cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cancer-selective death of human breast cancer cells by leelamine is mediated by bax and bak activation.

The present study is the first to report inhibition of breast cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo and suppression of self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells (bCSC) by a pine bark component (leelamine). Except for a few recent publications in melanoma, anticancer pharmacology of this interesting phytochemical is largely elusive. Leelamine (LLM) dose-dependently inhibited viability of MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative), MCF-7 (estrogen receptor-positive), and SUM159 (triple-negative) human breast cancer cells in association with apoptotic cell death induction. To the contrary, a normal mammary epithelial cell line derived from fibrocystic breast disease and spontaneously immortalized (MCF-10A) was fully resistant to LLM-mediated cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. LLM also inhibited self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells. Apoptosis induction by LLM in breast cancer cells was accompanied by a modest increase in reactive oxygen species production, which was not due to inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes. Nevertheless, ectopic expression of manganese superoxide dismutase conferred partial protection against LLM-induced cell death but only at a lower yet pharmacologically relevant concentration. Exposure of breast cancer cells to LLM resulted in (a) induction and/or activation of multidomain proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bak, (b) caspase-9 activation, and (c) cytosolic release of cytochrome c. Bax and Bak deficiency in immortalized fibroblasts conferred significant protection against cell death by LLM. Intraperitoneal administration of LLM (7.5 mg/kg; 5 times/wk) suppressed the growth of orthotopic SUM159 xenografts in mice without any toxicity. In conclusion, the present study provides critical preclinical data to warrant further investigation of LLM. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cause Analysis on Outlet Tension Fittings Overheating of 500 kV Substations

In recent years,the fittings overheating occurred several times in the outlet of substation or power plant in Liaoning province. And some fittings were even melted and broken by the overheating. This paper analyzes some typical cases,focused on the causes of fitting overheating. And it is proposed that the main causes of overheating are due to poor contact and the overload circulation of nondiversion fittings.
Paper 18: Large Compressors: Some Aspects of Applications and Design

The choice between axial and centrifugal compressors is briefly discussed, and cost comparison applicable over a limited range is given. The present design trends and future prospects of both types of machine are considered. Methods of radial equilibrium calculations and compressor characteristic predictions are given as examples of the design tools which are available for effecting improvements in axial compressor aerodynamics, and in the evaluation of performance.
Physical therapy for patients with TMD: a descriptive study of treatment, disability, and health status.

The purposes of this study were to compare disabilities and health status associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) to other musculoskeletal disorders, to describe the types of physical therapy administered to patients with TMD, and to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as an index of clinical change following physical therapy treatment. Outcomes for 56 patients (mean age 40 years, SD 13 years; 89% female) were evaluated from a large database generated by the Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes network. A generic assessment of HRQOL - the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) 17 - was used to evaluate the physical and mental aspects of disability associated with TMD, and the results were compared descriptively to three groups of patients with different cervical pain syndromes. The results showed that patients with TMD had limitations in social function, emotional well-being, and energy level similar to patients with cervical disorders. Physical function (ie, walking, carrying loads, or lifting), however, was much more limited in cervical disorder patients and bodily pain interfered more with daily work. Large positive effect sizes (> 0.80) in the areas of social function and bodily pain indicated clinical improvement for patients with TMD at the completion of physical therapy. The results suggest that the MOS-17 may be useful as one measure of clinical change for patients with TMD who receive physical therapy.
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and resection for carcinoma of the esophagus. Long-term results.

From May 1980 to May 1984, preoperative chemotherapy (mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil) was added to radiation therapy in patients with potentially operable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Of 129 patients observed, 122 were followed up until death or to the present Only 33 were able to complete preoperative chemotherapy and radiation and undergo resection. There were 28 men and five women, their ages ranging from 42 to 81 years (average 60 years). There were 22 black and 11 white patients. The location of the tumor was in the middle third in 70% of the patients. Among the 33 patients, the clinical TNM classification was as follows: T1 N0 M0, three patients; T2 N0 M0, 27 patients; T2 N1 M0, two patients; and T3 N0 M0, one patient. The length of the lesions when measurable in the absence of complete obstruction varied from 3 to 17 cm (average 7 cm). The operative mortality rate in this group was 12% (4/33). There was no viable residual tumor in the surgical specimen of the esophagus in 33% (11/33) of those patients completing triple therapy. However, in two of the 11 patients, left gastric nodes contained tumor and in one there was a minute esophageal perforation. The 2-year survival rate was 33% (11/33), and the 5-year survival rate was 15.4% (5/33). Among the 11 patients having 2-year survival, the surgical specimen was normal in six and abnormal in five. Of the five patients having 5-year survival, the surgical specimen was normal in three and abnormal in two. The absence of tumor in the surgical specimen did not appear to confer any better chance for long-term survival. Data were compared to our 1967-1975 series of 75 patients receiving only preoperative radiation and resection. There was no significant difference in survival rates at 2 years (20% [1975] versus 33% [1984], p = 0.2118) or at 5 years (10% [1975] versus 15.4% [1984], p = 0.5796). The addition of preoperative chemotherapy as an adjunct did not result in a statistically significant increase in 2-year or 5-year survival rates.
Characterizing state strategies to assure primary care for mothers and children

