cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pitch-Synchronous Models

In the general sinusoidal model, the frequencies of the partials are estimated without regard for the possibility of harmonic structure; at least, it is not necessary to make any assumptions about the presence of such behavior. In cases where harmonic structure is prevalent, i.e. in periodic and pseudo-periodic signals, this can be exploited to improve the signal model with respect to data reduction in that only the fundamental frequency need be recorded. In this chapter, a pitch-synchronous signal representation proposed in [54] is considered; similar representations have been applied in prototype waveform speech coders [33, 116]. This pitch-dependent framework leads to simple sinusoidal models in which line tracking and peak detection are unnecessary because of the harmonic structure; furthermore, the representation leads to wavelet-based models that are more appropriate for pseudo-periodic signals than the lowpassplus-details model of the standard discrete wavelet transform. By separately estimating the pitch or periodicity of a signal, improvements in both wavelet and sinusoidal models can be achieved. It should be noted that these approaches rely on robust pitch detection and thus apply only to signals whose periodic structure can be reliably estimated; in audio applications, then, appropriate signals consist of a single voice or a single instrument.
Beam-Doppler image feature recognition (BDIFR) method for radar clutter management and target detection

In this work, an innovative clutter management and ground moving target detection method is introduced based on the unique clutter/target features of airborne radar target echoes in the beam-Doppler domain. This novel moving target detection approach is termed as beam-Doppler image feature recognition (BDIFR) method. The performance of BDIFR is evaluated both analytically and experimentally with simulations.
Newton, Lavoisier and Modern Science

What is “modern” about “modern science”? This is a rather odd question, for in one sense the phrase “modern science” is redundant. Arguably the most distinctive features of modern culture, such as its pro-gressiveness, rationality, objectivity and self-awareness, are exemplified by science itself. And if our concept of modernity is derived from science, than science is modern by definition.
Understanding women veterans' preferences for peer support interventions to promote heart healthy behaviors: A qualitative study.

Abstract Peer support may be an effective strategy to improve heart healthy behaviors among populations who have a strong communal identity, such as women veterans. Women veterans are a particularly important group to target as they are the fastest growing sub-population within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Our goal was to identify aspects of peer support and modalities for providing peer support that are preferred by women veterans at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In 2016, we conducted 25 semi-structured individual interviews with women veterans from the Durham VA Healthcare System aged 35–64 who were at risk of CVD, defined as presence of at least one of the following: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity (BMI ≥ 30), non-insulin dependent diabetes or prediabetes, or current smoking. Interview guide design and data analysis involved conventional content analysis. Important themes for effective peer partnerships included sharing a common behavior change goal, the need for trust between peers, compatibility around level of engagement, maintaining a positive attitude, and the need for accountability. Peer support interventions may prove beneficial to address the burden of common and preventable conditions such as CVD. Among women veterans, peer support interventions should account for individual preferences in peer matching and provide opportunities for peers to engage in relationship building in-person initially through trust-building activities.
Effects of Ag and Zr solutes on dislocation emission from Σ11(332)[110] symmetric tilt grain boundaries in Cu: Bigger is not always better

Abstract Solute additions are commonly used to stabilize nanocrystalline materials against grain growth, and can simultaneously enhance the strength of the material by impeding dislocation emission from the grain boundaries. In this study we demonstrate using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that the effect of solutes on dislocation nucleation depends on the distribution of solutes at the grain boundary, and can vary dramatically depending on the solute type. Solutes with a smaller positive size mismatch to the host can be more effective in suppressing dislocation emission from grain boundaries than others that have larger mismatch. In particular, although Ag solutes have a smaller misfit with Cu than Zr solutes, the effect of Ag on the dislocation nucleation from grain boundaries in Cu can be larger than the corresponding effect of Zr. These findings are relevant to the search for optimal solute additions, which can strengthen a nanocrytalline material by suppressing the nucleation of dislocation slip from grain boundaries, while stabilizing it against grain growth.
Do Genetically Engineered Microorganisms Pose Risks to Ecosystems

Debate and controversy continues about proposals to release genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMS) into the environment. The concerns of ecologists and the public will have to be addressed by a program designed to build public trust about both risks and benefits of GEMS. At present there is no clear, coherent agenda of regulation in research for the public to relate to, and they know that the methods for assessing chemical or physical risks do not work with living GEMS. In this case the difference between basic research and applied research dissolves because any data in these GEM cases can be useful and applied immediately. This is because of the enormity of our ignorance about microbial ecology in general and in particular about the ecology of genes in soil and water. Molecular geneticists and ecologists must form a new discipline — Gene Ecology — in order to assess risks to the environment from horizontal gene transfer among GEMS and natural organisms in ecosystems.
Asset Pricing Implications in a Production Economy with an Investment Specific Technology Shock

