cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metallographic cooling rates of the IIIAB iron meteorites

Abstract An improved computer simulation program has been developed and used to re-measure the metallographic cooling rates of the IIIAB irons, the largest iron meteorite chemical group. The formation of this chemical group is attributed to fractional crystallization of a single molten metallic core during solidification. Group IIIAB irons cooling rates vary by a factor of 6 from 56 to 338 °C/My. The cooling rate variation for each meteorite is much smaller than in previous studies and the uncertainty in the measured cooling rate for each meteorite is greatly reduced. The lack of correction for the orientation of the kamacite–taenite interface in the cooling rate measurement of a given meteorite in previous studies not only leads to large cooling rate variations but also to inaccurate and low cooling rates. The cooling rate variation with Ni content in the IIIAB chemical group measured in this study is attributable, in part, to the variation in nucleation temperature of the Widmanstatten pattern with Ni content and nucleation mechanism. However, the factor of 6 variation in cooling rate of the IIIAB irons is hard to explain unless the IIIAB asteroidal core was exposed or partially exposed in the temperature range in which the Widmanstatten pattern formed. Measurements of the size of the island phase in the cloudy zone of the taenite phase and Re–Os data from the IIIAB irons and the pallasites make it hard to reconcile the idea that pallasites are located at the boundary of the IIIAB asteroid core.
Effects of Myocardial Water Exchange on T1 Enhancement during Bolus Administration of MR Contrast Agents

Interpretation of first-pass myocardial perfusion studies employing bolus administration of T1 magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents requires an understanding of the relationship between contrast concentration and image pixel intensity. The potential effects of myocardial water exchange rates among the intravascular, interstitial, and cellular compartments on this relationship are controversial. We directly studied these issues in isolated, nonbeating canine interventricular septa. Myocardial T1 was measured three times/s during bolus transit of intravascular (albumin-Gd-DTPA and polylysine-Gd-DTPA) and extracellular (gadoteridol) contrast agents. For polylysine-Gd-DTPA, the peak changes in myocardial 1/T1 (delta R1) scaled nonlinearly with perfusate contrast concentration whereas a linear relationship would be expected for fast water exchange among the vascular, interstitial, and cellular compartments. For all agents, the peak delta R1 were much smaller than the values expected on the basis of fast myocardial water exchange. The data demonstrate that in isolated myocardial tissue, myocardial T1 enhancement during bolus administration of contrast can be strongly affected by myocardial water exchange for both intravascular and extracellular MR contrast agents.
Kinins as mediators of intestinal secretion

Kinins are small peptides that have diverse biological actions. Concentrations of kinins in the nanomolar or subnanomolar range induce intestinal smooth muscle contraction and evoke mucosal electrolyte secretion. Hyperkininemia is associated with effects on gastrointestinal motility and intestinal mucosal inflammation. Bradykinin and kallidin are the predominant kinins with effects on the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. Bradykinin stimulates chloride ion secretion by the guinea pig and rabbit ileum, rabbit colon, rat colon and monolayers of human HCA-7 cells. Kinins directly or indirectly stimulate phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C. Cells in the lamina propria of the mucosa (e.g., fibroblasts, mast cells, leukocytes), by liberating cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid, are involved in the kinin response; direct effects on epithelial cells cannot be ruled out, however. Antagonists now exist for kinin receptors. Based on studies with these antagonists in smooth muscle preparations, two subgroups of kinin receptor have been identified. The B2-type receptor appears to be responsible for both the contraction of ileal muscle and ileal secretion. Kinins are probably more important as pathophysiological rather than as physiological mediators. They may amplify the effect of inflammatory products that induce intestinal secretion. The precise involvement of kinins in clinical mucosal secretory states and diarrhea will require quantitative assessment of their levels during each phase of mucosal inflammation. Additional studies on the mechanism of action of kinins will be essential in designing therapy to mitigate the symptoms associated with mucosal inflammation.
Efficient polynomial operations in the shared-coefficients setting

We study the design of efficient and private protocols for polynomial operations in the shared-coefficients setting. We propose efficient protocols for polynomial multiplication, division with remainder, polynomial interpolation, polynomial gcd, and a few other operations. All the protocols introduced in this paper are constant-round, and more efficient than the general MPC. The protocols are all composable, and can be combined to perform more complicated functionalities. We focus on using a threshold additively homomorphic public key scheme due to the applications of our protocols. But, our protocols can also be securely computed in the information-theoretic setting. Finally, we mention some applications of our protocols to privacy-preserving set-operations.
State- and vagal-dependent modulation of augmenting pattern of phrenic nerve discharge during eupnea in rats (726.8)

