cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Run or Not to Run: Estimates of a Black Contender's Delegate Strength at the 1984 Democratic Convention

The possibility of a black contender for the Democratic presidential nomination has raised many interesting questions. Has the Democratic Party and its past nominees taken the black vote for granted? Can the black community reach a consensus on a black issue agenda? Can it agree on a candidate? Could a black candidate actually hurt black interests by dividing the liberal vote and throwing the nomination to a more conservative Democratic contender? Could the strategy seriously backfire in other less obvious ways? Do the presumed benefits, both symbolic and real, outweigh the potential costs? Could the threat of a candidacy be just as beneficial to black interests as the candidacy itself? Are there other strategies during the nomination process that could enhance black political power even more? Although the debate has covered a wide range of questions, one crucial question has been ignored: how many delegates could a black presidential contender conceivably win in 1984? While few experts believe that a black contender could win a majority of delegates, many argue that, if the contest is close between two other contenders, blacks could be “kingmakers,” crowning the nominee in exchange for major policy concessions, patronage appointments, and, conceivably, the vice-presidency. If the nomination is not close, then a group of black delegates, at a minimum, would increase substantially black influence on important rules and platform decisions. Hopes based on these or any other convention scenario the mind can devise, however, depend on how well a black contender fares in the race for delegates. The larger his delegation, the more power he can potentially wield at the convention. Conversely, the smaller his delegation, the less power he will have.
Conflict resolution and a framework for collaborative interactive evolution

Interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) has proven useful in a variety of applications by combining the subjective evaluation of a user with the massive parallel search power of the genetic algorithm (GA). Here, we articulate a framework for an extension of IEC into collaborative interactive evolution, in which multiple users guide the evolutionary process. In doing so, we introduce the ability for users to combine their efforts for the purpose of evolving effective solutions to problems. This necessarily gives rise to the possibility of conflict between users. We draw on the salient features of the GA to resolve these conflicts and lay the foundation for this new paradigm to be used as a tool for conflict resolution in complex group-wise human-computer interaction tasks.
Disruption of the Termite Gut Microbiota and Its Prolonged Consequences for Fitness

The disruption of host-symbiont interactions through the use of antibiotics can help elucidate microbial functions that go beyond short-term nutritional value. Termite gut symbionts have been studied extensively, but little is known about their impact on the termite's reproductive output. Here we describe the effect that the antibiotic rifampin has not only on the gut microbial diversity but also on the longevity, fecundity, and weight of two termite species, Zootermopsis angusticollis and Reticulitermes flavipes. We report three key findings: (i) the antibiotic rifampin, when fed to primary reproductives during the incipient stages of colony foundation, causes a permanent reduction in the diversity of gut bacteria and a transitory effect on the density of the protozoan community; (ii) rifampin treatment reduces oviposition rates of queens, translating into delayed colony growth and ultimately reduced colony fitness; and (iii) the initial dosages of rifampin had severe long-term fitness effects on Z. angusticollis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the antibiotic-induced perturbation of the microbial community is associated with prolonged reductions in longevity and fecundity. A causal relationship between these changes in the gut microbial population structures and fitness is suggested by the acquisition of opportunistic pathogens and incompetence of the termites to restore a pretreatment, native microbiota. Our results indicate that antibiotic treatment significantly alters the termite's microbiota, reproduction, colony establishment, and ultimately colony growth and development. We discuss the implications for antimicrobials as a new application to the control of termite pest species.
Expression-level optimization of a multi-enzyme pathway in the absence of a high-throughput assay

Engineered metabolic pathways often suffer from flux imbalances that can overburden the cell and accumulate intermediate metabolites, resulting in reduced product titers. One way to alleviate such imbalances is to adjust the expression levels of the constituent enzymes using a combinatorial expression library. Typically, this approach requires high-throughput assays, which are unfortunately unavailable for the vast majority of desirable target compounds. To address this, we applied regression modeling to enable expression optimization using only a small number of measurements. We characterized a set of constitutive promoters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that spanned a wide range of expression and maintained their relative strengths irrespective of the coding sequence. We used a standardized assembly strategy to construct a combinatorial library and express for the first time in yeast the five-enzyme violacein biosynthetic pathway. We trained a regression model on a random sample comprising 3% of the total library, and then used that model to predict genotypes that would preferentially produce each of the products in this highly branched pathway. This generalizable method should prove useful in engineering new pathways for the sustainable production of small molecules.
Plant-Incorporated Bacillus thuringiensis Resistance for Control of Fall Armyworm and Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Corn

