cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interstitial low-dose-rate brachytherapy as a salvage treatment for recurrent head-and-neck cancers: long-term results.

Abstract Purpose: Recurrent cancers of the head and neck within previously irradiated volume pose a serious therapeutic challenge. This study evaluates the response and long-term tumor control of recurrent head-and-neck cancers treated with interstitial low-dose-rate brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: Between 1979 and 1997, 220 patients with prior radiation therapy with or without surgery for primary tumors of the head and neck were treated for recurrent disease or new primary tumors located within previously irradiated volumes. A majority of these patients had inoperable diseases with no distant metastasis. There were 136 male and 84 female patients, and median age was 56 years. All patients had previously received radiation therapy as the primary treatment or adjuvant treatment following surgery, with a median dose of 57.17 cGy (range, 39–74 cGy). The salvage brachytherapy consisted of a low-dose-rate, afterloading Iridium 192 implant, which delivered a median minimum tumor dose of 53 Gy to a mean tumor volume of 68.75 cm 2 . Sixty percent of the patients also received interstitial hyperthermia, and 40% received concurrent chemotherapy as a radiosensitizing and potentiating agent. Results: At a minimum 6-month follow-up, local tumor control was achieved in 77% (217/282) of the implanted tumor sites. The 2, 5, and 10-year disease-free actuarial survival rates for the entire group were 60%, 33%, and 22%, respectively. The overall survival rate for the entire group at 5 years was 21.7%. Moderate to severe late complications occurred in 27% of the patients. Conclusion: It has been estimated that approximately 20–30% of head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing definitive radiation therapy have recurrence within the initial treatment volume. Furthermore, similar percentages of patients who survive after successful irradiation develop new primary tumors of the head and neck or experience metastatic neck disease. A majority of such patients cannot be treated with a repeat course of external beam irradiation because of limited normal tissue tolerance, leading to unacceptable morbidity. However, in a select group of these patients, salvage interstitial brachytherapy may play an important role in providing patients with durable palliation and tumor control, as well as a chance for cure.
Micro-field evoked potentials recorded from the porcine sub-dural cortical surface utilizing a microelectrode array.

A sub-dural surface microelectrode array designed to detect micro-field evoked potentials has been developed. The device is comprised of an array of 350- μm square gold contacts, with bidirectional spacing of 150 μm, contained within a polyimide Kapton material. Cytotoxicity testing suggests that the device is suitable for use with animal and human patients. Implementation of the device in animal studies revealed that reliable evoked potentials could be acquired. Further work will be needed to determine how these micro-field potentials, which demonstrate selectivity for one eye, relate to the distribution of the ocular dominance columns of the occipital cortex.
Influence of Electrolytes on Stability of 0.2 Micron Diameter Polystyrene Latex Particles.

SummaryThe stability of polystyrene latex particles, 2000 A in diameter, in suspension, both uncoated and coated with human gamma globulin, was studied as a function of pH, electrolyte concentration and valence. Uncoated latex particle suspensions became unstable in the presence of polyvalent cations but not anions. When particles were coated with human gamma globulin, they acquired the characteristics of the protein coating, including its amphoteric properties. At pH 5.0 (net charge positive) the presence of polyvalent anions resulted in instability of the coated particles, while at pH 9.0 (net charge negative) the coated particles became unstable in the presence of polyvalent cations.
Diamond as a neutron scintillation counter

Abstract The scintillation properties of diamond have been investigated when neutrons and gamma rays are incident on the diamond. The neutrons are produced by the D(d,n) reaction and the response to neutrons and background gamma rays is separated by time-of-flight techniques. The full width at half maximum of the neutron time-of-flight spectrum when diamond pulses are used as start for the time converter is essentially equal to the neutron burst width indicating fast rise time for the pulses, but the energy resolution is poor, possibly due to after pulsing.
ASTER thermal infrared observations over New Mexico

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflectance Radiometer (ASTER) has acquired more than a dozen clear sky scenes over the Jornada Experimental Range in New Mexico since the launch of NASA's Terra satellite in December, 1999. To support the ASTER overpasses there were simultaneous field campaigns for the 5/09/00, 5/12/01, 9/17/01 and 5/15/02 scenes. Also, data from an airborne simulator, MASTER, were obtained for the 5/12/01 and 5/15/02 scenes to provide high resolution (3 m) data roughly coincident with ASTER. The Jornada Experimental Range is a long term ecological reserve (LTER) site located at the northern end of the Chihuahuan desert. The site is typical of a desert grassland where the main vegetation components are grass and shrubs. The White Sands National Monument is also within several of the scenes. ASTER has 5 channels in the 8 to 12 micrometer wave band with 90 meter resolution and thus is able to provide information on both the surface temperature and emissivity. The Temperature Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm was used to extract emissivity values from the ASTER data for 5 sites on the Jornada and for the gypsum sand at White Sands. The results are in good agreement with values calculated from the lab spectra for gypsum and with each other. The results for sites in the Jornada show reasonable agreement with the lab results when the mixed pixel problem is taken into account. These results indicate ASTER and TES are working very well. The surface brightness temperatures from ASTER were in reasonable agreement with measurements made on the ground during the field campaigns.
A Novel Assay to Identify the Trafficking Proteins that Bind to Specific Vesicle Populations

