cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brachytherapy seed localization via iterative forward projection matching (IFPM) algorithm using intraoperative cone-beam-CT sinogram projections

Purpose: To experimentally validate a new algorithm for reconstructing the 3D positions of implanted brachytherapy seeds from intraoperatively acquired 2D cone-beam CT sinogram projections. Methods and materials: The iterative forward projection matching (IFPM) consists of finding the 3D seed geometry that minimizes the sum-of-squared intensity differences between computed projections of the candidate seed configuration and experimentally acquired auto-segmented projections of the implanted seeds. Projections are convolved by 2D Gaussian kernel to provide gradient, necessary for convergence. Four Pd103 post-implant patients were scanned using an Acuity digital-simulator with a full 660 projections conebeam-CT for post-implant dosimetry. 3-10 x-ray images were selected from the CBCT sinogram and were preprocessed to create the binary seed images. The IFPM accuracy was quantified both at projections and 3D. Results: For all example cases, the mean registration error was found to be about 1.2mm; the IFPM converged in 16-21 iterations and in 4-7 iterations following reduction of Gaussian blurring function width with computation time of about 1.9-2.3 minutes/ iteration on a 2 GHz processor. Discussion: The IFPM algorithm avoids the need for matching corresponding seeds images on each projection as required by standard back-projection methods and has a potential to accommodate incomplete projection data. The method has been found to work robustly with unknown number of seeds and uncertainties in the imaging viewpoints.
Coastal Resources Conservation in Indonesia: Issues, Policies, and Future Directions

Blessed with vast coastal region, Indonesia has developed its economy by better utilizing the available resources therein. The coastal region, consisting of about 81,000 km shoreline and more than 17,000 small islands, has provided huge contribution to the national economy and served as the solid basis for various human activities. The region and its resources should be sustainably available and existed to support the country’s future economic development. Nevertheless there is a serious concern for its future, particularly regarding the status of the resources which essentially are the important life supporting system. The main coastal ecosystems that constitute Indonesian coastal region are mangrove forest, seagrass meadow, and coral reefs. Variety of goods and services are produced by these coastal ecosystems. Some of the goods and services are exploitable, usable, marketable, tradable, and highly priced. Some other goods and services, however, are remained unidentified, non-quantified, non-tradable, and unable to be monetized by using the existing technologies and market mechanisms. Consequently, the resources tend be underestimated and undervalued and eventually misused and mismanaged.
Abstract P4-02-04: Quantitative MRI features analysis for differentiation of triple negative and HER2 positive subtypes of breast cancer

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate ability of quantitative analysis of MRI features to distinguish triple negative (TN) and HER2 positive (HER2+) subtypes of breast cancer, which have different biological characteristics, exhibiting different growth patterns and response to treatment. Materials and Method: Breast cancer patients, who had MRI exam of the breast in our institution at the time of staging for breast carcinoma and who subsequently had surgery (segmentectomy or mastectomy) from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2015 were identified. All lesions were evaluated by radiologists in accordance with the BI-RADS lexicon. The patient9s age, breast cancer histology, multifocality/multicentricity (MF/MC), lesion size, axillary lymphadenopathy (LAN), MRI morphologic and enhancement characteristics were documented. Quantitative MRI feature analysis was performed using shape, texture, and histogram based features. Machine-learning-based (Xgboost) models were used to predict subtypes, and Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) was used to avoid model overfitting. Statistical significance was determined using the Student9s t-test. Results: Total of 105 patients, 51 patients with TN and 54 patients with HER2+ breast cancer were included in analysis. Mean age for TN was 50 (range 29-79)) years old and for HER2+ was 49 (range 25-70) years old. Axillary LAN and MF/MC disease was seen more commonly in HER2+ patients when compared to TN patients, but didn9t reach statistical significance (13 vs 7, p=0.9; and 31 vs 20, p=0.06, respectively) . Mass rim enhancement was associated with TN subtype and irregular mass enhancement was associated with HER2+ subtype of breast cancer (p Conclusion: The quantitative MRI features show promise in distinguishing TN and HER2+ breast cancer subtypes reflecting their underlying biological characteristics and may be used as predictive quantitative biological markers. Further studies in a larger cohort evaluating associations with treatment response are underway. Citation Format: Rauch GM, Li H, Zhu H, Adrada BE, Santiago L, Candelaria RP, Wang H, Leung J, Thompson A, Litton J, Wu Y, Lim B, Moulder S, Mittendorf EA, Yang W. Quantitative MRI features analysis for differentiation of triple negative and HER2 positive subtypes of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-02-04.
Design and development of an enterprise modeling framework

