cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Threshold-linear versus linear-linear analysis of birth weight and calving ease using an animal model: II. Comparison of models.

Several models were evaluated in terms of predictive ability for calving difficulty. Data included birth weight and calving difficulty scores provided by the American Gelbvieh Association from 26,006 calves born to first-parity cows and five simulated populations of 6,200 animals each. Included in the model were fixed age of dam x sex interaction effects, random herd-year-season effects, and random animal direct and maternal effects. Bivariate linear-threshold and linear-linear models for birth weight/calving ease and univariate threshold and linear models for calving ease were applied to the data sets. For each data set and model, one-half of calving ease records were randomly discarded. Predictive ability of the different models was defined with the mean square error (MSE) for the difference between a deleted calving ease score and its prediction obtained from the remaining data. In terms of correlation between simulated and predicted breeding values, the threshold models had a 1% advantage for direct genetic effects and 3% for maternal genetic effects. In simulation, the average MSE was .29 for linear-threshold, .32 for linear-linear, .37 for threshold, and .39 for linear model. For the field data set, the MSE was .31, .33, .39, and .40, respectively. Although the bivariate models for calving ease/birth weight were more accurate than univariate models, the threshold models showed a greater advantage under the bivariate model. For the purpose of genetic evaluation for calving difficulty in beef cattle, the use of the linear-threshold model seems justified. In dairy cattle, the evaluation for calving ease can benefit from recording birth weight.
Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors 2016

State governments have been in an expansionary phase in recent years. Even though U.S. economic growth since the last recession has been sluggish, general fund revenues of state governments have grown 33 percent since 2010. Some of the nation’s governors have used the growing revenues to expand spending programs, while others have pursued tax cuts and tax reforms.That is the backdrop to this year’s 13th biennial fiscal report card on the governors, which examines state budget actions since 2014. It uses statistical data to grade the governors on their taxing and spending records — governors who have cut taxes and spending the most receive the highest grades, while those who have increased taxes and spending the most receive the lowest grades.Five governors were awarded an “A” on this report: Paul LePage of Maine, Pat McCrory of North Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida, Doug Ducey of Arizona, and Mike Pence of Indiana. Ten governors were awarded an “F”: Robert Bentley of Alabama, Peter Shumlin of Vermont, Jerry Brown of California, David Ige of Hawaii, Dan Malloy of Connecticut, Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Kate Brown of Oregon, Jay Inslee of Washington, and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania.With the growing revenues of recent years, most states have balanced their short-term budgets without major problems, but many states face large challenges ahead. Medicaid costs are rising, and federal aid for this huge health program will likely be reduced in coming years. At the same time, many states have high levels of unfunded liabilities in their pension and retiree health plans. Those factors will create pressure for states to raise taxes. Yet global economic competition demands that states improve their investment climates by cutting tax rates, particularly on businesses, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers.This report discusses fiscal policy trends and examines the tax and spending actions of each governor in detail. The hope is that the report encourages more state policymakers to follow the fiscal approaches of the top-scoring governors.
Evaluation of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales in a Diverse, Nonclinical Sample:

Despite the changing racial/ethnic demographics in the United States, few studies exist that evaluate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening and diagnostic assessment measures for their cultural ...
Cognitive Deficit, Physical Frailty, Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visits in Later Life

AbstractObjectives: To examine the added effect of having both cognitive deficit and physical frailty, compared to having either one only, on hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits.Me...
Polymeric scaffolds for dental pulp tissue engineering: A review.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this review is to describe recent developments in pulp tissue engineering using scaffolds and/or stem cells. It is crucial to understand how this approach can revitalize damaged dentin-pulp tissue. Widespread scaffold materials, both natural and synthetic, and their fabrication methods, and stem-progenitor cells with the potential of pulp regeneration will be discussed. Data and Sources A review of literature was conducted through online databases, including MEDLINE by using the PubMed search engine, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Study Selection Studies were selected based on relevance, with a preference given to recent research, particularly from the past decade. Conclusions The use of biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells can be safe and potent for the regeneration of pulp tissue and re-establishment of tooth vitality. Natural and synthetic polymers have distinct advantages and limitations and in vitro and in vivo testing have produced positive results for cell attachment, proliferation, and angiogenesis. The type of biomaterial used for scaffold fabrication also facilitates stem cell differentiation into odontoblasts and the resulting biochemistry of tissue repair for each polymer and cell type was discussed. Multiple methods of scaffold design exist for pulp tissue engineering, which demonstrates the variability in tissue engineering applications in endodontics. This review explains the potential of evidence-based tissue engineering strategies and outcomes in pulp regeneration.
Cell-Selective Cytotoxicity of a Fluorescent Rhodium Metalloinsertor Conjugate Results from Irreversible DNA Damage at Base Pair Mismatches

