cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of boundary control for boost and buck-boost converters in distributed power architectures with constant-power loads

Cascade distributed power architectures include tightly-regulated point-of-load converters that exhibit instantaneous-constant-power-load (CPLs) characteristics. Boundary control is investigated for dc-dc boost and buck-boost converters that feed these instantaneous (CPLs). Without adequate controls, the destabilizing nonlinear effect of the CPL inverse-voltage term leads to significant oscillations in output voltage of these converters, and possible voltage collapse. The analysis presented in this paper reveals important characteristics of CPL effects on these two basic converter topologies. In order to avoid issues related with the fact that the state-dependent switching function is undefined on the switching surface, in reflective mode solutions to both converter systems are defined in the sense of Filippov. Consequently, Lyapunov's direct method is used to identify stable reflective regions that guarantee sliding-mode operation towards the desired operating point for both converters. It is shown that first-order switching surfaces with negative slopes achieve large signal stability for both converter systems, while positive slopes lead to instability. For the boost converter, it is illustrated via simulation and experiment that positive slopes may lead to another closed-loop limit cycle. Design considerations are included and recommendations are given. Simulations and experimental results verify the analysis.
Brain-targeted delivery of paclitaxel using glutathione-coated nanoparticles for brain cancers

Paclitaxel is not effective for treatment of brain cancers because it cannot cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) due to efflux by P-glycoprotein (P-gp). In this work, glutathione-coated poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) of paclitaxel were developed for brain targeting for treatment of brain cancers. P-gp ATPase assay was used to evaluate the NP as potential substrates. The NP showed a particle size suitable for BBB permeation (particle size around 200 nm) and higher cellular uptake of the NP was demonstrated in RG2 cells. The P-gp ATPase assay suggested that the NP were not substrate for P-gp and would not be effluxed by P-gp present in the BBB. The in vitro release profile of the NP exhibited no initial burst release and showed sustained drug release. The proposed coated NP showed significantly higher cytotoxicity in RG2 cells compared with uncoated NP (p ≤ 0.05). Tubulin immunofluorescent study showed higher cell death by the NP due to increased microtubule stabilization. In vivo br...
MR of fetal central nervous system abnormalities

PURPOSE To investigate whether MR can provide additional information on fetuses with central nervous system abnormalities as demonstrated by ultrasonography. METHODS Fetal MR examinations were studied prospectively in 22 pregnant women whose fetuses showed evidence of anomalies on ultrasound performed in the High-Risk Obstetric Clinic. RESULTS In 19 of 22 cases, postpartum confirmatory diagnoses were obtained by MR or CT examinations, autopsy, or surgery. In general, the image quality of MR is comparable with that of ultrasound. However, in six of 22 cases (27%), MR provided additional information that altered the ultrasound diagnosis; these included cases of infarction, diastematomyelia, normal hemimegalencephaly with early myelination, Dandy-Walker variant, and lipoma. All of these cases had postpartum confirmation. The additional information changed the treatment in three of six patients (no intervention or elective abortion). CONCLUSIONS In certain situations MR can add valuable information to that obtained by sonography in the evaluation of the fetal central nervous system.
The Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier. Edited by: Wei Zheng, Adam Chodobski. Chapman and Hall/CRC, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida USA; 2005

This multi-author volume on the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier summarizes past and current research in the areas of choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid in health and disease.
Metal-clad waveguide characterization for contact-based light transmission into tissue

As contemporary laser dermatology procedures, like tattoo removal and skin resurfacing, become more popular, the complications of their operation are also becoming more prevalent. Frequent incidences of over-exposure, ocular injury, and excessive thermal damage represent mounting concerns for those seeking such procedures; moreover, each of these problems is a direct consequence of the standard, free-space method of laser transmission predominantly used in clinical settings. Therefore, an alternative method of light transmission is needed to minimize these problems. Here, we demonstrate and characterize an alternative method that uses planar waveguides to deliver light into sample tissue via direct contact. To do this, slab substrates made from glass were clad in layers of titanium and silver, constraining the light within the waveguide along the waveguide’s length. By creating active areas on the waveguide surface, the propagating light could then optically tunnel into the tissue sample, when the waveguide was brought into contact with the tissue. SEM and EDS were used to characterize the metal film thickness and deposition rates onto the glass substrates. Laser light from a Q-switched Nd:YAG source operating at 532nm was coupled into the waveguide and transmitted into samples of pig skin. The amount of light transmitted was measured using photoacoustics techniques, in conjunction with a photodiode and integrating sphere. Transmitting light into tissue in this manner effectively resolves or circumvents the complications caused by free-space propagation methods as it reduces the operating distance to 0, which prevents hazardous back-reflections and allows for the ready incorporation of contact cooling technologies.
Cultural context orientation and recruitment message strategy: Evidence from hospitality students in the United States and Taiwan

