cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes for prostate glands >60 cc treated with low-dose-rate brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose We sought to analyze whether outcomes of biochemical relapse–free survival (bRFS), late genitourinary (GU), and late gastrointestinal toxicity are different for prostate cancer patients with small (≤60 cc) vs. large (>60 cc) prostates following low dose-rate brachytherapy. Methods and Materials The bRFS outcomes for 2076 low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients from 1996 to 2012 were determined from a review of a prospectively maintained database. All patients were treated with 125 I monotherapy without androgen deprivation therapy. Biochemical failure was defined per the Phoenix definition. Patient-related factors and dosimetric values were examined in Cox regression analyses for bRFS and late toxicity. Late toxicity was scored according to a modified Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 scale. Results The median followup for all patients was 55 months. The 5-year bRFS rates for all patients, prostates >60 cc, and prostates ≤60 cc were 93.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 92.1%, 94.7%), 96.7% (95% CI: 94.4%, 98.9%), and 92.9% (95% CI: 91.4%, 94.3%), respectively. On multivariable analysis, prostate size >60 cc was significantly associated with improved bRFS ( p = 0.01), as were initial prostate-specific antigen and biopsy Gleason score ( p p = 0.0002, respectively). Patients with prostates >60 cc had significantly higher rates of Grade 3–4 late GU toxicity at 5 years than patients with smaller prostates; 7.2% (95% CI: 4.0%, 10.4%) and 3.2% (95% CI: 2.3%, 4.1%), respectively ( p = 0.0007). The overall late gastrointestinal toxicity rate for all patients was 0.7% at 5 years with no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions Implantation of large prostates >60 cc results in favorable bRFS outcomes and is associated with increased but acceptable rates of Grade 3 and higher late GU toxicities.
Androgyny Seen Through Shakespeare’s Disguise

I N DEALING WITH THE FEMALE PAGE DISGUISE in Renaissance drama, one is invariably struck by the complexity of the double sex reversal implied by the presence of the boy actor."' Sitting in a study, one may very well be so struck. But to allow oneself to be so prevents one from viewing Renaissance drama historically and theatrically. Indeed, critically blinding homage has too long been paid to the false assumption that Shakespeare and his colleagues readily exploited girl-into-boy disguise because their women were really men and their audiences knew it. We have too long assumed that writers were thus provided the essential ingredients to formulate easy, automatic situation-comedy. In point of historical fact, there is little comically elaborated girl-into-boy disguise in Shakespearean and Elizabethan drama. And, from the standpoint of legitimate theatre, to maintain that there has ever been a comic device based on the actual sex of the actors is to fly in the face of a generic essential casually remarked upon by Sidney and Johnson: people going to the theatre check their literal-mindedness at the door and willingly believe anything they are asked to believe; the theatre is where illusion becomes reality. An actor in role is whatever sex, age, and cultural origin the playwright asserts. Thus, a speech assigned by Shakespeare to a woman in disguise as a boy can work in the theatre only if the audience knows and accepts that the speaker is really a woman-even in Elizabeth's day when, in an entirely different and dramatically extraneous mode of consciousness, the audience simultaneously knew and unconsciously accepted that the speaker was really a male actor. We do Shakespeare a disservice not to accept his women as women.2 We risk missing the full significance of the lines he gives them. Pertinent illustration of this series of assertions can be found in The 7wo Gentlemen of Verona when Shakespeare presents his Julia-as-Sebastian talking with Silvia in IV. iv. For the benefit of Silvia as audience, "Sebastian" says: once
Recruitment in White-Footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus) as a Function of Litter Size, Parity, and Season

We explored the relationship between reproductive success and parity in white-footed mice. Because these small mammals are short-lived and have low residual reproductive value in the field, we predicted, contrary to laboratory results, that litter size, weaning rates, and recruitment would not increase as a function of female age or parity. We used data from 3 years of mark-and-recapture trapping data and from nest boxes to estimate weaning and recruitment rates in a 2-ha woodlot in northwest Ohio. Of 401 mice from 82 litters born in nest boxes, 87 were recruited into the population as adults. We observed no increase in litter size, weaning rates, or recruitment with maternal age or parity. Season interacted with parity such that recruitment from spring-born litters produced by females having their first or second litters was four times higher than from all other litters. Litter size did not influence weaning rates and only affected recruitment when season and parity also were considered.
Estrogenic Control of Behavioral Sex Change in the Bluehead Wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum

