cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extension of survival by resection of asynchronous renal cell carcinoma metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether or not resection of isolated mediastinal lymph node renal cell carcinoma metastases confers a survival advantage, as compared with patients with stage IV disease. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with renal cell carcinoma whose histologic specimens were evaluated at our institution from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006. Using Kaplan–Meier estimates, we compared the survival of patients who underwent resection of asynchronous mediastinal lymph node metastases with that of patients with stage IV disease. Results During the 7-year study period, of the 386 patients with renal cell carcinoma who were evaluated at our institution, 9 underwent resection of asynchronous mediastinal lymph node metastases. After primary tumor resection and before diagnosis of asynchronous mediastinal lymph node metastases, all patients completed chemotherapy, cytokine therapy, or tumor vaccination; 3 underwent radiotherapy. The median age at resection of mediastinal lymph nodes was 57.7 years (range, 39.7–81.2). The median time from primary tumor resection to mediastinal lymph node resection was 2.8 years (range, 0.5–23.3). In all, 4 patients underwent resection of metastases via thoracotomy and 5, via thoracoscopy. The median number of mediastinal lymph nodes pathologically evaluated was 7 (range, 2–28); the median number of positive mediastinal lymph nodes per patient was 1.5 (range, 1–3). We found no surgical complications. The median survival after resection of metastases (3.2 years) was significantly longer ( P = .021) than for other patients with stage IV disease at our institution (1.1 years). Conclusions Resection of renal cell carcinoma mediastinal lymph node metastases is safe, appears to extend survival, and should be considered an important component of treating patients with renal cell carcinoma who have asynchronous mediastinal lymph node metastases.
The clinical application of DNA content and kinetic parameters in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Patients with squamous cell cancers of the head and neck (SCCHN) vary tremendously in their natural history and treatment outcome even amongst subgroups where the clinical and morphological parameters are similar. The ability to pretherapeutically identify individual patients and patient subgroups that differ in these regards would greatly facilitate clinical and basic science cancer research in this tumor. DNA content parameters are simple and accurate intermediate markers of a tumor's biology and reflect the fundamental process associated with the development of malignancy, chromosomal aneuploidy. In patients with SCCHN, DNA content parameters have been shown to be highly predictive of the natural history of the tumor and treatment outcome. They are also useful as intermediate markers for the study of the underlying molecular-genetic properties and processes responsible for the biological differences seen in these cancers. DNA content parameters therefore serve as fundamental ‘translational’ bridges in clinical and laboratory research in patients with SCCHN.
Modeling vitellogenesis in female fish exposed to environmental stressors: predicting the effects of endocrine disturbance due to exposure to a PCB mixture and cadmium

A wide variety of chemical and physical environmental stressors have been shown to alter the reproductive processes in fish by interfering with endocrine function. Most endocrine indicators or biomarkers are static measures from dynamic hormonally-mediated processes, and often do not directly relate to reproductive endpoints of ecological significance. Adequate production of the yolk precursor protein, vitellogenin, is critical for the survival and normal development of the sensitive egg and yolk-sac larval fish life stages. We developed a model that simulates vitellogenesis in a mature female sciaenid fish. The model simulates the major biochemical reactions over a 6-month period from the secretion of gonadotropin (GtH) into the blood to the production of vitellogenin. We simulated the effects of two endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that have different actions on vitellogenin production: a PCB mixture and cadmium. Predicted changes in steroid concentrations and cumulative vitellogenin production compared favorably with changes reported in laboratory experiments. Simulations illustrate the potential utility of our model for interpreting reproductive endocrine biomarkers measured in fish collected from degraded environments.
Modeling of reduced bandwidth distortion to wide-area electron channeling mapping resulting from ultrasonic deformation

Abstract Microstructural changes, resulting from the application of 20.5 kHz ultrasound to a single-crystal aluminum rod, have been identified by wide-area electron channeling patterns. Within the local deformation region, small-angle boundaries were detected by the presence of bends and shifts of the electron channeling bands. At the center of this region was a zone characterized by markedly reduced bandwidths (as much as 45% reduction) and altered angles between bands (the reduced bandwidth zone). A quantitative model, based on lattice bending, has been developed which accounts for the anomalous features of the reduced bandwidth zone and estimates the amount of bending and the local dislocation density. Slip bands have been identified as (111), and evidence of slip in the [ 1 10] direction is presented. The (111) plane and the [ 1 10] direction are consistent with the primary slip system predicted by Schmid's law for tensile deformation along the specimen axis.
Seeking volunteers and contributions: an exploratory study of nonprofit agencies on the Internet

