cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical Management of Extracranial Atherosclerosis: Indications and Timming

Operative treatment of all types of occlusive cerebrovascular disease is undergoing an agonizing reappraisal of operative indications. Carotid endarterectomy is no exception. Optimal information on the natural history of carotid occlusive disease is obtained from population-based surveys in which an entire community can be under medical surveillance for a long period of time. In this way, a determination of stroke incidence and survival following transient ischemic attack can made. Such data from the population of Rochester, Minnesota have been obtained and analysed. This analysis shows that the probability of survival following first transient ischemic attack is 91% at 6 months, 88% at 1 year, and 50% between 7 and 8 years. Actuarial assessment of the probability of stroke among patients following first transient ischemic attacks shows an 8% probability of stroke at 1 month, 10% probability of stroke at 6 months, 13% probability of stroke at 1 year, and a 40% probability of stroke at 8 years. Thus, in order to improve upon this natural history by any operative treatment, the morbidity and mortality of each proposed treatment must be low. In a series of 1935 patients operated upon by our department from 1972 to 1984, the overall mortality was 1.3%, major morbidity 1%, and minor morbidity 1%. Using the Sundt grading schema, the combined morbidity/mortality was less than 1.0% in grade I, 1.8% in grade II, 4.0% in grade III, and 8.5% in grade IV. We believe carotid endarterectomy can be an effective operation for patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis [1].
Voice data entry (VDE) training and implementation strategies: case study

Abstract Current effort at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) involves implementation of voice data entry in the thermal Tile Processing System (TPS). Large amounts of data collection and recording along with the advancement in voice recognition and speech synthesis justified the introduction of a voice data entry system in support of TPS. This paper presents a training and an implementation strategies for the VDE System in TPS at KSC. Training Strategies are tailored to different levels of the target population with varying objectives for the training sessions. Training scenarios and training manuals are designed to support the objectives of each session. A unique feature of the VDE is the fact that the “system” also needs to be trained for specific users. Implementation strategy calls for parallel implementation for the current manual system over a period of four consecutive missions. This would be followed by gradual phasing out of the current manual system and phasing in of the VDE system over a span of three missions. The methodologies used and the developed strategies can be used for the introduction of new technologies in general, and that related to voice and speech recognition in particular.
Contempt, Status and The Criminalization of Non-Conforming Girls

The number of girls arrested and incarcerated is growing at significantly greater rates than that of boys. While boys and girls have very different pathways into the juvenile justice system, the system has been designed and implemented with only boys in mind. Girls’ unique profiles and needs continue to be neglected. The risk factors for girls diverge sharply from those for boys. For instance, the majority of girls in the system have suffered abuse and family trauma. Most girls are arrested and detained for non-violent offenses. They comprise the majority of minors arrested for only two offenses — running away and prostitution. Indeed, a high percentage of girls come into the system for status offenses, conduct that is not criminal, such as truancy or running away. Girls are punished more severely for these non-criminal acts than boys, and even than some girls and boys who commit actual criminal offenses.A discussion of meaningful systemic justice for adolescents, the subject of this Symposium, must include an examination of justice for girls. Issues to consider include: Why does this “high needs, low risk” population continue to be prosecuted and incarcerated in large numbers? Does criminal action effectively address the victimization that often brings girls into the system? The status offense framework, and its disproportionate use against girls, can offer some insight. Specifically, the malleability of status offense definitions and the related “bootstrapped” incarceration of girls for violating court orders suggest the juvenile justice system is regularly used to regulate girls’ conformity to societal norms, rather than to address crime.This Article will first outline the status offense system and its gendered nature, both historic and current. It will then unpack status offenses, examining what harms and behaviors they are intended to address, and describing how they frequently operate to transform victimized girls into offenders. The Article will conclude by considering a recent illustration of the use of status offenses to regulate sexual behavior and obedience — New York State’s treatment of commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC). New York and a few other states have decriminalized prostitution for some minors based on their inability to consent to sex under the law. Nonetheless, exploited girls continue to be arrested and detained as status offenders. Failure to comply with the status offender system results in increasingly punitive interventions, rendering decriminalization illusory for many girls.
How long is enough: CO2 -H2 O equilibration for δ(18) O analysis in saline formation waters?

