cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance Assurance Model for HiveQL on Large Data Volume

Fast growth of application data has led the migration of existing reporting applications to Big data open source technologies such as Hive and Hadoop. Their wide acceptance also considers their use for servicing on-line analytic queries. Ensuring performance assurance of Hive queries will be required to maintain desired level of application performance. Hive query execution time may increase with increase in data size and change in the cluster size. In this paper, we propose a regression based analytical model to predict execution time of Hive query with growth in data volume. A Hive query is executed as DAG of MapReduce (MR) jobs on Hadoop system, this requires predictive model for MR job execution time. We propose multiple linear regression to compute models for various sub phases of MR job execution and build a consolidated model for predicting the execution time of a MR job on large data volume. We introduce ratio of a phase output record size to its input record size and number of map waves as additional sensitive parameters for predicting MR job execution time. The model is validated with MapReduce benchmark and real world financial application for prediction error within 10 %.
Effect of Fluoride on Disuse Osteoporosis in the Cat

Disuse osteoporosis induced in vertebrae of the tail distal to an area of resection of the coccygeal nerve and muscles, was studied in four adult cats fed fluoride from the age of six weeks on and in five adult control cats. Bone formation and bone resorption were quantitated by microradiography, and undecalcified bone sections were used to measure osteoid tissue. The development of disuse osteoporosis was not influenced by the presence of fluoride. The increase in bone density in patients with osteoporosis and other bone disease achieved with fluoride therapy may be the result of an increase in bone formation rather than a decrease in bone resorption.
11. The Suppression of the Slave Trade and Slave Departures from Angola, 1830s–1860s

Th is article deals with the process of abolishing the transatlantic slave trade in Angola in the fi rst half of the nineteenth century. It breaks down the Angolan slave trade into three macro-regions: Luanda, Benguela, and "northern Angola" (Cabinda and Ambriz). It argues that in order to understand the impact of abolitionism on the ground, scholars need to take into account local conditions, such as the supply of slaves to the coast, the participation of local elites in the business of slaving, and Angola's close ties to Brazil. Th e article demonstrates that abolitionism policies only became eff ective with the participation of Portugal in the 1840s and the naval operations that ended shipments of slaves from Luanda, the largest slave port in Angola. Th is development signifi cantly increased risks associated with the Angolan slave trade and provided further momentum to the process of spread of shipments of slaves to other parts of the Angolan coast.
Pulsed Laser Deposition of Magneto-Optic Material

A wide range of materials can be deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition. We will discuss the deposition of materials that can be employed in magneto-optic systems. These materials include dysprosium, cobalt, and aluminum nitride. We will present the results of our work involving the fabrication of multilayer structures of the previously mentioned material. These structures and materials have been characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry.
Optical Coherence Tomography

This chapter presents the current knowledge on the use of optical coherence tomography, a novel imaging technique in the field of interventional pulmonary medicine. The principles of operation, currently available equipment, use during rigid and flexible bronchoscopy, and interpretation of optical coherence tomography–generated images are discussed.
Electroencephalographic evidence of osmosensitive elements in olfactory bulb of dog brain.

ConclusionIntracarotid injections of hypertonic saline and sugar solutions in the dog induce characteristic synchronous EEG changes in the olfactory bulb which are independent of influences from the olfactory epithelium or the rest of brain. In the intact brain, these osmosensitive elements in the bulb transmit their nervous impulses caudally along olfactory pathways, but their influence on the supraoptico-neurohypophysial system is unknown.
Time-dependent patterns in the two-layer Rayleigh-Bénard system

We report experiments on the two-layer Rayleigh-B\'enard system with two different pairs of fluids and with both rectangular and annular geometries. Theoretical studies have shown that in addition to two distinct stationary states, it is possible to have time-dependent patterns at or near convective onset. We have found a traveling wave pattern at the onset to convection using silicone oil over water. Standing and traveling wave states have been found slightly above the onset to convection in a system of silicone oil over Fluorinert™. The basic form of these time-dependent states is consistent with the predictions, while some of the quantitative properties of the states depend on the system geometry.
POTENTIATING ACTIONS OF INDOLEALKYLAMINES AND LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE ON REFLEXES ELICITED BY 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE.

