cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The formation of coalescing peritoneal adhesions requires injury to both contacting peritoneal surfaces

Objective To determine whether surgical trauma to one or both contacting peritoneal surfaces is necessary to cause coalescing adhesions. Setting Research laboratory Design The abdominal wall peritoneum and one or both contacting medial peritoneal surfaces of surgically approximated uterine horns in mice were injured by electrocautery, cutting, scratching, or scraping. Adhesion formation was assessed visually and histologically 3 and 7days later. Results Regardless of the type of peritoneal injury, few adhesions resulted when only a single injury was made to the abdominal wall (≤6%) or to one uterine horn (≤13%). When both opposing uterine surfaces were injured, however, adhesions formed at 57% of the sites after electrocautery, 100% after cutting, 100% after scratching, but 0% after scraping. When previously created uterine adhesions were lysed, they reformed at 15 of 15 sites with and 12 of 13 (92%) sites without electrocautery for hemostasis at the time of lysis. Conclusions In this murine model, the development of postsurgical adhesions required surgical trauma to both contacting peritoneal sites, regardless of the type of injury, the mobility of the opposing peritoneal surfaces or whether hemostasis was achieved. The clinical implications are that more attention needs to be focused on protecting contacting normal peritoneal surfaces from inadvertent injury during surgery and that different therapeutic strategies may be required for prevention of adhesion formation and reformation because of the high probability of contact between injured peritoneal surfaces with the latter.
The Proximal Lilly Collection: Mapping, Exploring and Exploiting Feasible Chemical Space

Venturing into the immensity of the small molecule universe to identify novel chemical structure is a much discussed objective of many methods proposed by the chemoinformatics community. To this end, numerous approaches using techniques from the fields of computational de novo design, virtual screening and reaction informatics, among others, have been proposed. Although in principle this objective is commendable, in practice there are several obstacles to useful exploitation of the chemical space. Prime among them are the sheer number of theoretically feasible compounds and the practical concern regarding the synthesizability of the chemical structures conceived using in silico methods. We present the Proximal Lilly Collection initiative implemented at Eli Lilly and Co. with the aims to (i) define the chemical space of small, drug-like compounds that could be synthesized using in-house resources and (ii) facilitate access to compounds in this large space for the purposes of ongoing drug discovery efforts....
Dysplastic Nevus, Clark Nevus or Common Nevus?

In 1978 Clark and his colleagues put forth a hypothesis that still provokes controversy — the idea that a set of findings in nevi of members of families with a tendency to develop melanoma was a clinicopathologic entity, representing an intermediate step between the “common nevus” and melanoma. The dysplastic nevus is still a controversial entity with some specific clinical and histological characteristics, but with “fuzzy” borders. The dividing line between a “common nevus” at the lower end and melanoma in situ or superficially invasive melanoma at the upper end defies precise characterization, similar to that in other “intermediate” lesions in pathology.
INVITED REVIEW: Inhibitors of myostatin as methods of enhancing muscle growth and development

With the increasing demand for affordable, high-quality meat, livestock and poultry producers must continually find ways to maximize muscle growth in their animals without compromising palatability of the meat products. Muscle mass relies on myoblast proliferation during prenatal or prehatch stages and fiber hypertrophy through protein synthesis and nuclei donation by satellite cells after birth or hatch. Therefore, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of myogenesis and muscle development is of great interest. Myostatin is a well-known negative regulator of muscle growth and development that inhibits proliferation and differentiation in myogenic cells as well as protein synthesis in existing muscle fibers. In this review, various inhibitors of myostatin activity or signaling are examined that may be used in animal agriculture for enhancing muscle growth. Myostatin inhibitors are relevant as potential therapies for muscle-wasting diseases and muscle weakness in humans and animals. Currently, there are no commercial myostatin inhibitors for agriculture or biomedical purposes because the safest and most effective option has yet to be identified. Further investigation of myostatin inhibitors and administration strategies may revolutionize animal production and the medical field.
Oculocutaneous albinism type 1: link between mutations, tyrosinase conformational stability, and enzymatic activity

Oculocutaneous albinism type 1 (OCA1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the tyrosinase gene. Two subtypes of OCA1 have been described: severe OCA1A with complete absence of tyrosinase activity and less severe OCA1B with residual tyrosinase activity. Here, we characterize the recombinant human tyrosinase intramelanosomal domain and mutant variants, which mimic genetic changes in both subtypes of OCA1 patients. Proteins were prepared using site-directed mutagenesis, expressed in insect larvae, purified by chromatography, and characterized by enzymatic activities, tryptophan fluorescence, and Gibbs free energy changes. The OCA1A mutants showed very low protein expression and protein yield and are enzymatically inactive. Mutants mimicking OCA1B were biochemically similar to the wild type, but exhibited lower specific activities and protein stabilities. The results are consistent with clinical data, which indicates that OCA1A mutations inactivate tyrosinase and result in severe phenotype, while OCA1B mutations partially inactivate tyrosinase and result in OCA1B albinism.
Full-Scale Damage Detection of Railroad Crossties Using Digital Image Correlation