RATIONALE The equilibration of H2 -H2 O and CO2 -H2 O is a commonly used method for δ(2) H and δ(18) O analyses in water. Problems with these analyses of formation water include the presence of petroleum contaminants and the slow exchange of oxygen isotopes between CO2 gas and the saline waters collected from petroleum exploration and production wells. Therefore, it is crucial to understand whether isotopic equilibrium between water and CO2 has been reached, how long it takes, and how to deal with contaminants. This study investigates how long it takes to reach isotopic equilibrium between gas and hypersaline brine, and how to deal with petroleum-contaminated formation water, in order to produce good quality δ(2) H and δ(18) O data. METHODS The δ(2) H and δ(18) O values of six natural waters with a variety of salinities were determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry after different periods of H2 and CO2 equilibration with the samples. Hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases present in formation brines were pre-treated prior to the H2 - and CO2 -H2 O interaction to minimize their interference with the isotope analyses. RESULTS Water samples with different salinities required different times for the oxygen isotopes to reach equilibrium. Salinity does not affect the equilibration of H2 with saline brines. Hydrocarbon gases present in formation waters can interfere with the isotope analysis, but this can be minimized with pre-analysis treatment. CONCLUSIONS The described procedures should be applied for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses in waters with high salinities and petroleum contaminants. In particular, waters collected from petroleum exploration and production wells, and from evaporative environments, should go through these procedures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa with minimal non-permeable cryoprotectant

Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa is a commonly used technique in assisted reproduction, however freezing low concentrations of sperm while maintaining adequate post-thaw motility remains a challenge. In an effort to optimize post-thaw motility yields, low volumes of human sperm were frozen in polyimide-coated fused silica micro-capillaries using 0.065 M, 0.125 M, 0.25 M, or 0.5 M trehalose as the only cryoprotectant. Micro-capillaries were either initially incubated in liquid nitrogen vapor before plunging into liquid nitrogen, or directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. Post thaw sperm counts and motility were estimated. Spermatozoa that were initially incubated in liquid nitrogen vapor had greater post thaw motility than those plunged immediately into liquid nitrogen independent of trehalose concentration. The protective effect of 0.125 M d-glucose, 3-O-methyl-d-glucopyranose, trehalose, sucrose, raffinose, or stachyose were evaluated individually. Trehalose and sucrose were the most effective cryoprotectants, recovering 69.0% and 68.9% of initial sperm motility, respectively.
The Language of Politics

The origins of Coleridge’s engagement with the idea of language lie in his response to the public rhetoric of the 1790s. His generation was confronted early in life with the chaotic spectacle of revolution in France. This was to be the defining scene in the formation of their political understanding and of the new writing that would be called Romantic. First elation, then a great fear swept Britain in the years following 1789 with the cycle of violence known as the Terror. As it grew more brutal, early enthusiasts of the events in France were suspected of sedition. Coleridge was believed to entertain radical sympathies, and a government spy was dispatched to report on his and Wordsworth’s activities. An avid reader since his student years at Cambridge of the pamphlets of Edmund Burke, Coleridge reacted viscerally to the elder statesman’s Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790), which took an unfashionably principled stand against the revolutionists while their cause was still popular. Though an influential apologist for the right of the American colonies to political self-determination, Burke withheld his support from the French cause.1
Reasoning about intended actions

In most research on reasoning about actions and reasoning about narratives one either reasons about hypothetical execution of actions, or about actions that actually occurred. In this paper we develop a high level language that allows the expression of intended or planned action sequences. Unlike observed action occurrences, planned or intended action occurrences may not actually take place. But often when they do not take place, they persist, and happen at an opportune future time. We give the syntax and semantics for expressing such intentions. We then give a logic programming axiomatization and show the correspondence between the semantics of a description in the high level language, and the answer sets of the corresponding logic programming axiomatization. We illustrate the application of our formalism with respect to reasoning about trips.
Interlocking Mechanical and Microfluidic Interconnections Fabricated by Deep Reactive Ion Etching

Deep reactive ion etching of bulk silicon is employed to fabricate vertical interlocking structures with which high-density fluidic interconnections are provided between two microchannel containing substrates. Components and boards can be reversibly connected/disconnected. Fluid flow between component and board channels is demonstrated using these structures and sealed using several materials and methods.
Martingale Difference Divergence Matrix and Its Application to Dimension Reduction for Stationary Multivariate Time Series

In this article, we introduce a new methodology to perform dimension reduction for a stationary multivariate time series. Our method is motivated by the consideration of optimal prediction and focu...
Barack Obama’s 2008 speech on Reverend Wright: Defending self and others

Abstract During the 2008 presidential campaign Senator Barack Obama’s values were attacked using guilt by association. An ABC News story reported incendiary remarks made by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Senator Barack Obama’s pastor. Obama gave a speech to repair his image. Obama attempted to repair his image using denial and differentiation; however, Obama did not repudiate Wright entirely. Instead, Obama also engaged in engaged in third party image repair, using attack accuser, bolstering, and differentiation to repair Wright’s reputation.
Proteomic prediction in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

