cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Area-Average Solar Radiative Transfer in Three-Dimensionally Inhomogeneous Clouds: The Independently Scattering Cloudlet Model

Abstract A new conceptual and computational basis is described for renormalizing the single-scatter and extinction properties (optical depth, single-scatter albedo, and scattering phase function or asymmetry parameter) of a three-dimensionally inhomogeneous cloud volume or layer so as to describe a radiatively equivalent homogeneous volume or layer. The renormalization may allow area-averaged fluxes and intensities to be efficiently computed for some inhomogeneous cloud fields using standard homogeneous (e.g., plane parallel) radiative transfer codes. In the Independently Scattering Cloudlet (ISC) model, macroscopic “cloudlets” distributed randomly throughout a volume are treated as discrete scatterers, analogous to individual cloud droplets but with modified single-scatter properties due to internal multiple scattering. If a volume encompasses only cloudlets that are optically thin, the renormalized single-scatter properties for the volume revert to the intrinsic values and the homogeneous case is recove...
Ideology, Language Varieties, and ELT

The question of which language variety should be used as a medium of instruction in ELT involves two different issues: the variety used by teachers and students in the classroom, and the target language of the learners. Both issues are usually framed as pedagogical: Which variety (or varieties) will best serve learners’ educational needs? In contrast, a critical perspective views pedagogical rationales for alternative ELT policies and practices as mechanisms for justifying conventions of language teaching. Thus, critical ELT research explores the underlying ideological orientations of alternative policies and practices. This chapter summarizes research, describes current debates, and suggests future directions for research on the ideology of medium of instruction issues. It suggests that medium of instruction issues are often called into service of social agendas that determine which language groups enjoy particular economic, political, and social benefits.
Hospital-skilled nursing facility referral linkage reduces readmission rates among Medicare patients receiving major surgery

Background In the health reform era, rehospitalization after discharge may result in financial penalties to hospitals. The effect of increased hospital–skilled nursing facility (SNF) linkage on readmission reduction after surgery has not been explored. Methods To determine whether enhanced hospital–SNF linkage, as measured by the proportion of surgical patients referred from a hospital to a particular SNF, would result in reduced 30-day readmission rates for surgical patients, we used national Medicare data (2011–2012) and evaluated patients who underwent 1 of 5 operative procedures (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], hip fracture repair, total hip arthroplasty, colectomy, or lumbar spine surgery). Initial evaluation was performed using regression modeling. Patient choice in SNF referral was adjusted for using instrumental variable (IV) analysis with distance between an individuals’ home and the SNF as the IV. Results A strong negative correlation (P Conclusion The benefits of increased hospital–SNF linkage seem to include meaningful reductions in hospital readmission after surgery. Overall, a 10% increase in the proportion of surgical referrals to a particular SNF is estimated to decrease readmissions by 4%. This may impact hospital–SNF networks participating in risk-based reimbursement models.
From Innocent Boys to Dirty Old Men: Why the Sex Offender Registry Fails Our Children

This article surveys the requirement of registration as a sex offender and ultimately concludes that the registry fails to protect children and society from individuals who commit sex-related crimes; furthermore, it concludes that the registry fails to prevent sex crimes from occurring. The author studies the legislative history of various Acts related to sex crimes as well as statistics on sex crimes to surmise that Congress in large part relied on myths about sex offenders in enacting legislation like the Adam Walsh Act. As a result, the registry is incapable of preventing the commission of sex offenses. The author further resolves that the registry endorses and perpetuates hatred toward sex offenders by creating a stigma whereby sex offenders are unable to reintegrate into society and lead productive lives. The article concludes by proposing that the registry is counterproductive as it causes great harm to individuals without offering a greater positive benefit to society as a whole.
Minimal interleukin expression in canine intracranial meningiomas

MENINGIOMAS are a common CNS neoplasm in both humans and dogs. The propagation of meningiomas has been linked with several inflammatory interleukins; human meningioma cells have been identified to synthesise and secrete interleukin-6 (IL-6) (Boyle-Walsh and others 1994, 1996, Todo and others 1994), a proinflammatory cytokine with pleiotropic function, as well as express interleukin-8 (IL-8 or CXCL8) mRNA (Boyle-Walsh and others 1994), an inflammatory chemokine known to enhance angiogenesis by vascular endothelial cell proliferation and tumour neovascularisation (Xie 2001, Brat and others 2005). Although IL-6 and IL-8 expression has been reported in human meningiomas, no comparative information, to the authors’ knowledge, is available currently for canine meningiomas. The aims of this project were to determine whether canine intracranial meningiomas express IL-6 and or IL-8 and, if so, whether the expression varies among meningioma tumour types and grades in a quantifiable manner. Nineteen surgically excised formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine intracranial meningioma biopsy samples were collected from the Department of Pathology, the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine archives (2005–2011). The diagnosis of each tumour was confirmed and classified morphologically by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification scheme for meningiomas (Louis and others 2007) by a board-certified veterinary pathologist (Howerth). Immunohistochemical detection of IL-6 and IL-8 was performed by an automated staining system (DakoCytomation, Carpinteria, California, USA) using anti-canine IL-6 (1:2000, monoclonal mouse, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) and anti-canine IL-8 (1:40, monoclonal mouse, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) antibodies, respectively. The negative controls were the tissue …
Some Obstacles in the Path of Progress in Marketing Extension Work

