cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COMPARATIVE PUBLIC DEMAND AND EXPECTATION PATTERNS: THE GHANA EXPERIENCE

It is thus inaccurate to assume that rural dwellers have no political kick. They have much less than more elite groups in towns. … But they have sufficient kick to ensure for most of the time that governments must at least appear to give rural development a high even the highest priority. (Elliott, 1975: 24-25). The link between resource scarcity and group demands is apparent to many observers. Thus, David Easton (1957: 387) remarks: “The reason why a political system emerges in a society at all … is that demands are being made by persons or groups in the society that cannot all be fully satisfied. In all societies one fact dominates political life: scarcity prevails with regard to most of the valued things.” In modern Ghana, not only are desired resources in short supply generally, but the inherited subregional inequalities add a further dimension to collective demands for the allocation of goods and services by central government authorities. Longstanding subregional inequalities in amenities and services heighten and complicate competition over scarce resources. The resulting demands on the part of the relatively disadvantaged subregions therefore emerge as a dynamic aspect in the process of determining public policy.
Downlink and uplink resource allocation in IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) based on the IEEE 802.11 standard are becoming increasingly popular and widely deployed. It is likely that WLAN will become an important complementary technology for future cellular systems and will typically be used to provide hotspot coverage. In this paper, the complementary use of WLANs in conjunction with mobile cellular networks is studied. We identify the fairness problem between uplink and downlink traffic flows in the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function and then propose an easy solution that can be implemented at the access point (AP) in the MAC layer without modification of the standard for stations (STAs). This solution aims at providing a controllable resource-allocation method between uplink and downlink traffic flows and adapting the parameters according to the dynamic traffic load changes. The proposed solution also enhances the system utilization by reducing the probability of frame collision.
Body image and quality of life of breast cancer patients: influence of timing and stage of breast reconstruction.

Objective The process of cancer-related breast reconstruction is typically multi-staged and can take months to years to complete, yet few studies have examined patient psychosocial well-being during the reconstruction process. We investigated the effects of reconstruction timing and reconstruction stage on body image and quality of life at specific time points during the breast reconstruction process. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 216 patients were grouped into four reconstructive stages: pre-reconstruction, completed stage 1, completed stage 2, and final stages. Multiple regression analyses examined the roles of reconstruction timing (immediate vs delayed reconstruction) and reconstruction stage as well as their interaction in predicting body image and quality of life, controlling for patient age, BMI, type of reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and major complication(s). Results A difference in pattern of body image was observed across the reconstructive stages, with those receiving delayed reconstruction showing significant decrease in body image dissatisfaction compared with those with immediate reconstruction. At pre-reconstruction, patients awaiting delayed reconstruction reported significantly lower social well-being compared with those awaiting immediate reconstruction. Reconstruction stage predicted emotional well-being, with higher emotional well-being observed in those who had commenced reconstruction. Conclusions Timing and stage of reconstruction are important to consider when examining psychosocial outcomes of breast cancer patients undergoing reconstruction. Those waiting to initiate delayed reconstruction appear at particular risk for body image, emotional, and social distress. Our findings have implications for delivery of psychosocial treatment to maximize body image and quality of life of patients undergoing cancer-related breast reconstruction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The hairless gene mutated in congenital hair loss disorders encodes a novel nuclear receptor corepressor

The mammalian hairless (hr) gene plays a critical role in the maintenance of hair growth. Although the hr gene has been identified, the biochemical function of its encoded protein (Hr) has remained obscure. Here, we show that Hr functions as a transcriptional corepressor for thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). We find that two independent regions of Hr mediate TR binding and that interaction requires a cluster of hydrophobic residues similar to the binding motifs proposed for nuclear receptor corepressors (N-CoR and SMRT). Similarly, we show that Hr binds to the same region of TR as known corepressors. We show that Hr interacts with histone deacetylases (HDACs) and is localized to matrix-associated deacetylase (MAD) bodies, indicating that the mechanism of Hr-mediated repression is likely through associated HDAC activity. Thus, Hr is a component of the corepressor machinery, and despite its lack of sequence identity with previously described corepressors, its mode of action is remarkably conserved. On the basis of its thyroid hormone-inducible and tissue- and developmental-specific expression, Hr likely defines a new class of nuclear receptor corepressors that serve a more specialized role than ubiquitous corepressors. The discovery that Hr is a corepressor provides a molecular basis for specific hair loss syndromes in both humans and mice.
9-Sulfooxymethylanthracene Is an Ultimate Electrophilic and Carcinogenic Form of 9-Hydroxymethylanthracene