Here we describe a method capable of identifying interactions between candidate trafficking proteins and a defined vesicle population in intact cells. The assay involves the expression of an FKBP12-rapamycin binding domain (FRB)-tagged candidate vesicle-binding protein that can be inducibly linked to an FKBP-tagged molecular motor. If the FRB-tagged candidate protein binds the labeled vesicles, then linking the FRB and FKBP domains recruits motors to the vesicles and causes a predictable, highly distinctive change in vesicle trafficking. We describe two versions of the assay: a general protocol for use in cells with a typical microtubule-organizing center and a specialized protocol designed to detect protein-vesicle interactions in cultured neurons. We have successfully used this assay to identify kinesins and Rabs that bind to a variety of different vesicle populations. In principle, this assay could be used to investigate interactions between any category of vesicle trafficking proteins and any vesicle population that can be specifically labeled.
A 12-channel bidirectional neural interface chip with integrated channel-level feature extraction and PID controller for closed-loop operation

This paper presents a bidirectional neural interface, consisting of 12-channel low-noise amplifiers, channel-level neural feature extraction and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, voltage and current mode analog-to-digital converters (ADC), and 12-channel multi-mode stimulators. The neural amplifier features a wide-band from 0.5Hz to 10kHz with a noise floor of 3.02μVrms. The input stage has been designed for high stimulation voltage tolerance, and fast stimulation artifact recovery. The digitally assisted, analog parallel feature extraction processor features an ultra low power consumption while performing 1) neural signal energy extraction in programmable frequency band and time window, or 2) action potential detection using a current-mode time-amplitude window discriminator. A programmable PID controller has been implemented at the channel-level for closed-loop operation. A 640nW 8-bit current-mode ADC featuring a FoM of 10.7fJ/conv-step at a sampling rate of 250kSps has been designed for action potential digitization, and a voltage-mode SAR ADC with a ENOB of 9.1 and FoM of 34.2fJ/conv-step has been implemented for neural features and local field potential digitizations. The multi-mode stimulator can be programmed to perform monopolar or bipolar, symmetrical or asymmetrical charge balanced stimulation with a maximum current of 4mA and a compliance voltage up to +/-5V in arbitrary channel configuration. The chip has been fabricated in 0.18μm HV-CMOS technology, occupying a silicon area of 2.2 mm2. The whole chip dissipates 276μW on average. Bench testing, in-vitro and in-vivo experimental results are presented in this paper.
Accelerated testing and modeling of concrete durability subjected to coupled environmental and mechanical loading

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on studying chloride penetration in concrete for evaluating the corrosion of reinforcing bars in concrete. The corrosion of steel bars starts at a certain level of chloride concentration, which is called the critical chloride concentration. In the literature, the critical chloride concentration varies in a very broad range, due to random nature of related parameters. One of the important aspects of the present analysis is that the probabilistic feature of the critical chloride concentration at a given depth in concrete can be evaluated. More specifically, the probability of occurrence of the event that the location of the critical chloride concentration is lower than a given target location can be effectively determined. The given target location could be the depth of concrete cover on a steel bar. Similar to reliability analysis for structural failure, one can use the concepts of supply and demand. The present model calculates the probability for the corrosion to occur considering both the chloride penetration front and the critical value as random variables.
A Near-Optimal Model-Based Control Algorithm for Households Equipped With Residential Photovoltaic Power Generation and Energy Storage Systems

Integrating residential photovoltaic (PV) power generation and energy storage systems into the Smart Grid is an effective way of reducing fossil fuel consumptions. This has become a particularly interesting problem with the introduction of dynamic electricity energy pricing, since consumers can use their PV-based energy generation and controllable energy storage devices for peak shaving on their power demand profile, thereby minimizing their electricity bill. A realistic electricity pricing function is considered with billing period of a month, comprising both an energy price component and a demand price component. Due to the characteristics of electricity price function and energy storage capacity limitation, the residential storage control algorithm should 1)utilize PV power generation and load power consumption predictions and 2)account for various energy loss components during system operation, including energy loss components due to rate capacity effect in the storage system and power dissipation of the power conversion circuitry. A near-optimal storage control algorithm is proposed accounting for these aspects. The near-optimal algorithm, which controls the charging/discharging of the storage system, is effectively implemented by solving a convex optimization problem at the beginning of each day with polynomial time complexity. For further improvement, the reinforcement learning technique is adopted to adaptively determine the residual energy in the storage system at the end of each day in a billing period.
“We Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb . . .” Underground White Rappers’ Hegemonic Masculinity and Racial Evasion

