cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-Dimensional Blood-Brain Barrier Model for in vitro Studies of Neurovascular Pathology.

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) pathology leads to neurovascular disorders and is an important target for therapies. However, the study of BBB pathology is difficult in the absence of models that are simple and relevant. In vivo animal models are highly relevant, however they are hampered by complex, multi-cellular interactions that are difficult to decouple. In vitro models of BBB are simpler, however they have limited functionality and relevance to disease processes. To address these limitations, we developed a 3-dimensional (3D) model of BBB on a microfluidic platform. We verified the tightness of the BBB by showing its ability to reduce the leakage of dyes and to block the transmigration of immune cells towards chemoattractants. Moreover, we verified the localization at endothelial cell boundaries of ZO-1 and VE-Cadherin, two components of tight and adherens junctions. To validate the functionality of the BBB model, we probed its disruption by neuro-inflammation mediators and ischemic conditions and measured the protective function of antioxidant and ROCK-inhibitor treatments. Overall, our 3D BBB model provides a robust platform, adequate for detailed functional studies of BBB and for the screening of BBB-targeting drugs in neurological diseases.
Colonoscopic screening shows increased early incidence and progression of adenomas in cystic fibrosis.

Background Colorectal cancer is an emerging problem in cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal of this study was to evaluate adenoma detection by systematic colonoscopic screening and surveillance.
Moving toward an Empowering Setting in a First Grade Classroom Serving Primarily Working Class and Working Poor Latina/o Children: An Exploratory Analysis.

Empowering settings are important places for people to develop leadership skills in order to enact social change. Yet, due to socio-cultural constructions of childhood in the US, especially constructions around working class and working poor children of Color, they are often not seen as capable or competent change agents, or in need of being in empowering settings. Based on a 9-month participant observation study of a first grade public charter school classroom in central California, this paper examines how one teacher used an alternative, artist-focused curriculum to take steps to facilitate a more empowering setting for her working class and working poor students, most of whom were Latina/o. We illustrate how this teacher worked to implement the components of an empowering setting within her classroom space: community building, peer-based support, meaningful roles, and shared leadership among her students. Student and teacher interviews are also used to triangulate findings. Implications include providing ways to assist young children as they become social change agents.
Evidence for separate calcium-signaling P2T and P2U purinoceptors in human megakaryocytic Dami cells

Recently (J Pharmacol Exp Ther 261:580, 1992), we have shown that K562 leukemia cells express a calcium-signaling purinoceptor with characteristics of the P2T receptor subtype for adenosine diphosphate (ADP) previously found only in platelets. Because these results suggested that the P2T receptor may be an early marker for megakaryocytic differentiation, we studied whether this calcium-signaling receptor is also expressed in Dami cells, a human megakaryocytic leukemia cell line. Here we report evidence that Dami cells express a P2T receptor for ADP. The calcium response EC50 values for ADP, 2-methylthioadenosine diphosphate (2-MeS-ADP), and adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S) in Dami cells are 0.4 mumol/L, 0.04 mumol/L, and 2 mumol/L, respectively, which approximate the potencies of these agonists in K562 cells and in platelets. The platelet P2T receptor antagonists 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2-MeS-ATP), and 2-chloroadenosine triphosphate (2-Cl-ATP) were surprisingly potent agonists at the P2T receptor in both Dami and K562 cells. Dami cells, unlike K562 cells and platelets, also respond to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and uridine triphosphate (UTP) with an increase in intracellular calcium. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is an effective antagonist of the response to ADP, 2-MeS-ADP, ADP beta S, 2-MeS-ATP, and 2-Cl-ATP, but not to ATP and UTP. The responses to maximal concentrations of UTP in combination with either ADP, 2-MeS-ADP, ADP beta S, or 2-MeS-ATP are additive. In contrast, ADP in combination with either 2-MeS-ADP, ADP beta S, 2-MeS-ATP, or 2-Cl-ATP are not additive. UTP desensitized Dami cells to ATP but not to ADP, 2-MeS-ADP, ADP beta S, or 2-MeS-ATP. Addition of ATP after UTP desensitization antagonized subsequent responsiveness to ADP. The data suggest that the receptor for ADP may be a unique P2T subtype, and the receptor for ATP and UTP is distinct from that of ADP and is most characteristic of the P2U (nucleotide) receptor subtype. Activation of either the P2T or P2U receptor causes a rapid generation of inositol trisphosphate in Dami cells.
Crossed Andreev reflection in a zigzag graphene nanoribbon-superconductor junction

