cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postmastectomy irradiation: rationale for treatment field selection.

The goal of postmastectomy irradiation is to eliminate residual viable tumor in tissue remaining after standard mastectomy. Because this subclinical disease is, by definition, not detectable by current technology, the choice of patients and treatment volumes for postmastectomy irradiation must be inferred from a variety of data sources. The absolute risk of locoregional recurrence is related to the stage of disease, the extent of lymphatic involvement, and other treatment received. Patterns of failure analyses consistently identify the chest wall as the most important target for treatment with radiation therapy in high-risk patients. When patients with multiple locoregional sites of recurrence are included, the chest wall may be involved in as many as 60% to 80% of patients. The second most common place for locoregional failure is the undissected lymphatics of the paraclavicular region. The cumulative probability of failure in this region ranges from 10% to 35% of the patients treated for locoregional recurrence. Microscopic tumor metastases in the internal mammary chain are theorized to represent a potential source for distant metastases. Each of the prospective trials of postmastectomy irradiation that have shown survival benefit included the internal mammary chain within their target volume. Nonetheless, local failure in the internal mammary nodes is an uncommon finding. Similarly, after a level I and II axillary dissection, axillary failure is a minor component of local recurrence risk, and its is probable that only a subset of patients may benefit from axillary irradiation.
Religious Conservatives and the Requirements of Citizenship: Political Autonomy

Many scholars have viewed the rise and political influence of religious conservatives in the U.S. with some alarm, arguing that their commitments are so illiberal and undemocratic as to be a substantial threat to the creation and maintenance of a just and stable democratic polity. In particular, many worry that religious conservatives lack the requisite civic virtues necessary to making pluralist democracies work. After attending to what sorts of virtues a good citizen ought to possess, we present evidence drawn from interviews with state-level religious conservative activists suggesting that political mobilization and integration into institutions of deliberation and electoral contestation actually works to make them better citizens, at least with respect to one important virtue, political autonomy. If such engagement can temporize the dangers politicized religion can sometimes pose, those concerned about religion's public influence might have their fears eased. Religious conservative activists can make for good citizens, fellow participants in the project of constructing a common political order that is durable, decent, and democratic.
Contrasting trends in sea ice and primary production in the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean

Satellite remote sensing data were used to examine recent trends in sea-ice cover and net primary productivity (NPP) in the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean. In nearly all regions, diminished sea-ice cover significantly enhanced annual NPP, indicating that light-limitation predominates across the seasonally ice-covered waters of the northern hemisphere. However, long-term trends have not been uniform spatially. The seasonal ice pack of the Bering Sea has remained consistent over time, partially because of winter winds that have continued to carry frigid Arctic air southwards over the past six decades. Hence, apart from the “Arctic-like” Chirikov Basin (where sea-ice loss has driven a 30% increase in NPP), no secular trends are evident in Bering Sea NPP, which averaged 288+ 26 Tg C year over the satellite ocean colour record (1998–2009). Conversely, sea-ice cover in the Arctic Ocean has plummeted, extending the open-water growing season by 45 d in just 12 years, and promoting a 20% increase in NPP (range 441– 585 Tg C year). Future sea-ice loss will likely stimulate additional NPP over the productive Bering Sea shelves, potentially reducing nutrient flux to the downstream western Arctic Ocean.
A technique to compensate for temperature history effects in the simulation of non-isothermal forging processes

Abstract An empirical method was developed to “correct” isothermal flow stress data and thus account for temperature history effects in non-isothermal forging processes. The method is essentially an iterative procedure that uses an FEM code, such as alpid/deform , and results of non-isothermal forging trials to adjust the isothermal flow stress data. Simulation results, conducted with such data for Ti-6Al-4V investigated here, give predictions that are comparable to the experimental load and metal flow measurements in non-isothermal ring tests. Hence, the approach developed in this study, can be used to: (1) obtain the flow stress behavior under non-isothermal forging conditions; and (2) improve the accuracy of FEM simulations of conventional hot forging processes in general.
A comparison of two measures of HIV diversity in multi-assay algorithms for HIV incidence estimation.