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), perennially cause leaf and ear damage to corn, Zea mays L., in the southeastern United States. Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) hybrids with the Bt11, MON810, or 176 events expressing the Cry1Ab insecticidal endotoxin from were evaluated for control fall armyworm and corn earworm at seven locations in Georgia during 1999 and 2000. Corn was planted at the recommended time for each location and 1 and 2 mo later in the southern locations. All Bt events consistently reduced whorl infestation and damage, although event 176 did not prevent whorl damage in the later plantings in the southern locations in both years. All events also reduced seedling damage by the lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller), in one trial and stalk infestations and tunnel length by southwestern corn borers, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, in another trial. Hybrids containing Bt11 and MON810 events reduced ear infestations in all trials, although reductions were small in later plantings. Nevertheless, both events reduced grain damage from earworms and armyworms by an average SE of 52.5 5.1% in all trials. The hybrid containing event 176 did not reduce ear infestations and damage. Total grain asatoxin concentrations were not signiÞcantly affected by Bt resistance in any trial (N 17). Yield responses were variable with the prevention of yield loss being proportional to the severity of insect damage. Although plantings made after the recommended time did not consistently beneÞt from Bt resistance, Bt11 and MON810 events were effective in reducing damage to Þeld corn when large infestations occurred. The Bt11 and MON810 events mitigated the risk of severe lepidopteran damage to corn, thereby making later plantings of corn feasible in double-cropping systems.
Orofacial pain: patient satisfaction and delay of urgent care.

Objective.Accomplishing the Healthy People 2010 goal of eliminating disparities in oral disease will require a better understanding of the patterns of health care associated with orofacial pain. Th...
Article 21 and Policy Making Role of Courts in India: An American Perspective

Ensuring procedural fairness is among the key purposes of the Constitutions of the United States and India. This paper examines the developing law of Article 21 of the Constitution of India in light of US experience with constitutional litigation based on the concept of "due process of law." The paper identifies the variety of meanings with which a constitutional guarantee of procedural rights can be imbued, surveys the eventful history and contemporary uses of the constitutional guarantee of due process in American law, and traces the origin and development of constitutional doctrine under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The Birth of Thought: Dramatization, Pluralisation and the Idea

One cannot deny that, even when not explicit, ethical themes run throughout Deleuze's works. Indeed, the method of dramatization directly relates to the production of ethical forms of being. As a method of investigation – critique, if one will – dramatization offers a consistent but dynamic method for interpreting and creating concepts. At the heart of such a method is the attempt to seek the anti-anthropological, anti-hegemonic and anti-representational forces described by Friedrich Nietzsche. It is at the level of this pre-individual multiplicity of forces that an axiology can be grounded. At this level, the singularity of a given object, domain or field of knowledge reveals itself. Most importantly, however, the method of dramatization resists the unethical relationship to being enacted throughout history by means of the logic of representation.
Dead Load Stresses and the Instability of Slopes

The problem of dead load stresses in massive structures is analyzed by the methods of the linear theory of elasticity, taking into account the construction sequence involved in attaining the final shape. The theoretical questions concerning uniqueness, compatibility, and equilibrium are examined. In particular, the inability of the final body to satisfy compatibility is shown to be correct for incremental construction proceedings. An infinite wedge with horizontal top surface is considered as an example in which the building-up is in uniform horizontal layers. The solution is extended to take account of bands of different density materials with constant density in the band and constant elastic properties in all bands. These results are then applied to soil embankments for which the origin and direction of retrogressive slides are rationally predicted and, using a Coulomb-Bell strength criteria for the soil, potential slip surfaces for various values of Ϝ are described. Examples of stress distribution are worked out, and curves of slip surfaces and design curves of the instability of slopes are given.
The association of binge eating and neighbourhood fast-food restaurant availability on diet and weight status

Objective Fast-food restaurants (FFR) are prevalent. Binge eating is common among overweight and obese women. For women prone to binge eating, neighbourhood FFR availability (i.e. the neighbourhood around one's home) may promote poor diet and overweight/obesity. The present study tested the effects of binge eating and neighbourhood FFR availability on diet (fat and total energy intake) and BMI among African American and Hispanic/Latino women. Design All measures represent baseline data from the Health is Power randomized clinical trial. The numbers of FFR in participants’ neighbourhoods were counted and dichotomized (0 or ≥1 neighbourhood FFR). Participants completed measures of binge eating status and diet. Weight and height were measured and BMI calculated. 2 (binge eating status) × 2 (neighbourhood FFR availability) ANCOVA tested effects on diet and BMI while controlling for demographics. Setting Houston and Austin, TX, USA. Subjects African American and Hispanic/Latino women aged 25–60 years. Results Of the total sample (n 162), 48 % had 1–15 neighbourhood FFR and 29 % were binge eaters. There was an interaction effect on BMI (P = 0·05). Binge eaters with ≥1 neighbourhood FFR had higher BMI than non-binge eaters or binge eaters with no neighbourhood FFR. There were no significant interactions or neighbourhood FFR main effects on total energy or fat intake (P > 0·05). A main effect of binge eating showed that binge eaters consumed more total energy (P = 0·005) and fat (P = 0·005) than non-binge eaters. Conclusions Binge eaters represented a substantial proportion of this predominantly overweight and obese sample of African American and Hispanic/Latino women. The association between neighbourhood FFR availability and weight status is complicated by binge eating status, which is related to diet.
Abstract 5244: Genistein's anti-invasion and anti-metastatic effects are linked to decreases in the expression of several different gene in Human prostate cancer that regulate metastatic behavior

