cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using large sequencing data sets to refine intragenic disease regions and prioritize clinical variant interpretation.

Using large sequencing data sets to refine intragenic disease regions and prioritize clinical variant interpretation
Modellierung des Kreislaufwirtschaftssystems

Die in den ersten beiden Teilproblemen erarbeitete Aufkommensprognose stellt die zentralen Daten fur die Anwendung eines strategischen Netzwerkplanungsmodells zur Verfugung. Hieraus kann in weiteren Schritten die optimale Gestaltung eines Kreislaufwirtschaftssystems fur Photovoltaikmodule erarbeitet werden. Im Gegensatz zu den beiden ersten Teilproblemen in Kapitel 4 und 5, bei denen Erklarungsmodelle und darauf basierende Prognosemodelle Anwendung finden, handelt es sich bei diesem dritten Teilproblem um ein Entscheidungs‐ beziehungsweise Planungsmodell (Schneeweis, 2002).
Miocene development of alpine glacial relief in the Patagonian Andes, as revealed by low-temperature thermochronometry

Abstract Apatite thermochronometry and synthetic maps of ages and rates for thermochronometric data are used to estimate the timing of incision of valley relief in the Andes. Central Patagonia offers a unique location to study the feedbacks between long-term climate, topography, and erosion due to the high relief and well-resolved mid-latitude glacial history. New apatite (U–Th)/He ages from two vertical transects and two 4He/3He release spectra in the fjord network around 47°S reveal fast cooling (15–30 °C/Ma) from ∼10 to 5 Ma. Samples currently at the surface cooled below ∼35 °C by ∼5 Ma, indicating slow cooling and little erosion in those regions since 5 Ma. We show that these very low-temperature thermochronometric data are useful indicators of changes in topography, and insensitive to deep thermal processes, such as migration of the Chile triple junction. Map-based predictions of the thermochronometric signatures of disparate topographic scenarios show the distribution of sample data necessary to resolve the timing of relief change. Comparisons to predicted cooling ages and rates indicate that our new apatite He data are most consistent with a pulse of early glacial incision, with much of the observed valley relief in Patagonia carved between 10 and 5 Ma. Early onset of glaciation in Patagonia is supported by glacial till with bracketing ages of 7.4 and 5 Ma. We therefore conclude that the observed thermochronometric signal of fast cooling from 10 to 5 Ma is likely due to an increase in valley relief coinciding with these early glaciations in the Andes. In other glaciated areas at lower latitudes, studies have found a dramatic increase in valley relief at ∼1 Ma. This timing has generated the idea that incision of glacial valleys may be related to the mid-Pleistocene transition, when the global glacial cycle changed from 40 to 100 ka periods. Our results from a higher latitude indicate an alternative, that glacial valleys incised rapidly after the onset of alpine glaciation.
Differential sex effects of systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on type 2 diabetes: Life course data from the Bogalusa Heart Study.

Background There may be sex-specific cardiometabolic mechanisms early in life that affect the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) through mid-adulthood. Yet, there have been few studies examining whether early life-course interactions between cardiometabolic risk factors and sex are associated with incident T2DM. Methods We followed n = 7,725 children from the Bogalusa Heart Study through mid-adulthood to examine whether low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI), or systolic blood pressure (SBP) differentially impact the risk of T2DM for females versus males. A longitudinal, adjusted generalized estimating equations approach was used to test these potential sex interactions after adjustment for age, race, triglycerides, smoking, follow-up time, puberty stage, use of birth control, and enrollment year. Results There were 3,834 (49.6%) female participants and 3,891 (50.4%) male participants. Mean(SD) baseline age was 9.4(3.5) years. There were 176 cases of T2DM (cumulative incidence = 2.3%) during median follow-up of 9.1 years. LDL-C and SBP were differentially associated with T2DM (p= < .001 and p=0.017, respectively) in females versus males. The relationships of BMI and HDL-C with T2DM were non-differential between females and males (p=0.79 and p=0.27, respectively). Conclusions Our study is the first to show evidence of sex-specific differential effects of LDL-C and SBP on the risk of T2DM from childhood to adulthood. A greater LDL-C places girls at disproportionally higher risk of T2DM as women, whereas a greater SBP differentially exposes boys to a greater risk of T2DM as men. Additional studies within existing child cohorts are needed to confirm and investigate the mechanisms for these differential effects. Highlights From childhood to adulthood, an increase in LDL-C imposes a differentially greater risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for females versus males. Conversely, an increase in systolic blood pressure over the life-course greatly increases males’ risk of T2DM, but has no effect in females.
Racial Disparities in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Have We Bridged the Gap?