541 Background: Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+BC) is heterogeneous. Attempts to use transcriptional analysis such as Oncotype Dx facilitate therapy planning but fail to identify patients who will relapse or potential therapy targets. Methods: We used reverse phase protein lysate arrays and Microvigene software to quantify expression of estrogen receptor (ERα) and 36 total/activated components of the HER2, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and STAT pathways in 64 HR+BCs and 40 breast cancer cell lines. Clustering was performed with Xcluster and Treeview. Results: 47/64 HR+BC patients were treated with adjuvant hormone therapy and 43/64 with chemotherapy. There were 12 recurrences including 5 patients diagnosed with metastases within 0–3 months of diagnosis. Unsupervised analysis using the expression of all 37 proteins revealed two large subclusters of HR+BCs. One large cluster was composed of tumors with lower ERα expression levels and was driven b...
Quantification of the effect of toxicants on the motility of mammary organoid by OCT fluctuation spectroscopy (Conference Presentation)

OCT fluctuation spectroscopy provides a quantitative and non-invasive tool to monitor 3D mammary epithelial cell (MEC) models which recapitulate features of breast cancer in vivo. Cellular dynamic fluctuation measurements allow for assessing drug responses due to different mechanisms of inhibition in 3D models in vitro. Here we report on pre-malignant MEC responses to two toxicants: Taxol, which stabilizes microtubules against depolymerization, and has emerged as an important chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of breast cancer, and blebbistatin, a small molecule inhibitor with high affinity and selectivity toward Myosin II. Here we propose a quantitative method for measuring toxicant responses of MECs in 3D cultures from OCT speckle fluctuation spectroscopy. OCT fluctuation spectra were quantified within the 9-440 mHz band, from which the inverse power-law exponent (α) and the fractional modulation amplitude (M) were extracted. Pre-malignant MECs treated with Taxol (0, 10 μM and 20 μM) exhibit an increase (p 0.05) in α, since myosin II isn’t highly expressed in non-migratory pre-malignant MECs. We demonstrated the feasibility of OCT fluctuation spectroscopy to quantify MEC toxicant response. Microtubule stabilization was found to be a major contributor to pre-malignant MEC fluctuation signals, while myosin II inhibition was not.
Ebola’s Curse: Impact on the Economics of West Africa

Ebola’s Curse: 2013–2016 Outbreak in West Africa , a timely, needed and well-presented book by Michael Oldstone and Madeleine Rose Oldstone, unlocks the mysteries of the largest outbreak of one of the world’s most fearsome viruses. What is Ebola? Why did this happen? Here you will find the answers to these questions, while meeting fascinating people thrust into a situation as dramatic as any that could be imagined in a blockbuster novel or movie.
ENOX Proteins, Copper Hexahydrate-Based Ultradian Oscillators of the Cells’ Biological Clock

A homodimeric, growth-related and time-keeping hydroquinone [NAD(P)H] oxidase of the mammalian (and plant) cell surface with a binuclear copper center and protein disulfide-thiol interchange activity has characteristics of an ultradian driver of the biological 24h circadian clock. A member of the ECTO-NOX or ENOX protein family, the constitutive ENOX, EN0X1 (EntrezGene ID 55068 NCBI Gen Bank accession Number EF432052), exhibits a recurring complex 2 + 3 set of oscillations in secondary structure, enzymatic activity and redox potential with a period length of 24min (repeats 60 times over 24h). The period length is temperature independent and entrained by light, melatonin and low frequency EMF. COS cells transformed with ENOX2 (EntrezGene ID 10495) where specific cysteine codons were replaced by alanine codons, ENOX2 oscillations with period lengths of 22, 36 or 42min yielded circadian periods of 22, 36 or 42h respectively, based on activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The oscillations require bound copper and are recapitulated in solution by copper salts. The period length of both the ENOX and copper II oscillations in D2O is increased to 30min (Organisms grown in deuterium oxide exhibit a 30h circadian day.). The oscillatory pattern appears to be determined by periodic variations in the ratios of ortho and para nuclear spins of the paired hydrogen or deuterium atoms of the elongated octahedral structure of the protein bound copper II hexahydrate as determined by spectroscopic analyses. That the oscillations result from physical rather than chemical events account, for the first time, for the temperature independence of the period length of clock-related pheonomena.
Test Performance Characteristics of the AIR, GAD-7, and HADS-Anxiety Screening Questionnaires for Anxiety in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: Anxiety is a common comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We evaluated three anxiety screening questionnaire...
Revision of Ipomoea Series Tyrianthinae (Convolvulaceae)