Estrogens activate male-typical sexual behavior in several mammalian and avian models. Estrogen signaling also appears critical in the control of sex change in some fishes, in which it is instead decreases in estradiol levels that may permit development of male-typical behaviors. The bluehead wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite that exhibits rapid increases in aggressive and male-typical courtship behavior as females undergo sex change. Removal of the ovaries does not prevent these changes. In two field experiments involving gonadally-intact and gonadectomized females, estradiol (E2) implants prevented behavioral sex change in large females who were made the largest members of their social groups through removals of more dominant fish. In contrast, cholesterol-implanted control females showed full behavioral sex change, along with a higher frequency both of aggressive interactions and of male-typical courtship displays than occurred in E2-implanted animals. To assess potential neural correlates of these behavioral effects of E2, we evaluated abundances of aromatase mRNA using in situ hybridization. Aromatase mRNA was more abundant in the POA of E2-implanted females than in cholesterol-implanted controls in gonadally-intact females. The lack of behavioral sex change coupled with increased levels of aromatase mRNA are consistent with an inhibitory role for E2, likely of neural origin, in regulating socially controlled sex change.
Team-Based Collaboration in Model-Based Design

In this paper, a new tool is introduced that enables team-based collaboration in Model-Based Design. The use of this tool enhances the engineer’s productivity by maintaining primary focus on the design tasks, encourages the adoption of configuration management tools through the abstraction of complex file and source control tasks, and improves knowledge transfer across the organization. The key challenges engineers face today and how this new tool addresses these challenges are described in this paper. Best practices for motivating organizations, large and small, to jumpstart team-based development initiatives are also described within the context of the tool’s capabilities.
Research of the rural science popularization DSS Based on the agricultural ontology

To construct a decision support system is an available approach in the rural science popularization.Agricultural ontology is a knowledge integrated system based on the terminology of agricultural domain.To construct a decision support system of the rural science popularization based on the agricultural ontology need to pay attention to below questions:: researching the software in existence, scientific devising internet applications,completely collecting the information and to do the data development,moving the decision support system of the rural science popularization to internet after testing and amending the DSS,and doing maintenance renewal,effectively functioning of the DSS in a long time.
Synergistic Transcutaneous Immunotherapy Enhances Antitumor Immune Responses through Delivery of Checkpoint Inhibitors

Despite the promising efficacy of immunoregulation in cancer therapy, the clinical benefit has been restricted by inefficient infiltration of lymphocytes in the evolution of immune evasion. Also, immune-related adverse events have often occurred due to the off-target binding of therapeutics to normal tissues after systematic treatment. In light of this, we have developed a synergistic immunotherapy strategy that locally targets the immunoinhibitory receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) and immunosuppressive enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) for the treatment of melanoma through a microneedle-based transcutaneous delivery approach. The embedded immunotherapeutic nanocapsule loaded with anti-PD1 antibody (aPD1) is assembled from hyaluronic acid modified with 1-methyl-dl-tryptophan (1-MT), an inhibitor of IDO. This formulation method based on the combination strategy of “drug A in carriers formed by incorporation of drug B” facilitates the loading capacity of therapeutics. Moreover, the resul...
Posture Modification Effects Using Soft Materials Structures

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop a textile component system that could be added to a compression garment to achieve body posture that more closely resembles an ideal balanced posture. The approach of this study was to find a middle ground of posture correctors and compression garments by combining structural support elements with garment compression to achieve effective posture modification as well as comfort. To achieve this goal, a Posture Modification System using Soft materials structures (PMSS) was developed by experimenting with textile elastic bands to mimic the structure and placement of anatomical postural features (muscles and spinal column) of a woman’s back torso. For prototype development, a bodysuit type shapewear garment was used to incorporate the PMSS and a wear test with female participants was conducted. To assess posture changes through body angles, participants were 3D scanned and questionnaires were administered to determine wearer acceptability. Body angle assessment indicated that wearing the prototype positively affected posture changes including more balanced shoulders, more aligned lateral center of gravity, and straighter spine. As assessed with a questionnaire, the prototype achieved higher wearer acceptability in terms of posture, body shape, and fit compared to the shapewear without the PMSS. This study shows the potential of developing the soft structural posture modification system for use beyond the lingerie category. Furthermore, more aligned postures exhibited by participants wearing the PMSS enhanced garment while carrying loads indicate potential in developing soft-structured posture support garments for load-bearing situations in industrial and military settings.
The Ill-Posed Problem in DIC

The contribution of our paper is to present a mixed finite element method for estimation of the velocity in the optical flow constraint, i.e., an advection equation. The resulting inverse problem is well-known to be undetermined because the velocity vector cannot be recovered from the scalar field advected unless further restrictions on the flow, or motion are imposed. If we suppose, for example, that the velocity is solenoidal, a well-defined least squares problem with a minimizing velocity results. Equivalently, we have imposed the constraint that the underlying motion is isochoric. Unfortunately, the resulting least squares system is ill-posed and so regularization via a mixed formulation of the Poisson equation is proposed. Standard results for the Poisson equation demonstrate that the regularized least squares problem is well-posed and has a stable finite element approximation. A numerical example demonstrating the procedure supports the analyses. The example also introduces a closed form solution for the unregularized, constrained least squares problem so that the approximation can be quantified.
Essentials of Business Driven Information Systems