Background: Racial disparities in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) exist in the United States. There is a paucity of data examining their temporal trends. It was hypothesized that racial disparities in care provided to patients with DTC have improved over the past 15 years. Methods: Adult patients undergoing surgery for DTC were included from the National Cancer Data Base (1998–2012). Temporal trends in appropriate extent of thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) were described for different racial groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to estimate the adjusted association of receipt of appropriate extent of surgery and RAI, specifically under- and over-treatment, among different racial groups. Results: Among 282,043 DTC patients, 80.3% were non-Hispanic white (white), 8.1% Hispanic, 7.2% non-Hispanic black (black), and 4.4% Asian. Black versus white race/ethnicity was associated with lower odds of receiving appropriate surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 0....
Are schools of business strategically aligned to serve international businesses? Case of Peru

Economic development depends on business education for a thriving and secure society. A skilled workforce that can create, innovate and increase business opportunities fosters an environment of prosperity that provides jobs and enhances the quality of life among its citizens. This study examines the environment, content, and delivery of business education in Peru. It analyses curriculum content and students' perceptions of its value. Moreover, it discusses school of business strategies in aligning their curricula to incorporate international business as an integral subject to reflect the market needs. The paper aims to highlight the importance of the strategic alignment for the academicians as well as practitioners to understand the methods, techniques and activities that are being used to prepare the future of business workforce.
Novel Supercapacitor-Based Force Sensor Insensitive to Parasitic Noise

Traditional capacitive sensors suffer from significant parasitic noise when used in liquid environments or inside the human body. The parasitic noise overwhelms the force response of the sensor and makes it very difficult to calculate the absolute force experienced by the sensor. This article focuses on the development of a supercapacitor based force sensor that is immune to parasitic noise. The supercapacitor consists of coplanar electrodes and a solid-state ionic gel electrolyte on a deformable membrane. Force exertion causes deformation of the electrolyte membrane and increases its area of contact with the electrodes, resulting in a change of capacitance. The sensor is sealed, water-proof, and shows absolutely no changes in capacitance when immersed in water or enclosed in extracted sheep tissue. At the same time, its force sensitivity of 0.13 μF/N exceeds the 0.3 pF/N sensitivity of a traditional capacitive sensor by 6 orders of magnitude. The developed sensor could be useful in many biomedical applications where parasitic capacitance is a serious challenge.
Tunable degradation of acetalated dextran microparticles enables controlled vaccine adjuvant and antigen delivery to modulate adaptive immune responses.

Abstract Subunit vaccines are often poorly immunogenic, and adjuvants and/or delivery vehicles, such as polymeric microparticles (MPs), can be used to enhance immune responses. MPs can also be used to understand cell activation kinetics and the significant impact antigen and adjuvant release has on adaptive immune responses. By controlling antigen and adjuvant release, we can determine if it is important to have precise temporal control over release of these elements to optimize the peak and duration of protective immunity and improve vaccine safety profiles. In order to study the effect of tunable adjuvant or antigen delivery on generation of adaptive immunity, we used acetalated dextran (Ace-DEX) MPs. Ace-DEX MPs were used because their tunable degradation can be controlled based on polymer cyclic acetal coverage (CAC). Ace-DEX MPs of varying degradation profiles were used to deliver murabutide or ovalbumin (OVA) as a model adjuvant or antigen, respectively. When murabutide was encapsulated within Ace-DEX MPs to test for controlled adjuvant delivery, fast-degrading MPs exhibited higher humoral and cellular responses in vivo at earlier time points, while slow-degrading MPs resulted in stronger responses at later time points. When OVA was encapsulated within Ace-DEX MPs to test for controlled antigen delivery, fast-degrading MPs induced greater antibody and cytokine production throughout the length of the experiment. This differential response suggests the need for distinct, flexible control over adjuvant or antigen delivery and its impact on immune response modulation.
Investigation of particle fracture during fatigue of aluminum 2024

Abstract A significant portion of the mechanical energy that enters into a material subjected to fatigue is expended to nucleate local, early-state damage which is distinct from later observed catastrophic type damage frequently targeted in fatigue investigations. Therefore, identification of early signs of fatigue damage combined with means to monitor its evolution is crucial for understanding the influence of material microstructure on the development of progressive pre-failure sites that can ultimately lead to conditions that favor the development of fatigue damage. In this context, in situ scanning electron microscope (SEM) testing combined with microstructure-sensitive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is leveraged, in this article, to allow the direct observation of fatigue damage incubation in a precipitate-hardened aluminum alloy, Al 2024-T3. To validate surface observations of such early signs of damage, X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography (μ-CT) scans were made to investigate the relation between particle size and chemical balance with local grain structure and crystallography. In addition, an effort was made to explore the effect of specimen geometry and loading schemes on the occurrence of particle fracture activity as well its evolution throughout the early stages of the specimen life. Furthermore, a machine learning approach was developed in an attempt to post-process the available NDE data and relate it to particle fracture activity.
Modular Dissipation Analysis for QCA

