cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Position Estimation and Control for Precision Formation Flying of Two Spacecraft Formations

A minimum configuration for a formation flying mission consists of two spacecraft. The two spacecraft are referred to as the leader spacecraft and follower spacecraft. The separation distance is controlled based on the requirements of the mission, which may vary from meters to kilometers or more. The purpose of this work is to develop an algorithm to estimate the relative position of the follower spacecraft with respect to the leader spacecraft to within sub-millimeter accuracy, applied specifically to close formation type missions with separations less than 100m. A sliding mode observer has a simple structure and is computationally less expensive than other noted estimation techniques. It is applied to the formation in conjunction with a passivity-based adaptive controller. The sliding mode observer is implemented using measurements from a vision-based navigation system. The resulting observer-based control system is shown to be robust against uncertainties and perturbations and shows reasonable performance under measurement noise.
MR of primary CNS lymphoma in immunologically normal patients.

PURPOSE To describe the MR findings of primary CNS lymphoma. METHODS MR scans of 20 patients with histologically proved primary CNS lymphoma were reviewed. We evaluated the size, multiplicity, signal intensities, and enhancement characteristics of the lesions. We divided the lesions into an enhancing area referred to as Zone 1 and abnormal signal surrounding this, referred to as Zone 2. RESULTS Primary CNS lymphoma presented as solitary enhancing lesions in 40% of the patients and multiple lesions in 40%. Thirty-three separate lesions were visible: 58% abutted the ventricular system, 76% showed a homogenous enhancement pattern, and 79% showed marked enhancement. In 64% of the lesions, Zone 1 and Zone 2 showed different signal intensities on T1-weighted images. CONCLUSIONS Primary CNS lymphoma usually presents as solitary or multiple dense homogenous enhancing lesions that abut an ependymal surface. These lesions can be divided into an enhancing area and an area of surrounding abnormal signal. These two areas often have different signal intensities on unenhanced T2-weighted images. These findings are sufficiently suggestive of the diagnosis of primary CNS lymphoma that a needle biopsy be performed based on these findings and appropriate therapy can then be instituted.
Clinical Utility of Thallium-201 Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography and Cerebrospinal Fluid Epstein-Barr Virus Detection Using Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Diagnosis of AIDS-Related Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic efficiency of thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the differentiation of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) from other central nervous system processes in patients with HIV/AIDS. Design/Methods: Over 10 years, 68 thallium-201 SPECT scans were performed on neurologically symptomatic HIV+ patients with focal lesions on CT or MRI at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Diagnoses were then established by either autopsy, biopsy, or clinical response to anti-toxoplasmosis therapy. Patients were categorized prior to a prospective clinical reading of the SPECT scans by nuclear medicine physicians. Results: In our patient sample overall, the diagnostic efficiency of thallium-201 SPECT was 79%. The diagnostic accuracy of EBV PCR testing alone in a subset of 22 patients in our study that had CSF analyzed was 73%. However, when both positive EBV PCR and positive thallium-201 SPECT results were used together, the diagnostic accuracy improved to 100% based on a sample of 13 patients where EBV PCR and SPECT imaging results were concordant. Conclusion: Thallium-201 SPECT has a relatively high positive predictive value with regards to the diagnosis of PCNSL, which suggests that patients with positive results could undergo empiric radiation treatment without resorting to brain biopsy. However, the predictive value can be increased by testing for CSF EBV using PCR. Alternatively, if CSF cannot be safely obtained because of mass effect, we believe that these data still suggest that empiric radiation treatment should be considered when discussing treatment options with patients with a positive thallium-201 SPECT.
Impact of physical activity during pregnancy on obstetric outcomes in obese women.

BACKGROUND Maternal obesity is associated with complications and adverse outcomes during the labor and delivery process. In pregnant women with a healthy body weight, maternal physical activity during pregnancy is associated with better obstetric outcomes; however, the effect of maternal physical activity during pregnancy on obstetric outcomes in obese women is not known. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of self-reported physical activity levels on obstetric outcomes in pregnant obese women. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed on 48 active obese women and 48 inactive obese women (N.=96) who received prenatal care and delivered at the medical center during the past five years. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between the active and inactive groups. RESULTS Obese women who were active during pregnancy spent less total time in labor (13.4 hours vs. 19.2 hours, P=0.048) and were less likely to request an epidural (92% vs. 100%, P=0.04). When stratified by parity, active multiparous women spent significantly less total time in labor compared to inactive multiparous (6.2 hours vs. 16.7 hours, P=0.018). There were no statistical differences between groups in rates of cesarean deliveries or neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Maternal physical activity during pregnancy appears to improve obstetric outcomes in obese women, and this improvement may be more pronounced among multiparous women. Our finding is of particular importance as pregnant obese women are at higher risk for adverse labor and delivery outcomes.
Influence of chloride on the chronic toxicity of sodium nitrate to Ceriodaphnia dubia and Hyalella azteca