ABSTRACT This study reports the results of an exploratory survey of two hundred and nine nonprofit agencies that solicit volunteers on the Internet. The study examined agency goals for their Internet site; the associated development and monthly costs; their success in solicitation of volunteers and in-kind contributions; agency satisfaction with their Internet site; and agency advice for those considering development of an Internet site. The majority of agencies reported receiving volunteers and about one-third received in-kind contributions as a result of their Internet solicitation. Agency gains from Internet requests were modest, generally accounting for less than ten percent of agency volunteers and five percent of contributions. Agencies were generally satisfied with their Internet activities. Agencies that update their sites more frequently, that have their own Web sites, and that receive volunteers and contributions, are more satisfied with their Web sites overall. Areas for further research are di...
Stereochemistry of dimetrylgermylene addition to E,E-and E,Z-2,4-hexadienes in the gas phase

Abstract 1,1,2,5-Tetramethyl-1-germacyclopent-3-enes are formed stereospecifically in the gas-phase addition of dimethylgermylene GeMe 2 to E , E - and E , Z -2,4-hexadiene, the E , E -diene yielding 98% of syn product and the E , Z -diene yielding 96% of the anti isomer.
Characterization of unlabeled radial level planar graphs

Suppose that an n-vertex graph has a distinct labeling with the integers {1, . . . ,n}. Such a graph is radial level planar if it admits a crossings-free drawing under two constraints. First, each vertex lies on a concentric circle such that the radius of the circle equals the label of the vertex. Second, each edge is drawn with a radially monotone curve. We characterize the set of unlabeled radial level planar(URLP) graphs that are radial level planar in terms of 7 and 15 forbidden subdivisions depending on whether the graph is disconnected or connected, respectively. We also provide linear-time drawing algorithms for any URLP graph.
A detailed aerosol mixing state model for investigating interactions between mixing state, semivolatile partitioning, and coagulation

Abstract. A new method for describing externally mixed particles, the Detailed Aerosol Mixing State (DAMS) representation, is presented in this study. This novel method classifies aerosols by both composition and size, using a user-specified mixing criterion to define boundaries between compositional populations. Interactions between aerosol mixing state, semivolatile partitioning, and coagulation are investigated with a Lagrangian box model that incorporates the DAMS approach. Model results predict that mixing state affects the amount and types of semivolatile organics that partition to available aerosol phases, causing external mixtures to produce a more size-varying composition than internal mixtures. Both coagulation and condensation contribute to the mixing of emitted particles, producing a collection of multiple compositionally distinct aerosol populations that exists somewhere between the extremes of a strictly external or internal mixture. The selection of mixing criteria has a significant impact on the size and type of individual populations that compose the modeled aerosol mixture. Computational demands for external mixture modeling are significant and can be controlled by limiting the number of aerosol populations used in the model.
Enhanced production of branched-chain fatty acids by replacing β-ketoacyl-(acyl-carrier-protein) synthase III (FabH).

Branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) are important precursors for the production of advanced biofuels with improved cold-flow properties. Previous efforts in engineering type II fatty acid synthase (FAS) for BCFA production suffered from low titers and/or the co-production of a large amount of straight-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), making it nearly impossible for further conversion of BCFAs to branched biofuels. Synthesis of both SCFAs and BCFAs requires FabH, the only β-ketoacyl-(acyl-carrier-protein) synthase in Escherichia coli that catalyzes the initial condensation reaction between malonyl-ACP and a short-chain acyl-CoA. In this study, we demonstrated that replacement of the acetyl-CoA-specific E. coli FabH with a branched-chain-acyl-CoA-specific FabH directed the flux to the synthesis of BCFAs, resulting in a significant enhancement in BCFA titer compared to a strain containing both acetyl-CoA- and branched-chain-acyl-CoA-specific FabHs. We further demonstrated that the composition of BCFAs can be tuned by engineering the upstream pathway to control the supply of different branched-chain acyl-CoAs, leading to the production either even-chain-iso-, odd-chain-iso-, or odd-chain-anteiso-BCFAs separately. Overall, the top-performing strain from this study produced BCFAs at 126 mg/L, comprising 52% of the total free fatty acids. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 1613–1622. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Evidence-Based?

This article describes the process of having solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) be evaluated by various federal registries as an evidence-based practice (EBP) intervention. The authors submitted SFBT for evaluation for inclusion on three national EBP registry lists in the United States: the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Results of our submission found SFBT was not reviewed by SAMHSA and WWC because it was not prioritized highly enough for review, but it was rated as “promising” by OJJDP. Implications for practitioners and recommendations regarding the status of SFBT as an EBP model are discussed.
Application of PBPK modelling in drug discovery and development at Pfizer

Early prediction of human pharmacokinetics (PK) and drug–drug interactions (DDI) in drug discovery and development allows for more informed decision making. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling can be used to answer a number of questions throughout the process of drug discovery and development and is thus becoming a very popular tool. PBPK models provide the opportunity to integrate key input parameters from different sources to not only estimate PK parameters and plasma concentration-time profiles, but also to gain mechanistic insight into compound properties.Using examples from the literature and our own company, we have shown how PBPK techniques can be utilized through the stages of drug discovery and development to increase efficiency, reduce the need for animal studies, replace clinical trials and to increase PK understanding.Given the mechanistic nature of these models, the future use of PBPK modelling in drug discovery and development is promising, however, some limitations need t...
Müller glia are a potential source of neural regeneration in the postnatal chicken retina.

