cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone diminishes the pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of amyloid β-protein in cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells

Background Cerebrovascular deposition of fibrillar amyloid β-protein (Aβ), a condition known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), is a prominent pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders. Accumulation of cerebral vascular fibrillar Aβ is implicated in promoting local neuroinflammation, causes marked degeneration of smooth muscle cells, and can lead to loss of vessel wall integrity with hemorrhage. However, the relationship between cerebral vascular fibrillar Aβ-induced inflammatory responses and localized cytotoxicity in the vessel wall remains unclear. Steroidal-based anti-inflammatory agents, such as dexamethasone, have been reported to reduce neuroinflammation and hemorrhage associated with CAA. Nevertheless, the basis for the beneficial effects of steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment with respect to local inflammation and hemorrhage in CAA is unknown. The cultured human cerebrovascular smooth muscle (HCSM) cell system is a useful in vitro model to study the pathogenic effects of Aβ in CAA. To examine the possibility that dexamethasone may influence CAA-induced cellular pathology, we investigated the effect of this anti-inflammatory agent on inflammatory and cytotoxic responses to Aβ by HCSM cells.
Modifying lignin to improve bioenergy feedstocks: strengthening the barrier against pathogens? †

Lignin is a ubiquitous polymer present in cell walls of all vascular plants, where it rigidifies and strengthens the cell wall structure through covalent cross-linkages to cell wall polysaccharides. The presence of lignin makes the cell wall recalcitrant to conversion into fermentable sugars for bioenergy uses. Therefore, reducing lignin content and modifying its linkages have become major targets for bioenergy feedstock development through either biotechnology or traditional plant breeding. In addition, lignin synthesis has long been implicated as an important plant defense mechanism against pathogens, because lignin synthesis is often induced at the site of pathogen attack. This article explores the impact of lignin modifications on the susceptibility of a range of plant species to their associated pathogens, and the implications for development of feedstocks for the second-generation biofuels industry. Surprisingly, there are some instances where plants modified in lignin synthesis may display increased resistance to associated pathogens, which is explored in this article.
The Range Conception of Probability and the Input Problem

Abrams, Rosenthal, and Strevens have recently presented interpretations of the objective probabilities posited by some scientific theories that build on von Kries’s idea of identifying probabilities with ranges of values in a space of possible states. These interpretations face a problem, forcefully pointed out by Rosenthal, about how to determine ‘input probabilities.’ I argue here that Abrams’s and Strevens’s attempts to solve this problem do not succeed. I also argue that the problem can be solved by recognizing the possibility of laws of nature that manifest themselves not as universal regularities, but instead as constraints on relative frequencies.
Soy and cottonseed protein blends as wood adhesives

Abstract As an environmentally friendlier alternative to adhesives from petroleum feedstock, soy proteins are currently being formulated as wood adhesives. Cottonseed proteins have also been found to provide good adhesive properties. In at least some cases, cottonseed proteins appear to form greater shear strength and improved hot water resistance compared with soy proteins. In the present study, blends of soy and cottonseed proteins were prepared, and their adhesive properties were found to decrease steadily with increased levels of soy protein in the formulations. In addition, cottonseed- and soy-protein based adhesives were also formulated with xylan, starch, or celluloses to determine the influence of polysaccharide fillers on protein-based adhesive properties. In some cases, adhesive shear strength was retained even when the cottonseed or soy protein was mixed with up to 75% polysaccharide. For cottonseed protein/polysaccharide formulations, hot water adhesive resistance was retained when the blend contains about 50% polysaccharides. Soy protein formulations and its polysaccharide blends generally exhibited somewhat lower hot water resistance. In view of the ability of cottonseed protein/polysaccharide blends to retain shear strength and hot water resistance properties, these blends may provide an opportunity to decrease the amount of protein used in adhesive formulations, thereby decreasing cost.
Do structures with sexual contact functions evolve negative static allometries? A case study with the harvestman Leiobunum vittatum (Opiliones Sclerosomatidae)

Morphological traits vary in their scaling relative to body size. One of the most general scaling patterns has been found for male genitalia: across many animal groups, differences in body size are associated with small differences in genital size (i.e., genitalia exhibit shallow scaling on body size, or negative static allometry). One potential explanation for this pervasive pattern is that genitalia are selected to scale shallowly for reasons related to the contact nature of the functions they perform during copulation. This hypothesis predicts that non-genitalic structures that touch mates during copulation (to stimulate or grasp the mating partner; “contact structures”) will also scale shallowly with body size. We tested this prediction by comparing the static allometric slopes of non-genitalic contact and non-contact structures in Leiobunum vittatum harvestmen. We found that contact structures had shallower allometric slopes than non-contact structures, in support of the contact-function hypothesis. ...
Teaching Pragmatic Psychodynamic Psychotherapy to Graduate Social Work Students.

