cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anal cancer and its precursors in HIV-positive patients: perspectives and management

Anal cancer is an increasing problem among HIV-infected persons. Although patients are living longer and with better quality of life because of treatment with HAART, they remain at risk for invasive anal cancer and its precursor, anal HSIL. Given the substantial numbers of patients with anal HSIL, further studies need to be done to determine the efficacy and optimal mode of treatment of HSIL, to define the optimal method for screening patients at risk, to define the best way to follow up patients with documented HSIL to ensure early detection, to define prognostic factors for progression to invasive cancer, and to determine the progression rate of HSIL to invasive cancer. Although patients with good functional status and immunologic function seem to do relatively well with standard CMT for anal cancer, there are less fortunate patients who experience substantial morbidity from therapy and have a poorer outcome. It is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the therapy of HIV-positive patients with anal cancer based on the available literature because of the retrospective nature of the analyses, the small number of patients, and the heterogeneity of the patients reported with regard to tumor size, pretreatment immunologic status, and the variety of treatments received by patients in some series. Identifying patients who develop invasive anal cancer as early as possible will improve results to some degree, but prospective, controlled, multi-institutional trials evaluating the treatment of anal cancer in HIV-infected persons are required to accurately define ways to improve outcome with less morbidity. The results of ongoing therapeutic HPV vaccine trials are eagerly awaited. Improvement may come by the following, determining ways to more accurately stage patients, such as endoanal ultrasound, sentinel lymph node sampling, or positron emission tomography scans; defining the role of cisplatin and whether it is indeed less toxic and equally or more effective; consideration of continuous protracted infusion of low-dose 5-FU; the optimum use of growth factors; and an evaluation of the role of conformal radiotherapy or the use of radio-protectants, such as amifostine. Meanwhile, the best way to treat anal cancer in HIV-infected persons may be to prevent it from occurring by screening persons at risk and treating HSIL, or at a minimum, following up patients carefully and detecting cancers, if they occur, at the earliest possible time.
Patients' preferences for treatment of hepatitis C.

Background. The objective of this study was to ascertain patient preferences for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods. The authors recruited consecutive patients eligible for treatment of HCV and used adaptive conjoint analysis (ACA), a hybrid approach of conjoint analysis that uses both self-explicated ratings and pair-wise comparisons, to elicit preferences for pegylated-interferon and ribavirin. They examined the association between patient characteristics and treatment preferences using the Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 statistic for continuous and categorical variables, respectively, and subsequently calculated adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using logistic regression. Results. A total of 140 subjects completed the ACA task. The mean (±SD) age of the sample was 51±8 y; 85% were male, and 59% were white. When described as being associated with mild side effects, 67% (n = 94) of subjects preferred treatment for HCV. The percentage of subjects preferring therapy decreased to 51% ...
Evolving schedule graphs for the vehicle routing problem with time windows

The vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) is a very important problem in the transportation industry since it occurs frequently in everyday practice, e.g. in scheduling bank deliveries. Many heuristic algorithms have been proposed for this NP-hard problem. This paper reports the successful application of GrEVeRT (Graph-based Evolutionary algorithm for the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time windows), an evolutionary algorithm based on a directed acyclic graph model. On well-known benchmark instances of the VRPTW, we obtain better results than those reported by other researchers using genetic algorithms.
Understanding the Effect of Workload on Automation Use for Younger and Older Adults

OBJECTIVE: This study examined how individuals, younger and older, interacted with an imperfect automated system. The impact of workload on performance and automation use was also investigated. BACKGROUND: Automation is used in situations characterized by varying levels of workload. As automated systems spread to domains such as transportation and the home, a diverse population of users will interact with automation. Research is needed to understand how different segments of the population use automation. METHOD: Workload was systematically manipulated to create three levels (low, moderate, high) in a dual-task scenario in which participants interacted with a 70% reliable automated aid. Two experiments were conducted to assess automation use for younger and older adults. RESULTS: Both younger and older adults relied on the automation more than they complied with it. Among younger adults, high workload led to poorer performance and higher compliance, even when that compliance was detrimental. Older adults' performance was negatively affected by workload, but their compliance and reliance were unaffected. CONCLUSION: Younger and older adults were both able to use and double-check an imperfect automated system. Workload affected how younger adults complied with automation, particularly with regard to detecting automation false alarms. Older adults tended to comply and rely at fairly high rates overall, and this did not change with increased workload. APPLICATION: Training programs for imperfect automated systems should vary workload and provide feedback about error types, and strategies for identifying errors. The ability to identify automation errors varies across individuals, thereby necessitating training. Language: en
Hip disorders in children requiring urgent surgical treatment

