cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1177: The mutational status of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is a determinant of GSTP1 expression and mediates GSTP1-dependent drug resistance in human glioblastoma

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene, a transcription factor activated by a variety of cellular stresses, including, those inflicted by anti-cancer agents, is a common genetic abnormality in GBMs. Although, p53 is involved in critical cellular processes, such as, cell cycle arrest, DNA repair and apoptosis, studies of p53 in tumor drug resistance and/or patient response to therapy have yielded mixed results. Thus, in gliomas and other cancers, such as, breast, bladder, and ovarian carcinomas, some studies have associated wild-type p53 with higher tumor drug resistance, while other studies indicate that mutant or functionally inactive p53, rather than wt p53, confers drug resistance. These observations indicate the significant complexity of the role of p53 in tumor response to therapy and suggest that other factors, including, downstream p53 pathways and/or regulation, may be important determinants of the p53 effects on the tumor drug resistance phenotype. We previously reported that the human GSTP1 gene, that encodes a major drug metabolizing protein, cell signaling regulator and a mediator of tumor drug resistance, is transcriptionally activated by p53 via a canonical p53 binding motif located in intron 4 of the GSTP1 gene. Our goal, in this study, is to gain further insight into the relationship between p53-dependent transcriptional control of GSTP1 in GBM and the extent to which it contributes to GSTP1 expression in primary patient tumor and, ultimately, to their response to therapy. For this, we sequenced the p53 gene across exons 2-11 in 42 primary GBM specimens quantified the level of GSTP1 gene expression by RNA-PCR and genotyped the allelic variants in them. The results showed, approx. half of the tumors to harbor wild-type p53. In those with mutant p53, the mutations spanned the entire p53 target region, the majority in the core DNA binding domain with the hot spots in codons 55, 72, 175, 245, 248, and 273. GSTP1 expression was significantly heterogeneous between the tumors, and with a few exceptions, correlated directly with the presence of wild-type p53. In representative tumors, the high GSTP1 gene expression was associated with resistance to cisplatin and temozolomide. These result suggest that, in GBM, transcriptional activation of GSTP1 by wild-type, and some mutant forms of p53, contributes to their resistance to therapy. Supported by NIH grants RO1 CA 153050, RO1CA127872, RO1 CA 112519, P50CA108786 and P30-CA14236. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1177. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1177
Retrospective Evaluation of Prescription Frequency in Heart Failure

Background: Current clinical guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that all patients with heart failure, in the absence of absolute contraindications, be treated with both a β-blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB). Despite guideline recommendations and strong evidence of mortality benefit, studies of practice patterns show suboptimal use of such drugs. Objective: To determine the frequency of ACE inhibitor or ARB and β-blocker combination therapy in patients diagnosed with heart failure. Methods: Medical records of patients diagnosed with heart failure through ICD-9 codes at an urban community health center were reviewed over a one year period to determine the frequency of use of β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs. Data were classified according to patient characteristics and comorbid conditions. Results: Combination therapy with both a β-blocker and ACE inhibitor or ARB was used in 61.1% (107/175) of patients. Overall, 65.7% (115/175) of patients had no relative contraindications to therapy and were more likely to be prescribed combination therapy than those with contraindications (72.2% vs 40.0%; p < 0.001). Patients with relative contraindications to β-blocker therapy (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma) were less likely to be on combination therapy than patients without such contraindications (51.0% vs 81.0%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although a majority of patients were taking both a β-blocker and either an ACE inhibitor or ARB, a large number of patients were not prescribed appropriate ACC / AHA-recommended therapy. Interventions within health systems should be explored as a means to bridge this gap to improve patient outcomes and ensure quality of care.
Zoledronic acid in metastatic osteosarcoma: encouraging progression free survival in four consecutive patients.

Zoledronic acid (ZA) is a third-generation bisphosphonate in widespread clinical use to reduce pain and skeletal events in patients from a variety of malignancies with bone metastases. Pre-clinical studies indicate that ZA inhibits osteosarcoma through direct anti-proliferative effects, immune activation and anti-angiogenic activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of ZA at standard dose until progression in patients with stage IV osteosarcoma lacking a standard of care treatment option proven to influence survival. Researchers retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients at our institution with high-grade osteosarcoma presumed to be incurable due to metastases progressive after primary combination chemotherapy who received single agent ZA in an effort to delay progression. In our four-patient cohort following initiation of ZA, the median progression-free survival was 19 months, and median overall survival was 56+ months. Two of four patients have remained progression-free since starting ZA. The other two initially progressed after 18–20 months on ZA followed by metastasectomy of lung or dural metastases and further stability for over a year following resumption of ZA. After a 20-month progression-free interval on ZA alone, one patient had partial response following addition of pazopanib to ZA that likely contributed to long term disease control. The four patients experienced no significant toxicities despite protracted dosing of ZA for up to 5 years, and none have required chemotherapy since beginning ZA. Single agent ZA was associated with encouraging progression-free survival in four consecutive patients with metastatic osteosarcoma. Prospective trials of single agent ZA are warranted as protracted maintenance therapy in surgically incurable osteosarcoma relapsed or refractory to first line combination chemotherapy with radiographically measurable metastases.
Architecture Haiku: A Case Study in Lean Documentation [The Pragmatic Architect]