Abstract The role of electrophilic hydroxymethyl sulfate esters in the metabolic activation, DNA-damage, mutagenicity, and complete carcinogenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been elucidated considerably in recent years. The observations are in agreement with a unified hypothesis which predicts that electrophilic hydroxymethyl sulfate esters and closely related aralkylating agents are major ultimate carcinogenic forms of most, if not all, carcinogenic alkyl-substituted and even unsubstituted carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The common final step in a chain of enzymatic substitution reactions is the formation of an aralkylating agent bearing a good leaving group. Activation of hydroxymethyl derivatives, including 9-hydroxymethylanthracene, to electrophilic mutagens has been shown to be catalyzed by 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate-dependent sulfotransferase activity. Recent studies, in a complete carcinogenic model, demonstrate that a number of sulfuric acid ester derivatives are more potent than their hydroxymethyl precursors by repeated subcutaneous injection in female Sprague-Dawley rats. In this paper, these observations have been extended to include 9-sulfooxymethylanthracene as an ultimate electrophilic and carcinogenic form of 9-hydroxymethylanthracene.
Recent advances in plasmonic nanostructures for sensing: a review

This review describes the recent advances in plasmonic nanostructures for various sensing applications. In particular, significant advances in surface-enhanced Raman, surface plasmon resonance, and metal-enhanced fluorescence-sensing methodologies associated with the introduction of plasmonic nanostructures, made over the past decade, are highlighted. Plasmonic properties of the various nanostructures employed for each sensing technique are also tabulated to provide a systematic overview of the state-of-the-art in each sensing field. This review is not intended to be a comprehensive compilation of the literature but rather a critical review of the recent significant advances in plasmonic nanostructures for each sensing regime.
Characteristics of assaultive patients in private hospitals.

A study of two large private psychiatric hospitals showed rates and patterns of assaultive behavior by patients comparable to those found earlier in a study of public hospitals; this was especially true in the hospital that admitted involuntary patients. The targets of assault were predominantly family members other than spouses or children and persons outside the family. Seclusion was commonly used to manage assaultive patients in the private hospitals and the seclusion rates were higher than those found for public hospitals, probably reflecting a staff preference for seclusion over heavy medication. The need for staff education and support in the management of assaultive patients exists in private hospitals as well as public hospitals. Language: en
The Effect of Systematic Weight Training on Power, Strength, and Endurance

(1950). The Effect of Systematic Weight Training on Power, Strength, and Endurance. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 83-93.
The pathological features of 101 consecutive endomyocardial biopsies in children

A review of 101 consecutive endomyocardial biopsies taken from 90 patients over a 5 year period from 1983-1988 at HSC was performed to examine the range and sensitivity of pathological diagnoses. Patients were aged from 19 d - 19 yrs, mean 6.7 yrs, M:F = 47:43. 51 were from the right, 44 were from the left and 6 were biventricular. A definitive diagnosis could be made in 47 biopsies. 37 of these were performed only once and resulted in diagnoses of myocarditis (12), endocardial fibroelastosis (13), adriamycin toxicity (8), mitochondrial cardiomyopathy (1), Hurler syndrome (1), Type III glycogenosis (1), and Churg-Strauss syndrome (1). There was agreement with the clinical diagnosis in 34 and disagreement (with the establishment of a different diagnosis) in 3. A second biopsy was performed to monitor the progress of the disease in 7 cases (6 myocarditis, 1 adriamycin toxicity) and a third biopsy was performed in 3 patients, all of whom had myocarditis. Non-specific changes consistent with the clinical diagnosis were found in 24 biopsies (21 cardiomyopathies and 3 carnitine deficiencies). The remaining 30 biopsies had only minor non-specific changes which were non-diagnostic or normal. This study has shown that endomyocardial biopsy in children is of value in confirming or establishing diagnoses of myocarditis, endocardial fibroelastosis, adriamycin toxicity and a variety of rarer conditions. It is also of use in monitoring the course of patients with myocarditis or adriamycin toxicity. Biopsy appears less useful in the diagnosis of cardiomyopathies, in part due to the relatively non-specific pathological features of these conditions, as well as to limitations in interpretation of biopsy material.
Disease nondestructive detection and numerical simulation of rock stalactite based on infrared thermal imaging

In order to reveal the new method of quantitative detection for the rock painting disease by using infrared imaging technology,this paper made use of the quantitative detection and finite element simulation to study the rock painting stalactite disease in Guangxi.It further validated that the infrared thermal imaging technique for nondestructive detection of rock stalactite diseases is feasible through comparative analysis of the simulation result and infrared detection result.These findings suggest that the infrared imaging technology could detect the part of the rock painting stalactite disease and finite element theoretical simulation is an effective means to study the rock painting stalactite disease.This research provided a new technical method for infrared imaging detection of the rock painting disease.
Antibiotics use before and after the special rectification activities

Objective To provide a basis for the rational use of antimicrobial agents and scientific management.Methods According to information provided by computer management system of the antibacterial drugs in our hospital,By using the defined daily dose(DDD) and the amount of sorting index,we made classification,statistics,and analysis of the use of antibacterials in Anhui Provincial Chilaren’ s Hospital during 2011—2012.Results Of all kinds of antibacterial drugs in our hospital cephalosporins ranked the first,which accounted for 58.65% and 55.63%;The total consumption of antibiotics accounted for 28.79% of the total drugs in 2011,and 25.50% in 2012,decreasing by 3.29%.Compared with the year 2011,in 2012 antimicrobial usage and use intensity in our hospital declined steadily.Conclusion Special rectification activities of rational use of antibiotics achieve initial success.
Symbolic Integration, Not Symbolic Estrangement, For Double-Digit Numbers.