To assure primary care for all mothers and children, state health officials concerned with maternal and child health must be able to identify and characterize strategies to meet that goal. Since each state’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant application reflects plans for reaching primary care goals and objectives, we reviewed the 1992 MCH Services Block Grant applications from the eight states in the Southeast Department of Health and Human Services Region 4) to identify state strategies to improve primary care. We identified two major sets of strategies. The first set was directed toward increasing the number of providers and facilities and accounted for 14% of state strategies. The second set was directed toward improving the quality of care and constituted 86% of state strategies. Of these strategies to improve the quality of care, efforts to enhance the content of care, expand outreach, improve coordination, and improve intake and referral accounted for 46%, 32%, 15%, and 7%, respectively. The review of strategies delineated in state MCH Services Block Grant applications may provide an efficient mechanism to monitor the development of primary care at the state level.
Cell division: Mitotic regulation comes into focus

Structural studies provide insight into the mechanisms governing a checkpoint in cell division that prevents chromosomes from segregating before they are properly aligned on a structure called the mitotic spindle. See Article p.431 The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a surveillance mechanism that detects incorrect chromatid kinetochore attachments and delays chromosome segregation by generating a 'wait anaphase' signal. It is activated via the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), which inhibits the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C), a multimeric E3 ligase. Here, David Barford and colleagues use cryo-electron microscopy to determine near-atomic resolution structures of the APC/C–MCC complex. The structures reveal how MCC interacts with and represses APC/C by obstructing substrate recognition and suppressing E3 ligase activity.
"Our Creator Who Art in Heaven:" Paradox, Ritual, and Cultural Transformation

Contemporary organizations are typically marked by conflicting interests and contradictory demands on individuals. It is important to understand how these tensions are managed in everyday ways. Ritual, and the adaptation of official ritual is one way in which individuals may negotiate the paradoxes of their culture and accomplish cultural transformation. Analysis of qualitative data from three communities of Benedictine women reveals that by adapting ritual members resist church‐imposed identities of women as rightly excluded, subordinate, and disempowered. By resisting these identities, sisters reinforce the transformation of their own culture; and by doing so in the presence of outsiders, they make an argument for the transformation of the larger culture of the church.
Control of non-apoptotic nurse cell death by engulfment genes in Drosophila.

ABSTRACTProgrammed cell death occurs as a normal part of oocyte development in Drosophila. For each egg that is formed, 15 germline-derived nurse cells transfer their cytoplasmic contents into the oocyte and die. Disruption of apoptosis or autophagy only partially inhibits the death of the nurse cells, indicating that other mechanisms significantly contribute to nurse cell death. Recently, we demonstrated that the surrounding stretch follicle cells non-autonomously promote nurse cell death during late oogenesis and that phagocytosis genes including draper, ced-12, and the JNK pathway are crucial for this process. When phagocytosis genes are inhibited in the follicle cells, events specifically associated with death of the nurse cells are impaired. Death of the nurse cells is not completely blocked in draper mutants, suggesting that other engulfment receptors are involved. Indeed, we found that the integrin subunit, αPS3, is enriched on stretch follicle cells during late oogenesis and is required for elimin...
Solving metameric variable-length optimization problems using genetic algorithms

In many optimization problems, one of the goals is to determine the optimal number of analogous components to include in the system. Examples include the number of sensors in a sensor coverage problem, the number of turbines in a wind farm problem, and the number of plies in a laminate stacking problem. Using standard approaches to solve these problems requires assuming a fixed number of sensors, turbines, or plies. However, if the optimal number is not known a priori this will likely lead to a sub-optimal solution. A better method is to allow the number of components to vary. As the number of components varies, so does the dimensionality of the search space, making the use of gradient-based methods difficult. A metameric genetic algorithm (MGA), which uses a segmented variable-length genome, is proposed. Traditional genetic algorithm (GA) operators, designed to work with fixed-length genomes, are no longer valid. This paper discusses the modifications required for an effective MGA, which is then demonstrated on the aforementioned problems. This includes the representation of the solution in the genome and the recombination, mutation, and selection operators. With these modifications the MGA is able to outperform the fixed-length GA on the selected problems, even if the optimal number of components is assumed to be known a priori.
HIV Pathogenesis: Abstracts from the March 2017 Cleveland Immunopathogenesis Consortium Meeting

