cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated aging and thermal cycling of low melting temperature alloys as wet thermal interface materials

Abstract This paper focuses on developing an effective thermal interface material (TIM) using low melt alloys (LMAs) containing gallium (Ga), indium (In), bismuth (Bi) and tin (Sn). The investigation described herein involved the thermal performance evaluation of LMAs after accelerated life cycle testing, which included isothermal aging at 130 °C and thermal cycling from - 40 °C to 80 °C. Three alloys (75.5Ga/24.5In, 100Ga, and 51In/32.5Bi/16.5Sn) were chosen as candidate LMA TIMs. The testing methodologies followed ASTM D5470 protocols and the performance of the alloys was compared to commercially available thermal grease and liquid metal TIMs. To understand the LMA-substrate interactions, the alloys were applied to different surfaces (bare copper, nickel coated copper and tungsten coated copper). It was found that the proposed alloys between bare copper substrates were able to survive as long as 2700 h of aging at 130 °C and 1400 cycles from − 40 °C to 80 °C without significant performance degradation.
Dissecting the Influence of Oxazolidinones and Cyclic Carbonates in Sialic Acid Chemistry

Protecting groups play major roles in carbohydrate chemistry serving, in addition to blocking hydroxyl groups, as modulators of reactivity and as stereodirecting groups in glycosylation.[1] Cyclic protecting groups are prominent in the latter respect and are of current interest.[2] For example, it has been demonstrated that a 2N,3O-oxazoldinone group both strongly favors α- over β-glycosides in the glucosaminopyranosides, i.e, enhances the anomeric effect, and facilitates anomerization.[3] In the sialic acids, a 4O,5N-oxazolidinone, both with and without an additional N-acetyl group, favors the formation of α-O-,[4] C-,[5] and S-sialosides,[6] and presents the best solution currently available to the challenging problem of α-sialoside formation. The mechanism by which the oxazolidinone group directs stereoselective sialidation is therefore of considerable interest and prompted the efforts described herein.
Fragility of Electrical Power Equipment

Knowledge of equipment fragility, i.e., the probability of equipment being nonfunctional after experiencing a severe load of a given level, is required to predict power system response to severe load such as earthquakes. A review of the literature and the results of a questionnaire survey of equipment manufacturers, electric utilities, and consulting firms that deal with the analysis or testing of power equipment are tabulated. The survey shows that: (1) Most fragility data is based on engineering estimates rather than on the results of tests or analysis; (2) for many types of equipment, estimates are quite speculative; and (3) the range of estimates for a given type of equipment, for the few cases where there are more than one, often vary by a factor of three or more. A bibliography for the testing and analysis of electric power equipment is included.
Fugitives and Agrarians in a World Without Frontiers

The interplay between law and political economy dictates much of the wealth of nations. This article describes the clash between the two dominant models of economic development: fugitive and agrarian. In the agrarian model, growth is closely correlated with levels of investment in physical and human capital. Neither extraordinary risks nor returns are contemplated. By contrast, fugitive development stresses freedom of movement and unlimited risks and returns over security and self-sufficiency. Laws that assume an agrarian model of development are diverging from economic trends that favor fugitive paths to prosperity. This mismatch foretells rough times for the nation-state in its role as a manager of growth and redistributor of wealth. The conflict between agrarian law and fugitive economics has profound implications for taxation and regulation in the global commons.
HEAT TRANSFER, MASS FLOW RATE AND PRESSURE CHARACTERISTICS OF LAMINAR AND TURBULENT CONVECTIVE FLOWS IN PARALLEL WALL CHANNELS

The mass flowrate and entrance-exit pressure loss coefficients of a vertical parallel wall channel, undergoing laminar or turbulent natural convective motion, are predicted for Rayleigh number (Ra) and aspect ratio (Ar) ranging from 103 to 10 8 and 5 to 20 respectively. The governing equations for mass, momentum and energy are solved by a finite volume procedure. The turbulence properties are predicted from a renormalization group (RNG) k-e model due to its superior predictive capabilities, compared to the standard k-e model, for situations involving low turbulence Reynolds numbers and transitional flows. Results indicate that the total pressure loss coefficient (Kt), a sum of inlet and exit pressure loss coefficients, is nearly independent of Rayleigh number for the entire range of Ra considered in this study. It is also shown to be a weak function of the aspect ratio. The relationship Kt = 1.66 Ar°-l°, describing variation of the total pressure loss coefficient, fits the numerical results for Ra ranging from 103 to 10 8. The modified non-dimensional mass flowrate (m/i/Ar) is shown to be a function of only the modified Rayleigh number (Ra* = Ra/Ar) in the laminar regime. However, in the turbulent regime, the modified non-dimensional mass flowrate is nearly independent of the modified Rayleigh number.
Resolving the Control of Magnesium on Calcite Growth: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Consequences of Impurity Incorporation for Biomineral Formation