Ipomoea series Tyrianthinae (House) D.F. Austin is revised in light of recent systematic surveys of New World morning glories. The group includes two species of vines and three highly derived shrubs. Four varieties of I. orizabensis (Ledeb.) Pelletan are recognized for the first time; two are new to science, I. orizabensis vars. austromexicana and novogaliciana, and one requires a new combination, I. orizabensis var. collina (House) J.A. McDonald. Molecular studies indicate that Ipomoea ser. Tyrianthinae shares close phylogenetic affinities with Ipomoea sects. Calonyction and Tricolores, yet few morphological features support this arrangement. It is assumed, therefore, that highly derived elements of the tyrianthina complex have undergone rapid morphological change in the arid environments of central and northern Mexico.
Rapid Synthetic DNA Vaccine Development for Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Vaccines are considered among the top feats of modern medicine, saving millions of lives by inducing immunity to a number of infectious pathogens. As the next generation of vaccines seeks to address ever more complicated targets including cancer, innovative technologies like synthetic DNA vaccination that circumvent some of the issues associated with traditional vaccines will likely prove critical. In addition, compounding factors that may influence immune outcome such as the microbiome must also be studied in greater detail. Recent clinical studies have suggested that the presence of certain bacteria in the gut was associated with favorable outcomes in patients receiving immunogenic chemotherapy. Other studies have also shown that a dysbiosis or overrepresentation of other bacteria strains was negatively associated with favorable outcome. Further work needs to be done to more fully understand the influence that the microbiome exerts on the immune system and vice versa, and the significance of this relationship in designing future therapies.
Simple adaptive control method for mitigating the seismic responses of coupled adjacent buildings considering parameter variations

Abstract The effectiveness of using the simple adaptive control method in the presence of noise and parameter variations in mitigating the seismic structural responses of a coupled buildings structure is studied. The advantage of using the adaptive controller is that it can deal with any change in the dynamic characteristics of structural systems during their lifetime. In the current study, the change in the structural characteristics is reflected as a reduction in the system’s mass and stiffness as an outcome of the damage potential in the two buildings under seismic excitations. The coupled system is formed of two buildings modeled as shear-type models having different heights and connected at multiple levels with control devices. The effectiveness of different actuators is explored using the magneto-rheological damper for semi-active control and the hydraulic actuator for active control. A suite of five major earthquakes are chosen as external excitations to perform the dynamic analysis in the time domain. The performance of the adaptive controller is compared with different control strategies such as LQR, and Lyapunov theory-based algorithm. The results show that using the adaptive controller to drive the control devices connecting two adjacent buildings is effective in alleviating the seismic responses. Moreover, the proposed control scheme is more promising for dealing with the structural parameter variations during seismic events than the LQR and Lyapunov theory-based algorithms.
Microfluidic Immiscible Phase Filtration System for the Isolation of Small Numbers of Cells from Whole Blood.

Isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has generated clinical and academic interest due to the important role that CTCs play in cancer metastasis and diagnosis. Here, we present a PDMS and glass prototype of a microfluidic device for the immunomagnetic, immiscible phase filtration based capture, and isolation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, from various sample matrices including PBS-based buffer, blood plasma, and unprocessed whole blood. Following optimization of surface energy of an oil-water interface, microfluidic geometry, and bead-binding kinematics, our microfluidic device achieved 95 ± 4% recovery of target cells from PBS-based buffer with 95% purity, 90 ± 3% recovery of target cells from blood plasma and recovery of ~70 ± 5% from unprocessed whole blood with purity >99% with 1 ml blood samples with 1,000 spiked target cells. From quantitative studies to assess the nonspecific carryover of contaminants from whole blood, we found that our system accomplishes a >175 fold depletion in platelets, >900 fold depletion in erythrocytes, and >1,700 fold depletion in leukocytes with respect to unprocessed whole blood, enabling us to avoid sample pre-processing. In addition, we found that ~95% of the isolated target cells were viable, making them suitable for subsequent molecular and cellular studies. We quantify and propose mechanisms for the carryover of platelet, erythrocyte, and leukocyte contamination in purified samples, rather than relying on sample pre-processing. These results validate the continued study of our platform for extraction of CTCs from patient samples and other rare cell isolation applications. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
Practical Location Validation in Participatory Sensing Through Mobile WiFi Hotspots

The reliability of information in participatory sensing (PS) systems largely depends on the accuracy of the location of the participating users. However, existing PS applications are not able to efficiently validate the position of users in large-scale outdoor environments. In this paper, we present an efficient and scalable Location Validation System (LVS) to secure PS systems from location-spoofing attacks. In particular, the user location is verified with the help of mobile WiFi hot spots (MHSs), which are users activating the WiFi hotspot capability of their smartphones and accept connections from nearby users, thereby validating their position inside the sensing area. The system also comprises a novel verification technique called Chains of Sight, which tackles collusion-based attacks effectively. LVS also includes a reputation-based algorithm that rules out sensing reports of location-spoofing users. The feasibility and efficiency of the WiFi-based approach of LVS is demonstrated by a set of indoor and outdoor experiments conducted using off-the-shelf smartphones in Pisa, Italy, while the energy-efficiency of LVS is demonstrated by experiments using the Power Monitor energy tool. Finally, the security properties of LVS are analyzed by simulation experiments. Results indicate that the proposed LVS system is energy-efficient, applicable to most of the practical PS scenarios, and efficiently secures existing PS systems from location-spoofing attacks.
Understanding lung transplant listing practices: Survival in lung transplant candidates who improve clinically to delisting.

