cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orientational filters for real-time computer vision problems

Orientational filters have been used to solve many computer vision problems. However, their use in real-time applications has been limited due to high computational load of the filters. This thesis investigates the computational scheme of the filters and proposes an efficient and inexpensive way of computing and implementing them. The proposed scheme is called Separable Approximation. Using the scheme, non-separable orientational filters are decomposed into a sum of separable filters. The scheme can be implemented efficiently using a filter bank structure. Two algorithms are developed for decomposing filters into a separable form. They are Orthogonal Sequence Decomposition and Singular Value/Orthogonal Sequence Decomposition (SV/OSD). The thesis shows that SV/OSD achieves the best performance/implementation trade-off. The second part of the thesis is concerned with multi-resolution image decomposition. An efficient decomposition method is developed, which is a combination of SV/OSD and a functional approximation using a basic spline. The thesis shows that the method can perform the decomposition with small amount of error, and the amount of computation and hardware required for the decomposition is much less than the direct implementation. The third part of the thesis is concerned with a steerable system where the orientation of the filter can be dynamically changed in real-time. The system can be constructed effectively using SV/OSD and Fourier Series Approximation. Finally the thesis proposes a VLSI architecture for an efficient orientational filter system with multi-resolution decomposition capability and steerability.
Validation of a Soft Tissue Sarcoma Nomogram Using a National Cancer Registry

A nomogram to predict disease-specific mortality (DSM) following surgery for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has been developed by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). The goal of this study was to validate this nomogram by assessing discrimination and calibration at the population level using a national cancer database. Retrospective review of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registries identified patients undergoing surgery for STS from 1988 to 2011. Data for patient age, tumor size, tumor grade, histologic subtype, sex, primary tumor location, and tumor depth were entered into the nomogram calculator for each patient. Discrimination was quantified using a concordance index. Calibration was assessed by comparing quintiles of nomogram-predicted probabilities of disease-specific mortality (DSM) with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage DSM. Overall, 9237 patients were identified with complete information needed for the nomogram. With a mean follow-up of 45 months, the concordance index for nomogram-predicted DSM with actual DSM was 0.74 for the entire cohort. For low- and high-grade tumors, this was 0.71 and 0.66, respectively. Kaplan–Meier curves showed better calibration for nomogram-predicted DSM when compared with AJCC staging. Our results validate the use of the MSKCC STS nomogram in the general population, with better predictive ability than AJCC staging. However, a concordance index of 0.74 suggests that further improvement in prognostication is needed, perhaps with biological markers or additional clinical variables.
Describing and Supporting Collaborative Scientific Thinking in Parent-Child Interactions

(1998). Describing and Supporting Collaborative Scientific Thinking in Parent-Child Interactions. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 23, Understanding the Visitor Experience: Theory and Practice Part 2, pp. 12-17.
A Comparison of Predation by the Pentatomids, Podisus maculiventris (Say) and Stiretrus anchorago (F.), on the Mexican Bean Beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant,

Predation by Podisus maculiventris (Say) and Stiretrus anchorago (F.) on the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis (Mulsant), was studied in the laboratory and field cages. P. maculiventris accepted a wider range of E. varivestis stages as prey than did S. anchorago. Both predaceous pentatomid species responded to a rise in temperature with an increase in prey consumption. However, P. maculiventris responded more acutely to the increase in temperature than did S. anchorago . Prey consumption by each species increased at a negatively accelerating rate as prey density increased. These data were fitted to Holling's disc equation. S. anchorago had a distinct preference for E. varivestis to velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hiibner, while P. maculiventris took approximately equal numbers of each. Field cage data substantiated finding from laboratory studies in that E. varivestis larval populations were significantly reduced by both pentatomid species.
Development of nanodroplets for histotripsy-mediated cell ablation.

This report describes the synthesis of amphiphilic copolymers (ABC-1 and ABC-2) composed of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block, a central poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) block, and a random copolymer of heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate (HDFMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) forming the hydrophobic block, which are used to form nanodroplets for ultrasound-mediated cell ablation. Specifically, the effect of molecular weight of PEG and P(HDFMA-co-MMA) blocks on polymer’s ability to self-assemble around a variable amount (0%, 1%, and 2% v/v) of perfluoropentane (PFP) forming nanodroplets is investigated. The ability of different nanodroplets formulations embedded with a monolayer of red blood cells (RBCs) in tissue-mimicking agarose phantoms to initiate and sustain a bubble cloud in response to ultrasound treatments with different acoustic pressures and the associated ablation of RBCs were also investigated. Results show that ABC-1 polymer composed of a 2 kDa PEG block and a 6.7 kDa P(HDFMA-co-MMA) bloc...
Peter Ash, MD: Evolution of a Forensic Child Psychiatrist

The true task of a biographer is not just to record the facts and details of a life, but to do so in such a manner that something of that person's essence is revealed. The life of Peter Ash, MD, the 37th President of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, is full of complexity, depth, and
Tumor biology trumps anatomy in breast cancer brain metastases.