The focus of this paper is to examine the asset pricing implications of a real business cycle model with recursive preferences and an investment specific technology shock. Particularly, in this model, the relative price of capital is subject to a shock and thereby it first increases the efficiency of investment and then improves the expected marginal product of next period's capital. Introduction of investment specific technology shock along with Epstein-Zin-Weil preferences in a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model is able to generate equity premium and risk free rate, its volatility as well as key macroeconomic facts that are consistent with U.S. data. The model successfully achieves the desired results with reasonable values of intertemporal elasticity of substitution (IES) and relative risk aversion (RRA) parameters that are consistent with empirical evidence.
Convergent Extension: The Molecular Control of Polarized Cell Movement during Embryonic Development

During development, vertebrate embryos undergo dramatic changes in shape. The lengthening and narrowing of a field of cells, termed convergent extension, contributes to a variety of morphogenetic processes. Focusing on frogs and fish, we review the different cellular mechanisms and the well-conserved signaling pathways that underlie this process.
Microheterogeneity of the glycoprotein subunit of the (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosine triphosphatase from the electroplax of Electrophorus electricus.

Abstract Isoelectric focusing of purified Na,K-ATPase on polyacrylamide gels resolved the protein into ten bands. The catalytic and glycoprotein subunits were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel filtration. Isoelectric focusing of the isolated glycoprotein subunit showed that it accounted for nine of the ten bands. Part of this microheterogeneity can be attributed to variations in sialic acid content in individual bands, since removal of all of the sialic acid by neuraminidase treatment reduced the number of bands to four. It is suggested that the microheterogeneity of the glycoprotein subunit is due to post-translational modifications of oligosaccharides on a common polypeptide backbone.
Mesothelin-targeted immunotherapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Despite the use of aggressive trimodality therapy consisting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and hemithoracic radiation, the median survival of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is 12 to 18 months (1,2). Immune responses have been shown to be beneficial in MPM patients (3,4); therefore, focusing immunotherapeutic strategies on promoting these immune responses is an attractive approach. One such approach involves targeting cancer-associated antigens highly expressed on mesothelioma cells by use of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant immunotoxins, vaccines, or genetically engineered T cells. Targeted antigens can be either cell-surface antigens, such as mesothelin, or intracellular antigens, such as WT-1. Cell-surface antigens are favored for the immunotherapeutic approach because of their ease of targeting.
Loop path reduction by state pruning

Path explosion has been a problem for symbolic execution for a long time. The key to avoid path explosion is to limit the number of paths generated within loops while maintaining high code coverage. Full symbolic execution creates paths for every possible execution path. Frequently, paths within loops do not contribute to code coverage. Branches within loops may generate new states at every iteration. The path explosion problem created by loops often stops symbolic execution to reach deeper parts of the code. In this paper, we propose a new path exploration method that reduces the number of states needed to achieve high coverage. Our algorithm limits the number of new states created by first prioritizing states, and then pruning the states that do not contribute to code coverage. Our algorithm does not require loop invariant inference/loop summarization, nor does it bound the number of iterations of loop exploration. The proposed algorithm can thus handle a broader set of loops than previous approaches. In fact, our algorithm is orthogonal to loop summarization techniques and search-guide heuristics, so it complements the current methods. We have implemented our algorithm using KLEE and tested with 235 student-generated versions of a classroom assignment. Our results show that our algorithm helps to achieve the same coverage with speedup of 11.8× for 117 out of the 235 programs, while adding 15% max observed and 2% average overhead over the 50% of programs not benefiting from the technique. The maximum speedup for a single program is 52.3×.
Immunomodulators targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction: From antibodies to small molecules