We investigate the crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) in a zigzag graphene nanoribbon/superconductor/nanoribbon junction. It is shown that when the zigzag chain number of the ribbon is even and only the zero-energy mode is involved in transport either the elastic cotunneling or the local Andreev reflection could be entirely suppressed by using a gate voltage whereas a sizable CAR is achieved. When one of the ribbon leads is magnetized not only is the CAR exclusive, but also the spin state of the CAR transmission is nonlocally controllable. The physical origin is the peculiar valley selection rule in the even zigzag graphene nanoribbon. The ideal Cooper-pair splitting in the proposed device holds for all applied bias in the superconducting energy gap.
WATER PRESSURE MODEL TEST ON UNDISTURBED EXCAVATION TUNNEL

A consensus about the understanding of groundwater effecting on tunnels is not reached yet up to now,and the impact of groundwater pressure on supporting structure was not fully understood.Based on this,model tests are carried out to understand the effects of water pressure on tunnel.In a 300–350 km/h high-speed railway project,the design of model test included simulated rock,test fluid,material parameters,test conditions,test equipment.In this test,various working conditions were considered,such as 1 m,2 m and 4 m water heads without supporting and with free drainage,lined with undrained condition.With the testing results,a relatively clear understanding was obtained,i.e.the changing process of groundwater seepage caused by tunnel excavation and shoring,the correlation between water load and groundwater discharge methods.Furthermore,numerical simulations were performed based on the model test results.
Androgen ablation and blockade in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

SUMMARY Antiandrogen therapy appears to produce a 30 to 40 per cent decrease in the volume of the hyperplastic prostate after 3 to 6 months of therapy (Table 5). Longer treatment may result in further prostatic regression, although this remains to be seen. Biopsy studies suggest that epithelial regression occurs to a much more significant degree than does stromal regression, but this finding may simply reflect the relatively longer turnover of the stromal cell population. The significant placebo effect of oral medication in patients with BPH makes interpretation of clinical symptomatology and uroflow data difficult. Analysis of symptom improvement is further complicated by the relatively slow improvement of patients on antiandrogen therapy, in contrast to surgery, in which relief is immediate. In addition to limited stromal involution and inadequate treatment duration, other biologic factors may limit the clinical efficacy of antiandrogen therapy. Most importantly, prostatic involution may not necessarily decrease urethral resistance. In addition, obstruction-induced detrusor dysfunction may persist after relief of outflow obstruction in some patients, as it does after surgery. Incomplete antiandrogen action of the compounds, as well as compliance issues, may likewise limit efficacy. Although there are no data to suggest that the 5α:-reductase inhibitor finasteride will be more effective than other antiandrogen compounds in the treatment of BPH, preliminary studies suggest that it has less toxicity. If long-term studies validate a modest but significant clinical response rate and preservation of sexual function, then finasteride therapy may well be acceptable to a subgroup of men presenting with the symptoms of BPH. In the long term, the drug may have a much larger role in patients who present with the early signs of BPH, to prevent any further progression of the disease. For the present, no form of antiandrogen therapy is as effective as transurethral resection of the prostate in relieving symptoms. However, because of patient preferences, medical therapy will play an increasingly important role in the management of patients with BPH.
Should family physicians routinely screen patients for cognitive impairment

Being able to anticipate and mitigate the potentially adverse outcomes of hospitalization in these patients should be reason enough to screen for cognitive impairment in the primary care setting.
Can a physician sue a pharmaceutical manufacturer when a drug harms a patient

Patients who suffer harm from a prescription drug often sue both the prescribing physician and the drug manufacturer, seeking recovery for failure to warn of the drug's potential harm. In many of these cases, the drug manufacturer is relieved of liability under the "learned intermediary" doctrine. If, however, a drug manufacturer misrepresents information or fails to adequately warn a physician about a drug's potential dangers, it may be possible for a physician to maintain a legal cause of action against the manufacturer. This article discusses the legal basis for such a lawsuit and describes two legal cases involving physicians who sued pharmaceutical manufacturers based on inadequate warnings regarding their products.
Hemodynamic Effect of the Metallopurpurin Snet2 and Light on Transplantable Fanft Induced Bladder Tumor

AbstractChanges in blood flow to transplantable N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] formamide induced bladder tumors growing subcutaneously in the flanks of Fischer CDF (F344/CrlBR) rats were measured after photodynamic therapy with the photosensitizer tin (II) etiopurpurin dichloride using the radioactive microsphere technique. As with the other photosensitizers, hematoporphyrin derivative and chloroaluminum tetrasulfophtalocyanine, tin (II) etiopurpurin dichloride and light caused a rapid decrease in tumor blood flow in this tumor model. The decrease in blood flow occurred whether the vehicle for photosensitizer delivery was an emulsion or a liposome. Systemic heparinization of animals prior to light treatment did not alter changes in tumor blood flow.
Integrating Domain Specific Knowledge and Network Analysis to Predict Drug Sensitivity of Cancer Cell Lines.