Symbolic and non-symbolic number representations are thought to share common neural substrates. However, recent studies have shown that the two numerical systems are more distinct than previously thought. These disparate findings may be explained by the use of sequential presentations of symbolic and non-symbolic quantities, the use of magnitude-reliant tasks, or the use of limited number ranges. We investigated whether adults integrate symbolic and non-symbolic numerical information during a non-magnitude-based task in which symbolic and non-symbolic double-digit numerical information is shown simultaneously. Participants viewed images in which symbolic numerals or letter pairs were superimposed on non-symbolic numerical stimuli and were asked to determine whether the text was a numeral or letter, ignoring the dots. After perceptual biases were taken into account, participants were more accurate and faster in their judgments when symbolic and non-symbolic information matched than when information mismatched, suggesting that adults can integrate symbolic and non-symbolic numerical information.
Extensive stenosis of the colon and fistula formation following amoebic dysentery.

Amoebic dysentery with fibrotic stenosis and fistula formation is unusual. This case illustrates severe stenoses of the colon and fistula formation after prolonged therapy for amoebic dysentery. Surgical intervention was necessary. Early diagnosis and prompt therapy might have prevented these complications.
Nitrogenous Excretion of Amphipods and Isopods

1. The nitrogen excretion of eleven species of amphipods and isopods, including marine, fresh-water and terrestrial forms, has been studied. 2. All species are essentially ammonotelic, since more than 50% of the total soluble N.P.N. of the excreta was present in the form of ammonia throughout. 3. The level of nitrogen excretion is appreciably lower in the terrestrial species than in any of the others, indicating that, in this group, adaptation to terrestrial conditions has been attended by a general suppression of nitrogen metabolism rather than by a transformation of ammonia to other, less toxic products. 4. Some 5-10% of the total soluble N.P.N. was present as urea in the case of the fresh-water amphipod, Gammarus pulex , and as uric acid in the terrestrial isopods as well as the fresh-water isopod, Asellus aquaticus . It is suggested that these minor excretory components might originate from purines as a result of the loss of one or more of the uricolytic enzymes. 5. In association with the excretion of uric acid some retention of this insoluble compound usually occurs, and it was found that among the terrestrial species the amount so stored parallels the degree of morphological and physiological adaptation to terrestrial conditions. The greatest accumulation of uric acid was, however, observed in the fresh-water species, A. aquaticus , and although such a storage cannot necessarily be taken as evidence for a partially uricogenic metabolism, this possibility must be borne in mind.
Hospital-based Clinical Forensic Program in Violence Risk Assessment: Utilization and Management Considerations

Introduction Risk assessment of future disruptive and violent acts is of great importance to public protection and care in the medical setting. The VA Puget Sound created a Disruptive Behavior Evaluation Clinic, which utilizes clinical forensic risk evaluations in its assessments of veterans with disruptive Patient Record Flags or at elevated risk for violent behavior. Objectives This poster will review the results of a utilization study of the Disruptive Behavior Evaluation Clinic after its first two years in operation. Aim To better understand the utilization of the clnic for future targeted interventions and allocation of resources to reduce risk of violent or disruptive behavior at the facility. Methods Medical charts of all evaluees assessed in the Disruptive Behavior Evaluation Clinic were reviewed to assess the evaluee characteristics, mental health and substance abuse histories, recommendations from the forensic evaluator, whether recommendations were followed, and disposition of persons evaluated in the facility's Disruptive Behavior Evaluation Clinic. Results Results indicate that the most common diagnoses for persons evaluated in the clinic to date were alcohol or substance use disorders, personality disorder, and primary psychotic disorders. Demographics, referral source, and disposition outcomes were tabulated. As a result of the forensic risk assessment reports generated by the clnic several evaluees subsequently qualified for housing services. Conclusion The information on utilization is helpful to better assess the characteristics of veterans most prone to violence at one VA facility. It helps the facility allocate risk reduction resources to targeted clinics or programs.
Mandela’s Legacy for Political Philosophy in Africa