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to investigate and empirically test cross-cultural differences in preferences for employer communication. Using context orientation as a cultural dimension with respect to recruitment messages from employers, data were collected and analyzed from 350 college students as potential job seekers, from the United States and Taiwan. The findings suggest that individuals with a low-context orientation pay more attention to explicitly coded messages, while high-context orientated individuals are more aware of information that is internalized in the person or in the physical context. Implications and recommendations for hospitality recruitment message strategy and practice are outlined.
The R-Operon: A Model of Repetitive DNA-Organized Transcriptional Compartmentation of Eukaryotic Chromosomes for Coordinated Gene Expression.

In eukaryotic genomes, it is essential to coordinate the activity of genes that function together to fulfill the same biological processes. Genomic organization likely plays a key role in coordinating transcription of different genes. However, little is known about how co-regulated genes are organized in the cell nucleus and how the chromosomal organization facilitates the co-regulation of different genes. I propose that eukaryotic genomes are organized into repeat assembly (RA)-based structural domains (“R-operons”) in the nuclear space. R-operons result from the interaction of homologous DNA repeats. In an R-operon, genes in different loci of the linear genome are brought into spatial vicinity and co-regulated by the same pool of transcription factors. This type of large-scale chromosomal organization may provide a mechanism for functional compartmentation of chromosomes to facilitate the transcriptional coordination of gene expression.
Study on quinolones-use in 19 township health centers and its influence on the delay in diagnosis of tuberculosis

Objective To understand quinolones-use on patients hospitalized with respiratory diseases in township hospitals and its influence on tuberculosis diagnosis,and provide feasible suggestions for tuberculosis prevention and treatment.Methods One city carrying out the multi-drug resistance tuberculosis(MDR-TB) project and two cities not carrying out the MDR-TB project were randomly selected.Among all the counties under the three cities,one township was selected from each city.The usage of antibiotics and diagnosis of tuberculosis of all the patients hospitalized with respiratory diseases in the first half of 2013 were investigated.Results Among the 759 cases,the usage rate of levofloxacin was 38.47%,and there was no significant rate difference between the MDR-TB city and non-MDR-TB city(P 0.05).For the 23 pulmonary tuberculosis cases,the quartile interval of delayed diagnosis time was 18.05 days with no significant difference between the cases medicated with cephalosporin and cases with levofloxacin(P 0.05).Conclusion In order to prevent the occurrence of MDR-TB,the management of quinolones-use in township hospitals should be strengthened.
Teacher Trust in District Administration A Promising Line of Inquiry

Purpose: We set out in this study to establish a foundation for a line of inquiry around teacher trust in district administration by (1) describing the role of trust in capacity building, (2) conce...
Is the occurrence of some spontaneous mutations directed by environmental challenges

Cairnsian mutations have been defined as nonrandom mutations that occur as specific and direct responses to environmental challenges. This article reviews the evidence for the occurrence of such mutations in Escherichia coli, and concludes that under conditions of prolonged, intense selection Cairnsian mutations occur at several loci, and include base substitution mutations, frameshift mutations, and mutations mediated by excision of mobile genetic elements. Cairnsian mutations occur in nondividing cells. They are thus time-dependent, rather than replication-dependent. The process that produces Cairnsian mutations is so powerful that it can generate double mutations at rates (mutations per cell per day) that approach the rates of the component single mutations under identical conditions. Several mechanisms, including slow repair of mis-matched bases, mutagenic transcription, and a hypothetical "hypermutable" physiological state, have been proposed to explain the occurrence of Cairnsian mutations by an underlying random process, rather than by the instructional, or "directed" process originally proposed by Cairns. Recent evidence, however, argues strongly against all of those proposed mechanisms and leaves us without a viable model to explain this powerful, and potentially very important, process.
[Analysis of epidemic situation of schistosomiasis at Kongqing Village in Jurong City, 2012].