ABSTRACTEvolving developments in psychodynamic theory have strengthened it as an evidence-based approach and have made it concordant with social work’s strengths-based, multicultural perspective. An elective focused on teaching fundamental concepts of psychodynamic psychotherapy was developed for graduate social work students based on Kolb’s theory of experiential learning, applied to Summers and Barber’s pragmatic model of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Data were collected based on students’ experienced self-efficacy with specific competencies in psychodynamic psychotherapy in the first, sixth, and last class. Outcomes were positive, and the data were used to make specific suggestions to strengthen course outcomes.
Risk of stomach cancer after gastric surgery for benign conditions. A case-control study.

Patients with previous gastric surgery for benign conditions are thought to be at increased risk for gastric cancer based on studies from Europe. Recommendations have been made to screen these patients repeatedly in order to detect early gastric cancers. We conducted a case-control study to estimate the risk in the United States where the rates of gastric cancer are lower. There were 521 gastric cancer cases who were matched by age, race, sex, and date of admission to an equal number of hospital controls. The odds ratio for cancer after gastric surgery was 0.7 (P=0.4) which indicates no increased risk. The sample size was sufficient to detect risks in the range reported in previous studies. The odds ratios rose with longer postoperative intervals but were based on small numbers and were not statistically significant. This case-control study failed to demonstrate an overall increased risk for gastric cancer after surgery. Further study is needed before general screening can be endorsed in the United States.
CRISIS INTERVENTION: A SOCIAL WORK METHOD

Crisis Theory has particular relevance for social workers in health care. This paper reviews the literature in regard to crisis intervention relating it to the special needs of the sensory deprived...
A likelihood-based extended admixture model of oligogenic inheritance in 'model-based' and 'model-free' analysis.

A likelihood-based extended admixture model of oligogenic inheritance in ‘model-based’ and ‘model-free’ analysis
Excitation of Individual Gold Plasmonic Nanoparticles in an Integrated Hybrid Photonic-Plasmonic Platform

Efficient and controlled excitation of individual plasmonic nanorods using integrated Si3N4 structures is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. Transmission amplitude and phase responses are used to extract nanoparticle coupling ratios. Large field enhancements are achieved on-chip.
Correction to the article: An étalé space construction for stacks

The definition of a category of spaces given in An etale space construction for stacks is problematic in that the main examples do not satisfy the axioms listed there. In this erratum, we give an alternative definition which encompasses our main examples and for which the results and proofs of this paper still hold.
Using pork to teach students quality variations and how they are measured. 1998 UW-AS-305 Class.

Using a total of eight pork loins representing DFD (dark, firm, and dry) and PSE (pale, soft, and exudative) conditions, 35 students conducted a series of objective and subjective measure- ments to demonstrate extremes in meat quality in a single 2-h laboratory. Students learned to objectively assess appearance, water-holding and water-binding capacity, ultimate pH (pHu) , and shear force (cooked samples) by operating seven commonly known labora- tory instruments. They also learned how to prepare and present samples for organoleptic analysis using hedonic and triangle tests. Finally, the students learned the factors related to meat quality and how extremely they can vary. Within one laboratory, they observed that DFD, when compared with PSE, aver- aged 1.5 units higher in pHu, 4.7% (absolute) less drip loss, bound 136% (absolute) more water, was darker in color (26 units lower L* value), was firmer with a more attractive structure requiring 1 kg/cm less force to shear, and was superior in organoleptic properties (overall 21% more desirable). Having 35 replicates to use for the data set, the results illus- trated statistically significant variations in meat- quality traits and how they could be objectively measured. Nine months later, 12 of the students were surveyed. It was their perception that the laboratory was not any more effective than other laboratories in the same class, but they were able to remember 85% of the methods used to measure quality; about twice that of other methods taught in other laboratory sessions.
Fully Dynamic Betweenness Centrality

We present fully dynamic algorithms for maintaining betweenness centrality (BC) of vertices in a directed graph \(G=(V,E)\) with positive edge weights. BC is a widely used parameter in the analysis of large complex networks. We achieve an amortized \(O({\nu ^*}^2 \cdot \log ^3 n)\) time per update with our basic algorithm, and \(O({\nu ^*}^2 \cdot \log ^2 n)\) time with a more complex algorithm, where \(n = |V| \), and \({\nu ^*}\) bounds the number of distinct edges that lie on shortest paths through any single vertex. For graphs with \(\nu ^* = O(n)\), our algorithms match the fully dynamic all pairs shortest paths (APSP) bounds of Demetrescu and Italiano [8] and Thorup [28] for unique shortest paths, where \(\nu ^*=n-1\). Our first algorithm also contains within it, a method and analysis for obtaining fully dynamic APSP from a decremental algorithm, that differs from the one in [8].
Bioluminescent imaging of bacteria during mouse infection