Pontomedullary nuclei interact to generate and shape the respiratory rhythm and pattern, which is relayed to and modified in cranial and spinal respiratory motor outputs, including the phrenic nucleus, the motoneurons of which form the phrenic nerve and innervate the diaphragm. Under normal conditions, phrenic nerve discharge during eupnea is typified by an initial augmenting (ramp-like) rising phase of inspiratory activity peaking in late-inspiration, representing an orderly spatiotemporal recruitment of phrenic motoneurons. We tested the hypothesis that phrenic ramp is state- and vagal-dependent. Experiments were performed on twenty-one Sprague-Dawley adult male rats. Groups included anesthetized vagus-intact (n=6), decerebrate initially vagus-intact (n=14), and decerebrate initially vagotomized (n=1) animals. Of the decerebrate initially vagus-intact animals, a group was vagotomized (n=5) and another (n=7) was re-anesthetized with isoflurane (2%) during continuous phrenic nerve recordings. This allowed...
Data Mining Sound Archives: A New Scalable Algorithm for Parallel-Distributing Processing

This paper discusses a new algorithm, called theacoustic data-mining accelerator (ADA), which was developedto mine large sound archives for signals of interest includinganimal vocalizations. Background information on thedevelopment of ADA is provided, summarizing variousprojects that have utilized this technology since 2009. Performance was evaluated by comparing runtimes andefficiency metrics for two marine mammal detectionalgorithms that were applied to a 3-week single channelacoustic data set (sampled at 192 kHz and with 16 bitresolution). A total of four configurations (1, 8, 16 and 64workers) demonstrated processing scalability. Results showedthat each detection algorithm successfully processed the dataset in all four configurations without changing the ADAalgorithm. The fastest case (64 workers), had a total runtimeperformance of 1.5 hours, making the ADA 13 times moreefficient than the serial case. Using a single worker it tookmore than 18 hours to process the same 3-week data set. Concurrent processing of both data-mining algorithms using64 workers showed the highest efficiency gain (23x) comparedto sequentially processing the data with a single worker.
Bio-inspired visual guidance: From insect homing to UAS navigation

In the context of autonomous navigation, vision has demonstrated its potential in replacing bulkier sensors and achieving multi-tasking, operating as the primary sensor for guidance as well as simultaneously fulfilling other dedicated missions. Vision sensors are of particular interest in aerial navigation where their versatility and light weight simplify the avionics and increase the available payload of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Biological studies provide us with insights into the visual cues by which insects are able to navigate effectively despite their limited brain resources and low resolution eyes, and enable the development of simple, yet efficient navigation techniques for UAS guidance. This paper reviews biological models of insect homing, their subsequent applications into the robotics field, and the extent to which these models have been applied to the guidance of UAS. Suitable methods for autonomous aerial navigation in natural environments are described and the remaining challenges and opportunities for bio-inspired techniques of visual guidance are discussed.
Proposing a solvent-free approach to evaluate the properties of blended binders in asphalt mixes containing high quantities of reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled asphalt shingles

Abstract Traditionally, the properties of blended binders in asphalt mixes containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) are evaluated through rheological testing of the binder extracted and recovered from a mix. However, this approach has long been criticized for being labor intensive, for potentially altering the chemistry of the binder and consequently changing the binder rheology, for forcing blending of binders that may not have been present in the mix, and for creating hazardous material disposal issues. The research presented in this paper proposes an alternative approach for characterizing blended binders by testing the linear viscoelastic properties of a fine aggregate matrix (FAM) asphalt mix using a torsion bar fixture in a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). A procedure has been developed for preparation and testing of these FAM specimens. Based on the results from this preliminary study, FAM testing is considered to be an effective alternative approach to chemical binder extraction for characterizing the properties of blended binders, compatibility of virgin binders with RAP and RAS binders, and the influence of rejuvenating agents.
EVOLUTION OF ALTRUISM IN KIN-STRUCTURED AND RANDOM SUBDIVIDED POPULATIONS.

A. population structure favorable to the evolution of an altruistic trait is studied by Monte Carlo simulation. The model is based on a small-scale nonindustrial human society but seems generalizable to other highly social mammals. Three hierarchical levels are recognized: 1) the ecologically isolated local group (hamlet) which may be composed of kin and/or unrelated individuals; 2) the deme (settlement) comprising several such groups which interbreed; and 3) the set of demes (metapopulation) among which gene flow occurs. The first two levels of the model are based on D. S. Wilson's structured deme concept; the third allows for gene flow among demes in the metapopulation and for the structured diffusion of alleles across a wider area than might be included within the scope of a single deme. The simulation models genetic drift by a process of hamlet formation which may be random, or variously kin-structured. Hamlets may then become extinct based on a probability function of their gene frequencies. Individual selection within settlements is modeled deterministically, and gene flow among settlements is modeled as two-dimensional steppingstone migration of random or kin-structured groups. Results of the simulations show that, with realistic values for group sizes, moderate extinction rate, and high rates of migration (m > 27%), disadvantageous alleles (s = 10% and 25%) may increase markedly due to differential hamlet extinction over the course of 50 generations. The greater the degree of kin-structuring of founder groups, the higher the variance among hamlets and the faster the rate of increase of the allele for altruism. Nonetheless, even in some randomly founded groups, a clear increase in the altruism gene frequency occurred. It is also notable that kin-structured group selection by hamlet extinction may be effective when the initial frequency of altruism genes is very low (average of one per deme) and among a relatively small number of demes (25). Thus the process of group extinction in a hierarchically structured population allows rapid increase of an allele for altruism under plausible demographic conditions.
A framework for multi-stakeholder decision-making and conflict resolution

