cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Underground Rulification of the Ordinary Business Operations Exclusion

In its landmark Cracker Barrel no-action letter, the SEC staff announced a bright-line rule permitting exclusion of any shareholder proposal pertaining to a company's management of its general workforce, even if focused on a significant social policy issue such as employment discrimination, under the "ordinary business operations" exclusion. The SEC reversed Cracker Barrel in 1998, returning to a case-specific approach to determining whether proposals fall under the exclusion. This Note examines 250 no-action letters from the 2015 proxy season and finds evidence indicating that the staff has, contrary to official SEC policy, returned to a rule-like approach to the ordinary business operations exclusion. Normatively, this de facto rulemaking by the staff is problematic when evaluated according to the rules' democratic legitimacy, transparency, or inclusivity. To address these concerns, this Note proposes two solutions. First, the SEC should recast the ordinary business operations exclusion as a "catalog" and create mechanisms to ensure that there is adequate public participation in updates to that catalog. Second, the SEC should replace the social policy exception's "significance" requirement with a numerical cap on proposals and a standard rooted in corporations' purpose clauses, which would allow for some private ordering. These changes would enhance the exclusion's democratic legitimacy, shine light on the opaque process through which the staff determines excludability, and remove the staff from its uneasy role as social policy censor.
Counter based CMOS temperature sensor for low frequency applications

A simple temperature sensor in Bi-CMOS technology is proposed for applications with low frequency temperature variations in addition to a complete analysis of each block in the system. Most CMOS temperature sensors are based on the temperature characteristics of parasitic bipolar transistors. Two important factors need to be met in the design of the sensor: the first is the accuracy of the sensor, and the second is the power consumption of the temperature sensor that needs to be reduced. A simplified counter approach is used here instead of the commonly used complex decimation filter techniques. This approach is appropriate for applications that have low sampling rate of the temperature. The design achieves one degree accuracy over the range 0°C to 85°C which is suitable for most applications. Using such approach saves power and area due to the simplicity of the counter design compared to the decimation filter.
Self-management practices of smokers with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional survey

Adherence to self-management recommendations is critical for patients with chronic disease. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers with conditions such as diabetes, HIV, and heart disease are less likely to adhere to provider recommendations. Regarding lung disease, asthma and COPD can be caused and/or exacerbated by smoking, however little is known on the relationship between adherence and smoking status in these patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize the relationship between smoking status and adherence to multiple measures of self-care- including medication taking, medication filling, appointment keeping, yearly vaccinations, carrying medical supplies, and healthcare utilization- in patients with asthma and/or COPD. In addition to smoking status, we also included an examination of these measures by race/ethnicity, gender, and diagnosis. This study employed a cross-sectional design on a convenience sample of n = 84 patients (40–64 years old) with a diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD. The study was conducted between November 2015 and February 2016 in the waiting rooms of the outpatient pulmonary clinics at the University Medical Center of New Orleans. Patients completed surveys while awaiting their clinic appointments. Smoking status, gender, race, and diagnosis were explored as predictors of adherence using descriptive statistics, chi square, and regression analyses. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers were less adherent to medication filling (p < 0.0001), medication taking (p = 0.04), and having yearly vaccinations than nonsmokers (p = 0.003). Independent of smoking status, differences across self-care measures were also found based on respondent diagnosis, race, and gender. Smoking was associated with lower levels of adherence across multiple measures of self-care. By identifying self-management practices that are most difficult for smokers to follow, researchers can develop interventions that target these behaviors. Future studies should further this research by exploring reasons for poor adherence in smokers as well as address barriers that inhibit self-care.
Chapter 21 Elevated CO2 and Ozone: Their Effects on Photosynthesis

Elevated carbon dioxide [CO2] and ozone [O3] are increasing worldwide in part due to human activities. Each gas affects plant cells, initially primarily by interfering with photosynthesis, in ways that are only partially understood. It appears that many plant species experience some stress in this altered atmosphere. This stress, defined as the deviation from normal, evolutionarily shaped homeostatic conditions. Particular consequences ensue for the functioning of chloroplasts. Regulatory mechanisms that influence the operation of the photosynthetic machinery will be discussed, as will the current state of physiological and molecular genetic information concerning impacts, both direct and indirect, of the two gases on the chloroplast machinery. Recent reports are examined in light of that knowledge, and working hypotheses and interpretations and future experimental approaches are suggested that make use of the accumulated data on gene co-expression networks in model species, Arabidopsis thaliana in particular and its relative Thellungiella halophila, which is characterized by a very different lifestyle, and on the improved understanding of biochemical pathways and metabolism relating to interactions between plastids and the cytosol. Evidence is discussed arguing that the presence and increase of tropospheric ozone levels countermand or at least reduce the fertilizing effects of elevated [CO2]. The necessity to increase food production worldwide will require enhanced efforts in breeding ozone-resistant crops.
Limb lengthening and deformities corrections with the femoral Albizzia nail

