cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling local spatial patterns of wild bee diversity in Pennsylvania apple orchards

The positive correlation between landscape area of semi-natural habitat and wild pollinator richness and abundance in agroecosystems has been well studied. However, we lack a deep understanding of local scale floral resource and nest provisioning for wild bees necessary to optimize implementation of pollinator conservation practices. The primary objective of this study was to use a spatially interactive landscape pollination model (hereafter, the Lonsdorf model) to represent field scale spatial patterns of wild bee abundance and richness within a heterogeneous landscape in the mid-Atlantic USA. We parameterized the Lonsdorf model with high resolution aerial imagery and insight from a previously published floristic study. To test the Lonsdorf model predictions, field studies were conducted to measure wild bee abundance and species richness in apple orchards as a function of distance from a forest edge. Field measurements indicated apple pollinator abundance and species richness significantly decreased with increasing distance from the forest edge. The Lonsdorf model pollination service score was highly sensitive to changes in resource provisioning in orchard and non-crop areas, and including resource rich forest and forest edge habitats in the model significantly improved pollination service estimates. We demonstrated a novel application of the Lonsdorf model at a field scale to predict trends in pollination service provisioning as a factor of local habitat features. With sufficiently detailed inputs, the Lonsdorf model is a promising tool to quantify field scale pollination service deficits, guiding more cost effective habitat supplementation and other conservation efforts.
A case study to develop a graduate-level degree program in embedded & cyber-physical systems

University of California Irvine is developing an interdisciplinary graduate-level Masters degree in Embedded & Cyber-Physical Systems (MECPS) that will be managed by the Center for Embedded and Cyber-Physical Systems (CECS). In this paper, we present this case study and highlight our systematic approach to creating this MS degree program based on the demand from the students and the industries. As part of our methodology, a survey was conducted among applicants and current MS students in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science disciplines. Moreover, a market study was performed by the University Extension to estimate the CPS-related job market in the United States of America.
Adaptive Control with Concave/Convex Parameterization for an Electrically Stimulated Human Limb

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a new adaptive controller for the lower leg limb motion tracking problem that is inherent to neuromuscular electrical stimulation systems. The control accounts for uncertainties in the system parameters by exploiting the concavity and convexity of the model functions. The resulting control law is continuous and guarantees practical tracking for the limb angular position and velocity. The control performance is demonstrated via a simulation.
Antiferromagnetic textures and dynamics on the surface of a heavy metal

We investigate the formation and dynamics of spin textures in antiferromagnetic insulators adjacent to a heavy-metal substrate with strong spin-orbit interactions. Exchange coupling to conduction electrons engenders an effective anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, and a magnetoelectric effect for the N\'eel order, which can conspire to produce nontrivial antiferromagnetic textures. Current-driven spin transfer enabled by the heavy metal, furthermore, triggers ultrafast (THz) oscillations of the N\'eel order for dc currents exceeding a critical threshold, opening up the possibility of terahertz spin-torque self-oscillators. For a commonly invoked antidamping-torque geometry, however, the instability current scales with the energy gap of the antiferromagnetic insulator and therefore may be challenging to reach experimentally. We propose an alternative generic geometry for inducing ultrafast autonomous antiferromagnetic dynamics.
Role of religiosity in medical decision making among patients with colorectal cancer.

9579 Background: Physician-based medical decision making (DM) has declined in favor of more patient-centered approaches. Most studies indicate that patients want to be involved; however, the level ...
Early activation of deleterious molecular pathways in the kidney in experimental heart failure with atrial remodeling

Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem with worsening outcomes when renal impairment is present. Therapeutics for early phase HF may be effective for cardiorenal protection, however the detailed characteristics of the kidney in early-stage HF (ES-HF), and therefore treatment for potential renal protection, are poorly defined. We sought to determine the gene and protein expression profiles of specific maladaptive pathways of ES-HF in the kidney and heart. Experimental canine ES-HF, characterized by de-novo HF with atrial remodeling but not ventricular fibrosis, was induced by right ventricular pacing for 10 days. Kidney cortex (KC), medulla (KM), left ventricle (LV), and left atrial (LA) tissues from ES-HF versus normal canines (n = 4 of each) were analyzed using RT-PCR microarrays and protein assays to assess genes and proteins related to inflammation, renal injury, apoptosis, and fibrosis. ES-HF was characterized by increased circulating natriuretic peptides and components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and decreased sodium and water excretion with mild renal injury and up-regulation of CNP and renin genes in the kidney. Compared to normals, widespread genes, especially genes of the inflammatory pathways, were up-regulated in KC similar to increases seen in LA. Protein expressions related to inflammatory cytokines were also augmented in the KC. Gene and protein changes were less prominent in the LV and KM. The ES-HF displayed mild renal injury with widespread gene changes and increased inflammatory cytokines. These changes may provide important clues into the pathophysiology of ES-HF and for therapeutic molecular targets in the kidney of ES-HF.
Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Use and Disuse of Muscle