Abstract We propose a decision-making framework to compute compromise solutions that balance conflicting priorities of multiple stakeholders on multiple objectives. In our setting, we shape the stakeholder dissatisfaction distribution by solving a conditional-value-at-risk (CVaR) minimization problem. The CVaR problem is parameterized by a probability level that shapes the tail of the dissatisfaction distribution. The proposed approach allows us to compute a family of compromise solutions and generalizes multi-stakeholder settings previously proposed in the literature that minimize average and worst-case dissatisfactions. We use the concept of the CVaR norm to give a geometric interpretation to this problem and use the properties of this norm to prove that the CVaR minimization problem yields Pareto optimal solutions for any choice of the probability level. We discuss a broad range of potential applications of the framework that involve complex decision-making processes. We demonstrate the developments using a biowaste facility location case study in which we seek to balance stakeholder priorities on transportation, safety, water quality, and capital costs.
Planning, Development, and Media A Case Study of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge

Given the importance of the media in 21st-century western liberal democracies, planning actors that seek media attention may do so for multiple ends, such as to dampen controversy and increase thei...
Does it matter how much physician trainees work anymore

The restriction of working hours for physicians in training was one of the earliest and most far-reaching interventions of the patient safety movement. The US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented rules in 2003 restricting residents to 80 h of work per week and no more than 30 h of continuous duty. Subsequent regulations implemented in 20111 limited the maximum shift length for first-year trainees to 16 h and reduced continuous duty for all residents to 28 h. Other countries have implemented significantly stricter rules—the European Working Time Directive2 has limited European trainees to 48 working hours per week since 2009. These regulations directly affect >118 000 residents in the USA3 and about 40 000 junior doctors in the UK yearly, with major consequent effects on the workforce and finances of teaching hospitals and clinics. Yet a decade of rigorous evaluation has failed to demonstrate any improvement in patient safety or clinical outcomes associated with restricting duty hours. Systematic reviews of studies of the 2003 US duty hour regulations,4 as well as well-designed studies5 of the 2011 regulations, have consistently shown that reducing duty hours did not improve patient outcomes at teaching hospitals (compared with non-teaching hospitals). The effect on education and resident well-being has been mixed at best—although some studies indicate resident perception of their education has improved, rates of burnout and depression among residents appear unaffected.6 One explanation for this finding could be that residents are still working past the point of fatigue—that is, duty hours simply have not been restricted enough or regulations have not been adequately enforced. However, no European study has demonstrated positive benefit for patients of the 48 h work week (although few studies have been performed). Another explanation could be that since outcomes such as adverse events and inpatient death are …
Developing a Fall-Prevention System for Nursing Homes:

Falls occur frequently and repeatedly among nursing home residents and account for 20% of total deaths from falls in the age group of 65 and older. Although auto-alert systems have been developed to detect and report falls of the elderly in the community, fewer have been developed for the nursing home setting due to the unique challenges in this setting. This paper analyzes the human-factors challenges in fall prevention in nursing homes through interviews, observations, and work analysis. Implications and guidelines for developing fall prevention technologies for nursing homes are discussed. A fall-prediction and notification system is proposed.
The Role of Research on Servoaeroelasticity in Design of UAV

The role of research on elastic aircaraft as a controlled object, the problem of designing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the relationship between research on servoareoelasticity and aircaraft overall system design have been studied, an important analytical method for designing UAV has been proposed.
Flood Risk Evaluation Algorithm on BP Net

To solve flood risk evaluation,presents Flood Risk Evaluation algorithm on BP Net(FRE-BPN),which combines BP net to solve problems of traditional flood risk evaluation algorithm.Meanwhile,in order to solve the defect of BP net for inefficiency and low accuracy of data modeling,BP net is reducted by rough set.By experiments,it's showed that the complexity which BP created flood risk evaluation model is reduced greatly by reduction with rough set,and the average consumptive time of FRE-BPN decreases apparently.
Billy Budd: An Allegory on the Rights of Man

Shortly before his death in 1981, Herman Melville finished Billy Budd, a novel published posthumously in 1924. The action takes place, first aboard the ship “The Rights of Man,” then aboard the “H.M.S. Indomitable,” at sea, August 1798, the year following the Naval mutinies at Spithead and the Nore, and shows life on board a British warship at the end of the eighteenth century. The most common interpretation of Billy Budd sees in this story of two seamen a confrontation of good and evil during one of the many wars that pitted the English against the French.
Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life Between New Mexican Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Smokers.

