cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microfluidic modeling of cell-cell interactions in malaria pathogenesis.

The clinical outcomes of human infections by Plasmodium falciparum remain highly unpredictable. A complete understanding of the complex interactions between host cells and the parasite will require in vitro experimental models that simultaneously capture diverse host–parasite interactions relevant to pathogenesis. Here we show that advanced microfluidic devices concurrently model (a) adhesion of infected red blood cells to host cell ligands, (b) rheological responses to changing dimensions of capillaries with shapes and sizes similar to small blood vessels, and (c) phagocytosis of infected erythrocytes by macrophages. All of this is accomplished under physiologically relevant flow conditions for up to 20 h. Using select examples, we demonstrate how this enabling technology can be applied in novel, integrated ways to dissect interactions between host cell ligands and parasitized erythrocytes in synthetic capillaries. The devices are cheap and portable and require small sample volumes; thus, they have the potential to be widely used in research laboratories and at field sites with access to fresh patient samples.
A simulation-based software system for evaluating Hub-and-Spoke transportation networks

Abstract We present a simulation-based software system for evaluating Hub-and-Spoke transportation networks. A complete description of the software system, known as HUBNET, is presented. Major topics of discussion include the motivating problem environment of truckload trucking, the overall simulation solution architecture, and the primary components of the HUBNET system. The simulation driver, written in the SIMNET II language, is described in detail. Also discussed are the information management systems designed to create appropriate supporting information to drive the simulator and to integrate the software system with befitting data, and the user support facilities designed to enhance usability and to isolate the user of the system from detailed simulation coding tasks. Concluding remarks include a discussion of technology transfer and field use, and a discussion of ongoing and future research with the HUBNET simulator.
Biomass retention following whole-tree, energy wood harvests in central Maine: Adherence to five state guidelines

Abstract The expansion of the bioenergy industry in Maine has led to an increase in integrated roundwood and energy wood whole-tree harvesting. A better understanding of the amounts of logging residue left unrecovered on whole-tree harvested sites will enable the refinement of available forest residue estimates for Maine and the assessment of the potential effect of such harvesting on forest health. Several states have developed biomass harvesting guidelines in response to concerns generated from an expanding bioenergy industry. In this study downed wood and snags were inventoried on twelve sites in central Maine that had recently been whole-tree harvested for roundwood and energy wood. The percentage of harvested material retained as residue on the study sites was determined. On average, 45% of the energy wood generated during the harvest was left on site. This removal efficiency must be considered when developing forest residue availability estimates. Additionally, the volumes of logging residue were compared to measurable criteria from biomass and biodiversity guidelines of several states. We found that enough fine woody material (
All I saw was the cake. Hunger effects on attentional capture by visual food cues

While effects of hunger on motivation and food reward value are well-established, far less is known about the effects of hunger on cognitive processes. Here, we deployed the emotional blink of attention paradigm to investigate the impact of visual food cues on attentional capture under conditions of hunger and satiety. Participants were asked to detect targets which appeared in a rapid visual stream after different types of task irrelevant distractors. We observed that food stimuli acquired increased power to capture attention and prevent target detection when participants were hungry. This occurred despite monetary incentives to perform well. Our findings suggest an attentional mechanism through which hunger heightens perception of food cues. As an objective behavioral marker of the attentional sensitivity to food cues, the emotional attentional blink paradigm may provide a useful technique for studying individual differences, and state manipulations in the sensitivity to food cues.
Unmanned aerial vehicle for hot-spot avoidance with stereo FLIR cameras

In this paper a roadmap is described for future work using stereo thermal cameras to locate and avoid heat sources or hot-spots commonly encountered in disaster remediation tasks using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The proposed stereo forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera system will allow a UAV to locate a body of heat, avoid it to protect its sensitive mechanical and electronic components from excessive heat, and identify the heat source globally to aid remote flight operators. The locations of these identified bodies of heat can be combined with more traditional means of obstacle detection such as LIDAR or a Time of Flight (TOF) camera to allow first responders to deploy a UAV in many different types of emergency events. In addition, first responders can easily operate UAVs semi-autonomously to gather information and act decisively without having to provide obstacle free paths for UAVs in advance. A 3D vector mesh (VM) avoidance algorithm will be used with sensor data from both the stereo FLIR cameras and the TOF camera to achieve both physical and thermal obstacle avoidance. These methods will eventually be combined to achieve a robust and semi-autonomous UAV platform that may provide critical support in typical disaster remediation tasks.
Radiation Protection During CT-Guided Interventions

Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for performing certain image-guided interventions. The availability of axial images and the excellent contrast afforded by CT allows for accurate targeting of lesions. However, along with the many benefits of CT come certain risks, mainly those related to radiation exposure. Stray radiation is much more intense in CT labs compared to interventional labs and is at times directed towards the face and eyes of the physician. Patient exposure rates are often higher in CT-guided interventions than in fluoroscopically guided interventions. Therefore, adequate radiation protection is a key element of successful CT-guided procedures. The goal is to minimize the risk for both stochastic and tissue effects from radiation for both patient and operator.
Multiaxial variable amplitude fatigue life analysis including notch effects

Abstract This paper evaluates the methodology for, and effectiveness of, common equivalent stress- and strain-based fatigue life analysis approaches when applied to variable amplitude multiaxial service loading conditions. Experimental results for both un-notched and notched specimens of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy, tested under axial, torsion, and combined axial–torsion loadings, are compared to predictions based on von Mises equivalent stress and strain. Mean stresses were considered using Smith–Watson–Topper, modified Goodman, and modified Morrow models. Variable amplitude life predictions are compared to constant amplitude predictions to highlight similarities and differences in life prediction trends. Overall, mixed results were obtained. Both constant and variable amplitude fatigue lives are predicted well for notched specimens, where a local uniaxial stress state always exists for the geometry considered. However, for un-notched specimens, where multiaxial loading effects come into play, no approach considered is able to predict more than 60% of fatigue data within a factor of ±3 of experimental life. A consistent trend of non-conservative life predictions for variable amplitude loading conditions is observed. The importance of considering stress gradient effects in notched specimen life prediction is also demonstrated. An extensive discussion on areas where improvements can be made with respect to fatigue damage quantification completes the paper.
Testing the 'Model Minority Myth': A Case of Weak Empiricism

In this short piece, Professors Chang and Villazor respond to a recent article by Professors McGowan and Lindgren, which presents empirical data that they claim tends to disprove the model minority hypothesis with regard to Asian Americans. McGowan and Lindgren's article is timely in light of the debate over school admissions and affirmative action and the role that Asian Americans play but we argue that their conclusions are not warranted because of the limited nature of their inquiry. They limit the scope of their analysis to the results of surveys of non-Hispanic whites produced from face-to-face about their racial attitudes. From this, they make claims about the real world. They support their claim with graphs and statistical analyses, consistent with the recent empirical turn in legal scholarship. Their data and conclusions are likely to be used by those who seek to end affirmative action and who seek to use school admissions and affirmative action as wedge issues to create divisions among Asian Americans and to divide Asian Americans from other racial minorities. Closer scrutiny of their analysis reveals, however, the questionability of their findings. We argue that the real world is a place where people lie, where people are unaware of their biases, and where conscious and unconscious biases may not be clear or manifest themselves outside of particular contexts or situations. The result is that the work of Asian [sic] critical scholars on the model minority myth says much more about the real world than do McGowan and Lindgren and raises doubts about their empirical methodology.
The accuracy and repeatability of untrained laboratory consumer panelists in detecting differences in beef longissimus tenderness.

The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy and repeatability of untrained laboratory consumer panelists in detecting differences in beef longissimus tenderness. At 14 d postmortem, slice shear force was measured on one steak from 192 strip loins and used to select 54 strip loins and assign 18 of the strip loins to each of three tenderness classes (tender = 27 kg). Sixty-eight untrained, laboratory consumer panelists evaluated paired steaks from each tenderness class in each of two sessions (12 total observations per panelist). Mean slice shear forces for "tender," "intermediate," and "tough" were 11.1, 21.0, and 32.2 kg, respectively. Mean tenderness ratings of the untrained laboratory consumer panel were different (P 0.80, 36% were 0.60 to 0.79, and 33% were 0.75). There is wide variability in the ability of untrained laboratory consumer panelists to detect differences in beef tenderness. Nonetheless, untrained consumer panels can accurately and repeatedly detect differences in beef tenderness under controlled laboratory conditions. An untrained laboratory consumer panel may be able to provide as effective an evaluation of beef longissimus tenderness as a trained descriptive attribute panel.
Strategic partnerships with nonprofits in corporate social responsibility (CSR): The mediating role of perceived altruism and organizational identification

