cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Role of the Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal Gene NANOG in Neoplastic Processes

Embryonic stem cell transcription factors are among the myriad of stem cell (SC)-related genes implicated in neoplastic disease processes. NANOG, a homeobox domain transcription factor essential to embryogenesis promotes proliferation and self-renewal integral to both normal and tumor development. NANOG mRNA species and protein have been detected in numerous types of tumor cells ranging from malignant pluripotent teratocarcinoma to somatic tumors of the brain, liver, breast and prostate, among others. Functionally, NANOG has been implicated as an important mediator of tumor cell clonogenic growth, cellular proliferation and tumor development. Further, NANOG has been shown to promote cancer progression, such as the manifestation of resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. However, it remains unclear how NANOG affects these biological responses at the cellular and molecular level. In this chapter, we shall review some of the evidence supporting the notion that NANOG is an important pro-tumorigenic molecule and consider the upstream regulatory mechanisms and downstream effectors integrating NANOG into cancer cell molecular circuitry.
A General Least Squares Regression Framework on Matrix Manifolds for Computer Vision

Least squares regression is one of the fundamental approaches for statistical analysis. And yet, its simplicity has often led to researchers overlooking it for complex recognition problems. In this chapter, we present a nonlinear regression framework on matrix manifolds. The proposed method is developed based upon two key attributes: underlying geometry and least squares fitting. The former attribute is vital since geometry characterizes the space for classification while the latter exhibits a simple estimation model. Considering geometric properties, we formulate the least squares regression as a composite function. The proposed framework can be naturally generalized to many matrix manifolds. We show that this novel formulation is applicable to matrix Lie groups, SPD(n), Grassmann manifolds, and the product of Grassmann manifolds for a number of computer vision applications ranging from visual tracking, object categorization, and activity recognition to human interaction recognition. Our experiments reveal that the proposed method yields competitive performance, including state-of-the-art results on challenging activity recognition benchmarks.
Open Source as Culture-Culture as Open Source

The Open Source model of peer production, sharing, revision, and peer review has distilled and labeled the most successful human creative habits into a techno- political movement. This distillation has had costs and benefits. It has been difficult to court mainstream acceptance for such a tangle of seemingly technical ideas when its chief advocates have been hackers and academics. On the other hand, the brilliant success of overtly labeled Open Source experiments, coupled with the horror stories of attempts to protect the proprietary model of cultural production have served to popularize the ideas championed by the movement. In recent years, we have seen the Open Source model overtly mimicked within domains of culture quite distinct from computer software. Rather than being revolutionary, this movement is quite conservatively recapturing and revalorizing the basic human communicative and cultural processes that have generated many good things.
Efficient design of nanoscale metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguide devices

We develop a method for the efficient design of nanoscale metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguide devices, based on the space-mapping algorithm and transmission line theory models. The method requires full-wave simulations of only a few candidate structures.
A multi-wavelength campaign to study giant pulses from the Crab Pulsar

We are currently undertaking a monitoring campaign with NASA 70-m antennas to capture a large sample of Crab Giant Pulses (CGP) at multiple radio wavelengths. The goal of this campaign is to carry out a correlation study of CGPs at radio frequencies with pulsed emission from the Crab pulsar with Fermi photons at X-ray. After a year of this study, we expect around 200 Fermi photons to coincide with a CGP radio-frequency detection, allowing us to either confirm a predicted correlation in average gamma-ray pulsed flux increase with GP emission, or place a tight upper limit, at least a factor of 10 more constraining than previous work. We will report on the status of this campaign and will present our preliminary results and prospects for future improvements in receivers and back-end instrumentation.
Molecular Mechanisms of Prothrombotic Risk Due to Genetic Variations in Platelet Genes: Enhanced Outside-In Signaling Through the Pro33 Variant of Integrin β3:

In recent years inherited variations in platelet proteins have emerged as potential risk factors that could predispose individuals to arterial thrombosis. Although many studies have examined the association of platelet gene polymorphisms with particular disease states, the underlying mechanisms by which most of these polymorphisms contribute to the pathophysiology of thrombosis have remained largely unexplored. This review will focus on the cellular and molecular features by which these genetic changes affect platelet physiology. Although many genes have been investigated in this regard, only the genes encoding integrins beta3 and alpha2, and the platelet Fc receptor, Fc(gamma)RIIA, have been studied in any depth. In some cases (such as integrin alpha2), evidence supports a quantitative trait locus. For other genes, nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions lead to structural and functional consequences. A large portion of this review will focus on the widely studied Leu33Pro (Pl(A)) polymorphism of integrin beta3, and will consider the potential mechanisms by which the Pro33 polymorphism could induce a prothrombotic risk. A detailed understanding of how polymorphisms modulate platelet physiology will be important for understanding individual differences in response to antiplatelet therapy.
Test and Analysis of the Saturated Vapor Pressure of Dinitrogen Tetroxide Colloid