Background Smoking is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) across all populations. Because decline in lung function and risk for COPD are lower in New Mexican Hispanic smokers compared with their non-Hispanic white (NHW) counterparts, the goal of this study was to ascertain whether HRQL differs between these two racial/ethnic groups and determine the factors that contribute to this difference. Methods We compared the score results of the Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) in 378 Hispanic subjects and 1,597 NHW subjects enrolled in the Lovelace Smokers' Cohort (LSC) from New Mexico. The associations of race/ethnicity with SGRQ and SF-36 were assessed by using multivariable regression. Results Physical functioning (difference, –4.5; P = .0008) but not mental health or role emotional domains of the SF-36 was worse in Hispanic smokers than in their NWH counterparts in multivariable analysis. SGRQ total score and its activity and impact subscores were worse in Hispanic (vs NHW) smokers after adjustment for education level, current smoking, pack-years smoked, BMI, number of comorbidities, and FEV 1 % predicted (difference range, 2.9-5.0; all comparisons, P ≤ .001). Although the difference in the SGRQ activity domain was above the clinically important difference of four units, the total score was not. Conclusions New Mexican Hispanic smokers have clinically relevant, lower HRQL than their NHW counterparts. A perception of diminished physical functioning and impairment in daily life activities contribute to the poorer HRQL among Hispanic subjects.
Clinicopathologic Correlates of Colonic Neutrophils in Transplant Patients: A Closer Look at the Histologic Overlap of Infectious Colitis and Graft-vs-Host Disease

Introduction: Neutrophils are occasionally encountered in biopsies taken to evaluate for GI GVHD and raise the differential diagnosis of infectious colitis. Previous reports showed a positive correlation between neutrophils and clinical severity of GVHD. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of neutrophils in colon biopsies from SCT patients in relation to several clinicopathologic variables. Methods: 120 colon biopsies from …
Comparison of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus placebo for uncomplicated skin abscesses.

Clinical question In patients with uncomplicated abscesses receiving incision and drainage, does the addition of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole result in improved clinical resolution at 7 to 14 days after treatment when compared with placebo? Article chosen Talan DA, Mower WR, Krishnadasan A, et al. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus placebo for uncomplicated skin abscess. N Engl J Med 2016;374(9):823-32. Objective The primary objective of this study was to compare the clinical cure rates at 7 to 14 days after the end of the treatment period among patients receiving either trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) or placebo. Secondary outcomes included composite cure; surgical drainage procedures; change in erythema size; presence of swelling, induration, or tenderness; invasive infections; skin infections at the same site and different sites; hospitalizations; similar infections in household contacts; days missed from normal activities; days missed from school or work; and days of analgesic use.
Encapsulation of vinorelbine in polymeric nanoparticles improves efficacy in cancer cells and reduces inflammation in non-cancer cells

The efficacy of vinorelbine (VRL) in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is constrained by its dose limiting toxic effects such as leukopenia, its vesicant activity, and reduced bioavailability in oral form. Nanoparticle (NP) encapsulation has the potential to overcome these problems by shielding the drug in the circulation and specifically targeting the drug to the tumour. Thus, we aimed to develop a polymeric NP delivery vector and hypothesised that encapsulation of VRL would enhance its anti-cancer activity and reduce inflammation in non-cancer cells. We synthesised co-polymer NPs encapsulating VRL (VRL-NPs) that were 215 ± 1.3nm in diameter, with high encapsulation efficiency (89.76% ± 1.75%). Co-polymer NPs that did not contain VRL were not cytotoxic and did not induce cytokine release, demonstrating good biocompatibility of the vector. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated significant uptake of VRL-NPs into A549 cells within 1 hour, whereas no uptake was observed in primary human alveolar macrophages at the same time point. Real time cell proliferation, as measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing, demonstrated that 0.01µM VRL inhibited A549 cell proliferation by 6% at 72 hours, whereas the equivalent concentration of VRL-NPs inhibited proliferation by 95% (P
Pleistocene chronology of continental margin sedimentation:: New insights into traditional models, New Jersey