One of fundamental challenges in cancer studies is that varying molecular characteristics of different tumor types may lead to resistance to certain drugs. As a result, the same drug can lead to significantly different results in different types of cancer thus emphasizing the need for individualized medicine. Individual prediction of drug response has great potential to aid in improving the clinical outcome and reduce the financial costs associated with prescribing chemotherapy drugs to which the patient’s tumor might be resistant. In this paper we develop a network based classifier (NBC) method for predicting sensitivity of cell lines to anticancer drugs from transcriptome data. In the literature, this strategy has been used for predicting cancer types. Here, we extend it to estimate sensitivity of cells from different tumor types to various anticancer drugs. Furthermore, we incorporate domain specific knowledge such as the use of apoptotic gene list and clinical dose information in our method to impart biological significance to the prediction. Our experimental results suggest that our network based classifier (NBC) method outperforms existing classifiers in estimating sensitivity of cell lines for different drugs.
Globalizing Social Problems: An Agenda for the Twenty-First Century

The Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) was founded 65 years ago with an explicit goal of bringing sociological research to bear on the pressing issues of the day in order to promote social justice. The ethos of the society’s founders, Elizabeth Briant Lee and Alfred McClung Lee (1976), was that sociology should be “a discipline to be used in the service of all people” (p. 5); their challenge to the society was to “be ready to accept the challenges of new issues and conditions as they arise” (p. 7). Many of the original leaders and presidents of the SSSP were animated by the same concern as the Lees about the plethora of problems impacting the post-World War II United States, including pervasive racism and poverty in an era of unprecedented economic growth and prosperity. But a brief glance at the early pages of Social Problems shows that there were also concerns about law, crime, and “deviant” behavior, human sexuality, families, mental health, addictions, disabilities, urbanization, migration, work and jobs, higher education, etc. Most of these topics and concerns, of course, remain central to research at our annual conferences today. A much more recent SSSP president, John Galliher (2002), provides a nice overview of the “cast of characters” and their various but overlapping vision of sociology in those early days; he particularly highlights the likely underappreciated leadership role that Jesse Bernard took in developing and promoting a feminist sensibility in sociology as an integral component to analyzing and acting on a range of social problems—still a hallmark of today’s SSSP.1 My purpose here is not to survey SSSP history, but to affirm continuity with long-standing themes of embracing a critical approach, valuing scholarship that is engaged and relevant to pressing problems of ordinary people, and …
Deamidation Slows Curli Amyloid-Protein Aggregation

Nonenzymatic deamidation of asparagine and glutamine in peptides and proteins is a frequent modification both in vivo and in vitro. The biological effect is not completely understood, but it is often associated with protein degradation and loss of biological function. Here we describe the deamidation of CsgA, the major protein subunit of curli, which are important proteinaceous components of biofilms. CsgA has a high content of Asn and Gln, a feature seen in a few proteins that self-aggregate. We have implemented an approach to monitor deamidation rapidly by following the globally centroid mass shift, providing guidance for studies at the residue level. From the global mass measurement, we identified, using LC-MS/MS, extensive deamidation of several Asn residues and discovered three “Asn–Gly” sites to be the hottest spots for deamidation. The fibrillization of deamidated CsgA was measured using thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and a previously reported hydrogen–deuterium exchange ...
Fluorescence properties and stimulated emission in substituted europium chelates

Benzoyltrifluoroacetone was mono-substituted by F, Cl and Br in the ortho-, meta- and para-position of the benzene ring. The nine substituted ligands were used to prepare the tetrakis Eu(III) chelates. Fluorescence and absorption were studied. In general, it was found that ortho-substitution reduces the threshold energy for stimulated emission.
Genetic screening: birthright or earned with age?

Since the inception of genomic medicine, the goal of using the message encrypted in the 6 billion base pairs of the human genome as a blueprint to guide clinical care, lifestyle choices, and family...
Treatment Outcomes of In-Office KTP Ablation of Vocal Fold Granulomas.

Objective:To determine the effectiveness of in-office potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) treatment of vocal fold granulomas and identify any predictors of complete lesion resolution.Methods:A retros...
Adequacy of UTAUT in clinician adoption of health information systems in developing countries: The case of Cameroon

