cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Materials and Surfaces in Microfluidic Biosensors

Microfluidics is the science of designing, manufacturing, and formulating processes to generate devices that are capable of analyzing small sample volumes, usually in the range of microliters (10−6) to picoliters (10−12). Microfluidic techniques have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional laboratory assays since they allow complete laboratory protocols to be performed on a single chip, merely a few square centimeters in size. Applied microfluidics have a number of significant advantages in biomedical research and in creating clinically useful technologies. For example, microfluidics enable the fabrication of new cost-effective biosensing technologies for clinical diagnostics. This cost decrease observed stems from the small scale of the device’s architecture, which requires reduced sample volumes, processing times, and reagent consumption when compared to conventional methods. At such a small scale, material selection is a crucial part of microfluidic system development as it impacts its processing, functionality, application, and the disposability of the sensor strips and the fluidic manifold. This chapter reviews the most common types of materials that are currently used to fabricate microfluidic devices. Methods used for their fabrication, physical and chemical properties of the materials, and advantages they provide to the biosensor configuration are also summarized. Special consideration was also given to the selection of ideal prototyping materials for specific applications based on their cost, mechanical, and biocompatible properties.
Abstract P157: Specific Dietary Fats in Relation to Total and Cause-specific Mortality

Introduction: Previous studies have shown distinct associations between specific types of dietary fat and cardiovascular disease. However, studies of specific types of fat in relation to total and cause-specific mortality remain limited and inconsistent. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that specific types of dietary fat were differentially associated with total and cause-specific mortality. Methods: We investigated 83,349 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (1980-2012) and 42,884 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2012) who were free from cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes at baseline. Dietary fat intake was assessed at baseline and updated every 2 to 4 years. Results: We documented 33,304 deaths during 3,439,954 person-years of follow-up. After adjustment for known and suspected risk factors, the hazard ratios (HRs) of total mortality comparing extreme quintiles of intake was 1.08, (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.14) for saturated fat, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.78-0.84) for polyunsaturated fat, 0.89 (95% CI, 0.84-0.94) for monounsaturated fat and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.07-1.18) for trans fat (P for trend Conclusions: Higher saturated fat intake was associated with higher mortality, whereas dietary polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat intakes were inversely associated with mortality. These findings support current dietary recommendations to replace saturated fat with unsaturated fats.
Lah numbers and Laguerre polynomials of order negative one

In this article we point out interesting connections among Lah numbers, Laguerre polynomials of order negative one, and exponential polynomials. We also discuss several different expressions for the higher order derivatives of exp (1/x). A new representation of these derivatives is given in terms of exponential polynomials
Spatio-temporal variation and seasonality of Odontocetes' foraging activity in the leeward side of the island of Hawaii

Abstract The Kona coast of the island of Hawaii hosts many species of odontocetes. These marine mammals are top predators and their foraging activity plays an important role in the ecosystem dynamics. Three passive acoustics recorders were used to study the temporal and spatial occurrence of the foraging activity of odontocetes (excluding beaked and sperm whales) at three locations along the Kona coast of Hawaii between 2012 and 2013. Echolocation clicks were detected using the M3R 1 (Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges) system, and custom-designed Matlab (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) programs were designed to analyze the detected data. A Generalized Linear Model was used to understand the influence of location and month on the foraging activity. Both location and month affected the foraging activity of Odontocetes in Hawaii. In general, the foraging activity was the highest in the north and the lowest in the south part of the study area. The model revealed that, at each location, the foraging activity tended to decrease over the time of the study. A seasonality seems to be seen for the two southernmost locations. At the northernmost location the foraging activity decreased from February 2012 till 11 months later (January 2013). Odontocetes daily foraging activity was higher at night-time at all locations sampled.
Experimental species removals impact the architecture of pollination networks

Mutualistic networks are key for the creation and maintenance of biodiversity, yet are threatened by global environmental change. Most simulation models assume that network structure remains static after species losses, despite theoretical and empirical reasons to expect dynamic responses. We assessed the effects of experimental single bumblebee species removals on the structure of entire flower visitation networks. We hypothesized that network structure would change following processes linking interspecific competition with dietary niche breadth. We found that single pollinator species losses impact pollination network structure: resource complementarity decreased, while resource overlap increased. Despite marginally increased connectance, fewer plant species were visited after species removals. These changes may have negative functional impacts, as complementarity is important for maintaining biodiversity-ecological functioning relationships and visitation of rare plant species is critical for maintaining diverse plant communities.
Cross-Lagged Analysis of Interplay Between Differential Traits in Sibling Pairs: Validation and Application to Parenting Behavior and ADHD Symptomatology.