The Cleveland Immunopathogenesis Consortium (CLIC) was launched in March 2004 by a small group of investigators (Ron Bosch, Jason Brenchley, Steven Deeks, Danny Douek, Zvi Grossman, Robert Kalayjian, Clifford Harding, Michael Lederman, Leonid Margolis, Miguel Quinones, Benigno Rodriguez, Rafick Sekaly, Scott Sieg, and Guido Silvestri) who were increasingly persuaded that immune activation was an important driver of HIV pathogenesis. We met around a chalk board and scribbled our models of pathogenesis, designed some experiments then went back home to do them. We met again soon to review our new and unpublished findings that refined and shaped these models. The data presentations were short, informal and heavy on discussion. The model worked well, the consortium was productive and the meetings catalyzed numerous collaborations and scores of high impact papers. The CLIC (less formally, the Bad Boys of Cleveland [1]) has been meeting regularly since then. Consortium membership has expanded to include other investigators (some are listed in the presentations below). Whether the goal is to prevent the morbid complications of HIV infection, to understand the determinants of HIV persistence or the factors that protect from acquisition of infection, a more clear understanding of HIV immunopathogenesis is central. Here in this issue of Pathogens and Immunity is a brief summary of the most recent CLIC//BBC meeting held in Cleveland in March 2017.
Duhem: Images of Science, Historical Continuity, and the First Crisis in Physics

Duhem used historical arguments to draw philosophical conclusions about the aim and structure of physical theory. He argued against explanatory theories and in favor of theories that provide natural classifications of the phenomena. This paper presents those arguments and, with the benefit of hindsight, uses them as a test case for the prevalent contemporary use of historical arguments to draw philosophical conclusion about science. It argues that Duhem provides us with an illuminating example of philosophy of science developing as a contingent, though natural, response to problems arising in a particular scientific context and under a particular understanding of the history of science in that context. It concludes that the history of science provides little support for interesting theses about the present or future state of science.
Validation of the Advanced Clinical Solutions Word Choice Test (WCT) in a Mixed Clinical Sample: Establishing Classification Accuracy, Sensitivity/Specificity, and Cutoff Scores

This study examined the Word Choice Test’s (WCT) utility as a performance validity test in a mixed clinical sample of veterans referred for neuropsychological evaluation. Participants completed Green’s Word Memory Test (WMT), WCT, and Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) Trial 1. Using the WMT as the criterion for valid performance, logistic regressions examined the WCT and TOMM’s classification accuracy for those with and without cognitive impairment (CI). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to establish cut scores which maximized the sensitivity/specificity of each measure. In those without CI, both tests showed good classification accuracy (86.7% and 85.0%, respectively). Among those with CI, the TOMM retained good classification accuracy (82.3%), while the WCT’s decreased considerably (69.4%). Optimal WCT cut scores differed based on impairment status, with a higher sensitivity/specificity trade-off among those with CI. Successful performance on the WCT appeared to rely more heavily on cog...
Minimally Invasive Non-ablative Treatments for LUTS

Prostatic stents have been an established part of the urological armamentarium since the 1980s and are available in a variety of forms. First described by Fabian in 1980 [1], the ‘urological spiral’ was seen as a means by which a patient unfit for surgery could be free of his urethral catheter. Indeed Fabian also discussed the possibility that the spiral could be treated with radioactive material to manage patients with prostate cancer. Advances in bladder neck surgery, particularly GreenLight PVP mean that men with multiple significant co-morbidities, previously deemed unfit and unsuitable for conventional TURP are now being successfully surgically managed. Thus it seems likely that the use of prostatic stents in this population has declined. We could find no public data on this. Sadly little high quality evidence exists for these devices as most publications have been on limited case series, possibly due to relatively small companies without large research budgets developing and distributing the devices.
Observing Environmental Destruction Stimulates Neural Activation in Networks Associated with Empathic Responses

The negative impacts of environmental disruption disproportionately affect marginalized and underprivileged communities; thus, the degree to which society is complicit in allowing unchecked environmental destruction to occur has important social justice applications. Although decades of research have sought to understand factors which determine acceptance of environmental destruction, most of this research has been based on self-report surveys. In the present work, we used neuroimaging techniques to examine the neural correlates of environmental concern. To do this, we compared responses to observing suffering dogs with responses to observing suffering ecosystems. Our results extend previous findings which had shown largely overlapping neural response patterns to observing animal and human suffering. Critically, we found activation in regions previously identified as active in empathy processes in response to viewing harm to ecosystems (i.e., without any animals present in the images). We also found relative differences in response patterns between the two types of stimuli: witnessing harm to environments (vs. dog suffering) led to reduced activation in some regions, but similar activation in others. We discuss these findings in terms of their potential implications for behavioral interventions and possibilities for continued neuroimaging research examining neural responses to environmental ecosystems and other nonhuman entities.
Concentrated Load Impulse Response of a Sandwich Beam/Wide Plate: Dynamic Elasticity and Extended High Order Sandwich Panel Theory Solutions