In this issue of ONCOLOGY, Drs. Lim and Lin present a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the basic biology of breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) and of emerging strategies for treating this increasingly common complication of advanced breast cancer (BC) (BC is second only to non–small-cell lung cancer in the frequency of central nervous system [CNS] metastasis.)
Management of influenza in the 2014-2015 season: recommendations and limitations.

This editorial summarizes the extent of benefits expected from immunization, testing, and antiviral treatment of influenza for the 2014–2015 season.
Attitudes, practices, and preparedness to care for patients with substance use disorder: Results from a survey of general internists

Background: Previous research demonstrates that most primary care physicians feel unprepared to diagnose and treat substance use disorder (SUD). Confidence in SUD management has been associated wit...
A novel model for distributed big data service composition using stratified functional graph matching

A significant number of current industrial applications rely on web services. A cornerstone task in these applications is discovering a suitable service that meets the threshold of some user needs. Then, those services can be composed to perform specific functionalities. We argue that the prevailing approach to compose services based on the "all or nothing" paradigm is limiting and leads to exceedingly high rejection of potentially suitable services. Furthermore, contemporary models do not allow "mix and match" composition from atomic services of different composite services when binary matching is not possible or desired. In this paper, we propose a new model for service composition based on "stratified graph summarization" and "service stitching". We discuss the limitations of existing approaches with a motivating example, present our approach to overcome these limitations, and outline a possible architecture for service composition from atomic services. Our thesis is that, with the advent of Big Data, our approach will reduce latency in service discovery, and will improve efficiency and accuracy of matchmaking and composition of services.
Understanding Lifestyle Decisions Based on Patient Historical Data: A Latent Growth Modeling Approach

Healthcare issues related to chronic disease conditions and management does not have easy or immediate solutions. Evidence based decision making in such contexts requires long-term tracking and analysis of patient data in order to provide patient choices that produce extended quality of life. Using Latent Growth Modeling (LGM), we present a planning perspective to analyze underlying patterns of long-term chronic data related to the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Using the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) patient driven initiative that collects survey data on a biannual basis for the purpose of clinical trial recruitment and epidemiological research, this study analyzes three temporal data points spanning 3 years. Two LGM models are presented that identify patient traits correlating with disease progression. The traits analyzed are both patient and physician controlled.
Concise SAR Exploration Based on the "Head-to-Tail" Approach: Discovery of PI4KIIIα Inhibitors Bearing Diverse Scaffolds.

In typical kinase inhibitor programs, a hinge binder showing best potency with preferential specificity is initially selected, followed by fine-tuning of the accompanying substituents on its core module. A shortcoming of this approach is that the exclusive focus on a single chemotype can endanger all the analogues in the series if a critical shortcoming is revealed. Thus, an early evaluation of structure–activity relationships (SARs) can mitigate unforeseen outcomes within a series of multiple compounds, although there have been very few examples to follow such a policy. PI4KIIIα is one of four mammalian phosphatidylinositol-4 kinases and has recently drawn significant attention as an emerging target for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. In this letter, a novel “head-to-tail” approach to discover a diverse set of PI4KIIIα inhibitors is reported. We believe this method will generate distinct core scaffolds, a rational strategy to circumvent potential risks in general kinase programs.
17 – Risk Assessment: The Changing Paradigm

This chapter discusses the changing paradigm of the risk assessment. Veterinary pathologists and toxicologists participate in the risk assessment process on a daily basis. The pathologist, together with the input from colleagues in toxicology, initially identifies the potential adverse effects of chemicals and drugs in laboratory animals, defines the dose response of the effects, and then determines whether they are likely to express themselves in humans. In order to ascertain an accurate conclusion in the risk assessment process, broad scientific knowledge with biologically based mechanistic information is required. Mechanism helps to determine whether the hazard develops in humans or not; gives quantitative information to suggest that risk is more or less likely to occur; and helps identify subpopulations that are at greater or lesser risk. Thus, there is a critical need for a scientific understanding of mechanism to reduce the extent of uncertainty associated with the assessment of risk. Risk management is the decision-making process that formulates policy actions designed to reduce the probability that the hazard will be expressed. Different skill sets are required for risk assessment and risk management. In addition to evaluating risk estimates, risk managers must also consider statutory, economic, social, and political factors. The perception of risk and its impact varies greatly among societies.
El Punk no está muerto en el este de Los Ángeles: explorando la serie East Los y su uso de la localidad y de la hibridación cultural para el catarsis del este