An architecture haiku aims to capture software system architecture's most important details on a single piece of paper. An architecture haiku helps development teams focus on the most essential information relevant to the architecture, provides clear guidance for construction, and encourages collaboration.
Influence of dietary protein, fat or amino acids on the response of weanling swine to aflatoxin B1.

Two experiments were conducted using corn from clean or aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated (182 ppb) sources. Weanling pigs (28 d) were fed one of eight dietary treatments arranged in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. In Exp. 1 (192 pigs), treatments varied in corn source (clean or AFB1-contaminated), CP level (18 or 20%) and added fat (0 or 5%). At the end of the 28-d growth trials, plasma samples were obtained. An AFB1 x CP level interaction was detected (P less than .05) for growth rate (ADG), feed intake (FI) and feed/gain ratio (F/G). Feeding AFB1 reduced (P less than .05) ADG (.30 vs .37 kg/d) and FI (.57 vs .66 kg/d) and increased F/G (1.88 vs 1.78) of pigs fed 18% CP diets. Performance of pigs fed 20% CP diets was not altered by AFB1. Adding 5% fat to diets improved (P less than .05) F/G but did not improve ADG of pigs fed AFB1. There was an AFB1 x CP x fat interaction (P less than .05) for plasma cholesterol. Adding fat or increasing the CP level prevented the depression of plasma cholesterol in pigs fed AFB1. In Exp. 2 (96 pigs), all diets contained 18% CP and the treatments varied in corn source (clean or AFB1-contaminated), added L-lysine HCl (0 or .25%) and added DL-methionine (0 or .15%). Feeding AFB1 reduced (P less than .05) ADG of pigs fed the 18% CP diet (.44 vs .50 kg/d) but not of pigs fed diets supplemented with .25% lysine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Better Online Teaching Support Using Open-Source Web Applications

This paper reports on combining emerging technologies for synchronous distance education in a student-implemented project. The goal is to realize, using latest web technologies, the MISTC open-source multimedia Internet client we developed earlier to support teaching in the classroom and online simultaneously. We summarize MISTC's capabilities, describe the development processes and tools utilized, and lessons learned.
CHAPTER 30 – E1A Cancer Gene Therapy

This chapter discusses the E1A cancer gene therapy. The E1A gene products of human adenovirus type 5—12S and 13S—are known to activate viral gene transcription and regulate the host gene expression as viruses propagate inside the cell. The E1A-mediated antitumor activity has manifested itself in the ability of E1A to inhibit tumor growth, suppress metastasis and angiogenesis, and sensitize tumor cells to apoptosis induced by therapeutic treatments such as TNF-α, γ-irradiation, and Taxol. The utility of an E1A-based gene therapy is validated by the apparent success of such application in ovarian, breast, and head and neck cancer models without obvious toxic side effect. The study on the molecular mechanisms underlying the E1A-mediated antitumor activity revealed that E1A represses HER2 and Axl transcription and targets the NF- k B pathway that connects HER2 overexpression and the Axl/Gas6-mediated signal pathway and the TNF- α (or γ-irradiation) signal pathway. In addition, E1A inactivates I k B kinases (IKK), leading to NF- k B inactivation and subsequent shutting down of the survival program, which sensitizes cells to apoptosis.
Beyond Timber: Fuelwood, Sericulture and Fungi

The preceding section has described the cultivation of timber as one component of agricultural production systems. A survey of forest management in China would not be complete without at least a brief glance at trees grown commercially for products other than timber — fuel (wood or charcoal), oak fodder for silkworms, and edible fungi. As with Cunninghamia and pine, these were not necessarily in areas of natural forest which had been brought under management, but may have been established as plantations. They differ from the Cunninghamia and pine systems, however, in certain respects, which make it appropriate to present them as a regime of management in their own right.
Obesity Increases Operative Time in Children Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract Introduction: Few studies have assessed the impact of obesity on laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: Children who underwent LC were identified from the 2012 to 2013 American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatrics data. Patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to identify predictors of increased operative time (OT) and duration of anesthesia (DOAn). Results: In total, 1757 patients were identified. Due to low rates of obesity in children <9 years old, analyses were limited to those 9–17 (n = 1611, 43% obese). Among obese children, 80.6% were girls. A higher proportion of obese patients had diabetes (3.0% versus 1.0%, P < .01) and contaminated or dirty/infected wounds (15.1% versus 9.4%, P < .01). Complication rates were low. The most frequent indications for surgery were cholelithiasis/biliary colic (34.3%), chronic cholecystitis (26.9%), ...
Civic Engagement of Older Adults in Mainland China: Past, Present, and Future

