cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"CODE SWITCHING" IN COMPARATIVE LEGAL EDUCATION

jurisdictions (Canada and the United States) at the same time. 2 At an anecdotal level, program faculty have observed that students struggle with at least one problem that seems unique to them: Dual J.D. students exhibit a particular difficulty restricting their analysis of fact patterns to the rules and terms of the particular legal system that a question should trigger. Firstyear students, especially, tend to mix the analytical perspectives, legal rules, vocabulary, and diction of one system with that of the other in inappropriate ways. 3 This mixing often occurs, not in the context of a structured compare-and-contrast question, but in the middle of an argument that purports to be formulated solely under one system or the other. 4 Of course, similar mistakes occur in every 1L classroom: Students misstate rules, forget elements, drop argumentative threads, and otherwise perform exactly as one would expect a beginner to perform. The particular error described here, however, involves students “mixing” the terms and rules of two separate legal systems. This particular error ordinarily seems to arise only in a cross-border classroom, where, in fact, there are two legal systems—two sets of analytical perspectives, legal rules, vocabulary, and diction—being taught within the same yearlong course. While cross-border legal programs offer exciting possibilities for students being educated for a global legal environment, any error that appears unique to comparative programs must be considered carefully by those who teach in such programs, as they may offer important clues regarding the setting and methodologies best suited for comparative legal education. Almost nothing in the literature of legal education identifies or attempts to solve this particular problem. Scholarship in other fields of teaching offers little more, with one notable exception—teaching second languages. Those who teach a language (any language) to native speakers of another language (any language) deal with “mixing” problems every day, as do those who teach bilingual students (any subject) (any language).
ANALYSIS OF VIBRATION TROUBLE RESULTED FROM MISALIGNMENT OF SHAFT SYSTEM FOR ONE-TYPE 600 MW TURBO-GENERATION SETS

The vibration problem resulted from misalignment of shaft system for targe-capacity turbo-generator sets is comparatively prominent,affecting safe operation of the units.Taking some type 600 MW units as examples,the characters of vibration trouble resulted from misalignment of three kinds,namely misalignment of generator-collector ring coupling,elevation deviation of bearing brackets between low-pressure cylinder and generator,and uncoaxiality between rotor and cylinder,for one type 600 MW turbo-generator sets have been analysed,and combining with practical examples,including unit no.2 in one power plant,unit no.1 in another power plant,and unit no.2 in other power plant,countermeasures adopted in operation and repair being given.
The influence of cellulose nanocrystals on the microstructure of cement paste

Abstract This paper reports the influence of raw and sonicated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the microstructure of cement paste. A novel centrifugation method is designed to measure the concentrations of the adsorbed CNCs (aCNCs) on the cement surface, and the free CNCs (fCNCs) which are mobile in water. It is found that, the majority of the CNCs (>94%) are aCNCs. More importantly, sonication does not significantly reduce the amount of aCNCs (reduction of less than 2%). We surmise that, after sonication, the aCNCs are primarily dispersed over the cement surface, instead of becoming fCNCs via sonication. Isothermal calorimetry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results support this theory. The water desorption tests show that the total porosities of cement pastes with raw and sonicated CNCs are 14.8% and 14.4%, which showed a reduction from 16% for the plain cement paste. The porosity reduction is a result of an increase in the degree of hydration. The advantage of sonicated CNCs is they are dispersed, avoiding therefore agglomerates that can lead to pores, voids, and air entrapment. The nanoindentation results show that the reduced indentation modulus on the interfacial regions between cement particles and the low density CSH is increased when CNCs are used.
Unexpected pH-dependent DNA Binding of CooA, a CO-Sensing Transcription Factor from Rhodospirillum rubrum

CooA, a CO-sensing heme protein, acts as a transcriptional activator of CO metabolizing proteins in Rhodospirillum rubrum and other bacteria through sequence-specific DNA binding. Prior research ha...
Dynamics in Art of War

Abstract This paper examines basic principles in Sun Tzu’s classic treatise Art of War. In a dynamic decision-theoretic model, there is a potential conflict between two sides. The comparative statics results show precise conditions under which the principles of strategic fighting in Art of War hold.
A choice of variational stacks: exploring variational data structures

Many applications require not only representing variability in software and data, but also computing with it. To do so efficiently requires variational data structures that make the variability explicit in the underlying data and the operations used to manipulate it. Variational data structures have been developed ad hoc for many applications, but there is little general understanding of how to design them or what tradeoffs exist among them. In this paper, we strive for a more systematic exploration and analysis of a variational data structure. We want to know how different design decisions affect the performance and scalability of a variational data structure, and what properties of the underlying data and operation sequences need to be considered. Specifically, we study several alternative designs of a variational stack, a data structure that supports efficiently representing and computing with multiple variants of a plain stack, and that is a common building block in many algorithms. The different variational stacks are presented as a small product line organized by three design decisions. We analyze how these design decisions affect the performance of a variational stack with different usage profiles. Finally, we evaluate how these design decisions affect the performance of the variational stack in a real-world scenario: in the interpreter VarexJ when executing real software containing variability.
Joseph Papp and the Public Theater