The retina of warm-blooded vertebrates is believed to be incapable of neural regeneration. Here we provide evidence that the retina of postnatal chickens has the potential to generate new neurons. In response to acute damage, numerous Muller glia re-entered the cell cycle, and shortly thereafter, expressed CASH-1, Pax6 and Chx10, transcription factors expressed by embryonic retinal progenitors. These progenitor-like cells transiently expressed neurofilament. Newly formed cells became distributed throughout the inner and outer nuclear layers of the retina, and remained for at least three weeks after damage. Some of these newly formed cells differentiated into retinal neurons, a few formed Muller glia, and most remained undifferentiated, with continued expression of Pax6 and Chx10. These cells continued to proliferate when grown in culture, with some differentiating into retinal neurons or Muller glia. We propose that, in response to damage, Muller glia in the retina are a potential source of neural regeneration.
The Georgia Tech millimeter‐wavelength measurement system and some applications to the study of planetary atmospheres

[1] With the advent of new millimeter-wavelength arrays such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array capable of providing very precise maps of planetary emission, it becomes very critical to have an accurate knowledge of the millimeter-wavelength properties of gases under those planetary conditions. A millimeter-wavelength planetary atmospheric simulator and measurement system have been developed at the Georgia Tech Planetary Atmospheres Laboratory to accurately measure the propagation properties of gases under simulated planetary atmospheric conditions. The measurement system operates in the 2–4 millimeter-wavelength range and withstands up to 3 bars of pressure. It currently operates in the 190–300 K temperature range, and with minor modifications can operate in the 300–550 K temperature range for measurements of certain highly millimeter-wavelength-opaque gases. The measurements from this system can be used for developing accurate models of the millimeter-wavelength properties of gases under various planetary conditions which can then be used for retrieving the abundances of those gases through various remote sensing techniques.
Vasectomy in the United States, 2002

Purpose: We estimated the number of vasectomies performed in the United States in 2002 and gathered information on the vasectomy procedures and protocols used. It follows similar studies done in 1991 and 1995.Materials and Methods: A retrospective mail survey with telephone followup was performed in 2,300 urologists, family physicians and general surgeons randomly sampled from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile.Results: The response rate was 73.8%. An estimated 526,501 vasectomies were performed in 2002 for a rate of 10.2/1,000 men 25 to 49 years old. Overall 37.8% of physicians reported currently using no scalpel vasectomy and almost half of the vasectomies performed in 2002 were no scalpel vasectomies. Methods of vas occlusion varied in and among specialties with a combination of ligation and cautery being most common (41.0% of cases). Of the physicians 45.6% reported routinely performing fascial interposition, 94.4% reported removing a vas segment, 23.3% reported routinely folding ba...
A fuel optimal and reduced controller workload optimization model for conflict resolution

Despite the existence of several automated air traffic conflict resolution algorithms, there is a need for formulations that account for air traffic controller workload. This paper presents such an algorithm with controller workload constraints modeled parametrically. To this end, we first develop an integer programming model for general conflict resolution, which emphasizes the minimization of fuel costs, and runs in near real-time. A parametric procedure based on this model is then developed to consider controller workload limitations. Two versions of the parametric approach are described, along with computational results. It is demonstrated that both formulations can be used to capture a broad range of possible controller actions.
Use of self bias to improve power saturation and intermodulation distortion in CW class B HBT operation

It is shown that a DC base bias circuit can be used to control the RF performance of a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) operating under CW conditions near class B mode. By a careful choice of base bias resistance, gain can be linearized, output power at 1-dB gain compression increased, and intermodulation distortion reduced. Measurements performed on HBTs biased near class B operation showed a 10-dB improvement in 1-dB gain compression point and a 10-dB reduction in intermodulation distortion for moderate power levels. Results for various values of DC base resistance for a typical HBT are presented. >
Investigation of nonlinear modal behavior of HVDC/AC power systems through a scanning tool via normal form technique