There are a limited number of disorders affecting the hip in children that demand urgent surgical treatment. Slipped capital epiphysis is the most frequently encountered. Fractures of the femoral neck, although less common, endanger the viability of the femoral head. A number of musculoskeletal infections, including septic arthritis, osteomyelitis of the proximal femur, pyomyositis and necrotizing fasciitis, present diagnostic challenges. Any of these conditions can cause irreparable harm that can be influenced by prompt, accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical and surgical treatment. Traumatic pelvic injuries requiring surgery are not discussed in this review.
Oxide reduction and sintering of Fe–Cr alloy honeycombs

H 2 reduction and densification of extruded Fe 2 O 3 -Cr 2 O 3 mixtures with honeycomb geometry (0.3-mm wall thickness) were studied using dilatometry, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Reduction of pure Fe 2 O 3 heated at 5 °C/min was completed by approximately 525 °C. Two separate sintering steps ensued, well separated in temperature from reduction, one associated with elimination of pores between Fe agglomerates (750-900 °C), and the other associated with sintering of these agglomerates (995-1275 °C). With increasing Cr 2 O 3 content, sintering was increasingly delayed until initiation of Cr 2 O 3 reduction above 1000 °C. The α → γ iron phase transformations were consistent with the Fe-Cr phase diagram, but the γ → α transformations at higher temperatures deviated from the phase diagram because of the influence of impurities (Si, Ca) in the solid solution. Pure Cr 2 O 3 honeycomb formed an approximately 35-μm-thick porous Cr coating that imposed a diffusion barrier to further reduction. The high vapor pressure of chromium prohibited compositions in excess of 25 wt.% Cr 2 O 3 from full reduction and densification.
End-of-Life Planning and Health Care

The majority of deaths in the United States today befall older adults, with most dying of long-term chronic illness. Given the prolongation of the dying process in recent decades, older adults are encouraged to communicate their preferences for end-of-life care, in order to ensure that they receive treatments consistent with their wishes. This chapter describes demographic, epidemiological and cultural contexts of death and dying in the contemporary United States, and the specific advance care planning practices (living wills, durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC) appointments, and discussions) that older adults can use to exert personal control over their own end-of-life care. We discuss structural, economic, and cultural obstacles to effective end-of-life preparations. We conclude by describing controversial or innovative practices related to end-of-life care, including the use of POLSTs (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), Medicare-reimbursed doctor-patient consultation sessions, and “aid in dying” (or physician-assisted suicide) programs.
A computationally efficient simulation-based optimization method with region-wise surrogate modeling for stochastic inventory management of supply chains with general network structures

Abstract Simulation-based optimization is widely used to improve the performance of an inventory system under uncertainty. However, the black-box function between the input and output, along with the expensive simulation to reproduce a real inventory system, introduces a huge challenge in optimizing these performances. We propose an efficient framework for reducing the total operation cost while satisfying the service level constraints. The performances of each inventory in the system are estimated by kriging models in a region-wise manner which greatly reduces the computational time during both sampling and optimization. The aggregated surrogate models are optimized by a trust-region framework where a model recalibration process is used to ensure the solution's validity. The proposed framework is able to solve general supply chain problems with the multi-sourcing capability, asynchronous ordering, uncertain demand and stochastic lead time. This framework is demonstrated by two case studies with up to 18 nodes with inventory holding capability in the network.
Biphasic Poroviscoelastic Modeling of the Unconfined Compression of Porcine Liver Tissue

Liver injuries (blunt and penetrating) account for 32% of all abdominal injuries and are seen in approximately 5% of all trauma admissions (1). Motor vehicle crashes are the most common source of blunt liver injuries (1) and understanding the mechanical response of the liver to loading may facilitate the improvement of vehicle safety.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Scientific and Engineering Issues of the State-of-the-Art and Future Multilayer Capacitors

BaTiO3-based multilayer capacitors are rich with the science of crystal chemistry, defect chemistry, phase transition theory, ferroelectricity, and processing. State-of-the-art multilayer capacitors are fabricated with base metals, submicron grains and have thickness of layers approaching one micron. There are, however, needs to keep improving the volumetric efficiency of capacitance, improve reliability in thin layers, and increase the number of active layers. This paper summarizes and reviews some of the studies our group is performing to scientifically aid progress in this fast moving field. Specifically, we will review size effect issues, the role of rare-earth doping in improving degradation resistance, and the potential of electrophoretic deposition to produce multilayer structures with nanopowders.
Diurnal and stress-reactive dehydroepiandrosterone levels and telomere length in youth

The current investigation examined the association between the aging-related biomarkers dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and telomere length (TL) in community-recruited African-American youth. The examination of DHEA included stress reactive, basal and diurnal sampling, in order to elucidate the underlying physiological process that may overlap with TL. One hundred and two participants completed the Trier Social Stressor Test for children (TSST-C). TL was obtained from all youth from buccal swabs on the same day as the TSST-C. Saliva samples from 83 participants were obtained over the course of two additional days to measure waking and diurnal levels of DHEA. DHEA diurnal slope was a robust predictor of TL (B=0.516, P<0.05), while other DHEA values were not significantly associated with TL. This study is one of the first studies to examine basal, diurnal and reactivity measurements of DHEA in youth. Furthermore, this is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a positive association between DHEA, a putative anti-aging hormone, and TL, an indicator of cellular aging.
Use of growth factors during induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