Working off-Broadway, the Public Theater pioneered the workshop approach to musical theatre development first with Hair (1967) and later with A Chorus Line (1975). Papp programmed new musicals alongside plays by Shakespeare in an effort to advocate for theatre’s function as a reaction and reflection of contemporary society. While commercial Broadway producers benefit from the relative security of transferring productions from these not-for-profit institutions, the public–private partnership also provides the originating theatres with a commercial profit to invest in further new musical theatre development.
In vitro and in vivo effects of CXCR4 inhibition in osteosarcoma

285 Background The chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been implicated in many metastatic cancers and its expression in osteosarcoma correlates with poor prognosis. CXCL12 (SDF-1), the ligand for CXCR4, is expressed at high levels in lung, bone marrow and liver, all of which are sites for osteosarcoma metastasis. We have previously shown that CTCE-9908, a small peptide antagonist of CXCR4, reduces the number of lung metastases in a murine model of osteosarcoma. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism by which this occurs, we have explored the effect of CTCE-9908 in vitro and in vivo. Methods K7M2 murine osteosarcoma cells were treated with CTCE-9908 (100 ug/ml) and compared with untreated controls. In vitro experiments included the growth rate of cells as determined by MTT assays, cell morphology analysis, apoptosis assays utilizing annexin/7AAD, and determination of binding to extracellular matrix protein components. In addition, K7M2 cells were injected into the tail vein of Balb/C mice following a brief pretreatment with CTCE-9908 or control. Mice were then treated with CTCE-9908 or normal saline, once daily x5, for 4 weeks. All of the animals were sacrificed by day 28 and the number of surface lung metastases were counted and confirmed by histology. Results K7M2 cells that were treated with CTCE-9908 showed a decrease in growth rate in vitro (27 vs 20 hours, p-value
Matching and retrieving sequential patterns using regression

Sequential pattern mining can prove to be very useful for predicating future activities, interpreting recurring phenomena, extracting similarities in a series of events, etc. For example, in the NASDAQ market, the problem of finding stocks whose closing prices are always a bout $β0 higher than or β1 times the stocks of a given company, reduces to linear pattern retrieval: given query X, find all sequences Y from the database S so that, Y = β0 + β1 X with confidence C.In this paper, we introduce a novel approach using the Simple Linear Regression (SLR) model to match and retrieve sequential patterns. We extend the one-dimensional R2 model to ER2 for multi-dimensional sequence matching. In addition, we present the SLR + FFT pruning technique to speed up data retrieval without incurring any false dismissal. Experimental results on both synthetic and real datasets show that the pruning ratio of SLR + FFT can be above 99%. Applying the retrieval technique to real stocks resulted in the discovery many interesting patterns, some of which are presented in the paper. Also, using ER2 as the similarity measure for on-line signature recognition yielded high accuracy.
Wohlstand, Polizei und Gesetzgebung

Bei der Betrachtung der Expansion als eines Zwecks des modernen Staates haben wir kurz die Forderung von Handel und Industrie gestreift. Obgleich die staatliche Betatigung von den Steuerquellen abhing und zunachst in erster Linie auf die Unterhaltung und Versorgung von Militarstreitkraften gerichtet war, verfolgte sie noch ein besonderes, wenn auch verwandtes Ziel, namlich die Forderung des allgemeinen Wohlstands. Es ist behauptet worden, der Staat habe den allgemeinen Wohlstand allein darum angestrebt, weil er die Unterhaltung von Landheeren und Seestreitkraften erleichterte und damit die territoriale Expansion forderte. Liese sich nicht auch umgekehrt behaupten, die territoriale Expansion sei darum angestrebt worden, weil sie grosere Moglichkeiten zur Sicherstellung des Wohlstandes bot, insbesondere im Falle von Kolonien? Wie wir schon an fruherer Stelle andeuteten, stehen alle diese Staatszwecke untereinander in Wechselbeziehung. Der Wohlstand wurde jedoch von vielen Staaten durchaus als ein Selbstzweck angestrebt. In der Tat befaste sich der Merkantilismus in erster Linie mit der Frage, wie dieses Ziel zu erreichen sei. Der fabelhafte Reichtum der Hollander im 17. Jahrhundert war bis zu einem gewissen Grad der Anlas zu den Spekulationen, die der Merkantilismus uber den Handel anstellte.
In vitro angiographic comparison of the flow-diversion performance of five neurovascular stents.