The linear dynamic response of a simply supported orthotropic sandwich beam/wide panel subjected to a concentrated blast load is studied. The point-wise load is expressed as a Fourier sinusoidal series, i.e., a summation of distributed loads over the beam span, for which closed-form elasticity solutions can be derived. For the elasticity, the Laplace transform is used on the dynamic elasticity equations, and as a result, a closed-form solution is obtained in the Laplace domain. Then the numerical inverse Laplace transform and, in particular, the Euler method, is applied to obtain the time domain solution. The simply supported solution of the dynamic Extended High order Sandwich Panel Theory (EHSAPT) is also obtained for the terms of the load Fourier series and on the basis of the superposition principle, and the results are compared with the dynamic elasticity solution. Results are presented on both the deformation and stress fields at the transient phase of blast. The dynamic EHSAPT shows very good agreement with the dynamic elasticity and provides useful insight on the sandwich core failure mechanisms.
Operational enhancements for small scale thermal energy storage devices

Thermal energy storage (TES) has been a significant contributor to energy efficiency and solar energy sources on the macro-scale for decades. Recently, there has been increased interest in this energy storage technique for small-scale applications. Such applications present an opportunity for solutions that interface with devices like thermoelectric generators operating at lower temperature thresholds, near 100 °C, applied toward thermal energy scavenging or similar energy sources. This work investigates the fabrication and performance of thermal energy storage on millimeter-scales. Inexpensive and readily available paraffin wax is sourced as the base thermal storage material, storing energy via phase transformation from solid to liquid states. One limiting parameter of TES is thermal conductivity of the wax. Therefore, enhancement is investigated through two strategies: (1) a design-based approach of integrating capillary heat pipes with the wax, and (2) a materials-based approach in which a hierarchical hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterial serves as a thermally-conducting scaffold within the wax to form a novel phase change material (PCM) composite. Both approaches indicate significant thermal conductivity enhancement as compared to the baseline wax. The maximum achieved was 8.2 W/mK for capillary tube-based TES devices. However, the capillary design showed tendency to overheat and “dry out.” Thermal conductivity was reduced to 1.5 W/mK during this phenomenon. By contrast, the h-BN approach achieved approximately 1.0 W/mK and was not prone to dry out, but did show significant sample variability. The h-BN showed great promise in microfabrication automation settings, however, with significantly reduced volumetric loss to the base PCM.
Controlling learning and epilepsy together

The dentate gyrus (DG) is a region in the hippocampus of the brain that is important for many cognitive functions, such as spatial learning and memory, and understanding our environment or context ( 1 ). The DG is also considered to be important in many diseases, some of which surprisingly do not appear to be related to memory, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) ( 2 ). One explanation is based on the idea that the DG is an inhibitory filter or gate ( 3 , 4 ), preventing too much information from corrupting memory formation as well as preventing seizures. However, it is unclear exactly how and when the DG limits the influence of afferent input to the hippocampus, and when the DG is permissive, because the DG has powerful excitatory and inhibitory characteristics. For example, the DG contains mossy cells (MCs), which have both characteristics ( 5 ). On page 787 of this issue, Bui et al. ( 6 ) show that silencing MCs impairs a spatial memory task and also terminates seizures in an animal model of TLE, which could improve our understanding of TLE as well as cognitive comorbidities.
Designers' own emotions and the practice of designing: a literature review and preliminary research agenda

There has been growing research attention to the role that users' emotions may have in design, but little work has been done on how designers' own emotions may influence design cognition, action, and outcomes. This article explores the topic by first considering psychological research on emotion and creativity (which is a close correlate with design activity from a design thinking position). Available research studies on designers and their emotional states is then discussed. While there are consistencies between the two lines of inquiry, the professional design context requires original research separate from the psychological literature to understand how emotions differentially influence designers in real-world contexts. Finally, considerations for future research on designers' own emotions are outlined and explored.
Secure Routing in Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks

Routing in wireless ad-hoc networks is one of the fundamental tasks which helps nodes send and receive packets. Traditionally, routing protocols for wireless ad-hoc networks assume a non-adversarial and a cooperative network setting. In practice, there may be malicious nodes that may attempt to disrupt the network communication by launching attacks on the network or the routing protocol itself. In this chapter, we present several routing protocols for ad-hoc networks, the security issues related to routing, and securing routing protocols for mobile wireless ad-hoc networks.
Convergence of Functions

In many situations we have a sequence of functions f n that converges to some function f and f is not easy to study directly. Can we use the functions f n to get some information about f? For instance, if the f n are continuous, is f necessarily continuous? Another question that often comes up is: can I compute \(\int_{a}^{b} f\,dx\) using \(\int_{a}^{b} f_{n}\,dx\)? More precisely, is it true that $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\int_a^b f_n\,dx=\int_a^b f\,dx? $$ We can rewrite the question as $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\int_a^b f_n\,dx=\int_a^b \lim_{n\to\infty}f_n\,dx? $$ In other words, can we interchange the limit and the integral? We will give some partial answers to these questions in this chapter. First, we need to define what we mean by the convergence of a sequence of functions. There are many different ways a sequence of functions can converge. In this chapter we will just consider two of them.
Improving Interlimb Coordination Following Stroke: How Can We Change How People Walk (and Why Should We)?