A modular approach for determination of lower bounds on heat dissipation in clocked quantum-cellular automata (QCA) circuits is proposed, and its application is illustrated. This approach, which is based on a methodology developed previously for determining dissipation bounds in nanocomputing technologies, simplifies analysis of clocked QCA circuits that are designed according to specified design rules. Fundamental lower bounds on the dissipative costs of irreversible information loss for a (generally large and complex) QCA circuit are obtained in the modular approach by (i) decomposing the circuit into smaller zones, (ii) obtaining dissipation bounds for the individual circuit zones, and (iii) combining results from the individual-zone analyses into a single bound for the full circuit. The decomposition strategy is specifically designed to enable this analytical simplification while ensuring that the consequences of intercellular interactions across zone boundaries - interactions that determine the reversibility of local information loss in individual zone - are fully preserved and properly captured in the modular analysis. Application of this approach to dissipation analysis of a QCA half adder is illustrated, and prospects of using the modular approach for automation of QCA dissipation analyses is briefly discussed.
Case Western’s ADPS System

Case Western Reserve University’s ADPS (A Data Path Synthesizer) system includes scheduling and data path synthesis.
P038 Donor specific anti-a titer for abo incompatible (ABOi) living kidney transplantation

To increase the donor options for our active living kidney donor program, candidates who are blood group B may receive a living donor transplant from a non-A1 or non-A1B donor. ABO incompatible donors (ABOi) are no longer an absolute contraindication for kidney transplantation as long as the recipient titer against ABO A is low. It is well known that there are several variations of non-A1 blood groups, and therefore measurement of anti-A titer against commercial A1 or A2 cells may not provide an accurate measurement of donor reactive IgG antibody to blood group A antigens. Therefore, we have initiated a strategy of assessing anti-A titers using red cells from the prospective non-A1 donor being evaluated. The candidate will have initial non-A1 titers performed with commercially produced A2 red cells as well as red cells from the intended living donor. This will help identify the rare instance of a more or less immunogenic ABO A subgroup. Recipient sera is serially diluted with saline from 1:1 to 1:32 in a standard tube assay. One drop of RBC suspension (50 ul) is added to 2 drops (100 ul) of each sera dilution. Tubes are incubated at RT for 30 min, centrifuged and agglutination macroscopically observed and recorded. This provides measurement of the IgM non-A1 titer present in the recipient. Tubes are then incubated at 37C for 30 min, washed 4 times with saline, IgG added, then centrifuged and agglutination recorded again to provide IgG non-A1 titer results. To be considered compatible for non-A1 or non-A1B donors, the IgG titer obtained with A2 reagent cells should be no higher than 1:16, and no greater than 1:8 with the intended living donor. Titers must be repeated within 48 h prior to transplant. Consistent with initial testing, IgG non-A1 titer results at the time of transplant are considered acceptable if the titer is no greater than 1:16 against commercial A2 red cells, and 1:8 against the red cells of the intended deceased donor. As of the date of this submission we have performed two such ABOi transplants using this testing methodology, with no rejection episodes occurring thus far.
Label-Free Proteomic Approach to Characterize Protease-Dependent and -Independent Effects of sarA Inactivation on the Staphylococcus aureus Exoproteome

The staphylococcal accessory regulator A ( sarA) impacts the extracellular accumulation of Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors at the level of intracellular production and extracellular protease-mediated degradation. We previously used a proteomics approach that measures protein abundance of all proteoforms to demonstrate that mutation of sarA results in increased levels of extracellular proteases and assesses the impact of this on the accumulation of S. aureus exoproteins. Our previous approach was limited as it did not take into account that large, stable proteolytic products from a given protein could result in false negatives when quantified by total proteoforms. Here, our goal was to use an expanded proteomics approach utilizing a dual quantitative method for measuring abundance at both the total proteoform and full-length exoprotein levels to alleviate these false negatives and thereby provide for characterization of protease-dependent and -independent effects of sarA mutation on the S. aureus exoproteome. Proteins present in conditioned medium from overnight, stationary phase cultures of the USA300 strain LAC, an isogenic sarA mutant, and a sarA mutant unable to produce any of the known extracellular proteases ( sarA/protease) were resolved using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Quantitative proteomic comparisons of sarA versus sarA/protease mutants identified proteins that were cleaved in a protease-dependent manner owing to mutation of sarA, and comparisons of sarA/protease mutant versus the LAC parent strain identified proteins in which abundance was altered in a sarA mutant in a protease-independent manner. Furthermore, the proteins uniquely identified by the full-length data analysis approach eliminated false negatives observed in the total proteoform analysis. This expanded approach provided for a more comprehensive analysis of the impact of mutating sarA on the S. aureus exoproteome.
Model potential study of non-valence correlation-bound anions of (C60)n clusters: the role of electric field-induced charge transfer