Railroads experience different track failure mechanisms, which may cause problems ranging from service interruptions to derailments. With reference to the crossties-ballast system, one of the most acknowledged high-risk scenarios is the center binding condition, a situation in which the support of the ballast under the crossties is initially concentrated at the rail-seat rather than uniformly distributed. As a result, a firm support of the ballast is only provided at the center of the crosstie, while it cantilevers over its two ends. For this reason, novel track inspection technologies for detecting crossties’ vertical deflection and displacement are continuously sought. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) Digital Image Correlation (DIC) systems have proven to be an effective technique for extracting structural deformations and geometry profiles of large-sized civil structures. In this study, the feasibility of a novel railroad tracks examination system is proposed for crossties-ballast conditions assessment. It consists of four pairs of cameras installed on the underside of a rail car to detect the induced displacements. To validate the performance of the proposed system, different center binding conditions were simulated on a full-scale railroad mock-test. Experimental results showed that the 3D-DIC system was able to measure the relative tie deflections with a resolution of approximately 10−4 m, well below the deflections that these crossties experience in operation.
Prediction of Sound Generated by Complex Flows at Low Mach Numbers

We present a computational aeroacoustics method to evaluate sound generated by low Mach number flows in complex configurations in which turbulence interacts with arbitrarily shaped solid objects. This hybrid approach is based on Lighthill’s acoustic analogy in conjunction with sound source information from an incompressible calculation. In this method, Lighthill’s equation is solved using a boundary element method that allows the effect of scattered sound from arbitrarily shaped solid objects to be incorporated. We present validation studies for sound generated by laminar and turbulent flows over a circular cylinder at Re 100 and 10,000, respectively. Our hybrid approach is validated against directly computed sound using a high-order compressible flow solver as well as the solution of the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation in conjunction with compressible sound sources. We demonstrate that the sound predicted by a second-order hybrid approach is as accurate as sound directly computed byasixth-ordercompressible flowsolverinthefrequencyrangeinwhichlow-ordernumericscanaccuratelyresolve the flow structures. As an example of an engineering problem, we calculated the sound generated by flow over an automobile side-view mirror and compared it to experimental measurements. Nomenclature CD, CL = drag and lift coefficients, respectively c = speed of sound d = dimension of the problem eij = viscous stress tensor f = frequency G = Green’s function of the Helmholtz operator k = wave number L, Lc = width of the mirror, recirculation length M, Mi = freestream Mach number, freestream vector Mach
Single-Step qPCR and dPCR Detection of Diverse CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Events in Vivo

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based technology is currently the most flexible means to create targeted mutations by recombination or indel mutations by nonhomologous end joining. During mouse transgenesis, recombinant and indel alleles are often pursued simultaneously. Multiple alleles can be formed in each animal to create significant genetic complexity that complicates the CRISPR-Cas9 approach and analysis. Currently, there are no rapid methods to measure the extent of on-site editing with broad mutation sensitivity. In this study, we demonstrate the allelic diversity arising from targeted CRISPR editing in founder mice. Using this DNA sample collection, we validated specific quantitative and digital PCR methods (qPCR and dPCR, respectively) for measuring the frequency of on-target editing in founder mice. We found that locked nucleic acid (LNA) probes combined with an internal reference probe (Drop-Off Assay) provide accurate measurements of editing rates. The Drop-Off LNA Assay also detected on-target CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in blastocysts with a sensitivity comparable to PCR-clone sequencing. Lastly, we demonstrate that the allele-specific LNA probes used in qPCR competitor assays can accurately detect recombinant mutations in founder mice. In summary, we show that LNA-based qPCR and dPCR assays provide a rapid method for quantifying the extent of on-target genome editing in vivo, testing RNA guides, and detecting recombinant mutations.
Chatter matters: How twitter can open the black box of online word-of-mouth

We collect Word-of-mouth (WOM) data on movies from Twitter and employ both a time-series model and a dynamic panel data model to study the influence of WOM on movie box office revenues. Compared with most previous literature that measures WOM through its volume or dispersion, we directly measure the number of recipients of each WOM message using the unique social structural information on Twitter. Thereby we offer a more direct study of WOM and provides a powerful evidence of the causal effect of WOM on product sale which is rarely dealt with in the literature. We also disentangle the different roles of pre-consumption WOM and post-consumption WOM for the first time in the literature and we find that the percentage of pre-consumption WOM has significant explanatory power. Although previous studies conclude that the valence of WOM does not have any explanatory power for movie box office revenue, our time-series based analysis suggests that valence of WOM does play an important role. Our conceptual model and empirical study shed lights on how WOM actually influences product sales and this paper also reveals the value of social networking sites like Twitter to both marketing researchers and practitioners.
Introduction: Nietzsche Contra Bismarck—Culture War