A frequent and debilitating consequence of stroke is hemiparesis – a weakness on one side of the body – which contributes to asymmetric interlimb coordination during walking. Such asymmetries have been associated with decreased gait efficiency, which may prevent or limit the return to school, work, and the community. Here, we discuss several approaches to gait rehabilitation that have been shown to reduce interlimb coordination asymmetries post-stroke. We also present counterarguments and discuss whether retraining symmetry post-stroke is optimal for achieving gains in functional mobility. Overall, while it is possible to alter interlimb coordination following stroke, it is still not entirely certain that we should.
Application of Thin-Walled Tubes Using Guided Wave

A method to test thin-walled tubes by guided ultrasonic wave is reported. The principle is that applicate two types of axially symmetric ultrasonic tube modes and "longitudinal" modes with particle displacement, which is coupled in axial and radial directions for transverse failures and torsional modes, oscillating in the circumferential direction only, for longitudinal failures. Both types of modes propagate along the tube in the axial direction. Therefore, a pulse-echo technique is possible. The pulses are excited and received at one end of the tube without contact electro-dynamic transducers. As soon as the tubes is put into a transducer coil at one end, the test of the whole tube can be accomplished in a few milliseconds. It is not necessary to rotate and transport the tubes during the test.
Substrate utilization by fetal pig skeletal muscle.

The ability of fetal pig skeletal muscle (biceps femoris) to metabolize glucose, fructose, lactate, acetate and palmitate in vitro was examined at 70, 90 and 110 d of gestation. Even though succinate dehydrogenase activity increased as fetal age increased (P less than .01), the rate of oxidation of glucose, fructose, acetate and palmitate to CO2 was not influenced by fetal age (P greater than .05), but each rate was dose-dependent (P less than .01). At higher concentration, lactate oxidation to CO2 proceeded at a faster rate in the muscle of 70-d fetuses when compared with 90- or 110-d fetuses. Muscle glycogen content increased (P less than .01) from 70 to 110 d of gestation. The rate of glucose incorporation into glycogen increased over this same time frame (P less than .06). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity did not change with age when activity was expressed per unit wet weight of muscle (P greater than .05). The ratio [1-14C]glucose/[6-14C]glucose oxidized to CO2 was independent of age and substrate concentration, and indicated significant pentose cycle activity in fetal muscle. Incorporation of lactate and palmitate into phospholipid was greatest at 70 d of gestation, a time period that coincides with establishment of mature muscle fiber number and fiber hypertrophy. The rate of palmitate incorporation into triacylglycerol was dependent on concentration of substrate (P less than .01) but not on age (P greater than .05). The rate of fructose oxidation to CO2 was lower than the rate for glucose, lactate and acetate when compared at similar concentrations. Acetate carbons were not incorporated into free fatty acids or lipid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Interleukin 1-induced depression of iron and zinc: role of granulocytes and lactoferrin

The mechanism(s) of stress-induced hypoferremia and hypozincemia remains unclear. We studied the role of granulocytes and lactoferrin (LF) in endotoxin and murine interleukin 1 (IL-1)-induced depression of serum Fe and Zn concentrations in both rabbits and rats. Both endotoxin and IL-1 administration induced significant hypoferremia (P less than 0.01) and hypozincemia (P less than 0.01) after 6 h in both species. Granulocyte depletion before IL-1 infusion significantly (P less than 0.01) diminished the hypoferremia but not the hypozincemia. Moreover, infusion of 5 or 15 mg of human LF into rabbits caused significant hypoferremia (P less than 0.005) without hypozincemia. Significant hypozincemia (P less than 0.01) could only be demonstrated after a 75-mg infusion. In contrast, infusions of human transferrin at equivalent doses (5, 15, and 75 mg) induced neither hypoferremia nor hypozincemia. Therefore endotoxin and IL-1-induced hypoferremia and, to a much lesser degree, hypozincemia are granulocyte dependent. Granulocyte released LF is a specific carrier molecule for transport and removal of Fe from the circulation during the acute phase response. The data suggest a mechanistic dissociation of IL-1-induced hypoferremia and hypozincemia with LF-independent mechanisms for Zn.
A BLOCH DECAY AND ULTRA HIGH SPEED CP/MAS 13 C NMR STUDY OF THE ARGONNE PREMIUM COALS AND SELECTED OXIDISED LOW-RANK COALS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the results of a Bloch decay and ultrahigh speed cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of the Argonne premium coals and selected oxidized low-rank coals. A Varian Associates VXR-300 NMR spectrometer operating at 75.4 MHz (13C) equipped with a Doty, Scientific, Inc. high-speed cross-polarization/magic angle probe was employed. Solid-state Bloch decay 13C NMR spectra were determined using 90° carbon pulse, 74 kHz dipolar proton decoupling during acquisition, and a 200-s recycle delay with 13 kHz magic angle spinning. The probe and sample rotor exhibited a background signal amounting to ca. 20% of the total intensity of the coal spectrum, and required careful FID scaling and subtraction of the signal obtained from the empty rotor and caps. CP/MAS spectra were determined at variable contact times from 25 μS to 25 ms, with 5 s recycle times. The chapter presents a comparison of CP/MAS and Bloch decay results for the Argonne premium coals, a standard humic acid, and for a selection of oxidized coals.
Conversion of AFLP bands into high-throughput DNA markers.