Intact neural innervation is necessary for the maintenance of normal skeletal muscle structure and function and in the control of acetylcholinesterase activity. Features of innervation that may contribute to this influence include nerve and muscle electrical activity, neurotrophic substances transported through the axon, acetylcholine, and perhaps mechanical factors involved in muscle action (Ranish et al., 1981).
Multiple chirality in nuclear rotation: A microscopic view

Abstract Covariant density functional theory and three-dimensional tilted axis cranking are used to investigate multiple chirality in nuclear rotation for the first time in a fully self-consistent and microscopic way. Two distinct sets of chiral solutions with negative and positive parities, respectively, are found in the nucleus 106Rh. The negative-parity solutions reproduce well the corresponding experimental spectrum as well as the B ( M 1 ) / B ( E 2 ) ratios of the transition strengths. This indicates that a predicted positive-parity chiral band should also exist. Therefore, it provides a further strong hint that multiple chirality is realized in nuclei.
VANNOY, Dana and Paula J. DUBECK, eds., CHALLENGES FOR WORK AND FAMILY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

VANNOY, Dana and Paula J. DUBECK, eds., CHALLENGES FOR WORK AND FAMILY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine DeGruyter, 1998,234 pp., $21.95 softcover / $43.95 hardcover. This collection of thirteen original papers (plus an introduction and insightful conclusion by the editors) is the result of a 1996 conference on working families organized by The Kunz Center for the Study of Work and Family. The volume strives to specify the explicit interdependence between work and family and focuses on the effect of economic changes on family life, the necessity of recognizing diversity among families, and the role of workplace culture in the negotiation of work/family issues. In the concluding chapter, Dana Vannoy summarizes two important labor force trends addressed in the book: "the inclusion of women in the work force and the predominance of dual-earner families" and "the shift from the predominance of the industrial sector to the predominance of the information sector" (218). Much of this volume focuses on the consequences of the latter shift. Michael Wallace offers an excellent discussion of downsizing, its causes and consequences. Harriet B. Presser investigates the increase in non-standard working hours (night shifts and Saturdays/Sundays) and its potential impact on working families. Several other chapters explore declines in employer-based health insurance, illiteracy among school-aged children and its impact on employment in the service sector, the consequences of welfare-to-work reforms, and the effect of downsizing on community identity. Two chapters deal theoretically and empirically with the issue of family diversity. Maxine Baca Zinn addresses the family values debates and challenges the liberal critique to more fully incorporate an analysis of race as a macrostructural force that produces (and, indeed, requires) different family arrangements. In a comparison of hours worked,job prestige, and other forms of family support in dominant and minority dual-earner families, Marilyn Fernandez and Kwang Chung Kim demonstrate the necessity of replacing a "Black/White" treatment of race with a multiracial/multi-ethnic perspective. The book also highlights the significance of workplace culture. In an excellent overview chapter Kathleen Gerson argues, "In the absence of gender equity, "family-friendly" workplaces will simply recreate old forms of inequality in a new way" (18). A number of these essays imply that the structural opportunities and organizational cultures in female-dominated occupations may hinder women's career advancement. In most organizations, women are still assumed to be the primary care givers. …
Crowding in Urban Environments: An Integration of Theory and Research

With the growing concern over the quality of life in our large urban centers, the topic of human crowding has taken on importance as a contemporary research problem. The observable conditions of overpopulation and the recognized trend toward increasing urbanization on a worldwide basis (Davis, 1965) have led social scientists and urban designers alike to pose questions about the impact of density on the lives of city residents. Despite the rapidly increasing body of literature dealing with this area, however, primary questions still remain unanswered, namely: What is the relationship between population density and the individual’s perception of crowding in his living environment, and what are the psychological and physiological consequences of being crowded on a long-term basis?
Abstract 21112: Trends in Acute Ischemic Stroke Admissions in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter From 2004 to 2014