Understanding the factors that contribute to behavioral traits is a complex task, and partitioning variance into latent genetic and environmental components is a useful beginning, but it should not also be the end. Many constructs are influenced by their contextual milieu, and accounting for background effects (such as gene–environment correlation) is necessary to avoid bias. This study introduces a method for examining the interplay between traits, in a longitudinal design using differential items in sibling pairs. The model is validated via simulation and power analysis, and we conclude with an application to paternal praise and ADHD symptoms in a twin sample. The model can help identify what type of genetic and environmental interplay may contribute to the dynamic relationship between traits using a cross-lagged panel framework. Overall, it presents a way to estimate and explicate the developmental interplay between a set of traits, free from many common sources of bias.
32GHz resonant-fin transistors in 14nm FinFET technology

Monolithic integration of microelectromechanical resonators in IC technology has been explored extensively over the past few decades in the effort to achieve on-chip clocks, RF filters, and physical, chemical, and biological sensors. Various approaches for resonator integration, actuation, and sensing have been proposed and demonstrated, targeting high Q and high frequency performance [1]. These include the “MEMS-last” approach with low temperature materials deposited on complete CMOS chips [2,3], and “MEMS-in-the-middle” in which resonators are defined with post-processing of the front end and back end materials of the IC stack [4]. These methods require additional processing and packaging steps that make frequency scaling challenging and may limit resonator Q. Meanwhile, in the case of monolithically integrated MEMS resonators, transistor sensing can be used to enhance transduction efficiency and reduce parasitics, which can prohibit 2-port detection for high frequency resonance [5]. In this work, we introduce the Resonant Fin Transistor (RFT) fabricated in GLOBALFOUNDRIES 14nm FinFET technology, leveraging the vertical 3D geometry of FinFETs (Fig. 21.3.1) to efficiently confine, drive, and sense acoustic vibrations in the solid (unreleased) CMOS stack with no post-processing or custom packaging. We demonstrate 32GHz resonators with Q∼49,000.
Differential regulation of the ZsGreen1 reporter gene by the human cytomegalovirus promoter in 35 tissues of neonatal transgenic swine.

The advent of genetically engineered pig production has revealed a wide array of opportunities to enhance both biomedical and agricultural industries. One powerful method to develop these models is transgenesis; however, selection of a suitable promoter to drive transgene expression is critical. The cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter is the most commonly used viral promoter as it robustly drives transgene expression in a ubiquitous nature. However, recent reports suggest that the level of CMV promoter activity is tissue-dependent in the pig. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the activity of the CMV promoter in a wide range of porcine tissues. Swine harboring a CMV-ZsGreen1 transgene were utilized for this study. Thirty five tissue samples were collected from neonatal hemizygous (n = 3) and homozygous (n = 3) transgenic piglets and analyzed for ZsGreen1 abundance via immunoblot. ZsGreen1 was detected in all tissues examined; however, quantification revealed that the level of ZsGreen1 expression was tissue-specific. For example, ZsGreen1 was most abundantly produced in the salivary gland, moderately produced in the esophagus and lowly expressed in the stomach. Interestingly, expression of ZsGreen1 also differed within organ. For instance, levels were highest in the right ventricle compared with other chambers of the heart. The expression patterns of ZsGreen1 were similar between homozygous and hemizygous piglets. Ultimately, these results elucidate the tissue-specific activity of the CMV promoter in the neonatal pig.
Clinical Oversight and the Avoidance of Repeat Induced Abortion

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of patient counseling, demographics, and contraceptive methods on repeat induced abortion in women attending family planning clinics. METHODS A retrospective chart review of repeat induced abortions was performed. The analysis included patients with an initial induced abortion obtained between January 1, 2001, and March 31, 2014, at New York City Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. The duration of involvement in the family planning program, the use of contraceptive interventions, and 18 patient factors were analyzed for their correlation with the incidence of repeat induced abortions per year of follow-up. RESULTS A decreased rate of repeat induced abortions was associated with a longer duration of clinical oversight (r2 =0.449, P<0.001), a higher contraceptive efficacy score (r=0.280, P=0.025), and a larger number of clinic visits for contraception (r=0.333, P=0.007). CONCLUSION A continuum of contact with all of the services of a family planning clinic demonstrated a strong efficacy to limit repeat induced abortions. By determining the patient characteristics that most influence repeat induced abortion rates, providers can best choose the most efficacious method of contraception available.
Rampant hybrid misexpression in craniofacial tissues within a recent adaptive radiation of Cyprinodon pupfishes