An enterprise model encompassing the function, information and dynamics facets of an enterprise is required for an enterprise to achieve quick response capability and flexibility. To handle the complexity and dynamic nature of the enterprise, the model should evolve continuously and be scalable. The modeling methodology should facilitate the creation of such models and the framework should also be easy to use. Enterprise Modeling Framework (EMF) consists of a methodology for modeling the three major facets of an enterprise, viz., function, information and dynamics, and software tools implementing the methodology. These facets of an enterprise have been broadly structured using the object-oriented paradigm into three EMF models, viz., the Activity Model, the Entity Model and the Knowledge Model. From the experience gained during modeling enterprises, a method for combining structured and object-oriented analysis methods has been adopted. A methodology has been developed for integrating constraints with the EMF Entity Model. Dynamics modeling has been integrated with function and information modeling by automatic generation of SIMAN code from the Activity and Entity Models. The hierarchical nature of the EMF Activity Model is used to generate simulation models at the desired level of detail. Based on the principal performance metrics for evaluating a modeling methodology, viz., learning time, model development time, workload on the user and completeness in terms of enterprise facets modeled, EMF represents a significant advancement over existing enterprise modeling methodologies. The merits of EMF have been demonstrated by modeling an apparel manufacturing enterprise.
A Highly Sensitive A-Kinase Activity Reporter for Imaging Neuromodulatory Events in Awake Mice

Summary Neuromodulation imposes powerful control over brain function, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a central downstream mediator of multiple neuromodulators. Although genetically encoded PKA sensors have been developed, single-cell imaging of PKA activity in living mice has not been established. Here, we used two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2pFLIM) to visualize genetically encoded PKA sensors in response to the neuromodulators norepinephrine and dopamine. We screened available PKA sensors for 2pFLIM and further developed a variant (named tAKARα) with increased sensitivity and a broadened dynamic range. This sensor allowed detection of PKA activation by norepinephrine at physiologically relevant concentrations and kinetics, and by optogenetically released dopamine. In vivo longitudinal 2pFLIM imaging of tAKARα tracked bidirectional PKA activities in individual neurons in awake mice and revealed neuromodulatory PKA events that were associated with wakefulness, pharmacological manipulation, and locomotion. This new sensor combined with 2pFLIM will enable interrogation of neuromodulation-induced PKA signaling in awake animals. Video Abstract Download : Download video (35MB)
314. Maternally sequestered biologics for treatment of preeclampsia

Introduction Preeclampsia is a hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy with few pharmacological treatment options. The risk of for adverse fetal effects is a major limitation for drug development. Our lab has developed a protein-based drug carrier called elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) that is capable of stabilizing therapeutic proteins or peptides in the maternal circulation while preventing their placental transfer. Objective/Hypothesis We hypothesize that ELP can be optimized for maternally sequestered drug delivery by altering the polymer length. We further hypothesize that ELP can be fused to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to restore angiogenic balance while preventing fetal exposure to the therapeutic. Methods A library of ELP carriers ranging in size from 25 to 110 kDa was created. The pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and placental transfer of each agent were determined in a rat pregnancy model. A 60 kDa ELP domain was fused to human VEGF-A121, and the pharmacokinetics were determined following repeat dosing intravenous or subcutaneous administration. Results The plasma half-life of ELP was inversely related to its molecular weight. As the size of the molecule increased, the renal ELP deposition decreased and the placenta and other maternal organ levels increased. Within the placenta, ELP was localized broadly in the labyrinth and along the chorionic plate. No ELP crossed the placental barrier at any size tested. When fused to VEGF, daily IV dosing lead to a 2.1 +/- 1.1 h half-life after each injection. SC administration lead to an increase in plasma ELP-VEGF levels over the first three hours, followed by a slow clearance phase over 24 h that was accompanied by dispersal of the protein from the SC injection site. Discussion This work demonstrates the utility of ELP as a tunable, long-circulating, non-toxic, maternally sequestered drug carrier. The ELP-VEGF fusion protein has potential as a novel biologic for treatment of preeclampsia.
Appendix to 'The Marginal Revenue Rule in Cost-Benefit Analysis'

This document is an appendix to "The Marginal Revenue Rule in Cost-Benefit Analysis," Tax Notes (Sept. 10, 2018). In that publication, we proposed a method of performing cost-benefit analysis of tax related-regulations. The approach — which we called the marginal revenue rule — instructs that the social benefit of an increase in revenue generated by a tax regulation is equal to the net increase in revenue resulting from reporting and behavioral changes induced by the regulation. The total social benefit of a tax regulation equals the net increase in revenue resulting from reporting and behavioral changes plus any non-revenue-based benefits (e.g., health benefits from a tobacco tax regulation or environmental benefits from a gas tax regulation). The social cost of a tax regulation is the net increase in administrative and compliance costs resulting from the regulation as well as any non-tax-related costs (e.g., health costs, environmental costs). The net effect of the regulation is the difference between the social benefits and the costs. Tax regulations will often affect the total amount of revenue that the government collects. In analyzing the welfare effects of tax regulations that raise or reduce revenue, regulators must decide when — if ever — a transfer of money from a taxpayer to the government should be counted as a net social benefit or cost. In "The Marginal Revenue Rule in Cost-Benefit Analysis¸" we argued that the most transparent approach to the problem is to consider a dollar to be worth the same in private hands and in government hands, and then to estimate the efficiency effects of the proposed regulation under that assumption. The marginal revenue rule allows regulators to identify circumstances in which increases or decreases in taxes paid do affect social welfare, notwithstanding the equal weight placed on revenue in public and private hands. Regulators would then report the efficiency effects of the proposed regulation (estimated via the marginal revenue rule) and would separately state the distributional and revenue effects. This Appendix provides a further discussion of the assumption that revenue is worth the same in public and private hands.
(378) Leg Dominance May Influence Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia Response to Moderate Intensity Retrowalking: A Pilot Study