Due to great challenges resulting from China’s rapid population aging, Chinese elders are mobilized to address problems caused by this demographic trend through civic engagement. Based on an integr...
Uncovering the paths to helpful reviews using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

Researchers have found evidence that helpful product reviews written by other consumers have the potential to alter consumers’ purchase decision and influence overall sales. In the quest to find what makes a review helpful, prior studies have documented volume, valence, argument quality, and source certainty as determinants of helpful reviews. However, these studies used regression analysis and found significant effects of each of the determinants regardless of other variables. Taking a different perspective, the present study uncovers the “causal recipe” (combination of antecedent conditions) of helpfulness review by applying a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Congruent with elaboration likelihood model, this study finds that high argument quality and high source certainty, together in a review, do not make a review helpful, and consumers use heuristics (peripheral cues) when reading a long review. Negative as well as long reviews are found to be helpful. Real consumer reviews collected from Amazon.com are used for this study. The study contributes to the literature by uncovering different paths (path signifies configuration of variables) that lead to helpful reviews by using a fs-QCA technique on real Amazon.com reviews and attends to the call of using sophisticated techniques in exploring new online data.
Incidence of venous leg ulcer healing and recurrence after treatment with endovenous laser ablation.

Abstract Background The Effect of Surgery and Compression on Healing and Recurrence (ESCHAR) trial previously reported that patients with venous leg ulcers treated with saphenous stripping experienced a significantly reduced incidence of ulcer recurrence compared with patients treated with compression therapy. Most patients with leg ulcers and saphenous insufficiency are currently treated with endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA), but little information is available on the long-term results after EVTA in Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology (CEAP) clinical class 5 (C5) and class 6 (C6) patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all CEAP C5 or C6 patients treated with EVTA to define the incidence of ulcer healing and recurrence. Patients with active ulcers were managed weekly in a comprehensive wound center until healed. After healing, patients were treated with compression stockings and returned at 6-month intervals for follow-up. Time to healing and time to ulcer recurrence were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Risk factors were assessed to determine their association with ulcer recurrence. Results EVTA of the great saphenous vein (n = 146), small saphenous vein (n = 20), or both (n = 7) was performed on 173 limbs with active (n = 72) or healed (n = 101) ulcers. Deep venous insufficiency was present in 54 cases (31.2%). Concomitant phlebectomy was performed in 59 limbs (34%). Median follow-up time was 25.2 months after EVTA. Venous ulcers healed after EVTA in 57% of cases at 3 months, 74% at 6 months, and 78% at 12 months. Ulcers recurred in 9% of patients at 1 year after EVTA, 20% at 2 years, and 29% at 3 years of follow-up. Ulcers recurred significantly more often in patients with deep venous insufficiency and in patients who did not undergo phlebectomy of associated varicose veins at the time of EVTA. Conclusions Ulcers recurred in a minority of CEAP clinical C5 and C6 patients after EVTA of the saphenous veins. Ulcer recurrence was less frequent in patients without concomitant deep venous reflux and in those treated with phlebectomy of varicose veins at the time of EVTA. We suggest consideration of phlebectomy at the time of EVTA for patients with C5 and C6 venous insufficiency, particularly in those with isolated superficial venous insufficiency.
House Prices, Household Credit, and Financial Technology

I use peer-to-peer (P2P) credit markets to study how innovations in housing affect households' unsecured credit decisions. Driven by homeowners, I find that a one standard deviation increase in house price growth causes loan origination growth to decrease by 44% of its mean. Conversely, renters switch to P2P loans when housing markets are strong and traditional credit is scarce. Strong housing markets also lead to rising defaults by renters. Overall, developments in housing markets have important implications for evolving credit markets.
On the generation and dissipation of coherent structure in two-dimensional vortices

A vortex properties deduced has been used to validate a simple vortex model of turbulence, in which the vortices move like point vortices. The intention in this paper is to discuss the restricted subject of two-dimensional vortex motion. I deal with the dynamics of a system of point vortices in two-dimensional flow field and discuss a few points about generation and dissipation of coherent structure in these system.
Post-Injury Administration of Galantamine Reduces Traumatic Brain Injury Pathology and Improves Outcome.

