cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lymphadenectomy for patients with cervical cancer: is it of value?

Introduction Discovery of positive lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with cervix cancer is important prognostically, may direct adjuvant therapy, and may have therapeutic benefit. The purpose of this Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) analysis was to assess the value of lymphadenectomy (LND) in patients with cervical cancer. Methods The 17-registry SEER database was searched for patients treated for cervical cancer between 1988 and 1998. Observed survival (OS) and expected survival (ES) were reported with a minimum of 5-year follow-up. Chi-square analysis and log-rank test were used to compare OS and ES. Results Between 1988 and 1998, 4,059 of 12,882 patients underwent LND for cervical cancer and were registered. By stage, 2,653 of 7,621 stage I, 341 of 2,042 stage II, 814 of 1,986 stage III, 251 of 1,233 stage IV, and 28 of 226 stage IVA patients underwent LND. Of these, 778 stage III and 210 stage IV patients had a +LN. Patients who underwent LND had improved OS (P = 0.001). OS was significantly increased for each stage after LND. OS increased based on number of nodes resected. OS increased up to 15 nodes resected (P = 0.01). Conclusion This SEER analysis of 12,882 patients suggests that LND benefited patients with cervical cancer and OS was improved. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:404–406. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fast three dimensional sodium imaging

An efficient scheme for fast three dimensional acquisition of sodium MR images is described. This scheme relies on the use of three dimensional k-space trajectories with constant sample density to achieve significant (60-70%) reductions in total data acquisition time over conventional projection imaging schemes. The performance of this data acquisition scheme is demonstrated with acquisition of sodium data sets on phantoms and normal human volunteers at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla. The experimental results demonstrate that high quality three dimensional sodium images (0.2 cc voxel size, 10:1 signal-to-noise ratio) can be acquired at clinical field strengths (1.5 Tesla) in under 10 min.
Oxygen sensing in the hypoxic response pathway: regulation of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor

Oxygen occupies a central role in the maintenance of life as we know it, perhaps most prominently in aerobic metabolism, where O2 serves as the terminal electron acceptor in oxidative phosphorylation. However, oxygen transport by simple diffusion becomes limiting as organisms become larger andmore active. Tomaintain oxygen homeostasis, higher eukaryotes have adopted specialized mechanisms to enhance O2 uptake and distribution. The resulting respiratory and circulatory systems are dynamic, capable of responding to changes in oxygen availability on either a local or organismal level. Though some oxygen-dependent responses rely on the activity of specialized oxygen-sensing cells, conserved oxygen-responsive pathways are expressed in almost every mammalian cell. In fact, this ability of individual cells to sense and respond to changes in oxygen availability is critical for many developmental, physiological, and pathological processes. Unlike the rapid responses to changes in oxygen availability, which can be mediated through posttranslational modifications or membrane depolarization (for review, see Lopez-Barneo et al. 2001), this ubiquitous hypoxic response pathway involves changes in gene expression that occur over several hours. These changes are mediated in part through the induction of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors, the regulatory components of which can also be found in simpler eukaryotes such as fruit flies and nematodes.
A comparison of serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations in shelter, feral, and pet cats

Upper respiratory infection (URI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in shelter cats. Malnutrition, specifically vitamin A deficiency, has been associated with respiratory tract infections in humans in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether feral cats and cats in shelters have lower serum vitamin A concentrations than pet cats, because it was surmised that a vitamin A deficiency may predispose these cats to develop URI. This was a cross-sectional study in which serum retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and beta carotene concentrations were measured from 48 shelter cats, 56 feral cats, and 42 pet cats, using HPLC. Retinol, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol concentrations were found to be significantly lower in the shelter and feral cat populations than in pet cats (p ≤ 0.0001). There was no evidence of an effect of sex or neuter status on vitamin concentrations. Sick feral cats had a higher beta carotene level than did healthy feral cats. Within shelter and feral populations, no other effect of health status was found. The lower mean serum retinol and tocopherol concentrations in the feral and shelter cat groups could be due to oxidative or other forms of stress, the amount of vitamin consumed, or combinations of these. Further studies are needed to determine whether supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins improves the health status of feral or shelter cats.
The advance from 2D electrostatic to 3D electromagnetic particle simulation

Abstract The evolution of a 3D, E-M code from earlier less ambitious codes (and their critical analyses) is presented. The code simulates the interaction of some 106 superparticles with over 105 “superphotons” (field modes in k-space). Particle shaping is done in k-space, isotropically. Interpolation of the fields and their excitation is done with optimally fitted quadratic splines, using a 643 grid. The field modes are updated with no dispersion error, the particles by a time-centered (optionally relativistic) algorithm. Data management conflicts, arising from the global nature of the field information versus the localization of particle processing, are resolved by means of the partial random accessibility of external storage. Results of trial runs with a uniform magnetised plasma show the simultaneous presence of such widely differing phenomena as Alfven waves, Whistlers, Landau damping, trapping by electrostatic waves, etc., in the computer model.
Using the Pause Procedure to Enhance Lecture Recall