Abstract Purpose Despite the great potential Health Information Systems (HIS) have in improving the quality of healthcare delivery services, very few studies have been carried out on the adoption of such systems in developing countries. This article is concerned with investigating the adequacy of UTAUT 1 in determining factors that influence the adoption of HIS by clinicians in developing countries, based on the case of Cameroon. Methods A paper-based questionnaire was distributed to clinicians in 4 out of 7 major public hospitals in Cameroon. A modified UTAUT was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) method to identify the determinants of clinicians’ intention to use HIS. Self-efficacy and cost-effectiveness were determinants used to extend the original UTAUT. Results 228 out of 286 questionnaires were validated for this study. The original UTAUT performed poorly, explaining 12% of the variance in clinicians’ intention to use HIS. Age was the only significant moderating factor, improving the model to 46%. Self-efficacy and cost effectiveness has no direct significant effect on HIS adoption in the context of this study. Conclusions The original UTAUT is not adequate in identifying factors that influence the adoption of HIS by clinicians in developing countries. Simplifying the model by using age as the only moderating factor significantly increases the model’s ability to predict HIS adoption in this context. Thus, the younger clinicians are more likely and ready to adopt HIS than the older ones. Context-specific should also be used to increase the explanatory power of UTAUT in any given context.
Effect of adjuvant trastuzumab (T) among patients treated with neoadjuvant T-based chemotherapy.

644 Background: Neoadjuvant T-based chemotherapy is commonly used in the treatment of invasive HER2-positive breast cancer. Pathological complete response (pCR) is a surrogate of improved long-term outcomes; the impact of adjuvant T among patients achieving a pCR is unknown. Among patients treated with neoadjuvant T-based chemotherapy we evaluated the impact of completion of adjuvant T. Methods: Patients with primary HER2-positive breast cancer treated with T-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy at our institution between 2001-2012 were included and categorized according to adjuvant T administration and pCR (no invasive residual tumor in the breast and ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes). Descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazard models were used. Results: 589 patients were included. 203 (34.5%) achieved a pCR. 109 (18.5%) did not receive adjuvant including 53 (26.1%) that achieved a pCR and 56 (14.5%) that did not achieve a pCR. Median follow up was 45 months. The 5 year-OS for patients who did and did ...
Considerations for the development and implementation of brief screening tools in the identification of early psychosis.

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (grants R01MH112612 and R34MH110506) and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Behavioral Health Administration through the Center for Excellence on Early Intervention for Serious Mental Illness (OPASS# 14-13717G/ M00B4400241). The funding sources did not have a role in the writing of this commentary
Raman fingerprints of amyloid structures

Structural differences in pathological and functional amyloid fibrils have been investigated by Raman microspectroscopy. Second-derivative analyses of amide-I and amide-III bands distinguish parallel in-register β-sheets from a β-solenoid. Further, spatially resolved Raman spectra reveal molecular heterogeneity in amyloid structures.
Predominately glucocorticoid agonist actions of RU-486 in young specific-pathogen-free Zucker rats.

Previous studies have demonstrated antiglucocorticoid actions for the progesterone receptor antagonist RU-486. In one study, daily administration of this drug for 2 wk decreased food intake (FI) and body weight gain (delta BW) in obese, but not lean, conventionally housed 5-wk-old female Zucker rats. We recently found that 2-wk administration of RU-486 attenuated delta BW in lean but not obese 12-wk-old male Zucker rats without affecting FI. To examine the actions of RU-486 and its effects on FI and delta BW in young (5 wk old) specific-pathogen-free (SPF) male and female Zucker rats, RU-486 was administered at 30 mg.kg-1.day-1 subcutaneously for 14 days. RU-486 did not affect FI in obese or lean male or female rats. RU-486 increased adrenal weight (P < 0.05) overall and in lean female rats and modestly decreased inguinal fat weight overall and in obese female rats (P < 0.01), suggesting some antiglucocorticoid activity in these animals. However, RU-486 also decreased thymus weight by 18-31% (P < 0.0001), increased plasma glucose by 10-16 mg/dl (P < 0.002), and increased plasma insulin by 47% in obese male rats (P < 0.028), demonstrating glucocorticoid agonist actions for the drug. Plasma corticosterone (B) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were elevated in vehicle-treated obese female and male rats by 150-360% (P < 0.0025) and 32-38% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with lean rats. RU-486 treatment lowered the elevated plasma B and ACTH levels in obese female and male rats (both P < 0.02 vs. vehicle), a glucocorticoid agonist effect. We conclude that in young SPF Zucker rats 1) RU-486 administration does not alter FI or delta BW, 2) RU-486 has predominately glucocorticoid agonist actions in several tissues, 3) obese animals have increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity (plasma B and ACTH), and 4) RU-486 administration suppresses the HPA axis in obese rats.
4.13 Peptide- and Protein-Modified Surfaces☆

Controlling interactions between cells and engineered materials is a critical aim in biotechnology. Frequently, biomaterials are designed to provide cell-instructive signals through engagement of cell surface receptors. Thus, several strategies are employed to intentionally display ligands at interfaces with retained activity. This chapter discusses extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and ECM-derived peptides that might be immobilized on biomaterials, and surveys immobilization methodologies available for accomplishing this goal. We describe several functional parameters, including spatial arrangement and dynamic, time-dependent display of ligands, and provide examples of peptide-modified surfaces in several biomedical applications.
Manipulating stochastically generated single-elimination tournaments for nearly all players

