cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographic Correlates of Cognition in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Objective To describe the methodology utilized to evaluate cognitive function in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and to present preliminary results by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Design Cross-sectional measurements of a prospective observational cohort. Setting Residents of 6 U.S. communities free of cardiovascular disease at baseline (2000–02). Participants 4,591 adults who completed the fifth MESA clinical examination in 2011–12; mean age 70.3 (SD: 9.5) years, 53.1% women, 40.7% non-Hispanic white, 26.4% non-Hispanic black, 21.4% Hispanic, and 11.5% Chinese. Measurements The cognitive battery consisted of the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (version 2) to evaluate global cognition, the Digit Symbol Code for processing speed and Digit Spans Forward and Backward to assess memory. Demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural covariates were also collected for descriptive statistics and multivariate modeling. Results Associations between socioeconomic factors and cognition revealed that age, race/ethnicity, education, occupational status, household income, health insurance type, household size, place of birth, years and generation in U.S., and the presence of the ApoE4 allele were significantly associated with performance on the cognitive tests, although patterns varied by specific test, racial/ethnicity, and sociocultural factors. Conclusion As many of the influencing cultural and socioeconomic factors measured here are complex, multifactorial, and may not be adequately quantified, caution has been recommended with regard to comparison and interpretation of racial/ethnic group performance differences from these cross-sectional models. These data provide a baseline for future exams and more comprehensive longitudinal analyses of the contributions of subclinical and clinical diseases to cognitive function and decline.
Turbulence modeling of flowfields with massive surface ablation

A turbulence model accounting for the various physical phenomena in the viscous shock layer of a massively blown spherically blunted probe has been developed. In particular, an allowance has been made in the turbulence model for the longitudinal and normal pressure gradient effects, peaked massive ablation, and the nonequilibrium turbulence effects. The need for finding a boundary-layer edge is avoided. A computational mesh and convergence criterion more appropriate for the blown surface is employed in obtaining the results which include the effect of surface roughness.
Integrated design using SMT

The electronics manufacturing technique known as surface mount technology (SMT) is both a challenge and an opportunity to electrical and electronic academic programs. It is a challenge because lab-oriented EE and EET courses will be forced to use SMT as fewer and fewer parts will be available in traditional through-hole technology (THT). It is an opportunity because the proper use of SMT requires knowledge not only of electronics and/or software design, but also of printed circuit board layout issues, thermal properties, stress and strain, phase diagrams and test techniques. This means that SMT can be used as a vehicle to integrate the teaching of these topics for EE and EET students, providing encouragement for them to learn these topics. This paper discusses the manner in which these issues can be integrated in the academic environment, with consideration of both lecture and laboratory topics.
Optimization of chemical vapor infiltration with simultaneous powder formation

Abstract : A key difficulty in isothermal, isobaric chemical vapor infiltration is the long processing times that are typically required. With this in mind, it is important to minimize infiltration times. This optimization problem is addressed here, using a relatively simple model for dilute gases. The results provide useful asymptotic expressions for the minimum time and corresponding conditions. These approximations are quantitatively accurate for most cases of interest, where relatively uniform infiltration is required. They also provide useful quantitative insight in cases where less uniformity is required. The effects of homogeneous nucleation were also investigated. This does not affect the governing equations for infiltration of a porous body, however, powder formation can restrict the range of permissible infiltration conditions. This was analyzed for the case of carbon infiltration from methane.
Making executive politics mutually productive and fair

Winner-take-all elections for executive offices create high-stakes electoral conflict that distorts policy-making and constitution-making behavior. When the stakes are high, so long as it increases the chances of victory, office-seekers seek to shift perceived benefits toward and burdens away from potentially pivotal participants. This can entail the strategic allocation of spoils, the strategic selection of public policies that mobilize one’s base or divide the opposition, the strategic shifting of benefits into the present and costs into the future, and the strategic deception of the uninformed. This paper proposes a “turn-taking institution,” an electoral system in which the whole term is only awarded to a sufficiently inclusive supermajority coalition; if no coalition qualifies, the plurality winner and the runner-up take alternating one-year turns for the length of the term. This institution lowers the stakes of electoral conflict by roughly an order of magnitude, and fosters the formation, enforcement and adaptation of mutually productive policy-making and constitution-making behaviors. Critically, these results hold up even when voters and policy-makers are impatient, and when only short-run commitments are possible.
Replication, Realism, and Robustness: Analyzing Political Regimes and International Trade