To determine the effect of a pausing procedure (three 2-minute pauses spaced at logical breaks during lecture presentations) on two dependent variables (free recall of facts and performance on objective tests), a separate 2 (class) x 2 (procedure) factorial analysis of variance was used. Seventy-two undergraduate students enrolled in either a course on educating the learning disabled or a course on educating the emotionally disturbed. Each semester, one class served as the control group and the second as the experimental group. Students in the experimental condition scored significantly higher on both dependent variables than did the control groups.
Short- to Midterm Safety and Efficacy of Prostatic Artery Embolization: A Systematic Review

Abstract Purpose To review the available safety and efficacy data for prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods PubMed was searched for publications that included PAE for the treatment of BPH through May 2015. Two independent reviewers determined the appropriateness for inclusion of each article and compiled data by using pooled weighted means and standard deviations. Results The literature search identified 161 articles, of which 7 studies, with a total of 562 patients, met all inclusion/exclusion criteria. PAEs were performed bilaterally in 85% of patients, unilaterally in 12%, and unsuccessfully in 3%. International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 24.51 ± 6.12 at baseline to 10.42 ± 5.39 at 6 months. Quality of life score decreased from 4.76 ± 0.98 at baseline to 2.51 ± 1.13 at 6 months. Peak urinary flow rate increased from 8.41 mL/s ± 2.63 at baseline to 15.44 mL/s ± 5.64 at 6 months. Postvoid residual measurement decreased from 105.94 mL ± 76.77 at baseline to 39.57 mL ± 15 at 6 months. Prostate-specific antigen level decreased from 4.79 ng/mL ± 5.42 at baseline to 3.16 ng/mL ± 1.5 at 6 months. None of these parameters showed clinically significant changes from 6 months to 12 months. Total prostate volume decreased from 96.56 cm3 ± 35.47 at baseline to 46.73 cm3 ± 20.51 at 12 months. There were 200 minor complications and 1 major complication. Conclusions PAE improves lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH, with a favorable short- to midterm safety profile.
Synergism in the Oviposition Behavior of Plutella xylostella: Sinigrin and Wax Compounds

Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, host examining and oviposition behaviors were measured in response to sinigrin dosages (10 −3 , 10 −4 , and 10 −5 M) and controls with and without the addition of n-alkanes. Individual females were presented with a treatment and videotaped while an observer documented specific behaviors during 5-min observation periods. Behavior in response to sinigrin alone was not significantly different from that in response to controls. Alkane alone significantly reduced movement rate during treatment contact, but did not significantly affect other behaviors. Sinigrin concentrations combined with alkane significantly slowed the rate of insect movement, increased turning, and led to significantly longer treatment encounter durations. Behavior changes in response to sinigrin + alkane increased insect exposure to the sinigrin concentrations and led to greater oviposition compared to that in response to sinigrin treatments alone. The synergistic effect that mixing sinigrin and alkane has on P. xylostella behavior arises because the additional time females spend in contact with the treatment increases the rate at which they experience the available stimuli. Involvement of the antennae during examining of a treatment, referred to as “swabbing,” was usually associated with oviposition on alkane-coated sinigrin treatments. The presence of alkane may alter the way sinigrin is perceived. Oviposition in response to the treatment combinations was also tested in overnight bioassays. The pattern of oviposition in response to treatments during bioassays differed from that established during observations. The value of direct observations and the mechanistic interpretations they allow are emphasized.
Effects of Riboflavin Photosensitized Oxidation on the Volatile Compounds of Soymilk

: Soymilks with or without added riboflavin in serum bottles were stored under light or in dark at 20 °C. The headspace oxygen and volatile compounds were determined by gas chromatography. Riboflavin had significant effects on the headspace oxygen depletion and volatile compounds formation in soymilk under light (P 0.05). The volatile compounds increased under light, but not in dark as the added riboflavin increased. Storage temperature at 4 °C or 20 °C did not have significant difference in the effect of riboflavin on the headspace oxygen depletion in soymilk under light. Hexanal, an important beany flavor compound, was identified as the major volatile compound in the riboflavin photosensitized soymilk. Singlet oxygen oxidation was involved in the formation of volatile compounds in soymilk under light. Hexanal could be formed by singlet oxygen oxidation. Ascorbic acid, a quencher for singlet oxygen and the excited triplet sensitizer, significantly inhibited the formation of hexanal and total volatiles in soymilk under light.
Dealing with the New Russia: Management Cultures in Collision