Employing the concept of racial evasion—a derivation of Bonilla-Silva’s colorblind ideology theory—the author analyzes 237 songs of underground white and nonwhite rappers from 2006 to 2010. Perform...
MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRON-LATTICE COUPLING PARAMETER IN BULK METALS

A reliable value of the electron-phonon coupling constant, g, in metals may have implications even in the field of superconductivity.1 Recent investigations2 have deduced (or implied) experimental values of g in metals. However, there still remains a large uncertainty in the value of g because of difficulty in firmly relating observations to theory.
Newspapers Should Identify Appellate Judges, Says Professor

This Op-ed column advocates that newspaper articles on appellate court decisions should identify the judges who decided the appeal. Appellate court judges are elected officials in Michigan, and decide over 3,600 appeals a year. Yet few voters have ever heard of them, because newspaper articles rarely mention their names. Many appellate opinions are not newsworthy. But for those that do merit newspaper coverage, the identify of the judges who decided the appeal should be part of the story.
Opportunities of Cloud Computing

The target of this paper is to review the opportunities of cloud computing and investigate its relationship among different factors that must be taken into consideration throughout the process. The paper design on overall research base to provide experiential aware of analysis the adopting cloud computing for innovation. Cloud Computing is a system of marvelous properties. All these properties should advertise to gain potential in the market of cloud computing technology. The lack of awareness of the uses of new technologies is a big hurdle in the way of progress of upcoming technologies such as cloud computing. By overcoming, these hurdles we can spread this technology widespread. The research as cloud computing technology is a new technology and many users are not familiar with its all positive aspects. There are many points that should be taught to the users and after that they will be able to utilize all of its aspects and after that, this technology will gain potential and will become much popular. To achieve more benefits of cloud computing, the research suggests that enterprises need assume number of steps. It suggests that collaborative innovation is not necessarily an immediate consequence of adopting cloud computing. The theoretical foundation of this paper formed by conducting a comprehensive literature review on opportunities of cloud computing. A new model presented to illustrate the relationship between cloud computing and four specific factors.
Pulsed Inductive Thruster, Part 1: Modeling, Validation and Performance Analysis

$Numerical modeling of the Pulsed Inductive Thruster, (PIT) exercising the magnetohydrodynamics code, MACH2 aims to provide bilateral validation of the thruster's measured performance and the code's capability of capturing the pertinent physical processes. Computed impulse values for helium and argon propellants demonstrate excellent correlation to the experimental data for a range of energy levels and propellant-mass values. Quantitative energy deposition analysis confirms the thruster’s demonstrated constant-efficiency operation and captures the experimentally-observed, critical-mass phenomenon. An idealized model for these energy levels and propellants expands the validity of the aforementioned to other propellants and identifies the PIT’s unique operation with ammonia propellant.
Abstract B79: A diet high in fats and calories leads to obesity and metabolic disturbances and accelerates pancreatic cancer development in the conditional KrasG12D mouse model.

Introduction: There is strong epidemiologic evidence that obesity increases the risk of several human cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Several mechanisms, including inflammation and insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia, are proposed, by which obesity may promote tumor development. However, the driving mechanisms in pancreatic cancer are still poorly understood. Aim: Our aim was to investigate whether a diet high in fats and calories leads to obesity with metabolic disturbances similar to humans and promotes pancreatic cancer development in the conditional Kras G12D mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Methods and Results: Offspring of Pdx-1-Cre and LSL-Kras G12D mice were randomly allocated to either a diet high in fats and calories (HFCD; ~4,535 kcal/kg; 40% of calories from fats) or control diet (CD; ~3,725 kcal/kg; 12% of calories from fats) for 3 months. Compared to control animals, mice fed the HFCD significantly gained more weight (16.9±2.1g vs. 7.1±3.1g; p Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that a diet high in fats and calories leads to obesity and metabolic disturbances similar to the human condition, greatly enhances pancreatic inflammation, and strongly accelerates pancreatic cancer development in the conditional Kras G12D mouse model. This model and findings will provide the basis for more robust studies attempting to unravel the mechanisms underlying the cancer-promoting properties of obesity. Citation Format: Aune Moro, Aurelia Lugea, David Dawson, Steven Pandol, Anna Gukovskaya, Enrique Rozengurt, Vay-Liang Go, Guido Eibl. A diet high in fats and calories leads to obesity and metabolic disturbances and accelerates pancreatic cancer development in the conditional KrasG12D mouse model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges; Jun 18-21, 2012; Lake Tahoe, NV. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B79.
Agrarian Rebels, Secret Societies and Defenders, 1761–91