Abstract Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that plays a key role in cognitive function, including learning and memory. Previous studies have shown that experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) reduces cholinergic neurotransmission, decreases evoked release of acetylcholine, and alters cholinergic receptor levels. Galantamine (U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease) has been shown to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and allosterically potentiate nicotinic receptor signaling. We investigated whether acute administration of galantamine can reduce TBI pathology and improve cognitive function tested days after the termination of the drug treatment. Post-injury administration of galantamine was found to decrease TBI-triggered blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability (tested 24 h post-injury), attenuate the loss of both GABAergic and newborn neurons in the ipsilateral hippocampus, and improve hippoc...
High-speed contactless I/O for computing devices

Enabling content-rich consumer devices in a portable form-factor is enhanced by contactless I/O to support distributed computing and peripherals. Within such a personal computing space (1mm–1m), high-speed solutions (>10Gb/s) may be achieved with either near-field coupling-based proximity communication or far-field mm-wave wireless communication. In order to optimize proximity link performance based on data-rate, communication distance, coupler footprint and scalability to multi-channel I/O, this work develops analytical models of the contactless channel. The paper also highlights the tradeoffs between energy-efficiency and achievable communication distance in proximity and mm-wave wireless I/Os, along with two illustrative link designs at 32Gb/s and 27.8Gb/s respectively.
Across the Great Divide: Collaborative Forest Management

This chapter addresses the third myth driving conservation politics in Africa, namely that the local and national levels work in a symbiotic fashion whereby conservation outcomes at the local level drive decisions at the national level, and vice versa. Further, this imagined symbiotic relationship is assumed to be conducive to conservation. In reality, these two levels of environmental politics work in tandem, connecting only sporadically. More commonly observed is a chronic disconnect between the two levels of environmental decision-making. By looking at concrete attempts to connect these two levels across Madagascar, Tanzania, and Uganda, it becomes clear that far from facilitating interest alignment, this disconnect hinders it. As a result, decentralized forest management has scarcely been achieved, as evidenced by the high number of failed community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) projects.
Motility in Tumor Invasion and Metastasis — An Overview

Most cancer morbidity and mortality derives from the dissemination of the tumor cells and subsequent growth in ectopic locations. Local invasion of adjacent normal tissue and adnexia compromise homeostatic functions and prevent surgical or radiological extirpation of the tumor. Recent investigations highlight the central role that induced motility plays in promoting this spread. Metastatic seeding and growth, that dramatically increase tumor burden and relegate local therapies, require additional complex acquired behaviors including resistance to anoikis and shear stresses. Still, tumor cell motility and associated biophysical processes such as adhesion modulation, are central to this terminal progression. Our growing understanding of the function of motility, and key molecular switches that govern this behavior, provide new targets for rationale therapeutics aimed at arresting tumors in their tracks.
Creative Play in Virtual Worlds: Avatar Designs, Language Play, and Cheats

Virtual worlds have drawn the attention of many individuals because of the alleged opportunities to make anything and to be anyone. Yet, recent writing on the subject suggests that creative opportunities in virtual worlds, especially those for children, are not equal. Against this backdrop, we turn to both designed affordances for creativity and ground-up creative play developed by children in a comparably open virtual world for tweens (children on the cusp of adolescence, aged 9–13), Whyville.net. We consider three forms of creative play, ranging from the socially acceptable to the socially transgressive. First, we examine avatar design, a form of creative expression provided by the designers of Whyville. Then we review language play through flirting, a peer-developed form of play allowed but not designed for by Whyville’s creators. Finally, we reflect on cheating as a transgressive yet creative form of play that pushes back on the intended culture of playing science games in Whyville, adding elements of collaborative agency to an otherwise single-player consumption of games. In the discussion, we consider what these forms of creative play mean for designing for creativity, using virtual worlds in local educational contexts, and pushing back against constraining discourses of safety and protection.
Abstract 4854: Targeting ribonucleotide reductase M2 using didox causes inhibition of estrogen receptor-negative, inflammatory breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor emboli formation in culture