SummarySeveral indolealkylamines (i.e., tryptamine, N,N-diethyl tryptamine, N,N-di-propyl tryptamine, N,N-dibutyl tryptamine, and Psylocin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) potentiate the cardiovascular and respiratory reflex actions (blood pressure fall, bradycardia, apnea) of 5-HT in the cat. Since a potentiating action on afferent vagal fibers activated by 5-HT was also observed by the same type of agents, it is proposed that indolealkylamines and LSD influence 5-HT induced reflexes by facilitating the stimulant action of 5-HT on viscerosensory receptors.
Vibration energy harvesting with polyphase AC transducers

Three-phase transduction affords certain advantages in the efficient electromechanical conversion of energy, especially at higher power scales. This paper considers the use of a three-phase electric machine for harvesting energy from vibrations. We consider the use of vector control techniques, which are common in the area of industrial electronics, for optimizing the feedback loops in a stochastically-excited energy harvesting system. To do this, we decompose the problem into two separate feedback loops for direct and quadrature current components, and illustrate how each might be separately optimized to maximize power output. In a simple analytical example, we illustrate how these techniques might be used to gain insight into the tradeoffs in the design of the electronic hardware and the choice of bus voltage.
Transcriptome Analysis of Scrippsiella trochoidea CCMP 3099 Reveals Physiological Changes Related to Nitrate Depletion

Dinoflagellates are a major component of marine phytoplankton and many species are recognized for their ability to produce harmful algal blooms (HABs). Scrippsiella trochoidea is a non-toxic, marine dinoflagellate that can be found in both cold and tropic waters where it is known to produce “red tide” events. Little is known about the genomic makeup of S. trochoidea and a transcriptome study was conducted to shed light on the biochemical and physiological adaptations related to nutrient depletion. Cultures were grown under N and P limiting conditions and transcriptomes were generated via RNAseq technology. De novo assembly reconstructed 107,415 putative transcripts of which only 41% could be annotated. No significant transcriptomic response was observed in response to initial P depletion, however, a strong transcriptional response to N depletion was detected. Among the down-regulated pathways were those for glutamine/glutamate metabolism as well as urea and nitrate/nitrite transporters. Transcripts for ammonia transporters displayed both up- and down-regulation, perhaps related to a shift to higher affinity transporters. Genes for the utilization of DON compounds were up-regulated. These included transcripts for amino acids transporters, polyamine oxidase, and extracellular proteinase and peptidases. N depletion also triggered down regulation of transcripts related to the production of Photosystems I & II and related proteins. These data are consistent with a metabolic strategy that conserves N, while maximizing sustained metabolism by emphasizing the relative contribution of organic N sources. Surprisingly, the transcriptome also contained transcripts potentially related to secondary metabolite production, including a homolog to the Short Isoform Saxitoxin gene (sxtA) from Alexandrium fundyense, which was significantly up-regulated under N-depletion. A total of 113 unique hits to Sxt genes, covering 17 of the 34 genes found in C. raciborskii were detected, indicating that S. trochoidea has previously unrecognized potential for the production of secondary metabolites with potential toxicity.
Endothelial cell dysfunction as a novel therapeutic target in atherosclerosis

Introduction: Dysfunction of vessel endothelium is the first step in a complex and multi-faceted process that eventually leads to initiation of the plaque, formation of atherosclerotic lesions and ...
Solvent washing of PCP contaminated soils with anaerobic treatment of wash fluids

A solvent washing procedure for the removal of pentachlorophenol (PCP) from contaminated soils is presented. This procedure can be used in both in-situ and above-ground soil washing applications. The in-situ solvent washing (flushing) of soil was simulated by continuously flushing solvent through a packed bed of soil until the effluent PCP concentrations decrease to below the detection limit. The above- ground (ex-situ) soil washing was simulated by batch tests (reverse isotherms) conducted on PCP contaminated soil. Acetone was found to be less effective than ethanol in flushing PCP from contaminated soil. Soil solvent flushing was evaluated for 20 × 40. 60 × 80, and 100 × 140 U.S. Mesh size soil fractions loaded with 100 ppm of PCP. The flushing solvent, 95% ethanol, was applied at three different flow rates
Quantitative Computed Tomography Protocols Affect Material Mapping and Quantitative Computed Tomography-Based Finite-Element Analysis Predicted Stiffness

Quantitative computed tomography-based finite-element analysis (QCT/FEA) has become increasingly popular in an attempt to understand and possibly reduce vertebral fracture risk. It is known that scanning acquisition settings affect Hounsfield units (HU) of the CT voxels. Material properties assignments in QCT/FEA, relating HU to Young's modulus, are performed by applying empirical equations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of QCT scanning protocols on predicted stiffness values from finite-element models. One fresh frozen cadaveric torso and a QCT calibration phantom were scanned six times varying voltage and current and reconstructed to obtain a total of 12 sets of images. Five vertebrae from the torso were experimentally tested to obtain stiffness values. QCT/FEA models of the five vertebrae were developed for the 12 image data resulting in a total of 60 models. Predicted stiffness was compared to the experimental values. The highest percent difference in stiffness was approximately 480% (80 kVp, 110 mAs, U70), while the lowest outcome was ∼1% (80 kVp, 110 mAs, U30). There was a clear distinction between reconstruction kernels in predicted outcomes, whereas voltage did not present a clear influence on results. The potential of QCT/FEA as an improvement to conventional fracture risk prediction tools is well established. However, it is important to establish research protocols that can lead to results that can be translated to the clinical setting.
Attentional Networks in Adolescents with High-functioning Autism: An fMRI Investigation.