Retrowalking (walking backwards) is often used clinically to address movement impairment. Whether retrowalking at a moderate intensity is sufficient to produce exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is unknown. This pilot study explored EIH following retrowalking in twenty healthy young adults (21.6 ± 2.9 yrs, 10 men). Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed at bilateral quadriceps and left index finger nailbed utilizing a computerized pressure algometer (Medoc AlgoMed) pre/post 20 minutes quiet rest (session 1) and pre/post 20 minutes of retrowalking at 45-55% heart rate reserve (session 2). Participants pressed the indicator button when the applied pressure first became painful. The average of three trials at each site was used for PPT and site order was randomized between sessions. A significant trial x site interaction was identified. Post hoc testing revealed no significant trial effects after quiet rest at any site. After retrowalking, only the right quadriceps showed an increase in PPT (417.8 ± 146.3 vs 380.5 ± 122.8 kPa). Although baseline PPTs were significantly lower in the right quadriceps than the left in session 1 (362.9 ± 107.2 vs 395.1 ± 127.9 kPa), this difference did not reach significance in session 2 (380.5 ± 122.8 vs 417.4 ± 174 kPa). In both sessions, PPT of the right quadriceps increased to match that of the left (Quiet Rest: 383.8 ± 117.9 vs 382.7 ± 148.6 kPa; Retrowalking: 417.8 ± 146.3 vs 418.9 ± 167.8 kPa). Of the twenty participants, 18 reported right leg dominance, 1 left, and 1 failed to report. Our pilot data suggests that pain sensitivity and EIH response to retrowalking may vary based upon leg dominance; therefore, unilateral assessment of EIH with bilateral working muscles could produce spurious outcomes. Further investigation into the potential role of leg dominance on pain reports before and after this novel exercise task is warranted.
Adaptive dimension reduction to accelerate infinite-dimensional geometric Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Abstract Bayesian inverse problems highly rely on efficient and effective inference methods for uncertainty quantification (UQ). Infinite-dimensional MCMC algorithms, directly defined on function spaces, are robust under refinement (through discretization, spectral approximation) of physical models. Recent development of this class of algorithms has started to incorporate the geometry of the posterior informed by data so that they are capable of exploring complex probability structures, as frequently arise in UQ for PDE constrained inverse problems. However, the required geometric quantities, including the Gauss-Newton Hessian operator or Fisher information metric, are usually expensive to obtain in high dimensions. On the other hand, most geometric information of the unknown parameter space in this setting is concentrated in an intrinsic finite-dimensional subspace. To mitigate the computational intensity and scale up the applications of infinite-dimensional geometric MCMC (∞-GMC), we apply geometry-informed algorithms to the intrinsic subspace to probe its complex structure, and simpler methods like preconditioned Crank-Nicolson (pCN) to its geometry-flat complementary subspace. In this work, we take advantage of dimension reduction techniques to accelerate the original ∞-GMC algorithms. More specifically, partial spectral decomposition (e.g. through randomized linear algebra) of the (prior or Gaussian-approximate posterior) covariance operator is used to identify certain number of principal eigen-directions as a basis for the intrinsic subspace. The combination of dimension-independent algorithms, geometric information, and dimension reduction yields more efficient implementation, (adaptive) dimension-reduced infinite-dimensional geometric MCMC. With a small amount of computational overhead, we can achieve over 70 times speed-up compared to pCN using a simulated elliptic inverse problem and an inverse problem involving turbulent combustion with thousands of dimensions after discretization. A number of error bounds comparing various MCMC proposals are presented to predict the asymptotic behavior of the proposed dimension-reduced algorithms.
Characterizing HIV and STIs among Transgender Female Sex Workers: A Longitudinal Analysis