Ribonucleotide reductase (RR) catalyzes the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides during the rate-limiting step of DNA synthesis. Given its significant role in cell cycle regulation, RR and its catalytic subunits are significant molecular targets for inhibiting tumor cell growth and proliferation. Didox (3,4-dihydroxybenzohydroxamic acid) is a known inhibitor of the catalytic RR subunit of RRM2 and overall DNA synthesis. Previous meta-analyses have revealed that RRM2 is highly expressed in estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer tumors. As ER negativity is frequent in inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a distinct and the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, we proposed to evaluate efficacy of didox in IBC cell models. ER- inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) cell lines SUM149 (ER-, PR-, EGFR-activated), lapatinib-resistant SUM149 (rSUM149), and non-IBC BT474M1 metastatic subline of BT474 (ER+, PR+, HER2+) were compared for the cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of didox using cell viability (trypan blue exclusion) and proliferation (MTT) assays. Protein profiling was performed to evaluate changes in molecular expression of key proteins involved in cellular signaling pathways for apoptosis and proliferation. Only ER- cell lines exhibited decreased dose-dependent decrease in viability following didox treatment. In addition, didox inhibited tumor emboli formation in a novel ex vivo tumor emboli in culture assay that mimics the clinicopathologic hallmark of IBC disease in patients. Moreover, didox decreased proliferation in lapatinib-resistant rSUM149, suggesting that the drug may help circumvent lapatinib resistance. Studies are ongoing to evaluate the mechanism of didox in overcoming lapatinib resistance and evaluation in an in vivo IBC invasion model. IBC is rare but accounts for 10% of breast cancer deaths, and despite multimodal therapy the 5-yr survival is only 25-55%. Further, there is a need to identify new therapies that can inhibit IBC tumor emboli formation and migration. Didox has demonstrated minimal toxicity in human phase I/II cancer clinical trials and therefore is an attractive strategy for inflammatory breast cancer therapy. Support in part from the Development funds (GRD) of the Duke Cancer Institute as part of the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant NIH CA014236 and Department of Defense Breakthrough Level 2 W81XWH-17-1-0297 (GRD). Citation Format: Pranalee Patel, Ben Mirman, Renzhi Zhan, Gayathri R. Devi. Targeting ribonucleotide reductase M2 using didox causes inhibition of estrogen receptor-negative, inflammatory breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor emboli formation in culture [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4854.
Fitting psychotherapy to patient coping style: A meta-analysis.

Over the course of 60 years of research, several personality traits have emerged as potential predictors of differential change in psychotherapy. Among them is the patient's coping style (CS), commonly distinguished between those who deal with change by looking inwardly (internalization) and those who deal with it outwardly (externalization). This study provides definitions of CSs, clinical examples, and frequent measures. We update a 2011 meta-analytic review that revealed a consistent interaction between CSs and treatment focus-symptom focus versus insight focus. The current meta-analysis of 18 studies revealed a medium to large effect (d = 0.60) and suggested that a symptom focus proves more effective for externalizing patient whereas an insight focus is generally more effective for internalizers. The article concludes with limitations of the research, diversity considerations, and therapeutic practices based on the meta-analytic results.
Standards of Fairness for Disparate Impact Assessment of Big Data Algorithms

This paper describes and assesses several competing group and individual statistical standards of fairness, including the mathematical conflict between predictive parity and equal error rates that requires organizations to choose which measure to satisfy. The choice between statistical concepts of group fairness and individual fairness recalls the dispute between those who think the anti-discrimination laws aim at group disadvantaging practices and those who think they target arbitrary misclassification of individuals. Those analysts who embrace statistical measures of group fairness such as statistical parity and equal group error rates aim at reducing the subordination of disadvantaged groups; those data scientists who favor measures of individual fairness are aiming to avoid the arbitrary misclassification of individuals. Group fairness calls for analytics to aim for statistical parity or equal group error rates for protected groups, while individual fairness says analytics should aim only at accurate predictions. The goal of individual fairness is satisfied with equal accuracy in classification; while the goal of group fairness allows for some sacrifice of equal accuracy to protect vulnerable groups. To bring this normative dimension into sharper focus, this paper explores the extent to which the choice between the statistical concepts of individual and group fairness is related to a fundamental difference toward the principle that people are entitled to reap the rewards of their own talents and skills. The idea that similar people ought to be treated similarly and its image in the statistical concept of equal predictive accuracy gain strength from the normative principle that rewards ought to be distributed according to talents and skills. This paper will address this normative dimension through contrasting Robert Nozick and John Rawls’ approaches to rewarding talent. It will argue in favor of carving out an exception to the principle of basing rewards on merit to allow the use of group fairness measures. The paper also explores the extent to which current relevant Supreme Court decisions would permit designing or modifying algorithms to move toward statistical parity or equalized group error rates.
Comparison of different life distribution schemes for prediction of crack propagation in an aircraft wing