OBJECTIVE To understand the epidemic situation of schistosomiasis and control effect in mountainous regions in Jurong City. METHODS According to the "Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control Practices" and the "Schistosomiasis Monitoring Work Program in Jiangsu Province", the density of Oncomelania hupensis snails, and the infection rates of residents and animals were investigated and the results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS The area with snails was 8150 m2, and the snail density was 0.14 snial/0.1 m2. The positive rate of schistosomiasis serological tests was 3.2% in the residents, and the infection rate was 0 in animals. CONCLUSION The epidemic situation of schistosomiasis in the mountainous regions of Jurong City presents a low prevalence, but the surveillance is still needed.
SU-F-T-519: Is Geometry Based Setup Sufficient for All of the Head and Neck Treatment Cases?: A Feasibility Study Towards the Dose Based Setup

Purpose: This study compares the geometric-based setup (GBS) which is currently used in the clinic to a novel concept of dose-based setup (DBS) of head and neck (HN and evaluates the clinical advantages. Methods: Ten H&N patients who underwent re-simulation and re-plan due to noticeable anatomic changes during the course of the treatments were retrospectively reviewed on dosimetric changes in the assumption of no plan modification was performed. RayStation planning system (RaySearch Laboratories AB, Sweden) was used to match (ROI fusion module) between prescribed isodoseline (IDL) in the CBCT imported along with ROIs from re-planned CT and the IDL of original plan (Dose-based setup: DBS). Then, the CBCT plan based on daily setup using the GBS (previously used for a patient) and the DBS CBCT plan recalculated in RayStation compared against the original CT-sim plan. Results: Most of patients’ tumor coverage and OAR doses got generally worsen when the CBCT plans were compared with original CT-sim plan with GBS. However, when DBS intervened, the OAR dose and tumor coverage was better than the GBS. For example, one of patients’ daily average doses of right parotid and oral cavity increased to 26% and 36%, respectively from the original plan to the GBS planning. However, it only increased by 13% and 24%, respectively with DBS. GTV D95 coverage also decreased by 16% with GBS, but only 2% decreased with DBS. Conclusion: DBS method is superior to GBS to prevent any abrupt dose changes to OARs as well as PTV/CTV or GTV at least for some H&N cases. Since it is not known when the DBS is beneficial to the GBS, a system which enables the on-line DBS may be helpful for better treatment of H&N.
The Inflammatory Microenvironment in Wilms Tumors

ABSTRACT For the past several decades, the role of inflammation in different types of tumors has been well defined. The significance of inflammation including the presence of various immune cells and inflammatory marker analysis of tumors helped the clinicians to use new treatment methods, which lead to high cure rates but failed to do so in some tumors due to lack of information about the tumor microenvironment. Although the importance of inflammation in various adult malignancies has been well defined, by contrast, Wilms tumor (WT), the most common childhood kidney cancer, which represents 6% of all pediatric tumors, has not been well studied. Nearly 75% of the WT cases have been noticed in children less than 5 years of age with a higher incidence at 2 to 3 years. Thus, very little is known about the inflammatory microenvironment in the development of WT. This inflammatory microenvironment may initiate oncogenic transformation, and in some instances, genetic and epigenetic modifications in tumor cells can also generate an inflammatory microenvironment that further supports tumor progression. Thus, the tumor microenvironment is highly dynamic, and linking the modulating factors and various inflammatory cells with tumor progression is of considerable interest. Although to some extent the currently used WT treatment methods such as surgical removal, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are successful, the youngest children are at high risk for the irreversible adverse side effects. Thus, there is a need for alternative therapy/therapies exposing the child to the minimum possible adverse effects. This chapter gives a special focus on the inflammatory microenvironment of human WT with a comprehensive picture of various immune cells and other inflammatory markers. This may aid in the use of new therapeutic targets for the efficacious treatment of WT with the combination of currently adapted therapies or alone.
Health Conditions, Learning, and Behavior

This chapter presents an overview of the common health conditions and related co-morbid disorders individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience and the impact these conditions can have on behavior. Routine assessments and evaluations for the identification of illnesses are discussed and recommendations for how to determine their impact on challenging behavior are provided. The chapter closes with a summary of evidence-based treatments that integrate behavioral approaches with the existing physiological conditions to reduce challenging behavior.
Risk and Protective Factors for Cause-Specific Mortality After Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Objective To investigate the association of multiple sets of risk and protective factors (biographic and injury, socioeconomic, health) with cause-specific mortality after spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Retrospective analysis of a prospectively created cohort. Setting Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems facilities. Participants Adults (N=8157) with traumatic SCI who were enrolled in a model systems facility after 1973 and received follow-up evaluation that included all study covariates (between November 1, 1995 and October 31, 2006). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures All-cause mortality was determined using the Social Security Death Index as of January 1, 2014. Causes of death were obtained from the National Death Index and classified as infective and parasitic diseases, neoplasms, respiratory system diseases, heart and blood vessel diseases, external causes, and other causes. Competing risk analysis, with time-dependent covariates, was performed with hazard ratios (HRs) for each cause of death. Results The HRs for injury severity indicators were highest for deaths due to respiratory system diseases (highest HR for injury level C1–4, 4.84) and infective and parasitic diseases (highest HR for American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A, 5.70). In contrast, injury level and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade were relatively unrelated to death due to neoplasms and external causes. Of the socioeconomic indicators, education and income were significantly predictive of a number of causes of death. Pressure ulcers were the only 1 of 4 secondary health condition indicators consistently related to cause of death. Conclusions Injury severity was related to mortality due to infective disease and respiratory complications, suggesting that those with the most severe SCI should be targeted for prevention of these causes. Socioeconomic and health factors were more broadly related to a number of causes of death. Intervention strategies that enhance socioeconomic status and health may also result in reduced mortality due to multiple causes.
A Qualitative Study of Male Veterans' Violence Perpetration and Treatment Preferences.

