cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes after Surgery for Spinal Metastasis of Colorectal Origin: Case Series

Study design Retrospective study. Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical management and outcomes of patients who underwent surgical intervention for metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma of the spine. Overview of literature Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer metastasis to the spine are relatively rare and represent later manifestations of the disease. Studies and reports on the outcomes of patients who undergo surgery for spinal metastasis of GI origin are scarce. Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastasis of colorectal origin was performed. Four patients were identified. Patient characteristics, outcomes, and survival were analyzed. Results Two patients experienced improvement in pain or myelopathic symptoms. Although the mean survival was 15.3 months, this average included a patient still living at 57.1 months. The mean survival was just 1.3 months for the 3 patients who expired. Conclusions In certain cases, symptomatic improvement with prolonged survival is possible after surgery for metastatic spinal lesions of colorectal origin; however, survival is poor in the majority of cases.
Kinetics and pathways of charge recombination in photosystem II.

The mechanism of charge recombination of the S2QA- state in photosystem II was investigated by modifying the free energy gap between the quinone acceptor QA and the primary pheophytin acceptor Ph. This was done either by changing the midpoint potential of Ph (using mutants of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis with a modified hydrogen bond to this cofactor), or that of QA (using different inhibitors of the QB pocket). The results show that the recombination rate is dependent on the free energy gap between Ph and QA, which confirms that the indirect recombination pathway involving formation of Ph- has a significant contribution. In the mutant with the largest free energy gap, direct electron transfer from QA- to P+ predominates. The temperature dependence of the recombination rate was investigated, showing a lower activation enthalpy in this mutant compared with the WT. The data allow the determination of the rate of the direct route and of its relative weight in the various strains. The set of currently acc...
Saturn: an automatic test generation system for digital circuits

This paper describes a novel test generation system, called Saturn, for testing digital circuits. The system differs from existing test generation systems in that it allows a designer to specify the structure and behavior of a design at a collection of abstraction levels that mirror the design refinement process. The system exploits the abstract design formulations to increase the efficiency of test generation by ignoring irrelevant detail whenever possible. These capabilities are made possible by using general representation and reasoning methods based on logic, which provide a declarative representation of a design, and permit using a single inference procedure for reasoning both forwards and backwards through the design for test generation.
Gender differences among Alaska Native people seeking alcohol withdrawal treatment.

ABSTRACTBackground: Few studies focus on gender differences among patients who utilize detoxification services; even fewer focus on detoxification for Alaska Native people. This analysis focused on gender differences at admission among a sample of Alaska Native patients seeking alcohol withdrawal treatment. Methods: The sample included 383 adult Alaska Native patients admitted to an inpatient alcohol detoxification unit during 2006 and 2007. Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted associations with gender. Results: Women were 88% more likely to have stable housing than men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15, 3.05, P = .01). Women were 87% less likely to be seasonal workers (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.48, P = .003) and 50% less likely than men to be seeking employment (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.84, P = .01) at admission. Women had more than 5 times the odds of having children in the home at admission (OR = 5.64, 95% CI = 3.03, 10.56, P < .001) and almos...
Practical Considerations in Electron Beam Testing

Electron beam testing has made the difficult transition from a laboratory idea to a technique that engineers are demanding for common use. It now enjoys success in both commercial equipment and many homemade systems. Despite successes, EBT remains a complicated technique with many variations and pitfalls. Many of the techniques that electron beam tester operators need to use their systems effectively are not well documented and must be rediscovered by each new user. This can be a time-consuming and frustrating process, especially for those asked to operate testers without a good fundamental understanding of how changes in operating conditions can affect measurements.
3-D Implicit Terrain Mapping and Path Planning for Autonomous MAV Flight in Urban Environments

This paper discusses the development, implementation, and testing of two component algorithms for integration into a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system designed to enable MAVs, or small UAVs, to operate autonomously in urban environments. First, implicit 3-D terrain algorithms are implemented to generate accurate mathematical representations of complex 3-D terrain features commonly found in urban environments, such as bridges and overhangs. These algorithms operate on 3-D point cloud data, obtained via LIDAR measurements or structure from motion (SFM) processing of imagery, to construct a 3-D isosurface that encapsulates the data. Then, a receding horizon path planning algorithm is developed to compute kinematically-feasible paths for the vehicle that incorporate obstacle avoidance constraints derived from the implicit 3-D terrain representations. These algorithms are validated through simulation studies in a virtual urban environment and preliminary experimental results are presented in which the algorithms are applied to data collected from a sensor suite mounted on a ground vehicle.
Understanding the Mechanism of Interbed Multiple Generation Using VSP Data