Up to 20% of solid tumors are characterized by DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and microsatellite instability that confer resistance to standard of care chemotherapy. MMR-deficient cancers have an increased mutation rate, and DNA mismatches accumulate as part of these cancers. We previously described a class of compounds, rhodium metalloinsertors, that bind DNA mismatches with high specificity and selectivity and have potential as targeted therapy. [Rh(chrysi)(phen)(PPO)]2+ (RhPPO) is the most potent, selective compound in this class and acts by targeting DNA mismatches, resulting in preferential cytotoxicity to MMR-deficient cancers. To explore further the cellular mechanism of action of RhPPO, we conjugated the metal complex to a fluorescent probe, cyanine 3 (Cy3). RhPPO-Cy3 binds DNA mismatches and retains the selectivity and potent cytotoxic activity of RhPPO for MMR-deficient cell lines. RhPPO-Cy3 forms discrete foci in the cell nucleus that overlap with sites of DNA damage, suggesting that the lesions occur at or near DNA mismatch sites. RhPPO-Cy3 foci persist over time, despite initial processing of the lesion and recruitment of repair proteins, consistent with the idea that the complex binding to a mismatch prevents repair. RhPPO-Cy3 binding does not lead to activation of p53 and the apoptotic pathway. Together, these findings support the idea that RhPPO-Cy3 binding leads to irreversible DNA damage at DNA mismatches that enables selective cytotoxicity to MMR-deficient cells.
Establishment of Myocardial Strain Measurement Data in Pediatric Patients Without Structural Heart Disease: A Single Center Study

Accurate assessment of LV systolic function remains a challenge, especially in the pediatric population. Myocardial strain measurement by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) is a relatively new modality for assessment of regional and global myocardial wall motion. This study aims to establish the normative value among various pediatric age groups at a large pediatric tertiary care institution and to describe the challenges encountered in establishing such strain data. Transthoracic echocardiograms were acquired in 121 healthy children (age 0–21 years) and were retrospectively analyzed. The global longitudinal strain (GLS) was obtained by 2D speckle tracking using Philips Epiq7® and QLAB post processing software. The normative value for left ventricular GLS (%) obtained in our study was − 20.8 ± 2.3 (< 1 year); − 21.4 ± 2.2 (1–4 years); − 19.6 ± 2.4 (5–9 years); − 19.4 ± 2.6 (10–14 years); − 18.9 ± 3.0 (15–21 years). There was a statistically significant difference in GLS between the different age groups. The BMI (kg/m2) of assessed subjects were 14.6 ± 2.3 (< 1 year); 16.3 ± 1.5 (1–4 years); 16.7 ± 2.3 (5–9 years); 21.3 ± 4.6 (10–14 years); 23.9 ± 5.9 (15–21 years). There was no significant difference in GLS by gender or by BMI found in our study. We present our experience with establishment of normative values of 2DSTE in our pediatric echocardiography lab. This study shows that age is the major determinant of variation in peak GLS in healthy subjects, emphasizing the importance of establishment of normative data among various age groups in pediatrics.
THE GREAT IMITATOR: ACUTE PAPILLARY MUSCLE RUPTURE DUE TO COCAINE-INDUCED ISCHEMIA MASQUERADING AS INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

Cocaine use has been associated with various cardiovascular complications including demand ischemia, coronary vasospasm and myocardial infarction. However, acute mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle rupture from cocaine-induced ischemia remains exceedingly rare. We present a 29-year old
Association of Protein and Genetic Biomarkers With Response to Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections in Subjects With Axial Low Back Pain.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this observational study was to examine the association of protein and genetic biomarkers with pain and pain-related disability in individuals with axial low back pain undergoing epidural steroid injections. DESIGN Forty-eight adults with axial low back pain undergoing an epidural steroid injection were recruited from an academic medical center. Blood samples were assayed at baseline and follow-up for plasma proteins and functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with pain. Data regarding pain and function were collected at baseline and follow-up. The characteristics of responders (defined as 50% improvement in pain score) and nonresponders were compared, and the association between response and baseline biomarkers was examined. RESULTS Thirty-five percent of subjects were responders to injection. Responders had lower baseline plasma levels of chondroitin sulfate 846 and higher neuropeptide Y and serotonin levels than nonresponders, and baseline neuropeptide Y level correlated with change in disability levels. In addition, subjects with the variant allele for the catechol-O-methyltransferase single-nucleotide polymorphism demonstrated increased odds of responding to the injection. CONCLUSIONS These data identify candidates who may have utility for patient selection for spinal procedures and provide support for exploration in prospective studies to assess and validate their predictive ability.
Strength of tonic T cell receptor signaling instructs T follicular helper cell-fate decisions.