While it has been well established that increasing chloride concentration in water reduces the toxicity of nitrite to freshwater species, little work has been done to investigate the effect of chloride on nitrate toxicity. We conducted acute and chronic nitrate (as sodium nitrate) toxicity tests with the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia and the amphipod Hyalella azteca (chronic tests only) over a range of chloride concentrations spanning natural chloride levels found in surface waters representative of watersheds of the Great Lakes Region. Chronic nitrate toxicity test results with both crustaceans were variable, with H. azteca appearing to be one of the more sensitive invertebrate species tested and C. dubia being less sensitive. While the variability in results for H. azteca were to an extent related to chloride concentration in test water that was distinctly not the case for C. dubia. We concluded that the chloride dependent toxicity of nitrate is not universal among freshwater crustaceans. An additional sodium chloride chronic toxicity test with the US Lab strain of H. azteca in the present study suggested that when present as predominantly sodium chloride and with relatively low concentrations of other ions, there is a narrow range of chloride concentrations over which this strain is most fit, and within which toxicity test data are reliable.
Implementation of sustainability improvements at the facility level: Motivations and barriers

Abstract A challenge to technical assistance service providers is to identify the driving forces behind the decision a facility may make to implement a change to improve its overall environmental sustainability and to implement cleaner production. Two United States university-based programs that utilize student interns to provide technical assistance surveyed past clients concerning their implementation of past recommendations and their motivations for implementation decisions. Generally, recommendations with a shorter payback and lower implementation cost had the highest implementation rate. Finances were more often a barrier to implementation than a motivation for implementation. Financial motivations were most important for equipment/process modifications and least important for training/policies. Capital was more of a financial barrier for implementation than poor payback, with other priorities for capital investments being more important than a lack of access to capital. Financial motivations were not as important in the decision-making process for public institutions as for private sector entities. The relative unimportance of payback in the decision-making process suggests other indirect and intangible benefits often impacted the decision to implement recommendations or not. Social motives, particularly corporate commitment to resource use/waste reduction, were especially important for recycling and training/policies recommendations.
Ex-vivo iTreg differentiation revisited: Convenient alternatives to existing strategies

Ex-vivo differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) from naive CD4+ T-cells has been widely used in immunological research. Isolation of a highly pure naive T cell population is the key factor that determines the efficiency of subsequent Treg differentiation. Currently, this step relies mostly on FACS sorting, which is often costly, time consuming, and inconvenient. Alternatively, magnetic separation of T-cells can be performed; yet, available protocols fail to reach sort level purity and consequently result in low Treg differentiation efficiency. Here, we present the results of a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of various magnetic separation strategies and FACS sorting in multiple levels. Additionally, we propose a novel optimized custom made magnetic separation protocol, which not only yields sort level purity and Treg differentiation but also lowers the reagent costs up to 75% compared to the commercially available purification kits. The highly pure naive CD4+ T-cell population obtained by this versatile method can also be used for differentiation of other T-cell subsets; therefore this protocol may have broad applications in T-cell research.
Abstract 115: Experience with a Nurse Practitioner Post-Discharge Transitional Clinic Model in over 1000 Cardiac Patients

Background: Current legislation imposes financial penalties for institutions with high 30 day readmissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BRIDGE is a nurse practitioner (NP) based post discharge transitional care program aimed at ensuring prompt (target: within 2 weeks) follow up (f/u) and facilitation of care for cardiac patients. Herein we report the effect of BRIDGE on readmissions and ED visits in over 1000 cardiac patients. Methods: Retrospective data was abstracted from June ‘08 to Dec ’10 for all patients referred to BRIDGE including demographics, comorbidities, medications, days to f/u with health care provider and 6 month outcomes for each diagnoses. Results: Of 1188 patients referred, 718 of 1020 (70.4%) patients attended BRIDGE, 178 patients were excluded from analysis due to invalid data or adverse events prior to the BRIDGE appointment. Diagnoses included: acute coronary syndrome (ACS) 268 (27%); angina 143 (14%), coronary disease 132 (13%); atrial fibrillation 148 (15%); heart failure 162 (16%); or other 157 (16%). There were no differences in baseline characteristics (table 1) of attendees vs. non-attendees, nor in Charlson Comorbidity Score for attend (4.42±2.48) vs. not attend (4.44±2.25; p=0.906). ACS patients attending BRIDGE had significantly lower rates of readmission at 30, 60, and 90 days, and a trend towards lower rates of ED visits at 30 and 60 days (table 2). This was not observed for other groups. Conclusions: A NP based transitional care clinic visit early post-discharge reduce early readmission and ED visits for patients with an ACS, but in this study did not impact other cardiac conditions.
Myocardial perfusion imaging in women for the evaluation of stable ischemic heart disease—state-of-the-evidence and clinical recommendations