We study the power of a tournament organizer in manipulating the outcome of a balanced single-elimination tournament by fixing the initial seeding. This problem is known as agenda control for balanced voting trees . It is not known whether there is a polynomial time algorithm that computes a seeding for which a given player can win the tournament, even if the match outcomes for all pairwise player match-ups are known in advance. We approach the problem by giving a sufficient condition under which the organizer can always efficiently find a tournament seeding for which the given player will win the tournament. We then use this result to show that for most match outcomes generated by a natural random model attributed to Condorcet, the tournament organizer can very efficiently make a large constant fraction of the players win, by manipulating the initial seeding.
Representing and Recommending Shopping Baskets with Complementarity, Compatibility and Loyalty

We study the problem of representing and recommending products for grocery shopping. We carefully investigate grocery transaction data and observe three important patterns: products within the same basket complement each other in terms of functionality (complementarity); users tend to purchase products that match their preferences (compatibility); and a significant fraction of users repeatedly purchase the same products over time (loyalty). Unlike conventional e-commerce settings, complementarity and loyalty are particularly predominant in the grocery shopping domain. This motivates a new representation learning approach to leverage complementarity and compatibility holistically, as well as a new recommendation approach to explicitly account for users' 'must-buy' purchases in addition to their overall preferences and needs. Doing so not only improves product classification and recommendation performance on both public and proprietary transaction data covering various grocery store types, but also reveals interesting findings about the relationships between preferences, necessity, and loyalty in consumer purchases.
Low-Cost Distributed Key Management

Key management is one of the biggest challenges in cryptography. Traditionally, organizations stored cryptographic keys using file-based storage, which is insecure due to the lack of sufficient authentication. To overcome this issue, industry has moved towards using Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) for storing cryptographic keys. However, storing keys on HSMs does not ensure high availability if they fail due to network outages or lack of sufficient resources. Major cloud offerings provide high-availability key management solutions, but their cost may be prohibitively high for small-and mid-sized organizations. In this paper, we propose a system that combines distributed object storage with Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) to ensure secure storage of keys, high availability of sensitive data, and ease of deployment. We envision this system as an attractive alternative for key management in private and public cloud settings.
Dynamic tonsillar prolapse masquerading as paradoxical vocal fold movement dysfunction.

Abstract Introduction Paradoxical vocal fold movement dysfunction (PVFMD) is a disorder in which the vocal folds involuntarily adduct during inspiration resulting in stridor, cough, dysphonia and dyspnea. Diagnosis of PVFMD is difficult given the episodic nature of the disorder and the often-normal laryngeal exam in between episodes. Moreover, additional sources of obstruction have been identified as sources of Periodic Occurrence of Laryngeal Obstruction (POLO). Treatments can vary with site of obstruction. Objective To evaluate pediatric patients presenting to a Vocal Fold Dysfunction Center for evaluation of exertional, inspiratory, harsh breath sounds and dyspnea suggestive of PVFMD whom were found to have a dynamic obstruction of the upper airway due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy and prolapse. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with exertional dynamic tonsillar prolapse whom have undergone adenotonsillectomy. Clinical characteristics, spirometry, exam findings and response to adenotonsillectomy were recorded. Results Seven patients with exercise induced dyspnea and respiratory distress with whom underwent exercise spirometry then subsequent adenotonsillectomy were identified. Symptomatic co-morbidities were common and included: rhinitis (43%), reflux (29%), sleep disordered breathing (29%), asthma (14%), obesity (14%), prematurity (14%) and anxiety/post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (14%). Preoperative use of bronchodilators or reflux medications was common. All patients were noted to have >50% oropharyngeal obstruction secondary to tonsillar hypertrophy and dynamic lateral pharyngeal collapse or tonsillar prolapse with inspiration. No exercise induced paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction was identified. All baseline and most exertion FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF 25–75% were normal. Four patients had flow volume loops suggestive of obstruction. All patients had symptomatic improvement after adenotonsillectomy. Conclusions Dynamic tonsillar prolapse can result in subjective exertional dyspnea and objective upper airway resistance mimicking PVFMD and treatment with adenotonsillectomy can greatly reduce symptoms.
Prescribing Health Care Providers' Attitudes, Experiences, and Practices Surrounding Cannabis Use in Patients with Anxiety Disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that certain cannabinoids may be beneficial for the treatment of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is unclear whether...
Cascaded 3-D-Printed X-Band Components for Subsystems

We report a fast method for waveguide component fabrication using 3-D printing and conductive paint. By comparing two common 3-D printing methods, we further pursue the stereolithography (SLA) method. A straight waveguide, an iris-coupled bandpass filter, and a power divider are designed, fabricated, and measured individually, then as a cascade. The results show that waveguide components can be cascaded to build a lightweight and low-cost subsystem.
Changes in Rape Myth Acceptance Among Undergraduates: 2010 to 2017.