Abstract Background Occasionally, lung transplant candidates improve to the point where they are removed from the transplant list. We sought to determine the characteristics and outcomes of lung transplant candidates who improved to delisting both before and after implementation of the lung allocation score. Methods Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we reviewed all adult patients listed for lung transplant between 1987 and 2012. The last permanent status change was classified into transplanted, improved to delisting (improved), or deteriorated to delisting (deteriorated). Survival time was calculated using the linked date of death from the Social Security Administration. Survival analysis was performed via the Kaplan-Meier method, and adjusted multivariable logistic regressions identified characteristics predicting improvement to delisting. Results Of 13,688 candidates, 12,188 (89.0%) were transplanted, 454 (3.3%) improved, and 1,046 (7.6%) deteriorated. The 5-year mortality was greater in improved (hazard ratio = 1.21 [1.07–1.38], P = .002) and deteriorated (hazard ratio = 3.36 [3.11–3.64], P Conclusion Lung transplant candidates improving to delisting faced less short-term but greater long-term mortality relative to transplanted candidates. Given that the improved population decreased dramatically after implementation of the lung allocation score, redefining patient listing criteria appears to have improved patient appropriateness for transplant.
Socializing Democrats: Examining Asian American vote choice with evidence from a national survey

Abstract Asian Americans are increasingly voting for Democrats in national elections. High levels of Democratic vote choice among Asian Americans are notable because many have high incomes, immigrated from countries with communist histories, or are Evangelical Christians. Why do Asian Americans support Democrats despite these conservative predispositions? I develop a novel theory of “social transmission” to explain Democratic vote choice among Asian Americans. The theory predicts that Asian Americans, who receive limited partisan socialization through the family, develop partisan preferences partly through the diffusion of political views in local contexts. This process leads to Democratic support because Asian Americans tend to settle in liberal metropolitan areas of the United States. I test this theory as an explanation for Asian American vote choice using data from the 2008 National Asian American Survey. In support of the theory, local partisan context emerges as a moderately-sized predictor of vote choice alongside some established predictors, including national origin and religion. Some measures of social integration into local communities heighten the effects of partisan context on vote choice. The results hold across various tests for self-selection and after accounting for several alternative explanations, including socioeconomic status, religion, national origin, group consciousness, and perceived discrimination.
Innovation through Community Partnership Mapping and Analytics.

Higher education institutions increasingly are required to provide a measured response to perceptions that challenge institutions’ value proposition as assets to their communities. This article will focus on best practices in the campus’ efforts to create a pathway to demonstrate community impact. Foundational is the ability of systematic tracking of partnerships and projects data. This article will discuss how institutions’ research agenda can expand from basic metrics to analyzing leading indicators of partnership success – and how a sophisticated dataset can be ultimately leveraged to measure impact. The article will conclude with a reflection of the challenges faced by other higher education institutions and the commonality in institutions’ desire to systematically track and visualize community engagement efforts.
Nanoscale curvature promotes high yield spontaneous formation of cell-mimetic giant vesicles

Abstract To date, surface-assisted assembly of cell-like giant vesicles use planar surfaces and require the application of electric fields or dissolved molecules to obtain adequate yields. Here, we present the use of nanoscale surface curvature and hydrophilic surface chemistry to promote the high yield assembly of GUVs. We show that assembly on surfaces composed of entangled hydrophilic nanocellulose fibers results in an unprecedented 100,000-fold reduction in costs while increasing yields compared to extant techniques. Quantitative measurements of yields provide mechanistic insight on the effect of nanoscale curvature and the effect of surface chemistry. We present a thermodynamic ‘budding and merging’, BNM, model that unifies observations of assembly. The BNM model considers the change in free energy by balancing elastic, adhesion, and membrane edge energies in the formation of surface-attached spherical buds. Due to curvature and the hydrophilicity of cellulose, energetically unfavorable formation of buds on planar and spherical surfaces becomes favorable (spontaneous) on surfaces composed of cylindrical cellulose nanofibers. TOC Graphic
Mixed Purpuric and Maculopapular Lesions in a Patient with COVID-19: A Case Report