The article reviews the book “Dealing With the New Russia: Management Cultures in Collision,” by Nigel Holden, Cary Cooper and Jennifer Carr.
Dynamic optimization of dissipative PDEs using control vector parameterization: application to GaN thin film epitaxy

We present an approach that links nonlinear model reduction techniques with control vector parametrization-based schemes to efficiently solve dynamic constraint optimization problems arising in the context of spatially-distributed processes governed by highly-dissipative nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). The proposed approach is applied to a metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy process for the production of GaN thin films, with the objective to minimize the spatial non-uniformity of the deposited film across the substrate surface.
Methods for Safety Verification of Time-Delay Systems

This paper addresses the safety verification of systems with time-delay. It extends the barrier certificate methodology previously proposed for safety verification of systems described by ordinary differential equations to the functional differential equations setting. For verifying the safety of a time-delay system, a functional of states is used as a barrier certificate. The forms of the functionals resemble the Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions or the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals used in stability analysis of time-delay systems. When the description of the system is given in terms of polynomials, such a barrier certificate can be searched using sum of squares programming.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Flame-Turbulence Interactions in a Shear Coaxial Injector

Various state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approaches are currently being evaluated by NASA for the modeling of combustion chambers in liquid rocket engines. This evaluation is performed through the simulation of a laboratory-scale chamber equipped with a single-element gaseous hydrogen-gaseous oxygen GH2-GO2 shear-coaxial injector. While a joint paper 1 compares the dierent steady and unsteady simulations of this chamber, this paper focuses on the three-dimensional Large Eddy Simulations (LES) performed at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The goal here is to nd a compromise between accuracy and computational cost while accurately capturing the unsteady ame physics thanks to the full 3D formulation. The solver employed in this study includes a hybrid central-upwind scheme used to solve the compressible, multi-species Navier-Stokes equations with a thermally perfect formulation. From a resolution point of view, priority was given to the near-eld resolution rather than the near-wall resolution. Yet, the seemingly correct modeling of the ame anchoring and dynamics provides a satisfactory estimate of the wall heat ux. The unsteady and three dimensional features of the ow are discussed in length and the implications of the unique features of this shear-coaxial GH2-GO2 injector for turbulent combustion modeling are also analyzed.
Centrifugal instabilities of circumferential flows in finite cylinders - Nonlinear theory

In an earlier paper, Blennerhassett & Hall (1979) investigated the linear stability of the flow between concentric cylinders of finite length. The inner cylinder was taken to rotate, while the outer cylinder was fixed. Furthermore, the end walls rotated such that the flow was purely circumferential. In this paper the finite amplitude development of the unstable disturbances to the flow is considered. It is found that the usual perturbation expansion of nonlinear stability theory must be modified if the cylinders are not infinitely long. The bifurcation to a Taylor vortex flow in finite cylinders is shown to be two-sided. The latter effect is shown to be a direct consequence of the finiteness of the cylinders and by taking the cylinders to be very long, we recover the results obtained previously for the infinite problem. The interaction of the two most dangerous modes of linear theory is also investigated. For certain values of the length of the cylinders the initial finite amplitude Taylor vortex flow is shown to become unstable to another class of axisymmetric disturbances. The effect of perturbing the end conditions towards the no-slip conditions appropriate to most experimental configurations is also discussed. Some discussion of the instability problem in very long cylinders with fixed ends is given.
Adaptive CMOS predistortion linearizer for fiber-optic links

Nonlinearity in the electrical-to-optical conversion limits the dynamic range for transmitting analog and multilevel signals over fiber-optic channels. We describe a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) predistortion linearizer that extends the dynamic range of both direct and externally modulated links. The linearizer achieves 13-24-dB suppression for both second- and third-order distortions.
Gender and Arrest among Homeless and Runaway Youth: An Analysis of Background, Family, and Situational Factors

Little is known regarding the predictors of arrest for homeless and runaway youth. The self-reported criminal activity of homeless and runaway youth has been associated with familial abuse, deviant peers, and situational street stressors. The path to running away was suggested to differ by gender, with more girls running away from sexually and physically abusive homes than boys. We asked two questions in our research: Are the predictors of arrest among homeless and runaway youths similar to the predictors of self reported offending and do these predictors differ by gender? Our results indicated that association with deviant peers, prior arrest, sexual abuse, and poor parental monitoring were associated with the number of arrests homeless and runaway youths reported. Yet the effects of prior arrest and deviant peers were stronger for boys, suggesting a gendered process of arrest for homeless and runaway youth.
Comparative study of motion control methods for a nonlinear system