ABSTRACT Objectives Though highly vulnerable to HIV and STIs, transgender female sex workers (TFSW) are understudied in the U.S. HIV and STI response. This study examined the correlates of laboratory-confirmed STIs among a cohort of 62 TFSW followed over the course of one year and explored associations between specimen site and self-reported engagement in insertive and receptive anal intercourse. Methods Participants completed an interviewer-administered computer assisted personal interview at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month visits where self-administered anal swabs and urine samples for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas were also collected. HIV testing was conducted at baseline, 6-, and 12-month visits. Results Baseline HIV prevalence was 40.3% with no HIV seroconversions over follow-up. Baseline prevalence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas was 9.7%, 17.7%, and 14.5%, respectively. In the multivariable regression modeling, recent arrest was significantly associated with testing positive for any STI (aRR 1.77; 95% CI: 1.10-2.84). Insertive anal sex with clients was associated with increased risk of testing positive for an STI via urine specimen (RR 3.48; 95% CI: 1.14-10.62), while receptive anal sex was not significantly associated with specimen site. Conclusion Our findings confirm a high prevalence of STIs among TFSW and highlight the importance of addressing structural drivers such as criminal justice involvement as well as the need to ensure screening for STIs at all anatomical sites regardless of self-reported sites of potential exposure. More research is needed to better understand HIV and STI vulnerabilities and appropriate interventions for TFSW in the U.S. KEY MESSAGES Transgender female sex workers in the U.S. face substantial vulnerability to HIV and STIs, and interventions to reduce their risk for HIV and STI acquisition are needed. Engagement with criminal justice significantly increases the risk for STIs among transgender women engaged in street-based sex work, suggesting the need to address factors that lead to disproportionate arrest and incarceration of transgender women. Screening for STIs among transgender women should include all potential sites of exposure, regardless of reported sexual positioning.
Medication by Proxy: The Devolution of Psychiatric Power and Shared Accountability to Psychopharmaceutical Use Among Soldiers in America’s Post-9/11 Wars

With the United States military stretched thin in the “global war on terror,” military officials have embraced psychopharmaceuticals in the effort to enable more troops to remain “mission-capable.” Within the intimate conditions in which deployed military personnel work and live, soldiers learn to read for signs of psychopharmaceutical use by others, and consequently, may become accountable to those on medication in new ways. On convoys and in the barracks, up in the observation post and out in the motor pool, the presence and perceived volatility of psychopharmaceuticals can enlist non-medical military personnel into the surveillance and monitoring of medicated peers, in sites far beyond the clinic. Drawing on fieldwork with Army personnel and veterans, this article explores collective and relational aspects of psychopharmaceutical use among soldiers deployed post-9/11 in Iraq and Afghanistan. I theorize this social landscape as a form of “medication by proxy,” both to play on the fluidity of the locus of medication administration and effects within the military corporate body, and to emphasize the material and spatial ways that proximity to psychopharmaceuticals pulls soldiers into relationships of care, concern and risk management. Cases presented here reveal a devolution and dispersal of biomedical psychiatric power that complicates mainstream narratives of mental health stigma in the US military.
Electron microscopic studies on Planaria. I. Fine structure of muscle fiber in the head of the planarian Dugesia dorotocephala.

Vertical muscles in the planarian head have been studied by the electron microscope. These muscles are spindle-shaped except for a sarcoplasmic extension and run through any internal tissues between both the dorsal and the ventral longitudinal muscle layers along the dorsoventral axis of the body. Sarcotubules, Z columns, and one small sarcoplasmic core in the middle of the fiber, are observed, together with thick and thin myofilaments that lie parallel to its longitudinal axis. Z columns are variable in length, lie approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and are in close contact with the sarcotubules underneath the sarcolemma. It seems that each thick filament may be encircled by up to twelve thin filaments, and that a thin filament may be shared by two thick filaments. Short lateral projections may exist between thick and thin filaments. Each muscle is also seen to be surrounded by a connective tissue sheath.
Rêves de béton et ontologies relationnelles dans une banlieue mozambicaine (note de recherche)

Cette note de recherche se penche sur les experiences sensorielles de jeunes Mozambicains tandis qu’ils negocient la relation entre bâtir et habiter. J’estime que ces experiences sont interessantes en soi ainsi que pour ce qu’elles revelent de la relation entre le monde materiel, les subjectivites et le contexte sociohistorique. Dans ce projet de recherche, j’apprehende, a travers le prisme du ciment, les transformations socioeconomiques en cours dans un continent contentieusement decrit comme etant en plein essor et les implications de ces discours sur la vie de tous les jours des Mozambicains. Inspiree par la lignee croissante des anthropologues qui ont tente de concevoir les relations entre humains et objets en termes d’ontologies relationnelles, je m’attarde ici a la relation de mutualite entre la maison et l’individu. Comme nous l’enseigne l’anthropologie sensorielle, c’est aussi a travers le dwelling (l’habiter) que l’on forge normes et valeurs culturelles, de sorte qu’une attention particuliere portee aux experiences sensorielles met en relief ce a quoi on accorde valeur et importance. Si bâtir et habiter sont souvent concues comme des activites fondamentalement politiques, l’accent mis sur la relation entre materialite, temporalite et sensorialite ajoute texture et complexite aux aspirations qui les sous-tendent.
Level Curves of the Angle Function of a Positive Definite Symmetric Matrix