Introduction: Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter (AF) predispose patients to acute ischemic strokes and increased mortality. We aim to assess the impact of new guidelines, innovations in technology and several new drugs on mortality and morbidity of patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke with concurrent AF over 10 years. We assessed the hypothesis that these advances would be associated with improvements in mortality over that time period. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the 2004-2014 National Inpatient Sample, the largest publicly available inpatient database in the United States. We included women and men g18 years of age admitted between 2004 and 2014 with primary diagnoses of atrial fibrillation or flutter and with secondary diagnoses of acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (using ICD-9 CM codes). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcomes were total hospital cost and mean length of stay (LOS). STATA 13.0 was used for data analysis. Results: 222,074 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 79.2 years and 58.8% were female. The inpatient mortality rate in 2004 was 11.6% and it decreased consistently until 2014 at 8.0% (p trend l0.001). Mean total hospital cost was $10,582 in 2004 and it increased consistently until 2014 at $13,849 (p trend l 0.001). Mean length of stay steadily decreased from 6.9 days in 2004 to 5.7 days in 2014. Conclusion: Over the past 10 years, new innovations in technology and the approval and use of several novel oral anticoagulants for use in AF have been implemented. While there is a trend of increasing costs, these measures seem to show a trend of improving mortality and decreasing length of stay in patients hospitalized with ischemic strokes and AF.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Comparison of Outcomes between CD34+ Selected and Unmodified Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract In this study, we compared transplantation outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who received a CD34+ cell-selected and those who received an unmodified allograft. This analysis initially included 181 patients, 60 who received a CD34+ cell-selected transplant and 121 who received an unmodified transplant. Owing to significant differences in disease characteristics, the analysis was limited to patients with
The Ends of Reason: Towards an Understanding of the Architectonic

AbstractIn the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant defines the architectonic as the “art of constructing systems.” For him, architectonics is the systematic unity of knowledge according to a principle he...
Factors affecting the performance of eddy current densification sensors

Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) is an increasingly important near net shape process for producing fully dense components from powders [1]. It involves filling a preshaped metal canister with alloy powder, followed by evacuation, and sealing. The can is then placed in a HIP (a furnace that can be pressurized to ~200MPa with an inert gas such as argon). The can is subjected to a heating/pressurization cycle that softens and compacts the powder particles to a fully dense mass and a shape determined by the can shape, the powders initial packing and the thermal-mechanical cycle imposed [2]. Today, many metals, alloys and intermetallics are processed this way (including nickel based superalloys, titanium alloys, NiA1, etc.) and it is increasingly used to produce metal matrix composites.
Using Chebyshev-Filtered Subspace Iteration and Windowing Methods to Solve the Kohn-Sham Problem

Ground state electronic properties of a material can be obtained using density functional theory and obtaining a solution of the Kohn-Sham equation. The traditional method of solving the equation is to use eigensolver-based approaches. In general, eigensolvers constitute a bottleneck when handling systems with a large number of atoms. Here we discuss variations on an approach based on a nonlinear Chebyshev-filtered subspace iteration. This approach avoids computing explicit eigenvectors except to initiate the process. Our method centers on solving the original nonlinear Kohn-Sham equation by a nonlinear form of the subspace iteration technique, without emphasizing the intermediate linearized Kohn-Sham eigenvalue problems. The method achieves self-consistency within a similar number of self-consistent field iterations as eigensolver-based approaches. However, the replacement of the standard diagonalization at each self-consistent iteration by a polynomial filtering step results in a significant speedup over methods based on standard diagonalization, often by more than an order of magnitude. Algorithmic details of a parallel implementation of this method are proposed in which only the eigenvalues within a specified energy window are extracted. Numerical results are presented to show that the method enables one to perform a class of challenging applications.
RECEPTOR-MEDIATED CYCLIC GMP FORMATION BY AN ADRENERGIC CLONE (NIE-115) OF MOUSE NEUROBLASTOMA

ABSTRACT Activation of muscarinic acetylcholine or histamine H1 receptors of clone N1E-115 cells results in a rapid and transient increase in cyclic GMP production. These responses are dependent on external calcium ions and exhibit rapid and specific desensitization which is apparently caused by the loss of receptor sites and is reversible. Tricyclic antidepressants and many antipsychotics are potent competitive antagonists of both receptors which may be present on adrenergic neurons in the central nervous system.
Improving the Validity of Nurse-Based Delirium Screening: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Nursing Delirium-Screening Scale and Short Confusion Assessment Method.