This chapter argues that the Untimely Meditations constitute “Nietzsche’s Culture War” because they present his alternative to the culture war [Kulturkampf] that Otto von Bismarck waged in Germany in the late nineteenth century. Nietzsche saw Bismarck’s vision for German culture as symptomatic of the broader degeneration of modern culture, and he openly avowed his intention to oppose this vision in public lectures and private letters. This chapter also argues that the Untimely Meditations present a unified and coherent philosophic narrative, and that the unity of this narrative is not apparent unless the four essays that comprise the book are read in the context of one another and placed in dialogue. This chapter concludes by tracing the compositional history of the book, and addressing why Nietzsche said it deserved the “greatest attention” for understanding his philosophic development.
A Packaging Method for Thin-Film Microelectronic Systems

This paper deals with a packaging technique for the assembly of thin-film circuitry, and is intended to show how engineering ideas can become packaged microelectronic hardware with maximum efficiency. Included in the presentation is a review of thin-film processes, discussions of the basic packaging system and logic circuitry, as well as consideration of pertinent environmental factors.
Image-Guided Neurosurgery with Intraoperative MRI

Image-guided, computer-assisted neurosurgery has emerged as an alternative to frame-based stereotaxy and conventional neurosurgery. Image-based information can improve localization and targeting of the operational field and thereby reduce invasiveness. The use of interactive image plane selection-based surgical navigators (Shelden et al. 1980; Kelly 1986; Roberts et al. 1986; Watanabe et al. 1987, 1991; Kato et al. 1991; Barnett et al. 1993a, 1993b; Tan et al. 1993; Reinhardt et al. 1993; Golfinos et al. 1995; Grimson et al. 1995), three-dimensional (3D) models (Gleason et al. 1994; Kikinis et al. 1996; Nakajima et al. 1997a, 1997b; Kettenbach et al. 1997; Aoki et al. 1992; Schwartz et al. 1992; Castillo and Wilson 1994), and surgical simulations (Hu et al. 1990; Koyama et al. 1995; Tampiere et al. 1995; Hsiang et al. 1996; Gibson et al. 1997) have resulted in substantial changes in planning and performing neurosurgical procedures.
Brain metastasis growth on preradiosurgical magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract Purpose A previous analysis showed that brain metastases that are treated with frameless stereotactic radiation surgery (SRS) and planned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) >14 days before SRS had worse local control (LC). To evaluate if worse LC may be due to unaccounted interval metastasis growth and radiosurgical marginal miss, we quantified growth before SRS on preradiosurgical imaging. Methods and materials We reviewed data from patients who were treated with fixed-frame SRS for brain metastases at our institution between 2010 and 2013 and had pretreatment diagnostic brain MRI and SRS-planning MRI scans available. Metastases were contoured on the pretreatment MRI scan and the day-of-treatment planning MRI scan for volumetric comparison. Growth rates were calculated. Serial volumetric contour expansions on the pretreatment MRI scans were used to determine the minimum margin necessary to encompass the entire metastasis on day of the SRS. LC was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Results Among 411 brain metastases in 165 patients, the time between pretreatment and treatment MRI was associated with metastasis growth (P Conclusions Time between pretreatment MRI and SRS is associated with brain metastasis growth, but LC is not compromised when patients receive fixed-frame SRS with same-day MRI planning. Margins may be needed for metastases that are treated with frameless SRS to account for growth between the planning MRI and SRS delivery. Summary In this study, we quantify brain metastasis growth over time by taking advantage of the availability of 2 pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging scans taken at 2 time points among patients treated with frame-fixed radiation surgery. We found that metastasis growth is associated with time, initial metastasis size, melanoma histology, and concurrent chemotherapy. Performing serial margin expansions demonstrated factors that are associated with the amount of margin that is needed to target the entire metastasis on the day of radiation surgery.
Biological Psychiatry and the Postmodern Self

It is sometimes forgotten that Freud was trained in medical research and worked for a time with the most celebrated neurologist of his day, Jean Martin Charcot. He might well have made a career in neurological research had not antisemitism, his meager financial circumstances, and the need to support a family forced him to abandon it. In one of his early publications, "Project for a Scientific Psychology," Freud sketched out an outline of a possible physiological approach to human psychology. He quickly abandoned the project and never returned to it. However, Freud clearly felt that someday it would be possible to understand human psychology by understanding the brain. Psychoanalysis was his less direct but given the state of knowledge in his time, more practical approach to the understanding of human psychology. Today there are those who believe that the future on which Freud speculated is very near. Contemporary neurologists, biologists, and biologically oriented psychiatrists believe that new knowledge about the brain and the body will force us to revamp our existing understanding of the mind and the self. New forms of medication have been developed that allow doctors to treat disorders of the self through psychopharmacology. Biologically oriented psychiatrists such as Peter Kramer and the staff at the Affective Disorders Clinic in McLean, Virginia, who treated Ms. Wurtzel claim to have had spectacular success treating depression and related disorders with
Vitamin/mineral Supplement Use among High School Athletes