In order to determine the saturated vapor pressure of colloided dinitrogen tetroxide,and find out its change rule with the various temperature,a testing equipment of determining satuated vapor pressure of colloided dinitrogen tetroxide was designed and constructed according to the principle of static testing.The saturated vapor pressure of liquid and colloided dinitrogen tetroxide under the normal pressure at several temperatures was obtained.The results show that the saturated vapor pressure of colloided dinitrogen tetroxide was lower than that of liquid dinitrogen tetroxide.With increasing temperature of sample,the gap of the saturated vapor pressure of dinitrogen tetroxide from liquid to colloid increases.The influence of two gallants on the saturated vapor pressure of colloided dinitrogen tetroxide system was analyzed, and a theoretical formula of estimating the saturated vapor pressure of colloided dinitrogen tetroxide was derived.The estimated error of the formula is lower than 5 percent,so the saturated vapor pressure of colloided dinitrogen tetroxide on the various temperature condition could be estimated according to the theoretical formula.
Design and Implementation of Conformance Testing System for IS-ISv6 Protocol

The design of a conformance testing system for IS-ISv6 protocol is introduced.In our design,the environment of multiple virtual testers with controlling channel is used and TCL language is chosen as test case describing language.This conformance testing system gets both good testing ability and flexibility.This paper describes IS-ISv6 protocol conformance test design and implementation on the basis of IS-ISv6 protocol,and discusses IS-ISv6 protocol test results for a FreeBSD platform.
Distribution network dynamic reconfiguration based on time-interval

A dynamic reconfiguration algorithm for distribution network based on time-interval is proposed. The objective function of the presented algorithm is the maximization of income during a period of time. The constraint of operation numbers for all switches can be incorporated into the objective function. In the application of poised apparent accurate moment method,its physical mea-nings are considered and the effective heuristic rule is introduced to decide which sectionalizing switch should be open after a single loop is formed when a tie switch is closed. The presented heuristic rule is effective for accelerating the reconfiguration process because it reduces the searching space reasonably. To demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method,two test systems with different sizes are studied.
Considerations in Physiological Metric Selection for Online Detection of Operator State: A Case Study

The development of closed-loop systems is fraught with many challenges. One of the many important decisions to be made in this development is the selection of suitable metrics to detect operator state. Successful metrics can inform adaptations in an interface's design, features, or task elements allocated to automated systems. This paper will discuss various challenges and considerations involved in the selection of metrics for detecting fatigue in operators of unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs. Using Eggemeier and colleague's guidelines for workload metric selection as a basis, we review several criteria for metric selection and how they are applied to selection of metrics designed to assess operator fatigue in an applied closed-loop system.
Basic Principles of Survival Analysis

Survival analysis methods depend on the survival distribution, and two key ways of specifying it are the survival function and the hazard function . The survival function defines the probability of surviving up to a point t. Formally, $$\displaystyle{S(t) = pr(T > t),\begin{array}{cc} &0 < t < \infty \end{array} }$$ This function takes the value 1 at time 0, decreases (or remains constant) over time, and of course never drops below 0. As defined here it is right continuous.
Neural organoids for disease phenotyping, drug screening and developmental biology studies.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can theoretically yield limitless supplies of cells fated to any cell type that comprise the human organism, making them a new tool by which to potentially overcome caveats in current biomedical research. In vitro derivation of central nervous system (CNS) cell types has the potential to provide material for drug discovery and validation, safety and toxicity assays, cell replacement therapy and the elucidation of previously unknown disease mechanisms. However, current two-dimensional (2D) CNS differentiation protocols do not faithfully recapitulate the spatial organization of heterogeneous tissue, nor the cell-cell interactions, cell-extracellular matrix interactions, or specific physiological functions generated within complex tissue such as the brain. In an effort to overcome 2D protocol limitations, there have been advancements in deriving highly complicated 3D neural organoid structures. Herein we provide a synopsis of the derivation and application of neural organoids and discuss recent advancements and remaining challenges on the full potential of this novel technological platform.
High temperature elastic constants of langatate from RUS measurements up to 1100°C

This paper reports on the langatate (LGT) elastic constants and their temperature coefficients measured from room temperature (25degC) to 1100degC using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). The constants were extracted by iteratively fitting the resonant peaks with those calculated by Lagrangian mechanics at each temperature where the RUS measurements were taken. In addition, the RUS technique was used to extract the elastic and piezoelectric constants in the 25degC to 120degC temperature range. The extraction of LGT elastic constants up to 1100degC presented in this paper represents a critical step towards the design and fabrication of LGT acoustic wave devices for high temperature and harsh environment applications.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEPTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING WOMEN