We designed and fabricated a two-link inverted pendulum, and learned about the relationships and the tradeoffs that exist in it. In the context of controlling an inverted pendulum, the ideas presented relate to i) the design of a fuzzy logic controller; ii) the design of a neural-network controller; and iii) experimental implementation of a nonlinear controller based on differential-geometric notions. A comparative study presented compares five different control schemes; a PD controller, a linear quadratic controller, a nonlinear controller, a neural network controller and a fuzzy logic controller. We show how the controllable portion of the four dimensional space of control variables changes with the different control schemes. While the superiority of the neural network controller is borne out by both the simulations and the experiments, the former overemphasizes the advantage by a wide margin. Also the simulation study would have us believe that a linear quadratic controller should be our second best choice, a conclusion not supported by actual experiments. The differences between the experiments and the simulations can be attributed to the difficulty of capturing in a simulation phenomena such as friction, motor dynamics. etc. >
Who’s Borrowing? Credit Encouragement vs. Credit Mitigation in National Financial Systems:

Households and banks have increasingly displaced non-financial businesses and governments as the primary debtors in modern capitalist economies, resulting in more severe economic cycles, increased inequality, and external macroeconomic imbalances. Yet while the trend is nearly universal among developed economies, its intensity varies a great deal from country to country. This article highlights (1) the common international causes behind the global expansion of household and financial sector debt; (2) the divergent national approaches to household credit that cause household and financial sector indebtedness to vary from country to country; and (3) the likely causes of these disparate approaches. National approaches to interest rate restrictions, property transfer taxation, high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages, mortgage interest taxation, and secondary markets for consumer debt can either encourage or mitigate household and financial sector borrowing. Whether a country encourages or mitigates such credit is ...
Deletion of ELOVL5 leads to fatty liver through activation of SREBP-1c in mice

Elongation of very long chain fatty acids (ELOVL)5 is one of seven mammalian fatty acid condensing enzymes involved in microsomal fatty acid elongation. To determine the in vivo substrates and function of ELOVL5, we generated Elovl5−/− mice. Studies using liver microsomal protein from wild-type and knockout mice demonstrated that the elongation of γ-linolenic (C18:3, n-6) to dihomo-γ-linolenic (C20:3, n-6) and stearidonic (C18:4, n-3) to ω3-arachidonic acid (C20:4, n-3) required ELOVL5 activity. Tissues of Elovl5−/− mice accumulated the C18 substrates of ELOVL5 and the levels of the downstream products, arachidonic acid (C20:4, n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, n-3), were decreased. A consequence of decreased cellular arachidonic acid and DHA concentrations was the activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c and its target genes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, which culminated in the development of hepatic steatosis in Elovl5−/− mice. The molecular and metabolic changes in fatty acid metabolism in Elovl5−/− mice were reversed by dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid and DHA. These studies demonstrate that reduced ELOVL5 activity leads to hepatic steatosis, and endogenously synthesized PUFAs are key regulators of SREBP-1c activation and fatty acid synthesis in livers of mice.
Expertus: A Generator Approach to Automate Performance Testing in IaaS Clouds

Cloud computing is an emerging technology paradigm that revolutionizes the computing landscape by providing on-demand delivery of software, platform, and infrastructure over the Internet. Yet, architecting, deploying, and configuring enterprise applications to run well on modern clouds remains a challenge due to associated complexities and non-trivial implications. The natural and presumably unbiased approach to these questions is thorough testing before moving applications to production settings. However, thorough testing of enterprise applications on modern clouds is cumbersome and error-prone due to a large number of relevant scenarios and difficulties in testing process. We address some of these challenges through Expertus---a flexible code generation framework for automated performance testing of distributed applications in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds. Expertus uses a multi-pass compiler approach and leverages template-driven code generation to modularly incorporate different software applications on IaaS clouds. Expertus automatically handles complex configuration dependencies of software applications and significantly reduces human errors associated with manual approaches for software configuration and testing. To date, Expertus has been used to study three distributed applications on five IaaS clouds with over 10,000 different hardware, software, and virtualization configurations. The flexibility and extensibility of Expertus and our own experience on using it shows that new clouds, applications, and software packages can easily be incorporated.
Relation of plaque characteristics defined by coronary computed tomographic angiography to ST-segment depression and impaired functional capacity during exercise treadmill testing in patients suspected of having coronary heart disease.