Given a real N by N matrix A, write p(A) for the maximum angle by which A rotates any unit vector. Suppose that A and B are positive definite symmetric (PDS) N by N matrices. Then their Jordan product {A, B} := AB + BA is also symmetric, but not necessarily positive definite. If p(A) + p(B) is obtuse, then there exists a special orthogonal matrix S such that {A, SBS^(-1)} is indefinite. Of course, if A and B commute, then {A, B} is positive definite. Our work grows from the following question: if A and B are commuting positive definite symmetric matrices such that p(A) + p(B) is obtuse, what is the minimal p(S) such that {A, SBS^(-1)} indefinite? In this dissertation we will describe the level curves of the angle function mapping a unit vector x to the angle between x and Ax for a 3 by 3 PDS matrix A, and discuss their interaction with those of a second such matrix.
How Are U.S. Family Firms Controlled

Inlarge U.S. corporations, foundingfamilies are theonlyblockholders whose controlrights on average exceed their cash-flow rights. We analyze how they achieve this wedge, and at what cost. Indirect ownership through trusts, foundations, limited partnerships, and other corporations is prevalent but rarely creates a wedge (a pyramid). The primary sources of the wedge are dual-class stock, disproportionate board representation, and voting agreements. Each control-enhancing mechanism has a different impact on value. Our findings suggest that the potential agency conflict between large shareholders and public shareholders in the United States is as relevant as elsewhere in the world. (JEL G3, G32) Corporate governance scholars and regulators in the United States have traditionally been concerned about protecting investors from managerial entrenchment and expropriation—the classic agency problem described by Berle and Means (1932) and Jensen and Meckling (1976). Yet, a growing body of literature has shifted attention toward a different agency problem that seems to be of greater concern in most of the world: the expropriation of small investors by large controlling shareholders (Shleifer and Vishny 1997). We suggest that this second type of agency problem is also significant in the United States. Several important findings have emerged from the international corporate ownership literature. First, most firms around the world are controlled by a large shareholder, typically founders or their families (La Porta, L´ opez de
Paired Pressure–Volume Loop Analysis and Biaxial Mechanical Testing Characterize Differences in Left Ventricular Tissue Stiffness of Volume Overload and Angiotensin-Induced Pressure Overload Hearts

Pressure overload (PO) and volume overload (VO) of the heart result in distinctive changes to geometry, due to compensatory structural remodeling. This remodeling potentially leads to changes in tissue mechanical properties. Understanding such changes is important, as tissue modulus has an impact on cardiac performance, disease progression, and influences on cell phenotype. Pressure-volume (PV) loop analysis, a clinically relevant method for measuring left ventricular (LV) chamber stiffness, was performed in vivo on control rat hearts and rats subjected to either chronic PO through Angiotensin-II infusion (4-weeks) or VO (8-weeks). Immediately following PV loops, biaxial testing was performed on LV free wall tissue to directly measure tissue mechanical properties. The β coefficient, an index of chamber stiffness calculated from the PV loop analysis, increased 98% in PO (n = 4) and decreased 38% in VO (n = 5) compared to control (n = 6). Material constants of LV walls obtained from ex vivo biaxial testing (n = 9-10) were not changed in Angiotensin-II induced PO and decreased by about half in VO compared to control (47% in the circumferential and 57% the longitudinal direction). PV loop analysis showed the expected increase in chamber stiffness of PO and expected decrease in chamber stiffness of VO. Biaxial testing showed a decreased modulus of the myocardium of the VO model, but no changes in the PO model, this suggests the increased chamber stiffness in PO, as shown in the PV loop analysis, may be secondary to changes in tissue mass and/or geometry but not an increase in passive tissue mechanical properties.
The influence of molecular structure on PFAS adsorption at air-water interfaces in electrolyte solutions

Abstract Fluid-fluid interfacial adsorption has been demonstrated to be an important retention process for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in porous media with air or non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) present. The objective of this study was to characterize the influence of PFAS molecular structure on air-water interfacial adsorption in electrolyte solutions. Measured and literature-reported surface-tension data sets were aggregated to generate the largest compilation of interfacial adsorption coefficients measured in aqueous solutions comprising environmentally representative ionic strengths. The surface activities and interfacial adsorption coefficients (Ki) exhibited chain length trends, with greater surface activities and larger Ki values corresponding to longer chain length. The impact of multiple-component PFAS solutions on the surface activity of a select PFAS was a function of the respective surface activities and concentrations. Quantitative structure-property relationship analysis (QSPR) employing a single molecular descriptor (molar volume) was used successfully to characterize the impact of PFAS molecular structure on air-water interfacial adsorption. A previously reported QSPR model based on PFAS data generated for deionized-water solutions was updated to include more than 60 different PFAS, comprising all head-group types and a wide variety of tail structures. The QSPR model developed for PFAS in electrolyte solution compared favorably to the model developed for deionized water. Additionally, the magnitude of ionic strength for non-zero ionic strength systems was determined to have relatively minimal impact on interfacial adsorption coefficients. The new QSPR model is therefore anticipated to be representative for a wide variety of PFAS and for a wide range of ionic compositions.
Mapping competence requirements for future shore control center operators