Magnesium is a key determinant in CaCO 3 biomineral formation and has recently emerged as an important paleotemperature proxy. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to determine the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic controls of Mg 2+ on calcite morphology and growth. Comparison of directly measured monomolecular step velocities ( v s± ) to theoretical crystal growth impurity models demonstrated calcite inhibition due to enhanced mineral solubility through Mg 2+ incorporation. Terrace width (λ) measurements independently supported an incorporation mechanism by indicating a shift in the effective supersaturation (σ eff ) of the growth solutions in the presence of Mg 2+ . This study resolves the controversy over the molecular-scale mechanism of calcite inhibition by Mg 2+ and provides an unambiguous model for the thermodynamic and kinetic consequences of impurity incorporation into CaCO 3 biominerals.
Comprehensive evaluation of blood smears of Plasmodium by osculating value method

Based on the single indicator evaluation on making, dying and cleanness of blood smears of Plasmodium, the osculating value method was used to evaluate the blood smears from 16 microscopy stations in 8 towns of Lianyungang City comprehensively. The results showed that the blood smears were of high quality. The osculating value method is simple, reasonable, and applicable.
Antiproton Annihilation in Quantum Chromodynamics

Quantum chromodynamics1 has been extensively tested in high-momentum transfer inclusive reactions, where factorization theorems, asymptotic freedom and jet algorithms provide semiquantitative perturbative predictions. Tests of the confining nonperturbative aspects of the theory are either quite qualitative or at best indirect. In fact QCD is a theory of relatively low mass scales (Λ MS ~ 200 ± 100 MeV, (k⊥2)1/2 ~ 300 MeV, etc.) and its most critical tests of the theory as a viable theory of strong and nuclear interactions must involve relatively low energies and momentum transfer.
Ergocalciferol treatment does Not improve erythropoietin utilization and hospitalization rate in hemodialysis patients

Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25[OH]D) deficiency (VDD) is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral ergocalciferol supplementation on requirement of erythropoietin (EPO) and active vitamin D analogues, and hospitalization rate in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. This retrospective cohort study included 186 patients who were on HD for 3 months and had 25(OH)D levels < 30 ng/ml. Over 1-year period, 107 patients were supplemented with protocol-based ergocalciferol (D2 group) and 79 were not (control). Parameters of erythropoiesis and bone-mineral metabolism, and monthly doses of EPO and paricalcitol were assessed at 6- and 12- months of ergocalciferol supplementation. Total hospitalizations were recorded for the same year. Baseline characteristics were similar across two arms except higher serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and prevalence of stroke in D2 and higher coronary artery disease in control group with overall mean ± SD 25(OH)D level of 16.8 ± 7 ng/ml. At 12 months, 25(OH)D levels increased significantly in D2 group compared to control (30.5 ± 11.7 vs. 14.2 ± 9.3 ng/ml; p < 0.001). The EPO dose remained same with no difference in hemoglobin values between the two groups during the intervention period. On multivariate regression which included above variables there was no effect of ergocalciferol treatment on EPO dose (p = ns). Hospitalization rate was similar in two arms; however, ergocalciferol treatment inversely associated with paricalcitol dose (β ± SE = −10.4 ± 2.8; p < 0.001). One-year of ergocalciferol supplementation was not associated with reduction in EPO requirement or hospitalization rate in HD patients with VDD. Further studies are warranted to determine definitive role of nutritional vitamin D in these patients.
Applying Models of Targeted Drug Delivery to Gene Delivery

Gene delivery requires targeted delivery systems. Exploratory simulations using models of targeted drug delivery helps one assess the worthiness of such systems, and helps quantify the expected therapeutic benefits of the systems. The drug targeting index (DTI), a ratio of availabilities, is a measure of pharmacokinetic benefit of the delivery device, based on a combination of a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model and a single pharmacodynamic E max model. Pharmacodynamic outcomes are quantified by the degree of separation between the dose-response and dose-toxicity curves (SRT). Simulations are undertaken to investigate the potential linkage of DTI and SRT, a pharmacodynamic outcome. A significant positive linear relationship is found between the DTI and SRT. The relationship can be translated into a minimum pharmacokinetic requirement that can be used to guide making decisions regarding whether or not further pursue the development of a candidate gene-delivery device as a therapeutic agent.
Physiological basis for noninvasive skin cancer diagnosis using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy offers a noninvasive, fast, and low-cost alternative to visual screening and biopsy for skin cancer diagnosis. We have previously acquired reflectance spectra from 137 lesions in 76 patients and determined the capability of spectral diagnosis using principal component analysis (PCA). However, it is not well elucidated why spectral analysis enables tissue classification. To provide the physiological basis, we used the Monte Carlo look-up table (MCLUT) model to extract physiological parameters from those clinical data. The MCLUT model results in the following physiological parameters: oxygen saturation, hemoglobin concentration, melanin concentration, vessel radius, and scattering parameters. Physiological parameters show that cancerous skin tissue has lower scattering and larger vessel radii, compared to normal tissue. These results demonstrate the potential of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for detection of early precancerous changes in tissue. In the future, a diagnostic algorithm that combines these physiological parameters could be enable non-invasive diagnosis of skin cancer.
Effect of multiphase radiation on coal combustion in a pulverized coal jet flame