The paper presents a new approach of using Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) data for the identification of interbed multiples and understanding their generation mechanism. In this approach three different wavefields are generated from the raw VSP data, each by a different deconvolution operation: waveshaping, reference trace and conventional trace-by-trace deconvolution. The difference wavefields obtained from these datasets allow us to discriminate between surface and interbed multiples and also determine the complete travel path for each major interbed multiple. The suggested technique was applied on modeled and real VSP data from the Arabian Gulf. The proposed method can be used not only at the interpretation stage to identify multiple events on surface seismic data, but more importantly, during the processing stage to guide multiple removal procedures.
Boll Weevil Oviposition Responses in Cotton Squares and Various Other Substrates

Laboratory experiments conducted in 1961-62 at Baton Rouge, La., showed that boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, preferred cotton squares weighing about 319 mg for oviposition. Square size and coating with paraffin on squares had very little influence on puncturing preference. Weevils punctured paraffin shells with curved tops more frequently than those with flat tops. Shells about 8 mm in diameter and 9 mm high were preferred to larger shells. A water-soluble component of cotton anthers stimulated egg deposition. This material, not extractable with acetone. passed through a cellophane dialysis membrane.
Toward Refining the Criminology of Mass Incarceration Group-Based Trajectories of U.S. States, 1977–2010

The development of mass incarceration in the United States has occurred unevenly across American states. Prior time series, fixed effect, and case study research have failed to fully illuminate the...
Cross-National Trends in Religious Service Attendance

The nature of religious change and the future of religion have been central questions of social science since its inception. But empirical research on this question has been quite American-centric, encouraged by the conventional wisdom that the United States is an outlier of religiosity in the developed world, and, more pragmatically, by the availability of survey data. The dramatic growth in the number and reach of cross-national surveys over the past two decades has offered a corrective. These data have allowed research on religious trends in the United States, Canada, and Europe, putting American trends into comparative relief. This research synthesis reviews the past quarter century of cross-national comparative survey research on religious behavior, focusing on religious service attendance as a commonly measured behavior that is arguably more equivalent across societies and cultures than other measures of religiosity. The lack of evidence for religious revival is highlighted, noting instead declining rates of attendance in the United States and Canada, and either declining rates or low "bottomed-out" stability in Western Europe, most of Eastern Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. Finally, countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia are discussed to the extent that research allows, before a call for future research-in these places in particular-is made in order to correct for the Western and Christian focus of much of the research on cross-national religious trends.
Self-Administered Nicotine Suppresses Body Weight Gain Independent of Food Intake in Male Rats

Introduction The action of nicotine to suppress body weight is often cited as a factor impacting smoking initiation and the failure to quit. Despite the weight-suppressant effects of nicotine, smokers and nonsmokers report equal daily caloric intake. The weight-suppressive effects of nicotine in animal models of smoking are poorly understood. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration has authority to implement a policy markedly reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes; such a reduction could reduce smoking behavior, but have detrimental effects on body weight. The aim of this investigation was to examine the effects of self-administered nicotine on body weight and food intake in rats. Methods In Experiment 1, rats with ad libitum access to chow responded for intravenous infusions of nicotine (60 µg/kg/infusion) or saline in daily 1-hour sessions; body weight and 24-hour food intake were measured. Experiment 2 tested the effects of subcutaneous injections of nicotine on food intake. In Experiment 3, rats were food restricted and self-administered nicotine across a range of doses (3.75-60 µg/kg/infusion) while body weight was measured. In Experiment 4, rats self-administered 60 µg/kg/infusion nicotine before reduction to one of several doses (1.875-15 µg/kg/infusion) for 50 days. Results Self-administered nicotine suppressed weight gain independent of food intake. In food restricted rats, self-administered nicotine dose-dependently suppressed body weight gain. In rats self-administering 60 µg/kg/infusion nicotine, dose reduction increased body weight. Conclusions Self-administered nicotine, even at low doses, suppressed body independent of food intake; this may have important implications for nicotine reduction policy. Implications The results of the present studies demonstrate that self-administered nicotine suppresses body weight independent of food intake in rats. Further, the present studies establish that self-administered nicotine suppresses body weight even at very low doses and that reduction of nicotine dose results in weight gain. These results have important implications for nicotine reduction policy.
Differential reporting of drug use among gay, bisexual and transgender stimulant-using homeless adults post intervention