The use of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains controversial. Potential uses include shortening the period of neutropenia, inducing leukemic cells into the S-phase of the cell cycle, stem cell protection, inducing differentiation of leukemic cells, interrupting autocrine/paracrine loops, direct inhibition of leukemogenesis, and enhancing antimicrobial function. Data from the nine controlled studies of CSFs that have been reported between 1990 and 1995, with varying patient characteristics and other factors, indicate that growth factors have several uses in AML therapy. The published literature now suggests that the safety of CSFs is no longer a major clinical concern, and significant experience has been gained in reducing the period of neutropenia following induction therapy. Yeast-derived granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor appear to be effective and probably have an important role in the management of older adult patients with AML and for those patients with a significant risk for therapy-related morbidity and mortality. The use of CSFs as priming agents remains experimental ; results of further prospective placebo-controlled studies, with laboratory correlates, are awaited.
Renewable Gasoline, Solvents, and Fuel Additives from 2,3-Butanediol

2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BD) is a renewable alcohol that can be prepared in high yield from biomass sugars. 2,3-BD was selectively dehydrated in a solvent-free process to a complex mixture of 2-ethyl-2,4,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxolanes and 4,5-dimethyl-2isopropyl dioxolanes with the heterogeneous acid catalyst Amberlyst-15. The purified dioxolane mixture exhibited an anti-knock index of 90.5, comparable to high octane gasoline, and a volumetric net heat of combustion 34 % higher than ethanol. The solubility of the dioxolane mixture in water was only 0.8 g per 100 mL, nearly an order of magnitude lower than the common gasoline oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether. The dioxolane mixture has potential applications as a sustainable gasoline blending component, diesel oxygenate, and industrial solvent.
Electromagnetic Platform Stabilization for Mobile Robots

This work explores possible applications of electromagnetic platform stabilization (EPS) in systems suffering from vibration and resonance along multiple axes. Many HRI platforms are coupled rigid-body platforms; an EPS system acts as a non-rigid coupling between the mobile base and the upper-body structure. Electromagnets have many qualities that have been shown to perform well in complex mechanical systems; our initial investigations illustrate the utility of EPS technologies for reducing resonance in mobile robot platforms, particularly in human-robot interactions, in which sensors in the upper-body structure must be stable to track human users.
High-precision broadband measurement of refractive index by picosecond real-time interferometry.

The refractive index is one of the most important quantities that characterize a material’s optical properties. However, it is hard to measure this value over a wide range of wavelengths. Here, we demonstrate a new technique to achieve a spectrally broad refractive index measurement. When a broadband pulse passes through a sample, different wavelengths experience different delays. By comparing the delayed pulse to a reference pulse, the zero path difference position for each wavelength can be obtained and the material’s dispersion can be retrieved. Our technique is highly robust and accurate, and can be miniaturized in a straightforward manner.
Polarographic Reduction of the Heme Iron in Native Horse-Heart Cytochrome c

Electrochemical relaxation techniques have been applied to the reduction of horse-heart cytochrome c in buffered solutions. It has been shown that protein in low concentration catalyzes the electrolytic reduction of oxygen, some characteristics of the protein-iron reduction are also described. The apparently different effects of cytochrome c and hemin on the reduction of oxygen, point to mechanistic differences in the reduction of the ferriporphyrins themselves.
Particulate matter emissions and gaseous air toxic pollutants from commercial meat cooking operations

This study assessed the effectiveness of three novel control technologies for particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compound (VOC) removal from commercial meat cooking operations. All experiments were conducted using standardized procedures at University of California, Riverside's commercial test cooking facility. PM mass emissions collected using South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Method 5.1, as well as a dilution tunnel-based PM method showed statistically significantly reductions for each control technology when compared to baseline testing (i.e., without a catalyst). Overall, particle number emissions decreased with the use of control technologies, with the exception of control technology 2 (CT2), which is a grease removal technology based on boundary layer momentum transfer (BLMT) theory. Particle size distributions were unimodal with CT2 resulting in higher particle number populations at lower particle diameters. Organic carbon was the dominant PM component (>99%) for all experiments. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the most abundant carbonyl compounds and showed reductions with the application of the control technologies. Some reductions in mono-aromatic VOCs were also observed with CT2 and the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) CT3 compared to the baseline testing.
Re‐evaluating the foundations of lncRNA–Polycomb function