Genetic incompatibilities constitute the final stages of reproductive isolation and speciation, but little is known about incompatibilities that occur within recent adaptive radiations among closely related diverging populations. Crossing divergent species to form hybrids can break up coadapted variation, resulting in genetic incompatibilities within developmental networks shaping adaptive traits. We crossed two closely related sympatric Cyprinodon pupfish species - a dietary generalist and a specialized molluscivore - and measured expression levels in their F1 hybrids to identify regulatory variation underlying the novel craniofacial morphology found in this recent microendemic adaptive radiation. We compared total mRNA expression in craniofacial tissues from four F1 hybrids with expression in the same tissue across twelve parental species. We discovered surprisingly extensive misexpression in hybrids, with more genes showing transgressive inheritance (51.4%) than conserved inheritance (47.9%) and very few genes showing additive or dominant modes of inheritance (< 1%). Genes showing misexpression in hybrids were more pleiotropic than those showing conserved inheritance. We measured allele specific expression in hybrids across 3,360 phased heterozygous sites to identify regulatory mechanisms underlying differential expression between generalists and molluscivores and found evidence for trans-regulatory variation controlling expression divergence of five genes. Together, our results highlight the importance of considering misexpression as an early indicator of genetic incompatibilities in the context of rapidly diverged morphological traits and suggest that trans-regulatory variation is involved in expression divergence between this young species pair.
Pulmonary Vascular Platform Models the Effects of Flow and Pressure on Endothelial Dysfunction in BMPR2 Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Endothelial dysfunction is a known consequence of bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2) mutations seen in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, standard 2D cell culture models fail to mimic the mechanical environment seen in the pulmonary vasculature. Hydrogels have emerged as promising platforms for 3D disease modeling due to their tunable physical and biochemical properties. In order to recreate the mechanical stimuli seen in the pulmonary vasculature, we have created a novel 3D hydrogel-based pulmonary vasculature model (“artificial arteriole”) that reproduces the pulsatile flow rates and pressures seen in the human lung. Using this platform, we studied both Bmpr2R899X and WT endothelial cells to better understand how the addition of oscillatory flow and physiological pressure influenced gene expression, cell morphology, and cell permeability. The addition of oscillatory flow and pressure resulted in several gene expression changes in both WT and Bmpr2R899X cells. However, for many pathways with relevance to PAH etiology, Bmpr2R899X cells responded differently when compared to the WT cells. Bmpr2R899X cells were also found not to elongate in the direction of flow, and instead remained stagnant in morphology despite mechanical stimuli. The increased permeability of the Bmpr2R899X layer was successfully reproduced in our artificial arteriole, with the addition of flow and pressure not leading to significant changes in permeability. Our artificial arteriole is the first to model many mechanical properties seen in the lung. Its tunability enables several new opportunities to study the endothelium in pulmonary vascular disease with increased control over environmental parameters.
A Pilot Study of Motive Control to Reduce Vengeance Cravings

Violence is a serious public health problem in the United States, and a common risk factor for many forms of violence is the perpetrator's motivation to achieve personal justice for past wrongs and injustices. Using a fictional transgression scenario to stimulate revenge feelings, we studied the preliminary efficacy of an intervention designed to mitigate revenge desires among victims of perceived injustice. The intervention consisted of a guided role-play of key figures in the justice system (e.g., victim, prosecutor, defendant, judge, etc.) in an imaginary mock trial of the offender. Study participants' revenge desires toward the perpetrator decreased significantly immediately after the intervention and at a 2-week follow-up interview. Benevolence toward the offender increased immediately postintervention and at a 2-week follow-up interview. These results suggest that the intervention has promise to decrease revenge desires in people who have been victimized, and it potentially opens the door to behavioral health motive control approaches to violence prevention. Findings on the roles of vengeance and the desire for retaliation in relation to violent acts, as well as neuroscience research that suggests a connection between retaliatory aggression and the neural circuitry of anticipated reward and cravings, are discussed. Limitations of this pilot study are also discussed, and recommendations for future research are provided.
Mechanism of action of posttransplantation cyclophosphamide: more than meets the eye

For high-risk and refractory hematological malignancies, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is the only available curative therapy, with benefits derived from the antigenic disparity between recipient cancer and the incoming immune system. This immunologic mismatch can also lead to lethal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and immunosuppression strategies, including high-dose posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy), have been developed to allow for safe alloHSCT delivery. In this issue of JCI, Wachsmuth et al. present the results of preclinical studies designed to evaluate the mechanisms that underlie efficacy of PTCy after alloHSCT. The results of this study challenge previous reports indicating that alloreactive T cell elimination and thymic clonal deletion are primary mediators of PTCy efficacy and provide strong evidence to support FoxP3+CD4+ Tregs as important effectors of PTCy benefits.
Barriers to Implementing Behavior Intervention Plans: Results of a Statewide Survey:

Behavior intervention plans (BIPs) based on a functional behavior assessment are supported by a large body of research showing their potential for positively impacting student behavior; however, re...
The Organization of Ancient Economies: A Global Perspective