Sixty-four-detector-row coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) has been proposed for the evaluation of low- to intermediate-risk patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Historically, exercise treadmill testing (ETT) measures of ST-segment depression (STD) and the Duke treadmill score (DTS) have been used to evaluate myocardial ischemia and functional capacity. The relation of plaque characteristics on CCTA to STD and DTS is unknown. In this study, 156 low- to intermediate-risk patients without known CAD who underwent ETT and CCTA were evaluated. By ETT, 22% (n = 35) had STD and 27% (n = 42) had abnormal DTS. On CCTA, 21% (n = 33) had obstructive CAD (≥70% stenosis) and 49% (n = 77) had nonobstructive CAD (
Improving Access to Dental Care for Vulnerable Elders

Certain segments of the senior population of the United States have difficulty in gaining access to dental care.[1][1]–[6][2] In order to design and implement programs aimed at improving access to care for these groups, it is important to understand the nature of the groups and the specific
Structure of reflective functioning and adult attachment scales: overlap and distinctions

This investigation examined the structure of reflective functioning (RF) - an understanding of the links between mental states and behaviors - and adult attachment scales. Both RF and traditional adult attachment scales were coded based on 194 prebirth Adult Attachment Interviews (AAI). Correlational and factor analyses indicated considerable overlap between RF and traditional AAI coding. Exploratory factor analyses of RF and AAI state-of-mind scales indicated that RF loaded, along with coherence of mind, on the primary factor distinguishing between individuals categorized as secure and dismissing. These findings indicate substantial overlap between RF and AAI scales; however, the magnitude of the correlations between these scales indicates that they are not redundant.
Discontinuous Galerkin finite element solution of 3D elasticity

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the way of formulation and implementation of a family of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element methods applied to 3D elastic solids. Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) is an accurate and robust algorithm for modeling elasticity even for almost incompressible materials. Major motivations for applying DG to elasticity problems include a local element-by-element approximation to the momentum equation and average quantities, which can be considered continuous forces or stress fields on an interface. The flexibility of DG methods allows hp refinements with nonconforming adaptive meshes and variable local order of approximation. Because of this local nature of approximation, DG methods only require communication between elements that share faces. Thus, these methods are well suited for parallel computation. Finally, these methods appear to be accurate and robust in terms of treating incompressible materials. Future work needs to address parallel solvers, adaptivity, and geomechanics modeling.
Visualizing Direct Interactions in the Mechanobiome

Cytokinesis, the end point of cell division, is controlled by a complex system that coordinates the mitotic spindle signals with mechanoresponsive proteins to drive contractility and furrow ingression. These feedback loops endow the cell with the ability to respond to mechanical stress, allowing it to divide and regulate cell shape in the presence of various environmental stresses (Kee et al. 2012, Srivastava and Robinson 2015). In the social amoeba Dictyostelium, the scaffolding protein IQGAP2 is found at a node between spindle signals and the contractile machinery, integrating the feedback mechanisms. We applied a mass spectrometric approach to identify the composite network of proteins that define the mechanosensory modules involved in cytokinesis. By using IQGAP2 and the actin crosslinker cortexillin I (an IQGAP2-binding partner) as bait, we identified myosin II as a biochemical interactor of both proteins, independent of actin association. Interestingly, we identified a few unusual hits, such as RNP1 and methylmalonyl semialdehyde dehydrogenase (mmsdh), that have been previously identified in genetic suppressor screens from our lab, providing even greater evidence for their function in the network (Zhou et al. 2010, Ren et al. 2014). Here, we use fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) to measure these biochemical interactions in vivo. Cortexillin I and myosin II indeed show cross-correlation, suggesting their association in the same complex at a key node of the feedback controller. We are currently using FCCS to confirm and visualize protein associations with and without mechanical stress in vivo, yielding a broader picture of the interactions that are critical within the mechanobiome.
The Changing Horizons of U.S. Families Living With Pediatric HIV

Although HIV is considered a chronic pediatric illness that is on the wane in the United States, challenges remain for those affected. The purpose of this longitudinal qualitative study was to examine the phenomenon of raising an HIV-positive child in the United States from the parental perspective. This study incorporated a longitudinal, phenomenological approach. The purposive sample included parents and guardians from 10 families from the northeast region of the United States with children diagnosed with asymptomatic HIV infection at the study onset. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with the parents over a 7-year period. The common themes identified included: balancing normalcy with uncertainty, facing the multifaceted dilemmas associated with disclosure, and addressing the evolving medication and treatment challenges. The findings of this study can enhance the understanding of nurses and other health care professionals to improve policies, standards of care, and interventions for children and families living with pediatric HIV infection.
Fabrication of Organic Field Effect Transistor by Directly Grown Poly(3 Hexylthiophene) Crystalline Nanowires on Carbon Nanotube Aligned Array Electrode