This document from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology represents an updated consensus statement on the evidence base of stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), emphasizing new developments in single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in the clinical evaluation of women presenting with symptoms of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). The clinical evaluation of symptomatic women is challenging due to their varying clinical presentation, clinical risk factor burden, high degree of comorbidity, and increased risk of major ischemic heart disease events. Evidence is substantial that both SPECT and PET MPI effectively risk stratify women with SIHD. The addition of coronary flow reserve (CFR) with PET improves risk detection, including for women with nonobstructive coronary artery disease and coronary microvascular dysfunction. With the advent of PET with computed tomography (CT), multiparametric imaging approaches may enable integration of MPI and CFR with CT visualization of anatomical atherosclerotic plaque to uniquely identify at-risk women. Radiation dose-reduction strategies, including the use of ultra-low-dose protocols involving stress-only imaging, solid-state detector SPECT, and PET, should be uniformly applied whenever possible to all women undergoing MPI. Appropriate candidate selection for stress MPI and for post-MPI indications for guideline-directed medical therapy and/or invasive coronary angiography are discussed in this statement. The critical need for randomized and comparative trial data in female patients is also emphasized.
A Time to Keep Silence and a Time to Speak

The authors consider the implications of speaking out and remaining silent in the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. They reflect on the forms of speech available to and expected of educators and educational anthropologists in order to raise questions about whose voices are heard or ignored in the current public discourse. Drawing from their language-focused work alongside Latino immigrant communities, the authors raise questions about when and how to honor and break silences.
Development and Proliferation of Offensive Weapons in Cyber-Security

The proliferation of cyber weapons can put powerful offensive capabilities into the hands of states. This chapter explores just what a cyber weapon is and how the process of proliferation works. Highlighting the importance of information in building these offensive capabilities, the chapter argues that what should be considered a weapon is just a small part of what is proliferated in cybersecurity. While states have dominated the debate regarding cybersecurity threats, non-state and criminal actors play key roles in facilitating proliferation through the malware markets. When states and policymakers begin to examine how to disrupt the proliferation of new offensive techniques and methods, they should start with improving software security and resilience.
New Frontiers in Private Fiduciary Law

This chapter in the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Fiduciary Law charts new frontiers of scholarly inquiry in fiduciary law. The chapter first orients the reader by taking stock of the current state of play in fiduciary law scholarship. The chapter then identifies a range of important questions that should inspire future work in the field. More specifically, it identifies pressing questions of legal theory (conceptual and normative analysis), economic and empirical legal studies (including classical and behavioral economic analysis), and historical and sociological inquiry. The chapter also raises questions of interest to private law theorists and scholars interested in exploring the significance of fiduciary principles within various sub-fields, from trust and corporate law to health law and legal ethics.
Wintertime Expansion and Contraction of the Terra Nova Bay Polynya

A one-dimensional coastal polynya model, forced by data from a near-by automatic weather station, is used to examine wintertime ice concentration fluctuations in the Terra Nova Bay polynya. It has long been believed that the Terra Nova Bay polynya opens in response to strong offshore katabatic wind forcing. This study shows that not only is the sensible heat flux important in controlling fluctuations in polynya extent, but that the longwave heat fluxes is important also. Moreover, this study shows that wind forcing becomes important to the polynya dynamics as an amplification factor acting on the longwave flux term. Together these two terms can explain up to 40% of the observed variance in open water fraction. Some large-amplitude fluctuations in open water fraction at Terra Nova Bay were not well modeled in this study. These anomalies are believed to be related to large-scale changes in the Ross Sea pack ice, which are driven by strong winds blowing off the Ross Ice Shelf. Ice production rates were found to be comparable with historical estimates. To maintain a conversion of Warm Core Water or Low Salinity Shelf Water (S≅34.5PSU) to High Salinity Shelf Water (S≅34.8 PSU) consistent with the observed ice production rate, a transport of approximately 1 Sv is required at Terra Nova Bay.
Uveal metastasis: Clinical features and survival outcome of 2214 tumors in 1111 patients based on primary tumor origin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients with uveal metastasis based on primary tumor site. METHODS: Retrospective analysis from Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA, for uveal metastasis clinical features and outcomes based on the primary tumor site. RESULTS: There were 2214 uveal metastases diagnosed in 1111 consecutive patients. The demographics included mean age of 60 years (median 61 years), Caucasian race (88%), and female gender (64%). The tumor was unilateral (82%) and primary site was established before uveal metastasis (67%). The primary tumor originated in the breast (37%), lung (26%), kidney (4%), gastrointestinal (GI) tract (4%), cutaneous melanoma (2%), lung carcinoid (2%), prostate (2%), thyroid (1%), pancreas (1%), other sites (3%), and unknown (16%). Comparative analysis of the 5 most common primary sites (breast, lung, kidney, GI tract, and cutaneous melanoma), revealed metastasis at mean age (57, 62, 66, 61, 59 years), as unilateral tumor (74%, 86%, 85%, 93%, 85%), with mean number of metastasis/eye (1.9, 1.7, 1.0, 1.1, 2.0), and in females (99%, 46%, 26%, 25%, 30%). Choroidal metastases measured mean base (9.3, 10.2, 9.1, 11.0, 7.3 mm), mean thickness (2.4, 3.6, 4.4, 4.0, 2.9 mm), and demonstrated predominant color yellow (94%, 91%, 56%, 97%, 36%). Of the 769 patients with documented follow-up, mean patient survival was poor (22.2, 11.5, 8.6, 12.4, 11.4 months) and Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed 3-year survival (33%, 19%, 0%, 14%, 21%) and 5-year survival (24%, 13%, 0%, 14%, 21%). The worst survival was found in patients with pancreatic metastasis (mean 4.2 months) and best survival with lung carcinoid (92% at 5 years). CONCLUSION: In a tertiary referral service, uveal metastasis originates from cancer in the breast, lung, kidney, GI tract, cutaneous melanoma, or others. Overall prognosis is poor with 5-year survival at 23% and worst survival with pancreatic metastasis whereas best survival with lung carcinoid metastasis.
De novo coronary artery disease in graves' disease. coincidence?