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Genistein has been shown by our group to inhibit Human prostate cancer (PCa) cell invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Related studies demonstrate that endoglin (ENG), a TGF b superfamily receptor, suppresses invasion via activation of Smad 1, and that Genistein therapeutically compensated for endoglin loss by activating Smad 1 signaling. The mechanisms underlying these effects by Genistein are not clear. We hypothesized that they resulted from effects by genistein upon multiple genes that together regulate metastatic behavior. Methods: PC3M cells were treated or not with 10uM Genistein × 3 days, RNA was isolated, treated with DNAse, and effects upon gene expression were screened for using SAbiosciences metastasis specific and extracellular matrix and adhesion molecule specific gene expression array platforms. Array experiments were performed 2-3 separate times. Positive array findings were then evaluated by real time qRT/PCR, using gene-specific primer/probe sets. These experiments were performed 3 separate times. A student's T-test P-value</= 0.05 was required. Results: Genistein significantly decreased MMP2, MMP10 and MMP 13 by 2.81, 3.98 and 4.87 fold, respectively, on the metastasis array, and decreased MMP1, MMP10, MMP13 and SPARC (osteonectin) by 2.29, 3.25, 5.36 and 3.57 fold, respectively, on the matrix /adhesion array. With qRT/PCR, Genistein decreased MMP1, MMP2, MMP10, MMP13 and SPARC by 2.13, 2.17, 4.43, 6.82 and 2.57 fold, respectively. We then treated previously characterized stably engineered ENG human PCa cell lines. Hi-ENG, vector control (VC) and NO-ENG, with Genistein or not, followed by qRT/PCR, ENG expression did not alter gene expression in a consistent fashion. Importantly, ENG status had no effect upon Genistein's ability to decrease the expression of any of the five genes. Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time that Genistein inhibit MMP1, MMP2, MMP10, MMP13 and SPARC gene expression. Also, Genistein's effect upon these genes is not dependent upon the endoglin pathway. Further, endoglin does not appear to regulate these genes. Finally these data support the notion that Gensitein's anti-invasion and anti-metastatic actions result from effects upon several genes that together affect invasive and metastatic behavior. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5244. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5244
Sclerosing retroperitonitis and sclerosing mediastinitis.

Sclerosing retroperitonitis and sclerosing mediastinitis are fibrotic lesions of soft tissue that simulate clinically certain types of malignant neoplasms. The medical history of a patient having either of these diseases is that of a patient having a malignant disorder. Sclerosing retroperitonitis occludes renal outflow, and sclerosing mediastinitis obstructs venous inflow in the thorax. Sclerosing retroperitonitis"' ' ' "'-'"' 33,36.37,39 j i a s |-,een documented 45 times in the American literature; sclerosing mediastinitis' »• "• ' "• 1 ' 2 ' 4 ' 6 has been described less frequently, appearing in foreign as well as in American reports. The importance of distinguishing sclerosing retroperitonitis and sclerosing mediastinitis from malignant disease is obvious. Moreover, there is a distinct impression expressed by our clinical colleagues that these 2 sclerosing disorders are increasing in incidence. I t is the authors' purpose in this paper to discuss the various features of the 2 disorders as observed in 6 patients, and to catalogue examples of the disorders from the literature.
Ivabradine in Management of Heart Failure: a Critical Appraisal

Elevated resting heart rate has been linked to poor outcomes in patients with chronic systolic heart failure. Blockade of funny current channel with ivabradine reduces heart rate without inotropic effects. Ivabradine was recently approved by US Food and Drug Administration for patients with stable, symptomatic chronic heart failure (HF) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35 %, who are in sinus rhythm with resting heart rate (HR) ≥ 70 bpm and either are on maximally tolerated doses of beta-blockers, or have a contraindication to beta-blockers. This article will review and evaluate the data supporting the use of ivabradine in patients with HF and explore its mechanisms and physiologic effects.
Prediction of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Ram-Air Parachutes

