cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preemptive lymphadenectomy markedly improves survival in patients with cancer of the penis who harbor occult metastases.

Kroonet al have chan ged their approach based onthe studies published inthis issue of The Journ al. They have shownthat the 3-year disease specific survival for patien ts operated onwith a wait an d see philosophy is 35% versus 84% for those operated on with clinically nonpalpable groin nodes who have microscopic metastatic disease as determined by sentinel node biopsy. The authors further demonstrate that in a multivariate analysis the only predictor of survival is early lymphadenectomy (what we would call preemptive lymphadenectomy). They further strengthen their case by pointing out that in the delayed group at the time of dissection there was an increased number of positive nodes and an increased incidence of extracapsular spread compared to the immediate lymphadenectomy group: both extremely poor prognostic indicators for long-term survival. This well done study has sufficient power to confirm the necessity of removing regional nodes while still microscopically involved rather than waiting until they become grossly enlarged. Another issue of controversy addressed by these authors is whether canon e predict who is likely to have microscopic nodal disease when the groins have no palpable adenopathy. The authors contend that the method we have proposed in the past, namely depth of invasion and cellular differentiation,2 is too imprecise, thereby subjecting too many individuals to a needless groin dissection. On the other hand, they advocate dynamic sentinel node biopsy. As with all methods, this too is not perfect. If one looks carefully at their data in 10% of the groins explored (20 of 223) the test did not work. In17% of the patients the test falsely predicted anabsence of microscopic disease. Since 2% of the patients were lost to followup and since some were followed for as little as 5 months, it is highly likely that with more complete and longer followup the false-negative rate will be higher. However, with this test since only groins with a positive sentinel node are subjected to radical dissection, the patient is assured that he will not be subjected needlessly to an operation. This is at the expense of missing at least 20% of patients whose survival is limited by a wait and see approach. If we use depth and grade of the primary lesion as predictors of groin disease, one rarely misses a patient with microscopic metastatic disease but at the expense of operating needlessly onabout 20% of in dividuals. Fortunately there is a new modality for imaging lymph nodes using magnetic resonance imaging and ultra small particles of ironoxide, which we have found to be much more accurate than either of the aforementioned methods. In our series this methodology has 100% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 100% negative predictive value and 75% positive predictive value. These rates indicate that one is highly unlikely to miss the positive groin but will end up operating on a few patients who have no metastatic disease. However, these results need
Coding for sensing in Content Addressable Memories

We study binary Content Addressable Memories (CAMs) that employ a resistive element to store content. A CAM has a match line for every word stored which is sensed in order to determine a match/no match condition. We show how simple, low redundancy coding techniques can dramatically improve the ability to differentiate a match from a mismatch, effectively allowing a CAM design that stores nearly twice as many bits in the same memory as a competing design that stores each bit and its complement. The theory of coding for asymmetric errors is relevant in this problem; we rely on it to prove that ⌊n/2⌋ out of n constant weight codes are optimal for sensing.
Pulling threads: Intimate systematicity in The Politics of Exile

The achievements of Elizabeth Dauphinee’s (2013) The Politics of Exile are highlighted by means of two juxtapositions. First, Dauphinee’s book invites a contrast to novels because it takes the form...
Insulin Resistance in Non-Obese Subjects Is Associated with Activation of the JNK Pathway and Impaired Insulin Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

Background The pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the absence of obesity is unknown. In obesity, multiple stress kinases have been identified that impair the insulin signaling pathway via serine phosphorylation of key second messenger proteins. These stress kinases are activated through various mechanisms related to lipid oversupply locally in insulin target tissues and in various adipose depots.
Characterization of airflow impedance in two types of telecommunications chassis

The airflow impedance curve for two common configurations used in telecommunications chassis were measured and examined in non-dimensional coordinates, such that data obtained at sea level may be scaled to increased altitudes. The results show that the non-dimensional airflow impedance curves for both chassis configurations predict minimal changes in air velocity with increased altitude for most of the Reynolds number ranges studied. However, for one chassis configuration studied, a slight decrease in air velocity is predicted with increased altitude. Because a nonconservative component temperature predictions at high altitude will result if constant air velocity is assumed, the decrease in air velocity should be accounted for if there are critical electronic components operating near their maximum temperatures. Reliable operation of electronic components in telecommunications equipment up to 4000 m (13,000 ft.) is a requirement of the Network Equipment and Building Standard (NEBS).
In retrospect: A century of phage lessons

One hundred years after the first description of viruses that infect bacterial cells, the contribution of these bacteriophages to fundamental biology, biotechnology and human health continues unabated and deserves celebration.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis–More than Two Decades of Progress