makers who formulate trade policy. We show that Dai fails to accurately replicate our model, and hence erroneously claims that the new equilibria she deduces are consistent with it. In addition, we demonstrate that in altering one of our assumptions, Dai offers a model that is less realistic as well as inconsistent with the substantive literature on international bargaining. Finally, we question the robustness of her approach. Due to these problems of replication, realism, and robustness, we conclude that Dai's model is of limited utility. ur article established that pairs of democracies trade more freely than (mixed) country pairs composed of a democracy and an autocracy (Mansfield, Milner, and Rosendorff 2000; hereafter MMR). Xinyuan Dai (2002) asserts that our conclusion depends on the preferences of the decision makers who formulate trade policy. Dai is incorrect. Her results differ from ours solely because she has changed a key assumption of the model. Given the stated assumptions of our model, each player's behavior in equilibrium is optimal and is a best reply. It is often useful to debate the merits of a model's assumptions, and it is not surprising that altering the assumptions can affect a model's results. Dai, however, ignores one of our explicitly stated assumptions and fails to acknowledge that her results differ from ours as a consequence. Moreover, she never touches upon the relative merits of her assumption. But when choosing a modeling strategy, it is important to be attentive to the assumptions one uses, preferring those that are more realistic and result in more general conclusions. Dai's model suffers from serious problems in this regard, particularly because of its unrealistic assumptions about international economic negotiations. Furthermore, Dai offers no evidence about the robustness of her claims in contrast to our model. Finally, the empirical record lends greater support to our argument than Dai's, since we found strong evidence that democratic pairs have had more open trade relations than mixed pairs, irrespective of policy makers' preferences. In the following sections, we elaborate on these problems of replication, realism, and robustness. First, we show that Dai fails to replicate our model faithfully and hence erroneously claims that the new equilibria she deduces are consistent with it. Second, we show that altering our assumption as Dai does yields a model that is less realistic and less consistent with the substantive literature on international bargaining. Third, we question the robustness of her approach. We conclude that her model is of limited utility. Not only does our model capture an important element of international economic negotiations missing in Dai's approach, but also it yields results that are robust and have empirical support.
Large index-fingertip forces are produced by subject-independent patterns of muscle excitation.

Are fingertip forces produced by subject-independent patterns of muscle excitation? If so, understanding the mechanical basis underlying these muscle coordination strategies would greatly assist surgeons in evaluating options for restoring grasping. With the finger in neutral ad- abduction and flexed 45i at the MCP and PIP, and 10i at DIP joints, eight subjects attempted to produce maximal voluntary forces in four orthogonal directions perpendicular to the distal phalanx (palmar, dorsal, lateral and medial) and in one direction collinear with it (distal). Forces were directed within 4.7$2.2i (mean$S.D.) of target and their magnitudes clustered into three distinct levels (p(0.05; post hoc pairwise RMANOVA). Palmar (27.9$4.1 N), distal (24.3$8.3 N) and medial (22.9$7.8 N) forces were highest, lateral (14.7$4.8 N) was intermediate, and dorsal (7.5$1.5 N) was lowest. Normalized fine-wire EMGs from all seven muscles revealed distinct muscle excitation groups for palmar, dorsal and distal forces (p(0.05; post hoc pairwise RMANOVA). Palmar force used flexors, extensors and dorsal interosseous; dorsal force used all muscles; distal force used all muscles except for extensors; medial and lateral forces used all muscles including significant co-excitation of interossei. The excitation strategies predicted to achieve maximal force by a 3-D computer model (four pin joints, inextensible tendons, extensor mechanism and isometric force models for all seven muscles) reproduced the observed use of extensors and absence of palmar interosseous to produce palmar force (to regulate net joint flexion torques), the absence of extensors for distal force, and the use of intrinsics (strong MCP flexors) for dorsal force. The model could not predict the interossei co-excitation seen for medial and lateral forces, which may be a strategy to prevent MCP joint damage. The model predicts distal force to be most sensitive to dorsal interosseous strength, and palmar and distal forces to be very sensitive to MCP and PIP flexor moment arms, and dorsal force to be sensitive to the moment arm of and the tension allocation to the PIP extensor tendon of the extensor mechanism. ( 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Rendering discrete random media using precomputed scattering solutions