Background Attentional deficits in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often noted, but their specific nature remains unclear. Objective The present study used the child Attentional Network Task (Child ANT) in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine if the consistently cited deficits of orienting attention are truly due to dysfunctions of orienting-based networks. We hypothesized that these observations are, in fact, a reflection of executive dysfunctions. As such, we expected that although ASD adolescents would perform worse on the orienting portion of the Child ANT, the strongest differences in activation between them and the neurotypical (NT) control group would be in areas classically associated with executive functioning (e.g., the frontal gyri and anterior cingulate cortex). Method The brain activity of six high-functioning adolescents with ASD and six NT adolescents was recorded while these individuals performed the three subcomponents of the Child ANT. Results ASDs were shown to be more accurate than NTs for the alerting, less accurate for the orienting, and similar in accuracy for the executive portions of the Child ANT. fMRI data showed increased bilateral frontal gyri recruitment, areas conventionally associated with executive control, during the orienting task for the ASD group. Conclusion We submit that the increased activations represent neurocorrelates of signal fixation attributable to the subset of executive control responsible for sustained maintenance signals, not the main components of orienting. Therefore, excessive fixation in ASD adolescents is likely due to dysfunctions of executive control and not the orienting subcomponent of the attention network.
Spatial Awareness is Related to Moderate Intensity Running during a Collegiate Rugby Match.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between spatial awareness, agility, and distance covered in global positioning system (GPS) derived velocity zone classifications during a collegiate rugby match. Twelve American collegiate rugby union players (mean±SD; age: 21.2±1.4 y; weight: 85.0±16.0 kg; 7 forwards & 5 backs) on a single team volunteered to participate in this investigation. The distances travelled at low (walking/jogging; 5.0 m/s) were measured for each player using GPS sensors and normalized according to playing time during an official USA Rugby match. Spatial awareness was measured as visual tracking speed from one core session of a 3-dimensional multiple-object-tracking speed (3DMOTS) test (1.35±0.59 cm·sec-1). Agility was assessed utilizing the pro agility (5.05±0.28 sec) and t drill (10.62±0.39 sec). Analysis of variance revealed that athletes travelled the greatest distance during walking/jogging (39.5±4.5 m·min-1) and least distance during running/sprinting (4.9±3.5 m·min-1). Pearson product moment correlations revealed that only distance covered while cruising/striding (20.9±6.5 m·min-1) was correlated to spatial awareness (r=0.798, p=0.002). Agility did not correlate to distance covered at any velocity zone or spatial awareness. Spatial awareness, as determined by 3DMOTS, appears to be related to the moderate intensity movement patterns of rugby union athletes.
Demokratisierung und Demokratiemodelle

Die Politik in Lateinamerika konzentriert sich im Zuge des demokratischen Wandels in den 1980er und 1990er Jahren weiterhin auf die Demokratie. Eine alte Sorge – die Sicherung demokratischer Mindeststandards, die als Ziel der Prozesse des demokratischen Ubergangs gedient hat – bleibt relevant. Aber eine neue Sorge – das Erreichen von mehr als einer Minimaldemokratie – verandert die Politik uber die Demokratie. Akteure, die entweder fur oder gegen den Neoliberalismus – die Schlusselachse des idelogischen Konflikts – waren, haben Veranderungen im Namen unterschiedlicher Demokratiemodelle befurwortet oder abgelehnt. Welches Demokratiemodell beherrschte und formte nun die Verlaufe nach der Transition in Lateinamerika und bestimmte dadurch, wie sich die Demokratie entwickelte und ob die Demokratie Bestand hatte?
Hierarchical Non-intrusive In-situ Requirements Monitoring for Embedded Systems

Accounting for all operating conditions of a system at the design stage is typically infeasible for complex systems. In-situ runtime monitoring and verification can enable a system to introspectively ensure the system is operating correctly in the presence of dynamic environment, to rapidly detect failures, and to provide detailed execution traces to find the root cause thereof. In this paper, we seek to address two challenges faced in using in-situ runtime verification for embedded systems, including (1) efficiently defining and automatically constructing a requirements model for embedded system software and (2) minimizing the runtime overhead of observing and verifying the runtime execution adheres to the requirements model. We present a methodology to construct a hierarchical runtime monitoring graph from system requirements specified using multiple UML sequence diagrams, which are already commonly used in software development. We further present the design of on-chip hardware that nonintrusively monitors the system at runtime to ensure the execution matches the requirements model. We evaluate the proposed methodology using a case study of a fail-safe autonomous vehicle subsystem and analyze the relationship between event coverage, detection rate, and hardware requirements.
Dose capping of plerixafor in patients weighing more than 100 kg at one vial led to successful mobilization outcomes and significant cost savings