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune/antigen- mediated disease recognized as a distinctive entity more than 2 decades ago. There has been an increasing prevalence in both children and adults since then. Food and/or environmental allergens trigger a T-helper 2 (Th2) cell-mediated immune response in the esophagus leading to an inflammatory response. EoE has a progressive course from inflammation to fibrostenotic disease, and early diagnosis and treatment are essential. EoE has no distinct pathognomonic findings, however diagnosis is based on patient symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, esophageal biopsies usually > 15 eosinophils/high power field and exclusion of other causes of esophageal eosinophilia such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and proton pump inhibitor- responsive esophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE). The mainstay of treatment involves PPI therapy, swallowed inhaled steroids, tablet or viscous budesonide, elimination of dietary triggers, and esophageal dilation as needed. Relapse rate is high and continuing maintenance therapy is beneficial and recommended. Further studies are needed for long term outcome with continued diet elimination, steroids, and/ or other treatment modalities.
Dynamic traffic of Wolffia consortia from sediment to surface of a eutrophic pond.

Wolffia columbiana are duckweeds that inhabit freshwater ponds along with single celled algal species and these very small flowering plants often dominate the surface layer of undisturbed ponds. This upper layer of plant material fatally shades out lower species of plants and algae. Some epiphytic algae have adapted to benefit from the dominance of Wolffia columbiana by attaching themselves with various degrees of firmness to this duckweed. The epiphytic lifestyle has the advantage of avoiding shading out and an additional advantage which becomes apparent in Winter i.e. when Wolffia columbiana submerge to avoid frost damage. In this season their epiphytes are carried with them from the most favorable position in the water column for spring and summer, the surface, to the most favorable position in the water column for the winter, the sediment debris layer. This is an example of dynamic epiphytic symbiosis, rather than the conventional static association of epiphytes and deciduous trees which only lasts for one growing season and results in death of algal epiphytes in Fall.
Abstract 269: Exendin-4 Prevents Glucose-induced Secretion of Tissue Transglutaminase-2 from Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells: Potential Role in the Prevention of Matrix Remodeling in Diabetes

Diabetes causes endothelial dysfunction, which is the initial trigger for vascular complications in diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia initiates a cascade of events that alters protein expression and secretion by endothelial cells. Tissue transglutaminase-2 (tTG2) is an enzyme that under physiologic conditions is sequestered inside the endothelial cell, but under pathologic conditions causing decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide, tTG2 is secreted, activated, and catalyzes irreversible crosslinking of proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Exendin-4 (Ex-4) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which has vasculo-protective effects. We hypothesized that hyperglycemic stress would induce secretion of tTG2, and that this effect would be attenuated by Ex-4. Mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (MCECs) were serum-starved and exposed to control (5.5 mM glucose) or hyperglycemic (25 mM glucose) conditions, with or without Ex-4 (10 nM) x 72 hrs. Proteins from conditioned media were isolated, trypsinized, and analyzed using LC-MS/MS (LTQ Orbitrap Velos). Immunoblots from cell homogenate were probed for tTG protein expression. Conditioned media from MCECs exposed to high-glucose but not Ex-4 contained tTG2, which was absent in media from cells exposed to high-glucose and Ex-4, as well as in media from control cells, suggesting that Ex-4 prevented the secretion of tTG2 induced by hyperglycemic stress. Protein expression in cell lysate was not different. These findings may have important implications for the etiology of diabetic vascular complications, and for the role of Ex-4 to prevent the pathologic ECM remodeling associated with diabetic vasculopathy. Further studies are ongoing to determine the mechanisms of glucose-induced secretion of tTG2, as well as the mechanisms by which Ex-4 prevents this effect.
TYPE A AND RISK TAKING IN EVERYDAY MONEY MATTERS

The purpose of the present study is to extend previous research investigating personality factors as determinants of financial risk taking in everyday money matters (e.g., personal investments and household affairs). Type A and Type B subjects were asked to make a series of everyday financial decisions that varied in degree of risk. Type A individuals took greater financial risks than Type B individuals. The results provide additional support for the influence of personality factors in everyday financial risk-taking behavior and demonstrated another area of risk taking associated with the Type A behavior pattern not previously identified.
An introduction to the biostatistical technique of resampling.