Der Femur-Albizzia-Nagel ermoglicht die Verlangerung um bis zu 10 cm. Er kann bei achondroplastischen Patienten eingesetzt werden. Korrekturen der Achsenfehlstellungen konnen mit einem speziellen Nagel (3D-Albizzia) vorgenommen werden, wenn multiple Osteotomien ausgefuhrt werden (z. B. fur proximale und distale Oberschenkel Varusdeformitaten). Eine Derotation und eine Flexions-/Extensionsosteotomie konnen gleichzeitig durchgefuhrt werden. Die intramedullare Verlangerung ist auch fur Patienten mit vorangegangener externer Fixierung geeignet. Die perioperative Planung ist wichtig. Die Operation wird derzeit perkutan durchgefuhrt, mit einem 1–2 cm langen Hautschnitt fur die Nageleinfuhrung, und einem 6 mm-Schnitt fur die distale femorale Dom-Osteotomie. Die elektrische Bewegungsschiene wird im Aufwachraum angelegt und die Rehabilitation beginnt mit Tag 1, an dem bereits eine Beugung des Knies von mehr als 120 ° moglich ist. Das Ratschen fur die graduelle Verlangerung wird am Tag 5 begonnen, mit einer Rate von 1 mm am Tag. Die Muskelstreckung und -starkung werden 1 Jahr lang durchgefuhrt. Bei beidseitigen Fallen wird ein praoperatives Trainingsprogramm angewandt. Ein Bewegungsspielraum von 120 ° kann wahrend der Verlangerung aufrechterhalten werden. Die intramedullare Verlangerung erlaubt die Erhaltung der Geschmeidigkeit des Muskel- und Weichgewebes, das vor zu hohem Druck auf den Gelenken und vor langfristigem Muskelabbau schutzt. Der Albizzia ist derzeit ein gutes Verfahren, nachdem sich der Operateur an die physiotherapeutischen Aspekte gewohnt hat. Die fruher berichtete Allgemeinanasthesie fur das Ratschen wird kaum mehr benotigt, wenn die Technik perkutan durchgefuhrt, volle Beweglichkeit des Knies am Tag 1 wiederhergestellt und danach aufrechterhalten wird.
Dynein-based motility of pathogenic protozoa

Abstract Dynein-mediated flagellar motility plays a central role in the biology and pathogenesis of human as well as animal- and plant-infective pathogens. These parasites depend on active motility to colonize host tissues, escape host defenses, or reach locations within the host that underlies features of disease pathogenesis and enables transmission. In some cases, motility is also required to navigate through the environment to find new hosts. Despite the enormous impact of these parasites on human health and agriculture, the mechanisms of dynein-dependent motility and its importance for pathogenesis remains vastly understudied. The current review highlights areas of interest and key questions to be addressed.
Cooperative output regulation of multi-agent systems with switched leader dynamics

In this paper, the cooperative output regulation problem for heterogeneous multi-agent systems is addressed by considering a switched leader dynamics. The switched leader dynamics consists of multi...
Concurrent hirschsprung disease and esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula in a preterm neonate

Abstract We describe a preterm neonate with concomitant Hirschsprung disease (HD) and esophageal atresia (EA) with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). This is the first report to identify the coexistence of these distinct malformations in a preterm infant.
Physics of in-Situ Oxide Superconducting Thin Films Deposition

The physics of the in-situ laser deposition process is reviewed. Emphasis will be placed on the use of excimer lasers, and the deposition of Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films. It is shown that the laser target interaction conditions, and the properties of the laser generated plume are inducive to the formation of high quality films. In addition to the formation of energetic atomic beams, laser deposition is also highly compatible with reactive deposition which make it suitable for oxide and nitride films. An in-situ diagnostic technique is introduced which is capable of detecting the interfacial boundary layer between the film and the substrate. It is also shown that post-deposition in-situ oxidation is necessary for the formation of superconducting films..
Switching Circuits, Proofs, and Logic

The two-element set plays a vital role in computer science, both as the bits 0 and 1 of binary arithmetic (corresponding to the two stable states of the basic subcomponents of computer circuitry), and as the two truth values, T (true) and F (false), of the logical analysis of circuitry, and the tests of programs. Section 4.1 introduces the basic operations of negation, conjunction, and disjunction on truth values, and shows how these operations can be used to express Boolean functions in normal form. We briefly discuss the use of components corresponding to these basic operations in building up computer circuits for addition. Section 4.2 looks at proof techniques from two perspectives. The first makes explicit the various “everyday” techniques we use in proving theorems in this book. The second gives a formal discussion of the notion of proof in propositional logic, and closes with a brief introduction to the quantifiers of predicate logic.
Fetal Heart Rate Response to Hypoxia in the Subhuman Primate