We fabricated organic field effect transistors (OFETs) by directly growing poly (3-hexylthiophne) (P3HT) crystalline nanowires on solution processed aligned array single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) interdigitated electrodes by exploiting strong π−π interaction for both efficient charge injection and transport. We also compared the device properties of OFETs using SWNT electrodes with control OFETs of P3HT nanowires deposited on gold electrodes. Electron transport measurements on 28 devices showed that, compared to the OFETs with gold electrodes, the OFETs with SWNT electrodes have better mobility and better current on−off ratio with a maximum of 0.13 cm2/(V s) and 3.1 × 105, respectively. The improved device characteristics with SWNT electrodes were also demonstrated by the improved charge injection and the absence of short channel effect, which was dominant in gold electrode OFETs. The enhancement of the device performance can be attributed to the improved interfacial contact between SWNT electrodes a...
Developing effective school-based drug abuse prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE To research effective drug prevention strategies for school-aged populations from drug prevention programs funded by the USDHHS Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). METHOD Nine directors and staff members from model CSAP-funded programs were interviewed. RESULTS Fifteen strategies that focus on building trusted relationships, selecting well-qualified staff using existing communication networks, and providing timely evaluation feedback are discussed, with examples from the agencies cited. CONCLUSION Formulating effective partnerships that support both the goals of the outside agency with drug prevention resources and the mission of a school can contribute toward effective school-based drug prevention programs.
The sixth anniversary reviews of The Food Safety Law and some comments of its results ——in the case of risk monitoring and evaluation

The Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China enacted in 2009, and it has lasted for 6 years. We should pay our close attention on its achievements and some shortages in the field of food safety issues. Risk monitoring and evaluation system is one of the important systems in the food safety problems and has been fitted by law in the international food safety field. Food safety risk monitoring and evaluation system from European and United States is already very mature. China's The Food Safety Law also provisions of the risk monitoring and evaluation system. Its purpose is killing the risk of the food safety in the bud or reducing to a minimum. At present, because the country is carried out on the "food safety law" revision, so this article system combing the risk monitoring and evaluation system of legal development process and as the breakthrough point to The Food Safety Law was reviewed and summarized. The paper also comments on The Food Safety Law risk monitoring and evolution system of legal effect of six years and discusses about the improvement and development of The Food Safety Law.
A Stronger Treatment System for Opioid Use Disorders

This Viewpoint proposes health care delivery and infrastructure reforms that would strengthen the US treatment system for opioid use disorders.
An Encroachment Argument for Internalism

In this chapter I want to discuss whether or not a variety of principles of encroachment support a robust internal justification requirement on knowledge of action-guiding beliefs. A broad variety of religiously significant propositions are action-guiding, hence the relevance of this chapter to religious epistemology. This chapter proceeds as follows. In Section II, I lay out an argument I have named “the encroachment argument for internalism” (EAFI for now). The conclusion of the EAFI is that there are a pair of nonstandard access requirements on a normal subject s’s justification for her action-guiding beliefs. In Sections III and IV, I defend each of the two premises of EAFI and briefly describe how my deontologically grounded internalism is able to handle objections to such accounts based on the fact we have limited voluntary control over what we believe (Alston 1988; Plantinga 1993a).
Luminescent platforms for monitoring changes in the solubility of amylin and huntingtin in living cells

Luminescent, cell-based assays capable of monitoring the aggregation potential of the disease-relevant proteins known as amylin (type 2 diabetes) and huntingtin (Huntington's disease) are presented. These sensitive platforms report on the influence of mutations as well as small molecules on protein solubility.
Contrast Preservation in dialects of North Levantine Arabic

This paper uses Contrast Preservation Theory to account for two opaque processes in two dialects of Levantine Arabic spoken in Tripoli: (1) a Push Shift effect in a dialect spoken in traditional neighborhoods and (2) a constraint paradox in the standard dialect.
Computer-Aided Law Decisions

The purpose of this chapter is to describe how microcomputers can aid in making law decisions, including decisions that relate to the judicial process, law practice and law management.
ICCAD-2016 CAD contest in non-exact projective NPNP boolean matching and benchmark suite

Boolean Matching is significant to industry applications, such as library binding, synthesis, engineer change order, and hardware Trojan detection. Instead of basic Boolean matching, Non-exact Projective NPNP Boolean Matching allows to match two designs by not only negating and permuting inputs/outputs but also merging them or binding constants to inputs. Besides, the matching goal is extended to achieve the largest number of output equivalences between two designs. This kind of Boolean matching may get better quality in the related applications due to more flexibility and scalability, and the development of its algorithms is more challengeable. Hence, this problem has some research values. In ICCAD 2016 CAD contest, given two designs, participants need to decide how to permute, negate and merge designs' inputs/outputs or bind constants for achieving largest number of output equivalences. The score will be evaluated by how many outputs are equivalent and the runtime. We expect the contest result can improve industry applications and bring more research interests.
Hybridoma cell-culture and glycan profile dataset at various bioreactor conditions.

