system to achieve seismically resilient performance in platform tall CLT buildings. A generalized Displacement-based Direct Design (DDD) procedure was modified to identify key design parameters of the inter-story isolation system so that the building can achieve pre-selected displacement targets. The proposed design procedure was applied to a 12-story CLT building design example using Los Angeles, CA seismic hazard parameters. The as-designed building performance was validated numerically through nonlinear time history simulations.
Who Is an Appropriate Candidate for Long-Term MCS?: The Art of Patient Selection

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic and complex disease that has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. An estimated 6.5 million Americans have HF, and it is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with 50% mortality within 5 years of diagnosis [1]. Approximately less than 10% of this population will progress to advanced HF. These patients experience poor quality of life, frequent hospitalizations, and a 1-year mortality of 25–50% [2, 3]. Advanced HF is characterized by severe symptoms of heart failure with dyspnea and/or fatigue at rest or with minimal exertion, episodes of fluid retention, objective evidence of severe cardiac dysfunction, severe impairment of functional capacity, history of ≥1 HF hospitalization in the past 6 months, and the presence of all the previous features despite attempts to optimize therapy (Table 2.1) [4].
Maternal Residential Proximity to Major Roadways and Pediatric Embryonal Tumors in Offspring

The environmental determinants of pediatric embryonal tumors remain unclear. Because of the growing concern over the impact of exposures to traffic-related air pollution on pediatric cancer, we conducted a population-based study evaluating the impact of maternal residential proximity to major roadways on the risk of pediatric embryonal tumors in offspring. We identified children diagnosed with neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, retinoblastoma, or hepatoblastoma at <5 years of age from the Texas Cancer Registry and selected unaffected controls from birth certificates. Two residential proximity measures were used: (1) distance to the nearest major roadway, and (2) within 500 m of a major roadway. Logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each proximity measure on pediatric embryonal tumors. The odds of an embryonal tumor were increased in children born to mothers living within 500 m of a major roadway (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.54). This was consistent for most tumor subtypes, with the strongest associations observed for unilateral retinoblastoma (aOR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.28, 5.15, for every kilometer closer the mother lived to the nearest major roadway). These findings contribute to the growing evidence that traffic-related air pollution may increase risk for certain pediatric tumors.
A field observation of rotational feeding by Neogobius melanostomus

Neogobius melanostomus, the round goby, was recorded by underwater video feeding on crushed dreissenid mussels at a depth of 12 m in Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, a Laurentian Great Lake. In the video, gobies used rotational or twist feeding to tear away particles from crushed mussels. At least 43 examples of this feeding maneuver occur in the video. Up to 120 gobies m-2 were visible at a time in the video. Mean standard length of gobies appearing in the video was 37 mm. Mean standard length of fish exhibiting twist feeding was larger, 48 mm. Mean size of intact mussels in visible clusters was about 10×20 mm, a size which exceeds the gape width of the largest gobies observed in the video. Neogobius melanostomus is known to use twisting to wrest small attached mussels from the substrates which can be crushed by their pharyngeal teeth. I surmise that the behavior observed in the video is an opportunistic manifestation of this inherent behavioral adaptation to overcome gap limitation and exploit a temporary windfall of food.
Investigation of Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer Formation and Electrochemical Reversibility of Magnetite, Fe3O4, Electrodes: A Combined X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study

Magnetite (Fe3O4) is a promising electrode material for the next generation of Li-ion batteries with multiple electron transfers per metal center and a theoretical capacity of 924 mA h/g. However, multiple phase conversions during (de)lithiation of Fe3O4 and formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) contribute to capacity fade. In this study, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to determine the surface chemistry, redox chemistry, and the impact on the electrochemical reversibility in the presence and absence of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) solvent. With FEC, improved capacity retention and enhanced reversibility are observed. In contrast, electrodes cycled with no FEC exhibit decreased reversibility where the active material remains as reduced Fe0. XPS results reveal LiF and lower quantities of oxygen-containing species, especially carbonates at the electrode surface tested in FEC. The improvement in electrochemical reversibility with FEC is attribu...
Exocrine Pancreatic Function of Rats Consuming a High-Fructose, Low-Copper Diet