Background As part of a multicomponent delirium prevention protocol the Confusion Assessment Method (Short-CAM) was introduced to nursing as the standard delirium screening instrument on the general medical units. Despite significant educational efforts, quality monitoring revealed poor sensitivity with the use of Short-CAM. Objectives To compare the validity of the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) and Short-CAM on general medical units and to explore the impact of delirium education on the successful implementation of delirium screening tools. Methods In this quality improvement project, both Nu-DESC and Short-CAM were scored by nurses on 2 general medical units, per standard practice. Two blinded physician-raters determined delirium diagnosis in 192 patients on these units on 8 separate days, utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 criteria as the reference standard. Sensitivity and specificity of both scales were calculated. Results Thirty-five of 192 patients (18.2%) were suffering from delirium on the day of assessment. The Short-CAM scored positive for 3 (1.6%) patients and the Nu-DESC for 50 (26.0%) patients on the same day as the physician-raters assessment. Sensitivity and specificity were respectively calculated at 8.6% and 100% for the Short-CAM and 77.1% and 85.4% for the Nu-DESC. There was no statistical difference in sensitivity and specificity of the Nu-DESC on the units regardless of the level of preimplementation delirium education. Conclusions The Nu-DESC was shown to be an easy-to-deploy delirium-screening tool on general medical units with improved sensitivity when compared to the Short-CAM.
Retrospective Evaluation of Bayesian Risk Models of LVAD Mortality at a Single Implant Center.

Use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can benefit patients with end stage heart failure, but only with careful patient selection. In this study, previously derived Bayesian network models for predicting LVAD patient mortality at 1, 3, and 12 months post-implant were evaluated on retrospective data from a single implant center. The models performed well at all three time points, with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC) of 78, 76, and 75%, respectively. This evaluation of model performance verifies the utility of these models in “real life” scenarios at an individual institution.
Confirmation Bias, Motivated Cognition, the Backfire Effect

Patricia was a 49-year-old woman who presented with confusion while drinking at a bar. Her friend said that she was behaving normally, but was found on the bathroom floor “not making sense.” On examination, she was lethargic and confused. She gave short answers to questions and did not know the location or date. She was able to name some common objects, but could not sustain attention to participate in a meaningful conversation. She fell asleep when she was not examined and could only be briefly aroused with noxious stimuli. A head CT was normal as was basic blood chemistry.
A Critical Assessment of the Ecological Assumptions Underpinning Compensatory Mitigation of Salmon-Derived Nutrients

We critically evaluate some of the key ecological assumptions underpinning the use of nutrient replacement as a means of recovering salmon populations and a range of other organisms thought to be linked to productive salmon runs. These assumptions include: (1) nutrient mitigation mimics the ecological roles of salmon, (2) mitigation is needed to replace salmon-derived nutrients and stimulate primary and invertebrate production in streams, and (3) food resources in rearing habitats limit populations of salmon and resident fishes. First, we call into question assumption one because an array of evidence points to the multi-faceted role played by spawning salmon, including disturbance via redd-building, nutrient recycling by live fish, and consumption by terrestrial consumers. Second, we show that assumption two may require qualification based upon a more complete understanding of nutrient cycling and productivity in streams. Third, we evaluate the empirical evidence supporting food limitation of fish populations and conclude it has been only weakly tested. On the basis of this assessment, we urge caution in the application of nutrient mitigation as a management tool. Although applications of nutrients and other materials intended to mitigate for lost or diminished runs of Pacific salmon may trigger ecological responses within treated ecosystems, contributions of these activities toward actual mitigation may be limited.
Single-mode sapphire fiber optic distributed sensing for extreme environments

The authors have developed a single-mode sapphire sensor for distributed temperature and flow measurement to address the extreme environments encountered in energy applications. The sensor is designed to also detect and localize fouling and deposits that accumulate on its surface over time. Optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) and spectral back scatter analysis are employed with the single mode sapphire fiber to yield these distributed measurements. Temperature accuracy was on the order of 5°C for measurements ranging from room temperature to over 1000°C. Spatial resolution of 11 mm was attained and enabled visualization of the temperature gradients along a fiber passing through a furnace. The effects of cooling flow were characterized for steady operation, with the intent to leverage this data in future work to infer velocity profiles of high temperature flows. Dynamic cooling flow tests showed that the presence of simulated deposits on the outside of the sensor resulted in slower time response in the vicinity of the deposit. This technique could be used to determine the presence and location of deposits along the length of the sensor assembly. The newly developed sensor will be applicable to fossil energy production, nuclear energy production, and gas turbine engines or generators.
Understanding the vascular anatomy of the trapezius flap