A polarization model which accounts for electric field-induced charge transfer between fullerene molecules is introduced. Application of this model to the C60 dimer and trimer shows that intermolecular charge transfer makes a significant contribution to the polarizabilities of these clusters. This polarization model is incorporated into a one-electron Hamiltonian for describing non-valence correlation-bound anions, allowing us to further demonstrate that intermolecular charge transfer also results in increased stability of these anion states.
Constructive Analytical Phasing (CAP) for Arbitrarily Oriented Arrays of Linearly Polarized Elements

In this paper, we present a near-optimal phasing method, referred to as Constructive Analytical Phasing (CAP) to perform beamforming for arbitrary oriented antenna arrays of linearly polarized elements. Also, we investigate the resulting electric far-field polarization using Monte Carlo simulations. This simple but efficient method enables us to direct the beam to any desired point in space. In addition, it can be utilized to speed up any further optimization goals for a variety of antenna performance parameters such as pattern synthesis and side lobe level (SLL) reduction.
Can “Dangerous Memories” be Communicated? Extending Insights from the Intercultural Theology of Robert J. Schreiter into Dialogue with Subculture and Racialization

Robert J. Schreiter's groundbreaking work on the connection between theological discourse and intercultural hermeneutics is a sound foundation for a theological project that engages culture and its connection to globalization and racialization within the United States. This essay extends insights from Schreiter's work to bear upon the theological problem within the US context of communicating "dangerous memories" of racialized suffering by bringing Schreiter's insights regarding semiotics and intercultural hermeneutics into engagement with the concepts of subculture and racialization. I conclude that this approach can assist theological communication of "dangerous memories" of racialized suffering through highlighting the aberrant theological anthropology conferred through racialization-and its dehumanizing hierarchy of race that offers and prohibits access to the benefits of globalized society depending upon one's entrance into "whiteness"-and semiotically focusing upon culture and subculture as the locations through which communication is possible. Such an approach may lead to a broader, re-humanizing reinterpretation of the signs, codes, and messages that are intertwined with phenotype.
Hózhó: Promoting sleep health among Navajo caregivers.

Abstract Objectives This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a sleep health education intervention for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities (DD). Design This mixed-methods pilot study utilized repeated measures and caregiver interviews. Setting The intervention occurred in the homes of caregivers who live on the Navajo Nation. Participants Fifteen caregivers of children with DD aged from birth to 3 years old participated. Intervention The intervention consisted of three 1-hour home-based sessions. Educational modules were tailored to specific sleep issues of the caregiver and their child(ren), as well as the unique environmental and cultural features of Navajo families. Measurements Quantitative measures included a sleep habits questionnaire, pre- and postmeasures of learning, and the SF-12 HRQoL. Quantitative data were analyzed with frequencies and repeated measures analyses with p .05. Qualitative comments regarding facilitators and detractors to healthy sleep were transcribed verbatim and categorized into themes. Results Caregiver sleep duration increased by 2 hours (5.8±1.8 to 7.8±1.9, p = .005). Caregivers also reported improved physical (45.0±8.2 to 52.8+8.7 p = .001) and mental HR-QoL (41.8±8.9 to 49.3±10.9, p = .002), and enhanced knowledge of sleep disorders (13.4±4.0 to 20.7±5.6) and healthy sleep habits (15.7±4.1 to 25.4±3.4 each p = .005). Many participants reported better sleep quality in their children with earlier bedtimes and less night waking. Conclusions Findings suggest that this tailored sleep education program is a culturally responsive approach to promoting caregiver sleep health and HR-QoL, as well as the sleep health of their children. Caregivers credited improved sleep to the support they received during visits and text messaging.
AP-2γ is Required for Maintenance of Pluripotent Mammary Stem Cells

SUMMARY Mammary gland ductal morphogenesis depends on the differentiation of mammary stem cells (MaSCs) into basal and luminal lineages. The AP-2γ transcription factor, encoded by Tfap2c, has a central role in mammary gland development but its effect in mammary lineages and specifically MaSCs is largely unknown. Herein, we utilized an inducible, conditional knockout of Tfap2c to elucidate the role of AP-2γ in maintenance and differentiation of MaSCs. Loss of AP-2γ in the basal epithelium profoundly altered the transcriptomes and decreased the number of cells within several clusters of mammary epithelial cells, including adult MaSCs and luminal progenitors. AP-2γ regulated the expression of genes known to be required for mammary development including C/EBPβ, IκBα, and Rspo1. As a result, AP-2γ-deficient mice exhibited repressed mammary gland ductal outgrowth and inhibition of regenerative capacity. The findings demonstrate that AP-2γ is required for maintenance of pluripotent MaSCs and their ability to develop mammary gland structures. Highlights AP-2γ-deficient mice exhibited repressed ductal outgrowth and regenerative capacity Loss of AP-2γ reduced the number of mammary stem and luminal progenitor cells AP-2γ target genes, including C/EBPβ, IκBα, and Rspo1, regulate mammary development AP-2γ is required for maintenance of pluripotent mammary stem cells eTOC blurb Gu, Cho and colleagues utilized a conditional knockout of Tfap2c to examine transcriptional effects of AP-2γ on mammary stem cells. Single cell analysis demonstrated that AP-2γ-deficient mice have decreased numbers of mammary stem cells and alteration of genes required for mammary development including C/EBPβ, IκBα, and Rspo1. They demonstrate that AP-2γ is necessary for maintenance of pluripotent mammary stem cells.
Seven transformative crises from European revolution to corona: globalization and state capacity