To understand and appreciate Mandela’s legacy for political philosophy, one must first understand the ideological system imposed on him and his people and for which he was prepared to fight to death, if necessary. While many appreciate him for being a wise and disciplined peacemaker who brought reconciliation, peace, and multiracial liberal democracy to South Africa after decades of bloody civil and racial unrest, others blame him for being a violent nationalist terrorist inspired by the political rhetoric and ideology of Frantz Fanon, the Africana philosopher of Caribbean descent who defended anti-colonial and anti-imperialist violence in Algeria and the rest of Africa as a form of justified counter-violence in self-defense. Some of those who associate themselves with this characterization also accuse Mandela of joining forces with internal and external Marxist Socialists or Communists responsible for, with the help of the Soviet Union, sabotage, kidnapping, anti-White terrorism, bloodshed, and massive destabilization in South Africa. Such critics question the wisdom in rewarding such a person with the Nobel Prize for Peace. Still other African philosophers, like Kibujjo Kalumba (Jnl of Social Philosophy 1995 161), would classify his thought and actions as belonging to the nonviolent natural rights political philosophy and ethics tradition, or as compatible with humanistic ethics, if not Christian ethics.
Thiamethoxam Toxicity and Effects on Consumption Behavior in Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on Soybean.

Neonicotinoid residues can be present in soybean vegetative tissue, prey insects, and flower tissues, possibly making them toxic to pollinators and natural enemies. Baseline information on the toxicity of neonicotinoids to beneficial insects other than pollinators through multiple routes of insecticide exposure is limited. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the toxicity of thiamethoxam to the hemipteran predator, Orius insidiosus Say, exposed to residues through treated vegetative tissue and insect prey, and 2) to evaluate the effect of thiamethoxam on the abundance of this predator species in soybean fields. Predators were exposed to thiamethoxam in soybean leaves and Aphis glycines Matsumura using a systemic bioassay. Abundance of the predator was evaluated in thiamethoxam seed-treated fields during two different soybean seasons. Our results indicate that concentrations required to kill >50% of the evaluated insects were higher than the concentrations that the insects are likely to encounter in the field. Consumption of A. glycines by O. insidiosus was affected at 10 ng/ml and 5 ng/ml of thiamethoxam at 24 h of evaluation. There was significant mortality for O. insidiosus at 24 h after exposure to thiamethoxam-treated aphids at these concentrations. In soybean fields, there were no significant differences in O. insidiosus number between the plots treated with thiamethoxam and the control. Thiamethoxam may have significant effects on the predators if O. insidiosus feeds on early soybean vegetative tissue or contaminated prey. These results suggest that the compatibility of thiamethoxam with IPM programs for A. glycines needs further evaluation.
Responding to Competition: Repositioning and New Product Launch

The literature abounds with theories on incumbent response to competition - highlighting various response strategies. Because incumbents likely use combinations of these response strategies in prac...
Lung metastasectomy following kidney tumors: Outcomes and prognostic factors from a single-center experience

Background: The lung is one of the sites most frequently affected by metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Nonsurgical therapy for mRCC has limited efficacy, while the 5-year survival rates data published in literature after pulmonary surgery for metastasectomy, emphasize the role of surgery as the treatment that guarantees the best effectiveness in pulmonary resectable metastases. Methods: From January 2000 to March 2016, 27 patients underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic renal cancer was retrospectively reviewed. Primary renal cancer was controlled in all patients and there was no other metastatic site in addition to the lung, at the time of metastasectomy. The aim of the study was to identify outcomes and prognostic factors in association with survival after complete pulmonary resection of metastases in a subgroup of patients with isolated pulmonary metastases from RCC. Results: Five- and 10-year overall survival (OS) from first pulmonary metastasectomy was 75% and 59%, respectively. Independent prognostic factor influencing survival were: dimension of pulmonary metastases ≥2 cm (3-year survival: 67% vs . 100%; P=0.014) and disease free interval (DFI) ≥5 years (3-year survival: 94% vs . 28%; P=0.05). The only independent prognostic factors affecting DFI was the dimension of pulmonary metastases ≥2 cm (5-year DFI: 67% vs . 89%; P=0.03) at univariate analysis. Conclusions: Considering the good results based on high long-term efficacy and low morbidity after metastases surgical resection, we always recommend metastasectomy in patients with technically resectable metastases, especially in case of long DFI and reduced dimension of pulmonary lesions.
Measuring Social Value: Operationalization of the Capabilities Approach

The measurement of performance and the evaluation of social change efforts are vital yet challenging issues for practitioners and researchers of social entrepreneurship. Although tools exist to mea...
Translational approaches to coagulopathy after trauma: Towards targeted treatment

Mitchell J. Cohen discusses why trauma care must go beyond restoring perfusion to target disorders of inflammation and coagulation in severely injured patients.
Abstract 296: Sorting Nexin 19: A Novel Regulator of Renal Dopamine D1 Receptor