Abstract The accurate modeling of coal combustion requires detailed radiative heat transfer models for both gaseous combustion products and solid coal particles. A multiphase Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) radiation solver is developed in this work to simulate a laboratory-scale pulverized coal flame. The MCRT solver considers radiative interactions between coal particles and three major combustion products (CO 2 , H 2 O, and CO). A line-by-line spectral database for the gas phase and a size-dependent nongray correlation for the solid phase are employed to account for the nongray effects. The flame structure is significantly altered by considering nongray radiation and the lift-off height of the flame increases by approximately 35%, compared to the simulation without radiation. Radiation is also found to affect the evolution of coal particles considerably as it takes over as the dominant mode of heat transfer for medium-to-large coal particles downstream of the flame. To investigate the respective effects of spectral models for the gas and solid phases, a Planck-mean-based gray gas model and a size-independent gray particle model are applied in a frozen-field analysis of a steady-state snapshot of the flame. The gray gas approximation considerably underestimates the radiative source terms for both the gas phase and the solid phase. The gray coal approximation also leads to under-prediction of the particle emission and absorption. However, the level of under-prediction is not as significant as that resulting from the employment of the gray gas model. Finally, the effect of the spectral property of ash on radiation is also investigated and found to be insignificant for the present target flame.
Diagnostic Approach in Fetal Coarctation of the Aorta: A Cost-Utility Analysis

Background Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is difficult to diagnose by fetal echocardiogram (F-Echo), often requiring multiple F-Echos during gestation and neonatal echocardiograms (N-Echos) after birth. Furthermore, CoA is the most common ductal-dependent lesion missed on routine physical exam. Objectives We sought to determine the most cost-effective diagnostic approach in caring for infants in whom an initial F-Echo is concerning for CoA. Methods Four paradigms for management after initial F-Echo could not rule out CoA were compared, with a single paradigm involving additional F-Echos: (1) multiple F-Echos for diagnostic clarity and performance of N-Echo on neonates with remaining high suspicion for CoA on F-Echos (prenatal-multiple), (2) no further F-Echo and performance of N-Echo on neonates with high suspicion for CoA on initial F-Echo (postnatal-selective), (3) no further F-Echo and performance of N-Echo on all neonates (postnatal-all), and (4) no further F-Echo or N-Echo with reliance on routine physical exam to identify afflicted infants (postnatal-none). Decision analysis models were constructed. Probabilities dictating clinical course and costs were calculated using our institution's study population. The utility-state values were derived from existing literature. The measure of effectiveness was quality-adjusted life years. To represent societal perspectives, cost was defined as hospital reimbursement payments. Results From 2007 to 2014 at our institution, 92 patients were diagnosed with CoA and met the inclusion criteria for this study. These patients presented to care either through prenatal diagnosis ( n = 31), postnatal examination findings while clinically well ( n = 41), or after clinical deterioration in extremis ( n = 20), with one patient subsequently dying. Presenting in extremis was associated with a 20% increase in the cost of their subsequent care and with a 51% increase in length of hospital stay. Postnatal-none was the least effective paradigm but also the least costly, thus forming the baseline model. Of the three other diagnostic approaches modeled, Postnatal-all was the cost-effective paradigm, maximizing utility due to avoidance of high-cost/low-utility disease states such as presentation in extremis and death. Prenatal-multiple was the next most effective but was also the most expensive. Conclusions Echocardiography is the screening gold standard in avoiding the devastating clinical manifestations of a missed CoA. When a diagnosis of CoA cannot be ruled out on initial F-Echo, the most cost-effective approach is performance of N-Echo on all neonates with no further prenatal evaluation.
Biologic Pathways of Cancer-Cachexia Syndrome (Muscle and Fat Wasting) Impact Clinical Outcomes in Aggressive B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Introduction: The biologic mechanisms fundamental to the onset of cancer cachexia (a state of involuntary weight loss and altered body composition) include pathways of inflammation, energy intake and expenditure, muscle function and integrity, appetite, and glucose utilization/IGF (insulin-like growth factor). The interplay of these pathways and how this drives lymphomagenesis is unknown. We seek to correlate measures of cachexia derived radiologically with clinical outcomes and identify potential biologic pathways and drugable targets common to cachexia and lymphomagenesis. Methods: We obtained data on clinical/disease characteristics and radiologic measures of cachexia including sarcopenia by skeletal muscle index (SMI), and adipopenia by visceral adipose index (VAI), at initial diagnosis for a retrospective cohort of patients with aggressive B-NHL treated at our institution between 2000 and 2015. Differences in overall survival (OS) between cachectic (males and females with SMI below a threshold of 56.8 and 47.4 cm2 /m2 respectively; males and females with VAI below 24.8 and 41.9 cm2 /m2 respectively) and non-cachectic groups, (SMI and VAI ≥ defined thresholds), were determined using optimal discovery threshold with log-rank test. In a prospective cohort of 14 newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), peripheral blood samples were collected under IRB consent. Relevant clinical parameters were annotated for each patient. Circulating molecular targets, (43 targets), involved in pathways of inflammation, energy intake and expenditure, muscle function and integrity, appetite, and glucose utilization/IGF pathway were measured using Luminex-based assays. Correlations between SMI and VAI and circulating targets were analyzed using Spearman test. Results: In our retrospective cohort of aggressive B-NHL, (n=112), 54 were male. The median age was 64 years. Median follow-up was 33 months. Males with sarcopenia had decreased PFS (5.4 vs 72.3 months, p Conclusion: The presence of cachexia measured by skeletal muscle and visceral adipose indices has sex-specific prognostic utility. Biologic pathways underlying this process may be relevant to the pathogenesis of aggressive B-NHL. Investigation of these pathways in a larger cohort is warranted to better delineate the mechanistic link between cachexia and lymphomagenesis and/or chemo-resistance. Disclosures Karmali:Celgene: Speakers Bureau.
bcSeq: an R package for fast sequence mapping in high-throughput shRNA and CRISPR screens.