Diagnostic imaging is a powerful tool that has recently been applied towards the study of infectious diseases. Optical imaging of bioluminescently labeled bacteria in infected animals allows for real-time analysis of bacterial proliferation and dissemination during infection without sacrificing the animal. Imaging also allows for tracking of disease progression in an individual subject over time, has the potential to reveal previously overlooked sites of infection, and reduces the number of research animals used in pathogenesis studies. Here, we describe the use of a deep-cooled CCD camera imager to record light emitted from bacteria during infection. We also describe the process of correlating bioluminescence to bacterial numbers by ex vivo imaging of necropsied tissues. Together these techniques can be used to estimate bacterial burdens in host tissues both in vivo and ex vivo using bioluminescent imaging.
Effects of prepartum plane of nutrition during mid- or late gestation on beef cow body weight, body condition score, blood hormone concentrations and preimplantation embryo

AbstractThe objectives were to evaluate the potential effect of prepartum plane of nutrition during mid- or late gestation on cow BW, BCS, blood hormone concentrations and preimplantation embryos. In Exp. 1, multiparous Angus and Angus × Simmental cows (n = 33; BW = 664 ± 78 kg) were fed diets formulated to provide three planes of nutrition: 100% NRC energy and protein requirement (REQ), 70% NRC requirement (70%REQ) or 130% NRC requirement (130%REQ) during late gestation (91 ± 4 to 8 ± 4 d prepartum). Cows fed 130% REQ tended to have greater BW (p = 0.06) at breeding, greater progesterone concentrations (p = 0.09), and fewer total embryos recovered at 84 ± 5 d postpartum (p = 0.07) when compared with cows fed REQ. In Exp. 2, multiparous Angus and Angus × Simmental cows (n = 35; BW = 601 ± 72 kg) were fed the same diets as Exp. 1, but were fed during mid-gestation (195 to 112 ± 4 d prepartum). Cows fed REQ and 130% REQ had greater (p = 0.02) BW at breeding when compared with cows fed 70% REQ. Cows fed 70% ...
The impact of retrieval direction on IR-based traceability link recovery

The application of Information Retrieval (IR) techniques to software traceability link recovery has been the focus of many studies. These studies have formulated the task of establishing valid trace links between two types of software artifacts as a retrieval problem, where one type of artifacts is selected as the set of queries and the other as the corpus. Previous work selected the sets of queries and corpus artifacts for a study up front, therefore pre-imposing a retrieval direction for finding all trace links. This decision was usually made based on intuition or previous work. We argue that the choice of the query and corpus sets (i.e., retrieval direction) can significantly impact the results of IR-based traceability link recovery and should be made with context in mind, as the best choice may be dependent on the properties of each dataset. More than that, we argue that even within the same system, different traceability links may be best recovered by using different retrieval directions. In this paper we provide the first evidence to support these claims, showing that retrieval direction can have a significant impact on IR performance for traceability link recovery at both the project and individual link level. Moreover, we propose future research directions aimed at predicting the most efficient retrieval direction, as well as approaches leveraging information from both retrieval directions simultaneously.
Cerebral Embolic Protection: Not Enough Evidence to Support Routine Clinical Use

“The only thing worse that dying from a stroke is living through a stroke.” This statement is attributed to the late Mark Josephson, MD. I heard it many times while discussing anticoagulation for a...
Intracranial Pressure Changes Derived from Near Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements in Non-Human Primates

Measuring intracranial pressure (ICP) is a highly invasive procedure. We show ICP changes calculated from non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy-measured hemodynamics, using non-parametric transfer function analysis in a hydrocephalus model on non-human primates.
Historical Contingency and Developmental Constraints in Avian Coloration

The remarkable diversity of color in nature remains largely unexplained. Recent studies on birds show how historical reconstructions, the identification of genes affecting color differences, and an increased understanding of the underlying developmental mechanisms are helping to explain why species are the color they are.
A series of desmosomal attachments in the schwann sheath of myelinated mammalian nerves

This paper reports the occurrence of a band of desmosome-like complexes between schwannian loops near the nodes of Ranvier in the myelin sheath of the sciatic nerves of rats. The complexes are characterized by focal widening of the space between adjacent loops and a conspicuous density of the subjacent cytoplasm. These complexes are arranged back-to-back in a row thereby forming a band-like structure. In serial and step-section reconstructions it appears that one such band is present on either side of each nodal gap. Although the function of these complexes is unknown, it is suggested that they may serve to bond together adjacent loops of the Schwann sheath near the point where the myelin sheath is interrupted at the node of Ranvier.
Parasite and host biomass and reproductive output in barnacle populations in the rocky intertidal zone.