Cancer immunotherapy has made great strides in the recent decade, especially in the area of immune checkpoint blockade. The outstanding efficacy, prolonged durability of effect, and rapid assimilation of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies in clinical practice have been nothing short of a medical breakthrough in the treatment of numerous malignancies. The major advantages of these therapeutic antibodies over their small molecule counterparts have been their high binding affinity and target specificity. However, antibodies do have their flaws including immune-related toxicities, inadequate pharmacokinetics and tumor penetration, and high cost burden to manufacturers and consumers. These limitations hinder broader clinical applications of the antibodies and have heightened interests in developing the alternative small molecule platform that includes peptidomimetics and peptides to target the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint system. The progress on these small molecule alternatives has been relatively slow compared to that of the antibodies. Fortunately, recent structural studies of the interactions among PD-1, PD-L1, and their respective antibodies have revealed key hotspots on PD-1 and PD-L1 that may facilitate drug discovery efforts for small molecule immunotherapeutics. This review is intended to discuss key concepts in immuno-oncology, describe the successes and shortcomings of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody-based therapies, and to highlight the recent development of small molecule inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction.
Associations between polysomnography and actigraphy-based sleep indices and glycemic control among those with and without type 2 diabetes: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Study Objectives To examine the associations of sleep measures with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. Methods Data were from 2049 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants taking part in a sleep ancillary study. Cross-sectional linear regression models examined associations of actigraphy estimates of sleep (sleep duration, variability, and maintenance efficiency) and polysomnography measures (obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] and hypoxemia) with HbA1c, stratified by diabetes status. Primary models were adjusted for demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and obesity. Results Among individuals with diabetes (20 per cent population), those who slept <5 hr/night had greater HbA1c than those who slept 7-8 hr/night (7.44 vs. 6.98 per cent, ptrend = 0.04), with no attenuation of associations after adjusting for OSA/hypoxemia. In women with diabetes, but not men, those in the lowest quartile of sleep maintenance efficiency had greater HbA1c than those in the highest quartile of sleep maintenance efficiency (7.60 vs. 6.97 per cent, ptrend < 0.01). Among those without diabetes, individuals with severe OSA or in the highest quartile of hypoxemia had significantly greater HbA1c than those without OSA or who were in the lowest quartile of hypoxemia (5.76 vs. 5.66 per cent, ptrend = 0.01; 5.75 vs. 5.66 per cent, ptrend < 0.01, respectively). Associations did not meaningfully differ by race/ethnicity. Conclusions Among individuals with diabetes, HbA1c was significantly higher in men and women with short sleep duration and in women with poor sleep maintenance efficiency, suggesting a role for behavioral sleep interventions in the management of diabetes. Among individuals without diabetes, untreated severe OSA/hypoxemia may adversely influence HbA1c.
Assessment of Multilingual Collections in Public Libraries: A Case Study of the Toronto Public Library

Abstract Objective – The Toronto Public Library has been frequently identified as having an exemplary multilingual collection to serve the information needs of the most diverse population in Canada; however, there is no evidence or collection assessment information available in the literature to validate those claims. This research sought to gain an understanding of the current state of their multilingual collection and compare it to the most recent multicultural population demographics. Methods – This was a case study of the Toronto Public Library multilingual collection using data collected from their online public access catalogue in November 2017. Data was collected about all languages available, with English, French, and the 17 most spoken mother tongues explored in more detail. Language results from the Statistics Canada 2016 Census of Population were also collected. Data was used to calculate and compare the English, French, and language collections to the population of reported mother tongues spoken in Toronto. Results – It was found that the Toronto Public Library has items in 307 languages. While the collection comprises many languages, there is far more focus on official language items than any other language compared to the population in terms of number of items and variety of formats. All 17 non-official languages that were studied had fewer items proportionally available in the catalogue than the proportion of speakers with that mother tongue. Conclusion – The high circulation rates of the Toronto Public Library’s multilingual collection indicate that it has had some success in meeting the needs of its community. However, as the largest library system in Canada with a highly regarded multilingual collection and with many resources for collection development, the Toronto Public Library falls short of having a language collection that is proportional to the languages spoken within the community. While it may not be possible to have a multilingual collection that is entirely representative of the community, this study shows that libraries can use census data to monitor population shifts in order to be responsive to the information needs of their changing communities.
Abstract B64: Race and prostate cancer: miRNA isoforms and tRNA fragments could hold some of the answers

Prostate cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in men. Compared to White (Wh) men, Black/African American (B/Aa) men exhibit higher mortality and higher incidence rates of prostate cancer. This difference remains even after modifiable factors are taken into account, which suggests an underlying cause. Recent studies greatly improved our understanding of the biochemistry of prostate cancer. Nonetheless, many open questions remain, especially with regard to the molecular underpinnings of the observed race disparities. In this study, we analyzed 526 transcriptomic datasets from prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) patients. We obtained the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository. We focused on two categories of noncoding RNAs that regulate messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein abundance: (1) microRNAs (miRNAs) and their isoforms (isomiRs) and (2) tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs). Both tRFs and isomiRs regulate mRNAs and their proteins through the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). Furthermore, tRFs have a number of other regulatory roles in healthy and diseased cells, including direct physical interactions with ribosomal proteins and initiation factors. Notably, we have demonstrated and reported previously that isomiRs and tRFs are constitutive and transcribed in a manner that depends strongly on a person9s gender, race, and population origin, as well as on tissue type, tissue state, and disease type/subtype. Our analyses of the TCGA PRAD datasets revealed that both isomiRs and tRFs are disrupted in PRAD. By extension, the regulatory networks that link isomiRs and tRFs to mRNAs are also disrupted. We also uncovered transcriptomic differences and differential regulatory relationships that are aligned with patient race. Moreover, we found that the molecular differences between B/Aa and Wh PRAD patients extend to normal prostate tissue as well. These findings mirror earlier results that we obtained from both healthy individuals and cancer patients. The race-dependent regulatory profiles highlight differences in the underlying biology in B/Aa and Wh individuals that have yet to be explored. For example, the corresponding molecules could potentially be leveraged as novel biomarkers or alternative therapeutic targets. This study represents the first characterization of isomiRs and tRFs in a large cohort of PRAD patients. Citation Format: Rogan G. Magee, Aristeidis G. Telonis, Phillipe Loher, Eric Londin, Isidore Rigoutsos. Race and prostate cancer: miRNA isoforms and tRNA fragments could hold some of the answers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B64.
Phenomenological Insights into Oppression: Passive Synthesis and Personal Responsibility