Background: Multi-assay algorithms (MAAs) can be used to estimate HIV incidence in cross-sectional surveys. We compared the performance of two MAAs that use HIV diversity as one of four biomarkers for analysis of HIV incidence. Methods: Both MAAs included two serologic assays (LAg-Avidity assay and BioRad-Avidity assay), HIV viral load, and an HIV diversity assay. HIV diversity was quantified using either a high resolution melting (HRM) diversity assay that does not require HIV sequencing (HRM score for a 239 base pair env region) or sequence ambiguity (the percentage of ambiguous bases in a 1,302 base pair pol region). Samples were classified as MAA positive (likely from individuals with recent HIV infection) if they met the criteria for all of the assays in the MAA. The following performance characteristics were assessed: (1) the proportion of samples classified as MAA positive as a function of duration of infection, (2) the mean window period, (3) the shadow (the time period before sample collection that is being assessed by the MAA), and (4) the accuracy of crosssectional incidence estimates for three cohort studies. Results: The proportion of samples classified as MAA positive as a function of duration of infection was nearly identical for the two MAAs. The mean window period was 141 days for the HRM-based MAA and 131 days for the sequence ambiguitybased MAA. The shadows for both MAAs were ,1 year. Both MAAs provided cross-sectional HIV incidence estimates that were very similar to longitudinal incidence estimates based on HIV seroconversion. Conclusions: MAAs that include the LAg-Avidity assay, the BioRad-Avidity assay, HIV viral load, and HIV diversity can provide accurate HIV incidence estimates. Sequence ambiguity measures obtained using a commercially-available HIV genotyping system can be used as an alternative to HRM scores in MAAs for cross-sectional HIV incidence estimation.
Time-Dependent Inhibition of Oxotremorine-Induced Cerebral Hyperemia by Nω-Nitro-l-Arginine in Cats

Background and Purpose Oxotremorine (OXO) is a cholinergic agonist that increases cerebral blood flow (CBF) when administered intravenously. We tested the hypothesis that OXO causes a dose-related increase in CBF in cats via a muscarinic mechanism that involves stimulation of nitric oxide synthase. Methods Halothane-anesthetized male cats were studied under controlled ventilation. In three groups we measured cerebral blood flow (CBF; microspheres) during 30 minutes of intravenous OXO infusion at doses of 0.5 (n=3), 5 (n=6), or 50 μg · kg−1 · min−1 (n=6). The role of muscarinic receptor activation in the CBF response to OXO (50 μg · kg−1 · min−1) was assessed by determining the effect of atropine sulfate (2 mg · kg−1, n=6) pretreatment in a separate group of cats. The role of nitric oxide synthase was assessed by determining the CBF response to OXO (50 μg · kg−1 · min−1) either 30 (n=6) or 60 minutes (n=5) after administration of 50 mg/kg Nω-nitro-l-arginine (LNA). Results CBF to forebrain (pre-OXO, 144±12...
Deep Pacific CaCO 3 compensation and glacial-interglacial atmospheric CO 2

Abstract Benthic foraminiferal δ13C suggests that there was a net shift of isotopically light metabolic CO2 from the upper ocean into the deep ocean during the last glacial period. According to the ‘CaCO3 compensation’ hypothesis, this should have caused a transient drop in deep ocean CO32− that was eventually reversed by seafloor dissolution of CaCO3. The resulting increase in whole-ocean pH may have had a significant impact on atmospheric CO2, compounding any decrease that was due to the initial vertical CO2 shift. The opposite hypothetically occurred during deglaciation, when CO2 was returned to the upper ocean (and atmosphere) and deep ocean CO32− temporarily increased, followed by excess burial of CaCO3 and a drop in whole-ocean pH. The deep sea record of CaCO3 preservation appears to reflect these processes, with the largest excursion during deglaciation (as expected), but various factors make quantification of deep sea paleo-CO32− difficult. Here we reconstruct deep equatorial Pacific CO32− over the last glacial–interglacial cycle using benthic foraminiferal Zn/Ca, which is strongly affected by saturation state during calcite precipitation. Our data are in agreement with the CaCO3 compensation theory, including glacial CO32− concentrations similar to (or slightly lower than) today, and a Termination I CO32− peak of ∼25–30 μmol kg−1. The deglacial CO32− rise precedes ice sheet melting, consistent with the timing of the atmospheric CO2 rise. A later portion of the peak could reflect removal of CO2 from the atmosphere–ocean system due to boreal forest regrowth. CaCO3 compensation alone may explain more than one third of the atmospheric CO2 lowering during glacial times.
Assessment of an 18F-Labeled Phosphoramidate Peptidomimetic as a New Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen–Targeted Imaging Agent for Prostate Cancer

to S-2-((2-(S-4-amino-4-carboxybutanamido)-S-2-carboxyethoxy)hydroxyphosphorylamino)-pentanedioic acid (Phosphoramidate (1)), yielding S-2-((2-(S-4-(4-18F-fluorobenzamido)-4-carboxybutanamido)-S-2-carboxyethoxy)hydroxyphosphorylamino)pentanedioic acid (3). In vivo studies were conducted in mice bearing either LNCaP (PSMA-positive) or PC-3 (PSMA-negative) tumors. PET images were acquired at 1 and 2 h with or without a preinjection of a nonradioactive version of the fluorophosphoramidate. Tissue distribution studies were performed at the end of the 2 h imaging sessions. Results: Phosphoramidate (1) and its fluorobenzamido conjugate (2) were potent inhibitors of PSMA (inhibitory concentration of 50% [IC50], 14 and 0.68 nM, respectively). PSMA-mediated tumor accumulation was noted in the LNCaP versus the PC-3 tumor xenografts. The LNCaP tumor uptake was also blocked by the administration of nonradioactive (2) prior to imaging studies. With the exception of the kidneys, tumor-to-tissue and tumor-to-blood ratios were greater than 5:1 at 2 h. The strong kidney uptake may be due to the known PSMA expression in the mouse kidney, because significant reduction (.6-fold) in kidney activity was seen in mice injected with (2). Conclusion: 18 F-labeled phosphoramidate (3) is a representative of a new class of PSMA targeting peptidomimetic molecules that shows great promise as imaging agents for detecting PSMA1 prostate tumors.
Expression of the Transcription Factor Lung Krüppel-Like Factor Is Regulated by Cytokines and Correlates with Survival of Memory T Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