Shortly after Earl Fitzwilliam took up office as lord lieutenant in 1795, he was shocked to discover that the Defenders, a militant catholic secret society, were appearing every night in arms in county Meath. He had never, he remarked, heard of such a thing in Northamptonshire.1 His exasperation now seems almost comic, his ignorance of Irish realities lamentable. Yet the contrast between Meath and Northamptonshire is an instructive one. Although eighteenth-century England (and Scotland) witnessed their share of agrarian unrest, food riots and political agitation, they furnish no example of lower-class secret societies engaged in sustained, systematic campaigns of violence and intimidation. It is a significant contrast too, because, as Charles Tilly has pointed out, ‘the nature of a society’s collective violence speaks volumes about that society’2 Whatever it might say to us, the persistence of collective violence in eighteenth-century Ireland certainly raises questions about the image and structures of that society. An examination of the forms of popular protest should therefore provide insights into the general political and social history of the period. More directly, some understanding of these forms is essential background to any discussion of popular politics in the 1790s, particularly to any discussion of Defenderism — the prime expression of lower-class disaffection during that decade.
Imaging in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Appropriate therapy is dependent on accurate staging to determine those amenable to surgery and define the appropriate role for chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Imaging plays a critical role in staging patients with non-small cell lung cancer. While mediastinoscopy is still considered the gold standard in mediastinal staging, imaging is beneficial in that it is noninvasive and highly accurate, especially when anatomic and physiologic information is acquired simultaneously through integrated 18F-FDG PET/CT systems.
Dyssynchronous calcium removal in heart failure-induced atrial remodeling

We tested the hypothesis that in atrial myocytes from a rabbit left ventricular heart failure (HF) model, spatial inhomogeneity and temporal dyssynchrony of Ca removal during excitation-contraction coupling together with increased Na/Ca exchange (NCX) activity generate a substrate for proarrhythmic Ca release. Ca removal occurs via Ca reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and extrusion via NCX exclusively in the cell periphery since rabbit atrial myocytes lack transverse tubules. Ca removal kinetics were assessed by the time constant τ of decay of local peripheral subsarcolemmal (SS) and central (CT) action potential (AP)-induced Ca transients (CaTs) recorded in confocal line scan mode (using Fluo-4). Spatial and temporal dyssynchrony of Ca removal was quantified by CV TAU, defined as the standard deviation of local τ along the transverse cell axis divided by mean τ. In normal cells CT CaT decline was slower compared with the SS domain, while in HF cells decline was accelerated, became equal in SS and CT regions, and a significant increase of CV TAU indicated an increased Ca removal dyssynchrony. In HF atrial cells NCX upregulation was accompanied by an overall higher incidence of spontaneous Ca waves and a higher propensity of arrhythmogenic Ca waves, defined as waves that triggered APs due to NCX-mediated membrane depolarization. NCX inhibition normalized CV TAU in HF atrial cells and decreased the propensity of Ca waves. In summary, HF atrial myocytes show accelerated but dyssynchronous diastolic Ca removal and altered sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) and NCX activity that result in increased susceptibility to arrhythmia.
Development and exploitation of the unique properties of organic electro-optic materials and devices

Quantum and statistical mechanical calculations have been used to guide the development of a new generation of electro-optic materials exhibiting electro-optic coefficients in excess of 200 pm/V (seven times that of lithium niobate) and femtosecond response times (leading to device 3 dB bandwidths in excess of 200 GHz). These advances have been based on (1) improvement in molecular first hyperpolarizability by design of novel chromophores and (2) control of intermolecular electrostatic interactions by nanoscopic engineering to realize improved noncentrosymmetric order. Theoretical calculations have also defined the limits of electro-optic activity that can be achieved with a variety of material development approaches including exploitation of dendritic and dendronized polymer structures and self-assembly, sequential synthesis fabrication. A clear paradigm for the short term improvement of electro-optic activity to values a factor of ten greater than lithium niobate will be given as will a longer term development program for improvement to values thirty (or more) times greater than lithium niobate. New nanoscopically-engineered electro-optic materials also exhibit dramatically improved optical loss, thermal stability, and photochemical stability as well as improved control of solubility and processability. Structure/function studies have clarified the variation of photostability with chromophore structure, macromolecular structure including lattice hardness, and the presence of chemical and physical quenchers of singlet oxygen. It is clear that materials surpassing Telcordia standards can be prepared. Insights into the exceptional stability of organic electro-optic materials to space radiation will also be presented. Finally, organic electro-optic materials have been used to fabricate a variety of novel stripline, cascaded prism (and superprism) and ring microresonator (and photonic crystal) devices including devices that are conformal and flexible. An overview of the unique performance properties of such devices will be presented for applications such as active chip-scale wavelength division multiplexing and space-based antennae applications.
Myelopathy due to Intraspinal Desmoid Tumor