In this book, Kenneth Hirth provides a comparative view of the organization of ancient and premodern society and economy. Hirth establishes that humans adapted to their environments, not as individuals but in the social groups where they lived and worked out the details of their livelihoods. He explores the variation in economic organization used by simple and complex societies to procure, produce, and distribute resources required by both individual households and the social and political institutions that they supported. Drawing on a wealth of archaeological, historic, and ethnographic information, he develops and applies an analytical framework for studying ancient societies that range from the hunting and gathering groups of native North America, to the large state societies of both the New and Old Worlds. Hirth demonstrates that despite differences in transportation and communication technologies, the economic organization of ancient and modern societies are not as different as we sometimes think.
En bloc combined heart and liver transplantation for end-stage heart failure

Combined heart-liver transplant (CHLTx) remains the only option for long-term survival in patients with end-stage heart and hepatic failure. To date, there are a limited number of transplant centers in the United States that have conducted a CHLTx. Between July of 2009 and December 2019, our group has performed the largest series (N = 20) of en bloc CHLTx to date. En block combined heart-liver transplantation offers both grafts the opportunity to minimize dysfunction with shorter ischemic time compared to sequential heart-liver transplant. This technique simplifies the surgery in patients with complex venous anatomy such as heterotaxy patients and can be performed in dextrocardia or levocardia patients, irrespective of the side of inferior vena cava or superior vena cava. We describe our indications and detailed en block technique for combined heart-liver with its midterm outcome.
Psychological distress, social context, and gender patterns in obesity among a multiethnic sample of U.S. college students.

OBJECTIVE The growing prevalence of obesity among college students is a major public health issue, as over one-third are overweight or obese. This study used gender-stratified multivariate analyses to examine psychological distress and social contextual factors as key determinants of obesity. Participants: Students of a large public university in Southern California (N = 2392). Methods: In-class survey administered across various departments and general education courses. Results: Among females, distress (OR = 1.02) and sophomores (OR = 1.87) were associated with increased odds of obesity; Greek life (OR = 0.53) was associated with decreased odds of obesity. Among males, distress was not associated with obesity (OR = 1.00); financial strain (OR = 1.16) was associated with increased odds of obesity. Conclusions: There are gendered patterns in obesity risk with social context having potentially protective effects among women. Enhancing psychological wellbeing as well as creating gender- and context-specific interventions may be an effective strategy to address the rising rates of obesity among the college population.
The advantage of navigation for knee with lateral femoral bowing in total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose:We have analyzed the surgical outcomes of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using computer-assisted (CA) navigation in terms of postoperative coronal alignment depending on preoperative...
Synchrotron and inverse-Compton emissions from pairs formed in GRB afterglows (analytical treatment)

We calculate the synchrotron and inverse-Compton emissions from pairs formed in gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows from high-energy photons (above 100 MeV), assuming a power-law photon spectrum C {sub ν}∝ν{sup –2} and considering only the pairs generated from primary high-energy photons. The essential properties of these pairs (number, minimal energy, cooling energy, distribution with energy) and of their emission (peak flux, spectral breaks, spectral slope) are set by the observables GeV fluence Φ(t) = Ft and spectrum, and by the Lorentz factor, Γ, and magnetic field, B, of the source of high-energy photons, at observer time, t. Optical and X-ray pseudo light curves, F {sub ν}(Γ), are calculated for the given B; proper synchrotron self-Compton light curves are calculated by setting the dynamics Γ(t) of the high-energy photon source to be that of a decelerating, relativistic shock. It is found that the emission from pairs can accommodate the flux and decays of the optical flashes measured during the prompt (GRB) phase, but it decays faster than the X-ray plateaus observed during the delayed (afterglow) phase. The brightest pair optical emission is obtained for 100 < Γ < 500, and depends mostly on the GeV fluence, being independent of the source redshift.more » Emission from pairs formed during the GRB phase offers an alternate explanation to reverse-shock optical flashes. These two models may be distinguished based on their corresponding flux decay index-spectral slope relations, different correlations with the Large Area Telescope fluence, or through modeling of the afterglow multiwavelength data.« less
Hubbard model analysis of the double photoionization of aromatic hydrocarbons

Using the one-dimensional Hubbard model as a guide, the peaks in the double photoionization in a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons and related molecules are analyzed. In all the aromatic hydrocarbons that have been studied, there are peaks in the 2+ ion concentration that are 40 eV above threshold. These peaks arise from the emission of electrons from a Hubbard state associated with carbon atoms on the perimeter of the molecule. Pyrene and coronene also have low energy peaks 10 eV above threshold that are associated with the carbon atoms inside the perimeter. The linear behavior of the 2+ ion concentration above the two-electron ionization energy that is found in organic molecules lacking periodic symmetry in their perimeter atoms is associated with the simultaneous emission of two photoelectrons with approximately equal kinetic energies moving in opposite directions.
Furanocoumarin with Phytotoxic Activity from the Leaves of Amyris elemifera (Rutaceae)