IT IS generally supposed that the solution of problems leads to progress. If this be true, the opportunities for progress in marketing extension work ought to be tremendous. The real question evolves around how well we meet some of the obstacles and challenges that seem to be holding us back. Time and space will not permit a detailed discussion of all the many facets of our trials and tribulations, but a few of the more significant ones can be hauled out for closer scrutinizing. The suggested remedies to be presented later in this paper are not to be taken as examples of what ought to be done. In most cases the solutions are suggested for discussion purposes only. This has the advantage of leaving the listener or reader free to suggest his own solution without necessarily disagreeing with the author. In the first place many marketing extension workers aren't quite sure what the objective of their work really is. If they are explaining their work to farmers, they are probably trying to increase farm income. When marketing agencies appear on the horizon, the extension workers find that they are trying to make the agencies more money. If by chance a poor consumer turns up, the extension personnel have something for her too in the form of more value for the same or less monetary expenditure. If the extension workers are in doubt of the make-up of the audience, they may hide behind the catch-all objective of trying to "improve the efficiency of marketing." The above objectives are each laudable in their own right, but a mistake is made in thinking that all three of four horses can be ridden at the same time. Occasionally they may be going together but more often the paths tend to diverge. At this point a decision must be made as to which horse to ride. Most marketing extension personnel were born and reared on the farm and have a deep-seated interest in what happens on the farm and to farmers. Also the sources of funds are usually tied closely to a fairly narrow definition of agriculture. For these reasons and many more there is a tendency to ride with the farmers when the horses begin to part. This is a perfectly legitimate decision, but the extension workers ought to recognize what they are doing and the limitations that such decisions place on work with marketing firms and with consumers. The problem of conflict of interests is further amplified by the fact that our undergraduate and graduate students are trained as if they were going to work directly on the farm or closely with farmers. Our professors
Infiltration and interrill erosion rates after a wildfire in western Montana, USA

Abstract The 2000 Valley Complex wildfire burned in steep montane forests with ash cap soils in western Montana, USA. The effects of high soil burn severity on forest soil hydrologic function were examined using rainfall simulations (100 mm h − 1 for 1 h) on 0.5-m 2 plots. Infiltration rates, sediment yields and sediment concentrations were compared among three treatments: control (unburned and undisturbed); bare (unburned with all surface vegetation, litter, and duff removed prior to each simulation); and burned. Rainfall simulations were done immediately after the fire and repeated in 2001, 2002, and 2005. Soil moisture, water repellency, and understory canopy and ground cover were measured and related to infiltration rates and sediment yields. The unburned forest soil was water repellent at the mineral surface. This surface repellency was no longer detected after it was burned at high severity, but a post-fire water repellent soil layer was observed at 1–2 cm below the surface. The control plots had high ground cover (90% overall), infiltration of 44–48 mm, and very low sediment concentrations (median values of 0.1–0.6 g L − 1 ) and sediment yields (6–54 g m − 2 ) for all years despite changes in soil moisture and strong water repellency. The bare and control plots had similar water repellency values, but the interrill erosion in the bare plots was high throughout the study (624–1277 g m − 2 ). In the year of the fire, the burned sites had high rates of soil water repellency (88%) and little ground cover (10%). This resulted in low infiltration rates (30 mm), high sediment concentrations (median value 21 g L − 1 ), and high sediment yields (1157 g m − 2 ). By 2005, the fire-altered water repellency decreased in occurrence (48%) and severity, and the ground cover increased (42%). This resulted in much greater infiltration (84 mm), lower sediment concentration (median value 0.5 g L − 1 ), and lower sediment yields (15 g m − 2 ) on the burned plots. The importance of ground cover for preventing interrill erosion was demonstrated by the very low sediment yields on the control plots as compared to the bare and burned plots. The strength and occurrence of water repellency in both the unburned and burned sites decreased as soil moisture increased; however, strong soil water repellency was detected at the soil surface whenever unburned soils were dry. Fire-altered soil water repellency influenced the infiltration capacity and increased runoff rates immediately after the fire; however, the loss of protective ground cover was a more significant factor for the increased sediment concentrations and sediment yields.
Primary Meningeal Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma With Anaplastic Features: A Report of 2 Cases, One With BRAF V600E Mutation and Clinical Response to the BRAF Inhibitor Dabrafenib