Objective: To describe the operative technique for harvesting a trapezius flap based on its pedicled arterial supply. Findings: The trapezius flap is a versatile flap allowing for reconstruction of multiple head and neck surgical defects. Results: The trapezius flap can be harvested based on the dorsal scapular artery or on the superficial cervical artery based on the orientation of the flap desired and the length of pedicle necessary. Conclusion: The trapezius flap is a useful flap for complex head and neck reconstruction with minimal donor site morbidity. It is well tolerated in a myriad of patients.
The Effects of Risk Behaviors and Orthorexic Behavior on Glycemic Control in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Objective Adolescents with chronic disease are as likely to exhibit risk-taking behavior as their peers. The aim was to investigate the risk behaviors of adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the effect of orthorexic eating behaviors (OEB) on glycemic control (GC). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 107 adolescents with T1D, aged between 13-18 years and attending high school. The Risk Behavior Scale (RBS) and Orthorexic Behavior Scale (ORTO-11) were administered. A high RBS score indicates risky behavior; a low ORTO-11 score suggests a tendency to OEB. Participants hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) status was used to assess GC: optimal GC (HbA1c ≤7%); or poor GC (HbA1c >7%). Results Among females, those with poor GC had significantly lower (p=0.031) ORTO-11 scores than those with optimal GC, which was not the case in males. A significant correlation (r=0.358, p<0.001) was found between HbA1c and total RBS, eating habits subscale, and suicidal tendency subscale scores. Participants with poor GC had significantly higher eating habits subscale, alcohol use, and tobacco use subscale scores (p<0.05). Among females, total RBS and suicidal tendency subscale score was found to be significantly higher in those with poor GC; among males, alcohol subscale score was found to be significantly higher in those with poor GC. Conclusion This study is the first to show the effect of the tendency for OEB on GC among female adolescents with T1D. The study showed that, along with inappropriate eating behaviors, adolescents with T1D should also be assessed for other risk behaviors to help achieve optimal GC.
Examining the episodic context account: does retrieval practice enhance memory for context?

Retrieval practice, such as filling in blanks or taking quizzes, is firmly established as an effective study strategy. However, the underlying mechanism of how retrieval practice benefits memory is still unclear. One current theory, the episodic context account, proposes that retrieval enhances memory by reinstating a prior learning context. This retrieved context is then strengthened and updated to include context at the time of recall, which later serves as an effective retrieval cue. However, few studies have directly tested this hypothesis. We did so by examining participants’ memory for the initial study context. Across three experiments, participants encoded cue-target pairs presented in different colors and either restudied or practiced retrieving the targets. If retrieval practice benefits memory by reinstating the prior episodic context, participants who successfully retrieved the items during practice should have enhanced memory for context details (i.e. font color) compared to participants who restudied the pairs. Contrary to this prediction, memory for font colors did not differ between the restudy condition and the retrieval practice condition. Even when font color was actively attended to and integrated with the to-be-remembered items, retrieval practice did not increase memory for this aspect of context. Our results suggest that the context reinstated during retrieval practice is limited in nature. Aspects of the context that are not essential to retrieval of the item are not strengthened by retrieval practice.
On the History and Present Situation

A common thought in the 1950s was that galaxies rotate because they are remnants of primeval currents, as in turbulence. But this idea is quite unacceptable in an expanding universe described by general relativity theory. Since we are no smarter now than in the 1950s the lesson I draw is that we do well on occasion to pause to consider whether we might be missing something. An example is the pure disk galaxies that are so common nearby and so rare in simulations. We have something to learn from this.
Relationship Between Delirium and Ventilatory Outcomes in the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Background Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric diagnosis in intensive care units and often leads to extended hospital stays and an increased rate of complications. Delirium can be classified as hypoactive, hyperactive, or mixed. Hyperactive delirium is often accompanied by agitation, which is a predictive factor for unplanned extubation. Hypoactive delirium does not include outward agitation; its incidence and relationship to ventilatory outcomes, specifically unplanned extubation and duration of mechanical ventilation, are relatively unexplored. Objective To determine the occurrence rate of each delirium type in the first 7 days after intensive care unit admission and explore the relationship between delirium type and ventilatory outcomes. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study that enrolled adult patients consecutively admitted to a medical intensive care unit over 12 months. Data were abstracted on patient demographic variables, daily clinical variables (morning and evening delirium, coma, and sedation scores), and outcome variables (unplanned extubation, length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation). Results We enrolled 171 patients in the study. Hypoactive delirium occurred in up to 44% of patients. Of 25 instances of unplanned extubation, up to 74% of patients had hypoactive delirium. Delirium was not a predictor of unplanned extubation; smoking history, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and failed breathing trials best predicted unplanned extubation (odds ratios = 3.2, 5.2, and 12.6, respectively; P Conclusions Hypoactive delirium is common among intensive care unit patients and may precede unplanned extubation. Patient history and comorbidities remain the strongest predictors of unplanned extubation.
Design of an S-Band Nanowatt-Level Wakeup Receiver With Envelope Detector-First Architecture