ABSTRACTHyperthyroidism is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular conditions. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with no prior cardiac history who presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath, chest pain, lower extremity swelling, and generalized fatigue. She was found to have Graves’ Disease (GD) and extensive coronary artery disease (CAD), suggesting the possibility of increased risk of de novo CAD in patients with GD in the absence of other risk factors.
Home particulate concentration reduction during high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter use

Background: Periods of high particulate air pollution have been associated with increased respiratory symptoms. Whether a stand-alone in home high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter reduces the air pollution burden in the home is unknown. Methods: A randomized, blinded, cross-over, controlled trial enrolling former smokers age 40 and older with respiratory symptoms during periods of high air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah is still enrolling. Patients had a HEPA filter in their sleeping zone for 6 weeks and a low-efficiency air filter for 6 weeks. Symptom scores, spirometry, labs, activity and sleep data, and filter weights were collected during the study period. Each participant had two low-cost air quality monitors (purpleair.com) installed in their home during the study period - one outside the home and one inside the home. Differences between the indoor and outdoor air monitor during the 12-week study period were collected and compared. Results: Here we report the first season data for the paired indoor-outdoor monitors of this study. 24 patients were enrolled and completed the study with adequate air monitor data during the study period. Figure 1 shows the median particulate concentration for the difference between the indoor and outdoor air monitors during the HEPA filter and low efficiency filter periods for the study participants. Median particulate concentration was reduced for all particulate sizes, PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10, during the period of HEPA filter vs. low-efficiency filter (P = 0.027, 0.022, and 0.006, respectively). Conclusion: HEPA filters significantly reduce the particulate concentration in the sleeping zone during periods of air pollution.
Abstract 1045: CRISPR/cas9 mediated generation of an EMT reporter cell line for metastatic breast cancer drug discovery and development

Among women, breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer, with metastasis being the leading cause of mortality in cancer patients around the world (DIZON et al. 2016). Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) - the process by which epithelial cells shift to the mesenchymal state, has been implicated in many aspects of breast cancer tumorigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance ). The accumulation of a large body of data on the association of EMT with cancer over the years has not resulted in EMT being an active target for therapeutic development. This is due in part to the lack of appropriate in vitro models. Here we have exploited some of the basic biology of EMT, to create an advanced in vitro metastatic breast cancer reporter cell line model for use in both basic research and discovery of new EMT inhibitors. During EMT, E-cadherin protein expression is down regulated in cancer cells in association with the loss of cell-to-cell adhesion, apico-basal polarity and a change to a spindle-shaped morphology. By installing an emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP) tag on the C-terminus of the e-cadherin (ECAD) gene in the epithelial BT-474 breast cancer cell line via CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, end-point or real-time EMT status of cells can be tracked under defined conditions. The EMT reporter cell line was verified at the nucleic acid (genomic and mRNA) and protein levels as well as in cell-based assays. Bio-functional evaluation of the BT-474 ECAD EmGFP cell line, shows that it responds to EMT induction. The subsequent EMT status of cells can be monitored in real time by observing and measuring ECAD EmGFP expression, in addition, the resulting mesenchymal cells have increased invasive capacities. Furthermore, this EMT reporter cell line shows sensitivity to the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 - thereby providing the basis for the use of this cell line in high-throughput screening (HTS) applications including the identification of new anti-EMT drugs for metastatic breast cancer. The BT-474 ECAD EmGFP reporter cell line is also a convenient and sensitive model for basic science research on the mechanisms of metastasis. References DIZON, D. S., L. KRILOV, E. COHEN, T. GANGADHAR, P. A. GANZ et al., 2016 Clinical Cancer Advances 2016: Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer From the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol 34: 987-1011. HAY, E. D., 1995 An overview of epithelio-mesenchymal transformation. Acta Anat (Basel) 154: 8-20. Citation Format: Metewo S. Enuameh, Weiguo Shu, Robert Newman. CRISPR/cas9 mediated generation of an EMT reporter cell line for metastatic breast cancer drug discovery and development [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1045.
The Little Bank That Could: An Examination of the Historical and Financial Records of One Bank That Survived the Great Depression

