cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Managing Multi-Agent Coordination, Planning, and Scheduling

Most research about multi-agent coordination is concentrated at a high level, e.g., developing coordination interaction protocols to be imposed on agents. There has been less concern about how the internal task structures of individual agents affect these higher-level coordination behaviors. In particular, agent planning and scheduling behaviors are inextricably linked to coordination behaviors. This paper proposes some extensions and restrictions to the expressiveness of traditional plan and schedule representations that allow the formal definition of the multi-agent coordination problem. We recast our GPGP coordination approach using this formalism, and present a set of general rules relating task environment characteristics and this implemented set of GPGP coordination mechanisms.
Microhabitat Use by an Assemblage of California Stream Fishes: Developing Criteria for Instream Flow Determinations

Abstract Microhabitat requirements were determined for eight species of native California stream fishes: Rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri; Sacramento sucker Catostomus occidentalis; Sacramento squawfish Ptychocheilus grandis; hardhead Mylopharodon conocephalus; California roach Hesperoleucus symmetricus; speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus; tule perch Hysterocarpus traski; and riffle sculpin Cottus gulosus. Two or three size classes were evaluated for each species. Each species had a preferred microhabitat (defined on the basis of depth, velocity, substrate), as did each size class within each species, but there was much similarity in microhabitat use within and among species. The amount of microhabitat available to each species differed in three stream reaches in which availability was quantified, but the differences were not enough to explain the differences in composition of the fish assemblage found at each site. This study indicates that recommendations for instream flows should be based on microhabitat u...
The Future of Counseling Psychology Improving Quality of Life for Persons With Chronic Health Issues

The literature review and focus group findings that compose the Major Contribution illustrate how counseling psychologists can integrate expertise from various subdisciplines (vocational psychology, health psychology, multicultural psychology) to effectively address the needs of those living with HIV. Given changes in the nature of health problems and increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related difficulties (e.g., smoking, obesity), psychologists will encounter increasing numbers of clients with similarly complex vocational concerns. Counseling psychologists need to be prepared to utilize a range of intervention strategies to address the individual and contextual aspects of clients' concerns. Implications of these findings for the future of counseling psychology are discussed, and Maguire et al.'s grounded theory model (2008 [this issue]) is considered as a framework for counseling psychology intervention.
Self-blame attributions in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a prospective study of psychological adjustment.

Associations between self-blame and anxiety and depression symptoms in a sample of 76 women with breast cancer were investigated. At diagnosis, behavioral self-blame was associated with increased distress; at 3 months postdiagnosis, characterological self-blame was positively associated with affective symptoms and behavioral self-blame approached significance (p = .07); and at 6 months, behavioral self-blame was related to increased distress. Prospective analyses revealed that characterological self-blame at diagnosis approached significance in predicting distress at 3 months (p = .055) and was significant in predicting distress at 6 months and at 1 year after diagnosis. These data indicate that behavioral self-blame is a correlate of concurrent affective symptoms, whereas characterological self-blame predicts increased distress over time. Implications for social-cognitive processes in adaptation to breast cancer are discussed.
Feeding and Survivorship of Blueberry Maggot Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Protein Baits Incorporated with Insecticides

Laboratory feeding trials evaluated fly survivorship on six insecticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, deltamethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid, and spinosad) incorporated at 4, 40, and 400 ppm in protein baits. Higher concentrations of insecticides resulted in increased fly mortality. At all concentrations of insecticides in baits, except those on deltamethrin, there was a significantly higher mortality 4 d after the initial feeding, compared with flies that fed on a control bait. The presence of clothianidin or imidacloprid in baits led to significantly less feeding compared with a control bait without insecticide. There were no feeding deterrent effects of bait containing either fipronil or spinosad compared with a control bait without insecticide. Exposure of flies to fresh bait containing 40 ppm of acetamiprid, clothianidin, or imidacloprid, resulted in significantly more flies becoming knocked down than the control. Baits containing 40 ppm of fipronil or spinosad resulted in higher levels of fly mortality than baits containing either neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, clothianidin, or imidacloprid) or no insecticide for trials with fresh and 1-d-old bait with unlimited exposure. At the rates tested baits containing deltamethrin resulted in no fly knockdown and always had the lowest mortality of any insecticide treatment. The tradeoffs between insecticides capable of knockdown and mortality are discussed as they relate to management of R. mendax.
The West Indian Peridinetini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae)