Primary meningeal gliomas are rare tumors composed of a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. We present 2 clinically aggressive cases of primary meningeal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma that clinically mimicked meningioma. One case presented in the posterior fossa of a 56-year-old woman; the other centered on the left operculum of a 35-year-old woman. These cases showed many of the classic features of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, except that xanthomatous cells were rare and eosinophilic granular bodies were inconspicuous. Both cases exhibited high proliferative indices and superficially invaded the brain. One case harboring a BRAF mutation disseminated to the thecal sac and showed a clinical response to the targeted BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib. These cases seem to represent an unusual primarily extra-axial presentation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma and may account for at least some of the previously reported cases of primary meningeal glioma and/or glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive meningioma variants. We suggest that BRAF mutation analysis be considered in all meningeal lesions showing atypical histologic or immunohistochemical profiles, particularly those exhibiting glial differentiation, as a diagnostic aid and possible indication for targeted therapy.
Characteristics of the Reaction p + p → p + X at 205 GeV/ c

The inelastic reaction $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+X$ is studied at 205 GeV/c. The distribution of the square of the missing mass, ${M}^{2}$, shows a large diffractivelike peak at low ${M}^{2}$ due to two-, four-, and six-prong events. The slope of the invariant cross section versus $t$ decreases with increasing ${M}^{2}$. The energy dependences of the multiplicity moments for the recoiling system $X$ are similar to those for corresponding moments for $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(n \mathrm{charged}\mathrm{particles})$.
B80 fullerene: an Ab initio prediction of geometry, stability, and electronic structure.

The geometry, electronic, and structural properties of an unusually stable boron cage made of 80 boron atoms are studied, using ab initio calculations. The shape of this cluster is very similar to that of the well-known ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ fullerene, but in the ${\mathrm{B}}_{80}$ case, there is an additional atom in the center of each hexagon. The resulting cage preserves the ${I}_{h}$ symmetry, has a relatively large highest occupied and lowest unoccupied energy gap ($\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$) and, most importantly, is energetically more stable than boron double rings, which were detected in experiments and considered as building blocks of boron nanotubes. To our knowledge, this is the most stable boron cage studied so far.
REPLY TO COHN'S COMMENTS ON CONES

In response to Cohn's 1989 remarks, we believe his view that "cautious interpretation" of Grosser and Spafford's 1989 findings is based on an overly hasty reading of our work. We address his issues point by point. Our original study hypothesizes that an unusually high cone density occurs in the periphery of the dyslexic's eye; such a hi h density would account for the high visual acuity noted by Geiger and Lettvin (1987). Even if normal readers' eyes have peripheral cones, these are apparently not arranged densely enough to provide such keen, acute detail vison. Problem I. The pothesis.-The present authors do not declare the peripheral retinas of 2 human eyes to be tot y void of cones. It is a well-known fact that, although the human retina contains approximately 6 million cones (Kalat, 1984, p. 156), these are more commonly located toward the center of the retina (Kalat, 1984, p. 129). Cohn attributes fixation deviations to variations in fixation by the dyslexic reader, particularly along the horizontal meridian. Yes, fixation deviations are relatively large along the horizontal meridian. However, Curcio, Sloan, Packer, Hendrickson, and Kalina (1987) point out that, in their human observers, cones tend to drop more slowly in density along the horizontal meridian than they do along the vertical meridian. If dyslexic eyes tend to lose cone density more slowly in peripheral directions, relatively greater numbers of extra cones should occur along the horizontal than the vertical meridian. Specifically, the sharp decline in cone density from 0" to lo0 indicated in the Osterberg figure (cited by Cohn, 1989) may not (in our view) occur in the dyslexic retina. Perhaps in dyslexics' retinas, the iso-density line runs horizontally across the top of the graph (50,00O/sq. mm.) or perha s the density function decreases slowly from O0 to lo0. rolle em II: Pivial alternative Aypotheses.-These comments do not require response. Problem HI: Reqzriremenk for psychophysical studies of photoreceptors are not met.-If Cohn is correct in assuming the ability of d slexics to identify colored targets is due to reflected energies using their rods, then why was tLs ability not evidenced in the case of proficient readers? Should not their rods [unction also? Concluding remarks.-Cohn, based on his various objections, suggests "further work along this Line is not warranted." The attempt to shut down further work along the lines indicated by our research seems counter-productive. At the moment, clinical activities aimed at relieving reading difficulties have very little theoretical backing. The building of a sound theoretical understanding can only be helpful. Setting priorities for topics seems preferable to cessation of research efforts. The existence of methodological problems is what makes science interesting and challenging. We must be ingenious to make discoveries in the face of technical difficulties.
The thermal boundary resistance in superfluid 4 He near T λ

The thermal boundary resistance between copper and superfluid helium was measured nearT λ for heat fluxesQ from 0.04 to 130μW/cm2 in three cells of similar construction. In the low-power limit the results are consistent with the singularity reported by Duncanet al.. The excess finite-power contribution to the boundary resistance nearT λ varies significantly for different cells.
Analysis of Tobacco Headspace Volatiles Using Tenax GC or Active Carbon