The focus of this work is on the computational methodology for aerodynamic modeling of ram-air parachutes and increasing confidence and understanding in their concept designs including new parachute control methods. The complex geometries of ram-air parachutes are modeled by two-dimensional rigid airfoil geometries with or without trailing-edge deflections and bleed air spoilers. The aerodynamic forces are then calculated from steady or unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations using Cobalt and Kestrel flow solvers. The effects of the grid size and type, the time step, and the choice of solver parameters are investigated. The flow solvers are then used to study the flow around three-dimensional wings with open/closed ram-air inlets by comparing lift and drag coefficients with available experimental data. The results show that computational fluid dynamics simulations are a valuable aid in understanding the flow structure of ram-air parachutes, which resemble a rectangular wing with open inlets. ...
Handheld Serials: How Wireless Device Technologies Impact Electronic Journal Publishing Now and in the Future

As computing becomes more portable, an ever-increasing number of people are dependent upon smartphones, personal digital assistants, webpads, and other wireless devices. This paper addresses the effect, if any, of these current and future wireless technologies on electronic journal publishing. Have these technologies impacted e-journal publishing to this point? What are the expectations and strategies of journal publishers in dealing with the changing technology? What special issues do these devices present regardimng licensing?
A survey of levels of antibodies against influenza viruses in the population of Wuxi City

Objective To investigate levels of antibodies against type A and type C influenza viruses and those against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus (before and after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic )among residents in Wuxi.To compare levels of antibodies against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (one year after the pandemic) in the unvaccinated population with those in the population who received vaccine.Methods Serum samples were collected from subjects (aged 1-60 years) during September 2008 to May 2009,and during September 2010 to January 2011.Also collected were serum samples from adults who had received vaccines for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 for one year.Antibody response to influenza viruses was measured using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay.Seropositivity rate,seroprotection rate and geometric mean titer (GMT) were compared for each age group during different periods.Results Before the outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic,seropositivity rate,seroprotection rate and GMT among the study subjects in were 2.86％ (4/140),0.71％ (1/140) and 5.23,respectively.One year after the outbreak,seropositivity rate,seroprotection rate and GMT among the study subjects were 66.33％,37.76％ and 19.17,respectively.Among them,adult subjects showed 50.00％ seropositivity rate,19.44％seroprotection rate and 13.09 GMT,while adult subjects who had received vaccine for one year showed 61.36％ seropositivity rate,22.73％ seroprotection rate and 14.14 GMT.No significant difference was observed between these two populations (P ＞ 0.05 for all three indexes).Furthermore,before the outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic,levels of antibodies against seasonal influenza viruses among the study subjects were as follows:for H1N1 virus,seropositivity rate,seroprotection rate and GMT were 55.00％,35.00％and 16.90,respectively; for H3N2 virus,seropositivity rate,seroprotection rate and GMT were 86.40％,84.30％ and 58.56,respectively.Conclusion One year after the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus had spread to Wuxi,the population levels of antibodies against this virus have approached those against seasonal influenza viruses,as reflected by seropositivity rates,seroproection rates and GMT.Moreover,considerable levels of antibodies against seasonal influenza viruses were observed in populations,indicating no seasonal influenza outbreak would occur recently. Key words: Influenza A virus; Neutralization tests
Preweaning and weaning heterosis for maternal effects of beef x beef and beef x dairy crosses.

Effects of maternal heterosis were estimated from preweaning and weaning data on 178 three-breed cross progeny of straight Hereford, Angus and Charolais heifers (beef) and contemporary reciprocal cross heifers. In addition, 27 three-breed cross calves produced by beef x Brown swiss females were used for a comparison of beef x beef with beff x Brown Swiss crossbred dams. Statistical analyses were performed with and without the data from the 27 beef x Brown Swiss calves. Only first-calf records, obtained from 1965 through 1967, were used to evaluate maternal qualities of straightbred and crossbred dams. Breed of sire of sow was a source of variation (P less than .01) in all progeny traits, and breed of dam of cow was a source of variation (P less than .05 to P less than .01) in all of these traits except birth weight. Interaction effects of breed of sire of cow x breed of dam of cow were consistenetly nonsignificant. Estimated maternal heterosis percentages were 1.4, 1.0, 1.1 and .4 (.02 of one grade) for birth weight, average daily gain from birth to weaning, 205-day weaning weight and weaning conformation score of progeny, respectively. Comparison of beef x Brown Swiss dams with beef cross dams showed that beef x Brown Swiss dams had calves with higher average birth weight, higher preweaning average daily gain, higher average 205-day weaning weight and higher average weaning score (P less than .05 to P less than .01).
A Learning-Based Linear Replicator for Hedge Fund Indexes