Drawing on phenomenology’s account of “passive synthesis,” this paper seeks to provide a phenomenological vocabulary that could be useful in explaining institutional oppression to those who find it difficult to understand that we can be responsible for acts and meanings that we do not intend. Though the main goal of the paper is to justify the use of the terminology of passive synthesis in the discourse on oppression, the paper ends by suggesting how employing passive synthesis in this manner suggests ways of combating oppression.
Formation and loss of metastable brucite: does Fe(II)-bearing brucite support microbial activity in serpentinizing ecosystems?

Ultramafic rocks undergo successive stages of hydration and oxidation during water/rock interaction, giving rise to secondary minerals such as brucite, serpentine, magnetite and the production of H...
An updated geographic distribution of Myxobolus cerebralis (Hofer, 1903) (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae) and the first diagnosed case of whirling disease in wild-caught trout in the south-eastern United States.

Myxobolus cerebralis (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae), the aetiological agent of salmonid whirling disease, was detected in 2 river basins of North Carolina during 2015, which initiated the largest spatial-temporal monitoring project for the disease ever conducted within the south-eastern United States (focused mainly in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina). A total of 2072 rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, 1,004 brown trout Salmo trutta and 468 brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis were screened from 113 localities within 7 river basins during June 2017 through October 2019. Infections were detected by pepsin-trypsin digest, microscopy and the species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 19 localities across 6 river basins. Myxospore morphology was indistinguishable from the published literature. In 2019, five rainbow trout that symptomatic for whirling disease (sloping neurocranium and lordosis) were captured and processed for histopathology. Myxospores were detected in the calvarial cartilage of two deformed trout with associated erosion of the cartilage consistent with reported whirling disease lesions. This is the first report of M. cerebralis in Tennessee and the first histologically confirmed cases of whirling disease in southern Appalachian (south-eastern United States) rivers and streams and expands the distribution of M. cerebralis throughout western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
Prescription Patterns of Guideline Directed Therapies And Clinical Outcomes In Patients With Heart Failure, Based on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status

Introduction Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer due to advancements in antiretroviral therapies. Subsequently, people with HIV are developing chronic conditions such as heart failure (HF) which they tend to develop earlier in life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate prescription patterns of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) and clinical outcomes among HF patients with reduced EF (HFrEF), with and without HIV. Methods We retrospectively investigated electronic health records from 123 patients 18 years and older with HFrEF (n=82) matched 2:1 by HF diagnosis date to those with both HFrEF and HIV (n=41). This study was conducted in a large, academic medical center including records from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2019. Baseline demographics, such as comorbidities, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters; prescription data; and healthcare utilization were evaluated at year 1 and 2 after HFrEF diagnosis. The primary endpoint was a composite of GDMT prescriptions for HFrEF: angiotensin modulator (AM - angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blocker or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor); beta-blocker; or aldosterone antagonist. Secondary endpoints were HF-related events including hospitalization for HF and outpatient clinic visits. Results Compared to patients with HFrEF, those with HFrEF and HIV were younger (50±11 vs 56±14 years, p Conclusions Results from this single-center study provide insight into the current treatment and management of HFrEF in patients with HIV. This vulnerable population may receive less aggressive GDMT, especially during their first year after HFrEF diagnosis, which could be driving increased hospitalizations. Furthermore, these patients may face additional factors that affect their care, such as chronic kidney disease and racial disparities.
The TRIPS Agreement Article 73 Security Exceptions and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Governments to contemplate measures to override patents and other intellectual property rights (IPRs) in order to facilitate production and distribution of vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and medical devices This paper discusses whether the COVID-19 pandemic may be considered an “emergency in international relations” and how WTO Member States may invoke Article 73 (“Security Exceptions”) of the TRIPS Agreement as the legal basis for overriding IPRs otherwise required to be made available or enforced It concludes that the pandemic constitutes an emergency in international relations within the meaning of Article 73(b)(iii) and that this provision allows Governments to take actions necessary to protect their essential security interests
Precursory Slow Slip and Foreshocks on Rough Faults