Essentials of Business Driven Information Systems discusses various business initiatives first and how technology supports those initiatives second. The premise for this unique approach is that business initiatives should drive technology choices. Every discussion first addresses the business needs and then addresses the technology that supports those needs. Table of contents Chapter 1 Information Systems in BusinessChapter 2 Strategic Decision MakingChapter 3 E-BusinessChapter 4 Ethics and Information SecurityChapter 5 IT ArchitecturesChapter 6 Databases and Data WarehousesChapter 7 Networks, Telecommunications, and Wireless ComputingChapter 8 Supply Chain ManagementChapter 9 Customer Relationship ManagementChapter 10 Enterprise Resource Planning and Collaboration SystemsAppendix A Business Basics (on the OLC only)Appendix B Business Process (on the OLC only)
The effects of air pollution on individual psychological distress

This study is the first of its kind to utilize longitudinal, nationally representative panel data from the United States to assess the relationship between exposure to air pollution and reports of psychological distress. Using annual-average measures of air pollution in respondents' census blocks of residence we find that over the period 1999-2011 particulate matter 2.5 is significantly associated with increased psychological distress; this association remains even after controlling for a robust set of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related covariates. This study suggests that public health efforts to reduce the personal and societal costs of mental illness should consider addressing not only individual characteristics and factors in the social environment, but also underexplored facets of the physical environment such as air pollution.
A guide to Bayesian model checking for ecologists

Checking that models adequately represent data is an essential component of applied statistical inference. Ecologists increasingly use hierarchical Bayesian statistical models in their research. The appeal of this modeling paradigm is undeniable, as researchers can build and fit models that embody complex ecological processes while simultaneously controlling observation error. However, ecologists tend to be less focused on checking model assumptions and assessing potential lack-of-fit when applying Bayesian methods than when applying more traditional modes of inference such as maximum likelihood. There are also multiple ways of assessing the fit of Bayesian models, each of which has strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Bayesian p-values are relatively easy to compute, but are well known to be conservative, producing p-values biased toward 0.5. Alternatively, lesser known approaches to model checking, such as prior predictive checks, cross-validation probability integral transforms, and pivot discrepancy measures may produce more accurate characterizations of goodness-of-fit but are not as well known to ecologists. In addition, a suite of visual and targeted diagnostics can be used to examine violations of different model assumptions and lack-of-fit at different levels of the modeling hierarchy, and to check for residual temporal or spatial autocorrelation. In this review, we synthesize existing literature to guide ecologists through the many available options for Bayesian model checking. We illustrate methods and procedures with several ecological case studies, including i) analysis of simulated spatio-temporal count data, (ii) N-mixture models for estimating abundance and detection probability of sea otters from an aircraft, and (iii) hidden Markov modeling to describe attendance patterns of California sea lion mothers on a rookery. We find that commonly used procedures based on posterior predictive p-values detect extreme model inadequacy, but often do not detect more subtle cases of lack of fit. Tests based on cross-validation and pivot discrepancy measures (including the ``sampled predictive p-value'') appear to be better suited to model checking and to have better overall statistical performance. We conclude that model checking is an essential component of scientific discovery and learning that should accompany most Bayesian analyses presented in the literature.
Communication at Scale in a MOOC Using Predictive Engagement Analytics

When teaching at scale in the physical classroom or online classroom of a MOOC, the scarce resource of personal instructor communication becomes a differentiating factor between the quality of learning experience available in smaller classrooms. In this paper, through real-time predictive modeling of engagement analytics, we augment a MOOC platform with personalized communication affordances, allowing the instructional staff to direct communication to learners based on individual predictions of three engagement analytics. The three model analytics are the current probability of earning a certificate, of submitting enough materials to pass the class, and of leaving the class and not returning. We engineer an interactive analytics interface in edX which is populated with real-time predictive analytics from a backend API service. The instructor can target messages to, for example, all learners who are predicted to complete all materials but not pass the class. Our approach utilizes the state-of-the-art in recurrent neural network classification, evaluated on a MOOC dataset of 20 courses and deployed in one. We provide evaluation of these courses, comparing a manual feature engineering approach to an automatic feature learning approach using neural networks. Our provided code for the front-end and back-end allows any instructional team to add this personalized communication dashboard to their edX course granted they have access to the historical clickstream data from a previous offering of the course, their course’s daily provided log data, and an external machine to run the model service API.
Access to Mathematics by Blind Students

Access to, and doing mathematics, is one of the biggest obstacles for blind students in school and at the university. Our special thematic session (STS) will present new approaches to offering blind students better access to mat, to provide new tools for doing math and offer support tools to math teachers to help them offer better instruction to blind students. In the remainder of this short paper, the basic problems and historical solutions to the problem are discussed as a means of laying the groundwork for our STS.
Glucose transporters in the human placenta.