AbstractHomeless gay and bisexual (G/B) men, and transgender female stimulant users are at high risk for continued substance use and dependency; yet, there is a limited understanding of reasons for differential reporting of drug use (defined as different outcomes of drug use when assessed by self-report versus urinalysis) post intervention among this population. This study examined self-reported drug use versus urinalysis reporting at four-month follow-up evaluation of a longitudinal study conducted among 166 G/B and transgender stimulant-using homeless adults. Follow-up data were collected from a two-group intervention focused on reducing stimulants and other illicit drug use as well as promoting HBV, HCV and HIV disease prevention. Findings of logistic regression revealed that transgender women and those who reported fair-or-poor health were more likely to self-report drug use which differed from the urinalysis biomarker. Amphetamines were the drugs most often differentially reported, possibly due to th...
Mobilizing Global Business for a Healthier World

GBCHealth (formerly the Global Business Coalition) has sought to apply the unique skills and expertise of the for profit world in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria, TB, and other global health problems. Founded in 2001, GBCHealth is dedicated to “mobilizing business for a healthier world.” The alliance has rapidly grown from 17 to 220-plus international companies headquartered in over 30 different countries and representing all parts of the world; different workforces, industries, and geographical regions. A sharper focus is given to this analysis of GBCHealth’s within and cross-sector initiatives and accomplishments with use of an inter-organizational theory-based framework. This commitment by GBCHealth and alliance partners is a hopeful act of social responsibility that represents awareness of correlated fates as well as good business sense.
A LAMSTAR Network-Based Human Judgment Analysis

Judgment analysis (JA) is a technique for modeling and interpreting human judgments that is usually based on multiple linear regression. However, the linear assumptions inherent to this approach can be limiting for modeling both the human judgments and the environmental criterion. This paper addresses this by introducing a formulation of JA based on large memory storage and retrieval (LAMSTAR) artificial neural networks. We describe our LAMSTAR network JA process and use it to analyze data from an air traffic control conflict prediction task. These results are compared with those of a traditional regression-based lens model analysis. We found that the LAMSTAR-based JA did a better job of capturing human judgment, while the regression-based model was more appropriate for the criterion. This suggest that the LAMSTAR-based JA approach has utility when human judgments are not well represented by a linear model. We discuss our results with respect to both the specific application we evaluated as well as meta-analyses of the JA literature. We also explore avenues for future research.
Does minimalist transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement produce better survival in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives To compare outcomes after minimalist and standard transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Background TF-TAVR is increasingly performed with conscious sedation and transthoracic echocardiography guidance (minimalist). The safety/efficacy of this technique in patients with severe COPD is unknown. Methods We compared demographics, 30-day outcomes and 1-year survival of patients with severe COPD (FEV1% ≤50) who underwent minimalist vs. standard TF-TAVR between 2008 and 2015 at our institution. Results Of 88 patients with severe COPD, 46 underwent minimalist and 42 underwent standard TF-TAVR. There were no differences on baseline characteristics, except for more history of coronary artery bypass grafting (45.5% vs. 20.6%, P = 0.03) and less history of cerebrovascular disease (16.7% vs. 45.5%, P = 0.03) in the standard TF-TAVR. Seventeen minimalist TF-TAVR patients (41.0%) were transferred directly to the general medical ward with telemetry monitoring (without ICU stay); all standard TF-TAVR patients went to the ICU. Minimalist TF-TAVR patients had shorter procedure time (97 vs. 129 min, P < 0.001), ICU time (21.8 vs. 29.8 hr, P = 0.001) and length of stay (2 vs. 5 days, P = 0.001). There were no differences in procedure complications and 30-day mortality between groups. In our multivariate analysis, minimalist TF-TAVR (HR 0.28, 95%CI 0.08–0.97) and previous coronary revascularization (HR 0.24, 95%CI 0.09–0.65) were associated with increased 1-year survival. In contrast, moderate paravalvular leak (HR 7.73, 95%CI 1.94–30.84) was associated with decreased 1-year survival. Conclusion In patients with severe COPD, Minimalist TF-TAVR results in less resource utilization and improved 1-year survival compared to standard approach. Our findings should be validated in a larger cohort of patients with severe COPD. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparing Physical, Virtual, and Hybrid Flipped Labs for General Education Biology