BACKGROUND Plerixafor is frequently used as an adjunct agent to improve mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells in many clinical settings. However, its high cost (>$8000 per single-use 24-mg vial) is a significant concern. The manufacturer-recommended dose is 0.24 mg/kg. Therefore, patients weighing more than 100 kg would require a second vial, thus doubling the drug cost per dose. We implemented a policy of capping the dose of plerixafor at 24 mg, or one vial, for patients weighing more than 100 kg. This retrospective study compares the mobilization of patients more than 100 kg who received capped doses, with historical control patients who received full, uncapped doses. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Consecutive, eligible patients weighing more than 100 kg who received capped (n = 47) and full doses of plerixafor (n = 40) were identified. Plerixafor was given up-front, as a rescue agent due to suboptimal mobilization, or during remobilization. Baseline characteristics and mobilization data were collected and compared. RESULTS Patients in the two groups showed comparable baseline characteristics. They collected similar total numbers of CD34+ cells/kg (median, 4.08 × 106 vs. 3.36 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg; p = 0.86) and achieved comparable collection success rates as defined by collecting more than 2.0 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg (98% vs. 90%, p = 0.21). However, patients who received capped doses required only half of the number of vials of plerixafor (median, 3 vials vs. 6 vials; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Dose capping plerixafor at 24 mg for patients more than 100 kg is a cost-effective strategy, which achieved comparable mobilization outcomes and reduced the total number of vials of plerixafor used by half.
Toward Multilingual and Multicultural Mainstream Education

For the last 30 years the United States has witnessed an incessant debate over how to educate its linguistically diverse population. Most programs tend to approach the education of students who speak languages other than English as a problem with the students, rather than the schools. Administrators and educators historically have felt that these "problem" students needed to fit into the existing norm of how schools instruct students. Thus, the main purpose of bilingual or English as a Second Language (ESL) programs has been to transform the students so that the institutional norm does not have to change. The purpose of the model discussed in this paper is to connect bilingual with so-called mainstream education to establish that there is no such thing as "mainstream" or "special groups" of students but a diversity of students who should be educated together to serve their common as well as individual needs. This type of program aims to transform the institution so as to offer better education for all students. As Barry McLaughlin (1986) stated, not only is there "considerable evidence that daily contact between minority-language children and their majority-language peers is crucial to the success of any bilingual programme," but "the segregation of minority language children in national or home language schools does not prepare these children or the majority-language children to live in harmony with one another" (p. 35). This model is being tried in Massachusetts where the Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Act of 1971 mandates bilingual education until students' English is good enough to warrant their being mainstreamed. In addition to transitional bilingual education (TBE) programs, several towns in Massachusetts have been experimenting with two-way bilingual programs
Indications and Outcomes of Heart Transplantation in the Patient with Congenital Heart Disease

The year 2008 marks the fortieth anniversary of the utilization of heart transplantation as therapy for congenital heart disease.1 Since the introduction of cyclosporine-based immunosuppression over 20 years ago,2,3 heart transplantation has evolved from a heroic therapy to a widely applied therapy for patients with congenital heart disease from infancy to adulthood. Within the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) database, patients with congenital heart disease account for 50–75% of the transplants performed in infants <1 year of age; 25–50% of the transplants performed in children 1–10 years of age; and approximately 25% of the transplants performed in adolescents 10–17 years of age (Fig. 5.1).
Building a Healthier Nation Together: Reasonable Compromises, Yes, but Appeasement, No.

The author reflects on the aims and objectives of the American Public Health Association regarding improving public health in the United States.
CeeTox Analysis to De-risk Drug Development: The Three Antioxidants (NXY-059, Radicut, and STAZN)

Translational stroke research is a multistep process where a drug candidate is synthesized, characterized using a series of in vitro assays and efficacy is then assessed in vivo in animal models representative of the clinical disease. Progress with the process is usually quite slow producing thousands to hundreds of thousands of candidates to screen. However, few candidates are ever fully developed into a randomized and double-blind clinical trial. To date, it is estimated that less than 40 small-molecule neuroprotective agents have been systematically studied in both preclinical and clinical trials, and those that have been tested in a randomized double-blind clinical trial have not proven to be positive. There are many points in the drug development process where a drug can fail to meet established criteria for further development. The critical points include lack of efficacy that could be established using a series of translational models for effective screening or toxicity that may be observed using in vitro or in vivo screening techniques. Since compound failure in the clinical situation is often attributed to toxicity, it is useful to introduce a de-risking step in the early preclinical development of novel small-molecule neuroprotective or neurotrophic compounds. This chapter reviews the CeeTox analysis panel that we have used in the development of small-molecule antioxidants such as NXY-059, Radicut, and STAZN.
Zero g Propulsion Problems