Study of fetal heart rate response to hypoxia in the subhuman primate has particular applicability to the clinical situation in the human. Most studies have been carried out in the fetal rhesus monkey, which has a hemochorial placenta, a uterus similar in configuration to the human uterus, and a growth rate almost identical to that of the human fetus. The fetal brain, our major concern during hypoxia, constitutes about 12% of birth weight in the rhesus monkey and in man compared with 1.3% in the lamb (Dawes 1968). Accordingly, about 16% of cardiac output in the near term fetal monkey supplies the brain under normoxemic conditions (Behrman et al. 1970) compared with 3% in the fetal lamb (Cohn et al. 1974).
Trends in Isolated Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement According to Hospital-Based Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Volumes

Abstract Objectives This study sought to evaluate the trends in isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) procedures across hospitals with different transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) volumes among Medicare beneficiaries. Background The volume of TAVR has increased in the United States since its approval, now exceeding that of isolated SAVR. Methods Hospitalizations of adults (≥18 years) with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes for SAVR (35.21 or 35.22) or TAVR (35.05 or 35.06) who were included in the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2014, were included. Trends in isolated SAVR patient characteristics, procedural volumes, and outcomes by quartile (Q) of hospital-level TAVR use were assessed over the study period. Results A total of 37,705 isolated SAVR procedures were analyzed for the study. The annual volume of isolated SAVR procedures decreased in hospitals performing the largest number of TAVR procedures (Q3: 1,557 in 2011 to 1,391 in 2014; and Q4: 2,607 in 2011 to 1,791 in 2014). Thirty-day and 1-year mortality after SAVR also declined over the study period in hospitals with the largest TAVR volume (annual change rate in mortality for Q3: −16.4%, p Conclusions The advent of TAVR was associated with a reduction in isolated SAVR volumes, a decrease in comorbidities among patients undergoing SAVR, and corresponding reductions in observed short- and long-term SAVR mortality among hospitals performing the greatest number of TAVRs.
Cross-Domain Hashtag Recommendation and Story Revelation in Social Media

Real-time micro-blogging services such as Twitter generate billions of micro-posts to share information, daily. However, these posts are inherently noisy and unstructured, hence making them difficult to organize for the purpose of retrieval of relevant information.Hashtags are quickly becoming the standard approach for annotation of various information on social media. However hashtags are not used in a consistent manner and most importantly, are completely optional to use. This makes them unreliable as the sole mechanism for searching for relevant information. In this paper, we investigate mechanisms for consolidating the hashtag space using recom-mender systems. We propose a cross-domain collaborative filtering recommender system based on matrix factorization (MF) combined with a hashtag similarity graph, to automatically predict relevant hashtags based on an analysis of existing data and the relations among hashtags. Our experiments confirm that our approach outperforms several baselines. Our research using these hashtag graphs for recommendations has further revealed a promising mechanism for revealing stories from the cliques in this graph, paving the road toward story annotation as an extension of hashtag recommendation for tweets.
Self-folding origami surfaces of non-zero Gaussian curvature

This paper presents a framework for the design, fabrication, and experimental testing of self-folding origami structures that deform from two-dimensional forms towards three-dimensional goal shapes of arbitrary local Gaussian curvature via uniform heating. Due to the general inability of the widely employed unfolding polyhedra method to generate origami designs for structures having negative Gaussian curvature, a tuck-folding method is implemented for self-folding composites driven by shape memory polymer actuation. As implementation examples, meshes of a pyramid, a saddle, and a combination of both are chosen to represent surfaces of positive and negative Gaussian curvature, and all three structures are shown to successfully fold towards their intended goal shape. The presented framework can be applied to origami design problems that consider other goal shapes and active materials.
THE IMPACT OF ANIMATION TIMING AND LOCATION ON VISUAL SEARCH TASK PERFORMANCE IN THE WEB ENVIRONMENT

Research results from a previous study show that animation as non-primary information significantly reduces information-seeking performance in a web-based environment (Zhang 2000). This study continues to explore the impact of animation timing and location on visual search tasks. The results indicate that (1) animation that appears during the middle or toward the end of an information-seeking task degrades performance more significantly than animation that appears at the very beginning. (2) Animation that appears and disappears repeatedly affects performance much more than animation that appears on the screen all the time. And (3) animation on the left side of the screen affects performance more than animation on the right side. This study helps understand the impact of animation use in the web environment, thus has practical implications for website designers as well as online advertisers in the design of effective webpages using animation.
Why Does Planning Matter in Microclimate Management and Urban Heat Mitigation

In this paper, we examine two mixed-use redevelopment projects in the United States, including both regulatory and procedural contexts, to assess how decision-making processes affected microclimate...
Effect of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement on Right Ventricular–Pulmonary Artery Coupling