This paper addresses light transport through a discrete random medium, which we define as a volume filled with macroscopic scattering geometry generated by a random process. This formulation is more general than standard radiative transport, because it can be applied to media that are made up of closely packed scatterers. A new approach to rendering these media is introduced, based on precomputed solutions to a local multiple scattering problem, including a new algorithm for generating paths through random media that moves through the interior of the medium in large strides without considering individual scattering events. A method for rendering homogeneous isotropic random media is described that generates paths using precomputed scattering solutions compressed and randomly sampled using Nonnegative Matrix Factorization. It can efficiently render discrete media, such as a large pile of glass objects, in which the individual scatterers are visible. The method is demonstrated on scenes containing tens of thousands of transparent, specular objects that are nearly impossible to render with standard global illumination techniques.
The effects of UV radiation A and B on diurnal variation in photosynthesis in three taxonomically and ecologically diverse microbial mats

Photosynthetic primary production, the basis of most global food chains, is inhibited by UV radiation. Evaluating UV inhibition is therefore important for assessing the role of natural levels of UV radiation in regulating ecosystem behavior as well as the potential impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on global ecosystems. As both photosynthesis and UV fluxes are subject to diurnal variations, we examined the diurnal variability of the effect of UV radiation on photosynthesis in three diverse algal mats. In one of the mats (Cyanidium caldarium) a small mean decrease in primary productivity over the whole day occurred when both UVA and UVB were screened out. In two of the mats (Lyngbya aestuarii and Zygogonium sp.) we found a mean increase in the total primary productivity over the day when UVB alone was screened and a further increase when UVA and UVB were both screened out. Variations in the effects of UV radiation were found at different times of the day. This diurnal variability may be because even under the same solar radiation flux, there are different factors that may control photosynthetic rate, including nutritional status and other physiological processes in the cell. The results show the importance of assessing the complete diurnal productivity. For some of the time points the increase in the mean was still within the standard deviations in primary productivity, illustrating the difficulty in dissecting UV effects from other natural variations.
Collaborative Relationships Between Vocational Rehabilitation and Other One-Stop Partners: Policy Considerations for Supporting Partnerships

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) brought together federal job training and employment programs to create one comprehensive service system. Among WIA’s core tenets are streamlined services to be developed, designed, and implemented by a variety of mandated and nonmandated partners. The public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency is a mandated partner, and the only one that focuses on disability. Although the intention of WIA was mutual benefit and interaction, the exact nature of the VR partnership with the One-Stop varies. Using a longitudinal research design and case study method, collaborative relationships between other partners in the One-Stop and VR in six U.S. locations was explored. The findings uncovered four models of collaboration: full-time colocation of a few VR staff members, colocation in the same building complex, itinerant staffing, and limited itinerant staffing. There were a number of barriers to collaboration and strategies used in and among the various models to facilitate involveme...
Prognostic implications of parathyroid hormone-related protein in males and females with non--small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract Background Non–small-cell lung carcinoma immunoreactivity for parathyroid hormone-related protein has been associated with increased survival in female patients but not in male patients. The current investigation attempted to substantiate this finding in 2 new patient groups. Methods Patients were divided into groups with and without immunoreactivity for a carboxyl-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein epitope assessed in deparaffinized sections by a blinded observer. One group included 85 female patients with stage I lung cancer, and the second group had 48 female and 66 male patients with stage I-IV lung cancer. Survival times were compared by the log-rank test between groups separated by tumor parathyroid hormone-related protein status. Results Parathyroid hormone-related protein was present in 70%-80% of the patients, independent of sex, stage, and smoking history. In the females with stage I lung cancer, parathyroid hormone-related protein increased median survival from 25 to 60 months (P Conclusion This study verifies that parathyroid hormone-related protein is a sex-dependent survival factor for non–small-cell lung carcinoma, that it correlates with disease-free survival, and that the association with survival holds for women with early-stage disease as well as more advanced cancer. Thus, the protein could find use as a prognostic indicator and could be a target for therapy.
Dystrophin mutations predict cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress

Mutations in the dystrophin gene that lead to the expression of truncated forms of the dystrophin protein cause muscular dystrophies of varying severities both in humans and in mice. We have shown previously that dystrophin-deficient muscle is more susceptible to oxidative injury than is normal muscle. In this report, we have used muscle cells derived from mdx mice, which express no dystrophin, and mdx-transgenic strains that express full-length dystrophin or truncated forms of dystrophin to explore further the relationship between dystrophin expression and susceptibility of muscle to oxidative injury. We show that, when differentiated into myotubes, the relative susceptibility of the cell populations to oxidative stress correlates with the severity of the dystrophy in the strain from which the cells were isolated. The most susceptible populations exhibited the greatest oxidative damage as assessed by protein oxidation. Thus, the relative efficacy of truncated dystrophin proteins to protect muscle from necrotic degeneration in vivo is predicted by their ability to protect muscle cells from free radical mediated injury. These findings support the hypothesis that the dystrophin protein complex may have important regulatory or signaling properties in terms of cell survival and antioxidant defense mechanisms.
Effects of combining Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 with various lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage

Abstract The objective was to compare the effectiveness of combining Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 with three lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation, aerobic stability and nutritive value of corn silage. Freshly chopped whole plant corn was untreated or treated with L. buchneri 40788 paired with Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici, or Pediococcus pentosaceus. L. buchneri was added to achieve 4 × 105 CFU/g of fresh forage and the homolactic acid bacteria were added to achieve 1 × 105 CFU/g. Forages were ensiled in laboratory silos for 215 days before opening. Overall, inoculation increased the concentrations of acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol, but it reduced the concentrations of lactic acid, water soluble carbohydrates and ethanol. Effects on acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol were biggest for L. buchneri 40788 paired with P. pentosaceus > P. acidilactici > L. plantarum. Combining L. buchneri 40788 with L. plantarum or P. acidilactici increased and tended to increase in vitro aNDF digestibility in silage when compared to untreated silage, respectively. Untreated silage had a relatively large proportion of visibly spoiled silage at the surface of the silos, which resulted in poorer recovery of feedable dry matter when compared to silage treated with the combinations of L. buchneri 40788 with L. plantarum or with P. acidilactici. All inoculated silages had fewer numbers of yeasts after ensiling which improved their aerobic stability relative to untreated silage. Addition of L. buchneri 40788 to corn silage improves its aerobic stability and combining it with the P. acidilactici and L. plantarum strains used in this study results in other beneficial effects on silage quality.
Theoretical Modeling of Low Frequency Acoustic Scattering from Subsurface Bubble Structures

We have produced a software package (BIRPS — Boundary Integral Resonant Plume Scatter) that simulates scattering from general near-surface bubble structures. It solves the field-matching boundary integral equations and computes complex scattering amplitudes for structures with user-specified depths, shapes and interior sound speed functions. It incorporates surface-image and resonance effects and is currently restricted to fixed plumes under flat, smooth sea surfaces. We describe the operation of BIRPS and present simulations for “intermediate” plumes.
Clinical Reasoning: A 56-year-old man with cognitive impairment and difficulty tying his necktie

A 56-year-old previously healthy man presented with cognitive complaints. He described forgetting recent conversations and leaving tasks unfinished. He reported no problems with long-term memory, no personality changes, and he continued to perform all activities of daily living (ADLs) independently. His initial neurologic examination was normal, including a perfect score on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Over the next 2 years, he developed difficulty reading his analog watch, managing finances, and making simple calculations while shopping. He also reported difficulty tying his necktie.
Robust Three-Dimensional Collision Avoidance for Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems

This work considers a new ”morphing” potential field navigation technique, where potential fields morph to distribute potential cost to areas necessary for collision avoidance in the particular case of fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems, vehicles with high speed and high inertia. The original algorithm, developed for the two-dimensional lateral case, is extended to the third dimension through a layered potential plane approach in both longitudinal and lateral axes. The developed online navigation method is used in series with an integrated guidance and nonlinear model predictive controller, in which robustness is included through the augmentation of frequency dependent weighting matrices in the control structure. The combined approach is demonstrated in full nonlinear six-degrees-of-freedom simulation of a large fixed-wing unmanned aerial system showcasing successful online three-dimensional collision and obstacle avoidance and simultaneous fixed altitude and inclined trajectory following in a congested urban setting while subjected to high crosswind.
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in specific forms of gastritis. Further evidence supporting a pathogenic role for H. pylori in chronic nonspecific gastritis.

Helicobacter pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa is strongly associated with chronic nonspecific gastritis; moreover, there is evidence to suggest thatH. pylori may cause this form of gastritis. However, there is little or no information on the prevalence ofH. pylori in specific forms of gastritis. Our hypothesis was that ifH. pylori was pathogenic in chronic nonspecific gastritis, organisms would be found frequently in this type of gastritis but infrequently in specific forms of gastritis. Prevalence rates ofH. pylori were determined independently in patients with eosinophilic and Crohn's gastritis, Menetrier's disease, and chronic nonspecific gastritis. The prevalence ofH. pylori in patients with chronic nonspecific gastritis was 71%, whereas the organism was not identified in patients with any form of specific gastritis. This finding further supports the accumulating evidence thatH. pylori is a primary pathogenic factor in chronic nonspecific gastritis.
Atomic Structure of Au329(SR)84 Faradaurate Plasmonic Nanomolecules