The rocky intertidal zone has a long history of ecological study with barnacles frequently serving as a model system to explore foundational theories. Parasites are often ignored in community ecology studies, and this particularly holds for true for the rocky intertidal zone. We explore the role of the isopod parasite, Hemioniscus balani, on its host, the acorn barnacle, Chthamalus fissus. We use the currencies of biomass and reproduction measured at the individual level, then applied to the population level, to evaluate the importance of this parasite to barnacle populations. We found H. balani can comprise substantial biomass in ‘apparent’ barnacle populations, sometimes even equaling barnacle biomass. Additionally, parasite reproduction sometimes matched barnacle reproduction. Thus, parasites divert substantial energy flow from the barnacle population and to near-shore communities in the form of parasite larvae. Parasites appeared to decrease barnacle reproduction per area. Potentially, this parasite may control barnacle populations, depending on the extent to which heavily infected barnacle populations contribute to barnacle populations at larger scales. These findings regarding the importance of a particular parasite for host population dynamics in this well studied ecosystem call for the integration of disease dynamics into community ecological studies of the rocky intertidal zone.
Uploads and Downs: One Professor's Perspective on Using a Non-Traditional LMS

Choosing a learning management system (LMS) is usually not a choice at all. Instructors and students log in to a school-selected system and move on with the work of the course. There are times, how...
On Dual Relationships of Secrecy Codes

We investigate properties of finite blocklength codes and their duals when used for coset coding over the binary erasure wiretap channel (BEWC). We identify sufficient conditions, related to the ranks of sub-matrices of a generator matrix that codes may satisfy to achieve the maximum equivocation among all codes with given blocklength and dimension, irrespective of the eavesdropper's channel erasure probability. We point out that binary maximum distance separable (MDS) codes are optimal for secrecy and we also show that simplex codes (and Hamming codes) have higher equivocation than families of codes with a single repeated column in the generator matrix (parity-check matrix). We conjecture that simplex and Hamming codes are optimal when used as the base linear code in a coset coding scheme for secrecy over the BEWC.
Modeling the Serial Position Effect

The Serial Position Effect (SPE) is a well-studied phenomenon in experimental psychology. SPE captures the idea that, when subjects are asked to recall list items, they are more likely to remember the first items and the last items, whether those items are numbers, non-words or elements of a story. Until recently, SPE has been generally considered to rely upon a two-store memory model, i.e., primacy (remembering initial items) and recency (remembering latter items) were thought to be the work of long term memory and short term memory, respectively. This paper reports the results of a basic hippocampus simulation study using the Leabra algorithm within the Emergent Neural Network Simulation System to model the SPE. Simulation results demonstrate that both primacy and recency of the SPE in a serial recall task can be replicated using only the hippocampus, suggesting that a one-store model of memory for this recall task is sufficient. It remains to be seen if this simulation mirrors the actual biological mechanism utilized.
Need to necessity: carriage advertising in the Gilded Age

This article looks at the advertising of the carriage trade in the United States during the Gilded Age. The trade’s changing products and its expanding markets helped define the advertising employe...
Indian Vehicle Ownership: Insights from Literature Review, Expert Interviews, and State-Level Model

This study reviews existing vehicle ownership models for India and describes the results of nine experts’ interviews to gather insights about Indians’ travel patterns and vehicle choices. According to the experts, vehicle price, fuel economy, and brand (in declining importance) are the most decisive factors in Indians’ car purchase choices. This study also estimated household vehicle ownership levels across India’s 35 states using Census 2011 data. The results suggest that states with a higher proportion of computer-owning households and higher share of households living in rural areas with larger household size, ceteris paribus, are likely to have higher car ownership.
Family physicians' knowledge and screening of chronic hepatitis and liver cancer.

Background and objectives Studies show that primary care providers may suboptimally diagnose, treat, or refer patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In addition, little is known about family physicians' knowledge and practices regarding chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or monitoring for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods We used a cross-sectional mail survey of members of the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians (n=217). Outcome measures were knowledge of risk factors, screening, counseling for chronic HCV and HBV, and screening for HCC. Results Mean knowledge score for risk factors was 79% (HBV) and 70% (HCV). Physicians who diagnosed >or= six cases per year had higher knowledge of HBV risk factors. Physicians in practice >20 years had lower knowledge of HCV risk factors. Mean knowledge score for counseling was 77%. About 25% screened for liver cancer. Screening for HCC in patients with HBV was related to years in practice, female physicians, and group practice. Physicians in academic settings were more likely to screen patients with HCV for HCC. Forty-two percent and 51% referred patients with chronic HBV and chronic HCV, respectively, to the specialist for total management. Conclusions Family physicians have insufficient knowledge about screening and counseling for chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Narcissism and romantic commitment: The role of attitudes toward alternative romantic partners

The present research examined the connections that narcissism had with attitudes toward alternative romantic partners and romantic commitment. Across four studies, we examined whether narcissistic ...
Left thoracotomy for coronary artery bypass grafting after sternoturnover for pectus excavatum: a case report