The conversion of AFLP bands into polymorphic sequence-tagged-site (STS) markers is necessary for high-throughput genotype scoring. Technical hurdles that must be overcome arise from genome complexity (particularly sequence duplication), from the low-molecular- weight nature of the AFLP bands and from the location of the polymorphism within the AFLP band. We generated six STS markers from ten AFLP bands (four AFLPs were from co-dominant pairs of bands) in soybean (Glycine max). The markers were all linked to one of two loci, rhg1 on linkage group G and Rhg4 on linkage group A2, that confer resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines I.). When the polymorphic AFLP band sequence contained a duplicated sequence or could not be converted to a locus-specific STS marker, direct sequencing of BAC clones anchored to a physical map generated locus-specific flanking sequences at the polymorphic locus. When the polymorphism was adjacent to the restriction site used in the AFLP analysis, single primer extension was performed to reconstruct the polymorphism. The six converted AFLP markers represented 996 bp of sequence from alleles of each of two cultivars and identified eight insertions or deletions, two microsatellites and eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The polymorphic sequences were used to design a non-electrophoretic, fluorometric assay (based on the TaqMan technology) and/or develop electrophoretic STS markers for high-throughput genotype determination during marker-assisted breeding for resistance to cyst nematode. We conclude that the converted AFLP markers contained polymorphism at a 10- to 20-fold higher frequency than expected for adapted soybean cultivars and that the efficiency of AFLP band conversion to STS can be improved using BAC libraries and physical maps. The method provides an efficient tool for SNP and STS discovery suitable for marker-assisted breeding and genomics.
Baby boomlet for older mothers? Data for birth cohorts of American white women born 1882-1953.

In recent years, a number of celebrities have begun childbearing after age 35. The phenomena of older first-time mothers has received a great deal of attention in the popular press. Are these celebrities indicative of a national trend? Does the increase in fertility portend a reversal of the declines in fertility which have been occurring since the baby boom? The present paper uses central and cumulative birth rates for cohorts of American white women born between 1882 and 1953 to investigate childbearing between ages 35 and 50. While there has been a noticeable upsurge in first birth rates for cohorts in their mid to late 30s in recent years, overall central birth rates for women in their 30s are among the lowest on record, with cumulative birth rates at record low levels. A major reason for this is that these women are having relatively few third and higher order births. These cohorts will need to have a relatively high proportion of births in their older years of childbearing in order to reach replacement level. However, attaining replacement level is unlikely because such a high proportion of women have remained childless at ages 35–40 and a relatively low proportion are having three or more children.
Proximity Detection with Single-Antenna IoT Devices

Providing secure communications between wireless devices that encounter each other on an ad-hoc basis is a challenge that has not yet been fully addressed. In these cases, close physical proximity among devices that have never shared a secret key is sometimes used as a basis of trust; devices in close proximity are deemed trustworthy while more distant devices are viewed as potential adversaries. Because radio waves are invisible, however, a user may believe a wireless device is communicating with a nearby device when in fact the user's device is communicating with a distant adversary. Researchers have previously proposed methods for multi-antenna devices to ascertain physical proximity with other devices, but devices with a single antenna, such as those commonly used in the Internet of Things, cannot take advantage of these techniques. We present theoretical and practical evaluation of a method called SNAP -- SiNgle Antenna Proximity -- that allows a single-antenna Wi-Fi device to quickly determine proximity with another Wi-Fi device. Our proximity detection technique leverages the repeating nature Wi-Fi's preamble and the behavior of a signal in a transmitting antenna's near-field region to detect proximity with high probability; SNAP never falsely declares proximity at ranges longer than 14 cm.
Stress intensity factors for some through-cracked fastener holes

A stress intensity factor solution is developed for a large plate containing radial hole cracks loaded with arbitrary crack face pressure. When the pressure is defined as the unflawed hoop stress surrounding a mechanical fastener, stress intensity factor calibrations are readily computed by the linear superposition principle. Results obtained in this manner agree well with previous solutions determined for open holes loaded in remote tension. The potential usefulness of the present analysis is further demonstrated with application to specific fastener configurations, including interference fit fasteners, pin-loaded plates, and cold-worked holes.
Do older adults with shoulder disorders who meet the minimal clinically important difference also present low disability at discharge? An observational study.