Abstract To provide insight for nonprofits and for-profits generating synergetic alliance, this study investigates how prior corporate reputation, nonprofit brand familiarity, and fit between company and nonprofit influence supportive CSR outcomes. The study also examines the mediation role of perceived altruism and consumer–company identification in such associations. The results show the significant main effects of corporate reputation, nonprofit familiarity, and company–nonprofit fit on supportive CSR outcomes. More importantly, results show that perceived altruism and the consumer–company identification significantly mediates the influence of a CSR partnership on supportive CSR outcomes. Interestingly, the direct effect of corporate reputation on consumer–company identification was not significant, suggesting that for a company to induce strong identification from consumers, the effects of corporate reputation should be mediated by its altruistic motives for practicing CSR activities.
Refused Readings: Narrative and History in "The Secret Integration"

One of the most common impressions derived from Thomas Pynchon's work is that the author has digested libraries of information. Much of this information is obviously historical, yet the depth and scope of historical detail in Pynchon's fiction almost questions the very notion of the historical event. In Gravity's Rainbow, for instance, the Second World War is made to accommodate such traditionally marginalized matters as the fate of the Hereros, the political significance of the Zoot suit, the extermination of the dodo bird, etc. These are all elements that usually' wind up on the trash heap of traditional historiography. For Pynchon however, they become the very substance of a counter-history.
Workers, parties and a “New Deal:” A comparative analysis of corporatist alliances in Mexico, and the United States, 1910–1940

AbstractMexico experienced the twentieth century’s first social revolution, a decade of struggle from which emerged a new political regime – a post-revolutionary authoritarian or single-party state one – with President Lazaro Cardenas as leader by 1934. This post-revolutionary creation included organized labor and peasants, a strong interventionist state and a hegemonic party. Cardenas’ U.S. counterpart, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, was leading dramatic ‘New Deal’ institutional and political revolution in the 1930s and 1940s that spawned a new order of expanded federal government, a renovated Democratic Party, and new movements and interest groups, notably, labor. Both nations featured the same major actors: the state, political parties, and organized labor. Both presidents calculated that preserving labor alliances was crucial for formation and legitimization of a new political order, for maintaining conditions conducive to private-sector investment and economic growth, and for political and eco...
Depression in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their informal caregivers.

ABSTRACTObjective: Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their caregivers are at high risk for developing depression. Depression can adversely affect the quality of life of patients and caregivers; however, studies in COPD have largely examined predictors of patient and caregiver depression in isolation. This dyadic study examined individual-level predictors of patient and caregiver depression in COPD (i.e. actor effects) as well as how dyad members effect each other's depression (i.e. partner effects).Methods: Survey data were collected from 89 patient–caregiver dyads that were enrolled in a multi-site cohort study.Results: Participants were predominantly women (61% of patients and 76% of caregivers) and racial/ethnic minorities (65% of patients and 63% of caregivers). Based on PHQ9 cutoffs, 30% of patients and 20% of caregivers had mild depression; 30% of patients and 8% of caregivers had moderate to severe depression. Multilevel models with the dyad as the unit of analysis s...
Inferior vena caval invasion by renal cell carcinoma: false positive diagnosis by venacavography.

AbstractWe reviewed the records of 22 renal cell carcinoma patients who were referred to this hospital to determine inferior vena caval extension of tumor. Preoperative radiological studies from referring hospitals and this institution were compared to the operative findings. Four cases of false positive inferior vena caval involvement on preoperative venacavograms performed and interpreted elsewhere were identified. In 3 of these cases a repeat preoperative inferior venacavogram performed at this hospital made the correct diagnosis. In the remaining case an inferior venacavogram was not repeated but no tumor was found at operation. One patient who did not undergo an operation was believed to have vena caval involvement by computerized tomography but venacavography was negative. Reasons for the false positive studies included suboptimal technique and misinterpretation of normal flow defects. Our technique for venacavography is presented. The importance of satisfactory preoperative radiological studies is ...
Errors Related to Alarms and Monitors

The number and complexity of medical devices have increased dramatically over the past three decades. Medical devices obtain data from sensors that measure biophysical signals, interpret the data, and convert it to information for clinicians to use in making decisions. Many medical devices, such as cardiac monitors, are designed to filter the data through pre-programmed settings to notify staff when the data are outside set parameters by sounding an alarm. Alarm hazards have been identified as the number one healthcare technology hazard 4 years in a row. Clinical alarms are designed to notify staff of a physiologic change or a failure of the equipment. This chapter addresses two technology-related events that failed to sound alarms, thus creating risk for the patients and staff. Both failures were identified by clinical staff before patient harm occurred. The first case study addresses telemetry pager (middleware) failures; the second case study addresses EKG signal disruption.
The Transition of Primary Care Group Practices to Next Generation Models: Satisfaction of Staff, Clinicians, and Patients