Summary CRISPR-Cas9 and shRNA high-throughput sequencing screens have abundant applications for basic and translational research. Methods and tools for the analysis of these screens must properly account for sequencing error, resolve ambiguous mappings among similar sequences in the barcode library in a statistically principled manner, and be computationally efficient. Herein we present bcSeq, an open source R package that implements a fast and parallelized algorithm for mapping high-throughput sequencing reads to a barcode library while tolerating sequencing error. The algorithm uses a Trie data structure for speed and resolves ambiguous mappings by using a statistical sequencing error model based on Phred scores for each read. Availability and implementation The package source code and an accompanying tutorial are available at http://bioconductor.org/packages/bcSeq/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Scalable Shared Memory and Shared Memory Clustering

Users want tightly coupled, shared everything systems that are highly available, scalable, have a single system image, and are cheap. Unfortunately for computer customers (and fortunately for computer engineering research), these goals conflict. The talk will discuss possible design points and trade-offs that can be pursued in an attempt to reconcile these conflicting goals.
Newton to Einstein: How light behaves

First gather the facts; then you can distort them at your leisure. Mark Twain First observations How should we begin? Surely with Isaac Newton. He published his first scientific paper in 1672, and it was on light. In response to an objection raised against his paper, he wrote For the best and safest method of philosophizing seems to be, first diligently to investigate the properties of things and establish them by experiment, and then to seek hypotheses to explain them. For hypotheses ought to be fitted merely to explain the properties of things and not attempt to predetermine them, except in so far as they can be an aid to experiments. So let us get a light source and begin investigating. I will suppose that you have access to some apparatus – at least in the sense of seeing lecture demonstrations – and so I will describe things as though we were doing the experiments together. We take a strong flashlight or a 35-millimeter slide projector and shine the light horizontally. Clapping a pair of well-used erasers produces a cloud of chalk dust, and we see the light beam piercing the cloud as a bright shaft of light. This gives us our first observation: Observation 1. Light goes in a straight line from a luminous source. Reflection and refraction Next we tip our source – the projector, say – so that the light enters the water in an aquarium tank. Figure 1.1 depicts what happens.
Melanocortin Receptor Agents

The melanocortin receptor agents include four naturally occurring peptides derived from the precursor peptide proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and synthetic analogs thereof. These peptides are primarily known as pituitary hormones. ACTH is released from the pituitary under the control of hypothalamic CRF (corticotropin releasing factor) and AVP (arginine vasopressin) …
Liver Failure and Jaundice in the Intensive Care Unit

Liver disease has two major components: hepatocyte failure and portal hypertension. The clinical picture of chronic liver disease is frequently dominated by the compilations of portal hypertension. On the other hand, the clinical picture of acute/fulminant hepatic failure is dominated by hepatocyte failure (Table 28–1). Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is potentially reversible and must be distinguished from chronic liver failure, an irreversible condition that develops over months to years. Patients with FHF are best managed in tertiary care facilities that have extensive experience in treating such patients, with facilities for orthotopic liver transplantation.
Vowel confusion patterns in children and adults with cochlear implants