Foreshocks are not uncommon prior to large earthquakes, but their physical mechanism controversial. Two interpretations have been put forward: 1. foreshocks are driven by aseismic nucleation; 2. foreshocks are cascades, with each event triggered by earlier ones. Here we study seismic cycles on faults with fractal roughness at wavelengths exceeding the nucleation length. We perform 2-D quasi-dynamic simulations of frictionally uniform rate-state faults. Roughness leads to a range of slip behavior between system-size ruptures, including widespread creep, localized slow slip, and microseismicity. These processes are explained by spatial variations in normal stress (σ) caused by roughness: regions with low σ tend to creep, while high σ regions remain locked until they break seismically. Foreshocks and mainshocks both initiate from the rupture of locked asperities, but mainshocks preferentially start on stronger asperities. The preseismic phase is characterized by a feedback between creep and foreshocks: episodic seismic bursts break groups of nearby asperities, causing creep to accelerate, which in turns loads other asperities leading to further foreshocks. A simple analytical treatment of this mutual stress transfer, confirmed by simulations, predicts slip velocities and seismicity rates increase as 1/t, where t is the time to the mainshock. The model reproduces the observed migration of foreshocks towards the mainshock hypocenter, foreshock locations consistent with static stress changes, and the 1/t acceleration in stacked catalogs. Instead of interpreting foreshocks as either driven by coseismic stress changes or by creep, we propose that earthquake nucleation on rough faults is driven by the feedback between the two.
The role of the laboratory medicine in the diagnosis of the hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is a clinical condition characterized by inappropriately high synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. It has multiple aetiologies, manifestations and potential therapies. Graves' disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism, due to the production of autoantibodies against thyrotropin receptor, capable of over-stimulating thyroid function. A reliable diagnosis of hyperthyroidism can be established on clinical grounds, followed by the evaluation of serum thyroid functional tests (thyrotropin first and then free thyroxine, adding the measurement of free triiodothyronine in selected specific situations). The recent guidelines of both the American and European Thyroid Associations have strongly recommended the measurement of thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies for the accurate diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. If autoantibody test is negative, a radioiodine uptake and thyroid scan should be performed. Taking into account the most recent laboratory improvements, thyroid binding inhibition immunoglobulin can be considered the best first solution for the measurement of thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies in diagnosis and management of overt cases of Graves' disease. In fact, they have a satisfactory sensitivity and specificity (97.4% and 99.2%, respectively) being performed in clinical laboratories on automated platforms together with the other thyroid function tests. In this setting, the bioassays should be reserved for fine and complex diagnoses and for particular clinical conditions where it is essential to document the transition from stimulating to blocking activity or vice versa (e.g. pregnancy and post-partum, related thyroid eye disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis with extrathyroidal manifestations, unusual cases after LT4 therapy for hypothyroidism or after anti-thyroid drug treatment for Graves' disease). Undoubtedly, technological advances will help improve laboratory diagnostics of hyperthyroidism. Nevertheless, despite future progress, the dialogue between clinicians and laboratory will continue to be fundamental for an adequate knowledge and interpretation of the laboratory tests and, therefore, for an accurate diagnosis and correct management of the patient.
Changes in Management Strategy and Impact of Neoadjuvant Therapy on Extent of Surgery in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: Analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB)

Given reports of low response rates to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), we evaluated whether use of alternative strategies such as neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) is increasing. Additionally, we investigated whether NET is associated with more breast conservation surgery (BCS) and less extensive axillary surgery in those with ILC. We queried the NCDB from 2010 to 2016 and identified all women with stage I–III hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2−) ILC who underwent surgery. We used Cochrane–Armitage tests to evaluate trends in utilization of the following treatment strategies: NAC, short-course NET, long-course NET, and primary surgery. We compared rates of BCS and extent of axillary surgery stratified by clinical stage and tumor receptor subtype for each treatment strategy. Among 69,312 cases of HR+/HER2− ILC, NAC use decreased slightly (from 4.7 to 4.2%, p = 0.007), while there was a small but significant increase in long-course NET (from 1.6 to 2.7%, p < 0.001). Long-course NET was significantly associated with increased BCS in patients with cT2–cT4 disease and less extensive axillary surgery in clinically node positive patients with HR+/HER2− tumors. Primary surgery remains the most common treatment strategy in patients with ILC. However, NAC use decreased slightly over the study period, while the use of long-course NET had a small increase and was associated with more BCS and less extensive axillary surgery.
Geospace Plume and Its Impact on Dayside Magnetopause Reconnection Rate