The transcription factor lung Kruppel-like factor (LKLF) is involved in naive T cell survival. Expression of LKLF is rapidly down-regulated upon T cell stimulation, raising the question of whether LKLF is reexpressed after activation, and what factors are required for such reexpression. Furthermore, the expression of LKLF in resting memory cells has not been determined. Here, we use the OT-I TCR transgenic mouse system to address these issues. LKLF was found to be reexpressed following culture of activated CD8 T cells in certain cytokines (IL-2, IL-7) but not others (IL-12) known to influence CTL development. Interestingly, induction of LKLF reexpression corresponded with long-term T cell survival and development of memory T cell phenotype. Furthermore, using OT-I cells stimulated in vivo, we demonstrated that Ag induced rapid LKLF down-regulation and that the factor is expressed by in vivo-derived memory T cells.
Simplified crossover SAFT equation of state for pure fluids and fluid mixtures

Abstract A simplified modification of the crossover statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) EOS is used to describe thermodynamic properties of pure fluids and binary mixtures over a wide range of parameters of state including the nearest vicinity of the critical point. For pure fluids, the simplified crossover (SCR) SAFT model contains only three adjustable parameters but allows an accurate prediction of the critical parameters of pure fluids and yields a better representation of the thermodynamic properties of pure fluids than the original SAFT equation of state. For binary mixtures, simple mixing rules with only one adjustable parameter are used. A comparison is made with experimental data for pure refrigerants R12, R22, R32, R125, R134a, R143a, and mixtures R22+R12, R32+R134a and R125+R32 in the one- and two-phase regions. The SCR SAFT EOS reproduces the saturated pressure data with an average absolute deviation (AAD) of about 1.1% and the saturated liquid densities with an AAD of about 0.9%. In the one-phase region, the SCR SAFT equation represents the experimental values of pressure with an AAD of about 2.2% in the range of temperatures and density bounded by T≥Tc and ρ≤2ρc.
Abstract W P9: SAMMPRIS, WASID, and the Non-Linearity of Stroke Risk: Is There Room for Further Trials of Intervention for Intracranial Stenosis?

Background: SAMMPRIS concluded that aggressive medical management (AMM) was superior to early percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) plus AMM for patients with symptomatic severe intracranial stenosis. WASID and SAMMPRIS have shown that the risk of recurrent stroke after the initial event is early, non-linear, and markedly diminishes over one year irrespective of treatment. We therefore investigated the feasibility of demonstrating benefit for a new endovascular intervention (nEI) for these patients within this narrow time window. Methods: We compared 1-year stroke/death rates in patients treated with AMM versus a hypothesized nEI. The 1-year stroke/death rate for AMM was derived from the SAMMPRIS trial. A minimal 30-day stroke/death rate for a nEI was set to 3% using data from endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The subsequent stroke/death rate over the ensuing 11 months was varied above and below the rates achieved in SAMMPRIS, and the sample size for a future 1-sided superiority trial was calculated at 0.05 alpha and 80% power. Results: For a nEI with the same 31-365 days stroke/death rate as SAMMPRIS AMM (5.3%) but an improved 30-day stroke/death rate of 3%, a total of 1,484 subjects would be required to show significant benefit over AMM. At the SAMMPRIS recruitment rate of 187 patients/year, it would take 7.9 years to recruit 1,484 patients. Varying the 31-365 days stroke/death rate for nEI from 3% to 8%, and keeping 0-30 days stroke/death rate constant at 3%, (1 year total nEI stroke/death rate ranging from 6% to 11%), the total sample size required to show significant benefit at 1 year over AMM (1 year stroke/death rate of 12.2%) would be 518 and 17,600 respectively. This trial would take approximately 2.8 years and 94.1 years to recruit the eligible subjects at the SAMMPRIS rate, respectively. Conclusion: Identification of higher-risk subgroups, demonstration of decreased 30-day endovascular complication rates, and enhanced recruitment strategies will be necessary before institution of trials of new endovascular interventions for symptomatic intracranial stenosis.
Lipemia in the rabbit following injection of pituitary extract.