The D 1 dopamine receptor (D 1 R) plays a pivotal role in blood pressure regulation. The present study aimed to demonstrate the role of sorting nexin 19 (SNX19) in the regulation of renal D 1 R trafficking and signaling. We tested the dynamic interaction between these proteins and showed that SNX19 coimmunoprecipitated with the D 1 R, as well as with GRK4 and β-arrestin--proteins that are required for D 1 R homologous desensitization, in human renal proximal tubule cells (hPRTCs) and mouse kidney homogenates. These proteins colocalized basally at the cell membrane in hRPTCs, while treatment with the D 1 R/D 5 R agonist fenoldopam (Fen) promoted their endocytosis to the juxtanuclear area, indicating that SNX19 is involved in the agonist-activated D 1 R trafficking. SNX19 silencing in hPRTCs reduced the D 1 R abundance (non-silencing “mock” siRNA=1.0±0.05 vs . Snx19 -specific siRNA=0.45±0.06, P 1 R depletion did not affect SNX19 expression. SNX19 depletion also blunted the cAMP response after Fen treatment (1μM, 15min) (mock: basal=12.4±4.5 pmol/mg protein vs . mock+Fen=147.8±3.4; Snx19 siRNA: basal=6.8±3.4 vs . siRNA+Fen=63.1±5.4, P + from basal= + 15.4±3.2%, vs . Snx19 siRNA: Δ Na + = + 3.3±7.5%, P 1 R colocalized at the brush border in mouse and human renal proximal tubules at the basal state. Stimulation D 1 -like receptors in mouse kidneys with the intravenous infusion of Fen (2 μg/kg/hr, 15 min) promoted D 1 R internalization with SNX19 and enhanced their colocalization at the cytoplasm. Relative to control mice, the renal selective silencing of Snx19 in C57Bl/6J mice increased the systolic blood pressure (before injection: mock=100±5 mmHg vs . Snx19 siRNA=102±2; after injection: mock=101±6 vs . Snx19 siRNA=118±5, P 1 R expression (mock=1.0±0.09 vs . Snx19 siRNA=0.57±0.17, P 1 R function and that loss of renal SNX19 results in renal D 1 R deficiency and dysfunction. Our data suggest that the absence of SNX19 may be a novel mechanism for the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.
Prospective Identification of Patients at Risk for Unwarranted Variation in Treatment.

Abstract Background: Understanding factors associated with treatment intensity may help ensure higher value healthcare. Objective: To investigate factors associated with Medicare costs among prospectively identified, seriously ill older adults and examine if baseline prognosis influences the impact of these factors. Design/Subjects: Prospective observation of Health and Retirement Study cohort with linked Medicare claims. Measurements: We identified people with incident serious illness (a serious medical condition, for example, metastatic cancer or functional impairment); calculated subjects' one-year mortality risk; and then followed them for one year. We examined relationships between individual and regional characteristics and total Medicare costs, and then stratified analyses by one-year mortality risk: low, moderate, and high. Results: From 2002 to 2012, 5208 subjects had incident serious illness: mean age 78 years, 60% women, 76% non-Hispanic white, and 39% hospitalized in the past year. During one-...
Current safety issues with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines

Invasive meningococcal disease, although rare, can present as sudden, life-threatening disease with high risk of mortality or severe long-term sequelae. The main prevention strategy for invasive meningococcal disease in the United States is the routine vaccination of adolescents and other persons at increased risk of meningococcal disease with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines. Two such vaccines are currently licensed and available in the United States, Menactra® (Sanofi Pasteur) and Menveo® (GlaxoSmithKline), and usage in the adolescent population has steadily increased since their introduction. Although early reports raised concerns about a possible association of Menactra with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a comprehensive safety review determined that if such risk existed it was no more than 0.66 cases per 1 million vaccinations. More recently, a study found an elevated risk of Bell's palsy when Menveo was administered concomitantly with other vaccines but no association was found when the vaccine was administered alone. In this commentary, we describe the current state of knowledge with respect to the safety of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines, and we identify potential areas for safety research for these vaccines.
Improving Speech Recognition in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users by Listening With the Better Ear.

For patients with bilateral cochlear implants (BiCIs), understanding a target talker in a noisy situation can be difficult. Current efforts for improving speech-in-noise understanding have focused ...
Sexuality and gender affirmation in transgender men who have sex with cisgender men

Background: Transgender men who have sex with men (trans MSM) are underrepresented in the behavioral and social sciences literature, especially in research concerning sexual health. The available l...
Welfare Reform in the Clinton Administration

This chapter presents an overview of welfare reform efforts during the administration of President Bill Clinton. Section 3.2 discusses the politics associated with welfare reform and the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) which replaced the entitlement Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with the time-limited, block grant Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The creation of TANF and work requirements are presented along with other PRWORA provisions influenced by the Christian right. Section 3.3 examines the impact of PRWORA on welfare caseloads. Section 3.4 highlights key components of efforts to reauthorize TANF.
A Numerical Survey of the Reduction of Modular Curve Genus by Fricke’s Involutions