There has been great interest in creating portfolios using common liquid instruments to replicate hedge fund returns. In a recent article, Hasanhodzic and Lo (2007) demonstrate that a factor-based approach based on a linear regression model with 5 tradable risk factors can adequately replicate monthly returns of 1,610 hedge funds in 1986 to 2005. We propose a learning-based linear replication algorithm to enhance the linear model. Results show that our approach can improve the replicating capability of linear replicator, especially for some nonlinear and dynamic strategies, e.g., Event-driven and Emerging Markets. The annualized root mean squared error is improved by 40% and 34%, respectively. The new method can automatically detect the market changes and separate return points into different polyhedral regions, even high dimensions (multiple risk factors). By using 12 major strategy indexes' monthly returns compiled by 7 data vendors from their inception date until December 2008, we examine our method with six common risk factors and find that our algorithm can improve explanatory of hedge fund index returns. The performance of our new replicator is also tested by cloning out-of-sample monthly returns through using five out of these six factors.
Pathomechanics and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Thrower's Shoulder

Repetitive, high-velocity overhead throwing can lead to several adaptive changes in the throwing shoulder, which over time lead to structural microtrauma and eventually overt injury. MR imaging is a useful imaging modality to evaluate these changes and to characterize their acuity and severity. Understanding the throwing motion and the effects of this motion on the structures of the shoulder can help radiologists to recognize these findings and provide useful information to referring physicians, which may affect the treatment of these athletes. This article reviews shoulder pathomechanics and MR imaging findings in overhead throwing athletes.
To change or not to change: indicators of K-12 teacher engagement in innovative educational practices

Teacher adoption of educational innovation frequently involves in taking risks and having a vision of trying something new. Some teachers seem to have a higher level of propensity for embracing the novelty associated with educational innovation. Building on our work to empirically document the behaviours associated with K-12 teacher engagement with educational innovation, we developed an instrument to measure their level of willingness to consider changes in instructional approaches and curricular choices. We administered the instrument along with several other measures to over 400 K-12 educators engaged in a professional development program designed to enhance teacher capacity to adopt educational innovations. We found a number of personal and professional variables to be associated with propensity to adopt educational innovation and developed a structural equation model to verify the relationships. We also found the pre- and post-professional development tour participants experienced significant increases in all but one of our measures. We discuss our results in the context of teaching in schools and the implications for teacher and organisational change.
“Tennis leg”: gastrocnemius injury is a far more common cause than plantaris rupture

We report a typical case of “tennis leg”, in which the main finding was a fluid collection between the medial head of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Since the first clinical description of this entity in 1883, the injury has been attributed to rupture of the plantaris tendon. However, recent studies of this condition with sonography and magnetic resonance imaging have shown that most of these cases are actually due to injury to the gastrocnemius and/or soleus muscles, and up to 10% are due to deep venous thrombosis masquerading as muscle injury. The plantaris muscle and tendon are only rarely involved in this injury.
Understanding the Home Math Environment and Its Role in Predicting Parent Report of Children's Math Skills.

There is a growing literature concerning the role of the home math environment in children’s math development. In this study, we examined the relation between these constructs by specifically addressing three goals. The first goal was to identify the measurement structure of the home math environment through a series of confirmatory factor analyses. The second goal was to examine the role of the home math environment in predicting parent report of children’s math skills. The third goal was to test a series of potential alternative explanations for the relation between the home math environment and parent report of children’s skills, specifically the direct and indirect role of household income, parent math anxiety, and parent math ability as measured by their approximate number system performance. A final sample of 339 parents of children aged 3 through 8 drawn from Mechanical Turk answered a questionnaire online. The best fitting model of the home math environment was a bifactor model with a general factor representing the general home math environment, and three specific factors representing the direct numeracy environment, the indirect numeracy environment, and the spatial environment. When examining the association of the home math environment factors to parent report of child skills, the general home math environment factor and the spatial environment were the only significant predictors. Parents who reported doing more general math activities in the home reported having children with higher math skills, whereas parents who reported doing more spatial activities reported having children with lower math skills.
Wearables data integration

Research highlights an attempt to quantify relative accuracy of the consumer-grade wearable devices.Models were trained to adjust for data collected from Fitbit Device to the equivalent value in terms of the Jawbones measurement.The models are dependent on the intensity of the activity (Magnitude of Measurement) recorded by the devices.High calories-steps correlation suggests consumer grade devices possibly neglect other factors leading to calories count.Considerations for database-design and nomenclature have been suggested based on existing flaws. Differences in data output from two leading devices in the consumer-grade wearables market have been examined, namely Jawbone UP4 and Fitbit Charge HR devices, by comparing measurements that were conducted while participants wore both devices in tandem. Aggregate daily totals of steps and calories were shown to be highly correlated between devices (0.820.93 correlation coefficient for steps and 0.710.85 for calories); however, at the hourly level, differences in data output are evident, especially during hours of vigorous activity. These differences lead to both under- and over-estimation of measures such as hourly step-counts. Heart rate measurement with Jawbone and Fitbit is shown to be significantly different even at the daily level (p-value<0.00001), which could be due to hardware differences in sensor type and possibly due to unknown differences in proprietary algorithms. Models were trained to enable adjustment of data collected from one device to the equivalent value in terms of the other devices measurement. This approach to data integration is recommended for researchers who are comparing data from multiple wearable devices, for individual users who have switched from one device to another and could use this method to adjust their wearables data history to be comparable with the new device, or for users who are comparing data with a user who has another type of device, or for groups organizing fitness challenges and health initiatives that can track users by comparing diverse wearables data.
Custom-made micro applicators for high-dose-rate brachytherapy treatment of chronic psoriasis.