Punk Rock, with its enticing ability to use rhythmic violence and hard-hitting melodies, obtained a unique niche in the backyards of East Los Angeles in the late 70's and early 80's. Punk's importance in the lives of East LA youth can be chronicled back to legendary East LA bands like Los Illegals and The Brats; yet some, like London's International Times in 1977, believed Punk was dying. Although the research that has been emerging about Punk has been insightful in understanding Los Angeles and its dichotomies, the literature seems to be stuck in the 80's, making Punk's importance in the lives of East LA youth today supposedly dead as well. Has the Punk scene in East LA truly been dead for almost thirty years? Have the youth of the Eastside found other outlets for their teenage angst, family problems, and identity crises? For these young Punkeros of Latino origins, the struggle with national identities, resistance against unemployment, and the unending combat towards advancement for minorities, are a driving force in the current Punk scene in East LA. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to analyze how Angela Boatwright’s 2014 Van’s Off The Wall documentary titled East Los used locality and bi-cultural integration in order to portray East LA “punkeros”; giving insight into the lives of Latino-American young adults in LA. Eastside youths have found a way to use Punk as a means towards catharsis, a way to not only release negative emotions, but a way to express their discontent with the status quo and their inevitable hybridity. In East LA, Punk is definitely not dead. California Lutheran University
Evaluating OpenMP Affinity on the POWER8 Architecture

As we move toward pre-Exascale systems, two of the DOE leadership class systems will consist of very powerful OpenPOWER compute nodes which will be more complex to program. These systems will have massive amounts of parallelism; where threads may be running on POWER9 cores as well as on accelerators. Advances in memory interconnects, such as NVLINK, will provide a unified shared memory address spaces for different types of memories HBM, DRAM, etc. In preparation for such system, we need to improve our understanding on how OpenMP supports the concept of affinity as well as memory placement on POWER8 systems. Data locality and affinity are key program optimizations to exploit the compute and memory capabilities to achieve good performance by minimizing data motion across NUMA domains and access the cache efficiently. This paper is the first step to evaluate the current features of OpenMP 4.0 on the POWER8 processors, and on how to measure its effects on a system with two POWER8 sockets. We experiment with the different affinity settings provided by OpenMP 4.0 to quantify the costs of having good data locality vs not, and measure their effects via hardware counters. We also find out which affinity settings benefits more from data locality. Based on this study we describe the current state of art, the challenges we faced in quantifying effects of affinity, and ideas on how OpenMP 5.0 should be improved to address affinity in the context of NUMA domains and accelerators.
Cultivating Aesthetic and Creative Expression: An Arts-Based Professional Development Project for Migrant Education

Due to varied factors, children of migrant farm workers in Fuerte School District experience serious disparities and missed opportunities for high quality arts learning. To address this gap, an art...
Hiding in Plain Sight: Mining Bacterial Species Records for Phenotypic Trait Information

Cultivation in the laboratory is essential for understanding the phenotypic characteristics and environmental preferences of bacteria. However, basic phenotypic information is not readily accessible. Here, we compiled phenotypic and environmental tolerance information for >5,000 bacterial strains described in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM) with all information made publicly available in an updatable database. Although the data span 23 different bacterial phyla, most entries described aerobic, mesophilic, neutrophilic strains from Proteobacteria (mainly Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes isolated from soils, marine habitats, and plants. Most of the routinely measured traits tended to show a significant phylogenetic signal, although this signal was weak for environmental preferences. We demonstrated how this database could be used to link genomic attributes to differences in pH and salinity optima. We found that adaptations to high salinity or high-pH conditions are related to cell surface transporter genes, along with previously uncharacterized genes that might play a role in regulating environmental tolerances. Together, this work highlights the utility of this database for associating bacterial taxonomy, phylogeny, or specific genes to measured phenotypic traits and emphasizes the need for more comprehensive and consistent measurements of traits across a broader diversity of bacteria. IMPORTANCE Cultivation in the laboratory is key for understanding the phenotypic characteristics, growth requirements, metabolism, and environmental preferences of bacteria. However, oftentimes, phenotypic information is not easily accessible. Here, we compiled phenotypic and environmental tolerance information for >5,000 bacterial strains described in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM). We demonstrate how this database can be used to link bacterial taxonomy, phylogeny, or specific genes to measured phenotypic traits and environmental preferences. The phenotypic database can be freely accessed (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4272392), and we have included instructions for researchers interested in adding new entries or curating existing ones.
Educational priorities of students in the entrustable professional activity era.