The article considers crises of globalization: the 1840s, the 1870s, the Great War, the Great Depression, the Great Inflation (1970s), the Global Financial Crisis (2008) and the Great Lockdown (2020). Each led to a reshaping of the institutions that supervised or regulated economic development globally but also nationally. In each case, a series of questions are answered: what were the origins of the crisis, what were the monetary and fiscal policy responses, how did the crisis affect the drivers of globalization, trade, migration and capital flows? And how did these different challenges affect governance and views of politics? The article concludes that supply shocks are most easily dealt with by inflationary mechanisms, allowing groups to gain some apparent compensation for their losses through the supply shock. But the resulting mobilization into groups also strains social cohesion.
Infrared and Holographic Aspects of the $S$-Matrix in Gauge Theory and Gravity

Soft theorems in gauge theory and gravity encode the universal properties of scattering amplitudes as the zero frequency limit of one or more external states is approached. When the participating particles are treated in the massless limit, the soft theorems are known to depend only on the directions of the states on null infinity. Leveraging this fact, we develop dual two-dimensional descriptions of soft theorems, recasting them as Ward identities of such dual models on the celestial sphere. This is done by first postulating putative holographic representations of the hard scattering amplitudes and dressing the asymptotic operators with appropriate two-dimensional analogues of the Wilson line. The soft theorems are then recovered by inserting currents that generate the Ward identities of the dual models. In addition to providing naturally holographic representations of the soft theorems, we see that it becomes possible to develop presentations of the asymptotic symmetries associated to these theorems entirely in terms of the dual two-dimensional fields. In the course of carrying out this analysis for soft theorems at leading order and beyond, we find that the two-dimensional dual description of soft theorems may be directly inferred by drawing analogies with the existing framework of asymptotic symmetry charges. We find that the soft charges generating the asymptotic symmetries can be brought into correspondence with dual two-dimensional currents, while the two-dimensional Wilson loops can be related to the hard parts of the conserved charges. Consequently, we rewrite the triality of asymptotic symmetries, soft theorems and conserved charges directly in the language of a class of two-dimensional theories.
Tolerance of 2-benzoxazolinone and interactions with grass and pine hosts in a population of Fusarium circinatum

Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pitch canker in pines and a cryptic endophyte of grasses, was examined for heritable variation in tolerance of the grass defense compound 2-benzoxazolinone ...
Circumscribing System Dynamics Modeling and Building Confidence in Models a Personal Perspective

While there is a consensus among system dynamics scholars that the dichotomous term validity must be replaced by the term confidence for system dynamics models, it is unclear what qualifies as a system dynamics model – a computational instrument for forecasting, or an experimental tool to inform the policy process? And what exactly needs to be done to build confidence in a model? Confidence building process is described in the system dynamics writings at a rather philosophical level that can be used to justify almost any model. The confidence building procedures provided in the text books are sketchy, do not distinguish between forecasting and policy models and do not adequately describe the iterative process subsumed in the various steps of model construction that might yield confidence. Confidence in forecasting models is an article of faith no matter how detailed they might be and how diligent is their calibration. Forecasting models are albeit irrelevant to system dynamics practice, which must focus on policy. This paper revisits the problem of confidence in system dynamics models addressing policy and attempts to carefully describe their qualification and the process that practitioners must follow to arrive at them.
Impacts of school feeding on educational and health outcomes of school-age children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background School feeding programs are ubiquitous in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and may have critical implications for the health and education of school-age children and adolescents. This systematic review aimed to assess the impacts of school feeding on educational and health outcomes of children and adolescents in LMICs. Methods Interventional studies on the effects of school feeding on nutritional and health outcomes of children and adolescents receiving primary or secondary education in LMICs were included. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and grey literature were searched (through December 2019) to identify eligible studies. We included randomized controlled trials and controlled before-after studies on school feeding conducted in LMICs among children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 who received primary or secondary education. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Meta-analyses were performed for outcomes available in three or more independent studies. Subgroup analyses were conducted by study design and school feeding modality whenever possible. Results Fifty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria for the review, including 44 randomized controlled trials and 13 controlled before-after studies; 19 articles were included in the meta-analysis. School feeding resulted in a significant increase in height (mean difference = 0.32 cm; confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.61; P = 0.032) and weight (mean difference: 0.58 kg; 95% 95% CI = 0.22, 0.93; P = 0.001) over 12 months, compared to those in the control groups. School feeding also resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of school days attended (2.6%; 95% CI = 1.2%, 3.9%; P < 0.001). Conclusions School feeding is an important approach to improving the health and education outcomes of children and adolescents living in LMICs. More well-designed research is needed to establish further the effectiveness of school feeding for nutritional outcomes and academic achievement. Registration PROSPERO ID: CRD42020159003.
The Child as a Research Subject