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the acute left ventricular (LV) unloading effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) would improve right ventricular (RV) function and RV–pulmonary artery (PA) coupling in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Background RV dysfunction is an ominous prognostic marker in patients undergoing TAVR, suggesting that relief of obstruction might be less beneficial in this cohort. However, the left ventricle and right ventricle influence each other through ventricular interaction, which could lead to improved RV function through LV unloading. Methods Prospective invasive hemodynamic measurements with simultaneous echocardiography were performed in symptomatic patients with severe AS before and immediately after TAVR. Results Forty-four patients (mean age 81 ± 8 years, 27% women) with severe AS underwent TAVR. At baseline, right atrial, PA mean (27 ± 7 mm Hg), and pulmonary capillary wedge (16 ± 4 mm Hg) pressures were mildly elevated, with a low normal cardiac index (2.3 l/min/m2). Pulmonary vascular resistance was mildly elevated (222 ± 133 dynes · s/cm5) and PA compliance mildly reduced (3.4 ± 01.4 ml/mm Hg). Following TAVR, aortic valve area increased (from 0.8 ± 0.3 to 2.7 ± 1.1 cm2; p Conclusions Acute relief in obstruction to LV ejection with TAVR is associated with improvements in RV function and RV-PA coupling. These findings provide new insights into the potential benefits of LV unloading with TAVR on RV dysfunction in patients with severe AS.
CHAPTER 1 – OVERVIEW

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the DP security game. Like any other subject matter, DP security embodies a certain amount of philosophical thinking. DP security is a strategy to “out strategize” the potential adversary. The successful DP security program must have the management involvement from the top down as opposed to a “bottom up” approach. The nature of DP security dictates this approach. DP security can be thought of as an “indirect” activity because it does not directly impact the development of a product, the manufacture of a product, or the sales or service of a product. Each DP security program should be implemented and maintained under the direction of a DP security administrator. A rational systematic approach to DP security is essential to the selection of the security measures that are required to provide an acceptable DP security program.
The interplay between PRKCI/PKCλ/ι, SQSTM1/p62, and autophagy orchestrates the oxidative metabolic response that drives liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the consequence of chronic liver damage caused by the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To mitigate the deleterious effects of ROS, cells activate the transcription factor NFE2L2/NRF2, which is constitutively degraded through its partner KEAP1. The inactivation of KEAP1 by ROS results in the upregulation of NFE2L2, which leads to the upregulation of critical detoxifying molecules that serve to keep ROS at tolerable levels in order to maintain cell viability. It is thought that this mechanism allows cells to accumulate mutations, which together with the additional pro-tumorigenic and pro-survival effects of NFE2L2 activation, promote cancer initiation and progression. Germane to this phenomenon is macroautophagy/autophagy, which under homeostatic conditions has also been proposed to serve as a detoxifying mechanism by clearing up toxic aggregates and damaged organelles. Our recent data establish a new paradigm for the role that autophagy plays in HCC development.
Soil and environmental issues in sandy soils

Abstract Sandy soils are widely distributed across the world. Due to the growing global population and urbanization, these soils are increasingly used to provide food, feed, fiber, energy, and other services to our society. In this paper, we summarize some recent studies on sandy soils and review the main soil and environmental issues related to the understanding, use, and management. We classify the soil issues into three categories: 1) physical and hydrological, 2) chemical and agronomical, and 3) biological and ecological issues. Recent advances include developing models and methods characterizing soil water repellency, preferential flows, transport of nutrients, agrochemicals and industrial contaminants, and groundwater contamination, soil compaction, erosion and evapotranspiration, improving soil fertility, structure, and biodiversity, monitoring, mapping, and managing salinity, sodicity, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emission, and heavy metal contamination. The main challenges are to understand changes in sandy soil conditions (e.g. soil water repellency, soil compaction, crust, erosion, salinization, structure, fertility, inorganic and organic contamination) and processes (e.g. evapotranspiration, carbon sequestration, nutrients leaching and cycling, greenhouse gas emission) under intensive agricultural activities and climate change and evaluate the impacts of soil texture on soil properties and processes. A conceptual framework is proposed for holistic understanding and management of sandy soils under changing climate conditions and agricultural activities.
Effects of particle inclusions on cracking in ultrathin barrier films

Abstract The effects of particle inclusions with different mechanical properties on the development of cracks in ultra-thin barrier films have been studied. Two types of particles, alumina and poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) with large differences in their elastic modulus were used, representing both hard and soft inclusions. Particles were seeded onto polyethylene naphthalate substrates and subsequently coated with atomic layer deposited Al2O3 as a barrier film. Ca corrosion tests used to determine the performance of the barrier films revealed that soft polymer particle inclusions severely affect the development of cracking in barrier films as compared to stiff ceramic particles. Tensile tests also confirmed that the barrier films with polymer particle inclusions have the lowest value of critical onset strain. Parametric simulations, conducted by varying the elastic modulus of the particle inclusions over a wide range, resulted in a larger strain energy release rate near particle inclusions which promotes crack formation and negatively impacts the performance of barrier films with softer particle inclusions. Thus, the combination of high residual stresses in the barrier films with the presence of soft particle inclusions is found the most detrimental for the development of high-performance ultrathin barrier films.
Ethical failings: The problematic history of cancer risk assessment