This article will introduce resampling method to burn injury researchers and care givers. With the use of a data set taken from a published burn injury research project, this technique is extensively described and fully illustrated in a stepwise fashion by tables and figures. The recent exponential growth in the use of this method has produced a concurrent need to understand its fundamentals. Researchers, reviewers, and care givers will need to be familiar with resampling to evaluate the published results of various studies. Additionally, as burn research continues to focus on the molecular and cellular aspects of injury and healing, data analysis by resampling might prove to be a useful adjunct to standard biostatistical methods. Many useful links on the Internet (starting at www.statistics.com) can be followed for further readings, software, and tutorials.
A Multi-Purpose Thermal Design Project That Works:

The incorporation of engineering design projects into core undergraduate engineering courses can be a powerful method to facilitate student learning. This paper describes a project centred around the design of a solar storage wall (SSW)—an asymmetric structure that is used to capture solar energy for building heating. The project, which combines computer-based engineering modelling and economic analysis, is assigned to undergraduate students in a three-semester-hour introductory heat and mass transfer course at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Discovery and Characterization of ML398, a Potent and Selective Antagonist of the D4 Receptor with in Vivo Activity

Herein, we report the structure–activity relationship of a chiral morpholine-based scaffold, which led to the identification of a potent and selective dopamine 4 (D4) receptor antagonist. The 4-chlorobenzyl moiety was identified, and the compound was designated an MLPCN probe molecule, ML398. ML398 is potent against the D4 receptor with IC50 = 130 nM and Ki = 36 nM and shows no activity against the other dopamine receptors tested (>20 μM against D1, D2S, D2L, D3, and D5). Further in vivo studies showed that ML398 reversed cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion at 10 mg/kg.
Architecture and Topography of Biologic Membranes

Turning to the protein component of biologic membranes (predominant in terms of weight in nearly all membranes studied), the author describes the current view of membrane structure as comprising protein “icebergs” floating in a “sea” of lipid, and explains why this model is compatible with such membrane functions as information transfer (e.g., immune reactions), enzymatic activity, and molecular and ionic transport.
Computerized curve fitting in the analysis of hydrogen gas clearance curves.

Hydrogen gas clearance curves obtained from the rat gastric corpus were digitized into a computer and then analyzed by three methods: 1) linear regression of log-transformed data, 2) direct curve f...
The many faces of catatonia

Plurality should not be assumed without necessity. (All other things being equal, the simplest solution is usually the correct one.) William of Occam Introduction For over two centuries, the manifestations of catatonia have been given individual names as one author after another identified features that they considered unique. Whether each form is a distinct entity or a variation of a common pathophysiology is not clear. The differences in approach reflect personal attitudes, with the authors divided into “splitters” or “lumpers.” We are among the “lumpers.” The clinical conditions with a prominence of the classic catatonia motor signs in patients with disorders in mood and thought, and that respond to anticonvulsant and sedative treatments, reflect a common endophenotype. Despite the variation in overt forms, we think it useful to approach these diverse disorders as sharing a common brain pathophysiology. Syphilis offers an analogy. A spirochaete infection is the common pathology with the clinical diversity depending on the organ that is involved and the severity and duration of the infection. The expressions of syphilis are so varied that the disorder has been called “the great imitator.” The different forms respond to the same treatments, however, strengthening our belief in a common pathology (see Quetel, 1990). In like fashion, we see the different expressions of catatonia as due to a common brain pathophysiology. The etiologies differ, but the commonalities in expression of motor signs and the response to treatment brings these threads together.
Abstract 1119: Tumor suppressing dual-action miRNA: Targeting Warburg effect and androgen receptor function in CRPC

The ability of prostate cancer cells to alter their metabolism in a manner distinct from benign cells and energy reprogramming is a major concern in treatment of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). On the other hand, development of resistance to next-generation drugs directed against the AR signaling axis (Abiraterone acetate and Enzalutamide) confers a grim prognosis. Hence, targeting aerobic glycolysis of tumor cells as well as AR signaling axis in CRPC is highly desirable. Here, we report the role of a dual-action miRNA which targets the Androgen Receptor function as well as action of key factors involved in tumor energy metabolism. In addition, the miRNA also targets the key anti-apoptotic factors and enhance the apoptosis in cultured cells. Furthermore, together with Enzalutamide, the miRNA shows a potent synergistic anti-tumor activity in 22RV1 mouse xenografts. We will present the detailed results showing the therapeutic potential of dual-action miRNA in the treatment of CRPC. Citation Format: Jey Sabith Ebron, Jagjit Singh, Kavleen Sikand, Eswar Shankar, Sanjay Gupta, Girish C. Shukla. Tumor suppressing dual-action miRNA: Targeting Warburg effect and androgen receptor function in CRPC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1119.
The association between parental attributions of misbehavior and parenting practices in caregivers raising children with prenatal alcohol exposure: A mixed-methods study.