Two simple methods, the Tenax GC method and the active carbon method, have been developed to analyze the headspace volatiles of tobacco. The headspace volatiles swept by helium from cut tobacco were collected by either Tenax GC or active carbon and were analyzed by gas chromatography after desorption by heating the Tenax GC or by extracting the active carbon with dichloromethane. The gas chromatograms of the headspace volatiles of flue-cured tobacco obtained by these two methods differed. Both methods showed good reproducibility and were applied to the analysis of the headspace volatiles of American and Japanese flue-cured tobacco samples. By principal component analysis, three or four principal components were. extracted from the 15 selected peaks of the headspace volatiles of these samples that had been obtained from both the Tenax GC and the active carbon methods.
Glucagon Actions in Perfused Liver are Oxygen Dependent

It is well known that glucagon stimulates O2 uptake in livers from fed rats, in part due to inhibition of glycolysis. An effect of glucagon on O2 uptake of isolated mitochondria following treatment of rats with glucagon has also been observed in many studies; however, its existence remains controversial. In these studies, livers from well fed female Sprague-Dawley rats (100–150 g) were perfused at flow rates of 4 or 8 ml/g/min to deliver oxygen to the liver at various rates. During perfusion at normal flow rates (4 ml/g/min), glucagon (10 nM) increased oxygen uptake by about 40 μmol/g/h. In sharp contrast, glucagon increased O2 uptake by nearly 100 μmol/g/h during perfusion at high flow rates. This increase was not due to increased glucagon delivery since infusion of 120 nM glucagon at normal flow rates only elevated oxygen uptake by 40 μmol/g/h. Glucagon also increased O2 uptake to a greater extent (2-fold) at high versus low O2 when O2 tension was manipulated by perfusing with buffers containing various O2 concentrations at constant flow rates suggesting dependence of the glucagon effect on O2 concentration. Bromocyclic AMP (25 μM) also increased O2 uptake about 2-fold more at high compared to normal flow rates. In contrast, O2 uptake was not increased more at high flow rates when intracellular Ca was elevated by infusion of angiotensin II (5 nM).
Application of intelligent Kalman filter to under-water terrain integrated navigation system

In order to avoid the random effects of the underwater vehicle system model caused by the real dynamics of the environment,a RBF neural network aided federated Kalman filter is proposed to fuse the navigation information from various navigation sensors(such as SINS,TAN,DVL and MCP) to improve the navigation accuracy.Error models of navigation systems are proposed and a neural network model is set up via offline training with enough precise samples.Simulation experiments prove that the AUV navigation accuracy can attain high stability in a short period by the proposed method.By comparing the filtering results with the federated Kalman filter,it is shown that the proposed method can effectively improve the adaptivity,and the navigation precision is doubled.
WE-DE-202-03: Modeling of Biological Processes - What Happens After Early Molecular Damage?

Radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer has been established as a highly precise and effective way to eradicate a localized region of diseased tissue. To achieve further significant gains in the therapeutic ratio, we need to move towards biologically optimized treatment planning. To achieve this goal, we need to understand how the radiation-type dependent patterns of induced energy depositions within the cell (physics) connect via molecular, cellular and tissue reactions to treatment outcome such as tumor control and undesirable effects on normal tissue. Several computational biology approaches have been developed connecting physics to biology. Monte Carlo simulations are the most accurate method to calculate physical dose distributions at the nanometer scale, however simulations at the DNA scale are slow and repair processes are generally not simulated. Alternative models that rely on the random formation of individual DNA lesions within one or two turns of the DNA have been shown to reproduce the clusters of DNA lesions, including single strand breaks (SSBs), double strand breaks (DSBs) without the need for detailed track structure simulations. Efficient computational simulations of initial DNA damage induction facilitate computational modeling of DNA repair and other molecular and cellular processes. Mechanistic, multiscale models provide a useful conceptual framework to test biological hypotheses and help connect fundamental information about track structure and dosimetry at the sub-cellular level to dose-response effects on larger scales. In this symposium we will learn about the current state of the art of computational approaches estimating radiation damage at the cellular and sub-cellular scale. How can understanding the physics interactions at the DNA level be used to predict biological outcome? We will discuss if and how such calculations are relevant to advance our understanding of radiation damage and its repair, or, if the underlying biological processes are too complex for a mechanistic approach. Can computer simulations be used to guide future biological research? We will debate the feasibility of explaining biology from a physicists’ perspective. Learning Objectives: 1.Understand the potential applications and limitations of computational methods for dose-response modeling at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels 2.Learn about mechanism of action underlying the induction, repair and biological processing of damage to DNA and other constituents 3.Understand how effects and processes at one biological scale impact on biological processes and outcomes on other scales J. Schuemann, NCI/NIH grantsS. McMahon, Funding: European Commission FP7 (grant EC FP7 MC-IOF-623630)
Lifelong bilingualism, cognitive reserve and Alzheimer’s disease: A review of findings