This article presents the first demonstration of a sub-100 nW CMOS wakeup receiver (WuRx) with envelope detector (ED)-first architecture that operates at multigigahertz frequencies. The 2.2 GHz S-band WuRx can operate in two modes that show a tradeoff between power consumption and RF sensitivity. In the low-power mode, the WuRx consumes 11.3 nW and achieves an RF sensitivity of -65 dBm. In the high-sensitivity mode, the WuRx consumes 28.2 nW and achieves a sensitivity of -68 dBm. Measurement results indicate that the WuRx architecture is robust to continuous-wave in-band interferers, with as large as -20 dB carrier-to-interferer ratio.
Dynamic differences between DNA damage repair responses in primary tumors and cell lines

The study of DNA damage repair response (DDR) in prostate cancer is restricted by the limited number of prostate cancer cell lines and lack of surrogates for heterogeneity in clinical samples. Here, we sought to leverage our experience with patient derived explants (PDEs) cultured ex vivo to study dynamics of DDR in primary tumors following application of clinically relevant doses of ionizing radiation (IR) to tumor cells in their native 3-dimensional microenvironment. We compared DDR dynamics between prostate cancer cell lines, PDEs and xenograft derived explants (XDEs) following treatment with IR (2Gy) either alone or in combination with pharmacological modulators of DDR. We have shown that following treatment with 2Gy, DDR can be consistently detected in PDEs from multiple solid tumors, including prostate, kidney, testes, lung and breast, as evidenced by γ-H2AX, 53BP1, phospho-ATM and phospho-DNA-PKcs foci. By examining kinetics of resolution of IR-induced foci, we have shown that DDR in prostate PDEs (complete resolution in 8 h) is much faster than in prostate cancer cell lines (<50% resolution in 8 h). The transcriptional profile of DDR genes following 2Gy IR appears to be distinct between PDEs and cell lines. Pre-treatment with drugs targeting DDR pathways differentially alter the kinetics of DDR in the PDEs and cell lines, as evidenced by altered kinetics of foci resolution. This study highlights the utility of PDEs as a robust model system for short-term evaluation of DDR in primary solid tumors in clinically relevant microenvironment.
Are Ada, Katherine, Sally, and Sophie on-Shelf?: Holdings of Award-Winning Juvenile STEM Works in ARL Libraries with a Special Focus on Female-Themed Titles

PreK-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) books are vital resources for student teachers in college-level Education programs. This study takes a best-case scenario approach b...
Neonatal and maternal outcomes among twin pregnancies stratified by mode of conception in the United States.

Objective To compare neonatal and maternal outcomes among twin pregnancies conceived as a result of different types of fertility treatments with those of spontaneously conceived twin pregnancies. Design Retrospective Cohort. Setting Population-based analysis. Patient(s) Population-based analysis of twin pregnancies in the United States based on their mode of conception using the natality data from the National Center for Health Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (from January 2015 through December 2017). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. Result(s) The overall prevalence of early adverse maternal outcomes and medical complications and obstetric complications including the risk of unplanned hysterectomy, intensive care unit admission, maternal blood transfusion, and perineal laceration were significantly higher in the fertility treatment group (including both ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination and assisted reproductive technology groups) compared with those of the spontaneous conception group, even after adjusting for several potential confounders. The risk of adverse composite neonatal outcomes was slightly lower in the spontaneous conception live twin birth group even after adjustment for several potential confounders. Conclusion(s) The rate of maternal and neonatal morbidity in twins conceived via different fertility treatments was slightly increased compared with those of twins conceived spontaneously. Because the absolute risks of maternal and neonatal morbidity were low, overall reassurance regarding these outcomes can be provided to the patients undergoing all types of fertility treatments.
Various facets of magnetic charge correlation: Micromagnetic and distorted-wave Born approximation simulations study

The emergent concept of the magnetic charge quasiparticle provides a new realm to study the evolution of magnetic properties in two-dimensional artificially frustrated magnets. We report on the exploration of magnetic phases due to various magnetic charge correlation using the complementary numerical techniques of micromagnetic and distorted-wave Born approximation simulations in artificial permalloy honeycomb lattice. The honeycomb element length varies between 10 nm and 100 nm, while the width and thickness are kept within the single domain limit. In addition to the charge ordered loop state, we observe disordered charge arrangement, characterized by the random distribution of $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\mathrm{Q}$ charges, in single domain size honeycomb lattice. As the length of the honeycomb element increases, low multiplicity magnetic charges tend to form contiguous bands in thinner lattice. Thin honeycomb lattice with 100 nm element length exhibits a perfect spin ice pattern, which remains unaffected by the modest increase in the width of element size. We simulate scattering profiles under the pretext of distorted-wave Born approximation formalism for the micromagnetic phases. The results are expected to provide useful guidance in the experimental investigation of magnetic phases in an artificial honeycomb magnet.
Human face ageing: a perspective analysis from anthropometry and biometrics