Background and purposeData differentiating flow diversion properties of commercially available low- and high-porosity stents are limited. This in vitro study applies angiographic analysis of intra-...
What's a Government Good For? Fiscal Policy in an Age of Inequalituy

The debate surrounding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act demonstrated the intellectual bankruptcy of U.S. fiscal policy debate. The TCJA has serious flaws as a matter of narrow tax policy, but it is more fundamentally flawed when viewed through the proper policy lens, which is overall fiscal policy – the net of government taxing and spending. The TCJA greatly exacerbates already untenable budget deficits. Its tax prescriptions are even more regressive when the spending cuts contemplated by the legislation itself are reflected. And the law’s regressivity is compounded further when plausible financing paths for these large deficits are included in the analysis. In particular, the “dynamic” growth analysis whose tax ramifications were part of the debate leading up to the law was predicated on enormous cuts to future transfer payments, and confused GDP growth with enhanced welfare. This presentation urges a more holistic approach to fiscal policy debates. Fiscal policy is an exercise in applied economics, but also in applied moral philosophy. We define ourselves as a country through the covenantal bonds we construct for our society by means of the fiscal policies we adopt. Neither perspective is well served by the metrics applied today to legislation like the TCJA. Tax policy is overstudied and overemphasized; sensible fiscal policy, by contrast, in particular the spending side of the equation, can address fundamental social problems like economic inequality, the stagnant incomes of the middle class, and disappointing economic mobility. Greater government investment in human capital leads to inclusive growth (more broadly shared growth) and faster growth than does the path that the United States now is following. Inclusive growth mediated by government investment thus yields a double dividend. A greater role for government insurance is economically efficient, by resolving the pervasive problem of adverse selection in private insurance markets and the impossibility of private markets insuring more existential fortuities. Government insurance also responds to the moral imperatives that animate the covenantal bonds through which we define our society. In the end, brute luck has more to do with the outcomes of our lives than most like to admit; well-designed insurance modulates the worst of these fortuities. The Market Triumphalist view that dominates much current debate rests on the denial of luck; what is required instead is the humility that comes with acknowledging the role of fortune, and with it a commitment to a more empathetic economy.
Excess dietary cobalt in pigs.

Five experiments were conducted, in which 240 growing finishing pigs were used, to determine the level of Cobalt (Co) which is toxic. Pigs tolerated up to 200 mg/kg of Co when added to corn-soybean meal diets containing 82 to 178 mg/kg of iron. The addition of 400 or 600 mg/kg of Co caused anorexia, growth depression, stiff-leggedness, humped back, incoordination and extreme muscular tremors. Serum and organ levels of Co were greatly increased and serum and organ levels of iron (Fe) were significantly reduced by added dietary cobalt. The addition of .5 or 1.0% methionine to the diet completely alleviated the toxic affects caused by the 600 mg level of Co and restored serum Fe to near normal levels. The addition of Fe, manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in combination at levels of 200, 400 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, also alleviated the growth depression caused by the 400 mg level of Co and higher levels of Fe, Mn and Zn (200, 600 and 600 mg/kg) partially restored feed intake and growth when 600 mg of Co was fed. Iron alone was not effective in overcoming the growth depression caused by 400 or 600 mg/kg of dietary cobalt. 31 references, 1more » figure, 11 tables.« less
INTERPRETATION AND EXECUTION OF FUZZY PROGRAMS

In this paper, a fuzzy program is defined through a flowchart where each arc is associated with a fuzzy relation (called a fuzzy branching condition) and a fuzzy assignment. Input, program and output variables occurring in a fuzzy program represent fuzzy subsets. A fuzzy program is interpreted as implicitly defining a tree; and the execution of the fuzzy program is equivalent to searching a solution path in the tree, i.e., tree searching. Examples of fuzzy programs and their executions are given.
A Tea Party Online: A Content Analysis of Local, Regional, and State Tea Party Websites

Since 2009, the Tea Party has played a prominent role in American politics, influencing both election outcomes and policymaking. Scholars and political pundits often argue about whether the movement constitutes an authentic economic populist movement within American conservatism or simply is a rebranding of classic conservative politics in the age of President Obama. Much can be discerned about the true nature of an organization by examining its public communications, particularly its online communications. This study analyzes the content of a stratified random sample of 50 local, regional, and state Tea Party websites to assess the true ideology of the political movement and the degree to which that ideology is consistent across the local nodes of this national political movement. The study finds that while economic issues are an important unifying principle among local Tea Party groups, that traditional conservative political causes such as opposition to President Obama, protecting Christian values, and cracking down on illegal immigrants also play a prominent role in Tea Party communications. Additionally, there is little cohesion that exists between the messaging of the local organizations due to the lack of centralized message control in the national Tea Party.
Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX for patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer: Results of a decision analysis.