Increasing our understanding about neuroprotective lifestyle variables has become a practical imperative in our aging society. Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the use brain resources in a way that allows for coping with neuropathology and maintaining cognitive functioning. A growing body of evidence suggests that bilingualism may represent a form of CR against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of the present review is to summarize both behavioral and neuroimaging evidence for bilingualism as a reserve variable against AD. The potential influences of literacy, intelligence, immigration status are discussed. Evidence is reviewed suggesting that bilingualism may delay clinical AD symptoms by protecting against age-related declines in the brain’s executive control circuitry. It is suggested that such potential beneficial effects within executive control systems may enable bilinguals to circumvent the typical effects of AD pathology on symptom expression for several years.
The search for failed supernovae with the Large Binocular Telescope: confirmation of a disappearing star

We present Hubble Space Telescope imaging confirming the optical disappearance of the failed supernova (SN) candidate identified by Gerke, Kochanek & Stanek. This ∼25 M⊙ red supergiant experienced a weak ∼10^6 L⊙ optical outburst in 2009 and is now at least 5 mag fainter than the progenitor in the optical. The mid-IR flux has slowly decreased to the lowest levels since the first measurements in 2004. There is faint (2000–3000 L⊙) near-IR emission likely associated with the source. We find the late-time evolution of the source to be inconsistent with obscuration from an ejected, dusty shell. Models of the spectral energy distribution indicate that the remaining bolometric luminosity is >6 times fainter than that of the progenitor and is decreasing as ∼t^(−4/3). We conclude that the transient is unlikely to be an SN impostor or stellar merger. The event is consistent with the ejection of the envelope of a red supergiant in a failed SN and the late-time emission could be powered by fallback accretion on to a newly formed black hole. Future IR and X-ray observations are needed to confirm this interpretation of the fate for the star.
A MANUSCRIPT POEM ON THE ROYAL PROGRESS OF 1634: AN EDITION AND TRANSLATION OF JOHN WESTWOOD'S ‘CARMEN BASILEUPORION’

(1994). A MANUSCRIPT POEM ON THE ROYAL PROGRESS OF 1634: AN EDITION AND TRANSLATION OF JOHN WESTWOOD'S ‘CARMEN BASILEUPORION’. The Seventeenth Century: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 173-195.
Reframing autonomy in political geography: A feminist geopolitics of autonomous resistance

Abstract Autonomy is often universally defined and undertheorized, making invisible ways of knowing and understanding autonomy that are embodied and practiced. Alternate theorizations have drawn on anti-capitalist and alter-globalization movements and discourses to provide accounts of struggles for autonomy as they relate to self-determination, identity politics, and oppositional action, however, in many cases these accounts are still grounded in universal understandings. In this paper I use a feminist geopolitical perspective to re-read autonomy for difference within, alongside and outside of contemporary political geographies of autonomy. Empirical work in self-declared autonomous communities in Chiapas, Mexico, demonstrates that current political geographies of autonomy do not sufficiently explain the ongoing struggle for indigenous farmers in the highlands. In the article, I examine how autonomy is understood and practiced by subsistence corn and coffee farmers who have declared themselves autonomous and in resistance. I argue that in the case of farmers in resistance, autonomy is not just a political act, but also an embodied practice deployed through agricultural production and consumption. A feminist geopolitics assists with reframing autonomy and identifying different ways that it is understood and practiced. In examining the practices that farmers view as contributing to autonomy, different understandings and ways of knowing autonomy emerge.
Dynamic Coarse-Graining of DNA Melting Kinetics: Enthalpic and Entropic Effects of Cooperative Base-Pair Dynamics

Thermodynamics and kinetics are two fundamental aspects of DNA melting and annealing. The thermodynamics of DNA duplex melting, dominated by states involving either strongly bound duplexes or widely separated strands, are well characterized and can be described by two-state models. On the other hand, kinetics involve the rarely visited intermediate states and are therefore harder to understand. Melting kinetics involve large enough time scales to prevent meaningful studies through all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, leading to the need to develop coarse-grained models. Existing coarse-grained models described well the thermodynamic melting temperature and near-equilibrium phenomena such as bubble formation and sharp phase transitions. However, the predicted kinetic rates were off by several orders of magnitude because they do not capture non-equilibrium cooperative dynamics near the transition state such as coupling among base unstacking, hydration cage vibration/breakup, and the untwisting of the helix. In this work, an MD dynamic coarse-graining approach is developed to analyze the correct melting kinetics of short DNA sequences. By projecting the dynamics onto the one-dimensional cooperative reaction coordinate based on time-scale separation, we decipher the sequential triggering of several key events that determine the successive changes in enthalpy, vibrational entropy, and configurational entropy towards the melting barrier. This results in a Fick-Jacobs “inverted-funnel” transition state theory which allows us to use all-atom MD simulations, principal component analysis, and elastic homogenization theory to identify the enthalpies and entropies at strategic locations along the reaction coordinate and to estimate the melting rate in agreement with experimental results.
The End of the Cold War?: Bush, Kohl, Gorbachev and the Reunification of Germany. By Alexander von Plato