SummaryBackground The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) guidelines on the entrustable professional activities (EPAs) expected of graduating medical students were recently published. Although perceptions of educators, residents and programme directors have been described, the voice of senior medical students is lacking. Methods A single-institution cross-sectional study of senior medical students was performed. Student perceptions were collected and compared with: (1) national guidelines (i.e. the 13 newly developed undergraduate EPAs); (2) resident expectations (i.e. through comparison with a recently published survey from >28 000 residents); and (3) institutional objectives. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results A total of 113 students participated. The top three EPA-based educational priorities were ‘recognising a patient requiring urgent/emergent care’ (EPA10), ‘performing procedures of a physician’ (EPA12) and ‘collaborating as an interprofessional’ (EPA9). Over 80 per cent of students rated ‘managing time efficiently’ and ‘communicating around care transitions’ as very important pre-internship skills. Of the institutional objectives, 87 per cent rated ‘recognising critically ill patients’ and ‘knowing when to ask for help’ as the most important pre-internship skills. The voice of senior medical students is lacking Conclusions Although the emphasis on knowing when to ask for help and communication around care transitions differed somewhat across stakeholders, educational priorities were shared by students, residents, educators and institutional objectives. These preliminary data support national assessments of perceptions and achievements of senior medical students to guide residency readiness in the EPA era.
Shifting Policies, Access, and the Tragedy of Enclosures in Ecuadorian Mangrove Fisheries: Towards a Political Ecology of the Commons

After decades of mangrove deforestation for the development of shrimp farming, the Ecuadorian state began to officially recognize the ancestral rights of traditional users of coastal mangrove resources in the late 1990s. This article traces the trajectory of coastal policy change and the transformation of mangrove tenure regimes from an implicit preference for shrimp aquaculture to a focus on conservation and sustainable development with greater community participation through the establishment of community-managed mangrove areas called custodias. I argue that while the custodias have empowered local communities in their struggle to defend their livelihoods and environment against the marginalizing forces of global shrimp aquaculture, the implementation of common property arrangements for mangrove fishery management has changed the nature of property rights, the distribution of resources, and social relations among collectors of mangrove cockles (Anadara tuberculosa and A. similis). I suggest a need to develop a political ecology of the commons, an analytical approach applied here to examine the fundamental shift in the nature of the struggle over mangrove resources, from artisanal fishers versus shrimp farmers to a struggle between companeros: members of associations versus independent cockle collectors. Such a shift in the struggle over resources threatens to undermine the sustainability of the fishery. I conclude that shifting access may be an important underlying factor contributing to a tragedy of enclosures in Ecuador's mangrove cockle fishery. Keywords: political ecology; property rights; common property; access; tragedy of enclosures; shrimp aquaculture; mangroves; artisanal fisheries; Anadara spp., Ecuador
Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductors for Improved Charge Transport in Electrotherapeutic Devices

This invention addresses the need for efficient dry skin electrodes. Robust, flexible Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductor (MIEC) electrodes were prepared by an aqueous solution route resulting in electrically conductive networks of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ionically conductive elastic matrix. The flexible electrode was characterized in terms of conductivity, ionic charge transfer resistance, and water uptake. The flexible electrode maintained low resistance even after multiple cycles of 50% extension and contraction.
Salmonella-Mediated Inflammation Eliminates Competitors for Fructose-Asparagine in the Gut

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica elicits intestinal inflammation to gain access to nutrients. One of these nutrients is fructose-asparagine (F-Asn). The availability of F-Asn to Salmonella during infection is dependent upon Salmonella pathogenicity islands 1 and 2, which in turn are required to provoke inflammation. Here, we determined that F-Asn is present in mouse chow at approximately 400 pmol/mg (dry weight). F-Asn is also present in the intestinal tract of germfree mice at 2,700 pmol/mg (dry weight) and in the intestinal tract of conventional mice at 9 to 28 pmol/mg. These findings suggest that the mouse intestinal microbiota consumes F-Asn. We utilized heavy-labeled precursors of F-Asn to monitor its formation in the intestine, in the presence or absence of inflammation, and none was observed. Finally, we determined that some members of the class Clostridia encode F-Asn utilization pathways and that they are eliminated from highly inflamed Salmonella-infected mice. Collectively, our studies identify the source of F-Asn as the diet and that Salmonella-mediated inflammation is required to eliminate competitors and allow the pathogen nearly exclusive access to this nutrient.
Mentorship in Orthopedics: A National Survey of Orthopedic Surgery Residents.