4117Background: With the advent of more effective therapies for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), efforts to incorporate these agents, such as FOLFIRINOX, into the neoadjuvant set...
Computational neuroscience

From the Publisher: The thirty original contributions in this book provide a working definition of "computational neuroscience" as the area in which problems lie simultaneously within computer science and neuroscience. They review this emerging field in historical and philosophical overviews and in stimulating summaries of recent results. Leading researchers address the structure of the brain and the computational problems associated with describing an understanding this structure a the synaptic, neural, map, and system levels. Eric L. Schwartz is Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems at Boston University.
Loan portfolio diversification, market structure and bank stability

Abstract This paper examines whether the choice of bank loan diversification and market concentration are associated with a bank's financial stability. This study also investigates how the effect of loan diversification on bank stability varies depending on the level of the concentration or the competitiveness of the banking market. We find that increased loan diversification has a positive impact on the bank's financial strength. We show that market concentration is negatively associated with bank insolvency risk, consistent with the “concentration-stability” view. The results using interaction terms between loan portfolio diversification and market concentration indicate that diversifying banks operating in highly concentrated markets are more financially stable compared to those in less concentrated markets.
Tips for Transplanting Tissue Cultured Plants1,2

Our previous studies observed that a lack of closure of in vitro stomata causes water stress in low humidity environments, and that the stomatal closure mechanism develops during acclimatization. The objectives of this study were to determine if a structural or physiological difference prevented in vitro stomatal closure, and whether the duration for acclimatization depends on humidity, foliar application of ABA, darkness, or a high CO2 atmosphere. Stomatal anatomy of in vitro and greenhouse acclimatized leaves were examined with light and scanning electron microscopy. No structural differences which could prevent closure of in vitro stomata were observed. At 30 to 40% relative humidity (RH), 4 to 5 days were necessary for acclimatization, i.e., ability for stomata to close; at 65% RH, 2 days were needed. Stomata in the culture environment did not acclimatize. Results of these studies should aid nurserymen by improving the last stage of culture to minimize the time needed to acclimatize in vitro plants.
A Phase I Trial Using a Multitargeted Recombinant Adenovirus 5 (CEA/MUC1/Brachyury)‐Based Immunotherapy Vaccine Regimen in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Lessons learned Concurrent ETBX-011, ETBX-051, and ETBX-061 can be safely administered to patients with advanced cancer. All patients developed CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cell responses after vaccination to at least one tumor-associated antigen (TAA) encoded by the vaccine; 5/6 patients (83%) developed MUC1-specific T cells, 4/6 (67%) developed CEA-specific T cells, and 3/6 (50%) developed brachyury-specific T cells. The presence of adenovirus 5-neutralizing antibodies did not prevent the generation of TAA-specific T cells. Background A novel adenovirus-based vaccine targeting three human tumor-associated antigens-CEA, MUC1, and brachyury-has demonstrated antitumor cytolytic T-cell responses in preclinical animal models of cancer. Methods This open-label, phase I trial evaluated concurrent administration of three therapeutic vaccines (ETBX-011 = CEA, ETBX-061 = MUC1 and ETBX-051 = brachyury). All three vaccines used the same modified adenovirus 5 (Ad5) vector backbone and were administered at a single dose level (DL) of 5 × 1011 viral particles (VP) per vector. The vaccine regimen consisting of all three vaccines was given every 3 weeks for three doses then every 8 weeks for up to 1 year. Clinical and immune responses were evaluated. Results Ten patients enrolled on trial (DL1 = 6 with 4 in the DL1 expansion cohort). All treatment-related adverse events were temporary, self-limiting, grade 1/2 and included injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms. Antigen-specific T cells to MUC1, CEA, and/or brachyury were generated in all patients. There was no evidence of antigenic competition. The administration of the vaccine regimen produced stable disease as the best clinical response. Conclusion Concurrent ETBX-011, ETBX-051, and ETBX-061 can be safely administered to patients with advanced cancer. Further studies of the vaccine regimen in combination with other agents, including immune checkpoint blockade, are planned.
Detecting False Data Injection Attacks in Smart Grids: A Semi-Supervised Deep Learning Approach

The dependence on advanced information and communication technology increases the vulnerability in smart grids under cyber-attacks. Recent research on unobservable false data injection attacks (FDIAs) reveals the high risk of secure system operation, since these attacks can bypass current bad data detection mechanisms. To mitigate this risk, this paper proposes a data-driven learning-based algorithm for detecting unobservable FDIAs in distribution systems. We use autoencoders for efficient dimension reduction and feature extraction of measurement datasets. Further, we integrate the autoencoders into an advanced generative adversarial network (GAN) framework, which successfully detects anomalies under FDIAs by capturing the unconformity between abnormal and secure measurements. Also, considering that the datasets collected from practical power systems are partially labeled due to expensive labeling costs and missing labels, the proposed method only requires a few labeled measurement data in addition to unlabeled data for training. Numerical simulations in three-phase unbalanced IEEE 13-bus and 123-bus distribution systems validate the detection accuracy and efficiency of this method.
Management of Internal Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are natural occurring sinusoids that help with continence. While a normal part of our anatomy, engorgement, prolapse, bleeding and dull aching pain are extremely common problems that can lead to significant quality of life issues. Treatment should focus on improving symptoms without causing unnecessary morbidity, and generally progresses in a stepwise fashion from least to most invasive. Lifestyle modifications are first-line for most hemorrhoids and can significantly improve symptoms. Medications and office procedures can be used if there is no improvement or the patient desires more definitive management. Surgery is generally only indicated in advanced stage or treatment refractory hemorrhoids due to the risks of complications and postoperative pain. Overall, there is no definitive or optimal treatment, and the approach should be tailored to the hemorrhoidal grade, previous interventions tried, and patient preferences.
Surgical Management of Localized Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Times of Crisis: A Strategic Approach to Resource Utilization