In preceding chapters, the analysis, design and, to some extent, the fabrication of a wide spectrum of propulsion devices have been considered, devices ranging from the more familiar high-thrust jet propulsion engines to advanced electrical propulsion systems with high specific impulse. Attention has been directed to the detailed design of the engines (thrust chambers), to meet specified performance requirements through trade-off analyses of parameters such as specific impulse, thrust nozzle performance, propellant mass flow, etc. Under such emphasis, it is generally and appropriately assumed that the propellants or working fluids are instantly available when required for engine ignition and operation. This assumption is particularly valid for solid-propellant rockets in which the burning of the grain is readily controlled and the propellant is always predictably contained. For hybrid or pure liquid-propulsion systems, however, this predictable containment of the liquid propellant is not always readily possible. For example, when the system is operated in the weightless state of a zero-gravity environment, the liquid may migrate from the tank bottom. In partially filled tanks, moreover, the propellant maybe subjected to perturbations such as a change of g-field due to engine cutoff, vehicle attitude changes, astronaut motions, and limit-cycle oscillations.
Comparison of thermophilic anaerobic and aerobic treatment processes for stabilization of green and food wastes and production of soil amendments.

Abstract The management of organic wastes is an environmental and social priority. Aerobic digestion (AED) or composting and anaerobic digestion (AD) are two organic waste management practices that produce a value-added final product. Few side-by-side comparisons of both technologies and their digestate products have been performed. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of initial feedstock properties (moisture content and/or C/N ratio) on stabilization rate by AED and AD and soil amendment characteristics of the final products. Green and food wastes were considered as they are two of the main contributors to municipal organic waste. Stabilization rate was assessed by measurement of CH4 and CO2 evolution for AD and AED, respectively. For AD, CH4 yield showed a second-order relationship with the C/N content (P
Association of Marijuana Use with Changes in Cognitive Processing Speed and Flexibility for 17 Years in HIV-Seropositive and HIV-Seronegative Men

AbstractBackground: The long-term effects of marijuana on cognition, particularly in the context of HIV is not clear, as extant research shows mixed findings. Objective: To determine associations b...
Diffuse Exfoliative Rash with Sepsis and Eosinophilia: A Case of Erythroderma?

BACKGROUND Erythroderma is an exfoliative dermatitis that manifests as generalized erythema and scaling that involves 90% of the body surface. If untreated, erythroderma can be fatal because of its metabolic burden and risk of secondary infections. CASE REPORT The patient was a 56-year-old male with prior rash attributed to group A Streptococcal cellulitis and discharged on Augmentin, Clindamycin with hydrocortisone cream, and Bactrim, but he had been noncompliant. He was admitted again for rash involving the face, torso, and extremities characterized by diffuse, desquamative, dry scales in morbilliform pattern. The patient was septic with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and compromised skin barrier. He was started on vancomycin and switched to Cefazolin IV due to concern for drug reaction. Autoimmune workup included antibodies for anti-Jo-1, anti-dsDNA, anti-centromere, and ANCA. However, only antinuclear antibody and scleroderma antibody were positive. Given the unclear workup results and lack of response to antibiotics, the patient was started on prednisone 60 mg PO and topical Triamcinolone 0.1% cream. A skin biopsy revealed psoriasiform hyperplasia with atypical T cell infiltrate and eosinophils, but negative for T cell gene rearrangement. The rash resolved after day 12 of application of topical Triamcinolone. CONCLUSIONS This case is unique in terms of the rarity of erythroderma and the diagnostic challenge given confounding factors such as noncompliance and drug reaction. Serious causes, such as SLE and cutaneous T cell lymphoma, were ruled out. Fortunately, the rash responded well to steroids; however, given the adverse effects of long-term use of topical steroids, the patient will need follow up with Dermatology.
Integrase-RNA interactions underscore the critical role of integrase in HIV-1 virion morphogenesis

ABSTRACT A large number of HIV-1 integrase (IN) alterations, referred to as class II substitutions, exhibit pleotropic effects during virus replication. However, the underlying mechanism for the class II phenotype is not known. Here we demonstrate that all tested class II IN substitutions compromised IN-RNA binding in virions by one of three distinct mechanisms: i) markedly reducing IN levels thus precluding formation of IN complexes with viral RNA; ii) adversely affecting functional IN multimerization and consequently impairing IN binding to viral RNA; iii) directly compromising IN-RNA interactions without substantially affecting IN levels or functional IN multimerization. Inhibition of IN-RNA interactions resulted in mislocalization of the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes outside the capsid lattice, which led to premature degradation of the viral genome and IN in target cells. Collectively, our studies uncover causal mechanisms for the class II phenotype and highlight an essential role of IN-RNA interactions for accurate virion maturation.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients With Surgically Altered Anatomy