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract of Amyris elemifera leaves was carried out to identify phytotoxic and antifungal constituents. A novel phytotoxic furanocoumarin 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)-marmesin acetate (1) and its deacyl analog 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)-marmesin (2) were isolated. The X-ray crystal structure determination is reported for the first time for 1. Both 1 and 2 have the S configuration at C-2' based on X-ray crystallographic data. Both these compounds inhibited the growth of the dicot Lactuca sativa (lettuce) and the monocot Agrostis stolonifera with a more pronounced inhibitory effect on the monocots at 330 μM by 1. In Lemna paucicostata Hegelm phytotoxicity bioassay, the IC50 value for 1 was 26 μM, whereas 2 had an IC50 value of 102 μM. Compounds 1 and 2 were weakly antifungal against Colletotrichum fragariae Brooks in TLC bioautography.
Eliciting the Social Determinants of Cancer Prevention and Control in the Catchment of an Urban Cancer Center.

Objective: The objectives of this study were two-fold: 1) to engage community stake­holders in identifying the top three social determinant of health (SDOH) barriers to the early detection and treatment of cancer in their respective communities; and 2) to develop a tailored plan responsive to the potential social risks identified within the catchment of an urban academic cancer center. Methods: Stakeholders from four neighbor­hoods in Brooklyn, New York with dispro­portionate cancer burden were recruited; the nominal group technique, a semi-quantitative research method, was used to elicit the SDOH barriers. Responses were consolidated into categories and ranked by points received. Results: 112 stakeholders participated in four community-based meetings. The SDOH categories of economic stability, education, and community and social context were identified as the top barriers. The themes of lost wages/employment, competing priorities, and the inability to afford care embodied the responses about economic stability. The domain of education was best described by the themes of low health literacy, targeted health topics to fill gaps in knowledge, and recommendations on the best modalities for improving health knowledge. Lastly, within the category of community and social context, the themes of stigma, bias, and discrimination, eroding support systems, and cultural misconcep­tions were described. Conclusion: The implications of our study are three-fold. First, they highlight the strengths of the nominal group technique as a methodology for engaging community stakeholders. Second, our analysis led to identifying a smaller set of social priorities for which tailored screening and practical solutions could be implemented within our health care system. Third, the results provide insight into the actual types of interventions and resources that commu­nities expect from the health care sector. Ethn Dis. 2021;31(1):23-30; doi:10.18865/ ed.31.1.23
Checkpointing OpenSHMEM Programs Using Compiler Analysis

The importance of fault tolerance continues to increase for HPC applications. The continued growth in size and complexity of HPC systems, and of the applications themselves, is leading to an increased likelihood of failures during execution. However, most HPC programming models do not have a built-in fault tolerance mechanism. Instead, application developers usually rely on external support such as application-level checkpoint-restart (C/R) libraries to make their codes fault tolerant. However, this increases the burden on the application developer, who must use the libraries carefully to ensure correct behavior and to minimize the overheads. The C/R routines will be employed to save the values of all needed program variables at the places in the code where they are invoked. It is important for correctness that the program data is in a consistent state at these places. It is non-trivial to determine such points in OpenSHMEM, which relies upon single-sided communications to provide high performance. The amount of data to be collected, and the frequency with which this is performed, must also be carefully tuned, as the overheads introduced by C/R calls can be extremely high. There is very little prior work on checkpoint-restart support in the context of the OpenSHMEM programming interface. In this paper, we introduce OpenSHMEM and describe the challenges it poses for checkpointing. We identify the safest places for inserting C/R calls in an OpenSHMEM program and describe a straightforward approach for identifying the data that needs to be checkpointed at these positions in the code. We provide these two functionalities in a tool that exploits compiler analyses to propose checkpoints and the sets of data for saving at them, to the application developer.
A C terminus–dependent conformational change is required for HDAC3 activation by nuclear receptor corepressors

Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) plays an important role in signal-dependent transcription and is dysregulated in diseases such as cancer. Previous studies have shown that the function of HDAC3 requires an activation step, which is mediated by the interactions of HDAC3 with the deacetylase-activation domain (DAD) of nuclear receptor corepressors and inositol tetraphosphate (IP4). However, the role of the unique HDAC3 C-terminal region in HDAC3 activation is elusive. Here multiple biochemical, structural, and functional studies show that HDAC3 activation requires a priming step mediated by the C terminus to remodel HDAC3 conformation. We show that multiple C-terminal mutations prevent HDAC3 activation by preventing this C terminus–dependent conformational change. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the C terminus–mediated function in altering HDAC3 conformation is required for proper complex formation of HDAC3 with DAD and IP4 by allowing HDAC3 to undergo IP4-dependent interaction with DAD. Remarkably, we found that this C terminus function is conformation dependent, being necessary for HDAC3 activation prior to but not after the conformational change. Together, our study defines two functional states of free HDAC3, reveals the complete HDAC3 activation pathway, and links the C terminus function to the specific interaction between HDAC3 and DAD. These results also have implications in how signaling pathways may converge on the C terminus to regulate HDAC3 and suggest that the C terminus–mediated conformational change could represent a new target for inhibiting HDAC3 in diseases such as cancer.
Comparison of Cost vs. Reimbursement for Definitive Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing.

Purpose/Objective(s) In the last several decades, utilization of standard of care brachytherapy (BT) for locally advanced cervical cancer has declined, with increasing use of external alternatives associated with suboptimal outcomes. Emerging evidence implicates under-reimbursement but is incomplete, as prior studies have relied on surveys and lacked indirect costs. The impact of the upcoming Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO-APM) on these trends is also unclear. This study used time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to compare the true cost of standard of care external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) plus BT boost with current and proposed reimbursement policy. We hypothesized that TDABC would reveal under-reimbursement of BT, which will be worsened under the RO-APM. Materials/Methods TDABC was used to map out the entire patient care cycle, accounting for both direct and indirect costs. Costs were estimated by multiplying prospectively collected timestamps from a 66-patient cohort with nationally derived capacity cost rates for personnel, space, equipment, consumables, and overhead. Current fee-for-service (FFS) and proposed RO-APM rates were derived from Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and public notices and used to calculate reimbursement-cost ratios. Results The direct cost of standard of care radiotherapy was $16435. Indirect costs and MRI guidance added $6690 and $1280. BT and EBRT total costs were higher than previously estimated using direct cost, survey based TDABC ($13663 vs $8609 and $9462 vs $4090, respectively). Although BT cost 44% more than EBRT, under FFS policy, it was reimbursed 12% less ($16145 vs $19769; 45% vs 55% of total payment), resulting in a > 4-fold lower margin. The reimbursement-cost ratio for BT vs EBRT was 1.18 vs 2.09. Switching to the RO-APM reduced these ratios to 0.76 vs 1.34 (using the FFS 45% vs 55% split in payment). Physician payment was less than cost of care (BT = 0.70). Conclusion Unlike traditional measurements indexed on charges, TDABC more accurately estimates the true cost of care, particularly when using prospective timestamps and indirect costs. Current FFS rates undervalue the cost of BT relative to EBRT, which may be exacerbated by the RO-APM, incentivizing external alternatives (such as external boosts) over definitive care. TDABC can help policymakers align reimbursement with cost to mitigate declining BT usage, which may be worsening patient outcomes in an already underserved population.
A general approach to detect gene (G)-environment (E) additive interaction leveraging G-E independence in case-control studies.

It is increasingly of interest in statistical genetics to test for the presence of an additive interaction between genetic (G) and environmental (E) risk factors. In case-control studies involving a rare disease, a statistical test of no additive G×E interaction typically entails a test of no relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). It has been shown that a likelihood ratio test of a null RERI incorporating the G-E independence assumption (RERI-LRT) outperforms the standard approach. The RERI-LRT relies on correct specification of a logistic model for the binary outcome, as a function of G, E, and auxiliary covariates. However, when at least one exposure is not categorical or auxiliary covariates are present, nonparametric estimation may not be feasible, while parametric logistic regression will a priori rule out the null hypothesis of no additive interaction in most practical situations, inflating type I error rate. In this paper, we present a general approach to test for G × E additive interaction exploiting G-E independence. Unlike the RERI-LRT, it allows the regression model for the binary outcome to remain unrestricted, and nonetheless still allows for covariate adjustment in order to ensure the G-E independence assumption or to rule out residual confounding. The methods are illustrated through extensive simulation studies and an ovarian cancer study.
From Initial Appearance to Sentencing: Do Female Defendants Experience Disparate Treatment?