Two genera and nine species of Peridinetini are recognised in the West Indies; four of the species are newly described. Peridinetus Schonherr is represented in the Greater Antilles by P. concentricus (Olivier), P. decipiens Prena sp. n., P. fuscosignum Prena sp. n., P. poeyi Jacquelin du Val stat. res., P. roeselii (Boheman) and P. sexguttatus (Fabricius) comb. n. and Palliolatrix Prena in the Lesser Antilles by P. insignis (Chevrolat), P. lateropicta Prena sp. n. and P. silacea Prena sp. n. Ephimerus Schonherr is synonymised with Peridinetus (syn. n.). The overlooked synonymy of Peridinetus signatus Rosenschold with P. concentricus is reinstated. Habitus images, distribution maps and a key for identification are provided.
Meniscus Allograft Transplantation

Reports of transplantation of the meniscus date back to the early 1900s, but transplantation only more recently became a viable treatment option for select patients. Young patients with persistent pain following total or near-total meniscectomy, with absence of other ligamentous or cartilage pathology, are considered good candidates for meniscal transplantation. A commonly used method of determining allograft size is derived from a regression model that uses height, weight, and gender variables. There are a number of well-described surgical techniques for meniscal allograft transplantation described. Our institution’s preferred technique involves utilization of an entirely soft tissue graft with fixation of the posterior horn via transtibial suture, peripherally via a combination of various meniscal suture techniques and devices and the anterior horn via PushLock anchor. Malalignment, ligamentous instability, and/or articular cartilage pathology should be addressed prior to or at the time of MAT. Although challenging to interpret the literature as whole in regard to the success of meniscal allograft transplantation, the overwhelming majority of reports demonstrate success of the procedure in terms of patient reported outcome measures. As a result of this success, meniscal allograft transplantation appears to be becoming increasingly utilized for selected patients with symptomatic lack of a meniscus.
In vitro activity of the HDAC inhibitor Suberoyl anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) against gliomas

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 4171 Inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity is a novel anticancer strategy that has demonstrated potential for inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis in malignant cells. Suberoyl anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) is a potent HDAC inhibitor that has shown activity against several malignancies in preclinical studies and is currently being tested in clinical trials. We assessed the effects of SAHA on glioma cells (Hs683, D54MG and U87MG) and the mechanism of its effects in an in vitro study. A dose- and time-dependent decrease in proliferation was seen in response to SAHA (0.1- 25 μM) in all three cell lines tested. D54MG and U87MG cells exposed to SAHA underwent apoptosis as seen by morphologic changes (nuclear condensation and membrane blebbing), the appearance of a sub-G1 fraction by flow cytometry analysis, and PARP cleavage following Western blot analysis. Decreased anchorage-independent growth was observed in SAHA-treated glioma cells compared with untreated controls in a soft agar clonogenic assay. Concurrent treatment with SAHA and cisplatin or etoposide resulted in more than an additive induction of apoptosis, suggesting synergistic interactions between these agents. The degree of apoptosis was similarly increased when cells were concurrently treated with SAHA and 13 cis-retinoic acid (cRA). These results indicate that SAHA induces apoptosis in glioma cells and acts in a synergistic manner with cytotoxic agents and retinoic acid, suggesting a therapeutic potential for this class of agents against gliomas.
Toward understanding principals’ hiring practices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore variation across principals in terms of the number and types of strategies they engage in to find teachers to fill the vacancies in their schools. The practices that the authors consider to be strategic are aligned with the district’s goals and objectives for teacher recruitment. Design/methodology/approach – The authors selected 31 schools from the Chicago Public Schools system through a combination of stratified random sampling and purposive sampling. Through analysis of qualitative interviews with the 31 principals of these schools, the authors explore a range of principals’ hiring strategies and provide brief case examples to illuminate differences in hiring practices across principals. Findings – The authors find that the majority of principals in the sample engage in relatively few of the practices considered strategic. Interestingly, sample principals who engaged in seven or more strategic practices were more likely to work in high schools than in e...
Combining Epigenetic and Immunotherapy to Combat Cancer

The most exciting recent advance for achieving durable management of advanced human cancers is immunotherapy, especially the concept of immune checkpoint blockade. However, with the exception of melanoma, most patients do not respond to immunotherapy alone. A growing body of work has shown that epigenetic drugs, specifically DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, can upregulate immune signaling in epithelial cancer cells through demethylation of endogenous retroviruses and cancer testis antigens. These demethylating agents may induce T-cell attraction and enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in mouse models. Current clinical trials are testing this combination therapy as a potent new cancer management strategy. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1683-9. ©2016 AACR.
Student Evaluation of Faculty Physicians: Gender Differences in Teaching Evaluations.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate whether there is a difference in medical student teaching evaluations for male and female clinical physician faculty. Methods: The authors examined all teaching evaluations completed by clinical students at one North American medical school in the surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine clinical rotations from 2008 to 2012. The authors focused on how students rated physician faculty on their “overall quality of teaching” using a 5-point response scale (1 = Poor to 5 = Excellent). Linear mixed-effects models provided estimated mean differences in evaluation outcomes by faculty gender. Results: There were 14,107 teaching evaluations of 965 physician faculty. Of these evaluations, 7688 (54%) were for male physician faculty and 6419 (46%) were for female physician faculty. Female physicians received significantly lower mean evaluation scores in all four rotations. The discrepancy was largest in the surgery rotation (males = 4.23, females = 4.01, p...
"The great entrepot for mendicants": Foreign poverty and immigration control in New York state to 1882