Vitamin/mineral supplements are consumed by adolescent athletes motivated both by general health concerns and a desire for improved athletic performance. Supplement use by high school athletes was examined using a questionnaire administered to 742 athletes at all nine schools in one rural county. A total of 38% used supplements, with supplement use not differing by gender or grade in school. Athletes with aspirations to participate in college sports more often consumed supplements. Healthy growth, treating illness, and sports performance were the most important reasons for supplement use, with parents, doctors, and coaches being the greatest influences on use. Most athletes (62%), especially boys, believed supplement consumption improved athletic performance. Supplement use by these adolescents appears to be motivated more by health reasons than sports performance. It is suggested that it may be useful to assess vitamin/mineral supplement use by adolescents and to provide education and counseling about diet, nutrition, and exercise for those who use them as ergogenic aids to improve athletic performance.
Power Devaluation, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Democratic National Convention of 1924

In the early 1920s, millions of American men and women joined the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. As the movement expanded, it became heavily involved in local, state, and national politics. The Klan became the center of controversy at the Democratic National Convention of 1924. An anti-Klan faction proposed a plank to the party platform that, if accepted, would have condemned the Ku Klux Klan by name. After a raucous debate, the plank was defeated by a narrow margin. In this paper I analyze state-level variation in support for the Klan at the convention. Klan support is predicted by delegates' support for prohibition, by party competitiveness in non-Southern states, and by a three-way interaction between increasing numbers of voters, increasing numbers of manufacturing workers, and decreasing farm population within the states. The findings support predictions generated by the status politics model, political mediation theory, and the power devaluation model. I conclude the paper by discussing ways in which the central insights of the status politics model and of political mediation theory can be incorporated into the general framework of the power devaluation model.
Situational correlates of condom use in a sample of African-American drug users who are primarily crack cocaine users.

We studied the situational determinants of condom use for vaginal sex in 151 African-American crack cocaine users in Houston, Texas, using situational presentation (Sitpres) methodology, which uses hypothetical scenarios with randomly generated levels of eight variables across 10~scenarios that may impact the decision to use a condom. Multiple regression showed that variables associated with a high probability of using a condom were older age, how badly the partner wants to use a condom, and how badly the respondent wants vaginal sex. Crack craving or level of intoxication were not correlates. The Sitpres methodology was successfully used by these crack users and data indicated that it was sexual variables, rather than drug-associated variables, that were significantly associated with condom use.
Utilization of fly ash as pH adjustment for efficient immobilization and reutilization of nutrients from swine manure using hydrothermal treatment

Abstract Hydrothermal treatment has been proven an effective process for immobilization of phosphorus and other macronutrients from animal wastes. Recent research has shown biochars generated from hydrothermal treatment are relatively low in phosphorus availability to be used as a fast release fertilizer substitute. In this research, basic (>7 pH) environment was evaluated at 250–400 °C to determine its impacts on nutrient immobilization and mobility from solid products generated from swine manure. Both fly ash and 0.1 M NaOH were used to adjust hydrothermal treatment environment pH and compared with DI water. Macronutrients were found to be more efficiently immobilized in the basic environments, particularly with addition of fly ash. Further, fly ash altered crystal phases formed at the treatment temperatures resulting in differences of biochar nutrient mobility. Further, post-treatment products were evaluated for heavy metal release for potential use in agricultural applications.
Legalism and tobacco control in the EU

Tobacco control policies rely heavily on law and are steeped in litigation. Examining the creation of tobacco control laws in the European Union, this article lays out the potential costs and benefits of legalism for public health practitioners and advocates. Legalism is a form of governance that relies heavily on the authority of law to settle political disputes, with consequences for the ways in which governments make, and advocates push for, public health policies. To the extent that legalism creates procedural problems and distortions in the content of public health policy, then the content of law and its making is a public health problem. On the other hand, litigation can also be a public health tool, and an enforceable, justiciable right to health is a powerful political and legal weapon in its own right.
Inflammatory lymphadenopathies predicting renal cell carcinoma prognosis: association not so convincing yet

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common cancer originating from the kidneys and is the most lethal genitourinary cancer (1). It is the ninth most common cancer worldwide (2). Almost 65,000 cases of RCCs are diagnosed in the United States annually (3). RCC is further classified into four independent entities based on histology i.e., clear cell carcinoma, papillary and chromophobe RCC and collecting duct RCC (4,5). Tumor node metastasis (TNM) system by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) is the most commonly used cancer staging system for RCC.
Effects of surface structure and halogen substitution on electronic charge transfer in adlayers of (BETS)2-GaCl4 on silver surfaces