ABSTRACTPrevention and treatment of intimate partner violence (IPV) has increasingly focused on engaging men; however, very little work has examined how men manage the negative emotions associated with relationship conflict, as well as their preferences for and perceived barriers to treatment. Given the overrepresentation of IPV among men with post-traumatic stress disorder, the perspectives of male veterans with and without post-traumatic stress disorder are critical to informing IPV prevention and treatment within the Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare system. This qualitative study involved interviews with 25 male veterans who reported recent IPV perpetration. Interview themes included coping with emotions associated with violence and preferences and barriers to seeking treatment related to IPV. Results found the participants were interested in receiving IPV treatment at the Veterans Administration, and interviews offered several suggestions for developing or adapting prevention and treatment opti...
Communicative Intent and Conventionality

The next level of signs is constituted by signals, signs lacking internal subject-predicate structure that are used for purposes of communication. Differing uses of ‘signal’ reflect a basic methodological conflict that pervades all descriptions of primitive signs. In the first part of this chapter I sometimes use the term in a way frequently found in the writings of ethologists. Here it is used to stand for elements within coordinated reflex behavior that has evolved through the processes of natural selection. Such reflex behavior W. John Smith describes as producing consequences that “enhance the fitness of individual animals or the bearers of particular genotypes to survive long enough and well enough to be effective in passing their genes on.”1 The term ‘signal’ can also be understood as applying to the wide class of signs distinguished from natsigns by being produced with communicative intent. Their mode of production insures they are not reflex responses triggered by environmental stimuli. This is the sense with which I shall be usually using the term. The distinction between a reflex movement for which there is a mechanical explanation and an intended action is notoriously difficult to draw, and will depend on how specific is the description of signaling behavior. A sufficiently precise description will usually convert what is initially regarded as reflex and invariant into what is variable. Much animal behavior seems mechanical and determined because of our gross descriptions of it.
Optical spectroscopy and decoherence studies of Yb^(3+):YAG at 968 nm

The ^2F_(7/2) ↔ ^2F_(5/2) optical transitions of Yb^(3+) doped into Y_3Al_5O_(12) (YAG) were studied for potential quantum information and photonic signal processing applications. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy located the energy levels of the ground ^2F_(7/2) and excited ^2F_(5/2) manifolds, allowing inconsistencies between previous assignments of crystal field splittings in the literature to be resolved. These measurements reveal an unusually large splitting between the first and second levels in both the ground and excited multiplets, potentially providing for reduced sensitivity to thermally induced decoherence and spin-lattice relaxation. Spectral hole burning through two-level saturation was observed, determining the excited state lifetime to be 860 μs and resolving ambiguities in previous fluorescence measurements that were caused by the large radiation trapping effects in this material. Optical decoherence measurements using two-pulse photon echoes gave a homogeneous linewidth of 18 kHz for an applied magnetic field of 1 T, narrowing to 5 kHz at 2.5 T. The observed decoherence was described by spectral diffusion attributed to Yb^(3+)−Yb^(3+) magnetic dipole interactions. Laser absorption determined an inhomogeneous linewidth of 3.6 GHz for this transition in this 0.05%-doped crystal, which is narrower than for any other rare-earth-ion transition previously studied in the YAG host. The temperature dependence of the transition energy and linewidth of the lowest ^2F_(7/2) to lowest ^2F_(5/2) transition centered at 968.571 nm measured from 4 K to 300 K was well described by phonon scattering at higher temperatures, with an additional anomalous linear temperature-dependent broadening at temperatures below 80 K. Two magnetically inequivalent subgroups of Yb^(3+) ions were identified when a magnetic field was applied along the 〈111〉 axis, as expected for the D_2 sites in the cubic symmetry crystal, with ground and excited state effective g-values of g_g = 3.40 (3.34) and g_e = 1.04 (2.01), respectively. Together with the convenient diode laser wavelength of this transition, our study suggests that Yb^(3+):YAG is a promising material system for spectral hole burning and quantum information applications.
Novel Hybrid Phenotype Revealed in Small Cell Lung Cancer by a Transcription Factor Network Model That Can Explain Tumor Heterogeneity