Like many eminent child psychologists such as Binet, Piaget, Stern, and others, Valentine (1942) used his own children as subjects in his studies on child development. One of them, in later years, was asked whether he resented his father’s professional approach toward him when he was small and answered that, on the contrary, he remembered his childhood as a most pleasing and fascinating experience. Not many individuals, he thought, could claim to have had the undivided attention and boundless interest of a parent during their entire development. He recalled endless hours of play with delightful and challenging materials. It was no concern of his at the time whether his father’s rapt circumspection had affectional or academic sources, but he suspected, looking back, that there was a good deal of both.
Selective therapy for early cancer of the cervix: I. Surgically explored nonresected cases

Abstract During 1967–1976, 337 new cases of cancer of the cervix, stages IB and IIA, were treated in our Institution. Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was the preferred mode of therapy. It was used in 254 patients. In 36, radical hysterectomy was selectively abandoned as therapy after surgical exploration where greater extension of disease was found than clinically suspected, and in one patient surgical therapy was not done because of coexisting cancer of the breast. One patient had primary pelvic exenteration and 36 were treated by radiation therapy. The extension of disease in these patients is analyzed by a modified Meigs-Brunschwig surgical and pathologic classification. The 3-year survival following other therapy was 50% among 24 patients. The most favorable mode of spread was paracervical extension without involvement of pelvic or periaortic lymph nodes. The most devastating was metastases to periaortic nodes. Only one out of seven patients was alive at 3 years. The complication rate with radiation therapy following surgical exploration was low.
Optically induced nitrogen dangling-bonds in amorphous hydrogenated silicon nitride thin films

Using X-band and Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) microwave frequencies, we have confirmed a model for the ultraviolet (UV) induced nitrogen dangling bond in N-rich amorphous hydrogenated silicon nitride thin films. We also report for the first time that the UV-induced N dangling bonds can be photo-bleached (light induced annealing) by sub-bandgap light. Since the photo-bleaching phenomenon is reversible, i. e., these defect centers can be reversibly photo-created or photo-bleached—a process requiring short or long-wave UV, respectively—without any change in the net space charge density of the films, it is suggested that an optical rearrangement of spin state and charge state of positive, negative, and neutral nitrogen sites occurs. This study has also shown that the N dangling bond is an electrically active point defect in these thin films.
Interleukin 2 (IL 2) administered in vivo: influence of IL 2 route and timing on T cell growth

The influence of the route and the frequency of IL 2 administration on the ability of IL 2 to induce the growth of activated T cells in vivo was evaluated. Initial pharmacokinetic studies confirmed that i.v. injection of IL 2 results in a relatively high peak serum concentration, but a short serum half-life. By contrast, i.p. or subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of IL 2 results in a lower peak concentration but a prolonged serum half-life. The bioavailability of IL 2 administered by these routes was assessed by measuring the in vivo growth of adoptively transferred T cells that had been previously cultured long-term with IL 2, because the growth of such cells in vivo has been shown to be proportional to the dose of IL 2 administered. The results demonstrated that i.p., s.c., or i.v. administration of IL 2 each resulted in marked donor T cell growth in vivo. Thus, IL 2 can function in vivo at sites distant to the sites of injection. In addition, the magnitude of T cell growth in vivo varied dependent on the route of IL 2 administration and correlated with the length of time IL 2 was detectable in serum, rather than the peak level achieved (i.e., IL 2 inoculated i.v. had the highest peak concentration but was least effective). As suggested by these findings, dividing the total dose of IL 2 into frequent low-dose injections was more effective in inducing T cell growth in vivo than was dividing the total dose of IL 2 into less frequent higher-dose injections. These studies confirm the great potential for IL 2 to induce the growth of activated of T cells in vivo and demonstrate that the rate of T cell growth reflects not only the dose but also the route and timing of IL 2 administration.
Clarifying the Nature and Structure of Personality Disorder