Sternoturnover is a surgical procedure for pectus excavatum. Cardiac surgery in patients with a history of sternoturnover has been rarely reported and is a surgical challenge because it is unknown how median sternotomy or the use of a sternal retractor affects the postoperative stability of the thorax and respiratory function. We report a successful coronary artery bypass grafting through left thoracotomy in a patient treated with sternoturnover for pectus excavatum. A 53-year-old man, who underwent sternoturnover in his childhood, was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, and percutaneous coronary intervention was performed as the acute treatment of the culprit lesion. Because residual lesions were present, he was referred to our department for coronary artery bypass grafting. Enhanced computed tomography revealed bilateral occlusions of the internal thoracic arteries and a small fragile sternum after fixation. Considering postoperative respiratory dysfunction associated with instability of the thorax following median sternotomy, we selected left thoracotomy for coronary artery bypass grafting. Convalescence was uneventful without any respiratory complications. Left thoracotomy is useful for coronary artery bypass grafting in patients previously treated with sternoturnover for pectus excavatum because it can avoid respiratory dysfunction associated with median sternotomy.
Abstract 060: Increased Urinary Potassium Excretion Does Not Associate With Reduced Systolic Blood Pressure in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Sodium Trial

Aim: The 2019 National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) Report concluded there remains insufficient evidence to establi...
Security Integrity of Data Collection from Smart Electric Meter under a Cyber Attack

Cyber security has been a top concern for electric power companies deploying smart meters and smart grid technology. Despite the well-known advantages of smart grid technology and the smart meters, it is not yet very clear how and to what extent, the Cyber attacks can hamper the operation of the smart meters, and remote data collections regarding the power usage from the customer sites. To understand these questions, we conducted experiments in a controlled lab environment of our cyber security lab to test a commercial grade smart meter. In this paper, we present results of our investigation for a commercial grade smart meter and measure the operation integrity of the smart meter under cyber-attack conditions.
The impact on anatomical landmark identification after an ultrasound-guided palpation intervention: a pilot study.

To determine whether a discrepancy exists in identifying three musculoskeletal landmarks (medial meniscus, lateral malleolus and lateral epicondyle of the humerus) and whether ultrasound-guided (US-guided) palpation intervention can reduce that discrepancy and improve localization for chiropractic interns. Sixteen chiropractic interns were asked to identify three subcutaneous anatomical landmarks before/ after the intervention and at a 3-day follow-up. The intervention was a three-minute US-guided demonstration of the landmarks after the intern’s initial localization. The primary outcome measure was the change in distance between the intern’s landmark identification. Non-normal data were analyzed with the Friedman’s and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Discrepancy between examiner-determined landmarks and intern-identified landmarks at the initial time point was assessed with a 1-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test. All locations demonstrated an initial discrepancy between examiner-determined landmarks and intern-identified landmarks at the initial time point. Overall, a statistically significant difference was noted in the identification of the medial meniscus (p = 0.012) and lateral malleolus (p = 0.001), but not at the lateral epicondyle (p = 0.086). For the before and immediately after comparison, a significant improvement was found with the medial meniscus (p = 0.005) and lateral malleolus (p = 0.002). The 3-day post-intervention comparison found an improvement only for the lateral malleolus (p = 0.008). This pilot study demonstrated palpatory discrepancy at identifying all three landmarks. Our data suggests that US-guided palpation intervention seems to improve an intern’s ability to palpate two landmarks (medial meniscus and lateral malleolus) post-intervention.
User Perceptions of Different Electronic Cigarette Flavors on Social Media: Observational Study.

Background: The number of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users has been increasing rapidly in recent years, especially among youth and young adults. More e-cigarette products have become available, including e-liquids with various brands and flavors. Various e-liquid flavors have been frequently discussed by e-cigarette users on social media. Objective: This study aimed to examine the longitudinal prevalence of mentions of electronic cigarette liquid (e-liquid) flavors and user perceptions on social media. Methods: We applied a data-driven approach to analyze the trends and macro-level user sentiments of different e-cigarette flavors on social media. With data collected from web-based stores, e-liquid flavors were classified into categories in a flavor hierarchy based on their ingredients. The e-cigarette–related posts were collected from social media platforms, including Reddit and Twitter, using e-cigarette–related keywords. The temporal trend of mentions of e-liquid flavor categories was compiled using Reddit data from January 2013 to April 2019. Twitter data were analyzed using a sentiment analysis from May to August 2019 to explore the opinions of e-cigarette users toward each flavor category. Results: More than 1000 e-liquid flavors were classified into 7 major flavor categories. The fruit and sweets categories were the 2 most frequently discussed e-liquid flavors on Reddit, contributing to approximately 58% and 15%, respectively, of all flavor-related posts. We showed that mentions of the fruit flavor category had a steady overall upward trend compared with other flavor categories that did not show much change over time. Results from the sentiment analysis demonstrated that most e-liquid flavor categories had significant positive sentiments, except for the beverage and tobacco categories. Conclusions: The most updated information about the popular e-liquid flavors mentioned on social media was investigated, which showed that the prevalence of mentions of e-liquid flavors and user perceptions on social media were different. Fruit was the most frequently discussed flavor category on social media. Our study provides valuable information for future regulation of flavored e-cigarettes.
Stabilizing Formation Systems With Nonholonomic Agents