Abstract Estimation of remaining useful life/prognostics of an aircraft structure permits aerospace industry to timely schedule maintenance activities. Accurate planning through prognostics ensures safer flight operation and lower downtimes. The core of any prognostic algorithm is the state transition/degradation model. In the reported research work, Particle Filter (PF) based prognostic algorithm is used to predict crack growth with three different state transition/life distribution models. PF (Bayesian Sequential Monte Carlo) allows using of non-linear state-transition and non-Gaussian/multimodal noise distributions. The typical candidate life distributions for modeling crack growth are Exponential, Weibull and Lognormal distributions. A framework is proposed where effectiveness of the candidate distribution for modeling degradation phenomenon can be adjudged. The algorithm is tested on actual historical NDT data of crack growth on countersunk (CSK) rivet holes on an Airbus A310 aircraft’s wing. Historical data is bifurcated into two periods i.e. training and validation periods. The most appropriate distribution based on the comparison of the above mentioned candidate distributions is proposed for prediction of the degradation/ flaw propagation.
Noise reduction in photon-counting CT using frequency-dependent optimal weighting

Spectral computed tomography (CT) allows optimizing image quality by combining the data in several energy channels with optimal weighting factors. In an improvement of this technique, the weighting factors are made dependent on spatial frequency, and previous work has shown that this can improve detectability for a simple detector model. In this work, we investigate the achievable detectability improvement from frequency-dependentweighting for realistic models of photon-counting detectors. We use a Monte-Carlo based simulation model to obtain point-spread functions and autocovariances for two detector models with 0.5 × 0.5 mm2 pixels, one CdTe-based with five energy bins and one silicon-based with eight energy bins. We generated noise-only images for two different energy weighting schemes: one where optimal weights were selected individually for each spatial frequency, and one where the weights optimal for zero frequency were applied to all frequencies. The modulation transfer function was set equal in both schemes. Results show that frequency-based weighting can decrease noise variance by 11 % for Si and by 38 % for CdTe, for an edge-enhancing MTF, demonstrating that optimal frequency-dependent weighting has the capability of reducing noise in high-resolution CT images.
Retail target markets for landscape plants.

Abstract Merchandisers of landscape plants can increase the effectiveness of their marketing strategies by identifying target markets. Using full information maximum likelihood tobit procedure, different types of retail outlets were shown to have different target markets in Georgia, The results lend support and empirical evidence to the premise that different retail outlet types have different target markets.
Short-distance radar sensing application

Human-related sensing plays a more and more important role because of the emerging applications that include search and rescue, security and surveillance, as well as other important operations. Radar offers a number of unique advantages compared with the other technologies. For instance, the Doppler radar system is cost-effective and can sense the target unobtrusively by penetrating obstacles with lower propagation loss. Due to these characteristics, researchers usually employ the Doppler radar for long-distance object detection. But recently, researchers have started to find that the use of Doppler radar is also a natural choice for human micro-motion sensing. Because Doppler information represents the time rate of change of a range, Doppler radar can suppress stationary clutter to highlight human-related micro-scale movements. The employment of Doppler radar in short-range micro-motion sensing widely broadens the domain of the human sensing network. We highlight the emerging radar sensing applications in the area of home-based smart-health and human biometrics.
Improving goat milk

Abstract: Production of goat milk is of great importance not only for underdeveloped countries, where it provides basic nutrition and subsistence to rural people, but also for developed countries as a valued part of the total dairy industry, where it provides diversity to sophisticated consumer tastes, and supports people with allergies and gastro-intestinal disorders. High quality goat milk can be produced, and great progress has been made to improve the acceptability of dairy goat products by consumers. Properly produced goat milk has no objectionable flavor, is free of spoilage bacteria, and contains the legal minimum limits of all nutrients.
Citizen Sociolinguistics: A Data Collection Approach for Hard-to-capture Naturally Occurring Language Data:

Applying an approach termed “citizen sociolinguistics” offers a unique opportunity to capture a large corpus of naturally occurring language data, especially fleeting interactions. Drawing on citiz...
Motive, Collection, and Voice Leading in John Coltrane's “Giant Steps”

Coltrane's “Giant Steps” is a tightly-woven, theoretically-dense composition containing zero-sum characteristics, hexatonic and nonatonic properties, and various types of patterns on both the surfa...
Variable-fidelity multipoint aerodynamic shape optimization with output-based adapted meshes