Desmoid tumor (sporadic aggressive fibromatosis) is a fibroproliferative tumor that has benign histologic features and does not metastasize. However, the tumor is locally invasive, has aggressive clinical behavior and often recurs after excision.
Profiles in Science for Science Librarians: Paul Callistus Sereno

ABSTRACTPaul Sereno is one of the better-known paleontologists of our time. His expeditions have taken him around the world, and he has discovered new dinosaurs—and other ancient creatures—in places as far-flung as Argentina, China, and various parts of Africa. He even uncovered a large Stone Age cemetery in the Sahara. In addition to his many publications in prestigious academic journals, he was a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, has received numerous awards, and has appeared in a number of documentaries.
Manipulation of Experimental Variables for FAB MS and MS/MS to Facilitate Identification of a Post-Translattonal Modification in Rabbit Elongation Factor 1α

Seven post-translationally modified residues have been identified in rabbit elongation factor la (EF-1α), a cytosolic protein which catalyzes the GTP-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes. Five of these modifications had been shown to involve methylation of lysines. Rigorous identification of the remaining two modifications required FAB MS and MS/MS, both in the positive and negative ion modes, the use of varied solvent/matrix combinations and periodate oxidation.
The existence of square non-integer Heffter arrays

An integer Heffter array H ( m , n ; s , t ) is an m × n partially filled matrix with entries from the set { ± 1, ± 2, …, ± m s } such that i) each row contains s filled cells and each column contains t filled cells, ii) every row and column sums to 0 (in Z ), and iii) no two entries agree in absolute value. Heffter arrays are useful for embedding the complete graph K 2 m s + 1 on an orientable surface in such a way that each edge lies between a face bounded by an s -cycle and a face bounded by a t -cycle. In 2015, Archdeacon, Dinitz, Donovan and Yaz i c i constructed square (i.e. m = n ) integer Heffter arrays for many congruence classes. In this paper we construct square integer Heffter arrays for all the cases not found in that paper, completely solving the existence problem for square integer Heffter arrays.
A Note on the Effect of Skewness, Kurtosis, and Shifting on One-Sample t and Sign Tests

Many elementary statistics textbooks recommend the sign test as an alternative to the t-test when the normality assumption is violated. This recommendation is not always warranted, as we demonstrate by extending previous studies of the effects of skewness, kurtosis, and shifting of the location parameter on the size and power of the t-and sign tests for the one-sample case. For skewed populations our simulations reveal that the power of the t-test can actually be higher than that of the t-test for a normal parent population when the location parameter is shifted in the opposite direction of the skewness of population. In that same instance, the power of the t-test is also significantly greater than that of the sign test. Furthermore, our simulations reveal that for low-kurtosis populations the power of the t-test is again greater than that of the sign test.
Partial Resolution of the Enzymes Catalyzing Oxidative Phosphorylation XXII. INTERACTION BETWEEN MITOCHONDRIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE INHIBITOR AND MITOCHONDRIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE

1. A protein which inhibits mitochondrial ATPase has been isolated from bovine heart mitochondria in pure form and its properties have been characterized. 2. To obtain inhibition it was necessary to incubate the protein with ATPase in the presence of Mg++ and ATP. The specificity of this requirement for cation and nucleotide was similar to that reported previously for ATPase activity. About 4 times as much inhibitor was required to inhibit soluble ATPase as compared to particle-bound ATPase. 3. Soluble ATPase purified from a mitochondrial extract prepared with a Nossal shaker as described previously contained considerable amounts of ATPase inhibitor. A new simple procedure for the purification of ATPase was developed starting with an extract obtained from mitochondria by sonic oscillation. A second, more complex procedure was developed starting with an extract made from submitochondrial particles that had been depleted of inhibitor. The first preparation still contained inhibitor, although less than previously described preparations. The second preparation was virtually free of inhibitor. 4. Exposure of soluble ATPase to trypsin or chymotrypsin resulted in the removal of residual inhibitor and in a slight increase in ATPase activity. This treatment abolished coupling activity although the ATPase would still bind to the particles and its activity was partially sensitive to rutamycin.
Mycorrhizal composition influences plant anatomical defense and impacts herbivore growth and survival in a life-stage dependent manner