ABSTRACT Founded in 1910, The First National Bank of Oxford had been in existence for only about 20 years when the Great Depression struck. While other banks failed, this small bank in rural Missis...
MANIC: A Vector-Dataflow Architecture for Ultra-Low-Power Embedded Systems

Ultra-low-power sensor nodes enable many new applications and are becoming increasingly pervasive and important. Energy efficiency is the key determinant of the value of these devices: battery-powered nodes want their battery to last, and nodes that harvest energy should minimize their time spent recharging. Unfortunately, current devices are energy-inefficient. In this work, we present MANIC, a new, highly energy-efficient architecture targeting the ultra-low-power sensor domain. MANIC achieves high energy-efficiency while maintaining programmability and generality. MANIC introduces vector-dataflow execution, allowing it to exploit the dataflows in a sequence of vector instructions and amortize instruction fetch and decode over a whole vector of operations. By forwarding values from producers to consumers, MANIC avoids costly vector register file accesses. By carefully scheduling code and avoiding dead register writes, MANIC avoids costly vector register writes. Across seven benchmarks, MANIC is on average 2.8× more energy efficient than a scalar baseline, 38.1% more energy-efficient than a vector baseline, and gets to within 26.4% of an idealized design.
FACT-JACIE Standards: Common Citations and How Best to Avoid Them

Blood and marrow transplantation is a highly complex process requiring a coordinated team from many disciplines all contributing to the treatment and outcome of the transplant recipient. The focus of this highly specialized community has been to improve outcomes and widen the field of candidates for this often life-saving but high-risk procedure.
A 49-residue sequence motif in the C-terminus of Nav1.9 regulates trafficking of the channel to the plasma membrane

Genetic and functional studies have confirmed an important role for the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.9 in human pain disorders. However, low functional expression of Nav1.9 in heterologous systems (e.g. in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells) has hampered studies of its biophysical and pharmacological properties and the development of high-throughput assays for drug development targeting this channel. The mechanistic basis for the low level of Nav1.9 currents in heterologous expression systems is not understood. Here, we implemented a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the mechanisms that govern functional Nav1.9 expression. Recombinant expression of a series of Nav1.9-Nav1.7 C-terminal chimeras in HEK293 cells identified a 49-amino-acid-long motif in the C terminus of the two channels that regulates expression levels of these chimeras. We confirmed the critical role of this motif in the context of a full-length channel chimera, Nav1.9-Ct49aaNav1.7, which displayed significantly increased current density in HEK293 cells while largely retaining the characteristic Nav1.9-gating properties. High-resolution live microscopy indicated that the newly identified C-terminal motif dramatically increases the number of channels on the plasma membrane of HEK293 cells. Molecular modeling results suggested that this motif is exposed on the cytoplasmic face of the folded C terminus, where it might interact with other channel partners. These findings reveal that a 49-residue-long motif in Nav1.9 regulates channel trafficking to the plasma membrane.
Perceived Injustice Helps Explain the Association Between Chronic Pain Stigma and Movement-Evoked Pain in Adults with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

Objective For most patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), the cause is "nonspecific," meaning there is no clear association between pain and identifiable pathology of the spine or associated tissues. Laypersons and providers alike are less inclined to help, feel less sympathy, dislike patients more, suspect deception, and attribute lower pain severity to patients whose pain does not have an objective basis in tissue pathology. Because of these stigmatizing responses from others, patients with cLBP may feel that their pain is particularly unjust and unfair. These pain-related injustice perceptions may subsequently contribute to greater cLBP severity. The purpose of this study was to examine whether perceived injustice helps explain the relationship between chronic pain stigma and movement-evoked pain severity among individuals with cLBP. Methods Participants included 105 patients with cLBP who completed questionnaires assessing chronic pain stigma and pain-related injustice perception, as well as a short physical performance battery for the assessment of movement-evoked pain and physical function. Results Findings revealed that perceived injustice significantly mediated the association between chronic pain stigma and cLBP severity (indirect effect = 6.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.041 to 14.913) and physical function (indirect effect = -0.401, 95% CI = -1.029 to -0.052). Greater chronic pain stigma was associated with greater perceived injustice (P = 0.001), which in turn was associated with greater movement-evoked pain severity (P = 0.003). Conclusions These results suggest that perceived injustice may be a means through which chronic pain stigma impacts nonspecific cLBP severity and physical function.
Intelligent Reflective Surface Aided Multi-Way Communications