IN SEPTEMBER 1880, members of the New York State Board of Charities, a state agency supervising issues of poverty and welfare, received a report on an English immigrant family. The report stated that the family— husband, wife, and three children, who were “all feeble-minded, and entirely destitute”—had been deported from New York to Ontario, Canada. They had originally emigrated from London to Quebec with financial assistance from the Ladies’ Emigrant Association in Quebec. The authorities in Quebec then sent the family to New York via London, Ontario. After their arrival in New York, the family members became destitute and entered an almshouse. Their removal was executed not under federal deportation law, which did not yet exist in 1880, but under a newly passed state law. Enacted in June 1880, the law authorized the Board of Charities to return to their places of origin “any crippled, blind, lunatic, or other infirm alien paupers” in charitable institutions in New York whose emigration had been financed by foreign governments, charitable organizations, or landlords. This deportation law was limited in scope, for it did not apply to those who crossed the Atlantic on their own, exempting most foreign inmates from removal. Yet it was a product of the state’s century-long effort to restrict the immigration of people of undesirable character. In particular, it was a response to repeated calls by state immigration officials and citizens in New York since the antebellum period for the deportation of foreign paupers. In American historical scholarship, immigration control has long been discussed on the basis of federal policy that developed from the 1870s onward. Historians have typically located the origins of this policy in legislation that emerged largely as a result of anti-Chinese sentiment in California. In 1875, Congress passed the Page Act, forbidding the entry of foreign convicts and laborers brought involuntarily from “China, Japan, or any Oriental country.” The act also denied admission to women imported “for the purposes of prostitution,” a stricture designed chiefly against Chinese women. In 1882,
Process and Management Expertise: The Relational Construction of Temporal Flexibility

Research on temporal flexibility, or the ability of individuals to adjust their work schedules to accommodate their needs and interests, has focused on conditions under which individuals are able to more effectively bargain for temporal flexibility. We do not yet know how these conditions are created in advance of a particular instance of bargaining. Using a qualitative study of one team-based professional services firm, we investigate how professionals create impressions and develop relationships that enable them to effectively construct temporal flexibility. We find that two types of expertise, content expertise and management expertise are at the core of the process. We also find that the process of relational construction of temporal flexibility is a self-reinforcing one, tempered by well-meaning organizational rules that perpetuate the belief that content expertise is essential and management expertise is optional.This research contributes to research on temporal flexibility and on relational perspec...
Myocardial depression produced by sustained tachycardia in rabbits

Much recent attention has been focused on the tachycardia-induced heart failure model. We hypothesized that sustained tachycardia would lead to myocardial depression in rabbits, as it does in dogs and swine. We evaluated the passive and active length-tension relations and postrest contraction behavior in right ventricular papillary muscles from 22 New Zealand White rabbits, 11 controls, and 11 subjected to ventricular pacing at a rate of 400 beats/min for 29.4 +/- 10.6 days. Studies were performed in oxygenated buffer at 22 degrees C. Active tension was significantly reduced at muscle lengths of 0.95.Lmax and above; at Lmax it was 4.7 +/- 0.2 g/mm2 for the control group and 3.3 +/- 0.2 g/mm2 for the paced group (P less than 0.005). Both groups showed increased force development when the concentration of calcium in the buffer was increased. There were no differences between the groups in the passive length-tension relations. Of note, postrest contraction data showed that the second postrest beat was smaller for the paced animals for rest intervals up to 2 min, suggesting that beat-to-beat trans-sarcolemmal calcium handling may differ from normal in this model. We conclude that sustained tachycardia will lead to myocardial depression in rabbits; the extension of this model to a small animal species may offer new ways to explore its causative mechanisms.
Stochastic comparison in MRL ordering for parallel systems with two exponential components

In this paper, we investigate the stochastic comparison of parallel systems with two independent exponential components in terms of mean-residual (MRL) ordering. We obtain a more general and reasonable sufficient condition for guaranteeing MRL ordering of the systems than the one given in some existing results in the literature.
A semi-generic holistic TRI-cycle model for assessing small computing programs