In this paper a scanning tool based on the normal form technique is developed for the investigation of nonlinear modal behavior of AC/DC power systems with DC power modulation. The AC-DC interface variables are solved by symbolic calculation software MAPLE. A state space model is then formed for normal form method with second order approximation. A 4-generator AC/DC power system is studied with different fault locations and various input signals for DC power modulation.
Molecular and Ionic Mimicry of Toxic Metals

The landmark review by Wetterhahn-Jennette (1) laid the foundation for this review. A recent review on mechanisms of metal transport (2) has also been an important literature resource. Wetterhahn-Jennette pointed out the structural similarities of many oxyanions and explained the toxicities of several metals in terms of oxyanions competing with endogenous oxyanions, phosphate, and sulfate in transport, enzymatic and receptor-mediated processes. She also introduced the term "ionic mimicry" to describe the competition between many divalent endogenous and toxic metal ions in biological systems, such competition giving a mechanistic insight into the toxic action of certain metals. The term "molecular mimicry" has been mainly confined to the field of immunology. In the context of this review, the term roolecular mimicry is restricted to those examples in which a toxic metal forms a complex with an endogenous ligand such that the resulting compound mimics the behavior of a normal substrate. An example to be discussed in some detail is the reaction of the methylmercury cation with the amino acid cysteine to form a compound that mimics the amino acid methionine and thus gains entry into the cell on an amino acid carrier. This review updates the literature on both oxyanion and divalent metal competition and introduces a new extension of molecular and ionic mimicry to complexes formed by mercury that are structurally similar to and biologi­ cally mimic endogenous molecules. This review is not intended to be an exhaustive account of all the literature but gives examples that illustrate the role of molecular and ionic mimicry in the action of the toxic metals.
From Hopeful Monsters to Homeotic Effects: Richard Goldschmidt's Integration of Development, Evolution, and Genetics1

Richard Goldschmidt's research on homeotic mutants from 1940 until his death in 1958 represents one of the first serious efforts to integrate genetics, development, and evolution. Using two different models, Goldschmidt tried to show how different views of genetic structure and gene action could provide a mechanism for rapid speciation. Developmental systems were emphasized in one model and a hierarchy of genetic structures in the other. While Goldschmidt tried to find a balance between development and genetics, critics, such as Sewall Wright, urged him and eventually helped him incorporate population dynamics into his models as well. As such, the history of Goldschmidt's research on homeotic mutants highlights the continuing challenge of producing a balanced and integrated developmental evolutionary genetics.
Cross-border bankruptcy as a model for the regulation of international attorneys

This chapter, which appears in a Festschrift for Detlev Vagts, analyzes how the challenges of global attorney regulation are largely analogous to the primary challenges that were faced in developing the cross-border bankruptcy system. It rejects the elusive but popular goal of a worldwide code of ethics, and instead looks to the successful markers of the cross-border bankruptcy system - an international choice-of-law rule, implemented through a Model Law and a robust regime for transnational coordination. It analyzes how these features could be adapted to promote more effective and efficient transnational professional regulation of lawyers.
Creating a Level Playing Field in Election Administration: Are Election Officials Meeting Public Expectations?

Two measures of the quality of democratic elections are generally agreed to be the level of participation by eligible citizens and the fairness of the electoral process. Two thirds of voters in the US report that they want government to do more to make voting easier (Milyo, Konisky, and Richardson 2009). Civic and advocacy organizations echo the call for greater participation in American elections with numerous proposals of steps for the government to make voting easier. While they desire increased levels of participation, the public also wants government to ensure that elections are fair contests between the candidates free of bias, fraud, and error. The federalized system of elections places most of the burden of creating and maintaining a level playing field in elections with local election administrators. Despite this responsibility for the cornerstone of democratic governance, election administrators receive little attention from scholars or policymakers, except for intense scrutiny and usually harsh criticism when problems occur. We have been unable to identify any published systematic study of the impacts of decisions and actions by election administrators. This paper begins to fill that gap by looking at the relative priority that local election administrators place on encouraging participation and ensuring the fairness of elections. We seek to explain these patterns of prioritization by examining the resources local election administrators have available to achieve these goals. We report on the results of two rounds of surveys of County Clerk & Recorders in Colorado conducted before and after the 2008 General Election. The surveys focus on the Clerks priorities, resources, and promotional activities for the administration of the 2008 General Election.
Spectral characteristics of B-waves and other low-frequency activity