The role a geospace plume in influencing the efficiency of magnetopause reconnection is an open question with two contrasting theories being debated. A local-control theory suggests that a plume decreases both local and global reconnection rates, whereas a global-control theory argues that the global reconnection rate is controlled by the solar wind rather than local physics. Observationally, limited numbers of point measurements from spacecraft cannot reveal whether a local change affects the global reconnection. A distributed observatory is hence needed to assess the validity of the two theories. We use THEMIS and Los Alamos National Laboratory spacecraft to identify the occurrence of a geospace plume and its contact with the magnetopause. Global evolution and morphology of the plume is traced using GPS measurements. SuperDARN is then used to monitor the distribution and the strength of dayside reconnection. Two storm-time geospace plume events are examined and show that as the plume contacts the magnetopause, the efficiency of reconnection decreases at the contact longitude. The amount of local decrease is 81% and 68% for the two events, and both values are consistent with the mass loading effect of the plume if the plume's atomic mass is ∼4 amu. Reconnection in the surrounding is enhanced, and when the solar wind driving is stable, little variation is seen in the cross polar cap potential. This study illuminates a pathway to resolve the role of cold dense plasma on solar wind-magnetosphere coupling, and the observations suggest that plumes redistribute magnetopause reconnection activity without changing the global strength substantially.
Adding LCMPT Terms to Local Catalog Records for Notated Music for Voice and Piano

Medium of performance is a valuable way to find music materials, but it is challenging to search by medium in library catalogs. Songs for specific voice types are especially difficult to look for u...
Fehlerabschätzung bei nichtlinearen Differentialungleichungen mit Hilfe linearer Differentialungleichungen

Ifu andv satisfy a sufficiently regular partial differential equation, it has been common knowledge for at least fifty years that the mean-value theorem gives a linear equation, with variable coefficients, foru-v. The main idea in the following note is to replace the latter by a one-parameter family of linear inequalities, each of which has constant coefficients. This procedure applies to a considerable variety of problems, but is developed here only for second-order elliptic equations in bounded or unbounded regions. A number of specific examples are included, some of which are so highly nonlinear as to seem almost intractable. Nevertheless, the method has little subtlety or depth. Such advantages as it may have lie rather in the fact that the proofs are simple, and the results easy to use.
On the Education of the Heart: The Idea of Growth in Emerson and Cavell for Contemporary Education

INTRODUCTION: “THE EDUCATION OF THE HEART” A phrase being used frequently in Japanese education today is “the education of the heart.” It has become more popular since the atrocious incident of May 1997, when a junior high school boy killed an elementary school boy, cut off his head, and mounted it on the entrance gate of his school with the challenging letter: “This is my revenge upon compulsory education and the society that has made my existence transparent.” The authorities have judged the boy to be mentally ill. This incident has caused turmoil among educators in Japan. Most share the concern that this incident is but the tip of an iceberg that represents the malaise of modern Japanese society and exemplifies, in the extreme, the tendency among Japanese youth to have a selfish disregard for social norms and the value of human life.
Modeling human activity semantics for improved recognition performance

Activity recognition performance is significantly dependent on the accuracy of the underlying activity model. Therefore, it is essential to examine and develop an activity model that can capture and represent the complex nature of human activities precisely. To address this issue, we introduce a new activity modeling technique, which utilizes simple yet often ignored activity semantics. Activity semantics are highly evidential knowledge that can identify an activity more accurately in ambiguous situations. We classify semantics into three types and apply them to generic activity framework, which is a refined hierarchical composition structure of the traditional activity theory. We compare the introduced activity model with the traditional model and the hierarchical models in terms of attainable recognition certainty. The comparison study shows superior performance of our semantic model using activities of daily living scenario.
A null association between smoking during pregnancy and breast cancer using Massachusetts registry data (United States).