Objective Mentorship is an important component of graduate medical education. It has been associated with numerous benefits including personal development, increased career satisfaction, and reduced stress and burnout. The purpose of this study was to assess orthopedic resident attitudes regarding mentorship and to determine if there were sociodemographic differences. Design A total of 243 orthopedic surgery residents completed this 25-item mixed response questionnaire. Results Nearly two-thirds of residents conveyed that their training program either had a formal or informal mentorship program, and 95.8% of residents indicated that they believed mentorship played an important role with respect to their development as an orthopedic resident. Minorities were more likely to have a mentor that was obtained while they were in medical school, less likely to have multiple mentors, and more likely to be dissatisfied with the quality of mentorship in residency. Females were more likely to pursue a mentor on their own. Overall, 31% of orthopedic residents were classified as experiencing burnout. There was no difference in the prevalence of mentorship in respondents experiencing burnout, but they were more likely to be unsatisfied with the quality of mentorship in residency. Finally, only two-thirds of residency programs have mentorship programs despite the fact that the vast majority of orthopedic residents believe that the mentorship plays an important role in their development as surgeons. Results Given these findings, future work should focus on identifying and addressing race and sex-based mentorship disparities while simultaneously working to improve access to mentorship for all residents.
Anesthetic Considerations: Open Versus Minimally Invasive Surgery

The ability to provide appropriate anesthesia care for the patient undergoing radical prostatectomy, whether as an open procedure or with a laparoscopy approach with or without robotic assistance relies on a thorough preoperative evaluation. The American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) has published guidelines for preoperative evaluation. These guidelines however are recommendations and should be adapted to the patient’s individual needs. In the case of the cardiac patient undergoing non-cardiac surgery the American College of Cardiology (ACC) has published guidelines to help manage the patient in the preoperative period. Individual needs of the patient must also be considered and special concerns relating to the surgical procedure itself such as an open procedure versus a closed approach, the position of the patient during surgery, the length of the surgery, and complications associated with each particular procedure needs to be taken into consideration for each individual patient. The risks and concerns are addressed with the patient at the time of preoperative evaluation.
Problematizing the norms of fairness grounding the EU’s relocation system of shared responsibility

This paper problematizes the logic of the European Union (EU)’s provisional relocation system for internally re-distributing asylum seekers. It argues that the tenets embedded in the current relocation scheme disregard the idea of distributive equity and apply the principle of solidarity and the fair sharing of responsibility asymmetrically between Member States. Equally matched levels of shared responsibility are not synonymous with fair responsibility. Member States are not equal actors across the EU’s political, economic and social spheres. To achieve fairness, the distribution of inter-state responsibility must use unequal rather than equal scaling weights. This paper proposes the concept of differing egalitarianism to guide inter-state responsibility sharing efforts vis-a-vis the transfer of people in need of international protection within the EU.
Spectral Decomposition of Aberrated Wavefronts from Actuated Micromirrors

Aberrated optics degrade the cavity finesse and point spread function of any optical system. It is frequently overlooked that the phase errors of these aberrations cause characteristic spectral features that can be observed and measured by an optical cavity. A general theory of the spectral decomposition of aberrations is developed and applied to an electrically deformable membrane feeding a high-finesse resonator. The micromirror, which consists of a 1 cm metallized SiN x electrostatically-actuated membrane with phase offsets of about $1.5\mu \mathbf{m}$ , leads to optical power being distributed to over twenty higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian cavity modes.
The mir-35 family links maternal germline sex to embryonic viability in C. elegans

Abstract The germline sex determination pathway in C. elegans determines whether germ cells develop as oocytes or sperm, with no previously known effect on viability. The mir-35 family of microRNAs are expressed in the C. elegans germline and embryo and are essential for both viability and normal hermaphroditic sex determination, preventing aberrant male gene expression in XX hermaphrodite embryos. Here we show that combining feminizing mutations with partial loss of function of the mir-35 family results in enhanced penetrance embryonic lethality that preferentially kills XO animals. This lethal phenotype is due to altered signaling through the germline sex determination pathway, and maternal germline feminization is sufficient to induce enhanced lethality. These findings reveal a surprising pleiotropy of sperm-fate promoting pathways on organismal viability. Overall, our results demonstrate an unexpectedly strong link between sex determination and embryonic viability, and suggest that in wild type animals, mir-35 family members buffer against misregulation of pathways outside the sex determination program, allowing for clean sex reversal rather than deleterious effects of perturbing sex determination genes.
Determination of melphalan in human plasma by UPLC–UV method

It is desirable to develop a fast method for quantification of melphalan due to its instability. Here we report a method for quantification of melphalan (MPL) in human plasma using a UPLC–PDA system. Briefly, 50 µL plasma sample was mixed with 25 µL internal standard (2500 ng/mL acetylmelphalan in methanol) and 25 µL 20% trichloroacetic acid, and centrifuged at 21,000 g (15,000 rpm) at 4 °C for 3 min. The supernatant (5 µL) was injected onto an Acquity™ BEH C18 LC column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) and eluted with 25 mM NH4AC (pH 4.7)—acetonitrile in a gradient mode at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The column kept at 40 ± 5 °C and the autosampler kept at 4 ± 5 °C. The detector set at 261 nm, and sampling rate was 40points/sec. The retention times were typically 2.11 min for melphalan and 2.38 min for the internal standard. Total run time is 4 min per sample. Calibration range was 100–40,000 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification was 100 ng/mL. The method was validated based on the FDA guidelines, and applied to a clinical pharmacokinetic study in pediatric patients.
A Human Rights Discourse on Campaign Finance in the Philippines