Many lncRNAs are thought to interact with the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in order to regulate gene expression. A central example of this lncRNA–PRC2 paradigm in gene regulation is HOTAIR . In this issue of The EMBO Journal, a study (Portoso et al, [2017][1]) reports that while HOTAIR binds PRC2 with high affinity, the complex itself is dispensable for HOTAIR ‐mediated transcriptional silencing. This study raises important questions about the role of PRC2 interactions for lncRNA‐mediated functions and argues for a re‐evaluation of this lncRNA–PRC2 functional paradigm. [1]: #ref-8
The Scholars Project: Maine’s Distance Education Model for Preparing Early Childhood Special Educators to Work With Young Children With Disabilities:

The Early Childhood Opportunity (EChO) Scholars project was designed to address the following significant needs in Maine: (a) prepare highly qualified early interventionists and early childhood spe...
Nonlinear And Time-variant Microring-resonator Photonic Circuits: A Wavelength Converter, Entropy Pump, and Quantum Biphoton Synthesizer

Synthesis of coupled microring resonator photonic circuits can be extended beyond linear time-invariant systems (filters) to nonlinear and time-varying (modulated) circuits to enable optimized performance and novel functions. I describe a wavelength converter, a quantum biphoton joint spectral distribution synthesizer, and a laser noise eater concept.
Effect of transfer status on outcomes for necrotizing soft tissue infections.

Abstract Background Whether patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) who presented to under-resourced hospitals are best served by immediate debridement or expedited transfer is unknown. We examined whether interhospital transfer status impacts outcomes of patients requiring emergency debridement for NSTI. Methods and materials We conducted a retrospective review studying patients with an operative diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, Fournier's gangrene, or gas gangrene in the 2010-2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files. Multivariable regression analyses determined if transfer status independently predicted 30-d mortality, major morbidity, minor morbidity, and length of stay. Results Among 1801 patients, 1243 (69.0%) were in the non-transfer group and 558 (31.0%) were in the transfer group. The transfer group experienced higher rates of 30-d mortality (14.5% versus 13.0%) and major morbidity (64.5% versus 60.1%) than the non-transfer group, which were not significant after risk adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.87 [0.62-1.22] and 1.00 [0.79-1.27], respectively). The transferred group experienced a longer median length of postoperative hospitalization (14 d [interquartile range 8-24] versus 11 d [6-20]), which maintained statistical significance after adjustment for other factors (adjusted beta coefficient [95% confidence interval]: 1.92 [0.48-3.37]; P = 0.009). Conclusions Our results suggest that interhospital transfer status is not an independent risk factor for mortality or morbidity after surgical management of NSTI. Although expedient debridement remains a basic tenet of NSTI management, our findings provide some reassurance that transfer before initial debridement will not significantly jeopardize patient outcomes should such transfer be deemed necessary.
Genetically modified labeling: The role of consumers’ trust and personality

Despite the USDA’s genetically modified (GM) regulatory approval process, many U.S. consumers still want GM foods labeled. Therefore, this research identifies how individuals’ trust in the ability of institutions to ensure the safety of food, their personality, and their demographics affects their desire for GM foods to be labeled. A survey was administered to 566 consumers to elicit their desire for GM labeling of sugar and sugar in soft drinks. Results of a bivariate ordered probit model suggest that less conscientious individuals, males, and individuals who have a greater trust in food manufacturers and the government to ensure the safety of food are less likely to desire GM labeling. Cluster analysis further identified market segments of individuals based on their level of desire for GM labeling. Results are informative to policy makers and GM technology participants. [EconLit Citations: Q18]
Analysis of structural effects on conformal antenna performance

The effects of the presence of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) bulkheads near a broadband conformal spiral antenna are studied. It is found that certain arrangements of the bulkheads are more conducive to antenna gain and polarization bandwidths. The feasibility of manufacturing the antenna using additive manufacturing technique e.g. conductive silver ink cured at around 121°C temperature is also demonstrated.
Vehicle Platooning with Multiple Vehicle Look-ahead Information

Abstract In this work, we consider the effects of multiple vehicle look ahead in a vehicle platoon that employs a constant spacing policy (CSP) based controller in the presence of parasitic lags. We first consider a CSP controller for longitudinal dynamics that uses position, velocity and acceleration from ‘r’ predecessor vehicles. We demonstrate string instability with a CSP when information from ‘r’ preceding vehicles is used. We do this by considering the spacing errors to be states of a spatially discrete system and use perturbation analysis to show that the platoon is string unstable. We also consider a robustly string stable CSP controller that employs information from the leader and immediate predecessor, and determine an upper bound on the maximum allowable parasitic lag.
Swimming Upstream in a Torrent of Assessment

Growing attention to preK mathematics and increased focus on standards in the US may be leading policy makers, administrators, and practitioners down the wrong path when it comes to assessing young children. The temptation to rely on standardised assessment practices may result in misguided understandings about what children actually know about mathematics. As part of a larger study of professional development with teachers focused on culturally and developmentally responsive practices in preK mathematics, we have found that our understanding of children’s mathematical knowledge varies greatly depending on the form (what), context (where), assessor (who), and purpose (why) of assessment. Drawing on findings from three cases, we suggest that in the transition to school, shifting to more a formalised ‘school-type’ assessment is fraught with obstacles that vary greatly by child.
Coprocessing–An Evaluation of Chemical Reprocessing Without Plutonium Separation