The availability of antibodies and cDNA probes specific for the various members of the facilitated-diffusion glucose transporter (GLUT) family has enabled researchers to obtain a much clearer picture of the mechanisms for placental uptake and transplacental transport of glucose. This review examines studies of human placental glucose transport with the aim of providing a model which describes the transporter isoforms present in the placenta, their cellular localization and functional significance. The GLUT1 glucose transporter, present on both the microvillous and basal membranes of the syncytial barrier, is the primary isoform involved in the transplacental movement of glucose. Although GLUT3 mRNA is widely distributed, GLUT3 protein is localized to the arterial component of the vascular endothelium, where it may play a role in enhancing transplacental glucose transport. This data is in contrast to the situation in other mammalian species, such as the mouse, rat and sheep, where GLUT3 protein is not only present in those epithelial cells which carry out transplacental transport but becomes an increasingly prominent isoform as gestation progresses. The asymmetric distribution of GLUT1 in the human syncytiotrophoblast (microvillous>basal) means that basal GLUT1 acts as the rate limiting step in transplacental transfer. Changes in basal GLUT1 therefore have the potential to cause alterations in transplacental transport of glucose. Although there appear to be no changes in syncytial GLUT1 expression in intrauterine growth retardation, in diabetic pregnancies increases in basal GLUT1 expression and activity have been observed, with significant consequences for the maternal-fetal flux of glucose. Little is known of glucose transporter regulation in the placenta save for the effects of hyper- and hypoglycemia. GLUT1 expression and activity appear to be inversely related to extracellular glucose concentration, however within the physiological range, GLUT1 expression is relatively refractory to glucose concentration. Information is still needed on gestational development, on the expression and activity in well-defined conditions of intrauterine growth retardation, on the mechanisms and consequences of the changes observed in diabetic pregnancy and on the role of external agents other than glucose in regulating placental glucose transport.
Models for Desorption in Covalent Systems

The electron- and photon — stimulated desorption (ESD/PSD) of ions and neutrals from various surfaces has been shown to be a sensitive probe for the study of surface-adsorbate interactions and bonding [1], and even for the determination of such physical properties as the chemisorption bond angle and bond site (e.g., from ESD ion angular distributions, ESDIAD [2]). Despite this success, until recently little understanding of the ESD/PSD mechanism has been apparent for covalent systems. For example, the desorption cross section is seen to be highly dependent on adsorption site [3] and surface coverage [4,5], but this is not well understood. However, recent comparative investigations [6] between molecular dissociation in the gas phase and chemisorbed on the surface have been very helpful in understanding the desorption mechanisms in molecularly chemisorbed systems (e.g., CO and H2O on metals). Other work utilizing Auger and photoelectron data along with theoretical calculations has provided similar insight into the desorption mechanisms involved in extended covalent solids (such as SiO2 and Si3N4 [7]), and for chemisorbed H (e.g. H/Si, Ni, Pd, and W [8–11]). The results of these investigations in covalent systems will be discussed here in the context of models previously proposed for desorption from surfaces, as well as for molecular dissociation and defect formation in solids.
OrthoList 2: A New Comparative Genomic Analysis of Human and Caenorhabditis elegans Genes.

OrthoList, a compendium of Caenorhabditis elegans genes with human orthologs compiled in 2011 by a meta-analysis of four orthology-prediction methods, has been a popular tool for identifying conserved genes for research into biological and disease mechanisms. However, the efficacy of orthology prediction depends on the accuracy of gene-model predictions, an ongoing process, and orthology-prediction algorithms have also been updated over time. Here we present OrthoList 2 (OL2), a new comparative genomic analysis between C. elegans and humans, and the first assessment of how changes over time affect the landscape of predicted orthologs between two species. Although we find that updates to the orthology-prediction methods significantly changed the landscape of C. elegans–human orthologs predicted by individual programs and—unexpectedly—reduced agreement among them, we also show that our meta-analysis approach “buffered” against changes in gene content. We show that adding results from more programs did not lead to many additions to the list and discuss reasons to avoid assigning “scores” based on support by individual orthology-prediction programs; the treatment of “legacy” genes no longer predicted by these programs; and the practical difficulties of updating due to encountering deprecated, changed, or retired gene identifiers. In addition, we consider what other criteria may support claims of orthology and alternative approaches to find potential orthologs that elude identification by these programs. Finally, we created a new web-based tool that allows for rapid searches of OL2 by gene identifiers, protein domains [InterPro and SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool], or human disease associations ([OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritence in Man], and also includes available RNA-interference resources to facilitate potential translational cross-species studies.
Interference Precancellation for Resource Management in Heterogeneous Cellular Networks