With increasing interest and investment, the shipping industry is witnessing solid development in autonomous operations of vessels and transport networks in various configurations including the Sho...
Clonal IgM-Mediated Disease Cluster in Multiple Family Members

Abstract Alterations of IgM is implicated in Chronic Cold Agglutinin Hemolytic Anemia (CAD) and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM). Restricted IgM heavy and light chain usage has been found in both CAD and WM several series of patients but the specific heavy and light gene usage is different in the two disorders. Many patients with CAD develop a lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), of which some have been diagnosed as WM, but there may be differences in the WM occurring in CAD patients compared to that which occurs sporadically. How the progression from one to another occurs is not known, but the restricted gene expression in WM and CAD offer opportunities to investigate genetic factors which allow or disallow one form of disease or another. However, cases of CAD and WM are usually sporadic. In a single hematology practice, two individuals diagnosed with CAD reported that they were cousins. They later determined that another cousin living in another state may have a similar disorder. Each patient was diagnosed over the age of 50. The third cousin had a small IgM monoclonal protein that rapidly increased and developed into symptomatic WM. The disease responded to cytotoxic chemotherapy. That patient did not have CAD. The IgM clone has reverted to a minimal level and has been stable for several years. The first patient with CAD was controlled by supportive care and relocated to another practice in a nearby city. He developed symptomatic anemia requiring transfusions but then responded to treatment with rituximab. He developed hypo-gammaglobulinemia and requires periodic gamma globulin infusions and is maintained with periodic rituximab infusions. The second patient developed mild hemolytic anemia which require only supportive care, but she has progressive anemia and an increasing IgM monoclonal protein and may soon need treatment with rituximab. Whether the monoclonal IgM is mediating the hemolysis is not yet determined. No other family member has yet to be identified with IgM mediated disease but the deceased father of the second CAD patient was thought to have a low-grade lymphoma. Presuming these patients have an common inherited factor driving the altered expression of IgM, further studies on such an informative family may help to understand these disorders and how each develop and evolve. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Essential but Ill-Prepared: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Mental Health of the Grocery Store Workforce.

ObjectivesFrontline essential workers face elevated risks of exposure to COVID-19 because of the interactive nature of their jobs, which require high levels of interaction with the general public a...
Charles Stein and invariance: Beginning with the Hunt–Stein theorem

When statistical decision theory was emerging as a promising new paradigm, Charles Stein was to play a major role in the development of minimax theory for invariant statistical problems. In some of his earliest work with Gil Hunt, he set out to prove that, in problems where invariant procedures have constant risk, any best invariant test would be minimax among all tests. Although finding it not quite true in general, this led to the legendary Hunt–Stein theorem, which established the result under restrictive conditions on the underlying group of transformations. In decision problems invariant under such suitable groups, an overall minimax test was guaranteed to reside within the class of invariant procedures where it would typically be much easier to find. But when it did not seem possible to establish this result for invariance under the full linear group, he instead turned to prove its impossibility with counterexamples such as the nonminimaxity of the usual sample covariance estimator where the full linear group was just too big for the Hunt–Stein theorem to apply. Further explorations of invariance such as the sometimes problematic inference under a fiducial distribution, or the characterization of a best invariant procedure as a formal Bayes procedure under a right Haar prior, are further examples of the far reaching influence of Stein’s contributions to invariance theory.
Cancer-associated MSC drive tumor immune exclusion and resistance to immunotherapy, which can be overcome by Hedgehog inhibition

We investigated the impact of cancer-associated mesenchymal stem cells (CA-MSCs) on ovarian tumor immunity. In patient samples, CA-MSC presence inversely correlates with the presence of intratumora...
Students with disabilities in post-secondary educational settings

Rapid changes in our nation's economy, including an increasing reliance on technology and demographic changes in the work force, have increased the value of post-secondary education for individuals with disabilities attempting to maximize their employment potential. Individuals who participate in higher education are (1) more likely to be employed and (2) earn higher wages than other individuals. As a result the number of individuals with disabilities accessing post-secondary educational opportunities has increased dramatically in recent years. Despite serious administrative, programmatic, attitudinal and financial obstacles, students with disabilities today comprise between 5% and 10% of students entering postsecondary education. High school programs are focusing increased attention on preparing students to enter colleges and universities of their choice. At the post-secondary level, many colleges have developed high quality special student service units and other programs to allow students to benefit from their post-secondary opportunities. In addition, newly emerging rehabilitation technologies are allowing many individuals to transfer their successful educational experiences into long-term employment success. The articles contained in the issue have been developed to reflect the breadth and diversity of issues directly related to the participation of individuals with disabilities in post-secondary educational settings. Success in these settings requires (1) careful planning and preparation at the high school level, (2) administrative, programmatic, and social supports at the post-secondary level, (3) a recognition that the amount and type of supports required varies widely across individuals, and (4) an understanding that success in educational settings does not automatically translate to success in employment settings. The first article, written by Dr. Sally Scott, provides a comprehensive overview of the array of services and supports available to students with disabilities in colleges and universities. At one level, access to post-secondary educational opportunities is a matter of compliance with clearly defined federal laws and regulations, specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. However, it is important to remember that access in higher education involves more than simply equal opportunity for program admission. Student recruitment, treatment of students academic requirements and instruction, housing, financial and employment assistance, and non-academic services and all other facet of college life are impacted by the ADA and Section 504. The ability of colleges and universities to respond to these needs varies widely. Dr. Scott illustrates the diversity in scope
Two thousand deliveries under a training for childbirth program