SummaryAn extract prepared from lyophilized hog anterior pituitary gland produces lipemia in rabbits. A similar effect is produced by whole pituitary glands from men, hogs, sheep, and cattle. Activity of the crude extract of lyophilized glands is considerably greater than can be accounted for by the presence of any of the purified anterior pituitary fractions so far tested. This suggests that the lipemia-producing substance is distinct from the recognized pituitary hormones, or that 2 or more pituitary hormones act in a synergistic manner upon the rabbit's serum lipids.
A Brief lnsulil Tolerance Test

SummaryFor the first 15 minutes the rate of fall in reducing substances in the blood expressed in per cent of fasting value is not much affected by decreasing the size of the intravenous dose of insulin below 0.1 u/kg or by increasing it in oneirophrenics, At 15 minutes the separation is statistically valid despite a bump of unknown significance on this descending limb of the curve. Therefore, it is possible, in patients suspected of oneiro-phrenia, to estimate the resistance to insulin with a statistical validity as great as can be obtained from much longer tests.
Mathematical Construction of a Fully-Coupled Engineering Model for Composite Piezoelectric Plates

A fully coupled model considering both sensing and actuation for composites plates with embedded piezoelectric materials is constructed using the variational asymptotic method. Without invoking any ad hoc kinematic assumptions, we take advantage of the geometric small parameter inherent in the structure to mathematically split the original three-dimensional, geometrically nonlinear, piezoelectricity problem into: a coupled, linear, one-dimensional piezoelectric through-the-thickness analysis and a coupled, geometrically nonlinear, two-dimensional piezoelectric plate analysis. Constitutive models are developed for two difierent types of electrode arrangements: electroded lateral boundaries and electroded face surfaces. Examples for single layer and multi-layer plates are given and compared with available results. Free vibration of piezoceramic plates is analyzed to demonstrate the application of the present theory.
Abstract SY03-02: Tumor metabolic phenotyping and treatment stratification by positron emission tomography

The ability to noninvasively measure key metabolic pathways in living subjects may assist the development of new, more efficacious therapies against cancer. Here we show that two new positron emission tomography (PET) probes, 1-(2′-deoxy-2′-18F-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine (18F-FAC) and 1-(2′-deoxy-2′-18F-fluoro-β-L-arabinofuranosyl)-5-methylcytosine (L-18F-FMAC), detect distinct phenotypic signatures of tumor nucleoside metabolism. 18F-FAC and L-18F-FMAC accumulation in tumors measured in vivo by PET is indicative of the activities of deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and cytidine deaminase (CDA), two key enzymes in nucleic acid metabolism. Metabolic subtypes detected by 18F-FAC and L-18F-FMAC were shown to correspond to the differential utilization by cancer cells of the nucleoside salvage pathway to generate and maintain deoxyribonucleotide pools required to sustain tumor growth. We also show that the metabolic subtypes defined by 18F-FAC and L-18F-FMAC PET measurements correlate with markedly distinct sensitivities to therapeutic interventions. These findings support the utility of PET-based phenotyping of tumor nucleoside metabolism for treatment stratification in cancer. 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 SY03-02. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-SY03-02
Design and Application Of Corrosion Intensity Checking System

It introduces a corrosion intensity checking system, which collects the weak corrosion current and then converts, displays and stores it. Firstly, it collects the weak current by a current sensor, and then amplifies it. Secondly, the amplified signal is converted to the digital signal by the A/D converter, which is processed by AT89C52.Thirdly, the present current and its corresponding corrosion degree is displayed on the LCD screen real-time. Meanwhile it will detect whether there is an IC card. If so, it stores the data into the E2PROM based on the I2C serial communication technique. Thus the weak current in a period can be supervised. Finally, Super-computer based on VB is in communication with Smart Card Reader, and the data in the card can be read and stored on the computer. The following paper mainly depicts the design and development of the corrosion intensity checking system. The effect that system reality is applied is fine.
Factor structure of the perceived stress scale-10 (PSS) across english and Spanish language responders in the HCHS/SOL sociocultural ancillary study

Despite widespread use, psychometric investigation of the original English and translated Spanish versions of the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983) has been limited among the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population. The present study examined the factor structure, factorial invariance, and reliability and validity of PSS scores from English and Spanish versions using data from 5,176 Hispanics/Latinos who participated in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study. The total sample and language multigroup confirmatory factor analyses supported a bifactor model with all 10 PSS items loading on a general perceived stress factor, and the 4 reverse-worded items also loading on a reverse-worded factor. Internal consistency ranged from .68 to .78, and it was indicated that reliable variance exists beyond the general perceived stress factor. The model displayed configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance across language groups. Convergent validity analyses indicated that both the general perceived stress factor and the reverse-worded factor were related to scores of depression, anxiety, and anger in the expected directions. The reverse-worded factor added to the validity of the PSS beyond the general perceived stress factor. The total computed score of the PSS can be recommended for use with Hispanics/Latinos in the United States that complete the measure in English or Spanish and the reverse-worded factor can enhance prediction. (PsycINFO Database Record
Taxonomic placement of Epichloë poae sp. nov. and horizontal dissemination to seedlings via conidia