Abstract Background The choice of outcome success thresholds may influence clinical management, pay-for-performance, and assessment of value-based care. Objective To evaluate outcomes success thresholds in older adults using two different methods: 1) Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) of the Quick-DASH and 2) Dichotomization of the Quick-DASH based on low disability rating at discharge Design An observational design (retrospective database study). Setting Dataset of 1109 patients with shoulder disorders. Participants 297 older adults patients who were diagnosed with rotator cuff related shoulder disorders and were managed through physical therapy treatment. Main outcome measures We categorized and calculated how many patients met 8.0 and 16.0 point changes on the Quick-DASH. To evaluate outcomes success thresholds using dichotomization, patients who discharge score of ≤20 on the Quick-DASH were considered positive responders with successful outcomes. Results The percentage of positive responders who met the MCID thresholds for the Quick-DASH were 63.3% using MCID of 8.0 points, 39.7% using the MCID of 16.0 points, and 46.12% who met discharge score of ≤ 20 on the Quick-DASH. 39.0% met both MCID of 8.0 points and discharge score of ≤ 20 on the Quick-DASH. Only 28% met both MCID of 16.0 points and discharge score of = 20 on the Quick-DASH. Conclusion Three different success threshold derivations classified patients into three very different assessments of success. Quick-DASH scores of ≤ 20 represent low levels of self-report disability at discharge and can be a stable clinical option for a measure of success to capture whether a treatment results in meaningful improvement.
Low-Memory Neural Network Training: A Technical Report.

Memory is increasingly often the bottleneck when training neural network models. Despite this, techniques to lower the overall memory requirements of training have been less widely studied compared to the extensive literature on reducing the memory requirements of inference. In this paper we study a fundamental question: How much memory is actually needed to train a neural network? To answer this question, we profile the overall memory usage of training on two representative deep learning benchmarks -- the WideResNet model for image classification and the DynamicConv Transformer model for machine translation -- and comprehensively evaluate four standard techniques for reducing the training memory requirements: (1) imposing sparsity on the model, (2) using low precision, (3) microbatching, and (4) gradient checkpointing. We explore how each of these techniques in isolation affects both the peak memory usage of training and the quality of the end model, and explore the memory, accuracy, and computation tradeoffs incurred when combining these techniques. Using appropriate combinations of these techniques, we show that it is possible to the reduce the memory required to train a WideResNet-28-2 on CIFAR-10 by up to 60.7x with a 0.4% loss in accuracy, and reduce the memory required to train a DynamicConv model on IWSLT'14 German to English translation by up to 8.7x with a BLEU score drop of 0.15.
The Effectiveness and Safety of Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Recalcitrant Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: a Comprehensive Literature Review

Review the effectiveness and safety of current treatment protocols for fluoroscopically guided genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (RFA) used for recalcitrant knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis (OA). Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies of fluoroscopically guided RFA of the genicular nerves demonstrate variability in responder rates from 59% at 3 months to as high as 74% at 6 month follow-up. Studies that investigated the prognostic value of genicular nerve blocks to select patients for RFA demonstrate no difference in outcomes with current treatment protocols. Other factors that may influence the success rate of this procedure include radiologic severity of osteoarthritis, longer duration of knee pain, smoking, and bilateral knee pain. Relative safety of this procedure has been shown with no adverse events reported in reviewed trials, but several case reports demonstrate there are risks associated with this procedure. Recent neuroanatomical studies show additional genicular nerves that could likely be safely targeted by RFA, yet are not included in current treatment protocols. RFA provides an effective treatment option for patients with recalcitrant chronic knee pain secondary to OA with up to 74% of patients experiencing greater than 50% pain relief at 6 months. The procedure is relatively safe, but risks should be weighed against potential benefits. Further research is needed to determine need for prognostic blocks, determine prognostic radiologic factors, and determine changes in effectiveness with updated treatment protocols that target more genicular nerves.
Smoking cessation after hospitalization for myocardial infarction or cardiac surgery: Assessing patient interest, confidence, and physician prescribing practices.