Few studies have assessed the relationship between environmental perceptions and objectively measured physical activity in older women. One hundred twenty-six women completed a questionnaire to assess environmental perceptions and wore an accelerometer during all waking hours for seven consecutive days. Participants engaged in 13.9±16.9 minutes of moderate-tovigorous intensity physical activity per day when examining physical activity in bouts of at least ten minutes. Preliminary analysis indicates that the presence of destinations within walking distance of home are associated with physical activity participation among community-dwelling older women.
Movement 1. The Colorado Mathematical Olympiad Is Mathematics; It Is Sport; It Is Art. And It Is Also Community, by Matthew Kahle

Professor Soifer asked me to share some reminiscences for his new book. I am happy to! First, I will reprint parts of an essay I wrote in 2008, for an earlier Olympiad book.
Bullying and Students with Disabilities: Legal and Practice Considerations.

Bullying in schools has received both media and scholarly attention for the past 20 years. A large body of research has identified variables associated with bullies, victims, and bully-victims in t...
Lithofacies and Transport for Clastic Sediments in Karst Conduits

Karstic aquifers carry a load of clastic sediment as part of their hydrologic function and these are an important part of the mechanism for storage and transport of contaminants. Indeed, solid contaminants can be considered as a form of clastic sediment. Although the sources of clastic sediments are usually well delineated, sediments from multiple sources are mixed and redistributed within the aquifer to produce the sediment deposits that remain stored in caves or the load of sediment discharged from karst springs. As an aid to the interpretation of clastic sediments in karst aquifers, we have modified a previously proposed facies concept with an emphasis on its implications for contaminant transport and storage. Five facies are defined in terms of particle size, degree of sorting, and sedimentary structures: backswamp facies, channel facies, diamicton facies, slackwater facies, and thalweg facies. The deposits represented by each set of facies characteristics in turn can be interpreted in terms of depositional mechanisms. The slackwater facies and channel facies are the most significant in terms of implications for contaminant transport and therefore receive greater emphasis than the other three in this discussion. The facies labeled slackwater facies are laminated deposits of clay to silt laid down in passages filled with stagnant water either flooded by inputs from upstream or backflooded from surface streams. This mechanism provides two pathways by which microorganisms or metals can be adsorbed onto clay particles and carried into the aquifer. The facies labeled channel facies consist of silts, sands, gravels, and cobbles carried in major conduits mostly by high velocity storm flows. Flows that transport sediments resulting in channel facies also can carry solid contaminants at various size scales and can act as storage sites for contaminants over long periods of time. Calculations show that hydraulic conditions required for transport leading to deposition of channel facies are consistent with observed discharge characteristics of major conduits.
Krüppel-like factor 15: Regulator of BCAA metabolism and circadian protein rhythmicity.

Abstract Regulation of nutrient intake, utilization, and storage exhibits a circadian rhythmicity that allows organisms to anticipate and adequately respond to changes in the environment across day/night cycles. The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, and valine are important modulators of metabolism and metabolic health – for example, their catabolism yields carbon substrates for gluconeogenesis during periods of fasting. Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) has recently emerged as a critical transcriptional regulator of BCAA metabolism, and the absence of this transcription factor contributes to severe pathologies such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and heart failure. This review highlights KLF15’s role as a central regulator of BCAA metabolism during periods of fasting, throughout day/night cycles, and in experimental models of muscle disease.
An investment for the future

The modern pediatric cardiac surgery is continuously improving its results and mortality is no more the biggest problem to face with. This is the result of the increased skill in treating our patients not only of the surgeons but of all the team in general, with the consequent reduction of mortality in the nightmare cases of yesterday and the near zero incidence of postoperative problems in the easier cases.
A Multiple Objective Approach to Nash Equilibria in Bimatrix Games

Nash equilibria of bimatrix games may be found by solving a nonconvex quadratic multiple objective programming problem over a linear constraint set. The advantages over traditional approaches are explored. Every efficient solution is a Nash equilibrium point, so one may easily obtain multiple equilibria, which is a capability not found in other approaches. Since it is known that Nash equilibria exist, one also obtains a proof that efficient solutions exist for these nonconvex quadratic multiple objective programming problems. Finally, there is an interesting new interpretation of Nash equilibria obtained, namely, that a multiple objective referee of the game exists, who ensures the optimal play by the two participants.
Clinical Neurogenetics: Autosomal Dominant Spinocerebellar Ataxia

The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias are a diverse and clinically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by degeneration and dysfunction of the cerebellum and its associated pathways. Clinical and diagnostic evaluation can be challenging because of phenotypic overlap among causes, and a stratified and systematic approach is essential. Recent advances include the identification of additional genes causing dominant genetic ataxia, a better understanding of cellular pathogenesis in several disorders, the generation of new disease models that may stimulate development of new therapies, and the use of new DNA sequencing technologies, including whole-exome sequencing, to improve diagnosis.
Wages, BMI, and Age: A Generalized Additive Model Using the Oracle Estimator