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a devastating disease due to its propensity for early invasion and refractory relapse after initial treatment response. Although these aggressive traits have been associated with phenotypic heterogeneity, our understanding of this association remains incomplete. To fill this knowledge gap, we inferred a set of 33 transcription factors (TF) associated with gene signatures of the known neuroendocrine/epithelial (NE) and non-neuroendocrine/mesenchymal-like (ML) SCLC phenotypes. The topology of this SCLC TF network was derived from prior knowledge and was simulated using Boolean modeling. These simulations predicted that the network settles into attractors, or TF expression patterns, that correlate with NE or ML phenotypes, suggesting that TF network dynamics underlie the emergence of heterogeneous SCLC phenotypes. However, several cell lines and patient tumor specimens failed to correlate with either the NE or ML attractors. By flow cytometry, single cells within these cell lines simultaneously expressed surface markers of both NE and ML differentiation, confirming the existence of a "hybrid" phenotype. Upon exposure to standard-of-care cytotoxic drugs or epigenetic modifiers, NE and ML cell populations converged toward the hybrid state, suggesting possible escape from treatment. Our findings indicate that SCLC phenotypic heterogeneity can be specified dynamically by attractor states of a master regulatory TF network. Thus, SCLC heterogeneity may be best understood as states within an epigenetic landscape. Understanding phenotypic transitions within this landscape may provide insights to clinical applications. Cancer Res; 77(5); 1063-74. ©2016 AACR.
Enhancing Diversity in Undergraduate Science: Self-Efficacy Drives Performance Gains with Active Learning

Efforts to retain underrepresented minority (URM) students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have shown only limited success in higher education, due in part to a persistent achievement gap between students from historically underrepresented and well-represented backgrounds. To test the hypothesis that active learning disproportionately benefits URM students, we quantified the effects of traditional versus active learning on student academic performance, science self-efficacy, and sense of social belonging in a large (more than 250 students) introductory STEM course. A transition to active learning closed the gap in learning gains between non-URM and URM students and led to an increase in science self-efficacy for all students. Sense of social belonging also increased significantly with active learning, but only for non-URM students. Through structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that, for URM students, the increase in self-efficacy mediated the positive effect of active-learning pedagogy on two metrics of student performance. Our results add to a growing body of research that supports varied and inclusive teaching as one pathway to a diversified STEM workforce.
Simplifying care: when is the treatment burden too much for patients living in poverty?

It is usually a grand affair when ‘Ms Noelle’ makes it to clinic. The 52-year-old mother with a history of hepatitis C cirrhosis, hypertension, uterine fibroids and migraines has been in our care for over a year. Even so, each visit still brings a new crisis. Today, we found out that Ms Noelle, the caretaker of a daughter with bipolar disorder and nine grandchildren, had just been evicted from her home. She had been without any income for months, and her applications for temporary cash assistance and disability were denied. Ms Noelle maintained a remarkable ability to keep her family protected and fed despite all this, but we have watched as she became the ultimate victim: she struggled to remember her medications, their doses and indications, and her cirrhosis was frequently on the verge of decompensation during appointments she was barely able to keep. She was overwhelmed by even the simplest of tasks, such as completing forms or picking up meds from the in-house pharmacy, despite how much she knew she needed to follow through. We make innumerable health choices daily. Behavioural economics can help us understand these choices, as well as the logical errors to which all patients are vulnerable. For example, patients may downgrade the importance of future health status in relation to current gratification.1 Individuals are also risk averse in decision-making, valuing losses disproportionally relative to gains, which makes them susceptible to make vastly different treatment decisions dependent on how a choice is presented.1 Further, decisions made in certain emotional states may not translate to behaviour change when in different emotional states (eg, committing to a diet while in a calm state, then succumbing to dessert when stressed).2 These relatively small choices and errors may have substantial effects on health behaviours and health outcomes. Patients …
Developing Interdisciplinary Programs: Challenges and Opportunities (Abstract Only)

We present our experience developing and managing new interdisciplinary programs in computer forensics and digital media informatics -- the results of successful collaboration with social science faculty. The computer forensics minor is an interdisciplinary program that integrates criminal justice and computer science and combines both theoretical concepts and practical skills to prepare students for a career in the area of information security and digital forensics. The digital media informatics major is an interdisciplinary program run jointly by the computer science and communication studies departments. The program provides both broad and targeted perspectives on the field of informatics and helps students develop unique skills that can be adapted to the rapidly changing computer and media environment through four specialized concentrations: (1) audio-visual, (2) graphics, mobile, & web development, (3) gaming & artificial intelligence, and (4) digital writing. We describe the various stages in developing the interdisciplinary programs including an analysis of competitive academic programs, evaluation of current resources, qualifications and faculty considerations, the process of developing the program objectives and learning outcomes, and assessment strategies. We focus on common issues that arose during the development process such as the challenge of designing balanced curricula for interdisciplinary programs, the need for designing new courses and renovating existing courses. We also discuss the anticipated costs of the programs, required resources, recruitment strategies, and the administrative approval mechanism.
Political activities of oil and gas firms in the United States

Following recent empirical studies testing the outcomes of firm-level political strategies, this article models the financial performance associated with three specific political actions: (i) polit...
Regional activities of phospholipase C after experimental brain injury in the rat.