To design novel nanomaterials, it is important to precisely control the composition, determine the atomic structure, and manipulate the structure to tune the materials property. Here we present a comprehensive characterization of the material whose composition is Au329(SR)84 precisely, therefore referred to as a nanomolecule. The size homogeneity was shown by electron microscopy, solution X-ray scattering, and mass spectrometry. We proposed its atomic structure to contain the Au260 core using experiments and modeling of a total-scattering-based atomic-pair distribution functional analysis. HAADF-STEM images shows fcc-like 2.0 ± 0.1 nm diameter nanomolecules.
Saved by De-epithelialization: DIEP Flap Dermal Skin Regeneration Salvage after Mastectomy Skin Flap Loss.

Wound re-epithelialization has been traditionally described to occur from the dermal appendages of the wound edges. As such, the role of the dermal wound bed in re-epithelialization has been questioned. In a patient undergoing breast reconstruction with free tissue transfer, the buried portions of the free flap skin paddle could be either de-epithelialized or deskinned. In case of mastectomy skin flap loss, the role of de-epithelialized skin in wound healing has not been described before.We report a patient with bilateral mastectomies and bilateral deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps whose postoperative course was complicated by bilateral full-thickness mastectomy skin flap loss. Multiple debridements of nonviable skin resulted in exposure of previously buried de-epithelialized skin paddle of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap.Our study demonstrates self re-epithelialization of the dermal wound bed from the dermal appendages. We noticed multiple noncontiguous neoepidermal islands in the dermal wound bed, which did not communicate with the wound edges.In case of full-thickness mastectomy skin flap loss, deep vascular plexus present in the dermal bed of the underlying de-epithelialized skin paddle of the free flap converts an otherwise full-thickness wound to a partial-thickness wound. Our study demonstrates the self-epithelialization potential of the de-epithelialized dermal wound bed from the dermal appendages when exposed to air and in the presence of wound healing elements.
Exploring the Capabilities of Drones for Undergraduate Research

Carthage College initiated a program to explore the use of drones in undergraduate research at a small, liberal-arts college. We provided an environment of “toys” for the students to explore and encouraged them to choose their own projects. Our experience was that projects involving mapping, 3D modeling, and programming were more successful than engineering-oriented projects, but this could be due to the expertise of the faculty facilitator. Overall, the experience was highly rewarding and educational to all involved.
Training, Immobilization, and Structure-Function Relationships in Dog Gastrocnemius Muscle

To investigate the effects of exercise training and immobilization on structure-function relationships in skeletal muscle, three groups of purpose-bred hounds [control (C), exercised trained (E), and immobilized (I)] were studied. Group E exercised on a treadmill 1 h/day, 5 days/wk for 8 wk, while groups C and I were cage-confined for 8 wk, with group I undergoing left hindlimb immobilization for the last 3 wk. The functional results (Bebout et al. J Appl. Physiol; 74(4): 1697-1703, 1993) showed that exercise training increased peak muscle O2 uptake (VO2) by 38% and estimated diffusive conductance (DO2) by 71% in dog gastrocnemius muscle, while immobilization had no effect on peak VO2/g muscle or DO2/g muscle in spite of a 31% reduction in muscle weight and a 68% decrease in citrate synthase activity.
Andromeda, Galactic Redshift, and the Big Bang Theory

Edwin Hubble’s establishment of the Andromeda Nebula as a distinct galaxy demolished one vision of the universe that had existed in the West since the ancient times. His use of Cepheid variables in M31 to determine the distance to this Messier object not only provided definitive proof and support for the island-universe theory but it also forced astronomers to enlarge their estimates of the size of the universe by many times. If the Andromeda Galaxy, according to Hubble, was nearly 1,000,000 light-years distant, the universe was infinitely larger than any had previously thought. But was it truly infinite, or were there some bounded limits to its size? Moreover, what was the shape of the universe, and could one speak of it having a center? These were but a few of the questions that remained as the 1920s closed and the last remnants of the single-galaxy universe theory were abandoned and replaced by one defined by an island-universe view.
Ongoing professional practice evaluation implementation within STATIT.