Objective: An earlier investigation reported a five-fold increase in breast cancer risk among women who smoked during pregnancy. Using a similar design, we re-examined this hypothesis. Methods: The source population comprised Massachusetts residents who gave birth between 1987 and 1999 with a birth record in the Massachusetts Vital Statistics Registry. Cases were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1988 and 2000 at ages 25-55 with a record in the Massachusetts Cancer Registry. Three controls were matched to each case on maternal age, year of giving birth, and birth facility. Information on smoking, the matched factors, and potential confounders were collected from the birth certificate. The data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, women who smoked during pregnancy did not have an increased risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not smoke during pregnancy (relative risk = 1.0, 95% Confidence interval CI = 0.81-1.2). We observed no dose response relation between number of cigarettes smoked per day during pregnancy and breast cancer risk. There was no evidence that our results were biased by misclassification from women inaccurately reporting their smoking status. Conclusion: In contrast to the previous study, we did not observe an increased risk of breast cancer in women who smoked during pregnancy.
Statistical and Geostatistical Mapping of Precipitation Water Isotope Ratios

More than 5 decades of monitoring has documented wide and systematic variation in the stable isotopic composition of precipitation across the globe. This variation is controlled by climatological processes that govern the source, transport and precipitation of atmospheric moisture. Given the ordered and spatially continuous nature of these processes, variation in precipitation isotopic composition represents a near-ideal system for spatial analysis using geostatistical methods. Spatial analysis of precipitation isotopic composition has a long history, and a wide range of methodologies have been applied to the problem of mapping and predicting isotopic compositions at scales ranging from 102 to 104 km. These range from basic space-only interpolation approaches to more quantitative regression and coupled geostatistical/regression techniques, each with particular benefits and drawbacks. Within the last decade, improved methods for generating quantitative predictions of precipitation isotope ratio distributions and the widespread dissemination of precipitation isoscapes via the world wide web have help spur the development of numerous applications of these data products in climatology, hydrology, ecology, and forensics. Current and future research emphasis on continued improvements in water isotope ratio monitoring and novel isoscapes model parameterizations should help lead to the development of dynamic precipitation isoscapes, incorporating both spatial and temporal variation, and enable new research and applications.
Efficacy and Tolerance of Long-Term, High-Dose Gabapentin: Additional Observations

Gabapentin (GBP) has shown antiepileptic efficacy and good tolerance in clinical trials. Much remains to be learned about its clinical use. As a participating center in the US Gabapentin Study Group, we report observations that have practical implications for patient management. Twenty-three patients with intractable partial-onset seizures initiated open-label treatment after a blinded placebo-controlled add-on dose efficacy study. In the titration phase, GBP and concurrent antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were adjusted to achieve optimal efficacy on maximally tolerated GBP doses. Nine patients had no significant improvement in seizure control and discontinued GBP. The remaining 14 patients were observed while treated long-term with stable-dose GBP and concurrent AEDs. Improvement was maintained as long as patients were followed: < or = 4 years. The protocol-allowed upper dose limit, 2,400 mg/day, was well tolerated by 16 of 23 patients, indicating that higher doses may be tolerated. GBP discontinuation did not cause rebound increases in seizure frequency. The most common adverse events (AEs) (in 14 of 23) were similar to those induced by concurrent AEDs and responded to reduction of concurrent AEDs. Many patients reported positive psychostimulatory effects. These observations extend previous findings indicating that GBP is an effective and well-tolerated drug for treatment of partial-onset seizures.
The influence of task type, group structure and extraversion on uninhibited speech in computer-mediated communication

Abstract Computer-mediated communication networks have been reported to foster uninhibited verbal exchanges. It has been theorized that this is because of the depersonalizing influence that the technology has on the individual. It has also been theorized that the phenomenon's intensity can be mediated by the types of tasks that are discussed over this medium and by the relations of the group members and the group member's personalities. An experiment was performed to evaluate the influence of task type, group structure, and extraversion on the amount of uninhibited speech in a computer-mediated discussion. Two types of group discussion tasks were used: a choice-dilemna task without any clear-cut solution and a definitive solution task. Two types of group structures served as a blocking strategy: preacquainted versus nonacquainted triads. Group members' degree of extraversion was assessed since it was assumed that extraverts are more outgoing by definition and thus would be likely to exhibit such uninhibited speech to a greater extent than persons that were less extraverted. The results indicated that uninhibited speech was greatest for preaquainted triads assigned a definitive solution task. Also, uninhibited speech was greatest for persons who were highly extrverted. An inverse relationship was found between amount of uninhibited speech and group productivity. Implications for the management of computer-mediated communications are discussed.
Recombinant single‐chain variable fragment antibodies against extracellular epitopes of human multidrug resistance protein MRP3 for targeting malignant gliomas