This paper presents a brief clear picture of an effective comprehensive program assessment. It starts with the role of constituencies, and institution in the formation and modification of program educational objectives (PEOs), continues all the way through the hierarchy of three cycles of continuous improvement and ends with performance indicators of course outcomes (PICOs) that are ultimate instruments for concrete measurements of ABET [1] performance indicators of student outcomes (PISOs). The clear flows of execution of processes, excerpts of alignment and mapping, examples of data compilation, analysis, program improvement, and reporting are illustrated for the purposes of clarity.
Heater-cantilevers for writing: characterization, modeling and optimization

One important consideration in the design of the heater-cantilever is how fast it can be heated and cooled, which ultimately determines the maximum data writing rate. The cooling rate of the heater region can be represented by a figure of merit called the thermal time constant. Methods of measuring and reducing the thermal time constant of a heater-cantilever were studied. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses were performed. Finite-element models were developed to help explain the experimental results. Finally, the dynamic thermal behavior of cantilevers of different geometries was evaluated, and a mathematical optimization was performed in order to determine the optimal design with respect to thermal time constant and mechanical resonant frequency.
Preface: Friedrich von Wieser in the History of Economic Thought

Friedrich von Wieser was one of the outstanding practitioners of the discipline of economics. He is not, however, among the recognized giants in the history of economic thought: Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, Alfred Marshall, and John Maynard Keynes. He is, paradoxically, one of those recognized outstanding economists still unfortunately neglected. The fault for this arguably lies not so much with Wieser and his work but with the discipline of economics. The reason for this predicament is that Wieser’s work has not always been interpreted in its entirety and also because of the narrow focus of the main interests of the discipline. An intellectual discipline creates his own self-perception from its history and its history from its self-perception. Accordingly Wieser is honoured for some of what he did but the rest is neglected if not widely forgotten. Ironically, Wieser was himself partially responsible for this predicament. I shall attempt in this chapter to place Wieser in the history of economic thought and to explain the partial recognition and acclaim accorded to him accompanied by the partial failure of collective remembrance of his work.
Statistics for Anthropology

Anthropology as a discipline is rapidly becoming more quantitative, and anthropology students are now required to develop sophisticated statistical skills. This book provides students of anthropology with a clear, step-by-step guide to univariate statistical methods, demystifying the aspects that are often seen as difficult or impenetrable. Explaining the central role of statistical methods in anthropology and using only anthropological examples, the book provides a solid footing in statistical techniques. Beginning with basic descriptive statistics, this new edition also covers more advanced methods such as analyses of frequencies and variance, simple and multiple regression analysis with dummy and continuous variables. It addresses commonly encountered problems such as small samples and non-normality. Each statistical technique is accompanied by clearly worked examples and the chapters end with practice problem sets. Many of the datasets are available for download at www.cambridge.org/9780521147088.
Effect of Photogenerated Dipoles in the Hole Transport Layer on Photovoltaic Performance of Organic–Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

Judicious choice of transport layer in organic–inorganic halide perovskite solar cells can be one of the essential parameters in photovoltaic design and fabrication techniques. This article reports the effect of optically generated dipoles in transport layer on the photovoltaic actions in active layer in perovskite solar cells with the architecture of indium tin oxide (ITO)/TiO x /CH3NH3PbI3–x Cl x /hole transport layer (HTL)/Au. Here, PTB7-thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-alt-benzodithiophene and P3HT-poly(3-hexylthiophene) are separately used as the HTL with significant and negligible photoinduced dipoles, respectively. Electric field-induced photoluminescence quenching provides the first-hand evidence to indicate that the photoinduced dipoles are partially aligned in the amorphous PTB7 layer under the influence of device built-in field. By monitoring the recombination process through magneto-photocurrent measurements under device operation condition, it is shown that the photoinduced dipoles in PTB7 layer can decrease the recombination of photogenerated carriers in the active layer in perovskite solar cells. Furthermore, the capacitance measurements suggest that the photoinduced dipoles in PTB7 can decrease charge accumulation at the electrode interface. Therefore, the studies indicate the important role of photoinduced dipoles in the HTL on charge recombination dynamics and provide a fundamental insight on how the polarization in transport layer can influence the device performance in perovskite solar cells.
A sociedade rural do oásis de Pica contra o processo chilenizador: conflitos, interações e rearranjos (Tarapaca, norte do Chile 1880-1900)

The implication that the chilenization process had in the Pica Oasis for the two first decades of Chilean dominion over this territory is analyzed and described through notarized documentation. More than delimiting the view of the great political and administrative processes, this article is addressed to examine the every-day life dynamics that caused tension to locals and government employees and at the same time generated organization and negotiation spaces among these actors. From this perspective aspects that were not considered until now in studies about the early chilenization of the territories of the Far North of Chile are examined, especially those referred to the impact that the defense of private interests and the use of legal mechanisms in order to protect acquired rights had.
Power distribution network partitioning in big data environment using k-means and fuzzy logic