Introduction: Restructuring primary care is essential to achieve the triple aim. This case study examines the human factors of extensive redesign on 2 midsized primary care clinics (clinics A and B) in the Midwest United States that are owned by a large health care system. The transition occurred when while the principles for patient-centered medical home were being rolled out nationally, and before the Affordable Care Act. Methods: After the transition, interviews and discussions were conducted with 5 stakeholder groups: health system leaders, clinic managers, clinicians, nurses, and reception staff. Using a culture assessment instrument, the responses of personnel at clinics A and B were compared with comparison clinics from another health system that had not undergone transition. Patient satisfaction scores are presented. Results: Clinics A and B were similar in size and staffing. Three human factor themes emerged from interviews: responses to change, professional and personal challenges due to role redefinition, and the importance of communication. The comparison clinics had an equal or higher mean culture scores compared with the transition clinics (A and B). Patient satisfaction in improved in Clinic A. Conclusions: The transition took more time than expected. Health system leaders underestimated the stress and the role adjustments for clinicians and nurses. Change leaders need to anticipate the challenge of role redefinition until health profession schools graduate trainees with more experience in new models of team-based care. Incorporating experience with team based, interprofessional care into training is essential to properly prepare future health professionals.
Dermatologist-level classification of skin cancer with deep neural networks

Skin cancer, the most common human malignancy, is primarily diagnosed visually, beginning with an initial clinical screening and followed potentially by dermoscopic analysis, a biopsy and histopathological examination. Automated classification of skin lesions using images is a challenging task owing to the fine-grained variability in the appearance of skin lesions. Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) show potential for general and highly variable tasks across many fine-grained object categories. Here we demonstrate classification of skin lesions using a single CNN, trained end-to-end from images directly, using only pixels and disease labels as inputs. We train a CNN using a dataset of 129,450 clinical images-two orders of magnitude larger than previous datasets-consisting of 2,032 different diseases. We test its performance against 21 board-certified dermatologists on biopsy-proven clinical images with two critical binary classification use cases: keratinocyte carcinomas versus benign seborrheic keratoses; and malignant melanomas versus benign nevi. The first case represents the identification of the most common cancers, the second represents the identification of the deadliest skin cancer. The CNN achieves performance on par with all tested experts across both tasks, demonstrating an artificial intelligence capable of classifying skin cancer with a level of competence comparable to dermatologists. Outfitted with deep neural networks, mobile devices can potentially extend the reach of dermatologists outside of the clinic. It is projected that 6.3 billion smartphone subscriptions will exist by the year 2021 (ref. 13) and can therefore potentially provide low-cost universal access to vital diagnostic care.
ANTICOAGULATION PROTOCOL AFTER RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF INFARCT-RELATED VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA: INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND OUTCOMES

Background: Ablation in the left ventricle (LV) carries a risk of thrombus formation. The use of anticoagulation needs to be balanced against the risk of access and non-access site bleeding. Methods: We assessed the utility of a standardized post-procedural anticoagulation protocol (Figure) in 130
Influence of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on quality of life (QOL) in cancer survivors.

e20743 Background: Cancer and its treatments produce a myriad of adverse side effects, resulting in diminished QOL that can affect survival. Poor sleep quality is significantly correlated with dimi...
Regional universities and rural clinical schools contribute to rural medical workforce, a cohort study of 2002 to 2013 graduates

Introduction: Rural clinical schools and regionally based medical schools have a major role in expanding the rural medical workforce. The aim of this cohort study was to compare location of practice of graduates from the University of Tasmania School of Medicine’s clinical schools based in the larger cities of Hobart and Launceston (UTAS SoM), with those graduates who spent at least 1 year at the University of Tasmania School of Medicine’s Rural Clinical School based in the smaller regional city of Burnie (UTAS RCS) in Australia. Specifically, the aim was to quantify the proportion who worked in an Australian regional or remote location, or in the regional cities and smaller towns within Tasmania. Methods: The 2014 locations of practice of all graduates from the UTAS SoM and UTAS RCS between 2002 and 2013 were determined using the postcode listed in the Australian Health Practitioners Authority database. These postcodes were mapped against the Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Standard Geographic Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) and the 2011 Census population data for Tasmania to define Modified Monash Model classifications. Results: The study tracked 974 UTAS SoM graduates; 202 (21%) spent at least 1 year at the Rural Clinical School (UTAS RCS graduates). Students who had spent a year at the UTAS RCS were five times more likely to be working in RA3 to RA5 than those who hadn’t spent a clinical year there (28% vs 7%, χ 2 (1)=59.5, p Conclusions: This study adds to the growing evidence that training medical students in rural areas delivers graduates that work rurally. The additional year spent in a rural area, even when their medical school is in a regional city, significantly affects their workplace choices over the first 3 years post-graduation.
Reviewing the Reviews: Discussions of Race by Film Reviewers