The objective of this study is to characterize changes in rape myth acceptance (RMA) among college students from 2010 to 2017. Two samples of undergraduates in a northeastern university in the Unit...
Electron-positron annihilation freeze-out in the early universe

Electron-positron annihilation largely occurs in local thermal and chemical equilibrium after the neutrinos fall out of thermal equilibrium and during the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) epoch. The effects of this process are evident in BBN yields as well as the relativistic degrees of freedom. We self-consistently calculate the collision integral for electron-positron creation and annihilation using the Klein-Nishina amplitude and appropriate statistical factors for Fermi blocking and Bose enhancement. Our calculations suggest that this annihilation freezes out when the photon-electron-positron-baryon plasma temperature is approximately 16 keV, after which its rate drops below the Hubble rate. In the temperature regime near 16 keV, we break the assumption of chemical equilibrium between the electrons, positrons, and photons to independently calculate the evolution of the chemical potentials of the electrons and positrons while computing the associated collision integrals at every time step. We find that the electron and positron chemical potentials deviate from the case with chemical equilibrium. While our results do not affect the interpretation of precision cosmological measurements in elucidating the standard cosmological model, these out of equilibrium effects may be important for testing physics beyond the standard model.
On (Dang) Quesadillas and Nachos

Der US-amerikanische Direktor Jared Hess, ein Mormone, zeigt die Mexikaner als “die Anderen” in seinen Filmen. Dabei ist seine Darstellung doppeldeutig. Auf der einen Seite hebt er die Menschlichkeit der sudlichen Nachbarn der USA hervor. Gleichzeitg besteht er jedoch darauf, dass sie grundsatzlich anders und vielleicht einfacher sind als ihre Mitmenschen aus Nordamerika. Diese Art von Ambiguitat kann man besonders gut in seinen beiden Filmen Napoleon Dynamite (2004) und Nacho Libre (2006) erkennen. Diese beiden Filme sind seine beiden grosten kommerziellen Erfolge. Die mexikanischen Protagonisten in diesen Filmen gewinnen die Herzen der Zuschauer zum Teil durch Darstellung derjenigen Stereotypen, die sie stark von der amerikanischen Kultur unterscheiden. Obwohl die ubergrose Rolle Mexikos in der Asthetik von Hess selbst dem unaufmerksamen Zuschauer sofort klar wird, haben bisher nur wenige Kritiker versucht, die Kombination von Paternalismus und Solidaritat zu erklaren, mit denen der Direktor die mexikanischen Menschen in seinen Filmen darstellt. In diesem Kapitel wird behauptet, dass die doppeldeutige Darstellung der Mexikaner und ihrer Kultur einen unter den weisen, nordamerikanischen Mormonengemeinden weitverbreiteten “wohlwollenden Rassismus.” Seltsamerweise sehen die Mormonen die Mexikaner gleichzeitig als die Anderen und als die physischen und spirituellen Erben der Menschen im Buch Mormon.
Evidence-Based Minireview: What is the optimal timing of anti–PD-1 antibodies in relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma?

A 26-year-old woman was initially diagnosed with stage III classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) for 6 cycles and relapsed 9 months after completing therapy. She was treated with salvage chemotherapy followed by an autologous transplantation and 1 year of brentuximab vedotin (BV) maintenance therapy. She now presents 1 year later with relapsed disease above and below the diaphragm. What treatment would you recommend for this patient?
Correction to: A downstream box fusion allows stable accumulation of a bacterial cellulase in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts

In the original version of the article [1], a calculation error resulted in a 3-order of magnitude mistake for the y-axis of the data reported in Fig. 5c and d.
The proportionate flow shop total tardiness problem

Abstract We consider the proportionate flow shop total tardiness problem and show how to implement Lawler's (1977) pseudo-polynomial dynamic programming (DP) algorithm for the single-machine total tardiness problem to the multi-machine environment of proportionate flow shop. We also present solvable special cases including one with small/big jobs that has not been considered for the corresponding single-machine problem. We then convert the DP algorithm for the proportionate flow shop to a fully polynomial time approximation scheme (FPTAS). Finally, we show by a counterexample that Pinedo's (2002, p. 140) statement that “the elimination criteria for the single-machine total weighted tardiness problem also apply to the proportionate flow shop total weighted tardiness problem” does not always hold and present an appropriately revised statement.
INCREMENTAL VALUE OF GLS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF PROGNOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED LIGHT CHAIN (AL) AMYLOIDOSIS