Suboptimal interfaces between cochlear implant (CI) electrodes and their target neurons may distort the spectral information that is important for vowel identification. The goal of this investigation was to relate vowel confusion patterns of CI users to their site-specific (i.e., frequency-specific) variation in electrode-neuron interface across the electrode array. The electrode-neuron interface is estimated using single-channel detection thresholds with a spatially focused electrode configuration; elevated thresholds indicate channels with relatively poorer frequency transmission. We hypothesized that higher focused thresholds on channels transmitting low frequency ( 984 Hz) information would be related to vowel advancement errors. Vowel recognition was assessed with a closed set of medial vowels in 4-talker babble noise. Focused thresholds were measured on electrodes 2–15. Vowel confusions were examined according to the direction of errors in 2-dimensional physical articulatory and acoustic F1-F2 space. Results showed that higher average focused thresholds on the 3 most basal electrodes tested (2327–4630 Hz) were associated with perception of front vowels as more back. These findings suggest that suboptimal electrode-neuron interfaces could systematically affect CI listeners’ perception of vowel characteristics.
How advertising relevance and consumer–Brand relationship strength limit disclosure effects of native ads on Twitter

Present research builds upon native advertising research by examining the roles of advertising message relevance, consumer-brand relationship strength, and authorship. Two national experiments were...
Rat Islet Endocrine Cells Contain Metand Leu-Enkephalins in High- and Low-Molecular-Weight Forms

The rate of insulin secretion is known to be influenced by a large number of substances, including glucose and other substrates, ions, other hormones, and neurotransmitters. For example, Lerner and Porte (1971) showed that an epinephrine infusion profoundly inhibited the acute, first-phase insulin secretory response to glucose in normal humans. More recently, following the reports by Margules et al. (1978) and others (Rossier et al., 1979) of increased β-endorphin in pituitary of genetically obese hyperinsulinemic mice, evidence has begun to accumulate that suggests a role for endogenous opioid peptides in the modulation of insulin secretion and possibly in the pathophysiology of the diabetic state. Types of evidence include pharmacological studies of opiate effects on islet function, a smaller number of reports of the presence in pancreas of endogenous opioids, and a few reports suggesting that islets may secrete endogenous opioid peptides.
An adaptive sampling strategy developed for studies of diffuse volcanic soil gas emissions

Abstract The spatial distribution of diffuse soil degassing from a volcanic source and quantifying of the amount of gas release are key aspects for understanding the gas release pattern. The measurement of the entirety of a particular area of interest cannot be possible due to obvious logistical and economic restrictions. To reduce the logistic and economic impacts, spatial interpolation techniques are generally used with limited observation, which is always associated with a high level of uncertainty in the quantification of diffuse soil degassing. Here we are developing an adaptive sampling strategy and robust analytical tool that can be used to guide measurement strategies by optimizing the sampling locations and reducing the uncertainty for gas emission estimation. Our adaptive sampling strategy hybridized two well-known algorithms: kriging interpolation and genetic algorithm optimizer, to optimize the locations of future sampling. We have validated our tool using a synthetic data set, and then applied it to two volcanic soil degassing data sets (Pacaya Volcano and Yellowstone Volcano). Both the synthetic data results and case study applications demonstrated that the developed adaptive sampling tool significantly outperforms random and pseudo-random approaches to reduce the uncertainty of gas quantification.
Six commonly used empirical body surface area formulas disagreed in young children undergoing corrective heart surgery

Aim: Formulas for empirical body surface area (BSA), which is used to estimate body size and standardise physiological parameters, may disagree in children. We compared six commonly used BSA formulas—Du Bois, Boyd, Costeff, Haycock, Meban and Mosteller—in a surgical cohort. Methods: This retrospective single-centre cohort study comprised 68 children who had corrective heart surgery at Skane University Children's Hospital, Lund, Sweden, from February 2010 to March 2017. Results: The children (51% female) underwent surgery at a mean weight of 7.0 kilograms (range 2.7-14.1 kg) and a mean age 11 months (range 0-43 months). All the BSA formulas showed good correlation with mean BSA, but there were considerable variations between them. Mosteller's formula was exactly the same as the mean BSA (bias 0.000). The Du Bois and Boyd formulas had the largest mean BSA deviations (bias −0.012 and 0.015). Costeff's formula showed good agreement with mean BSA, Haycock's formula showed minimal overestimation and Meban's formula demonstrated a systemic error in older children. Conclusion: Commonly used BSA formulas did not agree in young children undergoing heart surgery, but they were all close to the overall mean of the six formulas, with the Mosteller formula producing the same value. (Less)
Cancer incidence among transplant recipients in California