The Cold War looms as the defining international event of the second half of the twentieth century, with repercussions that have reverberated strongly into the geopolitics of the new millennium. De...
A Low‐Cost, Reusable, Ballistic Gelatin Ultrasound Phantom for Simulation of Glenohumeral Intraarticular Injections

Background Deliberate practice of invasive procedures on simulation phantoms has been recommended to teach trainees. For many departments, these task trainers can be prohibitively expensive. Sometimes, phantoms for specialized procedures are not commercially available at all. There are currently are no commercially available simulation phantoms for the purpose of ultrasound (US)-guided glenohumeral joint injection. Objectives The objective was to create a low-cost, reusable, homemade simulation phantom for US-guided glenohumeral joint injection using easily obtainable materials as well as to determine whether use of such a homemade model by novice learners is associated with increased self-reported comfort level and knowledge of the procedure. Methods Fourth-year emergency medicine-bound medical students and PGY-1 residents were asked to participate in a hands-on 30-minute training session for US-guided glenohumeral joint injection using a homemade simulation phantom. Participants were assessed by pre- and postintervention survey of self-reported comfort levels with the procedure. Outcomes were measured on modified global rating scale (GRS; minimum = 1, maximum = 7). The primary outcome was learner comfort with US-guided glenohumeral joint injection. Secondary outcomes were comfort level in obtaining adequate US image and identifying landmarks of the glenohumeral joint as well as likelihood to perform US-guided injection of the glenohumeral joint in a clinical setting. Results In the primary outcome, mean GRS scores in 13 participants for comfort with the procedure increased from 2.7 to 5.0 (p < 0.01) after intervention. Mean GRS for knowledge of anatomy increased from 2.8 to 5.4 (p < 0.01) and mean GRS for comfort in image acquisition increased from 2.8 to 5.3 (p < 0.01). Mean GRS for likelihood to perform the procedure trended toward increase from 4.6 to 5.5 (p = 0.25). Conclusions Use of a homemade, low-cost, ballistic gelatin US phantom for simulation of glenohumeral intraarticular injection was associated with increased learner comfort with the procedure.
Flooded area classification using pooled training samples: an example from the Chobe River Basin, Botswana

In dryland systems, the flood pulse is the driving force in system dynamics but is highly variable in flow volume and landscape inundation features. Remote sensing can provide critical information fundamental to evaluating and forecasting flow behavior and population vulnerability; however, training and classifying an extensive time series of images is labor intensive, limiting the usefulness of these approaches in evaluating flood pulse dynamics and landscape interactions. Here, we provide an alternative approach that relies on only one set of “pooled” training samples for time series image classification and analysis. We test this approach by mapping the flood pulse in a time series of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from the Chobe River Basin of Botswana for the years 2014 to 2016. MODIS MOD09A1 images collected during the flooding season (February to July) were converted to Kauth–Thomas components, then sampled to form a training pool. Images were then classified using these pooled training samples. Results indicated that classification accuracies obtained using pooled training were statistically indistinguishable from classifications obtained from conventional training. Application of the method to another year’s data (2013) also yielded comparably accurate results, suggesting that the training pool method remains robust when applied to image data other than that used to create the training pool.
A New Membrane Protein Associated with Resistance to cis-Platinum and Methotrexate

The mechanisms of resistance to alkylating drugs include defective transport across the cell membrane, intracellular bio-transformation to inactivate the drug, and repair of damaged DNA (Goldenberg et al, 1979; Hilton, 1984; Vistica et al, 1978). Thus, cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (CDDP)-resistant cell lines were found to have elevated glutathione (Hamilton et al, 1985; Hromas et al, 1987); increased metallothionein (Andrews et al, 1985); and increased DNA repair (Behrens et al, 1987). However, defects in membrane transport were also found to be an important mechanism of CDDP resistance. In ovarian carcinoma cells that were only 3.3 fold resistant to CDDP, showed 50% reduction in CDDP accumulation in a wide range of CDDP concentrations tested (Andrews et al, 1988). The rate of CDDP efflux and metabolic conversion of CDDP in these cells were unchanged. Decreased CDDP accumulation was an important mechanism of resistance that was expressed early in the development of CDDP resistance. In a human carcinoma cell line resistant to CDDP, there was at least a 3 fold decrease in the intracellular uptake and 10 fold decrease in nuclear accumulation of radioactive platinum complex(195mPt-CDDP) compared to the parent line (Teicher et al, 1987). The resistant cells did not differ in GSH (reduced glutathione) from the sensitive cells. The kinetics of release of radioactive CDDP was unchanged, suggesting that drug uptake was responsible for differences in drug accumulation.
Temperature Impact on Modeling and Control of Lean NOx Trap

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine has a significant fuel economy improvement over the traditional port fuel injection engine. The tradeoff for this benefit is excessive exhaust emissions, especially NOx. Three-way-catalyst (TWC) is inefficient to treat NOx emission during lean operation. So Lean NOx Trap (LNT) is invented for NOx aftertreatment and it has both storage mode and purge mode. Research on modeling and control of LNT has been conducted, but it is still lack of the essential information on the temperature effect. This research focuses on the impact of trap temperature on LNT storage time, purge time and fuel economy. The mechanism of temperature effect on LNT is investigated at first. Then the temperature control strategy based on fuel economy improvement is proposed.
Augmenting Wikipedia with Named Entity Tags.