283 Background: The OPPE allows the organization to identify professional practice trends that impact quality of care and patient safety. The intent of the standard is that organizations are looking at data on performance for all practitioners with privileges on an ongoing basis, to allow them to take steps to improve performance on a more timely basis. Methods: Infrastructure development. We assigned people for data integration, technical support and metric development. The manager of Clinical Decision Support serve as the administrative coordinator to the program managed the progress of implementation. Leadership Support. To implement the STATIT for OPPE in any hospital, executive leadership support is required to secure funding and resources for the program as well as to support the quality improvement initiatives undertaken that will affect current policies and a wide range of personnel. The early support for the OPPE STATIT came from hospital’s administrative leadership and Performance Improvement le...
Engage and educate: Engineering laboratory activities for first-year engineering students

This paper discusses the importance and effectiveness of structured hands-on STEM-related project-based engineering laboratory activities in the critical entry-level course, First-Year Seminar in Engineering, for undergraduate engineering majors at ABET-accredited institutions of higher education. At our institution, the First-Year Seminar in Engineering is offered once each year during the fall term. The enrollment in this course ranges from ninety to hundred first-year students who are expected to graduate with engineering degrees from the four-year ABET-accredited programs. One component of this course comprises hands-on engineering laboratory activities in sessions of short duration (fifty-five minutes apiece) in disciplines such as Biomedical Engineering (BME), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Environmental Engineering (ENV), and Mechanical Engineering (ME). In the short interval of time allotted for STEM-based laboratory experiences, the motivation, commitment, and level of engagement can range from total indifference to unbridled enthusiasm with the desire to do and learn more. The broad goal is to deliver key aspects of the engineering design process, from concept-to-product (the E in STEM), during this short interval of time. Therefore, it behooves us to develop STEM-based, project-oriented laboratory activities that focus the student on well-defined, easy-to-attain, yet insightful experimental objectives.
Lane-Change Maneuvers Consuming Freeway Capacity

Conventional traffic flow theory dictates that flow on a freeway is usually constrained only by a small number of critical locations or bottlenecks. When active, these bottlenecks cause queues that can stretch for several miles and reduce flow on other parts of the network. Bottlenecks are often thought to arise over short distances and are usually modeled as if they occur at discrete points since the resulting queues are thought to be much longer then the bottleneck region. This paper presents evidence that the delay causing phenomena may actually occur over extended distances. Some of which may occur downstream of the apparent bottleneck where drivers are accelerating away from the queue, while related phenomena are observed in the queue, over a mile upstream of the apparent bottleneck. It is shown that lane change maneuvers are responsible for some of the losses, reducing travel speed and consuming capacity when vehicles enter a given lane. These losses in one lane are not fully balanced by gains in other lanes.
Charge asymmetry in elastic scattering of massive leptons on protons

Elastic lepton-proton scattering has drawn considerable attention in recent years, particularly as it relates to the proton radius puzzle. In this paper, the authors improve on previous calculations of the charge asymmetry, including two-photon exchange effects without ultra-relativistic approximations. Their results are evaluated for the upcoming MUSE experiment.
Abstract 52: Impaired Ephrin A1/EphA2 Signaling Results in Defective Migration and Homing of Senescent Human Cardiac Stem Cells

Aging is the major independent risk factor for chronic heart failure. Despite the presence of cardiac stem cells (CSCs), the old human heart undergoes progressive deterioration in ventricular performance, coupled with scattered foci of fibrosis and accumulation of poorly contracting myocytes. We raised the possibility that defects in the translocation of senescent human CSCs (hCSCs) to the sites of damage constitute a key determinant in the manifestation of the aging myopathy. We report that ephrin A1-EphA2 receptor signaling is a critical modulator of hCSC motility. Ephrin A1, a membrane-anchored protein, is expressed on the myocyte sarcolemma and acts as a ligand for the EphA2 receptor on neighboring hCSCs, facilitating their migration. Pre-treatment of young hCSCs with ephrin A1 resulted in enhanced movement of the transplanted cells to the necrotic tissue, with formation of new myocardium and improvement in cardiac function. Whether senescent hCSCs promote a comparable regenerative response remained to be established. Surprisingly, the expression of EphA2 did not differ in young and old hCSCs. With respect to young cells, senescent hCSCs showed a 2-fold increase in intracellular ROS levels. Oxidative stress led to post-translational modifications and functional alterations of the EphA2 receptor. Specifically, the ability of ephrin A1 to induce phosphorylation of the EphA2 receptor was markedly attenuated in senescent hCSCs, resulting in inadequate activation of Src family proteins. As a consequence, the phosphorylation and activity of caveolin-1, a substrate of Src kinases, was reduced. These molecular alterations led to impaired endocytosis of the ligand-receptor complex, a cellular process essential for ephrin A1-EphA2 signaling. Lack of endocytosis precluded rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and cell migration. Importantly, ephrin A1-stimulated senescent hCSCs delivered to infarcted rats accumulated in proximity of the site of injection and did not translocate to the ischemic area. Thus, oxidative stress interferes with EphA2 signaling in aging hCSCs, negatively affecting their migration. Restoration of the EphA2 function in old hCSCs may enhance their mobilization and improve cell targeting to the injured area.
The Stochastic Nature of Action Potential Backpropagation in Apical Tuft Dendrites