This is an “11 factor-2 level-12 run” Plackett-Burman experimental design dataset. The dataset includes 11 engineering bioreactor parameters as input variables. These 11 factors were varied at 2 levels and 23 response variables that are glycan profile attributes, were measured “A Design Space Exploration for Control of Critical Quality Attributes of mAb” (H. Bhatia, E.K. Read, C.D. Agarabi, K.A. Brorson, S.C. Lute, S. Yoon S, 2016) [2].
Interpretation of Leukocyte Esterase for the Detection of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Based on Serologic Markers.

Abstract Background Leukocyte esterase (LE) is a rapid, point-of-care test for periprosthetic joint infection. The purpose of this study was to provide a tool for interpreting LE based on an initial serologic screening. Methods We reviewed the records of 319 patients who had erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) screening before hip or knee aspiration; 102 had elevated ESR and CRP levels, 64 had an elevated ESR or CRP level, and 153 had normal serology. The likelihood of infection was calculated based on the results of LE testing. Results When LE results were concordant with ESR and CRP levels, LE served to effectively diagnose or rule out a diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection with >95% certainty. When LE was discordant from serology, only the stricter LE thresholds (2+ or negative) were adequately diagnostic to potentially suggest a change in clinical decision-making. Conclusion With discordant results, the lesser thresholds (1+ or trace) should serve to incite further diagnostic inquiry.
Fluoride salt coolant properties for nuclear reactor applications: A review

Abstract Fluoride salts are crucial to achieving the benefits of Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactors (FHRs). Intensive studies and modeling are being performed in different countries aimed at FHR technology development. Better understanding of liquid fluoride salt coolant properties and their uncertainties are needed for design and analysis of nuclear facilities. The main objective of the present study is to perform a literature survey of the experimental data, numerical studies, reports, and other review compilations for the main thermophysical properties of liquid fluoride salts. The review recommends density, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and viscosity properties for potential primary coolants LiF-BeF 2 (flibe) and NaF-ZrF 4 (nafzirf) and secondary coolant LiF-NaF-KF (flinak). It is found that there is a dearth of experimental data. Thus recommended property uncertainties are included, which range from 2 to 20%, complete with a discussion on the recommended definition of the uncertainties. The recommended properties and their uncertainties provide a reference point for incorporating uncertainty in modeling to understand its impacts and for code benchmarking and validation.
HIGH-RISK PLAQUE IN NON-OBSTRUCTIVE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE CONFERS RISK SIMILAR TO OBSTRUCTIVE DISEASE WITHOUT HIGH-RISK FEATURES: THE ICONIC STUDY

High-risk plaque (HRP) and diameter stenosis severity (%DS) by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) independently predict adverse events, but their relative importance and interaction have not been determined. Within the ICONIC study, a nested case-control study of CCTA, we included
MICROMECHANICS OF FAILURE IN METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

An analytical model of failure development in metal matrix composites is presented the model is based on a recently developed analytical method for the analysis of fracture process zone development in composites. We employ a classical fracture mechanics modelling technique using the process zone concept and a small-scale approach for the fracture resistance analysis. The method is based on an exact analytical solution of the corresponding boundary value problem representing the micromechanical processes taking place within the process zone. The considered composite consists of an elastic-ideally-plastic matrix and elastic fibres. The model and the analysis are based on explicit consideration of the discrete distribution of the reinforcing fibres. During the process zone development within each individual segment, we have regions experiencing elastic deformation, plastic yield and, eventually, void formation and growth. The void growth leads to failure. The developed analytical formulation may be applied t...
The Dual Effects of Information Technology Clusters: Learning and Selection:

Clusters are hubs of innovation. Economic developers have initiated a great deal of policies to promote clusters and encourage technological advancement. Despite the efforts of previous studies to ...
Current Status of Diamond Thin Films

Artifact (man made) diamond films are currently being made by several different types of plasma-assisted processes, hot filament processes, and even by conventional acetylene welding torches. Carbonaceous feed gases include methane, acetylene, carbon monoxide, various alcohols, and more recently, the effluent of city sewer plants. Most of these processes rely on atomic hydrogen to prevent the carbon atoms of the diamond surface from forming unwanted pi bonds and subsequent graphitic inclusions. While hydrogen has been thought to be essential to the growth of diamond, it is more recently thought to be the greatest impediment to the formation of contiguous, smooth, single crystalline diamond films. This unwanted aspect of hydrogen accrues from the inabilities of the growth processes to absolutely insure that ALL hydrogen terminations are subsequently replaced by carbon. Atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) may provide a solution as may chemical terminators other than hydrogen. While the use of lattice-matched substrates may be useful in seeding a continuous thin diamond film, carbide formation problems, the ability to withstand high temperature growth conditions, and thermal expansion coefficients are factors that must be considered when choosing the proper substrate.
Mineral Metabolism in Alcoholism