Studies have estimated that elections in the Philippines are one of the costliest in the world. Reports indicate that when the per capita incomes of countries are considered, the cost of a national electoral campaign in the Philippines is higher than comparative costs in developed democratic countries such as the United States. This paper discusses the Philippine legal framework on campaign finance, the rights involved in this area of election law under the Constitution and International Human Rights Law, and their implications on regulation. Traditional legal thinking - prevailing since the passage of the first election laws in the Philippines - holds that campaign finance is primarily an issue of property rights. Recent threads of jurisprudence and international human rights law considerations have moved from dealing with campaign finance as a property rights issue to an issue of free speech, association, information, and political participation.
Role of Tumor Markers

Serum tumor markers have a pivotal role in the screening, differential diagnosis, risk stratification, management, and surveillance of gynecologic diseases. For the approximate 20% of women who develop a pelvic mass or adnexal cyst, patterns of serum markers including CA125 and HE4 aid in preoperative identification of women at increased risk of gynecologic malignancy. CA125 is crucial to disease management and surveillance in women with epithelial ovarian cancers. The use of AFP, inhibin, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase are described in women with less common pathologies including germ cell and sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary. It is important to note that despite the use of these markers, there remains no superior method for early identification of gynecologic malignancies including epithelial ovarian cancer. Implementation and interpretation of these tests rely on appropriate clinical application of serum tumor markers with an understanding of confounding factors that may affect individual patient results.
Invariant ergodic measures and the classification of crossed product C⁎-algebras

Abstract Let α : G ↷ X be a minimal free continuous action of an infinite countable amenable group on an infinite compact metrizable space. In this paper, under the hypothesis that the invariant ergodic probability Borel measure space E G ( X ) is compact and zero-dimensional, we show that the action α has the small boundary property. This partially answers an open problem in dynamical systems that asks whether a minimal free action of an amenable group has the small boundary property if its space M G ( X ) of invariant Borel probability measures forms a Bauer simplex. In addition, under the same hypothesis, we show that dynamical comparison implies almost finiteness, which was shown by Kerr to imply that the crossed product is Z -stable. Finally, we discuss some rank properties and provide two classifiability results for crossed products, one of which is based on the work of Elliott and Niu.
Undergraduate business education students’ perception on information and communication technology use in teaching and learning

The study was carried out to assess the undergraduate Business Education Students’ Perception on the use of Information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching and learning in the University. Thus, to achieve the purpose, two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A sample of 100 students was randomly drawn using balloting and proportionate stratified random sampling techniques. A questionnaire of 4-point scale was used to collect data. It has face validity determined through expert judgement, and construct validity verified through factor analysis. The reliability of the instrument was obtained through Cronbach Alpha. A reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained as a measure of internal consistency. The data collected were analyzed with mean and Z-test. Mean was used to answer the research questions while Z-test was used to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that there was high perception of students to use ICT in teaching and learning in the university. There was no significant difference between male and female students as well as 300 level and 400 level students on the use of ICT in teaching and learning. Therefore, it was recommended that ICT should be used in teaching and learning Business Education in the University.
Changing Culture and Climate to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Physics Educational Setting

The issue of sexual harassment in science is gaining much needed attention. In physics, a 2019 survey study found that 68% of female undergraduate respondents experienced sexual or sexist harassment in a physics environment. In 2018, the National Academy of Science released a report to address the prevalence of sexual harassment in sciences, engineering, and medicine. The report notes anyone can experience sexual harassment, but some demographics (e.g., women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer [LGBTQ+)] individuals) may have higher rates, including those with multiple minoritized identities. While there are many important aspects to address regarding sexual harassment, in this article we focus on the third recommendation in the National Academies’ report: “Move beyond legal compliance to address culture and climate.” In the sections below, we discuss some of the limitations of policy and provide suggestions for how to create a culture and climate in the physics classroom and around the department that can work to prevent sexual harassment. We draw from research on sexual harassment from a variety of contexts, including outside of academia and STEM, as there are likely commonalities in experiences regardless of context.
The Role of Lysosome-associated Membrane Protein 2 in Prostate Cancer Chemopreventive Mechanisms of Sulforaphane