The bAP-Ca2+ signal amplitudes in some apical tuft branches randomly vary from moment to moment. In repetitive measurements, successful AP invasions are followed by complete failures. Passive sprea...
Characterizing hydrologic changes of the Great Dismal Swamp using SAR/InSAR

The Great Dismal Swamp (GDS), one of the largest, northernmost peatlands on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, is underlain by a thick water-logged organic soil layer (peat) made up of dead and decaying plant material. The peatland functions as a main sink for a large amount of soil derived organic carbon. The disturbance of this wetland has negatively impacted the ecosystem and contributed to climate change through the release of the stored greenhouse gases. Surface water level and soil moisture conditions are critical information about peatlands, but monitoring these hydrologic changes has been a challenging task. With a lack of in situ soil moisture measurements, we first explored yearlong Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) data to find the close relationship (R-squared value: 0.80) between soil moisture and groundwater table from March 2015 to March 2016. Based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscattering returns and interferometric SAR (InSAR) phase measurements from C-band Radarsat-1 and L-band ALOS PALSAR datasets, we then analyzed the hydrologic changes in the peatlands. We compared averaged C/L-band SAR backscattering intensity (mid 1998–early 2008 for Radarsat-1, late 2006–early 2011 for ALOS PALSAR) with groundwater level changes and found that the SAR backscattering is significantly responsive (R-squared value: 0.76 and 0.67 for Radarsat-1 and ALOS PALSAR, respectively) to soil moisture changes through a three-way correlated relationship of soil moisture, groundwater level, and SAR intensity. Using InSAR coherence observations, we delineated the inundated area (western and northern regions of GDS) during the wet season, subject to double-bounce backscattering. We measured the relative water level changes in the inundated areas through the InSAR phase measurements, and estimated the groundwater level changes corresponding to soil moisture changes using time-series InSAR analysis. Our comprehensive study has demonstrated that time-series SAR backscattering returns and InSAR analysis can be used to gauge soil moisture conditions and to monitor the hydrologic and vegetation changes in the GDS.
Melanoma arising in an ovarian cystic teratoma: a systematic review of presentation, treatment, and outcomes

To assess the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcome of primary melanomas arising in ovarian cystic teratomas (OCT). A systematic review on PubMed/MEDLINE was performed on June 5, 2017, to gather data on patients with primary melanomas arising in OCTs. No systematic reviews were identified. Consequently, only case reports and case series of individuals were analyzed. A total of 37 articles met our inclusion criteria, totaling 41 unique patients. The average age of diagnosis was 51.5 years. In total, 24% of patients were found to have metastatic disease. In total, 56.7% of patients eventually died of their disease, with an average time from diagnosis to death of 9.3 months. Disease recurrence was common, occurring in 65% of patients. The mainstay of treatment was surgical in 100% of the cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation were also used with varying degrees of efficacy. Malignant melanoma arising in OCT is a rare disease with poor prognosis. The current mainstay treatment is surgical. Potential benefits of targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy remain to be determined. A limitation of this study is that these melanomas have only been published in case reports.
Nystagmus from Wernicke's Encephalopathy.

A 28-year-old woman who had recently had hyperemesis gravidarum presented with confusion and falls. She was found to have nystagmus (shown in videos) and MRI abnormalities consistent with Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
Abstract 19070: Hispanic/Latino Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors About Tobacco Use: Results of Focus Groups in 4 US Cities

Despite the reduction in the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking in the US, use has remained high among Hispanics/Latinos (H/Ls), particularly Puerto Ricans (33.7%) and Cuban/Cuban Americans (2...
Predictors of Survival After Treatment of Oligometastases After Esophagectomy.