This study was designed to examine changes in exocrine pancreatic function in male rats consuming a diet containing either 62% starch or fructose with either 6.0 ppm or 0.6 ppm copper for 39 days. Copper deficiency significantly lowered pancreatic weight, copper concentration, and amylase and lipase specific activities in the pancreas and in washings from the small intestine. Significantly lower values were observed in copper deficient rats consuming fructose when compared to those consuming starch. In addition, chymotrypsin and trypsin specific activities in the pancreas and trypsin specific activity in the small intestine were lower in copper deficient rats consuming fructose when compared to all other dietary groups. Low dietary copper in combination with the consumption of high dietary fructose lead to an interaction which severely affected exocrine pancreatic function in ways which cannot be explained either by copper deficiency or dietary fructose consumption alone.
Darstellungsformen und Alternativsätze für lineare Optimierungsprobleme

Lineare Optimierungsaufgaben beziehen ihren Zulassigkeitsbereich aus linearen Ungleichungssystemen. Insofern sind verschiedene Typen anzutreffen, die sich aber imWesentlichen gleichen. Ein Optimierungsproblemkann auf sehr verschiedene Arten beschrieben werden.Um solche verschiedenen Beschreibungen handhaben zu konnen, befassen wir uns jetzt mit Transformationen zwischen Darstellungsformen.
High-throughput screening-driven lead discovery: meeting the challenges of finding new therapeutics.

Abstract The pharmaceutical industry faces a number of challenges that have cumulatively led to a decline in productivity, despite increasing levels of investment in research and development. It is in this context that some researchers and business analysts are questioning the value of the high-throughput screening (HTS) paradigm for the discovery of new therapeutics. While this criticism may be premature, significant changes are occurring in HTS-driven lead discovery to address the failure of drug candidates in the clinic. This article highlights some of these changes and their potential impact.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection with Marrow Suppression Simulating Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Two cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, with hemograms and marrow aspirates simulating acute promyelocytic leukemia, are presented. The absence of either Auer rods or abnormal granulation, as well as the clinical history of infection, are important clues to the benign nature of the process. Experimental and clinical evidence to support the role of Pseudomonas endotoxin in myeloid suppression and maturation arrest is reviewed.
Advanced Molecular Diagnosis of Fungal Infections

The incidences of various invasive mycoses have grown due to increased numbers of patients at risk for these infections. Many of these are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the increased recognition of their clinical importance, accurate diagnosis of these infections and identification of the causative species remains challenging due to various factors. Unfortunately, delays in the diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Several new assays have been developed for the detection and identification of fungi, including various molecular-based platforms. Many of these newer assays can be performed either on samples taken from positive blood culture bottles or on direct specimens, therefore eliminating the need for fungal cultures, which are often negative in patients with invasive fungal infections. Although several of the tests cleared for clinical use primarily focus on the detection of common fungal pathogens, such as Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus species, pan-fungal assays have also been developed. Despite these advances, several challenges remain, including the need for standardization of various methods and specimen types and determining the best use of these assays in clinical practice.
Leadership as a Division Chief of Nephrology

The position of chief of a division of nephrology in an academic medical center is a hands-on job, offering the opportunity to influence the future of the field through the creation of unique clinical, research, and education programs. Today, most academic centers face significant financial challenges, thus the division chief must develop a variety of skills to accomplish his or her goals. Interactions and relationships with the leadership of the academic center, including the hospital executives, can facilitate or impede progress on proposed projects; therefore, aligning the goals of the division with the goals of leadership is an imperative. Engagement, assessment, mentorship, and sponsorship of the faculty members are essential tasks because any project will require faculty input and buy in. A division chief's networks outside of the home academic medical center are critical for successful recruitment of new faculty, establishment of beneficial relationships with research funding agencies, and development of cooperative programs with industries such as dialysis corporations. Effective communication skills and honest self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses with the wisdom to seek expertise when needed are keys to success. The position of division chief is arguably the most rewarding position for an academic nephrologist.
Consistency Theory for the General Nonparametric Classification Method.

Parametric likelihood estimation is the prevailing method for fitting cognitive diagnosis models—also called diagnostic classification models (DCMs). Nonparametric concepts and methods that do not rely on a parametric statistical model have been proposed for cognitive diagnosis. These methods are particularly useful when sample sizes are small. The general nonparametric classification (GNPC) method for assigning examinees to proficiency classes can accommodate assessment data conforming to any diagnostic classification model that describes the probability of a correct item response as an increasing function of the number of required attributes mastered by an examinee (known as the “monotonicity assumption”). Hence, the GNPC method can be used with any model that can be represented as a general DCM. However, the statistical properties of the estimator of examinees’ proficiency class are currently unknown. In this article, the consistency theory of the GNPC proficiency-class estimator is developed and its statistical consistency is proven.
A Disguised Wishart Variable and a Related Theorem