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact on learning, attitudes, and costs in a redesigned general education undergraduate biology course that implemented web-based virtual labs (VLs) to replace traditional physical labs (PLs). Over an academic year, two new modes of VL instruction were compared to the traditional PL offering: (1) all VL with an in-person help center (VL-A) and (2) a hybrid flipped VL model where online labs alternated with in-person labs every week (VL-H). All three lab types included a face-to-face lecture with the same materials. Engaging inquiry-based exercises were developed for each VL activity in which students were provided background information, guided through a series of basic experiments, encouraged to design their own experiments, and required to produce a simple scientific report that was delivered for evaluation electronically. The VL-A group had the highest proportion of repeatable grades (below a C, 2.0 grade points). Students in the VL-H group achieved significantly better grades compared to the other lab instruction groups. The VL-H group also experienced statistically significant favorable shifts in their self-reported attitudes towards biology. The personnel costs for the VL-A and VL-H models were 29% and 63% of the PL model, respectively, allowing more sections to be offered. These results suggest that carefully designed online lab opportunities can result in higher student grades and more favorable attitudes towards science while reducing costs compared to traditional labs.
Statistical Analysis of High-Dimensional Data for Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant disease with a five-year survival rate less than 5%. Advances in modern data collection technology have revolutionized the way that we study the complex biological systems, allowing pancreatic cancer researchers to make genome-wide expression profiling within tumors in a fast, precise, and cost-effective way. How to correctly analyze and interpret the high-dimensional and complex gene expression data is a key to understanding the hidden regulatory mechanisms. In this work, we first introduce a LASSO penalized Cox regression method to identify individual genes that are directly related to survival time of pancreatic cancer patients. A cyclic coordinate descent algorithm is used for the computation of high-dimensional data (number of genes larger than number of patients). Then, we introduce a doubly regularized Cox regression method, which integrates pathway information into our analysis, to identify both genes and signaling pathways related to pancreatic cancer survival. Both methods are applied to a pancreatic cancer microarray dataset and identify several genes and signaling pathways correlated to pancreatic cancer survival. Our findings can help cancer researchers design new strategies for the early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Loss of photosynthetic efficiency in the shade. An Achilles heel for the dense modern stands of our most productive C4 crops

The wild progenitors of major C4 crops grew as individuals subjected to little shading. Today they are grown in dense stands where most leaves are shaded. Do they maintain photosynthetic efficiency in these low light conditions produced by modern cultivation? The apparent maximum quantum yield of CO2 assimilation (φ CO2max, app ), a key determinant of light-limited photosynthesis, has not been systematically studied in field stands of C4 crops. φCO2max, app was derived from the initial slope of the response of leaf CO2 uptake (A) to photon flux (Q). Leaf fractional light absorptance (α) was measured to determine the absolute maximum quantum yield of CO2 assimilation on an absorbed light basis (φCO2max, abs ). Light response curves were determined on sun and shade leaves of 49 field plants of Miscanthus × giganteus and Zea mays following canopy closure. φCO2max, app and φCO2max, abs declined significantly by 15-27% (P<0.05) with canopy depth. Experimentally, leaf age was shown unlikely to cause this loss. Modeling canopy CO2 assimilation over diurnal courses suggested that the observed decline in φCO2max, app with canopy depth costs 10% of potential carbon gain. Overcoming this limitation could substantially increase the productivity of major C4 crops. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.
Modeling neurological disease processes using process algebra

The sheer complexity of pathogenic neurological processes poses a barrier to understanding that impedes the discovery of more effective drugs or drug combinations for the treatment of neurological disorders. Going forward, the principle means of confronting neurological complexity will be computational modeling, and the effort should employ every available tool. Process algebra is a powerful tool developed in computer science for the purpose of analyzing complicated systems. Its recent appearance in computational neuroscience promises to bring new insights into neurological processes. It will be of particular value for in-silico screens of drugs and drug combinations, and will allow modelers not only to show that a particular treatment may be effective but also to reveal its potentially complex mechanism of action.
CT vaginography: a new CT technique for imaging of upper and middle vaginal fistulas.

Objective:Different types of vaginal fistulas is a relatively uncommon condition in the Western world but very frequent in developing countries. In the past, conventional vaginography was the radiological examination of choice for exploring this condition. CT and MRI are now both used for this purpose. Our objective was to test the feasibility and to explore the potential role of a new CT imaging technique implementing vaginal introitus obstruction and opacification of the vagina with iodine contrast agent, to show patency of a fistula.Methods:We describe the technical protocol of CT-vaginography as performed in Geneva University Hospitals, including vaginal catheterization with a Foley catheter and obstruction of the introitus by inflating the balloon of the catheter. We also report three cases of patients with suspected vaginal fistula who underwent CT-vaginography.Results:The examinations were technically successful. In one patient, it revealed the presence of fistulous pathways from the vaginal fornix...
Empirical Study of the Disparity in Radiation Tolerance of the Minority-Carrier Lifetime Between II-VI and III-V MWIR Detector Technologies for Space Applications