Network densification by installing more cellular stations (cells) with smaller coverage is promising to improve wireless capacity to meet the explosive growth of cellular traffic. The macrocellular base station and smaller cells with different coverage form heterogeneous cellular networks. Typically, the smaller cells operate in the same spectrum as the macrocells. Most of the existing interference mitigation approaches either rely on resource isolation or power auto-configuration. In cellular networks, the data to all cells and the mobile stations (MSs) are originated from the core cellular network. We take advantage of this characteristic and propose a technique called interference precancellation . If the exact interferer to an MS is identified, the victim cell that serves the victim MS transmits the interference precanceled signal, which is the signal intended for the victim MS subtracts the interference signal. The interference precanceled signal and the interference signal scramble at the victim MS and became the intended signal. With interference precancellation, the interferer and the victim cell can utilize the same set of resources and thus the capacity is further improved. However, some MSs are interference-free, and for MSs whose exact interferers cannot be determined, the MSs still require resource isolation. Therefore, we propose an algorithm for resource management with interference precancellation (RMIP) that jointly considers MSs experiencing a different level of interference. Through experiments on GNU Radio/USRP, we show that the known interference signal can be precanceled and the combination of the interference signal and the precanceled signal becomes the intended signal. Simulation results show that if all exact interferers are identified, RMIP algorithm achieves higher throughput compared with pure resource isolation.
Unbiased genome-scale identification of cis-regulatory modules in the human genome by GRAMc

Abstract Although significant advances have been made toward functionally identifying human regulatory elements, existing genome-scale reporter methods preferentially detect either enhancers or promoters. Here we develop GRAMc, a highly reproducible unbiased Genome-scale Reporter Assay Method for cis-regulatory modules (CRMs). GRAMc combines the versatility of traditional reporter constructs and the scalability of DNA barcode reporters, and unites the complementary advantages of several currently available high-throughput reporter assays. We demonstrate that GRAMc can reliably measure cis-regulatory activity of nearly 90% of the human genome in 200 million HepG2 cells with randomly fragmented ~800bp inserts. By using the GRAMc-identified CRMs, we show that CRMs identified in one cell type are useful for predicting gene regulatory programs not only within that cell type but also between cell types or conditions separated in time and space. In addition, the GRAMc-identified CRMs support the hypothesis that SINE/Alu elements are rich sources of regulatory evolution. Finally, the observation that the majority of experimentally identified regulatory elements do not overlap with computationally predicted elements underscores the necessity of an efficient and unbiased genome-scale reporter assay.
Contribution on the question of frequency analysis in the cochlea

Es wird an einem vergroserten Modell der Schnecke, das mit der Haut des Armes in Kontakt gebracht ist, gezeigt, das die Wanderwellen auf der Schneckenmembran trotz ihrer sehr flachen Amplitudenverteilung scharfe Lokalisationen entlang der Membran erlauben, so das kleine Frequenzanderungen aus Ortsverschiebungen leicht ermittelt werden konnen. Einige Versuche uber die nervosen Hemmungserscheinungen entlang der Hautoberflache werden beschrieben, nachdem die Wellenbewegungen in der Schnecke des lebenden Meerschweinchens oder des menschlichen Praparates dargestellt wurden.
Developing a text messaging-based smoking cessation intervention for young smokers experiencing homelessness

IntroductionCigarette smoking is highly prevalent among young people experiencing homelessness, and many of these smokers are motivated to quit. However, there is a lack of readily available cessation services for this population, which is highly mobile and can be challenging to engage in services.AimsWe describe the development of a smoking cessation text messaging intervention (TMI) for homeless youth who are interested in quitting smoking.MethodsParticipants were 18–25 years old and recruited from drop-in centers serving homeless youth. Three focus groups (N = 18) were conducted with smokers to refine the TMI content, and a separate sample of smokers (N = 8) provided feedback on the TMI after using it for 1 week. Survey data assessed the TMI's acceptability and feasibility.ResultsParticipants generally rated the TMI as helpful and relevant, and nearly all had cell phone plans that included unlimited texting and were able to view TMI content with few difficulties. Qualitative feedback on strengths/limitations of the TMI in terms of content, tone, and delivery parameters was used to finalize the TMI for a future evaluation.ConclusionsResults suggest that a TMI is a feasible and acceptable option for young people experiencing homelessness who are interested in quitting smoking.
A re-evaluation of LINE-1 ORF2 expression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