Abstract Results of DFT calculations are presented that focus on changes to charge transfer, energetics, and geometry in adlayers of (BETS)2-GaCl4 (an organic superconductor Bechgaard salt, ʻOSC’) as modulated by changes in surface and degree of substitution to its halogens. Specifically, results are presented for the charge transfer to/in adlayers of λ-(BETS)2-GaCl4 on the Ag(111) and Ag(100) surfaces; and on both surfaces including further the effects of multiple successive F substitutions for Cl onto the Ga center. Results show two interesting important phenomena: first, that the amount of charge transfer is indeed highly surface sensitive (by about 0.5 net electron in this case), and second, that substitution of different amounts of F atoms on the Ga center also has profound effects on the charge transfer to the Ga atom in the GaCl(4−x)Fx center, albeit in nonlinear and counterintuitive ways which essentially conserve total net charge in the overall adlayer. The results of this work, in summary, provide insight which should help understand the degree to which surface-mediated modulation of assembled adlayers of nanoelectronic materials and their electronic structure can be varied and further supplements recent work on superhalogenated OSC charge transfer materials.
Pro-con debate on regionalization of emergency general surgery: controversy or common sense?

More than three million patients every year develop emergency general surgical (EGS) conditions and this number is rising. EGS diseases range from straightforward to potentially life-threatening, and if severe or complex may require extensive resources. Given the looming surgeon shortage and concerns about access to care, regionalization of EGS care, in a manner similar to trauma care, has been proposed. We present a unique pro–con debate highlighting the salient arguments for and against regionalization of EGS care in the USA.
Model-data fusion for spatial and statistical characterization of soil parameters from geophysical measurements

Abstract A recently developed PDE-constrained stochastic inverse analysis algorithm for spatial and statistical characterization of soil parameters from geophysical measurements, considering uncertainty due to limited measurements and sensor noise, is exemplified and validated. A 60m × 60 m geotechnical site in Garner Valley, CA is used as the validation testbed. Advanced geophysical test measurements – in terms of velocity waveforms at a few locations on the surface due to surface excitations using a mobile shaker – are available for the site. The algorithm inversely analyzes the available measurements to probabilistically estimate the elastic parameters of the soil at the site up to a depth of 40 m. The algorithm relies on (1) hypothesizing the soil parameters to be heterogeneous, anisotropic random fields, (2) making prior assumptions on them, (3) numerically simulating the geophysical experiment using the finite element method in conjunction with a stochastic collocation approach, and (4) fusing simulated measurements with experimental measurements using a minimum variance framework to update the prior assumptions on the soil parameter random fields. The estimated elastic parameters of the soil are presented in terms of marginal mean and marginal standard deviation profiles of the soil's P- and S-wave velocities as well as their correlation structures in the x-, y-, and z-direction. In ascertaining the accuracy of the inverse analysis algorithm, the geophysical experiment is numerically re-simulated with the estimated P- and S-wave velocity profiles and the model predicted velocity waveforms are compared against the field observations at all the measurement locations. Comments are made at appropriate places regarding several aspects of the algorithm in highlighting the lessons learned through this validation effort towards accurate stochastic full waveform inversion of geophysical measurements.
A spatially adaptive high-order meshless method for fluid─structure interactions

Abstract We present a scheme implementing an a posteriori refinement strategy in the context of a high-order meshless method for problems involving point singularities and fluid–solid interfaces. The generalized moving least squares (GMLS) discretization used in this work has been previously demonstrated to provide high-order compatible discretization of the Stokes and Darcy problems, offering a high-fidelity simulation tool for problems with moving boundaries. The meshless nature of the discretization is particularly attractive for adaptive h -refinement, especially when resolving the near-field aspects of variables and point singularities governing lubrication effects in fluid–structure interactions. We demonstrate that the resulting spatially adaptive GMLS method is able to achieve optimal convergence in the presence of singularities for both the div-grad and Stokes problems . Further, we present a series of simulations for flows of colloid suspensions, in which the refinement strategy efficiently achieved highly accurate solutions, particularly for colloids with complex geometries .
Management of Recurrent Germ Cell Tumours: Role of High Dose Chemotherapy

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the role of high-dose chemotherapy in management of recurrent germ cell tumors. Investigations into the use of high-dose carboplatin and etoposide with autologous bone marrow support began at Indiana University in 1986. Initial investigations were in patients who were heavily pretreated and for whom no other curative therapeutic options existed. Subsequent studies have explored modification of the initial regimen in refractory patients and the efficacy of this regimen in patients in first relapse after conventional therapy. Trials of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell support have also been performed at a variety of centers around the world. The results suggested that high-dose chemotherapy can cure 15–20% of patients experiencing multiple relapses of germ cell cancer. Patients who are overtly cisplatin-refractory or patients with recurrent mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell cancer have a significantly diminished chance of permanent disease control, that is,
How Much Brandeis Do the Neo-Brandeisians Want?:

The neo-Brandeis school of antitrust has suddenly emerged as a viable challenger to the reigning consumer welfare establishment. Assuming the mantle of Brandeis gives the neo-Brandeisians a histori...
Visible and near-infrared hyperspectral indices explain more variation in lower-crown leaf nitrogen concentrations in autumn than in summer

Autumn canopy phenological transitions are increasing in length as a consequence of climate change. Here, we assess how well hyperspectral indices in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths predict nitrogen (N) concentrations in lower-canopy leaves in the autumn phenological transition as they are generally understudied in leaf trait research. Using a Bayesian framework, we tested how well published indices are able to predict N concentrations in Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., Liriodendron tulipifera L., and Betula lenta L. from mid-summer through senescence, and how related the indices are to autumn phenological change. No indices were able to determine a trend in differences in N in mid-summer leaves. Indices that included wavelengths in the green and NIR ranges were the first indices able to detect a trend and had among the highest correlations with N concentration in both the last green collection and the senescing collection. Models were unique when indices were fit to data from different phenophases. Indices that focused on only the red edge (i.e., the sharp increase in reflectance between the red and NIR wavelengths) had the strongest explanatory power across the autumn phenological transition, but had less explanatory power for individual collections. These indices, as well as those that have been correlated with chlorophyll (CCI) and carotenoids (PRI), were the strongest descriptors of autumn progression. This study provides insights on challenges and capabilities to monitor a leaf's N concentration throughout and across canopy senescence.
Statistical QoS Provisioning Over Cell-Free M-MIMO-NOMA Based 5G+ Mobile Wireless Networks in the Non-Asymptotic Regime

To upper-bound both delay and error-rate for sup-porting time-sensitive multimedia services over 5G and beyond (5G+) mobile wireless networks, researchers have developed several advanced techniques, including statistical delay-bounded quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning and finite blocklength coding (FBC). On the other hand, cell-free massive-multi-input multi-output (m-MIMO) system, where a large number of distributed access points (APs) jointly serve all users in a coordinated manner, has emerged as one of the key promising techniques to significantly improve various mobile QoS performance indices, including throughput, user-coverage probability, energy/spectrum efficiencies, etc. Inspired by the more diverse distances between mobile users and APs in cell-free m-MIMO systems compared with traditional centralized m-MIMO systems, integrating non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) with cell-free m-MIMO can significantly enhance spectral efficiency for massive connections of mobile devices. But, due to the complexity of analyzing the networking dynamics in the finite blocklength regime, how to efficiently characterize the queuing process for cell-free m-MIMO-NOMA schemes using FBC based statistical delay/error-rate bounded QoS theory is still an open problem. To solve the above challenges, we propose FBC based cell-free m-MIMO-NOMA schemes over 5G+ mobile wireless networks under statistical delay/error-rate bounded QoS constraints. In particular, we establish cell-free m-MIMO-NOMA system models over Rician wireless fading channels. Considering statistical delay/error-rate bounded QoS constraints, we derive a closed-form expression for an upper bound on the delay violation probability over downlink Rician wireless fading channels with non-vanishing error probability. Our simulation results validate and evaluate our proposed FBC based cell-free m-MIMO-NOMA schemes.
Designing a Self-Paced Learning Experience to Support Learner Self-Regulation.

This reflective paper examines how course designers utilized multiple frameworks for motivation and educational psychology to support learner self-regulation in an open, self-paced learning experience. The paper provides specific applications and opportunities to better support self-regulation in the future in both the forethought and self-reflection phases of Zimmerman’s socio-cognitive model of self-regulation. The paper concludes with a summary of design decisions that supported self-regulation in this context as well as questions intended to help designers of similar learning experiences consider how to best support self-regulation in their context.
The role of alcohol demand on daily microaggressions and alcohol use among emerging adult bisexual+ women.