Color-blind racism has transformed how race scholars understand race relations in contemporary society. Previous researchers mainly utilized this theory to identify frames of color-blind racism in ...
Abstract 12044: Hydrogen Sulfide Mediates Cardioprotection by Oral Ingestion of Beetroot Juice against Myocardial Infarction and Left Ventricular Dysfunction following Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background: Ingestion of high dietary nitrate in the form of beetroot juice (BRJ) has been shown to exert anti-hypertensive effects in humans through cGMP. Since cGMP-dependent signaling protects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through upregulation of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), we hypothesized that BRJ may render such cardioprotection via H 2 S generation. Methods and Results: Adult male CD-1 mice were given BRJ extract dissolved in drinking water at concentration of 10 g/L (containing ∼0.7 mM nitrate). Seven days later, the hearts were explanted for molecular analyses. A subset of mice was subjected to I/R injury by occlusion of the left coronary artery for 30 min and reperfusion for 24 h. The H 2 S producing enzyme, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) specific inhibitor, dl-propargylglycine (PAG, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 min before ischemia in the BRJ-pretreated mice. At the end of reperfusion, left ventricular (LV) function was assessed with echocardiography and myocardial infarct size was measured using tetrazolium chloride staining. BRJ ingestion significantly reduced infarct size and preserved LV fractional shortening as compared with controls (Fig. A & B; Mean±SE). PAG blocked the infarct-limiting cardioprotective effect of BRJ. Cardiac H 2 S level was significantly increased with BRJ intake (Fig. C). Quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis showed improvement in the levels of CSE mRNA and protein in the heart tissue with BRJ (Fig. D), whereas the mRNA level of another H 2 S producing enzyme, cystathionine β-synthase, remained unchanged. Conclusion: BRJ reduces myocardial infarction and LV dysfunction following I/R. This cardioprotection is dependent upon CSE-mediated H 2 S generation. Modulation of endogenous H 2 S with regular intake of BRJ may be a novel, natural, inexpensive and safe therapeutic strategy to reduce I/R injury in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Breast Cancer Incidence and Risk Reduction in the Hispanic Population

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer amongst women worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality overall. It is also the foremost reason for cancer-related mortality in Hispanic females in the United States (US). Although the current incidence of breast cancer is significantly lower in Hispanics compared to that of non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and Blacks, (91.9, 128.1, and 124.3 per 100,000, respectively, annually), this may increase if Hispanics develop similar lifestyle behaviors to other American women, in categories such as weight management, age at first birth, number of children, and breastfeeding habits. Stage-for-stage mortality for Hispanics is similar to NHWs, but the mortality rate is not declining as rapidly in this ethnic group. Hispanic women share many of the same risk factors for developing breast cancer as NHWs and Blacks. This suggests that many of the risk reduction strategies used in other racial populations may also benefit this group. Providing education about breast cancer and implementing risk reduction strategies in culturally-aware environments could help keep incidence low and reduce cancer-related mortality. Since Hispanics are the largest minority group in the US, this could have a significant impact on the incidence and mortality nationally.
Non-contact rotating machine health status via dual-polarized radar

A dual-polarized radar is capable of characterizing a time-varying target and extracting its vibrational spectrum. This work details the concepts of that process in the context of remotely observing the health of multiple electric pumps at a local industrial plant. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated through a small-scale experiment sensing different vibration signatures of an electric motor with a dual-polarized radar system.
Decreased Sarcopenia in Aged Females with Young Ovary Transplants was Preserved in Mice that Received Germ Cell-Depleted Young Ovaries

Previously, transplantation of young, cycling, ovaries increased life and health span in post-reproductive female mice. The current study addressed the influence of ovarian germ cells in the improvement in health by performing transplantations of young, germ cell-depleted ovaries. The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of reproductive influences on aging health. Control mice were grouped by age. Treatment mice were age-matched and received either germ cell depleted ovaries or germ cell containing ovaries at 400 days of age. All groups underwent health span assays until sacrifice (treatment and age-matched control groups were between 680 and 700 days). Body composition results displayed an improvement of body composition in both treatment groups, compared to the controls, but no significant difference between the germ cell-depleted or germ cell-containing groups. Grip test results showed no improvement in musculoskeletal endurance and no change to mild loss of grip strength with both transplant groups compared to control groups. The research presented here suggests that reproductive status has a positive influence in post-reproductive health. A portion of this influence may be germ cell independent.
An Operational Deep Learning Pipeline for Classifying Life Events from Individual Tweets