A new Epichloe species distributed in Africa, Europe, North America and South America on host genera Bromus, Festuca, Lolium and Poa is described. Stromata, characteristic of the genus, frequently occurred on the reproductive tillers of Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia, but neither perithecia nor mature asci were observed. Conidiogenous cells and conidial characteristics were in the range of Epichloe typhina. Regions of the genes encoding β-tubulin (tub2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences grouped the Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia endophyte into one group within a non-hybrid Epichloe species complex. On the basis of morphology, host range and evolutionary history we propose that this endophyte represents a new species of Epichloe. The name Epichloe poae is proposed for this endophyte. The infectivity of the conidia produced on plants was evaluated. In the first experiment, using conidia of Epichloe poae from leaves and endophyte-free seeds of Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia we show that when germinating seeds and developing seedlings of the plant were exposed to conidia, 28–57 % of seedlings became infected by the endophyte. The non-inoculated control plants showed no colonization by the endophyte. In the following spring after vernalization, colonized plants on flowering culms produced stromata with conidia. In the second experiment, using stromal conidia and the same procedure, 19–42 % of seedlings of Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia became colonized by the endophyte. Our results demonstrate that Epichloe poae may spread to uninfected grass hosts by conidia frequently formed on the surfaces of plant leaves as well as by conidia formed on stromata.
Dynamic Wi-Fi fingerprinting indoor positioning system

In this paper, a technique is proposed to improve the accuracy of indoor positioning systems based on Wi-Fi radio-frequency signals by using dynamic access points and fingerprints (DAFs). Moreover, an indoor position system that relies solely in DAFs is proposed. The walking pattern of indoor users is classified as dynamic or static for indoor positioning purposes. We demonstrate that the performance of a conventional indoor positioning system that uses static fingerprints can be enhanced by considering dynamic fingerprints and access points. The accuracy of the system is evaluated using four positioning algorithms and one access point selection strategy. The system facilitates the location of people where there is no wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure deployed or where the WLAN infrastructure has been drastically affected, for example by natural disasters. The system can be used for search and rescue operations and for expanding the coverage of an indoor positioning system.
Cor triatriatum sinister with an intact interatrial septum and a decompressing vein in a toddler

Cor triatriatum sinister is a very rare cardiac anomaly that may lead to pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dilation, and eventually right heart failure. We report a case of a toddler who presented with respiratory distress and cardiomegaly and was found to have cor triatriatum sinister with a restrictive communication, decompressing vertical vein, pulmonary hypertension, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and severe right ventricular dysfunction. She underwent a successful surgical repair, with normalisation of right ventricular function and pulmonary artery pressure.
When Gesture Becomes Event

Judith Butler begins this work with a consideration of gender performativity in order to think about the relationship between linguistic and performance studies, locating the body as the interface for both the speech act and embodied performance. Echoing her well-known arguments that “performance” must replace “essence” as a way to understand the development of gendered identities, Butler examines the role of “gesture” in relation to language and performance by focusing on Walter Benjamin’s reading of epic theater in Brecht. She suggests that Benjamin’s account of Brecht’s epic theater construed “gesture” as an unconventional, unsupported, and de-authorized form of action that cannot quite be accounted for. Performance therefore involves a form of alienation, and gesture—where language and performance intersect—can potentially become an allegory of the decomposition of the speech act.
Sex Trafficking Exceptions to Section 230

Congress has provided Internet companies with a powerful immunity from liability for third party content, codified at 47 USC 230 (Section 230). Congress is considering bills that would amend Section 230 to create additional exceptions for sex trafficking. While Congress should be commended for its efforts to combat sex trafficking, the bills are not the right solution. This essay, based on my testimony at a hearing of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, explains why.
Musculoskeletal outcomes and the effect of radiation to the vertebral bodies on growth trajectories for long-term survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma.

Here, we report musculoskeletal outcomes and the impact of radiotherapy dose on vertebral body growth for an institutional series of long-term survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma. We conducted a retrospective study of 23 patients who were disease-free and at least 36 months from the end of treatment. The patients were initially treated from July 2003 to May 2012. Patient records were reviewed for growth percentiles (obtained at approximately 6-month intervals from onset of treatment to the last follow-up) and musculoskeletal comorbidities. RT plans and most recent surveillance CT scans were reviewed for locations of in-field vertebral bodies and corresponding vertebral growth patterns. The median follow-up was 7.93 years. The median prescribed radiation dose was 21.6 Gy. Musculoskeletal abnormalities included scoliosis (5 patients), muscular hypoplasia (3), and hypodontia (1). The median growth percentile at treatment onset was 35.5 (range, 4.7–100) versus 10 (0–94.1) at the last follow-up. The median numbers of vertebral bodies encompassed (by at least half of their volume) by the 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-Gy isodose lines were 7 (mean, 6.78), 7 (6.56), 6 (6.17), and 6 (5.52), respectively. Sixteen patients (70.0%) had in-field abnormalities in vertebral body growth, manifesting as stretches of successive vertebral bodies at the same height, while normally there is a gradual vertebral body height increase progressing caudally down the spinal column. Musculoskeletal abnormalities, below average height, and stunted in-field vertebral body growth are routine in long-term survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma. Sparing vertebral bodies when feasible may lead to improvement in patient growth trajectories.
Limitations of Middle Eastern Educational System in Democratic Governance