In this paper, an intelligent reflective surface (IRS)-aided multi-way communication system is investigated. The full-duplex reflective properties of the IRS are exploited to enable full-mutual data exchange among multiple users within a single channel-use. A max-min fairness-based achievable rate optimization problem is formulated to control the phase-shift matrix at the IRS. To this end, a minorization-maximization based iterative IRS phase-shift optimization algorithm is used to maximize the minimum achievable system-wide user rate. The simulation/numerical results are presented to validate the convergence of the proposed IRS phase-shift optimization algorithm and to investigate the system performance. Thereby, it is revealed that the proposed system mitigates the adverse near-far effects by ensuring a common system-wide achievable user rate while accomplishing full-mutual data exchange via intelligently controlling the phase-shifts at the IRS. Our numerical results reveal that the proposed system outperforms the current state-of-the-art multi-way communication system based on multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relays in terms of the achievable sum rate in the moderate-to-large IRS element regime.
Dielectric elastomer actuators

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are soft, electrically powered actuators that have no discrete moving parts, yet can exhibit large strains (10%–50%) and moderate stress (∼100 kPa). This Tutorial describes the physical basis underlying the operation of DEA's, starting with a simple linear analysis, followed by nonlinear Newtonian and energy approaches necessary to describe large strain characteristics of actuators. These lead to theoretical limits on actuation strains and useful non-dimensional parameters, such as the normalized electric breakdown field. The analyses guide the selection of elastomer materials and compliant electrodes for DEAs. As DEAs operate at high electric fields, this Tutorial describes some of the factors affecting the Weibull distribution of dielectric breakdown, geometrical effects, distinguishing between permanent and “soft” breakdown, as well as “self-clearing” and its relation to proof testing to increase device reliability. New evidence for molecular alignment under an electric field is also presented. In the discussion of compliant electrodes, the rationale for carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes is presented based on their compliance and ability to maintain their percolative conductivity even when stretched. A procedure for making complaint CNT electrodes is included for those who wish to fabricate their own. Percolative electrodes inevitably give rise to only partial surface coverage and the consequences on actuator performance are introduced. Developments in actuator geometry, including recent 3D printing, are described. The physical basis of versatile and reconfigurable shape-changing actuators, together with their analysis, is presented and illustrated with examples. Finally, prospects for achieving even higher performance DEAs will be discussed.
Central American mountains inhibit eastern North Pacific seasonal tropical cyclone activity

The eastern North Pacific (ENP) has the highest density of tropical cyclones (TCs) on earth, and yet the controls on TCs, from individual events to seasonal totals, remain poorly understood. One effect that has not been fully considered is the unique geography of the Central American mountains. Although observational studies suggest these mountains can readily fuel individual TCs through dynamical processes, here we show that these mountains indeed play the opposite role on the seasonal timescale, hindering seasonal ENP TC activity by up to 35%. We found that these mountains significantly interrupt the abundant moisture transport from the Caribbean Sea to the ENP, limiting deep convection over the open ocean area where TCs preferentially occur. This study advances our fundamental understanding of ENP TC genesis mechanisms across the weather-to-climate timescales, and also highlights the importance of topography representation in improving the ENP regional climate simulations, as well as TC seasonal predictions and future projections.
Caring for the Whole Patient After Breast Cancer Therapy: A Survivorship Guide for Radiation Oncologists.

Abstract With 5-year survival rates after breast cancer therapy exceeding 90%, comprehensive follow-up care is a vital component of the treatment plan for patients who have completed active therapy. While radiation oncologists are generally comfortable with management of the locoregional toxicities of breast cancer radiotherapy, many may be less familiar with the toxicities and available interventions associated with surgery, chemotherapy, and anti-endocrine therapy. For radiation oncologists to provide the greatest value to their patients and play a meaningful role in breast cancer patients’ follow-up care, multi-system assessment and management, beyond the breast/chest and axilla, is key. This guide is intended as an educational and practical tool to assist any oncology caregiver with a thorough multisystem assessment and management of the most common survivorship issues for the treated breast cancer patient. Hyperlinks to published data supporting or summarizing the intervention are provided for further reading in the on-line version, along with sample Follow Up Note and After Visit Summary templates.
Tactics of Soft Resistance in User Experience Professionals' Values Work