Transition from conventional power grid to smart grid provides a plethora of opportunities to the end-users, both to producers and consumers. The aim of this paper is to present our efforts on partitioning power distribution system using a synergistic framework of intelligent tools. In particular, we propose a partitioning method of the distribution grid by integrating an extended version of the k-means algorithm and a fuzzy logic inference engine. The fuzzy logic engine is utilized to select the group of consumers that will be privileged to buy energy supplied by renewable energy sources (RES) at a lower price; RES are utilized when the available energy offered in the market is not enough to satisfy the overall demand and are in the state of prodiding excess energy. Our simulation scenarios implementing a combination of the IEEE-123 and IEEE-37 test feeder exhibit the effect of the partition of the distribution network on the operation of the smart grid. In particular, a case study of a distribution network comprised of approximately 2700 houses of different energy demand, and of conventional as well as distributed energy producers is presented and analysed.
Hypoglycemia Following Bariatric Surgery: Our 31-Year Experience

The purposes of this study are to identify the cumulative incidence of post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia (PBSH), describe its symptomatology, and characterize treatment patterns at a large academic institution. All patients who underwent bariatric surgery at a single institution from 1985 to 2015 were identified using a clinical database, administrative billing data identified patients who were treated for hypoglycemia, and chart reviews were performed to make a diagnosis of PBSH based on Whipple’s triad. PBSH cases were reviewed including patient diabetes history, symptomatology, and treatment measures. Univariate analyses were performed to identify correlations based on symptomatology, laboratory values, and treatments utilized. Ninety (2.6%) of 3487 patients were diagnosed with PBSH with preoperative median age of 43 years, mean BMI of 50.0 kg/m2, and median glycated hemoglobin of 6.0%. Median time-to-first hypoglycemic event was 40.6 months. No factors were identified which predict symptom severity or resolution. The 24 (27%) patients who received pharmacotherapy to treat hypoglycemia were younger, had lower nadir blood glucose levels, and more frequent symptoms. Sixty-nine (79%) cases eventually resolved. PBSH onset and severity are highly variable. Successful management of these patients can prove difficult and should include dietary therapy, the selective use of pharmacotherapy and surgery, and the use of a multidisciplinary team including bariatric surgeons and endocrinologists.
Abstract P307: pNaKtide Attenuates Dyslipidemia and Atherosclerosis by Blocking Na/K- ATPase/Reactive Oxygen Species Amplification in ApoE -/- Mice

Background: We have previously reported that the α1 subunit of the sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na/K-ATPase) acts as an amplifier for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in addition to its ion pumping function. We have also shown that blockade of this amplification with a novel peptide, pNaKtide, ameliorates oxidative stress and obesity in mice subjected to a high-fat diet. Hypothesis: Given the importance of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, we chose to examine whether pNaKtide might be effective in ameliorating dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in ApoE -/- mice. Methods: pNaKtide was administered in ApoE -/- mouse fed western diet. 25 mg/Kg pNaKtide was administered intraperitoneally once every 7 days. Lipid profile, glucose insulin levels, and ROS levels were measured. Aortas were dissected and quantification of aortic lesions was done. Results: Our results show that pNaKtide improved glucose tolerance and HOMA-IR scores in ApoE-/- mice fed a western diet (p Conclusion: This study suggests that the Na/K-ATPase/ROS signaling cascade is a possible mechanism for the development of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis associated with the metabolic syndrome phenotype and pNaKtide presents a potential novel treatment for these pathologies.
Solution-Processed and Self-Assembled Monolayer-Treated High-Voltage Organic Thin Film Transistors for Flexible MEMS Integration

We report a 6,13-Bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) solution-processed high-voltage organic thin film transistor (HVOTFT) with a large breakdown voltage of |VDS| > 450 V, a three-fold increase from previous results. An offset channel architecture and an organosilane-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM) treatment were used to achieve large breakdown voltages. Solution-processed HVOTFTs will enable novel high-voltage and flexible applications. Reliability of the HVOTFT under high-field stress was studied in the context of threshold and onset to conduction voltages.
Chapter 6 – Nanotechnology safety in the biomedical industry

Nanomaterials are of interest in many biomedical applications for potential enhancements in structural strength of bone implants, controlled drug release, improved chemical interactions, and scaffolding for cell in-growth and tissue replacement. Unfortunately, the key changes in material properties that enhance performance seem to lead in some cases to increased toxicity. By shifting the distribution of wear particle sizes to smaller individual particles, adverse effects may be created, either directly from the nanoparticle interactions or through intermediary species, such as reactive oxygen. Either way, biological activity often seems to be dependent on particle size, and deleterious side effects and workplace hazards must be evaluated and avoided.
Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy

Partial nephrectomy is emerging as the standard of care for small exophytic renal tumors <4 cm regardless of renal function status. In comparison to radical nephrectomy, studies have demonstrated equivalent oncologic control and decreased risk of renal insufficiency. While laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has been widely adopted as the procedure of choice for large renal masses, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) requires a higher level of expertise. However, recent advances in technology, instrument design, and greater facility with laparoscopy among urologists have made this procedure more accessible. There is little long-term follow-up, but some recent large series demonstrate positive margins <3% and local recurrence <5%, commensurate with the open procedure. A transperitoneal approach is often used for anterior and polar tumors and a retroperitoneal approach for posterior and posterolateral lesions; however, if hilar control is felt to be needed, then a transperitoneal approach is usually used regardless of the lesion’s location. In addition to standard laparoscopy, a hand-assisted approach can be used to facilitate suturing during renal reconstruction. Warm ischemia, up to 30 min, is usually necessary for large, complex, or centrally located tumors. When longer periods of warm ischemia are anticipated, cold ischemia may be employed via surface, transureteral, or intraarterial cooling. Advances in surgical sealants continue to facilitate hemostasis; these include glues as well as hemostatic agents.
Animal Models of Diabetic Retinopathy

If they are diabetic long enough, most or all species available for laboratory research will develop lesions characteristic of the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, including nonperfused (and acellular) capillaries and apoptotic loss of capillary cells. Although none of these animal models reliably proceed rtheless provide valuable insight into the role of specific biochemical pathways and cell types in the early stages of retinopathy. An increasing number of therapeutic approaches have been identified that significantly inhibit the development of capillary obliteration in the retina. The challenge now is to integrate the results of these studies to identify the sequence of events that ultimately results in the characteristic histopathology in diabetes. Why diabetic animal models have not been found to develop the neovascular stages of diabetic retinopathy remains an important question, and one likely reason for this "failure" is that much less vaso- obliteration develops in the retina of the diabetic animals during the short duration of their diabetes as compared to that of some diabetic patients who, over many years, develop extensive vaso-obliteration. Nevertheless, the models are still useful, because preventing progressive capillary obliteration from occurring in the retina is likely to be a more beneficial therapeutic goal than merely inhibiting neovascularization in an already damaged and ischemic retina.
Critical Parameters of a Proton-Moderated and Proton-Reflected Slab of U 235

The critical thickness of proton moderated and proton reflected slab-shaped volumes of aqueous solutions of UO2F2 enriched to 93.2% in U235 were measured at chemical concentrations near that requir...
Current-voltage response for unipolar funnel-shaped nanochannel diodes

Permselective nanochannels can rectify the electric current transported through them similar to solid-state diodes. The rectification is due to symmetry breaking related to distribution of the nanochannels' surface charge as well as the geometry. Thus far, most of the works related to the asymmetric current response have been primarily experimental. Here, we theoretically model a funnel-shaped nanochannel with a nonhomogeneous surface charge from which we derive a current-voltage relation (I-V). If the effects of the adjacent microchannels are ignored, the I-V is shown to behave like a unipolar diodes. When the effects of the adjacent microchannels are accounted for, the channel behaves like a diode only in a small voltage domain, while at larger voltages, the response is determined by the microchannels. The theoretical results are confirmed by numerical simulations.
Variable Time-Step Implementation for Rapid Quasi-Static Time-Series (QSTS) Simulations of Distributed PV

Distribution system analysis with high penetrations of distributed PV require quasi-static time-series (QSTS) analysis to model the variability introduced on the distribution system, but current QSTS algorithms are prohibitively burdensome and computationally intensive. This paper proposes a variable timestep algorithm to calculate the critical time periods when QSTS simulations should be solved at higher or lower time-resolution and to backtrack for any critical periods that were missed. This variable time-step solver is a new method of performing timeseries simulations with high accuracy while performing the simulation more than 50 times faster. The scalability of the algorithm is demonstrated using a real utility distribution system model with thousands of buses.
Circuit quantization in the presence of time-dependent external flux

Circuit quantization links a physical circuit to its corresponding quantum Hamiltonian. The standard quantization procedure generally assumes any external magnetic flux to be static. Time dependence naturally arises, however, when flux is modulated or when flux noise is considered. In this case, application of the existing quantization procedure can lead to inconsistencies. To resolve these, we generalize circuit quantization to incorporate time-dependent external flux.
Theory of gesture in the 1920s Russian Avant-Garde: affect and embodiment in Stanislavski’s philosophy

In performance, it naturally occurs to the actor to become aware of her emotions, inner spirit, and physical agility, and Stanislavski established exercises to hone the understanding of these three...
Assessing Distraction Potential of Augmented Reality Head-Up Displays for Vehicle Drivers.