This paper demonstrates that unethical conduct by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation (BEAR) I Genetics Panel led to their recommendation of the Linear Non-Threshold (LNT) Model for radiation risk assessment and its subsequent adoption by the US and the world community. The analysis, which is based largely on preserved communications of the US NAS Genetics Panel members, reveals that Panel members and their administrative leadership at the NAS displayed an integrated series of unethical actions designed to ensure, (1) the acceptance of the LNT and (2) funding to radiation geneticist panel members and professional colleagues. These findings are significant because major public policies in open democracies, such as cancer risk assessment and other issues impacted by public fears of radiation or chemical exposures, require ethical foundations. Recognition of these ethical failures of the BEAR I Genetics Panel should require a high level administrative, legislative and scientific reassessment of the scientific foundations of cancer risk assessment, with the likely result necessitating revision of current policies and practices. The BEAR I Genetics Panel, 1956 Science journal publication should immediately be retracted because it contains deliberate misrepresentations of the scientific record that were designed to manipulate scientific and public opinion on radiation risk assessment in a dishonest manner.
Cultural Identity Formation: A Personal Narrative

This paper provides personal experiences and perceptions of being a minoritized individual. This is the story of a professional social worker learning to adapt to social norms and expectations of self. He discusses the struggles he experienced as an adolescent and as a young adult attending college. Through this narrative, the role of faith and social work intersect, especially as a professional social worker. It is at this intersection that this social worker learns to live a holistic life without feeling discriminated against or ashamed of his identity. He begins to actualize a reality with imperfect beings who also struggle to maintain their identity as well. Thus, in this paper, the author provides a snapshot of his development as a minority in the United States.
Neural Lyapunov Control for Power System Transient Stability: A Deep Learning-based Approach

Power system control and stability analysis play essential roles in secure system operation. Control of power systems typically involves highly nonlinear and complex dynamics. Most of the existing works address such problems with additional assumptions in system dynamics, leading to a requirement for a complete and general solution. This paper, therefore, proposes a novel control framework for various power system control and stability problems leveraging a deep learning-based approach. In particular, the proposed framework includes a two-module structure which iteratively and jointly learns the candidate Lyapunov function and control law via deep neural networks in a learning module. Meanwhile, it guides the learning procedure towards valid results satisfying Lyapunov conditions in a falsification module. The introduced termination criteria ensure provable system stability. This control framework is verified through several studies handling different types of power system control problems. The results show that the proposed framework is generalizable and can simplify the control design for complex power systems with the stability guarantee and enlarged region of attraction.
A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationships Between Social, Communication, and Motor Skills Among Students with Autism

Many students with autism have difficulties engaging with their classroom environments and forming friendships, which are mostly affected by deficits in social, communication, and motor skills. The Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study (SEELS, 2000) data set was used, focusing on elementary age students with autism, to explore the longitudinal relationships between social, communication, and motor skills and the mediating role of motor skills in between communication and social skills by using structural equational modeling analyses. Results show that (a) motor skills mediate the relationship between communication and social skills in elementary school, (b) there are significant longitudinal relationships among these skills in elementary school. Increased motor skills may improve social skills for students with autism in elementary school.
Less of a man? Masculine honor beliefs influence perceptions of hypothetical sons (and their fathers) coming out as gay

Abstract Masculine Honor Beliefs comprise an ideology that it is acceptable for people (especially men) to defend their reputation through violent or aggressive measures. Previous research has shown that this ideology is associated with more disparagement of, and social distancing from, gay or effeminate men. However, little research has examined how men higher in masculine honor beliefs perceive their son coming out as gay, as well as how third-party observers perceive a father whose son comes out as gay. Across two studies (total N = 464) we examined the influence masculine honor beliefs had on a participants' levels of support or rejection toward their son coming out as gay in a hypothetical vignette scenario (Study 1) and how third-party observers perceived both the (hypothetical) father and son after the son came out (Study 2). Consistent with our hypotheses, higher levels of masculine honor beliefs were associated with more sexual prejudice, more negative perceptions of the sons who came out as gay in the vignettes (and their fathers), and stronger expectations for the father to reject the son's identity. Further, fathers experienced significantly greater negative self-directed affect highlighting the importance of studying masculinity as a factor of negative attitudes toward gay men.
Early Progressing Follicular Lymphoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Follicular lymphoma is an indolent lymphoma which does not limit life expectancy in most patients; however, approximately 20% of patients will experience progression of disease within 24 months (POD24) of diagnosis and have inferior survival outcomes. To date, no clinical, genetic, or tumor microenvironment prediction models have been able to definitively predict which patients will experience POD24 which limits the ability to alter frontline management of patients suspected to be at high risk of early progression. Here, we review recent literature regarding novel prediction models and management recommendations for POD24 patients. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have revealed novel clinicopathologic prediction models which may be closer to identifying patients at risk of POD24. In addition, several clinical trials utilizing novel therapies such as tazemetostat, obinutuzumab, PI3K inhibitors, and lenalidomide have been performed which help further guide treatment. Ongoing trials seek to identify the optimal management of these patients, and data from bispecific antibodies and CAR T cell therapies is forthcoming. With ongoing research efforts, hope remains that we are closer to being able to predict which patients will experience early progressing follicular lymphoma and have an improved management plan for those who do in order to improve survival outcomes.
Using space and time to encode vibrotactile information: toward an estimate of the skin’s achievable throughput