Abstract : In considering the construction of a tolerance region of beta-expectation from the Bayesian point of view, the authors were confronted with finding the distribution of the (kxk) matrix of random variables R = P'VP, where PP' = (Sigma sup -1), and where the (kxk) matrix (Sigma sup -1) has the Wishart distribution, matrix ((n-1)V) sup-1, and degrees of freedom (n-1), with V a symmetric kxk positive definite matrix of constants. In the paper, the authors find this distribution for the case where P is a lower triangular matrix with positive diagonal elements. (Author)
110 CHART ABSTRACTION BY RESIDENTS VERSUS TRAINED ABSTRACTORS.

Background Chart audit is one method for evaluating resident performance, but audit using trained abstractors is limited by cost and feasibility. Purpose Our objective was to compare agreement in performance of preventive services as measured by trained abstractors versus residents9 self-abstraction of charts in a pediatrics continuity clinic. Methods Patients who presented to continuity clinic for a well-child visit were identified from check-in sheets. Charts were audited by blinded, trained abstractors to assess resident performance on specific preventive services performance measures: assessment of eye alignment, car seat advice, smoke exposure screening, smoking cessation advice for parents, and immunization status. Residents (n = 37) abstracted their charts (mean charts per resident = 8 [SD 1.9]) after being instructed on the data abstraction form. We assessed performance (percentage of appropriate patients receiving services) as measured by residents and abstractors. Results Resident-measured performance was similar (within 5%) to that of the chart abstractor for four of the six measures. Measures that did not have prompts in the chart (eye alignment and smoking cessation advice) had the lowest agreement and highest disagreement in overall performance. Conclusions Performance as measured by self-abstraction can be accomplished by residents if charts are designed for clear documentation. Resident-measured performance was lower than that measured by trained abstractor for eye alignment and smoking cessation advice.
The impact of the Affordable Care Act on provision of endodontic services within a dental school setting in Oregon.

OBJECTIVES In January 2014 implementation of the Medicaid expansion of the Affordable Care Act (EACA) in Oregon increased the number of children and adults qualifying for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Simultaneously, dental care benefits for adult Medicaid members were restored in Oregon after a period of noncoverage. This study evaluated the impact of these changes on the receipt of endodontic services in the Graduate Endodontic Clinic (GEC) at Oregon Health & Science University. METHODS A retrospective electronic health records (EHRs) database review was conducted from July 2010 through June 2017, a seven-year period covering 3.5 years before (pre-EACA) and 3.5 years after (post-EACA) implementation of EACA. The number of completed anterior, premolar and molar non-surgical root canal therapies (NS-RCT) was retrieved from de-identified EHRs by targeting dental codes. Pre- and post-EACA frequencies were compared and analyzed by patient age [<21 years (children) versus adults], payer mix [OHP versus non-Medicaid (self-pay and private insurance)], and tooth type (anterior, premolar and molar) using Chi-square tests (P < 0.05). RESULTS The number of procedures provided for patients covered by OHP post-EACA compared to pre-EACA was increased by 363 percent. There was an 18 percent decline in NS-RCT provided for non-OHP patients (P < 0.0001). Post-EACA increases in frequency applied to anterior, premolar, and molar NS-RCT (P < 0.0001), with the greatest increase in frequency post-EACA occurring for premolar NS-RCT procedures (666 percent). CONCLUSIONS By eliminating barriers to care greater numbers of vulnerable people in Oregon sought and received endodontic services at the GEC.
Addressing Provider Shortages in Rural America: The Role of State Opt-Out Policy Adoptions in Promoting Hospital Anesthesia Provision.

Background Shortages of anesthesia providers in rural areas have long resulted in access limitations in many US states. This situation prompted federal legislation designed to promote increased usage of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in hospitals. Starting in 2001, state governors were afforded the option to adopt "opt-out" provisions, giving facilities in their states flexibility in utilizing CRNAs; specifically, adopting the opt-out policy removes physician oversight requirements for Medicare billing purposes. Methods We used mixed effects generalized linear models to identify predictors of CRNA service provision in hospitals from 2011-2015. Results We found that being located in an opt-out state does not result in increased odds of CRNA service provision in US hospitals. Higher levels of deprivation in counties, being located in rural geographic areas, and being a teaching hospital all influenced CRNA service provision. Conclusions Given that we found no evidence that being in an opt-out state increases the odds of using CRNAs in hospitals, we contribute to the growing literature suggesting that states adopting the opt-out policy have not realized increased health care access or reduced health care costs. As a result of other contextual restrictions on hospitals' decision-making, simply adopting the opt-out policy has not been enough to address anesthesia provider shortages.
Correction: Evaluating the extent of reusability of CYP2C19 genotype data among patients genotyped for antiplatelet therapy selection.

Genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy is increasingly being incorporated into clinical care. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which patients initially genotyped for CYP2C19 to guide antiplatelet therapy were prescribed additional medications affected by CYP2C19. We assembled a cohort of patients from eight sites performingCYP2C19 genotyping to inform antiplatelet therapy. Medication orders were evaluated from time of genotyping through one year. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients prescribed two or more CYP2C19 substrates. Secondary endpoints were the proportion of patients with a drug–genotype interaction and time to receiving a CYP2C19 substrate. Nine thousand one hundred ninety-one genotyped patients (17% nonwhite) with a mean age of 68 ± 3 years were evaluated; 4701 (51%) of patients received two or more CYP2C19 substrates and 3835 (42%) of patients had a drug–genotype interaction. The average time between genotyping and CYP2C19 substrate other than antiplatelet therapy was 25 ± 10 days. More than half of patients genotyped in the setting of CYP2C19-guided antiplatelet therapy received another medication impacted by CYP2C19 in the following year. Given that genotype is stable for a patient’s lifetime, this finding has implications for cost effectiveness, patient care, and treatment outcomes beyond the indication for which it was originally performed.
Observation of ion-induced ripples in Cu(001)

A linear instability theory proposed by Bradley and Harper accounts for many of the features of ripple formation on amorphous and semiconductor surfaces, but it is not consistent with measurements of sputtered metal surfaces. In the present work, we report observations of sputter ripples on Cu(001) surfaces which are similar to amorphous and semiconductor systems. By using higher ion flux and temperature than previously used, we have produced ripples in which the wavelength is independent of time and the amplitude increases exponentially during the early stages of growth. The ripple evolution was measured using in situ light scattering during sputtering.
Context Matters: Differential Effects of Discrimination by Environmental Context on Depressive Symptoms Among College Students of Color

Experiences with more subtle racism – which have been called microaggressions – have a host of negative effects on health, mental health, educational performance, and general well-being on people of color. In this study we draw on a longitudinal dataset of Black, Latinx, and Asian students in higher education and use the microaggression framework to distinguish between the types of reported subtle experiences with discrimination, including (1) classroom-based, or perceived discrimination or discomfort in the classroom; (2) microassaults, or verbal assaults; (3) discomfort, or perceived discomfort on campus because of race, (4) criminality, which refers to both being stopped by University police and (5) refusal to acknowledge intra-racial differences, which here describes experiences with intraracial microaggressions. Our findings explore (1) the differential effects of different types of microaggressions on symptoms of depression (2) intergroup differences in effects of microaggressions on depression and (3) the differential effects of different types of microaggressions over time.
In Praise of JESTPE Associate Editors—Part III

A Defining component that has made the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (JESTPE) a predominant publication in the field of power electronics is our past and current associate editors. Although our associate editors are largely unknown and unheard until a paper they recommend for publication appears in print, their work is of extreme importance in producing the IEEE JESTPE for readers. The tasks of an associate editor include reading the submissions, finding competent reviewers, reading the comments from the reviewers, and making recommendations to the assigned editors, all of which are accomplished in a timely manner. In some cases, associate editors expend lots of time contacting busy reviewers to submit their comments, making recommendations, and addressing rejected paper complaints from the authors.
Convolutional Autoencoder-Based Transfer Learning for Multi-Task Image Inferences

Pattern-recognition algorithms from the domain of machine learning play a prominent role in embedded sensing systems in order to derive inferences from sensor data. Very often, such systems face severe energy constraints, especially when dealing with high-dimensional data, such as images. The focus of this study is on reducing computational energy by exploiting the concept of transfer learning and energy-efficient dataflow accelerators. We show that the use of convolutional autoencoders can enable various levels of reduction in computational energy and avoid a significant reduction in inference performance when multiple task categories are targeted for obtaining an inference. We validate our approach through a multi-task case study. The study targets a set of pictures with each picture containing four different task categories: gender, smile, glasses, and pose. In order to minimize inference time and computational energy, a convolutional autoencoder is used for learning a generalized representation of the images. Three scenarios are analyzed: transferring layers using convolutional autoencoders, transferring layers using convolutional neural networks trained on different tasks, and no layer transfer. We show that when the convolutional layers with one FC layer are transferred using convolutional autoencoders, we can achieve a reduction of 6.58x in computational energy.
Characterization of the Viscoelastic Response of Closed-Cell Foam Materials