Objective:To develop a framework for quantifying the visual and cognitive distraction potential of augmented reality (AR) head-up displays (HUDs).Background:AR HUDs promise to be less distractive t...
Combinatorial interpretations of some Boij–Söderberg decompositions☆

Boij–Soderberg theory shows that the Betti table of a graded module can be written as a linear combination of pure diagrams with integer coefficients. Using Ferrers hypergraphs and simplicial polytopes, we provide interpretations of these coefficients for ideals with a d-linear resolution, their quotient rings, and for Gorenstein rings whose resolution has essentially at most two linear strands. We also establish a structural result on the decomposition in the case of quasi-Gorenstein modules.
AI profiles: an interview with Leslie Kaelbling

Welcome to the eighth interview profiling a senior AI researcher. This time we will hear from Leslie Kaelbling, Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT.
Algebraic Number Fields

A complex number \(\xi \) is called an algebraic integer if \(\mathbf {Z}[ \xi ]\) is a finitely generated \(\mathbf {Z}\)-module; this condition is equivalent to the fact that \(f( \xi )=0\) for some polynomial \(f(X)=X^m+a_1X^{m-1}+ \cdots +a_m\), \(a_i \in \mathbf {Z}\). Let \(\mathbf {A}\) be the set of all algebraic integers. Then \(\mathbf {A}\) is a subring of \(\mathbf {C}\), and \(\mathbf {A} \cap \mathbf {Q} = \mathbf {Z}\).
Full Wave Solutions of Multiple Scattering Using 3D Vector Cylindrical Wave Expansions In Foldy-Lax Equations

In this paper, we develop a method for full wave simulations of vegetation/forests based on the scattered field formulation of Foldy-Lax multiple scattering equation (FL). The novelty of this method is that the 3D vector cylindrical wave expansions are used in FL, because the trees are compactly enclosed by the infinite cylindrical surfaces without overlap. For cylindrical scatterers such as tree trunks, infinite cylinder approximation is used to calculate the T matrix. Vector translation addition theorem of 3D vector cylindrical waves is used, and the FL is solved iteratively. Solving FL is equivalent to solving Maxwell equations and all the interactions and multiple scatterings among the scatterers are considered. The correctness of the method is verified by HFSS. This method has been implemented on parallel computing for large problems such as full wave simulations of forests.
Retinal Vessel Density in Exudative and Nonexudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose Although the choroid contributes to the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the role of retinal perfusion is unclear. We sought to compare retinal vascular measurements between eyes with nonexudative and exudative AMD using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methods OCT-A images were analyzed from 310 eyes of 182 patients (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 78.8 ± 8.8 years) with nonexudative (54.2%) and exudative (45.8%) AMD to measure retinal vessel density (VD) from the superficial capillary plexus in the foveal, parafoveal, and full macular regions and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, perimeter, and circularity. Multivariate regressions were used to compare nonexudative and exudative AMD eyes and the impact of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatments or geographic atrophy (GA). Results In eyes with AMD, VD decreases with age in the foveal (β = −0.211, P Conclusions Retinal VD is decreased in eyes with exudative AMD compared with nonexudative AMD but is unaffected by anti-VEGF treatments, suggesting a retinal vascular contribution to the pathogenesis of AMD.
Prevalence of Child Maltreatment and the Effects of the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence on Attitudes towards Domestic Violence in Chinese Police Cadets

In 2015, China passed legislation that criminalized domestic violence/child maltreatment and provided protections to victims of child maltreatment. Consistent with the intergenerational transmission of violence, prior cross-national research has demonstrated that the experience of child maltreatment is positively associated with supportive attitudes toward domestic violence. However, research conducted within China among Chinese police cadets has not found a relationship between child maltreatment and attitudes toward dating violence. The goals of the current study were to: 1) provide prevalence estimates of child maltreatment – including if the cadet witnessed domestic violence; 2) examine gender differences in the experience of child maltreatment and attitudes toward domestic violence, and; 3) examine if child maltreatment or witnessing domestic violence were associated with attitudes toward domestic violence. Survey data from 404 police cadets attending Zhejiang Police College in Hangzhou, China were analyzed. The majority of cadets (64.10%) experienced child maltreatment. Close to one in five cadets (19.10%) witnessed domestic violence in their household. Significant differences did not emerge between male and female cadets with regard to child maltreatment or witnessing domestic violence. Male cadets reported more supportive attitudes toward domestic violence than female cadets. Child maltreatment and witnessing domestic violence were not associated with attitudes toward domestic violence. Support was not found for the intergenerational transmission of violence among this sample of Chinese police cadets. Implications for future trainings and research are discussed.
Digest: Be honest with me: Do parasites play a role in divergence of sexual signals?