Abstract This paper presents a method to control the discretization error in multipoint aerodynamic shape optimization using output-based adapted meshes. The meshes are adapted via adjoint-based error estimates, taking into account both the objective and constraint output errors. A multi-fidelity optimization framework is then developed by taking advantage of the variable fidelity offered by adaptive meshes. The objective functional and its sensitivity at each design point (operating condition) are first evaluated on the same initial coarse mesh, which is then subsequently adapted for each design point individually as the shape optimization proceeds. The effort to set up the optimization is minimal since the initial mesh can be fairly coarse and easy to generate. As the shape approaches the optimal design, the mesh at each design point becomes finer, in regions necessary for that particular operating condition. The multi-fidelity framework is tightly coupled with the objective error estimation to ensure the optimization accuracy at each fidelity. Computational savings arise from a reduction of the mesh size when the design is far from optimal and avoiding an exhaustive search on low-fidelity meshes. The proposed method is demonstrated on multipoint drag minimization problems of a transonic airfoil with lift and area constraints. Improved accuracy and efficiency are shown compared to traditional fixed-fidelity optimization with a fixed computational mesh.
Assessing Adaptations based on Change Impacts

When a self-adaptive system alters its functionality to operate in a dynamic environment, it may impact whether the system can remain in compliance with its security requirements. Security assurance cases (SACs) provide confidence in system compliance by expressing security requirements as claims, arguments grounded in deployed mechanisms, and techniques that assure their satisfiability. A security control network (SCN) is comprised of SACs connected through sharing of state variables and conditions that support neighboring claims, as well as shared mechanisms and techniques. When a security mechanism is affected by an adaptation, the effect can propagate across the SCN. A dynamic change impact assessment (CIA) is necessary to select the least impactful adaptation plan from the set of possible plans. Performing a procedural CIA at runtime can be used to maintain system confidence after an adaptation has been applied, yet it remains a significant research challenge. In this paper, we estimate the change impact of an adaptation based on the level influence of the affected nodes in the SCN. The influence of each node is determined by a dependency weight, which is a function of the node’s three centrality measures from network flow analysis: degree, betweenness, and closeness. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach towards providing a dynamic CIA for security requirements without the need for human intervention.
Recent advances in understanding assembly of the primary cilium membrane

Ciliogenesis describes the assembly of cilia in interphase cells. Several hundred proteins have been linked to ciliogenesis, which proceeds through a highly coordinated multistage process at the distal end of centrioles requiring membranes. In this short review, we focus on recently reported insights into the biogenesis of the primary cilium membrane and its association with other ciliogenic processes in the intracellular ciliogenesis pathway.
Longitudinal changes in HDL-cholesterol concentration are associated with different risk factors in primiparous and nulliparous young women: The NHLBI Growth and Health Study (NGHS)

Background Previous studies report that first pregnancy is associated with persistent decreases in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. Objective This study evaluated factors associated with declines in HDL-C concentration in parous and nulliparous young women. Methods This study leverages data from African-American and white women from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study. Parity-related changes in lipids, BMI and percent body fat were assessed longitudinally. A subset of primiparous and nulliparous women with paired lipid measurements were analyzed regarding changes in HDL-C concentrations. Results Among 870 women in longitudinal analyses, African-American women had higher parity (p Conclusion Persistent decreases in HDL-C concentration were associated with the first pregnancy, and were greater with higher initial HDL-C concentration. Racial differences in HDL-C concentration emerged over time in nulliparous women, but not primiparous women. Potential impacts of these findings on women's long-term cardiometabolic health should be evaluated.
Factors Associated With PCSK9 Inhibitor Initiation Among US Veterans.

Background Few adults at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events use a PCSK9i (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor). Methods and Results Using data from the ...
Of Admonition and Address: Right-Hand Inscriptions (Zuoyouming) from Cui Yuan to Guanxiu

This essay traces the development of the right-hand inscription (zuoyouming 座右銘) from its birth in the second century CE through its culmination as a complex literary subgenre in the tenth. Over th...
Technology Lookup Table based Default Timing Assertions for Hierarchical Timing Closure

This paper presents an approach to dynamically generating representative external driving cell and external wire parasitic assertions for the ports of sub-blocks of a hierarchical design. The assertions are based on a technology lookup table and use attributes of the port and the hierarchical wire connected to the port as keys. A concept of reverse timing calculation at the input of the driving cell is described that facilitates the approach to drive efficient timing optimization of boundary paths of design sub-blocks. Experimental results in an industrial timing environment demonstrate significantly improved timing optimization accuracy when compared to prior work.
Intramedullary Foreign Bodies within Fresh-Frozen Fibular Cortical Allograft: A Case Report.