Foam-like materials are ubiquitously employed in impact protection applications due to their relatively low density and high dissipation capacity under increased strain-rate loading. In our previous work, we have investigated the coupling between the volumetric and distortional responses of open-cell elastomeric foams under the application of large deformations and under quasi-static rates and proposed a hyperelastic model for the equilibrium response. Here, we present data collected from a set of experiments under quasi-static and moderate strain rates for a closed-cell elastomeric foam, which allows the model to be extended to higher loading rates. Two different load frames were constructed to test materials under different loading rates. One is applicable for strain rates between 10−4 and 10−1 1/s and the other to achieve maximum strain rates up to 102 1/s. The data is used to develop a finite viscoelasticity model for closed-cell elastomeric foams.
Pluriversal planning scholarship: Embracing multiplicity and situated knowledges in community-based approaches:

In recent years, emerging work from the “southern” and “south/eastern” contexts has widened the theoretical discussion and the geographical focus of the contemporary planning debate. Inspired by Ar...
Gender, Education and Marital Status as Determinants of Job Satisfaction

The issue of job satisfaction has been discussed by the researchers and managers of organizations for several decades. There are many different approaches to the issue. Currently, it is possible to find the research dealing with psychological aspects determining the level of job satisfaction, the research analysing the role of satisfaction and work motivation and the research focused on the consequences of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. This paper describes how the job satisfaction of employees differs (if so) depending on their gender, level of education and marital status. It was found that people with university education rate their job satisfaction better, than people without university education. Similarly, people in a relationship evaluate their job satisfaction better than people without a relationship. No significant differences in general job satisfaction were found between men and women. The data for the research are based on a questionnaire survey, attended by 4,728 respondents from the Czech Republic working in various industries and in the enterprises of various sizes.
Genomic signatures of inbreeding and mutation load in a threatened rattlesnake.

Theory predicts that threatened species living in small populations will experience high levels of inbreeding that will increase their genetic load, but recent work suggests that the impact of load may be minimized by purging resulting from long-term population bottlenecks. Empirical studies that examine this idea using genome-wide estimates of inbreeding and genetic load in threatened species are limited. Here we use individual genome resequencing data to compare levels of inbreeding, levels of genetic load (estimated as mutation load) and population history in threatened Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus), which exist in small isolated populations, and closely related yet outbred Western massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus tergeminus). In terms of inbreeding, S. catenatus genomes had a greater number of runs of homozygosity of varying sizes, indicating sustained inbreeding through repeated bottlenecks when compared to S. tergeminus. At the species level, outbred S. tergeminus had higher genome-wide levels of mutation load in the form of greater numbers of derived deleterious mutations compared to S. catenatus, presumably due to long-term purging of deleterious mutations in S. catenatus. In contrast, mutations that escaped species-level drift effects within S. catenatus populations were in general more frequent and more often found in homozygous genotypes than in S. tergeminus, suggesting a reduced efficiency of purifying selection in smaller S. catenatus populations for most mutations. Our results support an emerging idea that the historical demography of a threatened species has a significant impact on the type of genetic load present, which impacts implementation of conservation actions such as genetic rescue.
A Brave New Medicare

Next month the Affordable Care Act turns five, and by all accounts the influence of this historic legislation will forever change the landscape of health care in the United States, regardless of its ultimate fate. As each passing year introduces thousands of new regulatory pages to an already expansive body of federal and state law, praise for what has come to be known as health care reform is only rivaled by the relentless partisan calls for its repeal. Recognition of the Affordable Care Act’s more laudable accomplishments should not be overlooked, especially the elimination of preexisting conditions, an overall reduction in the number of uninsured, and, according to some experts, findings that point to an actual slowing in health care spending at a national level. On the other hand, we as a nation must also be mindful of any collateral damage caused by reform, especially when considering that the immediate statistical data used to document the success of reform tends to present itself easily, while the longer-term, potentially less favorable information upon which the Affordable Care Act can also be judged may take decades to unfold.
Flight Mechanics Feasibility Assessment for Co-Delivery of Direct-Entry Probe and Aerocapture Orbiter