Previous research generally finds that body mass does not affect wages for men. But this literature has for the most part focused on young workers and has not examined whether the effect of obesity might change as people age. In this essay, I examine the effect of body mass on men's wages across the age distribution, modeling both BMI and wages nonparametrically by use of an oracle estimator. Two important results emerge from this study. First, BMI does affect wages for men, although it appears to affect white men more significantly than black or Hispanic men. Second, and most importantly, the effect of BMI isn't really changing as men age: differences in the effect of BMI across the age distribution that we observe in linear specifications are due to the change in the distribution of BMI, rather than a change in the effect of BMI itself. This has important implications for our understanding of the causal mechanisms that drive the observed effect of BMI on wages. In particular, our results tend to support the idea that appearance, consumer preferences, or other non-cognitive factors are behind this effect, while the health effects of BMI seem less important.
Is Less More? Subject-Area Specialization and Outcomes in Elementary Schools

Whereas subject-area specialization is common practice in secondary grades, little is known about its incidence and impact in elementary schools. In this study we use data from North Carolina eleme...
Magnesium stable isotopes support the lunar magma ocean cumulate remelting model for mare basalts.

We report high-precision Mg isotopic analyses of different types of lunar samples including two pristine Mg-suite rocks (72415 and 76535), basalts, anorthosites, breccias, mineral separates, and lunar meteorites. The Mg isotopic composition of the dunite 72415 (δ 25 Mg = −0.140 ± 0.010‰, δ 26 Mg = −0.291 ± 0.018‰), the most Mg-rich and possibly the oldest lunar sample, may provide the best estimate of the Mg isotopic composition of the bulk silicate Moon (BSM). This δ 26 Mg value of the Moon is similar to those of the Earth and chondrites and reflects both the relative homogeneity of Mg isotopes in the solar system and the lack of Mg isotope fractionation by the Moon-forming giant impact. In contrast to the behavior of Mg isotopes in terrestrial basalts and mantle rocks, Mg isotopic data on lunar samples show isotopic variations among the basalts and pristine anorthositic rocks reflecting isotopic fractionation during the early lunar magma ocean (LMO) differentiation. Calculated evolutions of δ 26 Mg values during the LMO differentiation are consistent with the observed δ 26 Mg variations in lunar samples, implying that Mg isotope variations in lunar basalts are consistent with their origin by remelting of distinct LMO cumulates.
Low Skeletal Muscle Mass Independently Predicts Mortality in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure after an Acute Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome associated with exercise intolerance, and its symptoms are more common in patients with low skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Estimation of muscle mass can be cumbersome and unreliable, particularly in patients with varying body weight. The psoas muscle area (PMA) can be used as a surrogate of sarcopenia and has been associated with poor outcomes in other populations. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess if sarcopenia is associated with the survival of patients with HF after an acute hospitalization. METHOD We retrospectively studied a cohort of 160 patients with HF who had abdominopelvic computed tomography during an acute hospitalization. We obtained standardized measurements of their PMA and defined sarcopenia as the lowest gender-based tertile of the said area. The patients were followed until death or discontinuation of care. We used Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression analysis to assess the relationship between sarcopenia and all-cause mortality. RESULTS We found that the 52 patients with sarcopenia had 4.5 times the risk of all-cause mortality at 1 year compared to the rest of the cohort (CI 1.784-11.765; p = 0.0016) after adjusting for significant covariates. Stratification by age and sex revealed that this association could be limited to males and patients < 75 years old. CONCLUSION The PMA, used as a surrogate of low SMM, is independently associated with an increased risk of late mortality after an acute hospitalization in patients with HF.
Methods for Amplitude Calibration and Orientation Discrepancy Measurement: Comparing Co‐Located Sensors of Different Types in the Southern California Seismic Network

Modern seismic networks commonly equip a station with multiple sensors, to extend the frequency band and the dynamic range of data recorded at the station. In addition, in our recent study we showed that comparison of data from co‐located seismometers and accelerometers is useful for detecting instrument malfunctions and monitoring data quality. In this study, we extend comparison of data from different co‐located sensors to two other applications: (1) amplitude calibration for data from vertical short‐period sensors with strong‐motion sensors as baseline and (2) measurement of orientation discrepancy between strong‐motion and broadband sensors. We perform systematic analyses of data recorded by the California Institute of Technology/U.S. Geological Survey Southern California Seismic Network. In the first application, we compare the amplitude of data from vertical short‐period sensors to that of data from co‐located strong‐motion sensors and measure the amplitude calibration factors for 93 short‐period sensors. Among them, 49 stations are measured at ∼1.0⁠, 42 measured at ∼0.6⁠, as well as two outlying stations: GFF at 0.3 and CHI at 1.3. These values are found to be related to the sensors’ sensitivity values. In the second application, we measure orientation discrepancy between 222 co‐located broadband and strong‐motion sensors. All the vertical orientation differences are found to be within 5°. However, the horizontal orientation differences of 22 stations are greater than 6°, among which four stations have reverse rotation or 180° from the expected orientation. These measurements have been communicated to network operators and fixes are being applied. This study, together with our previously developed data monitoring framework, demonstrates that comparison of different co‐located sensors is a simple and effective tool for a broad range of seismic data assessment and instrument calibration.
A Linear-Implicit Quantized Devs Nethod For Very Stiff Electrical Networks Using A Latency Insertion Method