The technical feasibility of a coprocessing concept involving recovery of all the actinides in the spent fuel as a product group has been analyzed. It has been shown that this can be accomplished b...
Methionine synthase ☆ ☆☆: a possible prime site of the ethanolic lesion in liver

Among the most important pathways for liver integrity in the body are the two that synthesize methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) through methylation of homocysteine. Results of studies in this laboratory have demonstrated ethanolic inhibition of one of these pathways catalyzed by methionine synthetase. It has been shown elsewhere that alcohol per se does not inhibit the enzyme, but that the metabolite of ethanol, acetaldehyde, is responsible through the formation of an inhibiting covalent adduct. Because hepatic SAM has been shown to be essential in the transport of fat from the liver, avoiding steatosis and further liver damage, it is entirely feasible that this repression of methionine synthase is an important site of the injurious action of alcohol metabolism in the liver. This loss of activity is particularly important in human beings who cannot produce methionine and SAM by means of the alternate pathway mediated by betaine:homocysteine:transmethylase, because of the lack of production of the betaine substrate for this enzyme.
Trustee or Delegate? Understanding Representation to Illuminate Shareholder Governance and Regulatory Change

It is generally agreed that directors are the shareholders representatives, but what is a representative and what is entailed by representation? Although courts and scholars have explored the duties and powers of directors as representatives, the concept of representation tends to go unexamined. By contrast, political philosophers have considered representation for centuries and political theorists have generated an extensive empirical literature. This article applies the representation theory scholarship to perennial and emerging problems in corporate law.
A transient simulation model to predict hydrate formation rate in both oil- and water-dominated systems in pipelines

Abstract The high pressure and low temperature operational conditions of deepwater subsea facilities often result in the formation of gas hydrates, which is one of the most challenging flow assurance issues. The variant water cuts and flowline geometries could result in complicated flow patterns leading to different hydrate formation mechanisms. In previous work, we have developed hydrate formation models both for oil- and water-dominated systems. The model for oil-dominated systems considers the water phase being dispersed as droplets in an oil continuous layer, and uses either a kinetics or a transport model to calculate hydrate formation at the interface of water droplets. On the other hand, water-dominated systems contain small amounts of oil, and a mass transfer-based hydrate growth model is used. This paper presents a new transient hydrate formation model that predicts hydrate growth and transportability in oil- and water-dominated environments, which might be present simultaneously in oil and gas pipelines due to changes in fluid distribution in complex multiphase flow systems. Simulations of high-pressure pilot-scale flowloop experiments at different water cuts are used to verify this modeling approach. Furthermore, the proposed hydrate simulation tool is applied to analyze the flow dynamics of a subsea tieback involving hydrate formation at varying water cuts after flowloop verification. This simulation model is targeted to be widely used to simulate oil-dominated pipelines, as well as high water cut systems leading to phase inversions, and represents a step further towards the development of more comprehensive hydrate formation models.
The Relationship between Health Information Technology Laboratory Tracking Systems and Hospital Financial Performance and Quality.

AbstractThe objective of this study is to explore the relationship between hospitals Health Information Technology (HIT), and financial and quality performance. The study merged the 2017 Centers fo...
Induced fit in RNA–protein recognition

Two generalizations can be drawn from the recent rapid progress in understanding RNA-protein interactions. First, there is a great diversity of observed protein and RNA structural motifs. Second, formation of almost every RNA-protein complex that has been characterized involves conformational changes in the protein, the RNA, or both. The role of these conformational changes in the biological function of RNA-protein complexes is not at all clear. Whether or not conformational changes are a critical feature of ribonucleoprotein complex assembly or are an unimportant mechanistic detail, the ubiquity of these changes warrants careful consideration of their implications.
History, Evolution and Current State of Ovarian Tissue Auto-Transplantation with Cryopreserved Tissue: a Successful Translational Research Journey from 1999 to 2020

The loss of fertility and early menopause are common after gonadotoxic therapies and radical pelvic surgery. The strategy of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and auto-transplantation was introduced to prevent this significant quality of health issue. Ovarian transplantation with cryopreserved tissue has gone through remarkable evolution in the last 20 years. In this review, we detail the history and evolution of ovarian transplantation with cryopreserved tissue from its origins to the present. Ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation approach was first tested with animal models. The approach was then validated in human ovarian xenografting models before being applied to patients in pioneering clinical studies. The first orthotopic and heterotopic approaches to ovarian transplantation was developed by Oktay et al. who reported the first successful restoration of ovarian function with these approaches beginning in 2000 with first embryo development in 2004. Controversy remains on when the first live birth occurred after orthotopic ovarian transplantation with cryopreserved tissue as the patient was ovulating with elevated progesterone levels in the case reported in 2004; first live birth is likely to be the one reported by Meirow et al. in 2005. Nevertheless, the technique has evolved to reach a level where most recent live birth rates are exceeding 35% and the procedure is no longer considered experimental by many.
Audit Regulation and Cost of Equity Capital: Evidence from the PCAOB's International Inspection Regime