T follicular helper (TFH) cells are critical in adaptive immune responses to pathogens and vaccines; however, what drives the initiation of their developmental program remains unclear. Studies suggest that a T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-dependent mechanism may be responsible for the earliest TFH cell–fate decision, but a critical aspect of the TCR has been overlooked: tonic TCR signaling. We hypothesized that tonic signaling influences early TFH cell development. Here, two murine TCR-transgenic CD4+ T cells, LLO56 and LLO118, which recognize the same antigenic peptide presented on major histocompatibility complex molecules but experience disparate strengths of tonic signaling, revealed low tonic signaling promotes TFH cell differentiation. Polyclonal T cells paralleled these findings, with naive Nur77 expression distinguishing TFH cell potential. Two mouse lines were also generated to both increase and decrease tonic signaling strength, directly establishing an inverse relationship between tonic signaling strength and TFH cell development. Our findings elucidate a central role for tonic TCR signaling in early TFH cell-lineage decisions. The pathways controlling T follicular helper (TFH) cell development are only partially understood. Allen and colleagues demonstrate the importance of the T cell receptor, with low tonic signaling promoting TFH cell development and high tonic signaling opposing it.
USB Linux: An IT Lab Instruction Tool During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the worldwide university closure, forcing the classroom instruction to be online. Unrehearsed online instruction challenges everyone, especially teaching lab courses. This study focuses on creating IT labs that provide the best learning experience with minimum investment during this pandemic. We build a portable and low-cost IT lab by directly installing Ubuntu and IT software on a USB 3.1 flash drive. The performance of this mini IT lab is tested and compared with a typical installation of the identical Linux on a solid-state drive with a single testing computer. The experiment results show that the proposed mini IT lab has acceptable performance and can be used by instructors and students to overcome challenges imposed by distance learning.
K-9 Catch-22: The Impossible Dilemma of Using Police Dogs in Apprehension of Suspects

In the past several years, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has seen two canine police dogs (K-9s) killed in the line of duty, Rocco in January 2014, and Aren in January of 2016. Both were killed by stab wounds while attempting to apprehend suspects. The man who killed Rocco received significant jail for stabbing and killing the dog, while the man who killed Aren was fatally shot as a direct result of his actions toward the canine. While Rocco was vocally celebrated in the community, and sympathy primarily focused on the canine, the deaths of Aren and the suspect who killed him, Brian Kelley, Jr., led to a very different response. In the aftermath of the 2016 incident, there was significant vocal outcry from a variety of advocates (for both humans and animals) concerning the injustice of using K-9 officers to apprehend suspects and calling for a ban on such practices. Certainly, Pittsburgh’s experiences are not unique, although they present a vivid backdrop for the discussion of whether K-9s should be used for apprehension of suspects and under what circumstances. This paper explores the legal and ethical questions surrounding the use of police dogs, specifically in the realm of apprehending suspects where a violent interaction between human and canine is inevitable. The Fourth Amendment allows the use of canine force against persons if “reasonable” under the totality of the circumstances, based on the officer’s observations. However, that totality of circumstances does not take into account the very real and very reasonable fear response induced in humans by an animal attack, that in some cases compels the suspect to defend themselves and thus places the suspect at risk for further violence, and the police dog at risk for injury or death. Further, while any suspect may be compelled to resist or defend itself against a police dog, the historical usage of police dogs against African Americans, coupled with the deployment of police dogs more frequently in minority communities may tend to put African Americans at greater risk in this K-9 catch-22. Ultimately, the paper considers the question of whether, in light of human behavioral fear response to animal attacks coupled with examples of implicit racial bias, using police dogs in apprehension is ever truly “reasonable.”
Using Tradable Credits for Revenue-Neutral Pricing of a Bottleneck with Heterogeneous User Preferences and Value of Time

In this research, we develop an optimal credit-based pricing scheme for a single bottleneck with time-dependent demand and heterogeneous user preferences. For this purpose, we first propose an analytical model for dynamically pricing the bottleneck. Accounting for the independent distributions of the schedule penalty factors and the value of time of the commuters can significantly improve the accuracy of the pricing strategy. Moreover, implementing such a strategy using a revenue-neutral credit-based pricing scheme allows the value of the credits to be determined by the interaction between the users in the equilibrium condition of the market. Hence, there would be no need to charge all commuters over the peak period. Instead, the proposed strategy allocates the money raised from the “credit buyers” to subsidize the commutes of the “credit sellers” in order to incentivize the commuters to form a uniform distribution of arrival times over the peak period. Using tradable credits to design a revenue-neutral pricing strategy for the bottleneck can raise public support by improving the social welfare of the users. The proposed credit-based pricing strategy also have broad applications for optimizing the urban networks using the concept of the macroscopic fundamental diagram (see Amirgholy et al., 2017).
Mapping social media analytics for small business: A case study of business analytics

The purpose of this study is to develop a guideline/map for small businesses to effectively utilise social media analytics and to create appropriate strategies through an examination of Key Perform...
Abstract 172: Computational analysis of the NEK family of proteins reveals unique structural features and interactions with other cancer-related proteins