Author(s): Beaupre II, Randall; Petrie, Cody; Toledo, Alexander | Abstract: Introduction: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a global pandemic that expresses itself with a wide variety of presenting symptoms in patients. There is a paucity of literature describing the dermatologic manifestations of the virus, particularly in the United States.Case Report: Here we present a case of COVID-19 that manifested with a purpuric rash on the lower extremities and a maculopapular eruption on the abdomen in a patient in acute diabetic ketoacidosis and normal platelet count.Discussion: The reported presenting symptoms of patients with COVID-19 vary greatly. This is the first documented case of COVID-19 presenting with mixed cutaneous manifestations of a purpuric as well as maculopapular rash.Conclusion: The cutaneous lesions associated with the COVID-19 infection may mimic or appear similar to other well-known conditions. We illustrate a case of COVID-19 infection presenting with purpuric rash on the lower extremities and a maculopapular rash on the abdomen.
Evaluating the Impact of the Long-S upon 18th-Century Encyclopedia Britannica Automatic Subject Metadata Generation Results

This research compares automatic subject metadata generation when the pre-1800s Long-S character is corrected to a standard . The test environment includes entries from the third edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and the HIVE automatic subject indexing tool. A comparative study of metadata generated before and after correction of the Long-S demonstrated an average of 26.51 percent potentially relevant terms per entry omitted from results if the Long-S is not corrected. Results confirm that correcting the Long-S increases the availability of terms that can be used for creating quality metadata records. A relationship is also demonstrated between shorter entries and an increase in omitted terms when the Long-S is not corrected.
A science impact framework to measure impact beyond journal metrics.

Measuring the impact of public health science or research is important especially when it comes to health outcomes. Achieving the desired health outcomes take time and may be influenced by several contributors, making attribution of credit to any one entity or effort problematic. Here we offer a science impact framework (SIF) for tracing and linking public health science to events and/or actions with recognized impact beyond journal metrics. The SIF was modeled on the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Degrees of Impact Thermometer, but differs in that SIF is not incremental, not chronological, and has expanded scope. The SIF recognizes five domains of influence: disseminating science, creating awareness, catalyzing action, effecting change and shaping the future (scope differs from IOM). For public health, the goal is to achieve one or more specific health outcomes. What is unique about this framework is that the focus is not just on the projected impact or outcome but rather the effects that are occurring in real time with the recognition that the measurement field is complex, and it takes time for the ultimate outcome to occur. The SIF is flexible and can be tailored to measure the impact of any scientific effort: from complex initiatives to individual publications. The SIF may be used to measure impact prospectively of an ongoing or new body of work (e.g., research, guidelines and recommendations, or technology) and retrospectively of completed and disseminated work, through linking of events using indicators that are known and have been used for measuring impact. Additionally, linking events offers an approach to both tell our story and also acknowledge other players in the chain of events. The value added by science can easily be relayed to the scientific community, policy makers and the public.
Ivy Curtain: An Alternative-plant Robot

This project began with the question, "What if the feeling of being in or close to nature could be sensed within indoors but without the presence of other living beings?" Ivy Curtain is a robotic design proposal that promotes better mental health for indoor residents by simulating the natural behaviors of vegetation. The plant-robot's organic movement generates the rustling sounds of leaves and changes its colors, just as real plants do. Thus, Ivy Curtain functions as an "alternative-plant" robot that moves in unexpected directions, changing its shapes according to both a user's physical interaction and its surrounding temperature.
An empirical modeling of transformation process through trip experiences

Abstract Transformative experience has been the buzzword in recent years. Tourism and hospitality experiences in natural, historical, cultural, and authentic spaces are some of them. However, to this date, specific dimensions of transformation or its process have not been empirically identified. This study reviewed the literature on transformation, used open-ended questions to collect free-elicited responses on the meanings of transformation, collected expert opinion, and developed a 101-item scale reflecting different dimensions and the steps of the transformation process. The scale was validated with a sequential scale validation procedure; Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to test the psychometric properties of the scale and model the constructs of the transformation process. A measurable definition of the transformation process is provided along with the tested model. A comprehensive model with antecedents, outcomes, and moderators of transformation is also suggested to further transformation research.
Non-canonical NRF2 activation promotes a pro-diabetic shift in hepatic glucose metabolism.