The modular curve of order N, relating j(z) and j(z/N), can be simplified by a system of involutions first due to Fricke. A computation is presented for finding the genus of the simplified curves by using the method of isometric circles due to Poincare. This is an internal construction (in memory) for the fundamental domain. A survey of the results for N ≤ 310 confirms the 64 values of N (largest 119) for which the genus reduces to 0 and 65 values of N (largest 288) for which it reduces to 1. It also reveals 55 values of N (largest 390) for which the genus reduces to 2. While other surveys have been made, (e.g., by A. Ogg and by A.O.L. Atkin), the present one has the advantage of using minimal computational tools and theoretical techniques. The elliptic cases are interesting because in some instances e. g., N = 40,48,63,65,75, the involution process does not produce a genus reduction for the torus, and Poincare’s method shows how this works geometrically. Also, in many cases the elliptic curves can be parametrised analytically using discriminant functions in a manner originally introduced by Fricke.
Vulnerability Described Geographically

In this chapter we discuss how geographic methods are used to describe the locations, depth, and extent of disaster vulnerability. These methods produce descriptive information. Identifying specific locations of vulnerability, describing how these locations are distributed, and documenting trends provide support for five of the general assumptions underlying vulnerability theory. This work has helped refine vulnerability theory and contribute in direct, practical ways to the mitigation, preparedness, and recovery efforts carried out by emergency managers and human service professionals.
A 3D Canopy Reconstruction and Phenotype Analysis Method for Wheat

A high precise and high realistic three-dimensional wheat canopy model is important in modern agriculture. In this paper, we proposed a 3D reconstruction and quantitative calculation for phenotype analysis method for wheat. First, we made use of a 3D digitizer to acquire spatial structure and distribution data of wheat canopy. After data processing, we constructed three-dimensional organ models including stalks, leaves and others, based on a surface modeling algorithm. Under this process, we constructed a 3D canopy model by frames of wheat colony. Furthermore, we made phenotype analyses on structure and organs distribution features including leaf length, azimuth and obliquity values. By use of constructed 3D canopy model, we used a light distribution computing algorithm to analyze the potential light interception, and we also calculated interception in different layers and different organs. The synchronous light intensity and leaf area index (LAI) measured by a PAR device were used to compare and examine the constructed canopy models. We also compute macroscopic canopy attributes including leaf area, leaf area index, projection area, shading area, and so on. Finally, parts of experimental results are shown, and the results show that our method is feasible and effective for wheat as well as other similar crops. At the end, the main contributions and limitations are also discussed, and some future works are addressed.
End-state comfort meets pre-crastination

Research on motor planning has revealed two seemingly contradictory phenomena. One is the end-state comfort effect, the tendency to grasp objects in physically awkward ways for the sake of comfortable or easy-to-control final postures (Rosenbaum et al., Attention and Performance XIII: Motor representation and control, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1990). The other is pre-crastination, the tendency to hasten the completion of tasks even at the expense of extra physical effort (Rosenbaum et al., Psychol Sci 25:1487–1496, 2014). End-state comfort seems to reflect emphasis on final states, whereas pre-crastination seems to reflect emphasis on initial states. How can both effects exist? We sought to resolve this seeming conflict by noting, first, that the effects have been tested in different contexts. End-state comfort has been tested with grasping, whereas pre-crastination has been tested with walking plus grasping. Second, both effects may reflect planning that aids aiming, as already demonstrated for end-state comfort but not yet tested for pre-crastination. We tested the two effects in a single walk-and-grasp task and found that demands on aiming influenced both effects, although precrastination was not fully influenced by changes in the demands of aiming. We conclude that end-state comfort and precrastination are both aiming-related, but that precrastination also reflects a desire to hasten early task completion.
Partisanship, Political Awareness, and Retrospective Evaluations, 1956–2016

A long line of research shows that voters frequently evaluate objective conditions through a perceptual screen, seeing a stronger economy and more peaceful world when their party is in power. We know less about how and why these partisan perceptual differences have changed over recent history, however. This paper combines ANES measures of retrospective evaluations from 1956 to 2016 and shows that partisan differences (1) have increased significantly over the past few decades across all types of assessments; (2) are greatest, and have changed the most, amongst the most politically aware; and (3) closely track changes in elite polarization over this time period. The extent of partisan disagreement in retrospective evaluations is thus not constant, but rather contingent on attributes of the voter and the political context. Greater political awareness and more polarized politicians result in larger partisan perceptual differences, as the most engaged citizens are the most likely to receive and internalize cues about the state of the world from their party’s elites.
Beating OPT with Statistical Clairvoyance and Variable Size Caching

Caching techniques are widely used in today's computing infrastructure from virtual memory management to server cache and memory cache. This paper builds on two observations. First, the space utilization in cache can be improved by varying the cache size based on dynamic application demand. Second, it is easier to predict application behavior statistically than precisely. This paper presents a new variable-size cache that uses statistical knowledge of program behavior to maximize the cache performance. We measure performance using data access traces from real-world workloads, including Memcached traces from Facebook and storage traces from Microsoft Research. In an offline setting, the new cache is demonstrated to outperform even OPT, the optimal fixed-size cache which makes use of precise knowledge of program behavior.
iGEAK: an interactive gene expression analysis kit for seamless workflow using the R/shiny platform.