This review describes the recent advances and evolving techniques in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) and highlights the novel alternative approaches for pancreato-biliary interventions in this group of patients. The limitations of ERCP in patients with SAA have led to the development of improved endoscopic devices and accessories, and alternative approaches for pancreato-biliary interventions. Dedicated short-type single and double balloon enteroscopes (BE) have been developed with increased maneuverability and larger accessory channels that enhance scope insertion and allow the use of various ERCP devices, respectively. In failed BE-ERCP cases, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been used to gain access to the pancreato-biliary system, with high reported procedural success. More recently, lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has been used to create a temporary bridge to the excluded stomach in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and the small bowel loop in other altered GI anatomy, through which conventional ERCP can be performed, with excellent preliminary results. Several novel approaches and techniques are developed and being evaluated for pancreato-biliary intervention in patients with SAA. The optimal approach should be considered based on patient history, institutional factors, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Epidemiology of Spinal Metastatic Disease

Metastases represent the most prevalent form of spinal neoplasia. The majority of cases occur in the thoracic spine and with a peak incidence in males during the fourth to sixth decade of life. Increased survival times across multiple cancer subtypes have been demonstrated due to major medical and technological advancements. Prolonged survivals have led to the need for updated and continually evolving diagnostic and treatment paradigms. Our understanding of the epidemiology of spinal metastases is at the core of modern cancer care integrating advanced treatment strategies and paradigms.
Bitchifying Hillary: Trump Supporters’ Vilification of Clinton during the 2016 Presidential Election:

Based on fieldwork and interviews during the run-up to the 2016 election, we examine how Trump supporters vilified Hillary Clinton as a bitch. We first analyze how Trump rally attendees collaborate...
Picking Up the International Space Station

The international Space Station (ISS) to date is the most expensive single item ever built.
Robust Shape Control of Gyroscopic Tensegrity Robotic Arm.

This paper proposes a model-based approach to control the shape of a tensegrity system by driving its node position locations. The nonlinear dynamics of the tensegrity system is used to regulate position, velocity, and acceleration to the specified reference trajectory. State feedback control design is used to obtain the solution for the control variable as a linear programming problem. Shape control for the gyroscopic tensegrity systems is discussed, and it is observed that these systems increase the reachable space for the structure by providing independent control over certain rotational degrees of freedom. Disturbance rejection of the tensegrity system is further studied in the paper. A methodology to calculate the control gains to bound the errors for five different types of problems is provided. The formulation uses a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) approach to stipulate the desired performance bounds on the error for $\mathcal{H}_\infty$, generalized $\mathcal{H}_2$, LQR, covariance control and stabilizing control problem. A high degree of freedom tensegrity $T_2D_1$ robotic arm is used as an example to show the efficacy of the formulation.
Online Testing of Subgroup Treatment Effects Based on Value Difference

Online A/B testing plays a critical role in high-tech industry to guide product development and accelerate innovation. It performs a null hypothesis statistical test to determine which variant is better. However, a typical A/B test presents two problems: (i) a fixed-horizon framework inflates the false positive errors under continuous monitoring; (ii) the homogeneous effects assumption fails to identify a subgroup with a beneficial treatment effect. In this paper, we propose a sequential test for subgroup treatment effects based on value difference, named SUBTLE, to address these two problems simultaneously. The SUBTLE allows the experimenters to "peek" the results during the experiment without harming the statistical guarantees. It assumes heterogeneous treatment effects and aims to test if some subgroup of the population will benefit from the investigative treatment. If the testing result indicates the existence of such subgroup, a subgroup will be identified using a readily available estimated optimal treatment rule. We examine the empirical performance of our proposed test on both simulations and a real data set. The results show that the SUBTLE has high detection power with controlled type I error at any time, is more robust to noise covariates, and can achieve early stopping compared with the corresponding fixed-horizon test.
COVID-19 and Rule 10b-5

The COVID-19 pandemic presented wide-ranging challenges for businesses. Not the least of these is compliance with the federal securities laws, including the prohibition – most notably under SEC Rule 10b-5 – on materially deceptive statements made to the public. Both the SEC, in its role as enforcer of the law, and private parties, seeking to represented classes of aggrieved investors, have filed complaints asserting that corporations and others have engaged in deception of investors regarding matters pertaining to COVID-19. Some of these claims relate to disclosures regarding testing kits for the virus as well as development of vaccines. Other complaints allege faulty disclosure on the effect of the pandemic on the market for a company’s products and services that are not themselves related to the pandemic, such as claims against cruise lines that suspended operations. This article presents the legal framework for claims based on Rule 10b-5, SEC guidance on how COVID-19 affects compliance with disclosure requirements for public companies, and the issues that have emerged in the claims already filed This analysis demonstrates that almost any public reporting company faces the risk of inadequate disclosure and the temptation to withhold or misstate material facts in a time of financial stress.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Solid-State Structural Chemistry of Uranium(IV) Aliphatic Dicarboxylates

Examinations of uranium(IV) complexation by aliphatic dicarboxylates, ranging from the three-carbon malonate to the six-carbon adipate, yielded six novel phases. Single crystals of the compounds we...
Effects of memristive synapse radiation interactions on learning in spiking neural networks