This letter investigates the effects of adapting decentralized gradient-based control laws to nonholonomic agents in networked formation systems. Using the unicycle agent model and a standard cascade control structure, it is shown that the stability margins of the cascaded systems deteriorate as the numbers of agents increase. This trend indicates problems with both convergence and scalability. It is then shown that the asymptotic behaviors of the nominal gradient-based control laws can be recovered by introducing a bump function that allows forward motion only when the agents are oriented in appropriate directions. The proposed solution ensures almost global convergence and can be applied to formation systems of all sizes. Finally, comprehensive simulation results show that the usage of a bump function also reduces the total energy consumption required to reach a target formation.
77. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PEER AND FACULTY SUPPORT OF RESIDENTS AND MILESTONES ACHIEVEMENT

Background Recent research suggests that resident dissatisfaction with faculty and colleague support is associated with resident burnout. However, it is unknown whether support of residents independently correlates with educational outcomes. Objective: Examine the relationship between resident perception of program and colleague support and resident milestone assessments. Design/Methods Data was obtained from the Association of Pediatric Program Directors Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network (APPD LEARN) and the Pediatric Resident Burnout-Resilience Study Consortium (PRBRSC) study databases in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Correlations between residents’ Likert-scale grading of colleague and faculty support and end of year milestone assessments were computed adjusting for repeated measures and program effects for all post-graduate years (PGY) in the six core competencies, and sub-competencies in the domains of patient care (PC), systems-based practice (SBP) and professionalism (PROF). Results 5835 survey responses were available for 2117 unique residents from 52 programs. Most responses indicated satisfaction with faculty (n=3,829, 66%) and colleague support (n=4,989, 86%). A minority of responses were dissatisfied with support (faculty n=717, 12%; colleague n=237, 4%). First year resident dissatisfaction with faculty and colleague support was significantly correlated with lower milestone scores in all core competencies except Practice-based Learning and Improvement (PBLI) for colleague support and SBP for faculty support (p Conclusion First year resident dissatisfaction with colleague and faculty support appears to have a strong and consistent correlation with negative outcomes across competency domains. This component of the clinical learning environment could be addressed with programmatic interventions, which may improve educational outcomes.
The role of NASA Engineering & Safety Center (NESC) in advancing NASA's Earth science missions (past, present, and future)

The NASA Engineering & Safety Center (NESC) was established in 2003 to provide an independent technical resource for the resolution of challenging technical problems (through the use of studies, analysis, tests, etc.). Since its inception, NESC has completed nearly 1000 technical assessments for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operation Mission Directorate (HEOMD), Science Mission Directorate (SMD), Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), and Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). Of the SMD related assessments, several were for the resolution of technical problems, analysis, or studies related to NASA’s Earth science missions in various phases of the project from design to operation. Some of the recent examples of NESC technical support for NASA (or NOAA) Earth science missions have been for: Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-II), Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), and the soon to be launched collaboration mission with India, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). In this paper, we outline some of the technical challenges faced by these Earth science missions and describe how NESC contributed to their resolution. The case studies cover a wide range of disciplines involving space lidars, radars, electronics, attitude control systems, as well as Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) risk assessment impact to NASA missions. The efforts include strategies for risk mitigation, technical resolution of challenging problems, and failure root cause investigations combined with lessons learned reports to advance discipline knowledge, enhance NASA capabilities, and avoid future problems.
Safety of thoracic radiotherapy in patients with prior immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitors

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and thoracic radiotherapy are increasingly used to treat advanced cancers. Despite data indicating exaggerated radiation toxicities in patients with autoimmune disease, the safety of thoracic radiotherapy in patients with prior ICI-associated immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is undefined. Patients and methods Patients treated from 2014 to 2020 with ICIs were queried for receipt of corticosteroids and radiotherapy. Patients who received thoracic radiation after symptomatic irAEs were assessed for ≥grade 2 radiation pneumonitis (RP). Characteristics predictive of RP were assessed using logistic regression and response relationships were modeled. Results Among 496 assessed patients, 41 with irAE history subsequently treated with thoracic radiotherapy were analyzed. Most irAEs were grade 2 (n = 21) and 3 (n = 19). Median time from irAE onset to radiotherapy was 8.1 months. Most patients received stereotactic body radiation therapy (n = 20) or hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 18). In total, 25 patients (61%) developed ≥grade 2 RP at a median of 4 months from radiotherapy and 11 months from onset of irAEs. Three months from RP onset, 16 of 24 (67%) assessable patients had persistent symptoms. Among patients with prior ICI pneumonitis (n = 6), five patients (83%) developed ≥grade 2 RP (grade 2, n = 3; grade ≥3, n = 2). The mean lung radiation dose (MLD) predicted for RP (odds ratio: 1.60, P = 0.00002). The relationship between MLD and RP was strong (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve: 0.85) and showed an exaggerated dose-response. Among patients with an MLD >5 Gy (n = 26), 21 patients (81%) developed ≥grade 2 RP. Conclusion This is the first study assessing the toxicity of radiotherapy among patients with prior irAEs from ICIs. Patients with prior irAEs were found to be at very high risk for clinically significant and persistent RP from thoracic radiotherapy. Careful consideration should be given to the possibility of an increased risk of RP, and close monitoring is recommended in these patients.
Critical Assessment of the Thermodynamics of Vacancy Formation in Fe2O3 Using Hybrid Density Functional Theory