The degradation of the minority-carrier recombination lifetime of various III–V nBn and II–VI HgCdTe midwave-infrared space detector materials under stepwise 63-MeV proton irradiation up to fluence of 7.5 × 1011 cm−2 and above has been measured using time-resolved photoluminescence while samples were held at 120 K to limit thermal annealing. As expected, the recombination rate of each sample was found to increase with proton fluence at a nearly constant rate, implying a near-linear increase in defect concentration. The rate of change of the carrier recombination rate, herein called the minority-carrier lifetime damage factor, was then plotted as a function of the initial recombination rate for each sample. Juxtaposing the III–V and II–VI results revealed a distinct disparity, with the incumbent detector material HgCdTe being roughly an order of magnitude more radiation tolerant to displacement damage from proton irradiation than any of the nBn materials. The results for the latter also suggest some degree of interrelation between the damage factor and initial lifetime. The behavior of the lifetime of each material under annealing revealed that HgCdTe exhibited nearly 100% recovery at 295 K whereas III–V materials recovered to only about 50% under the same conditions.
On-Wall, Wide Bandwidth E-Shaped Patch Antenna for Improved Whole-Home Radio Tomography

Tagless identification and tracking with through-wall received signal strength-based radio tomographic imaging (RTI) allows emergency responders to learn where people are inside of a building before entering the building. Use of directional antennas in RTI nodes focuses RF power along the link line, improving system performance. However, antennas placed on a building’s exterior wall can be detuned by their close proximity to the dielectric, thus sending power across wider angles and resulting in less accurate imaging. In this paper, we improve through-wall RTI by using an E-shaped patch antenna we design to be mounted to an exterior wall. Along with its directionality, the E-shaped patch antenna is designed to avoid impedance mismatches when brought into close proximity of a dielectric material, thus increasing radiation through the exterior wall and along the link line. From our experiments, we demonstrate that the E-shaped patch antenna can reduce the median root mean square localization error by up to 43% when compared to microstrip patch and dipole antennas. For equal error performance, the E-shaped patch antenna allows an RTI system to reduce power and bandwidth usage by using fewer nodes and measuring on fewer channels.
Assessing biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol using Pseudomonas putida MTCC 1194 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 1034 and its kinetics.

The biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol (FA) in shake flask experiments using a pure culture of Pseudomonas putida (MTCC 1194) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1034) was studied at 30 °C and pH 7.0. Experiments were performed at different FA concentrations ranging from 50 to 500 mg/l. Before carrying out the biodegradation studies, the bacterial strains were acclimatized to the concentration of 500 mg/l of FA by gradually raising 100 mg/l of FA in each step. The well acclimatized culture of P. putida and P. aeruginosa degraded about 80 and 66% of 50 mg/l FA, respectively. At higher concentration of FA, the percentage of FA degradation decreased. The purpose of this study was to determine the kinetics of biodegradation of FA by measuring biomass growth rates and concentration of FA as a function of time. Substrate inhibition was calculated from experimental growth parameters using the Haldane equation. Data for P. putida were determined as µ max = 0.23 h−1, K s = 23.93 mg/l and K i = 217.1 mg/l and for P. aeruginosa were determined as µ max = 0.13 h−1, K s = 21.3 mg/l and K i = 284.9 mg/l. The experimental data were fitted in Haldane, Aiba and Edwards inhibition models.
MASKED HYPERTENSION AND CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES: AN UPDATED SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

As many as one third of individuals with normal office blood pressure (BP), are diagnosed with masked hypertension (HTN) based on ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM). Masked HTN is associated with higher risk of sustained HTN and increased cardiovascular morbidity. The present study was designed to
Continuous Time Formulation for Magnetic Relaxation Using the Steinmetz Equation

This paper sets forth a new magnetic core loss model to predict core loss in electric machines and power electronic magnetic components. It introduces an alternative method to model magnetic relaxation using a continuous waveform formulation, which significantly improves the accuracy of core loss prediction for arbitrarily complex flux density waveforms. The proposed method is experimentally validated for ferrites and silicon steels.
Manufacturing Process Control with VLSI-Compatible Sensors

Pressure sensor elements compatible with NMOS and CMOS VLSI fabrication processes, and suitable for on-line process control, are being devEnoped. The techniques employed offer either single Enements or flexible conformable arrays of capacitive or piezoresistive units. By using standard integrated circuit processing, the sensors themsEnves are naturally compatible with further Enectronic processing both on and off chip. Solid state sensors also offer cost effective batch fabrication processes and the ability to have signal conditioning and processing right on the substrate, without bulky interconnects and multiple packages.
There Is No Accounting for the Fed