The co-delivery of a direct-entry probe and an aerocapture orbiter from a single atmospheric entry state is a novel way to include ride-along probes or orbiters on interplanetary missions. This is ...
Parathyroid Carcinoma: An Update on Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Factors from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB)

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare disease. Conflicting results on prognostic factors and extent of surgical resection for patients with parathyroid carcinoma have been made based on small sample sizes. A large, robust dataset is needed to help address some of the controversies. A retrospective review of patients with parathyroid carcinoma in the National Cancer Data Base from 1985 to 2006 was performed. Characteristics of the cohort and type of treatment were evaluated. Prognostic factors were assessed with Cox proportional hazards regression models and 5- and 10-year OS rates were determined. There were 733 evaluable patients with a mean age of 56.1 ± 15.3 years (median 57, range 15–89) and mean tumor size of 29.6 ± 18.4 mm (median 25.0 mm, range 10.0–150.0). Tumor size, age at diagnosis, male sex, positive nodal status, and complete tumor resection had hazard ratios for death of 1.02 (1.01–1.02, p < 0.0001), 1.06 (1.05–1.07, p < 0.0001), 1.67 (1.24–2.25, p = 0.0008), 1.25 (0.57–2.76, p = 0.6), and 0.42 (0.22–0.81, p = 0.01), respectively, on multivariable analysis. Patients who had removal of the parathyroid tumor with concomitant resection of adjacent organs had HR for death of 0.70 (0.35–1.41, p = 0.3). The 5- and 10-year OS rates were 82.3 and 66 % respectively. Patient age, tumor size, and sex have modest effects on survival in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. A staging system with prognostic value for parathyroid carcinoma should include at least these pertinent prognostic factors.
Natural history of hydatidiform mole after primary evacuation

From 1962 to 1978, 738 patients with hydatidiform mole were referred to the John I. Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center of Northwestern University for follow-up and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) testing after evacuation. There was spontaneous regression of trophoblastic disease in 596 (80.8%) of the 738 patients. Of these 596 patients, regression occurred in 11 (1.8%) by day 10 after evacuation, in 124 (20.8%) between days 11 and 30, in 255 (42.8%) between days 31 and 60, and in 206 (34.6%) between days 61 and 170. Treatment with chemotherapeutic agents was required in 142 (19.2%) of the 738 patients; 125 (16.9%) of these had invasive mole (107 nonmetastatic and 18 metastatic) and 17 (2.3%) had choriocarcinoma (13 nonmetastatic and four metastatic). All 596 patients whose hCG titers declined spontaneously to normal levels have remained well and free of disease. All 142 treated patients experienced permanent remission. Thus, all 738 patients are well and free of disease 4 to 18 years after evacuation of the hydatidiform mole. The follow-up regimen described in this report furnishes information on natural history of molar pregnancies after evacuation and provides an excellent means by which all patients can be safely managed following termination of a hydatidiform mole.
The role of cognitive agent models in a multi-agent framework for human-humanoid interaction

Partnership between a human and robot could be enhanced if the robot were intelligent enough to understand human intention and adapt its behavior. In this paper, we will describe a multi-agent framework for robot control and human-robot interaction. Cognitive agent models called the Self Agent and the Human Agent are being developed to achieve this goal.
Medicare physician-payment reform and the resource-based relative value scale: a re-creation of efficient market prices?

Criticism of the original customary, prevailing, and reasonable (CPR) fee system for determining Medicare payments for physician services has led Congress to adopt a resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) method for the determination of physician fees.' This new system is being phased in during the early 1990's. Medicare accounts for 18 percent of payments to physicians in the United States.2 Medicare fee schedules constitute an important form of government regulation, and the ramifications of RBRVS merit attention. The new RBRVS system has its own shortcomings. The focus of this paper is the reliance of RBRVS on the survey responses of physicians to the question of how much "work" a particular procedure entails. Under RBRVS, the fee for a particular service i (Pi) will be set at (1) Pj=KxTW
Miami Dade College and the Engaging Power of the Arts

In this essay, the president of Miami Dade College describes the anchoring role that the institution plays in the Miami metropolitan region, with a particular emphasis on the many arts and cultural contributions. These efforts, combined with the economic and workforce development endeavors, make Miami Dade College a model anchor institution.
Abstract B8: FOXD3 enhances expression of ERBB3 and promotes resistance to vemurafenib