Mineral deficiencies occur in chronic alcoholism for two reasons. In the first place, alcohol has been shown to increase excretion of magnesium, zinc, and calcium. In the second place, insufficient intake of nutritious food and associated minerals is a frequently associated phenomenon in chronic alcoholism. Vomiting and diarrhea often accentuate the losses. Potassium deficiency results from insufficient intake and gastrointestinal disturbances. Mineral deficiencies, like all other complications of alcoholism, are preventable theoretically by avoidance of excessive alcohol intake, but the problem is complicated by social and psychiatric aspects.
A MicroRNA-Based Gene-Targeting Tool for Virally Labeling Interneurons in the Rodent Cortex.

Summary More specific and broadly applicable viral gene-targeting tools for labeling neuron subtypes are needed to advance neuroscience research, especially in rodent transgenic disease models and genetically intractable species. Here, we develop a viral vector that restricts transgene expression to GABAergic interneurons in the rodent neocortex by exploiting endogenous microRNA regulation. Our interneuron-targeting, microRNA-guided neuron tag, “GABA mAGNET,” achieves >95% interneuron selective labeling in the mouse cortex, including in a murine model of autism and also some preferential labeling of interneurons in the rat brain. We demonstrate an application of our GABA mAGNET by performing simultaneous, in vivo optogenetic control of two distinct neuron subtypes. This interneuron labeling tool highlights the potential of microRNA-based viral gene targeting to specific neuron subtypes.
MACROLIDE SYNTHESIS: 6-DESOXYERYTHRONOLIDE B VIA ALDOL CONDENSATIONS

Macrocyclic natural products, represented by several well-known antibiotics such as erythromycins, are large-sized lactones with an array of substituents systematically attached to the monocyclic ring system. Despite the structural and stereochemical complexity of these molecules, a general, practical synthetic approach now appears feasible. A few newly developed methods for the stereoselective aldol condensation have solved some of the major synthetic problems posed by molecules of this type. This lecture consists of a structural analysis, discussions of stereochemical control in synthesis, and the application of the new methods to the construction of 6-desoxyerythronolide B.
Wideband, Periodically Arranged Self-Dual Subwavelength Waveguides

Self-dual structures, whose electric and magnetic parameters can be interchanged without causing any change to the structure, are shown to be inherently matched to free space. With proper design, in such structures, the normally incident energy is funneled through arbitrarily thin air gaps that support TEM or quasi- TEM modes. A finite-length self-dual waveguide, as suggested herein, is inherently matched at both input and output interfaces, even though the field within the waveguide may be substantially complex and have its own characteristic polarization. This structure looks promising for several applications, as detailed below.
From Economism to Democratic Commitment: The Role of Worker Participation:

This article reports relationship between work-related satisfaction and some important indicators of democratic commitment among the worker representatives on shop floor joint committees. Six measu...
Barriers and Facilitators to PrEP Use Among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural Appalachia: A Qualitative Study.

The opioid crisis has increased risks for injection drug use-associated HIV outbreaks in rural communities throughout the United States. Existing research has examined pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization among people who inject drugs (PWID); however, no studies have been conducted to explore barriers and facilitators of PrEP use among rural PWID in Appalachia. We conducted qualitative interviews with PWID (n = 48) in two rural counties in West Virginia to explore barriers and facilitators of PrEP use. Among our participants, the majority (68.8%) had never heard of PrEP. Upon learning about PrEP, most participants expressed willingness to use it. Rural PWID described several factors that may impede PrEP utilization (e.g., housing instability, forgetting to take PrEP). Participants also identified practical strategies to support sustained PrEP utilization, such as integrating PrEP services into venues PWID access. This research provides important insights into the barriers and facilitators of PrEP utilization among rural PWID.
Mobility Analysis of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in San Francisco Applying Monte Carlo Markov Chain

The paper realistically studies the uncertainty of state of charge (SOC) of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) by investigation of real driving routes of 100 vehicles in San Francisco, CA, US. In this study, Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) is applied to determine the hourly probability distribution function of SOC of PEVs in the typical day. The primary dataset used in this study includes the real longitude and latitude of driving routes of 100 vehicles in San Francisco, recorded in every four-minute period of the day. The four-minute position dataset is converted to the four-minute distance travelled by each PEV, and then the four-minute SOC of PEVs is determined considering the technical specifications of each PEV. Next, the hourly SOC of PEVs are calculated and entered to MCMC to determine the hourly probability distribution function of SOC of PEVs. In this study, the effects of MCMC parameters on its outputs are also investigated and analyzed.