The human Never In Mitosis A-like kinase (NEK) protein family consists of serine/threonine kinases that are implicated in the assembly of the mitotic spindle, regulation of the disjunction of the centrosome, and the functioning of the primary cilium. Protein kinases that regulate the centrosome cycle are often abnormally controlled in tumor cells, as are NEK family members. NEK2 was first identified in pediatric solid tumors and also has elevated expression levels in breast, pancreatic and colorectal cancer. NEK1, NEK3, and NEK5 are highly expressed in thyroid tumors, NEK8 is overexpressed in primary human breast tumors, and NEK119s expression is upregulated in early-stage colorectal cancers. To effectively exploit NEKs as drug targets, it is critical to understand their structure-function relationships to help elucidate their mechanism of action. However, structural information for most NEKs and the range and breadth of their interactions with other proteins are still widely unknown. In this study, we use an integrated computational approach which includes the prediction of the 3D structure using homology modeling, threading, and ab initio techniques, the biophysical/biochemical characterization of the theoretical models, followed by in silico protein-protein predictions and docking analysis to present a comprehensive computational analysis of all eleven NEK proteins. Our results reveal unique structural features in some of NEK family members, such as the armadillo (ARM)-like fold in NEK10 and RCC1 repeats found in NEK8 and NEK9. In addition, we present detailed investigations of four predicted protein-protein interaction scenarios involving NEK1, NEK7, NEK8, and NEK9 using docking analysis. This analysis lends support to new, previously unreported interactions of these NEKs with other cancer-related proteins i.e., TNF alpha with NEK7, GEF2 with NEK9, LRRK2 with NEK1, and ARA9 with NEK8. The details of the residues involved in the interaction interfaces from our proposed interaction scenarios provide valuable data for designing rational experiments to validate these interactions. Overall, this study uncovers novel and intriguing information about the NEK protein family, unique protein-protein interaction predictions, and lays the groundwork for elucidating their molecular mechanism as well as for investigating their potential as therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Andriele Silva, Shaneen Singh. Computational analysis of the NEK family of proteins reveals unique structural features and interactions with other cancer-related proteins [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 172.
Neighborhood-Level Predictors of Sexual Violence Across Intimate Partner and Non-Intimate Partner Relationships: A Case–Control Study:

Ample research explores individual factors associated with sexual violence, yet individual, dyadic, and environmental influences on intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) occurring in the larger context of non-intimate partner violence (NIPSV) remain relatively unexplored. The current study aimed to determine the extent to which county-level indicators in combination with individual and dyadic factors are associated with sexual violence across relationship types. Reported IPSV and NIPSV cases were obtained from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's (TBI) online incident-based reporting system. County-level variables indicative of neighborhood physical disorder, violent crime, income inequality, firearm prevalence, and community alcohol use patterns were retrieved from the online resource County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. Using a nested case-control design, we determined significant sexual violence risk within younger cohorts and across relationship types, finding three significant county-level factors: 1) income inequality, 2) rate of firearm fatalities, and 3) percentage of female residents. Suggested prevention and intervention efforts include targeting younger age groups for IPSV and NIPSV education, developing resources for a range of relational partners, improving legal access and law enforcement training for reporting, and continued examination of the role of firearms.
Dermal Nodes in Diabetic Neuropathy (P7.089)

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated dermal myelinated axons from glabrous skin biopsies to determine whether abnormalities in the nodes of Ranvier can be detected in dermal myelinated nerves in diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). BACKGROUND: The nodes of Ranvier, responsible for action potential propagation, are frequently initial sites of demyelination. Abnormalities in nodal anatomy and function may explain the decreased conduction velocity observed in DPN. DESIGN/METHODS: Ten type 1 DPN patients, nine type 2, and fifteen age-matched healthy controls underwent physical examination, standard nerve conduction studies (NCS), and distal leg skin biopsy in addition to glabrous biopsy from the index finger. Biopsy sections were immuno-stained for PGP 9.5, myelin basic protein, and pan-sodium channel antibodies. Twenty-five random nodes were measured for width and characterized as having normal sodium channel expression or abnormal. Five biopsy sections per patient were selected for measurement out of 22, (no more than 5 nodes per section). RESULTS: Type 1 and 2 patients had similar intraepidermal nerve fiber density at the distal leg, Michigan Diabetes Neuropathy Score and NCS. Median motor latency and amplitude was not significantly different between type 1 and type 2 patients. The mean nodal width was 3.7 ± 6.3 µm for healthy controls, 3.6 ± 2.1 µm for type 2 patients, and 4.2 ± 0.8 µm for type 1 patients. Type 1 patients were significantly different in number of abnormal nodes from type 2 and healthy controls. There were no significant differences between type 2 and control patients nodal analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that nodes in type I DPN may be a preferential target for the pathogenic process. This finding is consistent with numerous previous studies showing that the two types of diseases are distinct pathogenically. Study Supported by: CTSA award No. UL1TR000445 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Disclosure: Dr. Peltier has nothing to disclose. Dr. Butera has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li has nothing to disclose.
A review of computer-aided diagnosis in thoracic and colonic imaging