Prostate cancer chemoprevention by sulforaphane, which is a metabolic by-product of glucoraphanin found in broccoli, in preclinical models is associated with induction of both apoptosis and autophagy. However, the molecular mechanism underlying sulforaphane-mediated autophagy, which is protective against apoptotic cell death by this phytochemical, is still poorly understood. This study demonstrates a role for lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) in sulforaphane-mediated autophagy and apoptosis. Western blotting revealed dose-dependent induction of LAMP2 protein after treatment with sulforaphane as well as its naturally occurring analogs in PC-3 and 22Rv1 human prostate cancer cell lines that was confirmed by microscopy (sulforaphane). The mRNA level of LAMP2 was also increased upon treatment with sulforaphane in both cell lines. Sulforaphane-mediated increase in the level of autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein light-chain 3B was augmented by RNAi of LAMP2 in PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells. Apoptosis induction by sulforaphane treatment was also increased significantly by knockdown of the LAMP2 protein in PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells. Augmentation of sulforaphane-mediated apoptosis by RNAi of LAMP2 was accompanied by induction and activation of proapoptotic protein Bak. Oral administration of sulforaphane to TRAMP mice also resulted in induction of LAMP2 protein expression. Targeted microarray in sulforaphane-treated PC-3 cells revealed induction of many autophagy-related genes (e.g., HSP90AA1, NRF2, etc.) and their expression positively correlated with that of LAMP2 in prostate cancer The Cancer Genome Atlas. In conclusion, this study reveals that induction of LAMP2 by sulforaphane inhibits its ability to induce apoptotic cell death at least in human prostate cancer cells.
Dr. Carlson et al. Reply

We appreciate the thoughtful and supportive comments from Dr. Masters1 and agree that coercive parent-child relationships were often what was addressed and modified during hospitalization. Lowering seclusion and restraint rates by prohibiting them, without lowering rates of aggression, is not the desired outcome. As we noted in our paper, evidence-based treatments are sorely needed for young children whose severe and destructive outbursts get them psychiatrically hospitalized.
Equine endometrial development during late fetal and postnatal periods

Equine uterine development, including endometrial histogenesis, begins prenatally and is completed postnatally. Little is known about this process in the horse. Uterine tissue was acquired from 38 foals, ranging in developmental age from gestational day (GD) 300 to postnatal day (PND) 180, for assessment of endometrial histogenesis. Patterns of endometrial cell proliferation were evaluated by multispectral imaging of uterine tissue sections stained immunofluorescently for Ki-67. Labeling index (LI, % labeled cells) for Ki-67 was calculated for each endometrial cell compartment (luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, stroma). Histologically, nascent endometrial glands were present in all pre- and postnatal uterine tissues. Overall, Ki-67 LI increased (P < 0.0001) from the pre-to postnatal periods, and was higher (P < 0.0001) in epithelium as compared to stroma. Postnatally, endometrial Ki-67 LI increased (P < 0.0001) from week 1 to week 24. Our findings confirm that, in contrast to neonatal patterns of uterine development described for domestic ungulates, equine endometrial histogenesis begins prenatally, marked by the appearance of uterine glands as early as GD 300. Epithelial proliferation associated with maturation of the equine endometrium is pronounced by postnatal week 24.
A Drop in Hemoglobin as an Association with Pegylated Interferon Retinopathy: A Novel Pathophysiology.

Purpose: To describe the association of change in the baseline hemoglobin levels with the development of interferon (INF) retinopathy after the start of pegylated INF (PEG INF) and ribavirin for hepatitis C virus treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review conducted on 12 patients on PEG INF and ribavirin with baseline examination and follow-up during the treatment regimen: 6 developed INF-induced retinopathy and 6 patients were without retinopathy. Serial hemoglobin values for both the groups were recorded at the time of the retinopathy diagnosis in affected patients and the nadir in those without retinopathy. The total percent reduction of hemoglobin was calculated for both the groups. Results: Hemoglobin concentration levels between control and INF retinopathy patients tended to be slightly lower in the group that developed retinopathy. There was no threshold hemoglobin concentration under which the rate of developing retinopathy significantly increased. Greater than 25% drop in hemoglobin conferred a statistically significant risk in the development of INF-associated retinopathy. Conclusion: Patients starting PEG INF and ribavirin require baseline testing and subsequent follow-up based on the rapidity of the decrease in hemoglobin levels to identify the development of retinopathy with treatment.
Guided-Mode Resonance Enhanced Mid-Wave Infrared Detector

We present an all-epitaxial guided mode resonance MWIR photodetector consisting of a type-II superlattice absorber between a highly-doped low index virtual substrate and a high-index patterned grating layer. Angle and polarization dependent responsivities are measured, and enhanced absorption is observed compared to an unpatterned control.
Russian Leaders and their Foreign Doctors: A HistoricalReview

Russian medicine had its zenith at the beginning of the 20th century when two Russian scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize; Ivan Pavlov (1904) for his work on the physiology of digestion..
Right displacement of the abomasum in the bovine