Do local parasite assemblages correlate with the divergence of sexual signals across subspecies? Hund et al. found that locally relevant sexual signals were associated with the most costly local parasites, indicating sexual signals communicate information about local parasite costs and suggesting a potential role in speciation.
Great Decisions, the Foreign Policy Association, and the Triumph of Elitism in the U.S. Foreign Policy Community

Who decides the national interest in a mass democracy? This article combines international, political, and intellectual history to demonstrate that a significant theoretical and practical debate ab...
Striking the Balance: The Portrayal of Male and Female Athletes on NBC’s Primetime Television Broadcast of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games:

All 63.5 hours of NBC’s 2018 primetime Winter Olympic broadcast from PyeongChang were analyzed to determine differences between the network’s treatment of male and female athletes. For the first ti...
Darbepoetin Administration in Term and Preterm Neonates

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) such as erythropoietin have been studied as red cell growth factors in preterm and term infants for more than 20 years. Recent studies have evaluated darbepoetin (Darbe, a long-acting ESA) for both erythropoietic effects and potential neuroprotection. We review clinical trials of Darbe in term and preterm infants, which have reported significant erythropoietic uses and neuroprotective effects. ESAs show great promise in decreasing or eliminating transfusions, and in preventing and treating brain injury in term and preterm infants.
MTAP protein expression and its relationship with chemosensitivity in the NCI60 cell lines

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 1532 Loss of activity for the purine salvage enzyme, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), occurs frequently in a broad variety of cancers,and is often accompanied by co-inactivation of its neighboring tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A. The loss of MTAP function compromises purine salvage in the cancer cells while the patient’s normal cells retain both salvage and de novo purine synthesis pathways, creating a target that can be selectively exploited through the use of purine synthesis inhibitors. In addition, it has been proposed that MTAP may exert “downstream” effects on polyamine metabolism that in turn elevate levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), making for another potential target for cancer therapeutics. To understand the genetic signatures that would optimize the development of such agents, we assessed the protein status of MTAP and CDKN2A in the NCI60 panel of cell lines, and assessed their relationship with growth inhibitory effects of over 70,000 different compounds characterized in the NCI60 drug screen panel. Western blot analysis of the 59 NCI60 cell lines revealed that 38 (64%) lacked detectable CDKN2A protein, while 12 (20%) cell lines also lacked MTAP protein. We next compared MTAP protein expression to MTAP mRNA expression levels as measured by gene expression arrays. As to be expected, MTAP protein (+) cell lines had significant higher levels of MTAP gene expression than MTAP protein (-) cell lines (p<0.0001). Interestingly however, there was no correlation between the levels of MTAP mRNA and protein expression (r=0.3). Using data from the NCI60 drug screen panel, we next compared MTAP protein expression with sensitivity to agents known to inhibit de novo purine synthesis. Several MTAP- cell lines, including MCF-7 and CCRF-CEM, were exceptionally responsive to de novo purine synthesis inhibitors such as methotrexate, DON, and azaserine. Alanosine, which we have shown in the past is selective for MTAP- cells, was not tested in the NCI60 drug screen panel. However, other MTAP- lines were relatively unresponsive to de novo purine synthesis inhibitors, while several MTAP + cell lines were highly responsive to the inhibitors. We considered the possibility that other genes involved in purine and polyamine pathways might show a stronger correlation with MTAP expression status and chemosensitivity. Using multivariate algorithms, we found that adenosine kinase expression was, on average, more than 1,000-fold over-expressed in MTAP- versus MTAP + cell lines. It is possible that agents targeting adenosine kinase could additional effects with inhibitors of purine synthesis. We conclude that although the loss or inactivation of MTAP influences the sensitivity and specificity of cancers to certain types of chemotherapeutic agents, it is likely that the influence of multiple genes may be responsible for the success or failure of agents targeting this pathway.
Reducing communication overhead in distributed learning by an order of magnitude (almost)

Large-scale distributed learning plays an ever-more increasing role in modern computing. However, whether using a compute cluster with thousands of nodes, or a single multi-GPU machine, the most significant bottleneck is that of communication. In this work, we explore the effects of applying quantization and encoding to the parameters of distributed models. We show that, for a neural network, this can be done - without slowing down the convergence, or hurting the generalization of the model. In fact, in our experiments we were able to reduce the communication overhead by nearly an order of magnitude - while actually improving the generalization accuracy.