Medical imaging has been indispensable in medicine since the discovery of x-rays. Medical imaging offers useful information on patients' medical conditions and on the causes of their symptoms and diseases. As imaging technologies advance, a large number of medical images are produced which physicians/radiologists must interpret. Thus, computer aids are demanded and become indispensable in physicians' decision making based on medical images. Consequently, computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) has been investigated and has been an active research area in medical imaging. CAD is defined as detection and/or diagnosis made by a radiologist/physician who takes into account the computer output as a "second opinion". In CAD research, detection and diagnosis of lung and colorectal cancer in thoracic and colonic imaging constitute major areas, because lung and colorectal cancers are the leading and second leading causes, respectively, of cancer deaths in the U.S. and also in other countries. In this review, CAD of the thorax and colon, including CAD for detection and diagnosis of lung nodules in thoracic CT, and that for detection of polyps in CT colonography, are reviewed.
Introductory-level computer science courseware

A goal of every computer science department is to maintain a top-notch educational program in order to prepare its graduates for successful careers in the computing field. Most programs now couple traditional educational methods with more modern techniques such as active and team-based learning environments, online course materials and computer-based laboratories. Most educators see this coalescence of traditional and modern learning techniques as critical to providing well-rounded educational experiences for its students.The goal of this paper is to present an overview of a computer-based laboratory environment, named Watson, and to compare Watson to other courseware modules that have been designed for the same target audience.Watson is used at Louisiana Tech University to support an active, team-based learning environment for first-year computer science majors, and non-majors interested in computer science. The Watson labs are an integral component of a breadth-first introduction to computing that is required of all computer science majors and open to non-majors. Watson development is an ongoing, long-term project that has been sponsored by both Louisiana Tech University and the National Science Foundation.
Recent Publications on the Crises in U.S. Classrooms

Lives on the Boundary: The Struggles and Achievements of America's Underprepared. Mike Rose. Small Victories. Samuel G. Freedman.
Disruption of the blood-brain barrier in experimental optic neuritis: immunocytochemical co-localization of H2O2 and extravasated serum albumin

Purpose To probe the role of endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the pathogenesis of disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) associated with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for primary central nervous system demyelination. Methods Strain-13 guinea pigs were sensitized for EAE with central myelin in complete Freund's adjuvant. Magnetic resonance imaging with Gd-DTPA was performed twice a week for 2 weeks to assess disruption of the BBB, in vivo, by the enhancement of the optic nerves. Two weeks after antigenic sensitization, ultracytochemical localization of endogenous H2O2 was performed using the cerium perhydroxide method, with co-localization of endogenous serum albumin extravasation using gold-labeled antibodies against serum albumin. Examination of blood vessels for perivascular immunogold-labeled serum albumin and H2O2 derived reaction product began in the optic nerve head and proceeded toward the retrobulbar optic nerve until a total of 20 vessels were evaluated per animal. Results Magnetic resonance imaging revealed Gd-DTPA enhancement of the optic nerves in all animals sensitized for EAE. Optic nerve ultrastructure revealed colloidal gold-labeled antibodies against serum albumin in the perivascular and adjacent interstitial spaces of capillaries and small venules in which H2O2 derived cerium perhydroxide reaction product was also simultaneously evident. Immunogold-labeled serum albumin was predominantly confined to the intravascular compartment of the optic nerve in the absence of perivascular H2O2 and/or perivascular foci of inflammatory cells. The difference between the mean percentage of blood vessels (61.8%) with co-localization of perivascular immunogold-labeled serum albumin and cerium perhydroxide reaction product, to the mean percentage of blood vessels (9.5%) with perivascular immunogold-labeled serum albumin in the absence of cerium perhydroxide, was statistically significant (P = 0.0019). Conclusions Endogenous H2O2, found at the foci of BBB disruption, may be one of the mediators involved in the alteration of vascular permeability in experimental optic neuritis.
A novel transverse flux machine for vehicle traction aplications

A novel transverse flux machine topology for electric vehicle traction application using ferrite magnets is presented in this paper. The proposed transverse flux topology utilizes novel magnet arrangements in the rotor that are similar to Halbacharray to boost flux linkage; on the stator side, cores are alternately arranged around a pair of ring windings in each phase to make use of the entire rotor flux that eliminates end windings. Analytical design considerations and finite element methods are used for an optimized design of a scooter in-wheel motor. Simulation results from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) show the motor achieved comparable torque density to conventional rare-earth permanent magnet machines. This machine is a viable candidate for direct drive applications with low cost and high torque density.
Electrically-controlled near-field radiative thermal modulator made of graphene-coated silicon carbide plates