Objective: Bisexual women drink more and have more alcohol consequences than heterosexual and lesbian women. This higher risk may in part be attributable to sexual orientation microaggressions. Drinking to cope motivations and alcohol demand may influence the association between microaggressions and alcohol use. The present study used a daily diary design to examine the association between microaggressions and same-day alcohol use (yes/no, quantity) and consequences, and if drinking to cope and alcohol demand moderate this association among bisexual+ (i.e., bi+) women. Method: Participants were 103 emerging adult bi+ women who completed a baseline assessment, including an alcohol purchase task to measure alcohol demand. Subsequently, participants reported their experiences of microaggressions, alcohol use, and alcohol consequences for 28 days. Multilevel model analyses were conducted. Results: Microaggressions were associated with a higher likelihood to drink and greater same-day alcohol use and consequences. The association between microaggressions and alcohol quantity was stronger for those who had a lower price associated with the highest expenditure (lower P max). For those who would stop drinking at lower price values (lower breakpoint), reported spending less overall on alcohol (lower O max), and had lower P max values, microaggressions were associated with more consequences. For those with higher breakpoint, O max, and P max microaggressions were not associated with consequences. Conclusions: Microaggressions may have a deleterious impact on alcohol use and consequences for bi+ women, particularly for those with lower alcohol demand. Clinicians should encourage bi+ clients to consider how microaggressions influence their drinking and support clients to engage in positive coping skills. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence measurements of absolute neutral deuterium density, temperature, and bulk flow in Proto-MPEX

Neutral particle control is critical for fusion fueling and confinement. Neutral diagnostics for fusion-relevant plasmas are commonly restricted to line-integrated or ex situ methods. A non-perturbative, two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence (TALIF) diagnostic is implemented on the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) to probe neutral atomic deuterium in a fusion-relevant plasma at 1 cm intervals along the radius of the vacuum vessel. The diagnostic is situated ∼20 m from the vacuum vessel, and a signal is collected along the laser injection axis, requiring only one line-of-sight. TALIF measurements are absolutely calibrated using xenon and krypton. Absolute atomic densities derived from xenon calibration are compared to absolute atomic densities derived from krypton calibration. Here, preliminary measurements of absolute atomic deuterium density, temperature, and local bulk flow dependence on radial location and input power in Proto-MPEX are presented. Neutral atomic deuterium velocity distribution functions are measured throughout a one-second plasma pulse with a time resolution of 250 ms.
The New Illinois Bank Holding Company Act, 99 BANK L. J. 598 (1982)

The new Illinois Bank Holding Company Act permitting the formation of multibank holding companies creates strategic opportunities as well as threats for banks both inside and outside the state. The author analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of three types of expansion strategies that are likely to be used by Illinois bank holding companies (BHCs). He also analyzes two strategies for statewide expansion in Illinois, one of which may also allow entry by out-of-state banks, depending upon how the new statute is interpreted.
Connectivity & Communication: A Study of How Small Wine Businesses Use the Internet

This paper addresses the development and effects of Internet use by small wine businesses. It includes useful insights that can be applied to other small businesses, and also provides helpful information for consultants and entrepreneurship educators. An exploratory framework is presented that includes a four-stage sequence through which small businesses typically progress in relation to the use of Internet-related tools. The stages include awareness, design, implementation, and practice. Propositions are also developed to guide analysis of the framework, and an empirical test of various parts of the framework is performed using a sample of 382 wineries. Results showed that, beyond the use of e-mail for communication and connectivity, awareness of the Internet's uses is moderate, while implementation is moderate to low. Thirty-nine percent of the respondents believe the Internet will make a strong contribution to sales and profitability in the future, though only 9% report they are currently achieving this with Internet utilization.
A linear method for quantification of collagen fiber orientation in Cornea

A generalized, linear atlgorith m is used for unbiasrd quantification of the orientation of corneal collagen fibers. Its application to SHG microscopy for determining macro structure urthe collagen extracellular matrix is demonstrated.
Corporate Governance and CEO Dominance

This article argues in support of state corporate law either prohibiting CEOs from serving as chairman of the board or from serving as directors of public companies. By limiting the ability of CEOs to dominate the governance process and giving directors increased separation and independence from the CEOs’ influence, boards will be better equipped to ask the tough questions of management and hopefully discover problems before they occur. Moreover, by limiting the role of executive management on public company boards, state law can delineate the roles of CEO and director. Separating the CEO’s work as an executive from that of a director benefits the courts as it continues to develop the fiduciary duties of both roles. This article examines the social science data on leadership and group decision-making and argues that such data can improve corporate governance by eliminating the structural reasons for CEO dominance and board groupthink, which exists under corporate laws. Part II examines CEO dominance and firm performance. Part II explores the factors that contribute to CEO dominance, including how the personality traits of CEOs influence decision-making, the environment in which directors fail to critically examine the decisions or information provided to them by CEOs, and the social science data on board groupthink behavior. Part IV examines the pros and cons of CEOs as board members. Part V looks at how separating the role of CEO from chairman of the board can minimize CEO dominance of the board and why removing the CEO as a director offers even more assurance that the CEO likely will not control the board through sheer force of personality. Finally, Part VI proposes solutions to minimize the effect of CEO dominance on board decision-making.
Cluster-head identification in ad hoc sensor networks using particle swarm optimization

We propose a new application of the optimization technique known as particle swarm optimization (PSO) to the problem of clustering nodes. The PSO approach is an evolutionary programming technique where a 'swarm' of test solutions, analogous to a natural swarm of bees, ants or termites, is allowed to interact and cooperate to find the best solution to the given problem. In a typical optimization, some function or fitness is used as a criterion for the optimization. Here we use application specific criteria, where we are equalizing the number of nodes, and candidate cluster-heads in each cluster, with the objective of minimizing the energy expended by the nodes while maximizing the total data gathered. The objective criteria fit with the implementation of a wireless, ad hoc, sensor network with cluster-head routing and data aggregation.
Reply: Should we operate for an intraabdominal emergency in the setting of disseminated cancer?