Fe2O3 hematite is a technologically important material with applications in energy storage as well as being the key phase formed in the rust of iron-based materials. Despite this central importance...
Mentoring experience of new surgeons during their transition to independent practice: A nationwide survey.

Background New surgeons are faced with inadequate mentoring when first entering practice. Our study examined challenges faced by young surgeons during their transition in practice and their mentoring experience when entering practice. Methods An article-based survey was mailed in August 2019 to general, colorectal, vascular, and cardiothoracic surgeons that became members of the American College of Surgeons within the past 5 years. Results A total of 853 of 2,915 surveys were completed (29.3% response rate). Both female (38%) and male (62%) surgeons participated. The 3 most common challenges during the transition to practice were confidence building (26.0%), adjusting to a new institutional culture (16.9%), and business and administrative aspects of practice (16.3%). First job attrition rate 44.2%, with the mean duration of the first job being 3.28 ± 0.17 years. Nearly one-third (28.3%) of respondents were not mentored when they first entered practice. The proportion of nonmentored young surgeons leaving their first job (64.3%) was almost twice as that of surgeons who received mentoring (36.3%). Furthermore, the mean duration of the first job was significantly shorter in nonmentored versus mentored surgeons (3.16 ± 0.26 vs 3.76 ± 0.25 years; P Conclusion Our survey highlights the importance of mentoring for young surgeons during their transition into practice. With many young surgeons being enthusiastic about mentoring by retired surgeons, specific programs are necessary to better use their expertise.
Yes, Thankfully, Euclid Lives

Hegelian ideas had on the highly practical, pragmatic, even mundane work of the participants in the National Conference on City Planning. However, while the champions of comprehensive planning and of the segregation of uses into locally legislated districts may have indulged on occasion in the rhetoric of community in order to sway their fellow advocates, there was no concerted effort to tear down the notion of private property or to weaken the judiciary. We agree with Professor Dan Mandelker that Alfred Bettman's brief, in which he showed important connections between zoning and traditional common law principles, is "a more accurate representation of the intentions of Progressive land-use lawyers" than the selected quotations found in Part II of Professor Claeys's essay. 6 We also believe that Bettman's position and the position of other defenders of zoning should not be dismissed as disingenuous statements designed to pull one over on the Court. In his zeal to discredit the theoretical underpinnings of American planning and zoning and of Progressive jurisprudence, Professor Claeys confuses chronology as well. He claims that the "broader trends" of political Progressivism and legal realism "left their mark on the first wave of land-use reformers," a group that "critiqued individualistic property rights along the lines laid down by Progressive political theory, utilitarian interest balancing, and legal realism." 7 It is true that some of the ideas offered by some legal realists were shared by some early planning and zoning advocates. However, it is highly unlikely, if not impossible, that these advocates, writing before 1920,58 were influenced by legal realism, a movement that did not gain currency until the 1920s and 1930s.59 More importantly, as noted previously, the positions of these early advocates do not really correspond with the extreme anti-property notions that typify Professor Claeys's version of political Progressivism. Professor Claeys's third major shortfall in the use of history is the manner in which he portrays the dominance of traditional natural law and natural rights principles on the eve of Progressivism. Where Professor Claeys sees a revolutionary overthrow of the legal ancien 55. Claeys, supra note 1, at 751. 56. Id. at 763 n.159. 57. Id. at 753. 58. Id. 59. See generally G. Edward White, From Sociological Jurisprudence to Realism: Jurisprudence and Social Change in Early Twentieth-Century America, 58 Va. L. Rev. 999 (1972). [Vol. 73 78
Thymic Aging May Be Associated with COVID-19 Pathophysiology in the Elderly