Abstract Purpose While various perspectives have been offered to explain why females might be treated more leniently by the court system than males, very few studies have investigated sex-based disparities at stages of case processing prior to sentencing. Therefore, we examine outcomes at pretrial release and sentencing and investigate for cumulative disadvantage across the criminal court system. Methods A sample of felony cases referred to the Prosecutor’s Office of a large northern urban jurisdiction in the United States during calendar year 2009 were analyzed and included violent, property, and drug offenses. Results In general, it was found that females were treated more leniently by the court system, although specific groups of female defendants were found to experience cumulative disadvantage across the criminal court system. Conclusions While support for the chivalry/paternalism perspective was found, it is suggested that scholars revisit the many perspectives currently put forth to explain sex-based disparities.
Influence of whisker toughening and microstructure on the wear behavior of Si3N4- and Al2O3-matrix composites reinforced with SiC

A comparative study of the influence of randomly-oriented SiC whiskers on the abrasive wear behavior of several commercially-produced Si3N4- and Al2O3-based ceramics suggested that the residual stress states present within the materials can be important in predicting their wear resistance. The addition of SiC whiskers to the Si3N4 matrix created residual tensile stresses at the whisker-matrix interfaces which led to enhanced bulk fracture toughness, but which degraded the fracture toughness at the microstructural level, and thus the abrasive wear resistance, by promoting easier whisker debonding and removal by the abrasive particles. The addition of SiC whiskers to an alumina matrix, on the other hand, led to the creation of residual compressive stresses at whisker-matrix interfaces, producing a locally tougher interface that was more able to withstand the rigors of the abrasive wear environment. These results indicate that in brittle materials, improved bulk mechanical properties do not always translate directly to improved performance in a tribological environment.
On controlling an autothermal fixed-bed reactor at an unstanble state—IV: Model fitting and control of the laboratory reactor

Abstract This study describes in detail model fitting and experimental control implementation for a tubular autothermal reactor running the water-gas shift reaction. The reactor is interfaced to a real-time computer for data logging and control purposes. Certain unknown reaction and heat transport parameters are either evaluated through indirect measurements or estimated from steady-state temperature and concentration data. The heat capacity of the catalyst bed is then adjusted so as to improve the agreement between simulated and measured transient responses. The control approach is purposely kept very simple: measurement of only a few bed temperatures, no state estimation scheme, and use of a single manipulated input. Operation of the reactor at an unstable steady state is clearly demonstrated by several independent tests. Finally, excellent agreement between experimental and simulation results are observed for various cases of pulse perturbation of the heat input at the catalyst bed entrance.
The suitability of a very high level language (SETL) for simulation strucuturing and control

Introduction Our attempt is not to describe a new simulation language but merely to investigate the suitability of a very high level language for simulation. To this end we observe that two widely accepted points of view exist for simulation. They are embodied in SIMSCRIPT (Kiviat, 1968) and SII~FtrLA (Dahl, 1970). We therefore examine the use of SETL (Schwartz, 1971) for implementing simulation models in accordance with these two views. We strongly note, however, that our objective is not the implementation of either in SETL, but merely an investigation of SETL's use as a simulation language employing the world views they each promote. Our discussion is not meant to be complete, nor do we give particular attention to syntactical considerations. The incompleteness stems from two causes. First, we are interested in describing only the minimum machinery (concepts) necessary to a given view rather than a ~olished set. Secondly a discussion of many side issues such as random drawings, data collection, etc. have been purposely omitted. Our view then is to the researcher, who knows SETL, the predominant views of simulation modeling, and is required to perform simulation experiments on models for which the expressive power of SETL is both natural and convenient. Summary of SETL ~ne language is best introduced by paraphrasing the remarks of (Schwartz, 1973). In (Schwartz, 1973) we find that SETL is a language whose essential features are based on the mathematical theory of sets. Having general finite sets as its fundamental objects, SETL is a language of a very high level. Thus, in our view, a high level language is one which incorporates complex structured data objects and global operations upon them. It allows the precise description
The G0-G1 transition of WI38 cells: II. Geometric and densitometric texture analyses

Abstract Various geometric and densitometric parameters (area, projection, perimeter, integrated optical density, form factor, mean bound path, and fractional areas) were obtained by automated image analysis (Quantimet 720D) from Feulgen-stained WI38 human diploid fibroblasts, confluent (G0) and 3 h after nutritional stimulus (G0+G1). The frequency distribution of area and perimeter from the stimulated population show two distinct peaks (G0+G1) which are similar in appearance to fluorescence histograms previously reported following nutritional stimulus, while no significant differences existed between mean values for IOD (DNA content). The parameters versus optical density level threshold are consistent with the above findings, showing distributions indicative of chromatin dispersion during the G0-G1 transition.
Experimental study on coarse grain saltation dynamics in bedrock channels