Wikipedia is the largest organized knowledge repository on the Web, increasingly employed by natural language processing and search tools. In this paper, we investigate the task of labeling Wikipedia pages with standard named entity tags, which can be used further by a range of information extraction and language processing tools. To train the classifiers, we manually annotated a small set of Wikipedia pages and then extrapolated the annotations using the Wikipedia category information to a much larger training set. We employed several distinct features for each page: bag-of-words, page structure, abstract, titles, and entity mentions. We report high accuracies for several of the classifiers built. As a result of this work, a Web service that classifies any Wikipedia page has been made available to the academic community.
Restrictive language policy in practice: english learners in Arizona

In this volume, published as part of the Bilingual Education & Bilingualism series (series editors Nancy H. Hornberger and Wayne E. Wright), Heineke delivers a thorough, multifaceted analysis of th...
Using a modified Boyle's law experiment to estimate the density of salts

Physics and chemistry students learn several methods to determine the density of materials. While measuring the mass of materials is usually simple, volume measurements are more complex. For simple shapes the volume may be determined by measuring its geometry; for more complex shapes students often use Archimedes’ principle. However, neither of these methods works well for soluble materials like salts. In water, the ions present in a salt dissociate, eliminating the possibility of using volume displacement. It is also difficult to measure the size of small salt crystals due to the irregularity in the crystal sizes and the air between crystals. Here, we modify Boyle’s law experiment to find the volume of salt crystals and thus accurately determine their density.
On the Application of Blockchains to Spectrum Management

Spectrum sharing mechanisms have evolved to meet different needs related to increasing spectrum use efficiency. At first, decentralized and opportunistic cognitive radios (and cognitive radio networks) were the primary focus of research for these mechanisms. This gradually transitioned toward the development of cooperative sharing methods based on databases, typified by TV white spaces databases. Spectrum sharing is now the basis for the dynamic and fine-grained spectrum rights regime for the citizen’s band radio service (CBRS) as well as for license shared access (LSA). The emergence of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin has stimulated interest in applying its underlying technology, blockchain, to other applications as well, such as securities trading and supply chain management. This paper explores the application of blockchain to radio spectrum management. While blockchains could underlie radio spectrum management more broadly, we will focus on dynamic spectrum sharing applications. Like the cooperative approaches currently in use, blockchain is a database technology. However, a blockchain is a decentralized database in which the owner of the data maintains control. We consider the benefits and limitations of blockchain solutions in general, and then examine their potential application to four major categories of spectrum sharing.
Impact of Routine Gastrocnemius Stretching on Ankle Dorsiflexion Flexibility and Injury Rates in High School Basketball Athletes.

Background:Achilles tightness exacerbates a variety of foot and ankle conditions while increasing the risk of lower extremity injuries. The correlation between Achilles tightness and lower extremit...
Mixed boundary value problems for the Laplace–Beltrami equation

We investigate the mixed Dirichlet–Neumann boundary value problems for the Laplace–Beltrami equation on a smooth bounded surface C with a smooth boundary in non-classical setting in the Bessel pote...
Active learning with FRED data

In this article, the author describes the practice of active learning with Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). First, he outlines the broad intellectual context of learning with and about economi...
Karen refugee youths’ satisfaction with a teen dating violence prevention program

Teen dating violence is a public health problem in the U.S. and internationally. Evaluations of teen dating violence (TDV) prevention programs demonstrate positive changes in youths’ knowledge, att...
Unusual Ventriculo-Arterial Alignments and Connections:

In this issue of World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, Kari and colleagues present a case of anatomically corrected malposition {S, L, L} with ventricular septal defect and complex subaortic stenosis managed by staged biventricular repair. This rare case with interesting management strategy provides an opportunity to clarify this and related unusual ventriculo-arterial alignments.
Understanding The Educational Administrator’s Role in a Turbulent Ethnic Education System

This study examined the performance of superintendents and leaders of the Arab education system in Israel in reducing achievement gaps and promoting curricula that empower and advance students. In-...
One rationality to rule them all

The claim that rationality is ‘limited, falsified and unhelpful’ for explaining norms is false, for it does not apply to rationality as conceptualized by rational choice theory. Rationality as conc...
Economics is a Kahoot

Economics is a Kahoot! website details how Kahoot! quizzes can be used in the classroom and provides gated access to pre-made quizzes over topics covered in many principles level courses.
Study evaluating the prognostic value of PET parameters after 177Lu-DOTATATE Peptide Receptor Therapy in NET patients