Past research has suggested that personality disorders (PDs) are best conceptualized as a maladaptive extreme variants of the same traits that define general personality. Such a dimensional approach to PD classification has officially been included in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as an alternative diagnostic model for PD. The current essay provides an overview of the rationale for the dimensional approach to PDs and highlights compelling directions for future research. Keywords: personality; personality disorder; five-factor model; DSM-5
Hybridization of the ant colony optimization with the k-means algorithm for clustering

In this paper the novel concept of ACO and its learning mechanism is integrated with the K-means algorithm to solve image clustering problems. The learning mechanism of the proposed algorithm is obtained by using the defined parameter called pheromone, by which undesired solutions of the K-means algorithm is omitted. The proposed method improves the K-means algorithm by making it less dependent on the initial parameters such as randomly chosen initial cluster centers, hence more stable.
Coexistence of Collocated IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth Technologies in 2.4 GHz ISM Band

In this paper, we investigate coexistence of collocated 802.11 and Bluetooth technologies in 2.4 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. To that end, we show a time division multiplexing approach suffers from the “avalanche effect”. We then provide remedies to avoid this effect and improve the performance of the overall network. For example, it is shown that a simple request-to-send (RTS) / clear-to-send (CTS) frame handshake in WLAN can avoid “avalanche effect” and improve the performance of overall network.
MSW effect in quantum field theory

We show in detail the general relationship between the Schr\"odinger equation approach to calculating the MSW effect and the quantum field-theoretical S-matrix approach. We show the precise form a generic neutrino propagator must have to allow a physically meaningful ``oscillation probability'' to be decoupled from neutrino production fluxes and detection cross sections, and explicitly list the conditions---not realized in cases of current experimental interest---in which the field theory approach would be useful.
Patterns of care, associations and outcomes of chemotherapy for uterine serous carcinoma: analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Abstract Objective Evaluate rates of chemotherapy and radiotherapy delivery in the treatment of uterine serous carcinoma, and compare clinical outcomes of treated and untreated patients. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried to identify patients diagnosed with uterine serous carcinoma between 2003 and 2011. The impact of chemotherapy on survival was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Factors predictive of outcome were compared using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results A total of 13,752 patients met the study eligibility criteria. Stage I, II, III, and IV disease accounted for 4355 (31.7%), 1023 (7.4%), 3484 (25.3%), and 2451 (17.8%) of the study population, respectively. 2439 (17.7%) women had unknown stage. Chemotherapy was administered in 4290 (35.4%) patients, radiotherapy to 1673 (12.2%), adjuvant chemo-radiation to 2915 (21.2%), and 4874 (35.4%) of women did not receive adjuvant therapy during the study period. Utilization of chemotherapy became more frequent over time. Over the entire study period, after adjusting for age, period of diagnosis, race, facility location, facility type, insurance provider, socioeconomic status, comorbidity index, lymph node dissection, treatment modality, and stage, there was an association between treatment modality and survival, with the lowest hazard ratio in patients that received chemo-radiation. After adjusting for the same factors in women with stages I and II, chemo-radiation was associated with improved survival compared to patients that received no treatment. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone was not associated with improved survival. Conclusion Utilization of chemotherapy is increased in this population over the study period from 2003–2012 and more importantly that survival, particularly in advanced stage patients, is improving.
BUENOS AIRES SYMPOSIUM ON DEFINITE DESCRIPTIONS:RESPONSES

Resumen en: The present article contains a defense of the thesis that definite descriptions can have referential meanings that include a descriptive component from t...
Collective bargaining and community colleges

This chapter reviews the three-decade history of collective bargaining at community colleges and analyzes how collective bargaining has altered critical areas in the life of community colleges.
Continuous Wave (cw) Doppler Free Two-Photon Frequency Modulated (FM) Spectroscopy

oppler-free two-photon absorption and two-photon dispersion spectra of Rb87 have been taken by FM spectroscopy. Sensitivity achieved is comparable to fluorescence detection. The technique can be readily applied where fluorescence is difficult to detect.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
CuZero: embracing the frontier of interactive visual search for informed users

Users of most visual search systems suffer from two primary sources of frustration. Before a search over this data is executed, a query must be formulated. Traditional keyword search systems offer only passive, non-interactive input, which frustrates users that are unfamiliar with the search topic or the target data set. Additionally, after query formulation, result inspection is often relegated to a tiresome, linear inspection of results bound to a single query. In this paper, we reexamine the struggles that users encounter with existing paradigms and present a solution prototype system, CuZero. CuZero employs a unique query process that allows zero-latency query formulation for an informed human search. Relevant visual concepts discovered from various strategies (lexical mapping, statistical occurrence, and search result mining) are automatically recommended in real time after users enter each single word. CuZero also introduces a new intuitive visualization system that allows users to navigate seamlessly in the concept space at-will and simultaneously while displaying the results corresponding to arbitrary permutations of multiple concepts in real time. The result is the creation of an environment that allows the user to rapidly scan many different query permutations without additional query reformulation. Such a navigation system also allows efficient exploration of different types of queries, such as semantic concepts, visual descriptors, and example content, all within one navigation session as opposed to the repetitive trials used in conventional systems.
DEPP Co-Extruded Functionally Graded Piezoceramics