Abstract In this work, we propose a hybrid near-field radiative thermal modulator made of two graphene-covered silicon carbide (SiC) plates separated by a nanometer vacuum gap. The near-field photon tunneling between the emitter and receiver is modulated by changing graphene chemical potentials with symmetrically or asymmetrically applied voltage biases. The radiative heat flux calculated from fluctuational electrodynamics significantly varies with graphene chemical potentials due to tunable near-field coupling strength between graphene plasmons across the vacuum gap. Thermal modulation and switching, which are the key functionalities required for a thermal modulator, are theoretically realized and analyzed. Newly introduced quantities of the modulation factor, the sensitivity factor and switching factor are studied quite extensively in a large parameter range for both graphene chemical potential and vacuum gap distance. This opto-electronic device with faster operating mode, which is in principle only limited by electronics and not by the thermal inertia, will facilitate the practical application of active thermal management, thermal circuits, and thermal computing with photon-based near-field thermal transport.
Mobilizing victim services: the role of reporting to the police

Victim assistance programs have grown dramatically in response to the victim's rights movement and concern over difficulty navigating victim services. Evidence, however, indicates that very few victims seek assistance. The present study examined factors associated with victim service use including reporting to the police, the victim's demographic characteristics, the victim's injury, offender's use of a weapon, the victim's relationship to the offender, and the victim's mental and physical distress. Data came from a subset of the National Crime Victimization Survey 2008-2011 (N = 4,746), a stratified multistage cluster sample survey of persons age 12 years and older in the United States. Logistic regression models indicated that fewer than 10% of victims of violent crime sought help from victim services. Reporting to the police increased the odds of seeking services by 3 times. In addition, the odds of victims attacked by an intimate partner seeking services were 4.5 times greater than victims attacked by strangers. FINDINGS suggest that additional exploratory work is needed in uncovering the mechanism of police involvement in linking victims to services. Specifically, do police understand what services are available to victims and why are police more likely to inform some types of victims about services more than others? Language: en
Reducing the burden of cancer borne by African Americans: if not now, when?

Cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates differ among racial/ethnic populations in the United States. African Americans have the highest overall cancer mortality rates and the lowest survival rates. Published reports have highlighted challenges faced by African Americans with regard to cancer
Chronic Hepatitis Histopathology

Chronic hepatitis is defined as a group of primary diseases of the liver characterized by hepatocellular damage, inflammation, and fibrosis continuing without improvement for at least 6 months.1–3 The disease may be attributable to viral infections, particularly by hepatitis viruses B, B and D, parenteral NANB, drug reactions, autoimmune processes, alcoholism, genetic diseases, chronic hepatic allograft rejection, or unknown causes. Hepatitis A and enteric hepatitis NANB do not cause chronic hepatitis.
Ultrastructural heterogeneity in cerebral amyloid of Alzheimer's disease.

Cerebral amyloid deposits from five patients with presenile or senile cerebral disease of the Alzheimer type were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate or with periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazidesilver proteinate, and examined with traditional highresolution electron microscopy and with a goniometer tilting stage. In addition to a carbohydrate-rich matrix, we also consistently found local cell-derived vesicles within plaque and dyshoric amyloid. The most likely source for these vesicles appeared to be degenerate neurites. Amyloid fibrils were intimately associated with plasmalemmata, particularly those of degenerate neurites, which supported a neuronal origin for the amyloid fibril of Alzheimer's disease.
Multimodality imaging characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our objective was to determine whether the (11)C-Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) retention and regional hypometabolism on positron emission tomography (PET) and regional cortical atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are complementary in characterizing patients with DLB and differentiating them from AD. We studied age-, gender-, and education-matched patients with a clinical diagnosis of DLB (n = 21), AD (n = 21), and cognitively normal subjects (n = 42). Hippocampal atrophy, global cortical PiB retention and occipital lobe metabolism in combination distinguished DLB from AD better than any of the measurements alone (area under the receiver operating characteristic = 0.98). Five of the DLB and AD patients who underwent autopsy were distinguished through multimodality imaging. These data demonstrate that magnetic resonance imaging and PiB positron emission tomography contribute to characterizing the distinct pathological mechanisms in patients with AD compared with DLB. Occipital and posterior parietotemporal lobe hypometabolism is a distinguishing feature of DLB and this regional hypometabolic pattern is independent of the amyloid pathology.
Optical interferometry at the Heisenberg limit with twin Fock states and parity measurements