Abstract Background and aims Limited research has focused on parenting practices used by caregivers raising children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The current study hypothesized that parental attributions of children’s misbehavior would relate to the parenting strategies caregivers utilize with children with FASD. This study also aimed to develop a coding scheme to allow quantification of these treatment-relevant constructs in future intervention trials. Methods Thirty-one caregivers of children with FASD (age 4–8) were interviewed with the Parenting Practices Interview (PPI), a study-developed qualitative interview. Quantitative measures of FASD knowledge, parenting sense of competence and stress, and child behavior problems were included. Mixed-method analyses assessed the relationship between parental attributions of misbehavior and parenting practices. Results Caregivers who attributed their child’s misbehavior to underlying neurodevelopmental disabilities were more likely to use antecedent strategies and feel more confident in managing their child’s behavior. Parents who attributed their child’s misbehavior to willful disobedience were more likely to rely on consequence strategies and feel more ineffective. Conclusions Results are consistent with theoretical models for FASD parent training interventions. Assessment of theorized mechanisms of change in intervention trials is needed; the development of the PPI and quantitative coding system will facilitate this type of research.
In search of integrative logics: Reframing the climate change debate

On 24 July 2010, the Democrats in the US Congress declared that US climate change legislation was 'dead on arrival'. After the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey bill by a vote of 219 to 212 one year earlier, the task of saving the patient (the environment) by passing simi lar legislation fell to US senators, who instead allowed the bill to die on the operating table. Along with failing to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this was the second major disappointment regarding the role of the US in mitigating climate change. GHGs are deemed responsible for human-induced, potentially catastrophic warming of the Earth's atmo sphere, increasing global air and ocean temperatures which may result in elevated sea levels, desertification and security threats from population relocation (IPCC 4th Assessment Report, 2007: 30). While many countries have initiated steps to reduce their nations' GHGs, including China's plans to introduce a carbon trading scheme in the next five years (The China Daily, 2010), the US, as the second largest C02, emitter remains idle. To understand US hesitance to enact climate policy, it is necessary to recognize the climate change debate as a transnational issue involving actors with competing institutional logics pitted against one another (Ansari et al., 2011). We know from previous work that strategists and organi zations interpret the world in terms of institutional logics/frames there is a long history of evi dence on this point (e.g. Friedland and Alford, 1991; Lewicki et al., 2003; Thornton and Ocasio, 2008) and that their responses are thus at least in part a function of prevailing logics. Therefore, we need to think about the critical issue of climate change which is perhaps THE challenge today for organizations in terms of how logics are shaping the debate and how those logics might be adjusted or reframed to reach agreement about action going forward. For example, many in the US maintain a logic of skepticism about climate change (Hoffman, 2011). Contrarians and advocates disagree about the level of scientific uncertainty and the costs of mitigating climate change. These competing institutional logics are advanced at local, national and transnational levels as corpora tions and their stakeholders battle over the necessity of mitigation. Thus, understanding the failure of the US to enact climate policy relates to the 'difficulty of solving global problems that ignore the local dimension' (Carrus et al., 2005: 238). At the local level, community and regional institutions influence institutional logics by shaping how social issues are defined and negotiated (Gray and Stites, 2010; Greenwood et al., 2010; Marquis and Battilana, 2009; Thornton and Ocasio, 2008). Citizens draw on 'cultural narratives
Long-term subregion-specific encoding of enhanced ethanol intake by D1DR medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens.

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a critical component of the mesocorticolimbic system and is involved in mediating the motivational and reinforcing aspects of ethanol consumption. Chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure is a reliable model to induce ethanol dependence and increase volitional ethanol consumption in mice. Following a CIE-induced escalation of ethanol consumption, NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor)-dependent long-term depression in D1 dopamine receptor expressing medium spiny neurons of the NAc shell was markedly altered with no changes in plasticity in D1 dopamine receptor medium spiny neurons from the NAc core. This disruption of plasticity persisted for up to 2 weeks after cessation of ethanol access. To determine if changes in AMPA receptor (AMPAR) composition contribute to this ethanol-induced neuroadaptation, we monitored the rectification of AMPAR excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). We observed a marked decrease in the rectification index in the NAc shell, suggesting the presence of GluA2-lacking AMPARs. There was no change in the amplitude of spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs), but there was a transient increase in sEPSC frequency in the NAc shell. Using the paired pulse ratio, we detected a similar transient increase in the probability of neurotransmitter release. With no change in sEPSC amplitude, the change in the rectification index suggests that GluA2-containing AMPARs are removed and replaced with GluA2-lacking AMPARs in the NAc shell. This CIE-induced alteration in AMPAR subunit composition may contribute to the loss of NMDAR-dependent long-term depression in the NAc shell and therefore may constitute a critical neuroadaptive response underlying the escalation of ethanol intake in the CIE model.
Prediction of user preference over shared-control paradigms for a robotic wheelchair