Low frequency oscillations of intracranial pressure (ICP) between 0.5 to 2.0 cycles/min have been termed B-waves. While such low frequency activity may be generated by cerebral vasomotor activity, activity in the B-wave band may also be related to other causes. The objective of this study is to: 1) describe the low frequency characteristics of ICP and arterial blood pressure (ABP) recordings with a mathematical model based on ventilator-induced intrathoracic pressure (ITP) modulation of arterial blood pressure; and 2) use the model to eliminate low frequency activity within the B-wave range unrelated to vasomotor activity. The model describes the frequency locations of spectra associated with ventilation about both the principal and first harmonic cardiac frequency to within 1% error. Spectra within the B-wave range harmonically related to the ventilator frequency were classified as caused by patient-ventilator interaction. Of 11 patients with severe head-injury, 64% (7/11) demonstrated B-wave activity, and 4 patients demonstrated the activity solely in the ICP recording. Variation of heart rate did not correspond to the occurrence of B-waves. The proposed model describes the low frequency spectra found within ABP and ICP recordings and can be used to eliminate spectra with the B-wave range related to ventilation.
Abstract 45: A Comparison of Outcomes with Early and Delayed Aneurysm Treatment in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients in United States

Objective: To identify factors and outcomes associated with timing of ruptured cerebral aneurysm obliteration treatment in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) after hospitalization in United States. Background: Recent studies have shown that early surgical treatment of aneurysm in SAH patients can improve outcomes. These results have not been validated in actual clinical practice to date. Material and Methods: We analyzed the data from Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS 2005-2009) for all patients presenting with primary diagnosis of SAH, receiving aneurysm treatment (endovascular coil embolization or surgical clip placement). Early treatment was defined as aneurysm treatment performed within 48 hours of the hemorrhage and delayed treatment was performed after 48 hours. Clinical outcome was defined as minimal or no disability (self-care), moderate to severe disability (extended care facility) based on discharge disposition; and in-hospital death. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of delayed treatment. Results: Out of the 32,048 patients with SAH who underwent aneurysm treatment, 24,085 (75.2%) underwent early treatment and7,963 (24.8%) underwent delayed treatment. Female gender (p=0.0018), teaching hospital status (p=0.103), endovascular embolization (p Conclusion: Patients with SAH who undergo aneurysm treatment within 48 hours of hospital admission are more likely to be discharged with minimal disability. Early treatment is more likely to occur in teaching hospitals, those undergoing endovascular treatment, and in patients admitted on weekdays.
GIS Applications in Real Estate and Related Industries

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have many applications in the real estate industry—an industry inherently spatial in nature—enabling real estate professionals to measure the true impact of loc...
The Philosophy of Husserl: Plato's Socratic theory of eidē : the first pillar of the ancient precedent to pure phenomenology

Impossibility of direct knowledge of eidē A precise exposition of Plato's account of the eidē requires that its dialogical mode of presentation be respected and therefore its origin in logos be acknowledged. Respecting the former yields the extremely important discovery of two discernibly different accounts of the eidē in the dialogues, accounts that nevertheless compose a unified whole. Acknowledging the latter reveals a whole that is unified neither theoretically nor practically, but in a manner that then, as now, can only be termed “dialectically”, through ( dia ) logos . Plato's first, and most obvious, account of the eidē is discernible in the Socratic elenchi (refutations) of interlocutors who claim to know some commonly acknowledged standard of virtue ( aretē ), such as piety, justice, wisdom, courage, or even virtue itself, or the criteria responsible for something they claim to know about, such as education, love, the soul's nature, or even knowledge itself. In this account the ignorance of the non-philosopher, such as Euthyphro, Meno and Meletus, is manifest in his claim to know what he in truth does not know, and the wisdom of the philosopher Socrates is manifest in his refusal to claim that he knows what he in truth does not. Likewise made manifest is the irony of the philosopher Socrates' wisdom, because what he claims not to know are the eidē that no mortal is capable of knowing directly: that is, through perception or thought ( dianoia ).
Wave Guiding in Air/Silicon Phononic Crystal With Complete High Frequency Band Gap

Phononic crystals (PC) are structures with periodic variations in their elastic properties. PC structures with complete phononic band gaps (CPBGs) are of special interest as they can be used to add new functionalities and make improvements to the conventional acoustic/elastic wave based devices. Recently, there has been a growing interest in PC structures with two-dimensional (2D) periodicity and a finite thickness in the third dimension, called PC plates (or slabs). PC slabs are interesting as the elastic waves are manipulated by the PC structure in the plane of periodicity while it is confined within the finite thickness of the slab structure in the third dimension, preventing the loss of energy out of the plane of periodicity. Although there have been a few reports on the implementation of PC plates with partial band gaps at low frequencies (below 5 MHz), the possibility of utilizing PC structures with high frequency CPBGs which can be used in wireless communication and sensing systems is still unverified. In this paper, we fist show (to the best of our knowledge) the first experimental proof for the existence of large high frequency (119MHz–150MHz) CPBGs in Si-based PC plates, and then using this CPBG, we create a waveguide by introducing a line defect in the PC structure. The structure is made by etching a hexagonal lattice of air holes in a free standing silicon plate by the use of a CMOS-compatible fabrication procedure. The transmission of elastic waves through the PC structure is measured by the use of a network analyzer and embedded interdigitated transducers. More than 30 dB attenuation in transmission through eight layers of PC structure is observed in the frequency range of the CPBG (119MHz–150MHz) with very good agreement with theoretical predictions of the CPBG. By adding a line defect to the PC structure, a PC waveguide with low loss propagation characteristics is formed and experimentally demonstrated. This result adds a new powerful functionality to micro/nano-mechanical devices that can lead to new high-performance, high-frequency devices with possible use in various wireless communication and sensing systems.© 2008 ASME
Seasonal Trends in Catches of Moths of the Tobacco Hornworm, Tomato Hornworm, and Corn Earworm in Traps Equipped with Blacklight Lamps in North Carolina