CASE A 71-year-old man with a proximal humerus fracture nonunion underwent surgery augmented by a fibular cortical strut allograft. On placing the allograft within the proximal humerus, fluoroscopic images showed 2 foreign bodies found to be broken drill bits located within the allograft. The drill bits were extracted, and the allograft was reprepared for use. CONCLUSION After 2 years of follow-up, no significant sequela related to the foreign bodies was noted. To the best of our knowledge, this case report represents the first-of-its-kind occurrence of broken drill bits found within bone allograft.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPALS’ SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PRINCIPALS’ LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPALS’ SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PRINCIPALS’ LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS By Javaid Siddiqi, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Major Director: Cheryl Magill, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership School of Education The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between principals’ sense of achievement and teachers’ perceptions of their principals’ leadership behaviors. This was determined by examining job satisfaction of principals and leadership style using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and the School District’s Climate Survey. The population for this study was teachers and principals in a large suburban school district in the Richmond, VA area. Participating schools were selected using a convenience sample based upon those in the school district’s annual school climate survey rotation. Of the district schools scheduled for the climate survey, only those that had their principal in place for a minimum of 1 year were chosen to participate. There were nine schools on the cycle for the 2011-2012 school year that met this criteria, yielding 9 principals and approximately 500 teachers. Data were collected from 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools. The principals were asked to complete the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire Sense of Achievement subscale survey. Teachers in the selected schools had recently participated in the School District’s Climate Survey. Data for this study came from the Leadership subscale of the survey. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that principals generally are satisfied with the sense of achievement they have in their jobs. Data suggest they are most satisfied with having the opportunity to do something worthwhile and less satisfied with seeing the results of their work. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that teachers generally are satisfied with their principals’ leadership behaviors. A Pearson correlation was run to determine the relationship between the mean scores of the principals’ sense of achievement and the teachers’ perceptions of their principals’ leadership behaviors. The data revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between teachers’ perceptions of their principals’ leadership behaviors and principals’ sense of achievement. While no significant relationship between the two data sets was found, analysis supports the need for principals to be satisfied with their jobs in order to create the open climate necessary for teachers to cultivate a collaborative approach to their craft. Teachers in an open climate are more likely to cooperate and are more committed to their job and each other.
Comparative Genetic Structure of Sympatric Leporids in Southern Illinois

Many leporid species have overlapping ranges, but ecological differences may make for profoundly different population structure in the same area. In southern Illinois, swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) and eastern cottontails (S. floridanus) co-exist, but swamp rabbits are habitat specialists associated with floodplain forests and eastern cottontails exhibit more general habitat preferences. Additionally, swamp rabbits exist at the northern edge of their range in southern Illinois, whereas eastern cottontails are well within the core of their range. To determine whether these differences resulted in differences in genetic structure, we assessed the population differentiation of these 2 sympatric species in southern Illinois using polymorphic microsatellite markers. We employed a combination of sampling techniques including tissue sampling from trapped rabbits and collection of fecal pellets from swamp rabbit latrine logs. Swamp rabbits appeared to be differentiated within 50 km of Illinois’ Cache River watershed (K = 4 populations) suggesting that local populations are relatively isolated, whereas eastern cottontails exhibited no discernable genetic structure (K = 1). Such a result confirms the expected relationship of greater genetic structure in a habitat specialist (i.e., swamp rabbits) versus a habitat generalist (i.e., eastern cottontails). Unlike eastern cottontails, our results suggest that swamp rabbits experience low genetic connectivity in southern Illinois likely due to restricted dispersal, linear distribution of habitat, and smaller effective population size as mediated by habitat fragmentation.
Internal Medicine Residents' Perceptions of Team-Based Care and its Educational Value in the Continuity Clinic: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND In order to teach residents how to work in interprofessional teams, educators in graduate medical education are implementing team-based care models in resident continuity clinics. However, little is known about the impact of interprofessional teams on residents’ education in the ambulatory setting.
Progress in Understanding How the Waggle Dance Improves the Foraging Efficiency of Honey Bee Colonies

The waggle dance of the honey bee is one of the most extensively studied forms of animal communication, but only recently have investigators closely examined its adaptive significance, that is, how it improves the foraging efficiency of a honey bee colony. Studies at the colony level, in which investigators have compared the effectiveness of food collection between colonies with normal and disoriented dances, have found that the waggle dance improves a colony’s foraging performance when food sources are hard to find, variable in profitability, and ephemeral. Studies at the individual level, in which investigators compared the effectiveness of food collection between bees that do and do not use waggle dance information to find new food sources (recruits and scouts) have found that following a waggle dance to find a new food source raises the cost of doing so but that this cost is outweighed by a benefit in the quality of the food source that is found. The emerging picture of the adaptive significance of the honey bee’s waggle dance is that it makes it possible for a colony to function as a collective decision-making unit that is skilled at deciding how to distribute its forager workforce over an array of widely scattered, highly variable, and ever changing patches of flowers.
On the commutator group of the group of interval exchange transformations

We study the group of interval exchange transformations and obtain several characterizations of its commutator group. In particular, it turns out that the commutator group is generated by elements of order 2.