Melanoma cells driven by mutant B-RAF are sensitive to vemurafenib (PLX4032), which selectively inhibits BRAF/MEK/ERK1/2 signaling. Despite initial tumor shrinkage, most responders in the trials experienced tumor relapse over time. Furthermore, approximately 5–15% of patients show tumor progression. These findings indicate that resistance mechanisms will hamper the clinical efficacy of vemurafenib. We have previously shown that a stemness factor, FOXD3, is upregulated following inhibition of B-RAF-MEK signaling in mutant B-RAF melanoma cells. Here, we show that siRNA-mediated knockdown of FOXD3 significantly enhanced the cell death response after PLX4032 treatment in mutant B-RAF melanoma cell lines. Additionally, ectopic expression of FOXD3 in nonadherent cells significantly reduced cell death in response to PLX4720 treatment. Genome wide analyses revealed that FOXD3 significantly increased expression of ERBB3 through direct binding to a known enhancer region of the ERBB3 gene. Knockdown of endogenous FOXD3 reduced ERBB3 upregulation after treatment with PLX4032. Furthermore, activation of ERBB3 in the presence of ligand was enhanced by B-RAF inhibition in an ERBB2-dependent manner. Treatment with the EGFR/ERBB2 inhibitor, lapatinib, in combination with PLX4032/4720 significantly reduced viability in both in vitro and in vivo assays. These data indicate that upregulation of FOXD3 is an adaptive response to B-RAF inhibitors that enhances ERBB3 signaling and promotes a state of drug resistance.
Classical Theory of Magnetic Monopoles

A classical system of $n$ electric and ${n}^{*}$ magnetic point charges is considered. The field equations (Maxwell-Lorentz equations, suitably generalized) and the particle equations are obtained by postulating duality invariance and coherence with the theory of only electric point charges. The particle equations together with the solutions of the field equations yield the (generalized) Lorentz-Dirac equations including radiation reaction. The question is then raised whether this system of equations can be derived from an action principle, as is the case for only electric or only magnetic charges. It is shown that the particle equations can be derived only from a nonlocal action integral. If an electric and a magnetic point charge are allowed to meet (crossing of world lines), they must do so with equal velocity (in magnitude and direction) at the instant of crossing. An action integral from which the field equations can be derived is not difficult to obtain, but it is proven that no action integral exists from which both the particle equations and the field equations can be derived. Nevertheless, there exist a local symmetric energy tensor and a corresponding angular momentum tensor which yield ten conservation laws when the field and particle equations hold.
Digital simulation of combine reel and forward speed controllers

Abstract A mathematical model of a rotary combine's dynamic characteristics was developed and converted into ACSL and CSMP-III digital time domain simulation programs. It includes processing and header losses, sensors, and forward speed and reel speed controllers. The combine's loss performance in the simulations was highly dependent upon controller and combine parameters and the variations in the encountered crop. Forward speed controllers are beneficial for responding to gradual yield changes but may actually increase processing losses for more rapid changes. Reel speed control has a similar response. Due to the inevitable interaction between the control systems, rapid changes of forward speed in response to yield changes may cause increased header losses due to improper reel indices which may reduce or eliminate the value of forward speed control. The simulations imply that there would be benefits in communication between the controllers.
Education In Optics - Challenges At Hand

The theme of my comments is given in the title "Education in Optics - Challenges at Hand". The challenge that we all face is that of defining our field and designing the program content for each educational level. Simply put it is: What do we teach, to whom, for what purpose and to fill what need? I contend that we have incomplete information about all these items.
Density of photon paths in turbid medium for short times of flight

The major obstacle to employing laser-based methods for imaging disease inside the body is the turbidity of biological tissue [1].
Performance analysis of single stage kanban controlled production systems using parametric decomposition

We present a new approach that permits efficient performance analysis of kanban systems with general demand processes, material arrival processes, and service times. The approach is based on parametric characterization of the traffic processes (arrival and departure) in the network and uses two-moment approximations to estimate performance measures at individual stations. We derive traffic flow constraints that are particular to closed queuing networks with synchronization stations and use these to establish relationships between the parameters characterizing arrival and departure processes at the stations in the network. The resultant set of non-linear equations is solved to estimate network performance measures. Numerical studies show that the approach is not only fast but also reasonably accurate when compared to simulation. These studies also provide insights with respect to the impact of different types of variability on the performance of a kanban system. This work also provides a fundamental building block that can be used in the analysis of multi-stage kanban systems.
Residence time and conversion in the extrusion of chemically reactive materials