We previously examined expression of Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) in a variety of prostate cancer cells including hormone-dependent LNCaP cells. These studies demonstrated expression and sub-cellular localization of LINE-1 proteins, ORF1p, with antibody 4H1, and ORF2p, with antibody chA1-L1. Here we conduct immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry analysis using chA1-L1 antibody against ORF2p in LNCaP cells. Our results indicate that antigens detected by the antibody include the transcriptional regulator BCLAF1. We show that chA1-L1 recognizes BCLAF1 using siRNA knockdown and overexpression of a tagged BCLAF1. We also show that chA1-L1 antibody recognizes ORF2p in HEK293 cells overexpressing LINE-1. Further, analysis of ORF2p (chA1-L1) and BCLAF1 foci using immunofluorescence in LNCaP cells showed significant colocalization. Overall, our findings indicate that chA1-L1 antibody recognizes both BCLAF1 and ORF2p but the majority of antigen recognized in LNCaP cells is BCLAF1.
Catalyst Deactivation and Regeneration

if one considers the entire realm of chemical kinetics, one distinguishing feature of reaction on surfaces is that the rates of such reactions tend to decrease as time increases under otherwise steady state conditions. Such changes are seldom known in homogeneous reactions in which catalytic surfaces are not involved. From the point of view of experimental observation, such changes may or may not be correlated with the kinetic variables of importance for the main reaction such as concentration or temperature since as will be seen they may be the result of parallel, independent chemical processes, or they may be associated with the chemical behavior of the reactants or products of the main reaction, or they may be the result of some degradation of the catalytic surface.
Considerations for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in COVID-19 Era: Can We Sustain the Solutions to Keep Our Patients and Healthcare Personnel Safe?

Several uncertainties exist regarding how we will conduct our clinical, didactic, business, and social activities as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic abates and social distancing guidelines are relaxed. We anticipate changes in how we interact with our patients and other providers, how patient workflow is designed, the methods used to conduct our teaching sessions, and how we perform procedures in different clinical settings. The objective of the present report is to review some of the changes to consider in the clinical and academic oral and maxillofacial surgery workflow and, allow for a smoother transition, with less risk to our patients and healthcare personnel. New infection control policies should be strictly enforced and monitored in all clinical and nonclinical settings, with an overall goal to decrease the risk of exposure and transmission. Screening for COVID-19 symptoms, testing when indicated, and establishing the epidemiologic linkage will be crucial to containing and preventing new COVID-19 cases until a vaccine or an alternate solution is available. Additionally, the shortage of essential supplies such as drugs and personal protective equipment, the design and ventilation of workspaces and waiting areas, the increase in overhead costs, and the possible absence of staff, if quarantine is necessary, must be considered. This shift in our workflow and patient care paths will likely continue in the short-term at least through 2021 or the next 12 to 24 months. Thus, we must prioritize surgery, balancing patient preferences and healthcare personnel risks. We have an opportunity now to make changes and embrace telemedicine and other collaborative virtual platforms for teaching and clinical care. It is crucial that we maintain COVID-19 awareness, proper surveillance in our microenvironments, good clinical judgment, and ethical values to continue to deliver high-quality, economical, and accessible patient care.
Business and Human Rights in Europe: International Law Challenges (Foreword)

This book, through various differently oriented chapters, tries to give an insight on how the European Union and its multilevel model of governance must try to strike a balance between diverging interests and priorities. In particular, the EU and the European states (including the CoE’s Members) should implement all possible actions to protect individuals’ dignity, along with other important sustainable community priorities such as public health, sustainable development and the protection of the environment, social values, and fundamental freedoms. At the same time the regulations and practices should be able to build-up an appropriate business environment that is sufficiently friendly to corporate activity to permit companies to produce growth and create new job opportunities, without affecting any of the individual substantial rights and liberties. The book contains chapters providing an overview and comparison of different existing practices with constructive suggestions for future policy-making, as well as chapters dealing with more specific issues related to business and human rights. Overall, this book attempts not only to summarize the outcomes of the most intensely debated challenges; it also tries to provide constructive criticism and valuable suggestions for the future for policymakers and legislators to move forward. Business and human rights hold many complex and intricate relations, as well as the interests of subjects who do not have an equal social and legal position. All these diverging values and opposing concerns require a very delicate and diplomatic approach in order to bring clarity and binding security for all the involved stakeholders. Nevertheless, the future outlook of the field looks promising, mainly due to the large amount of documents, frameworks, opinions, and bilateral agreements, but also thanks to the incessant and sometimes constructively obstinate activity of institutions, and national and international courts. This book has the potential to also be one of the sources for fostering incremental positive development in order to consolidate more human conditions and values in the global economy, free-trade and business, which should be primarily for humans. Not only for the privileged ones, but for all human beings.
The molecular basis of tight nuclear tethering and inactivation of cGAS.