This study uses advanced modeling and simulation to explore the effects of external events such as radiation interactions on the synaptic devices in an electronic spiking neural network. Specifically, the networks are trained using the spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) learning rule to recognize spatio-temporal patterns (STPs) representing 25 and 100-pixel characters. Memristive synapses based on a TiO2 non-linear drift model designed in Verilog-A are utilized, with STDP learning behavior achieved through bi-phasic pre- and post-synaptic action potentials. The models are modified to include experimentally observed state-altering and ionizing radiation effects on the device. It is found that radiation interactions tend to make the connection between afferents stronger by increasing the conductance of synapses overall, subsequently distorting the STDP learning curve. In the absence of consistent STPs, these effects accumulate over time and make the synaptic weight evolutions unstable. With STPs at lower flux intensities, the network can recover and relearn with constant training. However, higher flux can overwhelm the leaky integrate-and-fire post-synaptic neuron circuits and reduce stability of the network.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Is Associated With a Decrease in Anaerobic Threshold, Oxygen Pulse, and Maximal Oxygen Uptake.

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked to respiratory symptoms and functional limitations, but the mechanisms leading to this association are poorly defined. Research Question What is the relationship between PTSD, lung function, and the cardiopulmonary response to exercise in combat veterans presenting with chronic respiratory symptoms? Study Design and Methods This study prospectively enrolled military service members with respiratory symptoms following deployment to southwest Asia. All participants underwent a comprehensive evaluation that included pulmonary function testing and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Pulmonary function test variables and cardiopulmonary response to exercise were compared in subjects with and without PTSD by using multivariable linear regression to adjust for confounders. Results A total of 303 participants were included (PTSD, n = 70; non-PTSD, n = 233). Those with PTSD had a greater frequency of current respiratory symptoms. There were no differences in measures for airway disease or lung volumes, but patients with PTSD had a reduction in diffusing capacity that was eliminated following adjustment for differences in hemoglobin levels. Participants with PTSD had a lower anaerobic threshold (23.9 vs 26.4 cc/kg per minute; P = .004), peak oxygen pulse (19.7 vs 18.5 cc/beat; P = .03), and peak oxygen uptake (34.5 vs 38.8 cc/kg per minute; P Interpretation A diagnosis of PTSD was associated with a reduced anaerobic threshold, oxygen pulse, and peak oxygen uptake. This objective reduction in cardiopulmonary work is independent of baseline lung function, was not associated with abnormalities in gas exchange or respiratory reserve, and may be related to deconditioning.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and fluorescence angiography in arterial insufficiency secondary to injection of crushed hydromorphone.

Introduction Foreign body emboli can lead to acute arterial insufficiency. We present a case report of upper extremity arterial insufficiency in an intravenous (IV) drug user secondary to intra-arterial injection of crushed tablet particles successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy. Case A 37-year-old right-hand-dominant male developed pain and swelling of the left hand after attempting to inject crushed hydromorphone tablets into his venous circulation. Angiography revealed incomplete distal filling of the proper digital arteries, princeps pollicis, and radialis indicis branches of the left hand. The patient was treated with HBO2 for acute arterial insufficiency, secondary to these findings. Fluorescence angiography was performed prior to, during and after completion of HBO2, which showed improved perfusion of the hand upon completion of serial imaging. The patient underwent subsequent partial amputation of the left second digit and removal of the thenar and third finger pads. Discussion Much of the literature on treatment of arterial insufficiency with HBO2 are in relation to chronic problem wounds. However, there is limited data on adjunctive treatment with HBO2 for foreign body embolism. Fluorescence angiography and clinical exam were used to track tissue perfusion and progression throughout course of therapy with HBO2. Conclusion Acute arterial insufficiency induced by foreign body embolism was successfully treated with HBO2 and provided increased tissue salvage of the patient's hand. The use of fluorescence angiography as a secondary measure of perfusion can provide additional insight regarding qualitative tissue oxygenation and may be a viable tool to track patient progress during HBO2 treatment.
Receiver processing for direct-detection optical communication systems.

A model that is sufficiently general to describe the predominant statistical characteristics of the output of many real optical detectors is formulated. This model is used to study the optimum receiver processing for direct-detection optical communication systems. In particular, the structures of detectors and estimators for filtered doubly stochastic Poisson processes (DSPP) observed in additive white Gaussian noise are considered. Representations for the posterior statistics of a vector Markov process that modulates the intensity of the DSPP are obtained.
Delivering Social Services through Faith-Based Organizations: Case of United Way of Massachusetts Bay

As deliverers of social services, faith-based organizations have been stereotyped as being inefficient and focused on spiritual outcomes alone, and Jiave therefore been largely ignored by funding agencies. The United Way of Massachusetts Bay, realizing the importance of such organizations, particularly in communities of color, has actively sought to dispel these stereotypes and work with faith-based organizations to enhance service delivery to needy Black communities in Massachusetts. Through training and participatory research, faith-based organizations have begun to appreciate the importance of measurable outcomes. President George W. Bush and the Armies of Compassion At the very beginning of his administration in 2001, President George W. Bush pledged to advance the utilization of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the delivery of social services. As the government continues to assist and serve the needy, particularly black communities located in urban centers, Bush promised that faith based
Superdecomposable pure-injective modules exist over some string algebras

We prove that over every non-domestic string algebra over a countable field there exists a superdecomposable pure-injective module.
Sharable computer-based clinical practice guidelines: rationale, obstacles, approaches, and prospects.