Background Patients with advanced cancer and an abdominal surgical emergency pose a dilemma, because rescue surgery may be futile. This study defines morbidity and mortality rates and identifies preoperative risk factors that may predict outcome. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients with disseminated cancer undergoing emergent abdominal surgery (2005–2012). Preoperative variables were used for prediction models for 30-day major morbidity and mortality. A tree model and logistic regression were used to find factors associated with outcomes. A training dataset was analyzed and then model performance was evaluated on a validation dataset. Results Study patients had an overall 30-day major morbidity and mortality rate of 48.8% and 26%, respectively. The classification tree model for prediction for a morbidity involved the following variables: sepsis, albumin, functional status, and transfusion (misclassification rate, 36%). The tree model for mortality showed that an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 4 or 5 with a dependent functional status to be predictive of mortality (misclassification rate, 24%). There was agreement between models for predictive variables. Conclusion The decision to operate for an abdominal emergency in the setting of disseminated cancer is difficult. Our study confirms the high risk for morbidity and mortality in this population. Preoperative factors including sepsis, increased ASA class, low serum albumin level, and patient functional dependence all predict poor outcomes.
Influence of Dietary Fat and Cholesterol on Milk Lipids and on Cholesterol Metabolism in the Rat

The experimental basis for a hypothesis of Reiser and Sidelman (J. Nutr. 102: 1009, 1972) that cholesterol intake early in life is inversely related to an animal's subsequent hypercholesterolemic response to dietary cholesterol was tested. Female rats (seven per group) were fed either a stock diet (group 1), a semisynthetic diet with 15% lard (group 2) or the semisynthetic diet with 15% lard and 1.5% cholesterol (group 3) from day 18 of gestation and during lactation. Plasma cholesterol concentration during lactation was significantly higher in group 3 dams, but there were no significant effects of maternal diet on milk cholesterol or triglyceride concentration. Pups had access to the dams' diet until weaning at 30 days of age. Plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations at weaning were significantly higher in pups from group 3 dams than in those from the other groups. All pups were fed a semisynthetic diet containing 10% lard and 0.5% cholesterol from 60 to 161 days of age. Plasma cholesterol concentration during this time was significantly lower in male pups from group 1 dams than in those from other dams. Plasma cholesterol concentration in female pups showed a similar trend and was, on the average, significantly higher in females than males. Pup liver cholesterol concentration after weaning was not significantly influenced by maternal diet. Thus, these data do not support the hypothesis that cholesterol intake in early life is inversely correlated with subsequent response to dietary induced hypercholesterolemia.
On exploiting channel code redundancy

This paper describes some channel coding schemes that are used in optical recording. The various trade-offs that are made, such as error propagation and efficiency, are discussed. The origin of the redundancy that is typically found in channel coding schemes, is described. An example is given of how this redundancy might be used to carry a volatile encryption key in a conventional channel coding scheme. Finally several additional valuable characteristics that could be designed into channel coding schemes are discussed.
A phase I study of sequential vinorelbine followed by paclitaxel

Summary Background: In vitro experiments suggest that administration of vinorelbine preceding paclitaxel results in synergistic cytotoxic effects. A phase I dose escalation trial of vinorelbine daily x 3 with paclitaxel on day 3 repeated every 28 days in metastatic breast cancer patients was completed. Patients and methods: Female patients, PS 0-2, without evidence of CNS disease or prior neuropathies were treated with vinorelbine at dose levels 7, 10, 13 mg/m 2 per day and paclitaxel over three hours at dose levels of 135, 175, and 200 mg/m 2 . Results: Twenty-eight patients with six dose levels were studied. At dose level 1, patients developed intolerable but reversible neutropenia. Subsequent dose levels required filgrastim. Dose limiting toxicities were myalgia and fatigue at vinorelbine 13 mg/m 2 /day and paclitaxel 200 mg/m 2 . Neuropathy was minor. Twelve of twenty-five patients with measurable disease had a rapid response which did not correlate with dose level. Conclusions: Sequential administration of these two agents demonstrates activity in breast cancer patients. Phase II dosing on this schedule should be vinorelbine 13 mg/m 2 /day x 3 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m 2 . With proper selection of patients, concern about neurologic toxicity should not impede future trials of vinorelbine with paclitaxel.