Nucleic acids derived from pathogens induce potent innate immune responses1–6. Cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS) is a double-stranded DNA sensor that catalyses the synthesis of the cyclic dinucleotide cyclic GMP–AMP, which mediates the induction of type I interferons through the STING–TBK1–IRF3 signalling axis7–11. cGAS was previously thought to not react with self DNA owing to its cytosolic localization2,12,13; however, recent studies have shown that cGAS is localized mostly in the nucleus and has low activity as a result of tight nuclear tethering14–18. Here we show that cGAS binds to nucleosomes with nanomolar affinity and that nucleosome binding potently inhibits its catalytic activity. To elucidate the molecular basis of cGAS inactivation by nuclear tethering, we determined the structure of mouse cGAS bound to human nucleosome by cryo-electron microscopy. The structure shows that cGAS binds to a negatively charged acidic patch formed by histones H2A and H2B via its second DNA-binding site19. High-affinity nucleosome binding blocks double-stranded DNA binding and maintains cGAS in an inactive conformation. Mutations of cGAS that disrupt nucleosome binding alter cGAS-mediated signalling in cells. Structural studies show that cyclic GMP–AMP synthase binds to nucleosomes through its DNA-binding site, which maintains it in an inactive conformation and prevents self-DNA binding.
A Community-Based Feasibility Study of Weight-Loss in Rural, Older Adults with Obesity.

This study was a 12-week feasibility weight-loss intervention consisting of caloric restriction and aerobic/resistance exercise in older adults with obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) in a geogra...
The Fundamental Rate Determining Processes in Creep Fracture

ABSTRACT The mechanisms of local fracture in creeping polycrystalline alloys are examined to determine the rate controlling process that govern creep fracture. Well established relationships are given for the micromechanisms of creep fracture by both transgranular and intergranular modes, and times to fracture are determined under constant conditions. The consequences of these are examined for both quasi-homogeneous fracture without cracks and fracture by crack growth obeying a C * growth criterion. It is then discovered that in most cases where crack growth obeying a C * criterion is found, the likely conditions for possible initial cracks, operating stresses and temperatures favor fracture by accumulation of quasi-homogeneous creep damage rather than crack growth.
Spinal cord stimulation and psychotropic medication use: Missing piece to the puzzle?

Abstract Psychotropic medications have modulatory effects on spinal cord stimulator (SCS) therapy and may play an important role in determining treatment success in chronic pain management. However, it remains unknown how SCS affects psychotropic use and whether the medications affect outcome. We performed a retrospective study to determine the prevalence of psychotropic medication (i.e. anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant) use among new SCS patients immediately before implantation and characterized the dosage changes at 1-year. We also sought to understand whether pre-operative medication status affects outcome, defined as device explantation due to treatment failure. In an analysis of 45 patients, 31%, 51% and 71% were actively taking anxiolytics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants, respectively, before surgery. In the majority of cases, daily dosages remained the same for all three classes of medication at 1-year. Patients who were on two or more classes of medications pre-operatively had significantly lower explantation rate compared to those with one or none (12% vs. 43%, p = 0.041) and had 5.25 times less likelihood of explanation in the future (OR 5.25, 95%CI 1.18–23.2, p = 0.029). Our study suggest that peri-operative multimodality medical treatment may enhance the therapeutic efficacy and durability of SCS in carefully selected chronic pain patients.
A Qualitative Scoping Review of Transgender and Gender Non-conforming People's Physical Healthcare Experiences and Needs

Trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people experience poor health care and health outcomes. We conducted a qualitative scoping review of studies addressing TGNC people's experiences receiving physical health care to inform research and practice solutions. A systematic search resulted in 35 qualitative studies for analysis. Studies included 1,607 TGNC participants, ages 16-64 years. Analytic methods included mostly interviews and focus groups; the most common analysis strategy was theme analysis. Key themes in findings were patient challenges, needs, and strengths. Challenges dominated findings and could be summarized by lack of provider knowledge and sensitivity and financial and insurance barriers, which hurt TGNC people's health. Future qualitative research should explore the experiences of diverse and specific groups of TGNC people (youth, non-binary, racial/ethnic minority), include community-based methods, and theory development. Practice-wise, training for providers and skills and support for TGNC people to advocate to improve their health, are required.
Using ANP in the Non-Profit Sector: Selecting a Congress Site and Predicting Conference Attendance