Education is an unexamined force contributing to the uprising of Middle Eastern people in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, and Israel. Newspapers tell of a young Tunisian fruit seller, Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire because he was no longer able to provide for his family. And although newspapers presented political and economic explanations, the fact that the fruit seller held an engineering degree is barely mentioned. He was one among millions of young Middle Easterners with degrees and no jobs. Likewise, history texts on the region have the word “education” mentioned but not necessarily discussed on 26 out of 400-plus pages (Hourani 1991; Goldschmidt 2002; Pappe 2010). A single statement by Stewart (2009) states, “The often low quality of education throughout the region undermines the regional competiveness in the global economy” (p. 147). The author has no more statements on education or why it is of such low quality.
Two-Person Relational Psychotherapy: Middle School Age Youth

Middle school age youth are those from ages 10–14 years old. This period is also referred as prepuberty , preadolescence , and early adolescence . During this period, youth experience biological, psychological, and social changes. There are dramatic changes in the physical development, encompassing height, weight, and sexual development. Although maturity during this period occurs at varied rates, generally in girls it occurs 1.5–2 years earlier than in boys.
Automated detection of polyps with CT colonography: evaluation of volumetric features for reduction of false-positive findings.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives To achieve high performance in computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) of polyps with computed tomographic (CT) colonography, the authors (a) developed new gradient concentration and directional gradient concentration (DGC) features for differentiating between the true-positive and false-positive (FP) findings generated by the authors' CAD scheme, and (b) used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to quantify the differentiation performance of these and other volumetric features. Materials and Methods CT colonography was performed in 43 patients prone and supine with a helical CT scanner; there were 12 polyps in 11 patients. The polyp candidates generated by the authors' CAD scheme were characterized by nine statistics of six volumetric features, and the resulting 54 feature statistics were combined by a linear or quadratic discriminant classifier. The discrimination performance was measured with round-robin method by ROC analysis and the FP rate of the CAD scheme. Results The mean value of shape index (SI) yielded the highest individual ROC performance (area under the curve = 0.92). Among combinations, the mean values of SI and DGC and the variance of CT value yielded a high ROC performance (area under the curve = 0.95). With quadratic classifier, the sensitivity and FP rate of the case–based (data set–based) analysis was 100% (95%) with 2.4 FP findings per patient (1.7 FP findings per data set), respectively. Conclusion Combination of the mean values of SI and DGC and the variance of CT value reduced the FP rate substantially without sacrificing sensitivity. These three features are potentially useful in improving the performance of the authors' CAD scheme for detecting polypswith CT colonography.
Alterations of Ventifact Surfaces at the Glacier/Desert Interface

Ventifacts are found on many glacial moraines in drylands, where aeolian abrasion is currently absent. This paper examines new methods for studying fossil ventifacts through surficial alteration. These include the development of rock coatings, thickening of weathering rinds, and the buildup of cosmogenic nuclides. Three areas are chosen to examine surficial alteration on fossil ventifacts: Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and Bishop Creek and Mono Basin in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Cosmogenic nuclides are valuable tools in fossil ventifact studies in that they provide a maximum-possible age for the ventifact by indicating the age of the glacial deposit. However, they cannot be used to indicate when the abrasion took place. In contrast, cation-ratio dating of rock varnish, layering of rock varnish, and the development of weathering rinds on ventifacted boulders provide data on when abrasion occurred. Ventifacts at Bishop Creek and Mauna Kea formed during glacial periods. Aeolian abrasion and subsequent boulder-surface alteration are rarely considered by glacial geomorphologists who use relative dating methods to assess the ages of glacial deposits.
A REVIEW ON THE NUMERICAL SOLUTION SCHEMES FOR LOCALIZATION PROBLEMS

ABSTRACT An introduction is given on the current status of research on localization problems. Numerical solution schemes to simulate the evolution of localization are then reviewed in detail. First, material integration schemes are discussed for both plasticity and damage models for which a continuum tangent stiffness tensor can be formulated for bifurcation analysis. Second, structural integration schemes are reviewed for the post-limit responses including snap-back and snap-through. Finally, one of the “meshless” methods, the material point method (MPM) is introduced for localization problems. Sample problems are then considered to demonstrate the robustness and potential of a newly proposed procedure based on the moving jump forms of conservation laws. Conclusions and future work are given based on the review paper.
On the Feasibility of Infrared Phosphors in Super-Slow Particle Searches