We here present an operational deep learning pipeline for classifying life events from individual tweets, using job loss as a use case and Twitter data collected between 2010 and 2013 (historic sample from the public stream). The pipeline includes identification of keywords through snowball sampling, multiple rater manual annotation, supervised deep learning, text processing (word embedding, bag of words) and architecture selection (convolutional, shallow-and-wide convolutional, and long-short-term memory) with parameter optimization, external validation and feedback learning. After model optimization, a shallow-and-wide network with a pre-trained 200-dimensional word2vec achieved a precision of 78% (over an average single keyword precision of 50%) and an area under receiver operating characteristic of 86%. Precision and recall also increased by 5% using bag of words. When tested on tweets with ambiguous annotations (i.e. tweets that were hard for human annotators to classify), the network achieved 65% precision. Finally, on a random set of tweets that did not contain any of the snowballed keywords, 30% were classified as job loss events; this putatively false positive set can be used to reinforce the learner’s training. In conclusion, the pipeline streamlines both the manual and automated process, providing feedback reinforcement (snowballing and external tweets), and shows good performance on classifying individual tweets on the use case, potentially saving human resources needed to collate such data for research studies.
PyCAC: The concurrent atomistic-continuum simulation environment

We present a novel distributed-memory parallel implementation of the concurrent atomistic-continuum (CAC) method. Written mostly in Fortran 2008 and wrapped with a Python scripting interface, the CAC simulator in PyCAC runs in parallel using Message Passing Interface with a spatial decomposition algorithm. Built upon the underlying Fortran code, the Python interface provides a robust and versatile way for users to build system configurations, run CAC simulations, and analyze results. In this paper, following a brief introduction to the theoretical background of the CAC method, we discuss the serial algorithms of dynamic, quasistatic, and hybrid CAC, along with some programming techniques used in the code. We then illustrate the parallel algorithm, quantify the parallel scalability, and discuss some software specifications of PyCAC; more information can be found in the PyCAC user’s manual that is hosted on http://www.pycac.org .
RePlay: Contextually Presenting Learning Videos Across Software Applications

Complex activities often require people to work across multiple software applications. However, people frequently lack valuable knowledge about at least one application, especially as software changes and new software emerges. Existing help systems either lack contextual knowledge or are tightly-knit into a single application. We introduce an application-independent approach for contextually presenting video learning resources and demonstrate it through the RePlay system. RePlay uses accessibility APIs to gather context about the user's activity. It leverages an existing search engine to present relevant videos and highlights key segments within them using video captions. We report on a week-long field study (n=7) and a lab study (n=24) showing that contextual assistance helps people spend less time away from their task than web video search and replaces current video navigation strategies. Our findings highlight challenges with representing and using context across applications.
Effects of thermal aging on the fracture toughness of cast stainless steel CF8

Abstract Cast stainless steels are widely used in the primary coolant systems of nuclear power plants because of their high strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance. Mechanical property degradation due to thermal embrittlement of the ferrite phase is of major concern in long-term operations. To investigate the aging-induced loss of fracture resistance in cast stainless steels, static fracture resistance (J-R) testing was performed for three different CF8 stainless steels with significantly different δ-ferrite contents. The materials were thermally aged at 290–400 °C for up to 10,000 h and tested in static fracture at 25–400 °C. It was found that the fracture toughness in high-ferrite materials generally decreased with thermal aging, while the relationship between aging and fracture toughness in low-ferrite materials was complicated, showing non-monotonic variation with the degree of aging. While significant degradation was observed for long-term aged high-ferrite materials, no material tested showed a K0.2mm value less than 100 MPa√m.
Investigating Individuals’ Recollections of Group Experiences

In this study, we explore the sources of information that group members draw on when they recall successful and unsuccessful experiences in groups. Across three studies, using an abductive, increme...
Limits and Ironies of Transparency: Controlling Corruption in American Elections

Abstract That transparency is a powerful check on corruption is an article of faith among many reformers, but in fact such benefits are elusive. Transparency can underwrite general accountability a...
Utilizing a Five-Step, Direct-Call Reminder System to Increase Vaccination Compliance in a Federally Qualified Health Center: A Quality Improvement Process.