Regional activities of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) were measured after lateral fluid percussion (FP) brain injury in rats. The activity of PLC on phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in the rat cortex required calcium, and at 45 μM concentration it increased PLC activity by about ten-fold. The activity of PLC was significantly increased in the cytosol fraction in the injured (left) cortex (IC) at 5 min, 30 min and 120 min after brain injury. However, in the same site, increases were observed in the membrane fraction only at 5 min after brain injury. In both the contralateral (right) cortex (CC) and ipsilateral hippocampus (IH), the activity of PLC was increased in the cytosol only at 5 min after brain injury. These results suggest that increased activity of PLC may contribute to increases in levels of cellular diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate in the IC (the greatest site of injury), and to a smaller extent in the IH and CC, after lateral FP brain injury. It is likely that this increased PLC activity is caused by alteration in either the levels or activities of one or more of its isozymes (PLCβ, PLCγ, and PLCδ) after FP brain injury.
Contingent Valuation in Practice

Contingent Valuation in Practice takes the reader through each of the basic steps in the design and administration of a contingent-valuation study. The text is written for the novice conducting their first study, decision makers who might want to better understand the method, and experienced researchers. Rich citations to the literature are provided to help a novice reader gain a deeper understanding of the supporting literature and to assist experienced researchers in developing the context for research to enhance contingent valuation in practice. The novice and users of value estimates can rely on the content of this chapter to understand best current practices and researchers can use the content to identify research that addresses uncertainties in the design and conduct of contingent valuation studies. Following the steps outlined in the chapter provides a basis to establish that an empirical study satisfies conditions of content validity.
Analyzing Abusive Text Messages to Detect Digital Dating Abuse

Digital dating abuse is carried out using text messages, emails and social media sites and has become a major mental health crisis among the college-going population. Existing technology and non-technology based intervention programs do not provide assistance at the onset of abuse. The ultimate goal of this project is to create a mobile phone application that can detect digital dating abuse. As a step toward this goal we are investigating the use of machine learning algorithms and natural language processing techniques to flag text messages as abusive or non-abusive in the context of dating abuse. Due to the lack of a publicly available dataset that could be used to create training and testing sets for the classifiers, we first had to create and validate a dataset of abusive text messages. This paper describes the dataset creation process and the results of an evaluation of different classification and feature extraction techniques used to detect abusive texts.
Unfinished Business: The Missing Skills

Two taxonomies of instructional goals (Bloom and Krathwohl, Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals, by a committee of college and university examiners. Handbook I: Cognitive domain. New York: David McKay Co, 1956; Gagne, The conditions of learning. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1965) are revisited, asking why the design community at large treats them as “received wisdom,” while at the same time their authors and colleagues treat(ed) them as unfinished business and continued to modify them. The question is raised as to the possibility of finding a resolution of their differences. The thesis is advanced that both consist of lower-level performances subordinate to and leading to skilled performance, which may supply a unifying principle. The proposition is advanced that we should look for ways of reconciling and integrating their differences. Using skilled performance as the superclass of both is suggested as a means of achieving this.
Momentum, Echo and Predictability: Evidence from the London Stock Exchange (1820-1930)

We study momentum and its predictability within equities listed at the London Stock Exchange (1820-1930). At the time, this was the largest and most liquid stock market and it was thinly regulated, making for a good laboratory to perform out-of-sample tests. Cross-sectionally, we find that the size and market factors are highly profitable, while long-term reversals are not. Momentum is the most profitable and volatile factor. Its returns resemble an echo: they are high in long-term formation portfolios, and vanish in short-term ones. We uncover momentum in dividends as well. When controlling for dividend momentum, price momentum loses significance and profitability. In the time-series, despite the presence of a few momentum crashes, dynamically hedged portfolios do not improve the performance of static momentum. We conclude that momentum returns are not predictable in our sample, which casts some doubt on the success of dynamic hedging strategies.
Non-FDG Radiopharmaceuticals in Head and Neck PET Imaging: Current Techniques and Future Directions.