Background Prioritizing and managing multiple behavior changes following a cardiac hospitalization can be difficult, particularly among smokers who must also overcome a serious addiction. Hypothesis Hospitalized smokers will report a strong interest in smoking cessation (SC) but will receive little assistance from their physicians. Methods We asked current smokers hospitalized for an acute cardiac event to prioritize their health behavior priorities, and inquired about their attitude toward SC therapies. We also assessed SC cessation prescriptions provided by their physicians. Results Of the 105 patients approached, 81 (77%) completed the survey. Of these, 72.5% ranked SC as their greatest health change priority, surpassing all other behavior changes, including: taking medications, attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR), dieting, losing weight, and attending doctor appointments. Patients felt that SCM (44%), CR (41%), and starting exercise (35%) would increase their likelihood for SC. While most patients agreed that smoking was harmful, 16% strongly disagreed that smoking was related to their hospitalization. At discharge, medication was prescribed to ~32% of patients, with equal frequency among patients who reported interest and those who reported no interest in using medications. Conclusion The majority of hospitalized smokers with cardiac disease want to quit smoking, desire help in doing so, and overwhelmingly rate cessation as their highest health behavior priority, although some believe smoking is unrelated to their disease. The period following an acute cardiac event appears to be a time of great receptivity to SC interventions; however, rates of providing tailored, evidence-based interventions are disappointingly low.
Pitfalls of FNA diagnosis of thymic tumors.

Background Fine-needle aspiration (FNA), a minimally invasive and cost-effective procedure, often is used in the initial diagnosis of thymic lesions. However, the diagnosis can be challenging. Knowledge of the diagnostic pitfalls is important to improve diagnostic accuracy. Methods The authors retrospectively searched the pathology database of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for FNA cases using the keywords "thymoma" or "thymic" in cytologic diagnoses or in corresponding final histologic diagnoses rendered from January 2002 to June 2018. The authors reviewed the FNA diagnostic accuracy and pitfalls in comparison with the final histologic diagnoses. Results A total of 118 FNA cases were identified from 115 patients. The FNA diagnoses were concordant with the final pathologic diagnoses in 110 cases (93.2%), including thymoma (97 cases), atypical thymoma (5 cases), and thymic carcinoma (8 cases). Discrepant FNA and final diagnoses were noted in 8 tumors (6.8%): thymoma versus atypical thymoma/thymic carcinoma (3 tumors), thymoma versus lymphoma (2 tumors), suspicious for lymphoma versus thymoma (1 tumor), and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma versus thymoma (2 tumors). Factors contributing to misinterpretation included intrinsic limitations of the FNA sample (sampling error and a lack of histologic architecture information) and similarities of the cytologic and immunophenotypic features of lymphocyte-rich thymoma and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Conclusions An accurate FNA diagnosis of thymic tumors can be rendered in the majority of cases. Diagnostic pitfalls can be encountered in rare cases. It is important to handle each case carefully to avoid erroneous diagnoses that may lead to inappropriate treatment.
Contribution of Behavioral Health Factors to Non-AIDS-Related Comorbidities: an Updated Review

We summarize recent literature on the contribution of substance use and depression to non-AIDS-related comorbidities. Discussion of recent randomized clinical trials and implementation research to curtail risk attributed to each behavioral health issue is provided. Smoking, unhealthy alcohol use, opioid use, and depression are common among PWH and individually contribute to increased risk for non-AIDS-related comorbidities. The concurrence of these conditions is notable, yet understudied, and provides opportunity for linked-screening and potential treatment of more than one behavioral health factor. Current results from randomized clinical trials are inconsistent. Investigating interventions to reduce the impact of these behavioral health conditions with a focus on implementation into clinical care is important. Non-AIDS-defining cancers, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and diabetes are leading causes of morbidity in people with HIV. Behavioral health factors including substance use and mental health issues, often co-occurring, likely contribute to the excess risk of non-AIDS-related comorbidities.
Thin wall deposition of IN625 using directed energy deposition

Abstract Laser powder-blown directed energy deposition (DED) is widely used for small feature deposition ability and geometrical accuracy. The effects of process parameters, control, and toolpath strategies on geometry of the final product and mechanical properties have been investigated in many different parent geometries, however, deposition on an existing thin feature that has less width than the diameter of the laser spot size has yet to be addressed and is critical for various component repair applications. This study quantifies controllable factors contributing to optical characterization, geometry, characteristics of internal porosity, and microstructure of the deposit in the deposition processes of Inconel 625 by the laser powder-blown DED method. A full-factorial experimental plan was arranged with variations in laser power (175 W to 275 W) and mass flowrate (2 g/min to 20 g/min) on thin (0.5 mm) and thick (3.0 mm) substrate deposition. These results are useful for deriving an optimal workpiece quality through adjustment of controllable process parameters.
Advances in Abrasive Assisted EDM and Micro-EDM

This chapter discusses the research trends and developments in the field of abrasive assisted EDM and micro-EDM. The parameters that control the performance of the abrasives in the hybrid system of abrasive mixed EDM has been explored. The actual improvement of EDM process has been studied by means of looking into the performance parameters. This chapter also focuses on materials that have been the most challenging to machine through EDM, and how the abrasive-mixed process has changed the scenario. This chapter will provide a comprehensive overview of this highly-efficient and productive manufacturing technique from the mechanism and application perspective.