Saltation of bed load particles on bedrock surfaces is important for landscape evolution and bedrock incision in steep landscapes. However, few studies have investigated saltation in bedrock channels where, unlike alluvial channels, the bed roughness height and the sediment size may be independent. To address this data gap, we measured the saltation hop height, hop length, and velocity of gravel saltating over a planar bed using 80–160 readings from high-speed photography and direct measurements. Two separate dimensional analyses are used: one leading to a bed shear stress scaling and another leading to a Froude number (Fr) scaling. Our new saltation data coupled with numerous data from previous studies suggest that both shear stress and Fr-scaling analyses are valid in characterizing bed load saltation dynamics with bed roughness ranging from smooth to alluvial beds. However, the Fr approach has the advantages that (1) there is no need to estimate a critical Shields stress (τ*_c), which alone can vary up to 2 orders of magnitude (e.g., 0.001–0.1) due to changes in relative bed roughness and slope and (2) the Fr-based scaling fits the saltation data set better in a least squares sense. Results show that the saltation velocity of bed load is independent of grain density and grain size and is linearly proportional to flow velocity. Saltation height has a nonlinear dependence on grain size. Saltation length increases primarily with flow velocity, and it is inversely proportional to submerged specific density. Our results suggest that either (τ*_c) or bed roughness coefficient must be properly estimated to yield accurate results in saltation-abrasion models.
Deletion mapping of the rotavirus metalloprotein NS53 (NSP1): the conserved cysteine-rich region is essential for virus-specific RNA binding.

Abstract NS53 (NSP1), the gene 5 product of the group A rotaviruses, is a minor nonstructural protein of 486 to 495 amino acids which binds zinc and contains an amino-terminal highly conserved cysteine-rich region that may form one or two zinc fingers. To study the structure-function of the gene 5 product, wild-type and mutant forms of NS53 were produced by using a recombinant baculovirus expression system and a recombinant vaccinia virus/T7 (vTF7-3) expression system. Analysis of the RNA-binding activity of the wild-type NS53 immobilized onto protein A-Sepharose beads with NS53-specific antiserum showed that the protein exhibited specific affinity for all 11 rotavirus mRNAs. The use of short virus-specific RNA probes indicated that NS53 specifically recognizes an element located near the 5' ends of viral mRNAs. Analysis of the RNA-binding activity of deletion mutants of NS53 showed that the RNA-binding domain resides within the first 81 amino acids of the protein and that the highly conserved cysteine-rich region within this region of the protein is essential for the activity. Gel electrophoresis and Western immunoblot analyses of intracellular fractions derived from infected cells revealed that large amounts of NS53 were present in the cytosol and in association with the cytoskeletal matrix. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis of cells programmed to transiently express mutant forms of NS53 using vTF7-3 indicated that the intracellular localization domain resides between amino acids 84 and 176 of NS53. Together, these data show that the RNA-binding domain and the intracellular localization domain lie upstream from the region of NS53 previously determined not to be essential for replication of rotaviruses in cell culture (J. Hua and J. T. Patton, Virology 198:567-576, 1994).
Sports Medicine: A Century of Progress

According to the international Olympic Committee, it is the responsibility of the sports medicine profession to care for the health and welfare of Olympic athletes, treat and prevent injuries, conduct medical examinations, evaluate performance capacity, provide nutritional advice, prescribe and supervise training programs, and to monitor substance use. Implicit in these functions is to assist Olympic athletes in achieving the objectives of the Olympic Motto (Citius, Altius, Fortius), which is to become faster, higher, and stronger. During the past Olympiads, athletic performance has increased, as indicated by times for the men's marathon (-28%) or by the distance covered in the women's javelin throw (+80%). However, the fulfillment of these responsibilities was a slow and protracted process, as demonstrated by the facts that medical examinations were not required until 1920, that 28 years elapsed before an official team physician was appointed, and that women had to wait until 1984 before sanction was given to compete in the marathon race. Doping was not defined until 1964, and monitoring of substance abuse did not materialize until after 1972. Although individuals have prepared for athletic competition since the ancient Olympics, the scientific foundations for various training prescriptions were not firmly established until the 1960s and 1970s. It was speculated that performance records will continue to improve in the next century because more scientific sports medicine information would be available and because such information would be better disseminated to athletes.
How Long is Long Enough? Outcomes for a School-Based Prevention Program

One-year versus 2-year outcomes are compared for a school-based prevention project for children at risk for emotional disturbance. Matched pairs of children were randomly assigned to Parent-Teacher Action Research (PTAR) teams or a control group for their 1st-and 2nd-grade years (Total n = 82). All children, along with their classmates, received social skills instruction from their teachers. Many more significant effects were found at the end of Year 2 than at the end of Year 1, including significant changes in children's problems and competencies, as well as significant interactions demonstrating the effectiveness of PTAR teams. Implications are discussed regarding short-term versus more long-term implementation of prevention programs for elementary age at-risk children.
Identification of parabolic distributed parameter systems by regularization with differential operators

Abstract The theory of identification of variable coefficients in parabolic distributed parameter systems by regularization is extended to the case in which the stabilizing functional is the norm of a differential operator. Stability and convergence of the method are proved. A detailed computational evaluation of the approach is presented via the estimation of a spatially varying conductivity in the two-dimensional heat equation.