The design of intelligent powered wheelchairs has traditionally focused heavily on providing effective and efficient navigation assistance. Significantly less attention has been given to the end-user's preference between different assistance paradigms. It is possible to include these subjective evaluations in the design process, for example by soliciting feedback in post-experiment questionnaires. However, constantly querying the user for feedback during real-world operation is not practical. In this paper, we present a model that correlates objective performance metrics and subjective evaluations of autonomous wheelchair control paradigms. Using off-the-shelf machine learning techniques, we show that it is possible to build a model that can predict the most preferred shared-control method from task execution metrics such as effort, safety, performance and utilization. We further characterize the relative contributions of each of these metrics to the individual choice of most preferred assistance paradigm. Our evaluation includes Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) and uninjured subject groups. The results show that our proposed correlation model enables the continuous tracking of user preference and offers the possibility of autonomy that is customized to each user.
Novel Insect-Specific Eilat Virus-Based Chimeric Vaccine Candidates Provide Durable, Mono- and Multivalent, Single-Dose Protection against Lethal Alphavirus Challenge.

Most alphaviruses are mosquito borne and exhibit a broad host range, infecting many different vertebrates, including birds, rodents, equids, humans, and nonhuman primates. Recently, a host-restricted, mosquito-borne alphavirus, Eilat virus (EILV), was described with an inability to infect vertebrate cells based on defective attachment and/or entry, as well as a lack of genomic RNA replication. We investigated the utilization of EILV recombinant technology as a vaccine platform against eastern (EEEV) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV), two important pathogens of humans and domesticated animals. EILV chimeras containing structural proteins of EEEV or VEEV were engineered and successfully rescued in Aedes albopictus cells. Cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions at 8 and 11 A of EILV/VEEV and EILV/EEEV, respectively, showed virion and glycoprotein spike structures similar to those of VEEV-TC83 and other alphaviruses. The chimeras were unable to replicate in vertebrate cell lines or in brains of newborn mice when injected intracranially. Histopathologic examinations of the brain tissues showed no evidence of pathological lesions and were indistinguishable from those of mock-infected animals. A single-dose immunization of either monovalent or multivalent EILV chimera(s) generated neutralizing antibody responses and protected animals against lethal challenge 70 days later. Lastly, a single dose of monovalent EILV chimeras generated protective responses as early as day 1 postvaccination and partial or complete protection by day 6. These data demonstrate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of novel insect-specific EILV-based chimeras as potential EEEV and VEEV vaccines.IMPORTANCE Mostly in the last decade, insect-specific viruses have been discovered in several arbovirus families. However, most of these viruses are not well studied and largely have been ignored. We explored the use of the mosquito-specific alphavirus EILV as an alphavirus vaccine platform in well-established disease models for eastern (EEE) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE). EILV-based chimeras replicated to high titers in a mosquito cell line yet retained their host range restriction in vertebrates both in vitro and in vivo In addition, the chimeras generated immune responses that were higher than those of other human and/or equine vaccines. These findings indicate the feasibility of producing a safe, efficacious, mono- or multivalent vaccine against the encephalitic alphaviruses VEEV and EEEV. Lastly, these data demonstrate how host-restricted, insect-specific viruses can be engineered to develop vaccines against related pathogenic arboviruses that cause severe disease in humans and domesticated animals.
A Mother-Whore Is Still a Mother: Revelation 17–18 and African American Motherhood

This paper explores the Mother-Whore of Babylon as described in Revelation 17–18. Through a womanist maternal lens, the project proceeds along the following axes: First, the author will provide an overview of womanist thinking as a means for addressing the tripartite intersectionality of race, class/“work” and gender in literature. A move to womanist maternal thought outlines a framework situating the unique social location of mothers, particularly African American mothers, as readers. The paper examines the Whore of Babylon as a mother who works in order to provide for her “children,” i.e. Roman imperial seed. In the end, this Mother-Whore is a victim of matricide. This research concludes with paralleling the plight of this mother to that of current-day African American mothers who experience a type of social, political, and economic matricide.
Database multi-factor authentication via pluggable authentication modules

Authentication schemes containing single factors are becoming increasingly inadequate for many applications. This paper describes the use of Pluggable Authentication Modules as a means of creating a multi-factor authentication scheme for a MySQL database. The resulting scheme is one with a significantly higher degree of security.
Antitrust, Agency and Amnesty: An Economic Analysis of the Criminal Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws Against Corporations

The recent imposition of record fines on large corporations has been publicly touted by the Antitrust Division as a measure of success. In this article, it is suggested that extension of this policy should be taken with some caution. Because criminal fines are not accurate measures of loss, and because of the vicarious nature of corporate liability, there is a great danger that higher-than-optimal penalties will induce corporations to incur excessive costs in an attempt to avoid these high fines. The potential overdeterrence costs resulting from higher-than-optimal fines is exaggerated by the Antitrust Division's expanded use of the Corporate Leniency Policy. Ironically, the costs of overdeterrence will result in higher prices to consumers, a decrease in welfare, and, ultimately, in the exact effects that the criminal antitrust laws are intended to prevent.
Developing a collection of communication sciences and disorders materials : Some selection tools