This study investigates the relation between audit regulation and cost of equity capital. There is scant empirical evidence on this relation because changes in audit regulation are frequently accompanied by other major regulatory changes. We exploit variation in the timing of regulatory changes induced by foreign governments' staggered allowance of PCAOB inspections. Using a difference‐in‐differences design, we find that foreign SEC registrants with auditors from countries that allow PCAOB inspections enjoy a lower cost of capital, relative to foreign SEC registrants with auditors from countries that prohibit inspections. Furthermore, we find that this cost of capital effect is attenuated for companies with higher‐quality governance mechanisms. Finally, we document that inspection access is associated with higher‐quality analyst forecasts, which suggests that this change in audit regulation reduces information risk for market participants. Reglementation de l'audit et cout des capitaux propres : donnees relatives au regime d'inspection international du PCAOB Les auteurs se penchent sur la relation entre la reglementation de l'audit et le cout des capitaux propres. Les donnees empiriques attestant cette relation sont limitees, car les modifications apportees a la reglementation de l'audit s'accompagnent frequemment d'autres modifications reglementaires radicales. Les auteurs instrumentalisent la variation du calendrier de la mise en œuvre des modifications reglementaires qui decoule de l'etalement du consentement des gouvernements etrangers aux inspections du PCAOB. Utilisant un plan de recherche d'ecart dans les differences, ils constatent que les societes etrangeres inscrites aupres de la SEC dont les auditeurs proviennent de pays acquiescant aux inspections du PCAOB beneficient d'un cout des capitaux inferieur a celui des societes etrangeres inscrites aupres de la SEC dont les auditeurs proviennent de pays interdisant ces inspections. Les auteurs observent en outre que cette incidence sur le cout des capitaux est moins marquee dans le cas des societes dont la qualite des mecanismes de gouvernance est superieure. Enfin, les auteurs recueillent des donnees etablissant que l'acces a l'inspection est associe a une qualite superieure des previsions des analystes, ce qui donne a penser que cette modification de la reglementation de l'audit reduit le risque lie a l'information pour les intervenants du marche.
Remote Assessment of Video-Recorded Oral Presentations Centered on a Virtual Case-Based Module: A COVID-19 Feasibility Study

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the suspension of our pediatric clerkship, which may result in medical student skill erosion due to lack of patient contact. Our clerkship has developed and assessed the feasibility of implementing a video-recorded oral presentation assignment and formative assessment centered on virtual case-based modules. Methods This retrospective study examined the feasibility of providing a remote formative assessment of third-year medical student video-recorded oral presentation submissions centered on virtual case-based modules over a one-week time period after pediatric clerkship suspension (March 16th to 20th, 2020). Descriptive statistics were used to assess the video length and assessment scores of the oral presentations. Results Twelve subjects were included in this study. Overall median assessment score [median score, (25th, 75th percentile)] was 5 (4,6), described as "mostly on target" per the patient presentation rating tool. Conclusion Patient-related activities during the pediatric clerkship were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study demonstrated the possibility of remotely assessing oral presentation skills centered on virtual case-based modules using a patient presentation tool intended for non-virtual patients. This may prepare students for their clinical experiences when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Future studies are needed to determine if suspended clerkships should consider this approach.
Simultaneous Ultrafast Transmission and Reflection of Nanometer-Thick Ti3C2Tx MXene Films in the Visible and Near-Infrared: Implications for Energy Storage, Electromagnetic Shielding, and Laser Systems

Unambiguous determination of the optical dynamics in MXenes is necessary for their reliable development into applications such as EMI shielding, energy storage, and laser systems. Here, simultaneou...
A quantitative assessment of the indirect impacts of human-elephant conflict.

Human-wildlife conflict has direct and indirect consequences for human communities. Understanding how both types of conflict affect communities is crucial to developing comprehensive and sustainable mitigation strategies. We conducted an interview survey of 381 participants in two rural areas in Myanmar where communities were exposed to human-elephant conflict (HEC). In addition to documenting and quantifying the types of direct and indirect impacts experienced by participants, we evaluated how HEC influences people’s attitudes towards elephant conservation. We found that 99% of participants suffered from some type of indirect impact from HEC, including fear for personal and family safety from elephants and fear that elephants will destroy their home. Despite experiencing moderate levels of indirect impacts from HEC at the community level, participants expressed attitudes consistent with supporting future elephant conservation programs.
Dubins-Based Autolanding Procedure for Fixed-Wing UAS