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and particularly exhibits severe symptoms and mortality in elderly individuals. Mounting evidence shows that the characteristics of the age-related clinical severity of COVID-19 are attributed to insufficient antiviral immune function and excessive self-damaging immune reaction, involving T cell immunity and associated with pre-existing basal inflammation in the elderly. Age-related changes to T cell immunosenescence is characterized by not only restricted T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity, accumulation of exhausted and/or senescent memory T cells, but also by increased self-reactive T cell- and innate immune cell-induced chronic inflammation, and accumulated and functionally enhanced polyclonal regulatory T (Treg) cells. Many of these changes can be traced back to age-related thymic involution/degeneration. How these changes contribute to differences in COVID-19 disease severity between young and aged patients is an urgent area of investigation. Therefore, we attempt to connect various clues in this field by reviewing and discussing recent research on the role of the thymus and T cells in COVID-19 immunity during aging (a synergistic effect of diminished responses to pathogens and enhanced responses to self) impacting age-related clinical severity of COVID-19. We also address potential combinational strategies to rejuvenate multiple aging-impacted immune system checkpoints by revival of aged thymic function, boosting peripheral T cell responses, and alleviating chronic, basal inflammation to improve the efficiency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity and vaccination in the elderly.
Ligand-dependent activation of the nuclear orphan receptor DAX-1

1208 DAX-1 is an atypical orphan nuclear receptor that plays a key role in steroidogenesis, reproduction and mammalian sex development. DAX-1 does not directly bind to cognate promoter elements but contains a C-terminal ligand binding domain and three N-terminal single-stranded DNA/RNA binding motifs. Ligand-dependent activation of DAX-1 has previously not been reported. Initial screening for ligand-dependent activation of DAX-1 used the SW-480 (colon) cancer cell line transfected with a luciferase reporter construct containing five tandem GAL4 response elements (pGAL45) and a GAL4-DAX-1 chimera which expresses the yeast GAL4-DBD(1-147) and the C-terminal region (207-470) of DAX-1. Cells were transfected with pGAL4-DAX-1 and treated with four different series of >60 compounds derived from 1,1-bis(3’-indolyl)-1-(p-substituted-phenyl)methanes (C-DIMs) containing variable indole and phenyl substituents as well as a series of heteroaromatic analogs. C-DIMs containing p-CF3 (DIM-C-pPhCF3), p-bromo (DIM-C-pPhBr) and p-t-butyl (DIM-C-pPhtBu) substituents and some of their ring substituted analogs induced transactivation in SW-480 as well as in RKO (colon), MCF-7 (breast) and CV-1 (monkey kidney) cell lines. The corresponding N-methyl C-DIMs were inactive suggesting that a free indole moiety was essential for ligand-dependent activation of DAX-1. Ligand dependent interactions of DAX-1 with coactivators were also investigated in SW-480 cells transfected with pGAL45 and plasmids expressing GAL4-coactivator and VP-DAX-1 chimeras. In this mammalian two hybrid assay, DIM-C-pPhCF3 induced DAX-1 interactions with steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), SRC-2, TRAP 220 and PGC-1, but not with SRC-2, the methyltransferase CARM-1, or the corepressor SMRT. The results demonstrate that selected C-DIMs activate DAX-1 and induce interactions with coactivators, and current studies are focused on domains of DAX-1 required for transactivation and functional aspects of ligand-induced DAX-1.
Business writing practice and support over time: Evidence from a strategic management class

Our study examines whether student business writing in pre-requisite courses and student use of university-provided writing support services are associated with student writing performance in the b...
Inductor and Transformer-Coupled Magnetic Structure for Zero-Ripple dc-dc Ćuk Converter

An inductor and transformer-coupled integrated magnetics (IM) structure is proposed to achieve zero inductor current ripple in a dc-dc isolated Cuk converter. The structure provides an easy-to-build approach, overcoming the necessity of a cumbersome trade-off calibration for the air gaps and number of turns, as required in the conventional IM approach used for the Cuk dc-dc topology. The validity and effectiveness of the proposed magnetic structure is demonstrated by simulation and experimental results on dc-dc isolated Cuk converter prototype.
BigBFT: A Multileader Byzantine Fault Tolerance Protocol for High Throughput.

This paper describes BigBFT, a multi-leader Byzantine fault tolerance protocol that achieves high throughput and scalable consensus in blockchain systems. BigBFT achieves this by (1) enabling every node to be a leader that can propose and order the blocks in parallel, (2) piggybacking votes within rounds, (3) pipelining blocks across rounds, and (4) using only two communication steps to order blocks in the common case. BigBFT has an amortized communication cost of $O(n)$ over $n$ requests. We evaluate BigBFT's performance both analytically, using back-of-the-envelope load formulas to construct a cost analysis, and also empirically by implementing it in our PaxiBFT framework. Our evaluation compares BigBFT with PBFT, Tendermint, Streamlet, and Hotstuff under various workloads using deployments of 4 to 20 nodes. Our results show that BigBFT outperforms PBFT, Tendermint, Streamlet, and Hotstuff protocols either in terms of latency (by up to $70\%$) or in terms of throughput (by up to $190\%$).