Catches in traps equipped with blacklight lamps provided data for the construction of curves showing seasonal trends in the populations of moths of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Johannson); tomato hornworm, M. quinquemaculata (Haworth); and corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie). Both species of Manduca generally had 3 peaks of populations, the first sometime between mid-May and late June, the second from mid-July until late August, and the third in early or mid-September. The second peak was usually, but not always, much higher than the first, and the third was usually lowest. Populations were always low the first 2 weeks of July. Major changes in levels were abrupt and marked between successive weeks. In some years, relatively high levels were maintained as long as 6 weeks; in other years, they were maintained only 1 or 2 weeks. The catch of males was usually, but not always, higher than that of females. Seasonal curves for the 2 species of Manduca were generally similar. The population of H. zea was low until mid-August, when an abrupt increase resulted in the season’s peak. Decline started the first week after the peak was reached and generally continued until the end of the trapping season. Minor increases sometimes occurred in late September.
Wearable sensor empowered smart tele-robotics system for patient and senior independent living

With the ever increasing health emergency monitoring demand from a broad range of demographics that need close monitoring beyond the geographic distance barrier, such as senior people, patients, and those who have high tendencies to have medical emergencies, such as stroke, seizure, heart attack etc., the requires of an efficient and economical solution is highly desirable. This paper presents the design of a comprehensive patient and senior independent living tele-robotics health emergency guard system to provide pervasive security intelligence for personal health protection. It is able to assist patient and senior's independent living in real-time with the latest tele-control & video communication technology. In collaborating with course project of "Software for Robotics", we have designed and developed three different functional prototypes to evaluate the design, and have deployed the latest prototype in a senior house facility for extensive testing, eliciting real-life data and further requirements. The preliminary experiment shows a promising result.
Photoinduced Silver Precursor Decomposition for Particle Modification in Tungsten Oxide–Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites

A processing technique based on optical excitation of a polymer matrix nanocomposite containing a chemical precursor is presented to demonstrate the potential of this process for localized modification of nanoparticles in the bulk of the material. Femtosecond laser irradiation of a nanocomposite consisting of tungsten oxide nanoparticles in a fluoropolymer (tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) matrix resulted in decomposition of a silver precursor (vinyltriethylsilane(hexafluoroacetylacetonate)silver(I)). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed an increase in particle size as a result of photoprocessing with particles displaying core–shell type architectures. Optical absorption spectroscopy measurements indicated that silver was deposited in the bulk of the material and were consistent with absorption cross-section models for tungsten oxide core/silver shell nanoparticles. Estimates for silver shell volumes were found to correlate with the surface areas of the base tungsten oxide part...
Changes in Stored Glycogen and Lipid Associated with Diapause of the Adult Boll Weevil, Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Increases in glycogen and lipids are known to take place as newly emerged adult boll weevils feed and undergo diapause development (Brazzel and Newsom 1959, Lambremont et al. 1964, Nettles and Betz 1965). This process is generally assumed to represent storage of important nutrient reserves which are drawn on when feeding is no longer possible during the overwintering period of diapause. The present communication reports the results of some preliminary experiments made to determine whether the adult weevil preferentially depletes its carbohydrate reserves before degrading its lipids or whether both decrease simultaneously.
Current state of the art for enhancing urine biomarker discovery.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Urine is a highly desirable biospecimen for biomarker analysis because it can be collected recurrently by non-invasive techniques, in relatively large volumes. Urine contains cellular elements, biochemicals, and proteins derived from glomerular filtration of plasma, renal tubule excretion, and urogenital tract secretions that reflect, at a given time point, an individual’s metabolic and pathophysiologic state.Areas covered: High-resolution mass spectrometry, coupled with state of the art fractionation systems are revealing the plethora of diagnostic/prognostic proteomic information existing within urinary exosomes, glycoproteins, and proteins. Affinity capture pre-processing techniques such as combinatorial peptide ligand libraries and biomarker harvesting hydrogel nanoparticles are enabling measurement/identification of previously undetectable urinary proteins.Expert commentary: Future challenges in the urinary proteomics field include a) defining either single or multiple, universa...
Weight reduction increases adipose but decreases cardiac LPL in reduced-obese Zucker rats