Commonly accepted models for the evolution of continental margins link sediment erosion, transport and deposition to eustasy. To test these models, we constructed an oxygen isotope record from 520 m of Pleistocene sediment recovered by the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 174A from the New Jersey continental slope. The N 18 O record was calibrated to SPECMAP oxygen isotope time scale [Imbrie et al. (1984), in: Berger et al. (Eds.), Milankovitch and Climate, 269^305] with radiocarbon ages, nannoplankton biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and opal and calcium carbonate stratigraphy. Sixteen glacial/interglacial fluctuations of global ice volume have been recorded in the Pleistocene: oxygen isotope stages (OIS) 1 (partial), 2^4, 5 (partial) and 8 throughout 18. Contrary to predicted sedimentation models, a classification of mass-wasting deposits, based on variations in the styles of soft-sediment deformation and grain size, shows that: (1) mass-wasting is not restricted to glacial times but is present during both glacial and interglacial stages; (2) glacial stages are dominated by fine-grained sediments some of which were deposited by gravity flows; and (3) the transitions from glacial to interglacial stages are characterized by the deposition of coarse sands. The sedimentary record shows large-scale trends that do not fit the traditional models of higher glacial sedimentation rates since there is no consistent variation in sediment accumulation between glacial and interglacial stages. Instead there are longer-term sedimentation patterns. Uniform sedimentation rates of 62 cm/kyr characterize the early middle Pleistocene (OIS 12^18), followed by varying rates from low to very high for three consecutive time periods: OIS 11 to 9 (98^560 cm/kyr), OIS 8 (52^560 cm/kyr), and OIS 5 to 2 (37^353 cm/kyr). Each of these depositional units is contained within one seismic-stratigraphic sequence and bounded by sequence boundaries. Their deposition was influenced by the supply of sediment rather than eustasy. Sediment supply was modulated by: (1) the transition from the dominance of obliquity to that of eccentricity (OIS 18^12 to OIS 11^1); and (2) the proximity of the ice sheet (located V150 km away from the paleoshoreline during the last glacial maximum). B 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
First observation of RDEC for gas (N2) targets with F9

Abstract Radiative double electron capture (RDEC) is a fundamental atomic process predicted to occur in ion-atom collisions. Several attempts were made to show experimental evidence for RDEC after it was introduced theoretically in 1987. The first successful measurements were done for O8+ ions colliding with a thin carbon foil in 2010, followed by measurements for F9+ projectiles incident on carbon. The works reported here are the first observations giving preliminary results for RDEC in collisions of F9+ projectiles with gas (N2) targets. X-rays were observed in the region of interest and an estimation of RDEC cross section was calculated. These cross sections are compared with recent theoretical calculations.
Spectroscopic investigation of the reaction of metallo-protoporphyrins with hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the most recently discovered gasotransmitter molecule joining nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. In addition to being biologically important gases, these gasotransmitters also provide distinct modes of reactivity with biomimetic metal complexes. The majority of previous investigations on the reactivity of H2S with bioinorganic models have focused on Fe-based porphyrin systems, whereas investigations with other metals remains underinvestigated. To address this gap, we report here an examination of the reactions of H2S, HS-, and S8 with MgII, CuII, CoII, ZnII, CrII, SnIV, and MnII/III protoporphyrins.
Development of the Dynamic Leadership in Counseling Scale–Self-Report

The authors developed the Dynamic Leadership in Counseling Scale–Self-Report (DLCS-SR) and tested for evidence for validity and internal consistency with a sample of 218 participants. They found evidence for a single-factor model of global leadership behaviors among counselors in the current sample as well as evidence for convergent validity and strong internal consistency. Implications for counseling leadership research and practice are discussed in light of the findings.
Can Advertisers Benefit from the Name-Letter- and Birthday-Number Effect?

Definitions: Envision, your first name is Anne and you intend to order Pizza. There are two restaurants to do this service: Alfredo and Luigi. Would your choice be affected by the congruence of the initial letter of your first name and Alfredo? If you respond favorably to this commonality, your behavior is affected by the name-letter effect (Nuttin, 1985; Coulter and Grewal, 2014).
A functional raw starch-binding domain of barley α-amylase expressed in Escherichia coli

The mature form of barley seed low-pI α-amylase (BAA1) possesses a raw starch-binding site in addition to the catalytic site. A truncated cDNA encoding the C-terminal region (aa 281–414) and containing the proposed raw starch-binding domain (SBD) but lacking Trp278/Trp279, a previously proposed starch granule-binding site, was synthesized via PCR and expressed in Escherichia coli as an N-terminal His-Tag fusion protein. SBD was produced in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies that were extracted with urea and successfully refolded into a soluble form via dialysis. To determine binding, SBD was purified by affinity chromatography with cycloheptaamylose as ligand cross-linked to Sepharose. This work demonstrates that a SBD is located in the C-terminal region and retains sufficient function in the absence of the N-terminal, catalytic, and Trp278/279 regions.
Emerging Technologies for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract Survival rates of pancreatic cancer patients have shown limited improvement with currently available therapies. Unfortunately, only about 8% of patients survive 5 years or more after being diagnosed. This dismal figure substantiates the need for improved disease screening and better treatments. Several novel treatment strategies and technologies have emerged over the past decade to improve diagnosis and enhance drug delivery; for example, nanotechnology-based drug delivery, stratification of patients with pancreatic cancer based on genetic and physiological biomarkers, and noninvasive imaging to identify treatments that could provide a more favorable clinical outcome. This chapter provides an overview of pancreatic cancer and emerging technologies to improve therapeutic delivery and diagnosis of the disease to overcome the poor survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer.
CFIUS and a Role for American Leadership