The management of localized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is complex and requires multidisciplinary consideration. In times of crisis when resources are limited and the health of patients might be compromised, as is the case with COVID-19, a strategic approach that takes into account tumor characteristics, patient factors, and available treatment options can optimize patient outcomes while balancing resource utilization. Herein, we detail our group's management strategy for patients with localized HCC during the global pandemic that carefully considers individual patient needs and those of the institutional workforce, the local healthcare system, and the greater patient community we serve.
The snag’s the limit: Habitat selection modeling for the western purple martin in a managed forest landscape

Abstract The western purple martin (Progne subis arboricola), an avian insectivore, is a species of conservation concern throughout the Pacific Northwest. Compared to the well-studied eastern subspecies (Progne subis subis), little is known of the life history and biology of the western subspecies. Availability of breeding habitat is believed to be a major limiting factor for western purple martins in forested habitat, but fundamental information on their current distribution and selection of nesting habitat is deficient. To fill this gap, we compared habitat characteristics at three spatial scales (snag-level, stand-level [48.6 ha], landscape-level [314 ha]) surrounding nest snags occupied by purple martins in western Oregon to unoccupied sites. We found habitat for nesting purple martins was defined by the presence of moderately decayed snags with nest cavities, located well away from closed-canopy forest in sufficiently large (>15 ha) open areas. Our modeling efforts suggested suitable habitat was rare within the study region because: 1) snags were scarce on private industrial forest lands and 2) large disturbed patches were uncommon on federal lands. We conclude that a disturbance regime characterized by infrequent but major stand-replacing events, such as fire or timber harvest, is likely the key to maintaining breeding habitat for purple martins in upland forests in western Oregon.
Simulation-validated generative design of acoustical arrays with diffusion and absorption

This paper presents several new results for on-going efforts in combining computational design methods and acoustical needs. Past investigations employed rule-based design strategies that expanded upon current monolithic deployment of quadratic residue diffusers (QRD) in the field. The algorithm generated novel, and visually diverse arrays of N = 7 QRD panels. The arrays generated visually strayed from the typical appearance of QRD arrays; appearing more expressive as rules were applied. Furthermore, evaluation metrics including a visual complexity coefficient and 3-D polar plots from PML-FEM simulations provided visual evidence that a relationship exists between the appearance of an array and its corresponding acoustical response. Building on this previous work, representative arrays generated by the output of the algorithms with expanded parameters will be presented alongside updated evaluation metrics. The algorithm uses an expanded set of simulation-validated rules that include non-square grid configurations, multiple design frequencies, a varying number of wells, and incorporate zones of absorption. These new arrays, along with results and discussion of acoustical response to these rules, will be presented. Using these expanded parameters absorption, field of room acoustics design is opened up to wide-ranging visual design possibilities that are fully cooperative and incorporated with the acoustic response.
Abstract 7: Modeling cell-cell crosstalk in TNBC brain metastasis

Brain metastasis (BrM) is a difficult clinical problem in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients: it occurs in 25% to 40% of metastatic patients while two-year survival rate stubbornly remains a single digit. TNBC usually spreads to the brain rapidly at earlier stages or before the diagnosis of primary cancer. The shorter development time of BrM in TNBC and shorter survival time after BrM diagnosis may indicate a unique innate ability of TNBC tumor cells in adapting to the brain. Indeed, emerging data including ours indicates that TNBC tumor cells have intrinsic brain-like traits resulting in brain-tropism metastasis. Our preliminary studies identified enriched and diverse expressions of receptors and transporters of various neuro-active substances in brain metastatic TNBC cells, including neurotransmitters, gliotransmitters, neurotrophic factors and neural cytokines. By immunopanning astrocytes and microglia/macrophages from mouse brains bearing TNBC brain metastatic tumors at day 3 post tumor cell injection through left cardiac ventricle, and use the CCCExplorer software in modeling the interactions among tumor cells, astrocytes, and microglia/macrophage with cell-type specific RNAseq data, we identified several novel crosstalk signaling, including tumor autocrine TPH1-HTR2, astrocyte→tumor PCDH7-EGFR, IL6-IL6R, CCL5-CCR5 and VGF-C3AR1, and microglia/macrophage→tumor ARTN-GFAR3. Functional experiments demonstrated that cell type-specific depletion of the secreted neuro-active substances deactivated the activities of corresponding receptor and downstream signaling in co-cultured BrM tumor cells. Given that more complex paracrine/autocrine signaling network may dynamically evolve during BrM development, we are characterizing the spatiotemporal cell-cell crosstalk in the BrM metastatic niche that will have important implications for novel therapeutics development. Citation Format: Hong Zhao, Xin Wang, Nikola Liu, Jianting Sheng, Stephen Wong. Modeling cell-cell crosstalk in TNBC brain metastasis [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 7.
Schema Playground: A tool for authoring, extending, and using metadata schemas to improve FAIRness of biomedical data