Monopoles are an inevitable byproduct of the process of symmetry breaking from a grand (semi-simple) symmetry to the sorts of symmetry required to explain results from mainstream elementary particle physics. These grand unified theories (GUT s) represent one of the most promising extrapolations of current theoretical thinking toward the shortest distances. It is more than usually important that we adopt very conservative standards in the interpretation of data on the monopole question because of the link between GUT’s and monopoles. GUT monopoles are predicted to be heavy and slow; that is, slow enough that they may not have been detected, and heavy enough that they would neither stop in the earth (but would pass through) nor that they would be accelerated to relativistic speeds by existing magnetic fields in the galaxy.
Identification of a novel gene fusion in ALT positive osteosarcoma

The Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway stimulates telomere elongation and prevents cellular senescence in approximately 60% of osteosarcoma. While the precise mechanism underlying activation of the ALT pathway is unclear, mutations in the chromatin remodeling protein ATRX, histone chaperone DAXX, and the histone variant H3.3 correlate with ALT status. ATRX and DAXX facilitate deposition of the histone variant H3.3 within heterochromatic regions suggesting that loss of ATRX, DAXX, and/or H3.3 lead to defects in the stability of telomeric heterochromatin. Genetic mutations in ATRX, DAXX, and H3.3 have been detected in ALT positive cancers, however, a subset of ALT samples show loss of ATRX or DAXX protein expression or localization without evidence of genetic alterations suggesting additional uncharacterized defects in ATRX/DAXX/H3.3 function. Here, using Next Generation Sequencing we identified a novel gene fusion event between DAXX and the kinesin motor protein, KIFC3, leading to the translation of a chimeric DAXX-KIFC3 fusion protein. Moreover, we demonstrate that the fusion of KIFC3 to DAXX causes defects in DAXX function likely promoting ALT activity. These data highlight a potentially unrecognized mechanism of DAXX inactivation in ALT positive osteosarcoma and provide rationale for thorough and comprehensive analyses of ATRX/DAXX/H3.3 proteins in ALT positive cancers.
Quantification of probabilistic ignition thresholds of polymer-bonded explosives with microstructure defects

Microscopic defects such as voids and cracks in an energetic material significantly influence its shock sensitivity. So far, there is a lack of systematic and quantitative study of the effects of cracks both experimentally and computationally, although significant work has been done on voids. We present an approach for quantifying the effects of intragranular and interfacial cracks in polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) via mesoscale simulations that explicitly account for such defects. Using this approach, the ignition thresholds corresponding to any given level of ignition probability and, conversely, the ignition probability corresponding to any loading condition (i.e., ignition probability maps) are predicted for PBX 9404 containing different levels of initial grain cracking or interfacial debonding. James relations are utilized to express the predicted thresholds and ignition probabilities. It is found that defects lower the ignition thresholds and cause the material to be more sensitive. This effect of defects on shock sensitivity diminishes as the shock load intensity increases. Furthermore, the sensitivity differences are rooted in energy dissipation and the consequent hotspot development. The spatial preference in hotspot distribution is studied and quantified using a parameter called the defect preference ratio ( r p r e f). Analyses reveal that defects play an important role in the development of hotspots and thus have a strong influence on the ignition thresholds. The findings are in qualitative agreement with reported trends in experiments.
Using technology to enhance medication regimen education after solid organ transplantation.

PURPOSE The design and implementation of a tool that combines clinical teaching with cutting-edge, simplified technology for providing medication education to solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are described. METHODS In a retrospective study of adults who received kidney transplants from February 2015 through May 2017, patients were educated about their medications using a tablet computer application, Medication Regimen Education (MRxEd), that presented concise videos describing the name, indication, dose, adverse effects, and associated interactions of all medications received, as well as special considerations applicable to each agent. Assessment questions were used to reinforce key concepts and identify knowledge gaps. RESULTS The digital educational intervention was provided to 282 kidney transplant recipients. Patients were predominantly white (48%) and/or male (63%), with a median age of 51 years (interquartile range, 37-61 years). Patients came from a variety of education backgrounds. Most patients (81%) were educated on dual maintenance immunosuppression (with tacrolimus and mycophenolate) and 3 infection prophylaxis agents (nystatin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and valganciclovir). Most patients (90%) correctly answered questions related to medication indications, dosing, and special rules, but many (61%) had difficulty correctly answering questions about adverse effects. CONCLUSION An innovative approach for interactive and engaging medication teaching with the MRxEd application enhanced the education process for SOT recipients.
The role of donor-acceptor interfacial charge-transfer (CT) electronic states in photoelectric energy conversion in organic solar cells (Conference Presentation)

A critical component of any donor-acceptor (D-A) bulk heterojunction organic solar cell is the appearance of inter-molecular charge-transfer (CT) electronic states at their D-A interfaces. These electronic states play a determining role in the photo-physical processes that transform the energy of the absorbed sunlight into electrical power. Here, through integrated multiscale theoretical simulations, we have illustrated how factors such as the details of the molecular packing at the D-A interfaces, the electronic polarization effects, and the extent of electron/hole delocalization around the interface impact the nature of the CT states. Moreover, we have also discussed how the hybridization between the CT and local-exciton (LE) states impacts the spectroscopy characteristics of D-A blends, the recombination rates and consequently the voltage losses, which need to be minimized.
Discovering Interesting Subpaths with Statistical Significance from Spatiotemporal Datasets