Seldom before has the U.S. been so economically connected to a country it also sees as a strategic competitor. China was the U.S.’s largest trading partner in 2017, with $711 billion in cross-border trade flows. At the same time, China is highlighted in the White House’s National Security Strategy document as actively challenging the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region, globally and against Western values, and in the development of advanced technologies. The bilateral relationship is complicated to say the least. And policymakers are often unsure of how to balance economic freedom with the protection of U.S. national security from Chinese influence.
From Holmes to Zuckerberg: Keeping Marketplace-of-Ideas Theory Viable in the Age of Algorithms

As the most influential theory in modern First Amendment law turns 100, this study integrates in a unified format centric to marketplace of ideas theory an assessment of developments with the poten...
Cardiac Biomarkers in Advanced Heart Failure: How Can They Impact Our Pre-transplant or Pre-LVAD Decision-making

Decision-making in advanced heart failure (HF) is a complex process that involves careful consideration of competing tradeoffs of risks and benefits in regard to heart transplantation (HT) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. The purpose of this review is to discuss how biomarkers may affect decision-making for HT or LVAD implantation. N-Terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2, galectin-3, copeptin, and troponin T levels are associated with HF survival and can help identify the appropriate timing for advanced HF therapies. Patients at risk of right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation can be identified with preimplant biomarkers of extracellular matrix turnover, neurohormonal activation, and inflammation. There is limited data on the adoption of biomarker measurement for decision-making in the allocation of advanced HF therapies. Nonetheless, biomarkers can improve risk stratification and prognostication thereby optimizing patient selection for HT and LVAD implantation.
Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (D-TGA)

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is the second most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease (5–7% of congenital heart disease) and consists of ventriculoarterial discordance with the aorta arising from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arising from the left ventricle. It can occur as an isolated anomaly or in association with other cardiac defects. Extracardiac anomalies are less common in TGA, and it is rarely associated with chromosomal abnormalities. With aggressive medical and surgical therapy, this disease which was initially thought to be fatal has now resulted in patients having excellent short- and mid-term outcomes with survival into adulthood and an excellent quality of life. Lifelong cardiology follow-up is recommended following surgical repair to monitor for long-term complications.
Discerning Dispersals along the Pacific and Interior Corridors: Contributions of Geometric Morphometrics to the Peopling of the Americas

ABSTRACTRecent discussions of human dispersals into the Americas have integrated available genomic data, locations and dates of archaeological sites, chronologies for initial biological viability o...
Child Neurology: Arterial ischemic stroke in a 12-year-old patient with cardiac myxomas.

Arterial ischemic strokes (AIS) are the most frequent neurologic sequela encountered in patients with cardiac myxomas. Although most of these AIS are thrombotic in nature, occasionally embolized tumor fragments may be responsible for the ischemic damage.1 Most patients with cardiac myxoma are women between the third and the sixth decade of life, who present with one or more symptoms of the classic triad (hemodynamic instability due to intracardiac obstruction, systemic embolization, and constitutional symptoms).1 Carney complex is an inherited disorder characterized by myxomas that often present earlier in life. We present a 12-year-old girl who developed a pediatric AIS (PAIS) due to the direct embolization of cardiac myxomatous tissue fragments in the setting of Carney complex. We discuss the clinical presentation, case-specific differential diagnosis, and workup, followed by epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis of AIS resulting from cardiac myxomas.
Total internal reflection enabled wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy.

Wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy offers an attractive means for the rapid and simultaneous acquisition of vibrationally resolved images across a large field of view. A major challenge in the implementation lies in how to achieve sufficiently strong excitation fields necessary to drive the third-order optical responses over the large focal region. Here, we report a new wide-field CARS microscope enabled by a total internal reflection excitation scheme using a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire oscillator to generate pump and broadband near-infrared Stokes pulses. The spectrally broad Stokes pulse, in combination with its inherent chirp, offers not only access to a wide range of Raman modes spanning ∼1000 to ∼3500cm−1 but also a straightforward means to select vibrational transitions within this range by simply varying the time delay between the pulses. The unique capabilities of this wide-field CARS microscope were validated by acquiring high-quality CARS images from the model and complex biological samples on conventional microscope coverslips.
A Cascade Approach to Synapse Formation Based on Thrombogenic and Fibrinolytic Models