Prognostication of light chain (AL) amyloidosis is based on the revised Mayo (rMayo) staging according to baseline troponin, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptides and free light chains. Whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) can provide incremental prognostic value in advanced AL amyloidosis
Accelerated Inexact Composite Gradient Methods for Nonconvex Spectral Optimization Problems

This paper presents two inexact composite gradient methods, one inner accelerated and another doubly accelerated, for solving a class of nonconvex spectral composite optimization problems. More specifically, the objective function for these problems is of the form $f_1 + f_2 + h$ where $f_1$ and $f_2$ are differentiable nonconvex matrix functions with Lipschitz continuous gradients, $h$ is a proper closed convex matrix function, and both $f_2$ and $h$ can be expressed as functions that operate on the singular values of their inputs. The methods essentially use an accelerated composite gradient method to solve a sequence of proximal subproblems involving the linear approximation of $f_1$ and the singular value functions underlying $f_2$ and $h$. Unlike other composite gradient-based methods, the proposed methods take advantage of both the composite and spectral structure underlying the objective function in order to efficiently generate their solutions. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the practicality of these methods on a set of real-world and randomly generated spectral optimization problems.
Maximal Entropy Measures on Julia Sets and a Computer Algorithm

To understand the measurable and topological dynamics of a rational map R on \(\widehat {\mathbb {C}}\) of degree d ≥ 2, graphical computer approximations of the Julia set J(R) often provide valuable insight. They also offer visual suggestions of theorems that might be proved about rational maps. Conversely, knowing about the topological and measurable dynamics of R allows us to determine the best algorithm to use to visualize the Julia set.
Characterization of Residential Circuit Impedance

Electrical harmonics associated with switching power electronics have been observed to induce electromagnetic interference with equipment sharing the same electrical circuit. Some research studies have documented malfunction cases and even damage to particularly sensitive equipment due to this interference. The harmonic spectra of commonly used switching power electronics in a residential electrical system have been profiled before; this paper provides a phenomenological characterization of the voltage and current transfer function (in the frequency range 20 Hz - 100 kHz) from purported sources of electrical harmonics to the point at which a utility meter is typically installed (also the PCC to the service transformer). This work also evaluates the impact of shunt capacitance close to the point of coupling, resulting in a complex zero in the transfer function and the consequent impact on phase margins of the system.
Expediting Care and Improving Patient Experience: Imaging after Subdural Contrast Injection during Myelography

We read the recent publication by Shlapak et al,[1][1] “Time to Resolution of Inadvertent Subdural Contrast Injection during a Myelogram: When Can the Study Be Reattempted?” with interest. The extrathecal injection of contrast during a spinal myelography generates frustration for the
Social impairment and personality disorder features among older adults: An application of the circumplex model.

The interpersonal circumplex is a model that places interpersonal problems along two axes (communion and agency), resulting in eight theoretically derived patterns. Application of the circumplex to older adults is poorly understood. Subsequently, this study examined relationships between the interpersonal circumplex and personality disorder (PD) features among older adults, since social impairments are core components of PDs. Two models of PDs were examined: the traditional model of 10 PDs and the Alternative Model of PDs (AMPD) with its personality functioning and pathological personality trait features. Older adults (N = 202) completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Short Circumplex, Coolidge Axis II Inventory, Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self-Report, and Personality Inventory for DSM-5. Overlap between the interpersonal circumplex and PD features were detected, but patterns were distinct from prior studies with younger samples. Cluster B and C PD features showed meaningful relationships, whereas Cluster A did not. The circumplex was limited in its relation to the AMPD's personality functioning. The communion component of the circumplex significantly related to the AMPD's pathological trait model, whereas the agency component was limited in its association with pathological traits. Overall, the circumplex meaningfully related to PD features across two different PD models, providing some evidence of validity.
Family based treatment of anxiety disorders: A review of the literature (2010–2019)

Anxiety disorders are the most common and impairing mental health problems across the lifespan. Familial factors are strongly implicated in the onset and maintenance of anxiety, but available evidence-based treatments are usually individual-focused. The aim of this review was to evaluate the current evidence base (2010-2019) of family based interventions addressing youth and adult anxiety and highlight findings comparing family based and individual-focused treatments. A systematic literature search was conducted. Articles were considered if they targeted primarily anxiety-related issues and utilized a randomized controlled trial design, resulting in 22 included youth studies. No adult studies met criteria for inclusion. Overall, family based treatments performed better than no-treatment controls and as well as individual-based interventions, with some evidence that family based interventions might outperform individual-based ones in certain populations (i.e., autism). Family based interventions may represent a good alternative for anxiety treatment in youth. Additional research on family based treatment for anxiety is adults is needed.
Are metaphors embodied? The neural evidence.