Abstract Selection tools for librarians responsible for developing communication sciences and disorders collections have been few and scattered amongst a variety of resources. At the same time, various changing forces within the health care system and information access world appear to be having a positive impact on the development of this rehabilitative allied health field and its literature. Because of these factors, a study was undertaken to discover the availability of existing selection resources which might be of practical use to the librarian. Over a two-and-a-half year period between 1993 and 1995” both traditional print and electronic resources were investigated, reviewed and assessed. The results of this research are the subject of this paper.
Characterizing Self-Monitoring Behavior and Its Association With Physical Activity and Weight Loss Maintenance:

Introduction: Reviewing gaps in self-monitoring during weight loss interventions may help identify individuals demonstrating signs of disengagement in behaviors, including moderate to vigorous phys...
Coexistence of multiple long-time solutions for two-dimensional laminar flow past a linearly sprung circular cylinder with a rotational nonlinear energy sink

Phase diagram showing the variation of the number of long-time solutions with $R\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e$ and a dimensionless measure of spring stiffness. Each combination of symbol shape and color indicates a different set of such solutions, with the pentagons corresponding to three unsteady solutions and one steady one.
Essays on secularism and multiculturalism

As early as the 1990s, Tariq Modood began drawing our attention to the frictions and possibilities surrounding ethnoreligious identities in western societies. If Britain was embedded in a race rela...
Maximum Entropy Framework for Predictive Inference of Cell Population Heterogeneity and Responses in Signaling Networks

Summary Predictive models of signaling networks are essential for understanding cell population heterogeneity and designing rational interventions in disease. However, using computational models to predict heterogeneity of signaling dynamics is often challenging because of the extensive variability of biochemical parameters across cell populations. Here, we describe a maximum entropy-based framework for inference of heterogeneity in dynamics of signaling networks (MERIDIAN). MERIDIAN estimates the joint probability distribution over signaling network parameters that is consistent with experimentally measured cell-to-cell variability of biochemical species. We apply the developed approach to investigate the response heterogeneity in the EGFR/Akt signaling network. Our analysis demonstrates that a significant fraction of cells exhibits high phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) levels hours after EGF stimulation. Our findings also suggest that cells with high EGFR levels predominantly contribute to the subpopulation of cells with high pAkt activity. We also discuss how MERIDIAN can be extended to accommodate various experimental measurements.
Current Source Inverter Based Large Constant Power Speed Ratio SPM Machine Drive for Traction Applications

A high-performance surface permanent magnet (SPM) machine drive with an extended constant power speed ratio is proposed using a current source inverter (CSI) for a traction application. The constant-power operation regions of an SPM machine can be extended in an appealing fashion by taking advantage of the output voltage boost capability of the CSI. The CSI is naturally a boost-type converter, in contrast to the voltage source inverter (VSI) which has buck-type characteristics. To investigate the value of the CSI voltage boost feature, a new traction motor with higher rated voltage and lower rated current has been designed and compared to the motor that would be used with a VSI. The lower CSI current makes it possible to reduce the mass of the inverter and output power cable, benefiting power density and cost reduction. The SPM machine is modeled in the synchronous reference frame including the effect of the ac filter capacitors at the CSI output terminals. The capability of extending the speed range of the proposed motor is verified via closed-form analysis and FEA simulation, and its performance characteristics are compared with those of a VSI-based SPM motor of the same type.
A Dual-Purpose Piezoelectric Multi-Beam Energy Harvesting and Frequency Measurement Device for Rotational Applications

In this paper we describe the development of a novel rotational energy harvesting device for a broad range of rotating frequencies. In addition to harvesting capability, the device can be used to measure the rotating frequency of the equipment being utilized. The device has potential to utilize several piezoelectric beams and corresponding actuating magnets for maximum performance and therefore can generate high power at different rotating frequencies. Thin Lead-Zirconium-Titanate (PZT) piezoelectric cantilever beams were fixed on a stationary wheel. Small magnets were bonded on the tip of the piezoelectric beams. Similar magnets were attached to the rotating pins installed on the moving wheel. The driving magnets attracted the magnets on the cantilever beams when the moving wheel rotated and caused vibration in the cantilever beams. In order to characterize the device, two types of the device layouts including single and double plucking magnets were considered in the tests. The device had room to use up to six plucking magnets and four piezoelectric beams. We tested the harvester at different rotating frequencies, from 180 rpm to 500 rpm and measured voltage outputs as a function of time. We found that the output voltage increased by adding the number of moving magnets and increasing the rotating frequency. In addition, the device was able to accurately measure the rotating frequency of the testing equipment.
Searching for evidence of algorithmic randomness and incomputability in the output of quantum random number generators