Unmanned aerial systems are quickly growing in both military and civilian applications. The exponential growth unmanned aerial systems have provided many new opportunities such as urban air mobility. With the imminent entrance of unmanned aerial systems to the national airspace aircraft will be flying at lower heights over people and properties and will be landing in spatially constraint landing fields. This paper introduces cognitive autolanding algorithms, where the standard landing stages of flare, glideslope, and approach, are employed to land the aircraft safely and within time, spatial, and aircraft dynamic constraints. The use of Dubins paths during the approach stage is explored and employed in this work showing how the algorithms can be used to direct the aircraft towards any landing field from adverse initial headings and positions. The autolanding generated path is then flown in a six-degrees-of-freedom simulation environment. The robustness of this cognitive autolanding algorithm is validated through Monte Carlo analysis.
The Laughing West : Humorous Western Fiction, Past and Present: An Anthology

Without humor, the American West would be a vast territory of arid cliches stolid cowboys and fearless lawmen, or, in more modern visions, dastardly land developers and fanatical environmentalists all of them as lifeless as an alkalai flat. In "The Laughing West," Professor C. L. Sonnichsen presents a generous selection of humorous western writing and shows how the humorous perspective comes closer to the truth about the west than either the romance of the old West or the sometimes bitter anti-romanticism of the new west. As Leslie Fiedler has observed, to understand the West as somehow a joke comes a little closer to getter it straight. "The Laughing West" consists of twenty-one pieces of humorous western writing, along with a general introduction, section introductions and an afterword. Throughout the book, the humor is based on character, and on how our perception of the familiar character types has evolved over the years. The reader is treated to a gallery of western originals: from the practical joker Slewfoot Samuels in Bill Gulick s The Marriage of Moon Wind, to Eddie Bud Boyd, the fast-talking cattle broker in Glendon Swarthout s "The Cadillac Cowboys"; from the Texas A&M-educated Sheriff Freight Train Flowers in "Peeper" by William Brinkley, to the brilliantly devious Governor Cullie Blanton in "The One-Eyed Man" by Larry L. King. In addition to the traditional cowboys, Indians, and Mexicans, "The Laughing West" shows some contemporary western faces: the new breed of lawman, the rootless pilgrim, and the new urban westerner, typified by Slick, in Dan Jenkins "Baja Oklahoma" complaining about the Chateau-le-44.50 in the poshest restaurant in a Dallas shopping mall."
SU‐E‐T‐249: Determining the Sensitivity of Beam Profile Parameters for Detecting Energy Changes in Flattening Filter‐Free Beams

Purpose: To identify the beam profile parameters that can be used to detect energy changes in a flattening filter-free photon beams. Methods: Flattening filter-free beam profiles (inline, crossline, and diagonals) were measured for multiple field sizes (25×25cm and 10×10cm) at 6MV on a clinical system (Truebeam, Varian Medical Systems Palo Alto CA). Profiles were acquired for baseline energy and detuned beams by changing the bending magnet current (BMC), above and below baseline. The following profile parameters were measured: flatness (off-axis ratio at 80% of field size), symmetry, uniformity, slope, and the off-axis ratio (OAR) at several off-axis distances. Tolerance values were determined from repeated measurements. Each parameter was evaluated for sensitivity to the induced beam changes, and the minimum detectable BMC change was calculated for each parameter by calculating the change in BMC that would Result in a change in the parameter above the measurement tolerance. Results: Tolerance values for the parameters were-Flatness≤0.1%; Symmetry≤0.4%; Uniformity≤0.01%; Slope≤ 0.001%/mm. The measurements made with a field size of 25cm and a depth of d=1.5cm showed the greatest sensitivity to bending magnet current variations. Uniformity had the highest sensitivity, able to detect a change in BMC of BMC=0.02A. The OARs and slope were sensitive to the magnitude and direction of BMC change. The sensitivity in the flatness parameter was BMC=0.04A; slope was sensitive to BMC=0.05A. The sensitivity decreased for OARs measured closer to central axis-BMC(8cm)=0.23A; BMC(5cm)=0.47A; BMC(2cm)=1.35A. Symmetry was not sensitive to changes in BMC. Conclusion: These tests allow for better QA of FFF beams by setting tolerance levels to beam parameter baseline values which reflect variations in machine calibration. Uniformity is most sensitive to BMC changes, while OARs provide information about magnitude and direction of miscalibration. Research funding provided by Varian Medical Systems. Dr. Sasa Mutic receives compensation for providing patient safety training services from Varian Medical Systems, the sponsor of this study.
Expression of Antigen on Mature Lymphocytes Is Required to Induce T Cell Tolerance by Gene Therapy