Non-profit organizations operate with more tight budgets and restrictions than their private counterparts. There is always a risk that a wrong decision may have catastrophic effects for the organization. Also, decisions made by non-profit managers tend to be highly scrutinized by their constituents in terms of consistency with the organizational mission, objectives, etc. This creates the need for managers, to use a methodology that not only assists in their decision-making process but that also allows them to explain the decision criteria to the organizational stakeholders. This paper reports an on-going application of the Analytic Network Process (ANP) in the context of one such organization: The Latin American Studies Association (LASA). LASA organizes a large international conference every eighteen months and need to estimate conference attendance in advance (for logistic purposes) as well as selecting a Latin American city where the combination of hotel infrastructure, conference costs, and so on, makes it a sound financial choice. In this paper, ANP will be used to first, create a model to predict the relative number of attendees to the forthcoming 2009 LASA international conference; and second, to create a Benefit-Cost-Risk (BCR) model that will provide a framework to select the most suitable Latin American city as the conference site. This paper shows how the combination of these two ANP models, for prediction and selection, can be used together for effective decision-making in the non-profit sector. From a practical point of view, these two models will allow LASA top managers, to select a conference site for their forthcoming March 2009 International LASA congress in a rational, consistent way, based on both the expected number of attendees and organizational objectives. Also, using ANP methodology, LASA managers will be able to explain to interested constituents, the criteria used in the selection process.
Distributed manufacturing: A case study in additive manufacturing face masks for the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract At the onset of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic, USA faced supply chain issues causing a nationwide shortage of N95 respirators and PAPR devices. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) were sent to work from home to help slow the spread of the pandemic, and during that time they were tasked with using their manufacturing expertise to research alternative methods of producing face masks. To rapidly iterate on face mask designs without access to a research or manufacturing facility, 3D (3-Dimensional) printing and silicone casting were used. Molds and components for the masks are modeled with computer-aided design (CAD), printed with common home desktop 3D printers, and test poured with skin-safe silicone rubber. The resultant masks are form fitting and comfortable to wear. To ease the shortage of N95 filter media, the masks are designed to use existing filter materials such as home HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) filters. The masks can be sanitized, and the filter replaced to allow the same mask to be reused. The result is not equivalent to an N95 mask, and not meant to be a replacement, but is meant to be a stopgap mask that is still able to provide the wearer filtered protection. Filtration testing has not been performed because it is not the intention of the authors to make medical claims. This research is meant to demonstrate the rapid design, iteration, and manufacturing processes of a stopgap mask.
A measurement-based study of big-data movement

Parallel TCP connections are used for large scientific dataset transfers to increase throughput. Therefore, to accurately characterize big-data movement, it is important to reconstruct parallel flowsets from traffic measurements. In this work, we start with NetFlow records collected in an operational research-and-education network across which large scientific datasets are moved routinely, reconstruct individual elephant flows from the NetFlow records, and assemble parallel flowsets from elephant flows. Our findings are as follows. The top 1% of flowset sizes were in the hundreds of GBs to low TBs range, 95% of flowsets had rates less than 2.5 Gbps, and 99% of flowsets had durations shorter than 4 hours. Median flowset rate increases and rate variance decreases with increasing number of per-flowset component flows. Such findings are useful for network planning, traffic engineering, and for improving user performance, since large dataset transfers are among the most demanding of network applications.
Porcelain Enamel Institute update from washington on EPA regulations

The United States is undergoing substantial restructuring of its industrial base. Manufacturing jobs are being "lost" to overseas low-labor-cost countries, most notably China. At the same time, imports are exceeding exports by significant margins on a continuing basis. Added to the burden of unregulated international competition are the regulatory environment in the United States and an unequal international regulatory environment. Lowering production costs is forcing manufacturers to seek the low-cost production offered by developing countries and economies. Regulation of our environment by the Environmental Protection Agency is producing benefits but, at the same time, burdens when regulations are ineffectively or inappropriately applied. Several examples of unneeded and costly regulations "that almost happened" are shown in the accompanying slides. Enforcement of EPA rules has, in some instances, had the appearance of being onerous. This is requiring vigilance by all parties to meet existing standards and manage our materials and processes effectively and efficiently. Care must be exercised to avoid costly mistakes in managing waste streams and materials.
On the analysis of longitudinal stress in glaciers

In the standard solution for the stresses in a glacier or ice sheet obeying Glen’s law, the down-slope component of the weight is supported by the basal shear stress, and the longitudinal deviatoric stress is second order. However, it has been found necessary to account for the longitudinal stress gradient when relating surface to bed topography with empirical data. In addition, during rapid stretching of the glacier, perhaps during a surge, the longitudinal stress gradient becomes comparable to or larger than the shear stress, and the standard solution is not entirely valid. In this paper, we consider the analysis of the stresses and strain-rates in a glacier when the longitudinal deviatoric stresses are comparable to the basal shear stresses. In some circumstances the down-slope component of weight is not borne completely by basal shear stress to leading order and some of the weight is shifted to the longitudinal deviatoric stress gradient. This case has also been examined. The results are used to obtain expressions for basal shear stress in terms of glacier thickness, slope, surface strain-rate gradient, and ice properties.