Purpose In this study, we present the treatment of the psoriatic nail beds of patients refractory to standard therapies using high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. The custom-made micro applicators (CMMA) were designed and constructed for radiation dose delivery to small curvy targets with complicated topology. The role of the HDR brachytherapy treatment was to stimulate the T cells for an increased immune response. Material and methods The patient diagnosed with psoriatic nail beds refractory to standard therapies received monthly subunguinal injections that caused significant pain and discomfort in both hands. The clinical target was defined as the length from the fingertip to the distal interphalangeal joint. For the accurate and reproducible setup in the multi-fractional treatment delivery, the CMMAs were designed. Five needles were embedded into the dense plastic mesh and covered with 5 mm bolus material for each micro applicator. Five CMMAs were designed, resulting in the usage of 25 catheters in total. Results The prescription dose was planned to the depth of the anterior surface of the distal phalanx, allowing for the sparing of the surrounding tissue. The total number of the active dwell positions was 145 with step size of 5 mm. The total treatment time was 115 seconds with a 7.36 Ci activity of the 192Ir source. The treatment resulted in good pain control. The patient did not require further injections to the nail bed. After this initial treatment, additional two patients with similar symptoms received HDR brachytherapy. The treatment outcome was favorable in all cases. Conclusions The first HDR brachytherapy treatment of psoriasis of the nail bed is presented. The initial experience revealed that brachytherapy treatment was well-tolerated and resulted in adequate control of the disease. A larger cohort of patients will be required for additional conclusions related to the long-term clinical benefits.
Recent Thymic Emigrants and Chronic Salmonellosis: How New T Cells Combat an Old Infection

Typhoid fever, caused by infection with Salmonella bacteria affects approximately 21 million people annually, killing nearly 200,000 and yet the immunological response to this infection is poorly understood. Recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) are the youngest subset of peripheral T cells, which are known to differ in how they functionally contribute to the naive T cell pool. This distinctive cell population is known to contribute to the maintenance of T cell receptor diversity in the peripheral T cell pool, but their involvement in combating chronic bacterial infections, such as typhoid fever, has not been explored. In the present study, we hypothesized that RTEs are essential contributors to the CD4 T cell response during persistent Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) infection, which predominantly relies on helper T cell immunity to control bacteria. Here, we show that thymectomy of adult mice prior to oral infection with ST leads to increased mortality in addition to significantly increased bacterial burdens in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and liver 30 days post-infection compared to sham surgical controls, suggesting Salmonella -specific RTEs may contribute to bacterial clearance. Surprisingly, thymectomized animals also demonstrated expanded numbers of peripheral Salmonella -specific T cells, compared to control animals, implying that these existing cells are somehow incapable of controlling infection in the absence of RTEs. The results of this study provide insight into how new pathogen-specific T cells leaving the thymus participate in combatting a persistent bacterial infection.
Pediatric neuro-oncology survival disparities in California.

The objective of this study was to investigate racial/ethnic differences in survival for pediatric high-grade glioma (HGG) and medulloblastoma in the state of California. We obtained data from the California Cancer Registry on 552 high-grade glioma patients (110 brainstem, 442 non-brainstem) and 648 medulloblastoma patients ages 0–19 years from 1988 to 2012. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, we examined the impact of individual and neighborhood characteristics on survival. Socioeconomic quintile and insurance status differed significantly by race for both diagnoses. Hispanic children with non-brainstem HGG had worse survival than non-Hispanic white children: hazard ratio (HR) 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–2.11, but the difference was mitigated some by accounting for socioeconomic status (HR 1.48, CI 1.10–1.99). Racial/ethnic differences in survival exist for children with high-grade glioma, particularly Hispanic children with non-brainstem high-grade glioma, and are likely related to sociologic factors.
Nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking regulates nuclear surface area during nuclear organogenesis