Distinctions among (1) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (hereinafter, Board); (2) the Federal Reserve Bank(s) (hereinafter, FRBank(s)); and, (3) the Federal Reserve System (hereinafter, System), are essential insofar as the Executive Orders, Statutes, Acts, and the U.S. Code are concerned. These latter constitute the pertinent laws and regulations. These terms—Board, FRBank(s), and System—are not used interchangeably. The System consists, at a minimum, of the Board, and the 12 FRBanks (Cecchetti 2008, 276). However, sometimes the Open Market Committee, the member banks of the System, and the Federal Reserve Advisory Committee are included (Cecchetti 2008, 276).
Is the outcome of optimizing the system acquisition parameters sensitive to the reconstruction algorithm in digital breast tomosynthesis

There exist various reconstruction algorithms for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). However, when optimizing the data acquisition parameters for better image quality in terms of a specific task, researchers usually pick one of their favorite or available reconstruction algorithms. It is unclear whether using a different reconstruction algorithm would yield a different conclusion in the system optimization, thereby yielding a different optimized acquisition configuration. We look into this problem through simulation and present our preliminary results in this report.
Philanthropic Space Science: The Breakthrough Initiatives

Abstract The shape of scientific space exploration is shifting. The Breakthrough Initiatives may represent a new trend with its scientific-philanthropic search for signatures of life in the univers...
History’s Ethical Demand: Memory, Denial, and Responsibility in the Wake of the Holocaust

What does it mean to discover an unspoken Nazi past in one’s own family? In a moment defined by chance and circumstance, I discovered that my German grandfather had joined the Nazi Party. Using my ...
Principles and Design Considerations of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are gold standard for evaluating any interventions used to screen, diagnose, prevent or treat urologic cancer. There are generally four phases (I to IV) of clinical trials for the development of a new intervention. Each phase focuses on different scientific questions and is commonly treated as a separate clinical trial. Designing and conducting a clinical trial requires careful thoughts and considerations. A properly designed trial will minimize the amount of bias present in the study while greatly improving the success probability of the trial. We discuss the basic principles and the design and implementation considerations of clinical trials. Our discussion explains the definition of study objectives, selection of primary and secondary endpoints, inclusion and exclusion criteria for patient selection, and treatment and placebo choice. Other important aspects discussed include randomization and blinding. Randomization is the cornerstone methodology to minimize bias in clinical trials, which can balance both known and unknown confounders among different treatment arms, providing compelling and unbiased evidence for the comparison of the treatment arms. We discuss various randomization schemes. Sample size calculations for common types of outcomes in clinical trials are described and illustrated with examples.
Microfluidic epigenomic mapping technologies for precision medicine

Epigenomic mapping of tissue samples generates critical insights into genome-wide regulations of gene activities and expressions during normal development and disease processes. Epigenomic profiling using a low number of cells produced by patient and mouse samples presents new challenges to biotechnologists. In this review, we first discuss the rationale and premise behind profiling epigenomes for precision medicine. We then examine the existing literature on applying microfluidics to facilitate low-input and high-throughput epigenomic profiling, with emphasis on technologies enabling interfacing with next-generation sequencing. We detail assays on studies of histone modifications, DNA methylation, 3D chromatin structures and non-coding RNAs. Finally, we discuss what the future may hold in terms of method development and translational potential.
Understanding and Managing Occupational Radiation Exposure for the Pregnant Interventional Radiology Nurse

Abstract Occupational radiation exposure is a hazard inherent to the nursing profession. Concerns may be heightened among personnel who are pregnant or of childbearing age, given the known teratogenic and carcinogenic effects of ionizing radiation. It is important to use standard protective measures in accordance with regulatory requirements under the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle. The purpose of this review is to examine published data on exposure levels and pregnancy outcomes among occupationally exposed women, as well as to summarize the practices staff should use to monitor and minimize exposure. Available data suggest that fetal dose from occupational exposure in interventional radiology usually remains well below recommended limits, and that outcomes are indistinguishable from those among unexposed women. When following required protective measures to manage exposure, pregnant personnel can continue to participate safely in patient care activities including computed tomography–guided and fluoroscopic-guided procedures.
C/EBPepsilon directly interacts with the DNA binding domain of c-myb and cooperatively activates transcription of myeloid promoters.