Abstract Background Biomedical researchers are strongly encouraged to make their research outputs more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). While many biomedical research outputs are more readily accessible through open data efforts, finding relevant outputs remains a significant challenge. Schema.org is a metadata vocabulary standardization project that enables web content creators to make their content more FAIR. Leveraging Schema.org could benefit biomedical research resource providers, but it can be challenging to apply Schema.org standards to biomedical research outputs. We created an online browser-based tool that empowers researchers and repository developers to utilize schema.org or other biomedical schema projects. Results Our browser-based tool includes features which can help address many of the barriers towards schema.org-compliance such as: The ability to easily browse for relevant Schema.org classes, the ability to extend and customize a class to be more suitable for biomedical research outputs, the ability to create data validation to ensure adherence of a research output to a customized class, and the ability to register a custom class to our schema registry enabling others to search and re-use it. We demonstrate the use of our tool with the creation of the Outbreak.info schema—a large multi-class schema for harmonizing various COVID-19 related resources. Conclusions We have created a browser-based tool to empower biomedical research resource providers to leverage Schema.org classes to make their research outputs more FAIR.
SARS-CoV-2 Mediated Endothelial Dysfunction: The Potential Role of Chronic Oxidative Stress

Endothelial cells have emerged as key players in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 inflammatory pathologies. Dysfunctional endothelial cells can promote chronic inflammation and disease processes like thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and lung injury. In endothelial cells, mitochondria regulate these inflammatory pathways via redox signaling, which is primarily achieved through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). Excess mtROS causes oxidative stress that can initiate and exacerbate senescence, a state that promotes inflammation and chronic endothelial dysfunction. Oxidative stress can also activate feedback loops that perpetuate mitochondrial dysfunction, mtROS overproduction, and inflammation. In this review, we provide an overview of phenotypes mediated by mtROS in endothelial cells - such as mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and senescence - as well as how these chronic states may be initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection of endothelial cells. We also propose that SARS-CoV-2 activates mtROS-mediated feedback loops that cause long-term changes in host redox status and endothelial function, promoting cardiovascular disease and lung injury after recovery from COVID-19. Finally, we discuss the implications of these proposed pathways on long-term vascular health and potential treatments to address these chronic conditions.
Early feeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement in trauma and surgical intensive care patients: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Critically ill patients experience frequent interruptions in enteral nutrition(EN). For ventilated patients who undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube(PEG) placement, post-procedure fasting time varies from 1-24hrs, depending on the surgeon's preference. There is no evidence to support prolonged fasting after PEG placement. This study's purpose was to determine if there is an increased complication rate associated with reduced fasting time after PEG. METHODS 150 adult ventilated trauma and surgical ICU patients at a level I trauma center underwent PEG placement March 2015-May 2018 by one of 6 surgical intensivists. Retrospective review revealed variable post-PEG fasting practices among them: 1 started EN at 1hr, 2 at 4hrs, 2 at 6hrs, and 1 at 24hrs. Time to initiation of EN and complication rates were assessed. Patients were divided into early feeding(<4hrs) and prolonged fasting(≥4hrs) groups. RESULTS Median post-procedure fasting time was 5.5hrs. Complications included bleeding(2), infection(1), tube leak(1), feeding intolerance(1) and aspiration(0). The overall complication rate was 3.3%, with feeding intolerance rate 0.7% and aspiration rate 0%. There was no difference in complication rate for early feeding(3.1%) as compared to delayed feeding(3.4%) (OR 0.92, 95%CI 0.10-8.52, p = 0.7). CONCLUSION Complication rates following PEG placement in ventilated trauma and surgical ICU patients are low and do not change with early feeding <4hr compared to prolonged fasting ≥4hr. Early feeding after PEG is probably safe. With this data, a randomized controlled trial is underway that will provide evidence to support a more consistent practice, thus mitigating a source of EN interruption in a population vulnerable to malnutrition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Switchgrass Stand Density and Yield as Influenced by Seedbed Preparation Methods in a Sandy Loam Soil