A Linear-Implicit Quantized State System (LIQSS) method is combined with a Latency Insertion Method (LIM) to create a practical and efficient approach for simulating the dynamics of very stiff electrical systems. The LIQSS method is used to asynchronously update each state in the system, where the LIM modeling method is used to decouple the electrical system model at the individual node level making the asynchronous solution possible. The DEVS specification for the QDL method is presented along with the detailed simulation procedure. The combined method is validated by simulating a 40-state network model with a stiffness ratio of 109.
Stability Analysis of Thermally Nonuniform Supersonic Jets

A computational investigation of the role of thermal nonuniformity on the development of instability modes in the shear-layer of a supersonic M=1.5, Re=850,000 jet is performed in this study. Cold ...
The Caribbean and the World-System

The Caribbean has been a part of the modern world-system from its outset. The Iberian conquest of large parts of the Americas began in the Caribbean, and the incorporation of these land areas and their population was a crucial element in the construction of the capitalist world-economy as an historical system.
30 Reducing opioid prescriptions for pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures

Background Supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures are the most common elbow injuries in children. Pain management following treatment is essential, as untreated pain could lead to delayed healing, hyperesthesia, and fear of medical care. Pain management has not been standardized, and variability exists in opioid prescribing patterns. While effective for pain control, opioid therapy has associated adverse events including nausea, vomiting, constipation, blood pressure swings, and physical dependence. As the national opioid crisis continues, this project highlights our efforts to reduce the opioid footprint. Objectives Increase the percent of patients receiving ≤ 5 doses of hydrocodone-acetaminophen for home use, after a surgical repair of an SCH fracture, from 30% to 80% by 4/1/19 and sustain for one year. Methods A survey was distributed to orthopedic providers as a self-appraisal of opioid prescribing relative to peers. Survey results guided the development of educational interventions. This project standardized the use of non-opioid pain control to limit opioid prescribing. Providers were encouraged to schedule alternating doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen every three hours. Standard discharge instructions for pain medication paralleled its use during the child’s hospitalization. Measures included percent of patients with a home-going opioid prescription, the number of doses prescribed, and whether the patient called back due to uncontrolled pain. Results Our orthopedic team increased the percent of opioid prescriptions of ≤ 5 doses for SCH fractures from 30% to 75% (figure 2). Average prescribed doses decreased from 12 to 5 (figure 3). We have reduced the number of patients discharged with an opioid from 96.2% to 46% (figure 1). Conclusions Through this QI initiative, we were able to significantly reduce our opioid prescribing practices for patients with SCH fractures by establishing prescribing standards, educating providers and standardizing discharge medication instructions. We anticipate an effective translation of these practices to other orthopedic injuries and to other institutions.
Planned disruption and unintended consequences: Postponement by strategy vs. intervention in the U.S. beer supply chain

Abstract Supply chain strategies are used to increase efficiency, save money, or reduce uncertainty and disruption. Disruptions can be unexpected and potentially devastating for supply chains. However, sometimes supply disruptions are built into supply chains using a postponement strategy. When postponement is implemented as a supply chain strategy, it can smooth the flow of goods, provide cost savings, and improve customer experience. When postponement is forced on supply chains via government intervention it can break down the seamless flow of goods and information, causing them to work inefficiently. In this article, we show how intervention through postponement creates unintended consequences that negatively impact beer supply chains and make recommendations to help managers mitigate these consequences. We also address policymakers, who can decrease the likelihood of unintended consequences resulting from regulations they enact—including how to prevent legislating these regulations in the first place.
Development of a radiogenomic biomarker for tumor characterization and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients

This study aims at developing a radiogenomic model to identify high-risk non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and predict overall survival. Baseline CT images of 85 NSCLC patients (male/female: 58/27, event: death, adenocarcinoma/squamous cell carcinoma/unspecified: 41/32/12, in stages I/II/III/unspecified: 39/25/12/9) with gene expression profile (microarray data) of 33 genes were used from the NSCLC-Radiomics Genomics dataset, publicly available from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). The 33 genes were selected on the basis that they represent three major co-expression patterns in the dataset- histology, neuroendocrine (NE), and pulmonary surfactant systems (PSS) signature genes. Radiomic features (429) characterizing the primary tumor were extracted from the 3D tumor volume using PyRadiomics. As the first step to our analysis, we used the Mann-Whitney U test to identify a sub-set of 224 features that were robust (p-value < 0.05) to scan differences in slice thickness, reconstruction kernel, and contrast enhancement. Principal Component Analysis was used to extract ten principal components, capturing 85% of the variance, from the radiomic and genomic features, respectively. The following three models were created, to assess the prognostic performance of the radiomic and genomic PCs- Model 1: consists of the first five radiomic PCs; Model 2: consists of the first five genomic PCs; and Model 3: consists of the first three radiomic PCs and the first two genomic PCs. For these models, a five-fold crossvalidated multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (200 iterations) was used to compute the concordance index which measures the ability of the models to predict overall survival. The concordance index values for the Cox model are (mean (min, max)): Model 1: 0.59(0.57,0.62), Model 2: 0.57(0.54,0.61), Model 3: 0.62(0.61,0.64). In addition to the cross-validated c statistics, we also built a model on the complete dataset, for each of the three sets of predictors, to evaluate Kaplan Meier's performance in separating participants above versus below the median prognostic score. We constructed separate radiogenomic signatures for the NSCLC patients based on their histology- LUSC and LUAD and conducted similar survival analysis on them, showing that the combined radiogenomic model was the only one with statistically significant curve separation (p<0.05). This preliminary study suggests that a combination of radiomics and genomics information could give a more comprehensive assessment of the tumor’s characteristics at baseline and generate a better prognostic model in comparison to models formed using radiomics or genomics information alone.
“New White Ethnics” or “New Latinos”? Hispanic/Latino Pan-ethnicity and Ancestry Reporting among South American Immigrants to the United States

This article explores the identification patterns of South American immigrants to the United States, as measured via Hispanic/Latino ethnicity and ancestry reporting on the US Census. Using data fr...
Evaluating the lettuce metatranscriptome with MinION sequencing for future spaceflight food production applications.

Healthy plants are vital for successful, long-duration missions in space, as they provide the crew with life support, food production, and psychological benefits. The microorganisms that associate with plant tissues play a critical role in improving plant health and production. To that end, we developed a methodology to investigate the transcriptional activities of the microbiome of red romaine lettuce, a key salad crop that was grown under International Space Station (ISS)-like conditions. Microbial transcripts enriched from host–microbe total RNA were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing platform. Results show that this enrichment approach was highly reproducible and could be an effective approach for the on-site detection of microbial transcriptional activity. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using metatranscriptomics of enriched microbial RNA as a potential method for on-site monitoring of the transcriptional activity of crop microbiomes, thereby helping to facilitate and maintain plant health for on-orbit space food production.
Meta-peering: towards automated ISP peer selection

We introduce meta-peering, a term that encompasses the set of tools needed to ease and automate the Internet Service Provider (ISP) peering process; starting with identifying a list of ISPs that are likely to peer, generating respective BGP configurations, and monitoring these sessions for outages or peering agreement violations. In this paper, we describe how existing tools can be leveraged to implement meta-peering and focus on instrumenting the automation of peer selection process. Utilizing PeeringDB and CAIDA datasets to identify possible peering points for requester and candidate ISPs, we estimate candidate ISP's traffic matrix and consider ISPs' internal policies to generate acceptable peering contracts.
NPY as a pleiotropic growth factor

With the discovery of NPY’s growth-regulatory effects, emerges a new role for the peptide in regulating cardiovascular, neuronal and immune functions. NPY is involved in angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, proliferation of neuronal cells, and regulation of immune responses. Its actions are cell- and receptor-specific and regulated by the proteolytic activity of DPPIV. Thus, the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying NPY actions can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of various disorders, including angiogenesis-related diseases, atherosclerosis, cancer and neuronal degeneration. The growing number of selective receptor agonists and antagonists could potentially become excellent tools to target the NPY system and clinically useful drugs. However, due to the pleiotropic activities of the peptide, the therapy would have to be carefully tailored to the type of the disease, with careful consideration given to the possible side effects.
Toward Implementing Primary Care at Chairside: Developing a Clinical Decision Support System for Dental Hygienists