C/EBPɛ is essential for granulocytic differentiation. We investigated the role of C/EBPɛ in the transcriptional activation of various myeloid-specific genes. We found that two C/EBPɛ isoforms, p32 and p30, possessing transcriptional activation domains were coexpressed in myeloid cells. Interestingly, isoform C/EBPɛ p30 but not p32 was differentially upregulated in NB-4 promyelocytic leukemia cells treated with retinoids. Both isoforms bound specifically to C/EBP sites in myeloid promoters. The kd for C/EBPɛ binding to the C/EBP site of the neutrophil elastase promoter was 4.2 nmol/L. In transfection assays using the nonhematopoietic cell line, CV-1, the p32 isoform activated promoters from the myeloid-specific mim-1, neutrophil elastase, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor genes by 2.5-, 1.8-, and 1.6-fold, respectively. The p30 isoform lacked significant transcriptional activity, suggesting that other hematopoietic-specific factors were required for its function. Consistent with this prediction, transfections into the hematopoietic cell line Jurkat showed a 9.0- and 2.5-fold activation of the mim-1 promoter by the p32 and p30 isoforms, respectively. The additional 32 NH2-terminal residues made p32 a significantly more potent transcriptional activator than p30. T lymphoblasts (Jurkat cells) and immature myeloid cells (eg, Kcl22 cells) expressed high levels of the c-myb hematopoietic transcription factor. Cotransfection of c-myb with either the p32 or p30 isoform of C/EBPɛ in CV-1 cells cooperatively transactivated the mim-1 promoter by 20- and 16-fold, respectively, and the neutrophil elastase promoter by 10-and 7-fold, respectively. Pulldown assays showed that each C/EBPɛ isoform interacted directly with the DNA binding domain of the c-myb protein. Further studies showed that Kcl22 myeloid cells only contained active C/EBPɛ, but not C/EBP, C/EBPβ, or C/EBPδ. A mutation of the C/EBP site in the neutrophil elastase promoter markedly decreased the transactivation of the promoter in Kcl22 myeloblasts. These results demonstrate a role for C/EBPɛ in regulating myeloid promoters, such as neutrophil elastase, probably through a direct interaction with c-myb.
Transborder (in)securities: transborder commuters’ perceptions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection policing at the Mexico–U.S. border

Transborder commuters are a heterogeneous population that includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and Mexican nationals who have the legal documentation to cross the Mexico–U.S. border ...
The Influence of Posting Physical Activity Posts to Social Networking Sites on Young Adults’ Physical Activity Engagement and Motivational Profiles

This study examined the physical activity and motivational effects of young adults posting physical activity posts to a social networking site. It used a repeated-measures, between-group design. Fifty-eight young adults from an introductory fitness course chose to participate in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: (a) posting physical activities to social networking sites and (b) not posting physical activities to social networking sites. Participants’ physical activity and motivation were tracked throughout the intervention. The social networking group was less physically active at the beginning of the intervention but did not differ significantly from the control group at the end of the intervention. A t test revealed a significant increase in physical activity from baseline for the social networking group (p = 0.001) but not for the non–social networking group (p = 0.44). There were no significant differences relative to motivational indices between the two groups, although extrinsic regulation (p = 0.06) and amotivation (p = 0.06) displayed marginal significance. Social networking has become a part of life. This platform may hold promise for increasing physical activity levels among young adults. More research is needed on how social media may influence various motivational subconstructs. Subscribe to TPE
Concurrent Opioid and Benzodiazepine Utilization Patterns and Predictors Among Community-Dwelling Adults in the United States

Objective:Using benzodiazepines and opioids together substantially increases the risk of fatal overdose. Yet, concurrent benzodiazepine and opioid prescribing rates continue to increase amid the op...
In Memorium: Donald J Reish

For such a humble man, his life had an outsized impact in so many ways. He rarely raised his voice, but he had a hearty laugh. Despite his competitive streak, we never saw him hold a grudge. He was honest, insightful, and treated everyone—regardless of gender, race, nationality, or religion—with respect. In his own words, “I am no different from anyone else—I think of myself as being more important than I actually am. I think that I made important contributions in two areas: teaching and research”. But, without Donald J Reish, the career of everyone who is reading these proceedings would likely be different.
Cognitive differences between adults with traumatic brain injury and specific learning disorder.

Background: Impaired working memory, attention, and processing speed are common in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and specific learning disorder (SLD). Yet, there is a paucity of res...
Wittgenstein on Logic as The Method of Philosophy. Re-examining the Roots and Development of Analytic Philosophy

In his Lecture on Ethics, Wittgenstein mentions the difficulty a recipient of his philosophy has in ‘seeing both the road he is led and the goal which it leads to’ (TS 207,2[1]). Oskari Kuusela's b...
Interpreting Othello in the Arabian Gulf: Shakespeare in a Time of Blackface Controversies

This article opens with some brief observations on the phenomenon of Arab blackface—that is, of Arab actors “blacking up” to impersonate black Arab or African characters—from classic cinematic portrayals of the warrior-poet Antara Ibn Shaddad to more recent deployments of blackface in the Arab entertainment industry. It then explores the complex nexus of race, gender, citizenship and social status in the Arabian Gulf as context for a critical reflection on the author’s experience of reading and discussing Othello with students at the American University of Kuwait—discussions which took place in the fall of 2019, in the midst of a wave of controversies sparked by instances of Arab blackface on television and in social media.
Quality insight: product quality certification post COVID-19 using systems framework from academic program accreditation