Abstract concepts can potentially be represented using metaphorical mappings to concrete domains. This view predicts that when linguistic metaphors are processed, they will invoke sensory-motor simulations. Here, I examine evidence from neuroimaging and lesion studies that addresses whether metaphors in language are embodied in this manner. Given the controversy in this area, I first outline some criteria by which the quality of neuroimaging and lesion studies might be evaluated. I then review studies of metaphors in various sensory-motor domains, such as action, motion, texture, taste, and time, and examine their strengths and weaknesses. Studies of idioms are evaluated next. I also address some neuroimaging studies that can speak to the question of metaphoric conceptual organization without explicit use of linguistic metaphors. I conclude that the weight of the evidence suggests that metaphors are indeed grounded in sensory-motor systems. The case of idioms is less clear, and I suggest that they might be grounded in a qualitatively different manner than metaphors at higher levels of the action hierarchy. While metaphors are unlikely to explain all aspects of abstract concept representation, for some specific abstract concepts, there is also nonlinguistic neural evidence for metaphoric conceptual organization.
The Archaeology of the HolyLand: Roman and Late Antique Period Synagogues in Palestine

T he O rigins of the S ynagogue The word synagogue comes from Greek words meaning to gather or assemble together. The Hebrew term for synagogue, beth knesset , means “house of assembly.” A synagogue building is a congregational hall, analogous to a church or mosque. In contrast, ancient temples (including the Jerusalem temple) were not congregational buildings but instead were conceived of literally as the house of the deity – the house in which the god dwelled. Usually only priests entered ancient temples, to service the needs of the deity (to feed, clothe, and bathe the deity). Everyone else remained outside the temple, around an altar where priests offered sacrifices to please or placate the deity and keep his presence among them. In discussing the origins of the synagogue, it is important to bear in mind that this term (and analogous terms) can denote the congregation or assembly (a gathering of Jews) as well as the building that houses them (just as the term church can denote a congregation as well as a building). It is difficult to pinpoint the origins of the synagogue because the earliest gatherings did not take place in purpose-built congregational halls and therefore left no traces in the archaeological record. Even today, synagogue assemblies can take place anywhere, even in church buildings! For this reason, a wide range of theories exists about when and where the institution of the synagogue first developed.
Detecting Abnormal Goodwill Impariment Practices Using Predictive Analytics

The practices associated with goodwill impairment accounting became a national scandal in the early 2000s. Many firms inflated their balance sheets by reporting excessive goodwill value as a result of mergers or acquisitions, which in turn provided a vehicle to engage in earnings management. FASB’s promulgation of FAS142 in 2001 was designed to address the practice of goodwill accounting. Nevertheless, the need for vigilance remains, especially in light of FASB’s new Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08. The primary objective of this paper is to illustrate how Predictive Analytics can be used to detect abnormal goodwill impairment practices. A sample of 456 observations from the period 2009 to 2011 was analysed. The findings suggest that the developed screening system was able to correctly classify nearly 90 percent of the cases.
Weighing Photons, II

After completion of the initial experiment confirming the gravitational red shift by an application of the gamma-ray resonance of 57Fe as described in “Weighing Photons, I,”Physics in Perspective 2 (2000), 224–268. I proceeded to design and carry out a new version with improved components that would allow better control over sources of systematic error. This second article describes that effort, which was carried out between 1960 and 1964 with the collaboration, briefly, of R. W. P. Drever and then of Joseph L. Snider. It led to a result further confirming the anticipated fractional frequency shift of 2.45×10−15, with an uncertainty of less than 1%, for the height of our “tower.” Studies of external reflection of X rays and of possibly better isotopes, aiming toward a possible third-round experiment, were carried out with the collaboration of William T. Vetterling.
Deep Integration, Nondiscrimination and Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade

There is an extensive literature on the economics of preferential trade agreements (PTAs). One strand of this literature emphasizes the role of PTAs as instruments used by governments in the pursuit of “deep integration” (e.g., Lawrence, 1996), which for purposes of this paper is defined as explicit actions by governments to reduce the market segmenting effect of domestic (non-border) regulatory policies through coordination and cooperation. Examples are health and safety regulations, competition laws, licensing and certification regimes, prudential requirements, environmental norms, and administrative procedures such as customs clearance practices. Such regulatory policies have effects analogous to nontariff barriers (NTBs) to trade, even though the underlying intent may not be to discriminate against foreign suppliers of goods and services. Indeed, the regulations concerned may apply equally to domestic and foreign products or producers, in contrast to standard NTBs. Nonetheless, they can act to segment markets and reduce competition.
Flexible-bandwidth power-aware optical interconnects with source synchronous technique

This paper investigates energy savings in data centers with flexible-bandwidth power-aware source-synchronous optical interconnects. Network simulations show ≥ 5× energy savings. Link experiment shows error-free operation from 625 Mb/s to 10 Gb/s.