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and mRNA levels were measured in cardiac muscle and adipose tissue from lean, obese, and weight-stable reduced-obese Zucker rats, both fasted and 2 h after feeding...
Big data in humanitarian supply chain networks: a resource dependence perspective

Humanitarian operations in developing world settings present a particularly rich opportunity for examining the use of big data analytics. Focal non-governmental organizations (NGOs) often synchronize the delivery of services in a supply chain fashion by aligning recipient community needs with resources from various stakeholders (nodes). In this research, we develop a resource dependence model connecting big data analytics to superior humanitarian outcomes by means of a case study (qualitative) of twelve humanitarian value streams. Specifically, we identify the nodes in the network that can exert power on the focal NGOs based upon the respective resources being provided to ensure that sufficient big data is being created. In addition, we are able to identify how the type of data attribute, i.e., volume, velocity, veracity, value, and variety, relates to different forms of humanitarian interventions (e.g., education, healthcare, land reform, disaster relief, etc.). Finally, we identify how the various types of data attributes affect humanitarian outcomes in terms of deliverables, lead-times, cost, and propagation. This research presents evidence of important linkages between the developmental body of knowledge and that of resource dependence theory (RDT) and big data analytics. In addition, we are able to generalize RDT assumptions from the multi-tiered supply chains to distributed networks. The prescriptive nature of the findings can be used by donor agencies and focal NGOs to design interventions and collect the necessary data to facilitate superior humanitarian outcomes.
Investigating complex movements by computer simulation--application to the flip long jump.

Abstract Utilizing a comprehensive analysis and simulation procedure, the controversial flip long jump technique was simulated to determine the style's potential. Individual body segment simulation indicated that, during the ground phase of the takeoff stride, an arms down and stop action coupled with a modified running action by the legs created the most favorable segment reactions. These segment motions, coupled with a trunk action that emphasized body rotation, produced world class jump results by the simulated performer. However, performance drawbacks inherent in the flip technique indicated that the style cannot be deemed superior to the conventional style of long jumping. To produce the rotation necessary to complete the flip while airborne, it was necessary to moderate forces that generated vertical velocity in both the recovery and the driving phases of the takeoff stride due to the concurrent production of unwanted backward rotation by these forces. This loss of vertical velocity led to a low tak...
Voltage security cost assessment of integrated AC-DC systems using semidefinite programming

In this paper, a convex optimal power flow (OPF) and a voltage stability constrained OPF (VSC-OPF) formulation for integrated AC-DC transmission systems are developed using semi-definite programming (SDP). These methods calculate the optimum operating points for AC and DC system together. The main advantages of the proposed methods are: a) it finds the optimal schedule when compared to other non-convex methods or separate scheduling of AC-DC systems b) it calculates the cost of increasing voltage stability margin through comparison of operating cost from AC-DC OPF (minimizing operating cost) and VSC-OPF (maximizing stability margin). The effectiveness of proposed methods are evaluated using IEEE 14-bus and 57-bus incorporating HVDC transmission system. The results show the capability of convex formulations to find the optimal operating schedule and critical loading point.
Antibody and cytokine levels in humans fed on by the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius L.

Little is known about cimicosis, the resultant dermal reaction from feeding activity by the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius L. We fed C. lectularius on human study subjects four times over four weeks and measured serum cytokine and antibody levels, and subjects recorded any cimicosis. The average time for subjects to develop cimicosis decreased with each feeding from 8.4, to 2.1, 1.5 and 1.3 days, respectively. There were no significant changes in total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 or IgE levels between the first and fourth bedbug feedings, but there was a significant decrease in total IgG3 levels (P<.001). IgG4 was not required for cimicosis. Higher IgG2 and IgG4 levels at study visit 4 were associated with an increased duration of cimicosis (P=.04) and lower pruritis (P=.03), respectively. There were no significant changes in serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-17A levels before and one hour after the C. lectularius feeding. Lower post-C. lectularius feeding IL-6 levels were associated with increased pruritis (P=.001) and the time to maximum pruritis (P=.04), respectively. Higher post-C. lectularius feeding IL-5 levels were associated with a longer duration of pruritis (P=.05).
Antagonizing the different stages of Kappa opioid receptor activation selectively and independently attenuates acquisition and consolidation of associative memories.