This chapter has provided an overview of the mechanisms of ageing and an update on the current state of the art for synthetic ageing and for the template ageing problem. Although there have been some clear advancements in all areas of face ageing, a solution is still elusive. Yet, while the early years of this research area were starved of data, there are now massive datasets with longitudinal images available to the research community, with new datasets available online each year. As a result, young and seasoned researchers alike will be motivated to forge ahead to develop comprehensive solutions to the set of challenges inherent in face ageing.
Sunday Afternoon at Fulham Palace

A Sunday afternoon in late September, one of the last good weekends before the long dark, old couples taking the air along the Thames, sunning themselves, their arms and legs so pale, exposed, while the young press forward, carry us along in the crowd to the fair at Fulham Palace where a few people have already spread blankets and tablecloths for the picnics they've brought, laughing and talking as they wait for the concert to begin at three o'clock. Inside the palace gate, a man inflates a room-size, brightly painted rubber castle, the children impatiently waiting for the walls and turrets to go up, the spongy floor they like to jump on. The palace is empty. The Bishop gone. Now overfed goldfish swim slowly round and round in the crumbling courtyard fountain, and farther on, a white peacock stands still as a statue, still as a stone, whether in pride or sorrow at being the last of its kind here I don't know. A low door opens into the Bishop's walled garden, but once inside nothing miraculous or forbidden tempts us, just a few flowers and herbs among weeds (unlike those illuminated scenes in books of hours), the past passing away too quickly to catch or recognize.
A Lattice Boltzmann Model for Dendritic Growth Under Natural Convection

A two-dimensional (2D) lattice Boltzmann (LB) and Cellular Automaton (CA) model is developed to study the buoyancy-induced flow pattern during equiaxed and columnar dendritic solidification in a binary alloy. The complex flow pattern during solidification has a significant influence on redistribution of solute and heat. In the present work, lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to solve for solute diffusion, heat transfer and fluid flow, while CA is employed to capture the solidification interface. The results show that natural convection has a significant effect on morphology of both columnar and equiaxed dendrites.
Re-examining Test Item Issues in the TIMSS Mathematics and Science Assessments

As the largest international study ever taken in history, the Trend in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) has been held as a benchmark to measure U.S. student performance in the global context. In-depth analyses of the TIMSS project are conducted in this study to examine key issues of the comparative investigation: (1) item flaws in mathematics and science; (2) inability to reflect item score differences between adjacent grades; (3) ambiguity of the test items behind nonrandom guessing; and (4) unfair comparisons resulted from inconsistent item difficulties across the nations. The TIMSS item checking could help education stakeholders understand more profound assessment issues through the information triangulation.
Evolving adrenal insufficiency

Introduction: Tuberculosis is the most common cause of Addison's disease in India. The exact status of adrenal reserve in tuberculosis is still an enigma and recovery of adrenal function is unpredictable. Objective: We report a case with a pre-Addisonian state and unchanged adrenal size after 1 year treatment. Materials and Methods: A 31-year patient with adrenal tuberculosis was diagnosed and treated with anti tubercular drugs (ATDs) and steroid. Results: A 31-year male, presented with fever and weight loss for 3½ months with anorexia, nausea, hyperpigmentation of skin, and buccal mucosa and weakness with past h/o adequately treated pulmonary tuberculosis at 3 years of age. On examination, the patient was anemic. A non-tender, firm right (Rt.) submandibular lymphnode was palpable. Investigations revealed: High erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), negative HIV, and sputum for acid fast bacilli (AFB). Initial cortisol was high but subsequently became low with negative short synacthin test (SST). Computed tomography showed bilateral (B/L) enlarged hypodense adrenal mass with inconclusive fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and negative AFB culture. Rt. submandibular lymph node FNAC showed caseating granuloma. ATDs and steroids were started, the lymphadenopathy regressed and symptoms subsided. However, after 1 year of treatment steroid withdrawal failed and adrenal size remained the same. Conclusion: The adrenal has considerable capacity to regenerate during active infection and ultimately become normal or smaller in size. However, in the case reported here, they failed to regress. Reversal of adrenal function following ATD is a controversial issue. Some studies have shown normalization following therapy, while others have contradicted it similar to the finding in our case.
The Paradox of Turkish Civil Military Relations

In Turkey, the armed forces play the central role in reconciling the paradoxical societal forces of democracy, authoritarianism, secularism, and Islam. Using the literature on civil–military relations, especially Huntington's theory of objective civilian control, the author attempts to show that this contradictory blend of ideologies renders objective civilian control of the military in Turkey impossible.
On the Clifford algebra of a binary form