Abstract Objective NRF2, a transcription factor that regulates cellular redox and metabolic homeostasis, plays a dual role in human disease. While it is well known that canonical intermittent NRF2 activation protects against diabetes-induced tissue damage, little is known regarding the effects of prolonged non-canonical NRF2 activation in diabetes. The goal of this study was to determine the role and mechanisms of prolonged NRF2 activation in arsenic diabetogenicity. Methods To test this, we utilized an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approach to assess diabetogenic changes in the livers of wild type, Nrf2−/−, p62−/−, or Nrf2−/−; p62−/− mice exposed to arsenic in the drinking water for 20 weeks. Results In contrast to canonical oxidative/electrophilic activation, prolonged non-canonical NRF2 activation via p62-mediated sequestration of KEAP1 increases carbohydrate flux through the polyol pathway, resulting in a pro-diabetic shift in glucose homeostasis. This p62- and NRF2-dependent increase in liver fructose metabolism and gluconeogenesis occurs through the upregulation of four novel NRF2 target genes, ketohexokinase (Khk), sorbitol dehydrogenase (Sord), triokinase/FMN cyclase (Tkfc), and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (Hnf4A). Conclusion We demonstrate that NRF2 and p62 are essential for arsenic-mediated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, revealing a pro-diabetic role for prolonged NRF2 activation in arsenic diabetogenesis.
A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Healthy Relationship Skills and Sexual Health for Autistic Youth

This systematic review investigated the state of intervention science on programs that promote healthy intimate relationship skills and sexual health for autistic youth (i.e., healthy intimacy). Using PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2010 or later that enrolled ≥ 1 autistic adolescent participant. Of 1934 articles returned, three met inclusion criteria: Supporting Teens with Autism on Relationships, Tackling Teenage Training, and Peers Engaged in Effective Relationships-Decision-Making. All increased content knowledge and one improved social/ behavioral functioning. We identified three RCT-supported interventions for autistic youth that teach healthy intimacy skills. Comparative effectiveness research on these programs would benefit the field.
The Clinical Impact of Unilateral Versus Bilateral Invasion Into the Seminal Vesicle in Patients With Prostate Cancer Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy.

CONTEXT.— Seminal vesicle involvement by prostate cancer has generally been considered as a key prognosticator. OBJECTIVE.— To assess the clinical significance of unilateral (Uni) versus bilateral (Bil) seminal vesicle invasion (SVI). DESIGN.— We compared radical prostatectomy findings and long-term oncologic outcomes in 248 patients showing Uni-SVI (n = 139) versus Bil-SVI (n = 109). RESULTS.— Tumor grade was significantly higher in Bil-SVI cases than in Uni-SVI cases. Additionally, Bil-SVI was significantly associated with a higher incidence of lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, or positive surgical margin, and larger estimated tumor volume. When the histopathologic features at SVI foci were compared, Grade Group (GG) 3-5/4-5/5 and cribriform morphology were significantly more often seen in Bil-SVI. Outcome analysis revealed that patients with Bil-SVI had a significantly higher risk of disease progression (P < .001) than patients with Uni-SVI. Significantly worse progression-free survival in patients with Bil-SVI was also observed in all subgroups examined, including those with no immediate adjuvant therapy (IAT) (n = 139; P = .01), IAT (n = 109; P = .001), pN0 disease (n = 153; P = .002), or pN1 disease (n = 93; P = .006). In multivariate analysis, Bil-SVI (versus Uni-SVI) showed significance for progression in the entire (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.83, P = .01), IAT (HR = 2.90, P = .006), and pN0 (HR = 2.05, P = .01) cohorts. Meanwhile, tumor grade at SVI (eg, GG4, GG5), as an independent predictor, was significantly associated with patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS.— Bil-SVI was found to be strongly associated with worse histopathologic features on radical prostatectomy and poorer prognosis. Pathologists may thus need to report Uni-SVI versus Bil-SVI, along with other histopathologic findings, such as Gleason score, at SVI in prostatectomy specimens.
Redox Regulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling through Cysteine Oxidation

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exemplifies the family of receptor tyrosine kinases that mediate numerous cellular processes, including growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Moreover, gene amplification and EGFR mutations have been identified in a number of human malignancies, making this receptor an important target for the development of anticancer drugs. In addition to ligand-dependent activation and concomitant tyrosine phosphorylation, EGFR stimulation results in the localized generation of H(2)O(2) by NADPH-dependent oxidases. In turn, H(2)O(2) functions as a secondary messenger to regulate intracellular signaling cascades, largely through the modification of specific cysteine residues within redox-sensitive protein targets, including Cys797 in the EGFR active site. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie redox regulation of EGFR signaling and how these discoveries may form the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for targeting this and other H(2)O(2)-modulated pathways.
Interannual Variability of Seasonal Pblooms in the North Polar Atlantic in Response to Atmospheric Forcing