This paper is presented as a quality-insight column designed to motivate additional research and development of quality certification programs post-COVID-19 pandemic. The framework presented follows the pattern and templates from typical academic accreditation programs in engineering and technology. Ideas for quality expectations, assessment, rubrics, and outcome statements are presented in the paper. The premise of this paper is to draw out the similarity of academic program accreditation to the process of quality certification and to encourage further research in developing repeatable frameworks for preparation for quality certification in engineering and technology, post COVID-19 pandemic. The particular motivation for the methodology of this paper is the need to explore new approaches to quality certification in an era following the pandemic. The work environment is, most likely, changed forever due to the pandemic. As such, new approaches are desirable, which is what this paper presents.
Variable objective sleep quality is related to worse spatial learning and memory in young adults.

Abstract Objective The majority of research on sleep and cognition has focused on mean markers of sleep across multiple nights; however, variable sleep patterns have become increasingly common in the modern era. The purpose of this study was to examine whether objective intraindividual variability in sleep quantity and quality are related to verbal and visuospatial learning and memory functioning in young adults. Methods A total of 218 young adult college students were recruited from a university in the Eastern United States, among which 187 participants (70.6% female; mean age = 20.5, SD = 1.5) had complete actigraphy and cognitive performance data. Objective intraindividual means and variabilities of sleep quantity (total sleep time) and sleep quality (percent wake after sleep onset) were measured over a 1- to 2-week timeframe using wrist actigraphy. Verbal and visuospatial learning and memory were assessed using the International Shopping List and Groton Maze Learning tests of the Cogstate computerized test battery. Results Greater intraindividual variability in actigraphy-derived sleep quality was associated with poorer visuospatial learning and memory performance after controlling for mean sleep quality and visuomotor attention and processing speed (ps Conclusion In young adults, intraindividual variability in objective sleep quality was significantly related to visuospatial learning and memory, over and above mean sleep quality. Given these associations, future studies should aim to identify modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors contributing to variable sleep quality.
Establishing the adipose stem cell identity: Characterization assays and functional properties

Abstract Due to their significant therapeutic potential, adipose stem cells (ASCs) have become the focus of intense of preclinical and clinical research. Characterization of ASCs that is both comprehensive and well standardized is essential for the successful progression of the regenerative medicine field. This chapter provides a detailed outline of the in vitro assays commonly employed for the characterization of ASCs, including flow cytometric assessments of surface markers, self-renewal, and multipotent differentiation. An in-depth examination of adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation is covered, including signaling pathways, methodology, and confirmation assays. Furthermore, ASCs possess significant immunomodulatory abilities that make them ideal therapeutic tools. This chapter defines the influence of ASCs on immune cell populations in vitro, including paracrine and cell contact-dependent mechanisms, and summarizes the assays used to quantify this immunoregulation. Research on ASCs is a rapidly evolving field. Rigorous characterization standards, as recommended by the International Federation of Adipose Therapeutics and Sciences (IFATS) and others, must be adopted and maintained by researchers to promote high-impact research, reproducibility, effective collaborations, and acceleration of scientific discoveries in regenerative medicine.
Influence of MNC Network Configuration Patterns on the Volatility of Firm Performance: An Empirical Investigation

Previous studies examining the influence of internationalization on the volatility of a firm’s performance have found inconsistent empirical evidence. Earlier studies support a reduction in volatility resulting from a higher level of international operations. However, more recent studies have found evidence supporting a positive correlation between internationalization and various measures of firm risk. This study suggests that these results are inconclusive because of their narrow conceptualization of international strategy as a one-dimensional construct. This paper suggests that two dimensions implicit in the configuration patterns of MNC networks and their respective interaction may have distinct effects on performance volatility. Regression results using a sample of 320 U.S. firms from 133 SIC segments provide evidence supporting this view. Consistent with the earlier literature, the empirical results support the reduction in volatility derived from a greater dispersion of international operations. In addition, the global integration dimension of an MNC network configuration increases exposure to potential performance swings. Lastly, the interaction term between global integration and geographic dispersion tends to be negatively associated with volatility. These results help reconcile the prior literature and provide evidence for the multidimensional nature of the internationalization construct.
A New Parallel Vector Model, with Exact Characterization of NC^k

This paper develops a new and natural parallel vector model, and shows that for all k≥1, the languages recognizable in O(logkn) time and polynomial work in the model are exactly those in NCk. Some improvements to other simulations in parallel models and reversal complexity are given.