D IL HOSMAK’S interest in the subject upon which we write is seen in his comment concerning programs designed to prepare women for childbirth, psychologically and physically. He has said, “There has come about a gradual awakening in recent years and it is to be hoped that a new era. is being born in which patients as well as doctors may realize that the less artificiality enters the process of childbearing the better tllc final result. This will be a gradual process. It will require time and the exercise of much patience and in, say, another decade we may survey the results on a basis of further factual information. . . .“I The subject is an important one for it, has wide implications. It involves not, only the safety and well-being of mother and child, but the esbablishment of family life. In 1951 this Clinic reported observations on “One Thousand Consecutive Deliveries Under a Training for (‘hildbirth Program.“* These were of women delivered between Jan. 1, 1949, and March 31, 1950, on the University Service of the Brace-New Haven Community Hospital, and represented consecutive deliveries of all patients who had infants weighing 1,500 grams 01 over. All women were cared for under a regime in which we emphasize educational preparation foi childbirth and increased personal attention during labor, which seeks to encourage and assist the parturient woman to use to her advantage the natural forces of labor. To quote from the previous communication, “To carry out these aims we attempt to prepare women for childbirth psychologically and physically by means of a training program in which they are taught the fundamentals of reproductive anatomy ant1 physiology and, also, are trained in relaxation techniques and muscle control trb aid the natural forces of labor. In labor they are encouraged to use this knowledge and training by those who are in attendance. The conduct of labor and delivery without analgesia or anesthesia is definitely not OUI primary aim. Our interest is rather directed toward assuring each woman a 1)sychologically and emotionally satisfying labor experience, and one which is at the same time physically sa,fe for bot,h mot,her and child. We believe t,ha.t a conscious delivery can be the source of a great sense of achievement. for most women-and that in a normal labor, properly conclucted, in a wnman who has been prepnrrtl for the experience, much of the uIIlIewss;\t-y pain,
Involvement of Fe3+ (dipyridyl)3 compounds in Fe3+ reduction reactions

Abstract Much of the methodology used in the measurement of rhizosphere iron reduction involves the chelation of ferrous ions by BPDS (batho‐phenanthrolinedisulfonic acid) and other related dipyridyl derivatives. This technique was applied to monitor the rates of iron reduction by the root system of citrus seedlings at both slightly alkaline and acidic pH. The results of this Study demonstrated unusual effects of these dipyridyl compounds on the rates of iron reduction. These effects included a strong dependence on both the concentration and the type of the dipyridyl compound present. Also affecting the rates of iron reduction were the presence of divalent metal ions. Iron (Fe3+) chelates of HEDTA and EDDHA, both of which are common sources of soluble iron in nutrient solutions, dramatically iniibited iron reduction by the cituus roots. These feateres of the iron reduction reactions, monitored by the use of dipyridyl compounds, are consistent with the involvement of Fe3+ (dipyridyl)3‐type chelates as the ...
Adoptive immunotherapy evaluating escalating doses of donor leukocytes for relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia after bone marrow transplantation: separation of graft-versus-leukemia responses from graft-versus-host disease