Abstract Ideal quantum random number generators (QRNGs) can produce algorithmically random and thus incomputable sequences, in contrast to pseudo-random number generators. However, the verification of the presence of algorithmic randomness and incomputability is a nontrivial task. We present the results of a search for algorithmic randomness and incomputability in the output from two different QRNGs, performed by applying tests based on the Solovay–Strassen test of primality and the Chaitin–Schwartz theorem. The first QRNG uses measurements of quantum vacuum fluctuations. The second QRNG is based on polarization measurements on entangled single photons; for this generator, we use looped (and thus highly compressible) strings that also allow us to assess the ability of the tests to detect repeated bit patterns. Compared to a previous search for algorithmic randomness, our study increases statistical power by almost 3 orders of magnitude.
Evolutionary Grain-Mixing to Improve Profitability in Farming Winter Wheat

This paper focuses on adapting and applying a genetic algorithm (GA) and differential evolution (DE) to solve the grain (wheat) mixing problem. The proposed algorithms explore a search space that aims at finding a quality mixing of wheat from grain bins that produce the maximum profit at a grain elevator. The experimental results demonstrate that mixing bins provide more profit than not mixing, and that the evolutionary approaches lead to consistently higher profits than the non-evolutionary methods.
A sublattice phase-field model for direct CALPHAD database coupling

Abstract The phase-field method has been established as a de facto standard for simulating the microstructural evolution of materials. In quantitative modeling the assessment and compilation of thermodynamic/kinetic data is largely dominated by the CALPHAD approach, which has produced a large set of experimentally and computationally generated Gibbs free energy and atomic mobility data in a standardized format: the thermodynamic database (TDB) file format. Harnessing this data for the purpose of phase-field modeling is an ongoing effort encompassing a wide variety of approaches. In this paper, we aim to directly link CALPHAD data to the phase-field method, without intermediate fitting or interpolation steps. We introduce a model based on the Kim-Kim-Suzuki (KKS) approach. This model includes sublattice site fractions and can directly utilize data from TDB files. Using this approach, we demonstrate the model on the U-Zr and Mo-Ni-Re systems.
Rates of Comorbidities in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Fed an Exclusive Human Milk Diet Versus a Bovine Supplemented Diet

Background: Our level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) implemented the use of an exclusive human milk diet (EHD) and sought to determine its effect on the severe co-morbidities of preterm in...
A statistical perspective on non-deterministic polynomial-time hard ordering problems: Making use of design for order-of-addition experiments

Abstract The need for solving NP-hard problems emerges from many fields, including configuration, process monitoring, scheduling, planning, among others. One type of NP-hard problem is the ordering problem, where the goal is to find the optimal sequence. This is, in fact, identical to the purpose of Order-of-Addition (OofA) problem. Based on this connection, this paper proposes a statistical methodology to infer solutions of NP-hard ordering problems via design of OofA experiments. An efficient pairwise-order (PWO) modeling approach is able to identify statistically significant PWO effects, and consequentially find the optimal order(s). In general, the proposed method could solve any NP-hard ordering problems, as long as its underlying structure can be adequately approximated by the PWO model. Empirical studies (Job scheduling problems and run orders problems) show that the proposed methodology often yields the optimal (or nearly optimal) orders. Theoretical support is given under specific setups. This paper is an interdisciplinary collaboration between statistics and optimization, and it pioneers an approach that connects two seemingly unrelated research topics together: the NP-hard ordering problems and the OofA experiments. We hope that the idea of this paper will provide a fresh perspective on NP-hard ordering problems and also motivate fruitful applications of the techniques related to OofA experiments.
Integration of deep learning radiomics and counts of circulating tumor cells improves prediction of outcomes of early stage NSCLC patients treated with SBRT.

Abstract Purpose We develop a deep learning (DL) radiomics model and integrate it with circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts as a clinically useful prognostic marker for predicting recurrence outcomes of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC) patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Methods and Materials A cohort of 421 NSCLC patients was used to train a DL model for gleaning informative imaging features from computed tomography (CT) data. The learned imaging features were optimized on a cohort of 98 ES-NSCLC patients treated with SBRT for predicting individual patient recurrence risks by building DL models on CT data and clinical measures. These DL models were validated on the third cohort of 60 ES-NSCLC patients treated with SBRT to predict recurrent risks and stratify patients into subgroups with distinct outcomes in conjunction with CTC counts. Results The DL model obtained a concordance-index of 0.880 (95% confidence interval: 0.879, 0.881). Patient subgroups with low and high DL risk scores had significantly different recurrence outcomes (p = 3.5e-04). The integration of DL risk scores and CTC measures identified 4 subgroups of patients with significantly different risks of recurrence (χ2= 20.11, p=1.6e-04). Patients with positive CTC measures post-SBRT were associated with increased risks of recurrence that were significantly different from patients with negative CTC measures (χ2= 4.03, p=0.0447). Conclusion In this first-ever study integrating DL radiomics models and CTC counts, our results suggested that this integration improves patient stratification compared with either imagining data or CTC measures alone in predicting recurrence outcomes for patients treated with SBRT for ES-NSCLC.
Sedation and Analgesia