User experience (UX) professionals' attempts to address social values as a part of their work practice can overlap with tactics to contest, resist, or change the companies they work for. This paper studies tactics that take place in this overlap, where UX professionals try to re-shape the values embodied and promoted by their companies, in addition to the values embodied and promoted in the technical systems and products that their companies produce. Through interviews with UX professionals working at large U.S.-based technology companies and observations at UX meetup events, this paper identifies tactics used towards three goals: (1) creating space for UX expertise to address values; (2) making values visible and relevant to other organizational stakeholders; and (3) changing organizational processes and orientations towards values. This paper analyzes these as tactics of resistance: UX professionals seek to subvert or change existing practices and organizational structures towards more values-conscious ends. Yet, these tactics of resistance often rely on the dominant discourses and logics of the technology industry. The paper characterizes these as partial or "soft" tactics, but also argues that they nevertheless hold possibilities for enacting values-oriented changes.
A collaborative bachelor's degree in software engineering

This paper discusses a new Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (BSSE) that is offered via a collaboration of three departments of one university. The sponsors span the disciplinary areas of computer science, computer engineering, and information systems. The combination of disciplinary areas helps provide a broad foundation for the program. At the same time, while the idea of joint sponsorship may make sense, putting that idea into practice has its difficulties. Academic units have differences in organizational culture, and disciplines may vary in research tradition and curricular expectations. Administrative issues are also more complicated for a collaborative program. All of these factors may make it more difficult to achieve a satisfactory result. This paper begins with a discussion of the development of the degree program including the process used and issues that had to be addressed along the way. Next, the curricular content of the degree is outlined, with particular attention to contribution and perspective provided by each of the degree sponsors. Finally, the paper discusses initial experiences in offering the degree.
Optimization-Based modeling with applications to transport: part 2. the optimization algorithm

This paper is the second of three related articles that develop and demonstrate a new optimization-based framework for computational modeling. The framework uses optimization and control ideas to assemble and decompose multiphysics operators and to preserve their fundamental physical properties in the discretization process. One application of the framework is in the formulation of robust algorithms for optimization-based transport (OBT). Based on the theoretical foundations established in Part 1, this paper focuses on the development of an efficient optimization algorithm for the solution of the remap subproblem that is at the heart of OBT.
Magnesium reduces N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated brain injury in perinatal rats.

We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of systemically administered magnesium against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated brain injury in perinatal rats. Postnatal day (PND) 7 rats received unilateral intrastriatal injections of 25 nmol NMDA followed 15 min later by single or multiple doses of magnesium intraperitoneally (i.p.). Animals were sacrificed five days later and the severity of brain injury was assessed by comparison of the weights of the injected and contralateral cerebral hemispheres. NMDA injection reduced the weight of the injected cerebral hemisphere by 31 +/- 3%. Single doses of magnesium reduced the severity of NMDA-induced brain injury in a dose-dependent fashion (2 mmol/kg, 29 +/- 11% protection; 3 mmol/kg, 52 +/- 12% protection; 4 mmol/kg, 62 +/- 7% protection). Multiple doses of magnesium reduced brain injury by 65 +/- 4%. These data demonstrate that systemically administered magnesium antagonizes the neurotoxic effects of NMDA in vivo in perinatal rats.
Plasma Opening Switch for long-pulse intense ion beam

A Plasma Opening Switch (POS) is being developed at Los Alamos, as part of an intense ion beam experiment with special application to materials processing. The switch must conduct up to 100 kA for 400 ns, and open quickly to avoid premature gap closure in the ion beam diode load. Power multiplication is not a necessity, but prepulse suppression is. A positive central polarity is desirable, since with it an ion beam can be conveniently launched beyond the switch from the central anode toward a negatively charged target. Using traditional scaling rules, a POS was designed with a 1.25 cm radius inner anode, and a 5.0 cm radius outer cathode. This has been constructed, and subjected to circuit, and simulational analysis. The computations are being performed with the 2D ANTHEM implicit code. Preliminary results show a marked difference in switching dynamics, when the central positive polarity is used in place of the more conventional opposite choice. Opening is achieved by the fast development of a central anode magnetic layer, rather than by the more conventional slow evolution of a cathode gap. With the central anode, higher fill densities are needed to achieve desired conduction times. This has suggested switch design improvements, which are discussed.
Spin susceptibility in superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 from 63Cu Knight shift.