Multidrug resistance protein 3 (MRP3), a multidrug resistance protein identified by serial analysis of gene expression as a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)-associated molecule, is highly expressed in GBM, but not in normal brain cells. Thus, MRP3 is a candidate for GBM immunotargeting, but to date, no monoclonal antibody has been isolated that can target an extracellular MRP3 epitope. By phage display, we have isolated 3 recombinant, fully human, single-chain Fv (scFv) antibodies, M25, M58 and M89, which specifically react with the extracellular N-terminus of human MRP3. In ELISA, these scFvs reacted only with the peptide used for screening and not with other MRP3-derived peptides. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that these scFv fragments bind specifically to viable human GBM cells displaying different MRP3 expression levels, but not to MRP3-null cells. Furthermore, these scFv antibodies failed to react with tumor cells overexpressing other MRP proteins, including MRP1, MRP2, MRP4 and MRP5. M25 and M58 also bound to viable neurospheres. Iodogen-labeled scFvs demonstrated a yield of 56–76%. The immunoreactive fractions of the radiolabeled M25, M58 and M89 scFvs were 32, 52 and 69%, respectively. M25 exhibited 20% internalization into D2159MG neurospheres, M58, 33% into D54MG cells and M89, 26% into D247MG. Immunohistochemical evaluation of human gliomas to determine the localization of MRP3 antigen using scFvs M25 and M58 showed a dense cytoplasmic and membranous staining pattern. These Fv-based recombinant antibodies, which possess superior tumor penetration capabilities and selectively target tumor cells that express MRP3, may potentially be used in immunotherapy and diagnosis for brain tumors and other cancers.
Hierarchical motion-compensated deinterlacing

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a new method of converting interlaced video to a progressively scanned video.The missing pixel values of the interlaced sequence are interpolated from past fields according to motion vectors found between the present and past. Hierarchical block-matching motion estimation is used in finding these motion vectors. This approach gives improved results over conventional de-interlacing meth-ods such as median filtering and linear spatial iflterj)ola.tion. 1. INTRODUCTION Interlaced video is widely used in transmitting a sequence ofimages. Most television systems incorporateinterlace for its many advantages, including the reduction of baudwith. However, some image processingtasks require that interlaced video l)e converted to progressively scanned video. Conversion of frame ratesbetween different interlaced television standards is a. good example. For television systems implementingprogressively scanned display, de-interlaciiig is certainly a. necessity.Motion estimation has found use in video coding and image sequence restoration or deblurring, and awide variety of algorithms have been developed over the past several years[1-6J. In particular, [6] appliesa two-level hierarchy to the problem of interpolating missing fields in a reduced-resolution test sequence.Motion estimation has also been applied to the problem of de-interlacing. In this paper we apply a QMFpyramid based motion estimation technique[fl to the dc-interlacing problem in a novel manner.
Reform, “rebirth” and regret: The rise and decline of the ethnic‐German nationalist wiedergeburt movement in the USSR and CIS, 1987–1993

In early 1989, the Soviet Germans established the Wiedergeburt (“Rebirth”) All-Union Society. An umbrella-organization originally designed to protect and advance ethnic-German interests in the USSR, the “Rebirth” Society adopted the most effective legal means by which it could confront the regime—namely, political dissent based on Lenin's notion of national self-determination. The “Rebirth” movement evolved in this context and represented the fifteenth-largest Soviet nationality numbering more than two million in the 1989 Soviet census. By 1993, official membership in the “Rebirth” Society included nearly 200,000 men and women. Ironically, at the very moment the Soviet Germans became more politically conscious, the Soviet Union and the ethnic-German community were disintegrating.
Repair methylation of parental DNA In synchronized cultures of Novikoff hepatoma cells

Parental and filial DNA strands were isolated from a Novikoff rat hepatoma cell line, synchronized by S-phase arrest with excess thymidine, that had completed up to one round of DNA replication in the presence of (14-C-methyl)methionine and (6-3-H) bromodeoxyuridine. Both strands were methylated, the proportion of total methyl label in parental DNA increasing slightly with time in S-phase. The studies were repeated with (14-C-methyl)methionine and (3-H)deoxycytidine to determine if parental methylation occurred on extant or repair-inserted cytosine residues. Both (14-C) and (3-H) were found in parental DNA. The (14-C)/(3-H) ration of parental DNA-5-methylcytosine was about twice that in filial DNA while the (3-H) data showed twice the concentration of 5-methylcytosine in parental compared to filial DNA. Thus parental methylation occurred on repair-inserted cytosine residues and resulted in overmethylation. That the DNA damage and repair was due to 5-phase arrest was shown by repeating the studies using a sequential mitotic-G1 arrest method. With this method little (14-C) or (3-H) was found in parental DNA. We conclude that S-phase arrest leads to DNA damage and repair with subsequent overmethylation of repair-inserted cytosines; that sequential mitotic-G1 arrest minimizes DNA damage; and, that the latter technique, suitable for synchronization of large quantities of cells, may prove useful in relatively artifact-free studies of eukaryotic DNA replication.