Touch receptors in the skin can relay various forms of abstract information, such as words (Braille), haptic feedback (cell phones, game controllers, feedback for prosthetic control), and basic visual information such as edges and shape (sensory substitution devices). The skin can support such applications with ease: They are all low bandwidth and do not require a fine temporal acuity. But what of high-throughput applications? We use sound-to-touch conversion as a motivating example, though others abound (e.g., vision, stock market data). In the past, vibrotactile hearing aids have demonstrated improvement in speech perceptions in the deaf. However, a sound-to-touch sensory substitution device that works with high efficacy and without the aid of lipreading has yet to be developed. Is this because skin simply does not have the capacity to effectively relay high-throughput streams such as sound? Or is this because the spatial and temporal properties of skin have not been leveraged to full advantage? Here, we begin to address these questions with two experiments. First, we seek to determine the best method of relaying information through the skin using an identification task on the lower back. We find that vibrotactile patterns encoding information in both space and time yield the best overall information transfer estimate. Patterns encoded in space and time or “intensity” (the coupled coding of vibration frequency and force) both far exceed performance of only spatially encoded patterns. Next, we determine the vibrotactile two-tacton resolution on the lower back—the distance necessary for resolving two vibrotactile patterns. We find that our vibratory motors conservatively require at least 6 cm of separation to resolve two independent tactile patterns (>80 % correct), regardless of stimulus type (e.g., spatiotemporal “sweeps” versus single vibratory pulses). Six centimeter is a greater distance than the inter-motor distances used in Experiment 1 (2.5 cm), which explains the poor identification performance of spatially encoded patterns. Hence, when using an array of vibrational motors, spatiotemporal sweeps can overcome the limitations of vibrotactile two-tacton resolution. The results provide the first steps toward obtaining a realistic estimate of the skin’s achievable throughput, illustrating the best ways to encode data to the skin (using as many dimensions as possible) and how far such interfaces would need to be separated if using multiple arrays in parallel.
Adaptations and responses of woody plants to environmental stresses.

* Introduction (Rajeev Arora) * Ice Nucleation, Propagation, and Deep Supercoiling in Woody Plants (M. Wisniewski, M. Fuller, J. Palta, J. Carter, and R. Arora) * Characterization of a Novel YnSKn Class of Dehydrin-Like cDNAs from Cold Acclimated Red-Osier Dogwood ( Cornus sericea L.) Xylem (E. Sarnighausen, D. T. Karlson, Y. Zeng, P. B. Goldsbrough, K. G. Raghothama, and E. N. Ashworth) * Inheritance of Cold Hardiness and Dehydrin Genes in Diploid Mapping Populations of Blueberry (Ganesh R. Panta, Lisa J. Rowland, Rajeev Arora, Elizabeth L. Ogden, and Chon-Chong Lim) * Molecular Genetic and Physiological Analysis of the Cold-Responsive Dehydrins of Blueberry (L. J. Rowland, G. R. Panta, S. Mehra, and C. Parmentier-Line) * Photoperiodic Regulation of Apical Growth Cessation in Northern Tree Species: The Role of Phytochrome and Gibberellin (Jorunn E. Olsen, John B. Jensen, Jorgen A. Molmann, Arild Ernstsen, and Olavi Junttila) * Cell-Cell Communication as a Key Factor in Dormancy Cycling (Paivi L. H. Rinne and Christiaan van der Schoot) * Hormones and Endodormancy Induction in Woody Plants (Karen K. Tanino) * Freezing Tolerance and Injury in Grapevines (Anne Fennell) * Physiology and Regulation of Seasonal Nitrogen Cycling in Woody Plants (Gary D. Coleman) * Physiology and Molecular Biology of a Family of Pathogenesis-Related PR-10 Proteins in Conifers (Abul K. M. Ekramoddoullah) * Nitrogen Fixations as a Stress-Avoidance Strategy Among Actinorhizal (Non-Legume) Trees and Shrubs (Heidi A. Kratsch and William R. Graves) * Index * Reference Notes Included
Analytical Approximate Solutions for Vasicek Equation

This paper presents a theoretical analysis for the Vasicek equation in finance. The Adomian decomposition approach is introduced and the analytical solution is obtained. The results reported in this work provide further evidence of the importance of Adomian decomposition in finding the solution of partial differential equation. The mathematical technique employed in this paper also has the significance in studying some other problems in finance theory.
Recent advances in low silica zeolite synthesis