501 BACKGROUND: Advancements in surgical procedures and development of novel immunosuppressive strategies have fortunately led to increased survival among recipients of solid organ transplants. It is known that individuals with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of certain cancers. However, it is not clear whether cancer among transplant recipients is solely the result of a compromised immune response, or whether the cytotoxic effects of the immunosuppressive agents themselves may result in increased DNA damage and possibly carcinogenesis. The overall goal for this project is to provide greatly needed information about cancer incidence among solid organ transplant recipients. METHODS: Population-based data were linked from the California Cancer Registry and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients using social security numbers, first/last names and date of birth to identify all individuals who were diagnosed with cancer following solid organ transplantation in California between 1990 and 2001. Age-adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for overall and site-specific cancers, by comparing observed incidence among individuals who received solid organ transplants, to expected incidence among the general population. RESULTS: There were 25,479 individuals who received solid organ transplants in California between 1990 and 2001. The most common organs transplanted were kidney (57.5%), liver (24.1%) and heart (11.0%). We identified 1,200 individuals with a first primary diagnosis of invasive cancer occurring at least 6 months following transplantation. The mean time to cancer diagnosis was 4.1 years [standard deviation (SD)=2.7; range=6 months to 12 years]. The study population was ethnically diverse with 17.4% Hispanic, 7.6% African American and 7.5% Asian. The SIR for all cancer sites (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) was 0.98 (0.90 for men and 1.02 for women). The sites with the highest incidence among women were Kaposi’s sarcoma (SIR=32.4), lip (SIR=18.3) and vagina/vulva (SIR=7.7), and among men they were lip (SIR=4.3), kidney (SIR=2.3) and Karposi’s sarcoma (SIR=1.8). All SIRs were less than 1.0 for the three most common cancers among men and women in the U.S. (e.g. lung, colorectal, prostate and breast). CONCLUSIONS: Only recently in the U.S. have the available data been robust, complete or of high enough quality to calculate stable population-based estimates of cancer incidence among transplant recipients. The identification of cancers with higher incidence is the first step in developing targeted cancer prevention and control recommendations among this uniquely susceptible and emergent population. (This work was supported by: 1 R03 CA113097-01.)
Trigeminal-based Temperature Illusions

We explore a temperature illusion that uses low-powered electronics and enables the miniaturization of simple warm and cool sensations. Our illusion relies on the properties of certain scents, such as the coolness of mint or hotness of peppers. These odors trigger not only the olfactory bulb, but also the nose's trigeminal nerve, which has receptors that respond to both temperature and chemicals. To exploit this, we engineered a wearable device based on micropumps and an atomizer that emits up to three custom-made "thermal" scents directly to the user's nose. Breathing in these scents causes the user to feel warmer or cooler. We demonstrate how our device renders warmth and cooling sensations in virtual experiences. In our first study, we evaluated six candidate "thermal" scents. We found two hot-cold pairs, with one pair being less identifiable by odor. In our second study, pParticipants rated VR experiences with our device trigeminal stimulants as significantly warmer or cooler than the baseline conditions. Lastly, we believe this offers an alternative to existing thermal feedback devices, which unfortunately rely on power-hungry heat-lamps or Peltier-elements.
It Happens in #ChurchToo: Twitter Discourse Regarding Sexual Victimization Within Religious Communities:

This study sought to characterize online disclosure of, and reactions to, sexual violence victimization via the Twitter hashtag #ChurchToo, which emerged following the hashtag #MeToo as a call for ...
Nonuniform Oxidation Behavior of Loaded Gasoline Particulate Filters

The results of an experimental study on the oxidation behavior of loaded gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) from a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine are reported. PM was loaded on uncatalyzed cordierite GPF mini-cores by exposure to exhaust from a light-duty GDI engine operating during a rich acceleration condition on four fuels: 100% gasoline (E0); a 30% blend of ethanol in gasoline (E30); a 24% blend of isobutanol in gasoline (iBu24); or a 48% blend of isobutanol in gasoline (iBu48). The oxidative reactivities of these four types of PM were investigated as a function of temperature. Compared with E0, particulate matter (PM) from the ethanol blend showed a significant shift to lower temperature activity, whereas both isobutanol blends produced PM requiring higher temperatures to achieve complete oxidation. The oxidation kinetics of the E0 and E30 PM were studied in more detail. These cores were used in pulsed-oxidation studies to explore the oxidation kinetics of the PM throughout a stepwise burnout (i.e., regeneration). The results suggest that the reactivity of PM on GPF cores is sensitive to both its environmental history and the type of fuel being used. A unique neutron-imaging study was also performed on E0 and E30-loaded GPF cores to study how the PM layer thicknesses change during a stepwise burnout.
Torque-dense photomechanical actuation

Contactless actuation powered using light is shown to generate torque densities approaching 10 N m kg−1 at angular velocities ∼102 rad s−1: metrics that compare favorably against tethered electromechanical systems. This is possible even though the extinction of actinic light limits the characteristic thickness of photoresponse in polymers to tens of μm. Confinement of molecularly patterned developable shells fabricated from azobenzene-functionalized liquid crystalline polymers encodes torque-dense photoactuation. Photostrain gradients from unstructured irradiation segment this geometry into two oppositely curved regions connected by a curved crease. A monolithic curved shell spontaneously bifurcates into a jointed, arm-like mechanism that generates flexure over sweep angles exceeding a radian. Strain focusing at the crease is hierarchical: an integral crease nucleates at smaller magnitudes of the prebiased curvature, while a crease decorated with point-like defects emerges at larger curvatures. The phase-space of morphogenesis is traceable to the competition between stretch and bending energies and is parameterizable as a function of the geometry. The framework for generating repetitive torque-dense actuation from slender light-powered actuators holds broader implications for the design of soft, remotely operated machines. Here, it is harnessed in illustrative mechanisms including levers, lifters and grabbers that are powered and regulated exclusively using light.
Abstract 249: Association of Diastolic Blood Pressure and Myocardial Perfusion Pressure with Survival During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Introduction: Myocardial perfusion pressure (MPP), defined as the aortic diastolic pressure minus the central venous diastolic pressure, is an important determinant of return of spontaneous circula...
Quick, Coordinated and Authentic Reprogramming of Ribosome Biogenesis during iPSC Reprogramming.