The $^{63}\mathrm{Cu}$ Knight shift in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ has been measured at both Cu(1) (chain) and Cu(2) (plane) sites, using a uniaxially aligned powder. The isotropic part of the spin Knight shift (${K}_{s}$) was found to be positive for both sites, suggesting large transferred hyperfine fields from oxygen p states. The Knight shifts at both sites show significant change below ${T}_{c}$, indicating important roles of both the planes and chains in the superconductivity. Despite the uncertainty in the diamagnetic screening, the axial part of ${K}_{s}$ at Cu(2) sites is found to show linear-T behavior at low temperatures.
Tunable, single-frequency, erbium fiber ring lasers

Tuning range, side-mode suppression, line width, and intensity noise are reviewed for an all-fiber erbium ring laser. Active stabilization to an external fiber Fabry-Perot resonator is demonstrated. >
Construction and Characterization of Salmonella typhimurium Strains That Accumulate and Excrete α- and β- Isopropylmalate

Two Salmonella typhimurium strains, which could be used as sources for the leucine biosynthetic intermediates α- and β-isopropylmalate were constructed by a series of P22-mediated transductions. One strain, JK527 [ flr-19 leuA2010 Δ( leuD-ara ) 798 fol-162 ], accumulated and excreted α-isopropylmalate, whereas the second strain, JK553 ( flr-19 leuA2010 leuB698 ), accumulated and excreted α- and β-isopropylmalate. The yield of α-isopropylmalate isolated from the culture medium of JK527 was more than five times the amount obtained from a comparable volume of medium in which Neurospora crassa strain FLR 92 -1-216 (normally used as the source for α- and β-isopropylmalate) was grown. Not only was the yield greater, but S. typhimurium strains are much easier to handle and grow to saturation much faster than N. crassa strains. The combination of the two regulatory mutations flr-19 , which results in constitutive expression of the leucine operon, and leuA2010 , which renders the first leucine-specific biosynthetic enzyme insensitive to feedback inhibition by leucine, generated limitations in the production of valine and pantothenic acid. The efficient, irreversible, and unregulated conversion of α-ketoisovaleric acid into α-isopropylmalate (α-isopropylmalate synthetase K m for α-ketoisovaleric acid, 6 × 10 −5 M) severely restricted the amount of α-ketoisovaleric acid available for conversion into valine and pantothenic acid (ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase K m for α-ketoisovaleric acid, 1.1 × 10 −3 M; transaminase B K m for α-ketoisovaleric acid, 2 × 10 −3 M).
A new approach for coverage analysis of multihop cooperative networks subject to lognormal-Rice fading

A strip-shaped sensor network is considered, where randomly placed nodes communicate cooperatively by forming an opportunistic large array (OLA). The transmission from a group of cooperating nodes to another group of nodes is modeled with a quasi-stationary Markov chain, where the transmission channel is assumed to experience lognormal shadowing and Rice fading. The distribution of received power at a node is calculated as a three-step process, which includes finding the distribution of random distance between nodes in addition to other channel impairments, that is, fading and shadowing. It is shown that, in the presence of all three channel impairments, the received power at a node follows a lognormal distribution. This approximation uses a series of steps that involves techniques such as moment matching and moment generating function (MGF). Using the underlying Markov chain properties, the one-hop success probability of the network is derived. The system performance and coverage range of the network are quantified as a function of various network parameters and node topologies. The theoretical results are validated by performing computer simulations.
Recombination Among Three Mitochondrial Genes in Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Eight crosses involving three different mitochondrial genes were made in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All three genes were linked, but an unambiguous linkage map could not be constructed.
Child-Care Subsidies and School Readiness in Kindergarten

The federal child-care subsidy program represents one of the government's largest investments in early care and education. Using data from the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, this study examines associations, among subsidy-eligible families, between child-care subsidy receipt when children are 4 years old and a range of school readiness outcomes in kindergarten (sample n ≈ 1,400). Findings suggest that subsidy receipt in preschool is not directly linked to subsequent reading or social-emotional skills. However, subsidy receipt predicted lower math scores among children attending community-based centers. Supplementary analyses revealed that subsidies predicted greater use of center care, but this association did not appear to affect school readiness.
The effects of heavy drinking and socio-economic status on driving behavior

Drinking and driving is a primary cause of traffic fatalities and it has been suggested that heavy drinkers comprise a major portion of those drivers involved in drinking and driving accidents. Although several experimental studies have investigated the driving behavior of social drinkers or the general population under the influence of alcohol, few studies have focused on a comparison of driving behavior between heavy and social drinkers. In addition, these studies have not taken other potentially influential factors into account such as socio-economic status. To address this important question in research and practice, a driving simulator study was conducted with a 2×2 factorial design (heavy vs. social drinker; lower vs. higher income). Sixty-four participants were asked to operate a driving simulator following traffic rules. Analyses indicated that within the higher income group, heavy drinkers were likely to have more frequent speeding exceedances and speed for longer time periods than social drinker...
Hydroxylamine blocks pre- but not postsynaptic adenosine A1 receptor-mediated actions in rat hippocampus

Abstract The commonly used nitric oxide donor, hydroxylamine (NH 2 OH), can block or reverse the inhibition of glutamatergic transmission by adenosine or an adenosine A 1 agonist in rat hippocampal slice. In these experiments, hydroxylamine did not affect the adenosine A 1 receptor-mediated depression of postsynaptic excitability. We conclude that hydroxylamine acts presynaptically to counter adenosine A 1 receptor-mediated inhibition of synaptic transmission.