Abstract Introduction The goal of this project was to use the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as the theoretical foundation for developing a web-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) for primary care screening and care coordination by dental hygienists at chairside. Methods First, we appraised New York State education and scope of practice requirements for dental hygienists with input from health experts who constituted a Senior Advisory Board for the project, and reviewed current professional guidelines and best practices for tobacco use, hypertension and diabetes screening, and nutrition counseling at chairside. Second, we created algorithms for these four health issues (tobacco, hypertension, diabetes, and nutrition) using evidence-based guidelines endorsed by authoritative professional bodies. Third, an information technology specialist incorporated the algorithms into a tool using an iterative process to refine the CDSS, with input from dental hygienists, dentists, Senior Advisory Board members and research staff. Results An evidence-based CDSS for use by dental hygienists at chairside for tobacco use, hypertension and diabetes screening, and nutrition counseling was developed with the active participation of the individuals involved in the implementation process. Conclusions CDSS technology may potentially be leveraged to enhance primary care screening and coordination by dental hygienists at chairside, leading to improved patient care. Using the CFIR as a pragmatic structure for implementing this intervention across multiple settings, the developed CDSS is available for downloading and adaptation to diverse dental settings and other primary care sensitive conditions.
Detection of enteroviruses in groundwater with the polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract Standard methods for the detection of enteroviruses in environmental samples involve the use of cell culture, which is expensive and time-consuming. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an attractive method for the detection of enteroviruses in water because primary cell culture is not needed and the increased sensitivity of PCR allows detection of the low numbers of target DNAs and RNAs usually found in environmental samples. However, environmental samples often contain substances that inhibit PCR amplification of target DNA and RNA. Procedures that remove substances that interfere with the amplification process need to be developed if PCR is to be successfully applied to environmental samples. An RNA-PCR assay for the detection of enteroviruses in water was developed and used to test a variety of groundwater concentrates and humic acid solutions seeded with poliovirus type 1. The groundwater samples and humic acid solutions were treated with Sephadex G-50, Sephadex G-100, Sephadex G-200, Chelex-100 resin, and a mixed bed resin to remove PCR-inhibitory material from the samples. Sephadex G-100 in combination with Chelex-100 was found to be very effective in removing inhibitory factors for the detection of enteroviruses in groundwater concentrates by PCR. Viruses were detected in two of the groundwater concentrates by the RNA-PCR assay after treatment with Sephadex G-100 plus Chelex-100. This was confirmed by tissue culture, suggesting that the treatment protocol and, subsequently, the RNA-PCR assay are applicable for the detection of enteroviruses in environmental samples.
Can Robot-Assisted Therapy Promote Generalization of Motor Learning Following Stroke?: Preliminary Results

We investigated whether robot-based training with a four degrees-of-freedom actuated device, the ARM guide, would result in significant gains in arm movement ability of stroke survivors. Specifically, we sought to determine if specific trained tasks in a limited area of the workspace would transfer to gains in performance of different tasks and movement in untrained regions of the workspace. Subjects with chronic hemiparesis participated in an eight week training protocol and were randomized into one of three training groups: guided force training with the robotic device (N=7), free reaching (N=7), and a conventional occupational therapy group (N=7). Outcome measures include free reaching distance and observations of functional task performance from three clinical scales. Results indicated that all three training methods induced at least some transferable motor learning demonstrated in the functional tasks and in free reaching to a target that was outside of the trained workspace. We report here on our interm findings regarding the generalization of robot-assisted learning
Adenoameloblastoma. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Abstract A case of adenoameloblastoma which had been treated with conservative curettage is reported. This neoplasm is a rare lesion; 112 cases have been reported in the current literature and 78 cases in the English literature. Although the etiology and definite pathologic title are sometimes disputed, treatment is definite. A conservative surgical approach, including en bloc resection or curettage, is the treatment of choice.
Bandwidth Management in Community Networks

The downturn in the economy and related telecom activities has led to the accelerated development of a new concept of Community (owned) Networks. A Community network represents a unique business model whose returns encompass social, economic as well as technology issues of a community. The new concept also provides a platform for multiple vendors to sell products and services, to reach out a larger customer base at a lower cost structure, and new opportunities to providers to work in tandem directly with customers/communities. For OPEX and CAPEX considerations and for better services, in community networks the issue of bandwidth management that supports provisioning in real time on a per demand real-time basis, is a critical issue for the future success of such networks. We address the various issues that need to be considered in designing a unified management scheme in these networks, accompanied by a detailed discussion of the concepts and challenges related community networks.
The average volume of martensite plates during transformation

Using quantitative metallography the average volumes of the martensite plates have been measured in Fe-23.8Ni-0.42C and Fe-28.5Ni-0.4C after varying degrees of transformation. Over a range of volume fraction transformed from 0.07 to 0.55 (the highest volume fraction sample upon which measurements could be made), the average volume of the martensite plates is constant. Fisher’s equation, which predicts a decrease in the average volume by two orders of magnitude over the experimental range of transformation, is not substantiated by the present experiments chiefly because the influence of autocatalysis is neglected in its derivation.
The Revenue Gains from Multi‐Tier Ticket Pricing: Evidence from Pop Music Concerts