Synthetic advances in the area of low silica zeolite preparation are presented and discussed. By exploring several different pathways including modification, transformation and synthesis approaches, we have succeeded in lowering the Si/Al ratio of several known zeolites, stabilized a number of fragile frameworks and discovered a route to obtain a low silica variant of SSZ-24 (structure code AFI) which previously existed as a high silica or pure silica structure. In addition, results from low silica zeolite syntheses using ethylene-diamine as a structure-directing agent are discussed.
A sharp exponential inequality for Lorentz-Sobolev spaces on bounded domains

This paper generalizes an inequality of Moser from the case that Vu is in the Lebesgue space L7 to certain subspaces, namely the Lorentz spaces Ln,', where 1 2, let D be a bounded domain in Rn and let Wn(D) be the Sobolev space of functions defined as the completion of the space of C?? functions compactly supported in D whose gradient is in Ln (D). A well known result of J. Moser [7] is that, for functions u in the unit ball of Wn(D), there is a sharp constant a = an = n(.n-1)l/(nl), where an-1 is the n 1 dimensional surface area of the unit sphere, such that I exp{aun/(nl)} s} < t}. We define f#(x) to be the spherically symmetric nondecreasing rearrangement of f defined as f#(x) = f*(on_l-IxI/n). The Lorentz L(n, q) norm is defined as l1f ln,q = [(q/n) [f * (t)tl/n]qdt/t] lq. Jo The constant (q/n) ensures that IIXEIIn,q = (m(E))1/n. For 1 < q < n, it is shown in [1] that L(n, q) is an actual norm. Definition. Define Wn,q (D), 1 < q < n, as the completion of the space of functions u in C?? compactly supported in D satisfying I||VUIn,q < 00. Received by the editors September 16, 1997. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 46E35; Secondary 46E30.
Hippodrome: running circles around storage administration

Storage system configuration, even at the enterprise scale, is traditionally undertaken by human experts using a time-consuming process of trial and error, guided by simple rules of thumb. Due to the complexity of the design process and lack of workload information, the resulting systems often cost significantly more than necessary, or fail to perform adequately. Our solution to this problem is to automate the design and configuration process using a tool we call Hippodrome. It can explore the design space more thoroughly than humans, and implement the design automatically, thereby eliminating many tedious, error-prone operations. Hippodrome is structured as an iterative loop: it analyzes a workload to determine its requirements, creates a new storage system design to better meet these requirements, migrates the existing system to the new design. It repeats the loop until it finds a storage system design that satisfies the workload's I/O requirements. This paper describes the Hippodrome loop and demonstrates that our prototype implementation converges rapidly to appropriate system designs.
Discrete dynamic neural memories: training and performance

A discrete dynamic associative neural memory (DAM) has a regular layered structure of simple neural processing units with feedback that is ideal for optimal implementations. DAM is reviewed for both autoassociative and heteroassociative processing. Several optimal DAM recording/learning algorithms and learning strategies are reviewed. Important DAM dynamics and performance characteristics are discussed and compared for various DAM synthesis techniques. >
Infrared intensities. Derivation of CH bond moments from out-of-plane bending modes☆

Abstract A general theory of intensities is described. One of the important terms is the bond dipole and its dependence on hybridization. This is evaluated using the intensities of the out-of-plane bending modes of hydrocarbons, since these modes lead to little if any rehybridization.
Distribution of essential oils in leaf tissue of an F2 population of Citrus

The identification and distribution of 17 mono- and sesquiterpenes in an F2 population produced from selfing of an interspecific F1 hybrid is presented. A mode of inheritance for most of these components is attempted, percentages of leaf oil components and a correlation matrix are given.
Effective use of water in irrigated soils: Guidelines for soil salinity control

Abstract Continued addition of irrigation water to the soil will add salts which may accumulate sufficiently to reduce plant growth and crop yields. Eventually, the accumulated salts may stop all growth, unless irrigation practices which move salts downward below the root zone are followed. Consequently, water is needed not only for growing plants but also for leaching salts out of the soil. The success of achieving these objectives primarily depends on the proper water management practices, which, in turn, depend on methods and timing of irrigation, quality and quantity of available water for irrigation, soil hydraulic properties, drainage systems, leaching requirement, and economics.
Subsurface fractures and their relationship to stress history in East Texas basin sandstone

Abstract Subsurface fractures were sampled with more than 400 m of core from the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation, a tabular sandstone and shale unit approximately 600 m thick that was deposited in the gradually subsiding Gulf Coast basin. Depth to the top of the formation in East Texas now ranges between 1800 and 2900 m. Fractures in sandstone exhibit features that are due to intermittent fracturing and sealing (“crack-seal”), which suggest that the fractures are the result of episodes of fluid pressure in excess of hydrostatic. Correlation of the vein-mineral precipitation sequence with the diagenetic history and the results of previous δ 18 O studies of quartz cement, indicates that fractures propagated at depths of between 900 and 1500 m during the migration of quartz-precipitating fluids. Fracture permeability provides a mechanism for the passage of large fluid volumes recorded by the precipitation of extensive quartz cement in the formation. Fractures stopped propagating before maximum burial depth was achieved. During approximately 1500 m of subsequent burial, fractures either remained partly open or were sealed by postkinematic ankerite and clay minerals.
CUSUM analysis of the SCC antigen in patients with head and neck cancer