Abstract While arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may have a prominent role in trophic ecology, mycorrhizal improvement or reduction on herbivore growth and survival may also be dependent on herbivore’s stage of development. Solanum lycopersicon (tomato) was grown on sterile background soil treated with either mycorrhizal inoculant (AM+) or non-mycorrhizal control (AM−). Mycorrhizal treatments included four single species of AM-fungi (Entrophospora infrequens, Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus claroideum, and Racocetra fulgida) and a mixture of all four species (fungal community). To determine if mycorrhizal treatment indirectly alters the ability of beetle larvae (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) to access plant resources, plant damage and trichome density were quantified as plants were infested with a single neonate (early-stage) for 96 hours (h). In a second experiment, beetle growth rate was assessed as plants were infested with a single third-instar (late-stage). After 72 h of late-stage beetle infestation, beetle mass was measured. It was found that early-stage beetles inflicted more damage on AM+ tomatoes. Interestingly, this corresponds with fewer trichomes on AM+ tomatoes, as well as higher early-stage beetle survivorship. Specifically, AM taxon, C. claroideum increases herbivory and thereby reduces beetle mortality. Among late-stage beetles, C. claroideum does not improve beetle growth nor rate of survival. This suggests that AM taxa that are beneficial to early-stage beetles may not necessarily provide an advantage to late-stage beetles. Taken together, these findings highlight potential dependencies of AM-fungal effects on herbivory and herbivore life history, including growth and life-stage specific survival.
Electron-induced dissociation of CO2 on TiO2(110).

The electron-induced dissociation of CO2 adsorbed at the oxygen vacancy defect on the TiO2(110) surface has been investigated at the single-molecular level using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Electron injection from the STM tip into the adsorbed CO2 induces the dissociation of CO2. The oxygen vacancy defect is found to be healed by the oxygen atom released during the dissociation process. Statistical analysis shows that the dissociation of CO2 is one-electron process. The bias-dependent dissociation yield reveals that the threshold energy for electron-induced dissociation of CO2 is 1.4 eV above the conduction-band minimum of TiO2. The formation of a transient negative ion by the injected electron is considered to be the key process in CO2 dissociation.
Two Brothers With Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries:

Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) is a common cause of cyanotic heart disease in neonates. Current thought is d-TGA is a sporadic occurrence in families with an unclear etiology. We describe a case of brothers with d-TGA. Genetic testing revealed that both are heterozygous for two gene variations that are associated with congenital heart disease.
Investigating Capabilities Associated with ICT Access and Use in Latino Micro-enterprises

ABSTRACT While the process by which Information Technology enables growth in medium and large enterprises has been well-researched, the corresponding processes in micro-enterprises are poorly understood. In fact, such micro-enterprises lie at the heart of many economies. This insight is important as information technology enables businesses to connect with each other through knowledge networking to carry out their basic business operations. There is thus a need to build our understanding of how micro-enterprises access and use technology in order to be able to assess the benefits they derive from ICT adoption. Following an analysis of two case studies of Latino micro-enterprises using Sen’s capabilities model, this paper uncovers the ways in which Latino micro-enterprises adopt information technology to grow their businesses in terms of their means, ends and freedoms. The contribution of this paper is to what we know about how Latino micro-enterprises adopt technology. This adds to our body of knowledge on challenges facing Latino micro-enterprises in the U.S. (an important subgroup within the under-researched area of micro-enterprises) and how such businesses may adopt ICT to benefit and grow their businesses. This has implications for global development in enabling adoption by microenterprises to be investigated, and in enabling techniques to be developed and deployed to improve the ability of micro-enterprises to adopt ICT to grow their businesses in ethnically cohesive communities.
Large Dimensional Covariance Matrix Estimation Via a Factor Model

High dimensionality comparable to sample size is common in many statistical problems. We examine covariance matrix estimation in the asymptotic framework that the dimensionality p tends to infinity as the sample size n increases. Motivated by the Arbitrage Pricing Theory in finance, a multi-factor model is employed to reduce dimensionality and to estimate the covariance matrix. The factors are observable and the number of factors K is allowed to grow with p. We investigate impact of p and K on the performance of the model-based covariance matrix estimator. Under mild assumptions, we have established convergence rates and asymptotic normality of the model-based estimator. Its performance is compared with that of the sample covariance matrix. We identify situations under which the factor approach increases performance substantially or marginally. The impacts of covariance matrix estimation on portfolio allocation and risk management are studied. The asymptotic results are supported by a thorough simulation study.
Sex and sex steroids impact influenza pathogenesis across the life course.

Males and females differ in the outcome of influenza A virus (IAV) infections, which depends significantly on age. During a typical seasonal influenza epidemic, young children (< 10 years of age) and aged adults (65+ years of age) are at greatest risk for severe disease, and among these age groups, males tend to suffer a worse outcome from IAV infection than females. Following infection with either pandemic or outbreak strains of IAVs, females of reproductive ages (i.e., 15–49 years of age) experience a worse outcome than their male counterparts. Among females of reproductive ages, pregnancy is one factor linked to an increased risk of severe outcome of influenza, although it is not the sole factor explaining the female-preponderance of severe disease. Small animal models of influenza virus infection illustrate that inflammatory immune responses and repair of damaged tissue following IAV infection also differ between the sexes and impact the outcome of infection. There also is growing evidence that sex steroid hormones, including estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone, directly impact immune responses during IAV infection to alter outcomes. Greater consideration of the combined effects of sex and age as biological variables in epidemiological, clinical, and animal studies of influenza pathogenesis is needed.
The Madness of Jodh Singh: Patriotism and Paranoia in the Ghadar Archives