Cell-cell interaction in the nervous system has been most intensively studied at the peripheral cholinergic synapse, the neuromuscular junction. The interaction of the motor neuron’s pre-synaptic axonal twigs with the sub-synaptic portion of the muscle fiber surface is influenced both by humoral factors as well as by specific adhesive components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Neuromuscular synapse formation is initiated with the outgrowth of a neurite destined to be the axon of the motor neuron. This initial ramification begins a complex cascade of steps which include the directed extension of this axonal process through an inhospitable extracellular milieu, the recognition of an appropriate site(s) on the muscle fiber’s surface, the localized deposit, removal and subsequent re-deposition of components of the muscle fiber’s ECM. Eventually, in the neonatal period, a stabilization or linkage of macromolecules of the motor neuron and muscle fiber with the synaptic ECM occurs, which may allow for plasticity or remodelling over the life of the organism. The very nature of these cascade events suggests the well-studied biochemical events associated with regulated extracellular proteolysis underlying thrombogenesis and fibrinolysis. Our laboratory has been actively testing the hypothesis that synapse formation, more specifically neuromuscular junction formation, may be based on molecular mechanisms similar to clot formation and retraction. This MARAIEA CONFERENCE has resulted from theoretical and empirical observations involving several members of the fibrinolytic cascade in muscle and neural cells in culture and in vivo. Some of this information has been presented elsewhere in this volume (see Hantai et al.). In this paper we present evidence for the presence, and probable involvement, of a serine protease inhibitor with anti-thrombin and anti-plasminogen activator (PA) activity in one or more steps that might lead to stabilization of mature neuromuscular synapses.
Oncologic and functional outcomes following laryngectomy for locally advanced thyroid cancer.

Background and objectives Total laryngectomy in thyroid cancer is controversial. Functional and oncologic outcomes are needed to inform surgical indications in this population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary referral center from 1997 to 2018 to identify patients with a diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma who underwent total laryngectomy. Complications, survival outcomes, and functional outcomes were analyzed. Results Thirty patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 62 years (range, 30-88 years) and the male-to-female ratio was 1:2.75. The most common diagnosis was well-differentiated thyroid cancer (53.3%), followed by poorly differentiated (30%) and anaplastic (16.7%). Total laryngectomy was performed with a 10% rate of Clavien-Dindo Grade III-V complications. The median overall survival was 40 months (range, 1-237). Five-year overall survival was 39.5% and disease-specific survival was 51.1%. Locoregional control was achieved in 80.0% of patients. Twelve months postoperatively, 100% of surviving patients were taking oral intake and 86.4% had a self-reported functional voice. Conclusion Total laryngectomy for locally advanced thyroid cancer is safe and provides acceptable rates of locoregional control. While the risk of distant metastases remains high, advances in systemic therapy may justify aggressive local control strategies to improve the quality of life.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of a Crohn’s Disease-Related Intraabdominal Abscess in the Emergency Department

The emergency department (ED) diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD)-associated complications is typically established with abdominopelvic computed tomography imaging. Ultrasonography has been suggested as an effective alternative modality for diagnosing several CD complications, including intraabdominal abscesses. We report the identification of a CD-related intraabdominal abscess by emergency physician (EP)-performed point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). This case highlights the feasibility of EPs integrating POCUS into the clinical decision-making for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the ED.
A cancer mutation promotes EphA4 oligomerization and signaling by altering the conformation of the SAM domain

The Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands regulate many physiological and pathological processes. EphA4 plays important roles in nervous system development and adult homeostasis, while aberrant EphA4 signaling has been implicated in neurodegeneration. EphA4 may also affect cancer malignancy, but the regulation and effects of EphA4 signaling in cancer are poorly understood. A correlation between decreased patient survival and high EphA4 mRNA expression in melanoma tumors that also highly express ephrinA ligands suggests that enhanced EphA4 signaling may contribute to melanoma progression. A search for EphA4 gain-of-function mutations in melanoma uncovered a mutation of the highly conserved leucine 920 in the EphA4 sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain. We found that mutation of L920 to phenylalanine (L920F) potentiates EphA4 autophosphorylation and signaling, making it the first documented EphA4 cancer mutation that increases kinase activity. Quantitative Foster resonance energy transfer and fluorescence intensity fluctuation (FIF) analyses revealed that the L920F mutation induces a switch in EphA4 oligomer size, from a dimer to a trimer. We propose this switch in oligomer size as a novel mechanism underlying EphA4-linked tumorigenesis. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the L920F mutation alters EphA4 SAM domain conformation, leading to the formation of EphA4 trimers that assemble through two aberrant SAM domain interfaces. Accordingly, EphA4 wild-type and the L920F mutant are affected differently by the SAM domain and are differentially regulated by ephrin ligand stimulation. The increased EphA4 activation induced by the L920F mutation, through the novel mechanism we uncovered, supports a functional role for EphA4 in promoting pathogenesis.
A fully-discrete decoupled finite element method for the conserved Allen–Cahn type phase-field model of three-phase fluid flow system