Abstract Clinical practice guideline automation at the point of care is of growing interest, yet most guidelines are authored in unstructured narrative form. Computer-based execution depends on a formal structured representation, and also faces a number of other challenges at all stages of the guideline lifecycle: modeling, authoring, dissemination, implementation, and update. This is because of the multi-plicity of conceptual models, authoring tools, authoring approaches, intended applications, implementation plat-forms, and local interface requirements and operational constraints. Complexity and time required for development and structure are also huge obstacles. These factors argue for convergence on a common shared model for representa-tion that can be the basis of dissemination. A common model would facilitate direct interpretation or mapping to multiple implementation environments. GLIF (GuideLine Interchange Format) is a formal representation model for guidelines, created by the InterMed Collaboratory as a proposed basis for a shared representation. GLIF currently addresses the process of authoring and dissemination; the InterMed team’s major focus now is on tools to facilitate these tasks and the mapping to clinical information system environments. Because of limitations in what can be done by a single team with finite resources, however, and the variety of additional perspectives that need to be accom-modated, the InterMed team has determined that further development of a shared representation would be best served as an open process in which the world community is engaged. Under the auspices of the HL7 Decision Support Technical Committee, a GLIF Special Interest Group has been established, which is intended to be a forum for col-laborative refinement and extension of a standard repre-sentation that can support the needs of the guideline lifecy-cle. Significant areas for future work will need to include demonstrations of effective means for incorporating guide-lines at point of care, reconciliation of functional require-ments of different models and identification of those most important for supporting practical implementation, im-proved means for authoring and management of complex-ity, and methods for automatically analyzing and validating syntax, semantics, and logical consistency of guidelines.
Double-blind, randomized study of primary hormonal treatment of stage D2 prostate carcinoma: flutamide versus diethylstilbestrol.

PURPOSEPatients with stage D2 prostate carcinoma are often treated initially with hormones to decrease endogenous testosterone. Therapy with diethylstilbestrol (DES), leuprolide, or bilateral orchiectomy has been reported to be equivalent. DES is the cheapest preparation, but has the potential for serious cardiovascular or thromboembolic complications. Flutamide is a novel antiandrogen with fewer side effects.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) conducted a double-blind, randomized study to compare the efficacy of flutamide (250 mg three times daily) to DES (1 mg three times daily) as the primary hormonal therapy for patients with stage D2 prostate cancer. Patients were stratified by performance status, disease sites, and history of cardiovascular disease at randomization.RESULTSForty-eight patients received DES and 44 flutamide. Patient characteristics were evenly distributed between the two treatments. The overall response rate was similar (DES, 62%; flutamide, 50%). Grade I...
Iontophoretic release and transport of alkaloids fromCatharanthus roseus cells in a ceramic hollow fiber reactor

An iontophoretic device with a configuration similar to that of a single hollow fiber reactor was found to enhance the release and transport of intracellular alkaloids fromCatharanthus roseus cells. As the applied current increased from 1 to 2 milliamperes, the rate of release and transport of alkaloids almost doubled. Pretreatment of the cells with DMSO further enhanced the production.
Anticipating the impact of new technologies on retailing

Abstract This paper explores emerging technologies, such as electronic retailing and interactive shopping, and their impact on consumers, retailers and manufacturers. Potential opportunities and threats facing marketers and retailers who engage in business via the information superhighway are examined. Elements that will figure in the evolution of electronic retailing and interactive shopping such as convergence and synergy are discussed. Key concerns of ‘electronic’ consumers are also considered, including convenience, ease of use, and the opportunity to dialogue with retailers.
Are sister chromatid exchanges sister strand crossovers or radiation-induced exchanges?

Abstract From experiments that gave the ratio of twin sister strand exchanges to single sister strand exchanges in labeled chromosomes of the second division following labeling, Taylor had found that the individual units of chromatids exhibited polarity. It was thought that the events that led to these exchanges were sister strand crossovers. The ratios of twins to single exchanges, however, give far better fits to the yields expected if these exchanges were in reality radiation induced. Radiation-induced chromatid exchanges can also account for the type of isolabeling observed in the experiments of Peacock without the invocation of a multistranded chromosome.