Throughout development, nuclei must be assembled following every cell division to establish a functional organelle from compact, mitotic chromatin. During nuclear organogenesis, chromatin expands to establish a nucleus of a given size seperate from the cytoplasm. Determining how nuclear organogenesis is regulated is particularly significant in the context of certain cancers in which scaling relationships between cell and nuclear sizes are not maintained. Controlling cell size in vitro using a microfluidics approach, we determined that neither nuclear volume nor surface area scale directly with cell size. Looking to explain differential nuclear scaling relationships, we developed a simple mechano-chemical mathematical model. In simulating biological perturbations in silico, our model predicted crucial roles for nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking in regulating nuclear expansion and in restricting the recruitment of a potential nuclear surface area factor. In mammalian tissue culture, inhibiting nuclear export increased nuclear expansion rates and reduced the amount of nuclear lamin, a candidate surface area factor, being recruited to assembling nuclei, supporting our model9s predictions. Targeting the principal nuclear export component in the Drosophila syncytial embryo, Embargoed, we show that nuclear expansion rates are also increased in this developmental context, consistent with our model. Using the MS2-reporter system in fly embryos, we demonstrate a role for nuclear export in regulating transcription activation timing and dynamics, suggesting that regulating nuclear assembly is crucial for downstream nuclear function. Taken together, we propose a simple model through which nuclear organogenesis is achieved and demonstrate a role for nuclear export in regulating nuclear assembly.
High-Resolution Electron Microscopy in Surface Science

A wide variety of diffraction, spectroscopy, and microscopy techniques are now available for the characterisation of surfaces, but only the microscopical methods, primarily using electrons, are able to provide direct real-space information about local inhomogeneities such as surface steps, terraces, domains, and defects. As a consequence of technical improvements, high-resolution electron microscopes in particular are nowadays capable of atomic imaging, and electron microscopists are already starting to utilise this capability in their studies of surfaces. Subnanometer surface detail can be resolved in the reflection imaging mode and atomic-scale features are visible in the transmission and profile imaging modes. The results already available indicate that these high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) techniques should be indispensable to obtaining a detailed understanding of many surfaces and their macroscopic properties.
An introduction to intelligent and autonomous control

Part 1 Theory and architectures: introduction to intelligent control systems with high degrees of autonomy, P.A. Antsaklis and K.M. Passino a reference model architecture for intelligent systems design, J.S. Albus model-based architecture concepts for autonomous systems design and simulation, B.P. Zeigler and Sungdo Chi design of structure-based hierarchies for distributed intelligent control, L. Acar and U. Ozguner modelling and design of distributed intelligence systems, A.H. Levis nested hierarchical control, A. Meystel. Part 2 Design approaches and techniques: expert control, K.J. Astrom and K.-E. Arzen modelling and analysis of artificially intelligent planning systems, K.M. Passino and P.J. Antsaklis fuzzy and neural control, H.R. Berenji learning control systems, J.A. Farrell and W. Baker learning control methods, needs and architectures, M.M. Kokar learning in control, E. Grant. Part 3 Applications: intellingent robot prehension, Thang N. Nguyen and H. Stephanou modelling of multi-sensory robotic systems with failure diagnostic capabilities, K.P. Valavanis and G. Seetharaman AUTOCREW - a paradigm for intelligent flight control, B.L. Belkin and R.F. Stengel a framework for knowledge-based diagnosis in process operations, P.R. Prased and J.F. Davis.
The Natural History of Pediatric Crohn Disease

Determining the natural history of Crohn disease involves the consideration of a number of different factors: disease activity over time, frequency of complications, the need for surgery and the risk of disease recurrence following both medically induced and surgically induced remission. In children, evaluation of the natural history also must include the effects of Crohn disease on growth and development and on quality of life. The true natural history of Crohn disease remains largely unknown, however, primarily because there are virtually no data describing the long-term course of untreated children or adults with this illness. The data that do exist arise from early clinical experience treating patients with corticosteroids and 5-aminosalicylate medications, and from a small number of placebo-controlled treatment trials.
Asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma are common and highly prevalent diseases in childhood. These two conditions share multiple common inflammatory pathways in their pathophysiology and are irrevocably connected by their location in the airway continuum. As such, the possibility of existing interactions between asthma and OSA that affect their clinical course appears plausible. The potential factors underlying common inflammatory pathways are reviewed along with the available epidemiological evidence suggesting the presence of bidirectional associations between OSA and asthma. Finally, the impact of treating OSA on the clinical course of asthma will be described.
Simple Robust Linkages Between CDS and Equity Options