The year-to-year variability of timing, intensity, and spatial distribution of surface phytoplankton during spring-summer seasons is examined in the north polar region of the Atlantic using satellite-derived chlorophyll a concentration (Chl) over 7 years (1998 2004). Each year phytoplankton bloom differed in onset, temporal evolution, and intensity. This interannual variability is to a large degree controlled by local weather, as indicated by the analysis of coincident meteorological data. The atmospheric forcing was parameterized in terms of the generation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE(sub RT)) supplied from the atmosphere to the ocean. Timing of the bloom is delayed in years with high TKE(sub RT) supplied to the ocean in March. In April, Chl (local and regionally averaged) and TKE(sub RT) are inversely related to one another. The late winter and early spring atmospheric conditions influence the seasonal Chl patterns. The seasonal (April-August) Chl correlates well with net heat flux, wind energy, and TKE(sub RT) in March and April, but the correlation can be negative or positive in different areas of the north polar Atlantic. The correlation between TKE(sub RT) and seasonal Chl is positive in the Greenland Gyre (higher seasonal Chl corresponds to higher TKE(sub RT) in March April) and negative in the regions of East Greenland and North Atlantic/West Spitsbergen Currents. The most likely explanation for the positive correlation between TKE(sub RT) and Chl within the Greenland Gyre is that higher TKE(sub RT) in spring increases the seasonal supply of nutrients into surface waters.
A Two-Dimensional Model. Abrikosov Vortices

We now describe more complicated examples of theories that have topological integrals of motion. We start with the analog of the action integral (9.3) for a complex scalar field Ψ in two dimensions: $$S = \int {l{d^3}} x = \frac{1}{2}\int {{\partial _\mu }} \bar \Psi {\partial ^\mu }\Psi {d^3}x - \frac{1}{8}\lambda {\int {({{\left| \Psi \right|}^2} - {a^2})} ^2}{d^3}x$$ (10.1) , where μ = 0, 1, 2, x = (x 0, x 1, x 2 = (x 0, x), ∈ R 3, ∂ 0 = ∂ 0 = ∂/∂x 0 =∂/∂t and ∂ i = −∂ i for i = 1, 2. We can also think of Ψ as a two-component real scalar field, instead of a complex field.
Astronomical Publication Rates in the US, UK, and Europe

I explored the growth of astronomical research in the US, UK, and four productive European countries to see if there has been any leveling off. I counted pages in the four major astronomical journals, and corrected for format changes and for contributions from other countries. The four European countries were France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. In each area there has been no reduction in output. However, the data show that the UK lags behind the US by 10 ± 1 years and the four European countries lag the US by 12 ± 1 years.
Whatever Happened to "Queens English": Creativity and Innovation in Wole Soyinka's Collected Plays 2

This paper demonstrates, using examples from Wole Soyinka's Collected Plays 2 (1974), how the 1986 Nobel Literature Laureate has succeeded in transforming the English language to communicate his ideas, beliefs and innermost thoughts to a wider world, and in that process creating a variety of English that alone can transmit his ideas without necessarily losing his authenticity and creativity in the process. This way, Soyinka, and other African writers are making important contributions to the English language in particular, and to the science of language in general.
Basic Statistical Concepts

One chapter cannot possibly review what one learned in one or two pre-requisite courses in statistics. This is an econometrics book, and it is imperative that the student have taken at least one solid course in statistics. The concepts of a random variable, whether discrete or continuous, and the associated probability function or probability density function (p.d.f.) are assumed known. Similarly, the reader should know the following statistical terms: Cumulative distribution function, marginal, conditional and joint p.d.f.’s. The reader should be comfortable with computing mathematical expectations, and familiar with the concepts of independence, Bayes Theorem and several continuous and discrete probability distributions. These distributions include: the Bernoulli, Binomial, Poisson, Geometric, Uniform, Normal, Gamma, Chi-squared (X 2), Exponential, Beta, t and F distributions.
Formalization of the Integral Calculus in the Pvs Theorem Prover

The PVS Theorem prover is a widely used formal verification tool used for the analysis of safety-critical systems. The PVS prover, though fully equipped to support deduction in a very general logic framework, namely higher-order logic, it must nevertheless, be augmented with the definitions and associated theorems for every branch of mathematics and Computer Science that is used in a verification. This is a formidable task, ultimately requiring the contributions of researchers and developers all over the world. This paper reports on the formalization of the integral calculus in the PVS theorem prover. All of the basic definitions and theorems covered in a first course on integral calculus have been completed.The theory and proofs were based on Rosenlicht's classic text on real analysis and follow the traditional epsilon-delta method. The goal of this work was to provide a practical set of PVS theories that could be used for verification of hybrid systems that arise in air traffic management systems and other aerospace applications. All of the basic linearity, integrability, boundedness, and continuity properties of the integral calculus were proved. The work culminated in the proof of the Fundamental Theorem Of Calculus. There is a brief discussion about why mechanically checked proofs are so much longer than standard mathematics textbook proofs.