Background Recurrent esophageal carcinoma (EC) has a dismal prognosis. However, prior studies showed that selected patients with isolated recurrence may benefit from definitive therapy. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of postrecurrence survival (PRS) in patients with isolated EC recurrence who were treated with curative intent. Methods A retrospective review of a prospective database (1988 to 2015) was performed to identify all recurrent EC patients after curative esophagectomy. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were reviewed. The probability of PRS was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Predictors of PRS after definitive therapy for isolated EC recurrence were determined by the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results Of the 640 curative esophagectomies, 241 patients (37.7%) experienced recurrences (median follow-up 50 months). Fifty-six patients (9%) received definitive treatment of isolated EC recurrence (31 were treated surgically with or without chemotherapy-radiotherapy [CTRT] and 25 received definitive CTRT alone). Median time to recurrence (TTR) was 19 months. The 1- and 3-year PRSs were 78% and 38% (median survival 26 months). On multivariable analysis; TTR was the only significant independent predictor for survival after recurrence (hazards ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.96 to 0.99, p = 0.034). No pronounced difference was found in disease-free survival or in PRS between recurrent patients treated with operation with or without CTRT and patients who received definitive CTRT. Conclusions A select subgroup of patients with isolated EC recurrence can be treated with curative intent. TTR was the best predictor for PRS.
Investigating the Effect of Sound-Event Loudness on Crowdsourced Audio Annotations

Audio annotation is an important step in developing machine-listening systems. It is also a time consuming process, which has motivated investigators to crowdsource audio annotations. However, there are many factors that affect annotations, many of which have not been adequately investigated. In previous work, we investigated the effects of visualization aids and sound scene complexity on the quality of crowdsourced sound-event annotations. In this paper, we extend that work by investigating the effect of sound-event loudness on both sound-event source annotations and sound-event proximity annotations. We find that the sound class, loudness, and annotator bias affect how listeners annotate proximity. We also find that loudness affects recall more than precision and that the strengths of these effects are strongly influenced by the sound class. These findings are not only important for designing effective audio annotation processes, but also for effectively training and evaluating machine-listening systems.
Postscript: a new ritual turn?

As a postscript to this special issue, the author offers a set of concluding thoughts about the prospect of a new ritual turn within philosophy and theology and the relationship of this contemporar...
Hannah Arendt's Theory of Action and the Response to Moral Atrocity in the Contemporary World

This paper anlayzes Hannah Arendt's theory of action in light of recent critiques and interpretations to which it has been subject, for the purpose of evaluating its capacity to illuminate and address conetmporary moral atrocities in authoritarian states.
Effects on Future Learning of Presenting Non-Target Stimuli in Antecedent and Consequent Conditions

This investigation assessed the effects of presenting non-target stimuli in the antecedent and consequent events on the future learning of responses to those stimuli. A 4-s constant time delay procedure was implemented to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities to read sight words. Future target stimuli (i.e., stimuli that were presented during instructional sessions of initial target stimuli, but were not directly instructed or targeted) were presented in one of two conditions; (a) in the antecedent event, or (b) in the consequent event portion of each instructional trial. Future target stimuli consisted of sight words that were unrelated to the target stimuli. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to assess and compare the two instructional conditions. Also, after students achieved criterion for reading target sight words, constant time delay was implemented to teach the future target stimuli. The number of sessions and the number and percentage of errors through criterion for teaching target and future target stimuli were assessed to measure the efficiency of the two conditions. All students reached criterion on the target stimuli and then acquired the future target stimuli when taught. Students required fewer sessions to achieve criterion on future target stimuli compared to initial target stimuli. There were minimal differences between the two conditions (i.e., antecedent versus consequent).
Chapter 10 - Reactive Ion Etching

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses reactive ion etching. The radicals and neutrals participate in chemical reactions on the film surface to produce volatile species or their precursors, while positive ions are accelerated across the plasma sheath in the inter-electrode space and bombard wafer surfaces on the cathode to initiate or complete the volatilization process and accelerate material removal. This admittedly cursory description is in itself sufficient to justify the use of synonyms for reactive ion etching, such as reactive sputter etching, ion-assisted chemical etching, and chemical-assisted sputtering. The term reactive ion etching (RIE) is used to describe any or all of these processes. RIE has been demonstrated to be an effective means of accurately and selectively replicating feature geometries in sizes that extend down to the sub-micrometer range. The practical lower limits of process capabilities have not been reached, primarily because of the inability to resolve the desired small geometries by various lithographic techniques.
Cross-reactivity between streptococcus and human tissue: a model of molecular mimicry and autoimmunity.

Structural homology between mammalian tissues and microbes has been demonstrated for over 50 years. Twenty years ago the term “molecular mimicry” was coined to describe antigenic structures common to host and protozoal parasites (Damian 1964). This term has since been expanded to include other microorganisms, and knowledge of the phenomenon has increased greatly with the application of newer immunochemical and molecular biological techniques. Cross-reacting antibodies to the shared antigens may arise, and a partial list of these and the disease states with which they may be associated is shown in Table 1.