We test a theory that provides a simple and robust link between market prices of credit default swaps (CDS) and equity options. The theory links the CDS spread to the market prices of vertical spreads of American put options which are sufficiently out-of-the-money. T he linkage is established under a general class of stock price dynamics for which the default event affects only the state space in which stock prices evolve. Specifically, stock prices are assumed to be bounded below by a barrier B > 0 strictly before the default event, and to drop below an alternative barrier A < B at the default time. We allow random stock price evolution after default, so long as it is bounded above by A. We suppose that investors can take a static position in at least two co-terminal American put options struck within the default corridor [A, B]. We show that a vertical spread of such options scaled by the spread between the two strikes replicates a standardized credit insurance contract that pays one dollar at default whenever the company defaults prior to the option expiry and zero otherwise. Given the above state space behavior, we show that this simple replicating strategy is robust to the details of the pre-default stock price dynamics, the post-d efault stock price dynamics, interest rate dynamics, and default arrival rate fluctuations. We use the value of the American put spread to infer risk-neutral default probabilities and compare them to the default probabilities estimated from CDS spreads on the same reference company. Collecting data from both markets on several reference companies with significant default probabilities, we identify a strong correlation between the defa ult probabilities inferred from the two markets, and find that deviations between the two estimates help predict f uture movements in both markets.
From physics to social interactions: Scientific unification via dynamics

Abstract The principle of dynamical similitude—the belief that the same behavior may be exhibited by very different systems—allows us to use mathematical models from physics to understand psychological phenomena. Sometimes, model choice is straightforward. For example, the two-frequency resonance map can be used to make predictions about the performance of multifrequency ratios in physical, chemical, physiological and social behavior. Sometimes, we have to dig deeper into our dynamical toolbox to select an appropriate technique. An overview is provided of other methods, including mass-spring modeling and multifractal analysis, that have been applied successfully to various psychological phenomena. A final demonstration of dynamical similitude comes from the use of the same multifractal method that was used to extract team-level experience from the neurophysiological data of individual team members to the analysis of a large scale economic phenomenon, the stock market index. Continual development of analytical methods that are informed by and can be applied to other sciences allows us to treat psychological phenomena as continuous with the rest of the natural world.
Finite temperature elastic properties of equiatomic CoCrFeNi from first principles

Abstract The finite temperature elastic properties of the equiatomic CoCrFeNi medium-entropy alloy has been studied by density functional theory. Besides atomic vibrations and electronic free energy, the predictive model developed here includes contributions from spin fluctuations (SFs) in determining the elastic properties of CoCrFeNi. Including SFs changes the magnitude of the temperature derivatives of the poly-crystal elastic moduli, resulting in a close agreement between simulation and experimentally measured trends. How the single-crystal elastic moduli depend on SFs and how these dependencies influence changes in the poly-crystal elastic moduli are analyzed systematically. Finally, the elemental sources to the simulated trends are identified.
Automating Treatment Summary Development Using Electronic Billing Information: A Pilot Study of Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer

PURPOSE:Although the provision of a treatment summary (TS) is a quality indicator in oncology, routine delivery of TSs remains challenging. Automatic TS generation could facilitate use, but data on...
Preliminary Evaluation of a Mobile Device for Dark Adaptation Measurement.

Purpose We evaluated the feasibility of a smartphone application-based dark adaptation (DA) measurement method (MOBILE-DA). Methods On a Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone, MOBILE-DA presented a 1.5° flashing stimulus (wavelength = 453 nm) between -1.15 and -4.33 log candela (cd)/m2 at 8° eccentricity using an adaptive staircase, and logged timing of user response (tapping on the screen) whenever the stimulus became visible (monocularly). In a dark room, the smartphone was placed ≈40 cm from the subject, and a white smartphone screen at maximum brightness (≈300 cd/m2) for 120 seconds was used for bleaching before testing. MOBILE-DA was evaluated in normally-sighted (NV) subjects (n = 15; age, 22-82 years). Additionally, a subject with myopic retinal degeneration (MRD; VA, 20/100; age, 62 years) and another with optic nerve atrophy (ONA; visual acuity [VA], 20/500; age, 40 years) were measured. Maximum test timing was capped at 20 minutes. Linear regression was performed to determine age-effect on DA parameters: rod-cone break time (tRCB ) and test-time (tterm ). Use of the normalized area under the DA characteristics (AUC) as an outcome measure was explored. Results For NV, the repeatability coefficients for tRCB , tterm , and AUC were ±2.1 minutes, ±5.4 minutes, and 4.4%, respectively, and aging-related delays were observed (tRCB , R 2 = 0.47, P = 0.003; tterm , R 2 = 0.34, P = 0.013; AUC, R 2 = 0.41, P = 0.006). Compared to ONA and NV, DA was greatly prolonged in the MRD subject (52% larger AUC than the NV mean). Conclusion The age-effect was verified for MOBILE-DA measurements in NV subjects; impaired DA in a case with retinal-degeneration was observed. Translational relevance This study establishes feasibility of the smartphone-based DA measurement method as a potential accessible screening tool for various vision disorders.