My paper focuses on Jodh Singh, a marginal figure in the archives of the Ghadar Party, who was arrested for High Treason against the United States for his role in the “Hindu Conspiracy” plots aimed at the British government of India. Incarcerated in a California prison, Singh was moved to a sanatarium on displaying symptoms of insanity. Through a close reading of a web of archival documents and scholarly reflections—at the center of which lies the report of a commission appointed to inquire into his mental condition—I examine the account of the madness of Jodh Singh as a statement about patriotism and paranoia. In engagement with the work of Foucault, Guha, and scholars of the Ghadar movement, I describe how the record of Singh’s experiences indicts the juridical-legal-medical framework of American society as operating on a distinction between legtimate and illegitimate madness. I also examine how Jodh Singh points to the glimmers of a critique of the self-image of the Ghadar Party as a revolutionary movement committed to egalitarian principles. I conclude with a reflection on what Jodh Singh might tell us about the relationship between madness, political aspiration, and the yearning for solidarity.
Investigation the Effect of Speed Humps on Merging Time of U-turn Traffic

Abstract The median U-turn involving allowing traffic to move toward opposing direction through providing special paths on a highway’ median. Such left turn movements causing delays for both merging and the opposing main stream traffic. In order to ease the turning process, speed humps are widely used to by impeding the upstream opposing traffic. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of using such humps through using real traffic data taken from three sites at Al-Diwaniya city, Iraq. The selected sites representing the cases of with and without speed humps. Video recordings is used to collect traffic data and the average time spent (ATS) while turning (merging) is used as a factor to show the effectiveness of using speed humps. The results show that the speed humps cause in significant reduction in ATS for turning traffic. Regression models have been developed to estimate merging time spent based on opposing flow rates.
Disruption in the US machine tool industry: The role of inhouse users and pre-disruption component experience in firm response

Abstract We investigated how incumbent differences affect their response to a disruptive change and found that incumbents with access to inhouse knowledge that helps them understand “what to develop and design” and “how to do it,” are likely to be the leaders in matching the performance features in a disruptive product. We used the advent of machine tools with disruptive Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology as the context and concentrated on the transition period when the machine tool demand was shifting from customized machine tools with mechanical controls to standardized machine tools with CNCs. We found that incumbents with access to inhouse users and broad pre-disruption component experience were the leaders in matching the agility of the disruptive products. Our findings suggest that the boundary conditions for the theory of disruption is more nuanced than what the literature predicts.
Multimodal Behavioral Markers Exploring Suicidal Intent in Social Media Videos

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the modern world. In this digital age, individuals are increasingly using social media to express themselves and often use these platforms to express suicidal intent. Various studies have inspected suicidal intent behavioral markers in controlled environments but it is still unexplored if such markers will generalize to suicidal intent expressed on social media. In this work, we set out to study multimodal behavioral markers related to suicidal intent when expressed on social media videos. We explore verbal, acoustic and visual behavioral markers in the context of identifying individuals at higher risk of suicidal attempt. Our analysis reveals that frequent silences, slouched shoulders, rapid hand movements and profanity are predominant multimodal behavioral markers indicative of suicidal intent1.
Making research visible: A library competition for graduate students

Graduate students have always been a core academic library user group. However, because undergraduates typically make up a larger percentage of the on-campus student body, the development of targeted library services and programming for graduate students has often taken a back seat. Recently, however, interest in academic library services for graduate students has increased, as demonstrated by conferences devoted to this topic and the formation of an ACRL interest group focused on this issue.
Synergist ablation-induced hypertrophy occurs more rapidly in the plantaris than soleus muscle in rats due to different molecular mechanisms.

We examined molecular mechanisms that were altered during rapid soleus (type I fiber-dominant) and plantaris (type II fiber-dominant) hypertrophy in rats. Twelve Wistar rats (3.5 mo old; 6 female, ...
How are worriers particularly sensitive to grief? Tonic immobility as a mediating factor

A growing body of literature has documented the negative outcomes associated with worry. To extend this line of research, we examined why some bereaved college students with the tendency to worry e...
“LADY U SEND ME YR MOVIE:” constructing Joanie 4 Jackie’s feminist distribution network

Joanie 4 Jackie was a U.S.-based women’s video distribution network begun by artist Miranda July that operated from 1995 to 2007. Every woman who submitted to the network would be included on a 10-...
Backwash sequence optimization of a pilot-scale ultrafiltration membrane system using data-driven modeling for parameter forecasting