Holland and Burnett [Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1355 (1993)] have argued that twin Fock states of equal photon number $N$ injected at both input ports of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer lead to phase measurements with accuracies approaching the Heisenberg limit $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{\mathrm{HL}}=1/(2N).$ However, the method of phase detection suggested by those authors, obtaining the difference of the photocurrents at the output ports of the interferometer, is not sensitive to the phase difference between the two interferometer paths; in fact, the photocurrent vanishes. In this paper we show that the use of parity measurements on just one of the output modes not only is sensitive to the phase difference but that the sensitivity approaches the Heisenberg limit for large $N.$
The inhibition of lipid peroxidation by disulfiram prevents the killing of cultured hepatocytes by allyl alcohol, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide and diethyl maleate

Disulfiram is a potent antioxidant that prevented the peroxidation of microsomal phospholipids induced by ADP/Fe3+ at concentrations as low as 1 microM. However, disulfiram had a biphasic action when used to assess the role of lipid peroxidation in the killing of cultured hepatocytes by an acute oxidative stress. At a relatively low concentration (10 microM), the antioxidant activity of disulfiram predominated, and there was protection against the killing of the hepatocytes by allyl alcohol, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and diethyl maleate. As the concentration of disulfiram was increased above 10 microM, the extent of protection progressively decreased. Thus, with higher concentrations of disulfiram, there was a second action whose consequence is to obscure the protective effect of the lower doses. With the agents studied, this additional and as yet undefined action of disulfiram leads to the killing of the hepatocytes by a mechanism that is unrelated to the peroxidation of lipids. This biphasic action of disulfiram must be appreciated in any attempt to use this compound to assess the role of lipid peroxidation in toxic cell injury.
A prospective study of pregravid oral contraceptive use and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Oral contraceptive use is associated with hypertension, dyslipidemias, and insulin resistance, all of which also characterize hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In this prospective cohort study, the association of oral contraceptive use before pregnancy and the risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was assessed. Between 1991 and 1995, 3973 nulliparous women who reported their first pregnancy lasting > or = 6 months were studied. Pregravid exposures were collected by biennial mailed questionnaires, and cases were confirmed by medical record review. Recent oral contraceptive use was defined as use within 2 years of pregnancy. Proportional hazards analysis was used to adjust for potential confounding variables. During the 4 years of follow-up, 133 (3.3%) women with gestational hypertension and 62 (1.6%) with preeclampsia were identified. Twenty-five percent of women who did not develop these disorders were recent users of oral contraceptives, compared with 19% (p = 0.11) of women who developed gestational hypertension and 30% (p = 0.38) who developed preeclampsia. Mean duration of prior oral contraceptive use was similar for cases and noncases. Compared with never and past users, the multivariate relative risk among recent users for developing gestational hypertension was 0.7 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4-1.0) and for preeclampsia was 1.3 (95% CI, 0.8-2.4). Among recent users who had used oral contraceptives for > or = 8 years, the relative risk for gestational hypertension was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-1.2) and for preeclampsia was 2.1 (95% CI, 1.1-4.2). When the analysis was restricted to women who had never smoked, the risk for gestational hypertension was 0.2 (95% CI, 0.1-0.9) and for preeclampsia was 4.1 (95% CI, 1.9-8.7). Thus, recent use of oral contraceptives was associated with a reduced risk for developing gestational hypertension. In contrast, there was a suggestion that recent use was associated with an increased risk of developing preeclampsia, but only among women who had used these agents for > or = 8 years.
Microarray Analysis of Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPET) and Frozen (FZT) Uveal Melanoma Detects Clinically Relevant Abnormalities, Including Chromosome 3 Loss of Heterozygosity

Molecular cytogenetic alterations, specifically monosomy 3, are strongly correlated with metastases and death in uveal melanoma (UVM). Although FISH can be used for the identification of monosomy 3, a subset of UVM exhibit only partial loss of chromosome 3 potentially missed with chromosome enumeration probes. Moreover, often limited material available can compromise detection of additional alterations with potential clinical relevance. Microarray analysis is an alternative method for the analysis of such specimens affording whole genome interrogation. In the current study we performed microarray to detect genomic changes in DNA from FFPET and FZT UVM samples (clinical trial NCT00952939). Of the available cases, 23.5% yielded DNA of sufficient quantity and quality to obtain interpretable microarray results, representing 28 patients. All but one case demonstrated significant abnormalities. Gains of 8q, consistent with an apparent i(8)(q10) karyotype, were the most common finding, seen in 21 patients. Monosomy 3 was detected by microarray in 15 cases. A single case showed partial loss of 3 (3q11.2q25.31), the only clinically significant abnormality detected in that case. All cases lacking chromosome 3 abnormalities showed a copy gain of 6p sharing a small 28.18 Mb region of overlap at 6p25.2p21.33. Additional findings included TERT and NEDD9 amplifications, and CDKN2A/B and LUM gene deletions. SNP analysis revealed three cases with unique regions of copy neutral LOH involving 5p15.33q35.3, 15q11.2q21.1 and one case with whole chromosome LOH for chromosomes 3, 4 and 6. The latter was detected in a FZT specimen, while the paired FFPET sample lacked evidence of LOH and showed monosomy 3, trisomy 4 and whole arm gains and losses of 6p and 6q, respectively, suggesting the presence of tumor heterogeneity. Microarray analysis has identified new recurrent abnormalities associated with UVM with potential relevance to UVM biology, diagnosis and prognosis. Conflict of Interest: Roger Schultz is an employee of Perkin Elmer.
Transition mean values of real characters