77 Objectives: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an effective treatment for metastatic somatostatin expressing NETs. PRRT response assessment is challenging due to heterogeneity of the disease, limitations of morphological response criteria in slowly growing tumors, necrotic changes after therapy, lack of standardized parameters and timing of functional imaging, and suboptimal sensitivity and specificity of clinical biomarkers. This study evaluates the prognostic value of PET parameters associated with response and objective assessment to PRRT. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 30 patients (mean age at diagnosis 58 ± 10.3 years, range 33-74 years) with metastatic NETs who received a mean cumulative dose of 25.98 GBq (range 7.42-29.62 GBq, over 1-4 cycles) 177Lu-DOTATATE between April 2017 through October 2020. Ga-68 DOTATATE parameters SUVmax, SUVmax-avg, (SUVmax average of multiple lesions), and whole-body somatostatin receptor-expressing tumor volume (SRETVwb) were determined at baseline and follow-up. Baseline parameters and any changes after PRRT were correlated with PFS and OS. Response was defined by RECIST 1.1 during a median follow-up time of 12 months (range 1-32) until disease progression. Logistic regression models determined the relationship of PET parameters and best overall response to PRRT by RECIST 1.1; optimal cut-off of baseline PET parameters predictive of response was determined by the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC-ROC). Cox regression models were performed to identify PET parameters associated with PFS or OS. Results: 4/30 (13.3%) patients showed a partial response, while stable disease was observed in 16/30 (53.3%) patients. 10/30(33.3%) patients had progression of disease. Baseline SUVmax-avg and changes in SRETVwb predicted the best response to PRRT. The optimal cut-off for response was SUVmax-avg 18.402 with 10 SUVmax-avg increments being associated with a relative OR of 2.53 (95% CI: 0.96-6.64; p = 0.06; AUC 0.74). The optimal cut-off for changes in SRETVwb for response was 15.49 mL with each 100 mL decrease being associated with a relative OR of 0.45 (95% CI: 0.26-0.91; p = 0.02; AUC 0.84). In terms of PFS, an increment in 100 mL of SRETVwb was associated with lower PFS, HR 1.52 (95% CI: 1.21-1.9; p Conclusions: Functional images provide predictive biomarkers in patients with NETs that can improve patients9 selection for PRRT, assess response, and may have a prognostic value of PFS in metastatic NET patients. Additional PET parameters are also being reviewed and validation studies are needed.
Open Capsulorrhaphy for Recurrent Multidirectional Instability of the Shoulder

Background:The management of multidirectional instability (MDI) of the shoulder remains challenging, especially in athletes who participate in sports and may require multiple surgical procedures to...
The Chemistry and Biology of Nerve Growth Factor

The “field” of nerve growth factor (NGF) has developed out of a series of investigations performed some 20 years ago by Bueker.(1–3) His experiments, done within the framework of the “center-periphery” problem, dealt with magnitude of peripheral innervation and its causal relationship to the relative size of the “center,” whence the innervating neurons had their origin.(4–10) Prior to Bueker’s unorthodox procedures, most investigators had used implantation or ablation techniques in order to produce the desired increases or decreases of peripheral fields. Bueker departed from these, implanting tumor masses in the body wall of the study object (the chick embryo) instead of the usual homologous or heterologous structures. The importance of the limb periphery as a factor essential for the differentiation of the lateral motor column in the limb segments of the spinal chord was known, as was the fact that the “stimulus,” i.e., altered size of periphery, was not species-specific.(10) Successful implantation of tumor masses (sarcoma 180) in lieu of the hind limb periphery quickly revealed important deviations from the previously observed relationships between size of periphery and development of center.(1–3) Bueker observed that: 1. The tumor became “innervated” by the peripheral nerves which normally form the lumbosacral plexus. 2. There was marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the spinal ganglia on the experimental side, although the periphery (i.e., the tumor mass) at the time of observation was decidedly smaller than the contralateral control side. 3. The lateral motor neurons of the experimental side were significantly smaller than those of the other side. 4. The tumor maintained its cellular autonomy. 5. Successful implants of rhabdo-myosarcomas did not produce these effects, an observation which was later extended by Bueker’s survey of mouse neoplasias, which showed that only certain sarcomas were effective, all carcinomas investigated being negative.(11–13)
Managing Life and Its Processes

This chapter analyzes and interprets the experiences of Odia Hindu women in the temple town as they journey through life. It discusses their future-oriented attitudes of active acceptance and engagement as well as their culturally distinctive notions of maturity and personal growth. It also presents the various cultural conceptions of the self that prevail among women in the temple town, in particular the “emergent” interdependent self of young adulthood, the “encompassing” interdependent self of mature adulthood, and the non-interdependent self of old age. With respect to these women’s notion of maturity, the chapter notes that it is best described as a self-maximizing altruism, and it characterizes the “encompassing” interdependent self of mature adulthood.