Expression of a retrovirally encoded allogeneic MHC class I gene in bone marrow-derived cells can be used to induce tolerance to the product of the retrovirally transduced gene. In this work we examined whether expression of a retrovirally transduced allogeneic MHC class I gene in bone marrow-derived cells from recombinase-activating gene-1 (RAG-1)-deficient mice was sufficient to induce tolerance when transplanted into conditioned hosts together with bone marrow from MHC-matched wild-type mice. Reconstitution of mice with either MHC-matched RAG-1-deficient or wild-type bone marrow transduced with the allogeneic MHC class I gene H-2K b led to long-term expression of K b on the surface of bone marrow-derived hematopoietic lineages. T cells from mice reconstituted with H-2K b -transduced wild-type bone marrow were tolerant to K b . In contrast, expression of K b in the periphery of mice reconstituted with a mixture of retrovirally transduced RAG-1-deficient bone marrow and mock-transduced wild-type bone marrow fell below detectable levels by 4 wk after transplantation. T cells that developed in these mice appeared to be hyporesponsive to K b , demonstrating that expression of K b on bone marrow-derived APCs was not sufficient to induce tolerance. Our data suggest that induction of tolerance in molecular chimeras requires expression of the retrovirally transduced allogeneic MHC Ag on the surface of mature lymphocytes that populate the host thymus.
The generation of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical, and hydroxyl radical by 6-hydroxydopamine, dialuric acid, and related cytotoxic agents.

Hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical, and hydroxyl radical were all formed during the autoxidation of four cytotoxic agents, namely, 6-hydroxydopamine, 6-aminodopamine, 6,7-dihydroxytryptamine, and dialuric acid. Ascorbic acid and 5-hydroxydopamine, two autoxidizable agents of biological interest but without similar cytotoxic actions, were used as negative controls. The results tend to implicate O2- and ·OH, as well as H2O2, in the molecular mechanisms for cytotoxicity. Production of H2O2 was measured with an oxygen electrode. Accumulation of H2O2 was apparent from the return to solution of approximately one-half of the consumed oxygen after the addition of catalase. Superoxide radicals were detected by reduction of cytochrome c, with inhibition by superoxide dismutase. Although O2- radicals were observed previously by other means during the autoxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine, there was no clear effect in the cytochrome c system. This may have been due, in part, to a previously described scavenging of O2- by 6-hydroxydopamine itself. Hydroxyl radicals were detected by reaction with β-methylthiopropionaldehyde to form ethylene. Catalase or superoxide dismutase inhibited ethylene production. These results point to a reaction between H2O2 and O2- (Haber-Weiss reaction) as a major source of the ·OH radicals. Ethylene production was inhibited by known ·OH trappers, such as benzoate and ethanol, and by a variety of other agents. Catechol and the catecholamines, dopamine and norepinephrine, were very potent inhibitors of ethylene production. The effectiveness of these agents may have been due to a combined action of blocking ·OH formation as well as accelerating its removal. Superoxide dismutase had a biphasic effect in the 6-hydroxydopamine system, inhibitory at early times but causing increased accumulation of ethylene at later times. An explanation for this latter phenomenon may be based on a reaction between O2- and ·OH, as described by other investigators.
Persistence of botulinum neurotoxin action in cultured spinal cord cells1,2

Primary dissociated fetal mouse spinal cord cultures were used to study the mechanisms underlying the differences in persistence of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) and botulinum neurotoxin/E (BoNT/E) activities. Spinal cord cultures were exposed to BoNT/A (0.4 pM) for 2–3 days, which converted approximately half of the SNAP-25 to an altered form lacking the final nine C-terminal residues. The distribution of toxin-damaged to control SNAP-25 remained relatively unchanged for up to 80 days thereafter. Application of a high concentration of BoNT/E (250 pM) either 25 or 60 days following initial intoxication with BoNT/A converted both normal and BoNT/A-truncated SNAP-25 into a single population lacking the final 26 C-terminal residues. Excess BoNT/E was removed by washout, and recovery of intact SNAP-25 was monitored by Western blot analysis. The BoNT/E-truncated species gradually diminished during the ensuing 18 days, accompanied by the reappearance of both normal and BoNT/A-truncated SNAP-25. Return of BoNT/A-truncated SNAP-25 was observed in spite of the absence of BoNT/A in the culture medium during all but the first 3 days of exposure. These results indicate that proteolytic activity associated with the BoNT/A light chain persists inside cells for >11 weeks, while recovery from BoNT/E is complete in <3 weeks. This longer duration of enzymatic activity appears to account for the persistence of serotype A action.
Universal Hashing and Geometric Codes

We describe a new application of algebraic coding theory to universal hashing and authentication without secrecy. This permits to make use of the hitherto sharpest weapon of coding theory, the construction of codes from algebraic curves. We show in particular how codes derived from Artin-Schreier curves, Hermitian curves and Suzuki curves yield classes of universal hash functions which are substantially better than those known before.
Hidden Regular Variation, Second Order Regular Variation and Asymptotic Independence

We survey the related asymptotic properties of multivariate distributions; (i) asymptotic independence, (ii) hidden regular variation, and (iii) multivariate second order regular variation. Connections and implications are discussed. The point of view of convergence of measures is emphasized in formulations because we are interested in the concepts being coordinate system free, whenever possible.