BACKGROUND Childhood vaccines prevent more than 10 million illnesses and 33,000 deaths in the United States each year. Noncompliance rates for children 2 and under are higher in underserved and resource poor communities. OBJECTIVE The aim of this project was to develop and implement a five-step, direct-call reminder system to increase vaccination rates among children ages 2 and under presenting to a federally qualified health center (FQHC). METHODS This project examined whether direct phone contact with parents can increase office visits to discuss vaccine status over a 6-week period following implementation of a five-step, direct-call reminder system. RESULTS 47 parents/guardians were contacted from a list of 455 patients. Thirty-six percent of parents contacted scheduled and kept appointments. CONCLUSIONS This study found that the vaccines rates of a FQHC practice initiative are directly affected by methods of contact and knowledge of the vaccine schedule. Reaching out and discussing vaccine schedules with parents can increase vaccination rates. Yet, many of them have limited methods of contact. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING A five-step, direct-call reminder system has a positive impact on vaccination compliance. Vaccination compliance is complicated, and approaches should be multifaceted.
Hegel y la filosofía analítica

This paper analyzes important elements in the reception of Hegel’s philosophy in the present. In order to reach this goal we discuss how analytic philosophy receives Hegel’s philosophy. For that purpose, we reconstruct the reception of analytic philosophy in the face of Hegel, especially from those authors who were central in this movement of reception and distance of his philosophy, namely, Bertrand Russell, Frege and Wittgenstein. Another central point of this paper is to review the book of Paul Redding, Analytic Philosophy and the Return of Hegelian Thought, in comparison with the reception of Hegel, developed here by analytic philosophy. Finally, we show how a dialogue can be productive of these apparently opposing currents.
Development of N-F fluorinating agents and their fluorinations: Historical perspective.

This review deals with the historical development of all N-F fluorinating agents developed so far. The unique properties of fluorine make fluorinated organic compounds attractive in many research areas and therefore fluorinating agents are important. N-F agents have proven useful by virtue of their easy handling. This reagent class includes many types of N-F compounds: perfluoro-N-fluoropiperidine, N-fluoro-2-pyridone, N-fluoro-N-alkylarenesulfonamides, N-fluoropyridinium salts and derivatives, N-fluoroquinuclidium salts, N-fluoro-trifluoromethanesulfonimide, N-fluoro-sultams, N-fluoro-benzothiazole dioxides, N-fluoro-lactams, N-fluoro-o-benzenedisulfonimide, N-fluoro-benzenesulfonimide, 1-alkyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane salts, N-fluoropyridinium-2-sulfonate derivatives, 1-fluoro-4-hydroxy-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane salts, N-fluorodinitroimidazole, N-fluoro-trichloro-1,3,5-triazinium salt, N-F ethano-Troger’s base derivatives, N-fluoro-methanesulfonimide, N-fluoro-N-arylarenesulfonamides, bisN-F salts such as N,N’-difluorobipyridinium salts and N,N’-difluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane salts, and their many derivatives and analogs, including chiral N-F reagents such as optically active N-fluoro-sultam derivatives, N-fluoro-alkaloid derivatives, DABCO-based N-F derivatives, and N-F binaphthyldisulfonimides. The synthesis and reactions of these reagents are described chronologically and the review also discusses the relative fluorination power of each reagent and their mechanisms chronicling developments from a historical perspective.
Current theories on endometriosis pathogenesis

Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disorder affecting more than 10% of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Despite the fact that our knowledge of this disease is older than 150 years, our knowledge of the pathogenesis of endometriosis is far from complete. In this short review, we summarize the current theories on possible causes of endometriosis. Our knowledge of endometriosis extends back to 1860, when von Rokitansky first described this disease [1]. This disease is characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrium resulting in pain, infertility and/ or lesion progression. Between 5 and 10% of women of reproductive age are affected. Despite the long research, the definite cause(s) of endometriosis is still unsolved and this disorder remains among the most enigmatic women diseases. Endometriosis is not only connected with infertility, but also with several types of cancer, most of all ovarian. Based on histopathological studies, it was suggested that atypical endometriosis is in fact a premalignant condition [2]. This hypothesis is nothing new, as the relation between endometrial tissue and ovarian cancer was described almost 100 years ago [3]. Studies evaluating ovarian cancer patients showed 10% occurrence of transformed endometriomas [4], this incidence in patients with clear cell ovarian cancer is
Tuberculosis Elimination Efforts in the United States in the Era of Insurance Expansion and the Affordable Care Act.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act can enhance ongoing efforts to control tuberculosis (TB) in the United States by bringing millions of currently uninsured Americans into the health-ca...
Homeless women's experiences of social support from service providers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine homeless women's interactions with service providers and the degree to which these interactions are perceived as social support. Design/methodology/approach – Using a phenomenological approach, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 homeless women recruited through a drop-in day shelter and a winter emergency shelter. Findings – Analysis revealed being “cared for” was experienced within service provider encounters and is commensurate with widely recognized sub-categories of received social support. Participants expressed expanded definitions of service providers and made clear distinctions between routine support expected from a provider and received social support, or being “cared for” by providers. Research limitations/implications – Studies with homeless persons that exclude service providers as a potential source of social support for homeless women or impose predetermined definitions of service provision may not be capturing the ful...
Nicotine protects against arachidonic‐acid‐induced caspase activation, cytochrome c release and apoptosis of cultured spinal cord neurons

Hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids of spinal cord neurons is one of the first events initiated in spinal cord trauma. In this process, free fatty acids, and in particular arachidonic acid, are released. Exposure of spinal cord neurons to free arachidonic acid can compromise cell survival and initiate apoptotic cell death. In order to determine potential mechanisms of apoptosis induced by arachidonic acid, activation of caspases -3, -8, and -9, as well as the release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm were measured in cultured spinal cord neurons exposed to 10 microM of this fatty acid. In addition, because nicotine can exert a variety of neuroprotective effects, we hypothesized that it can prevent arachidonic acid induced apoptosis of spinal cord neurons. To study this hypothesis, spinal cord neurons were pretreated with nicotine (10 microM for 2 h) before arachidonic acid exposure and caspase activation as well as markers of apoptotic cell death were studied. Treatment of spinal cord neurons with arachidonic acid for up to 24 h significantly increased cytoplasmic levels of cytochrome c, induced caspase activation and induced DNA laddering, a hallmark of apoptotic cell death. Nicotine pretreatment markedly attenuated all these effects. In addition, antagonist studies suggest that the alpha7 nicotinic receptor is primarily responsible for these anti-apoptotic effects of nicotine. These results indicate that nicotine can exert potent neuroprotective effects by inhibiting arachidonic acid induced apoptotic cascades of spinal cord neurons.
Genetic effect of differentially regulated fungal response genes on resistance to necrotrophic fungal pathogens in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract Plant resistance to pathogen infection can be achieved by systemic regulation of the defense-related genes that respond to specific systemic signals. To elucidate defense responses in chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) against fungal pathogens, Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. causing ascochyta blight and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri causing fusarium wilt, expression patterns of defense-related genes in chickpea after pathogen inoculation and exogenous treatments with systemic signals such as SA and Me-JA were investigated. Two blight differentia germplasm lines, FLIP84-92C(2) (blight resistant and SA- and Me-JA-sensitive) and PI359075(1) (blight susceptible and SA- and Me-JA-insensitive) showed significant differential expression patterns of the defense-related genes after A. rabiei inoculation and exogenous treatment with SA and Me-JA. However, blight resistance in the recombinant inbred lines generated from the cross of the two germplasm lines did not cosegregate with the expression of the genes induced either by pathogen inoculation or by signal chemicals. Fusarium wilt resistance in chickpea also did not require induction of the defense-related genes after Fusarium infection. These results indicated that systemic regulation of the defense-related genes at transcription level which is reportedly associated with disease resistance in other model plant species such as Arabidopsis might not confer resistance in chickpea against two necrotrophic fungal pathogens, A. rabiei (Pass.) Labr and F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri . Further studies focused on constitutive or unknown defense systems independent of SA- and JA-mediated systemic resistance mechanisms are required to understand fungal resistance mechanisms in chickpea.
Firm Boundaries and Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Entrepreneurial Finance

High-technology innovation often takes place in small, independent startups; it can also take place in the research-and-development facilities of large, established corporations. A third possibility is that innovation will take place in a hybrid of these two ideal types, for example via corporate venture capital (CVC) or via distribution channel agreements. Using detailed data on a large number of high-technology firms located in the US, Western Europe and Israel, we test a set of predictions about innovation and firm boundaries that flow from previous empirical studies and formal models. Our central research questions relate to how the boundaries of the firm are affected by the level of competition in product markets, portfolio firm research intensity, national institutions, cash flow risk, innovation risk by rivals, and managerial resources. We find some evidence that hybrid organization is more likely (relative to stand-alone startup status) for more established firms (with more employees and larger revenues). Hybrid organization is also more likely when competition is declining, less likely when competition is static, and no more likely when competition is growing. In addition, our results are consistent with previous findings that CVC is associated with herding behavior as opposed to participation in the most innovative industry segments. Hybrid organization is associated with patent possession by the high-tech startup, but CVC partners are less concerned than other investors (VCs) that the patents provide useful barriers to entry. Results pertaining to cash flow risk, research intensity, management team, and innovation risk by rivals were neither consistent in terms of sign nor robust to various specifications.