Successful establishment of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) remains a challenge. It is reported that increasing seed-soil contact using a roller could improve switchgrass establishment in silt-loam soils. However, use of rollers is not common among growers and operating them could be difficult. The objective of this study was to assess whether rolling could improve switchgrass stand establishment in sandy-loam soils by increasing seed-soil contact through compacting the soil, and to evaluate the use of cultipacker as a more user-friendly alternative to roller. An experiment was conducted in 2012 and repeated in the 2013 growing season at the University of Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station farm in Deerfield. The soil type at the experimental site was Hadley fine sandy loam (nonacid, mesic Typic Udifluvent). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replicates. There were eight treatments including disking-planting (D-P), disking-cultipacking-planting (D-C-P), disking-cultipacking-planting-cultipacking (D-C-P-C), disking-cultipacking-planting-cultipacking-cultipacking (D-C-P-C-C), disking-rolling-planting (D-R-P), disking-rolling-planting-rolling (D-R-P-R), disking-rolling-planting-rolling-rolling (D-R-P-R-R), and disking-rolling-planting-rolling-rolling-rolling (D-R-P-R-R-R). Tiller density was influenced rolling and cultipacking frequency but not by the compaction equipment. Tiller density increased by cultipacking or rolling the soil once (D-C-P-C; D-R-P-R) and two times after planting (D-C-P-C-C; D-R-P-R-R). Disking-planting had the lowest tiller density with 188 and 110 plants (m−2) in 2012 and 2013 growing seasons, respectively. Similar to tiller density, biomass yield was not influenced by compaction equipment but by compaction frequency. Higher biomass yield was obtained from soils that were firmed once before and at least once after planting (D-C-P-C; D-R-P-R) compared with seedbed firming only once before planting (D-C-P; D-R-P). In a dry season (2012), a twofold yield increase (1.06 Mg ha−1) was obtained from D-C-P-C compared with D-C-P (0.55 Mg ha−1). However, two times rolling (D-R-P-R-R-) or cultipacking (D-C-P-C-C) after planting was needed in 2013 to increase the yield compared with D-C-P by 41 %. Our results indicated that using cultipacker as an alternative to roller can be a solution to improve switchgrass establishment. We conclude that D-C-P-C-C could ensure switchgrass establishment and improve switchgrass biomass production in the establishment year in a sandy-loam soil.
Second Language Acquisition: Introduction

Though practical interest in the problems of second language acquisition and use has a lengthy history (see Kelly, 1969, for a survey), the emergence of an independent and identifiable body of “pure” theory and research in the area occurred only in the late 1960’s and early 70’s. Since that time research in the field has grown tremendously in both breadth and depth. A wide variety of cognitive and affective factors have been identified as conducive to or inhibitive of second language acquisition, the course of acquisition has been described (if not explained) in certain limited cases and compared with that of first language acquisition and to the pidginization of standard languages, and a variety of theories and insights - some of the latter quite genuine - have arisen.
CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT ADDICTIVE DISORDERS.

The spread of addiction in epidemic proportions among some children and adolescents at the present time must be considered both in terms of its origins and of its consequences. The development of addiction in a young person is not fortuitous; it is an effect of a multiplicity of factors comprising the child9s internal and external environments. The effects of the addiction can be seen in their interference with the child9s healthy growth and development; the possibility of his completing his education or entering the adult world prepared to meet its challenges is reduced to a minimum. Addiction among children and adolescents today is characterized by the use of a variety of substances–sometimes sequentially, sometimes simultaneously. It is not opiate addiction as a specific disease which is most threatening, but addiction as a general response to the stresses, both subjective and objective, to which children are subjected. It is for this reason that we are concerned with the question, "What is there in the structure of our present-day society that calls forth this pathological response in large numbers of children and adolescents?" The discovery by children and adolescents that pharmacological substances can produce pleasurable experience and freedom from anxiety and tensions, as well as release inhibitions, only increases the vulnerability of the child. Whatever may be the societal or individual predispositions to the development of addiction, the child9s vulnerability to this particular pathology will follow the historical adult model. THE NATURE OF ADDICTION Drug addiction has been defined by the World Health Organization1 as a state of periodic or chronic intoxication, detrimental to the individual and to society, produced by the repeated consumption of a drug (natural or synthetic).
Early Procedure‐Related Adverse Events by Gender in MADIT‐CRT