Positron emission tomography has become a standard in the staging of head and neck cancer as well as can be used in locating unknown primary malignancies, monitoring disease response, and identifying disease recurrence. Although 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy- d -glucose is by far the most frequently used radiopharmaceutical in head and neck imaging, glycolysis is not the only metabolic process or biochemical pathway that can be visualized. In addition, 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy- d -glucose positron emission tomography can be limited due to the nonspecific nature of alterations in glucose metabolism. In this review, we will cover multiple of the emerging radiotracers that have been applied clinically or are in development as promising tools to better image certain malignancies and delineate disease from treatment effects. The potential advantages and disadvantages of these radiopharmaceuticals will also be discussed.
Adoption of Green Building Practices in Pakistan: Barriers and Measures

This chapter investigates the dimensions of green buildings observed in Pakistan along with the barriers inhibiting the adoption of green building in the local context as well as measures that could promote the uptake of this approach. Barriers and measures were identified and examined by using a combination of research methods, including literature review, a questionnaire survey, and in-depth interviews of construction industry practitioners working in Pakistan. Ranking and factor analysis were used to identify the significant issues associated with the adoption of green building practices. The survey results suggest that the most critical barrier is ‘lack of awareness among people about the importance and advantages of adopting green building practices,’ followed by ‘lack of incentives from government’ and ‘lack of green building codes and regulations.’ The analysis also indicates that the most important measure to promote the green building adoption is ‘creation of public awareness toward green initiatives through seminars, workshops, and discussions,’ followed by the ‘availability of green building codes and regulations (mandatory to apply)’ and ‘financial incentives and penalties by the government (e.g., soft loans, taxes) for promoting green building practices.’ The findings are expected to contribute valuable information to helping policymakers better understand some key issues and calling for more attention to the promotion of green building practices in Pakistan. The results are based on the perceptions of local stakeholders in Pakistan, while they might also be helpful for policymakers in other countries with similar conditions.
Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia Type 1

Gain-of-function mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) lead to disordered mineral homeostasis with disproportionate calcium excretion associated with small increases in blood calcium. Patients with this form of hypoparathyroidism have intractable hypercalciuria leading to nephrocalcinosis and renal damage which may appear, in the more severe cases, during early childhood. This case of severe hypoparathyroidism in a child with a sporadic activating mutation in the CaSR illustrates the overall benefit of parathyroid hormone replacement therapy in managing children with this disorder. Despite early diagnosis during the neonatal period, control of mineral homeostasis was never achieved in infancy and early childhood. This case report describes our 10-year experience treating a child who was referred to us at age 6 years old because of failure to thrive and worsening renal function while receiving conventional therapy with calcitriol, calcium, and thiazide diuretics. Synthetic human parathyroid hormone PTH(1–34) therapy improved her clinical status but reducing urine calcium to normal levels remained a challenge. In an effort achieve normal mineral homeostasis, she was placed first on twice daily then thrice daily injections and finally received PTH delivered by pump which led to the normalization of both serum and urine calcium excretion.
Some conjectures on Brauer character degrees

Abstract Let G be a finite group and let p be a prime. Willems conjectured that the sum of the squares of all Brauer character degrees of a finite group G is bounded below by the p ′ -part of the order of G. In this note, we propose a ‘projective’ version of this conjecture and prove it for p-solvable groups. Using this, we manage to reduce the proof of Willems conjecture to a question concerning quasi-simple groups. We also introduce a projective version of a conjecture due to Martinez-Perez and Willems on projective indecomposable characters which, if true, implies the veracity of the projective version of the Willems conjecture above.
Electrical Stimulation and Neuromodulation

Electrical neurostimulation of nerves or muscles involves direct stimulation by an electrical current to achieve an immediate response. Improvements in detrusor overactivity following electrical stimulation have been inconsistent, and the therapy may be further limited by discomfort during the procedure. Sacral anterior root stimulation after dorsal rhizotomy is a treatment option in patients with a complete suprasacral spinal cord injury and urinary retention who suffer from complications such as significant urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, or upper urinary tract compromise. In retrospect, neuromodulation produces an indirect effect via a central afferent mechanism by targeting reflex centers in the spinal cord and pons to influence reflexes between the bladder, urethral sphincter, and pelvic floor. While sacral nerve neuromodulation for refractory detrusor overactivity/overactive bladder and nonobstructive urinary retention has been the most-described approach, other techniques are being explored. To date, data continues to emerge regarding neuromodulation of the posterior tibial nerve, pudendal nerve, and dorsal genital nerve.
Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs

Following head and neck trauma, the involvement of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) and its contribution to a patients transition to chronic pain, is poorly understood. The detection of hypermobility in this region is dependent on clinical examination and static imaging modalities such as x-ray, CT and MRI. Sagittal plane hypermobility of the CCJ is evaluated using saggital view, flexion-extension cervical radiographs. Frontal plane hypermobility is typically assessed using lateral bending and open mouth cervical radiographs. Unfortunately there is no established reliability surrounding the use of these measures. This study explores the reliability of radiographic measurements of lateral-bending open-mouth cervical radiographs. Cervical open-mouth lateral-bending X-ray images were collected from 56 different patients between 18 and 60 years of age patients following cervical spine injury. These images were interpreted by two musculoskeletal radiologists and two clinicians (physiatrist and chiropractor), using a standard set of measurements. Measurements included qualitative and quantitative assessments of the amount of asymmetry noted between various osseous landmarks. Reliability statistics were calculated for levels of agreement using kappa coefficients (κ) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively. Reliability (κ) for qualitative assessments were moderate to substantial for asymmetry of neutral C2 spinous position, dens-lateral mass spacing, and “step off” between the lateral borders of the articular pillars of C2 and C1 lateral mass (κ range = .47–.78). ICC values for the quantitative measurements of dens-lateral mass spacing and “step off” between the lateral borders of the C2 articular pillars and C1 lateral mass were moderate to excellent (ICC range = .56–.97). The qualitative and quantitative measurements used in this study demonstrated good to excellent inter-examiner reliability. Correlation with clinical findings is necessary to establish the utility of these measurements in clinical practice.
Knee Arthrodesis Is a Durable Option for the Salvage of Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Knee arthrodesis (KA) and above-knee amputation (AKA) have been used for salvage of failed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) after periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, few studies have assessed the outcomes of KA after TKA PJI, as it remains an uncommon procedure. We investigated rates of AKA, control of infection, and ambulatory status after KA for TKA PJI treatment. Methods This was a retrospective and single-surgeon series of 51 failed TKAs due to PJI treated with two-stage KA between 2000 and 2016 with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical history, radiographic data, and outcomes of KA treatment were recorded. Results Infection was successfully controlled in 48 of 51 patients (94.1%); of these, 24 knees (50.0%) required no reoperation subsequent to the index KA, whereas the remaining 24 (50.0%) patients required a median of 1 additional operation. Nonunion, malunion, or delayed union was noted in 10 patients (19.6%). Of the 48 patients who were successfully treated with KA, 41 patients (85.4%) remained ambulatory after KA and 9 of these patients (18.8%) did not require assistive devices. Three of 51 patients (5.9%) progressed to AKA after KA. Conclusion Patients undergoing KA for TKA PJI had high rates of infection control and preservation of ambulatory status, with low rates of progression to AKA in our study. Level of Evidence Level IV—case series.
Abstract 627: Evaluating the efficacy of enzalutamide and the development of resistance in a preclinical mouse model of type-I endometrial carcinoma

Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling is a critical driver of hormone-dependent prostate cancer and has also been proposed to have biological activity in female hormone-dependent cancers, including type I endometrial carcinoma (EMC). In this study, we evaluated the preclinical efficacy of a third-generation AR antagonist, enzalutamide, in a genetic mouse model of EMC, Sprr2f-Cre;Ptenfl/fl. In this model, ablation of Pten in the uterine epithelium leads to localized and distant malignant disease as observed in human EMC. We hypothesized that administering enzalutamide through the diet would temporarily decrease the incidence of invasive and metastatic carcinoma, while prolonged administration would result in development of resistance. Short-term treatment with enzalutamide reduced overall tumor burden through increased apoptosis but failed to prevent progression of invasive and metastatic disease suggesting that AR signaling may have biphasic, oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in EMC. Enzalutamide treatment increased Progesterone Receptor (PR) expression within both stromal and tumor cell compartments. Prolonged administration of enzalutamide decreased apoptosis, increased tumor burden and resulted in the clonal expansion of tumor cells expressing high levels of p53 protein, suggestive of acquired Trp53 mutations. In conclusion, we show that enzalutamide induces apoptosis in EMC but has limited efficacy overall as a single agent. Induction of PR, a negative regulator of endometrial proliferation, suggests that adding progestin therapy to enzalutamide administration may further decrease tumor burden and result in a prolonged response. Citation Format: Christopher Steven Koivisto, Parrish Melodie, Bonala Santosh, Soo Ngoi, Georges J. Nahhas, Bei Liu, Adrian Torres, James Gallagher, Rebekah Snchez-Hodge, Victor Zeinner, David Cohn, Floor Backes, Paul Goodfellow, Helen Chamberlin, Gustavo Leone. Evaluating the efficacy of enzalutamide and the development of resistance in a preclinical mouse model of type-I endometrial carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 627.