The use of microarrays and RNA-seq technologies is ubiquitous for transcriptome analyses in modern biology. With proper analysis tools, the differential gene expression analysis process can be significantly accelerated. Many open-source programs provide cutting-edge techniques, but these often require programming skills and lack intuitive and interactive or graphical user interfaces. To avoid bottlenecks impeding seamless analysis processing, we have developed an Interactive Gene Expression Analysis Kit, we term iGEAK, focusing on usability and interactivity. iGEAK is designed to be a simple, intuitive, light-weight that contrasts with heavy-duty programs. iGEAK is an R/Shiny-based client-side desktop application, providing an interactive gene expression data analysis pipeline for microarray and RNA-seq data. Gene expression data can be intuitively explored using a seamless analysis pipeline consisting of sample selection, differentially expressed gene prediction, protein-protein interaction, and gene set enrichment analyses. For each analysis step, users can easily alter parameters to mine more relevant biological information. iGEAK is the outcome of close collaboration with wet-bench biologists who are eager to easily explore, mine, and analyze new or public microarray and RNA-seq data. We designed iGEAK as a gene expression analysis pipeline tool to provide essential analysis steps and a user-friendly interactive graphical user interface. iGEAK enables users without programing knowledge to comfortably perform differential gene expression predictions and downstream analyses. iGEAK packages, manuals, tutorials, sample datasets are available at the iGEAK project homepage ( https://sites.google.com/view/iGEAK ).
Definitive chemoradiation followed by stereotactic body radiotherapy boost for inoperable endometrial cancer

For inoperable endometrial cancer (ECA) patients, definitive chemoradiation with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) boost may be an option. SBRT schedules and dose distributions approximate brachytherapy boost (BB) radiobiologic dosing, while eliminating the need for applicator placement and thus anesthesia. We report toxicity, disease control, and quality-of-life outcomes of a multi-institutional series of SBRT for ECA. Twenty-three patients met the following eligibility criteria: (1) primary ECA, (2) contraindication or refusal of BB, and (3) need for definitive radiation (RT). Prior to SBRT, patients received pelvic RT +/− nodal boost concurrent with cisplatin. SBRT dose of 25.0–35.0 Gy was prescribed to a high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) in 4–5 fractions. Assessments included (1) post-treatment disease surveillance, (2) toxicity using the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s CTCAE scales, and (3) quality-of-life using FACT-G. Median follow-up was 31 months. BB was infeasible due to medical comorbidities, patient refusal, and technical contraindications (73.9%, 21.7%, and 4.3%, respectively). Most patients were FIGO stage I (60.8%). Mean cumulative dose to high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was 88.94 Gy (range 75.50–93.83 Gy). Mean SBRT dose to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV) was 32.55 Gy (range 25.00–35.77 Gy), and mean PTV receiving 100% of the dose was 95.29% (range 91.48–99.01%). No patients had grade 2+ long-term gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity. Locoregional and distant control was 91.6% at 1 year and 85.4% at 2 year. Only one patient died due to ECA at 6 months. Overall survival was 95.0% at 1 year, 74.0% at 2 year, and 59.2% at 5 year. Patient-reported physical and emotional well-being worsened but improved after the acute phase of treatment. Functional and social/family well-being worsened after 1 month. Definitive chemoradiation with SBRT boost is safe and effective alternative when BB is not possible.
Analysis of time from initial imaging study to definitive surgical diagnosis in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies.

e15536Background: It is well established that women diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer have a significantly lower five-year survival rate. Often multiple imaging modalities are used in th...
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD; DUE DILIGENCE WHEN INTERPRETING PYROPHOSPHATE CARDIAC SCANS TO AVOID MISDIAGNOSIS OF TRANSTHYRETIN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS

Technetium-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) nuclear scan is currently considered the noninvasive test of choice for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTRCA) with a heart to lung ratio greater than 1.5 suggesting TTRCA. An 81 year old female presented to cardiology clinic for evaluation of previously
Impact of Perfusate Glucose Concentration on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Abstract Background Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is a common treatment for peritoneal surface malignancies but no standard carrier solution currently exists for the procedure. This study compared a standard low-dextrose perfusate to a higher-dextrose dialysate that has previously shown favorable impact on perioperative patient outcomes in trauma settings. Materials and methods A single-center retrospective study identified patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC from 2008 to 2019 with recorded dextrose concentration of administered perfusate. An institutional shift to a higher-dextrose solution was made in late 2015. Comparisons of preoperative factors, intraoperative and postoperative glucose levels, and postoperative outcomes were made using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, or repeated measures analysis of variance. Results There were 97 patients in the study, 73 (75%) in the low-dextrose group and 24 (25%) in the high-dextrose group. There was no significant difference in peak intraoperative blood glucose levels between the 1.5% (mean 230 mg/dL) and the 2.5% group (mean 199 mg/dL, P = 0.15). Daily postoperative glucose values were also not statistically different (repeated measures analysis of variance, P = 0.18). Median length of stay was slightly lower for the high-dextrose group (10 d, interquartile range 8-15) than that for the low-dextrose group (12 d, interquartile range 9-17), but was not statistically significant (P = 0.29). Return of bowel function and resumption of diet were similar between the groups. The high-dextrose group had a lower rate of overall complications (20.8%) than the low-dextrose group (49.3%, P = 0.0143). Ninety-day mortality was equivalent between the two groups (2.7% low-dextrose, 4.2% high-dextrose, P = 1.0). Conclusions Use of 2.5% dextrose-containing perfusate appears safe for CRS/HIPEC operations, does not negatively impact intraoperative or postoperative glucose levels, and may be associated with a decreased risk of complications.
The effect of surface treatments on the color stability of CAD-CAM interim fixed dental prostheses.

Abstract Statement of problem Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is gaining popularity in dentistry, including for interim fixed dental prostheses (IFDPs). However, evidence regarding the color stability of 3D-printed IFDPs is lacking. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate whether different surface treatments could affect the color stability of milled and 3D-printed IFDPs after simulated physiological aging. Material and methods Forty milled IFDPs were fabricated with a 5-axis dental mill (DWX-51D; Roland DGA Corp) from polymethyl methacrylate disks (Temp Esthetic 98, A3.5, 98.5×16 mm; Harvest Dental Products, LLC). Forty 3D-printed IFDPs were fabricated with an in-office digital light processing 3D printer (MAX; Asiga) and light-polymerizing resin (NextDent Crown & Bridge A3.5; NextDent B.V). All milled and 3D-printed IFDPs were allocated into 4 different groups (n=10), according to different surface treatments: Control, Polish, Optiglaze, and Skinglaze. In the Control group, no surface treatment was applied to the IFDPs. For the Polish group, IFDPs were finished and polished with aluminum oxide finishers/polishers (Enhance PoGo Complete Kit; Dentsply Sirona). For the Optiglaze and Skinglaze groups, specimens were first finished and polished and prepared with additional light-polymerizing protective coatings (Optiglaze; GC America Inc, or New Outline Skin Glaze; anaxdent North America). Shade measurements were recorded with a digital spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade V; VITA North America) before and after the thermocycling for the color stability comparisons. The effects of interim prosthesis type and surface treatments on ΔE∗, ΔL∗, Δa∗, and Δb∗ were examined using 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and ΔE∗ was considered as the primary outcome variable. Post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed by using the Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) method (α=.05 for all tests). Results Milled IFDPs had significantly smaller ΔE∗ than 3D-printed prostheses for the Control group only (P Conclusions For the milled IFDPs, only the nano-filled, light-polymerizing protective coating significantly lowered color changes after thermocycling simulating 6 months of intraoral physiological aging. For the 3D-printed IFDPs, surface polishing and both light-polymerizing protective coating agents all significantly reduced color changes of the prostheses after thermocycling. The protective effect of light-polymerizing coating agents was more substantial.
Ground Reaction Forces Are Predicted with Functional and Clinical Tests in Healthy Collegiate Students

Increased vertical and posterior ground reaction forces (GRFs) are associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. If a practical means to predict these forces existed, ACL injury risk could be attenuated. Forty-two active college-age individuals (21 females, 20.66 ± 1.46 y, 70.70 ± 2.36 cm, 82.20 ± 7.60 kg; 21 males, 21.57 ± 1.28 y, 65.52 ± 1.87 cm, 64.19 ± 9.05 kg) participated in this controlled laboratory study. GRFs were ascertained by having the subjects perform a unilateral landing task onto a force plate. Several clinical measures (Fat Free Mass (FFM), dorsiflexion passive range of motion (DPROM), isometric peak force of the lateral hip rotators, knee flexor/extensor peak force ratio (H:Q), the completion of the overhead deep squat), two functional tests (Margaria-Kalamen, Single Leg Triple Hop (SLTH)), and sex served as the predictor variables. Regression models to predict the GRFs normalized to the FFM (nGRFz, nGRFy) were generated. nGRFz was best predicted with a linear regression equation that included SLTH and DPROM (adjusted R2 = 0.274; p = 0.001). nGRFy was best predicted with a linear regression equation that included H:Q, FFM, and DPROM (adjusted R2 = 0.476; p < 0.001). Simple clinical measures and functional tests explain a small to moderate amount of the variance associated with the FFM normalized vertical and posterior GRFs in active college-age individuals.