Induction of pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) by OCT4 (octamer-binding transcription factor 4), SOX2 (SR box 2), KLF4 (Kruppel-Like Factor 4), and MYC (cellular Myelocytomatosis, c-MYC or MYC) (collectively OSKM) is revolutionary, but very inefficient, slow, and stochastic. It is unknown as to what underlies the potency aspect of the multi-step, multi-pathway, and inefficient iPSC reprogramming. Mesenchymal-to-epithelial (MET) transition is known as the earliest pathway reprogrammed. Using the recently established concepts of reprogramome and reprogramming legitimacy, the author first demonstrated that ribosome biogenesis (RB) is globally enriched in terms of human embryonic stem cells in comparison with fibroblasts, the popular starting cells of pluripotency reprogramming. It is then shown that the RB network was reprogrammed quickly in a coordinated fashion. Human iPSCs also demonstrated a more robust ribosome biogenesis. The quick and global reprogramming of ribosome biogenesis was also observed in an independent fibroblast line from a different donor. This study additionally demonstrated that MET did not initiate substantially at the time of proper RB reprogramming. This quick, coordinated and authentic RB reprogramming to the more robust pluripotent state by the OSKM reprogramming factors dramatically contrasts the overall low efficiency and long latency of iPSC reprogramming, and aligns well with the potency aspect of the inefficient OSKM reprogramming.
Investment in financial literacy and financial advice-seeking: Substitutes or complements?

Abstract This paper studies the strategic relationship between investment in financial literacy and seeking advice from a financial planner. While the existing literature on this topic considers financial literacy as exogenously given, we propose a simple model in which it is endogenously determined through the consumer's investment in financial literacy. Our theoretical model suggests that in this case, investment in financial literacy and financial advice-seeking are substitutes. We test this hypothesis using data from the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances. When using the propensity score matching method to control for self-selection bias, we find a significant negative relationship between the probability of seeking advice from a financial planner and investment in financial literacy. While these findings cannot be easily explained by existing models, this paper shows that endogenizing financial literacy reconciles the results.
Innovative systemic therapies for penile cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to look at recent advancements and treatment options of systemic therapies to treat penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). PSCC is a rare cancer that remains with limited funding for research and systemic therapy development. This review aims to discuss the most recent advancements in systemic treatments and our understanding of PSCC. RECENT FINDINGS Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and adjuvant therapy remain integral parts of treatment in locally advanced PSCC. New potential drug regimens are being studied to expand on the availability of first-line regimen options. There has been a large development in discoveries of cellular pathways and immune system targets as potential treatment options but these therapies as of today have limited trial evidence and currently have no support to be used in a clinical setting. SUMMARY PSCC is a rare genitourinary cancer with limited treatment options for patients with advanced disease that is refractory to chemotherapy. Although many new therapies targeting the immune system and cellular pathways are being developed for other studies, clinical and translational research for PSCC are still understudied and underfunded.
Features of replication fork blockage by the Escherichia coli terminus-binding protein.

Blockage of the progress of a DNA replication fork in Escherichia coli can be ascribed to an inhibition of helicase action at the orientation-specific binding of a termination sequence (ter) by the ter-binding protein (Lee, E.H., Kornberg, A., Hidaka, M., Kobayashi, T., and Horiuchi, T. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 9104-9108). These observations have been extended to include the PriA helicase, thus confirming that blockage is general for helicases. The site of arrest of synthesis by a replication fork is at the very first nucleotide of the 22-base pair E. coli-terB sequence. Strand displacement by DNA polymerases is also inhibited, but is less profound and is orientation-specific. The ter sequences of plasmids R1-terR and -terL and of plasmids R6K and R100 have been compared with those of E. coli-terA and -terB.
Aliskiren for the Treatment of Hypertension: An Update

Hypertension can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, and requires lifestyle modifications with or without drug therapy to achieve target blood pressure control. Various classes of anti-hypertensive medications are available to healthcare providers. Choice of medications is based not only on efficacy but also tolerability and cost. Aliskiren is the first drug of a new class of agents known as renin inhibitors. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as monotherapy or combination therapy with other antihypertensive agents to optimize blood pressure control. Its efficacy in blood pressure reduction is superior to placebo and comparable to angiotensin receptor blockers, hydrochlorothiazide, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and atenolol. It also offers additional blood pressure reduction when used in combination of other agents. Recently, a study demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the elderly, and a study suggested its renoprotective effects in patient who were already taking losartan. More clinical studies are awaited to assess its potential for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. This paper reviews the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of aliskiren for the treatment of hypertension.
Using nonlinear dynamics for performance enhancement in resonant micro and nano-scale devices