We provide empirical estimates of the revenue benefits of multi-tier pricing at a major US pop music venue. Our unique sample includes data on the number of tickets sold at every price. Mean revenue gain from multi-tier pricing is estimated to be about $20,000 per show, a 4.2% increase over uniform pricing, although the gains were as high as 21.2% for one performer. We also provide evidence that customer segmentation by income is a likely motive of multi-tier pricing and, for the first time, that the standard assumption of zero marginal cost of additional venue attendees is valid. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global information resources dictionary (GIRD): a metadatabase structure for heterogeneous, distributed environments

The development of the GIRD (global information resources dictionary) is shown. The representation method of the GIRD is described, beginning with a review of the TSER (two stage entity relationship) and including a manufacturing shop-floor control example to illustrate the concepts. The conceptual development of GIRD and its structure are detailed. The implementation of GIRD is described. Comparisons of the GIRD with the IRDS (information resources dictionary system) standard are made. Continuing research and development are reported. >
Rhodium Tetrakis[tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane‐1‐carboxylate]

[67523-38-0] C44H60O8Rh2 (MW 922.74) InChI = 1S/4C11H16O2.2Rh/c4*12-10(13)11-4-7-1-8(5-11)3-9(2-7)6-11;;/h4*7-9H,1-6H2,(H,12,13);;/q;;;;2*+2/p-4/t4*7-,8+,9-,11-;; InChIKey = AAMNRQKIUHNUAM-URLJEWTCSA-J (catalyst for diazo-mediated transformations) Alternate Names: [Rh(Adc)2]2; [Rh(1-Adaman)2]2. Physical Data: mp >250 °C. Solubility: sol ethyl acetate, ether, dichloromethane, and most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: blue powder (amorphous); not commercially available. Purification: suspend in 10:1 acetonitrile:dichloromethane; collect catalyst by filtration.1 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: air and moisture stable. Color may vary in the presence of coordinating solvents.
The Dating Game: One Man's Search for the Age of the Earth

Arthur Holmes, who lived from 1890 to 1965, was one of the greatest geologists of the first half of the 20th century. He was particularly successful at applying developments in physics to geological problems. Holmes worked on fundamental problems—the origins of igneous rocks and mountains, mantle convection, the age of the Earth, and continental drift—and he played central roles in major controversies about the latter two of these topics. His Principles of Physical Geology was a wonderful introduction to geology. Although historians have discussed Holmes' work on continental drift, they have paid little attention to his dating of the Earth. Discovery of the Earth's age was a major scientific accomplishment. Holmes also devoted much more attention to dating questions than to continental drift. Over 50 of his papers were about dating, while fewer than 10 dealt with continental drift.
Central chemoreceptor stimulus in the terrestrial, pulmonate snail, Helix aspersa

Abstract We studied the effect of hypercapnic and fixed acid central chemoreceptor stimulation on the pneumostone in the pulmonate snail, Helix aspersa . We found that focal stimulation of the central chemoreceptor area of the pulmonate snail brain with hypercapnic solutions more effectively increased the pneumostonal area than did fixed acid stimulation at the same extracellular pH. Disrupting intracellular pH regulation by inhibiting Cl − transport, either pharmacologically (DIDS) or by ion substitution (Cl − -free perfusate), enhanced pneumostomal responses to CO 2 . While maintaining a constant perfusate pH, addition of NH 4 Cl to the perfusate resulted in pneumostomal closure; whereas removal of NH 4 Cl from the bath resulted in pneumostomal opening. In conclusion, the ventilatory response to CO 2 in H. aspersa does not require Cl − transport or conductance. Furthermore, changing pH i alone is an adequate stimulus for the central chemoreceptors in the snail.
Magnetic properties of Mn/Cu(001) and Mn/Ni(001) c(2 x 2) surface alloys.

Solid phase epitaxy was used to grow two-dimensional, ordered alloys of MnCu and MnNi on the surface of Cu(100) and Ni(100) crystals. These surface alloys, which have structures that are not present in the bulk phase diagram, result in highly corrugated surface layers with a c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) periodicity. The large outward relaxation of Mn atoms has been predicted theoretically to be due to magnetism of the Mn atoms. Using a combination of soft-x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, we have found an enhanced local magnetic moment and long-range magnetic ordering in these surface alloys. We find that Mn is in a high-spin ground state, which stabilizes the surface reconstruction, but that long-range magnetic ordering is not always present. Compositionally ordered MnNi films, with the same c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) surface periodicity, show ferromagnetic coupling of Mn atoms, unlike the antiferromagnetic ordering found in the bulk alloy.
Chinese Underground Banks and Their Connections With Crime: A Review and an Appraisal

Chinese informal fund transfer systems (IFTS), widely known as underground banks, are one of the two prototypes of unregulated practices of fund transfer which could either use or bypass convention...