Given a path in a spatial or temporal framework, we aim to find all contiguous subpaths that are both interesting (e.g., abrupt changes) and statistically significant (i.e., persistent trends rather than local fluctuations). Discovering interesting subpaths can provide meaningful information for a variety of domains including Earth science, environmental science, urban planning, and the like. Existing methods are limited to detecting individual points of interest along an input path but cannot find interesting subpaths. Our preliminary work provided a Subpath Enumeration and Pruning (SEP) algorithm to detect interesting subpaths of arbitrary length. However, SEP is not effective in avoiding detections that are random variations rather than meaningful trends, which hampers clear and proper interpretations of the results. In this article, we extend our previous work by proposing a significance testing framework to eliminate these random variations. To compute the statistical significance, we first show a baseline Monte-Carlo method based on our previous work and then propose a Dynamic Search-and-Prune (D-SAP) algorithm to improve its computational efficiency. Our experiments show that the significance testing can greatly suppress the noisy detections in the output and D-SAP can greatly reduce the execution time.
Comparison of pathway and gene-level models for cancer prognosis prediction

Cancer prognosis prediction is valuable for patients and clinicians because it allows them to appropriately manage care. A promising direction for improving the performance and interpretation of expression-based predictive models involves the aggregation of gene-level data into biological pathways. While many studies have used pathway-level predictors for cancer survival analysis, a comprehensive comparison of pathway-level and gene-level prognostic models has not been performed. To address this gap, we characterized the performance of penalized Cox proportional hazard models built using either pathway- or gene-level predictors for the cancers profiled in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and pathways from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). When analyzing TCGA data, we found that pathway-level models are more parsimonious, more robust, more computationally efficient and easier to interpret than gene-level models with similar predictive performance. For example, both pathway-level and gene-level models have an average Cox concordance index of ~ 0.85 for the TCGA glioma cohort, however, the gene-level model has twice as many predictors on average, the predictor composition is less stable across cross-validation folds and estimation takes 40 times as long as compared to the pathway-level model. When the complex correlation structure of the data is broken by permutation, the pathway-level model has greater predictive performance while still retaining superior interpretative power, robustness, parsimony and computational efficiency relative to the gene-level models. For example, the average concordance index of the pathway-level model increases to 0.88 while the gene-level model falls to 0.56 for the TCGA glioma cohort using survival times simulated from uncorrelated gene expression data. The results of this study show that when the correlations among gene expression values are low, pathway-level analyses can yield better predictive performance, greater interpretative power, more robust models and less computational cost relative to a gene-level model. When correlations among genes are high, a pathway-level analysis provides equivalent predictive power compared to a gene-level analysis while retaining the advantages of interpretability, robustness and computational efficiency.
Persistent nonregenerative anemia in a 4-year-old cat

A 4-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine for a 2-month history of severe weight loss, lethargy, anemia, and bilaterally hyperechoic kidneys with loss of corticomedullary distinction as reported by the referring veterinarian. Relevant initial laboratory results included severe non-regenerative normocytic hypochromic anemia, increased blood urea nitrogen, minimally concentrated urine, proteinuria, and an increased urine protein:creatinine ratio. Cytologic evaluation of a bone marrow aspirate revealed a markedly hypocellular marrow with abundant mucinous material. Gelatinous marrow transformation (GMT) was confirmed histologically by the presence of mucinous material in the bone marrow that stained positive for Alcian blue but negative for periodic acid-Schiff. The cat died despite repeated blood transfusions and supportive care. Gelatinous marrow transformation, immune complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage were observed on autopsy and histology. It is likely that the development of GMT was secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and that CKD, GMT, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage contributed to the cat's non-regenerative anemia.
Industry 4.0: an Employee Perception (Case of the Czech Republic)

Considering the fact that the initiative Industry 4.0 started in the Czech Republic in 2016, it is still a relatively unexplored topic. However, there is a significant lack of researches, which examines the perception of Industry 4.0 by employees whose jobs are directly threatened by Industry 4.0. The aim of the paper was found out how Czech employees perceive Industry 4.0 and whether a general pattern can be created for a group of employees who perceive it as a potential threat to their existence based on their characteristics (age, gender, education, and the job position). Information about this initiative is often tendentiously presented by media, even managers don't have precise information about the benefits and outcomes of Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 from the employees' point of view is connected with job loss or substitution of human work by robots. And this state might build barriers to implementation Industry 4.0.
Searching for Fairness in Revolutionary China: Inheritance Disputes in Maoist Courts and Their Legacy in the PRC Law of Succession*:

This article examines how PRC judges ruled on inheritance disputes during the Mao period (1949–1976). In fact, China not only rejected a draft succession law in 1956, it also did not promulgate any...
Theory of Events

Event management research has generally had a focus on the operational aspect of providing events. In this conceptual effort, the elements of an event are examined through the perspective of the at...