Infusions of large numbers (> 10(8)/kg) of donor leukocytes can induce remissions in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who relapse after marrow transplantation. We wanted to determine if substantially lower numbers of donor leukocytes could induce remissions and, if so, whether this would reduce the 90% incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) associated with this therapy. Twenty-two patients with relapsed CML were studied: 2 in molecular relapse, 6 in cytogenetic relapse, 10 in chronic phase, and 4 in accelerated phase. Each patient received escalating doses of donor leukocytes at 4- to 33-week intervals. Leukocyte doses were calculated as T cells per kilogram of recipient weight. There were 8 dose levels between 1 x 10(5) and 5 x 10(8). Lineage-specific chimerism and residual leukemia detection were assessed using sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies. Nineteen of the 22 patients achieved remission. Remissions were achieved at the following T-cell doses: 1 x 10(7) (n = 8), 5 x 10(7) (n = 4), 1 x 10(8) (n = 3), and 5 x 10(8) (n = 4). To date, 15 of the 17 evaluable patients have become BCR-ABL negative by PCR. The incidence of GVHD was correlated with the dose of T cells administered. Only 1 of the 8 patients who achieved remission at a T-cell dose of 1 x 10(7)/kg developed GVHD, whereas this complication developed in 8 of the 11 responders who received a T-cell dose of > or = 5 x 10(7)/kg. Three patients died in remission, 1 secondary to marrow aplasia, 1 of respiratory failure and 1 of complications of chronic GVHD. Sixteen patients who were mixed T-cell chimeras before treatment became full donor T-cell chimeras at the time of remission. Donor leukocytes with a T-cell content as low as 1 x 10(7)/kg can result in complete donor chimerism together with a potent graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. The dose of donor leukocytes or T cells used may be important in determining both the GVL response and the incidence of GVHD. In many patients, this potent GVL effect can occur in the absence of clinical GVHD.
Overview of protein phosphorylation.

Phosphorylation is the most common and important mechanism of acute and reversible regulation of protein function. Studies of mammalian cells metabolically labeled with [(32)P]orthophosphate suggest that as many as one-third of all cellular proteins are covalently modified by protein phosphorylation. Protein phosphorylation has an important role in essentially all aspects of cell biology. Most polypeptide growth factors (platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth factor are among the best studied) and cytokines (e.g., interleukin 2, colony stimulating factor 1, and gamma-interferon) stimulate phosphorylation upon binding to their receptors. Induced phosphorylation in turn activates cytoplasmic protein kinases, such as Raf, the activators of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases SEK and MEK, the MAP kinases ERK, JNK, and p38, the Janus/JAK kinases, the p21 activated kinases (PAKs), and the phosphatidylinsoitil 3'-kinase-activated kinase, protein kinase B/Akt. Additionally, in all nucleated organisms, cell cycle progression is regulated at both the G1/S and the G2/M transitions by cyclin-dependent protein kinases. These kinases regulate the G1/S transition by the phosphorylation of cell cycle regulators such as Rb protein and the G2/M transition through the phosphorylation of nuclear lamins and histones.
The Stochastic Vehicle Routing Problem for Minimum Unmet Demand

In this chapter, we are interested in routing vehicles to minimize unmet demand with uncertain demand and travel time parameters. Such a problem arises in situations with large demand or tight deadlines so that routes that satisfy all demand points are difficult or impossible to obtain. An important application is the distribution of medical supplies to respond to large-scale emergencies, such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks. We present a chance constrained formulation of the problem that is equivalent to a deterministic problem with modified demand and travel time parameters under mild assumptions on the distribution of stochastic parameters and relate it to a robust optimization approach. A tabu heuristic is proposed to solve this MIP and simulations are conducted to evaluate the quality of routes generated from both deterministic and chance constrained formulations. We observe that chance constrained routes can reduce the unmet demand by around 2%-6% for moderately tight deadline and total supply constraints.
Determination of phosphorus in fertilizers by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

An inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method was developed for the determination of phosphorus in fertilizers. Total phosphorus, direct extraction available phosphorus (EDTA), and water-soluble phosphorus, reported as phosphorus pentoxide (P205), in 15 Magruder check fertilizers were measured by ICP-AES, and the results were compared with those obtained by the AOAC official method. Five analytical wavelengths of phosphorus, 177.499, 178.287, 213.618, 214.914, and 253.565 nm, were tested for the determination of phosphorus in fertilizers, and their detection limits were obtained. Acid effects of perchloric acid and possible matrix effects of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium were negligible for phosphorus determination. Wavelength 213.618 nm was the best analytical wavelength for phosphorus determination by all 3 sample preparation methods for the selected Magruder fertilizers. The results demonstrated that the accuracy and precision of the ICP-AES method were comparable with those of the official methods.
Los retos del desarrollo latinoamericano a la luz de la historia

This paper discusses the challenges of Latin American development in the light of history and of the strong recent changes in the world economic context. This text highlights the mediocre economic performance of the region after the reforms compared to the period of state-led industrialization that preceded it, even though there were positive results in social matters during the last decade. In light of these results and the uncertainties surrounding the global economy, three main challenges arise: to adopt more consistent countercyclical macroeconomic policies, active productive development strategies, and to continue the task of reducing historically high levels of inequality.
Signaling in New Ventures: The Use and Impact of the Lockup Period at the Time of the Initial Public Offering

The lockup period is an agreement by the current owners of a new venture to not sell or dispose of their shares without the approval of the investment banker underwriting the shares of the initial public offering (IPO). We investigated the lockup period of a sample of 313 new ventures going through the IPO and find that a longer lockup period acts as a substitute signal to VC and prestigious underwriter backing. Furthermore, we find that ventures which have a going concern issue can reduce the amount of underpricing at the time of the IPO by enduring a longer lockup period.