The changes in the procedure include the instillation of mineral oil directly into the abomasum and the fixation of the abomasum to the ventral body wall. The fixation sutures are left in place for at least two weeks when they are cut at both emerging points but are not pulled out for fear of damaging the abomasal wall.
How dance promotes the development of social and emotional competence

Social and emotional competencies (SEC) are critical for success in school and life, as they include the ability to interact with others, regulate one’s emotions and behavior, solve problems, and c...
Social movement information design and a curriculum of proper knowledge consumption

Narrowing in on two contemporary social movements as a case study, this analysis will use a mainstay of information design, Edward Tufte, as well as a lesser-known pioneer in the field, Otto Neurath, to consider the ways in which the infographics associated with those movements can be looked at critically. Using Tufte's popularity and commercial success as an indication of his strong influence on this field, questions about the appreciation of efficiency or validity of message at the expense of craft, nuance, and meaning making will be raised, eventually concluding that a new approach to the consumption of information design is necessary.
Unique Inneficient Perfect Equilibrium in a Stochastic Model of Bargaining with Complete Information

We consider a two-player strategic bargaining model with discounting in which (i) the interim disagreement point in each period is stochastically determined at the beginning of the period, and (ii) the proposing player can delay in making an offer. Unlike many other bargaining models of complete information, in which inefficient perfect equilibrium outcomes are caused by the multiplicity of perfect equilibrium outcomes, our model has a unique perfect equilibrium payoff in most of the cases. For some parameter values, the perfect equilibrium is inefficient since it has a stochastically delayed agreement. We show that both (i) and (ii) are also necessary for the unique inefficient equilibrium outcome in our model.
Studies on the Kinetic Mechanism of Lipoamide Dehydrogenase from Rat Liver Mitochondria

Abstract The kinetic mechanism of lipoamide dehydrogenase has been studied at pH 8.0, 37°, using the enzyme from rat liver mitochondria. Initial velocity patterns obtained for both the forward and reverse reactions were a series of parallel lines. Michaelis constants for the reactants are: NAD, 0.52 mm; dihydrolipoamide, 0.49 mm; NADH, 0.062 mm; lipoamide, 0.84 mm. Isotopic exchange between NAD and NADH was also studied. The exchange rate in the absence of lipoyl derivatives was not significantly increased by the presence of all of the reactants. These data, as well as the results from product inhibition studies, are consistent with a Bi Bi Ping Pong mechanism for this enzyme as originally proposed by Massey et al. (Massey, V., Gibson, Q. H., and Veeger, C. (1960) Biochem. J. 77, 341). In addition, the formation of kinetically significant abortive complexes between the enzyme and NADH or lipoamide is shown.
Progesterone treatment alters neurotrophin/proneurotrophin balance and receptor expression in rats with traumatic brain injury.

Purpose The neuroactive steroid progesterone (PROG) has been shown to be an effective treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) both in animal models and in humans, but the signaling pathways involved have not yet been fully described. Here we characterize the protein expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and their pro-proteins and receptors following PROG treatment for TBI. Methods To evaluate whether PROG treatment given after TBI alters mature and proneurotrophin protein balance and the expression of receptors involved in apoptotic and cell survival signaling, we used Western blots in tissue obtained 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days after injury from rats with bilateral frontal cortical contusions. Results Compared to controls, PROG reduced levels of pro-apoptotic NGF precursor (proNGF) at 24 h and 7 days post-injury, reduced levels of pro-apoptotic BDNF precursor (proBDNF) and the BDNF receptor TrkB at all time points, and increased levels of mature NGF at 72 h. Levels of mature BDNF were decreased at 24 and 72 h. These observations were associated with reduced markers of apoptosis and improved behavioral parameters in PROG-treated rats. Conclusions Some of PROG's protective effects after TBI are mediated, in part, by simultaneous induction of pro-survival neurotrophin signaling and inhibition of apoptotic proneurotrophin signaling.
Forensic Science and Wrongful Convictions: From Exposer to Contributor to Corrector

Brandon Garrett’s book, Convicting the Innocent, makes a number of important contributions to the scholarly and public discourse on miscarriages of justice. In this essay, I will focus on the contribution that is most related to my own research interests: its contribution to our understanding of the relationship between forensic science and miscarriages of justice. I will first endeavor to place Garrett’s contribution in historical context by briefly tracing the history of discussions about forensic science and wrongful convictions. I will then highlight in what way Garrett’s work has furthered our understanding. I will then discuss some of the criticisms of Garrett’s work by advocates of forensic science and try to explain how data limitations contribute to the difference of opinion between Garrett and his critics. I will conclude by suggesting a different, more theoretically grounded way of conceptualizing miscarriages of justice that might help us move beyond these differences of opinion. Ultimately, however, my suggestions will be highly speculative: data limitations, again, will make it difficult to make any strong empirical inferences about the relationship between forensic science and wrongful convictions.