Purpose: Serial postoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) levels in a group of head and neck cancer patients were evaluated using a cumulative sum (CUSUM) technique to determine the prognostic value of serial SCCAg levels in predicting tumor recurrence. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of serial postoperative SCCAg measurements in 75 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) from two previous studies of SCCAg was performed. Serum SCCAg levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. A V-mask was used to detect significant deviations of greater than 1 SD of the CUSUM from the reference value. Setting: Oncologic head and neck practice at a tertiary referral hospital. Patients or Other Participants: Seventy-five consecutive patients with a minimum of three postoperative SCCAg determinations were reviewed to provide equal numbers with and without recurrent disease. All patients who remained disease-free were followed for a minimum of 2 years. All patients were previously untreated and underwent surgical therapy. Main Outcome Measures: CUSUM curve of postoperative SCCAg levels and 2-year disease-free survival. Results: In a group of 38 patients with 2-year disease-free survival, the CUSUM analysis did not detect any significant deviation in postoperative SCCAg levels for up to 23 months after surgery. In a group of 37 patients who subsequently died of disease, a deviation of greater than 1 SD was noted as early as 5 months postoperatively and persisted throughout the course of their monitoring for up to 36 months. Conclusions: The CUSUM technique is more sensitive for detecting postoperative changes in serial measurements of the SCCAg and may be applicable to the monitoring of individual patients for recurrent disease.
III Neurological and medical factors discriminating between normal children and those with learning disability

COMPREHENSIVE NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS WERE ADMINISTERED TO THE 264 CHILDREN DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS--EDUCATIONALLY HANDICAPPED (EW. SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC (SA) CONTROLS, AND THE SIBLINGS .r EACH GROUP (EHS AND SAS). ON SEVERAL MEASURES AND TASKS THE E0 CHILDREN WERE DIFFERENTIATED FROM THE SA CHILDREN, AND STRONG SIMILARITIES WERE ALSO FOUND BETWEEN SIBLINGS. THE NEUROLOGICAL FACTORS WHICH DIFFERENTIATED EH FROM SA CHILDREN WERE--TAPPED PATTERNS, RIGHT-LEFT DISCRIMINATION, DOUBLE SIMULTANEOUS TOUCH, AND FAST ALTERNATING FINGER AND HAND MOVEMENTS. THE TESTS WHICH SHOWED NO DIFFERENCES WERE--MEASURES OF HAND, FOOT, AND EYE PREFERENCE, AND ADVENTITIOUS OVERFLOW MOVEMENT, THE ARM EXTENSIOW TEST, AND THE WALKING ON BALANCE BEAM TEST. MEDICAL HISTORIES THROUGH PARENT-PHYSICIAN INTERVIEWS WERE ALSO OBTAINED. BASED ON THESE DATA, DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND BETWEEN THE EH AND SA CHILDREN IN THESE AREAS--IRRITABILITY DURING INFANCY, COLICy DECREASED SOUND PRODUCTION DURING PRELINGUAL DEVELOPMENT, POOR LISTENING SKILLS AFTER AGE TWO, EASE OF MOTHER-CHILD COMMUNICATION, AND TEMPER TANTRUMS. THIS PAPER WAS PREPARED FOR PRESENTATION AT THE SRO MEETING IN
C1q-bearing immune complexes induce IL-8 secretion in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) through protein tyrosine kinase- and mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent mechanisms : evidence that the 126 kD phagocytic C1q receptor mediates immune complex activation of HUVEC

Endothelial cells play a pivotal role in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammation. C1q, the first component of the classical pathway of complement, is a potent stimulus leading to endothelial cell activation and cytokine production. The specific cellular mechanisms through which endothelial cells are stimulated by C1q are not known. We stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with either monomeric C1q or C1q-bearing immune complexes (C1q-IC) in the presence or absence of inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) or mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). C1q-IC, but not monomeric C1q, induced IL-8 production in dose- and time-dependent fashion. R3, a cross-linking monoclonal IgM antibody against the126 kD phagocytic C1q receptor (C1qR), also stimulated IL-8 production. IL-8 mRNA accumulation was detected by Northern blot analysis within 2 h of stimulation by the immune complexes and was enhanced by the addition of cycloheximide. Secretion of IL-8 by C1q-IC stimulated HUVEC was completely blocked by the PTK inhibitor, genistein or the MAPK inhibitor, UO126. These experiments demonstrate that C1q-IC-induced production of IL-8 in HUVEC is dependent upon the activation of PTK and MAPK. These findings also support a role for the phagocytic C1qR as an important activator of HUVEC by immune complexes.