The Clifford algebra Cj of a binary form f of degree d is the k-algebra k{x,y}/I, where I is the ideal generated by {(ax + βy) d - f(α, β) | α, β E k}. C f has a natural homomorphic image A f that is a rank d 2 Azumaya algebra over its center. We prove that the center is isomorphic to the coordinate ring of the complement of an explicit Θ-divisor in Pic d+g-1 C/κ, where C is the curve (w d - f(u, v)) and g is the genus of C.
The Neuronal Cytoskeleton

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the current state of knowledge concerning the cellular distribution and morphology, biochemistry, and physiology of the integral parts of the neuronal cytoskeleton. It further discusses their roles as mediators of certain neurological disease states. Microtubules in neuronsand in other cells are approximately 25 nm in diameter, have a wall thickness of approximately 5 nm, and possess an electronlucent lumen. Tubulin, the structural protein of the microtubule, is a heterodimer composed of two polypeptides. In adult brain, this protein comprises 10–30% of the soluble protein. Filament proteins from different molecular-weight groups are not related to each other by oligomerization and are not merely derived by proteolytic cleavage from a common precursor. Two characteristic neuronal lesions in the cerebral cortex of patients with Alzheimer's senile dementia are the neuritic plaque formed by degenerating nerve cell processes inscribing a core of amyloid and the neurofibrillary tangle, which is formed of bundles of paired helical filaments.
Synthesis, structure and reactivity of [15]-macrodilactones

A strategy for utilizing parameters such as the ring size, planar units and the connections between them, and the location of asymmetric centers has been applied to the design and synthesis of a new class of 15-membered macrocycles. The interplay between three planar units in combination with a hinge atom and a stereogenic center, introduces a planar chirality that defines the molecular topology of these [15]-macrodilactones.
Marital quality and the marital bed: Examining the covariation between relationship quality and sleep

The majority of adults sleep with a partner, and for a significant proportion of couples, sleep problems and relationship problems co-occur, yet there has been little systematic study of the association between close relationships and sleep. The association between sleep and relationships is likely to be bi-directional and reciprocal-the quality of close relationships influences sleep and sleep disturbances or sleep disorders influence close relationship quality. Therefore, the purpose of the present review is to summarize the extant research on (1) the impact of co-sleeping on bed partner's sleep, (2) the impact of sleep disturbance or sleep disorders on relationship functioning, and (3) the impact of close relationship quality on sleep. In addition, we provide a conceptual model of biopsychosocial pathways to account for the covariation between relationship functioning and sleep. Recognizing the dyadic nature of sleep and incorporating such knowledge into both clinical practice and research in sleep medicine may elucidate key mechanisms in the etiology and maintenance of both sleep disorders and relationship problems and may ultimately inform novel treatments.
Phenotypic differences among morphologically similar small-cell carcinomas detected with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry

Indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to determine reactivity of a panel of 75 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and controls (provided by the Third International IASLC Workshop on Lung Tumor and Differentiation Antigens) with 3 morphologically similar prototype continuous-culture small-cell-carcinoma cell lines (SCC) (NCI-H69, NCI-H146, and NCI-H510). All cell lines had some reactivity with some of the MAbs. There is, however, differential expression of antigens amongst the prototype cell lines, which may provide a useful method for phenotyping and sub-classifying SCC. The reactivity of the 3 cell lines was greatest with MAbs in Clusters I, 1c, 2, 4, 6, and 9, and least with MAbs in clusters W7, 8, 13, 14, and W15, with few exceptions. Although morphologically similar, each of the SCC cell lines has a unique pattern of reactivity with the workshop MAbs. For example, although a control MAb, CD56 (NKHI), which identifies an epitope on NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule) common among many SCC lines, stained more than 90% of cells in each of the prototype cell lines, one MAb of the current panel, SEN7, which also identifies a CD56 epitope on 15 SCC lines did not react as strongly with H-146 and H-510 as with H-69. If appropriately reactive MAbs can be identified for individual patients' tumors, they can be coupled to suitable radioisotopes or toxins for individualized patient treatment.
Combined fracture and delamination: A simple idealized example

Abstract U nder static pre-stress, small voids located between constituent layers in a laminated composite may extend both as interface flaws and as cracks into the layers themselves. Thus, the material may fail due to the combined effects of delamination (separation) and fracture of the layers. As a first step in understanding this complex process, while minimizing mathematical difficulties, a simple idealized example of such a process is examined. A cruciform brittle crack-flaw combination is assumed to initiate at the interface of perfectly-bonded half-spaces under a uniform anti-plane shear field and to extend with constant speeds. When the crack and wave speeds satisfy a simple relation, straight-forward solutions to the resulting wave propagation problem can be obtained and several crackflaw interaction effects noted. In particular, the stress intensities and energy flux rates at the crack and flaw edges are studied.