Abstract Optimizing the backwashing procedure of ultrafiltration membranes poses novel challenges in regards to the modeling and simulation of the fouling process. Traditional modeling approaches the problem through a physical and chemical understanding of the complicated fouling phenomena. In this study, a large amount of data has been collected from a pilot-scale ultrafiltration membrane system treating spent filter backwash water at a water treatment plant. Environmental variables and operational parameters including temperature, hydraulic pressure, water turbidity, etc. are monitored continuously. This work focuses on revealing the hidden nonlinear relationships of these variables via data driven methodologies without building a first principles process model. Machine learning tools are used to establish a connection between environmental variables, dynamic parameters, the efficiency of foulant removal through backwashing, and the increase rate of foulants. The prediction performance is compared to regression models including linear regression, artificial neural networks, and random forests. Our data driven model of the fouling dynamics is then used for optimization purposes, in particular, to optimize the backwashing sequence timing by applying tools from stochastic dynamic programming. Optimized backwash performance is compared with experimental data acquired via a fixed interval sequence and shows a more efficient schedule at less cost and with lower membrane resistance. This work establishes a full pipeline of data processing, model building, and operational optimization. The only requirement for employing our methodology is the collection of operational data, in order to identify the membrane dynamics. The reported methodology offers a great potential for implementation on large-scale ultrafiltration applications, which can improve energy consumption and elongate membrane life.
Can America be Saved? A Pastoral Response to Racism and Covid-19 and an Appeal for Dreams, Visions, and Imagination

This article focuses on the possibility of salvation for the United States of America in light of COVID-19 and systemic racism through the practice of dreams, vision and imagination. I begin with a...
Frenotomy Revision Rate in Breastfeeding Infants: The Impact of Early Versus Late Follow-Up

Purpose: The protocol for postoperative follow-up time after lingual frenotomy in breastfeeding infants with ankyloglossia was changed from 2 weeks to 1 week at our institution. This study examined...
Embracing Inpatient Radiopharmaceutical Therapies in Radiation Oncology: An Example With Commissioning Pediatric I-131 MIBG Therapy.

Purpose/Objective(s) Radiopharmaceutical therapy is rapidly expanding in radiation oncology and nuclear medicine. Iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-131 MIBG) is an inpatient therapy involving long infusion times and special consideration for radiation exposure and contamination control. In this study, we outline our process for commissioning pediatric I-131 MIBG therapy with a multidisciplinary team and perform a failure modes and effects analysis to assess the robustness of our procedures. Materials/Methods To commission pediatric I-131 MIBG therapy, we (1) created a multidisciplinary team with the appropriate skills, (2) located a space that met the needs of this intensive inpatient therapy, and (3) developed procedures that maximized safety. We identified failure modes (FM) from room design to patient/room release and scored them (1-10) according to their risk for occurrence (O), severity (S), and lack of detectability (D), per AAPM Task Group 100. The risk-priority number (RPN) is the product of these scores and identifies the FMs with the greatest risk. Results Our multidisciplinary team includes an authorized user (radiation oncologist/nuclear medicine physician), pediatric oncologists, radiation therapists, nurses, therapy medical physicists, and radiation safety staff. The space has a dedicated restroom and shower with appropriate plumbing, shielding built into the patient room/restroom construction, appropriate ventilation/filtration, and enough space for the patient, the infusion team (3-5), equipment, and mobile shields. The procedures meet regulatory and institutional safety standards and allow for appropriate radiation exposure and contamination control. 149 FMs were identified. The FMs with the greatest RPN were related to training deficiencies: (1) training of staff was inadequate (O = 5, S = 8, D = 4, RPN = 160), (2) caregivers did not understand radiation safety training (O = 5, S = 7, D = 4, RPN = 140), and (3) saline bag line and other dose lines (if multiple vials) were not clamped properly during dose infusion (O = 4, S = 8, D = 4, RPN = 128). 36/149 (24%) FMs had a high severity (S≥7). Of those, 11 (7% of all FMs) had a moderate risk of occurrence or going undetected (O or D > 3 but Conclusion Pediatric I-131 MIBG therapy is a complex treatment that requires careful consideration during commissioning. With a properly trained multidisciplinary team, robust procedures and checklists, and appropriate resources, it can be implemented safely and effectively.
Using the Tools and Resources of the RCSB Protein Data Bank

The Protein Data Bank (PDB; http://www.pdb.org) is the world-wide repository for three-dimensional structural data determined using various experimental methods. The options and procedures for searching and downloading structural data from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB) PDB are described here, along with tools for assessing the quality of structures. Several types of information are associated with each structure deposition, including atomic coordinates of the structure, experimental data used to solve it, sequences of all macromolecules in the structures, details about the structure solution method, images showing different views of the structure, derived geometric data, and a variety of links to other resources. These data and resources may be used for understanding the function and stability of the molecule and for designing biochemical, genetic, or other experiments. They can also be used for molecular modeling and drug design.