Sedation and analgesia has replaced the term conscious sedation to describe a “clinical state that allows patients to tolerate unpleasant procedures while maintaining adequate cardiorespiratory function and protective reflexes as well as the ability to respond purposefully to verbal command.”1 Although sedation and analgesia are most frequently employed in the pediatric age range, about 20% of sedated patients are adults, who require medication either to overcome claustrophobia related to an MRI examination or as an integral component of an interventional radiologie procedures. According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, each institution should establish and implement a uniform sedation policy to be followed in all clinical areas.
Health literacy research’s growth, challenges, and frontiers

Abstract This chapter discusses how health literacy research has evolved. It provides a brief history, reviews some of health literacy’s conceptual underpinnings, notes the range of current research, addresses some current research gaps, and encourages future research. This chapter introduces the rapid expansion of health literacy research into diverse areas of clinical medicine, the health-care delivery system, nonclinical settings, and health communication areas. This chapter also explores some of the current challenges in health literacy research and provides a brief conclusion. Although this chapter emphasizes health literacy research and developments in the US, some international health literacy work is included. The topics within this chapter’s five sections are an introduction; four milestones (and other developments) in health literacy research’s growth; health literacy’s evolving definition and conceptual underpinnings; the spectrum of health literacy research; health literacy research’s current needs and frontiers; and a conclusion.
Biomedical image retrieval in a fuzzy feature space with affine region detection and vector quantization of a scale-invariant descriptor

This paper presents an approach to biomedical image retrieval by detecting affine covariant regions and representing them with an invariant fuzzy feature space. These regions refer to a set of pixels or interest points which change covariantly with a class of transformations, such as affinity. A vector descriptor based on Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) computed from the intensity pattern within the region. These features are then vector quantized to build a codebbok of keypoints. By mapping the interest points extracted from one image to the keypoints in the codebook, their occurrences are counted and the resulting histogram is called the "bag of keypoints" for that image. Images are finally represented in fuzzy feature space by spreading each region's membership values through a global fuzzy membership function to all the keypoints in the codebook. The proposed feature extraction and representation scheme is not only invariant to affine transformations but also robust against quantization errors. A systematic evaluation of retrieval results on a heterogeneous medical image collection has shown around 15-20% improvement in precision at different recall levels for the proposed fuzzy feature-based representation when compared to individual color, texture, edge, and keypoint-based features.
On the /spl Nscr//spl Pscr/-hardness of the purely complex /spl mu/ computation, analysis/synthesis, and some related problems in multidimensional systems

It is shown that for a given complex matrix M, and a purely complex uncertainty structure /spl Delta/, the problem of checking whether the inequality /spl mu//sub /spl Delta//(M)<1 holds, is /spl Nscr//spl Pscr/-hard. It is also shown that, the problem of checking whether the frequency domain /spl mu/-norm, /spl par/M(s)/spl par//sub /spl mu//, of an LTI system, M(s), is less than 1, and the problem of checking whether the best achievable /spl mu/-norm, inf/sub Q/spl epsiv//spl Hscr//spl infin///spl par//spl Fscr/(T,Q)/spl par//sub /spl mu//, of an LFT, /spl Fscr/(T,Q), is less than one, are both /spl Nscr//spl Pscr/-hard problems, namely purely complex /spl mu/ computation, analysis/synthesis are all /spl Nscr//spl Pscr/-hard. Although general /spl Hscr//sup /spl infin// norm computation, analysis/synthesis have a well established theory for LTI systems, there is no known nonconservative polynomial time procedure for purely complex /spl mu/ computation, analysis/synthesis problems. The results obtained imply that it is rather unlikely to find nonconservative polynomial time procedures for the purely complex /spl mu/ computation, analysis/synthesis problem, contrary to the standard /spl Hscr//sup /spl infin// problems. As independent results, it is also shown that the problem of checking the stability and the problem of computing the /spl Hscr//sup /spl infin// norm, are both /spl Nscr//spl Pscr/-hard problems for multidimensional systems. These results imply that it is rather unlikely to find a simple analogue of the Schur-Cohn test for checking the stability and an efficient generalization of bisection method for computing the /spl Hscr//sup /spl infin// norm, in the context of multidimensional systems.