Extrusion is one of the most versatile and energy-efficient processes for the manufacture of polymer products, including food, pharmaceuticals and plastics. Many functions including mixing, cooking and chemical reaction can be performed in an extruder. Here, twin-screw extruders offer improved control of the residence time distribution (RTD) and mixing in materials such as plastics, rubber and food. Based on the flow and the heat transfer characteristics obtained for a self-wiping, co-rotating twin-screw extruder, the residence time and chemical reaction are studied by tracking the particles. For normally starve-fed twin-screw extruders, the length of the completely filled section is calculated as function of the process variables using the coupling of the flow with the die. With a model of the solid conveying section, the RTD for the whole extruder is calculated for corn meal at different screw speeds and flow rates. The calculated variation of RTD with the screw speed and the flow rate yields good agreement with observations from many experiments. The variation of the fully filled section length, chemical conversion and mixing effectiveness are also obtained under different operation conditions. Most of the results are in qualitative agreement with experimental results and may be used as guidelines for extrudermore » design and determination of optimal operating condition.« less
The ENSO-Related West Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Gradient

AbstractEl Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events are accompanied by an anomalous zonal sea surface temperature (SST) gradient over the west Pacific Ocean, defined here as the west Pacific SST gradient (WPG). The WPG is defined as the standardized difference between area-averaged SST over the central Pacific Ocean (Nino-4 region) and west Pacific Ocean (0°–10°N, 130°–150°E). While the direction of the WPG follows ENSO cycles, the magnitude of the gradient varies considerably between individual El Nino and La Nina events. In this study, El Nino and La Nina events are grouped according to the magnitude of the WPG, and tropical SST, circulations, and precipitation are examined for the period 1948–2011. Until the 1980s the WPG showed little trend as the west and central Pacific warmed at similar rates; however, the west Pacific has recently warmed faster than the central Pacific, which has resulted in an increased WPG during La Nina events.The temporal evolution and distribution of tropical Pacific SST as we...
Measures of status integration in theory of suicide

Measures of status integration in 30 American states in 1950 were associated most strongly with longitude, divorce rates, and the size of the urban population.
Electrochemical-Thermal Modeling of Li-Ion Battery Packs

Lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications are subject to aging with usage and environmental conditions, leading to the reduction of the performance, reliability and life span of the battery pack. To this extent, the ability of simulating the dynamic behavior of a battery pack using high-fidelity electrochemical and thermal models could provide very useful information for the design of Battery Management Systems (BMS). For instance such models could be used to predict the impact of cell-to-cell variations in the electrical and thermal properties on the overall performance of the pack, as well as on the propagation of degradation from one cell to another.This paper presents a method for fast simulation of an integrated electrochemical-thermal battery pack model based on first-principles. First, a coupled electrochemical and thermal model is developed for a single cell, based upon the data of a composite LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 – LiMn2O4 (LMO-NMC) Li-ion battery, and validated on experimental data. Then, the cell model is extended to a reconfigurable and parametric model of a complete battery pack. The proposed modeling approach is completely general and applicable to characterize any pack topology, varying electrical connections and thermal boundary conditions. Finally, simulation results are shown to illustrate the effects of parameter variability on the pack performance.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and low back pain: underlying methodological issues.

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the current epidemiological evidence linking psychosocial work characteristics with low back pain. Background. Psychosocial work characteristics have been widely evaluated as potential risk factors for low back injury. However, studies with different study populations and using various types of measures have had conflicting results. Methods. This review is the most extensive to date, reviewing 66 articles that have provided empirical evidence about the relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and initial reporting of lower back pain. The studies are reviewed with an emphasis on certain methodological issues: controlling for potential confounding; timing of the data collection; and measurement of the exposures and outcomes. Results. The results of this review suggest that controlling for potential confounding from occupational biomechanical demands had a large influence on the associations found between psychosocial work characteristics and lower back pain. In addition, the use of accurate and reliable measures for the occupational exposures (biomechanical and psychosocial) and the lower back pain outcomes appears to influence the strength of the associations found between psychosocial work characteristics and lower back pain. Conclusion. Given the methodological concerns discussed in this review, it is difficult to draw strong causal inferences from this literature. However, it does appear that psychosocial characteristics are related to some lower back pain outcomes, and that employees’ reactions to psychosocial work characteristics (e.g., job dissatisfaction and job stress) are more consistently related to lower back pain than are the psychosocial work characteristics themselves (e.g., work overload, lack of influence over work, quality of relationships with coworkers). Relevance This review attempts to identify and address methodological issues in the literature evaluating the relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and lower back pain. Implications for future research are presented.