Previous work from our laboratory has shown that nonspecific kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonism in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) can inhibit acquisition for the forebrain-dependent associative task, Whisker-Trace Eyeblink conditioning (WTEB). Although studies have demonstrated that KOR activation can alter stimuli salience, our studies controlled for these factors, demonstrating that KOR also plays a role in facilitating learning. KOR has two distinct phases of activation followed by internalization/downregulation, that each independently activate kinases and transcription factors known to mediate task acquisition and memory consolidation respectively. The current study demonstrated that antagonism of the initial phase of KOR activation in S1 via local injections of the g-protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin (PTX), blocked initial WTEB acquisition without affecting retention of the association. In contrast, KOR late phase antagonism in S1 via local injections of the GRK3-specific antagonist, guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI), blocked retention of the WTEB association without affecting task acquisition. Consistent with the known mechanism for KOR activation, KOR protein expression in S1 was found to be decreased following WTEB training, further supporting the involvement of neocortical KOR activation with learning. Prior studies have shown that task acquisition and memory consolidation are mediated by distinct molecular processes; however, little is known regarding a potential mechanism driving these processes. The current study suggests that neocortical KOR activation mediates activation of these processes with learning. This study provides the first evidence for a time- and learning-dependent property of neocortical KOR in facilitating acquisition and consolidation of associative memories, while elucidating an unexplored neocortical learning mechanism.
Citation Impact of Collaboration in Radiology Research

Abstract Purpose Team science involving multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration is increasingly recognized as a means of strengthening the quality of scientific research. The aim of this study was to assess associations between various forms of collaboration and the citation impact of published radiology research. Methods In 2010, 876 original research articles published in Academic Radiology , the American Journal of Roentgenology , JACR , and Radiology were identified with at least one radiology-affiliated author. All articles were manually reviewed to extract features related to all authors' disciplines and institutions. Citations to these articles through September 2016 were extracted from Thomson Reuters Web of Science. Results Subsequent journal article citation counts were significantly higher ( P P = .002), a nonuniversity collaborator (β = 4.80, P = .082), and at least seven authors (β = 4.11, P = .038). Conclusions With respect to subsequent journal article citations, various forms of collaboration are associated with greater scholarly impact of published radiology research. To enhance the relevance of their research, radiology investigators are encouraged to pursue collaboration across traditional disciplinary, institutional, and geographic boundaries.
Abstract P265: Cancer Risk in Persons After a Diagnosis of Clinical Cardiovascular Disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: With improved survival of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), the risks of non-CVD outcomes is of increasing interest. We investigated the risk of subsequent cancer in persons...
Critical Issues and Practices for Hybrid and Online Teaching and Learning: Building Improved Models for 21st Century English Language Learning

This article discusses key topics related to hybrid and online teaching. An overview is provided followed by a discussion of programs and online opportunities for success. The relationship of online and hybrid course delivery in the content and STEM fields is presented, followed by implications and recommendations for future research. Critical issues for English Language Learners and educators is explored, including strategies for aligning course content and online platforms.
The Tributary-Civilizational State

There are many roads to political and economic development. In the ages of European Discovery and Commerce, Afroasia was a pioneer in establishing centralized states, albeit within loosely-defined territories which were occupied by culturally kindred but diverse peoples. Post-feudal Europe was, however, the leader in forging a coherent political order—comprising territorialized states, the rule of law, and functional mechanisms of accountability. The West European order was one that successfully monopolized large-scale violence (via a salaried professional army), established robust central bureaucracies, honored the rule of law, and protected wealth creators from myriad myopic redistributors under the cloak of officeholding.
COMPARISON THEOREMS FOR SYSTEMS OF REACTION-DIFFUSION EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the comparison theorems for systems of reaction–diffusion equations. Comparison theorems for systems of parabolic differential inequalities are useful tools for the qualitative analysis of the behavior of reacting systems. The chapter presents a particular application of a general method for obtaining comparison problems with the appropriate monotonicity properties. Bounding theorems used to study certain population models are, in fact, neither limited to spatially independent bounding problems nor to Neumann boundary data. Invariance results for such systems may be regarded as consequences of comparison theorems rather than the converse. The chapter describes a problem of nondimensionalized version of a prototype combustion problem proposed by Frank–Kamenetzky. The nonlinear terms in such a model cannot possibly be quasimonotone because temperature and species concentration must feed back upon one another in contrary ways.
Insights from retinitis pigmentosa into the roles of isocitrate dehydrogenases in the Krebs cycle.

Thaddeus Dryja and colleagues identify homozygous loss-of-function mutations in IDH3B, encoding the beta subunit of the NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme, in two families with retinitis pigmentosa. The absence of obvious clinical phenotypes outside of the retina suggests that the NADP-specific form of this enzyme can compensate for the absence of the NAD-specific form in most human tissues.