Abstract In this article, we develop and analyze a novel fully discrete decoupled finite element method to solve a flow-coupled ternary phase-field model for the system consisting of three immiscible fluid components. Based on the L 2 -gradient flow approach, the conserved Allen–Cahn type dynamics is used to describe the free interface motion, where multiple nonlocal type Lagrange multipliers are used to accurately conserve the volume of each phase. The scheme is also linear, second-order time accurate, and unconditionally energy stable, due to the combination of several effective numerical techniques , including the two-step backward differentiation scheme, finite element discretization , explicit-SAV (scalar auxiliary variable) method for handling the nonlinearity, and projection method of Navier–Stokes equation. At each time step, the non-local splitting technique only requires solving several decoupled constant-coefficient elliptic equations . The implementation issues are discussed in detail. The solvability and the unconditional energy stability of the scheme are rigorously proved. Plenty of 2D and 3D numerical simulations are carried out to numerically demonstrate the accuracy, energy stability, and applicability of the proposed scheme.
Early-stage acoustic optimization of absorptive concrete panels in buildings

Although architectural acoustic design solutions have existed for many centuries, modern advances in material science and construction technology have allowed new possibilities in terms of cost, environmental impact, or systems integration. One design approach with significant architectural potential is to use porous concrete panels to reduce the reverberation and loudness within a space, particularly for larger classrooms, lecture halls, and multipurpose rooms. While porous concrete panels have been previously shown to improve acoustic environments, modifications to mix designs and form geometry can have substantial effects on acoustic criteria such as sound absorption. This presentation begins with a low-resolution acoustic simulation procedure for analyzing concrete panels that is coupled with validating and comparing to previous experimental data. The process then uses multi-objective optimization to shape the concrete panels at the early design stage for the best acoustic performance with the least material, using a parametric model of curved, sawtooth concrete geometry. The low-resolution model validation utilizes raytracing and image sourcing analyses to obtain the Reverberation Time, from which approximate absorption coefficients and corresponding NRC ratings of the concrete panels can be calculated and compared to experimentally derived data from physical concrete panels. Optimal panel shapes are then recommended for improved acoustic performance.
Quasilinearization and a New Method of Successive Approximations

The purpose of this chapter is to present a new method for treating a class of partial differential equations. The method depends upon the fact that the calculus of variations can be considered to be a continuous multistage decision process. Hence, we use the theory of dynamic programming to obtain a crucial relation.
Rational B-spline surfaces

Rational B-spline surfaces are the standard for surface modeling in most computer graphics and computer-aided design. Many of the typical surface forms used in computer graphics and computer-aided design, such as flat planes and quadric surfaces, cylinders, spheres, ellipsoids of revolution, as well as more complex fully sculptured surfaces, are easily and accurately represented by rational B-spline surfaces. Thus, a single surface description, with excellent local and global control, can be used in a modeler or computer-aided design system rather than having to deal with multiple types of surface descriptions. Rational B-spline surfaces require considerable computation. A number of approaches, including hardware implementation and forward difference, have been used to achieve dynamic real-time modification. A fast software algorithm for dynamic modification of rational B-spline surfaces, including direct manipulation of the homogeneous weighting factor, is discussed in this chapter.
Contextualizing Online Identity: Paradigms and Processes

This paper has two aims. The first is to present several paradigms for online identification, and to analyze them in terms of the resources they make available for the negotiation of identity and context. That is, each is evaluated in terms of the identity categories it facilitates, the degree to which it makes the environment of interaction visible, the degree to which it allows users to make sense of that environment, and the ways in which it facilitates strategic self-disclosure. The second aim is to understand the social forces that have been at work in structuring access to these differing paradigms. On the whole, the goal is to illuminate the activities which embed, challenge, or reinforce the ability of certain social actors to influence the enduring shape of social places, roles, and relations.
Anaerobic pelvic infections and developments in hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Abstract Seventy-eight patients with vulvovaginal pyogenic lesions and 104 with pelvic infection have been presented. Nonsporulating, obligate anaerobic bacteria were the organisms most commonly isolated from each of the two groups of patients. It is our belief that anaerobic bacteria, which are indigenous to the vulva and vagina, are the organisms most often responsible for acute and chronic infections of the vulva and for chronic salpingo-oophoritis. Conventional surgical therapies have been discussed. Developments in hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its potential for treatment were presented. Problems associated with highpressure oxygen therapy were reviewed, and two illustrative cases reported. Pelvic infections remain a major cause of morbidity, infertility, and mortality in women.