Adverse Events by Gender in MADIT-CRTBackground Whether gender differences exist in procedure-related adverse events following cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) implantation is unknown. We investigated the type and frequency of procedure-related adverse events among those enrolled in MADIT-CRT and identified clinical predictors for gender-specific events. Methods We compared differences in the rate of procedure-related adverse events by gender (444 females and 1,346 males) that occurred ≤30 days after the index procedure in the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and CRT-D groups. Eight types of major adverse events were identified, defined as procedure-related complications deemed potentially life-threatening. Best subset regression analysis (P < 0.10) was performed to identify baseline clinical factors associated with procedure-related adverse events that differed by gender. Results Women randomized to CRT-D received a greater reduction in the risk of heart failure or death versus men (P < 0.001). Women were twice as likely as men to experience a major procedure-related adverse event (6.3% vs. 2.7%; P < 0.001), including pneumothorax/hemothorax (3% vs. 1%; P < 0.001). Women were more likely to experience a major adverse event related to CRT-D than ICD implantation (7.7% vs. 2.9%; P = 0.018). Clinical predictors of major adverse events in females were smaller body mass index (BMI), elevated blood urea nitrogen, and elevated creatinine. The main predictor for pneumothorax/hemothorax was reduced BMI for women and men. Conclusion Women demonstrate greater clinical benefit from CRT than men but are more likely to experience adverse procedure-related events within the first 30 days after device implantation. A smaller BMI seems to be a major factor associated with pneumothorax/hemothorax in both females and males.
Uncovering Organizational Hierarchies

This paper adapts a procedure, canonical analysis of asymmetry, originally defined by Gower (1977) to the analysis of hierarchical properties in organizational structures. Its application is demonstrated using two available data sets, Freeman and Freeman‘s (1980) data on computer communication and Krackhardt‘s (1987) data on advice-giving and getting in an organization.
Genetic analysis of bacteriophage N4 adsorption.

Abstract We isolated six mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 that were defective in bacteriophage N4 adsorption. We mapped the mutations to four loci designated nfrA through nfrD (N four resistance). nfrA and nfrB were tightly linked to each other and were mapped to min 12 of the E. coli linkage map. nfrC was mapped to min 85, and nfrD was mapped between min 44 and 58. We isolated a clone carrying both nfrA and nfrB and identified its gene products through maxicell analysis of plasmid subclones. The nfrA gene product was an outer membrane protein of 96,000 apparent molecular weight, whereas nfrB encoded an inner-membrane protein of 69,500 apparent molecular weight. The nfrB1 mutation did not affect the export of the nfrA gene product to the outer membrane and did not affect the alkaline phosphatase activity of an nfrA-phoA fusion. We propose that nfrA encodes the structural receptor for N4 and that the nfrB gene product may be required for irreversible adsorption and injection of the phage genome and virion-encapsulated RNA polymerase through the inner membrane.
Stochastic time-predictable model for earthquake occurrences

Recent geophysical studies have indicated that an earthquake recurrence interval and the size of the preceding event are positively correlated. This observation is the basis for the deterministic time-predictable recurrence model of Shimazaki and Nakata. Using the basic assumptions of the time-predictable recurrence model, we develop a stochastic model of earthquake occurrence that incorporates temporal dependence. This paper discusses the formulation of the model and the effect of including temporal dependence. Hazard estimates for a section of the San Andreas fault near Parkfield, where data has suggested time-predictable behavior, are obtained for illustrative purposes. Comparisons are made with the Poisson model. Results indicate that currently used Poisson models may give lower estimates of the seismic hazard when there has been a seismic gap. Of the various sensitivity analyses performed, it is observed that slip rate has the largest effect on exceedence probabilites computed from the stochastic time-predictable model. Therefore, accurate determinations of slip rates (both seismic and aseismic) can substantially reduce the uncertainty in seismic hazard estimates.
A real-time distributed storage system for multi-resolution virtual synchrophasor

With the continuing large-scale deployment of Pha-sor Measurement Units (PMU), the Wide-Area Measurement System (WAMS) technology is envisioned to evolve towards a distributed architecture where multiple sets of distributed Phasor Data Concentrators (PDCs) collectively process PMU data to achieve real-time distributed intelligence. Emerging applications developed under this vision will pose stringent but heterogeneous real-time requirements on throughput, delay, and reliability performance of the underlying communication and computing infrastructure. To address this problem, we present a novel virtual PMU (vPMU) architecture that decomposes phasor samples into multiple resolution layers. For a particular receiver with a certain resolution requirement, a complete set of PMU data can be composed by combining samples from the lower layers, without the need for samples from higher layers. We design and implement a real-time distributed storage system to support the virtual PMU data communication. We extend the Chord algorithm so that the response time of data communication can be bounded by our storage system. In addition, we use queuing theory to analyze the response time of requests with our stochastic model.
Properties of Quantum Transition State Theory and Its Corrections

A previously proposed version of quantum transition state theory (QTST) is analyzed in the classical (ℏ → 0) limit. In this limit, the theory becomes classical transition state theory for the particular transition state (TS) used. In addition, a variational choice for the transition state surface for use in this theory is suggested. An alternative quantum transition state theory (QTST2) is presented, and results are presented for symmetric and asymmetric Eckart barriers. Corrections to both theories based on analytic continuation are proposed.