Functionally Graded Piezoceramics (FGP) offer performance similar to conventional piezoceramic actuators while reducing the problems associated with their bonded construction (high stress levels, large stress discontinuities, delamination, etc.). This paper presents the Dual Electro/Piezo Property (DEPP) gradient method and the tools necessary for designing, modeling, and producing DEPP FGP actuators including: material property gradient maps, a Micro-Fabrication by Co-eXtrusion (MFCX) process, and experimentally validated analytic and numeric performance and stress modeling methodologies that account for continuous and layered material gradients and complex electric field profiles. These models predict a dramatic internal stress reduction achieved by the DEPP method. Preliminary reliability testing confirm this with an increase in piezoelectric actuator lifetimes over 1010 cycles, improvement of almost four orders of magnitude compared to conventional piezoceramic actuation.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Synthesis of metastable carbon-silicon-nitrogen compounds by ion implantation

The feasibility of carbon-silicon nitride formation (β−Si1.5C1.5N4, the homologue of equilibrium β−Si3N4 or hypothetical β−C3N4) has been investigated by high dose N+ implantation into polycrystalline β−SiC (cubic phase). Thin films were formed using 100 keV implantations with varying ion doses and target temperatures. X-ray diffraction with a position-sensitive detector and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy revealed that the as-implanted surfaces contained ∼0.1 μm thick buried amorphous layers. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy showed that the peak concentration of nitrogen saturated up to approximately 54 at.% with increasing doses, suggesting formation of a new phase.
Treatment of Recurrent Squamous Papillomata of the Conjunctiva by Carbon Dioxide Laser Vaporization

Abstract Complete resection of recurrent conjunctival squamous papillomata frequently may be exceedingly difficult, since such lesions are typically friable and multilobulated. Recurrent lesions often fill the fornicies and spill onto the lid margins. Moreover, since the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to some of these lesions, there remains the further possibility of spread with “cold knife” resection. We discuss the benefits of carbon dioxide laser vaporization therapy for recurrent squamous papillomata of the conjunctiva that have not responded to resection and cryotherapy or topical immunotherapy. The carbon dioxide laser facilitates resection by providing a bloodless field, and reduces the possibility of viral seeding of the conjunctiva by sterilizing the operative site and sealing the lymphatics.
Non-linear resonances in quadrupole mass spectrometers due to imperfect fields I. The quadrupole ion trap

Abstract Peak-shape distortions and peak-splitting are commonly observed phenomena with all members of the quadrupole family of mass spectrometers. Errors in electrode shape, or spacing, or harmonies in the r.f. field may produce non-linear resonances. The resonances result in peak splitting by causing some ion trajectories to become unstable that otherwise, in a perfect field, would be stable and limited in amplitude. A theory of non-linear resonances in quadrupole fields was applied to the three-dimensional rotationally symmetric quadrupole ion trap to predict resonance locations in the Mathieu stability diagram. Numerical computation of trajectories was used to derive peak shapes for various amounts of distortion and to determine the extent of peak-splitting. The calculations were used to relate the performance to the spacing errors in assembling the electrode structure. The occurrence of resonances, in agreement with this theory, was experimentally demonstrated. A method is presented for obtaining good peak shapes in spite of the presence of field distortions, but with some loss in sensitivity. This method was investigated both experimentally and theoretically.
Regulation of valvular interstitial cell calcification by components of the extracellular matrix

Understanding the interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) components and valvular interstitial cells (VICs) is relevant to both treating heart valve disease and designing heart valve tissue engineering scaffolds, yet the VIC-ECM relationship has not been well characterized. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize VIC-ECM interactions, paying specific attention to whether ECM composition affected the in vitro calcification of VICs. Our results show that the number and size of calcific nodules formed in VIC cultures, as well as the expression of the mineralization markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and CBFa1, were highly dependent upon the composition of the culture surface. VICs cultured on certain ECM components, that is, collagen and fibronectin, were resistant to calcification, even upon treatment with mineralization-inducing growth factors. Meanwhile, cultures of VICs on fibrin, laminin, and heparin coatings had a high number of calcified nodules, although only VICs on fibrin expressed significantly elevated levels of ALP and CBFa1. Nodule composition analysis revealed the presence of multiple types of mineralization. Although apoptotic and necrotic cells were more concentrated in nodules, these nodules did contain a strong majority population of viable cells. Characterizing this ECM-dependence of VIC calcification will help us to identify appropriate biomaterial environments for heart valve tissue engineering as well as elucidate mechanisms of valvular disease.