Abstract We evaluate the real character sum ∑ m ∑ n ( m / n ) where the two sums are of approximately the same length. The answer is surprising.
Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma: demographic, clinical, and prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND Tumors with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular features are well known histopathologically but their clinical behavior is poorly understood. The objectives of the current study were to define the demographic profile of the patients in whom these uncommon tumors occur and to evaluate treatment outcome in comparison with that in patients with either hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or peripheral cholangiocarcinoma (CC) alone. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with combined tumors were identified from a prospective database. Pathologic specimens were analyzed to confirm the diagnosis. Demographics, clinical data, and survival were analyzed. Outcome after resection was compared with that of patients with CC and with a matched group of patients with HCC. RESULTS The gender distribution of the combined tumors (52% men and 48% women) was intermediate between HCC (67% men and 33% women) and CC (30% men and 70% women) (P = 0.03). The incidence of positive hepatitis B or C serology and cirrhosis was similar in patients with combined tumors and those with CC (15% and 0% vs. 13% and 4%, respectively); similarly, patients of Asian heritage constituted 7% and 9%, respectively, of the patients with these tumors. By contrast, cirrhosis (41%) and positive hepatitis serology (56%) were far more common in patients with HCC, and 19% of these patients were of Asian heritage. Twenty-one of 27 patients with combined tumors (78%) underwent resection. All 6 patients with combined tumors that were not amenable to resection died of disease within 18 months. After resection, the 5-year survival was lowest in patients with combined tumors (24%) but was not significantly different from that in patients with CC (33%) or HCC (37%). The liver was the most common site of recurrence in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS The demographic and clinical features of patients with combined tumors were most similar to those of patients with CC. Most important, combined tumors were not found to be associated with chronic liver disease; consequently, the resectability rate was higher for these tumors than typically is reported for HCC. Resection was associated with long-term survival in some patients, but recurrent hepatic disease was common. The presence of cholangiocellular differentiation appeared to worsen the prognosis when compared with pure HCC, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Cancer 2002;94:2040–6. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10392
Age and ethnicity among hospitalized alcoholics: a nationwide study.

Little is known about the broad-scale demographic characteristics of low income or indigent alcoholics in public hospital systems. The purpose of the study was to examine issues relative to age, race/ethnicity, and marital status for a large group (n= 62,829) of alcoholic men receiving inpatient care in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers nationally. Subjects were VA inpatients completing alcoholism treatment (n= 27,562), in brief alcohol detoxification or short intervention (n = 9,322), or hospitalized for primary diagnoses other than alcoholism but with a secondary diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome (n= 25,945). Minority alcoholics were significantly younger than Caucasian alcoholics. Hispanic and African-American men, as well as older alcoholics, were significantly less likely to complete treatment or attend detoxification and more likely to be hospitalized for other primary diagnoses. Native Americans, however, were most likely to complete alcoholism treatment. Results suggest that members of some minority groups and elderly alcoholics seek inpatient care for diagnoses other than alcoholism and that, as a result, such individuals may need targeted interventions to encourage them to seek alcohol-specific care.
A Confidence-Set Approach for Finding Tightly Linked Genomic Regions

As more studies adopt the approach of whole-genome screening, geneticists are faced with the challenge of having to interpret results from traditional approaches that were not designed for genome-scan data. Frequently, two-point analysis by the LOD method is performed to search for signals of linkage throughout the genome, for each of hundreds or even thousands of markers. This practice has raised the question of how to adjust the significance level for the fact that multiple tests are being performed. Various recommendations have been made, but no consensus has emerged. In this article, we propose a new method, the confidence-set approach, that circumvents the need to correct for the level of significance according to the number of markers tested. In the search for the gene location of a monogenic disorder, multiplicity adjustment is not needed in order to maintain the desired level of confidence. For complex diseases involving multiple genes, one needs only to adjust the level of significance according to the number of disease genes—a much smaller number than the number of markers in a genome screen—to ensure a predetermined genomewide confidence level. Furthermore, our formulation of the tests enables us to localize disease genes to small genomic regions, an extremely desirable feature that the traditional LOD method lacks. Our simulation study shows that, for sib-pair data, even when the coverage probability of the confidence set is chosen to be as high as 99%, our approach is able to implicate only the markers that are closely linked to the disease genes.