MEMS and NEMS provide a novel and exciting medium where one can observe and utilize mathematical phenomena not often present in macro-scale systems. By understanding thoroughly the dynamics of resonant MEMS, we can not only predict device behavior to eliminate unwanted effects, but also use nonlinear effects to design better sensors and systems. This paper describes two examples of utilizing and exploiting the parametric resonance instability to design micro and nano-scale resonant sensors. The first example discusses a class of sensors (pressure and mass) based on tracking a sharp bifurcation present in the system. The second example, based on a coupled mode parametric resonance, is a parametric amplifier, which has direct applications in communications (filters, switches, mixers) where high-Q, tunable resonant elements are essential.
On the overall reliability of hardware/software systems

Embedded computer systems are used for critical real-time process-control applications such as nuclear power plant safety control systems. The reliability of these systems must be estimated prior to using them due to the catastrophic consequences of any failures. Over the past two decades several methods have been developed for assessing the reliability of hardware and software systems separately. It has generally been assumed that the system reliability can be computed by treating the software and hardware subsystems as having independent failure processes. However, in this paper we show that there are cases where the reliability objective of the software (other than those determined by residual faults) influences the mission time and, hence, the reliability of the hardware subsystem.
Rapid sampling of plant species composition for assessing vegetation patterns in rugged terrain

Detailed species composition data are rapidly collected using a high-powered telescope from remote vantage points at two scales: site level and patch level. Patches constitute areas of homogeneous vegetation composition. Multiple samples of species composition are randomly located within the patches. These data are used as site-level data and are also aggregated to provide species composition data at the patch level. The site- and patch-level data are spatially integrated with high resolution (10 m), topographically-derived fields of environmental conditions, such as solar radiation, air temperature, and topographic moisture index in order to evaluate the applicability of the sampling method for modeling relationships between species composition and environmental processes. The methodology provides a balance between sampling efficiency and the accuracy of field data. Application of the method is appropriate for environments where terrain and canopy characteristics permit open visibility of the landscape. We evaluate the nature of data resulting from an implementation of the remote sampling methodology in a steep watershed dominated by closed-canopy chaparral. Analyses indicate that there is minimal bias associated with scaling the data from the site level to the patch level, despite variable patch sizes. Analysis of variance and correlation tests show that the internal floristic and environmental variability of patches is low and stable across the entire sample of patches. Comparison of regression tree models of species cover at the two scales indicates that there is little scale-dependence in the ecological processes that govern patterns of species composition between the site level and patch level. High explanatory power of the regression tree models suggests that the vegetation data are characterized at an appropriate scale to model landscape-level patterns of species composition as driven by topographically-mediated processes. Patch-level sampling reduces the influence of local stochasticity and microscale processes. Comparison of models between the two scales can be useful for assessing the processes and associated scales of variability governing spatial patterns of plant species.
Low complexity robust linear predictive coding of speech signals

Numerous authors have developed digital techniques for enhancing acoustically noisy speech signals. These algorithms are often applied as preprocessors to narrowband digital speech communications systems. Among the drawbacks of the pre- processor approach is the relatively high overall computational complexity. A method, using smoothed spectral estimates, is described for embedding many of these techniques within the autocorrelation approach to linear predictive analysis. This method provides a significant reduction in overall complexity.
Hydrodynamic voltammetry at an interdigitated electrode array in a flow channel: Part II. Chemical reaction succeeding electron transfer

Abstract The amperometric response is investigated theoretically for an electron transfer reaction followed by a first-order, homogeneous chemical reaction at an interdigitated microelectrode array, consisting of multiple pairs of microelectrodes held at alternating applied potentials on one wall of a flow channel under steady-state flow conditions. Concentration profiles in the channel, amperometric response, signal-to-noise ratios for the detector and optimum electrode design are discussed, on the basis of backward implicit finite difference calculations. The agreement of the simulation with previous results for a single pair of electrodes under comparable conditions is very good. Both absolute and relative enhancements increase significantly with the number of generator-detector pairs, enabling investigations of much faster chemical reactions than feasible with a single pair of electrodes of the same total geometric area.
Disposition of barbiturates in maternal blood, fetal blood, and amniotic fluid

Abstract This study was designed to compare the disposition of two barbiturates between the maternal blood, the fetal blood, and the amniotic fluid. Barbital, a long-acting barbiturate, and pentobarbital, a short-acting barbiturate were used. Both drugs rapidly achieved equilibrium between the maternal and fetal blood. Both drugs appeared in the amniotic fluid but the concentration in the amniotic fluid was much below that of the maternal and fetal blood.